UpShift Podcast

In this conversation, Meeky Hwang, CEO and co-founder of Ndevr, discusses her journey from navigating different cultures as a young person to leading a technical development agency that helps companies build, maintain, and strengthen digital platforms. She explains how Ndevr supports clients through audience experience, creator experience, and developer experience, with a focus on secure, scalable, and reliable websites and platforms. The discussion also explores communication between technical and business teams, the role of curiosity and transparency in leadership, the practical use of AI in development work, online security risks, entrepreneurship, and the value of quiet confidence in a male-dominated industry.TakeawaysCultural agility helped shape Meeky Hwang’s patience, awareness, and ability to work across different backgrounds.Ndevr builds and maintains custom websites and digital platforms for companies that need strong technical support.A strong platform must serve three groups: the audience, the content creators, and the developers behind the system.Audience experience includes site speed, ease of use, clear navigation, and smooth customer interaction.Creator experience helps teams publish content, manage updates, and stay competitive.Developer experience supports security, monitoring, checkout flows, data tracking, and platform stability.Accurate data collection matters because poor setup can lead to double counting, missed users, or flawed business decisions.Meeky values open, curious clients who are willing to learn, adapt, and consider new technology.Clear communication between technical and business teams can reduce conflict and keep projects moving.AI is useful for prototyping and tedious pattern-based tasks, but expert human review is still needed for quality, security, and strategy.Today's guest, Meeky Hwang, can be found at:Website: https://www.meekyhwang.com/, https://www.ndevr.io/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meekyhwang/Your host, Angel Howard, can be found online at:Website: https://angelhoward.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-angel/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@angelhowardissuescoachInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelhowardofficial/Get Angel's book: https://amzn.to/4o4UcEiKeywordsTechnical development, digital platforms, website maintenance, website security, scalability, audience experience, creator experience, developer experience, e-commerce, analytics, customer behavior, data accuracy, communication, cultural agility, curiosity, transparency, entrepreneurship, AI, prototyping, coding, cybersecurity, passwords, online security, leadership, quiet confidence, business technology

In this episode of The UpShift, Angel Howard speaks with Dr. Amanda Adkins, a board-certified internal medicine physician and certified lifestyle medicine specialist, about the power of plant-based nutrition and holistic health. Dr. Adkins shares her personal journey from being an overweight teenager in Indiana to becoming a physician focused on preventing and reversing chronic disease through lifestyle changes. The conversation explores the six pillars of lifestyle medicine, including nutrition, movement, stress reduction, restorative sleep, social connection, and reducing toxic substances. Dr. Adkins explains why nutrition is often overlooked in traditional medical training, discusses the role of inflammation in chronic illness, and offers practical advice for busy people trying to improve their health without extreme diets or perfection. The episode also covers weight loss medications, heart health, smoking cessation, and how small sustainable habits can create long-term change.TakeawaysDr. Amanda Adkins became interested in health and nutrition through her own experience as an overweight teenager.She chose lifestyle medicine to help prevent and reverse chronic illnesses through sustainable habits.Traditional medical education often provides very little training in nutrition.One of the most important lessons she learned was that you cannot out exercise a bad diet.The six pillars of lifestyle medicine are plant-predominant nutrition, movement, stress reduction, restorative sleep, social connection, and reducing toxic substances.Social connection became even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic and plays a major role in overall health.Dr. Adkins encourages patients to make small changes first rather than trying to change everything at once.Adding more leafy greens and vegetables is one of the easiest ways to reduce inflammation and improve health.Weight loss medications can be useful tools, but they are not replacements for lifestyle changes.Sustainable health improvements come from consistent habits, not quick fixes or extreme restrictions.Today's guest, Dr. Amanda Adkins , can be found at:Website: https://www.dramandamd.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-amanda-adkins-28071a39/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj7HwQ88Xn1FhK5eKtoOIkwYour host, Angel Howard, can be found online at:Website: https://angelhoward.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-angel/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@angelhowardissuescoachInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelhowardofficial/Get Angel's book: https://amzn.to/4o4UcEiKeywordsplant-based medicine, lifestyle medicine, nutrition, chronic illness, inflammation, leafy greens, holistic health, wellness, preventive medicine, diabetes, blood pressure, heart health, stress reduction, restorative sleep, social connection, exercise, movement, smoking cessation, whole foods, obesity, vegetarian, plant-predominant diet, healthy lifestyle, wellness journey, healthcare, internal medicine, lifestyle changes, chronic disease prevention, food as medicine, sustainable health, hormones, inflammation reduction, fiber, healthy eating, mindfulness, self-care, weight loss, bariatric surgery, blood sugar, functional medicine, integrative medicine

In this episode of the UpShift podcast, Angel Howard sits down with transition coach and former global executive Art Blanchford to discuss burnout, identity, purpose, and what happens when success no longer feels fulfilling. Art shares his journey from leading multi-billion dollar companies and earning a seven-figure income to walking away from corporate life after severe burnout forced him to rethink everything. Together, they explore the emotional struggles many high-achieving men face, including workaholism, lack of meaning, depression, and the pressure to constantly perform. The conversation also dives into vulnerability, relationships, emotional awareness, and how partners can support each other through major life transitions. Art explains why connection, stillness, and self-reflection are essential for creating a meaningful second half of life, and why purpose matters more than status or achievement.TakeawaysArt Blanchford left a high-level corporate career after burnout forced him to reevaluate his life.Many successful people discover that achievement alone does not create fulfillment.Transition periods often feel messy, uncertain, and uncomfortable, but growth happens inside that space.Workaholism and constant performance can lead to emotional exhaustion and “deaths of despair.”Men often struggle with emotional literacy because they were taught to suppress vulnerability.Authentic connection with other people is critical during periods of depression or identity shifts.Slowing down and creating silence helps people reconnect with purpose and inner guidance.Relationships improve when partners support each other’s personal growth without shame or control.Retirement without purpose can lead to depression if people do not develop meaning beyond work.Purpose, service, and self-awareness create a more fulfilling second half of life.Today's guest, Art Blanchford, can be found at:Personal Website: https://artblanchford.com/Website: https://pinnacleleadership.net/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/art-blanchford/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artblanchford/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/art.blanchfordPodcasts: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeInTransitionPodcast, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-in-transition-podcast/id1655416159Your host, Angel Howard, can be found online at:Website: https://angelhoward.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-angel/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@angelhowardissuescoachInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelhowardofficial/Get Angel's book: https://amzn.to/4o4UcEiKeywordsburnout, transition, purpose, fulfillment, workaholism, emotional intelligence, vulnerability, depression, success, meaning, coaching, relationships, self-worth, men’s mental health, leadership, identity, recovery, emotional literacy, mindfulness, connection, retirement, personal growth, authenticity, spirituality, healing, transformation, self-reflection, life transition, mental wellness, coaching for men

In this conversation, Dr. Corey Winn discusses how women can lead, grow, and pursue their dreams from a place of clarity, trust, and joy. She explains why many women lose touch with what they want, how societal expectations shape their choices, and why community, coaching, and self-investment can help them move into a more aligned life. The discussion also explores fear, self-trust, non-negotiables, changing friendships, and the courage it takes to stop asking for permission and start building the life you truly want.TakeawaysClarity begins with asking, “What do I want?”Women often lose touch with their own needs while caring for others.Knowing what you do not want can help reveal what you do want.Joy and delight can guide better life and business choices.Societal expectations often keep women in roles that no longer fit.Growth may require letting go of relationships that no longer support you.Supportive community helps women hold bigger dreams.Journaling can help uncover desires, non-negotiables, and next steps.Investing in coaching can help build self-trust and confidence.Women do not need permission to pursue the life they want.Today's guest, Dr. Corey Winn, can be found at:Website: https://coreywinn.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywinn/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywinndptYour host, Angel Howard, can be found online at:Website: https://angelhoward.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-angel/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@angelhowardissuescoachInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelhowardofficial/Get Angel's book: https://amzn.to/4o4UcEiKeywordsleadership, women entrepreneurs, self-trust, coaching, clarity, joy, alignment, purpose, wealth, legacy, community, personal growth, non-negotiables, mindset, confidence, entrepreneurship, self-investment, dreams, burnout, life transitions