SFIO 209 Hardwired: How Knowing Yourself Changes Everything
Still Figuring It Out
đ Episode Summary In this episode, Marc and Emily explore the concept of hardwiringâthose 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 clearlyâand 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...
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SFIO 208 - Still Figuring Out What Leadership Really Means with Thu Hue Nguyen
Still Figuring It Out
đ 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 essentialâespecially 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 innateâit can be learned. With refreshing honesty, she talks about learning to let go,...
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SFIO 207-Story, Identity, and 30 Years Together
Still Figuring It Out
đ Episode Summary (Long) In this episode, recorded on their anniversary, Marc and Emily reflect on 30 years of marriageâand 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 childrenâs 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...
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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 Koshyâa 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 curiosityâfrom his time pioneering AI use in fundraising to his deep appreciation for the Iowa State Fair (yes, itâs serious). He...
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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 serveâor burdenâus. Marc shares his long history of goal-setting (and the ways it still trips him up), including his yearly list of 100 âmagnet goalsâ and the mental gymnastics involved in sticking to goals like âvisit one brewery a month.â Emily reflects on how her earliest experience with goal setting was punitive and tied to shameâshaping a lifelong tension...
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SFIO 204 - What Weâre Still Figuring OutâProfessionally and Personally
Still Figuring It Out
Episode Summary (Long) In this episode, Marc and Emily kick off a new part of Season 2âinterviewing 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 theyâd describe themselves, what three words capture their work, what they love most about what they do, and what theyâre 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. Thereâs plenty of laughter and honest...
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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 yearâfrom 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 whatâs changed in their work: growing the Quadrant 3 Leadership Coach Certification, launching Exactly What to SayÂź Coaching, and figuring out how to support others while still building new systems themselves. Along the way, they talk about...
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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 workâand the cost of leadership that relies too much on external validation. Marc explains the origins of the âQuadrant 3â 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...
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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. Youâll 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...
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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...
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đ€ Marc A. Pitman, CSP â Speaker, coach, and visionary wall demolisher
đ€ Emily Pitman â Systems and spaces designer, master planner
Episode Summary
In this episode of Still Figuring It Out, Marc and Emily Pitman reflect on life, marriage, and the evolving ways they celebrate birthdays (or, in this case, not celebrate them). They dive into the pressures around gift-giving, family expectations, and the freedom that comes from rethinking traditions. From birthday pies to self-care, the couple explores what it means to be intentional about celebrations while staying true to their values.
Timestamps & Key Topics
â± [00:00:03] - Welcome!
Emily kicks off the episode with a lighthearted question: Does the weekend start now, or in six hours?
â± [00:00:26] - Who We Are
Marc and Emily introduce themselves as life partners, business partners, and co-hosts who are still figuring things out.
â± [00:01:59] - The Math of Marriage
Reflecting on their nearly 29-year marriage, they joke about how counting years (or months) changes as you get older.
â± [00:02:46] - Living from Strengths
The couple discusses their shared mission: helping others embrace their strengths and gifts.
â± [00:03:02] - âWe Didnât Have Birthdays This Yearâ
Marc and Emily talk about skipping traditional birthday celebrations and opting for something differentâa September celebration instead of their usual January and February birthdays.
â± [00:04:02] - Why Change the Tradition?
Marc explains that his birthday, falling so close to Christmas, has always been a challenge for gift-giving. Emily shares how their kids are now financially independent, making gifts more of a financial stress than a necessity.
â± [00:06:04] - The Kindness of Letting Go of Expectations
They discuss how choosing to forgo gifts and big celebrations was not just about them but also a way to relieve family members of unnecessary pressure.
â± [00:08:32] - Birthday Pies & Small Traditions
Instead of a big party, Marc enjoyed a homemade chocolate bourbon pecan pie, while Emily had a French silk chocolate pie with pretzel crustâa delicious alternative to gifts!
â± [00:10:57] - The Shift in Mindset
Marc opens up about the weirdness of not celebrating in the usual way and the unexpected joy of receiving birthday wishes on Facebook.
â± [00:14:09] - Looking Ahead to Next Year
What will birthdays look like next year? Marc and Emily explore ideas, including a trip just for the two of them (Disney, anyone?). They also discuss how prioritizing them over obligations feels both freeing and indulgent.
â± [00:17:57] - Gifts Without Obligation
Emily shares her philosophy on gift-giving: she prefers spontaneous, heartfelt gestures over obligatory presents on specific days.
â± [00:19:46] - Wrapping Up
The episode ends with a reminder that lifeâand celebrationsâare things weâre all still figuring out.
Notable Quotes
đŹ âWe exist to help other people live from their strengths and their gifts, and to celebrate those with them.â â Emily Pitman
đŹ âGifts are frosting on the cake. The presence of loved ones is what truly matters.â â Marc A. Pitman
đŹ âI didnât know the rules. I thought we said âno birthdays,â so I wasnât sure if I was even allowed to celebrate in my own way!â â Marc A. Pitman
đŹ âItâs easier to say no to something than to say yes to ourselves.â â Marc A. Pitman
Key Takeaways
â Reevaluating Traditions: Just because youâve always done something a certain way doesnât mean you have to keep doing it.
â The Pressure of Gift-Giving: Sometimes the best gift you can give is removing the obligation to give.
â Prioritizing What Matters: Birthdays donât have to be about giftsâthey can be about self-care, quality time, and personal reflection.
â Navigating Family Dynamics: Making space for new traditions can be an act of kindness, both for yourself and others.
Listener Engagement
đĄ What about you? Do you have a non-traditional way of celebrating birthdays or milestones?
đ© Let us know! Share your thoughts with us on [social media] or email us at [podcast email].
đ§ Loved this episode? Subscribe and leave a review to help others find Still Figuring It Out!
đïž Until next time, weâre still figuring it out!
Thank you Lexi Moreno and Caleb Pitman composing / mixing / mastering / guitar / trumpet; Zoe bass