PODCAST · society
What Makes Us...
by Brian Hooks
A podcast exploring in how we develop as people through our experiences and connections between individuals, with groups, and amongst society. Our guests will choose the topic of discussion and share their journey of becoming who they are. Join us as we explore What Makes Us...
Episodes
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Seek Freedom At 50 with Geetika Goyal
Turning 50 has a way of stripping things down to what’s real. Not in a dramatic, movie-scene way, but in the quiet moment where you realize you’ve spent decades meeting expectations, holding it together, and playing roles that once made sense but now feel too small. Brian Hooks sits down with...
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Uncomfortable with Prakash Nathan
A single sentence at a graduation ceremony can rearrange the way you see your whole life: “Learn to be uncomfortable.” That line hit our guest, Prakash Nathan, so hard that it sent him back through decades of decisions where discomfort wasn’t just present, it was the engine of growth. We talk...
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Start Again At 50 with Geetika Goyal
Fifty can sneak up like a question you can’t ignore: if the roles that shaped me for decades start to change, who am I now? Brian Hooks sits down with his friend and fellow coach Geetika Goyal, who works with women in transition, to dig into what makes us start again at 50 and why that “again”...
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Plan With Purpose with Clint Jasperson
Money is one of the fastest ways to reveal what we really believe about safety, worth, and the future and it can either pull us into fear or push us toward clarity. Brian sits down with his longtime friend Clint to unpack “planning with purpose,” a values-based approach to financial planning that...
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an Expat with Dorothée Chareyon
What if “home” isn’t where you were born, but where your habits, friendships, and values finally make sense? Brian sits down with Dorothée Chareyon, a French educator who has lived in China, Hong Kong, and now India, to unpack the lived reality of expat life—beyond visas and job titles. The...
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Neuro-Spicy with Sonia Brantley
Neuro‑Spicy isn’t just a catchy label—it’s a way to honor the courage it takes to move through a world designed for someone else’s brain. In this episode, Brian sits down with longtime friend Sonia Brantley for a candid, generous conversation about dyslexia, ADHD, autism parenting, and the…
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Find Meaning with Sweta Kumari
Meaning rarely arrives as a neatly wrapped answer—it comes as a signal, a nudge, a question that lingers. In this episode, Brian sits down with Sweta Kumari to trace those signals from the banks of the Ganga to the quiet edges of a golf course, weaving spirituality, neurodiversity, and community...
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Us with Travis Stock
What shapes us more—the stories we inherit or the choices we make? Brian Hooks and coach Travis Stock dive into a candid exploration of identity, where early attachment, social conditioning, and generational patterns intersect with resilience, transitions, and the hard work of becoming whole....
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Seek Balance with Susannah
What does balance really feel like when your job follows you down the hallway, into the courtyard, and through the night? In this episode, we sit down with Susannah Lawrence—runner, tea loyalist, cat lady, and former residence life pro turned higher ed leader—to unpack the messy, honest truth…
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a "Mama" with Sue Ann
Motherhood doesn’t just add a title—it rewires identity, reshapes priorities, and reorients how we move through the world. In this intimate episode, we sit down with Sue Ann, a longtime friend and former colleague, to explore how stepping into “mama” transformed her career path, her sense of…
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a Lighthouse with Shailendra Aswal
What if support didn’t steer your life—but lit the way forward? In this episode, we sit down with Shailendra Aswal, coach and Chief Navigating Officer at My Life Kompass, to explore the lighthouse as a metaphor for personal growth: a steady beam, an early warning, and a safe harbor to regroup...
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Men with TJ Jourian
What if masculinity isn’t innate—but taught? And what happens when we start to unlearn it? In this episode, we sit down with TJ—a queer, trans, Middle Eastern-Armenian man and recovering academic—to explore how masculinity is shaped by culture, race, faith, and family. From drag king stages to...
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Curious About Life
What happens when we approach life with genuine curiosity? How might our lives transform if we questioned not just the world around us, but our own deepest assumptions about who we are? Anupama Giri joins host Brian Hooks for a profound exploration of curiosity as a fundamental life force.…
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Stories, Growth, and Connections: The Journey of What Makes Us
Ten episodes in, and What Makes Us has blossomed into a tapestry of human experiences I never could have imagined when starting this journey. This special reflection episode breaks from our usual format to explore what I've learned from conversations with people who've shaped my life in various...
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In Search of Purpose with Karen Hooks
In the 10th episode of "What Makes Us," host Brian Hooks sits down with his mother, Karen Hooks, for a deeply personal conversation about life's winding paths. Karen's story is a rich tapestry of experiences: starting work at 15, navigating diverse careers, facing discrimination, attending the UN...
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Transform with Preethi
Ever wondered about the difference between change and transformation? While change is external, transformation is a profound internal shift that redefines who you are. Mastering it can unlock the life you truly desire. Leadership coach Preethi Subramanian, who transitioned from chartered…
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Evolve with Gusti Clark
Feeling a persistent inner pull toward something different, even amidst external success? Join us for an insightful conversation with Executive Leadership Coach Gusti Clark about the power of personal and professional evolution. Gusti's seemingly diverse career in nonprofit, tech, HR, biotech,...
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Search for Meaning with Dr. Alvin Sturdivant
In this episode of What Makes Us..., Dr. Alvin Sturdivant, Vice President of Student Affairs and Inclusive Excellence at the University of Portland, guides a profound exploration into the evolving journey of meaning-making, rooted in our connections to family, faith, community, and history. He...
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Friends with Annie
What does real friendship look like in today's world? Not the sitcom version where everyone lives in the same apartment building, but the authentic connections that sustain us through distance, life changes, and the passage of time. In this deeply personal conversation, I sit down with my friend...
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Look for Something Greater with Ashok Kumar Prabhakar
In this episode of What Makes Us..., Ashok Kumar Prabhakar — a seasoned leader, strategic advisor, mentor, and speaker—shares his remarkable journey toward continuous reinvention, lasting impact, and the pursuit of a meaningful legacy. "You need to push yourself and keep rediscovering yourself.…
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Take Risks with Virginia Ibrahim-Olin
In this episode of What Makes Us..., Virginia Ibrahim-Olin shares with us the significance of Taking Risks in her life and how it has shaped her sense of self, family and career. "Listen to yourself and try to trust yourself, if you are not ready to let your friends help." Let us know what you...
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Intentional with Utsav Mamoria
In this episode of What Makes Us..., Utsav Mamoria shares with us how intentionality has shaped his journey and coming to understand the importance of doing what you love with intention. "Because I intentionally chosen to do this, I am seeing the value of how it is shaping me as a person. So…
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Who We Are with Dr. Joy Hoffman
In this episode of What Makes Us..., Dr. Joy Hoffman shares a part of her journey as a Korean adoptee raised in a different cultural community and learning about herself through her work with college students. "I'm going to get this job and support LGBT students, just under the radar." Let us…
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Storytellers with Raja Bhattar
In this first episode of What Makes Us, Raja Bhattar shares with us their journey of storytelling. As they are finishing their first book "Queering Constellations," Raja and Brian explore how they have become who they are. "I don't just have to do what is told around me. I can have my own moral...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A podcast exploring in how we develop as people through our experiences and connections between individuals, with groups, and amongst society. Our guests will choose the topic of discussion and share their journey of becoming who they are.
Join us as we explore What Makes Us...
HOSTED BY
Brian Hooks
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does What Makes Us... have?
What Makes Us... currently has 24 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is What Makes Us... about?
A podcast exploring in how we develop as people through our experiences and connections between individuals, with groups, and amongst society. Our guests will choose the topic of discussion and share their journey of becoming who they are. Join us as we explore What Makes Us...
How often does What Makes Us... release new episodes?
What Makes Us... has 24 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to What Makes Us...?
You can listen to What Makes Us... on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts What Makes Us...?
What Makes Us... is created and hosted by Brian Hooks.
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