The Catalyst with Samantha Kris

Learn how one man’s goal to eliminate fatherlessness has sparked a global movement of intentional fatherhood. Justin Batt woke up one morning with a “dad hangover” and recognized that he wasn’t showing up in the way he wanted to for his kids. Since that moment, he has made it his mission to be more present and help other dads do the same. In this episode Justin offers an unfiltered look at:

• How pride and ego are getting in the way of men being good fathers
• The importance of identifying father wounds and their impact on your family
• Ways in which business tools can effectively be brought into parenthood

To join the Daddy Saturday movement, check out the website, the Daddy Saturday book and Justin’s TEDx talk. For additional resources, follow Justin on Instagram and YouTube and be sure to try the Alexa skill. 

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Love coach, Diana Eskander, doesn’t believe in falling in love. Wait, what? She believes we have the ability to create the love we’re worthy of and it starts with knowing what we want. In Episode 12, Diana offers invaluable advice to elevate your love life. She teaches us what love-changing moments are, tangible ways to implement boundaries in relationships and how incremental changes can lead to massive transformations.

Also discussed in this episode: You are central to the patterns you see in your relationship + How to love someone whose go-to emotion is anger + Knowing when it’s time to walk away.

Get more of Diana by following her on Instagram, YouTube and by reading her blog. Connect with her directly by emailing hello@dianaeskander.com.

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The pace of change is accelerating. In Episode 11, Horst Gallo, Vice President of HR Talent Solutions & Global Mobility at IBM, shares the importance of corporate culture and how it has kept the 109 year old company ahead of the race. Key takeaways from this episode include:

• What one of the world’s largest employers is doing to remain nimble
• Ways to initiate organizational change despite fear and resistance
• How to leverage our personal experiences to drive business value

To learn more about Horst and his initiatives at IBM, connect with him on LinkedIn.

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There’s no such thing as a strategic plan anymore. The covid-19 crisis has turned businesses upside down and shaken things up. Leaders are being called upon to innovate, motivate and alleviate the worries of their employees and customers, all while being worried themselves. Stakes are high and emotions are higher, which Erin Willett, Founder of The Tap In Team, believes presents a unique opportunity for leaders to connect with their employees and customers on a very genuine level. 

In Episode 10, Erin explains how a global pandemic has given people permission to be vulnerable and how vulnerability is paramount in nurturing cultures that can weather the storm and come out stronger. As we try to stay afloat and learn to navigate new waters, Erin teaches us:

• How embracing ourselves fully invites others to do the same
• The evolving definition of a strong leader
• What companies must do to thrive in an era of connection

To learn more about conscious leadership and creating conscious cultures, connect with Erin on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.

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Episode 09 features professional human and real life adult, Leisse Wilcox. Despite an abusive upbringing, a painful divorce, and raising 3 girls as a single mother diagnosed with cancer, Leisse is relentlessly optimistic. She has learned to take the difficult and the ugly and turn it into something purposeful and beautiful, a process she calls emotional alchemy. She is a firm believer that if we want to change the world, we must begin by making the changes we want to see within ourselves.

In this episode, Leisse reminds us that we have the ability to control our direction and she offers tips to put us back in the driver’s seat.

This is a great listen for everyone who wants to level up but is particularly for you if you are:

• Looking for ways to become more emotionally aware and intelligent
• Eager to detach from feelings which are preventing you from making positive changes
• Interested in gaming your internal system to propel you forward

Get more of Leisse by listening to her podcast, To Call Myself Beloved, or by visiting her website and be sure to connect with her on all social platforms @leissewilcox.

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When people around the globe declared that 2020 would be the year of clarity no one expected it to come in the form of a pandemic. But here we are, being required to adapt and level up in ways we were not prepared for. We are being forced to assess our lifestyle choices, the way we run our businesses and lead our teams, and fundamentally realign with what we consider to be important. Everything is being put into perspective and once this blows over, we will undoubtedly emerge with greater clarity. Opportunities for growth, personally and professionally, will be made available but we will only be able to seize them if we’re willing to change.

In Episode 08, Samantha shares how to best be prepared for opportunity when it comes knocking and how to keep cool in the meantime. Golden nuggets from this episode include:

• 10 ways to build resilience during times of change
• Tips for leading others through uncertainty
• How to leverage change to enhance our agility

Learn more about Samantha on her website and connect with her on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

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In Episode 07, Nick Melka shares what it was like being bedridden with debilitating symptoms of lyme disease, desperate for relief. Exhausted from all the pain and medication that wasn’t working, Nick hit rock bottom and turned to natural medicines as a last resort, where he learned about the healing properties of honey and bees. Within days of consuming unprocessed honey, his life drastically changed. With the help of his colony, today not only is Nick healthy, he is building an empire and bringing people together in a major way.

Nick is proof that the actions of one individual can have far-reaching ripple effects. He explains how opportunities began to appear once he chose to be the change he sought for his community and how you can be the change for yours. Nick also shares:

• The importance education plays in initiating change
• How adversity can be the catalyst for innovation
• What the bees can teach us about collaboration and respect

To connect with Nick and support Miel MTL, visit their website and follow their journey on Instagram as well as Facebook.

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For over 125 years, General Electric has been a trusted brand in every corner of the planet. Its purpose is to solve some of the most difficult challenges across the world from supplying power, to healthcare innovation, to creating a renewable energy ecosystem and more. At the core of the company’s success is its willingness to adapt, as well as its diverse and dedicated team. With over 200,000 employees over 9 countries, initiating organization-wide change is no easy feat. Changing systems, behaviours and ultimately company culture requires a combination of empathy, strong leadership and people analytics and that’s precisely what motivates Balakarthikeyan Nagarajan (Bala), GE’s HR Executive Director.

In Episode 06 Bala offers an inside look at General Electric’s efforts to enhance its employee experience by leading HR’s digital transformation. Bala shares ways in which GE is pioneering the technological era and explains why digital transformation, particularly in HR, is paramount for companies to survive. Bala is on a mission to ignite the power of people and gives actionable tools for you to do the same within your organization. He delivers rich insight into:

• The necessity for leaders to have the confidence and courage to stop what’s not working
• GE’s ability to leverage the intrinsic motivators of its employees to strengthen company culture and drive business results
• Three biggest lessons from GE’s digital transformation that can be applied to any company undergoing change

To follow Bala’s journey connect with him on LinkedIn.

In Episode 05, Author, Speaker and Wellness Advocate, Nalie Agustin, is disrupting what it means to live with cancer in a major way. Nalie’s entire world was turned upside down in 2013 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 24. She has publicly shared her journey from the very beginning and with the support of tens of thousands of people worldwide, she beat it. Unfortunately, in 2017 the cancer returned and had spread to her lungs. Despite her stage 4 diagnosis, Nalie continues to thrive and live an otherwise healthy life, proving that anything is possible. Helping others overcome their adversities and live rich and meaningful lives has become her mission. 

Through this episode Nalie shares the key to being resilient and offers incredible insight into:

• How to love your new normal, no matter your situation
• Relinquishing the control fear may have on your life
• Leveraging your mindset to beat the odds and more

To follow Nalie’s journey be sure to connect with her on Instagram, Facebook and subscribe to her YouTube channel. You can follow all things Thriver Talks on her podcast and her upcoming guide.

In Episode 04, Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist, Corrie Sirota offers a personal and professional perspective on how to navigate grief and loss. After losing her brother from a devastating hit and run by a stolen vehicle, Corrie’s life was never the same. This sudden loss changed her perspective on death, which in turn has changed her perspective on life and living. 

Unfortunately, we inevitably all face grief and loss. Fortunately, this episode offers coping strategies as well as an understanding of why we grieve the way we do. Corrie reminds us that we can and will find life after loss. Whether you are grieving or are interested in ways to best offer support to those who are, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. You will learn: 

• The key difference between grief and depression
• What NOT to say when comforting someone experiencing grief and loss
• How society, circumstance, ancestry, relationships and support all play critical roles in how we each cope with loss

To connect with Corrie you can email her at corrie@corriesirota.com and connect on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Learn more about the SCARS method in her TEDx talk, Loss and Found, as well as in her book, Someone Died... Now What.