The Opposite of Small Talk

Today's guest wrote, as he puts it, "a memoir with a mission."  David Ambroz, author of A Place Called Home: A Memoir, sits down with Danielle and Kristy to talk about his incredible story of trial, resilience, and deep purpose. David shares his powerful story growing up homeless in New York City and navigating the foster care system; discusses the collective responsibility of society to address the systemic failures that lead to child poverty and homelessness; urges listeners to take action; and shares ways individuals can engage locally and make a difference starting in their communities. **Get the new Big Talk Questions – Starter Pack** Guest's Website: Author | David Ambroz Book Affiliate Link: A Place Called Home: A Memoir TODAY'S BIG TALK QUESTION: What does home mean to you? Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger. Connect with us at theoppositeofsmalltalkpodcast@gmail.com

In this heartfelt and deeply personal conversation, Danielle and Kristy welcome Lisa Keefauver, author of, "Grief is a Sneaky Bitch" to explore the complexities of grief, sharing personal experiences, and insights on how to navigate loss. Lisa, a grief activist and author, discusses the importance of understanding grief as a multifaceted experience that impacts our identity, relationships, and overall well-being. The conversation also touches on the challenges of showing up for others in their grief and the necessity of open communication and understanding. **Get the new Big Talk Questions – Starter Pack** Guest's Website: Lisa Keefauver Guest's Podcast: Grief is a Sneaky B!tch Podcast with Lisa Keefauver, MSW7 Things To Do When Grieving, Lisa Keefauver | End Well TODAY'S BIG TALK QUESTION: What do you wish you knew about grief before you were in it? Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger. Connect with us at theoppositeofsmalltalkpodcast@gmail.com

What if the most productive thing you could do right now… was rest?  In today's episode, we talk to leadership coach Maegan Megginson about what it really means to be deeply rested; explore how rest is not a "one size fits all;" and discuss the nuances between vacations, retreats, and sabbaticals. Guest's Website: Home - Maegan Megginson Guest's Podcast: Deeply Rested Podcast Landing Page - Maegan Megginson TODAY'S BIG TALK QUESTIONS: What is something that you find restful that you don't think others would also find restful? When was the last time that you did something (other than sleep) in the name of rest? Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger. Connect with us at theoppositeofsmalltalkpodcast@gmail.com

Sometime too much information is the real problem in our age of constant connectivity.  In today's episode Danielle and Kristy sit down with Liane Davey, organizational psychologist to discuss the topic of workload vs. thought load and how too much of the latter is leading to serious burnout. Leanne offers practical strategies for managing thought load, including creating priority lists, understanding emotional experiences, and embracing "doing nothing" to restore creativity and productivity.  Guest's Website: Enough about Workload, the Problem is Thoughtload Resource: Time Timer Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.

We've reached the 200th Episode of The Opposite of Small Talk (TOOST).  Join Danielle and Kristy as they celebrate this milestone with a bit of reflection, discussion of their first summer "break," and a peek into the future of TOOST.  Cheers to the 200th and here's to 200 more opportunities to "stay curious and talk big!"   Connect with us at theoppositeofsmalltalkpodcast@gmail.com  Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.

What if in just five minutes a day you could completely change the way you think, perform, and handle life's challenges?  We'll explore this question and more in today's episode with Lindsey Wilson, a mindset and mental performance coach best known as The Sports Hypnotist™. With a professional basketball career spanning close to a decade, Lindsey took her knowledge of the mental game to work with athletes at all levels including professional athletes (including Olympians and players in the NFL and WNBA); collegiate athletes;  and youth athletes early in their journey.   Lindsey's Website: Positive Performance Training | Home Get Your free Ebook: How to Become a Mental Performance Coach (without your sports psych degree).  TODAY'S TALK BIG QUESTION What are some things in life that require more mental fitness than technical skill to do well? Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.  

In the final installment of the special four-part series, Summer Camp, which explores the topic of solopreneurship, Danielle is once again joined by Kerry Dobson, previous TOOST guest, respected group coaching expert, and friend of the podcast. In today's discussion, Danielle and Kerry come full circle following three episodes of discussing all things solopreneur and share the early stages of an endeavor they are working on which will aim to bring together a group of solopreneurs for what they hope will be a powerful and fruitful collaboration.   Kerry Dobson:  JJ Dak Inc. Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.     

In the third installment of the special four-part series, Summer Camp, which explores the topic of solopreneurship, Danielle is once again joined by Kerry Dobson, previous TOOST guest, respected group coaching expert, and friend of the podcast. Today's discussion touches on the positive aspects of being a solopreneur and the great things Danielle and Kerry have experienced including working with people you like, being true to yourself, the flexibility of making your own schedule, and creating something you love. Kerry Dobson:  JJ Dak Inc. Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.

In the second episode of the special four-part series, Summer Camp, which explores the topic of solopreneurship, Danielle is once again joined by Kerry Dobson, previous TOOST guest, respected group coaching expert, and friend of the podcast. Today's discussion touches on, "what is missing" as a solopreneur and how both Danielle and Kerry have navigated the transitions from corporate to solopreneurship including the work/life balance, setting boundaries, and deconditioning from previous corporate mindsets and habits.  Next week, Summer Camp, Episode 3, Danielle and Kerry will share the upside of solopreneurship. Kerry Dobson:  JJ Dak Inc. Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.   

In this episode of The Opposite of Small Talk (TOOST), Danielle introduces a special four-part series, Summer Camp, which explores the topic of solopreneurship. Danielle will be joined by Kerry Dobson, previous TOOST guest, respected group coaching expert, and friend of the podcast.  In upcoming episodes of Summer Camp, Danielle and Kerry will discuss solopreneurship in depth including: real talk around it, lessons learned, and dispelling myths. Kerry Dobson:  JJ Dak Inc. Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.   

In this special episode, live from Danielle's hometown, Terri Trespico, award-winning writer, speaker, brand advisor, and author of "Unfollow Your Passion: How to Create a Life that Matters to You," joins Danielle and Kristy for a funny and engaging conversation on the topic of Boredom, Creativity, and Breaking the Rules. Terri discusses her book and shares her personal insights on embracing boredom, comfort zones, and the importance of creating space for personal discovery. During the episode, Danielle and Kristy reflect on how their podcast has transformed their perspectives, with candid discussions about career, relationships, and the power of questioning conventional wisdom.   Guest's website: Home - Terri Trespicio Guest's Book:  Unfollow Your Passion - Terri Trespicio TALK BIG QUESTIONS Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life. What is something in your life that you never thought you'd do, but have since done?     Thinking about your longest friendship, what is one new thing you've recently learned about that person?  Is there something new they've learned about you? Is there a guest from TOOST that has really resonated with you or helped you to discover something new about yourself? Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.  

In this episode on the topic of Creating Possibility Out of Adversity, author Daria Burke shares reflections from her memoir "Of My Own Making," which explores her journey from a challenging childhood in Detroit to becoming a successful marketing executive. In Daria's conversation with Danielle and Kristy she discusses post-traumatic growth, the importance of healing, and how sharing deeply personal pieces of ourselves can inspire others to do the same. Throughout this moving discussion she offers insights into overcoming trauma, finding meaning in difficult experiences, and tapping into the power of community in personal transformation.  Guest's Website: Daria Burke | On A Mission To Close The Possibility Gap Guest's Book: Of My Own Making by Daria Burke | Hachette Book Group TALK BIG QUESTIONS Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life. Have you had to face adversity or a traumatic experience?  How did you respond?   Have you ever considered writing a memoir or sharing your life story in another way? What is one piece of advice in this episode that resonates with you and you'd find helpful when facing your own adversities or traumas?  Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.  

Join us for the last of our three-part Friendship Series, a rebroadcast of a selection of our most popular episodes centered around the topic of friendship.  In the final installment, we revisit episode 138.  In this episode from February 2024, Danielle and Kristy speak with journalist and author Rhaina Cohen, on the topic of her book on the topic of, The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center. The discussion covers excerpts from the book; the unique friendship stories she's found through her research; and how her own close friendship was the catalyst to her interest in this topic.  Guest's Website:  Rhaina Cohen TALK BIG QUESTIONS Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life. When you listen to this episode and the examples of friendships the author gives – is there a friendship in your life that comes to mind? What kinds of sacrifices would you be willing to make to help a friend? Has a friendship ever come between you and a romantic relationship?  What were the circumstances? Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.  

Join us for the second episode of our three-part Friendship Series, a rebroadcast of a selection of our most popular episodes centered around the topic of friendship.  In the second installment, we go back to the 34th episode of TOOST.  In this episode from March 2021, Danielle and Kristy talk to Danielle Bayard Jackson, author, podcast host, and certified coach specializing in female friendships. The discussion touches on topics including what a tough love friendship is; how to sustain friendships; and the number of friends a person can reasonably maintain.  Guest's Website:  Friend Forward | Female Friendship Coaching TALK BIG QUESTIONS Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life. Have you had to show tough love in a friendship before?  What were the circumstances and the outcome? Considering your closest friendships, how long have you maintained them, and what did it take to do so? Do you maintain a small close knit group of friends or prefer to have a larger circle of friendships? Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.

Join us for a three-part Friendship Series, a rebroadcast of a selection of our most popular episodes centered around the topic of friendship.  In the first installment, we travel back to the 9th episode of TOOST.  In this early episode, from February 2020, Danielle shares her best advice about how to make new friends and the practical strategies she used to find and make connections when she moved to a new city.  TALK BIG QUESTIONS Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life. As an adult have you found it difficult to make friends? Thinking back to your most recent connection with a new friend – under what circumstances did you make that connection personally or professionally? Was there a particular piece of advice Danielle offered in this episode that resonated with you? Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.    

Is there someone in your life that you would say exudes qualities like authenticity, boldness, and curiosity?  If so, today's guest would likely tell you that person is exhibiting the ABCs of Charisma. In this episode, leadership expert Milam Miller demystifies charisma, revealing it's a skill anyone can develop; shares practical strategies for genuine connection; and valuable techniques for meaningful interactions and more impactful communication. Drawing from sports and leadership experience, Milam explains that true charisma is about making others feel seen and heard, not self-promotion.  His debut book The Charisma Craft:  A Modern Leadership Guide to Enhance Your "Rizz" Factor will be published on June 25, 2025.  Guest's Website: BCK: Be Confident & Kind | Leading in the Age of AI Guest's Book (Available June 25, 2025): About | Empower Your Leadership to Be Confident and Kind — BCK: Be Confident & Kind, Charisma Training for Leaders TALK BIG QUESTIONS Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life. Would you have labeled yourself as charismatic prior to this episode?  Has your view changed? What one technique discussed in this episode would you be most likely to incorporate into your daily interactions? Is there someone in your personal or professional life you feel you have a genuine connection with? Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.

Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads, personally or professionally, wanting to make a long held dream or goal a reality?  Today's guest, Danielle Sprouls shares her transformative journey from commercial real estate to coaching and how it's possible for anyone to make the powerful decision to "pivot," face their fears, and grow both personally and professionally.  In this insightful discussion, she touches on points in her book, "WTF: Women That Flourish:  Transform Life's 'What the F#$k' Moments Into Your Greatest Wins;" explores the importance of intuition, visualization, and taking bold steps; and offers practical tips on turning challenges into opportunities. Guest's Website: Unscripted Pivots | Career Coaching by Danielle Sprouls Book Affiliate Link:  WTF: Women That Flourish: Transform Life's "What the F#$k" Moments Into Your Greatest Wins: Sprouls Esq., Danielle: 9798315383390: Amazon.com: Books TALK BIG QUESTIONS Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life. Have you had a light bulb or "what the f#$k" moment?  How did you react and how would you react now? What advice or encouragement would you give to a loved one if they came to you expressing they wanted to make a bold or drastic change personally or professionally? What is one practical piece of advice you took from today's conversation? Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.  

In the latest installment of Coaches Corner, guest coach JL Heather, who holds over two decades of experience as an organizational transformation coach sits down with Danielle for a discussion on the topic of innovation and creativity. Guest's Website: About Centered: Leadership & Transformation Experts Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.   

Today's guest is a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) expert.  If you are stateside, NLP may not be a term you're very familiar with, but after today's episode you may just find an appreciation for this fascinating area of study and how language and mindset can transform personal and professional experiences. Rebecca Bonnington sits down for a really enlightening conversation in which she demonstrates, using Kristy as her subject, practical NLP techniques, including how to change emotional states by manipulating sensory representations and understanding the power of self-talk; discusses how the body and mind are interconnected; and offers tools that can empower anyone to tap into their internal resources to create a desired change in their life. Guest's Website: Rebecca Bonnington - Tricres Ltd   TALK BIG QUESTIONS Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life. Were you familiar with NLP prior to this episode? What one technique from this episode would you be interested to try in practice in your own life? What is one area of your life or desired goal do you think NLP might help you to reach?   Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.    Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.  

In popular culture, there was a time where views of workplace relationships, between employees and managers, were seen through the lens of the likes of Emily and her over the top demanding boss, Miranda Priestly, in the 2006 movie, the Devil Wears Prada.  Fast forward to 2025, workplace culture has evolved and terms like, managing up, the focus of today's conversation, have become normalized and encouraged.  Today's guest is Melody Wilding, therapist, professor, executive coach and author of, Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge, released in March.  In her conversation with Kristy, Melody shares insights from her book on navigating workplace relationships through strategic conversations, they discuss key workplace communication strategies, and practical techniques. Guest's Website: Managing Up | Leadership Keynote Speaker | Melody Wilding Guest's book via our affiliate link: Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge: Wilding, Melody: 9780593444658: Amazon.com: Books TALK BIG QUESTIONS Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life. Have you had a managing up situation in your workplace?  How did you handle it and would you handle it differently following this episode? Did you identify as one of the four C's discussed in the conversation?  What is one of the techniques that most resonated with you? Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.