The Ally Show

Be part of the movement—support the show on Patreon! https://patreon.com/aliesiEpisode SummaryIn this conversation, Genevieve Conaty (She/Her) shares her journey from a first-generation immigrant background to becoming a VP of design. She discusses her early life, education, and the challenges she faced in her career, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Genevieve opens up about her health struggles, including chronic pain and PTSD, and how these experiences shaped her understanding of wellness. She emphasizes the importance of community support and shares her transformative experience with intensive outpatient programs for mental health recovery. In this conversation, Genevieve shares her journey of self-discovery and healing through the practices of Chi and Qigong. She discusses the significance of Chi as a vital energy and how it has transformed her mental and physical well-being. Genevieve emphasizes the importance of visualization techniques in Qigong and how they can enhance creativity and personal growth. Our AI Partner for this Episode: ElevenLabsAccountability Campaign: March MadnessWant to join Genevieve's March Madness campaign and start this spring differently? Sign up here: https://forms.gle/xvU1GNHnySceCawZ8Chapters00:00 Intro to the episode by Ali and his AI Twin03:33 Introduction and Background05:43 Heritage and Family History07:52 Early Life and Education09:23 Career Path and Design Journey11:53 Challenges and Health Struggles12:34 The Impact of COVID-1917:46 Trauma and Its Effects27:33 Path to Recovery and Healing37:00 Community Support and Programs39:45 Understanding Chi and Its Significance38:54 The Journey to Qigong Practice47:44The Impact of Qigong on Creativity and Wellness49:15 Visualization Techniques in Qigong56:20 Embracing Creativity and Personal Growth01:07:15 March Madness: A Challenge for Growth🍒 Genevieve’s bioGenevieve fell in love with the Stanford campus from a distance based on a photograph of the architecture in “the Quad.” After studying mathematical & computational science there, she realized she was most interested in pursuing computational science that involved working with human beings, so she pivoted to a master's degree in what was then called Human-Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University. She cut her teeth in UX research at Motorola Labs in the UK, worked for a wonderful London design agency where she met her now-wife, ran her own design agency for five years including a move from London to San Francisco, and helped build the design, product, and UX research team and culture at Indiegogo. She hired Ali at Course Hero where together they designed products to help college students graduate. Her newest mission is to help clients of her coaching practice with their job & career challenges so that they can find fulfillment. She has a bias towards entrepreneurship and fun.  LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevieve/Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cherry-red-coaching/Substack: http://cherryredcoaching.substack.comTEDx Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/genevieve_conaty_how_to_empower_innovationSpotify Artist Profile: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3OdBAFKql7Zm0GMCc9lU69?si=xMXquwHGTmiTEyKydWxzcwLa Cheim Behavioral Health Center (PHP/IOP): https://www.lacheim.org/behavioral-health-programsLuminous Ground Online Tai Chi and Qigong ClassesRegister: https://luminousground.com/2006-2/registration/Follow along with daily practice on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@luminousgroundschooloftaij1500 (new posts daily)Courtney Moore - Acupuncture & Healing: https://courtneymoorewellness.com/Be part of the movement—support the show on Patreon! ⁠https://patreon.com/aliesi⁠

Be part of the movement—support the show on Patreon! ⁠https://patreon.com/aliesi⁠Episode SummaryIn this conversation, Phil Carter shares his journey from a Midwestern upbringing to becoming a successful product leader in the tech industry. He discusses the importance of family values, the challenges of work-life balance, and the impact of paternity leave on his relationship with his children. Phil reflects on his career shifts, the lessons learned from each chapter, and the decision to start his own consulting business for greater flexibility and autonomy. In this conversation, Phil Carter discusses the challenges of modern work culture, particularly in the tech industry, where constant connectivity and high expectations can lead to burnout. He emphasizes the importance of finding balance in life through routines, personal anchors, and prioritizing family and community. Phil also highlights the significance of self-awareness in navigating the pressures of societal expectations and the rat race, advocating for a focus on internal fulfillment rather than external validation. He concludes by sharing his wife's nonprofit, Daring Girls, which empowers young women in East Africa. Support Daring Girls: https://daringgirls.org/About PhilAfter starting his career at Bain and getting his MBA from Stanford GSB, Phil Carter has spent the last decade as a VC and product leader helping companies like Faire, Quizlet, and Ibotta build world-class products and accelerate their growth. Phil is now a growth advisor and angel investor who helps Seed - Series C consumer subscription businesses define their growth strategies, build their growth models, hire their growth teams, scale their growth processes, optimize their growth channels, and achieve their full potential. Phil also teaches a Maven course on Consumer Subscription Growth and has a Substack newsletter where he shares additional thoughts.Connect to Phil:Website: https://www.philgcarter.com/Maven Course: https://maven.com/philcarter/consumer-subscription-growthLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philgcarter/Substack: https://philgcarter.substack.com/X: https://x.com/philgcarterChapters00:00 Intro to the EpisodeChapters03:20 Introduction to Phil Carter06:12 Growing Up in the Midwest08:30 Family Values and Childhood Memories09:59 Navigating Work-Life Balance12:21 Career Shifts and Professional Growth16:54 The Impact of Paternity Leave22:44 Starting a New Chapter: Entrepreneurship24:48 The Pressure of Constant Connectivity27:11 The Dynamics of Tech Culture30:22 Navigating the Rat Race32:49 Finding Balance in Life35:41 Anchors of Stability39:03 Production vs. Production Capacity42:50 Empowering Young Women through Daring GirlsBe part of the movement—support the show on Patreon! ⁠https://patreon.com/aliesi⁠

Be part of the movement—support the show on Patreon! ⁠https://patreon.com/aliesi⁠Episode SummaryIn this conversation, Grandmaster Elshan Maradi Abadi shares his journey from being a young chess enthusiast in Iran to becoming a Grandmaster and immigrating to the United States. He discusses the challenges he faced, including the pain of losing, anxiety, and the pressure of high expectations. Elshan emphasizes the importance of mental health, personal growth, and the lessons learned from his experiences. He also highlights his passion for coaching the next generation of chess players and the significance of sharing one's struggles to help others.About GM ElshanElshan Moradiabadi is an Iranian-American Grandmaster known for his dynamic playing style and profound contributions to chess as a mentor and educator. With a career spanning over three decades, Elshan has consistently demonstrated his prowess as a well-rounded chess player by obtaining a B.Sc in chemical engineering from Sharif University and two master's degrees in the US. Elshan's chess career includes appearances in the Chess Olympiad and notable achievements in the U.S. chess scene. His expertise extends beyond the chessboard, as he is a prolific coach and mentor, inspiring students worldwide through his insightful teachings and strategic approaches. Elshan has coauthored two chess books and numerous educational articles and continuously seeks to improve his training method.Connect to Elshan on: https://gmelshan.com Elshan's 50 Push-ups CampaignElshan invites you to do 50 push-ups per day for 30 days. Use this link to join his campaign: https://forms.gle/fMmNe6awCzRBJwb48Be part of the movement—support the show on Patreon! ⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/aliesi⁠⁠

Be part of the movement—support the show on Patreon! ⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/aliesi⁠⁠Episode Summary:In this conversation, Ali chats with Indi Young about the power of listening and empathy in building products and brands. They discuss the practice of deep listening and the steps to improve rapt attention. They also explore the impact of toxic work cultures on mental health and the need for broader protections in the workplace. Indi emphasizes the role of individuals in creating change and suggests forming groups, talking to HR, and organizing lunch meetings to address these issues. They also touch on the potential of AI in freeing up human resources for more meaningful work and measuring the value of products based on user needs and well-being. In this conversation, Ali and Indi Young discuss the importance of listening deeply and understanding the needs and goals of users. They explore the role of empathy and curiosity in product development and how it can lead to more meaningful and impactful brands. They also touch on the limitations of AI and the value of human connection in research and design. About Indi Young:Indi Young is a pioneering problem-discovery researcher and solution strategist. With over 30 years of experience, Indi has developed methods centered on inclusive and purpose-driven research, helping teams design solutions that align with various thinking styles. As a founding partner of Adaptive Path and the creator of mental model skylines, she has deeply influenced user research and product design. Indi also authored three books, including Practical Empathy, Mental Models, and Time to Listen. As one of the impactful voices in product development, Indi continues to share her expertise through teaching, coaching, and public speaking.Be part of the movement—support the show on Patreon! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/aliesi⁠⁠⁠

Be part of the movement—support the show on Patreon! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/aliesi⁠⁠⁠Episode Summary:In this conversation, a somatic performance mentor, Emily Harrell, first guides Ali, host of @TheAllyShowbyAli through a grounding and EFT tapping practice to help him reconnect with himself and manage his anxiety. Emily shares her personal journey of growing up with anxiety and the challenges she faced in supporting her family while neglecting her own needs. They discuss the importance of setting boundaries and recognizing when it's necessary to prioritize self-care. Emily emphasizes the need to fill your cup before helping others and offers advice on setting boundaries with friends. In this conversation, Emily Harrell discusses the importance of setting boundaries in relationships and navigating difficult conversations. She explains that our bodies often give us signals when something doesn't sit well with us and that these signals are based on past experiences and associations. Emily emphasizes that setting boundaries is a form of self-protection and that it's essential to communicate our needs directly. She also shares her personal journey of loss and trauma and how she found healing through various tools and practices, such as cold therapy, journaling, and writing gratitude.Key Takeaways:- Taking time to reconnect with ourselves and be present is essential for managing anxiety.- EFT tapping is a powerful tool for dissolving anxiety and other emotional experiences.- Setting boundaries is not selfish, but necessary for self-care and maintaining healthy relationships.- Recognizing the signals from our bodies and emotions can help us identify when to set boundaries.- Less is often more when setting boundaries. There is no need to overexplain or justify our decisions. Setting boundaries is essential for maintaining healthy relationships and protecting our own well-being.- Our bodies often give us signals when something doesn't sit well with us, and these signals are based on past experiences and associations.- Direct communication is essential when setting boundaries; we don't need to beat around the bush to please others.- Experiencing loss and trauma can have a profound impact on our mental health, but some tools and practices can help with healing, such as cold therapy, journaling, and gratitude.- Practicing gratitude can shift our perspective and help us appreciate what we have, even during challenging times.More About Emily: Emily is an EFT practitioner, somatic mentor, and trauma-informed professional with a bachelor's degree in family and human services. She mentors high-performing women who aim to master self-healing through transformative somatic practices. In 2021, she founded The Quantum Creator as a passion project to help others become their own self-healers. Her own experiences with grief, anxiety, and deep feelings of unfulfillment led her to this work.You can connect to Emily on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.quantum.creatorTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.quantum.creatorHer website: https://stan.store/quantumcreatorBe part of the movement—support the show on Patreon! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/aliesi⁠⁠⁠⁠