This one felt personal.

If you've ever walked into a room and felt like everyone else had it figured out, or you've ever watched somebody get an opportunity and thought, "Wait, how did that happen for them?" then you're going to connect with this conversation.

It was such an honor to have Sasha Grinshpun on The Ripple Effect Podcast.

Sasha is an executive coach, career strategist, and facilitator who has spent more than 15 years helping people get honest about what they actually want and how they'll get there.

She has worked with Fortune 500 executives, founders, and professionals navigating major career transitions, helping them turn the conversations they've been rehearsing in their heads into the ones that open real doors.

Sasha's background is anything but ordinary. Yale Economics, Harvard Business School MBA, Monitor Deloitte strategy consulting, IDEO design thinking, and now the founder of Catapult Circles and the LinkedIn Accelerator.

She brings a rare mix of strategy, warmth, and straight talk to the questions so many of us are quietly carrying.

A lot of us were taught to keep our heads down, do good work, and trust that people will notice. But if you've lived long enough, you know it doesn't always work that way. Sometimes the missing piece is not talent. It is connection. It is trust. It is learning how to show up, be curious, and build meaningful relationships without feeling fake or salesy.

Sasha has such a great way of talking about relationships, personal branding, LinkedIn networking, AI career advice, and the future of work in a way that feels simple and doable. Especially now, when AI is changing professional visibility, hiring, networking, and how people get found or overlooked, this conversation feels incredibly timely.

There are a few moments in this episode that made me stop and think, and I think they'll do the same for you.

So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and watch this one all the way through. You might hear exactly what you need today.

Good news. If you learned a lot from this conversation, part two is coming soon. Stay tuned!

Ripple with Sasha Grinshpun
Website: https://catapultcircles.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sashagrinshpun/
X: https://x.com/catapultcircles
Substack: https://sashagrinshpun.substack.com/

Ripple with Steve Harper
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rippleon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rippleon
X: https://twitter.com/rippleon
Website: http://www.ripplecentral.com

There's a strange pressure a lot of us feel right now.

We're supposed to be innovative, strategic, emotionally intelligent, creative, calm under pressure, and still have enough left at the end of the day for the people we love.

That's a lot.

And that's why I appreciated this conversation with David Lowe-Rogstad.
David has spent more than 25 years at the forefront of creative technology, building teams, companies, and brands through constant change. On paper, he has a history degree. In practice, he's been helping people and organizations stay relevant since 1997.

But what really stood out to me is how David thinks about leadership, gamification, and the human side of work. Not just points, badges, or leaderboards, but how play, progress, curiosity, and challenge can help people feel more engaged and less stuck.

David has sat in almost every seat inside an agency, so he understands the pressure, the uncertainty, and the issues that can slow even great teams down. He leads with heart and clarity, caring deeply about people while still knowing how to keep things moving.

Settle in, listen closely, and Ripple On!!!

Can't get enough of David's insights? Stay tuned for the exclusive After Show coming out on Patreon, Substack, and our Ripple community—The Pond.

Ripple with David Lowe-Rogstad
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lowerogstad/
Substack: https://lifewithadvantage.substack.com/
Website: https://www.starboard-collectives.com/
Instagram: @dlowe93

Ripple with Steve Harper
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rippleon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rippleon
X: https://twitter.com/rippleon
Website: http://www.ripplecentral.com

Subscribe to the Ripple newsletter: https://ripplecentral.com/subscribe

Join our ever-growing community of Ripplers in The Pond:
https://ripplecentral.com/pond

This episode is something special.

Our special guest is none other than Mike O'Krent, founder of LifeStories Alive, a company devoted to helping families preserve the voices, memories, and life lessons of the people they love most. Mike's journey is incredible: from interviewing Holocaust survivors for Steven Spielberg's Shoah Foundation to building a business that turns family stories into lasting video heirlooms for future generations. And trust me, once you hear why he does this work, it's going to hit you right in the heart.

You'll hear why stories matter more than ever, how the simple act of listening can change a relationship, and why capturing someone's voice, wisdom, and legacy before it's too late may be one of the greatest gifts you ever give. Mike also shares practical gems on asking better questions, handling emotional conversations with grace, and becoming the kind of person people truly open up to.

And hang with us all the way to the end, because Mike drops powerful advice on how to become a better conversationalist and listener. It's the kind of insight that can transform the way you show up at home, at work, and in every relationship that matters.

This one is heartfelt, eye-opening, and full of Ripples that can last for generations.

Ripple with Mike O'Krent:

Website: https://www.lifestoriesalive.com

Ripple with Steve Harper:
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rippleon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rippleon
X: https://twitter.com/rippleon
Website: http://www.ripplecentral.com

You walk into the conversation feeling clear, calm, and even confident. Then, somehow, you walk out, replaying every sentence, wondering if you said it wrong, if you overreacted, if you are the problem. If that sounds familiar, there's a good chance you just tried communicating with a narcissist, or you're dealing with narcissistic tendencies up close at work or at home.

Maybe it's a narcissistic boss who turns every meeting into a scoreboard. Maybe it's a narcissistic coworker who can't share credit. Maybe it's a client, a partner, a friend, the person you cannot fully avoid. You try to resolve the issue like an adult, and suddenly you're in a loop of gaslighting, deflection, and a conversation that keeps snapping back to them. That's exhausting. It drains your energy, scrambles your confidence, and makes even simple conflict feel like walking through wet cement.

In this episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast, I'm talking to you about how to deal with a narcissist without losing your peace, your professionalism, or your self-respect. Not in a "win the argument" way, because you already know that usually goes nowhere. In a practical, real-life way that helps you stay steady, set boundaries with a narcissist, and keep the conversation pointed toward an outcome instead of getting dragged into their chaos. If you've ever thought, "Why does every difficult conversation become a trial?" you're in the right place.

If you're watching this because you feel worn out, tense before meetings, or you're starting to doubt yourself after every interaction, I want you to hear me clearly. You're not crazy. You're not weak. You're not "too sensitive." You're navigating a tough personality dynamic, and there are communication skills that can help you hold your ground without becoming someone you don't recognize.

Stick with me to the end, because the most important shift isn't what you say to them. It's what you stop giving away to them.

If this hits home, leave a comment and tell me what you're dealing with right now. Narcissist at work, toxic coworker, narcissistic boss, or something closer to home.

And if you know someone who needs this, share it with them. We Ripple better when we don't do this alone.

Ripple with Steve Harper
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rippleon
X: https://twitter.com/rippleon
Website: http://www.ripplecentral.com

Stay in the loop by being a part of the Ripple mail list: https://ripplecentral.com/subscribe

Be a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SteveHarper

Join our ever-growing community of Ripplers in The Pond:
https://ripplecentral.com/pond

To inquire about my availability for conference keynotes, corporate training, or performance coaching, please contact info@ripplecentral.com.

Welcome back to The Ripple Effect Podcast.

Today, you're getting a conversation that hits where it counts. Barbara Burgess joins us for a powerful interview that goes way beyond career talk and straight into what it really takes to move from corporate America to entrepreneurship.

Barbara Burgess is an author, mother, executive, and unapologetic dark-chocolate lover who's embraced the beautiful messiness of life. She founded Corluma (cor = heart, luma = light), a Chicago-based consulting firm; wrote and performed a one-woman show, "The Extraordinary Experience of Being Ordinary"; and most recently wrote her first book, Enough: Finding Peace in a World of Distractions, Hustle, and Expectations. Known for her humor, vulnerability, and practical wisdom, Barbara shares simple shifts to help people remember they are enough and have enough. Her ego is kept in healthy check by two teenage children and career adventures that include selling candy bars for Nestle Foods, launching Grainger into internet commerce, a brief marketing stint at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and, most recently, overseeing operations, marketing, and finances as the COO of a non-profit.

Listen until the end because we get real about a lot of interesting topics. We talk about the difference between confidence and self-efficacy, why being an introvert can actually be an advantage in entrepreneurship, and how that "not enough" voice loves to show up when the world is screaming hustle, distraction, and expectations. We also go into executive coaching for tough leaders, what it looks like to face what isn't working without flinching, and the shift that happens when you start living by your own compass instead of somebody else's scoreboard.

If any of that feels familiar, you're in the right place.

Ripple with Barbara Burgess
Website: www.corluma.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/barbaraburgess1
Book: www.beenough.com

Ripple with Steve Harper
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rippleon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rippleon
X: https://twitter.com/rippleon
Website: http://www.ripplecentral.com

Subscribe to the Ripple mail list: https://ripplecentral.com/subscribe

Be a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SteveHarper

Join our ever-growing community of Ripplers in The Pond:
https://ripplecentral.com/pond

When was the last time you truly forgave yourself?

This episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast goes deep into the places we don't talk about often. And I want to thank our special guest, Shawn Mahshie, for showing up with such honesty and courage so we can all learn what real self-forgiveness looks like.

Shawn Mahshie is a coach, author, and thought leader who helps people stop beating themselves up and finally feel safe inside themselves again. After decades of deep inner work and spiritual practice, Shawn discovered that the common thread running through nearly all our struggles is self-abandonment. Out of her own personal crash and rebuild came The Wheel of Self-Forgiveness™: three simple steps that end the inner war and restore unshakable inner safety.

This episode is especially powerful if you've ever struggled with guilt, overthinking, or that constant sense that you're "doing it wrong." Shawn brings deep compassion, clarity, and a grounded framework that helps you move forward without blaming or shaming yourself.

Shawn is also on the cusp of publishing her new book, The Wheel of Self-Forgiveness: 3 Simple Steps to Unconditional Self-Love, Self-Confidence, & Self-Advocacy. As a gift to our listeners, she's also offering a free Wheel of Self-Forgiveness Cheat Sheet, which gives you a practical way to start applying this work immediately.

I truly believe this conversation can create a powerful Ripple in your life if you're willing to lean into it.

Ripple with Shawn Mahshie
Website: https://shawnmahshie.com/
Email: support@shawnmahshie.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnmahshie/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThriveThisTime
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnmahshie/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shawnmahshie2/featured?sub_confirmation=1
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shawnmahshie

Ripple with Steve Harper
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rippleon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rippleon
X: https://twitter.com/rippleon
Website: http://www.ripplecentral.com

What if the difference between becoming average and becoming exceptional comes down to who you choose to learn from and the courage to ask for mentorship?

In today's episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast, I'm truly honored and excited to interview John A. Dailey, a Marine badass and one of the most compelling voices I've ever had the privilege of interviewing.

John joined the Marines at just seventeen and went on to serve more than twenty years, spending most of that time in special operations with tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

John shares powerful leadership lessons forged through real-world experience, including how to earn respect, how to balance mission accomplishment with taking care of your people, and why mentorship is one of the most underrated keys to growth in both military and civilian life. We also talk about mental toughness, grit, and what it really means to lead when the stakes are high.

John earned his MFA in creative writing from UNCW in 2018 and shares his insights through his weekly newsletter, Walking Point, along with his thoughts on building toughness through fitness at RTFU.substack.com.

Ripple with John Dailey
Websites:
https://JADailey.com
https://Walkingpoint.org
Subscribe to the Walking Point newsletter: https://jdailey.substack.com

Ripple with Steve Harper
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rippleon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rippleon
X: https://twitter.com/rippleon
Website: http://www.ripplecentral.com

Have you ever worked for a company that tells you to bring your full self to work, celebrates authenticity and psychological safety, and then turns around and crushes you with metrics, perfectionism, and burnout?

If you find yourself nodding, this episode is for you.

Shaun Tinney, a speaker, performance coach, and the author of Practice Everything, joins me for a deep, honest conversation about leadership, workplace culture, and what it really means to live and work with intention.

Shaun has spent years guiding individuals and teams through pivotal change across both corporate and creative environments, drawing on psychology, the Enneagram, and a whole lot of lived experience to help people navigate resistance with confidence and clarity.

In this interview, Shaun shares his journey from entrepreneurship and high-impact consulting to stepping away from agency life, traveling more than 70,000 miles across the country, and eventually helping shape culture, learning, and development at goodr Sunglasses during a period of rapid growth.

Shaun and I talk about the "small" stuff that ends up shaping everything: the mixed messages leaders send (often without realizing it), and the gap between what companies say they value and what actually gets rewarded day to day.

This conversation is for leaders, founders, creatives, and anyone who wants to do work that matters without burning out within systems that still run on fear rather than trust.

Take your time with this one, grab a notebook, and let it challenge the way you think about performance and The Ripple Effect your daily choices create.

Ripple with Shaun Tinney
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shauntinney/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauntinney/
Practice Everything: https://practiceeverything.com/
Personal Site: https://shauntinney.com/

Ripple with Steve Harper
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rippleon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rippleon
X: https://twitter.com/rippleon
Website: http://www.ripplecentral.com