Ever Better Podcast | Inspiring Stories | Motivating | Transition With Grace | Fulfillment | Wisdom

Janet Kelly and Nancy McKeon met while working for The Washington Post. Janet was a “no-nonsense” staff writer sharing her views on style and fashion, while Nancy was Editor of the Food, Real Estate, Travel, and Sunday Business sections. (But not all at once.) After leaving The Post, Janet recognized that media outlets and websites were catering to millenials. And the 40+ audience, a growing demographic with significant buying power, was being ignored. Janet decided to make a difference by creating and delivering stories with points of view for a more mature audience. Janet recruited Nancy, they brought other media-savvy women on-board, and MyLittleBird.com was born! In our discussion, they share what it's like to run your own business vs. working for a corporation, how they are growing the website, and why this venture is so energizing. We also chat about some of their favorite stories - how to find jeans that fit, the dog park and dog culture, and managing anxiety attacks. Listen to our conversation to

Jonathan Holth is a community builder, father, and entrepreneur who lives in Grand Forks, ND. He co-owns the “upscale, but not uptight” Toasted Frog restaurants that specialize in fried cheesy pickles. He’s a leader in a growing movement of private citizens who partner with friends, neighbors, public officials and foundations to make a difference in their communities.  He invests his time in helping to create a more fun, interesting, economically diverse North Dakota for today and for his future grandchildren. He believes in building the community that you want to live in, and encourages all to become more vocal and get involved in your own communities. Listen to our chat to hear Jonathan discuss: His entrepreneurial journey through the creation and continued success of his restaurant, The Toasted Frog Why Toasted Frog restaurants are closed on Sundays Community involvement and the positive impact you can make as a proactive citizen What it means to be a Knight Foundation city His experience in commu

Erika Ettin is an online dating coach who left her corporate finance job to help men and women develop relationships. Her business is called A Little Nudge, because she gives her clients the nudge and the help they need to get out there and start dating! In our discussion, she shares how and why she became an online dating coach, client success stories, as well as dos and don’ts of dating. Her clients range in age from 22 to 72, with an average age of 44. If you’re thinking about jumping into the dating game or if you know someone who is, this episode will be helpful as well as entertaining! Listen to our chat to hear Erika share: Her supporting role in an online dater's life Why it’s so challenging to write your own online dating profile  Why she created A Little Nudge The difference between a high-end matchmaker and an online dating coach How she helps her clients develop a fuller life beyond dating The link between dating advice and self-image Why people have such a hard time finding the right pa

  Tara Cousineau, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist, who primarily supports women and girls. She is a "Kindness Warrior," and the author of an upcoming book called, The Kindness Cure about how acts of kindness can shift a person's life. Through her work with clients and as the mother of two daughters, she’s observed a decrease in empathy and a rise in nasty online activity that sometimes rises to the level of criminal behavior. And when Tara’s daughter was assaulted by a classmate, she decided to make a difference by writing a book about kindness. She works with many women who are 40+ and we discuss the shifts that take place when children become more independent and how to address these changes. Tara shares activities that bring her family closer together and she’s learned from experience that even if you think your kids aren’t paying attention to the values you’re modeling, you may find out years later that they actually were. Listen to the discussion to hear Tara discuss how: Her Clinical Psychology pr

Noelle Van Vlierbergen, a sobriety coach, helps women to recognize that their path to recovery isn’t just about staying sober, it’s about embracing a life change and owning a bolder, better future. Through her business, Sober Moxie, she provides coaching and online resources for women in recovery.   Listen to the podcast to hear Noelle share her experiences and thoughts about:    Her personal story of struggle and her incredible recovery   Addiction and addictive personalities   Recommended resources (see list below)   The importance of addressing the situation when you are concerned about a family member or friend struggling with addiction   Communication - reaching out and connecting is “super important”   The story behind Sober Moxie   Changes that take place throughout the recovery process including the fog of vulnerability   Her 11 core principles of "Conscious Recovery"   The correlation between the physical and mental components of the recovery process   Creating a more joyful life b

Learn about the who, what, where, when, how and why of the Ever Better podcast. Host and producer, Lisa Conners Vogt, discusses where the podcast has been and where it's going.

This podcast is a reunion of sorts with Doug Hensch, my 11th podcast guest on an episode I produced 9 months ago. And Doug and I go waaay back beyond that. We used to work together at Nextel, which is now Sprint, before we both shifted our career paths. Doug is the father of two active boys, an executive coach, and an author. When we last spoke, Doug was writing a book about resilience and today he’s joining us to share some of the wisdom from his book, Positively Resilient: 5 1/2 Secrets to Beat Stress, Overcome Obstacles, and Defeat Anxiety.   Listen to this episode to hear Doug discuss what resilience is and the importance of being resilient as you go through life. He encourages the principles of resilience to create happy and healthy habits in his sons’ lives as well as in his own life.   Doug shares ideas that he uses for himself and with his kids to set intentions for the day so that you are always working towards achieving your larger goals, and are less likely to be diverted by social media, the news

Dr. Deborah Norris is a psychologist who worked as a neurotoxicologist for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for fifteen years. During that time, she was practicing mindfulness and working as a part-time fitness instructor. In 2009 she took a major career and lifestyle leap! She left her EPA job to open The Mindfulness Center in Bethesda, MD with her two daughters. As President of The Mindfulness Center, Debbie researchs, teaches and practices mind-body practices while providing a welcoming facility for other practictioners to offer their services. Customers are able to benefit from classes, small groups and 1:1 sessions for youga, acupuncture, counseling, tai chi, massage, hypnosis and more. During our podcast discussion, Debbie and I discuss: Starting the Mindfulness Center and working with her two daughters Her son’s encouragement to write her book, In the Flow What mindfulness means and practices that can keep you on track and guide you to a richer and more wonderful life Meditation is a practice

Have you ever said to a friend, “I need to figure out what I want to be when I grow up”? But you’re already are a “grown-up” with a successful 20+ year career behind you. Well…you’re not alone! And, you really don’t need to choose. This is just one of the topics that Maggie Huffman and I discuss in this Ever Better Podcast.   Maggie is a self-described poly-serial-multi-enthusiast, meaning she’s very involved with multiple professional and personal interests.   After working in the wine industry for over 20 years, she finally figured out how to blend her many interests into a fulfilling and joyful life. Unfortunately, the sudden death of her mother was the catalyst for getting her life in balance.   Maggie and I hope that through listening to this podcast and reading her book, Oh Snap, My Career is in Crisis, you can move your life in the right direction before you’re faced with a crisis. (Send Maggie an email with “Ever Better” in the subject line, and she’ll send you a free copy of “Oh Snap!”)   Maggie left

Melody Warnick, freelance journalist and author of This is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live, wrote the book on falling in love with where you live. Moving is something that Melody has ample firsthand experience with. She's moved from Ames, Iowa to St. George, UT to Silver Spring, MD to Austin, TX to her current (and hopefully more permanent) home, Blacksburg, VA. As she planned her last trek with her husband and two children, she began thinking that she might be addicted to moving. A curious journalist, she began researching, and discovered that 12% of Americans move each year and the average American can expect to move 11.7 times throughout their life. All of this shifting has resulted in 28% of us not knowing our neighbors by name. Melanie's research led to her the concept of "placemaking," the practice of making your community more livable. In our discussion, Melanie shares some of the placemaking projects she's pursued since moving to Blacksburg. Some of these involved

  Pam Slim has a passion and talent for building intentional communities and helping small businesses grow. She is an award-winning author, speaker, business strategist and coach. Her best selling books Escape From Cubicle Nation and Body of Work have helped entrepreneurs and thought leaders around the world are favorites of mine! Her belief that we can enjoy our lives and ensure economic well-being for all, were instrumental in creating K’é, a small business, community space in downtown Mesa, Arizona, where she conducts classes, hosts networking events, and creates virtual programs. Pam lives with her husband Darryl, their two children, and three dogs. Darryl's Navajo heritage has fueled Pam's appreciation and love of Native American culture. In fact, K’é, means "kinship" in the Diné culture. Listen to the podcast to hear Pam talk about: Her years of travel and adventure before getting married and having children, including being an exchange student in Switzerland A life full of doing the work she loves,

Jessie Newburn is a Gen Xer who has embraced the gig economy! Sometimes it seems like all eyes are on millenials and baby boomers, but Jessie and I bring the conversation back to what it was like coming of age for those of us born in the 60s. Jessie shares stories about living a gig economy life, the themes of community that her home, Columbia, MD were built on, and some of her most memorable Uber passengers. She gives us a glimpse into the Burning Man Festival, which she attends each year. The festival is a 9-day gathering of 70,000+ people in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. For this discussion's purposes, I'll define the gig economy as "making a living through a series of jobs or through multiple on-going gigs. Some might be for a corporation, and some might be as an entrepreneur. In Jessie's case, she's got five or six income generating activities that include driving for Uber and sharing her experiences with the world through her e-book, The Uber Chronicles. You can find Jessie's e-book on Amazon.  The

This week’s Ever Better Podcast is a journal episode that features discussions with three women who play a behind the scenes role in movies and television shows. Each of them uses their talents, skills, and experience to make a difference to the people that they work with. And as you’ll hear, each one has a very positive influence on the communities they are involved with. These women are Tasia Valenza, my guest on Episode 014, Lori Hart, from Episode 030, and Sarah Shaw, from Episode 037.   TASIA VALENZA   Tasia ValenzaTasia is one of the most successful voice over artists in the country and calls herself “a recovering actress.” If you watched All My Children in the 80s, you’ll know Tasia from one of her earliest roles as the Emmy nominated actress who played the beautiful and manipulative Dottie Thornton.   If you watch Disney’s animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, you’ll know her as the wise Jedi Shaak Ti. She also does voice overs for the Hallmark Channel, and plays Femme Fatale, Poison Ivy in the

Pam Felix has created a life full of laughter for herself, her family, her customers and employees. She’s the founder of the D.C. Improv, a comedy club, and California Tortilla, a casual restaurant that services Mexican re-imagined. Pam says that her businesses are built on having fun and given that California Tortilla has grown into a successful franchise with over 50 locations, Pam’s clearly onto something.   Pam joined me to discuss how and why she became an entrepreneur, how she balances her family life as the mother of two children, and offers advice for aspiring business owners.   Her journey as an entrepreneur has taken Pam from coast to coast and from dream to dream. She graduated from the University of Buffalo in the 80’s and then moved to California with the intention of heading to law school, only to find herself on a very different path. Pam and her husband live in Washington D.C. with their two sons.   In this discussion, Pam shares her wisdom for creating a franchise, her understanding of the co

Sarah Shaw works with entrepreneurs to help get their products into the hands of celebrities, in the media, and out into the public. Sarah is connected to Ever Better through a previous podcast guest, the amazing Connie Inukai, who is working with Sarah to market her Tip n’ Split, a device created for use in restaurants. Connie is a retired professor turned inventor who is thoroughly embracing her second act! Thanks to Sarah, the Tip n' Split is now owned by  Madonna, Betty White, and Lynda Carter and will soon be featured in 2016 holiday gift guides. Sarah began her career as a costume supervisor in Hollywood, before stepping out of her comfort zone and becoming a designer for the stars. She built a multi-million dollar business designing and selling handbags that have been owned by Liv Tyler, Julia Roberts, and Kristin Davis. But after the events of 9-11 she lost it all. Her investors pulled out and she lost the company, including the right to use her own name on future products. But Sarah never gave up.

Deborah Owens founded Corporate Alley Cat to provide a safe space where people of color can discuss and address challenging situations. It's a destination and a community that offers tools, strategies, and access to experts who offer individual coaching.    While working as a corporate manager, Deb found herself challenged by a boss who seemed to be discriminating against her. She wasn’t comfortable sharing the situation with her peers and wasn’t exactly sure what to do. She attempted to directly address it with her supervisor but got no response. After several months, she reported her dilemma to the president of the company and was able to finally get resolution.    Racism silences many. People fear the repercussions of speaking out in the work place.  Deb chose not to be silent, she chose not to give into fear.  Her motto, “Sometimes you got to get scrappy!” did not let her down. She used encounters with a boss who marginalized her as an opportunity to speak out, to change the culture in that company, an

After breaking both her arms in a bicycling accident, Meg Daly was forced to explore Miami without a car - Something that Miami is not designed for!   One day, while walking in the shade under Metrorail, she envisioned a safe, beautiful space for walking, biking, and gathering. Her vision is being realized as The Underline, a 10 mile linear park, urban trail, and living art destination that will link to other trails in the Miami area.    Step-by-step Meg has assembled an army of almost 1,000 volunteers and has attracted government, foundation, and private partners. She now feels connected to her city and community in ways that she never thought possible, and is leading Miami to a better future!    Meg has lived in Miami for most of her life and has been married for 30 years to John, an entrepreneur, composer and former Olympic butterfly swimmer. They have two children who live in New York City. Meg leads The Underline project full-time (for free) and is exhilarated by the energy and expertise of her volunt

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton has represented Washington, D.C. for 25 years, but her responsibilities are different than those of other representatives. Because Washington, D.C. is not a state, she doesn’t have a vote on the House floor. This would seem to make her job more challenging than it is for other representatives but she has risen above this limitation time and again, finding creative ways to demonstrate the importance of legislation that matters most to her district. She shares some of those stories in our discussion. Congresswoman Norton was born and raised in D.C. during a time when schools and restaurants were segregated. She was one of the only African-American women at Antioch College, one of the only women at Yale law school, and she has fought for civil rights throughout her life. She is inspired by stories about her great-grandfather – a slave who escaped to D.C. and was able to thrive as the capital city grew. She is a loving mother and grandmother who describes herself as a “type A

    Sarah Bartosz shares a story of inspiration which is also a story of heartache and hope. In this episode, you'll hear how a non-profit organization, Gold In September, or G9, was founded by a family after losing their son, Jack, to pediatric cancer.    Sarah describes how they learned of Jack’s diagnosis, their struggle to find a cure, and his twin sister Annie’s drive to take action. Annie wondered, if the color pink helps to raise funds for breast cancer, what color symbolizes childhood cancer and what month is dedicated to raising awareness? The answers are Gold and September.    G9 is dedicated to increasing funding for childhood cancer research and initiatives by growing awareness that inspires action to help every child, everywhere. It's the manifestation of the house that Jack inspired, Annie envisioned, John designed, and Sarah is determined to build.    G9 Vision: Coloring the world gold, so every child, everywhere will survive cancer.   G9 Mission: Raise awareness and inspire action for childhoo

In 2015 Greta Schaaf graduated from a public high school in northern, VA. She had applied to, and been accepted at, University of Delaware but she didn’t feel quite ready to make that transition. Taking a gap year wasn’t an option that was widely discussed at her high school but she followed a hunch that it might be a good path for her and attended a gap year fair. Representatives from various programs were discussing options involving travel and adventure and some very large price tags. Americorps didn’t have a table at the fair but someone there suggested that she look into it. Greta did her research and learned that Americorps is a one year volunteer program that pays participants a stipend, a modest scholarship, and offers the opportunity to earn college credits. Greta applied for a program on the west coast, and after some frustrating bureaucratic delays that she describes in the podcast, was accepted. Through AmeriCorps, Greta has been able to travel, see the world, and work with amazing from acr