Gap to Great

“Do it. If you’re thinking about it and you’ve probably taken some steps, then just jump in and do it. The first step is the hardest one but once you start, the momentum of starting is so powerful.”  Chris Ruggiero hosts a one man variety show where he does things like circus tricks, juggling and magic, all set to modern pop music. Last year, his always-evolving show caught the eye of none other than Ellen Degeneres, who brought him on her show and deemed him “epic.”  Chris is also the author of "Just Go", a motivational book that encourages people to stop thinking and just start. I talked to him about getting the call from Ellen, how he got into entertaining and his advice for anyone, in any industry, for taking that scary first step.   Full show notes available: andreawien.com/chris

"I don't think the goal for us is to live an easy life.” A few years ago, Paul Kortman and his wife had a radical idea. What if they sold their house in Michigan, packed up their family and became nomadic? While a lot of people probably have this pipe dream, the Kortmans actually did it. In fact, they’ve been living on the road since 2014 and their first stops included SE Asia, South Africa and parts of Europe. Now, this family of six, plus a dog, are roadtripping their way through Mexico, Central America and Ecuador in an RV. On this show, I talk to Paul about how the kids make friends, the family’s view on school and how they’ve used medical tourism to their advantage.  Full show notes available: andreawien.com/kortmans

"There's a responsibility any historian has to history: you have to get it right.” Rien Fertel is a historian and author originally from Lafayette, LA. In 2012, he hit the road with photographer Denny Culbert to capture the essence of BBQ in the south . Now, he’s turned that research into a new book, recently released by Simon + Schuster, called  “The One True Barbecue: Fire, Smoke, and the Pitmasters Who Cook The WHole Hog.”  Rien’s work has also been featured in Saveur Magazine, Southern Living and The Local Palate, among others. Our conversation kind of hops around, from Rien’s time growing up in the kitchens of Louisiana, to why he attended grad school and why an unlikely contender is his favorite food city.  Full show notes available: andreawien.com/rien-fertel

Abria Mattina and Dan Fachin live in Ottawa, Ontario, and for the last year, they’ve taken some great strides to make their dreams come true. After realizing that the schedule around their corporate jobs wasn’t going to allow them to write and publish a novel, they quit. But that’s not it. Soon after leaving corporate, they also went nocturnal — that is, sleeping while everyone else was awake, and working while everyone was fast asleep. Sometimes, it takes an inconvenient feat to accomplish your goals — but Dan and Abria show that it’s possible with enough dedication and hard work. Full show notes: andreawien.com/abria-dan

Abby Falik is the founder of Global Citizen Year, a company with lofty goals to build the next generation of global leaders through their innovative bridge year program. Abby says she’s had the idea for Global Citizen Year since high school, but she’s still taken plenty of twists and turns in her journey.   Abby’s work with Global Citizen Year has also been featured in publications including Fast Company, NPR, Forbes and the NY Times.   In this chat, we talk about what success looks like for Global Citizen Year, how to implement the teachings of the program if you’re out of high school or college, and the future of education through Abby’s eyes.    Full show notes: andreawien.com/abby-falik

Alexander Harik left the corporate finance world to become a food entrepreneur. His product, Zesty Z, a zaa’tar spread and condiment is just starting to make traction in the NYC market. (And it’s freaking delicious.)  In this show, we talk about the characteristics Alexander thinks are important to cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit and how his upbringing helped develop these traits. We also chat about all the research Alexander did to launch Zesty Z into the world, and how we can all follow our dreams when we find something we're passionate about. Full show notes available: andreawien.com/zesty-z

Declan Wilson started his writing career in college when he and his now-wife launched a cooking blog for students. Though the cooking blog fizzled out, his love for writing didn’t, and he’s spent his post-college life balancing his drive to be a writer with his responsibilities to provide for his young family.  Declan recently released his first book, “The Millennial Way” and he continues to write at MillennialType.com, where he showcases a compilation of Millennial’s stories and his own ups and downs as he navigates adulthood, parenthood, a full time job and a fledgling start-up. In this podcast, Declan gives his advice for how to manage your time to work on a side project, and how the life of a Millennial is different from all previous generations.  Full show notes available: andreawien.com/declan-wilson

After getting let go from a corporate job, Julia Wojnar did some soul-searching before launching her company, Unleash Your Presence. Now, she puts her years of experience in theater to use teaching entrepreneurs how to become better public speakers.   During our chat, I asked Julia about the most common mistakes she sees in public speakers, how she recommends warming up and what you can do to wow an organizer before you ever take the stage.   Full show notes available: andreawien.com/julia-wojnar  

Ben Huh is an entrepreneur and world traveler. He calls himself an Internet Content Connoisseur and from 2007 - 2015, he was CEO of The Cheezburger Network, which includes the popular blogs I Can Has Cheezburger, FAIL Blog and Know Your Meme among many, many others. Now, for the last 9 months since he’s stepped down from the company, he’s been on a whirlwind sabbatical of a lifetime, visiting bucket list type places like Africa, Antarctica, Cuba, and Easter Island to name only a few. I caught up with him in between exotic destinations during a 24-hour layover in his hometown of Seattle to chat about why he’s traveling, the importance of moderation (specifically as it relates to politics and getting along), why he feels guilty while he’s on the road and what the future holds — not just for his journey, but also for all of our digital lives.  Full show notes available: andreawien.com/ben-huh

Gesche Haas learned quickly how to form new friendships. She was born in Africa, attended high school in Beijing and went to college in Hong Kong. Now, Gesche lives in New York City and uses the friendship-building skills she acquired in her childhood to run Dreamers//Doers, a women-focused entrepreneurial community.  She thrives off creativity, believes the start-up world needs more innovation and thinks you should only pursue the ideas that you can't leave alone. During our chat, she gives her advice on how to create an engaged community (something she’s done remarkably well), how to feel connected to those around you and why it’s important to be honest about success.   Full show notes available: andreawien.com/gesche-haas  

Chris Guillebeau became an entrepreneur because - in his own words - “He wasn't good at anything.” After traveling to every country in the world before the age of 35, publishing a number of inspirational books and starting a successful annual event called World Domination Summit, he’s certainly proved himself wrong.  In this podcast, Chris explains what keeps him motivated, why he challenged himself to visit very country in the world, how to build a following from zero, and when to move on from a business venture. For anyone trying to figure it out, this one is a must listen. Full show notes available: andreawien.com/chris-guillebeau

Andrew Griffiths is Australia's number one small business and entrepreneurial author, but despite what many initially think, he didn’t have a cushy childhood or a solid support system to get him to where he is today. Instead, he was abandoned on a neighbor’s doorstep at six months of age and eventually ended up in the foster care system. Things could have easily ended up very differently for Andrew, but miraculously, he consciously chose to right his personal ship.    Andrew has reported that his life was formed by a succession of epiphany moments — the first of which struck him at 17 when he realized that he alone controlled his path. This self-belief and determination has guided him through small business ownership and onto the world’s most respected stages, including TED.    In this podcast, he discusses how to let go of your anger, why it’s important to be generous with your time and how he balances it all while still maintaining his sanity.     Full show notes available: andreawien.com/andrew-griffiths

Harper Spero is a New York City-based lifestyle and career coach who left the corporate world after nearly 10 years working with brands like Johnson & Johnson, Disney and Ann Taylor.    In her work with clients now, she helps busy men and women figure out how to become the best versions of themselves and how to live their best lives.   In this podcast Harper discusses the freedom of running your own business, meditation and how anyone can break out of their rut to build their ideal life. If you're feeling disillusioned with the 9-to-5, give this episode a spin.    Full show notes available: andreawien.com/harper-spero

Emily Chen was born in China and moved with her family to Cincinnati, Ohio at the age of 3. After college, she transitioned to the fast pace of New York City, working in the health sector and later at a handful of startups, including Squarespace.  For the last few months, she’s been traveling the world by herself, and has just landed in Melbourne, Australia for an indefinite amount of time. I caught up with Emily to talk about long-term, solo travel and asked what advice she has for anyone who’s considering taking the plunge.   Full show notes available: andreawien.com/emily-chen

"The world may not be perfect and you may not be perfect, but just wait a minute and it'll change." Lurlene McDaniel is an acclaimed author, who's written over 50 novels dealing with terminal illness and matters of the heart. Lurlene started writing to cope with the grief she felt when her three-year-old son was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. The stories have been pouring out her ever since. As a teen, I was obsessed with Lurlene’s work, so this interview was both surreal and incredible for me to record. We talk about her writing process, how the industry has changed since she started, and how—as an artist—your work must evolve as you grow and your audience ages. Lurlene, who’s now in her 70s, has tips on everything from honing your natural talent into a craft to how to stay motivated. Even if you’re not a writer, there are still gems here for everyone. Full show notes available: www.andreawien.com/lurlene-mcdaniel

"Don't die wondering.” At 33, having spent most of his working life in broadcasting, Gary Bertwistle evaluated his time and realized that his ideal life no longer had anything to do with what he was doing. Rather than dwelling on the problem, Gary quit his job and started a new business by making calls from on a milk crate in the corner of a friend’s office. Now, Gary is a highly successful motivational speaker and innovation leader where he helps people find their 'mojo' by breaking down their goals into more manageable steps.  Gary believes in fighting the status quo and approaching problems from a unique angle. By applying this method to not only his life and career, but also to the world of fundraising, he’s managed to raise $20 million for cancer research through his Tour de Cure foundation. Looking to be spurred into action? You’ve come to the right place.  Full show notes available: www.andreawien.com/gary-bertwistle

"There's a difference between the things that we can do and the things that we should do."   Sarah Hahn has taken a winding path through life, and by doing so, she has shown all of us that you don't need to immediately know what you want to be when you "grow up.” Born in Ohio, she picked up a travel bug that later pushed her to apply for a Rotary scholarship that took her around the world.    In this week’s show, she explains what she learned by living in Spain and Argentina, her experience in the non-profit sector, and how all of it led her to where she is today (hint: not anywhere she ever thought she’d be). Sarah’s interview was a great reminder to me that you don’t have to have it all figured out. All we need to do is keep putting one foot in front of the other. And maybe smiling, too. Smiling is good.    Show notes available: www.andreawien.com/sarah-hahn  

"I want to empower people to be themselves, all of the time"   Janne Robinson is a modern day poet and writer who splits her time between Vancouver, BC and Costa Rica. Janne was born in Canada but lived a nomadic life before her mother found love and settled in Edmonton. After high school, Janne chose to forgo traditional education, opting instead to "spend the next four years in a full-blown relationship with the world.”    Janne’s also puts off an all around badass chick vibe and I felt incredibly drawn to when I first read her work. Our interview definitely confirmed my suspicions of her awesomeness.    Full show notes available: andreawien.com/janne-robinson  

"I never touch my food or my knife if I’m not in the right space to create food with love.”  Wanitha Tanasingam is a familiar face in the Sydney food scene. Originally from Malaysia, Wanitha traveled the world before landing in Sydney where she’s owned restaurants, launched a cookbook and appeared as a presenter on everything from TV shows and radio to live stages all around town. A few years back, the Malay government offered her the position of ambassador for Malaysian food in Australia, and now, she’s the creative director for Victor Pisapia’s VictorsFood.    Her nickname is The Love Goddess, and after listening to this week's episode, it won't be hard to understand why.   Full show notes: www.andreawien.com/wanitha-tanasingam

“We were living the 80s lifestyle that you read about a lot, but we were doing it. We were totally doing it.” Born in the 1950s, Victor Pisapia is an international chef who’s owned numerous restaurants, including the iconic Back Porch Cafe in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. During the 1980s, he opened the first gay bar in Delaware and fought the Supreme Court for the rights to stay open, which we talk about during this interview. He was named as one of the 50 most influential people in the last 50 years by Delaware Today, earned acclaim up and down the east coast with his mini-empire...and then, surprisingly, gave it all up to move to Sydney, Australia. Victor is one of my favorite people, and his stories are legendary. I think you're going to love this one. Full show notes available: www.andreawien.com/victor-pisapia

Light Watkins is a former model and yoga teacher who’s spent the last 10 years teaching Transcendental Meditation to busy professionals--myself included--around the world. He’s also the author of The Inner Gym: A 30-Day Workout for Strengthening Happiness. Light's journey takes him around the world from growing up in the Bible Belt to Miami, Paris, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. When I first met Light, his cool, calm energy is what drew me in, but as I've gotten to know him, his teaching style and approach to life has made me appreciate him even more. If you're at all interested in learning more about meditation (or if you're a skeptic!) give this one a listen. Full show notes: www.andreawien.com/light-watkins

Alex Tague (Boy Alex) and Alex Enko (Girl Alex) are a married couple in their early 30s who recently left successful corporate careers in New York City to travel the world in search of happiness. Over a few Bloody Marys and the "Napkin of Choice" they decided to put their things in storage, buy two tickets to the other side of the globe, and spend the year interviewing people of different cultures about what makes them tick.   In this interview, we get into everything from leaving behind friends to building a commune to whether or not MBA programs are worth it. What I love most about this interview is the introspection and consideration the Alexes have taken in leaving the comfort and stability of their NY lives. These kids have quite a few profound thoughts up their sleeves, so even if you're not interested in setting off to see the world, you'll still get a lot of value from hearing their perspective.     Full show notes available: andreawien.com/alexes

“I did not used to go with the flow. That is new Jill.” [15:01] If you're wondering how the hell to find your passion or the courage to take the leap into a new career, give this one a listen. Jill Ozovek is the founder of Jill Ozovek Coaching, where she works with (mainly) Millennial women who want to get out of their dead end jobs and into lives they love. At one point, Jill herself was in a corporate job that wasn't fulfilling, but after some soul-searching and an international experience, she put a plan into place to set out on her own. As usual, it takes me a minute to get to the good stuff, but Jill's advice for raising your risk tolerance, identifying work you love, and becoming the best version of yourself is invaluable.  Show notes: www.andreawien.com/jill-ozovek

Aaron Miller is an Australian in his mid-20s who decided to leave his steady sales job and head out on the road less traveled. I caught up with him in Cambodia at the beginning of his trip to talk about how he's financing his journey, what he hopes to gain from his experiences and why he chose now to set out on his adventure.  More at andreawien.com/aaron-miller

If you're thinking about someday starting a company, or are concerned about jumping ship from your current spot in life, this one is for you. Jenna Tanenbaum co-founded GreenBlender, a smoothie delivery company that started in New York City. After graduating high school early and backpacking her way through South America before college, Jenna ended up following a pretty traditional path to business school and a corporate career. But, never one to settle for the status quo, she quickly created her own destiny and followed her heart to greener grasses. Full show notes available: andreawien.com/jenna-tanenbaum Don't forget to subscribe and rate the show! I read every comment, and would love to hear your thoughts on how it's progressing. 

"Social media cannot be an excuse for taking real action. It also can’t be an excuse to submit to social norms where we create these ideas of what it means to be beautiful, or a woman, or what it means to be an athlete."  Inam Sakinah is a second year student at Florida State University, studying biology and social sciences on the pre-med track. But don't let her age dissuade you from popping in your headphones and giving this interview a listen. Inam has a lot of wisdom to share -- from her views on volunteer work and our education system, to her contrarian take on social media. Full show notes: http://www.andreawien.com/inam-sakinah/

Adam Haigler teaches biology and environmental science at a progressive public high school in North Carolina. He's also the founder of The Pioneer Project, a gap year program that combines sustainable farming, survival skills training and traditional craft.  He's an inspiration, and I loved interviewing him. In this episode, we talk about learning a new language, breaking bad habits and the importance of good education versus obligatory education. I think you're going to really like this one.   Full show notes available at www.andreawien.com/adam-haigler

Liva Judic is the director at Merrybubbles, a mission-driven branding agency. In her past life, she's served as a diplomat to the president of Madagascar, the youngest correspondent at the Financial Times and an executive coach. On this podcast, we talk about how unforeseen events can completely derail your life, the importance of finding quiet, and saying yes, even when you're scared.   Full show notes available: http://www.andreawien.com/liva-judic/

Olive B. Persimmon is the author of Unintentionally Celibate, a book about...well, a book about not getting laid. She's also a stand-up comedian and spoken word artist who moved from Cleveland, Ohio to New York City to pursue her dreams.  This interview is hilarious, slightly risqué (sorry, Dad) and all kinds of fun. I had a blast recording it, and I hope you enjoy listening to it. Full show notes available at www.andreawien.com/olive-persimmon/ 

Sashka Rothchild is the founder of Standbuy, a business that crowd-funds for people going through cancer treatment. Sashka's story is one filled with twists and turns. Her story is sad, uplifting and incredibly inspirational. During our conversation, she gives some great advice on acceptance, forgiveness, hustle and forging your own path. Full show notes available: http://www.andreawien.com/sashka-rothchild/

Wills Hapworth is the co-founder of the Thought Into Action Institute at Colgate University, an incubator for student entrepreneurs. He’s overseen 218 ventures, 356 entrepreneurs and nearly 15,000 hours of mentoring with the program, in addition to heading up the Thought Into Action fund that invests in early stage startups. I wanted to bring Wills on the show as my first guest because he embodies so clearly how its entirely possible to shape a fulfilling life — even when you have no idea what that life looks like.  Full show notes available at: www.andreawien.com/wills-hapworth/