StemCast

About StemCast

Hey! I'm Liv. Welcome to The LIV Lab, a space for growing go-getters who are learning how to build a meaningful, balanced, and genuinely happy life. Don't worry, this is not a preachy self-improvement podcast or a highlight reel of people who claim to have everything figured out. It is a lab. A place where we experiment with ideas, question assumptions, and learn in real time. Each week, I sit down with thoughtful guests (and sometimes just you and me) to explore topics like ambition, identity, relationships, mental health, habits, confidence, college, career decisions, fitness, financial independence, and what actually makes a life feel good, not just impressive. Expect conversations that are intellectually stimulating but never intimidating. Deep but never heavy. Honest, sometimes surprising, occasionally chaotic in the best way. If you care about growing without losing your joy, building a future you are proud of, and asking better questions about how you live, you are in the right place. We are not here to have it all figured out. We are here to figure it out together.

Publisher

The LIV Lab

Category

education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Aug 2024

Latest episode

18 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

36 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Aug 2026

   Why This CEO Chooses Hard Things On Purpose | The LIV Lab Episode 34 ft. Jeff Jonas

   You know exactly what you should do. Eat better. Speak up. Ask the question. Start the thing. And somehow, you still don't do it. Because it's uncomfortable. Because it's scary. Because it's easier not to. This week on The LIV Lab, I sit down with Jeff Jonas, an Ironman athlete, CEO of Senzing, former IBM Fellow, and honorary doctorate holder, to talk about what happens when you stop avoiding hard things and start choosing them on purpose. But his story doesn't start there. It starts in the back of a car, at 23, unable to breathe. This episode is part survival story, part comeback story, and part "wait... I could actually do that too?" In this episode, we explore: How a car accident left him temporarily paralyzed, and what he decided in that exact moment Why he dropped out of high school to build software, and what happened when it all fell apart Going bankrupt, living in his car, and the guarantee he invented to rebuild trust from nothing Why he took up rock climbing specifically because he was scared of heights How he went from blacking out during public speaking to becoming IBM's highest-rated speaker The real reason curiosity matters more than formal education What it means to be "signal," and how to actually be remembered The three traits he looks for when hiring: ethics, energy, and curiosity The LIV Call to Action Learn: Confidence doesn't always come before the hard thing. Sometimes it comes after you decide to do it anyway. Notice one place in your life where you're waiting to feel ready before you start. Innovate: Build yourself a small "delivery guarantee." Pick one thing you've promised someone, or promised yourself, and find the smallest, most doable way to actually follow through this week. Venture: Ask the question you're embarrassed to ask. In a class, a meeting, a group chat, say "wait, what does that mean?" out loud, just once, this week. 📩 Share your week's LIV! Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com Learn more about Jeff Jonas at senzing.com (https://senzing.com/) and email him at jeff@senzing.com (mailto:jeff@senzing.com)

2. 

   27 Apr 2026

   What 40 Years of Success Taught Them | The LIV Lab Episode 33 ft. Jeff Burgess and Kelly Nagel

   We hear a lot about success. The title. The promotion. The company. The money. But we hear a lot less about what actually builds it: The mentor who believed in you. The relationship that opened a door. The risk you took before you felt ready. The courage to ask for more. This week on The LIV Lab, Jeff Burgess and Kelly Nagel take over the mic. Jeff built BCD Video into a $100 million company. Kelly rose to become President of North America at Jabra and now helps others grow through executive coaching and leadership at The WIT Network. But the real story is that they spent 40 years learning, growing, and succeeding alongside each other. This episode is full of honest lessons on ambition, mentorship, confidence, and building a meaningful career. In this episode, we explore: Why relationships matter more than most people realize How to ask for opportunities instead of waiting Why mentors can change your path How to take risks before you feel ready Why curiosity is a superpower What legacy really means The LIV Call to Action Learn: Notice who brings out your best and learn from them. Innovate: Choose one thing you've been wanting and say it out loud. Venture: Start one conversation this week that could change your future. 📩 Share your week's LIV! Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com

3. 

   23 Mar 2026

   Money Won't Fix It (But It Still Matters) | The LIV Lab Episode 32 ft. John Lanza

   You finally get the thing you wanted… and somehow, it still doesn't feel like enough. The new gym set. The hoodie. The car. The house. The "this is gonna change everything" purchase. For a moment, it does feel exciting. And then… it fades. And suddenly, you're onto the next thing. So what's actually going on? This week on The LIV Lab, I sit down with John Lanza, author of The Art of Allowance and creator of Money Mammals, to talk about money, but not in the way you're used to. Not just budgets or investing. But the feeling behind it all. Because money is more than math. It's emotional and psychological. This episode is part mindset shift, part practical tools, and part "wait… why do I do that?" In this episode, we explore: • Why buying things doesn't lead to lasting happiness • The difference between wanting something and actually valuing it • Why money is more emotional than logical (yes, even for you) • The 3 core habits: saving, spending, and investing, simplified • How to stop impulsive spending (without guilt) • The concept of "paying your future self" • What financial independence actually means (and why it looks different for everyone) • Why there is no "perfect" career path, and why that's okay The LIV Call to Action Learn: Start noticing your patterns. The next time you want to buy something, pause and ask: Do I actually want this… or do I want how I think it will make me feel? Innovate: Create a system that works for you. A one-week waiting rule, a spending cap, or even just a quick "check-in" before purchases. Build a little friction. Venture: Make one intentional money decision this week. Skip one impulse buy, or choose something that truly adds value to your life. 📩 Share your week's LIV! Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com Learn more about John Lanza at johnlanza.com and themoneymammals.com Check out his must-read book: The Art of Allowance

Who has been a guest on StemCast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• David Cooper
• Grace Robertson
• Marilene Roder

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 12 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

10

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact StemCast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

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