Phelim McDermott is an actor and director from the UK. In 2023, Phelim was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director for My Neighbor Totoro . Phelim has staged operas in many of the great opera houses of the world , including countless times at The Met (Akhnaten, The Hours, Cosi fan Tutte,The Enchanted Island) and the English National Opera. In addition, he has directed plays and operas in Germany, Spain, and Australia. Phelim is a passionate advocate for the transformational work of ...
Jul 17, 2025•46 min•Season 5Ep. 151
Laurie Fader has been the recipient of many honors and awards , including a Pollock-Krasner Award , an Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Assistance Grant , t he Helen W. Winternitz Award for excellence in painting from Yale University, Great Meadows Foundation and artist’s residencies in France, Haiti, Hungary, and Italy. She lived in New York City for 25 years while teaching at Pratt Institute , then in Baltimore while she taught at the Maryland Institute College of Art. She was co-founder, ...
Jul 03, 2025•34 min•Season 5Ep. 150
For the last 35 years, Rebel Brown has been a Growth Accelerator for Advanced Technology Startups . In the early days of Silicon Valley , Rebel often was the only female in the room . She has served as a Chief Marketing Officer and Go-to-Market Launcher for over 300 clients world-wide. Rebel has authored 2 bestselling strategy and leadership books . These days, Rebel is passionate about applying the power of neuroscience for breakout results. A well-known horsewoman and serial owner of 3 horse r...
Jun 19, 2025•37 min•Season 5Ep. 149
Dr. Laurence Hillman was born into a lineage of archetypal thought . His father , James Hillman, is considered the father of American Archetypal Psychology . Laurence Hillman grew up in Zurich, where his father had studied with Jung and, subsequently, served as the Director of Studies at the C.G. Jung Institute. As a professional archetypal coach , Laurence Hillman helps his clients understand their deeper purpose and their life’s calling . In his role as a consultant, he helps leaders and organ...
Jun 05, 2025•39 min•Season 5Ep. 148
Rutherford Pascal is a seasoned Sales Leader in the pharma industry . His 35-year career led him to increasingly Senior roles, most recently as Head of Sales at Sanofi for their Respiratory and Gastroenterology Specialty Care portfolio . Rutherford is passionate about leadership development and mentorship . For his next act, he launched Glass Walls Leadership in 2024. Rutherford is a certified John Maxwell Leadership Trainer , Coach and an inspirational keynoter , with his first book, "The P.I.D...
May 22, 2025•44 min•Season 5Ep. 147
In 1965, when he was 17 , Perry Brass hitchhiked from Savannah to San Francisco where he spent a year living on the street , sleeping between parked cars or in SRO hotels, doing any job he could, and loving the freedom of it . After Perry moved to New York , Perry joined New York’s groundbreaking Gay Liberation Front in 1969 and the staff of Come Out!, the first Gay Liberation newspaper . His poetry was published in many “gay firsts,” including The Penguin Book of Homosexual Verse , the first ma...
May 08, 2025•45 min•Season 5Ep. 146
Michael Feeley had a successful career as an actor and model , performing and touring with stars such as Howard Keel, John Raitt, and Tovah Feldshuh. His theatre life was followed by a whole other 20-year-act as a professional recruiter in New York City. These days, Michael divides his time between a home in the center of France and another one on Saba, a small Caribbean island where he owns a real estate sales and management firm , Saba Island Properties. In his capacity as a life coach , Micha...
Apr 24, 2025•45 min•Season 5Ep. 145
The Reverend Dr. Russell L. Meyer, Pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Jacksonville/Florida , graduated from Yale Divinity School in 1981 and was ordained in 1984. Russell has served congregations in Florida, South Carolina, Maryland and New York . He received a Doctorate of Ministry in 2013 from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC, with a Certificate in Christian-Muslim Relations from the Washington Theological Consortium. Russell is a social justice pastor . He serves as Executive...
Apr 10, 2025•39 min•Season 4Ep. 144
In a delightful twist, Rosemary Ravinal , the world’s premier bilingual speaking coach, media trainer, and former VP of Public Relations for TelevisaUnivision Network , interviews Achim Nowak on his own MY FOURTH ACT podcast. Achim sheds light on how he made a series of critical career pivots in his 20+ years as a personal-growth-entrepreneur. These pivots include his recent decision to be based in Portugal, spend time on non-business writing, and launch his first Portugal-based enterprise, The ...
Mar 27, 2025•27 min•Season 4Ep. 143
Tania Rivilis is a Ukrainian-born portrait artist . In 2012, Tania moved from Russia to Germany where she started to paint. Tania’s lush and neo-romantic portraits quickly drew international attention and have been featured in group shows around the world . A solo show is opening this March in Madrid . Tania won the prestigious William Lock Prize from the Royal Portrait Society in London, showed at Christie’s, and had one of her stunning art works shine on a billboard across New York’s Times Squ...
Mar 13, 2025•33 min•Season 4Ep. 142
Haleh Shoa and her family fled Iran during the 1979 revolution , bringing only their cherished photo albums . These albums were lifelines to the past and their only tangible reminders of the life they left behind. These experiences helped shape Haleh’s passion for storytelling and memory-keeping. After a successful career in advertising , Haleh followed her heart and founded Picturli , a photo organization , archiving, and design studio in Los Angeles . Through Picturli, Haleh has helped countle...
Feb 27, 2025•30 min•Season 4Ep. 141
Pier Paolo de Angelis is a true citizen of the world. Paolo started exploring the world in his early 20s, working in Europe, The Middle East, North and South America. While serving as Chairman of the now iconic Kripalu Center in Lenox MA in the mid 90s, Paolo led the transition team that transformed the former ashram into the largest Yoga and Wellness program centre in North America. After he moved to Hawaii, Paolo ended up partnering with Amara to help develop The Path of Azul, a conscious move...
Feb 13, 2025•37 min•Season 4Ep. 140
I am thrilled to be part of a marvelous new anthology, DARING METAMORPHOSIS (Angel Lab Editions), that will be released on December 17, in both French- and English-language editions. DARING METAMORPHOSIS is a collection of deeply personal essays about personal transformation and reinvention, with an inspired cast of international authors. To celebrate this launch, I am releasing a special podcast episode on launch day with 3 colleagues who I greatly admiral: Brigitte Bojkowszky, a brand strategi...
Dec 17, 2024•43 min•Season 4Ep. 139
Tracy and Derrill Thompson are creating the sort of international life that many folks dream of. Derrill is a former labor lawyer from Vancouver. Tracy is one of the founders of a Canadian software company , Beanworks, that specialized in accounts payable processes. After Beanworks was acquired by Quadient in 2021, Tracy and Derrill moved to Setubal , an old commercial fishing port just South of Lisbon/Portugal. Tracy is an active community organizer in Setubal’s vibrant emigre community. To pro...
Dec 12, 2024•45 min•Season 4Ep. 138
David Allen is the author of the global b est-seller “Getting Things Done” and multiple follow-up books, most recently “Team: Getting Things Done With Others. ” “Getting Things Done” has sold over 4 million copies , has been translated into 28 languages , and is considered the single most influential Personal Effectiveness book of the 21st century . Allen’s simple process has transformed how millions of people do business and life. His work has been praised by luminaries like Daniel Pink and the...
Nov 28, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 137
Esmeralda Diaz-Aroca and Mike O’Neil are branding and social media strategists . Mike is a 2x Forbes Top 50 Social media influencer and LinkedIn Sales Navigator expert from Minnesota. Esmeralda is a former scientist turned Digital Strategy and Social Selling expert from Madrid. Linkedin is their professional playground and where they initially connected. They first met in-person in Costa Rica during the pandemic. They are now married and reside outside of Madrid. Theirs is a truly global story....
Nov 14, 2024•42 min•Season 4Ep. 136
Gregory Gilmore is a Transformational Life Coach , Clinical Hypnotherapist , and Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) Practitioner. In addition to his own practice, Gregory also serves as an RTT trainer for Marisa Peer. The founder of RTT, where he supports and guides other aspiring RTT practitioners. Gregory is passionate about helping individuals get unstuck and reclaim their passion and confidence. His memoir, “King of the Sky,” will be released in 2025....
Oct 31, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 135
Ande Lyons is a 4x Business Founder , Startup champion , Host of the New England Podcasters Group , and the former Co-host of Boston’s Founders Live Pitch event . Ande hosts the new proaging podcast “Don’t Be Caged By Your Age” where she challenges societal and internalized ageism and empowers folks to thrive after 65. She is passionate about shattering ageism everywhere.
Oct 17, 2024•41 min•Season 4Ep. 134
Clare Maxwell is a former professional dancer and choreographer turned certified Alexander Teacher and Somatic Movement Coach . She helps professionals and performers to feel more fully at ease in their bodies. Clare serves on the Somatics Faculty of Movement Research, a well-known NYC dance organization . An innovator in movement education and online learning , Clare has taught dance and the Alexander Technique in colleges, universities, hospitals and the NYC public school system. Clare has a l...
Oct 03, 2024•37 min•Season 4Ep. 133
E132 | When Novels Want To Be Written Cyrus Cassells is a Poet. Translator. Cultural Critic. Actor. Professor. Cyrus is best known for his 9 poetry books , most recently “Is There Room For Another Horse On Your Horse Ranch.” His books have earned numerous accolades, including the William Carlos Williams Award from the Poetry Society of America, a Lambda Literary Award, and two Pulitzer Prize nominations. Cyrus has held fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, National Endowment of the Arts, a...
Sep 19, 2024•42 min•Season 4Ep. 132
Charlotte Libov is a seasoned writer and keynote speaker , formerly at The New York Times, who specializes in writing about health and the Arts . Ever since she left Connecticut for fabled Miami Beach 19 years ago, Charlotte has become a “South Beach gal about town.” Sing Out , her Facebook group that celebrates song, dance, and all forms of self-expression , has become an influential forum for all entertainers, from Broadway and cabaret legends to karaoke amateurs, who wish to promote their eve...
Sep 05, 2024•29 min•Season 4Ep. 131
Bestselling author, keynote speaker, branding strategist and provocateur Tom Asacker has spent most of his career in the fascinating world of belief and behavior change, and how it impacts both personal and professional lives. Tom is focused on helping people and organizations break free from self-deceptive thinking and reclaim their creative freedom and joy. His bestselling books include The Business of Belief, Sandbox Wisdom , and I Am Keats . Tom’s TEDx talk titled “Why TED Talks Don’t Change...
Aug 22, 2024•34 min•Season 4Ep. 130
Carlos Gonzalez has been an Associate Professor of English at Miami Dade College for over 30 years . He describes himself as a "professor of joy, grief, wonder, listening. movement and sitting. " Carlos Gonzalez's expansive view of how a teacher serves is informed by his passion for mindfulness, physical exercise. nature , and deep personal exploration . In addition to his work at MDC, Carlos teaches meditation and writing in South Florida correctional facilities through Exchange for Change , a ...
Aug 08, 2024•37 min•Season 4Ep. 129
Gayle Zalduondo is a creative soul and seasoned serial entrepreneur . Among her many accomplishments is co-founding an acclaimed and innovative furniture company, Urbanus, with Andrew Kelly. For 20 years, Gayle served as CEO and lead designer for Urbanus, creating furniture for national retailers such as Crate & Barrel, Room & Board, Ethan Allen, Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. She and Andrew successfully grew Urbanus to a business employing 85 employees. Gayle has since co-founde...
Jul 25, 2024•28 min•Season 4Ep. 128
Ann Odell is a former architect turned celebrated brand strategist, futurist, and culture forecaster. She has led breakthrough creative strategies for endless Fortune 500 enterprises, working for Lippincott, CBX Worldwide, Gensler, Donovan/Green, and Estee Lauder. Ann now operates as the head of her own firm , animated by the firm belief that for-profit enterprises have the power to be fundamental change agents. Ann resides in Manhattan, with one foot in Italy....
Jul 11, 2024•37 min•Season 4Ep. 127
Johannes Leerink is a seasoned business executive from the Netherlands. After a fast-track career as a rising star at Procter and Gamble and Sara Lee , Johannes dropped out of corporate life. Influenced by the teachings of Landmark and Werner Erhard, Johannes founded and served as practice leader of Vantage Group Europe , a boutique organizational consulting firm. Johannes has subsequently founded or co-founded other leadership laboratories such as Silk Leadership Lab and The Hidden Transit. In ...
Jun 27, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 126
Larry Duplechan is the acclaimed and iconic author of 5 queer novels. They include Blackbird (considered by many the first modern Black “coming-out” novel) and the Lambda Literary Award-winning Got ’til it’s Gone . Blackbird was adapted for film in 2014, starring Mo”Nique and Isiah Washington. In 2023, Britain’s Team Angelica published Larry’s delicious and sweeping memoir, Movies That Made Me Gay . It does double-duty as an encyclopedic and highly personal act of movie criticism, and it asks th...
Jun 13, 2024•43 min•Season 4Ep. 125
Malissa Smith is the author of A History of Womens’ Boxing , published in 2014. It is the first comprehensive history of the sport; Ring Magazine dubbed it “the Bible of Women’s Boxing.” Malissa is a co-host of the popular WAAR Room podcast , a founding board member of the international Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame, and contributed a powerful essay, “How Boxing Uncaged Me,” to a book we put out last year via Balboa Press, The Difference . Malissa’s follow-up to A History of Women’s Boxing , title...
May 30, 2024•37 min•Season 4Ep. 124
Paula Ayotte is a professional dancer, poler, actress, and model . After a career as a dancer in LA in her 20s, Paula left for Hawaii, studied microbiology , combined it with her passion for scuba diving and forged a new career in maritime research, often living on boats for months on end. When Paula explored pole dancing as a hobby in her 50s, it turned out to be her ticket back to show business. In her late 50s Paula moved back to LA, performed in pole dancing competitions , found instant repr...
May 16, 2024•42 min•Season 4Ep. 123
Anita Barbero is a Wellness Coach, Speaker and Corporate Wellness Consultant who integrates over 25 years of experience as a health fitness practitioner, yoga & meditation teacher , and workshop & retreat leader in her practice. At ESPN, where high performance is key both in front and behind the camera, Anita served as an in-house Wellness Lead. She taught fitness, yoga, and meditation classes to employees at ESPN. In partnership with a ESPN Wellness team, Anita designed numerous innovat...
May 02, 2024•35 min•Season 4Ep. 122
