Diner Talks With James

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/about (https://7figuremillennials.com/about) Podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/7fm (https://link.chtbl.com/7fm) Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonsfong/ (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 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...

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 IG https://hometohomestead.com/ (https://hometohomestead.com/) https://www.besttothenest.com/ (https://www.besttothenest.com/) https://www.twincitieslive.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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic...

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: https://extrememeetings.com/ (Extrememeetings.com) and https://www.extremetrainings.com/ (Extremetrainings.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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher....

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/ (https://www.bonnyshade.com/) @bonnyshadebb on Instagram and TikTok Book me - https://www.bonnyshade.com/contactus (https://www.bonnyshade.com/contactus) 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others...

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: http://samatters.com/ (SAMatters.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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on...

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.tinaraevan.com/) https://www.instagram.com/tinaraevan/ (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 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...

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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from the listeners are extremely valuable...

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/ (https://ameliareigstad.com/) https://d.docs.live.net/4ec4c46c44a2f7e9/Desktop/PODCAST%20SHOWS/Diner%20Talks%20with%20James/DTWJ082/www.linkedin.com/in/ameliareigstad (www.linkedin.com/in/ameliareigstad) 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this...

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: http://www.arelmoodie.com/ (www.arelmoodie.com) https://www.adultdevelopmenttheory.com/ (https://www.adultdevelopmenttheory.com) https://www.facebook.com/arelmoodie (https://www.facebook.com/arelmoodie) https://www.instagram.com/arelmoodie/?msclkid=056cc865bb7111ecad9df7eb4b815363 (@arelmoodie) 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like...

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.instagram.com/jenncassetta/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-cassetta/ (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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or...

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 Abuse About 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/ (https://www.iampossibleproject.com/) http://www.joshuarivedal.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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from the listeners are extremely valuable to me and greatly appreciated. They help Diner Talks...

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.drjamessmithjr.com/) https://www.facebook.com/TheDrJamesSmithJr (https://www.facebook.com/TheDrJamesSmithJr) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC56t07w7qoQH6smo8UR3QRg (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC56t07w7qoQH6smo8UR3QRg) https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjamessmithjr/ (https://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: https://www.joemull.com/bossbetter (bossbetternow.com) to subscribe to email or podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/joemull77/ (@joemull77) 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from the listeners are extremely valuable to me and greatly appreciated....

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://summerowens.com/) https://www.instagram.com/summero_sowhat/ (https://www.instagram.com/summero_sowhat/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/summer-owens-10846625/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/summer-owens-10846625/) https://www.youtube.com/user/lifeafterbirthbook (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/jamestrobo Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo ( https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP ( https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo Thanks 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 social media buttons on this...

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/ (https://www.justinpatton.com/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JPinspires (https://www.facebook.com/JPinspires) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpinspires/ (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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section...

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/ (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: https://jamestrobo.com/ (JamesTRobo.com). Let's Be Friends on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the...

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/josieahlquist (https://twitter.com/josieahlquist) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josieahlquist/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/josieahlquist/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josieahlquist/ (https://www.instagram.com/josieahlquist/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJosieAhlquist/ (https://www.facebook.com/DrJosieAhlquist/) Email: josie@josieahlquist.com Website: https://www.josieahlquist.com/ (https://www.josieahlquist.com) Book: https://www.josieahlquist.com/digitalleadership/ (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 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...

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: http://www.swiftkickhq.com/ (www.swiftkickhq.com) https://www.instagram.com/tomkrieglstein/ (https://www.instagram.com/tomkrieglstein/) https://swiftkickhq.com/freshman-success-book/ (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, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com. Let's Be Friends on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn:...

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. https://my.captivate.fm/www.jessekstrom.com (www.jessekstrom.com ) https://my.captivate.fm/www.instagram.com/jess_ekstrom (www.instagram.com/jess_ekstrom ) https://my.captivate.fm/www.brightpages.com (www.brightpages.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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from the listeners are extremely valuable to me and greatly appreciated. They help Diner Talks podcast rank higher

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:http://www.stacynadeau.com/ ( Stacy Nadeau) Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/stacylnadeau/ ( 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 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...

Today I was joined in the diner booth by leadership consultant and owner of Becky's Mindful Kitchen, Becky Schmooke. Becky, her wonderful sarcasm, and I dove in discussing popcorn in bed and Minnesota diners.  We then talked about what she wanted to be when she grew up and how she got to meet both Michelle Kwan and Jill Biden (but didn't realize it was her).  From figure skating to playing the cello to running cross country, Becky has had no shortage of interests. It was cool to hear her talk about her theory that winners quit. She then told me about what mindfulness means to her, and I was surprised by her answer! Lastly, we dove into her passion for stoicism and how it shows up in both her daily life, teaching, and leadership consulting work.  Lots of laughs throughout this one and some pretty great insights. Enjoy! About the Guest:  The year was 1987, the month January, and as the sun rose on the final day of the first week of the new year, a blessed baby was born over looking the Pacific Ocean… no? Not the bio you were looking for? Okay… take two Becky Schmooke is the founder, owner, goat wrangler and dishwasher of Becky's Mindful Kitchen. A cooking school in the Midwest that has evolved into a truly one of a kind countryside escape and home to summer camps, leadership retreats, mindfulness workshops, and bachelorette parties. After 10 years of studying mindfulness, leadership and stoic philosophy, she now focuses on mindful leadership consulting and speaking, helping organizations find simple and effective ways to integrate her mindful leadership systems into their workplace and personal lives. Becky has started speaking in schools about mental health and mindful leadership and teaches mindful parenting from a leadership perspective.  Cooking still remains and will forever remain a part of BMK, from kid classes to corporate team building- the skills learned in the kitchen extend beyond the table. Breeding goats and contending with 60 plus hens means life here is never dull. With a vet supply shelves stocked full, Becky has had to deal with a multitude of goat and chicken emergencies. She also splits her own wood, uses a chainsaw, teaches archery and fire starting, makes soaps and candles and skin care products to gift to people. Other fun facts, she has 2 bio daughters, 1 bonus daughter, Married, Type 1 diabetic and has almost died a few times!   Connect with Becky and learn more: https://beckysmindfulkitchen.com/ (https://beckysmindfulkitchen.com) https://www.facebook.com/beckysmindfulkitchen/ (https://www.facebook.com/beckysmindfulkitchen/) https://www.instagram.com/beckysmindfulkitchen/ (https://www.instagram.com/beckysmindfulkitchen/) 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...

Today I was joined by storyteller and activist, Ferene Paris Meyer.  This episode was humorous and heartfelt as Ferene shared about her experience growing up in a family of Haitian immigrants and how that shaped her current world.  She spoke about her awakening and coming alive as a proud Haitian woman and how she dove into her culture through food, language, and experiences in Haiti.  She also shared about how this ultimately led to her leaving her toxic workplace to start a business of her own, which centers around manifesting opportunities to have heartfelt inspirational moments. Ferene is honest, powerful, thoughtful, and someone you want to spend hours within The Diner – you're not going to want to miss this episode. *CONTENT WARNING* This episode includes stories of experiencing racism and hate crimes.  About the Guest:  Ferene Paris Meyer (she/her) is a radiant Haitian Queen who is here to live out loud and love deeply! Storyteller & Founder for All Heart Inspirations (est. 2020). Ferene create heart-centered spaces through storytelling workshops, community engagements, culinary art, and more! Why is storytelling her jam?! It saved her life. She was questioning many things, including her life's purpose and self-worth. The art of storytelling would help Ferene make meaning of her lived experiences, be open to new dreams, let go of past expectations, take a leap of faith, manifest awesome shit and more! She is her ancestors' wildest dreams. And it all started with her finally being honest with herself and those that cared for her, Ferene was not okay back in Fall 2019, but she was rewritten her story!  Connect with Ferene and learn more: https://instagram.com/allheartinspirations (https://instagram.com/allheartinspirations) https://www.allheartinspirations.com/ (https://www.allheartinspirations.com) https://linktr.ee/ALLHEARTINSPIRATIONS (https://linktr.ee/ALLHEARTINSPIRATIONS) 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you...

My dear friend, Leslie Meisel, joins me this week in the diner.  She is an actor who has appeared on Broad City, RISE, Difficult People, and a director.  Recently she has also become a practicing reiki master! We talked about whether you should order steak at a diner and a fun quirk about her related to Grease 2. I loved hearing about how Leslie's acting dreams started and the mental ups and downs of trying to pursue it.  We then reminisced about one of the most random jobs either of us has ever had when we worked for The Ride in Times Square. We then shifted to a powerful talk about Leslie's transition from doing more acting/directing work to doing more spiritual and healing work.  Leslie now does Reiki and I had no idea what that is so I got an education!  What a beautiful, funny, and sincere episode; please enjoy it with a side of fries! About the Guest:  Leslie Meisel is a Certified Reiki Practitioner (attuned by Joan Volpe PH.D, Reiki Master, Shaman). She is also an actor, writer, director, teacher and in college worked at a bowling alley thinking it would be exactly like Grease 2*..........................it wasn't. Leslie came to discover Reiki through her own healing journey about 10 years ago when working with Joan. Once she saw the benefits of this method in her own life, learning the art became a wonderful passion and mission to assist others in achieving healing in their own lives. As far as the acting/directing/writing part of Leslie's life, she was previously co-host of the monthly show COUPLES SKATE at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre NY, a cast member on the UCB house team CHARACTERS WELCOME (Season 1 & 2). On screen, Leslie has worked with Ed Burns, Michael Imperioli, Dane DeHaan, and appeared on the NBC show RISE, Difficult People, Broad City, Netflix's The Characters, and the feature film Bachelorette (w/Rebel Wilson & Kirsten Dunst).  As a director, she has worked on many shows at the UCB Theatre, including AzN Pop!: Live in Concert!, All In Favor, United Federation of Teachers with Natasha Vaynblatt (IFC, Funny or Die, McSeeney's), co-directed Stone Cold Fox: Sexy Idiots with Aaron Burdette, (Man Seeking Woman, The Onion), several Maude sketch teams, co-director/writer of He Said She Said with Kate Riley-Zelensky (MTV, Two Guys Named Josh) and worked with Bridge & Tunnel‘s staged show for Montreal's Just For Laughs Festival (Kristen Bartlett; Full Frontal with Samantha Bee).   *Leslie is one of many "Martys" who always wanted to be a "Rizzo"... which is why she may think that Grease 2 is MUCH better than Grease.   Connect with Leslie and learn more: http://www.lesliemeisel.com/ (http://www.lesliemeisel.com)(website) https://www.instagram.com/meiselleslie/ (@meiselellis) (Instagram) https://www.northportwellnesscenter.com/practitioner/leslie-ellis-reiki (https://www.northportwellnesscenter.com/practitioner/leslie-ellis-reiki) (reiki) 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

My man Odell Bizzell II slid into the diner booth with me this week.  He and I have known each other for a number of years from the speaker circuit and I have always respected his hustle. We talked about how he and I travel differently and why he typically spends all of his time on the road in the hotel.  He told me some of the powerful lessons he father taught him growing up black in Guilford County, North Carolina.  I loved hearing about how he chose to go NC State as opposed to an HBCU (Historically Black College/University).  We talked about where his hustler's mindset comes from, how he has written 10 books, and what fuels him.  He and Stan Pearson III are creating a brand new association in the higher education space called NAMCA. The last thing we discussed was how to get out of your own way and learn how to market yourself and your strengths. About the Guest:  Odell Bizzell is Andy & Doris's first born. Christine's favorite. Sierra's husband. Makayla, Raine, & Will's Dad. After all of that Odell is a master marketer, super communicator, and a professional speaker author and coach to thousands all over the planet.  He was voted Guilford County's 85th funniest person in a random study,  Odell's career has spanned close to 15 years as a speaker, writer, podcast host.  He is the self-proclaimed greatest basketball player/rapper/speaker/published author in the history of the world. Connect with Odell and learn more: https://www.odellspeaks.com/ (https://www.odellspeaks.com/) IG: https://www.instagram.com/odellbizzell/ (https://www.instagram.com/odellbizzell/) 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new

This week in the diner I had a thoughtful and vulnerable conversation with Survivor and CEO of Candle In A Dark Room, Desi Garcia.  Desi shared her gripping and heart-wrenching story of surviving childhood physical and sexual violence. She told the story of how she turned her “mess into her message” and how she felt called to help other survivors and families of survivors to cope and restore their power. She shared about her podcast and her foundation and the dreams she has for what it can become. Desi's strength and fortitude are profound and inspiring, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to listen and learn from her.   *CONTENT WARNING* This episode includes stories of trauma, child physical and sexual violence, bullying, stalking, and suicide. Resources can be found at: https://www.candleinadarkroom.com/ (https://www.candleinadarkroom.com/) About the Guest:  Desi Garcia is a mom, wife, survivor, advocate, counselor, crisis worker, trauma expert, podcaster & public speaker, I am the CEO/Founder of Candle in a Dark Room (CIADR). I am a survivor of child physical and sexual abuse.  CIADR now offers many things. We help survivors of physical and sexual trauma, as well as mental health that stems from trauma. We also help with other trauma such as grief, adoption and more. She now goes to court with victims around the country to face their perpetrators in court, I help prepare them before, support them during, and offer long term help after. I help survivors take their power back, and start the proper steps of healing through their trauma.   Connect with Desi and learn more: https://www.candleinadarkroom.com/ (https://www.candleinadarkroom.com/) FB: https://www.facebook.com/candleinadarkroom/ (https://www.facebook.com/candleinadarkroom/) IG: https://www.instagram.com/candleinadarkroom/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/candleinadarkroom/?hl=en) Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/candle-in-a-dark-room-podcast/id1454847769 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/candle-in-a-dark-room-podcast/id1454847769) 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter:...

You can skip today's cup of coffee because today's guest – Ernee Peppers – has enough energy for all of us.  Ernie has an electric and contagious personality and will inspire you to drop your baggage and step into your badassery. Todays episode centered around the power of forgiveness and the gift that is for yourself. Ernee shared about some trauma she faced in childhood and how freeing it was to forgive the person who caused that trauma and how that opened up her life. This conversation was so inspiring and I'm so grateful that Ernee showed up with her whole damn self.  If you find yourself holding on to something from your past, this episode is for you. About the Guest:  Ernee Peppers is a high hair wearin, high heel steppin, high energy givin, sashay walkin, sassy talkin Bold Badass Hot Pepper, is here to sizzle up your confidence and WOW up your life with her signature authentic girlfriend style type of conversations with a side order of gut-busting laughs. In her own words, “I will fart, piss and cry at the same time when I'm startled, hate eggs, love humor, and a cus word or two.”   Ernee is an award-Winning talk show host, speaker, author, actress, entertainer, coach, and entrepreneur and, more importantly, a wife, mom, sister, and friend.  Connect with Ernee and learn more: FB: https://www.facebook.com/Mrs.ErneePeppers (https://www.facebook.com/Mrs.ErneePeppers) IG: https://www.instagram.com/theerneepeppersshow (https://www.instagram.com/theerneepeppersshow) Book: https://d.docs.live.net/4ec4c46c44a2f7e9/Desktop/PODCAST%20SHOWS/Diner%20Talks%20with%20James/DTWJ064/www.mrspeppersplaybook.com (www.mrspeppersplaybook.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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast...

Today we're kickin' it in the Diner with your new friend and mine, Jake Kelfer. He's an incredible entrepreneur who shared story after story about how he would bet on himself and keep pushing and trusting his ideas until they either came to fruition or failed. He shared about massive successes – writing a bestselling book and starting an NBA draft combine – as well as a failure in an online course he created that flopped.  Our conversation centered around audacity and confidence and what to do with fear and the stories that creep into our head that are less than helpful. He has a cool blend of confidence and humility and I loved when he said, “if I can make it through life with more assists than turnovers, I'm going to be all right.”  If you're an entrepreneur or someone who's trying to put something new out into the world, this episode is for you. About the Guest:  Jake Kelfer is a lifestyle entrepreneur, life elevator, and coach to ambitious entrepreneurs and freedom seekers helping people create incredibly impactful and profitable businesses. He is a 3x bestselling author, a high-energy motivational speaker, and the founder of the Professional Basketball Combine which has helped 70+ NBA draft prospects turn their dreams of playing pro basketball into their reality. He and his work have been featured on Forbes, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and many other major media outlets. Connect with Jake on social https://www.instagram.com/jakekelfer/ (@jakekelfer)! Connect with Jake and learn more: https://www.instagram.com/jakekelfer/ (@jakekelfer) 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple...

Today in the booth, Jason Hewlett is coming in hot and ordering up a Moons Over My Hammy and dishing out advice that's good for the soul. We talked about body image and being comfortable in our own skin, ways to discover our signature moves – or our natural strengths, how to be comfortable in the different seasons of parenthood and ditch the idea of balance, and how to have grace with ourselves and be mindful of the way we speak with ourselves. This episode is jam-packed with selfcare and Jason delivers advice thoughtfully and hilariously. If you're looking for a feel-good episode that will remind you to have forgiveness and grace for yourself – this one's for you! About the Guest:  Jason Hewlett, CSP, CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame and Keynote Speaker, for the top corporate events in the world with his message, "The Promise". Combining the powerful business-meets-personal mindset shifting philosophy of The Promise we make as Leaders, A family man, husband and father of 4 beautiful children, Jason's message and value is expressed in his insightful and hilarious blog posts, videos, and live performances to delighted audiences. Jason's hobbies include hiking in the mountains, writing music, playing with his kids, being a diehard Utah Jazz fan and staring at his wife. Connect with Jason and learn more: https://jasonhewlett.com/ (JasonHewlett.com) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonhewlett/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonhewlett/) https://www.facebook.com/jasonhewlettentertainer/ (https://www.facebook.com/jasonhewlettentertainer/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonhewlett/ (@JasonHewlett) 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you

Sliding into the diner this week is actor, Alessandra Torresani. You've seen her on Big Bang Theory, American Horror Story, and most recently the movie, Women is Losers. She and I kicked things off by disclosing our first on-stage kisses (spoiler, hers was Frankie Muniz) then made our way back to our favorite diner orders. Alessandra told me about her California journey from the Bay Area to LA and the start of her acting career. We then talked about when we both learned that we may be struggling with mental health issues. I loved the way Alessandra talked about her journey with bi-polar disorder and the beauty of medication. Her story about how a conference in London changed her life was beautiful. We ended by discussing a few other things including the role that humor can (and probably should) play in mental health.    About the Guest:  Alessandra Olivia Torresani began studying dancing and singing when she was two years old. At the age of 8, she landed a job doing interviews between cartoons on The WB Television Network. She holds a black belt in taekwondo. Torresani's television debut was at age nine when she hosted the "Kids' WB Club" for San Francisco's KBWB.  She co-starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Going to the Mat. Her other television credits include guest appearances on Even Stevens, JAG, ER, The War at Home, Malcolm In The Middle, Arrested Development, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, CSI, Husbands, Big Bang Theory. Torresani is bipolar and hosts EmotionAL Support with Alessandra Torresani, a mental health podcast.   Connect with Alessandra and learn more: Podcast: EmotionAL Support with Alessandra Torresani Instagram: @AlessandraTorresani 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment...

This week in the diner I hung out with my man, Stu Massengill. What I appreciate about Stu is that he is so dedicated to looking for what's next and building his legacy, but he's also so in tune with the present moment and savors every day, and I loved the way he talked about striking that balance. In this episode, we talked about Stu's career as an entrepreneur, his battle with cancer, and his decision to leave his career in the wellness industry to start a speaking business and begin working with the GOAT – Tony Robbins. Stu is a maximizer and up to big things in this world, and I know you're going to love what he shares in this episode. About the Guest:  Hey, my name is Stu Massengill and I am on a mission to help people answer the question, "What do I want to do with my life?" Over the last 10 years, I have been immersed in the personal development world which led me to opportunities such as speaking on stages in front of 10,000 people, building a business that did 8 million dollars in revenue, and now working with the GOAT himself, Tony Robbins. One of the biggest things this helped me with, however, was beating cancer at the age of 24 due to what I learned from personal development. Aside from my mission to make an impact I love the outdoors, am a huge snowboarder and avid traveler, and doing my best to enjoy my time here on earth. Connect with Stu and learn more: 5 Day Find Your Future Challenge: www.findingdirectionuniversity.com website: http://www.stumassengill.com (www.stumassengill.com) Social Media (IG, Facebook, LinkedIn) Stu Massengill on everything 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to

In the booth with me this week is the one and only Ercole Perrone (say it with a thick Italian accent or you're doing this glorious name (and man) a disservice). This conversation was so good – it centered around the theme of being a better listener, leading and taking care of others with great empathy, and being a good human who stands up for other humans and has compassion for the mental health and personal growth of others. Whether it's in the mentoring space, the DEI space, or the mental health space – we need to serve and take care of our fellow beings. And ultimately, we need to ask better questions and actually listen – which is what we're all about here in the diner. This episode has a lot of heart and I can't wait for you to tune in! About the Guest:  Ercole is a consultant and advisor to senior managers of non-profit organizations and mid-sized companies, specializing in higher education. Ercole has fifteen years of senior management experience in roles that have spanned both industry associations and public sector organizations as a social impact executive. His range of professional and volunteer experiences includes working with youth, charities, various levels of government and in academia. Currently, Ercole is the CEO of IGNITE Student Union, leading one of the largest student unions in Canada through significant and transformative change during the most challenging time in postsecondary education history. Ercole lives with his amazing wife, three wonderful kids and a mischievous dog in Oakville, Ontario. Fun Facts: My favourite socks have a picture of my wife's face on them; I am a master campfire maker; and I love fig jam.  Connect with Ercole and learn more: Twitter: @ErcoleDPerrone LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ercoleperrone 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some...

"Our Happy Divorce" authors, Nikki DeBartolo and Benjamin Heldfond slid into the diner booth with me this week. Divorce is never easy but these two have figured out a way to make it work for their son Asher. We started our conversation talking about how Ben and Nikki met, when the sparks flew, and what brought them from San Francisco to Tampa, Florida. Making friends in a new city is hard and resentment is a tough emotion to shake when it starts building. I really appreciate the candor and self-awareness they both showed when owning how the years leading up to the divorce and the few after could have been handled better. We also talked about how they worked through the popular, though flawed, rationale many unhappy couples have: Stay together for the kids. We ended talking about the importance of counseling, the beauty of an open mind, and the power of clarity in communication. This was filled with just the right amount of couple bantering and deep-hitting realities. Excited for you to hear it!      About the Guest:  From weeknight dinners and homework sessions with their son to Christmas card photos and vacations, Nikki DeBartolo and Benjamin Heldfond have created a tight-knit, enviable family. They work and play well together, from the smallest daily tasks to the biggest life events—and it only took a divorce to get them there. Though their marriage has been over for nearly a decade, they still share a happy life with each other and their son Asher, along with their new amazing spouses and children. Ben and Nikki had hoped their wedding would start their happily ever after—but seven years, one child, and countless financial and familial entanglements later, their I do-s had turned into We can't-s. Armed with their fierce love for their son and a desire to give him the best, they realized they needed to find an alternative to the seemingly inevitable toxic divorce that loomed over their lives. Refusing to participate in the standard litigious legal divorce process, they devised a new strategy and worked to confront their hurt feelings and fragile egos head-on. Committed to putting Asher's needs first in every decision, they helped each other heal and build a future. Their happily blended family today is a testament to their commitment to a few core principles and their incredible son—during the divorce and beyond. In their stunning book "Our Happy Divorce," Ben and Nikki elaborate on the difficulties of their divorce experience, their individual pains and triumphs, and their unique approach to relationships and blended families. Their story is sure to inspire others to pursue something few believe possible…a happy divorce.   Connect with Ben and Nikki and learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Our-Happy-Divorce-Marriage-Together/dp/1631779974/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Our+Happy+Divorce&qid=1568927277&sr=8-1 (Link to their book on Amazon) @ourhappydivorce on Instgram 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...

Buckle up, y'all because this episode is jam-packed with nuggets of wisdom that will stick with you long after listening. Today I kicked it in the booth with bestselling author, socially conscious entrepreneur, and speaker Laura Gassner Otting (aka LGO). We talked about finding what you love to do, defining success and what is enough for yourself, motivation vs. discipline, control, imposter syndrome, and a new way to think about confidence. LGO is incredibly entertaining, an excellent storyteller, and someone who offers a fresh perspective. This episode has a little bit of everything for everyone and is well worth your time. Not to mention, it starts out with some PRO tips for ordering at the diner. Check it out!   About the Guest:  Washington Post Best Selling Author and Motivational Keynote speaker, Laura Gassner Otting, inspires people to push past the doubt and indecision that keep great ideas in limbo because her presentations make listeners think bigger and accept greater challenges that reach beyond their limited scope of belief. She delivers strategic thinking, well-honed wisdom, and perspective generated by decades of navigating change across the start-up, nonprofit, political, as well as philanthropic landscapes. Laura dares listeners to find their voice, and generate the confidence needed to tackle larger-than-life challenges. She leads them to seek new ways of leading, managing and mentoring others. Laura's entrepreneurial edge has been well-honed over a 25-year career that started as a Presidential Appointee in Bill Clinton's White House, where she helped shape AmeriCorps. She left a leadership role at the respected nonprofit search firm, Isaacson, Miller, to expand the startup ExecSearches.com. Laura also founded and ran the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group, which partnered with the full gamut of mission-driven nonprofit executives, from start-up dreamers to scaling social entrepreneurs to global philanthropists. In 2015, Laura sold NPAG to the team that helped her build it, both because she was hungry for the next chapter and because she held an audacious dream of electing our nation's first female president. Along the way, while serving on Hillary Clinton's National Finance Committee, she was asked to do a TEDx talk which became so popular that it launched a speaking career. Laura has spoken across the United States and internationally to universities, companies, conferences, accelerators, TEDx, and the US Military. She is the author of Mission-Driven: Moving from Profit to Purpose (2015) and the Washington Post Best Seller Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life (2019). She lives with her husband, two teenage sons, and troublesome puppy outside of Boston, MA. Fun facts: I went to computer sleep away camp. I am running my fourth marathon in a week, having never run a mile in my life before I turned 39, and now the reigning lightweight indoor rowing champion of my age group. I have an irrational fear of whales.    Connect with Laura and learn more: myfourquestions.com lauragassnerotting.com @heylgo on Instagram 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...

I don't even know if there are diners in the Canary Islands, but I do know that this week's guest, Geneviève Pépin, slid into this diner all the way from off the coast of Morocco. Geneviève and I started off discussing the magical foods that are poutine (because she's from Quebec City) and arepas (because they are delicious). Then she told me about how she went from being a loner as a child who wanted to be an artist to getting lost in the corporate world. In her 20s she became a voracoius traveler and wound up studying and then working in China for 6 years! I loved hearing about her experience in China, what she loved about the culture there, and what surprised her. Because she has lived in many places, Geneviève calls herself a free agent of cultural norms, so naturally, I had to ask how one does that. We then discussed some of her professional careers. She talked about getting your dream job and then realizing it was not right for her and then knowing when to leave. It was fascinating hearing her talk about coming to terms with your control issues and understanding your relationship with control. And we finished up by going back and forth about, as a coach, how do you spark change? Loved this one y'all!   . About the Guest: (Bio, Personal Links, Resource Links)   Geneviève Pépin is passionate about helping people go from busy & stressed to happy & productive, as a result of her own journey in the professional world. She is an accredited life coach (IAPC&M), certified mindset specialist, productivity and leadership development coach (Fortune 500 companies), and improv facilitator. Before coaching, Geneviève built her career internationally in event management and marketing, living, working, and traveling in 20 countries, in four different languages. She likes to enjoy a black espresso and a good laugh with friends, practice improv comedy, and spend time with her husband and two dogs in the beautiful Canary Islands that she calls home.   Connect with Geneviève and learn more: LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/GenLIProfile Website: https://nettolacoaching.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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP...

Longtime friend and Emmy-nominated anchor and reporter, Joe Mauceri, slid into a Brooklyn diner booth with me for this episode! Joe and I talked about a few childhood memories and what kind of burger you're allowed to order in a diner. After asking Joe what he wanted to be when he was a kid, we learn about the home videos where his on-camera experience started and it was very cool to hear how he went from there to being a journalism/broadcast major at Syracuse. I asked Joe how he finds places to inject his personality when doing the news, which is typically quite serious and heavy. We also talked about the role that bias does and doesn't play as a sports reporter. The current state of the media in our country is fascinating. I asked Joe a few questions about being in the field of journalism and what advice he would give to newcomers. We rounded the conversation out with me asking Joe how he is raising his children to have an open mind and why being a Dad matters to him. One of Joe's quotes that I loved was, “I can't help you if you don't tell me the truth.” Another special diner talk in the books, y'all!    About the Guest:  Joe Mauceri is a Brooklyn Boy with a large extended family, but he's an only child. He is married to my amazing wife Erin and they have two awesome children Maddox 4 and Lucas 2. Joe lives four blocks from where he grew up, loves his mom's cooking and sports. Joe is a sports anchor and reporter for WPIX in New York City. He is also an entrepreneur who has started 3 businesses. Joe is an adrenaline junkie who has been sky diving, bungee jumping, and zip-lining. Last, but not least, he is a morning person, but works nights! Connect with Joe and learn more: www.dadhab.com instagram.com/joethereporter instagram.com/TheDadHabit 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or...

This week in the booth is networking expert and Twix connoisseur, Tollisha Joseph. We spent our time talking about how to form relationships, how to stand out in a room full of people, and how to get out of our own way. We talked about boundaries and values, and she shared advice for looking to your past to help you figure out what you should do with your future. We rounded out the episode by talking about conversation strategies and the role of being either interested or interesting, and how to balance each in order to maximize the relationship. We ended on an analogy about having to pee, and you're going to just have to tune in for that nugget of gold. This was a great episode with so many points and takeaways – you aren't going to want to miss it!   About the Guest:  Tollisha Joseph is the CEO of “The Official GLUE” a consultant agency that is driven by the heartbeat of human connection. Tollisha turned her frustration around professional networking into a successful business that teaches individuals how to master the art of effective networking and leverage it to increase visibility and revenue for their businesses. She's created success by teaching small and midsize businesses the art of effective networking and getting them on the “YES” side of their business. Connect with Tollisha and learn more: https://sociatap.com/TheOfficialGlue (https://sociatap.com/TheOfficialGlue) 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from...

In the booth with me this week is the storytelling, improv-loving, eggs benedict-hating, Mike Ganino. He's lived 79 lives, and because he's an efficient storyteller we got to hear about most of them. We talked about everything from his time as a flight attendant (including month-long layovers in Hawaii and dating for drinks), his leading role in a personal injury lawyer commercial, his evolution to public speaking, and his newest role as a stay-at-home dad. He shared a powerful story about coming out and dropped some insightful notes about finding your thru-line in life to recognize your innate talents. By the end, we were those two dudes in a booth crying into our milkshakes… the Diner Talks special! You're going to love Mike's stories and little nuggets sprinkled throughout -- you're not going to want to miss this episode.   About the Guest:   Mike Ganino is a storytelling + public speaking expert who hosts The Mike Drop Moment podcast. He's been named a Top 10 Public Speaking Coach by Yahoo Finance, and California's Best Speaking and Communication Coach by Corporate Vision Magazine. He is an author, former Executive Producer of TEDxCambridge, and has been named a Top 30 Speaker by Global Guru, Mike's worked with organizations like Disney, American Century Investments, American Marketing Association, and UCLA. Mikes a new Dad, a coffee snob, and chronically late.   Connect with Mike and learn more: www.mikeganino.com www.Instagram.com/mikeganino 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast

It's Diner Talks with James' first birthday! To celebrate Tina VanSteenbergen, my badass wife, slid back into the diner booth with me! Tina is a professional women's empowerment speaker and runs her own women's conference called Persist.  We started the way we always do, talking late-night foods. The last time Tina was on the podcast she was pregnant, now we have a baby, and I asked her how that feels. We then threw out the best and worst advice we got when she was pregnant. Tina talked about the feeding struggles and other really hard topics that aren't shared enough with new moms. But how do you know you're a good parent? Our two very different perspectives were fascinating to hear. Also, we weren't head over heels in love with our baby the day he was born and that is ok. A big thing we are still dealing with is the loneliness of becoming parents so we chatted about that struggle. Then we took a hard left and got to hear about Tina's new passion project: Persist: A Badass Women's Conference. She wonders, are women writing a story that their success is limited? Tina rounded out our time together discussing why, for women, confidence must be a team sport.  What a special one, y'all! Thank you to all of you who helped this fun idea I had stick around for a full year, now on to year 2!    About the Guest:  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: Website: www.tinaraevan.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/tinaraevan (https://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 in 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...

Quinn Conyers slid in the Diner booth with me this episode!  She is an incredible Master of Ceremonies (emcee) and powerful public speaker who specializes in helping Black women find and use their voices. Quinn and I first bonded over our love of crabby fries. Then we learn how Quinn fell in love with being an emcee. I loved her mantra of, “I don't want to be booked and busy, I want to be peaceful and paid!” It was powerful learning when Quinn learned to step into her voice and speak up as a black woman. Especially while being raised by her mother who is from a generation that was taught to be quiet to survive. Quinn told us why and how she started to help fellow black women recognize their value, use their voices, and become speakers. She shared with us a few ways women can use their voices more at work, at home, and in the wild. We ended with her answer to an important question: what can leadership do at companies to ensure women and people of color can use their voice at work? Real strong episode here, y'all!     About the Guest:  Quinn Conyers broadcast the brilliance of women in business! She shows them how to Turn Conversations into Cash so they can profit from public speaking. Quinn believes your voice is your secret weapon in business and is a master at training entrepreneurs how to leverage public speaking as a marketing strategy, lead generation tool, and revenue stream in your business. If you are ready to maximize and monetize all speaking opportunities on behalf of your business, book, or brand you are in the right place. After this powerful presentation, Quinn will show you how to verbalize your value and articulate your awesomeness so you can leverage your mouth as your #1 marketing strategy in business and be super successful! She has over 16 years of virtual and in-person speaking, event hosting, and training experience. Quinn is eager and excited to unleash the voices of women in business all across the globe so they are clear, concise, and compelling every time they open their mouths. Quinn has taught Speech Communications for 5 years at Coppin State University, earned a Bachelor's Degree from West Chester University and a Masters from Howard University in Washington DC. Quinn is the author of 2 books, made it to the 2nd round of Shark Tank auditions four times, been featured on the Entrepreneurs Elevator Pitch TV show as well Essence, Black Enterprise, Vision and Purpose and Empowering Women to Speak Out Magazines. Get your pen and paper ready and join me in welcoming our guest speaker Quinn Conyers.   Connect with Quinn and learn more: Website: www.quinnconyers.com Clubhouse: @quinnconyers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quinn.conyers (https://www.facebook.com/quinn.conyers ) Instagram: https://instagram.com/quinn.conyers?igshid=db4vywpumxaz (https://instagram.com/quinn.conyers?igshid=db4vywpumxaz ) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinnconyers (https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinnconyers ) Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/quinnconyers?lang=en (https://mobile.twitter.com/quinnconyers?lang=en)

This week incredible professional speaker, respect expert, and dear friend, Mike Domitrz is in the booth with me! Age has hurt Mike's ability to do a lot of late-night eating so we quickly moved past that. We did bond over being in charge of the morning announcements in grade school and getting in trouble for something we said. Then Mike shared the moment he decided to drop his dream of Broadway and decided he wanted to be a family man. Tragically his youngest sister had been raped and it completely, and understandably, rocked him. Mike talks a lot about respect and hearing how he absorbed it was fascinating because the way we learned it was completely different. We talked about the different ways one comes to respect someone else: etiquette and honor-focused vs. role-modeled and earned respect. Mike went on to create the Center for Respect and discussed the work they do. He discussed the unintentional ways we sometimes disrespect others. A powerful part of our conversation was when we talked about how can we get individuals to know that just because they themselves may not be the problem, they can and should be a part of the solution of important issues such as sexual violence.  This was a great one, y'all, enjoy!   About the Guest:  As the Founder of The Center for Respect, Mike Domitrz speaks around the world. You may have seen him quoted in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, or maybe you've seen him as a featured expert on the Dateline NBC Special “My Kid Would Never Do That.” For 3 decades, businesses of all sizes, organizations, schools, and the US Military have been bringing Mike, his passion, and his high energy for helping them build a culture of Respect. Mike believes "Respect is not the standard of excellence. Respect is the bare minimum requirement." AND he loves to dance, he loves being a husband, he loves being a dad to 4 grown men, and he LOVES being a grandpa.   Connect with Mike and learn more: http://www.CenterForRespect.com (http://www.CenterForRespect.com) https://www.YouTube.com/MikeDomitrz (https://www.YouTube.com/MikeDomitrz) https://www.Instagram.com/MikeRespects (https://www.Instagram.com/MikeRespects) https://www.Facebook.com/MikeRespects (https://www.Facebook.com/MikeRespects) https://www.Twitter.com/MikeRespects (https://www.Twitter.com/MikeRespects) https://www.tiktok.com/@mikerespects (https://www.tiktok.com/@mikerespects) https://www.amazon.com/Can-Kiss-You-Thought-provoking-Relationships/dp/0997286601 (https://www.amazon.com/Can-Kiss-You-Thought-provoking-Relationships/dp/0997286601) 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 in 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...

It is so important to have conversations with individuals that we don't know anything about, because if we don't hear their story from them, we'll write the story for them, and often inaccurately so. That's what today's episode is all about. I got to kick it in The Diner with my friend, Paige who has built a career as a sex worker. We talk about her entrance into the industry, the things she's learned about herself and about the industry along the way, the importance and validity of this profession, and the rich relationships she builds with her clients. This conversation is so important, and if you're not familiar with the industry, I hope you'll take the time to tune in and learn from Paige.  About the Guest:  Paige Savage is a plus-size model, content creator, photographer, consultant, and sex worker based in Minneapolis, MN. Paige joined the adult industry a few years ago and soon after, left her traditional 9-5 career in Education. Although one day she may venture back into the education realm, she's loving what she does now, thoroughly enjoying being a "jane of all trades" and her own boss. If she's not at the gym training for her first show in 2022, she could be working on her FIRE investing, singing off-key to every song (you do know she can he Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight"), at a Drag Brunch with her friends, or working on a 1000 piece Harry Potter puzzle that has eluded her for almost 8 months now. Either way, she's still just a regular shmegular human being and "real down to Mars girl". Connect with Paige and learn more: Instagram.com/the.main.paige Twitter.com/themainpaigexo   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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic...

Conversations about mental health need to be in the forefront of our lives, and this episode with my man, Darryll Stinson, is the perfect example of their impact and the power of vulnerability. Darryll was a D1 athlete who was destined for the NFL, but when he injured his back his life took a different path. Addiction and suicidal thoughts took over and he nearly ended his life. In this episode, he shares an incredible story of how his mom saved his life and how he navigated (and continues to navigate) his mental health journey to serve others. We talk about the power of vulnerability and checking our ego, and he shares story after story that will draw you in and make you think. You're not going to want to miss this powerful episode.   About the Guest:  Darryll Stinson is a former Division I athlete, author, two-time TEDx speaker, and founder of Second Chance Athletes. After going from suicidal to successful, Darryll uses his experience to help heart-centered leaders find their unique leadership style and strength that align with their highest purpose. Darryll has mentored and taught athletes, entrepreneurs, religious and business leaders, youth groups, and many more. When he is not working, Darryll enjoys spending time with his wife and three beautiful daughters. #girldad Fun Fact: (As a full-grown young man) Darryll, an elite athlete who would later be on track to join the NFL, was ranked below multiple three-year-olds in a YMCA swim class. ; )   Connect with Darryll and learn more: WEBSITES: http://www.DarryllStinson.com (www.DarryllStinson.com) http://www.SecondChanceAthletes.com (www.SecondChanceAthletes.com) SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/stinsonspeaks/ (https://www.instagram.com/stinsonspeaks/) https://www.facebook.com/stinsonspeaks/ (https://www.facebook.com/stinsonspeaks/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/athlete-transition-mentalhealth-career-coaching (https://www.linkedin.com/in/athlete-transition-mentalhealth-career-coaching) BOOK: “Who Am I After Sports?” : An Athlete's Roadmap to Discover New Purpose and Live Fulfilled https://www.amazon.com/Who-Am-After-Sports-%20%20Fulfilled/dp/1647464803/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1VQH7HL0M6R9O&keywords=who+am+i+after+sports+darryll+stinson&qid=1621368786&sprefix=who+am+i+after+spor%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-1 (Find on Amazon) 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo...

Jumping into the Diner with me today is trauma and sexual assault expert, Brittany Piper. Before we got too deep we started out talking about late-night Dairy Queen runs for some blizzards, because, priorities. I then asked how Brittany has found and built her online community and how she made the decision to live her mom-life and sexual assault survivor life out loud. As a new parent myself I was eager to hear her thoughts about what do you share and who do you listen to as new parents. We had a fascinating conversation about what options you have for the afterbirth/placenta of your child. I appreciate Brittany being open about the choices she made despite it being different from what Tina and I decided. We then switched gears and jumped into the science of how we carry and store trauma in our bodies. Brittany discussed when should we share our trauma and with whom. Brittany shared her 4 “P's” of purposing your pain. We ended by discussing sexual violence and I asked what men can do to play a bigger role in conversations around eradicating sexual violence.      . About the Guest:    Brittany Piper is an international activist, speaker and healing coach— cultivating 400+ programs spanning 10 years and 3 continents. Her work has been recognized by The U.S. Army, the Laura Bush Institute of Women's Health, Cosmopolitan, Elite Daily + more. She is a rape survivor and leading national expert and advocate on sexual violence prevention and recovery—speaking to tens of thousands of audience members each year. She is also a forensic neurobiology expert—conducting dozens of trauma-informed trainings and programs with the United States Army and Sex Crimes Detectives annually. Lastly, she is the founder and creator of The Functional Breakthrough Method—a 1-on-1 coaching and healing program that supports survivors of trauma. Brittany believes that when met with empathy, our pain can be transformed into our greatest purpose. Connect with Brittany and learn more:  www.brittanypiper.com www.instagram.com/thebrittpiper/

What do you get when you put two New York comedians in a Diner? Well, you get 15-minutes up-top talking about soup and how much we love to hate on New Jersey. Solid gold commentary and when you're getting soup recs from the queen of viral internet soup videos, you better watch your mouth and listen up! This conversation was so fun and Anna is a blast. We talked about her love of acting, producing, and all things comedy. We bonded about our roles in Guys and Dolls, talked about family dynamics, and shared some dreams for our futures. She will inspire you to appreciate the present, to try new things, and to just hit record and stop worrying so much. Listen in, and be sure to let us know how you zhuzh up your matza ball soup.   About the Guest:  Anna Roisman is a comedian, host, writer, and actress. She is the host of HQ Words and HQ Trivia and was recently seen on NBC's Celebrity Sleepover. Anna's work has been featured at the Tribeca Film Festival, JFL, NY Times, and LA Times, and more. You can follow her everywhere as Anna Roisman and find her dog on Instagram too.   Connect with Anna and learn more:  @AnnaRoisman across the board on socials. Unemployed Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from the listeners are extremely valuable to me and greatly appreciated. They help Diner Talks podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you...

This week I got to kick it in the booth with Archie Messersmith-Bunting, aka The Feelings Guy™ and we got DEEP. Before diving into conversations about mental health, drug abuse, singing on Broadway, and an experience of being bucked into the waters of Antarctica – we talked about Archie's hometown in Alabama which is where all of the unclaimed baggage from airplanes goes… to a place, cleverly named Unclaimed Baggage. While talking about Alabama, Archie told us about his traumatic experience growing up gay in the deep south, he then shared about his move to New York, his experience with drug abuse, and the powerful experience of meeting a sponsor and a therapist that normalized his mental illness. He's on a mission to create space for feelings of all kinds and to normalize mental health for the masses. Archie holds so much power in his story, and we created a conversation that will stick with you long into the future. You aren't going to want to miss this episode!    About the Guest:  Archie Messersmith-Bunting, M.S., The Feelings Guy™, is a mental wellness coach, consultant, and professional speaker who helps people discover how leading with their feelings can improve their quality of life and save the lives of those they come in contact with. Archie was a successful musical theater performer in New York City before addiction and clinical depression destroyed his childhood dream and led him to a place where he believed suicide was his only answer. After battling back from the jaws of addiction, Archie now uses his voice to remind others that we are all more than "just" the wreckage of our past. He teaches that individual moments and decisions in our life do not define us, but they can help design us. Archie has been featured on numerous NBC, CBS and FOX affiliates, on dozens of podcasts, and is the host of the new (and fabulous) podcast “What A Feeling!” Connect with Archie and learn more: www.archiecares.com https://www.instagram.com/archie_cares/ (https://www.instagram.com/archie_cares/) https://archiecares.com/listen/ (https://archiecares.com/listen/)   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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP...

My man, Gary Ware, stepped into the diner and brought a bunch of truth and his expertise in play to the booth. Before we dove into all that we compared notes on how we both eat our pancakes. Then we discussed our mutual love, improv comedy. I asked Gary how Gary got into improv (turns out it was completely on accident!) and what improv taught him about himself. We then chatted about getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and where the shame creeps in. Gary made a huge shift going from a full-time marketing job to selling everything to starting his own company as an entrepreneur, so naturally, we had to talk about it. Then we got into his bread and butter: Play. We discussed why it is hard for adults to play and what we need to do to incorporate more play in their lives. This one ended super strong, y'all!   About the Guest:  Gary Ware, the Founder of Breakthrough Play is a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and self-proclaimed Creative Catalyst. Gary has over 14 years of experience in the corporate word holding various leadership positions. Being a multifaceted individual Gary also comes with nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theatre. After experiencing burnout in his pursuit for success and happiness, he realized that what was missing was play. Committing to a life of play is what led Gary to discover his passion for facilitating. Gary uses the power of applied improvisation and other playful methods to assist people in unlocking creativity, confidence, and better communication. Gary was recently featured as one of the Top 100 HR influencers of 2020 by the Engagedly HR software platform. When Gary isn't leading workshops or speaking, you can find him learning magic or off an adventure with his wife Courtney and son Garrett. Connect with Gary and learn more: https://www.breakthroughplay.com/ (https://www.breakthroughplay.com/) http://instagram.com/garyware (http://instagram.com/garyware) https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyware/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyware/) 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter:...

You love to see a human that's like, yeah, I did Survivor… THREE times.  This week's guest in the Diner was the woman, the myth, the legend – Andrea Boehlke. She was born and raised in Wisconsin and moved to New York to pursue a career in acting, which is where we met.  We talked about her farmer work ethic that translated well to persevering through strange acting gigs, successful Survivor auditions, and eventually a transition to being a host with People Mag. We talked a lot about the balance of wanting more for our careers and a desire to be present. We also had a vulnerable conversation about mental health and working through depression and anxiety. She talked about the importance of listening to our bodies and being gentler with ourselves, which is exactly what she did when she moved from NYC back to Wisconsin and bought a sheep.  Also, it should be noted that her sheep just had a lamb… so technically she's a sheep-grandma now.  This conversation was so fun and so interesting – you're not going to want to miss it! About the Guest:  Andrea Boehlke is a Wisconsin-born entertainment host, who lived in NYC for 10 years and now she's back in Wisconsin and has no idea what's next! She's currently working for People Mag, and two other shows as a host, which is her passion. She has a lot of party tricks... juggling, the splits, the worm. She also LOVES sheep and bought a sheep this summer who now has a baby, so she is technically a sheep-grandma now. We can't forget she was on Survivor three times! Overall, Andrea loves deep conversation and getting to know people! Connect with Andrea and learn more on Instagram: @andreaboehlke 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get...

This week was so much fun, I got to hang out with New York Times Bestselling author, Harlan Cohen, and he shared so many powerful nuggets of wisdom. We kicked off the conversation talking about food (as one does in The Diner) and that led to an interesting conversation about having (or in Harlan's case not having) strong opinions.  We talked about conflict, the power of mindfulness and meditation, and then, my favorite topic, shame. He told me about this cool experiment he did where he kept track of and tried to eliminate when he would shame himself and others.  After shame, we scooted over to the other side of the booth to talk about rejection (we really know how to party!) and he told us about his new book that's out called, “Win or Learn” that's all about the beauty of rejection. And get excited, because it's a picture book!  I could go on for days about how good this conversation was, but you'll have to check it out for yourself! About the Guest:  I made the state championship for bowling when I was in 7th grade. ABOUT: Harlan Cohen is a New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and speaker who has visited over 500 high school and college campuses. He is the author of seven books including WIN OR LEARN: The Naked Truth About Turning Every Rejection Into Your Ultimate Success and The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into In College. His books have over 1 million copies in print. Harlan is an expert on leadership, grit, resilience, and navigating change. He is a frequent guest on television and radio programs and is the founder of www.BeforeCollege.TV. Harlan is based in Chicago, Illinois where he lives with his wife, three children, and two dogs. Connect with Harlan and learn more: Website: www.BeforeCollege.TV & http://www.harlancohen.com/ (www.HarlanCohen.com) IG: @harlancohen https://www.tiktok.com/@helpmeharlan (https://www.tiktok.com/@helpmeharlan) https://www.facebook.com/HelpMeHarlan/ (https://www.facebook.com/HelpMeHarlan/) 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo (https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo) Thanks for...

Today I'm hanging out in the diner booth with wellness expert, Kristel Bauer. We talked mind, body, heart, and soul – as we do in the diner, we covered it all. She shared about how she got into integrative medicine and how she valued a holistic approach to wellness. We talked about perfectionism and how vulnerability is far more relatable and powerful in coaching. And we rounded it out with a conversation about grace and having the courage to start. It should also be noted that Kristel ordered an apple with peanut butter at the diner… we're still waiting on it. About the Guest:  Kristel is a wellness expert, female entrepreneur, consultant, wellness advisor, Keynote Speaker, and Podcast Host set out to empower you to live your best life! As an Integrative Medicine Fellow, Physician Assistant experienced in Integrative Psychiatry & Functional Medicine, and Reiki Master, she founded Live Greatly to share her findings on how best to achieve optimal health in mind, body, & spirit to attain success.  Kristel is an Integrative Medicine Fellow in the Andrew Weil Integrative Medicine Fellowship and has successfully helped many people overcome challenges to achieve their goals. She has been a Physician Assistant since 2006 and has a long-term passion for helping others achieve their ultimate potential. With her history as a Reiki Master, she has a strong interest in spirituality and how it affects your overall well-being. Kristel is passionate about teaching and is a University lecturer, and also an Adjunct PBL Facilitator for Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University Physician Assistant Program. Kristel's personal interests include running, spin, yoga, meditation, spending time in nature, travel, and spending time with her family, friends, and 2 dogs. Connect with Kristel and learn more: Website: https://www.livegreatly.co/ (https://www.livegreatly.co/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livegreatly_co/ (@livegreatly_co) 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/jamestrobo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and...

Boris and I go way back, and I'm so glad he finally made it to The Diner. My boy rolled up with a can of sardines and apologies in advance for what it sounds like on a podcast when a guest eats sardines. After a lot of talk of omlettes and the many versions of canned fish that exist, Boris shared about his childhood in Ukraine, and their journey to America as Jewish refugees from the Soviet Union in the 90's. He shared comical stories of his childhood, including that of a circumcision at the ripe old age of 7, and the experience of learning English. Then we talked about how he got into comedy and the highs and lows of being a standup comedian.  And then we rounded it out talking about the science and intentionality of storytelling and standup. It was such a fun conversation and I hope you'll check it out.   About the Guest:  Boris Khaykin is a comedian currently residing in Brooklyn, NY, and originally hailing from Ukraine. He's been on a bunch of stuff including Bull, The First Purge, Amazon Prime's Red Oaks, and is a regular guest on The Comedy Cellar's Live From America Podcast. Boris is also an avid omelet chef and posts impressive videos of omelet flips in his kitchen. Connect with Boris and learn more: Website: boriskhaykin.com Instagram: @theborisk 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/jamestrobo (https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from the listeners are extremely valuable to me and greatly appreciated. They help Diner Talks podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome...

Mental health is important, talking about it is hard and that is exactly why my guest, Ross Szabo is consistently sought after as a go-to teacher on the topic. It was awesome having my friend in the diner and we kicked things off chatting about Pennsylvania diners and circus fries. We then took a classic James hard left and we talked about how Ross got into doing mental health work and the time he tried to take his life in high school. He told me about rebounding from bullying and being labeled from sharing his story. There were some of the role models who helped him early on that I loved hearing about. I then asked him why Physical Education is taught in schools but Mental Health Education is not. One of the reasons is because mental health is often approached from a reactive place, and that is something that needs to be changed.  Ross told me some ways teachers can bring mental health work into the classroom. We then shifted focus to men and mental health – what happens in adolescence that needs to be undone later. About the Guest:  Ross Szabo is an award-winning pioneer of the mental health movement. During his 8 years as Director of Outreach at the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, he helped create the first youth mental health speakers’ bureau in the country and personally spoke to over one million people. He is currently the Wellness Director at Geffen Academy at UCLA and CEO of the Human Power Project. He has spoken to over 2 million people about his experiences with mental health, written 2 books and created a curriculum that is used by over 200,000 students. He also knows how to track lions in Botswana and enjoys running, but never runs from lions.   Connect with Ross and learn more: Website: http://RossSzabo.com and www.humanpowerproject.com Instagram: @rossszabo Twitter: @rossszabo     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/jamestrobo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo (https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP (https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP) Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo Thanks 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 social media buttons on this page. Do you have