Best Changemaker Allies Podcasts (2025)

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Building Brands Across Borders: From Startups to Sustainable Tourism with Patrika Allis Cheston 34:20

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28d ago34:20

34:20

Discover the fascinating intersection of tech marketing and sustainable travel with Patrika Elise Cheston, founder of a marketing agency focused on guiding startups through various funding stages. Patrika's unconventional career journey—beginning with aspirations to become a news anchor before finding her place in the startup ecosystem—offers valua…

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Thought Partners: How AI Can Unlock Your Brain's Potential with Brad Moss 34:34

4h ago34:34

34:34

What if AI could be more than just a tool—what if it could become your thought companion, helping to extract and refine the ideas already in your head? In this fascinating conversation, Brad Moss, founder of Enhanced AI, reveals how his journey from video game development led to creating a platform that empowers anyone to build sophisticated AI age…

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What’s At Stake In Changes To Medicare and Medicaid: Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation 32:39

6d ago32:39

32:39

“When you think about where we were as a country before Medicare and Medicaid were created and where we are now, it’s an incredible story,” says Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, who until earlier this year was the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In a recent essay for The Century Foundation, where she is now a senior f…

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Expanding the Gene Therapy Toolbox: Dr. Bobby Gaspar, Co-Founder & CEO of Orchard Therapeutics 35:16

13d ago35:16

35:16

It seems there are news stories every week about the accelerating pace of innovation in gene therapy, but only about 50 therapies have been approved so far by the US Food and Drug Administration. Our guest today, Dr. Bobby Gaspar, leads a UK-based biotech company, Orchard Therapeutics, that developed one of those treatments using gene-modified stem…

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How AI is Enhancing, Not Replacing, Human Creativity in Digital Marketing with Jason Brigham 37:04

14d ago37:04

37:04

What happens when your career path takes unexpected turns? For Jason Brigham, founder of a successful digital marketing agency, the journey from computer science to hospitality to digital leadership reveals powerful lessons about adaptability in an ever-changing landscape. Brigham candidly shares the pivotal moments that shaped his professional evo…

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Rare Disease Patients as Changemakers in Medicine: Rebecca Salky, Senior Clinical Research Coordinator for the Neuroimmunology Clinic & Research Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital 28:11

20d ago28:11

28:11

You are in for a dose of inspiration in this episode of Raise the Line as we introduce you to a rare disease patient who was a leading force in establishing the diagnosis for her own condition, who played a key role in launching the first phase three clinical trials for it, and who is now coordinating research into the disease and related disorders…

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Providing a Framework for Personal and Professional Growth in Medicine: Dr. David Kelly, HOSA-Future Health Professionals Board Chair 27:55

27d ago27:55

27:55

“You have to love what you do, especially in healthcare, and the earlier you find that, the better. So that’s why I love to see HOSA helping young people find what it is that they want to do,” says Dr. David Kelly, a fellow in oculofacial surgery at University of California San Francisco and HOSA’s board chair. You can still hear the excitement in …

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Unlocking Inclusion: How to Design Learning Spaces Where Everyone Belongs with Shaheen 1:06:55

1M ago1:06:55

1:06:55

What does it take to design learning spaces where everyone feels they belong - not just as participants, but as full human beings? In this episode of Facilitating Change, Mentor sits down with Shaheen, an inclusive learning designer and founder of Ta’leem Consulting. From growing up in a small town in India to shaping inclusive learning and leaders…

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How AI Is Aiding Earlier Diagnosis of Autism: Dr. Geraldine Dawson, Founding Director of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development 41:37

1M ago41:37

41:37

“We've been able to show that even by 30 days of age, we can predict with some accuracy if a child is going to have a diagnosis of autism,” says Dr. Geraldine Dawson, sharing one of the recent advancements in early diagnosis being aided by artificial intelligence. Dr. Dawson -- a leading scholar in the field and founding director of the Duke Center…

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Why the Margins Hold the Facilitation Magic: A Conversation with Mansi Jasuja 1:05:16

1M ago1:05:16

1:05:16

Some people stumble into facilitation. Mansi Jasuja designed her way here - literally. From practicing architecture in India to working with the UN and EU on environmental projects, her path has been anything but linear. What unites it all? A deep calling to serve, to listen, and to create spaces where people belong. Rooted in her Sikh heritage, he…

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Addressing the Root of Burnout and Trauma in Healthcare Providers: Dr. Rola Hallam, Founder of CanDo and Trauma and Burnout Life Coach 37:32

1M ago37:32

37:32

"Burnout and trauma are not mental illnesses. They live in your physiology. They live in your biology. They live very specifically in your nervous system,” Dr. Rola Hallam says with a conviction rooted in her own successful journey to overcome the effects of chronic stress she accumulated during many years on the frontlines of humanitarian crises i…

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Navigating the Between Times: Education in the Age of AI with Ben Tasker 34:23

1M ago34:23

34:23

"We're in the between times – not fully in the future, but no longer in the past." These words from Ben Tasker, Dean of AI at a leading university, capture the transformative moment we're experiencing as artificial intelligence reshapes education and work. In this eye-opening conversation with host Anika, Ben shares his remarkable journey from heal…

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Where Community Building, Learning Experience Design, and Facilitation Meet: Insights from Anamaria Dorgo 1:05:13

1M ago1:05:13

1:05:13

Episode Description What happens when you combine the art of community building, the craft of learning experience design, and the skill of facilitation? That’s where Anamaria Dorgo lives. A learning strategist and community architect, she helps organizations create spaces where people connect, grow, and transform - whether it’s launching L&D Shaker…

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A Mother’s Legacy Inspires A Passion for Equity in Healthcare: Dr. Uche Blackstock, Founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity 24:42

2M ago24:42

24:42

“Seeing that you can get through the most difficult times in life, succeed, and then also return to your community and work in service to your community was a lesson that has stuck with me,” says Dr. Uche Blackstock, the Founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity and our guest on this inspiring episode of Raise the Line with Osmosis from Elsevier. …

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The Space Between the Sessions - What 30 Conversations Taught Us About Facilitating Change 49:39

2M ago49:39

49:39

What happens when you sit down for 30 conversations with some of the most thoughtful facilitators on the planet? You start to see patterns. You start to feel shifts. And you begin to realize: facilitation isn’t a technique - it’s a way of being. In this milestone episode, Mentor and Cole turn the mics on themselves to reflect on the journey so far.…

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Lessons From the Frontlines of Humanitarian Crises: Dr. Joanne Liu, Former International President of Médecins Sans Frontières and Author of Ebola, Bombs and Migrants 32:48

2M ago32:48

32:48

“Pandemics are a political choice. We will not be able to prevent every disease outbreak or epidemic but we can prevent an epidemic from becoming a pandemic,” says Dr. Joanne Liu, the former International President of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders and a professor in the School of Population and Global Health at McGill University.…

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From Teen Startup to $500 Million Exit: Catherine Connolly's Journey 35:16

2M ago35:16

35:16

Catherine Connelly's remarkable journey began at age 15 when she and her siblings created a digital yearbook website to make friends at their new high school. What started as a simple solution to a teenage problem evolved into a social platform that would eventually sell for $500 million. During our conversation, Catherine shares how despite having…

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Rare Disease Parents Create a New Model for Drug Development: Nicole Johnson, Co-Founder and Executive Director of FOXG1 Research Foundation 28:56

2M ago28:56

28:56

“As parents dedicated to getting a treatment for our children in their lifetimes, we have turned the rare disease drug development landscape upside down and created a new model,” says Nicole Johnson, co-founder and executive director of the FOXG1 Research Foundation. That’s not an exaggeration, as the foundation is on track to make history as it be…

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Bridging Worlds: Intercultural Facilitation with Dr. Elsa Maxwell 1:01:35

2M ago1:01:35

1:01:35

In this conversation, we dive deep with Dr. Elsa Maxwell - intercultural educator, facilitator, and founder of Shift Intercultural - into how we build bridges across cultures in an increasingly polarized world. Elsa shares her personal story of transformation, beginning with a trip to Honduras as a teen that opened her eyes to the power of language…

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A Colorful and Comprehensive Option for Visual Learners: Jennifer Zahourek, RN, Founder and CEO of RekMed 33:44

2M ago33:44

33:44

Today on Raise the Line, we bring you the unlikely and inspiring story of a woman who was afraid of blood as a child but became an accomplished nurse; who struggled with learning disabilities but became an effective educator; and who, despite lacking business experience or knowledge of graphics, built a successful company that produces visually ric…

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Truth is Your North Star: Navigating Ethical Marketing in the Digital Age with Eric Layland 39:19

2M ago39:19

39:19

From text-based browsers to generative AI, the digital marketing landscape has transformed dramatically since the 1990s. Eric Layland, Chief Executive of the Matters Group, takes us on a journey through this evolution while revealing timeless principles that still guide effective marketing today. Leyland's career began in 1996 when he purchased "In…

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How Emotional Skills Can Elevate Medical Practice and Patient Care: Professor Alicja Galazka, University of Silesia 28:29

3M ago28:29

28:29

“Very often, doctors try to suppress what they feel or don't even have the vocabulary to describe their emotions,” says Professor Alicja Galazka of the University of Silesia, an observation based on decades of work with physicians to enhance their emotional intelligence and resilience. Galazka, a psychotherapist, psychologist, lecturer and coach, b…

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From Problems to Possibilities: Transforming Leadership and Society with Scott Sherman 57:21

3M ago57:21

57:21

In this powerful conversation, our host Mentor Dida sits down with Dr. Scott Sherman, founder of the Transformative Action Institute, to explore what it really takes to lead meaningful change in today’s world. Scott is the co-founder of the Transformative Action Institute, where he trains the next generation of changemakers to tackle the world’s bi…

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The Digital Exhaust: Why Your AI Data Matters More Than the Tools with Dan Baird 48:48

3M ago48:48

48:48

The technological landscape is shifting beneath our feet, and Dan Baird stands confidently at the intersection of entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence. In this riveting conversation, the co-founder and product lead at Wrench.ai delivers both a wake-up call and an invitation to the AI revolution that's already transforming business. Baird's …

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Beyond Purpose: Why Mattering Comes First with Zach Mercurio 48:53

3M ago48:53

48:53

In this episode of Facilitating Change, Cole talks with Zach Mercurio about the critical yet often overlooked concept of mattering, which is the fundamental human need to feel significant to the people around us. The conversation explores how we're experiencing not just a loneliness epidemic or disengagement crisis, but a mattering deficit where pe…

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Overcoming Misconceptions About Geriatrics: Dr. Julia Hiner, Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program Director at McGovern Medical School 23:53

3M ago23:53

23:53

"Older adults have this special clarity about who they are and what they want, which is incredibly inspiring," says Dr. Julia Hiner, explaining, in part, why she loves her work as a geriatrician in Houston, Texas. She also enjoys the challenge of the medical complexity these patients present and the opportunity it creates to see the patient as a wh…

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From Inner Work to Systems Change: Olga Shirobokova on Changemaking & Social Entrepreneurship 1:03:15

3M ago1:03:15

1:03:15

What does it really mean to be a changemaker? In this rich and reflective episode, Olga from Ashoka joins Mentor Dida to explore the full arc of changemaking—from the personal to the planetary. Drawing on 13+ years at Ashoka, Olga shares how her understanding of changemaking evolved—from direct service to systems change, and ultimately, to supporti…

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Breaking the Podcast Monetization Model: A Conversation with Jeffrey Specter 36:11

3M ago36:11

36:11

Monetization remains the great unsolved puzzle for most podcasters, with traditional advertising models serving only the top 5% of shows. But what if the problem isn't your audience size, but rather the broken business model itself? Jeffrey Specter, founder of CodeADX and former radio executive, pulls back the curtain on why the podcast industry's …

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Designing the Unscripted: A Masterclass in Process Facilitation with Natasha Walker 59:39

3M ago59:39

59:39

What if the key to great facilitation isn’t just what happens in the room- but everything you do before you even walk in? In this episode, we dive in with Natasha Walker, a master facilitator who believes preparation is an act of care. With decades of experience leading complex conversations across sectors, Natasha shares why planning every minute …

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The Importance of Seeing Rare Disease Patients Holistically: Eric & Kristi Levine, Parents of a Child with CACNA1A 28:24

3M ago28:24

28:24

"It was pretty apparent to me that something was going on with him," says Kristi Levine, describing the realization that, based on her experience as a Montessori teacher, her infant son, Trey, was missing developmental milestones. Unfortunately, Kristi’s hunch turned out to be correct and Trey was later diagnosed with a rare genetic mutation called…

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The 1% Rule: Small Changes for Exponential E-Commerce Success with Sabir Semerkant 53:28

4M ago53:28

53:28

What if the secret to massive e-commerce growth wasn't a marketing gimmick, but something as simple as improving by just 1% every day? Meet Sabir Semerkant, the accidental marketing genius whose systematic approach has generated over $1 billion in incremental revenue for more than 200 brands worldwide. Sabir's journey began as a programming prodigy…

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124 | Flow Forward: Community-Driven Solutions to Period Poverty 17:30

4M ago17:30

17:30

What would you do if you had to miss school or work simply because you didn’t have access to period products? In this episode of You Betcha She Did, host Rayna Rokicki tackles the often-overlooked issue of period poverty with Laura Welsh, board member of The Monthlies Project. Together, they explore how the organization is working to ensure that no…

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From PolyCrisis to PolyOpportunity: Creating Spaces for Transformative Change with Joel Fariss 55:17

4M ago55:17

55:17

In this episode of Facilitating Change, Cole talks with Joel Fariss of Holon Institute about navigating the complexity of our current moment and creating spaces for transformative community experiences. The conversation explores the poly opportunity - a play on "polycrisis" - which represents the multiple pathways and possibilities emerging during …

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Mastering Client Nurturing for Small Business Success with Reed Hansen 39:54

4M ago39:54

39:54

Every business owner dreams of growth systems that work automatically while they focus on what they love. Reed Hansen, founder of Market Surge, has turned this dream into reality for service-based businesses across multiple industries by combining powerful CRM systems with cutting-edge AI. The journey began with his wife's photography business. Unl…

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The Evolution of us a Facilitators: What We’ve Learned, Unlearned, and Are Still Figuring Out 47:54

4M ago47:54

47:54

In this special episode of Facilitating Change, the full Changemaker Allies team - Mentor Dida, Cole Hoover, and Ali Fraenkel - comes together for a heart-to-heart conversation on their evolution as facilitators. This episode is honest, reflective, and rooted in lived experience. We explore: When we first realized we were facilitators - and why tha…

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How Providers Can Join the Battle Against Misinformation: Dr. Raven Baxter, Director of Science Communication at the Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illness 28:33

4M ago28:33

28:33

We have a special guest on today's episode whose voice will be familiar to regular listeners. Last year at this time, Dr. Raven Baxter occupied the Raise the Line host chair for a special ten-part series we produced in collaboration with the Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illness (CoRe) at Mount Sinai in New York City, where she ser…

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Marketing Without Burnout: A New Agency Model with Katie Gray 32:28

4M ago32:28

32:28

Katie Gray's journey from traditional agency work to founding her own marketing collective reveals a refreshing new model for the industry. After experiencing the limitations of conventional agency structures—where junior marketers get thrust into high-stakes roles prematurely and burnout leads to high turnover—she built Kinetic Marketing Communica…

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Facilitating What Wants to Happen: Nicole Taylor on Deep Listening & Presencing 1:03:38

4M ago1:03:38

1:03:38

What does it take to create space where real transformation happens? In this episode of Facilitating Change, we sit down with Nicole Taylor - facilitator, leadership coach, and fierce advocate for well-being - who brings a deeply integrative approach to space holding. With roots in yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, and somatic experiencing, Nicole shares…

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Known Better, Done Well: David DeWolf on Transforming Business Relationships 34:44

4M ago34:44

34:44

What does it truly mean to be human in an age of artificial intelligence? David DeWolf, founder of KnownWell, offers a refreshingly nuanced perspective on how AI should enhance our humanity rather than diminish it. Having built and sold a 2,500-person digital products company before founding KnownWell in 2023, DeWolf observed a critical gap in how …

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Advocating for Black Nurses In An Anti-DEI Environment: Dr. Sheldon Fields, President of the National Black Nurses Association 24:23

4M ago24:23

24:23

On this episode of “Raise the Line” we welcome Dr. Sheldon Fields, a trailblazer in the nursing field and the president of the National Black Nurses Association. In a candid conversation, Dr. Fields shares his inspiring journey from the bedside to becoming a prominent figure in nursing, HIV/AIDS prevention and academia and also shares the challenge…

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Beyond the Binary: Why Your Survey Results Are Probably Wrong with Philip Garland 45:05

4M ago45:05

45:05

When you ask "Mexican food for dinner?" you're engaging in the most basic form of survey methodology—but as Dr. Philip Garland reveals, there's a profound science to questioning that shapes everything from presidential elections to product development. Dr. Garland's remarkable journey began with a personal mission. As a freshman experiencing racism…

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Easing the Journey of Becoming: Dustin Liu on Facilitation, Purpose, and System Sensing 57:49

4M ago57:49

57:49

In this deep and energizing episode, Mentor Dida sits down with Dustin Liu - facilitator, educator, and the Senior Associate Director at NYU Stern’s Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing - for a conversation that spans the art, science, and spirit of facilitation. Together we explore what it means to “ease the journey of becoming,” how to create co…

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Cake on Tuesday: Why Joy Matters in Business with Tech Innovator Elizabeth Bieniek 38:51

5M ago38:51

38:51

Elizabeth Bieniek takes us on a fascinating journey from aspiring creative writer to tech innovator, challenging our assumptions about career paths and technology's purpose along the way. With refreshing candor and New York-style directness, she reveals how her English degree and outsider perspective became unexpected assets in the tech world. At t…

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The Soil of Leadership: Wisdom for Leaders Navigating Challenging Times with Dr. Britt Yamamoto 1:02:16

5M ago1:02:16

1:02:16

In this episode of Facilitating Change, Cole talks with Dr. Britt Yamamoto about his book "The Soil of Leadership” and meaningful ways to support social impact leaders right now. A large part of the conversation centers around the core metaphor from the book about “growing soil”. Britt compares conventional farmers who focus on growing plants (shor…

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Equipping Today’s Medical Students to Manage Uncertainty: Professor Katarzyna Taran, Medical University of Łódź 31:57

5M ago31:57

31:57

We’re honored to continue our global tour of medical education today with Professor Katarzyna Taran, MD, PhD, a pioneering interdisciplinary researcher of tumor cell biology, an award winning educator noted for her focus on student engagement, and -- in a first for a Raise the Line guest -- a shooting sports certified coach and referee. As Professo…

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The AI CMO: Humanizing Technology Through Empathetic Marketing with Stephen Sakash 39:31

5M ago39:31

39:31

When Stephen Sakash began his journey from journalism school to digital marketing, he never imagined he'd be at the forefront of using artificial intelligence to make marketing more human. Yet that's exactly where his path has led him – developing an AI Chief Marketing Officer tool that helps businesses uncover their higher purpose and translate it…

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123 | Time Management Tips to Gain 10 Hours Each Week with Jenna Piche 20:21

5M ago20:21

20:21

Who doesn't need more time in their life? I know I do. But what is the secret? How do we find more time in our lives without sacrificing our sanity or sleep? My guest this week, Jenna Piche, a time management coach, shares some practical ways to reframe how you look at your tasks, your time and your week to make your space in your schedule for thin…

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The Art & Science of Facilitation: How to Design & Facilitate Sessions That Matter with Jenny Sauer-Klein 1:06:23

5M ago1:06:23

1:06:23

In this conversation, we dive deep with Jenny Sauer-Klein - a master of designing experiences that don’t just tick a box, but truly move people. Jenny has worked with companies like Airbnb, Google, and Genentech to bring their cultures to life, and she's the founder of The Culture Conference, where leaders come together to build workplaces that act…

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Building Your Personal Brand Isn't Optional—It's Your Career Advantage with Rob Durant 36:13

5M ago36:13

36:13

What if everything you thought you knew about sales and personal branding was backward? Rob Durant, CEO, US Operations of The Institute for Sales Professionals, challenges conventional wisdom by revealing that successful sales and compelling personal brands aren't actually about you—they're about solving problems for others. Durant's mission to tra…

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Letting Life Work Through You: Inner Leadership and Holding Space with Sarah-Marie Hopf 1:01:01

5M ago1:01:01

1:01:01

In this soulful conversation, Sarah-Marie Hopf, joins us to explore the deeper art of facilitation - one that doesn’t just solve problems, but awakens possibility. Sarah-Marie is an executive coach, spaceholder, and facilitator who brings rare presence and clarity into the room. In this episode, we explore: How she first discovered facilitation as …