Advertise on podcast: Take the Elevator

Send us Fan Mail A word game that uses puzzle pieces sounds like a gimmick until you watch how fast it turns into strategy. We’re hanging out with Julian and Debbie Montgomery, a powerhouse creative couple who went from Minnesota to Los Angeles and somehow ended up building a real tabletop game you can actually hold in your hands. Julian brings the storyteller brain and the systems brain, composer and software engineer energy, while Debbie brings architectural design instincts that make ideas physical. Together, they built Puzzingo, a word building board game that feels familiar at first glance but plays in a totally different way once you’re placing tiles, locking shapes, and trying to outthink the table. We get into the origin story: a poetry children’s book, experiments with puzzles, a late-night moment watching a mobile word game, and the question that changed everything: what if word building and puzzle mechanics were the same experience? From there, it’s prototypes, playtests, rule tweaks, bonuses, and the satisfying grind of making something that works, not just something that sounds cool. If you’re into board game design, tabletop gaming culture, 3D printing, laser cutting, or launching an indie product, you’ll hear the real steps it takes to move past “I want to” into “we did it.” We also talk about what comes next: prepping for a Kickstarter board game launch, getting copies into the hands of reviewers, and the long-term dream of seeing Puzzingo on store shelves. Plus, we love how they blend modern convenience with classic game night by adding optional online tools like phone-based scorekeeping and timers, without losing the face-to-face connection that makes board games special. Check out Puzzingo.com, share this with your favorite game-night crew, and if you enjoyed the conversation, subscribe and leave us a review so more people can find the show. Support the show https://www.fuzzyfurryforest.com

Send us Fan Mail Your team notices more than you think. They catch the tone behind your “no,” the silence after a hard question, and the subtle ways favoritism can creep into decisions. We sit down as Gen and Kory nd get candid about good leadership vs bad leadership, not as a theory, but as something we’ve lived through from two different vantage points: leading in a formal role and working alongside leaders every day.   We dig into servant leadership, trust, and psychological safety at work. We talk about leaders who get in the trenches, leaders who take accountability without pride, and why gaslighting and blame-shifting crush morale. We explore practical habits like saying “Let me get back to you tomorrow,” the real cost of overcommitting a team, emotional intelligence under stress, and how clarity and collaboration matter when nobody has all the answers.  If this conversation helps you rethink how you lead, support, or influence others, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review.  Look up, and let's elevate.  Support the show https://www.fuzzyfurryforest.com

Send us Fan Mail Spring cleaning sounds simple until you realize you’re not just sorting closets, you’re sorting your life. GentheBuilder and Kory kick off a spring reset that starts with a real health win, then widens into a bigger question we all need to ask: what feels heavy that used to feel light? We talk about decluttering as a tool for clarity, not perfection. From there, we challenge the “everything is important” mindset and name the hidden cost of keeping too much, physically, mentally, and emotionally. You’ll hear how we decide what stays, what goes, and why letting go can be an act of maturity, not loss. Then we open the real junk drawer: mental clutter. Overthinking, analysis paralysis, and “junk mail” information can jam up your mind the same way clutter jams a drawer. We share practical ways to clear it, including brain dumps, separating facts from made-up stories, prayer walks, and boundaries that protect your focus. We also get honest about emotional weight, forgiveness, peace, and why spring invites renewal but not replay. We wrap with calendar boundaries, energy management, and the idea of ease over force, plus a simple challenge to help you start today. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review so more people can find Take the Elevator. Look up, and let's elevate!  Support the show https://www.fuzzyfurryforest.com

Send us Fan Mail Something shifted for us in the last few months, and it isn’t a big dramatic breakthrough. It’s smaller than that, and more useful: we started noticing the glimmers. The little sparks that make you smile when the world feels heavy. So we leaned into them and talked through what’s been giving us hope, momentum, and a sense of control when so much feels out of control. If you’re craving encouragement that feels grounded, not cheesy, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a glimmer, and leave a review so more people can find the ride. Look up, and let's elevate!  Support the show https://www.fuzzyfurryforest.com

Send us Fan Mail A murder sentence is supposed to mean something. So what happens when a family hears “50 years to life” and then, years later, gets a phone call saying the person who killed their loved one could be released under California Prop 57? We talk with Crystal (with support from her partner, Jonathan) as she shares a raw, detailed account of being pulled back into the justice system after her brother’s murderer becomes eligible under the Youthful Offender Act. She walks us through the confusion, the research spiral, and the courtroom reality: repeated hearings, a small juvenile court room, and the surreal experience of watching a 34-year-old described as “the minor” while the crime is recited again line by line. It’s grief on a loop, made worse by policies that can feel detached from the people forced to live with the consequences. We also unpack the practical side of criminal justice reform in California: what Prop 57 actually changes, why ballot language can be misleading, the difference between parole and probation, and what it means when records are sealed or expunged. Crystal explains the RISE program and the idea of nine months tied to rehabilitation pathways, then shares why she started a change.org petition to reform Prop 57 and connect with other families facing the same retraumatization. If this story hits you, don’t just listen and move on. Subscribe, share this episode with someone in California, leave a review, and tell us your view: how should the system balance second chances with victim rights and public safety? Please visit change.org to make an impact to Prop 57.  Look up, and let's elevate! Support the show https://www.fuzzyfurryforest.com

Send us Fan Mail One knock at the door can rewrite a family’s entire future. GentheBuilder and Koryy welcome Crystal Davis, an educator and longtime community leader, to share a story she never expected to carry: the murder of her teenage brother and the years that followed. Crystal walks us through the day everything happened, from a normal routine at home to the frantic rush to Kaiser Fontana, and the moment she knew the case had become bigger than grief, it had become a fight for truth. We talk candidly about the hidden damage that gun violence and gang intimidation leave behind. Crystal explains how a 12-year-old cousin became an eyewitness, what it is like for a child to be questioned and challenged in open court, and how a close-knit family tries to hold each other up when everyone is shattered at once. We also unpack the criminal justice process: the months the suspect spent on the run, the evidence that helped build the case, and the courtroom strategies that can keep victims’ families out of view. This conversation is part one of a larger warning. Crystal previews why she’s returning for part two: to raise awareness about California propositions, sentencing, and how policy decisions can affect victims’ families long after a verdict. If you care about public safety, trauma recovery, and what justice really feels like in real life, this story will stay with you. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs to hear it, and leave us a review with your biggest question for part two. Look up, and let's elevate!  Support the show https://www.fuzzyfurryforest.com

Send us Fan Mail Big news first: we’re hosting a live story time at Barnes & Noble Rancho Cucamonga, and that spark of momentum inspired a conversation about momentum’s secret engine—fresh eyes. When a problem keeps circling back, more effort isn’t always the fix. Often, it’s our perspective that needs to move. We dig into the mental traps that keep challenges stuck: familiar thinking that rushes to labels, emotional stories that cast us as always right or always burdened, and proximity blindness that turns details into a blur. From there, we trade certainty for curiosity and offer questions that cut through ruts: What am I missing? What would a newcomer notice? What if the opposite is true? Along the way, we share why stepping away sharpens focus, and how sleep reorganizes the brain so solutions surface without force. Then we ground it in practice.  You’ll hear five field-tested methods to get fresh eyes: reverse engineering, changing the frame, stepping away, inviting outside voices, and surfacing hidden assumptions.  It all lands with a simple parable. Sometimes clarity is about the lens, not the world. If you’re navigating burnout, stalled projects, or recurring conflicts, this conversation offers humane, practical ways to reset and move forward with less strain and more lift. If it resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s stuck on a loop, and leave a quick review—what’s the one assumption you’re ready to test today? Look up, and let's elevate!  Support the show https://www.fuzzyfurryforest.com

Send us Fan Mail Kory and Gen dive into the stubborn gap between starting and finishing—why “almost” masquerades as effort, how it drains confidence and momentum, and what finally helped us ship creative work, grow a business, and say yes to a Barnes & Noble reading for The Fuzzy Furry Forest. This isn’t about hustle myths or productivity theater. It’s about the quiet power of devotion over hype. We separate motivation from discipline: one rides emotion, the other rests on structure. Expect practical ways to make discipline easier—micro-commitments, clear definitions of done, and “done for today” rituals that stack into trust. Then we go deeper: almost is rarely a time issue; it’s an identity issue. Change the story you protect—“I’m consistent, I follow through”—and your habits start to align with your future, not your fears. We also reframe discipline as devotion, a steadier, kinder loyalty to who you are becoming. Devotion honors craft without glorifying grind culture. It asks for presence, not perfection; closure, not theatrics. If you’ve been living in Almost Land, consider this your exit ramp: finish one small thing today, protect the streak, and watch your confidence return. And yes, we’re celebrating community wins too—from honoring veterans at the parade to inviting families to our upcoming bookstore event—because progress loves company. If this resonates, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, subscribe for more honest tools, and leave a quick review with the next promise you’re ready to keep. Look up, and let's elevate! Support the show https://www.fuzzyfurryforest.com

Send us Fan Mail Sometimes the biggest lift in your life isn’t flashy — it’s foundational. In this episode, we uncover the story of Alexander Miles, the Black inventor who made elevators safer in 1887. His quiet innovation didn’t just improve a machine — it protected lives. And it reminds us that the most powerful elevation often starts with unseen upgrades. From there, we ride through Fontana roots, Black History parade energy, and Inland Empire grit — owning the growth of a region once underestimated. Loving where you’re from teaches you how to honor where you’re going. Then we get practical about health and discipline. Not chasing a size — building a life. Ten-lap house walks. Heart-pumping 30-minute sessions. Breaking 550-calorie “coffee” habits. Partnering with your doctor. Quarterly labs. Blue Zones wisdom. Faith that steadies you when willpower fades. This episode is about the upgrades you didn’t know you needed — the small shifts, the honest wins, the foundational choices that quietly raise your whole life. Step on, Press play. Let's elevate.  Support the show https://www.fuzzyfurryforest.com

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder what keeps a show alive after hundreds of recordings? We pull back the curtain on our near-500 journey, the “eavesdrop” energy listeners love, and the quiet rituals that make us want to press record again.  Valentine’s Day is sweet, but the real magic is in what happens the other 364 days. We share the practice that’s sustained us for twenty years: unveil yourself slowly. Let your partner discover new layers at a human pace. Pair that with everyday love habits—short notes, unhurried dinners, tiny traditions—and you stop needing a holiday to feel cherished.  Our biggest shift is one we’ve delayed for too long: making our faith explicit. Taking the Elevator has always meant looking up, elevating, praying, and moving with hope. We share why this perspective will now shape our mic time as much as it shapes our off-mic life. Along the way, we celebrate momentum for The Fuzzy Furry Forest—new events, school interest, and a parade appearance—because stories for kids are one of the surest ways we know to lift a community. If you’re here for relationship wisdom, culture talk, or a little soul in your feed, you’ll feel at home. Press play, share this with someone who needs a nudge to love well all year, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Support the show https://www.fuzzyfurryforest.com

Send us Fan Mail Press pause, breathe, and build a life that runs on ease instead of willpower. We open the new year by resetting our pace and sharing the small, durable habits that actually stick: a movement-first Pomodoro that racks up 10,000 steps at home, a simple nutrition stack, and a two-minute rule that empties mental clutter before it grows legs. We watched motivation turn into momentum. We also pull back the curtain on a different kind of creative work. As movie trailers lean darker and edgier, we double down on protecting childlike wonder. The Fuzzy Furry Forest is our answer: wholesome characters, clean storytelling, music, and community events that let families gather in joy.  If you’re ready to trade overwhelm for small, compounding wins, join us, share your easy habit, and help us spread the word. Subscribe, leave a review, and send this to a friend who could use a gentler way to start again. Look up, and let's elevate!  Support the show https://www.fuzzyfurryforest.com

Send us Fan Mail What if January isn’t the starting line it’s made out to be? We open the door to a kinder New Year by tracing how we got here, from the Julian calendar to Pope Gregory’s fix and the symbolism of Janus, the two-faced guardian of beginnings and endings. That history reframes winter as a season for clarity and hibernation, so if your energy feels low right now, you’re not broken—you’re seasonal. From there, we shift to the psychology of fresh starts. Temporal landmarks help us reset, but we don’t need to invent a “new you.” We talk about self-regulation as a practical skill—creating space between stimulus and response—and how easing off self-judgment restores choice. You’ll hear the red flags that signal you’re not ready to set goals yet—urgency spikes, over-planning, avoidance, chasing motivation—and how to turn that into information instead of shame. We also get real about compassion versus comparison. January’s feeds get loud with productivity theater, but invisible wins like healing, boundaries, and recovery count just as much. We invite you to return to your lane and meet the year with honesty, not hustle. Then we pull back the curtain on the Fuzzy Furry Forest: a heartfelt team transition, a rising-star illustrator named Rica joining the series, and new plushie partners bringing characters to life. The next book anchors the world we’re building, and we couldn’t be more excited to share where it’s headed. To close, we offer three prompts for gentle clarity: what did last year ask of you and how did you respond; what are you proud of that no one saw; what does enough feel like right now. If this conversation gave you a saner way to begin, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a softer start, and leave a review with your one gentle goal for January. Look up, and let's elevate! Support the show https://www.fuzzyfurryforest.com

Send us Fan Mail The best leadership lesson we learned this year wasn’t about getting it right—it was about knowing when to pause, own the mess, and rebuild with care. On the next episode of Take the Elevator, Gen and Kory sit down with Tamara and Danya—early childhood educators, professors, and the duo behind Talk Early To Me and TD Growth Unboxed—to close the year with an honest conversation about rest, resilience, and continuing when the plan falls apart. From 2 a.m. creativity vs. shower breakthroughs to imposter syndrome in classrooms, meetings, and living rooms, the laughs quickly give way to real talk. You’ll hear how stopping mid-course can become a master lesson, why “keep going” sometimes means baby steps back to joy, and how confidence can be something you quietly wear into any room. They also share what they unboxed this year—launching a podcast, formalizing the business, aligning a shared vision—and name what’s next: a first book, deeper belonging, and finishing their PhDs. Saying it out loud matters. You’ll walk away with practical tools for families before preschool—turning everyday moments into learning labs that build confidence, self-regulation, and executive function—plus an open invite for educators and teams ready to elevate with humor, presence, and purpose. If this conversation sparks something, subscribe, share, and leave a review with your next baby step. Look up—and let’s elevate. To contact Tamara and Danya:  IG: @tamara_danya_ece https://talkearlytome.buzzsprout.com/ Support the show https://www.fuzzyfurryforest.com

Send us Fan Mail What if your media diet shaped your mood, ethics, and generosity more than you think? We close the year by reexamining entertainment—what we watch, why we watch it, and how it quietly rewires our days. With a 16-day sabbatical as a backdrop, we unpack the pull of short-form video, the lure of shock-based virality, and the hidden costs of counterfeit products that undercut creators and confuse buyers. Together, we explore media literacy in 2025: noticing how algorithms nudge, spotting AI-generated tricks, and pruning feeds. Hence, they reflect the life we want—not the outrage someone else profits from. Then a real-world twist beats any reel. In a packed Costco line, a stranger waved us ahead and paid for our entire order. She showed us kindness.. That simple act shifted our perspective more than hours of scrolling—proof that the most meaningful “content” is often experienced offline, where gratitude expands and paying it forward becomes the obvious next step. If you’re ready to curate a kinder, smarter feed—and trade empty noise for stories that teach, delight, and elevate—this conversation will help you set a fresh tone for the new year. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs a reset, and tell us: what will you cut from your feed and what will you add to elevate your days? Look up, and let's elevate! Support the show https://www.fuzzyfurryforest.com

Send us Fan Mail The mics are back on and so are our hearts. After a brief pause, we’re catching you up on a season that blended creative momentum with honest conversations about grief, memory, and what it means to keep elevating when the holidays press on tender places.  We sat with the complexity of the season. Gen reflects on training with grief educator David Kessler and how it reframed loss from something to close to something to integrate. We talk about the difference between moving on and moving forward, and how remembering becomes a daily practice that carries our people with us. We offer practical language for supporting someone who’s grieving—less fixing, more listening—and a reminder to give and receive freely. Come for the creative behind-the-scenes, stay for the honest, hopeful tools to navigate holidays, legacy, and everyday courage with a little more light. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review to help more people find our community. Look up, and let's elevate! Support the show https://www.fuzzyfurryforest.com