The Best | Worst Thing

April Hernandez Castillo made a big splash in her portrayal as Eva Benitez in the hit move Freedom Writers alongside Hillary Swank. She's starred in television shows such as; Law & Order: SVU, The Following, Person of Interest, and Elementary and more. April garnered a recurring role on Showtime's  Dexter which she was nominated for a SAG nomination for Best Ensemble cast. She opens up about her stories of resilience and her pivot to entrepreneurship, being an author, and more. You'll love her powerful stories and wonderful personality! You can learn more about April www.aprilhernandezspeaks.com, on Instagram @aprilhernandezcastillo and LinkedIn at April Hernandez Castillo. You can follower her company LionChaser Media Inc. @lionchaser_media on Instagram.

Jen Ellis became internet famous overnight after gifting a pair of mittens to Senator Bernie Sanders, resulting in memes circling the globe! Since then, she has partnered with Vermont Teddy Bear company to make her product available to everyone.I sit down with Jen to discuss her book "Bernie's Mitten Maker." There are so many takeaways from our conversation! Make sure to listen to the end for a special gift for some of our listeners. Make sure to pre-order her book at your favorite local book store or online!You can purchase a pair at Vermont Teddy Bear – vermontteddybear.com. and follow her on twitter @vtawesomeness and Instagram @jenellisvermont. 

Andrew Maraniss  is an award winning author of four books, including his most recent release “Inaugural Ballers: The True Story of the First U.S. Women's Olympic basketball team.” His story follows the growth of a passion for writing, sports, and telling stories of some of the world's greatest social issues. His books focus on sports, history, and social issues. Along with his work as an author, Andrew also works with Vanderbilt Athletics as Director of Special Projects.In this episode, he shares about his writing process, his path to his current work, and overcoming some challenging transitions from a short stint working with the MLB to discovering finding where he really needed to be.  You can learn more about Andrew Maraniss and his work at http://andrewmaraniss.com and on Twitter @trublu24. You can find his books at your favorite bookstores everywhere and online with audio and eBook formats available.   

Lisa Nichols is the CEO and co-founder of Technology Partners, a company started 28 years ago. She has won countless awards for her leadership and work through entrepreneurship, including the St. Louis most Influential Business Women in 2020. Lisa is also the host of an incredible podcast titled – SOMETHING EXTRA - covering variety of topics to improve your personal and professional life with some amazing thought leaders.In this episode, she shares about setting boundaries, innovation, and so much more...it's a great listen!You can follow connect with Lisa on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholslisa/. You can listen to the Something Extra podcast on your favorite podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, and Google Podcasts. AND, you can learn more about Technology Partners at https://technologypartners.net. 

Cole Powelson is a  Professional Race Car Driver based out of Salt Lake City, Utah and the Founder of LYFE Motorsports. He and his team created the SIERRA car which now pushes motorsports feats to a whole new level.   With a background as a factory trained Porsche mechanic and racing instructor, his interest in cars began in his teens and has taken him down an nontraditional path towards success in his field. You can follow Cole @coletheracer on Instagram, Cole Powelson on Facebook, and LYFE Motorsport on YouTube.  

Dr. Christie Poteet is the Associate Dean for University of North Carolina at Pembroke. In this episode, we discuss her role in higher education, her mother's distinct influence on her career path, and making big decisions in your life at any age. You can find her on LinkedIn and Facebook and connect with her at cpoteet@uncp.edu and poteetc@gmail.com. 

Solo Episode - Lessons from Queen Esther:Esther Joan Rwakijuma was an incredible person. She was my mother. And, she left some great lessons that I hope help those who need them. 

Ben Poremba is the Chef-Owner of Bengelina Hospitality Group.     With some amazing dining and retail experiences offered by The Commissary, Olio, Nixta, and the Benevolent King to name a few, he's amassed an amazing business career.  Ben shares how he's background, experiences, and most importantly failures have shaped him as an entrepreneur and a great all around human being.You can learn more about Ben and his companies at www.bengelina.com and @bporemba on Instagram. Make sure you try some of his incredible dishes when you in St. Louis!

Aaron Bockman is an Investment Advisor and Financial Planner with Synergy wealth solutions (licensed in 26 states), with over 20 years in the financial investment industry. He has an incredible approach to supporting his clients.But, he's so much more! He brings some great stories with some important takeaways, including "the goal is the goal."You can find him on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-bockman-chfc-02b81497/ for his Motivation Monday (a 1 minute weekly story),email him at abockman@financialguide.com, or call him at (314) 548-4009. 

Chris Bolyard opened up Bolyard's Meat and Provisions with his wife after 10 years of experience and great mentorship as a chef. His take on the food and culinary industry has allowed him to garner some national attention and a creative approach to providing the food experience for his customers. All this on top of a very active ultra running lifestyle!His opens up about his path to success, personal struggles, and support as a great reminder that we all can find our way to success no matter how life starts out. You can learn more about his company at https://bolyardsmeat.com and on Instagram and Facebook @bolyardsmeat. You can also email him at bolyardsmeatstl@gmail.com. 

Jim Liaw is the  General Manager of Performance Racing Industry and the Co-Founder and Board Member for Formula Drift.   He was able to take what was an unknown motorsport called drifting and introduce it to the world. In 2003, he co-founded Formula Drift in Long Beach, California, which is now the premiere drifting championship in the world.You can follow him @jimliaw on Instagram

Solo Episode! A message on giving as we had into a season of gratitude. Enjoy!@bestworstthingpodcast on Instagram and Facebook and @walehwa on Twitter. 

Lisa Caprelli is a speaker, songwriter and an award-winning author of the unicorn book series, Unicorn Jazz. ™  She is an author of 17 books, and is the producer and director of Unicorn Jazz Presents The Thing I Do - a family show on Amazon TV.With over 10 years in creating radio show programming and podcasts combined with a 26 years marketing, her creativity and skills have encompassed her amazing career. She shares her story on her faith and her passion for her work. You can learn more about Lisa and her work at https://unicornjazz.com/ and @lisacaprelli on Instagram, Twitter, and all social media. 

Mike Manoske is a career coach, recruiter, and the coauthor of the book The Job Search Manifesto. He brings decades of leadership roles as a Talent Acquisition Leader in Silicone Valley and currently assists with the Wharton Executive MBA program in San Francisco and Philadelphia.He's helped countless people through career pivots and successful transitions within and outside of their industries. Mike shares a lot of great timely insights in this interview. You can learn more about Mike at www.mikecoach.com and find The Job Search Manifesto on Amazon or your preferred site.

Dr. Parker J. Palmer joined me for an amazing conversation. He is an author, educator, activist, and so much more. In this interview, we cover so many topics - from identifying your vocation, the writing (or rewriting process), to dealing with our dark parts of our human nature and many things in between. There's a bit of something for everyone here. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook at @parkerjpalmerYou can find him online at:https://www.newcomerpalmer.comhttps://couragerenewal.orghttps://onbeing.org/author/parker-j-palmer/Check out any his amazing books at your favorite bookstore or online shopping site. 

Sarry Ibrahim is financial planner and m the founder of Financial Asset Protection. He helps real estate investors, business owners, and full time employees grow safe and predictable wealth regardless of market conditions using a financial strategy that has been around for over 160 years.He passion for helping people has many roots, including experiences that acted as a catalyst towards taking on this venture. You can connect learn more about Sarry at  https://finassetprotection.com/ to access his podcast "Think Like A Bank," link to his YouTube channel, and to work with his company. 

Captain Joses Walehwa has spent over 17 years in law enforcement, with the majority of his work serving with the Orange County Sheriff's Department. He's held many roles covering the streets, jails, S.W.A.T., and more.  He's also my twin brother.In this episode, he shares his insights on leadership, life, struggle, and some honest dialogue about our upbringing. This is the first time we've talked about some of these honest topics, and I invite you to join us for this special conversation. You can learn more about the Orange County Sheriff's Department at https://www.ocsheriff.gov/ and follow him @OCSDJoses on Twitter. 

Wendy Rose Berry and Eugenia Marshall are LA based “employed entrepreneurs,” and the co-founders of conditionHER. Their chemistry is amazing, yet their path to creating this incredible product is full of serendipitous moments. Their stories our funny, touching, and inspiring! You can find more about their company at www.conditionher.com and use code "BESTWORST" to get 15% off of their product. You can also follow them @conditionher on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok. 

Rachel Renata is an awarding winning philanthropist, inspirational speaker, and therapist. At the age of 25, she founded Project Compassion, NFP. Since then, they have gone on to assist well over 70,000 homeless, disadvantaged, and low income men, women, and children.  Her words are very powerful! You can learn more about her work at https://projectcompassionnfp.org/. You can also follow Rachel @iamrachelrenata on Instagram ·       

Rachel D'Souza Siebert is  the founder of Gladiator Consulting, a boutique consultancy with a holistic approach to nonprofit organizational development. She shares her amazing transition to this work along with her approach of helping better others with a commitment to integrity and equity.Rachel's story of encountering a significant (understatement) medical crisis is sobering, grounding, and empowering!You can learn more about Gladiator Consulting at www.gladiatorrds.comEmail hello@gladiatorrds.com You can also follow her on twitter @rdsiebert

Musings and ramblings. A brief solo episode of some things on my heart and mind. I considered not releasing this, but we're putting it out there for those who need it. Please excuse the sound quality. Recorded in out of town without my regular equipment. I hope you enjoy. 

Andrea Francalangia is a Special Educator and founder of a food shelf called Aunt Dot's Place based in Essex, Vermont. In this episode, she shares her family lineage and commitment to education, her perspectives on youth development, and her ideas on the worth of making deep connections in spite of inevitable loss. You can learn more about Aunt Dot's Place at www.auntdotsplace.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/auntdotsplace/ to donate to a great cause. 

Dr. Glorinda Segay is a the Director for Behavioral Health for the Indian Health Services for the U.S. Department of Human and Health Services. Originally from the Navajo Nation, Glorinda is a great story teller with plenty of lessons shared along the way. She shares details about her upbringing, her time being homeless, and her lessons from many hardships  in which she has drawn great strength. You can can connect with Dr. Segay at gsegay@hotmail.com. 

Candice Han is the Founder and CEO of Pitchblend, a wildly successful company dedicated to helping brands and creators shape the cultural landscape. Working with major clients like Adidas, Sea Shepherd Global, and Beyond the Streets, her company has now expanded into purpose driven work through the newly formed The 44. Through much self-doubt and setbacks, she is the epitome of persistence. Her story is an ongoing journey of finding herself and the success that has come along with that process. You can learn more about Pitchblend at www.pitchblend.com and follow Candice at @pitchblend @gotothelove on Instagram . 

Jen Ellis is a second grade teacher based out of Vermont. Her mittens became a media and meme sensation after Senator Bernie Sanders wore a pair  to the inauguration. This unexpected expectation grew out of a kind gesture years prior.  She's leveraged this attention to help so many others in need. Jen is an educator through and through. Her words have plenty of lessons for all of us!You can purchase your own pair of mittens at the https://www.vermontteddybear.com/aboutberniemittens.htmlYou can learn more about Jen's work and how to give at www. generositybringsjoy.com

Love Jefferson is the Owner and Create Director for A1 Venture, a company dedicated to helping individuals and groups grow their leadership, connect with their personal leadership abilities, and so much more. From a successful Division 1 football career to the workforce, Love has a unique brand for getting people to grow their capacity in ways all leaders should aspire. He shares his philosophies and personal story for a great listen. You'll love Love! You can find him at www.a1programs.com and @lovejeffersona1 on Instagram. You can also email him at Love@a1adventures.org as well as Love Jefferson on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Season 3 kicks off with Nancy Nix Rice (Litz). Nancy is an Image & Wardrobe  Consultant and Author who's work empowering her clients through fashion and confidence. Her honesty is powerful. While her business success has allowed her to give back to others in need, her path wasn't an easy one. You can find Nancy at http://www.nancynixrice.com and @lookinggoodonthestreet on Instagram. 

Pardon Ndhlovu is an Olympic athlete, coach, and so much more! In this interview, Pardon shares his story on being introduced to running, his incredible story of his path the the United States to pursue his education, and his path to the Olympics.His insights on athletics as a proxy for life is something that everyone can learn from.  The struggles were real, but the payoff in life have been incredible. What a great way to end season 2 and head into the New Year!You can follow @pardonruns on Instagram and Twitter, and Pardon Ndhlovu on Facebook. 

In this special episode, Dr. Jill Stratton and Orv Kimbrough join me for an incredible conversation on leadership, commitment service, the concept of "I'm IN," and so much more. Orv Kimbrough is the Chairman & CEO of Midwest BankCentre. He made his transition to banking after a long career of leadership in the nonprofit sector with organizations like the United Way and so other important areas.Jill Stratton is the Assistant Provost for Experiential Learning and Associate Dean for Residential Colleges at Vanderbilt University. Both are exceptional leaders who share so much in this interview. Listen to it at least twice! You can connect with Jill at . You can connect with Orv at You can 

Kristin Ostby de Barillas is the President and CEO of Boys Hope Girls Hope, an organization dedicated to supporting 1200 young people in the US, Mexico, and Guatemala prepare and succeed in college to "become well-educated, career-oriented men and women for other."In this episode, Kristin shares her story of some early experiences and sobering acceptances of life that have helped her make the most of her life serving others in her incredible career.You can find more about Boys Hope Girls Hope at www.boyshopegirlshope.org and connect with Kristin via email at kostby@bhgh.org. 

Kristy Jackson is a Serial Entrepreneur and the CEO of KD Solution LLC . Through her creative multimedia consulting Bizperation brand, she is an educator, author of 4 books, mentor, and an incredible leader serving businesses with a global reach. In this interview, she shares some amazing stories about her upbringing, career pivots, and making unexpected connections that changed her future. She is a great example of living a purpose and values driven life through her business ventures and collaborations. You can learn more about Kristy Jackson at www.bizperation.com @kristyjackson on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter. 

Frank Shamrock is a retired Mixed Martial Arts champion from every major organization (UFC, Strikeforce, WEC, Pancrase). His early life was filled with difficulties, but with the help of others he was able to have an amazing career as a professional athlete. Now, Frank Shamrock is a philanthropist, executive leadership trainer, public speaker, and entrepreneur. You can follow him @frankshamrock on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and www.frankshamrock.com. 

In September of 2000, Kevin Hines made the decision to end his life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, a decision that is 98% fatal. Surviving this suicide attempt  was the beginning point of an amazing transition in his life.Since then, Kevin has grown into a Mental Health & Wellness Champion, Public Speaker, Filmmaker, Activist, Husband, and incredible Storyteller. This interview is full of raw honesty, hope, and some really good laughs! You can find Kevin at www.kevinhinesstory.com and @kevinhinesstory on Instagram and Twitter. He also has an excellent YouTube channel at YouTube.com/KevinHines. 

Ingrid Medeiros is an accomplished model who's career has expanded the globe. Born in Brazil, her discovery by a talent agent in Portugal led her on a path to knowing herself and expanding the world's perceptions of beauty and self-love. You can follow Ingrid @ingrid_pmedeiros on Instagram and Tik Tok.

Julie Swift is the Senor Vice President of Business Development for Waypoint, the premiere North American foodservice sales and marketing solutions agency. Her path the leadership was filled with many roadblocks that she went under, over, and around. Her stories are inspirational. Her passion for equity, justice, and supporting women in leadership is amazing. And she's just a great person all around. Enjoy the episode!You can find her @julesswift on Instagram or Julie Swift on LinkedIn. 

Season 2 kicks of with Drew Schaefering, CEO and Creator of Cruxe and world renowned hair stylist. Based in Brooklyn, NY, Drew has worked with some of the top celebrities, stylists, and models around the world. As an entrepreneur, artist, an educator, his approach blends creativity, philosophy, and humility. He is an example of what a strong support system and a willingness to take risks to grow your talents can lead you. You can follow Drew Schaefering @drewschaefering on Instagram and Twitter and learn more about his products at www.cruxebrand.com. 

This is part 2 of 2 "Best Of" episodes! Some amazing highlights (and a lot of wisdom). In this episode, you'll hear from:Sean Fitzgerald  @fitzsfitz on Instagram              Maxine Clark @ChiefExecBear on Twitter, clarkfoxstl.com, delmardivine.com       Dr. Lori White  president@depauw.eduJason Dienhart  @jason.dienhart, @globaltimeattack, and @superlapbattle on Instagram Cillah Hall  @justcillah and @gazellemagazine on Instagram, @Cillah_Hall on Twitter, and http://www.cillah.com   Christine Evans  @christinemevans on Instagram and TwitterFollow us @bestworstthingpodcast on Instagram/Facebook and @walehwa on Twitter       

This is part 1 of 2 "Best Of" episodes! Some amazing highlights (and a lot of wisdom). In this episode, you'll hear from:Tuma Basa @tumabasa on Instagram/Twitter                   Lacy Dicharry www.lacydicharry.com and @lacydicharry on Instagram           Josh One @boomnote on Instagram and Twitter and Josh One on SpotifyJason Bockman @serneybanders and @strangedonuts on Instagram www.strangedonuts.com and www.btfurnishingsstl.com       Katie Miller www.katiemillerfitness.com and @ktmillerkerner on Instagram           Diandra Lyle @simply_diandra on InstagramFollow us @bestworstthingpodcast on Instagram/Facebook and @walehwa on Twitter                

Lucky number 13! This is a different episode. I wanted to share a bit more about the person I know the most. Me. As the host of the Best Worst Thing Podcast, this was a bit more of a risky episode to create, but the hope is there are a few people out there who can gain something from the candid talk. Enjoy!You can follow me @bestworstthingpodcast on Instagram/Facebook and www.bestworstthingpodcast.com online. Feel free to email me at jw@bestworstthingpodcast.com to connect. 

Christine Evans is the Executive Produce of Comedy Central's The Bonfire on Sirius Radio XM 95 along with the Executive Director of Skankfest. With early roles as a production assistant on Impractical Jokers, Christine's connection to the behind the scenes world of comedy has had an incredible career working with some of the biggest names in comedy. Supported by comedy mentors like Ron Bennington and work with an amazing range of talented artists, she has had an incredible experience. Based out of New York, you can find her @christinemevans on Instagram and Twitter.

Cillah Hall is the founder of Gazelle Media. With an early career as a news producer, she made the important decision to walk away from the safety of a job to move towards entrepreneurship and true happiness. She's a wise, energetic, and courageous leader who's focus on being a contribution has pulled her towards success. You can follow Cillah Hall @justcillah and @gazellemagazine on Instagram, @Cillah_Hall on Twitter, and http://www.cillah.com 

Jason Dienhart is the director of Global Time Attack, a motor sports event focused on amazing feats of speed in car racing. From concept to an international sport, Jason's path to success is an example of how passion can grow from unexpected places...and a reminder to remain open to what life brings you. As a child of teenage parents, his story is full of adversity and the willingness to persist. You can follow him @jason.dienhart, @globaltimeattack, and @superlapbattle on Instagram. 

Dr. Lori White is the 21st president of DePauw University in Greencastle, IN. Prior to this role, she has served over 3 decades in colleges and university across the country providing leadership, mentoring, and a strength to many people and communities. Dr. White's message is full of energy, wisdom, and incredible insight. Her words provide inspiration, and her work will leave a legacy well beyond her already incredible career. 

As the founder of Builder-A-Bear Workshop, Maxine Clark has led a life of entrepreneurship, mentoring, and service. With an executive career in a various major business, she took a big leap to create a brand which has brought joy to so many families. Now, Maxine has turned her attention full-time into leaving an impact through philanthropy and innovation spaces like her most recent venture - Delmar DevINe. Learn more about Maxine's background, story, and much more. You can follow her @ChiefExecBear on Twitter, clarkfoxstl.com and learn about her recent efforts at delmardivine.com. 

Sean Fitzgerald is the Vice President for Property, Construction, & Environmental for Enterprise Holdings. Within this global company, Sean's reach has taken him all over the world gaining leadership lessons along the way. In this episode, Sean shares some insights of lessons he's learned, his upbringing, and some honest conversations that many listeners will relate to. 

Katie Miller is a former IFBB pro and current health and wellness coach working with women all over the world to meet their needs of a full life. Her passion for this work has been guided by her education, experience, and a unique philosophical approach that has touched so many lives. Making a pivot from one career to the next wasn't an easy decision, but it's a story that will leave you with amazing takeaways. You can find her online at www.katiemillerfitness.com and @ktmillerfit on Instagram. 

Diandra Lyle is an accomplished actor based out of Los Angeles, CA. With roots in Iowa, her journey to the small and big screen was a path should could she could not ignore. Making some deeply personal sacrifices for her career, her persistence and philosophies on both life and her profession have kept her consistently working with roles on NCIS, Shameless, American Woman and the newly announced Secrets of Sulphur Springs on Disney. She's an inspiration on pushing through the sticking points towards an inspiring career and life.You can follow her at @simply_diandra on Instagram.

Jason Bockman is an entrepreneur whose life has taken him through an incredible journey of heartache and incredible giving. Well known for co-founding Strange Donuts, his business ventures started well beyond their time slinging 'dones' throughout the bi-state area. In this interview, Jason shares some honest and vulnerable stories from his upbringing, decisions he made, and how he found his way to defining success through those he serves. You can follow him @serneybanders and @strangedonuts on Instagram, and learn more about his businesses at www.strangedonuts.com and www.btfurnishingsstl.com. 

Josh One is an internationally recognized producer and DJ. Based in Long Beach, CA born in the Midwest, his path to music wasn't a direct one. In this episode, Josh and I recount some honest and gritty conversations about growing up in southern California, how a personal setback unpredictably defined his career, and what he believes is needed to continue moving forward in a competitive field. You can find Josh One @boomnote on Instagram and Twitter and as Josh One on Spotify to listen to his incredible music.

Lacy Dicharry has reached over a quarter of a million people through her work as an award winning inspirational speaker, coach, and strategists. Her insights on leadership and resilience comes from a life of challenge and persistence. She is insightful, smart, and an incredible communicator as you will no doubt hear in this interview. You can find her at www.lacydicharry.com and @lacydicharry on Instagram. 

Tuma Basa joined YouTube as the Director of Urban Music in 2018. His work in television and music spans over two decades. Tuma's career started with an internship at BET, which took him through an incredible personal and professional journey gaining many lessons along the way. From humble beginnings of his early career, Tuma is now one of the most influential and recognized names by artists, managers, producers, and so many others in the hip hop industry. His energy and tenacity is infectious! You can follow Tuma Basa @tumabasa on Instagram and Twitter.