Le Vital Corps Salon

Professionally, Barb’s an award-winning professor of engineering at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan and the Ramón y Cajal Distinguished Scholar of Global Digital Learning at McMaster University. Her research focuses on bioengineering with an emphasis on neuroscience and cognitive psychology. She’s also the creator of the massively successful Learning How To Learn online course, which she teaches alongside legendary neuroscientist Dr. Terrence Sejnowski. Dr. Oakley makes the neuroscience of learning both practical and accessible for the rest of us.In today’s episode we talk a lot about learning and MOOCs, or for the uninitiated, massive online open courses. With all of Dr. Oakley’s credentials and professional experience, we also discuss some adjacent topics like how to hang-up your workaholic spurs, how to avoid task-list intimidation (yes, we touch on task lists!), and how we might leverage Imposter Syndrome for our advantage. As I said at the top of this episode: If a Swiss Army Knife came in huma

While I believe almost anything is possible, I knew the odds were small. Astronauts are busy folks. Yet, here we are. Today’s episode is proof-positive that intentionally aiming for the stars may well get you there. Tune in to learn how this episode came to fruition, but first, a little more background on today’s guest.Nicole’s NASA experience includes 2 space flights, 104 days spent living and working on a space shuttle and the International Space Station. If that wasn’t enough, she performed 1 space walk and was a crew member on the final flight of Spaceship Discovery. Yet, one of her most memorable experiences is painting the first watercolor in space. Nicole has soared to the heights of outer space and dove to the depths of the Earth’s ocean as a NASA aquanaut. She’s now incredibly dedicated to sharing the beauty of Earth from space with others, especially through art. In this episode, Nicole and I talk a lot about art and how she ended up painting in space, her relationship with space and Earthlings, and

Additionally, she consults with both students and school faculty around effective family engagement.You might be thinking this episode is going to be a really kid- and family- focused one. Yes, we are going to talk about Theresa's work for context. We’re also going to discuss how she came to it. Yet, there is so much in this episode for grownups without children, too. My husband, Craig, and I don't have kids currently, but the conversation left me with some ideas that stuck since Theresa and I recorded this conversation.In this episode, Theresa shares both a deeply personal, courageous story and her professional story with us. She shares how mindfulness instruction came to be part of her core offerings, and how she helps children understand true happiness, which is not contingent on achievement. (I found this to be quite, thought-provoking as a recovering Type-A lady.) We also discuss the misconceptions of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and what life is like after the diagnosis. We consider the concept o

Aimee is the Operations Director for O+ (pronounced oh positive).  Over her time with the organization, she’s also helped launch spin-off festivals in San Francisco and Petaluma, California. O+ works to build long-term relationships between creatives and health & wellness providers to help strengthen local communities. The O+ festival infuses medicine, art, and wellness in a uniquely engaging way.In addition to talking about O+, Aimee explains how we can trip into new and galvanizing experiences - sometimes unexpectedly - even as organized planners (ahem, my Type-A friends) and live to tell about it. We also chat about ways she’s dealt with burnout, the importance of setting bite-sized goals, and how she spends her “free” time at Disaster Mansion. Oh yeah, we’ll also discover the satisfaction of slaying a star-farting cat. (PETA friends: Don’t be alarmed. No real cats were harmed in this conversation.) Selected link love + resources from the episodeConnect with Aimee on social media and on the web: Websit

[Since the initial airing, Debra faced conflict with her board and started VoteAmerica.com. She no longer endorses Vote.org.]Debra served as the Founder and CEO of Vote.org,  a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that uses technology to simplify voter engagement, increase voter turnout, and strengthen American democracy. In this episode, we talk about being “abrasive” women in the workplace and how to really own getting fired. Plus, we talk about how she is working to bolster democracy through her organization [at the time], Vote.org.If you come away with anything from my conversation with Debra, I hope it's that life is one giant blank check of permission for you to do things your way. Listen right now...and then go register to vote!Selected link love + resources from the episodeConnect with Debra on social media and on the web: Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedInVoteAmerica.com - Register to vote (even by mail), get reminders to vote, and find your polling place in a snap.LyftThe Best Vacuum Cleaners, W

I had the great fortune of meeting this week’s guest, Miranda Mims, at a roundtable discussion hosted by Minda Harts at SXSW. (Yes, SXSW again!). After the roundtable, I organized an impromptu dinner at the Elizabeth Street Cafe, which is one of my favorite restaurants in all of Austin, Texas. As luck would have it, Miranda said yes to joining and really got my brain cooking. I asked her a million questions about what it’s like to be an archivist. I found it fascinating and knew I had to invite her to the podcast.In this episode, we chatted all about what archivists do. Plus, we talk all about how to decide what to keep and what to get rid of - the physical items, a mindset, or even the mental clutter - what we carry around as human beings. I hope this conversation with Miranda frees you up.Turn on your favorite listening device and join me to learn more about knowing “when to hold 'em, when to fold 'em, or when to walk away,” with my guest, Miranda Mims.Selected link love + resources from the episodeConnect

As I record this podcast, I’m slowly working on and growing the 33K Task List Project. After facilitating a craftworking (crafting + networking) event in Ruby’s town, the librarians lovingly wouldn’t let me out of there without the copy of 363 Days of Tea. Today's episode is a great example of how you really never know how things are going to come together. The librarians’ recommendation ultimately led me to reach out to Ruby. And that, friends, is how I met Ruby.  She is a visual artist and a graphic designer whose recent work includes experimenting on recycled and repurposed materials.Here is a little bit more about Ruby: On January 3rd 2015, Ruby started a project called 363 Days of Tea as a visual daily record of her impression of the moment; using emptied, dried, and flattened tea bags as little miniature canvases; altering them to create a new work of art, every single day over the course of 363 days. Just amazing! Plus, she’ll talk about the significance of 363 days, instead of the expected 365 days, w

Chelsea is the Founder of Digi.City, Editor-At-Large for Smart Cities Connect, and Co-Founder of Impact Hub Austin. She’s a 2018 Marshall Memorial Fellow and a 2016 Eisenhower Fellow. Her work has been published through Inc.com, Venture Beat, the Chicago Tribune and more. She is also an Advisor to the St. Edwards’ University Business School, the Austin Technology Alliance, and the Austin Forum. Chelsea has won an Austin Under 40 Award and has a masters and a bachelor degree in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin. Whew! All of that - well, it just scratches the surface of what Chelsea is all about. I connected with Chelsea at SXSW in Austin. If you’ve never been to SXSW, put it on your bucket list and go. The advice I received there - from folks like Chelsea - have led to some major professional breakthroughs and unexpected support. In today’s episode, we touch on some big concepts in the world of technology. Have no fear! Chelsea breaks things down in a way that is super easy to follow, so s

While in a green room together at SXSW with George, I learned about the fantastic work happening at Greater Good Studio.  In this episode, Sara talks about how she transitioned from the corporate space to Greater Good Studio, how she uses human centered design (a really powerful process for solving problems) at the Greater Good Studio, and how she applies innovative and intentional concepts like equally shared parenting at home, too. This episode is Innovative (see that capital I) and empowering for all you frazzled femmes out there. Get out your smartphones and start listening already.Selected link love + resources from the episodeConnect with Sara on social media and on the web: Website | Facebook  | Twitter  | Instagram | LinkedInGreater Good on TwitterRaising Places (Greater Good project)Overwhelmed: How to Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time, By Brigid Schulte (book)LongestShortestTime.comEqually Shared Parenting, by Marc Vachon (book)Robert Wood Johnson FoundationMacArthur FoundationMetropolit

I'm so simultaneously energized and chilled out by today's guest, Alix Kram. I first met Alix last year when I rolled stowaway on my husband’s business trip to Nashville. Alix and I got to talking at a Women in Music event planned by past podcast guest, Nicole Barsalona. Within about 30 seconds, I recognized I was in the presence of a super-duper smart, creative woman who likely doesn’t realize there’s even a box to think outside of. My next thought was, “How can I get Alix to say yes to the podcast?”Let’s talk about Alix for a minute. She is Vice-President of Global Brand Licensing for the Artist Services at Warner Music Group. Previously, she led KramCollective, where she helped industry professionals extend into the retail and lifestyle spaces. That was after Alix spent 10 years at Nickelodeon, where she was the V.P. of Lifestyle and Retail Marketing. I know, I know. That’s a lot of titles and kind of jargon-y, but we’ll break down what that actually means in the episode. Alix shows up - far beyond the tit

This time around, I talk about cyclical burnout. I reflect on what I’ve learned about burnout over the years and how there’s always another opportunity to sidestep BS and get out of my own damn way. I’m also pulling back the curtain on what I’ve been up to lately, including my time at SXSW, what’s going on with the 33K Task List Project, and how I’ve been thinking through my creative vision for that project. I also share the challenges of business, schedule friction, and the existential arm-wrestling of it all lately. I can sum up this episode with one word: Surrender. Come along and listen as I surrender to the things I just plain can’t control and make my way back to a place of flow.Selected link love + resources from the episodeConnect with me  on social media: Twitter  | Instagram | FacebookListener shout-outs go to: Christina Prevot Caufield, Kimberly Figueroa, and Dwayne Shirley. Thank YOU! It means so much to know you’ve found inspiration in what I am creating.SXSWKishau Rogers on burning out on a cycl

While prepping for this interview and researching more about Sherry and her story, I was brought to tears. Seeing other women speak up courageously, empower others, and remain compassionate tends to have that effect on me.For those of you who haven’t met her yet, Sherry is a retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer (or RCMP Officer) with 20 years of service. Since she retired and now in her second career, Sherry is a professional speaker and educator breaking down how she coped with and stood up to workplace bullying, sexual harassment, and violence. She's authored three books and presented at Tedx Winnipeg in 2015. She's also been part of the Senate committee hearings on sexual harassment and bullying in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.In this episode, Sherry shared her story as a RCMP Officer and the bullying and sexual harassment she experienced during her time of service. More importantly, especially if you’ve ever or are currently experiencing workplace bullying or harassment, she shares examples

Her work in creative movement, as a teacher and bringing together a fusion-style of dance, has taken her all over the world. She intertwines her life and real-world experiences in her choreography to tell a story and also uses dance as a way to teach her students about music and life. During our conversation, Anna opens up about perseverance and being able to overcome some serious challenges. For her, those challenges revolved a lot around language. She grew up in Chile, and in her own words, had a bicultural childhood while working through dyslexia, being a sensitive child, and coping with bullying because she looked different than her Chilean peers. She describes what it took to grow into the teacher and dancer that she is today. She shares how she learned to say, “It doesn’t matter,” while balancing with her desire to be good.Selected link love + resources from the episodeConnect with Anna on social media: Email | Facebook | YouTube | WebsiteNo Me Importa Nada, Luz CasalJanet Ruhe-Schoen, Artist and Author

Kishau is also the founder & CEO of Websmith, Inc. She has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, NFIB, JavaWorld, and other national publications. She is fiercely committed to STEM and using tech for social good. To further both of those aims, Kishau actively serves on advisory boards with institutions such as VCU School of Engineering, Think of Us and WAAW Foundation. She is also a recent recipient of the NAWBO Wells Fargo STEM Award and the Lyn McDermid Community Impact Award. [Swoon.]Admittedly, I’m fan-girling over Kishau a bit, but did manage to pull it together. When uttered the words “making thinking sexy again,” I practically vibrated with excitement, gratitude, and inspiration. We talked in-depth about bringing critical thinking back. We also geeked out on machine learning, internal expectations, hating mediocrity, burning out, the complexity of hustle + push, and how she turned it around, plus the power of knowing when to quit.Selected link love + resources from the episodeConnect with Kisha

Galen’s also the daughter of the late and great, Kevin Ayers. Kevin was a pioneer singer and songwriter of the Canterbury psych rock scene in England. Galen talks about life as the daughter of such a free-wheelin’, creative father and a high-achieving mother. In young adulthood, she was the caregiver to her father and shares how that led her to writing and finding her own voice.  We touch on wisdom, compassion, and how you can’t seem to have one without the other. We also chat about the need for taking recovery days as well as the epidemic of overwhelm and roles in today’s world.In this episode, Galen tells me about her first well-being retreat on the island of Hydra. She will be joined by Vocologist and Vocal yoga expert, Heather Lyle. Super-cool!Selected link love + resources from the episodeConnect with Galen on social media: Facebook | Twitter | InstagramRetreat with GalenGirl On A Swing, Performed by Galen and Kevin AyersKevin Ayers on WikipediaMonument, Galen’s Debut Album Coming This Spring!Friends of

Dara has been a leader at various levels in the Emergency Medicine Education ecosystem for many years and works at NYU Langone Medical Center in NYC. Recently, she turned her focus to achieving gender equity in Emergency Medicine through a primarily online resource and podcast she founded called FemInEM. During our conversation Dara talks about the problems she is solving through FemInEM. (Note: Many of these problems are not exclusive to doctors, but are cultural and societal issues that she’s working on shifting.) Plus, we talk about how Dara became a doctor, likeability bias in the workplace, gender equity not only the workplace and at home, knowing what battles to choose versus what to let go, and carrying the mental load as a woman and a caregiver.Selected link love + resources from the episodeConnect with Dara on social media: Facebook | Twitter | EmailFemInEM.orgFemInEM PodcastFemINEM Speakers BureauNYU Langone Medical CenterGloria SteinmanOverwhelmed by Brigid SchulteSoulCycleNirvana: A Getting Things

Once you hear her speak - not only as a teacher, but as a wife, mother, and triathlete - I hope you’ll be inspired by her, too. Yes, we chat about her work in biochemistry. (Fear not, Teresa makes the information very accessible.) She shares following different paths, making her family a priority, overcoming analysis paralysis, intentionally choosing to suck at something, and optics.Selected link love + resources from the episodeConnect with Teresa on social media: LinkedInTeresa On The WebVassar CollegeKickass Theme Music: “Things Are Getting Better” Written by Rishi Dhir. Performed by The High Dials.Stay in the loop about future Le vital corps Salon episodes or with Kara: Twitter | Instagram | The List (sent monthly-ish including helpful health + lifestyle information) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jennifer’s debut book, "Extraordinary PR, Ordinary Budget: A Strategy Guide" was released June 2017. She is the managing director of communications for PICO National Network, and the founder of Spotlight PR LLC, a boutique communications consultancy which provides strategic communications counsel and public relations coaching. She is one hard-working woman.Not only do we talk about work pace, we talk about her work at PICO National Network, a faith-based community organization, and how she transitioned from working in politics to communications. She also talks about PICO’s Live Free Campaign, which addresses gun violence and mass incarceration in many cities across the United States.Because much of what Jennifer does is mission-focused, advocative and so very humanizing, she always feels drawn to do more. When she was heading straight towards a major burnout, she had to assess what was happening and to turn everything around. Jennifer and I cover so much ground about what it’s like to achieve without overwork

Back in April, the idea for this podcast came to me while I was plunked at the airport. I was wondering about what some of the most stressful jobs for women were. Bam! I immediately thought of air traffic controllers. Enter Patti Wilson, who has been in the air traffic control industry for the past 29 years. She’s the Operations Manager at Northern California Terminal Radar Approach Control, and is currently in her second term as President of Professional Women Controllers. If that wasn’t enough, she’s also very involved in nonprofit work with Zonta International. She’s also a pistol deeply committed to pulling up a seat for more women at the aviation table. Patti brings both a breadth and depth of experience and wisdom to our conversation. She paints a picture of what being an air traffic controller is like (the good, the stressful and the invisible to us non-controller folks). She also talks about the difference between communication at work versus everyday conversations (like the risk of talking to people

Although she’s an engineer and physicist by training, Kelly is an inveterate problem-solver and strategist at heart. Inspired by the strength and commitment of women doing the hard work of recovering from addiction at the Hoving Home, Kelly wanted to build them a path forward to sustained sobriety, independence, and economic stability. Having long admired the social business model, which uses enterprise to solve social issues, Kelly began Unshattered in 2013. In 2015, she experienced a very clear, but not easy to answer, calling out of her executive role in the technology industry to focus solely on what had been her passion project. In this episode, Kelly talks about how her entire perspective of addiction shifted after Emily, a fellow parishioner at her church, shared her family’s story of addiction. Kelly goes on to share how, with a newfound understanding and boatload of faith, she founded Unshattered. Witnessing broken lives transformed into ones of purpose, meaning and beauty, has influenced her own vie