Shows
One of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#37 - Nicy Thoughts: Visualizing PossibilitiesEnjoy this month's Nicy only episode. In this episode, Nicy's discusses the value of visualization for yourself and others and the benefits of all emotions.Nicy Durán is an almost lawyer, a former Googler/YouTuber, an aspiring storyteller, and a forever optimist.2025-07-0114 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#36 - Michael Hawthorne & PivotsNew episodes are here!Michael Hawthorne is a real estate agent with Pacific Sothebys specializing in first time buyers and coastal properties. He is a former Marine and hails from Louisiana. He is currently pursuing his undergraduate degree, while helping people find their dream homes and has long term plans of becoming a real estate developer. In this conversation, Nicy and Michael discuss the importance of taking control of your habits and therefore your time and that if we aim to learn from our experiences, time can never be wasted. 2025-06-1837 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#35 - Nicy Thoughts: Change & GraceEnjoy this month's Nicy only episode. In this episode, Nicy's shares the challenges of change and the importance of giving ourselves grace.Nicy Durán is an almost lawyer, a former Googler/YouTuber, an aspiring storyteller, and a forever optimist.2025-03-0618 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#34 - Isvari Maranwe & PrivilegeIsvari Maranwe is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Yuvoice, a social media platform for social justice, created by activists, for activists. She is a former physics researcher, coder, and Silicon Valley polymath. She researched particle physics at the European Organization for Nuclear Research at 14 years old, researched with a Nobel Laureate in supernova cosmology at 15, and graduated Georgetown Law at 20. In this conversation, Nicy and Isvari discuss career changes, the unexpected consequences of the Me Too movement and the importance of using our privilege to help others.2025-02-2842 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#33 - Nicy Thoughts: A HomeEnjoy this month's Nicy only episode. In this episode, Nicy's shares the value of trusting your own decision-making.Nicy Durán is an almost lawyer, a former Googler/YouTuber, an aspiring storyteller, and a forever optimist.2025-02-0114 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#32 - C.J. Watson & Playing the GameEpisode 32 in honor of #32 C.J. Watson.C.J. Watson is a former professional basketball player known for his decade-long NBA career, during which he played for teams including the Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, and Orlando Magic. Beyond basketball, C.J. is deeply committed to philanthropy. He co-founded the Quiet Storm Foundation to provide learning opportunities and health and fitness activities that empower youth in his community. Today, C.J. is an entrepreneur, angel investor and author of a children's book series, "C.J.'s Big Dream," aimed at inspiring young children...2025-01-3157 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#31 - Nicy Thoughts: Unapologetically YouEnjoy this month's Nicy only episode. In this episode, Nicy's shares her goals for 2025.Nicy Durán is an almost lawyer, a former Googler/YouTuber, an aspiring storyteller, and a forever optimist.2024-12-3115 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#30 - Jose Duran & 2024 ReflectionsJose Durán is a San Diego based journalist and scriptwriter and the masterful editor of this podcast. He studied cinema at California State University, Northridge. He taught broadcast journalism at his alma mater and is an avid gamer and storyteller. In his own words, he plays far too much Call of Duty, is a hip hop nerd, loves movies, and believes Buffy The Vampire Slayer is the greatest show ever made.In this conversation, Nicy and Jose discuss the year's episodes, their goals for 2025 and debate a hypothetical fight to the death.2024-12-3038 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#29 - Steve Kays & The Power of ShoesSteve Kays has over 30 years experience in multi-channel management, product creation, merchandising and sales at Nike and Nordstrom. Driven by a profound commitment to ensuring his work positively impacts others, he joined The World Shoe where he is the head of Product and Sales. The World Shoe is combating neglected tropical diseases with innovative footwear. Please visit theworldshoe.com to learn more.In this conversation, Nicy and Steve discuss why a new pair of kicks makes you feel so good, the importance of community, and how giving to others can help us break free...2024-12-1942 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#28 - Nicy's Thoughts: Stay Kind, Stay TrueEnjoy this month's Nicy only episode. In this episode, Nicy's shares thoughts on how the world sees her and the importance of staying true. As Maya Angelou beautifully said, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."Nicy Durán is an almost lawyer, a former Googler/YouTuber, an aspiring storyteller, and a forever optimist.2024-11-2114 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#27 - Amy Matsuno Prince & Don't Call Us NiceAmy Matsuno Prince is a Bay Area based millennial who is currently a senior People Partner at Google. She's a long-time Googler who just passed her 14 year anniversary and has worked across many products including YouTube, Google TV, and Chrome. She grew up in California and attended the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.In this conversation, Nicy and Amy discuss competing identities and how we often experience the world as the world treats us. They also determine that the word “nice” has become an insult, talk about the earth shattering expe...2024-11-1333 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#26 - Nicy's Thoughts: Joy & PainWe are introducing a new episode format as an experiment. These will be shorter episodes with just Nicy discussing recent events. In this episode, Nicy's shares thoughts on what brings her joy and tries really hard not to be a hater, but fails. Nicy Durán is an almost lawyer, a former Googler/YouTuber, an aspiring storyteller, and a forever optimist.2024-10-2311 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#25 - Parker Zhou & Finding JoyParker Zhou is a corporate finance lawyer working in New York City and a real estate investor specializing in single family homes located in the Sunbelt. Parker loves geopolitics, investing and talking about Pokemon. He is a father of two and hopes his kids will grow up to have bold ambitions along with being great at understanding people. In this conversation, Nicy and Parker discuss the importance of finding things that spark joy in your life and Parker makes a case for investing in real estate in order to accomplish this. They also discuss the power of P...2024-10-0934 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#24 - Nicy's Thoughts: Female Leadership & HHMWe are introducing a new episode format as an experiment. These will be shorter episodes with just Nicy discussing recent events. In this episode, Nicy's shares thoughts on female leadership and Hispanic Heritage Month. Nicy Duran is an almost lawyer, a former Googler/YouTuber, an aspiring storyteller, and a forever optimist.2024-09-2608 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#23 - Brock Morris & Embracing ChangeBrock Morris is a San Diego based Group Manager, on Intuit's TurboTax Business Operations Team. He is a Southern Cal native and spent ~9 years in Silicon Valley working in Operations for Enterprise and Startup companies. He joined Intuit ~1 year ago and is focused on refining his leadership skills and fostering an inclusive growth environment for his team to do the best work of their lives. This was a major driver in Brock’s decision to pursue his MBA part-time (while working full time) at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.In this conversation, Brock an...2024-09-1238 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#22 - Barrie Farivar & DisciplineBarrie Farivar grew up in Santa Monica, California, holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and is the Founder & CEO of leaf. She is also a two-time national judo champion, executive coach, and a huge Lakers fan. Prior to leaf, Barrie spent 15 years at Google and YouTube across Finance, Strategy, Operations and Partnerships. leaf is an app that makes it really easy to record and share audio memories. Her family has had a lot of fun using leaf to capture moments big and small with their two young daughters. Barrie hopes to help others d...2024-08-0734 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#21 - Uzo Ometu & North Star DreamsUzo Ometu is currently the founder of BlackOakTV. His journey was almost as scripted as the shows and movies he works with. While spending years working at media and tech companies like ESPN, CBS, Morpheus Media, Google, and YouTube, he always knew he wanted to be one thing: The Black Rupert Murdoch. He has experience as a producer, researcher, technologist, small business owner and is a former journalist and failed athlete. His love for content, community, and conversations are at the heart of BlackOakTV, and everything else he does. In this conversation, Nicy and U...2024-06-2637 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#20 - Lucy Sun & Seeking SecurityLucy Sun immigrated with her family from China to Canada at the age of 12, and grew up thinking she would become a doctor. After spending her college years suffering through molecular biology, she realized she was much more in love with literature and human psychology. For over 10 years, she's worked in management consulting and Fortune 500 companies. She currently heads up all things Talent at Milrose Consulting. Outside of her work, she enjoys being a mother (most of the time) and coaching working moms on finding equilibrium and themselves. She lives with her husband and two kids in Brooklyn, New...2024-04-1627 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#19 - Zynara Ng & Soulmate ConnectionsThe Birthday Month Episode.Zynara Ng is a self-growth speaker and TEDx speaker, focusing on the importance of self-development, healing, and growth. Her mission is to help individuals realize their full potential by unlocking the things that hold them back from within. Zynara has also worked as a video producer for over a decade at Google and YouTube where she is passionate about sharing the stories of others. Her work is rooted in helping individuals find their voices and share them with the world. In this conversation, Zynara and Nicy talk about their soulmate connection, w...2024-03-2030 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#18 - Gustavo Morillo & DisciplineGustavo Morillo was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and joined the Marines after high school. After the military, Gustavo embarked on a new journey in San Diego, California, where he received a bachelor's degree in marketing. Leveraging his leadership skills and strategic acumen honed in the military, he co-founded Expanded Reach, a digital marketing agency helping companies grow online. Gustavo enjoys working out, playing pickleball, and dancing the night away at music festivals.In this conversation, Gus and Nicy discuss how we are more in control of our reality than we might believe, but it...2024-02-2034 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#17 - Matt Tuffuor & EntrepreneurshipMatt Tuffuor is the Co-Founder of Toasted Life, a dynamic lifestyle network and event production engine founded in 2015. Operating in key markets like San Francisco, Oakland, New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, Toasted Life fosters community and provides a platform for social and professional expression. Toasted Life's achievements have earned recognition in Forbes, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Source Magazine, and BlackEnterprise. Before co-founding Toasted Life, Matt began his career in the tech industry. He has spent time at Google, YouTube and is currently the Global Community Marketing Manager at Eventbrite.In this conversation...2024-01-2336 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#16 - Jose Duran & 2023 ReflectionsThis is the second time Jose Duran has been on the One of a Kind Podcast. He was the first guest and is closing out the inaugural year. Jose is a Los Angeles based journalist and scriptwriter and Nicy's brother. He studied cinema at California State University, Northridge, and went on to teach broadcast journalism at his alma mater. He is an avid gamer and storyteller and is the amazing editor for this podcast.Jose and Nicy kick off the conversation talking about how changing our behavior can help change our feelings. They also discuss the role...2023-12-3128 min
The Dapper Dollars Podcast$2.09 - Navigating Layoffs and Your FinancesIn this empowering episode, join our hosts as they sit down with Nicy Duran, a former Head of Strategy & Operations at YouTube who weathered the storm of a sudden tech layoff. Together, they delve into the raw and real aspects of navigating the financial challenges that often accompany job loss. From the initial shock to the practical steps taken to manage a shifting financial landscape, Nicy Duran shares her personal journey and even how she launched her own successful podcast along the way.
Discover firsthand how a seasoned ex-Googler coped with the unexpected turns in her career...2023-12-2845 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#15 - Hannah Hunt & No BlueprintHannah Hunt has been at Google her entire professional career working primarily on the global communications team. She currently works in sustainability communications for Google. Hannah is originally from Belfast in Northern Ireland and she came to the US to work on a secret Google project that would become known as Google Helpouts. She left university in Belfast with a law degree that focused on alternative justice and conflict resolution – a life-long interest and passion of hers following a childhood that spanned the end of the conflict in Northern Ireland.In this conversation Hannah and Nicy discuss wh...2023-11-0827 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#14 - Jamie Kreeger & Changing CourseJamie Kreeger worked at Google in the Bay Area for 15 years focused on Operations and Program Management on products many of you will know, including AdSense, YouTube, and Play. Driven by her passion for environmental sustainability, Jamie spent her last couple of years at Google on the Sustainability team where she was the Strategy & Operations Lead for Google’s Chief Sustainability Officer. She holds a BS from the University of Minnesota and a MBA from Babson College.In this fourteenth episode of the "One of a Kind Podcast," Jamie and Nicy discuss the doubts that can arise wh...2023-10-2429 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#13 - Lana Bonner & Feeling SafeLana Bonner is a San Diego based casino gaming veteran and an executive at a data analytics company. In 1998, she came to the United States as a war refugee from old Yugoslavia. Her story is unexpectedly and heartbreakingly timely given current events. Her passion for people and her relentless curiosity about the world helped shape her career journey from a 17 year old casino buffet hostess to an executive. Today her days are filled with less work and more adventures with her husband Jason and a two year old son Miles.In this thirteenth episode of the "One...2023-10-1039 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#12 - Linda Camacho & AssumptionsLinda Camacho is a native New Yorker who loves chocolate, travel, and far too much TV. She also loves books and I am so thankful that I can always get the best book recommendations from her. She is currently a literary agent at Gallt & Zacker Literary, where she represents a roster of writers and illustrators. Before that, she held various positions at Simon & Schuster, Writers House, and Penguin Random House. She got her MFA in writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and also helps other writers as a creativity coach. In this t...2023-09-2830 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#11 - Christian Franco & NostalgiaChristian Franco is a Bay Area native who spent most of his childhood in the quiet town of Burlingame, CA, where he lived with his parents and older brother, Carlos. Upon graduating from Cornell University with a BA in Psychology he moved to New York where he attended law school, worked as a licensed attorney, and eventually embarked on a career as a brand strategist. In 2019, Christian moved back to California to be close to family and currently lives in San Francisco. He borrows his mantra from the storied Jedi Master, Yoda -- “Do, or do not. There is no...2023-09-1235 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#10 - Stephen Salinas & The Cost of EvolvingStephen Salinas is a first-generation Mexican-American who was born and raised in Los Angeles. He started his career at the education non-profit, City Year. After spending 5 years building City Year in Los Angeles, he attended business school at Yale, where he met his wife Rachel. He has been at YouTube for 9+ years, working in almost every part of the business organization -- Partnerships, Operations, Business Operations, and now runs Strategy for Support. Aside from work, he loves staying active and coaching people looking to unlock their potential. Most importantly, he’s a devoted husband to Rachel, and father to Jo...2023-08-3038 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#9 - Zynara Ng & Existential CrisesZynara Ng is a self-growth speaker and TEDx speaker, focusing on the importance of self-development, healing, and growth. Her mission is to help individuals realize their full potential by unlocking the things that hold them back from within. Zynara has also worked as a video producer for over a decade at Google and YouTube where she is passionate about sharing the stories of others. Her work is rooted in helping individuals find their voices and share them with the world. In this ninth episode of the "One of a Kind Podcast," Zynara uses her empath abilities t...2023-08-1633 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#8 - Andrew Peterson & Saying YesAndrew Peterson accidentally got into broadcasting, which turned into a decade of working on some of Australia’s biggest shows and pioneering digital content creation, distribution, and commercialization during the 2000s. He then spent 5 years at Universal Music working with artists to build their fan base and tell their stories in new ways. Today, Andrew is the Head of YouTube in Canada, where he oversees the content, creator and viewer ecosystems for the country. In this eighth episode of the "One of a Kind Podcast," Andrew shares a few of his life lessons that inc...2023-08-0135 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#7 - Rachel Shin & CelebrationRachel is currently an Administrative Business Partner for YouTube Marketing, which in other companies is known as an Executive Assistant. She is based in Los Angeles, California, where she spends her days baby talking to all dogs, trying to become a crow girl and picking fights with squirrels. In this episode, Rachel and Nicy discuss how to break out of what Rachel calls, “black and white thinking” where we label ourselves and others as good or bad people. Rachel shares a deeply personal experience of asking for help when all seemed lost and learning that we all m...2023-07-1824 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#6 - Hamsa Mahendranathan & Adult ScamsHamsa Mahendranathan is a second generation Sri Lankan Tamil who grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and in Seoul, South Korea. She attended Columbia Law School and has spent the last 8 years at a mid-sized law firm predominantly representing whistleblowers. She currently lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, with her two dogs and her spouse Alex, who is a public school teacher and she’s super proud of him.In this sixth episode of the "One of a Kind Podcast," Hamsa and Nicy discuss their shared immigrant family experiences, the realization that adulthood is...2023-07-0437 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#5 - Trent Raymond & Letting GoTrent Raymond is a personal trainer based in San Diego, California. He says that learning to create a relationship with his clients while pushing them to become the best version of themselves is what keeps him motivated and happy to come to work everyday. Prior to this, Trent spent four years in the US Marine Corp.In this fifth episode of the "One of a Kind Podcast," Trent and Nicy discuss Trent's experiences in the military, the value of letting go, and very importantly, how to be brave through the fear. 2023-06-2140 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#4 - Ashley Gaertner & Inner ThoughtsAshley Gaertner is a registered nurse at University of California San Diego's Burn Intensive Care Unit. She spent the formative years of her career on night shift at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital Emergency Room and Trauma Center, including working as an ER nurse during Covid's peak.In this fourth episode of the "One of a Kind Podcast," Ashley and Nicy discuss the value of vulnerability, the importance of opening up to your people, and how to become more aware of our inner thoughts so we can learn to be kinder to ourselves. 2023-06-0641 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#3 - Crystal Stonebreaker & BoundariesCrystal Stonebreaker started her career at PWC as an auditor, but soon realized that she prefers working with people rather than numbers. She ran her own boutique recruiting firm and then went on to Google, Amazon, and Meta. Crystal’s most recent role was Director, Leadership Recruiting at Meta, where she led a team responsible for hiring Engineering Managers across North America and Canada. Earlier this year, she was part of the Meta layoffs that resulted in 80% of all recruiters losing their roles. In this third episode of the "One of a Kind Podcast," Crystal and Nic...2023-05-2341 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#2 - Brian Yeh & ElitismBrian has been working in tech and software sales since 2010, with experiences in startup acquisitions and opening up international offices. He graduated from Harvard Business School in 2018 and has since taken on roles in sales and sales leadership at early stage startups. And like so many people in the tech industry, he recently experienced being laid off.In this second episode of the "One of a Kind Podcast," Brian and Nicy discuss the career choices that got them here, the elitism the pervades these choices, and the insecurities that prevent many of us from pivoting to new...2023-05-1642 minOne of a Kind Podcast with Nicy Duran#1 - Jose Duran & The Google LayoffsJose is a Los Angeles based journalist and scriptwriter and Nicy's younger brother. He studied cinema at California State University, Northridge. He recently started teaching broadcast journalism at his alma mater and you can find him roaming the halls in his signature Chucks. He hosts and produces a Vegan podcast called "Beyond the Kale" and is an avid gamer and storyteller. In this inaugural episode of the "One of a Kind Podcast," Nicy shares her experience of being laid off from Google after almost nine years at the company. Jose discusses his career journey, including going back to co...2023-05-0945 min