The Lost Art of Communication

Have you heard the term “Highly Sensitive Person”, or HSP? This entails a lot more than being "overly emotional". Roughly 20% of the population is considered “highly sensitive”, a term coined by Dr. Elaine Aron. Whether you or someone in your life is highly sensitive, understanding its implications can be life-changing.In today’s episode, Tricia sits down with fellow HSP Sarah Koestner to discuss tips for communicating with both yourself and others. You don’t have to be highly sensitive to benefit from this episode! We discuss mental health strategies relevant for people of all sensitivity levels. About Sarah:Sarah is a certified professional coach and a mother of a beautiful boy. She is a former actress with 20 years experience who is now passionate about supporting highly sensitive people navigate life's transitions with more ease and less anxiety.Growing up Sarah saw her sensitivity as a problem and liability due to "social norms." After a lot of inner work and healing she wanted to help others get underneath the anxiety, fear, doubt, perfectionism, inner critic, and all the other ways we sabotage ourselves so we can hear the voice of inner guidance. Sarah partners with you to develop more self trust and implement tools to help you live a more courageous and empowered life.Where you can find Sarah:https://www.sarahkoestner.com/ IG: @sarahkoestnercoach

As the world went virtual (hybrid at best), 2020 was basically a learning curve in...how to use Zoom. Businesses around the world have had to adapt and (buzz word alert) pivot to accommodate the changing landscape of interaction. For some this meant learning to work from home, while for others, it marked a shift in their entire career. Such was the case for Garrett Blair, a virtual communication instructor, who took his 20+ year career in acting, directing, producing, and curriculum-development and transformed theater art concepts into his Live Video Conferencing (LVC) Training. In this episode, Molly and Tricia pick Garrett’s brain to discover his top tricks to stand out as a public speaker on a virtual platform, how to maintain audience engagement and stay engaged when you’re the listener, and how to create your own “virtual handshake” (no sweaty grasp necessary).   Garrett Blair is on a mission to build an elite force of live virtual communicators who can leverage the medium to create a competitive advantage and influence change world-wide. With over 20 years of education, curriculum development, theatre/stage performance and direction experience, Garrett has developed revolutionary public speaking techniques and methodologies and is launching the Live Virtual Communication (LVC) Playbook - a complete guide to everything virtual. He trains corporate sales teams with members across the country, coaches speakers for TEDx events from Santa Barbara, CA to Waltham, MA., teaches online workshops, leads webinars, and works with private clients. Garrett believes that anyone with an idea can share it with confidence, authenticity, and the poise of a seasoned speaker.  Connect with Garrett: Website: www.garrettblair.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/garrett-blair-theperformanceguy*note: we aim to keep our episodes unscripted and (largely) unedited to provide an example of communication in its natural form.*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Connect with us! We’d love to hear from you about your thoughts, ideas, and stories! You can reach us at: [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (@lostartofcommunication), Instagram (@lostartofcommunication), and Twitter (@LostArtofCommu1) for more updates. 

Have you ever marveled at “naturally good” speakers? Or admired the enthusiasm of entertainers who never seem to get nervous?  Today’s guest, Ally Melendez, shares the secrets behind being “the energizer bunny”, as she calls herself. Ally embodies confidence through her infectious enthusiasm and presence. Ally, Molly, and Tricia discuss how even broadcasters aren’t always natural in front of a crowd, how to  exude confidence and up your energy no matter the setting, and the role movement and breath play in it all! Ally is a TV host, mentor, and certified yogi and fitness expert. Currently, Ally is the in-arena host for the Long Island Nets, the NBA G-League team affiliate to the Brooklyn Nets, at NYCB Live. She can also be seen on YES Network as the co- host of Stadium Authentics with Brandon Steiner of The Steiner Agency. In 2020, Ally launched The On-Air Institute, a 12 week course that helps aspiring on-air hosts and public speakers master their mindset and confidence, sharpen their public speaking skills, and ultimately land or create the on-air job of their dreams! Connect with Ally: IG: @ally.melendezWebsite: www.allymelendez.comSign Up for the On-Air Institute: https://www.allymelendez.com/the-on-air-institute  *note: we aim to keep our episodes unscripted and (largely) unedited to provide an example of communication in its natural form.*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Connect with us! We’d love to hear from you about your thoughts, ideas, and stories! You can reach us at: [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (@lostartofcommunication), Instagram (@lostartofcommunication), and Twitter (@LostArtofCommu1) for more updates.

 This week, we had the joy of inviting Johnny Crowder, founder and CEO of Cope Notes, to the podcast. During our talk, Johnny offers inspirational insight about his own mental health diagnoses and triumphs, life experiences through dating and therapy, and busy life as a CEO and a singer in a metal band. He breaks down how his text-based mental health platform is rooted in psychological principles and how those tricks help you in your everyday life!  Johnny Crowder is a  suicide/abuse survivor, TEDx speaker, touring musician, mental health and sobriety advocate, and the Founder & CEO of Cope Notes, a text-based mental health platform that provides daily support to users in nearly 100 countries across the globe. With 10 years of clinical treatment, a psychology degree from UCF, and a full decade of peer support and advocacy through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) under his belt, Johnny’s youthful vigor for the topic of mental health is unmatched. Whether speaking at events or touring with his band, Prison, Johnny’s infectious positivity and firsthand experience with mental illness (ranging from bipolar disorder and OCD to schizophrenia) uniquely equip him to provide realistic, yet hopeful insight into the pains of hardship with authenticity, levity, and wit. *****Check out his awesome platform here!! https://copenotes.com/ *******note: we aim to keep our episodes unscripted and (largely) unedited to provide an example of communication in its natural form.*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Connect with us! We’d love to hear from you about your thoughts, ideas, and stories! You can reach us at: [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (@lostartofcommunication), Instagram (@lostartofcommunication), and Twitter (@LostArtofCommu1) for more updates.

We all know exercise is good for us, but the way we frame it can easily become unhealthy if we’re not careful. The way we talk about fitness - both to ourselves and to others - plays a huge role in how committed we’ll be, how inspired we’ll feel to work out, and our overall self-esteem. Shifting the focus from physical appearance to enjoyment of an experience among a tight-knit community is one way progressive fitness instructors are mitigating negative beliefs around exercise. Eliza Shirazi, creator of Kick It By Eliza®, has cultivated a welcoming space where exercise becomes a fun and social, yet highly effective, activity. Kick It is more than just a fitness method - it’s a community and outlet to foster positive thinking around self-image, strength, and self-love. In the episode, Tricia and Molly (who became a Kick It by Eliza® instructor in May 2020) discuss how Eliza created the Fempire® community as a safe yet vulnerable and supportive space, how to shift your mind to focus on wellness rather than weight loss and comparison, and how humanization can help solve it all.   Eliza Shirazi was a student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst when she noticed the lack of community-centered fitness options for women. That changed when Eliza founded Kick It, a kickboxing method that promotes health and wellness while celebrating and inspiring women to lead a healthy life and make authentic connections with other women. This loyal following dedicated to female empowerment is better known as the Fempire®. What began as a passion-fueled project has since turned into a well-respected brand that has certified more than 400 instructors, partnered with brands like PopSugar and New Balance, and has been featured in major publications like Glamour and Teen Vogue.  Connect with Eliza: IG: @KickItByElizaWebsite: KickItByEliza.comSign Up for the Kick It® Community *note: we aim to keep our episodes unscripted and (largely) unedited to provide an example of communication in its natural form.*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Connect with us! We’d love to hear from you about your thoughts, ideas, and stories! You can reach us at: [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (@lostartofcommunication), Instagram (@lostartofcommunication), and Twitter (@LostArtofCommu1) for more updates.

The events of the past year have led us to a social and political climate characterized by often intense disagreements and stark polarization. This has altered, if not broken, many family relationships, friendships, and romantic partnerships. Where do we go from here? Melody Stanford Martin, a social ethicist, communications expert, and author of Brave Talk, joins us to discuss the power of conflict transformation. She shares how adjusting communication has affected her relationship with her mother, ways to foster relationships that can handle the weight of disagreements, and the importance of regulating emotions in the heat of the moment. This episode is a game-changer. Melody Stanford Martin is a social ethicist and communications expert and the author of Brave Talk: Building Resilient Relationships in the Face of Conflict (Broadleaf Books, 2020). Melody is a regular contributor to PsychologyToday.com, the Founder of Brave Talk Project, and Founder & CEO of Cambridge Creative Group, a narrative messaging and design company. Melody's work focuses on rhetorical innovation, courageous community engagement, and out-of-the-box thinking to solve social problems.  Melody’s Book: Brave Talk: Building Resilient Relationships in the Face of Conflict (Broadleaf Books, 2020) If you click the link above, you’ll be supporting us in our podcasting journey, as we earn commissions for purchases made through this link. Connect with Melody:Web:bravetalkproject.comIG: @bravetalkproject*note: we aim to keep our episodes unscripted and (largely) unedited to provide an example of communication in its natural form.*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Connect with us! We’d love to hear from you about your thoughts, ideas, and stories! You can reach us at: [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (@lostartofcommunication), Instagram (@lostartofcommunication), and Twitter (@LostArtofCommu1) for more updates.

Have you ever been dying to tell someone something but were waiting for them to ask? Or thought, “that would be nice to share, but it’s just never come up” ? It’s easy to take for granted the conversations we have with people in our lives. Sometimes we forget that certain topics won’t be unearthed without a bit of probing. We may make assumptions about one another based on our own experiences, without actually asking for the other person’s perspective. When we do ask the right questions, we realize how much there is still to learn about the person before us - which is thrilling!  Today’s episode was inspired by a line in a movie, coupled with Molly & Tricia’s own recent life experiences. We talk about different types of questions used to build rapport with a stranger, or to take your relationship to the next level. We discuss how being generally inquisitive can help relationships, how to get in the habit of coming up with good questions to ask, and what makes conversations with Trader Joe’s employees so special! *note: we aim to keep our episodes unscripted and (largely) unedited to provide an example of communication in its natural form.*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Connect with us! We’d love to hear from you about your thoughts, ideas, and stories! You can reach us at: [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (@lostartofcommunication), Instagram (@lostartofcommunication), and Twitter (@LostArtofCommu1) for more updates. 

Speaking isn’t the only form of communication. In fact, visual art can often reveal deep emotions we may find challenging to express verbally. In today’s episode, self-taught artist Arely Cardenas shares her experience as an introverted artist. She walks us through how she created a community through her art work, what inspires her to paint, and the ways her mood influences her painting (and vice versa). Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, this episode will teach you about empowering yourself and embracing vulnerability through creative expression.   Who is Arely?She is a first-generation Mexican-American female artist who was born and raised in San Jose, CA. Two words that describe her artwork: Vibrant and Detailed. Her paintings are influenced by my culture, all that she admires about Mother Nature and the female anatomy. Today, she is painting with a heavy focus around empowering women. Latina women particularly heavily influence the woman she is becoming. This year she wants to paint more freely and she is not only excited but curious how life will inspire her. She wants to continue creating sublime pieces that mirror pieces of our soul and evoke emotions that lie in the depths of our subconscious. More importantly, she wants passion and pride to spread like wildfire across her community. Connect with Arely:Web: Arelycardenas.comIG: @arelypaintthisFB: Arely Cardenas Art*note: we aim to keep our episodes unscripted and (largely) unedited to provide an example of communication in its natural form.*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Connect with us! We’d love to hear from you about your thoughts, ideas, and stories! You can reach us at: [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (@lostartofcommunication), Instagram (@lostartofcommunication), and Twitter (@LostArtofCommu1) for more updates.

Negotiating a salary can feel SCARY!! But it doesn’t have to be. Advocating for yourself can feel empowering when coming from the right place. Today’s guest, Kacie Brennell, is a salary negotiation coach and a master at standing her ground! In this episode, Kacie offers advice on how to determine the value you offer to your workplace, how to use this to get what you’re asking for, and ways to feel into your own self-worth before an important conversation. Who is Kacie Brennell?By day, Kacie Brennell is a business strategy consultant dedicated to helping early stage founders design and execute sustainable revenue streams for their social impact businesses. By night, she is a salary negotiation teacher working to create more equality for women in the workplace. She has worked in multiple industries including ecommerce, education, tech, and nonprofit, but no matter where she finds herself, helping women go after what they want is always her first priority.  Connect with Kacie:Instagram, TikTok: @kacieconnectswww.kacieconnects.com4-week Get That Money Program: https://www.kacieconnects.com/get-that-money *note: we aim to keep our episodes unscripted and (largely) unedited to provide an example of communication in its natural form.*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Connect with us! We’d love to hear from you about your thoughts, ideas, and stories! You can reach us at: [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (@lostartofcommunication), Instagram (@lostartofcommunication), and Twitter (@LostArtofCommu1) for more updates.

Most of us spend 40+ hours per week at our jobs, but how many of us are actually happy with our “work” life? How many issues arise that we feel like we can’t address, and how many times do we secretly wish to ourselves, “Why can’t I have this at my job?” Gregory Toole, a Conflict Transformation Coach, talks to Molly and Tricia about why  there shouldn’t be a difference between your “work” self and you “social” self, how to be “emotional” at work, and how to be happier at your job by  invoking change if you need to.Who is Gregory Toole?A former Silicon Valley exec and seasoned non-profit leader, Gregory Toole guides businesses and organizations in conflict transformation, focusing on mindful relating and conscious communication. Gregory started his career in the computer industry as a software developer. After completing an MBA at MIT's Sloan School of Management, he worked in Business Development and Marketing for several Silicon Valley tech companies. After many years in the tech industry, Gregory became interested in how work life could be more fulfilling and personally meaningful (and he is still passionate about what technology can do to improve people’s lives). To that end, he earned a master's in Consciousness Studies from Holmes Institute and is an ordained minister. Gregory's mission is to inspire authentic, compassionate relationships through education, tools, and specific consciousness practices. These tools and practices make people more effective in working with others - and their work more fulfilling and meaningful. How to connect with Gregoryhttps://www.gregorytoole.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-toole-6a328437/https://www.instagram.com/conflict_transformation_coach/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .*note: we aim to keep our episodes unscripted and (largely) unedited to provide an example of communication in its natural form.*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Connect with us! We’d love to hear from you about your thoughts, ideas, and stories! You can reach us at: [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook (@lostartofcommunication), Instagram (@lostartofcommunication), and Twitter (@LostArtofCommu1) for more updates.