Why is asking for help so hard? Is it the fear of rejection? The appearance of incompetence? Or, it is the emotion of embarrassment? The inner voice can be a loud one sometimes! Creating constant chatter which gets intertwined in our reality. But why...why do we do this to ourselves? When you really think about it, shouldn't we feel encouraged that we've surrounded ourselves with kind and compassionate people who are ready to lend a helping hand? Kerry Semrad, General Manager at KZUM Community Radio, is all about asking for help. As an expert in public media, she is constantly building a strong and smart community of partnerships. Partnerships that can positively influence the impact she helps make on the radio for her listeners and supporters. In this episode, Kerry and I are going to explore what it might be like to turn down the volume of our inner voice and find the positive side to asking for help. Join us as we build a new partnership!

Credits: Music by Ellie Westfall. Artwork by Kristina Bachman. Produced by Greg Joyce.

What comes to mind when you think about making a gesture of gratitude towards a good friend... is it a gift, like a bouquet of flowers? Is it sharing your time with them, by taking them out to coffee? Or is it sharing a simple smile as you pass them by? The way we share our happiness and gratitude for others shows up in different ways. There is no right or wrong way, however, in my opinion, there is one thing to always keep in mind... is your gesture coming from a place of authenticity. Are you being your best self in that moment? Tracy Haefele chooses to spend her time giving back to others by encouraging them to be their best selves. Bringing joy to others, while helping them understand that THEY too can bring joy to others, is her passion. Tracy and I are going to discuss the idea behind small acts, compared to big gestures and how sometimes the most valuable gift is just recognizing that another person wants to be "seen" and accepted.

Credits: Music by Ellie Westfall. Artwork by Kristina Bachman. Produced by Greg Joyce.

When was the last time you thought about your favorite color, your favorite animal or your favorite way to spend time? As we go through life, our priorities change. This is not a bad thing to have happen. However, sometimes we do lose the memories of the things that once made us happy. Think back to your days in school, out on the playground, debating with your best friend whether blue or orange is the best color! In this episode, I have the privilege of talking to Spencer (Juniper) Pleskac-Clinch. Spencer is a fourth grade student who approaches the opportunities of life with curiosity, meeting each day as joyful and energy-giving. She describes herself as a female who sees beauty in the color black, loves eating at Pho Factory and drinking Boba tea. She has also identified the wolf as her favorite animal. Join us in this conversation!

Credits: Music by Ellie Westfall. Artwork by Kristina Bachman. Produced by Greg Joyce.

Many of us have encountered an event like a job interview where we are asked, "what are your strengths"? And, "what are your weaknesses"? Others have been asked to reflect on their strengths by taking a personality assessment or strengths finder quiz. In any situation, I'm sure we can agree...knowing one's strengths is a big ask! Cliff Troyer, an Employment Specialist at Nebraska Vocational Rehab with the Department of Education, centers his expertise around helping students with Individualized Educational Plans and other disabilities to prepare for their next steps after high school. Through his work, Cliff will help these students identify and articulate their strengths in order to build confidence in their employment and career activity endeavors. In this episode, Cliff is going to share his advice on how we can develop a way to advocate our strengths for our own personal gain as well as how our strengths can also benefit others during the exploration and journey into a fulfilling career!

Credits: Music by Ellie Westfall. Artwork by Kristina Bachman. Produced by Greg Joyce.

In my opinion, one of the hardest parts about being human is coping with the fact that it's hard to be your true self day in and day out. We may say things like, "I know who I am" or "I stopped keeping up with the Joneses a long time ago". But, I feel the fact of the matter is that every day we battle external pressures that cause us to behave in a way that doesn't align with who we tell people we are. I'm not casting fault; it's easy to do. At least, I know I'm guilty of this...all I want is to be popular, right? Chad Thies is in the business of knowing and serving people. As the founder and president of Zelle HR Solutions, he oversees a unique business model which is devoted to building impactful relationships with clients to ensure healthy organizational growth and development. In essence, Chad has a passion for people. He thanks his Nebraskan roots which taught him good ole’ fashioned values of hard work, sacrifice, and determination. In this conversation, I'm going to explore what authenticity could look like as the center-fold of a good work ethic and how staying true to who you are can actually create more "yes" and "success" in a life of becoming.

Credits: Music by Ellie Westfall. Artwork by Kristina Bachman. Produced by Greg Joyce.

Death is usually an uncomfortable topic to talk about. At least, most of us don't use it as a conversation starter at a dinner party! It is, however, something we as humans think about or encounter often. Julie Masters, professor of Gerontology at the University of Nebraska Omaha, concentrates her work on aging and end-of-life. While educating her students, she eludes to the values of meaning and purpose as a way to live well. Emphasizing that finding connection to something greater than oneself can greatly prolong your desire to live. Julie's fascination around what it means to age has helped her become comfortable with the topic of death. In this conversation, we will explore why it's important to think about and discuss each stage of life and why living well can help us to die well.

Credits: Music by Ellie Westfall. Artwork by Kristina Bachman. Produced by Greg Joyce.

If I were to guess, many of us spend the majority of our day deliberating on what is to come. The description of this show even prompts future questions such as: "Who are we supposed to be?" or "How do you know when you've "made it?" Emily Shelton has given great thought to how she can focus and find control when life takes her in an unexpected direction and forces her to adapt to a new path. Emily owns and operates Legacy Curbing, a concrete curbing company which installs decorative landscape curbing for commercial and residential properties. Emily's ability to appreciate the past, live in the present, and be open to the future began when she took a sharp turn from her twenty-year career in dentistry to the concrete industry. She wakes up every day and chooses to be happy with where she is, rather than focusing on the bumps in the road.

Credits: Music by Ellie Westfall. Artwork by Kristina Bachman. Produced by Greg Joyce.

Have you ever felt like you have no idea what is going on, but have all the information you need at the same time? In life, we are put into amazing positions where people depend on our expertise, but behind the scenes, we feel like we’re failing and don’t know what we’re doing. Ellie Westfall, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Legacy Retirement Communities, loves her job because she gets to utilize her creative side on different projects every day. I asked Ellie to talk to me about the challenges she faces day to day, and she explained that most of the time, she feels like she’s putting little fires out everywhere. Listen closely as Ellie explores with us how to manage time wisely and meet tight deadlines.

Credits: Music by Ellie Westfall. Artwork by Kristina Bachman. Produced by Greg Joyce.