Carlos Mendiola

Karen Rinaldi: The End of Men

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I had a thoughtful conversation with Karen Rinaldi, writer, editor, and publisher.

Today we welcome publisher, writer, editor and author, Karen Rinaldi. Karen is the publisher of Harper Wave, an imprint she founded in 2012, and a senior vice president at Harper Collins Publishers.  While Karen has worked in the publishing industry for over two decades, this is her first time in the role of novelist. Her book, 

The End of Men,

is something she worked on for over four years and inspired the story for the 2016 commercial film,

Maggie’

s Plan

. Karen is one of those women who might appear to “have it all“ but is not afraid to tell you when she sucks at something. In fact, she encourages sucking at something. So much so, that The New York Times even published her article on why sucking at something is so great. Today we talk about Karen’s journey – learning to surf at 40, what it means to “have it all,“ the role of men, authenticity, agency, and the liberation of what we have come to know today, as failure. Take a listen!

Thanks for Listening

Again, thank you so much for your support! Please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already!

Show Notes

  • Why Karen started surfing at 40. [2:43]

  • Why you should always love sucking at something. [8:18]

  • Humbling versus humiliating; why the difference is so crucial to understand. [13:55]

  • Accepting imperfection and creating more opportunities to be vulnerable. [19:37]

  • End of Men: Delving into Karen’s book title and why she chose it. [21:54]

  • My choices, not yours; understanding agency and having it all. [26:07]

  • Why women have to step off the tightrope and take the extra leeway even when there is no applaus. [34:00]

  • Why Karen’s book came out after the movie. [36:44]

  • Learning to Keep your expectations grounded: Is there a time to give up? [42:36]

  • Surrender control, control surrender; are you controlling your surrender or are you surrendering control? [46:27]

  • And much more!

More About Karen

Episode Resources

by Carlos Mendiola

Elizabeth DiAlto: Wild Soul Movement

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I had a thoughtful conversation with Elizabeth DiAlto, writer, coach, and podcaster.

On the show today we welcome Elizabeth DiAlto. Known for her raw and honest approach to body love and self-acceptance, Liz is a speaker, writer, coach and the creator of Wild Soul Movement, a sensual practice in self-discovery that combines movement, mantra, and meditation. Her mission is to get women out of their heads and into their bodies to connect with and balance their powerful energy and trust their intuition. Liz works with large groups of women virtually through her 16-week Wild Soul Movement experience, and more intimately through one-on-one coaching, live training intensives and retreats. She also runs the 3500+ strong Soul Movement Salon, a private Facebook group for professional women, moms, entrepreneurs, and singles to reclaim and redefine womanhood.

In today’s episode Elizabeth delivers the same level of real grounded, honest, raw, connected advice and thoughts about her own experiences and what she understands about how to un-tame yourself, how to bring yourself forward and really lead from that deeper self. We also hear all about her book, Untame Yourself. Keep listening to hear more!

Thanks for Listening

Again, thank you so much for your support! Please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already!

Show Notes

  • Elizabeth’s nine-minute ritual to start your day. [2:50]

  • The importance of connecting and honoring your body. [9:19]

  • How to stop comparing yourself to others and focus on yourself. [12:13]

  • Why people access their intuition differently. [13:55]

  • Transitioning from physical to the emotional and spiritual side. [17:22]

  • Losing connection to your body and the value of tuning back in. [19:35]

  • Understand how we are all intuitive both scientifically and spiritually. [22:33]

  • Differences between judgment and discernment. [25:44]

  • Identify the differences between feelings and emotions. [27:28]

  • Elizabeth defines breaking free and being untamed and what it means to her. [30:46]

  • The four topics of the Wild Soul Movement and how it applies to all of us. [35:49]

  • Learning to align logic with your belief system. [40:53]

  • Creating from love and not from a fear. [43:23]

  • Being authentic by being true to yourself in any moment. [43:30]

  • Elizabeth’s every day “must-do's.” [47:00]

  • And much more!

More About Elizabeth

Episode Resources

by Carlos Mendiola

Are You Afraid that You Will Be Self Absorbed If You Tell The Truth

Where is the line between self-indulgent, self-absorbed and authenticity? If we cater to our own self-interest we are self-absorbed. We are self-serving. If we deny our needs are martyrs that can become resentful. How do we balance the needs of others with the need to take care of ourselves? The line of helping a friend and taking care of our own needs is not obvious. Today we dive into that conversation

by Carlos Mendiola

Teju Owoye: A Serial Entrepreneur Share All

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I had a thoughtful conversation with Teju Owoye, founder of Sulte Group, Blis Brands, and Growth Marketer. 

Today on the show we have serial entrepreneur and woman-on-the-move, Teju Owoye. Teju is the founder of Sulte Group, Blis Brands and resident Growth Marketer at CoFoundersLab. Prior to starting the Sulte Group, Teju designed incentive and engagement programs for Fortune 500 companies and top universities. Teju is also a media professional with a ton of hosting and journalism experience. She is the founder and editor of Tusodo Magazine, a travel and lifestyle publication for the modern traveler. On today’s episode, we hear Teju’s story: how she moved from the corporate world to starting several businesses, how she tackled issues, her business mindset and all the things that have created so much success in her life. For anyone who is thinking about starting a business or who already has their own business, this woman has so many great lessons and really knows what she’s talking about! Take a listen to this inspiring conversation with Teju Owoye.

Thanks for Listening

Again, thank you so much for your support! Please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already!

Show Notes

  • Teju takes us through the benefit of starting her career in corporate. [3:33]

  • The importance of having confidence in the face of uncertainty. [7:28]

  • Why you need systems in place if your goal is to build a big business. [9:12]

  • Control issues: How Teju learned to loosen the grip and delegate out. [11:56]

  • Why you need to fire yourself from tasks and start outsourcing. [13:54]

  • Understanding that passing on tasks does not make you weak. [17:18]

  • The impact of the ego, and why you should be aware of your own. [22:13]

  • Sales is your oxygen mask. Learn why this is the key to the survival of every business [25:16]

  • The power of asking for help and why you should seek it out, not shy away from it. [27:38]

  • Why entrepreneurs are not supposed to do it all and how you can avoid that path. [31:56]

  • Why Teju’s first business went broke and the mistakes you can learn from. [33:43]

  • Hear more about Teju’s latest system. [35:50]

More About Teju

Episode Resources

by Carlos Mendiola

Can We Really Live in the Present?

 Most of us, if we’ve spent any time in any modern city, have heard about the idea of ‘mindfulness,' about the idea of being present, about the idea of how important it is to live our life in the moment. We've heard how it is important not miss the moments, to not be distracted by your iPad, your iTouch, your Android, the news, the endless news cycle, the stimulation that is everywhere. We've heard that we need to take time out to be in our thoughts when we’re having a conversation with our friends.We want to be present in that moment. We even talk about mindfulness and presence, mindful eating, walking... But the reality is that most of us are not achieving that goal. Most of us are anxious, most of us are medicating.American culture, I think 70%, takes some kind of anti-anxiety. Why is it that when we’re talking so much about being present and the key to having a life that is meaningful and a key to a life that is filled with happiness requires presence, requires stillness, requires being calm and focused on the moment at hand.American culture, I think 70%, takes some kind of anti-anxiety. Why is it that when we’re talking so much about being present and we accepted that the key to having a meaningful life, a life that is filled with happiness requires presence, requires stillness, requires being calm and focused on the moment at hand and we haven't found it?Why is it that so many of us are experiencing the opposite?

by Carlos Mendiola

Andrew Taggart: A Fellow Philosopher Bringing Wisdom to Every Day Life

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I had a thoughtful conversation with Andrew Taggart, practical philosopher, which involves speaking with entrepreneurs, business executives, artists, and spiritual seekers about the nature of a good life. 

On today’s show we are joined by Andrew Taggart. Andrew is a practical philosopher and entrepreneur who I happened to discover in an article in Quartz Magazine. Andrew teaches executives, leaders, artists and entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley, and around the world, to bring philosophy to business and to their lives. Andrew teaches individuals and organizations how to inquire into the things that matter most: like how to live life and how to find that deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose? In this episode, we learn more about the unique approach Andrew has cultivated into what he calls practical philosophy. With a Ph.D. in philosophy Andrew is able to bring all sorts of different philosophical schools of thought to the table but most of all, he’s just really interested in helping people live the greatest life that they can. What is a good life, how do you cultivate that, what does it mean to have a life with inquiry, what does that mean for each and every person? These are the questions of questions and if you’re interested to know how we can incorporate philosophy into our modern, every day lives, take a listen! 

Thanks for Listening

Again, thank you so much for your support! Please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already!

Show Notes

  • From PhD to practical philosophy: Andrew’s academic odyssey. [2:34]

  • Ideas versus Ego in institutionalized philosophy and how that has shaped the study. [6:14]

  • Philosophy in the modern world: How does it apply to our lives today and how do we make

  • sense of the changes? [7:45]

  • What is philosophy, really? Hear Andrew’s definition and what he is truly committed to.

  • [10:35]

  • What Andrew does as a practical philosopher, carrying out his beliefs and studies. [13:23]

  • The three elements that make up a philosophical conversation, and how to use them

  • effectively. [15:42]

  • The limits of a philosophical conversation, and why it is important to be aware of them.

  • [16:17]

  • The Zen Buddhist element as it applies to philosophy today. [18:37]

  • The Socratic element. [19:45]

  • Are philosophers today sophists? Andrew tells us about his Silicon Valley clients. [20:48]

  • The answer to life: Is there just one answer or do we have to continue searching? [26:31]

  • The concepts of incarnating ideas and manifesting happiness in your life. [32:33]

More About Andrew

  • Andrew Taggart’s Website — https://andrewjtaggart.com/

  • Andrew Taggart in Quartz Magazine — https://qz.com/956682/philosopher-andrew-taggart-is- helping-silicon-valley-executives-define-success

  • Andrew on Twitter — https://twitter.com/andrewjtaggart

Episode Resources

by Carlos Mendiola

Mark Lukach: My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I had a thoughtful conversation with Mark Lukach, author of My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward.Today on the show we have Mark Lukach. Mark is the author of international bestseller, My Lovely Wife in the Psyche Ward: a vulnerable personal story inspired by his wife Julia. Mark and Julia fell madly in love at 18, they got married and started living their dream in San Francisco. But some years later, Julia unexpectedly had a psychotic break, which landed her in a psyche ward for nearly a month and over the next few years, they both struggled with what was bipolar, depression, suicide and a lot of uncertainty and difficulty in their life and in their marriage.Mark managed his feelings by writing this book, My Lovely Wife in the Psyche Ward and above all, it is a conversation about loyalty, love, commitment and how to handle the challenges of mental illness, which many people struggle to talk about. In today’s episode, Mark shares his authentic story; delving deep into the gift of vulnerability, the resentments of caregiving, and ultimately the perseverance of love. Take a listen to this compelling conversation.

Thanks for Listening

Again, thank you so much for your support! Please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already!

Show Notes

  • The back story: What led Mark to write his book My Lovely Wife in the Psyche Ward. [3:30]

  • Discover what allowed Mark to open up and share his pain. [6:13]

  • Hear Marks thoughts on the gift of vulnerability. [9:19]

  • Understand the difference between negativity and vulnerability. [10:33]

  • Find out how Mark consistently brought himself out of fear and anxiety. [12:42]

  • How Mark and his wife had to re-negotiate the terms of their relationship. [16:32]

  • Mark opens up about the resentments of caregiving. [20:46]

  • Discover how writing this book enabled Mark to find his own truth again. [22:52]

  • In today’s world of instant gratification, how does Mark define love now? [25:57]

  • Find out what an authentic life means to Mark. [29:16]

Mark's Book

More About Mark

Mark Lukach’s Website — http://www.marklukach.com/Mark on Twitter — https://twitter.com/marklukachMark on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/marklukach/Mark on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/writermarklukach

Episode Resources

by Carlos Mendiola

Pema Chodron: On How to Drop Negative Thoughts

Pema Chodron explains one of the essential challenges in finding peace is dropping negative thoughts. Can you drop a thought about something small that is currently bothering you? More importantly, can you notice when a negative thought is on your mind? Or do you wait until the thought has consumed your day, week, even a month before you drop it?Drop your current negative thought by bringing attention to something new!

by Carlos Mendiola

JP Sears: How To Be Ultra-Spiritual

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I chatted with JP Spears, author of the new book, How to Be Ultra-Spiritual.

On today’s episode, we have the ultra-spiritual, JP Sears. JP is an emotional healing coach, a viral YouTuber, author, international teacher and speaker, and is releasing a book called,

How To Be Ultra-Spiritual: 12 ½ Steps to a Spiritual Superiority

. JP uses humor and satire, to poke fun at “being spiritual” in the modern world. The Awaken With JP YouTube channel has accumulated over a hundred million views and as I’m sure you can imagine JP is fun, hilarious, and full of jokes. But don’t be too quick to judge his flowery exterior. JP is extremely thoughtful, perceptive, has a sincere depth of understanding about these topics and wants to help people lead their most fulfilling life. On today’s show, we talk about fear, failure, embracing shame and ultimately living a more authentic spiritual life. Take a listen! (It really is ultra-spiritual).

Show Notes

  • From fitness to healing: Discover how JP got into coaching. [3:47]

  • How JP’s desire to feel life again got him into the world of emotional healing. [7:06]

  • Where does the body end and the mind begin? [08:07]

  • Understand how to let go and embody the idea of surrender. [10:15]

  • Why JP started making comedy videos and the benefits of taking a big risk. [14:34]

  • Turning fear into action; How to use fear to your advantage instead of letting it debilitate you. [18:55]

  • The importance of not letting failure define us. [22:23]

  • Comedy isn’t the goal: The deeper meaning behind JP’s videos. [24:53]

  • Why we shouldn’t be hiding our judgments. [27:00]

  • Embracing shame. [29:27]

  • How JP moved from making videos to writing a book. [34:44]

  • Getting into the raw sewage of human life. [38:08]

  • Find out what living an authentic life means to JP. [40:50]

More About JP Sears

Downloads:

by Carlos Mendiola

Olivia Goldhill: Existentialism and Authenticity

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I chatted with Olivia Goldhill, Harvard educated philosophy student and writer for Quartz. 

Today on the podcast we have Olivia Goldhill joining us. Olivia is a weekend writer for Quartz, with a focus on philosophy and psychology. Quartz is a digitally native news outlet, for business people in the new global economy. Quartz’s founding team includes veterans of some of the world’s highest-quality news organizations who have reported in 115 countries and speak 19 languages. Quartz publishes bracingly creative and intelligent journalism with a broad worldview, creating a really well rounded new site. It’s not just your average story and from there, I discovered Olivia.Olivia is a Harvard educated philosophy student and is interested in several subjects but one of them is authenticity, which is exactly what this podcast is all about. Olivia previously worked at The Daily Telegraph in the UK, first as part of their graduate scheme — which sent her to Media Wales and Press Association — then as a business reporter, and finally as a features writer. She reached out to me to come onto the show and we did more of a deep dive into authenticity from a philosophy as essentialism and what it means. Hope you like today’s show.

Show Notes

  • Capturing the essence of stoicism and meditation philosophies, and what they mean for our lives. [4:58]

  • Learn how to find the balance between the philosophy and the practical value of meditation. [9:11]

  • Understand why people today have become mistrustful of the word “authenticity”. [11:18]

  • Find out how Maslow’s Hierarchy and self-actualization play a role in your authenticity. [12:48]

  • Why the act of deciding who you are and what you do, makes you that person in the end.[18:01]

  • Knowing how to align your acts with your authenticity, doing everything in good faith. [25:26]

  • Learn how to grapple with competing realities and the anxieties that come along with them. [27:25]

  • Understand how to articulate your emotions and the importance of grounding them in something value. [29:21]

More About Olivia

Olivia Goldhill — https://qz.com/author/ogoldhillqz/

Olivia on Twitter — https://twitter.com/oliviagoldhill

Quartz — https://qz.com/

Downloads:

by Carlos Mendiola