What if you’re not stuck…you just think you have to pick one lane and stay in it?

Kris Lehman is a full-time HR leader…who’s also leading international retreats, taking a group of women to Croatia, and buying a house in Costa Rica.

She made a choice and decided against the “pick one lane and stay there” route.

We talk about what shifted for her, how she moved from “either/or” to “and,” and why so many of us keep waiting to live instead of actually doing the things we want now.

• From “or” to “and” How letting go of the pressure to choose one identity or path opened up entirely new possibilities…and how “and” creates space instead of pressure.
• Boundaries that actually feel good Not just saying no…but building your life around what matters most so your “no” becomes clear, confident, and grounded.
• Why we wait to live (and how to stop) The trap of postponing joy for “someday”…and what it looks like to start living now…without blowing up your life in the process.
• The stories we don’t realize we’re telling ourselves From “I should clean my own house” to “I don’t deserve that”...We discuss how these unexamined beliefs quietly shape our choices.
• Contemplative practice (without the woo-woo) What it actually means to be more present in your life…and how it can be as simple as a few breaths, a walk, or noticing what’s happening in the moment.
• Your mind is not you One of the most powerful shifts: realizing you can observe your thoughts instead of automatically believing them.

Kris Lehman, MBA, SHRM-SCP, is the founder of The Common Thread, an organization dedicated to cultivating inner wisdom, meaningful connection, and intentional living and leadership. Kris creates experiences that blend professional insight, contemplative practices, and community—helping people translate reflection into practical change.

With a background as an executive leader in higher education and nonprofit organizations, Kris has spent her career helping teams succeed by pairing business strategy with curiosity, compassion, and continuous learning.

Alongside her professional work, Kris has spent years exploring meditation, grounding practices, and restorative travel as pathways for insight and clarity. Through The Common Thread’s workshops, gatherings, and international retreats, she creates spaces where people can step out of daily life for a moment, to reconnect with what matters most.

• Website: www.thecommonthread.world

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommonthreadconnections/

• LinkedIn: Kris Lehman

• Learn more about working with me at The DASH Mindset.
• Connect with me on LinkedIn.
• Have an idea for a future episode? I’d love to hear it!

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Your support helps more people lead their lives…and lead others…in a meaningful way.

What if work didn’t have to feel so…sucky? TJ Bennett is on a mission to help people figure that out. We talk about his DesuckifyWork® podcast, his path through advertising, the pressure we put on ourselves to have everything figured out (even though none of us do), and what actually makes work…and life…feel better. A fun and honest conversation about how things actually unfold. TJ didn’t have some perfectly mapped-out plan. He followed what was interesting, paid attention to what felt off, and made changes along the way. From randomly discovering advertising…to realizing later in his career that something had shifted…to leaving a successful career to try something new without knowing exactly how it would all work. We also talk about how early experiences shape the way we see work and life, and how sometimes it takes something significant to make us pause and rethink what actually matters. And throughout the conversation, this idea keeps coming up: We think we need to know first…and then act. But most of the time, it’s actually the opposite. We try something. We figure it out as we go. We adjust. That’s the process. It’s simple. Not always easy. But much truer than the story most of us are carrying.

• The unexpected path that led TJ into advertising (and how one seemingly random moment can change everything)
• Why not knowing how is usually the thing keeping us stuck
• How a major health experience early in life shifted how he thinks about work and what actually matters
• The moment “Desuckify” became a thing…and why he committed before he had it all figured out
• Why “fine” can be dangerous
• The pressure we all feel to have it figured out (and the fact that none of us actually do)
• Why enjoyment might be one of the most underrated tools we have

TJ is the founder, CEO and executive coach at The Pudding Factory, a work desuckifying consultancy.

He began his coaching career after 25 years as an advertising executive, creative director and writer for agencies big and small., including TBWA\Chiat\Day, Saatchi & Saatchi, Ogilvy and Hill Holliday. He helped Fortune 500 clients like Verizon, Toyota, MetLife and Panasonic sift through the noise to solve big creative challenges. And he helped his teams do the same. His mission is to DesuckifyWork®. And he hosts a popular podcast with the same name. His cat Carl offers this review: “less talking, more treats dude." As an ICF-certified executive coach, TJ helps leaders and brands find calm in the chaos and grow what matters. Ready to make sense of the muck? Talk to TJ. Here’s where you can find TJ…

• Website: https://www.thepuddingfactory.net/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teejaybee/

• Substack: https://tjbennett.substack.com/

• Learn more about working with me at The DASH Mindset.
• Connect with me on LinkedIn.
• Have an idea for a future episode? I’d love to hear it!

If you love The DASH Mindset Podcast, I’d be so grateful if you’d leave a quick rating and review.

On iTunes, scroll down, tap to give five stars, and hit “Write a Review.”

On Spotify, just select “Rate Show.”

Your support helps more people lead their lives…and lead others…in a way that truly matters.

What if the thing you’re trying so hard to tone down is actually the thing that makes your work resonate?

I’m joined by Hallee Dunsky, self proclaimed “writer for weirdos,” for a conversation about finding your voice and letting what makes you different work for you. A discussion about voice, energy, self-permission, and why waiting until “the kids are older” makes little sense.

Hallee shares her non-linear journey from teaching to freelance writing, the difference between copywriting and content writing, and why so many meaningful messages fall flat on the page…even when they sound brilliant in our heads. We also talk about energy differences, honoring how we’re wired, letting go of perfection, and why consistency matters more than intensity when it comes to creative work.

This episode is full of insight and plenty of relatable moments…from bathroom breaks in fifth grade classrooms to writing novels 200 words at a time.

If you’ve ever struggled to explain what you do, worried about being “too much” or “not enough,” or felt like you needed permission before starting something, listen in.

• Why so many powerful ideas land flat once they hit the page
• The difference between copywriting and content writing (and why it matters…even though no one dies either way)
• Honoring your natural energy instead of fighting it
• Letting go of the need to appeal to everyone
• Why “writer for weirdos” is a brilliant filter
• Starting before you feel ready (and before you feel confident)
• Why small, imperfect progress beats waiting for ideal conditions
• The messy reality of creative processes

Hallee Dunsky is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience writing marketing copy and content for businesses that want to bring their mind-expanding mission down to Earth. Enlivened by the absurd and passionate about marinating deeply in the human experience, she lives outside the lines, collaborating with clients to turn meaningful missions into impactful messages, aligned voices, and resonant words.

• Website: www.writerforweirdos.com
• LinkedIn: Hallee Dunsky

• Learn more about working with me at The DASH Mindset.
• Connect with me on LinkedIn.
• Have an idea for a future episode? I’d love to hear it!

If you love The DASH Mindset Podcast, I’d be so grateful if you’d leave a quick rating and review.

On iTunes, scroll down, tap to give five stars, and hit “Write a Review.”

On Spotify, just select “Rate Show.”

Your support helps more people lead their lives…and lead others…in a way that truly matters.