Finding Better Podcast

EP 198 - Love Is Not a Two-Way Street — A Conversation with Kim Sorrelle

As artificial intelligence accelerates and technology reshapes how we live and work, one essential human truth becomes clearer than ever: we’ve gotten smarter, but we’ve forgotten our heart.
In this episode of Finding Better, John Suzuki welcomes back author and speaker Kim Sorrelle for a powerful conversation about love—not as a feeling or transaction, but as a way of being. Drawing from her book Love Is and her journey studying the meaning of love through lived experience, Kim reframes what love really means in relationships, leadership, trust, and human connection.
Together, John and Kim explore why love is becoming more important—not less—in the age of AI, and why true human connection can never be replaced by technology.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
1. Why love is not transactional and never a “two-way street”2. How expectations quietly sabotage relationships3. What “Love is patient, love is kind” really means in everyday life4. Why trust changes everything in relationships and leadership5. How love becomes the defining human advantage in an AI-driven world6. Why learning to love yourself may be the hardest—and most important—work
💡 Key Takeaways:
1. Love is not something you trade—it’s something you live2. Expectations turn love into disappointment3. Trust first creates stronger human connection4. Technology amplifies intelligence, but love defines humanity5. Understanding love transforms how we lead, relate, and live
📘 Guest: Kim Sorrelle, author of Love Is
👍 If this conversation resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who could use a reminder of what truly matters.
Connect with Kim:
Website: https://www.kimsorrelle.com Facebook: https://tiny.one/kimsfacebookpageLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-langlois-sorrelle-11079523/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimsorrelle/?hl=enYoutube: https://tiny.one/kimsorrelleyoutubeTV Show: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bold+brave+tv+heart+%26+soulAmazon Book Links:1. https://tiny.one/loveisonamazon2. https://www.amazon.com/Cry-Until-You-Laugh-Funny/dp/1630472697/ref=sr_1_6?crid=DDLLDDUVGPXD&keywords=cry+until+you+laugh+book&qid=1705248198&sprefix=cry+until%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-6 

Ep 197 - The Hidden Rules of Promotion, the AI Era

What does it really take to succeed — and get promoted — in today’s rapidly changing, AI-driven world?
In this episode of the Finding Better Podcast, John Suzuki sits down with Keith Anderson, founder of Career Alchemy Lab and former leader at Google, Uber, Meta, and YouTube. Together, they unpack why performance alone is no longer enough — and why trust, perception, and human connection matter more than ever.
Keith shares firsthand insights from sitting inside promotion rooms at Big Tech companies and explains why being “great at your job” doesn’t automatically make you a safe bet for leadership. As AI reshapes how work gets done, the next era of success belongs to those who lead with humanity, intuition, and clarity.
Inside this conversation, you’ll learn:
1. Why strong performers often get overlooked for promotions2. The difference between being likable and being promotion-ready3. How leaders decide who is a “safe bet” for advancement4. Why storytelling matters more than checklists and metrics5. How human connection protects careers during layoffs and disruption6. What skills will matter most as AI transforms the workplace
💡 Key Takeaways:
1. Promotions are driven by trust, not just results2. Leaders advocate for people they can clearly “tell a story” about3. Human connection is a career survival skill in the AI era4. Career growth requires shaping perception, not just doing good work
👍 If you found this valuable, please like, subscribe, and share the episode with someone navigating their career right now.
Connect with Keith:Website: https://keithanderson.io/MediaPartnershipsLinkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/keithand 

Ep 196 - Finding a Plan B now: Merry Korn's Journey

What if getting fired wasn’t the end — but the beginning of the life you were meant to live?
In this powerful and deeply human episode of the Finding Better Podcast, John Suzuki sits down with Merry Korn, whose life changed forever after being fired just two months into what she thought would be her final job before retirement. As a single parent with two teenagers headed to college, the fear was overwhelming — but what followed was extraordinary.
Merry shares how that moment of despair became the foundation for a mission-driven business that eventually employed over 1,300 people across 30 states, many of whom had severe disabilities and were considered “unemployable” by society. Inspired by her mother, a Holocaust survivor, and the legacy of Oskar Schindler, Merry redefined what meaningful work can look like — and how purpose, courage, and listening to the inner voice can change everything.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
1. Why getting fired can sometimes be a hidden gift2. How listening to your inner voice can change your life’s direction3. What fear actually teaches us — and how to move through it4. The power of gratitude during life’s hardest moments5. How purpose and service can transform work into meaning6. Why alignment matters more than security
💡 Key Takeaways:
1. Rock bottom can become your strongest foundation2. Fear shrinks when action begins3. Purpose often reveals itself in moments of crisis4. Gratitude is a powerful antidote to despair5. Meaningful work can change lives — including your own
If you’re facing uncertainty, job insecurity, or a major life transition, this episode will remind you that sometimes the path forward begins where you least expect it.
👉 Listen, reflect, and find what “better” looks like for you.
If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who might need to hear it today.
Connect with Merry: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merrykorn/
Website: https://firedtoinspired.com/ 

EP 195 – How Beliefs Shape Success, Health, and Fulfillment with Robert White

What if the biggest thing holding you back isn’t your skills, your background, or your circumstances — but a single belief you’ve been carrying your whole life?
In this powerful episode of the Finding Better Podcast, John Suzuki sits down with Robert White, a transformational architect who went from growing up in poverty and surviving three heart attacks to leading two million-graduate learning organizations, retiring at 46, losing everything, and rebuilding a life rooted in joy, meaning, and satisfaction.
This conversation goes deep into identity, belief systems, and what it really means to live an extraordinary life — beyond money, titles, and external success.
Inside this conversation, you’ll learn:
1. What a “transformational architect” really does2. How early life beliefs quietly shape success, health, and relationships3. Why “I am not enough” is the most dangerous belief we hold4. The difference between wanting more and chasing worth5. How success without joy can still leave you empty6. Practical ways to shift perspective and raise self-awareness
💡 Key Takeaways:
1. Transformation isn’t about what you see — it’s about where you’re looking from2. Achievement can’t replace joy, satisfaction, and self-acceptance3. Letting go of “I’m not enough” creates instant internal relief4. Awareness is the gateway to meaningful change5. You don’t need permission to pursue joy — you’ve already earned it
Connect with Robert:1. Website: https://www.extraordinarypeople.com/Welcome-to-Extraordinary-People-and-Robert-White/2. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robert.white1
Robert's Book:https://www.amazon.in/Living-Extraordinary-Life-Robert-White/dp/097053910X
👍 If this episode resonated, please Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who needs to hear this message today.

EP 194 - Making 2026 Your Best Year EVER !

Happy New Year 2026 🎉
In this special New Year episode of the Finding Better Podcast, John Suzuki shares a powerful and deeply personal message about how to make 2026 your best year ever — not through resolutions, but through choices.
John reflects on his own life journey, the power of personal responsibility, and lessons from history that prove even in the hardest circumstances, we still have agency over who we become. This episode challenges you to rethink how you approach time, growth, adversity, and opportunity — especially as we enter a world rapidly changing with artificial intelligence.
Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
1. Why your life at the end of 2026 will be shaped by the choices you make today2. How taking responsibility can be the most empowering moment of your life3. What the story of Japanese American WWII soldiers teaches us about resilience4. How to stop negative self-talk and reframe it with one simple word: yet5. Why getting 1% better every day compounds into massive life change6. How curiosity and “scrappiness” are essential skills in the age of AI
💡 Key Takeaways:
1. No decision is still a decision — choose intentionally2. You can empower or disempower yourself every single day3. Growth doesn’t happen overnight, but it always compounds4. Curiosity is a muscle — and it can change your future5. If you’re feeling stuck, uncertain, or overwhelmed about the year ahead, this episode will help you reset your mindset and move forward with clarity and confidence.
👉 Download American Grit for free at johnsuzuki.com
If this episode resonates with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs encouragement as we start this new year.

EP 193 - Mindset + Heartset: why both matter in reinventing yourself.

The world is changing faster than ever — from AI-driven disruption to career uncertainty — and many people are wondering what comes next. In this powerful episode of Finding Better, John Suzuki sits down with Andrew Brummer, leadership coach and author of Leading Magnanimously, to talk about reinvention, mindset, and how to move forward when the ground shifts beneath your feet.
After receiving the call no one wants to get at age 53, Andrew chose service over panic and transformed uncertainty into purpose. What followed was a global coaching journey spanning continents, industries, and cultures — proving that it’s never too late to start again.
Inside this conversation, you’ll learn:1. Why mindset — and “heartset” — determine how you handle change2. How taking action quickly can break fear-based spirals3. Why serving others is often the fastest path to clarity and momentum4. How Andrew built a thriving coaching practice without a degree or network5. The power of asking yourself the right questions at critical moments6. Why leadership always starts with leading yourself
💡 Key Takeaways:1. You may not control what happens to you, but you always control your response2. Energy builds energy — action creates momentum3. Helping others can pull you out of your own fear and uncertainty4. Reinvention is possible at any age when values guide decisions
If you’re navigating change, uncertainty, or reinvention, this episode will give you perspective, tools, and hope.
👍 Like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement right now.
Connect with Andrew:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbrummer/ Twitter: https://x.com/AndrewBrummer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ardunan.village/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Ardunan Website: https://www.ardunan.com 

EP 192 - Happy Holidays!

In this special holiday episode of Finding Better, John Suzuki shares a heartfelt solo reflection on love, forgiveness, gratitude, and finding peace in a divided world.
As the holiday season brings both joy and tension, John offers a powerful reminder: we are far more connected than we realize. Through personal stories, thought-provoking perspective shifts, and deeply human lessons, this episode invites you to pause, reflect, and reconnect—with yourself and with others.
John explores why the opposite of love isn’t hate, but fear… how forgiveness can literally lift a lifetime of emotional weight… and why gratitude may be one of the most powerful tools we have for mental and emotional well-being.
Whether you’re preparing for a difficult family gathering, feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world, or simply looking for meaning during the holidays, this conversation is an invitation to find peace—starting within.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:1. Why we are all more connected than we think2. How forgiveness can free you, even when the other person isn’t present3. Why fear—not hate—is the true opposite of love4. How gratitude shifts your mindset and emotional health5. What “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me” really means
This episode is about choosing love, practicing grace, and remembering what the holidays are truly about.
If this message resonates, please share it with someone who may need it.

EP 191 – The Brain Hijack: Your brain is built for survival—not love. Here's how to change it.

What if the reason your relationships feel hard isn’t communication… but your nervous system?
In this episode of the Finding Better Podcast, John Suzuki sits down with Diane McDowell, creator of the Brain to Heart Code, to explore why love can feel unsafe even when everything else in life is working. Diane explains how our brains are wired for survival—not connection—and how a hidden “brain hijack” can turn the people we love most into perceived threats.
Together, John and Diane unpack how emotional disconnection happens, why willpower and communication tools aren’t enough, and how learning to regulate your nervous system can completely change how you show up in relationships—from romantic partnerships to work and everyday life.
Inside this conversation, you’ll learn:
1. Why most relationship struggles aren’t about communication2. How the “brain hijack” turns closeness into perceived danger3. Why shame and self-blame keep relationship cycles stuck4. How emotional safety changes everything—without needing your partner to change5. The power of calming your nervous system in moments that matter6. Why changing your energy can change the entire relationship dynamic
💡 Key Takeaways:
1. Your brain is designed for safety, not connection—and that matters in love2. Understanding your nervous system removes shame and blame3. It only takes one regulated person to shift a relationship4. Emotional safety starts from the inside out5. You don’t need to fix yourself—you need to feel safe being you
Connect with Diane McDowell:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-mcdowell/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diane_pqc/Website: https://www.powerfulquestionscoaching.com/
👉 If this conversation resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share this episode. Your support helps us continue bringing real conversations about finding better—together.