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In today’s episode, Sam welcomes career coach, author, and keynote speaker, Ashley Stahl. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Ashley was an award-winning counterterrorism professional who helped the Pentagon in Washington, DC prepare civilians for the frontlines of the war on terror. She has been named a power 30 Under 30 leader by Apex Society for her work in global threat intelligence. Since then, Ashley has shifted her career to helping women find their purpose and fulfillment in their careers. Sam and Ashley talk about Ashley’s entrepreneurial pursuits, including her role as a career coach and her publishing firm, CAKE Publishing. They debunk common career myths, discuss how to achieve a healthy work-life balance, and taking that leap of faith to pursue your dream career.

Sam welcomes author, speaker, and consultant, Nick Sonnenberg. Nick was the youngest person ever to graduate from Berkley with a master’s degree in financial engineering. Now, he is a serial entrepreneur with expertise in creating companies that disrupt the way people live. Nick is the co-founder of Leverage, founder and CEO of Efficient Frontier Solutions, and co-author of the book, Idea to Execution. His personal mission is to help busy entrepreneurs optimize their lives in a meaningful way and help them go from idea to execution in as few steps as possible. In this episode, Sam and Nick discuss the value of productivity and optimization, the best tech stack out there to help your company scale, and the importance of spending your time working on things you love.

Sam welcomes doctorate in educational leadership for social justice, Dr. William Parham. Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Parham has worked with the NBA, MLB, and – at one point – was a psychologist for the LA Lakers. Among Dr. Parham’s many accomplishments includes being named the first ever Director of Mental Health and Wellness for the National Basketball Players Association. In this episode, Sam and Dr. Parham talk about coping with trauma, the impact social media has had on society, and the importance of acknowledging what your authentic self is experiencing.

Sam welcomes speaker, author, and professor of neuroscience, Moran Cerf. Professor Cerf has a Ph.D. in neuroscience, holds multiple patents, and has published over sixty academic papers in highly regarded journals. He is the beneficiary of several awards and grants for his work and was recently named one of the "40 Leading Professors Below 40." Additionally, he’s the co-founder of Think Alike and founder of B-Cube, which applies neuroscience to help society. He’s also been a consultant to many Hollywood films and TV shows, such as Bull, Limitless, Falling Water, and more. In this episode, Sam and Moran talk about his extensive academic research in neuroscience. They touch on topics including brain manipulation, understanding the mechanisms of emotion, decision-making, and dreams. Moran talks about dream research, training your brain to become happier, and his experience consulting with businesses on the psychology of consumers.

Sam welcomes athlete, TV show host, and digital content creator, Rachel Demita. Rachel is a social media influencer who has built an impressive career through digital content creation and collaborating with a variety of brands. In this episode, Sam and Rachel talk about their shared experience as women working in the male-dominated industry of sports broadcasting. Rachel shares her experience with social media, talks about what it means to create engaging and authentic content, and opens up about her dream job.

Sam welcomes speaker, author, and CEO, Allen Gannett. Allen is among the top creative geniuses in our world today. In fact, he is so passionate about the topic of creativity, that he wrote The Creative Curve, a book that argues that the creative process can be learned by anyone. He’s interviewed everyone from billionaires to neuroscientists and developed a four-step process to show how anyone can achieve the creative success they desire. In this episode, Sam and Allen discuss the concept of the "Creative Curve," neuroplasticity, and creative potential.

Sam welcomes entrepreneur, author, and health and wellness expert, Sarah Anne Stewart. Sarah Anne is one of the leaders in transformative wellness as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. She is the founder of the Awesome Inside Out Movement, author of the e-course Meditate Slim, and advisor to international wellness brands. Sarah Anne supports individuals around the world in shifting their relationship with food and their body to create a more positive, loving approach to a life that they love. In this episode, Sam and Sarah Anne talk about cultivating a healthy relationship with food and our bodies, the healing power of meditation, and the importance of self-care, self-confidence, and self-love.

Sam welcomes entrepreneur and fitness expert, Noah Neiman. Noah has had a unique path to entrepreneurship. He started out as an accountant until a family health scare and a revelation acted as a wake-up call. He decided to become a personal trainer and boxing coach and found that he was quickly selling out every class. In 2017, he and four business partners opened the boxing gym, Rumble. What started as one location has quickly spread to thirteen! In this episode, Sam and Noah discuss the many hats Noah wears as a business owner, the importance of pivoting when things don’t go your way, and the intrinsic value of treating others well.

Sam welcomes entrepreneur and founder of the women’s lifestyle brand, 12th Tribe, Demi Marchese. Demi has been featured in Forbes, Business Journal, Spirit 680, Style Collective and WWD MAGIC Panel, among others. She is an extraordinary business owner whose vision and drive have led to overwhelming success. In this episode, Sam and Demi discuss the trials and triumphs of owning a business, the importance of balance, and the inspiration behind her fashion line, 12th Tribe brand.

In today’s episode, Sam welcomes fitness entrepreneur, broadcaster, and social media influencer, Katie Austin. Health and exercise were always a part of Katie’s life, growing up in the spotlight with a mother who is an icon in the world of fitness. Today, Katie inspires women everywhere to get fit and live a healthy, yet balanced lifestyle. In this episode, Sam and Katie talk about self-confidence, best practices for balancing a busy life, and the importance of asking for help.

On episode 1, Sam welcomes consultant, speaker, and influencer, Jon Levy. Jon is a behavioral scientist, best known for his work in the field of influence, community, and adventure. He specializes in applying research to transform the ways companies approach marketing, sales, consumer engagement, and product development. In this episode, Sam and Jon discuss the importance of community, how to influence people in your daily life, and why it’s important to live adventurously. We also introduce our new segments - Ask a Friend and I Have Cool Recs! Jon answers questions from listeners, and then recommends things he’s watching, reading, and listening to right now that he thinks will enrich your life.

Welcome to the I Have Cool Friends podcast, a show that sparks inspirational conversations with experts about business, wellness, and personal development. Join host Samantha Peszek as she welcomes back returning listeners and invites a whole new audience to learn from industry leaders, entrepreneurs. and other top professionals. Now more than ever, it is crucial to have a community to believe in, and Sam hopes all listeners can find that here. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from successful people and be able to apply relevant tips to your everyday life.

Sam welcomes to the podcast 2016 NCAA Balance Beam Co-Champion, 6x All-American and 2012 Olympic alternate, Danusia Francis. In this episode, Danusia discusses the unique experience of representing two separate countries in Olympic qualifiers.  Danusia opens up about her training regimen, meeting Olympic legend, Usain Bolt, and balancing life while working to qualify for the next Olympic Games. Finally, Danusia talks about the lessons she has learned throughout her gymnastics career, her views on confidence, and her post-retirement plans. Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e12

Sam welcomes to the podcast two very special guests, Olympians Madison Kocian & Kyla Ross. Madison is a 2018 NCAA Team Champion, a 2016 Olympic Gold & Silver Medalist, a 3x World Champion and a 7x All-American. Kyla is a 2018 NCAA Team Champion, a 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist, a 2014 World Championship Gold Medalist, an NCAA record holder with 14 Perfect 10s in 2019, and a 19x All-American. These amazing women are seniors at UCLA where they’ve experienced some of their most memorable gymnastics moments. In this episode, Sam, Madison and Kyla talk about the abrupt cancellation of their gymnastics season due to the global coronavirus pandemic. They reflect on their careers as collegiate gymnasts and recall the peaks and valleys of their gymnastics career, including embarrassing and uplifting moments. Madison and Kyla speak to the importance of their club coaches as well as the special place they hold in their hearts for UCLA. Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e11

Sam welcomes to the podcast two-time Olympian and professional volleyball player, Matt Anderson. Matt is currently a member of the Italian club Modena Volley and the United States men’s national volleyball team, with whom he was a participant of the Olympic Games, 2014 World League and 2015 World Cup. In this episode, Sam and Matt discuss Matt’s volleyball origin story, from his days playing for Penn State at the collegiate level to winning bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Matt speaks to his decision to leave college a year early and pursue a professional career playing abroad. Sam and Matt reflect on their shared experience of the Olympic blues and the sheer weight and pressure the Olympics carries with it. Finally, Matt talks about the future of professional volleyball and advice he would give to young and aspiring athletes everywhere. Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e10

Sam welcomes to the podcast two-time Olympic swimmer and four-time Olympic medalist, Kaitlin Sandeno. Kaitlin is a world champion, former world record holder and has won a gold, silver and two bronze medals throughout her career. Since retiring, Kaitlin has gone on to lead a successful post-Olympic career as a sports commentator, motivational speaker, coach, philanthropist, author, and GM of a professional international swimming league. In this episode, Sam and Kaitlin talk extensively about Kaitlin’s professional swimming career, from the highs of qualifying and competing in two Olympics to the lows of injuries. They discuss the lessons they both learned from their first experiences at the Olympic Games. Kaitlin tells the story of how she won her most prized medal, the silver, and what it meant to her personally. Finally, Kaitlin talks about her post-Olympic career, including her involvement as a National Spokesperson for NEGU, an organization that’s near and dear to her heart. Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e9

Sam welcomes to the podcast 1993 and 1994 world all-around champion, 1996 Olympic balance beam champion, 1995 Pan American Games all-around champion, and member of the gold-medal winning Magnificent Seven team at the 1996 Olympics, Shannon Miller. Shannon is the second most decorated gymnast in U.S history and the thirteenth most decorated gymnast from any country by her individual medal count. She is the only woman in any sport to be inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame twice, as an individual and as part of a team. In this episode, Sam and Shannon chronicle Shannon’s Olympic career, from meeting the Dream Team and winning three bronze and two silver medals at the ’92 Games in Barcelona to winning two gold medals at the ’96 Games in Atlanta. Shannon speaks to the incredibly successful post-athletic career she’s had, which includes broadcasting, starting a business, and writing an autobiography. Shannon opens up about her diagnosis and subsequent battle with ovarian cancer. She shares how the lessons she learned as an Olympic athlete helped her through this difficult time in her life. Finally, Shannon talks about the importance of confidence and the valuable role it has played in her life. Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e8

Sam welcomes to the podcast Olympic champion and eight-time American record holder in competitive swimming, Cody Miller. Cody is also a self-proclaimed movie buff, puppy enthusiast, food assassin, YouTuber and Water Jedi. In this episode, Sam and Cody chronicle Cody’s journey as an athlete, from overcoming a serious health condition when he was young to winning a gold medal alongside his lifelong idol, Michael Phelps. Cody shares his experiences as an elite Olympic athlete as well as life lessons he’s learned along the way. Among the most important things he’s learned, Cody stresses the importance of taking a moment to self-reflect and appreciate the moment. Finally, Cody shares the golden rule he tries to utilize every day. Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e7

Sam welcomes to the podcast decorated professional volleyball player, Karsta Lowe. Karsta won bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games, playing a key reserve role. Coming off the bench, she provided 41 points, highlighted by a 13-point performance versus Serbia in semifinal and 12 points against Italy in pool play. Outside of her Olympic experience, Karsta was a member of the team that took gold at the FIVB World Grand Prix where she was awarded MVP. She currently plays for a professional team in Busto, Italy. In this episode, Sam and Karsta talk about Karsta’s journey as an athlete, from walk-on at UCLA to qualifying and medaling at the Olympics. They discuss her time playing abroad in Italy and overcoming challenges like the language barrier. Karsta shares some of her fondest memories from the Olympic village the emotional experience of representing her country in 2016. Finally, Karsta speaks to her confidence level and the importance she places on aligning her thoughts and her actions to ensure success. Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e6

Sam welcomes to the podcast two very special guests, Olympic swimmers and sisters, Alyssa and Haley Anderson. Alyssa became an Olympic gold medalist in 2012, and Haley was one of the first USA athletes who qualified for the upcoming Olympics Games in Tokyo for 2020. This will mark Haley’s third Olympic Games. Haley’s already won an Olympic silver medal in 2012 and was the first American to earn a medal in open water swimming. In this episode, Sam, Alyssa and Haley discuss the culture of USA Swimming, the mindset required to be a successful Olympian, and the power of resiliency. Alyssa and Haley break down the difference between open water and pool swimming competitions as well as how they get pumped up before big races. Finally, Alyssa and Haley talk about Imposter Syndrome and the importance of overcoming your own self-doubts to achieve greatness. Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e5