Stepping In

Living Multi-CenteredIn this thought-provoking episode of Stepping In, host Adam Klein engages with DEIB experts Dr. Kevin Sansberry and Fran about the evolving landscape of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Their conversation explores the delicate balance between individual identity and collective transformation in today's increasingly divided world.Episode HighlightsPersonal Journeys (00:07:43)Kevin shares his path of self-reclamation as a Black man in systems not designed for him, while Fran describes evolving from seeking personal safety as "a super weird queer kid" to seeing their "liberation tied up in that of someone else." These contrasting yet complementary journeys illuminate how both self-knowledge and collective responsibility serve the same goal.The Art of Deep Listening (00:21:31)The guests explore transformative listening that pauses, suspends judgment, and creates space for change. As Kevin explains, effective leaders must "suspend preconceived judgments" to be genuinely changed by

In this special podcast episode of Stepping In we review three previous conversations about transformative journeys, purpose and calling, hosted by Adam Klein Managing Partner of New Ventures West. Adam weaves together conversations with three guests - Amiel Handelsman, Mo Edjlali, and Lizzie Azzolino - exploring four key themes about finding one's purpose in life. The themes include: how external life events can awaken inner awareness, how to productively engage with difficulty, how to recognize subtle internal signals about one's calling, and how to sustain commitment to one's purpose over time. Each guest shares personal stories of transformation, from Mo's experience with business failure leading to deep mindfulness work, to Lizzie's journey and profound awakening through illness, to Amiel's shifting relationship with coaching as he ages. The episode concludes with a poem about embracing life's mysteries and continuing forward despite uncertainty. Throughout, Adam emphasizes that while there may be common

Join Stepping In Podcast host Adam Klein in an open and honest conversation with Lizzie Azzolino about what it truly means to keep evolving throughout our lives. After graduating from New Ventures West years ago, Lizzie has walked a winding path from corporate strategy to a profound awakening that began in a hospital room with her mother and led through cancer, healing, and a transformative "dark night of the soul" in New York City.In this intimate discussion, Lizzie shares how she learned to let go of the illusion of control and embrace a deeper truth: that we're constantly being invited to expand beyond who we think we are. She opens up about selling everything she owned and landing in Santa Monica with just two suitcases, discovering that sometimes our greatest moments of loss can lead to unexpected homecomings.Whether you're facing your own crossroads or simply curious about what it means to live with greater authenticity, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on how we can say yes to life's o

In this episode of Stepping In, host Adam Klein of New Ventures West speaks with Mo, founder of Mindful Leader, exploring how integral coaching principles shape authentic leadership and personal transformation. Key themes include: Mo's transformative journey from tech CEO to mindfulness leader, sparked by his company's collapse and subsequent period of profound questioning The value of staying attuned to life's guidance, even when it comes through challenging experiences The influential role of integral coaching in  - Embracing discomfort as a catalyst for growth   - Integrating diverse perspectives, even critics   - Balancing action with reflection How Mo's immigrant background shaped his desire to understand and be understood, influencing his inclusive approach to mindful leadership The importance of engaging with divergent voices and critics in the mindfulness community, finding value in discord rather than seeking only harmony  Key elements of New Ventures West's app

How do you navigate the challenging journey of finding your authentic vocation amid the pressures of success and expectations? In this intimate conversation, Adam Klein & Amiel Handelsman discuss Amiel's evolving path from leadership development coach to podcaster and writer, exploring the internal tensions between pragmatism and spirituality that shaped his work. Through candid discussion of his practices, fears, and transformations, Amiel reveals how listening deeply to life's calling requires both fierce dedication and humble surrender. This episode offers profound insights for anyone grappling with their own vocational evolution, highlighting how true purpose emerges through patient attention to what wants to be expressed through us.

In this episode of Stepping In, Adam speaks with Christy McClendon, a New Ventures West graduate and President/CEO of New Pathways for Youth (NPFY), an organization serving youth living in extreme adversity. NPFY programs aim to break through self-destructive thinking and develop essential skills, empowering youth to achieve their desired future.In our conversation, Christy explains how NPFY’s youth, mentors, and staff engage in ongoing self-development, whic

Apple PodcastsAmazon MusicYouTubeSpotify How does Integral Coaching, a method that works at a deep developmental level, translate to working with leaders and corporations? This is a common question and elusive territory for potential coaches. To help illuminate the topic, Adam Klein spoke with Andrea Garfield, founder and CEO of the Awesome Institute, a company that offers executive leadership and team coaching inside organizations. Andrea shares plenty of examples of how Integral Coaching can

Catherine Bronnert DeSchepper, NVW graduate and founder of Interweavers, joins Adam to talk about the myriad ways we can—and perhaps already do—integr

Apple PodcastsAmazon MusicYouTubeSpotify Anne Egseth, NVW graduate and trained actor, joins Adam in this engaging conversation to speak to what can open for us and our clients when we begin to be present in our bodies. They also discuss myths around embodiment and common ways of accessing greater somatic intelligence. Here are some of the topics covered in the Stepping In podcast episode How Embodiment Frees Us: Understanding the body’s role in somatic work, acknowle

Whitney Hess, a coach, writer, and designer, sits down with Adam Klein to delve into the nuanced topic of empathy in an insightful exploration of what true empathy is, distinguishing it from sympathy and compassion.Listeners will gain a richer understanding of empathy and its integral role in building meaningful personal and professional connections.Here are some of the topics covered in the Stepping In podcast episode The Power of Empa

In this episode of Stepping In, Adam Klein speaks with the late Richard Levi, a facilitator of grief support groups who also coached individual clients through grief.Grief can blindside and disorient the people directly affected—and those who wish to support them.Richard offers ways to prepare ourselves to join our clients in the abruptly new world that grief often creates.Here are some of the topics covered in the Stepping In 

Apple PodcastsAmazon MusicYouTubeSpotify In this episode of Stepping In, Adam Klein speaks with Professional Coaching Course graduate Kelly McGannon, who works in Washington, D.C., coaching and teaching mindfulness to US government leaders. In this episode, she talks with Adam about how today’s political and cultural climate offers opportunities to have new conversations with each other and ourselves. Here are some of the topics covered in the Stepping In podcast episode Gatewa

Michael Dolan, NVW graduate and founder of Truly Productive Leadership, joins Adam to talk about how addressing all the conflicting “to-do”s in our lives can actually empower our development by revealing what is really important to us.Here are some of the topics covered in the Stepping In podcast episode Where Horizontal and Vertical Coaching Intersect: How to integrate hori