Today, we welcome Rand Selig — an accomplished investment banker, entrepreneur, coach, Scoutmaster, board member, and hands-on conservationist. Rand brings a unique balance of analytical insight and human understanding to everything he does.

For more than 35 years, he’s led The Selig Capital Group, named the Best Sustainable Investment Banking Firm in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2024 by Wealth and Finance International. Rand is also the author of the award-winning book Thriving! How to Create a Healthier, Happier, and More Prosperous Life — a 333-page guide that’s been inspiring readers around the world since its release through selfpublishing.com.

Rand's Website

@Rmsinstat on Instagram

Rand on YouTube

Rand's Facebook page

Thriving! resonate with readers seeking practical guidance for designing a life filled with purpose, vitality, and joy.

1. The Power of Choice — Why “Thriving” Matters

• Rand, your book is built on the idea that intentional choices can completely reshape our lives. What inspired you to write Thriving! and how do you define what it truly means to “thrive” in today’s fast-paced world?

1. Overcoming Setbacks and Building Resilience

• You write about turning obstacles into opportunities — something you’ve clearly practiced in your own entrepreneurial and personal journey. What are some of your favorite tools or mindset shifts for building resilience through life’s challenges?

1. The Science of Thriving

• With your background in both psychology and mathematics, you take a unique, evidence-based approach to personal growth. How do you bridge scientific insights — like self-awareness and behavioral psychology — with practical, everyday tools your readers can apply right now?

1. Designing Your Life — Becoming the Architect of Your Future

• You often say we can design our own lives. What does that process look like in practice? Could you share a few of the most powerful exercises or decisions that help people move from drifting through life to actively creating it?

1. The Ten Keys to Aging Well and Living with Vitality

• One of my favorite parts of the book is your section on “The 10 Keys to Aging Well.” You emphasize that aging well is about vitality, not longevity. What are some of the key choices we can make today — psychologically, emotionally, and physically — to keep thriving as we age?
• You talk about defining success on your own terms. How can people begin that process when society tends to equate success with money or status?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee — fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And before you go, remember to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Today, we’re welcoming back Ian Ziskin, President of EXec EXcel Group, a leader with more than 40 years of experience as a business executive, board advisor, coach, consultant, and author. Ian has held senior leadership and Chief Human Resources Officer roles at three Fortune 100 companies, written extensively about the future of work, HR, and leadership, and continues to influence how organizations develop people and purpose.

Ian's Website

Ian first joined us on Your World of Creativity back in 2022, when he shared insights from another collaborative anthology project that brought together diverse voices in leadership. Today, he returns to discuss his new book, Lives Lost and Leadership Found, just released by Routledge. The book blends neuroscience, survey insights from 150 professionals, and deeply personal essays from dozens of contributors to explore how grief, loss, and connection can actually deepen our leadership capacity — and how our ‘special somebodies’ may be our most powerful teachers.

1. Why This Book, and Why Now?

• Ian, you’ve written and spoken extensively about leadership and HR — but Lives Lost and Leadership Found takes a much more personal and emotional turn. What inspired you to write this book, and why was now the right time?

1. Neuroscience, Grief, and Growth

• The book explores how neuroscience rewires our leadership capacity through experiences of loss. What did you discover about the connection between grief, empathy, and leadership resilience?

1. Collaborative Creativity, Round Two

• You were last on the podcast in 2022 discussing another anthology you co-created. How has that collaborative creative process worked for you over the years — and what lessons did you carry forward into this new project?

1. Leading Together — The Power of Many Voices

• In Lives Lost and Leadership Found, you serve as the lead author but included essays from dozens of contributors. What were the benefits — and maybe the challenges — of weaving so many perspectives into a single narrative?

1. Lessons from the Data and the Stories

• You surveyed 150 professionals and featured essays from leaders and coaches across industries. What key lessons or themes emerged — and were there any surprises in how people transformed loss into growth?

1. Music, Reflection, and Renewal

• You even wrote and recorded a song for the book, “Here and Gone,” to honor your parents and brother. Tell us about the story behind that song — and why you encourage readers to write their own essays about their “Special Somebodies.

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee — fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And before you go, remember to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Today we’re joined by Steven Puri, Founder and CEO of The Sukha Company based in Austin, Texas, whose mission is to help millions of people find their focus, achieve more, and build a healthy work life. His latest creation, the Sukha Focus App, integrates science and soul to help people achieve deep, sustainable focus in a distracted world.

Steven's Website

The Journey from Hollywood to Happiness

• Steven, you’ve had such an eclectic career—from film production and tech startups to founding a company devoted to focus and balance. Steven’s creative journey spans journalism, film, technology, and now mindfulness. He began as a newscaster for the #1 youth news show in the DC/Baltimore market, then went on to work as a software engineer and Thomas J. Watson Scholar at IBM.
• From there, he entered the film world—producing computer-generated visual effects for Independence Day and 13 other movies, launching his first company, Centropolis Effects, which he later sold to German media conglomerate Das Werk. He went on to senior leadership roles at 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks, developing hit franchises like Die Hard, Wolverine, Transformers, and Star Trek.
• What turning point inspired you to create The Sukha Company?

Creative Systems and Science

• You’ve led creative and technical teams at the highest levels—from Independence Day to Transformers. What lessons from those high-pressure creative environments have shaped how you now think about productivity, empathy, and well-being at work?

Defining “Sukha” in Modern Work

• The Sanskrit word sukha means happiness through self-fulfillment. How does that philosophy show up in your company’s products—and in your own daily focus habits?

Focus in the Age of Overload

• You’ve built an app to help people stay focused in a world of constant distraction. What are the biggest focus challenges you see today, and how does The Sukha help users navigate them?

The Future of Work and Well-Being

• You talk about “healthy productivity.” What do you see as the next evolution for creative professionals and organizations who want to get more done without burning out?

Steven, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to creatives and leaders who are trying to find focus, fulfillment, and flow in their daily work?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And before you go, don’t forget to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Today, we’re talking with Dave Lee, the creative engineer and co-creator of Cardboard Sessions, the viral series where paper becomes possibility. In each episode, top-tier artists step into the studio to create unrehearsed sonic magic using fully playable instruments made entirely out of cardboard.

Dave on YouTube

@cardboardsessions on Instagram

From cardboard Stratocasters and Telecasters to full drum kits, Dave and his team turn imagination into reality, documenting the process in stunning behind-the-scenes videos that blend art, science, and pure creative courage.

The Spark of Cardboard Chaos

• Dave, where did this idea begin—what first made you look at cardboard and think, “let’s make a snowboard, a guitar, or a pair of Vans out of this”? What was the creative leap from Cardboard Chaos to Cardboard Sessions?

Engineering Meets Art

• You’ve built fully playable instruments out of cardboard—something that sounds impossible until people see and hear it. If you’ve ever looked at an everyday object and thought, ‘What if we made this out of cardboard?’—Dave’s probably already done it. Your creative journey—from Cardboard Chaos experiments to collaborations with icons like Tony Hawk, Marcus King, and Keanu Reeves—proves that true innovation often starts with the simplest materials and the boldest questions. I was watching the Cardboard Session with Peter Yorn -- How do you and your team balance the technical precision of engineering with the spontaneity of creative experimentation?

The Magic of Unrehearsed Music

• Each Cardboard Session is unrehearsed, unfiltered, and full of creative risk. What do you think happens to artists when the normal studio structure disappears and they’re just responding to the moment—with instruments made of paper?

Collaboration and Creative Flow

• You’ve brought in everyone from ZZ Top to Marcus King to Keanu Reeves. What have you learned about collaboration from these sessions—and how do you create an environment that invites trust, play, and genuine creativity?

The Lesson for Creatives Everywhere

• Your work embodies the idea that creativity thrives on limits and curiosity. What’s your advice for listeners who want to tap into that “build it anyway” mindset—especially when they’re facing doubt or resistance?

What’s one takeaway you hope creators remember from your work—about staying inventive, curious, and hands-on in a digital world?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And before you go, don’t forget to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Today, we’re heading to Australia to welcome Duncan Toombs—one of the country’s powerhouse vocalists and storytellers. Duncan’s music reconnects us to our humanity and reminds us of the importance of love, life, and family. I first heard Duncan live this summer when I visited Sydney and stopped into Jolene’s country bar and I was blown away by his performance.

Then, I learned Duncan appeared on Channel Seven’s The Voice, where his raw, powerful vocals won over the hearts of millions. His original song, Steel on Steel, went viral with nearly 3 million viewers tuning in, and it has since reached audiences worldwide on TikTok and Instagram.

Duncan is also a nine-time Golden Guitar Award winner, an ARIA #1 album artist with Steel on Steel, and a Hands of Fame inductee.

Duncan's Website

@duncantoombs on Instagram

Duncan's Facebook page

Duncan on YouTube

Here is an overview of our conversation, plus you'll hear samples from 3 of Duncan's songs:

The Voice & Viral Breakthrough

• Duncan, your performance of Steel on Steel on The Voice captivated millions and went viral globally. What was that moment like for you—and how did it change the way people connect with your music?

Storytelling Through Song

• Your songs are deeply rooted in love, life, and family. How do you translate personal experiences into stories that resonate so universally with listeners?

Crafting an Album

• Your album Steel on Steel reached ARIA #1. What was your creative process in pulling that project together, and what makes it different from your earlier work?

Sustaining a Career in Music

• With nine Golden Guitars and a Hand of Fame induction, you’ve already built an incredible legacy. What has kept you inspired to keep writing, performing, and pushing your artistry forward?

The Other Creative Pursuit: Filmmaking & Content Creation

• Many of our listeners are creatives themselves—writers, musicians, makers—trying to find their voice. What advice would you share about staying true to your craft while navigating other creative pursuits and an ever-changing industry?

Duncan, what’s one message you’d like to leave with listeners about the role of music in keeping us connected to each other and to what really matters in life?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com

And before you go, don’t forget to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com

Today, we welcome Kay Smith-Blum, an author whose journey has taken her from the world of fashion to education leadership and now to award-winning historical fiction.

Kay's Website

@discerningKSB on Instagram

Kay's Facebook page

A longtime Seattle resident, Kay has recently been honored with multiple awards for her debut novel TANGLES, including Best Historical Mystery/Suspense at the 2025 American Fiction Awards, Best Debut Fiction by the American Writing Awards, Best Regional Fiction/West by the National Indie Excellence Awards, and Book of the Year by the Literary Global Book Awards.

Inspired by the mid-20th century and the haunting realities of leaking radioactive waste tanks at the Hanford Nuclear Site, Kay brings history, suspense, and humanity together in her storytelling.

The Spark for TANGLES

• You’ve said that the recent controversies around radioactive waste tanks at Hanford compelled you to write this story. What was the moment or piece of history that made you say: this has to become a novel?

From Fashion to Fiction

• Your background includes running a successful fashion business and serving as Seattle School Board President. How did those experiences shape your perspective as a writer—and ultimately lead you to TANGLES?

Historical Suspense & Craft

• TANGLES blends mystery, suspense, and historical detail. How did you balance historical accuracy with narrative drive? What were the biggest challenges in weaving fact with fiction?

Writing Process & Rituals

• You describe yourself as a sunrise writer who works out writer’s block in gardens and lap pools. Could you share more about your creative process—and how these routines fuel your storytelling?

Recognition & Next Steps

• With TANGLES winning so many awards—including Book of the Year—what has this recognition meant for you personally and professionally? And what’s next on your creative horizon?

What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to aspiring authors who feel drawn to tackle historical or regional stories, but maybe hesitate to take the leap?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

Also, as a thanks to you for listening, I’d like to offer you a free download of my e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Today, we welcome Gail Straub, author of Home Inside the Globe, her new memoir that reflects on a life of travel, activism, empowerment, and creative exploration.

Gail 's Website

Gail is the author of eight other acclaimed books, including the best-selling Empowerment, co-authored with her husband David Gershon, as well as The Rhythm of Compassion, Returning to My Mother’s House, and The Ashokan Way. She has won multiple Nautilus and Foreword Reviews awards for her writings on feminism, nature, and healing.

Beyond her books, Gail cofounded the Empowerment Institute in 1981 and later IMAGINE: A Global Initiative for the Empowerment of Women, which has impacted millions of lives across Africa, India, and the Middle East. She is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on empowerment and continues to blend personal storytelling with global activism.

Here's an outline of our conversation:

Home and Belonging

• After a lifetime of travel across cultures and causes, what does “home” mean to you now—and how did writing Home Inside the Globe help you integrate your inner and outer journeys?

Empowerment Across Generations

• Since cofounding the Empowerment Institute in 1981, how has your definition of “empowerment” evolved, particularly as you’ve worked with women around the world?

Global Voices, Local Lessons

• Through IMAGINE, you’ve supported women in Africa, India, and the Middle East. What have you learned from their resilience, and what lessons could Western feminism draw from those experiences?

Balancing Activism and Storytelling

• You’ve written nature meditations, feminist memoirs, and now a life-spanning reflection. How do you balance personal storytelling with activism in your work—and what role does compassion play in sustaining that balance?

Legacy and Future Changemakers

• With Home Inside the Globe, what legacy do you hope to leave for readers—and what message do you want to pass on to the next generation of changemakers, especially those searching for purpose later in life?

Gail, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to listeners about finding both courage and compassion on their own creative and activist journeys?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com

And don’t forget to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Today, we welcome Beau Dromiack — an architect, author, educator, and national voice on reviving craft in design education and practice. Beau blends decades of mission-critical architecture with a passion for teaching what he calls ‘success empathy’—the soft skills and high-craft mindset needed to thrive in today’s built environment. He leads a graduate design program at Arizona State University, mentors emerging professionals, and has just released his second book on the future of architecture and the Super-Architect.

https://www.dromiackinvention.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/beau-dromiack-aia-dbia-ncarb-scup-310747124/

https://a.co/d/5NSYyZX

1. The Call for Craft

• You’ve said, “Craft is Care—Care is our Craft. Less craft means less humanity.” Why is reviving craft so critical to the future of architecture—especially in a world driven by speed and AI?

1. The Super-Architect

• In your new book, you define the “Super-Architect” through values, skills, and optimism. Walk us through those qualities—and how they help architects build resilience amid today’s pressures and opportunities.

1. Empathy and Education

• You teach “success empathy.” How do you cultivate those soft skills and a high-craft mindset with your ASU graduate students and emerging professionals?

1. AI, Speed, and Sustainability

• Your Roadmap for Resilience aims to protect craft and humanity while embracing tech. How can architects balance AI’s efficiencies with imagination, creativity, and care?

1. Relevance and Responsibility

• Many argue architecture faces a relevance crisis. How can architects reclaim influence in the built environment—and what role does optimism play?

Beau, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to both seasoned professionals and students on keeping imagination, empathy, and craft alive as design accelerates?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And before you go, don’t forget to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com

Come back for our next episode, when we’ll continue our round-the-world travels to talk with creatives about how they get inspired, how they organize ideas, and most of all, how they gain the confidence and connections to launch their work out into the world.