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The Curious Middle — Business
The Curious Middle

We’re two San Francisco moms who got tired of pretending the obvious isn’t obvious.
Top 1.5% of podcasts globally not because we play it safe. We ask the questions people are thinking but won’t say out loud, on the topics that actually shape how we live: media, politics, culture, parenting, careers and what it means to defend common sense in a state that often ignores reality.
We’re two women who’ve earned our opinions through life, careers, raising kids and educating ourselves, Expect ideas that challenge what you think you know. Conversations that don’t wrap up neatly. And the occasional moment where one of us changes our mind on air, because that’s what actually curious people do.
Being “in the middle” isn’t about being passive. It’s about being grounded enough to question everything, open enough to learn from anywhere, and brave enough to push beyond comfortable assumptions. Expect conversations that challenge, entertain, and push you toward a more thoughtful, and wildly better life.

Follow us on Instagram @thecuriousmiddlepod or reach out at thecuriousmiddlepod@gmail.com

Latest Episodes:

Tips on Finding Your Brave From Kathy Caprino, a Leading Women's Career and Leadership Coach, Author and Speaker Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

We are certain that Kathy Caprino's authenticity about finding a career that feels right will resonate with your personal story and we guarantee you will be soothed by her advice and caring voice. Kathy is an internationally-recognized career, executive and leadership coach, trainer, writer, and speaker dedicated to supporting the advancement and success of women in business. In her role as a Senior Forbes contributor and host of the Finding Brave podcast, Kathy helps listeners explore ways to be brave. Most importantly, Kathy is deeply committed to heaping women find their calling.

In our conversation, Kathy shares why her previous experience as a corporate executive left her feeling empty and how she pivoted first to becoming a marriage and family therapist and then how she found her calling in career coaching and writing. We discuss Kathy's path in detail and the ways Kathy has found meaning in helping women thrive.

If you enjoy this episode, then you have to check out Kathy's book, The Most Powerful You: 7 Bravery-Boosting Paths To Career Bliss, where Kathy explores the 7 damaging power gaps that negatively affect 98% of professional women and 90% of men today. Kathy's book teaches you how to overcome these gaps to reach your highest potential.

Kathy's website

Kathy on LinkedIn

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Refugee Rights Advocate Dr. Michelle Dimasi May 23, 2023

Show notes

If you want to expand the possibility of the type of work you can do beyond your day job, then you must listen to this episode and learn about refugee advocate Dr. Michelle Dimasi. Michelle has worked on economic empowerment of women, unaccompanied asylum seeker minors and human rights for over a decade while living in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and on Christmas Island, off the coast of Australia. In this podcast , Michelle shares how her work found her. Listen to hear about the clues the universe kept sending Michelle until they were too numerous and obvious to miss. We discuss how to follow the clues you receive and do work or volunteering that brings you joy and purpose. Michelle shares why she is pulled to helping refugees and how this is the work she will do her entire life. We also discuss a few simple ways you can get involved in your own community.

Learn more about Michelle

Follow the Meant For It podcast on Instagram @meantforit
Reach out to us at: contact@meanforit.com to say hello or recommend somone for a future episode.
Go to our website www.meantforit.com for past episodes.
If you enjoy this episode, please share it with a friend!
Please leave us a review on itunes

Brilliantly Warm Founder Kristen Carbone Shares Her Start-Up Story Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

Kristien Carbone's idea for Brilliantly Warm came from a deeply personal experience of having a preventative mastectomy. After the surgery, Kristen was surprised that she was always cold due to the implants. When Kristen realized she wasn't alone, and 75% of women face the coldness issue, she looked for a solution. Hand warmers didn't solve the problem, and there was nothing on the market that came close. As a true entrepreneur, Kristen became determined to solve the problem. Kristen shares how she found the courage and community that allowed her to build the product for Brilliantly Warm, a small heating device that could be placed into a bra. We discuss how Kristen found investors to grow her business, the challenges along the way and how Kristen is building Brilliantly step by step. The market size for Brilliantly Warm has expanded since Kristen realized it could be used by breastfeeding moms and for menstrual cramps or simply to stay warm.

We discuss how Kristen's art history background and work experience helped her as a start-up founder and how Kristen's upbringing gave her the risk tolerance to boldly pursue her business idea despite the risks. Kristen has just enough crazy in her to follow her dream. Kristen has an art history background without technical experience and is a busy divorced mom with two teenage children. This conversation may inspire you to go after the business dream that is on your mind. If you see Brilliantly Warm at your local Target one day, we hope you will remember this conversation with a smile.

Learn about Brilliantly Warm

Follow Brilliantly Warm on Instagram

Follow the Meant For It podcast on Instagram @meantforit
Reach out to us at: contact@meanforit.com to say hello or recommend somone for a future episode.
Go to our website www.meantforit.com for past episodes.
If you enjoy this episode, please share it with a friend!
Please leave us a review on itunes
If you send us an audio message about a show, we may include you in a future episode. Send your name and audio file to contact@meantforit.com

Humans of San Quentin Executive Director Diane Kahn Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

Diane Kahn is a teacher and co-founder of Humans of San Quentin, an organization seeking to break down the walls and stereotypes of prison life and to humanize the lives behind bars. Diane was teaching inside San Quentin to help prisoners receive their high school diplomas when the idea for Humans of San Quentin was born. In our conversation, Diane shares the story of starting the organization and why she is so passionate about sharing the stories of people in prison. When you visit the Humans of San Quentin site, you will find moving stories, art and poetry from prisoners around across the US and other countries. Listen to our conversation to hear how the people Diane has met in San Quentin and around the world have transformed her, and they ways they can transform you.

Visit the Humans of San Quentin Website

Connect with Diane

Follow Diane Instagram @humansofsanquentin, on Facebook: Humans of San Quentin page, on Reddit @humansofsanquentin, on TikTok @humansofsanquentin, on LinkedIn @DianeKahn

Follow the Meant For It podcast on Instagram @meantforit
Reach out to us at: contact@meanforit.com to say hello or recommend somone for a future episode.
Go to our website www.meantforit.com for past episodes.
If you enjoy this episode, please, please, pretty please share it with a friend!

Sausalito, California Mayor Janelle Kellman Shares Her Story Jan 29, 2023

Show notes

Janelle Kellman, Esq. is the Mayor of Sausalito, CA. In our conversation, we discuss Janelle's path from private practice as an environmental attorney in San Francisco to launching a successful e-commerce company and launching the Center for Sea Rise Solutions in 2021 to support the localization of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Janelle's passion for teamwork was ignited and nurtured by a lifetime of sports including playing two Division I sports at Yale. Janelle says, "Sports taught me hard work, collaboration and team work".

Janelle grew up in a small coal mining town in Pennsylvania. When Janelle's mom developed asthma, Janelle became passionate about the environment and about working to find the balance between how we live in the natural environment. Janelle credits her father's volunteering and involvement with community organizations as an early inspiration. The Jewish philosophy of Tikkum Olam (Repair of the world) has also guided Janelle's motivation for environmental work and public service.

Listen in to hear why Janelle recommends people have a yes mindset, why removing expectations is the key to happiness and why the Japanese concept of ikigai is the recipe for success.

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Reach out to us at: contact@meanforit.com to say hello or recommend somone for a future episode.

Go to our website www.meantforit.com for past episodes.

If you enjoy this episode, please, please, pretty please share it with a friend.

We will do a dozen cartwheels (wherever we are) if you leave us a review on iTunes.

Until next time,

Polina and Amber

White House Speechwriter for President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, Sarah Hurwitz Shares Her Story and What Led Her to Write the book Here All Along Dec 08, 2022

Show notes

Are you curious about the process of writing a speech for the President of the United States? During 2017 - 2019, Sarah Hurwitz was a White House speechwriter starting out as a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama and then serving as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama. In our conversation, she shares what it was like to write speeches for the Obamas and the career path that led her to speechwriting. We also discuss how a decision to take a beginner's class on Judaism led Sarah down a transformational journey.

Sarah grew up culturally Jewish and didn't fully understand or connect to her religion until the fateful Intro to Judaism class changed everything. Sarah's book, Here All Along reveals what inspired her to continue learning about Jewish wisdom ranging from holidays, rituals, and prayer to Jewish conceptions of God, death, and social justice. If you are a cultural Jew or just interested in learning about Judaism, we think you will appreciate the wisdom in Sarah's book. We also discuss Sara's latest part time job as a hospital chaplain and the meaning it has brought to her life.

Topics Discussed: (06:11) The amount of time you have for each speech totally depends on the occasion (08:48) You worked on President Obama's college commencement speech in 2009 (13:57) How taking a course in Judaism at a DC community center changed yourn life (17:17) How long did it take you to write? (22:30) Your book discusses gossip and how it can affect people's lives (29:11) Becoming a well trained chaplain (34:35) How do you go about getting your book published? (35:52) One of the Jewish spiritual practices is spontaneous personal prayer (38:42) What do your parents and the rest of your family feel about this newfound devotion (41:19) Early stories of Israelites that were flawed (45:51) Do you think going down this path has improved your life

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Trish Costello, Founder and CEO of Portfolia, Pioneer in Venture Education and Funding Nov 06, 2022

Show notes

If you want to learn more about how venture capital investing can change your life and the world, this episode is for you. Trish Costello is the founder and CEO of Portfolia, the leading venture investing platform designed for women. Prior to Portfolia, Trish was a pioneer in creating programs to educate and prepare people for venture capital investing in the Kaufman Fellows Program. She led the Kaufman Fellows program for 10 years as the CEO of Venture Education. Trish was also Founding President of CVE Capital Corp, the holding company of a $1.7 billion Fund of Funds.

In our conversation, Trish shares the arc of her career and the milestones and decisions that led her to starting Portfolia. We discuss Trish's motivations, how she invests and the reasons why Trish believes Portfolia will change investing. We guarantee you will be blown away by how much Trish has done throughout her career and her goals to make the world a better place. Trish's goal is is over 100,000 women (and their colleagues and friends) investing in Portfolia Funds in five years, and we have no doubt, she will make this vision a reality.

Learn about Porfolia here

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Athena CEO Holly Smithson Shares Her Superpowers Aug 14, 2022

Show notes

From news reporting to Capitol Hill in various roles, then making a very intentional switch to working in San Diego where Holly Smithson ran CleanTECH San Diego and today as CEO of Athena, Holly has thrived in every role. As Holly shares in this podcast, everything that Holly has done and her success in each role comes from her intention, her desire to mobilize people toward a cause, and her intention to make a meaningful impact.

After realizing Capitol Hill was not right for her, Holly made an intentional decison to move to San Diego. In San Diego, Holly found the business culture with metrics, accountability and cooperation a place where she felt she belonged and could fulfill her vision. While Holly didn't have any connections in San Diego she had the vision and knew what she had to offer. Holly's skills and experience combined with her unstoppable confidence and work ethic came together in a way that led to Holly's amazing success in her roles. As Holly says, "anytime I put my mind to it I will manifest the hell out of it."

Holly wants others to know that it doesn't make sense to stay too long in roles that make you unhappy. In the podcast, we discuss why Holly is so committed to Athena and why she is so inspired by the women she works with. Recently, Holly's breast cancer diagnosis and treatment made her aware of how she could help other women going though cancer. Holly's newest intention is empowering women to demand the medical care they deserve and to be fierce advocates for themselves. We have no doubt that when Holly decides something, you can't go wrong jumping on her team or investing in her vision.

Learn about Athena

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Arizona Teacher and State Senator Christine Marsh is Unstoppable Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

When Christine Marsh was younger she wanted to change the world. If you consider high school teachers who change the lives of their students through their passion, enthusiasm and dedication to their work as people who have changed the world, Christine succeeded. Christine has taught high school English in Arizona for 30 years, and was named Arizona's Teacher of the Year in 2016. After a repeated number of colleagues and friends encouraged Christine to run for state senate, about 7 different times, Christine decided to go for it. Since teaching is Christine's first love, Christine is passionate about reducing class sizes and increasing teacher salaries. While serving in the state senate, Christine faced one of the most difficult tragedies any parent can face, Christine's beloved son died two years ago after purchasing a percocet pill that was laced with fentanyl. Despite her overwhelming grief, Christine has committed to speaking about the dangers of fentanyl whenever possible, and put forth a bill that legalized fentanyl test strips and removed the product from the state's definition of prohibited drug paraphernalia. Christine is committed to raising awareness on the dangers of counterfeit drugs. As if she didn't have enough to handle in the last few years, Christine also recently finished treatment for colon cancer, and encourages others to ask their doctors about when to get screened. In our candid conversation, Christine shares how she has endured losing her son, and some of her hopes and goals for the future. We discuss how getting through the next minute, the next hour, and the day was a coping strategy for unimaginable grief. If you want to be blown away by a woman who is unstoppable, and changing the world through her courage and commitment to serving Arizona's citizens, we think you will enjoy this conversation with Christine Marsh.

Alex Otte, National President at Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Jun 10, 2022

Show notes

Alex Otte is Mother's Against Drunk Driving youngest National President. Alex got involved with MADD when she was hit by a boat driven by a drunk driver. Alex's injuries were life-threatening, severe and long lasting. Today, Alex is using her voice, her story and her passion to advocate for an end to drunk driving. While there is good news coming in 2026 about an almost complete reduction in drunk driving due to new technologies that will be implemented in all new cars, with an estimated 9,400 lives saved and countless injuries prevented annually from the new technologies once all cars on the road are equipped, there is still so much we can do today. An estimated 10,000 people die per year due to drunk driving and more than 300,000 are injured annually. With several years left before the new technology makes it to new cars, there are still going to be tens of thousands of lives lost. Think about that for a minute - tens of thousands of preventable deaths, and hundreds of thousands of preventable injuries caused by drunk driving. If you want to be a part of preventing drunk driving deaths and injuries, you can get involved with your local MADD chapter. Listen in to hear how Alex endured a horrible tragedy and has made it her mission to prevent future deaths and injuries and to support victims and survivors. This is a more serious topic, but it is one we must pay attention to. Next time you think you can make a difference to prevent the next drunk driving incident, take the action. Your future will thank you.

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