Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people

At the end of 2018, New York City stand-up comedian Mike Lemme traveled to London, Paris and Rome to perform in some unusual venues – conference rooms that he rented in local office buildings – while documenting his experience on YouTube. On this podcast, Mike describes his adventures from his European conference room comedy tour (including his encounters with drunk people, newlyweds, protests & riots, and an "overexposed" Couchsurfing host). He also shares how these gigs gave him the confidence and clout to get opportunities to headline comedy shows in larger clubs, grow his fan base, and finally take action to achieve his long-held dream of performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the biggest arts festival in the world. Learn more about Mike and his comedy shows on his website www.mikelemme.com, via email at [email protected], on Instagram @mikelemme and on his Eventbrite page, and watch his YouTube documentary of his conference room tour called "Something New." Mike's full bio: Mike Lemme is an internationally touring stand-up comedian, writer and producer best known for his work at the UNDER St. Marks Theater in New York's East Village. Mike wrote and produced 2018's 50th & 4th, a play loosely inspired by his first roommates in the city, a married couple he found on Craigslist. The play followed Mike's 2016 15-night-residency at the same theater, which he turned into his first stand-up film called Help Wanted. A former intern for Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien, Mike has also warmed-up studio audiences for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and wrote for Second City: This Week. Late last year, Mike decided to work on new material by traveling to London, Paris and Rome, where he performed in conference rooms that he rented. He's documented his experience on YouTube.

What happens when you're a high performer at work, with decades of success and upward progression in your career, and then you get laid off for the first time? That's what happened to Kevin M. Yates. When his role working in learning & development was eliminated, Kevin found himself in the unfamiliar and frustrating situation of job searching while unemployed. As weeks of job searching turned into months, he experienced sadness, depression, fear, and self-doubt in the face of rejection, silence and ageism. However, during this difficult time, Kevin began planting the seeds of what would become his amazingly successful personal brand as a "Learning & Development Detective" and measurement expert. His branding not only led him to his next full-time job, but also opened up opportunities beyond his wildest dreams to share his expertise all around the world. Tune into this episode of Beyond 6 Seconds to hear Kevin's incredible and inspiring story! Learn more about Kevin's work at the links below: Website: kevinmyates.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kevinmyates Facebook: facebook.com/kevmyates Twitter: twitter.com/kevinmyates Instagram: instagram.com/kevmyates Full Bio of Kevin M. Yates: Kevin is a Learning & Development detective and just like Sherlock Holmes, he solves mysteries. The mystery he solves is, "Did training work?". He uses facts, evidence and data to show training and learning's impact on behavior, performance and goals. Kevin measures efficiency, effectiveness and outcomes for training and learning. His work is firmly rooted in his belief that training, learning and talent development has the power to impact behavior, thought and skill. His greatest capability is producing fact-based evidence for the impact of training and learning. Kevin's experience is global and multi-industry. He's served in a variety of roles across training, learning and talent development which guides and informs his perspective and actions. Kevin's guiding principle is, "Find one thing about a person's behavior or performance you can attribute to training or learning and let that lead to the facts about impact."

Charlotte Underwood is a mental health advocate and writer in the UK with a passion for preventing suicide and providing support for those in need. On this episode, Charlotte shares how her own personal experiences inspired her to write about mental health, the biases and stigma that people with mental illnesses often face in the UK, and how she raises her voice to encourage people to talk about mental health and listen to the experiences of others. Charlotte also discusses the importance of listening to people with mental illness, and shares advice on how people can help their friends and loved ones who are struggling. You can read Charlotte's writing at her website, www.charlotteunderwoodauthor.com, and follow her on Twitter @CUnderwoodUK .

Jeff Weisbein is the founder and Editor-in-Chief at BestTechie – a company he started when he was 13 years old and grew it into a digital media company that makes technology easy for everyone to learn about. He also hosts a podcast called TechieBytes, which features insightful and thought-provoking conversations with tech experts and business executives. On this episode, Jeff shares what inspired him to start BestTechie in the early days of the Internet, how he recognized opportunities to grow his business, refine BestTechie's content and capitalize on changing technology trends, and how he generated income while maintaining the integrity and identity of the BestTechie brand. We learn how his experience as a young content creator (in the days before preteen YouTube stars and Instagram influencers) shaped his views on life and entrepreneurship, including: Ask for help and don't be afraid of rejection Hiring is harder than it looks It's important to step away from work sometimes to get a fresh perspective Don't forget to celebrate the small wins You are not your business Jeff also discusses the valuable skills he gained from launching KYA, a data analytics start-up that he had to shut down in 2017. Check out BestTechie's website at www.besttechie.com and listen to the TechieBytes podcast at www.besttechie.com/techiebytes . You can also contact Jeff via email at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter. Jeff's bio: Jeff Weisbein is the founder and Editor-in-Chief at BestTechie. His journey into technology, startups, and digital media began at the age of 13, which is when he started BestTechie. While in school, he built BestTechie into a digital media company where he was responsible for leading a team of journalists, editing, planning and creating content, as well as interviewing various executives for stories. In addition to BestTechie, he's been published on various online publications including Business 2 Community, Media Shift, PerformanceIN, and Creator (by WeWork). He's also been featured in TechCrunch, The Washington Post, The Next Web, Cheddar, Forbes, Lifehacker, FitSmallBusiness.com, and Product Hunt.

Stacy Sherman is the Director of Customer Experience (CX) at Schindler Elevator Corporation. When she's not at her day job, Stacy shares her extensive CX expertise on her blog, DoingCXRight, which provides mentorship and knowledge sharing with CX professionals looking to differentiate their companies and personal brand. On this episode, Stacy shares: What inspired her to start DoingCXRight back in 2017, and the type of content she writes for the blog How she balances work, family, friends, blogging and all the other parts of her life, by being intentional about how she spends her time How writing with authenticity has built her credibility as a blogger and woman in corporate America How she has used feedback from her readers to refine the themes she writes about on her blog The types of networking, speaking and mentoring opportunities that her blog has opened up for her—and how it has helped her support the careers of other women Read and subscribe to Stacy's blog at www.DoingCXRight.com to increase your own CX skills and/or to transform your organization. Her latest blog post is about Women Leadership & Customer Experience. Follow Stacy on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram where she shares actionable CX tips! A full episode transcript is available here.

Amanda Watson has 20 years of experience in apparel buying, merchandising, and wholesale in San Francisco. She has worked for major fashion lines throughout her career, including Macy's West, Donna Karan, and Ralph Lauren. She was working at IGIGI Dresses when she came up with the idea for StyleForIt -- an online site where plus size women can consign and buy pre-owned current fashion sizes 12–32 -- to provide a resale space for the expanding category of Plus Fashion. On this episode, Amanda shares why she decided to open up her own fashion business, some of the business successes and challenges she's faced since then, and how her business continues to evolve and grow. Learn more about www.styleforit.com or via email at [email protected].

Daniel Gefen is the CEO of the Gefen Media Group, a podcast production and booking company. He hosts a podcast called "Can I Pick Your Brain?" and is the author of the bestselling book, "The Self Help Addict." On this episode, Daniel describes himself as a former Self Help Addict, where he was trapped in a vicious cycle of consuming life-changing knowledge without taking any life-changing action. After 10 years of procrastination, he shares how he finally broke this cycle and motivated himself to write his book, "The Self Help Addict." Daniel also talks about the growing power of podcasting, including: His first experience as a podcast guest 4 years ago, which made him realize the amazing value and impact of podcasts How being a guest on the right podcasts can help establish you as an expert in your field How he made his own podcast stand out from other interview-based podcasts How he built a thriving podcast booking agency Special offer for Beyond 6 Seconds listeners: Visit www.Podcastguestsuccess.com to download a free guide to getting booked as a guest on podcasts! For more information about Daniel, check out these links: Daniel's business, the Gefen Media Group: www.gefenmediagroup.com Daniel's podcast: Can I Pick Your Brain? Daniel's book, The Self Help Addict

Jacqueline Jasionowski left her 18+ year career in the corporate automotive world to start her own business, Shift Awake, which is dedicated to working with leaders to create purpose-driven environments and game-changing results. Jacqueline believes consciousness is innovation. Leveraging her expertise in leadership coaching, customer experience and human resources, she intends to flip the way most organizations view the human experience and challenges leaders to focus on purpose, while using conscious building tools to improve employee wellbeing first. On this episode, Jacqueline discusses what led her to make the leap from corporate to entrepreneurship, what it means to be a conscious-based leader, and how purpose-driven employees and corporate cultures impact customer experience and the bottom line. She also shares how she faces her biggest challenge as a new entrepreneur – managing and prioritizing her days – through her morning routine and the "Top 5" tool that she learned from her coach. Special offer for Beyond 6 Seconds listeners: If you are facing a challenge in your business and you just need someone to talk through it with, Jacqueline invites you to contact her at [email protected] to set up a time to talk. We all need a helping hand or someone to listen, and she would be honored to be that person to support you through a call. For more information about Jacqueline and her work at Shift Awake, please visit: Website: www.shiftawake.com Facebook: Shift Awake Group Instagram: @shiftawake Connect with Jacqueline on LinkedIn Listen to Shift Awake: The Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, or iTunes

Kevin Patrick Allen has been a reporter from sea to shining sea, telling stories of ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges. Now, he's produced a documentary called "What Comes Next" that examines what happens when you lose a dream, lose a loved one, or even lose your freedom. The project was an opportunity to go beyond the skipping-stone nature of today's journalism into a deeper exploration of the human condition. In this podcast, Kevin takes us behind-the-scenes into the stories he featured in his documentary: Chad, an X-Games champion, who suffered a terrible crash. Beverly and Linda, whose triumph and tragedy intersected after the suicide of a teenager. Joe and Reggie, who languished on death row. We discuss how these stories share a common struggle, how different people find a meaningful future after experiencing tremendous loss, and what we can learn from their journeys. Watch "What Comes Next" on Amazon Prime and follow Kevin on Twitter @kpatrickallen.

Lisa DeLay has always been interested in the spiritual, and how humans can connect with the divine and each other in healthy and healing ways. In this episode, Lisa talks about the spiritual and family crisis she faced in her childhood and young adulthood, her studies of religion and spiritual formation, and her work as a part-time professor at Gratz College, where she helps new K-12 special education teachers learn mindfulness techniques they can use to benefit their students. Lisa also hosts the Spark My Muse podcast, where she has interviewed Seth Godin, Parker Palmer, Krista Tippett and many other people who inspire her. You can find Lisa on Twitter @sparkmymuse and @lisadelay and on the Facebook page for Spark My Muse. Visit www.SparkMyMuse.com to listen to her podcast and sign up for her newsletter.

In this bonus episode, organizational change and culture expert Karen Jaw-Madson (my guest from Episode 52) talks about finding and working with a publisher for her book "Culture Your Culture: Innovating Experiences @Work" – and why she describes her experience as a "soap opera!" She shares what she learned, the advice that helped encourage her through all the rejections, and her own advice for authors who are trying to get their books published. Find out more about Karen at www.designofworkexperience.com and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. You can also purchase Karen's book on Amazon: Culture Your Culture: Innovating Experiences @Work. We've also got a full episode with Karen Jaw-Madson, where she talks about Design of Work Experience (DOWE), which is the methodology she created and described in her book. DOWE combines organizational culture with design thinking to help people innovate and solve challenging problems at work. Listen to Karen's full episode here. Karen's full bio: Organizational expert Karen Jaw-Madson enjoyed success as a corporate executive before pursuing a "portfolio career" comprised of research, writing, consulting, teaching/speaking, and creative pursuits. As a versatile leader across multiple industries, Karen developed, led, and implemented numerous organizational initiatives around the globe. Today, this East Coast transplant to Silicon Valley (via Ireland and the Midwest) is principal of Co.-Design of Work Experience, where she enables organizations with innovative approaches and customized solutions for intimidating challenges. Focus areas include culture, organizational change, and people strategies. Her book, Culture Your Culture: Innovating Experiences @Work (Emerald Group Publishing) was released in June, 2018. She has a BA in Ethnic and Cultural Studies from Bryn Mawr College and a MA in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. Visit her website at www.designofworkexperience.com.

Karen Jaw-Madson is an organizational change and culture expert who enjoyed success as a corporate executive before pursuing a "portfolio career" comprised of research, writing, consulting, teaching/speaking, and creative pursuits. Her book "Culture Your Culture: Innovating Experiences @Work" was released in June 2018. This book is a guide for implementing the methodology she created -- Design of Work Experience (DOWE) – which combines organizational culture with design thinking, learning, appreciative inquiry and values-based leadership to help people innovate and solve challenging problems at work. Find out more about Karen and the DOWE methodology at www.designofworkexperience.com and connect with Karen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. You can also purchase Karen's book on Amazon: Culture Your Culture: Innovating Experiences @Work. We've also got a bonus episode with Karen Jaw-Madson, where she talks about finding and working with a publisher for her book "Culture Your Culture: Innovating Experiences @Work" – and why she describes her experience as a "soap opera!" Listen to the bonus episode here. Karen's full bio: Organizational expert Karen Jaw-Madson enjoyed success as a corporate executive before pursuing a "portfolio career" comprised of research, writing, consulting, teaching/speaking, and creative pursuits. As a versatile leader across multiple industries, Karen developed, led, and implemented numerous organizational initiatives around the globe. Today, this East Coast transplant to Silicon Valley (via Ireland and the Midwest) is principal of Co.-Design of Work Experience, where she enables organizations with innovative approaches and customized solutions for intimidating challenges. Focus areas include culture, organizational change, and people strategies. Her book, Culture Your Culture: Innovating Experiences @Work (Emerald Group Publishing) was released in June, 2018. She has a BA in Ethnic and Cultural Studies from Bryn Mawr College and a MA in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. Visit her website at www.designofworkexperience.com. Links to other organizational change influencers that Karen mentions during the podcast: Free Agent Nation by Daniel Pink (the book that inspired Karen to create her portfolio career) Prof. Jeanne M. Liedka, Darden School of Business Total Quality Management by W. Edwards Deming Appreciative Inquiry by David Cooperrider (Karen's intellectual hero)

Natasha Nurse is a licensed attorney by trade who held various stints in the corporate world prior to making a foray into fashion, writing, media and entrepreneurship. Natasha started Dressing Room 8 to provide a web-based resource where women can gain personal and professional empowerment through her fashion and lifestyle focused blog, consultation and coaching services. She is also the Program Coordinator for Long Island Girl Talk, a Long Island community-based start-up program that teaches teenage girls of color how to produce, direct and star in their own television show about women's issues in their communities. Recently, she partnered with her husband to create the podcast WokeNFree, where they have fun, informed and thought-provoking conversations on different topic each week. Natasha discusses the winding path of her career, starting with her interest in veterinary science, followed by graduating law school and working in document review, legal recruiting, legal education & sales -- and how realizing her true desire to be creative, innovative, and empowered in her career (and to empower other women as well) led her to a new path of entrepreneurship. She also shares valuable advice about: How our self-limiting beliefs stop us from taking action – and how she helps people overcome these beliefs How fashion can help you be confident and powerful – and how she helps women feel happier when they see themselves in the dressing room mirror The constant battle that every entrepreneur has: being in their business vs working on their business -- and the key questions that every entrepreneur should be asking themselves to ensure their businesses continue to grow How being a strong communicator as a business owner can make you more money Natasha also shares how Long Island Girl Talk, where young women collaborate to create all aspects of their own television shows, is a huge boost to their levels of confidence and self-worth. We also talk about how the WokeNFree podcast invites listeners to think about issues from different viewpoints and engages them in interesting conversations. Connect with Natasha via email, her website www.dressingroom8.com, or on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. You can also listen to the WokeNFree podcast at www.wokenfree.com. Natasha's full bio: As a New Yorker, born and raised, Natasha is used to bumping into people from all walks of life daily, which makes it easy for her to accomplish her goal of meeting someone new and learning something new each and every day. A licensed attorney by trade, Natasha held various stints in the corporate world prior to making a foray into fashion and writing. Having been a victim of bullying as a child growing up, Natasha learned to seek out fashion as a source of strength early on and actively uses it as a personal means of empowerment; because of her own experiences with bullying and her strong desire to help others within the plus size community, Natasha started Dressing Room 8 to provide a web-based resource where women can gain personal and professional empowerment through her fashion and lifestyle focused blog, consultation and coaching services. Dressing Room 8 helps women learn how to think with clarity, dress with confidence, and live with purpose. Not one to stay idle, Natasha loves to keep a full calendar. Aside from running Dressing Room 8, Natasha is an Adjunct Professor at Nassau Community College where she teaches Introduction to Women's Studies. She is the Lifestyle Editor for Plus Model Magazine. She is also the Program Coordinator for Long Island Girl Talk, a Long Island community-based start-up program that teaches teenage girls of color how to produce, direct and star in their own television show about women's issues in their communities. Recently, she partnered with her husband to create the new podcast WokeNFree and she is the host of Our Voices on 90.3 WHPC. Prior to starting Dressing Room 8, Natasha created the WST Feminist Blog, an open forum for sharing original content, links and creative work addressing cutting-edge women's issues. She is also an animal lover and a big film buff. When she's not traveling or juggling multiple projects, she likes to spend time with her husband Kahlil, cat Toby and dog, J.J. And, she always finds time to indulge in her obsession with elephants.

Gina Marie Agderian is a New Jersey-based, independent author who self-published her first novel in April 2018 titled "The Letters in the Old House." In her novel, a woman at a crossroads in her life discovers mysterious letters in her aunt & uncle's Jersey Shore beach house, then goes on a mission to figure out the story behind the letters while learning about herself in the process. In this episode, Gina talks about how she finally stopped putting off her childhood dream of writing a novel, and shares her tips for getting started and staying focused on your own writing and other creative passions. She also describes what it's like to self-publish a book, and how self-publishing through Amazon allowed her to write her first novel according to her creative vision. You can connect with Gina on her website www.gsellsseashells.com and on Instagram @gsellsseashells, and purchase "The Letters in the Old House" on Amazon.

Esther Hofknecht Curtis is a blogger, writer, and content creator who established Parrot Content + Copy to develop her freelance business. She is also the creator of the #GuestBloggerProject, which she hosted in May and October 2018 to provide a platform for writers to share their stories and understand how the project impacts organic social media reach and SEO for the project's host. Based on her experience, she has written a short e-book called "Boost Your Blog with the #GuestBloggerProject: A proven plan to improve your blog's visibility, SEO, and following" to give people the tools they need to host their own #GuestBloggerProject. On this episode, Esther talks about what she learned from the #GuestBloggerProject, some of the inspirational and surprising stories that people have shared, and how blogging is a unique opportunity to learn more about the people around us. She also shares how this project can help both the host and the guest bloggers increase their online reach and amplify their voices. Connect with Esther on LinkedIn, learn more about the #GuestBloggerProject, and pick up a copy of Esther's e-book on Amazon!

When you don't have the words, let your gloves say it for you! Flip 'em the Bird, Inc. is a women-owned, Minnesota based start-up founded by Susie Moschkau and Natalie Buckman. While freezing at their office jobs and looking for some comic relief to combat the day to day challenges of corporate life, Susie and Natalie hatched their idea for Flip 'em the Bird fingerless gloves! After 2 decades of friendship and the dread of turning the big 4-0, they decided it was time to take their hilariousness and sassitude to the masses and launched a brand that is uniquely funny and fashionable. On this episode, Susie and Natalie share how they got their idea off the ground, what they've learned about business, manufacturing, and social media marketing along the way, and how they give back to the social causes they care about through their "Swearing is Caring" campaign. Check out the Flip 'em the Bird fingerless gloves at www.flipemthebird.com, connect on Facebook, Twitter @flipem_thebird and Instagram @flipem_thebird, and follow their hashtag #FlipThemBirdsUp !

Professor Marcia McNair is the co-author of Sistas on Fire, an award-winning theatrical performance that addresses pressing social issues from an African-American female perspective. On this episode, Marcia shares what inspired her to create Sistas on Fire about 10 years ago, and how it evolved from a collection of writings into a theatrical experience that incorporates the spoken word, music and dance. She also shares how Sistas on Fire has connected with people across race, class, gender, religion and cultures, and how it empowers the audience to think and take action about the social issues they care about. Sistas on Fire will be playing at the East Village Playhouse in New York City from February 22 – March 17, 2019. Buy your tickets at www.sistasonfire.com and visit the website or Facebook page to learn more about the show! Marcia's full bio: Marcia McNair, the mother of two sons, grew up in New Jersey and moved to New York shortly after her college graduation. She has lived in both Harlem and Queens, but has resided on Long Island for over twenty years. She earned her bachelor's degree in English from Dartmouth College and her master's degree in Writing from New York University. McNair was an assistant editor at Essence Magazine and is currently an Associate Professor of English, Journalism, and Women's Studies at Nassau Community College. She is the former coordinator of the NCC African American Read-In and a current member of the Black History Month Committee and the Secretary for the Black Women's Initiative (a student retention program). In addition, she was an adjunct professor of English at Molloy College, where she taught African American Literature, for over five years. She served on the Uniondale Community Council Executive Board for two years. She is the Executive Director and Founder of Long Island Girl Talk, a program for teen girls interested in media, and a co-host on Café Long Island, a public access television series. McNair's essay, It Takes a Lioness to Raise Young Lions, appears in Issues in Feminism/ An Introduction to Women's Studies/Fifth Edition (Mayfield, 2001). Her creative nonfiction story, Before We Were Gangstas, won honorable mention in the National New Millennium Writers Creative Nonfiction contest in 2003 and appears in the anthology, Memoirs in the Light of Day (Lamberson Corona Press, 2008). In 2006 and 2007, she received a grant from the Long Island Council for the Arts for her collaborative performance, Diary of a Mad Black Feminist, now known as the award-winning Sistas on Fire! Her poem Long Island Just Isn't Long Enough is featured in Seasoned Women (QuadraSoul, 2008), an anthology of women's poetry and performed by Composer Leonard Lehrman at the opening of Hofstra University's Suburban Conference on Diversity in 2009. An excerpt from her first novel, E-Males (Aya Press, 2007), was performed at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in 2009 . Her professional memberships include Sigma Delta Chi (the Society of Professional Journalists) and the American Association of University Women.

Samantha Harris is an Emmy-winning entertainment journalist and TV host. Most of you may know Samantha from her eight seasons as the co-host of the hit show, Dancing with the Stars, or her many years as one of the hosts of Entertainment Tonight. In this podcast, Samantha shares her breast cancer story, which began when she trusted her instinct about a lump that she was told was "nothing." Out of the emotional turmoil of her diagnosis, Samantha and her husband founded the online community Gotta Make Lemonade to help inspire positivity in the face of adversity. She continued to turn her cancer "lemon" into "lemonade" by writing her new book, "Your Healthiest Healthy: 8 Easy Ways to Take Control, Help Prevent & Fight Cancer, and Live a Longer, Cleaner, Happier Life," which debuted as an Amazon bestseller. With research-backed advice, "Your Healthiest Healthy" is a guidebook to identifying and removing toxins from all parts of your life, as well as boosting positivity to support your well-being. Learn about Samantha's book, "Your Healthiest Healthy" at www.samantha-harris.com/yhh Book Samantha as a speaker at www.samantha-harris.com Read the stories on Gotta Make Lemonade at www.gottamakelemonade.com (You can also submit your own story here!) Follow Samantha on Instagram @SamanthaHarrisTV for a daily dose of positivity.

Rhodes Perry helps business leaders, change agents, and visionaries at all levels cultivate workplace cultures of belonging through his leadership & management consulting firm. He is an award-winning social entrepreneur, best-selling author, and sought-after speaker. He is also a nationally recognized LGBTQ thought leader with two decades of government and nonprofit experience, having worked at the White House, PFLAG National, and the City of New York. In this episode, Rhodes shares what inspired him to pursue a career in diversity, equity and inclusion, his own personal diversity story, and how his book "Belonging At Work" empowers people to take action that will help them create inclusive cultures at their workplaces. For more information on Rhodes Perry Consulting, LLC, please visit www.rhodesperry.com Connect with Rhodes on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Google+ Buy Rhodes' book "Belonging At Work" on Amazon February 2019: Join Rhodes' 30 Day Belonging Challenge Listen to Rhodes' podcast, The Out Entrepreneur Rhodes' full bio: Rhodes Perry, MPA, believes in the power of authenticity at work. He puts this belief into practice by helping business leaders, change agents, and visionaries at all levels cultivate workplace cultures of belonging through his leadership & management consulting firm. He is an award winning social entrepreneur, best-selling author, and sought-after speaker. He is a nationally recognized LGBTQ thought leader with two decades of government and nonprofit experience having worked at the White House, PFLAG National, and the City of New York. Media outlets like The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, and The Huffington Post have featured his powerful work as a diversity, equity, and inclusion subject matter expert. Rhodes also hosts a weekly podcast, The Out Entrepreneur, which has empowered over 35,000 LGBTQ and ally entrepreneurs to pursue their professional passions and build the businesses of their dreams. Rhodes earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Gender Studies from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master of Public Administration from New York University. He spends his free time bicycling world-wide, hanging out with his family in Portland, Oregon, and serves on the Portland Human Rights Commission, the Portland Area Business Association's Board, and the National Diversity Board for Studies Weekly.

This episode features Larry Sprung, the President and Founder of Mitlin Financial, Inc. He also serves on the National Board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). On this episode, Larry discusses the critical events in his life that shaped his career and advocacy: How his mother's long battle with breast cancer led him to a career helping people plan for critical financial events in their lives, and How the loss of his brother-in-law to suicide led Larry to become involved with AFSP and, along with his wife Denise, raise more than $1,000,000 for the organization through the Keith Milano Memorial Fund. The fund was created at AFSP in memory of Larry and Denise's brother-in-law and brother, respectively. Larry also talks about some of the important work that AFSP is doing to help people "Seize the Awkward" by having potentially life-saving conversations with the people in their lives who may be suicidal, and AFSP's Project 2025, which aims to lower the suicide rate by 20% by the year 2025. You can get in touch with Larry through the Mitlin Financial website at www.mitlinfinancial.com and learn more about the Keith Milano Memorial Fund at www.keithmilano.org . You can also find more information about AFSP's work at www.afsp.org and the Seize the Awkward campaign at www.seizetheawkward.org . Larry's full bio: Lawrence Sprung CFP® is the President and Founder of Mitlin Financial, Inc. He entered the financial industry in 1996 and continues to be inspired and energized by the challenge of helping his clients achieve and even surpass their financial goals. Mitlin Financial, Inc. is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) that prides itself on facilitating their client's financial future. Being a fiduciary is a perfect fit for Larry's personality and business perspective as he puts clients first and consistently helps them make decisions that are right for them. Larry is known as a devoted educator. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and regularly films the firm's "Mitlin Minute," which is designed to provided information regarding relevant financial topics. Today, Larry is proud to be serving the second and third generations of his clients. He has seen first-hand how strong financial habits instilled in parents, children and grandchildren, can impact a family's wealth and wealth stewardship for generations. As an active volunteer, Larry serves on the National Board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). With his wife, Denise, he has raised more than $1,000,000 for the organization through the Keith Milano Memorial Fund. The fund was created at AFSP in memory of Larry and Denise's brother-in-law and brother, respectively. Larry has been recognized as one of Long Island Business News' "40 Under 40," and his commentary is regularly featured in publications such as Long Island Business News, U.S. News & World Reports, Newsday, Investopedia, Yahoo Finance, and Nasdaq's website. If you have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Sprung, you will find that he is more often found conversing about AFSP, his sons' or a hockey game. Doing business and creating relationships is at the heart of who Larry is and it is all done with style and grace.

Becky Curran is the Disability Equality Index (DEI) Director at Disability:IN, where she is responsible for managing the overall DEI program. Born with achondroplastic dwarfism, Becky talks about her life & career as an advocate for increasing disability inclusion, including: Her childhood health challenges and experiences with social exclusion The importance of her support system of family, friends and doctor How she navigated through multiple challenges to forge her own career path in the media and entertainment industry, to improve the representation of disability in the media and advocate for actors with disabilities Why she started sharing her own story publicly, and the impact that her public speaking is having on individuals and corporations Why she's comfortable with people coming up and asking questions about her appearance and about her life as a little person You can contact Becky on her website www.BeckyMotivates.com and learn more about her motivational public speaking and her story. Becky's full bio: Becky Curran serves as the Disability Equality Index (DEI) Director at Disability:IN. In her current role, she's responsible for managing the overall DEI program. Becky received her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Providence College, where she gained a passion for influencing change behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. Upon graduation and after 100 job interviews, Becky started working in the Entertainment Marketing department, followed by the Comedy Touring department, at Creative Artists Agency, the world's leading entertainment and sports agency. Five years later, she worked at CBS Television Studios, where she assisted with the casting of pilots and television series. During this transition, she also served as the Marketing Director and Co-Founding Board Member of the Catalina Film Festival. She also founded DisABILITY In Media, which focuses on positive disability inclusion storytelling through social media. After her six and a half years of working in the entertainment industry, Becky launched a public speaking business. A prolific public speaker and advocate for disability inclusion on a global scale, she has spoken at over 100 venues, including schools, corporations, nonprofit organizations and government agencies, throughout the United States and Kenya. She's really passionate about disability inclusion in schools, the workplace, and everywhere else. More recently, she spent three and a half years working in the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) & Diversity department at Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the world's largest entertainment union. At SAG-AFTRA, she supported the implementation of a national diversity plan of action to achieve accurate representation of those groups historically excluded from the entertainment and news media. Becky serves on the Board of Advisors for the National Center For Disability Journalism (NCDJ) at Arizona State University.

Mark Metry is the Host of Humans 2.0, a Top 100 podcast where he interviews billionaires, New York Times bestselling authors, and other legendary world-class human beings. He's also the founder of VU Dream, a virtual and augmented reality marketing & advertising agency based in Boston. In this episode, Mark talks about his childhood as the son of immigrant parents, and how one of his entrepreneurial ventures as a teenager lifted his family out of poverty. Despite this financial success, he battled severe social anxiety and feelings of hopelessness – then one day, he decided to take responsibility for his life and health. By studying and adopting nutrition, meditation, and other life-changing practices, he started on his path to reaching his full potential, and created his current business and podcast. He shares how he makes initial contact with his high-profile podcast guests, how his interaction with Seth Godin was a breakthrough moment, and how podcasting has changed his life. Listen and subscribe to the Humans 2.0 podcast at https://www.markmetry.com/humans-2-0-podcast or on your favorite podcast player. You can also connect with Mark on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter or by email at [email protected] .

In this episode, Beyond 6 Seconds host Carolyn Kiel is interviewed by her guest, Valerie Gordon, a 10-time Emmy award-winning television producer and owner of the career and communication strategy firm, Commander-in-She. Carolyn talks about a time in her career when she felt stuck and what she did to get unstuck, then Valerie & Carolyn share practical tips and advice for getting unstuck, including how to: Take the time to identify what it is you like to do Use conflict and dissatisfaction to your advantage Expand your network Establish a cast of supporting characters Try new things Make space for creativity If you're feeling stuck in your career, then you definitely want to listen to this entire episode! Valerie offers workshops and webinars that teach the storytelling skills necessary to help high-achieving women ascend the leadership ladder. You can learn more about her work at www.Commander-in-She.com , connect with her on LinkedIn and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @CommanderInShe. About Valerie Gordon: Valerie Gordon is a 10-time Emmy award-winning television producer with more than two decades of experience creating and overseeing feature stories for ESPN, HBO Sports and CBS News, among other networks. Now the founder and president of Commander-in-She, LLC, a communications and career strategy firm, Valerie combines her background in storytelling with her passion for the important conversations and skills women need to harness the power of their stories. Valerie offers keynote presentations, group workshops, team building and individual strategizing to demonstrate the role storytelling plays in our daily lives and subsequent success. She has worked with corporations and professional organizations such as Aetna, Mass Mutual, the YES Network, Untapped Potential, Women in Cable Telecommunications, Women in Sports and Events and American Women in Sports Media. Valerie's introspective introductory workshop, "What's Your Story? Storytelling Secrets for Success" allows participants to consider the components of their personal stories – character, plot and narrative point of view – and emerge with greater authorship of their current and future chapters. Story techniques are the thread for specific presentation topics including personal branding, negotiation and conflict resolution, goal-setting, communication skills and work-life balance. Valerie's feature work has been seen on CBS News "The Early Show" (2004-2008), NBC's "Weekend Today" (2002-2003), and HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" (1998-2002), among other assignments. She was a member of the Olympic profiles unit for both the Centennial Olympics in Atlanta (NBC, 1996) and the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan (CBS, 1998). From 2008 to 2016, Valerie was a Coordinating Producer of ESPN's acclaimed Feature Unit, supervising hundreds of features for studio shows, live events and special projects including SC Featured for SportsCenter and My Wish, ESPN's collaboration with Make-a-Wish to grant sports-themed wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. From 2016-2017, Valerie helmed Mike & Mike, ESPN's long-running multi-platform morning show on ESPN Radio and ESPN2. From 2014-2016, Valerie served as co-leader of ESPN Women, ESPN's largest employee resource group, creating and overseeing professional development conferences serving hundreds of employees including "Leading at all Levels" (2014) and "Aspire/Inspire" (2015). For her efforts as a catalyst for other women in the industry, she was honored at the 2015 WICT New England's Evening of Excellence with the Touchstone award (2015). In addition to her 10 Sports Emmy awards, Valerie is a 3-time Edward R. Murrow award recipient and 5-time NY Festival award-winner for both TV and radio and has been recognized with an NABJ Salute to Excellence and a Telly award. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Valerie uses her life outside of work as a wife, mother, novice weightlifter and an occasional adventure race runner as inspiration for other relatable speaking and writing topics. She blogs at www.Commander-in-She.com. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @CommanderInShe.

Andy Storch is a consultant, coach and facilitator who helps his clients turn strategy into action. Andy works with companies to accelerate leadership development, strategy alignment, business acumen and sales training. He also coaches individuals to help them improve their performance and achieve their goals, so they can do the best work of their lives. Additionally, Andy hosts two podcasts: The Entrepreneur Hot Seat (now called The Andy Storch Show), where he has interviewed over 100 CEOs and entrepreneurs, and the Talent Development Hot Seat, where he interviews interesting talent development leaders about their experience. In this episode, Andy shares how the book "Miracle Morning" by Hal Elrod inspired him to transform his life and career by building six habits for success: meditation, exercise, writing, reading, affirmations and visualizations. He also talks about the impact that hosting podcasts and attending conferences have had on growing his career and developing new business relationships. Connect with Andy on LinkedIn and visit www.andystorch.com to learn more about his work and podcasts. Additional information from Andy Storch's bio: Andy has taught strategy, sales, leadership, finance, and business acumen to business leaders all over the world and has started or worked for multiple start-up companies. Some of Andy's past clients have included Salesforce.com, NOV, Oracle, Google, Box, Toyota, Genentech, State Farm, Red Bull, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, HP, Sony, Bechtel, Cisco as well as small business and startup CEOs looking to grow their businesses. Andy has worked with leaders across almost every industry—from software to insurance—and has seen the difference that experiential learning, practice, coaching, and accountability can make in improving overall performance. Andy holds an MBA from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business where he served as President of the MBA program in 2008 and a BS in Information Sciences from the University of Florida.

Erica Stanford got into the field of cryptocurrency as an investor in early 2017. She is now the co-founder of cryptocurrencysimplified.com - a project aiming to make crypto and blockchain be better understood and adopted by the mainstream public. On this episode, Erica discusses how she educated herself about blockchain technology and became fascinated by its current impact and potential to transform society and empower individuals in almost every industry worldwide. Inspired by the trial and error of her own learning experiences, she built an unbiased, reliable web resource to help people learn about blockchain and cryptocurrency that will include how-to guides and translate the technology into simple English. Erica also shares advice on how crypto investors can protect themselves against scams, hackers and fraud. Learn more about Erica's work at www.cryptocurrencysimplified.com or via email at [email protected] .

Cyd Alper-Sedgwick is a Feng Shui Master based in Cincinnati Ohio, with clients throughout the US and Europe. She has a passion for healing buildings, and consequently, the people in the buildings. A second generation Feng Shui Practitioner, she also brings her expertise as an Interior Designer into her consultations. On this episode, Cyd shares how she learned to practice Feng Shui from her mother at an early age, why she transitioned her practice from a hobby to a career, and how she makes people's homes flow with positive energy and clears out negative energy. She also shares how Feng Shui can guide people in purchasing their homes, furnishing their houses, cultivating positive energy in their businesses, and clearing blockages within their hearts and minds. Learn more about Cyd's work at www.harmonicprosperity.com or by leaving her a voicemail message with your name and phone number at (513) 315-6193.

Malavika Vivek is the cofounder of Girls Make Apps, a U.S. nonprofit she began as a high school junior in 2016. To date, Girls Make Apps has inspired hundreds of girls and women from middle school through college to enter the world of tech through free workshops, programs and hackathons across the country from New York to California, and has worked with educators to improve computer science education in public schools. Some of Girls Make Apps' partners have included Spotify, Google and Microsoft. In this episode, Malavika talks about how Girls Make Apps grew from an 8-week Android workshop camp for girls into a national program that gives girls a positive first experience with technology, how her program breaks down stereotypes to show the diversity that's possible in tech, and helps girls build the confidence to work in STEM through hands-on activities, creative work and collaboration. Learn more about Girls Make Apps at www.girlsmakeapps.org and @girlsmakeapps on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Full bio: Malavika Vivek is the cofounder of national nonprofit Girls Make Apps, a US-based initiative she began as a high school junior in 2016. Girls Make Apps has inspired hundreds of girls and women from middle school through college to enter the world of tech through free workshops, programs and hackathons across the country from New York to California and has worked with educators to improve computer science education in public schools. Malavika has been honored as a Stanford University #include fellow for her efforts to bridge the diversity gap in tech and has also been featured for her work in Amy Poehler's Smart Girls and Huffington Post. She has an extensive speaking background and has given talks to numerous students, guidance counselors, and educators at conferences across the US, as well as given a TED talk at TEDxPaloAltoCollege and spoken internationally at Digital4Her, a conference organized by the European Commission. She has a passion for technology as well as computational biology and has worked as a research intern at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She is currently working at Avasoft, a software solutions company.

In this mini-episode of Beyond 6 Seconds, our host Carolyn Kiel shares her blog post about why she started podcasting and what she's learned since publishing the first episodes at the beginning of this year. Check out her written post on the Parrot Content + Copy blog at https://www.parrotcontent.com/single-post/2018/10/30/Beyond-6-Seconds .

Deborah Tan-Pink is the Head of Content at SmartUp, an edtech startup focused on microlearning for corporate employees. She spent a decade in publishing before deciding to venture into entrepreneurship and technology. On this episode, we talk about how Deborah built her resilience and grit during her school years, when she was bullied by both students and teachers – and how she used that resilience and grit to rise quickly from intern to Editor-in-Chief at Cosmopolitan Singapore, with skills and a mindset that helped her grow and pivot her career. She also shares her thoughts on how parents can support their children when they are dealing with bullies. Connect with Deborah on LinkedIn!

Jake Melton is a keynote speaker, author and change expert who focuses on minimalism and simplicity. As the Founder of the J.B. Melton Group, LLC., he helps organizations streamline, improve people processes, find peace, reduce stress, increase organizational effectiveness, and embrace change in a demanding workforce. He also helps people minimalize their lives and find greater purpose and fulfillment in their businesses, families, teams, etc. by simplifying and "cutting the crap." In this episode, Jake shares how several difficult experiences at work started him on a mission to build healthy effective workplaces, what inspired him to write his book called "Minimalize to Maximize Your Happiness: Cut the Crap" and about his experience as a public speaker with Tourette syndrome. Connect with Jake on LinkedIn and let him know that you heard him on the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast! You can also contact Jake at his website www.jakebmelton.com, on Instagram @jakemeltonb and on Facebook.

Dave Sanderson was traveling on a business trip on January 15th, 2009. The trip would change his life forever – because Dave was a passenger on US Airways Flight 1549, also known as "The Miracle on the Hudson" piloted by Captain Sullenberger ("Sully"). On this episode, Dave talks about what it was like to survive the crash itself and how he was able to grow from this traumatic experience. He also shares several practical strategies that anyone can use to grow and thrive after their own "personal plane crash" moments. Visit www.davesandersonspeaks.com to learn more about Dave's motivational speaking practice, buy his book "Moments Matter" or apply for IMPACT, his mastermind group. Special offer for Beyond 6 Seconds listeners -- text BRACE4IMPACT to 797979 to receive the first video from Dave's new course about overcoming adversity in challenging times!

Tiffany Pham is the Founder & CEO of Mogul, an award-winning worldwide online platform that enables women to connect, share information, and access knowledge from each other. She is also the author of You Are a Mogul, the top 10 best-selling business book that describes her experience with forging her own path in an age of disruption – and advice for how you can do it too! In this episode, Tiffany shares her incredible journey: her childhood move from Paris, France to Plano, Texas (before she could speak a word of English), her studies at Yale University and Harvard Business School, her day jobs and side-hustles across multiple industries, and how being named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list showed her the impact she could have on other women's lives around the world, and inspired her to build Mogul -- which now reaches 18 million women per week from over 196 countries. She also shares what influenced her strong ambition, resilience and motivation, and what it truly means to be a Mogul. You can purchase You Are a Mogul on Amazon, visit Mogul at www.onmogul.com and learn more about Tiffany on Mogul, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Have you ever wished you could be more creative and come up with the next "big idea" for your business (or your life in general)? My guest on today's episode, Bob Sager, helps people discover and unlock this ability within themselves. As the founder of SpearPoint Solutions LLC, Bob is a consultant and trainer on how to use innovative thinking to create practical solutions for business and life. Bob describes how the lessons he learned early in his career fueled his success as an entrepreneur: the importance of hard work, treating people well, learning from failure, and always asking himself how he can create more value for his customers. He shares what inspired him to invent a game called What's the BIG Idea?™ which helps people come up with innovative, creative ideas while having fun at the same time. He also gives practical advice to entrepreneurs who are struggling to find the right idea that will grow their business. You can learn more about Bob on his LinkedIn profile. SPECIAL OFFER (as of September 2018): Bob is offering his services for FREE to help 101 businesses and non-profits design their sales/fundraising strategies! At the end of this episode, you'll hear how you can nominate a business or non-profit to take advantage of this limited time offer.

Carin Rockind is a leading happiness expert, motivational speaker, and the creator of PurposeGirl, a movement to empower purpose-driven living. She has taught thousands of people real-life strategies to reclaim their happiness and live to their fullest potential of success and well-being. On October 18th, she is launching the first annual Women's Global Happiness Day (www.womenshappy.com) in over 50 cities worldwide, which will raise awareness of the women's depression epidemic and bring women together to learn empowering tools for finding joy and happiness. In this episode, Carin describes how she struggled within her seemingly picture-perfect life & career, how it took being robbed at gunpoint to start living her true life purpose, and how she has overcome fear, rejection and heartbreaking loss along the way. She also shares some powerful techniques for uncovering your life's purpose, and describes how the clients she's coached have transformed their lives. Visit www.PurposeGirl.com and download your free Living on Purpose Guide to help you begin to uncover your purpose. You can also connect with Carin on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Kenn Day is a professional Shaman based in Cincinnati, Ohio. An internationally recognized lecturer, educator, and author with over twenty-five years' experience exploring the mysteries of the human spirit, Kenn helps companies and organizations rediscover the healing power of deep connection with the collective soul. This work activates true problem engagement that brings about transformations essential to wellbeing and productivity. Kenn describes what a professional shaman does, how his quest to heal from PTSD started him on his journey to become a shaman, and how he has helped businesses tune into their communal souls to heal their cultures and embrace change as gently as possible. Learn more about Kenn's work at www.bodysoulcincy.com.

Kim Foster Carlson is an award-winning broadcast journalist, athlete and author of the book "Good Enough: How to Overcome Fear of Failure and Perfectionism to Live Your Best Life." In this episode, Kim shares why she wrote this book for millennials, who have been called "the most anxious generation", and how her message has resonated with Baby Boomers too. She describes her own struggle with perfectionism throughout her career, and how she discovered the importance of trying new things and becoming who you are meant to be without fearing failure. You can find out more about Kim at www.kimfostercarlson.com, join her Facebook group, and buy her book on Amazon.

Adrienne Garland is the founder and CEO of She Leads Media, a boutique marketing consultancy and conference production company serving women-led businesses. She also runs the She Leads Annual Conference, which brings together new and experienced women entrepreneurs to share business tools, resources and advice that help level the playing field for women-led businesses. In this episode, Adrienne describes the resources that women entrepreneurs need to build and finance their businesses. She also shares her own challenges as a corporate marketing executive turned founder & CEO of her own company. Learn more about She Leads Media at www.sheleadsmedia.com, where you can also register for the She Leads Annual Conference on October 26, 2018 in NY City. Additionally, Adrienne encourages all women entrepreneurs to contact her at [email protected] and share their challenges with launching and running their businesses, so she can create the resources they need to overcome those challenges!

Femi Opaneye is the Founder and CEO of Linked Optimization, which helps businesses generate B2B leads and sales through LinkedIn. He is a successful entrepreneur today -- but he almost didn't survive to get to this point. On this episode, Femi opens up about his difficult career journey, and the years of pain and struggle that preceded his success: working as a self-described "dreadful employee" in investment banking, losing his job, struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, returning to investment banking (and hating it again), and failing at his first few business ventures. His honest story is a reminder that the road to success is not a straight line. His valuable advice for being tenacious through adversity will inspire you to keep learning & moving forward. Learn more about Femi on LinkedIn and his business at www.linkedoptimization.com.

Dr. Ginny Baro is the CEO and founder of Fearless Women @Work, an executive coaching and career strategy company. She is also the #1 bestselling author of "Fearless Women at Work," a motivational speaker, and a leadership expert. On this episode, Ginny shares her own story of immigrating from the Dominican Republic as a child, being the first person in her family to go to college (and then going on to earn her MBA and PhD) , her 26-year corporate leadership career in IT, and how her divorce compelled her to reinvent herself into the entrepreneur and leadership coach she is today. We discuss the importance of understanding your passion and value proposition, as well as practical advice for building relationships with mentors and sponsors at work. Ginny also describes her five powerful strategies for thriving in your career and life -- C.A.R.E.S.: Connect, Align, Rise, Envision, Seek -- from her book "Fearless Women at Work." Learn more about Ginny and her work on her website at www.Fearlesswomenatwork.com, where you can also request a complimentary coaching strategy session and sign up for her women's Fearless Leadership Retreat on November 9-11, 2018 in Vernon, NJ.

Steven Riecker has been passionate about the outdoors for over 50 years. In 2017, he embarked on an EPIC journey and thru-hiked the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, over 5 months, through 14 states and hiked nearly 5 million footsteps. It transformed his life – and now he leads hikes for others on the Appalachian Trail as well. On this episode, Steven describes his epic journey, how his best friend Roger's battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has inspired him, and advice for achieving big life goals. You can use these links to connect with Steven on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, support his fundraising for ALS and support Roger's family.

Shannon Villalba is an entrepreneur, lawyer, and holistic health practitioner based in the Cincinnati area. During her bout with small cell cervical cancer, a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine cancer, she used many holistic and complementary medicine therapies in addition to traditional medical treatments. As a result of this journey, she created HIME Wellness: Healing through Inspiration, Motivation, and Education. HIME Wellness is a company that provides practitioners and the community at large with resources for holistic therapies, and provides the tools to help people live happier, healthier, meaningful, and more purpose-driven lives. Learn more about HIME Wellness at www.himewellness.com and on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also email Shannon at [email protected] for more information.

This episode features Katarina Garcia, a fashion designer & competitive tennis player who combined those passions to launch Katsey, her new athleisure apparel line for women ages 40 and older. Katarina discusses how she navigated the challenges leading up to her clothing line's launch, and how she used LinkedIn to build business relationships with executives and venture capitalists, which ultimately led to a deal with the new fashion division of Amazon. She also shares her plans to use Katsey to support a much bigger dream that's very close to her heart: preventing domestic violence through youth education. Learn more about Katarina on LinkedIn and follow Katsey on Instagram at bekatsey and Twitter @BeKatsey.

Tyler Jackson is the owner and founder of Trove Branding Consultants, a social media management agency that caters to entrepreneurs, brands, and corporations worldwide. In this episode, Tyler shares valuable digital marketing and branding advice for small businesses, recommends the books that have helped her strengthen her skills as a business owner and build her team, and the importance of being a lifelong learner. Learn more about Trove Branding Consultants at their website www.TroveBrandingConsultants.com, on Facebook, and on Instagram @trovebranding.

Roxana Radulescu is a learning & development consultant who founded All Personal, where she provides coaching services for developing your personal skills (also known as "soft skills"). She is also the host of the All Personal podcast, which features stories about how people discover and use their unique sets of skills throughout their lives. On this episode, Roxana shares the importance of building your strengths & skills like muscles and how she manages the challenges of being a new solo entrepreneur in a new country. Learn more about Roxana at her website www.personalskillscoach.com or connect with her on LinkedIn, by email at [email protected] or phone at (647) 568-1596. *** Mention the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast to get a free Discovery Coaching session & special invitation from Roxana! ***

Imagine you've invested years of your life in law school, landed a lucrative job at a prestigious big law firm, and … you absolutely hate it! What would you do? Elena Deutsch has a solution for women lawyers who find themselves in this difficult situation. Elena is an experienced executive coach and career consultant who founded WILL: Women Interested in Leaving (big) Law. She helps women lawyers leave big law firms for a career and life filled with greater control and satisfaction. Elena talks about why women get stuck being miserable working in big law firms, what inspired her to leave her successful coaching business to go out and start WILL on her own, and how she addresses the challenges of being a solopreneur. Women lawyers who want to make a career change can visit www.womeninterestedinleavinglaw.com to learn more about Elena's services and check out some free resources.

Lizy Dastin is the owner and founder of Art and Seeking, a platform that bridges the gap between the mainstream art world to the unorthodox world of street art. Lizy shares how her idea for Art and Seeking came about during a low point in her life, why her business evolved its services from art-focused walking tours into a free digital archive of street art for the public and managerial support for artists, and what her craziest experiences have been while interviewing street artists. Learn more about Lizy on the Art and Seeking website and Instagram, her podcast "Art Attack with Lizy Dastin and Justin Bua" or by emailing her at [email protected].

After Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, Jeannette Wheatley spent 3 years volunteering with a charitable organization called World Hope for their hurricane relief efforts in Louisiana. Far from her home in Michigan and with a broken shoulder, Jeannette shares why she traveled to New Orleans to support hurricane victims, how she inspired businesses in her hometown to donate funds and materials to rebuild people's lives, and how her faith in God led her to hear the call to volunteer and experience miracles large and small. Jeannette continues to actively volunteer and support charitable causes. She is currently raising funds to build a community well with Pastor David Akong'o in Kisumu, Kenya. You can contact her on LinkedIn or email at [email protected], or learn more at Pastor David's church Facebook page, personal Facebook page, or Instagram.

Katharine Griffiths is a telecommunications veteran with a passion for gender equality, who is helping companies thrive by embracing gender diversity. She shares what inspired her to build her brand around gender equality, the unique methodology she has developed to drive gender diversity, and how sharing stories and working through conflict can help women and men create lasting change. You can contact Katharine on her website at www.katharinegriffiths.com, via email at [email protected] or Twitter @KathyAGriffiths and read her articles on LinkedIn.

Conrad Agderian is the Founder and Owner of Conrad's Concessions, a party equipment rental business in Bergenfield NJ. In this episode, he shares how he evolved his company from a side-hustle for "beer money" into a successful full-time business, why he left the 9-to-5 corporate working world behind to become an entrepreneur, and what he's learned about providing excellent customer service and responding positively to negative feedback. You can contact Conrad at (201) 214-2125 or www.conradsconcessions.com, where you can also listen to his podcast, Victory Loves Company.

Avery Schrader is the Founder and CEO of Modash, a startup based in Tallinn, Estonia. Modash helps current & aspiring online content creators (like photographers, filmmakers, writers & social media influencers) find opportunities to partner and collaborate with established brands. These opportunities help content creators grow, create and do what they love. In this episode, Avery discusses what inspired him to build a digital marketing start-up in a new country, how networking helps him find mentors, clients & employees, and the challenges of managing talent for a new company that is constantly evolving. He also shares advice for building your own personal brand and network, and how to get started with doing the things you love. You can contact Avery on LinkedIn, at [email protected] and at www.modash.io . If you work in marketing, you can try out Modash's platform for free by emailing [email protected] .