Unconventional Leaders

For the past several years, I have seen today's guest perform at a conference and have just been blown away not only by his talent but also by his ability to connect with a crowd. His name is Elec Simon. If you have seen him perform once, there is no chance that you could forget him.With over 20 years of experience performing and wowing crowds of up to 25,000 – with the off-Broadway and touring productions of 'Stomp', on global music tour stages, and on NBA courts – Elec Simon knows a thing or two about creating energy and being a vessel for powerful messages. In today's conversation, we are diving into how we capture the hearts of the audience, navigate the tricky world of entrepreneurship, and how to stay rooted in our spirituality and relationship with God.ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/17 TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:Connecting with strangers (even when some won't like you!)The game of entrepreneurship and how to stay grounded in your valuesWhat to do when you feel God is silentConnect with Elec Simon: https://elecsimon.net/ Follow Elec on IG: https://www.instagram.com/elecsimon/ Ask Heather a Question: www.heatherparady.com/ask Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

What does it really take to get your creative work in front of more people and make a real living from your craft? Some say not to worry about the money, but how can you stay true to your art while still moving the ball forward?Today, I connected with Chad Lawson, an American pianist and composer, who found that sweet spot between the business side of music and creating work that he is truly passionate about. In this conversation, he breaks down the exact steps he took in the early days to build his business, a unique way that he stays connected in the music industry, and why he is grateful he spent the first 20 years as an independent artist, because of all the business lessons he learned.ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/16 TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:Creatives: You Must Make Money While You Sleep (Residual Income)Land More Opportunities by Doing This One ThingHow Do Artists Balance 'Going After the Money' and 'It's About the People'?Tactical Tips on How to Strengthen Connections and Build Your NetworkBuy ‘Make Art Make Money’ by Elizabeth Hyde Stevens: https://amzn.to/3Sl5hDz Buy ‘Trust Me, I’m Lying’ by Ryan Holiday: https://amzn.to/48VHtM7 Connect with Chad Lawson: https://www.chadlawson.com/ Follow Chad on IG: https://www.instagram.com/chadlawson/ Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Is being yourself truly 'enough'? What if there were multiple versions of you that you could access to perform at your best, depending on the situation? I recently shared a video on this topic and received some skepticism (fair pushback) regarding the idea of creating an 'Alter Ego'.In response, I reached out to Todd Herman, a performance coach and author, who has assisted world-renowned athletes and leaders in tapping into their superpowers through an Alter Ego. In this episode, we explore your questions about authenticity and peak performance. Join us as we dive into the benefits of an alter ego, the impact of visualization and having a 'board of directors' for your life, and how you can fully embrace your authentic self.ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/15 TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:Is the Ego Bad? Understanding the Difference Between an Unhealthy Ego and Your Alter Ego.Why Play and Imagination are Key to Peak Performance.Developing a Board of Invisible Advisors to Aid You in Decision MakingConnect with Todd Herman: https://toddherman.me/ Alter Ego by Todd Herman: https://amzn.to/3HlNTIH Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Is unforgiveness harming your business? Keeping you back from fulfilling your goals and ambitions? This is not an easy question, and one that would be easy to dismiss, but I challenge you to lean in and hear this story.Today, Amy Lacey, serial entrepreneur, joins us to talk about the impact of forgiveness on your mental health and success. Amy is in the top 1% of all female business owners and confidently shares in this conversation about how the inner work has led to her success. But as Amy says, 'Forgiveness is a choice, and healing is a process.'ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/14 TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:Breaking unhealthy patterns and healing traumaUnforgiveness manifesting in sicknessHow unforgiveness can impact your businessConnect with Amy Lacey: https://heyamylacey.com/ Follow Amy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heyamylacey/ Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Are you at a point in your life where you are questioning your purpose? Dealt with a blow to your dreams and plans – and you don’t even know what to do anymore?Today, I connected with Able Heart, Philadelphia based-singer, songwriter and producer, who shares with us how he managed to get back up after his Amateur US Olympic snowboarding career came to an abrupt halt due to an injury.He eventually found his solace in music and now shares his spirituality with his audience by intentionally creating specific frequencies within his music.ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/13TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:How to get back up from a major career shift (snowboarding to music)The innate spark of talent (coupled with hard work)Manifesting and the frequency of music Connect with Able Heart: https://www.ableheart.co/ Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Every aspiring content creator loves tactics. Folks are desperately searching on how to go viral, build an online community, and keep people’s attention. But what if I told you that building an influence doesn’t lie in merely going viral, but by holding true to your values?Today, I spoke with Sean Cannell, the founder of Think Media, who is one of today’s leading online video experts and the world’s most watched YouTube strategist.As a faith-driven leader, I had him on the show not to talk about tactics (sorry y’all) but to discuss how he stays grounded in his faith/spiritual walk while growing a massive following. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/12 TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:How to stay grounded in your faith/mission while scaling an online brandHow do you become a good steward of your success?Measuring your impact in a digital landscapeConnect with Sean Cannell: https://www.seancannell.com/ Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

If you are a one-man (or woman) show, trying to pull off running a business, creating content, etc., it's understandable that you may feel overwhelmed. What if there was a way to employ multiple 'selves' and operate effectively as a team... even if it's just you?Today, I connected with George Sidiropoulos, a former musician turned content creator who has NAILED a system that helps him produce more, in less time, using multiple versions of himself. In this conversation, we dig into how to navigate the beginning stages of a one-person team, creating the structures that build your business, and how we keep our creativity and passion intact despite the pressure of earning.ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/11TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:Using Different Personas to Operate More Efficiently as a CreatorA Fresh Perspective on the Ideation Process for Generating Tons of IdeasAllowing Your Creative Passion Room to Breathe While Building a Business Around ItConnect with George Sidiropoulos: IG - https://www.instagram.com/disisjorj/ Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

“The butterflies will never go away, but you can teach them to fly in formation.” - Rob GilbertAs a communicator do you struggle to feel like you belong in certain rooms? How do you show up and not have the pestering voice in the back of your head to prove something? Well, here’s a question for you: “What if feeling confident wasn’t the determining factor?”Today, I connected with René Rodriguez, best-selling author, keynote speaker, leadership advisor, and transformational speaker coach. For the last 27 years, René has been researching and applying behavioral neuroscience to solve some of the toughest challenges in leadership, sales, and change. In this conversation, he breaks down how to become a better storyteller, captivate any audience you find yourself in front of, and why feeling confident doesn’t really matter.ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/10 TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:The Difference Between a Good Storyteller and a Bad OneTactics for Leaning into Nerves When Feeling InferiorIntegrating Your Personal Story into Your Brand When It Involves OthersChallenging Ideas Effectively Without Being DivisiveConnect with René Rodriguez: https://www.meetrene.com/ Amplify Your Influence by Rene Rodriguez: https://amzn.to/3GuI6jF Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Leaving a strong religious background and diving into the world of entrepreneurship can feel both confusing and oddly familiar at the same time. A few years ago, I came across a man who has built a career around helping entrepreneurs grow their network and connect with influential people. His business successes are impressive, but when I heard his story about deconstructing from what some may consider a cult... I had to ask him some questions.Today, we are speaking with Travis Chappell, about unraveling crippling beliefs and systems about who we are and what we are called to be, and finding contribution and purpose in the work that is at our hands. Travis talks to us about the importance of questioning, living with integrity, and “not drinking the kool-aid”Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success by Adam Grant: https://amzn.to/3rL8H8oACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/9 TOPICSDeconstructing from hierarchy in religion only to face it again in entrepreneurship.Approaching relationships with a giver's heart but not falling back into religious martyrdom.Rediscovering "calling" post-religion and in business.Connect with Travis Chappell: travischappell.com Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

How in the WORLD do you tell good stories on social media when folks have an attention span of like 2 seconds? If there is one person to learn from, my friends, I promise, it is Brendan Kane.Brendan is the founder of Hook Point and has been a digital marketing leader since 2005. He has guided major brands and celebrities, pioneered the first YouTube influencer campaign, managed $200 million in marketing, and generated $1 billion in revenue.Today, we talked about how you can drive your content and storytelling forward – even if it is on a niche subject. We unravel how mastery is important to your format and how batching may not always be the best approach.ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/8 TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:The generalist principle: Why you may not want to “niche down”Why batching your content may not be the best approachAt what point do we “let go” as creators?Mastering a format vs innovationConnect with Brandan Kane: https://brendanjkane.com/ Ask Heather a Question: www.heatherparady.com/ask Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Ever feel overwhelmed after reading a book? You learn a ton of new, helpful information but are not sure where to begin when it comes to applying everything you just learned. Maybe you struggle with reading books altogether, even though you know you “should.”Today, I connected with Nick Hutchison, author of 'Rise of the Reader' and founder of BookThinkers, a platform that bridges the worlds of authors and readers. Today, he shares with us his unique story of how he started reading and what it's like to build a platform that reaches over 1,000,000 people each month. He walks us through his process of taking the information he learns from a book and applying it to his life. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/7TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:Removing the overwhelm after reading a bookHow to organize tips from a book into action itemsBuilding a community online while keeping a full-time jobAsk Heather a Question: www.heatherparady.com/ask Buy Rise of the Reader: https://a.co/d/c9dE0lnConnect with Nick Hutchison: www.nickhutch.comLearn more about BookThinkers: www.bookthinkers.comPersonalized Book recommendation: DM Nick at www.instagram.com/bookthinkersFollow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Are you just…built differently? Leaning into those small quirks and mustering up the courage to show all of who you are is what this world is waiting for.Today, I connected with Whiskey Biz, an unconventional entrepreneur and creator. I found him on TikTok and am not sure I have ever seen someone seem to have as much fun making content as his guy. In this conversation, we discuss his philosophy in creation, being ambitious while having a family, and why ENJOYING what you make is the key to it all.ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/6 TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:Dealing with dissatisfaction as a creator (Ambition or dissatisfaction?)Leaning into your calling despite the pressure to conform Unconventional content advice (hint: make good stuff)Connect with Whiskey Biz: https://www.instagram.com/whiskeybizzz/ Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Shira Lazar is an Emmy-nominated host and interviewer covering social media, emerging tech, and the future of well-being. I had her on the show today to talk about her unconventional career and to provide insights for us as communicators on how to navigate rooms we may find intimidating, and to create with courage.We also discussed how she is integrating the topic of mental health in male-dominated spaces and why it's important to pay close attention to the role of technology for unconventional leaders.ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/5 TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:How do you “play the game” enough to see progress without losing yourself in the process?Building confidence and practical exercise for calming nervesStaying current with tech while being mindful/promoting mental healthQuestioning the weight of feminine energy in the room of masculine energyConnect with Shira Lazar: https://www.shiralazar.com/ Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Rob Bell has spent his entire life communicating to the masses, from pastoring one of America’s fastest-growing churches to writing fourteen books and plays which have been translated into 25 languages. If you know him, you know he has a GIFT for taking a deep message and delivering it in a unique and creative way.But this next version of Rob Bell is another level.He recently authored a fiction book titled, 'Where You Park Your Spaceship,' where he created a whole new world with thought-provoking themes wrapped up in humor and adventure. He is on the show today to talk about the book, the power of creativity, and why no planet worth anything… is without good bread.ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/4 TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:Discovering the oneness of us all and rethinking “impact”Opening yourself up to curiosity and wonder, while filtering out negativityHow storytelling works on you: engaging with fiction to grasp reality more quicklyBuy Where’d You Park Your Spaceship?: https://amzn.to/3SNkSfV Connect with Rob Bell: ​​https://robbell.com/ Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Matthew Luhn has over 25 years of experience in creating stories and characters, with story credits including the Toy Story films, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, Cars, Monsters University, Ratatouille, UP, and many more.In this conversation, Matthew shares insights on developing the right story structure and themes to deeply resonate with audiences through the stories you want to tell. Be sure to check out his incredible book, 'Best Story Wins,' and his latest book, 'Santa Yeti.'ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/3TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:Tapping back into imagination and play as a kidTaking folks on a “roller coaster of emotions” in the storyDeveloping themes in your story to convey deep messagesHow to get your message across when it feels like no one caresConnect with Matthew Luhn: https://matthewluhnstory.com/ Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Struggling to find your place in this world? Are you grappling with life while trying to find your calling? Is it possible that your greatest gifts come from your greatest obstacles?Today, I had the pleasure of connecting with Adeyemi Adeyosoye, the 'Energy Man' and Founder of The Soul School. In this conversation, we talk about the hidden gifts in life's greatest pains, why setbacks are not a sign that we are pursuing the wrong thing, and why we are afraid of our own potential.ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/2TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:How do you know in your bones that there's something good at work in the midst of evil?Our Calling. Why are we so confused about something that should be so primal?Why do things get WORSE when we start working on ourselves?Connect with Adeyemi Adeyosoye: https://classes.adeyemiadeyosoye.com/ Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

In a world obsessed with production and output, it is easy to forget to pause and question the real meaning behind our work. Last year, when I found myself in a difficult season, questioning my calling and creative voice, I ran across this man on YouTube.Sean Tucker —Photographer, Filmmaker, Author, and “Armchair Philosopher”—joins us to discuss his book, Meaning in the Making, and how to find purpose in your creative work. As a former pastor and now accomplished photographer and filmmaker, Sean has been able to weave spiritual and psychological topics into beautiful narratives throughout his content.In this conversation we talk about finding your voice post-religion, the pull between “consistency” and meaningful work, and how to make content you truly believe in.Connect with Sean Tucker:Website: https://www.seantucker.photography/IG: https://www.instagram.com/seantuck/ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/1 TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:How do you create meaningful work and maintain consistency when you don't have anything to say?Finding God again (and your Voice) through creativityHow to incorporate tactics with intentionCONNECT WITH HEATHER:Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Thank you.WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady