SFIO 308
Still Figuring It Out
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SFIO 307 - Align and Accelerate: Fundraising with Heart with Chris Baiocchi
Still Figuring It Out
đ Episode Summary In this episode, Emily and Marc sit down with fundraising consultant and bow tie enthusiast Chris Baiocchi to explore how a career rooted in journalism led to a calling in philanthropy. Chris shares candidly about the leap from nonprofit staff to self-employed consultant, and what itâs taken to redefine success, stability, and service in his work. They unpack the nuances of donor relationships, alignment, and the importance of momentumâand toss in a few great sci-fi references for good measure. đ Key Takeaways Fundraising is about alignmentâdoing the right...
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SFIO306 Goal-setting: Pressure, Play, and Permission
Still Figuring It Out
đ Episode SummaryMarc and Emily take on their favorite recurring theme: goal setting. But this time, they dive deeper into their wildly different upbringings, internal narratives, and current practices around goalsâfrom poker chips and chore lists to Scrum boards and morning routines. They explore why goals can feel like punishment for some and purpose for others, and how theyâve each shifted their relationship to goals in ways that feel more personal, flexible, and free. This episode offers an honest, layered conversation that blends coaching insight with lived...
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SFIO 305 Relationship-Based Sales that Donât Suck with Andrea Ferry Daniels
Still Figuring It Out
đ Episode SummaryAndrea Ferry Daniels joins Emily and Marc for a candid conversation about sales, coaching, and showing up with purpose. As CEO of Rookie to Rainmaker, Andrea shares how she built a six-figure business from a South Jersey apartment, turned her gift for connection into a scalable model, and now helps others build confidence and close dealsâwith authenticity and heart. They talk about what it means to speak with impact, the power of letting go of familiar goals, and how to keep showing up even while you're still figuring it out. đ Key Takeaways Sales doesnât...
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SFIO 304 = Working Together and Playing to Your Biggest Self
Still Figuring It Out
đ Episode Summary In this vulnerable and insightful episode, Marc and Emily open up about the evolution of their working relationshipâand how their personal growth has shaped their professional path. They reflect on what itâs meant to co-create a life and a business, especially as Emily stepped more visibly into roles of leadership, coaching, and authorship. From sacred cows and shared systems to spontaneous pivots and solo retreats, this episode explores what it really takes to work together as equalsâwhen the brand once felt like an extension of just one person, and when your growth...
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SFIO 303 - Doing Life Side by Side
Still Figuring It Out
đ Episode Summary Marc and Emily get candid about what itâs been like to build a life, family, and work in close proximity for more than 30 years. This episode dives into what it means to âwork together now,â unpacking the realities of sharing space, parenting, making intentional choicesâand growing up alongside each other. From early dreams of connection and community to unromantic but essential rituals (like coffee at 6 a.m. and cereal in low cupboards), they reflect on whatâs helped them stick together through different seasons, even when things got messy. Not as adviceâjust...
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SFIO 302 - A Bend in the Road: How EWTS Coaching Came to Be
Still Figuring It Out
đ Episode Summary In this episode, Marc and Emily share the behind-the-scenes journey of creating EWTS Coachingâhow a yearlong project to help coaches find clients took an unexpected turn, thanks to a conversation with Phil M. Jones. They open up about the founding of Sidecar Advisors, the birth of EWTS Coaching, and the values that guide both ventures. From honoring coaching ethics to building tech infrastructure to supporting 12 phenomenal founding coaches, this episode is a candid look at how big ideas evolve, one bend in the road at a time. đ Key Takeaways Coaching isn't...
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SFIO 301 - Reading, Play, and the Next Bend in the Road
Still Figuring It Out
đ Episode Summary Marc and Emily kick off Season 3 of Still Figuring It Out with a playful, bookâloving, techânerdy conversation about whatâs ahead. They share what theyâre reading (Joseph Campbell and Jean Shinoda Bolen), why this year is their âYear of Play,â and how the podcast feels like opening a box of favorite sweaters at the start of a new season. The two reflect on lessons from the past yearâincluding the passing of Marcâs fatherâand look forward to creating a season that emphasizes conversation and discovery rather than perfection. đ Key Takeaways Life and...
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SFIO 212 âDebriefing, Dopamine, and the Joy of Gadgetsâ
Still Figuring It Out
đ Episode Summary In this season finale, Marc and Emily wrap up Season 2 by doing what they do best: reflecting, learning, and laughing together. The episode centers on a deceptively simple feedback framework they loveâLBs and NTs (Liked Bests and Next Times). From the unexpected power of pausing to celebrate progress to the ways this tool has helped them recover from disappointments and find traction when stuck, they explore how intentional reflection can be both practical and healing. They also share favorite gadgets, small joys, and their own LB/NT reflections on the podcast itself....
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SFIO 211 - âBelonging, Boundaries, and Brain Scienceâ
Still Figuring It Out
đ Episode Summary In this thoughtful and energizing conversation, Marc and Emily welcome Dr. Jessica Sharpâorganizational psychologist, educator, and champion of belonging. From her travels across the country to her work in Houston and beyond, Jessica is known for making complex topics like unconscious bias, self-leadership, and brain science accessible and engaging. Together, the trio explores the cultural baggage we carry around struggle and ease, what it means to be a grownup (with or without kids), and how boundaries are more than just saying âno.â This is a conversation about...
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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].
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đïž Until next time, weâre still figuring it out!
Thank you Lexi Moreno and Caleb Pitman composing / mixing / mastering / guitar / trumpet; Zoe bass