In this short episode, which I like to call a "slice of life," I share a very personal story from my childhood that shaped who I am today and informed both my dignity and my defiance.
Feb 13, 2023
8 min
The Skill Set Studio: Bucket List
My producers Doug and Adriana join me for a special episode in which I share my learnings from a recent keynote speaker and dive deep into bucket lists and their connection to our skill sets.
Jan 23, 2023
23 min
Storytelling: The Skill of Creativity, Self-Assuredness and Peacemaking
J.D. Netto is what I would describe as a multiplicity of beautiful things — he is a best-selling author, artist, entrepreneur and so much more. J.D. firmly believes that art releases us to our destinies and he has used this admirable ideal to connect with those who may feel like misfits or outsiders as well as to discover and become more comfortable with himself.
Through this conversation, J.D. and I discuss his life as a gay man and how it connects to his work as well as the importance of recognizing a person before recognizing their skillset.
Dec 28, 2022
44 min
Tattoo Artistry: The Skill of Purpose, Precision and Expression
Steph Tamez is more than just a tattoo artist — they are an anthropologist, historian and expressionist using the art of tattooing to bring culture to skin and help people tell their story. Through this unique art form, Steph has earned a vulnerable sense of trust with their clients through a technique that is both marvelous and methodical.
In this episode, Steph and I discuss the meaning of tattoos in society and the skill of focusing on the journey rather than the destination.
Nov 30, 2022
43 min
Connection: The Skill of Preparedness and Reading the Room
As Director of Strategic Sales for IIDA, Tracey Thomas’ career is built on connections—whether with customers or peers or even just her personal relationships, she uses her intentionality and acute emotional intelligence to make people comfortable without compromising herself. She has mastered the art of observing subtlety while also teaching others to take up space and stay curious.
Through my conversation with Tracey, we uncover the importance of nuance and the joy of living in the nonverbals of life.
Nov 2, 2022
26 min
Dr. Manny Hernandez and Dr. Colleen Mullen each seek to diagnose need and provide excellent healthcare, to their patients. As physicians and care providers—Colleen as veterinarian and Manny as a healthcare design consultant and ER physician—they both exercise an abiding sense of awareness of and relentless passion for meeting the physical and emotional needs of their patients. Through a warm and insightful conversation, we hear their perspectives on how curiosity, grit and seeking the “why” translates into their work with others.
In this month's episode, I explore the unique ability to see beyond who people (and animals) are to discover what they need.
Sep 27, 2022
43 min
In celebration of National Back To School Month, I host third grade teacher and summer-camp innovator, Juan Edgar Gonzalez Jr. With an almost-evangelical commitment to building lifelong learners, he shows us how authenticity and the practice of honoring others where they are could be the most important skills to develop as leaders and mentors.
In this episode, we discover the gift of enthusiasm and commitment to lifelong learning and investigate the skills needed to teach, mentor and nurture young learners.
Aug 17, 2022
33 min
A modern-day Hercules, air traffic controller, Navy veteran, and world record holder, Mike McCastle seems to exist at the convergence of concentration and clarity. Although incredibly authentic and down-to-earth, he demonstrates superhuman strength when it comes to his capacity to tune out the noise and keep all the balls in the air.
This month, I dive deep into Mike's strong sense of purpose that manifests in his demigod-like ability to focus on solving whatever challenges come his way.
Jul 18, 2022
46 min
At first glance, Dr. David Langer and Allison Asarch have very little in common—David is a neurosurgeon and Allison is an aspiring country music star. But through a thoughtful discussion about what skills are necessary to be successful in each of their careers, I uncovered a unique quality they share: an aura of calmness that makes them popular with both patients and fans alike.
In this month's episode, I explore what it takes to be confident and collected, even under the most intense circumstances.
Jun 12, 2022
40 min
What are the skills that inform your work, your life, your direction?
Call them street smarts, emotional intelligence, soft skills, or pure grit: beyond the degrees, certifications, and resume items lies a different — perhaps more important — world of abilities. These are the skills that truly make us good at what we do, and offer clues to who we are and where we might be headed.
Host Cheryl S. Durst, Executive VP, and CEO of the International Interior Design Association has spent a lifetime fascinated by the backstories that reveal where those foundational skills come from.
With SkillSet, she taps into those stories to uncover the not-so-apparent abilities that power success.
Ever wonder what a NASCAR pit crew chief, an orchestra conductor and a surgeon have in common? Pondering how to tap your team’s hidden talents? Considering whether your own skills might equip you for a whole other career (or a whole other life)? SkillSet explores the fascinating landscape of talent, creativity, and ability through a lens that’s set to “wide-open and deeply curious.”
Come join us — and discover your own SkillSet along the way.
May 13, 2022
12 min