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Chris Hutchinson brings so much passion to his work of helping teams produce better results, make a bigger impact and feel happier while working together. He loves talking about connection too, and you’ll here him share some heartfelt thoughts on the positive power that we can all bring to the world when we decide we matter, and when we start looking at ourselves not as individuals but as integral parts of a whole from which we all benefit - as long as the whole is healthy - What Chris teaches us here about how teams can be better and why it matters applies to all of us when we remember that we all belong to several teams our families, communities, countries, and the world. Relevant Links: To find Chris: https://trebuchetgroup.com LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rippleleader/ Chris Hutchinson’s Book “Ripple: A Field Manual for Leadership that Works : http://www.rippleleader.com

We are going to talk about the adoption experience - and how Suzanne Jones wants to make it better. She’s so honest and willing to be vulnerable and there is so much to learn here. What Suzie Q has to say about parenting from the heart and not your hurt applies to everyone. She’s passionate about helping adopted children get parents who understand them better, so she is taking what she’s learned from her own experience and made it her life's work to make sure that other adopted children and parents have an easier time than she did. Relevant Links: Find Suzie at: https://suzieqsolutions.com The Book Primal Wound: https://amzn.to/2GM9sEi For more episodes go to www.schoolofconnection.com

We’re going to talk about presumptions, bias, figuring out your path when you have many interests, and how Elizabeth McCoy helps returning citizens - which is the updated term for ex-felons. She’s a counselor with a masters in forensic psychology. She works with people who’ve committed sex crimes, who've been addicted to drugs, and people who’ve committed other crimes. She helps them find employment and she built her business helping career seekers of all sorts learn how to put their best foot forward so they can get the opportunities they want. To find Elizabeth go to: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-mccoy/ Her website is at: https://www.employmentpreparations.com Her facebook page is: https://bit.ly/2SynnE9 For more episodes go to: www.schoolofconnection.com

Jan Keck is all about being curious, brave, and vulnerable in order to create more meaningful conversations. Those things are easier for some of us than for others, but one thing is for sure: we all want our interactions to be more enjoyable. Introvert or extravert alike, we all need genuine connections in our lives and Jan has created some fun tools and ideas to help us get there. He’s really fun to talk to, and his experiences thus far with ASK DEEP QUESTIONS show that there are many of us out there who want to know others and be known on a deeper level. Relevant Links To Find Jan Keck: askdeepquestions.com The Deep Dinner Guidebook: https://www.jankeck.com/product/deep-dinner-playbook/ Contact Jan Keck: https://www.jankeck.com/contact/ For more episodes go to: https://schoolofconnection.com

Robbie Samuels knows what it's like to feel like you don't fit in or belong. He became an observer of people at a young age, and developed his innate ability to create relationships and connect with people into his mission and business. He's host of the podcast "On The Schmooze", author of "Croissants vs. Bagels", and a recognized expert on networking. He also has a unique story and fun tips and perspectives on how to make the most of meeting new people. He has a TON of resources on his website, so be to sure to check it out, and here are some for your easy reference. Relevant Links: Special GIFT for listeners: "Ten Tips for Conference Connections": www.robbiesamuels.com/SOC Bonus Bundle of resources and the book: www.CroissantsvsBagels.com Free Masterclasses: www.robbiesamuels.com/masterclass Hear Robbie on his podcast: www.ontheschmooze.com Find Robbie on social media: www.LinkedIn.com/in/robbiesamuels www.twitter.com/robbiesamuels www.youtube.com/robbiesamuels

After many years of debate and 'someday' thinking, I set out about a year ago to connect with random strangers and have deep conversations with them. I didn't know what I was doing, and then I met Alex. This is a bit of his story, and the beginning of The School of Connection, where I'm still a student myself. For more episodes, go to https://schoolofconnection.com

Do you have good friends, people who get you, support you, who you could call at any time - day or night - and they’d be there for you? Do you have friends, feel needed and supported at work, and like you’re a part of a team or tribe? That’s really awesome. Because the majority of people, apparently, don’t. It’s at epidemic proportions, and it’s called loneliness. In fact, you might be feeling the insidious effects of loneliness, and never thought of it because you’re too busy. Some reports say loneliness and disconnection is the new smoking. What’s going on? Michael Lee Stallard - the author and expert on creating Connection Cultures in organizations, joins me. Relevant Links: To find out more about Michael Lee Stallard go to: http://www.michaelleestallard.com For more about his work with corporations and other organizations: http://connectionculture.com/book For a direct link to his book: https://amzn.to/2PzmDcc The CIGNA Loneliness Study: https://bit.ly/2jkwFk3 Harvard Business Review Report written by former U.S. Attorney General Vivek Murthy: https://hbr.org/cover-story/2017/09/work-and-the-loneliness-epidemic For more episodes go to: https://schoolofconnection.com

This is not an episode about having MORE material things. It's about what my guest Suzette Conway so brilliantly calls that 'angsty' feeling that there is something MORE to life. More to learn and be. Some of us seem never to have lived without that feeling...Insatiable curiosity. A desire to serve. To find meaning, purpose, and to have a vibrant intellectual life. Is it just a void we're trying to fill or distract ourselves from by always being busy? Or is that feeling a sign that we are indeed meant to do more, and our soul is trying to get our attention? Suzette finally took a giant leap, doing something many of us either couldn't, or wouldn't have the courage to do. Why? To make sure other women who feel like there must be "MORE" don't feel alone, to build a community, and to live what she calls a more vibrant life. Know what a "Flittersphere" is? Tune in to find out. Relevant Links: To find Suzette and The Flittersphere: https://bit.ly/2QB2rLF To meet Suzette on video and enroll in the free Gratitude course, go to: https://bit.ly/2Pne8kr For more episodes go to: https://schoolofconnection.com

The quality and depth of your connection with others isn't measured by whether, or even how often conflict appears, but by how you deal with it. Do you face conflict, talk it out, demonstrate a willingness to be vulnerable and have that difficult conversation? Or do you avoid the issue and try to sweep it under the rug, only to encounter it again until it festers and becomes a deep resentment and judgment against the other? In this episode, I share a conflict I had with a loved one over Thanksgiving. A silly one, but one that could have led to a major rift, nevertheless. It happens all the time. We all have the opportunity to find the truth rather than believe the stories we create where there is conflict. Only if we're willing to do what's hard. For more episodes go to: https://schoolofconnection.com/podcast

After graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech, self proclaimed data geek Victoria Westbrook had a bright future and landed some great jobs and titles. An unexpected tragedy brought old wounds to the surface, and led her down a path that ended in her becoming a convicted felon. Now she’s passionate about changing some of the stereotypes and stories we hold about people who’ve had rough times, especially those who’ve become convicted felons and are trying to enter into a productive post-prison life. She’s a powerful voice for empowerment and inclusion, removing assumptions and barriers based on erroneous assumptions. For more information about Victoria go to her linked in profile at: https://bit.ly/2QU3m71 For information on Code Tenderloin go to https://www.codetenderloin.org To email Victoria: VictoriaWestbrook1@gmail.com For more episodes go to https://schoolofconnection.com/podcasts

When Angela Barnett isn’t working her ‘real’ job as a freelance marketer on one day a week, she’s giving talks at schools for young girls on how to be “Pretty Smart” about the unrealistic and unattainable images that they’re being bombarded with by the media and the beauty industry. Each month 10,000 young girls ask Google if they are pretty. The hyper-focus on image is having devastating consequences. Instead of fighting the billion dollar industries, Angela is having a huge impact simply by talking to and listening to young girls, and increasing their awareness. Find out more about Pretty Smart at: https://prettysmart.nz Find Pretty Smart on Facebook: https://bit.ly/2RD5Tm8 Here’s an example of what Angela wants everyone to see : https://bit.ly/2RDDsUX For more episodes go to: https://schoolofconnection.com/podcast

Shelley Winner’s story is one of those with an unexpected twist of inspiration that everyone should hear. She was a heavy meth user and addict, and like most addicts, headed for prison or an early grave. Thankfully it was prison, and she made sure it was the best thing to happen to her. Find out how she turned her life around, and in spite of being a felon, got hired at one of the worlds largest tech firms. Now she’s helping other felons, and speaking on global stages with the hope that she can make us reconsider the stigmas against felons. For more info about or to contact Shelley Winner go to her Linked In at: https://bit.ly/2QoLkcR or Email her at: shelley.winner@gmail.com To find out more about the organizations mentioned that help the incarcerated: Defy Ventures: https://defyventures.org/about-defy-socal/ Code Tenderloin: https://www.codetenderloin.org For more episodes go to: https://schoolofconnection.com/podcast

My guest today is Kevin Strauss. He believes, and is right on about, the fact that we as humans yearn to feel closer to others - especially to those who matter most to us. And yet sadly, we’re more disconnected than ever. He's on a mission to spread awareness of the critical role that our sense of belonging and connection plays in our overall wellbeing. He studies and works in the field of emotional health now after spending many years in biomedical engineering and technology. He’s created what I think is a brilliant tool to solve the problem of our increasing disconnection and isolation, and I cannot wait for you to hear about it. Relevant Links: Find Kevin at: http://KevinRStrauss.com Check out his creative tools at: https://www.FamilyeJournal.com https://www.CorporateeJournal.com For more episodes go to : https://schoolofconnection.com/podcast

Chad Littlefield tells us he received his lowest grade ever in a public speaking class. Hard to believe since he's an expert at it, in spite of ignoring his instructors advice. Judge for yourself. Tune in to understand why you or others might be struggling with creating genuine connections, and how to change that. Chad is an author, TEDx speaker, co-founder of WE! and an expert at breaking down communication barriers. His mission is to create conversations that matter and gently eradicate small talk. Relevant Links: Find out more about WE! https://weand.me Chad’s book: "Pocket Guide to Facilitating Human Connections” at https://amzn.to/2PUT8D3 We! Connect Cards: https://bit.ly/2S8yQqW Mentioned resources: Book by Will Wise, Co-founder of We! "Ask Powerful Questions - Create Conversations That Matter” https://amzn.to/2yta7FO Sherry Turkle NYT article on “Flight from Conversation” https://nyti.ms/2KdakEG For more episodes go to: https://schoolofconnection.com/podcast

In the midst of relocating across the country to a town where I know no one, I couldn’t have chosen a better guest to remind us that connections are everywhere. It’s up to us to be proactive, and choose when and how to create connections. Natalie Siston grew up in a pop.600 town, but says anywhere we go can feel like a small town. She’s on a mission to bring back ‘small town’ meaningful relationships and leadership to the world. Relevant Links: Find Natalie at: https://smalltownleadership.com For more episodes go to : https://schoolofconnection.com/podcast

Sumukh is smart, articulate, wise far beyond his 19 years, and determined to change the world for the better. He’s an inspiration to me, and I know he’ll inspire you too. He wrote his first book at age 12, organized two TEDX events at his high school, and founded Teendemy.com. He knows there are many skills to master in order for his generation to find professional fulfillment and success in our fast-paced and ever-changing world. Skills and wisdom that traditional education mostly ignores. He shares with us what those are, and more. Listen to this one with your kids and teenagers and pass it around. They’re capable of far more than we give them credit for. Relevant LInks: Find the courses and interviews at https://teendemy.com More about Sumukh Setty at: http://sumukhsetty.com For more episodes go to: https://schoolofconnection.com/podcast

What happens when you do everything you're supposed to do, only to find unhappiness and skipped dreams? Penelope Hsu had the courage to do the unthinkable. She became a doctor, started residency, and then...quit. Because she realized it wasn't what she had wanted and she was burnt out - as many doctors unfortunately are. She is determined to help other burnt out doctors, teach them how to pay attention to their patients emotional and life states when diagnosing illnesses, AND coach others who feel cultural pressure to honor what's expected of them at the expense of their own dreams. Relevant Links: For more about Penelope go to : http://www.guidingclarity.com And for fun, you can see her acting here! : https://bit.ly/2PZsU1D For more episodes go to: https://schoolofconnection.com/podcast

Where do you go when you need anything new? Do you really consider what you need versus want? Would you be able to give up wanting more? My conversation with Christine Liu will inspire you and have you thinking deeply about these and other questions that are so easy for us to forget to ask ourselves. We talk about the mostly benefits, but a few challenges, of living a minimalist and zero-waste (yes, it’s called zero but you just do your best) lifestyle that she makes look gorgeous. It’s clear that minimalism will spread, for the benefit of all of us. Because if we keep up our consumerist ways, we or our progeny may be left with no choice but to go without…a beautiful planet. Relevant Links: Find Christine at her Website: https://www.snapshotsofsimplicity.com Christine’s Book “Sustainable Home” on Amazon at https://amzn.to/2wIyAFm . On Amazon UK at this link: https://amzn.to/2MOBP95, and info for other shops at this link: https://bit.ly/2NJpKyi For other episodes go to: https://schoolofconnection.com/podcast

Most of us would agree that the world could use more compassion. But we still think that discussions of compassion aren’t that important in the workplace. Imagine having compassion training at your corporate job instead of ‘sales’ or other skills training. And imagine if the results of compassion training made you more successful, engaged, creative, productive AND more likely to reach your work goals. Wait, can you train to be more compassionate? You bet. There’s plenty of science to back it up and Immanual Joseph is on a mission to spread compassion in workplaces and beyond. But how do you go from studying cancer, to training in compassion? Tune in! Relevant Links: Find Out More about Immanual Josephs compassion work at https://www.compassionleaders.com Contact him via email at: immanual@compassionleaders.com Watch his interview of the Host and Founder of School of Connection Rana Olk at: https://bit.ly/2wLHt0N

You have a big, bold idea but no clarity on how or where to start, or whether it can even become a reality. Maybe you want to make a difference, but think you lack ideas. Allegra Stein says that’s not true. We all have ideas, but we need to pay attention and give them ‘air’, for starters. And it’s normal to be afraid because big ideas are TERREXCITIFYING! She’s acted on a lot of big bold ideas herself, and has created a unique process to help others take action on their big ideas. Listen in to hear more about the 100 Ideas Project. Relevant Links: Find Allegra at https://www.allegrastein.com. Wondering what your big bold idea is? Find Alex Baisley at https://bigdreamprogram.mykajabi.com/p/home Allegra also recommends: Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert: https://amzn.to/2BcHnEQ Find other episodes at https://schoolofconnection.com/podcast