📋 Episode Summary
Marc and Emily kick off Season 3 of Still Figuring It Out with a playful, book‑loving, tech‑nerdy conversation about what’s ahead. They share what they’re reading (Joseph Campbell and Jean Shinoda Bolen), why this year is their “Year of Play,” and how the podcast feels like opening a box of favorite sweaters at the start of a new season. The two reflect on lessons from the past year—including the passing of Marc’s father—and look forward to creating a season that emphasizes conversation and discovery rather than perfection.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Life and leadership rarely have a final destination; the path unfolds as you take the next step.

• Giving yourself permission matters, but so does offering belief and support to others.

• Technology can be part of playful learning—Marc and Emily share their Kobo e‑reader adventures.

• Staying curious about each other (and about life) keeps a 31‑year marriage dynamic.

• Season 3 will focus on conversations and themes more than “getting it right.”

🗣 Quote Highlights

“I hope to continue pressing into the mess with playfulness and joy.” – Emily
“Confidence isn’t at the starting line—courage is.” – Sabine (via Emily)
“Sometimes the picture you had at 25 would be so limiting.” – Emily

🧰 Tools & Mentions

• Goddesses in Older Women by Jean Shinoda Bolen

• The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell

• Sabine’s LinkedIn post on courage vs. confidence

• Exactly Where to Start by Phil M. Jones

• Kobo Libra Colour e‑reader & Calibre library management

• StoryGraph book‑tracking app

👥 Who Should Listen

• Longtime listeners curious about what’s ahead in Season 3

• People navigating life transitions who want a hopeful, honest take

• Book lovers and tech tinkerers looking for new tools

• Coaches and leaders who need a reminder to play and keep learning

🎺 That Music!
Special thanks to Lexi Moreno, Caleb Pitman, and Zoe Czarnecki for the original music.
Lexi Moreno: composing / mixing / mastering / guitar
Caleb Pitman: composing / mixing / trumpet
Zoe Czarnecki: bass

📋 Episode Summary
In this season finale, Marc and Emily wrap up Season 2 by doing what they do best: reflecting, learning, and laughing together. The episode centers on a deceptively simple feedback framework they love—LBs and NTs (Liked Bests and Next Times). From the unexpected power of pausing to celebrate progress to the ways this tool has helped them recover from disappointments and find traction when stuck, they explore how intentional reflection can be both practical and healing.

They also share favorite gadgets, small joys, and their own LB/NT reflections on the podcast itself. The vibe is cozy, candid, and deeply human—perfect for closing one chapter and looking ahead to the next.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• “Liked Best / Next Time” is a powerful framework for closing loops, gaining momentum, and making feedback actionable.
• Ending with “next time” isn’t about focusing on failure—it’s about directing hope.
• Tools like this work in leadership teams and family dinners.
• Small joys (like gadgets or Windex!) can be surprising sources of traction and clarity.
• Feedback culture starts with asking better questions and giving ourselves room to process.

🗣 Quote Highlights

“This doesn’t have to live on an open loop. We get to close the tab.” – Marc
“Sometimes I need to put teeth into my day to get traction. Even if that’s washing a window.” – Emily
“It’s not about being stuck—it’s about what helps us get back in gear.” – Emily
“Next times aren’t negative. They’re empowering course corrections.” – Emily
“We bring out good things in each other. That’s one of my LBs for sure.” – Marc

🧰 Tools & Mentions

• LBs & NTs (Liked Bests / Next Times – no definitive origin, but used widely in coaching, education, and training)
• Phil M. Jones’ Exactly What to Say framework
• “Pluses and Deltas” model for feedback
• The “WTF” sheet: Where’s The Focus?
• Untappd beer app
• MagSafe phone tripod
• European plug adapters
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding (Windex!)

👥 Who Should Listen

• Coaches and facilitators wanting a better way to debrief
• Leaders building cultures of thoughtful reflection
• Listeners who enjoy practical wisdom with a side of silliness
• Families and teams looking for rituals to anchor learning
• Anyone who’s ever loved a gadget—or gotten stuck and needed a creative nudge

🎺 That Music!
Special thanks to Lexi Moreno, Caleb Pitman, and Zoe Czarnecki for the original music.
Lexi Moreno: composing / mixing / mastering / guitar
Caleb Pitman: composing / mixing / trumpet
Zoe Czarnecki: bass

📋 Episode Summary
In this thoughtful and energizing conversation, Marc and Emily welcome Dr. Jessica Sharp—organizational psychologist, educator, and champion of belonging. From her travels across the country to her work in Houston and beyond, Jessica is known for making complex topics like unconscious bias, self-leadership, and brain science accessible and engaging. Together, the trio explores the cultural baggage we carry around struggle and ease, what it means to be a grownup (with or without kids), and how boundaries are more than just saying “no.” This is a conversation about leading with love, letting go of outdated patterns, and the everyday power of the pause.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Belonging and self-love are foundational to leadership.
• “Ease” isn't laziness—it's a necessary counterbalance to inevitable life struggles.
• Leaders often teach what they themselves are still figuring out.
• Setting boundaries includes pausing to check in with yourself before committing.
• Silence in conversations can be a powerful tool for reflection and connection.

🗣 Quote Highlights

“We're often teaching the thing we need.” – Dr. Jessica Sharp
“Boundaries aren't just about saying ‘no’—they're about asking, ‘What do I need right now?’” – Dr. Jessica Sharp
“If you're going to tell other people to prioritize themselves, you have to model it too.” – Dr. Jessica Sharp
“It’s not the audience’s job to speak my language. It’s my job to make myself understood.” – Dr. Jessica Sharp

🧰 Tools & Mentions

• The Surprising Gift of Doubt by Marc A. Pitman
• Brené Brown on facilitator responsibility
• Junior League & Urban League volunteer leadership
• Quadrant 3 Leadership
• “The pause between stimulus and response” from Q3LC
• Moment detectives & coaching silence

👥 Who Should Listen

• Coaches and facilitators craving more ease and impact in their work
• Leaders trying to unlearn productivity guilt
• Nonprofit professionals looking for meaningful, inclusive engagement
• Anyone still figuring out how to show up for themselves as much as they do for others

🎺 That Music!
Special thanks to Lexi Moreno, Caleb Pitman, and Zoe Czarnecki for the original music.
Lexi Moreno: composing / mixing / mastering / guitar
Caleb Pitman: composing / mixing / trumpet
Zoe Czarnecki: bass