Shane Smiddy

Taylor Daniele likes to think of herself as a creative force trying to make her own space to exist. Our conversation covers the questions in life she ponders. Such as digging inward to understand our "why." From diabetes health and awareness, being your unapologetic self, and making significant life changes during the height of Covid.

Tara Eusebi has it all. She is blond, beautiful, lives in a beach town in southern California, and has created an app that will change the world. Quizzed by her mother about her dream in life, she gave up a six-figure corporate job to create her dream job as Chief Blesser at the Bless-App. With the Bless App anyone can 'Share a need. Meet a need.' with no strings attached(really!). Tara is 'Uniting humanity through the power of Bless'

Steve Silverman looks for the good in life. While out for a run last year, he could not find the podcast he wanted to listen to. He was tired of hours-long dark genres that are popular, so he created his own to showcase finding the good. In our talk, we discuss that all outward appearances, he is a successful Hollywood writer, yet he admits that for every success he has had came one thousand failures. There have been costs for being fearless in his career.

An Irishman who lived in Canada for the previous three years. While there, he was working in the cannabis industry during the legalization. We talk about his experiences in the Cannabis industry while living in Canada. Now, he is back in Ireland and has given up smoking cannabis. It is interesting what he has to say about why he gave it up and his future plans.

Dr. Dominique Luchart, author of the NEWDAWN Saga, is a multi-faceted creative. As a writer and futurist, she draws on her legal background and challenges barriers and conventions through science fiction. Fans of Divergent, Hunger Games, Qualify, and Red Queen will enjoy Luchart's intricate world-building and sense of adventure from 2018 to 2098 and beyond.

We must learn to talk with one another about mental illness. That is why I wanted my conversation with Archie Messersmith-Bunting to revolve around depression, suicide, alcohol, and drug addiction as it relates to this past year during Covid-19. He kindly obliged because he knows of what he speaks. His perspective is from his struggles with depression, addiction, and suicide attempts. Today he is known as The Feelings Guy™. Archie champions mental health awareness worldwide at corporations and universities challenging people to rethink these complicated and emotional topics.

William Brown is a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, coach, and podcast host & guest. With his Facebook show Disconnect to Connect Conversations and the 'One Word Conversations,' he brings a unique perspective to the conversations. At the time of our conversation, he had recorded over 320 episodes. It's where he and his guest take one word and talk about that word. William tries not to lead the conversation but rather listen to his guests. They are entertaining, and they can also be found on YouTube.

Marissa F. Cohen is a best selling author, speaker and advocate. The roots of this success came as a 19-year-old outgoing, bubbly college freshman with a caring boyfriend; until he wasn't. She tells me, "he started out so thoughtful and charming, I didn't really see the quick progression to abusive and manipulative and controlling. ...I didn't know that the things he was doing and saying were, were wrong because we never learned about it." Her recovery did not fully start until almost a year later when she finally let it all out to her close friend. Since that time, she's become an advocate helping survivors let go and speak their truth and break their silence.

In his book Love Works, Joel Manby introduces us to the power of agape love in the workplace. When he was a manager in the auto industry where Joel knew that there had to be a better way of building relationships between managers and workers. When he became CEO at Herschend Family Entertainment, he found that leading with love (the verb) is possible at work. To be both loving and accountable; to be profitable and caring; to be effective and be giving. After leading thousands of men and women, he has proven that leading with love is useful, even in a business environment. Manby challenges leaders to allow integrity and faith to guide leadership decisions, outlining seven time-proven principles that break down the natural walls within corporate cultures, empower managers and employees, disarming difficulties, and cultivate an atmosphere that builds long-term success.

At first glance, Frannie Foltz is the picture of health and a perfect life with a big personality. It hasn't always been true for her. Years ago, as a 20-something, Frannie graduated college and moved to Florida for her first teaching position. There she joined a gym, and her trainer had what I call a "Come to Jesus" talk with her. Pointing out that she needed to change her ways because, " ...if you were to gain just one pound every month, every month for the next five years, You'll be closer to 400 than you are to 300". And after losing and maintaining 125+lbs over two decades, she has a passion for fitness! Frannie doesn't hide her experiences of being human by overcoming sexual abuse as a child, turning to food, and later having an affair. But she states that God soon after took over after many rock bottom moments. It is her mission to empower women to live every day fully.