Few things bring me more joy than seeing someone shoot their shot, and that’s how today’s episode came about. I got an email from Brandon Fong saying he loves the show and wants to kick it with me in the Diner and I just had to say yes. Brandon is the host of the podcast 7-figure Millennials and wise beyond his years (which sounds like an old-person thing to say… but, well, he is).  He shared so many nuggets, including a favorite quote by Carl Jung that I loved: “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will control your life and you’ll call it fate.” We talked about business, personal growth, psychology, values, and more. He shared his strategy for goal setting and reflection that will have you reaching for your journal before the show is over.  About the Guest:  Brandon Fong is a husband to his highschool sweetheart, Leah, and is on a mission to create a more deeply connected world.While growing up on the government-provided “free lunch program” at school, Brandon realized that his most valuable resource wasn’t money… it was his relationships. This is why, at his core, Brandon is a connector — of people, ideas, and resources.Before age 26, Brandon leveraged his skill of connection to become a published author, run the marketing for an online education company with 250,000+ students, travel to 23 countries with his wife, get featured on TV, and launch his podcast, 7-Figure Millennials, to a top 2% global ranking in less than a year.Every week, Brandon interviews elite performers with eclectic backgrounds to discover how he and his audience can prioritize their happiness, health, and relationships while making their entrepreneurial dreams a reality. Brandon is on his own path to build his first 7+ figure business while staying in alignment with the 7FM values and sharing what he learns along the way.Past guests include Olympians, an illusionist, a decorated air fighter pilot, a hypnotist, former drug dealers turned (legal) millionaires, a Hollywood storytelling legend, NYT bestselling authors, main stage TED speakers, 7, 8, and 9+ figure entrepreneurs, and even a Shark from Shark Tank.Brandon is also the creator of The Magic Connection Method™ — a system that helps Founders and CEOs to leverage a podcast to build real relationships with dream clients and strategic partners that lead to more profits and greater impact.He loves having new and incredible experiences with Leah, enjoying a good batch of homemade kombucha, and playing Spikeball.Connect and learn more:Site: https://7figuremillennials.com/aboutPodcast: https://link.chtbl.com/7fm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonsfong/About the Host:  Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a...

Today in the booth is TV Host and all-around badass, Elizabeth Ries! I’ve had the privilege of sharing the microphone with her before on live TV, but today we got to kick it via audio. Elizabeth is the host of Twin Cities Live and is a breath of fresh air (which I feel like we all could use in our lives). She shared so much wisdom in this episode about confidence, going after what you want, staying true to yourself, and setting (and maintaining) boundaries. We laughed, we cried, and we talked about how to up your pancake game with some blueberry compote. This conversation feels like a hug, and it will leave you wanting to chase down your dreams while also being kind and curious to everyone you meet along the way. About the Guest:  Elizabeth Ries is a television and radio personality in the Twin Cities. She co-hosts Twin Cities Live weekdays afternoons from 3-4:30 on KSTP.. She also co-hosts a podcast called Best to the Nest focused on making our homes happy, healthy sanctuaries where we are at our best. She grew up in Apple Valley but now lives in Minneapolis with her husband Jay, daughter Bernadette and sons Franklin & Heathcliff. They also share their home with a German Shorthair Pointer named Gracie Lu and a flock of chickens in the backyard. Elizabeth is passionate about cooking with as much home grown produce as possible and wants to add a hive of bees to her yard next!  Connect and learn more:@elizries on IGhttps://hometohomestead.com/https://www.besttothenest.com/https://www.twincitieslive.com/About the Host:  Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestroboFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestroboLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/YouTube:

Sliding in the booth with me this week is Extreme Meetings emcee, Brian Walter! To quote Brian, we are both “raging extroverts,” so this was a good time! We discussed our mutual love for mac n’ cheese and then dove into Brian’s band-geek-trombonist past. After that we talked about being extroverts and how we both have a need to be liked and how both of those have changed over our lives. Brian then shared his a bit of his timeline highlights between college and his current role as an Extreme Meetings emcee. I loved when Brian talked about his philosophy of assertive activism. We finished discussing finding confidence and standing in front of audiences and trying to make them feel.   About the Guest:Brian Walter is a professional speaker/emcee with an emphasis on humor. He runs a business called Extreme Meetings which provides customized infotainment to make meetings memorable... as well as engaging videos and presentation graphics for companies. So, he is a speaker, writer, humorist, and multi media producer. Brian has been married to the love of his life (Karen Walter) for 37 years (we were college sweethearts). He has two adult daughters and a very spoiled fluffy Corgi named Roxy. Brian is a past Guiness Book of World Recorders hold for producing the world's shortest TV commercial. He is left handed, right armed, and left legged. And he can do an awesome imitation of Yoda.  Connect and learn more:Extrememeetings.com and Extremetrainings.comAbout the Host:  Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestroboFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestroboLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSPTwitter:

Diner Talks with James this week is with my dear friend, Sexual Violence Awareness and Healthy Relationships Speaker, Bonny Shade.  We first kicked it off talking about buffalo wings with proper “wingo” and diner orders. She then told me about growing up with less than enough in Lake Worth, Florida, and what decisions her family made to set her up for success and make ends meet. From that time, Bonny developed a fascinating and, at times, debilitating relationship with money and finances. She then flipped the script on me and asked me to talk about my insecurities that I am still working on from high school.  We talked about the desire to be relevant and fear of being irrelevant.  We then discussed the Enneagram. Bonny is a type 3, “the achiever,” so that launched us into a important convo about being perfectionists in work, our marriages, and as parents. One of the most powerful moments was when Bonny told the story about how she never wanted to be a mom and her journey to being proud to be a mother.  This was a beautiful episode, y’all. Hope you enjoy it!About the Guest: Bonny Shade helps student leaders and professionals learn how to prevent sexual violence, build healthy relationships, and empower each other to feel like they belong. As a professional speaker and curriculum designer with her own company, Bonny Shade Speaks, she travels and speaks to over 10,000 students annually. She also serves as the Associate Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life at UNC Charlotte. When she's not working, Bonny enjoys spending time with her family - her partner Chris and their 2 tiny humans. She loves chicken wings (bone- in only), bourbon, and a good pun.Connect and learn more:https://www.bonnyshade.com/@bonnyshadebb on Instagram and TikTok Book me - https://www.bonnyshade.com/contactusAbout the Host:  Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestroboFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestroboLinkedIn:

This conversation was so powerful that it had both of us welling up. Joining me in the booth was former Fire Chief and lifelong first responder, Rich Gasaway. It’s so fascinating to think about individuals in those roles that we often take for granted until we need them, and it was so beautiful to hear Rich describe the work that he does, how he got into it, and how he stays in it. I will routinely return to a quote he shared – “don’t ever judge the people by the chapter of their life that you happen to stumble into when you respond to a call.” This is advice we can all take to heart. Rich has seen a lot in his time and is doing some incredible work with high-risk-decision-making and helping us identify our patterns. He’s a wealth of wisdom and you won’t want to miss this episode!  About the Guest:  Rich Gasaway is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision-making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making. He has authored and 6 books and his training programs have been delivered to more than 90,000 students worldwide. In 2019, Rich sent six weeks walking 500+ miles on the Camino De Santiago. Connect and learn more:SAMatters.comAbout the Host:  Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestroboFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestroboLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSPTwitter:

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!This week’s diner guest is my favorite human because it’s my wife - Tina VanSteenbergen Robilotta!!! We kicked off the conversation learning about Tina’s love of bourbon and bubbly water then we dove off the deep end.  Tina told me about why being a mother is something she has always wanted to do.  We discussed the way our parents influenced us in known and unknown ways. Tina and I then discussed our devastating experience with pregnancy loss in the second trimester.  She then discussed dealing with loss while trying to grow a young business she was passionate about. Climbing out of that horrible time, we both chatted about the stress of trying to get pregnant again.  Then…spoiler alert… it worked! So then we discussed whether or not we are going to raise a good human.  Tina shared one thing she is excited to teach our child with a really powerful story.  We lighted the mood debating “Duck, Duck, Grey Duck” vs. “Duck, Duck, Goose.”  We wrapped up the conversation with Tina discussing the role other women have played in Tina’s pregnancy journey. About the Guest: I believe in women. I love women. I love you, even if I don’t know you yet. I learned too late in my life that women need women. To be successful in the workplace. To feel understood. To help us believe in ourselves. To feel less alone in the world. Women need women. Women deserve strong communities full of empathy, kindness, and empowerment at work, at home, and literally everywhere in their lives. That’s where I come in.  Hi, my name is Tina VanSteenbergen and I help women tear down the walls built between us. My speaking style gives women permission to open up, have honest conversations, and connect. With a combination of authenticity, storytelling, and humor, I’ve been able to help hundreds of thousands of women build relationships with one another, believe in themselves, and take up space at companies,campuses, and organizations around North America.  My work sets my soul on fire. So does a good nap. An excellent pour of bourbon. A beautiful snow. A peaceful and reflective sunset flight. An episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race. A perfectly green avocado. The skyline of New York City. A warm and cheesy mac n’ cheese. A well-written West Wing quote. My husband – James Robilotta, my dog, and a Minnesotan accent, of course. Connect with Tina and learn more:https://www.tinaraevan.com/https://www.instagram.com/tinaraevan/About the Host:  Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of...

With me in the Diner today is the man, the myth, the musical comedian – Tom McGovern. I love having fellow comedians in the booth with me because we can riff on everything from grape jelly to sharks (which is… what we did). In this episode Tom shared about his early love for theatre and how it morphed into this amazing career that he now has creating musical comedy content. He shared excellent advice about giving fewer shits and showing up authentically in your work, and how he has had significantly more success (like performing for American Idol) since he stopped trying to fit into a box. Tom is a ton of fun and you’re going to love kickin’ it with him. See ya in the booth! About the Guest: Tom McGovern is a musical comedian, actor and producer. Unfortunately, he was born and raised in New Jersey. His award-winning musical sketch-comedy has been featured in festivals across the US and Europe, and you may have caught him off-Broadway as Jim Halpert/Andy Bernard in The Office! A Musical Parody. He recently won grand prize in the Glad Jingle Contest, and was featured on season four of American Idol on ABC, where he got to perform one of his Jingles for Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. Tom also wants to make it clear that sharks deserve more love in the media. Connect and learn more:@tommcgovern27 across all socials (Instagram, TIkTok, Twitter, YouTube)About the Host:  Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestroboFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestroboLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSPTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRoboThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the...

This week I got to hang out with communication expert, Dr. Amelia Reigstad, and I’m walking away with so many thoughts and ideas on how I can improve my communication and self-awareness. With her badass purple mohawk, she shares about the importance of living an authentic and brave life and I’m here – for – it! She discusses her research on gender roles in communication and how we can better express ourselves. We also talk about how communication shows up in parenting. Though it’s not always easy, it’s important for us to speak with clarity and stand up for ourselves and stand in our truth – and that’s what you’ll hear more about in today’s episode.About the Guest: Dr. Amelia Reigstad, Ph.D. is a passionate change agent, speaker, communication consultant and coach with over two decades of industry experience. She is a firm believer in authenticity and her favorite quote is "Be fearlessly authentic. Bravely be you." With her platinum blonde hair and purple mohawk, she's doing just that. She has spoken on a global scale at many professional events and conferences and has taught a variety of communications courses across the U.S., Canada, Europe and the U.K. With a passion for helping others, she consults and educates business professionals on the importance of understanding gender differences and communication styles and how this leads to more effective communication and productivity in the workplace. As the founder of The Women Empowerment Series, she inspires and encourages women to use their voice to initiate change. Connect with Amelia and learn more: https://ameliareigstad.com/www.linkedin.com/in/ameliareigstadAbout the Host:  Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestroboFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestroboLinkedIn:

Today I got to kick it in The Diner with fellow New Yorker, Arel Moodie. He’s a professional speaker who helps other speakers start and grow their own businesses. We talked about the experience of fitting in during our younger years (and the difficulty of blending his life growing up in the projects while simultaneously attending Jewish Day School) and how that still shows up in our adult lives, especially when it comes to influencing people and making friends. Arel offered some incredible advice on likability and how to make an impact on others in an authentic way. You’re going to love this conversation, so slide on into the booth and have a listen.  About the Guest:  Arel is known as a “human behavioral investigator” who has extensively studied the intricacies of human dynamics and relationships. He is a best-selling author who has spoken to over 750,000 people throughout 48 states and 5 countries. He has been invited to speak at the White House twice, and on the TEDx stage three times. He has been featured in The New York Times, Inc. Magazine, Essence, USA Today, Forbes, Black Enterprise, Huffington Post, and has been a contributor to the television program The Doctors. For fun Arel likes to dance; he has performed at Madison Square Garden and even had a viral video featured on The Ellen Show! Connect with Arel Moodie and learn more: www.arelmoodie.comhttps://www.adultdevelopmenttheory.comhttps://www.facebook.com/arelmoodie@arelmoodieAbout the Host:  Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestroboFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestroboLinkedIn:

Today’s conversation with Jennifer Cassetta was incredible. She shared a powerful story about her experience in New York on 9/11, how she found safety in her martial arts dojo, and how that moment and that feeling would become a thru line for her work in self-defense and personal development. We talked about confidence and our relationship with ourselves and different avenues, including meditation, we can take for personal growth. I got to learn a little more about her upcoming book, The Art of Badassery, and cannot wait to dive into it. Jenn is absolutely amazing, and you’re going to love overhearing our conversation in the booth!  About the Guest:  Jennifer Cassetta is a nationally recognized speaker, empowerment coach and self defense expert. Equipped with her 3rd degree black belt in Hapkido (hop-kee-doe) she's been teaching tens of thousands of women how to take their power back from predatory behavior and power up their minds, bodies and spirits for over two decades. Jenn has been featured on The Today Show, The Doctors, Rachael Ray and was a featured expert on ABC-TV's My Diet is Better Than Yours. She's taught Jenny McCarthy, Marie Osmond, Bethenny Frankel and even Carrie Fisher, Princess Leia herself, how to kick butt while wearing their favorite heels.  Connect with Jenn Cassetta and learn more: https://jennifercassetta.com https://www.instagram.com/jenncassetta/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-cassetta/About the Host:  Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestroboFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestroboLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSPTwitter:

Today in the Diner is my man, Joshua Rivedal – he’s an amazing storyteller who is full of compassion and wisdom, and he’s got a wit that won’t quit.  He gave me so much to think about regarding how we as a society are approaching suicide prevention, and what we can do as individuals to be there for others.  He has some dope insights on vulnerability, being a force for others, and how to live a life full of grace. We discussed some powerful topics like suicide and abuse. We also may or may not have burst into a song and dance number while sharing our love for musical theater, so you’ve got that to look forward to as well.   CW: Suicide, Emotional & Physical AbuseAbout the Guest:  Joshua Rivedal is the creator and founder of Changing Minds: A Mental Health Based Curriculum and The i’Mpossible Project. In 10+ years, he has spoken about suicide prevention and mental health to 400+ organizations across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia. Joshua is also a standup comic, a professional actor, an author of 8 books, lives in Philadelphia, loves to cook, and recently grew a pretty mediocre-looking mustache.  Connect with Joshua Rivedal and learn more: https://www.iampossibleproject.com/http://www.joshuarivedal.com/About the Host:  Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestroboFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestroboLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSPTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRoboThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think

My man Dr. James Smith Jr brought the heart today – the wordplay and wisdom was on point! He shared about his experience growing up in West Philadelphia (you know he sang it when he said it) and his experience growing up Black in America. We had a thoughtful conversation about the problematic phrase of “picking yourself up by the bootstraps” and the nuances of that concept. He shared great advice on fatherhood and just being an authentic and incredible man in this world. Dr. James Smith Jr is a gift, and you’re going to love meeting him in this episode! About the Guest: Dr. James Smith, Jr. (President and CEO of Dr. James Smith, Jr.) passionately works with learners providing high performance solutions in the areas of leadership, authenticity, diversity and inclusion, presentation skills and personal power. The author, speaker, coach and educator has provided his JIMPACT nationally and internationally and has worked with leaders, managers and individual contributors both virtually and in-person. He also authored three books with his last book, The No Excuse Guide to Success being nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Dr. James' possesses ridiculous optimism and relentless determination, modeled by his mother, Rebecca Nancy Smith. The perfect example of this was when he attended pre-K through senior year of high school without missing one single class. Connect with Dr. James Smith Jr. and learn more:https://www.drjamessmithjr.com/https://www.facebook.com/TheDrJamesSmithJrhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC56t07w7qoQH6smo8UR3QRghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drjamessmithjr/

Today I was joined by professional speaker and storyteller, Joe Mull. This conversation was full of wisdom and wit as Joe shared about his experience of being a social chameleon and learning the moments where it’s more important to give up being liked in order to do the right thing. This ties into his work as a “leadership nerd” (his words) where he helps teams give up their team drama and put in the work to learn how to have healthy confrontation (which, as it turns out, is much easier to deal with than the drama that emerges when we don’t nip things in the bud). He talks about offering the benefit of the doubt and the power of leaning into the discomfort of confrontation. Whether you’re dealing with drama in the workplace or at home, Joe is full of spot-on advice that you’re going to love.About the Guest:  Joe Mull speaks and writes about commitment in the workplace. He is the host of the popular BOSS BETTER NOW podcast and author of the book No More Team Drama: Ending the Gossip, Cliques, & Other Crap that Damage Workplace Teams. He is a father of 3, a Disney fan, and is woken up every morning by a needy but loving Dalmatian named Flash.Connect with Joe and learn more: bossbetternow.com to subscribe to email or podcast Instagram @joemull77About the Host: Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh! I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live. Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com. Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestroboFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestroboLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSPTwitter:

Kicking it in the booth with me this week is Resilience Expert and Leadership Speaker, Summer Owens! I love that Summer’s late night guilty pleasure is dark chocolate and red wine. Pretty sure that makes her the classiest guest in the diner so far! Summer and I then discussed how she used to pull her hair out as a nervous twitch when she was much younger, and the bullying that stemmed from it.  Then one day a boy told her she was pretty, he took things too far, and got her pregnant at 15. Summer’s story about being a teen mom is a powerful one and what she was able to accomplish is quite remarkable. Hearing her experience working for the Memphis Grizzlies, getting her MBA, her time with FedEx, and the choices she made along the way was quite profound.  We then talked about her definition of resilience and how she helps people move through their problems to solutions as a speaker and coach.  This episode was a whole journey, y’all, hope you enjoy it! About the Guest:  Summer Owens has been featured internationally on CNN and other media outlets for her story of extreme resilience. She is an award-winning author and speaker with honors including the Women of Achievement Heroism award, Top 40 Under 40, and the three highest honors at her alma mater- Miss University of Memphis, Outstanding Young Alumna, and the Distinguished Alumna Award and is now the president of the University of Memphis’s National Alumni Association. Connect with Summer Owens and learn more:https://summerowens.com/https://www.instagram.com/summero_sowhat/https://www.linkedin.com/in/summer-owens-10846625/https://www.youtube.com/user/lifeafterbirthbook  About the Host: Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live. Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com. Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestroboFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestroboLinkedIn:

Executive Coach and leadership presence expert, Justin Patton, slides into the diner booth with me this week! We reminisce about eating late-night pizza and our topping preferences.  Then I learned that Justin grew up on a farm in Kentucky shoveling manure and bailing hay.  Though that was not his destiny it is where he learned a work ethic that he carries with him today. Justin told me about he unexpectedly lost his Dad at 18 years old and how he did not deal with the trauma for 12 years. We then talked about his time as a high school English teacher and his transition to the corporate world. I loved our rant about how we both hate the phrase, “fake it till you make it.” Justin then told me about how he coaches executives on their definition of success.  We ended talking about leadership presence, how to build trust, and what authenticity means on a daily basis.   About the Guest:  Justin Patton is an executive coach, leadership presence expert, and award-winning author who challenges individuals to use their presence to communicate with stronger trust – both in the workplace and with the people they love the most. Justin is a former high school English teacher, world champion with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, and he studied body language from a former FBI agent. His programs will inspire you to reimagine who you are at your best and what is possible in your life.Connect with Justin and learn more: Website: https://www.justinpatton.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JPinspires LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpinspires/About the Host:  Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com. Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestroboFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestroboLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/YouTube:

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!Rick Daniels dropped all of the knowledge in this episode. He and I recorded this the week that George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis so you already know that we had a lot to talk about. We discussed parenting in the middle of a powerful moment for civil rights and instilling a love of identity in children. I asked him, “When did you fall in love with your blackness?” and he talked about loving your blackness while still loving everyone else. We then dove into teaching the realities of history to children early and teaching them about societal issues. He talked about why we need to get comfortable having difficult conversations and not shying away because it’s hard. Rick then grabbed the microphone and dropped a great lesson about the complexity of racism and a deep dive into critical race theory. Oh, and also, quick reminder that black lives matter :-)About the Guest: Rick Daniels is the Director of Campus Inclusion at Oakton Community College. He is a powerful educator and speaks nationally about social justice. A successful entrepreneur, Rick is also hired by companies and universities as a consultant to help them develop more sustainably inclusive work places. A proud brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, Rick is a proud father of 5 beautiful and strong children who he raises with his incredible wife, Erica. Lastly, Rick is a huge Milwaukee Bucks fan and is enjoying these last couple years of being able to beat his son in basketball, but his time is coming. https://www.instagram.com/rickdaniels1/About the Host: Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:  I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh! I also occasionally host my own event multiple times a year called: Living Imperfectly Live. It is a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community in the pursuit of getting out of their own way so they can live a great story. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestroboFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestroboLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/YouTube:

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!This week I am joined in the Diner by social media expert, Dr. Josie Ahlquist! We kicked it off by randomly talking about Josie’s high school dating life. We then discussed her huge transition moving from Wyoming and South Dakota to Los Angeles, what some of the values she missed were and new ones she appreciated. Josie and I then bonded over dealing with imposter syndrome when writing a book and how much better she is at asking for help than I am. Speaking of books, we got to hear all about Josie’s new book: Digital Leadership in Higher Education: Purposeful Social Media in a Connected World. She taught me about self awareness and being intentional on social media as a leader. After a fun random facts segment, we dove back in and discussed Josie’s lack of connection with girls when she was younger and how that has changed in adulthood. We finished up by talking about whether or not social media connecting us or dividing us more, how to own your truth online, and whether or not #activism works. Having Dr. Josie Ahlquist was insightful, educational, and super fun. I hope you learn as much as I did!  About the Guest: Dr. Josie Ahlquist is a digital engagement and leadership researcher, speaker, and consultant. She teaches teens, young adults, education professionals, and campus executives how to humanize technology tools and prioritize building online community. She is the author of the book: Digital Leadership in Higher Education: Purposeful Social Media in a Connected World.Josie also serves as a research associate and instructor at Florida State University, creating a curriculum to build digital literacy and leadership skills for undergraduates up to doctorate level students. She is extensively published and maintains an active blog and podcast (Josie & The Podcast), which have received accolades from EdTech Magazine, Inside Higher Ed and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Her book, Digital Leadership in Higher Education: Purposeful Social Media in a Connected World, came out September 2020. Josie received her doctorate from California Lutheran University in Higher Education Leadership, Masters in Education from Northern Arizona University. She majored in sociology and human development at South Dakota State University. Josie resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband Lloyd Ahlquist and their two rescue-fur babies. She is a proud auntie, underdog triathlete and recent peloton addict. Connect with Josie and learn more: Twitter: https://twitter.com/josieahlquistLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josieahlquist/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josieahlquist/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJosieAhlquist/ Email: josie@josieahlquist.comWebsite: https://www.josieahlquist.comBook: https://www.josieahlquist.com/digitalleadership/ About the Host: Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:  I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of...

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!Tom Krieglstein became my first guest to actually eat while he was in the diner!  Since he was munching on a veggie pizza, we started by chatting about the impact The Simpsons had on Tom’s dietary choices. We then dove into Tom’s passion of creating a culture of connection.  He told me about his chase for the Guiness World Record for hugging and we let the roll into a great talk about where Tom’s passion for connecting others stemmed from.  Tom then opened up and processed the failure of a million dollar business that he started and was then fired from.  In doing so we talked about self-help practices because he is a huge proponent for journaling.  Then after a fun segment where we learned about Tom’s passport mishap in Indonesia and an embarrassing puberty moment for me, we dove back in.  We ended the conversation discussing his new role as a step-father and the difference between being a tourist and being a traveler.  Tom dropped a lot of nuggets in here, y’all.  I can’t thank him enough for joining me in the booth!   About the Guest:  After starting his first business in college that grew to $1.5 million in annual sales, Tom went on to be the Founder and Lead Facilitator of Swift Kick. Since 2004, Tom has trained over half a million leaders around the US and the world including England, South Korea, Indonesia, and Bermuda on how to build a Culture of Connection™ within their organization. Tom has spoken to leaders at some of the largest companies in the world such as Coca Cola, Pfizer, Disney, US Navy, and UCLA. Through his speaking, he holds an unprecedented 6 National Speaking Titles from APCA. He is a TEDx speaker, held a Guinness World Record, and sat on the board of the NYC Entrepreneurs’ Organization for five years. On a personal note, he was named after a cat and loves peanut butter.  Connect with Tom and learn more: www.swiftkickhq.comhttps://www.instagram.com/tomkrieglstein/https://swiftkickhq.com/freshman-success-book/About the Host:  Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking,...

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!I got to sit down with entrepreneur, speaker, and great friend Jess Ekstrom and we jumped right in with their decision to sell their apartment and move into an Airstream. Hearing about her relationship and having different ambitions as a partner and how to communicate about it was awesome. I asked her where do you develop a stick-to-itiveness nature with bring ideas to life. Then we chatted about branding yourself while wanting to still be yourself and how do you know when you can turn around and help someone who is behind you? We closed it out with developing trust in your working and personal relationships. About the Guest: Jess Ekstrom is the founder and CEO of Headbands of Hope, author of Chasing the Bright Side and just launched her podcast called Business on the Bright Side. She's passionate about helping women tell and sell their story through public speaking and book writing. Jess lives full time in her Airstream trailer with her husband, Jake, and their dog, Ollie. She can run multi-million dollar businesses but she can't keep a plant alive and doesn't own an iron.www.jessekstrom.com www.instagram.com/jess_ekstrom www.brightpages.comAbout the Host:  Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestroboFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestroboLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSPTwitter:

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!Joining me this episode in the Diner is body image expert, coach, speaker, and badass mom, Stacy Nadeau!  She and I first discuss why she was in her underwear in Times Square and the journey to being comfortable in your body for men and women. We then chatted about ways to silence our inner critic.  Stacy is new-ish parent so I wanted to hear about telling yourself stories as a parent and being a brand new mom and being an entreprenuer.  We ended with an eye-opening convo about why we should no longer seek balance and what we should look for instead and “Hell yes” vs. “Hell no” when making decisions.  ·        Being in your underwear in Times Square·        The journey to being comfortable in your body for men and women·        Ways to silence our inner critic·        Telling yourself stories as a parent·        Why we should no longer seek balance and what we should look for instead·        Hell yes vs. hell no·        Being a brand new mom and being an entreprenuer About the Guest:  In the summer of 2005, six women made national news when they appeared on a Times Square billboard, dressed only in their underwear. While other nearby billboards featured actresses and supermodels, this one, promoting Dove brand products, promoted real women with real curves and the nation went wild. Suddenly, Stacy, an industrial organizational psychology major at DePaul University, was thrust into the national spotlight. As one of the real women featured in the ad campaign, Stacy quickly emerged as a spokeswoman for healthy body image. She appeared on the Today Show, CNN, Ellen, Dr. Phil, Tyra, and Oprah (twice). Since then Stacy has committed her life and career to helping leaders re-connect to their power in order to unleash their confidence and move their organizations forward. Stacy has leveraged her experience and organizational psychology background to create impactful programming for countless clients like Walgreens, Cisco, and Lowe’s. Stacy lives in Chicago, IL with her family. She works full-time as a speaker, consultant, and coach to empower women everywhere. Website: Stacy NadeauInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacylnadeau/About the Host:  Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:   I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh!  I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough...