Ends with Z
65 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago -Hi, we are Juan Fernandez and Cecile Munoz. We are fascinated by the intersection of business and relationships and how to thrive in your life. In this podcast, we explore issues affecting the workplace and how it impacts culture, interpersonal relationships, and how to grow as a human being. What makes us qualified? Juan Fernandez has covered some of the biggest stories in the Southland Los Angeles as part of the CBS News. His favorites include Presidential visits and the arrival of the Space Shuttle Endeavour and its final journey through the streets of Los Angeles to the California Science Center. Cecile Munoz is the president and founder of U.S. Executive Search & Consulting, a leading nationally recognized financial services recruiting and consulting firm. She’s one of a very small group of executive search firms owned and run by minority women working Wall Street investment firms.
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Episodes
The Holidays May Be Over . . .
January 25, 2024 01:05 - 52 minutes - 96.5 MBFor many of us, the holidays are all about spending time with family. Whether merry, or just plain scary, the emotions and feelings we experience during the holiday season linger far after the decorations are down and resolutions are made. In this episode, Juan shares the almost “life changing moment” he had in how he handles the stress of going back home, his identity, and relationship with his family. Was it a Christmas miracle or the result of the awareness that parents are just ...
Just What The Chatbot Ordered
December 01, 2023 19:50 - 46 minutes - 63.6 MBThe doctor is in! But what if the doctor isn't human? Our favorite psychotherapist, John Tsilimparis, joins the podcast as we discuss the growing impact of AI, and specifically AE (artificial empathy), in the medical field and in the most important aspects of our daily life. What is Chatbot Therapy? Can AE make us better humans or is it merely manipulating us? This technology can be a game changer for providing support for human doctors in assessing actionable treatment and dra...
Breaking Down Barbie
August 07, 2023 15:03 - 31 minutes - 43.8 MBWith a worldwide box office of $1B, there is no denying the massive appeal and success of Barbie, the movie that has become a movement. In this episode, Cecile, Juan, and Shawn breakdown Barbie, give their thoughts on the movie and the inter-generational, cross-cultural, and overall appeal of the iconic Mattel brand. They discuss how Director/Writer Greta Gerwig does a brilliant job introducing some heady societal themes in a hyper-visual, colorful, depiction that is entertaining y...
Young At Heart Or An Old Soul? It's All Subjective.
June 30, 2023 23:00 - 31 minutes - 43.4 MBYou are as old as you think you are. Studies have shown that we typically perceive ourselves to be from 7 years to 20% younger than our actual chronological age. This gap is called our subjective age, but are we just living in denial or is there a benefit to this kind of thinking? Preconceived notions that we each hold on aging may also be a predictor of our eventual, future reality. People who perceive themselves to be younger than they are typically lead healthier lifestyles, en...
Manifesting Your Destiny
May 13, 2023 00:26 - 45 minutes - 62.3 MBYou can’t have the life you want if you don’t know what you want from life. As children, we dream of the lives that we want, imagining our grown-up selves, careers, soulmates/families, and possessions. It all begins with your thoughts - believing that what you want is possible and attainable. But that will only get you so far. To manifest the life of your dreams takes work. It doesn’t just magically happen. It requires the right mindset, hard work, planning, pivoting, patience...
Ride Life's Waves Like The Ocean
April 24, 2023 23:48 - 48 minutes - 66.1 MBYou’re not imagining it. Stress is making us anxious and it is effecting our thoughts, feelings, and physical bodies. Psychotherapist, John Tsilimparis, is back to explain the importance of identifying/managing stress and understanding how anxiety effects each of us differently. And, gives us a simple stress test ( a great tool – really) that we can take anytime to tell us the truth about our stress and its affects. Building emotional resilience is the key to adapting to change ...
The Breakdown: How Stress Is Breaking Down Our Hair
April 19, 2023 00:18 - 41 minutes - 57.4 MBStress affects us in different ways. For some, everyday stress makes it hard to sleep keeping us awake at night. It makes others eat too much or not at all. But did you know that stress can cause you to lose your hair? We breakdown the truth behind stressed-out hair and what we can do to save it. We welcome Trichologist and Celebrity Hair Care Specialist/Stylist, Shann Christen, to the studio to give us the true science behind hair loss, alopecia, and its connection to unmanage...
Stressed Out! Stressed Out!
April 06, 2023 21:20 - 49 minutes - 67.4 MBTo be human means you will experience stress at points in your life throughout the course of your life. It is part of the human condition that, if left unmanaged, leaves us gassed. Whether it’s because of work, family, weather, finances, loss, illness, or even the news and social media, we all experience stress and, it seems like today, we are more stressed out than ever. Lucky for us, April is Stress Awareness Month. In this episode, we share some of our own stressors we’re exp...
Celebrating Valentine's Day on Your Terms
February 14, 2023 01:34 - 46 minutes - 63.8 MBThis week we have the one and only John Tsilimparis, relationship therapist, in the house to sound off on our last 2 dating episodes with Indie and Jai. We dive into recognizing dating red flags in ourselves and with others, the importance of self-love and awareness, why it’s good to be both velvet and steel, and why doing exactly what you want this Valentine's Day is the healthiest thing you can do for yourself.
What Is Your Dating Pizza? Part 2
February 08, 2023 00:57 - 38 minutes - 52.9 MBThe conversation continues with our 2 guests, Independence "Indie" Hall and Jai Pellerin, as we discuss how other generations are seeing dating, singledom, sex, and love. We’re getting deep and talking the real talk. Brace yourself and get ready to take a jump into dating pool!
What Is Your Dating Pizza? Part 1
February 04, 2023 02:08 - 33 minutes - 45.7 MBWhat do catfishers and your mom have in common? They’re both probably on dating apps. This week, we have 2 guests, Independence "Indie" Hall and Jai Pellerin, who say YES! They’re here to talk to us about how other generations are seeing dating, singledom, sex and love. We’re getting deep and talking the real talk in part 1 of a 2 part episode. Brace yourself and get ready to take a jump into dating pool!
What Is Your Dating Pizza?
February 04, 2023 02:08 - 33 minutes - 45.7 MBWhat do catfishers and your mom have in common? They’re both probably on dating apps. This week, we have 2 guests, Independence "Indie" Hall and Jai Pellerin, who say YES! They’re here to talk to us about how other generations are seeing dating, singledom, sex and love. We’re getting deep and talking the real talk in part 1 of a 2 part episode. Brace yourself and get ready to take a jump into dating pool!
Attractitude: Attitudes On Attraction & Dating In Today’s World
January 27, 2023 16:28 - 37 minutes - 51 MBThis week, Juan and Cecile sit down for a “friend chat” to discuss their “attractitude,” aka their attitudes and philosophies on attraction, dating, and relationships. They’re diving into their dating history and examining what they’ve learned, what they’re looking for now, and what younger generations have to teach them. Grab a coffee, take a seat, things are about to get a little saucy.
The Luckiest Girl in the World
January 18, 2023 20:30 - 49 minutes - 67.5 MBWhether we were ready or not, we’re in 2023! Our kickoff episode to the year surrounds setting goals and intentions, being mindful of our thought processes, the importance of yearly closure, and why it only takes a glass of champagne to make you feel like the luckiest girl (or guy) in the world.
Let's Celebrate!
December 10, 2022 01:00 - 1 hour - 85.8 MBThis week is a BIG one for Ends with Z as we celebrate our 50th episode! Cecile, Juan, and Shawn reminisce on the beginnings of the podcast and recall some of their favorite show topics and episodes. This is also the time of year to celebrate the holidays with family and friends. But for some, it can be a time of emotional distress brought on by family triggers, holiday traditions, loss, and loneliness. We bring back our favorite, psychotherapist, John Tsilimparis, to help us nav...
Survival of the Friendliest
November 18, 2022 23:42 - 58 minutes - 80.8 MBWe all love more of a good thing but are too many friends bad for you? Our favorite psychotherapist, John Tsilimparis, is back to wrap up our friendship series and he's bringing the science and deeply emotional reasons to answer all our questions. From what are the origins and importance of friendship, why it is the very thing that ensures our survival, how to find them and what we look for in a friend, and why you're not alone if you're having trouble getting yourself back out ther...
Friend or Frenemy?
November 09, 2022 02:22 - 42 minutes - 58.1 MBWhat kind of friend are you anyway? Do you have close friends at work or just work acquaintances? Have you ever met a person who tried a little too hard to be your friend to learn later they only cared about your failure? Making and maintaining meaningful friendships is real work! It doesn't just magically happen. Join us for part 3 of our Friendship series where we talk about having friends at work, and ask how, why, and can we make friends at different stages of our life. We ...
Friends & Colin Farrell . . . Such Is Life
November 02, 2022 00:28 - 47 minutes - 65.8 MBWe continue our friendship series and dive deeper into making friends, keeping friends, and breaking up with friends. We talk about platonic love (or friends without those benefits), the modern concept of your soulmate also being your best friend, and why statistics say we’re failing at making friends and how to fix this. Join us as we spill the tea while we dish on our attachment theory in our relationships and debate why there may be a little bit of Colin Farrell in all of us. ...
“Tell Me Who Your Friends Are And I’ll Tell You Who You Are.”
October 26, 2022 18:00 - 34 minutes - 47 MBThis week we dive into an underrated topic: the evolution of friendships. We get personal as we discuss the correlation between how we evolve as people and how our friendships evolve with us. What do you need from friends now versus when you are in your 50s, 30s, 20s, or in high school? Is your BFF today the same one you had 20 years ago? Do you even have a BFF? What friends do we need as our lives change? What purpose do they serve in real life vs. online? Exec. Producer, Sh...
Fan Focus: "I Quit! And I Couldn't Be Happier!"
September 29, 2022 18:24 - 47 minutes - 65.1 MBThis week’s episode, we have a fan of the show with us, Carlos, a hard-working, financial services professional who recently left his job, having been in the industry 16+ years. He’s listened to every episode, but the recent ones on quiet quitting, grind culture, work/life balance podcasts, and self-advocacy really resonated with him. Carlos is here to talk to us about his own, real life journey in self-realization, what it finally took to get him to make the move, and why quitting...
Hole-Hearted & Hopeful
September 20, 2022 22:09 - 44 minutes - 61 MBAre you an advocate…for yourself? These days, we’re all about supporting each other, but sometimes we forget to be there for ourselves. Join us this week as Cecile and Juan recap Juan’s recent health scare and why it reminds all of us at Ends with Z how important it is to be our own biggest advocates, when it comes to our health and wellness, and maintaining hope during times of uncertainty. And, in matters of the heart and our health, surrounding ourselves with a good support system...
Secret Sauce, Hold the Cheese
August 19, 2022 21:18 - 45 minutes - 61.9 MBDo you have a secret sauce to life and are you willing to share it? This episode we talk about Juan's recent trip to Vegas for one of the nation’s biggest journalism conventions. We discuss how media careers and job needs have shifted and how we can make these changes work for all of us. From the younger one-person journalism band to teaching older generations the latest apps necessary to keep up with changing needs, we reveal why it's advantageous for everyone to help each other....
Don't Grind, Unwind.
August 09, 2022 22:26 - 40 minutes - 56.2 MBThis week’s episode, we discuss why “the grind” is overrated, how channel surfing can be good for your mental health, and what being a man, woman, and successful whole human looks like in today's world. How do you unwind? Taking just 5 minutes to chill out can help prevent you from being burnt out. Grab your slippers and a glass of wine, you won’t want to miss this one.
Is Grind Culture Grinding Us Down?
August 01, 2022 19:58 - 39 minutes - 54.9 MBThe answer may depend on which generation you ask. With older ones having internalized it and younger ones glorifying it, grind or hustle culture has been around for hundreds of years and is embedded in the DNA of American exceptionalism. It is our work culture. For many, modern-day work culture involves working a regular job plus a side hustle, working multiple part-time jobs, or working well past 55+ hours per week in a full-time job. The truth is, left unchecked, grind culture ...
Lean Into Life
June 29, 2022 22:27 - 38 minutes - 53.6 MBGo with the flow, be like water, embrace change. They all mean the same thing: maintaining flexibility and leaning into change. We’re back this week to discuss what being adaptable means for each person, how to not fear change, and how to access your own flexibility for more happiness this summer season. Sit down, take a listen, and get ready to lean into change!
Rest, Relaxation, and Relationship Time . . . The New 3 R's
June 25, 2022 01:02 - 49 minutes - 68.1 MBSummer is here and that means vacay, baby! Yes, we’ve all had the wind knocked out of us lately with ever-increasing prices, especially when we fill up. So how do we get our three R’s: rest, relaxation, and relationship time, when everything is so expensive? The answer is proper planning while adopting a flexible mindset that embrace choices to maximize your experience and minimize the stress and cost. In this episode, we discuss staycations, family bonding, past travels, and cu...
All Work And No Play Means Time For A Vacay
June 14, 2022 22:25 - 30 minutes - 41.2 MBTaking time off shouldn’t be stressful, but it is for many, so much so that millions of vacation days go unused each year. Where is the line between being a hard worker and working all the time? It’s vacation time where the living is easy. Or it should be and can be, if we are flexible and plan properly. Do you take that trip to Europe we’ve put off that last 2 years or do we stay local to save money as gas prices continue to rise? This week’s episode, we dive into the idea of e...
Metaverse or Metaconfused?
May 31, 2022 23:35 - 34 minutes - 47.4 MBWhile many of us are still trying to figure out what cryptocurrency is, the Metaverse has arrived. What is it exactly? Is it the Sims on steroids? Is it digital communal living? Virtual reality? Is it for socialization? Business? Education? Fitness? Well, if you're a novice like us, still scratching your head to understand the Metaverse, you'll want to tune into this episode where we break down the overall concept of Metaverse. We also discuss the Metaverse’s positive and neg...
Digital Detox
May 31, 2022 23:35 - 41 minutes - 57.1 MBWhat we consume is our world. And in California, we love our detoxes to keep our world healthy--juice cleanses, Keto, intermittent fasting, sweat chambers, sage burning--we love it all! But what about our digital diet? With all that we consume from our devices, it stands to reason that taking an occasional break to detox can be good for our well-being. Do you know how much you take in without thinking? In this week's episode, we discuss how to be more mindful of our digital usage a...
Digital Disruption
May 17, 2022 22:45 - 37 minutes - 52.2 MBIs your phone keeping you from reaching your goals? Iphones, Androids, Tablets and Watches. They’re all so “smart.” You need to keep track of your receipts? There’s an app for that. Need to see what restaurants are nearby? There’s an app for that. Want to “unplug” and calm down from your day? Yeah, there’s even an app for that, and it’s great! However, when does digital usage crossover from being productive to disruptive? The science is in, and it seems the very devices meant to mak...
The Cost To Be The Boss
March 14, 2022 21:32 - 40 minutes - 55.7 MBCOVID-19 has rapidly accelerated many things in our society. Americans started new small businesses in record numbers during the pandemic, many fueled by being laid off or by just having the time and space to seriously contemplate their work and their personal lives. Now more than any time in history, the path to being an entrepreneur is easier than ever before because of the internet and the digitization of work and life. But there is a cost to being the boss, and that is account...
Hardwired To Thrive
February 23, 2022 21:10 - 55 minutes - 76.3 MBWith everything we have experienced over the past 2 years, It seems we are all trying find more capacity to handle what keeps coming at us. How do we preserve in the face of adversity or constant change? The key is to be more resilient--to heighten our self-awareness of the things we cannot control and our responses to those things. It is the radical acceptance of the highest order. We are all born resilient and we can learn how to be more adaptive and reactive to not just surviv...
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
February 07, 2022 21:00 - 39 minutes - 54.9 MBAll of us know at least one person who quit their job within the last year and about twenty others who are really thinking about it. Many don’t have another job lined up before they quit – the one cardinal rule very few would ever dare to brake. But almost 9 million people between November and December did exactly that. They were just done. If you are not thinking about it, should you? And, if you are, is there a good or smarter way to do it, to make sure you are going to make y...
Age Inappropriate
November 12, 2021 20:05 - 44 minutes - 61.3 MBWe’re age inappropriate and loving it! Thanks to JLO, modern medicine and Botox, people say 50 is the new 30 and turning 40 no longer means doom and gloom. But why is that a good thing? Why are we all chasing youth; don’t you remember the acne, bad decisions and hangovers of your 20s? Because we, at Ends with Z, sure do! Maybe there’s a sweet spot? In this week’s episode, find out why 30 should actually be the new 50 (and why that’s a great thing), what Robert DeNiro and Anne Hathawa...
A Tale of Two Teachers: Back to School 2021
August 27, 2021 21:25 - 52 minutes - 71.7 MBBack to school is always a mixed bag of excitement, nerves, fears and change. Things are a somewhat better – we have vaccines and boosters too – but the tension and confusion, on top of a year and a half of living in a pandemic, has been a steep price for all of us to pay. We wanted to give voice to the human side of the hot-button issue of bringing kids back to school. Ends With Z revisits (from podcasts #13 and #14) two Title 1 School teachers -- Shannon Dunn from Lexington, KY,...
Power Shift: Employees in Control
July 21, 2021 17:16 - 42 minutes - 58.7 MBWith the promise of higher vaccination rates, the U.S. economy continues to reopen. But as unemployment numbers drop, companies are having a hard time figuring out exactly how to get employees back to the office. Doing it safely because we are still in a pandemic is only one factor. While many company leaders prefer a return to the office, many employees want more flexibility in their work schedule, having experienced working in a remote capacity due to pandemic restrictions. A s...
The Therapist Is In: John Tsilimparis, MFT
June 09, 2021 01:09 - 47 minutes - 65.6 MBWe continue the discussion on how we adjust and readjust as we emerge from our homes and re-enter society. LA-based Psychotherapist, John Tsilimparis, MFT, joins the conversation to help us navigate the post-pandemic path to a new reality with less restrictions, masks, and mandates in a safer way that nurtures and supports our mental health and well-being.
Do We Hug? Masks Down, Awkward Up
June 08, 2021 00:24 - 23 minutes - 32.1 MBIn this podcast, we’re diving into how many of us are moving forward in the wake of COVID-19 and redefining the new normal. Do we hug again? How about just an elbow bump? We explore what our worlds are looking like now that we’re emerging from COVID-19 and discuss why it’s okay if you’re not okay in part one of this two-part podcast!
Is The Juice Worth The Squeeze?
April 29, 2021 20:18 - 43 minutes - 59.4 MBIn a follow up to our last episode, we continue the discussion on the effects the pandemic has had on personal and professional relationships from a millennial mindset as special guest, Ashley Hall, joins the conversation. Are the societal changes we are seeing permanent or just temporary? How are these changes experienced differently by each generation? Ashely shares her views as we unpack some of what she and her peers are experiencing and get their perspectives on personal re...
Dating, Mating & Hibernating in Captivity
March 24, 2021 22:00 - 40 minutes - 55.7 MBLiving through a pandemic has changed how we date, and even who we date. The very way we are relating to each other as humans has shifted and changed. A year, and more, of isolation forced us all to slow down, giving us time to focus on what truly matters. Time to think about what we want, how we want to be loved, lusted for in our relationships. So how has this year of almost no human contact affected us as individuals and in our relationships, both, casual and intimate? How ha...
Grow Towards The Light
February 05, 2021 19:00 - 38 minutes - 53 MBOne thing that life continues to teach us is the contrast that is inherent in it. Good and bad. Dark and light. You cannot truly appreciate one without knowing the other. We made it through 2020 of what felt like a year of never-ending darkness, but just like plants, we grow towards the light. The vaccine rollout is bringing us hope in conquering COVID-19 as a new administration takes office and a new sense of optimism begins to take shape as we return to the life we've missed. Execu...
What We Learned in 2020
December 08, 2020 21:59 - 37 minutes - 51.1 MB2020 has been one for the history books. Literally. No one would have imagined when we rang in the New Year on January 1 that we would be in for such a wild ride. As we reflect on all that has happened this year, we immediately think about all the things that we didn’t get to do, the things we were allowed to do, all we witnessed, participated in, modified, and canceled. We all experienced just about every possible emotion – almost daily. What lessons have we learned this year t...
Grateful Not Grinchy this Holiday Season
November 13, 2020 19:50 - 52 minutes - 72.3 MB“What are you doing for the holidays?” makes some people feel like downright Grinchy while others are giddy with joy, and that is in a normal year. The holiday season this year will be very different for all, and painfully tough for many. Unimaginable losses, fear, uncertainty, and loneliness are creating levels of anxiety and depression, in even for the strongest among us. For others, the pain and effects will be much deeper and longer lasting. None of us have gone through this befo...
Reimagining Holiday Happiness
October 30, 2020 21:57 - 30 minutes - 42.7 MBWith the holidays quickly approaching, we thought that now is the perfect time to start to envision what the holidays can and will be, when so many of the traditions and gatherings that we are used may not be available to us this year. We have a unique opportunity to work from a clean slate to destress the entirety of the holiday season and to reimagine what our holiday happiness looks in 2020, starting with Halloween. In this podcast, we discuss our own plans for the upcoming holi...
Dream Catch and Release
October 15, 2020 19:00 - 43 minutes - 60.1 MBAs children, we dream big and believe that we can be so many things when we grow up. Gameshow host, doctor, lawyer, nun, a Jackson. The fearless optimism that we possess innately when we are young seems to fade away for many of us as we mature. As life unfolds, our dreams are pushed away or put on hold. But what happens to a dream deferred or to the desires that led to our dreams? Did “I want to be and I believe I can” shrivel up and die like a raisin in the sun? Or did life’s ...
Discomfort Not Danger: Surviving the COVID Mind
September 29, 2020 23:30 - 1 hour - 84.6 MBWe are all living with massive uncertainty and fear every day caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, unprecedented unemployment, and civil unrest. Our minds are overwhelmed with the stress and anxiety at the upending of every aspect of our lives. This COVID Mind has kicked us out of our comfort zone and our life as we knew it. What is all this doing to our minds and our bodies? In this podcast, Los Angeles-based Psychotherapist, John Tsilimparis, MFT, joins us once again to help us und...
This Is a Story About Control: Life's Autopilot Mode
September 23, 2020 17:00 - 38 minutes - 52.5 MBTo live on autopilot is to live unconsciously through parts of our life. The human ability to switch to autopilot mode is a self-preservation, survival mechanism. We are all born with it. It enables us to filter and prioritize what bombards us as we go through our day so that we can cope, focus, and make decisions. In this podcast, we talk to Dr. John Tsilimparis, a Los Angeles-based Psychotherapist and Huffington Post contributor, to understand what it means to live on autopilot...
Your Voice, Your Vote, and Our Democracy: Voting Power - Part 2
September 16, 2020 02:00 - 32 minutes - 45.3 MBThis week, we continue our discussion on why we must all vote and the responsibility that we as Americans have in order to live in this democracy. Having a government that is truly representative of its citizens requires the active engagement and participation of all Americans, from Generation Z to the Silent Generation and everyone in between. Every vote matters. We the people are the power, have the power, and our votes give the power to the elected public servants. It all st...
Your Voice, Your Vote, and Our Democracy: Voting Power - Part 1
September 09, 2020 21:17 - 41 minutes - 56.8 MBVoting is a personal act, but it is also your obligation to your family, your community and your country. It has broad, societal consequences. Your vote matters. It does make a difference and it gives the people the power to choose who we put in power over us. To believe otherwise is self-suppressing your own voice, vote, and power. As we countdown to the 2020 Presidential election which is just weeks away, it is the perfect time to talk about the importance of why you must vo...
The Power of Yes, Adaptability and Compassion in Action: Nurse Mary's Story
September 01, 2020 19:15 - 39 minutes - 54.3 MBThough used to handling emergency situations, nurses are being tested as true front line soldiers battling the Coronavirus pandemic across the country. We all think a nurse is a nurse is a nurse and that they are prepared to handle anything--even an unknown pandemic. This is not the case. Nurses are having to adapt, adjust and execute in real time to do their jobs with accuracy and empathy. In this podcast, we talk to Mary Catherine Madden, a New York City nurse practitioner with...