Behind the Brilliance: Recent Episodes
Lisa Nicole Bell
Behind the Brilliance is the go to podcast for the intellectually curious and relentlessly ambitious. The show features weekly long form interviews with innovative and culture-shaping leaders in art, culture, technology, business, lifestyle, and personal development along with Lisa's inspiring and funny advice on life, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
Lisa summarizes Season 14, Defying the Odds, with reflections on the strategies shared and helpful recaps.
240 – Dr. Andrew Newberg
241 – Cin Fabre
242 – Tyler Denk
243 – Jim Fielding
244 – Dr. Valerie Daniels-Carter
245 – Simone Stolzoff
246 – Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg
247 – Andrew Barnes
248 – Jamila Souffrant
249 – Kevin Kelly
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THE SHOW Kevin Kelly is a modern creative pioneer. He was a polymath before it was cool. His career as a writer, founder, photographer, and editor extends across industries and continents. A world traveler and lifelong learner, Kevin’s ideas such as 1000 True Fans have inspired a generation of builders and artists to exercise full agency over their creative pursuits.
Kevin was on a short list of dream guests I’ve long held for Behind the Brilliance, and our conversation did not disappoint. He was candid and thoughtful as we covered a wide range of topics including career and life design, religion, decision making, unpopular opinions, and much more. This is an excellent listen for the dreamers, doers, and builders who want to hear the embodiment of integrating passion, purpose, and profit with thoughtful optimism.
Behind His Brilliance: Luck + Not caring what others think
Say hi to Kevin on X (Twitter): @kevin2kelly
THE GUEST KEVIN KELLY | AUTHOR + CO-FOUNDER, WIRED
Kevin Kelly is Senior Maverick at Wired magazine. He co-founded Wired in 1993, and served as its Executive Editor for its first seven years. His newest book is Excellent Advice for Living, a book of 450 modern proverbs for good living. He is co-chair of The Long Now Foundation, a membership organization that champions long-term thinking and acting as a good ancestor to future generations. And he is founder of the popular Cool Tools website, which has been reviewing tools daily for 20 years. From 1984-1990 Kelly was publisher and editor of the Whole Earth Review, a subscriber-supported journal of unorthodox conceptual news. He co-founded the ongoing Hackers’ Conference, and was involved with the launch of the WELL, a pioneering online service started in 1985. Other books by Kelly include 1) The Inevitable, a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, 2) Out of Control, his 1994 classic book on decentralized emergent systems, 3) The Silver Cord, a graphic novel about robots and angels, 4) What Technology Wants, a robust theory of technology, and 5) Vanishing Asia, his 50-year project to photograph the disappearing cultures of Asia. He is best known for his radical optimism about the future.
TOPICS COVERED -the decision making framework Kevin developed over 5 decades of his career
-the inception and growth of WIRED
-why pursuing a range of interests can be more valuable than specializations (with important caveats)
-Kevin’s religious conversion and how it changed his life
-important reflections on leveraging and time management
-how a trip to Asia changed Kevin’s life
And much more!
THE SHOW
Jamila Souffrant’s expertise in personal finance is informed by her own experience turning financial uncertainty into financial freedom. She and her husband saved $169,000 in 2 years and redefined their future with smart money decisions. Now she’s guiding people from diverse backgrounds to more fulfilled lives through her personal finance podcast, Journey to Launch, and her new book, Your Journey to Financial Freedom.
Jamila’s work has been featured in Money Magazine, CNBC, and more. The Journey To Launch Podcast was listed by the NYTimes as a podcast to help you get better with your money.
We covered a wide range of topics at the intersection of lifestyle and personal finance including creating financial independence, decoupling time and money, how to approaching spending vs saving vs earning, the specific mindset work that’s critical to the personal finance journey and much more. We touched on FIRE which stands for Financial Independence Retire Early which is a movement that targets building a nest egg and retiring to do what you’d prefer to do with your time whether that’s work that earns less, more time with family, or something else.
This episode is penultimate installment of our season long discussions around integrating work and life. Money is obviously a hufge part of that so this conversation helps to frame up our motivations for how much we work, what we work on, and what we do with our earnings.
THE GUEST
JAMILA SOUFFRANT | PERSONAL FINANCE EXPERT + AUTHOR
Jamila Souffrant is the author of Your Journey To Financial Freedom: A Step-by-Step Guide to Achieving Wealth and Happiness ((Hanover Square Press December 5, 2023) shares and the host of the Journey To Launch podcast. She is a go-to thought leader in the personal finance field and her work has been featured in BuzzFeed, ESSENCE, Refinery 29, Money Magazine, CNBC, CBS, Business Insider and more. The Journey To Launch Podcast has over 4+ million total downloads and was listed by the NYTimes as a podcast to help you get better with your money. Jamila and her husband saved $169,000 in two years. They live in Brooklyn, NY with their three children.
TOPICS COVERED
-the difference between financial independence and financial freedom and why it matters
-redefining luxury in non-monetary terms
-the necessity of simplicity on the journey to financial freedom
-age, regret, and keeping the journey in context
-how to create an effective spending plan
-Jamila’s hardest money lesson learned
-finding the balance between productivity and punishment
And much more!
A dynamic and growing group of companies and organizations are moving to a 4 day work week. Andrew Barnes is the pioneer behind this movement. It all started with an experiment to see what would happen if his team worked 4 days instead of 5. The results were so breathtaking that he never looked back. Now there's an entire organization - including research, a book, and tools - dedicated to making the work world more efficient.
Through his company – New Zealand's largest corporate trustee company, Perpetual Guardian – Andrew announced a 4 day week trial, with staff receiving an extra day off work, on full pay, each week. The trial was an undeniable success, sparking widespread international interest and winning a number of global awards.
Today, Barnes is considered the pioneer and architect of the global 4 day week movement. As co-founder of 4 Day Week Global with his partner, Charlotte Lockhart, they are conducting the largest ever trials, currently taking place across the UK, US, Canada, South Africa, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. More than 250 companies around the world with over 100,000 staff are taking part in the trials to change their workplaces combined with a global research programme involving academics from leading universities.
Continuing our season long thread on creating work/life integration, this conversation is an excellent primer for both employers and employees on creating a 4 Day Work Week.
Andrew is the literal pioneer of this movement so I invited him to BTB to discuss how it was born, the concerns many leaders have, why the movement has picked up steam, and how you – whether you’re a leader or a team member – can use these ideas to create a more sustainable and effective approach to work.
We spent a lot of time at the top of this conversation exploring Andrew’s background because I think that context is important once he starts discussing the 4 Day Work Week. That said, if you want to skip to the topical portion, it begins around minute 25.
Behind His Brilliance: Finding opportunity anywhere
Say hi to Andrew on X/Twitter @andrewhbarnes
TOPICS COVERED -how Andrew built a career as an international entrepreneur
-Andrew’s reflections on betting on himself (and why you should too)
-the keys to navigating organizational change
-how and why the 4 Day Work Week became a thing
-the art and science of designing down time
-the counterintuitive ways less work powers more efficiency
-how to save your company from meeting culture
-how to trial a 4 day week in your organization
-addressing employee concerns about the 4 day week
-the 4 day week’s impact on wage expectations (spoiler: workers value their time!)
-the legislative activity around a 4 day work week
And much more!
Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg is the author of ‘What’s Your Problem?’ which was released by Harvard Business Press. He is also the co-author (with Paddy Miller) of Innovation as Usual, a Harvard Business Review Press book on the art of driving innovation in regular organizations.
Thomas has worked with managers in nearly all parts of the globe, including China, India, Russia, Singapore, Britain, France and his native country, Denmark. His research has been featured in Harvard Business Review, The Economist, The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, BBC Radio, Bloomberg Businessweek and the Financial Times. His work on innovation led HR Magazine to recognize him as a “Top 20 International Thinker”.
This conversation is a continuation of a string of conversations about work and creating more effective life/work integration. I’m leaning in on this topic because most of us have experienced periods of persistent angst around work, frustration with recurring work problems, and difficulty managing work relationships. This series of episodes delivers practical advice that you can use right away to be more effective and derive more satisfaction from work.
This episode deep dives on problem solving which in my opinion is a universally useful skill to develop. As Thomas points out, most of us aren’t thinking about problems the right way – something he calls framing – which prevents us from being able to effectively talk about and solve problems. This is a winding conversation filled with useful insight on professional and personal problem solving so It’s worth taking notes.
Behind His Brilliance: Curiosity and seeking the odd things
Say hi to Thomas on X/Twitter @thomaswedell
THE SHOW Simone Stolzoff is a designer, and workplace expert who is the former design lead at the global innovation firm IDEO. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and many other publications. He’s the author of The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work.
This conversation is, in my opinion, among the most important in the history of the show. It’s not particularly dramatic, but it’s hard for me to overstate the importance of the ideas and practical applications we discussed around life design, work, the relationship between to work and identity, and why carefully curating these things instead of letting them happen is an absolute must if you want to create more meaning and satisfaction at the intersection of your work and life.
We covered a wide range of things including the Western tendency toward work as a status symbol, how to make a career pivot, questions to consider when reflecting on the context of your career in your life, how to recover from an achievement hangover, the joys and perils of being self-employed, and much more. No matter what your career or employment status is, there’s something for you in this conversation. It’s especially timely as we all start thinking about a new year and what we might want to change where our careers are concerned.
Behind His Brilliance: Amazing people who share their stories
Say hi to Simone on X/Twitter @simonestolzoff
THE GUEST SIMONE STOLZOFF | AUTHOR, THE GOOD ENOUGH JOB
Simone Stolzoff is a designer, and workplace expert who is the former design lead at the global innovation firm IDEO. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and many other publications. He’s the author of The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work.
TOPICS COVERED The problem with tying personal identity to work
How to diversify your identity outside of work
How to stop chasing status at work (and what to do instead)
Rethinking designing life around work
How to avoid achievement hangovers
Simone’s advice on pivoting and taking risks
The gift and challenge of being self-employed
How to create structural protection against overwork
And much more!
THE SHOW Dr. Valerie Daniels-Carter is founder and president of V&J Holdings, the largest female-owned franchise organization in the United States. As one of the best known fast-food operators in the United States with more than 130 units across multiple brands, Valerie has partnered with influential leaders like NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal to expand her operations. She sits on the board of the Green Bay Packers and is a minority owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. As a seasoned leader, Valerie has learned what it takes to create and sustain success when you don’t have a head start.
Valerie was candid about her challenges and how she persisted to create a life and career that aligns with her values. We covered a wide range of topics from how she landed her first franchise location to how she identifies great partners along with more personal topics like grief and her reflections on the role of family and faith in her life.
Behind Her Brilliance: Faith, Family, Friends, Passion
THE GUEST VALERIE DANIELS-CARTER | PRESIDENT, V&J HOLDING COMPANIES Dr. Valerie Daniels-Carter is one of the most preeminent business owners in the United States. In addition to auspiciously commandeering several restaurants branded operations in the United States, she has been widely recognized for her adroit business ingenuity. She is the President and CEO of V&J Foods, Holding Companies, Inc. (V&J Holdings), a multi-brand/multi-state operation. It is recognized as the largest female owned franchise organization in the country. Dr. Daniels-Carter’s quick-service restaurant empire operations are comprised of Auntie Anne’s Soft Pretzels, Burger King, Coffee Beanery, Nino’s Southern Sides, MyYoMy Frozen Yogurt, Pizza Hut and Captain D’s Seafood along with numerous Real Estate ventures. Prior to establishing V&J Holding Companies, Inc., she worked in banking and finance.
TOPICS COVERED How Valerie landed her first franchise location
Valerie’s secret to scaling to 100+ locations
How Valerie creates partnerships with other leaders
The role of faith in Valerie’s life and business
Valerie’s work in sports and philanthropy
Valerie’s reflections on grief and hard lessons
How Valerie thinks about work/life integration
And much more!
THE SHOW Jim Fielding is casting the kind of light we all need to free us from the anxiety of being enough and doing enough. Throughout his illustrious career as an executive as the world’s most recognizable companies, he found that authenticity and kindness were the secrets to achieving the kind of success he most craved.
But these realizations didn’t come easy. After struggling with coming out, building international teams, and climbing corporate ladders, Jim left it all behind to lean into a new chapter where he brings his whole self to his work.
This conversation is a must listen for anyone who wants to design a more meaningful professional life that delivers fulfillment and stability without sacrificing authenticity.
Behind His Brilliance: Family
Say hi to Jim on Instagram @allpridenoego
THE GUEST JIM FIELDING | EXECUTIVE + AUTHOR, ALL PRIDE, NO EGO
Jim Fielding is a partner at Archer Gray, and president of its Co-Lab Division. A retail and media industry veteran, Jim served as president of Disney Stores Worldwide, and led global consumer experiences at DreamWorks and Twentieth Century Fox. His early career experience included top global brands, from The Gap to Lands' End. Jim later served as CEO of Claire's Stores, Inc. He is author of ALL PRIDE, NO EGO: A Queer Executive's Journey to Living and Leading Authentically (Wiley, August 15, 2023). Jim's expertise combines storytelling, product innovation, merchandising, and consumer experiences. He is an active community leader and philanthropist, a founder of the Queer Philanthropy Circle, and serves on the board of directors for the Indiana University Foundation. Jim has served as an executive-in-residence for IU's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and a board member for GLSEN, Make-A-Wish International, and American Red Cross. He is based in Atlanta, GA and Northport, MI.
TOPICS COVERED Jim's path into retail and how he found success
How authenticity accelerated Jim’s elevation as an executive
How Jim navigates high pressure situations
Jim’s advice on designing effective teams and collaborative cultures
Jim’s advice to professionals weighing their options
A fresh perspective on failure – and how to fail up
Why Jim stopped chasing the next promotion and title
The ah ha moment that healed years of trauma
And much more!
Tyler Denk is making a name for himself as a CEO who building a modern company that brings fresh energy to an old space: e-mail. He’s powering the world’s most beloved newsletters through Beehiiv, the company he founded in 2021. beehiiv is an all-in-one product suite for newsletter.
Tyler joined Morning Brew as the second employee, leading product and engineering, and helped them scale up until the acquisition by Business Insider in 2020. He then had a stint at Google as a Product Lead on the YouTube Music team, before ultimately leaving to start beehiiv in 2021, where he is currently the CEO.
Tyler’s story is an inspiring journey in strartups and aligning personal values with business vision.
Behind His Brilliance: Family
Say hi Tyler on X/Twitter: @denk_tweets
Cin Fabré is the personification of grit. We hear that word used in personal and professional development circles, but her story, her mindset, and her confidence truly reflects it.
Growing up, Cin Fabré didn’t know anything about the stock market. But she learned how to hustle from her immigrant parents. Through a tip from a friend, Cin pushed her way into brokerage firm VTR Capital―an offshoot of Stratton Oakmont, the company where the Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort, had reigned. She instantly felt the pull of profit and knew she would do whatever she had to do to be successful. Pulling back the curtain on the inequities she and so many others faced, Cin’s memoir Wolf Hustle reveals how Cin worked grueling hours, ascending from cold caller to stockbroker, becoming the only Black woman to do so at her firm. She also reveals the excesses she took part in on 1990s Wall Street―the strip clubs, the Hamptons parties, the Gucci shopping sprees―while reveling in the thrill of making money. From landing clients worth hundreds of millions to gaining, losing, then gaining back fortunes in seconds, Cin examines her years spent trading frantically and hustling successfully, grappling with what it takes to build a rich life, and, ultimately, beating Wall Street at its own game.
After a multistudio bidding war, Apple won the rights to the book and will be adapting it into a film.
We covered a lot in this conversation – how she landed on Wall Street so young, how she navigated everything from politics to dick pics, her financial literacy journey, her reflections on grief and mental health, and her leap from Wall Street Hustler to author.
Behind Her Brilliance: Confidence and a commitment to enjoying life
Cin Fabré
Wolf Hustle (Cin’s memoir)
Jacqueline Woodson (Cin’s reading pick)
John Grisham (Cin’s reading pick)
Dr. Andrew Newberg is the world’s leading thinker on neurotheology. His work has been published in over 250 peer reviewed articles and chapters on brain function and the study of religious and mystical experiences. He has published 14 books including How God Changes Your Brain and Neurotheology: How Science Can Enlighten Us About Spirituality. In this broad conversation, Lisa and Dr. Newberg explore the connections between spirituality and the brain. Dr. Newberg offers enlightening perspective on modern spirituality and its role in living well.
THE GUEST
DR. ANDREW NEWBERG | Neurotheologist + Author
Dr. Andrew Newberg is the director of research at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health and a physician at Jefferson University Hospital. He is board certified in internal medicine and nuclear medicine.
Dr. Newberg is a neuroscientist who studies the relationship between brain function and various mental states. He is a pioneer in the neurological study of religious and spiritual experiences, a field known as “neurotheology.” His research includes taking brain scans of people in prayer, meditation, rituals, and trance states, in an attempt to better understand the nature of religious and spiritual practices and attitudes. He has published over 250 peer reviewed articles and chapters on brain function, brain imaging, and the study of religious and mystical experiences. He has published 14 books, which have been translated into 17 different languages. His work has been featured in Newsweek, Time, National Geographic, New York Times, Forbes, and many more.
TOPICS COVERED
Religion vs Spirituality and why the distinction matters
The connection between psychedelics and spiritual experiences
The science of great spiritual retreats and how to choose one for yourself
The spiritual value of communal gathering outside of traditionally religious settings
Designing an optimal morning routine
Best practices for meditation
Grief and spirituality
And much more!
See the Show Notes at BehindtheBrilliance.com
Lisa offers a spin on the vision board concept and a new perspective on celebrating wins and creating personal success patterns.
Lisa explores the psychological aspects of modern risk and better ways to calculate real risk versus perceived risk.
In this solo episode, Lisa recaps Season 12's episode line up and how the theme, Uncharted Territory, tracked throughout the episodes.
This episode is one of the most important in the history of the show. We’re talking about grief. It’s one of those unsexy topics that doesn’t get discussed enough, but it’s something none of us can escape. Because of that, I invited grief expert David Kessler to the show. David is a six time author - among his books are On Death and Dying and On Grief and Grieving which are seminal works on death and grieving co-authored with Elizabeth Kubler Ross. You may have heard of the five stages of grief - those were originated by Elizabeth and David so he has an intimate understanding of grief. In addition to his formal training, David has experienced loss of his own which informs the sympathy and compassion he brings to helping people find peace and a path forward when looking ahead feels impossible. This conversation is both a balm and a beacon for anyone who’s experienced loss of any kind.
Behind his brilliance: A thousand mistakes people don't see
Say hi to David on Twitter: @IAmDavidKessler
Alua Arthur has one of the world’s most important jobs: she helps people die with dignity. After getting a law degree and starting a career in social work, she became a death doula. She helps individuals and families navigate end of life transitions. As a result, she has profound wisdom on how eventual death can inspire us to live more purposefully. In this conversation, she shares gem after gem about life, grief, work, and evolution.
Behind her brilliance: Leading with her heart
Say hi to Alua on Instagram at @luvaloveslife
T.A. McCann got the entrepreneurial bug as a teenager and never stopped building. His career has been a mix of corporate and startup ventures that have shaped his perspective on marketing and leadership. Now he’s the managing director of Pioneer Square Labs, a startup studio and venture capital fund. He draws on the experience of raising millions of dollars during his career to share what he’s learned about selling, fundraising, and shipping new projects. He also opens up about how he regained his confidence after a failure and why you should always have a side project.
Behind His Brilliance: Great advice and being given opportunities
Say hi to T.A. on Twitter: @tamccann
In this solo episode, Lisa describes the why, what and how of living eulogies - inspiring personal tributes offered to people who are still alive.
Going beyond special occasions and milestones, Lisa inspires you to start creating living eulogies for the special people in your life.
Chris Hutchins has lived many lives in his short time on earth. His adventures have been fueled by curiousity and acceptance of uncertainty. From startup experiments to traveling the world for 8 months to using hacks to optimize his life, Chris’ open mind and willingness to learn has taken him to fascinating places. In this conversation, he pulls back the curtain on the twists and turns of the journey, the hardest won lessons, and his perspective on creating more personal satisfaction in work and life.
Behind His Brilliance: Being comfortable learning in real time
Say hi to Chris on Twitter: @hutchins
Nina Westbrook is a trained marriage and family therapist and the founder of Bene, a digital platform offering wellness workshops and inspiration to help you embrace self-care, personal growth, and learning. Nina is also a mom of 3 and the wife of NBA all star Russell Westbrook. This conversation unpacks how Nina navigates change, her perspective on modern self-care, and her best advice for sustaining mental health.
Behind Her Brilliance: Her Parents
Say hi to Nina on Twitter: @ninawestbrook
Follow Bene on Instagram: @benexnina
Check Out Nina's Teachable Workshop: benebynina.teachable.com/
What would inspire you to reach the peak in your career then decide to scale a different mountain? Burnout. Justin Welsh went from making it rain at tech startups to going out on his own as a consultant. With the future unknown, he wrote his way to a 7 figure personal brand that allows him to spend his time on things he cares about and have an impact on thousands of professionals. In this conversation, he pulls back the curtain on a journey littered with setbacks and shares how he turned each failure into a launching pad for his next success.
Behind His Brilliance: A big stroke of luck
Say hi to Justin on Twitter: @justinSaaS
This is the ultimate reinvention story of a dynamic creative letting her passion guide her from the safety of her executive office to early mornings perfecting her craft as a screenwriter.
After climbing the ranks as an executive in Hollywood, Kelly left it behind to return to her passion of writing. Now she has a producing deal with HBO and decades of hard won wisdom guiding her creative pursuits. During this conversation, Kelly opened up about the highs and lows of her journey as a creative and a woman reinventing herself. Her reflections and strategies are an inspiration no matter your industry or ambitions.
Behind Her Brilliance: Listening
Say hi to Kelly on Twitter: @kellyedwards
Lisa offers frameworks and questions for conducting pre-mortems and post-mortems for personal and professional projects. Find the list of questions at BehindtheBrilliance.com/225preandpostmortems
Ryan Allis is the founder and former CEO of iContact, the email marketing company that sold for $169 million. After a short-lived stint as an angel investor, Ryan started a social enterprise and then became the Managing Partner of HeartRithm, an algorithmic trading fund that’s turning money into good. During this conversation, Ryan opens up about the peaks and valleys of his journey as an entrepreneur, what it means to be a heart-centered leader, and why he’s bullish on crypto.
Behind His Brilliance: Loving and supportive parents
Say hi to Ryan on Twitter: @ryanallis
Jessie Inchauspé brings clarity and levity to the wellness space as a biochemist, researcher, and author. Her Instagram account, @GlucoseGoddess, exploded when she started sharing what she learned about glucose monitoring and managment. Her book, Glucose Revolution, has been called the best practical guide for managing glucose to maximize health and longevity. Even if you don't think you have a glucose "problem," you're almost certainly in the group of people who could stand to improve their overall well-being by taking a more thoughtful approach to nutrition. In this conversation, Jessie offers simple sustainable changes that can have a significant impact on an array of health markers from sleep to energy levels to preventing disease. This is a must listen if you want to be well.
Behind Her Brilliance: Curiosity and a willingness to fail and be wrong
Say hi to Jessie on Instagram: @glucosegoddess
In this solo episode, Lisa outlines two mental models and discusses how they fit together to make decision making easier and more effective.
Jonah Berger is an internationally recognized expert in persuasion and change. In addition to being a professor at Wharton, he's written three books that help leaders and innovators create change in their organizations and lives. In this conversation, we discuss Jonah's best advice and the surprising tips that work for being more influential and effective personally and professionally. Whether you're leading a group at work or trying to persuade family members at home, this conversation has proven advice to improve your outcomes.
Behind His Brilliance: Curiosity
Say hi to Jonah on Twitter: @j1berger
Steve White went from humble beginnings in the midwest to the C suite of Comcast’s West Division. The journey was littered with hard won lessons on leadership and the habits required to create massive success. After driving revenue of nearly $18 billion, he’s learned what it takes to achieve organizational success and personal significance. He unveils how he achieved his vision and how you can too.
Behind His Brilliance: Effort and Attitude
Say hi to Steve on Twitter: @stevewhiteinc
BTB listener Michelle asked Lisa’s thoughts and personal journey to creating and sustaining healthy friendships.
Lisa opens up about how and why she struggled in this area, what she learned, and the way she created new friendships. She offers thought exercises for evaluating friendships and offers wise reminders.
Dr. Erin C. Westgate holds a Ph.D. in social psychology and uses it as a researcher and assistant professor. Her work explores boredom, inner lives, and thoughts. In this conversation, we turn boring research studies into insight with interesting stories and useful advice. Plus, we explore productive procrastination, the profound thing Erin's changed her mind about recently, and why we should all be pursuing psychological richness over happiness.
Behind Her Brilliance: a family that embraced curiosity
Say hi to Erin on Twitter: @erinwestgate
Sam Jennings is an accomplished artist and creative director whose credits include megastars like Prince and Pearl Jam. But he's so much more than his collaborations. His thoughtful approach to his work and his artistic integrity is what's led him on creative adventures that pushed boundaries and made waves. In this conversation, he connects the dots and shares the secrets of working with teams of all kinds, staying true to self as an artist, and making a living as a modern creative professional.
Behind His Brilliance: Being Inspired by Other Artists
Say hi to Sam on Twitter: @samjennings
Katrina Adams has gone from the west side of Chicago to the pinnacles of the tennis world as an athlete, executive, and commentator. Alongside her long list of accomplishments is a long list of lessons learned including how to recover from setbacks, how to perform under pressure, and why it's essential to be self-directed. In this conversation, she shares the gems that have allowed her to go from the the tennis court to the board room successfully. Behind Her Brilliance: Being Herself
Say hi to Katrina on Twitter: @katadams68
Katy Milkman turns dense research into usable tactics for daily life. From saving more money to losing weight, Katy's findings and summaries in her bestselling book, How to Change, are woven into this conversation. We explore what to do when motivation wanes, when to create fresh starts for greatest effect, the best approach to building new habits, and more. Behind Her Brilliance: Luck Say hi to Katy on Twitter: @katy_milkman
Mike Maser found himself way up the corporate ladder that was leaning against the wrong wall. He knew he couldn't keep coasting so he took the leap into entrepreneurship. The journey wasn't a smooth one, but it led him to running Big Sky Health, a company using technology to build thoughtful wellness apps. During this conversation, we talked about the good, bad, and harrowing of Mike's journey. He shares hard won wisdom and perspective on re-imaging your life and work to reflect your values.
Say hi to Mike on Twitter or Instagram: @mmaser
THE SHOW Dr. Emily Anhalt is a clinical psychologist, emotional fitness expert, author, and the co-founder of Coa, a a "gym for the mind." On this episode, she talks with Lisa about the strategies and tactics for creating and sustaining mental wellness, how to find a great therapist, the importance of developing sound habits, and much more.
Behind Her Brilliance: A supportive community, hard work in therapy, and a deep belief that everyone is doing the best they can with what they have.
Say hi to Emily on Twitter or Instagram: @DrEmilyAnhalt
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We're hosting Drafted, a free, day-long writing & learning event, on March 22, 2021. Drafted will feature:
- Amazing speakers discussing developing a sustainable writing practice, finding your personal niche, growing a newsletter to thousands of subscribers, and more
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- Plus virtual socials to meet other awesome internet writers
Learn more and register at draftedworkshop.com
THE SHOW
New York Times bestselling author, cartoonist, and entrepreneur Nick Seluk shares how he turned a creative passion into a thriving enterprise. From time management and personal discipline to leadership and creative choices, Nick opens up about how he built an international audience of adoring fans (including Lisa!).
Behind His Brilliance: A willingness to work to have his definition of freedom
Say hi to Nick on Twitter or Instagram: @TheAwkwardYeti
SPONSORED BY:
On Deck Performative Speaking is an eight-week remote program for ambitious professionals who want to become powerful public speakers. The curriculum combines storytelling frameworks, pop culture and an incredible community to help you become the speaker of your dreams.
Whether you’re a founder aiming to paint a compelling vision for investors, an operator looking to take on a leadership role, a creator building their audience or an executive trying to make that next step into the C-suite, ODPS will help you define your personal narrative and use it to communicate your story to the world.
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Kirk Moore is back to discuss his journey as a writer, his reflections on diversity in entertainment, what he’s learned and how he’s applied it, the importance of community for writers, why self-care is not negotiable for artists, and much more.
Say hi to Kirk on Twitter and Instagram @KirkWrites79
The author and multihyphenate sits down to recount her professional journey, what she's learned, and how mutlihyphenates can tell better stories about their work. If you've ever struggled with answering, "Tell me about yourself," you'll love this episode. Holley's candor and clarity provide a useful framework for designing a fulfilling career and telling the right story about it.
Behind Her Brilliance: God + her ancestors + her curiosity
Say hi to Holley on Twitter @HolleyMurchison and Instagram @holleymmurchison
Financial advisor and real estate investor Ayesha Selden joins Lisa to unpack her journey from humble beginnings in Philadelphia to financial independence. Ayesha brings candor and humor to this conversation that's filled with timeless wisdom and hard won insight.
Behind Her Brilliance: Persistence and discipline
Say hi to Ayesha on Twitter and Instagram: @AyeshaSelden
Lisa shares why internal scorecards are important and how to design them. This is a short, inspiring blueprint on keeping yourself accountable and consistently leveling up.
This episode is a deep dive into mental health and how we can find greater peace and purpose, even as we face a complicated new normal during and after the global pandemic. The founder and CEO of Mental Happy, Tamar Blue, drops in to share her journey as a founder and offer perspective on cultivating mental well-being in every season.
Behind Her Brilliance: Her intuitive nature
Say hi to Tamar on Twitter: @TuhmarBlue
This episode blends the theory of wellness with the practical application to provide inspiring perspective on enhancing your physical health. Nutrition specialist and behavior coach Esosa Edosomwan (aka The Raw Girl) deep dives into the design of modern wellness and health habits that work.
Behind Her Brilliance: A commitment to using all of her talents
Say hi to Esosa on Instagram and Twitter: @TheRawGirl
Lisa discusses thoughts and questions on life design for 2021 amidst the chaos and uncertainty of the pandemic.
Mac Conwell is an entrepreneur turned venture capitalist investing in early stage startups. After a roller coaster journey through entrepreneurship, he is an accidental venture capitalist. During this conversation, he shares what he's learned about hustle, networking, confidence, and much more.
Behind His Brilliance: His Parents
Say hi to Mac on Twitter: @macconwell
Founder and President of multimillion dollar functional beverage company LIFEAID opens up about his journey, hard won lessons, and the keys to sustaining an 8 figure business during a pandemic. Aaron was remarkably candid about his dark days, the lessons he learned, and how he is finding ways to thrive, even during uncertain times.
Behind His Brilliance: Knowing His Blind Spots
Say hi to Aaron on Twitter and Instagram: @aaronhinde
GG is a thoughtful and prolific writer, author, and guide for truth seekers. Her work centers on self-care and self-discovery as pathways to self-actualization and personal success. During our conversation, she pulls back the curtain on her own journey and shares rich insight on creating more meaning and purpose in our lives and work.
Behind Her Brilliance: Her Spirituality
Say hi to GG on Instagram + Twitter: @ggreneewrites
Season 11 is here! This season we're going back to basics to talk about health, money, meaning, lifestyle design, and charting the path forward. With so much adversity and change around us in 2020, this season is an inspiring beacon for thriving in the next chapter of our lives.
Lisa answers a frequently asked guest and listener question: what's behind her brilliance?
Sam Sokolow is the Emmy nominated producer of 'Genius', an anthology drama series on National Geographic. His work in film and television has led to a body of work that reflects his passion and curiosity. In this conversation, Sam unpacks the keys to his success, his reflections on the unexpected twists in his journey, and his advice to the dreamer who's wondering whether it's too late to win (spoiler alert: it's not).
Behind His Brilliance: Perseverance
Say hi to Sam on Instagram: @samsokolow
J Michael Straczynski is probably best known as the creator of the sci fi TV series, Babylon 5, in addition to the Marvel Comics, The Amazing Spider-Man, Thor, and Fantastic Four. He's also the pen behind DC Comics' Superman and Wonder Woman. Before becoming a successful screenwriter, Joe battled unfavorable personal circumstances that shaped his grit and tenacity. In this winding conversation, we talk about Joe's life, his work, and how he's found peace in every season of his life.
Behind His Brilliance: Following his holy calling
Say hi to Joe on Twitter: @straczynski
Sam Parr is the founder and CEO of The Hustle, a rapidly growing 8 figure media company that's taken no venture capital. Besides being ambitious and smart, Sam is self-aware and thoughtful about both his professional and personal lives. In this conversation, we talk about his take on building companies, leadership, lifestyle design, mental health, and much more.
Say hi to Sam on Twitter and Instagram: @thesamparr
Bill Duke is among the most accomplished actors in Hollywood with more than 70 credits to his name. Also an accomplished director, he continues to create work that inspires and educates. During this conversation, Bill opens up about his struggles and triumphs and what he's learned about love and longevity.
Emily Nagoski is blending research and wisdom as an author, sex educator, and neuropsychologist. She sat down with me to talk about her books, her work, and what she's learned about sex, feminism, and avoiding burnout. This episode is a good listen for women AND men since we're all interconnected.
Behind Her Brilliance: Her Husband
Say hi to Zainab on Instagram: @enagoski
Zainab Johnson is among the best and brightest standup comedians working today. Her perspective is unique, and her voice is fresh. During this winding chat, Zainab and I talked about how she found her way to comedy, what she's learned from failure, how she handles fear, and the role faith plays in her life. There is funny stories, inspiring gems, and excellent wisdom tucked away in this episode.
Behind Her Brilliance: Her Upbringing + Her Family
Say hi to Zainab on Instagram: @zainabjohnson
Lisa shares 3 illuminating questions and her thoughts on the importance of breaks, rest, and sabbaticals.
Therapist and Speaker Nedra Tawwab has amassed a following of nearly 300,000 on Instagram where she doles out inspiring, useful nuggets of wisdom about mental health, life, and personal development. Her perspectives on boundary setting and healing from past trauma continue to be lauded by followers from all walks of life. Now she's sitting down with me to talk about big mental health ideas, the value of therapy, and her take on what makes healthy relationships work.
Behind Her Brilliance: Being Open + Sharing What She Knows
Say hi to Nedra on Instagram: @nedratawwab
Charlie Gilkey is a brilliant strategist and author who's written an excellent book titled Start Finishing. The book helps creatives, entrepreneurial types, and professionals finish what they start. The book lays out practical advice for everything from managing project logistics to fending off procrastination. In this chat, Charlie and I talk about how to create work that matters.
Behind His Brilliance: Tenacity and Generosity
Say hi to Charlie on Twitter: @charliegilkey
Brian is the author of one of my favorite books of 2019 titled, The Geometry of Wealth. Brian’s work centers around helping us connect our pursuit and management of money to meaning. This to me makes his work unique because it’s not all about stacking as much as you can and it’s also not about pretending money doesn’t matter. There’s an important balance that has to be found if you’re going to build wealth AND be happy.
Behind His Brilliance: Curiosity
Say hi to Brian on Instagram: @bportnoy
After traveling to every country in the world, Jessica Nabongo joins Lisa to pull back the curtain on her journey from Detroit to Japan to trotting the globe. The dynamic entrepreneur opens up about her best experiences, why she's not afraid to see the world alone, and how she thinks about her purpose as a visible leader charting new territory.
Behind Her Brilliance: Confidence + Authenticity
Say hi to Jessica on Instagram: @thecatchmeifyoucan
Elaine Pagels is a preeminent figure in the theological community. She is a religious historian at Princeton and the author of several books including her recent memoir, Why Religion? During this conversation, Elaine opens up about her winding journey with faith, the lessons she's learned about grief, and how she's remained optimistic through it all.
Behind Her Brilliance: Following what she loves with passion
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB185
Vanessa K. De Luca is a brilliant and dynamic journalistic force who was the lauded Editor in Chief at ESSENCE magazine...and then she wasn't. With grace and resilience, she's charted a new path for her career and is creating a blueprint for other professionals who want to create lives that are rich with meaning and relevance.
Behind Her Brilliance: The People in Her Life
Say hi to Vanessa on Instagram and Twitter: @vanessa_kdeluca
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB184
Mandela SH Dixon is the founder and CEO of Founder Gym, an online training center for underrepresented founders. During our conversation, we talked about how flipped a talent for teaching into a dynamic career in Silicon Valley.
Behind Her Brilliance: Nature and Nurture
Say hi to Mandela on Instagram @mandelash and Twitter @mandelash
TOPICS COVERED Mandela's perspective on failures and how to keep moving
Why Mandela started Founder Gym and what she's learned in the process
Mandela's thoughts on starting a company with a romantic partner
How Mandela went from teaching elementary school to empowering hundreds of founders
And much, much more!
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB183
Lisa tees up the final block of Season 9 with a discussion on reinvention, a recurring theme in the forthcoming episodes.
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB182
Lisa talks with longtime BTB listener Brandy Lucas about BTB's early days, her religious journey, her fitness regimen, and how her relationship with money has changed over time.
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB181
Laura Vanderkam is a prolific author whose TED talk, "How to Gain Control of Your Free Time" has been viewed more than 5 million times. Her books center on productivity and helping readers spend more time on the things they love and less time on the things they don't. During this conversation, she shares what she's learned in researching multiple angles of productivity and time management.
Behind Her Brilliance: Experimentation
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB180
Lisa answers a listener question about taming impulse buys and staying on budget.
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTBQA179
Jamila Souffrant is one of the few Black women blazing a trail for herself toward financial independence and documenting the journey along the way. We talked about the nut and bolts of her stacking more than $150,000, rethinking how she designed her life, and setting herself up for the long game.
Behind Her Brilliance: Daring to do what she wants to do
Say hi to Jamila on Twitter @journeytolaunch or follow her on the 'Gram @journeytolaunch
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB178
This solo episode is the gateway for the next block in Season 9: Going Deeper + Leveling Up.
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB177
Jonathan Jackson is a brilliant thinker. He moves through life with an intentional and authentic nature that makes you curious about how his mind works. He sat with me for this epic 2+ hour conversation to share his reflections on his career, how he makes difficult decisions, what he's learned about love and relationships, and much much more.
Behind His Brilliance: Love + His Village + Curiosity
Say hi to Jonathan on Twitter @Jon_Jackson or follow him on the 'Gram @jon_jackson
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB176
Jonathan Jackson is a brilliant thinker. He moves through life with an intentional and authentic nature that makes you curious about how his mind works. He sat with me for this epic 2+ hour conversation to share his reflections on his career, how he makes difficult decisions, what he's learned about love and relationships, and much much more.
Behind His Brilliance: Love + His Village + Curiosity
Say hi to Jonathan on Twitter @Jon_Jackson or follow him on the 'Gram @jon_jackson
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB175176
Paul Jarvis is back to talk with me about his new book, Company of One, what he's been up to since his last BTB appearance, and other topics like lifestyle design, money, and much more.
Say hi to Paul on Twitter: @pjrvs
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB174
Andrea Barrica is the founder of O School, a nonjudgmental resource on all things dating and sex. We talked about how she found herself working in tech, her experience coming out to her Catholic family, and why she started O School. We also talk about the Orgasm Gap (like the pay gap, except for orgasms) and much more.
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB173
This solo episode offers fresh perspective on crafting a life and career that works for multidisciplinary folks.
Topics Covered:
-Thoughts on envy and what to do with it
-How to choose what to work on
-The path to profitability as a polymath
-Defining success personally
And more
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/PolymathPath
Behind the Brilliance is back! Season 9 kicks off on Thursday, January 24. Listen to this sneak peek of what's to come.
In this solo episode, Lisa summarizes the highlights and outstanding conversations from Season 8.
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/Season8Recap
THE SHOW Carla Hall is a revelation. I saved my favorite episode of the season for last because her personality is like the last piece of cake that you want to save and savor at the perfect time. In our winding chat, Carla talks about the serendipitous way she came to the culinary world, how she landed on TV, how she cultivated a strong sense of self, what she's learned from failure, and much more.
Behind Her Brilliance: Not taking herself too seriously
Say hi to Carla Hall on Twitter: @carlahall
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB171
In this solo episode, Lisa shares her reflections on friendship, a friend's recent passing, and the essay, On the Shortness of Life.
Designer, author, and podcaster Debbie Millman details how she overcame personal adversity to create a career and life that reflects her values. During this winding conversation, we cover pain, process, P. Diddy, and much more.
Behind Her Brilliance: Longing
Say hi to Debbie on Twitter: @debbiemillman
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTBDebbieMillman
In this solo episode, Lisa answers a listener question about setting boundaries with friends and family.
Say hi to Lisa or ask questions on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook: @LisaNicoleBell
Get tickets for XX here: http://bit.ly/XXcomedy
Episode Sponsor: Visit LiveFashionable.com and enter code BEHINDTHEBRILLIANCE for 20% off your first order.
http://bit.ly/QABoundaries
THE SHOW Jewel Burks was the founder and CEO of Partpic, a company she sold to Amazon in 2016. During our chat, we talk about what she learned, how she grew, and why winning requires laser focus.
Behind Her Brilliance: God and Her Mom
Say hi to Jewel on Twitter: @jewelmelanie
Get tickets for XX here THE GUEST JEWEL BURKS |Jewel Burks is an advocate for representation and access in the technology industry. As co-founder of Partpic, a startup designed to streamline the purchase of maintenance and repair parts using computer vision, Jewel and her team built groundbreaking technology poised to change the way people everywhere locate products. Partpic raised over $2 million in seed funding from notable investors like AOL co-founder, Steve Case, and Comcast Ventures, and integrated its software into mobile apps/websites of large parts distributors and retailers. Partpic was acquired by Amazon in late 2016 and the technology now powers visual search for replacement parts in the Amazon Mobile Shopping app.
Currently, Jewel serves as Team Lead for Visual Search at Amazon. In addition to this role, Jewel is a proud board member at Goodie Nation and the Harvard Debate Council Diversity Project, and spends much of her free time advising startups and angel investing.
Jewel has been featured in notable publications such as Forbes, Wired, TechCrunch, Essence, Glamour, and Business Insider. Prior to founding Partpic, Jewel served in management, enterprise sales, and strategic diversity roles at McMaster-Carr Industrial Supply and Google, Inc. Jewel is a native of Nashville TN, and graduate of Howard University.
TOPICS COVERED Jewel's early days and path into tech
How Jewel adjusted to the culture shock of Silicon Valley
The brilliant way Jewel discovered the idea for Partpic
Lessons Jewel learned raising $2 million
The aftermath of selling a company
And more!
STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Jewel Burks
Excuses Be Gone (Lisa Likes)
The Four Agreements (Jewel's book pick)
Start With Why (Jewel's book pick)
Get tickets for XX here
Lisa shares 6 thoughts on failing forward, defining success, and staying sane as you level up.
Topics Covered:
The functionality of failure
Defining success in clear, personal terms
Being kind to yourself when you fail
Success as a numbers game
And more
This episode is sponsored by ABLE. Visit livefashionable.com and enter code BEHINDTHEBRILLIANCE for 20% off your first order.
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB165
THE SHOW Barrett Ward is the founder and CEO of ABLE, a lifestyle brand focused on ending generational poverty by working with women who have often overcome extraordinary circumstances. We manufacture directly in the communities we wish to impact, both locally and globally, creating jobs and ending the cycle of charity dependency.
Behind His Brilliance: Surrounding himself with strong mentors
Say hi to Barrett on Instagram: @barrettward
THE GUEST BARRETT WARD | Leading a fashion lifestyle brand might be an unlikely role for someone self-described as “not a fashion guy,” but that’s exactly where ABLE founder and CEO Barrett Ward finds himself. As the visionary behind the rapidly growing Nashville-based company disrupting the fashion industry with a social conscience, Ward was inspired to start ABLE with the mission of creating sustainable business opportunities for women. While living in Ethiopia, Ward and wife Rachel saw firsthand how extreme poverty forced many young women to make difficult choices for money. They wanted to give women the chance to earn a living with dignity. In 2010, they began ABLE by employing women who had overcome the sex industry to make handmade scarves. ABLE has since grown into a lifestyle brand carrying beautiful leather bags, jewelry, denim, apparel, and shoes with a primary focus on empowering disadvantaged women. Now, the company employs more than 300 women in Ethiopia, Peru, Mexico, and Nashville – home of ABLE’s Headquarters and Flagship store. As fans of ABLE’s classic styles grow, Ward ensures he and his team always remember why ABLE was founded: to provide opportunities to women who have overcome some of life’s most challenging obstacles.
TOPICS COVERED The origin story of ABLE in Ethiopia
The problems with poverty tourism
How Barrett is reimagining social entrepreneurship
How ABLE measures its impact around the world
Fast fashion and why you should be more mindful about what you buy
What Barrett has learned about leadership
And more!
STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE ABLE (use code BEHINDTHEBRILLIANCE for 20% off)
The True Cost (fast fashion documentary)
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (Barrett's book pick)
Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (Barrett's book pick)
Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (Barrett's book pick)
SHOW NOTES: http://bit.ly/BTBBarrettWard
THE SHOW Joi Chaney is the executive director and campaign manager for Equal Pay Today, an organization that works in coalition to close the gender wage gap across the United States. In this conversation, Joi reflects on her storied career and offers sage advice on pay parity, productivity, advocacy, and much more.
Behind Her Brilliance: Her Mom
Say hi to Joi on Twitter
TOPICS COVERED Joi's early days and path into politics
How and why Joi worked with Planned Parenthood
Joi's role in the movement for pay parity and her work with Equal Pay Today
Joi's advice for being a good ally
How the social contract affects pay parity for women
Joi's advice on advocating for yourself at work
Joi's thoughts on productivity, perfection, and people pleasing
And more!
SHOW NOTES: http://bit.ly/BTBJoiChaney
THE SHOW Rainbow Barris is the real life inspiration for the fictional character "Rainbow" on the hit ABC comedy, Blackish. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about her reflections on medicine, marriage, motherhood, and making the most of life at every stage.
Behind Her Brilliance: Self-Awareness
Say hi to Rainbow on Instagram
TOPICS COVERED Rainbow's path through medicine, marriage, and motherhood
How Rainbow became the inspiration for a fictional TV character
Rainbow's approach to staying sane and focused while raising 6 kids
How Rainbow's transition from doctor to author manifested
Rainbow's reflections on what makes relationships work after 2 decades of marriage
And more!
SHOW NOTES: http://bit.ly/BTB162
THE SHOW Lisa Feldman Barrett is the author of 'How Emotions Are Made' and a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University with an appointment at Harvard Medical School. In this conversation, we talk about Lisa's book and what she's learned about how emotions are made, how we can be happier and healthier by understanding how our emotions work, and the myths about the mind and emotions.
Behind Her Brilliance: Tenacity + The People in Her Life
Say hi to Lisa on Twitter
TOPICS COVERED Lisa’s path from a working poor family to academic researcher
How Lisa overcame failure and setbacks (including 8 failed experiments and a failed dissertation proposal)
How emotions are constructed
What emotional granularity is and why you should develop it
How emotions and the perceptions associated of emotional expression tie into healthcare, education, and the legal system
How “bitches” become leaders
The practical uses of emotional intelligence
Myths about the way our brains and emotions work
How to turn the dial down on intense emotions
Distinguishing between discomfort and distress (and why it matters)
The simple things you can do to develop more emotional control
And more!
SHOW NOTES: http://bit.ly/BTB161
THE SHOW Benjamin Spall is the founder of MyMorningRoutine.com and the co-author of the book, My Morning Routine, which was chosen as one of Amazon’s best business books of 2018, one of the Financial Times books of the month, and one of Business Insider’s best business books to read this summer. In our conversation, we dissect morning routines, productivity hacks, and other perspectives on starting the day off right.
Behind His Brilliance: Side Projects
Say hi to Benjamin on Twitter
TOPICS COVERED How and why Benjamin cofounded MyMorningRoutine.com
How Benjamin developed a mediation practice (and his favorite app for it)
Why what you do after meditation is important
The best observations from the dozens of people interviewed in My Morning Routine
How self-care fits into a well-crafted morning routine
Why journaling might be the missing piece to your morning routine
How and why you should create an evening routine to wind down
Ben’s take on monotasking and productivity
How side hustles lead to serendipity
And more!
SHOW NOTES: http://bit.ly/BTB160
THE SHOW This solo episode features answers to 2 listener questions: one is about defining success and the other is about separating a personal brand from a business brand.
This episode also includes the announcement of a new partner, ABLE! Check out livefashionable.com and stay tuned this season to hear my interview with the founder and CEO.
For now, get 20% off your first order at livefashionable.com with code BEHINDTHEBRILLIANCE.
SHOW NOTES: http://bit.ly/BTBQA159
THE SHOW Jennifer Romolini is the former Chief Content Officer for Shondaland.com and the author of Weird in a World That's Not which is a fresh, honest take on traditional career advice. In our conversation, Jennifer gives hope and high fives to the misfits and outsiders with her vulnerable and candid straight talk on how she's found success in her personal and professional life.
Behind Her Brilliance: Grit
Say hi to Jennifer on Twitter
TOPICS COVERED -Jennifer’s path into magazine publishing, writing, and how she’s landed her high profile jobs
-Her leap into the startup world and what she learned there
-What Jennifer learned about herself through her marriage and how she and her husband designed a plan that supported their respective careers
-What she learned during the process of writing her book, Weird in a World That’s Not
-Jennifer’s perspective on networking and why business is personal
-What Jennifer has learned about leadership throughout her career
-and much, much more
SHOW NOTES: http://bit.ly/BTB158
THE SHOW Dhonielle Clayton is the New York Times bestselling author of The Belles in addition to being the co-founder of Cake Literary and the COO of the non-profit, We Need Diverse Books. She's a brilliant creative force who is constantly expanding her sense of what's possible. In this episode, we discuss her career path, her artistic sensibilities, and much more.
Behind Her Brilliance: Her Parents
Say hi to Dhonielle on Twitter + Instagram: @brownbookworm
TOPICS COVERED Dhonielle's early days as a budding book worm
Dhonielle's perspective on the American education system as a former librarian and teacher
How Dhonielle fell in love with travel and how it changed her
Dhonielle's devotion to craft and what she's learned fighting through delays and hard times
Dhonielle's take on having it all and how she designs her life
-and more
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB157
THE SHOW Paula Pant is the founder of AffordAnything.com, an award-winning personal finance website. In this conversation, we talk about how we went from struggling as a journalist to traveling the world to building a portfolio of 8 properties to reach financial independence.
Behind Her Brilliance: Restlessness
TOPICS COVERED Passive income, financial independence, and how Paula discovered them
How Paula built a real estate portfolio that created financial freedom for her
Paula’s early days and how she developed an appetite for travel
Paula’s morning routine
What Paula knows about money that most people don’t
Paula’s perspective on time management
How Paula and her husband make their marriage and working relationship fit together
-and more
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB156
THE SHOW Dr. David Burns is the author of Feeling Good, a seminal work on cognitive behavioral therapy that has sold more than 5 million copies. We talk about the difficulties he faced getting the book published, his advice to listeners interested in therapy, and how he approaches perfectionism, depression, and anxiety with patients.
Behind His Brilliance: Critical Thinking
TOPICS COVERED -David's path into the mental health field
-The rejection David faced trying to get his bestselling book, Feeling Good, published (a dramatic and inspiring story!)
-Rarely shared advice on how to find a good therapist and how to measure success in therapy
-David's advice for dealing with perfectionism, depression, and anxiety
-David's reflection on a life free from the need to be special
-and much more!
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB155
THE SHOW This episode is one of my favorites. Eli is the first social psychologist who's been on the show, and I thoroughly enjoyed our chat.
Eli Finkel is a social psychology professor who studies interpersonal attraction, marriage, conflict resolution, and how our social relationships influence our goal achievement. Our conversation centers on his brilliant book, The All or Nothing Marriage, and what he's learned about modern marriages and how we can connect with the right partner and thrive in our relationships.
Behind His Brilliance: Proactively avoiding boredom
TOPICS COVERED -Eli's path into social research and relationship psychology
-Eli's findings on what makes modern marriages successful
-highlights from Eli's book, The All or Nothing Marriage
-happiness as an appropriate (or inappropriate) goal for marriage
-managing expectations in relationships and marriage
-how self-actualization plays into healthy marriages
-destiny belief vs growth belief in relationships
-Eli's "love hacks" birthed from research findings
-and much more!
Say hi to Eli on Twitter: @elijfinkel
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB154
THE SHOW This is a bonus solo episode with the (sometimes) annual birthday recap of what I learned from the past year and what lit me up.
TOPICS COVERED -books and TV Lisa loved
-a random unprompted rave about cauliflower rice
-6 lessons from the past year on saying no, killing ego, productive patience, sexy pajamas, friendship, and more
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB153
STUFF MENTIONED BoJack Horseman
Catastrophe
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Cauliflower rice
Cauliflower pizza crust
Hell yeah or no (video)
How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
Unbought and Unbossed by Shirley Chisholm
Principles by Ray Dalio
Night Shift (iOS)
Flux
Butter & Nectar pillowcases
Dr. Breus (The Sleep Doctor) on Behind the Brilliance
Essential oil for sleep
Good Night Sleep Improving LED light bulbs
The Show
This is a breathtaking underdog and reinvention story. Perhaps the most remarkable I've heard on Behind the Brilliance. Deesha shares her journey from boarding school to dropping out of college because she ran out of money to becoming a White House intern at 30 years old to becoming the Social Secretary under the Obama Administration. She opens up about the imposter syndrome, setbacks, and insecurities she faced, and how she conquered them all.
The Guest
Deesha Dyer is a speaker, writer, Creative Event and Strategy consultant, and most notably known as the former Obama Administration Social Secretary. The Philadelphia native became a White House intern at the age of 30 and completed a seven-year tenure there that honed her expertise in event coordination, logistics, protocol, and statecraft. Her storied career is unconventional at best, with themes of reinvention, drive, and a commitment to community service integrated throughout.
In this episode, we cover:
-how Deesha bounced back from setbacks to finish college in her early 30s
-how Deesha went from community activist in Philly to White House Social Secretary (it's an epic tale)
-Deesha's favorite travel memory from traveling the world with the President
-Deesha's secrets for throwing a great party
-how Deesha conquered Imposter Syndrome
-the nonprofit Deesha started, Be Girl World
-and much more!
Say hi to Deesha on Twitter: @deeshadyer
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB152
Amy Morin was a vibrant twenty-something with a bright future ahead of her when tragedy struck not once, but twice: she lost her mother and her husband in a span of three short years. Refusing to feel sorry for herself, Amy used what she'd learned as a psychotherapist to develop the mental toughness necessary to find peace and push forward to brighter days. She penned the viral article, 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, which became the bestselling book of the same title. Now she's sharing her journey and observations with the masses.
We covered:
-Amy's journey into psychotherapy
-Amy's advice on becoming mentally tough without having a bunch of drama
-how Amy handled losing her mother and husband unexpectedly just 3 years apart
-what Amy's learned about mental toughness and resilience
-Amy's approach to managing anxiety and overwhelm
-and much more!
Say hi to Amy on Twitter: @AmyMorinLCSW
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB151
This episode is a recap of Season 7 highlights. The episode features snippets of 7 episodes, some reflections on making your own luck, a little housekeeping, and a freestyle. You're welcome.
Episodes Covered:
135 - AFRICA MIRANDA @africamiranda
136 - DUANE SPIRES @duanespires
141 - KELLY HOEY @jkhoey
142 - RODERICK COX @rcoxmaestro
146 - LUCHINA FISHER @luchina
148 - TONYA RAPLEY @myfabfinance
149 - LISA CONGDON @lisacongdon
Lisa Congdon's brilliance in her courage, dedication, and willingness to take calculated risks. After leaving her elementary school and nonprofit careers at 40, she become a self-taught artist. Now she manages an empire of passive and active income that spans e-commerce, books, teaching, and more. In this conversation, she pulls back the curtain on her path to profitability, her thoughts on thriving as an artist, and why she feels grit matters more than talent.
We covered:
-how Lisa went from teacher and nonprofit pro to self-taught thriving artist
-Lisa's approach to building a devoted following that threw money at her before she was ready
-how Lisa managed the transition from steady paycheck to income uncertainty
-Lisa's thoughts on imposter syndrome, confidence, and managing insecurities
-Lisa's approach to risk-taking, negotiation, and time management
-and much more!
Say hi to Lisa on Twitter + Instagram: @lisacongdon
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB149
Tonya Rapley is a leading financial educator and the founder of My Fab Finance. She's a dynamic woman who brings a smart and balanced perspective to money matters. Our chat spans way beyond money to include spirituality, starting over, hustle, ego, and much more.
We covered:
-how Tonya found her way from music to money as a career
-money stories: what they are and how to change them
-Tonya's path to overcoming physical and emotional abuse
-advice on setting boundaries with friends and family around money
-Tonya's spiritual journey
-how Tonya made more money working fewer hours
-pride vs ego
-Tonya's advice for starting over and getting started
-and much more!
Say hi to Tonya @myfabfinance on Twitter and Instagram
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB148
This is a solo episode with 8 musings for 2018. They cover things like celebrating wins, clearing clutter, and other important stuff. As always, my shenanigans are sprinkled throughout. Let me know what you thought of this episode! @LisaNicoleBell
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB147
Luchina Fisher is an award-winning writer, director, and producer. Her latest film, Birthright, challenges the war on reproductive rights in America. As an accomplished artist and dynamic woman, Luchina shares hard-won wisdom and reflections on a wide range of topics including:
-her early days as a writer
-how she ended up living with Gladys Knight
-why she doesn't believe in staying in her lane
-her experience working with music legend BB King
-how her latest film, Birthright, came to be
-the attack on women's reproductive rights in the US
-and much more
Say hi to Luchina on Twitter: @Luchina
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB146
A listener from Twitter asked whether I felt a responsibility to use my platform good. I answered. In detail.
Black women are centered and I share my thoughts on protests, converting points of view, economic empowerment, and much more.
A listener from Twitter asked whether I felt a responsibility to use my platform good. I answered. In detail.
Black women are centered and I share my thoughts on protests, converting points of view, economic empowerment, and much more.
Idil Ahmed has amassed a following of more than 1 million people on Twitter (@idillionaire), Instagram, and Facebook by delivering inspiring and illuminating content. An author, entrepreneur, speaker, and science enthusiast, Idil has made it her life's work to help as many people as possible operate from a place of power and clarity. In this conversation, we talk about her journey, the practical aspects of spirituality, how she turned a growing Twitter account into a 7 figure following, and much more.
We cover:
-how Idil turned her passion into a profitable pursuit
-Idil's early days and how she started her first business
-Idil's thoughts on reconciling science and spirituality
-how the Idillionaire brand came to be and how she grew it
-the inspiration for Idil's book, Get Out of Your Own Way
-Idil's wisdom on forgiving yourself, navigating change, and finding your way forward
-the importance of avoiding comparison
-and much more!
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB144
Dr. Michael Breus is the leading authority on sleep in the United States. He is a clinical psychologist and one of 163 psychologists in the world with his credentials and distinctions related to sleep disorders. In this fast paced conversation, I bombard him with my burning questions about sleep, coffee, alcohol, travel, beauty and all of the other random things we all need to understand about sleep and how it affects our bodies.
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB143
Roderick Cox is just one of a handful of African-American conductors in the world. He is currently the associate conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra and has gained national attention for his outstanding talent. During this conversation, he pulls back the curtain on his process, his dedication to his craft, the hard lessons he's learned about excellence, and much more.
We cover:
-how Roderick got his start in music
-the mental and emotional aspects of performance excellence
-Roderick's thoughts on the sacrifices and commitment necessary to thrive at a craft
-how Roderick manages his insecurities
-Roderick's lessons learned on discipline
-Roderick's daily routine
-advice to classical music newbies
-and much more!
Kelly Hoey is an author, speaker, and angel investor. Her book, Build Your Dream Network, is a guide for making modern career connections that power a career you love. Whether you're an indie artist or a high powered C level exec, Kelly's advice is useful.
In this conversation, we cover:
-Why Kelly decided to start going after equity instead of paychecks (and you should too)
-How the New York Times engagement announcements became part of Kelly's networking strategy
-Why you should never ask anyone to mentor you
-Kelly's networking advice for introverts
-How Kelly made the leap from corporate attorney to author, speaker and investor
-Why curiosity and side projects are essential to a great career
-and much more!
A'Lelia Bundles is a four time author, public speaker, journalist, and television producer. Her Madam CJ Walker biography On Her Own Ground is being produced for TV by Octavia Spencer and LeBron James. We talk about A'Lelia's dynamic career, her approach to decision making, and the lessons she learned from the first self-made American woman millionaire - her great-great-grandmother, Madam CJ Walker.
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB140
Angela Nissel is the bestselling author of The Broke Diaries, a television writer, and all around dope and funny woman. We talk about her varied and fascinating career, the best lessons she's learned, and why she'd rather have money than fame.
We cover a lot of topics including:
-Angela's experience co-founding Okay Player with Questlove (and the funny story of how they met)
-Angela's book, The Broke Diaries, and how her relationship with money has changed since then
-the value of surrender in life and work
-the illusions of "success" and why Angela prefers money to fame
-the valuable lesson Angela learned after her appearance on Oprah's talk show
-finding your way to "work/life balance" as a creative
-and much more!
Say hi to Angela on Twitter + Instagram: @angelanissel
This episode is a short and sweet compilation of questions. They'll challenge you, inspire you, and make you think. Journal about them, discuss them with friends, or just think on them. They're the perfect way to prepare for 2018.
PLUS! I share deets on the first digital download, Higher Concerns. It's available now at HigherConcerns.com or BehindtheBrilliance.com. Use the code "BTB" to get $5 off.
Let me know what you thought about these questions - I'm @LisaNicoleBell on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
Rachel Hill is a former corporate superstar turned wanderlust warrior. She left a 6 figure salary at a Fortune 50 company to backpack through Asia. She's been traveling ever since. Now she runs RachelTravels.com, a travel blog and business that delivers useful and inspiring advice on traveling the world...or your own backyard.
Topics Covered:
-how Rachel discovered she was depressed and what she did about it
-how and why Rachel took off for Southeast Asia with a backpack and a dream
-how Rachel turned her passion into a profitable pursuit
-Rachel's thoughts on travel bucket lists, her favorite countries, and her advice to newbie travelers
-Rachel's secrets to traveling in style without breaking the bank
-what Rachel has learned about business and her approach to the gamification of marketing
-how Rachel fails forward
-and much more!
Say hi to Rachel on Twitter or Instagram
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB137
Duane Spires is a serial entrepreneur who brings passion and enthusiasm to everything he does. We covered a LOT in this episode including the details of his journey to building multiple $1M+ businesses, his take on dealing with setbacks, how he handled friends who didn't support his wins, and much more.
This conversation covers:
-how Duane turned a $5 loan from his mom into an empire (and later hired her full time to be on his team)
-how Duane changed his relationship with money after blowing it on ballerific nonsense
-Duane's thoughts on choosing the right spouse when you have big goals
-how Duane's relationships changed after he became successful (and what he did about it)
-Duane's habits that resulted in him creating a $1 million side hustle
-and much more!
Influencer, actress, and entrepreneur Africa Miranda stops by to chat about her journey from a girl with New York City dreams in Alabama to star of Bravo's "The New Atlanta" to dynamic woman birthing a luxury beauty brand.
During this talk, Africa opens about the best and worst parts of her path and shares the secrets to her resilience. We cover a lot of topics including:
-Africa's approach to making big decisions (you'll love her framework and want to steal it for yourself)
-Africa's secrets for creating enviable brand identity (luxury radiates from her new brand)
-The beauty secrets that yield glowing skin and slaytastic hair
-How Africa actively designs a life she loves (with advice you can actually use)
-Africa's reflections on life after reality TV
-Africa's leap from Alabama to New York City and why the move was so important
-and much more!
Say hi to Africa on Instagram and Twitter : @africamiranda
Rate the show on iTunes and share it with somebody who can use a shot of funny inspiration.
Get show notes at www.behindthebrilliance.com
Nitasha Tiku is a senior technology writer for WIRED. Her past work includes writing for Gawker, BuzzFeed, Inc, and The Verge. During this chat, we cover a lot of topics including:
-How Nitasha broke into journalism (and her advice for people who want to break into any creative field)
-Nitasha's observations about founders who do well
-How Nitasha dealt with intense criticism and scrutiny (useful advice included)
-Orgasmic meditation (yes, really)
-Nitasha's advice for slaying the green-eyes jealousy dragon
-and much more!
Say hi to Nitasha on Twitter or Instagram: @nitashatiku
Get show notes at www.behindthebrilliance.com
It's the Season 7 kickoff of Behind the Brilliance!
The cynics say the advice about waking up early, meditating, and all of the other usual stuff is overblown and doesn't account for the role of LUCK in being successful. I agree with them so I decided to devote an episode to ways we can make our own luck.
Some stuff is legitimately beyond our control (like dicks/vaginas, skin color, etc) but there's a lot we can do that makes a difference.
This entire season will be devoted to making luck and hacking happiness. I can't wait for you to hear the conversations.
In the mean time, give this episode a listen. It covers:
-a twist on the conventional advice to "work hard"
-how to find your Prosper Point
-why "hobbies and interests" matter
-a different way of thinking about big goals
-and much more
Let me know if you're making your own luck and what you thought of this episode:
Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @lisanicolebell
Season 6 was a solid collection of conversations from an eclectic array of folks including writers, entrepreneurs, actors, and artists. I'm grateful to the amazing guests who generously shared their time and opened up about their experiences and lessons learned. I'm also grateful to you, the listener, for joining me in this special little community of people who want to be, do, and have more as we celebrate what we've got.
I've recapped 7 episodes from Season 6:
108 - Eric Bahn : entrepreneur + investor at 500 Startups
109 - Jamila Daniel : television writer, Star on FOX
111 - Tamara Floyd : blogger turned entrepreneur
115 - Tina Lifford : star on OWN's hit television show Queen Sugar
117 - Damon Young : writer + founder, Very Smart Brothas
121 - Dr. Andrew Newberg : neuroscientist + author of How God Changes Your Brain
128 - Tiffany Dufu : Author of Drop the Ball + Chief Leadership Officer at Levo
Drop a line and let me know what you thought about Season 6!
@LisaNicoleBell on Twitter, Facebook + Instagram
Season 7 launches on July 27.
My nickname for this show is the Creativity Meets Commerce. Jessica has designed systems and processes for her work and offers frameworks for other artists. Her work deals with the hard stuff: staying out of your own way, thinking about the bigger picture of your goals, managing limited time, deciding to charge for your creative work.
During this conversation, we covered a lot of ground on how to get art done even as the artist struggles through the process. Jessica is practical (which I love), and she offers clear, accessible ways of solving common problems for people who want to make things.
Say hi to Jessica and let her know what you thought about our chat: @jccabel
We covered a lot including:
-melding creativity and commerce
-what idea debt is and how to eliminate it
-time management advice that works for creative types
-redefining "marketing" for people who hate salesy stuff
-art as a service
-overcoming dark times in the middle of a project
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB131
Felecia Hatcher is a White House Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Globally Sought after Speaker and Author who works to rid communities of innovation deserts and creates cool books, products and courses to help Start-Ups, Creatives and Broke Entrepreneurs follow their most epic dreams.
In this conversation, we talk about her journey from C student to award-winning entrepreneur. We talk about the $1 million grant she recently received for her latest venture, Code Fever.
We covered a lot including:
-time management hacks
-delegating (Felecia's war stories and advice)
-working with her spouse (and the effect it had on her marriage, spoiler alert: they didn't kill each other)
-the hardest lesson she's learned
-why she advises taking it slow with investors
-and much more
Say hi to Felecia on Twitter and let her know what you thought: @feleciahatcher
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB130
In the last solo episode of Season 6, I share some thoughts on weaving minimalism into our lives in practical ways. Of course, shenanigans are sprinkled throughout for our mutual amusement.
This episode covers:
-the Fleeing Suitcase exercise
-delaying purchases (aka the Amazon cart for life)
-curating + auditing what we own (and why we should do it regularly)
-the importance of gratitude and celebration
-and more
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB129
My nickname for this episode is the Sanity Show. It's full of fresh ideas and perspective on getting things done with grace, staying sane when you're ambitious, and learning how to leverage relationships to fulfill your personal and professional potential.
Tiffany Dufu is the author of the new book, Drop the Ball. We covered a lot of topics including time management, renegotiating relationships, comparative advantage (and how to use it to your benefit at work and at home), and much more.
Say hi to Tiffany and let her know what you thought about our chat: @tdufu
TOPICS COVERED (partial list)
-how to "find your purpose" and connect it to your daily work
-lessons on delegating effectively
-the importance of renegotiating relationships
-how to apply comparative advantage at home
-how to have critical conversations when you need support
-redefining what it means to be "good" at any given role in your life
-and much more
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB128
In the last Q+A episode of Season 6, I answer a question about how I discovered and implemented my system of values and a question about choosing between a lifestyle business and a scalable business.
Topics covered in this episode:
-Why I decided to clarify my values
-The process of choosing and implementing a new values system
-How to troubleshoot faulty values
-How to choose between a lifestyle business and a scalable business
-Why no one is really their "own boss" and why it doesn't matter anyway
-Much more!
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB127
Kristi and I had such a good conversation that lasted about 2 hours. We talked about her essay "Enjoli - read it at http://bit.ly/KristiEnjoli,why you're never too old to start over, and much more.
Kristi is a writer and soon-to-be author who penned the (popular and somewhat controversial) essay "Enjoli" on Medium last summer. The response opened a floodgate of reactions from people discussing alcohol consumption, being sober, and how the choice plays into other aspects of life.
After reading the essay earlier this year, I was struck by both Kristi's writing style and her observations about alcohol and what it's done to us culturally.
Even if you don't "think" you have an alcohol problem, this episode is a good reflection on anything we consider to be a detriment or vice to well-being. I've thought deeply about it as it applies to a variety of areas of my life. Maybe you will too.
Say hi to Kristi and let her know what you thought about our chat: @kristiccoulter
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB126
On Part 2 of Tipsy Talk, listener Priscilla asks about sustaining herself as an artist. I shared my experiences, and we covered a lot including:
-why financial literacy is a must for creatives
-high level marketing considerations for artists
-rethinking how much money is "enough"
-why doubling prices is often a great idea
-much more!
Share this episode with friends who are trying to work out the numbers of their ventures and art.
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB125
This episode is probably in my top 10 favorites of all the BTB episodes because of how practical and important the conversation was. It wasn't until the past couple of years that I stopped obsessing over making more money and started thinking more deeply about what money actually represents in my life. Most so-called finance gurus repeat platitudes about skipping lattes and "saving more" without ever addressing the stuff that really gets in the way of people making the kind of money they want to make and knowing what to do with it when they make it. Daniel and I unpacked all of that and more in this conversation.
We covered a lot of topics relating to money and lifestyle including:
-the amount of money research says is optimal for "happiness"
-why you shouldn't "stay in your lane" when it comes to education and career
-modern considerations for wealth creation
-the reason super smart people get money management wrong
-the connection between money and lifestyle satisfaction
-and much more
Let me + Daniel know what you thought of this episode - did you learn anything interesting?:
@danielcrosby
@lisanicolebell
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB124
In this first part of Tipsy Talk, listener and former guest Tamara turns the mic on me to ask about everything from my cross country move, how I clarified my values, my favorite project from the past and more.
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/TipsyTalk1
This conversation is a must-listen for creatives and people who want to make something out of nothing. Amanda is one of the most inspiring creatives I've had on the show. In spite of not having the arts degree, the wealthy family, and whatever else you assume you need to succeed, she found a way to make what she wanted to see. You should too. This episode is a blueprint for creating personal art and a passionate life.
We covered a LOT including:
-how Amanda developed her entrepreneurial muscle as an artist
-how Amanda deals with Imposter Syndrome
-how Amanda manages her responsibilities on TV, radio, and print
-why Amanda believes the right partner is an asset to artists
-the way Amanda learned to surrender and appreciate life's flow
-how to gracefully end friendships
The conversation was honest, inspiring, and funny. Drop me + Amanda a line and let me know what you got from it: @amanda_parris | @lisanicolebell
Show Notes: bit.ly/BTB122
This episode is a spiritual nerd’s dream come true. I sat down with Dr. Andrew Newberg (neuroscientist + author of How God Changes Your Brain) to talk about how meditation, prayer, and religion change your brain. As a researcher, he’s a pioneer in the neurotheology. We discuss how he got his start, what he’s discovered in his research, and how all of these findings apply to people like me and you.
We covered a lot including:
-what the heck "neurotheology" is
-the impact of religion on health and longevity
-Andrew's advice to newbie meditators
-the power of yawning
-the practical value of optimism
-the measurable effects of faith
-and much more
Let me know what you thought of this episode – did you learn anything interesting? I'm @lisanicolebell on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Show Notes: bit.ly/BTB121
This episode is a Q+A with answers to questions on how and why I weight train, my favorite books of 2016, and how I find time to read.
My answers cover a lot of topics:
-why I started weight training
-the supplements I use to get results
-the benefits of weight training
-tactics for transitioning into harder workouts
-how I find time to read 20-30 books each year
-my favorite titles of 2016
-and much more
SHOW NOTES: http://bit.ly/BTB120
This episode is one my favorite kind - one that touches on a wide range of topics with candor and curiosity.
Andrea Pippins is an illustrator (you've seen some of her recent work in the Lenny Letter), designer, author, and generally amazing person.
This conversation was rich with inspiring and funny stories and wisdom.
Here's a sample of what we covered:
-How Andrea got her start as a designer + illustrator
-How Andrea faces her fears
-The serendipitous story of Andrea's book deal
-Andrea's natural hair journey and what inspired her book, I Love My Hair
-the joys and complexities of splitting time between the United States and Sweden
-work/life harmony
-minimalism
-much more
Say hi to Andrea and tell her what you thought of this episode: @andreagpippins
Show notes: bit.ly/BTB119
This episode is a Q+A with answers to questions about how and why I meditate, how I deal with Imposter Syndrome, and whether working for free is a good idea.
My answers cover a lot of topics:
-why I started meditating and what I get out of it
-the step by step of how I meditate
-my favorite meditation apps
-what Imposter Syndrome is and what causes it
-how I deal with Imposter Syndrome
my thoughts on working for free
-how leverage unpaid opportunities for career success
-why some opportunities are
-and much more
Let me know what you thought: @LisaNicoleBell on FB, Twitter, Instagram
This episode is the perfect kickoff to Black History Month. Writer and Very Smart Brothas founder Damon Young (a self-described Professional Black Person) joined me for a funny and fascinating conversation about his journey from basketball star to writer.
Beyond sharing his witty observations, Damon gets personal and talks about how getting married changed his art for the better, why desperation has been useful for his craft, and so much more.
Say hi to Damon and tell him what you thought of this episode: @verysmartbros
Topics Covered:
-The realization Damon had that led him to give up his basketball career (he's still a Pittsburgh hoop legend)
-Why 'Dick and Haiku' is the grandfather of 'Netflix and Chill'
-Damon's stint as a teacher and his made up curriculum
-How Very Smart Brothas was born and how Damon thinks about its growth
-The serendipitous events following the release of Damon's first book
-Damon's advice to aspiring full-time creatives
-How Damon thinks about parenting, being an outsider, and managing his time
-and much more
Hit me up and let me know what you thought of this episode: @LisaNicoleBell
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB117
This week's episode is a solo talk on the 11 things we should all stop doing in 2017. A lot of "to do" lists come out near the top of the year, but I decided there were more things we should probably quit than start.
-
Being busy for the sake of being busy (instead of productive)
-
Being lazy / cutting corners
-
Avoiding hard conversations
-
Using outdated definitions of success
-
Catering to the ego
-
Waiting on perfect timing
-
Allowing feelings to be an excuse for bad behavior
-
Flaking on people and things
-
Denying the truth of who we are
-
Hoping goals will just happen
-
Procrastinating unproductively
Drop a line and let me know what you thought of this episode and if it was helpful. @LisaNicolebell
This show should be titled Hustle and Heart because those are the two things Tina Lifford has in spades.
This conversation tells the story of Tina turning her wishful dream into a thriving career, recovering from major life setbacks, and developing the grit and clarity necessary to courageously live life the way she wants.
From getting fired to buying property to choosing projects, this conversation is an inside look at the mindset and attitude of a dynamic artist.
We covered a LOT including:
-How Tina went from wanting to be an actress to being a sought after, working actress
-The story of how Tina took a generous offer from a colleague and turned it into a personal wealth tool
-Why getting fired can be a gift if you have the right perspective
-How Tina chooses her projects
-How Tina coped with losing her brother, dog, and father within 6 months of each other
-Tina's advice to creatives who want to be wealthy without being controlled by the pursuit of money
-and much, much more!
Say hi to Tina and tell her what you thought of this episode: @tinalifford
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/btb115
This week's Q+A episode deals with the topic of creating an "ideal life" and escaping a 9-5. I put ideal life in quotations because I don't believe in absolutes when it comes to figuring your life out. It's heavy lifting, it's hard, and it takes time (and I sure as heck am not a guru).
Still, I do have a lot (I mean, a LOT, no seriously look at how insanely long this episode is...yeah, a lot) of thoughts, observations, and experiences related to the topic so I answered.
Leissan asked: "In your opinion, what is the most graceful way to make that transition? From a 9-5 desk job to doing things that are completely nontraditional. I know everyone has their own path, but hearing your transition and how you took the steps to make your ideal life possible would help me construct mine. I'm at the point would require taking some risks and running into trouble with that as well. How do you gracefully take the risk to make your goals happen?"
My answer covers many topics including managing time, managing money, rethinking priorities, mindset matters, assessing risk, and a lot more.
Take a listen and tell me what you think -- I'm @LisaNicoleBell on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
All of the books mentioned in this episode are in the show notes. Link (case sensitive) below.
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/btb114
What does it look like when your perfect career finds you instead of you stressing out about finding it?
My conversation in this episode answers that question. Alyse Killeen is a venture capitalist, founder of City Fellows and Women in Venture, and a smart (and let's be honest, woke) woman who roots for outsiders and underdogs.
In this conversation, Alyse opens up about her path from academia to grad school to venture capital. We discuss her philosophies on investing, inclusion, bro culture, and much more.
My favorite part is near the end when she shares the best advice she's ever received. Lean in when you hear that come up.
Say hi to Alyse and tell her what you thought of this episode: @alysekilleen
Show Notes: bit.ly/BTB113
To close out the year, Lisa shares the six things she learned and recaps her year. If you're feeling anxiety about 2017, this episode will be a reminder of the good to come. If you're excited about 2017, this will sprinkle more hype on your optimism.
Have a safe and happy New Year!
This week's episode delivers a hearty buffet of topics. From selling to sensory deprivation tanks to setting boundaries, we covered a lot.
Tamara Floyd is the founder of Natural Hair Rules, a blog that has become a mainstay among natural hair enthusiasts.
In this conversation, we chat about:
-Tamara's journey from passion project to passionate 6 figure business
-What Tamara learned about the importance of confidence
-How Tamra thinks about hiring and leadership
-Tamara's approach to lifestyle design
-How Tamara discovered she was depressed and what she decided to do about it
-Tamara's first experience in a sensory deprivation tank
-and much more
Say hi Tamara on Instagram and Twitter: @NaturalHairRule
Tell me what you thought about this episode: @LisaNicoleBell
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB111
This is a solo Q+A episode featuring 2 questions from listeners. This episode is long but meaty. I lay out my process for getting out of a funk, how I keep my mental state elevated on a daily basis, and more.
Question 1: As I was on the train this morning and listening to the Kirk Moore episode, I reflected on a meetup I had last night with an established entrepreneur/digital nomad. I rarely vent, especially about things I'd categorize as negative, but I did mention to her that every now and then I feel discouraged. I try not to, but it's sometimes inevitable to compare yourself to someone else. I don't think it's always a bad thing and I usually label it as something to aspire to be/do rather than be jealous. That word makes me cringe. It was crazy that as soon as I figured I'd inquire about that, Kirk began to speak on this topic. Usually I'll get myself together and remind myself why I'm doing what I'm doing, why my journey is unique, and why I can still succeed. I live by the saying "what's for me is for me." Last night my new friend is the one who got me together and gave me all types of encouragement and inspiration. Do you ever become discouraged? If not anymore, when this did happen to you, how did you usually get back on track? Affirmations? Journaling?
Question 2: Do you ever go through funks? If yes, do you have a plan or some type of routine/process you do to help you get out of it? How long did it take you to formulate that process and make it something habitual, rather than just knowing about what you should do, but taking the actual action to do it?
Take a listen and let me know what you thought of this episode!
Twitter, Facbeook, Instagram: @LisaNicoleBell
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTBep110
Have you ever felt like you were too old (or too something) to go after a dream?
This week's guest is the talented, smart, and gorgeous Jamila Daniel. After a career in entertainment journalism and a stint working for the Rachel Maddow show, Jamila decided to start all over as an intern (yes, really) to get the job of her dreams: staff writer on a television show.
In this episode, Jamila lets me in on her path to pursuing her passion. We talk about the hard times she had moving to LA (she didn't even know how to drive when she got to the city) and how she had to humble herself to get experience, even when it meant working under people much younger than her.
We also cover a lot of other great topics including dealing with setbacks and dark days, dating in LA, Jamila's approach to her craft, and much more.
It's never too late to pursue your biggest, most passion-inducing dream. Jamila is living proof.
Say hi to Jamila on Twitter and tell her what you thought of this episode: @jamiladaniel
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB109
Lisa Likes: Moonlight
LNB on Twitter: @LisaNicoleBell
Season 6 is here! We've got a lot of catching up to do. If you want to skip all the hugs, kisses, and housekeeping, jump ahead to about the 20 minute mark to begin this amazing conversation.
What would you do if you came into millions of dollars as a result of something you made or built?
My guest in this episode, Eric Bahn, tells me the story of starting and growing his scrappy startup (including amazing advice on getting things popping when you have no money) and went on to sell it. He and his wife decided to travel the world, but things got dicey after that. You might wonder how somebody who's deemed "rich" could have any issues with work, but Eric opens up about how he ended up taking a job that turned him into a grumpy guy.
There's a lot of other great advice tucked away in this conversation. We cover:
-the important lessons Eric learned during and after the time he sold his company
-"finding time" to work on passion projects AND be with family and friends
-why Eric quit his job at Facebook to work on a startup
-what Eric looks for in founders and startups he invests in (the answer will surprise you)
This episode is among my top 10 because my guest was open and offered tons of excellent advice.
Say hi to Eric on Twitter and tell him what you thought of this episode: @ericbahn
This episode's hashtag is #BTB108
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB108
LNB on Twitter: @LisaNicoleBell
I'm closing out this amazing season with my recap of the season's highlight, the three things you should check out during the show's hiatus, and what I'm currently working on.
Recapped episodes:
83 - Colin Wright
88 - The Strangest Secret
93 - Bea Arthur
94 - Christina Jones
96 - Gunnar Lovelace
102 - Kirk Moore
100 - Joyful Ambition
Q+A episodes: 91, 97, 103 || Birthday Episode: 87
As always, thanks for listening. Season 6 drops December 1! In the meantime, subscribe to the show on iTunes and/or sign up for my monthly mashup of funny and inspiring musings at LisaNicoleBell.com.
This week's guest is writer/producer Ben Watkins who is the creator of the Amazon show, Hand of God. This is one of my favorite episodes ever. Ben was amazingly transparent about his journey and offered up excellent advice on life, work, and creativity.
In this conversation, we cover:
-How Ben got his start in Hollywood
-Ben's thoughts on leadership, creativity, and dealing with tough days
-Ben's leaps from actor to writer to showrunner
-How Ben learned to keep his ego in check
-and much more
This conversation was in depth, meaty, and full of hard won wisdom.
Say hi to Ben and tell him what you think of the episode: @_Benipedia_
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB106
The talented, gorgeous, and inspiring actress Simone Missick joins me to talk about her path from struggle to success as a star on Marvel's Luke Cage series on Netflix.
This conversation is full of inspiring stories, wisdom, and much more. We cover:
-Simone's leap from waiting tables to pursuing her dream
-How Simone kept herself going during the dark times in her career
-Simone's approach to daily motivation and focus
-How Simone got cast in Luke Cage (this story will restore your faith in possibilities)
-Simone's most important life lessons
-and much more!
Say hi to Simone and tell her what you thought on Instagram or Twitter: @simonemissick
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB105
This week's guest is Monique Woodard, a venture partner at 500 Startups and one of the few black female VCs. During this chat, we talk about her early days, her career in the music business, her path to starting her first company, her dating experiences as a powerful woman, and much more. Monique also serves up excellent advice for current and aspiring founders.
Hit Monique up and say hi! @moniquewoodard
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB104
This week's episode is a Q+A answering questions about how to find new friends once you've overhauled your life and what to do when you feel stuck.
In the first answer, I share my approach to building new personal friendships (and how badly I used to suck at it), how I approach "networking", why values are a pre-req for having great relationships and more.
In the second answer, I share ways I've gotten myself unstuck, the best questions to ask yourself to get to the next level, and why patience is supremely important.
Share your feedback and thoughts with me @LisaNicoleBell
Super talented writer Kirk Moore stops by to chat with me about his journey from broke to breakthrough as an artist. We talk about his beginnings in Houston, how he honed his craft, and his path to professional writing.
This episode is a must-listen if you've ever questioned whether you were pursuing the right thing, if you find yourself feeling stuck or disappointed by how your path is unfolding or if you plain ol feel like a failure who will never get it together.
Kirk was very transparent and shared the story of how he persevered through setback after setback while sleeping on a friend's couch and eventually found himself working with Academy Award winner John Ridley on ABC's hit show, American Crime.
This is probably one of my top 5 favorite episodes out of the 100+ I've done. Again, if you're building anything of your own (a career, an artistic path, a business, whatever), you'll find lots of gems and wisdom in this conversation.
This episode is really long but really good. Like episode 85 with Willie Jackson, this was just too juicy, inspiring, and funny for me to leave anything out.
Hit Kirk up and say hi and tell him what you thought of this episode: @KirkWrites79
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB102
Cross Culture Ventures founder Marlon Nichols joins me to chat about his path from corporate consultant to passionate venture capitalist. We also talk about the traits great founders share, how Marlon thinks about new opportunities, and his advice on pitching.
Say hi to Marlon on Twitter: @marloncnichols
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB101
This solo episode deals with how to pursue big ambitions with sanity and joy. I cover a lot of stuff: borrowing from the future, defining success, goals vs milestones, popularity vs purpose, and much more.
It's a dose of real talk, inspiration, and my usual shenanigans sprinkled throughout.
Let me know what you think on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram: @LisaNicoleBell
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB100
This week’s guest is Doreen Bloch, founder and CEO of Poshly, a data company focused on beauty. Besides being one of my favorite people, Doreen is whip smart, super talented, and very passionate.
During this chat, we covered a lot:
-Doreen’s experience growing up in Silicon Valley
-Doreen’s thoughts on the American education system
-Tips and wisdom for pitching to investors
-Where the idea for Poshly came from
-How she handles tough times
-and much more!
Say hi to Doreen on Twitter and tell her what you thought of the show: @DoreenBloch
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB099
This week's guest is Tiffany Smith-Anoa'i, EVP of Diversity, Inclusion & Communications at CBS Television. After making a role for herself at Nike, she went on to do PR for comedian Sinbad before landing at CBS and rising through the ranks.
Tiffany is brilliant at advocating for herself and translating her passion into tangible vehicles to get what she wants. We talk about that and much more in this conversation.
TOPICS COVERED (partial list)
-Tiffany's journey from sports journalism intern to EVP at one of the world's largest entertainment companies
-How Tiffany created a role for herself at Nike
-Tiffany's approach to going after she wants and negotiating to get it
-Tiffany's advice to her younger self
-and much more!
Say hi to Tiffany on Twitter: @TSmithAnoai
SHOW NOTES: http://bit.ly/BTB98
This week's episode is a Q+A answering questions on how I created my values-based filters that I use to make key decisions and why time is more important than money.
There's one more Q+A episode coming up this season so if you have a question, email me at btb@lisanicolebell.com
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB097
This week's guest is the smart and heart-centered Gunnar Lovelace. He's the co-founder and co-CEO of Thrive Market, an online market offering top-selling healthy brands delivered to your doorstep for wholesale prices. I'm a huge fan of the company and this conversation made me a fan of Gunnar.
If you've ever considered starting a company based on a passion or if you're a current or aspiring leader of any kind, this episode is a must listen. I pull back the curtain on Gunnar's journey as an entrepreneur and big thinker.
We covered a LOT including:
-Gunnar's journey from growing up on a communal farm to running a $100M+ company
-how Gunnar thinks about failure
-how Gunnar chose his cofounders (great advice here if you ever want to start something with another person)
-work/life harmony
-why Gunnar kept pushing after being rejected by 50 venture capital firms (their most recent round was $100M so...yeah)
-and much more!
Let me know what you think of this episode: @LisaNicoleBell
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB96
The brilliant life strategist Rosetta Thurman joins me again to catch up on life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. As the founder of Happy Black Woman, Rosetta leads a thriving community of women aspiring to be, do, and have the best.
In this chat, we cover a lot...
-how Rosetta thinks about lifestyle design (and why she decided to move to Hawaii)
-Rosetta's approach to romantic relationships as a successful woman
-why Rosetta loves therapy and what she gains from it
-Rosetta's advice to anyone feeling stuck or struggling to make a big transition in life
-the time management habits that keep Rosetta relaxed and productive
-why assistants, housekeepers, and other "fancy" services aren't unrealistic
-the importance of being committed yet flexible with your goals
-And much more!
Let me + Rosetta know what you thought of this episode on Twitter: I'm @LisaNicoleBell and she's @HappyBlackWoman
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB095
This week's guest is the talented Christina Jones. She made the leap from graphic designer to full time writer without a publisher, agent, or a ton of time (she's a mom and wife).
In this convo, we cover a lot of ground:
-how Christina got her start as a writer
-making the leap from amateur to pro at a creative craft
-earning a living as a full time writer
-managing time and energy as a creative
-the calculated risk involved in putting your work out to the public
-being present and authentic as an artist
-marketing considerations for writers and creatives
-and much, much more!
Say hi to Christina on Twitter: @beingmrsjones
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTBChristinaJones
This week's guest is therapist turned entrepreneur Bea Arthur. The self-proclaimed Beyonce of tech joins me on my virtual couch to talk about a cocktail of topics including:
-Bea's journey as the daughter of Ghanian immigrants
-How Bea found her way as a startup founder
-Being ripped apart on Shark Tank (and how she bounced back)
-Bea's advice to folks who want to do the startup thing
-Why Bea decided to freeze her eggs (I'm curious, she's open, it works)
-Bea's advice to folks dealing with anxiety and depression
-How Bea sees failure
-Why burritos are better than salads sometimes
-And much more!
Get into this episode and let us know what you think!
Bea's Twitter: @BeaArthurLMHC
Lisa's Twitter: @LisaNicoleBell
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB93
This episode is a conversation with the smart, heavily tattooed, and awesome Paul Jarvis. Paul started his career as a freelance web designer and then started writing advice for people who wanted to figure out how to balance the business aspects of their creative work. Now he's created software and is continuing to push the boundaries of his work.
In this conversation, we cover:
-How Paul got his start
-How Paul designed his life to reflect what he enjoys most
-Why Paul has pet rats (I know, but stay with us)
-How to differentiate yourself from competition in crowded fields
-How Paul handles critics
-And much more!
Hit Paul up on Twitter @pjrvs to let him know what you think!
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTBPaulJarvis
In this solo episode, I answer two listener questions: 1 about my journaling process and another about how to deal with unsupportive family members.
I share a lot of thoughts:
-Why I journal and reasons I think journaling is helpful for everyone no matter what you do professionally
-How I approach journaling (time, location, frequency, etc)
-Benefits of journaling
-Why other people not supporting you is not about you
-The most important part of feeling "supported"
-And more!
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB091
This week's guest is attorney-turned-entrepreneur Rachel Rodgers. After realizing she didn't want to take a traditional path after law school, Rachel launched a virtual office and went on to make a business out of sharing what she knows.
In this conversation, we cover a lot of ground including:
-Why traditional careers don't have to be boring
-How Rachel managed being the breadwinner in her home as an entrepreneur
-How Rachel deals with critics
-Rachel's advice for anyone trying to find their path
-How Rachel bounced back from her darkest time
-And much more!
SHOW NOTES: http://bit.ly/BTB90
Follow Rachel: Twitter/Instagram - @RachRodgersEsq
This week's episode is a conversation with founder and superconnector Darrah Brustein. Darrah is the cofounder and CEO of Equitable Payments, and she is the founder of the fast-growing national networking event series, Network Under 40.
In this episode, we talk about Darrah's journey to starting her business, her best advice for networking, and why she doesn't believe in ever being "too busy."
Topics covered:
Why Darrah studied Religion and Italian in college
Why you should travel the world
How Darrah found her path as an entrepreneur
The hard truth about book publishing
Darrah's networking advice (she runs the largest networking event in ATL)
Darrah's approach to time management
And more!
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/DarrahB89
This week's episode features one of my favorite recordings - The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale. The recording lays out some compelling ideas about personal development and success. It's an older recording so some of the references are dated, but the core message is timeless. As something I listen to often, I decided it was time for me to share it with you.
This week, Lisa Likes wardrobe capsules. Sometimes my schedule gets stacked and I need to reserve my cognitive space for important decisions. A wardrobe capsule helps me get up and out the door quickly without fussing over what I'll wear. I highly recommend it for busy people looking for extra time.
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTBSecret
This week's episode is the annual birthday episode where I share what I've learned (and remembered) in the past year.
Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTBbirthday
This week, Lisa Likes Night Shift, the Apple feature that automatically changes the color of your display to the warmer end of the color spectrum after dark with the intention of helping you get a better night's sleep.
This week's guest is Elisa Camahort Page, cofounder of BlogHer and current executive of SheKnows Media. Elisa shares her journey as a founder and offers her perspective on taking risks, building teams, and much more.
In this conversation, we cover:
-How and why Elisa decided to forgo a steady paycheck to start BlogHer (she went 2 years without a salary!)
-How Elisa approaches risk (and why she believes you should always take them)
-The key lessons Elisa has learned about leadership and creating teams
-Elisa's perspective on the current state of tech for women founders
-Elisa's habits for success
-More
Show notes are available at http://bit.ly/elisacpage
This episode starts with a recap of my trip to Egypt. This week, Lisa Likes Global Entry - the trusted traveler program that lets you breeze through customs when you return to the US.
This week's guest is Willie Jackson, an entreprenurial technologist who serves as technology lead for Seth Godin (renown author + marketer) while also running Abernathy Magazine, a digital publication for black men.
In this conversation, we cover a lot of ground:
-transitioning to doing work you love
-how to create a new professional network when you want to make a career leap
-the importance of self-care no matter how busy you are
-developing work habits that support your goals
and much, much more!
This is the longest episode of BTB ever, but it's a worthwhile conversation.
Details on stuff mentioned are in the show notes: http://lisanicolebell.com/behind-brilliance-085-willie-jackson/
Enjoy!
This week's episode is a Q+A session where I answer a question about dealing with overwhelm and how to manage new opportunities.
This week, Lisa Likes Spider Oak ONE, a super awesome, privacy-enhanced backup system that stores your files on a hard drive and in the cloud for access anytime across multiple devices. A life saver if anything ever happens to your computer.
This episode covers:
-Why "no" is a complete sentence and why "hell yeah or no" is a great place to start
-Values and how they inform a vision, goals, plans, actions, and measuring the return on choices
-Rest + sleep and why they're so necessary (and generally awesome)
-Priming the creative pump
-Productivity: hacks for batching, email, time management, and efficiency
-Assessing costs for an opportunity in terms of time, money, energy, and opportunity cost
-Choosing projects that benefit the greater good
-Aligning opportunities with goals
-FOMO is a mofo (full stop)
-Figuring out what really matters to you and having the opportunities you accept reflect that
Hit me up and let me know what you think of this episode!
Twitter | Facebook
It's the Season 5 kickoff of Behind the Brilliance!
On this episode, I intro the season with what you can expect (more great conversations + solo episodes + surprises), how I spent the hiatus (traversing Europe trying not to become the next victim Liam Neeson has to rescue), and more.
This week's guest is the international man of mystery, Colin Wright. He's a writer, full time traveler, and entrepreneur. Colin and I cover a lot: travel, meditation, how he makes money with a non-standard career, relationships, and much more.
Show notes (and the pic of Colin butt naked with the laptop): http://bit.ly/colinreloaded
I do recaps at the end of each season to share highlights and interesting tidbits from the most recent batch of shows. This is especially useful to folks who are new to the show and may be overwhelmed with the idea of catching up.
This season's recap ep includes 8 episodes:
Status Anxiety (ep 61)
Roslynn Cobarrubias (ep 64)
Meeting 52 New People: A Social Experiment (ep 68)
Risk + Reward (ep 76)
Erica Nicole (ep 80)
The 2016 To Do List (ep 72)
Lifestyle Design (ep 63)
Uyo Okebie-Eichelberger (ep 75)
If you have time, give these episodes a listen or you can just listen to the recap to get a flavor of the episodes highlights.
Next season will be bigger, better and even more awesome. I'm bringing you a fun and interesting mix of guests, new solo episode topics, and giveaways of things I love. Mark your calendar for April 28, and in the meantime, get caught up on the archive or replay your favorite episodes at www.behindthebrilliance.com.
SEASON 5 BEGINS APRIL 28!
In this Q+A episode, Lisa answers a listener question about "finding more time" for creative endeavors. Lisa shares her past challenges with managing time and also breaks down her tried and true system for getting things done minus the drama and excuses.
Ahead of her trip to Europe next week, Lisa likes Google Translate.
Serial entrepreneur Erica Nicole (Founder/CEO of YFS Magazine) joins my virtual couch to dish her secrets on startups, success, and life. During this convo, we cover how Erica grew YFS from a tiny one woman blog to a global leader in inspiring and practical startup information (she literally shared the 5 step process - I can't believe she broke it down for free!), Erica's approach to time management (don't waste her time!), and how to live a life that most resonates with your purpose.
Besides being inspiring and sometimes funny, this episode is packed with practical advice on how to make big leaps, stay true to who you are, and become a winner.
Also, based on one of Erica's comments, I decided that Juvenile should do a remix of Back That Azz Up called Back That Faith Up. You have to listen to get the joke.
More on Erica + show notes at behindthebrilliance.com
You ask, Lisa answers. This Q+A episode features questions on how to transition into a remote work opportunity, what Lisa thinks of the 4 Hour Workweek, and how to find (and keep) great mentors.
As usual, there are awesome book recommendations and shenanigans sprinkled throughout the episode.
It's the second month of the year - the time when we start to lose steam and slack. This episode dives into habits - little choices we can make that move us closer to where we want to be. In this episode, Lisa covers gratitude, meditation, progress praise, thinking for a change, and conscious editing. Catch up on past episodes of the show at www.behindthebrilliance.com
Serial entrepreneur Maren Kate Donovan joins Lisa to chat about Maren's former startup Zirtual (what went wrong and how Maren coped) along with Maren's new venture, The Memento Mori Society.
Lisa breaks down an approach to taking calculated risks and why you should probably be taking way more risks in life.
Lisa interviews entrepreneur Uyo Okebie Eichelberger about her path to success, her approach to lifestyle design, and the reason Burlington Coat Factory is not a dream retail destination.
In this solo episode, Lisa shares her thoughts on why resolutions suck, how she likes to use the Wheel of Life at the top of the year, and her favorite book recommendations for each key area on the Wheel of Life.
Lisa shares holiday reflections and her best book recommendations for this time of year.
Lisa recounts her lessons and observations from her social experiment of meeting 52 new people in a calendar year.
Filmmaker and president of Game Changer Films Mynette Louie joins Lisa to discuss her career path, her thoughts on women in film, and more.
In this solo episode, Lisa share her thoughts on preparing for the year ahead. She also discusses the virtues of TSA Pre and why there should be a Pre for every aspect of life.
In this solo episode, Lisa shares the 8 things she knows "for sure" as inspired by Oprah's book titled What I Know For Sure.
Early Myspace employee turned music startup founder (mydiveo.com) Roslyn Cobarrubias joins Lisa to talk lifestyle design, building a career you love, networking, and much more.
Lisa riffs on lifestyle design - what it means, how she designed hers, and thoughts on why it's so important.
Season 4 kicks off with a discussion about Lisa's favorite book of 2015, Status Anxiety.
Lisa sets down with cofounder and CEO of Blavity, Morgan DeBaun, to discuss her journey as an entrepreneur, the impact of black Milennial culture, and her approach to getting things done.
After a fun and inspiring season, Lisa recaps her favorite episodes and the most profound insights from this season's guests.
Serial entrepreneur turned venture capitalist Brad Feld joins Lisa to chat about his path to success, his approach to conquering depression, and why he loves marathons.
In this solo episode, Lisa shares her top 5 favorite apps plus an honorable mention. During #LisaLikes, she breaks down the struggle and virtue of the hipster vegetable, kale.
Bestselling author and Harvard Business Review columnist Elizabeth Saunders joins Lisa to chat about her leap from magazine editor to entrepreneur, her philosophy on minimalism, and why time management should be a priority for everyone. Lisa also goes into a random thing about archery and answers a listener question on wins vs losses.
Lisa shares her thoughts on the importance of getting (and staying) out of the comfort zone and how failures can serve us.
In this solo episode, Lisa discusses her thoughts on the idea of "manifesting" and shares a personal story on the topic.
In this solo episode, Lisa discusses her wanderlusty love for travel and offers five reasons you should book your next adventure asap.
Franklin Leonard, founder of The Black List and startup advisor, joins Lisa to discuss his path to professional success, his philosophy on fear, and his advice to novices.
In this annual birthday episode, Lisa reflects on the past year of her life and shares some of her best lessons.
In the final book episode, Lisa shares her favorite business and relationship reads. She also drops some of the most unique names ever.
Lisa shares her favorite personal development books and shares what she's learned from each.
In this solo episode, Lisa discusses her perspective on why "following passion" is bad advice and what dreamers should do instead.
Lisa breaks down 4 specific traits she's observed in Behind the Brilliance guests and provides thoughts on applying those traits to your life and work.
Movie producer and tech startup founder Shara Senderoff sits down with Lisa to discuss her path to founding Career Sushi (formerly known as Intern Sushi) and how she manages to stay sane amidst chaos. She also discusses her philosophy on startups and why Disney movies are blueprints for life.
CEO of Lifeway Kefir Julie Smolyansky joins Lisa to discuss her path to becoming CEO of the company, growing the sales to $130 million, and finding balance among the chaos. We also discuss her work with the UN and her work to end violence against women.
Pando Daily editor and soon to be venture capitalist Michael Carney drops by to discuss his career path, his approach to life, and his observations about entrepreneurship.
Emmy award winning director Evita Castine stops by to discuss her work as a filmmaker, identity, race, creativity, and her approach to overcoming fear.
Leading business expert Melinda Emerson kicks her shoes off with Lisa for a candid, funny, and inspiring conversation about her path to becoming the "Small Biz Lady" and successfully building a life and career she loves.
In this solo episode, Lisa shares her perspective on why the stories we tell ourselves are important. She tells a random story about monkeys on a pole, recommend a new book and also shares a framework for rewriting the stories we tell ourselves and others.
No matter how old or young you are, you have to deal with change and transitions at some point. This week, I discuss Transitions (and how to make them easier) at the request of a couple of listeners.
Actress Mara Marini (Parks & Rec) joins Lisa to chat about her career, why she loves comedy, the annoying parts of dating in LA, and why she credits her family for her brilliance.
In this episode, Lisa serves Tony Robbins/Oprah Winfrey love child awesomeness as she discusses the elusive idea of "success" and how to define it in a way that feels authentic and personal. She also shares books she loves on the topic (surprise, surprise) and offers a framework for redefining success.
In this episode, previous guest Benoni Tagoe graces my digital sofa again to talk about a mashup of topics including passion vs profit, personal branding, dating, and more.
I kick off Season 3 of the show with a recap of the highlights from Season 2 and a special announcement.
In this solo episode, I share my thoughts on Amazon's new show, Transparent, and discuss the importance of getting back to basics in preparation for the new year. I cover reading, writing, sweating, connecting, building, and eliminating. And of course, it just wouldn't be me if there weren't book recommendations. #nerdlife
The funny and smart Issa Rae joins me to chat about her path to creating the hit webseries, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl along with her new project, Color Creative. Shenanigans and laughter abound as we discuss personality types, shifts in the entertainment industry, our deep love of The Wire, overcoming insecurities, and why we won't let people pick our brains.
Mega talented actress and playwright Jozanne Marie stops by to share her breathtaking story of overcoming poverty and abuse to deliver an award-winning one woman show that's been hailed by the LA Times, the NAACP, and many others.
In this solo episode, I answer listener questions on multitasking, my favorite books and resource, and finding new friends when you've made a positive life change.
In this episode, the amazingly smart Chris Dannen (writer for Fast Co, Maxim, Wired + technologist) graced my virtual couch with his thoughts on overcoming personal resistance to achieve goals, unleashing one's inner badass, detaching your identity from your title at work, and tricking yourself into forming good habits.
This is one of my favorite episodes ever. Listen with a pen and pad handy - it's that good.
Like the bottomless mimosas at a well-done brunch, ideas tend to flow and flow and flow...and flow. Sometimes it's hard to decide what to pursue next. In this solo episode, I share my experience of trying to choose among any given group of ideas and the things I consider before I make moves.
In this episode, I share thoughts on habits - the little things that make a big difference in our lives and careers. I also explore ways to form new habits and hack daily routines to make change easier. And of course, I shared a couple of book recs because #nerdlife.
In this episode, social media director and editor-at-large for Revolt, Julian Mitchell, talks with me about his career, music, his legacy, and what motivates him. He also explains the impact Ralph Emerson had on his life and shares his philosophy on social media.
In this solo episode, I talk about my recent 3 day cleanse and digital detox. I also dive into what I call the "joy formula", how to create yours, and how I discovered mine. Lots of happy thoughts and inspiration in this episode...kind of like a trip to Target.
In this solo episode, I share thoughts on the interesting and complicated ways relationships change when one person experiences success. I discuss my experience on getting rid of the green eyed monster (we've all been there) and how to deal with jealousy.
Actress, writer, and producer Brandi Ford stops by to talk about her HBO award-winning film, Muted. We covered the inspiration behind Muted, dealing with a creative identity crisis, work/life balance as a working mom and wife, and what happens when a West Coast girl discovers the virtues of the South.
In this episode, I share the necessity and urgency of seeing The Wire, a few thoughts on friendships and hand written notes, and the simplest, most effective way to be a game changer.
In this episode, Lisa shares her thoughts on the importance of decluttering and streamlining your life. She also shares like a gazillion books, her favorite TED talk and and the 5 areas you should declutter before year end.
In this episode, Lisa follows up episode 21 with Benoni Tagoe with a discussion on setbacks. She shares her thoughts and experiences with setbacks and how she's overcome them. She also offers book recommendations (surprise, surprise) and shares her thoughts on failure and why ambitious people have to make peace with it.
Creative entrepreneur Benoni Tagoe stops by to pull back the curtain on his success as the creator of The Bizz Plan, the head of business development for Issa Rae Productions and a music industry thought leader. We chat about his work in music, digital entertainment, and business as well as depression, Fifty Shades of Grey, and why there's no future in frontin.
In this episode, entrepreneur, journalist, and author Shane Snow stops by to discuss his body of work, how his company was born, and what he learned while writing Smartcuts. The book analyzes the lives of people and companies that do incredible things in implausibly short time.
Shane and I cover why hard copy books are better than e-readers, what we want to add to our bucket lists, and the virtues of being an independent thinker.
It was awesome.
In this episode, Lisa shares her best advice on time management and passes on great insight from high profile achievers on how to get more done in less time. She also recommends strategies for feeling less stressed while setting and pursuing big goals.
In this episode, Lisa shares her advice on dealing with writer's block and creative dilemmas. Based on her experience and that of successful creatives and entrepreneurs she knows, she offers five ways to deal with feelings creatively stuck.
Award winning filmmaker and digital media maven Wadooah Wali stops by to talk about her film, Gaze of the Beholder, and give Lisa the scoop on what it took to get the film made. She also talks about her career in PR with companies like Demand Media and Full Screen and also shares her thoughts on the realities of modern storytelling.
Lisa shares her reflections on the Cindy Gallop episode and the #LisaLikes pick, Psychocybernetics. She also shares why victory boards are just as important as vision boards and shares a random story from high school. She also gets all Iyanla towards the end with an inspiring rant about keeping yourself motivated.
Creative entrepreneur Cindy Gallop stops by to share her thoughts on porn, startups, and the importance of taking consistent positive action. We cover her startups - Make Love Not Porn and If We Ran The World along with her philosophy on being a woman over 50 and her advice to other entrepreneurs.
Lisa shares her unique perspective on risk vs regret and offers a framework for making risky decisions. She touches on the consequence of not making strategic decisions, the reason other people's opinions don't matter, and the most important reason to take risks.
Sex trafficking survivor Rebecca Bender tells the story of how she went from girl next door to sex worker in a matter of months. Between pimps, drugs, and alcohol, Rebecca manages to escape, reinvent herself, and enjoy a new life as a wife and mother. Building on her remarkable resilience, she's now traveling as a speaker and author who is raising awareness about sex trafficking and reshaping what it means to be a modern Christian.
The talented and adventurous Laura Wise is this week's guest who shares her story of spending 18 months in the Phillippines as a missionary. We cover cutlure, the international effects of American media, and the current paradox of black women in entertainment.
Filmmaker + entrepreneur Pete Chatmon is the director/producer of multiple films starring top talent including Kerry Washington, Zoe Saldana, and Dorian Missick.
After succesfully producing and directing his first feature film, he went on to create a multimedia company where he works on a wide range of creative projects.
In this episode, he shares his thoughts on his journey into making movies, his thoughts on the new digital landscape, and the most important traits creative people need to be successful.
New York Times bestselling author Heidi Durrow shares her story of growing up Danish and African American and sorting out her identity. We also talk about how she landed on the New York Times list after 48 rejections from publishers. Her inspiring story of persistence and commitment to craft offers insight on the resilience necessary to thrive as a creative.
In this abbreviated episode, I share my reflections on the past year of my life and my hard-earned wisdom on taking risks, achievements, and the awkwardness of making friends as an adult.
Author, humorist, and amazing woman Bunmi Laditan graces Lisa's virtual couch to talk about her journey as a writer and entrepreneur. She shares hard won insight on perserverance, reinventing yourself, and surviving parenthood.
Kiel Berry, EVP of Machine Shop, the creative studio of Linkin Park, stops by to share his story as a dynamic thinker using his business acumen on creative endeavors. We explore his journey to building a career he loves, his book Stunt, and his first exposure to ratchet Southern hip hop.
Bestselling author, speaker, and coach Pam Slim stops by to share her story of going from nonprofit consultant to successful thought leader. We cover a range of topics including parenthood, authenticity, and figuring out your purpose in life.
Writer Michael Starrbury (The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete) stops by to chat about his life as a writer and his philosophy on a range of issues including class, race, and the creative process.
This is one of my top 5 favorite interviews of all time after talking to more than 150 people throughout my career. Michael is candid, funny, and smart, and the conversation is insightful for anyone hoping to do great work - especially writers.
Stacey Ferreira stopped by to share her story as a game changer and young entrepreneur. She tells the story of how she raised $1 million from Richard Branson and his business partner and then sold the company. She also shares her thoughts on dating as a female entrepreneur.
Life and business coach Rosetta Thurman graced Lisa's virutal couch to talk about her journey through the non-profit world to entrepreneurship. She discusses the birth of her blog, Happy Black Woman, and offers insight on various topics including location independence (she lives in Hawaii!), love (no cookie cutter relationships here), and personal development.
Marty Neumeier joins Lisa to discuss his career as a designer, thought leader, and entrepreneur. In this episode, you'll hear the story of how Marty met Steve Jobs, how he became an author, and his best advice for creatives.
Writer, entrepreneur, and international man of mystery Colin Wright sits down with Lisa to discuss lifestyle design, writing, location independence, and why trampolines are better than white picket fences.