Last week, we talked about taking ownership and speaking up. This week, Dave sits down with Catherine Dorian, a high school English teacher, writer, and millennial, to discuss the entity most often associated with preparing the young for the real world: school. How do we prepare students to take ownership over their learning and their actions? And what’s the role of the parent, in a school system that is at times failing and at times hyper-involved?  Catherine teaches part-time at a private school in Massachusetts. She spends the other half of her time running Catherine Dorian Studios, where she helps organizations find purpose and attract customers through storytelling. Find her at .  Like this episode? Be sure to share it with others and write us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Cut Through the Noise with Dave Turano

Teaching, Humility, and Teaching Humility

Ghosting is easy. Ignoring a phone call, not responding to an email, or quitting a company without warning are all ways that we can avoid confrontation. But the right to remain silent—the right to not express frustration, provide a dissenting opinion, or admit to wrongdoing, in the workplace or outside of it—is making us cower and hide when things get hard.  It’s easy to not come forward. So how do companies and organizations make it safe to express your mistakes or voice your frustrations?   No guest today: just Dave, his ideas, and the microphone, saying what needs to be said. Have something to share? Write Dave a comment. Like this episode? Be sure to share it with others and write us a review on Apple Podcasts. 

What Am I Not Saying?

Many companies strive to be more diverse, inclusive, and equitable. Many company leaders struggle to take transformative steps to do so. In this episode, we hear from Omar L Harris, leadership coach, speaker, and author, about how to do Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work thoughtfully. We know that companies and people improve when we embrace the diverse perspectives coming through our door. The first step? Listen and be open to understanding all that you don’t know. Then, you can tap into the uncovered possibilities for your company to contribute to your community, uniting your people around a common purpose.  Omar L Harris is the founder of Intent Consulting. He’s written five books, including his latest, Be a J.E.D.I. Leader, Not a Boss. Find him at .  Like this episode? Be sure to share it with others and write us a review on Apple Podcasts. 

Listening, Understanding, and Validating with Omar L Harris.

Too many of us misuse our power. Whether we’re gossiping about someone else or becoming the victim, we’re using our power to relinquish responsibility—becoming the opposite of empowered. And the real tragedy? Misusing your power means denying the world of your gifts. When we suppress our power, we deprive others of all that we can do.  Today, Christian De La Huerta helps us redefine courage and power. His book, Awakening the Soul of Power, is available wherever books are sold. Find him at , and subscribe to his newsletter for more methods in mindfulness.  Like this episode? Be sure to share with your friends and write us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Power and The Prison of Security

We all know that reading is good for us. So why don’t more of us make time for it? And how do we get others, including our children, to read more?  Dr. Danny Brassell, known as “the world’s reading ambassador” doesn’t just preach the importance of reading—he models curiosity and seeds this quality in others. According to Brassell, “Your mind is like a parachute. It works better when it’s open.” With learning, we gain perspective. With perspective, we gain a better understanding of those around us. How do we unite a society that is becoming more polarized and more hasty? The answers are in books.  Dr. Danny Brassell is an educator, speaker, and author. Go to for a free copy of his book. Want to read more, but need some guidance? Join his book club at .  Like this episode? Be sure to share with your friends and write us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Becoming Curious: How Reading Can Save Us All

Successful people take risks. They also fail, and fail repeatedly. The people that we admire are the products of failure. So why are we sometimes afraid to fail ourselves?  This week on CTTN, former Division I wrestler Jim Harshaw prompts us to press the button. Surround yourself with situations that teach you how to fail--run the 5k, ask for the raise, start the business, knowing that you may not achieve your desired outcome. Then, take a productive pause and evaluate. Shine a light on failure, so that you are not only accustomed to it, but grateful for it.  Jim Harshaw, Jr. helps people lead lives of significance, success, and balance. Find him, his podcast, his TED Talk, and his programs at

Don't just normalize failure. Spotlight failure.

How many times have you been told: “just be yourself”? What if you’re still figuring out who you are? And what if you’re not even sure that you like yourself? Rob Riopel, coach, entrepreneur, and author, teaches people how to know themselves so that they can be themselves. Today, we talk about how to prioritize the things that matter to you and gain the courage to banish what doesn’t.  Think being yourself is selfish? It is. It means that you’re living a life of passion. And it’s better for everyone around you.  Rob Riopel is a growth and development coach, app designer, and serial entrepreneur. A digital copy of his best-selling book, Success Left a Clue, is available for free for CTTN listeners at .  Like this episode? Be sure to share with your friends and write us a review on Apple Podcasts.

How to Be Selfish with Rob Riopel

We’ve long been aware that technology shapes the way we act. From the printing press to the television, major technological breakthroughs also shift the course of history, and they shape the identity of a generation. This week, we discuss such a phenomenon with Dr. Rick Chromey, the author of GenTech: An American Story of Technology, Change and Who We Really Are. Dr. Chromey argues that the people of an era are defined by more than just a moniker like Baby Boomer or Gen X—the major discoveries of their time drive their existence and  impact how they work with others. How can the generations coexist and cooperate in a present that is rapidly changing? And how may we keep communication between the generations fluid, so that we enjoy a future that is inclusive for all? Dr. Rick Chromey is the founder and president of the faith-based nonprofit MANNA! Educational Services International. Find him at , and find GenTech wherever books are sold. Like this episode? Be sure to share with your friends and write us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Dr. Rick Chromey on Generational Personalities

We’re all afraid of something. So why do some of us cower while others dare to rise? This week, we sat down with John Davis, also known as The Corporate Action Hero, to learn how a stuntman hacks the flight or fight response. Davis argues that when we have faith, we latch onto the positive, exhale the negative, and continue to nourish ourselves with the air that feeds our fearlessness. If fear begets fear, then the inverse must also be true.  John Davis is a speaker, fight director, and host of the podcast “Inner Action Hero.” Visit for a copy of his free “5F” Workbook, which will teach you his five-step method for mastering your fears.  Like this episode? Be sure to share with your friends and write us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Choosing Faith in the Face of Fear with John Davis

We all have a message that we want to share with the world. But how do we overcome fear and become comfortable speaking in front of an audience?  According to Mike Acker, to connect with others, we must first identify and own our weaknesses. When we know who we are and who we are not, we shed our perceived shortcomings and become our truest selves. Then, we can hone our strengths, share our message, and impact those around us.  Mike Acker is a speaker, bestselling author, and executive trainer at ADVANCE, Coaching and Consulting. Check out his book, Speak with No Fear, available on . You can find him at    Like this episode? Be sure to share with your friends and write us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Mike Acker on Owning Yourself So You Can Serve Others

Many of us are afraid of public speaking. This week, we hear from Sean Tyler Foley, author, keynote speaker, and speaker trainer about the self-created stories that sabotage us into fear. How can we gain the trust of our audience, and ultimately, ourselves? Perhaps we aren’t afraid of public speaking; we’re afraid of public judgment.  Like this episode? Be sure to share it with your friends, and write us a review on Apple Podcasts.  Sean Tyler Foley’s The Power to Speak Naked is available for pre-order at . You can find him at .

Overcoming the Fear of Public Judgment

Hema Vyas is an Omnipreneurial Psychologist, author and speaker that specializes in Corporate Wellness & Life Leadership.  She joined me this week to discuss how our stories can determine our habits and how we can leverage trust to overcome our fears.  If your imagination is getting the best of you set aside the time to listen.  Leave us a rating and review on you Apple Podcast app while you're at it!  Enjoy! Write to CTTN Podcast:   Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @cttnpodcast

Truth cuts through fear with Hema Vyas

Dave McNeff is the author of The Work-Life Balance Myth (McGraw-Hill).  He is also a thought leader, executive advisor, jury trial consultant, profiling expert, workshop facilitator and keynote speaker.  In this weeks episode Dave shared his ideas to help people create a plan to achieve harmony in life.  His dry sense of humor had me entertained from the get-go.  Be sure to grab a copy of his book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Work-Life-Balance-Myth-Rethinking-Optimal/dp/1260468895   Write to CTTN Podcast:   For more information on JCE Consulting:  jcegrp.com

The Work-Life Balance Myth with Dave McNeff

Mark Herschberg is the author of a new book called, 'The Career Toolkit.'  He is also an instructor at MIT's Career Accelerator Program and a Fractional CTO for companies in the start-up world.  Mark guested on the show this week to talk about his book, why he wrote it and how it evolved.  It is a worthwhile read filled with practical advice for anyone at any age that might be struggling to start, change or redefine their career.   Write to CTTN Podcast:   Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @cttnpodcast  

The Career Toolkit with Mark Herschberg

Rayz Kidz is an app that enables caregivers to keep children connected with their working parents.  Cofounders, Annie Delaney and her dad, Bob Boudreau, joined me to talk about what inspired them to launch Rayz Kidz, what it's like to start a business during a pandemic and what they hope to accomplish over the next year.  You can download the Rayz Kidz app on the App Store or on Google Play.  Hope you enjoy! Write to CTTN Podcast:   Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @cttnpodcast

Connecting working parents with their children with Annie Delaney and Bob Boudreau, cofounders of Rayz Kidz

Conversations about business, people, communication, leadership and life

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Cut Through the Noise with Dave Turano

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