Kind of Intentional

Tom LiCalzi

Kind of Intentional is a podcast about making meaningful progress without chasing perfection. Each week, we take one real-life topic and explore it through honest conversations, practical ideas, and lessons learned from business, family, faith, and everyday life. From discipline and consistency to focus, leadership, habits, and systems, our goal is simple: help you become a little more intentional in the areas that matter most. No complicated frameworks. No endless self-help theories. Just real stories, actionable takeaways, and small shifts that can create lasting change. Whether you're leading a team, raising a family, building a business, or simply trying to show up better each day, this podcast is designed to respect your time and give you something useful to think about and apply. One topic. Short episodes. Real conversations. Because being intentional isn't about getting everything right, it's about making the next choice on purpose.

  1. 1d ago

    Planning as a Family

    Most of us have a big dream for our family, and it usually sounds great on paper until the plan starts costing us the very people we were planning it for. If you have ever caught yourself working so hard to provide for the future that you were missing the family in front of you today, this conversation gives you a simple way to plan with your family instead of around them. Tom LiCalzi and his wife, Brittany LiCalzi, return for part two of their conversation and get honest about the house they planned to build on almost ten acres, the two years of planning that put real strain on their marriage, and the moment they decided to stop. They talk about how that season changed the way they make plans together, including the eighteen months they spent preparing for a nearly four-week camper trip out west with their family of five. You’ll discover: Why speaking up the moment reality stops matching your plan matters more than pushing throughWhy talking about the cost to your relationship and family before you commit can change the decisionHow revisiting a plan as things change gives you permission to walk away from a good idea that isn’t right for your familyWhat a simple family vision looks like (it can be a list on paper of the places you want to go together)How twenty minutes a couple of times a week, shared documents, and a ClickUp checklist can move a big plan forward without anyone chasing the other downTom and Brittany also share that when they look back, neither of them misses the house, and the trip out west is something they would never pass up again. Their question for anyone planning ahead is simple: three years from now, what will we be most excited that we did? The plans we make for our family should always leave room for our family. If you have a goal on the calendar that has quietly crowded out the people it is meant for, this episode is for you. Press play, then sit down together for twenty minutes this week and decide what you want your family to experience.

  2. Oct 13

    Calendar Coordinators

    Most of us don’t set out to become calendar coordinators, but it happens fast. If you have ever looked at a calendar packed with practices, school, and work and realized you and your spouse have started to feel more like coworkers than partners, or if your only conversations lately are logistics passed in the hallway, this conversation gives you a practical way forward. Tom LiCalzi and his wife, Brittany LiCalzi, talk about what it means to be calendar coordinators for a household of three kids, two soccer teams, volleyball, gymnastics, and a business, without letting the coordination crowd out the relationship. They get honest about who does what, how those roles formed without ever being discussed, and how easy it is for a conversation to turn into a handoff. You’ll discover: What it really means to be a calendar coordinator, and why the person you’re running your life with matters more than the systemWhy a paper calendar, a digital calendar, or both can workHow to divide household responsibilities without becoming transactionalWhy an offer to help with something you were already going to do doesn’t have to feel like a call-outHow a simple nightly walk can turn into a phone-free time to check in and really listenTom and Brittany also share the small rituals that keep their family connected, like asking everyone the same question at dinner (what was your favorite part of the day), stepping in to help instead of waiting to be asked, and hitting 10,000 steps together almost every day for nearly a year. Nothing monumental is required, just a little consistency and a willingness to be present with each other. We make time for meetings at work while everyone has their calendars open, but we rarely protect that same time for the people at home. If you want to be more than calendar coordinators in your own marriage, this episode is for you. Press play, put on your shoes, and take a walk with the person you’re doing life with tonight.

  3. Oct 6

    Friendships Don't Happen By Accident

    True friendship does not happen by accident. If you have ever felt lonely with hundreds of contacts in your phone, kept putting off "we should get together" until another month slipped by, or realized your closest conversations have shrunk down to a string of texts, this conversation gives you a practical way forward. Tom LiCalzi and Danielle Andrew talk about why deep friendships take intention, and why the people we say mean the most to us are often the last ones to make it onto our calendars. They get honest about how easy it is to default to a quick text, and what it costs us when we do. You'll discover: Why a true friend is someone you can be honest and vulnerable with, not just someone you hang out withThe difference between texting, calling, and actually feeling heardWhy your spouse can't be your only person, and what a friend can offer that they can'tHow to notice the cue that tells you it's time to reach outWhy you should set the next get-together before you leave the current oneTom and Danielle also talk about picking up the phone when you feel that nudge to call someone, and about a simple way to be a good friend: treat people the way you would want to be treated in the same situation. Nothing monumental is required, just a little effort and a willingness to be the one who makes the first move. We set our next check-in at work while everyone has their calendars open, but we rarely do the same with our friends. If you want deeper friendships that actually happen, this episode is for you. Press play, grab your calendar, and book that next get-together today.

  4. Sep 29

    They Can't Read Your Mind

    They can’t read your mind! If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, let plans drift for months, or wondered why “we should get together” never actually happens, this conversation gives you the reset you need. Tom LiCalzi and Danielle Andrew unpack two everyday relationship struggles that quietly create distance: unclear communication and unintentional friendships. Drawing from Super Communicators and real-life marriage, parenting, and friendship moments, they show how small shifts in timing, tone, and follow-through can change everything. You'll Discover: Why caring about someone is not the same as clearly communicating with themHow to tell whether someone needs to be heard, validated, or advisedWhy morning conversations, late-night conflict, and quick texts often miss the markThe simple question that helps you avoid giving the wrong kind of helpWhy a friendship only becomes real when it actually hits the calendarTom shares how being a processor can create silent assumptions, while Danielle brings the perspective of someone who notices needs early but has learned that not everyone receives communication the same way. Together, they break down the difference between assuming and agreeing, and why “an expectation never shared is an agreement never made” might change the way you handle every relationship in your life. They also tackle the hidden cost of modern connection: lots of contacts, lots of messages, but not always the depth we actually need. If you’ve been relying on texts, vague plans, or “sometime soon” promises, this episode makes the case for something better; real conversations, intentional rhythms, and friendship that is strong enough to carry hard things. Essential listening if you want better marriage communication, stronger friendships, and a more intentional way to show up for the people you love.

  5. Sep 22

    Being There Isn't Being Present

    Being in the same room is not the same as being present. If your phone, your to-do list, or your own mental overload keeps stealing you from the people in front of you, this episode offers a simple way back. Tom LiCalzi and Danielle Andrew unpack why proximity so often replaces real connection—especially during busy seasons when work, family, and endless screens compete for your attention. What starts with a conversation about scrolling and distraction becomes a practical reset for anyone who feels overwhelmed, mentally scattered, or guilty for never being fully “off.” In this episode, you’ll discover: Why “just being there” can still feel like neglectHow invisible work; laundry, groceries, and unfinished tasks, keeps your brain stuck in the backgroundHow quick capture can stop open loops from living in your headHow a 10-minute tidy can create enough breathing room to show upWhy sometimes the most important productivity move is telling your mind, “not right now” Tom shares candidly how even strong boundaries around kids and work can still leave the most important relationship getting the leftovers. Daniel adds perspective on constant cognitive load, notification fatigue, and the pressure of trying to hold everything together at once. Together, they land on a message that is both convicting and freeing: your loved ones should not have to compete with your screen or your unfinished tasks. If you’ve been feeling pulled in a hundred directions, this is an honest, practical episode about reclaiming attention, lowering the bar, and choosing presence on purpose.

  6. Sep 15

    Building Lasting Habits

    Most habits fail at the starting line because they’re built for your ideal day, not your real one. Tom LiCalzi and Danielle Andrew unpack why the popular “21 days” idea is misleading, how to identify the friction that prevents good routines from sticking, and how to design habits that last. They explore the role of timing, energy, convenience, environment, and focused work, along with a practical approach: create both a standard version and a rescue version of each habit so you can keep showing up, even on difficult days. Links: Research around 21 days to form a habit: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-long-does-it-really-take-to-form-a-habit/ Daniel H. Pink's book When: https://www.danpink.com/books/when/

  7. Sep 8

    It's Time to Show Up

    It’s Time to Show Up The biggest breakthroughs usually do not come from massive life overhauls. They come from the small, repeatable choices you make when nobody is watching, and this episode shows you how to turn those choices into momentum. Tom LiCalzi and co-host Danielle Andrew unpack the power of showing up consistently, then break it down into something you can actually use this week. From tracking your weeks with the ideas behind Four Thousand Weeks to celebrating embarrassingly small wins like a five-minute walk, they make the case that progress starts with setting a floor, not chasing a perfect ceiling. You will discover: Why ordinary consistency beats dramatic motivationHow to set a minimum expectation that feels almost too easy to failThe difference between vague goals and specific habits you can measureHow activation energy shapes your behavior, from snoozing your alarm to reaching for your phoneWhy the built-in Reminders app and Siri can make habit change simpler than buying another tool Tom shares the mindset of using each week intentionally, while Daniel brings the practical perspective of lowering the barrier to action and celebrating the daily choices that actually build a better life. Together, they show how tiny commitments compound into real change over time. If you have ever felt overwhelmed by big goals, frustrated by inconsistency, or tired of starting over every Monday, this episode gives you a more realistic path forward. The opportunity is not in doing everything at once. It is in choosing one small thing, attaching it to an existing cue, and showing up long enough to let the results stack. Essential listening if you want a simpler, more sustainable way to build habits, stay intentional, and become the person you keep trying to be.

  8. Sep 1

    Small Choices Make Big Impact

    Small choices quietly shape the life you’re building - and most of us underestimate them until our days feel full, unfocused, and hard to remember. Tom LiCalzi and co-host Danielle Andrew unpack why tiny daily habits can create massive long-term impact, and how a few intentional shifts can help you regain clarity, direction, and momentum. They start with a simple but powerful question: what did you actually do today? From there, the conversation gets practical fast, connecting everyday reflection to everything from journaling and digital note-taking to family rhythms and end-of-day recaps that make progress visible. Tom shares how tools like OneNote help turn invisible work into something you can track, while Danielle presses into the mindset and behavior changes that make consistency possible in real life, not just in theory. You’ll discover: Why the smallest choices often have the biggest effect on your futureHow reflecting on your day can reveal what’s really moving the needleA simple end-of-day recap habit that helps you spot meaningful progressHow family check-ins like "favorite thing from today" can build awareness and connectionWhy missing one day is not failure, but missing two can become the real trap If you’ve ever felt busy but unsure whether your days are adding up to anything meaningful, this episode gives you a clear path back to intention. It’s a reminder that you do not need a complete life overhaul to change your trajectory; you just need better small choices, made consistently. Essential listening if you want more clarity, more follow-through, and a life that feels built on purpose instead of drift.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Kind of Intentional is a podcast about making meaningful progress without chasing perfection. Each week, we take one real-life topic and explore it through honest conversations, practical ideas, and lessons learned from business, family, faith, and everyday life. From discipline and consistency to focus, leadership, habits, and systems, our goal is simple: help you become a little more intentional in the areas that matter most. No complicated frameworks. No endless self-help theories. Just real stories, actionable takeaways, and small shifts that can create lasting change. Whether you're leading a team, raising a family, building a business, or simply trying to show up better each day, this podcast is designed to respect your time and give you something useful to think about and apply. One topic. Short episodes. Real conversations. Because being intentional isn't about getting everything right, it's about making the next choice on purpose.

Information

  • Creator
    Tom LiCalzi
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Tom LiCalzi

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