Learning From Your World

What's Happening in Today's Job Market? The Economy, AI, and the Future of Work | Connor Lokar

There's a lot of conversation about AI, the economy, and the future of work. But what's actually happening? In this episode, I sit down with Connor Lokar, Senior Forecaster and Keynote Manager at ITR Economics, to discuss why today's job market feels so different, how AI is influencing hiring, and what individuals and organizations can do to prepare for the future.
We discuss:
- Why today's job market feels so different- How AI and economic trends are changing hiring and the future of work- What individuals and business leaders can do to prepare for what's ahead

Rethinking Generational Differences at Work | With Alastair Greener

In this episode, I sit down with Alastair Greener, speaker, author, researcher, and host of the Generationally Speaking podcast.
We discuss:
- Alastair's insights from his research on communication across generations.
- How stereotypes can get in the way of connection.
- Why our formative experiences shape how we see the world, and what it takes to build trust and understanding across differences.
Whether you're leading a team, working across generations, or trying to better understand the people around you, this conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on communication and connection in a changing world.
Generationally Speaking Website

Can This App Help Us Build Real-World Connection? with Brad Steckart, Founder of Sit By Me

In this episode, I sit down with Brad Steckart, founder of Sit By Me, an app designed to help people connect in real life, in real time.
We talk about the story behind the app, why starting conversations can feel harder than it should, and how technology can serve as a bridge to real-world connection rather than a replacement for it. Brad also shares the personal experiences that shaped his work and what he’s learning about loneliness, courage, community, and creating more natural opportunities for people to meet.
Check out Sit By Me

How to Build Exceptional Relationships | Carole Robin

Strong relationships are not found, they're built.
In this episode, I talk with relationship expert and leadership educator Carole Robin, former Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty member and co-author of Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues. Together, we explore the practical skills that help people build trust, strengthen communication, and create meaningful relationships at work and in life.
We discuss:
- The difference between functional and exceptional relationships- Why being willing to be seen and known builds trust- How curiosity strengthens relationships- The role of vulnerability in effective leadership- How to use the 15% Rule to step outside your comfort zone- One practical step to strengthen a relationship this week
 
This episode is for you if you:
- Want stronger relationships at work or at home- Lead people and want to build trust- Feel stuck in surface-level communication- Want practical tools to build better relationships- Believe connection is essential to success and well-being
 
Resources:
Carole's LinkedIn
Connect Book

Are You in the Right Room? | Allen Hauge on Leadership & Peer Groups

Most leaders struggle because they’re trying to figure it out on their own. In this conversation with Allen Hauge, we talk about what changes when you’re in the right room. After more than 30 years working with CEOs, Allen shares how trust, vulnerability, and the right peer community help leaders gain clarity, and make better decisions.
In this episode, we discuss:- Why leaders make worse decisions in isolation- The “experience trap” and how it limits your thinking- Why clarity and connection are the foundation of strong leadership
If you’re leading a team, building a company, or trying to navigate complex decisions, this conversation offers a powerful reminder: you don’t have to do it alone. 

How to Make Friends as an Adult & Build a Community That Lasts | Holly Cooke

Making friends as an adult is hard, especially when you move somewhere new and don’t know anyone.
In this episode, I talk with Holly Cooke, founder of The Lonely Girls Club, about what it actually looks like to build friendships and community as an adult. Holly shares how she started the London Lonely Girls Club, why showing up matters more than confidence, and what it takes to keep going when things feel uncomfortable or uncertain over time.

Why We Can’t Be Happy Alone: The Science of Connection | Nic Marks

Happiness was never meant to be an individual pursuit. In this conversation, Nic Marks, founder of Friday Pulse and creator of the Happy Planet Index, explains why happiness evolved as a social emotion, and why our brains light up in connection with others. We explore why so many of us are stuck in “okay” lives, why individualism has unintentionally disconnected us from what makes us thrive, and how our relationships are the most powerful predictors of our health and longevity.
Nic also reveals why anger spreads faster than joy and how trust transforms entire communities. And in a world where people report more loneliness, more fear, and more fragmentation than ever, his message is a wake-up call: happiness isn’t something we chase alone. It’s something we create together.

How Do You Trust Again After Being Hurt? | Tracy A. Malone

What actually helps you trust again after you’ve been hurt or manipulated?
In this episode, author and educator Tracy A. Malone joins me to talk about what it takes to rebuild self-trust after narcissistic abuse. We unpack why awareness alone isn’t enough, how “sweet words” without consistent action break trust, and why self-forgiveness is often the hardest (and most freeing) part of healing.
We explore how fear and people-pleasing keep us stuck in old patterns, how to recognize your role without blaming yourself, and what it really means to trust your own voice again. You’ll walk away with simple, real-life ways to rebuild confidence, set boundaries without guilt, and choose relationships that feel mutual, safe, and real.

Is Love Something We Find, Feel, or Do? | Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt (Getting the Love You Want)

Love is not chemistry, compatibility tests, or waiting for someone who magically “gets us.” According to Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt, the couple behind Getting the Love You Want, love is a practice that rewires us over time.
In this episode, we talk about how two therapists who literally wrote the book on marriage came within inches of divorce, and why their relationship became stronger not by knowing more, but by doing things differently.
We explore how conflict can actually be a doorway into connection, why our brains go to war with the people we love, and how simple daily habits (like asking for permission before speaking, mirroring, and genuine affirmations) can change how safe we feel with others… and how safe they feel with us.

Why We Keep Reliving the Same Relationship Patterns | Karen McMahon

In this episode, divorce coach Karen McMahon and I unpack why the same relationship patterns keep showing up, even when the people change. We look at the childhood dynamics that shape how we communicate, handle conflict, set boundaries, and respond under stress.
Karen breaks down the difference between being victimized and seeing yourself as a victim, why people-pleasing and perfectionism form so early, and how recognizing your part in a dynamic gives you your power back, without shame or blame.