The Optimized Mind

In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate is joined by Matthew Price, author of How-To-IQ: A Principled Approach to Making Smarter Decisions in Complex Times. The discussion focuses on the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ) in decision-making, emphasizing the human factor in organizations. The conversation touches on practical ways to help individuals and organizations recognize and overcome common biases and blind spots both in the workplace and at home. Matthew stresses the need to empower others to make sound decisions, which ultimately supports organizational growth and healthy family dynamics. Matthew Price is the Founder and Principal of MKP Strategies and the author of How-to IQ: A Principle-Based Approach to Smarter Decisions in Complex Times. With nearly 30 years of experience helping organizations navigate regulatory complexity, Matthew has built his career at the intersection of business strategy and compliance. He’s advised startups and Fortune 500s alike across sectors regulated by the FDA, EPA, OSHA, and beyond—transforming red tape into real opportunity. At the heart of Matthew’s work is a bold idea: when rules fall short, principles lead. His How-to IQ framework gives leaders the tools to think critically, act decisively, and scale their businesses with clarity—even in chaotic or heavily regulated environments. In his book and consulting work, he helps founders and executives make smarter decisions by focusing less on rigid rule-following and more on values, insight, and accountability. A trusted advisor, keynote speaker, and educator, Matthew is known for his candor, clarity, and ability to make complex systems actionable. He’s passionate about equipping leaders with the mindset and tools to grow from “one-man army” to sustainable organization—without losing their mission, values, or sanity in the process. To Learn More, visit: www.katelundspeaks.com Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund

In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate is joined by intuitive consultant, Jenn Cohen. The conversation delves into the nature of intuition, with Jen emphasizing that everyone possesses this innate ability. She explains how cultural expectations and critical thinking often push intuition into the background, but that reconnecting with it is a process of unlearning rather than learning. They discuss how fear and past experiences can block intuition, and Jenn offers insights on how to compassionately address those barriers. Jenn Cohen has always been captivated by the power of intuition. After a life-changing experience in her 20s, she explored how intuition could shape her life and career. During her 27 years in the entertainment industry, Jenn found that intuitive decisions often led to success. Now an intuitive consultant, she helps individuals and organizations unlock potential, gain clarity, and achieve their goals through practical, intuition-based strategies. Jenn’s work fosters growth, creativity, and purpose in both personal and professional realms.c To Learn More, visit: www.katelundspeaks.com Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund

In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate is joined by Martina Faulker, a cross-genre author whose work focuses primarily on what it means to be human. The discussion delves into the realities of "energy" in everyday life, highlighting that everything is, quite literally, energy. Martina breaks down the basics, explaining the difference between active and inactive (or potential) energy, and offers relatable analogies, like tuning a radio to understand frequency and vibration. Dr. Kate and Martina also touch on personal energy management and why awareness of our energy—and how it interacts with others—is key for healthy relationships and personal well-being. Martina E. Faulkner is a cross-genre author whose work focuses primarily on exploring what it means to be human—both the unique and the universal. She holds a trifecta in the mental health/healing world as a therapist, certified life coach, and Reiki Master Teacher. This distinctive background allows her to draw on her professional and personal experience in her writing, whether fiction, nonfiction, children’s, or poetry. A self-proclaimed Anglophile, Martina drinks tea daily, loves walks in nature, and enjoys looking at beautiful images from the British Isles while dreaming up her next book. You can read her regular column (‘Unique and Universal’) on Substack, follow her on Instagram and Facebook (@martinaefaulkner), or visit martinaefaulkner.com to learn more. To Learn More, visit: www.katelundspeaks.com Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund

In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate is joined by Jim Carlough, an accomplished business strategist, speaker and author. The conversation centers around Jim’s book, “The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership: A Roadmap to Success,” and dives deeply into the six core principles he believes are essential for any leader: integrity, focus, compassion, stability, empathy, and humor. With over 30 years of leadership experience, Jim Carlough is an accomplished business strategist, speaker, and author. Having successfully driven explosive growth for healthcare organizations—from start-ups to industry leaders — Jim is a trusted expert in building high-performing teams, revitalizing underperforming businesses, and guiding organizations through transformational change. Jim's core philosophy—leaders aren’t born; they’re developed—challenges the myth of innate leadership. In his book, The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership: A Roadmap to Success, Jim delivers a practical and inspiring guide for leaders at every stage of their journey. His approach focuses on six essential traits that empower individuals to embrace leadership as a skill that can be learned, honed, and mastered through experience, mentorship, and intentional growth. To Learn More, visit: www.katelundspeaks.com Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund

In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate is joined by HeatherAsh Amara, best-selling author, much-beloved guide, philanthropist, and land steward. The conversation centers around HeatherAsh’s latest book, Wild, Willing and Wise: An Interactive Guide for When to Paddle, When to Rest, and When to Jump Naked into the River of Life. She explains how the book draws inspiration from her experience whitewater rafting in the Grand Canyon, using the river as a metaphor for navigating life’s challenges—learning when to take action, when to rest, and when to embrace joy and spontaneity. As a best-selling author, much-beloved guide, philanthropist, and land steward, HeatherAsh Amara (aka Ash) has spent the last three decades weaving together earth-based teachings and practical wisdom for creative, courageous, pragmatic, and compassionate change.  She is the author of nine books, including the bestselling Warrior Goddess Training series and The Seven Secrets of Happy and Healthy Relationships with don Miguel Ruiz Jr. Her upcoming book Wild, Willing, and Wise, which will be published Summer 2024 with St. Martin’s Essentials, will expand on her three decades of teaching and mentorship and serve as a delightful invitation for those who want to live fully in the world: to be fiercely engaged, wildly creative, failingly experimental, wonderfully confused, seriously delighted, and compassionately vulnerable.  Ash’s new Substack, Out of the Fire, arose from her experience losing much of her 180-acre retreat center to the biggest wildfire in New Mexico history and her ongoing work to restore the land amidst climate change. Each week she brings a journalistic approach to her decades-long spiritual practice in sharing heart-centered wisdom on navigating the rough and often conflicting waters we all live in these days. Ash is an engaging and sought-after speaker who loves rich conversations around both challenging and joyful topics. She is most at home in facing the contradictions of modern life. Spiritual and grounded. Intellectual and embodied. Ash endeavors to invite all to the table to learn and grow. Ash often plants her feet in New Mexico but as a lifelong nomad, she spends most of her time traveling, teaching, and writing in cafes around the world. To Learn More, visit: www.katelundspeaks.com Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund

In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate is joined by Martina Faulker, a cross-genre author whose work focuses primarily on what it means to be human. The discussion delves into the nuances of resilience, challenging common misconceptions and emphasizing that resilience is not a fixed trait or a simple milestone to achieve. Instead, resilience is framed as an ongoing process and a byproduct of ongoing inner work, self-awareness, and daily choices. Martina E. Faulkner is a cross-genre author whose work focuses primarily on exploring what it means to be human—both the unique and the universal. She holds a trifecta in the mental health/healing world as a therapist, certified life coach, and Reiki Master Teacher. This distinctive background allows her to draw on her professional and personal experience in her writing, whether fiction, nonfiction, children’s, or poetry. A self-proclaimed Anglophile, Martina drinks tea daily, loves walks in nature, and enjoys looking at beautiful images from the British Isles while dreaming up her next book. You can read her regular column (‘Unique and Universal’) on Substack, follow her on Instagram and Facebook (@martinaefaulkner), or visit martinaefaulkner.com to learn more. To Learn More, visit: www.katelundspeaks.com Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund

On today's episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate sat down with Paul Glover, the no BS Leadership and Executive Coach, whose extraordinary journey took him from successful trial attorney to ex-convict and now trusted executive coach. Paul shared powerful lessons on transformation, the value of failure, and the ripple effect of service. If you're ready to face your blind spots, embrace personal responsibility, and take your career—and life—to the next level, you won't want to miss this conversation. Paul Glover is the No B.S. Executive Leadership Coach, coaching & assisting leaders in organizations with revenue up to one billion dollars. He is also:- A "recovering” federal trial lawyer,  An ex-felon, A TEDx speaker, An approved Vistage and YPO Speaker on leadership in the Post-Pandemic work environment, The author of WorkQuake™: Making the Seismic Shift to a Knowledge Economy, A Forbes contributor, And a Starbucks addict and Chicago Bears fanatic.Link to Paul’s Ted X: hwww.youtube.com/watch?v=vsVweR4yXz4 To Learn More, visit: www.katelundspeaks.com Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund

In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate sits down with psychologist, Dr. Jenny Hughes. The conversation explores grief, both in traditional forms and as it relates to lost opportunities and changes brought by trauma. Dr. Hughes illustrates how trauma often manifests through physical sensations and patterns in the body. She introduces brain spotting, a somatic therapeutic approach which helps heal deeply rooted trauma. Jenny Hughes, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of trauma and PTSD. As a clinician, she practices Brainspotting, EMDR, and Cognitive Processing Therapy. Jenny is the author of The PTSD Recovery Workbook and Triggers to Glimmers: A Vicarious Resilience Journal and Workbook. As a leader in the field of vicarious trauma and resilience, Jenny serves trauma therapists, helpers, and healers as the founder of The BRAVE Trauma Therapist Collective. Jenny helps trauma therapists be human again and become more aware of how to identify and manage vicarious trauma, enhance vicarious resilience, and connect and grow through community.  To learn more about Dr. Jenny, please visit: www.braveproviders.com To Learn More, visit: www.katelundspeaks.com Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund