In this episode of Room at the Table, Betsy Cerulo and therapist Alfredo Santiago explore the universal experience of grief, healing, and rebuilding. Alfredo shares how grief shows up in everyday life, how to honor the love behind the pain, and why connection and community are essential during difficult times.

Drawing on his work with LGBTQ, BIPOC, and immigrant communities, Alfredo emphasizes that there is no timeline for grief and that each person deserves permission to feel joy again, even while missing someone they love. He provides practical self-care strategies, including music, movement, and journaling, to help navigate emotional pain and support mental wellness.

Listeners will learn how to create space for their emotions, embrace supportive connections, and honor memories without judgment. Alfredo also discusses how grief can coexist with joy and highlights the importance of acknowledging both the pain and the love that remains.

Whether you’re navigating a personal loss, supporting someone who is grieving, or looking to better understand emotional resilience, this episode offers compassionate insights and actionable guidance. By the end, you’ll understand how grief is a form of love and how intentional self-care and community connection can foster healing and hope.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why grief is a powerful expression of love

✅ How connection supports healing after loss

✅ Gentle self-care practices to navigate emotional pain

✅ Why emotions deserve acknowledgment rather than suppression

✅ Ways to remain open to future possibilities while honoring the past

Want more insights on creating a heart-centered, tech-savvy workplace? Subscribe, share, and join Betsy Cerulo each week on Room at the Table as we explore leadership, innovation, and building inclusive workplaces.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: Welcoming the conversation on grief

04:45 Why light and ritual support connection

09:10 Helping those reluctant to seek emotional support

13:25 Self-awareness and self-care for those holding space

28:30 Grief as love and staying open to joy

34:40 Why you never put a timeline on healing

38:20 How to reach Alfredo for support

Key Takeaways:

💎 You are never alone in grief, even when it feels isolating

💎 There is no set timeline for healing or emotional expression

💎 Joy and connection do not diminish the love you still hold

💎 Speaking emotions honors truth and supports recovery

Guest Bio:

Alfredo Santiago, LCSW-C, is a licensed certified social worker at Chase Brexton Health Services and founder of Peace and Strength Counseling, LLC, providing compassionate care to LGBTQ, POC, Latinx immigrants, refugees, at-risk youth, and those navigating grief. With experience at Baltimore City Department of Social Services, Veterans Administration Hospital, and Sinai Hospital, Alfredo brings a trauma-informed, strength-based approach to supporting marginalized communities. He holds a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Maryland, an M.A. from Wesley Theological Seminary, volunteers with several social justice organizations, and is a proud parent to Marvin and Chuck the boxer dog.

Alfredo Santiago LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredo-santiago-3b09513/

About ALfredo Santiago: https://chasebrexton.org/alfredo-santiago

About ALfredo Santiago:

In this episode of Room at the Table, Betsy Cerulo and AI expert, Gavriel Legynd explore what businesses often get wrong about AI and how to fix it. From workflow automation to AI copilots, Gavriel Legynd provides a practical roadmap for companies of all sizes to leverage AI safely, efficiently, and responsibly.

Gavriel Legynd, CEO of VisioneerIT, explains how businesses can use AI tools as copilots to automate repetitive tasks, generate faster insights, and improve outcomes across sales, marketing, customer service, and internal operations. He emphasizes validating AI outputs, ensuring data accuracy, and integrating human oversight to maintain trust and productivity. Businesses often struggle with inaccurate data, misusing AI, and risking proprietary information—this discussion highlights actionable strategies to avoid those pitfalls.

Whether you’re a business leader, entrepreneur, or team manager, this episode equips you to implement AI thoughtfully, protect sensitive data, and enhance your team’s productivity. By the end, you’ll understand how AI copilots can become partners to your workforce, allowing you to work smarter, scale faster, and innovate responsibly.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How AI in business can boost efficiency without replacing employees

✅ Strategies for implementing AI copilots in team workflows

✅ Ways to protect proprietary data while using AI tools

✅ How to build an AI roadmap for your company

✅ Best practices for human + AI collaboration

Want more insights on creating a heart-centered, tech-savvy workplace? Subscribe, share, and join Betsy Cerulo each week on Room at the Table as we explore leadership, innovation, and building inclusive workplaces.

Timestamps:

00:00 Meet Gavriel Legynd

05:23 What Businesses Get Wrong About AI

08:45 Responsible AI Use in Teams

13:10 Implementing AI Copilot for Productivity

17:40 AI Roadmap & Workflow Automation

22:00 Human + AI Collaboration Best Practices

28:00 Security & Proprietary Data Protection

34:00 Workshop & Phased AI Adoption

40:00 Final Thoughts & Wrap-up

Key Takeaways:

💎 AI in business should complement human work, not replace it.

💎 AI copilots can automate repetitive tasks, allowing teams to focus on high-value work.

💎 Protect proprietary data by using closed AI systems and secure platforms.

💎 Strategic AI adoption requires a phased approach: quick wins, integration, then advanced AI agents.

Guest Bio:

Gavriel Legynd is CEO of VisioneerIT, a firm specializing in digital modernization and security, with over 20 years in technology. He guides businesses in AI adoption, workflow automation, and AI copilots to boost productivity. Gavriel has experience in government contracting, architectural, engineering, and industrial industries, and previously led security operations at the Department of Commerce. He serves on several nonprofit boards, mentors multiple STEM and GovTech organizations, and has spoken at Inc 5000, National Business Inclusion Consortium, and numerous other forums.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavriellegynd/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/visioneerit

www.visioneerit.com http://www.visioneerit.com

Resources & Mentions:

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In this enlightening episode of "Room at the Table," host Betsy Cerulo welcomes Linda Landon, a master coach and human design specialist, to explore the transformative power of human design in personal and professional settings. Linda unpacks the intricacies of this energetic assessment tool, revealing how it synthesizes ancient wisdom with modern quantum physics to offer profound insights into our innate characteristics and optimal ways of functioning.

From the five distinct types in human design to the nuanced interpretation of individual charts, Linda and Betsy dive deep into how this knowledge can revolutionize our approach to work, leadership, and networking. They discuss practical applications, from aligning roles with energy types to prevent burnout, to tailoring networking strategies for maximum effectiveness.

Whether you're a curious individual seeking self-understanding or a leader looking to optimize team dynamics, this episode offers a roadmap for harnessing the power of human design to ignite joy, boost productivity, and foster authentic connections in all areas of life.

• (00:00) Intro: Meet human design specialist, Linda Landon
• (01:37) What is human design and its benefits
• (05:36) How human design improves clients' lives
• (09:11) The five types in human design explained
• (15:12) Generators and manifesting generators' energy
• (19:38) Projectors: Guiding others with wisdom
• (29:37) Oprah Winfrey's human design chart analysis
• (34:22) Using human design for business relationships
• (38:13) Networking strategies for introverted leaders
• (41:10) How to learn more about human design

• Human Design is an energetic assessment tool that reveals one's innate nature and how to live at their highest expression. It synthesizes ancient wisdom traditions with modern science to provide a unique blueprint for each individual. Understanding one's Human Design type and strategy can help align with their authentic self and reduce burnout.
• There are five Human Design types, each with distinct energy patterns and optimal strategies. As a Projector, Linda has learned the importance of waiting to be recognized and invited before sharing her wisdom. This approach has transformed her life and work, allowing her to guide others more effectively while maintaining her energy.
• Energy Patterns: Generators and Manifesting Generators have steady, sustainable energy, while Projectors, Manifestors, and Reflectors have intermittent, unsustainable energy. Understanding these patterns can help individuals manage their energy more effectively.
• Human Design can be applied to various aspects of life, including business, relationships, and personal growth. For leaders, it offers insights into communication styles, networking approaches, and team dynamics. By honoring one's own design and that of others, Landon believes people can create more harmonious and productive environments, both personally and professionally.

Linda Landon, PCC, is a life and intimacy coach who is passionate about guiding individuals, couples and business teams to re-ignite play and pleasure, and experience vitality at any age!

She has synthesized decades of self-exploration and work with her clients to create the Ignite Method. This unique three-pillar approach synthesizes Human Design, Sensing Sexuality, and Tools for Liberation, to show clients how to know and love themselves, share that love with others, and unravel whatever gets in the way of being their joyous and authentic selves.

Linda is certified as an ICF Professional Coach, Deep Coaching Practitioner, Human Design practitioner, a NARM Trauma-Informed Professional, a teacher of Mindfulness, Sensory Awareness, The Release TechniqueTM, and The Work of Byron Katie, an international...