Life's Essential Ingredients

Jeff Christian and Mike Sestich
  • 4.9 (27)
  • Mental Health
  • Biweekly

Life’s Essential Ingredients is spinoff of C4 Leaders, a California based non-profit who uses PIZZA to guide all people in RISING TOGETHER. The show is hosted by two best friends who were college roommates at the University of San Francisco – (Jeff with a Mike).  Just launched Season 6 with the show currently listened to in 145 countries and 1627 cities.The educational and entertaining show takes a deep, yet humorous look at life’s essential ingredients. The hosts engage in interesting conversation with some of the world’s best leaders, authors, athletes, musicians, chefs, architects, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, comedians, CEOs, coaches, professors, teachers, and many, many, more industries and professions. The goal of the show is to have the guest highlight their life’s essential ingredients and for the listener to add an ingredient or two to their life recipe.The hosts create space for the guest to be the star of the show and provide an incredible platform to highlight their life, their business, their passion, and most importantly, their gift they share with the world.  Our listeners are diverse and 9% are 18-24, 18% 25-29, 13% 30-34, 18% 35-44, 18% 45-54, and 55+ 24%.  

  1. 1d ago

    Dr. David Fish is Only Going Straight and Leaving NOTHING behind!

    Send us Fan Mail C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER.  We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.  Season 6 Episode #36 Dr. David Fish is coming from Durham, North Carolina (inform, inspire, & transform) You can find Dr. Fish via his website riseupeight.com David Lee Fish, Ph.D., works with professionals who have a burning desire to Speak, Perform, and Compete with Confidence.  David’s methodology is rooted in mindfulness and stems from his Korean Master who also was the Zen master who taught Jon Kabat-Zinn, the person who  brought mindfulness into mainstream medicine.  Whether David’s clients are getting ready for a big game, an important job interview, a board presentation…David guides them using his READ Method – which we will explore in this episode. David, thanks for sharing your many gifts with people all over the world, thanks for having the courage to overcome your performance anxiety, thanks for taking those lessons and turning them into a book and future book, and thanks for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients, welcome to the show! TOTD – “Resolve to live as a grown-up who is making progress, and make whatever you think best a law that you never set aside. And whenever you encounter anything that is difficult or pleasurable, or highly or lowly regarded, remember that the contest is now: you are at the Olympic Games, you cannot wait any longer.”       Epictetus (Manual 51) Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose! In this episode: What was life like growing up? What got you into music? Who inspired you growing up… Helping people perform…what feels so good about seeing what you teach to making such a positive impact on people’s lives… Speak with Confidence Perform with Confidence Compete with Confidence The Read Method Remember the core values that give you courage Engage fully in performing Accept anxious thoughts or feelings Detachment from your anxiety Performance anxiety The 5-Day Stage Fright Solution Book – congrats…New Book coming out…tell the listeners about it… Practice – brush your teeth, Just Breathe, Don’t Scratch, Mindful Waiting, and Just Sit There… Case Study 75% of people get nervous about performing…THREAT… Side Hustle… Favorite Song…I am still standing… Legacy

  2. Oct 19

    Embracing the Power of Curiosity with Katherine Sellery!

    Send us Fan Mail C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER.  We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.  Season 6 Episode #35 Katherine Sellery is coming from Denver, Colorado (inform, inspire, & transform) You can find Katherine via her website  https://consciousparentingrevolution.com/ Today’s guest is a powerhouse of emotional intelligence and transformational communication. Katherine Sellery is a three-time TEDx speaker, founder of the Conscious Parenting Revolution, and a trusted voice for parents, educators, and leaders seeking to create more connected, respectful, and empowered relationships—at home and in the workplace. With over two decades of experience teaching the tools that build trust and dismantle power struggles, Katherine is here to shift the conversation around how we communicate, lead, and live. Katherine, thanks for sharing your many gifts with people, parents, educators, and leaders…all over the world and thanks for being our guests on Life’s Essential Ingredients.   Welcome to the show! TOTD – The Double LL “Listen to Learn and Learn to Listen.” Larry at Starbucks in Oakland… Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose! In this episode: What was life like growing up? One word to describe your 35 years of living in Hong Kong… Difference in parenting you have noticed between the cultures… Website with great resources, HIDDEN HABIT…what is that… 7 strategies to keep your relationship with your kids from hitting the boiling point…book…congrats… Power Over…do Context of communication, home, work, team,… Emotional Intelligence…what is it and how can family enhance it Valuing Connection… Verbal communication Written communication Text communication Norms, Goals, When Conflict Arises… The importance of self-awareness in being a great communicator… Practice…ideas for helping someone become a better communicator… Emotions/feelings and communicating them…how can a parent slow down to really listen to what their child might be saying… Going to conflict to clarity…a story of one of your clients… TedX talk…congrats…the cost of silence…growing up in family systems of not knowing ourselves and not to speak up….sleep walking…for 25 years…under a spell – 2011. I was cathected…to invest mental or emotional energy into something you are holding onto…brother committed suicide…YOU DID EVERYTHING TO MAKE YOUR MOM FEEL HAPPY… familiar with cathartic = healing, relief through open expression… Guidance Approach to parenting…is based on cooperation and consideration…get to make a difference in your child’s life… 3 R’s of Reactive Leadership….retaliation, rebellion, resistance…flow… What are the three most common reasons why people reach out to you for your expertise… Cultivating trust in your children …how do you do it… Not about being right or wrong…people behave the way they behave for a reason… taking a step back to be curious… Empathy…define it and how important is it in terms of being a great communicator… Forgiveness and Grace Being a great listener… Request or Demand language…. Challenge of being a young student and what parents can do at home to help navigate the challenges… lighten their worry… Feed The Starter Challenge…Family Meals Cultivating Cultural Curiosity in Kids – channel 5  Legacy

  3. Oct 12

    Leaving His Dystopian MARK with Author T.A. Thompson!

    Send us Fan Mail C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER.  We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.  Season 6 Episode #34 T.A. Thompson is coming from Milford, Michigan (inform, inspire, & transform) You can find T.A via his website tathompsonwriter.com T.A. Thompson writes fiction designed to make readers gasp, second-guess themselves, and develop complicated feelings about the people they are following. An avid reader and gamer, Thompson draws creative energy from dark fiction, epic fantasy, role-playing worlds, and the kind of storytelling where no outcome feels guaranteed. His influences include Stephen King, George R. R. Martin, Robert Jordan, and the imaginative worldbuilding of Dungeons & Dragons. With more than twelve years in commercial insurance, along with experience in sales, banking, public speaking, and training, Thompson brings a sharp awareness of risk, consequence, and worst-case scenarios into his fiction. T.A., thanks for sharing your creativity with the world, thanks for having the courage to put it on paper, and thanks for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients…welcome to the show! TOTD – “You can’t use up creativity.  The more you use, the more you have.”  Maya Angelou Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose! In this episode: What was life like growing up? Life as an insurance broker.. When did your love for writing start? Making time to write… Idea for book… Character development… Scenes for book…see, feel, taste it… Target audience… Dystopian describes an imaginary society where people lead fearful, dehumanized, and miserable lives, typically under oppressive or tyrannical control Book THE MARK came out April of 2026 – first book…congrats…how did you come up with the title? Book dedication…who did you write it for…something entertaining… Did your character come out in the book? Success in terms of the book…what does that look like… Feedforward…why it is so important … Dealing with rejection on getting published…finished The Mark in 2020 and just published…getting over the fear of rejection…how did you do it… Cost of marketing the book…getting help… Dream of becoming a writer… Legacy

  4. Sep 17

    Adding Self-Belief and Self-Worth to Your Life Recipe with Amy Lenius!

    Send us Fan Mail C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER.  We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.  Season 6 Episode #33 Amy Lenius is coming from Ontario, Canada (inform, inspire, & transform) You can find Amy via her website nextleveluniverse.com/group/coaching Amy helps people define success from the inside out, so the life they’re building feels fulfilling. Amy’s work is rooted in self worth, self belief, and consistency.  Over the past 9 years, Amy has spoken on stages in the health, healing, and personal development space and has been featured on over 200 podcasts having real conversations about what it actually takes to grow.  Amy helps people rebuild their internal foundation through identity, habits, health, relationships, and the patterns that shape how they show up every day. Amy specializes in working with women who are ready to reconnect with themselves and create a life that reflects who they truly are. This often means slowing down enough to get honest, learning how to trust themselves again, and choosing what feels aligned instead of what feels expected.  Amy, thanks for sharing your many gifts and talents with people all over the world and thanks for focusing many of your efforts on women, and thanks for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients…welcome to the show! TOTD – If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it.”      Muhammed Ali Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose! In this episode: What was life like growing up? Best part of homeschooling What do you love about being a parent Biggest challenge of raising your boys Fishing is my peace.  Growth how do you do it?  Fulfillment define it…Pillars of fulfillment…quality of life, pouring into potential, building out my contribution…using all three to expand your fulfillment… Core beliefs (past, things we believe about our selves, could be accurate or not)from the past and developing core values in the space in which you live, core aspirations…align all three with where you want to go… The gift of self-awareness…doing it with accuracy  Success…define it and how to you achieve it… Discovering your identity Happiness…define it Contribution…what are you doing to contribute to your family, team, community, society… Building capacity to be Belief…steps toward being consistent in knowing you can do it… Self-worth… Self Efficacy – having the capability, trust, confidence.. to handle any challenge that comes at them… Legacy

  5. Sep 9

    Creating an Endless Ripple Effect with Marriage Coach Kameran Al-Areqi!

    Send us Fan Mail C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER.  We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.  Season 6 Episode #32 Kameran Al-Areqi is coming from Wichita, Kansas (inform, inspire, & transform) You can find Kameran via her website recognizingpotential.com Kameran is a Gottman certified marriage coach, the host of The Married and Connected Podcast, and the founder of the Recognizing Potential Coaching Program. Kameran is known for her authenticity, straightforward nature and her ability to help couples with even the most complex of circumstances.  Kameran believes that lasting love begins within. Over the years, she learned that unhealthy patterns, unhealed wounds, and unresolved trauma don’t just affect you — they seep into your relationship and form who your children will become as well. Unresolved issues create cycles of disconnection, frustration, and loneliness, which is why her coaching is deeply rooted in healing the individual, so that two people can come together stronger, safer, and more connected than ever. Kameran, thanks for helping couples all over the world, thanks for continuing to coach yourself to be the best you can be and thanks for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients…welcome to the show! TOTD – “May I fall as rain to increase the harvests that must feed living beings…and in ages of dire famine, may I myself serve as food and drink.”                                     Shantideva Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!   In this episode: What was life like growing up? Podcast – Married and Connected 93% success rate Suffering…what does that mean… Average couple waits 6 years to get help Attachment Styles Stages of relationships… Gottman’s Sound Relationship House Model Ingredients that are missing from most marriages – commitment, trust and friendship… Comparisons.. Goal of Marriage is to grow together… Partner should not be the one to make you happy… Legacy

  6. Sep 3

    Relationship Guru is Creating Space for Partners to be Seen with author Rebecca Mullen!

    Send us Fan Mail C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER.  We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.  Season 6 Episode #31 Rebecca Mullen is coming from Grand Junction, Colorado (inform, inspire, & transform) You can find Rebecca via her website rebeccamullencoaching.com Rebecca Mullen is the author of 6 Steps to Better Marriage Communication and host of the podcast Habits for Your Happily Ever After. Her work focuses on the small, repeatable habits that transform how couples communicate—especially in moments of tension, misalignment, or emotional overwhelm.  Rebecca helps couples move from reactive patterns to intentional connection using simple tools they can apply immediately. Rebecca brings a mix of practical frameworks, relatable stories, and real-life application, so listeners don’t just feel inspired—they leave with something they can do differently that day.  Rebecca, thanks for sharing your beautiful spirit with the world, thanks for having the courage to share your heart, and thanks for guiding couples to a happily ever after…welcome to the show! TOTD – “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.”  Carl Jung Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose! In this episode: Here is the link to a PDF I have that gives listeners access to 6 of my podcast episodes about the 6 steps for better marriage communication.  What was life like growing up? Where did you meet your husband… Podcast Host of Habits for Your Happily Ever After: Relationship Communication Advice Ted Talk…great….love the tug of war with your daughter and son…reading stories, creating a template of tolerance…coming together…why is that so important to you… Classes – The money conversation, No More Loneliness…Marriage 101, Six Steps to Better Communication, Habits for Happily Ever After… Blog since 2020…loved complimentary colors…did your daughter end up going to Lewis and Clark? Happiness…what is it…fulfillment… Investing in YOU…Bliss Basket… Book - 6 steps to better Marriage Communication – Overcome Fear, Get Clear, Ask Cleanly, Beware Conditions, Affirm Lovingly, Build Boundaries Newsletter… Boundary happens in the corrective behavior…following through regardless of how the other person will respond… Conflict Resolution Clean Ask vs. Dirty Ask…step 3 (builds on step 1 and 2) is negative…ie. You don’t ever take the trash out…blame, shame…the dirty asker has not overcome their fear… Clean Ask – 3 steps…name the fear, state the desire, ask in a way that your partner can answer in yes or no…give agency to your partner… 4 Step Apology that rebuilds trust 2 name the behavior, 3 talk about how you think your partner feels, 4 I have a plan for how I am going to do better… Communication Clarity…one of the most challenging parts of marriage… Hidden Fear Sabotaging Your Relationship… Forgiveness  Hello and Goodbye Growing separately but together Look for the good in each other Make the invisible visible… Pain is when we feel attached to what we thought we had and realize it isn’t there…?  Making the best out of a difficult situation…finding the good… Legacy

  7. Sep 2

    Polar Opposite Careers that Made a Positive Impact on Many Lives with Author Eric Robinson!

    Send us Fan Mail C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER.  We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.  Season 6 Episode #30 Eric Robinson is coming from Lambertville, Michigan (inform, inspire, & transform) You can find Eric via his website preachertobreacher.com Eric’s new book – Irreverend comes out this fall.   Eric was called to do God’s work and worked for 12 years in that space as a preacher.   Unfortunately or fortunately, Eric knew there were other plans for him.   So on Easter of 2002 Eric preached his final sermon. The next Sunday he was in Quantico to attend the FBI Academy. Eric has taken the ingredients of two polar opposite callings and has turned them into his life’s masterpiece. For nearly a quarter century, Eric used the practices and principles he learned in ministry to connect with victims and witnesses, and even to break through to criminals. Whether confronting terrorists, rescuing teen sex workers, or developing informants, the skills from his earlier life were put to use in his law enforcement career.   Eric’s career in the FBI was diverse and he used his unique skillset to guide many criminals, colleagues, and communities on a journey of compassion, commitment, and patience. Eric thanks for all you have done with your career, thanks for taking the time to put your life on paper, and thanks for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients…welcome to the show! TOTD – “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.”                                                    Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!   In this episode: What was life like growing up? Worked in Chicago…pizza? What got you into your preacher role? What are your life’s essential ingredients? Married for 33 years – balance Just retired after 24 years with the FBI – best part of retirement… After action…the power of reflection Communication skills that are universal Values that are universal Not interrupting silence – using compounding questioning… Congrats on your book – IRREVEREND…interesting title, (not worthy of respect) how did you come up with it? Fitness testing, being fit… The power of connection National Security…what concerns do you have moving forward and what hopes do you have… Nutrition and discipline Firearms instructor…what skills does it take to have confidence in that space… Marathon Running… Most interesting story… Fuel for people who want to hurt people… Characteristics of successful people Team Building, trust building,  Lessons learned… Post Traumatic Stress… Forgiveness Mindset Leaving work at work Legacy

  8. Aug 28

    Strategy 101 - Develop A Heart That Cares with Dr. Sharalyn Payne!

    Send us Fan Mail C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER.  We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.  Season 6 Episode #29 Dr. Sharalyn Payne is coming from Dallas, Texas (inform, inspire, & transform) You can find Dr. Sharalyn via her website drsharalyn.com or smpistrategies.com Dr. Sharalyn Payne is an award-winning speaker, strategist, executive coach, and management consultant. As the founder of SMP International Management Consulting, LLC. Dr. Sharalyn works with companies and governments to build high-performing teams, navigate through change, and develop the next generation of leaders.  Guiding clients through sensitive organizational challenges, Dr. Sharalyn shares her unique perspectives and insights not only on how revolutionizing the workplace can lead to innovation, but also on the techniques needed to create destination organizations. Using lessons learned, provocative questions, and real stories, Dr. Sharalyn positions companies for greater success and bigger wins. Dr. Sharalyn, congrats on an amazing career, congrats on authoring two books Unstuck, Unleashed, Unstoppable and Ignite, congrats on continuing to challenge yourself to be your best, and thanks for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients…welcome to the show! TOTD – “I never competed against athletes.  I competed against perfection.”  Carl Lewis Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose! In this episode: What does the M stand for in SMP?  Marie… Lantana – represents resilience, rigor, and adaptability because it thrives in harsh heat and poor soil…cultural symbolism… endurance, transformation, and positivity… is under your name on your website…then I did a little more digging and found out it is a part of Texas and most likely where you live… What there a moment in time (past, present, or future) for you that shaped who you are today? What was life like growing up? Two Books – UnStuck, UnLeashed, UnStoppable.   IGNITE…Congrats Podcast – The Game Changer with Dr. Sharalyn You were a track and cross country runner…any insights from that experience and how it has shaped your life… Accountability… Mindset on POSSIBILITY! Leadership, what is it, what frameworks do you like to work with, what are some activities you do in your offsites? Culture, what is it, how do you assess it, how to you transform it, and how do you help engage in it… Strategic action planning…what does that look like…maybe go over a case screnario… Employee engagement Assessment tools for personal and professional development.. Wellness and well being…insights? Your company values: leave people organizations better than you found them, love who you are and what you do, we grow, we lead, we optimize, we believe everything is possible… The Future of Work? Transformation Modules from your website…key insights or takeaways from past participants… HOGAM assessments – what are they? Return on Power Newsletter – takeaways… Culture Camp on another podcast… Exemplary Leadership…what does that look like

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4.9
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

Life’s Essential Ingredients is spinoff of C4 Leaders, a California based non-profit who uses PIZZA to guide all people in RISING TOGETHER. The show is hosted by two best friends who were college roommates at the University of San Francisco – (Jeff with a Mike).  Just launched Season 6 with the show currently listened to in 145 countries and 1627 cities.The educational and entertaining show takes a deep, yet humorous look at life’s essential ingredients. The hosts engage in interesting conversation with some of the world’s best leaders, authors, athletes, musicians, chefs, architects, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, comedians, CEOs, coaches, professors, teachers, and many, many, more industries and professions. The goal of the show is to have the guest highlight their life’s essential ingredients and for the listener to add an ingredient or two to their life recipe.The hosts create space for the guest to be the star of the show and provide an incredible platform to highlight their life, their business, their passion, and most importantly, their gift they share with the world.  Our listeners are diverse and 9% are 18-24, 18% 25-29, 13% 30-34, 18% 35-44, 18% 45-54, and 55+ 24%.  

Information

  • Creator
    Jeff Christian and Mike Sestich
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    213
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Life's Essential Ingredients
  • Show Website
    Life's Essential Ingredients