Start with a hunch, bet on yourself, and learn fast enough to outrun fear. That’s the energy Crystal Washington brings as she walks us through her journey from high-performing corporate marketer to entrepreneur, technologist, and futurist whose client list spans mom-and-pop shops to Microsoft and Google. She doesn’t sell hype; she teaches people how to think clearly about technology, remove jargon walls with humor, and take intentional steps that actually move the needle.

We dig into the difference between being nice and being kind, and why boundaries are essential if you want your work to align with your values. Crystal shares how she says no without guilt, how she protects her mission to be a “good ancestor,” and why arguing is a time sink while thoughtful disagreement unlocks learning. You’ll hear her framework for leadership—care about people, stay curious, then be decisive—and how that triad helps teams navigate uncertainty, adopt new tools, and build trust without getting stuck in endless analysis.

The conversation stretches across history and foresight. Crystal’s deep family research informs her present-tense choices: tell the whole truth, learn from it, and design a future worthy of the next generation. We talk about the pain of trying to help people who resist change, the art of choosing counsel wisely, and the small rituals that keep you grounded on big stages (including why she speaks in sparkly sneakers). If you’re craving practical, human-centered strategies for embracing technology, setting better boundaries, and leading with courage, this is a masterclass in clarity and action.

Listen, subscribe, and share with someone who needs a nudge toward decisive kindness. If this resonated, leave a review and tell us: what intentional action are you taking this week?

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

What if the hardest topics in life became the ones that made you feel most alive? We sit with researcher, professor, and mom Jenn Sorotovich as she traces an uncommon arc—from teaching adult development and death and bereavement to coordinating an ALS clinic—and explains how grief, grit, and real-world practice reshaped her idea of success. The stories are intimate and vivid: a hospice patient savoring the warmth of a hand on her arm, another insisting on lipstick before the day begins. These moments don’t just tug at the heart; they rewire how we value time.

Jenn pulls back the curtain on academia’s pressure cooker—tenure clocks, lack of maternity leave, and the myth of “work-life balance.” She advanced fast, then chose purpose over prestige, moving into clinical leadership where each three-month check-in with ALS patients underscores the urgency of now. Along the way, she unlearned perfectionism and people-pleasing, embraced average days as victories, and modeled repair and honesty for her students and kids. We get practical insight into building psychologically safe classrooms, navigating hot-button topics with care, and turning applied learning into meaningful growth.

If you’re wrestling with outdated systems, craving a more humane pace, or wondering how to spend the one resource you can’t refill, Jenn’s outlook offers both clarity and courage. Expect candid talk about motherhood, policy gaps, end-of-life care, and the mindset shifts that make room for joy. Listen for the challenge she issues to women everywhere: reject narrow scripts, claim your choices, and stop waiting for permission.

If this conversation moved you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—then tell us: what will you stop waiting for today?

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

A love story rerouted a career—and built two purpose-driven businesses along the way. Meet Rebecca Nichols, the horticulture grad who fell for antiques, church pews, and the wedding world, then teamed up with her husband Jeffrey to grow both Tea Olive Designs and a community swim school that’s changing lives. From that first trailer of rented pews to crafting floral designs across Alabama, Rebecca shares how she scaled to 32 weddings a year, learned to say no, and now curates experiences where logistics, beauty, and empathy meet.

We dig into the behind-the-scenes moments most people never see: the “wedding lull,” the text threads that spike in the final days, and why opening the door to the ceremony still brings tears after hundreds of events. Rebecca explains the hidden costs of outdoor weddings, why Southern summers can wreck flowers, and how tents demand power, flooring, and restrooms that rival venue fees. She also makes a heartfelt case for reviving floristry, teaching classes, and giving people the confidence to arrange with taste, not fear.

At the center is a marriage built on faith, premarital work, and a daily practice they call “die to live.” That mindset shapes everything: how they set goals every January 1, tithe through tight seasons, and carry each other’s loads across two seasonal businesses. We also step into Swim Prep’s mission: saving lives and healing. From infant float skills to adult low-impact classes, the water becomes a place for courage, recovery, and community—often with a therapy dachshund softening first-day nerves.

If you’re a bride, planner, creative, or entrepreneur, you’ll leave with practical takeaways on boundaries, pricing the real cost of “at-home” events, and turning wishes into work through the next right step. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves weddings or small-business stories, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show.

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff