Hi, we are Juan Fernandez and Cecile Munoz. We are fascinated by the intersection of business and relationships and how to thrive in your life. In this podcast, we explore issues affecting the workplace and how it impacts culture, interpersonal relationships, and how to grow as a human being. What makes us qualified? Juan Fernandez has covered some of the biggest stories in the Southland Los Angeles as part of the CBS News. His favorites include Presidential visits and the arrival of the Space…
The human experience is full of highs and lows at every stage and at every age. There are no hacks or apps that will stop all the mistakes and pains of being human. “Life will be lifing!”, as the saying goes, in spite of the promise of a frictionless life made possible by technology and sold to us as the best way to live. Adulting is real and it never stops, and it only gets more difficult as we…
Today, we are experiencing a stagnant, “low hire, low fire” job market that’s making both employers and employees very nervous. An emerging new trend tells us many people are not happy in their job and yet they are holding on to them because the fear and challenge of not having one is so much greater. People are simply becoming less hopeful. We address some of the factors causing it like the…
We know that an extrovert is someone who gains energy from people while an introvert typically avoids people all together, but what is an otrovert? Coined by Dr. Rami Kaminski in 2023, an otrovert is an empathetic, free thinker who feels more comfortable being alone-“an outsider”-rather than feeling a sense of belonging to a group, despite their likeability and well-adjusted social skills. They…
Our “why” for creating the Ends With Z podcast was to share life stories and lessons and from them, provide tools and advice that our listeners can take to make sense of things, and hopefully, have a better life of their own. As we approach the end of another year, and we reflect on all that's happened in 2025 and prepare for a stronger year ahead, it's the perfect time to share and discuss some…
Many of us have a love/hate relationship with social media, but when we came across Durb Morrison’s thought-provoking Instagram post, “By The Age of 50 You Should Be Wise Enough To Let Go of These 20 Things”, it demanded a podcast. In this episode, Cecile, Juan, and Shawn get personal reflecting on each of the 20 life lessons and discuss where they still struggle with each. Is it a lesson learned…
Regardless of your sexual orientation, age group, or where you live, dating in 2025 is more of a don’t than a do. We are swiping left, swiping less, or not at all; many are simply tapping out. Face-to-face human connection has become so 2000. It is especially hard for straight women who long for romantic connection, but wind up empty-handed and left asking, “Are men worth the lipstick…
Created from conversations among friends during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are proud to celebrate the 5-year anniversary of our Ends With Z podcast! In this milestone episode, Cecile, Juan, and Shawn reflect on their podcast journey, the evolution and impact of the show, the community it's built, and guests we've hosted and introduced. As the journey proceeds, we will continue to…
We had to keep this conversation going and go deeper, because your response was so overwhelming! Cecile, Juan, and Shawn continue the discussion on toxic positivity, opening up into their own personal and professional experiences, to find the nuanced nature and at times, hard to find places, it lives in personal relationships, corporate culture, American society, and family dynamics. The reality…
Nobody wants to be, or be around, a “Negative Nancy” or “Davy Downer.” The benefits of having an optimistic outlook improve our overall well-being as they boost longevity, help us bounce back from stress, and help regulate emotions. We are often instructed by society to be optimistic and stay positive, especially in American culture. But there’s a fine line between having positive attitude and…
If you feel like you have been holding and hiding out just to get through the long winter days, it’s time to get up, get out, and start to let go. Spring is here! We jump start this new season of Ends With Z by setting and resetting intentions to embrace nature’s power of rebirth and awakening new energy within us. Spring invites us to be in flow with this season’s transformational power. The…