Beyond 6 Seconds

DeAndre Wilson is the creator of the Keep Rolling Campaign, a fundraising platform that commemorates his father’s life and helps nonprofits and families battling cancer who need some extra financial assistance. He is currently working on a documentary to tell his father’s story and his story, and describe his health transformation from rolling a 230-pound tractor tire around the city of Evansville, Indiana. During this episode, DeAndre shares: The story behind the tractor tire, and how it became a way to honor his father's legacy How his "roll-arounds" have attracted both positive and negative attention How rolling the tire has helped him with his health transformation How he uses the attention he gets with the tire to raise cancer funding and awareness Follow DeAndre, his fundraising campaigns, and learn more about his upcoming documentary with the links down below! Twitter: @DeAndreDWilson and @keep_rolling812 Instagram: @deandredwilson LinkedIn: DeAndre Wilson Facebook: Keep Rolling Campaign Check out t

Is it ever too late to find and follow your passion? According to Connie Inukai, passion has no expiration date. At age 72, she calls herself a "Grandmapreneur.” After retiring from her teaching career at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University, Connie invented a product called Tip ‘n Split, a handheld device with magnifier, light, tip calculator, and bill splitter. Her book, "How I Got My Product on QVC, The Today Show, The View, and More...in Retirement" has helped inventors get publicity for their inventions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she has used the time in lockdown to chronicle her life story for her grandchildren, and now helps others write their stories through her latest project, "Write Your Selfie." During this episode, you will hear Connie talk about: The story behind the creation of the Tip 'n Split How she learned about inventing, and the challenges she faced with manufacturing How she got on QVC’s radar before she even had a prototype of the Tip ‘n Split Her family connectio

Bea Spadacini is an activist and writer whose goal is to promote peace and justice by elevating conversations about issues that are often underrepresented in the mainstream media. Originally from Italy, she has lived in the United States for over twenty years and has traveled to Africa and Asia as part of her communications work with humanitarian organizations. Currently she is the Executive Producer and Co-Host of the One in Four Podcast, which focuses on the re-entry process of people who have experienced incarceration. On this episode, you will hear Bea talk about: How her work with Amnesty International made her aware of the issues of mass incarceration and police force against people of color in the U.S., particularly against Black and Latino men – and how it led her to create the One in Four Podcast to highlight the many issues facing formerly incarcerated people who are re-entering society The stories of resilience, humanity and community support that she shares on the One in Four Podcast -- and the i

Angelica Goncalves is an adult who has lived with dyslexia all her life. She was diagnosed at the age of six. Growing up, people told her she would never succeed or achieve her goals, but with the support of her parents and constant determination, she proved those predictions wrong. Born and raised in Canada, Angelica attended George Brown College and graduated in Architectural Technology. She worked in the retail/service industry for 13 years, was a personal trainer for 4 years, and currently works in the construction industry. She also hosts a podcast called “A Little Bit of Everything With Me!” Her goal is to show others with learning disabilities that they can achieve their goals too. During this episode, Angelica shares her story of struggling, living and thriving with a learning disability, including: How she realized at a young age that she had a learning disability   How her experiences at school hindered her rather than helped her How her parents helped her stay the course through her education How

Tiffani Teachey is a Senior Mechanical Engineer, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) advocate, professional speaker, and author of the children's book “What Can I Be? STEM Careers from A to Z.” She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, as well as a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management, both from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. As an engineer with more than fifteen years of experience, Tiffani has a passion for inspiring the next generation to engage in STEM careers. On this episode, you will hear Tiffani talk about: What inspired her to write a children’s book about STEM careers How she chose STEM careers to match with each letter of the alphabet, and how the “STEM Crew Kids” help children see themselves in each career What it’s like to get classrooms of young kids excited about STEM careers Her future writing plans for teenagers and young adults If you want to know more about Tiffani and her work, you can check her out on her official links d

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

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

Marcia Moran was a successful business strategist who had been building her business over the last 20+ years. She thought she had life by the tail, but little did she know what was in store. After suffering a major stroke in 2014 at the age of 53, Marcia applied her skills in planning and strategy as she strived to become whole. In 2019 she published a book about her experience called "Stroke FORWARD," to bring hope to stroke survivors and their caretakers, and share how becoming her own health advocate and exploring holistic methods for healing were keys to her recovery. Marcia speaks and shares her message of hope, inspiration, healing, and a way forward across the country. During this episode, you will hear Marcia talk about: Her experience with her stroke and the challenges she faced during her recovery How her husband Jim became her health advocate until she was eventually able to advocate for herself How holistic health methods helped her recover from aphasia How her book can help stroke survivors and

Dan Ram is a 3x entrepreneur, prolific speaker, recording artist and startup coach. The son of an Indian diplomat, he draws inspiration from his eclectic background growing up in 10 countries, and he has actively worked on 5 continents. Dan is a founder, investor and coach to more than 100 startups in multiple countries. He has advised the Irish National Government on their Entrepreneurship Policy, consulted for multinationals, hosted some of the largest startup events on the planet, mentored at accelerators and facilitated deal flows for investors. He lectures on entrepreneurship and is a regular speaker and emcee in the local and international startup circuit. He has shared the stage with some of the most influential changemakers in the world. On this episode, you will hear Dan talk about: How curiosity, consistency and excellence have helped him refine his talents over the years How his first big event-hosting opportunity came as a result of a previous failure Why being an introvert is a superpower, and w

Jennifer Brown is a leading diversity and inclusion expert, dynamic keynote speaker, best-selling author, award-winning entrepreneur and host of The Will To Change podcast, which uncovers true stories of diversity and inclusion. As the founder, president and CEO of Jennifer Brown Consulting, Jennifer’s workplace strategies have been employed by some of the world’s top Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits—including Walmart, Microsoft, Starbucks and many others— to help employees bring their full selves to work and feel Welcomed, Valued, Respected and Heard℠. On this episode, you will hear Jennifer talk about: How her background in nonprofit work, opera singing and off-Broadway theater performance led to her career in training & development How a corporate layoff led her to reposition herself in her career and start her own diversity & inclusion consulting firm What to do if you feel like your career or your workplace might not be a match for you The damaging impact of bias and stereotypes on individua

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

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

Harris Rosen is the President & Chief Operating Officer of Rosen Hotels & Resorts. He is Florida's largest independent hotelier, having built a portfolio of eight hotels in Orlando, with close to 7,000 guestrooms, over the course of 45 years.  He is also a philanthropist who has created and funded initiatives to support local Orlando communities, including a program to provide free preschool and college scholarships to the youth of Tangelo Park, and a similar initiative in the downtown Orlando Parramore district. He has been honored with the Coretta Scott King A.N.G.E.L. Award for his impact on Tangelo Park, and he believes that the successes of these local initiatives provide a template for uplifting America, one community at a time. Also joining us today is Chuck Dziuban, Director of the Research Initiative for Teaching Effectiveness at the University of Central Florida, who works with Harris on the Tangelo Park project. During this episode, you will hear Harris and Chuck talk about: Harris’s first

Arlan Hamilton is the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, a fund dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech by investing in high-potential founders who are people of color, women, and/or LGBT. Started from scratch in 2015, Backstage has now raised more than $10 million and invested in more than 130 startup companies led by underestimated founders. Arlan’s brand new book "It's About Damn Time" was published on May 5, 2020. On this episode, you will hear Arlan talk about: What inspired her to share her life lessons and practical guidance in her new book How she built her own venture capital company, despite not having the background, network or resources of a typical venture capitalist Why she decided to focus her financial investments on underrepresented founders How new entrepreneurs have a unique advantage during the current crisis – and how established entrepreneurs can get themselves “unstuck” Success stories from the start-ups that Arlan has invested in, including CurlMix (a subsc

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

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

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

Hira Ali is the CEO of Advancing Your Potential, Managing Director of International Women Empowerment Events, Founding Director of Career Excel, and Co-Founder of The Grey Area. Her leadership and coaching articles have been published in The Huff Post, Thrive Global, Women @ Forbes, Ellevate Network, Entrepreneur, and many more. In her new book, “Her Way to the Top: A Guide to Smashing the Glass Ceiling”, Hira highlights the roadblocks impeding a woman’s climb to the top, irrespective of her culture and geography. She is passionate about empowering women and ethnic minorities and is a strong advocate of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. During this episode, you will hear Hira talk about: Why she started creating female empowerment events while working in HR in Pakistan The survey she conducted to understand the challenges that women and ethnic minorities face globally – and her advice for combating these challenges How she was able to restart her business and build her reputation online after moving

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

Jessica Inserra is a Los Angeles based stand-up comedian whose irreverent humor explores, among other things, themes from her life as a gay woman growing up in a colorful New York Italian family. Jessica recently commemorated 25 years of being out, having burst through the closet doors at the tender age of 14. Now she can be seen performing her unique brand of brash, edgy comedy at The Comedy Store, as well as other venues in and around Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Seattle and beyond. She is currently working on her own stand-up special entitled, “Jessica Inserra, Pretty Gay.” On this episode, you will hear Jessica talk about: What inspired her to pursue stand-up comedy, after more than a decade of managing a plastic surgeon’s office (which is still her full-time job!) -- and how she balances her job with pursuing her comedy passion Her experience working with legendary comedian Gerry Katzman in his stand-up comedy class -- and how she overcame constant fear and self-doubt as she developed and practiced her mater