Today’s guest is Craig Butler, a respected leader in the effort to care for the nation’s natural resources and environment. Craig’s work as a public servant includes 6 years has head of the Ohio EPA. While there, he developed initiatives that have become national models for protecting drinking water standards and watersheds. He is now CEO of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, a large and unusual entity that for 90 years has been conserving water, preventing floods and supporting recreation resources for millions of people in Ohio. Craig describes why he chose public service and how he found opportunities. He talks about the power of collaboration and how getting things done may require working in partnership with other organizations. And he suggests how you might start a career focused on the environment, whether you are just now joining the work force, or are seeking a professional transition path.

Today’s guest is a widely respected government attorney, and my friend, Arlean Leland. She recently retired from an impressive Federal career, including more than two decades as Associate General Counsel for Civil Rights, Labor and Employment, at the powerful Department of Agriculture. Over the years her accomplishments brought many accolades, including multiple honor awards from both the USDA Secretary and the President of the United States. Arlean tells us about her life and career, starting with her modest beginning as the child of a teen mom. She describes how hard work, strong values and connecting with other people helped build her career. She says she knows what it’s like to be the only person of color in the room, and that experience has strengthened her belief in never treating people as invisible. We discuss the crisis surrounding some DEI and EEO programs, and Arlean shares tips for creating inclusion and diversity policies that will make your team stronger. For more see: https://exe-coach.com/about/

Our returning guest today is Erin Lewellen, CEO of Tilting Futures, a nonprofit that creates immersive programs to prepare young people for careers that might impact global issues. The organization -- which was once known as Global Citizen Year -- has found ways to thrive, despite major challenges, like COVID. Recently, Tilting Futures expanded its efforts to help Gen Z students develop skills, build optimism and get ready to change the world. Erin will talk about how her team evolved, including by gathering great data and building new partnerships. And she will describe some of the lessons they’ve learned through their 2000+ alumni. Finally, we’ll talk about how new experiences, and curiosity about other people, can change your life, wherever you are in your career. For more see: https://tiltingfutures.org

Our guest today, Kim Scott, is a popular expert on creating a more positive and respectful workplace. Kim helps leaders to create cultures where everyone does their best work and enjoys working together. Earlier, she was an executive coach at tech firms like Dropbox and Twitter, as well as a faculty member at Apple University. Here, Kim will tell us about her new book, Radical Respect – How to Work Together Better. It’s about creating organizations that support both belonging and individuality. Kim also will share practical tips about how to deal with bias, prejudice and bullying. For more see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimm4/

This episode features two retired judges are committed to decoding legal jargon and taking some of the mystery out of the legal system. Judge Tom Hodson and Judge Gayle Williams Byers – sometimes known as around WOUB at “The Judicial Twins” – are both teachers of judges. And now they have launched a podcast that explains prominent cases and everyday judicial procedures in language that the rest of us can understand. In their Next Witness…Please podcast, they don’t indulge in stodgy lectures. Instead they offer insightful comments and explain courtroom developments in plain English, and even with a dash of humor. For more see: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1248539126/next-witness-please https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-hodson-797365284 https://www.linkedin.com/in/gayle-williams-byers-a596216

Today, Judge David S. Tatel describes his remarkable new book, Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice. The book, co-written with his wife, Edie Tatel, beautifully weaves together several themes: his career as a civil rights attorney, his happy family life, the challenges of becoming blind, and the freedom made possible by his guide dog, Vixen. At the same time, it describes his growing concern about courts that disregard the principles of judicial restraint. In this episode, Judge Tatel shares his inspiring story, and gives us a sense of the joy he has found throughout his busy life. He also describes some of his worries about the state of our judiciary, and urges listeners to become involved citizens, including by voting. For more see: https://www.amazon.com/Vision-Blindness-David-S-Tatel/dp/0316542024 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_S._Tatel

Today’s guest, Giselle Ugarte, is an entrepreneur, an advertising whiz and a social media coach. And she has almost 300 thousand followers on the fast-growing platform, TikTok. Giselle believes in the power of video messages to tell your story, including in a job search. She says whatever platforms you prefer, your goal in social media should be to connect with other people, build real relationships and serve your audience, in addition to promoting your products or services. She describes why it’s more important to be authentic than to look your best. And she offers tips to help you up your social presence, wherever you are in your career.

In this episode, we explore careers in the travel field, and describe new kinds of opportunities for agencies that specialize in luxury travel. Our guest is Sandy Saburn, a leader at Gifted Travel Network, a fast-growing, female-led company in the high-end travel industry. Sandy has always loved taking trips. And after being a career coach, a marketing expert, and a business consultant, she switched gears and became a travel expert. Here she explains how the industry is evolving, and why there’s a new wave of opportunities for people who want to work in it. She shares tips about how you could get started in the travel biz, perhaps as an advisor, and she explains what it takes to be an entrepreneur in the field. Also, she reminds us that life is short, and now is a good time to plan those trips you were saving for the future. For more see: www.giftedtravelnetwork.com And this link from Sandy shares info on the entrepreneurial mindset: https://www.giftedtravelnetwork.com/meredith-podcast

Today’s theme is the importance of creating a good fit between the way we prefer to work and the organization that employs us. Our expert guest, Dr. André Martin, is an organizational psychologist who spent 20 years as a leader in major companies like Mars, Nike, Disney and Google. He tells us about his new book, “Wrong Fit, Right Fit - Why How We Work Matters More Than Ever.” André says the way our job fits our work style is so important because our identities get all tangled up with what we do, and if we are dissed in the context of work, we feel bad throughout our life. André offers tips about finding the right job, and how to create change if your current job doesn’t suit the way you like to work. He suggests that you regularly take stock of your career and the stress it causes in your whole life. He explains the value of managing up. And he describes how some smart employers are helping their talent to find the right fit. For more, see: https://www.wrongfitrightfit.com

For some people, launching a job search seems more challenging than ever. Our repeat guest, Mark Anthony Dyson, says “think about it like the weather.” Job market conditions vary a good deal, depending on many factors, including your location, profession and skill set. But there are some broad trends worth watching. Mark warns that in some countries scammers are using fake job opportunities as way to collect private info, and we might see similar frauds in the U.S. He points to the dramatic change AI is having in the hiring process, and discusses the value of understanding at least AI basics. And Mark shares classic advice, like stay prepared for whatever happens by “thinking of job search as a lifestyle,” and keep learning and seeking opportunities to upskill. For more advice from Mark see: https://thevoiceofjobseekers.com

This is the second of two episodes about how stress reduces your job performance and satisfaction, and what you can do about it. Our guest, Gayle Williams-Byers, a retired judge, now teaches judges in her role as Senior Fellow with the National Judicial College. She has developed a course on mindfulness to help judges reduce stress, allowing them to make better decisions and keep things moving smoothly in their courtrooms. Here she explains a wide variety of mindfulness techniques that might work for you. Many are simple, like taking some deep breaths, thanking other people, journaling, and taking a brief walk.

This is the first of two episodes about how stress impacts your career. When you’re stressed out, you’re not creative or good at solving problems. or making decisions. But our guest, Gayle Williams-Byers, a retired judge, says there are many was to manage stress. In her role as Senior Fellow with the National Judicial College, Judge Gayle not only teaches judges about matters of law, but she also explores ways to address some of their challenges. She says being a sitting judge is intensely stressful, and stressed-out judges don’t make their best decisions. So she has developed a course on mindfulness and how it can calm stress, help you put aside distractions and refocus, and enhance your decision-making. Here she explains mindfulness and suggests how and why you might get started, and in the next episode she provides more detail about specific mindfulness techniques.

Our guest, Joan Lynch, is head of video and other content at WorkingNation, an innovative media company that creates well-researched and inspiring stories about everything related to jobs. Today, she discusses the state of employment in rural areas, which for years have struggled with aging populations and a lack of job opportunities. She says that now the situation starting to change, as more communities get broadband access. Joan also describes work trends for sectors that face special challenges, including neurodivergent and disabled communities, veterans, and single moms. And she shares insights about which industries are likely to be hiring in 2024. Finally, we discuss how workers increasingly want jobs where they can keep on learning, and how some employers are getting that message. For more see, see this robust website: https://workingnation.com

Today’s guest is our good friend – and WOUB colleague – Tom Hodson. His career has involved many types of expertise, and it seems like Tom never did just one job at a time. He spent years sitting as a judge, and also teaching other judges. He’s played many roles as a media expert. And he has enjoyed positions as an academic leader. In 2019, Tom and host Bev began a series of episodes where he openly described his thoughts and anxieties about the prospect of retiring. As we recorded, Bev coached him to explore the possibilities. Then when COVID hit, Tom did retire, but he wasn’t really ready. He felt isolated, and struggled with depression. Now, however, Tom has put together a portfolio of meaningful activities, and he enjoys this phase of life. In this show, Tom talks frankly about his retirement path, and offers tips about how you can prepare for an un-retirement portfolio that gives you what you need. For more about Tom, see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-hodson-797365284/ And check out Tom’s wide-ranging podcast, Spectrum: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spectrum/id112453909

Our theme is why and how to keep pursuing greater happiness -- as well as success – at work. Our guest is merger and acquisition expert Greg Martin. He’s a managing director at Origin Merchant Partners, a top-ranking investment bank working with industrial sectors across North America. But Greg is not just an M&A guy and an entrepreneur. He also is passionate about helping people look closely at their work habits and mindsets, so they can better create meaning and joy. Greg hosts a podcast, Lifetime at Work, that promotes reflection on what you want from your career. He talks with his guests about how our jobs dominate a huge part of our lives, and why it’s important to make all that time and energy really count. Today Greg share stories from his own journey toward a balanced life, and offers tips for you to do the same. For more, see: https://www.lifetimeatwork.com

Today’s returning guest is our good friend, Kerry Hannon. She’s a leading expert and futurist on careers, jobs, entrepreneurship, personal finance and retirement. Kerry is the author of more than a dozen books, including her most recent, In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in The New World of Work. She is a dynamic and popular speaker, and her Yahoo column attracts millions of followers as part of the largest personal finance platform in the world. Here Kerry talks about major workplace trends and career opportunities. She shares advice on how and why to prepare for retirement, no matter what your age is now. And she offers tips about preparing for your next career phase. For more see: https://www.yahoo.com/author/kerry-hannon and https://kerryhannon.com

In this episode we discuss the changing world of higher education. Our guest is Dave Goldberg, an AI pioneer, engineer, executive coach and respected computer scientist. He is also an educator, and until 2010 was a professor emeritus and prolific researcher. Then he switched paths and began to call for radically changing engineering education. Now he’s known as an academic innovator and international thought leader in the movement to reboot higher ed. Dave talks about his new book, A Field Manual for a Whole New Education, and says transforming the college experience should start with unleashing students from the traditional classroom experience. He shares his vision of a more effective academic culture and describes skills that shape important changes. For more, see: https://threejoy.com

A skill set that promotes success on almost any career path is the ability to sell. Whether you’re promoting a product, an idea, or yourself, sales savvy can make a huge difference. Today’s guest, Connie Whitman, is a high energy, enthusiastic teacher, coach, podcaster and consultant about sales. Her company – Changing the Sales Game – helps businesses and individuals improve sales by refining their processes and enhancing their communication skills. In this episode, Connie shares tips from her book, ESP – Easy Sales Process. She offers advice about how to overcome buyer resistance. She says you can be a better communicator by talking with people instead of at them. She encourages you to network. And she says you may want to adapt your communication style when you speak to different audiences. For more, check out Connie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conniewhitman Or look at her communications assessment: https://whitmanassoc.com/csa/

The Fifth National Climate Assessment summarizes the best available information on the risks, impacts and responses to climate change in the U.S. Our expert guest, Geoff Dabelko, is one of the 500 distinguished authors of the massive Assessment. He is a Professor at Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, and he’s an international thought leader on environmental matters. In this episode, Geoff shares an overview of the report, touching upon both conclusions and recommendations. He mentions several trends, like the convergence of climate issues with concerns related to aging. He describes the $6 billion in new federal investments intended to make communities more resilient, partly by strengthening the electric grid. And we discuss the NCA5’s implications for the job market. For info on NCA5 see: https://nca2023.globalchange.gov For more on Geoff see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffdabelko/

Our guest, Karen Eber, says stories build connection and trust, inspire new thinking, and are more memorable than other forms of information. Karen is a global leadership consultant who works with corporate leaders and universities to build teams and transform cultures. And she understands the science of why storytelling is such an effective way to communicate and connect with people. Her interesting new book, The Perfect Story, explains why storytelling is so powerful, and how you can learn to tell stories that are engaging. Today Karen shares tips from her book, including specific suggestions for becoming a stronger communicator. She explains what science has revealed about the power of stories. And, of course, she shares tales about how storytelling has shaped her life and fueled her career

Today’s returning guest is William Vanderbloemen, a pioneer in executive searches for faith-based organizations. Since he started the Vanderbloemen firm 15 years ago, he and his team have done in-depth interviews with about 30,000 of their top candidates. And they have studied the information from the best of their best candidates, working to understand why some leaders so clearly stand out from the crowd. William says their research helped them identify 12 habits that separate the strongest leaders from everyone else. Here William talks about his new book, Be the Unicorn, which describes those 12 strengths, all of which involve soft skills. William says all these important skills can be developed or improved, and Be the Unicorn is a workbook to help you along that path. He shares tips to help you nurture positive habits and outshine the competition. He also models how to describe yourself during an interview, and he urges job seekers to get feedback on their strengths and weaknesses. For more see: https://www.vanderbloemen.com/about

Not only is today’s return guest, Gerald J. Leonard, an accomplished professional musician, but he is also an expert on workplace culture, strategy and productivity. On top of that, he is an author. The full title of his interesting new book is long and descriptive: A Symphony of Choices – How Mentorship Taught a Manager Decision-Making, Project Management and Workplace Engagement – and Saved a Concert Season. The book is a primer on how to make decisions amidst complex and multifaceted challenges. While it is full of excellent advice, it reads like a novel, because Gerald uses an engaging story to make his lessons clear. The tale’s hero, Jerry, is a symphony orchestra musician who suddenly has the job of orchestra manager. A college professor mentors Jerry, helping him to quickly get a handle on the orchestra’s big challenges. As Jerry works his way through difficult personal and professional decisions, readers learn about project management. In today’s episode, Gerald, an engaging story-teller, shares lessons not only from Jerry’s experience, but also from his own life. For more info and free resources from Gerald Leonard, go to: https://geraldjleonard.com/jazzed/

When it was launched about 20 years ago, LinkedIn felt like a fancy Rolodex -- a robust digital address book for professionals. But today this platform (now owned by Microsoft) is the place to build and nurture your career network, forge a strong brand, and research many kinds of professional opportunities. Our guest today, Donna Serdula, wrote a book about how to make LI work for you: LinkedIn Profile Optimization for Dummies (2nd Edition). Donna is an expert in branding and social media marketing, she has 44,000 LI followers, and her company, Vision Board Media, does LI makeovers. In this episode, Donna explains why every professional should have an LI profile, whether or not they expect to pursue a job search. And she shares specific tips from her book, about how you can make your LI profile more effective. For more, check out Donna’s website: https://donnaserdula.com And see her on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todonna/

The value of good decision-making is a theme in this episode. Our guest is Aaron Mitchell Finegold, the chief marketing officer at Kingsley Gate, a global executive search firm. As far back as college, Aaron wanted a career involving creative expression, a focus on human behavior, a business environment and a global setting, and those elements do shape his current role. Aaron describes a Kingsley Gate study into how and why successful organizations are good at deciding things. The report suggests that the skill of making effective, timely decisions is often overlooked in the process of hiring leaders. And yet dissatisfaction with an organization’s decision-making processes is a major reason why executives resign. Research suggests that the capabilities to decide, and focus on people-centric factors, can transform an organization. Aaron says a good way to get better at deciding may be to map out the key decisions to be made over the next six months. Simply becoming aware of which decisions are important can make an individual or a team more effective. For more see: https://www.kingsleygate.com/insights/white-paper/bad-decisions-why-companies-miss-the-most-important-factor-in-executive-hiring/

Today we explore ways to help young people prepare for careers that are meaningful. Our guest, Erin Lewellen, had an opportunity as a college student to live in Cape Town, interning at a center for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There, Erin says, she learned in a new way, and transformed how she viewed the world. Now Erin is CEO of Global Citizen Year, a nonprofit that creates experiences to help college students develop the emotional and intellectual toolkit to impact global issues. In this show, Erin shares thoughts about how Generation Z is focused on overcoming huge societal challenges. We discuss what Gen Z looks like as it enters the workforce, and talk about ways this young crowd is unlike other generations. Erin offers suggestions about what employers might consider as they bring Gen Z-ers on board. And she shares thoughts about how you – or your kids – might structure an enriching international learning experience. For more, see: https://www.globalcitizenyear.org and https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinlewellen/

In this episode we talk about personal branding, and about how your brand impacts your career, whether or not you choose to manage it. Our lively guest, Tyler Mount, is a business consultant and international branding expert. And he is the CEO of Henry Street Creative, a New York agency with expertise in social media, video production, and digital marketing strategies. Tyler is a man of many skills, including those that helped him become a Tony award-winning producer. He talks about his journey from living in a small Texas town, to becoming a presence on Broadway and an influencer in the world of theater. He describes how he built his brand, and discusses things to consider as you shape yours. He emphasizes that your brand should be based on the real you. For more see: https://henrystreetcreative.com/

Our guest, Alex Atwood, has been interested in creating and managing businesses since childhood. And in the last 20 years this serial entrepreneur has created and led 4 startups in the hospitality and staffing space. Today he tells us about how, at the start of COVID-19, he and his staff quickly reinvented their organization and kept workers busy serving as disinfection professionals. He describes his current company, GravyWork, whose app helps people find side gigs or full-time jobs with flexible shifts. Alex is deeply interested in purpose-driven, participative leadership, and he describes his approach to running a company. He cares about transformational growth of the mind, body and spirit, and talks about one of his own side-gigs: coaching. And he touches upon microdosing, a tool he sometimes suggests to coaching clients, to cultivate presence, regulate emotions and promote awareness. For more, see: https://alexatwood.co

According to Dr. Amy Serin, many in our society suffer from stress, anxiety and all sorts of trauma. Our nervous systems are over-active; we lie awake at night, consumed by worries; and our bodies and minds become chronically unwell. In this episode, Amy describes her own struggles with excess stress, as well as her journey to “democratize” various therapies by making them more accessible. And she shares information from her book, The Stress Switch, including how stress works, and how it can hijack the calm, wise part of our brain, and throw us into a frantic state of fight or flight. She says that with techniques like bilateral stimulation, you can reset your “stress switch,” recalibrate your mental filter, and make better decisions. Amy also describes TouchPoints, her patented small, wearable devices for reducing stress symptoms through the use of gentle vibrations. For more, visit her website: https://serincenter.com/specialists/dr-amy-serin/ And if you purchase her book or TouchPoints there, use this discount code: Jazzed15

Heidi Gardner is a Distinguished Fellow at Harvard Law School, a former professor at Harvard Business School, and the leader of multiple executive education programs. She and her team have compiled vast research on why collaboration matters, and how we can be better at it. And today she shares tips from her book (written with Ivan Matviak), Smarter Collaboration – A New Approach to Breaking Down Barriers… and Transforming Work. Heidi will explain why collaboration is more important than ever, for both individuals and organizations. She’ll describe common hurdles blocking collaborative activity, and mention tools to help you diagnose roadblocks in your workplace. And she’ll share more tips about how you can develop key skills for working with others, and why it will be good for you. For more see: https://smartcollaborationaccelerator.com

The term “work/life balance” can feel simplistic because the relationship between your career and the rest of your life can be complicated and intense. Our guest today, Christina Wallace, a senior lecturer at the Harvard Business School, says we need a broader relationship with work. She describes how diversification can help you navigate change and mitigate uncertainty. She talks about how her own work life encompasses a variety of activities. And she shares tips from her book, “The Portfolio Life,” about how to forge a path that not only brings more joy, but also reduces the risks of career-building in today’s frantic world. For more, see: https://www.portfoliolife.com/

Today we talk about the work force implications of climate change. Our guest, Linda Kinney, is a global legal advisor on environmental, social and governance matters. She understands how big changes happen because she played active roles in the internet and telecom revolutions. Linda says the crisis is huge, but the good news includes considerable progress in clean energy and climate-related technology, as well as the flow of new cash. More than that, she says, we’re entering an entirely new economic era, sometimes called “the age of decarbonization.” And, of course, the sweeping change in our economy is transforming the work force. Linda describes how we might leverage past lessons to accelerate the fight against climate change. And she shares tips on how you can get smart about sustainability, explore new jobs, and add value to any organization. For more see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindakinney/

Today’s guest is Dr. Joey Faucette, an executive coach, a culture architect, and the host of the Work Positive podcast. In this episode Joey talks about how he realized that an upbeat, caring work culture can enhance a team’s satisfaction and productivity. And he shares tips from his latest book, Work Positive in a Negative World: Team Edition. He says a starting point for feeling less pessimistic can be to perceive the positive elements that do exist at work. He suggests ways you can focus more intensely on the good things in your situation. He describes how familiar thought patterns can keep you bogged down in negativity. And he suggests rituals to help you get your day off to a good start. For more see: https://www.workpositive.today/book

This episode is about your opportunity to help shape the future of higher education. Our guests are Kate Colbert and Joe Sallustio, EdD, the authors of Commencement, a massive and important new book about the future of academia. The book is an outgrowth of a popular podcast, The EdUp Experience, hosted by Sallustio and Elvin Freytes. The authors draw on insights from podcast guests, including about 100 college and university presidents. They describe trends, challenges and possibilities that are disrupting the old world where higher ed felt like an island. And they say working inside or with the new “higher education industry” requires a mindset reset, and a willingness to do things in very different ways. For more see: https://commencementthebook.com

Our return guest, Kevin Eikenberry, is widely known as one the world’s top leadership experts. And his comments are always fun, interesting, timely and helpful. In this episode, Kevin shares insights and tips from his latest book (with co-author Wayne Turmel): The Long-Distance Team – Designing Your Team for Everyone’s Success. He shares his model for shaping both teams and cultures, and says the keys are communication, collaboration, and cohesion. He talks about how to build – or rebuild – teams so every team member can thrive, including in remote or hybrid environments. And he says leaders should cultivate and model a healthy team culture, but they can’t do it all. Every person can have an impact. For more, see: https://longdistanceteambook.com

Today’s extraordinary guests, Dr. Mishkat Al Moumin and Judge Gayle Williams-Byers, create curriculum for the nation’s judges. Dr. Mishkat is Academic Director, and Judge Gayle is the Judicial Fellow, at the National Judicial College. Together they create not only programs focused on legal issues, but ways to support judges’ leaderships skills -- so important in the challenging courtroom environment. Dr. Mishkat’s career as a leader includes her role as the first Secretary of Environment in war-torn Iraq, and later years as an international leader in the fields of environmental and human rights law. Judge Gayle was an assistant county prosecutor in Cleveland, and then presided over the bench and jury trials in the City of South Euclid for more than a decade. In this candid conversation, the two describe the need for judges to manage stress in difficult situations, and share ways they have learned to manage their own emotions and at the same time support team members. For more see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gayle-williams-byers-a596216/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/mishkat-al-moumin

Our satisfaction and success at work – and our character -- are shaped by small choices we make all day long. But often our choices aren’t so good, so today we talk about how to make better decisions. And our expert guest, Dr. Jim Loehr, has all the latest research on exactly how to do that. Jim is a world-renowned performance psychologist who has helped thousands of leaders and athletes to be at the top of their game. He is also a prolific author, and he shares insights from his new book, WISE DECISIONS: A Science-Based Approach to Making Better Choices. Jim describes how to focus your energy so you’re healthier, happier, and better at navigating your endless process of decision-making. He says humans have the capacity for reflective consciousness, which means your brain can actually observe and modify how it’s doing. And, he says, as you take better care of yourself, you can connect more deeply with your wise inner voice. For more, see: https://www.jim-loehr.com/about

Our return guest is Joan Lynch, a prize-winning producer and Chief Content Officer of WorkingNation. That’s a non-profit journalism and media company that brings attention to issues impacting the workforce, and shines light on solutions that can make a difference. Joan explains how implementing the Infrastructure Act requires more trained workers, which means employers and government officials are creating a mix of programs to move people quickly into new careers. She says if recruitment of talent is done well, it will provide millions of opportunities at every level, from construction to management, and many new jobs won’t require a degree. Joan also predicts that new possibilities will open for people who have been marginalized in the past, like older workers and those with disabilities, as well as the neurodiverse community. For more see: https://workingnation.com

Today we discuss ways to overcome the polarization that’s everywhere in our society, and sometimes is a destructive, wasteful element in the workplace. Our guest, David Livermore, is an expert on how people from different cultures can bridge the gap and find ways to talk and work together. He shares insights from his interesting and instructive book: Digital, Diverse & Divided: How to Talk to Racists, Compete with Robots, and Overcome Polarization. David describes “culturally intelligent problem-solving,” a process to help working teams get past their differences and work together to find solutions. He shares tips for moving beyond some of the big differences between us, like origin, race, gender, faith and politics. And he talks about how people are really more alike than you may think.

Our guest, Mark Miller, writes about financial matters for publications like the New York Times, Reuters, and Wealth Management. And Mark is widely recognized as an expert on retirement and aging. His latest book -- Retirement Reboot: Commonsense Financial Strategies for Getting Back on Track – is a terrific guide to planning for a secure and rewarding lifestyle in the years after your primary career. Today we discuss why it’s never too early to lay groundwork for your later life. And Mark explains keys to planning, like considering your timing, becoming familiar with Social Security options, smart ways to save money, and strategies for turning home equity into cash. For more see: https://retirementrevised.com

Many agree that listening is a career superpower. But just because it’s important, doesn’t mean we’re all good listeners. Today’s guest, Oscar Trimboli, is a coach, consultant and podcaster who helps leaders, and lots of other people, become better, deeper listeners. His most recent book, how to listen, offers practical tips for improving the way we communicate. The book describes what listening involves, and suggests how we can be better at it. In this show, Oscar shares insights from the book, like the importance of preparing to listen, and the fact that silent pauses can help unlock a message. He also describes habits that undercut our listening skills, and suggests how to move beyond the barriers to deep listening. For more see: www.listeningquiz.com and https://www.oscartrimboli.com/

Our guest, William Vanderbloemen, was a senior pastor and then a corporate HR specialist. From there, he created a thriving search firm, which he called Vanderbloemen. At the beginning, the firm focused on finding candidates for churches seeking pastors. Today, Vanderbloemen also consults about succession planning, diversity, organizational culture and other leadership issues. Their broad client base includes nonprofits, family offices and values-based businesses. William says the firm’s rapid growth was helped by his diverse network. Also supporting success is his intense commitment to gathering and learning from data. His most recent book is Culture Wins: The Roadmap to an Irresistible Workplace. In this episode he shares insights about the attributes of successful job seekers and professionals, as well as the keys to employee retention. For more see: https://www.vanderbloemen.com

Today’s return guest, Mark Anthony Dyson, is a respected career consultant, writer and podcaster. And he describes himself as “a job seeker advocate.” His robust website, thevoiceofjobseekers.com, is packed with free advice, and this key message: “Job search is a lifestyle!” In this episode, we talk about 2023 trends in the world of work, and why a strong resume isn’t enough if you’re considering a career shift. Mark says employers are now interested in candidates’ “soft skills,” which should be called “essential skills.” He says the starting point for a search is an honest assessment of your skills and strengths. And he offers more tips for a thriving career in a year that’s bringing rapid change. For more see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markanthonydyson/

Today we discuss new trends in the complex effort to address climate change, as well as career opportunities related to building a more sustainable world. Our guest, Geoff Dabelko, is a professor at Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service. He’s also associated with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program, and other leading research organizations. Geoff says older people are particularly hard hit by climate change, and describes efforts to bring together leaders in climate adaptation and resilience with proponents of age-friendly communities. He also discusses other environmental trends and ways they may lead to career opportunities. For more on Geoff, see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffdabelko/ For info on a new online grad program on sustainability, security & resilience see: https://www.ohio.edu/voinovich-school/sustainability-security-resilience

Our guest today, Jon Snyder, has spent 30 years in biomedical and healthcare companies, including as a founder and CEO. Jon held a variety of marketing and other jobs on his way to the top, and throughout his career he’s been a mentor, a guest teacher, and a board member for many nonprofits. Jon now manages investor relations at Ohio Life Sciences, an association committed to growing a thriving life science ecosystem. Today he tells us about the growing industry that includes pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical devices, among other fields. He talks about some of the job opportunities it offers. And he shares career advice, as both a successful entrepreneur and a leader in community education. For more, see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-snyder-0360b44

Today we talk about the life-changing power of asking meaningful questions. Our guest is Marc Champagne, a consultant who has studied the self-management practices and reflective questions shaping the lives of brilliant and successful thinkers around the world. And in his book, Personal Socrates, Marc uses profiles of fascinating people to illustrate the magic of asking yourself questions, and being honest with the answers. Today Marc describes how journaling around questions helped him to work past what felt like a career catastrophe. And he talks about how to manage your mental fitness, and create the clarity to help you find job success and a fulfilling life. For more, see: https://cherry-dosa-0e5.notion.site/Marc-Champagne-Media-Kit-25bafb466bc34fb08ca397e4bc2b0568

In this episode we discuss how human beings are typically influenced by feelings and emotions, and why the heart – and not just the brain -- drives motivation and achievement. Our guest, Mark Crowley, spent 25 years in banking and financial services, and once led nearly 2,000 investment brokers to record-breaking performance. Before that role, Mark had no direct experience selling stocks, but his results were so strong the firm named him “leader of the year” in his first year. These days, Mark is a speaker, consultant and writer. And today he tells us about the new edition of his classic book, Lead From the Heart. He explains that leadership today involves connecting on a personal level, heart-to-heart. And he suggests that -- whether you’re leading a company or a family -- people are more likely to do well if you lead with caring and emotion. For more see: www.MarkCCrowley.com

Today’s guest, Abby Falik, is an expert on the value of pausing during our busy lives. Abby has degrees from Stanford University and Harvard Business School, and she’s widely known as an innovative thinker, a higher education futurist, and an award-winning social entrepreneur. Abby was the founder and CEO of Global Citizen Year, which creates meaningful pre-college bridge years for high school grads. She explains why taking a purposeful gap year after high school can make a huge difference in a student’s leadership skills and ultimate success. She also describes some ideas related to leadership and learning that she will explore in her new role as Entrepreneur in Residence at the Emerson Collective, created by Laurene Powell Jobs. For more, see: abbyfalik.com

A theme of this episode is how creating a human-centric culture can help an organization to thrive. Our guest is Michael Kurland, the CEO and founder of the Branded Group, an award-winning, fast-growing facility maintenance company. He’s also the author of Broken to Better: 13 Ways Not to Fail at Life and Leadership. Michael says he was once a broken man, struggling to recover from a divorce, and uncertain about how to find meaning in his work. So he decided to restart his life, and focus on what really matters. He says the slogan “Be Better” guided his way as he changed his personal life and launched a successful business. For more see: http://michaelkurland.co/

This show brings good news and practical tips to anyone who believes they are not creative. Our captivating guest is Joey Cofone, an award-winning designer, visual artist, and entrepreneur. Joey talks about his interesting career path and shares insights from his helpful new book, The Laws of Creativity: Unlock Your Originality and Awaken Your Creative Genius. Joey says that creativity isn’t magic – it’s a skill that we all can develop, although it takes some practice. He says creating something may begin by committing to a process. And he shares suggestions about how you can unlock your creative thinking to reach all kinds of goals, at work and in your life. For more, see: https://www.joeycofone.com/

Innovative media company WorkingNation creates and distributes educational and inspiring stories about current and future unemployment trends in the U.S. Today’s returning guest, Joan Lynch, has long been a powerful woman in media, and now she is head of all WorkingNation content. Among other workplace developments, Joan talks about Tear the Paper Ceiling, a collaborative marketing campaign to encourage employers to stop demanding a bachelor’s degree for skilled jobs that don’t truly require four years of college. She discusses the digital divide and how it leads to inequity and disconnects in the nation’s job market. And she describes the growth of green jobs, as well as opportunities in health care and other areas. For more, see: https://workingnation.com/about-us/

This episode explores how shifts in global aging – with masses of people living to a very old age – will transform society. Our guest is Bradley Schurman, an expert on demographic change and how it disrupts social, cultural, political, and economic norms. Brad is CEO of the global research and advisory firm, The Super Age, where he assists organizations with their age-inclusion, workplace planning and other strategies. We discuss his insightful and futuristic book, The Super Age: Decoding Our Demographic Destiny. He talks about how the growing pool of healthy people aged 50+ is changing how employers recruit workers and plan for the future. He describes how demographic moves may impact our communities and the markets that serve them. And he comments on the longevity gap between rich people and poor people

After earning her PhD in linguistics at Penn, Kieran spent a decade creating impactful language products at Microsoft and Amazon. Now she is co-founder and CEO of Textio, a platform offering inclusive and equitable communications tools. And she is continuing her ground-breaking research, including an extensive study showing that bias is still widespread in managers’ performance feedback. In this episode, we discuss how workplace feedback can be unfair and discouraging, even if the intent is to say something positive. Kieran describes other areas, like recruitment and hiring, where systematic language bias is undercutting inclusion efforts. She explains how language patterns are linked to organizational cultures. And she offers tips for promoting language awareness. For more on her recent study and other free information, visit https://textio.com

Apprenticeships can help solve the tech talent crisis, says work force expert Jenn CarlsonWe’ve been hearing a lot about how technology companies are scrambling to find enough workers with the skills they need. Our guest today, Jennifer Carlson, points us to one way to address the hiring crunch. Jenn is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Apprenti, a non-profit that provides a new pathway to access tech talent, address digital skill shortages, and guide underrepresented groups into the employment pipeline. Apprenti has created a model that meets the needs of both employers and job seekers, and its program is first on the list of Federally recognized apprenticeship programs. Jenn explains how apprenticeships differ from internships because the employer offers robust training and a serious intent to hire. She describes how apprenticeships can meet companies’ needs. And she explains why a tech apprenticeship might be an attractive career route for you, even if you don’t have a college degree. Check out Apprenti here: https://apprenticareers.org/hire/

Retirement isn’t what it used to be. These days many people step away from their full-time careers to start building new portfolios of rewarding jobs and projects. Our guest, Rich Eisenberg, knows all about late life careers. For more than a decade he was managing editor, and also work and money editor, at Next Avenue, the PBS site for people 50+. Early this year he left that job and launched an “unretirement” phase that includes podcasting, freelance writing and teaching digital media. Today he describes important ways you can start early to lay groundwork for your later career phase, like networking, staying up to date with technology, financial planning and taking good care of yourself. For more about Rich, check out his podcast https://friendstalkmoney.org and watch for his writing on https://www.marketwatch.com and https://www.nextavenue.org

This episode begins with a story. Beverly Jones tells about how she created a change process that helped her join the fight for equal opportunity for college women. Bev doesn’t take herself too seriously, as she describes her efforts in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. After Bev’s story, guest host Tom Hodson asks questions and seeks advice for young women who are fighting for equality now. Bev recently performed a version of this story in a production of the RAAC Community Theatre, in Rappahannock County, Virginia. Bev is the second of three storytellers in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lyaC42yN7A For more on Bev see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverly-jones-coach-author/

Our guest is Kathy Kidd, who started her career as a chemical engineer helping chem plants improve process safety. Since then she’s been a leader in a consulting group, and then a startup, and has held many roles at financial tech entity FINRA. Recently Kathy moved to the Impact Center, focused on developing women leaders and creating human-centered work experiences. Today Kathy discusses two questions that help define her career: How can we create work environments where everyone can contribute, feel valued, and flourish? And how can leadership support those possibilities? We talk about key workplace issues, like the challenges of assuring flexibility and managing hybrid teams, the need to stay connected even when you work remotely, and how strong teams require psychological safety. Connect with Kathy here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-kidd-9b4073b0/overlay/photo/ Or email: [email protected]

In this episode, we focus on executive coaching, and discuss how a coaching style of leadership can change an organization’s culture, while improving employee growth, performance and happiness. Our guest is Mark Cappone, a retired Army colonel, and a former Brigade Commander. Mark has two masters degrees and lots of other training related to leadership, management and coaching. He discusses some of the ways leadership coaching can have a powerful impact, and he describes what happens when leaders start acting more like coaches while interacting with team members. He talks about how a coaching culture can create psychological safety and promote collaboration. And he offers tips that might help you ask supportive, coach-like questions. You can contact him at: [email protected] For more about Mark, see: https://www.ohio.edu/voinovich-school/people/mark-cappone

Today’s guest, Ryan Lytle, is a leader in the field of social media and modern marketing. In the 12 years since college graduation, Ryan has moved up quickly through a series of terrific jobs. He won a “Social Presence” Webby at Mashable, and later oversaw social platform strategies for global media company Discovery, Inc. These days he’s at Adobe, where he leads a broad team of social strategists, influencer marketers, community managers, creatives and social analysts. From the outside, it seems he thrives on challenges, but here Ryan speaks honestly about how he sometimes struggles with uncertainties and has suffered from “imposter syndrome.” He advises listeners to mindfully create a network, and to regularly ask for help. For more, see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanlytle/

Today’s guest, Gerald Leonard, is an accomplished bassist with two degrees in music. He is also a highly qualified IT project management consultant, and has earned numerous leadership credentials. Gerald shares stories and advice from his insightful and entertaining book, Workplace Jazz. In the book, Gerald uses a jazz metaphor to illustrate how each of us can contribute to a supportive and effective team culture. Here, he explains how creating successful projects and high performing teams is much like building a great jazz ensemble. He describes what we can learn from the way world-class musicians develop their skills. And he talks about the neuroscience of music. For more about Gerald, visit: https://geraldjleonard.com/

Popular author and career futurist Kerry Hannon says the workplace has changed forever, and for older workers that brings some good news. In this episode, she talks about her new book, In Control at 50+, which offers insights about the current job market as well as tips on how people over 50 can navigate their careers. Her advice includes taking stock of what’s important to you, looking at a wide range of job options, and being willing to redeploy your skills. Kerry urges you to embrace technology, even if you don’t want to, and acknowledges she is still working on that. And she describes new mechanisms to help people reenter the job market after time away, like “returnships” and state programs to connect employers with experienced workers. For more insights from Kerry, visit: https://kerryhannon.com

This show features a wide-ranging conversion between Bev and jobs expert Mark Anthony Dyson, about the changing workplace. They note the generational divide in many organizations, and they discuss ways younger and older workers can learn from one another. Mark says you can expand your career savvy simply by hanging out with colleagues who aren’t like you, because some knowledge is “caught, not taught.” He says you can always find time to promote your career because -- whether you’re on the bus or in a barber shop -- your phone lets you learn, share content and connect with others. And Mark advises job seekers to research carefully and listening deeply, so you can become “the prescription to an employer’s job description.” For more, check out Mark’s website: https://thevoiceofjobseekers.com/

Perhaps 40% of recent college graduates are underemployed, and the problem particularly hits diverse and first generation grads. Our guest, Lukeisha Paul, says it’s not always easy for young people to work their way in, and work their way up, complex organizations, but there are ways to help. Lukeisha is the U.S. head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for GroupM, a global advertising and media company. And she’s active in the GroupM/Coop Career partnership to give practical support to grads. Lukeisha explains how the Coop program helps cohorts of young people develop upward mobility by acquiring in-demand digital skills, strong peer relationships, and an enhanced sense of self. And she offers tips for grads who maybe struggling. For more, see: https://coopcareers.org and https://www.groupm.com/

West Virginia University Assistant Dean Danny Twilley is passionate about encouraging people to spend time outdoors. In this episode, Danny says research shows that active outdoor leisure can support creativity and a sense of connection, as well as health and happiness. He says getting outside can help you recover from work stress, promote well-being and stimulate learning. Even taking a 20-minute walk in a city park can help you unwind. Danny also describes how the Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative is building on West Virginia’s rivers, mountain trails and other natural attractions to convince savvy remote workers to move to the state. And Danny talks about job opportunities developing across the U.S. as a result of the growing interest in spending more time outside. To learn more about Danny’s activities, checkout LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-twilley-49923699

Today’s guest, Doug Shapiro, understands that the space where you work can impact your productivity, your creativity and how much you enjoy your job. He’s a thought leader in the design industry, a respected observer of the interplay between work culture and physical places, and the vice president of research and insights at OFS, a furniture company. Doug says how we work has changed forever, and now offices must deliver choices about how tasks are done. He says that, wherever you perform your work, your space can support calmness, a sense of belonging, and productivity. And he offers tips for a creating supportive environments, like assuring access to daylight, introducing a touch of nature, and generating energy with high impact, vibrant spaces. For more insights about design, check out Doug’s lovely podcast, Imagine a Place https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place/podcast

Today’s guest, Debby Cole, was brought up to “be a Southern lady.” But she stepped away from that role and became an entrepreneur. Starting small, she created a landscaping and construction business, then spent 35 years building it into a thriving organization, and managing multi-million-dollar projects. Next, she pivoted again, to become a speaker, writer, photographer and passionate champion of women who dream about flourishing businesses, and lives. Debby tells us about her beautiful new book, She (Believed She Could So She Did), which presents portraits of 35 Texas women who – by design or circumstances – found themselves creating or leading companies. She also talks about ways to help women thrive as entrepreneurs. Read more: https://www.deborahcoleconnections.com/ See her book: https://amzn.to/360Tnt1

This episode focuses on one habit with surprising power to slow you down, in work and in life. We’re talking about sitting, or, more precisely, the widespread trend of sitting down during way too much of the workday. Our guest is Doctor of Physical Therapy Stefan Zavalin. In his new book, Sit Less, Stefan explains how reducing the time you spend sitting could improve both your health and your productivity. Today we talk about how and why you should create a new habit of getting up and moving around more often. And we explore Stefan’s vision, which includes changing organizational cultures to bring more movement to the everyday life of office workers. Read more: https://amzn.to/3AZErqv Visit Love to Move: https://www.ltmmtl.com

Today’s topic is how to be a strong team member and thrive at work, even when your coworkers are across the country. Our guest, Kevin Eikenberry, is an engaging speaker and podcaster, a well-known leadership expert, and the co-author (with Wayne Turmel) of the best-selling book, The Long-Distance Teammate. Kevin offers helpful tips about how to stay motivated and connected with your team when you work remotely. He says the key to leadership these days is flexibility. And he explains how you can succeed at work by managing your productivity, potential and proactivity. For more information go to The Kevin Eikenberry Group site: https://www.kevineikenberry.com/

Today’s guest, Karen Hager, started as a child actor and grew up to be a publishing professional. At the same time, she studied at an Episcopal seminary. But instead of being called to the ministry, she stepped away to forge her career as an intuitive guide. She is passionate about teaching people to connect with their own natural intuitive awareness, and says sometimes becoming more intuitive starts with showing ourselves compassion. Today she shares no-nonsense advice about developing your intuition. And we talk about why compassion, collaboration and curiosity about the needs and aspirations of our colleagues are so important in the workplace. Find out more about Karen and her work at https://karenhager.com.

How an organization performs on societal and ethical issues greatly influences the willingness of its employees to stay on the team and be committed players, suggests today’s guest, Ethan McCarty. He’s the founder and CEO of Integral, a prize-winning communications agency which helps clients enhance organizational cultures and activate employees to do their best work. Here, Ethan describes results of the Employee Activation Index, a survey of how workers perceive their employers’ performance, undertaken by Integral and The Harris Poll. And he explains how people who understand and support their employer’s values are more likely to push for its success, including by speaking up on social media. Download the Index here: https://www.teamintegral.com/insights/

The workplace is in the midst of huge change, including the shift to remote and hybrid workers, and it’s time to rethink what human resource programs do, and how they do it. That’s the view of today’s guest, Brandon Laws, senior director of marketing & product at Xenium HR. The U.S. is experiencing a job seeker’s market, and workers have more power and want more options. Brandon says the future offers promise for both organizations and the people they hire, but there are challenges, and leaders need to find new ways of managing. For more insights, listen to Brandon’s “Transform Your Workplace” podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id533673516 Or download Xenium’s free eBook on 7 ways to step up your HR strategy: https://xeniumhr.com/blog/human-resources/ebook-seven-ways-to-step-up-your-hr-strategy/

The average job search brings many ups and downs, twists and turns, and emotional challenges, say leadership and career coaches Cathy Wasserman and Lauren Weinstein. But you can prepare yourself, and find smart ways to navigate the transition. In their book, The Empowered Job Search, the two say that a job hunt is inherently disempowering, but there are ways you can cultivate a new mindset and keep your search on a smooth path. In this episode, the authors talk about how to recognize your feelings, develop a better understanding of what you want in a job, and cultivate positivity. See more: https://www.theempoweredjobsearch.com

Charlie Schilling is a senior executive with Emeritus, a global company that is partnering with leading universities to create new ways to deliver professional education. In this episode, he discusses the vital need to upskill and reskill the American workforce. We talk about the millions of workers who want to change their careers. Charlie says Emeritus is focused on delivering workers affordable, accessible coursework and certifications, sometimes partnering with employers who offer learning opportunities as a way to attract and retain top talent. And we discuss new ways of delivering learning, like the company’s bite-sized video lessons. See more: https://emeritus.org/

As millions of workers walk away from their jobs, or at least explore new options, many companies are exploring ways to better motivate their people. Our guest today, Liza Haffenberg, has worked around the world as a branding and culture change expert, and now she’s a leader at the marketing firm StrawberryFrog. Here she describes how employers can transform their cultures in ways that encourage their people to stay. She says promoting employee engagement and professional development leads to more productivity and organizational success. And she explains why an effective way to transform your culture is to turn your mission statement into action, thus creating a “movement” that can activate both employees and customers. See more: https://strawberryfrog.com

The pandemic has accelerated an already budding trend: the expansion of remote work. And some professionals who can work from anywhere are opting to move to communities that offer lower costs, more space or different lifestyles. In this show, Evan Hock, COO of MakeMyMove, explains how towns with declining populations are willing to pay remote workers to relocate. Evan’s company has created a marketplace that matches unfettered workers with communities that are seeking new families who will support local businesses and activities, buy houses, and pay taxes. See more: https://www.makemymove.com

Jonathan Fields, often known as ‘the Good Life Guy,” says we each have a special imprint – something that fills us with meaning, joy, purpose and possibility. Today, Jonathan describes how our perfect job options are explored in his book, “Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive.” And he shares information about a free personal assessment you can take online to help you understand your ideal career path. Jonathan also talks about the Good Life Project, the media and community-building platform that serves as home for his popular podcast of the same name. See more: https://www.goodlifeproject.com

Our guest, Raj Subrameyer, was a shy, uncertain young man when he came to the U.S. from India, in 2008. Now Raj is a successful author, a keynote speaker, and a big-time tech-career strategist. In his book, Skyrocket Your Career, he explains that the shift didn’t happen overnight. He had an “awakening” and decided to chart his own course. Here he describes his change process and explains how you can use it to discover your ideal job. And he talks about how to make a plan and get moving toward the career you want. See more: https://www.rajsubra.com

Today we talking about creating fun at work. Our guest is Bob Nelson, a leading authority on employee recognition and engagement. Widely known as Dr. Bob, he has written more than 30 books about motivating people. Here he explains how he started out as an introvert with little knowledge of books, then turned himself into a successful writer and world-class speaker. Bob offers tips to aspiring authors about how to sell books. And he shares insights from his latest book, Work Made Fun Gets Done – Easy Ways To Boost Energy, Morale, And Results. With this book, Dr. Bob and co-author Mario Tamayo say fun is a serious part of a healthy workplace, producing both happier workers and exceptional performance. For more, see: https://drbobnelson.com

Today’s episode is the second of two in which Tom Hodson plays the role of host and talks with Beverly Jones about her new book, Find Your Happy at Work. Tom and Bev agree that you can’t flourish in your work life if you aren’t well, and that self-care is a foundation of career success. Bev suggests you focus on four realms of your well-being: body, brain, emotions and spirit. The starting point is whichever realm is easiest for you to address – the four are interconnected, and improving one impacts everything. They discuss easy ways to trigger a big shift, like cultivating kindness and gratitude, taking breaks from work, and taking small steps to inspire bigger ones. For more see: https://www.clearwaysconsulting.com

This show is the first of two in which Tom Hodson steps in as host and interviews Beverly Jones about her new book, Find Your Happy at Work. The conversation focuses on how many of us sometimes feel stuck in a rut, burned out or just plain tired of our job. It includes tips from Bev’s book, about how to quickly find more joy and meaning in your work. Bev says that work and play have a lot in common, and Tom asks how he can make his tasks feel more like play. They discuss strategies for becoming more engaged, including finding learning opportunities and dealing with boredom. For more see: https://www.amazon.com/Find-Your-Happy-Work-Fulfillment/dp/1632651866

Dr. Omar Dawood is passionate about promoting better work environments, including by encouraging self-care and helping employees to deal with stress and anxiety. Omar is a medical doctor and stage IV cancer survivor with over 25 years of senior management, medical research and clinical experience. And he is the Chief Medical Officer for Calm, which is well known for its popular app for meditation, relaxation and sleep. In this show, Omar discusses challenges some may face as they step into the post-COVID workplace. He describes ways employers are helping their team members to address questions related to well-being and mental health. And he offers tips for supporting your wellness. See more: https://www.calm.com

You may know Crowded Kitchen from Instagram, where it has almost 200,000 followers. Or from its vast and lovely website featuring photographs and recipes of plant-based food. Did you also know that Crowded Kitchen has grown from a personal social media account to a flourishing family business? Our guests today are its founders -- Beth Sinclair and her daughter, Lexi Harrison. They talk about why and how they built their business, and what it’s like when your colleagues are your family. They also talk about food, including why they focus on a plant-based diet. See more: https://www.crowdedkitchen.com

This episode focuses on Artificial Intelligence, and how AI is reshaping the workplace. Our guest is Raj Tumuluri, founder and CEO of Openstream, which produces artificial-intelligence-based virtual assistant technology for businesses. Raj will describe how consumers and workers already are interacting with AI on a regular basis. He’ll address the concern that robots are about to take over our jobs, and describe how AI is now creating more jobs. He’ll offer suggestions about how you might prepare for a career related to AI. And he will describe how AI is changing the way HR departments are screening candidates. See more: https://openstream.ai

It seems COVID-19 has made us more aware of the importance of compassion, and more thoughtful about how to support our colleagues, as well as friends and family. Today’s guest is Earl Johnson, a founder of the spiritual care function at the American Red Cross, and a man who understands compassion. Earl is an expert in psychological first aid, and he teaches others to support both victims and first responders after a major disaster. Today he shares tips from his book, Finding Comfort During Hard Times. He talks about how to nurture people struggling with trauma, whether from massive events or everyday kinds of crises. And he shares stories about his career, which took him from being a minister, to a top fashion model, to a caregiver in the time of crises.

Today’s show focuses on one of our favorite topics: compassionate, effective networking. Our guest is Rebecca Leder, a senior manager at Salesforce, where she has lots of opportunities to bring people together. Rebecca tells us about her new book, KNOCK, which presents a framework for connecting with people in meaningful ways. She describes her method for intentionally and genuinely interacting with others as you develop your career. It’s all about making authentic, mutually helpful connections, and nurturing them to grow into long-time, supportive relationships. And Rebecca discusses how and why relationship-building is so good for you. See more: https://theknockmethod.com/book/

Today’s guest, Mark Anthony Dyson, says the U.S. job search process has changed considerably in the last year. Mark is a well-known career writer, podcaster and speaker, and his robust website, The Voice of Job Seekers, offers a wide range of helpful career information. In this episode, he discusses evolving trends, like the wave of interest in “upscaling.” He describes new resources, like additional tools at LinkedIn. And he offers advice, like volunteering to build expertise, and thinking about networking and other career development as a continuing lifestyle, and not just a short-term push. See more: https://thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Jazzed About Work guests often mention LinkedIn as an important tool for learning about career trends and building your network. Today’s guest is actually from LinkedIn, and he’ll be focusing on some of the deeper aspects of connecting with other people. His name is Scott Shute, and not long ago he was LinkedIn’s vice president of global customer operations. Then he made a significant shift, and now he’s the company’s head of mindfulness and compassion. Scott will share insights from his new book, “The Full Body Yes.” It’s about mindfulness, compassion and how you can create a more meaningful work life. See more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottshute/

Today’s theme is how to help your team members grow and thrive by building coaching into your everyday conversations at work. Our guest is Wendy Swire, an executive coach, leadership consultant and pioneer in the art of using neuroscience to help people become more engaged and productive on the job. She’s also co-other (with Teresa Kloster) of “Anytime Coaching,” which offers a practical model for developing your coaching skills and mindset. Wendy will describe how you can become a more effective leader by cultivating practices like observing and listening. See more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-sherwin-swire-ma-pcc-0286961/

It’s time to create more productive and welcoming workplaces. Today’s guest is Laura Krista, a White American cross-cultural consultant whose commitment to building diverse and collaborative work teams dates to her early years working in Japan. She’ll talk about her book, “The Business of WE,” which describes the benefits of fostering connections among people of varied backgrounds. And Laura will offer simple suggestions for helping to bridge gaps in our organizations, whether they are related to age, race, ethnicity or any other factor of identity. Also, she’ll focus on the growing wave of hatred directed at Asian Americans, and she’ll describe ways we can all fight back.

Our returning guest, Joan Lynch, is a jobs expert who is in touch with some of the hottest trends related to the future of work. She is also the Chief Content Officer of WorkingNation, a nonprofit media group focused on both the jobs skills gap and solutions for the American economy and our working people. In today’s show, Joan guides us through key developments related to the current unemployment crisis. And she also points to some hopeful signs for the future. She describes fields where new jobs are opening up and talks about emerging partnerships to promote employment. She also explains why and how to upskill, so you will be ready for the new wave of opportunities. See more: https://workingnation.com/media/

David Ibarra is an entrepreneur, leadership consultant and well-known speaker. But he says his real mission is working with employed adults who drift through jobs feeling unsatisfied. And David models what it takes to take charge of your own destiny. The son of a Mexican immigrant father and rural Utah mother, David spent much of his youth in foster care. In his book “Stop Drifting,” he describes how mentors and the teachings of Napoleon Hill inspired him to create new goals and redirect his life. In this episode, David shares advice from the book and describes how choosing a positive outlook can help you enjoy life and empower your career. See more: https://davidribarra.com

The career path hasn’t always been easy for Jawad Ahsan, the son of Pakistani immigrants. But along the way he chose to be a leader and to guide his own career by following his “North Star.” In his inspiring book “What They Didn’t Tell Me,” Jawad describes how he made his way up the corporate ranks by cultivating values like integrity, collaboration, accountability and positivity. Today he’s the CFO of Axon, a $6 billion public safety technology company. In this episode he shares lessons that helped him rise to the top while in his 30s. And he offers good advice for building your resilient career.

Although we have moved beyond rigid standards about how to dress, Jordan Stolch, Founder of MiKADO Personal Styling, says the way you shape your look still matters at work. In this episode, Jordan explains that dressing for success doesn’t mean you have to be a fashionista. Your goal should be to feel and project confidence. Even when you work remotely, it’s empowering to create the impression that you make mindful choices as you put together your look. Sometimes the most important step in upgrading your image is to clean out your closet, getting rid of items that don’t fit or help you feel good about yourself. For more, see: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mikado-personal-styling

In this Special Edition of Jazzed About Work, your usual host Beverly Jones reviews with guest host Tom Hodson some of the topics from past episodes but more importantly, previews what’s to come in 2021 Beverly and Tom also delve into career issues confronting us during the pandemic and Beverly gives advice on what is helpful during these troubled times. She encourages anyone who feels stuck in the doldrums of pandemic isolation to “do something.” She emphasizes that personal growth, in some form, is a key to happiness and satisfaction. Beverly particularly emphasizes the need for each of us to “learn something new” and to push ourselves beyond our normal creative limitations. Positivity also is important, she says. It helps people spot opportunities, stay motivated, remain healthy and get along with others. Especially during forced isolation, Beverly trumpets the need to stay involved with other people. “Humans are hard-wired to need connection with other humans,” she says. “To be well and perform at your best, you need relationships with other people.” Beverly also emphasizes the need for each of us to “look forward and move forward.” She warns that to remain static will only deepen the doldrums and lead to stagnation. We, at WOUB Public Media, look forward to our ongoing relationships with Beverly and Jazzed About Work for at least another one hundred episodes.

In this episode we talk about why core values are so important in shaping an organization, and how well-defined values can be a powerful management tool. Our guest, serial entrepreneur Darius Mirshahzadeh, shares tips from his book, “The Core Value Equation.” He describes how strong organizational values can help you make decisions. He talks about ways to create and bring life to your value statement. And he describes his own journey, as he experienced the impact of a core value formula. See more at: https://therealdarius.com

In 2020, Federal government jobs were among the most secure. And with more than 2 million people on its payroll, the government is the nation’s biggest employer. Every day, USAJOBS lists hundreds of vacancies at agency facilities across the country. And maybe some there would suit you? Author and trainer Kathryn Troutman has a deep understanding of how the system works, and for decades she’s been helping people get Federal jobs. In this episode, she explains the hiring process and shares practical tips, like how to create the right kind of resume. For more free info, see her website: https://resume-place.com

Navigating your career in a world that feels out of control can be daunting. In his thoughtful and clearly written book, What is Water? McKinsey consultant Kayvan Kian offers simple tips for changing your focus and remaining calm in challenging times. In this episode, Kayvan talks about how you can thrive by concentrating on those things that you actually CAN control, even when your environment feels crazy. Kayvan describes small steps you can take today to make your situation feel less overwhelming and move forward in a positive way.

We know that many workers are struggling, and a recent survey takes a deep look at the specifics of how employees how feel about their jobs. In this episode, Laura Hamill, an executive at software company Limeade, shares the results from their recent “2020 Employee Care Report.” We talk about how the pandemic is affecting stress and burnout in the workplace. And we discuss ways managers can support the well-being of their team members, and at the same time grapple with their own challenges. Here’s a link to Limeade’s study: https://www.limeade.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-Employee-Care-Report.pdf?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=Release&utm_campaign=Care%20Report

The power of learning new things is the topic in this lively conversation with guest host Tom Hodson, coach Bev Jones and frequent WOUB guest Judge Gayle Williams-Byers. Your days at work are more rewarding when tasks challenge your thinking and stretch your mind. Learning activities – whether you take micro steps or deep dives -- can inspire new ideas, help you stay relevant and make your job more fun. The topic was inspired by Kerry Hannon’s 9/2/20 New York Times article, To Build Emotional Strength, Expand Your Brand: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/02/health/resilience-learning-building-skills.html

“Organizational culture” is a hot phrase these days in leadership discussions. And Greg Besner knows all about it. He is a highly accomplished entrepreneur who has won praise for his performances as a CEO. He was an early investor in a business that talks a lot about culture – Zappos. And CultureIQ, a company that Greg created, blends research and technology to help customers to transform their businesses. In this episode, Greg will share tips from his new book: The Culture Quotient – Ten Dimensions of a High-Performance Culture.

Immediately after his college graduation in 2013, John-Mark Bolton launched a company, ClearDefense Pest Control. In just a few years, he and his co-founders have built a thriving business, with a team of over 200 people working in 8 states. Their goal is to operate nationwide. In this episode, John-Mark describes how he was “raised on commission” and learned business basics as a kid. And he describes his formula for entrepreneurial success, like building grit, routinely helping others and learning how to sell.

In two March episodes, guest host Tom Hodson talked with Bev Jones about how to build a portfolio career, as an alternative to traditional retirement. Since then, Tom has in fact retired from his leadership role at Ohio University and WOUB. While he has many interests, he’s finding the transition to be more challenging than he expected. Hear a bit of coaching in this episode, as long-time friends Bev and Tom discuss his feelings of emptiness. They talk about why a mourning period is normal, and explore smart ways for him to move forward and create a healthy, long life.

Umesh Ramakrishnan is a senior leader at Kingsley Gate Partners, a global executive search firm. And he’s a thought leader, often called upon to share insights about what it takes to rise to the top of an organization. In this episode, Umesh talks about how technology is changing the way professionals get hired. He explains why 2020 is the perfect time for organizations to invest in Diversity and Inclusion. And he offers advice on how leaders can work their way to the top of the career ladder. For more, see: https://galaxy.kingsleygate.com/web/guest/home

Today’s guest has a broad career portfolio. Garrett Hope is a composer, an occasional music professor and a career coach. His podcast – The Portfolio Composer – helps composers and performers see themselves not only as artists but also as being in business. These days Garrett also is passionate about helping people make career pivots. He understands that moving forward often involves getting over fear, tapping into your network and focusing on opportunities. In this episode Garrett shares tips and encouragement for a thriving career even in difficult times. For more, see his 2020 career pivot conference, https://www.thepivotadventure.com , and check out his podcast: http://theportfoliocomposer.com

For more than 30 years, Rosalind Clarke has been a major player in Palm Beach residential real estate. It’s a career this talented Brit fell into, after her London-based employer closed their Florida office and shut down the firm. In today’s episode, Rosalind talks about this unusually high end market, and offers insights about careers in real estate, wherever you might live. She says being a broker is exciting because of the variety, but tiring because it requires 24/7 service. For photos of lush properties and more, see: https://www.rosalindclarke.info

Prolific jobs and finance writer Kerry Hannon has a new book out, and it could be THE career book of 2020: “Great Pajama Jobs: Your Complete Guide to Working from Home.” In this episode, frequent guest Kerry offers good advice about how to secure and thrive in a work-from-anywhere job. We discuss how today’s job market is challenging but also full of opportunities, whether you want to try something different, get more control of your schedule or earn a bit on the side. For more tips from Kerry, see her website: kerryhannon.com

Career expert Mark Anthony Dyson is a prolific writer and speaker, and his savvy advice has helped countless job seekers become more effective. In this return visit to Jazzed About Work, Mark focuses in on microaggressions and other special challenges faced by Black professionals. And he offers tips and techniques that are useful to anyone working to build resilience and create career success. For a wealth of additional insights, check out Mark’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markanthonydyson/detail/recent-activity/shares/

Yes -- there are jobs out there for the college class of 2020. And in this episode Scott Dettman offers tips to help them and other recent grads to find them. He suggests that you not try to go it alone, but instead develop your network, reaching out to anybody you know. At the same time, build your digital profile and improve skills that will help you work remotely. Scott has long been concerned about the under-employment of young people, and today he’s the CEO of Avenica, an education-to-work platform helping to connect recent graduates with the employers who need them. See more: https://avenica.com/insights/avenica-welcomes-scott-dettman-as-new-ceo/

Today’s guests, Karen Holst and Douglas Ferguson, are co-authors of “Start Within,” a handbook for pursuing innovation, even if you’re not a leader within your organization. They’ll share strategies for presenting your idea to stakeholders, launching a learning prototype and dealing with failures along the way. And they’ll talk about how solving problems can be enjoyable, and letting go of assumptions can help you keep moving forward. See more at Start-Within.com.

If you’re looking for billion-dollar businesses that are likely to grow in coming years, consider the world of sports. That’s the advice of today’s guest, Jackie Reau, CEO of Game Day Communications. For example, Esports -- video gaming at a competitive level – has a global audience of more than 440 million people. It generates growing revenues, including through tournaments, merchandise, tickets sales and betting. Jackie also describes how she created her innovative career path and offers tips for people interested in jobs related to professional sports. For more about Jackie, see: http://www.gamedaypr.com

Serial entrepreneur Mark Silverman spent 30 successful years building, running and advising a series of consumer and tech companies. Then he shifted gears. He was moved to action as he watched the challenges faced by several aging family members. As he contemplated the needs of empty nesters, retirees and others wanting more meaningful lives, he decided that people need more options for finding work and making life interesting. In this episode, Silverman describes the creation of Amava.com, a new platform connecting folks with remote and other flexible jobs, volunteer gigs and other adventures.

For several years nonprofit media company WorkingNation has been warning America that we might face a massive unemployment crisis. In this Jazzed About Work episode, Joan Lynch, the company’s chief content officer, talks about why a job skills gap has long been threatening to disrupt our economy. But she also offers hope, with insights about sectors that already are creating new jobs. Along with insights about hiring trends, she shares suggestions about how individual workers can navigate the new job market, and how communities can promote more employment.

The COVID-19 crises reminds us that people truly do need to feel connected with other people. And overwhelming research suggests that a strong and diverse network of relationships is key to building a resilient career. But it can be challenging to keep networking when nothing feels normal. In this episode, guest host Tom Hodson talks with our own coach Beverly Jones about networking basics that remain true, even now. And they explore smart and sensitive ways to keep reaching out to others during difficult times. For more, see Bev’s article here: https://www.job-hunt.org/job-search-networking/building-your-network-during-covid.shtml

Marketing expert and serial entrepreneur Steve Kahan is worried about the job prospects for recent college grads. And he has strong opinions about how they might best launch their careers. In this episode he shares advice from his book, Be a Startup Superstar – Ignite Your Career Working at a Tech Startup. He says you don’t have to be a tech person to be a valued member of a technology startup team. And he offers general advice about building your career, including the importance of having a vision of what you want.

Top-ranking financial advisor Paul Pagnato has a new book: Transparency Wave – Exponential Changes That Will Transform Our World. Pagnato is passionate about the need for people and institutions to be transparent. He says transparency can change everything, from your financial status to your health. In this episode he talks about how transparency and trust are the cornerstones of modern society, and how companies that embrace these values are the ones that thrive. And he discusses his own values, including maintaining a positive attitude and finding ways to make a difference every day.

In this episode, a trio of Zappos marketing pros -- Derrin Hawkins, Kelly Smith and Tia Zuniga – describe how and why they crowd-sourced a book about this intriguing company. They talk about how Zappos maintains a radical focus on both serving customers and keeping employees happy. And they describe why they prefer working face-to-face, at their Las Vegas headquarters.

In this episode of Jazzed About Work, guest host Tom Hodson interviews our own Beverly Jones. Bev wears her career coaching hat this time as she gives some nuts and bolts advice about how to launch your own business … whether you’re in the middle of your career… or thinking about an alternative to retirement. She tells you how to start planning, even if you have no idea about where to begin… how to start preparing for entrepreneurship well in advance … and what are some of the basics that will help make your business a success. If you have the entrepreneurial itch…This is a “must-listen” podcast.

A sustainable business is one that has a minimal impact -- or maybe even a positive impact -- on the environment, and on the world generally. Our guest in this episode is Katie Secrist, of Seattle’s Sustainable Business Consulting. She helps companies think more deeply about the environmental and social impact of their activities. Katie will talk about the new wave of Certified B Corporations and other businesses that are working to be a force for good. And she’ll offer suggestions for finding a green job.

For years, Shawn Askinosie loved being a successful criminal defense lawyer in Springfield, Missouri. But then he felt like the work was killing him. In this episode, Shawn describes why he changed everything, and how today he leads Askinosie Chocolate, a company that makes small-batch artisanal chocolate -- with social responsibility cooked into every bar. Shawn also shares advice about how you can recreate your career, as he tells us about his moving and insightful book, Meaningful Work – A Quests To Do Great Business, Find Your Calling, and Feed Your Soul. See more: https://askinosie.com

Today’s episode will be particularly helpful for young professionals eager to get their new jobs off to a great start. Washington career coach and personal branding strategist Robert Moment has specialized in preparing people to outshine the competition during job interviews. But some of the same techniques will support your success after you do get the job. Robert will share smart tips from his latest book, Starting A New Job – Career Planning and Job Promotion Tactics for Motivated New Employees. See more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/personalbrandingexpert/

For 30 years, retired Air Force Colonel Carla Bass worked with officers, ambassadors, and congressional delegations, drafting executive letters, talking points, personnel appraisals and nominations. Along the way she perfected her writing methodologies, composed a handbook, and taught thousands of Air Force personnel how to write powerfully. In this episode, Carla shares tips from the second edition of her classic book, Write to Influence. She says the trick to life-changing writing is to make each word and every second of the reader’s time play to your advantage. See more: https://writetoinfluence.net/improve-written-communication-skills/

For busy professionals, the workload can feel overwhelming, pushing us into a defensive mode. And it’s tough to sort out what matters when we’re constantly being distracted by messages that feel urgent, but maybe aren’t all that important. In this episode, leading productivity expert Maura Thomas offers tips for sorting out your priorities, from her latest book, "Attention Matters". She says that a good workflow management process can help you keep everything on track. See: https://maurathomas.com/productivity/personal-workflow-management-system-productive/

In today’s episode, New Jersey teacher, coach and marketing consultant Connie Whitman explains how sales and customer service skills can empower your career, no matter where you work or what you do. We discuss how – whether you are making a sale or pitching an idea – being persuasive starts with building a relationship and focusing on the other person’s needs and interests. And Connie shares her practical, easy-to-use seven-step sales and communication process. For more, listen to her podcast at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/webtalkradio-net-enlightenment-of-change/id1313299091

Social entrepreneur and celebrated teacher Steve Mariotti has written numerous guides for starting your own business. And he is well known for launching the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, which has provided 60 hours of business training for more than a million disadvantaged young people around the world. In today’s episode, Steve gets personal as he talks about his wonderful new book, Goodbye Homeboy: How My Students Drove Me Crazy and Inspired a Movement. He explains how his belief in the power of entrepreneurship to transform society began in the 80s when he was teaching – and sometimes struggling - in some of New York City's toughest public schools. For more, visit: https://www.stevemariotti.com

In this episode, we revisit the popular topic of networking. Tom Hodson has a big, diverse network, but is cynical about the verb “to network.” Bev Jones notes research suggesting that creating a broad network of relationships is vital not just to your career, but to your health and happiness, as well. Tom ask questions about Bev’s recent articles on network-building for the leading career platform Job-Hunt.org. And the two of them approach agreement about the importance of getting out there and connecting with other people.

Journalist, editor and master story-teller Peter Copeland is still passionate about the career that took him around the world. In this episode, he talks about his latest book, Finding the News: Adventures of a Young Reporter. Peter describes how as a cub reporter -- through trial and error, and sometimes in war zones -- he struggled to be fast, accurate and fair. He shares the story of his happy marriage. And he offers tips for young multimedia journalists.

“The Voice of Job Seekers,” is the platform of compassionate career and jobs expert Mark Anthony Dyson. He’s a prolific writer, speaker and podcaster, and his website is a rich source of information for anyone exploring the job market. In this episode Mark offers practical advice, like how to write a modern resume, expand your networking and develop a LinkedIn profile. He shares more insights on https://thevoiceofjobseekers.com

In 2008, stay-at-home Mom Rachel Stewart reentered the job market as the unqualified bookkeeper and office manager for a tiny company, Titan Restoration. She helped to grow the company, and now she’s the EVP, and Titan is an innovative industry leader. Rachel describes how she did it in her book, “Unqualified Success – Bridging the Gap Between Where You Are Now and Where You Want To Be To Achieve Massive Success.” In this episode she describes how you, too, can close the gap between your life today and the life you dream about.

In his new book, “What Happened to Moderation?” Dr. Stephen Brewer says that Americans are drawn to extreme health care choices, just as they gravitate toward political extremes and non-stop work patterns. In today’s episode, Dr. Brewer, medical director at the Canyon Ranch Wellness Resorts, advises us to back away from trendy, over-the-top diet and exercise routines. It’s time, he says, to look at common-sense approaches to improving our health and treating routine illnesses. Exercise is vital to fitness, and fitness is a key to career performance, but that doesn’t mean you need to run marathons.

If you’re thinking about starting a business -- either now or off in a distant future – listen here. Dynamic career and personal finance expert Kerry Hannon is talking her most recent book, “Never Too Old To Get Rich – The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Starting a Business Mid-Life.” Kerry talks about how creating a business is not just a young person’s game, and how a huge wave of successful ventures are being launched by people in their 40’s, 50’s and beyond. And she offers tips about how you can go about laying the groundwork for your own business.

When Bob Shaff walks through a room of strangers, you can observe that he’s a master networker. Bob interacts with person after person, asking gentle questions and helping each to relax and engage with the crowd. It’s clear that he knows how to connect. But in today’s show Bob says that he didn’t start out that way. As a young engineer he was shy and isolated. Today Bob shares tips about how you can become a connector, and why it is well worth the effort. The site for Bob’s company, Customers For Life Consulting, is https://cflconsulting.com.

Some advocates for equal career opportunity assumed that, if a diverse mix of people is hired, eventually everyone would work well together. Consultant and executive coach Rob Jones says it’s not been that simple. Today’s organizations include people from a broad variety of cultural backgrounds, but not everyone is heard. Jones shares ideas about how to move past limited ideas about diversity and seek organizational cultures that can deliver equity, collaboration and the full benefits of a work force where not all people think alike. Find Rob at https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertdjones/ and see the diversity summit he mentions at https://www.newdiversitysummit.com .

Everybody encounters bad days at work. And sometimes a career stumble can feel like the end of the world. In this episode, guest host Tom Hodson talks with our own Bev Jones, author of the career success book, “Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO.” They explore strategies for moving on after a catastrophe, like finding ways to discuss it, looking at the big picture, and learning from successful people who survive epic flops.

Right after Harvard Business School, DJ DiDonna launched a startup. And then for 7 busy years he traveled the world, supporting small businesses in emerging markets. DJ’s company was successful, but he felt burned out. So he took a break from work, doing things unrelated to his job, like taking a walking pilgrimage in Japan. DJ’s time off was life changing, and he became intrigued by the transformative power of sabbaticals. Now he’s immersed in the Sabbatical Project, researching how long breaks can change lives and improve our work culture

Jaime-Alexis Fowler began her career as an academic, hoping that a university career would allow her to create change in our society. Finding that path to be too slow, she moved on to a series of organizations where she could grow as a social innovator. Today she’s the Founder and Executive Director of Empower Work, a ground-breaking nonprofit that allows workers to connect with a coach when they’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out. The service allows you to connect anonymously -- by texting or web chat – when you have no place else to turn. Jaime-Alexis describes how their free coaching works, she explains why one-on-one support can be so important, and she talks about building her career as a change agent

As a child, Jessi Roberts lived in a troubled home. But, with the help of friends along the way, she forged her own path to success. And today she’s the CEO of Cheekys, the big fashion and jewelry brand “that loves the country girl.” In this show, Jessi talks about her new book, “Backroads Boss Lady: Happiness Ain’t a Side Hustle… Straight Talk on Creating the Life You Deserve.” It’s an intriguing combination of savvy business advice, particularly aimed at women entrepreneurs, and the true story of Jessi’s life. Visit: https://cheekysboutique.com

If you’re looking for a job, it helps to understand how the hiring process really works. In this show you’ll get an insider view from search firm executive Jackie Ducci, author of “Almost Hired – What’s Really Standing between You and the Job You Want.” She will talk about how recruiters operate and what employers often want. She says that searching for a job is a learned skill, and one you can develop, even if you are just starting out in the job market. She’ll shed light on vital communication skills, hiring criteria and the importance of focusing on the right job targets. Visit: https://ducciassociates.com

Miami PR expert John P. David wrote an important book for professionals and businesses -- “How to Protect … (Or Destroy) … Your Reputation Online.” In this show, he says that some people learn the hard way that every person has an on-line presence, whether they realize it or not. And he illustrates the importance of actively managing your own profile with recent examples of serious social media challenges bringing serious problems for several celebrities. John also discusses broader PR trends, and what they mean for ordinary people. And he offers tips for folks who might be interested in a career in public relations. Visit: http://www.davidpr.com

Hannah Morgan is a nationally recognized author, speaker and teacher on all things job search. She started early, learning from her father, who owned a high-level executive search firm. Today her website CareerSherpa.net is an amazing resource for anyone thinking about a career move. In this show, she talks with host Bev Jones about how technology, strategy and even resume deliverables are evolving, changing the way people find and land jobs. Episode 53. For more tips follow @CareerSherpa

Your career success is influenced by your “brand.” And, as a professional, you do have a personal brand, even if the concept of branding makes you feel uncomfortable. In this episode, Tom Hodson interviews our own Bev Jones, author of the popular guide to career success, “Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO.” They discuss how you can shift your mindset, develop more confidence and better manage your professional reputation. And they talk about what leadership means, and how you can come across as a leader, even if you’re just starting your career.

To attract job opportunities, you have to make sure that you’re searchable. That’s the expert advice of Conrad Woody, who leads the U.S. Corporate and Government Affairs Practice at global talent and leadership firm Odgers Berndtson. In this episode, Conrad says that to be seen as a top candidate, you must show that you always keep learning and working at your full capacity. Even if you’re already thinking about your next career move, potential employers will want to see that you are still deeply engaged in your current job. Conrad also talks about what it takes to become a top lobbyist today.

Do you feel constantly behind and endlessly oppressed by a nagging sense that your “to-do” list is growing by the minute? Bestselling author Laura Vanderkam says you’re not alone. But you don’t have to live this way. Laura has studied the calendars of hundreds of professionals, and found that even extremely busy people have more free time than they recognize. In this episode she explains how to feel like you have all the time in the world. Among Laura’s recent helpful books are “Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done,” and “Juliet’s School of Possibilities: A Little Story About the Power of Priorities.”

Award-winning journalist Chris Farrell writes and talks about financial management and the economy, for places like Marketplace Money, Bloomberg, the Minneapolis StarTribune and Minnesota Public Radio. In this episode, he focuses particularly on his book, “Unretirement: How Baby Boomers are Changing the Way We Think About Work, Community and the Good Life.” The book has been hailed as a breath of fresh air, after years of gloomy reports that Baby Boomers were about to bleed America dry. Chris reports that retirement isn’t what it used to be, and that many older people are actually bolstering the economy by continuing to work, by starting new businesses and by volunteering vital services.

Paleontologist Nancy Stevens is a scientist but most of all, she says, she’s an explorer. Leading teams in Africa and other places, Nancy has discovered new fossil species from mammals to frogs. Some of her finds are groundbreaking, like the oldest fossil evidence of the split between Old World monkeys and apes. When on a field trips Nancy looks at how animals interact with their environment, over time. And back on campus she thinks about how people interact with the environment today. In this episode, she talks about collaborating across disciplines to connect science and the environment to everyday life.

Municipal Court Judge Gayle Williams-Byers -- whose side gig is teaching other judges -- is determined to convince her colleagues that “self-care is not selfish.” In this episode, she explains that judges have one of the toughest jobs in the world. Not only do they have the pressure of leading people in difficult situations, but the kinds of horrible events they hear about, day after day, can leave them suffering from what some call “vicarious trauma.” Judge Gayle describes simple ways that even the busiest people can improve their well-being, and thus their performance.

Mark Miller, a journalist who often covers issues related to retirement and aging, writes three columns, including for Reuters, and his work appears in places like The New York Times and AARP Magazine. He is the author of The Hard Times Guide to Retirement Security: Practical Strategies for Money, Work, and Living. It’s a helpful book for anyone grappling with retirement options, and in this episode Mark shares some of its advice. Mark also discusses his most recent book: Jolt: Stories of Trauma and Transformation. He explains how some people survive a very difficult life event, like the death of a child, but ultimately they experience transformation, and they come out stronger than ever. See more: https://muckrack.com/retirerevised

Online job search expert Susan P. Joyce has been quoted in hundreds of books, articles and blog posts. And she runs two top career websites: Job-Hunt.Org and WorkCoachCafe.com Susan is a prolific writer, and in her work she shares masses of excellent information about topics like how to create a modern resume, how to do well in a job interview and how to launch an effective hunt when it’s time for your next career shift. In this episode, Susan shares practical tips for building a smart online presence and talks about how to about make LinkedIn.com work for you. See her profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanjoyce/

Today’s guest is Julius Pryor III, a retired Navy captain and a certified Navy leadership instructor. He is widely known as an innovative, goal-focused executive, and a no-nonsense consultant. What really sets Julius apart is that he has succeeded as the Chief Diversity Officer at five global companies. In his book, THRIVING IN A DISRUPTIVE WORLD, Julius says that he’s driven by outcomes, and that’s how he approaches diversity and inclusion efforts. Instead of just counting heads in the work force, Julius works to understand the mission of a company, and helps leaders to craft D&I efforts that are aligned the broader corporate goals. See his profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpryor3rd/

Intel Chief Information Officer Paula Tolliver understands what it takes to transform a company or an industry. And she knows that IT savvy can be a key to career success, particularly because managing information is critical to forming and implementing a smart corporate vision. Today, Paula will share lessons from her in career technology, like how she learned to be “fearless.” She will talk about why and how more women should say “yes” to jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. And she will describe so of the ways Intel is working to encourage a diverse and inclusive STEM workforce.

Author, entrepreneur, workplace expert and 2006 college grad Dan Schawbel says that his mission in life is to support the work lives of people in his age group. Dan is a well-known expert on the millennial generation. And he has a savvy way of talking to young professionals, and offering them practical advice for building careers. This episode focuses on Dan’s new book: Back to Human – How Great Leaders Create Connection in the Age of Isolation. Although he’s a social media star, Dan says the dominance of technology is contributing to an epidemic of loneliness in the American workplace. He urges young professionals to build real human relationships, and he says that his goal with this book is to “bring some sanity back to the workplace.” For more information, take his self-assessment http://danschawbel.com/work-connectivity-index-wci/ or check out his book at: http://danschawbel.com/back-to-human/

Tali Wenger is passionate about her job as a director of field operations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. She’s proud of their work responding to disasters like hurricanes, floods and fires. And Tali also loves her side gig, as co-owner of Off Road DC, which operates two independent, community-focused cycling and fitness centers in Washington, DC. In this show, we discuss what it takes to juggle two very different careers. And Tali share insights about what it takes to launch a small business in a market where there is much competition.

In Episode 32, journalist Sara Schonhardt talked about how some young college grads are heading back to small towns to find work. That show was recorded in a small sound studio in the woods, by a stream, in rural Rappahannock County, Virginia. The studio is owned by Forrest Marquisee, who is finding ways to work as a musician in a county where the biggest town has fewer than 400 people. In this episode the conversation continues, with Sara as guest host, interviewing Forrest about the joys and challenges of piecing together his creative career in a community at the edge of Shenandoah National Park.

What do you do when you’re overwhelmed by work, you’re feeling exhausted and burned out, and you just don’t know how to start digging your way out of the hole? How do you know where to put your energy when everything feels like it’s just too much? And how can you get motivated to even try? Guest host Tom Hodson and career coach Bev Jones talk about ways to get your mojo back in this episode. If you’d like to hear them explore other career quandaries, please send your comments and suggestions to [email protected]

Karen Hough runs her own thriving consulting firm in Columbus, Ohio. But she started out as an actress. She did improv – where the actors appear on stage with no script or anything, and they have to make up their lines as they go along. In this episode, Karen says that a key principle in improvisational theater is saying: “yes… and.” And that same “yes” practice can transform the way you handle yourself in the workplace. Karen explains all about it, and offers more tips about how to speak with confidence, build trust and act like a leader.

Media personality Kerry Hannon is a well known expert on career transitions, entrepreneurship, and finance. She was the guest on our popular first episode. And now on this show Kerry returns to talk about how to get started when you want to – or perhaps you have to – make a career shift. Kerry offers savvy advice about how to plan before you jump, how to launch your search, and how to overcome the special challenges that can face job seekers who’re over 50. Whether you’re feeling lost and confused about your career, or just starting to dream about the future, Kerry can help. See her website for more insights and resources: kerryhannon.com

In her day job, software developer Shannon Turner manages tech needs for a non-profit that supports women’s rights and social justice. In this episode, we focus on Shannon’s side gig -- she is the founder of Hear Me Code, a non-profit group with a creative approach to teaching coding to women who want to get into tech. Shannon started HMC with a few women sitting around her kitchen table. Today, women in the group are teaching other women how to code, and all their beginner-friendly classes are free. Together they’ve built a community of more than 3000 female coders around Washington, DC. We talk about why and how Shannon created HMC, as well as other issues related to overcoming barriers to women in technology. See more: https://hearmecode.com and https://shannonvturner.com

Kate White was the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine for 14 years. And in addition to being a busy journalist, Kate has written 12 mystery novels. But what this episode focuses upon is how Kate also has emerged as a career guru for women. She made headlines in the 90’s with her groundbreaking best-seller: Why Good Girls Don’t Get Ahead … But Gutsy Girls Do. Since then, although women in the workplace have made progress, some things haven’t changed. So Kate recently released her fifth career guide for women: The Gutsy Girl Handbook: Your Manifesto For Success. In this book, and in this podcast episode, Kate encourages women to “go big or go home.”

Journalist and author Bob Deans is a wonderful writer and passionate speaker. These days, as director of strategic engagement for the Natural Resources Defense Council, he’s a frequent national media commentator on environmental issues. But Bob started his career as a newspaper reporter. He rose to the top of that profession, including a term as president of the White House Correspondents' Association. In this episode Bob describes how he made the shift from journalist to newsmaker. And he talks about why both journalists and fact-based advocates are vital to our democracy.

Mac Prichard, author of Land Your Dream Job Anywhere, has plenty of practical tips for anyone contemplating a career shift. He’s a respected job search expert, author and podcaster. And Mac’s List, his an online platform, is packed with helpful resources, including jobs listings for Oregon and Washington State. In this podcast episode, Mac describes how he has built two thriving businesses on the strength of his professional network, and goes on to explain how he has taught thousands of people how to grow their careers by building relationships with other people. Mac also offers suggestions for surviving the hiring process, whether you’re looking for a job, or seeking to hire the ideal candidate. Visit the Mac's List website: http://macslist.org Listen to the Mac's podcast: Find Your Dream Job (http://macslist.org/podcasts) Get a free chapter of Land Your Dream Job Anywhere (http://macslist.org/jazzed)

Journalist Sara Schonhardt has noticed how some young professionals are going back to their hometowns, or other smaller places, often to help revitalize communities. Sara started her career overseas, finishing her time as a foreign correspondent with a 3 1/2–year stint in Indonesia, as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. Recently she returned to the States, and became increasingly interested in how America’s rural areas are dealing with big issues, like income inequality, immigration and drug addiction. While looking at the challenges and opportunities facing smaller American places, Sara noticed how some talented young people are ignoring the lure of big cities and choosing to build careers in smaller towns.

Annie Williams operates two physical therapy facilities in rural Virginia. And her places are special, serving as popular neighborhood gathering spots. Her clients hang out there, having fun as they learn about health and well-being. Beyond having therapy, they take classes, do exercise and find themselves engaged in activities they never expected, like dancing. On this episode, Annie talks about her career crisis as a young dancer and her current career passion -- to educate people, as she helps them to address pain and disability, and she pioneers new ways to facilitate wellness.

Louise Pearl is a savvy Canadian entrepreneur, a race car driver, and a woman who knows how to turn her problems and passion into a thriving business. On this episode, Louise explains that all her life she has loved good food, so it was a shock when 13 years ago she was diagnosed with celiac disease. Suddenly Louise found herself going from store to store to find the products she needed and could like. As she struggled, she saw an opportunity -- to put everything under one roof for people who can’t eat gluten. Louise became active in the celiac support community, and soon she made a career shift. Today she owns a grocery store and bakery selling more than 4000 gluten-free products.

On this episode, guest host Tom Hodson talks with career coach Bev Jones about what it actually takes to feel jazzed about the work you are doing. Tom and Bev explore the elements of an engaging work life, like a sense of purpose, tasks and activities that are satisfying, and opportunities to talk and do things with people you like and respect. And they will offer tips about how you might generate more excitement about your job. Part of it is that sometimes you have choose to create more excitement and purpose at work. It’s easy to get bogged down in frustration and boredom, but there are ways you can shift that. For more tips how to be happy at work, check out the Engagement Triangle at https://woub.org/2018/03/06/how-to-be-happy-at-work/

Shoreen Maghame knows how to help people communicate in effective, strategic ways. She began her professional life as a broadcast and print journalist, and at a young age she found herself with a front row seat at the O.J. Simpson trial. Shoreen’s experience reporting on high profile stories was the foundation of her current role as a communications strategist and coach for major corporations. Now at global PR firm Burson-Marsteller, she teaches clients how to build credibility, how to handle crises, how to protect reputations and how to get their messages across in a highly competitive marketplace. On today’s episode, as Shoreen tells the story of her career, she offers insights about how to support yours, like why communicating at work often starts with focusing on your audience.

Professor Geoff Dabelko recently was awarded the prestigious Al-Moumin Award for Environmental Peacebuilding. Throughout his groundbreaking career, Geoff has been showing security and environmental groups how their objectives are often the same.  On this episode, he explains how tensions over shared or limited resources can be an opportunity for promoting peace and collaboration, rather than simply a trigger for more conflict. Geoff’s career has taken him around the world and into power centers in Washington. As he talks about some of the themes and high points in his work life, he will offer suggestions for building a career devoted to supporting the environment.

Toby Haberkorn is a certified job search strategist and an experienced, savvy recruiter. And on this episode she’ll answer some of our questions about just what those headhunters may be looking for. Toby often works with mature job seekers, and she says that – even though age discrimination is real -- Boomers ARE finding jobs. She will explain about how older workers are continuing to succeed in the marketplace. She’ll share insights from her book, “Best Job Search Tips for Age 60 plus.” And she’ll offer tips for gearing up your career, no matter what your age.

Columnist and broadcaster Clarence Page is one of the nation’s most insightful and respected commentators. When Clarence won the prestigious 2018 Kiplinger Award for distinguished lifetime contributions to journalism, the judges said that he has distinguished himself in every medium in a rapidly changing news environment, tackling the thorniest issues with good humor and humility. On today’s episode, Clarence Page talks about his long, high-profile career, in which he has fearlessly grappled with some of society’s most challenging questions, like race, social tribalism, politics and the state of journalism. He describes how he got started, and offers tips for journalists who are starting out today.

Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Gretchen Dietrich climbed the ranks to become Commander of a Medical Support Squadron, located at NATO headquarters. Then she went to Washington, proud to be one of the leaders engaged in transforming the delivery of health services for military personnel and their families. When she retired from the Air Force with strong health credentials, Colonel Dietrich didn’t think it would be too hard to make the transition to a civilian job. But there were a few bumps in the road before she found in her interesting new role in a biotech start up. On this episode, Colonel Dietrich offers career insights as she describes her years in the military, shares what it took to switch gears, and explains how she is continuing to build her new life.

The Foster Harris House is a lovely little inn, in the Virginia wine country. For the new owner, Klaus Peters, running the House is a post-retirement labor of love. Before his “boring” short-lived retirement, Klaus enjoyed a distinguished career managing top hotels, like the Watergate. But Klaus started his career in hospitality at the bottom, as a 14-year-old kitchen apprentice. Eventually he worked his way up to a waiter’s job, and at age 18 he answered an ad to become a waiter at a Texas hotel. But then – once he learned to “treat everybody like a Somebody” – Klaus’ career took off and he was managing a resort at the age of 26. On this episode, Klaus talks about how to empower your career by treating other people with respect.

Austin Belcak loves his job in New York City at Microsoft, where he manages digital advertising projects. But what’s attracting more public attention is his side gig as a job search expert. What Austin does through his firm, Cultivate Culture, is help recent grads to use “unconventional strategies” to snag jobs at leading tech companies -- just like he did. Austin has come a long way since he graduated college in 2013, without connections or experience in the tech sector. To make the leap to a top company in a major city, he spent a year researching every aspect of the recruiting process at leading companies. And then, he says, he went through the process himself, snagging more than 50 interviews and multiple offers. On this episode, Austin will share tips for pursuing jobs in world class companies, even if you’re starting out without the right experience or network.

Yvette McGee Brown was the first African American woman Justice on The Ohio Supreme Court. Today, after years in public service, Justice Brown is a prominent attorney in private practice at the firm Jones Day, in Columbus, Ohio. But her path to success wasn’t always easy. Little Yvette was born Ohio to a single, teenaged mother whose goal was just to get Yvette through high school without getting pregnant. Her mother insisted that Yvette learn to type, so she would always have a job. On today’s episode, Justice Brown talks with guest host, and retired Judge, Tom Hodson about the keys to her success. Her career has been empowered by mentors, role models, listening to a broad range of people, and a willingness to take up challenges.

Journalist John McCaslin covered the White House and Congress for three decades, as a syndicated columnist, top radio host, and prominent TV news show personality. Noting John’s knack for uncovering political shenanigans, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos declared: “John McCaslin knows everything you always wanted to know about Washington but were afraid to ask.”  On this Jazzed About Work episode, John talks with Bev about his media career, from the peak of Washington journalism, to his current gig as a small town newspaper editor. Along with fascinating stories, John shares his concerns about the current state of newspapers. And he offers tips for journalists who may be just starting out in today’s rapidly evolving multi-media industry.

The nitty gritty of managing a career shift is the focus of today’s episode. Instead of interviewing a guest, Bev will talk with her colleague, Tom Hodson, about ways to navigate a transition in your work life. The two will discuss strategies and insights from Bev’s book, “Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO – 50 Indispensable Tips to Help You Stay Afloat, Bounce Back, and Get Ahead at Work.” They will talk about how it’s never too early to lay the groundwork for your next career move. You can gradually do things like developing new skills or expanding your network.

Eva Moskowitz is a pioneering and sometimes controversial figure in urban politics and American education. And she is well known as the founder of Success Academy Charter Schools, a network of more than 40 high performing schools in New York City. On today’s episode, we will hear about her new book, “The Education of Eva Moskowitz – A Memoir.” Of course the book talks about how she built the Success Academy, in the midst of sometimes rough-and-tumble NYC politics. Beyond that, with Eva’s characteristic “radical candor,” the book tells the story of her own life and career, complete with emotional ups and downs. In the conversation, as she describes the Success Academy’s philosophy and programs, Eva also shares tips for building a career in education today.

ESPN’s Mark Wright is a journalist whose dynamic career not only allows him to closely follow the sports that he loves, but also provides him with an opportunity to explore issues that he cares about deeply. After a long career in print and then digital journalism, today Mark creates projects for The Undefeated. That is ESPN’s premier media platform for exploring the intersections of race, sports and culture. In today’s episode, Mark will tell us the story of how he produced “Redemption Song,” a short film about how Howard University’s soccer team lost – and then won back – the chance to be the first Historically Black College to win an NCAA title. And as the conversation continues, Mark will share his insights for creating a resilient, entrepreneurial career.

It’s time for university leaders to get serious about changing the way they teach students, says higher education thought leader Dave Goldberg, in this episode. Expertise doesn’t matter so much anymore, he says. The way to go is to be “more deeply human.” Dave says it’s time to change higher education from the inside out. He says that, in preparing students for their careers, educators should help students shift their focus away from obedience to authority, and, instead, guide them towards the development of human values. The change in the teaching of students should resemble the way that the job of leadership is changing, Dave says. Both students and leaders need what he calls “shift skills,” like awareness, and listening, and being able to notice your own emotions. For many years, Dave was a widely published and highly regarded traditional academic leader. In 2010, after going through a series of executive coaching sessions, he decided to resign his tenure and professorship at the University of Illinois, and work full time for the transformation of engineering education. Today Dave is a leadership coach, a change management consultant, and the leader of a change movement. He works with individuals and educational organizations around the world to collaboratively disrupt the status quo. In 2014, Dave co-authored the book A Whole New Engineer: The Coming Revolution in Engineering Education, which seeks to bring emotional and cultural transformation to higher education around the world.

Artists may look like they’re just having fun. But they have to work hard and carefully every single day, says distinguished curator Merry Foresta, in this episode, focused on creating careers in the arts. Merry says that artists who enjoy professional success tend to be passionate about what they do, regardless of what other people may say about their work. And one thing that helps them to keep up their energy is that, despite criticism, they keep saying to themselves, “yes I can.” Merry created and served as the Director of the Smithsonian Photography Initiative from its inception in 2000 until 2010. In addition to building one of the world's premier collections of American photography. she has curated more than 50 exhibitions, and authored numerous books and catalogs. These days she frequently serves as a guest curator at the Smithsonian and many other leading art museums. Among her recent shows, and books, is “Irving Penn: Beyond Beauty,” featuring 161 images from the iconic photographer.

On this episode of Jazzed About Work, Bev talks with East Orange, New Jersey mayor, Lester Taylor, about his career path from lawyer to second-youngest mayor in the history of East Orange, NJ.

On this episode of Jazzed About Work, Bev talks with Shari Jaeger Goodwin, an innovative business strategist, leadership and peak performance coach, author, speaker, and horsewoman. Shari talks about how using horses in leadership workshops helps reign in the message. Her book, "Take the Reins! 7 Secrets to Inspired Leadership", blends best business strategies in leadership and sales with lessons from horses.

On this episode of Jazzed About Work, Bev talks with John Tarnoff, a reinvention career coach who provides career counseling for baby boomer and late career professionals looking to defy ageism, work beyond retirement, and pivot to a new job or new business as a second act or encore career. John began his career as a literary agent, film studio production executive and film producer. In these capacities, he was responsible for films including"Diner," "The Year of Living Dangerously," "Pink Floyd The Wall," "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure," and "The Power of One." John talks with Bev about his long career and it's transitions, and gives advice to baby boomers looking to extend their working life.

On this episode of Jazzed About Work, Bev talks with retired Marine colonel who is now the Director for Professional and Executive Education at the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs at Ohio University. The two talk about his personal journey of becoming a leader and the keys of teaching leadership to others.

Buses, trollies, subways and ferries can be key to a lively and sustainable community. But it’s not easy to develop this kind of urban infrastructure. It typically takes carefully crafted public/private partnerships, requiring coordination across geography, political bodies, social issues and areas of expertise. On this episode of Jazzed About Work, Bev talks with Sherry Little, a founding partner at Cardinal Infrastructure, a firm which helps to guide all the interested parties through the development of transport projects. From the time she was a student, Sherry knew she wanted to work with this kind of public issue. She came to Washington right after grad school, and quickly worked her way to a top staff job on “the Hill”. With 13 years of senior experience in the Senate, she then went on to run the Federal Transit Administration through the end of the Bush Administration. Sherry talks with Bev about how she has built her career, and offers insights about how others might follow a similar path.

On this episode of Jazzed About Work we'll be talking about how the digital revolution may have an impact on YOUR career, and even your well-being. Our expert guest is Randy Rieland, a veteran traditional journalist who has made the transition to multi-media storytelling. Randy started as a newspaper reporter and went on to become a magazine editor. He was one of the first of his professional tribe to become intrigued by alternative channels for delivering news. Eventually, he helped lead a major company, Discovery Communications, into the digital age. These days, Randy is a popular writer and speaker helping ordinary people understand the implications of sweeping changes in technology. We'll speak with Randy about how tech developments are impacting all of us, and particularly older people. He'll talk about the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence and give us examples of how AI can be part of the formula for healthy aging.

This week on Jazzed About Work, we'll be talking about how its never too late to reinvent your career. We'll be talking to Larry Meyer, journalist, novelist, and consultant. Larry, who's friends call him "Bud", started as traditional reporter but then went on to reinvent his career again and again. Today, Bud has a lively career at a time when many of his age cohorts have opted for retirement. He's a thought leader in the field of community-assisted journalists and is currently writing his second "eco-novel".

Bev Jones talks with lawyer, law professor and health-care analyst, Dayna Bowen Matthew about racial inequality in the workplace. Matthew just released a new book Just Medicine – A Cure for Racial Inequality in American Health Care published by the New York University Press. She claims that African Americans and Latinos suffer from unconscious racial and ethnic biases by physicians, institutional providers and even the patients themselves. This implicit bias often leads to unintentional stereotyping and disparate care from Caucasians. Matthew is a professor at the University of Virginia. She also has co-founded the Colorado Health Equity Project.

On this episode of Jazzed About Work, Bev talks with award-winning religion correspondent for National Public Radio and a former reporter for the Christian Science Monitor, Barbara Bradley Hagerty, about new research that explores fable that midlife is a time when things start to go "downhill". Barbara will explain how midlife can be a great new adventure when you can embrace fresh possibilities, purposes, and pleasures.

Ryan Lytle graduated from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University in June 2010. In just seven years, he, as a millennial, has had a rapid rise in the job market. For the past year, he has been leading digital audience efforts, social strategy and partnerships for Scripps Network Interactive, including the Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, DIY, Cooking Channel, Great American Country, TVN, Fine Living, and Asian Food. For four years prior, he had social media positions and directorships with Mashable. He also spent two years as a producer, reporter, and social strategist for U.S. News and World Report and started right out of college with MTV handling social media tasks. Lytle has credited some of his early success with key internships in college. As a student, he worked for the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Washington Post, and NBC’s Today Show. Lytle attributes many of his opportunities to networking – “putting yourself and your work constantly in front of important people – even while in college.” He talks with Jazzed About Work host Beverly Jones about always working to increase one’s skill-set of talents and building on them with each new project. Lytle says, that even though new hires are expected to have many different skills in their career tool-box, most companies still hire people with in-depth expertise in a particular field. Today, he says, that video skills are the ones demanding the most attention in the media workplace. Video shooting, editing, and live video are on the cutting edge and companies are hiring workers who have special talents in those fields. After being on a rapid career path for seven years, Lytle says he is now learning more about work-life balance and he is learning that his whole life in not bundled with his career. He says this is refreshing and the balance is giving him new and fresh perspectives on life.

On this episode, Beverly Jones talks with Ira Chaleff, an author and thinker who specializes in the dynamics between "leaders" and "followers" in the workplace. His newest work is titled, "Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You're Told to Do Is Wrong".

Donning judicial robes, taking the bench, and sitting in judgment of others on a daily basis can bring great professional satisfaction but problems may also arise, say two trial judges. Judge Gayle Williams-Byers, an African-American woman judge in the South Euclid Municipal Court in Ohio and retired/visiting judge Thomas Hodson talk about dedicating part of their careers to service and the upsides of doing that. Both agree that problem solving in courtrooms can give great personal satisfaction. Helping victims and making sure everyone’s constitutional rights are protected bring feelings of “doing-good” and administering justice. These types of “service” positions are essential for society and give each judge a personal and professional sense of doing something “positive” with their professional lives. Both feel that what they do – makes a difference in their communities – a positive contribution. Yet, both face challenges. It is sometimes difficult to make sure that courts are understandable and accessible to the general public. Both work with programs to make courts more approachable. For example, Judge Williams-Byers livestreams all her court sessions to make what she does transparent to the community. Both have worked with night courts and weekend courts to make courts more accessible. Also, both make sure that they are not administering “cookie-cutter” justice but tailor outcomes and penalties to meet individual situations. Both face personal challenges as well. They say that being a judge can often be a lonely position which demands a great degree of social isolation from peers. Being a judge also demands an extreme degree of emotional reserve and control. Retired-judge Hodson relates how that emotional withdrawal in court can sometimes spill over to one’s personal life causing some difficulties as a spouse or a parent. Despite any challenges, both judges feel that the benefits of their service outweigh any detriments.

In this technological age, we all have major online vulnerabilities and each of us is easily “digitally documented,” according to author, consultant and public relations specialist John Paul David. The average person, says David, is seen on surveillance cameras an average of 75 times per day. All of this leads to online searches for potential job applicants, people seeking promotions, loan applicants, businesses and many other situations. He not only cautions everyone but especially young people starting careers to be extra careful of their digital footprint and to routinely check their own search results for negative and damaging entries. David also has developed a checklist for people to follow to be extra cautious. David has been a strategic communication specialist and marketing professional for the past 25 years. One of his specialties is counteracting negative online information and reputation management. In October 2016, David became a first-time author writing, “How to Protect (Or Destroy) Your Reputation Online: The Essential Guide to Avoid Digital Damage, Lock Down Your Brand, and Defend Your Business.” He also writes an award-winning blog and regularly contributes to the Huffington Post. He is a graduate of the University of Florida.

Kerry Hannon, a noted authority on work and career, has published countless articles and books about how to follow your heart to find the work you love. But, she has been hearing, as she travels across the country, that a shift in employment may not be practical for many, in these times. So, how do you make your current job more satisfying? “If you want to be happier, you have to DO something, to take action,” Kerry says. Kerry joins Beverly Jones for the premiere this new podcast.

Jazzed About Work is a new series which will feature lively, informal conversations about everything it takes to create a resilient and rewarding career. In each segment, host Beverly Jones will interview professionals who can share their expertise related to the workplace. Her guests go beyond the research and get personal, as they will talk about their interesting and often surprising professionals paths. Jones is an executive coach who wrote the handbook on building career resilience, “Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO.” She draws on her own experience as she talks with guests about everything from smart ways to lead, to their favorite techniques for career management and reinvention. Every segment blends good stories with practical suggestions for navigating your career.