The Smart Thinking Podcast

Episode 141 : Parenting Buffalo Style (Reflection and Tools)

What are the qualities of great families? Take a listen as we share our list of ingredients that make up the recipe for a great family.
List the ingredients that are a part of your family.
Describe where you can improve.
List the qualities of great families that you know.

Episode 140: Organizational firefighters and fire inspectors? (Leadership, Reflection, & Process)

 
Take a listen as we look at the different leadership styles within your organization. Proactive (fire inspectors) and reactive (Firefighters) people together is pretty normal – but we need to strike a balance to make the organization successful for the long haul.
 
From Dan HEath's new book: Upstream - 
How will you unite the right people?
How will you change the system?
Where is the point of leverage?
How do you create early warning systems?
How do you know you’re succeeding?
How can you make change and avoid doing harm?
Who will pay for what doesn’t happen?

Episode 139: Quarantine THIS!!! (Reflection & Strategy)

What is normal in these weird times? What can we do to support ourselves and others when we are feeling anxious or wondering about so many things we can’t control? Process, process, process! Take a listen as we review how to get wonderings out of the minds of those around us and how to support those you serve and love in these strange times.
 
List strategies that are working to help keep you engaged and informed.
Describe what the organization could do to help you have enough information so that you feel empowered and informed about the future.
Describe what you are wondering about the organization.
 

Episode 138: Happiness is…. (Reflection and Tools)

 
Happiness is ….. a choice. Take a listen as we break down strategies from positive psychology to help you recognize that happiness is always present and available. This episode looks at what real happiness is and explores how to support yourself and others as we move through both good and challenging days.
Describe how you can grow your happiness by adhering to PERMA.
List ways you can guide others to happiness using PERMA.
Describe your strategy for increasing happiness/mindfulness.
 

Episode 137: How would an Iron Woman beat COVID? (Interview)

In this episode I interview Danielle Peiffer and her son Blake Peiffer. Danielle is a daughter, sister, wife and mother who has competed in triathlons and Ironman competitions in Hawaii and Switzerland as well as all over the United States. I wanted us to get her advice on how to race through COVID. Take a listen to this competitive optimist and her son as she gives us advice for how to win during the long haul.
Be patient
Be realistic
Be willing to slow down to speed up
Be on the look out for the little motivators
Be in control

Episode 136: The Neitzke Family During Quarantine (Interview and Reflection)

Are we normal? Are you normal? What is normal?
This episode shares the perspectives of our current world situation from the viewpoint of my family. Join us for an interview with Charle, Grace and Megan and hear how they are each dealing with all of the unknowns. 
Describe how you can process with your family what is going on.
List strategies you can employ to fuel optimism moving forward.
Describe what it will take for you to support those you love in the upcoming weeks.

Episode 135: Five “To Do’s” to Engage! (Resources)

 
Five things to do while quarantined. Five games to play to engage others while working virtually, four books to read to grow your mind, three artists to listen to feed your soul, two exercises for the body and one goal. Take a listen!
Games:
Over Under- The game of guesstimates
Word Teasers- American Trivia
Joe Name It – not your average party game
Who’s Most Likely To….
Mixtape- The Songs and Scenario Game.
Books:
Do Better Work, Max Yoder
You’re Not Listening, Kate Murphy
You Are Awesome, Neil Pasricha
Option B, Sheryl Sandberg
Music:
Harry Styles: Canyon Moon
Old Dominion: Said Nobody
The 1975: You and Me Together
App: Nike Training
 

Episode 134: A Conversation about supporting children through COVID 19 with Roger Berg, School Psychologist and Kid Expert

Take a listen to this interview with Roger Berg, a school psychologist with over 30 years of experience supporting children, teachers, and families. Roger and I discuss the ways in which parents can support their children as we convert kitchens into classrooms. Roger offers practical parenting advice and shares ways for parents to act in a "teacher mode" as well as how to break some negative behavior cycles. Roger describes the conditions needed for children to change their routines and parents to support this new and hopefully temporary normal. This is a quick and practical conversation that will leave parents the with skills needed in order to help their children through the quarantine.
 

Episode 133: Jim’s Voice (Reflection and Mindset)

Leaders are people who have great influence. Take a listen to the way in which one person greatly influenced me and what we can all learn from Jim.
Describe how you live in amazement.
Can you adopt a point A mindset?
Stop today and demonstrate gratitude for those you love.
Ending Song: The Starling by The Well Pennies
 
 

Episode 132: A Covid 19 Conversation with Dr. Dave Brousseau, Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Take a listen to this interview with Dr. Dave Brousseau, Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Children’s Wisconsin. Dr. Brousseau is on the front lines of this pandemic and has great advice and shares his knowledge of what we should all do to protect ourselves and others. Dr. Dave sheds light on the facts around the disease and why the quarantine is so important. He also explains why going to the emergency room for testing for Corona Virus is a bad idea.  “Sometimes when you can’t see things you assume it’s not affecting you.”
Dave’s bio: https://chw.org/physician-directory/b/brousseau-david-c