January 23, 2024 • 45 mins
As the leaves in Central Park whispered their secrets, I found myself walking beside the remarkable Nadia Carta, a beacon of hope and transformation whose life's tapestry is woven with threads of liberation, ambition, and the sheer power of technology. Nadia, with her roots in Sardinia and branches reaching high in the New York skyline through her roles at Google and as the entrepreneurial mind behind Sparkier Zeal and 99 Humans, shares her poignant escape from the confines of her Jehovah's Witness upbringing. Her journey underscores the essence of pursuing one's true calling and how technology, particularly AI, magnifies our abilities to touch lives far and wide.
Imagine the sheer potency of AI not as a distant concept, but as a present force, catalyzing change across data analytics and numerous industries, preparing us for a cookie-less future and empowering global communities. Nadia's intimate account of leading a team at Google peels back the layers on the humanity within the machine—how curiosity and the human touch shape the algorithms that are reshaping our world. This episode is also a treasure trove for those stepping into the workforce, igniting a spark of inquisitiveness and the importance of crafting intelligent queries for our ever-learning machines.
Our conversation then takes a turn into the world of podcasting with a spotlight on 99 Humans, a series capturing the unfiltered narratives of industry trailblazers. Nadia and I dissect the challenges and triumphs of podcast creation, from the steadfast goal of recording 99 meaningful conversations to navigating the waters of partnership dynamics. The episode's crescendo is a deep dive into the nurturing of one's 'garden of zeal', pruning life's 'dead ends', and embracing the serene touch of nature, all of which paint a vivid picture of a life lived with purpose and peace. Join us for a heartening story of growth, transformation, and the relentless pursuit of a life that's not just successful, but also truly fulfilling.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Alright.
So, Nadia Carta, are you okaywith being recorded on a podcast
?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
I'm very okay Well there goes that liability.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
This is.
I Took a Hike.
I'm your host, darren Mass,founder of business therapy
group and Parktime WildernessPhilosopher.
Here we step out of theboardrooms and home offices and
into the great outdoors wherethe hustle of entrepreneurship
meets the rustle of nature.
In this episode, we experiencethe life of Nadia Carta, an
Italian-born American with awarm personality and a heart of
(00:30):
gold.
Hike along as we experience theambiance of a bustling central
park filled with inspirationalconversation.
Our topics include thoughts ofAI, fear as a metaphor,
authentic values, your timecalculation and picking yourself
up when you fall off the bikeof life.
I was delighted, inspired andenergized when I took a hike
(00:52):
with Nadia Carta.
This episode is sponsored byChallenger Network Services.
Embark on a tech adventure withChallenger Network Services,
proudly veteran-owned anddedicated to the full life cycle
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(01:12):
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Whether you're scaling thetechnology heights of
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Visit ChallengerTelecomnet orcall 646-723-9999 to experience
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Challenger Network Serviceswhere technology meets the trail
(01:35):
for a connected expedition, allright.
So who are you and where areyou from?
Let's start with that.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
So, as you can tell from my accent, I am Italian.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
I can tell.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
It's always.
I like to get it out of the way, because then people start
wondering and then my accent ismore the attraction rather than
what I say.
Okay, so I'm Italian and Imoved to New York three years
ago with my family and I work atGoogle.
That's my nine to five and Irun two side gigs.
One is called Sparkier Zeal andthe other one is called 99
(02:10):
Humans.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Wow, okay, so you are a very busy person.
So when you were living inItaly, did you find that growing
up there offered you the ideallife?
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Not at all I dreamed about finding a place that was
large enough to contain me, andI guess I was in a soul
searching path.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
That eventually blossomed here in New York.
I always believed that everyonehas a purpose in life and our
job is to find that and, once wefind it, to gift it to the
world.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
So what is your purpose?
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Well, so it's a big question to be answered in one
sentence.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
It's a big question to start an episode, but you let
us there.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
I found through deep searching that my job is to
transform lives by kindlinghearts of people.
There was this pattern that washappening that after I was
meeting people, everyone wouldsay I get so energized by being
with you and you really grins meall the happiness and the joy.
(03:17):
And so I started working with acoach to find out what it was
because, this was a consistentpattern, and so I decided two
years ago to channel it andagain to create this spark your
zero thing, because my desire isthat everyone eventually is
able to live in a state wherethey are passionate about
(03:38):
whatever they're doing in life.
Like you with your podcast,like I love.
You have so much passion on it,you do it so professionally and
so thoughtfully and my dream isthat everyone can get to do
that, because life is too short.
I believe we live in a momentin society that is so unique.
We have so much technology infront of us and literally with
(03:59):
just a phone and an internetconnection, you can really
create magic.
That's right.
So the difference is really areyou living in existence where
it's only about yourself, whichis fine?
It's not judgment, and thereare people that are happy like
that, but then those of us thathave a purpose.
So the life call is a bit willwas a concept, but I believe
(04:22):
there are individuals that arebrought into the universe on the
planet with a mission andunless you unleash it, this
energy is going to stay in yourbody and it's not going to be
good.
I had a moment three years agothat I said unless I'm creating
a channel to release this energy, I'm afraid it's going to make
(04:43):
me sick because it's too much.
And so what you said about thescale when you have this call,
finding a way for people to hearit it's what you're meant to do
.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
You choose your medium, yes, and you have a
podcast and obviously this is apodcast and this has become the
medium, the megaphone.
Which is beautiful.
So, I want to take a step back,though, to Italy, though,
because I am curious about Italy.
What is it like to grow up inSardinia?
You said that Italy couldn'tcontain you.
Is it Sardinia couldn't, or allof Italy could not contain you?
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Without getting too personal, there are a few things
that, for me, were extremelylimiting.
First and foremost was that mymom raised me in a Jehovah
Witness community.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Oh, okay, that's interesting.
That's a world that many of ushave heard but don't really
understand.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
And it's a very and again, no judgment.
I believe in freedom and I'mvery progressive and I believe
that everyone should do whateverthey feel compelled to do in
the respect of others.
What I found is that I don'tsit well with limitations and
you know, these type ofcommunities are very limiting to
(05:55):
the individual freedom Okay,which means that you need to
obey to very restrictive rulesand it's all about the time that
you spend preaching.
You know, I was going door todoor to preach the Bible at age
10.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Okay, so that's what I know of the stereotypical
Jehovah's Witness is yes, youcome to my door.
It's usually around dinner time.
Yes, and most people areprobably not super kind.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yes, they're very persistent.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Persistent and rude and not understanding, so I'm
sure you've had a lot ofdoerslammed.
We also know that you don'tcelebrate certain holidays.
Right Like birthdays and allthat.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Which was highly traumatizing as a kid.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
So do you know where I'm going with this?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Yes, so I knew a kid.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
His name was James.
We'll leave his last name out,doesn't matter.
He was a Jehovah's Witnessgrowing up and nobody understood
it, and he did a very bad jobexplaining it.
Yes, because we always used tosay to him when's your birthday,
right?
So what is that?
What is the reasoning behind it?
And no, this is not a religiousshow.
We'll move on beyond that.
I just I'm curious.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah, yeah, no, of course I'm happy to so, because
all of these celebrations havepagan roots.
So even the act of blowing acandle is for the spirits to, I
think was to be channeled orgoing away, something that is
about spirits, and so Jehovah'sWitnesses have a big repulsion
(07:15):
for anything that is esoteric.
I grew up being terrifiedbecause they were brainwashing
me about being scared about thedevil, about spirits.
You know, heavy metal music wassomething absolutely forbidden,
so a lot of things that youknow.
For them, anything that isoutside the box of control,
(07:37):
which is their own Bible andtheir own dogmas, are something
not to be practiced, especiallyand, by the way, this is the
same for Christianity.
I did a lot of research onChristmas, for example, in
Eastern time, all of thosecelebrations.
Eventually, before becomingChristian things, they were
(07:57):
pagans.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
All religions do borrow from the next and
sometimes it's very purposeful.
And we also know that somereligions will borrow certain
holidays or traditions to almosterase these other religions
holidays and traditions.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
There you go.
That's exactly it, and so.
But the thing that for me, wasthe tightest about the Jehovah's
Witness communities was thisconcept that I couldn't have the
freedom to date where I wanted.
I couldn't have the freedom toeven decide which college or
very limited, and as a woman,because I'm also a big feminist
(08:31):
as a woman, any position ofleadership within the community
is assigned to a male, and so Igrew up going, which you also
see in lots of religions.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Lots of religions there are lots of extreme
religions and cultures, whichit's crazy.
It's crazy.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Right, and so for me that I was a bright kid, I was
very good in all my studies.
We were going to this thousandsof people, conferences I'm sure
you've seen it and all thesemen were on stage preaching and
preaching and preaching.
I mean, eventually I found mylove to public speaking through
that.
But as a woman I didn't haveaccess to any of it, and so
(09:11):
eventually, when I was 16, whichis a story I tell often in my
events when I do public speakingmy mom bought me a Commodore 64
and the internet, and throughthe internet I started chatting
with strangers.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Now, did your mom know this?
No, okay so you know, just tojump ahead a little later on.
Did your mom ever think backand say I should have never
bought you that computer?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
So I never confessed her.
Okay, and you know, she passedaway 10 years ago and this is
one of my biggest regrets inlife, that she and I never sat
down to have that conversation.
Eventually she forgave me forleaving the community because I
left at 18 and I said I don'twant to even hear about you guys
(10:02):
.
And when she passed away shepassed away being a very loyal
and faithful job witness shestill said I'm sure I'm going to
see you in the afterwardpre-convert and I said well, mom
, I don't think it can happen.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
But you kept the communications with your parents
even after you left.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Well, she didn't speak to me for six months after
I left and then she forgave meand then, you know, when she was
sick with a very bad cancer, Iwas her primary caregiver and so
I had a relationship with herthat eventually started to heal.
It took me many years.
I actually healed it thissummer.
You know I do a littlespiritual work with her.
(10:46):
It's a whole.
I wrote a book about it that isgoing to be published next year
.
My dad I didn't speak to himfor 20 years.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
It's a whole new chapter that's going to be hard,
but then he decided to visit mein New York this September and
he was absolutely fabulous.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Out of the blue.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I forgave him two years ago.
I sent him a text and I saidlet's, you know, water under the
bridge, let's be a family.
And he was so happy.
And then he said you know, Iknow you're not going to come
back to Sardinia because youdon't enjoy it fully, so I'm
going to come to you.
And I said, wow, okay, Wowthat's big.
So, age 66, without seeing itstarted for 20 years, he decided
(11:25):
to come.
It's the power of forgiveness,like it makes your life.
I feel so light now and healed,and I had huge rocks holding me
back and now I feel at peace.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Okay, we'll get into those, but.
But the power of forgiveness ishuge, right, it's.
You don't have to be religiousto understand that when you hold
on to these negative feelings,right, these vengeful feelings,
it holds you back, right, soit's.
You have to be willing toforgive.
There's, there's been plenty oftimes where I've held a grudge
(11:58):
and then, you know, the innervoice in me says you know what?
Figure out a way to apologizefor, give, get past it, because
it's holding you back.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Well, yes, and I want to dive or click on that on a
minute.
I've wrote, I've read anarticle about it a few weeks ago
, because I believe that whenyou're holding grudges, any
grudges that, whatever, that isnot only I believe it makes you
sick, and there's a lot ofEastern medicine that is proving
that it also hinders yourrelationship in the workspace
(12:26):
and in life.
Like I was always super angry,I was always whipping myself
down and the moment I found thebliss, everything around me is
starting to flow, corporationsespecially.
There's so much conflictbetween people.
I've been a guru for 15 yearsnow and I worked in any region.
(12:47):
I can tell you I have workedwith people that were not very
nice to be around.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Oh, I can imagine so, the people that are not very
nice.
There's no balance, right?
You know that something iswrong in their lives.
And it's hard to call thoseindividuals successful Right.
They could be successful at thejob or a position, but they're
not successful in life.
And that's really the purposeof this podcast, is one not only
to teach some businessinspirational messages, but it's
(13:13):
also to find that successfulbalance, because that's what's
most important.
We all know can't take moneywith you.
You can leave it to your familyand destroy them if you have
too much of it, but the happypeople that die happy, the ones
that feel fulfilled, they foundthat balance.
So, amen, we are going toexplore balance.
(13:33):
Hey, listener, thanks forhiking along with us.
Discover more episodes atiTokaHikecom, or to recommend an
adventurous guest, apply to bea sponsor, discover books along
the trail or to simply drop us aline.
So let's pivot now.
So you work at Google, I do.
What is your role at Google?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
So I lead a team in charge of data transformation
for agency clients.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Okay, what does that mean?
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Well, so I'm sure you've seen the two letters that
are the most used, two lettersin the internet these days,
which is AI.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Yeah, I've seen that.
I've dabbled in it.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
It's absolutely amazing all that you can do and
scale and transform.
And my team mission we, let'ssay we aspire to help our
clients to leverage all the datathat they have and all the data
that they see on, and transformthis data and meaningful
insights to then scale and growand maximize their ROI.
(14:30):
Everyone that has we're talkingabout big clients right, I mean
the business of big clients,enterprise business.
Any enterprise company sits ina big wealth of data and not
always they know how to utilizeit well to maximize and optimize
and scale.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
And so what my team and I do is that we show them
and teach them how, by utilizingenterprise technologies
specifically applied toadvertising, they can not only
get prepared for the changesahead in the industry, like next
year with the cookies and allof that but also we show them
(15:10):
that they already sit into awealth of information that can
be activated anytime.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Okay, so that's boring, I know that's right.
Can't hold that back.
Yeah, that's a snooze festright there.
So let me ask you the honestquestion Do you love what you do
at Google, or is that thereason why you have ventured on
your own to do other?
We'll call it moreinspirational?
Speaker 2 (15:39):
So I'm gonna give you a super honest answer.
The piece that I love about myjob is the people angle.
What I found is that All that Ido that surrounds my life
actually makes my job moreeffective and more interesting
and more appealing.
(16:00):
And then the business elementof it.
There are some pieces,especially the most
transformational one, that arereally, really, really making me
extremely curious and awful,because the moment in time where
we are right now so I'm a geekat heart right In high school I
was coding Really Nice, whatlanguage?
(16:22):
Well, I learned in Kabul.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Well, I knew you were going to say Kabul, for some
reason.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
It was so whenever I was on my computer 64 at night
coding.
Then I had another littlewindow chatting with a stranger,
and so I'm really attracted byunderstanding our systems work
and our technology works and howit can help and all of it.
Now, the reason why I'm in lovewith AI lately and it's not
just to say but who cannot be isbecause, when utilized well,
(16:52):
this technology can really helppeople at scale in the world
fulfill their basic needs.
I give you an example I have apodcast, I spoke about it and my
podcast editor lives in Nigeriaand with the salary that he
gets, I might live in New Mexico.
All right, there you go.
(17:12):
And we found this throughLinkedIn and with the tools they
utilize this and with thesalary that he makes, with the
salary I give him monthly I meanI don't know the cost of living
in Nigeria, but I'm sure I amhelping his family and himself
to give a better life or mygraphic designer is in Bali.
(17:34):
So, with the use of AI, if youare a solo trep in or if you're
someone that even you arefinding your own path, you don't
have to wait for a corporationto hire you.
That's right.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
And if I real quick, if I may.
We live in a world today whereGen Z doesn't really want to go
work there you go.
The work force in thetraditional corporate world, but
the opportunity to create, tostart a business, which is my
passion you will always hear mespeak about.
You know, if you have a visionand a passion, quit your job, go
(18:09):
embark upon that road.
Now.
It's so easy to start abusiness.
Yes, follow your passion.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
And you know, if I think about when, 22 years ago,
I was in Sardinia and I wasfeeling miserable and I didn't
know what to do, fast forwardnow.
Everyone that has a phone,everyone that has a little of
curiosity, you can download freetools.
There are free tools everywhere.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
So what would be your advice to somebody who is
starting out in the work world,but they do have this concept or
this notion should they go towork?
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Look, I do a lot of mentoring in colleges and when I
think about myself in yourplace, I'm like I wish there was
someone back in the days thatwould have lifted me.
I mean, it would have saved mea lot of traumas.
My advice is to get out and becurious, and if you are a human
on this planet, you cannot notknow what's going on, digitally
(19:05):
speaking, and you know I have alot of people that work, for
example, in agriculture orfarming the way these
technologies are transformingand making also that better.
So to say that if technologies,if digital, is not your thing
and maybe you're more intonature, also that there's
applications or health oh my God, I've never searched in health.
(19:26):
You know, my mom passed awayfrom cancer because she found it
out too late.
All these screenings that arenow available with AI
technologies embedded are goingto change the world of health,
so you can detect cancers 10years in advance.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Just to clarify she's saying health, yeah, health,
health, health.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Yeah, my accent.
Anyways, what AI is is a systemable to analyze an enormous
amount of data and makepredictions out of it.
Yes, so that means that if youhave your lab results from 10
years, for example, and they areanalyzed by a platform, that
(20:10):
platform is able to identifyseries of behaviors through that
data and apply that topredictive insights.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
So if you had kids that were getting ready to go to
college, right?
Fast track what would be theadvice you would give those kids
?
What type of career or majorshould they consider?
Speaker 2 (20:29):
I talk about it a lot of months, and for me it goes
back to developing anintelligent way to understand
and question, because thosemachines are going to be only as
good as the questions thatyou're going to prompt them with
and the systems.
And so it's when you have aconversation with someone, there
(20:51):
are coaches out there thatcharge you $2,000 per hour, and
some person might say what is itin these two hours, in these
2,000?
Well, it's their ability to askyou powerful questions to get
to the root cause or whateverlies in subconscious.
And so for me, if you are a kidthat you're going to college
unless you're deciding to take avery technical discipline
(21:14):
meaning yeah, trade a specifictrade.
You know you're like OK, I wantto learn how to build a
generative AI app for thefarming industry.
Ok, then you need to go into atechnical side Software
development.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Software development exactly CES or something.
There you go.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
But if you are more into the, let's say, usability
side of things, I would go andstudy how to prompt those tools.
And there's a lot of newdisciplines that are coming out.
I mean, we're going toexperience in 10 years from now,
when my daughter we'll have togo to college, there will be
disciplines that today we don'teven know about it.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
But even when I Well true, 10 years ago, I didn't
know what AI was, did you?
When I applied to you mighthave, you would Google.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
No, I didn't know, because when I was 18 and I was
in Sardinia and I said to my momthat I wanted to start
communication and marketing, myprofessor also told her she
should go in informationtechnology.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
And I would be miserable.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
You know I would be like, oh well, I'm not in a
software development industry,like I love hanging out with
people.
Actually, one of the reasonswhy I didn't go to information
technology?
Because I could code and I wascoding really well.
But then I was isolating myselfand I started having mental
health problems because I wouldstay in my laptop coding for
weeks without even living in mybedroom.
It suits some personalities.
(22:30):
And then it's about searching.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
But it's a depressing personality because you're
spending zero time on yourself,zero time Including physical
activity.
You're sitting at a desk andliterally just coding and
hacking away.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Which, by the way, again it goes back to AI.
There are going to betechnologies Like there wouldn't
be the need of doing the thingsyou and I were doing of coding
programs of two, three thousandof lines, because the system is
going to do it.
The systems that corporations,including Google and Amazon and
you know there's an AI councilLike there's people, very smart
(23:03):
individuals, that are working onit as a collective.
This, for me, is not anymoreone of those industry projects
where there's competition.
This is about the collective tocome together and define what
good looks like so that we canall benefit and we can all
mitigate the associated risks.
What excites me is that atleast we are talking about it
(23:26):
right.
Think about it.
These technologies have beenavailable and companies were
working on it since seven plusyears.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Well, they've been working on it before we even
knew what it was.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
And then like everything.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
It just popped up Chat, gbt and Poof, now
everything is a Exactly Too fast, too fast.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Wow, I don't know, because I mean the action that
OpenAI took about making itpublic.
They made public a very smallpiece of it.
That is about using this toolto write your emails or writing
articles and creating prettyimages and journey and things
(24:05):
like that.
Now, what we are talking aboutabout machines, recreating
yourself and et cetera requiresa level of skill set and a level
of sophistication that Iwouldn't assume is available to
the masses.
So promptly.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
I hope that some of the stuff that we have is not as
readily as available.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Exactly what I'll say is that I would rather have it
on her face than in hiding.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Yes, I will agree that if it's out in the open
then hopefully more people canpolice it.
And I know we're only talkingsurface level.
But I don't want to soundnegative because I love AI and
what I can do.
Anybody in this industry isbeing affected by it, like
journalism.
There's a screen actors guild,which we saw right.
They were on strike for a longtime because of AI, or at least
(24:56):
primarily because of AI.
Yeah, they're going to have topivot.
They're going to have to pivottheir own careers.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
That is the negative side Transform it, transform it.
And I mean I don't know howmuch people are using it, but
all the time that I personallyuse it, it does require humans
again to use it.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Well, you have to be the conductor.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Exactly, and it's not the magic wand that suddenly
it's going to solve everything.
My POV is that it will enhancea lot of activities and a lot of
industry and possibly making itbetter.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
Hey listener, thanks for hiking along with us.
Discover more episodes atiqtokahikecom, or to recommend
an adventurous guest, apply tobe a sponsor, discover books
along the trail, or to simplydrop us a line.
By the way, this is my favoritespot in.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Central Park.
I know this is gorgeous.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
Might be one of my favorite spots in the world, to
be quite honest.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
It's so beautiful.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Let's talk about your podcast for a second.
What do you do on your podcast?
Speaker 2 (25:56):
99 Humans was born from a book Okay, meaning my
co-host, jeff one day.
So he's a writer, he publishedseveral books, he's a very
successful New York mass sellerand one day he comes and says
would you like to write a bookwith me?
And writing a book has alwaysbeen my dream and I'm hoping to
(26:18):
publish next year two of mybooks and it goes and says I
know I'm dreaming about it andI'm close and he goes would you
like to write a book with meabout leadership?
So both he and I lead teams atGoogle.
We've been leading for a longtime and we have very strong
leadership principles and I saidyes, so I lead with yes.
(26:39):
That's one of my lifeprinciples.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Absolutely Opportunity.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Right and abundance.
And so I go yes, let's do it.
I never done it before, but ifyou're choosing me, it means
that there's a reason why you'recoming to me with us and we
start interviewing people andit's about authentic leadership.
This is not about theentrepreneur magazine leadership
.
It's not about how good I amand how fantastic I am.
This is about what are thetimes that I messed up as a
(27:05):
leader and what did I learnabout it and how that makes me a
better leader.
So it's all centered aroundstories.
Anyway, we start interviewingfolks and when we were around 15
interviews, I looked at themand I said these interviews are
amazing.
I said there's no reason why weshould keep them as notes.
Why don't we start publishingthem if the guests are okay with
(27:27):
it?
And so we designed all thebrand and we decided it was 99
humans, because 100 is tooperfect, whereas 99 and 9 is a
little bit that thing.
That is not there yet, but it'simperfect.
And it became very quickly anindustry reference point,
sometimes actually also lastweek I was advertising week and
(27:48):
people were like, oh, I heardthem.
I was listening to the lastguest.
It was so awesome and peoplestart talking about it, can I be
on the show and things likethat, and so what I like the
most about it is really gettingpersonal with the people around
things that, for them, are somoving.
On Friday I cried twice withone of the guests.
(28:09):
Oh wow, it was so emotional.
They were talking about thingsabout their lives and everything
.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
What was the aspect that made you cry?
Speaker 2 (28:18):
Well, this is a very successful man that has his own
startup and has done many yearsin the corporations.
But his story started when hewas 15 and living in a very
small, rural Italian city,italian town, and he says how he
(28:39):
broke his leg at a very youngage playing football and how
that event eventually changed.
And you know, it was the wholething.
I don't know if it's how it wassaying in it, but I projected
myself in it.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
It was a personal enough story to really resonate
with you.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
It was so personal and I got you.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Didn't break his leg riding bike, did he?
Speaker 2 (28:58):
No, that was not riding a bike, even though I
know plenty of people who broketheir legs riding a bike, which
is probably why I don't hit it.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
I never broke anything.
Well, I don't want today to bethe first day.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
I never broke a leg or thing, nothing.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
All right, well, hopefully we're not wishing that
in the universe.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Maybe the time's good .
Anyways, we will record 99, andthat's it we decided.
Then you stop then, we stop,then we're gonna be done.
I don't know if maybe therewill be a season two, season
three.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
I have no idea about what we decided you record 99
episodes, since a season isnormally 12.
I need my handy calculator forthis one, but that's multiple
seasons.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Yeah, well, it's two years of show because we publish
on a weekly basis.
Okay, so we published 43 rightnow, so we're off way and.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
That's a lot of podcasts.
A podcast is a lot of work, huh.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Is so much work so much.
I don't think many peopleunderstand how much work goes
into an episode is so much workand it's a dedication because
it's so much work, we can onlyget where we get Yep, and so our
priority, we always said thatThree are the things that are
holding us into this.
We're gonna do 99, and thereason why I say this is because
(30:20):
when you decide that you'regonna do something, regardless
we like, regardless of views,regardless of feedback,
regardless of we for time, weare committed.
We're gonna 99.
So you set a goal, you committo it exactly like no flags, no
changes until we hit 99.
We keep going and, and you know, when you have a partner in a
project, I think it's importantto declare what the north star
(30:42):
is and that there's no way out.
We looked ourselves in the eyesmy cost and I and we said we
are doing 99, do we agree?
Speaker 1 (30:50):
And so we said so that, right, there is an
important we'll call thatanother asterisk Fact that we
can apply to business as well.
Right, doing something on yourown as a solopreneur is one
thing.
Setting goals you are beholdento yourself.
Having a trusted partner thatcompletes you, so to speak,
fills in the gaps of yourweaknesses, right, and you do
(31:10):
the same for them.
Now, you're beholden to eachother and it's magical.
If you have the right partner,right, you could succeed
together.
And when you commit, you'recommitting and boosting each
other up.
Together you have a betterchance of success.
As a partnership.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Yes, it's important to set expectations.
So that's right, because iflet's say, for example, that I
wanted to do 99 and maybe he was, oh, I'll do 99 only if,
because there's money investment, you know of course, episodes
are expensive.
They're so expensive and youknow on everything platforms,
(31:47):
editors and services with thatsame what time?
Speaker 1 (31:52):
we always forget that .
You, you forgot it too.
We always forget our time has amonetary value.
Totally set.
What your monetary value is onyour time.
Everybody should do that.
What is my time worth on anhourly basis?
I can assure you this.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
If you set a number, what is it?
150 an hour, 200 an hour, athousand, two thousand an hour?
Whatever you think your time isworth and just be honest with
yourself, right?
If you're not a two thousand anhour player, then don't book
yourself at that rate.
But, now, whenever you're goingto do anything, something that
you don't want to do, calculatehow much that's going to cost
you in time value.
(32:27):
Yeah, that right, there isgoing to be the differentiator
In outsourcing.
We're just not doing it at all.
Oh my god.
Hey, listener.
Thanks for hiking along with us.
Discover more episodes at Itook a hikecom.
Or to recommend an adventurousguest, apply to be a sponsor,
discover books along the trail.
Or to simply drop us a line.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
I'm so grateful you brought outsourcing, because
that was my point number two,which is, once we committed to
the 99, we had a conversationabout what, what, which were the
things that we Enjoy doing andwhich were the things that we
were dreading, because we saidwe only gonna do it if we have
fun and happiness and it's ahigh vibrational experience
versus dragging in it.
(33:10):
And that's where we say becauseinitially we were doing all by
ourselves.
We even tried editing ourselvesand managing all the game.
It was like a mountainbootstrapping it.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
What boots?
It's called bootstrapping.
Oh my god, bootstrappingabsolutely works.
I am a fundamental believer inbootstrapping.
You should bootstrap everystartup concept, and I don't
care how wealthy you are.
Bootstrap your business and putyourself in every single aspect
of your business, and then youcould determine what needs to be
outsourced.
Yes, yes, but if you don't godown the road of working every
(33:40):
position.
You don't know how to spendyour money wisely.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
I agree because that will.
That will let you appreciatethe people you hire so much more
, because you know what getsinto it.
I still, on friday, I wascoding my old newsletters.
I told you about this and Isaid I want to understand what
is the work and everything.
Anyway, with my partner, jeff,we said, okay, let's list it all
(34:04):
out and let's understand howmuch investment each of us can
put into it to outsource thoseum Activities.
And so we did.
That was the second thing.
And once we outsourced and wefound people, that was 10x
better.
And then the third thing isthat we are very I don't know
what would be the good word forthis but we wanted to really
(34:27):
hold ourselves into our valuesand into picking the right
guests and make sure the storieswe're hearing Are in line with
our integrity.
So you're.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
You're authentic.
Your values are purposeful andauthentic.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
There you go, and this happened it only one time.
We were in a situation where wesaw a guest was a type of guest
we wanted and during theinterview it turned out very
differently, and in that momentwe were confronted with a choice
, which was do we let the guestgoing wherever they're going or
(35:04):
we interject and we bring itback?
And so I had this conversation.
We haven't published it yet.
We will if the guest will giveus their approval.
But in this conversation theguest was sharing something that
was absolutely opposite to someof my values as a feminist and
as a woman in the workenvironment.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
Strong opinions.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
Strong opinions and I had to interrupt and you know
we had a little bit ofdisagreement on the show.
And then when at the end mypartner and I always do a
reflection on the show and I hadto say out loud that I was
fundamentally not in agreementwith those things because I
(35:45):
didn't want to give theperception that suddenly I'm
flipping, like my values are soimportant to me.
Speaker 1 (35:51):
Well, that's all we are, is a collection of our
values.
So it's, I am proud of you andI applaud you for that.
But you know one, it is yourshow.
And two, you know you, at leastfrom knowing you.
You at least listened to theother person's opinions, but
your values will never bewavering.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Yeah, totally, I will always listen and offer the
space, and.
But there are certain things.
Look, I'm typically a centerperson, like I'm not an extreme
individual, outside of very fewtopics.
For me, there are a couple oftopics that are like red zones,
(36:32):
in which my ideas are soanchored, and these typically
are freedom.
Freedom until you like.
I want to explain freedom,because it's not that now
everyone is free to go and killpeople and do whatever.
Freedom with respect, yeah,like you are free to live your
life as you wish until you areexpecting those around you and
(36:55):
you are ner her thing and youare offering the same freedom to
others.
Ok, so for me this is numberone, and then the second one is
women's rights.
For me is a complete red zone.
My heart broke last year withall the things with abortion and
because I have two daughters,this is a topic that I like.
(37:17):
It's so dear to my heart.
Speaker 1 (37:18):
I mean, I'm a woman, so it's kind of dear to my heart
.
I married a woman and I havethree daughters.
So I live in a bubble where Imust say I think women have more
power today than men.
I hope I look at my childrenand I want them to succeed very
well.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
But it's funny because you would think that
that's the norm.
Speaker 1 (37:40):
It is not the norm outside of this country.
That is not the norm.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
There are so many micro aggressions, even in this
world.
I mean again, remember, inplaces like Texas you cannot get
an abortion, and yeah, that'sbecause we allow politics and
religion to intertwine, andwe're not supposed to, because
I'm fairly certain this countryof America was founded on
religious freedom, butseparation of religion and state
(38:06):
, right, church and state.
I don't want to get political.
I'll tell you, though, that Iyou know both my daughters, so
Barbie the movie with me, andthat sparked some deep
conversations, and in my familywe actively talk about what
Patrick means, and I work in aprimarily male dominated
(38:27):
industry, and it's it's not done.
Women now.
I don't remember the year, butwomen started voting not long
ago.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
I probably going to get the date wrong, so I will
say it was in the 48 40s, 50s, Idon't know yeah.
I don't know what year was theSeneca Convention.
I do remember that figure.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
It was 48.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
Yeah, it was the Seneca Convention.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
But so this is to say that, even if we believe that
we have freedom, we are hangingin such a thin thread that it
scares me, and so, especiallywhen it comes to respecting
women's needs around our healthand our minorities, you're
(39:13):
telling me yes for women in myhouse.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
I'm doomed.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
Oh you are.
You are very tough live, andnot to mention your expenses for
tampons.
Speaker 1 (39:23):
Yeah, so are you saying I need to start up a
business that makes tampons?
Speaker 2 (39:28):
I mean now.
It's all about your reusableunderwear.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
Great, I'm doomed.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
What I'll say is that women, for the first time in
history we I don't want togeneralize, not everyone, but
let's say that women finallyhave financial freedom to access
and buy whatever.
You know, back in the days, awoman needed to ask their
husband permission to spend.
Like, if we think about it'scrazy.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
So this is the world that I clearly do not know about
and I don't claim to know aboutbecause you know more recent
than I've been in this worldwith, with my children being
young.
So, yeah, I'm learning everyday.
I had I have no idea that womenhad to ask to spend.
Speaker 2 (40:15):
It's well, think about it.
A woman was just in the kitchenpreparing food and
administering the house, and theman was the one that was
producing and bringing money.
And so I'm not talking aboutthe super privileged and wealthy
that they were just taking thecheck and sending their husband
to pay.
I'm talking about a woman thateven to go to the hairdresser
(40:36):
maybe needed, you know, herhusband to give her fifty
dollars or whatever that was.
Anyway, the bottom line is thathaving our freedom financially,
our freedom of action, ourfreedom of thoughts, also comes
with responsibility, and sowomen rights is another.
The subject where I'mcompletely Faithful is there's
(40:59):
no negotiation.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
So, nadia, what are some of the most important
learning lessons that you canoffer as a conclusion to this
show?
Speaker 2 (41:08):
Oh, such a tough question.
Speaker 1 (41:10):
I ask tough questions sometimes.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
Well, I mean, look, number one is what we started
Like find your life purpose,whatever it is.
If your life purpose is to makepeople happy by baking the most
amazing cakes in the universe,do it.
Speaker 1 (41:23):
Make the best cakes in the world.
Speaker 2 (41:25):
Make the best cakes in the world.
So it's really about taking thetime to understand what are
your gifts, what are yourtalents and what are you brought
into the universe to accomplish, because that, for me, is the
definition of utmost happiness,and it's so unique and it's
special, and when you will bebusy doing that, that's when
(41:48):
you'll be one of the mostamazing people to hang out with.
Speaker 1 (41:51):
Yes, so I love that right.
I could summarize that insaying follow your passion, do
what you love right.
Money will follow a passion ifyou do pair that as your desire.
But you will become a moreinteresting person and at the
end of the day, people want tohang out with interesting people
.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
Well, you'll attract the opportunities that are meant
for you.
The journal notebook that Iwill publish next year, which is
the Eleven Ways to Spark yourZeal.
One of the eleven is to buildwhat I call a garden of zeal,
which is building your life, asit was a beautiful garden with
(42:29):
flowers and trees and anything,so that the bees, which are the
opportunities, are going to flyyour way and they're going to
come and make your life rich,versus you spending time chasing
.
For me, this is one of the mostmagical and transformative
principles of life.
So this is one.
And then number two is I'mgoing to say it's going to sound
(42:53):
, probably very rough, but it iscut the dead end.
Cut the dead end.
And for me, the cut, the deadend, means really taking an
inventory of your life on whatis holding you back and finally,
like sometimes, as people, weall have that friend that likes
to complain.
Sometimes it can be familymembers, sometimes it can be
(43:14):
content.
There are people that areaddicted to consuming content
and it's not uplifting them, andit's actually bringing them
down.
Speaker 1 (43:20):
Oh, it's so easy to get sucked into the negative
today.
Speaker 2 (43:23):
So cut the dead end.
Speaker 1 (43:24):
Cut the negative Negativity.
Speaker 2 (43:26):
Yeah, whatever it takes to protect your zeal
that's how I call it, becauseeventually that's the only thing
you need.
And then look the number three.
I want to quote something yousaid in one of your shows.
I mean not to make you happy,but Thanks.
Speaker 1 (43:40):
You don't know.
Please don't make me happy.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
We have all that we need accessible to us in a way,
and so this walk, for exampletoday in Central Park, really
reminded me, for me, like thisplace is half an hour from where
I leave, and being in naturechanged completely my
perspective on my day of theweek or everything.
And again, it's about centeringon what we need to be happy and
(44:10):
to be motivated and be grounded, and so nature, I find, at
least for me.
Again, all the witches willagree that nature is one of
those elements, and I know incities sometimes it's not always
possible, but even in a citylike New York, you know, there's
a park, there are trees likesame trees, there's tons of
parks in the city.
Right, and so finding whatmakes you grounded and centered
(44:33):
for me is nature.
Yeah, it really.
Nature and water really allowsyou to be at peace with yourself
.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
Well, that does make me happy because the message is
being heard.
That's an important message.
I appreciated this journeythrough Central Park.
Certainly.
I know we took a winding roadand a winding path and a winding
journey and conversation, butyou are certainly an
inspirational person.
Do you believe you aresuccessful?
Speaker 2 (44:59):
And going on a bike.
Speaker 1 (45:02):
Let's go with life first.
Speaker 2 (45:04):
My biggest success is that I'm in peace with myself.
Well, so that's my success.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
So you are successful .
Thank you for joining me onthis journey.
Speaker 2 (45:12):
I think it's been a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (45:17):
Next time on, I Took a Hike.
We learn from the creative mindof an artistic genius, Ricardo
Royg.
Alright.
So, Nadia Carta, are you okaywith being recorded on a podcast
?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
I'm very okay Well there goes that liability.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
This is.
I Took a Hike.
I'm your host, darren Mass,founder of business therapy
group and Parktime WildernessPhilosopher.
Here we step out of theboardrooms and home offices and
into the great outdoors wherethe hustle of entrepreneurship
meets the rustle of nature.
In this episode, we experiencethe life of Nadia Carta, an
Italian-born American with awarm personality and a heart of
(00:30):
gold.
Hike along as we experience theambiance of a bustling central
park filled with inspirationalconversation.
Our topics include thoughts ofAI, fear as a metaphor,
authentic values, your timecalculation and picking yourself
up when you fall off the bikeof life.
I was delighted, inspired andenergized when I took a hike
(00:52):
with Nadia Carta.
This episode is sponsored byChallenger Network Services.
Embark on a tech adventure withChallenger Network Services,
proudly veteran-owned anddedicated to the full life cycle
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(01:12):
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(01:35):
for a connected expedition, allright.
So who are you and where areyou from?
Let's start with that.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
So, as you can tell from my accent, I am Italian.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
I can tell.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
It's always.
I like to get it out of the way, because then people start
wondering and then my accent ismore the attraction rather than
what I say.
Okay, so I'm Italian and Imoved to New York three years
ago with my family and I work atGoogle.
That's my nine to five and Irun two side gigs.
One is called Sparkier Zeal andthe other one is called 99
(02:10):
Humans.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Wow, okay, so you are a very busy person.
So when you were living inItaly, did you find that growing
up there offered you the ideallife?
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Not at all I dreamed about finding a place that was
large enough to contain me, andI guess I was in a soul
searching path.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
That eventually blossomed here in New York.
I always believed that everyonehas a purpose in life and our
job is to find that and, once wefind it, to gift it to the
world.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
So what is your purpose?
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Well, so it's a big question to be answered in one
sentence.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
It's a big question to start an episode, but you let
us there.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
I found through deep searching that my job is to
transform lives by kindlinghearts of people.
There was this pattern that washappening that after I was
meeting people, everyone wouldsay I get so energized by being
with you and you really grins meall the happiness and the joy.
(03:17):
And so I started working with acoach to find out what it was
because, this was a consistentpattern, and so I decided two
years ago to channel it andagain to create this spark your
zero thing, because my desire isthat everyone eventually is
able to live in a state wherethey are passionate about
(03:38):
whatever they're doing in life.
Like you with your podcast,like I love.
You have so much passion on it,you do it so professionally and
so thoughtfully and my dream isthat everyone can get to do
that, because life is too short.
I believe we live in a momentin society that is so unique.
We have so much technology infront of us and literally with
(03:59):
just a phone and an internetconnection, you can really
create magic.
That's right.
So the difference is really areyou living in existence where
it's only about yourself, whichis fine?
It's not judgment, and thereare people that are happy like
that, but then those of us thathave a purpose.
So the life call is a bit willwas a concept, but I believe
(04:22):
there are individuals that arebrought into the universe on the
planet with a mission andunless you unleash it, this
energy is going to stay in yourbody and it's not going to be
good.
I had a moment three years agothat I said unless I'm creating
a channel to release this energy, I'm afraid it's going to make
(04:43):
me sick because it's too much.
And so what you said about thescale when you have this call,
finding a way for people to hearit it's what you're meant to do
.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
You choose your medium, yes, and you have a
podcast and obviously this is apodcast and this has become the
medium, the megaphone.
Which is beautiful.
So, I want to take a step back,though, to Italy, though,
because I am curious about Italy.
What is it like to grow up inSardinia?
You said that Italy couldn'tcontain you.
Is it Sardinia couldn't, or allof Italy could not contain you?
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Without getting too personal, there are a few things
that, for me, were extremelylimiting.
First and foremost was that mymom raised me in a Jehovah
Witness community.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Oh, okay, that's interesting.
That's a world that many of ushave heard but don't really
understand.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
And it's a very and again, no judgment.
I believe in freedom and I'mvery progressive and I believe
that everyone should do whateverthey feel compelled to do in
the respect of others.
What I found is that I don'tsit well with limitations and
you know, these type ofcommunities are very limiting to
(05:55):
the individual freedom Okay,which means that you need to
obey to very restrictive rulesand it's all about the time that
you spend preaching.
You know, I was going door todoor to preach the Bible at age
10.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Okay, so that's what I know of the stereotypical
Jehovah's Witness is yes, youcome to my door.
It's usually around dinner time.
Yes, and most people areprobably not super kind.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yes, they're very persistent.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Persistent and rude and not understanding, so I'm
sure you've had a lot ofdoerslammed.
We also know that you don'tcelebrate certain holidays.
Right Like birthdays and allthat.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Which was highly traumatizing as a kid.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
So do you know where I'm going with this?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Yes, so I knew a kid.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
His name was James.
We'll leave his last name out,doesn't matter.
He was a Jehovah's Witnessgrowing up and nobody understood
it, and he did a very bad jobexplaining it.
Yes, because we always used tosay to him when's your birthday,
right?
So what is that?
What is the reasoning behind it?
And no, this is not a religiousshow.
We'll move on beyond that.
I just I'm curious.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah, yeah, no, of course I'm happy to so, because
all of these celebrations havepagan roots.
So even the act of blowing acandle is for the spirits to, I
think was to be channeled orgoing away, something that is
about spirits, and so Jehovah'sWitnesses have a big repulsion
(07:15):
for anything that is esoteric.
I grew up being terrifiedbecause they were brainwashing
me about being scared about thedevil, about spirits.
You know, heavy metal music wassomething absolutely forbidden,
so a lot of things that youknow.
For them, anything that isoutside the box of control,
(07:37):
which is their own Bible andtheir own dogmas, are something
not to be practiced, especiallyand, by the way, this is the
same for Christianity.
I did a lot of research onChristmas, for example, in
Eastern time, all of thosecelebrations.
Eventually, before becomingChristian things, they were
(07:57):
pagans.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
All religions do borrow from the next and
sometimes it's very purposeful.
And we also know that somereligions will borrow certain
holidays or traditions to almosterase these other religions
holidays and traditions.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
There you go.
That's exactly it, and so.
But the thing that for me, wasthe tightest about the Jehovah's
Witness communities was thisconcept that I couldn't have the
freedom to date where I wanted.
I couldn't have the freedom toeven decide which college or
very limited, and as a woman,because I'm also a big feminist
(08:31):
as a woman, any position ofleadership within the community
is assigned to a male, and so Igrew up going, which you also
see in lots of religions.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Lots of religions there are lots of extreme
religions and cultures, whichit's crazy.
It's crazy.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Right, and so for me that I was a bright kid, I was
very good in all my studies.
We were going to this thousandsof people, conferences I'm sure
you've seen it and all thesemen were on stage preaching and
preaching and preaching.
I mean, eventually I found mylove to public speaking through
that.
But as a woman I didn't haveaccess to any of it, and so
(09:11):
eventually, when I was 16, whichis a story I tell often in my
events when I do public speakingmy mom bought me a Commodore 64
and the internet, and throughthe internet I started chatting
with strangers.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Now, did your mom know this?
No, okay so you know, just tojump ahead a little later on.
Did your mom ever think backand say I should have never
bought you that computer?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
So I never confessed her.
Okay, and you know, she passedaway 10 years ago and this is
one of my biggest regrets inlife, that she and I never sat
down to have that conversation.
Eventually she forgave me forleaving the community because I
left at 18 and I said I don'twant to even hear about you guys
(10:02):
.
And when she passed away shepassed away being a very loyal
and faithful job witness shestill said I'm sure I'm going to
see you in the afterwardpre-convert and I said well, mom
, I don't think it can happen.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
But you kept the communications with your parents
even after you left.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Well, she didn't speak to me for six months after
I left and then she forgave meand then, you know, when she was
sick with a very bad cancer, Iwas her primary caregiver and so
I had a relationship with herthat eventually started to heal.
It took me many years.
I actually healed it thissummer.
You know I do a littlespiritual work with her.
(10:46):
It's a whole.
I wrote a book about it that isgoing to be published next year
.
My dad I didn't speak to himfor 20 years.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
It's a whole new chapter that's going to be hard,
but then he decided to visit mein New York this September and
he was absolutely fabulous.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Out of the blue.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I forgave him two years ago.
I sent him a text and I saidlet's, you know, water under the
bridge, let's be a family.
And he was so happy.
And then he said you know, Iknow you're not going to come
back to Sardinia because youdon't enjoy it fully, so I'm
going to come to you.
And I said, wow, okay, Wowthat's big.
So, age 66, without seeing itstarted for 20 years, he decided
(11:25):
to come.
It's the power of forgiveness,like it makes your life.
I feel so light now and healed,and I had huge rocks holding me
back and now I feel at peace.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Okay, we'll get into those, but.
But the power of forgiveness ishuge, right, it's.
You don't have to be religiousto understand that when you hold
on to these negative feelings,right, these vengeful feelings,
it holds you back, right, soit's.
You have to be willing toforgive.
There's, there's been plenty oftimes where I've held a grudge
(11:58):
and then, you know, the innervoice in me says you know what?
Figure out a way to apologizefor, give, get past it, because
it's holding you back.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Well, yes, and I want to dive or click on that on a
minute.
I've wrote, I've read anarticle about it a few weeks ago
, because I believe that whenyou're holding grudges, any
grudges that, whatever, that isnot only I believe it makes you
sick, and there's a lot ofEastern medicine that is proving
that it also hinders yourrelationship in the workspace
(12:26):
and in life.
Like I was always super angry,I was always whipping myself
down and the moment I found thebliss, everything around me is
starting to flow, corporationsespecially.
There's so much conflictbetween people.
I've been a guru for 15 yearsnow and I worked in any region.
(12:47):
I can tell you I have workedwith people that were not very
nice to be around.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Oh, I can imagine so, the people that are not very
nice.
There's no balance, right?
You know that something iswrong in their lives.
And it's hard to call thoseindividuals successful Right.
They could be successful at thejob or a position, but they're
not successful in life.
And that's really the purposeof this podcast, is one not only
to teach some businessinspirational messages, but it's
(13:13):
also to find that successfulbalance, because that's what's
most important.
We all know can't take moneywith you.
You can leave it to your familyand destroy them if you have
too much of it, but the happypeople that die happy, the ones
that feel fulfilled, they foundthat balance.
So, amen, we are going toexplore balance.
(13:33):
Hey, listener, thanks forhiking along with us.
Discover more episodes atiTokaHikecom, or to recommend an
adventurous guest, apply to bea sponsor, discover books along
the trail or to simply drop us aline.
So let's pivot now.
So you work at Google, I do.
What is your role at Google?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
So I lead a team in charge of data transformation
for agency clients.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Okay, what does that mean?
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Well, so I'm sure you've seen the two letters that
are the most used, two lettersin the internet these days,
which is AI.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Yeah, I've seen that.
I've dabbled in it.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
It's absolutely amazing all that you can do and
scale and transform.
And my team mission we, let'ssay we aspire to help our
clients to leverage all the datathat they have and all the data
that they see on, and transformthis data and meaningful
insights to then scale and growand maximize their ROI.
(14:30):
Everyone that has we're talkingabout big clients right, I mean
the business of big clients,enterprise business.
Any enterprise company sits ina big wealth of data and not
always they know how to utilizeit well to maximize and optimize
and scale.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
And so what my team and I do is that we show them
and teach them how, by utilizingenterprise technologies
specifically applied toadvertising, they can not only
get prepared for the changesahead in the industry, like next
year with the cookies and allof that but also we show them
(15:10):
that they already sit into awealth of information that can
be activated anytime.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Okay, so that's boring, I know that's right.
Can't hold that back.
Yeah, that's a snooze festright there.
So let me ask you the honestquestion Do you love what you do
at Google, or is that thereason why you have ventured on
your own to do other?
We'll call it moreinspirational?
Speaker 2 (15:39):
So I'm gonna give you a super honest answer.
The piece that I love about myjob is the people angle.
What I found is that All that Ido that surrounds my life
actually makes my job moreeffective and more interesting
and more appealing.
(16:00):
And then the business elementof it.
There are some pieces,especially the most
transformational one, that arereally, really, really making me
extremely curious and awful,because the moment in time where
we are right now so I'm a geekat heart right In high school I
was coding Really Nice, whatlanguage?
(16:22):
Well, I learned in Kabul.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Well, I knew you were going to say Kabul, for some
reason.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
It was so whenever I was on my computer 64 at night
coding.
Then I had another littlewindow chatting with a stranger,
and so I'm really attracted byunderstanding our systems work
and our technology works and howit can help and all of it.
Now, the reason why I'm in lovewith AI lately and it's not
just to say but who cannot be isbecause, when utilized well,
(16:52):
this technology can really helppeople at scale in the world
fulfill their basic needs.
I give you an example I have apodcast, I spoke about it and my
podcast editor lives in Nigeriaand with the salary that he
gets, I might live in New Mexico.
All right, there you go.
(17:12):
And we found this throughLinkedIn and with the tools they
utilize this and with thesalary that he makes, with the
salary I give him monthly I meanI don't know the cost of living
in Nigeria, but I'm sure I amhelping his family and himself
to give a better life or mygraphic designer is in Bali.
(17:34):
So, with the use of AI, if youare a solo trep in or if you're
someone that even you arefinding your own path, you don't
have to wait for a corporationto hire you.
That's right.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
And if I real quick, if I may.
We live in a world today whereGen Z doesn't really want to go
work there you go.
The work force in thetraditional corporate world, but
the opportunity to create, tostart a business, which is my
passion you will always hear mespeak about.
You know, if you have a visionand a passion, quit your job, go
(18:09):
embark upon that road.
Now.
It's so easy to start abusiness.
Yes, follow your passion.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
And you know, if I think about when, 22 years ago,
I was in Sardinia and I wasfeeling miserable and I didn't
know what to do, fast forwardnow.
Everyone that has a phone,everyone that has a little of
curiosity, you can download freetools.
There are free tools everywhere.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
So what would be your advice to somebody who is
starting out in the work world,but they do have this concept or
this notion should they go towork?
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Look, I do a lot of mentoring in colleges and when I
think about myself in yourplace, I'm like I wish there was
someone back in the days thatwould have lifted me.
I mean, it would have saved mea lot of traumas.
My advice is to get out and becurious, and if you are a human
on this planet, you cannot notknow what's going on, digitally
(19:05):
speaking, and you know I have alot of people that work, for
example, in agriculture orfarming the way these
technologies are transformingand making also that better.
So to say that if technologies,if digital, is not your thing
and maybe you're more intonature, also that there's
applications or health oh my God, I've never searched in health.
(19:26):
You know, my mom passed awayfrom cancer because she found it
out too late.
All these screenings that arenow available with AI
technologies embedded are goingto change the world of health,
so you can detect cancers 10years in advance.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Just to clarify she's saying health, yeah, health,
health, health.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Yeah, my accent.
Anyways, what AI is is a systemable to analyze an enormous
amount of data and makepredictions out of it.
Yes, so that means that if youhave your lab results from 10
years, for example, and they areanalyzed by a platform, that
(20:10):
platform is able to identifyseries of behaviors through that
data and apply that topredictive insights.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
So if you had kids that were getting ready to go to
college, right?
Fast track what would be theadvice you would give those kids
?
What type of career or majorshould they consider?
Speaker 2 (20:29):
I talk about it a lot of months, and for me it goes
back to developing anintelligent way to understand
and question, because thosemachines are going to be only as
good as the questions thatyou're going to prompt them with
and the systems.
And so it's when you have aconversation with someone, there
(20:51):
are coaches out there thatcharge you $2,000 per hour, and
some person might say what is itin these two hours, in these
2,000?
Well, it's their ability to askyou powerful questions to get
to the root cause or whateverlies in subconscious.
And so for me, if you are a kidthat you're going to college
unless you're deciding to take avery technical discipline
(21:14):
meaning yeah, trade a specifictrade.
You know you're like OK, I wantto learn how to build a
generative AI app for thefarming industry.
Ok, then you need to go into atechnical side Software
development.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Software development exactly CES or something.
There you go.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
But if you are more into the, let's say, usability
side of things, I would go andstudy how to prompt those tools.
And there's a lot of newdisciplines that are coming out.
I mean, we're going toexperience in 10 years from now,
when my daughter we'll have togo to college, there will be
disciplines that today we don'teven know about it.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
But even when I Well true, 10 years ago, I didn't
know what AI was, did you?
When I applied to you mighthave, you would Google.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
No, I didn't know, because when I was 18 and I was
in Sardinia and I said to my momthat I wanted to start
communication and marketing, myprofessor also told her she
should go in informationtechnology.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
And I would be miserable.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
You know I would be like, oh well, I'm not in a
software development industry,like I love hanging out with
people.
Actually, one of the reasonswhy I didn't go to information
technology?
Because I could code and I wascoding really well.
But then I was isolating myselfand I started having mental
health problems because I wouldstay in my laptop coding for
weeks without even living in mybedroom.
It suits some personalities.
(22:30):
And then it's about searching.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
But it's a depressing personality because you're
spending zero time on yourself,zero time Including physical
activity.
You're sitting at a desk andliterally just coding and
hacking away.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Which, by the way, again it goes back to AI.
There are going to betechnologies Like there wouldn't
be the need of doing the thingsyou and I were doing of coding
programs of two, three thousandof lines, because the system is
going to do it.
The systems that corporations,including Google and Amazon and
you know there's an AI councilLike there's people, very smart
(23:03):
individuals, that are working onit as a collective.
This, for me, is not anymoreone of those industry projects
where there's competition.
This is about the collective tocome together and define what
good looks like so that we canall benefit and we can all
mitigate the associated risks.
What excites me is that atleast we are talking about it
(23:26):
right.
Think about it.
These technologies have beenavailable and companies were
working on it since seven plusyears.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Well, they've been working on it before we even
knew what it was.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
And then like everything.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
It just popped up Chat, gbt and Poof, now
everything is a Exactly Too fast, too fast.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Wow, I don't know, because I mean the action that
OpenAI took about making itpublic.
They made public a very smallpiece of it.
That is about using this toolto write your emails or writing
articles and creating prettyimages and journey and things
(24:05):
like that.
Now, what we are talking aboutabout machines, recreating
yourself and et cetera requiresa level of skill set and a level
of sophistication that Iwouldn't assume is available to
the masses.
So promptly.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
I hope that some of the stuff that we have is not as
readily as available.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Exactly what I'll say is that I would rather have it
on her face than in hiding.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Yes, I will agree that if it's out in the open
then hopefully more people canpolice it.
And I know we're only talkingsurface level.
But I don't want to soundnegative because I love AI and
what I can do.
Anybody in this industry isbeing affected by it, like
journalism.
There's a screen actors guild,which we saw right.
They were on strike for a longtime because of AI, or at least
(24:56):
primarily because of AI.
Yeah, they're going to have topivot.
They're going to have to pivottheir own careers.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
That is the negative side Transform it, transform it.
And I mean I don't know howmuch people are using it, but
all the time that I personallyuse it, it does require humans
again to use it.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Well, you have to be the conductor.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Exactly, and it's not the magic wand that suddenly
it's going to solve everything.
My POV is that it will enhancea lot of activities and a lot of
industry and possibly making itbetter.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
Hey listener, thanks for hiking along with us.
Discover more episodes atiqtokahikecom, or to recommend
an adventurous guest, apply tobe a sponsor, discover books
along the trail, or to simplydrop us a line.
By the way, this is my favoritespot in.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Central Park.
I know this is gorgeous.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
Might be one of my favorite spots in the world, to
be quite honest.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
It's so beautiful.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Let's talk about your podcast for a second.
What do you do on your podcast?
Speaker 2 (25:56):
99 Humans was born from a book Okay, meaning my
co-host, jeff one day.
So he's a writer, he publishedseveral books, he's a very
successful New York mass sellerand one day he comes and says
would you like to write a bookwith me?
And writing a book has alwaysbeen my dream and I'm hoping to
(26:18):
publish next year two of mybooks and it goes and says I
know I'm dreaming about it andI'm close and he goes would you
like to write a book with meabout leadership?
So both he and I lead teams atGoogle.
We've been leading for a longtime and we have very strong
leadership principles and I saidyes, so I lead with yes.
(26:39):
That's one of my lifeprinciples.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Absolutely Opportunity.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Right and abundance.
And so I go yes, let's do it.
I never done it before, but ifyou're choosing me, it means
that there's a reason why you'recoming to me with us and we
start interviewing people andit's about authentic leadership.
This is not about theentrepreneur magazine leadership
.
It's not about how good I amand how fantastic I am.
This is about what are thetimes that I messed up as a
(27:05):
leader and what did I learnabout it and how that makes me a
better leader.
So it's all centered aroundstories.
Anyway, we start interviewingfolks and when we were around 15
interviews, I looked at themand I said these interviews are
amazing.
I said there's no reason why weshould keep them as notes.
Why don't we start publishingthem if the guests are okay with
(27:27):
it?
And so we designed all thebrand and we decided it was 99
humans, because 100 is tooperfect, whereas 99 and 9 is a
little bit that thing.
That is not there yet, but it'simperfect.
And it became very quickly anindustry reference point,
sometimes actually also lastweek I was advertising week and
(27:48):
people were like, oh, I heardthem.
I was listening to the lastguest.
It was so awesome and peoplestart talking about it, can I be
on the show and things likethat, and so what I like the
most about it is really gettingpersonal with the people around
things that, for them, are somoving.
On Friday I cried twice withone of the guests.
(28:09):
Oh wow, it was so emotional.
They were talking about thingsabout their lives and everything
.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
What was the aspect that made you cry?
Speaker 2 (28:18):
Well, this is a very successful man that has his own
startup and has done many yearsin the corporations.
But his story started when hewas 15 and living in a very
small, rural Italian city,italian town, and he says how he
(28:39):
broke his leg at a very youngage playing football and how
that event eventually changed.
And you know, it was the wholething.
I don't know if it's how it wassaying in it, but I projected
myself in it.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
It was a personal enough story to really resonate
with you.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
It was so personal and I got you.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Didn't break his leg riding bike, did he?
Speaker 2 (28:58):
No, that was not riding a bike, even though I
know plenty of people who broketheir legs riding a bike, which
is probably why I don't hit it.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
I never broke anything.
Well, I don't want today to bethe first day.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
I never broke a leg or thing, nothing.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
All right, well, hopefully we're not wishing that
in the universe.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Maybe the time's good .
Anyways, we will record 99, andthat's it we decided.
Then you stop then, we stop,then we're gonna be done.
I don't know if maybe therewill be a season two, season
three.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
I have no idea about what we decided you record 99
episodes, since a season isnormally 12.
I need my handy calculator forthis one, but that's multiple
seasons.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Yeah, well, it's two years of show because we publish
on a weekly basis.
Okay, so we published 43 rightnow, so we're off way and.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
That's a lot of podcasts.
A podcast is a lot of work, huh.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Is so much work so much.
I don't think many peopleunderstand how much work goes
into an episode is so much workand it's a dedication because
it's so much work, we can onlyget where we get Yep, and so our
priority, we always said thatThree are the things that are
holding us into this.
We're gonna do 99, and thereason why I say this is because
(30:20):
when you decide that you'regonna do something, regardless
we like, regardless of views,regardless of feedback,
regardless of we for time, weare committed.
We're gonna 99.
So you set a goal, you committo it exactly like no flags, no
changes until we hit 99.
We keep going and, and you know, when you have a partner in a
project, I think it's importantto declare what the north star
(30:42):
is and that there's no way out.
We looked ourselves in the eyesmy cost and I and we said we
are doing 99, do we agree?
Speaker 1 (30:50):
And so we said so that, right, there is an
important we'll call thatanother asterisk Fact that we
can apply to business as well.
Right, doing something on yourown as a solopreneur is one
thing.
Setting goals you are beholdento yourself.
Having a trusted partner thatcompletes you, so to speak,
fills in the gaps of yourweaknesses, right, and you do
(31:10):
the same for them.
Now, you're beholden to eachother and it's magical.
If you have the right partner,right, you could succeed
together.
And when you commit, you'recommitting and boosting each
other up.
Together you have a betterchance of success.
As a partnership.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Yes, it's important to set expectations.
So that's right, because iflet's say, for example, that I
wanted to do 99 and maybe he was, oh, I'll do 99 only if,
because there's money investment, you know of course, episodes
are expensive.
They're so expensive and youknow on everything platforms,
(31:47):
editors and services with thatsame what time?
Speaker 1 (31:52):
we always forget that .
You, you forgot it too.
We always forget our time has amonetary value.
Totally set.
What your monetary value is onyour time.
Everybody should do that.
What is my time worth on anhourly basis?
I can assure you this.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
If you set a number, what is it?
150 an hour, 200 an hour, athousand, two thousand an hour?
Whatever you think your time isworth and just be honest with
yourself, right?
If you're not a two thousand anhour player, then don't book
yourself at that rate.
But, now, whenever you're goingto do anything, something that
you don't want to do, calculatehow much that's going to cost
you in time value.
(32:27):
Yeah, that right, there isgoing to be the differentiator
In outsourcing.
We're just not doing it at all.
Oh my god.
Hey, listener.
Thanks for hiking along with us.
Discover more episodes at Itook a hikecom.
Or to recommend an adventurousguest, apply to be a sponsor,
discover books along the trail.
Or to simply drop us a line.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
I'm so grateful you brought outsourcing, because
that was my point number two,which is, once we committed to
the 99, we had a conversationabout what, what, which were the
things that we Enjoy doing andwhich were the things that we
were dreading, because we saidwe only gonna do it if we have
fun and happiness and it's ahigh vibrational experience
versus dragging in it.
(33:10):
And that's where we say becauseinitially we were doing all by
ourselves.
We even tried editing ourselvesand managing all the game.
It was like a mountainbootstrapping it.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
What boots?
It's called bootstrapping.
Oh my god, bootstrappingabsolutely works.
I am a fundamental believer inbootstrapping.
You should bootstrap everystartup concept, and I don't
care how wealthy you are.
Bootstrap your business and putyourself in every single aspect
of your business, and then youcould determine what needs to be
outsourced.
Yes, yes, but if you don't godown the road of working every
(33:40):
position.
You don't know how to spendyour money wisely.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
I agree because that will.
That will let you appreciatethe people you hire so much more
, because you know what getsinto it.
I still, on friday, I wascoding my old newsletters.
I told you about this and Isaid I want to understand what
is the work and everything.
Anyway, with my partner, jeff,we said, okay, let's list it all
(34:04):
out and let's understand howmuch investment each of us can
put into it to outsource thoseum Activities.
And so we did.
That was the second thing.
And once we outsourced and wefound people, that was 10x
better.
And then the third thing isthat we are very I don't know
what would be the good word forthis but we wanted to really
(34:27):
hold ourselves into our valuesand into picking the right
guests and make sure the storieswe're hearing Are in line with
our integrity.
So you're.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
You're authentic.
Your values are purposeful andauthentic.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
There you go, and this happened it only one time.
We were in a situation where wesaw a guest was a type of guest
we wanted and during theinterview it turned out very
differently, and in that momentwe were confronted with a choice
, which was do we let the guestgoing wherever they're going or
(35:04):
we interject and we bring itback?
And so I had this conversation.
We haven't published it yet.
We will if the guest will giveus their approval.
But in this conversation theguest was sharing something that
was absolutely opposite to someof my values as a feminist and
as a woman in the workenvironment.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
Strong opinions.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
Strong opinions and I had to interrupt and you know
we had a little bit ofdisagreement on the show.
And then when at the end mypartner and I always do a
reflection on the show and I hadto say out loud that I was
fundamentally not in agreementwith those things because I
(35:45):
didn't want to give theperception that suddenly I'm
flipping, like my values are soimportant to me.
Speaker 1 (35:51):
Well, that's all we are, is a collection of our
values.
So it's, I am proud of you andI applaud you for that.
But you know one, it is yourshow.
And two, you know you, at leastfrom knowing you.
You at least listened to theother person's opinions, but
your values will never bewavering.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Yeah, totally, I will always listen and offer the
space, and.
But there are certain things.
Look, I'm typically a centerperson, like I'm not an extreme
individual, outside of very fewtopics.
For me, there are a couple oftopics that are like red zones,
(36:32):
in which my ideas are soanchored, and these typically
are freedom.
Freedom until you like.
I want to explain freedom,because it's not that now
everyone is free to go and killpeople and do whatever.
Freedom with respect, yeah,like you are free to live your
life as you wish until you areexpecting those around you and
(36:55):
you are ner her thing and youare offering the same freedom to
others.
Ok, so for me this is numberone, and then the second one is
women's rights.
For me is a complete red zone.
My heart broke last year withall the things with abortion and
because I have two daughters,this is a topic that I like.
(37:17):
It's so dear to my heart.
Speaker 1 (37:18):
I mean, I'm a woman, so it's kind of dear to my heart
.
I married a woman and I havethree daughters.
So I live in a bubble where Imust say I think women have more
power today than men.
I hope I look at my childrenand I want them to succeed very
well.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
But it's funny because you would think that
that's the norm.
Speaker 1 (37:40):
It is not the norm outside of this country.
That is not the norm.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
There are so many micro aggressions, even in this
world.
I mean again, remember, inplaces like Texas you cannot get
an abortion, and yeah, that'sbecause we allow politics and
religion to intertwine, andwe're not supposed to, because
I'm fairly certain this countryof America was founded on
religious freedom, butseparation of religion and state
(38:06):
, right, church and state.
I don't want to get political.
I'll tell you, though, that Iyou know both my daughters, so
Barbie the movie with me, andthat sparked some deep
conversations, and in my familywe actively talk about what
Patrick means, and I work in aprimarily male dominated
(38:27):
industry, and it's it's not done.
Women now.
I don't remember the year, butwomen started voting not long
ago.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
I probably going to get the date wrong, so I will
say it was in the 48 40s, 50s, Idon't know yeah.
I don't know what year was theSeneca Convention.
I do remember that figure.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
It was 48.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
Yeah, it was the Seneca Convention.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
But so this is to say that, even if we believe that
we have freedom, we are hangingin such a thin thread that it
scares me, and so, especiallywhen it comes to respecting
women's needs around our healthand our minorities, you're
(39:13):
telling me yes for women in myhouse.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
I'm doomed.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
Oh you are.
You are very tough live, andnot to mention your expenses for
tampons.
Speaker 1 (39:23):
Yeah, so are you saying I need to start up a
business that makes tampons?
Speaker 2 (39:28):
I mean now.
It's all about your reusableunderwear.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
Great, I'm doomed.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
What I'll say is that women, for the first time in
history we I don't want togeneralize, not everyone, but
let's say that women finallyhave financial freedom to access
and buy whatever.
You know, back in the days, awoman needed to ask their
husband permission to spend.
Like, if we think about it'scrazy.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
So this is the world that I clearly do not know about
and I don't claim to know aboutbecause you know more recent
than I've been in this worldwith, with my children being
young.
So, yeah, I'm learning everyday.
I had I have no idea that womenhad to ask to spend.
Speaker 2 (40:15):
It's well, think about it.
A woman was just in the kitchenpreparing food and
administering the house, and theman was the one that was
producing and bringing money.
And so I'm not talking aboutthe super privileged and wealthy
that they were just taking thecheck and sending their husband
to pay.
I'm talking about a woman thateven to go to the hairdresser
(40:36):
maybe needed, you know, herhusband to give her fifty
dollars or whatever that was.
Anyway, the bottom line is thathaving our freedom financially,
our freedom of action, ourfreedom of thoughts, also comes
with responsibility, and sowomen rights is another.
The subject where I'mcompletely Faithful is there's
(40:59):
no negotiation.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
So, nadia, what are some of the most important
learning lessons that you canoffer as a conclusion to this
show?
Speaker 2 (41:08):
Oh, such a tough question.
Speaker 1 (41:10):
I ask tough questions sometimes.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
Well, I mean, look, number one is what we started
Like find your life purpose,whatever it is.
If your life purpose is to makepeople happy by baking the most
amazing cakes in the universe,do it.
Speaker 1 (41:23):
Make the best cakes in the world.
Speaker 2 (41:25):
Make the best cakes in the world.
So it's really about taking thetime to understand what are
your gifts, what are yourtalents and what are you brought
into the universe to accomplish, because that, for me, is the
definition of utmost happiness,and it's so unique and it's
special, and when you will bebusy doing that, that's when
(41:48):
you'll be one of the mostamazing people to hang out with.
Speaker 1 (41:51):
Yes, so I love that right.
I could summarize that insaying follow your passion, do
what you love right.
Money will follow a passion ifyou do pair that as your desire.
But you will become a moreinteresting person and at the
end of the day, people want tohang out with interesting people
.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
Well, you'll attract the opportunities that are meant
for you.
The journal notebook that Iwill publish next year, which is
the Eleven Ways to Spark yourZeal.
One of the eleven is to buildwhat I call a garden of zeal,
which is building your life, asit was a beautiful garden with
(42:29):
flowers and trees and anything,so that the bees, which are the
opportunities, are going to flyyour way and they're going to
come and make your life rich,versus you spending time chasing
.
For me, this is one of the mostmagical and transformative
principles of life.
So this is one.
And then number two is I'mgoing to say it's going to sound
(42:53):
, probably very rough, but it iscut the dead end.
Cut the dead end.
And for me, the cut, the deadend, means really taking an
inventory of your life on whatis holding you back and finally,
like sometimes, as people, weall have that friend that likes
to complain.
Sometimes it can be familymembers, sometimes it can be
(43:14):
content.
There are people that areaddicted to consuming content
and it's not uplifting them, andit's actually bringing them
down.
Speaker 1 (43:20):
Oh, it's so easy to get sucked into the negative
today.
Speaker 2 (43:23):
So cut the dead end.
Speaker 1 (43:24):
Cut the negative Negativity.
Speaker 2 (43:26):
Yeah, whatever it takes to protect your zeal
that's how I call it, becauseeventually that's the only thing
you need.
And then look the number three.
I want to quote something yousaid in one of your shows.
I mean not to make you happy,but Thanks.
Speaker 1 (43:40):
You don't know.
Please don't make me happy.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
We have all that we need accessible to us in a way,
and so this walk, for exampletoday in Central Park, really
reminded me, for me, like thisplace is half an hour from where
I leave, and being in naturechanged completely my
perspective on my day of theweek or everything.
And again, it's about centeringon what we need to be happy and
(44:10):
to be motivated and be grounded, and so nature, I find, at
least for me.
Again, all the witches willagree that nature is one of
those elements, and I know incities sometimes it's not always
possible, but even in a citylike New York, you know, there's
a park, there are trees likesame trees, there's tons of
parks in the city.
Right, and so finding whatmakes you grounded and centered
(44:33):
for me is nature.
Yeah, it really.
Nature and water really allowsyou to be at peace with yourself
.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
Well, that does make me happy because the message is
being heard.
That's an important message.
I appreciated this journeythrough Central Park.
Certainly.
I know we took a winding roadand a winding path and a winding
journey and conversation, butyou are certainly an
inspirational person.
Do you believe you aresuccessful?
Speaker 2 (44:59):
And going on a bike.
Speaker 1 (45:02):
Let's go with life first.
Speaker 2 (45:04):
My biggest success is that I'm in peace with myself.
Well, so that's my success.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
So you are successful .
Thank you for joining me onthis journey.
Speaker 2 (45:12):
I think it's been a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (45:17):
Next time on, I Took a Hike.
We learn from the creative mindof an artistic genius, Ricardo
Royg.
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