In this enlightening episode of UNLOCKED, we're joined by Deb Dana, LCSW, a globally recognized clinician, consultant, and speaker specializing in Polyvagal Theory and its practical applications. Deb unpacks the transformative concept of “glimmers,” small moments of connection and safety, and explains how they can help us move through life’s challenges with greater ease and resilience.

Deb shares profound insights into the science behind glimmers, how they serve as a counterbalance to triggers, and how they can foster creativity, problem-solving, and connection. Together, Krista and Deb explore the importance of nervous system awareness, how glimmers build resilience over time, and the ripple effect they create in relationships, communities, and beyond.

This episode offers a practical guide to anyone looking to move beyond survival mode, embrace intentional living, and unlock the capacity for joy, hope, and meaningful connection.



Key Moments:

00:01:33 – Introduction to Glimmers: Deb explains the science and power behind glimmers as tiny moments of safety and connection.
00:04:35 – Krista’s Snowflake Story: A personal story illustrating how glimmers can shift mental states.
00:08:22 – Glimmers vs. Triggers: Deb explains how glimmers serve as a counterbalance to triggers without bypassing suffering.
00:15:00 – The Nervous System’s Role: Why state drives story, and how glimmers help interrupt survival responses.
00:20:24 – Guided Reflection: Deb leads listeners through a simple exercise to identify and appreciate their own glimmers.
00:27:06 – The Science of Glimmers: Exploring how these moments reshape nervous system pathways and build resilience.
00:39:00 – The Ripple Effect of Glimmers: How sharing glimmers fosters connection and creates collective regulation.
00:46:43 – Practical Steps: Deb outlines how to integrate glimmers into daily life and their potential to change the world one nervous system at a time.



About Deb:
Deb Dana, LCSW, is a renowned clinician, consultant, and speaker specializing in complex trauma and connection. As the leading translator of Dr. Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory, she has made significant contributions to understanding how the nervous system shapes behavior, relationships, and well-being.

A best-selling author of Polyvagal Practices, Polyvagal Card Deck, and The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy, among others, Deb’s work has been featured in Oprah Daily, Newsweek, and HuffPost. She has also shared her expertise on Deepak Chopra’s podcast.

Deb trains therapists worldwide and collaborates with organizations to integrate Polyvagal principles into leadership and systems transformation. A founding member of The Polyvagal Institute, she also advises Khiron Clinics and Unyte, helping create environments that foster trust and resilience.



Connect With Deb:
Website: https://www.rhythmofregulation.com/



Connect with Owl & Key:
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In this episode of UNLOCKED, we’re joined by Jonathan Poma, Founder and Executive Director at Loop, a company recognized as one of Forbes’ Next Billion-Dollar Startups. Formerly the CEO, Jonathan has led Loop through extraordinary growth and transformation. Now, he’s sharing the lessons he learned and how those insights translate into living a more intentional and fulfilling life.

Jonathan dives deep into the principles of intentional leadership, the value of self-awareness, and how to achieve alignment between professional success and personal well-being. Key topics include:

• Building a Strong Foundation: Why leading yourself is the first step to leading others effectively.
• Time Mastery: How to design your life and schedule around what matters most.
• Overcoming Challenges: Using failures and hardships as catalysts for growth.
• Family and Business Balance: Creating intentional systems to thrive in both areas without compromise.
• Practical Tools for Reflection: Leveraging rituals, feedback loops, and mindful practices to grow as a leader and individual.

This conversation is packed with actionable insights for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to design a life and career with purpose. If you’re ready to reimagine how you lead and live, don’t miss this episode!



Key Moments

• 00:02:01 – Jonathan's Journey: From entrepreneurship to redefining success and balance.
• 00:05:15 – Intentional Leadership: Leading a business starts with leading yourself.
• 00:16:08 – Breakthrough Moments: The lessons from failed partnerships and big transitions.
• 00:23:43 – The Operating System Metaphor: Upgrading your mental and emotional frameworks.
• 00:33:31 – Building a Life Organization: Aligning personal and professional values for harmony.
• 00:38:28 – Feedback Loops and Growth: Using rituals to strengthen relationships and leadership.
• 00:52:52 – The Value of Time: How Jonathan redefined his relationship with time post-CEO role.
• 01:01:26 – Quiet and Clarity: Cultivating stillness as a leader, parent, and individual.

About Jonathan:
With over 13 years of experience in ecommerce and startups, Jonathan is Founder and Executive Director on the board at Loop, a leading e-commerce returns platform that helps brands create loyal customers and increase retention. Also a member of YPO, a global network of chief executives who share insights and learn from each other. Jonathan is always eager to learn from others, collaborate with diverse teams, and contribute to the community.


Connect With Jonathan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pomajp/
X: https://x.com/pomajp


Connect with Owl & Key:
Website: www.owlandkey.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/owl_and_key/
Everything Else: linktr.ee/owlandkey

In this inspiring conversation, Joe DeLoss opens up about navigating life’s twists and turns, sharing his raw, personal journey through big changes and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Whether you’re facing a career shift, grappling with relationships, or just trying to figure out what’s next, this episode offers a relatable and refreshing take on the process of change. Here’s what we dive into:

• The Reality of Change: Joe unpacks the messy, paradoxical, and often beautiful journey of letting go and stepping into something new.
• Unlearning What No Longer Serves You: How to release old habits, identities, and societal definitions of success to rediscover what truly matters.
• Becoming a Wayfinder: Joe shares his approach to navigating uncertainty one small, intentional step at a time, and how you can start your own path forward.
• Why Nature Heals: The surprising way outdoor adventures helped Joe reconnect with himself and find clarity in chaos.
• Serving Through Your Struggles: How Joe’s challenges inspired him to create Baker Road, a space for men to find connection and purpose in nature.

This episode is like a campfire conversation between friends—real, vulnerable, and packed with wisdom for anyone ready to embrace growth and align with what truly matters in life.


Key Moments:

02:51 - Joe’s early relationship with change and the impact of identity shifts
06:48 - Reckoning with rock bottom: When personal pain meets external accountability
11:38 - Realigning purpose and identity: How to start the process of self-awareness
17:29 - The power of unlearning: Letting go of external validation to reconnect with inner values
22:42 - Defining personal success: From external KPIs to meaningful relationships
29:39 - Navigating life’s map: The wayfinding metaphor for embracing the journey
36:25 - Nature as a guide: Lessons from the wild and its transformative role in Joe’s work
43:09 - Creating Baker Road: Purpose-driven adventures for growth and connection
48:36 - Campfire wisdom: Letting go, finding peace, and embracing the abundance of change


About Joe:
Joe is a serial entrepreneur focused on building transformational experiences and businesses that improve the lives of everyone involved. Most recently, Joe exited Hot Chicken Takeover, a fast-casual restaurant chain he built in the Midwest. The business earned critical acclaim as a break-out brand in the segment and created nearly a thousand meaningful work opportunities in the region for people impacted by incarceration, homelessness, and addiction.

Since this acquisition, Joe’s continued his dedication to supportive employment, social entrepreneurship, and vulnerable leadership. And with eyes set on new ventures, Joe’s seizing any opportunity he can get to inspire other entrepreneurs and leaders to make sustainable impact integral to their organization’s future. He honors this pursuit as an advisor, investor, speaker, and occasionally, as a reluctant consultant. His newest project, Baker Road, is an adventure studio offering men and high impact leaders immersive opportunities to learn about themselves in wild, natural environments.

Joe’s work been highlighted by The Today Show, Forbes, Harvard Business School, Politico, The Rachael Ray Show and many others. He and his family live on a farm in rural Ohio, keeping adventure close in their own backyard.

Connect with Joe:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joedeloss/
Baker Road: www.bakerroad.com/

Connect with Owl & Key:
Website: www.owlandkey.co