The Change Room with Rod & Lesley

In this episode, Rod and Lesley discuss triggers that get us to react, feel bad, and generally wish didn't happen.  Triggers are those things that people do, or situations that occur that 'trigger' a reaction in us. Often, we regret, or feel bad, about our reaction after the fact and want to avoid the situations. This discussion is all about exploring what we can do to be in control of what we do next, rather than leaving the next step to our reactions. If you notice an audio different, it is because Rod tries a new technique with recording.

In this episode, Rod and Lesley look outward and explore the importance of the people around you to help you make sense of and navigate life changes.  People in our tribe help us make sense of the world and give us a safe space to be who we are.  Rod and Lesley have talked a lot about what we can do and better understand about ourselves, and in this episode we make the powerful connection to how this happens with those around us.  Lesley shares the CS Lewis quote "Friendship ... is born at the moment when one man says to another "What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .".  Which captures so well that by connecting with others on things that matter, we step out of feeling alone, to feeling accepted.  If you hear a little background music, Rod was experimenting with a little jazz ambiance. 

In this episode, Rod and Lesley explore the concept of boundaries.  Boundaries are the limits that you set in terms of how much time, effort, caring, thinking you give to something.  As well, they are how far you allow yourself to go off track when you are moving forward with a change in your life (you'll need to listen to know what that means).  Lesley shows that math is in her blood with risk analysis thinking.  Rod asks 'do we need to commit to others to help us keep our boundaries?' Rod and Lesley discuss how boundaries are needed, but messy. They aren't defined lines and can be fluid.  Towards the end of the episode, it becomes a little bit of a confessional. Listen to find out!!

Rod and Lesley would be trying on each other's shoes in this episode if they were allowed to see each other.  Instead, it is a phone call on perspectives and what you think other people would say. How can you do more of take the other person's perspective?  Avoid assumptions.  Be curious.  Form hypotheses. Explore. Repeat. Lesley points out that many of the concepts that have discussed relate to taking different perspectives.  Trust the process, let go of being perfect, allow yourself to learn from others (growth mindset), and more. Also in this episode, our first audio difficulty and the awkward moment of 'Rod, are you still there?'. all left for listeners to hear for the real life perspective of recording a podcast physically distanced :)

In this episode, Rod and Lesley pick a scary subject to mark the recording on November 1 - the day after Halloween.  And, what is more scarier than Covid? You can tell through this episode that Rod has a few gripes about how our powers that be are trying to change our behaviours.  Gripes are translated into advice and it all does end up making sense as to why 'The Change Room' has something to say about techniques used to shift public behaviour.  Lots of tie backs to ideas from previous episodes in a unifying theory kind of way.   And only, after the production engineer set everything up did he realize the irony that this is episode number 13. BOOOO!!

In this episode, Rod and Lesley explores the concept of Trust, and why it is important for people going through change.  Rod tries to show Lesley that he is good at math too by talking fancy with a Trust equation.  From Rod's mr smarty pants and some book ideas, Lesley takes us on a path of that makes them both think of trust differently. At the beginning, the audio producer (Rod) tries a new idea by starting with a clip, before the audio intro.    

In this episode we share our stories about our paths to working in the field of Change Management, and why have much to say about the human condition of dealing with change.  Rod reveals that he was a teenage fan of Tony Robbins and that the words of wisdom came on a cassette (google that if you don't know what a cassette is).  Lesley explains how she can see energy move around the room (that isn't CGI'd) and how after getting the opportunity to work on a transformation, she was hooked on change.  In an attempt to relate to Lesley's story, Rod tried to talk about 'seeing things that other people can't see' and forgot to tie it to the Matrix movie.  Lots was discussed. This episode is dedicated to Felix the cat.  May your afternoon naps be cozy, and your play times fulfilling.

In this episode, we continue to get philosophical and talk about what to consider when it comes to desiring to change your friends.  Lesley confronts the age old question 'do you tell your girlfriend not to date that guy'. Rod even gets into shakier ground by daring to use political philosophical points of view to prove a point about personal change. Again, both Rod and Lesley see the light in the space between, finding some sense and logic in the balanced perspective.

It was time to step back and remind ourselves and our listeners, how do our discussions tie together and relate to our theme - Change.   We attempt a unifying theory and try to practice a little of what we preach - giving ourselves permission to be who we are and not so hard on ourselves.  To quote Lesley (who quoted a friend) "You gotta be in you and all your youness".  Like any good reflection, more insights emerged. Real gems come out when Rod and Lesley share core beliefs that shape their view on things related to change. 

Into episode two on happiness, we move from the Empire Strikes Back to Return of the Jedi.  We talk about the good habits we've learned about and practice that help with keeping the dark at bay, and lightness close by.  You'll hear Rod try to show off (again) with dropping author names and even bringing a book to the podcast.  Aristotle gets some serious shout out, and Lesley sings a tv theme song from the...let's just say, way back.