Meant For It

In this life deeply soulful conversation we speak with  Nicole Avant to discuss her  tribute to her mom in her new book  "Think You'll Be Happy." We explore themes from Nicole’s book including living a life centered around  love of family, community, the arts, gratitude and serving others. Nicole's mindset is an example of the power of  positive energy and the importance of being a blessing to others, no matter the circumstances. Nicole talks about her upbringing in a household filled with love, wisdom, and how she learned from so many wonderful people that were friends with her parents. Nicole’s parents, Clarence Avant and Jacqueline Avant were both extraordinary leaders in the music industry and in their communities. The Avant  home was a meeting place for some of America’s greatest artists and leaders such as Ella Fitzgerald, Maya Angelou, the Clintons and the Obamas. Despite her glamorous and successful life, Nicole remains humble and grounded, attributes she credits to her mother's teachings. We discuss how Nicole intentionally turned a tragedy into a source of inspiration, the importance of traditional values and the impact of small acts of kindness.  We know you will not forget the lessons Nicole shares on being good, spreading good, supporting people who are grieving and choosing to  be the blessing every day of your life.  Nicole Avant https://thinkyoullbehappy.com Nicole's father Clarence Avant Clarence Avant, Mighty Engine Behind Black Superstars, Dies at 92 Please stop by and say hello on Instagram @meantforit. visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here on substack. or email us directly at [email protected]. Zoom in: (00:00) Nicole Avant's new book is about love and gratitude (05:22) The book is focused on grit, grace, and gratitude (09:10) How your mother taught you to be the blessing (16:20) This book really made me want to be a better friend (22:13) You left your ambassadorship in the Bahamas to support your family (27:08) In your book, you talk about bullying among children in today's society (34:00) Your mom taught you to always be grateful. What are some of your favorite life lessons (38:26) You talk a lot about energy and intuition in the book (42:27) You talk about learning from your ancestors, and your father had incredible life story (46:11) Investment in the arts (51:35) Lessons from Nicole’s mom (55:25) Paying it forward (59:47) Lead with generosity that really is the message out of this book  

Are you tired of the constant stream of bad news? Angus Hervey shares his story of being a depressed news junkie overwhelmed by negativity to a source of hope through his good news site,  Fix the News. Angus discusses the negativity bias in the media and how it skews our perception of the world. He explains that while the news often focuses on what's wrong, there's a wealth of positive progress happening globally that goes unreported. Angus's Ted Talk We discuss the importance of  shifting the narrative from problems to solutions, particularly in areas like climate change, where positive developments are often overlooked. Angus explains how a deliberate pursuit of good news changed his outlook on the world, improved his mental well-being and his approach to parenting. Teachers and parents are using his newsletter to have more balanced and hopeful conversations with children. Angus' work is filing overwhelming gap in mass media. Since most people don’t have the time to search for good news, buy subscribing to Fix the News newsletter, you can also have a more accurate picture of the world. When you balance the negative with the positive it is more likely to inspire action since the world doesn’t seem so hopeless.  Subscribe to Fix the News here Memorable Quotes "Optimism isn't a reaction to the world around me. It's a choice by which you can navigate the world around you." "For every story of death, disaster, and destruction, I can very easily tell a story of kindness, connection, and hope." "The future is going to be messy and unpredictable and chaotic, but I don't think that we're all doomed." "We need to shift our focus now and start talking about the solutions as a way to get more action."   (00:00) Introduction and the concept of Fix the News (05:20) The negativity bias in media (10:45) Finding good news: sources and strategies (15:30) Personal transformation through positive news (20:15) Impact of positive news on society (25:50) Challenges of running a good news media outlet (30:10) The role of good news in education and parenting (35:00) Angus' early influences and personal background (40:15) Final thoughts and future goals for Fix the News Find us on Instagram @meantforit. You can also visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here or email us at [email protected].  

Sophia Khalifa, an engineer, working on AI at Amazon AWS, has a story we need to hear. Sophia is a muslim Bedouin Arab,  born and raised in Israel. In Sophia's culture and community,  girls traditionally do not receive an education, but Israeli policies mandating schooling for all children, changed her entire life. Sophia graduated from Tel Aviv University with a BS in Electrical Engineering, moved to the US, worked as an engineer for Intel, received her MBA from Stanford, and started working at Amazon leading trust and safety for generative AI. SInce October 7, Sophia’s life changed again when she added activism to areas where she excels.   Sophia says, “ ​​if ​Israel ​was ​not ​established, ​I ​probably ​would ​be, ​ ​illiterate, ​married ​to ​my ​cousin ​and ​herding ​sheep, ​somewhere ​in ​Galilee. ​Because ​that ​was ​ ​generation ​after ​generation. ​That's ​the ​culture ​that ​we ​had ​but ​Israel ​actually ​up ​leveled ​the ​field ​for ​the ​Arabs. ​And ​if ​you ​look ​at ​the ​number ​of ​like ​20% ​of ​the ​population ​of ​citizens ​and ​the ​population ​in ​Israel ​are ​Arabs. ​Most ​of ​them ​are ​Muslims. ​ And ​in ​universities ​today, ​the ​percent ​of ​Arabs ​pursuing ​bachelor ​degree ​is ​20%, ​same ​as ​their ​percent ​of ​the ​population.” As a muslim Arab who grew up in Israel straddling two cultures, Sophia speaks from first hand experience about the  cultural divisions in Israel. In our conversation, Sophia dispels the damaging lies against Israel as an apartheid state guilty of genocide and oppressing Arabs. Sophia breaks down how each of these lies is absurdly false and how the repulsive jew hatred that is poisoning our society and hijacking the social justice movement should concern all of us. Sophia tells us that the real problem is not Israel vs Hamas, it is the western world vs. radical Islam.  Sophia emphasizes the importance of identifying Islamist anti semitism, and the need for honest conversation about this global threat.  When we talked about those who try to attack Sophia’s honesty  because her experience doesn’t match up with the story they believe about Israel, Sophia had wise words, “first ​they ​try ​to ​spread ​lies. ​ ​And ​then ​when ​you're ​able ​to ​fight ​against ​it ​because ​you're ​sharing ​the ​facts, ​the ​truth, ​then ​they ​try ​to ​discredit ​you.”   Must Read Quotes from this episode: “​​And ​then ​I ​think ​that ​as ​long ​as ​you're ​using ​this ​social ​justice ​language, ​you ​are ​kind ​of ​like ​protected, ​you ​are ​righteous,  ​and ​then ​that ​gives ​you ​the ​legitimacy ​to ​say ​anything. ​But ​no ​one ​comes ​and ​tries ​to ​question ​what ​you're ​saying. And ​what ​is ​happening ​is ​that ​we ​have ​the ​islamist, ​anti ​Semitism. ​And ​I'm ​not ​saying ​Muslim. ​I'm ​saying ​islamist, ​extreme ​Islam, ​antisemitism ​that ​is ​exploiting ​that ​language ​and ​using ​that.” “​They ​try ​to ​be ​for ​the ​oppressed, ​for ​women's ​rights, ​for ​LGBTQ ​rights ​and ​all ​that they're ​trying ​to ​be ​on ​the ​right ​side ​of ​history. So ​they ​hear ​that ​social ​justice ​lingo ​about ​like, ​ah, ​genocide, ​colonialism, ​white ​supremacy  Which ​is ​like, ​if ​you ​went ​to ​Israel, ​you ​would ​laugh ​to ​think ​that ​this ​is ​like ​white ​supremacy. ​You ​cannot ​tell ​the ​difference ​between ​a ​Jew ​and ​Arab ​in ​Israel.” “But ​all ​of ​a ​sudden, ​your ​teacher, ​someone ​that ​you ​look ​up ​to, ​come ​to ​you ​and ​tells ​you ​you ​don't ​have a ​future. ​ ​I ​felt ​like ​so ​helpless ​in ​those ​moments. ​But ​then ​luckily, ​I ​have ​this ​critical ​thinking ​that ​today ​is ​missing ​from ​our ​college ​students a​nd  ​I ​saw ​that ​my ​experience ​with ​the ​jewish ​people ​is ​different. ​It's ​not ​what ​he's ​saying. ​So ​he ​probably ​doesn't ​know ​what ​he's ​talking ​about, ​or ​maybe ​he ​knows, ​but ​he's ​like ​lying ​to ​us. ​And ​I ​just, ​just ​ignored ​it.” "The hate to the Jews is more important and stronger than the love for their own future." "We need to understand that this is the thing that is going to take our liberty, in the name of being liberal or tolerating other people." "The problem here, it’s not Israel versus Palestine. It’s really about extreme Islam, who is trying to take power and control all over the world." "I stand for my truth, and I don’t care what people think about it."   (00:00) Sophia is grateful that Israel made education mandatory for all children (05:55) People are using this word to label Israel as an apartheid state (08:34) I think that antisemitism is not something that ever disappeared (17:57) Sophia: Americans have a lack of understanding of fundamentalism (19:37) Sophia’s growing up in Israel (25:21) Sophia’s experiences in Israel on 9/11 happened (29:25) A turning point for Sopha when your friend told you she wanted to a suicide bomber (57:29) Arab Israelis support of a two state solution (01:00:37) Israel disengaged from Gaza in 2005 (01:03:19) Everyone should be united against Hamas (01:05:31) First step in solving problem is being explicit about what the problem is Find us on Instagram @meantforit. You can also visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here or email us [email protected].  

In this episode,  Susan Griffin-Black, co-founder of EO Products, shares her story.  Susan tells us about her path from her early days in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to becoming a pioneer in the natural products industry. Raised by a father who was an early feminist and advocate for women's economic empowerment, Susan's entrepreneurial spirit was nurtured from a young age. She recounts her experiences in the fashion industry, opening her first retail store in San Francisco, and eventually co-founding EO Products. In 1995, Susan founded EO Essential Oils, starting with a few essential oil blends. Her vision was to create a company that she would want to work for, one that prioritized sustainability, community, and holistic well-being. Over the years, EO has grown significantly, becoming a trusted name in the natural products industry. Susan's story is one of intentional living. Susan's dedication to holistic, sustainable practices has been unwavering. "Our premise was we wanted to create a company that we would want to work for. And so what does that look like?” Susan’s Buddhist spiritual practice has also been a guiding force, helping her navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Susan has always believed in meeting people not for what they can do for you, but to understand their journey and learn from their experiences. As EO Essential Oils approaches its 30th anniversary, Susan is optimistic about the future. She plans to continue growing the business while staying true to its core values. New products are in the pipeline, and there are exciting plans to celebrate this milestone with the community. Susan Griffin's journey is a reminder and model  that success is not just about financial achievements but about values based living.  We hope Susan’s story inspires you to stay committed to your dreams.  We also discuss the months when it was a struggle for Susan to make payroll and a living wage. It was not easy, but the alignment of values, purpose, great products and smart business decisions led to EO’s success. Susan says, “You just have to collectively aim for the highest good for the most amount of people. Always, always, always." Memorable Quotes "I've had a Buddhist spiritual practice for 30 years. This is, I don't care what all of the external voices are saying, but if I go down this path, it's just not aligned with my values." "Our premise was we wanted to create a company that we would want to work for. And so what does that look like?  "Essential oils are like very, very distilled flowers and plants and bark and, you know, all sorts of plant material, but they have so much vitality." “You just have to collectively aim for the highest good for the most amount of people. Always, always, always." EO Products  

Steve Leder, Head Rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, is one of the country’s most influential rabbis and the author of 5 life changing books. Rabbi Leder joins us for second podcast to discuss topics such as the foundations of Jewish faith, fascinating historical anecdotes, the problems within DEI, the role of education in Judaism, mental health and addiction,  Did you know that the founding fathers of the United States considered adopting Hebrew as the official language? Or that Napoleon played a pivotal role in the emancipation of European Jews?  Whether you're deeply religious, spiritually curious, or simply a lover of history, there will be something for you in this discussion.  Topics Discssed (01:01) Differences between Judaism and Christianity, The Jewish emphasis on ethical behavior (09:00) The idea that Jews are white eastern european colonizers is absurd (18:23) The problem with diversity, equality and inclusion (31:14) Hate of Jews subordinates the rest of their entire identity (36:32) The democratic party no longer represents the working class (38:40) As it relates to God and religion, how much do you think our country has veered (56:13) I was not capable of balancing it, which is why I'm stepping aside (01:04:41) Painkiller addiction and how it changed your life (01:16:45) Spirituality is the sanctification of the ordinary Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and share your thoughts via email at [email protected]. Visit www.meantforit.com for more episodes that offer guidance, light and community.  

Join us as Joan Barnes, the founder of Gymboree, she shares  her journey from a young woman seeking community into a powerhouse businesswoman. Gymboree started as a mommy and me play center in Marin County, California that eventually Joan led to a successful franchise business and chain of international children’s clothing stores. At the time of Gymboree’s blockbuster IPO in 1993, the company had annual revenue of $86.3M. In 2010, Bain Capital acquired the company for $1.8 billion!  In this truthful conversation, Joan shares her  unorthodox approach to business, motherhood, domestic life, her struggles with bulimia, and the personal sacrifices she made when putting her work first.  Joan's insights on the challenges of balancing professional ambition with personal happiness are as relevant today as they were during her time with Gymboree. This episode and Joan’s book, Pay it Forward,  will be fascinating for entrepreneurs who like to hear behind the scenes stories about companies that made it to  the exhilarating  day of a successful IPO.  Joan shares the challenges of accepting VC funding and balancing a family life with a growing franchise This is not the story about having it all, partially because Joan knew she didn’t want it all, and also because a complete focus on her business, resulted in sacrificing her marriage and spiraling deeper into bulimia. Today, Joan has found peace with her family, friends and knowing that  she made bold choices and stayed true to herself. So, sit down or take this podcast for a walk as we have a real conversation with a woman who despite the odds, always knew she was meant to be a trailblazer.    Notable Quotes from Joan Barnes: "Professional friendships are not the same when you don't have that job anymore." "I'm a cheerleader, not a caretaker." "We all know what to do. It sometimes takes us a while to, you know, uncover it all." "I wouldn't do anything differently because you kind of are who you are."   Topics Discussed: (00:00) Joan's early life and her path to entrepreneurship  (09:29) The societal pressures and personal challenges of motherhood  (13:40) The inception and global success of Gymboree  (25:20) Joan's battle with bulimia and her road to recovery  (44:00) Life after Gymboree: Embracing spirituality and letting go  (49:33) The importance of listening to your heart and making conscious choices Find us on Instagram @meantforit. You can also visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here or email us [email protected] We jump with joy when we hear from you. Unless it's negative, then we may stomp a bit..     

In this short podcast,  we talk about how to shift your perspective about making a difference in the world. It is so easy to compare ourselves with others and to feel that we aren' doing enough in our lives to make a difference in the world. What if we consider that the way we choose to live our day-to-day life is our personal activism  / impact.  Making a difference isn't only about huge professional achievements, it is also about the daily interactions and the kindness we share with our family, our friends and the people who cross our path. From opening a door, complimenting someone, be gentle and thoughtful with your family, to getting to know the people in our communities,  let these micro-acts of positivity fill you up.  If you also fall into the loops of feeling bad about your day job,, this is a reminder that our jobs don't define our impact on the world—it's the type of person we are from dawn till dusk that matters. If you are uncertain about your influence in the world, we hope this is a gentle nudge to feel good about the power and importance of your everyday actions Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and share your thoughts via email at [email protected]. Don't forget to visit www.meantforit.com for more episodes that inspire, challenge, and celebrate the small yet significant victories of daily life. Want to contiune ths convesation?  Find us on Instagram @meantforit. You can also visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here or email us [email protected]      

If you decide to divorce a narcissist this is a must-listen episode.  Dr. Ramani, the world’s leading expert on narcissism, joins us for a third episode to discuss what you can expect during a divorce. We cover the emotional landmines, legal traps and issues you are likely to struggle with even long after your divorce. Your ex may start to behave in ways you never expected, like suddenly becoming a father who is completely devoted to sharing custody. We cover the best and worst-case scenarios of ending a marriage with a narcissist, including a quick settlement to the torture of vindictive custody battles. Dr. Ramani also offers valuable guidelines for getting through the divorce. We cover the importance of choosing a divorce attorney who understands narcissism and why you must be prepared to be meticulous in your activities and always document your communication with your ex. Dr. Ramani suggest you use an app such as My Family Wizard to communicate so it is documented and admissible in court. We also discuss the emotional impact on children and the long-term consequences of growing up with a narcissistic parent. Doctor Ramani shares invaluable advice on supporting your children and there is a hopeful reminder:  Every child needs just one truly loving and  supportive adult to thrive, and the suffering they endure in a divorce can be transformed into strength and resilience. Previous Episodes with Dr. Ramani Dr. Ramani's Guide to Dealing with Narcissists at Work Dr. Ramani on Dealing with the Narcissists in Your Life Notable Quotes from Doctor Ramani "You're going to war, and you have to be prepared for that." "Narcissistic people are novelty seekers. They do tend to lose interest in situations, but as long as the kids represent a place of power, they will fight that right to the end." "Be present, be attuned, be loving, be all the things you want to be with that child." "The courts are about parental rights. It's not about child's rights." Topics Discussed: (00:00) Doctor Ramani offers advice on dealing with a narcissist during a divorce (09:29) You need to document everything that happens with your children (13:40) There are two mistakes people make when going through divorce proceedings (25:20) When you have a child with a narcissistic person, your kids are carrying legacy burden (44:00) Legal system for divorces involving children (49:33) Do narcissistic parents ever stop fighting over children?  Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and share your thoughts via email at [email protected]. Visit www.meantforit.com for more episodes that offer guidance, light and community.

In this episode we discuss all things femtech with Healthcare Law Lawyer, Advisor and Portfolia FemTech Fund Partner Delphine O’Rourke. We get into what FemTech is, why it’s so important for women to invest and support this sector, and how you can help. In case you haven’t noticed, in the past, VCs have overlooked products designed for women primarily because they don’t understand the needs or the market   When you invest in or support FemTech, your contributions help the market develop innovations that address issues like osteoporosis, menopause, fertility and many more opportunities that will help women live better and longer lives..  According to Market.us, the Global FemTech Market size is projected to surpass around USD 127.1 Billion by 2033! For example, have you ever considered why the dreaded speculum used in annual ob-gyn exams has not been updated since the 1800’s? Neither did we until Delphine mentioned it.  Whether you're an experienced investor or just curious about how to get started, this episode may cause a paradigm shift in how you think about investing. As a Fund Partner at Portfolia, Delphine is part of a team that decides what start-ups to invest in. We discuss how you can also join a Portfolia fund with a minimum $10k if you are an accredited investor. if you enjoy this topic, don’t miss our podcast with Portfolia founder and venture capital pioneer, Trish Costello, and our podcast with Ida Tin, the woman who coined the term Femtech! Want to talk more about this?  Find us on Instagram @meantforit. You can also visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here or email us. [email protected]. Notable Quotes from Delphine: "We need to move medicine for women out of the 1900’s, 1800’s into modern medicine." "We make 92% of consumer decisions, 82% of healthcare decisions." "Shifting the contraceptive burden is highly impactful and that's what we look for." "We want to make our money work for us and it's just sitting in a checking account. The financial gap, the pay gap, will just continue and compound." Podcast Chapters: (03:48) Femtech is where technology intersects with women's health (07:35) The stark reality of women's health innovation and the need for change (15:10) The potential of wearable bone technology and its impact on osteoporosis (18:59) Portfolia invested in a male contraceptive that is reversible (22:55) Maven's success story and the shifting role of employers in healthcare (29:29) Why investment education is critical for women (32:53) Exploring why men haven't invested in women's health historically (37:35) Every woman will go through menopause unless she dies (43:03) An accredited investor is someone who is eligible to invest in credit funds (49:56) We know we have a loneliness crisis in the United States (53:03) Maven provides women's health remotely through telemedicine  

Head Rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles ( rabbi for a large congregation incuding many stars) is our guest for this episode.  Rabbi Steve Leder, one of the country’s most influential rabbis and the author of 5 life changing books,  joins us to discuss the radicalization and chaos on university campuses. We invited Rabb Leder to discuss his latest book, For You When I am Gone, but first wanted to address the Jew hatred inflaming US universities so we have split our conversation in two parts. In this episode,  Rabbi Leder breaks down the rise of Jew hatred on college campuses, tracing its roots back to a decades-long campaign of indoctrination. There was a very organized and well funded campaign leading to today's moment.  But, it's not all doom and gloom and there are huge reasons to be optimistic.  Rabbi Leder shares how  peace with Saudi Arabia can transform the world and shift the power away from the regimes choosing to make war and hatred their top priority. If you doubt that is possible, consider Israel’s peace treaty with Jordan, Egypt and normalized relations with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. Despite the desperate attempts of Iran to keep the world inflamed with hate and war, we need to unite and stay focused on peace.  This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand what the f&^(&( is happening across the US.  And remember, in the words of Rabbi Leder, "Peace is an environment in which conflict can be addressed with civility and respect." Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and reach out via email at [email protected] with your thoughts or suggestions for future episodes. Visit www.meantforit.com for more episodes that challenge, inspire, and drive us towards a world where understanding wins over division. If you leave us a review on iTunes, we'll be overjoyed with gratitude! Sign up for our newsletter here Topics Discussed: (03:22) The origins of campus protests and the 25-year groundwork (09:15) How economic disparity and victim identity fuel current unrest (17:40) The hope for peace in the Middle East and its implications (26:50) Addressing the conflation of Palestinian rights and extremist agendas (31:10) The importance of fighting for the rational middle ground in society Notable Quotes: Today's college anti-Israel protests are "The bearing of fruit of a tree planted 25 years ago." "This is straight up Jew hatred, and Jew hatred has been inculcated into this community to the degree that hatred subordinates every other value these people claim to live by." "Peace is an environment in which conflict can be addressed with civility and respect." "The greatest threat and the greatest enemy to a better life for Palestinians is Hamas and Hezbollah and Iran and Qatar and the Islamic brotherhood." "The news is not the world. The news is just the collection of stories that will sell the most commercials. It's entertainment."