R.O.G. Return on Generosity

"Find joy every day."

Episode summary |

Susan Jin Davis and May Lee explore the themes of generosity, identity, and resilience shaped by their immigrant experiences. They discuss the challenges of growing up as children of immigrants, the impact of cultural concepts like Han, and the transformative power of loss. May shares her journey as a journalist of color, emphasizing the importance of diversity in media and the need for edu...

"I want to make it less hard for veterans."

"We are stronger together."

"Just show up, ask questions."

Episode summary |

Shannon Cassidy speaks with Michelle Lang, the Executive Director of Operation Honor Rural Salute. Michelle shares her personal journey as an Army wife and the challenges faced by veterans transitioning to civilian life. The conversation highlights the importance of community support, mental health awareness, a...

“A lot of the things I work on are not HARD problems, they’re HEART problems.”

“If you name it, you can tame it.”

“It is in our Unity that we can elevate our Humanity.”

___________________________________________________

This episode contains discussions of rape and sexual assault, which may be disturbing or triggering for some listeners. We encourage you to prioritize your well-being.

If you or someone you know needs support, plea...

“The biggest thing that holds women back is low self-esteem”

“We’re imperfect and it’s totally okay.”

"Women can do so many amazing things."

Episode summary |

Sheena Yap Chan, a Wall Street Journal bestselling author and renowned podcaster, shares her journey of overcoming cultural barriers and personal trauma to empower women, particularly Asian women, in their pursuit of self-confidence and leadership. She discusses the importa...

"Storytelling heals the brain."

"No struggle, no story."

"Life happens in moments."

Episode summary |

In this episode of Return on Generosity, host Shannon Cassidy speaks with Scott Mann, a former Green Beret and founder of Rooftop Leadership. They discuss the importance of generosity in leadership, the power of storytelling, and how to build trust in low-trust environments. Scott shares his journey from military service to becom...

"Choose to be okay with who you are."

"Self-acceptance is not the opposite of self-improvement; it is the opposite of self-judgment."

"It's about being more at peace with the imperfection that exists in all of us."

"You are never responding to the world around you, ever - you are only ever responding to the meaning that you're putting on what is happening."

Episode summary |

Dr. Laura Gallaher, an organizational psychologist and ...

"I want to be what I needed."

"Culture drives everything."

"Generosity and empathy go a long way."

"Never abandon who you are."

“Everybody comes to the table dealing with something.”

Episode summary |

Dr. Kristopher Brown shares his journey in education, highlighting his commitment to creating a positive school environment. He discusses the importance of using student feedback to inform decisions, fostering a culture of inclusion...

"Clarity is key."

"Be the leader you would want to follow."

Episode summary |

In this engaging conversation, Shannon Cassidy interviews Lyn Wineman, founder of KidGlov, an advertising agency dedicated to helping changemakers amplify their impact. Lyn shares her journey from a small town in Nebraska to becoming a leader in purpose-driven marketing. The discussion covers the founding of KidGlov, the significance of B Corp certifica...

"We need to challenge our perspective.”

"We need to agree to respect."

“Turn confrontation into a conversation.”

“There's humanity on different sides of conversations.”

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to Justin Jones-Fosu
• 01:18 Justin's Upbringing and Early Influences
• 03:25 Lessons from a Challenging Childhood
• 05:32 Confronting Absence: A Journey to Understanding
• 09:12 The Power of Listening and Empathy
• 11:49 The Power of T...

"Feedback is a gift.”

"You do what is best for your career, not what's comfortable for other people."

“We trust the people who tell us the truth.”

“I really subscribe to the idea that you should do something once a year that scares the crap out of you.”

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to Tessa White and Her Journey
• 02:51 Navigating Career Challenges and Generosity in Leadership
• 05:45 The Birth of The Job Doctor and Accidental ...

"We lead how we were led.”

"Generosity is giving of your time.'"

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Maureen Reusche
• 03:02 Dr. Reusche's Educational Journey
• 06:12 Building Relationships in Education
• 09:00 The Influence of Family on Leadership
• 11:47 Generosity in Leadership
• 15:03 Navigating Challenges During the Pandemic
• 18:08 The Role of a Superintendent
• 21:04 The Importance of Presence and Communication
• 23:50 Encoura...

"Meet 10 to 15 new people every week.”

"Ask, How can I help you? Shut up, listen.'"

“Get better 1% every day.”

“Start building your network today.”

“It's bringing value to people and transforming them very little or transforming them a lot. That's it.”

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to Steve Ramona and His Impact
• 01:25 Building Relationships: The Foundation of Success
• 06:24 The ASLA Principle: Ask, Shut Up, Listen, Ask
• 10:03 ...

"Generosity is good for the brain.”

”Be intentional and ask yourself, 'When was the last time I did something for the first time?'”

“We have to intentionally put ourselves in new spaces.”

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is today.”

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to Intercultural Creativity
• 02:53 The Journey of Genein Letford
• 05:55 Understanding Intercultural Creativity
• 09:01 The Importance ...

"Growth is not linear.”

”Focus more on who you're being and less on what you're doing.”

“We're all human beings. One is not better than another.”

“Accept where you are when you’re there.”

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to Abby Haverman
• 01:30 Abby's Early Life and Background
• 03:05 Transformation Through Adversity
• 07:15 Awakening to Self-Worth
• 09:36 Understanding the Mind and Identity
• 13:51 Practices for Present Moment Aware...

"One of the best decisions I've ever made as a leader is just getting out of the way of people doing the work and being more of a support."

"But to go to a place where people allow you to be yourself and to grow with you is a great form of generosity that no leader should ever overlook."

"The obstacle is the way. The obstacle is the way. Whatever you're trying to get through, the way you're trying to get to, the obstacle is the mos...

"We are the creators of our own lives."

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to Paragon Performance Evolution
• 04:52 Personal Journeys and Inspirations
• 09:55 The Impact of Stress and Mental Health
• 15:01 Understanding Emotions and Thought Patterns
• 20:06 Techniques for Coherence and Emotional Regulation
• 25:09 The Science of Heart-Focused Breathing
• 30:04 Generosity and Corporate Culture Transformation
• 31:18 Navigating Stress in Le...

“...And the reason for five degrees is that 5 % of our behavior is self-regulated willpower, which means 95 % is habit. The only way that we can create lasting change is through incremental steps.”

Episode summary |

In this final episode of 2024, Shannon Cassidy introduces the Five Degree Principle, a framework designed to facilitate meaningful change through small, incremental steps. She discusses the importance of sustainable c...

"...if we could put people in the water and teach them to surf, we'd actually have to force them to suck at something again...In business, you don't teach people to fail because failure is not an option. But our best learnings come from failure..."

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to Brian Formato and Groove Management
• 06:31 Innovative Learning Approaches in Leadership Development
• 15:01 Feedback and Impact of Leader Surf Progra...

“...if you listen carefully when people tell you these things, which is so hard because we have so many distractions, but if you listen carefully, you can find ways to be helpful, to be responsible, to be reliable, to be trustworthy, all the things that make us fully functioning and valuable humans.”

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to Susan McPherson
• 05:43 The Lost Art of Connecting
• 12:25 The Importance of Quality Questions
• 21...