SFIO 212 “Debriefing, Dopamine, and the Joy of Gadgets”
Still Figuring It Out
📋 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 love—LBs 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 - “Belonging, Boundaries, and Brain Science”
Still Figuring It Out
📋 Episode Summary In this thoughtful and energizing conversation, Marc and Emily welcome Dr. Jessica Sharp—organizational 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 “no.” This is a conversation about...
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SFIO 210 - Adaptable, Curious, Growing: SFIO with Amy Lazoff
Still Figuring It Out
Episode Summary (Long) In this episode, Marc and Emily talk with their longtime friend and Q3LC alum, Amy Lazoff, Vice President of Mission at the Fort Wayne Zoo. Amy shares how her role has evolved after ten years at the organization, what she’s still learning in a brand-new leadership chapter, and how her work has shifted toward deeper internal focus and team engagement. They talk about what it means to lead with adaptability and curiosity, why homeostasis is tempting but probably an illusion, and how seemingly small decisions—like where you plant a tree—can shape ecosystems and...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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 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...
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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 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...
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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...
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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 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...
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🎤 Marc A. Pitman, CSP – Speaker, coach, and visionary wall demolisher
🎤 Emily Pitman – Systems and spaces designer, master planner
Episode Summary
In this episode of Still Figuring It Out, Emily and Marc Pitman take a deep dive into how budgeting can reflect personal values rather than just being a rigid financial framework. They share insights on shifting perspectives on money, the importance of intentionally categorizing expenses, and how small changes—like renaming budget lines—can make a big impact on financial mindset and family priorities.
Emily also reflects on her experiences post-brain surgery, discussing how it has influenced communication, memory, and even financial decision-making. Meanwhile, Marc explores the deeper emotional layers of budgeting, including the shame often associated with money and the power of reframing finances as a tool to serve life, rather than the other way around.
✨ Whether you love numbers or avoid them at all costs, this episode offers a fresh take on budgeting that prioritizes values over spreadsheets.
⏳ Timestamps & Key Topics:
- [00:00:15] 🏊‍♂️ A leap into the episode (and a nostalgic memory of kids jumping in the pool)
- [00:00:34] 🎙️ Welcome to Still Figuring It Out!
- [00:01:09] 🤔 Brain freezes & word retrieval struggles post-brain surgery
- [00:02:15] đź“Ś Defining values in finances: a budget should reflect what matters
- [00:03:34] đź’¸ Shifting from traditional budget categories to values-based spending
- [00:06:00] 🍽️ Making room for "date nights" as a separate budget category
- [00:07:43] 🎠The importance of hobbies and leisure in financial planning
- [00:09:01] 🏡 From “housing” to “home” – why renaming categories matters
- [00:14:55] đź’° Addressing shame around money and learning to see it as a tool
- [00:20:06] 🎤 Closing reflections: how budgeting serves our values, not vice versa
🔥 Key Takeaways:
✅ Words Matter – Naming budget categories intentionally (e.g., "Health & Fitness" vs. "Medical Expenses") helps shape a positive financial mindset.
✅ Budgeting = Prioritizing What Matters – If coffee outings or hobbies bring joy, they should have a dedicated place in your finances.
✅ Money Should Serve You – Marc reflects on how his father taught him that money should serve us, not the other way around.
✅ Family & Finances Evolve – Just like life, budgets should be adjusted to reflect current values, goals, and realities.
📢 Notable Quotes:
💬 "Budgeting isn’t just about setting limits; it’s about making space for what matters most." – Emily
💬 "Our budget categories should be a reflection of our family’s identity, not just financial obligations." – Marc
💬 "You can see what a person values by looking at their calendar and checkbook." – Marc
đź’¬ Join the Conversation! What budget categories reflect your values? Let us know!
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Thank you Lexi Moreno and Caleb Pitman composing / mixing / mastering / guitar / trumpet; Zoe bass