Today we talk to Kristi Falturosso, who is a Chief Customer Officer, a LinkedIn Influencer, and CS Strategist. She’s a very big deal. When I started this podcast, it was about talking to people from way outside my comfort zone, to talk about anything other than what I did for a living. And that hasn’t changed. But Kristi and I both work in very similar circles so this conversation was a bit of an experiment - what if two people who did the same thing for a living got together and talked about anything but work? What would we have in common? What could we learn about each other?

And it turns out it was one of the most vulnerable, thoughtful, and emotional conversations I've ever had. And it makes me wonder what I might be missing by staying in my lane, and the conversations I could be having with people if I were as brave as Kristi to talk about things we just never talk about.

Kristi talks about growing up on Long Island, losing her brother in a motorcycle accident, the pain she still carries from family trauma, her complicated relationship with alcohol and her journey with sobriety. We also explore the fragility of self-confidence, and the quiet courage it takes to completely be yourself online.

Full disclosure, the most memorable part of this conversation for me happened after we hung up. I sat in my chair, and cried. I can’t explain why. The closest I can come up with, is that it’s conversations like this I’ve been searching for.

Please enjoy, Kristi Faltorusso.

Key Takeaways

• Confidence can be fragile. Kristi opens up about how even with years of experience and external validation, her confidence can unravel with a single moment of doubt.
• Stereotypes run deep. Despite her authentic and vulnerable presence online, Kristi shares how people often misjudge her based on surface-level impressions—and how powerful it is when we prove those assumptions wrong.
• Grief changes everything. The loss of her brother in a motorcycle accident became one of the biggest forks in the road of her life, shifting her perspective and fueling her to live with intention.
• LinkedIn is more than a platform. For Kristi, it’s been a creative outlet, a community, and even a form of therapy. She shares how writing has helped her find her voice and connect more deeply with others.
• The dark side of alcohol. With over 800 days of sobriety, Kristi talks candidly about the decision to quit drinking, the cultural normalization of alcohol, and how giving it up has been one of the best decisions of her life.
• You don’t need a five-year plan. Instead of rigid goals, Kristi’s leaning into the unknown—welcoming the opportunities that show up when you bring your whole self to your life and your work.
• The people closest to you can hurt the most. She reflects on how deep family wounds still linger, and the ache that comes from not getting closure, even years later.
• Creativity is everywhere. From work emails to support tickets, Kristi finds inspiration all around her—and keeps a notebook nearby to capture ideas as they come.

Links & Resources

Kristi on LinkedIn

Kristi’s Website

Kristi’s “The Journey” Newsletter

She’s So Suite Podcast

Connect with Bob Mathers

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Today we talk to Stefanie Peachey, a therapist and mental health advocate about what’s been called, Trump anxiety. Whether it’s tariffs or rhetoric around Canada becoming the 51st state, Canadians are feeling betrayed, bullied and pissed off. And it’s taking a dramatic toll on our mental health.

I wanted to have this conversation because I have dear friends in the US, customers, and partners, and this is an elephant in the room I’ve been avoiding. I don’t even like having the conversation with my Canadian friends because it’s so emotionally charged. At work, we’re told never to talk politics, but here’s the thing - this is not a political issue. It’s deeply personal, and it affects everyone differently.

I’m recording this intro 4 days after Stefanie and I spoke, and there have already been 2 major changes in Trump’s position on tariffs. If you think things will calm down, it won’t. Nobody is coming to save us. The current chaos of the day will simply be replaced by something else because that’s what bullies do. Whether you like it or not, dealing with uncertainty and the anxiety people are feeling - is a core competency you need to build.

Stefanie gives us language for how we’re feeling and practical steps we can take to take back some control in our lives, and feel less powerless. We also talk about the power of collective experiences like concerts and sports that bring us together and remind us that we’re all better than this.

Please enjoy, Stefanie Peachey.

Key Takeaways

• Stefanie highlights how many Canadians are experiencing a sense of collective trauma—not unlike emotional abuse in toxic relationships—with feelings of gaslighting, fear, and powerlessness triggered by political uncertainty.

• It’s not political, it’s personal. These issues are impacting people’s day-to-day lives, their sleep, their stress levels, and their relationships.

• Leaders don’t need to have all the answers—but they do need to acknowledge what’s going on and show their teams that they’re listening and paying attention.

• Self-care isn’t about spa days—it’s about the basics: drinking water, getting sleep, moving your body, and monitoring how your environment (including your media diet) impacts your emotions.

• Doom scrolling is real—and dangerous. Being intentional about your screen time (even removing passwords or deleting apps) can make a huge difference in your mental health.

• Quiet moments—whether sitting in a restaurant alone or going for a run—can be grounding. Learning to sit with our thoughts is a skill worth re-building.

• We need more collective joy. Concerts, hockey games, shared wins—these experiences remind us that we’re connected and help us feel less alone.

• Her billboard message? “This is tough. But so are you.” A powerful reminder that while we can't control everything, we are more resilient than we think.

Links & Resources

Stefanie Peachey Counselling

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

Article: Trump, tariffs, stock market crash: Are politics and finances stressing you out?

Connect with Bob Mathers

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Today we talk to Drew Smith – a sailor, storyteller, and seeker who just completed a six-year voyage to the far side of the world on his 32-foot sailboat.

Drew set out to reach his antipode – the exact opposite point on Earth from where he was born. He’s got incredible stories, but the one that still haunts me is getting caught in a storm in 30 foot waves, 750 miles off the coast of Australia, in the middle of the night, all alone.

I grew up around boats and I could listen to Drew’s tales of nautical disaster for hours. There are so many takeaways from this conversation. But the most dramatic is this idea that not only can you spend your life consumed by these big goals that are never as satisfying as you think when you achieve them, but that you come back to a life, friends, a job that no longer fits. Everyone expects you to be the same person but you've changed. You don’t need to sail around the world for years to know what this feels like. If you’re working on yourself and sometimes feels weighted down by an old life that no longer serves you, you’ll love hearing how Drew is navigating his way back to a life that fits this new version of him. You’re never going to forget this conversation.

Batten down the hatches, and please enjoy, Drew Smith.

Key Takeaways

• Drew’s journey started with a question: what’s the farthest he could go from where he was born without leaving the planet? The answer became a six-year solo sailing mission to his geographical antipode.
• Growing up in a small town in eastern Canada, Drew developed a thirst for something bigger—and he's been chasing horizons ever since.
• Reaching your goal is never as satisfying as you think. The real reward is in the journey, the rhythm, and the self-discovery along the way.
• After years of wandering, Drew’s realizing that what he wants next isn’t distance—it’s community, purpose, and something that lasts.
• The scariest moment of his voyage? Being caught in a 10-meter swell 750 miles off the coast of Australia, completely alone, relying on gear he’d never tested in real-world conditions.
• Solo sailing is both isolating and deeply meditative. You become one with your boat, hyper-attuned to every sound, every shift in the wind, every creak of the hull.
• Coming home was harder than expected. The thrill of arrival fades fast, and the question quickly becomes: “Now what?”

Links & Resources

Drew on Instagram

Drew on TikTok

Jordan Series Drogue - A storm safety device used in extreme offshore conditions.

Ze Frank’s “Earth Sandwich” Concept - The fun idea that inspired Drew’s Earth Sandwich celebration at his antipode.

Connect with Bob Mathers

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