Run Your Life Show With Andy Vasily Andy Vasily

The podcast you are going to hear today is with Sharon Salzberg. She has been a true pioneer in the realms of meditation and mindfulness for more than four decades now. Sharon's influence has been pivotal in bringing these practices to the forefront of Western consciousness as far back as the early 1970s. 
As a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, and a New York Times best-selling author, Sharon's wisdom resonates deeply with audiences worldwide because she makes meditation and mindfulness so much easier to understand and apply in people’s lives. 

In today’s conversation we unpack the themes of trauma, mindfulness, loving kindness, compassion and the importance of staying aligned to the core values that drive us in life. Although Sharon has written 12 books, it’s 3 of those 12 that we dive into the most in today’s conversation:
Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience which was a deeply meaningful endeavor putting that book together as it was the first time she shared her true life story and the struggles she had to overcome in her life and how meditation and mindfulness allowed her to do so. As well we explore the theme of loving kindness and compassion which she wrote about in her 1995 book Loving Kindness, the Revolutionary Art of HappinessWe finish off today’s podcast talking about her latest book called Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom which she published a year ago in April 2023 and what it is she hopes audiences world wide will takeaway from reading this book. It was a genuine honor to have Sharon join me on the podcast. Her gentle, calm, and compassionate demeanor immediately shines through in our conversation, offering profound insights and life lessons drawn from her journey.
As you listen, I hope you'll discover as much value as I did in our discussion. I encourage you to also explore Sharon's books, including her latest release, Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom.

Connect with Sharon:
Website
Insight Meditation Society
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn

As well, you can find all Sharon's books here
Thanks for sharing my Run Your Life podcast with anyone who you feel will benefit from listening.

My conversation today is with Dr. Jim Knight, Founder and Senior Partner of Instructional Coaching Group (ICG). Jim is also a research associate at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning and has spent more than two decades studying professional learning and instructional coaching. He earned his PhD in Education from the University of Kansas and has won several university teaching, innovation, and service awards. 

He’s also authored several books including Unmistakable Impact (2011), High-Impact Instruction (2013), Better Conversations (2015), The Impact Cycle (2018), and The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching (2021).


What I appreciate about Jim is the thoughtful way that he shares his learning. He’s been on my podcast several times, and our conversations are not just about me asking questions and him sharing his knowledge. Jim is very authentic and genuine in the way he shares and he doesn’t ever imply that he has the so called ‘right’ answers but rather remains very curious and centered on what might be rather than what is absolute. 
In today’s episode we explore themes of:
Learning to better know self in order to best show up for those who we coach and leadWe also dive into strategies that help to promote and facilitate peer coaching in organizationsThe impact for culture on coaching conversationsKnowing the importance of taking a flexible approach when coaching others….
When I reflect on my friendship with Jim and who he really is…. this quote comes to mind: 
"A meaningful life is not about being rich, being popular, being highly educated or being perfect. It’s about being real, being humble, being able to share ourselves and touch the lives of others."
To me this is who Jim is, so generous with his time and very real. He’s a humble person who always strives to learn and grow and in the process change the lives of so many leaders and educators that are so lucky to work with him. 
You can find out where to connect with Jim in the show notes of today’s episode. If you haven’t connected with him, I highly recommend doing so and signing up for any training that you can. 
I hope you find value in today’s discussion with Jim Knight Please share this episode with anyone who you feel will benefit from listening. Thank you!

Connect With Jim:
Twitter
Website
LinkedIn
Facebook

Jim's books can be found here. 

My guest today is the brilliant and inspiring Ila Edgar, a leadership development coach and trust-builder for organizations and businesses. Ila's story is a testament to the resilience we all require when challenged by  life’s mental and emotional obstacles. She deeply believes that who we are is how we lead and that being great leaders starts with us. It also requires honesty, looking inside of ourselves and committing to making real changes in our lives.

In our conversation today, we talk about early days in her life, the strengths she developed and the challenges she had to overcome that ultimately led her on to the path of leadership coaching. In addition to this, we also cover the themes of resilience, self-compassion, knowing our own boundaries, and embracing vulnerability as keys to our own growth and learning.

Most importantly, Ila opens up about serious health struggles she is currently going through and not only what this has taught her about herself, but how it has helped to shape her journey as a wife, mother and coach. As you listen to this episode today, you will see that there is no doubt that Ila is meant to do the work she is doing to serve the world.

She is one of a kind and I feel so very fortunate to have had this time with her on the podcast. This was a really touching episode for me. I hope you find the same value in it as I did. Thanks for listening and please connect with Ila and let her know what you learned from our discussion. She would love to hear from you.

Connect With Ila:
Website
LinkedIn
Instagram
Trust on Purpose Podcast

Email: ila@bigchangeinc.com

Special Credit to Patrick Watson for his beautiful song To Build a Home
You can purchase Patrick's music here.

As well, Patrick's YouTube channel can be found here

Today’s episode was recorded in the studio of American Community School of Amman in Jordan which is located on the boarders of Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Palestine. 
A big shoutout and very special thanks to my inspirational friend Mo Hourani and his team at the American Community School of Amman for hosting the Compassion Summit, an event devoted to promoting peace.


What ACS in Jordan believes is that "When there is no compassion there can be no peace, and that when we know compassion, we then might know peace."


I was honored to have been invited to be a keynote speaker alongside 2 inspiringly, compassionate humans doing amazing work to make a difference in the world in their own unique ways, Kathy Kelly and LeeAnne Lavender.


This chat covers a lot of ground, but in particular what it is that both Kathy and Leanne feel compelled to share through their work, what being self-compassion means, and how we can all take action on being more compassionate in a world that needs people to step up and be more kind and caring. 


Kathy will share the real story behind the beautiful short song you heard in the introduction to this podcast which was sung by two students at the school here in Jordan. Special thanks to Dunia and Faye for taking the time to record this song and share it with me. You are brilliant humans and ACSA is lucky to have you both as their students.


Kathy is an international peace activist from the United States. She is an author and one of the founding members of Voices in the Wilderness, and is currently a co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence. As part of peace teamwork in several countries, she has traveled to Iraq twenty-six times, notably remaining in combat zones during the early days of both U.S.-Iraq wars. Her recent travel has focused on Afghanistan and Gaza, along with domestic protests against U.S. drone policy. She has been arrested more than 60 times at home and abroad, and has written of her experiences among targets of U.S. military bombardment and inmates of U.S. prisons. 


LeeAnne cares a lot about compassion, storytelling and service. She is a storyteller and poet, as well as a coach and facilitator for international educators; she spends a lot of time exploring the power of stories to connect people in ways that promote peace, empathy and kindness. She’s committed to helping educators and students build changemaker/changeseeker cultures so we can all engage in positive, purposeful action. You can learn more about LeeAnne at https://www.leeannelavender.com/ 


This conversation covers a lot of ground but in particular what it is that both Kathy and Leanne feel compelled to share through their work, what being self-compassion means, and how we can all take action on being more compassionate in a world that needs people to step up and be more kind and caring. 


Kathy will also share the real story behind the beautiful short song you heard in the introduction to this podcast which was sung by Dunia and Faye who are both students at  ACSA. Hope you enjoy this podcast. 

Connect With Kathy and LeeAnne

Kathy Kelly
Twiiter
LinkedIn
Website

LeeAnne Lavender
Twitter
LinkedIn
Website

In today's episode, I sit down with Jean-Paul Circelli, head football coach at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada. This episode is a special one for me as I once played 5 seasons on this football team back in the 1990’s as a quarterback and punter. It was through this experience that I not only developed myself as a student athlete, but was also able to build a supportive network of close friends that stands strongly to this day. 
Jean-Paul and his dedicated coaching team have been instrumental in the Lancer football team's resurgence, emphasizing a holistic approach to player development. Beyond wins and losses, they focus on nurturing personal excellence and character growth in their student-athletes help best prepare them for life after football one day.


In a world where young athletes face mounting pressures exacerbated by social media and academic demands, in our conversation, Jean-Paul offers insights into addressing the mental health crisis that is currently plaguing many young athletes. Through fostering vulnerability, learning from failure, and deepening connection, he cultivates a supportive environment where his athletes and fellow coaches can thrive.


We also explore the importance of feedback, highlighting Jean-Paul's approach to constructive criticism and the growth-oriented coaching framework that he and his fellow coaches embrace. 


Whether you're a leader in business, a parent, or simply striving for excellence in your pursuits, this episode offers invaluable lessons applicable to any journey of personal growth, development and achievement.


Tune in as we uncover wisdom and learning that transcends the field of play. Please share this episode with anyone you know who may be seeking inspiration and guidance on finding their own path to excellence. Thank you.

Connect with Coach Jean-Paul
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
University of Windsor Football Team Website

References for this episode:
Dr. Martin Seligman: Positive Psychology
Brene Brown
Simon Sinek
Charles Feltman: Thin Book of Trust
15 Commitments to Conscious Leadership Book

How many times have you asked yourself, “what’s my purpose”?  If you’re like most of us, probably too many times to count.  As we get older, the question seems to get a little louder.  Today’s guests on the Run Your Life Podcast are just the dynamic duo you need to provide you with proactive, intentional tools to help you along that journey.  Charles Feltman and Ila Edgar are both executive and leadership coaches offering a distinctive twist on finding your purpose and creating meaning in your personal and professional life.   They achieve this through Charles’ trademarked model described in his book, The Thin Book of Trust and their growing podcast, Trust on Purpose.

In today’s episode, expect to hear many things that are sure to provide you with a fresh perspective that you probably haven’t considered before.  This fresh perspective allows you to look at your current situation differently and thus move you in the right direction.  Both readily admit they don’t have all the answers and they are by no means perfect.  They are human just like the rest of us.  What they have is experience, expertise, empathy, and the courage to confront!

Mind shifting truths to listen for in today’s episode:
1.     Trust is foundational
When your team or family is built upon trust, you will outperform your wildest dreams and performance objectives.
2.     Boundaries and self-expression are okay
Many of us learn from our families of origin to suppress feelings, not express our needs, or not set boundaries.  Charles and Ila help us realize that all of this is okay and is vital in establishing trust in our homes and workplaces.
3.     Life knocks
When we fail to do what’s mentioned above, it can have damaging repercussions later in life.  Learn how to develop resiliency and better manage adversity when it occurs.
4.     WAIT
“Why Am I Talking?”  We all have heard that the “good Lord gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason”.  However, using Charles’ WAIT model is the master’s level for listening.
5.     You DO have a choice
Oftentimes in life we tell ourselves we don’t have a choice.  Charles fundamentally disagrees and believes you can unleash incredible personal power by simply recognizing that you always have a choice.
6.     Perception is reality.  But is it really?
Ila stresses that we need to withhold our personal judgements when we interact with our world.  Or examine why we are judging and how we got there.  Many times, it’s not what people are doing to us, it’s simply how they are behaving that is worth exploring more. 
7.     Who we are is how we lead
Self-awareness and authenticity are keys to great leadership.  We as humans, all bring our own unique life experiences to everything we do.  Those who excel as leaders recognize this and invest great amounts of time and effort in better understanding that so they can maximize their own effectiveness as well as the effectiveness of those around them. 

Find more at LinkedIn:
Charles Feltman
Ida Edgar