In this inspiring episode, we dive into the world of cultural diplomacy and language advocacy with Avishta Seeras, a dynamic multilingual strategist working at the intersection of social impact, global engagement, and digital communication. With roots and professional experience spanning four countries, Avishta brings a rich global perspective to her work in promoting cultural diversity, multilingual education, and language rights. As Co-Chair of the Global Coalition for Language Rights and Boar...
Jul 02, 2025•56 min•Ep. 137
In this luminous episode of the Create and Grow Your Brain Capital podcast, I have the joy of speaking with Caitlan Maggs—movement expert, creativity director, former ballerina, and 20-year Artistic Expert with Cirque du Soleil. 🩰 From performing alongside legends like Nureyev and Baryshnikov to shaping artists at Cirque and now leading creativity workshops around the world, Caitlan’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. 💡 In our conversation, Caitlan shares: * How creativity is a mindse...
Jun 25, 2025•41 min•Ep. 136
🎧 What Can a DJ Teach Us About Leadership, Creativity, and Business? Short answer: A lot more than you might think. In this energizing new episode of the Create and Grow Your Brain Capital podcast, I’m joined by the dynamic Amani Roberts—internationally renowned speaker, author, and DJ—who is on a mission to reawaken the creative spark in hospitality and music professionals around the globe. 🎵 Amani shares: * How the DJ mindset—reading a room, adapting in real-time, managing energy—applies dir...
Jun 18, 2025•45 min•Ep. 135
In this compelling episode of the Create and Grow Your Brain Capital podcast, I sit down with Julie F. Rosenbaum Skolnick, M.A., J.D., Founder of With Understanding Comes Calm, LLC—a global leader in supporting and empowering the twice-exceptional (2e) community. 🎧 Julie shares: Her deeply personal journey raising three 2e children Why she created a strengths-based, empowering model for navigating giftedness and learning differences How her work has grown to serve parents, educators, and 2e adu...
Jun 11, 2025•31 min•Ep. 134
In this dynamic episode, Meredith joins us to discuss how to create presentations that resonate deeply with your audience. Discover her expert tips on simplifying complex ideas, leveraging storytelling to inspire action, and ensuring your message stands out—whether you're presenting on stage, in meetings, or on camera. Meridith Grundei is a dynamic public speaking coach and innovative experience architect dedicated to helping leaders and entrepreneurs transform complex ideas into compelling, mem...
Jun 04, 2025•32 min•Ep. 133
Join us for an uplifting conversation with Davin Youngs—singer, sound healing artist, keynote speaker, and "magician of the soul," as described by bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert. Davin passionately explores the transformational power of singing, voice, and sound, sharing insights into how these powerful tools catalyze personal and collective growth. Singer, sound healing artist and keynote speaker, Davin Youngs has been described by Eat, Pray, Love author, Elizabeth Gilbert as a "magician ...
May 28, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 132
In this riveting episode, join Justine Reiss, one of the nation’s leading vocal coaches, as she reveals why voice is a powerful yet often overlooked tool for effective leadership. Justine explains how vocal coaching empowers business leaders to communicate clearly, confidently, and authentically—essential qualities for inspiring teams, persuading clients, and influencing stakeholders. Discover how refining your voice enhances articulation, tone, and projection, enabling leaders to command attent...
May 14, 2025•57 min•Ep. 131
In this compelling episode, Dr. Wuori joins us to discuss his groundbreaking book, The Daycare Myth, highlighting the significant disconnect between the science of early childhood development and its reflection—or lack thereof—in public policy. Dr. Wuori shares powerful insights and forward-thinking reasons for prioritizing early childhood development. It builds brain capital and cognitive reserve, which is the brains ability to withstand stress and combat cognitive decline in the face of diseas...
Apr 23, 2025•46 min•Ep. 130
Arts educators and practitioners witness daily how the arts elevate students' self-confidence, emotional intelligence, and creativity. Yet, empirical evidence from scientific research has traditionally lagged behind these observations. In this insightful episode, Dr. Thalia shares findings from a nationally representative qualitative study highlighting the cognitive, social, and emotional benefits children gain from engaging in theatre classes. Drawing on developmental psychology and empirical r...
Apr 16, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 129
Dr. Culler explains that brain health is crucial because it enhances cognitive performance, boosts creativity, and improves decision-making. It supports emotional resilience, stress management, and mental clarity, vital for personal and professional success. Optimal brain health reduces the risk of cognitive decline and brain disorders, promoting longevity and quality of life. She further advocates that investing in brain health also leads to increased productivity, stronger social relationships...
Apr 09, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 128
What is Brain Capital, and how can it elevate your company’s bottom line and enhance employee well-being? Brain disorders cost the global economy an estimated $5 trillion annually. Yet, by scaling existing interventions, society can reclaim over 130 million years of higher-quality life. Brain Capital represents the collective value of human cognitive abilities, encompassing both brain skills—such as creativity, curiosity, adaptability, and resilience—and brain health, the optimization of brain f...
Apr 02, 2025•31 min•Ep. 127
Terrible twos, temper tantrums, and grocery store meltdowns are usually the first things that come to mind when people think of toddlers. But pediatric emergency medicine physician and researcher Dr. Hasan Merali has long thought toddlers are among the best people in our society and adults could do well to learn from them. These extraordinary youngsters can be impulsive, yes, but with this comes a remarkable ability to take risks and ask questions—two qualities that can help us enjoy life more. ...
Aug 07, 2024•53 min•Ep. 126
Do you need a story on how to defy gravity and find creative inspiration? Entering into the world of theatre in the middle of her high school career, Canyon High School senior Marley Garner surprised onlookers as she won gold at the Jerry Herman Awards last month at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles. Marley Garner, who was nominated for “Best Actor,” competed against actors from 40 schools, even having the chance to perform on stage. Marley has dealt with anxiety disorder and ADHD and felt tha...
Jul 31, 2024•53 min•Ep. 125
Want to add more artistry and creative thinking in your life? Josh and his team created a way to usher it in. Josh founded Messier, a "Headspace for creativity" platform, to help people be their most creative selves. He came to the idea after two decades of working demanding jobs while striving to maintain a vibrant creative life. The Messier team includes some of the leading voices in creativity psychology, led by Dr. James C. Kaufman. While his day jobs have always been in renewable energy and...
Jul 17, 2024•50 min•Ep. 124
Jackie Mattox, who is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer for Women in Electronics, believes women in tech fields need a place to connect, create, and uplift each other. Jackie has always had a heart for people, especially for women’s issues along with a dedication to personal and professional leadership development. Jackie had a vision for women rising into leadership roles in the Electronics Industry and founded Women in Electronics in 2017, which is now a thriving global non-p...
Jul 17, 2024•49 min•Ep. 123
The only thing constant is change. Nicole Andrews is a thought leader whose personal philosophy is that life is a collection of our experiences and reflected by our service to others. She focuses on the culture, DEI and the intersections of the elements needed for a successful educational and life experiences. Though her expertise is early childhood development and brain health for developing brains, her expertise can be applied to all stages of life. Genein and Nicole discuss the effects of fam...
Jun 26, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 122
Mahogany discusses the journey of fulfilling her design career and how she incorporated a growth mindset to navigate the ups and downs of high school and college life. She is a woman in the architecture field, so maintaining confidence and grit while being an example for young artists all around her has been a challenge but rewarding as well. Join us as she drops some gems on how to enjoy the art of discovery! Mahogany Angelina is a native of Charleston, South Carolina. Growing up in the lowcoun...
May 22, 2024•44 min•Ep. 121
Who says you need to lay down your creative pen when retirement comes? Mike Dougherty has just published his first novel in the second act of life. It is a slice of life tail that has been called heartwarming, and real. His fiction day is a gentle story written with the wisdom that comes with the gift of age. Como flats delivers that through an authentic set of characters, navigating into their twilight, years with humor, acceptance, and a healthy amount of cynicism. Mike continues to contribute...
May 15, 2024•31 min•Ep. 120
We know that the Power of the Pause is a creative skill but it is also a cultural competence and leadership skill. Knowing how to pause to get your executive function back online, ground yourself and assess the situation with clear observation is a key skill in this future of work. Kim, who has led many senior leaders and organizations to success, talks about this simple strategy that has profound effects. Listen in for gems to reset your focus, improve your creativity and strengthen your relati...
Mar 20, 2024•44 min•Ep. 119
For Women's History Month, we are asking the question, 'Why should you be like a pineapple?' Annie Meehan, an international speaker, eight time author and inspirational coach talks with Genein about the skills needed to thrive in an ever changing world. Thinking metaphorically is a creative skill so Annie brings in her metaphor of being a pineapple to encourage leaders, and our listeners, on how to bring their top game to the workforce. She gives insightful tips for becoming a national speaker a...
Mar 13, 2024•56 min•Ep. 118
Being able to build elements of your world is a part of being imaginative. Budsies is a company that allows children and adults to send in images or a selfie and create a 3 D plushie and bring their story to life! I talk with Scott Meier, the CEO of Budsies, about his creative adventures, social innovation methods and how he feels Budsies is a perfect way to address the emotional and mental health challenges society is facing today. Listen in for great examples of what it means to ‘create the li...
Mar 06, 2024•50 min•Ep. 117
Anne Jacoby is on a mission to cultivate creativity at work. A professional performer turned MBA and entrepreneur, Anne has been building businesses and driving positive culture change within organizations for over 20 years. She's the CEO and founder of the culture consultancy Spring Street. Her new book, Born to Create, shares how you can apply creativity to spark connection, innovation, and belonging in our new world of work. A former singer, actor, dancer, and storyteller, Anne Jacoby spent t...
Feb 21, 2024•51 min•Ep. 116
Everything around you can influence your mindset and creativity. Mark McCormick is an avid observer and storyteller and his field of work ahas put him front and center of some of the most biggest influencers. During this podcast, we talked about how personal surroundings affect creativity. We also discuss his role in the book, ‘Bye Bye Barry’ about the retirement of superstar athlete Barry Sanders during his prime. One of the greatest thought leaders in the journalism field, Mark shares his pers...
Feb 07, 2024•47 min•Ep. 115
Creativity is now one of the top skills needed in the world and it is imagination that will drive that creativity. Dr. Ackerbauer discusses how creativity development will take shape in this next future of work. From balancing rocks in his free time to cultivating creative thinking in the top teams in corporate, Dr Ackerbauer shares his wisdom on how to foster this innate gift in all of us for this future of work. Michael Ackerbauer is a Business Transformation Leader for IBM Client Engineering....
Jan 31, 2024•51 min•Ep. 114
NeuroSomatic Creativity® is an important component of leadership. So we invited a thought leader in Neuro-Somatic Intelligence to highlight how the body is connected with the mind and brain. She lectures and teaches on Neurotheology - How our belief systems live in our nervous systems. She unites the contemporary science of her 30 years as a healthcare provider specializing in the vagus nerve with the ancient science of how we embody the planets, stars, and the enduring stories associated with t...
Jan 24, 2024•30 min•Ep. 113
Talking about diversity and inclusion has taken on an interesting spotlight in the last few months. Shakil Choudhuryis a thought leader in the space and has an interesting take on teaching inclusion as a skill. With an educational background, his approach to helping people with the skills of increasing cultural competence resonates with Intercultural Creativity. Shakil Choudhury is an award-winning educator, consultant and author with over 25 years of experience in the field of racial justice, d...
Jan 17, 2024•56 min•Ep. 112
Empathy drives so many of our decisions, especially our creative thinking. Dr. Joe discusses the importance of building empathy in leadership and why it is a critical component of Intercultural Creativity® and Prismatic Leadership. Joe Pazmany, Ed. D., CEO of Innovade Inc., Professor of Leadership Studies at Chapman University To learn more, visit: https://caffestrategies.com/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/...
Jan 10, 2024•36 min•Ep. 111
We are whole beings. So in order for people to thrive, their whole selves need to be attended to. This includes our mental health, which is a top concern for the workplace. It is also a large concern for our creative health as well. Terence Tillman is a thought leader and coach in the areas of mental health, men’s emotional regulation and human development. With a charismatic presence in the world of podcasting, Terence leverages the medium to spark conversations that inspire change. Through “Co...
Dec 06, 2023•56 min•Ep. 110
Since people are living and working longer there is a multiple generational overlap in our workforce. The way members of various generations learn, interact, respond to challenges and create changes. In this podcast episode, Genein Letford invites her former elementary students, who are now in their early 20’s, to talk about the changes in the workforce, their workforce focus and the discussion on generational leadership. They also discuss how their formative years helped shape their adult minds...
Nov 29, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 109
How did self imposed mute Tori Danner, who grew up in the Middle East, turn out to be a Hollywood actress who regularly appears on television? Tori shares her dynamic story of the uncovering of hidden potential. Genein highlights the gems of her story and shows how leaders can pull out the hidden talents and gifts of their team members through highlighting how it happened in Tori’s journey. Laugh, cry, and listen in to see how you can increase your creative leadership and observational skills. T...
Nov 22, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 108
