Past the Profile

A mutual mentor, Dr. John Reed, once told host Liz Sweigart: “You have to meet Mira.” Minutes into their first call, Liz and Dr. Mira Brancu were jumping from quantum physics to organizational power structures. A lasting friendship was born.

In this episode of Past the Profile, Mira (founder & CEO of Towerscope) retraces her journey from arriving in the United States from Romania as a young girl to psychologist, author, and arc...

A chance Hacker Hall conversation at DWeb Camp — sparked by the words “Holochain” and “Nostr” — pulled host Liz Sweigart into conversation with technologist-activist Daveed Benjamin. Within hours, they were mapping constellations of human knowledge and scheming how to weave deeper context and connection into the fabric of the Internet.

In this episode of Past the Profile, Daveed (co-author of The Metaweb: The Next Level of the Inte...

Host Liz Sweigart met Dr. Sunni Lampasso during a pandemic-era phone call arranged by a mutual colleague at the Society of Consulting Psychology. Months later they finally connected in person — walking Minneapolis streets between APA Convention sessions and bonding over a shared love of live music.

In this episode of Past the Profile, Sunni traces a career arc that runs from hedge-fund consulting to coaching international DJs. Alon...

Host Liz Sweigart connected with Dr. Jenn Serlin only a month before this conversation was recorded through a Society of Consulting Psychology (APA Diviosn 13 / SCP) listserv thread. And yet, their first Zoom felt like two long-time friends resuming an endless conversation. That instant rapport shapes this episode of Past the Profile, where Jenn — performance psychologist, executive coach, lifelong learner, and unapologetic informa...

Host Liz Sweigart first spotted Dr. Annette Kramer in a Zoom “salon” led by their mutual friend and editor, Art Kleiner. Kramer — a dancer-turned-long-18th-century scholar and self-described “fixer” — immediately stood out for her mix of scholarly rigor and playful curiosity.

In this episode of Past the Profile, Liz and Annette trace that first virtual meeting into a far-ranging conversation on authentic leadership, designing accel...

Host Liz Sweigart first met community strategist Limari Navarrete in the Redwoods of Northern California at DWeb Camp 2023, when they were placed in the same nightly “weaver group”. In this episode of Past the Profile they trace that serendipitous meeting to today, covering Limari's work with the Decentralized Identity Foundation, her passion for tech-for-good open-source projects, and a parallel journey into 500-hour yoga and Ayur...

The professional paths of host Liz Sweigart and guest Stuart Gibson first crossed at the inaugural NYU Tax Controversy Forum reception, back when Stu was Special Trial Counsel for the US Department of Justice Tax Division and Liz was a mid-career Big 4 tax advisor. Two decades, multiple career pivots, and a trans-Atlantic author-recruiting adventure later, Stu remains a plain-spoken mentor whose insights elevate every room he enter...

Immediately after recording their first conversation, host Liz Sweigart realized she had held back a key question about the family story behind Dr. Tondi Mondoloka’s dissertation finish line. Rather than let that curiosity go, the two hit “record” again.

In this short bonus episode of Past the Profile, Tondi recounts the spring 2023 crunch to defend her dissertation in time to walk at commencement—while her aunt, the very woman who...

Back in our PhD days at The Chicago School, (now Dr.) Tondi Mondoloka and I first crossed paths in lively online discussion boards, then cemented the connection during our program’s inaugural weekend residency. That spark ignited a friendship still shaping both of our journeys. In this episode of Past the Profile we retrace that journey from late-night data coding marathons to career pivots and bold creative leaps, exploring how to...

Join Dr. Tracey Benson and Dr. Liz Sweigart as they reflect on their serendipitous meeting at a conference in Brisbane — where being a little lost led to finding an unexpected and enduring connection.

In this episode, Tracey and Liz explore the richness of perception, memory, and what it means to co-create meaning over time. Tracey opens up about the values that guide her beyond the professional bio: a deep commitment to community,...

Join Dr. Virginia Whitlock and Dr. Liz Sweigart for a heartfelt conversation about legacy, leadership, and the relationships that shape us.

What began in an online classroom has grown into a friendship rooted in respect, vulnerability, and a shared commitment to equity. In this episode, they reflect on their personal and professional journeys—navigating academia, allyship, and the often unseen labor of building spaces where others ...

Join Dr. Lata Dhir as she unravels the nuances of creating genuine human connections, drawing upon her personal experiences and passions in cultivating safe spaces. Delve into the transformative power of positive psychology, leadership development, and the importance of leveraging strengths over weaknesses.

In this episode, Dr. Dhir shares her journey as an educator, a woman, a mother, and a wife, revealing the struggles and triump...

Mark Curtis is the CEO of HiveWise, Board Chair at Washi, Inc., and a lifelong builder of tools that help teams think better together.

In this premiere episode of Past the Profile, Mark answers five (not-so-fast) questions that reveal what really drives him. We go beyond the bio to explore participative leadership, ancient artifacts, and why real leadership begins after the decision is made.

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn: https://w...