1.1 - Welcome to Emily & Marc's Podcast Adventure - Still Figuring It Out
Release Date: 02/20/2025
SFIO 209 Hardwired: How Knowing Yourself Changes Everything
Still Figuring It Out
📋 Episode Summary In this episode, Marc and Emily explore the concept of hardwiring—those patterns, instincts, and tendencies that shape how we show up in life, work, and relationships. From Enneagram types to Gallup Strengths to late-in-life ADHD diagnoses, they reflect on how assessments can help us understand ourselves more clearly—and when labels might actually get in the way. With humor, vulnerability, and a lot of real-life examples, they explore: The usefulness and limitations of personality profiles How deeper self-awareness can reframe past stories What it means to take...
info_outline
SFIO 208 - Still Figuring Out What Leadership Really Means with Thu Hue Nguyen
Still Figuring It Out
📋 Episode Summary In this powerful episode, Marc and Emily sit down with Thu Hue Nguyen, a nonprofit founder, Obama Fellow, and leadership coach based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Together they explore the realities of leading through challenge, the evolution from founder to coach, and why investing in leadership development is essential—especially in resource-scarce sectors. Thu Hue shares how she transitioned from law into ocean and fisheries work, and how crisis moments taught her that leadership is not innate—it can be learned. With refreshing honesty, she talks about learning to let go,...
info_outline
SFIO 207-Story, Identity, and 30 Years Together
Still Figuring It Out
📋 Episode Summary (Long) In this episode, recorded on their anniversary, Marc and Emily reflect on 30 years of marriage—and use it as a lens to explore the role of story and identity in leadership, coaching, and everyday life. They revisit their shared love of children’s books, read-alouds during 2 a.m. nursing sessions, and the way stories have always been a thread in their family, work, and lives. From The Giving Tree to Anne of Green Gables, storytelling was how they passed on values, built imagination, and created connection. The conversation moves into coaching and leadership...
info_outline
SFIO 206 - Curiosity, Clarity, and Catalysts: SFIO with Cherian Koshy
Still Figuring It Out
In this episode, Marc and Emily welcome their longtime friend and colleague Cherian Koshy—a nonprofit leader, AI entrepreneur, international speaker, and one of the earliest champions of the Quadrant 3 Leadership Coach Certification. They reflect on how their friendship started during early-pandemic Zoom happy hours and evolved into shared coaching, learning, and laughs across years and time zones. Cherian shares his take on identity, career shifts, and curiosity—from his time pioneering AI use in fundraising to his deep appreciation for the Iowa State Fair (yes, it’s serious). He...
info_outline
SFIO 205 - Backward Goals, Brewery Goals, and Bathroom Adventures
Still Figuring It Out
In this episode, Marc and Emily explore their very different relationships with goal setting. What starts as a reflection on abandoned international travel dreams quickly turns into a candid conversation about how goals can serve—or burden—us. Marc shares his long history of goal-setting (and the ways it still trips him up), including his yearly list of 100 “magnet goals” and the mental gymnastics involved in sticking to goals like “visit one brewery a month.” Emily reflects on how her earliest experience with goal setting was punitive and tied to shame—shaping a lifelong tension...
info_outline
SFIO 204 - What We’re Still Figuring Out—Professionally and Personally
Still Figuring It Out
Episode Summary (Long) In this episode, Marc and Emily kick off a new part of Season 2—interviewing some of the people they deeply admire. Before bringing on guests, they decided to run through the questions themselves to see what comes up. They each share how they’d describe themselves, what three words capture their work, what they love most about what they do, and what they’re still figuring out. Topics range from email list management and marketing fatigue to physical health, faith, aging, and what it means to start a new career in your 50s. There’s plenty of laughter and honest...
info_outline
SFIO 203 - What a Year: Loss, Learning, and Lots of Play
Still Figuring It Out
Episode Summary In this episode, Marc and Emily walk through the major events of the last year—from career milestones to health recovery, quiet moments to chaotic ones. They talk about their kids moving across the country and overseas, their experience during a regional hurricane, and the slow return to rhythm after a tough year. They also share what’s changed in their work: growing the Quadrant 3 Leadership Coach Certification, launching Exactly What to Say® Coaching, and figuring out how to support others while still building new systems themselves. Along the way, they talk about...
info_outline
SFIO 202: Messy Growth, Inner Wisdom, and Leadership That Lasts
Still Figuring It Out
Episode Summary In this heartfelt and idea-packed episode, Marc and Emily Pitman reflect on the messy inner journey of leadership. As they prepare to graduate a new cohort of certified coaches from their Quadrant 3 Leadership Coach Certification (Q3LC), they explore the deeper meaning behind their work—and the cost of leadership that relies too much on external validation. Marc explains the origins of the “Quadrant 3” framework, first developed through years of executive coaching and later popularized in his book The Surprising Gift of Doubt. Emily adds perspective on how growing up as a...
info_outline
SFIO 201 - Embracing the Messy
Still Figuring It Out
Episode Summary Welcome to Season 2! In this honest and often humorous episode, Marc A. Pitman, CSP, and Emily Pitman, ACC, CPCC, reflect on their journey from the launch of their podcast to now. They talk about the initial tech struggles (hello, 18-minute setup delays), learning new tools like Hindenburg Pro, and the unexpected joy of growing together through the messiness of podcasting. You’ll hear about their commitment to showing up imperfectly, lessons from editing and production, and the evolving way they think about their message, their marriage, and their work in leadership and...
info_outline
1.4 Podcast Research
Still Figuring It Out
Episode Summary In this enlightening episode of "We're Still Figuring This Out," hosts Marc and Emily Pitman dive into the intricacies of podcasting, sharing personal insights, and reflections on their journey as podcast creators. They explore the themes of intentional living, relationship dynamics, and the balance between humor and respect. Join them as they navigate the challenges and rewards of creating content that is both meaningful and engaging. Timestamps [00:00] Introduction: The origins of "We're Still Figuring This Out." [00:21] Meet Emily Pitman: Leadership coach, creative, and...
info_outlineEpisode Summary:
In this debut episode of the "Marc and Emily" podcast, the hosts introduce themselves and share the inspiration behind starting their podcast. They candidly discuss their uncertainties about the show's name and target audience, emphasizing their commitment to authenticity over perfection. The couple reflects on their 28-year marriage, their professional journeys as coaches, and their shared love for storytelling and personal growth. This episode sets the stage for a series of unscripted, genuine conversations about life, values, and intentional living.
Key Highlights:
-
Introduction:
- Marc and Emily share their reasons for starting a podcast despite not having a clear name or target audience.
- The hosts recount how they decided to launch the podcast after discussing it during a dinner in New York City.
-
Personal Bios:
- Marc introduces Emily as a creative thinker, leader, co-active certified coach, and his best friend of nearly 29 years.
- Emily introduces Marc as a leadership coach, author, and the president of the South Carolina chapter of the International Coach Federation.
-
Podcast Philosophy:
- Emphasis on embracing imperfections and learning from the messiness of life.
- The goal is to create a space where genuine, unscripted conversations can happen, mirroring their dynamic as a couple.
-
Life and Work:
- The couple discusses their professional backgrounds, including Emily's creativity coaching and writing, and Marc's leadership coaching and certification programs.
- They share anecdotes about their life together, their adventures, and the values they've cultivated over the years.
-
Podcast Goals:
- They aim to produce 8-15 "messy" episodes to find their rhythm before deciding on the level of polish.
- The podcast is intended for people interested in intentional living and personal growth.
-
Future Plans:
- Plans to invite friends (not formal guests) to share their stories and insights.
- Encouragement for listeners to interact with them through LinkedIn and suggest topics for future episodes.
-
Favorite New Word:
- Emily shares her excitement about discovering the word "Coddiwomple," which means to travel purposefully toward an unknown destination, encapsulating their podcast journey.
Notable Quotes:
- "We can make a perfect mess of things and discover things in the mess." – Emily
- "It's in the mess that the magic happens." – Marc
Timestamps:
- [00:00] - Introduction and Welcome
- [02:30] - Marc and Emily's Background
- [05:00] - Podcast Philosophy: Embracing Messiness
- [08:00] - Personal Stories and Professional Backgrounds
- [12:00] - Goals for the Podcast
- [15:30] - Future Plans and Listener Engagement
- [18:00] - Closing Remarks
Connect with Marc and Emily:
- LinkedIn:
That Music!:
Thank you to Lexi Moreno and Caleb Pitman composing / mixing / mastering / guitar / trumpet; Zoe bass
Next Episode Teaser:
In the next episode, Marc and Emily will dive into the story of how they met and the adventures that have shaped their journey together. They promise more unscripted fun and insights into living a purposeful life. Don't miss it!
🎙️ Thank you for joining us on this journey! If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. We appreciate your support! 🎙️