EP 43 Dr. Brett Levine: COVID-19, Focusing on the Positive

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We all know the impact that  COVID-19 has had on our lives. But have you ever wondered what the  medical professionals are thinking when it comes to it? I want to extend  a warm welcome to Dr. Brett Levine, Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist in  Southern California, who has seen first hand what this unpredictable  disease can do, shedding his light from the inside! Graduate of USC  School of Medicine, Dr. Levine has his own private practice and conducts  surgeries in local hospitals in the South Bay of California. Although  COVID-19 has brought on an abundance of stress, loss, and hardships for  people to deal with, it is even more amplified for medical  professionals. With seeing over 8,000 patients during this worldwide  pandemic, how has he managed to do it you may be wondering?

One  of Dr. Brett’s main philosophies resonates with having a positive  mindset and intentional gratefulness towards what we do have, as opposed  to focusing on all of the negatives in our lives. Let him take you on a  journey of hard facts, real life worries, and his own selfless project  of breaking the cycle when it comes to dealing with your mental health  and stepping outside of your comfort zone. 

Come  and join us to listen in and hear what Dr. Levine has to say. It might  not only help you change your perspective but you may learn a thing or  two about COVID-19 and the importance we all have to play. 

Memorable Quotes:

• “If you want to change your life, you have to change your mind.”
• “Covid-19  is real. It is NOT the flu. In my 25 years of practice, I have never  seen a hospital I’ve worked for close down because they don’t have the  capacity of oxygen or ventilators or beds.”
• “The minute I think differently, I act differently, and then I see changes in my life.”
• “The explosion of telemedicine and medicine I think is a positive for the future.”

In this episode, you will learn:

• The effect COVID-19 has had on medical professionals and their practices
• Hard facts related to COVID-19 and whether they are TRUE or FALSE
• What you need to remember about this disease and the importance of self-discipline
• Dr.  Brett’s selfless project that he created to not only help people, but  make their everyday lives better by shifting their mindset.
• How stepping out of one’s comfort zone, although scary, can be the most beneficial for your mental health

To connect with Dr. Brett Levine: beachcitiesents.com

To learn more about Dr. Brett’s amazing project: Q4DailyInspiration.com

Are  you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting,  distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for  just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.

Coaching Information:

If  you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life  coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our  website at https://clearchoices.live/.

Thank you so much for listening! Please  subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook. 

If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.

**This  post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and  decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional  cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and  used ourselves!**

It is an honor and privilege to  bring you this episode with the college and professional football player  who helped change the game of football forever. Joining me today is Sam  “The Bam” Cunningham who played for the University of Southern  California. On Sept. 12, 1970, his USC football team made history by  becoming the first integrated team to play and defeat the segregated  University of Alabama team at Denny Stadium. This changed football in  America forever. We talk through his experience as well as the social  justice issues still facing us today. Sam went on to play another year  at USC and was drafted 11th overall in the 1973 NFL Draft by the New  England Patriots. He became the team’s all-time leading rusher with over  5,400 yards and finished his career with 43 rushing touchdowns.  

Listen in to hear historical details first hand as well as some fun stories from his professional and personal life.

Notable Quotes:

“We  look at football now and we see what it looks like, and a lot of what  it looks like is a direct result of that game in 1970.”

“I  truly believe that individually you try to make strides, in whatever  neighborhood or community you are in, you try to break it down a little  piece at a time.”

“With  anything you do in life, not just athletic sports, there’s lessons to be  learned and hopefully you’re better at it 5- 10 years down the line  then you were when you started.”

In this episode, you will hear:

- The significance of the game Sam played in versus Alabama in 1970

- Sam’s perspective on civil rights and our current climate

- How athletics and competition help prepare people for life

- What he has done after his football career

To see more from Sam, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dFW5MmJrNs

Are  you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting,  distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for  just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.

Coaching Information:

If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.

Thank you so much for listening! Please  subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on  Facebook . 

If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.

**This  post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and  decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional  cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and  used ourselves!**

How are your relationships doing and how is this pandemic  affecting them? Do you feel closer to your partner or is spending so  much time together wearing on you both? I’m thrilled to have clinical  psychologist, Dr. Karen Stewart, on the show today to discuss the ripple  effects the pandemic has had on our society and relationships as a  whole. We’ve all had to deal with more stress and challenges, and then  add to that, we are around the same people (or possibly by ourselves)  for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Karen talks to us about the  challenges she has seen people face and some tips to help all of us take  care of ourselves and our relationships during this difficult time.
 

Dr. Karen Stewart is a nationally renowned clinical psychologist and  featured expert specializing in sexual dysfunction, sexual disorders,  relationship counseling and couples issues. She has appeared on numerous  media outlets as a featured expert/psychologist discussing sexual  therapy, relationship/couples therapy, addiction, stress/anxiety and  current events. She practices in two locations in both Santa Monica and  Beverly Hills, CA, and virtually.
 

Notable Quotes:
“The biggest thing (problem) has been reconnecting with your partner when you are spending 24/7 with them.”
 

“My little FYI for people considering couples therapy, do it before it turns into crisis mode.”
 

“It’s very cliche but communication is key. If there’s something either partner said, talk about it.”
 

“When we are on easy street or we’re comfortable, we don’t excel.”
 

In this episode, you will hear:
- Karen’s choice to become a psychologist and how she chose her specialty
- How the pandemic is affecting relationships and some tips to help
- Advice for people wanting to make positive changes in the new year
 

To connect with Karen:

https://www.drkarenstewart.com/
 

Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting,  distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for  just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices”  for more than a month for FREE.
 

Coaching Information:
If  you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life  coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our  website at https://clearchoices.live/.
 

Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.
Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook .
If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my  website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking  engagements.
 

**This post may contain affiliate links, which  means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny  commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and  services we have tested and used ourselves!**

Welcome to 2021! To kick off this new year, I have my first return guest on the podcast ever, Paul Walker. If you haven’t listened to Episode 4, go back and take a listen. https://link.chtbl.com/paulwalker

You will hear all about how he made the choice to sell his successful business of 20 years solely to run a youth soccer organization that helps underprivileged kids. The reason I invited him back is to get his insights on how COVID has impacted not only youth sports but young adults in general.

It is appropriate that the title to his previous episode was “Win or Lose, You Always Have to Come Back” as Paul is a fighter. He is able to get through challenging times as he has done in the past with his organization Total Futbol Academy. With COVID and this very challenging time that we have all been going through, it is helpful to hear his perspective of how he is getting through it and what that means to his organization and the kids and young adults he is impacting.

Notable Quotes:

“Find solutions. Don’t sit around complaining and don’t shut down and don’t fall apart. Find solutions because there are solutions if you just sit down and get creative.”

“When I’m feeling stressed out, I know the only way to alleviate that is to come up with solutions, then it puts your mind at ease a bit.”

“There’s always a way to fight through, whatever it is, whatever the adversity is. And this is a great lesson for all these kids.”

In this episode, you will hear:

- The major changes and effects COVID has had on his futbol academy

- How he had to get creative to be able to provide training and some normalcy for the youths and their families

- Pauls’ choices and how he stays positive during challenging times

- The positives and negatives that have come out of COVID for his organization

To support Paul’s organization Total Futbol Academy and other resources mentioned in this episode:

https://www.totalfutbolacademy.com/page/show/3469083--thank-you-

Books:

Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans 

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell 

Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.

Coaching Information:

If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.

Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . 

If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.

**This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!**

For this final episode of 2020, I am excited to have an ideal guest to  help us close out the year and bring into 2021 with a bang. Joining me  today is Matt Teter who is the Director of Leadership Coaches for more  than 50 MAPS (Mega Achievement Productivity Systems) throughout Keller  Williams. So basically he coaches people who coach others.
 

So,  what does this mean for you? In a time where typically we begin thinking  of new year’s resolutions, creating goals, and starting over with a  clean slate, Matt brings us practical advice and strategies to help us  create and live our best lives yet. He talks about everything from how  to “find” your passion, how to set meaningful goals, how to lead during  difficult times, his experience in leading with diversity as a priority,  and really being a lifelong learner. He even offers us all a challenge  so listen all the way to the end!
 

As the Director of Leadership  Coaches, Matt is responsible for coordinating the strategy and value  for more than 50 MAPS Coaches and over 1500 Leadership Clients  throughout Keller Williams. As an active MAPS Leadership Coach he has  coached more than 150 Keller Williams leaders for more than 6000  coaching hours. He is an active market center investor, was a former  team leader, and is an active real estate investor. He lives with his  wife Regina, their dog Miura, and their two cats in Austin, Texas.
 

Notable Quotes:
“Sports are one of the greatest examples of what life is all about- in a few hours.”
 

“When something goes wrong, I look for some type of win before the end of the day”
 

“When you ostracize or eliminate a group of people’s ability to make  fundamental contributions to the betterment of all of us, you’re  eliminating the ability for yourself to live a better life.”
 

“You are going to grow in the direct proportion to the level of discomfort you are willing to tolerate.”
 

In this episode, you will hear:
- How Matt approaches and feels about coaching coaches
- His view on how sports prepare people for the challenges of life
- How to lead during difficult times
- The way diversity is shaping leadership and companies for the better
- His challenge to us for positive growth and change
 

Connect with Matt and other resources mentioned in this episode:
 

https://www.instagram.com/teter.matthew/
https://www.facebook.com/matthew.teter.1
 

Books:
Pale Rider by Laura Spinney
How to Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo and Michael Eric Dyson
 

Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting,  distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for  just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices”  for more than a month for FREE.
 

Coaching Information:
If  you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life  coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our  website at https://clearchoices.live/.
 

Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.
Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook .
If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my  website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking  engagements.
 

**This post may contain affiliate links, which  means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny  commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and  services we have tested and used ourselves!**

What are the  effects that this pandemic is having on our children who are learning  virtually? Is this increasing the disparity of quality education among  socio-economic levels? What are some of the choices that need to be  made? And could there be a silver lining to all of this?

Today  I am joined by Dr. Meria Carstarphen to discuss her perspective on the  schooling of our children during this pandemic. She was most recently  the superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools where she was charged with  leading the transformation of the district following the largest  cheating scandal in the history of public education. Dr. Carstarphen  hails from Selma, Alabama, where she was born and raised in a family of  four girls. Prior to serving in Atlanta, she was superintendent in other  major metropolitan public school districts, including Austin, Texas,  and Saint Paul, Minnesota. 

Not  only is Meria an expert in urban education, she is also a “champion for  change” and passionate about improving income disparity and creating a  better future for those who are living in poverty. This is such a  powerful interview that brings a great perspective on how this pandemic  may be the crux of how choices can be made that will bring about  positive change for our country. Listen in to hear about closing the gap  in education, social injustice, and economic disparity.

Notable Quotes:

“It’s a hard time for everyone. I don’t think any decision is an easy decision.”

“We  have an opportunity to challenge the way the [public education] system  has failed black and brown and poor kids for decades now.”

“The silver lining is the opportunity. The opportunity to challenge the old system and build something better for the future.”

In this episode, you will hear:

- Meria’s choice to take the challenging positions like the APS superintendent position

- The difficulties that students and schools are facing during virtual learning and the pandemic

- Her perspective on the choices that can be made to close the gap in education, social injustice, and economic disparity

Connect with Meria and other resources mentioned in this episode:

https://www.meriacarstarphen.com/

upliftcaregiverfund@gmail.com

https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/?attachment_id=27787

Are  you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting,  distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for  just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.

Coaching Information:

If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.

Thank you so much for listening! Please  subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on  Facebook . 

If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.

**This  post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and  decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional  cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and  used ourselves!**

How do people rise above their  difficult circumstances and build a better life for themselves? My guest  today, Natalie Taylor, is sharing how she did it and her journey to  overcome. She went from being homeless at age 14 while living in Jamaica  to graduating from college in the United States to working on Wall  Street. And her struggles did not end there. She continued dealing with  the negative effects of her past until she realized that she needed to  change her mindset. Now she is paying it forward by helping others who  feel stuck in their lives. Her story is beyond incredible and perfectly  defines the power of a mindset shift.

Natalie is a Life Architect  and Transformational Coach who has fought with imposter syndrome her  entire life along with the thought that she was undeserving of the  success she was creating. She's on a mission to help women succeed in  their financial lives, experience positive self-worth, and build  confidence. 

Notable Quotes:

“I didn’t understand that you can create a space within you to experience joy.”

“Two  ways people deal with their upbringing is either run towards it or run  away from it. Either way, they still have to deal with it.”

In this episode, you will hear:

- Natalie’s transformational story from being homeless to becoming a transformational coach

- How she dealt with imposter syndrome and what it looked like for her

- The importance of mindset and how she helps others transform their lives through a shifting their own

Coaching Information:

If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.

Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . 

If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.

Connect with Natalie and/or book a free call:

https://linktr.ee/winningnatalie

https://www.instagram.com/winningnatalie

Today’s  episode is a bit different as I am turning the tables and instead of me  interviewing a guest, I am the one being interviewed! My podcast  producer, Krissy Meriwether, is interviewing me as we look back over  this past year of the Clear Choices podcast.

We discuss  everything from how the show has evolved, to the many different guests  that I have had the privilege of interviewing, to reflecting on what I  have learned through the process of hosting this show. We highlight some  great interviews with notable quotes from amazing individuals. 

This is a fun episode that really is a culmination of a year in podcasting this show. I hope you enjoy it!

Notable Quotes:

“And that’s really my goal, with this, is just move people forward.”

“When you become paralyzed or stagnant in your decision making so goes your life.”

In this episode, you will hear:

- How the show has evolved since starting it one year ago

- Quotes from highlighted guests and my thoughts on them 

- What seems to be the common theme in making clear choices

Thank you so much for listening! Please  subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Coaching Information:

If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at  https://clearchoices.live/.

Find me on Instagram  @clearchoicespodcast and on  Facebook . 

If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website  www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.  There's much to see here. So, take your time, look around, and learn all there is to know about us. We hope you enjoy our site and take a moment to drop us a line.

With the recent loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I am honored to have two people on the show who are very much in alignment with her fight for gender equality. Andie Kramer and Al Harris are gender bias experts who have spent the past 30 years combating gender bias through writing, speaking and mentoring. We are talking today about the ways in which women experience bias in the workplace and how these biases hinder their advancement and compensation in their careers. You will hear what choices and changes need to occur for our country to make progress in gender equality and racial equality as well.

Andie and Al are the co-authors of two award-winning books: Breaking Through Bias: Communication Techniques for Women to Succeed at Work and It’s Not You, It’s the Workplace: Women’s Conflict at Work and the Bias That Built It. Andie and Al’s writing on communication strategies and gender biases have been widely featured, including in HBR.org, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, and The Chicago Tribune. Andie is also a contributing writer for Forbes.com. Together and separately, Andie and Al speak and lead workshops across the country to help women, men, and organizations overcome the negative effects of gender bias and build healthier, more productive workplaces.

“Implicit bias is still a problem and that's what we focus on in our work.”

“We need a new approach. We need a new way of attacking gender bias. And that new approach involves not telling people NOT to be biased but it involves finding ways to interrupt biases from career affecting decisions.”

In this episode, you will hear:

- The difference between explicit and implicit bias and how to tell the difference

- What women, men, and organizations can do to decrease gender bias 

- Andie and Al’s choice to write two books and fight for gender equality

Coaching Information:

If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.

Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . 

If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.

Connect with Andie and Al:

https://andieandal.com/

Breaking Through Bias Second Edition: Communication Techniques for Women to Succeed at Work

It's Not You It's the Workplace: Women's Conflict at Work and the Bias that Built It