Run Your Life Show With Andy Vasily

Andy Vasily

Host Andy Vasily interviews inspiring leaders from professional sports, the field of education, and the health/wellness industry to unpack what striving for excellence means and to learn more about the guiding principles that shape their work. read less
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#242- The Noble Beauty of a Purposeful Life with Patrick Dougher
Yesterday
#242- The Noble Beauty of a Purposeful Life with Patrick Dougher
Ever wonder about the meaning of life? In this episode, Andy and Patrick explore this very question from a truly unique and emotional perspective that is certain to encourage you to reexamine your own thoughts on the matter. Patrick shares his power list of 5 things he believes every human is searching for.Patrick’s list is not a cliched list based on formal scientific research. Instead, it’s based on his personal journey that began as an “unsupervised” child in Brooklyn, New York, in the early 60s and is still ongoing at 60 years of age, shaping him into the luminary he is today. Patrick’s list is based on hard-earned life lessons as a homeless alcoholic at his lowest point to his soaring success of becoming a recording artist with the likes of Sade, Chuck D (Public Enemy) and Dan Zanes with many other stops in between. With 23 years of sobriety behind him, Patrick puts his philosophy of life on full display through one very poignant story of having his bicycle stolen in this episode. You get the full range of his process in this one story.  You see that he experiences the full range of human emotion but ultimately returns to his place of equilibrium due to the embeddedness of his own personal philosophy. He has the same initial response that any of the rest of us would have upon learning that something had been taken from us. That we have been violated or disrespected. However, he processes that experience, sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously and returns back to his place of gratitude to get back on track. A key thread throughout Patrick’s story, whether in childhood or adulthood, is the idea of the inner voice or critic. This voice often tells us we aren’t good enough, nobody loves us, or we can’t overcome this. And in many cases, we accept it at face value. However, Patrick’s response is to take it under advisement and consciously make his own decision. Patrick shows us that we do not have to accept the inner critic’s assessment. He also makes the point that “the mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.” He believes we have much to unlearn from what the inner critic has convinced us over time. The beauty is that we can!Today, Patrick has many roles: philosopher, musician, artist, author, and grandfather, to name a few. However, after this interview, I would like to recognize one more role for him. He is a “spiritual being having a human experience.” His understanding of the human condition is uncanny and is derived from the full range of experiences he has hadthroughout his journey with people from all walks of life. He has taken that lifetime of experience and formulated an incredibly resilient and awe-inspiring perspective that works for him. After listening to this podcast, I hope it works for you as well. For additional insight into Patrick’s life, check out the inspiring video featuring him and produced by Green Renaissance (now called Reflections of Life) entitled Am I Worthy? After only a couple of weeks of availability, it has racked up more than 55,000 views and is generating an enormous amount of buzz with more almost 1,400 comments -- a true testament to the power of Patrick's message. Thanks for listening, and please share this episode with others. Connect With Patrick: WebsiteInstagramEmailPlease connect with Justine and Michael from Reflections of Life to see their wonderful short films.Very special thanks to my friend Kevin Nall for his work helping me to produce this episode.Please be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
Obert Jongwe: A Brushstroke of Excellence Ep. 241
Nov 4 2023
Obert Jongwe: A Brushstroke of Excellence Ep. 241
My guest in today’s podcast exemplifies what it means to take the risks needed to find his passion and true calling in life. His name is Obert Jongwe and he is a Zimbabwean artist who has devoted his life to the craft of painting. When I think of Obert and his life, there is a great quote that comes to mind that truly represents what it means to take the risks needed to thrive in life both personally and professionally. The quote is from Dr. Carl Jung, a world renowned Swiss psychologist who passed away in 1961. "The cave we fear to enter holds the treasure we seek."When you think of your own life, what comes up for you when you think about times in the past that you either took the risk needed to succeed at something that mattered to you or you failed to take the risk needed to pursue something that mattered to you. Obert's ability to take risk and believe in himself is a beautiful story of finding purpose in life. I first came across Obert’s story in an amazing short documentary that was created by the South African filmmakers Michael and Justine from the Green Renaissance project. I released a podcast I recorded with Michael Raimundo last month and in our conversation, he spoke and the work he and his partner Justine are doing with their Green Renaissance project.They  are a passionate team on a journey to inspire change by Creating beautiful, meaningful stories. They’ve done over 250 short films featuring amazingly ordinary people doing wonderful things in the world. I highly encourage you to check out their YouTube channel which you can find by searching for Green Renaissance. I will be doing free promotional work for them as I truly believe in their cause and hope that the listeners of my podcast can tune into their films which are sure to inspire you and provoke you to think differently about your life. When I watched their film featuring Obert Jongwe, I was inspired to reach out to him to invite him on my podcast to share his amazing story of resilience, meaning, and purpose. His work, as a painter, led him from Zimbabwe to South Africa. He has had his work featured in renowned art galleries in South Africa and Zimbabwe. His story is sure to move you to think about your true calling whatever that calling might be. I hope that my listeners will check out Obert’s work and maybe even one day buy one of his beautiful paintings. He is a wonderful person with a kind, caring heart who is hoping to impact the world in his own unique ways. It was an honor to interview him and share his life story. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for listening. Connect With ObertTwitterRoussouw Modern Gallery InstagramFacebookPlease follow Michael and Justine's work at Green Renaissance and consider donating to their cause. Michael and Justine's video about Obert can be found herePlease be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
Green Renaissance- Reflections on Life with Michael Raimondo: Ep.240
Sep 18 2023
Green Renaissance- Reflections on Life with Michael Raimondo: Ep.240
Today’s episode is devoted to two very inspiring humans, Justine and Michael, who have made it their life mission to spread hope and joy in the world and they do this through their Green Renaissance project which will soon be changing names to Reflections on Life. For the last 7 years, Michael and Justine, who are filmmakers, have embarked on a journey that has allowed them to have a very special glimpse into the lives of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They literally took the biggest gamble of their lives and quit their day jobs to start up their project Green Rennaisance. They had no idea whether or not they would be successful, but leapt into the unknown to follow their hearts and their passion to make a difference a difference in the world in their own unique way. Simply put, Justine and Michael are on a journey to inspire change by creating beautiful, meaningful stories through the films they make.One of the things they are most proud of is that they have no corporate agendas in place. They are not linked to any advertising, brands or products. They create their work for free which is the true embodiment of a life of service. I first came across their work a few months ago. My wife Neila had found their films online and began to share them with me. As I watched more and more of their films, I was deeply moved by what it was they were trying to do. They pay for the films out of pocket, but have established a patron page, so anyone who can afford it, who finds meaning in their work, can donate whatever they can to help offset the cost of making these films. I thank you for tuning into my episode with the inspiring filmmaker Michael Raimondo. Please follow Justine and Michael's work and their Green Renaissance project. Connect with Michael and JustineWebsiteFacebookGreen Renaissance Trailer on YouTubeGreen Renaissance YouTube ChannelPlease be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
George Mumford- Unlocking Your Masterpiece Within-#239
Sep 6 2023
George Mumford- Unlocking Your Masterpiece Within-#239
Joining me on my Run Your Life podcast this week is George Mumford. He is arguably one of the greatest sports psychologists in the world based on the results he has achieved with his work. He has taught mindfulness and meditation to everyone from prison inmates to corporate executives to some of the most extraordinary athletes on the planet such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O Neal. He was also 11-time NBA championship head coach Phil Jackson’s right hand man during a run of 8 NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and the LA Lakers. George Mumford was referred to as Phil Jackson’s secret weapon and helped the Bulls and the Lakers reach a legacy defining run of championships over those years. In Phil Jackson’s own words, he has said, that "Time after time and team after team, I’ve seen athletes transformed and seen championships saved by players who believed in Mumford’s one mind, one breath efforts." A true testament to the impact of George Mumford’s work. However, success did not come easy for George. During his career in high school and university, he was wracked with one debilitating injury after another which resulted in him developing an addiction to opioids which then led to a full on heroin and alcohol addiction that he grappled with for years. After hitting rock bottom, George devoted himself to recovery by focusing on his healing from the inside out. It was during this time, he found the power of meditation and mindfulness, working alongside some of the most brilliant minds in the world in this field of study including renowned experts John Kabat-Zinn, Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg. George has now been clean for 39 years and has made it his life mission to teach and work with others  helping them to find true fulfillment, meaning and purpose in their lives.It’s no surprise he has impacted so many humans through his work including Michael Jordan who credits George with transforming his on court leadership with the Chicago BullsKobe Bryant has also emphasized the impact of George’s work in many interviews and in his book ‘The Mamba Mentality’. He acknowledges George as a key figure in his mental training and personal development, often saying that his teachings and mindfulness techniques had a significant impact on his own ability to stay focused, maintain composure under pressure and perform at a high level. George continues to share his work for free on his YouTube channel At Home with George and every few days he posts a video sharing deep insight into how meditation and mindfulness can be applied in anybody’s life regardless of what it is they are going through or pursuing in their life. You can find this series below. In our conversation today, George and I unpack some of the key ideas embedded within his latest book including the power of mindfulness and ways to navigate through tough times in our life in a way that often leads to our greatest breakthroughs. Connect With George: WebsiteTwitterLinkedInInstagramFacebookLink TreeFind George's books by clicking the links below: The Mindful AthletePlease be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
Joel Monk: Trusting The Intelligence Within-#238
Jul 19 2023
Joel Monk: Trusting The Intelligence Within-#238
My conversation today is with Joel Monk, the co-founder of Coaches Rising which is a global community of over 6000 coaches dedicated to having the biggest impact they can have. He co-founded Coaches Rising nearly 15 years ago and has done extensive training in multiple different modalities in order to better understand how to help his clients truly thrive, both personally and professionally, in their lives.Based on my own experiences in leadership and in coaching a variety of people from different backgrounds and fields of work, from what I have seen and observed, the ones that are most successful are usually the ones who have gone through a deep process of personal transformation and growth in their own lives. Simply put, they have done a great deal of inner work in order to better understand themselves, their strengths and their areas in need of improvement. The most impactful coaches and educators out there are the ones who have gone through this process themselves and Joel Monk embodies exactly what it means to do the very difficult and deeply challenging internal work needed to continually transform himself so that he can help coach his clients through the turbulent times they face in this ever-changing and unpredictable world.What I truly appreciate about Joel is his ability to continually make himself vulnerable, sharing his real truth without fear of judgement, while demonstrating a strong sense of self-compassion which is the same attuned approach he brings to the clients he coaches and the amazing guests he interviews on his Coaches Rising podcast.In our conversation today, despite only having an hour, Joel and I go quite deep around a number of themes including:The importance of honoring the intelligence inside each of us in order to bring out our bestExploring and identifying our deeper sense of calling in our livesBetter understanding how to cope with emotional triggers Better dealing with difficult moments in our life in a way that allows us to come out better on the other side of the hardshipWe also discuss several other themes in our podcast that I hope will spark you to reflect more deeply about your own life in ways that have you thinking about what might be possible. Thanks for tuning in and I sincerely hope you share this episode with anyone who you feel will benefit from listening. About Joel: He's the co-founder of Coaches Rising and very passionate about the role coaches can play in our turbulent times. He's also a coach and has worked with hundreds of executives, entrepreneurs and CEO’s from many different countries around the world.He's inspired to take a cross paradigmatic approach to his coaching and is influenced by – developmental theory, Steve March & Aletheia coaching, Thomas Hübl, Circling, Doug Silsbee, Purpose Guiding, Somatics, Focusing, AEDP….He also hosts Coaches Rising podcast where he interviews incredible people to explore how they work with others to facilitate transformation. Joel lives in Amsterdam with his beautiful family.Connect With Joel at: joelmonk@coachesrising.comcoachesrising.comjoel-monk.comPlease be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
Dr. Chris Johnson: The Leadership Pause, #237
Jul 11 2023
Dr. Chris Johnson: The Leadership Pause, #237
Dr. Chris Johnson joins me for episode #237 of my Run Your Life podcast. She’s the author of the book The Leadership Pause and is a highly sought after speaker and executive coach to many successful leaders. The experience she has, as a leadership consultant, has provided her deep insight into the real needs and challenges that leaders face on an ongoing basis. In today's episode, Chris and I unpack some of the key principles from her book the Leadership Pause: Sharpen Your Attention, Deepen Your Presence, and Navigate the Future which was published in July 2022.  In her book, Chris takes us on a guided journey into our most truthful future as leaders.  Her call to action is for all leaders--new and seasoned professionals alike--to take on the important practice of pausing.The Leadership Pause shows how to quiet the noise of the daily hustle so we can hear the still-small voice of purposeful curiosity that lives within us, which breeds wisdom in both work and life.The Leadership Pause teaches us all:the gift of mindful awareness that leads to clarity of mind and heart, reduced stress, and increased resiliencea deeper connection to selfa clearer vision of the natural leader resting just beneath the surfaceChris' book is for anyone looking to deepen their impact on the lives around them, leave a profound mark on their organizations, and build a legacy of intentional focus, pragmatic ambition, grounded compassion, and empathy-in-action. It was a genuine honor to have her on my podcast and I hope that after hearing our discussion today, you get your hands on a copy of Chris' book The Leadership Pause as it's sure to help you sharpen your skills as a leader. Thanks for listening and please share this episode with anyone who you feel will benefit from tuning in. Connect With Chris: WebsiteLinkedInYou can get your own copy of The Leadership Pause here.Please be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
Luke Czepeila: Flying on the Edge of Possibility #236
May 27 2023
Luke Czepeila: Flying on the Edge of Possibility #236
On March 13th, 2023, world-renowned Red Bull aerobatics pilot, Luke Czepeila, became the first human to ever land an airplane atop the helipad of the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel in Dubai. In today's episode, Luke and I have a chat about his career in flying, the death defying feat he accomplished two months ago in Dubai and how flying became a passion of his. Luke and his team of experts worked endlessly for two years preparing for the stunt in Dubai. As you will hear in this episode, Luke had more than 600 practice landings at their training facility in the United States and a special custom made airplane was built to help Luke be able to attempt this challenge. You will hear all about this experience, the training that went into it, and learn more about the mindset that Luke has for this type of flying. He is a remarkable person driven to do big things in his life. He has a great story of persistence, commitment, dedication, and resilience. Added to this, Luke has put in the time to be the very best in the world at his craft, he’s won Red Bull world championships and has been on the podium 19 other times in these events. His extreme discipline is evident in everything that he does in life….including being a airbus commercial pilot and captain of one of Europe’s most renowned airlines….When I think of Luke’s story, I think of a quote from Michael Jordan when it comes to fear. This is what Michael said: "I’ve never been afraid …..obviously I’ve been nervous, but afraid means you’re not confident in your skills but I have total confidence in my skills, so I’m not afraid because I have fully prepared for each moment I face."Luke and I talked about the role of fear when it comes to the extreme styles of flying he does and his response was that he is always extremely prepared for everything he does and with this preparation comes the belief and confidence needed to do the things he does. He is goal-oriented, deeply disciplined, and methodical in his approach to life and work and this is one of the main reasons why he has achieved the status he has in the world of flying. I hope you enjoy this episode. If you haven’t seen the recent landing he made atop the hotel in Dubai, please check it out. I put a link to this video in the show notes of today’s episode. Connect with LukeWebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagramWatch Luke's historic landing atop Burj Al Arab Jumeirah Hotel herePlease be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
Charles Feltman: On Leadership, Trust and Supporting Teams That Truly Thrive-#235
May 21 2023
Charles Feltman: On Leadership, Trust and Supporting Teams That Truly Thrive-#235
In today’s episode, we will hear from well-known trust expert, author, coach and consultant Charles Feltman. Charles’ work has been instrumental in they field of leadership and is embraced by many around the world as it genuinely helps leaders to focus on how best to create the conditions for ongoing trust in the workplace. More importantly, it also gives them to language and tools to rebuild trust when it has been compromised or broken altogether. Charles is the author of The Thin Book of Trust, first and second edition. In this book leaders can find very useful, practical strategies to prioritize trust in the workplace through better understanding the four assessment domains of trust which are Care, Sincerity, Reliability and Competence. Charles work is deeply impactful and well-known best selling author Brene Brown has embraced Charles’ work on trust as well as his definitions of trust and distrust in her own writing and talks. In her own words, she says that:“ Charles Feltman’s work to me is amazing as it helps leaders to immediately build more trust with the people around them. His work is so practical and actionable, but at the same time very deep and meaningful as it is so applicable to our lives.”Charles is a wonderful human who cares deeply about the work he puts out into the world. I sincerely hope that after this show, you get a copy of the Thin Book of Trust and subscribe to his podcast Trust which you can find in the show notes of today’s episode.Connect With Charles:Website: https://insightcoaching.com/business-coaching/Buy Charles' Book: https://www.amazon.com/Thin-Trust-Essential-Primer-Building/dp/0966537394Brene's Dare To Lead Podcast With CharlesAndy's Previous Episodes With CharlesMarch 2022September 2022Please be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
#234- The Path to Virtuoso Leadership with Andy Vasily & Jorge Rodriguez
May 15 2023
#234- The Path to Virtuoso Leadership with Andy Vasily & Jorge Rodriguez
Why is it that some leaders excel at creating lasting success in their organizations in regards to motivation, well-being, productivity, and engagement while other leaders don't? What separates the very best leaders from the rest of them? Despite the vast amount of research about effective and impactful leadership, why is it that some leaders leave a trail of fragmented work relationships, lack of morale, trust, and disengagement in the workplace? And, what can leaders such as this do to strengthen their character by learning to lead with genuine compassion, responsibility, integrity and forgiveness? In today's show, I'll unpack some phenomenal research around impactful leadership based on a 7-year study done by Dr. Fred Kiel and his team on over 100 CEOs in multiple different fields. This study clearly shows that the best leaders, which Dr. Kiel refers to as 'virtuoso leaders' have a five times greater impact on their organizations than 'self-focused' leaders as identified in their study. In this episode, we will look at the specific behaviors and actions that virtuoso leaders demonstrate with consistency in the workplace and explain the impact that these types of leaders have on well-being, motivation, engagement and productivity. As well, we will look at the specific behaviors and actions of 'self-focused' leaders and the negative impact that their style of leadership has on their organizations. Added to this, we will also look at what the data says about the impact that the leadership teams of virtuoso and self-focused leaders have on the organization and its stakeholders. The results speak volumes for the importance of leaders taking their own growth seriously, especially in the face of such an uncertain, unpredictable future. The world needs authentic leadership more than ever, so if you are a leader listening to today's episode, how are you holding yourself accountable for your own growth in order to have the true impact you desire? Jorge Rodriguez joins me for today's episode and, in this discussion, I will also share with him a journal writing framework for any leader wanting to reflect more deeply on their leadership and next steps needed to become better at what they do. You can download a PDF to this handbook by clicking the link below. Thanks for listening to today's episode and sharing it with anyone who you feel will benefit from tuning in.  Connect With AndyTwitterLinkedInWebsiteConnect With Jorge RodriguezTo download the free Path To Virtuoso Leadership handbook click herePlease be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
#233- Improving Motivation & Increasing Productivity with Andy Vasily
Apr 25 2023
#233- Improving Motivation & Increasing Productivity with Andy Vasily
In today’s show, I'll explore the themes of well-being, motivation and fulfillment. As well, I'll share three strategies you can immediately put into action in your own life to seek deeper meaning and purpose. These research-backed strategies have been proven to increase well-being and motivation and are sure to help you continue to move in your desired direction in life. In this episode, I share a special story as a powerful reminder about our own light within and the importance of keeping this light burning brightly. There will be external things that happen in our life, whether it be particular circumstances or people, that cause turmoil and distress. These things can inevitably lead to the light within greatly dimming or being extinguished crushing our own intrinsic motivation to stay on the path of growth, learning and personal development. It can also be far too easy, at times, to succumb to the pressures of life and lose focus on the things that truly matter in our lives. Every time this happens, it becomes our responsibility to stay motivated, intentional, and purposeful in our actions to keep our metaphorical flames lit. And, there are things we can do to increase motivation, well-being and productivity. Hope you enjoy this episode and please be sure to share with anyone who you feel with benefit from listening. Thanks. Connect With AndyTwitterLinkedInWebsiteJoseph Haydn's Farewell SymphonyPlease be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
#231- The Invisible Parts of Leadership with Andy Vasily
Apr 17 2023
#231- The Invisible Parts of Leadership with Andy Vasily
Today on the show, a dive into authentic leadership, what this means. As well, we will explore what gets in the way of it. In particular, we’ll explore identity awareness and the impact that this can have on any leader’s ability to lead with authenticity and purpose in order to have the impact they desire.To build trust in the workplace, leaders need to make the first move. However, that is becoming much more difficult for many leaders around the world.  Based on the latest research, two major themes are standing out more than ever in organizations.The first theme is that there has been a precipitous decline in trust in the workplace over the past few years. And secondly, leadership is harder than ever based on a variety of factors including the ever-changing global landscape, the dramatic increase in mental health issues, and the staff retention crisis (there are many other factors as well).True leadership skills are a precious resource in the workplace right now and will continue to be well into the future. So, where do we need to begin to ensure leadership is equipped with the skills necessary to face such turmoil and challenge in the workplace? This and more in today's podcast. Hope you have a listen and share with anyone who you feel will benefit from listening. Connect With AndyTwitterLinkedInWebsiteSpecial Credit to Jim RoussinFind Jim's latest book herePlease be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
Donna Ashworth: On Love, Life, Loss and Learning: #230
Mar 24 2023
Donna Ashworth: On Love, Life, Loss and Learning: #230
On the show today, the inspiring Scottish poet Donna Ashworth joins us to share life lessons learned from her journey as a poet and best-selling author. Donna has written 8 books and, with a following of more than a million, Donna’s poetry speaks to the hearts and souls of countless people around the world through the themes of love, life, and loss. She has committed herself to helping as many people as possible understand that their imperfections, flaws and failures are all a part of their own journey of learning that ultimately makes them stronger and more resilient and to know that they are capable of so much more than they realize. Donna is a living example of someone who has overcome many obstacles in her own life in order to achieve the success she has by embracing vulnerability in a way that has helped her to develop the courage to speak her truth. Her journey and her work have inspired so many others to find their own truth and authenticity. Themes that we will explore are: Truth and authenticityFulfillment and well-beingThe creative processHow to deal with the inner criticLearning from hardship, failure and obstaclesDeveloping a more resilient mindsetThe power of poetryIt was a joy to interview Donna and I hope you find your own insight and takeaway value from our discussion. Please share this episode with anyone who you feel might benefit from listening. Connect with Donna Ashworth:WebsiteFacebookInstagramAll of Donna's books can be found hereThe BBC Scotland Interview mentioned in this podcastWelsh actors/actresses read Donna's poem 'History Will Remember When the World Stopped'Please be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
#228- Dr. Jason Patent: Humanly Possible-A New Model of Leadership for a More Inclusive World
Mar 11 2023
#228- Dr. Jason Patent: Humanly Possible-A New Model of Leadership for a More Inclusive World
Dr. Jason Patent, author of Humanly Possible: A New Model of Leadership for a More Inclusive World joins me today on the podcast to share his deep insight in regards to how power can be used to create spaces where people feel they truly belong—leading to less stress and more happiness, to better and more productive workplaces, and ultimately to more fulfilling lives for everyone. It was a joy to have my old friend on the podcast to share his wisdom about what authentic leadership means in this day and age and also provide life lessons learned as an endurance athlete who has completed three 100-mile races along with other ultra events competed in. Jason is an organizational leader, consultant, author, thought leader, instructor, and workshop facilitator in the fields of global leadership and global diversity, equity, and inclusion. He loves partnering with organizations of all kinds to create thriving workplaces and classrooms where people feel they truly belong, and where they can devote their full talents.In his seven years as Director of the Robertson Center for Intercultural Leadership (CIL) at U.C. Berkeley’s International House, Jason, in partnership with Lauren and the CIL team, built out a suite of impactful workshops and courses for students from all six continents, and for organizations from local nonprofits and governments, to top universities, to Fortune 100 companies.Jason has served as American Co-Director of the Hopkins–Nanjing Center for Chinese and American Studies in Nanjing, China; Inaugural Director of the Stanford Program in Beijing; Consultant at Gap International; and Vice President, Communications & Marketing at Orchestrall, Inc. Fluent in Mandarin, Jason has a B.A. in East Asian Studies from Harvard University, an M.A. in the same field from Stanford University, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Linguistics from U.C. Berkeley. Jason is passionate about the work he does and is making his dent in the world through his ongoing commitment to provide leaders with the training they need to show up as their best selves every day in order to lead more inclusive, empowering workplaces where all people feel a sense of belonging and trust. Hope you have a listen and share with anyone who you feel will benefit from tuning in.  Connect With Jason: WebsiteLinkedInBuy the Book: Humanly Possible- A New Model of Leadership for a More Inclusive WorldPlease be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
#227- Under Pressure- Strategies to Better Cope with Pressure When It Counts with Andy Vasily
Feb 27 2023
#227- Under Pressure- Strategies to Better Cope with Pressure When It Counts with Andy Vasily
In this episode, we will look at the impact that pressure and stress have on the body and mind in high stakes environments when you want to show up as your best selves in order to fulfill your potential and be impactful. We all experience moments in our lives when we face certain challenges. Perhaps it's having to give an important talk in front of colleagues or an audience of strangers. Maybe it's having to do a sales pitch to senior leaders in your company. It could just be having a difficult conversation with someone close to you or a colleague at work or even competing in a sports competition of some sort. Regardless of what the situation is, we all want to be impactful.  During these times, we want to be able to rise to the occasion to be our best in that moment to honor who we are and the impact that we want to have. However, there are times when we let ourselves down and fail to show up as we intended to due to giving into the demons of self-doubt, fear of judgement and a harsh negative inner voice. Although this is a natural part of being human, there are certain skills and strategies we can build and develop within ourselves to be able to face pressure in high stakes environments, when it matters most, to be able to perform to the best of our abilities. This episode will explore what the research around performance psychology has shown in regards what actually happens to the mind and body when under pressure. As well, three research-backed strategies will be shared that are immediately applicable in our own personal and professional lives in order to show up as our best selves when it counts the most. If you have ever caved into pressure or let nerves and anxiety get in the way of performing to the best of your ability on the stage, in the board room, in a sports competition, or any other situation when it mattered, this episode is for you. I hope you find takeaway value and share this episode with anyone who you feel will benefit from listenings. Thanks. Connect With Andy VasilyWebsite: http://www.andyvasily.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyvasilyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-vasily-07b551157/Special Credits in this episode go to: Jimmy Fallon, Brendan Urie and the Roots remix for their rendition of Under Pressure by David BowieDr. Martin Seligman's work in Positive PsychologyDr. Michael Gervais and the Compete to Create online training courseDr. Jim Loehr's workOprah Winfrey's youtube talkPlease be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
#226- The Conditions Necessary For High Performance with Andy Vasily & Jorge Rodriguez
Feb 14 2023
#226- The Conditions Necessary For High Performance with Andy Vasily & Jorge Rodriguez
Today’s show is a unique one as my good friend, colleague and fellow podcaster, Jorge Rodriguez, takes control of the host seat in today’s episode. In our discussion, we take a dive into the wonderful Winter Enrichment Program held at our university KAUST here in Saudi Arabia in January and what we learned from interviewing some of the amazing keynote speakers and featured presenters. Jorge served as my sound producer for these episodes and also jumped in to ask a few questions. However, in today’s show, Jorge flips the script and interviews me about some of the presentations that I gave during the conference and what it was I wanted each audience member to think more deeply about in regards to the main themes of my presentations. At this conference, I was able to present about peak performance and the necessary conditions needed for humans to flourish and live more productive, fulfilled lives. In my conversation with Jorge, we take a dive into these themes and talk about how these ideas and strategies resonate with each of us based on our own unique contexts. Jorge was a gifted athlete in university and was on a track and field scholarship while attending the university of houston, so he was able to speak about what high performance meant to him during this time and what it was that he had to focus on to be his best. I also share what high performance means to me and what I’ve come to learn through my training as a performance coach. This conversation was very enjoyable to me as Jorge is not only a good friend and colleague but someone who I have developed deep respect for over the years based on his own life’s work and passion he has as an educator. Hope you find value in this discussion and share this episode with anyone who you feel will benefit from listening. Connect With JorgeTwitterPodcastWebsitePlease be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
#225- Lessons Learned From Conquering Mount Everest with Raha Moharrak
Feb 13 2023
#225- Lessons Learned From Conquering Mount Everest with Raha Moharrak
In today's episode, Raha Moharrak and I have a discussion about her life as a mountaineer and what she learned from scaling Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world at 29032 feet. When I think of Raha’s story, a quote from Nelson Mandela comes to mind. What Mandela said was this: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers his fear"Raha exemplifies what it means to be courageously bold in one’s life and to take the risks needed to leap into the unknown. For Raha that leap into the unknown led her to scaling some of the most difficult mountain tops in the world. What makes Raha’s story even more inspiring is that she was able to achieve all of this during a time when many young Saudi woman were discouraged from dreaming big and taking on difficult challenges. Having grown up in Jeddah, Raha had never been exposed to mountaineering but she lived a very adventurous and athletic life early on which propelled her on to dreaming big. In order to prepare for her journey to the top of Everest, Raha was required to get as much climbing experience as possible. In the year prior to summiting Everest she challenged herself to be able to scale 7 of the highest peaks in the world, as well she worked on her technical skills in mountaineering at a climbing school in Seattle, Washington. Her story is amazing as is her passion for inspiring all people to better understand that within each of them are limitless possibilities. I hope you enjoy my discussion with Raha Moharrak and share this episode with anyone who you feel will benefit from listening. Connect With RahaInstagramFacebookTwitterRead CNN's Article on RahaPlease be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
#224- Dr. Paul Sutter: Lessons Learned From Space Exploration and Discovery
Feb 9 2023
#224- Dr. Paul Sutter: Lessons Learned From Space Exploration and Discovery
In today's episode, I interview Dr. Paul Sutter. Paul is a theoretical cosmologist, award-winning science communicator, U.S. Cultural Ambassador, author, essayist, podcaster, speaker, TV host, and a globally recognized leader in the intersection of art and science. Paul is a research professor at the Institute for Advanced Computational Science at Stony Brook University and a guest researcher at the Center for Computational Astrophysics with the Flatiron Institute in New York City.Paul has authored two books, Your Place in the Universe and How to Die in Space. In addition to his books, he writes for Space.com, Ars Technica, Nautilus, Undark, Live Science, and more, with his articles syndicating to news outlets worldwide.Paul hosts a variety of science shows across all platforms, including How the Universe Works on Science Channel, Space Out on Discovery, and Edge of Knowledge on Ars Technica. He also writes and hosts his own shows, including his hit Ask a Spaceman podcast, which has been downloaded over 7 million times.Paul earned his PhD in physics in 2011 as a Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellow at the University of Illinois. He then spent three years as a research fellow at the Paris Institute for Astrophysics followed by two years at the Trieste Observatory in Italy. Prior to his current appointment, he held a joint position as the chief scientist at the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio and as a cosmological researcher at the Ohio State University.This conversation dives into the role of curiosity, imagination and the importance of keeping an open mind when it comes to learning. Hope you enjoy it and share it with anyone who will benefit from listening. Connect With PaulPaul's WebsiteTwitterYoutubeFacebookPlease be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.
#223- Hilde Fålun Strøm and Sunniva Sorby: Lessons Learned From Living Unassisted in North Pole
Jan 27 2023
#223- Hilde Fålun Strøm and Sunniva Sorby: Lessons Learned From Living Unassisted in North Pole
It was an honor to interview Sunniva Sorby and Hilde Fålun Strøm in my latest podcast episode. Sunniva and Hilde are both courageously bold expeditioners, and citizen scientists who just over two years ago became the first women to live unassisted at the North Pole for what was supposed to be 9 months, but due to covid ended up being 21 months. Sunniva and Hilde's work to raise global awareness around climate change is remarkable as is their journey itself. They chose to live for two winters in total isolation on the Norwegian Arctic island of Svalbard to raise awareness of the massive impact climate change is having on our polar regions. In our interview we will unpack what that journey was like for them, how they learned to deal with fear, and what their biggest learning and takeaway was from that experience.This interview is one of 3 interviews I conducted as part of the Winter Enrichment Program 2023 at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. You will learn more about the amazing Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) in today's episode. Sunniva and Hilde are truly inspirational in the work that they do to raise global awareness around the issue of climate change. Hope you enjoy this episode and share with anyone who you feel will benefit from tuning in.  Connect with Sunniva and HildeTwitterLinkedInInstagramWebsiteBuy their book Hearts in the Ice herePlease be sure to subscribe to my Run Your Life podcast, much appreciated.