Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people

DeAndre Wilson is the creator of the Keep Rolling Campaign, a fundraising platform that commemorates his father's life and helps nonprofits and families battling cancer who need some extra financial assistance. He is currently working on a documentary to tell his father's story and his story, and describe his health transformation from rolling a 230-pound tractor tire around the city of Evansville, Indiana. During this episode, DeAndre shares: The story behind the tractor tire, and how it became a way to honor his father's legacy How his "roll-arounds" have attracted both positive and negative attention How rolling the tire has helped him with his health transformation How he uses the attention he gets with the tire to raise cancer funding and awareness Follow DeAndre, his fundraising campaigns, and learn more about his upcoming documentary with the links down below! Twitter: @DeAndreDWilson and @keep_rolling812 Instagram: @deandredwilson LinkedIn: DeAndre Wilson Facebook: Keep Rolling Campaign Check out the teaser clip for DeAndre's upcoming documentary. We're also on YouTube! Click here to watch the video of this interview. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast! Click here for the episode transcript.

Is it ever too late to find and follow your passion? According to Connie Inukai, passion has no expiration date. At age 72, she calls herself a "Grandmapreneur." After retiring from her teaching career at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University, Connie invented a product called Tip 'n Split, a handheld device with magnifier, light, tip calculator, and bill splitter. Her book, "How I Got My Product on QVC, The Today Show, The View, and More...in Retirement" has helped inventors get publicity for their inventions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she has used the time in lockdown to chronicle her life story for her grandchildren, and now helps others write their stories through her latest project, "Write Your Selfie." During this episode, you will hear Connie talk about: The story behind the creation of the Tip 'n Split How she learned about inventing, and the challenges she faced with manufacturing How she got on QVC's radar before she even had a prototype of the Tip 'n Split Her family connection to a major historical event, and how she discovered she wasn't the only inventor in the family Why she believes that everyone should be able to tell their story To find out more about Connie and her work, you can check out her website Grandmapreneurinventor.com and the websites for Tip 'n Split and Write Your Selfie. Follow her on Instagram at @grandmapreneurinventor and she will follow you back! You can also request a free PDF of Connie's book by visiting the Write Your Selfie website and clicking the Contact menu. Be sure to mention that you are a Beyond 6 Seconds listener! We're also on YouTube! Click here to watch the video of this interview. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast! Click here for the episode transcript.

Bea Spadacini is an activist and writer whose goal is to promote peace and justice by elevating conversations about issues that are often underrepresented in the mainstream media. Originally from Italy, she has lived in the United States for over twenty years and has traveled to Africa and Asia as part of her communications work with humanitarian organizations. Currently she is the Executive Producer and Co-Host of the One in Four Podcast, which focuses on the re-entry process of people who have experienced incarceration. On this episode, you will hear Bea talk about: How her work with Amnesty International made her aware of the issues of mass incarceration and police force against people of color in the U.S., particularly against Black and Latino men – and how it led her to create the One in Four Podcast to highlight the many issues facing formerly incarcerated people who are re-entering society The stories of resilience, humanity and community support that she shares on the One in Four Podcast -- and the importance of sharing these stories now The challenges of running, funding and marketing an independent podcast Learn more about the One in Four Podcast at www.oneinfourpodcast.com, on Twitter @Bea_Spadacini and @oneinfourpodcast or by emailing podcastoneinfour at gmail.com. You can also support the One in Four Podcast by making a donation or leaving a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast! Click here for the episode transcript.

Angelica Goncalves is an adult who has lived with dyslexia all her life. She was diagnosed at the age of six. Growing up, people told her she would never succeed or achieve her goals, but with the support of her parents and constant determination, she proved those predictions wrong. Born and raised in Canada, Angelica attended George Brown College and graduated in Architectural Technology. She worked in the retail/service industry for 13 years, was a personal trainer for 4 years, and currently works in the construction industry. She also hosts a podcast called "A Little Bit of Everything With Me!" Her goal is to show others with learning disabilities that they can achieve their goals too. During this episode, Angelica shares her story of struggling, living and thriving with a learning disability, including: How she realized at a young age that she had a learning disability How her experiences at school hindered her rather than helped her How her parents helped her stay the course through her education How she finally found her way in the working world with careers that she is passionate about Why she created her podcast and how it helped her meet more people like herself You can find out more about Angelica and her work on her official website, www.everythingwithange.com. You can also connect with her on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast! Click here for the episode transcript.

Tiffani Teachey is a Senior Mechanical Engineer, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) advocate, professional speaker, and author of the children's book "What Can I Be? STEM Careers from A to Z." She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, as well as a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management, both from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. As an engineer with more than fifteen years of experience, Tiffani has a passion for inspiring the next generation to engage in STEM careers. On this episode, you will hear Tiffani talk about: What inspired her to write a children's book about STEM careers How she chose STEM careers to match with each letter of the alphabet, and how the "STEM Crew Kids" help children see themselves in each career What it's like to get classrooms of young kids excited about STEM careers Her future writing plans for teenagers and young adults If you want to know more about Tiffani and her work, you can check her out on her official links down below! Website: www.tiffaniteachey.com FaceBook: @tiffaniteacheyauthor FaceBook Group "STEM Books for Kids": https://www.facebook.com/groups/STEMBooksforKids/ Instagram: @tiffaniteachey Twitter: @tiffaniteachey Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast! Click here for the episode transcript.

Denayja Reese is an event strategist, producer & writer who has worked on campaigns with Uber, the San Francisco Giants, Live Nation and Airbnb, as well as on content production at Coachella. Her full-service event production company, Girl With That Laugh Productions, has worked on events including the A3C Festival & Conference and BlackTech Week. During this episode, Denayja talks about: How she decided to become an entrepreneur Overcoming her challenges with self-esteem, mental health and addiction to build a brighter future for herself The book she's been writing during quarantine about her own life story What it takes to make positive changes in your life Learn more about Denayja and her work on her website at gwtlp.com and connect with her on Instagram @girlwiththatlaugh. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast! Click here for the episode transcript.

Jonathan Javier is the CEO and Founder of Wonsulting, a career consulting company whose mission is to turn underdogs into winners: helping those who come from non-target schools and non-traditional backgrounds get their dream careers at top companies. By leveraging his experience in Strategy & Operations at Google, Snap, & Cisco, and his successful LinkedIn networking strategies, he has provided advice on LinkedIn and through more than 75 speaking engagements in 4 different countries. On this episode, you will hear Jonathan talk about: How he used his LinkedIn network to get job interviews at top companies after graduating from college -- and how he made powerful impressions during the interviews to get hired How important it is for job seekers to actually ask for help from fellow professionals and recruiters How Wonsulting helps students and professionals get into their dream companies To get in contact with Jonathan, you can find him on LinkedIn. You can also find out more about Wonsulting at www.wonsulting.com, on Instagram @wonsulting, on LinkedIn or by emailing [email protected]. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast! Click here for the episode transcript.

Marcia Moran was a successful business strategist who had been building her business over the last 20+ years. She thought she had life by the tail, but little did she know what was in store. After suffering a major stroke in 2014 at the age of 53, Marcia applied her skills in planning and strategy as she strived to become whole. In 2019 she published a book about her experience called "Stroke FORWARD," to bring hope to stroke survivors and their caretakers, and share how becoming her own health advocate and exploring holistic methods for healing were keys to her recovery. Marcia speaks and shares her message of hope, inspiration, healing, and a way forward across the country. During this episode, you will hear Marcia talk about: Her experience with her stroke and the challenges she faced during her recovery How her husband Jim became her health advocate until she was eventually able to advocate for herself How holistic health methods helped her recover from aphasia How her book can help stroke survivors and caretakers navigate life after a stroke To find out more about Marcia and her work, you can check out her official site at strokeforward.com, including some special bonuses for Beyond 6 Seconds listeners! You can also purchase her book here and connect with her on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast! Click here for the episode transcript.

Dan Ram is a 3x entrepreneur, prolific speaker, recording artist and startup coach. The son of an Indian diplomat, he draws inspiration from his eclectic background growing up in 10 countries, and he has actively worked on 5 continents. Dan is a founder, investor and coach to more than 100 startups in multiple countries. He has advised the Irish National Government on their Entrepreneurship Policy, consulted for multinationals, hosted some of the largest startup events on the planet, mentored at accelerators and facilitated deal flows for investors. He lectures on entrepreneurship and is a regular speaker and emcee in the local and international startup circuit. He has shared the stage with some of the most influential changemakers in the world. On this episode, you will hear Dan talk about: How curiosity, consistency and excellence have helped him refine his talents over the years How his first big event-hosting opportunity came as a result of a previous failure Why being an introvert is a superpower, and why "nerves" on stage are a good thing How he gets speaking gigs (hint: it's not through pitching!) How his philosophy of "start now start simple" has had a profound impact on people Why he doesn't have any clear-cut goals – and what drives him instead Learn more about Dan and his work on iamdanram.com and through his social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast! Click here for the episode transcript.

Jennifer Brown is a leading diversity and inclusion expert, dynamic keynote speaker, best-selling author, award-winning entrepreneur and host of The Will To Change podcast, which uncovers true stories of diversity and inclusion. As the founder, president and CEO of Jennifer Brown Consulting, Jennifer's workplace strategies have been employed by some of the world's top Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits—including Walmart, Microsoft, Starbucks and many others— to help employees bring their full selves to work and feel Welcomed, Valued, Respected and Heard℠. On this episode, you will hear Jennifer talk about: How her background in nonprofit work, opera singing and off-Broadway theater performance led to her career in training & development How a corporate layoff led her to reposition herself in her career and start her own diversity & inclusion consulting firm What to do if you feel like your career or your workplace might not be a match for you The damaging impact of bias and stereotypes on individuals and businesses, and what leaders can do about it Her own experience with "bringing her full self to work" as an LGBTQ+ woman Her belief that everyone has a diversity story, and how this realization can lead to more inclusive conversations If you want to know more about Jennifer and her work, here are other links you can check out! JenniferBrownConsulting.com (Business website) JenniferBrownSpeaks.com (Personal website) Book Website: How To Be an Inclusive Leader (or purchase the book on Amazon) The Will to Change Podcast (on Apple Podcasts) Facebook Instagram: @jenniferbrownspeaks Twitter: @jenniferbrown LinkedIn Click here for the episode transcript. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Today I get to talk with one of my most favorite comedians ever, John Heffron! John is a stand up comedy veteran and winner of NBC's Last Comic Standing season two. His latest comedy album is called Episodes, and he just published a new spy thriller book called The Holding Deal. He also has a new podcast called Kid With a Cape. On this episode we talk about the impact of COVID-19 on the comedy world (and life in general), what inspires John's comedy, and tips for writing a great book even if you are not a great writer. You can find links to all of John's social media, his book, podcast, album and more on his LinkTree site. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Wayne Baker is the author of the new book "All You Have To Do Is Ask: How to Master the Most Important Skill for Success." He is the Robert P. Thome Professor of Business Administration at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, and Faculty Director of the Center for Positive Organizations. Wayne is also a cofounder and board member of Give and Take, Inc., the developers of the Givitas platform based on the principles in his new book. On this episode, you will hear Wayne talk about: How his research led him to realize that the main obstacle that prevents people from getting the help they need, is their willingness (or unwillingness) to ask for help The importance of asking for what you need to developing your career and finding success in your life Some examples of how he has asked for help The importance of maintaining human connection in the time of COVID-19 You can connect with Wayne on LinkedIn and learn more about his book at AllYouHaveToDoIsAsk.com.You can also find out more about the Givitas platform here as well. Click here for the episode transcript. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Harris Rosen is the President & Chief Operating Officer of Rosen Hotels & Resorts. He is Florida's largest independent hotelier, having built a portfolio of eight hotels in Orlando, with close to 7,000 guestrooms, over the course of 45 years. He is also a philanthropist who has created and funded initiatives to support local Orlando communities, including a program to provide free preschool and college scholarships to the youth of Tangelo Park, and a similar initiative in the downtown Orlando Parramore district. He has been honored with the Coretta Scott King A.N.G.E.L. Award for his impact on Tangelo Park, and he believes that the successes of these local initiatives provide a template for uplifting America, one community at a time. Also joining us today is Chuck Dziuban, Director of the Research Initiative for Teaching Effectiveness at the University of Central Florida, who works with Harris on the Tangelo Park project. During this episode, you will hear Harris and Chuck talk about: Harris's first hotel job as a young boy, and the chance meeting with two famous celebrities that made him decide he wanted to pursue a career in hospitality How Harris grew his career by pursuing opportunities all around the country and even internationally, including managing a property in Mexico and working for Disney in their hotel division The story behind Harris' purchase of his first hotel property The ingenious way that Harris secured business for his hotel during the oil crisis of the mid-1970s How Harris began his philanthropy with the Tangelo Park project Why Harris and Chuck believe that expanding this program to other communities would have a powerful impact on American society Find out more about the Tangelo Park Program here, and more about The Harris Rosen Foundation here. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Arlan Hamilton is the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, a fund dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech by investing in high-potential founders who are people of color, women, and/or LGBT. Started from scratch in 2015, Backstage has now raised more than $10 million and invested in more than 130 startup companies led by underestimated founders. Arlan's brand new book "It's About Damn Time" was published on May 5, 2020. On this episode, you will hear Arlan talk about: What inspired her to share her life lessons and practical guidance in her new book How she built her own venture capital company, despite not having the background, network or resources of a typical venture capitalist Why she decided to focus her financial investments on underrepresented founders How new entrepreneurs have a unique advantage during the current crisis – and how established entrepreneurs can get themselves "unstuck" Success stories from the start-ups that Arlan has invested in, including CurlMix (a subscription box for do-it-yourself hair products), Paladin (a pro bono platform for lawyers to increase access to justice), and Bippy (an eco-friendly personal wellness brand) Learn more about Arlan and order your copy of "It's About Damn Time" at itsaboutdamntime.com. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Rahkim Sabree is an author, speaker, and nonprofit co-founder specializing in personal finance and mentoring. He recently released his second book entitled "Financially Irresponsible" and delivered a TEDx talk in December 2019 on Financial Empowerment. On this episode, you will hear Rahkim talk about: His early experiences with learning about finances, and how he started his financial services career at a young age Why he called his book "Financially Irresponsible," and how it helps people become more financially literate How he believes that millennial behavior is changing the way people work and generate wealth Why having the right mindset about your finances is the first step to becoming financially empowered How his passions for financial education and mentorship fuel the mission of his non-profit, An Extended Hand Inc., to help empower and educate those who are at risk of or currently impacted by homelessness You can find Rahkim on his website at www.RahkimSabree.com, buy his book Financially Irresponsible on Amazon, and connect with him on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Click here to read the full episode transcript. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Toni Coleman Brown is an author, small business strategist and online marketing expert, with a focus on email lead generation and sales conversion. She is the founder of the Network for Women in Business, an online educational platform that teaches female entrepreneurs her signature small business success program, as well as the host and creator of two popular live events: The Small Business Bootcamp for Women and the Online Marketing Mastermind Live. On this episode, you will hear Toni talk about: How she taught herself internet marketing with a hands-on approach, which included creating lead capture pages and running Google Ads The value of communicating with your customers regularly through email Why she created a business bootcamp focused on helping women succeed with their online marketing How she has found balance between her corporate job and her side businesses Her perspective as a solo entrepreneur You can find Toni at thenetworkforwomeninbusiness.com and tonicolemanbrown.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest as well! Click here to read the full episode transcript. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Garrison Redd is a TEDx speaker, para-powerlifter, model, dancer, and most of all, an advocate for disabled rights. He founded an organization called "TheGarrisonReddProject" to provide resources and services that improve the well-being of disabled individuals. On this episode, Garrison shares: Why he left his government job to start his own organization The job searching challenges faced by many people with disabilities How he realized his impact as a positive role model for the younger generation How he discovered his talent for competitive para-powerlifting How he controls his fear when doing something new or challenging You can follow Garrison on Instagram @garrisonredd to see his workout videos and other fun & motivating posts, connect with him on LinkedIn and learn more about TheGarrisonReddProject at www.thegarrisonreddproject.org. Click here to read the episode transcript. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Hira Ali is the CEO of Advancing Your Potential, Managing Director of International Women Empowerment Events, Founding Director of Career Excel, and Co-Founder of The Grey Area. Her leadership and coaching articles have been published in The Huff Post, Thrive Global, Women @ Forbes, Ellevate Network, Entrepreneur, and many more. In her new book, "Her Way to the Top: A Guide to Smashing the Glass Ceiling", Hira highlights the roadblocks impeding a woman's climb to the top, irrespective of her culture and geography. She is passionate about empowering women and ethnic minorities and is a strong advocate of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. During this episode, you will hear Hira talk about: Why she started creating female empowerment events while working in HR in Pakistan The survey she conducted to understand the challenges that women and ethnic minorities face globally – and her advice for combating these challenges How she was able to restart her business and build her reputation online after moving from Dubai to London How she makes authentic connections with the influencers she admires – many of whom have reviewed her book and shared her blog posts You can find out more about Hira on her website, www.AdvancingYourPotential.com, and connect with her on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Her book "Her Way to the Top" is available for purchase in print and as an ebook. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Jeremy Miller is a brand strategist, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and the founder of Sticky Branding, a brand building agency. His first book, also called Sticky Branding, is a playbook for how small- and mid-sized companies challenge the giants of their industry to grow their brands. In October 2019, Jeremy published his latest book, Brand New Name, which provides a proven, step-by-step process to create an unforgettable name for anything — a brand, company, product, service, or idea — by unlocking the creative genius of teams. During this episode, you will hear Jeremy talk about: His introduction to the world of branding through a crisis in his family business How your team is a secret weapon for creating a new name for your company Why people in companies are afraid to be creative The problem with "personal branding" Learn more about Jeremy's work at the Sticky Branding website and connect with him on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. His books Sticky Branding and Brand New Name are available on Amazon. A full episode transcript is available here. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Jessica Inserra is a Los Angeles based stand-up comedian whose irreverent humor explores, among other things, themes from her life as a gay woman growing up in a colorful New York Italian family. Jessica recently commemorated 25 years of being out, having burst through the closet doors at the tender age of 14. Now she can be seen performing her unique brand of brash, edgy comedy at The Comedy Store, as well as other venues in and around Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Seattle and beyond. She is currently working on her own stand-up special entitled, "Jessica Inserra, Pretty Gay." On this episode, you will hear Jessica talk about: What inspired her to pursue stand-up comedy, after more than a decade of managing a plastic surgeon's office (which is still her full-time job!) -- and how she balances her job with pursuing her comedy passion Her experience working with legendary comedian Gerry Katzman in his stand-up comedy class -- and how she overcame constant fear and self-doubt as she developed and practiced her material How she feels about finding success at the beginning of her career and being able to meet her comedy idols How being "familiar" and feminine as a gay woman has helped her both in her comedy and her life You can follow Jessica on Instagram at @jessinserra and on her website, www.prettygay.net. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Mario Armstrong is a two-time Emmy Award Winner, Digital Lifestyle Expert, entrepreneur, TV Host, public speaker, and motivator for the modern world, who delivers tactical advice to inspire people to take action towards pursuing their goals, dreams and passions. He's the Host of the Never Settle Show, an NBC TODAY Show Contributor, appears on Dr. Oz, Steve Harvey, NPR, Inside Edition & more, and is a public speaker with Daymond John's Shark Group's Speaking Division. Mario's new daily podcast, entitled "Wake Up and Level Up," kickstarts your day in under 5 minutes with a jolt of inspiration, advice and personal growth formulas. It recently became a Top 200 podcast on the iTunes Self-Help charts and is in the top 10% of all podcasts around the country. On this episode, you will hear Mario talk about: How he became interested in Digital Technology as a child How his "3-ask" question formula has helped him (and others) accelerate their success How he balanced his first radio job with his full time job His career journey that led him to become a featured correspondent on national TV – but still presents obstacles that he must overcome How he keeps moving forward in the face of "No" His advice for managing your fears and achieving your dreams You can find Mario on www.neversettle.tv, on the Never Settle Network YouTube Channel, on Instagram at @marioarmstrong and on his podcast Wake Up and Level Up. Be sure to let him know that you heard him on Beyond 6 Seconds! A full episode transcript is available here. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Sydney Nanberg defied the conventional expectations of society by dropping out of college -- and then went on to build a six-figure marketing business by the young age of 20. Now Sydney teaches others how to better their lives with self-care, mindset, and entrepreneurship. Sydney's journey has been amazing, but certainly not easy. On this episode, she shares: How failing a college test led her to completely change her course in life How her challenges with mental health and being bullied influenced her mindset How getting out of her comfort zone improved her life How she learned the key skills she needed to start and grow her own successful marketing agency Learn more about Sydney through her blog and her podcast, She Did It. You can also contact her on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, and through her marketing agency, Digital Maverick. A full episode transcript is available here. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Ginni Saraswati is an award-winning journalist, radio personality and celebrity interviewer with a unique brand of comedy that includes quick-witted introductions and on-air antics. She's the founder of Ginni Media, a boutique podcast production company, and the host of the podcast, The Ginni Show. On this episode, Ginni talks about: Her transition from working behind the scenes at an Australian radio station to becoming an on-air media personality What it was like moving from her native Sri Lanka to Australia at a young age How her large family life influences her radio work and her comedy How her family reacted when they unexpectedly discovered she was gay Her experiences interviewing celebrity guests -- including the time she made Paula Abdul crack up with laughter! Follow Ginni on Facebook and @theginnishow on Instagram and Twitter, and listen to The Ginni Show podcast at www.theginnishow.com. To learn more about Ginni Media, visit www.ginnimedia.com to see what production services the company offers and download free resources for starting your own podcast. A full episode transcript is available here. Sign up for my free newsletter for the latest updates about Beyond 6 Seconds, and receive my free checklist for getting started with your own podcast!

Welcome to a special mini episode of Beyond 6 Seconds! I recorded this episode from She Podcasts Live, the first conference of its kind for women podcasters, which took place in October 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. While I was here surrounded by so many talented podcasters, I wanted to learn more about their experiences… so I caught up with 6 podcasters at the conference and asked them one question: "What's the most meaningful experience you've had as a result of having your podcast?" In this episode, you'll hear the answers from these six podcasters: Elikqitie: Travel Gluten Free Podcast www.travelglutenfreepodcast.com @TravGlutenFree on Twitter @travelglutenfreepodcast on Instagram Alysa Lucas: Best Forevers - A Podcast for Kindred Spirits: bestforeverspod.libsyn.com ; @bestforeverspod on Twitter and Instagram Fataliteas: fataliteas.libsyn.com ; @fataliteaspod on Twitter and Instagram Elaine: Angus Eye Tea anguseyetea.com @anguseyetea on Twitter and Instagram Danielle: Everybody's National Parks www.everybodysnationalparks.com @EverybodysNPs on Twitter @everybodysnationalparks on Instagram Chrisella Herzog: Utah Podcast Summit: www.utahpodcastsummit.com ;@PeakPodcastsUT on Twitter, @utahpodcastsummit on Instagram Lonely Ladypreneur: directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/85445 ; @ladypreneurspod on Twitter, @lonelyladypreneur on Instagram Dot Citizen: dotcitizen.libsyn.com ; @DotCitizenPod on Twitter Coach Christine – Your Empty Nest Coach: youremptynestcoach.com @emptynestcoach on Twitter and Instagram I'd love to hear from you! Are you a podcaster? What's been the most meaningful thing that's happened because of your podcast? Are you thinking of starting a podcast? What dreams do you have for it? Go to my Facebook group and let me know! www.facebook.com/groups/beyond6seconds Sign up for my free newsletter and receive my free checklist for getting started with your own podcast! Beyond 6 Seconds is taking a short break for the rest of December, but we'll be back in January with more extraordinary stories from everyday people. In the meantime, you can catch up on any episodes you may have missed by visiting www.beyond6seconds.com. Have a great rest of 2019, and we'll see you in January 2020!

This week's guest is Josh Stine, the co-founder and CEO of Seat Insiders, an event ticket concierge agency serving companies and individuals around the world. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Josh worked in cyber security and management consulting at PwC. Josh has also started several other successful side hustles over the past four years, but he has turned his focus solely to Seat Insiders since its founding. On this episode, you will hear Josh talk about: His journey from Big 4 consulting to the ticketing industry How the changes in the ticketing industry are beneficial for both fans and artists alike How building international relationships has created opportunities for fans to go to events around the world You can contact Josh on www.seatinsiders.com and by email at [email protected]. You can also learn more about Seat Insiders on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Special offer for Beyond 6 Seconds listeners: Seat Insiders is giving five listeners a free 1-year concierge membership (a $240 value)! To claim this offer, go to www.seatinsiders.com, click the contact us link, and fill out the contact form -- be sure you mention Beyond 6 Seconds in your message! ---- Become a Beyond 6 Seconds Insider today and receive our free checklist for getting started with your own podcast!

Miracle Olatunji is a college student, entrepreneur, and author of "Purpose: How To Live and Lead With Impact." In high school, she founded OpportuniMe, an award-winning education organization which democratizes access to summer experiential learning opportunities for high school students. On this episode, Miracle shares: How her own struggle with finding summer opportunities in high school lead her to create OpportuniMe How she balances her life as a full time college student and entrepreneur What inspired her to write her book, "Purpose: How To Live and Lead With Impact" You can find Miracle on Twitter at @mirolatunji, on Instagram at @miracleolatunji, and on LinkedIn. Special offer for Beyond 6 Seconds listeners: If you Venmo $12 to @MiracleO, and email [email protected] with your mailing address, she will mail you a signed copy of her book! --- Become a Beyond 6 Seconds Insider today and receive our free checklist for getting started with your own podcast! --- Full Bio: Miracle Olatunji is a student, entrepreneur, innovation director, and author of Purpose: How To Live and Lead With Impact. In high school, she founded OpportuniMe, an award-winning education organization which democratizes access to summer experiential learning opportunities that enable high school youth to develop life and leadership skills, cultivate their passions, become socially conscious, and build their network. Through OpportuniMe, hundreds of youth have been able to find and secure incredible opportunities. Miracle is a passionate advocate for access to opportunities because she has seen firsthand how even just one opportunity, connection, or resource can change the trajectory of someone's life! Miracle served as a member of the advisory board for the Diamond Challenge, one of the world's largest entrepreneurship programs for high school students. While in her sophomore year at Northeastern University, she is the Director of Innovation at Thrive, a student organization which empowers college students through financial literacy programs and supports student-led entrepreneurial ventures in personal finance and financial technology. She hosts an event series that provides actionable advice and strategies for young women on building their net worth, self worth, and network. Miracle is also a volunteer on the programming team for Startup Boston 2019. Miracle has been honored as a Young Global Leadership Scholar, Youth Entrepreneur Of The Year, a 'Woman To Watch', one of The Root 25 Young Futurists & Changemakers, and grand prize winner of the World Series of Entrepreneurship. She has been featured in Forbes, Thrive Global, Technical.ly, The Female Lead, and other leading publications. Miracle was also selected as one of America's Amazing Teens by the AAT Project, which identifies exceptional youth who are changing the world. Citing Oprah Winfrey, Sallie Krawcheck, and Tiffany Pham as her top role models, Miracle firmly believes in the importance of giving back, mentorship, and empowering others. She hopes to one day start a foundation that grants scholarships and grants to underrepresented young leaders and changemakers.

This week's episode features Michael Basagre, who founded and runs a career coaching service and blog called Momettas while he works as a packaging consultant in New Zealand. Momettas focuses on helping young adults between the ages of 15 and 30 succeed as they transition out of key life milestones such as leaving school or university, getting their first job or looking for that next step in their career. In addition, Michael is dedicated to helping people discover a passion for personal development by helping uncover their core values. On this episode, you can hear Michael talk about: How his passion for helping others became his side hustle How he balances his energy between family, a full-time job, and Momettas How living out your core values can help you find career success The unusual technique Michael uses to help his clients uncover their core values Why he encourages his clients to talk about their core values in job interviews The importance of keeping your core values in mind as you develop your own business or creative projects You can learn more about Michael on the Momettas website, www.momettas.com, and blog, www.momettas.com/blogs. If you are between the ages of 15 – 30 and would like some career coaching, feel free to contact Michael at [email protected] for one free coaching session (and mention that you heard him on the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast)! The Seven Fundamental Tools that Michael uses with his coaching clients: Self-Awareness Change of Mindset Decide what your core values are Build a solid character Begin believing Inspire personal change Encourage positive change through ongoing continuous improvement

On this episode, meet Meg He, the co-founder of ADAY, a direct-to-consumer clothing brand that creates versatile, long-lasting apparel with a sustainable approach. ADAY was recognized as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company, and Meg was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list with her co-founder, Nina Faulhaber. Prior to ADAY, Meg worked at Poshmark, Cowboy Ventures and Goldman Sachs, and received degrees at Oxford University and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. On this episode, you will hear Meg talk about: Her struggles and achievements as a Chinese immigrant living and going to school in Wales and in England Her career, which ranges from working in investment banking in London, to venture capital and technology in Silicon Valley, to her own start-up in New York City What inspired her to become an entrepreneur and innovate within the fashion and apparel industry You can find ADAY online at www.thisisaday.com, on Facebook, Twitter, and at their showroom in New York City.

Nir Eyal writes, consults and teaches about behavior design and habit formation -- at the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. He has been dubbed "The Prophet of Habit-Forming Technology" by the MIT Technology Review, has founded two tech companies since 2003 and has taught at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. Nir is also the author of the bestselling book, "Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products" and a brand new book called "Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life." On this episode, you will hear Nir talk about: What really causes distraction (Hint: it's not technology!) How we use distraction as a coping mechanism for escaping discomfort How planning and timeboxing can help you avoid distraction (and why to-do lists are a myth) How to become indistractable at work For more information about Indistractable: Order the book and get bonus content at www.indistractable.com Download the free distraction guide and timeboxing schedule maker tool You can also read more of Nir's writing on his blog at www.nirandfar.com. A full episode transcript is available here.

Carly Fiorina began her career as a secretary for a nine-person real-estate business, and eventually became the first woman ever to lead a Fortune 50 company as the CEO of Hewlett Packard. Her amazing career even includes running for the U.S. presidency in 2015. Now, Carly is the founder and chairman of Carly Fiorina Enterprises and of Unlocking Potential, a nonprofit organization that helps local leaders increase their leadership and problem-solving capabilities. Carly is also a best-selling author. She shares her amazing leadership journey and lessons learned in her third book, "Find Your Way," which was released in early 2019. During this podcast episode, Carly shares: Examples of how she learned to problem-solve early in her career How she faced her fear and overcame bullies in the workplace Why she wrote her latest book, "Find Your Way" How she helps leaders build and practice their leadership skills How she selects the leaders who she interviews on her podcast, "By Example" You can find more information about Carly's work on her website, www.carlyfiorina.com, and learn more about "By Example," her podcast where she interviews extraordinary leaders about their experiences and lessons that listeners can learn from. A full episode transcript is available here.

On this episode, you'll meet Tabitha Cavanagh, creator of the #StrongAssMindset hashtag on social media, and a co-chair of the Never Too Young Advisory Board for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. After facing an unexpected colon cancer diagnosis at a young age, Tabitha joined the field of recruiting, where she discovered her passion for bringing the right people together for the right opportunities at the right time, and helping others create intentional and meaningful mindsets. You can find Tabitha on LinkedIn and through her hashtags, #TabTheRecruiter and #StrongAssMindset.

After working as a corporate marketing executive for over twenty years, Ajay Prasad decided to become his own boss. In 2004, he left the corporate world and started GMR Web Team, a digital marketing agency. After switching the focus of the business to healthcare, Ajay now works with healthcare providers to improve their online presence and increase their base of patients. Since then, Ajay has also become a serial entrepreneur: he has founded RepuGen, an online reputation software for healthcare businesses, and GMR Transcription, a transcription company. On this episode, you will hear from Ajay about how he develops his employees' careers, what he looks for when he hires people, how he identifies the right clients, and how his experience in the corporate world compares to entrepreneurship. You can find Ajay on LinkedIn, and on Twitter @ajayprasad_. You can also find more information about his companies at www.gmrwebteam.com, www.repugen.com, and www.gmrtranscription.com.

Marsha Guerrier is a bestselling author, speaker, trainer, business analyst and coach, and CEO of Women on the Rise NY, Inc., a small business consulting agency. Marsha also has a full-time career in Financial Technology spanning over 20 years working for Fortune 500 and startup firms, working in areas of Quality Assurance, Business Analysis and Product Management. On this episode, Marsha shares how Women on the Rise NY provides women who work full time jobs with the community and resources to build their own businesses. She talks about how her coaching helps women entrepreneurs develop strategies that improve their Mindset, Money, Marketing and Media – and how they can increase their revenue by applying structure and organization to their businesses. Join Marsha at the 6th Annual Women on the Rise Forum & Expo (October 18-19, 2019 in New York City) for: A mastermind day full of hands-on training for entrepreneurs, including revenue planning and email automation Panel discussions on Mindset, Money, Marketing and Media A "kidpreneur" workshop where mothers and daughters can learn basic steps of entrepreneurship Learn more about Women on the Rise on the web at www.womenontheriseny.com , on Instagram @womenontherisenetwork , Twitter @wotrnetwork , or Facebook at womenontherisenetwork . Marsha's full bio: Marsha Guerrier is a bestselling author, speaker, trainer, business analyst and coach, and CEO of Women on the Rise NY, Inc. a small business consulting agency. Marsha has a full-time career in the Financial Technology spanning over 20 years working for Fortune 500 and startup firms, working in areas of Quality Assurance, Business Analysis and Product Management. Marsha is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Yva Jourdan Foundation, Inc. a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families with children with special needs and women entrepreneurs. Marsha holds a Bachelors of Science in Business, Management and Economics. Through Women on the Rise NY, Inc. she provides 1 on 1 coaching and a business mastermind group, as well as an annual Forum & Expo. She is available for panel discussions and workshops on Business Success Startup, Your Business and Your Brand and Developing a CEO Mindset. Published Books: - Life Balance for the Women on the Rise - Business Success Strategies for Women on the Rise - Soaring Beyond the 9 to 5 for Women on the Rise (10/2019)

Forrest Schaffer is a "9-to-5er" at a digital marketing company and the founder of One Strong Herd, a fitness apparel and accessories brand and startup company. Forrest talks about the twists and turns in his career path, which included leaving his 9-5 job to join a startup that recruited him – only to be fired 9 days later – and how he used his time during the aftermath to find his current job and grow his startup. In addition to entrepreneurship, Forrest is passionate about the topics of personal finance and digital marketing. We talk about how he shares simple personal finance tools and advice for millennials on his YouTube channel, and how he uses digital marketing to market One Strong Herd. He even shares some great SEO tips for improving your search ranking on Google that you can apply to your own business! Learn more about Forrest at the One Strong Herd website www.onestrongherd.com and Instagram @onestrongherd and on his personal Instagram @forrestschaffer. Free gift for Beyond 6 Seconds listeners: Get 2 free audiobooks on Audible and free access for 1 month at amzn.to/2XAQSb9

On this episode I talk with Gail Tolstoi-Miller -- an award-winning dual CEO, experienced recruiter, author and global keynote speaker -- about unconscious bias in hiring. Having personally felt the impact of unconscious bias early in her life, she now works with her corporate clients to raise awareness of unconscious bias and helps job seekers combat unconscious bias and even use it to their advantage. Gail also gave a TEDx talk on unconscious bias in hiring and recently launched her online course about this topic on Udemy. Gail shares her thoughts, insights and advice on: What unconscious bias is, and why everyone has it How unconscious bias shows up in the hiring process The personal experiences that solidified her desire to bust unconscious bias How she challenges her clients' bias, starting with two simple words: "So What?" The drawbacks of cherry-picking diversity How affinity bias hinders creativity and innovation in an organization, and trickles down to their customers and clients What it was like preparing and presenting a TEDx talk, how it has helped her brand and business … and what to do when you forget part of your talk on stage What the dreaded word "overqualified" really means How job seekers can use unconscious bias to their advantage Connect with Gail on LinkedIn, Facebook or via email at [email protected] , and check out her TEDx Talk and Unconscious Bias Course on Udemy. Gail's full bio: Gail Tolstoi-Miller is an award winning dual CEO. She is CEO of Consultnetworx, which provides recruiting, diversity and unconscious bias strategy services. In addition, she is CEO of Careernetwork, a career and business coaching organization. Gail is also the author of the award winning book "Networking Karma", a guide on how to network successfully with giving. Lastly, she is a global keynote speaker and gave an unhinged TEDx talk on Unconscious Bias in hiring.

Michelle Tillis Lederman, one of Forbes' Top 25 Networking Experts, is the author of four books including the #1 new release, The Connector's Advantage. She is also the CEO of Executive Essentials, which provides customized communications and leadership programs for Fortune 500, non-profit, university and government clients. She is well known for helping people connect, work better together and advance their individual impact. On this episode, Michelle shares her career journey and valuable advice about networking, including: How she found her calling for coaching, communications and training while working in finance How she embraced opportunities to practice what she loved on the job, before taking the plunge into entrepreneurship Her experience as the only woman on the trading floor and global venture capital team The six types of relationships you need for a successful career and life How she evolved her work from a practice to a business The importance of having a clear "ask" when you're networking and building relationships Tips for introverted networkers – and why they are often some of the best networkers out there! Connect with Michelle at her website www.michelletillislederman.com and learn more about her latest book, The Connector's Advantage – including some book bonuses, a BOGO offer (Buy One Gift One), and free gifts from Michelle for Beyond 6 Seconds listeners! You can also find Michelle on social media on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. Michelle's full bio: Michelle Tillis Lederman, CSP, PCC is known for her energetic, engaging, and authentic presentations. An expert on workplace communications and relationships, Michelle's mission is to help people work better together and advance their individual impact. She is an accomplished speaker, trainer, coach, and author of four books including the #1 new release The Connectors Advantage and the internationally recognized, The 11 Laws of Likability. Michelle, named one of Forbes Top 25 Networking Experts, is a connection creator and CEO of Executive Essentials, which provides customized communications and leadership programs for fortune 500, non-profit, university and government clients. Her clients include JPMorgan, J&J, Deutsche Bank, Michigan State University, MetLife, Sony, Ernst & Young, the Department of Environmental Protection, and Madison Square Garden. Passionate about education, Michelle served as an Adjunct Professor at NYU, on the faculty of the American Management Association, Lehigh Executive Education, and Rutgers Executive Education. A former finance executive and NYU Professor, Michelle is a regular in the media appearing on CBS, NBC, Fox, NPR, CNBC, the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal, Working Mother, US News & World Report, MSNBC, Forbes and USA Today among many others. Michelle spent a decade in finance with positions in audit, M&A, financial consulting, VC, and hedge fund investing. She received her BS from Lehigh University, her MBA from Columbia Business School, and her coaching certification from iPec and holds the PCC certification from the International Coaching Federation. Michelle earned the Certified Speaking Professional designation for the National Speakers Association. Executive Essentials is a certified Women Business Enterprise.

Jenny Watzka worked at a Big 4 consulting firm for three years before ditching her 9 to 5 (or in her case, 9 am to 10 pm) after the sudden death of her father. Surrounded by doubters and naysayers, she successfully built her own profitable consulting firm while traveling full time. Jenny helps business owners around the world ditch the daily overwhelm and grow their companies through automated workflows, internal system development, effective leadership and communication training. You can reach Jenny by email at [email protected].

After working for years in the corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors, Rachel Werner founded RBW Strategy, her women-owned consulting firm based in the Washington, DC Metro area. She's an expert in the full lifecycle of grants activities, and currently provides fundraising, project management and strategic planning support to nonprofit, public sector and for-profit clients. She is also an award-winning business owner who was recently recognized as a SCORE Client of the Year! On this episode, Rachel shares: Why she transitioned from working at a Big 4 management consulting company after having her first child How her experience prepared her to become an entrepreneur, build her client base, and differentiate her business What it was like starting her business while pregnant with her second child The preconceived notions she had to overcome about having a home-based business How she defined her work/life boundaries as an entrepreneur, and found support from other entrepreneurial mothers through an accelerator called Her Corner Her experiences pitching and working with her clients Her advice for new entrepreneurs You can find out more about Rachel at her website www.rbwstrategy.com, on LinkedIn or by emailing [email protected] . Rachel's full bio: Rachel Werner, Owner and CEO of RBW Strategy, a women-owned consulting firm located in the Washington, DC Metro area. She has over 16 years of experience in the corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors. Due to her experience as a project manager, grant seeker and grant manager, she has expertise in the full lifecycle of grants activities, and currently provides fundraising, project management and strategic planning support to nonprofit, public sector and for-profit clients. Since the beginning of her career, she has helped to garner over $32 million in grants and contracts and has managed over $2 billion in grant funding. She graduated from Vassar College with a Bachelor of Arts and received a Master's Degree in Public Administration from New York University's Wagner School of Public Service. She has also obtained a Certificate in Grants Management (2012), is a certified Project Management Professional (since 2014), and is a Certified Grants Professional (since 2010). She is actively involved in the Grant Professionals Association and regularly conducts in-person and online trainings, most notably at the Grant Professionals Association Annual Conference, the National Grants Management Association Annual Conference, CharityHowTo, Candid, Center for Nonprofit Advancement and Catalogue for Philanthropy.

Bryan Wempen is a speaker and an author. His latest book, "Sober Is Better, My Note to Self," describes Bryan's journey into daily drinking and finding his way to living a sober lifestyle. In this episode, Bryan walks us through his story – how early trauma and a feeling of disconnectedness led him to become a high-functioning alcoholic by high school, his experiences with drugs during his college years, what it was like growing his career while struggling with addiction, and what motivated him to go into recovery. He also describes the tremendous support that the recovery community has provided him, as well as the impact his book has had on readers. You can learn more about Bryan at www.BryanWempen.com and buy his book on Amazon at Sober Is Better: My Note to Self. Bryan Wempen's full bio: Bryan Wempen was born in Redwood City California, the future world-famous Silicon Valley. He was adopted at two days old and started a journey across several states with his new parents to live in the mountains of Wyoming. At age four, his family moved to the Midwest and began the farming life in Nebraska. Fourteen years from when his story started, he experienced his first alcohol blackout. By 18-years-old he was in trouble with the law and entirely dependent on alcohol. Bryan started with drugs his freshman year in college while driving to his national guard duty. He experienced a willingness for recovery from drug use for the first time in 1993 and eventually stopped for good in 1996. Once the drugs were gone, his dependency on alcohol quickly worsened. At this time Bryan found himself quietly working to avoid legal issues arising from his drinking while working to maintain his roles as successful corporate executive, husband, and stepfather. More years of blackout drinking, humiliating and demoralizing behavior added to the guilt and shame of addiction. Bryan began questioning if he can stop his drinking. It all changed in May 2010 when he found his answer about quitting. Bryan couldn't hide from himself any longer and asked a longtime sober friend for help. He has been successfully sober since then. His first book in 2015, "Note to Self: A Collection of 99 Life Lessons," was received well by the recovery, healing, and spiritual communities around the world. In his current book, "Sober Is Better, a Note to Self," Bryan shares his journey into daily drinking and finding his way to living a sober lifestyle. He highlights how awkward, messy, and beautiful addiction-recovery is for all on this path to sobriety. Since his last book in 2015, Bryan has remarried and enjoys working with behavioral healthcare technology clients. He currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri.

Jordan Gross is a Northwestern and Kellogg School of Management graduate, a two-time startup founder, a TEDx speaker, and a #1 best-selling author. His upcoming book, "The Journey to Cloud Nine," provides a new approach to the personal development world by using fictional storytelling to reveal some of life's most meaningful principles. In this episode, Jordan describes his own journey to Cloud Nine – how he lived life "by the book" and worked at a lucrative but uninspiring job, then quit to focus his energy on content creation, coaching and public speaking. Now he is a certified coach who helps people find direction in their lives and careers through his company Cloud Nine Living. He also demonstrates some tips on how to overcome fear, based on the 5-step process from his first book, "Getting COMFY" (Calm, Openness, Movement, Funny, You). Connect with Jordan on LinkedIn and visit his website www.JourneyToCloudNine.com to subscribe to his newsletter.

This week I'm doing a podcast "episode swap" with fellow podcaster Heidi Bennett, the host of the Vibrant Visionaries podcast (and my guest from Episode 68 of Beyond 6 Seconds)! This means that Heidi is publishing my interview episode with her on the Vibrant Visionaries podcast, and I've chosen one of her episodes to feature here on Beyond 6 Seconds: her interview with Emily Winston. While living in the San Francisco Bay Area, Emily missed the authentic NY bagels from her youth so much that she decided to make them herself, and dive head (and heart) first into opening a retail bagel bakery called Boichik Bagels in Berkeley, CA! If you've ever had a craving for an authentic NY bagel, or ever had to figure out how to make your dream (or your business idea) into reality, you'll really enjoy this episode from Vibrant Visionaries. This episode was originally featured on Episode 17 of Heidi's podcast, Vibrant Visionaries. You can hear more episodes of her podcast at vibrantvisionaries.com.

After graduating college, Matt LeBris spent three years working with Daymond John of ABC's Shark Tank. Now Matt is the founder of 1B Branding (a branding agency in NY City), the host of the Decoding Success Podcast, and speaks in front of audiences across the U.S. – all of which propel him closer to his goal of positively impacting the lives of one billion individuals. On this episode, Matt shares the successes and challenges that he's faced in his life, including: How he turned a 5 minute conversation with Daymond John into a job offer His earliest entrepreneurial venture at age 12, when he opened a "restaurant" selling his parents' groceries on the corner in Queens – until his parents found out about it His struggles in school – getting kicked out of two high schools and failing out of college, but eventually graduating college with honors after 7 years Losing his athletic dream (and all his college scholarships) during his senior year of high school Turning his "18th birthday party" into a revenue-generating opportunity How he discovered the concept of legacy over currency, and why it changed the focus of his life You can find out more about Matt at his website www.MattLeBris.com and connect with him on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. You can also learn about 1B Branding at www.1Bbranding.com and listen to the Decoding Success Podcast at www.MattLeBris.com/podcast.

Scott Miller is the EVP of Thought Leadership at FranklinCovey. He is also the author of the #1 hot new release on Amazon, "Management Mess to Leadership Success: 30 Challenges to Become the Leader You Would Follow." A self-described "management mess," Scott shares what he has learned from his own leadership mistakes, what characteristics are important for successful leadership, and how his book combines his stories with activities to help readers admit their own messes, apply the lessons he learned and move towards leadership success. Learn about Scott and his work at the links below: Buy Scott's new book, "Management Mess to Leadership Success"at www.ManagementMess.com Listen to Scott's podcasts, Great Life, Great Career and On Leadership Connect with Scott on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Learn more about FranklinCovey at www.FranklinCovey.com

Maria Pesin is a fashion industry consultant and senior apparel industry executive with more than 25 years of field experience. She is the author of the e-book "14 Essential Truths Everyone in the Fashion Business Should Know" and the CEO of Vibe Consulting, where she helps aspiring fashion entrepreneurs build successful businesses. She has built multi-million-dollar brands, and has constructed and implemented business plans for New York apparel giants like Fleet Street and GIII Apparel Group. From a very young age, Maria knew that she wanted to be a businesswoman and make money, despite growing up in a blue collar family in the late 1960s/early 1970s that teased her for her feminist ideals and aspirations. She chose to pursue a career in the fashion industry, where she started working "below rock bottom" until she got jobs where she could learn about the business, and earned promotions all the way to the top. Maria shares her career journey -- including the story behind the incident that led her to leave the corporate world to start her own consulting business -- as well as valuable advice for entrepreneurs who are just starting out. Learn more about Maria at her website www.vibeconsulting.co , where you can also download a free copy of her e-book. You can also get in touch via email at [email protected] .

How do you build a life and career that fulfills your passion, if you're passionate about multiple things? This is a question that Heidi Bennett helps people answer. Heidi is a business and wellness coach for multi-creative professionals – i.e., people with a multitude of interests who can't limit themselves to doing one thing only, day in and day out. She helps her clients design their own careers by bringing all their interests and talents together into different projects. Heidi is also the host of the Vibrant Visionaries podcast, where she has candid conversations with multi-creatives from different fields and industries. On this episode, Heidi shares how she helps multi-creatives overcome mental barriers like negative self-talk, imposter syndrome and fear, while guiding them to practice their strengths, decide what impact they want to have in the world, and find the life and work that aligns with their values and creative processes. Heidi also describes some of her coaching techniques and strategies that help her clients, and can help you too! Learn more about Heidi at her website www.HeidiBennett.com and listen to her Vibrant Visionaries podcast at www.VibrantVisionaries.com. A full episode transcript is available here.

Justin Nguyen is the 22-year-old CEO of GetChoGrindUp and Co-Host of the Young and D.U.M.B. (Dedicated, Up-and-coming, Motivated, Bold) Podcast. Justin's mission is to uncover the blueprint to career success for college students, and educate them about traditional jobs (through GetChoGrindUp) and non-traditional jobs (via the Young and D.U.M.B. podcast). On this episode, Justin talks about growing up in the United States as the son of Vietnamese refugees, the pressure he felt from his family to become either a doctor, lawyer or engineer, and how he discovered the worlds of finance, economics and business when he attended college. You'll find out why he changed his major to Finance, turned down a dream job offer upon graduation, and became an entrepreneur instead – and how he broke the news to his parents! Justin also shares: How he grew his podcast's reach using social media Advice for making contact with influencers How he taught himself marketing by researching it on the internet and watching videos of marketing experts How he wants to bring change and innovation to the education system A preview of the career fair that he's hosting in 2020, where students can meet and get to know employers through engaging and interactive experiences Connect with Justin on LinkedIn, follow @GetChoGrindUp on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and listen to the Young and D.U.M.B. podcast on any podcast network – be sure to let him know that you heard his story on Beyond 6 Seconds!

Amir Bormand is the Co-founder of Elevano, a candidate-centric technical recruitment company. On this episode, Amir and I talk about how he quit his job to start Elevano right when he got married, and how his wife's support and belief in his abilities were critical to the success of his business. Most of our conversation, however, focuses on the aftermath of a near death experience that Amir had at the age of 17. This experience had a lasting impact on Amir's life, as he struggled for many years to deal with the trauma and the meaning of being alive against the odds. He explains how both his wife and a therapist helped him let go of the trauma and shift his mindset away from thinking "what if." Then, through a strange coincidence, he shares how his trauma and recovery prepared him to support his wife through her own crisis. You can find out more about Amir at www.elevano.com and find him on LinkedIn, Twitter and via email at [email protected].

Georgie-Ann Getton-Mckoy is an execution strategist, serial entrepreneur, community builder, speaker, author and diversity in tech enthusiast. She loves helping businesses and people become more productive, find creative solutions to their problems, and execute on their ideas, and she's an expert at turning "dreamers" into "doers." Her new book, "The Art of Getting Sh*t Done" was published in February 2019. On this episode, Georgie talks about: How, as a child, she became the go-to person for solving problems and getting things done within her family – a skill that she uses successfully as a serial entrepreneur Why flexibility and choice cause so many businesses to procrastinate and lose productivity How she found ways to use technology to become more productive, instead of letting it become a distraction How a simple request to her network led her to create the Get Sh*t Done Summit, an annual conference that provides authentic, practical and actionable guidance for executing on your ideas Why she wrote her book, "The Art of Getting Sh*t Done," where she shares her personal journey of entrepreneurship, life adventures, overcoming obstacles and figuring out how to make things happen with limited resources How she learned the importance of prioritizing her mental health, especially as an entrepreneur Her interest in exploring how nutrition can improve our health and productivity Learn more about Georgie at her website www.Gsdwithgeorgie.com and @gsdwithgeorgie on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Nikhil Pampati is a high school senior at the Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies in New Jersey. In his free time, he serves as the cofounder and CFO of the national nonprofit Jobscopia, which runs programs that connect students with professionals and provide them with real-life insights into potential careers. On this episode, Nikhil shares the story of what inspired him to start Jobscopia when he was a high school junior, and how he evolved this idea through customer research (which included interviewing strangers on the streets of San Mateo), cold calling companies to get them to participate, and networking with employees at hackathons and conferences. He also talks about how he balances his startup work with going to high school, and his advice for young and aspiring entrepreneurs. You can learn more about Jobscopia at www.jobscopia.com or connect with Nikhil on Facebook. Nikhil's full bio: Nikhil Pampati is currently a high school senior at the Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies. In his free time however, he serves as the cofounder and CFO of the national nonprofit Jobscopia, a US-based program he started as a high school junior in 2017. Jobscopia has assisted in the professional development of hundreds of high school students across the country, mainly in New Jersey and California. They not only work with executives from top companies such as Merck and Verizon, but also with local startups to give students an insight into the specifics of different careers. Nikhil also works with NJ's Junior Achievement to launch the JA Company Program. Over the course of several months, he was able to secure partnerships with Microsoft in New Jersey as well as the Boys and Girls Club of New Jersey. Currently, he is the lead facilitator and teaches middle-school students the basics of venture development. However, he doesn't limit his involvement with entrepreneurship to New Jersey, as he has managed events and workshops in New York, California and Chicago. Over the summer, he even had the opportunity to mentor almost 20 ventures in New York. He has a passion for learning, exemplified in his research at The New Jersey Institute of Technology regarding the interactions between startups and the market.

Marc Mawhinney is a lifelong entrepreneur who helps coaches get more clients (without paid advertising)! He achieves this with his coaching programs; his two podcasts (Natural Born Coaches and The Marc Mawhinney Minute); his Facebook group The Coaching Jungle, and his exclusive print newsletter – Secret Coach Club. In this podcast, Marc tells us about his personal experiences with overcoming two big challenges: Bouncing back from adversity: August 11, 2009 was Marc's worst day in business: this was the date that his real estate business collapsed, after 10 years of nonstop success. He talks about how he got through the difficult months and years that followed, the long path that led him to becoming a coach (and why he says coaching "saved his life"), and his advice for struggling entrepreneurs. Dealing with haters: Marc talks about why having haters is actually a good sign. He shares how he turns his experiences with trolls and haters into content and new sales! Learn more about Marc at his website www.NaturalBornCoaches.com and Facebook Group at www.TheCoachingJungle.com. Also, if you're an entrepreneur who is feeling bleak, struggling to deal with a failure or going through a tough time, and just wants someone to talk to about it, you can send Marc a message at [email protected]. (Note: There are a couple of swear words in this episode; hence the explicit language warning.) Resources mentioned during the podcast: Marc recommends his favorite book, Thick Face, Black Heart by Chin-Ning Chu, as "required reading" for entrepreneurs, especially during hard times, because it paints a realistic picture of life in business. Other classic self-help books & authors that helped Marc get through the tough times after his business folded: The Magic of Believing by Claude M. Bristol Napoleon Hill Dale Carnegie