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Today I Noticed is a creative mindfulness practice started by Willow Older and Deborah Huber. On their Instagram feed you’ll find their often whimsical, sometimes touching observations—which combine words and sketches—that capture the ordinary, yet magical, moments of daily life. In our conversation, Willow and Deborah share how Today I Noticed started unexpectedly during a day trip to San Francisco. They talk about how their lives have changed—for the better!— since they started noticing and recording what’s happening around them and within them. Turns out the prompt, “Today I noticed” is a simple yet powerful reminder to slow down and appreciate the sweet, silly, everyday moments we all experience but rarely notice. Willow and Deborah have discovered that doing so helps us feel happier, nourished, and grateful. Today, nearly three years into their noticing adventure, the "partners in creative crime" are leading corporate workshops, building a global online community, and pursuing a variety of publishing projects to inspire others to dial-up their joy by strengthening their own noticing muscles.  Follow us @meantforit You can reach us at contact@meantforit.com For guest ideas: pr@meantforit.com If you enjoyed this episode, please  subscribe and share it with a friend: On your iPhone select episode, click “details,” click on the 3 dots to the right of play, and text or email it to a friend. To write a review on your iphone, after selecting the podcast, scroll down till you see "Write a Review" and tap.  

Growing up in Catalonia, Spain with parents who exposed Anna Schlegel to engineering and art infused Anna with an adventurous spirit and a strong work ethic. Anna’s graduate studies in languages led her to a translation job in Silicon Valley where Anna started her own translation company in San Francisco when she saw a gap in the market. Eventually, Anna’s translation skills led to a job in localization for Cisco. After several jobs in high tech, Anna landed at NetApp. At NetApp, Anna’s skills blossomed and she was  offered more responsibilities and promotions due to her growing abilities and commitment to constant learning. As you will hear in our conversation, Anna is a true believer and practitioner of immersing and training herself in new fields such as management, technology and innovation.  Based on Anna's performance and growing responsibilities, her mindset and career strategy is working. Anna's job success led to her current role as VP of Global Portfolio to Market where Anna is managing four different teams. In our conversation, we discuss Anna’s career path and how her international perspective and early influences shaped her work ethic. We also discuss Anna's drive to learn, how Anna is contributing through volunteer work and how to put yourself in a place where the  opportunities find you. Learn more about Anna here Follow us @meantforit If you enjoyed this episode please share with a friend! Please leave us a review on iTunes or reach out on Instagram.

Shelley Zalis is the definition of a trailblazer. As the founder of OTX, a pioneer in the online market research space, and a founder of The Female Quotient, Shelley has consistently led with innovation and courage. In our conversation, Shelley walks us through her career milestones and the “heartbeat moments” that guided the most important decisions in her career. While most people conform to the status quo or find ways to work around traditional norms, Shelley’s character and life experiences blended in ways that gave her the courage and wisdom to follow her instincts, question the norms and eventually successfully strike out on her own. Shelley shares the story of her first jobs in the market research space, her biggest milestones and we talk about the two mentors who were the biggest influences in Shelley’s career.  Shelley tells us the story of how a visit to the CES Conference with a group of friends gave her the idea that evolved into Shelley’s current role as founder of The Female Quotient. There are people in this world who are forces of energy that inspire you to act boldly and follow your heart.  Shelley is one of those people. Follow us @meantforit If you want to hear more conversations about ways to improve our workplaces download these episodes: Making Motherhood work with Caitlyn Collins Brigid Schulte, Writer, Director Better Life Lab

Solving the problem of food waste and creating new products based on upcycled food was the type of project Caroline Cotto was meant to work on. As someone who has intentionally sought out challenging experiences since high school, Caroline is determined to live on the side of impact and adventure.  Today, Caroline is the COO of Renewal Mill, a next generation ingredients company that's reducing food waste by upcycling the byproducts of food manufacturing into high quality ingredients and products. In our conversation, Caroline shares how her career decisions, family influences, traveling and love of food led her to Renewal Mill. Renewal Mill Whole Foods names upcycled foods and Renewal Mills' upcycled flours a Top 10 Food Trend for 2021 Named World Changing Idea by Fast Company  Featured on PBS Newshour Follow us on IG @meantforit If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and please subscribe for future episodes. Podcast co-hosts Polina and Amber    

Annette Ross was meant for love. After overcoming a tragic accident during the birth of her second child that left Anette unable to walk, Annette went on to create a beautiful life with five daughters and the love of her life. In our conversation, we discuss how Annette adjusted to life and how her love for her family has always carried her forward. Annette shares advice on navigating through life in a way that keeps joy and gratitude at the forefront, while also being open to opportunities and accepting challenges.  You can learn more about Annette by reading her memoir, Where Fairytales Go or by watching the HBO documentary, Any One of Us. We were honored to host Annette and inspired by her beauty and strength.          

Dr. Vijayeta Sinh, a Clinical Psychologist and founder of TherapyCouchNYC, shares how her background and love for psychology led her to pursue a doctorate and career focused on helping people live their best lives. Vijayeta is motivated by using her training to help her clients understand how their patterns may be holding them back and limiting the quallity yof their relationships. Listen in to hear Vijayeta’s perspective on the ways therapy can enhance our lives. Dr. Vijayeta Sinh has 15 years of experience, a Ph.D. from Columbia University and is a Supervising Psychologist at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, and Teachers College at Columbia University. Born and raised in India, she is fluent in Hindi and has a deep understanding of the ways cultural and social issues relate to work, career, marriage, and parenthood. Follow us @meantforit

Hannah Davis has a dream job as the Program Director for the Techstars Sustainability Accelerator, a three-way partnership between Techstars, The Nature Conservancy, and mission-aligned investors. The startups accepted into the Techstars program are able to access the mentorship and expertise from the Nature Conversancy, alongside the Techstars network of over 7,000 mentors and 2,500 portfolio companies. In our conversation, Hannah shares the day-to-day responsibilities in her role, how Techstars operates and how Hannah got on the path of community-building roles. If you are interested in similar career roles, Hannah shares advice on how to dive in and get involved. We also discuss the tradeoffs with dream jobs, the value of vulnerability when resolving conflicts and why Hannah is optimistic about the future of our world. Follow us @meantforit  

Adventure and people lover, Laura Fravel had a dream job producing television broadcasts and digital content for National Geographic, and later, after moving West, as an independent producer for outlets such as Discovery Channel, The New York Time and Amazon. In our conversation, we discuss Laura’s second shift from storytelling for media and brands, to helping solopreneurs, entrepreneurs and thought-leaders tell their story. While Laura loved the first half of her career, personal circumstances and new priorities led her on a different (more fulfilling) path. Reflecting on her career, Laura commented, “I think at different points in our life we might be meant to do different things for different people.”  We discuss the turning point that led Laura to becoming a brand strategist and the story of how Laura created her business. We also cover Laura’s favorite business resources, a few lessons Laura has learned while building her own brand and Laura’s advice for outsourcing housework and technical support. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and share with a friend.

Dr. Eliza Nemser is an earth scientist working on climate solutions at the intersection of science, policy, and politics. In our conversation we discuss how Eliza fell in love with earth science and the path that led her to becoming a co-founder of Climate Changemakers. If you are curious about what it is like to be a geoscientist or how to start an organization focused on community organizing, this episode is for you.  

If you have had issues receiving or giving performance feedback (who hasn't?), this conversation is for you. Therese Huston’s role as a Cognitive Scientist at Seattle University involves finding ways to help professionals do their best work. Therese’s third book, Let's Talk, focuses on how to deliver feedback and create conversations that lead to growth and stronger relationships. Although you have probably read about this topic before, ‘Let’s Talk’ is different because Therese’s unique style of writing and communicating her findings is truly easy to understand, remember, and apply. ‘Let’s Talk’ could be an excellent handbook for every manager interested in delivering feedback in ways that create psychological safety, propose constructive solutions, and instill a collaborative framework.  In our conversation we discuss different feedback styles, how to listen and set good intentions, how to set up two-way conversations, tips for creating psychological safety, best practices for frequency of feedback, and surprising research about the praise to criticism ratio. This conversation is filled with actionable tips and advice for managers, parents or anyone who wants to get better at sharing feedback. We also recommend our podcast conversation with Therese Huston from 2016 on her book How Women Decide: What’s True, What’s Not, and What Strategies Spark the Best Choices. In podcast episode 21, we discussed high-pressure decision making, the gender myth, and tactical advice that may help you when you’re stuck trying to make your own decisions.  Follow us @meantforit

Kelley Higney, Founder & CEO of Bug Bite Thing, is an unstoppable force also known as a "mom on a mission." After relocating to South Florida, Kelley's daughter suffered from constant mosquito bites. After many failed attempts to help her daughter with the bites, Kelley discovered a little-known tool that uses suction to help remove insect saliva/venom from under the skin. Kelley was amazed to find that the product worked and quickly realized it was an opportunity for a business.   Kelley secured the exclusive distribution rights for the product in the U.S. and started her company, Bug Bite Thing. Then, Kelley made a bold and strategic decision to sell her house. She moved into a rental so she could afford to start her business.   In the early days, Kelley started by selling her product at bake sales, school events, online and through Amazon. Eventually, word of mouth created buzz around the product and Kelly was featured on the local news. As sales expanded and Kelley’s marketing skills evolved, one of Bug Bite Thing's social media posts caught the attention of a producer of the hit show 'Shark Tank.' This led to a successful appearance on the show and Kelley and her mother, Ellen McAlister, partnered with inventor and entrepreneur Lori Greiner. Then, things really took off. Kelley leaped into a new level of sales and took on the challenges of quick growth.    In our conversation, we discuss Kelley’s path from discovering the product now known as Bug Bite Thing, to early sales and how Kelley is managing her business today. If you are interested in entrepreneurial stories, you will love this episode and Kelley’s advice for people who want to pursue their own entrepreneurial dream. If you enjoy this episode please share it with a friend and follow us on Instagram @meantforit. Get yourself a Bug Bite Thing  

Brigid Schulte is the Director, of the Better Life Lab, ”working to change policy, practice and culture so that all people can make real choices about how to combine their work, life and caregiving responsibilities - and have time for joy.” Previously, Brigid worked as a Staff Reporter for the Washington Post for 16 years where she was part of the team that won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize. Brigid is also the author of Overwhelmed: Work, Love & Play when No One has the Time. In our conversation we discuss Brigid’s career path, affordable childcare options and paid family leave that can help families that are drowning from the costs of and demands of managing full time jobs and raising children.  

This is the story of two friends with a vision for a  business and an ability to get things done. Inspired by entrepreneurship and motivated to empower women and girls, Edwina Govindsamy and Ariel Gough started Bailly, an eco and health conscious fragrance line. With backgrounds in marketing and healthy ambition, Edwina and Ariel dove in and started figuring things out. In our conversation, Ariel generously shares the roadmap of how Baily progressed from idea to reality. We discuss what Ariel learned about sourcing ingredients, packaging, sales growth, managing finances and other strategies for growing and managing Bailly.  Follow us or reach out on Instagram @meantforit Learn more about Bailly  

In her new book, Edge of the Map, Joanna Garton tells the story of Christine Boskoff, the first woman to summit six of the world’s fourteen 8,000-meter-plus peaks, and the only woman expedition leader on Mt. Everest. In our conversation, Joanna shares the personal story that led her to writing about Christine's extraordinary life and the ways Christine’s story transformed Joanna.

Erica Liu Williams is the founder of Gr8nola, a “delicious, low sugar superfood granola.” A two-time Olympic time-trial swimmer who’s married to a former-NFL football player named “Tank” Williams, Erica first created gr8nola as a crunchy snack during their annual food cleanse. Erica shares how she started her business as a “cottage food operator,” baking trays and trays of gr8nola in her kitchen and selling at a local farmer’s market. As sales grew, there was a lot that she needed to learn in order to grow her business. “Once I started doing my second farmer’s market and selling online, I needed other certifications and of course, an official nutrition label. It took me tons and tons of phone calls and networking with other food entrepreneurs to figure it all out. There’s no step-by-step guide.” In our conversation, Erica shares the story of growing gr8nola, pivoting during Covid, and expanding her sales channels. Erica offers advice on how to start your own business, from the earliest stages of kitchen production and hiring to figuring out how to scale and build brand awareness. We also discuss Erica’s early influences and the decisions that led her to a career she loves. Plus, we find our what led Halle Berry to share her love of gr8nola on her IG page! Episode co-hosts: Willow Older and Polina Selyutin Follow us or reach out for interview ideas to @iwhjpodcast If you enjoyed this episode, please  subscribe and share it with a friend. On your iPhone select episode, click “details,” click on the 3 dots to the right of play, and text or email it to a friend. To write a review on your iphone, after selecting the podcast, scroll down till you see "Write a Review" and tap.

Jenn Donahue is a Navy veteran,  civil engineer, teacher and business founder. Jenn has been in charge of 1400 Navy personnel and 3 battalions, managed high profile projects as an operations engineer. Jenn has taken her education to the highest levels including a bachelors in ocean engineering, a masters and PHD in civil engineering from UC Berkeley. In our conversation, we discuss the early origins of Jenn’s passion for building and the decisions  she made that led her to becoming an engineer and joining the navy. We talk about some of Jenn’s projects, places where Jenn has worked while serving in the navy and Jenn’s advice for others who have a deep love for building and engineering. You will be blown away by Jenn’s accomplishments and her desire to offer mentoring to those who dream of similar career paths. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend. On your iPhone select episode, click 'details', click on the 3 dots to the right of play and text or email it to a friend. Episode co-hosts: Amber Greene and Polina Selyutin Learn more about Jenn Follow us or reach out for interview ideas to @iwhjpodcast How to write a review on your iphone: After selecting the podcast, scroll down till you see "Write a Review" and tap   

Elizabeth Rusch is the award-winning author of more than 20 books and more than a hundred articles in publications such as The New York Times, Smithsonian, and Harper's. Elizabeth also speaks at schools and organizations across the country about writing, teen activism, science heroes, and the state of our democracy. In our conversation, we discuss Elizabeth’s new book, You Call This Democracy, a dive into the shortcomings in our political system and possible solutions for each problem. We also talk about the unique ways Elizabeth is creating interactive digital content to share her research with a wider audience, including the 50 State Report Card and Flash Course on Democracy. Elizabeth shares how her passion for public policy began when she was just a kid and how she has built a career that lets her explore her endless curiosity, share knowledge, and inspire countless young people.   Elizabeth has a bachelors in economics from Duke University, a masters in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley, and has served as a Jacob K. Javits Fellow in the U.S. Senate. Writer, editor, co-founder of Today I noticed and friend of the podcast Willow Older joins as a co-host for this special conversation. Follow us on Instagram @iwhjpodcast

We often hear that volunteering can lead you to places that will change your life. For Jessica Goudeau, volunteering led to starting a nonprofit that provided supplemental income for Burmese refugee artisans for seven years and then to writing After the Last Border: Two Families and the Story of Refuge in America, which was named a New York Times Editors’ Choice book.  Jessica has a PHD n literature from the University of Texas and has spent over 10 years working with refugees in Austin. In our conversation, we discuss how Jessica’s friendships with “Mu Naw” and “Hasna” , inspired her to devote two years to writing her first book, and the ways her experiences helping refugees has transformed her life. We also discuss how the sentiment towards towards refugee resettlement in the USA has changed, and a few ways the refugee resettlement program is evolving. Jessica’s book recommendations: Kao Kalia Yang, Somewhere in the Unknown World Dina Nayeri, The Ungrateful Refugee Ahmed Badr, While the Earth Sleeps We Travel Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Displaced Follow the podcast or reach out @iwhjpodcast      

We’ve all been through heartache and heartbreak, but Amy Chan has made a career of it. Amy is the founder of Renew Breakup Bootcamp, a  retreat that takes a scientific and spiritual approach to healing the heart. If you or someone you know is reeling from the pain of a breakup, attending one of these workshops can be transformative. During Covid, the bootcamps are going strong with online sessions. Amy was a guest on the podcast in episode 100 to discuss her career path and how she started Renew Breakup Bootcamp.  In our latest conversation, Amy joins us to discuss her new book, Breakup Bootcamp. Amy shares highlights from her book and we discuss some of the book’s themes such as recognizing love addiction, tools for getting over breakups and understanding our love compass. Amy shares how the many breaks ups she endured gave her an understanding of common dating patterns and the different ways we can sabotage ourselves in love or get stuck in suffering during breakups. Amy has poured all the research and learnings from her career and fours years of break up bootcamps into this must-read book on dealing with dating and breakups. Follow us @iwhjpodcast Follow Amy @missamychan

Gianna Stanley made a huge career pivot when she realized her post college dream job for a boutique marketing and consulting agency was not the the path she wanted for the rest of her career. Instead of staying stuck and unhappy, Gianna made a bold move to leave her job, and then another bold move by deciding to go to the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC.  The decision to go to culinary school actually came out of Gianna’s volunteering at the St Francis House Day shelter. After leaving her job, Gianna increased her volunteer hours at the shelter and soon realized the work of cooking and feeding people gave her the joy and purpose she was craving. At the Institute of Culinary Education, Gianna fully embraced the intensity of the cooking program and took advantage of various internships and opportunities to learn. After finishing the program, Gianna got an externship at Blue Hill and then accepted a position as a private chef along with a side job as a chef with a pop-up event company called The Underground Kitchen. In addition to her cooking jobs, Covid led Gianna to another side gig as a food photographer. In our conversation, Gianna shares her career story and how she started and grew her food photography business. If you have a career switch on your mind or are curious about starting a new side hustle, you will love learning how Gianna has followed her heart to a create her own recipe for a meaningful career.  Follow Gianna @sustainablygia Follow us/reach out @iwhjpodcast