Natalie Gandara shares her passion for coaching youth softball and how it connects to her professional life. She explains that being known as "Coach Nat" in her HR circles is a source of pride and describes the meaningful transition from playing the sport as a child to now coaching her daughter's team. Natalie reflects on the challenges and rewards of coaching young athletes, emphasizing how building confidence and leadership skills in girls translates into strong future leaders. She highlights the importance of finding joy and outlets outside work and encourages listeners to proudly share their own "And" with colleagues. Natalie also discusses the supportive team culture at her workplace, mentioning activities like group walks, book clubs, and outings that help coworkers connect over shared interests. Her advice to listeners is to embrace what lights them up, as those passions contribute to happiness and better work performance.

Episode Highlights

· Softball and now coaching youth softball has been a big part of Natalie Gandara's life and identity, both personally and professionally.
· The skills and lessons from coaching, like building confidence and teamwork, complement her HR role and help her nurture strong female leaders.
· It's important for people to have an "And" or passion outside of work because it makes them happier and more fulfilled, which translates into better performance at work.
· Sharing personal passions at work, like coaching, fosters deeper connections and helps break down barriers between coworkers.
· Natalie encourages everyone to be proud of their outside interests and not to be discouraged about sharing them, as it positively impacts both their lives and work.

In this episode, Holly Watkins shares her journey from public accounting to rediscovering her passion for writing and creativity. She reveals how her creative side, influenced by her artistic mother, was often set aside in the business world but reemerged after she left public accounting and began journaling, eventually resulting in a published book. Holly talks about the importance of allowing oneself to fully embrace personal interests and how doing so can improve both work and life. She also discusses how process improvement and connecting with others brought more joy and purpose to her professional life. Holly offers advice on taking time for self-care, like short meditation sessions, and encourages listeners to reflect on who they truly want to be. She emphasizes that embracing authenticity and a whole, human approach at work benefits not just individuals but also organizations.

Episode Highlights

· Allowing yourself to be authentic and embracing your creativity leads to greater happiness and success at work.
· Taking intentional breaks, such as meditation, helps clear your mind and makes you more productive.
· High performers in organizations often have hobbies and passions outside of work; the profession should value these dimensions more.
· The culture and leadership of a firm are crucial in creating space for people to be whole humans, not just job titles.
· The younger generation values authenticity and work-life balance more, and organizations must adapt for future success.

Erik "The Viking" Solbakken shares his journey from discovering drumming in grade school to leading rock bands and embracing his passion for music alongside his accounting career. He reflects on fighting against early discouragement to pursue drums and how his love for music persisted even as he trained to become a CPA. Erik describes a long break from music while building his professional career before coming back to drumming through tribute bands and eventually founding his own band again. He talks about experiencing true connection with clients and others after he began sharing his musical side openly. Erik highlights the freedom and authenticity he found by merging his professional and personal identities. He encourages others to share their authentic selves, noting that doing so brings connection, trust, and a vibrant sense of community.

Episode Highlights

Tricia Katebini shares how her passion for running began with playing soccer in her youth and grew into a central part of her life after college, especially once she became a mother. She describes how the camaraderie of the running community has helped her connect with lifelong friends, often revolving around group runs and destination races. Tricia notes that running taught her valuable lessons about perseverance and leadership, emphasizing the importance of not leaving anyone behind and bringing her team along at work. She highlights her firm's commitment to work-life balance, such as offering summer Fridays and actively monitoring for burnout to protect employees' well-being. Tricia encourages others to share their hobbies at work, pointing out that these connections foster deeper relationships and a stronger corporate culture. She believes everyone has multiple layers, and sharing those passions can help people feel seen and valued in their careers.

Episode Highlights

Joe Woodard shares how his passion for hiking started with childhood trips to the Smoky Mountains, where the beauty of nature left a lasting impression. His most memorable hike was trekking from the rim of the Grand Canyon down to the Colorado River, an eight-hour adventure in intense heat. For Joe, hiking is a way to unplug from work, practice mindfulness, and be fully present in the moment, especially when hiking with his wife. He emphasizes that hiking intentionally has no connection to his professional life and serves as his way to sever and recharge. Occasionally, hiking leads to spontaneous work ideas, which he records and sets aside to stay focused on the experience. He believes nurturing one's "And" makes us more human and essential in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Episode Highlights

Taryn Tigges shares her lifelong passion for dance, which began at age four and carried her through years of ballet, tap, and competitive performances, including annual roles in The Nutcracker. She explains how dance was the only childhood activity she truly loved, drawn by its strong connection to music. Taryn describes the challenges of continuing with dance as an adult and her rediscovery of it through Impulse Dance and Fitness in her city, a studio for adults where she found a supportive community and rekindled her love for movement. She contrasts the childhood era of dance with the personal fulfillment and intentionality of dancing as an adult. Taryn reflects on the flow state and focus that dance offers, highlighting how it complements her professional life as an engineer. She encourages others not to suppress their passions, noting that sharing outside interests at work fosters connection and shows that everyone is more than their job title.

Episode Highlights

Adam Ritchie, founder of High Potential Group in Detroit, Michigan, shares his lifelong passion for skiing, which began at age seven and later evolved into becoming a ski instructor. He remembers growing up with Saturday ski club bus trips and racing on his high school ski team, describing how skiing brought joy and resilience to Michigan winters. Adam explains how returning to the slopes rejuvenates him and brings energy to his life and work, refreshing his mindset for the week ahead. He emphasized the meaningful impact of teaching others, from helping anxious adults conquer their fears to seeing lightbulb moments in learners of all ages. Adam highlights strong similarities between ski instruction and leadership consulting, pointing out the importance of empathy, meeting people where they are, and recognizing the human side of everyone. He believes passionately in bringing his all parts of himself, including being a father, husband, and ski instructor, into his professional world, encouraging others to do the same.

Episode Highlights