The Great Unfamous

In this episode of The Great Unfamous, host Jim Thompson sits down with Sarah Teti — a singer, songwriter, civic leader, and newly named Citizen of the Year — to explore how small acts, offered with heart, can grow into something extraordinary.Sarah shares the surprising story behind her rise from quiet community volunteer to the driving force behind a food pantry that now serves thousands. Along the way, she reflects on how music, empathy, and a fierce sense of dignity for others have helped her build not just programs — but community, hope, and change.From her earliest songs to her mission work in Malawi, Sarah's story is a reminder that real purpose doesn't arrive all at once — it's discovered, one choice, one act, one song at a time.If you've ever wondered whether small actions can truly make a difference, this conversation might help.More on Sarah Teti's Music:Youtube.com/@SarahtetimusicUpcoming GigsInstagram.com/sarahtetimusic/More on The Great Unfamous:# Origins of The Great Unfamous: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/greatunfamous ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/gr8Unfamous⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/gr8unfamous⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠# All podcast platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/thegreatunfamous⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#IG: @gr8unfamous#Twitter: @gr8unfamous

It's not easy to catch lightning in a bottle, but Dr. Bill Monroe did it and spent the rest of his career trying to repeat it in numerous forms.Before leading one of the most respected honors colleges in the country at the University of Houston, Dr. Monroe did something even rarer—he created intellectual electricity at McMurry College. Over lunch, tennis courts and pickup basketball games, he helped build a space where young minds spoke boldly, thought deeply, and disagreed with respect. It wasn't a syllabus—it was a spark.That spark lit the fire in countless students, including silver-tongued storyteller Mark Williams, who we met in Episode 26. In this episode, we find out from Dr. Monroe what it takes to assemble a group of people who push, listen, take down and lift up their colleagues, plus the Great Unfamous figures who shaped him. It's a conversation about legacy without trophies, just changed lives -- lots of tactical guidance here. Contact Dr. Bill Monroe @Williamfmonroe@gmail.comMore on The Great Unfamous:# Origins of The Great Unfamous: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/greatunfamous ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/gr8Unfamous⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/gr8unfamous⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠# All podcast platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/thegreatunfamous⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#IG: @gr8unfamous#Twitter: @gr8unfamous

In this episode we meet, Khoa Le, an artist, entrepreneur, and filmmaker whose true medium is possibility. From directing films to launching companies, winning awards, and redefining how independent creators get promoted and paid, Khoa's journey is one of relentless innovation.Khoa overcame early hardships to attend Juilliard and Rutgers, building multiple seven-figure businesses, including Kvibe Studios, Live Picture Studios, and Sutudu Media—a platform reimagining opportunities for independent artists. His filmmaking credits include biopics on Walt Disney, Jeff Bezos, Jose Feliciano, and his latest feature film, “Christmas Cowboy,” debuted on Amazon Prime last November.But beyond his impressive résumé, Khoa is a mentor, leader, and advocate for creators everywhere. His mission? To inspire others to make their own dreams come true.Join us as we dive into Khoa's journey, the lessons he's learned, and the people who helped shape his path.More on Khoa Le:The Khoa Le Show on  YouTube: KhoaLefilms.comInstagram: @khoalefilmsFacebook: facebook.com/kvibeMore on The Great Unfamous:# Origins of The Great Unfamous: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/greatunfamous ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/gr8Unfamous⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/gr8unfamous⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠# All podcast platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/thegreatunfamous⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#IG: @gr8unfamous#Twitter: @gr8unfamous

This episode we meet the legendary Brimstone -- a serial entertainment entrepreneur -- who's made a global name for himself as a professional wrestler, radio host, podcaster, actor, author, musician, philanthropist, food critic, comic book and video game creator ... sheesh! He's widely known as host of the award-winning, and highly rated Grindhouse Radio podcast that reaches -- not a typo -- 3.5 to 4 million people per week. He's launched his own gourmet sauces, seasonings, jerky, cologne, vinyl toys, coffee, candy, mustard and more. And he's been the face or voice of national brands like Kikkoman, 7 Eleven, Wendy's and Red Roof Inn. But what a lot of people don't know about Brimstone is his soft spot for the underdog -- his community service includes helping entrepreneurs as a SCORE business mentor, supporting the Stan Lee Foundation, Rockers, Actors and Athletes against Driving Drunk and the Sweetbriar Nature Center on Long Island. So meet the intimidating man with the heart of gold -- and find out how he built this personal media brand -- what he's learned from it -- and who impacted him along the way. More on Brimstone: The Grindhouse Radio Podcast Website: therealbrimstone.com Instagram: @therealbrimstone Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brimstone/ X: https://x.com/entrancetohell Snail mail: Brimstone, P.O. 803, Levittown, New York 11756 More on The Great Unfamous: # Origins of The Great Unfamous: ⁠⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/greatunfamous ⁠⁠⁠⁠ #YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/gr8Unfamous⁠⁠⁠⁠ #Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/gr8unfamous⁠⁠⁠⁠ # All podcast platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/thegreatunfamous⁠⁠⁠⁠ #IG: @gr8unfamous #Twitter: @gr8unfamous

Welcome back to The Great Unfamous -- we've been on hiatus for the last year, but we're back in 2025, and we fire it back up with a guest I've tried to land for almost three years. Mark Williams taught me lessons about the breathtaking beauty of Durango, Colorado, how to fly fish and how you take on David-and-Goliath battles and win. Mark's a world-renowned fly fishing expert, author of more than 20 books, a sports writer, an award-winning alternative school teacher, a cancer survivor, a public speaker, an entrepreneur and more.  But his best skill is his ability to storytell -- with a razor sharp wit and silver-tongue Texas drawl, he gets away with a lot because he's a cross between Odysseus and The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Meet the man with a knack for tricking people into believing in themselves and learn how he acquired this talent on this episode of The Great Unfamous. MARK WILLIAMS BIO Mark D. Williams is an educator, consultant, speaker and author. Williams has fished all over the world and is the author of the popular fishing/travel book, So Many Fish, So Little Time: 1001 of the World's Greatest Backcountry Honeyholes, Trout Rivers, Blue Ribbon Waters, Bass Lakes, and Saltwater Hot Spots from Harper Collins. Williams has written 22 books and most recently, co-wrote two books with wife Amy Becker Williams: Weather Disasters (Skyhorse Pub.) and 50 Top Things to Do in the Enchanted Circle Northern New Mexico (West Winds Press.) Williams writes about travel, sports, outdoors, backpacking, camping, weather, gig businesses and more. Williams recently completed his first crime-mystery novel, The Hollow Men, first of the Guy Harwin series (Longmire meets True Detective/Seven.) He is currently finishing the second novel in the series, Purgatory. He has two other novels ready for review: The Bedside Diaries, and The Bomba Shack. He has two western novels in a series but only discovered this past year that nobody is buying westerns anymore. Williams has written hundreds of articles for numerous national magazines and newspapers including Dallas Morning News, SPORT Magazine, ESPN, ESPNoutdoors.com, Texas Sporting Journal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Baseball Digest, Texas Rangers' Program, Beckett, Cowboys and Indians, Southwest Fly Fishing, Texas Sportsman, Texas Outdoors, Texas Fish and Game, Backpacker, Men's Health, Men's Journal, Flyfishing and Flytying Journal, Bass Pro Shop, Orvis News, Rocky Mountain Game and Fish and more. He is the author of two apps: Freshwater Flyfishing Tips from the Pros, and Sports Most Memorable Sound Bites (both Sutro Media.) Williams has written: Freshwater Flyfishing Tips from the Pros, Fireside / Simon & Schuster; Trout Fishing Sourcebook, Menasha Ridge Press; The Backpacking Angler, Menasha Ridge Press; Flyfishing Southwestern Colorado, Wayfinder Press; Knots for Flyfishers, Menasha Ridge Press, Colorado Fly Fishing: Where to Eat, Sleep and Fish (Johnson Books) and The Bedside Diaries (Kindle) and with Stonefly Press, Learning to Fly Fish for Trout, and 49 Trout Streams Southern Colorado, University of New Mexico Press, to name a few. Owns several businesses including antiques, and online bookstores. Williams was an award-winning teacher at North Heights Alternative School in Amarillo, Texas. Williams taught Social Studies and Multimedia, grades 9-12. Williams began teaching at age 40 after a career as a sportswriter and business owner. In 2013, Williams was runner-up finalist for the Brock International Prize in Education. His students produced award-winning documentaries, PSAs, books, articles, magazines, songs and albums, commercials, student-run bookstores, coffee-shops, other businesses and more. In 2013, he successfully guided the 1st high school in America to create a professional app for iTunes and Android. Amazon book and bio page: LinkedIn Represented by David H Smith, Inkwell Mgt, NYC MDW Amazon Page

If you like underdogs and cheesecake -- you're in for a treat. Greg Franklin's story is a cross between "Rudy" and Will Smith's "The Pursuit of Happyness". Featured in the book “Don't Keep Your Day Job” by Cathy Heller, Greg described an annoying voice in his head that just wouldn't go away. It pestered, persisted, and repeated the same thing over and over: “You're gonna make cheesecakes?” So Greg Franklin did just that … These Are Greg's Lessons: 4:07 -- Overcoming No 5:38 -- The Voice He Couldn't Ignore 18:17 -- 3 Years to Perfect the Recipe 21:51 -- Fired on National Cheesecake Day 25:31 -- Life of the Cheesecake Ninja 27:30 -- Myth of "I'm not good at" 30:28 -- 5 Things I Learned 31:00 -- Cathy Heller's book, podcast 36:56 -- The Amazing Saul Blinkoff 37:42 -- My Wife's Patience 39:14 -- Finding Positivity 40:30 -- How, When To Take The Risk 42:30 -- Finding The Cheesecake Ninja How to Find Greg Franklin: TheCheesecakeNinja.com ⁠⁠⁠ @thecheesecakeninja facebook.com/thecheesecakeninja More on The Great Unfamous: # Origins of The Great Unfamous: ⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/greatunfamous ⁠⁠⁠ #YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/gr8Unfamous⁠⁠⁠ #Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/gr8unfamous⁠⁠⁠ # All podcast platforms: ⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/thegreatunfamous⁠⁠⁠ #IG: @gr8unfamous #Twitter: @gr8unfamous --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegreatunfamous/message

For the record, when it comes to spirits and the paranormal, I wouldn't call myself a believer or non-believer, but ever since a strange encounter in The Gettysburg Hotel in 1999, I'd call myself curious … Enough that my wife and I now take ghosts tours in most of the cities we visit -- which is how I met Brian Bloxsom. Brian was by far the best. His captivating tour was a window into the history, haunts and people of Asheville, North Carolina. And when I learned about his career as a 6th grade teacher and football coach at Rugby Middle School, plus his recovery from a motorcycle accident that required 17 surgeries -- I knew this was a person with lessons to share. These Are Brian's Lessons: 5:44 -- 5 Lost Hours 11:23" -- What the hell is he doing in my house?" 16:19 -- Seeking acknowledgement 22:00 -- Opening Doors, Knocking Pipes, Cigar Smoke 27:06 -- A Gettysburg Ghost Story 33:18 -- Non-normal passions 38:03 -- Lessons in regret 42:52 -- Greatest influence 49:08 -- Don't leave it untried More on The Great Unfamous: # Origins of The Great Unfamous: ⁠⁠bit.ly/greatunfamous ⁠⁠ #YouTube: ⁠⁠bit.ly/gr8Unfamous⁠⁠ #Facebook: ⁠⁠facebook.com/gr8unfamous⁠⁠ # All podcast platforms: ⁠⁠linktr.ee/thegreatunfamous⁠⁠ #IG: @gr8unfamous #Twitter: @gr8unfamous --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegreatunfamous/message

We talk a lot about givers on this podcast. Nancy Vinsel typifies the classic giver with a mother mentality -- sacrifice, grit and positivity. She's overcome cancer twice, run a marathon, and earned a law degree at the age of 50. Listen and learn what it takes to evolve from a mother at 20 to an attorney at 50 and why age, motherhood and cancer could not stop her once she discovered her true strength. These Are Nancy's Lessons: 3:45 -- Motherhood at 20 9:52 -- Benefits of nerd humor 11:29 -- 5 Things I Learned 12:30 -- "I'm not a great runner but I don't give up." 25:16 -- Protect your positivity 27:25 -- A moonlight message 29:49 -- Second cancer: "I am one fortunate woman" 34:01 -- "You've got to deal with it, you can't just put on a happy face." 33:54 -- "I've always thought of myself as a cork caught in waterfalls." 36:10 -- What does it mean to be a strong person? 39:45 -- Advice for those who think it's too late. ### More on The Great Unfamous: # Origins of The Great Unfamous: ⁠⁠bit.ly/greatunfamous ⁠⁠ #YouTube: ⁠⁠bit.ly/gr8Unfamous⁠⁠ #Facebook: ⁠⁠facebook.com/gr8unfamous⁠⁠ # All podcast platforms: ⁠⁠linktr.ee/thegreatunfamous⁠⁠ #IG: @gr8unfamous #Twitter: @gr8unfamous --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegreatunfamous/message

In this mini-episode, we go off the leash a bit. That's because the guest is not a person, but a book. We unpack James Clear's "Atomic Habits" in great detail via my attempt to build just one habit over 66 days. We dive into the real stories about ...   What I learned? What went wrong? What surprised me? What was harder than expected? What was easier? Why it made me more grateful. And why this book is the most practical tool I've ever come across for change? I hope you enjoy it. ### More on The Great Unfamous # Origins of The Great Unfamous: ⁠bit.ly/greatunfamous ⁠ #YouTube: ⁠bit.ly/gr8Unfamous⁠ #Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/gr8unfamous⁠ # All podcast platforms: ⁠linktr.ee/thegreatunfamous⁠ #IG: @gr8unfamous #Twitter: @gr8unfamous --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegreatunfamous/message

You probably don't know many lawyers like Ashley Herd. She's funnier than most. She's bold and kind. She proves that empathy in the workplace matters via the inside joke. As a lawyer, Ashley is widely regarded as an expert in employment law and human resources having led legal teams and HR departments for notable organizations like McKinsey, KFC, Cumulus Media and Modern Luxury. But how she shares that experience with people is the story. She offers her down-to-earth wisdom for free on TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn with a wink and nod that teaches employees and managers how to build trust and avoid conflict by stressing the value of empathy. These are Ashley's Lessons: 4:05 -- Origin of Luke 7:57 -- Power of Standup Comedy 15:44 -- My Breaking Point 20:50 -- Before You Quit, Do This 26:01 -- Field Hockey From a Book 30:10 -- 5 Things I Learned 34:22 -- How to Find Silver Linings 37:35 -- Walk Your Dog in the Pouring Rain 41:57 -- My Biggest Influence 49:01 -- "I Can't Do That" Ashley's Amateur Standup Debut IG, TIkTok, Facebook, YouTube @managermethod ### More on The Great Unfamous # Origins of The Great Unfamous: bit.ly/greatunfamous #YouTube: bit.ly/gr8Unfamous #Facebook: facebook.com/gr8unfamous # All podcast platforms: linktr.ee/thegreatunfamous #IG: @gr8unfamous #Twitter: @gr8unfamous --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegreatunfamous/message

Fred Garry has a lot to share because he's an explorer. He's traveled the world and lived in central Africa; he's a voracious reader with a love for banned books, he's a writer who's authored a dozen titles, he's an aspiring chef, a trail guide, an audiophile, a pop-culture fan.  But most of all, Fred is a seeker. I think of Fred Garry as a kung fu master -- you know, the Bruce Lee “Enter the Dragon” type, the one who speaks in metaphors, opens doors with skilled hands and an enlightened mind. For me, Fred inspires two things I value a great deal … one is calm, the other is hopefulness -- hopefulness that not only are things going to be OK, but that I can play a part in making them that way.Meet the man who dedicated himself to helping people live their best life and find out who helped him … get so darn good at it. These Are Fred's Lessons: 4:25 -- I read books 6:24 -- Lucky 214 10:28 -- "We thought we knew you" 12:13 -- A boy and a soccer ball 13:56 -- The struggle with envy 18:41 -- Africa undid everything 22:10 -- A dream of sleeping in a bed 25:31 -- Spitting in the tube 31:00 -- Photo of a jockey 32:55 -- 5 things I learned 34:31 -- My hiking partner 36:03 -- The only reason we do stuff 38:12 -- How to steam crabs 39:50 -- How to find beauty in yourself 40:10 -- How to find freedom ### # Origins of The Great Unfamous: bit.ly/greatunfamous #IG: @gr8unfamous #Twitter: @gr8unfamous #YouTube: bit.ly/gr8Unfamous #Facebook: facebook.com/gr8unfamous # All podcast platforms: https://linktr.ee/thegreatunfamous --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegreatunfamous/message

In this episode, we meet George Leith, a man who took the non-traditional path long before it was in vogue to do so.  He was largely responsible for acquiring more than 30,000 customers worldwide as the Chief Customer Officer at Vendasta and today is the managing partner at Harvard Media in Saskatchewan. But George is more than a high-octane sales executive … he's a teacher whose true super power is listening. He's a captivating storyteller who tells it like it is and cares about the success of those he works with. He is the greatest seller I've ever met because he's also one of the most personable, caring, entertaining human beings you'll come across. These are George's lessons: 3:53 -- One jaw-dropping presentation 8:59 -- A room full of fear 12:12 -- Is sales sleazy? 16:01 -- Skipping university 19:33 -- Dumpster fires and chaos 22:11 -- Don't lie, especially not to yourself 24:20 -- Removing toxic influences 30:36 -- I'm not an expert, I'm an interpreter 34:47 -- My greatest influence 37:52 -- Invest in yourself 42:10 -- A prairie farm analogy 45:30 -- Reinvention at any age Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous YouTube: Best of The Great Unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegreatunfamous/message

In this episode, we meet Tania Yuki, a woman who reinvented social measurement back in the day with her company Shareablee in 2013 and now again as the CMO of comScore. But she's no garden variety take-no-prisoner founder or C-suite executive. If you dig deeply you'll learn she's best known as a storyteller, a mentor and a role model who takes a stake in the success of others. She lifts others up and helps people find their own answers. So let's meet the brightest voice in media and find out how she came to be that way. These are Tania's lessons: 3:29 -- Tania's punch-in-the-mouth question 7:48 -- Solve problems by relating to people 12:44 -- When I have no idea 17:51 -- What I learned from cat Iggy 20:54 -- What I learned from surfing 21:38 -- What I learned from Covid 23:21 -- What I learned from my new son Ben 25:15 -- My leadership style, Wimlink 29:55 -- What if I'm not taken seriously 32:35 -- Dealing with untrue thoughts 35:11 -- My biggest influence 36:57 -- My film on my parents' unlikely pairing 41:40 -- Advice for outliers 42:32 -- Getting to what's next Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous YouTube: Best of The Great Unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegreatunfamous/message

This year-end episode is a highlight reel of the wit and wisdom uncovered in 2022 via interviews with The Great Unfamous. It's a rapid-fire recap of the different ways you can start walking a better path in 2023. We uncovered lessons, stories, ideas and even a few tearful revelations that showed how everyday wisdom is right under our noses, everyday. We met a wiseman from Bangladesh, a Chile river guide, a Hollywood movie maker, a Texas carnival owner and host of other neighborhood legends with insights to share. I've picked my favorites to share with you because there's no better way to start the new year than to pause and consider what we learned … and then apply it to the year ahead. So let's find out what these inspirational influences had to share and unpack the wisdom of The Great Unfamous. These are their lessons: 1. Givers Need To Refuel -- 3:40 2. Solve Disputes Like A Wiseman -- 5:08 3. Don't Give Someone The Keys To Your Happiness -- 8:20 4. The Courage To Bet It All -- 11:33 5. Shine The Light On Others -- 16:09 6. How To Recover From Loss -- 17:07 7. No Time To Feel Sorry For Yourself -- 18:16 8. Feed Your Head The Right Stuff -- 19:43 9. How To Jump Into An Unmade Bed -- 20:40 10. The Trick To Negative Feedback -- 23:15 11. Wait ... I'm Supposed To Be In Italy! -- 26:05 Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

In this episode we'll meet a man who I became aware via his wife's LinkedIn post that hit a nerve. It prompted more than 400 comments because it told the story of an entrepreneur who built a window washing business by putting himself out there. But it also spoke to how hurtful people can be with thoughtless comments. Now I'd never met Tommy Hunter, but after that post, I wanted to learn more about him, so I followed his Instagram account and discovered something I'd never seen before -- and that is the art of window washing. So let's meet the man who created a business (@hunterwindowwash) that's earned over 10,000 fans … and then let's discover who helped him most along the way. These are Tommy's Lessons: 2:31 -- Instagram + art of window washing 5:48 -- Good and bad side of feedback 7:08 -- How it all started 9:30 -- "I don't have a care in the world" 11:56 -- One rude comment + a viral moment 12:35 -- My perspective on negative feedback 14:35 -- College football tales 16:17 -- One Rockstar and a 40-yard pass 17:49 -- "Dude, dude you'll be OK" 19:05 -- One of the darkest times of my life 20:27 -- Have faith in something 20:56 -- My dad was always there 24:37 -- What I would change 25:30 -- What I wouldn't change 26:01 -- Getting after it 26:34 -- One small change Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

Welcome back to the Part 2 interview with Selwyn Seyfu Hinds -- a master creator who developed everything from magazines, to books, to comics, to TV series. If you haven't listened to Part I, do that first otherwise you'll miss amazing stories like his near-death escape from The Starlite ballroom. Selwyn's credits are too long to list, but one of his greatest accomplishments was guiding a young, now a legendary journalist Datwon Thomas, during his early years. He was the right person, at the right place, at the right time, with the right advice. In this episode we relive Selwyn's defining moments, what he learned from those and how you can apply those to your own life. These Are Selwyn's Lessons: 3:27 Jump into an unmade bed 6:06 Know your value 8:28 Research your value 10:20 Magic of turning 50 18:10 Rejection is not failure 20:15 A long lost pep talk 22:50 "Can you meet me at KFC?" 24:45 Why I couldn't give up 25:10 A town of "no's" 27:20 The day HBO fired me 32:26 "We fall down but we get up" 33:45 Asking for, accepting help 35:25 Maybe I suck? 37:12 Stephen King, sci-fi, comics 44:07 "Lone Wolf and Cub" 46:33 My journey to Vertigo 48:31 "Voodo Child's" return 51:58 What I'd change 53:30 Be the god of your own universe Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

Selwyn Seyfu Hinds describes himself as a storyteller who believes success is a group effort. So when Datwon Thomas recalled his most influential mentor, it was Hinds who came to mind because he took an interest in the aspiring journalist when he needed it most. He was a force Datwon admired for creating magazines, books, comics, scripts that moved people. He was a big brother who shared the life lessons a young Black man in Brooklyn needed. He was a sage that Datwon called … a flashlight who revealed the things he could not see. Hinds is a Guyana-born journalist who chronicled the rise of Hip Hop in the '90s as the editor-in-chief of its bible, The Source and later in his memoir “Gunshots In My Cookup”. Selwyn graduated Princeton and went on to become an American screenwriter, comic book creator and film producer -- just a few of his credits include Jordan Peele's reboot of "The Twilight Zone" and executive producer of Hulu's new series “Washington Black” due out in 2023. So let's meet the man who changed Datwon's life by being “a really, really good person who stayed on me, but gave me space”. These are Selwyn's Lessons: 3:07 How do you describe yourself? 6:45 Re-inventing Selwyn the Storyteller 8:07 From Guyana to Brooklyn to Miami 11:13 Princeton and Protests circa 1989 13:02 I got to college and lost my mind 14:03 Times Square, joining the Army 15:50 I wouldn't let any change break me 21:04 My dad was comfortable in all circles 24:01 My brush with death 32:14 It's a miracle we got out of there 38:48 Words of wisdom for Datwon 40:55 "Remember who you are" 44:30 Story behind "Washington Black" 51:05 The big pitch: Hulu, FX and Fox 54:20 "They bought it in the room" Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

I've known Jason Hoffman for more than 7 years and in that time I've learned more from him than any other person in my life. His daily 5-minute chats have unlocked things I never thought I could do. More importantly, he's done this for thousands of people who needed a little help to believe in the potential within themselves. He's relentless in his positivity, authentic, honest, and backs his words with actions. There's almost nothing he hasn't seen in the personal fitness space. Yes, I'm healthier, stronger and will live a longer life because of Jason Hoffman, but the real gift he offered was a different way to think about myself, the world around me and the revelation that every action begins as a thought. So when it comes to building yourself up, the most important thing Jason teaches is to develop a strong, powerful, curious, positive mind. So let's hear from my mentor and great friend and learn why the people who know him call him simply, "the best". These are Jason's lessons: 9:16 ... Where does change start? 11:20 ... Making your 'shoulds' your 'musts' 13:40 ... My most memorable client 20:10 ... Top 5 people you spend time with matters 22:52 ... Your mental diet 25:40 ... Tim Ferris, Marcus Aurelius and mindset training 27:55 ... My only real regret 30:05 ... The big lie: You're not worthy 32:43 ... 3 ways successful people think 35:01 ... 3 reasons people struggle 37:25 ... My most critical influence 40:14 ... "Take that $300 or you're not my friend." 43:40 ... Impactful life of a teacher 47:13 ... The art of starting Jason's Instagram @jasonhoffmanfitness Jason Hoffman at The Max Challenge of Edison, NJ Book recommendations "Think and Grow Rich" By Napoleon Hill "Meditations" By Marcus Aurelius "The Power of Imagination" by Neville Goddard "Awaken the Giant Within" by Tony Robbins Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

This episode is the a-side of a conversation with Datwon Thomas, a man who who has more friends than anyone you've ever met. It's not because he's a legend is music circles, which he is -- Editor in Chief of Vibe magazine, VP of Cultural Media for all Penske brands, which includes Rolling Stone, Variety, Billboard and 30 others. He was the EIC of hip-hop's authority DoubleXL, King magazine, Rides magazine. He's produced the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, Country Music Awards -- even Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. He's done it all. But the real reason Datwon is special -- is because if you met him -- you would remember three things about him -- his smile, his laugh and his heart. He's one of the most beautiful human beings you'll meet and we're gonna learn why … and who helped pave the way for him. These are Datwon's Lessons: 5:16 -- Life as a creative 8:40 -- Burden of being a connector 13:45 -- Wisdom of Mr. Homer -- Live, learn, let go 15:25 -- How I earn respect 18:22 -- One thing I learned in Brooklyn, South Carolina, Japan and Albuquerque 25:30 -- Kevin Powell, Scoop Jackson 27:23 -- Life lessons from Selwyn Seyfu Hinds 31:14 -- 'Gunshots In My Cook-Up' 32:01 -- Fast cars, Music and Best Advice 36:30 -- My reality checks 39:09 -- Good or bad, this too shall pass 42:40 -- Back to the Future and thinking heroes 44:47 -- Datwon's mantra: Gratitude of love 48:19 -- Being a source of energy, recharging 49:57 -- How you make people feel 51:27 -- Terry: 'Thank you for everything' Datwon's Book Recommendation "Gunshots In My Cook-Up" By Selwyn Seyfu Hinds +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

In the previous episode, 6a, we talked to Cory Gearrin a former major league pitcher who made a career out of beating the odds. In that chat, he credits one person with being at the right place, at the right time, with the right words that changed his life ... and that's his Cape Cod League manager Mike Roberts. So in this episode, we talk with Coach Roberts, the first person that taught Cory how to trust him and himself. If you measure the worth of a person by their accomplishments, Coach Roberts has plenty -- a college ballplayer, drafted by the Royals, two decades as head baseball coach at North Carolina, manager of the Cotuit Kettleers, and not the least of which, father of Brian Roberts, a two-time major league All-Star. But if you measure a person's worth by the people they help, Coach Roberts is … in a class by himself. So what happens when a coach takes 20 minutes to talk to a 19-year-old kid he just met that changes his life forever? Let's find out and meet Mike Roberts, a coach revered for his baseball knowledge who teaches young men about life on and off the diamond. These are Coach Roberts' lessons: 3:10 -- Coaching Pirates, Cape Cod's Cotuit Kettleers 4:18 -- 4 rules for every ballplayer 6:13 -- 1 unforgettable image of Cory Gearrin 9:28 -- 15 pitches and a life-changing conversation 11:11 -- "I beg you do not sign" 13:16 -- A risk worth taking 14:26 -- What HOF Coach Dean Smith taught me 17:53 -- 20 minutes of listening 21:51 -- I'll take the blame 25:55 -- How to get ballplayers to believe in themselves 33:10 -- Advice for underdogs Coach Roberts' Book Recommendations 'Chop Wood, Carry Water: How To Build The Bedrock Character Traits That Create Lifelong Success' 'The Last Lecture' +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

In this episode, we meet former Major League pitcher Corey Gearrin who relays a 20-minute conversation that changed his life. As an un-recruited, un-drafted ballplayer who beat the odds at every level, this piece of advice not only launched his professional baseball career, it taught him something priceless about himself. Cory spent 10 seasons in the bigs with the Braves, Giants, Yankees and others based on a mindset of owning your dream. He explains what that means and more. So if you like perseverance, underdogs, real-world inspiration, or baseball, stick around because Cory's story has something for you. And by the way, his Twitter feed @CoryGearrin is a must-follow. But for now let's hear the tale that typifies what The Great Unfamous is all about. These are Cory's lessons: 7:39 -- Google your dream 8:36 -- Own your dream 9:20 -- My first break 11:46 -- A fire ignites 19:21 -- The day that broke me 24:15 -- I'm never gonna put my happiness in someone else's hands again 27:20 -- Making a mental adjustment 29:25 -- What's throwing mid-70s mean? 32:44 -- Coach Robert's offer 39:47 -- An unexpected call from Tampa 42:05 -- Coach Robert's advice 45:22 -- Saying no to fear 48:26 -- Betting it all on myself 53:31 -- From un-drafted to 4th Round 57:14 -- What now? 1:03:52 -- What would make Cory proud? 1:06:28 -- Honor the best possible version of yourself Contact Cory Gearrin: Twitter @CoryGearrin Instagram @CoryGearrin LinkedIN profile SubStack Higher Gear +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

In this episode, we shine a light on a woman who changed the life of her niece. It may not sound that remarkable until you consider the fact that before she could do that, she had to navigate the worst nightmare most of us could imagine. Dr. Johnette Hartnett is the aunt of Kate Bradley Chernis who we met on the A-side of Episode 5. That's where we learned that Johnette's support sparked Kate to co-found the startup Lately by introducing her to a company named Walmart. But before Johnette changed Kate's life, she had to reconstruct her own. That's because four decades ago she lost all three of her children, David John, Johnette and John Peter, in a house fire in Vermont. How she recovered from that unimaginable tragedy to start a new life of purpose and service is filled with lessons that will help anyone dealing with loss today. That's because Johnette did not give up. She dug until she found a sliver of hope and then built on it brick by brick. She went back to school to earn a masters and then a doctorate, she was selected for a Kennedy fellowship to Congress and eventually moved to DC where she co-founded the National Disability Institute. She fueled her own recovery by building programs that to this day are transforming the lives of millions of disabled Americans. So whether you're struggling to overcome your own personal loss or simply seeking to find more grace, kindness and gratitude -- Johnette's story is a window into how to build it, one baby step at a time. So with that, let's meet Kate's aunt, a remarkable woman who dealt with her own pain by relieving the pain of others. These are Johnette's lessons: 3:09 -- "She didn't flinch, not once" 7:29 -- Changing the conversation 8:09 -- How do we talk about grief? 9:17 -- Everybody has a right to grieve 10:39 -- These books aren't meaty enough 12:06 -- Tremendous guilt 14:13 -- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross 16:58 -- A Buddhist monastery in the Catskills 17:48 -- A pinecone, a fire and a sliver of hope 20:23 -- "You have a red aura around yourself" 21:11 -- Recognizing hope, taking baby steps 22:30 -- "It wasn't about the fire." 23:05 -- Recovery is a choice 24:00 -- Finding your anchors 26:42 -- Building with baby steps 29:30 -- Listening vs. telling my story 33:00 -- Getting control of the chaos 34:27 -- Healing begins with doing, ends up with being 35:00 -- We are life 36:11 -- Grateful for 11 years of family 39:13 -- "I'm a good person." 40:30 -- Falling in love with your problem 42:05 -- "OMG, you're wearing black and brown!" 43:57 -- As we give to others, we forget about ourselves Johnette Hartnett's essay "Goodness Prevails" Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

Kate Bradley Chernis is one of the smartest, most creative and downright likeable founders in technology today. I had the good fortune to work with her in 2019 when we used her technology to launch a new social channel for Gary Vaynerchuk's personal brand. Kate, aka Kately, is the co-founder of the remarkable AI-based technology, Lately. But she's more than that. She was a music director and on-air host at Sirius/XM, a radio producer, a marketing expert, a strategist and a scholar. But most of all she's a master communicator. In this conversation we find out where her superpowers came from and who is the most influential person in her life. The B-side of this episode, an interview with Kate's greatest influence the remarkable Johnette Hartnett, will drop on 6/1/22. Now as Kate would say, let 'er rip … These are Kate's lessons: 3:40 People think they're boring 4:50 Don't be the brightest light in the room 6:03 What makes a favorite 8:31 Why I hated poetry 12:05 I've made a grave error 13:05 Overcoming Moped situations 17:29 Aunt Johnette 20:25 Rebuilding after tragedy 22:00 Rock-and-Roll ideas 25:11 Embrace your punk rockness 26:06 She never rolled her eyes 27:30 Are you happy? 29:51 Ending a 100-mph day 32:54 Struggling is part of it Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

In this part 2 interview we meet the most influential person in Max Ivey's life. If you haven't heard Max's backstory, I urge you to check out Episode 4a. His tale of life in a carnival family, losing his sight and how he turned his greatest challenge into his greatest calling card is a uniquely inspirational ride. His transition from carnival ride broker to published author was due in large part to his greatest influence -- Lorraine Reguly -- a woman who overcame her own share of adversity and published a book on how she fought her way back from a life-threatening depression. Lorraine is now an author, English teacher, and public speaker who guides people on the how-to of book editing and publishing. Have a question for Lorraine? Contact her on Facebook or her website WordingWell.com. These are Lorraine's lessons: 2:28 Publishing books on Amazon 3:28 Meeting Max 5:49 Accepting Help 9:18 'This Damn Book' 14:55 What If You're Battling Depression 16:18 Why Positive Affirmations Work 23:08 Power of Gratitude 25:22 How Helping Others Helps You 28:15 Seeking Professional Help Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

In the A-side of Episode 4 we meet a true original, a one-of-a-kind maverick whose story is one of adversity, positivity and fearlessness. The chapters of Maxwell Ivey's life include growing up in a Texas carnival family, losing his sight in high school, launching his own business and authoring three books with a fourth one on the way. Max has been a mentor, a role model and a confidante for those looking for a spark, because he turned his adversity into a nickname, his nickname into a trademark, and that trademark into a business on TheBlindBlogger.net. But he also shares the most influential person in his life and how one woman helped point the way with a why-not mindset that refused to accept his limitations or excuses. In fact, she helped co-write his latest song, "What's Your Excuse". Have a question for Max? Email him at justask@theblindblogger.net or see his socials Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. These are Max's Lessons: 2:14 -- Carnival Life 3:43 -- No Time For Pity 7:05 -- We Find Solutions 11:08 -- The Carnival of Last Resort 12:49 -- Handling A 53-foot Trailer 19:28 -- Losing Your Sight 24:15 -- Benefits of Being Blind 26:46 -- Meeting Lorraine Reguly 28:20 -- First Book 29:31 -- Accepting Help 34:58 -- Smelling Like a Rose 37:28 -- Writing a Book: Easy or Impossible? 40:35 -- Doing The Work 47:46 -- The Gift of Letting Someone Help Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

Ty Smith, has a calm, warm demeanor that suits him. When someone teaches what to do when white water meets the unexpected, that's the kind of guy you want. But Ty was impacting lives long before he graduated university with a masters in Environmental Science. Before he started guiding people down dangerous rivers, he guided a 7-year-old boy down a path to appreciate the outdoors and what it meant to be woodsy. As a role model at Canada's Camp Hurontario, he became known as the counselor of counselors. Today, Ty's a white water rescue trainer who teaches people conservation by guiding them down some of the world's most amazing waterways from Quebec's Magpie River to the Futaleufu River in Chile. His perspectives, values and approach have a calming Zen that belies the importance of their message. These are Ty Smith's lessons: 2:22 Power of a handshake 4:21 Counselor of counselors 11:24 A close call 16:37 Being weird in the best possible way 18:10 Hunt for Red October 23:39 What's it mean to be woodsy 26:54 Ty the artist 28:45 3 core values 30:32 Jaw-dropping river expeditions 33:09 Mission of Earth River 35:37 Rivers known as a person 40:40 Impacting the environment with rafting Ty Smith Credits ... 1. Selfless, Tough and True: The Program: Lessons From Elite Military Units for Creating and Sustaining High Performance Leaders and Teams Eric Kapitulik and Jake MacDonald https://www.theprogram.org/our-book https://www.artofmanliness.com/career-wealth/leadership/podcast-561-get-with-the-program/ 2. Strength and Warmth: Compelling People: The Hidden Qualities That Make Us Influential John Neffinger and Matthew Kohut https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/16158501-compelling-people https://www.artofmanliness.com/people/social-skills/how-to-be-more-compelling/ Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms Episode analytics --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

Canadian Ty Smith, is a river expert. He earned a BScH and MSc in Environmental Science, teaches white water rescue and has guided on rivers from Ottawa to Chile. But when Stewart Hillhouse met him at the age of 7, Ty was just a camp counselor at Camp Hurontario. His impact on Stewart sparked his passion for green spaces, the wilderness and a commitment to something Ty refers to as "being woodsy". Stewart would cross paths with Ty again at age 14, and once more in his 20s, each time revealing new learnings that he carries with him today. These are his lessons. 5:12 A passion for canoeing 9:43 Power of a handshake 13:27 When no one's watching 15:01 Leave it better than you found it 17:51 We're all figuring it out 19:09 Hunt for Red October 22:15 Ty the artist 23:36 Never in a rush 27:47 Go one level woodsier Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

In this Part 2 segment on Aziz Rahman's lessons, his grandson Mir Shithil, now a practicing physical therapist in Edison, NJ., translates his grandfather's words of wisdom about how caring for people is the only way for you and your community to move forward. These are his lessons. 2:50: Why were you considered the village leader? 3:25: Why did you help so many people? 4:13: Why did people come to you for advice? 5:05: How did you solve conflicts? 6:44: Why is your community the key? 7:52: A special story of one family's success 8:58: Advice for those who want to live a good life Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

Aziz Rahman has taught many lessons to the people of Haragach, a small rural community on the outskirts of Rangpur in Bangladesh. But no one soaked in more knowledge more quickly than his 8-year-old grandson Mir Shithil, now a practicing physical therapist in Edison, NJ. Mir shares the tales of his greatest influence and how he learned to wield and not wield a machete while building bamboo shelters for his neighbors. But even more important, he learned to appreciate other people's perspectives and how to solve disputes with questions and compassion -- all by tagging along with his grandfather, a Bengali legend in his village revered as a teacher, peacemaker, wiseman, and humanitarian. These are his lessons. 6:38 Aziz's many roles 9:18 Machetes, bamboo, charity 11:17 Helping by listening 15:18 How to save a dog's life 19:18 Aziz's core beliefs 20:04 Helping by questioning 22:26 People's untold story 25:12 Extreme curiosity Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

Alex Sullivan is the first in our series of The Great Unfamous. Trained as an occupational therapist who practiced for more than 20 years, Alex impacted the lives of more than 300 children and their families. But this is the story of her impact on me and my family and how it served as a roadmap for the decades that followed. She is one of the most talented, funny, creative, fearless, insightful professionals you'll ever meet, and although her work was legendary, she did more than teach me about autism, she taught me how to live a life of courage and kindness. As a mother of triplets, Alex shares her own journey and why 'Welcome to Holland' is a story that holds meaning for nearly everyone. Origins of The Great Unfamous Nominate your own Great Unfamous IG: @gr8unfamous Twitter: @gr8unfamous All podcast platforms --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thegreatunfamous/message

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