Mode To Joy

About Mode To Joy

Mode-to-Joy celebrates the people who've figured it out—the leaders, artists, athletes, influencers, scientists, politicians and performers – those who do what they love and love what they do. In each episode we'll sit down with someone who answered the question you're asking: what would it look like to wake up and do work that I’m genuinely passionate about? From leaders, artists, and athletes, to influencers, scientists, and more, we dig into their real stories and ask the real questions: How did you discover this was possible? What was the turning point? What does your day look like now? What impact do you wish to make in the world? What have you learned along the way? What would you tell others? By the end of each episode, you're going to have a clearer path to follow to achieve what your version of passion meets profession - looks like. Because if they can turn their passion into their life's work, the path exists for you too.

Publisher

Monica Lyle

Category

business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 May 2026

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Ep. 11: AI Ethics Strategist

   What do the runways of Paris, a patient navigation center in Harlem, and the United Nations General Assembly have in common? For Felecia Webb, Chief Strategy Officer at the Partnership on AI, they are all chapters in one continuous mission: ensuring everyone has access to the opportunities that shape their future. Monica sits down with Felecia to talk about her remarkable career pivot from Parsons-trained designer to global AI equity advocate, and what it took to walk away from 12 years at Ralph Lauren to pursue work that truly lit her up. They dig into what AI actually is, how to protect your ideas when using free AI systems, why you can be over-mentored and under-sponsored, and why this moment in the AI revolution might be your moment to try something bold. Loved this conversation? Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. Here are a few more ways to connect: Follow Renewal Fuel on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/renewalfuel/) Connect with us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/renewal-fuel)

2. 

   28 Sept 2026

   Ep. 10: Chief Marketing Icon

   From luxury beauty to the Forbes CMO Hall of Fame, Marisa Thalberg has built one of the most dynamic and intentional marketing careers in the country. But what makes her story so compelling isn't the killer resume. It's the honest, winding, deeply human path she took to get to the top of her field. In this episode, Monica sits down with Marisa for a conversation that covers leading with confidence and overcoming obstacles to succeed at the senior level, the cold gray New York City day she finally said yes to California and Taco Bell, what she learned about leading with empathy rather than intimidation when driving change in a resistant organization, and why she founded Executive Moms after one very telling new mommies lunch in New York City. She also shares the advice she'd give any ambitious professional starting out: the combination of genuine passion and the right attitude is more powerful than most people realize. This one is for anyone who has ever stood at a fork in the road and wondered whether the leap was worth it. Spoiler alert: it usually is. Loved this episode? Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. Here are a few more ways to connect: Follow Renewal Fuel on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/renewalfuel/) Connect with us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/renewal-fuel)

3. 

   14 Sept 2026

   Ep. 9: Baseball Coach

   What does it look like to commit 50 years to a sport, to win a National Championship, to play at the professional level, and to coach at elite universities? For Dave Esquer, head coach of Stanford Baseball, it looks like a life built entirely around creating community, caring deeply and bringing out the best in people. In this episode of Mode to Joy, host Monica Lyle sits down with her dear college friend Dave Esquer, head coach of Stanford Baseball, for a warm, honest, and deeply inspiring conversation about leadership, culture, resilience, and what it really means to build something that lasts. From saving a program that was minutes away from being shut down forever at Cal to returning home as head coach at Stanford, Dave's story is such a compelling one. You don’t want to miss it. This is the kind of story that stays with you, and you won’t want to miss it. Loved this episode? Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. Here are a few more ways to connect: Follow Renewal Fuel on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/renewalfuel/) Connect with us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-lyle-57143b2/)

4. 

   31 Aug 2026

   Ep. 8: Storyteller Showrunner

   What does it look like to walk into a room where you're the only one who looks like you, face an industry that wasn't built for you, and respond not by shrinking but by building an entirely new table? For Yvette Lee Bowser, it looks like 40 years of pioneering, producing, and mentoring while committing to wake-in-joy every single morning. In this episode, Monica sits down with her Stanford classmate and dear friend Yvette Lee Bowser, the award-winning writer, producer, and showrunner who created Living Single at 27 and became the first and youngest Black woman to create and run a prime time series. Yvette opens up about turning frustration into fuel, why she believes art is a living archive that holds what memory cannot, and how she went from unpaid apprentice on A Different World to building a table big enough for the next generation of storytellers. She also shares her closing words, which might be the most Mode to Joy thing anyone has said on this podcast yet. Embrace your why. Live in purpose. Wake up with joy. Make your mark. For the full show notes, visit https://www.renewalfuel.com/modetojoy-yvette-lee-bowser (https://www.renewalfuel.com/modetojoy-yvette-lee-bowser) 🔔Be sure to follow and subscribe to the podcast to never miss an episode. Follow us: On Instagram @renewalfuel (https://www.instagram.com/renewalfuel/) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-lyle-57143b2/) On our website at renewalfuel.com (http://renewalfuel.com)

5. 

   17 Aug 2026

   Ep. 7: Endeavor Accelerator

   What happens when ever-increasing leadership roles, from Disney to Morningstar, bring you back to where it all began? For Liz Brigham, it looks like 26 years of making deposits into a vision she could not yet fully name, until one day a tweet changed everything. In this episode, Monica sits down with her longtime friend and coaching client Liz Brigham, Executive Director for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Jay Hurt Hub at Davidson College. Liz is a builder by nature and by calling, and this conversation is full of practical wisdom for anyone who leads people, builds teams, or is trying to figure out what their next move looks like. She shares her framework for product marketing and leadership, her philosophy on feedback, and why she believes coaching will become the most critical managerial skill of the next decade. This insightful episode is a masterclass in building with intention. For the full show notes, visit https://www.renewalfuel.com/modetojoy-liz-brigham (https://www.renewalfuel.com/modetojoy-liz-brigham) Here are a few ways to connect: Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode Follow Renewal Fuel on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/renewalfuel/) Connect with us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-lyle-57143b2/)

6. 

   27 Jul 2026

   Ep. 6: Trailblazing Creator

   What happens when your “weird little hobby” turns into a community of 10 million followers, a James Beard Award, an Emmy, a Smithsonian feature, a university lecture circuit, a global following, and a debut book that hit number one on Amazon before it even came out? You get Alexis Nikole Nelson, also known as the Black Forager, and one of the most joyful, grounded, and trailblazing voices on the internet today. In this episode, Monica sits down with her cousin Alexis for an honest, funny, and deeply inspiring conversation about foraging, content creation, and what it really looks like to build a career out of something that genuinely lights you up. Alexis opens up about the pandemic TikTok post that started it all, the New York Times interview that made her realize she couldn't keep living a double life, why she turned down brand deals that didn't align with her values even when it cost her money, and how she built a different kind of success by leading with joy and curiosity every single day. She also gives us a peek inside her runaway hit of a debut book, “Happy Snacking Don’t Die,” Equal parts heart, smarts, and humor, this one will make you want to go outside and pay attention to what's growing around you, and you just might grow in knowledge along the way. For the full show notes, visit https://www.renewalfuel.com/modetojoy-alexis-nikole-nelson (https://www.renewalfuel.com/modetojoy-alexis-nikole-nelson) Here are a few ways to connect: Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode Follow Renewal Fuel on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/renewalfuel/) Connect with us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-lyle-57143b2/)

7. 

   17 Jul 2026

   Ep. 5: Entrepreneur For Good

   What does it mean to truly nourish the community? What does it take to grow a social good business from 100 meals a day to 30,000, become employee-owned, survive a pandemic on the front lines, and then launch a whole new nonprofit because the need is still not fully met? For Sheldon Lloyd, it looks like just another chapter. In this episode, Monica sits down with her longtime friend and co-founder of City Fresh Foods, a Boston institution that has spent more than 30 years feeding seniors, school kids, and communities while quietly building generational wealth for the people who work there. Sheldon shares the real story behind the growth, including the bank that said no, the pandemic deliveries he made himself when drivers called out, and the Juneteenth moment when City Fresh became employee-owned. He also opens up about his new nonprofit venture, Family Fresh, a supper club model bringing healthy, dignified meals to community spaces for $5 or less. If you have ever wondered what it looks like to let a mission carry you through 30-plus years of building something real, this one is for you. For the full show notes, visit the full episode page on our website here. (https://www.renewalfuel.com/modetojoy-sheldonlloyd) Be sure to follow Mode to Joy for new episodes, and connect with us on Instagram @renewalfuel (https://www.instagram.com/renewalfuel/)

8. 

   29 Jun 2026

   Ep. 4: Reef Rescuer

   It started when Chris LaFranchi was six years old. His uncle dunked his head into a California tide pool, and a water world fascination began that day that ultimately led him to his current calling. Decades later, that moment of childhood wonder is the foundation of One Reef Worldwide Stewardship, a nonprofit he founded that partners directly with Indigenous Pacific Island communities across seven countries to protect coral reefs, preserve ancient cultures, and build resilience in the face of a changing climate. In this episode, Monica sits down with Chris for a wide-ranging conversation about following a spark across a lifetime, what Pacific Island elders taught him about humility and conservation, and why helping other people succeed became his greatest source of energy. He also opens up about the very real challenges of building a nonprofit from scratch, including moments of inspiration and moments of self doubt and learning to unlearn everything his formal education had told him about solving problems. If you have ever felt called toward something bigger than yourself and wondered whether you are the right person to pursue it, this one is for you. Connect Follow Mode to Joy for new episodes wherever you listen to podcasts, and connect with us on Instagram @renewalfuel (https://www.instagram.com/renewalfuel/).

9. 

   17 May 2026

   Welcome to Mode To Joy

   Join Monica Lyle and her guests for engaging and thought-provoking conversations on the Mode To Joy Podcast. These honest, open episodes will inspire you to lean into what you’re naturally good at, and help you discover ways to spark joy in your own life and career.

10. 

    16 May 2026

    Ep. 3: Healthcare Changemaker

    What if a chance encounter changed the entire trajectory of your career and set you on an impassioned path to change the lives of others? For Cara Feldman Hunt, it did. A conversation with a stranger building a nonprofit set Cara on a path she never could have planned and set her on a mission to change healthcare. Today she is the Director of the OSHER Center for Integrative Health at the University of Vermont, leading an initiative achieving reductions in ER visits, testifying at the state house, and working to make Vermont a living laboratory for what better healthcare can look like. In this episode, Monica sits down with her dear friend to talk about her path to build something meaningful, why relationships and patience are the most underrated career tools, and what it really means to wake up every morning knowing your work matters. Cara also shares what she has learned after 18 years in the field and why she believes our healthcare system can and must change. If you have ever felt called toward work that is bigger than a job title, this one is for you.

11. 

    16 May 2026

    Ep. 2: Broadway Actor

    What if dreaming big brought you to the big stage? For Rodd Cyrus - now starring on Broadway as Harry Houdini in Ragtime – that means making his debut at the very theater he once made his lunch spot when studying across the street at Juilliard. In this episode, Monica sits down with her longtime family friend for an honest, joyful and inspiring conversation about what it really takes to live the life of a working actor. While they discuss high times like cast albums, promos for the Tonys and parades – Rodd also opens up about the realities of winning and losing auditions, the importance of finding community with casts and colleagues and finding the quiet, fierce belief in himself that carries him through all the ups and downs along the way. This one will motivate you. As Rodd inspires: dream big, protect your imagination, and always find the determination to get back on the saddle.

12. 

    16 May 2026

    Ep. 1: Connector CEO

    What if your first CEO job was running a 22-room hotel at age 15? For Eric Chernik, that's exactly where the adventure began. In this episode, Monica sits down with her decades-long friend and former Stanford classmate Eric Chernik, seasoned CEO, connector, and strategist to trace the compelling path from young entrepreneur to corporate leader. Eric shares why as a CEO he prioritized people, how he unlocked career-defining opportunities, and why adventure is at the heart of his passion for life and informs his outlook. You'll leave with a fresh perspective on building diverse teams, leading with transparency, and making your own luck, plus five unforgettable life rules from the person who shaped Eric most: his amazing mom. If you've ever wondered what it really takes to lead a business and love your life, this one's for you.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

16 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.