Beyond 6 Seconds

What happens when you’re a high performer at work, with decades of success and upward progression in your career, and then you get laid off for the first time? That’s what happened to Kevin M. Yates. When his role working in learning & development was eliminated, Kevin found himself in the unfamiliar and frustrating situation of job searching while unemployed. As weeks of job searching turned into months, he experienced sadness, depression, fear, and self-doubt in the face of rejection, silence and ageism. However, during this difficult time, Kevin began planting the seeds of what would become his amazingly successful personal brand as a “Learning & Development Detective” and measurement expert.  His branding not only led him to his next full-time job, but also opened up opportunities beyond his wildest dreams to share his expertise all around the world. Tune into this episode of Beyond 6 Seconds to hear Kevin’s incredible and inspiring story! Learn more about Kevin’s work at the links below: Website:

Charlotte Underwood is a mental health advocate and writer in the UK with a passion for preventing suicide and providing support for those in need. On this episode, Charlotte shares how her own personal experiences inspired her to write about mental health, the biases and stigma that people with mental illnesses often face in the UK, and how she raises her voice to encourage people to talk about mental health and listen to the experiences of others. Charlotte also discusses the importance of listening to people with mental illness, and shares advice on how people can help their friends and loved ones who are struggling. You can read Charlotte's writing at her website, www.charlotteunderwoodauthor.com, and follow her on Twitter @CUnderwoodUK .

Jeff Weisbein is the founder and Editor-in-Chief at BestTechie – a company he started when he was 13 years old and grew it into a digital media company that makes technology easy for everyone to learn about. He also hosts a podcast called TechieBytes, which features insightful and thought-provoking conversations with tech experts and business executives. On this episode, Jeff shares what inspired him to start BestTechie in the early days of the Internet, how he recognized opportunities to grow his business, refine BestTechie’s content and capitalize on changing technology trends, and how he generated income while maintaining the integrity and identity of the BestTechie brand. We learn how his experience as a young content creator (in the days before preteen YouTube stars and Instagram influencers) shaped his views on life and entrepreneurship, including: Ask for help and don't be afraid of rejection Hiring is harder than it looks It's important to step away from work sometimes to get a fresh perspective Don’

Stacy Sherman is the Director of Customer Experience (CX) at Schindler Elevator Corporation. When she’s not at her day job, Stacy shares her extensive CX expertise on her blog, DoingCXRight, which provides mentorship and knowledge sharing with CX professionals looking to differentiate their companies and personal brand.  On this episode, Stacy shares: What inspired her to start DoingCXRight back in 2017, and the type of content she writes for the blog How she balances work, family, friends, blogging and all the other parts of her life, by being intentional about how she spends her time How writing with authenticity has built her credibility as a blogger and woman in corporate America How she has used feedback from her readers to refine the themes she writes about on her blog The types of networking, speaking and mentoring opportunities that her blog has opened up for her—and how it has helped her support the careers of other women Read and subscribe to Stacy’s blog at www.DoingCXRight.com to increase your o

Amanda Watson has 20 years of experience in apparel buying, merchandising, and wholesale in San Francisco. She has worked for major fashion lines throughout her career, including Macy's West, Donna Karan, and Ralph Lauren. She was working at IGIGI Dresses when she came up with the idea for StyleForIt -- an online site where plus size women can consign and buy pre-owned current fashion sizes 12–32 -- to provide a resale space for the expanding category of Plus Fashion. On this episode, Amanda shares why she decided to open up her own fashion business, some of the business successes and challenges she’s faced since then, and how her business continues to evolve and grow. Learn more about www.styleforit.com or via email at hello@styleforit.com.

Daniel Gefen is the CEO of the Gefen Media Group, a podcast production and booking company. He hosts a podcast called “Can I Pick Your Brain?” and is the author of the bestselling book, “The Self Help Addict.” On this episode, Daniel describes himself as a former Self Help Addict, where he was trapped in a vicious cycle of consuming life-changing knowledge without taking any life-changing action. After 10 years of procrastination, he shares how he finally broke this cycle and motivated himself to write his book, “The Self Help Addict.” Daniel also talks about the growing power of podcasting, including: His first experience as a podcast guest 4 years ago, which made him realize the amazing value and impact of podcasts How being a guest on the right podcasts can help establish you as an expert in your field How he made his own podcast stand out from other interview-based podcasts How he built a thriving podcast booking agency Special offer for Beyond 6 Seconds listeners: Visit www.Podcastguestsuccess.com to d

Jacqueline Jasionowski left her 18+ year career in the corporate automotive world to start her own business, Shift Awake, which is dedicated to working with leaders to create purpose-driven environments and game-changing results. Jacqueline believes consciousness is innovation. Leveraging her expertise in leadership coaching, customer experience and human resources, she intends to flip the way most organizations view the human experience and challenges leaders to focus on purpose, while using conscious building tools to improve employee wellbeing first. On this episode, Jacqueline discusses what led her to make the leap from corporate to entrepreneurship, what it means to be a conscious-based leader, and how purpose-driven employees and corporate cultures impact customer experience and the bottom line. She also shares how she faces her biggest challenge as a new entrepreneur – managing and prioritizing her days – through her morning routine and the “Top 5” tool that she learned from her coach.   Special offer

Kevin Patrick Allen has been a reporter from sea to shining sea, telling stories of ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges. Now, he’s produced a documentary called “What Comes Next” that examines what happens when you lose a dream, lose a loved one, or even lose your freedom. The project was an opportunity to go beyond the skipping-stone nature of today’s journalism into a deeper exploration of the human condition. In this podcast, Kevin takes us behind-the-scenes into the stories he featured in his documentary: Chad, an X-Games champion, who suffered a terrible crash. Beverly and Linda, whose triumph and tragedy intersected after the suicide of a teenager. Joe and Reggie, who languished on death row.   We discuss how these stories share a common struggle, how different people find a meaningful future after experiencing tremendous loss, and what we can learn from their journeys. Watch “What Comes Next” on Amazon Prime and follow Kevin on Twitter @kpatrickallen.  

Lisa DeLay has always been interested in the spiritual, and how humans can connect with the divine and each other in healthy and healing ways. In this episode, Lisa talks about the spiritual and family crisis she faced in her childhood and young adulthood, her studies of religion and spiritual formation, and her work as a part-time professor at Gratz College, where she helps new K-12 special education teachers learn mindfulness techniques they can use to benefit their students.    Lisa also hosts the Spark My Muse podcast, where she has interviewed Seth Godin, Parker Palmer, Krista Tippett and many other people who inspire her. You can find Lisa on Twitter @sparkmymuse and @lisadelay and on the Facebook page for Spark My Muse.  Visit www.SparkMyMuse.com to listen to her podcast and sign up for her newsletter.

In this bonus episode, organizational change and culture expert Karen Jaw-Madson (my guest from Episode 52) talks about finding and working with a publisher for her book “Culture Your Culture: Innovating Experiences @Work” – and why she describes her experience as a “soap opera!” She shares what she learned, the advice that helped encourage her through all the rejections, and her own advice for authors who are trying to get their books published. Find out more about Karen at www.designofworkexperience.com  and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. You can also purchase Karen’s book on Amazon: Culture Your Culture: Innovating Experiences @Work.  We've also got a full episode with Karen Jaw-Madson, where she talks about Design of Work Experience (DOWE), which is the methodology she created and described in her book. DOWE combines organizational culture with design thinking to help people innovate and solve challenging problems at work. Listen to Karen's full episode here. Karen’s full bio: Organizationa

Karen Jaw-Madson is an organizational change and culture expert who enjoyed success as a corporate executive before pursuing a “portfolio career” comprised of research, writing, consulting, teaching/speaking, and creative pursuits. Her book "Culture Your Culture: Innovating Experiences @Work" was released in June 2018. This book is a guide for implementing the methodology she created -- Design of Work Experience (DOWE) – which combines organizational culture with design thinking, learning, appreciative inquiry and values-based leadership to help people innovate and solve challenging problems at work. Find out more about Karen and the DOWE methodology at www.designofworkexperience.com and connect with Karen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. You can also purchase Karen’s book on Amazon: Culture Your Culture: Innovating Experiences @Work.  We've also got a bonus episode with Karen Jaw-Madson, where she talks about finding and working with a publisher for her book “Culture Your Culture: Innovating Ex

Natasha Nurse is a licensed attorney by trade who held various stints in the corporate world prior to making a foray into fashion, writing, media and entrepreneurship. Natasha started Dressing Room 8 to provide a web-based resource where women can gain personal and professional empowerment through her fashion and lifestyle focused blog, consultation and coaching services. She is also the Program Coordinator for Long Island Girl Talk, a Long Island community-based start-up program that teaches teenage girls of color how to produce, direct and star in their own television show about women’s issues in their communities. Recently, she partnered with her husband to create the podcast WokeNFree, where they have fun, informed and thought-provoking conversations on different topic each week. Natasha discusses the winding path of her career, starting with her interest in veterinary science, followed by graduating law school and working in document review, legal recruiting, legal education & sales -- and how realiz

Gina Marie Agderian is a New Jersey-based, independent author who self-published her first novel in April 2018 titled “The Letters in the Old House.” In her novel, a woman at a crossroads in her life discovers mysterious letters in her aunt & uncle’s Jersey Shore beach house, then goes on a mission to figure out the story behind the letters while learning about herself in the process. In this episode, Gina talks about how she finally stopped putting off her childhood dream of writing a novel, and shares her tips for getting started and staying focused on your own writing and other creative passions. She also describes what it’s like to self-publish a book, and how self-publishing through Amazon allowed her to write her first novel according to her creative vision. You can connect with Gina on her website www.gsellsseashells.com and on Instagram @gsellsseashells, and purchase “The Letters in the Old House” on Amazon.    

Esther Hofknecht Curtis is a blogger, writer, and content creator who established Parrot Content + Copy to develop her freelance business. She is also the creator of the #GuestBloggerProject, which she hosted in May and October 2018 to provide a platform for writers to share their stories and understand how the project impacts organic social media reach and SEO for the project's host. Based on her experience, she has written a short e-book called “Boost Your Blog with the #GuestBloggerProject: A proven plan to improve your blog's visibility, SEO, and following” to give people the tools they need to host their own #GuestBloggerProject. On this episode, Esther talks about what she learned from the #GuestBloggerProject, some of the inspirational and surprising stories that people have shared, and how blogging is a unique opportunity to learn more about the people around us. She also shares how this project can help both the host and the guest bloggers increase their online reach and amplify their voices.  Connec

When you don’t have the words, let your gloves say it for you! Flip ‘em the Bird, Inc. is a women-owned, Minnesota based start-up founded by Susie Moschkau and Natalie Buckman. While freezing at their office jobs and looking for some comic relief to combat the day to day challenges of corporate life, Susie and Natalie hatched their idea for Flip ‘em the Bird fingerless gloves! After 2 decades of friendship and the dread of turning the big 4-0, they decided it was time to take their hilariousness and sassitude to the masses and launched a brand that is uniquely funny and fashionable. On this episode, Susie and Natalie share how they got their idea off the ground, what they’ve learned about business, manufacturing, and social media marketing along the way, and how they give back to the social causes they care about through their “Swearing is Caring” campaign.  Check out the Flip ‘em the Bird fingerless gloves at www.flipemthebird.com, connect on Facebook, Twitter @flipem_thebird and Instagram @flipem_thebird, a

Professor Marcia McNair is the co-author of Sistas on Fire, an award-winning theatrical performance that addresses pressing social issues from an African-American female perspective.  On this episode, Marcia shares what inspired her to create Sistas on Fire about 10 years ago, and how it evolved from a collection of writings into a theatrical experience that incorporates the spoken word, music and dance. She also shares how Sistas on Fire has connected with people across race, class, gender, religion and cultures, and how it empowers the audience to think and take action about the social issues they care about. Sistas on Fire will be playing at the East Village Playhouse in New York City from February 22 – March 17, 2019. Buy your tickets at www.sistasonfire.com and visit the website or Facebook page to learn more about the show!   Marcia’s full bio: Marcia McNair, the mother of two sons, grew up in New Jersey and moved to New York shortly after her college graduation. She has lived in both Harlem and Queens,

Samantha Harris is an Emmy-winning entertainment journalist and TV host. Most of you may know Samantha from her eight seasons as the co-host of the hit show, Dancing with the Stars, or her many years as one of the hosts of Entertainment Tonight. In this podcast, Samantha shares her breast cancer story, which began when she trusted her instinct about a lump that she was told was “nothing.” Out of the emotional turmoil of her diagnosis, Samantha and her husband founded the online community Gotta Make Lemonade to help inspire positivity in the face of adversity. She continued to turn her cancer “lemon” into “lemonade” by writing her new book, “Your Healthiest Healthy: 8 Easy Ways to Take Control, Help Prevent & Fight Cancer, and Live a Longer, Cleaner, Happier Life,” which debuted as an Amazon bestseller.  With research-backed advice, “Your Healthiest Healthy” is a guidebook to identifying and removing toxins from all parts of your life, as well as boosting positivity to support your well-being. Learn about

Rhodes Perry helps business leaders, change agents, and visionaries at all levels cultivate workplace cultures of belonging through his leadership & management consulting firm. He is an award-winning social entrepreneur, best-selling author, and sought-after speaker. He is also a nationally recognized LGBTQ thought leader with two decades of government and nonprofit experience, having worked at the White House, PFLAG National, and the City of New York. In this episode, Rhodes shares what inspired him to pursue a career in diversity, equity and inclusion, his own personal diversity story, and how his book “Belonging At Work” empowers people to take action that will help them create inclusive cultures at their workplaces. For more information on Rhodes Perry Consulting, LLC, please visit www.rhodesperry.com Connect with Rhodes on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Google+ Buy Rhodes' book “Belonging At Work” on Amazon February 2019: Join Rhodes’ 30 Day Belonging Challenge  Listen

This episode features Larry Sprung, the President and Founder of Mitlin Financial, Inc.  He also serves on the National Board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).  On this episode, Larry discusses the critical events in his life that shaped his career and advocacy:   How his mother’s long battle with breast cancer led him to a career helping people plan for critical financial events in their lives, and How the loss of his brother-in-law to suicide led Larry to become involved with AFSP and, along with his wife Denise, raise more than $1,000,000 for the organization through the Keith Milano Memorial Fund. The fund was created at AFSP in memory of Larry and Denise’s brother-in-law and brother, respectively. Larry also talks about some of the important work that AFSP is doing to help people “Seize the Awkward” by having potentially life-saving conversations with the people in their lives who may be suicidal, and AFSP’s Project 2025, which aims to lower the suicide rate by 20% by the year 2

Becky Curran is the Disability Equality Index (DEI) Director at Disability:IN, where she is responsible for managing the overall DEI program. Born with achondroplastic dwarfism, Becky talks about her life & career as an advocate for increasing disability inclusion, including:    Her childhood health challenges and experiences with social exclusion The importance of her support system of family, friends and doctor How she navigated through multiple challenges to forge her own career path in the media and entertainment industry, to improve the representation of disability in the media and advocate for actors with disabilities Why she started sharing her own story publicly, and the impact that her public speaking is having on individuals and corporations Why she’s comfortable with people coming up and asking questions about her appearance and about her life as a little person You can contact Becky on her website www.BeckyMotivates.com and learn more about her motivational public speaking and her story.   B