Infuse Compassion

Amy Quesenberry & Mark Carpenter
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Infuse Compassion, a podcast hosted by Amy Quesenberry and Mark Carpenter, explores the transformative power of compassion in both professional and personal spheres. This insightful podcast offers actionable strategies to integrate compassion, enhancing results, relationships and overall well-being. By prioritizing human connection, listeners can build trust, inspire teams, and create lasting impact. Designed for current and aspiring business and community leaders, Infuse Compassion delivers authentic and vulnerable conversations that help to release barriers, open minds fostering meaningful connection to prioritize humanity in interactions. Tune in to gain tools for stronger communities, thriving businesses, and enriched personal lives through the power of compassion.

  1. 2d ago

    E81: Being A Brave Woman with Jen Pestikas

    What if your career wasn’t meant to be a ladder, but a lattice—where sideways or even downward moves move you closer to your purpose? In this episode of the Infuse Compassion podcast, Amy and Mark talk with Jen Pestikas, founder of Brave Women at Work, about recognizing when your work is out of alignment and how to make a compassionate “career leap.” Jen shares her story of burnout, how “her body kept score” when she ignored the signs, and what shifted when she stopped raising the bar for achievement and started listening to herself. She also talks about navigating critics, separating energetically from people who don’t support your dreams, and finding those who help you “fly your plane higher.” In this conversation, you’ll learn: - How to know when it’s time for a career leap - Why a “shower of self-compassion” is essential when starting a new path - A simple practice to track who boosts your energy and who drains it - What it really means to be a “Brave Woman at Work” in the face of imposter syndrome Jen’s tip for compassionators: if you’re not listening to yourself, it’s hard to be genuinely compassionate to others. This episode will help you begin that listening. Jennifer Pestikas is an executive with over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. She is currently the Chief Experience Officer of a Chicagoland financial institution. Jen understands the necessary skills to make significant leaps in your career, including mindset, asking for what you want, interviewing skills, the ability to negotiate, professional presence and more. In addition to her corporate work, Jen leverages her experience with her personal company, Brave Women at Work. At Brave Women at Work, Jen offers individual and group executive and leadership coaching for women. She helps her clients better identify their strengths, what they want, what is holding them back and how to remove these barriers so they can take bolder and braver action in their careers. Contact Jen: Bravewomenatwork.com Jenniferpestikas.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferpestikas/ Search for “Brave Women at Work” on Amazon to find the books in Jen’s series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    E81: Being A Brave Woman with Jen Pestikas

  2. Aug 11

    E80: Slow Down For The Long Haul: Reflections from Lindsay Schiess

    Our neural pathways create defaults in how we react in emotional situations. The only way to change these neural pathways is to slow down, be aware of your thoughts, and stay curious. In this episode, Amy and Mark discuss what we learned from Lindsay Schiess in our last episode about overcoming the challenging emotions we can so easily face in today’s achievement-focused world. Join our discussion about: • The importance of slowing down and listening to our body when we feel strong emotions. • Keys to listening more effectively to create stronger relationships and connected teams. • The power of breathing as an emotional reset. • The importance of connecting to a higher power to maintain perspective in difficult situations. We’ll share personal perspectives on the skills Lindsay discussed last week and how each of us can create more connectedness with ourselves and others with a few simple skills. Lindsay Shiss is a speaker, therapist, professor at the University of Utah, and podcast host—which basically means she asks a lot of questions and never stops being fascinated by what makes people tick. This ties to her identify as a curious soul! Through her work, she helps individuals, teams, and organizations build resilience, strengthen relationships, and navigate life and work with more courage and compassion. She loves people, pancakes, and sleeping under the stars, although not necessarily all at once. She is a mom to four and wife to one patient man and believes families are the greatest classroom for learning how to love, grow, mess up, say sorry, and try again…and again and again. More than anything, she loves people and believes deeply in the goodness of people and the remarkable capacity we all have to heal, grow, and show up for one another. Contact Lindsay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayschiess/, lindsayschiess.com, https://www.instagram.com/lindsay.schiess/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    E80: Slow Down For The Long Haul: Reflections from Lindsay Schiess

  3. Aug 4

    E79: Listen to Connect with Lindsay Schiess

    Many people today are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and self-critical, according to this week’s guest, psychologist, counselor, and speaker Lindsay Schiess. At the heart of these emotions is a sense of lost connection, starting with connection to themselves. Lindsay shares her experiencing counseling and coaching individuals and teams to build resilience and create stronger relationships. In this episode you’ll learn: • The importance of connecting with yourself in order to connect with others. • How listening to your body is a vital first step in countering anxiety and overwhelm. • The power of listening as a key leadership skill to strengthen teams. • The positive impact of slowing down and remaining curious to regulate our emotions. You’ll get a master class in managing the challenging emotional moments you may face in today’s challenging times. Listen for ways you can lead yourself and others more effectively. Lindsay Shiss is a speaker, therapist, professor at the University of Utah, and podcast host—which basically means she asks a lot of questions and never stops being fascinated by what makes people tick. This ties to her identify as a curious soul! Through her work, she helps individuals, teams, and organizations build resilience, strengthen relationships, and navigate life and work with more courage and compassion. She loves people, pancakes, and sleeping under the stars, although not necessarily all at once. She is a mom to four and wife to one patient man and believes families are the greatest classroom for learning how to love, grow, mess up, say sorry, and try again…and again and again. More than anything, she loves people and believes deeply in the goodness of people and the remarkable capacity we all have to heal, grow, and show up for one another. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayschiess/, lindsayschiess.com, https://www.instagram.com/lindsay.schiess/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    E79: Listen to Connect with Lindsay Schiess

  4. Jul 28

    E78: We All Need Community: Reflections on Karen Eddington

    In our hectic world, feeling isolated can happen to many of us. Amy and Mark reflect on what we learned in the last episode from Karen Eddington about the “leave me alone era.” We discuss: • How isolation contributes to burnout. • The importance of creating community – not just co-workers – in the workplace. • Personal applications and examples of Karen’s research from “The Under Pressure Project.” Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts in the comments about where you’ve experienced the “leave me alone era” impact you personally or professionally. Then consider how you can help build communities to help counter the prevailing isolation many are experiencing today. Karen Eddington is a 20-year resilience researcher, keynote speaker, and author, who teaches you connection skills based on her research in The Under Pressure Project. Featured on ESPN for helping student athletes develop leadership skills, founder of a non-profit Outreach program in Utah, and neighborhood chalk artist, Karen teaches the importance of community at conferences across the country. Contact Karen: Website: KarenEddington.com Email: Karen@KarenEddington.com LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareneddingtonspeaker/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    E78: We All Need Community: Reflections on Karen Eddington

  5. Jul 21

    E77: Healing Doesn't Happen in Silos with Karen Eddington

    “Leave Me Alone.” Sometimes people say that with words, sometimes with actions. And the “leave me alone” culture is pervasive today. In this episode, we talk with Karen Eddington about her research findings for “The Under Pressure Project,” which identified mental isolation as one of the key reasons people feel pressure. Without feeling seen and understood, people can’t move forward, and every problem is magnified. Listen in as we discuss: • Environmental factors that have created the “leave me alone era.” • The importance of in-person communities to counter mental isolation. • Steps you can take to help yourself or others who are experiencing feelings of isolation. You’ll also love the end-of-episode tip Karen gives to infuse compassion into your week. Join us and join the effort to counter the isolation epidemic we face today. Karen Eddington is a 20-year resilience researcher, keynote speaker, and author, who teaches you connection skills based on her research in The Under Pressure Project. Featured on ESPN for helping student athletes develop leadership skills, founder of a non-profit Outreach program in Utah, and neighborhood chalk artist, Karen teaches the importance of community at conferences across the country. Contact Karen: Website: KarenEddington.com Email: Karen@KarenEddington.com LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareneddingtonspeaker/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    E77: Healing Doesn't Happen in Silos with Karen Eddington

  6. Jul 14

    E76: Find Your Way Home, Reflecting on Dr John Rivera

    Sometimes the winding journey of life leads us on paths away from compassion for ourselves and others. When the physical, mental, and emotional pressures of these unproductive paths catch up to us, we need to follow the warning signs to get back on a healthier path. Join Amy and Mark as they discuss their conversation last week with Dr. John Rivera about the importance of seeing others and yourselves as “a whole person.” The combination of physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional all work together to create your state of health. Listen in as we share: • How Dr. John’s experience applies beyond the medical field to all areas of business. • The value of changing the perspective of serving people as a privilege, not a chore. • Ways to look for early warning signs that you’re on the wrong path and how exploring different angles from which to solve problems can lead to simple solutions. • How small shifts and adjustments can make a big difference in your overall health. Seeing yourself and others as whole beings creates new perspective that allows you to get better results, build stronger relationships, and care for yourself and others more productively. We’d love to hear your perspective on this conversation in the comments. Dr John Rivera was raised by a nurse mother and minister father, and learned early that a meaningful life means showing up for others. As the oldest child and natural protector, he followed this parents' example into medicine, excelling through school and mentorship under a doctor who embodied everything he aspired to be—compassionate, socially aware, and respected. But two decades in corporate medicine took its toll. The calling became a grind. Personal struggles compounded by the loss of a spouse left John unmotivated and lost. Through a journey of self-discovery he found the courage to start his own practice. In that space of freedom, everything shifted. Gratitude became his lens. Empathy deepened. he rediscovered what he had always known: that caring for others is a profound privilege. Today, freed from corporate constraints, he practices medicine with compassion and humanity at the center—the way it was always meant to be. Contact Dr. John: tiktok/IG/FB @riveraobgyn YouTube @riveraobgyn www.Riveraobgyn.com Dr@riveraobgyn.com Affiliated with Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    E76: Find Your Way Home, Reflecting on Dr John Rivera

  7. Jul 7

    E75: Meet People Where They Are with Dr. John Rivera

    Showing up at work just for a paycheck takes a toll on our mental and physical well-being, regardless of the status of your position. As a physician, Dr. John Rivera experienced this toll personally – and it changed how he started seeing patients. Join as for this episode of the Infuse Compassion podcast to hear Dr. John share his path toward finding greater meaning and value in his work by seeing people as whole beings. You’ll hear Dr. John share his perspective about: • The importance of acknowledging the good in your life, even when facing challenges. • Changing perspective on working with people as a privilege rather than a chore. • Meeting people – including yourself -- where they are to fulfill their needs rather than treating everyone the same. • The value and importance of finding one act of self-care every week to maintain balance in your life. Dr. John’s story goes beyond the medical profession to all areas of life. Listen in and apply his experience and message to increase your health and well-being. Dr John Rivera was raised by a nurse mother and minister father, and learned early that a meaningful life means showing up for others. As the oldest child and natural protector, he followed this parents' example into medicine, excelling through school and mentorship under a doctor who embodied everything he aspired to be—compassionate, socially aware, and respected. But two decades in corporate medicine took its toll. The calling became a grind. Personal struggles compounded by the loss of a spouse left John unmotivated and lost. Through a journey of self-discovery he found the courage to start his own practice. In that space of freedom, everything shifted. Gratitude became his lens. Empathy deepened. he rediscovered what he had always known: that caring for others is a profound privilege. Today, freed from corporate constraints, he practices medicine with compassion and humanity at the center—the way it was always meant to be. Contact Dr. John: tiktok/IG/FB @riveraobgyn YouTube @riveraobgyn www.Riveraobgyn.com Dr@riveraobgyn.com Affiliated with Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    E75: Meet People Where They Are with Dr. John Rivera

  8. Jun 30

    E74: Fostering the Potential in Others, Reflecting on Heather Nemelka

    Hiring is difficult work. Managers are often left evaluating people’s worth based on a resume and answers to a few basic questions. If we don’t take the time to see the potential in applicants, we often miss out on valuable, loyal contributors. Listen in as Amy and Mark discuss their perspectives on our conversation last week with Heather Nemelka, founder of Elavare, a non-profit dedicated to helping women entering the workplace after time away to raise families. We discuss our thoughts on: • The importance of creating the right narrative in interviews to emphasize your value to hiring managers. • The importance of tapping into others who can support your return to the workplace. • Why hiring for potential and cultural fit may be more important than hiring for specific skills. Without a compassionate lens, it’s easy to overlook candidates who may be loyal, high-contributing team members. We’d love to get your thoughts in the comments section. Heather Nemelka is the Founder of Elavare, dedicated to helping women build confidence and return to the workforce through training, mentorship, and community support. Drawing from over 20 years in leadership and marketing, as well as her personal journey of re-entering the workforce as a single mom of five, Heather created Elavare to empower women during career transitions. Beyond Elavare, Heather serves as vice-chair of the Silicon Slopes AI Chapter and sits on the board of Bear River Mutual and MomTribe. She holds a BA in Communications and an MBA from Brigham Young University. Above all, she loves being a mom to her five kids. Contact Heather: Email: hnemelka@elavare.com Website: www.elavare.com Event: https://elavareco.elavare.com/elavare-summit-2025 (Elavare Summit) Substack: https://heathernemelka.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathernemelka/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elavare Youtube: @elavare Instagram: @heathernemelka Instagram: @elavareco Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathernemelka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    E74: Fostering the Potential in Others, Reflecting on Heather Nemelka
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Infuse Compassion, a podcast hosted by Amy Quesenberry and Mark Carpenter, explores the transformative power of compassion in both professional and personal spheres. This insightful podcast offers actionable strategies to integrate compassion, enhancing results, relationships and overall well-being. By prioritizing human connection, listeners can build trust, inspire teams, and create lasting impact. Designed for current and aspiring business and community leaders, Infuse Compassion delivers authentic and vulnerable conversations that help to release barriers, open minds fostering meaningful connection to prioritize humanity in interactions. Tune in to gain tools for stronger communities, thriving businesses, and enriched personal lives through the power of compassion.

Information

  • Creator
    Amy Quesenberry & Mark Carpenter
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    82
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Infuse Compassion

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