The Elements of Us™ Podcast

The Elements of Us podcast brings the Elements to life through conversations with authors, executives, experts, and assorted amazing people who share stories, insights, and ideas from first-hand experiences to make creating well-being and navigating difficult times, a bit easier.

Introducing the elements of us™ with Allison Arden

Hear Allison talk about the inspiration that led to The Elements of Us, some of the Elements she faced along the way, and what’s in store on the podcast.

Ed erhardt

In this episode, Ed Erhardt shows how you can use creativity to connect the dots between the life you want and finding the roles that will help you achieve it in every chapter. Ed spent 20 years leading global sales and marketing for ESPN, before launching Erhardt Media Ventures. Ed shares amazing stories about his days at ESPN and offers sage advice on building a successful career and more importantly, a life that matters to you. Along the way, he also offers suggestions to leaders looking to create the Future of Work. While the solutions are challenging, the path to get there is quite simple.

Elements: Vision, Strategy, Purpose, Frustration, Fun, Learn, Listen

maryam banikarim

The unstoppable Maryam Banikarim combines passion, purpose, and the power of community to bring amazing ideas to life. Maryam leads marketing for Nextdoor and is the co-Founder of NYC Next, an organization launched to re-energize and bring joy to New York in the midst of the pandemic. Her positive spirit and endless energy will inspire you to start getting that thing you’ve been meaning to get done - done, all to make you and those around you better.

Elements: Resilience, Passion, Burnout, Action, Joy

DR. JILL DROSSMAN

Dr. Jill Drossman is a New York-based therapist. Jill has a general practice and a specialization in eating disorders. As we navigate the months ahead, each of us will feel differently about re-engaging. Jill shares ideas to help to build strategies as we emerge from the pandemic and get back into life.

Elements: Self-Care, Compassion, Purpose, Anxiety, Nutrition

bela Gandhi

If the idea of finding love or a new job stresses you out, this is the episode for you. Love Expert, and CEO of Smart Dating Academy, Bela Gandhi, and Allison explore our Relationship Elements and the stressors that come along with them. Bela talks about reframing your mindset to find the joy, tips and ideas for being a great partner,  the power of the Gratitude Element (even if you don’t want to hear about gratitude anymore!), and much more. 

Elements: Love, Recognition, Stress, Action, Reframe, Gratitude, Fun

Linda Sawyer

Linda Sawyer was the CEO and Chairman of one of the ad world’s biggest agencies, before stepping out to co-found Skura Style with her childhood best friend. Linda shares the lessons she learned from taking on the top job at Deutsch Advertising, and the process she followed that led to the insight and ultimately taking the leap into entrepreneurialism and success in the ‘second act’.

Elements: Commitment, Discovery, Anxiety, Candor, Passion

Laurel Rossi

Creative Spirit Co-Founder Laurel Rossi speaks with Allison about the creation of Creative Spirit and the movement to place 1 million people with intellectual disabilities into the workforce. With companies like Verizon, Cisco, and Voya on board they are off to an amazing start. Laurel talks about overcoming fear, creating support structures, and what expanding our workforce with these amazing talents does for people, companies, families, and society at large.

Elements: Love, Support, Fear, Empathy, Compassion

Ed Harrold

Breath expert, author, and motivational speaker, Ed Harrold learned to use the power of breath through his own need to feel better mentally and physically. In this episode, Ed teaches Allison specific exercises anyone can use to alleviate anxiety, increase focus, and stimulate creativity. The best part is these are tools that can be used at any time without anyone knowing you’re using them.

Elements: Mindfulness, Anxiety, Creativity, Focus, Authenticity

pam el

As a Board Director and former Chief Marketing Officer of brands including the National Basketball Association and StateFarm, Pam El was often the only woman and African American with a seat at the table. Pam shares stories about building confidence, living your passion, and what she thinks companies and people can do to end the bias plaguing our society.

Elements: Passion, Confidence, Bias, Candor, Joy

Brad Meltzer

Part I: Allison speaks with her oldest and dearest friend, Brad Meltzer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of thrillers and non-fiction books, comic book writer, and creator of the kids’ book series, Ordinary People Change the World, which inspired the hit TV show on PBS KIDS, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, talks about hitting stardom at the young age of 25, jumping between genres, experiencing loss, and finding his why.

Elements: Commitment, Grit, Reframe, Sadness, Purpose

Part II: Brad shares the inspiration behind Ordinary People Change the World and tells stories about historical heroes that embody The Elements of Us, from Rosa Parks to the Wright Brothers. Brad also shares a ritual that keeps him grounded and humble, and what gives him hope at this challenging time in our history.

Elements: Conviction, Fear, Resilience, Ritual, Humility

Marla Aaron

The one-time single mom and ad exec turned a fascination with locks and everyday objects into a world-renowned, fabulous, and highly addictive jewelry brand. Marla shares thoughts on creativity, perfectionism, and taking the leap to pursue her passion. Marla also talks about leading through the pandemic, instilling purpose, and the delightful and inspiring things that lie ahead for The Marla Aaron Company.

Elements: Creativity, Fear, Perfectionism, Hobby, Purpose

Lesley Koeppel

Lesley Koeppel, psychotherapist & support group counselor from New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, talks about overcoming fear, her prescriptions for having difficult conversations, and embracing sadness, and the importance of positivity even in the darkest times.

Elements: Fear, Sadness, Positivity, Support, Candor