Jennifer Prendergast was working in the travel industry when COVID wiped out a major job opportunity. A small side hustle became The Expert Talk, where she now helps organizations understand how nervous-system states shape behavior, relationships, and the way people work together.

In this Legacy series conversation, Jennifer shares why legacy isn’t only the big work we put into the world. It’s also the imprint we leave in everyday interactions: a moment of kindness, a steadier response, or a conversation that changes how someone understands a colleague or family member. She and host Kandas Rodarte explore how self-awareness and small intentional shifts can ripple outward into stronger connection and trust.

"When we are choosing the way that we show up as much as possible, then we are actively intentionally putting out imprints that are in alignment with who we are and what our values are." - Jennifer Prendergast

They also talk about online anger, doom scrolling, social media algorithms, and the challenge of finding healthier ways to handle stress. Jennifer explains why changing a behavior can affect your relationships—and why gratitude and noticing small moments of joy can help shift how you feel and show up.

• Why Jennifer sees legacy as the imprint we leave on the people we meet
• How noticing your nervous-system state can help you pause and choose a response instead of reacting
• What may be happening beneath online hostility—and why understanding it doesn’t excuse harmful behavior
• How social media feeds can reinforce anger and keep us scrolling
• Why changing your habits may shift your relationships, and how to make room for the grief that can come with that
• How gratitude, “twinkles,” and small moments of appreciation can help you feel and share more joy
• Why Jennifer sees safety, belonging, and connection as foundations for workplace productivity

Jennifer Prendergast is the founder of The Expert Talk. After a career in the travel industry was upended by the pandemic, she turned a side hustle into a business helping people and organizations better understand human behavior, nervous-system responses, and connection at work.

Get 35% off any online course from The Expert Talk with the code GRATITUDEGEEK: https://theexperttalk.com

• 00:00 – Introduction & Guest Welcome
• 00:46 – Jennifer’s Path to Entrepreneurship
• 02:16 – Redefining Legacy: Leaving an Imprint
• 06:15 – Nervous System Regulation & Human Behavior
• 08:51 – Reacting Online vs. Responding in Real Life
• 12:25 – Information Overload & Modern Society
• 16:16 – Breaking Out of Coping Habits
• 21:09 – How Personal Growth Shifts Relationships
• 25:06 – The Mission & Impact of The Expert Talk
• 27:50 – Grief, Love, and Deep Connection
• 30:46 – Weaving Gratitude into the Work
• 33:20 – Audience Gift & Special Offer
• 33:53 – Moment of Gratitude & Wrap-Up

Gratitude Geek is the business education podcast for Gen X women solopreneurs who weave gratitude and appreciation into their business strategy. Hosted by metastatic breast cancer thriver, Kandas Rodarte, who co-creates spaces, opportunities, and conversations for women business owners.

Subscribe to weekly emails: https://kandasrodarte.com/subscribe

If you’re a woman creator looking for co-creation and collaboration opportunities in indie media, come to my free Creator Co-Lab Mixer. Register here https://kandasrodarte.com/mixer

Gratitude Geek is a member of Marketing Podcasts Network. For network wide advertising options visit: https://marketingpodcasts.net/advertise

Want to be a guest on Gratitude Geek? Send Kandas Rodarte a message on PodMatch here: https://kandasrodarte.com/podmatch

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.