“People are important and we really need to care about them.The hard work is ‘the human work’.” - Sophia Asghar, CEO & Founder of True Measure, an employee well-being consultancy. In this episode, Marc, Cathey, and Sophia talk about shifting from wellness to well-being. They explore what gets people unstuck from a past way of thinking so that they can receive your new idea. Their conversation demonstrates one way to take what you teach that most people don’t think about to uncover the nuance...
Jan 26, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 6Ep. 5
“How can you see light when you have forgotten what it looks like?” - Scott Mason, speaker, transformational coach, podcaster, and Myth Slayer. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Scott unravel his idea about how to monetize and magnetize your financial freedom. Through a thematic reference to mythology, Scott outlines 5 toxic myths you may be telling yourself about yourself. The conversation demonstrates one way to drill down a big concept into its simplest and most universal form: explore yo...
Jan 12, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 6Ep. 4
“It’s hard enough to do things when everything is falling into place.” - Redray Frazier, singer, songwriter, and recording artist. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Redray uncover the core message from within his original idea. Through a process of pulling out transformational stories about key people and unexpected moments, this idea conversation closes with a foundational phrase that can inspire a wider audience. By the end of this discussion, you may surprise yourself with who supports yo...
Dec 29, 2022•1 hr 6 min
“It’s hard enough to do things when everything is falling into place.” - Redray Frazier, singer, songwriter, and recording artist. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Redray uncover the core message from within his original idea. Through a process of pulling out transformational stories about key people and unexpected moments, this idea conversation closes with a foundational phrase that can inspire a wider audience. By the end of this discussion, you may surprise yourself with who supports yo...
Dec 28, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 6Ep. 2
"Paint your picture how you want to paint it and don't let life paint it for you ." - Carlin Isles, 2x Olympic athlete and the fastest rugby player in the world. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Carlin create a shortcut to his idea, which is about how and why we need to understand and direct our emotions. The fastest route to your idea can reach the largest audience. This idea conversation poses the question: Are your objectives led by your emotions or are your emotions led by your objectiv...
Dec 01, 2022•56 min
“I would love to make the connection for you.” - from Season 5 of It's About to Go Down. So what happens when a pair of idea creators get together to explore the connections between their thoughts? In this "rap-up" episode, Marc and Cathey catch up with five members of the Season #5 community: Rick Ornelas, Brittany Zimmerman, Cozy Stone, Nyasha-Harmony Gutsa, and Aaron Marshall. They build a playlist for diversity, confess to what they’ve recently put in the garbage, and share what they have do...
Nov 17, 2022•1 hr 4 min
"I don't want to give too much attention to this thing that I think about every day that other people don't even think about." - Aaron Marshal, award-winning copywriter for an ad agency and an advocate for stutterers. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Aaron turn his personal narrative of growing up with a stutter into a universal message about giving positive energy to your insecurities. They explore how to brainstorm a relatable foundational message and choose a title that captures the ener...
Nov 03, 2022•1 hr 3 min
"You can't think differently unless you are listening to different voices. " - Omékongo Dibinga, expert in diversity, equity & inclusion, and race and politics. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Omékongo add two new thoughts for his idea about how to break down stereotypes. They explore the role that agnotology (culturally-induced ignorance or doubt) plays in shaping people’s opinions and their ability to receive a new perspective. And as a special treat, Omékongo opens and closes the co...
Oct 20, 2022•1 hr 16 min
"They are stealing your information. You only have to get things right 100% of the time, but they only have to do it once to cause you so much pain." - Nyasha Harmony-Gutsa, CEO of Billy. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Nyasha find a new way to intrigue people about the topic of life insurance, so that you can be prepared for when bad things happen. The conversation takes a turn when they begin talking about all the things you didn’t know about how you could get hacked, so easily. They dis...
Oct 06, 2022•1 hr 8 min
"The only time that we have is right now." - Shauna-kaye Brown, transformation speaker, coach, and trainer. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Shauna-kaye transform her keynote message into her unique idea for a TED Talk. They go from setting goals for the future to manifesting greatness in the moment. This idea conversation explores how to package an idea for people who are not ready yet to receive your message by looking at the strategic placement of your stories and diversifying the eviden...
Sep 22, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 5Ep. 7
"The idea [for better education] is simple and right in front of your face: take a risk." - Dave Graber, educator and character of characters. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Dave explore how to convince educators to take creative risks so that they can assess children authentically. They discuss why ideas that might be simple and obvious are sometimes tough to implement, and how to get around that implementation-obstacle. During the conversation, they even solve a real-world math problem ...
Sep 08, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Season 5Ep. 6
"Happiness is a lifestyle. "There's a lot you cannot laugh at but you can still make humor out of it." - Cozy Stone, HumorVational speaker and pickleball fanatic. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Cozy unveil concepts related to her topic of the Happiness Bandwagon. They discuss the marketing power of the right title for a talk, the act of sensationalizing a positive idea, the unconventional association of different words, the use of a polarizing question, and the impact of closing with a re...
Aug 25, 2022•1 hr 5 min
"Painting [green] solutions as if there are solutions is the most dangerous thing we can do to our youth." - Brittany Zimmerman, space industry expert who is working on how to habitat on Earth and other planets.In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Brittany communicate her expert knowledge about decarbonization in a way that makes a general audience understand and care. Together, they explore how to incorporate an action item and a “right now” effect to get people to implement your idea. After t...
Aug 11, 2022•1 hr 9 min
"Anybody can be a role model but can you be a real-model?" - Corey Pegues, law enforcement expert, community leader, and real model . In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Corey build a bridge between two ideas: the need for everyone to go through an extreme transformation and the concept of finding/becoming a real role model. Together, they explore how to create a quadrant from your idea to resemble the stages of transformation your audience can experience when they implement your idea. After t...
Jul 28, 2022•1 hr 1 min
"We're more powerful and impactful as a group than we are as individuals, but we all have our individual work to do." - Alexis Braly James, EDI consultant/leader and founder of Construct the Present . In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Alexis find a different and unique way to frame her idea of how to help people find the joy in anti-racism. It turns out that the answer was found in her use of one word, one question, and a combination of two interests. The conversation explores what works and...
Jul 14, 2022•57 min
"For every single little action that we make, there is a ripple effect that goes far beyond the initial act." - Rick Ornelas, founder of iSpark Change and best selling success author . In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Rick come up with a name for his idea that will connect with audiences. The conversation addresses how to compel audiences to put your idea into practice. They exchange stories and play three idea games to build on the thought that every person can do something to impact a pos...
Jun 30, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 1
“Get out there and figure out what you don’t want to do before you figure out what you do want to do.” - from Season 4 of It's About to Go Down. So what happens when a pair of idea creators get together to exchange thoughts and ambitions? In this "rap-up" episode, Marc and Cathey catch up with two members of the Season #4 community: Reland Logan and Dr. Rukiya Ware Jeffers. They discuss how to speak on bigger stages, how to figure out if you want to be a keynoter or trainer, and how to partner u...
Jun 16, 2022•1 hr 5 min
"I felt so young looking at the future." - Dr. Rukiya Jeffers Ware, world-class runner, educator, and speaker. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Rukiya about the idea of how not to be too late to be great at the things you wanted to do when you were younger. In the process, they explore how to reframe the impact of your idea with just one word and how to use your vulnerability strategically to break the invisible wall between you and your audience. By the end, you may ditch your retirem...
Jun 02, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 10
"When we have faith, there is a security inside of us that no one can take away from us." - Fleriser Bello, creative events and marketing strategist from BelloFashinistas. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Fleriser about how to become your authentic self in order to bring out your natural spark. In the process, they explore how to tower your idea by starting with something that no one is used to hearing. By the end, you may discover how to use your faith, create your own four pillars, a...
May 19, 2022•1 hr
"A million grains of sand really is a mountain. And you only see the mountain after it is made. You don't see it when it's grains of sand at a time." - Stephen Green, small business advocate who is everything from spreadsheets to sneakers. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Stephen about cheating on large businesses to support small businesses. In the process, they explore how to create a ripple effect with your message so that the people who are not in the room for your talk will be aff...
May 05, 2022•57 min•Season 4Ep. 8
"We subtract to add. Get crystal clear on what you want in your life outside of the material things.” - Craig Stanland, motivational speaker, author, and reinvention architect. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Craig about being on a golden treadmill: having a desire for happiness but chasing the wrong things in pursuit of that happiness. In the process, they explore how to help a wider audience see their connection to your idea and how to find creative ways to help people put your conc...
Apr 21, 2022•1 hr 2 min
"Let people know what makes you different so that they can tell your story when you are not present.” - Stephan Dyer, bilingual comedian, keynote speaker, and lifestyle entrepreneur. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Stephan about escaping competition by bringing forth your authenticity. In the process, they explore how to take the many ideas you may have gathered from other people to uncover your own unique concept. By the end, you will learn how to identify your authentic combination ...
Apr 07, 2022•1 hr 4 min
To become yourself, you have to forget everything you learned in the past.” - Lennox Jeffrey, financial consultant who mentors young men in the areas of life, wealth, and emotional intelligence . In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Lennox about substituting the chase for wealth for the chase for life. In this idea conversation, they explore how to use TV, youtube, and podcasts to duplicate an idea and put it on a bigger platform in order to impact people’s lives. By the end, you will lear...
Mar 24, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 5
"Your Plan B is to work on your Plan A. So find the thing you know that you were meant to do.” - Kai Martinez, professional dancer, choreographer, and animation consultant . In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Kai about her journey from Jackson Heights, Queens to a Disney feature film. In the process, her idea of seeking out who you are and what you were meant to and being brave enough to follow it is transformed into one concise and clarifying call to action. In this idea conversation, y...
Mar 10, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 4
"Create an abundance in your life so that saying 'no' feels sexy.” - Rajiv Harry, health & wellness coach and the secret sauce behind Plant Bomb . In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Rajiv about reframing his idea about investing in oneself into a new concept about “unavailability”. In this idea conversation, they explore how to create your own unique intellectual property. By the end of this discussion, you may find yourself saying "no" more often to reach, influence, and empower a l...
Feb 24, 2022•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 3
"It’s not about being the best at something; it’s about doing something new and different and finding someone else to reproduce it.” - Farhad Ghafarzade, founder of Green Drop Garage . In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Farhad about intersecting two ideas that are least connected. In the process, they explore how to oscillate between a crazy idea and a different idea being crazy or different. This conversation will show you how to get your audience to buy-in to the idea of doing somethin...
Feb 10, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 2
"I learned how to smile and say 'F-you' at the same time." - Reland Logan, marketing magician and anti-Whohoo girl . In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Reland discover ways to hit audiences with something they won't expect to hear. The power of a smile is not just about happiness; it's about resilience and getting stuff done. This conversation will show you how to use research to reframe your idea and make it uniquely different. After this episode, you may change the way you smile, strategica...
Jan 27, 2022•57 min•Season 4Ep. 1
“How do you, how can you, and how will you contribute to this community?” - from Season 3 of It's About to Go Down. So what happens when a bunch of idea creators get together in the same zoom? In this "rap-up" episode, Marc and Cathey catch up with the members of the Season #3 community: J.T. Compeau, Bo Babenko, Emily Purry, Jaclyn Lee, Diane Nathaniel, Chad Phillips, and Virginia Morris. Ideas are exchanged, deep connections are made, and they let us know what has transpired with their ideas s...
Jan 13, 2022•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 11
"Your impact can be momentary, whereas your imprint is like you left, you’ve touched it lightly. How do [you] contribute in a way that has a lasting, positive flow to it?” - Virginia Morris, an idea creator, curator, and implementer. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Virginia about how to develop an idea that you can actually execute. In the process, Virginia shares her system for generating ideas and demonstrates how to use her method by thinking through two of her newest ideas. By the...
Dec 30, 2021•54 min•Season 3Ep. 10
"You cannot achieve your greatest vitality by always seeking comfort. you have to be challenged with a healthy level of stress” - Chad Phillips, a small business owner and the co-founder of Circle Anywhere, a platform for relational meditation. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Chad about what happens when you remove yourself from the trappings and comfortability of your modern home and re-decide how to survive. In the process of condensing the wording of the idea, they explore why it’s...
Dec 16, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 9
