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There is so much to life that it would be a shame not to go out there and experience it to the fullest of our abilities. When we take steps outside of our self-imposed boundaries, we expand our ability and capacity to experience more. In his personal search for meaning, Erik Seversen has forged a path filled with extreme adventure and success. He joins Tony Martignetti in this episode to share with us these adventures and the lessons he learned along the way. A full-time writer and public speaker, he lets us in on his books, Explore, Ordinary to Extraordinary, and The Successful Mind, to show how he puts himself out there to experience not only the high highs but also the low lows, revealing the true beauty of a life well-lived. Join this conversation as Erik takes you to one adventure after another, inspiring you to go out there and create success and fulfillment.

You might be skilled to do a ton of different things, but have you asked yourself what's going to make you the happiest? What is the role you’re supposed to play in the world? Cara Shortsleeve had her dream job with Google, but she decided to leave when she felt that there was something more that she should do. Today, she joins Tony Martignetti in a fantastic conversation about personal growth and the importance of setting aside time for it. She also talks about her career flashpoints, highlighting the significance of determining your measurement of success in unlocking your unique potential. Cara is currently the CEO of ​ The Leadership Consortium​, a platform that offers virtual leadership development for leaders at some of the world's best companies.

Allison Holzer is the co-CEO and Chief Innovation Officer of InspireCorps, an inspiration strategy firm that partners with organizations to drive business growth and innovation. She’s the co-author of Dare to Inspire: Sustain the Fire of Inspiration in Work and Life, a book that redefines inspiration as a critical resource in modern work and organizational culture. She speaks and writes passionately, grounded in her original thought leadership in executive coaching, emotional intelligence, and applied positive psychology. Allison holds a BA in Psychological Brain Sciences with an emphasis on Learning and Cognition from Dartmouth College. She has also earned a dual master’s degree in Education and Fine Art from American University. She lives in West Hartford, Connecticut with her husband, their two boys, and a new kitten named Echo. Today Allison joins me to talk about it all. She shares her first experience with innovation and talks about how it put her on the path to learning to think outside the box when looking for ways to use your gifts. She dispels the myth that you have to choose between your gifts instead of combining them. She talks about the importance and role of emotions in decision-making, explaining why we shouldn’t be afraid of them. She notes that, if you’re going to be creative, you can’t constantly be worrying about what people are going to think. She talks about the importance of feedback, noting that it tends to be most productive in small doses. She also talks about the importance of agency. “Evaluate after you create.”- Allison Holzer This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast: Finding new ways to use your skills Combining gifts Activating human emotions through the arts Speaking to the soul, not just to the mind Knowing when to lead and when to collaborate The importance of being able to receive feedback Emotions as guides Resources Mentioned: 7 Traits of an Inspiring Leader Dare to Inspire: Sustain the Fire of Inspiration in Work and Life Choice Theory: A New Psychology of Personal Freedom, by William Glassner Connect with Allison Alison’s Instagram Allison’s Twitter Allison’s LinkedIn InspireCorps Instagram InspireCorps Twitter InspireCorps Facebook InspireCorps Linkedin InspireCorps Website Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.

Todd Cherches is the CEO and co-founder of BigBlueGumball, an NYC-based consulting firm specializing in leadership development, public speaking, and executive coaching, as well as a Founding Partner of the Global Institute For Thought Leadership. He is also a three-time award-winning Adjunct Professor of leadership at NYU, and a Lecturer on leadership at Columbia University. Todd is also a TEDx speaker and the author of "VisuaLeadership: Leveraging the Power of Visual Thinking in Leadership and in Life. Today Todd joins me to share his journey. He talks about his experiences as an extreme introvert and what pushed him to speak up and speak out. He explains what visual leadership is and how it can have an impact on exchanging ideas. He talks about how storytelling can have an impact in technical and financial fields. He also asks us to think about how our stories and metaphors can relate to our audiences. “Storytelling is inbred in us. Stories are motivational. They are human. They make you vulnerable.” “If you're not willing to toot your own horn or raise your hand or speak up and speak out, our organizations miss out, our teams miss out, and we miss out.” This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast: The importance of speaking up and speaking out Todd’s three V’s of feeling heard Proving our value beyond our labels Why quiet leadership and invisible leaders have positive impacts The catalyst event that changed Todd’s Life How visual leadership helps people see from a fresh perspective What it means to “flip the eye” The impact of storytelling in scientific and data-driven fields Asking how our stories and metaphors relate to our audiences Resources Mentioned: Derek Sivers: First Followers Video Book: Presentation Zen, by Garr Reynolds Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People, By Dale Carnegie Book: Slide:ology, by Nancy Duarte Book: Illuminate, by Nancy Duarte Book: Resonate, by Nancy Duarte Book: Data Story, by Nancy Duarte Connect with Todd Website Big Blue Gumball Website: Todd Cherches The Power of Visual Thinking TedTalk Book: VisuaLeadership: Leveraging the Power of Visual Thinking in Leadership and in Life Connect with Todd on LinkedIn   Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.

David Taylor-Klaus reintroduces successful entrepreneurs and senior executives to their families. A serial entrepreneur, he is recognized for combining candor, intelligence, and humor with masterful coaching. He challenges leaders and their teams to reach their highest levels of performance in their personal and professional lives. David is the author of two books. The first one, This Is Your Wake-Up Call, is soon to be released again on the Amazon bookstore. His most recent one is Mindset Mondays with DTK. This is his second time on the show. Today David joins me to talk about how to follow your passion healthily and happily. He talks about the dangerous myth that, if it’s hard, it’s good. He discusses the importance of seeking help and accepting it when it’s offered. He notes the crucial role his family has played in his life and elaborates on the importance of community. He talks about how humans are wired for connection, and he discusses the importance of changing your lens to bring about the reality you want to see. He also gives some elaboration on his latest book. “We don’t see the world as it is. We see the world as we are.”  “If all meaning is made up, why not make up something that serves?” This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast: The myth that, if it’s hard, it’s good. How seeking help isn’t cheating Standing on the shoulders of giants The importance of community Accepting help once you’ve sought it out Changing your lens Resources Mentioned: 7 Traits of an Inspiring Leader This Is Your Wake-Up Call Mindset Mondays with DTK The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz Presence by Peter Senge and others Connect with David Website Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.

Lisa DeAngelis is the founder of Dragonfly Coaching. She helps leaders at all levels move from knowledge to wisdom to action. She has published several peer-reviewed articles on leadership, teamwork, and transformation. She is also a frequent presenter for many organizations including the Core Leadership Institute, Wharton, Novo Nordisk, West Point, LEGO, and more. She is the director of the Center for Collaborative Leadership and is currently writing her first book, tentatively titled Teaching for Transformation. Today Lisa joins me to talk about her journey. She talks about how life is rarely a straight shot and is often full of unexpected twists. She discusses the importance of living and experiencing for yourself instead of just taking others’ words for things. She talks about the importance of learning from the experiences you do have and notes that embracing your gifts is actually a selfless act. She ends by pointing out the importance of changing from a microscopic perspective to a telescopic perspective. “It’s not selfish to own your gifts, to own your purpose. It’s actually the most selfless thing you can do for the world.” “It’s always the twists and turns that teach us the most about ourselves.”   This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast: Experiencing life and learning lessons for yourself The importance of choosing to learn from your experiences Stepping into your spotlight Looking at things with the right perspective Resources Mentioned: 7 Traits of an Inspiring Leader The works of Brené Brown Connect with Lisa Website Linkedin Twitter Facebook Instagram Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.

Susan Peppercorn is an executive coach, writer, and speaker who helps professionals to make successful career choices. She’s coached clients from a wide array of industries and areas. She is a regular contributor to the Harvard Business review, as well as the author of the bestselling book Ditch Your Inner Critic: Evidence-Based Strategies to Thrive in Your Career. She is certified in Stanford’s Designing Your Life methodology. Today, Susan joins me to talk about the long and winding path that led her to where she is today and what she’s learned from it. She talks about the fruitful effect that having to flounder had on her life, career, and choices. She discusses the rare definition of marketing as customer-oriented, why questions are often more beneficial than orders, and the emphasis of value over numbers in sales. She presents her definition of creativity, distinguishing it from originality. She notes the danger of self-limiting beliefs, shares stories of her clients’ journeys and successes, and speaks on the importance and difficulty of letting people struggle. “Questions are so so powerful because you’re not telling somewhat what to do. You’re asking them questions so that they can gain insight into their own thinking and their own motivations. And by doing that, they can then tap into their own inner wisdom.” - Susan Peppercorn   This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast: The benefits of having to flounder The desire to make an impact Service leadership Creativity vs. originality Recognizing your gifts Resources Mentioned: 7 Traits of an Inspiring Leader The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David Brooks Ditch Your Inner Critic: Evidence-Based Strategies to Thrive in Your Career by Susan Peppercorn Connect with Susan LinkedIn Website Twitter Facebook   Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.

    Kobini Ananth is a musician, composer, and economist based in London. For about twenty years she struggled with an eating disorder because of her insecurities about weighing more than those around her. Despite meeting with a therapist for several years, it wasn’t until fairly recently that she had a breakthrough moment, when she found the answer to her problem not from someone else but within herself. She realized that she needed to change her outside because she loved herself, not so that she could love herself more. Armed with this realization, she began sharing it with others, and now, on top of her other occupations, she’s a motivational speaker as well.   Today, Kobini joins me to talk about the importance of a good and close relationship with one’s body. She discusses the need for compassion for yourself, facing your past to move forward, and staying true to who you want to be. She talks about how you can pursue more than one passion, and how to make each one enjoyable instead of stressful by viewing it as a lifelong exploration instead of the pursual of a deadline. She closes with some important lessons she’s learned over the years, as well as the benefits of video journaling.   “You have the answer. No one else does.” - Kobini Ananth     This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast:   Your relationship with your body Compassion for self The importance of facing your past Reframing your passions Staying true to who you want to be Video journaling     Resources Mentioned: 7 Traits of an Inspiring Leader Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown Untamed by Glennon Doyle   Connect with Kobini Website Personal Instagram Personal Facebook   Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.                                      

    Tom Bell’s sister took her life in 1991, and the event completely changed his life. It wasn’t until ten years later that Tom found out the cause of her suicide: the predation of a worker in her mental institution and the subsequent forced abortion of her child. When he took the case to authorities, they turned a blind eye, revealing to Tom the harsh reality of the systems in place. As a result, he founded HIPPS (Honesty & Integrity in Public Services), an organization dedicated to eliminating bureaucracy and replacing it with a recognition of people’s humanity. It does this by creating partnerships between public, private, and voluntary sectors to create a better future together. Tom also wrote a book about his experience, entitled Lions, Liars, Donkeys, and Penguins: The Killing of Alison.   Today Tom joins me to talk about his experience. He shares his reflections on materialism, acceptance of the problems in society, righteous anger, the need for the punk mentality, the toll of suicide on survivors, what’s worth fighting for, and facing the past. He talks about the effects his experience has had on him and his recognition of the problems with the status quo. He speaks about alternatives to bureaucracy and the need to take action, and finishes with a plea for honesty and openness about mistakes from public services.   “The most destructive thing is to leave things the way they are.”   “All we want is improvement.”     This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast:   You are what you do The role of anger Optimism The need for rebels in the workplace The punk mentality Society as a work in progress“ The toll of suicide on survivors What is worth fighting for Facing the past The notion of tolerance and forgiveness Anger vs. revenge Admitting mistakes Bureaucracy as dehumanizing     Resources Mentioned: The Halo Effect by Phil Rosenzweig Coal: A Human History by Barbara Freese The Garden of Love by William Blake The poetry of William Blake   Connect with Tom Website Twitter Email address: tom@hipss.org.uk Phone number: 07834-324-555   Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.                                    

Andrew Moss has spent his professional life coaching in different environments. After a 20-year career of coaching elite athletes, developing high-performance coaches, and advising on talent development in the Olympic sports, Andrew has taken all of what he learned about unlocking human potential to exponentially enhance the impact of the similarly ambitious community of entrepreneurs and innovation leaders. Andrew Moss joins me to share his journey on becoming a coach that helps push people past their limits. He talks about what helped him realize from an early age how he wanted to be a coach. Andrew talks about what separates a good coach from a great coach, and how coaches are not required to share the same experiences as their clients. Andrew shares some of the lessons he learned from mentors and athletes he has worked with. He also shares why he prefers working with college students instead of CEO's. “I had coaches that allowed me to be the best I could be not by physical training or technical skills, but they made me understand how I was getting in front of myself most of the time.” -Andrew Moss This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast: The flashpoints that changed the course of Andrew’s life The impact coaches had on Andrew from an early age How coaches unlock the mental part of being a successful athlete What clients and athletes can teach coaches The moment Andrew realized coaching sports was no longer enjoyable Acknowledging self-doubt and helping others face it How coaches are a mirror for their clients How Andrew bridged the coaching gap from sports to business The importance of accepting the power of making our own decisions Learning how to have conscious awareness of thought.   Our Favorite Quotes: “If you need to fill your ego as a coach, you won't allow yourself to be in that position, and I've seen a lot of coaches that cannot put themselves a position to be a peer with their client.” -Andrew Moss “If you need to fill your ego as a coach, you won't allow yourself to be in that position, and I've seen a lot of coaches that cannot put themselves a position to be a peer with their client.” -Andrew Moss Mentioned Resources: The Untethered Soul, by Michael Singer   Connect with Andrew Moss Website Follow Andrew Moss on LinkedIn   Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.                            

    Amir Ghannad spent much of his childhood in Iran, but when revolution began brewing his parents sent him to the United States. With nothing, teenage Amir had to learn to fend for himself, and it was through that experience that he began to realize his resilience and independence. Today, he is a highly sought-after keynote speaker at leadership summits in the US and abroad, as well as the founder of the leadership guidance company the Ghannad Group. He is also the author of The Transformative Leader and the host of a podcast by the same name.   Today, Amir joins me to talk about what he’s learned from all of this experience. He tells me about his background and the impact it had at him. He notes the lessons he’s learned over the years about human resilience, empathy, loneliness, independence, and more. He shares wisdom on topics such as the importance of loving your employees as people instead of using them as tools, finding your strengths, selecting the right clients, transformative versus informative learning, and the idea that responsibility is yours but it’s not all about you. He also presents his Chick-fil-a Lemonade Style of Leadership, which recognizes the importance of both the sour and the sweet parts of leadership.   “Transformative leaders love their people.”   This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast:   Resilience Leading as serving The Chick-fil-a Lemonade Style of Leadership Showcasing excellence and cradling prosperity Selecting the right clients Informative vs transformative learning   Our Favorite Quotes:   “Cultural transformation has to start with personal transformation.”   “Start with yourself...but recognize that it’s not about you.”     Resources Mentioned:   7 Traits of an Inspired Leader The Transformative Leader The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People 5 Practical Steps to Make Your Cultural Transformation Stick   Connect with Amir   Amir's Website (can also be reached via com) On the Court Leadership Amir's podcast T Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.                                

Clint is a former police officer and counselor. Now he is a published author with his new book, "lighting the blue flame" which is all about suicide prevention and resilience. He is the director of Blue Flame projects which is focused on resilience and leadership programs around suicide prevention and domestic violence. He's based out of Brisbane, Australia. Clint joins me to share the journey that shaped him into creating a career path that involved serving the public and promoting mental health.  He talks about his experience working in the police force, and as a counselor that helped him identify how PTSD can affect those trying to help the traumatized. He talks about how unresolved trauma can have a major effect on aspects of our lives like work and how effective leaders we can be. Clint also shares insight from his book and how he is trying to reduce the suicide rates of younger generations. “I don’t think enough people understand enough about how the unconscious brain works in comparison to your conscious one.” -Clint Adams This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast: The flashpoints that changed the course of Clint’s life Clint’s inspiration to help others by watching his grandmother Joining the police force and psychological elements of the police force What inspired Clint to write his book The causes and impact of suicide Emotional baggage from work when dealing with traumatic events Building resistance to fight or flight modes The common threads of mental health and work performance Conscious vs unconscious brain How Clint is working with local suicide prevention programs Our Favorite Quotes: “No one is going to go through life and not have any kind of thing happen to that they’re not happy about. You’re going to lose people along the way.  -Clint Adams “I guess for me just seeing her [Clint’s Grandmother] helping people, and you know, not expecting payment, it was always something that I guess became an undercurrent of mine around how you deal with people and that kind of stuff.  -Clint Adams   Resources Mentioned: The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss The Prosperous Coach by Steve Chandler & Rich Litvin   Connect with Clint Adams Lighting the Blue Flame Connect with Clint Adams on LinkedIn Crucial Conversations Book: You Are the Placebo, by Joe Dispenza Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.                            

    Tammy Gooler Loeb knew she wanted to serve as a child, but she didn’t know how she’d do it. After doing volunteer work, trying her hand in public policy, and becoming a grant writer, she settled on executive coaching. Now, she helps people to engage in work that’s meaningful, fulfilling, and satisfying, and she loves it because, according to her, coaching starts from a strengths-based perspective. She is also a motivational speaker and the host of her own podcast, Work From the Inside Out, on which I appeared some time ago.   Today, Tammy joins me to talk about what she’s learned in her vast experience. We talk about what it means to coach, humility, openness to what’s in front of you, and leadership. She tells me about the importance of  treating the whole person, as well as of helping people help themselves instead of doing it for them. She finishes by noting the importance of failure, referencing one of her favorite books.   “When people get lost, it’s usually because they’re looking for the answers outside of themselves.”     This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast:   Leadership A coach as a thinking partner The importance of humility Staying open to what’s in front of you. The importance of failure   Our Favorite Quotes:   “From a coach’s standpoint, you’re not working with someone who’s broken who you’re trying to fix....You’re starting with them from a very strengths-based point of view.” “The most important thing is to help people help themselves.” “The more you stay open and curious as you go forward, the more that opens you up to experiencing life more fully.”     Resources Mentioned:   Tammy interviews Tony on her podcast The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch   Connect with Tammy   Listen to her podcast Work from the Inside Out com T Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.                              

    Tina Reimer is an artist, dancer, and a bad-ass intuitive. She works with people to lead them back to themselves using her intuition and her skills as a coach and a guide. She loves working with visionaries, dreamers, artists, and unconventional thinkers.   Tina joins me to share her journey about how her past experiences brought her to being a coach today. She shares moments from her life when she realized she had not listened to her intuition and seeing the pattern of her past experiences. Tina also talks about the path she took to push through self-doubt and over come her internal critic. Through out the episode she stresses the importance of listening to yourself and making your dreams happen.   “Don’t ask yourself how you can do this…Follow it and ask better questions.” - Tina Reimer   This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast: The flashpoints that changed the course of Tina’s life How music inspired Tina’s dancing passion at a young age The hospitality industry and its need for strong personalities The early days of working in the podcast industry Using intuition as a guide to find strength and purpose Tina’s journey to self-discovery Identifying recurring themes from life experiences Location Independent Careers Coping with external and internal critics Listening to your intuition   Our Favorite Quotes: “My strength is not the field in that we are working or this job technique you need. My strength is my personality.” -Tina Reimer   “Before we start this process of personal development, unfortunately we are waiting so long that it hurts. And it hurts so badly we can’t ignore it anymore.” -Tina Reimer   Resources Mentioned: The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss The Prosperous Coach by Steve Chandler & Rich Litvin   Connect with Tina Reimer Website Connect with Tina on Facebook Follow Tina on Instagram Listen to Tina’s Podcast T Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.                            

    Jessica Rhodes is the leading expert on how to leverage podcast guesting, increase brand awareness, more leads, and higher profits. She created the podcast booking industry in 2013 when she founded Interview Connections, the first and leading agency of its kind. She is married with two kids and has reignited her passion for rescuing cats.   Jessica joins me to share her journey about getting started as an entrepreneur in the podcast industry. She talks about how she applied her previous job experience to working with something she enjoyed to grow a 6-figure business. Jessica also talks about the importance of networking and how to stand out when even asking questions. She also talks about how personal development in your business extends into your personal life.   “Entrepreneurship is a personal development journey in and of itself.” - Jessica Rhodes   This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast: The flashpoints that changed the course of Jessica’s life How major life changes forced Jessica’s career shift Parenthood and your career Transferable skills being a door-to-door salesperson. Determining the most profitable services from your skillset The early days of podcasting Setting sales goals Networking and Introductions at conferences Getting uncomfortable with self-promotion Entrepreneurship as a personal journey Examples of Jessica's personal investments   Our Favorite Quotes: “Who do you need to be to get your business going? Do you need to be brave? Do you need to take a risk?” -Jessica Rhodes   “When you have that simple elevator pitch. When you can say who you are and what you do, people that need what you do are going to come to find you.” -Jessica Rhodes   Resources Mentioned: New Media Expo Book: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill Book: When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron Book: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle   Connect with Jessica Rhodes Interview Connections Connect with Jessica on Facebook Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn Follow Jessica on Instagram Follow Jessica on Twitter   Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.                            

    Gaby Puma is a transformation teacher, guide, and coach who is a bridge between indigenous wisdom and western knowledge. She has been a leader in the travel and tourism industry for the past 15 years. She is the founder of the AYNI Scholarship to help provide a world-class education for the brilliant, indigenous Quechua children in Peru.   Gaby describes her experiences growing up in an ancestral, indigenous home, that was filled with hardship and brutal punishments that she could not face for a long time. Learning English and meeting western tourists became a way of escapism for Gaby to forget about the hardships in her life. Gaby talks about how she could not face the hardships others experienced and tried to push back from her darkness, and how this came to affect her work and feel about her upbringing. She shares how over time she learned to face her darkness and accept being in the present instead of the past.     "I never thought I could speak it out or communicate those deeper pains that brought them [western tourists] to our beautiful Peru homeland seeking all this help." – Gaby Puma   This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast: The flashpoints that changed the course of Gaby's life Gaby's experience of growing up in a traditional non-western culture Why Gaby gravitated towards western culture and her desire to learn English Balancing the ancestral old ways with the modern new ways How Gaby became a bridge to western tourists to promote her culture The darkness in Gaby and how she saw the same darkness in different people Gaby's epiphany on running from her past and how she faced her darkness The importance of expressing your truth and speaking up The books that inspired Gaby   Our Favorite Quotes: " It's like God was speaking through my laptop asking me, ‘Are you living in the present Gaby?’- Gaby Puma   Resources Mentioned: Book: Your Erroneous Zones by Wayne Dyer Book: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill Book: Principles by Ray Dalio   Connect with Gaby Puma Email Gaby Facebook LinkedIn   Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.

    What do capitalism and the arts have in common? Some might say nothing, but Jen Guillemin and Wendy Swart Grossman have a different answer. They recognize that business needs art and art needs business, and their mission is to bring the two together to create a powerful and balanced world for both. An arts advocate and a creative practitioner, Jen and Wendy are the co-founders of Creative Re/Frame.   Today, they join me to talk about what it is they do and why it’s important. We talk about the importance of combining talent, finding your inner artist, the importance of the creative arts in the business world, leadership, and much more. Join us as we delve into Jen and Wendy’s plan to make the world a better place.   “The time has come for us to stop pretending that we can live in a world that’s devoid of our expressive selves. We’ve teased businesses apart from what it means to be human.” - Jen Guillemin   “Don’t be afraid of people who are different, because that’s where the conversation gets fascinating.” - Wendy Swart Grossman   This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast: 4 C’s: Community, Connection, Creation, Creativity Combining skills Finding people you really enjoy being with and working around Leadership Overcoming conflict Conscious capitalism   Resources Mentioned: 7 Traits of An Inspiring Leader Leadership Journey Assessment Habits of the Heart by Robert Bellah The Culture of Possibility by Arlene Goldbard Connect with Jen Guillemin and Wendy Swart Grossman Website email Twitter Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.                            

    Charlotte Fowles is known as the ‘Executive Adventurer’, and she helps corporate leader who are frustrated, lost or bored, to rediscover their purpose and passion.  Charlotte is an expert in resilience, having overcome personal trauma and tragedy to become the successful author, public speaker and coach that she is today.  She has pushed herself completely out of her comfort zone to challenge herself physically and she is passionate about mental wellbeing and the outdoors.   Charlotte brings her epic journey to us today; she shares a decade of tragedy which started with losing her father shortly after arriving home after being abroad for two years.  She describes her experiences with miscarriage and cancer and death, and what drove her to raise awareness and funds for The Miscarriage Association in the UK. She discusses the circumstances which led her to having to learn to walk again. Charlotte shares the flashpoint that motivated her to make a change in her career, and her adventurous spirit becomes clear when she tells us of learning to free dive and overcoming a fear of heights to abseil down the 500ft Spinnaker Tower.   "You need to build resilience for the good as well as the bad." - Charlotte Fowles   This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast: The flashpoints that changed the course of Charlotte’s life Charlotte’s experience of dealing with death and grief Raising awareness for The Miscarriage Association Charlotte’s move from a full-time job to a communications consultant Recognizing and dealing with depression The books that inspired Charlotte Employing Charlotte’s strategies for your business The importance of compassion and gratitude Finding the things that make you feel alive   Our Favorite Quotes: "Ask for what you need from people. People love to help." - Charlotte Fowles   Resources Mentioned: 7 Traits of an Inpired Leader The Miscarriage Association Book: Supercoach: 10 Secrets to Transform Anyone's Life by Michael Neill Book: Solve For Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy by Mo Gawdat Book: Playing Big: A practical guide for brilliant women like you Book: Living the Best Day Ever by Hendri Coetzee   Connect with Charlotte Fowles Website Instagram Book your Free Consultation Subscribe to Mailing List   Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.                          

    Ozan Varol is a former rocket scientist, turned award-winning professor, successful blogger, and the author of the number one best selling book Think Like a Rocket Scientist. His interest in science was piqued as a child, and he then worked in academia for many years. His work has been described as a ‘must-read’ by best selling author Susan Cain.   Ozan joins me to share his story; his crucial childhood experiences growing up in Turkey that shaped his interest in astronomy; his transition from Professor to his very successful writing, blogging and podcasting career.  He shares how he overcame a huge language barrier to come to the US to work on the Mars exploration rovers project. He discusses the many pivots in his life, the things he implemented in order to achieve his end goal, or ‘moonshot’, and he describes taking a leap, against advice, to start the blog and write the book. He also tells us of the book and poems that had a huge impact on his life.   " The high that comes from success lasts for the briefest of moments. It's all about the path, the process, the journey, and just retraining my brain to recognize those small moments of joy." - Ozan Varol   This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast: The flashpoints that enabled Ozan to reveal his gift to the world. Ozan shares his childhood experiences that kick-started his interest in science. How a plucky email led to Ozan’s dream job on a NASA mission as a teenager. The inspirations that drove Ozan to write his book. Ozan’s theories on overcoming obstacles and fears. Explaining back-casting - strategies to get where you want to be. Casting off the safety net Launching a book during a pandemic   Our Favorite Quotes: "I cannot change the hand that the universe dealt me, but how can I play the hands that I actually do have?" - Ozan Varol “The process is what matters, and if you can find something where the processes play, then you'll be able to build that amazing life.” - Ozan Varol   Resources Mentioned: Think Like A Rocket Scientist – Ozan Varol Quiet: The Power Of Introverts In A World That Won’t Stop Talking – Susan Cain   Connect with Ozan Varol: The Contrarian Handbook and a Weekly Email Blog Podcast – Famous Failures   Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website.                                                

Rob Salafia is the CEO of Protagonist Consulting Group, an organization that aims to help leaders unlock their true potential, boost performance, and achieve their business goals. He has over 20 years of experience as a top leadership development executive. Before he became a professional speaker and executive coach, Rob was a traveling solo performance artist. From theaters and festivals to the streets, he told stories, tap-danced, and did wire walking to engage and delight his audiences. Rob joins me to describe how you have to be vulnerable to truly express yourself and work on your shortcomings. He shares what it was like being a performance artist in the ‘80s, which inspired him to get started in the profession, and the people he entertained. He discusses what our learned gifts are and what leaders should do to become better with relationships and with themselves. Rob also shares how the book Clear Leadership influenced his current mindset. "Our learned gifts are disruptions in our life that we've learned to overcome." - Rob Salafia This week on The Virtual Campfire Podcast: The flashpoints that enabled Rob to reveal his gift to the world. How Rob stumbled into theatre and performing arts, and the skills he learned. Rob's experience performing for a Japanese audience. What Rob's dream was as a child and how it changed as he grew up. What Rob believes are our learned gifts and the authenticity of his work. Why letting yourself be vulnerable is key to finding inner peace. Why using "we" and "you" aren't always better when sharing vulnerabilities. Our Favorite Quotes: "It's not being boastful if you speak in the 'I'." - Rob Salafia "Sometimes our hand is forced, then it's basically pivot or die. Those with an indomitable spirit will inevitably survive." - Rob Salafia Resources Mentioned: Clear Leadership: Sustaining Real Collaboration and Partnership at Work by Gervase Bushe Connect with Rob Salafia Protagonist Consulting Group LinkedIn Sharing Inspiring Stories Around The Virtual Campfire Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Virtual Campfire with your host, Tony Martignetti - the Inspired Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content, powerful stories, and helpful insight, be sure to visit our website