Shows
The Wellness Dojo PodcastShortcut To Deeper Connections with Richard Lee-Thai | 092Feeling disconnected? Struggling to build meaningful relationships? In this episode, Richard Lee-Thai, TEDx speaker and passionate community connector, joins host Kyle Craik to break down the art of connection and how it impacts happiness, fulfillment, and well-being.Richard shares his insights on why loneliness is on the rise, how to build deeper connections, and practical strategies to become more authentic and engaged in your relationships. Whether you want to improve your social life, deepen friendships, or feel more connected to y...2025-04-0854 min
Be the change. PodcastRichard Lee-ThaiChange comes when you think about curiosity and contribution. Richard Lee-Thai is a connection expert and the founder of Excuses to Connect.
To get connected with Richard, find him on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.
Follow Be the change. Podcast on Instagram: @bethechangepodcast.
If you have any questions, please email Lily Mott at lily@bethechangepodcast.org.
2025-03-1315 min
Back to Business: CalgaryOvercoming Social Anxiety: Tips for Authentic RelationshipsWelcome back to the Back to Business Podcast, where we spotlight Calgary's industry leaders and delve into the heart of entrepreneurialism in our vibrant city!Richard Lee-Thai is the Founder of Excuses to Connect, a business whose mission is to create a world without loneliness by empowering individuals and organizations to make meaningful connections in their daily lives. He is also a TEDx Speaker, co-author, and certified coach.Get Connected With Richard:www.excusestoconnect.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/richardleethai/2024-11-0442 min
The Rejected Pre-Med Podcast: For Anyone Who’s Faced RejectionRejection Sensitivity & How to Deal With It – A TedX Speaker’s Advice with Richard Lee ThaiEver felt like rejection hits harder than it should? In this episode, I chat with connection coach and TEDx speaker Richard Lee-Thai about rejection sensitivity and rejection dysphoria—how these emotional responses affect our resilience and growth. Richard shares his personal journey of rejection, we dive deep into understanding rejection sensitivity, and explore Jia Jiang’s intriguing experiment where he sought rejection over 100 days to overcome his fear. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion that can help you reframe how you perceive and handle rejection.Resources mentioned:More on Rejection Sensitivity: HealthyGamerGG YouTube VideoJia Jiang's TED Talk...2024-10-1335 min
Make Discomfort Your B*tchEp. 29: Richard Shares How He Transforms Pain Into PurposeWelcome to today's episode! I’m excited to introduce my guest, Richard, who has dedicated both his personal and professional life to fostering human connection in meaningful ways. Richard’s journey began with his own experience of loneliness as a child and teen—a feeling he once thought was his burden alone. Through his journey, Richard discovered that he wasn’t alone in these struggles, and this realization fueled his passion for helping others connect. Today, we’ll dive into his inspiring story and the powerful insights he’s gained along the way. MORE ABOUT RICHARD LEE-THAI: Richa...2024-10-1333 min
Seeking the OverlapEp 5: Letting Go of Perfectionism to Build Authentic Relationships with Connection Consultant, Richard Lee-ThaiFor the full show notes, visit the episode webpage at: https://bailyhancock.com/seekingtheoverlappod/ep5-richard-lee-thai*** In this episode of Seeking the Overlap, Baily sits down with Richard Lee-Thai, a Connection Consultant, Author, and TEDx speaker, to explore how letting go of perfectionism can lead to more authentic relationships. Richard shares his personal journey of overcoming people-pleasing tendencies and social anxiety, offering strategies for introverts to build confidence in social situations. Together, Baily and Richard discuss the importance of self-connection as the foundation for meaningful relationships, and how embracing vulnerability can transform both personal and professional interactions. Tune in for ac...2024-10-0635 min
Tactical EmpathyOvercoming Loneliness: Richard Lee-Thai’s Journey to Becoming Connection ConsultantIn this episode, Erin Thorp speaks with Richard Lee-Thai, a connection consultant. Richard shares his journey of overcoming loneliness and social isolation, leading to the creation of his role as a connection consultant. The conversation delves into the meaning of empathy, the challenges of practicing empathy, and practical techniques for developing empathy skills. Richard emphasizes the importance of clean language and the art of asking open-ended questions to foster empathy and connection.Today on Tactical Empathy:The importance of addressing loneliness and social isolation in educational institutionsThe need for teaching and practicing empathy...2024-07-1027 min
The Leader Within podcastLollipop Moments: How to Creating Meaningful Connections through Small Acts with Richard Lee-ThaiIn this episode of The Leader Within, Angela interviews, Richard Lee-Thai, a connection consultant and TEDx speaker. Richard discusses the importance of meaningful connections and
how they can transform lives. He shares his personal journey of overcoming shyness and loneliness, which led him to become passionate about normalizing conversations about connection.
Richard emphasizes the significance of building meaningful connections in leadership and everyday life. With anecdotes that warm the soul and insightful conversation, Richard and our host uncover valuable life lessons on leadership, trust, and the underestimated power of human connection.
Wh...2024-03-0529 min
CiTR -- Exploding Head MoviesXHM #684 - "Five generations of snakes" (2024 February 19)It's Family Day in parts of Canada, so for our 4th part of our annual Oscars profile, we not only hear selections from John Williams' nominated score to Indiana Jones & The Dial of Destiny, but we also circle back through the rest of his music from the adventure film series. gak is jet lagged from all the red lines that pop up on the map as he flew a lot last week. 0.1 Ray Anthony: Holiday (Programming Aids 7", 1964) Capitol 0.2 Lol Tolhurst, Budgie & Jacknife Lee: Los Angeles [w.James Murphy] (Los Angeles, 2023) PIAS 0.3 Biliana Voutchkova: Biliana (Looking for Daniel, 2023) Unsounds 0.4 Kool & the...2024-02-202h 03
CiTR -- Exploding Head MoviesXHM #684 - "Five generations of snakes tried to greet him" (2024 February 19)It's Family Day in parts of Canada, so for our 4th part of our annual Oscars profile, we not only hear selections from John Williams' nominated score to Indiana Jones & The Dial of Destiny, but we also circle back through the rest of his music from the adventure film series. gak is jet lagged from all the red lines that pop up on the map as he flew a lot last week.
0.1 Ray Anthony: Holiday (Programming Aids 7", 1964) Capitol
0.2 Lol Tolhurst, Budgie & Jacknife Lee: Los Angeles [w.James Murphy] (Los Angeles, 2023) PIAS
0.3 Biliana Voutchkova: Biliana (Looking for Daniel, 2023) Unsounds
0.4 Kool & the...2024-02-2000 min
Create Your VisionEp2: We're Not Really Strangers with Richard Lee-Thai“Loneliness is as lethal as smoking 15 cigarettes per day.
Lonely people are 50% more likely to die prematurely than those with healthy social connections.”
Wow.
In this episode, host Kim Westlund explores the importance of connection with guest, Richard Lee Tai. They discuss the need for belonging and the impact of loneliness on health and well-being. Richard shares his personal story of feeling lonely and out of place, and how it led him to focus on connection in his work.
Kim and Richard disc...2024-01-2648 min
The Stein Time ShowHis martial arts journey into stand-up comedy, revealing the dynamic connection between comedy and fighting, Ian Harris.Ian Harris is a multifaceted individual known for his roles as a comedian, director, and mixed martial arts (MMA) trainer. He is the proprietor of "Fight Science," an MMA training facility situated in Los Angeles, which derives its name from the distinctive fighting methodology devised by Harris himself. Beyond his comedic pursuits, Harris seamlessly integrates skepticism and critical thinking into his comedic performances. He delved into various disciplines, including two and a half years of wrestling, and extensive training in Kenpo Karate, Wing Chun, Japanese Jujutsu, Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai (under the tutelage of Bruce Lee's...2023-11-3054 min
BLUE RM - Business Relationship Management -BOOK SMARTS- Folge 6 | "Become your Superself!" | Interview Dr. Priscilla Schelp | #090Connect with Yourself to Connect with Others
Dr. Priscilla Schelp ist Gründerin, Buchautorin und promovierte Risiko Expertin. Mit ihrem Startup networkx.app bringt sie geeignete Bewerber/innen zu den passenden Netzwerken und Clubs. Und das weltweit.
Dabei steht für sie das Community Building stets im Vordergrund.
In dieser Episode spreche ich mit Priscilla über ihr Buch "Become your Superself! Connect with Yourself to Connect with Others".
Es ist das erste ihrer Networking Trilogie. Hier stellt sie uns den Rahmen vor, in dem die anderen beiden Werke erscheinen werden.
Wir sprechen unter and...2023-10-0550 min
Coachful Coaching Leadership PodcastEpisode 14: Fighting Loneliness through Excuses to Connect with Richard Lee-ThaiAs a Connection Coach, Richard Lee-Thai supports individuals and organizations in building their social confidence and fostering communities where everyone feels like they belong. He is widely recognized for his TEDx Talk ”How to Find Excuses to Connect”, where he explores the concept of a fear ladder and emphasizes the importance of cultivating meaningful connections. Richard has developed practical tools, such as the fear ladder and the connection equation, to help individuals improve their social confidence and build strong relationships. His public speaking engagements have garnered positive feedback and recognition, leading him to plan a second TEDx Talk. Founded by Richard, Excuses t...2023-08-2552 min
The Connector Next Door with Lisa GareauRichard Lee-Thai, Connection Consultant, Loneliness Buster, and Natural ConnectorSend us a textRichard Lee-Thai, doesn’t feel he’s a “natural connector” but is fascinated by people and has learned - over some lonely years - how to connect in authentic, meaningful ways! These learned skills have helped him to both connect meaningfully with others and has helped him become an advocate and friend to those that want to learn to do the same.Richard Lee-Thai is a TEDx Speaker, Connection Consultant, and co-author of “Become Your Superself: Connect with Yourself to Connect with Others.” His TEDx talk: "How to Find Excus...2023-06-1539 min
Coffee and Tea with CarrieVeeConnection and Social Health with Richard Lee-ThaiHi! I'm so happy you're here! Today I'm interviewing my friend, Richard Lee-Thai. Richard is a TEDx Speaker & Mentor, Connection Coach, and co-author of the recently-published book: “Become Your Superself: Connect with Yourself to Connect with Others.” His TEDx talk: "How to Find Excuses to Connect” outlineshow people can make meaningful connections easier. His ultimate vision is to create a world without loneliness.People never grew up with a class on “How to Make Friends”, so his work as a professional speaker and coach focuses on lessening the gap in connection education. He empowers i...2023-02-0731 minCoffee and Tea with CarrieVeeCreating Strong Connections With Richard Lee-ThaiHi! I'm so happy you're here! Today I'm interviewing my friend, Richard. Richard Lee-Thai is a TEDx Speaker & Mentor, Connection Coach, and co-author of the recently-published book: “Become Your Superself: Connect with Yourself to Connect with Others.” His TEDx talk: "How to Find Excuses to Connect” outlines how people can make meaningful connections easier. His ultimate vision is to create a world without loneliness. People never grew up with a class on “How to Make Friends”, so his work as a professional speaker and coach focuses on lessening the gap in connection education. He empowers individuals and organizations with the social...2023-01-1731 min
Excuses to Connect46: Helping Students to Thrive through Individualized Education with Evelyn Shaw CorleyEvelyn Shaw Corley is the founder of Thrive International Academy, an organization which provides learning outside of the traditional school setting. Having been a teacher herself, she has seen some of the flaws of the educational system and aims to create an environment where each student gets individual support so they can thrive. Evelyn is also the recipient of the Meta’s 2022 Changemaker of the Year Award to recognize the amazing work she is doing!
Timestamps
[1:52] What is your personal mission in 1 sentence?
[2:40] Receiving the 2022 Meta Changemaker award
[4:18] The story behind Thrive International Academy
[10:23] Accessibility and af...2022-10-1841 min
How Did They Get ThereEp. 23 - David Soldier on The Kropotkins, John Cale and Kurt VonnegutDavid Soldier has achieved a rare distinction — not only is he an accomplished Columbia University neuroscientist with over 200 papers and publications, several research grants and numerous prestigious awards to his credit, he is an equally successful and prolific musician in almost every genre of music. His musical undertakings include his work with the Soldier String Quartet (since 1984), a punk chamber group which has recorded with Guided by Voices, Rick Ocasek (Frontman for The Cars), Elliott Sharp, Leroy Jenkins and frequent collaborator John Cale (Velvet Underground); The Kropotkins, comprising Lori Velvette, Velvet Underground Drummer Moe Tucker, Charles Burnham (James Blood Ul...2022-10-1259 min
Excuses to Connect45: Generating Wellness through a Human Connection Movement with Pete BombaciPete Bombaci is the Founder of the GenWell Project, which is a Canadian-led not-for-profit organization focused on generating wellness through connection. Their mission is to make the world a happier and healthier place by educating, empowering and catalyzing Canadians around the importance of human connection for their health, their happiness, their longevity, and the betterment of society. In this episode, we do a deep dive on the topic of connection, why it’s important to our wellbeing, and what we can do in our own lives to be more connected.
Timestamps
[2:01] What is the GenWell Project?
[4:02] Wh...2022-09-0653 min
The Support Report with b-presentFinding Excuses to Connect with Richard Lee-ThaiRichard is a community builder, connection coach, TEDx speaker, and founder of Excuses to Connect. Excuses to Connect focuses on creating the conditions to make meaningful connections easier. Richard emphasizes that loneliness is a common feeling and social health is a skill to cultivate. He gives tons of practical advice, including having better conversations, observing the fear ladder, using connection cards, and much, much more.2022-09-0132 min
Excuses to Connect44: How to Play & Rediscover Your Inner Child with Prasanna KarurPrasanna Karur is the Founder of the PlayGround podcast where he interviews people about their childhood and rediscovering their inner child. He is passionate about making others feel belonging and living life authentically according to your own values, rather than other peoples’ expectations. This mission extends to his academic studies as he is going into medical school, with a focus on Narrative Medicine. Don’t know what that means? Neither did I - but you will learn about that and many more fascinating stories about play, authenticity, belonging, and joy.
Timestamps
[2:06] What was the motivation and stor...2022-08-2353 min
Inspiration Science - The #1 Mental Health and Purpose ShowEpisode 17: The Connection Expert - Create Excuses To Connect feat. Richard Lee-ThaiIn this new episode of Inspiration Science, I’m interviewing Richard Thai-Lee, a Connection Coach, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and Workshop Facilitator, helps worldwide individuals and organizations to make meaningful connections.
The Episode Covers The Following Topics:
- Reasons Why Most People Feel Disconnected and Lonely
- Richard’s Own Story of Disconnection
- How Richard Reestablished Connections From Scratch
- How To Become Socially Confident With Yourself & Others
- ‘’Excuses To Connect’’ While Showing Your Authentic Self
Richard Lee-Thai is the founder & host of @excusestoconnect...2022-08-1643 min
Excuses to Connect43: Livestreaming on Twitch to Create Community with Brady SimpsonBrady Simpson is a Master’s Graduate from the University of Lethbridge and a Twitch streamer. Don’t know what Twitch is? It’s a livestreaming platform where people stream themselves playing video games, playing music, hosting talk shows, and much more. Brady specifically streams Guild Wars II, a MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game). In this episode, we talk about the challenges he had to go through to complete his Master’s degree, as well as the amazing international connections that he’s built through streaming on Twitch, including a number of his viewers coming to watch his thesis def...2022-06-2249 min
Excuses to Connect42: What I Learned Talking to Strangers: Street Connect NYC with Janille HillJanille Hill is the creator of Street Connect NYC, where she is capturing meaningful conversations between strangers in NYC. She shares these conversations on her Instagram page and she is making the world smaller one connection at a time. In this episode, she shares about her process of talking to strangers, stories that have stood out to her, and the responsibilities that come with storytelling. We also chat about being a connector of colour and how systemic racism has played out in all walks of life, including in the connection space. I loved this insightful and fun conversation with...2022-06-161h 00
Access To Anyone with Michael RoderickHow To Make Excuses To Connect With Richard Lee-ThaiRichard Lee-Thai is the Founder of Excuses to Connect, a brand and business focused on building connections through one-on-one coaching, podcasting, public speaking, and merchandise. As a Connection Coach, Richard supports individuals and organizations by building their social confidence and fostering communities where everyone feels like they belong. Richard has also delivered a TEDx talk on "How to Find Excuses to Connect," outlining how people can easily make meaningful connections. In this episode… Have you ever wanted to connect with someone but stopped short because you lacked self-confidence? Do you sometimes feel out of...2022-06-0946 min
One More Time - The Sound of the '90s and '00s Night OutSoul Essence - Show 228 - 7th June 2022Dave Anthony, Lisa Millett - In Love With You (Original Mix)
Walter G, Luis Radio - Never Give Up (Luis Radio Remix)
FLIP-DA-FUNK - Real Love (Original Mix)
Mark De Clive-Lowe, Jody Watley - Tonight's The Night (Original Mix)
Reel People - Always There (Scott Diaz Funk Excursion)
Mary Mary - In The Morning (Maurice's Nu Soul Mix)
The Clark Sisters, DJ Spen - You Brought The Sunshine (DJ Spen Remix)
Marc Cotterell - Pimp On 4th Street (Original Pimpin Mix)
Matt D, Claudio Deeper, Michelle Weeks, Marc Cotterell - Living My Life (Marc Cotterell Plastik Factory Mix)
24 Hour Experience...2022-06-071h 50
Excuses to Connect41: How Loneliness Can Lead to Mass Murderers with Unni TurrettiniNorwegian-born Unni Turrettini is a best-selling and award-winning author, international speaker, and loneliness and connection expert. Her work is about helping people find deeper connection and belonging, so that they can thrive in their personal and professional lives. She is the author of “The Mystery of the Lone Wolf Killer”, which examines Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik and focuses on what we can learn from that tragedy to prevent rampage killings spurred by loneliness. In this episode, we talk about the conforming culture of Norway, and how she found many similarities between herself and a mass murderer, in term...2022-06-0747 min
Excuses to Connect40: How to Be Present for Youth Adults with Cancer with Abby WestermanAbby Westerman is the Co-Founder and CEO of the b-present Foundation, which was established in memory of her daughter Kirsten, whose battle with cancer inspired her to improve the experience for both young adults with cancer and their supporters. They are working to provide the resources that they wish they had as part of the support network and ignite a movement among young adults to amplify the importance of presence. This has been one of my favourite episodes I’ve recorded so far and there’s so much important information in here about what good communication sounds like, how to b...2022-06-0133 min
Excuses to Connect39: How to Be Your Authentic Self with Kristina M. HolleKristina M. Holle is the author of "The Authentic You: Unleash Your Leadership Potential". She is a business leader that has had a career in Human Resources for over 20 years. She has worked in numerous companies and industries focusing her time on strategic and operational HR activities, centering on employee engagement, talent branding, and driving a culture of wellbeing. Nowadays, she's been very focused on helping people to discover their authentic selves. In this episode, we discuss what are the components of authenticity, how to be more authentic, and the shifts in culture that need to occur in organizations.2022-05-1850 min
Excuses to Connect38: From Birth to Net WorthJesse Stanton is from Alaska, and he is a motivational speaker, podcaster, business coach, real estate investor & creative finance ninja. He is the host of the Birth to Net Worth podcast, where he details how he is approaching parenting and teaching his kids to live a life of freedom from the constraints of scarcity, both in terms of mindset and financially. He is the first guest I’ve had where we’ve talked extensively about the connection between parents and children. He shares many great stories of how his kids have absorbed lessons through books and seeing how their fath...2022-05-1144 min
Excuses to Connect37: Spreading Happiness, Love and Positive Vibes 24/7 with Syrine BellafiSyrine Bellafi is the creator of a project called “Spreading Happiness, Love and Positive Vibes 24/7” where she provides doses of positivity through videos, quotes, and inspiring discussions. Living in Tunisia, she shares how she was able to connect with people from multiple countries through an app called WeWorld. She believes in choosing kindness, even towards others who may seem mean or not approachable. It can seem like the world is full of hate right now, but this episode will leave you feeling energized by optimism.
Highlights & Takeaways
Syrine grew up in a community where there's a lot...2022-05-0427 min
Excuses to Connect36: From Shy to Superconnector with Godwin ChanGodwin Chan is the host of the Digital Introverts podcast. This is a show where introverts share their success and failure stories and discuss how they thrive in the digital age. The show is for introverts from all walks of life who are ready to just start and scale their next venture, whether it's a creative hobby, side hustle, small business, or startup. In addition to being a podcast host, Godwin is a Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate at the University of Toronto, and is interested within healthcare venture capital - don’t know what that means? No worries, we co...2022-04-2740 min
Excuses to Connect35: Fighting People Named “Josh” with Josh SwainOut of pandemic boredom, Josh Swain created a Facebook group chat with other people named Josh Swain and challenged them to meet in a year to compete for the right to use the name “Josh”. The screenshot of this group chat went viral on the Internet and led to this event being dubbed the “Josh” fight. Although he just intended it to be a joke, it became an actual event and fundraiser for the Children's Hospital & Medical Center Foundation in Omaha, along with a food drive for the Food Bank of Lincoln. This story was a perfect example of an excus...2022-04-0621 min
Excuses to Connect34: Venn - The App to Make Friends with Jesper AlgaardJesper Algaard is the Founder and CEO of the Venn app. Venn is Norwegian for “friend” and it’s an app designed to help people make friends. This is done by matching people based on similar interests and personalities, as well creating activities to move the online conversations to in-person interactions. In this episode, Jesper shares his inspiration behind creating this app, curious facts about human connection, and stories about how connection comes about in different stages of our lives.
Highlights & Takeaways
When Jesper was in his 30s, he realized that his social life was changing quite...2022-03-3045 min
Excuses to Connect33: How to Build Your Dream Network with J. Kelly HoeyJ. Kelly Hoey is the author of Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships In A Hyper-Connected World. She’s currently working on her second book which focuses on the unique networks women need for career success. Kelly has been lauded by Forbes (“1 of 5 Women Changing the World of VC/Entrepreneurship”) and Business Insider (“1 of the 100 Most Influential Tech Women On Twitter”), has contributed to a variety of publications including The New York Times - these and other unexpected career opportunities she notes, are a direct result of building a network. Join us for an insightful conversation on the do’s and d...2022-03-2351 min
Excuses to Connect32: Finding Your Passion and Being an Everyday Leader with Zach HoseZach Hose runs the ZAP! Podcast where he has conversations with people from diverse backgrounds and dive deep into what they’re passionate about. He is also an author, a singer/songwriter, and completing a Masters in HR Administration and Leadership. In this episode, we explore various perspectives on the topic of passion, as well as everyday leadership, communication differences in people with different genders, how to connect with people during job searching, and much more!
Highlights & Takeaways
“Don’t compare your Chapter 1 to someone else’s Chapter 20” - don’t be discouraged when you see other people...2022-03-1647 min
ZAP!Richard Lee-ThaiRichard is a TEDx speaker who delivered a talk entitled "How to Find Excuses to Connect" which outlines how people can make meaningful connections easier. He is the Founder of Excuses to Connect, a business focused on building connections through one-on-one coaching, podcasting, public speaking, and merchandise. His motto is: "You never know how any connection can transform your life." His ultimate vision is to empower and connect connectors, and together, we can transform our lives and the lives of others, one connection at a time.
In this episode Richard talks about leadership, meaningful connections, how technology...2022-03-141h 01
Excuses to Connect31: Igniting Your Inner Flame with Mohsen YoussefMohsen Youssef is also known as “The Ignited Flame.” That’s because he found his flame, which is his passion and love for life and people. He is currently running the 3000 Flames project, which is about meeting as many people as possible in a span of a year, and having these meaningful interactions whether it's in the elevator, grocery store, or across the world through virtual platforms. In this episode, he shares his story of being an ex-Amazon manager to reconnecting with himself and his emotions at a men’s retreat. Oh, and also how he once traded a bottle o...2022-03-0947 min
Excuses to Connect30: Being Unapologetically You with Alif HuqAlif Huq is actually a mutual friend of one of the previous podcast guests, Ahmad Jabbir from Episode 9. He is a Digital Marketing Automation Specialist, and he excels in this role because of his ability to connect and network. However, he was once painfully shy and awkward. In this episode, he shares many stories that are embarrassing, emotional, and about embracing himself fully as the person he is.
Highlights & Takeaways
The ultimate meaning of life is being “so you” that people feel inspired and want to be themselves.
People who are more strategically inclined in social situ...2022-03-0449 min
Tea with Mike154. Meaningful connection, an Interview with Richard Lee-ThaiMike drinks tea with Richard Lee-Thai, a TEDx Speaker and founder of Excuses to Connect; a business focused on building connections through one-on-one coaching, podcasting, and public speaking.
The theme of Richard's story was about creating meaningful connections through conversation and networking. Richard spoke to his love for music and his passion for community building. Richard also shared the journey of transitioning from becoming a high school music teacher to being an entrepreneur. Share this episode with someone who wants to learn about community building through connection.
Find Richard Lee-Thai through:
2022-02-261h 08
Excuses to Connect29: Leading a Limitless Life with Lionel MigrinoLionel Migrino identifies himself as a Filipino-Canadian living with cerebral palsy. He is proud of his Filipino roots and to be a member of the disability community. In this episode, he emphasizes how he does not solely define himself as a person with a disability, because he lives his life without any limitations. His goal is to show people that your obstacles should not stop you from going on adventures and chasing your dreams. He is a photographer, anti-racism and disability advocate, and emphasizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Highlights & Takeaways
Cerebral palsy impacts...2022-02-2335 min
Excuses to Connect28: Talking Politics and Religion Without Killing Each Other with Corey NathanCorey Nathan is the host of a podcast called Talkin’ Politics & Religion Without Killin’ Each Other. His aim is to have a home for engaging conversations about the topics that matter most in our culture. He talks about the screamers that are taking all the oxygen out of the room, and instead he wants to have civil conversations that explore nuance and understand different points of view. In this episode, we do a deep dive into connecting across differences, and how to have human-to-human conversations with people whose beliefs might differ significantly from our own.
Highlights & Takeaways
...2022-02-1650 min
Excuses to Connect27: Unleashing the Potential of Immigrants with Hyder HassanHyder Hassan is the CEO of Immigrant Services Calgary. Immigrating from Pakistan in 1999, he had a one-liner about his dream in Canada. It was the line: "I want to create massive change within myself and others around me." Since then, he has been at the head of the innovative Gateway Program, which is transforming the newcomer experience, and also being highly involved in his community, including through Toastmasters, Rotary, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, among many other organizations. In this episode, we explore his 3 R's that are central to his worldview, the story of how he became the CEO...2022-02-0944 min
Excuses to Connect26: The Struggle is Real - Building Connections in Your 20s with Justin PetersJustin Peters is a fellow podcaster and runs a podcast called The Struggle is Real - I love the name by the way - on his podcast, he chats with a variety of experts on topics that are relevant to people in their 20s. In other words, the things we should've really learned more about in school, but didn't. Things like personal finances, networking, relationships, and your career. Now that he's 28, we explore the important lessons that he's learned throughout this decade and what's next for him. How do you make connections when you're out of school? How do...2022-02-0141 min
Excuses to Connect25: Personal Branding as a Tool for Connection with Isaac MashmanIsaac Mashman is a businessman, podcast host, and public speaker. Over the span of several years, and nearly a dozen various business ideas, it was in 2020 that Isaac launched his company Mashman Ventures, a public relations firm that specializes in working with people who want to be followed, in-demand, and respected to build their personal brands. In this episode, we hone in on what personal branding means and also how it relates to making meaningful connections with others.
Highlights & Takeaways
An elevator pitch is how you would sum up what you have going on in a...2022-01-2635 min
Excuses to Connect24: Fostering Community through Deaf and Disability Theatre with Col CsekeCol Cseke is the Artistic & Executive Director at Inside Out Theatre, which is a Deaf and disability theatre company in Calgary invested in artistic excellence, community development, and deepening our cultures’ accessibility. He also runs a podcast called Mad Practice with his best buddy JD, where they talk about living with madness and generally just revel in their friendship. In this episode, we explore his journey with theatre and the connections he’s made within that industry, as well as the mental health effects of the pandemic and how it’s shifted our interactions with people. A candid and inspir...2022-01-1943 min
Excuses to Connect23: Task-Oriented and Relationship-Oriented People with September PlumerSeptember Plumer is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) currently working towards her MBA. She is also currently the President of the Dinosaur Toastmaster club. She sees Toastmasters as a great middle ground of having activities for both task-oriented and relationship-oriented people. What does she mean by this? Well, a few years ago, she read about people either lean towards being task-oriented which means you’re great that you’re getting stuff done, but struggle in relationships. Or you’re relationship-oriented which means you’re great at connecting with people, but you don’t get as much done. In this episode, w...2022-01-1035 min
Excuses to Connect22: Connecting through Wine, Food, and Traveling with Mackenzie PuticiMackenzie Putici is a man of diverse tastes, pun intended. He is a sommelier (that’s a fancy term for someone who is a wine expert) and runs companies that provide wine and food tour experiences. He is passionate about bringing people together through the love of food, story, spaces, and travel. As someone who has traveled to 43 countries, he has lots of interesting stories to share, including a story of how he got invited to eat at a stranger's house in Morocco.
Highlights & Takeaways
While working in the restaurant industry, he reminded himself of why pe...2022-01-0438 min
Excuses to Connect21: Connecting Through Pluralistic Poetry with Alisha EbrahimAlisha Ebrahim is currently a Health Sciences student at the University of Calgary and a researcher at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. In addition to her love of science, Alisha has a strong passion for poetry. In her work, she incorporates English poetry with lines from the Qur’an and Ismaili Muslim devotional hymns to help foster a cosmopolitan ethic in the poetry community. In this episode, we explore her journey with poetry and the role it plays in her life now, including running a successful Instagram page called Paper Wings Poetry.
Highlights & Takeaways
Why Alisha is ai...2021-12-2032 min
Excuses to Connect20: Everything is Possible: From Shyness to Moderating Panels with Priscilla SchelpPriscilla is a moderator for panels with politicians, UN diplomats, and people working in the area of venture capital and business. She is also a prolific speaker, and is currently founding her own start-up where she aims to connect visionaries and changemakers with the best private member, business and management clubs in the world. In this episode, we explore her journey from how she was once shy to the person she is today. She emphasizes that everything is possible, and that “from this second on, you can work on going there wherever you want to be and whoever you wa...2021-12-1438 min
Acquiring Minds5 Takeaways from Harvard's ETA ConferenceHarvard's acquisition entrepreneurship conference took place last week. Organizer Michael Ledecky shares 5 takeaways. Themes from Michael's interview:Buy a good business in a great industry4+1 Model for searching3 industries for acquisition entrepreneurs to considerMental health in searchWomen in searchThai Lee, acquisition entrepreneur who became a billionaireDiversifying paths of searchPredictions for search in 2022 & 2023Tons of names & resources cited in this episode. Here they all are:Michael Ledecky2021 ETA ConferenceEntrepreneurship Through Acquisition Club at HBSThe book that inspired Michael, HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business: Think Big, Buy Small, Own Your Own CompanyThe authors and H...2021-12-1335 min
Excuses to Connect19: Multiplying Impact through Coaching with Nathalie BlaisNathalie Blais is a Master Certified Coach (MCC) and the Co-Founder of the Canada Coach Academy. She was the facilitator for the Personal and Business Performance Coaching program which I have recently completed. In this episode, we chat about what drew her towards the coaching profession, why she started the Canada Coach Academy, and how coaching helps make meaningful connections. Coaching has impacted people across the age range, including a pilot program she ran for Grade 5 and 6 students to executives in large corporations that are wanting to up their game.
Highlights & Takeaways
How coaching is different...2021-12-0642 min
Excuses to Connect18: Collaborating and Storytelling through Hip-Hop with KTheChosenKTheChosen is a hip-hop artist originally from Zimbabwe, but currently residing in Calgary where he is fostering connections and collaborations through his work. The recent release of his album +Vice which acts as an audio time capsule of the pandemic space that we’ve been in, and explores themes such as grief, feminism, and colonialism. In this episode, we cover topics like why his stage name is KTheChosen, his journey as a hip-hop artist, and his answer to the question of “What do you want to be remembered for after you’ve passed away?”
Highlights & Takeaways
How his...2021-11-2938 min
Excuses to Connect17: Connecting through Toastmasters and Travelling with Ron MacTavishRon MacTavish is a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) and the VP of Membership for Dynamically Speaking Toastmasters. With over 15,600 clubs in the world, Toastmasters is an international organization for people to develop their public speaking and leadership skills. In this episode, we talk about how he’s built connections around his interests of Toastmasters, travelling, and books. He says: Don't go through your life wishing “I wonder what would have happened if I had talked to her or talked to him? It's far better to step out and try and make that connection than to live in regret.”
Highli...2021-11-1544 min
OFF THE WOK47. Talking to Strangers with Richard Lee-ThaiRichard Lee-Thai (@excusestoconnect) recently did a Tedx Talk called "Finding Excuses to Connect" where he addresses the difficulty in connecting with people and which is the subject for this episode. We go into the inspiration behind his talk and why he started it. From adapting the "Humans of New York" theme into his own University of Lethbridge project to starting his own podcast (Excuses to Connect) and now also moving into personal coaching, Richard has turned his "excuses to connect" model into a lifestyle. For anyone who has ever wanted to connect with someone but stopped themselves, this episode's for...2021-11-0158 min
Excuses to Connect16: Volunteering to Build and Serve Communities with Alice LamAlice Lam is the co-founder of Good Neighbour, which is the first pay-what-you-want thrift store in the city of Calgary and it’s completely volunteer-run. The store opened 3 months ago and has been a hub of connections, and a way to create a more inclusive and sustainable city. But before co-founding Good Neighbour, Alice had a long history of volunteering. In this episode, we chat about the story of her parents fleeing Vietnam because of the communist regime, how that’s shaped the types of causes she’s passionate about, and the societal challenges that we are facing right now.2021-10-2546 min
Excuses to Connect15: The Nomad Videographer Project with Thaïs DespontThaïs Despont is a videographer originally from France and is the creator of the “Nomad Videographer Project.” In August 2021, she travelled across Canada to help local businesses by creating promotional videos, in exchange for providing her with a place to sleep. Over the course of that month, she created 10 videos in different 4 provinces. Hear her amazing story of seeking discomfort as we talk about the inspiration, challenges, and successes of this project.
Highlights & Takeaways
How she came to Canada with the dream of building a life here, and how the pandemic impacted her
Her process of re...2021-10-1835 min
Excuses to Connect14: KOYA - The App to Send Joy to Anyone, Anywhere with Cherie WernerCherie Werner is the Co-Founder and Chief Kindness Officer at KOYA. KOYA is a social platform and app designed to create meaningful and intentional connections. You can send people a video or audio message along with an optional gift, like some money for coffee. You pick a location where the KOYA will activate, say your friend’s favourite coffee shop. The recipient receives a notification that they have a KOYA to discover, and you can provide them with hints to nudge them in the right direction. In this episode, we explore KOYA, as well as the F.I.E.S...2021-10-1237 min
Excuses to Connect13: A Conversation with my Junior High Teacher with Ms.RileySusan Riley (or more commonly known as Ms. Riley) is a junior high teacher who taught me nearly a decade ago. It’s remarkable that we’ve stayed in touch, including grabbing lunch and dinner with groups of students that she’s taught over the years. We talk about her career as a teacher and the impact that she has made on the over 3000 students who passed through her classroom. Especially for former students, this is a really special episode that you don’t want to miss.
Highlights & Takeaways
How she went from working in theatre, to oil a...2021-10-0459 min
Excuses to Connect12: Unshakable Self (Belief) and Compassion Cards with Aakash DhingraAakash Dhingra has started many initiatives to provide others with a platform to self-reflect and share their stories. For example, he is creating a photo-zine called Unshakable Self (Belief). Inspired by his own struggles of self-doubt, he is interviewing people about how they overcame their self-doubt in order to fully see their self-worth and find meaning in life. Another one of his projects that we talk about is his Compassion Cards. This is a conversation-based card game that he’s used to connect with himself and others on the topic of compassion. Driven by his curiosity and openness, he ma...2021-09-2742 min
Excuses to Connect11: Seek Discomfort: Creating Connections Around the World with Jonnie RozinJonnie Rozin is the Director of Operations with Seek Discomfort. He’s been my third guest from this amazing company that I’ve had the pleasure to chat with. He actually got his position not because he applied for it, but because of a chance encounter with the CEO while walking in the streets of LA. This is a perfect example of the culture within Seek Discomfort, which is trying to build the world’s largest family. We chat about how they are building this culture and how Jonnie embodies the philosophy of seeking discomfort in his day-to-day life!
...2021-09-2140 min
Excuses to Connect10: Building Relationships and Hoop Dance Teachings with Sandra LamoucheSandra Lamouche is a Cree Woman from the Bigstone Cree Nation in Northern Alberta and married into the Piikani Nation in Southern Alberta. She is a 2 times TEDx Speaker, presenting her first talk on “The Beautiful Struggle Of Life and Other Hoop Dance Teachings”, and a second talk on “Growing Through Challenges”. In this episode, we talk about how hoop dancing has transformed Sandra’s life, and has led her down a path of being a public speaker, an Indigenous writer, and previously working in a school division. A central theme to all of these things is relationship - how are we...2021-09-1333 min
Excuses to Connect9: Meeting 100 Strangers Around the World with Ahmad JabbirWhen the pandemic started and Ahmad Jabbir wasn’t able to go on any adventures for a long while, he challenged himself to virtually meet 100 strangers all around the world! In this episode, we chat about the inspiration behind this project and how hearing these stories from 89 different cities have impacted his life. He also opens up about his own story of overcoming bullying and social anxiety to get to where he is today. Looking for an inspiring conversation? This is it!
Highlights & Takeaways
How hearing about other people’s stories was a wake-up call to how...2021-09-0641 min
Excuses to Connect8: Connecting and Networking in University with Kathleen MasseyKathleen Massey is the Associate Vice-President (Students) at the University of Lethbridge, which means that she oversees various student services. She shares the role that connection and networking have played in her life and what it looks like as we transition back to more in-person interactions. There are many helpful mindset pieces to take away from this episode, like cutting ourselves some slack if our connection skills are a bit rusty due to how long we’ve been apart.
Highlights & Takeaways
Growing both as a farm and city kid and how that allows her to empathize wi...2021-08-3040 min
Excuses to Connect7: Recess for Adults: The Importance of Play and Inclusion with Tyson BankertDo you remember recess as a kid? Tyson Bankert has created a version of recess for adults. He is the founder of Recess Calgary, which is an inclusive space for adults to come, forget about their responsibilities for a while, and just have fun! Tyson’s personal slogan is: “Promote Justice, Edify Others and Befriend the Lonely.” We explore how he embodies this slogan in all the community development work that he does, such as with the Community Development Learning Initiative. We also talk about how unconscious bias and systemic barriers relate to the ability to connect with others. This i...2021-08-2346 min
Excuses to Connect6: “You’re Not Alone” - How a Clothing Company is Raising Awareness on Mental Health with Adam EderyAdam Edery is the Community Manager for Seek Discomfort, which is a clothing company. What does a clothing company have to do with connections? Everything! Seek Discomfort was the clothing company started by Yes Theory, a YouTube channel all about going outside of your comfort zone and enjoying life to the fullest. Adam and I chat about this amazing community, and about one of their recent clothing drops, titled You’re Not Alone. The campaign aimed to promote more awareness around mental health and reminding people that they’re not alone in their struggles. Adam shares about his personal expe...2021-08-1633 min
Excuses to Connect5: Connecting at Summer Camp for People with Disabilities with Emma KobelskyEmma Kobelsky works as a camp counsellor at Between Friends, which is an organization that provides social, recreational, and development opportunities for people with disabilities. We explore how this provides an important space for connections, and how summer camp has motivated her to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy. Emma and I also happen to share the same personality type, and we chat about how being introverted shapes the type of connections we seek out.
Highlights & Takeaways
How Between Friends offers a space where everyone feels like they belong and aren’t excluded because of their di...2021-08-1034 min
How to Do the Pot87. The Secret History of Cannabis StrainsLove a mystery? The original cannabis plants that existed in the world are from Asia, the Middle East, Central & South America and the Caribbean, and they are called Landrace strains. These strains have some amazing characteristics - for years, people have enjoyed them to relieve pain or stress, help with sleep, or just relax & laugh. And despite cannabis being illegal, someone loved the effects so much - and yes, thought they could make some money from it - that they made a really big effort to share them across the world. Landrace strains have helped create literally thousands of...2021-08-0311 min
Excuses to Connect4: Building Communities for Connection and Social Justice with Steven NgoSteven Ngo is a musician, social entrepreneur, and lawyer. When I think of all the people I know, he is the prime example of a connector. Wherever he goes, he has the ability to create communities of like-minded individuals. This includes hosting events for people to have conversations on deeper topics like self-worth and vulnerability, connecting musicians to perform music at hospitals and elderly care homes, and giving back through the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers. Most recently, Steven has been leading a movement to make reporting hate crimes more accessible after he experienced an Anti-Asian hate crime in...2021-08-0239 min
Excuses to Connect3: Through the Lens - A Photography Project in Brazil’s Favelas with Bethany GalleyBethany Galley is an upcoming TEDx speaker and her talk is about the time she spent in the favelas of Brazil. She initiated a photography project called Through the Lens, where she gave children film cameras and asked them to capture photos in order to show their perspective of life in the favela. In this episode, we talk about the power of stories and how we can choose the lens (pun intended) that we see the world from.
Highlights & Takeaways
Building relationships when coming in as an outsider and gaining the trust of a community
Challenging...2021-07-2638 min
Excuses to Connect2: A Therapist’s Perspective on Mental Health and Social Anxiety with Brianne ErichsenBrianne Erichsen is a Registered Clinical Social Worker as well as my former therapist while I was at the University of Lethbridge. She shares her perspective as a mental health professional on topics such as making connections and social anxiety. She also shares her own experiences with connecting with people and how that has shaped her life.
Highlights & Takeaways
How seeing a counselor can be for everyone, not just people in a crisis or diagnosed with a mental illness
The analogy of mental health is like a house
How to better connect with yourself and others
...2021-07-1941 min
Excuses to Connect1: Talk2MorePeople - Change Your Life by Meeting People with Tony EstevesTony Esteves is the creator of the Talk2MorePeople Project, where he challenged himself to meet one new stranger a day for a full year. In 2021, he published a book about this project, titled "Talk2MorePeople: Change Your Life by Meeting People" which contains many practical tips on how to connect with new people. He is a large inspiration for me and I can think of no better person to launch the Excuses to Connect podcast with.
Highlights & Takeaways
Overcoming obstacles to connecting with new people and what the research says
How he met his current p...2021-07-1238 min
Excuses to ConnectWelcome to the Excuses to Connect PodcastWelcome to the Excuses to Connect podcast! This is a podcast about actively creating the conditions that make meaningful connections easier. In other words, you can make excuses to connect. Join me, Richard Lee-Thai, as I have conversations with experts, friends, and strangers on their struggles and successes when it comes to human connections. As a listener, I hope that you can take these insights and find excuses to connect with people. You never know how any one connection can transform your life.
Learn more at excusestoconnect.com
Support me at Buy Me a Coffee 2021-05-2300 min
Dragonz | Artes Marciales y Deportes de Contacto1016 | JKD desde Tailandia con... ¡ISAAC ALONSO!"No hay ningún problema que, por su magnitud, sea ineludible. (Richard Bach). "
Y nuestro programa de hoy se lo dedico a mi amigo Teo García, que hoy estrena el Trailer Oficial de Xtremo, y por supuesto a todos los fans que están deseando que llegue el 4 de junio para agarrar su bol de palomitas y ponerse a ver la que sin duda será la película del año...
Hoy en nuestro programa, hablaremos de JKD con Isaac Alonso, un apasionado del sistema desarrollado por Bruce Lee que empezó artes marciales a los 6 años haciendo karate kyokushi...2021-05-121h 01
Total Movie RecallTMR 046 – Leprechaun This week on Total Movie Recall, Steve and Ryan wonder why kids are scared of the stupidest boogeymen. The Leprechaun haunted Ryan for his entire childhood, waiting in dark corners, making it unable for him to pee in the middle of the night. If only he had watched the movie when he was seven years old, and seen how stupid, unscary, unwitty, and half-assed this boring, lazy movie is, he wouldn’t have wasted another second being scared. The Leprechaun can’t even be bothered to turn limericks into dirty rhymes. Nantucket! It rhymes itself! Lepr...2020-11-091h 24
Ideas Worth HearingIdeas Worth Hearing with Richard Lee-ThaiOn this episode of Ideas Worth Hearing, we sit down with Richard Lee-Thai, the founder of Humans of ULeth (HOUL). Here, Richard talks to us about human connection, storytelling, and some of the unique experiences that have contributed to shaping his identity.
Music: Uncan - Effemeah Weeps2020-10-0336 min
The Scott Gibson Show47. "Is it a Bird...Is it a Plane"Episode 47 of The Scott Gibson Show...Live from The Death Bunker...wash your hands after listening to this show!The 27th Episode since the LOCKDOWN, another week of the pandemic but at least the end is close...or is it? This time out I chat about covid bloody covid, Thai Airways, The Boys, the movie Chef and of course some wonderful Listener questions.Stay safe Team, speak soon. Onwards!!!Remember to SUBSCRIBE & SHARE ya Rascals.SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: www.instagram.com/bigscottgibson/Facebook: www.facebook.com/scottgibsoncomedySUPPORT THE SHOWPatreon: www.patreon.com/bigscottgibsonKo-fi: ko-fi.com/bigscottgibsonWEBSITEwww.scottgibsoncomedy.co.ukAVAILABLE ONSpotify / Apple...2020-09-231h 10
From the Bottom of the Record BoxKhruangbin are our Listener Recommendation todayThanks to Jack from London for the Listener Recommendation in today's show - did we like it? Listen on to find out. But more importantly, do you like it? And if you do, or don't, then why not suggest an alternative to Khruangbin for the show. Get in touch with your Listener Recommendation and maybe you'll hear it on a future episode of From the Bottom of the Record Box. Love the show? Then why not give us some encouragement and rate the show? By the way, does anyone know how to pronounce Khruangbin? Track Listing Thinkin' Bout You La...2018-11-0446 min
Seika NetworkDynamic Dojo Talkradio: Special guest, Richard BustilloSunday February 26, 2017. 6:00 pm Pacific Time. Call in number (347) 677-0699
Join us as we welcome Richard Bustillo to the show!
Richard is presently the Founder and Chief Instructor of the IMB (International Martial arts & Boxing) Academy in Torrance, California USA
A native of Hawaii, Richard has over 65 years of martial arts experience. He began judo training at age 8 at the Gray Y Center in Palolo Valley, Hawaii. At age 19, Richard competed in boxing tournaments such as the Golden Gloves, Silver Gloves, Blue & Gold and other amateur boxing shows for Shaw's Boxing Gym in Los Angeles. At age 24 Richard studied Jeet Kune Do...2017-02-271h 57Total Movie RecallTMR 004 – White Men Can't Jump
White Men Can't Jump (1992)d. Ron SheltonStarring:Woody HarrelsonWesley SnipesRosie PerezThis week on TMR, we solve the problem of race relations in America once and for all with 1992's "White Men Can't Jump." Ryan and Steve do their best Rosie Perez impressions, Steve gets a semi early '90s sex scenes, Ryan recalls the numerous inappropriate movies his father took him to see, and some truly mediocre trash talk gets laid down.
Billy and Sydney think they're the best basketball hustlers in...2015-10-0500 min