Season 2 Episode 2— “Work–Life… Balance? (Why We Prefer Harmony & Integration)”
Hosts: Dr. Matthew R. Kutz & Dr. Jeff Konin
Length: ~36 min
Theme: A candid, personal look at how two busy academics/leaders design lives they’re proud of—at work and at home—without pretending “balance” is one-size-fits-all.
Matt and Jeff unpack why the phrase work–life balance makes them groan—and what they aim for instead: priorities, harmony, and integration. They open up about grandparenting joy, philanthropy (Matt’s new prostate-cancer nonprofit), heavy travel seasons, writing books (serious and humorous), and building careers that don’t cost you your family. Along the way: modeling entrepreneurship as professors, the power of team chemistry, and why “multitasking” is a myth they’ll tackle in a future episode.
00:00 – Cold open: Why “work–life balance” isn’t quite right
01:00 – Priorities over balance: Harmony & integration as the target
01:30 – Battle for the Bulge: Matt’s 501(c)(3) + 5K update (~$20K raised)
03:30 – Grandparent life: Joy, perspective, and saying yes to family
04:05 – On sharing the journey: Using vulnerability to connect and help
06:36 – Matt’s cancer memoir: Diagnosed: It’s Not Your Battle to Fight Alone
07:45 – Fall travel blitz: Guatemala (COPAMEDE), Dublin (WFATT World Congress)
08:10 – Jeff’s talks in Dublin: Cannabis education & global student trips
10:45 – Essential Skills project: Soft/“essential” skills book + invite-only summit
12:40 – Global speaking: Bern, Switzerland with alum Ron Corson
14:56 – Australia plans: Matt’s Griffith University workshops on Contextual Intelligence
16:30 – Careers without sacrifice: You can love work and home
18:10 – New book drop: Matt’s Becoming EPIC (excellence, perception, inspiration, compassion) + audiobook narration lessons
20:27 – Jeff’s humor book: What Passenger Are You? (a flyer’s etiquette self-assessment)
25:43 – Creative outlets as stress relief: Children’s stories for grandkids
28:06 – “How do you do it all?” Wiring, seasons, and realistic trade-offs
30:49 – Chemistry matters: Why their partnership works
34:40 – Future topic: Multitasking myths
35:50 – Close: Everything and nothing—and loving both
