NASA Astronaut and Marine Corps Colonel Douglas Hurley is on the show this week!
Doug was the Spacecraft Commander on last year’s SpaceX Crew Dragon. It was the first crewed spaceflight from American soil in almost 9 years.
Doug’s Why Not Now? moment involves applying to the astronaut program, and how that decision changed the trajectory of both his professional and personal life. Doug’s favorite part about his time in the program is that he met his wife who is also a NASA Astronaut and they now have a son together.
Doug tells Amy Jo about the week-long interview process and what NASA looks for in its candidates. He also talks about that surreal moment when he got the phone call telling him he would be an astronaut.
Doug and Amy Jo discuss how Doug overcame the mental challenge of living in space for extended periods of time. A lot of the ways he kept his mind healthy in space can easily be applied here on earth.
Doug also shares that he’s at an inflection point in his career. He recently retired from NASA and is planning his next move.
One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is when Amy Jo asks Doug to describe some of his favorite moments from any of his three space flights.
It’s no surprise that Doug can’t pick just one, but he describes some of the most impactful moments, and it almost feels like you’re right there with him up in space.
Learn more about Doug:
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/douglas-g-hurley/biography
Follow Doug on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/astro_doug
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Kyle Nel injects innovation into everything he does. He’s the President of Singularity Labs at Singularity University, the former CEO and co-founder of Uncommon Partners (acquired by Singularity University in 2019), and the former Executive Director of Lowe’s Innovation Lab.
On this episode of Why Not Now?, Kyle tells Amy Jo about applying neuroscience research to help organizations break out of incrementalism. He says innovative technology like virtual reality can disrupt education by speeding up learning, including making strides in diversity and inclusion by increasing empathy.
Kyle’s Why Not Now? moment involves leaving a comfortable job when he no longer felt challenged or fulfilled to start his own company. He tells Amy Jo about an exercise he uses to manifest his goals and avoid distractions that you can try out yourself. Every December, Kyle writes the narrative for how he wants the year ahead to unfold.
Kyle and Amy Jo also discuss surrounding yourself with people who will push you to be your best, manageable discomfort, and sustainable development goals.
Learn more about Kyle:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylenel
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http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/
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Cindy McCain, widow of the great John McCain, is a powerful Businesswoman, Philanthropist, Humanitarian, a retired Special Education Teacher, Author and US Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture nominee.
During this conversation with Amy Jo, Cindy shares two huge Why Not Now? moments. The first being the risk she took to cross political lines in the 2020 Presidential Election, why that move was so far out of her comfort zone and her advice to you when tough decisions need to be made.
Cindy also shares how the pandemic allowed her to slow down and take the time to grieve the loss of her husband, Arizona Senator and 2008 presidential nominee John McCain. Shortly after his funeral, she had gone back to work and hadn’t given herself the space to process his death and adjust to life moving forward. It was in this time of looking back through old photos and memories that led her to her second Why Not Now? moment; writing her new book “Stronger: Courage, Hope, and Humor In My Life With John McCain”.
She discusses how she’s dealt with loss in her life and the lessons that have come each time. From the importance of not letting the opinions of other people get in the way of allowing yourself to process changes in your own way, to working through unexpected intimidating situations.
Cindy also talks about the importance of women in leadership, how she invests in herself and what she recommends for those who are disenchanted with our current political environment.
Purchase Cindy’s book “Stronger: Courage, Hope, and Humor In My Life With John McCain”:
Follow Cindy on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/cindymccain
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http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/
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On this episode of Why Not Now?, we're diving into the archives and revisiting a conversation with Suzy Batiz. Suzy is the wealthiest person I know. When I say wealthy, I don't just mean money. Yes, she's got plenty of that, but I mean spiritually wealthy & rich in energy. Suzy is also my mentor. In this episode, Suzy & I discuss mentorship, how to approach finding a mentor & I share the key things she has taught me over the last two years, including why a mentor will rarely give you answers & how you can learn to mentor yourself. Suzy's mentorship has literally changed the way I approach business and life.
Suzy debuted on the Why Not Now? podcast back in Episode 28 and that episode is still hugely valuable today. Suzy Batiz, founder and creator of Poo Pourri, declared bankruptcy twice before the age of 40 and vowed to never deal with business again. Since then she has built Poo Pourri into a $300(plus) million dollar company.
Learn more about Suzy:
Follow Suzy on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/suzybatiz/
Learn more about the Renegade Accelerator:
http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/
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