Episodes

  • E93: Navigating a Polarized World with Compassion with Heather Hester

    E93: Navigating a Polarized World with Compassion with Heather Hester
    Nov 10 2026
    When life throws you major changes, how we react to the situation is more important than the situation itself. In this episode, we talk with Heather Hester about her journey into LGBTQ+ advocacy that began with a single family event (which we’ll let Heather share with you in this episode). Overnight, the Hester family found itself needing to learn and unlearn previous beliefs and thoughts and searching for resources that didn’t seem to exist. Heather now helps others navigating similar challenges in understanding and supporting LGBTQ+ family members and friends. She first created a website with resources she gathered, then launched the “More Human, More Kind” podcast to interview leading experts in supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and now coaches people in supporting LGBTQ+ youth and their families with compassion. In this conversation, you’ll learn: - How to move through fear as a parent or ally—from perfectionism and approval-seeking to learning, accountability, and courageous conversations - Practical mindset shifts to navigate a polarized world with curiosity, nuance, and dignity - Why naming and validating fear is the first step toward authentic, compassionate connection with your family members and others Heather’s story shows how leaning into discomfort, embracing growth, and choosing curiosity over judgment can transform families and communities. Heather Hester is the host of the podcast More Human. More Kind., and the author of "Parenting with Pride." As a speaker, author, coach, and LGBTQ+ advocate, she helps parents, allies, and organizations stay human in a complicated world. She believes in the magic of connection, and that kindness and belonging aren't just a feeling: they're a practice. Contact Heather: https://heatherhester.net IG: @morehumanmorekind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • E92: Up Your Listening Game: Reflections on Oscar Trimboli

    E92: Up Your Listening Game: Reflections on Oscar Trimboli
    Nov 3 2026
    Deep listening takes work. It takes focused energy. It can be exhausting. Sometimes it feels uncomfortable. And the benefits are worth the effort. In this episode, Amy and Mark share their thoughts on our conversation in the last episode with Oscar Trimboli, author of “How to Listen: Discover the Hidden Key to Better Communication” and host of the Deep Listening podcast. We explore the philosophical nature of deep listening and the connection to compassion, particularly in business. Even good listeners can improve listening skills by focusing on deep listening and the connections it creates. Listen in as we discuss: • Tips we learned from Oscar that we plan to apply immediately. • How you can find out where your gaps are in listening, which allows you to deepen your listening. • The power that comes from listening to yourself. Deep listening can have deep impact. We’d love your thoughts on these concepts too. Share in the comments or send us an email at infusecompassionpodcast@gmail.com. Oscar Trimboli is an award-winning author, host of the Apple award-winning podcast Deep Listening and a sought-after keynote speaker. His third book is “how to listen – discover the hidden key to better communication” – the most comprehensive book about listening in the workplace. Along with the Deep Listening Ambassador Community, he is on a quest to create 100 million deep listeners in the workplace. Through his work with chairs, boards of directors, and executive teams, Oscar has experienced firsthand the transformational impact leaders can have when they listen beyond words. How not to learn more from Oscar's work: https://oscartrimboli.com/howtolisten www.listeningquiz.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 mins
  • E91: Deep Listening With Oscar Trimboli

    E91: Deep Listening With Oscar Trimboli
    Oct 27 2026
    Deep listening changes not just how we hear others, but how we relate to ourselves. In this episode of the Infuse Compassion podcast, Amy and Mark talk with Oscar Trimboli, host of the “Deep Listening” podcast and author of “How to Listen,” about what it means to listen beyond the words. Oscar defines deep listening as hearing what isn’t being said as much as what is—and explains why it starts with listening to yourself, just as compassion starts with self-compassion. He shares how our brains think at 900 words per minute while people speak at about 125 wpm, and how that gap leads us to jump ahead in conversations. In this conversation, you’ll learn: - Why the goal of listening is not to understand others, but to help them understand themselves - A simple question to ask yourself before and during conversations: “What would make this a productive conversation?” - Why great listening happens in the space between speaker and listener Oscar’s insights offer practical ways to slow down, stay present, and create more meaningful, compassionate connections. Oscar Trimboli is an award-winning author, host of the Apple award-winning podcast Deep Listening and a sought-after keynote speaker. His third book is “how to listen – discover the hidden key to better communication” – the most comprehensive book about listening in the workplace. Along with the Deep Listening Ambassador Community, he is on a quest to create 100 million deep listeners in the workplace. Through his work with chairs, boards of directors, and executive teams, Oscar has experienced firsthand the transformational impact leaders can have when they listen beyond words. Learn to listen better: https://oscartrimboli.com/howtolisten www.listeningquiz.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • E90: Intentional Leadership: Reflections on Coach Jim Johnson

    E90: Intentional Leadership: Reflections on Coach Jim Johnson
    Oct 20 2026
    Compassionate leadership doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intentionality. Join Amy and Mark in this episode as they reflect on the stirring conversation from last week’s episode with Coach Jim Johnson. We highlight some of our favorite principles that Coach Jim shared, including: • The importance of knowing the people you serve as individuals. • The power of clarity in communication and correcting with kindness. • How establishing daily non-negotiables helps keep you grounded in who you are. Compassionate leadership creates stronger teams and better outcomes. Listen in as we discuss how being intentional about leading in accordance with your values is not only possible, but essential, in today’s world. Coach Jim Johnson is a basketball coach and professional speaker who speaks on realizing dreams, teamwork, and sportsmanship. He is the author of the book “A Coach and a Miracle”, which is based on a decision he made and a promise he kept in 2006 while coaching Greece Athena’s high school basketball team in upstate New York. Some of you may have seen the video and remember the story of J-Mac, who was the team’s manager that year and played in the final miraculous game of the season. Coach Johnson has received numerous coach of the year honors and was presented with a National Sportsmanship Award. He’s known for turning struggling progams into winners, but more importantly, building young men with a winning foundation for life. He retired from coaching in 2015 and has rolled his accomplishments and experiences into two speaking presentations, “Dreams Really Do Come True” and “Leadership Lessons from Half-Court”. Website: coachjimjohnson.com Email: coachjimjohnson@gmail.com Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/CoachJimJohnson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjimjohnson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachJimJohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachjimjohnson/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    31 mins
  • E89: How to Lead Responsibly with Coach Jim Johnson

    E89: How to Lead Responsibly with Coach Jim Johnson
    Oct 13 2026
    Leadership lessons don’t always come from the office. This week’s Infuse Compassion guest shares leadership principles he learned up close on the basketball court and in the locker room. Coach Jim Johnson was at the heart of a miraculous moment that became a phenomenon 20 years ago as the coach of Greece Athena’s boys high school basketball team. You may remember the story and YouTube video of “J-Mac” but you probably don’t know the backstory and the leadership lessons learned from that experience. Listen in to our conversation where you’ll hear: • The importance of leaders knowing who they are and having a personal mission. • The power of specific praise in connecting with your team so you can correct as needed. • Coach Jim’s seven keys to effective leadership that you can apply in any leadership role. You’ll be inspired and informed by our conversation to look for ways to strengthen your team by applying Coach’s proven leadership skills. Coach Jim Johnson is a basketball coach and professional speaker who speaks on realizing dreams, teamwork, and sportsmanship. He is the author of the book “A Coach and a Miracle”, which is based on a decision he made and a promise he kept in 2006 while coaching Greece Athena’s high school basketball team in upstate New York. Some of you may have seen the video and remember the story of J-Mac, who was the team’s manager that year and played in the final miraculous game of the season. Coach Johnson has received numerous coach of the year honors and was presented with a National Sportsmanship Award. He’s known for turning struggling progams into winners, but more importantly, building young men with a winning foundation for life. He retired from coaching in 2015 and has rolled his accomplishments and experiences into two speaking presentations, “Dreams Really Do Come True” and “Leadership Lessons from Half-Court”. Contact Coach Jim: Website: coachjimjohnson.com Email: coachjimjohnson@gmail.com Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/CoachJimJohnson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjimjohnson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachJimJohnson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachjimjohnson/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • E88: True Leadership is Kind: Reflections on Cindy Smarsh

    E88: True Leadership is Kind: Reflections on Cindy Smarsh
    Oct 6 2026
    Kindness and leadership – true leadership – go hand in hand. In this episode of the Infuse Compassion podcast, Amy and Mark discuss what we learned and how we were inspired by our conversation in last week’s episode with Cindy Smarsh, creator of the K.I.N.D.N.E.S.S. Code. Listen in as we share our examples of the key principles of the K.I.N.D.N.E.S.S. Code and how you can apply the principles in your leadership and life. Listen in as we discuss: • The power and importance of listening as a key factor in communication. • How kindness includes making tough decisions and holding people accountable. • The multitude of reasons leadership requires knowing your team members personally. Join the conversation and consider how you can benefit from applying principles of kindness to your leadership. Cindy Smarsh has been counseling, coaching, speaking, and writing for over 35 years helping people create meaningful lives personally and professionally. Most recently, Cindy followed an inspiration to become a workplace wellbeing expert who teaches kindness-based initiatives to people in leadership positions. She found a plethora of research backing the validity of creating a wellness-focused culture in corporations to increase employee engagement, improve productivity, raise employee satisfaction and retention, decrease team conflict, enhance morale, save time & money, and drive collective success. Based on her findings, she created The K.I.N.D.N.E.S.S. Code™ a framework for up leveling the skillsets of professionals companywide to build a culture where everyone can thrive. She is on a mission to support people from all walks of life to be healthy and joy-filled with meaningful, impactful lives. She believes together we can make the world a better place and is determined to use what she has been given to make that possible. Contact Cindy: Email: cindy@cindysmarsh.com; Website: cindysmarsh.com; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thekindnesscode/; YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbmX1Iyas873jLCale6MjBw; Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • E87: Exercise the Kindess Code with Cindy Smarsh

    E87: Exercise the Kindess Code with Cindy Smarsh
    Sep 29 2026
    Kindness in business is sometimes considered soft, even fluffy. But this week’s Infuse Compassion podcast guest sees it differently. Cindy Smarsh has done the research to “crack the code” for successful business leadership, and she found that kindness is the key. Listen in as Cindy shares how she developed the K.I.N.D.N.E.S.S. Code, eight components that improve leadership, strengthen teams, and lead to serious business outcomes. In this episode you’ll learn: • The one factor that 92% of employees say will keep them at their job and their company. • An overview of the K.I.N.D.N.E.S.S. Code and how it is the key to organizational and team success. • Examples of how kindness improves business outcomes. Join us for an inside look at how you can access the code to leadership effectiveness and business success. Cindy Smarsh has been counseling, coaching, speaking, and writing for over 35 years helping people create meaningful lives personally and professionally. Most recently, Cindy followed an inspiration to become a workplace wellbeing expert who teaches kindness-based initiatives to people in leadership positions. She found a plethora of research backing the validity of creating a wellness-focused culture in corporations to increase employee engagement, improve productivity, raise employee satisfaction and retention, decrease team conflict, enhance morale, save time & money, and drive collective success. Based on her findings, she created The K.I.N.D.N.E.S.S. Code™ a framework for up leveling the skillsets of professionals companywide to build a culture where everyone can thrive. She is on a mission to support people from all walks of life to be healthy and joy-filled with meaningful, impactful lives. She believes together we can make the world a better place and is determined to use what she has been given to make that possible. Contact your favorite Smarshmallow: Email: cindy@cindysmarsh.com; Website: cindysmarsh.com; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thekindnesscode/; YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbmX1Iyas873jLCale6MjBw; Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • E86: Whole Self Leadership: Reflections on Liz Watt

    E86: Whole Self Leadership: Reflections on Liz Watt
    Sep 22 2026
    Leadership begins from the inside. Amy and Mark focus on the concept of “whole-self leadership” that Liz Watt shared with us in our last episode. We talk about key points of Liz’s THRIVE framework and how they tie to infusing compassion into the world. Join us as we discuss: - The power behind some of the questions Liz suggested as part of her THRIVE framework. - What gets in the way of following our promptings to serve others. - How caring for yourself increases your capacity to create and discover options. Listen in and consider how you can apply THRIVE to your life and build your own “whole-self leadership” personally and professionally. Elizabeth Ann Watt is a dynamic leader, holistic wellness expert, and CEO. She is dedicated to empowering others to live their fullest potential. As a multi best seller author, public speaker, and podcast host, Liz uses her voice to inspire positive change, sharing her life’s mission to uplift and serve others. Together with her husband of over 33 years, she coordinates Utah’s largest natural health and wellness conference, helping her community embrace proactive, natural health. A mother of six, Liz lives by her motto, “Live today to bless others tomorrow,” making each moment purposeful in her journey to impact the world for the better. Contact Liz: ElizabethAnnWatt.com (free 7-day wellness journey) BeHealthyUtah.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins