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What if the next step in your career isn’t more money, more responsibility, or more projects, but more meaning? That’s a question I explore with Kathy Lawless, whose own transition from a 20-year corporate career to entrepreneurship forced her to rethink what a successful life and business could look like. Kathy is a life story curator who creates heirloom-quality photo books for families and businesses, helping people preserve the milestones, people, and stories they don’t want to leave sitting in a shoebox.  We talk about the “shoulds” that can keep us playing small, the courage to act on an idea before you have all the answers, and why celebrating milestones can help people feel seen and deepen the connection between the people behind the work. As someone who never thought she’d be an entrepreneur, Kathy also shares how she built a business around the kind of life she actually wanted. Key Takeaways: Stop waiting for permission to pursue an idea you believe in. Success doesn’t have to mean more money, responsibility, and projects. An idea doesn’t have to start as a business to become one. Pay attention to the interests and instincts that have followed you throughout your career.  Build a business around the life you actually want, not the life you think a successful entrepreneur is supposed to have. Outsource what you don’t need to do yourself so you can focus on the work that matters. Timestamps:  00:00 Introduction 03:10 Where Kathy’s storytelling instincts came from 05:13 How a corporate idea became a business 08:38 From corporate career to entrepreneurship 13:47 How to know when an idea is worth pursuing 16:59 Rethinking what success looks like 21:52 Inside Kathy’s life story curation business 24:00 If only people knew…   Resources Mentioned: You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero Soundtracks by Jon Acuff Connect with Kathy: Website: https://lifestorycurator.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathylawless/  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

Summary: What if the thing you've been chasing your whole career is actually working against the very happiness you're trying to achieve?  My guest Ashish Kothari is the founder of Happiness Squad and bestselling author of Hardwired for Happiness, and he left a high-powered corporate career behind because he realized something most high achievers never stop long enough to see. Ashish bridges the science of positive psychology with the realities of the modern workplace in a way that is both deeply human and grounded in data. This conversation goes deep on where love is quietly being lost in our work and our lives, and more importantly, how to get it back. Ashish shows us that flourishing isn't a destination, it's a practice you can start today in five minutes or less. Key Takeaways: Why happiness and achievement aren’t the same thing. The science behind why small habits create lasting change. The gap between looking successful and actually flourishing. Where love and connection go to die in the modern workplace. Practical habits for daily flourishing. How presence and gratitude literally rewire your brain. Why resilience isn’t about toughness, it’s about how you recover. The hidden cost of building a life without real connection. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 04:11 Why high achievers often feel empty despite their success 09:02 The dangerous myth that suffering is the price of success 13:47 Why fear dominates the news, and how to see through it 15:35 How to stop letting your emotions run the show 17:44 What it means to be rooted and resilient  18:51 The practice of knowing yourself beyond what you do 23:44 Three free habits anyone can start tomorrow 29:45 Why choosing happiness first is actually the smarter strategy Resources Mentioned: Building Thinkers Newsletter Emotional Agility by Susan David Connect with Ashish: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/  Website: https://happinesssquad.com/  Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari The Flourishing Edge Podcast Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

What if the food on your plate is either slowly breaking you down or building you up?  In an effort to continue the ongoing theme of living a flourishing life here at Building Thinkers, I sat down with Brad Fuster. He’s a university provost, former world-touring percussionist, and someone who went from 245 pounds, smoking a pack-a-day, and a chronic arthritis diagnosis to being 53, medication-free, and in the best health of his life.  Brad has been whole food plant-based since 2013, and in this conversation he explains the difference between veganism and actually eating well, he shares the practice that put his psoriatic arthritis into full remission, and he breaks down why protein is probably the last thing you need to worry about.  Key Takeaways: There’s a meaningful difference between being vegan and eating a whole food plant-based diet. The medical system is built around symptom management, not true wellness. Water fasting can reset your microbiome and improve health. Inflammatory conditions can potentially be addressed through diet and fasting. You don’t have to go fully plant-based to see benefits in your health. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 1:49 Brad’s transition to a plant-based diet 5:24 Myths about protein in vegan diets 8:17 The new food pyramid and nutrition education 12:35 Difference between veganism and whole food plant-based diet 15:38 Brad’s experience with water fasting 19:39 Practical tips for increasing whole food plant intake 21:10 Environmental impact of animal agriculture 22:15 Final thoughts  Resources Mentioned: Leading with Change When the System is Stacked Against You with Brad Fuster Thrive Fitness by Brendan Brazier Check out Rich Roll on Instagram The Game Changers (Documentary) by James Cameron EdUp Innovation with Dr. Neal Barnard Your Labs Are Normal, But You Feel Awful - Now What? (Feat. Elise Clark)   Connect with Brad: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-fuster-3540a350/  Podcast: https://www.edupexperience.com/edupinnovation/  SFBU: https://www.sfbu.edu/about/our-leadership  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

Building Thinkers has had a front-row seat to the work happening at SFBU, and this episode is a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to reimagine how people learn. My guest, Brad Fuster, is the Provost of San Francisco Bay University and host of the EdUp Innovation Podcast, and he's spent more than two decades in higher education. We go deep on what it really takes to challenge the status quo, lead through resistance, and build something new when the structures around you are designed to stay the same.  We also get into the MBA program launching at SFBU this September, a fully AI-integrated, flexibly paced degree designed around the way humans want to learn, at a fraction of the cost of a traditional program.  Whether you're building a company, leading a team, or just trying to grow in a world that keeps changing, the lessons in this conversation go beyond the university. Key Takeaways: What it really takes to lead change when the system is designed to resist it Why wrapping full support around learners changes everything (99.7% retention proves it) The curriculum innovation that Google, Apple, and Tesla are taking notice of Why bolting AI onto old systems is the wrong move and what to do instead How a $10K MBA is redefining what accessible, human-centered learning looks like What higher ed’s crisis means for anyone building something new Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:57 How a disillusioned provost ended up rebuilding from the inside 04:33 Why "reimagining" is just a buzzword for most institutions 08:35 The bold leadership move that's actually saving struggling schools 08:44 What entrepreneurs need to understand about leading change 10:00 The nuclear option that stops bold leaders in their tracks 13:27 Why faculty resistance is more complicated than you think 14:43 What it actually looks like to put students first 18:07 The retention stat that changes the conversation 19:14 The curriculum Google, Apple and Tesla are paying attention to 25:26 Why AI in education is being done wrong and what right looks like 31:37 How to build pro-social skills in an online program 33:36 What happens when learning meets the real world 35:24 If only people knew this about higher ed 37:52 Closing thoughts Resources Mentioned: Leadership: Key Competencies for Whole-system Change by Lyle Kirtman & Michael Fullan Whatever It Is, I’m Against It by Brian Rosenberg MBA Pro+ SFBU Connect with Brad: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-fuster-3540a350/  Podcast: https://www.edupexperience.com/edupinnovation/  SFBU: https://www.sfbu.edu/about/our-leadership  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

What if the glass of wine you pour every night isn't a reward, it's a signal?  I sat down with Keelie Louise, a Sober Curious Mentor and Psychology-Based Coach who rebuilt her life after decades of using alcohol to quiet a mind that never felt like enough. This conversation isn't about sobriety in the all-or-nothing sense — it's about getting curious about why you reach for that drink in the first place.  Keelie breaks down the real science behind what alcohol does to your dopamine baseline, your cortisol levels, and your ability to show up as the high performer you know you can be. We talk about how to navigate the social pressure of 'just have one,' how to figure out who actually fills your cup, and why falling down on this journey might be the very thing that gets you to the life you've always known was possible.  Key Takeaways: If you say you need a drink, that’s worth paying attention to. Alcohol gives you a dopamine spike, but it’s also dragging your baseline happiness down. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for not drinking. Getting sober curious isn’t just about removing alcohol, it’s about figuring out who actually fills your cup. Falling down is part of the process, the difference is whether you ask yourself why. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:03 Why ‘I need a drink’ is a red flag 06:14 What even one glass of wine does to your body 08:06 How to handle social challenges without owing an explanation 10:40 Why falling off the wagon might be the thing that saves you 12:19 Who fills your cup when alcohol leaves the room?   Resources: SAMHSA’s National Helpline NIAAA Connect with Keelie: Website: https://keelielouise.com.au/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keelie-louise/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its_keelie_louise/  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

You've gone to the conference, read the book, felt inspired for exactly four days, and then life swallowed you whole again. My friend of over 20 years, Katie Conley, luxury travel advisor and founder of the Adventurous Women's Travel Club, joins me to talk about why we built something different — a women's retreat rooted in genuine intentional living and life design, not just another agenda-packed with content. Together we unpack the wheel-of-life framework, the mid-career identity shift nobody warns you about, and what it really means to re-evaluate your life without blowing it up entirely. This conversation is for the woman who's capable and driven and still quietly wondering if she's chasing the right things. If personal growth and reflection have ever felt too theoretical to actually stick, this is the episode that makes it practical. We talk about what real connection looks like when women are given space to show up fully, why flourishing is less about having it all figured out and more about asking better questions, and how women's empowerment starts with making room for yourself first. Key Takeaways: “Is this my life or someone else’s?” - the first question worth asking. You’re not short on time. You’re short on room. Solo reflection only gets you so far. Community accelerates clarity. The wheel of life: a simple tool for seeing where you’re actually at. Gratitude and presence aren’t soft skills; they’re rooted in neuroscience. Good learning design makes the difference between inspiration and implementation. The mid-career shift: from doing everything to orchestrating everything. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:17 Using the Wheel of Life for self-assessment 05:27 The mid-career identity shift 07:41 Why build this women’s retreat vs. a travel trip? 08:39 What ‘re-evaluating your life’ actually means 10:22 What you’ll leave this retreat with 12:08 Who is this retreat for? 13:59 The benefits of getting away to reflect 15:49 How we plan to help women realize their own dreams and goals 17:27 Addressing the skepticism  18:06 Why in-person community still matters 20:54 Outro   Resources Mentioned: Build a Flourishing Life Retreat Harvard Global Flourishing Study Tracy's Goal Guide Connect with Katie: Website: https://culturedconcierge.travel/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culturedconcierge/  The Adventurous Women’s Travel Club: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/vERNcpM  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

You know that conversation you keep rehearsing in the shower and rescheduling in real life? The one with someone you love that's started to feel more like a standoff than a way back to each other?  That's exactly what I dig into in this episode with Sara Blanchard. She’s the co-host of the What Do You Mean By That? podcast, author of Dear White Women, and a life coach rooted in positive psychology who's spent years studying what it actually takes for people to thrive.  Sara shares why our closest relationships are a bigger predictor of long-term health than cholesterol. Yes, really. There's 80 years of Harvard research behind it. She gives us practical tools for staying in the room when the topic is hard and the stakes are personal. We talk about the two-minute rule that changed how she greets her family, why every action makes sense from the perspective of the person doing it, and how to get curious instead of furious when someone says the thing that makes your whole body tense up.  If there's a hard conversation you've been avoiding, this episode might be the nudge and the roadmap you've been waiting for. Key Takeaways: Relationships are the cornerstone of long-term health and happiness. Asking 'What do you mean by that?' deepens understanding and connection. Slowing down and building time affluence improves relationships. Physical and emotional regulation are key to responding, not reacting. Curiosity about others' perspectives fosters compassion and reduces conflict. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:25 What does it mean to live a “flourishing life”? 06:21 Time affluence vs. productivity 10:11 How to have hard conversations with people you love 16:07 Connecting before correcting 20:22 Curiosity over judgment & understanding behavior 28:31 Why hard conversations deepen relationships 32:21 Different doesn’t mean deficient 34:09 Preparing for hard conversations: know your triggers  Resources Mentioned: The Happier Hour by Cassie Holmes Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg The Science Behind Dramatically Better Conversations by Charles Duhigg | TEDxManchester It’s Not About the Nail Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg Dear White Women by Sara Blanchard and Misasha Suzuki Graham Unscripting Parenting Connect with Sara: Website: https://www.sarablanchard.com/  What Do You Mean By That Podcast: https://www.whatdoyoumeanbythat.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatdoyoumeanbythatpodcast/ , https://www.instagram.com/sarablanchardauthor  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

If a doctor has ever told you "everything looks normal" while you felt anything but, this one's for you. I sat down with Elise Clark, a functional medicine nurse practitioner with over 15 years of experience in family practice, endocrinology, and hormone health, who has made it her mission to help women understand what's actually happening in their bodies. We talked about why hormone shifts start 10 to 15 years before menopause, what "normal but not optimal" really means, and how to know when it's time to dig deeper than a standard lab panel.  Elise also took me on a learning journey through one of the most persistent myths in women's health — the supposed link between hormones and cancer — and unpacked what the research actually says now. What struck me most is how much of this comes back to a theme we return to again and again on Building Thinkers: you don't have to accept feeling "off" as just part of this stage of life. There are things you can learn, questions you can ask, and choices you can design around — and it starts with trusting what your body is telling you. Key Takeaways: Why your 30s is when the hormone conversation should actually start. What birth control might be quietly masking and the questions to ask before starting or stopping. What a functional medicine appointment actually looks like. Why “your labs are normal” might be the most incomplete sentence in women’s health. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:26 Hormonal health care at any age 04:01 When you know something’s wrong but your labs come back normal 06:41 The difference between functional medicine vs. traditional medicine 10:29 What does “flourishing” look like in health? 12:10 The risks of over-optimization 15:42 Common health concerns and next steps 20:45 Debunking hormones and cancer myths 29:45 Oura rings: helpful or not? 32:34 Finding what’s right for you 35:30 Wellness influencer red flags 36:16 Peptides: should you do them? 37:04 If only women knew this one thing 39:56 Outro Resources Mentioned: Estrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris Connect with Elise: Website: https://www.eliseclarkhealth.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eliseclarkfnp/  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  Building Thinkers is based on the realization that there is exponential impact in the things we build, from mindsets and behaviors to resumes and meal plans, but sometimes insights and impact seem out of reach or overly complex. In the Building Thinkers podcast, we explore how to build a flourishing life across different life domains: mental health, physical health, spiritual health, relationships, finance, career, play, and growth. Flourishing is something you can design, domain by domain, through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. Every episode turns a conversation with an expert into something you can build with: a single, completable blueprint you can put to use right away, so the insight leaves with you instead of staying on the page. This podcast is for those who are actively designing a more intentional life, the multi-potentialites and high achievers who want real success and a life that feels good to live. Harness curiosity. Win your future.

If you've been avoiding AI because it feels too technical, too risky, or just not for someone like you, this episode is your permission slip to start.  My guest, Gigi Karmous-Edwards, is a water technology consultant and researcher who has spent the last three years focused on how generative AI is reshaping an entire global industry. What struck me most about Gigi is where her thinking has landed, not on the fear side, not on the hype side, but on something much more grounding: the idea that AI, done right, should make us more human, not less.  We get into the real difference between generative AI and traditional AI in a way that actually makes sense, how to start experimenting without needing a technical background, and where to pump the brakes on privacy and trust. But the conversation I didn't expect was the one about what we do with the time AI gives us back, and why most of us will just fill it with more work unless we're intentional about it.  If you're AI curious, AI avoidant, or somewhere in between, Gigi will leave you with a clearer picture of what's possible and why now is the time to start. Key Takeaways: Generative AI and traditional AI are not the same thing, and understanding the difference changes how you approach it. The most powerful prompt isn't a perfect formula, it's a ramble. AI works best when you bring the ideas and use it as a thought partner, not when you ask it to think for you. When AI saves you time, what you choose to do with that time is the real question. Women are using AI 25 to 30 percent less than men, and that gap matters. Flourishing in an AI world might actually mean doing less, not more. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 05:30 Generative AI vs. Traditional AI 10:01 Why experimenting beats perfecting 13:22 How far should you let AI in 16:58 Having AI push back on your work 18:17 What AI’s rise means for society 21:20 The risks people aren’t talking about 23:55 Is AI actually bad for the environment? 26:53 Envisioning a flourishing future 36:39 The mindset shifts that changes everything 39:06 Outro Resources Mentioned: OpenAI: https://openai.com/  Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/app  Claude: https://claude.ai/new  Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/   Karmous Edwards Consulting AI Breakdown  Connect with Gigi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gigi-karmous-edwards-6539245/⁠  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  Building Thinkers is based on the realization that there is exponential impact in the things we build, from mindsets and behaviors to resumes and meal plans, but sometimes insights and impact seem out of reach or overly complex. In the Building Thinkers podcast, we explore how to build a flourishing life across different life domains: mental health, physical health, spiritual health, relationships, finance, career, play, and growth. Flourishing is something you can design, domain by domain, through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. Every episode turns a conversation with an expert into something you can build with: a single, completable blueprint you can put to use right away, so the insight leaves with you instead of staying on the page. This podcast is for those who are actively designing a more intentional life, the multi-potentialites and high achievers who want real success and a life that feels good to live. Harness curiosity. Win your future.

If you've ever felt paralyzed by uncertainty or like the world is shifting too fast to keep up, this episode is going to reframe how you think about that feeling entirely.  I sat down with Mathias Behn Bjørnhof, a futurist and founder of Anticipate, a strategic foresight consultancy based in Copenhagen, who has done this work with organizations like the United Nations, and he completely changed how I think about navigating the unknown. A futurist isn't someone who predicts the future, it's someone who helps you build the mental skills to move through many possible futures with more confidence and creativity.  We talk about how to fight the algorithm, how to find a balanced news diet, and why imagination is actually one of the most practical and underrated professional skills you can develop right now. We also go deep on something I don't think we talk about enough in the context of work — love, empathy, and what it actually means to become a whole person.  If you're a leader, a builder, or just someone trying to find your footing in a noisy world, I think this one will stick with you. Key Takeaways: The future is not predetermined, and you have more agency over it than you think. Fighting the algorithm is a skill, and your news diet shapes how clearly you can think. Imagination is not fluffy; it is one of the most practical professional tools you are not using enough. Scenarios and strategic foresight are not just for big organizations; they are tools any individual can apply to their own work and life. Love and empathy are not soft skills to leave at the door at work; they might actually be the most critical ones we have. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:03 What “futures thinking” actually is 04:17 How to deal with information overload 7:39 How to intentionally break out of your echo chamber 11:37 Why we are wired for doom & how to fight it 15:11 Strategic foresight in action 21:36 Imagination is your most underrated professional skill 28:22 The skill anyone can learn regardless of their background 30:03 Why love belongs at work more than you think 35:18 Where to find Mathias & his hopes for the future   Resources Mentioned: Anticipate - Strategic Foresight Consultancy  The Futurists Guide to Foresight  Harvard Human Flourishing Program  Building Thinkers Newsletter  Connect with Mathias: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathiasbehnbjoernhof/  Website: https://www.anticipate.dk/  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

***Content Warning*** Before we begin, this episode contains discussion of mental health and suicide. If you're struggling, please reach out to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Some losses split your life into a before and an after, and this conversation is about what it actually looks like to keep living anyway. This week, I sit down with Cristie North, a longtime mortgage industry leader and founder of the Taylor Hagan Memorial Foundation, who lost her son, Taylor, to suicide in 2017. She speaks from nearly a decade of turning unimaginable pain into meaningful work at the intersection of grief, leadership, and healing. Together, we explore how prevention often begins with something much simpler and more human than people realize: creating spaces where people feel safe enough to be honest, vulnerable, and truly heard before their pain becomes isolation. We also talk about leadership in a way I think many people need right now, in a season when we're rethinking what good leadership even looks like. Cristie shares how losing Taylor changed the way she leads, teaching her that empathy, vulnerability, and connection are not "soft skills,” they are essential to trust, innovation, and lasting impact. One of the most meaningful parts of our conversation is around the idea of "collateral beauty," the unexpected depth, perspective, and compassion that can emerge through suffering without minimizing the loss itself. Key Takeaways: Prevention starts long before a crisis; it starts with the kind of presence you build every day. Results are the output, and the heart is what actually drives them. When a leader admits they’re not at their best, it doesn’t erode trust; it builds it. The goal isn’t to get over what you’re carrying, it’s to learn to carry it in a way that doesn’t break you. Being truly seen by people who understand your loss is what transforms grief. There’s a difference between being hopeful and being intentional about hope. One is passive, the other is a choice. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:37 Cristie’s story and the foundation 03:15 What prevention actually looks like 05:37 Leadership with heart 10:47 Supporting employees through grief 15:30 The role of vulnerability in leadership 18:30 What to do with the parts of life we never asked to carry 21:32 How to ask for help and find hope again 24:34 Collateral beauty in loss 28:07 Living your best life after loss 31:32 If you’re struggling, here are resources to help Resources Mentioned: Taylor Hagen Memorial Foundation NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) American Foundation for Suicide Prevention All There Is Podcast by Anderson Cooper Companioning the Bereaved by Alan Wolfelt Option B by Sheryl Sandberg The Wisdom of the Bullfrog by Admiral William McCraven Turn the Ship Around by L. David Marquet Connect with Cristie: Taylor Hagen Memorial Foundation: https://thmemorialfoundation.org/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristie-north-59a3419/  Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Blueprint for Thought: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

If you've been using AI tools and quietly wondering whether they're actually saving you time, or whether you're just doing the same work in a different order, this conversation is for you.  I sat down with Max Kirchoff, a principal technologist and product-focused engineer who writes about the intersection of humans and machines on his Substack, Human of the Loop. What I love about Max is that he's not afraid to say most of us have been getting AI wrong, not because the tools aren't powerful, but because we keep bolting them onto the way we already work instead of pausing to rethink the work itself.  We get into the four layers of work and where AI actually pays off, why "building trust with AI" is the wrong frame, and what leaders are missing when they chase efficiency instead of growth. If you've been feeling the dissonance between how fast AI lets you start things and how the work itself doesn't always feel easier, you're going to find a lot here. Key Takeaways: AI doesn’t fail because the tools are weak; it fails when you bolt it onto workflows you haven’t rethought. Most people apply AI at the task level; the real leverage is at the workflow layer and above. You can’t build trust with an LLM the way you build it with a person. The shift that’s making everyone anxious isn’t AI itself. Leaders who chase AI for efficiency miss the bigger opportunity: growth. Adoption follows the leader. If you want your team to learn AI, demonstrate that you’re learning it too. The most underrated skill in the AI era is curiosity. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:46 Who is Max Kirchoff? 03:00 What “human in the loop” actually means 05:15 How to navigate AI tools effectively 10:37 Why you can’t trust AI the way you trust a person 15:48 The 4 layers of work 19:22 How to spot assumptions running your workflow 22:40 The evolution of programming languages and abstraction layers 28:31 The shift that’s making everyone anxious 29:36 What leaders keep getting wrong about AI adoption 31:39 Investing in human skills for AI integration 33:28 Why “let them fail” is an AI strategy 37:36 Curiosity as the self-starter skill 41:21 If only people knew… 42:35 Where to find Max Resources Mentioned: AI Broke the Rhythm of Work High Output Management by Andrew Grove Claude AI Model ChatGPT by OpenAI Perplexity Search Engine Connect with Max: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxkirchoff/  Human of the Loop Substack: https://www.humanoftheloop.com/ Connect with Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/  Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

The world doesn't need more information. It needs more conscious humans, and this conversation with Mentor Dida might be the most important one I've had on this show.  Mentor is a Kosovo war survivor turned global changemaker who co-founded three nonprofits, led movements at Arizona State University, and now works with Ashoka, the world's pioneer network of social entrepreneurs, to help individuals and communities find the power inside themselves to create real change.  In this episode, we get into why inner transformation is the foundation of everything, leadership, innovation, community, and society itself, and why developing the "I" matters far more than upgrading your iPhone. You'll hear us talk about what it actually looks like to build meaningful community from the ground up, why our obsession with scaling solutions is getting in the way of starting locally, and what it means to move from back porch to front porch, literally and figuratively.  If you've ever felt the tension between striving to make a big impact and wondering whether the small, human moments right in front of you are enough, this episode will sit with you. Mentor left me with a question I'm still turning over: what kind of human do you need to become for your future to thrive? Key Takeaways: Why emotional regulation is the skill no one taught you but everyone needs How the labels you wear might be limiting the life you can live Why changing your neighborhood might matter more than changing the world What most impactful social entrepreneurs know that most leaders don’t The simple shift that could make communities actually feel human again Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:50 Mentor’s journey and background 05:53 Where to begin if you want to be a change maker 09:28 Who are you without all the labels? 13:53 The difference between doing and being the change 15:18 Lessons from social entrepreneurs 16:45 How one person’s inner work changes everything 19:51 Building community connections 24:46 Interdependence in times of crisis 31:01 Are we measuring the wrong things in education? 34:00 Creating spaces for human connection 40:05 The power of identity and the collective intelligence 43:08 Outro Resources Mentioned: Ashoka - https://www.ashoka.org/  Blueprints for Thought: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf Connect with Mentor: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdida/  Website: https://mentordida.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentordida/  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

If you've ever felt like slowing down is somehow dangerous, this episode is for you.  I sat down with Tati Garcia, therapist, anxiety specialist, and the voice behind the Coping Calmly with Tati podcast, to talk about something I think a lot of high-achieving women are quietly dealing with but rarely name out loud: high-functioning anxiety. We get into why perfectionism and that constant sense of urgency aren't just personality traits, they're learned patterns with real emotional roots.  Tati shares her own journey navigating these patterns, and what it actually looks like to build a life where rest isn't a reward, it's part of the work. If you're someone who's always on to the next thing before you've even acknowledged what you just accomplished, this one will hit close to home. Key Takeaways: High-functioning anxiety often leads to feelings of being behind despite accomplishments. Perfectionism can manifest as all-or-nothing thinking, leading to self-criticism. Societal expectations can reinforce overworking and perfectionist tendencies. Ambition is not inherently negative, but it should be balanced with self-care. Setting clear boundaries can alleviate the pressure of urgency. Rest is essential for mental health and should not be viewed as unproductive. Negative thought patterns can be shifted by recognizing their impact on well-being. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:14 Where perfectionism actually comes from 05:34 The hidden driver behind high-functioning anxiety 10:37 Why everything feels so urgent 14:27 When ambition becomes a trap 18:54 Finding balance without killing your drive 23:58 Passive vs. active rest: which one works best for you? 28:48 Decoupling your worth from your output 32:08 What anxiety regulation actually looks like in real life 41:42 If only people knew this about high-functioning anxiety 42:54 Outro Resources Mentioned: Take Tati’s quiz: https://www.becalmwithtati.com/high-functioning-anxiety-quiz/  Connect with Tati: Website: https://www.becalmwithtati.com/  Podcast: https://www.becalmwithtati.com/podcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatianaglpc/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CalmlyCoping/featured  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tatianaglpc  More About Building Thinkers:  I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build. And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved. If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.

What does it mean for humans to flourish? Not just to be happy, not just to check the boxes of a good life, but to genuinely thrive across every dimension of what it means to be a person? That's the question Harvard researchers and their collaborators have been rigorously pursuing, and the early findings are challenging some of our deepest assumptions. When the Global Flourishing Study, a landmark longitudinal project surveying over 220,000 people across 22 countries, released its first wave of data, what emerged wasn't what anyone predicted. The wealthiest, most developed nations weren't leading. Indonesia topped the composite flourishing score. Japan, a major economic power, ranked among the lowest. Young people's well-being globally has compressed from a U-curve into something closer to a J. And one of the strongest predictors of later-life flourishing? Whether a young person attended religious services, across every major religion studied. In this episode, I'm joined by Reece Brown, Associate Director of Impact at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program. Reece came to this work through an unlikely path: from investment analysis to research assistant to Arthur Brooks at the Harvard Kennedy School's Leadership and Happiness Laboratory, and now sits at the intersection of rigorous science and real-world application, working to translate what the research reveals into something that people, institutions, and policymakers can use. We get into what flourishing means across its five (and really six) domains, why the satisfaction dilemma keeps even successful people feeling stuck, how measurement shifts when you move from the individual to the population level, what the Global Flourishing Study is and how it differs from the World Happiness Report, and what the data is showing us about meaning, community, forgiveness, and love. That last one is where Reece takes us, and the research behind it is anything but soft. Across every project at the program, from forgiveness workbooks built on cognitive behavioral therapy to academic flourishing surveys to emerging work on AI and human thriving, the same thread runs through: love, connection, and community are measurable, researched, and far more within reach than most of us assume. Key Takeaways: Flourishing is defined by five domains: happiness, health, meaning, character, and relationships. Measuring flourishing involves psychometric assessments and surveys. Data signals that young people's happiness is declining globally, indicating a need for intervention. Love and connection are essential for human flourishing. The importance of community in fostering individual flourishing. Behavioral change is challenging but necessary for achieving happiness. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 05:22 What does “flourishing” mean? 08:42 How to measure human flourishing 19:03 Current status of the Human Flourishing Program 26:51 Insights from the Global Flourishing Study 29:27 The impact of childhood adversity   31:18 Exploring spiritual dimensions in flourishing 36:08 Community and connection in flourishing  37:27 The science of forgiveness 42:11 Bridging research and practical impact 51:57 The power of love in flourishing 53:45 Outro Resources Mentioned: How Children Succeed by Paul Tough The Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haidt Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday The Human Flourishing Program Harvard’s Global Forgiveness Movement Connect with Reece: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reece-brown/