Podcast
Finding Better Podcast
Hosted by John Suzuki · EN
At Finding Better, John Suzuki’s mission is simple: To help people build the “better” they seek in life—personally and professionally—by sharing the real-life stories of you who have been there and done that.
John’s approach is grounded in the belief that lived experience is the most powerful teacher. Sometimes, the best path to success isn’t to invent it—it’s to observe it, learn from it, and honor those who’ve walked it before you. That’s what makes Finding Better different.
Every conversation is rooted in authenticity, not ego. By sharing your story with purpose and heart, you’re not just “selling yourself”— You’re giving someone else the roadmap they didn’t know they needed.
John believes we each live three careers:
1. To Learn – in school
2. To Earn – a living
3. To Return – by giving back
Now living his “third career,” John’s mission is to help others live better, more meaningful lives—and to bring a little more heart back into the world.
34episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
EP 218 - Use AI to Become the Person You Want to Be | Jay Jacobson
3w ago00:52:57Tap to summarize🎙️ Can AI actually help you become a better version of yourself? In this episode of Finding Better, I sit down with Jay Jacobson — a 45-year funeral director, author of Lead By Legendary Example, and founder of Jacobson Professional Staffing — for a conversation that completely changed how I think about AI, leadership, and human connection. We dig into why knowledge isn't the skill that gets you hired anymore — it's people skills, emotional intelligence, and presence. Jay shares real stories from decades in funeral service and hospitality, and shows exactly how he uses AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Adobe Firefly to write kinder emails, shift workplace culture, train young employees, and communicate like the leader he wants to be. If you want to use AI to grow, lead better, and become the person you actually want to be — this episode will shift how you see technology. 🔥 In this episode, we cover: ✅ How to use ChatGPT, Claude & AI agents to write more professional, kind communication ✅ Why "leadership" has nothing to do with your job title ✅ How funeral directors & hospitality pros build trust in under 3 minutes ✅ Using AI to train your team and quietly shift company culture ✅ Why smartphones are erasing communication skills in young people ✅ Using AI as a personal coach to become a better leader, communicator & human ✅ Free & affordable ways to get AI-certified (Coursera and more) Jay's take: the goal isn't to compete with AI — it's to use AI to become more human, not less. 📖 Get Jay's book: Lead By Legendary Example — https://www.jacobsonprostaff.com/general-8 🔗 Connect with Jay: https://www.jacobsonprostaff.com | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayscookies/ 🎧 New episodes every week on Finding Better — real stories from real people who found a better way to lead, live, and grow.
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EP 217 - Paralyzed at 20, He Became a Prosecutor & Father of Triplets | Ken Kunken
3w ago00:46:27Tap to summarizeAt 20, my guest Ken Kunken broke his neck playing football and became a quadriplegic — paralyzed from the shoulders down. What he did next will change how you see what's possible. In this episode of Finding Better, I sit down with Ken Kunken — the first quadriplegic to graduate from Cornell University — for one of the most powerful stories of overcoming adversity I've ever shared on this channel. After a spinal cord injury left him paralyzed in 1970, doctors told Ken the most he could hope for was selling magazine subscriptions over the phone — a phone he couldn't even dial. Instead, he earned two master's degrees, became a nationally certified rehabilitation counselor, went to law school, and served more than 40 years as a Nassau County assistant district attorney, rising to Deputy Bureau Chief. Then, more than 30 years after his injury and in his 50s, Ken and his wife Anna became parents to triplet sons. This is a real-life motivational story about resilience, gratitude, mindset, and the refusal to give up — no theories, no fluff, just a man who turned an impossible situation into an extraordinary life. We talk about his injury, life as a quadriplegic before the internet, disability and inclusion, raising triplets, and the lessons inside his memoir. 📖 Get Ken's memoir, "I Dream of Things That Never Were: The Ken Kunken Story": https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Things-Never-Kunken-Story-ebook/dp/B0CFD8R32P ➡️ Website: https://www.KenKunken.com
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EP 216 - Future-Proof Your Career in the Age of AI | Victoria Pelletier
3w ago00:51:30Tap to summarizeIs AI coming for your job? Here's how to future-proof your career before it's too late. In this episode of Finding Better, I sit down with Victoria Pelletier — 20+ year corporate executive, board director, #1 bestselling author, and TEDx speaker (2M+ views) — to talk about what AI is really doing to the workforce, and how you can not just survive it but thrive in it. We cut through the fear and the headlines. Yes, AI is changing almost every job. But the layoffs being blamed on AI right now? Mostly misplaced fear. The people who win in this new era aren't the ones who panic — they're the ones who take ownership, upskill, and remember one thing Victoria said that completely blew my mind: you are the CEO of your career. If you've felt anxious about artificial intelligence, automation, job security, or where you fit in the future of work, this conversation is for you. We get into how to stay relevant, build real resilience, lead with empathy (what Victoria calls "whole human leadership"), and use personal branding to forge a lasting legacy — no matter what the technology does next. This isn't theory. It's a real-life, been-there-done-that playbook for taking control of your career in the age of AI. 📘 Victoria's #1 bestselling book: Influence Unleashed: Forging a Lasting Legacy Through Personal Branding : https://www.amazon.in/Influence-Unleashed-Forging-Personal-Branding/dp/B0CRSRYVPD 🎙️ Finding Better is where we learn from people who've actually been there and done that — real lived experience, not theory.
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EP 215 - Digital Burnout: Why You Touch Your Phone 2,700 Times a Day (And How to Stop) - John Suzuki
3w ago00:40:17Tap to summarizeAfter 40+ years in tech — I started at IBM back in 1984 — I've watched technology promise us freedom and productivity, then quietly leave us more anxious, exhausted, and disconnected than ever. In this episode I'm breaking down something almost all of us feel but few of us understand: digital burnout. I'll walk you through why your brain is so overwhelmed — information overload, nonstop notifications, the social media comparison trap, and the rising wave of AI anxiety. I'll share the truth about the attention economy (if the product is free, you are the product), why the average person touches their phone 2,700 times a day, and most importantly — how to protect your mind, reclaim your attention, and find real balance in an always-on world. If screens have ever left you mentally drained, this one's for you. Let's take back your time, your focus, and your peace.
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EP 214 - Why AI & Your Phone Are Making You Lonely — And How to Take Your Life Back | Anthony Silard
Jun 1100:41:58Tap to summarizeIn this powerful episode of Finding Better, I sit down with world-renowned leadership professor, executive coach, and author Dr. Anthony Silard to talk about one of the most urgent crises of our time — the loneliness epidemic — and what we can do about it. If you've ever felt disconnected, anxious, or overwhelmed by your phone and social media, this conversation will change the way you think about technology, relationships, and what it truly means to live a meaningful life. We dive deep into: ✅ Why smartphone addiction and screen time are fueling the global loneliness crisis ✅ How AI, social media, and digital distraction are destroying real human connection ✅ The shocking statistics behind the mental health epidemic in America and worldwide ✅ Why social media creates envy, depression, and anxiety — not real friendship ✅ Dr. Silard's proven strategies to break phone addiction and reclaim your time ✅ The Love Progression Model — moving from suffering and disconnection to authentic love ✅ How to build meaningful relationships in the age of AI and digital overload ✅ Practical tools for emotional resilience, purpose, and mental wellness ✅ Why human beings who master AI will replace those who don't ✅ How to restore your humanity and find deeper purpose in a distracted world Dr. Anthony Silard is a professor of leadership at LUISS Business School in Rome, Director of the Center for Leadership and Sustainability, executive coach to G-20 cabinet ministers and Fortune 500 CEOs, and bestselling author of Screened In: The Art of Living Free in the Digital Age and Love and Suffering. 📖 Get the book: Love and Suffering: Break the Emotional Chains that Prevent You from Experiencing Love by Dr. Anthony Silard : https://www.amazon.in/Love-Suffering-Emotional-Prevent-Experiencing/dp/0981785379 👉 Get Dr. Silard's 2 FREE books — The Myth of Happiness and The Myth of Friendship — at: https://theartoflivingfree.org/freehappinessandfriendshipbooks/
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EP 213 - How to Stay Irreplaceable & Find Your Purpose in the Age of AI | Derek Rydall
Jun 1000:57:12Tap to summarizeIn this powerful episode of Finding Better, I sit down with bestselling author, transformational coach, and human potential expert Derek Rydall to tackle the most urgent question of our time: how do you survive and thrive in the age of AI? As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the future of work, millions of people are asking — will AI replace me? What's left for humans when machines can do everything faster, cheaper, and smarter? Derek and I dive deep into why the real threat of AI isn't job loss — it's the loss of meaning, purpose, and human identity. Derek, author of "A Whole New Human: 10 Ways We Must Evolve to Survive and Thrive in the AI Age," shares the timeless principles and practical strategies you need to become irreplaceable in an AI-driven world. We explore how to navigate rapid change, rediscover your unique purpose, future-proof your career, and build the one thing AI can never replicate — your authentic humanity. In this episode, you'll discover: ✅ Why AI is triggering the greatest identity crisis in human history ✅ How to find your life purpose and become irreplaceable ✅ The #1 mindset shift to thrive during AI disruption ✅ Why self-knowledge is the ultimate survival skill in the AI age ✅ How to use AI as a tool — without losing your humanity ✅ The role of community, authenticity, and human connection in an AI world ✅ How to future-proof your career, wealth, and wellbeing right now If you're feeling uncertain, anxious, or overwhelmed by how fast AI is changing the world — this episode will give you clarity, direction, and hope. 🎙️ Guest: Derek Rydall | Author | Human Potential Expert | Host of the Emergence Podcast 📖 Book: A Whole New Human — available now on Amazon : https://www.amazon.in/Whole-New-Human-Evolve-Survive-ebook/dp/B0FCG7FW67 🎧 Derek's Podcast: Emergence
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EP 212 - Transitioning from a life you love to a life you love more - Alex Husner & Annie Holcombe
May 2500:53:26Tap to summarizeCareer reinvention isn't about retreat — it's about betting on yourself. In this episode of Finding Better, I sit down with Alex Husner and Annie Holcombe, co-hosts of the award-winning Alex and Annie Podcast, to talk about leaving the corporate world, navigating career transition in the age of AI, and building a life you actually love. We dig into what it really takes to reinvent your career: shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset, overcoming imposter syndrome, the real power of relationships and personal branding, and how a "just-for-fun" podcast became the catalyst that changed both their careers, businesses, and lives. If you're thinking about leaving your 9-to-5, navigating a career pivot, starting your own business, or just need a serious mindset shift — this conversation is for you. Hit subscribe, drop a comment, and share this with someone who needs to hear it today.
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EP 211 - The Lady in the Mask: Surviving the Paddington Crash & Finding Better | Pam Warren
May 1500:51:11Tap to summarizeIn 1999, Pam Warren survived the Paddington train crash — Britain's worst rail disaster of the 20th century — and became known as "The Lady in the Mask." In this episode of Finding Better, I sit down with Pam to talk about surviving unimaginable tragedy, rebuilding her identity after trauma, and how she took on the UK government to make British rail one of the safest in Europe. We talk about: ✅ Surviving the 1999 Paddington train crash and fireball ✅ Life as "The Woman in the Mask" — 2 years in a Perspex face mask ✅ Rebuilding identity, purpose, and confidence after tragedy ✅ Why life isn't fair — and why that's not the end of your story ✅ How an "ordinary woman" took on the government and won ✅ Finding better when life changes overnight ✅ Designing Your Life When All Goes Wrong If you're navigating unexpected change, loss, divorce, job loss, illness, or any kind of personal tragedy, Pam's story is proof that no matter how bad things get — finding better is always an option. 🌐 Learn more about Pam: https://www.pamwarren.co.uk/
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EP 210 - 5-3-26 - AI Isn't Replacing You - It's Revealing You
May 1400:33:49Tap to summarizeIs AI going to replace you? I used to hear that question every single day — and after 40 years in technology, from IBM in 1984 through the rise of the internet, e-commerce, and now artificial intelligence, I can tell you the answer is not what you think. AI isn't replacing you. It's revealing you. In this episode of Finding Better, I break down the 5 most powerful lessons from our recent episodes — the ones I truly believe can change your life if you let them in. Here's what we cover: 🔹 The illusion of connection — why we've never been more connected yet more lonely, and what "pseudo connections" are doing to our mental health and relationships 🔹 AI as a mirror — how artificial intelligence is exposing what's truly valuable about you (and it's not your tasks or your data) 🔹 The success trap — why so many high achievers are succeeding at the wrong things, and how to define success on your own terms before it's too late 🔹 Your human edge — why empathy, emotional intelligence, presence, and deep human connection are becoming the most valuable skills in the age of automation 🔹 The renaissance of heart — how the AI revolution is pushing us toward a revival of our humanity, and why that's the greatest opportunity of our lifetime I've spent decades watching technology get smarter and smarter — and in the process, I've watched a lot of people forget their heart. This episode is about coming back to it. If you're asking "will AI take my job," "how do I find purpose in the age of AI," or "how do I stop feeling so disconnected," this conversation is for you.
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EP 209 - Why Ownership Fixes Everything
Apr 3000:59:27Tap to summarize🔥 The moment you choose ownership… everything changes. In this powerful episode of the Finding Better Podcast, John Suzuki sits down with Brian Price — executive coach, speaker, and creator of the Extraordinary Husband Framework — to explore how taking full ownership of your life can transform your relationships, identity, and purpose. From navigating burnout and career pressure to facing his daughter’s leukemia diagnosis and nearly losing his marriage, Brian shares the raw, real experiences that forced him to redefine leadership — starting with himself. This is a conversation about presence, responsibility, and what it truly means to fight for the people you love — not with them. Inside this conversation, you’ll learn: 1. Why most people struggle with relationships (even when they care deeply) 2. The hidden cost of “compartmentalizing” your life 3. How disconnection is quietly damaging modern relationships 4. The difference between fighting with vs. fighting for your partner 5. How a life crisis can realign your priorities instantly 6. What true ownership actually looks like in everyday life 7. Why self-leadership is the foundation of all leadership 💡 Key Takeaways: 1. Ownership means taking full responsibility for your actions, emotions, and impact 2. You can’t lead others until you learn to lead yourself 3. Presence matters more than performance in relationships 4. Everything in your life is connected — nothing is isolated 5. Choosing ownership is the turning point for real change Connect with Brian Price: Facebook: www.facebook.com/brian.m.price1 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/brianmprice Instagram: @brianmprice109
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