We’re welcoming you behind the scenes in this season finale of sorts as we head into a hiatus! Catherine, one of Checkbox Other’s podcast producers, joins Nikki to talk all things CBO – its origin story and evolution over the years, the strategy behind choosing guests, conducting vulnerable, impactful interviews and intentionally bootstrapping the podcast while dancing with perfectionism and self doubt. They discuss the transformative power storytelling has to heal deep wounds and bridge gaps be...
Jul 25, 2023•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 142
The topic of disability can sometimes bring up feelings of discomfort or avoidant silence, but the reality is that it’s something that many of us will face at some point in our lives. Today’s guest, Nichole Beiner Powell-Newman, shares her journey from being a successful lawyer to fighting for equitable healthcare while navigating the challenges of a mysterious neurological disorder and seeking a diagnosis and treatment for this chronic illness. She discusses how the combination of her personal ...
Jul 18, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 141
Perfectionism is a survival response to a society that has us all looking at each other like competition so it’s no wonder almost all of us are plagued by it. In this approach, perfection equals acceptance → acceptance equals belonging → belonging equals safety and survival. But here’s the deal, we are humans, not robots. They call it human error for a reason, we are not built to be “perfect” and neither is the world around us. But giving yourself permission to show up imperfectly or share somet...
Jul 11, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 140
Workplace burnout has so many of us in survival mode as the norm in our careers. "CYA" is a workplace acronym that stands for "Cover Your Ass”, and it encourages you to take actions or document things to protect yourself from potential blame, liability, or negative consequences. It prioritizes the importance of self-preservation and avoiding any potential repercussions or misunderstandings in the workplace. That CYA energy has seeped outside of the workplace showing up in key societal influences...
Jul 04, 2023•31 min•Ep. 138
In a world that constantly bombards us with expectations related to our physical appearance, today we’re combatting body shaming! Our guest, Lisa Zahiya, joins us to share her story of going from a corporate marketer to a professional belly dancer, ultimately establishing her own successful belly dancing studio to now being a business coach. Lisa sheds light on the crucial topic of how negative messaging and beliefs in the world around us, both IRL and virtually, impact our body image and ways t...
Jun 28, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 138
When things start to feel like they are falling apart in life, any chance you find self care near impossible to prioritize? Today’s guest, Ada Chen, talks about how surviving a whirlwind of events in 2019 and 2020 – the pandemic, leaving a toxic workplace that caused burnout, abruptly moving to a new state on the last plane out as lockdowns tighten, unexpectedly caretaking and losing a parent – led to her completely changing her life and career path to embrace her unique leadership destiny. Ada ...
Jun 20, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 137
Ever felt on display yet invisible at the same time? For many mixed race, racially ambiguous people, especially women, this experience at the intersection of objectification and being ignored is very familiar. Andrea Forsht, the Chief Consulting Officer at Hummingbird Humanity, joins as a guest to share stories of her journey towards self discovery, fitting in and personal growth while also dropping nuggets of wisdom around how leaders and companies can approach culture building and inclusive em...
Jun 13, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 136
When we’re doing the work of embracing our authentic selves and healing our past wounds it can feel lonely or like you’re unsure if all the hard work is worth it. This episode is all about trusting that all your efforts around your personal and professional development are making an impact. Imposter syndrome can get in the way, self doubt can have you feeling like you should quit, but oftentimes you won’t be aware of the ripple effects of this healing work until you least expect it. In the same ...
Jun 07, 2023•20 min•Ep. 135
“I want to be rich!” We’ve all heard it, and many of us have said it ourselves. We have been taught from a young age from our caretakers to our society at large what it means to be “successful,” but in reality everyone’s version of abundance looks different. In today’s economic landscape and our ever-changing world, there are a lot of uncertainties and opportunities to consider. Have you taken a moment to really define what financial abundance looks like to you? In this episode, Nikki encourages...
May 30, 2023•30 min•Ep. 134
Finance has historically been seen as the boy’s club. But what if we embraced a vision of abundant leadership through fierce feminine finance instead of the transactional “winner-takes-all” energy encouraged in many finance bros? In today’s episode, Luisa Alberto, Founder & CEO of People First Finance, a finance advisory firm that eases the financial burden and overwhelm that holds too many ambitious, enterprising women back from achieving financial autonomy. Join Nikki and Luisa in a conver...
May 23, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 133
We all know the saying “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all,” but what if it’s not true? While the intention of that turn of phrase might be good, it has pushed so many into silence in the face of dysfunction. Only looking at or acknowledging the bright side limits us from being able to see the full experience of and opportunity in being human. Learning to glean wisdom from the dark side of things is a secret sauce to an inclusive, sustainable and innovative path fo...
May 16, 2023•34 min•Ep. 132
How much does stress or being in a rush dictate your life? Urgency is so woven into the fabric of our society, it can be hard to not only name it, but separate ourselves from it. Even after the pandemic, the cult of busy, FOMO and the ever-present pressure to have finished yesterday are so pervasive they shape so much of how we view ourselves and interact with one another. A silent assassin, urgency oftentimes can make us feel flawed, like something is fundamentally wrong with us. This episode a...
May 09, 2023•32 min•Ep. 131
“How do I know when it’s time to leave my job?” — a popular question host, Nikki, gets from clients, friends, even random people she meets. While there’s no one magic solution, getting to know yourself, trusting your intuition, and assessing your relationship with risk are a big part of the process. Remember: you are a human being whose identity is not your job. In this episode, you will gain a framework for how to approach leaving a job as well as tips on finding alignment in your next one. For...
May 02, 2023•39 min•Ep. 130
“Authenticity” and “vulnerability” are words that are commonly thrown around in both the personal and professional development space. Can you have one without the other? The world is rapidly changing, and so is our societal use and consumption of these words. In this episode, Nikki emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference in yet relationship between these words, tapping into your own sense of discernment and exercising your critical thinking skills to find how these current over...
Apr 25, 2023•24 min•Ep. 129
In the job hunt, there’s so much pressure on reaching the ultimate goal of getting an offer for every role we apply for that oftentimes we forget to assess if the job is really a fit for us. We become overly attached to the outcome and the process, even at its earliest stages, has become so heavy – whether that’s due to salary anxiety, uncertainty about work culture, or a foreboding sense of rejection. We’ve been conditioned to overachieve and “be the perfect candidate” when applying for jobs. B...
Apr 18, 2023•35 min•Ep. 128
“I’m a terrible test taker!” “I’m no good at math.” “I’m just not school smart.” “School was not for me.” These are things so many of us say in response to our learning journey within traditional schooling that taught us there was only one right way to be a “good student”. What if you were smart all along? In reality, there are infinite ways to grow your wisdom and understanding of the world around you. In this episode, Nikki discusses the process of unlearning limiting beliefs around your capac...
Apr 11, 2023•41 min•Ep. 127
If you ever find yourself reacting to something like you did when you were a kid and wondering why or you find yourself stuck in a loop of dysfunctional behaviors that you can’t seem to find your way out of, this episode is for you. Today’s guest, Annie Wright, is a licensed psychotherapist, EMDR-certified clinician, and founder of a trauma-informed therapy center and tackles these very real situations. Annie & Nikki discuss how humans adapt to their childhood environments, experiences and h...
Apr 05, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 126
We’ve been taught to curate our resumes from a young age. But now in the modern world, only about 5% of resumes even reach a human being thanks to applicant tracking systems and AI. In this episode, Nikki discusses how we can approach the job search and hiring process differently to avoid ghosting and burnout by reconnecting with our humanity and our shared goals. Moving beyond feeling obligated to fully demonstrate our past skills and experience on one sheet of paper, what if we prioritized see...
Mar 28, 2023•35 min•Ep. 125
So often when we hear about our veterans, we hear about their brave service, their healthcare access or their mental health needs, but we don’t often talk about their incredible entrepreneurial potential and ways to tap into it. Today’s guest, Meghan Ogilvie, grew up in a military family and is the CEO of Dog Tag Bakery, an organization focused on empowering veterans, military spouses and caregivers to tap into their entrepreneurial spirit. While a traditional military career wasn’t her path, Me...
Mar 21, 2023•1 hr 15 min
HR folks have been through the ringer the last few years, and it’s important that we shine a light on it. They’ve been the go-to for all sorts of problems, especially ones that have been a result of COVID. Balancing remote work, the pandemic, societal shifts, mental health, technology, and prioritizing humanity in the workplace brings its own challenges but can be achieved through expanding education and allowing our employees to be fulfilled, valued, and productive without sacrificing their sen...
Mar 14, 2023•26 min•Ep. 123
Most Gen Zers and Millennials were living on their own before the pandemic, but almost a third moved back home as COVID struck for many reasons, and two-thirds of those who moved home are still there, trying to find a new normal between child and roommate. Today’s episode features Tanya Barrett, a first-generation Jamaican-American, who shares her wisdom on finding herself in the face of life's challenges. Tanya talks about recently moving back home, rebuilding relationships with her parents in ...
Mar 07, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 122
Did you know women make 85% of travel decisions and two-thirds of all travelers but are still considered a niche group in the travel industry? Today’s guest, Beth Santos, talks about her journey to creating Wanderful, her company focused on closing the gender gap in the travel market by reaching over 45,000 women each year centering an international community of travelers and content creators through a thriving online membership network, local chapter events in 50+ cities, global summits and sma...
Feb 28, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 121
Life is fragile. It’s something we hear a lot but so often we glaze over or brush past the impact of a sudden, abrupt reckoning that death brings. In this episode, Nikki discusses the complicated feelings that come with losing someone unexpectedly and far too soon. She honors her friend Jemail who passed away. In this difficult time, Nikki reminds us of the importance of feeling all our big feelings and in times of loss, reaching out to a loved one to ask for help is valuable in the process of h...
Feb 22, 2023•17 min•Ep. 120
Imagine staring in the eyes of people who see you and those who look like you as a threat and asking them to discuss their fear. Our guest, Bushra Amiwala, did just that. She’s the youngest Muslim elected official in the United States and talks about the key moments of her political journey in the face of opposition so far including her experience running for office as a college freshman. She shares what it’s like to rebound after a political defeat, what goes into being a Board of Education mem...
Feb 14, 2023•55 min•Ep. 119
Layoffs seem to be happening day after day with each wave leaving people feeling more lost. In this episode we share a live conversation between Nikki and Kt McBratney, previous guest and co-founder of Owntrail to talk about how to cope with an abrupt layoff. Nikki offers concrete tips and tools, mindset reframes and unconventional tactics to regain your sense of confidence after the emotionally, mentally and professionally complex rollercoaster of job loss. For show notes and more info, visit n...
Feb 07, 2023•35 min•Ep. 118
How often have you heard about slavery from the perspective of the enslaved people who were forced to be there? In this episode, Brigette Janea Jones joins Nikki to talk about her experience of being the first Black tour guide at the Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville, TN. She chronicles her journey from being a visitor to tour guide to program creator to Director of Equitable Partnerships focused on intentional reparative action in the community as a result of the impact of chattel slavery. Ca...
Jan 31, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 117
The days of leaders ruling through fear, intimidation and dehumanization are numbered. We’re shifting from a fascination with identity, power and privilege to prioritizing empathy, authenticity and inclusion. In the face of this change, the old way of doing things is looking more and more outdated. Lately, we’ve been seeing the negative impact of oppressive leadership models that operate within the traditional principles of patriarchy and white supremacy. In this episode, Nikki discusses specifi...
Jan 24, 2023•36 min•Ep. 116
“Where are you from?” is a question that so many of us who don’t fit the mold are met with in a white-centric society. But what if you are from, influenced and impacted by so many people, places and cultures around the world? In this episode, Lilly Bekele-Piper talks about her experiences of being born in Ethiopia, immigrating at a young age to the US and then in her adulthood moving back to East Africa to plant her roots while also growing her global presence through her work with the US Govern...
Jan 17, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 115
In our current culture, death isn’t a topic that we spend much time understanding. More often than not, the topic of death results in a subject change, a tidal wave of emotions or a sense of detachment. Last week, Damar Hamlin, a professional football player collapsed on live TV during the NFL’s Monday Night Football game and millions of people around the country and the world had a real time experience of having to grapple with how fragile our lives are. After years of the pandemic, we have bee...
Jan 10, 2023•23 min•Ep. 114
As you step into the potential and planning for 2023, there can be a lot of pressure to have everything figured out or a perfect step-by-step process mapped out to achieve your goals flawlessly. This episode invites you to reframe your relationship to resolutions and rather than seeing them as a mountain top or a rigid finish line, allowing them to be a directional nudge to explore with the focus on bearing witness to yourself in the present moment. Goal setting is important, but so often we set...
Jan 03, 2023•41 min•Ep. 113
