This ExtraOrdinary Life
171 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 40 ratingsDo you want more joy, fulfillment, and abundance in life than you have right now? Do you long for your life to be extraordinary? We do. Join Kevin Monroe and friends each week for conversations exploring how your life can become more extraordinary. It’s easier than you might imagine.
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Episodes
Living Your Extraordinary Purpose with Cornell Thomas
November 19, 2019 05:01 - 49 minutesCornell Thomas, author of Extraordinary, was raised on the adage that everything happens for a reason. His mom taught him through her example that in difficult times, you look for a solution, you don’t quit. He joins Kevin Monroe to talk about finding his purpose and living an extraordinary life. In Finding Your Purpose, Even Baby Steps Are Steps We’ve all had moments where we think we discovered our purpose in life. Cornell says that happened twice before he found his true purpose. He share...
Live, Love and Lead an Extra-Ordinary Life
November 12, 2019 05:01 - 41 minutesIn this week’s episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast, Kevin Monroe shares some insights to inspire listeners as a new decade approaches. He speaks about the power of a like-hearted community and leading an extra-ordinary life. The Road Less Traveled Kevin believes that, like himself, listeners have chosen the road less traveled, whether in business, leadership or life in general. A question he has been pondering is, what happens when we lose our way on this road? There aren’t any established...
Awakening to Purpose, Meaning and Connection with Garry Turner
November 05, 2019 05:01 - 45 minutesGarry Turner is this week’s guest on the Higher Purpose Podcast. He is the host of the Value Through Vulnerability podcast and was a guest on Episode 90 of this show. Kevin describes him as a great connector of people. They discuss his awakening, how his life is different post-awakening and the joy of connecting. Waking Up Garry recently delivered a keynote address at the Ignite Conference in Switzerland. His topic was Waking Up to Purpose, Meaning, and Connection. Kevin asks why he used the...
Infusing Your Company with Culture with Kerry Wekelo
October 29, 2019 04:01 - 48 minutesKerry Wekelo is the Chief Operating Officer at Actualize Consulting, and author of Culture Infusion: 9 Principles for Creating and Maintaining a Thriving Organizational Culture. She chats with Kevin Monroe about how she helps her company and clients infuse a people-first culture into their organizations. An Inside Out Perspective Kerry explains that the book is a case study of Actualize and shows how they were able to turn around their culture from being focused on profits first, to people f...
Are You Listening? with Jane Adshead-Grant
October 22, 2019 04:02 - 55 minutesExecutive coach and author of Are You Listening or Just Waiting to Speak, Jane Adshead-Grant is the guest on today’s show. She shares deep insights about listening with host Kevin Monroe, including why she discourages note taking during conversations. Don’t Take Notes Kevin often creates some questions to ask podcast guests as a springboard to their conversation. While they are speaking, he jots down notes so that he remembers important points or ideas he wants to revisit. Jane discourages ...
Longing for Belonging
October 15, 2019 04:01 - 33 minutesKevin Monroe has a one-on-one chat with listeners this week about our need for belonging. We are wired for belonging: we all have a desire to be seen, accepted, valued and loved for who we are, not what we have to become to earn approval or acceptance. Often, however, we settle for just connection. Kevin discusses four aspects of this important subject: the beauty of belonging, barriers to belonging, the battle for belonging and the birthright of belonging. The Epidemic of LonelinessMost peop...
Have Fun Being Yourself
October 08, 2019 04:01 - 30 minutesKevin talks one-on-one with listeners in this week’s show. It has been 2.5 months since his last solo episode and he has a few thoughts he wants to share with the community. His two most recent speaking engagements were the most fun for Kevin because, as he says, “It was the most me I've ever allowed myself to be.” He describes himself as a blue jeans guy, and it was the first time he allowed himself to wear jeans on stage, instead of a suit and tie. His keynote address was about the Superher...
On Hiring the Displaced with Chris Chancey
October 01, 2019 04:01 - 43 minutesKevin Monroe met Chris Chancey seven years ago and they kept in touch. Two years ago Kevin visited Chris’ company Amplio and immediately knew that a conversation would happen in due course. Chris’ recently released book - Refugee Workforce: The Economic Case for Hiring the Displaced - provided the opportunity for Chris’ appearance on this week’s show. About the BookThe book highlights the lessons Chris learned from five years of working with companies in manufacturing, construction, and hospi...
Deep Listening with Oscar Trimboli
September 24, 2019 04:01 - 49 minutesHost Kevin Monroe welcomes back his guest from episode 57, author Oscar Trimboli, to continue their conversation about deep listening. They talk about the cost of not listening, listening villains and how to overcome distraction. This is the Century of ListeningKevin recalls a statement that Oscar made in episode 57: “The biggest productivity gains for leaders and systems is by listening more, not learning to speak more effectively. We spent the last century learning how to speak. We'll spend...
World-class Culture by Design with David McGlennen
September 17, 2019 05:00 - 51 minutesHigh-performance Culture Coach, David McGlennen, is the guest on the Higher Purpose Podcast this week. He chats with Kevin Monroe about the rhythms of life and how to become a world-class organization. The Rhythms of Life David recognizes that life has rhythms that are very much like the seasons. There is a time to prepare, a time to bloom, a time for blooming to end and to prepare for winter, and a time to go deep and grow. Kevin concurs and adds that there is also a rhythm to the day. When ...
The Belonging Factor with Devin Halliday
September 10, 2019 05:00 - 46 minutesDevin Halliday recently emailed his subscribers to announce the release of his new book, The Belonging Factor. Since Kevin Monroe couldn’t remember signing up for the list, he replied to Devin’s email explaining that he was unsubscribing on principle. Devin immediately felt that he had broken trust and he immediately emailed back Kevin to express regret and hope that he could earn back his trust in time. That interaction eventually led to today’s show. Kevin and Devin chat about finding your ...
The Neuroscience of Purpose with Melissa Hughes
September 03, 2019 05:00 - 50 minutesAt the start of her career as a 4th-grade teacher, Melissa Hughes was tasked with teaching children how to learn, but she had never herself been taught how the brain works. Today, as a neuroscience expert, author and speaker, she finds that we all want to learn how to make our brain work better. She joins host Kevin Monroe in a lively discussion about the neuroscience of purpose on this week’s show. Psychological Numbing Melissa posted a video about psychological numbing on LinkedIn that caug...
Becoming the Leader Your Team is Waiting For with Jonathan Raymond
August 27, 2019 05:00 - 45 minutesJonathan Raymond is the author of Good Authority: How to Become the Leader Your Team is Waiting For. He chats with host Kevin Monroe about his leadership journey and the core principles he discovered along the way. The Value of a LeaderLeaders commonly internalize the destructive notion that they need to have all the answers and solve all the problems in the company. In fact, we attach our sense of value to this idea, Jonathan says. This causes lots of problems at work. When it comes to the p...
Reframing Adversity with Heather Younger
August 20, 2019 05:00 - 37 minutesPodcaster and author, Heather Younger joins Kevin Monroe to talk about how to move forward after adversity. Heather spoke at the TedX Colorado Springs event recently. She unpacks how adversity led to her purpose and how she helps others to reframe their adversity. How Adversity Led to PurposeHeather feels depleted by all the negative news in our society. She remarks that we have turned into a society of being victims. By contrast, she chose to use the adversity she faced early in life as fuel...
Thriving is Possible at Work with Mike Sipple Jr.
August 13, 2019 05:00 - 50 minutesThe team at One Stone Creative introduced today’s guest, Mike Sipple Jr. to host Kevin Monroe. Mike is the host of the Talent Magnet Institute Podcast, and the owner of a family business focused on helping organizations and leaders become talent magnets. Kevin and Mike meet up to chat about creating a culture of care at work and how to help people thrive. Creating Cultures Where People ThriveOur duty as adults, Mike says, is to create environments where all people can thrive. This involves l...
Starting Over on Purpose with Maryann Kerr
August 06, 2019 05:00 - 45 minutesKevin Monroe talks with Maryann Kerr, a consultant, and longtime listener and the Unofficial Sponsor of the Gratitude Challenge. They discuss gratitude, the cost of toxicity in the workplace, and how to have a purpose-powered reboot. Gratitude Steve is grateful for Maryann and asks her to share why he dubbed her the Unofficial Sponsor of the Gratitude Challenge. Maryann explains that it was of the little thing she did by tagging Steve Foran in a post that Kevin had written on LinkedIn. Both m...
Gratitude is a Way of Life
July 30, 2019 05:00 - 47 minutesThis week Steve Foran is back on the Higher Purpose Podcast to talk with Kevin about one of their mutual favorite topics - gratitude. They debrief the 10-day gratitude challenges, and the impact they’ve had on people’s lives, and go on to talk about the greater impact of gratitude, and why it’s so critical in this day and age. Debriefing the Gratitude Challenge The hypothesis was that in ten days we could move people from 0-10 in terms of surviving and thriving. The gratitude challenge was 1...
Exploring Forgiveness
July 23, 2019 05:00 - 53 minutesWhen Anthony Thompson was 7 years old, God spoke to him and said: “you’re going to be a preacher.” He heard from God throughout his life, and his work as a man of the cloth, and again in the summer of 2015 when his wife, Myra Thompson, was murdered by a white supremacist while she was at church. Forgiveness is a pillar of many religions, but practitioners often find it easier to talk about than to put into practice. This is not the case for Pastor Anthony Thompson. In this episode of the High...
The Problems with Purpose
July 16, 2019 05:00 - 34 minutesYou know Kevin as a Purpose Guy (or Guide) - that’s what this show is about, after all, but today he talks about how sometimes the pursuit of purpose isn’t actually all that easy. His pursuit of purpose often means plowing through or persevering through problems. Sometimes many. This episode is all about helping you navigate through the maze of purpose. All of these problems and their solutions can be useful in your personal life - but the main focus is going to be how purpose applies to busi...
Dealing with Imposter Syndrome with Kimberly Davis and Dr. Melissa Hughes
July 09, 2019 05:00 - 1 hourEveryone has had those moments where you have that feeling that everyone else has it all together, and you’re the only one who is completely paralyzed. Hopefully, you know that’s not true, and today, Kevin speaks with Kimberley Davis and Dr. Melissa Hughes, two women who deal with - and work beyond, the imposter syndrome. The Irony of Imposter SyndromeMore often than not, it is the people who are the most accomplished who suffer from imposter syndrome the most. Melissa talks about how high a...
The Power of Gratitude with Steve Foran
July 02, 2019 05:00 - 58 minutesIn this week’s episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast, Kevin Monroe speaks with Steve Foran. This episode is one that Kevin has been looking forward to - and it’s actually been saved specifically for this week. The next hundred episodes of the Higher Purpose Podcast are going to be grounded in gratitude - and this conversation is going to begin that. Steve Foran is a gratitude guide. He has a background in electrical engineering and an MBA - but had a revelation that led him to pursue gratitu...
Waves and Ripples
June 25, 2019 05:00 - 46 minutesThe Higher Purpose Podcast has reached its 100th episode. Now, that's a cause for celebration. And to mark this significant milestone, we will be hearing from guests all around the world about their experience with our fellow host Kevin Monroe, or their feedback on the podcast. Sit back, and enjoy! Always Count your Blessings Kevin asks his audience, what is it they are grateful for? On his end, he proceeds by enumerating everything – and everyone – he is grateful for in his life, ranging fro...
A Legacy of Purpose
June 18, 2019 05:00 - 39 minutesLast week, I had the privilege of talking with Al Lopez, and today, we get to speak with him again - along with his daughter and son-in-law Harry and Leticia, the 5th generation of coffee farmers in the family - but the FIRST generation of coffee roasters and cafe owners. Harry and Leticia fell in love with their father’s mission of helping others. Carrying on a Legacy Al is thankful that Harry and Leticia have chosen to carry on and extend the legacy he and his family began generations ago...
The Definition of Success with Al Lopez
June 11, 2019 05:00 - 55 minutesAl Lopez is a fourth-generation coffee farmer, so it’s fitting that today’s episode is recorded in a coffee shop. Al has one of the most amazing stories you’ve never heard, and as he and Kevin share a few cups of Alma Coffee, you’ll discover the heart-filled lengths Al went to as he gave back to his community in Honduras. Journey to the United States Al grew up with coffee trees in his backyard, and it was his grandfather who instilled a love for them. He shares the story of how his grandfath...
Higher Purpose and Self Worth with Traci Fenton
June 04, 2019 06:00 - 1 hourWouldn’t you love to live, lead, and work in freedom? Traci Fenton is the founder and CEO of a global leadership and transformation company called WorldBlu. What makes her company special is their unique model called ‘Freedom at Work,’ and helping people find freedom in their lives is the WorldBlu’s mission. They’ve worked with Zappos, Groupon, WD40 and 65 other countries worldwide. Freedom vs. Fear Traci and WorldBlu teach people to live, lead, and work in freedom rather than fear. To do tha...
The Employee Experience with Ben Whitter
May 28, 2019 06:00 - 46 minutesBen Whitter of the World Employee Experience Institute is known as ‘Mr. Employee Experience.’ It’s a title he’s earned over the years as he worked in over 8 countries, giving him a unique perspective on work, employees, and leadership. Ben’s first book, “Employee Experience,” is due out soon, and today conversation dives into the heart of what the title promises. Ben’s Path and Inspiration Ben started work at age 14, and his experiences were on both ends of the spectrum. He points out a very ...
Waves and Ripples with Kevin Monroe and Jason Meucci
May 21, 2019 06:00 - 40 minutesThis podcast is all about connection, conversation and community. On today’s episode, we’re diving deeper into these three "C's" with the idea of Waves and Ripples. I’ll be sharing some of my favorite stories, and Jason Meucci will join us in a special segment to share the waves and ripples in his life, which he connects to the Higher Purpose Podcast. Waves and Ripples Both waves and ripples are movements of water or liquid in response to a stimulus. The scientific definition of a wave is "...
Employee Experience and Engagement with Santiago Jaramillo
May 14, 2019 06:00 - 38 minutesHow can you unlock the true potential of your people in a way that’s good for them and good for business? Join us on this episode with our guest Santiago Jaramillo, the CEO and Co-Founder of Emplify. Today we’re talking about employee experience, employee engagement, and why ping pong tables in the break room aren’t going to cut it. Spinning plates As leaders and business owners, we’re keeping a lot of plates spinning — so much so that we end up neglecting employee engagement. But the secre...
Bringing HumansFirst Back to the Workplace with Mike Vacanti
May 07, 2019 06:00 - 49 minutesWe’re at an inflection point in business. People aren’t being fulfilled, engagement is low, and mental and physical health ramifications are challenging people and businesses to find their growth rhythm. The old system doesn’t work. HumansFirst is about actively bringing more humanity into the workplace to elevate people, help them mentally and physically heal, and then advance and evolve the workplace. And HumansFirst is not just about work — it spills into all areas of life, because we bri...
Psychological Safety at Work with Adair Cates
April 30, 2019 06:00 - 46 minutesWhat kind of energy do you bring into your workplace? Joining us today is Adair Cates, Self-Mastery Coach, Insight Facilitator, and Founder of First Lead You, and today we’re talking about employee experience, employee engagement, and the massive impact your workplace culture has not just on your organization, but on the people you serve. Culture Culture is the energy of the place and the people that you work with. It’s very intangible in a lot of ways, but one of Adair’s favorite questions t...
The Pulse of Your Organization with David Niu
April 23, 2019 06:00 - 53 minutesAt any given moment, do you know the pulse of your organization? On the show today we have David Niu, a serial entrepreneur who, after a “careercation,” founded TINYpulse, which gives clients a pulse on how happy, frustrated, and burned out their employees are before they get that surprise two weeks’ notice out of the blue. We’re exploring the topic of employee experience and engagement, and how to make sure you’re creating a culture where your people can thrive. The Careercation Burnt out ...
The Higher Purpose Journey with Kevin Monroe
April 16, 2019 06:00 - 48 minutesOur guest on this episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast is … me! Today, I’m having a conversation with my new friend from across the pond, Gary Turner, as I reflect on the journey of this very podcast. What I’ve discovered, how I’ve grown, and why Humans First has become such a big part of it all. The format of the Higher Purpose Podcast For this podcast, I just wanted to find people — whoever they are, wherever they’re at, and regardless of title — who are doing amazing things and integratin...
Allowing Humans to be Human with Mark LeBusque
April 09, 2019 05:00 - 42 minutesJoining us for another session on what it means to live, love, work, and lead in a humans first kind of way is Mark LeBusque. He describes his work as allowing humans to be human, whether that’s in the workplace, outside of the workplace, or in their communities. We talk about the magic that happens when you allow humans to get back to connecting, and why we need to be human beings before we can become human doings.
Everybody Matters with Bob Chapman
April 02, 2019 05:00 - 55 minutesAdding to this series of conversations we’re having about what it means to approach business from a people first focus is today’s episode with Bob Chapman. Bob is the author of Everybody Matters, and today we’re talking about creating work cultures where people flourish, how that impacts our lives outside of work, and what it means to care about and be a steward for your organization.
The 7 Laws of Employee Loyalty with Heather Younger
March 26, 2019 05:00 - 46 minutesWith more and more people switching jobs every few years, how can you as a leader cultivate loyalty in a humans first kind of way? Join us on this episode with Heather Younger, the host of the podcast Leadership with Heart, the author of The 7 Intuitive Laws of Employee Loyalty, and, in her words, an employee advocate.
Being a Brave Leader with Kimberly Davis
March 19, 2019 05:00 - 46 minutesWhat does it mean to be a brave leader? This is our 10th installment in our HumansFirst series of heart-to-heart discussions on what it means to live, love, lead, and work in a humans first way. Today we’re joined by Kimberly Davis, the author of Brave Leadership and the Founder and Director of OnStage Leadership, and on this episode she talks about showing up as our best selves, making our impact, and leading from the heart.
How Leadership is Evolving with Sesil Pir
March 12, 2019 05:00 - 51 minutesIs there a magic pill to make your team and organization work? Welcome to another installment in what it means to live, love, lead, and work in a humans first way. Today we have Sesil Pir, an organizational psychologist and a leading researcher on workplaces and workplace culture. She’s here to share her keen insights on the future of work and human resources, and why we need to challenge the status quo of work to suit the way we’re built as human beings.
Finding Real Happiness at Work with Brooke Erol
March 05, 2019 06:00 - 52 minutesThere’s job satisfaction, and then there’s the real happiness that comes from working at a company whose purpose aligns with yours AND where your job has meaning. We continue our HumansFirst series with Brooke Erol, the founder of Purposeful Business, and she shares how we can become more engaged at work, so we can become more engaged in life.
The 7 Simple Superpowers of the HumansFirst Heroes
February 26, 2019 06:00 - 33 minutesToday, we’re talking superpowers. We’re midstream in a series of conversations on what it means to live, love, and lead in a HumansFirst kind of way, and for this special solo episode, I want to talk to you about some important simple skills. Now, don’t confuse simple for easy. These skills require us to put someone else ahead of ourselves, which is difficult and doesn’t come naturally to many of us. I call them: The 7 Simple Superpowers of the HumansFirst Heroes.
Being a Chief Heart Officer with Claude Silver
February 19, 2019 06:00 - 45 minutesWhat is it like to mentor almost 800 people? Claude Silver is the Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia, a global digital advertising agency. She was previously the company’s Senior Vice President, and was handpicked for the role three years ago by the CEO himself, Gary Vaynerchuk. Today on the show she’s talking about the immense ability we have to touch people’s lives, even in the smallest of ways.
The Future of Work with Dr. Heather Hanson Wickman
February 12, 2019 06:00 - 47 minutesWhat does the future of work look like? According to our guest, the future of work is ‘Love in Action.’ Heather Hanson Wickman is the co-founder of Untethered Consulting and the author of “The Evolved Executive,” and today we’re talking about what it means to lead with love, not fear. Heather shares that her purpose is to awaken the souls of leaders to create soulful organizations. So how can we do that?
Making Work More Human with Renée Smith
February 05, 2019 06:00 - 45 minutesWhat does it look like when we make work more human? Renée Smith serves as the Director of Workplace Transformation for Washington State as part of the Governor’s Results Washington Office. She leads the ‘Make Work More Human’ project, and she’s here to answer the question: “What’s love got to do with it?”
Life Through the Lens of Purpose
January 29, 2019 06:00 - 37 minutesI want to invite you to a different kind of episode today: a thinking-out-loud session on seeing the world differently when looking at it through the lens of purpose. Please join the conversation! I'll share more about how you can provide your feedback at the end of this episode.
Creating a 'Humans First' Workplace with Marcel Schwantes
January 22, 2019 06:00 - 43 minutesWhat goes into creating a 'humans first' workplace? Marcel Schwantes is a keynote speaker and the and Founder and Chief Human Officer of Leadership from the core. Today we’re talking about that four-letter word: love. What does leading with love mean, and what does it look like in action, and how does it help people — and businesses — flourish?
Putting Humans First with Mike Vacanti
January 15, 2019 06:00 - 45 minutesWe’re at an inflection point and it’s time for a business culture shift. Today we have Mike Vacanti, the founder of the HumansFirst Club, here to share about the movement, the community, and what happens when you bring like-minded and like-hearted people together to put humans first.
Unwrapping Your Purpose Package
January 08, 2019 06:00 - 38 minutesWe’re kicking off the new year with another solo episode. For many, this is a time of New Year’s resolutions, transitions, or taking those next steps. For this episode, we’re exploring the idea of purpose and using new language to frame it: What does it mean to unwrap your Purpose Package?
7 Hopes for You in the New Year
January 02, 2019 06:00 - 35 minutesThis is the first episode of 2019, and it comes with a disclaimer. This one might be a little weird. In fact, it could be the weirdest episode we’ve done yet! While the actual New Year only comes, well, once a year, these seven hopes should be with you every month of every year, starting right now.
The Top 11 Books on Purpose
December 26, 2018 06:00 - 51 minutesWelcome to the last episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast for 2018. This special release is coming to you on Boxing Day and we’re wrapping up this year with the 10 most influential and inspirational books Kevin has read this year, and his takeaways from each of them.
Creating a People and Service Centered Business with Josh Watts
December 18, 2018 06:00 - 43 minutesHave you ever started a business you didn’t know anything about? Josh Watts is the CEO of MedTrust Holdings, a private ambulance provider who specializes in "inter-facility care”: the medicine in between buildings when patients transfer from one facility to another. Josh got into the private ambulance business after beginning in aviation sales and recruitment, and shares what that journey was like, the challenges along the way, and what it’s like to be one of the fastest growing companies in ...
Hospitable Leadership and the Discipline of Hope with Terry Smith
December 11, 2018 06:00 - 51 minutesOn today’s episode, we have Terry Smith, Lead Pastor of The Life Christian Church, and the author of The Hospitable Leader: Create Environments Where People and Dreams Flourish. What does it truly mean to be hospitable, and how can it transform your leadership? And what do you know about the discipline of hope?