Building Thinkers: Accessible Blueprints for Learning & Life

Tracy Clark
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Building Thinkers is based on the realization that there is exponential potential in the things we build, from mindsets and behaviors, to resumes and meal-plans, but sometimes insights and impact seem out of reach or overly complex. In the Building Thinkers podcast we will explore a wide range of topics (business, education, organization, habits, therapy, finances, research to name a few) unpacking the design, strategy, and details behind the things we build to create accessible blueprints for you to explore and apply to your own learning and life. There is no limit to what you can learn.

  1. Oct 23

    How to Turn an Idea You Love Into a Business

    What if the next step in your career isn’t more money, more responsibility, or more projects, but more meaning? That’s a question I explore with Kathy Lawless, whose own transition from a 20-year corporate career to entrepreneurship forced her to rethink what a successful life and business could look like. Kathy is a life story curator who creates heirloom-quality photo books for families and businesses, helping people preserve the milestones, people, and stories they don’t want to leave sitting in a shoebox.  We talk about the “shoulds” that can keep us playing small, the courage to act on an idea before you have all the answers, and why celebrating milestones can help people feel seen and deepen the connection between the people behind the work. As someone who never thought she’d be an entrepreneur, Kathy also shares how she built a business around the kind of life she actually wanted. Key Takeaways: Stop waiting for permission to pursue an idea you believe in. Success doesn’t have to mean more money, responsibility, and projects. An idea doesn’t have to start as a business to become one. Pay attention to the interests and instincts that have followed you throughout your career.  Build a business around the life you actually want, not the life you think a successful entrepreneur is supposed to have. Outsource what you don’t need to do yourself so you can focus on the work that matters. Timestamps:  00:00 Introduction 03:10 Where Kathy’s storytelling instincts came from 05:13 How a corporate idea became a business 08:38 From corporate career to entrepreneurship 13:47 How to know when an idea is worth pursuing 16:59 Rethinking what success looks like 21:52 Inside Kathy’s life story curation business 24:00 If only people knew…   Resources Mentioned: You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero Soundtracks by Jon Acuff Connect with Kathy: Website: https://lifestorycurator.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathylawless/  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

  2. Oct 9

    Rewire Your Life for Happiness in 5 Minutes a Day

    Summary: What if the thing you've been chasing your whole career is actually working against the very happiness you're trying to achieve?  My guest Ashish Kothari is the founder of Happiness Squad and bestselling author of Hardwired for Happiness, and he left a high-powered corporate career behind because he realized something most high achievers never stop long enough to see. Ashish bridges the science of positive psychology with the realities of the modern workplace in a way that is both deeply human and grounded in data. This conversation goes deep on where love is quietly being lost in our work and our lives, and more importantly, how to get it back. Ashish shows us that flourishing isn't a destination, it's a practice you can start today in five minutes or less. Key Takeaways: Why happiness and achievement aren’t the same thing. The science behind why small habits create lasting change. The gap between looking successful and actually flourishing. Where love and connection go to die in the modern workplace. Practical habits for daily flourishing. How presence and gratitude literally rewire your brain. Why resilience isn’t about toughness, it’s about how you recover. The hidden cost of building a life without real connection. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 04:11 Why high achievers often feel empty despite their success 09:02 The dangerous myth that suffering is the price of success 13:47 Why fear dominates the news, and how to see through it 15:35 How to stop letting your emotions run the show 17:44 What it means to be rooted and resilient  18:51 The practice of knowing yourself beyond what you do 23:44 Three free habits anyone can start tomorrow 29:45 Why choosing happiness first is actually the smarter strategy Resources Mentioned: Building Thinkers Newsletter Emotional Agility by Susan David Connect with Ashish: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/  Website: https://happinesssquad.com/  Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari The Flourishing Edge Podcast Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

  3. Sep 25

    How to Eat for Long-Term Health and Energy

    What if the food on your plate is either slowly breaking you down or building you up?  In an effort to continue the ongoing theme of living a flourishing life here at Building Thinkers, I sat down with Brad Fuster. He’s a university provost, former world-touring percussionist, and someone who went from 245 pounds, smoking a pack-a-day, and a chronic arthritis diagnosis to being 53, medication-free, and in the best health of his life.  Brad has been whole food plant-based since 2013, and in this conversation he explains the difference between veganism and actually eating well, he shares the practice that put his psoriatic arthritis into full remission, and he breaks down why protein is probably the last thing you need to worry about.  Key Takeaways: There’s a meaningful difference between being vegan and eating a whole food plant-based diet. The medical system is built around symptom management, not true wellness. Water fasting can reset your microbiome and improve health. Inflammatory conditions can potentially be addressed through diet and fasting. You don’t have to go fully plant-based to see benefits in your health. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 1:49 Brad’s transition to a plant-based diet 5:24 Myths about protein in vegan diets 8:17 The new food pyramid and nutrition education 12:35 Difference between veganism and whole food plant-based diet 15:38 Brad’s experience with water fasting 19:39 Practical tips for increasing whole food plant intake 21:10 Environmental impact of animal agriculture 22:15 Final thoughts  Resources Mentioned: Leading with Change When the System is Stacked Against You with Brad Fuster Thrive Fitness by Brendan Brazier Check out Rich Roll on Instagram The Game Changers (Documentary) by James Cameron EdUp Innovation with Dr. Neal Barnard Your Labs Are Normal, But You Feel Awful - Now What? (Feat. Elise Clark)   Connect with Brad: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-fuster-3540a350/  Podcast: https://www.edupexperience.com/edupinnovation/  SFBU: https://www.sfbu.edu/about/our-leadership  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

  4. Sep 11

    Leading with Change When the System Is Stacked Against You

    Building Thinkers has had a front-row seat to the work happening at SFBU, and this episode is a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to reimagine how people learn. My guest, Brad Fuster, is the Provost of San Francisco Bay University and host of the EdUp Innovation Podcast, and he's spent more than two decades in higher education. We go deep on what it really takes to challenge the status quo, lead through resistance, and build something new when the structures around you are designed to stay the same.  We also get into the MBA program launching at SFBU this September, a fully AI-integrated, flexibly paced degree designed around the way humans want to learn, at a fraction of the cost of a traditional program.  Whether you're building a company, leading a team, or just trying to grow in a world that keeps changing, the lessons in this conversation go beyond the university. Key Takeaways: What it really takes to lead change when the system is designed to resist it Why wrapping full support around learners changes everything (99.7% retention proves it) The curriculum innovation that Google, Apple, and Tesla are taking notice of Why bolting AI onto old systems is the wrong move and what to do instead How a $10K MBA is redefining what accessible, human-centered learning looks like What higher ed’s crisis means for anyone building something new Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:57 How a disillusioned provost ended up rebuilding from the inside 04:33 Why "reimagining" is just a buzzword for most institutions 08:35 The bold leadership move that's actually saving struggling schools 08:44 What entrepreneurs need to understand about leading change 10:00 The nuclear option that stops bold leaders in their tracks 13:27 Why faculty resistance is more complicated than you think 14:43 What it actually looks like to put students first 18:07 The retention stat that changes the conversation 19:14 The curriculum Google, Apple and Tesla are paying attention to 25:26 Why AI in education is being done wrong and what right looks like 31:37 How to build pro-social skills in an online program 33:36 What happens when learning meets the real world 35:24 If only people knew this about higher ed 37:52 Closing thoughts Resources Mentioned: Leadership: Key Competencies for Whole-system Change by Lyle Kirtman & Michael Fullan Whatever It Is, I’m Against It by Brian Rosenberg MBA Pro+ SFBU Connect with Brad: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-fuster-3540a350/  Podcast: https://www.edupexperience.com/edupinnovation/  SFBU: https://www.sfbu.edu/about/our-leadership  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

  5. Aug 28

    You’ve Had a Long Week. But Is the Wine Actually Helping?

    What if the glass of wine you pour every night isn't a reward, it's a signal?  I sat down with Keelie Louise, a Sober Curious Mentor and Psychology-Based Coach who rebuilt her life after decades of using alcohol to quiet a mind that never felt like enough. This conversation isn't about sobriety in the all-or-nothing sense — it's about getting curious about why you reach for that drink in the first place.  Keelie breaks down the real science behind what alcohol does to your dopamine baseline, your cortisol levels, and your ability to show up as the high performer you know you can be. We talk about how to navigate the social pressure of 'just have one,' how to figure out who actually fills your cup, and why falling down on this journey might be the very thing that gets you to the life you've always known was possible.  Key Takeaways: If you say you need a drink, that’s worth paying attention to. Alcohol gives you a dopamine spike, but it’s also dragging your baseline happiness down. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for not drinking. Getting sober curious isn’t just about removing alcohol, it’s about figuring out who actually fills your cup. Falling down is part of the process, the difference is whether you ask yourself why. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:03 Why ‘I need a drink’ is a red flag 06:14 What even one glass of wine does to your body 08:06 How to handle social challenges without owing an explanation 10:40 Why falling off the wagon might be the thing that saves you 12:19 Who fills your cup when alcohol leaves the room?   Resources: SAMHSA’s National Helpline NIAAA Connect with Keelie: Website: https://keelielouise.com.au/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keelie-louise/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its_keelie_louise/  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

  6. Aug 14

    Is This Your Life or Someone Else’s? | Building a Flourishing Life Retreat

    You've gone to the conference, read the book, felt inspired for exactly four days, and then life swallowed you whole again. My friend of over 20 years, Katie Conley, luxury travel advisor and founder of the Adventurous Women's Travel Club, joins me to talk about why we built something different — a women's retreat rooted in genuine intentional living and life design, not just another agenda-packed with content. Together we unpack the wheel-of-life framework, the mid-career identity shift nobody warns you about, and what it really means to re-evaluate your life without blowing it up entirely. This conversation is for the woman who's capable and driven and still quietly wondering if she's chasing the right things. If personal growth and reflection have ever felt too theoretical to actually stick, this is the episode that makes it practical. We talk about what real connection looks like when women are given space to show up fully, why flourishing is less about having it all figured out and more about asking better questions, and how women's empowerment starts with making room for yourself first. Key Takeaways: “Is this my life or someone else’s?” - the first question worth asking. You’re not short on time. You’re short on room. Solo reflection only gets you so far. Community accelerates clarity. The wheel of life: a simple tool for seeing where you’re actually at. Gratitude and presence aren’t soft skills; they’re rooted in neuroscience. Good learning design makes the difference between inspiration and implementation. The mid-career shift: from doing everything to orchestrating everything. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:17 Using the Wheel of Life for self-assessment 05:27 The mid-career identity shift 07:41 Why build this women’s retreat vs. a travel trip? 08:39 What ‘re-evaluating your life’ actually means 10:22 What you’ll leave this retreat with 12:08 Who is this retreat for? 13:59 The benefits of getting away to reflect 15:49 How we plan to help women realize their own dreams and goals 17:27 Addressing the skepticism  18:06 Why in-person community still matters 20:54 Outro   Resources Mentioned: Build a Flourishing Life Retreat Harvard Global Flourishing Study Tracy's Goal Guide Connect with Katie: Website: https://culturedconcierge.travel/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culturedconcierge/  The Adventurous Women’s Travel Club: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/vERNcpM  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

  7. Jul 31

    How to Have Hard Conversations (With Someone You Love)

    You know that conversation you keep rehearsing in the shower and rescheduling in real life? The one with someone you love that's started to feel more like a standoff than a way back to each other?  That's exactly what I dig into in this episode with Sara Blanchard. She’s the co-host of the What Do You Mean By That? podcast, author of Dear White Women, and a life coach rooted in positive psychology who's spent years studying what it actually takes for people to thrive.  Sara shares why our closest relationships are a bigger predictor of long-term health than cholesterol. Yes, really. There's 80 years of Harvard research behind it. She gives us practical tools for staying in the room when the topic is hard and the stakes are personal. We talk about the two-minute rule that changed how she greets her family, why every action makes sense from the perspective of the person doing it, and how to get curious instead of furious when someone says the thing that makes your whole body tense up.  If there's a hard conversation you've been avoiding, this episode might be the nudge and the roadmap you've been waiting for. Key Takeaways: Relationships are the cornerstone of long-term health and happiness. Asking 'What do you mean by that?' deepens understanding and connection. Slowing down and building time affluence improves relationships. Physical and emotional regulation are key to responding, not reacting. Curiosity about others' perspectives fosters compassion and reduces conflict. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:25 What does it mean to live a “flourishing life”? 06:21 Time affluence vs. productivity 10:11 How to have hard conversations with people you love 16:07 Connecting before correcting 20:22 Curiosity over judgment & understanding behavior 28:31 Why hard conversations deepen relationships 32:21 Different doesn’t mean deficient 34:09 Preparing for hard conversations: know your triggers  Resources Mentioned: The Happier Hour by Cassie Holmes Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg The Science Behind Dramatically Better Conversations by Charles Duhigg | TEDxManchester It’s Not About the Nail Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg Dear White Women by Sara Blanchard and Misasha Suzuki Graham Unscripting Parenting Connect with Sara: Website: https://www.sarablanchard.com/  What Do You Mean By That Podcast: https://www.whatdoyoumeanbythat.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatdoyoumeanbythatpodcast/ , https://www.instagram.com/sarablanchardauthor  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

  8. Jul 17

    Your Labs Are Normal, But You Feel Awful - Now What?

    If a doctor has ever told you "everything looks normal" while you felt anything but, this one's for you. I sat down with Elise Clark, a functional medicine nurse practitioner with over 15 years of experience in family practice, endocrinology, and hormone health, who has made it her mission to help women understand what's actually happening in their bodies. We talked about why hormone shifts start 10 to 15 years before menopause, what "normal but not optimal" really means, and how to know when it's time to dig deeper than a standard lab panel.  Elise also took me on a learning journey through one of the most persistent myths in women's health — the supposed link between hormones and cancer — and unpacked what the research actually says now. What struck me most is how much of this comes back to a theme we return to again and again on Building Thinkers: you don't have to accept feeling "off" as just part of this stage of life. There are things you can learn, questions you can ask, and choices you can design around — and it starts with trusting what your body is telling you. Key Takeaways: Why your 30s is when the hormone conversation should actually start. What birth control might be quietly masking and the questions to ask before starting or stopping. What a functional medicine appointment actually looks like. Why “your labs are normal” might be the most incomplete sentence in women’s health. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:26 Hormonal health care at any age 04:01 When you know something’s wrong but your labs come back normal 06:41 The difference between functional medicine vs. traditional medicine 10:29 What does “flourishing” look like in health? 12:10 The risks of over-optimization 15:42 Common health concerns and next steps 20:45 Debunking hormones and cancer myths 29:45 Oura rings: helpful or not? 32:34 Finding what’s right for you 35:30 Wellness influencer red flags 36:16 Peptides: should you do them? 37:04 If only women knew this one thing 39:56 Outro Resources Mentioned: Estrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris Connect with Elise: Website: https://www.eliseclarkhealth.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eliseclarkfnp/  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  Building Thinkers is based on the realization that there is exponential impact in the things we build, from mindsets and behaviors to resumes and meal plans, but sometimes insights and impact seem out of reach or overly complex. In the Building Thinkers podcast, we explore how to build a flourishing life across different life domains: mental health, physical health, spiritual health, relationships, finance, career, play, and growth. Flourishing is something you can design, domain by domain, through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. Every episode turns a conversation with an expert into something you can build with: a single, completable blueprint you can put to use right away, so the insight leaves with you instead of staying on the page. This podcast is for those who are actively designing a more intentional life, the multi-potentialites and high achievers who want real success and a life that feels good to live. Harness curiosity. Win your future.

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Building Thinkers is based on the realization that there is exponential potential in the things we build, from mindsets and behaviors, to resumes and meal-plans, but sometimes insights and impact seem out of reach or overly complex. In the Building Thinkers podcast we will explore a wide range of topics (business, education, organization, habits, therapy, finances, research to name a few) unpacking the design, strategy, and details behind the things we build to create accessible blueprints for you to explore and apply to your own learning and life. There is no limit to what you can learn.

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