Mentors and Moguls Podcast

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In this episode of the Mentors and Moguls podcast, I engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Doris Taylor, a pioneering figure in regenerative medicine. Dr. Taylor is renowned for her groundbreaking work, particularly in the realm of heart repair using stem cells.

Dr. Taylor underscores the alarming statistics associated with heart disease, emphasizing the critical need for awareness, particularly among women. She delves into the importance of monitoring factors like blood pressure, inflammation, and the profound impact of stress on heart health.

An intriguing aspect of the discussion arises when we explore the significant increase in circulating stem cells through meditation, pointing towards the potential for holistic approaches to heart health.

Dr. Taylor shares her compelling vision of revolutionizing heart disease treatment by bioengineering personalized replacement hearts. She describes the challenges her team faces in the process, highlighting the importance of automation in growing human hearts within a lab setting.

The conversation touches upon the heart transplant waiting list and the disparities in healthcare, shedding light on the pressing need for advancements in this field.

As the episode unfolds, it becomes evident that Dr. Taylor’s journey isn’t merely a scientific one; it’s deeply intertwined with her personal experiences and spiritual beliefs. She discusses the connections between science and spirituality, highlighting the role of resonance in healing and transformation. Dr. Taylor encourages listeners to find their own resonance and visualize their “divine stem cell” for personal well-being and contributing to positive global change.

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Taylor’s emphasis on teamwork and the collective effort behind her work becomes apparent. She acknowledges the dedication and passion of her team, emphasizing that building a heart goes beyond the physical organ; it’s about the collective heart of the team members who work tirelessly to save lives.

The episode concludes with gratitude for Dr. Taylor’s wisdom, tenacity, and inspiring presence in the field of regenerative medicine. It leaves listeners with profound insights into regenerative medicine, heart disease awareness, the fusion of spirituality and science, and the transformative potential of bioengineered hearts.

In this episode, we talk about:

▶︎ Alarming Statistics: Dr. Doris Taylor highlights concerning heart disease statistics, emphasizing the need for awareness, especially among women.

▶︎ Holistic Heart Health: The discussion explores holistic heart health, including meditation’s role in promoting well-being and increasing stem cells.

▶︎ Bioengineered Hearts: Dr. Taylor discusses her vision for personalized, lab-grown hearts and the challenges her team faces.

▶︎ Healthcare Disparities: The episode addresses the heart transplant waiting list and healthcare disparities, calling for advancements.

▶︎ Spirituality and Science: Dr. Taylor combines spirituality with science, emphasizing resonance’s role in healing and personal and global impact.

▶︎ And So Much More…

Website

www.organametbio.com

Social Media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doristaylor/

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Show Notes:

In this episode, Heather is speaking with Stephanie Szostak an actress and Give an Hour Ambassador who speaks on overcoming failure, being an outsider and living with authenticity. Szostak left her native France to study business and play varsity golf at the College of William & Mary.

At twenty-nine years old, after a brief stint at Chanel in New York City, she took a leap and gave the acting world a try. Her most notable projects include The Devil Wears Prada, Iron Man 3, Dinner for Schmucks, and the ABC hit series A Million Little Things.

Ten years into her career, she suffered from crippling imposter syndrome which pushed her to address her mindset and develop her own Playbook as a daily practice of mental fitness. Stephanie and Heather discuss the power of Stephanie's playbook concept, which can help individuals improve their mindset, focus, and overall well-being.

Stephanie emphasizes the importance of creating a personalized playbook for various aspects of life, from career to relationships to personal growth. She also shares personal stories and testimonials from friends and colleagues who have benefited from using the playbook.

Key Takeaways:

▶︎ Stephanie's playbook concept is a powerful tool for improving mindset and focus.

▶︎ Playbooks can be personalized for different aspects of life, such as career, relationships, and personal growth.

▶︎ The playbook helps individuals shift their focus to what serves them well and respond effectively to challenges.

▶︎ Daily conditioning of the mind through the playbook can lead to positive changes in one's life.

▶︎ The playbook is a valuable resource for individuals of all backgrounds and stages in life.

▶︎ And So Much More...

Website

https://stephanieszostak.me

Social Media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephshortstak/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephszostak

→ → → CONNECT WITH HEATHER R. STONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ← ← ←

▶︎ INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/heatherrstoneofficial/

▶︎ FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRStoneOfficial/

▶︎ WEBSITE | heatherRstone.com

ABOUT HEATHER STONE: Heather R. Stone is a motivational speaker and former fintech executive. She is also the host of the Mentors & Moguls podcast (@mentorsandmogulspodcast) where professionals share their strategies for success and secret formulas for turning their passions into dream careers. One of Heather's passions has always been mentorship for women which led her to create the Podcast to provide a platform for successful CEOs, entrepreneurs, pro-athletes, artists, and creatives to share their stories and offer access to their valuable mentoring & advice for goal-oriented individuals. Heather continues to expand her mission to empower others through speaking engagements, mentoring, and full immersion adventures and retreats that are designed to help women step out of their comfort zones and understand that they are capable of just about anything.

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Warning - Some Explicit Language

On today’s episode of the Mentors & Moguls Podcast, my guest is Becky Robinson, a rising star in the world of comedy, writing, acting, and voiceovers. Originally from Portland, Oregon, she's now making waves in Los Angeles. Her unique comedic style, featuring a wide range of physical characters, has made her one of the youngest headliners in comedy.

Becky's career took off after being named a JFL Montreal New Face of Comedy in 2018, leading to sketch show development and voiceover work with DreamWorks and Netflix. She's also known for her appearances on MTV's "Wild 'N Out" and her stand-up special from the show.

Her talents extend to writing, with contributions to Comedy Central, Snoop Dogg's "Joker's Wild," and FunnyOrDie. Currently, she's on tour with "The She Gone Tour," blending stand-up and characters for a unique and entertaining show. Becky Robinson is a comedic force to be reckoned with, and her humor is bound to leave you in stitches.

In this episode we talk about:

▶︎ Becky’s family’s sense of humor and how they used laughter as a coping mechanism.

▶︎ How Becky creates her characters and her extensive collection of 150 wigs that inspire her characters.

▶︎ The journey of gaining confidence and overcoming imposter syndrome.

▶︎ The importance of humor without mean-spiritedness.

▶︎ Addressing Sensitive Topics in Comedy and finding humor in relatable experiences.

▶︎ And So Much More...

Website(s):

https://www.beckyrobinsonthegreat.com/

SHE GONE TOUR DATES

The Entitled Housewife Store

Social Media

Instagram: @beckyrobinson4

Instagram: @entitledhousewife

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBeckyRobinson/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebeckychannel

→ → → CONNECT WITH HEATHER R. STONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ← ← ←

▶︎ INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/heatherrstoneofficial/

▶︎ FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRStoneOfficial/

▶︎ WEBSITE | heatherRstone.com

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Unveiling AI's Ethical Challenges: Insights from Reid Blackman, Ph.D.

In today's episode, we're privileged to have Reid Blackman, Ph.D., joining us.

Reid Blackman is a prominent figure in the realm of AI ethics. He's the author of "Ethical Machines," the host of the "Ethical Machines" podcast, and the Founder and CEO of Virtue, a leading digital ethical risk consultancy. His expertise extends to advising the Canadian government on AI regulations and serving as a Senior Advisor to the Deloitte AI Institute. With a vast portfolio that includes organizations like AWS, the FBI, and NASA, his insights have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, the BBC, Forbes, The Harvard Business Review, and The New York Times.

Today, we divo into the complex ethical challenges posed by AI in our digital landscape.

In this episode we talk about:

▶︎ AI’s role in the 2024 Election

▶︎ The erosion of ethics and the impact that it could have on recently released public platforms such as ChatGPT

▶︎ AI-generated medical data and the potential subjectivity linked to input variations and the pressing concern: Can physicians confidently rely on AI-generated results when diagnosing and treating patients?

▶︎ And So Much More...

Website

https://www.reidblackman.com/

Social Media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reid.blackman/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reid-blackman/

→ → → CONNECT WITH HEATHER R. STONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ← ← ←

▶︎ INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/heatherrstoneofficial/

▶︎ FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRStoneOfficial/

▶︎ WEBSITE | heatherRstone.com

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Certified Organic & Clinically Proven Skincare - Unlock Your Glow with Irene Forte

Today I’m talking to ‘Natura e Scienza’ vision, Irene Forte - founder, leader and driving force behind Irene Forte Skincare. 

As the Wellness Consultant of Rocco Forte Hotels and an Advisory Board Member of the Global Wellness Summit, Irene has always understood the importance of a holistic approach to beauty. This is reflected in her constant emphasis on nourishing, organic ingredients. 

As a businesswoman, Irene embodies her family’s entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to ethical business practices. She sees her skincare company as part of a much wider system of people and organizations, nature, and the environment; and she is personally committed to doing the ‘right things’ to ensure that her products and processes are as sustainable as possible.  

In this episode we talk about: 

▶︎ Irene's background as the Wellness Consultant of Rocco Forte Hotels and an Advisory Board Member of the Global Wellness Summit, driving her commitment to holistic beauty.

▶︎ Benefits of an All-Natural Vegan Skincare Line

▶︎ Learn how Irene Forte Skincare caters to mature skin with targeted solutions

▶︎ And So Much More... 

Website

https://ireneforteskincare.com

Social Media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ireneforteskincare/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ireneforteskincare

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ireneforteskincare

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▶︎ INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/heatherrstoneofficial/

▶︎ FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRStoneOfficial/

▶︎ WEBSITE | heatherRstone.com

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Father Peter Pomposello stands as a Roman Catholic Priest affiliated with the Archdiocese for the Military Services, embodying a profound commitment to service within the US Army. Serving as a priest recruiter, his mission revolves around enlisting more priests and seminarians to serve as Roman Catholic and Orthodox Priest Chaplains within the United States Army and United States Army Reserves. His journey, marked by leaps from Alaska's skies, deployments to the Middle East, and the joy of uniting soldiers and their families through meaningful ceremonies, illuminates the indelible impact of his service.

In this episode we talk about:

▶︎ The transformative evolution of chaplains' roles and responsibilities within the army, highlighting their changing significance over time.

▶︎ Uplifting Morale Through Spiritual Guidance and how the presence of chaplain’s bolsters morale and nurtures the overall well-being of military personnel, delving into the diverse ways they offer guidance and spiritual support.

▶︎ Inclusivity Fostering: The instrumental role of chaplains in fostering inclusivity and diversity within the military, particularly considering the wide spectrum of religious beliefs embraced by service members.

▶︎Personal Narratives of Significance that encapsulate the profound significance of chaplains in the army, unveiling the positive and lasting influence they wield on service members' lives.

▶︎ And So Much More...

Instagram: @fr.unclesam

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▶︎ INSTAGRAM |   / heatherrstoneofficial  

▶︎ FACEBOOK |   / heatherrstoneofficial  

▶︎ WEBSITE | https://heatherrstone.com/

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Dr. Susanna Søberg is the founder of "Soeberg Institute" and "The Thermalist cure". Susanna is a leading international scientist and expert in cold and heat therapy to reduce stress and improve health, sleep and to optimize performance.    She uses science-based tools as the basis for her health programs. As an Oxygen Advantage Instructor, she is a certified breathing instructor and uses functional breathing techniques to empower people to get the best out of their lives. The science behind the positive effects of functional breathing is profound and proven to be fundamental to our health and performance - at work and in sport. 

Susanna obtained her PhD in metabolism at The University of Copenhagen and has contributed to a deeper understanding of our metabolism - brown fat in specific - and its purpose in adults. Since 2016 she has been dedicated to research into the effect of cold and heat exposure on human health. Her interest continues to focus on the connection between our physical and mental health.  Based on the depth of her scientific research and experience, Susanna has developed her programs with the aim of lowering stress, improving sleep, and increasing physical and mental health. Her programs are all science based with the purpose of avoiding burn-out, achieving the highest level of performance.

In 2019 she published her debut book "Winter swimming" - a motivational book, where she described the many scientific proven benefits about cold water immersion and sauna - told in an easy every-day language. "Winter swimming" is now published in 13 languages. 

In this episode, we talk about:

▶︎ Her debut book “Winter Swimming”

▶︎ The benefits of developing brown fat to burn calories

▶︎ The health benefits of cold plunging

▶︎ And So Much More...

Website:

https://www.soeberginstitute.com

Social Media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-1TYzQYwDRy2GMsu8F2dw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanna_soeberg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susannasoeberg

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusannaSberg1

→ → → CONNECT WITH HEATHER R. STONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ← ← ←

▶︎ INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/heatherrstoneofficial/

▶︎ FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRStoneOfficial

▶︎ WEBSITE | https://heatherrstone.com/

ABOUT HEATHER STONE:

Heather R. Stone is a motivational speaker and former fintech executive. She is also the host of the Mentors & Moguls podcast (@mentorsandmogulspodcast) where professionals share their strategies for success and secret formulas for turning their passions into dream careers. One of Heather's passions has always been mentorship for women which led her to create the Podcast to provide a platform for successful CEOs, entrepreneurs, pro-athletes, artists, and creatives to share their stories and offer access to their valuable mentoring & advice for goal-oriented individuals. Heather continues to expand her mission to empower others through speaking engagements, mentoring, and full immersion adventures and retreats that are designed to help women step out of their comfort zones and understand that they are capable of just about anything.

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Dr. Kellyann Petrucci, M.S., N.D., is a board-certified naturopathic physician, nutrition expert, and resident health authority on numerous TV programs including Good Morning America, The Talk and Good Day LA. As well as a regular contributor to publications like USA Today, Forbes and Bloomberg.

Dr. Kellyann is recognized as the originator of the Bone Broth Lifestyle. She is the author of 10 books translated into 9 languages, including her 2022 book, The Bone Broth Breakthrough and 2015 book, Dr. Kellyann’s Bone Broth Diet, which became a New York Times best-seller. She holds a D.O. from Logan University and a Master of Science from St. Joseph's University. She is certified in biological medicine, by the esteemed Dr. Thomas Rau of the Paracelsus Clinic in Switzerland through the Marion Foundation.

Dr. Kellyann has transformed the health of hundreds of thousands of people with her life-changing brand, bestselling books, and media appearances. Her new book The Bone Broth Breakthrough is out December 27.

In this episode, we talk about:

▶︎ Dr. Kellyann’s new book “The Bone Broth Breakthrough”

▶︎ The importance of Mitochondrial care and its impact on our energy levels

▶︎ The health benefits of drinking bone broth every day

▶︎ And So Much More...

Social Media https://www.instagram.com/drkellyannpetrucci/

Website: https://drkellyann.com

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Robin Hoffman Haack, Founder of the Lovlei brand shares her decades of family experience in the textile industry and how that launched her into her own activewear brand. She gives practical advice to listeners looking to follow their own dreams.

In this episode, we talk about:

▶︎ Staying motivated and finding joy in everything you do

▶︎ The importance of finding a mentor when you are starting a new venture

▶︎ Family brand legacy and the value of branching out on your own

▶︎ And So Much More...

Lovlei Brand https://lovlei.com

Social Media https://www.instagram.com/lovleilife/

Hoffman California Fabrics https://hoffmancaliforniafabrics.net

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▶︎ YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8p...

▶︎ INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/heatherrsto...

▶︎ FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRSton...

▶︎ WEBSITE | https://heatherrstone.com/

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In today’s episode, New York Times Bestselling Author & Financial Expert, Rachel Cruze joins the show to discuss winning with money. She’s the daughter of financial advisor and radio personality, Dave Ramsey, and has a lifetime of knowledge in finance and budgeting. Many people assume if they’re not smart enough or good at math, then they won’t be able to handle money well. The reality is winning with money is about 80% behavior and 20% knowledge. There is a bit of nuance with investing and other more in-depth pieces, but in a lot of ways, the basics of personal finance is just common sense.

Listen now for Rachel’s wisdom and more on how to win with money!

In this episode, we talk about:

▶︎ Why doing a monthly budget is key

▶︎ How to prepare for an economic recession

▶︎ Retirement and ensuring all your debts are paid off

▶︎ And So Much More...

The Rachel Cruze Show

https://www.ramseysolutions.com/rachel-cruze

Website

https://www.ramseysolutions.com/rachel-cruze

Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/rachelcruze/

https://www.facebook.com/rachelramseycruze

https://twitter.com/RachelCruze

→ → → CONNECT WITH HEATHER R. STONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ← ← ←

▶︎ YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8p...

▶︎ INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/heatherrsto...

▶︎ FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRSton...

▶︎ WEBSITE | https://heatherrstone.com/

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Speaker, Author and Founder of the Pajama Program, Genevieve Piturro was a successful television marketing executive in New York City for twenty years when a little girl’s question changed the course of her life forever. She jumped off the corporate ladder and began delivering pajamas and books to children in shelters and in 2001 founded the Pajama Program, a non-profit which has been recognized nationwide for both its success and Genevieve’s story.

She has learned that everything begins when we find purpose in our lives. So many of us are re-evaluating our paths because we want more fulfillment. We want the work we do and the people we do it with to make a difference in this world. This kind of thinking can transform how you do your job, how office teams work together, and how leaders at every level lead.

For those looking for what to do and how to find the right path, Genevieve says to take it one step at a time. Ask everyone who knows more than you for their advice and take things one step at a time. She also says to listen to your “aha moments” and those will help direct you towards your purpose.

In this episode, we talk about:

▶︎ Finding purpose

▶︎ Listening to your intuition and “aha moments” in your life to guide you

▶︎ How to make the business side of a nonprofit organization work

▶︎ And So Much More...

Links:

https://www.genevievepiturro.com/

https://www.instagram.com/genevievepiturro/

https://pajamaprogram.org/

→ → → CONNECT WITH HEATHER R. STONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ← ← ←

▶︎ YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8p...

▶︎ INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/heatherrsto...

▶︎ FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRSton...

▶︎ WEBSITE | https://heatherrstone.com/

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Nicole Meier is a contemporary women's fiction author, mentor, book coach and teacher for female authors of all ages. Nicole has written several books: The House of Bradbury, The Girl Made of Clay and The Second Chance Supper Club. Nicole shares her pathway to becoming a successful author starting with her original intention and how she turned her passion into a multi-book publishing deal. She speaks in depth about the necessity to take the time, exercise discipline and stand by your gut as you pursue your dream of becoming a published author.

Nicole breaks down what can be an overwhelming process into 5 easy steps to help the emerging author of tomorrow.

In this episode, we talk about:

▶︎ Surrounding yourself with people with the same mindset who are trying and failing and learning as a tool to help you find your own path to success.

▶︎ Nicole’s process for writing

▶︎ The value of developing a community of other writers around you to offer advice, support, and honest feedback

▶︎ And So Much More...

Connect with Nicole:

https://www.nicolemeierauthor.com/

https://www.facebook.com/nicolemeierwrites/

https://www.instagram.com/nicolemeierwrites/

→ → → CONNECT WITH HEATHER R. STONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ← ← ←

▶︎ YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8p...

▶︎ INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/heatherrsto...

▶︎ FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRSton...

▶︎ WEBSITE | https://heatherrstone.com/

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Elinor Tatum, Publisher, and Editor in Chief of the New York Amsterdam News, discusses her journey into publishing while persevering through a learning disability.

She has an extensive biography with numerous awards and has appeared on WNBC evening news, ARISE, The O'Reilly Factor, 20/20, New York 1, CUNY TV, the Today Show, and NBC Nightly News.

She is an activist, successful businesswoman, a mother and a shining example of a woman who overcame challenges to become one of the youngest publishers in the history of African American press.

In this episode, we talk about:

▶︎ Persevering despite a learning disability

▶︎ The value of learning to speak up for yourself

▶︎ The importance of surrounding yourself with people who want to help you

▶︎ And So Much More...

→ → → CONNECT WITH HEATHER R. STONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ← ← ←

▶︎ YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8p...

▶︎ INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/heatherrsto...

▶︎ FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRSton...

▶︎ WEBSITE | https://heatherrstone.com/

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In this interview, Michele Romanello discusses her pathway to becoming a successful senior sales rep. She shares valuable tips on how to master a sale and close the deal and how to overcome the disappointments along the way. From Cisco to Salesforce, Michele offers up useful advice for any salesperson considering a career in sales along with insights into managing a fulfilling career.

In this episode, we talk about:

▶︎ The key to a great sale

▶︎ How to approach a pitch

▶︎ Lessons from the failures

▶︎ How to reset to maintain a work life balance

▶︎ And So Much More...

Connect with Michele Romanello:

▶︎ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-romanello-558a254/

→ → → CONNECT WITH HEATHER R. STONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ← ← ←

▶︎ YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8p...

▶︎ INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/heatherrsto...

▶︎ FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRSton...

▶︎ WEBSITE | https://heatherrstone.com/

One of Heather's passions has always been mentorship for women which led her to create the Podcast to provide a platform for successful CEOs, entrepreneurs, pro-athletes, artists, and creatives to share their stories and offer access to their valuable mentoring & advice for goal-oriented individuals.

Heather continues to expand her mission to empower others through speaking engagements, mentoring, and full immersion adventures and retreats that are designed to help women step out of their comfort zones and understand that they are capable of just about anything.

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Linda Ensko, Founder of one of the leading early childhood development pre-schools in Tribecca NY, Buckle My Shoe, shares her best advice on early childhood development.

In this episode, we talk about:

▶︎ The importance of a different approach for early childhood development

▶︎ Why you should think twice about introducing technology to your child before a certain age

▶︎ What type of environment will help your child thrive

▶︎ Four key elements you can use at home to help your child learn and thrive

▶︎ And So Much More...

Connect with Linda and learn more about Buckle My Shoe Pre-School:

▶︎ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-ensko-a12414137/

▶︎ WEBSITE | https://www.bucklemyshoe.org

Things you’ll learn

Linda gives listeners an inside look into her knowledge and experience of early childhood education, and how that led her to opening up her own school that fosters learning in an alternative setting. Listen now for more on childhood education and what you can do to foster learning in your kids.

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This week on the Mentors & Moguls Podcast, I have YouTube’s Breck Johnson. Brecky Breck is a children's education and entertainment channel that produces videos to inspire and encourage kids and families to try new experiences through events, activities, tours, and hands-on learning. Breck Johnson, the face of Brecky Breck, is a 30-year-old wife and mother of 4. She’s passionate about using fun and exciting experiences to encourage little ones to be imaginative, creative, and cultivate a LOVE of learning!

In this episode, we talk about:

▶︎ Cultivating a love of learning with your toddler online

▶︎ The importance of safe online learning content for toddlers

▶︎ Creating a YouTube channel from scratch

▶︎ Monetizing content on YouTube

▶︎ And So Much More...

You can find Brecky Breck on

▶︎ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/breckybreck/

▶︎ INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/brecky.breck

▶︎ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/BreckyBreck

→ → → CONNECT WITH HEATHER R. STONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ← ← ←

▶︎ YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8pc0vPKZu-P8FhqFcU-xA

▶︎ INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/heatherrstoneofficial/

▶︎ FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRStoneOfficial/

▶︎ WEBSITE | https://heatherrstone.com/

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Austyn is an author, spiritual medium, and soul gardener who mentors spiritually seeking individuals to cultivate their intuition, heal their hearts and connect with the Divine.

She has presented and educated for such organizations as the California Spiritualist Association, Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E. in Virginia Beach, Gilchrist Hospice Care, and the Afterlife Conference, for which she was a board member for eight years. She will be featured in Bill Bennet’s 2023 documentary Facing Fear along with Dr. Joe Dispenza, Paul Selig, and Dr. Bruce Lipton.

Her book Soul Conversations: A Medium Reveals How to Cultivate Your Intuition, Heal Your Heart, and Connect with the Divine is the recipient of two C.O.V.R. medals, as well as receiving the gold medal from the Nautilus Book Awards.

In this episode, we talk about:

▶︎ The importance of listening to your intuition

▶︎ The benefits of leaning on your intuition both at work and at home

▶︎ She offers tips on how to recognize intuition & trust it when making important life decisions

▶︎ Austyn gives us a rare glimpse into the world of mediumship and how she uses her gift for good to help people recognize their path, delivers messages from loved ones and speaks to the issue of suicide.

▶︎ And So Much More...

You can learn more about Austyn at https://www.austynwells.com/

Connect with Austyn on Instagram - @austynwells → → → CONNECT WITH HEATHER R. STONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ← ← ←

▶︎ YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8pc0vPKZu-P8FhqFcU-xA

▶︎ INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/heatherrstoneofficial/

▶︎ FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRStoneOfficial/

▶︎ WEBSITE | https://heatherrstone.com/

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In today’s episode, Rory Vaden joins the show to discuss his journey to NY Times Bestseller and eight-figure entrepreneur. Rory is the ultimate success story, starting out in a trailer park in Boulder, CO, dreaming big and achieving success. He had to work hard to get scholarships to get into college, and his first job was in direct sales. It was then that he discovered that discipline creates freedom and unlocks the ability to do anything you set your mind to.

He decided on a whim to enter the World Championship of Public Speaking, thinking if he could win, it would launch his career into public speaking. He spoke 304 times for free, invested in coaches and classes, made it to the Championship, and lost. He went back in 2007, and came in second. He was at a conference a few weeks later when he met Zig Ziglar, who mentored him personally over the next year.

During that time, Rory started his first company. He met his business partner through a mutual friend and grew that business to eight figures over twelve years. He released his first book in 2012, Take the Stairs, which has lessons Rory learned from his mother that helped him reach success. He later fell in love with his business partner, AJ, and they got married. In 2018, they sold their company and now work with businesses to help them build and monetize their brands.

The key is to focus on how you’re adding value to other people’s lives. It’s about finding your uniqueness and using it to provide a service to others. Everyone is out there trying to copy other people who are more successful than then, but there can only ever be one. They’re already taken, so the best way to get to their level is by being yourself. When you’re teaching what you know, it’s never second hand, and that is powerful. People need real solutions to real problems, so you don’t have to be the best person in the world. You just have to be able to do the job and do it well.

Personal branding is just the digitization of your reputation. Anyone who has a reputation needs to have a conversation around their personal branding. You need to ask yourself-- what problem do you solve? And if you can’t answer that, there’s no way anyone else can. And when you have diluted focus, you’ll get diluted results.

Links

https://heatherrstone.com/rejuvenate2023/

https://www.roryvaden.com

https://www.instagram.com/roryvaden/

https://brandbuildersgroup.com

Things you’ll learn

Rory’s background and journey to success. Rory shares his story from life in a trailer park to Bestselling author and eight-figure entrepreneur. He offers listeners practical advice they can take with them to hone discipline and reach their dreams.

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In today’s episode, Rajashree Choudhury joins the show to discuss yoga, meditation, and life-balance. She’s the CEO and president of Lavanya Wellness, titled as Mrs. India, and has been practicing yoga since age four. Life comes with a lot of anxiety, and yoga is a way to bring balance and energy back to yourself. Doing yoga and meditation in the mornings can better equip you to deal with the stresses of daily life.

Anxiety builds up inside of us. If we’re not finding a way to release the stress from life, at first, it might seem like we’re strong. Eventually, it will catch up to us and that can leave us with a lot of physical, mental, and emotional health complications. Emotion is normal, but the energy within the family unit has to come together to solve any issues or it can cause bigger issues later. If you don’t have that family support system, finding a friend to talk with or even a mentor can be a huge help.

Meditation isn’t about solving all of your problems in one sitting. It’s about opening up, connecting, and forming a deeper understanding of yourself. It’s a long, ongoing process, but it’s a liberating one that can give us self-confidence. Specifically, pregnancy is a very scary time for women, and when we internalize that fear and stress, we end up putting it on the baby. Rajashree encourages women who are pregnant to look into yoga classes for stress release, but also for exercise and support throughout their pregnancy.

Yoga is great for children, but depending on age, they sometimes struggle to understand the core concept of meditation and self-reflection. Rajashree’s company works to bridge that gap to children. She also works to bring yoga to senior citizens because of the health benefits, mobility, and pain alleviation yoga has.

When we’re nervous, we tend to move around, but stillness is the first thing you achieve. So when heading to a big interview or something that makes you very anxious, first try to be still and be at ease. It’s okay to keep a little of that tension with you, because we don’t want to be too over-confident and mess up. Then sit up straight, breathe slowly, and sit in that stillness. Listen now, get more yoga and meditation information, and check out Rajashree’s retreats!

Links

https://heatherrstone.com/rejuvenate2023/

https://rajashree.com

Things you’ll learn

Rajashree’s background and expertise in yoga and meditation. Rajashree explains the many health benefits of yoga and meditation, how it can help with pregnancy, and the various retreats she offers to her clients.

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In today’s episode, Carolyn Spector joins the show. Carolyn’s motto is “Be relentlessly positive and manifest your vision into reality”. She is the CEO of Spector Philanthropic Advisors and has spent her life dedicated to others. Carolyn returns to the Mentors and Moguls podcast with an update on her story of positivity and manifestation.

Since the last time Carolyn was on the podcast, her whole life has changed and she hopes that sharing her story can continue to help others grow and find positive change. When COVID hit in 2020, the center where Carolyn worked was forced to close, she was already a single mom to her 15 year old daughter, and she was terrified of the unknown. She spent most of 2021 rededicating herself to taking care of herself.

Carolyn established for herself a “hierarchy of needs” to figure out what steps she needed to take and make the right decisions. She had moved to a friend’s house on Cape Cod and then found a school for her daughter, found work she could do without going back to New York, and found a house. Even in moments of questioning and doubting what should happen, Carolyn has looked for signs and what feels led by love and that has always led to the right decisions.

In her year of taking care of herself, Carolyn built herself a home gym, worked on developing healthy eating habits with a nutritionist, and started dating again. She feels younger and more full of energy now and has found happiness and energy that is infectious (according to her friends).

It has only been in the last five years that Carolyn has been manifesting. She was sitting at home during the Jewish holidays, when you are supposed to set your intentions, and she decided that she was ready to work for what she wanted. Manifesting doesn’t mean you don’t have to work, it means you are focusing on doing the work for what you want.

Links

https://heatherrstone.com/rejuvenate2023/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynspector/

Things you’ll learn

More about Carolyn’s journey and growth through manifesting since her last interview on the Mentors and Moguls Podcast and how Carolyn has balanced manifesting with action and trusting her gut.

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If you’ve ever quit on yourself during a task, a challenge, or a mission, then you owe it to yourself to sit down and take a listen to my next guest. His challenging upbringing motivated him to seek refuge in the United States Marine Corp where he graduated number one in his class. He then went on to work for martial arts actor, Chuck Norris who become a mentor and role model to him. He's a world record holder, an extreme athlete and has an impressive history of completing extreme physical challenges, including running from Huntington beach, California to New York city at a marathon pace for 121 consecutive days setting the first ever stand-up paddleboard long distance world record by paddleboarding 1,250 miles from Oregon to Mexico in 93 days, a seven-time Muay Thai champion and that’s just a few things that he's completed in the first part of his life.

Tom shares details from his childhood and why he has fought so hard to become the man he is today. He was removed from his home while his father had cancer, kidney disease and tuberculosis, and was very ill his entire life. His mother was mentally ill and was never available. When he was 12 years old, he was removed from his home by the state of California for child abuse and was put in a facility with 150 other kids where he suffered sexual abuse at the hands of some of the house parents. At 17 he ran away from the facility and joined the United States Marine Corps where he learned leadership skills that would carry him through the rest of his life. After leaving the Marine Corps Tom started working for martial arts actor, Chuck Norris who was a great role model for Tom and eventually a great sparring partner. Tom continued to have strong role models in his life, including Glenn McCusker, the owner and CEO of Viking Components, and his wife, April. The couple became friends and mentors to Jones when he became McCusker’s bodyguard and personal trainer. They also showed Tom something he’d never seen before, a functional family where the parents and children are happy.

In 1998, Tom took a tour of Orangewood Children’s Home and felt compelled to help the children's facility buy a playground. He decided that he was going to run from Oregon to Mexico on foot and stop at foster care facilities along the way to share his story to inspire people to give towards the playground. At that point he had a few fighting titles and felt that he could empower children who’d had a similar upbringing as him by sharing his own story of overcoming and encouraging them that they too could do anything they set their mind to.

It was at this time that Tom had an “aha” moment in his life. He had a revelation that his calling was to give and empower others. It was the first time in his life that he truly felt great about himself and what he did. He never felt great about beating people in the ring physically. But when he dedicated the playground, it was a wonderful, life changing experience.

To date, Tom has run 347 marathons for non-profits! What keeps him motivated to finish those races? He talks about the times that he has sat on the side of the road, crying his eyes out because his body is breaking down, he’s exhausted, his toenails are falling off…But it is at those moments when he goes back to his “why.” “Whatever your, why is, you've got to make sure that it’s strong enough to drive you through the adversity of it all. You must accept the fact that life is inherently challenging and that's in my opinion, for a reason, it's to push us forward.”

When Tom was running for children’s causes, he knew that there were children waiting ahead of him to hear his story. And he knew there were children behind him that were positively impacted from hearing his story, so he made a pact with himself to never quit on them. “I would quit on myself a million times over, but I wasn't going to quit on them.

When he’s asked, “how do you do it” he shares his mental process when he agreed to do 76 consecutive marathons:

He visualizes in his mind that he has completed the challenge. That he has already won in his mind.
He uses as many other senses as possible as part of the process: For example: He would hear people cheering. He would see it, smell it, taste it, everything, to make it more real to his brain

Tom also talks about his daily dose of insight and inspiration. His goal is to land little bits and pieces of the vast toolbox that he’s accumulated. He has developed a sentinel in his mind that alerts him when he’s starting to spiral downward. He explains that for him, thoughts become words, words, become actions, actions become habits. Instead of entertaining negative thoughts, he interjects with a power statement. He redirects into a positive mindset and then maintains that positive mindset.

Faith and patriotism have also played an important role in Tom’s "Quitproof" mindset, carrying him through the heartbreak of having to shutter his thriving fitness center during COVID. Tom talks about how he eventually ended up working in a shipyard for a year, scraping barnacles off the bottom of boats and repainting them. However, since he was the only veteran there, they had him put the flag up every morning and take it down every night. When he was putting the flag up every morning Tom would salute it and say a prayer that went something like this… “God, I know that you have something better planned for me then this, I know you do. But can we kind of hurry it up?" It was after this season of working in the shipyard that Tom got approached to do 76 consecutive marathons for United We Pledge to bring attention to their Liberty Village project. United We Pledge’s goal for the Liberty Village is to restore patriotism in the youth and citizens through educational programs that celebrate freedom, family, and faith.

Tom explains that for him, his gut, his mind, and his heart must be in alignment before he will say yes to a challenge or project. When United We Pledge asked him to participate in the project, he first knew in his gut that he should say “yes” to the offer. “My gut said, oh, go for it…do it! And then suddenly, my heart was compelled. My heart was like, you got to do this. You're a Patriot. You've got to do this. And my mind was like, this makes sense. This is resounding. Yes. And my mouth was like, let's go for it. I'm in.” The culmination of 76 consecutive marathons took Tom 1,968 miles on foot from the American Village in Montevallo, Alabama, to the future site of the Liberty Village in Hurricane, UT.

Heather and Tom also discuss intuition and how it is one of the five mountains (physical, spiritual, mental, intuitional and Kokoro – heart, mind, spirit) that Tom embraces as it relates to his “Quitproof” mindset. Part of embracing the five mountains is reconciling that setbacks are part of the process to success. They are on the path to success. There are bumps in the road, but Tom’s mentality is that you must keep going because pain is only temporary.

Ultimately, Tom believes that his purpose is to be a guide and a mentor for other people to become the best integrated versions of themselves that they could possibly be.

Be on the lookout for upcoming Tom “Quitproof” Jones’ projects:

Hydrofoil board challenge – 1,000 miles in 10 days
Tribute to turning 60 – Run 50 miles a day, for 50 consecutive days at 60 years old!

Connect with Tom:

Website: https://www.quitproof.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quitproof1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quitproof1/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_2RX39JPaVsKePaXJPHJqQ/videos

United We Pledge: https://unitedwepledge.org

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Do you have your eye on a leadership position in your organization or perhaps you're well on your way climbing up that ladder, but you could use a mentor. Maybe you could use someone to help you communicate your leadership style a little bit better. Well, you're in luck today. My special guest is Rose Fass. One of Forbes Top 10 Women Business Leaders in New York, the CEO and founder of Fass Forward where her firm has been awarded the Inc. 500/5000 for three consecutive years. She has been a guest on CNBC is quoted in several bestselling business books and is the author of the Chocolate Conversation, Lead Bittersweet Change, Transform Your Business, with her second book launching this year, The Leadership Conversation – Make Bold Change, One Conversation at a Time.

Fass Forward is a consulting group wherein everyone who participates within the Fass Forward family or tribe is both a career corporate person who has become a consultant and is now able to do both the training, coaching, all the different things Fass Forward has to offer. The key ingredient that separates Fass Forward from other consulting groups is that they don't hire any career consultants because they want individuals on their team who have actually been on the firing line, know what it's like to have to go into a quarterly business review or deal with a PNL, or engineers that are late delivering a product or any number of things that go on in business.

The Mission of Fass Forward is to help leaders not just communicate, but also translate. Translate strategy into purposeful goals that allow people to not only execute on something that's going to be good for the business, but hopefully something that's going to be good for society.

At 73, years old, Rose has been in the business for 52 years. Over the last 35 years she has been in executive positions in fortune 100 companies. She’s learned that “no matter how hard we try our institutions for some reason or another seem to fail us in terms of giving people a sense of security, a sense of safety, a sense of realizing that we're being honest and integrous and life is going to be, at least if it's messy, it'll be honest.”

She had an epiphany, 21 years ago that maybe the last value-added space was going to be business and that she would have an opportunity to uniquely impact the world. Her partner, Gavin McMahon, who's a classically trained engineer and Rose decided to look at three things that they could work on to bring value to the leadership space. One is leadership in and of itself. What does it mean to be a leader to storytelling? How do you take what it is you want people to do? And also coaching, one-on-one opportunities for them to work with executives and leaders at all levels to help them move past their fears, push past their idiosyncrasies and begin to develop the capability of being a really good strong leader.

Rose believes that there are both natural born leaders and then there are those people that aspire to be good leaders that are outstanding at work and functional expertise management. At Fass Forward, Rose and her team work really hard at finding the natural inflection points that every human being has, that juices, that, that gets them excited. That then becomes the platform for whatever your leadership style moment is going to be.Rose believes that you can train people on certain techniques, but for the most part, you still must go with the natural DNA of an individual.

All leadership happens in the conversation, whether it's through an email, a text, face-to-face or a zoom meeting. And it's what you say and what you don't say that communicates to every person that you speak to. Rose often tells her C level executives, when she’s in a coaching relationship, “there are no casual conversations. Once you become the CEO, you can't just do a flyby. People take it too seriously. The conversations that we have with ourselves, it begins there. What are we telling ourselves?”

Rose is the daughter of a Marine, who taught her that she needed to be up at 6am, ready for company. Through her life she has had the great opportunity build confidence. Rose always says to people, we’re born into the world with our brilliance and our muddy shoes and if we understand that we can be great leaders, because leadership is messy. The first thing that Rose asks anybody who wants to be a leader is “are you willing to be messy?” Because if perfection is the goal, it’s not going to happen. Leadership is not something you plan for; it happens in the moment.

Helpful Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosefass/

https://twitter.com/fassforward

https://www.fassforward.com

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My very special guest today is Anthony, Tomey. Anthony is a full-time entrepreneur, a former professional baseball player with the Detroit Tigers organization and now truly one of the largest franchise owners of Jimmy John's, The Chicken Guy and also a Real Estate Developer. Additionally, he is the owner of 8 Mile Vodka - a Vodka that took home the awards for Best in Class: Vodka and Best of Class: Overall Vodka at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. I sat down with Anthony to talk about how he transitioned from pitching on the baseball diamond to pitching in the boardroom and hitting home runs every time!

Anthony shares how he gets the inspiration to “win at all costs” from his dad. His dad came to the United States, Ellis Island, at 25 years old and with $20.00 in his pocket. Though he didn’t speak English, he managed to put himself through college and earned a master’s degree, all while working as a busboy at the London Chophouse in Detroit. Anthony’s goal from a young age was to earn a full ride scholarship to thank his father who had paid for a private Catholic school education.

As a baseball player, Anthony loved the pressure of the game. He was a closer, a last inning pitcher, and thrived in the bases loaded, no one out scenarios. It was the thrill of the competition that motivated him. He also talks about how humbling it was to go from being the #1 pitcher in college to the majors where everyone was on a level playing field with every guy being the #1 player where they came from. Baseball taught him that no matter what happens, you’re going to fail. You have to pick yourself up and get back out there.

In the spring of 2003, Anthony Tomey was playing baseball at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. His family came to see him play, and after the game they headed to a sub shop down the street. The place had a line of 20 people stretching outside of the door. At first the family took this as a bad sign, but a member of staff told them to stick around. In less than five minutes, their food was in their hands. This was a defining moment, as they all were amazed at the speed and efficiency with which this business operated. Just a few months later, five like-minded Tomey family members, Fawzi, Tony, Anthony, Christine, and Michael, opened a Jimmy John’s of their own in Novi, Michigan.

In 2003, the Tomey Group LLC was founded as a means to grow a brand the partners loved, and to bring the same expansion to brands throughout the country. As of May 2019, the Tomey Group has bought and opened more than 50 Jimmy John’s locations throughout the Detroit Metro area.

Anthony is not your average franchise owner. Sitting back and delegating tasks from afar isn’t his style. Instead, he is hands-on involved in all aspects of the business, from preparing sandwiches to making deliveries. He is committed to providing employees with what they need and deserve, no matter what that looks like. He knows his employees’ names, how they work, and what makes them tick.

Just over a year ago, Anthony and his brother had an opportunity to buy a vodka company. 8 Mile Vodka, and an apparel company, Born in Detroit became their next financial endeavor. They currently oversee operations and have had great success, partnering with the Detroit Pistons with both companies, while getting into every Meijer in Michigan with 8 Mile. Additionally, 8 Mile Vodka just recently took home the awards for Best in Class: Vodka and Best of Class: Overall Vodka at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Recently Tomey Group signed a deal to become the newest franchisees of Chicken Guy, a new concept by Guy Fieri. It competes directly with Chick Fil A, and the Tomey Group bought the rights to southeast Michigan. Anthony truly believes that the harder you work, the luckier you get. The opportunities that continue to present themselves to the Tomey group are a direct result of hard work and surrounding themselves with successful people. Success attracts success.

The Tomey group continues to grow their empire and have added Real Estate to their growing portfolio. With the recent purchase of a shopping plaza in White Lake MI 3 years ago, 4 apartment complexes throughout SE Detroit and a resort on Houghton Lake, there is no stopping this hard-working entrepreneur!

Helpful Links:

Follow Anthony on social media:

Instagram:

Anthony Tomey - @atomey53

8 Mile Vodka - @official8milevodka

Born In Detroit - @officialbornindetriot

Website:

Tomey Group - https://tomeygroup.com

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In this episode, I sit down with former pro and college football players, Charlie Batch, TJ Lang, and Brett Petersmark to discuss the big debate around NIL (name, image, and likeness) in NCAA sports.

The NIL is an agreement set by the NCAA for student-athletes to have the right to monetize and profit from their brand, which consists of their name, image, and likeness. College athletes can sign sponsorship deals with corporate brands that charge money for autographs and even create their brand or an E-commerce site.

Inside of the discussion of the NIL, there are several smaller issues that exist, such as “Girls vs. Boys.” When it comes down to it, it is better for the girls because the funding for females is not equal to the males and thus NIL allows for opportunities to open up for females.

Some of the issues are, for example, that if you get a sponsorship from a specific corporation, you can't show up wearing their brand. It’s very difficult for athletes because they're not allowed to use one image or logo that everybody associates with you and their popularity and fame.

Additionally, TJ mentions that Universities have beer advertisers but restrict athletes from ever consuming it. The NCAA has no choice but to try to get involved and regulate it at some level. They always try to have this moral ground right where it's no gambling, no casinos, no liquor, no beverages, but pretty much every university has some sponsorship.

In regard to recruitment, there is a portal for recruiters where players can put their names in, and the recruiters can decide to recruit you. The system allows players to get one transfer without sitting out the rest of the season.

For Charlie, the NIL would have made his life much easier after high school and college. The paradigm shift wasn’t about money because he could have decided based on how he was compensated. He says he would have been able to help his family financially.

Charlie also identifies that there is a lot of a gray area in the recruitment aspects for bigger schools. Some athletes play for bigger schools and then transfer to minor schools because they want to pursue a specific academic program that the bigger school doesn’t have. That is just one of the loopholes that is happening with universities right now.

TJ says the NIL will keep growing until something boils over. Student-athletes could end up earning millions of dollars!

Links:

Charlie Batch:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliebatch/

https://www.instagram.com/charliebatch16/

TJ Lang:

https://twitter.com/TJLang70

Brett Petersmark:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-petersmark-89a257a/

Things you’ll learn:

How the NIL Agreement affect today’s student-athletes
What opportunities the NIL Agreement brings to student-athletes
How the Recruitment Process for Student-Athletes has Evolved
How student-athletes can take advantage of the NIL Agreement

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In today’s episode, Lisa Woodruff joins the show. Lisa is the Founder and CEO of Organized 365, which assists busy people in organizing their homes and papers with functional organizing systems that work. She is a productivity and home organizing expert. She motivates and teaches busy women to take back their lives with functional systems that will work for them. This conversation is packed with tricks, hacks, strategies, and proven systems on how we can organize our life and stop sabotaging ourselves from being a mess.

Lisa’s aptitude for organization was evident as a child. She loved to organize her mother’s art supplies. Lisa knew that her love for organization was unique, but she had no idea that organizing was a skill that could be learned. She assumed you either had it or didn't.

Lisa launched the blog Organized 365 because she thought it would be beneficial for search engine optimization (SEO), but she had no idea how to make money from it. She began writing about organization on her blog and 3 months later, Lisa became an in-home professional organizer who was paid to help individuals get organized. For 3 years, she has dabbled in home organizing and blogging.

In her first three years of business, Lisa had to get over a lot of limiting beliefs. One of them was that she was more valuable than her $15 rate to organize homes. So she changed her rate to $40. Then, for her second year, she charged $50 and added some people to the team. Five years later, when Lisa quit organizing, she was charging $75 an hour and she wasn't even organizing the home, she was just making the arrangements. It was a big deal for Lisa to realize that, as a woman, she could make more money and steer clear of the mindset that she needed to keep her business small.

Lisa shares three tips for organizing. First, do a time study on how long it takes to do the housework – cleaning your house, doing the laundry, preparing meals, maintaining your vehicle, organizing your finances, or paying your bills. All these things take a significant amount of time. Second, start organizing by looking around at what you have and reorganizing it or putting it where you need it in the house. You can also buy specific organizers to help you. Lastly, you can either choose to be a maximalist or a minimalist; it makes no difference. It’s not the amount of stuff you have, it's the right amount of stuff for you.

Links

Website: https://organize365.com/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/organize-365-podcast/id915355770?mt=2

PEW research: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/03/14/chapter-6-time-in-work-and-leisure-patterns-by-gender-and-family-structure/

Launching Life Skills and Bundle Course: https://organize365.com/product/launching-life-skills-bundle

Things you’ll learn

This conversation is packed with tricks, hacks, strategies, and proven systems on how we can organize our life and stop sabotaging ourselves from being a mess.

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Today Heather is sitting down with Alicia Driskill - a visionary, a leader, and an expert connector. She is also a keynote speaker and a strategic advisor who is passionate about creating a more equitable future for all. She has, for over 20 years, enjoyed a diverse career in media and marketing, working with some of the world’s most recognizable brands and thought leaders throughout her corporate career as an entrepreneur. Heather and Alicia will be talking about time management and how to be the CEO of your life.

Alicia gives tips and advice for people struggling with balance and time management while talking about how she sets up her own day as an example. She says that the biggest thing in approaching time management is taking a look at your priorities and really understanding what is the most important for you.

She makes sure to outline the three things she wants to get done today that will actually make a difference in her business and move things forward. And then making sure at the end of the day that you circle back to those things and set them up for the next day.

Alicia says that you must hold yourself accountable for work boundaries especially when you’re so easily accessible to your co-workers. This needs to be done in order for you to focus and get your goals done.

It’s very important that you know when to set time for yourself, Alicia says. In order to replenish your soul and your creative spirit, you must practice self-care and self-love.

She thinks that a lot of founders get stuck in the details that don’t matter instead of focusing on the big picture. Alicia calls herself a recovering perfectionist because she immediately learned that being one is not going to allow her to scale and create the impact that she wanted.

Alicia has always been a big believer in taking risks. However, you need to be able to take a step back and start to recognize those signs where you’re feeling overwhelmed. If you can learn from self-awareness, reflection, and understanding and start to feel and know what to look for, that would help out a lot because you can get ahead of it and fix it in the situation.

Links

https://www.evolveher.community

https://www.instagram.com/evolveher

https://www.instagram.com/alicia_driskill

https://heatherrstone.com/podcast/drselene

Things you’ll learn

How to manage your time better
Knowing your priorities
How to be the CEO of your own life
Setting boundaries to be more focused

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In this episode I am joined by Ebony Walls. Ebony Walls is a certified Nonprofit Leader (CNP), Sports Philanthropist, and International Social Worker. She shares with us her unique career path, how she took the reins to carve out a career befitting her and how you can too!

Many people don’t know that Ebony has an invisible disability called Scoliosis. She has two-foot titanium rods fused to her spine. At the age of 12, doctors said that she would not amount to anything unless she got a good education. Ebony wasn’t going to let the doctors define her so she charted her own course.

Heather calls Ebony the Happiness Ambassador. She has multiple passions and works professionally as an event fundraiser and sports philanthropist. It has been a blessing for her to combine all her passions and implement them in her daily work serving others. She is thankful to have the opportunity to be a servant to others every day and gets paid to do it.

“What is a Sports Philanthropist?” She assists corporations and high-value individuals in expanding their philanthropic portfolio or creating their philanthropic thumbprint. Ebony dreams of becoming the Oprah of Sports. She wants to be the person that connects the funds to the missions and be a human fiduciary.

As a professional fundraiser Ebony serves as Chief Experience Officer of Be A Part of Me Consulting, LLC helping nonprofits and for-profits achieve their goals through event fundraising and various other services. Her service thumbprint includes serving as TedxDetroit Chapter’s Director of Sponsorship, Eastern Michigan University’s Alumni Board-President Elect, GameAbove EMU Board Member, EMU Foundation Board of Trustees, New Leaders Council (Detroit) 2021 Fellow and the W.I.S.E. Detroit (Women In Sports & Entertainment) Leader. She has a niche for connecting funders to the purposeful mission of nonprofits.

Ebony tries to be the prayer she has always wanted to answer for herself. Whenever she meets individuals, she tells them she has a gift and a blessing. She is proud to say that she has never met a stranger in her life and can create a conversation with anyone about anything.

What’s next for Ebony? She always takes the time to reflect and look back on her previous vision board and journals to know what she wants to achieve. Ebony has always wanted to be the best she could be in whatever work comes into her hand. She has adopted the mindset of wanting to be the best and the first in her work. Now, she wants to work at the highest level of sports and the highest level of entertainment.

In 2019, Ebony’s life changed right before her eyes. She lost her job and doctors discovered a tumor, the size of a small egg which then grew to the size of a large lemon. At that point, she had to make some major life-changing decisions, starting with the decision to have the tumor removed.

Getting the tumor diagnosis gave her immense fear about what would happen next. To this day, she still gets emotional about it as she has lost her uncle, adopted mother, and godmother to cancer. Ebony says life doesn't always go how you want it to.

“Adversity has happened to me. But one thing I do is remind myself that I'm here for a purpose. Whenever you get knocked down, that means there's just something greater on the other side of the fence.”

Tune in to follow along her amazing journey.

For more information regarding event fundraising services please visit www.beapartofme.com

Helpful Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebonylwalls/

https://www.instagram.com/ebonylwalls/

https://www.facebook.com/BeaPartOfMeConsulting/

Things you’ll learn:

Ebony’s career as a Sports Philanthropist
How Ebony overcame life-changing adversities
Ebony’s Trial to Triumph Journey in her Career
How Ebony used her passions to get paid

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Today on the Mentors and Moguls Podcast with your host, Heather Stone, Heather is sitting down with Dr Selene Castrejon, a leading authority in all thing’s med-spa, all things Botox, and all procedures you can find in a med spa today. They sit down to dispel myths and share best practices for all med spa procedures.

Dr Selene answers listener questions about Botox and procedures. She says right away that she is “Botox’s biggest fan” and has been advocating preventative treatment since the early days of Botox use for aesthetic purposes. Especially with the younger generation’s expressiveness, light Botox use can help to prevent wrinkles before they form. 

“How often should you be getting Botox for preventative maintenance?”  Dr. Selene again says it’s a bit more personal than a blanket rule. The company recommends every 3-4 months which depends on the dose. Dose = Duration so a stronger dose will last longer. A person’s expressiveness, individual workload and activity load will also affect how often they burn through a dose. 

Dr Selene has dubbed herself “Dr No” as she turns away roughly 10% of her clients on any given day. It is important to her to always act in her client’s best interest. These procedures are meant to help preserve and enhance the beauty that already exists, not change everything into someone else. 

Some of the other most popular treatments Dr Selene offers include laser-treatments, non-surgical and less invasive alternatives to a facelift, body sculpting and cool-sculpting, and others. She is always “results-oriented” meaning that her first question is always “does it work?”. It’s all about picking the right treatment for the right person and setting the right, realistic expectations.

Dr Selene also works with women to support their sexual health. She has a laser called the “intima” which is made to help regenerate and stimulate a woman’s vaginal walls and help with lubrication, tightening, and healing. While many procedures have mixed reviews that one is “all raves”.

Dr Selene is not only a med spa expert, but she also graduated med school at an early age, the youngest in her class at the time, and always knew that she wanted to enter esthetic medicine. She loved working in the ER because it was fast paced, varied, and she got to learn a lot about a lot of different things. She also got her MBA and started her esthetic medicine business as a charity to donate procedures to third world countries and help local doctors with the resources to perform those procedures. Changing lanes and starting new ventures was scary and even felt like she was turning her back on something important. However, she felt like she needed to walk away and pursue what felt like her “bigger purpose” which has led to enormous fulfillment.

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode:

Helpful Links:

Website: https://beyouthful.com/about/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drselene/

https://heatherrstone.com/podcast/drselene

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Today on the Mentors and Moguls Podcast with your host, Heather Stone, Heather is sitting down with AJ Vaden, co-founder of the Brand Builders Group, 8-figure entrepreneur, and co-host of The Influential Brand Podcast.

AJ discusses the question of what is a personal brand. Is it an online following, social media influencers or celebrities, course creation, speakers, authors, podcasters? In reality, AJ says, a “personal brand” is just an extension of your reputation. So the question is whether you are being intentional about the brand you are creating. What effort and intention are you putting into creating your “brand”? Do you know what you want to be known for?

Brand Builders Group is a personal brand strategy group for anyone who wants to become more well-known. Anyone who wants to enhance their personal brand needs to answer these four questions:

What problem do you solve?
Who do you solve this problem for?
What is your unique message to solving this problem?
How do you make money solving this problem?

When you know the answers to those four questions, you have clarity on your journey.

AJ does not believe in “overnight success” because no matter how immediate it may appear on the outside, years of hard work have gone into making anyone successful, overnight or not. Success comes out of hard work, time, intention, and resources. While that may look like overnight success from the outside, it can take a long time to even get to the place where you’re able to achieve that “immediate success”

People are sometimes afraid to tell others about themselves and their work for fear of appearing “self-promotional” but the truth is, in order to gain personal success, you have to be willing to tell everyone about what you’re doing because you believe in it. A book has the power to change your life, but you have to be willing to share it and talk about it. Even if you don’t have a huge following, if you’re willing to go on podcasts and tours and share to other followings, you can grow your audience and gain the following that will continue to make you successful long-term.

AJ was an art major in college but was encouraged by her father to change her major to something where she would be able to support herself long term so she changed to advertising and marketing. She ultimately did not want to work an office job where her salary was capped and she counted vacation days so at 22, she began her entrepreneurial journey. She started a business with one of her high school best friends, got recruited to a start-up and began putting on large motivational sales conferences. She learned how deeply being an entrepreneur meant just doing sales. AJ and her husband, Rory then co-created Brand Builders Group as a way to own and share their own experiences with others. She credits her faith in large part for helping her hold on through the tumultuous time of changing careers, starting new journeys, and building her family as she has moved to her success.

While people often think humility is at odds with the goal of growing a personal brand, AJ disagrees. She thinks you must be willing to share your own experiences if you believe they can help someone. Being willing to be vulnerable and human in your experiences, creates a trust and respect with your audience that will grow your success and following. That genuine audience is the single biggest factor in who people choose to buy from and follow. 

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode:

In this episode, AJ Vaden offers questions and advice on how to intentionally and effectively create and grow your personal brand.

Helpful Links:

https://freebrandcall.com/heatherstone/

https://brandbuildersgroup.com/

IG: @AJ_Vaden

The Influential Personal Brand Podcast

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Today on the Mentors and Moguls Podcast with your host, Heather Stone, Heather is sitting down with Stephen Scoggins, who went from homeless and hopeless to heartfelt industry leader, speaker, and serial entrepreneur. Now, he’s dedicated himself to serving the person he used to be.

Stephen’s first hint that he would have to grow up fast was when he was just a young boy living with his Grandmother, who had raised him up to this point. When she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, Stephen’s role quickly became that of a caretaker and the person who would ultimately spend time raising his little brother. When she passed, his parents returned to the picture, and Stephen went to live and work in construction with his father and his brother with their mother in Florida. It was in this transition that Stephen met his first mentor, Steve.

Steve was constantly putting Stephen in a position where he was being challenged. Coming from a family with a history of alcoholism, Steve presented him a choice. Pulling him aside, Steve asked him a simple question: What’s the difference between a poor person and a rich person? The answer isn’t just money. It’s the way they think. The idea of a poverty mindset was an ‘aha’ moment for him and sent him on a trajectory that forever changed his life. This piece of advice, coming from a man who would leave $1,000 tips just to make a difference in someone's situation, was incredibly impactful.

Then, Steve eventually gave Stephen the opportunity to build a business, covering the cost of many aspects and allowing him to make money. The problem then became how to be responsible for what he had earned. He found himself in a situation where he was questioning his worth, eventually leading him to walk off the job and ultimately homeless. Fast forward, after a moment of realization and finding faith, Stephen found a second chance. With some convincing, he was able to earn back his role.

Stephen’s advice to people who find themselves in a similar stuck position is to find someone who you aspire to be. Think about the impact they have. He believes that principles dictate promises. No matter what promises you make, there are principles to get you there. As far as building a successful business, it’s about testing the market, seeing if it catches, then investing. We have a tendency to skip the testing and go straight to scaling, which won’t land. Surround yourself with the right people and keep moving forward.

In the end, there are givers and takers, and then there are those in transition from one or the other. Stephen’s advice: if you’re not constantly evaluating your perspective, it’s easy to slip back into becoming a taker. When you can do that, doors open for you–you don’t have to go around pushing them open.

Links

https://stephenscoggins.com/

Things you’ll learn

In this episode, Stephen Scoggins shares with us his journey from homelessness to industry leader. He offers tips to avoid poverty mentality, the process of scaling a successful business, and how to align yourself with your principles to achieve the impact you want to have.

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Welcome back to the Mentors & Moguls podcast with Heather Stone! Today, we're talking about fear. We all have it in some way, shape, or form. Joining us is Mr. Bill Bennett. He’s a writer, producer, and director of feature films and documentaries. His career spans 30 years, and he's made 16 feature films for dramatized documentaries, plus five feature-length documentaries.

Bill’s movie, PGS: Intuition is your Personal Guidance System explores the scientifically proven phenomenon of intuition. A time ago, Bill experienced a near-death moment, where he very closely missed being hit by a massive truck in an intersection. But, his life was saved by a voice inside his head–his intuition–a very different feeling for Bill, who had an evidence-based upbringing. PGS documents his journey to find the source of that mysterious voice. What was that voice? Where did it come from? And why did it save his life? After a dream that told him he needed to pursue this film, once again his intuition was put to the test. Trusting that inner voice changed Bill’s life fundamentally, but it wasn’t easy and it wasn’t immediate. He discovered a spiritual side of himself that was previously unknown.

Facing fear is a the crux of Bill’s next film. He’s challenging the idea that fear is necessary in our lives. When the pandemic hit, fear was abundant. He began looking at fear as true fear, survival fear, and imagined fear, and how much of the fear people experienced was imagined. A major fear is that of the unknown, and the pandemic embodied that for many people. Bill tapped into what he learned in making his film: when you’re faced with fear, plan.

The truth is, you can’t understand fear without understanding love. fear must be seen, not as something that demonizes you, but something that gives you the opportunity to learn and grow. For that to happen, you have to face it. You’ve got to befriend your fear–personalize it.

A major fear for some is what others think of them when they put themselves out there for all to see. At the root of this, Bill says from one of his interviews, is that you are unsure of who you really are. Once you do the work to know who you really are, you become rock-solid.

Fear makes you dumb. When fear hits, it evokes a flight or fight response, blocking out logical thinking. You’ve got to break that cycle. When you’re faced with that fear, give yourself three seconds to let the fear run through you and the adrenaline wear off so you can work through the problem creatively.

Fear begets more fear. Flip that. Joy attracts more joy. No fear lives in the present moment. So, if you can stay there, you’ve worked around that fear. Fear has purpose, so once you can extract that, it becomes useful.

Fear of change is a massive part of society, and can actually be dangerous. Oftentimes, fear of change is linked to a fear of loss, the loss of status, or loss of abundance, or loss of sense of place–think racism and homophobia.

Bill has the 5 F’s of fear: Find, feel, face, friend, and free your fear. Reminagine fear: it’s something you can arm yourself with.

Things you’ll learn

On today’s show, you’ll get a breakdown of what fear is, it’s different manifestations, and how you can extract usefulness from your fear to arm yourself. Bill touches on his own experiences and how that helped him develop some eye-opening films surrounding fear.

Socials

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/billbennettoz/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/billbennettaus

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-bennett-9025661a/

Website - https://www.billbennett.com.au/

Watch Facing Fear – The Interviews - https://facingfearinterviews.com/about/

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On today’s episode of the Mentors and Moguls podcast with your host, Heather Stone, we’re talking about stepping out of your comfort zone and conquering your fears by having a conversation with pilot and president of 45 North Aviation, Michael Terfehr while pulling G’s in an L39 Albatross Fighter Jet.

Naturally, Mike’s favorite part of flying with 45 North Aviation is flying upside-down. But deeper than that, it’s the freedom that comes with the open skies. He can always be in contact with those in air traffic control, but only if he needs them. The ability to have the option while still having the freedom to fly is empowering.

For Heather, even though flying, especially in a fighter jet, can be scary, the views from the top are unlike anything else.

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Today Heather is sitting down with a close friend and actress, Stephanie Szostak. Her most notable projects include The Devil Wears Prada, Ironman 3, and A Dinner for Schmucks just to name a few. Over the past decade, she has played alongside Meryl Streep, Robert Downey, Jr, Jeff Bridges, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Matt Damon, Kevin Bacon, Ryan Reynolds, and so many more.

Embracing being an outsider has been part of Stephanie’s life from a very early age moving to America. Growing up, she struggled to keep up with humor, food, and other social aspects that were vastly different than what she was used to back home in France.

Rejection is a massive part of Stephanie’s work. Even now having worked with A-list actors, she has to overcome the challenge of failure. It’s easy to allow that failure to seep into crucial self-worth and force questioning of your own capabilities. At one point, Stephanie went over a year without a role, and when she didn’t land a French bartending role, it was a major blow. Eventually, she realized she had to focus on what she could control, and learn and grow, but on her own terms. She broke free of what others thought or wanted of her and became an authentic version of herself. Prepare and let go. That’s how things happen. If you can be authentic, that is a success.

Stephanie’s role in Iron Man three was the first time a director believed she had it in her to be a villain. The very thought of being the ‘tough guy’ struck fear. But, her husband reminded her that her vulnerability was tough. She went in with an open, curious, and humble mind. To prepare for it, she worked hard to shed her ‘girly’ feeling of her body and give her belief that she could be the character. Working with Robert Downey Jr., she says, is like dancing with a good leader–everything is easier. On top of that, she would dance and rap in her trailer before she worked. Even when facing disappointment as her role grew and was cut back, she learned to celebrate her effort over the outcome.

Every time she comes on to set, Stephanie says, there is some fear. It’s a challenge to have a new start and a new transition. When she was doing a movie with Kevin Bacon, Jeff Bridges., and Ryan Reynolds, she found herself alone with Kevin Bacon. After complimenting a difficult role Kevin played, he showed incredible vulnerability in sharing how nervous he was before starting a new movie. Even those who seem to be at the pinnacle of their craft face the same challenges.

Stephanie developed the 180 playbook in the wake of that moment. She went on a search for how to deal with those insecurities. She realized it wasn’t about fear or about performance anxiety, it was also about finding meaning and knowing what she’s about and what she can bring to the table. From there, the challenge became 1) how do you remember all this, and 2) how do you incorporate all these new practices into your mindset. Stephanie started making flashcards before she would go on set, which sparked the idea of developing an app that could bring motivation for the day and set you in the right frame of mind. It could help people in recovery or therapy, and those who are just trying to make a change.

Shifting gears entirely, Stephanie has had numerous love scenes with the likes of Ryan Reynolds and others. For her, she finds it easier as she’s French and having professional partners make a huge difference. It’s about knowing her boundaries. The unexpected thing that she’s found lovely, she says, is the connections and friendships she’s built. On top of that, playing a villain with Robert Downey Jr. was an incredible professional accomplishment.

Socials

@stephshortstak

What you’ll learn

On today’s episode, Stephanie shares with us how she overcomes rejection, failure, and challenges that put into question her self-worth. She discusses her process for prepping for a role with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, and how she gets her mind in the right place every day.

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Today’s guest is successful coach, entrepreneur, trainer, and CrossFit guru, Gunther Klaus. He’s the founder of Strength & Mechanics, a health and fitness program out of America’s most health and body-conscious city - Los Angeles.

In this episode, Heather and Gunther discuss all things health and fitness. They cover Gunther’s available courses, modern myths, why support matters, how to get the most out of your workout, the importance of science, and so much more!

Catch up with Gunther on Instagram @guntherklaus.

Be sure to visit Heather at https://heatherrstone.com/ and subscribe to this channel for more Mentors & Moguls.

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Deborah Koenigsberger is the founder of the nonprofit organization Hearts of Gold. For over 27 years, Hearts of Gold has sought to end homelessness for women and children in New York City through a combination of need-based programs and shelters which now house and assist over 35,000 mothers and children. Today, I’m sitting down with Deborah to learn more about how she was inspired to start the program, how she stays motivated and positive, and what it takes to effect true change within your sphere.

Decades ago, as Deborah walked from home to work, she would pass through a run-down park populated with homeless families and individuals. A young mother herself, she couldn’t stop wondering about the mothers living there. As she got to know one woman in particular, she learned that the mother had been molested in one of the shelters, and therefore felt more safe on the streets. A lifelong fan of Stevie Wonder, Deborah took his song “Take the Time Out” to heart. She was inspired to take a step and work to make a change. As Deborah got involved, she started to take ownership of not only shelters, but also attendant programs that could assist in raising women and children out of homelessness.

The problem of homelessness is overwhelming to think about. We took time to discuss with Deborah how she manages to stay motivated and positive in the face of such staggering need. Deborah shares how community service was really built into her DNA growing up and how her faith sustains her when she would otherwise sink. Furthermore, she’s a highly results-oriented person. By breaking the problem down into achievable goals and remembering the impact on individuals she’s met, she’s able to press forward with her whole heart and her whole effort.

Hearts of Gold is not just about satisfying the immediate needs of women and children under its protection. It seeks to break the cycle of poverty and lift individuals out of homelessness. To Deborah, this comes down to investing in individuals, expanding their world view, prioritizing education, and letting them always know that someone is cheering for them. Hearts of Gold’s programs, from the learn to earn work experience program at Deborah’s own thrift store boutique to summer teen enrichment programs, open up access and opportunities for individuals. Like many charitable programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hearts of Gold had to cancel fundraisers even in the face of ever-increasing needs, and is therefore working with a restricted budget this year. Deborah shares ways you can get involved in this work, and the current and future initiatives that Hearts of Gold has planned to meet the evolving needs of the community.

What You Will Learn

The power of just one person to effect real change in her community and world.
How to stay positive and motivated in the face of overwhelming odds.
What factors make the real difference for children and mothers living in poverty.
How to join in the work of Hearts of Gold, or find a passion for another worthy project that needs your efforts.

Referenced Links

https://www.heartsofgold.org/

Social Handles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heartsofgoldnyc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartsofgoldnyc/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3bZPWBU_tLnchF0T_UBbmg

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On today’s episode, I’m joined by Garrett Madison, a world-record holding mountain climber and Mount Everest guide-extraordinaire. His records include being the only person to climb Mount Everest and nearby Mount Lhotse in a day, three times; being the only American to climb K2 twice; and he has personally led more climbers to the summits of Mount Everest and K2 than anyone else. Together, Garrett and I talk about his career, following your passion, and leadership.

Garrett’s passion for mountain climbing began when he was in high school, and he and his dad decided they wanted to climb Mount Rainier. After preparing for the climb, Garrett realized he wanted to continue to learn more, so he enrolled in more mountaineering classes, and in college, he was hired as a Mount Rainier guide. While Garrett thought it would be a fun summer job, he then ended up making it into a career as a fulltime mountain guide expedition leader.

Garrett explains that his job comes with a number of different rewards, and that while the records he holds are great, his favorite parts of the job are simply getting to spend time in the mountains and helping others to achieve their bucket-list goals. He shares that the first time he made it to the summit of Everest, it was a really emotional experience and that helping other climbers reach that summit and sharing in that experience with them is both special and very rewarding.

As someone who people trust to lead them up mountains and navigate them through the difficulties of the journey, Garrett also talks to listeners about leadership. He shares with them an experience in which he and his team ended up getting stuck on Everest after an earthquake and how in experiences such as this, the most important actions a leader can take are: handle things moment by moment, look out for the people around you, and keep calm.

Finally, Garrett ends our talk today by encouraging those who are listening to follow their hearts. As someone who never had a roadmap for his own career, Garrett advises following your passion and believing that things will work themselves out from there. In addition to his work as a guide, he also then goes on to discuss his work as a film producer, writer, and his future goal of becoming a sailor.

To hear more about some of Garrett’s incredible expeditions, his favorite climbs, and how to prepare for your own climbing adventure or expedition, be sure to listen in to today’s episode!

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode:

In this podcast episode, you’ll learn about the career and amazing feats of mountain climber and guide, Garrett Madison, as well as hear his advice regarding leadership and following one’s passion.

Helpful Links:

Check out Garrett’s website at: https://madisonmountaineering.com/

Follow Garrett on Instagram @garrettmadison1

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On today’s episode, I welcome Carolyn Spector, the President and Chief Operating Officer of JUHI LLC, a company which offers healthcare services with a specialization in Eastern medicine. Carolyn shares with listeners her career journey and how her path has taken her from criminal law, to work with a variety of nonprofits, to her current position. Carolyn also shares her experiences with tragedy, offering listeners encouraging words for how to persevere through even the most difficult of times.

Carolyn begins our conversation today by talking about her background in criminal law and how she was instrumental in creating one of the first ever sexual assault and sexual violence units back in the 80’s. She explains that as she began to develop more and more empathy for the victims of domestic violence crimes, she grew more passionate about finding ways to make a difference in the lives of others.

Because of Carolyn’s passion, she eventually was led to New York, where she began work with Safe Horizon, which continues to serve as the nation's leading victim assistance organization. From her experience working with Safe Horizon, Carolyn then went on to develop her own nonprofit: Walk to End Domestic Violence. While her work with this project only lasted a couple years due to the impact 9/11 had on New York, it was not the last of Carolyn’s involvement with nonprofits. After moving to Long Island, she then became the executive director for Mission Restore, a nonprofit whose goal was to train surgeons in foreign war-torn countries to be proficient in reconstructive surgery. In 2012, she was then hired as a director at the National Foundation for Facial Reconstruction, which is a nonprofit that has since become known as myFace.

While Carolyn enjoyed her work at myFace, she then shares with listeners that unfortunately in 2013 her husband was diagnosed with brain cancer, and it became necessary for her to find a way to support her family while staying home and serving as his caretaker. In order to do so, she began her own consulting business. Carolyn then shares that soon after her husband passed away, she unexpectedly lost her mother and felt herself hit bottom. She describes the experience as being in hell and opens up about how she had no idea how to escape it. Eventually, this is what led her to Juhi Singh, who helped to heal her and whose relationship eventually led to her current position at JUHI LLC.

Pulling from her personal experiences with tragedy, Carolyn offers listeners advice on how to push through difficult times even when things seem darkest. She shares her belief that “good things always come from bad things” and encourages those who are struggling to reach out to someone they trust for help. To hear more of Carolyn’s advice or learn more about her career path, be sure to check out today’s episode!

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode:

On today’s episode, you’ll learn about Carolyn Spector’s career, her work with JUHI LLC, and her past involvement with a number of nonprofits. She also offers listeners encouraging words on how to make it through tragedy.

Helpful Links:

To learn more about the Juhi Ash Center and schedule an appointment, check out the company’s website at: https://www.juhi.center/

Learn more about Carolyn’s work experience by checking out her profile at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynspector/

To learn more about Safe Horizon, check out the organization’s website: https://www.safehorizon.org/

To learn more about Mission Restore, check out the organization’s website: https://missionrestore.org/

To learn more about myFace, check out the organization’s website: https://www.myface.org/

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Today, I welcome to the show Will Buxton, an award-winning sports broadcaster, writer, voice-over artist, and commentator but whom you may know best from Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive series. Together, Will and I talk about how his love for F1 racing has driven his career, his favorite parts of the job, the necessity of surrounding yourself with positivity and people who support you, and the importance of authenticity.

Will begins our conversation today by talking about how his love for F1 racing began and how from the age of 13, he knew he wanted to grow up to write about the sport. He then discusses his path towards obtaining such a career, admitting that instead of journalism, he studied politics in school, which helped him to develop his research and argumentation skills as well as discover his own voice. Upon graduating, he then sent his thesis to an F1 magazine, was later offered a job, and thus began his dream career. While Will notes that his passion has always driven him, he also warns listeners that you can’t rely on passion alone for success but instead must be willing to put in the work.

Will and I then move on to talking about his favorite part of his job as a journalist. He shares that his favorite moments are often when he’s able to talk to drivers for longer than five minutes about something that’s not about racing. He explains that in those moments, you really come to see the human that’s underneath what’s often an athletic mask or persona and how when you give someone room to open up about what’s going on in their lives, it can lead to powerful and meaningful conversations.

Lastly, Will and I shift to discussing career advice. He stresses the importance of recognizing your own worth when deciding whether or not to accept a position and how this often comes with maturity and experience. He also encourages listeners to surround themselves with mentors and those voices that ignite within them the drive to be better. From here, Will segues into talking about the benefits and dangers of social media and the ways it can both help and hurt one’s career. Finally, Will shares the ways Covid-19 has impacted his career as well as led him to think more deeply about what it is he’s truly looking for out of life.

To hear more of Will’s career advice, about the future of the Drive to Survive series, and his thoughts on the 2021 F1 racing season, be sure to listen in!

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode:

In today’s episode, Will offers advice on how to turn your passion into a career, gives listeners insights into his Netflix series and the drivers behind the camera, and talks about the importance of mentors, authenticity, and social media when it comes to standing out in a journalistic career field.

Helpful Links:

Follow Will on social media @wbuxtonofficial

Check out Will’s YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/c/WillBuxtonOfficial/featured

Check out Will’s book, My Greatest Defeat: Stories of Hardship and Hope from Motor Racing's Finest Heroes: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-greatest-defeat-will-buxton/1130041074

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Today I’m joined by Mike Meyer who serves as Head of Global Sales and Trading at Seaport Global. While the two of us touch upon business, however, the focus of our conversation today is on Mike’s passion project, a documentary called (In)Visible Portraits that is dedicated to celebrating American black women in the past and present while looking with hope towards the future. Mike shares with listeners his inspiration for the project, how it came to be made, and the impact he hopes it will have on its audience.

Mike describes (In)Visible Portraits as a “love-letter to black women,” explaining that the idea for the project came to him after watching Isiah Thomas’s Hall of Fame induction speech, where he became overwhelmed with emotion as he addressed his mother and talked about the incredible influence she had on his life. Watching Thomas’s speech stuck with Mike, and he realized that women like Mary Thomas are some of the most important Americans who get up and face challenges every day but never receive the recognition they deserve. Because of this, Mike’s project began as a celebration of black mothers.

While (In)Visible Portraits was first released on Juneteenth 2020, Mike explains that the project took over ten years to come into fruition. He talks about the difficulty of finding a director for the film until a mutual friend introduced him to filmmaker Oge Egbuonu, who took on the project. While the film wasn’t set to be released until later in 2020, the team decided it best to release it on Juneteenth after the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor brought revived awareness to the racial tensions and injustices still alive in the United States. As Mike shares, his hope for the film is that it will bring both emotion and an awareness to its audience that will then make its way through society. He hopes for the film to one day become a part of the education system and taught at all levels.

Listen in to learn more about Mike’s influences, his next initiative for fighting against racial inequality, and the film’s development, and be sure to tune in on March 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT as (In)Visible Portraits premieres on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode:

On today’s episode, you’ll learn about (In)Visible Portraits, a documentary dedicated to celebrating American black women in the past and present while looking with hope towards the future. In addition to learning about the documentary itself, you’ll also learn from executive producer Mike Meyer about what inspired the film and how it got made.

Helpful Links:

To learn more about (In)Visible Portraits and watch its trailer, check out the documentary’s website at: https://www.invisibleportraits.com/

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On today’s episode, we’re talking all about STEM, a field that’s projected to grow 13% in the decade spanning 2017-2027. With this future in sight, I sit down today with MLB Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson and Dr. Alan Gomez, two men who respectively serve as the founder and executive director of the Mr. October Foundation. Together, the two share with us the Foundation’s educational goals, its commitment to serving under-privelaged youth, and how they hope for the program to impact and improve communities across the United States.

Our conversation begins with Mr. October himself, as Reggie Jackson talks about what drove him to create the Mr. October Foundation in the first place. He explains that while he has always been dedicated to helping schools and children, it wasn’t until someone recommended he become involved in the STEM field that the seeds for the program became planted. Reggie found that while the STEM field is clearly where the future is headed, many minorities were not being provided the educational opportunities needed to introduce them to the field. So, he saw this as a need he was able to help with and began devoting his efforts to supporting and educating minorities, believing it the best way to better develop educational equality.

Alan Gomez then shares how he and Reggie became connected and were able to begin developing and branching out the Mr. October Foundation across the country. He explains that the program is designed to help within all community types, whether they be urban, suburban, or rural, and talks about the success they’ve already had with thousands of students in areas such as the Bronx, Detroit, and Oakland. He also emphasizes how important the program has been especially during the Covid-19 Pandemic and how it has worked to ensure that children continue to have hands-on intellectual tools available to them from wherever they may now be learning. They have done so through an educational resource skill kit where students can conduct experiments at home that range from building their own speaker, to growing lettuce, to practicing First Aid.

Finally, my two guests close our conversation today by discussing that while their program can also help adult learners with retraining or pivoting in their career, they are hoping that by providing the means for children to explore their interests across a number of STEM fields, in the future they will be able to lower the need for someone in their mid-thirties to return to education programs and change careers. More than just preparing children for their own future though, both Reggie and Alan see this type of education as a means to better the community, recognizing that one day these students will be able to contribute to their communities as competent, future employees capable of bringing about social change.

To learn more about the Mr. October Foundation, its goals for the next 3-5 years, or how you can bring the program into your own community, be sure to listen in!

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode:

In today’s episode, you’ll learn about the Mr. October Foundation, the work it’s doing to provide educational opportunities in the field of STEM to minority and under-served students throughout the United States, and why this work is so crucial to creating a better future for our communities.

Helpful Links:

Learn more about the Mr. October Foundation at https://mroctober.org/

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Welcome back to the Mentors and Moguls podcast with your host, Heather Stone. Today, Heather is joined by Kristen Bowes Burke, who is serving as general counsel at Mercy College in New York.

Kristen has always knowns she wanted to go into law. She grew up loving politics and was infatuated with the substantive and leadership aspects of that career path, and even wanted to become president when she grew up. Law was a pathway for that, as the two are so intertwined.

Kristen’s path to college was built on a unique combination of skills and passions. There are many avenues to getting into an institution and graduating with a degree, and for Kristen, sports were a hugely important part of her life and played a key role in her journey. She grew up playing team sports in soccer and basketball, building tremendous courage and leadership skills. It was a part of her identity. Confidence was built there. Since she was a little girl, she advocated for herself to try out for state teams, olympic development teams, and beyond.

Through sports and outstanding academics, Kristen was accepted into some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the nation, including Harvard, Yale, and Cornell. Kristen reminds us that even she received financial support from the places she was accepted. The resources are out there for those who are overcoming that hurdle. Look at whatever talent you have and include that in what you present to schools--they are looking at well-roundedness as well, not just grades.

After college, Kristen knew she was going straight into law school. Her philosophy was to get into a school and do the very, very best that she could. Through a powerful internship and an influential mentor, Kristen discovered her passion for law at the state and District Attorney level. She was patient in her search for a law firm to work at, however. She wanted to be a prosecutor and never took her eye off the prize. Her advice is to stay absolutely committed to your end goal and never lose sight of it.

Kristen’s most important and best decision of her life, she says, is working in the Bronx DA office, and it’ gave her the skills she needed to do anything you could imagine. The pressured and quick-thinking environment was truly a test of her intelligence, persistence, and tenacity. She had a boss that really looked out for her that helped her get over the hump. She would be the only woman in the room of forty men leading incredibly important meetings and preparing the blueprint for task forces.

She now mentors young women in law having them shadow in her office. She did some work in a sexual discrimination case that gives her the most pride. She worked with students and task forces to create policy at a college level. Six months later, what is now known as Title XI, was widely released. Kristen was ahead of the curve. She would train and educate community members and students on the policy and her background on it.

The common principle, the throughline throughout her career, was to do everything to the max and do whatever you do intensely. When her parents got divorced, she had a huge amount of people who invested their support in her. Now, everything she does is to make them proud.

Things You’ll Learn

On today’s episode, leading woman in law and general counsel at Mercy College in New York, Kristen Bowes Burke shares with us her pathway to college, impactful mentors and internships she experienced, and how she is passing the torch through educating young women going into the field of law.

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Are you looking for advice on how to do what you love and be successful at it? If so, then today’s episode is for you! Today I’m joined by Nick Onken, a world renowned photographer and creative entrepreneur who has worked across continents and with numerous celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Cody Simpson, and Usher, just to name a few. Nick shares with us insights into his career as a photographer and the importance of being persistent when it comes to combining art with business and turning a passion into profit.

Nick begins our discussion by explaining how his career began in graphic design but changed once he discovered his passion for photography. Realizing that photography was where he wanted to focus his career, he then spent years and thousands of hours practicing and honing his craft, insisting that for anyone looking to build a career in the arts, you have to be willing to keep grinding and refining your work in order to build a solid portfolio.

While Nick’s favorite part of his career is the freedom it gives him to be his own boss, he talks about the uncertainties that can come from running your own business, citing his own highs and lows as examples and sharing how one big break might be followed by years of smaller jobs. Nick’s advice is to recognize that success is not a straightforward path but instead requires constant persistence and the willingness to adapt with the shifting market.

In addition to discussing his career as a whole, Nick also provides listeners insights into the different aspects of working as a photographer, discussing the more logistical demands of his work such as the accounting, negotiating, networking, and self-marketing it involves. In particular, Nick emphasizes the benefits that can come from working with a good team of people with whom you can build a creative camaraderie.

As we begin wrapping up our conversation, Nick reiterates to listeners how important it is for entrepreneurs to continually work on their personal development and emotional navigation. He explains that because emotions and beliefs are often what dictate a person’s capabilities, being able to shift your beliefs can help you and your work continually grow and expand, noting that such a mindset is especially important amongst the conditions of a global pandemic.

To get Nick’s full advice for artists and hear more about his exciting work and upcoming projects, be sure to listen in to today’s episode!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

In today’s episode, you’ll learn about the highs and lows that come from running your own business, the necessity for artists to continually be building and refining their craft, and tips for combining art and business in order to turn passion into profit. Nick also shares information about his personal career, and how he’s come to find success and fulfillment through his work.

Helpful Links:

Find Nick on Instagram: @photographsbynickonken AND @nickonken

Check out Nick’s website at: https://photographsbynickonken.com/

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Today we're joined by Maria Yap, the Vice President of Digital Imaging at Adobe who shares with listeners her experience working in design, a career that blends together creativity and technology. Together we talk about digital imaging, AI, diversity in the workplace, and how to craft a dream career and love what you do.

Maria begins today’s conversation by explaining how design work is largely about problem-solving and learning how to plan and visualize the message you want communicated. She also explains how AI has been growing within the field and how it allows for creators to focus their energies on creativity and communicating their vision while the AI takes care of the more mundane tasks of the job. Maria shares insights into her experiences working at Adobe specifically, discussing many of the tools and filters Adobe has developed as well as the company’s approach to helping customers.

In terms of her personal career journey, Maria explains that while education and schooling is a very linear path, a career itself is very nonlinear. Because of this, she encourages listeners to not try to force a linear career path but to instead focus on their passions and what they want to learn and to use these motivations to drive them forward. She shares that some of the best advice she ever received was to ask herself: What’s the worst thing that could happen if I try this thing? She then recommends that listeners ask themselves the same question when thinking about their own career choices.

In addition to talking about her career as a designer, Maria also discusses the importance of diversity when it comes to building a team in the workplace and how diversity can help lead to some of the most innovative solutions. She shares that when assembling her team, she looks for two key characteristics: growth mindset and having a vision for the role. She also talks about practicing servant-leadership, which is a form of leadership in which the leader acts in a way that best serves the members of her team. She explains that having empathy for both her team members and her customers has been one of her best tools as a leader and designer.

For more advice from Maria on how to enter the design field as well as more tips concerning mentorship, leadership, and complex problem-solving, be sure to listen in to today’s episode!

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Podcast:

On today’s episode, you’ll learn more about the careers of design and software development and how they come to unite creativity with technology. Maria also shares with listeners advice on career paths, problem-solving, mentorships, and the importance of working with a diverse team of people.

Helpful Links:

Follow Maria on Twitter and Instagram @mariayap

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On this episode, I’m joined by Chalene Johnson, a world-renowned health expert, motivational speaker, New York Times best-selling author, podcaster, and trainer who has sold millions of fitness videos. Today, Chalene shares with listeners her insights into the business and marketing world as well as offers advice regarding fitness and nutrition. Whether you’re looking to start your own business, learn techniques for managing a work-life balance, or are simply wondering how to lose that Covid-19 weight, this episode is for you.

Chalene begins our discussion by talking about her early experiences in business and marketing and how she created her own businesses in order to pay her way through college. She then explains how after college, she took on a number of different jobs and passions before realizing that in order to find success, it was in her best interest to focus her attention in one area exclusively. So, rather than following her passion, she made the business decision to follow opportunity and channeled her attention towards fitness.

Chalene then shares with listeners that while her fitness empire brought her incredible success, it began negatively impacting both her health and marriage because of a lack of a work-life balance. Therefore, in order to salvage these things, Chalene and her husband ended up selling their business and began devising a number of boundaries and guidelines for themselves and their work. While Chalene explains it was difficult to learn to stick to these boundaries and how to find self-value outside of work, these are what ultimately helped her and her husband to establish a healthy work-life balance.

Chalene explains that while she is largely known for fitness, her skill set lies first and foremost in business and marketing. She shares with listeners advice on leadership, finding and maintaining strong energy throughout the workday, company culture, and the importance of helping those you’re working with feel important.

Finally, Chalene brings our discussion to a close by talking about her latest weight-loss program, Phase It Up, an online program that gives participants the structure to figure out how they’re supposed to be eating in their unique life moment and how their eating habits will need to change according to their different life phases. The program is designed to help people understand their diet and how to adjust it when needed.

In addition to discussing Phase It Up, Chalene also provides a number of insights into metabolism, why diets stop working, motivational triggers, and mindset. To learn more about these fitness and nutritional tips or about Chalene’s business and marketing advice, be sure to listen in to today’s episode!

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Podcast:

On today’s episode, you’ll learn more about the life and work of Chalene Johnson who shares with listeners insights into business and marketing as well advice regarding fitness and nutrition.

Helpful Links:

To learn more about Chalene, her work, Phase It Up, or to listen to her podcast, check out her website at: https://www.chalenejohnson.com/

Follow Chalene on social media @ChaleneJohnson

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Today I’m joined by Jamie Leigh Kreshock who serves as a partner at Cooley law firm, co-chair of the firm's worldwide M&A group, and is a co-creator of The Shift, a mindfulness app dedicated to meditation, alignment, and connection. Together, Jamie and I discuss her career path to becoming a business lawyer, the variety of tasks her job entails, and what life skills she has found to be most valuable to her success.

Jamie begins our podcast today by informing listeners that her current career didn’t arise from some masterplan she always had. Instead, Jamie credits where she is today as being a result of her simply always looking to make the “next best choice” in her life. She explains that by giving herself permission to not worry about letting herself down, she was better able to stay in the moment and open herself to each new project and mentor that came her way.

As a business lawyer, Jamie works primarily with tech and life science companies that have given her a lot of experience with business management and counseling. In these positions, she fills a number of different roles, such as acting as a coach, investigator, and negotiator. Some of the companies she has worked with in the past include Uber, Tableau, Workday, Dropbox, Levi Strauss & Co., Procore, and more. However, she says that one of the most exciting deals she has ever been a part of was the selling of Lucasfilm to Disney.

When discussing the type of work she performs on a daily basis, Jamie tells listeners that when working with businesses, she often tries to act as more of a connector than a leader because companies tend to respond better when they feel like they are a part of the work. She credits this practice to her lifelong belief in teamwork, which she learned from her athletic experience as a rower in high school and college. Jamie explains that her core belief in teamwork is what has led to much of her M&A group’s success because when the group is sharing the same goals and mentality, the work gets completed more efficiently and effectively.

Jamie and I then end today’s episode by talking about what a typical day looks like for her. While she explains that there is no “typical day,” she does always make a point to integrate health and wellness into her daily routine, which she says helps her to become the best version of herself. This then leads us to discussing her app, The Shift, which her and her co-creator designed to help listeners begin practicing small habits to improve their mindfulness in a variety of life categories such as love, contentment, sleep, etc. To learn more about Jamie’s app as well as about the daily practices she finds most beneficial to her own work, be sure to listen in to today’s episode!

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Podcast:

On today’s episode, you’ll learn more about the life and work of Jamie Leigh Kreshock, a partner at Cooley law firm, co-chair of the firm's worldwide M&A group, and co-creator of The Shift, a mindfulness app dedicated to meditation, alignment, and connection.

Helpful Links:

Download and learn more about Jamie’s app, The Shift, here: https://www.the-shiftapp.com/

You can read more about Jamie and her law experience here: https://www.cooley.com/people/jamie-leigh

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Today’s expert mentoring session is led by chef, mother, and entrepreneur, Maire Byrne, a woman with a passion for good food and good business. After completing her culinary program, Maire had the experience to open and work at new and upcoming restaurants in the San Francisco area where she also later became a founder, owner, and operator of multiple gourmet restaurants and catering locations in California.

Maire admits that she always loved to cook, but she didn’t begin her culinary career until after graduating college and moved to Pasadena, California to work as a caterer. However, she moved to the state of Colorado about a year later where she was influenced to apply to a two-year culinary school program in upstate New York.

After completing her culinary training, Maire experienced a dream come true when she helped open a new restaurant in San Francisco—something she recommends that everyone in the industry should try to experience for invaluable life and career lessons.

Although Maire enjoyed having the opportunity to open a few new restaurants within the San Francisco area, she also couldn’t pass up the chance to transition to a different role as a private chef for a family within the area. This is where she feels that she found her own personal style as a chef and had the room and resources to explore new foods and ideas in the kitchen.

Now, Marie owns and operates a cafe, a restaurant, a gourmet food-ordering service, and a full-service catering location, too. From dressing rooms, to cubicles, to the most beautiful homes in LA, Maire and her team can cook in—and for—them all. All of Maire’s locations uniquely prepare and deliver food to the customers, and each location will feature different seasonal dishes and specialties throughout the year as well.

Things You Will Learn

You will learn about Maire Byrne’s culinary journey and transformation as well as how she juggles her roles of business woman, mother, and culinary expert.

External Links

Check out Thyme Cafe and Market’s website: https://thymecafeandmarket.com/

Or Local Kitchen and Wine Bar: http://localkitchenandwinebar.com/

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Today’s expert mentoring session is led by Tyler Nimmons, a CEO and creative director of a full-service and creative production agency, Front Runner Films. This mentoring session will focus on the simple steps anyone can take to create a fantastic video with a professional look that will tell your story and share your brand. Together, Heather and Tyler will discuss and share tips for curious listeners about how to blow up your brand.

As the CEO of Front Runner Films, Tyler is a jack-of-all-trades. He is passionate about tackling any and all jobs from all angles of the camera, and approaches each project with what he calls an artistic marriage between corporate and creativity. Tyler and his crew at Front Runner Films are masters of emotions while they work with clients to unlock their ultimate creative potential when creating unique and individual corporate and commercial films.

Even during the pandemic, Tyler and his team were able to deliver beautiful pieces to clients to share their stories, build their brand, and even share a little kindness to his clients on set, too. Front Runner Films’ crew takes great care to promote a comfortable, fun, and inspiring experience to all of their clients, and their care also extends to and is evident in the editing and post-production processes to perfectly reflect their clients’ brands as well.

Tyler also offers the listeners a few tips for curious and budding filmmakers or those who want to try their creative hand in the business of filmmaking. Whether you want to pursue filmmaking as a hobby or with an intent to launch a career, Tyler offers some of his experience and personal passions and shares some words of advice for all listeners of the podcast.

Things You Will Learn

You will learn about Front Runner Films, its crew and culture, and how Tyler’s own personal creative processes fit into Front Runner Film’s overall mission and approach to creative design.

External Links

Everything Front Runner Films is launching a new site: https://frontrunnerfilmsllc.com/

Or contact a team member: info@frontrunnerfilmsllc.com

Social Media

Check out @frontrunnerfilmsllc on Instagram

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Welcome back to the Mentors and Moguls podcast with your host, Heather Stone. In a male-dominated automotive industry, some women are breaking the trend. Today, we’re talking about innovation, and our guests today are leading the way. Joining us is Paulette Avolio, who works in the autonomous vehicle division with Ford, and Stephanie Price, an application engineer with Promess Inc.

Although women make up almost half of the US labor force, they represent less than a quarter of the automotive workforce. Women held 23.6% of jobs in the industry in 2019, and in the same year, women of color made up an even smaller fraction of that. Women also only represented 17.9% of auto dealers and 9.9% of automotive repair positions in the US.

Paulette is innovating in ways that seem incredibly futuristic. By the time she’s retired, she says we will see autonomous vehicles. She’s working with a team that is focused on safety when it comes to innovated vehicles. She’s tackling how autonomous vehicles behave on steel bridges to ensure the safest, best product gets to the customer.

There is certainly room for women in the innovative space, Stephanie and Paulette agree. Stephanie points out how exceptionally good women are at taking in an incredible amount of information, analyzing it efficiently, and producing a result or answer. Both of these women started out breaking things, which is how they came to this experimental world they’re in today. There’s a hunger in the industry to include more perspective and experiences so that they can solve tomorrow’s problems with a wider view.

There are programs for women who are looking to get into the industry, and both Stephanie and Paulette are optimistic that more and more women will become innovators alongside them.

What you’ll learn

In today’s episode, two women leading the way in the automotive industry sit down o talk about innovation, women in a male-dominated industry, and how important it is to include diverse perspectives in the workplace.

LINKS

https://fordlabs.com/

https://corporate.ford.com/company/autonomous-vehicles.html

https://corporate.ford.com/careers/diversity.html

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Today I’m joined by the incredible Nancy Davis, who is the chairwoman of Race to Erase MS, founder of Cure Addiction Now, and designer of Peace and Love Jewelry. Nancy shares with us how her own multiple sclerosis diagnosis drove her to create a program that has single-handedly brought hope to those diagnosed with MS by funding research that has led to the development of new drugs for those with the disease. Together, we talk about Nancy’s inspirational work and the motivation behind each of her projects.

Nancy begins today’s episode by sharing with listeners her own experience of becoming diagnosed with MS and how in her search to receive multiple opinions about her diagnosis, she realized many of the best doctors in the country were all doing identical research but weren’t communicating with one another. Seeing the potential in what could happen if they did share their research with one another, Nancy founded the Center without Walls program, which has allowed medical professionals in the field to form a network and share their expertise. This program has revolutionized MS research and led to the development of fifteen drugs that are now on the market that can improve the quality of life for those with MS.

The Center without Walls program and Race to Erase MS organization are so important because they offer hope to those who otherwise may be facing a bleak future. Nancy explains that MS affects women three times as often as it does men and that it is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20-40, when most people are just starting to hit their stride in life. Not only does it affect a person’s health, but it can impact their career and their family, making the development of research that can improve someone’s quality of life incredibly life-changing.

In addition to talking about her work with Center without Walls and Race to Erase MS, Nancy also shares with us her latest project: Cure Addiction Now, a charity dedicated to funding research to find therapies for substance use disorder and help people not only detox but stay in permanent recovery from addiction. Nancy explains how this project was inspired by her frustration at seeing how wrongly those dealing with a drug addiction are often treated and at the lack of effective, affordable treatments available in the United States for those suffering from substance use disorder. Through Cure Addiction Now, Nancy not only aspires to create an affordable, easily available kit that can help people get sober on their own, but she also wants to change the narrative surrounding addiction that often shames those who are suffering from this horrible disease.

Nancy and I finish our discussion by talking about some of Nancy’s other projects including her Peace and Love Jewelry line and her book Lean on Me: Ten Powerful Steps to Moving Beyond Your Diagnosis and Taking Back Your Life. Despite her diagnosis, Nancy continues to live a full and very active life, something she says she achieves by keeping a positive attitude and being thankful everyday for her health, family, and friends and not taking what she has in her life for granted.

If you’re looking to hear more about Nancy’s inspirational story and work, be sure to listen in!

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Podcast:

On today’s episode, you’ll learn more about the work of Nancy Davis, her organizations Race to Erase MS and Cure Addiction Now, and how they’re helping to create ground-breaking medical research in efforts to help save and improve the lives of those suffering from either multiple sclerosis or addiction.

Helpful Links:

To learn more about Race to Erase MS, check out the organization’s website at: https://www.erasems.org/

Learn more about Nancy’s charity, Cure Addiction Now, at: http://cureaddictionnow.org/

Interested in checking out Nancy’s book, Lean on Me? Find it here at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GCFXR2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Want to purchase Peace and Love Jewelry by Nancy Davis? Find it here at: https://www.peaceandlovejewelry.com/

Lean on Me: Ten Powerful Steps to Moving Beyond Your Diagnosis and Taking Back Your Life

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On today’s episode, we dive into taking a deeper look at the Digital Divas program, a STEM initiative founded at Eastern Michigan University that’s dedicated to introducing young girls to the STEM field. I’m joined by Skip Lawver, Paulette Avolio, Bia Hamed, Stephanie Price, and Katelyn Coberley, five of the program’s volunteers who sit down with me today to talk about the importance of the program’s work, why the STEM field needs women and greater diversity, and the benefits of a career in STEM.

My guests today begin by talking about the goals of the Digital Divas program. Not only is it designed to offer girls the kinds of hands-on experiences they don’t normally get in a classroom, but the workshops of the program are led by women with degrees in the STEM field who can then act as role models to the girls they are teaching. The group explains how diversity is key to their program and that because of this, they strive to bring in women of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities so that the students can see women who may resemble themselves.

The program is also dedicated to breaking the common stereotypes associated with the STEM field so as to help girls keep an open mind about the career opportunities they may pursue in the future. They explain that oftentimes girls have skills they don’t even realize that in the future could make them an excellent project manager, developer, computer programer, etc., and Digital Divas helps its students explore these possibilities and develop the self esteem and confidence to pursue them.

Not only do those involved with Digital Divas see the program benefiting its students, but they also see it as critical to the future of the STEM field as a whole. They discuss that currently only about 20% of the degrees in the STEM field are earned by women but that the perspectives of women are critical when it comes to designing and creating everyday products. Because of this, the field needs to be filled by people from a diversity of backgrounds so that together they can approach problems from various perspectives and come up with the best and most innovative solutions.

For those who may be interested in pursuing a STEM career of their own, the Digital Divas team talks about the variety and abundance of opportunities the field offers, how many STEM companies are extremely supportive of their employees and their passions, and how you can often start working in a STEM career even while still completing your degree. While critical thinking and problem-solving are two of the key skills taught in the STEM field, the team explains that to begin in the field, it is most important to just be curious and persistent.

To learn more about the Digital Divas program and its workshops or the promising opportunities available to those pursuing a career in STEM, be sure to listen in!

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode:

On today’s episode, you’ll learn more about the Digital Divas program, a STEM initiative founded at Eastern Michigan University that’s dedicated to introducing young girls to the STEM field and helping them to develop a passion for the work.

Helpful Links:

To learn more about the Digital Divas program, be sure to check out its website at: https://www.emich.edu/digitaldivas/index.php

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Do you have a fantastic product, but you’re looking for the right branding company to get your product out there? Or do you have a passion for marketing and elevating the voices of others? If so, join me for today’s episode, where I talk with Liz Dennery, a brand consultant, creative director, and founder of SheBrand. Bringing her 20+ years of experience in branding, marketing, and public relations to the table, Liz shares with listeners tips on branding, how to launch a re-brand, and how to give your brand a compelling voice.

Liz begins our conversation by talking about how she discovered her passion for her work. She explains that through the philanthropic and volunteer work she was involved in, she realized she was most motivated and fulfilled by helping to give women and girls a voice and teaching them how to use it more powerfully. With this revelation in mind, she created SheBrand, a creative brand consultancy dedicated to elevating the voices of women.

For listeners who may be interested in marketing or branding work, Liz offers advice on the best ways to first enter into the fields, specifically addressing the importance of internships and how they can offer valuable, practical experience. She also recommends reaching out to those in the business you’re interested in working with and to not be afraid of asking for a meeting or conversation. She explains that getting a job in the marketing field often requires more than just sending in one’s résumé, emphasizing that persistence and enthusiasm can often go a long way.

Liz and I then move into talking more about the work she’s involved in and what she’s learned from her work in branding. She discusses the importance of taking the time to start with a brand’s foundational work first, asking her clients to consider who am I, what do I stand for, what is most important to me, why am I doing this work, and why should people care about it? By taking the time to answer these questions, an individual or company is then better able to create an effective message when communicating with an audience.

Finally, Liz and I discuss the differences between individual or personal brands and those of bigger companies or corporations, her advice for digital influencers, and her thoughts on re-branding. Above all, Liz stresses the importance of connecting to one’s audience, whether that means allowing for one’s brand to evolve or openly communicating in the event of a crisis. To learn more about these strategies and Liz’s expertise, be sure to tune in!

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode:

In today’s episode, Liz Dennery offers listeners advice on branding, re-branding, and best communicating with one’s targeted audience. She also offers tips to those looking to enter the marketing field, suggesting strategies for how they can best get their foot in the door.

Helpful Links:

To learn more about Liz and SheBrand or to get a copy of her book, check out her website at: https://shebrand.com/

You can also follow Liz on Twitter or Instagram: @SheBrandLiz

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Are you passionate about filmmaking, or have you ever dreamed about becoming a part of the film industry? If so, then join me on today’s episode of Mentors and Moguls featuring my guest Janet Grillo. Janet Grillo is a critically acclaimed filmmaker, Emmy Award winning producer, and former studio executive. She’s most known for her work directing the award winning film Jack of the Red Hearts; writing, directing, and producing the critically acclaimed film Fly Away; and for working as an executive producer for the Emmy Award winning HBO documentary, Autism: The Musical. She currently works as a full time Arts Professor at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Kanbar Institute of Film and Television. Be sure to listen in as together Janet and I discuss her career in the film industry, how the industry has evolved over time, and what the future looks like for women aspiring to go into filmmaking.

Janet begins our conversation today by explaining how she began her path into the film industry, discussing her beginnings at New Line Cinema when it was first starting out and how she was then able to grow along with the company. She explains to listeners that in the film industry, technology, form, and content are all closely linked together so that with the advent of video, an entirely new market opened up, creating a new revenue stream that then allowed for more movies, such as independent films, to be made.

In addition to talking about how technology has evolved over the last several decades, Janet also discusses how the environment for women within the film industry has changed over time. She explains that while she has always dedicated herself to promoting female-driven films and stories, for many years, their work just wasn’t being received because it was assumed there was no audience for such projects. Because of the Me Too movement and other cultural shifts, however, she finally sees this changing and is optimistic that the momentum will continue forward in the industry for women.

Janet ends our talk today by explaining the need for all of us to continue cultivating a cultural context that supports the dreams of girls aspiring to pursue film so as to offer them the support required for them to be successful. She also offers advice to any listeners who may want to enter the filmmaking industry and some tips on the best ways to begin this journey.

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode:

On today’s episode, you’ll learn about Janet Grillo’s career as a filmmaker and her insight into the film industry. She shares with us how filmmaking has changed over the last several decades and how this evolution has impacted both the stories being told today as well as who is telling them.

Links:

You can learn more about Janet Grillo and her work and filmography at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0342037/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm

and

https://tisch.nyu.edu/about/directory/film-tvs/1711293371

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Today I’m joined by Bia Hamed, the Program Director of Digital Divas at Eastern Michigan University, and Alan Gomez, the Executive Director of the Mr. October Foundation. Together, we talk about the recent collaboration between their two programs, their dedication to introducing young girls to the world of STEM, and how such an initiative can have a wide-reaching community impact.

Bia and Alan discuss why STEM afterschool and summer camp programs are so effective when it comes to young children and how they encourage children to embrace their inquisitive nature and take a hands-on approach to learning. They also talk about their commitment to introducing more young girls to the field, explaining how currently women make up a huge portion of the workforce and community yet continue to go unrepresented. To correct this problem, their programs are hoping to show girls the opportunities that are out there and introduce them to some basic tools that are key to succeeding in the STEM field.

Both Bia and Alan are excited for their collaboration, explaining that it’s a program built for scale and growth. They encourage those in other communities who might be interested in recreating this program to take that initiative and reach out to them for advice on how to begin.

Be sure to listen in to learn more about the types of projects the Digital Divas and Mr. October Foundation are exploring with their participants and how they are inspiring those children who will one day be our future innovators.

What’ You’ll Learn in This Episode:

On today’s episode, Bia Hamed from the Digital Divas series and Alan Gomez from the Mr. October Foundation sit down with me to talk about their recent collaboration and dedication to introducing young girls to the STEM world, an initiative they believe will create a significant community impact.

Links:

https://www.emich.edu/digitaldivas/

https://mroctober.org/

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On today’s episode, I dive into the game industry with Bonnie Burton to talk about girls, gaming, and what the future holds in the sport for her and other women. At just 12 years old, Bonnie became Major League Gaming's first professional female gamer and has been featured on Forbes’ 2020 “30 Under 30” list. She is currently pursuing a career in game development and is a producer at Bungie working on the Destiny franchise. Today she shares with listeners her own experiences with gaming, how it’s become an increasingly positive outlet, and career advice on how to get started in the gaming development field.

We begin today’s episode talking about Bonnie’s start in the gaming world and how her path to becoming a professional gamer began with entering local tournaments with her brothers. While gaming is often stereotyped as a predominately male sport, Bonnie explains that from the beginning, the gaming world was always welcoming and became a place where she could connect with others who shared her same passions.

While Bonnie acknowledges the concerns people sometimes have regarding gaming’s connection to dangerous behaviors, she explains that the sport is about understanding the contexts of a situation and finding balance. Ultimately, gaming is about play, which allows it to serve as a tool for learning, growth, creativity, and development by challenging players and teaching them problem solving.

In addition to the life skills gaming can help to cultivate, Bonnie also describes it as a great social outlet where even those who are introverted or have social anxiety can develop social skills. We even discuss how gaming’s aptitude for providing community has allowed it to serve as a major way for people to continue connecting with each other even during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bonnie then switches from her role as a gamer to her role as a game developer, sharing the exciting ways the game industry is continuing to evolve. Specifically, she talks about how she predicts more women will continue entering the field and how that will impact both the games that get produced and the field as a whole.

For those contemplating a career in the gaming industry, Bonnie recommends having a STEM background, as game development largely requires logical thinking skills. She shares though that almost everyone in the gaming industry has a different background and that there are many paths into the field. She does advise, however, that it is most important to find a way to make yourself stand out, get experience, and network.

To learn more about Bonnie’s career advice, her experience as a gamer, and her work at Bungie, be sure to listen in!

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode:

In today’s episode, Bonnie Burton shares her experiences both as a gamer and game developer, offering insight into how gaming has become an increasingly positive outlet for both men and women, what skills are most needed to succeed in gaming, and career advice on how to get started in the gaming development field.

Links:

You can find Bonnie on Twitter and Instagram @bonniexburton

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/burtonbonnie/

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This episode, we’re talking with Loretta McCarthy, managing partner of Golden Seeds. Golden Seeds is an angel investment firm that focuses on building up women entrepreneurs and bridging the gender gap in capital investment. Loretta tells us more about her company and how it got started, and how raising capital and starting out as a female entrepreneur has changed in the last couple decades. For example, in 2003, only 29% of companies in the US were owned by women. In 2017 that number is now 40%, which represents a big change in a short amount of time. More and more women are taking the plunge and using their education, grit, and entrepreneurial spirit to solve problems and build industry.

We also discuss what it takes to be a professional woman in the world today. Having grown up in all-girls’ schools, Loretta experienced the contrast between being a valued contributor with an equal voice, to seeing how she could be undervalued and overridden in a coed environment, simply because she was a woman. Loretta shares some tips for how to get ahead in business as a woman, not only working longer and harder, but also smarter. Loretta advises women who are striving to succeed in business to learn as much as they can early on, and to lean on the support of key people around them.

In addition, Loretta shares how being a woman can be an advantage in business. In her investment firm, she and other angel investors frequently rely on intuition and emotional intelligence to gauge an applicant’s chances at future success. Not only is it important for these applicants to understand their business’s numbers backwards and forwards (even if that means bringing in outside help) but they also need to know how to influence the vision of those around them, practicing leadership and nurturing skills in numerous outlets before they start their business.

Things You Will Learn

You’ll be amazed when you hear about the discrepancy between funding that female vs. male entrepreneurs receive for their startups, as well as how it’s changing for the better. Loretta also shares some specific insider tips about how to make your voice heard as a woman, including getting advanced social support for your ideas, and learning to be the person that key decision makers want in the room during important discussions.

Referenced Links

Go to https://goldenseeds.com/ for advice, funding, or to become one of Golden Seeds’ angel investors. You can also reach out by emailing info@goldenseeds.com or follow their blog: https://blog.goldenseeds.com/.

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Are you ready to climb that next rung on the corporate ladder but are hesitant when it comes to asking for a promotion? If so, tune in to today’s episode where I speak with Lisa Petersmark, an experienced executive who shares her secret formula when it comes to getting and giving promotions as well as offers her personal advice on how to get ahead and be a leader in a business career.

Lisa comes from a competitive sports background and explains how that has contributed to her competitive edge when it comes to business. A challenge for her isn’t a roadblock but rather an opportunity to overcome it and make something new happen. She explains that this mindset is what creates strong leaders and that if you believe in something passionately enough, you don’t need to have a title to take the reins and demonstrate how you think it’s best to proceed.

Lisa also encourages listeners to create for themselves the environment that they need to thrive. She recommends surrounding yourself with people who will challenge you, support your goals, and ultimately make you better. Furthermore, she explains the benefits to allowing yourself to be uncomfortable and how this creates growth. She also addresses why it’s important and even advantageous to be willing to ask for help when it’s needed.

Lisa and I then discuss the hesitation many people – especially women – experience when it comes to asking for a promotion or raise. Lisa assures listeners though that if you can make an argument for why you think you deserve a promotion, then you should definitely step up and ask for what you believe you deserve. She explains that staying silent will not allow you to move forward in your career and that asking for a promotion makes clear to your boss what your goals for your future are and, at the very least, allows you to begin the conversation as to how to start achieving them.

For more on Lisa’s career experiences, hiring and promotion secrets, and advice on becoming a stronger employee, be sure to listen in to today’s episode!

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode:

On today’s episode, Lisa Petersmark offers advice on how to put yourself ahead in a business career, the benefits to a competitive attitude, and the secrets behind getting and giving promotions.

Follow Lisa on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpetersmark?lang=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisapetersmark/

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Today’s expert mentoring session is led by Nicole Austin, a general manager, distiller, and craft spirits expert at Cascade Hollow Distilling Company. Although she was originally an environmental engineer from New York, traveled as far as Ireland and back, Nicole is now located in Tennessee and dedicates her life to crafting whisky.

Nicole admits that the appeal of whisky first came from its “rockstar image,” however, once she became hooked on the science behind making the whisky, as well. Specifically, the distillation process. Her curiosity and passion for whiskey distillation lead her to the interesting history of George Dickel and his connection to the heritage of the beginning of the American distilling during the mid-1800s.

Recently, Nicole and the Cascade Hollow Distilling Company were awarded Whiskey of the Year and Distiller of the Year. She even created her own bottle for the company, too. Nicole is the creator of the original George Dickle Bottled in Bond whiskey bottle that helps keep Cascade Hollow Distilling Co.’s commitment to quality, honestly-produced whisky. She created this with the purpose to show people that George Dickel deserves to also be recognized as a respected figure among other great bourbon distillers.

At the time Nicole was trying to enter the field of craft spirits, there was not a lot of advice or literature about how to get into the industry, however, she pushed through and networked until she eventually became a founding president of the New York State Distillers’ Guild in addition to also serving as a founding board of directors of the American Craft Spirits Association.

As a woman within the industry, it is also important to Nicole for other women to see that women know that it’s possible and that women are aware that this type of job exists and that it is completely possible that you can do it, too. Nicole gives some advice to listeners who are seeking employment, or who may be a woman or a minority who feels like they do not have a place within this field and industry, or who are looking to gain more access to it.

Things You Will Learn

You will learn about innovation in blending, chemistry, and whisky at Cascade Hollow Distilling Company with craft spirits expert, Nicole Austin. You will also learn about the whisky industry as well as some of its historical background, too.

External Links

Check out the distillery’s website: https://www.georgedickel.com/tennessee-whiskies/bottled-in-bond

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Have you ever dreamed of being a nightly news anchor and wondered how to put yourself on that path? If so, then join me on this episode of Mentors and Moguls featuring my guest Shelby Bracho, a weeknight news anchor who shares with us her tips and pathway towards success on the network news scene. Listen in as she pulls back the curtain on a day in the life of a reporter, the best ways to get a foot in the newsroom door, and the most rewarding aspects of her job experience.

As someone who was at first resistant to a career path in news media, Shelby explains how her entrance into the field began with a random media class she enrolled in that made her slowly fall in love with the work. From this class, she received her first internship in the news and met her mentor Tanya Hart. Because of this beginning, Shelby recommends that everyone take advantage of all opportunities put in front of them because you never know where they will lead you.

Shelby discusses the challenges of working in the news industry such as its non-stop nature, competitiveness, and how critical people can be of news anchors, noting that women especially are put under a magnifying glass when it comes to their appearance. However, she explains that the best way to overcome these trials is by remaining calm and blocking out the noise so you can stay focused on the core of the job: telling people’s stories, which she has found to be the most rewarding aspect of her work.

Shelby shares that from her experience in the field, she has found that people are ultimately more similar than they are different. She believes reporting and interviewing help to connect a community and is work that not only shares information but can also offer emotional comfort and foster stronger human connections.

For those who may also be interested in a career in the news field, Shelby discusses what a day in the life of a reporter is like, noting that there is no typical day. Instead, you always have to be ready to roll with the punches and adapt. She also offers career advice, emphasizing that the most important step to landing a job is putting together a strong newsreel to represent you and your work. She then recommends sharing this on social media, especially LinkedIn, where you can follow all of the major media companies and begin making connections with news directors. She additionally suggests subscribing to tvjobs.com, which is a website where all news jobs are posted.

If you’re interested in a career as a news anchor or reporter, tune in to today’s episode of Mentors and Moguls to hear more about Shelby’s personal journey and the day-to-day as well as long-term advice she offers for those looking to enter the field and step in front of the camera themselves.

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode:

On today’s episode, you’ll learn about the life and career path of weeknight news anchor Shelby Bracho. She shares with us what to expect from a career in front of the camera, the best ways to enter into the news field, the most rewarding parts of reporting, and more.

Links:

Follow Shelby on social media @shelbyonthemic

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shelbyonthemic?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shelbyonthemic/

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On this expert mentoring session, Catherine Testorf shares her story about how she combined her professional background with her personal passions to form her current career as an art dealer and mentor for women artists. Catherine is the founder and director of InSight Artspace, an interactive art business, as well as a co-funder of Sohotel Artspace Gallery located in New York. She sees art not only as an investment but also as sees it as a bridge of cultures around the world. Today, she is helping emerging female artists spread their message through the medium of art.

What is unique or different about her style of showcasing artists within a gallery setting? Insight Artspace is, as Catherine says, ‘’out of the white box,” as it gives access to art for everyone. Within her gallery space, she wants to give people a spatial experience that is completely unique and display art in a non-traditional fashion where she brings the art to the people. Catherine wanted to shake up the concept of the arts and says it is easier for people to have a more intimate connection with the art in this style of format where the audience can connect deeper with the artists and their work.

Catherine explains that supporting women artists was a natural move or transition for her into her current career. She likes having connections with the artists and she finds it also very important to her to support fellow women artists as they experience various imbalances within the field of art and gallery culture. Even though more than 60% of artist students are currently women, only around 30% of these artists are displayed within a usual established gallery or museum.

During Catherine’s transition from Switzerland to New York was initially hard, but she took art classes where she was inspired to combine her professional career in finance with her passions for art and fashion. Even when times were tough, Catherine pushed through because she was confident that she had might the right choice for her life.

Catherine also shares some advice to listeners who may want to become involved in art dealing or learn more about the business side of art. She admits that the first artist she collected was actually a woman, and she still continues to collect art from many different female artists when she connects to the art right away. She said she does not know why she connects so much with women artists, but she does know that she connects very deeply with this type of art. It is also very rewarding for Catherine to see artists grow and gain interest from investors through exposure.

Above all, Catherine wants listeners to know that people are capable of anything if they continue to work hard and never give up. Even if you need a little push to get started, she believes that the payoff is worth the initial anxieties or mixed feelings that inevitably come with change or making a hard decision.

Things You Will Learn

In this session, you will learn:

Who Catherine Testorf is, what she does, and why she is passionate about art
Advice for becoming an art dealer or for those interested in art
Why Catherine transitioned her career to become an art dealer and mentor who supports fellow women artists

External Links

Social Media

Follow Catherine on Instagram: @insightartspace

Art available online through Artsy: https://www.artsy.net/insight-gallery/artists

Also through Kooness: https://www.kooness.com/galleries/insight-artspace

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Our guest today is Isaac Morehouse, founder of Praxis, a startup apprenticeship program, and the CEO of Crash, the career launch platform. He talks to us today about the current education shift in our country, the declining value of a college degree, and what employers are really looking for in the people they hire. Join him and Heather as they confront the societal pressure to attend college, encouraging listeners to think deeper about the decision and the career path that is most efficient and inspiring for them.

Heather and Isaac begin the show today discussing Isaac’s passion for freedom and how he views it as the ability for someone to choose their own challenge. He explains that everyone struggles with hardships in life, but choosing which hardships we spend our time and energy engaging with for a deliberate purpose is a form of freedom. Once people can begin shifting from the mindset of what they “have to do” to the mindset of what they “choose to do,” they gain more freedom and autonomy over their own lives.

Isaac shares with listeners his personal journey towards becoming an entrepreneur and the unconventional path he took by following the mantra: “Don’t do stuff you hate.” He tried a multitude of different jobs, moving on whenever he began to realize he was hating what he was doing. This path kept leading him towards more autonomy to pursue his own vision until he eventually was inspired to create Praxis.

The idea for Praxis emerged from Isaac’s own frustration with his college experience and the inefficiency of the time, cost, and classes. He talks about how he found the courage to pursue the project because he was willing to fail just to see the results he discovered. Ultimately, Isaac’s work has led him to realize that people today need to switch their mindset when it comes to preparing for a career. The traditional path of going to college, getting a degree, putting that degree on a resume, and then being rewarded with a job is no longer a reliable model. Instead, Isaac explains that you need two things when entering the workforce: the ability to create value and prove it. By realizing this, those searching for a job can begin getting creative in the way they pitch themselves to employers.

Isaac discusses how the college degree has declined in value over the years, but he does recognize the social value it can have especially for parents and how many students end up attending college just to prevent disappointing them. From here, Heather and Isaac turn to how the current Covid-19 pandemic has allowed those who might have been freshmen to take a gap year without that traditional stigma and use it to stop and question the value of college and investigate other alternatives.

Isaac ends his conversation with Heather by sharing tips for how to become a better employee and set yourself on a path to get ahead. Tune in to hear more about his strategies for getting noticed by employers and how to always stay employable.

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode:

On today’s episode, you’ll learn about some of the benefits to choosing an alternative career path that doesn’t involve a college degree but can still land you the job you want. Isaac Morehouse shares with listeners what he’s learned through his work with Praxis and Crash and how to communicate to employers your value as a potential employee through initiative and creativity.

Links:

https://isaacmorehouse.com/

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Our guest on the show today left a budding acting and modeling career in Hollywood, and has chosen a more simple life; living and working as a ranger and rhino activist in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Now, Lee-Anne Yammin is an author, actress, and activist, and operates "Our HORNS are not medicine!" to draw public awareness, care for Rhinos and confront poaching activity. Lee-Anne is one of only a few women Park Rangers, pioneering a male-dominated industry and blazing a new trail for women all around the world.

Lee-Anne shares her background, starting when she decided to leave her career in modeling and acting to travel the world, and eventually landing in South Africa, about 200km north of her family home. She left a glamorous life for the mud, sweat, and tears. When Lee-Anne started working as a Ranger, she had never known any other woman doing the job. For the first five or so years, she was the only woman Ranger at her workplace.

The area Lee-Anne works in has a deeply-rooted culture with assumptions and stereotypes that come with gender roles. She recalls being told she belongs doing laundry, not training to become a Ranger, an example of interactions she has had to continually deal with since she began. Lee-Anne responds with laughter and explains that those sorts of comments show more about the person saying them than those they are speaking about.

Lee-Anne believes we are all one with nature, we just need to trust that. In her work, so describes a beautiful thing that happens when she goes on Safari. They come into a lion pride’s area in a noisy truck, only to be met with indifference--and that’s a good thing. Observing and basking in an animal’s natural state is the best thing anyone could ask for, as far as Safari goes. There is nothing stopping them from jumping in the jeep except trust.

These safaris are often a transformative, life-altering experience. Lee-Anne shares a story of a woman on her honeymoon, but her husband passed between their wedding and the trip. They made a list of things they’d love to see while they were in Africa, and every couple, all strangers, joined in to help her get through the list. Often, these people build a therapeutic comradery that is shaped by vulnerability--they’ll go home and remain lifelong friends.

Lee-Anne discusses some lessons she has learned from the natural world and the animals that live in it. For her, resilience is an incredibly underused trait that we all have inside us. She wishes we allowed our kids to get dirty and worry less about the little things. It’s about the times when they’re outside is when really formative moments happen. Tenacity is learned in those years, and Lee-Anne compares us to the animals she watches: they do what they need to do without manipulation. If they need to hunt, they will hunt. Even with broken limbs, animals will continue to keep moving. It’s worth considering moments where we have the opportunity to push through.

Lee-Anne talks about her books and what inspired her to be an author. In 2018, Lee-Anne was married to her husband and they decided they would do a round-the-world trip together. The thing was, they’d have to leave their current jobs. Truthfully, they were ready for a break, so even without the money, they did it anyway. At the same time, Lee-Anne knew she always wanted to write a children’s book. Not only did she write one book, but she published two at the same time. There were no guaranteed sales, but she knew she was passionate about educating children about the wildlife she’s worked with.

Lee-Anne’s mentor is one you may not expect--it’s not a family member, it’s not a friend, in fact, it’s not even a person. While she had people she looked up to showing her the ropes with her NGO, her true mentor is a Lioness she’s followed for almost 10 years. She’s done more for Lee-Anne, she says, than any person she’s met. She has taught Lee-Anne the value of tenderness from the way she cares for her cubs; she’s taught her patience in the way they forgive cubs for blowing a hunt, hours long; and so much more.

Of course, this hasn’t all come without any challenges. From the start, Lee-Anne was independent by necessity. She was orphan as a child but was thankfully given another chance, and she has since dedicated herself to not wasting a second of her life. Her resolve is always found in nature--the rawness of it is healing.

Tune in to hear even more about Lee-Anne’s incredible journey and the lessons she’s learned from her time in the bush.

What You’ll Learn

On today’s episode, you’ll learn the importance of trusting in your passions and following them unabashedly. Lee-Anne shares with us what she’s learned from living by this set of values and all the incredible moments she’s experienced during her journey.

LINKS

https://ourhornisnotmedicine.com/

https://www.instagram.com/annie.africa/

https://www.instagram.com/ourhornisnotmedicine/

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Have you ever considered a career in entertainment? Do you daydream about becoming a producer? What makes game shows fun? Now that we’ve been at home for some time in quarantine, daytime TV has become a bigger part of our lives. Our guest today is Michelle Newman, an entertainment and television consultant, and former executive. She’s here today to pull back the curtain on some of our favorites--what goes on behind the scenes? How does network TV actually work? She’ll answer all of these questions and more in today’s episode of Mentors and Moguls.

Having worked on a number of game shows, Michelle offers some insight. For game shows, there are many different aspects to consider: the games themselves (producers are constantly coming up with new games), the prize pool, and arguably most importantly, the contestants, who can be a wildcard. Selecting them a learned skill! In fact, the same man has been selecting contestants for The Price is Right.

Selecting new shows for daytime Network TV is a rare occurrence. But when it does happen, the available timeslot is blasted out to the TV world. From there, production companies will offer pitches via phone and email. Then, they’ll talk you through what the show would look like and executives discuss what would and wouldn’t work. When they’ve come to a conclusion, budgets are discussed, and pilot episodes are filmed, one per show, just like they were in full production. Once the episodes are finished, they host a viewing for the Network, where they’ll provide feedback and eventually select a show. Normally, it takes about a year to develop a show for the air, but Michelle has done it in half that time.

When they’re searching for a game show host, there are a lot of things to keep in mind: keeping the game running, knowing the rules, keeping the contestant involved, and they have to be funny! That’s part of why comedians make some of the best game show hosts. It’s not an easy job. For talk shows, authenticity is number 1. People do not buy phony celebrities anymore--they see right through it.

Being an executive requires certain qualities to thrive in an environment like daytime television. First and foremost, Michelle says, is your attitude. You’re going to be working hard for long hours with a plethora of people. You’ll have bosses, you’ll be the boss, and everyone has to play their part. Nobody wants to be around a Debby-downer or someone who talks negatively about others. Your work ethic is another massive component. Being the person who shows up first and leaves last is essential. Don’t try to toot your own horn, but if you did something good, make sure your boss knows.

Behind the scenes, Michelle talks about some tips she’s learned. If you have a celebrity you love, she says don’t meet them! You may be disappointed in some cases! She shares an experience she had where a friend of her’s idol ended up being short and generally unkind. All that glitters is not necessarily gold!

With the creation of new streaming platforms, the course of production has certainly changed. One thing that has changed, especially for writers, is how freeing it is to not have to follow a network formula. There are fewer restrictions on number of episodes, run time, cliffhangers, etc.

Michelle experienced a serious setback in the form of a serious brain hemorrhage. She had just been hired as an executive and was in a high-stress environment when the vein burst in her head. However, she recovered and realized the importance of not sweating the small stuff. This allowed her to become a better manager, meeting people where they were instead of acting as a larger-than-life figure. The incident knocked her back into reality and got her clear on what is important in her day-to-day.

Tune in to hear more of Michelle’s story from the “other side” of daytime television!

What you’ll learn

On today’s episode, Michelle Newman shares with us stories from the production side of daytime television. She fills us in on what it takes to become an Executive, what goes into building a show, and more.

LINKS

https//www.thenewmid.com

The New Mid podcast

Private Facebook Group: The New Mid

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Today on the show, Heather is sitting down with Natasha Case. She’s the creative mind and entrepreneur behind a multi-million dollar business. Join Heather as she chats with Natasha about how this millennial with a passion for architecture turned foodie shifted from the drafting table to the freezer.

Natasha works today as the CEO of Coolhaus, creating new products, designing merchandise and packaging, running the marketing department, building new relationships, and innovating ideas that keep Coolhaus on top of its game as zealous expansion continues. Natasha has been named Forbes 30 Under 30 for Food and Beverage, and Zagat 30 Under 30 in New York City.

Coolhaus is the largest super-premium, women-founded and lead ice cream brand. They’re known for their novelties like sandwiches and unique pints, such as Street Car Churro, and dairy-free options. They started from ice cream trucks that had to be towed to an appropriate location, and from there they have grown into an incredible company and brand.

Natasha attended UC Berkeley for her undergraduate studies, where she majored in Architecture and double minored in City & Regional Planning and Italian Studies. She furthered those studies at UCLA where she pursued a Masters of Architecture, and after graduating worked as an architectural intern at Walt Disney Imagineering in Hotel and Master Planning. During this time, she started baking cookies and making ice cream, naming the combinations after famous architects and architectural movements. She had also just met her wife Freya, who was helping her make the product behind the scenes along with putting numbers to the concept as a business model.

Natasha admits you have to be a bit mad to get into the industry she is in, but she believes in how different her company is. The way they have built their brand a Coolhaus, their grassroots vibe, and unbelievable passion sets them apart from other ice cream organizations.

Heather and Natasha talk about social media’s influence on the growth of their brand. Much of it is attributed to the timing, according to Natasha. They launched just as Twitter was gaining momentum, in fact, it was the first place they were talked about after an appearance at Coachella. In a way, they grew up alongside social media and developed a branding strategy as the climate matured. The visual brand Coolhaus and Natasha have is intentionally bright and unique--something necessary in this industry.

Looking back, the most difficult challenge Natasha has faced lies in the ‘business’ hurdles that need to be overcome in the food industry. The pace at which you scale and evolve, the financial side of things, and your team’s composition all play a big role. Additionally, there was a lot of age and gender discrimination, but Natasha and her wife, Freya, view it as a net positive.

The two most rewarding things throughout Natasha’s career are deeply rooted. The first is having a product that brings joy to people--something she lives for. The special moments her product creates are the reason she continues to go on. Secondly, Natasha truly loves what she does and enjoys learning as she goes. When you have fun working, you work harder. Fun and hard work are intertwined.

The label “Certified Women-Owned” is a really clear way to communicate your mission to your audience. In a world full of distractions, a meaningful gesture like that can mean a lot.

Natasha and Heather discuss what Coolhaus is doing to help during the COVID-19 pandemic, how important their message is in their branding, and the passions involved with building a successful brand. Listen in to hear more!

What you’ll learn

Natasha and Heather discuss what Coolhaus is doing to help during the COVID-19 pandemic, how important their message is in their branding, and the passions involved with building a successful brand.

LINKS

https://cool.haus/

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If you’ve ever experienced a disruption in your carefully planned roadmap of life, this episode is for you. Today, we’re talking about the art of the pivot -- what to do when life throws you a huge curveball. Our next guest took her life-altering tragedy and turned her sudden floundering into flourishing. When Hilary Billings graduated top of her class at UNLV, the recession derailed her plans and dropped rejection square in her lap. She went on to carve out a new path that lead her to become Miss Nevada and an E! News Host and Producer. Join us as we learn how to turn rejection into rejoicing.

When Hilary graduated, she planned to become a clinical psychologist, but when she was applying for graduate schools, the recession of 2010 left her with 14 rejection letters. In reality, she had no backup plan. So naturally, she took off to Nicaragua and start a travel blog! For Hilary, this rejection allowed her to explore a new path that she would’ve otherwise never encountered.

A massive mindset shift Hilary had when she was faced with rejection was understanding that there are people out there to help you. Recognizing that togetherness can allow us to overcome even the most difficult obstacles. Learning how to rely on the kindness of strangers and understanding that there’s no need for competition -- no one is out to get you -- was Hilary’s method of finding her way after falling off her planned pathway to success. There is a lot of power in knowing what you need, and it’s even more powerful to ask for it. We’re averse by the vulnerability that comes with it, but the accountability that allows us to vocalize externally our internal needs changes the game.

During her travels, Hilary experienced a plethora of incredible, life-changing experiences. From taming a lion to walking on coals with the Firewalkers of Fiji, Hilary was able to get a grasp on what it is she really enjoyed doing and how she could use these experiences to fuel her confidence throughout uncertainty and change.

After her travels, Hilary returned to Las Vegas still internalizing what had happened. A friend of hers invited her to a party on a day where nothing seemed to be going right. At this party, a rogue firework hit Hilary, causing her to suffer 2nd and 3rd-degree burns on her chest. The burns were painful and took a toll on her mental health. 6 months later, she was hired for a modeling gig. After putting on a dress of hers, she saw her scars, and that was the breaking point -- no more feeling sorry, no more living in fear or shame. That same day, she signed up for the Las Vegas beauty pageant. She had a preconceived notion of the kind of woman at these events, but she immediately saw that all these people were experiencing their own troubles and were dealing with their own challenges. This place was a platform to share their stories and advocate for issues that impact them.

Hilary doesn’t subscribe to “fake it till you make it.” Trying to bridge the gap from who you are to where you want to be is a taxing, temporary, and harmful in the long term. When you’re doing this, you’re pretending to be something you don’t naturally identify with. It builds pretense to how people should act in the world. Instead, Hilary suggests gradually move to the middle of the confidence continuum. That will let you feel that confidence more authentically.

What you’ll learn

On today’s episode, Hilary shares with us how we can pivot in the face of adversity and forge a new path when our original plan doesn’t pan out.

LINKS

Hilarybillings.com

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Heather Stone sits down with Dr. Ashish Jha to discuss the latest facts regarding the COVID-19 situation. Video of this interview can be found on the Mentors and Moguls YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThXf4LrmA_8

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On today’s expert mentoring session, Genevieve Piturro joins the podcast. Genevieve is a founder, author, and consultant for the Pajama Program in New York City. So far, The Pajama Program has shared over 7 million Good Nights for children to have Good Days. In this episode, the founder of the project will share her inspiring story as well as tips on how to change your course and follow your heart.

The Pajama Program was founded over twenty years ago and its mission is to give back children their right to a bedtime by providing them with the resources they need to get a good night’s rest. Although Genevieve was working a steady corporate job, she felt a special calling to volunteer within foster shelters in New York City so she dedicated her evenings to reading to the children in the local shelters. One evening, though, she followed to see where the children slept at night and was shocked to see the environment in which the kids were expected to sleep. Since that night, she started bringing pajamas one-by-one for each kid within the shelters and continued to spend her evenings reading to the children before their bedtime.

Genevieve says she still uses her experience as a successful television marketer, only now it helps shape the way in which she tells her story of the Pajama Program to others in a way to make people want to take action. She then shares her story of how she transitioned from her corporate career to taking on more project work with the support of her partner.

Genevieve also shares “The Rocking Chair Test” with us listeners. She says to think of yourself as 85-years-old, in a rocking chair alone, and ask yourself, “Did I do everything I wanted to do? Did I go for it?” Genevieve says that her heart says yes, and that she has found her purpose in pajamas.Whenever she faces an obstacle, Geneveive says that she never stops asking people for help and that she stays focused on her goal to get the job done. The biggest reward for working with this project, Genevieve says, is the power of human connection and sharing this power of vulnerability with others.

Things You Will Learn

You will learn about the Pajama Program, Genevieve’s personal story for starting this project, advice on how to overcome obstacles, and the importance of sharing human connection with others.

External Links

All of the Pajama Project’s information can be found at: https://pajamaprogram.org/

Genevieve’s website and book Purpose, Passion, and Pajamas (upcoming release in August): https://www.genevievepiturro.com/

Social Media

You can find the Pajama Program on social media @PajamaProgram, and follow Genevieve Piturro @GenPiturro

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Have you been wondering what the buzz around CBD is all about? What is Hemp? Is it safe? Can it help us? Our guest today is the founder of Hemp & Humanity, Melissa Gibson.

There is so much misinformation floating around about CBD today, Melissa is here to share with us some facts about it.

CBD, short for Cannabidiol, is one of over 100 naturally occurring compounds that can be found in the hemp plant. Hemp is one variety of the cannabis plant that is distinguished by its lack of THC; by definition, hemp has less than three-tenths of one percent (.3%) of THC. While THC is the molecule responsible for feelings of euphoria, CBD does not have an intoxicating effect and cannot get you high. CBD is known as a phytocannabinoid, meaning it’s a cannabinoid that comes from plants. Our body generates its own type of cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids (endo meaning ‘within’) -- the most prominent are 2AG and Anandamide.

Melissa talks a bit about what Social Enterprise is and why she was so drawn to it. She’s pulled towards sustainability because she spent years in a space where Social Enterprise was the focus. It meant she could do business and reflect a concern for the community in which she lived. She’s excited for the next generation of women coming through the Social Enterprise space. Now with new technologies, it’s possible to take things you’re passionate about and combine them with what you want to do professionally. If you’re just starting out, look out for the new educational programs springing up around the country!

Melissa then walks us through an obstacle she faced and how she overcame it. When she first started her business, the plant itself wasn’t federally legal, but thanks to a gray area, she was able to keep up with the industry. To do that, her business educates and sells curated CBD products. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to use credit or debit-card purchasing. This made it incredibly hard to scale and grow. This forced her to rethink her business and take it to the people. She needed to be face to face with a customer where she could educate them and exchange cash. She got involved with local farmer’s markets and spoke with hundreds of people. She was able to give as much information as possible to empower that individual to make the choice for themselves.

CBD has enabled Melissa to get relief from her multiple immune disorders, recover from athletic training, decrease arthritis pain, reduce anxiety. and maintain balance. In October of 2017, after a year of regular use of the most highly effective CBD products, Melissa’s endocrinologist delivered the news that her Graves Diseases is headed toward remission. She feels the best she has in years and enjoys helping others to optimize their own health and wellbeing.

Some define good health simply to be: physiological homeostasis. Remember homeostasis from Science class? We learned about it in terms of body temperature and thermogenesis – one example of homeostasis. When we’re too cold, we shiver to warm up. When we’re too hot, we sweat to cool off. Basically, homeostasis refers to a dynamic system of balance and maintenance in our bodies. The main function of cannabinoids, whether they are endocannabinoids like 2AG and Anandamide, or phytocannabinoids like CBD, is to help create homeostasis. This is accomplished by engagement with what is called, The Endocannabinoid System (ECS), the “Master Regulator” of other systems in our body. It is vital that our ECS is nourished, and CBD has been found to be an effective agent in this process.

What you’ll learn

On today’s episode, Melissa clears up what exactly CBD is, how it can help us, and why it’s important to educate our society about it. She also dives into how she got into this industry and Social Enterprise.

LINKS

https://hempandhumanity.com/

melissa@hempandhumanity.com - Complimentary consultation for Listeners!

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In today’s expert mentoring session, Heather hosts Michael Bailey Smith, a man of many careers during his lifetime, but ultimately, a man who always goes for what he wants. Michael Bailey Smith is an actor, entrepreneur, motivator, and more than just the “bad guy” of your favorite movie.

Growing up as the oldest of six kids, Michael was focused on playing college football despite his parents inability to afford to send him to college. Determined to play football, Michael pushed himself mentally and physically and served in the military for three years as a paratrooper. After the army, He then attended college at Eastern Michigan University, where his athletic talents earned him a spot as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 1985. Smith's football career was cut short by injury and he returned to Eastern Michigan University, where in 1988 he earned a bachelor of science degree in computer aided design

After college, Michael found himself in San Diego with a friend who was auditioning for a role in the scary movie, A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child. Even though Michael wasn’t there with the intention to audition, the casting director pulled him aside to offer him the chance to read for the role of Super Freddy Krueger. Michael then met Stephen Hopkins, the director of the movie, who offered him the role to play “the real scary guy” in the movie after hearing Michael’s big evil laugh.

Michael says that in both the acting and the business worlds, he is a very goal-oriented person, and recommends others to set goals, too—no matter what it is: big or small. Even though he is often type-cast as “the bad guy,” Michael wants to put out some good into the world, too. As a worker and member of the business world, Michael shares his story of how he worked his way up in a test laboratory and helped build the company, as well, from the ground up while he worked there.

Before ending the podcast, Michael assures listeners that he is still writing, and that he is currently working on writing and producing different screenplays ranging from the topics of sports and football to answering the big questions in life. Wrapping up the interview, Michael shares with listeners that if he isn’t doing something to make his life better or move his life forward, then he doesn’t feel as if he is truly living.

Things You Will Learn

You will learn about “that bad guy from all the movies,” Michael Bailey Smith in this week’s podcast. You’ll learn: Who he is inside both the worlds of business and acting; How staying goal-oriented improves his productivity and overall quality of life; and What Michael is doing next.

External Links

Heather Stone podcast: https://heatherrstone.com/podcast/

Social Media

Mentors and Moguls YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8pc0vPKZu-P8FhqFcU-xA

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Welcome back to the Mentors and Moguls podcast with your host, Heather Stone! Today’s guest is a real treat--George “the Iceman” Gervin, one of the best basketball players in the history of the NBA and San Antonio Spurs legend. George is sitting down to chat with us about what makes him tick--his motivations, what gets him up in the morning, and what he’s doing now.

What gets George up in the morning is deceptively simple. It’s the sun. The longer you sleep, he says, the less you are helping somebody. He feels that his responsibility as an older man to show a younger man how to be the best they can be. Leading by example is the way to go. When he talks about mentors, he thinks we need more of them. Sometimes younger people can get lost and need someone to show them where to go.

On days when he didn’t have the motivation to get up, he is reminded of his love of life. He knows we’re here for a short time and he wants to make his impact in the world while he’s here. As an athlete, he wanted to be one of the best. That took work. It’s the same way in life. Having a solid foundation opens the way for your future.

He talks about his organization in San Antonio, where he helps underprivileged children. He opened the George Gervin Youth Center as a space to provide programming to the local community. From there, he opened two charter schools, K-12, with over 2000 students. Education is what life is all about--and giving back is the best way for George to do that.

At the end of the day, George knows he’s spending his time the right way when parents, former students, and fans come up to him and tell them the impact he has made on their lives. You can’t ask for a better gift.

Things You’ll Learn

In today’s episode, you’ll learn about what the famed George “the Iceman” Gervin’s motivations are, what gets him up in the morning, what lets him sleep at night, and the in’s and out’s of his philosophies on life.

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If you’re looking to get into writing, or better yet, if you are a writer with their sights on a book deal, today’s episode is sure to bring you value. Heather’s guest today is Nicole Meier, an accomplished novelist who just signed a book deal with a large publisher. She’s here to share with us her experience and strategy to help you find success with your next book. She’ll discuss methods and tactics to make sure you can claim your spot on the shelf.

Believe it or not, it wasn’t until her 40th birthday when Nicole made the choice to start writing professionally. After graduation, Nicole spent time shadowing editors and writers but never built up the confidence to write her own piece. Once she shifted her focus to her own writing, she began writing freelance pieces and started a blog. From there, she moved into her manuscript.

For Nicole, she never had a defined, individual mentor early on. She gleaned her advice from every note, every edit, and every critique she received from her writing. Over time, she had built up experience that helped her in the long-term.

Many creative people tend to work in a bubble, which can make it hard to get feedback. Nicole recommends getting a critique group going, get feedback from a trusted friend, and continue to absorb perspective. This can take practice! The writing industry is full of rejection and ‘no’s’, but it only takes one ‘yes’ to change everything. Nicole even went as far as writing a “practice novel” that allowed her to dip her toes into critique.

Many writers get burnt out. Sometimes it can be ugly, but Nicole talks about how important it is to be persistent and resilient. You have to want it really, really badly. The same way a professional athlete dedicates their lives to a sport, you have to do the same.

Nicole touches on her daily routine. Writing a book takes serious disciple. Nicole writes before her family wakes up in the morning. She does this every day. There is a flow that comes, she says, and if you work that muscle it becomes easier. Her recommendation is to make space for that writing every day. One secret? She doesn’t believe in writer’s block. When nothing is coming to her, she has her characters write letters to each other to get the flow back. There are prompts out there that can help as well!

What you’ll learn

On today’s show, Nicole shares with us her process of writing, her daily practices, some tips and tricks to break through writer’s block, and the publishing industry. She touches on the ups and downs of being a writer, and how persistence is key when you have your sights on a book deal.

LINKS

Nicolemeierauthor.com

The Second Chance Supper Club on Amazon

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Do you find yourself in search of a mentor who can show you the ropes of high-level podcasting? Are you just getting started and need some direction? Today’s episode is for you. Our guest today is a producer and host of the Satellite Sisters, an award-winning radio talk show turned top-rated podcast for women. Lian Dolan has interviewed everyone from Nora Ephron to Big Bird. She’s toured with Oprah and is an LA Times best-selling author. She’s here to share her journey into podcasting and the fundamental truths she recognizes that lead her to her successes.

Lian and her sisters found themselves stuck when it felt as though the gig was up with their radio show. Their show was eventually sold in 2008 amidst a collapse of the media industry’s economy. However, the sister’s versatility paid off when they decided to pivot into a new era of talk-show--podcasting. So, Lian got the equipment she needed and learned how to edit. They still had something to say--finding the platform for that was secondary. The solution was in new technology.

Lian talks about her passions, and for her, writing is where it all starts. She processes the world like a writer--observing, noting, planning, and being really intentional about what, and how, she speaks. Finding meaning is at the core of her conversations.

She speaks on the founding of the podcast. Getting her sisters on board was easy, Lian says, but the business side of things was more difficult than they could’ve imagined. Her sister Liz said there should be a show that truly validates the conversations sisters have throughout the day. So often these are viewed as “girl-talk” and are undervalued for what they are. Lian and her sisters went out to change that--and they did. Their discussions growing up and the chemistry they built up as a family act as the basis for the podcast. They’ll even save stories, especially for their recording!

Lian talks about some mentors she has had on her journey. Her boss, while she worked in marketing, allowed her to run with projects and grow exponentially. 30 years have gone by, but she still feels as though he set her on her path. He didn’t look at her at judge based on her age or gender and took risks on her talent. He believed what they had to say and how they said it.

What You’ll Learn

On today’s episode, Lian Dolan gives us a look at how she converted her award-winning radio show into a top podcast. She discusses the dynamics of her show, where she gets all her wonderful stories, and who helped her along the way.

LINKS

liandolan.com

Satellitesisters.com

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Thanks for tuning into another episode of the Mentors and Moguls podcast with your host, Heather Stone! Here with us today is Wendi Sparks. Wendi is an accomplished pilot who is sitting down to talk about what helped shape her into the incredible woman she is today.

As a child, Wendi was lucky enough to be taken up in an airplane. Even at that young age, she knew this is where she belonged. She had several women in her life that she was able to look up to as role models. As she grew up, she found more and more women who impacted her by introducing her to what was possible. A mentor of hers sat Wendi on her lap and showed her what all the different controls do. From then on, she had found her calling.

In a traditionally male-dominated field (only 4.4% of pilots are women), Wendi believes that more and more women are starting to fly. Though it seems like the number of women hasn’t increased, every new class of pilots brings in more capable women pilots.

Wendi discusses what sort of skill set and what qualities pilots need to be successful. She says if you get a group of pilots together you’ll find they are very methodical and goal-oriented. You’ll find that they make lists and make sure things are done. They’re trained to know how to remain calm in an emergency situation. While many things can be taught, there is an innate drive that gets pilots through the academy. Being a pilot is a job where you are constantly learning!

Wendi shares her experience working with Gulf Stream and how it helped form her and her daughter in similar ways. She discusses what she did, how she did it, and the impact it had on her and her family.

Among other topics, Wendi and Heather dig into the implications of COVID-19 while working in the commercial flight industry and being a mother.

What You’ll Learn

On today’s episode, Wendi gives us a window into the aviation industry. She discusses the in’s and out’s of being a woman pilot in a male-domniated industry, the skills she’s aquired in becoming a pilot, the implications of COVID-19, and more!

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Zach Wigal is the founder of Gamers Outreach, a charity organization that provides hospitalized children video games while undergoing treatment. They supply an estimated 2 million play sessions to children in more than 200 hospitals across the country and host the largest LAN party in America: Gamers for Giving. Zach’s been recognized on the Forbes 30 under 30 and is a CNN Hero nominee. He’s here today to share his story and discuss how he overcame constant adversity to provide care and support to those who need it most.

When you’re in the hospital, clearly the first priority is to get OUT of the hospital. Things like treatments, research, and similar activities can overshadow the experience you have during your stay. The goal of Zach’s organization is to ease the struggle of an extended visit to the hospital. His focus is on quality of life. It got started while Zach was in high school. He and his friends wanted to host a video game tournament. His efforts were shut down by a resource officer who felt that games were corrupting the minds of America’s youth. Frustrated by this sentiment, Zach created a charity fundraiser, Gamers for Giving. From there, Zach was connected with people at local hospitals. The rest is history. Zach always knew he would be in the gaming industry, but he never thought he would grow to the success he has now. When he first got started, he didn’t have the vision of the impact his organization would have. At a certain point, this work started leaking into other aspects of his life. Eventually, he decided to pursue it full-force.

A big aspect of gaming is the interaction, both with other people and with the world itself. Now that we are all in a state of quarantine, the relationships built online can be reinforced through video games. Zach is in the business of recreation, entertainment, and engagement.

Zach certainly took a different path from many of his peers. A major struggle he faced was comparing his progress and his standing to those around him. When times of doubt hit, he reminded himself of the two things that make people quit: extreme failure and extreme success. Because he was so young, his perspective differed from some people he was working with. At one point, they decided to part ways. At the time, it felt like the bottom had fallen out. Zach sat down and concluded that he needed to be sure he was doing this to make a difference for kids in hospitals. It isn’t the Zach show, he wasn’t trying to improve the public outlook of him or gamers. Even in a smaller capacity, he knew this work was important. With that in mind, he started over and just kept going. The growth and development he embraced kept him above water in difficult times.

What you’ll learn

On today’s episode, Zach shares with us his journey in creating his charitable organization. He discusses the successes and failures he experienced, and what kept him going through adversity.

LINKS

Gamersoutreach.org

@GamersOutreach

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Today’s mentoring session is an incredibly important one in light of the current pandemic. Our guest this week Dr. Danielle Delaney. She’s a THD, a certified crisis intervention counselor, a specialist in addiction and recovery after-case, a rape-crisis counselor, spiritual counselor, sober coach, interventionist, and author. Dr. Delaney is here to talk to us about turning that corner into the light. We’re experiencing a moment in history unlike any other before it. Many people are struggling or know someone who could use guidance as we navigate uncharted territory. With the right support systems in place, you’ll get through this and come out the other side.

As we’re in a time of major crisis, everyone’s experience differs. For some, they have built up, like a muscle, an ability to adapt and overcome this sort of turmoil. Dr. Delaney recommends structure. Doing what feels “normal” whenever possible can give you a sense of order and normalcy. From there, some sort of gentle movement can help release endorphins. Additionally, if you were having meals at certain times, continue to do that!

From a mental-emotional standpoint, having support helps. Touching base with friends, family, and coworkers can help ease the monotony of the day-to-day. To supplement that, many therapists are employing a sliding scale to make therapy more accessible to everyone.

It’s important to remember what not to do during this crisis as well. Dr. Delaney reminds us not to overindulge. Be it food, alcohol, sleep, or even drugs, it’s essential that we don’t allow ourselves to slide into negative habits just because we are quarantined. That means overindulging in negative mentalities as well. Someone who was already in a negative headspace is experiencing that even more right now, and it’s important to recognize that things aren’t especially easy right now. If that means you need to separate yourself from those people, though, don’t feel guilty. Tolerance is temporary and this isn’t going to last forever.

Dr. Delaney talks about finding the right counseling, journaling, and grief support. Something she especially recommends is honoring those feelings of grief, journaling, and eventually seeking out professional help.

What you’ll learn
In today’s episode, Dr. Delaney sits down to talk about mental health as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. She touches on therapy, journaling, grief, and shares with us her top tips for staying healthy, and points out some pitfalls to avoid.

LINKS

1-800-273-8255 National Suicide Prevention Hotline

https://danielledelaneycounseling.com/

Instagram: danidelaney

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Heather sat down for another roundtable discussion with Skip Lawver, Professor Emeritus at Eastern Michigan University, and Katelyn Coberley, threat intelligence professional. These two cyber-defense experts discuss the field of cybersecurity, what the next generation will look like, and the key role women will play in the future.

Cybersecurity is an incredibly broad field. There are countless companies that don’t know they need cybersecurity. But when you can just as many places hacking infrastructure--from water treatment to manufacturing--there is a massive need. While the industry is male-dominated, it certainly can’t (and shouldn’t) all be managed by men. There are qualities where a woman’s lens is much more effective than a man’s. There is less of a reaction-based decision-making process, a very useful skill in an assessment-based profession. In every case, more perspectives bring more creative solutions. Leaving women and their point of view out of the conversation isn’t the way to go.

Not many people think about a heart-pumping machine being hacked, but when a system like that is hacked, there are things that are encrypted, which are also affected. The impact of cybersecurity is greater than you may think. Protecting the energy grid itself or protecting a piece of individual information--the spectrum is massive.

To enter the field of cybersecurity, you don’t always need a 6-year degree. You can start wherever you’re at. From books, Youtube, videos, to talking to friends--you can always learn. The biggest thing to remember is that technology continues to improve and new people are always needed to develop new concepts. You can work from home, in the field, or at a company. And you can make great money! Even if it isn’t your career, it’s worth having in your back pocket! There are free classes everywhere. It can be something as simple as learning how people communicate or as complicated as coding.

In cyber defense classes, oftentimes, the women in Skip’s class would ask the most thoughtful, meaningful questions. They were both mothers who decided they wanted to take the next step and pursue a job in the industry.

What you’ll learn

On today’s episode, you’ll get a window into the world of Cybersecurity. Heather sits down with two cyber defense experts, Skip Lawver and Katelyn Coberley, to fill us in on what the field of cybersecurity is, how we can get into the cybersecurity industry, and the important role women play in the future of cybersecurity.

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Our guest today is the most decorated female US Olympic athlete in history. She’s a five-time Olympian, representing the US from the age of just 15 to the age of 41. She is a 12-time Olympic medalist and one of three women with the most Olympic swimming medals. In 2019, she was inducted in the US Olympic Committee Hall of Fame. Dara Torres is a mother, author, speaker, and entrepreneur. Dara is a highly sought after guest, and today she’s on the show to talk about her triumphs as well as the obstacles she’s overcome along her journey. She touches on her experiences with aging, injury, insecurities, eating disorders, and even bullying. As a mentor and a mentee, Dara can teach us all how to be the exception.

Dara is the first woman in history to swim in the Olympics past the age of 40. For many athletes, they are focused on the results and the accomplishments that come along with competition. Dara’s experience was different. She was competing to prove to herself and the rest of the people watching that she is capable of performing at the highest level at any age.

As a young swimmer, Dara’s biggest influence was another swimmer named Jill Sterkel. She held the record that Dara broke when she was 15. Going into the games, Dara didn’t swim very well. There was discussion for Jill to replace her, which took a toll on Dara’s headspace. Nonetheless, Jill took Dara under her wing and made sure she was taken care of. It’s not about what a person has accomplished to be a mentor, Dara says, it’s about the kind of person they are.

Dara’s inspired so many young women and young swimmers with her story. Today, she tries to inspire some of the older crowd. Uplifting middleaged people deserve to be motivated in the same way. Sharing her trials and tribulations as an adult can have an impact on people just as much as her struggles as a young person.

Dara shares her battle with bulimia and the mental shifts she made throughout her college career that formed her into the woman she is today.

Things You’ll Learn

In today’s episode, Dara shares with us how her experiences overcoming injury, insecurities, eating disorders, and bullying as a mentor helped shape her into the incredible mentor she is today. She gives us a window into the life of a high-performing athlete and the mental strength it takes to succeed on the world stage.

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Today’s guest is the great Charlie Batch, former NFL quarterback turned mentor. During his time as a professional athlete, Charlie was always thinking about what was next. Whatever it was, he knew it would revolve around helping kids. So, after he retired, he founded the Best of the Batch Foundation, an educational foundation that focuses on computer literacy. Beyond that though, they run a number of programs, including an event during the holidays where they collect thousands of gifts and household items for families in need.

The Best of the Batch Foundation also provides children with mentorship, guidance, and parental figures that help motivate them to study, eat well, and get active. A perfect example of their leadership can be found in their basketball program. Charlie’s foundation is committed to getting kids as involved with their studies and academics as they are with their athletics. To help join the two, their basketball league includes having players take 4 study halls as well as read and study a complete book. For 15 years, they’ve been running this program and still today they are seeing the impact. Kids who have grown up and come back to talk about the importance of the program exemplifies how strong the momentum is.

Charlie and Heather shift gears to talk about Charlie’s own mantras that helped him find success in his personal and professional lives. He breaks it down into the 5 P’s: Proper preparation prevents poor performance. This made sure he was staying true to his work-ethic and solidified that he was setting himself up to be in the best position possible.

Things you’ll learn

In today’s episode, former NFL star quarterback Charlie Batch talks about his Best of the Batch Foundation and the work they do and dives deep into his personal mantras and mottos that helped him reach the success that he has today.

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Today on the Mentors and Moguls podcast, Heather is talking to Casey Graham. He’s the found and CEO of Gravy, the leading field payment, payment recovery, and customer retention system for business with recurring revenue. This week, Casey is discussing the COVID-19 small business stimulus package and how it impacts your small business.

The way Casey sees it is this: never in history has a virus impacted the world the way it is. It has created a small business disaster and shutdown which has stimulated a capital market recession. There is an underlying fear in the market. People either fight, flight, or freeze. Gravy helps people understand that fight and flight are both options, but freezing isn’t good for anyone.

The discuss the CAREs act and what it means for small businesses. At the time of this recording, across two phases, 2 trillion dollars has been set aside for small business funding. For the first time, you have the government, banks, and small businesses all relying on each other. The government is saying that they want you to keep your people employed. If your business has been in place since February, has under 500 employees, and have been impacted by COVID-19, you will get a forgivable loan if you use the loan to stay in business. They discuss who can file and how, and the importance of the act itself.

Casey breaks down important details and offers his advice on how to best leverage the stimulus package. He points out potential pitfalls to keep an eye out for and shares the functional process behind getting the forgivable loan. Then, he talks about the timeline of receiving the approved loan and how the money gets to your business. The amount you get is based on your average payroll and divide it by twelve. From that average, you multiply it by 2.5--this is what will be deposited to your account. There are limits on how many employees and how much you can receive. Essentially, this loan becomes a grant should you spend it on approved expenses.

Tune in to listen to Casey’s expert advice!

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Welcome back to the Mentors and Moguls podcast with your host, Heather Stone! Today’s guest is the late, great TJ Lang, former NFL star who has pivoted his professional life in some incredible ways. He’s on the show today to share his wisdom, experience, and what has made him into the wonderful person he is today.

TJ shares with us what gets him up in the morning. When there are times when he feels like he just can’t do it in the morning, he remembers the motivation he got from his teammates when he was in the league. He knew that when he was hurting and didn’t want to do the work, there was always someone else who was in the same boat and still showing up. He wasn’t afraid to have a bad play, he was most afraid of letting his teammates down. He dedicated himself to extending his career and became the best player he could.

His role models growing up were his parents. The work ethic his father had to make the city better and the motivation he had rubbed off on him. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how big and strong you are if you don’t put in the work. That’s something he’s lived by to this day. 75% of his game was mental. If he was going in 100% confident, he would get it done.

Now that he’s retired, TJ is looking to stay involved with the game. For him, whatever it is he lands in, he wants to dabble in as many areas as he can--radio, TV, advisory roles, you name it. That way, when he decides what it is he is most passionate about, he’ll be more prepared.

Things You’ll Learn

On today’s episode, you’ll get a window into the wisdom, experience, and expertise from former NFL star, TJ Lang. He shares what motivates him, the sort of person he aspires to be, and what made him into the wonderful person he is today.

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Welcome to the premiere episode of the Mentors and Moguls podcast with your host, Heather Stone! Today’s guest is the lovely LaTasha Wilson Batch. Latasha is the executive director of the Best of the Batch Foundation, a 20-year-old educational-based organization that impacts more than 3,800 children across 8 counties in Pennsylvania.

A concept that LaTasha and her foundation are built on is prioritizing what kids love to do. By going back to basics, they landed on a basketball program. They were able to establish a family environment and cultivate a community by offering the program for free and in the evening hours when parents may still be working. The trick was, in order to play in the league, you need to attend a study hall. So, to play, you need to read!

When times were difficult, LaTasha is reminded of her purpose when she gets that hug when she first sees the children she is helping. That little extra light is what keeps her going after all these years. Even on the worst days, she knows she is there to help children grow into successful, intelligent, motivated adults no matter the situation they are in. Attending the college graduation of former program-goers and hearing that they want to return to volunteer is the foundation of what has made the organization so impactful.

When she looks back at all the lives shes effected, the first word that comes to mind is “complete.” It’s a cycle--negativity can breed the same. For her, it’s about breaking that cycle and starting a new one--children growing up and coming back to mentor more children.

LaTasha talks about more of the incredible programs the Best of the Batch Foundation provides and offers her wisdom on how she keeps the success rolling in.

What You’ll Learn

On today’s episode, LaTasha fills us in who her foundation is, it’s principles, how it operates, and what programs they offer. She also shares the wisdom she’s gained from running such an incredible organization for the past 20 years and the profound impact it has on the children in her area.

LINKS

http://batchfoundation.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/latashawilsonbatch/

Twitter: @lamay34

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Join our host, Heather Stone, as we dive into the first episode of the Mentors and Moguls Podcast. Today, we’re sitting down with a diverse panel of expert, professional women for a roundtable discussion where they share their best career advice from the female perspective.

For many women, there is an ‘a-ha!’ moment where they discover a career path or a calling that resonates with them. When you land in a place where going to work feels natural, that’s when you know it’s where you’re meant to be. Sometimes, even on the most stressful of days, the next morning is still exciting and fresh. There could even be opportunities that may logically tell you to pursue them—more money, better location, you name it. But when you are invested in what your purpose is, you find yourself feeling like there is more work to be done.

The ladies discuss their personal mentors. For some, their mentors have been male--especially in male-dominated industries. For those who have had both female and male mentors, they felt that they were able to be more open with their female mentors. Bonds form quickly!

Balancing work and life can be incredibly difficult. In the end, it comes down to communication. There is a lot of juggling of every child’s schedule--gymnastics, art, music, soccer, you name it. Google Calendars and Whiteboards go a long way!

They chat about negotiation from the perspective of a woman. For some, backing down simply isn’t an option. If there is something that will elevate their team or their family, fighting for it is worth the value. If it benefits other people, it’s no problem, but if it’s for themselves, it’s a different story. Sometimes it doesn’t come naturally! The desire to want to please everyone can overwhelm the want for a raise or for a change. The truth is, if you don’t go and get it, you won’t get it. Dress the part and fill the role! Negotiation only happens if you have the confidence to do it. Confidence comes from believing you have the knowledge and HAVING the knowledge.

Tune in to listen to this week’s genuine, candid conversation!

What You’ll Learn

In today’s episode, you’ll get a window into a roundtable discussion between a group of professional women. They discuss their mentors, their career choices, confidence, and much, much more.

Mentors and Moguls Podcast: Recent Episodes

Heather Stone