REAL-ATABLE

Amy, a licensed psychotherapist for over 20 years forged a new path. She is now...

Continue listening to Mike and Tammy as they give their advice regarding careers, parenting and...

Mike & Tammy are both Naval Academy graduates. Mike was recruited to play tennis, Tammy...

Cheryl has worked with many athletes who have gone on to play in college and...

Today we talk Jimmy about his 29 year career at Centreville High School. What led...

We are excited to kick off the second season of REAL-ATABLE 2023 with Elena Agar!...

Teresa’s nephew Tim joins her on REAL-ATABLE to discuss his path to being an executive...

In this episode, we find out what soft skills are necessary for a career in...

Today we find out what soft skills are necessary for a career in music and...

Today we learn about what soft skills are necessary for a career in law enforcement....

Paul joins Teresa again to discuss his surgery and treatments of his cancer journey. If...

We are so excited to put out the 100th episode and what a treat! Teresa’s...

Lora is the Managing Director at Deloitte and a very dear friend. I’ve been anxious...

Brian shares the unique way he got his CPA, and how he has navigated his career by using his gift for working with numbers. He has worked at companies big and small, and was able to turn his side hustle into a thriving business. He shares valuable insight from his experience for anyone interested in the different lens you get from working in a variety of organizations. We also get personal and talk about his “secret” recipe/ approach to being a GREAT coach and parent. Enjoy this episode!

Mereweather talks about how the experiences she had attending summer camps inspired her career path....

Erinn is a friend from college. She is a licensed clinical social worker. Since she...

Azäh was the third runner up on Big Brother Season 23. She dishes on the...

Doug is a beloved coach and teacher at Westfield High School. After being told he...

In today’s episode, Teresa and her producer, Missy, discuss the past year of interesting, exciting,...

Get ready! Today we get to talk to Jeff Kinney the creator of Diary of...

Jason grew up in a family with exposure to different kinds of trade jobs and...

Dr. Pratt is a pediatric physician that is caring for children in the very same...

Deborah and Dr. Naylor of Deloitte join me to talk about their cutting-edge mental health...

With $400 and a mattress, Jessica made her way to Chicago in search of opportunities...

Sam joins us again to talk about his freshman year of college, did it live...

We have followed Megan and Luke since their freshman year and this year they graduated....

Continue listening to Don’s journey. In this episode, we get to hear about when he...

Don works as a fire instruction coordinator for ATF. We discuss his long career history...

Greg is the director of Civilian Agencies at CrowdStrike. He has been successful in the...

Ethan is a retired professional soccer player who competed and won in Survivor-Africa. He went...

In the rigorous world of sales, it can be difficult to maintain an ambitious mindset....

Sometimes accidents make for the best business plans! Greg’s career as a tattoo artist and shop...

Making changes requires courage to take a risk. Bhavna has done that in her personal...

Inspired by social change, Tony has dedicated his life’s work to give students an experience...

Taryn Murphy is a high school junior with a lot of thoughts and a lot to say. That’s why she’s involved in debate, among other things, and also why she recently gave a Ted Talk about the misconceptions surrounding Gen Z. Listen to this episode to hear an interview with Taryn. She discusses what things have helped her to succeed during the more difficult periods in her life, what got her interested in debate and what kinds of speaking she normally does, and what her feelings are about Gen Z and the misconceptions the older generations have about her generation. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: What grade Taryn is in and what’s been happening with her recently The kinds of activities Taryn is involved in Whether or not school comes easily to Taryn What Taryn has found helped her succeed during more difficult periods What preparing for a debate event is like and how that works The different types of speaking that Taryn does The moves that Taryn experienced The misconceptions Taryn feels older people have about Gen Z The pressures of Gen Z The humor of Gen Z The age range of Gen Z Whether increased access to information makes Gen Z more interested in making change The prepping and planning for Ted Talks What Taryn would advise for people who get nervous about speaking in front of others The importance of finding people who share your interests How Taryn thinks about fear What academic and parental pressure feels like for Taryn’s generation Things Taryn’s parents have done that make her feel supported How Taryn deals with social pressure What advice Taryn would give to a younger version of herself Resources: The Stereotypes of Gen Z – Taryn Murphy

People don’t always realize that soft skills are needed in basically every work-related role, but...

People don’t always realize that soft skills are needed in basically every work-related role, but if there’s one department that they usually do know soft skills are needed in, it’s the HR department. The person in an organization who handles diversity and inclusion, a role that has evolved in a myriad of ways and plays an increasingly important role in an organization’s success, will especially need to make use of these important skills. Today’s guest is LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, Inc. In the episode, you’ll hear her discuss both how she came to hold that role and how she’s both learned in it and helped to shape it. Listen to today’s interview to learn why a role in diversity and inclusion feels so personal, why it’s important to cultivate resilience and how to do so, and why keeping a sense of humor matters so much to this particular role. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, Inc, and what she’s doing in her role today What a day in the life in this role feels like The position that LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics was in prior to this role, and how she evolved into this spot The ways that the DE&I role is personal and the events that are catalysts to change The importance of making the organization uncomfortable, but also supporting them through it Lessons that LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, Inc, has learned along the way that could be helpful to someone else traveling that path How LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, remembers her high school and college learning experiences The things that helped LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics cultivate resilience The way that a sense of humor and levity can help a person in a difficult role at work Soft skills that stick out as the ones people should think about if they want to be in DE&I or be leaders The value of recognizing the challenges of other people How mentors and mentoring have factored into the career role that LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, Inc The difference between being tapped for something and strategically choosing that thing and setting goals to get there The skills someone needs to develop to follow a career in HR What LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, Inc, would tell her younger self Resources: LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, Inc

How does a person get into working with data? Today’s guest describes what he does as “turning data into eye candy”, but what does that mean? In this episode, you’ll hear from Joe Bullis, Principal and Founder at Bulldog Insights Group LLC, and in the interview, you’ll learn about how Joe ended up in his line of work and what it means. Listen to the episode to hear what Joe has to say about what Bulldog Insights does and how Joe created it. You’ll also learn about how he cultivated his network, how the concussions he sustained while playing sports in high school affected his college trajectory, and how to know when it’s time to leave. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: What Bulldog Insights is all about and how Joe came to create it What Joe was worried about, and what surprised him when he confronted those worries How Joe has cultivated his network How being opinionated and vocal has worked out for Joe What high school was like for Joe How the concussions Joe got in high school affected him in college What Joe majored in at Marquette University Joe’s first role out of college Why Joe found MicroStrategy attractive Why Joe stayed with MicroStrategy so long and what prompted him to leave How to know when you should quit Soft skills that Joe thinks are the most important What advice Joe would give his younger self Resources: Joe Bullis Bulldog Insights Group LLC

It’s common to feel like you can’t do what you love and pay the bills at the same time – that you have to have a “real job”, one that you don’t love and may not even like, and hope that it leaves you enough free time and energy to do some of the things that you’re really passionate about. But what if you can make your passion into your career? Today’s guest did. Zach Davis is a martial artist professional and now owns a martial arts school. In today’s episode, he’ll talk about how he landed on that profession and ended up owning his own school, what it was like for him to give up drinking, and what soft skills he thinks are the most critical. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: What Zach is doing now and how he transitioned from manager to owner What age ranges Zach works with What Mixed Martial Arts is all about Whether Cobra Kai has increased enthusiasm Zach’s path to this point Where an athlete’s dedication, discipline, and motivation comes from What works for sustaining momentum and building new habits How Zach came to a way of doing what he was passionate about for a job Navigating trade-offs Zach’s positivity and where that comes from What it was like for Zach to stop drinking What Zach noticed that let him know it was time to stop drinking Whether it’s as hard now not to drink as it was in the past The soft skills that Zach thinks are critical How Zach would advise his younger self Resources: Zach Davis

How do you handle a role that requires you to focus more on influencing people’s thinking than on achieving specific outcomes? Today’s guest is Kavitha Prabhakar, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Deloitte US. In today’s episode, she’ll talk about her role, what it entails, and what led her there. Listen to the episode to hear what Kavitha has to say about what has surprised her about her role, how she works to create change, and what causes people to make missteps when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: Kavitha’s role at Deloitte What Kavitha has found surprising about her role Kavitha’s background and nationality How Kavitha creates change within the company The degree of client time involved in Kavitha’s role Cultivating the skill of influence, and what makes it work or not work Influencing thinking instead of specific outcomes What causes people to make missteps Kavitha’s path to Deloitte Impactful milestones in Kavitha’s career as a woman Whether Kavitha has ever felt held back because of being a woman What helps someone to be successful at Deloitte What Kavitha spent the most time developing professionally Resources: Kavitha Prabhakar

Motivation is a key factor in success. Everyone knows that. But where does motivation come from? What motivates a person? How should someone utilize that in order to achieve success? How do you find the thing that sparks your interest and causes you to be motivated? In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Chad Small, a Regional Manager at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. In this interview, he discusses motivation and where his comes from, the things that have helped him achieve success along the way, and where Chad got his competitive drive. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: What Chad is doing right now Chad’s college degree Chad’s dream job when he was leaving college The motivation to make money or be successful Where Chad’s motivation level comes from The things that helped Chad to be successful What Chad is looking for in workers The kind of coaching that Chad likes to give Tried and true ways to reach business goals Dealing with rejection Things that changed the way Chad navigated his path Where Chad’s competitive drive comes from Advice Chad would give about regrets Resources: Chad Small

The year is almost over, and it’s been an eventful one. Having a pandemic continue to unfold throughout the year has also made it a difficult one. However, the REAL-ATABLE podcast has accomplished a lot this year, and has talked to a lot of people who have accomplished a lot in their lives and careers as well. In today’s episode, Teresa and her producer, Missy, discuss the past year of interesting, exciting, and engaging interviews with a number of inspiring people. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: REAL-ATABLE, a year in review Sean McGinly’s story Josh Skule’s interview Kellie and Byron’s experiences Aneesh Chopra’s story Vivian Dixon’s advice and counsel Listening to Monica Sagrario What made the Glenn Anderson episode interesting Captain Rob Evers’s career and training Susannah Anderson’s pathway to athletic success Karen Schaefer’s CIA history Eileen Smith’s episode Joanna Wang’s music industry experience Hayden Temin’s role in business Shanna Gray’s story Sam Slevin’s accomplishments Leslie Durham’s origin Kelly Derrick’s application of faith Paul Ramming’s insight into financial acumen Michelle Clement’s ability to pivot and change The interview with Megan and Luke Doug Schneider’s journey Aspirations for next year Resources: Teresa Freeman Associates

Being in the CIA has to be one of the most challenging career paths out there. What do people need to know about the organizations, qualifications, and job requirements if they think that might be something they’d like to do? In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Karen Schaefer, formerly of the CIA. Listen to the episode to learn more about how Karen ended up in the CIA, what young people need to know about whether or not they would succeed in a CIA career, and how to protect their mental health when working that kind of job. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: Karen’s transition to her second career Karen’s path to the CIA Whether Karen knew immediately which roles she was interested in The fear of not being well-informed or knowing the qualifications How to compartmentalize when you can’t really talk about your career How to protect your mental health when working for the CIA The fulfillment in tying your work to serving your country Characteristics that served Karen well in her career Resources: Karen Schaefer

Do you like the process of learning? Are there a lot of different roles that seem right for you? If so, you might have something in common with today’s guest. Leslie Durham is an academic advisor at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University. She has a varied background and broad educational experience. Listen to the episode to learn more about how Leslie ended up in her current role, what it was like for her working on dig sites, and what the life of a military spouse is like. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: Leslie’s current role How Leslie found her way to her current role Leslie’s educational background How Leslie feels about the process of learning Who Leslie’s peers are in her classroom What it’s like to work on a dig site The coolest thing that Leslie has found What it’s like to be a military spouse The difficulty of putting a career on hold because of military moves Taking control of your life How culture and background have impacted Leslie’s life Significant moments of impact that shaped Leslie’s life What Leslie sees that gives her hope for the future What drives a gap in problem-solving and collaboration skills Advice that Leslie would give to her younger self Resources: Leslie Durham

How common is it to spend years working for the FBI before making a switch to a new phase in your career? That’s the story of today’s guest, Hayden Temin, who spent almost 15 years with the FBI before becoming the Vice President of HR Delivery and Operations at Booz Allen Hamilton. Listen to this conversation to hear about what Hayden thought about what she would be doing when she got her MBA, whether she had difficulty navigating the male-dominated field of the FBI, and how she decided to make a big career leap.

Doug has done it all. Graduate of the Coast Guard Academy and served multiple years following his graduation. He worked in the private sector at the intersection of public policy and the shipping industry, and now in his 3rd act, he is teaching high school history. Listen in as he talks about the twists and turns throughout his journey, and what brought him to this point of taking on a new adventure at age 50. Great advice, insight and fascinating! Enjoy this episode!

Michelle discusses her secret gem of a career in the association industry and how she had to start over several times before she became CEO! We talk about the importance of equality, and what it means for those that come after us. AND we hear so many great stories, one includes driving Barack Obama around when he first campaigned for the state senate in Illinois. Enjoy this episode!

Sam just started his freshman year at R-MC. He shares the process of his college application and recruitment to their baseball team. We talk about how he used the covid shut down as a time to reflect and reset to decide what he really wants in life, which sometimes may include sacrifices. We hope to talk to him every year during his time in college. Enjoy this episode!

Eileen shares with us her experiences in diplomacy and how she came to become a public speaker. As the founder of Spokesmith, she works with all different levels of talent teaching them how to deliver their message in daily and extraordinary events. She gives our listeners great tips on how to deliver a successful speech and have an executive presence. Enjoy this episode!

As always these two are candid and honest and we benefit from listening to them talk about their experiences! In this conversation we discuss the effects of the pandemic, academic pressure, managing hectic schedules, the importance of mental health as well as advice for fellow high school students. Enjoy this episode!