“When we slowed down as a society, nature was more than willing to step in” – Jeffrey Shaw   From humble beginnings, Jeffrey Shaw became one of the most preeminent portrait photographers in the United States. After 35 years of exceptional service to his exclusive clientele, Jeffrey decided to share his knowledge of business, branding, and marketing to support self-employed and small business owners as well as progressive-minded companies. He's an in-demand keynote speaker at conferences such as HOW Design, Growth Marketing, corporations the likes of Verizon and BMW, and institutions such as Florida Atlantic University and the Adams Center for Entrepreneurship. Jeffrey is also the author of two books, LINGO and The Self-Employed Life, a LinkedIn Learning instructor, and a regular contributor to various publications. In 2014, Jeffrey started a podcast, Creative Warriors, later rebranded as The Self-Employed Life which is amongst the top 15% of all podcasts. His TEDx LincolnSquare talk was later moved to TED.com which is so rare it’s been said you have a better chance of getting hurt at home by your toilet. With abundant passion and a strong commitment to serving, we can expect there is much more to come.   Your Key Takeaways The Brilliance of Banyan Tree - The lessons of life and nature it can teach us The Contrast Between Mankind and Nature - The integration of nature in the city The Self-Employed Life - Setting up the right environment for your sustainable success and happiness with the Self-Employed Ecosystem. Aquamarine – The psychological impact of the color and what it represents in nature   Resources Wesbite LinkedIn Instagram Facebook   Connect with Darren For more information on the Nature Advantage visit natureadvantageshow.com   Darren’s Social Media Instagram Facebook LinkedIn   Darren’s TEDx Talk

“I think what inspires me the most is the contrast between mankind and nature.” – Jeffrey Shaw   From humble beginnings, Jeffrey Shaw became one of the most preeminent portrait photographers in the United States. After 35 years of exceptional service to his exclusive clientele, Jeffrey decided to share his knowledge of business, branding, and marketing to support self-employed and small business owners as well as progressive-minded companies. He's an in-demand keynote speaker at conferences such as HOW Design, Growth Marketing, corporations the likes of Verizon and BMW, and institutions such as Florida Atlantic University and the Adams Center for Entrepreneurship. Jeffrey is also the author of two books, LINGO and The Self-Employed Life, a LinkedIn Learning instructor, and a regular contributor to various publications. In 2014, Jeffrey started a podcast, Creative Warriors, later rebranded as The Self-Employed Life which is amongst the top 15% of all podcasts. His TEDx LincolnSquare talk was later moved to TED.com which is so rare it’s been said you have a better chance of getting hurt at home by your toilet. With abundant passion and a strong commitment to serving, we can expect there is much more to come.   Your Key Takeaways Metamorphosis - The journey from 25 years of portrait photography to becoming a coach and advocate for the self-employed  Life Is An Everything Bagel – Everything you need to get everything you want Committing to the Intuition - Listening objectively, and digging for proof Sensing Currents – The long arch to reach out destinations in business   Resources Wesbite LinkedIn Instagram Facebook   Connect with Darren For more information on the Nature Advantage visit natureadvantageshow.com   Darren’s Social Media Instagram Facebook LinkedIn   Darren’s TEDx Talk

“Nature teaches us resilience. When a forest burns down, it's going to come back stronger. ” – Jamie Retherford   Your Key Takeaways Hammer and Chisel Moments - How nature helped reveal Jamie’s resiliency OODA Loop – The circle of decision-making to observe, orient, decide and act to be vitally aware in Nature The Probability of Making an Impact – Being aligned towards compassion, the height of civilization Lessons in Nature – How nature can help us to adjust accordingly to difficult circumstances in our life Looking Ahead – Organize the probabilities so that you are aligned towards compassion and making a positive impact   Connect with Darren For more information on the Nature Advantage visit natureadvantageshow.com   Darren’s Social Media Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

“Nature teaches us resilience. When a forest burns down, it's going to come back stronger. ” – Jamie Retherford   Your Key Takeaways Jamie’s Backstory – Honoring the sacrifices of the family members that have come before her. (honoring the roots of resilience and sacrifice) A Force of Nature – Jamie’s deep spiritual need to be fulfilled by conquering a challenge Joining the Marine Corp – Lessons in strength, resilience, leadership, and sacrifice Core Values - The traits that a Marine Corp Officer and Chick Fil A operator have in common   Connect with Darren For more information on the Nature Advantage visit natureadvantageshow.com   Darren’s Social Media Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

“Nature has the benefits and the power to transform our lives.” – Rod Taylor   Rod Taylor, Ph.D. is an award-winning educator, scholar, author, and musician who’s been active in teaching and training for over twenty-five years. He’s the Founder and CEO of Performance Learning Concepts, a training and development company whose clients include Fortune 500 companies like Deloitte, Nissan North America, and DCI-Artform. Advance degrees in education, literature, writing, and philosophy have influenced his approach to working with leaders, teachers, and those in the business world, and he has published, presented, written, and taught in all of these areas over the last two decades. Rod lives in Nashville, TN, where he has also long been involved in music as a performer, educator, and writer and has been fortunate enough to play and/or record with Krista Detor, Jenee Fleenor, Victor Wooten, Cindy Morgan, Chuck Rainey, and a variety of other great musicians.   Your Key Takeaways Nature’s Role - How Rod has supplemented his life with focused time in nature, and the effect this had on his psychological well-being  Nature vs Wildness – Making the important distinction to experience the beauty of the unpredictable world  A Heightened State of Focus – Gaining energy by slowing down to speed up Immersion – The deepest level of empathy in our lives Finding Our Way to Nature – Exploration through literature and finding less predictable interactions with nature   Resources Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook   Connect with Darren For more information on the Nature Advantage visit natureadvantageshow.com   Darren’s Social Media Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

“The heart of everything I do centers on trying to figure out how we can grow, learn, reflect, and become and grow closer to who we know we want to be, and who we are at our core” – Rod Taylor   Rod Taylor, Ph.D. is an award-winning educator, scholar, author, and musician who’s been active in teaching and training for over twenty-five years. He’s the Founder and CEO of Performance Learning Concepts, a training and development company whose clients include Fortune 500 companies like Deloitte, Nissan North America, and DCI-Artform. Advanced degrees in education, literature, writing, and philosophy have influenced his approach to work with leaders, teachers, and those in the business world, and he has published, presented, written, and taught in all of these areas over the last two decades. Rod lives in Nashville, TN, where he has also long been involved in music as a performer, educator, and writer and has been fortunate enough to play and/or record with Krista Detor, Jenee Fleenor, Victor Wooten, Cindy Morgan, Chuck Rainey, and a variety of other great musicians.   Your Key Takeaways An Educator At Heart – Learning as the common thread and centerpiece behind Rod’s journey to discover who we are at our core   Design Thinking – Exploring the 5 steps of the purposeful discipline method of approaching creative solutions to a problem Convergent vs Divergent Thinking – How a simple household item can reveal our lens of creativity  Music and Leadership – The leadership lessons the bass teaches us by serving in the back as the foundation, the heart, and the merging of rhythm and harmony Finding Our Way to Nature – Exploration through literature and finding less predictable interactions with nature   Resources Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook   Connect with Darren For more information on the Nature Advantage visit natureadvantageshow.com   Darren’s Social Media Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

“When we talk about going out to nature, we have to understand what we're experiencing. It's all aspects of it. It's the growth, it's the beauty, it's the magnificence of it, and to be alien from that is just not healthy” – Eric Whitley   Eric Whitley brings 33 years of industry experience leading, facilitating, and supporting critical operations and technologies in nearly all aspects of grid operations. Over the years Eric has held leadership roles at Southern California Edison, California ISO, Midwest ISO, and WECC, serving in positions of Project and Technical Management, Plant Manager, EMS Manager, Manager of Reliability Applications, and Director of EMS/IT Services. These roles have focused on grid operations and technologies, IT leadership, project management, NERC compliance, and developing high-performing teams in support of critical systems. GridSME is the culmination of Eric’s career in forming a consulting company that brings together Subject Matter Experts and clients who need assistance.   Your Key Takeaways From the Desert to Biodiversity – How Eric cultivated his property into a living, breathing ecosystem Significance as a Tool For Motivation – Understanding the transformative power of time in nature Awareness of Nature – Tapping into the knowledge of sensory awareness and shifting the way we see things to make a massive change Reconnecting to Nature - Eric’s simple practices and tips   Resources Website   Connect with Darren For more information on the Nature Advantage visit natureadvantageshow.com   Darren’s Social Media Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

“Nature always wins. There's no doubt in my mind, nature plays the last hand” – Eric Whitley   Eric Whitley brings 33 years of industry experience leading, facilitating, and supporting critical operations and technologies in nearly all aspects of grid operations. Over the years Eric has held leadership roles at Southern California Edison, California ISO, Midwest ISO, and WECC, serving in positions of Project and Technical Management, Plant Manager, EMS Manager, Manager of Reliability Applications, and Director of EMS/IT Services. These roles have focused on grid operations and technologies, IT leadership, project management, NERC compliance, and developing high-performing teams in support of critical systems. GridSME is the culmination of Eric’s career in forming a consulting company that brings together Subject Matter Experts and clients who need assistance.   Your Key Takeaways Living a Natural Life in the City – The journey from a technological innovator to a nature innovator  GridSME – The culmination of forming a consulting company with an emphasis on teamwork that brings together Grid Subject Matter Experts and clients who need assistance Getting Put Into the Pasture – Eric’s transition from CEO of a consulting company, to diving into the world of regenerative agriculture  Regenerative Farming – A walkthrough of the agricultural practices of using ruminant animals to graze grassland   Resources Website   Connect with Darren For more information on the Nature Advantage visit natureadvantageshow.com   Darren’s Social Media Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

“When you get quiet and it's just you and nature, it is a very deep, profound thing” – Bob Hemenger   Bob Hemenger is a Colorado based Musician, Educator and Naturalist. His soulful approach to the saxophone and years of teaching how indigenous people lived with the land have led him down many interesting roads. He grew up in Michigan and has spent the last twenty five years in Pagosa Springs, CO (where he continues to grow up). Bob has performed and recorded with a long list of musicians including 5 time Grammy Award winner Victor Wooten; Darrell Scott, Zac Brown Band, The Motet, Band of Heathens, Elephant Revival, Railroad Earth and more. He is known for his ability to step onto the stage and let the music guide him. For the last 13 years he has been an instructor at Victor Wooten’s Center for Music and Nature where he helps people deepen the connection between music, nature and themselves.   Your Key Takeaways Creating Synergy and Connectedness – How immersion in nature can help you experience synergy in your life The Connection Between Music and Nature Stillwater Loons - The story behind the song crafted as a conversation with a Loon and the saxophone on the reservoir BONUS – Listen to Bob Hemenger’s Stillwater Loons   Resources Website Facebook   Connect with Darren For more information on the Nature Advantage visit natureadvantageshow.com   Darren’s Social Media Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

“Probably one of the biggest things that nature gives us is slowing down and getting back to the earth pace” – Bob Hemenger   Bob Hemenger is a Colorado based Musician, Educator and Naturalist. His soulful approach to the saxophone and years of teaching how indigenous people lived with the land have led him down many interesting roads. He grew up in Michigan and has spent the last twenty five years in Pagosa Springs, CO (where he continues to grow up). Bob has performed and recorded with a long list of musicians including 5 time Grammy Award winner Victor Wooten; Darrell Scott, Zac Brown Band, The Motet, Band of Heathens, Elephant Revival, Railroad Earth and more. He is known for his ability to step onto the stage and let the music guide him. For the last 13 years he has been an instructor at Victor Wooten’s Center for Music and Nature where he helps people deepen the connection between music, nature and themselves.   Your Key Takeaways Tracking – How individuals can experience a deeper connection with the Earth through learning essential skills in nature   Reconnecting to Nature – Witnessing the reconnection and transformation of individuals struggling with nature deficit disorder  Reaching the Earth’s pace – How grounding in nature can help us find ways to slow down  Sensory Awakening – Why awareness is the most important skill of all, and how time in nature reawakens and reinvigorates our senses    Resources Website Facebook   Connect with Darren For more information on the Nature Advantage visit natureadvantageshow.com   Darren’s Social Media Instagram Facebook LinkedIn