95 Dr. Laura Sicola: How Your Communication Is Betraying You, Neurolinguistic Programming, What’s Wrong With Academia, & How To Sound Like A Leader

95 Dr. Laura Sicola: How Your Communication Is Betraying You, Neurolinguistic Programming, What’s Wrong With Academia, & How To Sound Like A Leader

Dr. Laura Sicola is an educational/cognitive linguist, TED/TEDX speaker, former professor, Neurolinguistic Programming(NLP) practitioner, and Executive Communication Coach with decades of work in the field. Topics covered include what cognitive linguistics is, the art of social sciences, how we process language, what’s wrong with academia, why most doctoral graduates don’t end up being professors, how to sound like a leader, how experts fail to communicate their expertise to people outside their field, what’s breaking down your communication, how much of our communication lies in things other than our words, how metaphors help us understand, what upspeak is, how to fix it, and Neurolinguistic Programming. You can find Laura on her website: laurasicola.com [http://laurasicola.com] Want To Know More About Zach If you’re new to the show and haven’t heard his incredible story, go back and listen to the show’s trailer, or visit Zach’s website at zachtidwell.com [http://zachtidwell.com], where you can also reach out to have him speak at your company or event. To get the big news when his book going to print, join his email list on the website. Follow And Support The Show Follow, rate, and review the show wherever you listen. And if that happens to be on YouTube, like this video too before sharing the episode with family and friends. Website: zachtidwell.com [http://zachtidwell.com] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556533676388 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556533676388] Instagram: @ZachCTidwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-tidwell-9076852ab/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-tidwell-9076852ab/] X: @ZachCTidwell Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/going-in-blind-with-zach-tidwell/id1787306128 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/going-in-blind-with-zach-tidwell/id1787306128] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/51IxT43v95otwaXDkyr6FW [https://open.spotify.com/show/51IxT43v95otwaXDkyr6FW] YouTube: @ZachCTidwell #GIB #GoingInBlind Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm [http://Transistor.fm].

94 Lynn Johnson: Presidentially-Appointed To Serve The Most Vulnerable Americans, Impoverished Families, Human Trafficking, & Those Left Behind By The Foster Care System

Lynn Johnson is the Founder of All In Empowering Futures. A social worker by trade, her work in the penal/probation system has led her to work with the country’s most vulnerable populations. from leading an innovative program in Colorado to help guide families out of poverty, to being appointed in President Trump’s first term as the Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families in the US Department of Health and Human Services(HHS), where she worked to eliminate abuse and neglect, end child and human trafficking, and similar efforts showing impoverished families and individuals a way to a better life. Today, her work through All In Empowering Futures is filling a crucial gap in serving young adults who have aged out of the foster care system—kids who, upon reaching the age of 18, are commonly left homeless and entirely on their own due to overlooked gaps in our foster care system. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Lynn Johnson 02:28 From Probation Officer to National Leadership 04:05 A Framework For Fighting Generational Poverty 08:40 Why Community Matters More Than Government Programs 17:45 Lessons From Probation, Parole & Social Work 24:00 The Child Trafficking Case That Changed Everything 36:50 The Scale of Human & Child Trafficking in America 43:00 Social Media & Online Grooming’s Role In Trafficking 46:30 Getting Presidentially-Appointed To Serve The Most Vulnerable Americans 51:45 Listening to Youth Who Aged Out of Foster Care 53:00 Founding All In Empowering Futures 56:00 Why Foster Youth Need Family, Not Programs 58:45 Stories of Transformation 1:17:30 What Should Happen After Foster Care Ends? 1:22:30 Why Aging Out of Foster Care Must Become a National Priority 1:25:20 How to Support All In Empowering Futures You can find Lynn at allinempoweringfutures.org [http://allinempoweringfutures.org]. Follow And Support The Show Follow, rate, and review the show wherever you listen. And if that happens to be on YouTube, like this video too before sharing the episode with family and friends. Website: https://zachtidwell.com [https://zachtidwell.com] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556533676388 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556533676388] Instagram: @ZachCTidwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-tidwell-9076852ab/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-tidwell-9076852ab/] X: @ZachCTidwell Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/going-in-blind-with-zach-tidwell/id1787306128 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/going-in-blind-with-zach-tidwell/id1787306128] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/51IxT43v95otwaXDkyr6FW [https://open.spotify.com/show/51IxT43v95otwaXDkyr6FW] YouTube: @ZachCTidwell #GIB #GoingInBlind Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm [http://Transistor.fm].

93 Dr. Kevin Young: Is Cuba About To Become The Next Venezuela?

Dr. Kevin Young is a historian, author, and professor specializing in Latin American history, Revolutions, and U.S. foreign policy in the region who believes the recent indictment of former Cuban President Raul Castro suggests potentially imminent American military action in Cuba, given the recent kidnapping of Venezuelan President Maduro following similar legal moves. In this conversation, we explore whether the recent indictment could signal a new phase in U.S.-Cuba relations, and why many observers see parallels with recent events in Venezuela. Kevin explains the historical roots of American intervention in Latin America, the strategic relationship between Cuba and Venezuela, and why sanctions have become one of Washington’s most powerful foreign policy tools. We discuss the Monroe Doctrine, Cold War regime change operations, China's growing influence across Latin America, the humanitarian impact of economic sanctions, and the broader question of whether military intervention can ever achieve lasting political outcomes. Along the way, Kevin examines Cuba’s economic struggles, the legacy of the Cuban Revolution, the future of international law, and the geopolitical tensions shaping the Western Hemisphere today. This is a conversation about power, history, sovereignty, sanctions, diplomacy, and the forces that continue to shape global politics. Expect to learn why Cuba and Venezuela are strategically connected, how U.S. intervention in Latin America evolved over the last century, what sanctions actually do to civilian populations, how China is reshaping the geopolitical landscape in the region, whether military action against Cuba is a realistic possibility, and what these developments reveal about the future of American foreign policy. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: Could the U.S. Be Preparing for Military Action in Cuba? 08:06 – The Origins of U.S.-Cuba Relations and the Monroe Doctrine 12:15 – Why Cuba Remains a Target of American Foreign Policy 18:30 – The Geopolitical Importance of Cuba in 2026 22:05 – China’s Growing Influence in Latin America 23:40 – Chinese Investment, Infrastructure, and Regional Development Through The Belt And Road Initiative 36:26 – Economic Isolation, Sanctions, and Cuba’s Global Position 42:45 – The Humanitarian Consequences of Fuel and Food Shortages 49:07 – Regime Change: What Is the End Goal? 55:55 – What Happened in Venezuela After Maduro? 59:45 – Could a Cuba Intervention Create a Failed State? 01:03:18 – The Cuban Revolution and Land Reform 01:07:30 – Why Socialism Took Root in Cuba 01:11:16 – Cuba’s Healthcare Crisis and the Impact of Sanctions 01:13:30 –the Human Cost of U.S. Sanctions 01:18:12 – The Future of International Law and Global Stability 01:19:30 – Nuclear Risk, Diplomacy, and the Global Order 01:24:00 – What Americans Should Understand About Cuba 01:28:28 – Historical Lessons for the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy 01:30:36 – Closing Thoughts You can find Kevin at KevinYoung.org [http://KevinYoung.org] Follow And Support The Show Website: zachtidwell.com [http://zachtidwell.com] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556533676388 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556533676388] Instagram: @ZachCTidwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-tidwell-9076852ab/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-tidwell-9076852ab/] X: @ZachCTidwell YouTube: @ZachCTidwell Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm [http://Transistor.fm].

92 Dr. Betty Kovacs: The Real Story of Jesus, Garden of Eden, Consciousness, & Ancient Histories Have Been Hidden From Us

Dr. Betty Kovacs’ life’s work in comparative literature and theory of symbolic/mystic language has culminated in discovering that much of ancient history—and especially early spiritual teachings—may have been deliberately hidden, altered, or destroyed. The conversation dives into newly surfaced texts, the formation of religious canon, and how institutional power may have reshaped the original message of figures like Jesus. Key Topics: 00:00 Introduction & Guest Background 26:27 Questioning Beliefs & Narratives 45:04 When the Church Gained Power 46:47 Who Decided the Biblical Canon? 49:51 The Nag Hammadi Discovery & Destroyed Texts 51:18 Reframing Jesus as a Mystic Teacher 51:50 Transhumanism & Modern Control Systems 52:16 “You Are Nothing” – The Loss of Human Divinity 01:03:41 Original Sin & Psychological Conditioning 01:10:00 Control Through Religion & Belief Systems (discussion continues) 01:18:00 Are These Control Patterns Still Happening Today? 01:25:00 Closing Thoughts You can find Dr. Kovacs and her work here: kamlak.com [http://kamlak.com] Follow And Support The Show Follow, rate, and review the show wherever you listen. And if that happens to be on YouTube, like this video too before sharing the episode with family and friends. Website: https://zachtidwell.com [https://zachtidwell.com] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556533676388 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556533676388] Instagram: @ZachCTidwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-tidwell-9076852ab/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-tidwell-9076852ab/] X: @ZachCTidwell Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/going-in-blind-with-zach-tidwell/id1787306128 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/going-in-blind-with-zach-tidwell/id1787306128] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/51IxT43v95otwaXDkyr6FW [https://open.spotify.com/show/51IxT43v95otwaXDkyr6FW] YouTube: @ZachCTidwell #GIB #GoingInBlind Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm [http://Transistor.fm].

91: Sean Baptiste: Reinvention & The Future of Animation

Sean Baptiste is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer(CCO) Of DreamKey Syndicate, where he and his team are reinventing the wheel of creative artificial intelligence platforms to ensure humans continue being the foundation of creative endeavors, whilst making sure they always get paid when their work is used, and setting a new precedent for ethical artificial intelligence implementations. A lifelong creator himself, Sean lost his career working as a writer, entertainer, animator, and more at some of the world’s biggest entertainment companies, like Bethesda, Harmonix, and Adult Swim to repetitive traumatic brain injuries(TBI) from abrain tumor and endless surgeries. But he’s built himself back up, and is now a leader in the space. Other topics include LLM, transformer architecture, reinventing the wheel, reinvention, identity, purpose, creation, mental health, resilience, and creating a path for yourself no matter what the odds. You can find Sean at dreamkey.ai [http://dreamkey.ai] Zach’s book is on the way it’s officially in the hands of an editor, and on the final path to publishing! If your new to the show and haven’t heard his incredible story, go back and listen to the show’s trailer, or visit Zach’s website at zachtidwell.com [http://zachtidwell.com]. To get the big news when it’s going to print, join his email list on the website. Follow And Support The Show Follow, rate, and review the show wherever you listen. And if that happens to be on YouTube, like this video too before sharing the episode with family and friends. Website: https://zachtidwell.com [https://zachtidwell.com] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556533676388 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556533676388] Instagram: @ZachCTidwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-tidwell-9076852ab/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-tidwell-9076852ab/] X: @ZachCTidwell Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/going-in-blind-with-zach-tidwell/id1787306128 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/going-in-blind-with-zach-tidwell/id1787306128] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/51IxT43v95otwaXDkyr6FW [https://open.spotify.com/show/51IxT43v95otwaXDkyr6FW] YouTube: @ZachCTidwell #GIB #GoingInBlind Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm [http://Transistor.fm].