Rounding The Bases With Joel Goldberg

We’re now two years into the Covid-19 pandemic, and it would be nearly impossible to find someone who hasn’t been impacted by its challenges. We all felt the collateral damage, but the very people who needed protecting the most may have actually suffered the most. Seclusion helped keep vulnerable seniors from the virus, but it also introduced them to its equally destructive companion, loneliness. Tech entrepreneur Eliot Arnold set out to help our seniors. He is the CEO and co-founder of MoodSpark, a mood-improving digital companion. By disrupting negative feelings and replacing them with emotional memories, MoodSpark actually improves the mental and biological health of its users. He’s widely regarded for his novel approaches to complex human problems, and his latest beta delivers. With a vision based on emotion but backed by science, Eliot and his team have harnessed the power of AI to help make loneliness a thing of the past.

As we wrap up another month with fantastic guests, we circle back to Anita Newton's episode in this month's "Best Of" series. Anita Newton is an innovative entrepreneur and marketing junkie, but perhaps best known as the Chief Innovation Officer of Community America Credit Union. With a proclivity for fun and willingness to say ‘yes’, she introduces groundbreaking ideas that challenge boundaries. She’s even the mastermind behind a first-of-its-kind product that has revolutionized the financial landscape for college-bound students. With her perpetually action-oriented leadership style, she aligns her team towards a singular focus, welcoming each new challenge as an opportunity to create another one of her masterpieces.

Raneem Alasmi is a woman of bravery, of strength, drive, and love. She is a young woman who has overcome more adversity than most of us will in our entire lifetimes. And even though her name probably isn't one you’ve heard before, after hearing her story, it’s one you won’t soon forget. Raneem Alasmi is a Syrian refugee with an insatiable hunger for life. After fleeing her home country, she and her family arrived stateside with no language or money, just the clothes on their backs. In a matter of years, she went from learning English by watching the Disney channel to becoming a KU undergrad, where she’s earning her degree in journalism. She knows she has a voice to promote change and speak her truth, it is up to us to listen.

Laura Sanko is the type of person who looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink. And even though she may not look like the fighting type, she shows up every day ready to break down yet another barrier. Over the course of her career, Laura has gone from amateur MMA fighter to promising correspondent. Now, she’s a marquee on-air talent for the UFC. Capturing the title of first-ever female analyst in ultimate fighting was no easy feat, but she always had confidence in what she could do if just given the chance. She may be fancy, but when it comes to fighting, she’ll knock you right out.

For many, April 13, 2014 was just another Sunday. For today’s guest, it marked the day her life trajectory was altered forever. Headlines circulated around the world when the open fire of an antisemitic gunman took the lives of her father and 14-year old son, leaving her as a grieving mother and daughter with a decision to make. And in the face of unimaginable tragedy, Mindy Corporon chose to respond with - what she calls - courageous kindness, a rare form of bravery that cannot be deterred by pain. She’s the former CEO of a successful wealth management firm whose ambition changed in an instant, pivoting from guiding clients financially to guiding the masses towards tolerance and common ground. Realizing that sadness and joy actually go hand in hand, Mindy began to rebuild her life. Now, she's a successful entrepreneur who uses her platforms as a speaker, author and podcast host to channel heartbreak into healing. Despite her soul shattering loss, she has spent the last seven and a half years making each new day a little better than the one before it, uniting people in kindness and shining her light on peace.For more information about Mindy Corporon please visit: www.mindycorporon.com

Bringing heart, hustle and a heap of confidence into her every day, LaFarris Risby adheres to one simple tenet in life, which is that the decisions you make today will ultimately affect your tomorrow. She is dynamic, she is results driven, she is the founder and CEO of Loving Arms Enterprises. Today LaFarris boasts an impressive list of credentials, but her success story is actually rooted in necessity. With $50 in her pocket and two young children to provide for, failure was never an option. She had belief in herself and hope for the future, and managed to build a multi-million dollar business from nothing. For more about LaFarris please visit www.lafarris.com

Marquita Miller-Joshua is the Founder and President of Five Star Tax and Business Solutions, best-selling author and powerhouse motivational speaker. While she may be a masterful accountant by trade, her real business is advocating for others on a journey to their own success. A staunch proponent for acting with intention, Marquita has earned herself a reputation for inspiring entrepreneurs and audiences alike to commit. Whether that’s to break barriers or eliminate excuses, she positions them to own their goals and take action, for a result that’s undeniably impactful.

Morag Barrett is described more than as a "people person", but rather she is a "people first" person. Relationships are the cornerstone of everything she does, making it no surprise that she thrives on empowering others to show up as their best selves and maximize their potential to excel. Morag is the founder and CEO of SkyeTeam, the award-winning leadership development firm, and the best-selling author of Cultivate: The Power of Winning Relationships. In Welsh, her name means “great”, and through the power of great relationships, she helps organizations achieve extraordinary results. Calling business the ultimate team sport, Morag teaches that you can’t help but depend on others for your own success. With intention and experience, she is leading the charge on bettering business for people in business, one relationship at a time.

Episode 719's guest is a brilliant creative who delivers perfection but chooses to color outside the lines. Why? In a word, innovation. Anita Newton is a serial entrepreneur and marketing junkie, but perhaps best known as the Chief Innovation Officer of Community America Credit Union. With a proclivity for fun and willingness to say ‘yes’, she introduces groundbreaking ideas that challenge boundaries. She’s even the mastermind behind a first-of-its-kind product that has revolutionized the financial landscape for college-bound students. With her perpetually action-oriented leadership style, she aligns her team towards a singular focus, welcoming each new challenge as an opportunity to create another one of her masterpieces.

Dr. Risa Stein holds a PHD in clinical child and health psychology and an MA in Organizational Leadership, but perhaps her greatest title is mom. While raising a neurotypical child, Dr. Stein identified a need within her own family, ensuring the most vulnerable among us are seen as the extraordinary, unique individuals that they are prompting her to start her business, SeeInMe. SeeInMe assists vulnerable individuals by providing information about a loved one to those around them. Dr. Stein discovered a way to nurture the individual and empower the family, giving a voice where it's needed most showing just how much heart there really is here in the Heartland.

It's time for our "best of" episode for the month of February as we feature Brian Roberts of Lockton Companies. Brian is the Chief Diversity Officer, Executive Vice President and newly-appointed Chief Operating Officer of its Midwest Series where his primary focus is on the talent, and how he can help each and every individual achieve things even they didn’t know they were capable of. Not unlike a sports coach, his commitment to the team is unrelenting. He also equips each player, or in Brian’s case, Associate, with the resources and guidance they need to perform their best. And each win isn’t just one for the team, but a testament to the leader who helped get them there.

On Rounding the Bases, there’s one topic that continues to be a cornerstone of the stories we tell, and that is culture. Jeff King is the CEO of Barkley, an award-winning advertising agency who knows the significance of culture in business. Jeff has made a point of building his company around one very simple concept, which is to "add good." Add good to ideas, add it to a brand, and most importantly, add good to the lives of those around you. From his acclaimed diversity initiatives to his tireless work with area youths, Jeff adds a healthy serving of good wherever he goes, balancing purpose with profits and leading by example. In doing so, he imparts real change, not just within the creative genius keeping Barkley clients happy, but in his community, the industry, and arguably, the world. For more about Barkley visit: https://www.barkleyus.com/

LaTonya Wilkins is someone whose ambition is to disrupt traditional business culture in order to make a difference. As a queer woman of color in corporate America, she knows first hand that for some companies, the phenomenal culture it boasts is purely superficial. She is the founder of The Change Coaches and global thought leader on corporate culture. Her expertise is so rich that she in fact wrote the best selling book on it, called Leading Below the Surface. Using her lived experience, she now coaches executive management on how to create thriving, deeply inclusive and radically authentic workplace cultures once - and finally for all.

If good, honest journalism has the power to change the world, our latest guest on Rounding the Bases is a great mind for the record books. Ebony Reed is equal parts formidable journalist and modern-day civil rights advocate who has built a career on diversity and social issues. Her mission of bringing visibility to inequalities has spanned many platforms, including as co-author of the forthcoming book “The Black Dollar” and as a former Wall Street Journal talent. Ebony most recently ascended to the position of Chief Strategy Officer for The Marshall Project. Under her tutelage, the Pulitzer Prize winning group has continued to spark important conversations about criminal justice reform. She is a voice for all of us paving a way to a hopeful future.

Luke Fedlam is the Leader of the Porter Wright Sports Law Practice as well as Founder and President of Anomaly Sports Group. He’s a protector of possibilities who understands the business of athletics in a way that few others do. After watching one too many athletes fail to transition to the next phase of their career, he resolved to become part of the solution. With nearly two decades of legal expertise and a penchant for Name, Image and Likeness education, he’s become the vanguard for student and professional athlete life skills development. By equipping them with the tools they need, game plans are made for their careers and beyond, transcending their sport to become anomalies. For more information on Luke Fedlam, check out https://www.porterwright.com/#s.1 or http://anomalysportsgroup.com/ For more on Joel Goldberg, visit his website: https://joelgoldbergmedia.com/

Episode 712 features a look behind the bench with the amazing Honorable Brian C. Wimes, US District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, who has served with distinction since his 2012 appointment under the Obama Administration. He’s the first to admit that the gravity of being a federal judge requires he view himself with a sense of humor, while being careful to balance the work itself with the care and seriousness that it demands. Outside of his chambers, he’s passionate about reciprocating the mentorship bestowed upon him early in his career to the next generation of legal professionals.

Sports and a championship mentality are at the forefront of Rounding the Bases. And in our latest installment, Joel Goldberg chats with a soccer pro turned coaching phenom, though maybe not in the sense you would expect. Brian Roberts is Lockton Companies’ Chief Diversity Officer, Executive Vice President and newly-appointed Chief Operating Officer of its Midwest Series. In Brian's sports career he played defender and in his new role, he continues to play defender of its culture and market position. Brian has played a first-hand role in coaching others to achieve their own potential. Not unlike a sports coach, his commitment to the team is unrelenting. He also equips each player, or in Brian’s case, Associate, with the resources and guidance they need to perform their best.

We love rounding out the month with a listen back to one of our favorite episodes of the month! This guest helped kick off season 7 with a bang. He's a Kansas City native who makes the crowds go crazy, has a reputation for being one of hip-hops most unconventional rappers, and his signature rapid-fire flow has earned notoriety around the world. With credits that include 17 studio albums, a BET Nomination and repeat appearances on the Forbes list, his accolades kick almost as hard as his bone fide beats. Stomp your feet and clap your hands for the City of Fountains’ very own platinum recording artist, Tech N9ne.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Rounding the Bases has dedicated each Thursday of January to talking about a crisis often happening right in front of our eyes in communities all over the world. Dan Nash and Alison Phillips are the co-founders of the Human Trafficking Training Center. They have created the most comprehensive and effective training to teach law enforcement, probation and parole, natural resource officers, nurses and hospital administration, victim advocates, and civilians a more effective way to save victims and eradicate traffickers. In part four, Dan and Alison talk about creating a path forward by properly training law enforcement. For more information: www.humantraffickingtrainingcenter.com

The latest guest on Rounding the Bases brings with her a story about change. From career pursuits that began in the medical field came a realization that her true love was actually engineering. After an emigration to the US catalyzed a successful Silicon Valley career with some of the biggest names in technology, Lola Priego has now found a way to fuse her two passions. As Founder and CEO of the at-home lab company BASE, she has created a test that identifies imbalances affecting your daily life, then employs technology to improve them. The result is a holistic, data-driven approach to better health and a better life, proving that sometimes, change is the best medicine of all.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Rounding the Bases has dedicated each Thursday of January to talking about a crisis often happening right in front of our eyes in communities all over the world. Dan Nash and Alison Phillips are the co-founders of the Human Trafficking Training Center. They have created the most comprehensive and effective training to teach law enforcement, probation and parole, natural resource officers, nurses and hospital administration, victim advocates, and civilians a more effective way to save victims and eradicate traffickers. In part three, Dan and Alison dig into the dangers of online trafficking with the help of a survivor.For more information: www.humantraffickingtrainingcenter.com

The only thing worse than not knowing what needs to be done is knowing what needs done, but not how to implement it. From that realization came a brand new company - and category of business - that helps people achieve more than ever before. Marc Bernstein is the Founder and CEO of Balto, which has redefined the way people and machines work together. Using the power of artificial intelligence, Balto eliminates uncertainties and improves performance for real-life professionals, providing an experience that is better than humanly possible.For more info: https://www.balto.ai/Check out Joel Goldberg's website: https://joelgoldbergmedia.com/

In hopes of spreading awareness, Rounding the Bases has dedicated each Thursday of January to talking about National Slavery and Human Trafficking, a crisis often happening right in front of our eyes in communities all over the world. In part two, Joel Goldberg and his guests, Dan Nash and Alison Phillips, dive deeper into the process of human trafficking shedding light on different types of trafficking and locations where activity is most common. For more information please visit www.humantraffickingtrainingcenter.com

Joel's guest in this episode brings the best of Britain to the heart of the midwest. He’s a media man who has mastered the art of contrast, whether through moderation of polarizing - if not contentious - topics with his signature brand of cheekiness or delivering real news alongside a healthy dose of personality. Nick Haines is the Executive Producer and Host of the PBS primetime program: Kansas City Week in Review. His skillful ability to navigate differences is only part of what has also made him a four-time Emmy Award Winner. By channeling the power of TV, he bridges divides and in light of our many differences, convenes citizens to foster a sense of community. Be sure to check www.joelgoldbergmedia.com for more on Nick Haines and Rounding The Bases

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Rounding the Bases is dedicating each Thursday of January to conversations about a crisis often happening right in front of our eyes in communities all over the world. Dan Nash and Alison Phillips are the co-founders of the Human Trafficking Training Center. They have created the most comprehensive and effective training to teach law enforcement, probation and parole, natural resource officers, nurses and hospital administration, victim advocates, and civilians a more effective way to save victims and eradicate traffickers. In part one, Dan and Alison with assistance from a survivor, provide an overview of human trafficking hoping to create awareness for all of us.www.humantraffickingtrainingcenter.comwww.joelgoldbergmedia.com

Helping Joel Goldberg kick off season 7 is a Kansas City native who makes crowds go crazy. He has a reputation for being one of hip-hops most unconventional rappers, and his signature rapid-fire flow has earned notoriety around the world. With credits that include 17 studio albums, a BET Nomination and repeat appearances on the Forbes list, his accolades kick almost as hard as his bone fide beats. He is none other than, Tech N9ne. During this recording, Tech N9ne was on tour representing The Kingdom to fans across North America as he and Joel discuss his long outstanding career.

Season 7 of Rounding The Bases with Joel Goldberg will kickoff with a longtime rap superstar and will also include an extremely important topic during numerous episodes in January. Joel previews some of the upcoming content.

The final episode of the "Best of 2021" series features the amazing story of Montee Ball. After a successful college football career, the Broncos drafted the running back in the 2nd round. He was on the fast track to success when his fight with alcoholism, anxiety, and depression ended his football dreams. But instead of losing all hope, Montee changed his path in life and found his purpose. Listen to hear his story.

The best of 2021 continues with an immigrant to the US with an inspiring story. Rania Anderson is "driven by a deeply held conviction that the global economy will only thrive when women and all people are equally engaged in leading its prosperity." Rania is an author, international keynote speaker on inclusive leadership, gender parity and the advancement of women, and an executive business coach. Listen to this enlightening conversation that teaches the importance of compassion through empathy.

Continuing with the "Best of 2021", this episode features a familiar guest for host Joel Goldberg, who covered this Kansas City Royals legend his entire 13 year MLB career. Alex Gordon is a hero to the Kansas City community, he's a guy who always played the game the right way, respected by players and coaches alike, a fan favorite, a family-man, and an elite athlete. Joel and Alex discuss his retirement from baseball, his playing days, and what's next for the 8X Gold Glove left fielder.

2021 has been such a great year for Rounding the Bases with amazing guests each week. As the year comes to an end, we are playing great moments of 2021starting with Sam Rapoport. Sam is the Sr. Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with the NFL. She has worked to shift and progress diversity hiring in football, and catalyzed a movement for women in sports by creating a new diversity platform for the NFL. Rapoport was named one of SI's most Powerful, Influential and Most Outstanding Women in Sports.

Every now and then, you meet someone who sets sky-high expectations and shatters them. Today’s guest is one such example. Peter Mallouk is the President and CEO of Creative Planning, a New York Times best-selling author, and all-around epitome of excellence. Even by his own exacting standards, he has no shortage of accomplishments. From his top-ranked wealth management firm to his passionate commitment to bettering our community, Peter sets himself apart on the regular, all with a rare sense of grace.

Healthcare will always be about people. Brian Whorley recognized the importance of people in healthcare as an opportunity to modernize the payment experience. As the Founder and CEO of Paytient, Brian’s objective is to remove cost as a barrier to care, making it more accessible and affordable than ever. Paytient now lives at the intersection of medicine and financial services, where it is making a meaningful impact on countless lives.

Dr. Michelle Robin, wellness champion, joins Joel for a full helping of gratitude and a serving of perspective on Thanksgiving for a quick holiday special.

Brian Roland is a social entrepreneur and self-proclaimed coffee guru who has unearthed the secret to a successful life. It’s a simple recipe with just one key ingredient, and that’s people. Turns out people are also the secret to a successful business, which has been the focus of his company - Abenity - since day one. Abenity’s social mission is sponsoring hundreds of impoverished children and donating more than a million dollars in humanitarian aid.

In a world that often asks how much can I make, my guest today asks how many people can I serve? Isaac Wambua, founder and CEO of Dynamo Methods, emerged from humble beginnings in a Kenyan village. With grit and determination, he learned English, immigrated to America and has built a business from the ground up that solely focuses on helping others. Isaac is a believer that in life, people can choose to run away from pain or to go after fulfillment.

A special guest joins the show as Joel Goldberg chats with his younger brother, Marc Goldberg. Marc's passion is closing educational opportunity gaps. He began his career as a member of the Peace Corps, then spent over 10 years supporting adult education in Portland, and now he is the Principal and CEO at Skills Strategy Consulting as well as host of the podcast, All In: Student Pathways Forward. Listen to hear the ways Marc changes the lives of those around him. (And who was the better son growing up...)

We my know what a brand is, but how about the concept of a "cult brand"? I’m referring to the select group of companies that have established a loyal, almost fanatical consumer base. And expertise in what makes them iconic is exactly where Chris Kneeland has found his success. As the co-founder and CEO of the Cult Collective,Chris has worked with some of the most recognizable brands on the planet empowering businesses to become remarkable.

Kenny Randle is someone who has built a career around the potential of people. As a collegiate hall of fame track star turned NFL football player, he’s no stranger to the influence a great coach can have. But it's when a coach can find a way to simultaneously harness natural talent while also tapping into latent abilities that the magic happens. As the Regional Vice-President of a leading HR firm, he has played a critical role in matching candidates to positions, putting both on the path to success.

Mental health is no laughing matter, but with our guest Frank King, the topic somehow provides a way to feel at ease together regarding a heavy subject. Frank is equal parts humorist and survivor. As a veteran comedian and Tonight Show writer, he has a strong brand of sharp witted humor. By coupling that with serious real life situations like suicide and depression, both of which Frank has suffered, he is able to boldly - yet respectfully - start discussions in ways that have never been done.

Showing support to our brothers and sisters in arms is something Joel Goldberg takes to heart. An important cause no matter the time of year, but as we move into the holidays, it’s especially vital to show appreciation to those on deployment. Operation Uplift is a local organization with the mission of sending holiday care packages to the men and women who choose service over self. VP and Director of HR from Yarco Property Management, Mickey Carlson joins Joel to share more about this incredible cause.

If you’ve ever used your cellphone to put video on the internet, Adam Fichman is the one to thank. That’s right, his first company - a garage start-up in college, called 1dawg, pioneered the entire process and introduced it to the world. He is a tech savant and sometimes-irreverent internet prodigy, who bears many claims to fame. Fast forward to the present, Adam is the President and Founder of Lifted Logic, a KC-based media company specializing in everything from graphic design to print to web.

Carol Espinosa is a firm believer that growth is made possible when shared with others. Her first priority in life is pursuing her own happiness, while helping others achieve theirs along the way. Carol Espinosa is the founder of Freedom Interiors, which specializes in workspace design. The positive influence of her work is evident in the experience of her clients as well as among her team, where freedom is more than a word, it’s a way of life.

Cam F Awesome is one of the most decorated boxers in US history. Cam reaped the benefits of being a storied boxer, but the cards weren't always stacked in his favor, which is how he learned to shuffle the deck and make necessary changes in his life. He went from being a professional boxer to living a life in a van traveling the country. Shuffling the deck helped Cam find his way to becoming a speaker keynoting for organizations on diversity and cultural awareness and living his life to the fullest.

Today on Rounding the Bases we will hear the story of the man behind the stories. By harnessing the power of public media, Kliff Kuehl - President and CEO of Kansas City PBS - has realized his goal of keeping high-quality storytelling local. With an eye towards reinvigorating tradition, his leadership can be credited with bringing radio, social and digital reading platforms into the mix.

Jeff Cloud is an expert in MRO, otherwise known as maintenance, repair and operations. Just as his company excels at customizing these solutions, he’s the type of leader to apply them at the human level. He is the President, CEO and third-generation owner of IBT Industrial Solutions, a place where culture is paramount. Jeff understands that strong culture is rooted in strong tradition. And because of it, he is determined to keep IBTs family-centric founding values at the forefront to his modern-day team.

Mike Kilkenny is President and CEO of Taylor Forge Engineered Systems in Paola, KS. He is a University of Illinois alumni and has served in many capacities during his 35+ year tenure with Taylor Forge, as well as several professional affiliations over the course of his career. He believes that small manufacturing businesses are the key to growth in our country, and is always looking for good, hard-working people to help advance that initiative.

If you’ve ever used your cellphone to put video on the internet, Adam Fichman is the one to thank. That’s right, his first company - a garage start-up in college, called 1dawg, pioneered the entire process and introduced it to the world. He is a tech savant and sometimes-irreverent internet prodigy, who bears many claims to fame. Fast forward to the present, Adam is the President and Founder of Lifted Logic, a KC-based media company specializing in everything from graphic design to print to web.

Adriana Bates is a woman who does business in style while breaking down barriers. Her reputation for being a powerhouse at the closing table is preceded only by her reputation for doing it all with impeccable fashion, both figuratively and literally. She is the Co-Founder, Partner and self-proclaimed "Leader of Awesomeness" of Clear KC LLC. She is passionate about the client experience educating and empowering each client to make decisions perfectly tailored to their lifestyle and financial goals.

Mike Swanson’s 43rd year working in Major League Baseball will be his last as he heads into well-deserved retirement. The long time media relations executive worked for the San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks and his hometown Kansas City Royals. In part 2 of his interview with Joel, "Swanee" discussed some of his favorite stadiums, leaving a family legacy, retirement plans and he shared insight into players like Tony Gwynn, Randy Johnson, Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez.