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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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 sheâs 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 decisionsâlike where you plant a treeâcan shape ecosystems and...
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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 SayÂŽ Coaching, and figuring out how to support others while still building new systems themselves. Along the way, they talk about...
info_outlineđ 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 development, exploring why so many peopleâespecially leadersâdiscredit or downplay their own stories. They share practical insights about helping clients recognize the narratives they repeat (both helpful and limiting), and how stories become mirrors for values and identity.
This episode also includes a reflection on where theyâve been and where theyâre going next. From international travel that didnât happen to the possibility of RV adventures ahead, Marc and Emily keep it honest, reflective, and lighthearted. Whether youâre celebrating an anniversary of your own or simply thinking about how your story shapes your path, this one is full of warm wisdom.
đ Key Takeaways
- Stories shape identityâand thatâs true for individuals, families, and organizations.
- We often undervalue our own stories because weâre too close to them.
- Leadership coaching can help surface patterns and narratives clients may not even realize theyâre repeating.
- Thereâs power in asking, âIs this story still serving meâor my team?â
- Permission to share your story is sometimes the most transformational part of coaching.
đŁ Quote Highlights
âItâs just my life. Itâs not my identity.â â Emily
âStory is how we wire the brainâand how we invite others to understand us.â â Marc
âOne of the most important things we do in coaching is help people recognize the stories theyâre living in.â â Emily
âWeâve said yes to almost every adventure.â â Emily
âIâd rather say Iâm sorry than spend a lifetime asking âwhat if?ââ â Marc
đ Resources & Mentions
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- The Surprising Gift of Doubt by Marc A. Pitman
- United States Bartendersâ Guild (USBG) leadership session
- Books mentioned: The Lord of the Rings, Narnia, A Wrinkle in Time, Anne of Green Gables
- Coaching references: Co-Active Coaching, story-based tools from Quadrant 3 Leadership Coach Certification