More Than Work

In this captivating episode of 'More Than Work,' our host Rabiah Coon engages with AJ Waters, the visionary behind Stronger Skatepark. From the initial spark of passion for skateboarding to the creation of an inclusive community space, AJ shares the journey of founding Stronger Skatepark. Listeners will gain insights into the hurdles of entrepreneurship, the power of community-building, and the significance of personal growth through adversity. Whether you’re a skateboarding enthusiast, interested in the startup world, or looking for inspiration on overcoming personal challenges, this conversation offers valuable takeaways for all.

Introduction to AJ Waters: The episode kicks off with Rabiah welcoming listeners and introducing AJ Waters, highlighting their unexpected journey from skateboarding hobbyist to the founder of an inclusive skatepark.

Starting Stronger Skatepark: AJ delves into the early days of skateboarding, the inspiration behind founding Stronger Skatepark, and how a single event sparked the idea to create a welcoming space for skaters in Portland.

Challenges and Triumphs: Overcoming financial, legal, and personal hurdles, AJ shares the resilience and determination that carried them through the toughest times while founding the skatepark.

Running a Business: AJ compares past experiences to the challenges and rewards of running Stronger Skateparks, drawing parallels between caregiving and entrepreneurship.

Inclusivity in Skateboarding: Emphasizing the core value of Stronger Skatepark, AJ discusses efforts to create a skate park where everyone, regardless of age or ability, feels welcome.

Personal Journey and Mental Health: AJ opens up about their personal growth, mental health journey, gender and sexual identity, and the profound impact of creating a space that supports diversity and accessibility.

Expanding During a Pandemic: AJ recounts the challenges and opportunities of expanding Stronger Skate Parks despite the pandemic, underscoring the importance of community support in uncertain times.

Advice and Personal Insights: Wrapping up the episode, AJ shares wisdom on the importance of slowing down and being mindful amidst life's busyness, offering listeners a moment of reflection.

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

This episode was recorded last year but of course delayed until now. As I mention at the start of the episode, AJ was introduced to me via friend of the pod (and friend of me) Eriko Ono who knows AJ from the Portland, OR skate scene. In December, after the podcast was already recorded, we got to meet in person and I got to see Stronger Skatepark myself. It is a special place. I even bought a sweater that is too cool for me to own but I wear it anyway! This is a fun interview and a very open discussion I enjoyed with AJ. I appreciate so much when my guests are willing to talk about things that could be difficult. In addition to talking about the work AJ is passionate about, as a trans man, he was willing to answer some of my questions about his transition which gave me a rare insight into that experience as it will you, the listener. Enjoy the episode and let me know if you visit the skate park!

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Find AJ

Stronger Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stronger_skatepark 

Stronger Website: https://www.strongerskatepark.com/ 

AJ’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_j_waters 

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Mentioned in this episode:

Skate Like a Girl:

In this episode of 'More Than Work', a podcast on personal and professional fulfillment, host Rabiah engages in an insightful discussion with Jessica Berg. Berg is the founder of 'Moon Rock Wellness', a digital platform designed to help busy individuals, particularly working mothers, cultivate everyday habits of wellness. Jessica shares her personal journey leading to the creation of Moon Rock Wellness, including a life-altering encounter with burnout that led her to prioritize her well-being and set boundaries in her corporate job. She also discusses the importance of maintaining balance, practicing daily mindfulness, and investing time and energy into activities that genuinely fulfill us.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:36 Guest Introduction: Jessica Berg

00:55 Getting to Know Jessica: Personal Life and Location

01:46 Introduction to Moon Rock Wellness

01:56 The Importance of Consistent Wellness Practices

02:56 Personal Wellness Journeys and Challenges

03:44 The Impact of Motherhood on Wellness

07:28 The Role of Mindfulness in Everyday Life

10:59 Exploring Moon Rock Wellness: Services and Impact

14:32 The Journey to Founding Moon Rock Wellness

18:53 Balancing Corporate Life and Passion Projects

24:06 Addressing Burnout: A Personal Experience

25:40 The Impact of Burnout on Personal Life

26:34 Taking Action: Setting Boundaries at Work

26:56 The Importance of Communication in Setting Boundaries

27:30 The Struggle of Balancing Work and Personal Life

30:20 The Power of Doing Nothing: Embracing Breaks

32:40 The Influence of Passion Projects on Work

33:34 The Power of Scheduling and Time Management

42:08 The Joy and Inspiration from Children

43:34 Connecting with Moon Rock Wellness

45:01 Conclusion: The Importance of Kindness to Self

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

It has been a while. For personal reasons and comedy reasons I had to put a pause on the pod until I was ready to commit the time and effort again but now, More Than Work is back! Thank you for checking out this episode. Jessica was easy to talk to and may inspire you to take 5 minutes for yourself. She has done that for me. I’ll leave you to it, listener. Be sure to check out other episodes too. I’m happy to have you here!

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Find Jessica

Website: www.moonrockwellness.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moon_rock_wellness 

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

Fernando Kabigting: From Corporate to Creative Life

In this episode of More Than Work, host Rabiah Coon talks with their guest, Fernando Kabigting. They delve into Fernando's life-changing decision to leave his corporate job in fashion to enter the creative industry, specifically floral design. Fernando touches on his experiences from starting in advertising, transitioning to fashion, to eventually establishing his own business that transcends traditional floral design. He also discusses his motivations, personal values, and commitment to sustainable and responsible practices in his work. Lastly, he shares how important it is to see yourself represented in an industry and forging your own way as an immigrant.

00:08 Introduction

00:50 Welcome Fernando

01:49 Fernando's Journey into Fashion

05:04 Transition to Floral Design

07:41 Creating a Sustainable Business

17:57 Reflections on Identity and Business

36:20 Dealing with Overwork & Achieving Balance

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

After admiring Fernando’s work from afar for quite a while, I finally reached out to ask him to be on the podcast. In the past, we lived in the same city and I got to see first-hand what a dynamic person he is but getting the chance to talk to him about what motivates him reminded me of the importance of sharing stories and showing who we are. This episode felt like why I created the podcast. 

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Find Fernando

Website: https://www.fdkflorals.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fdk_florals 

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Mentioned in this episode:

Jonathan Anderson https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.anderson/

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

In this episode of 'More Than Work', Rabiah, an IT professional and stand-up comedian, talks to guest Sean Arkless about his journey from low self-confidence and working in retail to becoming the co-founder of Sjark Limited and vocalist of the London based band, 'Hello Amnesia'. Sean shares his experiences as a freelancer and his decision to start his own music production company. He also discusses his ongoing Master's degree in Musical Theater, the role of mentors in his career development, the value of being assertive and possessing a 'learn and seek' mindset. Sean's advice is to 'live fearlessly and choose your own adventures', encouraging others to pursue their dreams and never give up despite challenges. The podcast ends with Sean providing information on where listeners can find more about his work.

00:08 Introduction to the Podcast

00:37 Guest Introduction: Sean Arkless

01:04 Sean's Journey to London

01:45 Sean's Educational Background and Career Path

03:15 Sean's Passion for Musical Theater

04:49 The Art of Storytelling through Musical Theater

06:09 Sean's Journey into Sound Engineering

10:25 The Birth of Sjark Limited

13:08 Solving Industry Problems through Sjark Limited

20:12 The Story of Hello Amnesia

22:47 The Band's First Gig and the Impact

23:16 The Story Behind the Band's Name

25:36 Musical Influences and Discoveries

29:22 The Journey from New Zealand to England

30:01 Overcoming Challenges and Finding Inspiration

32:28 The Turning Point: A Concert Experience

33:55 The Power of Determination and Dreams

34:58 Fun Five: Getting to Know More About Sean

41:03 Where to Find Sean and His Music

42:17 Wrapping Up the Conversation

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

So, I’ll be honest, this is the first time I’ve used AI to write the bulk of my show notes and I’m super impressed but this part is me, the HI (human intelligence entity, Rabiah). Sean and I met at a gig I was doing which was a variety show with super talented people he went to school with. He was cool and we went to a concert together (which we talk about here) and then another concert and I’ve seen him perform, and I’m so glad you get to hear him now.

There have been some gaps in me posting so if you’ve been waiting a while, I’m sorry. I needed a break, again. I’m trying to get the great interviews I have in the can out to you sooner than later though. Thanks for sticking with me! And if you’re new, don’t stop listening at this episode. There really many great ones to come and over a hundred from the past. Thanks for being here. 

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Find Sean

Sjark Limited: www.sjark.co.uk 

Sean’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanarklessmusic

Hello, Amnesia: https://www.instagram.com/Hello_Amnesia 

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Mentioned in this episode:

Rock the Rock Records (Hawaii): https://rocktherockrecords.com/ 

Scotty Rockstar: https://www.instagram.com/scottyrockstar/ 

Lasse Corus: https://www.lassecorus.com/ 

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More Than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email...

This week’s guest is Mark Nicholas, comedian, comedy workshop leader and tutor. 

After getting his comedy start while on an extended trip to Vietnam, Mark has been working his way around the London comedy circuit. He created his show Laugh-Able to be an inclusive space for acts with disabilities. Being autistic himself and coming from a family of those serving or caring for others with disabilities, he is an advocate and activist in that space.

Before all of this, Mark started work he continues today. During college, he was working in a bar and realized it wasn’t for him when he saw an ad on Gumtree that led to him working as a tutor and then in special education. He talks about all of this and his work as a union rep in the episode.

We talk about:

• Mark’s path from drama class to comedy
• Coming to terms with being autistic and the support Mark received from his family
• Why Mark left his career in the formal education system and went into private tutoring
• Setting up his own comedy night for disabled acts (LaughAble)
• Inclusion

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

Mark and I met at a gig, while doing the Zoom circuit during lockdown. You’ll be listening to a chat between me and a colleague but also me and a friend. He has included me in his shows and made me more comfortable talking about having Multiple Sclerosis (MS) on stage and off. He’s a funny guy and we share a few laughs on the episode but also share an important chat. It is a privilege to get to learn about my friends in this way and to share the chat with you. 

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Find Mark

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marknicholasstandupcomedian 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marknicholascomic 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marknicholascomic 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mnicholascomic 

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Mentioned in this episode:

Laugh-ABLE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laughablecomedynight 

Laugh-ABLE: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laughablecomedynight/ 

Laugh-ABLE Twitter: https://twitter.com/laughable_night

Tamsyn Kelly: https://www.instagram.com/tamsynkelly/ 

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

Tw: incest joke

This week’s guest is Dr. Jeanne Retief, founder of FIGGI. FIGGI a community created out of career change and wanting to share with others and be a support system, and self-care products.

Dr. Retief earned a PhD in Human Rights and Criminal Law. And ran a Human Rights consultancy in South Africa for 13 years. After moving to her current location in Portugal, things changed for her, in more ways than one, including a diagnosis with panic disorder and founding a new company. Having already earned a PhD, she even went back to school to learn about cosmetic chemistry! 

In this chat we talk about:

• Getting diagnosed with panic disorder
• Managing mental health
• Career change
• FIGGI the community and skincare line she founded
• The FIGGI blog and podcast
• Rooibos

TW: abuse

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

I took a bit of a break. And it is almost too appropriate that my first episode back is this one given the openness around mental health that Dr. Retief brought to the conversation. Why did I take a break? Overwhelm. And other things. I would say it was a choice but it was a necessity. For those listening for the first time, thank you for being here. And to those who checked in because they didn’t hear a new episode in a while or those who are back after time passed, thank you too! There are over 100 more episodes in the backlog with fantastic guests and more to come! 

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Find Dr. Retief

Website: https://www.figgilife.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanne_figgilife/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075876828370 

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Mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Edith Eger: https://dreditheger.com/ 

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

his week’s guest is Elizabeth Mhangami, social entrepreneur.

Lizz grew up in Zimbabwe and moved to the US when she was 19. After working in various jobs including at the Chicago Athletic Foundation, she also earned her bachelor’s degree at Loyola University. She then started the job that would define her career so far, working with young people from underserved communities. 

Prior to moving to the states the first time, Lizz was part of the Rotary international as a youth. Her later work with Rotaract started her thinking more about youth communities, especially at home. She founded Vanavevhu, a 5013c for kids in Zimbabwe, many who are heads of household. She ran the organization for 7 years and has handed over the day to day operations. Now, she is back in the US and heading up major gifts at the Mikva Challenge in Chicago. 

We talk about her childhood through adulthood and the influences and experiences that led to to a path of working in and leading service organisations. 

Topic we discuss:

• Youth service organizations
• Impact of having a mother who was engaged in service
• Immigrating to the US
• Poverty in America
• Working with underserved communities
• Being a founder and what that entails

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

This conversation was a long time coming since Lizz and I became acquaintances, virtually, and would often joke around but then would also get into serious conversations. It was a pleasure to bring this experience to More Than Work to share with you! She is a wonderfully interesting and intelligent person who has dedicated her career to serving youth. I learned so much about her experiences moving to the US from Zimbabwe and you will too. I hope you enjoy this insightful and also joyful discussion. Maybe it’ll inspire you too.

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Find Elizabeth

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emhangami/

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Mentioned in this episode:

Vanavevhu: http://www.vanavevhu.org/

Rotary International: https://www.rotary.org/en 

bell hooks: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_hooks 

Mikva Challenge: https://mikvachallenge.org/ 

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

This week’s guest is John El-Maraghy, non-profit professional, and Director at Archangel Raphael's Mission (ARM).

John is was born and raised in New Jersey where he is currently based. He started his career in impact consulting and then transitioned into non-profit. He made the move when during a time of self-discovery, he he realised he wanted to be of service. 

For John, it is important for him to believe in the mission of the organization that he is working for whether it is non-profit or for profit and in both his full-time job and his volunteering with ARM he has found that. 

ARM was founded to be a support system for people in need. After starting out as a food service organisation, they shifted their focus to health and hygiene interventions providing mobile showers and a mobile barbershop. 

Topics covered:

Career transition

Service to others

Finding your purpose

Treating others with humanity and dignity

Importance of being aligned with an organization’s mission in any type of work

How to get into volunteering

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

You won’t hear it but I had SO much trouble saying the name of the organization! Thank goodness for acronyms. I learned that Archangel Rafael is the patron saint of healing and the work that ARM does definitely serves that purpose. John and I spoke about ARM’s affiliation with a church but how the involvement of the church doesn’t extend to evangelism. It is so important that when any of us set out to do charitable work as individuals or organisations, that we remove personal gain from the objectives and that’s just what happens here. I mention it to John but one thing I really appreciated in our talk, besides how he is going about giving, is the respect he has for the people he is serving in the way he talks about them. It is something I’ve thought about again in editing. I volunteer for a charity that serves the homeless in London and often think about how people are treated depending on their social status.

Sorry it has been so long since the last episode. If you’re listening for the first time, I hope you’ll go back and listen to the 100+ episodes that have been published and join us next time!

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Find ARM

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/armgives

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armgives

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/armgives

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@armgives

Website: https://arm.gives/

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Mentioned in this episode:

Lava Mae https://lavamaex.org/

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

This week’s guest is Rani Puranik, EVP and Global CFO of Worldwide Oilfield Machine (WOM). She is also the founder of a leadership coaching company and the author of a book that launched just the day before this episode dropped! 

At WOM, work is done around sustainability though environmentally responsible energy production and a focus on the people. We talk about sustainability and the broader definition making decisions for long-term in business.

Rani grew up in US and moved to India for singing at the age of 17. It wasn’t her first time in India though. There, she started own business, which teaches leadership through the power of dance. Eventually, she returned to the US and to WOM where she ended up creating an HR department when seeing the need in the business which was a focus on the human element of the business.

The self-described people person, which is evidenced from the start in our conversation recently published a book. “Seven Letters to My Daughters” was written as a gift to her daughters. 

Learn about Rani’s path from the US to India and back plus her focus on the arts, people and business. Also, get insights into the book you’ll end up wanting to read for sure. 

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

This chat surprised me because I didn’t know much about Rani other than what I read online and I knew right when I saw her on the Squadcast split screen that it was going to be a fantastic chat. I love that she used a spreadsheet to write her book! During editing, I was reminded of the positivity she brought to me on a particularly rough work day. Oddly enough, I had a similar day when I was editing and wish again that I’d shown up better though I wish others would too! Enjoy the listen and check out her book. I’m going to! Thank you for being here.

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Find Rani

Website: https://www.ranipuranik.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranipuranik 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranipuranik 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rani-puranik/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4g_tBTbqhrMDhyqs0Tn4OA?app=desktop 

Seven Letters to my Daughter (book): https://amzn.to/3OE76ua 

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Mentioned in this episode:

Steve Martin

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

This week’s guest is Christopher Kenna, founder and CEO North America at Brand Advance Group. 

In this open and honest chat we get into Chris’s life growing up in Northern England in care homes, his time in the Army, working as a TV presenter and then founding his own company. Listen for details. The story is best told by him!

In discussing the important work of Brand Advance Group which seeks to expand representation in advertising and companies’ reach to underrepresented communities, Chris is generous in talking about the reality of being a person of colour and an LGBTQ+ person both inside and outside corporate spaces. We also talk about inclusion of people with different abilities in this dynamic chat. 

In this episode we dig into:

• Representation of everyone in advertising
• DEI for brands and companies
• What it means to really be inclusive. Hint: it isn’t just hiring someone
• Pink, green, etc. “-washing” by brands
• Allyship and advocacy
• Taking care of yourself and others
• Creating opportunities where people can be successful from any background
• Chris’ own experiences and getting to where he is today

Note from Rabiah (Host):

Firstly, it has been a while. For quite a few reasons, I couldn’t get an episode edited or out for a while. I think I’ve sorted all of that. Thank you for being here whether you have been waiting a while or it is your first time.

I mention it in the episode but need to say more about the experience of meeting Chris for the first time. We both spoke at an event for a company that is actually under the same Groupe as where I work. I’d say it was by chance but I don’t think that much happens just by chance. I was added as a speaker last minute. Though I perform comedy a few times a week, I don’t give talks about me, about Multiple Sclerosis or about ableism but with a day to prepare, I did. It was clunky but ok. Then, I witnessed Chris talk about his life, his work and the world we are all living in. I was taken aback and had to have him on the podcast. I wanted more people to hear him. I wanted you to hear him, whoever you are. I’d love to hear what you think if you want to share. 

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Find Chris

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriskenna/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris.kenna/ 

Brand Advanced Group: https://www.wearebrandadvance.com/ 

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!