Episodes

  • Rewire Your Life for Happiness in 5 Minutes a Day

    Rewire Your Life for Happiness in 5 Minutes a Day
    Oct 9 2026
    Summary:What if the thing you've been chasing your whole career is actually working against the very happiness you're trying to achieve? My guest Ashish Kothari is the founder of Happiness Squad and bestselling author of Hardwired for Happiness, and he left a high-powered corporate career behind because he realized something most high achievers never stop long enough to see. Ashish bridges the science of positive psychology with the realities of the modern workplace in a way that is both deeply human and grounded in data.This conversation goes deep on where love is quietly being lost in our work and our lives, and more importantly, how to get it back. Ashish shows us that flourishing isn't a destination, it's a practice you can start today in five minutes or less.Key Takeaways:Why happiness and achievement aren’t the same thing.The science behind why small habits create lasting change.The gap between looking successful and actually flourishing.Where love and connection go to die in the modern workplace.Practical habits for daily flourishing.How presence and gratitude literally rewire your brain.Why resilience isn’t about toughness, it’s about how you recover.The hidden cost of building a life without real connection.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction04:11 Why high achievers often feel empty despite their success09:02 The dangerous myth that suffering is the price of success13:47 Why fear dominates the news, and how to see through it15:35 How to stop letting your emotions run the show17:44 What it means to be rooted and resilient 18:51 The practice of knowing yourself beyond what you do23:44 Three free habits anyone can start tomorrow29:45 Why choosing happiness first is actually the smarter strategyResources Mentioned:Building Thinkers NewsletterEmotional Agility by Susan DavidConnect with Ashish:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/ Website: https://happinesssquad.com/ Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish KothariThe Flourishing Edge PodcastConnect with Me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/ Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf More About Building Thinkers: I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.
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    32 mins
  • How to Eat for Long-Term Health and Energy

    How to Eat for Long-Term Health and Energy
    Sep 25 2026
    What if the food on your plate is either slowly breaking you down or building you up? In an effort to continue the ongoing theme of living a flourishing life here at Building Thinkers, I sat down with Brad Fuster. He’s a university provost, former world-touring percussionist, and someone who went from 245 pounds, smoking a pack-a-day, and a chronic arthritis diagnosis to being 53, medication-free, and in the best health of his life. Brad has been whole food plant-based since 2013, and in this conversation he explains the difference between veganism and actually eating well, he shares the practice that put his psoriatic arthritis into full remission, and he breaks down why protein is probably the last thing you need to worry about. Key Takeaways:There’s a meaningful difference between being vegan and eating a whole food plant-based diet.The medical system is built around symptom management, not true wellness.Water fasting can reset your microbiome and improve health.Inflammatory conditions can potentially be addressed through diet and fasting.You don’t have to go fully plant-based to see benefits in your health.Timestamps:0:00 Introduction1:49 Brad’s transition to a plant-based diet5:24 Myths about protein in vegan diets8:17 The new food pyramid and nutrition education12:35 Difference between veganism and whole food plant-based diet15:38 Brad’s experience with water fasting19:39 Practical tips for increasing whole food plant intake21:10 Environmental impact of animal agriculture22:15 Final thoughts Resources Mentioned:Leading with Change When the System is Stacked Against You with Brad FusterThrive Fitness by Brendan BrazierCheck out Rich Roll on InstagramThe Game Changers (Documentary) by James CameronEdUp Innovation with Dr. Neal BarnardYour Labs Are Normal, But You Feel Awful - Now What? (Feat. Elise Clark) Connect with Brad:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-fuster-3540a350/ Podcast: https://www.edupexperience.com/edupinnovation/ SFBU: https://www.sfbu.edu/about/our-leadership Connect with Me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/ Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf More About Building Thinkers: I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.
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    23 mins
  • Leading with Change When the System Is Stacked Against You

    Leading with Change When the System Is Stacked Against You
    Sep 11 2026
    Building Thinkers has had a front-row seat to the work happening at SFBU, and this episode is a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to reimagine how people learn.My guest, Brad Fuster, is the Provost of San Francisco Bay University and host of the EdUp Innovation Podcast, and he's spent more than two decades in higher education. We go deep on what it really takes to challenge the status quo, lead through resistance, and build something new when the structures around you are designed to stay the same. We also get into the MBA program launching at SFBU this September, a fully AI-integrated, flexibly paced degree designed around the way humans want to learn, at a fraction of the cost of a traditional program. Whether you're building a company, leading a team, or just trying to grow in a world that keeps changing, the lessons in this conversation go beyond the university.Key Takeaways:What it really takes to lead change when the system is designed to resist itWhy wrapping full support around learners changes everything (99.7% retention proves it)The curriculum innovation that Google, Apple, and Tesla are taking notice ofWhy bolting AI onto old systems is the wrong move and what to do insteadHow a $10K MBA is redefining what accessible, human-centered learning looks likeWhat higher ed’s crisis means for anyone building something newTimestamps:00:00 Introduction01:57 How a disillusioned provost ended up rebuilding from the inside04:33 Why "reimagining" is just a buzzword for most institutions08:35 The bold leadership move that's actually saving struggling schools08:44 What entrepreneurs need to understand about leading change10:00 The nuclear option that stops bold leaders in their tracks13:27 Why faculty resistance is more complicated than you think14:43 What it actually looks like to put students first18:07 The retention stat that changes the conversation19:14 The curriculum Google, Apple and Tesla are paying attention to25:26 Why AI in education is being done wrong and what right looks like31:37 How to build pro-social skills in an online program33:36 What happens when learning meets the real world35:24 If only people knew this about higher ed37:52 Closing thoughtsResources Mentioned:Leadership: Key Competencies for Whole-system Change by Lyle Kirtman & Michael FullanWhatever It Is, I’m Against It by Brian RosenbergMBA Pro+ SFBUConnect with Brad:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-fuster-3540a350/ Podcast: https://www.edupexperience.com/edupinnovation/ SFBU: https://www.sfbu.edu/about/our-leadership Connect with Me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/ Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf More About Building Thinkers: I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.
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    38 mins
  • You’ve Had a Long Week. But Is the Wine Actually Helping?

    You’ve Had a Long Week. But Is the Wine Actually Helping?
    Aug 28 2026

    What if the glass of wine you pour every night isn't a reward, it's a signal?


    I sat down with Keelie Louise, a Sober Curious Mentor and Psychology-Based Coach who rebuilt her life after decades of using alcohol to quiet a mind that never felt like enough. This conversation isn't about sobriety in the all-or-nothing sense — it's about getting curious about why you reach for that drink in the first place.


    Keelie breaks down the real science behind what alcohol does to your dopamine baseline, your cortisol levels, and your ability to show up as the high performer you know you can be. We talk about how to navigate the social pressure of 'just have one,' how to figure out who actually fills your cup, and why falling down on this journey might be the very thing that gets you to the life you've always known was possible.


    Key Takeaways:


    If you say you need a drink, that’s worth paying attention to.


    Alcohol gives you a dopamine spike, but it’s also dragging your baseline happiness down.


    You don’t owe anyone an explanation for not drinking.


    Getting sober curious isn’t just about removing alcohol, it’s about figuring out who actually fills your cup.


    Falling down is part of the process, the difference is whether you ask yourself why.


    Timestamps:


    00:00 Introduction

    03:03 Why ‘I need a drink’ is a red flag

    06:14 What even one glass of wine does to your body

    08:06 How to handle social challenges without owing an explanation

    10:40 Why falling off the wagon might be the thing that saves you

    12:19 Who fills your cup when alcohol leaves the room?

    Resources:


    SAMHSA’s National Helpline

    NIAAA


    Connect with Keelie:


    Website: https://keelielouise.com.au/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keelie-louise/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its_keelie_louise/


    Connect with Me:


    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/

    Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf


    More About Building Thinkers:


    I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.


    And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.


    If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.
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    16 mins
  • Is This Your Life or Someone Else’s? | Building a Flourishing Life Retreat

    Is This Your Life or Someone Else’s? | Building a Flourishing Life Retreat
    Aug 14 2026
    You've gone to the conference, read the book, felt inspired for exactly four days, and then life swallowed you whole again.My friend of over 20 years, Katie Conley, luxury travel advisor and founder of the Adventurous Women's Travel Club, joins me to talk about why we built something different — a women's retreat rooted in genuine intentional living and life design, not just another agenda-packed with content. Together we unpack the wheel-of-life framework, the mid-career identity shift nobody warns you about, and what it really means to re-evaluate your life without blowing it up entirely.This conversation is for the woman who's capable and driven and still quietly wondering if she's chasing the right things. If personal growth and reflection have ever felt too theoretical to actually stick, this is the episode that makes it practical. We talk about what real connection looks like when women are given space to show up fully, why flourishing is less about having it all figured out and more about asking better questions, and how women's empowerment starts with making room for yourself first.Key Takeaways:“Is this my life or someone else’s?” - the first question worth asking.You’re not short on time. You’re short on room.Solo reflection only gets you so far. Community accelerates clarity.The wheel of life: a simple tool for seeing where you’re actually at.Gratitude and presence aren’t soft skills; they’re rooted in neuroscience.Good learning design makes the difference between inspiration and implementation.The mid-career shift: from doing everything to orchestrating everything.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction03:17 Using the Wheel of Life for self-assessment05:27 The mid-career identity shift07:41 Why build this women’s retreat vs. a travel trip?08:39 What ‘re-evaluating your life’ actually means10:22 What you’ll leave this retreat with12:08 Who is this retreat for?13:59 The benefits of getting away to reflect15:49 How we plan to help women realize their own dreams and goals17:27 Addressing the skepticism 18:06 Why in-person community still matters20:54 Outro Resources Mentioned:Build a Flourishing Life RetreatHarvard Global Flourishing StudyTracy's Goal GuideConnect with Katie:Website: https://culturedconcierge.travel/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culturedconcierge/ The Adventurous Women’s Travel Club: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/vERNcpM Connect with Me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/ Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf More About Building Thinkers: I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.
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    22 mins
  • How to Have Hard Conversations (With Someone You Love)

    How to Have Hard Conversations (With Someone You Love)
    Jul 31 2026
    You know that conversation you keep rehearsing in the shower and rescheduling in real life? The one with someone you love that's started to feel more like a standoff than a way back to each other? That's exactly what I dig into in this episode with Sara Blanchard. She’s the co-host of the What Do You Mean By That? podcast, author of Dear White Women, and a life coach rooted in positive psychology who's spent years studying what it actually takes for people to thrive. Sara shares why our closest relationships are a bigger predictor of long-term health than cholesterol. Yes, really. There's 80 years of Harvard research behind it. She gives us practical tools for staying in the room when the topic is hard and the stakes are personal. We talk about the two-minute rule that changed how she greets her family, why every action makes sense from the perspective of the person doing it, and how to get curious instead of furious when someone says the thing that makes your whole body tense up. If there's a hard conversation you've been avoiding, this episode might be the nudge and the roadmap you've been waiting for.Key Takeaways:Relationships are the cornerstone of long-term health and happiness.Asking 'What do you mean by that?' deepens understanding and connection.Slowing down and building time affluence improves relationships.Physical and emotional regulation are key to responding, not reacting.Curiosity about others' perspectives fosters compassion and reduces conflict.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction03:25 What does it mean to live a “flourishing life”?06:21 Time affluence vs. productivity10:11 How to have hard conversations with people you love16:07 Connecting before correcting20:22 Curiosity over judgment & understanding behavior28:31 Why hard conversations deepen relationships32:21 Different doesn’t mean deficient34:09 Preparing for hard conversations: know your triggers Resources Mentioned:The Happier Hour by Cassie HolmesSupercommunicators by Charles DuhiggThe Science Behind Dramatically Better Conversations by Charles Duhigg | TEDxManchesterIt’s Not About the NailNonviolent Communication by Marshall B. RosenbergDear White Women by Sara Blanchard and Misasha Suzuki GrahamUnscripting ParentingConnect with Sara:Website: https://www.sarablanchard.com/ What Do You Mean By That Podcast: https://www.whatdoyoumeanbythat.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatdoyoumeanbythatpodcast/ , https://www.instagram.com/sarablanchardauthor Connect with Me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/ Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf More About Building Thinkers: I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.
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    38 mins
  • Your Labs Are Normal, But You Feel Awful - Now What?

    Your Labs Are Normal, But You Feel Awful - Now What?
    Jul 17 2026

    If a doctor has ever told you "everything looks normal" while you felt anything but, this one's for you.


    I sat down with Elise Clark, a functional medicine nurse practitioner with over 15 years of experience in family practice, endocrinology, and hormone health, who has made it her mission to help women understand what's actually happening in their bodies. We talked about why hormone shifts start 10 to 15 years before menopause, what "normal but not optimal" really means, and how to know when it's time to dig deeper than a standard lab panel.


    Elise also took me on a learning journey through one of the most persistent myths in women's health — the supposed link between hormones and cancer — and unpacked what the research actually says now. What struck me most is how much of this comes back to a theme we return to again and again on Building Thinkers: you don't have to accept feeling "off" as just part of this stage of life. There are things you can learn, questions you can ask, and choices you can design around — and it starts with trusting what your body is telling you.


    Key Takeaways:


    Why your 30s is when the hormone conversation should actually start.


    What birth control might be quietly masking and the questions to ask before starting or stopping.


    What a functional medicine appointment actually looks like.


    Why “your labs are normal” might be the most incomplete sentence in women’s health.


    Timestamps:


    00:00 Introduction

    01:26 Hormonal health care at any age

    04:01 When you know something’s wrong but your labs come back normal

    06:41 The difference between functional medicine vs. traditional medicine

    10:29 What does “flourishing” look like in health?

    12:10 The risks of over-optimization

    15:42 Common health concerns and next steps

    20:45 Debunking hormones and cancer myths

    29:45 Oura rings: helpful or not?

    32:34 Finding what’s right for you

    35:30 Wellness influencer red flags

    36:16 Peptides: should you do them?

    37:04 If only women knew this one thing

    39:56 Outro


    Resources Mentioned:


    Estrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris


    Connect with Elise:


    Website: https://www.eliseclarkhealth.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eliseclarkfnp/


    Connect with Me:


    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/

    Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf


    More About Building Thinkers:


    Building Thinkers is based on the realization that there is exponential impact in the things we build, from mindsets and behaviors to resumes and meal plans, but sometimes insights and impact seem out of reach or overly complex.


    In the Building Thinkers podcast, we explore how to build a flourishing life across different life domains: mental health, physical health, spiritual health, relationships, finance, career, play, and growth. Flourishing is something you can design, domain by domain, through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play.


    Every episode turns a conversation with an expert into something you can build with: a single, completable blueprint you can put to use right away, so the insight leaves with you instead of staying on the page.


    This podcast is for those who are actively designing a more intentional life, the multi-potentialites and high achievers who want real success and a life that feels good to live.


    Harness curiosity. Win your future.
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    40 mins
  • How to Upskill and Make Yourself Irreplaceable in the Age of AI

    How to Upskill and Make Yourself Irreplaceable in the Age of AI
    Jul 3 2026
    If you've been avoiding AI because it feels too technical, too risky, or just not for someone like you, this episode is your permission slip to start. My guest, Gigi Karmous-Edwards, is a water technology consultant and researcher who has spent the last three years focused on how generative AI is reshaping an entire global industry. What struck me most about Gigi is where her thinking has landed, not on the fear side, not on the hype side, but on something much more grounding: the idea that AI, done right, should make us more human, not less. We get into the real difference between generative AI and traditional AI in a way that actually makes sense, how to start experimenting without needing a technical background, and where to pump the brakes on privacy and trust. But the conversation I didn't expect was the one about what we do with the time AI gives us back, and why most of us will just fill it with more work unless we're intentional about it. If you're AI curious, AI avoidant, or somewhere in between, Gigi will leave you with a clearer picture of what's possible and why now is the time to start.Key Takeaways:Generative AI and traditional AI are not the same thing, and understanding the difference changes how you approach it.The most powerful prompt isn't a perfect formula, it's a ramble.AI works best when you bring the ideas and use it as a thought partner, not when you ask it to think for you.When AI saves you time, what you choose to do with that time is the real question.Women are using AI 25 to 30 percent less than men, and that gap matters.Flourishing in an AI world might actually mean doing less, not more.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction05:30 Generative AI vs. Traditional AI10:01 Why experimenting beats perfecting13:22 How far should you let AI in16:58 Having AI push back on your work18:17 What AI’s rise means for society21:20 The risks people aren’t talking about23:55 Is AI actually bad for the environment?26:53 Envisioning a flourishing future36:39 The mindset shifts that changes everything39:06 OutroResources Mentioned:OpenAI: https://openai.com/ Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/app Claude: https://claude.ai/new Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/ Karmous Edwards Consulting AI Breakdown Connect with Gigi:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gigi-karmous-edwards-6539245/⁠ Connect with Me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/ Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf More About Building Thinkers: Building Thinkers is based on the realization that there is exponential impact in the things we build, from mindsets and behaviors to resumes and meal plans, but sometimes insights and impact seem out of reach or overly complex.In the Building Thinkers podcast, we explore how to build a flourishing life across different life domains: mental health, physical health, spiritual health, relationships, finance, career, play, and growth. Flourishing is something you can design, domain by domain, through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play.Every episode turns a conversation with an expert into something you can build with: a single, completable blueprint you can put to use right away, so the insight leaves with you instead of staying on the page.This podcast is for those who are actively designing a more intentional life, the multi-potentialites and high achievers who want real success and a life that feels good to live.Harness curiosity. Win your future.
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    41 mins