Do you ever watch the news or read newspapers ((which not many people do) and wonder about how the stories being told today seem so much different than they used to? Do you wonder how we’ve gone from Walter Cronkite being the trusted figure he was to journalists being perceived as untrustworthy and anything but objective and fair? I sure have.

My guest for this episode, Jonathan Clarke, is a writer and Emmy Award-winning journalist who has worked in broadcasting, communications and marketing for more than 35 years. He specializes in News Analysis, Strategic Communications, Multiplatform Writing, Broadcast and Print Journalism, Voiceovers, and On-Camera Talent.

We're gonna break it all down and then some. Join us.

I remember when I was a kid that we'd sometime encounter people who just seemed to go off for no reason, and my mama would lean in an tell us, "That one woke up with hell in 'em this morning!"

These many years later, I think of what she said because it seems a whole lot of people are waking up that way. The social graces we once took for granted in terms of how we treat other have fallen away and been replaced with an anger and argumentativeness that's always on. How'd this happen and what, if anything, can we do about it?

Well, that's what we're getting after today in my conversation with Jeannette, who spent a decade as an investigative reporter, then another as staff writer for a city magazine, winning multiple national awards. She is now a staff writer for The Common Reader, a journal of the essay, and her work has twice been cited in

Jeannette spent a decade as an investigative reporter, then another as staff writer for a city magazine, winning multiple national awards. She is now a staff writer for The Common Reader, a journal of the essay, and her work has twice been cited in Best American Essays. She majored in philosophy and has a doctorate in American studies. She majored in philosophy and has a doctorate in American studies.

In a world where the constant pursuit of the "grind" is celebrated as the best way to define one's worth, Keith Levy, a wildly successful, now semi-retired executive whose portfolio of professional achievements can be considered gold standard, begs to differ. Levy has worked hard and reaped the rewards that arose from those efforts, but doesn't define himself by his work, but by his growth as a human being and ability to use what he's learned to provide for his family and his community. He's known plenty of success, but his greatest success, he'll tell you, is in realizing the value of living a significant life that not only changed how he exists in the world but encourages others to find the personal path that allows them to do the same.

It's May, and the start of Mental Health Awareness Month! While every month is important to our mental health, taking special notice of its importance is a very good thing, and here at the podcast we always do what we can to help everyone think differently about mental wellness.Today, my guest is not only helping others become aware of protecting mental health, but fighting stigma and access to services. Her commitment is both personal and professional, and entirely inspiring. So listen and learn, and when you learn, apply it to your own life and spread the word to help others, as well.

Remember the old idea that a person chooses a profession and then does that thing for the rest of their lives?  It’s how the world thought everyone would be happiest back then, but time and experience hasproven that the bold, the inspired, the creative among us can do multiple things, often at the same time.

Vonda Paige is doing multiple things, all very successfully, and never limits herself to any one thing because curiosity and interest in the world inspires her all the time. So where many people are struggling with what they're doing professionally, she's professionally doing everything she wants.In this episode, we talk about how she does it and you can do it to. And here's the best part: It's easier than you think.

Charles continues the tradition of looking at the year that was and seeking to understand what it has taught us as we look to the year ahead. In a year as topsy-turvy as 2023 has been, the perspective in this reflection is practical, but very, very hopeful.

While career professionals from all walks of life may have generated their sense of accomplishment from trading handshakes after closing a business deal, or being recognized for being the best at what they do, many people are finding that they want more. They want to fuel their passion by making a different kind of difference in the world.

Jane Langa Miller, Founder of Purpose-Driven Transitions, says that for many people, nonprofits are the perfect way to do exactly that, and their professional skills are exactly what those nonprofits need.

Jane's firm helps people understand what it takes to make a transition, provides perspective that highlights the differences between profit and nonprofit organizations, and connects the dots that help corporate careerists understand their desire to not just know success in their careers, but experience significance by making a difference in the lives of real people.

Many executives and senior-level professionals find nonprofits exceptionally rewarding, not just monetarily but also when it comes to emotional fulfillment.

If you’re considering moving into the nonprofit sector, listen and learn what you should know making the transition as smooth as possible. I think you'll be glad you did.