An Interview With Melissa Llarena

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a screenwriter? Well, this week you will get an inside peek into what it takes to not only become a writer in Hollywood, but some behind the scenes insights from a writer and executive producer on Showtime's Billions, Theo Travers.  In this episode, Theo shares the story of how he became a writer and drove across the U.S. from NYC to L.A. to pursue his dream. His journey is a reminder to us all that if you want to pursue a career, it’s not all about luck. Instead, prepare, show up, be ambitious and get comfortable with making scary choices.     After graduating from NYU's Tisch School of Arts, Theo’s first foray into television was as an event coordinator for the William S. Paley Festival, where he helped assemble panels with show creators and their lead actors. After a brief detour in television ad sales, Theo cut his writing chops as a television news reporter in the Southeast, most recently in Memphis, TN. He shadowed undercover cops on drug busts and prostituti

This week, Olivia Young, founder of Box + Flow, the first fitness studio focusing on fight + flow, joins me on the podcast. Olivia exuded such passion for life, movement, and flow during our conversation. One of the topics we discussed was the notion of the constant fight we find within ourselves; and how Olivia invites us all to drop the fight and find the flow, instead. I personally talk a lot about flow yet Olivia activates flow. She shares what flow means to her and what it can mean to your life, as well.  She also offers some other insightful ideas for you to ponder like, how to ease up on resistance in order to find success, her favorite mantra, “Everything you need is inside…,” and how to practice self-awareness. In fact, Olivia leaves us with a self-awareness exercise that is fantastic. I hope you enjoy our conversation!   Olivia ‘Liv’ Young grew up in Miami Beach among a family committed to daily exercise and congregating around the kitchen. She began practicing yoga at age 15 and discovered boxin

This week, Martha Hennessey joins me on the show! Martha was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2014 and then to the NH State Senate in 2016. She chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee and has served on the Health & Human Resources and Transportation Committees.  Martha and I started the conversation by discussing what it was like to be in politics and later the dynamics at play when it comes to influencing or changing policy. We also discussed being open to taking on something different in our career and following your curiosities. In Martha’s case, at the age of 60, she decided to go into politics. She allowed her interest and curiosity to lead her. Beyond politics, Martha and I discussed the many personal decisions parents face during these tumultuous times and the importance of letting go of shame or guilt around those decisions. This was an amazing conversation and I really hope you enjoy it!  Before joining the NH Legislature, Senator Hennessey was an educational psychologist in

This week my guest is Jurian Hughes. She is the founder of the Fifth Chakra Yoga (Yoga of Voice); co-creator of The Yoga of Yes; a Let Your Yoga Dance® teacher trainer; voice coach; personal mentor; writer; speaker; and theatre performer known for her passionate, playful and engaging teaching style. As a senior faculty member of the Kripalu School of Yoga, Hughes has led thousands of workshops and programs and trained more than 1,000 Kripalu yoga teachers since 2006. In addition to her extensive teaching experience, Hughes has a long theatrical resume spanning Broadway, off-Broadway, Europe, film, television, and the voice-over industry.   Are you present in your life and with those around you? In this episode Jurian helps us to understand how being present, even when experiencing discomfort, can be empowering. She offers some examples of how to become comfortable with the uncomfortable. And, together we discuss the notion of being at peace even in moments of uncertainty.    Through her own study and dec

How are you elevating your life or someone else’s life? This week, Will Travis, a globally respected brand builder, and strategist, joins me on the show. Will has taken the helm as CEO of four internationally acclaimed communication agencies including for SID LEE, Dentsu America as well as ATTIK over a 27-year career, namely servicing over 50 of the world's most respected mega-brands. In this episode, he talks about lessons he learned throughout his career including how to overcome obstacles, the importance of empowering others (a lesson he learned from his children), and how to be an elevated leader. Following his agency leadership, Will is a leading global expert on creativity as THE engine for economic development and social change. His venture, Elevation Barn curates and lifts a worldwide network of leaders with heart and experience to solve their, their communities, and our planet's grand challenges. You’ll notice by way of Elevation Barn and his rich career that Will is a global citizen who considers hi

Meet Robbie Samuels, keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, and relationship-based business strategy coach who has been recognized as a “networking expert” by Harvard Business Review Ascend. Robbie joins me this week to talk about networking. This episode is a reminder that even during a global pandemic, where conferences have been canceled and workplace dynamics have shifted, you can still find ways to engage with your network. Robbie shares some ways in which you can nurture your connections and how to recognize the ways in which you can be helpful to your community at large. Enjoy!  Learn more about Robbie: Robbie is also the host of #NoMoreBadZoom Virtual Happy Hour, a popular weekly virtual event that explores new ways to design engaging virtual experiences. He is the author of the best-selling business book Croissants vs. Bagels: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking at Conferences. He is also the host of On the Schmooze podcast which features his networking strategies and talented professionals sharin

Meet Nigel Parry. He is an award-winning photographer who has been privileged to photograph not only celebrities but also the most important and influential figures of our time, like Donald Trump, Meryl Streep, Robin Williams, Barack Obama, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Nigel Parry began his photographic career in London in 1988 and moved to New York City in 1994. Since then, he has been commissioned by the most distinguished publications, advertising agencies, entertainment, corporate and music companies worldwide. And here’s a fun fact: the logo for my podcast, the image of me on the sofa, is a Nigel Parry. This week, I am honored and excited to share with you my conversation with Nigel. Everyone has a pivotal moment in their journey that sets them on a path to greatness.  In this episode, Nigel shares the gutsy moment that set him on the course to become a photographer. He also shares his commitment to his craft and how he believes maintaining integrity throughout his work no matter who he is photographing. Nigel

Meet Breeja Larson. She is an American competition swimmer who specializes in the breaststroke and is an Olympic gold medalist. She earned a gold medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She is also a 2013 world champion and nine-time American record holder. This week she joins me to share her road to becoming an Olympian, the importance of having an open mind for accepting advice from unlikely sources, and how she works to have a better understanding of her emotions, recognizing patterns, and determining how she can move forward.  Larson was born in Mesa, Arizona, one of seven sisters. She grew up humbly and decided to do everything in her power to get to the Olympics. Initially, inspired as a little girl by gymnasts; eventually, Breeja found her “lane” in swimming. As a senior in high school, she was the state runner-up in the 100-yard breaststroke. She attended Texas A&M University, where she swam for the Texas A&M Aggies swimming and diving team in the National

Mark Sullivan is the Host and Producer behind The Snowboard Project podcast. This week he joins me to discuss how he has been able to leverage his talent during five Olympics for NBC, Eurosport as a sports expert, and now as host and producer. We also discussed strategic partnerships and creating value for all parties involved. Mark shared how he refined his oratory skills in his career as an Olympics and sports announcer. Finally, Mark shows us, through a video presentation, an example of how he continues to grow his skills as an entrepreneur. This episode is full of many insightful lessons from Mark!   Learn more about Mark: Mark Sullivan has had a career in snowboarding media that has spanned more than 30 years. From starting zines to running Snowboarder Magazine and starting SNOWBOARD Magazine. As an Olympic announcer and television host, Mark has also worked on his oratory skills for more than two decades. Key to Mark’s success has been his focus on executing processes in marketing, constant progression,

Matilda Reyes writes urban fantasy, paranormal, and supernatural adventures. Recent works include The Daughters of Night Chronicles which follows the seven illegitimate daughters of the Lord of Night. This week she is my guest. We discussed her decision that it was more important to write and share her self-publishing journey. She also shared how her work as a grant writer informed her ability to tell engaging stories and how she transformed those skills as a sci-fi author. You are going to love this conversation, especially if you are into sci-fi adventures.  Matilda’s series The Vespers Chronicles follows the adventures of Jasper Andrews and her initiation into a paranormal world of beings called The Order of Vespers. She was born and raised in New York City. Later, she relocated to the West Coast. She spent an eight-year stint in Los Angeles. Fast-forward to today, she moved to South Florida, which she's still trying to love. She loves living by the ocean and bookstores and loves supporting indie writers.

Jessica James-Thomson loves yarn! Her Nana taught her to knit as a youngster in Oregon, and there was no stopping her after she learned the basics. Ginger Twist Studio opened its doors in June 2013, and it is the cutest wee shop! Jessica feels very fortunate to have been able to take something she feels so passionate about and turn it into a career. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jess for this podcast.  During our conversation, she opened up about her move from the U.S. to Scotland to make a change. She also offered some great reminders about executing goals with persistence and focus. Is there something you want to bring to fruition? If so, what is your best next step? I hope this episode provides you with some inspiration.  Here is some more background about Jess and her shop: Ginger Twist Studio is located in Edinburgh, Scotland. The shop is adorable. It is stacked to the rafters with delicious yarns, pattern books, and accessories. The offerings include a wide range of beautiful yarns hand-d

Joining me on the podcast this week is Kuniatsu “Coonie” Suzuki. Coonie has been a Buddhist monk since 2002. He once worked in the oldest temple Shitennoji-temple in Japan for 12 years practicing zen meditation. In 2015, Coonie decided to become a freelancing Buddhist monk. Consider our dialogue to be a conversation you would have with a Buddhist monk who sees life more simply and less seriously.  This conversation is broken up into two parts. First, I want to set the stage by sharing with you some of the questions I asked Coonie where he shares his lighthearted thoughts on his career, peppers in some of his Buddhist teachings, and thoughts on meditation through his work as a freelancer Buddhist monk in this digital age. Then, I offer you a chance to sit for a 10-minute meditation using some of the insights that I think merit more thought and time. Here’s some more about Coonie: Coonie provides forest, candle, and morning meditations in Osaka, Japan where he is based. He has freelanced with Airbnb for many ye

Meet Neil Mossberg, CEO of Frank151. Frank151 is an independent publisher that speaks to a global audience of culturally acute creators, agitators, and connoisseurs. Today, Neil joins me to discuss his work at Frank151 and what he thinks it takes to be successful within a corporate system. He shares his no-nonsense attitude and shows us the importance of speaking your mind. Are there instances where you might be self-editing and limiting your authentic voice from being heard? When it comes to decision-making, everyone has a shortcut. Neil shares some of the shortcuts he has made and how self-reflection has helped him make those decisions in some instances. Finally, Neil encourages us to consider this question, "What is worth reviving?" It might be time to reconsider some of the things that have been holding you back or keeping you stuck.   Frank151 is a pocket-sized book magazine that started in the 90s in ATL then and now is still filled with unvarnished "dope stuff" from various cultures, including that of

Punam Kumar Gill is a self-taught, award-winning independent documentary filmmaker, actor, model, and TV host. Today, she joins me on the show to talk about reframing how you think about courage and how she is working to grow the genre of healing journalism. Plus, she shares about her pivot to a documentary career and how she featured her father in her first film. She also leaves us with thoughtful advice, in these times of isolation, pick up the phone and ask your loved ones some of your most burning questions. You might be surprised by what can happen when you lead with your nose and your heart. This conversation with Punam is what we need right now.  Since we can’t go outside, we can go inside (of ourselves) to and expand and grow. In Punam’s debut film, THE LESSON, she turned her Dad’s life story into an award-winning documentary, earning critical acclaim and garnering numerous awards and official selections at film festivals throughout North America and India. The story centered on her father, a monk-lik

Marina Shifrin is a comedy writer who created an interpretive dance resignation video garnering millions of views. She has seen success throughout her professional career, including having worked on Talk Show the Game Show (TruTV), Problematic (Comedy Central), Comedy Central Presents: ClusterFest (duh, Comedy Central), Wizard School Dropout (Eko) and she has written on a handful of pilots you've never seen. Previously, Marina was an Emmy-award winning digital producer on @midnight (Comedy Central, again). That's her resume, but what got her on my radar was her book 30 Before 30. In this episode, we discuss Marina's book 30 Before 30, a collection of essays detailing thirty things she wanted to do before the age of thirty and ranging in scope from the simple (Ride A Bike Over the Brooklyn Bridge, Donate Hair) to the life-changing (Move to A Different Country, Become Famous). Each story shows readers that we don't all have it figured out, and that's okay, even if you are way over thirty.  Marina also offers in

What would your future self say about your insecurities or fears? This week, Melissa Joy Kong, founder, and CEO of Iceberg Content Marketing joins me to discuss understanding the core of who you are, defining your wants and needs, and how to utilize time blocking techniques to prioritize what matters most in your life.    Melissa and I recorded this interview before the COVID-19 pandemic. I decided to share it during this moment of isolation and uncertainty. Why? Well, Melissa shares insights and wisdom that we can all use right now. We didn't realize at the time what would be coming nor how so many of us would be spending time isolated from others. It is with this context I want to share our conversation. Melissa revealed an exercise you can use right now, which will help you feel proud and accomplished during this pandemic.  Have a notebook next to you as you listen to today's conversation, you'll want to use it for self-reflection. Tune in to hear Melissa's thoughts pertaining to: Melissa Joy shares a boo

Diane Bell is an award-winning screenwriter and director, who growing up didn’t think that was possible. In this episode, she shares how she overcame personal and professional obstacles in order to become a screenwriter. She describes how affirmations helped her, what she learned about embracing creativity (and how you can embrace yours), as well as, talks about how to stand out from the crowd, especially if you are in a sea of like-minded professionals. Diane also leaves us with some insightful and profound thoughts and questions, like, “How far are you willing to go to make it happen?” Diane’s first feature, OBSELIDIA, premiered in Dramatic Competition at Sundance, where it won two awards, and went on to play at festivals around the world and be nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards. Her second film, BLEEDING HEART, a drama starring Jessica Biel and Zosia Mamet, premiered at Tribeca, and is widely available on Amazon Prime and Hulu. Diane’s most recent feature, OF DUST AND BONES, has also been feature

Meet Paul Musho. Paul was my client, a former GE executive who took a leap to become a franchisee, use his transferable skills, and grow his cryotherapy business. He had previously worked for thirty years in big corporate conglomerates, including Union Carbide, Krupp, Emerson, and GE. During this time, he did everything from engineering, sales, development, operations, and general management, and also during his tenure, I had the opportunity to coach Paul. When GE left New Jersey (NJ), USA in 2017, he decided to pivot and start his own business and use literally everything he had learned in his 30 years of work experience including its best-in-class practices and leadership methods! Paul started out as a client going to cryotherapy in 2015 to help with pain from working out and wanting to play as much golf as he could. Cryotherapy allowed him to do this as the pain was reduced after each workout and allowed him to play quicker after a workout. As a happy cryotherapy customer, he decided to make cryotherapy hi

Caitlyn Elf is a Registered Dietitian and working mom with a goal to take the stress out of mealtime. Because it is essential to think about how we can be healthy, even in uncertain times, I invited Cait to be a guest on my podcast. Cait shared some ways to make eating a learning experience and her philosophy about intuitive eating. She also talked about her career pivot from digital marketing to a nutritionist. When it comes to you and the next phase of your career, deciding what you want to do next and finding the courage to do so, well, those are the hard moments. But as you will hear, it took Cait three years to leap, but it is possible.  Caitlyn’s brand, Cait’s Plate, started way back in 2009 as a way for Cait to share her passion for wellness. When Cait began her blog, she was working in digital marketing in NYC, and while she loved being creative, she found herself more and more excited to work on her blog each day. It was then that Cait decided to leave her full-time job and pursue a degree in nutriti

David Roberts is a multi-award-winning and New York Times best-selling illustrator who has earned great acclaim for his distinctive style. While the world comes together to fight a global pandemic, schools have closed, and the public activities that we are used to experiencing with our children are all off-limits. David joined me to share his insightful thoughts about how to interact with our children during this odd time in our lives. He offered this wonderful piece of advice too: allow your children to lead you with their imagination, and pick up on the points they are giving you about the world and about life. David also shared how he uses thoughtful and constructive feedback in his work, his love of fashion, and the art of storytelling through his illustrations. David was born in Liverpool and studied fashion design at university in Manchester. After graduating, he worked as a milliner and a fashion illustrator but always felt his true calling was in children’s books. David finally realized his dream when