The Third Way Podcast, hosted by Justin Foster

With the election tomorrow, we’re standing on the edge of a potential milestone. But regardless of the outcome, women are already leading us forward in all areas of life. That’s why I sat down with Shuronda Robinson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shurondarobinson/], a client of The Fractional XO [https://thefractionalxo.com]and a dear friend, to have a raw, honest conversation on allyship—one that gets to the heart of what real support for women in leadership looks like. Why now? Because allyship isn’t a checkbox; it’s about showing up with intention. If we’re serious about supporting women in leadership, we have to get clear on what that truly means. With years of friendship and trust, Shuronda and I took on some big questions: * What does allyship for women leaders actually look like? * How can men start recognizing and addressing their own biases? * What are the “don’ts” for anyone committed to genuine allyship? * And what’s Shuronda’s message to conservative men who may be hesitant? For men, especially those in positions of power, this episode is an invitation to self-reflect. How are you showing up? How are you actively supporting women in leadership? And what role will you play as we move into this next chapter? As mentioned in the conversation, Shuronda is hosting a 3-day live virtual event called “True to You: Women of Influence” on Nov 7 - 9. This program is specifically designed to help women step into powerful roles in their businesses and communities. Each day focuses on specific skills and tools to become a woman of influence. Learn more here. [https://substack.com/redirect/f1ecf850-8a35-4481-bb33-55319d66cade?j=eyJ1IjoiMmp0OWtsIn0.QL5ganXWDOsaozob3emX6ibINMxfXzG6zvoY5QYthHQ] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fosterthinking.substack.com/subscribe [https://fosterthinking.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

In this episode, I'm shaking things up and stepping away from the 3D traditional interview model to see if a conversation can carry itself without a script. I'm bringing back Kelly Campbell—my "spiritual doppelganger," a dear friend who shares my Scorpio intensity and Enneagram 8 energy. We're diving deep into the art of unscripted dialogue and exploring how our identities shape our work, relationships, and growth. Note: this is my last episode using the 3D format. I will be continuing the bi-weekly Manologues but updating and tweaking the format when having guests on. Stay tuned! Kelly’s Links Buy her amazing book, Heal to Lead! [https://amzn.to/3Zmzg28] Kelly’s website [https://klcampbell.com] Kelly’s LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellylcampbell/] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fosterthinking.substack.com/subscribe [https://fosterthinking.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Some supporting information for the terminology I use in this Manologue. Critical Intelligence:The practical to combine critical thinking, self-awareness, cognitive skills, and spiritual values to make informed and balanced decisions. It involves analyzing information carefully, recognizing personal biases, and applying logical reasoning, all while staying grounded in a sense of purpose and ethical considerations. For the purposes of using Critical Intelligence to discuss the 2024 Election, I’m using these elements: Information Gathering and Evaluation * Data Collection: Ability to identify relevant information sources and gather data systematically. * Source Evaluation: Assess the credibility, relevance, and accuracy of information sources. * Bias Recognition: Recognize and account for biases in information sources and one’s own thinking. Analytical Thinking * Problem Identification: Accurately define and frame problems or questions. * Pattern Recognition: Identify patterns, trends, and relationships in data and information. * Logical Reasoning: Apply logical reasoning to draw valid conclusions from available information. Ethical Reasoning * Ethical Considerations: Identify and consider ethical implications in decision-making processes. * Fairness: Ensure that conclusions and decisions are just, equitable, and unbiased. * Accountability: Take responsibility for the outcomes of decisions made. Historial context for presidential races: * Character * Policy * Performance * Cognition (a recent issue) Indicators of Low Critical Intelligence There are at least 10, but I selected these for framing this particular discussion: * Reliance on Cognitive Biases [https://thedecisionlab.com/biases]: Frequently falling prey to biases such as confirmation bias, where one only seeks information that supports pre-existing beliefs, and ignores or dismisses opposing evidence. * Frequent Use of Logical Fallacies [https://www.grammarly.com/blog/logical-fallacies/]: Regularly employing flawed reasoning tactics, such as ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, false dilemmas, and other logical fallacies in discussions and debates. * Resistance to Self-Reflection*: Avoiding introspection or the examination of one’s own thought processes and beliefs, leading to a lack of self-awareness and growth. If you're a Trump supporter or a far-left progressive and want to discuss these ideas further, I invite you to come on to my podcast. Just drop me a message. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fosterthinking.substack.com/subscribe [https://fosterthinking.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

In this episode, I do something I’ve never done on a podcast episode: talked directly about branding and marketing! Thanks to an introduction from our mutual friend, Kelly Campbell, I was able to have a 3D conversation with brand communication expert, Ben Guttmann. We discuss his new book, our mutual advocacy for simplicity in branding, and how marketing has eroded the power of language and the need to return to clear, authentic communication. Ben’s links: “Simply Put” book [https://amzn.to/46eeT8Q] His website [https://www.benguttmann.com] His LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/benguttmann/] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fosterthinking.substack.com/subscribe [https://fosterthinking.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

My buddy, Todd Lieman, was on my podcast way back in January of 2022. Since then, Todd has brought an incredible book into the world, “Dinner at God’s House”. It is one of the best spiritual fables I’ve ever read. As I mention in the episode, writing fables well is difficult, but spiritual fables are even more so. In this episode, Todd and I explore the book’s inspiration, its central messages, and the journey of spiritual discovery it invites readers on, along with themes of spirituality, storytelling, and the profound connections that shape our understanding of the universe.You can pick up a copy of “Dinner at God’s House” here. [https://amzn.to/3Vwwjsm] Connect with Todd on LinkedIn. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddlieman/] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fosterthinking.substack.com/subscribe [https://fosterthinking.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]