She was the keynote speaker, but I didn’t know. It was just her lovely energy that drew me to start speaking with Dr. Katie Eastman at the Seattle Founder’s Live event last year. With a mutual passion for helping people through change, we hit it off right away. When I learned that she had been mentored by the Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, I knew this was someone who knew more than a few things about what it takes to find peace with transition. 

Even more impressive than her close connection to the Kubler-Ross legacy is her 3 decade long career as a therapist and guide for parents of terminally ill children. The stories she tells are heart-wrenching and heart-warming – a true testament to the human spirit.  Although we don’t dive deep into these stories in this episode, her soon to be published book - “Uplifting – Stories of Change, Loss and Growth!” - does. 

In this episode, we explore why the famous Kubler-Ross change curve work is likely very different than what you think it is. We discuss the messages of Jung and Meister Eckhart, as well as exploring why we struggle to follow their wisdom. 

Tune in to hear:

-          What it means to deny death and the impact it has had on the U.S. ability to navigate the COVID pandemic (Wow.)

-          What one thing we always have, even at the end of life.

-          Why stress is a 15 second experience unless your brain gets in the way.

-          Why the origins of the mental health crisis can be found in our inability to reset.

-          Why the best thing we can do for kids today is to teach them how to just be at peace with how they are feeling, accepting it as real and normal and passing.

-          5 tips for helping kids and adults to be with their body and self-calm. 

As “Dr. KatieE” will be showing the world in the next few years, there is so much we can learn from the death of some of our youngest humans. Be sure to tune in to this episode for a glimpse of her wisdom and get ready to read her book soon!  

In her words, “Kids have been my greatest teachers, especially dying kids. Death is the greatest place to learn about living.” 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keastmanpsydlcsw/

Website and Book Release List: https://www.drkatiee.com    

What does it take to find stability and thrive when everything seems to have been turned upside down and nothing feels guaranteed? What can you rely on and how do you navigate such uncertainty? 

If you have been looking for something to put your hope into, tune in to this episode with recent high school graduate, Indira Heller. 

A high schooler???  YUP.  Well, actually, NOW she is a freshman in college and I can not wait to see what this young woman creates next! Her gift? Words that give hope and are grounded in all that is human and earthly. 

I first learned of Indira at my son's high school graduation where she was one of two graduates delivering the graduation speech.  Her words left me speechless.

Tune in to hear an 18 year old speak wisdom far beyond her years and learn about the experiences that have nurtured her outlook.  There is something in here for us all to reflect on and help us find our own personal hope and stability.

When your high school experience is shaped by:

- COVID school shut down in Seattle - one of the longest in the country
- SEATTLE - where you can't really gather outside much of the year as it RAINS.
- A brand new school where you are the oldest class for every year you are there 
- Mental health tanking in yourself and all of your peers 
- A lack of long standing school traditions
- Attending a school where they are working to disrupt what school has always been.

What do you learn? How do you grow? What do you think about the future? 

Tune it to find out!  The speech is worth tuning in to alone!! 

When you do a podcast with someone you used to date, I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise that the conversation centered around navigating difficult relationships and growing through discomfort!

We met through Bumble, dated for a while, and stayed in touch over a shared passion for developing humans. In this session we get into the details of what it means to embrace discomfort and the growth opportunities it presents.  

Urs Koenig, Ph.D. is a keynote speaker, champion ultra-endurance athlete, U.N. Peacekeeper, and long-time executive leadership coach. Today, he speaks on leading with humility and the 5 Shifts of Then to Now Leadership, which will be the focus of his upcoming book. 

In this episode, Urs expands the perspective of this podcast by bringing his global leadership and education experiences to light. Born in Switzerland, Urs spent his young adulthood in Australia, had his children in the U.S. and travels the world for his work as an international speaker and U.N. Peacekeeper in the Middle East. 

As we wind our way through talking about the mind-body connection, how our bodies can do far more than we believe they can, the natural cycles of discomfort, and how to navigate tough relationships, including divorce and Middle East diplomatic meetings, you will notice a theme, Urs is a master at throwing himself into new situations and growing through discomfort.  

In this episode, we discuss the how the origins of Take Your Shoes Off First are found in my own experiences of healing deep conflict. Even as Urs challenges me, I explain how a shift in my perspective always preceded a breakthrough in understanding in which I could suddenly see what I could not before, enabling me to find neutral ground and bridges of understanding.

We discuss the importance of having solid boundaries but making sure they aren’t so impenetrable that you can’t see beyond them, and the power of realizing you can only change you.  

Tune in to learn why Urs is passionate about leading with humility and embracing discomfort as he talks about his experiences:

-          Becoming a semi-truck truck driver 

-          Going on two Peace Keeping missions

-          Leaving his kids for a year to pursue a life calling 

-          Living and working in Egypt, navigating daily the influence of radical Islam

-          Navigating conversations between ambassadors from countries who believed in genocide.

Urs shares that we have an inversion of expertise these days where all around you know more than you could possibly know, so it’s important as a leader to let go of the idea that you know it all.  He notes that the leader doesn’t have to have all the answers, but he should be focused on cultivating deep relationships with his  people.

“A strong focus on the relational piece between co-workers is where leaders need to be.”

For more information on Urs, visit: 

Urskoenig.com