Because This Matters

Melissa: Kindness, Community and Giving Grace

Melissa is a school psychologist, mother, and one of the most thoughtful people Mark knows. In this conversation, they explore the values that shape how we relate to others—and ourselves. Drawing from both her personal life and nearly two decades working with children and families, Melissa reflects on kindness, compassion, emotional intelligence, and the importance of community. She shares the early experiences that shaped her perspective, how parenting deepened her understanding of these values, and why giving grace matters more than ever. Throughout the episode, a deeper thread emerges: that much of what people need most is not judgment or perfection, but patience, understanding, and the willingness to meet people where they are. This episode explores: • Why kindness must be modeled, not just taught • Emotional intelligence and helping children navigate big feelings • The role of compassion in parenting, friendship, and community • The difference between transactional relationships and genuine care • Learning to accept people as they are—not as we wish they would be • Why giving grace to ourselves matters too ⸻ Because This Matters is a podcast exploring how personal values take shape and become action through conversations with leaders, artists, and entrepreneurs. If this conversation meant something to you, please follow, rate, and review the show—and share it with someone else who may find it meaningful.

Steve Rucker: Identity, Flexibility, and Life Beyond Labels

What does it mean to live beyond the roles and titles we use to define ourselves? In this conversation, Mark sits down with one of his mentors, Steve Rucker—musician, educator, and longtime director of contemporary drum set studies at the University of Miami—to explore a life shaped not by rigid identity, but by openness, curiosity, and continual evolution. Steve reflects on the moments and influences that reshaped how he sees the world—from discovering the work of Joseph Campbell to experiencing the difference between belief and direct knowing. He shares how these perspectives have informed not only his career as a performer and educator, but also the way he approaches growth, creativity, and human connection. Throughout the conversation, a deeper thread emerges: the idea that who we are is not confined to what we do. That flexibility, presence, and openness may matter more than any title we carry. This episode explores: • The difference between belief and lived experience • Identity beyond roles, labels, and professions • How openness and flexibility shape a meaningful life • Teaching, mentorship, and meeting people where they are • Creating a life that evolves over time rather than staying fixed ⸻ Because This Matters is a podcast exploring how personal values take shape and become action through conversations with leaders, artists, and entrepreneurs. If this conversation resonated, follow the show and share it with someone who might find it meaningful.

Nancy Hajek: Openness, Curiosity, and Shared Humanity

What does it mean to stay open in a world that often pulls us toward judgment, reaction, and division? In this conversation, Mark sits down with Nancy Hajek, hypnotherapist and founder of Dream Lodge Hypnotherapy, to explore a way of moving through life rooted in presence, curiosity, and a deeper sense of connection with others. Nancy shares how her life’s work has been shaped by a search to understand what happens in the space between people—moments of openness, trust, and something that feels like recognition. Through her experiences in hypnotherapy and spiritual study, she offers a perspective that invites us to look beyond surface-level behavior and relate to others in a more grounded, intentional way. The conversation moves through themes of attention, self-awareness, and how we meet others in real time, along with the challenge of holding that way of being in a world that doesn’t always reward it. This episode explores: • Why reacting with anger often creates more of what we’re trying to change • The practice of “catching yourself” in moments of resistance • Curiosity as an alternative to judgment • The tension between inner clarity and the external world • What it means to move through life with a sense of shared humanity ⸻ Find Nancy Hajek online: http://dreamlodge.org/ [http://dreamlodge.org/] ⸻ Because This Matters is a podcast exploring how personal values take shape and become action through conversations with leaders, artists, and entrepreneurs. If this conversation resonated, follow the show and share it with someone who might find it meaningful—perhaps sparking a conversation of your own.

Rich Redmond: Enthusiasm, Alignment, and Showing Up Every Day

What does it mean to show up fully, day after day, with energy, consistency, and purpose? In this conversation, Mark sits down with Rich Redmond, drummer for Jason Aldean, speaker, author and actor, to explore the mindset and values behind a sustained, high-level career. Rich shares how enthusiasm has become a daily practice, not just a personality trait, and how showing up consistently while staying aligned with purpose creates opportunities over time. The conversation moves beyond performance into something deeper: presence, gratitude, and the ability to smell the roses, even while pursuing what’s next. This episode explores: • Enthusiasm as a choice and a discipline • The relationship between alignment and opportunity • Consistency and showing up over time • Presence, gratitude, and “smelling the roses” • What it takes to sustain energy across a long career ---------------------------------------- Connect with Rich Redmond Website: https://richredmond.com [https://richredmond.com] ---------------------------------------- Because This Matters is a podcast exploring how personal values take shape and become action through conversations with leaders, artists, and entrepreneurs. ---------------------------------------- If this conversation resonated with you, please follow the show, comment and share it with someone else.

Nasim Lari, Ph.D.: Compassion, Integrity, and Work That Matters

In this episode of Because This Matters, Mark Poiesz sits down with Nasim Lari, PhD., a Senior Health Analytics Manager working at the intersection of healthcare, advanced analytics, and AI. Together, they explore the values that shape how Nasim moves through both work and life—especially compassion, humility, and integrity. Nasim reflects on how family influences, personal growth, and professional experience have shaped her perspective, and how those values guide the way she leads, serves others, and stays aligned when life feels off track. The conversation also touches on the difference between recognition and impact, the role of vulnerability in leadership, and the ethical possibilities of AI in healthcare. Topics in this episode include: • compassion and integrity as lived values • choosing impact over recognition • staying aligned in seasons of stress • vulnerability, leadership, and trust • ethical questions around AI in healthcare Because This Matters is a podcast exploring how personal values take shape and become action in the way we live and lead. If this conversation resonates with you and you’re exploring your own values and direction, you can learn more about Mark’s coaching work at markpoiesz.com [http://markpoiesz.com].