Where There's Smoke

Much of life is out of our control. Often we are in situations where our level of control is small, but the impact of not having control is potentially large. And these moments can challenge our character, hamper our forward progress, or just be incredibly frustrating. This week, we talk about how you can grasp control from the hands of defeat. How you can stay proactive in these situations where you have little influence, and by doing so, learn how to increase your influence in seemingly impossible situations. To understand these ideas in action, we hear a powerful story from celebrity nutrition and fitness expert JJ Virgin. Her story shows how this approach to control can literally save a life. Also, the host of the Entrepreneurs & Coffee podcast, Brendan Hufford, shares some of his thoughts. And we announce The 42 Project - a chance for our creative listeners to share their inspirations, promote themselves, and inspire others. *Remember* to leave a written iTunes review to help raise the visibility o

Two stories separated by two years. Two moments moved by music. Have you ever felt lost? Ever found yourself stuck in a moment where you look outside of yourself for answers? Or where an answer came from outside - even when you weren’t looking? Throughout history music has played the role of the catalyst for everything from our individual lives to the direction of our societies. This week we explore that role - from the micro to the macro - through two vignettes. The first, a personal moment of struggle for Nick, and the second, Brett’s personal experience of a national moment of struggle. Each informing the other in some way, and linked by through the themes of music, being lost, and finding hope. JOIN our MAILING LIST by texting the word SMOKE to 66866, or go to our website (www.wheretheressmoke.co). DOWNLOAD & LISTEN directly from iTunes here: http://tinyurl.com/wts-itunes. If you dig the show, please take a moment to rate & review it on iTunes. You can also go to www.wheretheressmoke.co for l

What if you could be more satisfied your life? Strengthen your problem-solving skills? Raise your awareness and intuition? Change your attitude about things you dislike? Be more creative? More innovative? Enjoy waiting in lines? And what if the power to affect all these things could be attained in the simple, yet powerful, process of a walk? This week, we do something a little different for our 25th Episode of Where There’s Smoke. We invite you to take a walk with us. We are joined by Alexandra Horowitz, author of On Looking, as we literally walk a few blocks of New York City - exploring the power of paying attention and observation to change our lives. Guest: Alexandra Horowitz Twitter: @DogUmweltWebsite: http://pages.simonandschuster.com/onlooking JOIN our MAILING LIST by texting the word SMOKE to 66866, or go to our website (www.wheretheressmoke.co). DOWNLOAD & LISTEN directly from iTunes here: http://tinyurl.com/wts-itunes. If you dig the show, please take a moment to rate & review it on iTunes

Who do you consider wise today? Does anyone immediately come to mind? This week we explore the unexpectedly complex question: What is wisdom? Additionally, we discuss the state of wisdom today and how we can foster more of it in our world. Also, Nick & Brett pick themselves up from France’s rejection and reach out to all of our listeners outside of North America. And our headlining act for today’s episode is PhilosophersNotes’ founder, Brian Johnson. Brain is a reader, writer, teacher, and lover of wisdom, who is on a mission to optimize his life and the lives of others. Guest: Brian Johnson Website: PhilosophersNotes.com / brianjohnson.me Twitter: @_Brian_Johnson JOIN our MAILING LIST by texting the word SMOKE to 66866, or go to our website (www.wheretheressmoke.co). DOWNLOAD & LISTEN directly from iTunes here: http://tinyurl.com/wts-itunes. If you dig the show, please take a moment to rate & review it on iTunes. You can also go to www.wheretheressmoke.co for links to Stitcher, SoundCloud, and

Today’s episode opens with a story about fathers and, yet, the show is just as much about mothers, grandparents, teachers, and friends as anything else. We explore several important moments to uncover the true meaning of gratitude and how we can best practice it in our lives. Also, Brett has a vulnerable conversation with Corporate Renegade founder Matthew Goldfarb and Nick shares how you can be a part of the Where There’s Smoke team. Plus details on our upcoming meetups in Toronto, Vancouver, and New York City. Guest: Matthew Goldfarb Twitter: @MattsGoldfarb Website: www.CorporateRenegade.com JOIN our MAILING LIST by texting the word SMOKE to 66866, or go to our website (www.wheretheressmoke.co). DOWNLOAD & LISTEN directly from iTunes here: http://tinyurl.com/wts-itunes. If you dig the show, please take a moment to rate & review it on iTunes. You can also go to www.wheretheressmoke.co for links to Stitcher, SoundCloud, and/or to stream online.   Connect with the show on Facebook at www.facebook.com

Superman can’t lead for sh*t. That was a playful title in the mix as we crafted this episode on vulnerability. As you listen, you will start to understand what that means, and how vulnerability feeds creation, fuels innovation, dissolves barriers, and expands presence. This week’s episode is an exploration of vulnerability -- why it’s scary, how we can re-frame it, and why the world so desperately needs it. And four times TEDx speaker and a man know for heart based connection in networking, Bobby Umar, joins us in the second half of the show. He shares a story that exemplifies vulnerability, both in its details and his willingness to share it with us. Guest: Bobby Umar Twitter: @RaehanBobby Website: www.raeallan.com JOIN our MAILING LIST by texting the word SMOKE to 66866, or go to our website (www.wheretheressmoke.co). DOWNLOAD & LISTEN directly from iTunes here: http://tinyurl.com/wts-itunes. If you dig the show, please take a moment to rate & review it on iTunes. You can also go to www.wherethere

The road to frustration is paved with good intentions. Most of us can relate to having an experience, a conversation, taking a class, reading a book, listening to a podcast - and something grabs your attention. Sometimes it can feel like a 2X4 to your forehead. And you think, “I need to make a change!”, “I am going to start doing that!”, or “I’m going to stop doing that!” But then, contrary to our good intentions and certainty in the moment, we don’t follow through. Why? What happens? This week we are exploring behavior change and providing you with important insights to better understand how to motivate and facilitate change in your life. We are joined by two experts in the field of psychology. BJ Fogg, whose focus is on creating habits to affect change; and Jason Lassner, who looks at how to sustain change once we’ve made it. Guest: BJ Fogg Websites: www.bjfogg.com Twitter: @BJFogg  Guest: Jason Lassner Websites: www.readysteadychange.com   JOIN our MAILING LIST by texting the word SMOKE to 66866, or go

To get from Point A to Point B - there is always a process. Sometimes it's intentional and other times it just happens. Some aspects of that process may be effective and, ultimately, help an endeavor succeed. Other steps in the process can actually be a hinderance; and slow down or derail, even the best of intentions or ideas This week on Where There’s Smoke - for our 20th episode - we sifted through hours of Voxer messages and Skype chats, along with countless text messages and emails, to unpack the making of one episode of Where There’s Smoke. Specifically, last week’s episode on Values. And in this process we will analyze the process of process. What are some key elements that successful creators have implemented throughout the centuries? What do you most need to be aware of? What can serve you - and what can sink you? *Remember* to leave an iTunes Written Review for your chance to win free coaching from Brett, free consulting or editing from Nick, or a 30-second spot on the show. DOWNLOAD & LISTEN

REMEMBER to leave an iTunes Written Review for your chance to win free coaching from Brett, free consulting or editing from Nick, or a 30-second spot on the show. * * * Values guide our every decision, whether we are aware of it or not. And they also have the power to align our character, attract others to us, and impact our ability to influence. This week on Where There’s Smoke we dig into values; share some examples of how they drive decisions; define what values are, how you recognize them, and why identifying yours is so important. Then, author and entrepreneur Chalene Johnson joins Nick and Brett in a conversation about values in action, and the discuss what you the listener can do to positively shift your mindset around values today. Guest: Chalene Johnson Website: www.chalenejohnson.com Twitter: @ChaleneJohnson Check out Chalene’s fantastic podcast, The Chalene Show. JOIN our MAILING LIST by texting the word SMOKE to 66866, or go to our website (www.wheretheressmoke.co). DOWNLOAD & LISTEN directl

Experience. It’s more than Jimi Hendrix’s band. It is the thing which shapes and sculpts us throughout our lives. It is the process by which wisdom and mastery are created. This week on Where There’s Smoke we explore the value of our experiences. We dig through our desire for instant gratification to discover that perhaps it just isn’t that gratifying. And we have a conversation with author and explorer Bassam Tarazi on why 3rd gear should be sexier. Also, we have a favor to ask you - the listener. It’s easy. It will make a huge difference. And we are even offering some awesome incentives in return. Remember to leave a review on iTunes for your chance to win free coaching from Brett, free consulting or editing from Nick, or a 30-second spot on the show! Guest: Bassam Tarazi www.bassamtarazi.com @BassamTarazi JOIN our MAILING LIST by texting the word SMOKE to 66866, or go to our website (www.wheretheressmoke.co). DOWNLOAD & LISTEN directly from iTunes here: http://tinyurl.com/wts-itunes. If you dig the s

Taste. What’s good? What’s bad? People often come guns blazing with their opinions on things - whether it be music, movies, art, food, or drink. But where do these ideas come from and why are they so deeply ingrained? This week on Where There’s Smoke we talk taste. Producer Nick Jaworski joins Brett as co-host this week and shares a story involving Canada’s top selling recording artist, the United States Air Force... and soap. And after exploring many influences and interactions of taste, we talk to Dr. Robert Woody from the University of Nebraska. He expands on taste as it relates to fandom, and teaches us about “burging” and “corfing”. Guest: Dr. Robert Woody Dr. Woody’s Blog: http://beingmusicalbeinghuman.com/ Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/robert-h-woody-phd JOIN our MAILING LIST by texting the word SMOKE to 66866, or go to our website (www.wheretheressmoke.co). DOWNLOAD & LISTEN directly from iTunes here: http://tinyurl.com/wts-itunes. If you dig the show, please take a mo

Community is a living organism - it’s always changing. And while it once only existed in a physical place, now it can also exist in just space. Technology has helped communities to evolve and become global. As Nick and Brett both leave Northern California for separate destinations, we explore what community is, why it matters, how we embrace it, and also... how to let it go. We also talk to international educator, Jeff Utecht, to discuss the evolution of communication technology, how we adapt to change, and what’s next? Guest: Jeff Utecht Learn more about Jeff at www.jeffutecht.com Also: www.learning2.org and www.edurolearning.com Twitter: @jutecht JOIN our MAILING LIST by texting the word SMOKE to 66866, or go to our website (www.wheretheressmoke.co). DOWNLOAD & LISTEN directly from iTunes here: http://tinyurl.com/wts-itunes. If you dig the show, please take a moment to rate & review it on iTunes. You can also go to www.wheretheressmoke.co for links to Stitcher, SoundCloud, and/or to stream online.

Life is a series of moments and, these days, many people struggle to do two things - fully experience and fully capture their moments. And it turns out, doing both might be impossible. In this episode, we explore our modern tendency to use our smartphones to document everything around us. Then, we look to uncover a solution to more effectively live our moments and manage our memories. We also talk to author and speaker, Kevin Carroll, to explore the power of play and how we can be more curious and present in the moments of our lives. Guest: Kevin Carroll Learn more about Kevin at www.kevincarrollkatalyst.com. Twitter: @kckatalyst JOIN our MAILING LIST by texting the word SMOKE to 66866, or go to our website (www.wheretheressmoke.co). DOWNLOAD & LISTEN directly from iTunes here: http://tinyurl.com/wts-itunes. If you dig the show, please take a moment to rate & review it on iTunes. You can also go to www.wheretheressmoke.co for links to Stitcher, SoundCloud, and/or to stream online.     Connect with t

There is a saying, ‘It’s not how you start that matters, but how you finish.” But what if how you finish is, in fact, dictated by how you start? Hard to say more than that without giving something away. Miracle Morning creator and author, Hal Elrod, joins us in the second half of the show to provide an almost foolproof method to start your days as your best self - present, grounded, focused, grateful, learning, and energized. Guest: Hal Elrod Learn more about Brad at www.halelrod.com Join the Miracle Morning Community on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/MyTMMCommunity Twitter: @HalElrod LIKE our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/wtspod. JOIN our MAILING LIST by texting the word SMOKE to 66866, or go to our website (www.wheretheressmoke.co). DOWNLOAD & LISTEN directly from iTunes here: http://tinyurl.com/wts-itunes. If you dig the show, please take a moment to rate & review it on iTunes. You can also go to www.wheretheressmoke.co for links to Stitcher, SoundCloud, and/or to stream online.

Is fear really the only thing we have to fear? In this episode we seek not to define fear, but to understand it - and, in turn, to get a better grasp on its antidote - courage. We have a conversation with consultant and speaker Brad Axelrad on the five specific fears that may be stopping you from creating your success. And Brett has a special Birthday wish…   Guest: Brad Axelrad Learn more about Brad at www.faceyourdragon.com Twitter: @BradAxelrad JOIN our MAILING LIST by texting the word SMOKE to 66866, or go to our website (www.wheretheressmoke.co). DOWNLOAD & LISTEN directly from iTunes here: http://tinyurl.com/wts-itunes. If you dig the show, please take a moment to rate & review it on iTunes. You can also go to www.wheretheressmoke.co for links to Stitcher, SoundCloud, and/or to stream online.  Connect with the show on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wtspod. P.S. If you've bothered to read all of these show notes, then please do us a favor and share the show with a friend - we'd appreciate it. Unti

Success. Most people say they want it, and yet few know what “it” is to them. Ask most people what success means to them, and they aren’t sure. In this episode, we give you a new perspective to contemplate success - by starting with “feeling”. And we borrow an idea from a “President of the Internet” to help you define it. We then have a conversation with Entrepreneur and Podcaster, Brendan Hufford, about what one psychologist called a “significant predictor of success” and how we can create that for ourselves. Guest: Brendan Hufford Learn more about Brendan at www.brendanhufford.com.And listen to his podcast, Entrepreneurs & Coffee Twitter: @BrendanHufford If you dig the show, please take a moment to rate & review it on iTunes. Make sure to visit www.wheretheressmoke.co for complete show notes and links to all of the awesome people mentioned during the middle of today's show! DOWNLOAD & LISTEN directly from iTunes here: http://tinyurl.com/wts-itunes. You can also go to www.wheretheressmoke.co for

Why do we ask questions? What power do they have? And how can they help us create and shape our businesses, relationships, and lives? What would it sound like to take an exploration into the world of questions? Could we start with some famous movie quotes? Perhaps steer into historic moments? And maybe dig into: Why do we ask questions? What stops us from asking them more often? How can we strengthen our questioning skills? If I told you that your question asking skills may have peaked at 3 years old, would you listen? How do we incorporate two guests into the show? Would you be excited to hear from HopeLab’s Chris Marcell Murchinson and clinical psychologist (and game creator!) Dr. Kelly Werner? What if they share specific questioning tools we can use to accelerate connections and build authentic communities in our businesses and our lives?  Guests: HopeLab’s Chris Marcell Murchinson and Dr. Kelly Werner Learn more about HopeLab at www.hopelab.org Learn more about Dr. Kelly Werner’s Tell Me game at www.tellm

Thinking, Fast and Slow would be a great name for your mind, if it were a professional wrestling duo in the ‘80s. It is also the title of a 2011 best selling book by psychologist Daniel Kahneman which analyzes the dichotomy between two modes of thought – Intuition (System 1) and Reasoning (System 2). This week we use the Internet as a springboard to start a conversation about how quickly we can jump to conclusions - both online and offline. We dig into our cognitive biases, which can often lead us astray in the art of decision-making, and we make note of the need to surround ourselves with people who can help us check and balance all of this. Along the way we get a splash of Anchorman, a hat tip to early 90s SNL, and hear wise insights from Daniel Kahneman himself. We close by having a “dinner conversation” with author, entrepreneur, and traveller, Bassam Terazi -- who brings it all home.   Guest: Bassam Tarazi Learn more about Bassam at www.bassamtarazi.com or www.colipera.com. Find Bassam on Twitter: @Bassa

Love is the still the killer app. No matter how much we innovate our strategies and advance our technology, all great leaders will tell you that caring is still at the heart of success. This week, we explore powerful concepts like kindness and support, while honoring the life of Stuart Scott - a man who practiced both habits throughout his life. We also look to tombstones for some wisdom, and explore the “philosophy of life in a nutshell” with Milton Mayeroff (“On Caring”). In our final act, we look at how lives get shaped by the actions of others, and introduce the concept of #PivotalForces. Who are the people who have positively changed the trajectory of your life? How can you thank them in a way that inspires others? A very special thanks to Dave Powers for appearing in this episode. Want to show your support for the podcast? Then please take a few minutes to RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON ITUNES AND STITCHER. One review makes a huge difference and it would mean the world to us if you took the time to help us

"Fish discover water last” is a French Proverb. It’s meaning is that when we are completely immersed in something, we are oblivious it is there. It is only when are pulled of it, that we can see how immersed we were. This week we leap off a viral rant by Gary Vaynerchuk and discuss the state of criticizing, complaining, and gossiping in our workplaces, our lives, and our world. What’s really going on? What are the costs? Who’s paying them? And what can we do about it? We have a powerful conversation with Will Bowen, the founder of A Complaint Free World. He tells us the five reasons why people complain and we challenge you to use one solution to rid yourself of all of them. Also, we not only answer last week’s question of “Who’s Listening to Us in Ghana?”, you actually get to meet him in a cool (and old timey) “Listener of the Week” segment. Guest: Will Bowen Learn more about Will at www.willbowen.com Twitter: @WRBowen Facebook: www.facebook.com/WillBowen Make sure to follow us on our new Facebook page: www.f