In this short, reflective year-end episode of the Two Piers Podcast, host Erica D’Eramo closes out the year with an unscripted conversation recorded on Christmas Day in Maine—complete with snowstorms, power outages, and a curious cat in the background.

Rather than a traditional interview, this episode offers space to slow down and reflect on what rest, creativity, and strategic thinking really require. Erica explores why the pressure to “come back refreshed” after the holidays often misses the mark, especially for people whose brains don’t thrive in full stop mode.

The conversation weaves together reflections on:

• Why rest doesn’t always mean doing nothing
• How flow-state activities (like cooking, reading, walking, or puzzles) can be deeply restorative
• The role of the brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN) in creativity and strategic thinking
• Why constant busyness and digital distraction make it harder to think long-term
• Practical ways to create generative space without forcing stillness

The episode closes with a reminder that joy is not something to feel guilty about—it’s essential fuel for facing hard things and creating meaningful change.

A gentle, human way to wrap up the year and head into the next with more intention and compassion.

Building Influence and Navigating Career Growth with Katherine Cook

In this episode of The Two Piers Podcast, host Erica D’Eramo sits down with Katherine Cook, a career coach who helps engineers rethink their career paths, build influence, and navigate corporate environments more effectively. Drawing from her own journey from engineering to technical marketing, product management, and ultimately coaching, Katherine shares practical and candid insights into what it really takes to grow your career—at any stage.

What We Cover in This Episode

• Katherine’s unexpected shift from engineering into coaching—and the spreadsheet that started it all
• Why understanding your “why” makes career decisions clearer (and less terrifying)
• How to assess risk realistically using worst-case scenario planning
• Why networking feels uncomfortable for many engineers
• Practical, low-pressure ways to build meaningful professional relationships
• The role of networking in job mobility and career advancement (hint: it’s bigger than you think)
• The unique challenges Black women face in corporate America—and how diverse networks can help
• How resilience, curiosity, and strategic relationship-building shape long-term career success
• Why corporate America isn’t a meritocracy—and what to do with that truth

Key Takeaways

• Your career path doesn’t need to be linear; it needs to be intentional.
• Networking isn’t about small talk at happy hours—it’s simply building genuine relationships.
• Most career opportunities come through people, not job postings.
• Being effective in your role is important, but managing yourself and your relationships is essential.
• You can influence your career trajectory more than you think—especially when you understand the landscape you’re operating in.

About Our Guest

Katherine Cook is a career coach who specializes in helping engineers identify their strengths, navigate transitions, and build fulfilling careers. She brings a structured, pragmatic approach rooted in her technical background, combined with deep experience supporting professionals in complex corporate environments.

Connect with Katherine:

• Katherine Cook Coaching
• LinkedIn

Choosing Possibility with Adam Bouse: Grounded Optimism, Self-Awareness, and Nature-Based Coaching

In this episode of the Two Piers Podcast, we talk with Adam Bouse, founder of Optimistic Coaching, about what it means to choose possibility in an uncertain world. Adam shares his path from emotional intelligence imbalance to becoming a coach who helps people build grounded optimism, deepen their self-awareness, and reconnect with nature as a source of resilience.

The conversation explores how optimism can be a disciplined practice rather than a personality trait, why understanding our own internal signals matters more than we realize, and how nature-based coaching opens up new ways of processing stress and finding clarity. Adam also talks about his own experiences with grief and how they shaped his understanding of resilience.

Listeners will come away with practical ideas for managing energy, building presence, and applying optimism in a realistic and meaningful way.

Topics Covered

• Adam’s origin story and his work with the EQI 2.0 assessment
• Balancing empathy and decision-making as part of emotional intelligence
• The philosophy behind Optimistic Coaching
• The difference between dispositional optimism, learned optimism, and toxic positivity
• Viktor Frankl’s concept of tragic optimism
• How cognitive biases and interoception influence perception
• The role of nature in regulating stress and shaping perspective
• Evidence-based benefits of forest bathing and nature exposure
• Practical ways to build resilience and grounded optimism
• Self-compassion, realistic expectations, and everyday presence
• How to connect with Adam and learn more about his work

About Adam Bouse

Adam Bouse is the founder of Optimistic Coaching, where he helps individuals explore possibilities, build resilience, and develop deeper self-awareness. He uses emotional intelligence assessment, grounded optimism, and nature-based coaching to support personal and professional growth. Adam offers a free 90-minute discovery session to help people gain clarity and explore next steps.

Learn more at https://optimisticcoaching.com

Viktor Frankl’s concept

EQI 2.0 Assessment