Tech Exec Wellness Podcast: Conversations to Reignite Your Soul
In the fast-paced world of technology, where innovation and disruption are the norm, tech executives often find themselves caught in a whirlwind of high-pressure decision-making, long working hours, and constant connectivity. The relentless pursuit of success and the demands of their roles can take a toll on their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. However, a new narrative that emphasizes the importance of tech executive wellness as a crucial component of sustainable success is emerging. This is the story of the tech executive's journey to rediscover balance, prioritize well-being, and ultimately thrive in their personal and professional lives.
If you're ready to embark on a wellness journey that will empower you to live your best life, I invite you to subscribe to Tech Exec Wellness, Navigating the Digital Balance, wherever you listen to podcasts. Together, let's cultivate harmony within ourselves and radiate positive energy to the world. Each week, we'll explore a wide range of topics related to wellness, inviting experts, thought leaders, and everyday individuals who have transformed their lives through mindful living, self-care, practices, and holistic approaches. We'll dive deep into areas such as nutrition, fitness, mental health, spirituality, mindfulness, personal growth, and more.
Tech Exec Wellness Podcast: Conversations to Reignite Your Soul
Rediscovering Balance: Mindfulness, Music, and the Modern Workplace w/Melissa Sanford
Picture being at a Taylor Swift or the B-52's concert, feeling the crowd's energy, and realizing how these moments of musical joy connect us across generations. That's just one of the experiences Melissa shares in an engaging conversation with Paige Hanson. We discuss my career journey in the tech industry, from driving innovation at giants like Apple and Dell to nurturing a vibrant culture and fostering collaboration. My love for music and mentorship reveals how diverse influences keep me energized and committed to guiding the next wave of tech leaders.
Think leadership is all about hustle and grind? We offer a different perspective, emphasizing the importance of wellness and understanding within business environments. Leaders need to be attuned to the needs of their teams, ready to support them during personal challenges and cultivate a supportive work culture. We share personal wellness stories, breaking free from the toxic hustle culture and highlighting the positive impact of mindfulness and self-care on creativity and productivity. It's a conversation that encourages reflection on personal wellness journeys and the important role of the human element in the workplace, a topic we're sure will resonate with our audience's shared interest in personal growth.
Authenticity isn't just a buzzword; it's the heart of this podcast. We explore the power of sharing genuine experiences and how these stories inspire listeners to make positive changes. Feedback from our audience has energized us and led to the evolution of the podcast from a single co-host format to embracing multiple voices and perspectives.
With an influx of guest requests, we're excited yet challenged to maintain the authenticity and focus of our show. Join us for a thought-provoking exploration of leadership, authenticity, and personal growth in tech.
Please visit our website https://www.techexecwellness.com to stay up to date and subscribe to our newsletter!
Welcome back to another episode of the Tech Exec Wellness Podcast. I'm Paige Hansen and today we have a special treat. I'm thrilled to interview the founder of this very podcast, Melissa Sanford. So I've had the privilege of working with Melissa in a previous role. I've been a guest on the podcast and now serving as a guest co-host, so it is an honor to sit down with her today for an in-depth conversation. Now, Melissa will typically share a little bit about the guests by reading their bio. However, what I want to do is just highlight a few accomplishments, but really allow her to dive into her career journey. Melissa, how does that sound?
Speaker 2:You know what I'm excited I've got the cold brew here. Hopefully you've got a beverage on the other side and we're going to have a good time. I'm excited I've got the cold brew here. Hopefully you've got a beverage on the other side and we're going to have a good time.
Speaker 1:I sure do. I got airborne in my drink. You know cause. Why not get some extra vitamins? We're ready to go. I love this. I love this.
Speaker 1:Well, let me just first by saying Mel, you are an accomplished leader in technology. You bring a unique and fearless approach into problem solving, driving remarkable transformation and success stories for established enterprises and startups. So she was, and has a history of tackling challenges, uniting teams and charting a course of excellence, fostering unwavering confidence in adversity. Fueled by limitless creativity and relentless drive for innovation, she crafts groundbreaking strategies that propel organizations towards unparalleled revenue achievements. Years of successfully optimizing systems and processes for peak performance have equipped her to lay the groundwork for sustained growth and operational brilliance through scalable frameworks. As a results-driven strategic leader with a stellar track record, she has spearheaded initiatives that have generated billions in revenue, that's, a B billions in revenue for industry leaders such as Apple, symantec, dell and Capgemini. She remains committed to fostering a culture of high energy, diversity and collaboration and takes pride in maintaining a 100% staff retention rate Super cool. She continues to mentor individuals and help nurture their careers and realize their potential. Wow, I can't wait to dig into that one. That is exciting.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:Yes, but as you know, melissa, you start every single episode asking each of your guests about their favorite music, genre or concert and concert. So naturally, it's my turn now to ask you this very question. So go ahead, I want to hear.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you, paige, and first of all I want to thank you for being a part of the podcast. I've enjoyed our conversations thus far, my favorite concert experience. I probably have two what. I went to see Ozzy Osbourne years ago at the Metro Center and he quit in the middle. I think he had gotten sick, maybe he had eaten a bat before, I don't know. But that was a good concert and I've just been just yeah, maybe I'll find like an article and post it with this. But yeah, he, it was a really blizzard of Oz was a blizzard of Oz, something like that, and I was like, oh, this is going to be awesome. And then, lo and behold, he gets sick. Oh, my goodness, yeah.
Speaker 2:So the lights come on and I'm like what the hell? Yep, that's something to talk about, yeah, so I'll see if I can find that other. You know I like Taylor Swift. I saw her, but the other day I found a ticket stub. Tinley Park, Illinois. I saw the B-52s and the Go-Go's and I had forgotten about that concert and just how awesome it was for people growing up in my generation, that new wave, that all-girl band type thing, and that was probably up there in the top five that I had forgotten about.
Speaker 1:I bet there was some really good energy at that concert.
Speaker 2:Oh, there was, and I saw the B-52s. Geez, I think it was back in the early 2000s and I don't know if they're touring anymore, but it was a great concert. And then I would say the favorite genre. I don't know if they're touring anymore, but it was a great concert. And then I would say the favorite genre. I listened to just about everything. I would say some R&B, edm, some hard rock. I like the old stuff from the 80s and 90s, like Warrant, motley Crue, iron Maiden, def Leppard and then some of the newer stuff. I'm really getting into Chapel Roan and Sabrina Carpenter. I really like the young women that are coming up, so I'm really jamming to those. Have you heard of Chapel Roan or Sabrina Carpenter?
Speaker 1:Sabrina Carpenter yes, I have, and so now I'm gonna have to look up the other one. Yeah, I mean you've got to you. I know you in the past episodes. You know you do have quite the eclectic taste of music. But that's what's so great you can turn on anything or go anywhere and you would be able to jam out because you like pretty much everything. So that's that's always really nice me.
Speaker 2:I'm somebody who looks young, acts young and I still kind of want to enjoy myself. I don't want to be out there listening to, you know, the old classics that my mother listened to, but yeah, I want to. I want to keep myself young as much as I can.
Speaker 1:I love it, of course. Then you're not wearing no show socks then, cause I? Apparently that's supposed to be a dead giveaway. I learned you got your socks, right? There's all these things. There's all these things. Well, thank you. Thank you, that was fun to ask you that question for once, so that was.
Speaker 2:That was great now.
Speaker 1:We often get a glimpse into your life with each episode, but today we're gonna get even deeper, so I'm excited for that now I've told you this before, mel, but I think you're like an onion in a good way, right, you have so many layers and I learned so much, but these just offhand comments or even just conversations, and I learned so much about you, so I'm excited to have a whole episode dedicated to you so people can also see the layers just unfold throughout this interview.
Speaker 2:So I think we should just dive in.
Speaker 1:Let's dive in Cool, All right? Well, let's just start with you know. Just tell me a little bit more about your career journey and then, specifically, what experience led you to focus on wellness within the tech industry.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. But I joined the military because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I was doing really well with soccer. I had a couple of scholarships, but academically I was just unsure of myself. So maybe I had imposter syndrome back then and didn't know it. But I joined the military, had an awesome career. I'm talking. I saw things that I didn't think a young person could see.
Speaker 2:So at 19, I boot camp, I was in Washington D DC at the National Naval Medical Center and then somewhere along there I ended up going over to the Gulf War, spending some time on a ship and Paige I was just saying this to a friend of mine the other day I don't know how I was out on a ship for almost a year in this crowded space. But that probably leads me to why I like to have a lot of alone time, because when I was growing up I was always around people. If I was going out on the weekends I was with a group of people In the military. We'd go on Liberty to like Abu Dhabi, dubai. Back then I was always with a group of people. So I kind of really I enjoy my alone time now if that makes any sense.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, that does make sense. And I know you just talked a little bit about the Navy and kind of where you went. But what did you do and how did that shape outside of wanting to maybe have a little bit more alone time? But how did it shape you more into the person you are today?
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. Did you do one job for four years? And I said absolutely not, I had started. I was chosen for a role here. I had four or five jobs in four years. So I always laugh when people in corporate America are like, well, you know, we like to see people with five or 10 years. And I'm thinking to myself if you have people with dynamic skills and whatnot, you need to float them around almost like a professional team, right?
Speaker 2:So the things I did in the military I was at the National Naval Medical Center and then I went to the war and in that war I was overseeing some personnel and patient administration. So any casualties that we were getting that were friendly fire that were coming onto the ship I was on the comfort. So the comfort was, uh, not only an OR but an ER and um, just minor, like injuries, whatever. But we also had an in-depth. It was literally a hospital on, you know, floating on the sea. So I did my one year there and then when I came back I was selected because of all the medals and ribbons that I had earned.
Speaker 2:I was a congressional aide, so I wasn't working specifically in Congress or anything like that, you know, at the Capitol. But what I was doing is I was that liaison. So when, let's say, thurgood Marshall or Sandra Day O'Connor would come into the hospital, I would be there to escort them throughout the facility, sit with them, talk with them, and I was aware of their medical conditions and whatnot. And back then it was Tom Foley. He was the Speaker of the House, really tall guy, and I'm walking through the facility with him and I'm running in heels to keep up with him. My little legs were just doing all they can to keep up with them. So that was great.
Speaker 2:And then my last position was working with Lieutenant Hawkins. He was part of the Naval staff at the White House. So I was working with that capacity administratively, so picking up calls if I have to drive around. You know I had the I think it was the Dodge K car or the Chrysler K car and it would have the naval or the emblem on the side. So yeah, I was driving around in that in DC.
Speaker 2:But it was a great experience. But I think after everything I was exposed to everything I heard, everything I saw I wanted to get out of the military because I said you know what this life out East in this specific area. By the time you looked at the clock it was midnight and then you'd go to bed and you'd be up again at five to get to the base or wherever you were going. So for me it was a really fast paced life. Not that I couldn't handle it. As a young person I didn't want to anymore. I knew when to step away from, when a situation was too rigorous and I would say maybe something I was trying, I was getting burned out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean incredible as far as you know, setting a work ethic and tone to your career. I can see why you're you've been so successful, but I do. I know you got out when you, when you knew it was the right time for you. But would you ever serve again if you had to?
Speaker 2:I don't think so for two reasons I think my mindset and my let me put it this way I would serve in a capacity to help Americans, but I think as far as like wanting to serve in a war or anything again, no way Did I learn a lot and am I grateful Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's a really good takeaway.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So if we shipped outside of military and then now in outside military, were there any particular mentors, experiences or even challenges in your career that really significantly shaped your views on wellness for tech executives? I would say probably.
Speaker 2:well, first of all, I want to say I've had the opportunity to work with some excellent leaders and in those relationships with these executives, leaders either it was getting on a Peloton ride together where the EVP at the consulting company I was working at she would get everybody together and we had team building during COVID. And then Merrick Wasilewski, who you and I both know we had some things in common when I was interviewing with him and he was somebody that was always. He was always concerned about his people. I would say all throughout my career I've had people that have been compassionate people and I think in my leadership style I do that as well.
Speaker 2:I think if a leader steps away and doesn't understand the operation of the business, I think you're failing the company and you're failing your people. Because if I have somebody that is ill, that needs to take time off, I want to be able to jump in and pick up where they left off, where they don't have to worry about anything. If they have a death in the family, if they're sick, they can go take care of that. The business is going to be operational and I can delegate and or pick some tasks up myself to make sure that the business continues to go.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know that support is a real game changer, not only just in the daily task or the kind of place you are in your life, but just your willingness to want to go above and beyond for that leader and then that organization as well, when you feel that support. So that's incredible.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think that's what we're seeing a lot today when I look on LinkedIn and other platforms is did we really take the human element out of the workplace? And I think we're getting back to that. I see, you know yourself, a lot of my peers going hey, we need to really care for our people. Do the podcast is to say hey, are you okay out there? What's going on with you, what have you done to come back from that? We need to have an environment in life, whether that be work or at home, where people can raise their hand and say I'm not okay, I need to take a break. That's why I wanted to do this podcast to see where you know what are other executives doing to maintain their wellness and wellbeing, what are some of the best practices. And oftentimes it's as easy as just saying you know what. I need to take a day off, I need to just go be in isolation amongst the trees and amongst I don't know, being outside somewhere.
Speaker 1:One of the takeaways is just everybody's human and just to see how each leader says, how they they address, that has been inspiring for me, as I, you know, move into different leadership roles and running a company, so it's it's been very inspirational and helpful along my journey. So I'm sure I don't know if you envisioned that when you first started the podcast but it's been helpful.
Speaker 2:When you get into senior leadership roles, it's oh, you got to have visibility, you got to be out there, you got to have a brand. And for me, I want to be authentic. I don't want to just do things because it's an expectation. I want to be authentic. And, paige, I know, when we interviewed you, you know, right away, you were just like yeah, you know, I'll come on. I think you were a first guest, weren't?
Speaker 1:you, I was yes, yeah.
Speaker 2:So I think you kind of set the tone for these casual conversations, these meaningful conversations, and I don't think I had any expectations doing it Like I don't know. You see, a lot of these different podcast people they've got a huge million, you know, plus following and I thought if I can make an impact on one person then I've done my work. So the fact that it's taking off and there's a lot of people coming on and you know we're, you know different people are approaching us, I'm satisfied with that. Where that goes, I don't know. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Likewise, gal, likewise. Thank you. Yeah, you know we kind of touched on this, but particularly for tech executives. Why do you think a podcast like this or talking about wellness is so important for this group?
Speaker 2:I think why it's important is there's other leaders out there that they've been doing the grind for 10 or 15 years, and I've seen this a lot lately on LinkedIn, where people are I'm getting back to running, I'm getting back to yoga, I'm getting back to, and I keep hearing this consistent theme of I'm getting back to. So I think, somewhere along the way, this hustle culture has been adopted by a lot of people across the globe and I think people are raising their hands saying you know what? I'm going to take time out to go walk around the block and get my creative juices flowing. And when I talk to other leaders like yourself, we've had so many great conversations, but you're sharing with other leaders hey, this is how I'm. Mindfully, you know, I'm here in the, in the present, now stage. I'm not driving in my car or riding my bike, thinking about tomorrow's meeting or anything. I'm present, and I think that's one of the things that we've forgotten to do. I have forgotten to do, which is I put myself on autopilot.
Speaker 2:Gained weight was eating fast food. You know these high caloric coffees, and you know what I ballooned. I'm like oh my God, I'm puffy, I can't wear these nice clothes anymore. And then I had COVID when I was doing the startup and I was working with a fever. And that's when, all of a sudden, I'm like you know what? I got to pump the brakes. Something's wrong. And then, when I started this podcast, some people didn't really talk about their personal journey just enough, because a lot of that was private. But it was astonishing to see that so many people were going through things and they didn't know how to reset and and get back into their wellness journey, whether that's getting a massage or and you know that is thought provoking and it should should have people pause and reflect on their own journey in their life and what they're putting on their plate.
Speaker 1:And if, if they're in that relatable bucket that you shared of you're going, you're eating these high caloric meals maybe you know business meals and alcohol, and on the road and just not taking a step back, and that is incredibly relatable.
Speaker 1:And then also what can be and should be relatable, and it's it's more and more as I prioritize wellness, and taking a step back is is just that, is saying it's it's okay that you, you know, have a goal and you're training for something and you have to take time off to do that and okay or maybe it's as little as I don't know guttent vegetables, like you said.
Speaker 2:Like you said.
Speaker 1:No, that's true. But yeah, like I said that, you said you know one of those things Exactly.
Speaker 2:But you know, what's awesome, though, is that I'm sitting here talking to you in my office. I am very much into feng shui, so I've got my desk and maybe I'll share a picture on the website. But my desk looks like an oceanic view and I've got my hydronated water here. I push a button and I see all these bubbles and I'm drinking water and I become like this. You know that Huey Lewis song hip to be square, that's where I met my life.
Speaker 1:I love it. I love it Sounds magical, you know, okay. So podcast I know know we talked about this off air is just how you know, building a podcast actually building anything, but it is just podcasts in general is a labor of love, right? So you know, tell me and tell us just some of the biggest challenges you've encountered while both hosting the podcast and just in personally, just in terms of content.
Speaker 2:No, absolutely, and I don't think I mentioned this, but or maybe I have, maybe a million times and people are going to be at nauseam with boredom here. Meditation is very important to me and I think if I didn't have a meditative practice, I wouldn't be able to create content. So what I have done is I use meditation as a guide to. What I do with each guest is I get to know them, their background, and that way I can have a great conversation. So that goes into designing the content.
Speaker 2:I'm not good at web development and I know that you've been on me like it's it's Owen, not Ian, so it's things like that where I just I mean, it's a labor of love, but I've thought about walking away from it a few times, but then I'll get an email or I'll get something. Your podcast really helped me out. You know things put things in perspective for me. So I think what's happening is all of you that are sharing your stories are making an impact, and it's hard for me to walk away from something that is creating a positive effect on people, because we all know what's going on with the world right now. It's kind of chaotic, but if we can take a moment and have someone like yourself sit down and share. You know, cutting vegetables is great. Just being authentic, it gets you away from all of the drama that's going on in the world. I think that's why I do it.
Speaker 1:You know you make a really good point as far as you know, when people reach out and you kind of get that renewed sense of energy and I know that, whether I've been a guest on this podcast or something that I put out, and somebody's emailed me or messaged me on the side that said this is really helpful or please continue to do that, um, which is is why when you've had the guests that you've had, I generally will will email or message them on LinkedIn and tell them a takeaway and and hopefully that and that's not like a toot toot over here, you know, but really because I know it encourages me to continue you know you're not just shouting to the void of.
Speaker 1:You know whatever your message is or you know whatever your area of expertise is, and so I think people should know and I think you know whether it's I don't even know even a reporter that does a really good job on a story, or you know a podcast host or a guest of a podcast. Reach out to them, tell them you know it one. It could just be as simple as great job. I enjoyed listening to you. But if there's a certain takeaway, that's helpful, knowing that that's encouraging to you, and I know it is encouraging to me as well. That just doesn't hurt to just take a few seconds to reach out to somebody.
Speaker 2:No, absolutely. And I don't know if you heard the show we did with Wendy Bounds, but she has a great book out and she was talking about starting her Spartan journey, her Spartan race journey, at 50. I've gotten some emails from people going hey, this really inspired me to get my ass off the couch Because you think, you know, in our days we saw the Golden Girls, right, they were in their 50s and they were hanging out at the resort or whatever. But that's changed. Now we're seeing people that are aging well into their fifties and they're doing things like Spartan races and I think it's real people, right, it's not people in Hollywood that are. Oh yeah, you know, I'm 70 and I'm still doing jazzercise or aerobics, but you're seeing people like yourself that are doing Spartan races and those are really hard. I've been asked to do one and I'm like, let me just. Let me just see how the rest of the year goes, but I think it's authenticity. That is really exciting. People about the podcast.
Speaker 1:I know when, when, uh, her and Shannon were talking about, uh, the Spartan races, because at first I was like, could I do that? And they're they're going into more detail. I'm like maybe I'll choose something else, I don't know. Hey, I don't. I don't want to put you on the hot seat, because I know you've had amazing guests. You've talked about that already, but you know who has been your most memorable guest so far and I'd love to know what key insights you gained from that conversation.
Speaker 2:You know that's hard, because so I think it's almost like a recipe for soup. Every one of those, every one of you, have been an ingredient to a kick-ass podcast. One stands out, but I'm going to say I've taken so many things away from all of you. I really can't say I have a favorite guest, because each one is unique. But yeah, thanks for that question, Paige.
Speaker 1:Well, you know yeah, I agree, it's I and you know what Soup is great, especially if we're coming up on fall. I'll take your soup analogy.
Speaker 2:That's great, oh yeah, yeah, I love soup. I think I think a Jerry Seinfeld, that episode where they're in line for the soup.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was a George Costanza. Yeah, Now. So have you made any changes or? Um? You know, I know the podcast has evolved since you first started, but have you made any changes or anything like that, based off the listener feedback or just even your own observations?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I actually have. Instead of having a co-host, I have multiple co-hosts. I think this was a great opportunity because myself and my former co-host, we were busy and it's really how do I say it? It can impact or make you feel guilty if you can't make something. But what I also wanted to do was to show and share other perspectives, so I put together yeah, and another thing, I just want to mention this I've been asked to do YouTube and streaming and here's my problem with that Not everybody is in a location because confidence over.
Speaker 2:Well, I think she's in Atlanta now, but anyways but she travels around the globe, like many of our guests do, and sometimes it's hard for them to have a reliable network Wi-Fi and I know you always say don't get on the public Wi-Fi, we'll talk about that later. Wi-fi and I know you always say don't get on the public Wi-Fi, we'll talk about that later. But I want people to be comfortable recording, to be their authentic self, because I don't know about you, but if I'm on camera which I don't have a problem with I tend to look at myself and worry about like, is my hair looking good? You know, are my glasses looking good? And I think this way. It gives somebody the opportunity to, let's say, they're at the beach and they go in. I want people to be able to come in and sit down and be comfortable and be able to maybe share things without seeing themselves on the camera.
Speaker 2:And I'll be honest with you, I see some of the shows on YouTube. You get a lot of trolls out there that you know they make fun of the host. The host looks. You know, I've heard some really not cool things like that and I don't know that I, I don't know if I want to subject myself to that. I've been asked to be on a lot of podcasts. A lot of them are visual and I I don't know how I feel about that, and if this is crazy, then tell me. But I just think there's something about putting yourself more out there than than just your voice. But the video component as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, I, I totally understand. That's a thoughtful approach. I mean for me. I mean I want to, you know, be on time square you know, maybe not that far, um, you know, but, um, I, I get that.
Speaker 1:It's a very thoughtful approach. I 100% understand. And and the thing is, is it's, um, it's it's, you're comfortable with that, your guests are comfortable with that, and then it just, I think, sets a really just a really wonderful tone for for just the conversation to happen. So you do kind of take out the dynamic of, uh, the potential of you know your hair flying away or whatever is going to be the issue, and, um, just convert, just focus on the conversation.
Speaker 2:I'll share this with you. And you know what? Again, we're talking about authenticity. So if I don't have Botox on my forehead, there's a crease and I'm very self-conscious about that. So that's another thing. If I'm talking with someone and I see that crease, I won't really pay attention to the conversation because I'm like oh, I need to get Botox. I didn't get Botox. So I know it's superficial, but hey, I'm just being real.
Speaker 1:I am so glad you're being honest, because that is that's surprising and I loved. I. I've learned something about you today, so, um, thank you for sharing that, the Botox, I think.
Speaker 2:Um, you know, as we go forward and I wanted to share this with you we are getting a lot of requests to join the show and I think that's really cool.
Speaker 1:That is incredible. That's. That is really cool. Are they coming in from the website? Or I mean a bunch of emails.
Speaker 2:The podcast was featured in a magazine. So I've got a list of people that want to be on the show and some of them want to talk about work and wellness, right. And then there's some people that I've had to turn away because they want to talk about how the latest um SAS platform is going to do this, and I'm like you really didn't listen to the show because we don't talk about technology. We might, we might introduce somebody that you know is has done this, they do charity, work, whatever, but we're not here to promote any products or anything like that, and when Erica and I first started that, we made that kind of a golden rule that we weren't going to come up here and promote people. Obviously, we'll talk about what they're doing, all the cool things that they've done, but to come on primarily to talk about a SaaS platform, it's not our jam.
Speaker 1:It is not our jam, it is not. Well good, I'm really glad you're sticking to that initial kind of mission statement of, or just philosophy of, how you'll approach this. And sticking to that, even you know, gain popularity and it's really taken off. So it's, it's really refreshing popularity and it's really taken off.
Speaker 2:So it's, it's um really refreshing. Very good, yeah, and I think the Riverside platform is is great.
Speaker 1:I looked at other ones and this one is probably the easiest to do. Yeah, um. Well, one of them is just um how it's evolved.
Speaker 2:The advice I have for somebody that's wanting to start a podcast is it's not going to be overnight. You might have one or two listeners, but I feel that you should stay with it. If you feel that you have something that can help the global community, humanity, if there's something that you can contribute, inspire, because I know a lot of people are doing meditation now and we talked about that in the very beginning, but people are gravitating toward meditation and I think that's really cool. So, like I mentioned earlier, if I can help one person, then I've done my work for humanity. But I think that's it. If you have a message and it's fooling at you, you got to get on a podcast and do it. It's really easy, it's not hard and some people will like it. It's really easy, it's not hard, and some people will like it, some people will not. Unfortunately, I've not had anybody say you suck, but I was afraid of that at first, but I have to say that you have to just be resilient and just keep at it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, great advice, great advice. Now I really I want to shift about. We didn't get to talk about your personal wellness that you're doing right now. So what are you doing right now for just to maintain wellness? And then, have you adopted any practices from your guests?
Speaker 2:Yes, okay. So one practice is from you the 75 hard. So I've got to talk to you offline about that. But I got a little like discouraged because I'm like, wait a minute, what am I supposed to do? But I like your approach where you know you talk about you're getting a workout in the morning and in the afternoon. But my wellness approach is I meditate every day. We talked about that um on the gateway experience and that's really helped me out. So I'm using two sides of my brain now versus just one, and I think it takes the crazy chaos out of life. Number two I started using a app called Zing. What it does? They take a, they take a body scan of you and then you got to lose weight in your arms. It will customize a workout for you that will help target those areas. So I do that.
Speaker 2:I do the Peloton. I used to do the Peloton religiously when I was one of the first adopters and I got to meet some of the instructors and I think I'm still Facebook friends with Dennis, matt, jen, sherman, olivia, I think that's it. Yeah, so that was. I was really into that for a bit and then I know they had some challenges and they were taking a lot of their streaming classes away, cause I know Jen Sherman used to do the artist rides. She had a Katy Perry, she had a Justin Bieber Eagles, and I love those rides because it was always after work and those were my favorite artists and it was just like a conversation with other writers that I started to get to know through the community.
Speaker 2:I was really really a diehard. Now I kind of do it here and there, but I would say one of the things that I love to do is walk around the neighborhood. There's some hills and whatnot and then I also like to do some outdoor running. I like the one wait on cloud sorry, on cloud shoes. I was a New Balance girl for a long time, but on cloud has been really good. It's really good on the knees because there's some cushion there. But that's kind of what I've been doing. And I abstain from alcohol, I abstain from anything that's toxic. I don't eat red meat or pork anymore, so it's just chicken or vegetarian right now, but that's what I do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean thanks for sharing. I mean, I guess what I'm getting I'm gathering from just the wellness perspective and the activity I should say from that is you're mixing it up and it sounds like I don't know, even for me too.
Speaker 1:When you're I mean, you're saying all the different things, it's like, yep, I do that and I do that and that, and it's almost like wow, you don't realize kind of how much you do to stay active. But mixing it up makes it so. It's just not repetitive day by day Like you did. You know, you used to do the Peloton day by day, by day by day, and it's great, Don't get me wrong. But mixing it up is nice too, Especially the weather's starting to get nicer, at least here in Arizona, so it could be outdoors more.
Speaker 2:I was going to say I really love that you shared the 75 hard challenge. I want to do that. But for me, the Apple Watch I love it, not only because I worked there before, but I love that it tracks things. And I just want to say this quickly the one thing that I like about being mindful and practicing wellness. I used to go to the chiropractor every week from sitting too much.
Speaker 1:And look at you now. Do you still go to the chiropractor?
Speaker 2:Only when I am not paying attention to my knees because the foundation is starting to wear out and that contributes to hip and knee pain. So that, or if I sleep wrong, you know, at night, if I get in one of these crazy positions where I look like a what do they call it? The chalk drawing people, if I look like that and I hurt my neck, but I think I think the wellness and you know, you tell me, but I I don't have the pains like I used to have since I started moving around more.
Speaker 1:I agree. And what's? I think a huge part of that is stretching and you wouldn't believe like you know what. What do you know? I got on a run or whatever activity you've done, and stretching. To me it's just been night and day for the past. I've focused on it this year and that's made a huge difference too.
Speaker 2:Have you done the Matt Wilpers foam rolling classes on Peloton?
Speaker 1:I have not, but he's one of my favorites so I will be checking it out. He's um. I love him.
Speaker 2:Don't tell his wife that you know, I, I gotta, I gotta, I gotta, uh, I gotta mention that Matt Wilpers was doing the veterans ride and I remember I submitted a song and he actually shouted me out saying you know, this is for Melly roll, this is Shania Twain. So it was like a Shania Twain song and of course they wiped it from the streaming. But he's just a cool dude and he's got that smile as you're dying on the other side of the Peloton screen. It's like, oh my God, I'm going to be laid out for the rest of the week and he's over there smiling. I mean, the guy makes it look so easy.
Speaker 1:Yes, he does. Well, Mel, I feel like I could talk to you for hours. I know this is, and I'm sure people could listen to you for hours as well. I appreciate your willingness to be interviewed yourself and just sharing so much on your journey, how you got here, and also just more details about the podcast, and I want to congratulate you. So far, you know, starting this by the approach of helping, wanting to help at least one person, and then now here you are, helping helping way more than than one person, and people excited to not only be on the show but listen to the show every week. So thank you for your time and effort in this labor of love that you put together in this community that you've built.
Speaker 2:And Paige. Thank you.
Speaker 1:It is an honor, All right. Well, please subscribe on various platforms like Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio and many others. Check out our website at techexecwellnesscom. Thanks for tuning in and take care.
