The Empowered Series

I can honestly say that this conversation is quite timely, it's incredibly bold, and I learned a TON. If you're thinking of starting a business, you're running one now, you're managing a team, or you're feeling stuck in your career, this conversation is for you! Liyia Wu and I dive in to discuss how failure is part of being brave, why and how she started her own company at a point in her life where she was feeling lost, and how "life balance" is truly the way to go. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe! Share this conversation with someone who would benefit from it!

Today we are sitting down with Mike Indursky who, after spending the last 30 years in the beauty and wellness business, founded the new, indie skincare brand HEAR ME RAW. In addition to telling us about why he felt called to create this company after working as the President of Bliss and CMO of Burt's Bees (among other incredible accomplishments), he tells us about his philosophy of Halving where by making conscious everyday decisions about our consumption, you can improve your health, wealth and world around you – all at the same time - and essentially – Halve It All. I hope you learn something that you can take with you as your transition forward and you can learn more about Mike and Hear Me Raw by following this link!

WE ARE BACK!!! We hope that your 2022 is off to a solid start and are so excited to be back in this incredible space. To kick off the rest of Season 2, we are sitting down with the incredible Thomas Hodges. In this conversation we discuss how Thomas uses music to write and rewrite his story without shame. How our dreams can inspire us but also can hinder us if we get too tunnel visioned on one thing. There is so much out there! If you're in a space where you're feeling too tunnel visioned on one thing, it might be time to broaden your vision and we hope that this conversation will help you do that!

If you would've told me 15 years ago that I'd have the relationship I have today with my father, I wouldn't have believed you. If you would've told you a year ago that I'd interview him for my podcast? Same response. Well, here we go! I am truly so proud of my father's personal evolution, of the relationship we have now, and I am so proud to share his story today. This conversation is for you. Whether you're a parent or not. It is up to you to open your mind and choose growth. Happy New Year! I will talk to you again in 2022! XOXO RJM

Wow! It has been such a crazy week! How lucky to get to sit down with the brilliant Erica Sutherlin to discuss staying the course and trusting our journey on a week like this. If you are feeling stuck, uninspired, scared, or full of self-doubt, this conversation is for you! I invite you to sit back, light a candle, get comfortable and let Erica tell you the truth. Thank you for being here and enjoy the brilliant Erica Sutherlin!

Today, Ryan James Monroe is sitting down with “fashion's favorite cosmic queen," Francesca V. In this conversation, Francesca reminds us that we are all unique and connected—that there is a map in the sky for each of us and the energy of the stars is on our side. As an astrologer, Francesca is dedicated to empowering her clients by providing them with a practical understanding on how to manage the strengths and challenges of these planetary influences. If you are looking for a dose of inspiration, empowerment, and clarity, this conversation is with you! Follow Francesca on Instagram @francescamv and don't forget to rate, review, and follow The Empowered Series on Instagram for more empowering conversations!

As we move into the holiday season, we are going to move to bi-weekly episodes! Today, we're taking a quick moment to remind ourselves of where we are. If you are feeling overwhelmed by transitioning forward, this episode is for you. Short, sweet, and powerful! You are safe and you are okay!

Today we are sitting down with two of the most incredible women I've ever had the honor or working with, Hannah McCue and Gabby Roberts! We are sitting down for happy hour to discuss how important it is to have and be empowering colleagues. Sometimes when we are lacking empowerment we're looking above us when we can often look around us for that same empowerment. Sit back, grab a drink, and join us for happy hour! #W2W

LD Russell's legacy is one of community, inclusion, empowerment, curiosity, and challenging. In this conversation, LD speaks openly about how he's had to walk through "the valley of darkness", how he continues to find the light and share it with others, and towards the end shares some huge career news with us. If you know LD, you know he is a powerful presence and has the ability to change your life for the better. He is a teacher, an author, an all around incredible human, and I'm very grateful to call him my friend. Please enjoy my conversation with LD Russell!

SEASON TWO BABY!!!! I am so excited to be back in this space where we are going to sit down with some BRILLIANT leaders and INSPIRING humans! Kicking off Season 2, we are joined by one of my very best friends, Anthony Bruno! Together, Anthony and I have sat on many a couch, with many a bottle of wine, and many a Chinese food takeout container holding space for the other in crisis. Whether it be a moment of self-doubt, disappointment, or frustration, Anthony and I are seasoned at showing up for one another and today we dive in to share how we can show up for ourselves and those around us. Welcome back, I'm glad you're here, and let's get started!

Clarise Fearn is TAKING OVER THE EMPOWERED SERIES TODAY to mark the end of a brilliant inaugural season! For Part 2 of our Season Finale, Clarise is interviewing creator and host of The Empowered Series, Ryan James Monroe. Together they explore what makes a leader, the fear of empowerment, money mindset for creatives, and so much more! We are so grateful to  Clarise for joining us for our two-part season finale, you can learn more about her by visiting www.clarisefearn.com and following her on Instagram @ClariseFearn to receive daily does of inspiration and lessons! Thank you to  all of our brilliant Season 1 guests for sharing their time, minds, and hearts with us! Make sure you're following us on Instagram @TheEmpoweredSeries so that you can be the first to know about Season 2 and some exciting Instagram Live Conversations we'll be holding between seasons! Breathe in,  breathe out, and we'll see you back here for Season 2 of The Empowered Series!

SEASON 1 FINALE PART 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow! It has been an incredible first season of The Empowered Series and I cannot imagine a  more empowering way to wrap up season 1 than sitting down with the one and only Clarise Fearn! Clarise is a creative empowerment coach, an artist exploring creativity through visual art, theatre, and leading creativity workshops, as well as my friend and most trusted creative confidant. In part 1 of our season finale, I sit down with Clarise to learn more about the stories that surface and try to stop her when she's embarking on a new entrepreneurial venture, her values as an arts leader and business owner, and the power of consensual feedback. Next week, Clarise takes over The Empowered Series to interview me as we close out season 1! Please grab your favorite drink and sit down with your notebook as we dive into the deep end with Clarise Fearn! You can follow Clarise on Instagram @ClariseFearn and learn more about her and her business at www.clarisefearn.com. Make sure you're following the show on Instagram @TheEmpoweredSeries to stay up to date on Season 2!!!

I am sitting down with my dear friend and colleague, Carla Bianco-Biagini, to talk about reinvention. Carla has had multiple careers, she's seen some incredible times, and has persevered when life wasn't treating her so well. Please sit back, pour yourself your favorite drink, and hang out while Carla and I sit down for some big laughs and deep conversation! Join us on August 17th and 24th for our two-part SEASON 1 FINALE with CLARISE FEARN!!!

Today we are taking a moment to pause and begin to unpack the idea of presence. What does it mean to be an empowering presence? What does our presence FEEL like to US? How can we become a bigger and more expansive presence? I don't have the answers today but I have a  lot of questions and I look forward to exploring them with you. After an incredible first season, we have one more guest before Season 1 of The Empowered Series will end with a two part season finale on August 17th and 24th! Thank you for being here!

I am so excited to be sitting down with my friend, Julian Burzynski, to talk about all things joy, community, and wigs. You'll hear me say it in the conversation but it can't be said enough: Julian is a beacon of authenticity and joy. In this episode of The Empowered Series, he shares with us how and why he's created his space on social media for anyone who needs one in order to feel empowered, but also why he created it for himself. You can find Julian on TikTok @JulianBurzynski and on Instagram @JulianCookies. Please continue to share The Empowered Series far and wide. Thank you for being here!

We've all experienced a moment where we don't believe we have something to say or we don't think we have anything to offer into the conversation. Ashlei Hazell and I jump in together to try to uncover why that is and what we can do to feel that fear and do the thing anyway. This episode is for the person who thinks they have nothing to say... You do. I don't even know you, but I know you have something to say and I hope that this conversation proves that to you and teaches all of us that "caring about each other and lifting each other up is worth it every single time."

It's not every day that  you meet people for the first time and immediately feel your thinking expand. That's how I felt meeting with the leaders of Artist's Strategy, Joshua Morgan and Mike Labbadia. The wisdom they shared about what it means to be an artist and a leader truly blew my mind as we dove in to fully explore what it means to be empowered, empowering, and how we can learn to be both. This conversation is for the creative leader, the artist, the entrepreneur. I created The Empowered Series to have exactly these conversations and I hope you enjoy. To learn more about Artist's Strategy, please visit their website at www.artists-strategy.com and follow them on Instagram to stay up to date on their exciting workshops.

This week I am sitting down with my good friend and dear collaborator, Alec Michael Ryan! Alec not only wrote the wonderful music for The Empowered Series, but also his debut single comes out this Friday, July 9, 2021, wherever you buy/stream your music! It was such an incredible opportunity to sit down with an artist I adore so much while he is in the moment of creation and putting something into the world. We chat not only about the music release, but also about the idea of balance and how he wants to be more intentional about the steps he takes as he transitions forward into this next chapter of life. You  can follow Alec on instagram @amrmusicoffical and you can pre-order/save his upcoming debut single, Just Walk Away, now!

As a closeted Queer boy in middle school, I looked around me and knew I was different. I knew I was Gay and that made me incredibly afraid. My classmates didn't hesitate to remind me that I was different and my fear grew. It wasn't until I met Marc St. James, played by Michael Urie, on Ugly Betty that I felt empowered and started to believe that being Gay wasn't something to afraid of. In fact, it was something to be revered. Today, I move through my life with great pride and seismic reverence. I owe a lot to Michael, and Marc, for their presence, their truth, and their beauty in this world and in my life. Please enjoy my conversation with the incredibly brilliant Michael Urie and know that you are perfect. Happy Pride!

For the fourth installation of our Pride Series, I am sitting down with Queer Dating Coach, Ariella Serur to discuss all things dating. If you're anything like me, just hearing the word "dating" makes you want to curl up in a ball. In my chat with Ariella, she shares some tools and wisdom that can help us become empowered daters and tells us about common barriers that Queer people face in the dating arena. Learn more about Queer Dating Coach by visiting www.queerdatingcoach.com or following along on Instagram @QueerDatingCoach

THIS IS THE 10TH EPISODE OF THE EMPOWERED SERIES! Thank you for coming along for the journey and for being such a beautiful part of this community! This week, I'm sitting down with my friend and collaborator, Marcus Shacknow. He is here to share his learnings on the topic of sensuality. Throughout this conversation Marcus shares insight on what holds us back and what can empower us in leading more sensual lives. This is a topic that Marcus and I both wish more people would feel more comfortable exploring and talking about. This episode is for the queer person who taught themselves sex-ed from porn and "Brad Pitt movies." This is a call to action for living fuller lives through activating our sensuality and "being our own lovers." While we are sharing our experiences and learnings through our lens as cis gay men, my hope and intention is that this information with be empowering and relevant to people across all lines of identity.

NYC is the destination for so many dreamers... What they don't necessarily tell you is those dreamers are often met with challenges that either make or break them. Arnold Harper II is living proof that we can rise to meet any challenge thrown our way and can spread joy and beauty as we rise. Transformation is our right. Becoming our authentic selves is our destiny.

Content Warning: Fatphobia, fat shaming, and eating disorders.Happy Pride Month! As promised, this month I am featuring  LGBTQIA+ creatives and leaders!!!Emily Barnash was 10 years old when she first heard that if she didn't lose weight, she wouldn't be successful. Her inspiring journey is one built of experiences in an industry that shamed her for being fat, the success she earned despite what she was told, and the love she learned for herself and others throughout. At the end of the day, Emily is proof that Empowerment can be learned and we become more whole when we empower ourselves and those around us.

EPISODE 7?! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!We are off to a solid start in building a community of expansive thinkers and incredibly courageous leaders. I wanted to take this moment to speak to you directly before we continue. A moment for us to pause and reflect, as well as envision the future... A Communal Breath if you will!Thank you for being part of this community. We are just getting started and I cannot wait.Love and light,RJM

Sitting down with Willie Dee was a dream come true and I am thrilled to be able to share his energy with you. In this episode we discuss Loving You Productions, Tea with Willie Dee: The Journey to Authentic Power, as well as holding and caring for your vision. Of course it wouldn't be a conversation with Willie Dee if we didn't chat in depth about his cosmic connection to the one and only Oprah Winfrey and how sitting down to interview the brilliant Shoshana Bean was one of his proudest moments. Take a breath, get present with us, and enjoy as we set out to elevate your energy and your vision.

I first saw Nasia Thomas on stage when I was visiting Elon University as a prospective student in 2012. She had a certain power or wattage in her presence on and off the stage. If you've been lucky enough to experience her work, you might be surprised to know that she often struggles with imposter syndrome. I happen to know a lot of brilliant artists and leaders who are all too familiar with imposter syndrome so diving into this conversation didn't come as a surprise to me. Instead, it left me feeling seen and inspired, with the knowledge that we are not alone in our moments of self-doubt. Pour yourself a drink and get your notebook out, this conversation leaves us with a lot to consider!

While we were both studying at Elon University, Fergie and I would often sit down and scratch at what was being accepted by our school, colleagues, and our industry. We would push each other to become more intrepid and would support each other along the way. Though it's been years since college, I think back fondly on those moments and will forever value Fergie as a trusted colleague. In this conversation, we examine how we both, for better or worse, identified with jobs that we spent years manifesting into existence and what happens after they are gone. We dive in deep to discuss the important work that is happening right now in our world and specifically the American Theatre to better understand how there are myriad forms of resistance and there is a time place for all of it. Buckle up, we get into it.

It's hard for me to believe, but Hannah Myers and I have never met in person. This is the first conversation we've had that wasn't part of a communal virtual space. In this episode, we hear about how Hannah's experience abroad realigned her on her journey, we get the full story of the TieDyen4Biden campaign which raised $170,000 for democratic campaigns during the 2020 election cycle, and while getting very honest about the world we envision for the future, Hannah shares some inspiration that I'm confident will help us all transition forward. I tip my hat to Hannah and all of the other leaders out there who are asking the hard questions, demanding answers, and building a better future for all of us all while feeling their fear and choosing to do it anyway.

When I decided to create this podcast, one of the first people I knew I wanted to sit down with was Katie Zanca. If you are looking for some professional lessons they don't always teach in school, you're considering a career in casting, you want to start going to therapy, or all of the above, this conversation is truly for you. Katie proves to us through stories from her own career that empowerment is free and that we all have the ability to reach our fullest potential. It won't always be easy and while the growth can often be uncomfortable, it is so incredibly worth it.As the Director of Worldwide Casting, Katie Zanca oversees the audition processes for all talent in every production of Magic Mike Live across the globe. Katie started her career as a musical theatre performer, but quickly transitioned to roles off the stage. Katie has worked as the Company Manager of Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, as a Talent Representative at Door 24 Entertainment working with artists in film, television, and theatre, and eventually found her true calling in casting at Binder Casting. With Binder, she helped to cast projects on Broadway/National Tours (Disney's The Lion King, In Transit, White Christmas, Sister Act) Off-Broadway (NYCC's Encores! Series, Chick Flick, Trip of Love) and regionally across the USA. As a former performer herself, Katie is passionate about helping artists realize their potential. Raised in Connecticut, she received a BFA in Music Theatre from Elon University. She is based in Brooklyn, NY.

For the very first full episode of The Empowered Series, Ryan is sitting down with Kim Shively. Kim shares her journey to discovering her ultimate mountaintop experience as a teacher and helps us understand how important it is to consciously recognize our creative rituals so that we can use them intentionally and to their fullest.Kim Shively is a daughter, a wife, a mother and teacher. She's had a career in theatre, television, voice-over and commercials, as well as being a teaching artist, a writer and an intimacy educator. Kim's version of the mountain top experience often happens in black box acting studios while working with young creatives or learning more about the Poly-vagal Nervous system. She has written a number of articles, a book chapter, and has recently co-authored a book to be published this Spring by Routledge. She's the descendant of farmers and physicians and preachers from central Kentucky and the mother of two wild boys, whom she is raising with her husband and her mother in North Carolina.Kim is the Co-Author of the soon to be released book, Applied Meisner for the 21st-Century Actor, which can be pre-ordered now!

Why did you begin? When you were ready to give up, why didn't you? What is your biggest fear and what is your most powerful inspiration? The Empowered Series pulls the curtain back on the processes and lives of the creators, leaders, and thinkers who are currently making a difference by creating something new and asking the hard questions. Grab a cup of tea or open a bottle of wine and join me as I sit down with some of the most fascinating people I know who serve as a great source of inspiration for me. Together, we will dive in and talk about the lessons they've learned, the tools that continue to serve them, and be reminded that we too have the ability to hold space and reach heights unknown.