A Fresh Agenda: Recent Episodes
Cristina Mendonsa
Cristina Mendonsa is an award-winning journalist, entrepreneur and founder of Mendonsa Media. The Power Profile explores the habits and hacks of world class leaders and how they achieve personal and professional power.
Dr. Amy Shah is a nutrition specialist. She works in clinical medicine, allergy/immunology, and over the last 10 years has developed a world-renowned wellness education platform. She’s written bestselling books, including I’m So Effing Hungry and I’m So Effing Tired, and has made numerous national network appearances. She works to discover less invasive interventions, promote wellness, and teach others how to impact their health via nutrition and exercise — using medication as a last resort. All of this is very on brand with the national discussion of highly processed foods, the obesity epidemic and our understanding of how to take care of our bodies. Many people find any discussion of nutrition lacking at their annual physical. There is a gap in knowledge and Dr. Shah is one of the people trying to fill that gap.
Our visit with Chris Parker, partner with Moss Adams in Sacramento is a journey into taxation and how leaving California may not mean leaving California taxes behind.Parker talks about how he helps Californians with tax strategy as they move out of state and what you need to consider if a move out of California or New York is in your future.
I once knew ML Barrs as my boss but she pivoted from a life of news to a life of fiction writing. Her new book "Parallel Secrets" is out and we talk about the transformation from fact to fiction, the main character whose life as a journalist intersects with her own and the power she took from a rough start to build a beautiful career and a fulfiling second act.
Kelly Resendez is they dynamic founder of GoBundance Women and author of Big Voices: An Invitation To Women To Awaken, Increase Joy, Reduce Suffering And Think Differently We discuss resilience and building abundance across all areas of your life.
Tim Tigner is an author whose background is as fascinating as his novels. Tigner began his career in Soviet Counterintelligence with the US Army Special Forces. That was back in the Cold War days when, "We learned Russian so you didn't have to". He later led prominent multinational medical companies, worked with cosmonauts on the MIR Space Station, chaired the Association of International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, and helped write Russia's first law on healthcare.All of that rich experience makes it into his throughly enjoyable novels full of intrigue, a touch of sci fi and skilled asassins.We had a fun conversation about writing, spying, and how he's spending his mornings these days.
Trusted by world-class professional athletes, executives and organizations, Lauren Johnson, Mindset Coach, joins me for a conversation about peak performance. Check out her free download: 57 Powerful Questionshttps://go.laurenjohnsonandco.com/57questions
This was a fun chat with a leading tech entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, career strategist and author of the book " GO! Reboot Your Career in 90 Days". Lisa Thee leads Launch Consulting’s Data for Good practice, helping the world’s most innovative healthcare, and global technology companies to improve digital safety, anti-toxicity, and apply AI/machine learning for innovation.
Lets talk post apocalyptic sci fi with William R. Forstchen! Forstchen is a professor of military history and author of 50 books both non fiction and his wildly successful sci fi series on a fictional EMP strike that starts with "One Second After". We talk EMP, military history, Ukraine, weapons systems and our favorite sci fi authors. Come spend a pleasant 30 minutes with. us.
This Memorial Day Weekend edition is an interview with Dave Bray USA, The Rock n Roll Patriot. Dave writes and performs nationally for veterans groups, active duty, first responders and tours with some of the biggest names in rock today. His Music on a Mission brings to life the lives of those serving our country and those who've lost loved ones to service. We also include an update on the story of a 80 year old WWII bomber, shot down and now found along with the remains of 11 crew. Hear from the family members that formed a global network to find their lost loved one.https://www.davebrayusa.com/
Jeremy and Zack met as young dads and found they were both struggling through some of the same kinds of issues. They wanted to get physically fit and mentally fit and started their podcast for other men who want the same. They call their show The FitMess Podcast and say it's for people who are sick of their own shit and ready to make a change. After interviewing hundreds of health related experts we talk to Jeremy about the best tips and the most valuable things he's learned.
Sharyl Attkisson joins me for a conversation about what happened to American journalism. Attkisson had a front row seat for government and corporate intrusion into newsrooms as an investigative correspondent for CBS News.Attkisson broke and worked on significant investigative stories before resigning her position due to frustrations over the network's lack of dedication to investigative journalism and the thwarting of several of her stories critical of the Obama Administration. Attkisson now hosts Full Measure, a nationally broadcast program, Sunday nights on the Sinclair network of stations.
JD Frost joins me to talk about the psychology of money. How do you know where you want to end up financially if you don't know where you want to go?J.D. Frost is the founder and C.E.O of CROFT & FROST, a firm that transcends traditional accounting and wealth creation. With both a CPA and his MBA, J.D. advises businesses on more than just their financials; he utilizes four foundations of wealth creation to help his clients, partners, and employees build courage and create wealth.Find JD Here: https://www.jdfrost.today/Onward 72: https://www.onward72.com/JD's book, Life Ledger: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Ledger-Build-System-Reach/dp/1637583893
Joining me this week is University of Texas and Harvard trained doctor Tasnim Khan, MD, MSC. She is co-founder of ShaMynds Healing Center and an expert on ketamine assisted therapy. Dr. Khan received training in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Ketamine Assisted Therapy from the Institute of Integrative Psychiatry.We talk about how ketamine is used in therapy, the results she sees and the mainstreaming of a drug once thought of as recreational or for a dissociative anesthetic used medically for induction and maintenance of anesthesia.Open your mind to ShaMyndsLearn more: https://shamynds.com/
Meet the modern yogi Impacting the worldTravis Eliot is a world renowned yoga and meditation teacher, author, best known for creating life-changing programs, workshops and trainings. His videos have impacted hundreds of thousands of students in over 85 countries, making him one of the most sought after teachers in his field.He teaches his signature Holistic Yoga Flow classes in Los Angeles and in workshops, festivals and retreats around the world. His style is intensely dynamic and has inspired many of today’s top athletes, celebrities, and entertainers. Check inner dimension TV and his YouTube belowhttps://www.innerdimensiontv.com/https://www.youtube.com/@traviseliotyoga
Writer, director, cinematographer Nick Leisure is my guest. Over the past 18 years, Leisure has compiled an extensive resume filled with Films, Commercials, and Music Videos. Its fun to hear some of the RNB acts he worked with. Leisure has been a Writer, Director, Cinematographer & Editor on hundreds of projects for networks such as ABC, ESPN, MTV, VH1, BET and The History Channel.
At the peak of its popularity, the Mark and Brian Show was heard in 22 cities, including Los Angeles. The program aired its last show in August 2012. In 2020, the Mark and Brian program was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame. We talk to one half of that amazing duo, Mark Thompson about his new book, Don't Bump the Record Kid, My Adventures with Mark and Brian. He shares interesting stories about the celebrities he's met, the career he built and the listeners who still feel like family.
Brittany Norris is CEO of Uncommon: Providing hope, fellowship, and healing through honest and open stories. Learn how her travels across the country inspired this storyteller collective and about the event that will kick it all off this month: Uncommon: The Unveiling
Rachael Senior is my guest and she’s going to talk about the power of your dreams to build your professional success. Rachel has a masters in psychology and is an education specialist in curriculum and instruction. She is the author of several books on dreams and business with her latest being: Business of Dreams: 5 Ways to Maximize the Linear Relationship between Your Purpose, Your Business & Economic Success, and Your Dreams
Christy Wright is the #1 bestselling author of Business Boutique, Take Back Your Time, and Living True. She is a certified business coach, dynamic speaker, and personal development expert. Christy served for 12 years as a Ramsey Personality with Ramsey Solutions before just recently taking a leap of faith to do something new. Christy has been featured on the Today show and Fox News, and in Success, Entrepreneur, and Woman’s Day magazines. Whether she’s running around on stage or running after her kids, challenging leaders or changing diapers, Christy makes the most out of life and loves to help others do the same. Christy lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, Matt, and their three children Carter, Conley, and Mary Grace.
Craig Dowden is all about studying and coaching executive leaders. He looks at what science knows and what leaders do. He writes for Psychology Today and Forbes as well as appearing on stages globally. He’s the author of “Do Good to Lead Well" and his new book: "A Time To Lead" is out September 13th. Join us for an intriguing conversation about leadership, innovation, and motivation.
Sara Davenport was a successful anchor in a big market and had everything professionally she had ever worked for. She was miserable. She went from burned out anchor to entrepreneur and now has a life she never imagined possible. Burn out is an issue in many industries so we dive into her evolution and the inflection point where she said, "I'm done".
Jason Duncan is founder one of the fastest growing privately held companies in America and a multi-award winning entrepreneur and founder of 12 companies. He is also the creator of "The Exit Lifestyle" and he explains what characteristics he sees in the most successful people. As a former pastor and teacher he has a knack for storytelling and bringing his concepts to life. Great conversation.
Claudia Williams of Curious Leadership is my guest this week. Claudia spent the early part of her career as a corporate attorney working on global HR and litigation for Hershey. As it is with most attorneys, they’re called in when things go wrong. She found herself at the tail end of so many bad situations where she had to rebuild timelines and track down the miscommunication that she was inspired to make a career change. She wanted to help identify patterns on the front end to keep businesses out of court. She wrote the book frientorship, using friendship, mentorship and leadership to drive profitability and build a sustainable competitive advantage. We talk about her own career change and the patterns she's been able to identify in the strongest and weakest company cultures.
Define your goal, set ground rules, communication, inverted management, recognition. Lindsay Dowd walks leaders through all aspects of building great teams and by founding Heartbeat for Hire, she brings decades of leadership and sales executive skills to every company she touches. Get to know Lyndsay and her philosophy on building a leadership style that inspires.
Philip Palumbo is founder and CEO of Palumbo Wealth Management and host of the Philip Palumbo show. In this episode we talk about the power of money to help us reach our potential in life and how he's convinced thousands of clients and investors to live in the present and retire the word "retire".
This week, Richard Newman from UK BodyTalk helps us hone our business communication using tools from his experience as an actor and researcher. Richard and his team work with 10,000 clients per year, around the world, from many different industries. He is based in the UK, but 70% of his work is international. He is the author of "You Were Born to Speak" and you can reach him at: https://ukbodytalk.com/about/
Sales encompasses skills that cross all industries and Jeff Wright has spent his life helping others attain those skills. He founded Agent Sales Group to help people develop the confidence and credentials to sell brilliantly. We download some of that in this edition of The Power Profile
Pull Up Your Chair and meet Cicely Simpson! After decades working with presidents and in congress, Cicely is now a seasoned Public Speaker, Leadership Coach, Author and Founder / CEO of the Summit of Public Affairs. We talk leadership, her time in congress and the way she has touched all of our lives in a unique and unexpected way.
This week on THE POWER PROFILE: Omar Medrano is known as "The Vacation CEO" He may look like he's on easy street but its taken him a lot of work to get there. Now he helps his clients bust through fear and doubt with his new book "What if it DID Work?" Join Omar and me for a conversation that takes us through his journey and his mission to put others on the road to freedom through entrepreneurship.
Known for her devastating run splits, two-time Triathlon World Champion, Siri Lindley, dominated the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Rankings, winning 13 World Cup races between 2000-2002 and was the 2001 ITU World Champion. Her experience and talents in the sport have shone through with tremendous results, at all distances and with both elite and age group level competitors. Siri is also in demand and highly respected for her motivational speaking engagements and coaching. She is the author of Surfacing From the Depths of Self-Doubt to Winning Big and Living Fearlessly. We talked about her painful start in sport and how she used those lessons to build her best life. We also talk about her new focus with wife Rebekah-Keat, a foundation to save horses from slaughter houses. She is delightfully kind and insightful.
Excited to be launching The Power Profile with a new season of innovators, entrepreneurs and thought leaders. This week, broadcast talent agent and founder of Positive Life Choice Psychology, Ken Lindner. . Besides being the founder of Positive Life Choice Psychology,” Ken owns what is arguably the most successful and well-respected TV broadcast journalist representation firm in the country, Ken Lindner & Associates, Inc. Ken has spent nearly 38 years choreographing careers, (including mine for many years!) with extraordinary success.
Dr. Erica Miller is my final guest on A Fresh Agenda. Dr. Miller is a holocaust survivor and inspirational storyteller who transformed her life after Nazi detention. A Fresh Agenda will become The Power Profile in a couple of weeks as this space is re-branded to interview world-class leaders.
Inspiration from India this week with Paayal Mahajan! The founder of Essential Body Couture is living her best life right now. She's built a global brand, transformed herself physically (losing 120 pounds), was highlighted in Harper Bazaar's international fashion issue and is getting married this week. She took time from planning her New Delhi wedding to talk with me about reflecting on enjoying the moment and admits her favorite place to be in the world is in her lab, creating new formulations for her award-winning brand. “I am deeply respectful of my heritage and the value of what Ayurveda represents, but I wanted to give the world something that had never been done before, India’s first real couture skincare steeped in adaptogenic phytoscience.”
New Orleans may be better known for jazz and cocktails but Kim Lewis is a dynamic entrepreneur making wine and waves in The Big Easy. We chat about her journey from health care work to launching the Ole Orleans winery and how travel is often the catalyst for big life changes.
Amber Garza is a thriller author from Northern California and a featured speaker at the upcoming Women's Empowerment Experience in August. Amber chats with Cristina about her path to a blockbuster 4 book deal, movie rights for her novels and how she stays creative as she writes her psychological thrillers. . Check out Amber's books and bio here: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/where-i-left-her-amber-garza?ambergarza.com Check out the upcoming Women's Empowerment Experience here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/womens-empowerment-experience-tickets-155828702845?aff=ebdsoporgprofile For More on COVID Lost and Learned: www.COVIDLL.com
This episode is a conversation between Will Frampton of McLeod Media and myself (of Mendonsa Media) discussing our soon to be released one hour program premiering on PBS-KVIE. . You'll hear excerpts from the show, we'll take you through the conceptualization and we'll share insights from our research as we take a forward looking approach to the pandemic. . Covid Lost and Learned premiers on PBS-KVIE on June 30th at 10pm with several additional airings in this market. Follow our website to find out about other airings throughout the country: www.CovidLL.com
Shari Fitzpatrick is the creator and founder of the world famous gourmet dipped strawberries - Shari’s Berries. Today Shari is an author/speaker and has launched a whole new line of chocolate dipped items as well as wine and a new bed and breakfast. She travels internationally (and is excited to get back to it after the pandemic) as an inspirational business speaker Her new chocolate gifts are offered exclusively at Berried In Chocolate dot com.
For over 30 years, Shari’s story and her creations have attracted attention through appearances in O Magazine, In-Style Magazine, People Magazine, Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneurial Soul; on the Today Show, Food Network, The Apprentice and many more.
She shares with Cristina her rise in Shari's Berries as well as the loss of her company and rebirth of her brands
Carl Zimmer is the author of fourteen books about science. His latest book is Life’s Edge: The Search for What It Means to Be Alive Zimmer’s column Matter appears each week in the New York Times. In this interview we delve into the definition of life: is it consciousness? Brain activity? He tells me about some surprising forms of life researchers are just finding and whether AI or conscious computers could ever be considered "life". Zimmer is a familiar voice on radio programs such as Radiolab and professor adjunct at Yale University. He is, to his knowledge, the only writer after whom a species of tapeworm has been named.
Cher, Farrah Fawcett, Robert Plant and John Lennon...they all loved her designs and at 75 years old, she is still creating and innovating. Norma Kamali is my guest this week. We talk about her new book, I AM INVINCIBLE, which is Norma’s healthy lifestyle guide on aging with power. We also discuss post pandemic fashion...what will THAT look like? She tells me the story of the iconic red swimsuit she designed for Farrah Fawcett (the one that now sits in the Smithsonian) and how does a creative replenish their creativity? She fills us in on her secret to sustaining her drive and energy.
My guest is Eric Dezenhall, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Dezenhall Resources. He has more than 30 years of executive-level experience as a crisis, communications and management counselor for corporations, prominent individuals, sports organizations, nonprofits and educational institutions. Dezenhall is one of the nation’s foremost crisis and damage control experts. . He's also an author who channels some of his most creative ideas into 11 books, his newest is "False Light".
Novelist, former NYT reporter and of late, covid contrarian, Alex Berenson is my guest this week. Berenson has written 13 novels, 7 non-fiction works and his latest is called “The Power Couple”. We’re going to get into his methods for switching between fiction and non-fiction, discuss the state of journalism a bit, cancel culture and the twitter arguments he’s having on the daily when he presents studies that go against the current Covid narrative.
James Suckling is internationally regarded as one of the most influential wine critics and wine communicators. Through 40 years and over 200,000 wines, Suckling has created a stunning body of information about the wines of the world. Suckling joined Wine Spectator in 1981, when it had 500 subscribers and was run out of a garage in San Diego. He fell in love with the genre and rose to become the European Chief Editor for the publication. From his home in Hong Kong, Suckling joined me for a chat about his incredible life and ongoing projects. He also tips us on new trends and the surprising wine he's enjoying right now. Pour a class and take a listen...then check him out at JamesSuckling.com
CEO of the MELT agency in Atlanta, Vince Thompson is both marketer and mentor. Thompson runs the nationally awarded sports marketing company MELT and has worked with some of the largest brands in America including Coca Cola and Aflac. He mentors recent college grads on boosting their professional brand for the job hunt through his MELT-U courses and has recently written a book called: "Build Brand YoU". The pandemic has upended industries so his advice applies well to mid-career professionals too. As we head into the new year, inspire yourself with this conversation and get ready to take your life back in 2021.
Former Secret Service agent and star of Bravo’s Spy Games Evy Poumpouras joins Cristina for a conversation about reinvention and shares vital lessons learned from protecting presidents. Her book Becoming Bulletproof details insights and skills from the oldest and most elite security force in the world to help you prepare for life’s stressful situations, instantly read people, influence how you are perceived, and live a more fearless life.
Karen Wagner and Erica Baird are the cofounders of Lustre.net They are retired corporate lawyers who were at the forefront of the women’s movement that broke the mold in the workforce. They’ve been featured in Forbes Magazine among many others as disruptors of retirement and after busting the glass ceiling in their industry they are now destroying the perception that retirement equals old and done.
It was a dark secret that connected a growing number of unexplained deaths. . Robert Bilott is an environmental attorney who spent decades of his life trying to inform the public about chemical contamination. If you've seen the movie Dark Waters, starring Mark Ruffalo and Tim Robbins, you've seen Bilott's battle against DuPont. . Now he tells me the rest of the story and how Covid factors into his work. He is innovating in his industry and a global thought leader on the topic of environmental contamination.
Ada Calhoun is an award winning author of several books: St. Marks is Dead, Wedding Toasts I’ll Never Give and her latest is called “Why We Can’t’ Sleep”. The book is about the women of Generation X as they enter mid age She spoke with women across the country about their experiences as the generation raised to “have it all”.
With her upcoming EP an and army of devoted fans, singer/songwriter Abigail Barlow is on the cusp of something big. We talk about the role TikTok has played in her success both as a tool to hone her craft and a platform to spread the word. You'll be singing her pop hit "Heartbreak Hotel" to yourself in the car and this hardworking, grounded and earnest young woman will earn a spot on your playlist.
My guest is Dot Lung, "Mother of Social Media Dragons". She grew up in LA with a very traditional path through college and into her career but always wanted to travel the world (like so many of us!) Dot did it, ending up in Barcelona and becoming the secret social weapon for many companies. In this interview, she talks about her "DRAGON" method of growing your socials and harnessing a beast that works for you 24/7.
NEW EPISODE #85 - #AFRESHAGENDA In the midst of a global lockdown, a new wave people have joined the “creator economy”. The creator economy encompasses everything from professional creatives to first-time creators that are producing content as both a coping mechanism and strategic business play. . My guest is Allen Gannett, author speaker and tech entrepreneur. His book, "The Creative Curve" explores the possibilities for creativity in all of us.
Pallas is an award winning author and speaker, a brand strategist with a method called "Pop" designed to help you build the life you deserve. We knew each other in her former life as a television news anchor. Now she inspires people around the world from her home in New Zealand
Her designs are whimsical and considered "over the top", Betsey Johnson is an American fashion designer with decades of happy customers and inspirational creations. We chat about her famous clients, how she leveraged her early childhood experiences to grow her brand and about a life lived on the cutting edge of New York fashion. Also in this episode, a bonus interview with Nicole DiRocco, creator of Nicolita Swimwear and consultant to designers in Los Angeles. We chat about the resurgence of manufacturing in the LA garment district due to manufacturing and why she says now is a crucial time for aspiring designers.
Betsey Johnson: https://betseyjohnson.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign= BETSEY, A MEMOIR: https://betseyjohnson.com/products/bjmemoir-multi ===================== NICOLE DIROCCO - https://www.mynicolita.com/ INSTAGRAM: @Nicole_di_rocco PODCAST: Fast Track Your Fashion Brand (available on iTunes)
My guest today is Mark Haney...if you are involved in the entrepreneurial world in Northern California you know the name. Not only has he started dozens of businesses….he has and continues to work with entrepreneurs on their own businesses. He’s the president of the Sacramento Entrepreneurs Organization and runs his own HaneyBiz solutions for entrepreneurs. He has a podcast, a radio show and has not only put his moral support and business acumen to work for others...but his money too...he’s invested in quite a few businesses. He’s optimistic by nature, always ready with encouraging words and today is no different...despite the fact that we are currently going through an unprecedented disruption of not only our business lives...but our private lives as well.
Whether we are reporting for a network or creating for clients we are story tellers at heart. For this episode of AFA, we've pulled together friends from across the country to look at 4 cities through the eyes of three professional storytellers. Will Frampton is the founder/CEO of McLeod Media, a creative services firm in Boston. Will is also an award-winning journalist with 15 years in broadcast news. Robert Ray is a current reporter having worked for Fox News and Al Jazeera and the Associated Press before going freelance. He is based in Atlanta but spending a lot of time in the Covid-19 hotspot of New Orleans. We gathered together for a cross country talk back on how four cities are facing the Coronavirus.
At heart, I'm a storyteller, as are many of my friends from the #broadcasting industry. We are all just trying to make sense of what's happening in our communities.
Myself in #boston #massachusetts, along with Cristina Mendonsa in #sacramento #california and Robert Ray in #atlanta #georgia, bring you our perspectives on the week that was, in our #coronavirus-impacted world.
It's a nuanced approach to the hard news, ending with stories of redemption, and the goodness of the human spirit that is shining through all of this. To watch the final five minutes of this piece -- go here https://lnkd.in/etRJdKR
We love being in touch with our friends and colleagues across the country and around the world -- please drop us a line and let us know how you're doing!
Micah Kearns joins me for a conversation about celebrating failure. As the founder of the Sacramento F'up nights, he chats about what attracted him to the event and why he wanted to bring it to his hometown. Information on F'up nights below. Please note: The episode does use the complete name so if you have an aversion to the actual four letter word, be warned.
Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/fuckupnightssac/ Eventbrite event page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fuckup-nights-sacramento-vol-vi-tickets-92791272193 Website: https://fuckupnights.com/sacramento/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micahkearns/
Matthew Grishman is obsessed with challenging the status quo and conventional thinking. He was raised with Wall Street ideals and spent 20 years trying to acquire stuff and conquer the world. After a hard fall from grace in 2005, he began to develop new core beliefs about life, leadership, relationships, and money that ran very counter to my Wall Street upbringing. This author, speaker and innovator is now spreading his message of "Financial Sobriety" to help others by being raw and real about how he overcame personal financial ruin and how those lessons are now helping others. Rarely do you meet someone like Matthew who is so willing to open up about details that many people will relate to in silence. I also talk in this episode about a global organization that encourages people to share their biggest mistakes.
My conversation with Suzanne Somers covers the span of her up and down, triumphant and tragic career and life through early success with Threes Company, her loss of that job when she dared ask for pay equity and her rise through Vegas, product lines and health activism. She appeared in the television role of Chrissy Snow on Three's Company and as Carol Foster Lambert on Step by Step and along the way, became a Las Vegas favorite and launched her business empire with the "ThighMaster". I really push Suzanne on how and why she was able to pivot when Hollywood shut her out and she tells some great stories along the way to her answer. Her health advice has been considered controversial at times but as a multiple NYT best seller, she writes on topics of aging, sex and health. Her latest book is called, "A New Way to Age".
Dr. David Sinclair is author of "Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don't Have To" Dr. Sinclair was named one of Time Magazine's "Most Influential" people. This Harvard researcher reveals a bold new theory on why we age and talks to Cristina about his cutting edge research on how to extend our lifespans. He also reveals something about himself not heard in any other interview.
High tech entrepreneur Lisa Thee joins us to talk about creating an AI assisted app to help prevent human trafficking, child pornography and school violence. Lisa talks about a life changing event she experienced while traveling overseas...what shocked her into taking the leap into her own business.
Jason Redman is a retired US Navy SEAL and NYT best selling author. He speaks and trains and motivates all over the country, telling his story of discipline and resilience while helping his clients develop those skills in their own professional lives. His upcoming book "Overcome" will be available in bookstores on December 9th and is available for pre-sale through his website: JasonRedman.com
Modern life has evolved in a way that sets us up for stress, pressure, and overload. Valorie talks to Cristina about how to choose the meaningful over the urgent in a world where that is becoming harder than ever to do. Burton is the author of twelve books on personal development, founder of The Coaching and Positive Psychology (CaPP) Institute and an international speaker on resilience and happiness.
He's raw and unfiltered but Harry Dent will always let you know whats on his mind. This writer/economist has been predicting the boom and bust cycles of the global economy since the 1970's and talks with Cristina about all things 2020, geopolitics, the election and the emerging economic powers to watch in the next few decades.
Affectionately known as "Dr. B" for his "relatable expertise", Psychiatrist, Dr. Bhargave is highly sought after to lecture locally and nationally on a broad range of topics pertaining to personal growth, effective parenting, relationship satisfaction, and mental health conditions. His new book is called A Moment of Insight: Universal Lessons From a Psychiatrist's Couch
"After launching in 2016 as the top career pick by Axiom Best Business Books, Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One by Jenny Blake is now the go-to career development framework for forward-thinking organizations, pivoters, and entrepreneurs." I chat up Jenny again on all things life-balance, career-choice and how to get what you truly want in life
From medical issue song parodies to hitting back hard on the anti-vax movement, Dr. Zubin "ZDoggMD" Damania takes no prisoners on the most serious topics in healthcare today. This Stanford doctor turned his comedic side hustle into a movement to change healthcare. He created Turntable Health which was an ambitious urban revitalization health care movement funded by the CEO of Zappos.com. With his weekly show, "Incident Report", he uses humor to skewer some of the more offensive, ridiculous and dysfunctional aspects of our healthcare system. He speaks nationally and despite calling out healthcare foibles, Dr. Damania remains an optimist and truly believes most healthcare professionals want to live up to the oath they took when they entered practice.
Detroit reporter Charlie LeDuff has a manic energy, a provocative storytelling style and is a great conversationalist. We jump from immigration to global trade, to local news and where life as a reporter has taken him. His new is book, "Sh*t Show, The Country is Collapsing...And The Ratings Are Great". Charlie is always raw, never boring and insightful on so many topics.
All of those sexy headlines...Cosmopolitan Magazine is the international magazine that set a new standard for discussion of relationships, sex, health, careers, self-improvement, and celebrity. For 14 years Kate White led the brand as Editor-in-Chief.
She is now the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of thirteen novels of suspense: eight Bailey Weggins mysteries and five standalone psychological thrillers, including The Secrets You Keep. Her next suspense novel, Such a Perfect Wife, will be published on May 7.
She has also written several career based books starting with "Why Good Girls Don't Get Ahead....But Gutsy Girls Do" (1995)
Whitney Johnson is a leading thinker on driving corporate innovation through personal disruption. You’ve heard this word a lot but with Whitney, we’re going to get into disruption innovation as art, not only in your professional life but your personal life too. Whitney Johnson is a former award-winning stock analyst on Wall Street...she is a coach for Harvard Business School's Executive Education Program and the author of Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work as well as Build an “A” Team: Play To Their Strengths and Lead Them Up the Learning Curve. She was so easy to talk to and you’ll love her disrupt yourself podcasts too which you can find at whitneyjohnson.com
Kathy Ireland is best known as a supermodel in the 1980's and 90's but as a businesswoman, she has surpassed that success 10 fold. Kathy Ireland Worldwide has made her one of the wealthiest former models in the world and 2 billion in products carry her company's brand.
From furniture to pet products to diamonds, Kathy Ireland's products span the lives and tastes of all demographics. Her philanthropic pursuits include a dedication to education, disease research, and HIV/AIDS.
She is funny and kind and full of great advice too. You'll enjoy the conversation.
One of the pioneers of social influencing in Sacramento, Alejandro Reyes is back in his hometown for a visit and shares insights on building your tribe, creating content people will actually watch and how to effectively use social for your business.
I profiled Alejandro 10 years ago for a project I produced for the Centers for International Trade and he's only grown his skills since then. Take a listen and if you're interested in more, he's offering a free master class in social influencing April 2nd.
Tim Thompson is the CEO of RevThink.com, a consultancy for creative entrepreneurs. He's worked on huge films and award shows and now he helps others position their careers for maximum impact. He's also developed a model called, "The Four Stages of a Creative Career" which can apply to professionals in any industry.
She was co-founder of Home and Garden Television and helped shape the movement of content at HGTV, CNBC and The Food Network. Susan Packard now writes, speaks and coaches men and women in business. Her new book is FULLY HUMAN -3 STEPS TO GROW YOUR EMOTIONAL FITNESS IN WORK, LEADERSHIP, AND LIFE We chat about emotional fitness, creativity, why its all blue skies for content creators and the changing landscape of D2C media.
Whispers Red is is Emma Smith, a London based ASMRtist and sound healer with millions of views to her weekly videos. ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. Just google the term and you'll find many explanations but those who love these whisper videos say the soft sounds and voices leave them relaxed and calm. Since first becoming a YouTube thing in 2010, whisper videos and the sub culture of people who love them has grown into the millions. ASMR has even become mainstream with Zoe Kravitz's super bowl ad bringing ASMR to a massive television audience. Advertisers are now seeking out the most popular ASMRtists to bring products to a curious public and an army of devotees. Emma Smith is an innovator in this new creative genre by incorporating aspects of her sound healing coursework and her background as a vocalist to push her videos to another level. So sit back, relax and get to know Whispers Red as she takes us into her world of ASMR.
He’s a chef, television host, documentary director, winemaker, app builder…is there anything Tyler Florence can’t do? In short, no. We chat with Tyler about the source of his creativity, how early experiences led him to food as his first artistic medium and since this is Valentines Day week…what is the most romantic meal?
Imagine staying anywhere in the world...for free. Luxury accommodations, sweet Paris apartments, a quaint cottage in Italy or 185 other countries. The catch is that you must trust your own home to a stranger. Curious? So was I so I chatted with the president of Home Exchange. This is creative, productive travel and with an open mind...the world is yours.
They say the beginning was chaotic and confusing, yet promising and exciting. In 2012 when Cousins Maine Lobster hit the streets in LA, they had one truck, a small staff and very little restaurant experience. Thankfully, they had passion and an amazing product. From day one, people would line up 50 to 60 people deep. A few years later on Shark Tank, they explained how they wanted to grow the concept and got one of the "sharks" to invest. Dozens of trucks now sell their famous lobster rolls around the country. They've just opened their first international location in Taiwan with an eye to more in the future. Sierra at Tahoe Link: www.sierraattahoe.com/real-deals/?ut…campaign=3-PAK
Glen Hiemstra is an internationally respected expert on future trends, long-range planning and creating the preferred future. Join us for a conversation about how we solve climate change, electrifying all transportation, tech and space exploration. He also has some exercises for you to position yourself for your best future.
Blair Morrison talks about how to keep that physical goal alive past January...how he has managed to turn a passion into a lifestyle and career and how having masters in history from Oxford comes into play. Known as "Tie Dye Nation" when competing internationally, he dispels the myths of the "hard-core" cross fit movement and how he stays creative in a world where he's counted on to motivate others constantly.
We're off to a great start in 2019 with Gordon Tredgold. Gordon is a specialist in Transformational Leadership with extensive global and international experience gained from leading large-scale transformation programs for blue-chip companies.
Gordon and I chat about his FAST program for transforming personal and professional goals into action as well as what constitutes good leadership.
WWW.GordonTredgold.com
12 thought leaders in one episode! We look back on 2018 and ask some of our favorite guests: How do you replenish your creativity and productivity?
Why does a brain researcher take a hot shower to recharge her creativity? What surprising thing does a Stanford creativity professor do to keep her creative? What's so magical about the city of Krakow for creativity and how can meditating on airplane help replenish your creative engine?
Sierra at Tahoe Deal for AFA listeners:
https://www.sierraattahoe.com/real-deals/?utm_source=TheShortList&utm_medium=Website&utm_campaign=3-PAK
Jim Phillips is a life strategist, speaker, author with books and a soon to be released film on the way. Cristina and Jim chat about the 3 truths that will set you free, the 7 key strategies for mastering your life's goals and how to live a life in full expression. Cristina reveals her theme for 2019 and asks for yours as well as updates on some cool new deals from sponsors: New Age Aerial and Sierra at Tahoe. (Links Below!)
What is your theme for 2019? http://www.cristinamendonsa.com/ ((scroll to the bottom for contact form)
Sierra at Tahoe special pricing Link for listeners of A Fresh Agenda https://bit.ly/2EwdRe3 ========================== Jim Phillips www.livinginfullexpression.com =========================== For the best drone services: http://www.newageaerial.com/
Dive into the study of creativity and innovation with Stanford professor Tina Seelig. Dr. Seelig earned her PhD in Neuroscience at Stanford Medical School, and has been a management consultant, entrepreneur, and author of 17 books, including Insight Out (2016), inGenius (2012), and What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20 (2009).
It was only after I scheduled the interview did I realize Gordana and I were born on the same day at almost the same time. That was the omen for a good interview! Gordana is one of Oprah's top 100 soul teachers and you'll understand why after our conversation. She tweets most of her wisdom but has a book out now called:
KnowTheTruth - Why Knowing Who You Are Changes Everything
This Swedish writer and teacher, has a calming, confident wisdom that will have you taking a 50,000 foot view of your own creative life and purpose. Enjoy!
Ben Kugler is an author and career/relationship consultant with careersolutions.biz We chat about how to measure motivation, pivoting to the career you really want and his personal epiphany that led him to a life he loves full time.
Peter Rubin is an editor for Wired Magazine and author of Future Presence: How Virtual Reality Is Changing Human Connection, Intimacy, and the Limits of Ordinary Life We chat about VR gaming, pornography, early adopters, outliers and how we are all most likely to start using the technology. Cristina also discusses VR as the latest packaging for existing messages and what she's reading now.
Travis Fox holds doctorates in Psychology and Clinical Hypnotherapy. His Architect of Being program transforms lives by teaching people to reverse engineer their own hypnotic barriers. Travis and Cristina discuss rediscovering your purpose, moving past anger and why time is of the essence to do both.
Rachel Hollis is an American author, motivational speaker and founder of her own media company. Her self-help book Girl, Wash Your Face has spent more than 17 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list.
Talk about grit! More than 20 years after creating the breast cancer research stamp, Dr. Bodai is still going strong in research for a cure. The stamp has raised over a BILLION dollars and is funding cutting-edge research on treatment and clinical trials. Dr. Bodai talks about those lonely days when no one thought his stamp idea would fly and how he stays creative and inspired to continue innovating.
How do you start a tech incubator in one of the country's most secure prisons? Ask Beverly Parenti, co-founder of The Last Mile. She explains how this tech incubator inside San Quentin Prison is making a difference in the lives of hundreds of people. She is an innovator, entrepreneur and quickly becoming a thought leader on the topic of rehabilitation and the transformation of lives.
Silvia Domiano talks about her i4 method of leadership, her new movie and how she uses a shower to spark creativity.
Mike McNamara consults many of the faces you see on TV and top executives you read about. We start with a discussion of broadcast journalism but quickly move to Mike's career pivots and tips to keep in mind as you transform within your own industry.
I've included new segments of my conversation with Leigh Steinberg as well as a fresh opening comments segment and a fresh tag. Enjoy!
What makes a meaningful property? How do you think creatively when negotiating? I'm up in Oregon this week at a family property with special meaning to me....and we chat with Angelo Garcia, President of Lucas Real Estate Holdings. He purchases and maintains the real estate assets of filmmaker George Lucas. I also have a fun article to share about improving your brain function. Join me for a half hour!
The dynamic Beverly Parenti joins us to talk about cofounding The Last Mile. This serial entrepreneur and her equally talented husband have created a tech incubator within San Quentin Correctional Center and have grown the concept to other institutions. Reducing recidivism was the original goal but the mission has grown and Parenti talks about how she draws inspiration from the men and women creating new paths and new lives for themselves.
Pam Marrone is CEO of Marrone Bio Innovations of Davis, CA. Her company develops bio-friendly pesticides and pioneers new methods of organic growing and production. She is also a strong visionary leader who is also very team-focused. In our conversation she describes her start, the rough patches and the growth and profitabity she's been able to bring to her company while mentoring other start ups.
Best of from the Sacramento Speakers Series Pollan, Leno, Greene & Strayed by Cristina Mendonsa
Patty McCord - Former Netflix Culture Architect and Innovation Leader by Cristina Mendonsa
Janice Bryant Howroyd is the first African American woman to run a billion dollar company. She is also a warm, thoughtful, inspirational speaker and thought leader. Janice and Cristina chat about her business, the Act1 group and how she stays creative while running a global company.
Kristina Roth is the powerhouse founder of SuperShe, a global organization to connect women. She is preparing to welcome the first class of SuperShe to her private island off the coast of Finland where a handpicked group of ladies will spend the Summer wake boarding, hiking, learning and building relationships.
Doug Lipp, author of "Disney U" shares lessons from the company culture of Disney and what four core values have guided every aspect of decision-making for the company. Doug currently travels and lectures to companies around the world.
Melissa Washington is a Navy veteran and the founder of Melissa Washington, Inc. and Women Veterans Alliance. She is a speaker, author, podcaster, award winner, and LinkedIn workshop trainer who is passionate about connecting with people to engage, educate and inspire others across the nation.
Daron Rahlves is the most decorated American male downhill and Super G ski racer. Through World cup wins and a trip to the Vancouver Olympics, Daron's racing career spanned two decades and he still assists the US Olympic Ski team with training and mentoring. During this interview he talks to Cristina about the methods that made him a top competitor, his opinion on the current games in South Korea and how lessons from his sport apply to anyone's life.
Innovator, author and attorney Erin Lyon takes a new twist on Romance writing and wears the genre of "Chick Lit" proudly. She talks to Cristina about creativity, modern love and tells us how she gets into the mood to write those steamy scenes.
This interview with Hector Alvarez is about assessing threats in the workplace or at school. Hector chats with Cristina about what human psychology tells us about how we perceive threats and three things to do if you find yourself in the middle of a violent situation.
After owning a chain of successful home brew stores, Erik Schmid is opening the first industrial brewing company in the city of Folsom. He talks about his inspiration for Red Bus, what he learned all those years helping home brewers and trends in beer for 2018.
Dr. Anthony White is a life coach and business consultant. We talk to him about what to look for in a life coach, what people struggle with most and how he developed his style of consulting. Be inspired!
A conversation with Dr. Anthony White, life coach and business consultant. He talks about what to look for in a life coach, what people struggle with most and how he developed his methods. Join us for a bit of inspiration as you set personal/professional goals for the year!
When the ball drops on 2018, California becomes the largest legal weed market in the world. With the new recreational law comes a flood of entrepreneurs and innovators as well as regulators and legal teams. In this interview we talk to Chip Forsythe of Rebel Coast Winery. They are making the first ever marijuana wine using a method they innovated to comply with the new law and offer customers a new experience.
This is a "best of" for 2017! This end of year podcast features some of my favorite interviews with innovators. Jay Leno chats about his car show, Brian Green gives us a tutorial on time travel and Cheryl Strayed talks about her method for writing.
Interview with NASA Thermal Engineer Josh Fody who is working on emergency fire shelter improvements for firefighters using space technology. He explains the science behind fire shelters and how protecting space craft on re-entry is similar to protecting firefighters surrounded by forest fire.
Cristina Mendonsa interviews author, speaker and career coach Jenny Blake. Blake's book Pivot: The only move that matters is your next one was named Business Insider's "7 books that will change the way you work in 2017". Friendly and engaging, Blake describes her method and how we all need to be ready to pivot creatively in our careers.
This is an interview with documentary filmmaker Doug Orchard, who just finished "The Motivation Factor". The film looks closely at the history of physical education in schools and how it impacts the productivity, creativity and academic/social success of students.