Diner Talks With James

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://hometohomestead.com/

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Protecting Your Boundaries and Standing in Your Truth with TV Host Elizabeth Ries

James Robilotta — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0500

Today in the booth is TV Host and all-around badass, Elizabeth Ries! I’ve had the privilege of sharing the microphone with her before on live TV, but today we got to kick it via audio. Elizabeth is the host of Twin Cities Live and is a breath of fresh air (which I feel like we all could use in our lives). She shared so much wisdom in this episode about confidence, going after what you want, staying true to yourself, and setting (and maintaining) boundaries. We laughed, we cried, and we talked about how to up your pancake game with some blueberry compote. This conversation feels like a hug, and it will leave you wanting to chase down your dreams while also being kind and curious to everyone you meet along the way.

About the Guest:

Elizabeth Ries is a television and radio personality in the Twin Cities. She co-hosts Twin Cities Live weekdays afternoons from 3-4:30 on KSTP.. She also co-hosts a podcast called Best to the Nest focused on making our homes happy, healthy sanctuaries where we are at our best. She grew up in Apple Valley but now lives in Minneapolis with her husband Jay, daughter Bernadette and sons Franklin & Heathcliff. They also share their home with a German Shorthair Pointer named Gracie Lu and a flock of chickens in the backyard. Elizabeth is passionate about cooking with as much home grown produce as possible and wants to add a hive of bees to her yard next!

Connect and learn more:

@elizries on IG

https://www.besttothenest.com/

https://www.twincitieslive.com/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

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Practicing Assertive Optimism with Former Band Geek and Extreme Meetings Emcee, Brian Walter

James Robilotta — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0500

Sliding in the booth with me this week is Extreme Meetings emcee, Brian Walter! To quote Brian, we are both “raging extroverts,” so this was a good time! We discussed our mutual love for mac n’ cheese and then dove into Brian’s band-geek-trombonist past. After that we talked about being extroverts and how we both have a need to be liked and how both of those have changed over our lives. Brian then shared his a bit of his timeline highlights between college and his current role as an Extreme Meetings emcee. I loved when Brian talked about his philosophy of assertive activism. We finished discussing finding confidence and standing in front of audiences and trying to make them feel.

About the Guest:

Brian Walter is a professional speaker/emcee with an emphasis on humor. He runs a business called Extreme Meetings which provides customized infotainment to make meetings memorable... as well as engaging videos and presentation graphics for companies. So, he is a speaker, writer, humorist, and multi media producer. Brian has been married to the love of his life (Karen Walter) for 37 years (we were college sweethearts). He has two adult daughters and a very spoiled fluffy Corgi named Roxy. Brian is a past Guiness Book of World Recorders hold for producing the world's shortest TV commercial. He is left handed, right armed, and left legged. And he can do an awesome imitation of Yoda.

Connect and learn more:

Extrememeetings.com and Extremetrainings.com

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.bonnyshade.com/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

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Vulnerability vs. Perfectionism with Healthy Relationships Speaker, Bonny Shade

James Robilotta — Thu, 19 May 2022 04:00:00 -0500

Diner Talks with James this week is with my dear friend, Sexual Violence Awareness and Healthy Relationships Speaker, Bonny Shade. We first kicked it off talking about buffalo wings with proper “wingo” and diner orders. She then told me about growing up with less than enough in Lake Worth, Florida, and what decisions her family made to set her up for success and make ends meet. From that time, Bonny developed a fascinating and, at times, debilitating relationship with money and finances. She then flipped the script on me and asked me to talk about my insecurities that I am still working on from high school. We talked about the desire to be relevant and fear of being irrelevant. We then discussed the Enneagram. Bonny is a type 3, “the achiever,” so that launched us into a important convo about being perfectionists in work, our marriages, and as parents. One of the most powerful moments was when Bonny told the story about how she never wanted to be a mom and her journey to being proud to be a mother. This was a beautiful episode, y’all. Hope you enjoy it!

About the Guest:

Bonny Shade helps student leaders and professionals learn how to prevent sexual violence, build healthy relationships, and empower each other to feel like they belong. As a professional speaker and curriculum designer with her own company, Bonny Shade Speaks, she travels and speaks to over 10,000 students annually. She also serves as the Associate Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life at UNC Charlotte. When she's not working, Bonny enjoys spending time with her family - her partner Chris and their 2 tiny humans. She loves chicken wings (bone- in only), bourbon, and a good pun.

Connect and learn more:

@bonnyshadebb on Instagram and TikTok

Book me - https://www.bonnyshade.com/contactus

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Instincts vs. Training as a First Responder with Former Fire Chief Rich Gasaway

James Robilotta — Thu, 12 May 2022 04:00:00 -0500

This conversation was so powerful that it had both of us welling up. Joining me in the booth was former Fire Chief and lifelong first responder, Rich Gasaway. It’s so fascinating to think about individuals in those roles that we often take for granted until we need them, and it was so beautiful to hear Rich describe the work that he does, how he got into it, and how he stays in it. I will routinely return to a quote he shared – “don’t ever judge the people by the chapter of their life that you happen to stumble into when you respond to a call.” This is advice we can all take to heart. Rich has seen a lot in his time and is doing some incredible work with high-risk-decision-making and helping us identify our patterns. He’s a wealth of wisdom and you won’t want to miss this episode!

About the Guest:

Rich Gasaway is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision-making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making. He has authored and 6 books and his training programs have been delivered to more than 90,000 students worldwide. In 2019, Rich sent six weeks walking 500+ miles on the Camino De Santiago.

Connect and learn more:

SAMatters.com

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.tinaraevan.com/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

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Pregnancy loss and powerful parenting with my wife, Tina VanSteenbergen! - Encore

James Robilotta — Thu, 05 May 2022 04:00:00 -0500

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!

This week’s diner guest is my favorite human because it’s my wife - Tina VanSteenbergen Robilotta!!! We kicked off the conversation learning about Tina’s love of bourbon and bubbly water then we dove off the deep end. Tina told me about why being a mother is something she has always wanted to do. We discussed the way our parents influenced us in known and unknown ways. Tina and I then discussed our devastating experience with pregnancy loss in the second trimester. She then discussed dealing with loss while trying to grow a young business she was passionate about. Climbing out of that horrible time, we both chatted about the stress of trying to get pregnant again. Then…spoiler alert… it worked! So then we discussed whether or not we are going to raise a good human. Tina shared one thing she is excited to teach our child with a really powerful story. We lighted the mood debating “Duck, Duck, Grey Duck” vs. “Duck, Duck, Goose.” We wrapped up the conversation with Tina discussing the role other women have played in Tina’s pregnancy journey.

About the Guest:

I believe in women. I love women. I love you, even if I don’t know you yet.

I learned too late in my life that women need women. To be successful in the workplace. To feel understood. To help us believe in ourselves. To feel less alone in the world. Women need women. Women deserve strong communities full of empathy, kindness, and empowerment at work, at home, and literally everywhere in their lives. That’s where I come in.

Hi, my name is Tina VanSteenbergen and I help women tear down the walls built between us. My speaking style gives women permission to open up, have honest conversations, and connect. With a combination of authenticity, storytelling, and humor, I’ve been able to help hundreds of thousands of women build relationships with one another, believe in themselves, and take up space at companies,campuses, and organizations around North America.

My work sets my soul on fire. So does a good nap. An excellent pour of bourbon. A beautiful snow. A peaceful and reflective sunset flight. An episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race. A perfectly green avocado. The skyline of New York City. A warm and cheesy mac n’ cheese. A well-written West Wing quote. My husband – James Robilotta, my dog, and a Minnesotan accent, of course.

Connect with Tina and learn more:

https://www.instagram.com/tinaraevan/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

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Carving Your Own Lane with Comedic Musician and American Idol’s Tom McGovern

James Robilotta — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0500

With me in the Diner today is the man, the myth, the musical comedian – Tom McGovern. I love having fellow comedians in the booth with me because we can riff on everything from grape jelly to sharks (which is… what we did). In this episode Tom shared about his early love for theatre and how it morphed into this amazing career that he now has creating musical comedy content. He shared excellent advice about giving fewer shits and showing up authentically in your work, and how he has had significantly more success (like performing for American Idol) since he stopped trying to fit into a box. Tom is a ton of fun and you’re going to love kickin’ it with him. See ya in the booth!

About the Guest:

Tom McGovern is a musical comedian, actor and producer. Unfortunately, he was born and raised in New Jersey. His award-winning musical sketch-comedy has been featured in festivals across the US and Europe, and you may have caught him off-Broadway as Jim Halpert/Andy Bernard in The Office! A Musical Parody. He recently won grand prize in the Glad Jingle Contest, and was featured on season four of American Idol on ABC, where he got to perform one of his Jingles for Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. Tom also wants to make it clear that sharks deserve more love in the media.

Connect and learn more:

@tommcgovern27 across all socials (Instagram, TIkTok, Twitter, YouTube)

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://ameliareigstad.com/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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The Beauty and Power of Clarity with Authentic Communication Expert, Dr. Amelia Reigstad

James Robilotta — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0500

This week I got to hang out with communication expert, Dr. Amelia Reigstad, and I’m walking away with so many thoughts and ideas on how I can improve my communication and self-awareness. With her badass purple mohawk, she shares about the importance of living an authentic and brave life and I’m here – for – it! She discusses her research on gender roles in communication and how we can better express ourselves. We also talk about how communication shows up in parenting. Though it’s not always easy, it’s important for us to speak with clarity and stand up for ourselves and stand in our truth – and that’s what you’ll hear more about in today’s episode.

About the Guest:

Dr. Amelia Reigstad, Ph.D. is a passionate change agent, speaker, communication consultant and coach with over two decades of industry experience. She is a firm believer in authenticity and her favorite quote is "Be fearlessly authentic. Bravely be you." With her platinum blonde hair and purple mohawk, she's doing just that. She has spoken on a global scale at many professional events and conferences and has taught a variety of communications courses across the U.S., Canada, Europe and the U.K. With a passion for helping others, she consults and educates business professionals on the importance of understanding gender differences and communication styles and how this leads to more effective communication and productivity in the workplace. As the founder of The Women Empowerment Series, she inspires and encourages women to use their voice to initiate change.

Connect with Amelia and learn more:

www.linkedin.com/in/ameliareigstad

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.adultdevelopmenttheory.com

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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What it Means to be Likeable with Human Behavioral Investigator and Speaker, Arel Moodie

James Robilotta — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0500

Today I got to kick it in The Diner with fellow New Yorker, Arel Moodie. He’s a professional speaker who helps other speakers start and grow their own businesses. We talked about the experience of fitting in during our younger years (and the difficulty of blending his life growing up in the projects while simultaneously attending Jewish Day School) and how that still shows up in our adult lives, especially when it comes to influencing people and making friends. Arel offered some incredible advice on likability and how to make an impact on others in an authentic way. You’re going to love this conversation, so slide on into the booth and have a listen.

About the Guest:

Arel is known as a “human behavioral investigator” who has extensively studied the intricacies of human dynamics and relationships. He is a best-selling author who has spoken to over 750,000 people throughout 48 states and 5 countries. He has been invited to speak at the White House twice, and on the TEDx stage three times. He has been featured in The New York Times, Inc. Magazine, Essence, USA Today, Forbes, Black Enterprise, Huffington Post, and has been a contributor to the television program The Doctors.

For fun Arel likes to dance; he has performed at Madison Square Garden and even had a viral video featured on The Ellen Show!

Connect with Arel Moodie and learn more:

www.arelmoodie.com

https://www.facebook.com/arelmoodie

@arelmoodie

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.instagram.com/jenncassetta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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From 911 to Peace to Empowerment with Self Defense Expert and Speaker, Jennifer Cassetta

James Robilotta — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0500

Today’s conversation with Jennifer Cassetta was incredible. She shared a powerful story about her experience in New York on 9/11, how she found safety in her martial arts dojo, and how that moment and that feeling would become a thru line for her work in self-defense and personal development. We talked about confidence and our relationship with ourselves and different avenues, including meditation, we can take for personal growth. I got to learn a little more about her upcoming book, The Art of Badassery, and cannot wait to dive into it. Jenn is absolutely amazing, and you’re going to love overhearing our conversation in the booth!

About the Guest:

Jennifer Cassetta is a nationally recognized speaker, empowerment coach and self defense expert. Equipped with her 3rd degree black belt in Hapkido (hop-kee-doe) she's been teaching tens of thousands of women how to take their power back from predatory behavior and power up their minds, bodies and spirits for over two decades. Jenn has been featured on The Today Show, The Doctors, Rachael Ray and was a featured expert on ABC-TV's My Diet is Better Than Yours. She's taught Jenny McCarthy, Marie Osmond, Bethenny Frankel and even Carrie Fisher, Princess Leia herself, how to kick butt while wearing their favorite heels.

Connect with Jenn Cassetta and learn more:

https://jennifercassetta.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-cassetta/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.iampossibleproject.com/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Musical Theater and Suicide Prevention with Mental Health Educator, Joshua Rivedal

James Robilotta — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0500

Today in the Diner is my man, Joshua Rivedal – he’s an amazing storyteller who is full of compassion and wisdom, and he’s got a wit that won’t quit. He gave me so much to think about regarding how we as a society are approaching suicide prevention, and what we can do as individuals to be there for others. He has some dope insights on vulnerability, being a force for others, and how to live a life full of grace. We discussed some powerful topics like suicide and abuse. We also may or may not have burst into a song and dance number while sharing our love for musical theater, so you’ve got that to look forward to as well.

CW: Suicide, Emotional & Physical Abuse

About the Guest:

Joshua Rivedal is the creator and founder of Changing Minds: A Mental Health Based Curriculum and The i’Mpossible Project. In 10+ years, he has spoken about suicide prevention and mental health to 400+ organizations across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia. Joshua is also a standup comic, a professional actor, an author of 8 books, lives in Philadelphia, loves to cook, and recently grew a pretty mediocre-looking mustache.

Connect with Joshua Rivedal and learn more:

http://www.joshuarivedal.com/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.drjamessmithjr.com/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Power of Perseverance in White America with Dr. James Smith, Jr.

James Robilotta — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0500

My man Dr. James Smith Jr brought the heart today – the wordplay and wisdom was on point! He shared about his experience growing up in West Philadelphia (you know he sang it when he said it) and his experience growing up Black in America. We had a thoughtful conversation about the problematic phrase of “picking yourself up by the bootstraps” and the nuances of that concept. He shared great advice on fatherhood and just being an authentic and incredible man in this world. Dr. James Smith Jr is a gift, and you’re going to love meeting him in this episode!

About the Guest:

Dr. James Smith, Jr. (President and CEO of Dr. James Smith, Jr.) passionately works with learners providing high performance solutions in the areas of leadership, authenticity, diversity and inclusion, presentation skills and personal power. The author, speaker, coach and educator has provided his JIMPACT nationally and internationally and has worked with leaders, managers and individual contributors both virtually and in-person. He also authored three books with his last book, The No Excuse Guide to Success being nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Dr. James' possesses ridiculous optimism and relentless determination, modeled by his mother, Rebecca Nancy Smith. The perfect example of this was when he attended pre-K through senior year of high school without missing one single class.

Connect with Dr. James Smith Jr. and learn more:

https://www.facebook.com/TheDrJamesSmithJr

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC56t07w7qoQH6smo8UR3QRg

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjamessmithjr/

Drama Squashing with Workplace Culture Expert and Speaker, Joe Mull

James Robilotta — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0500

Today I was joined by professional speaker and storyteller, Joe Mull. This conversation was full of wisdom and wit as Joe shared about his experience of being a social chameleon and learning the moments where it’s more important to give up being liked in order to do the right thing. This ties into his work as a “leadership nerd” (his words) where he helps teams give up their team drama and put in the work to learn how to have healthy confrontation (which, as it turns out, is much easier to deal with than the drama that emerges when we don’t nip things in the bud). He talks about offering the benefit of the doubt and the power of leaning into the discomfort of confrontation. Whether you’re dealing with drama in the workplace or at home, Joe is full of spot-on advice that you’re going to love.

About the Guest:

Joe Mull speaks and writes about commitment in the workplace. He is the host of the popular BOSS BETTER NOW podcast and author of the book No More Team Drama: Ending the Gossip, Cliques, & Other Crap that Damage Workplace Teams. He is a father of 3, a Disney fan, and is woken up every morning by a needy but loving Dalmatian named Flash.

Connect with Joe and learn more:

bossbetternow.com to subscribe to email or podcast

Instagram @joemull77

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.instagram.com/summero_sowhat/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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How Being a Teen Mom Taught Resilience Expert, Summer Owens, to Say SO What!

James Robilotta — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0500

Kicking it in the booth with me this week is Resilience Expert and Leadership Speaker, Summer Owens! I love that Summer’s late night guilty pleasure is dark chocolate and red wine. Pretty sure that makes her the classiest guest in the diner so far! Summer and I then discussed how she used to pull her hair out as a nervous twitch when she was much younger, and the bullying that stemmed from it. Then one day a boy told her she was pretty, he took things too far, and got her pregnant at 15. Summer’s story about being a teen mom is a powerful one and what she was able to accomplish is quite remarkable. Hearing her experience working for the Memphis Grizzlies, getting her MBA, her time with FedEx, and the choices she made along the way was quite profound. We then talked about her definition of resilience and how she helps people move through their problems to solutions as a speaker and coach. This episode was a whole journey, y’all, hope you enjoy it!

About the Guest:

Summer Owens has been featured internationally on CNN and other media outlets for her story of extreme resilience. She is an award-winning author and speaker with honors including the Women of Achievement Heroism award, Top 40 Under 40, and the three highest honors at her alma mater- Miss University of Memphis, Outstanding Young Alumna, and the Distinguished Alumna Award and is now the president of the University of Memphis’s National Alumni Association.

Connect with Summer Owens and learn more:

https://summerowens.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/summer-owens-10846625/

https://www.youtube.com/user/lifeafterbirthbook

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Stepping into Your Leadership Presence with Executive Coach and Speaker, Justin Patton

James Robilotta — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0500

Executive Coach and leadership presence expert, Justin Patton, slides into the diner booth with me this week! We reminisce about eating late-night pizza and our topping preferences. Then I learned that Justin grew up on a farm in Kentucky shoveling manure and bailing hay. Though that was not his destiny it is where he learned a work ethic that he carries with him today. Justin told me about he unexpectedly lost his Dad at 18 years old and how he did not deal with the trauma for 12 years. We then talked about his time as a high school English teacher and his transition to the corporate world. I loved our rant about how we both hate the phrase, “fake it till you make it.” Justin then told me about how he coaches executives on their definition of success. We ended talking about leadership presence, how to build trust, and what authenticity means on a daily basis.

About the Guest:

Justin Patton is an executive coach, leadership presence expert, and award-winning author who challenges individuals to use their presence to communicate with stronger trust – both in the workplace and with the people they love the most. Justin is a former high school English teacher, world champion with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, and he studied body language from a former FBI agent. His programs will inspire you to reimagine who you are at your best and what is possible in your life.

Connect with Justin and learn more:

Website: https://www.justinpatton.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JPinspires

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpinspires/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.instagram.com/rickdaniels1/

Thanks for listening!

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Falling In Love With Being Black with Rick Daniels - Encore

James Robilotta — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 04:00:00 -0500

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!

Rick Daniels dropped all of the knowledge in this episode. He and I recorded this the week that George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis so you already know that we had a lot to talk about. We discussed parenting in the middle of a powerful moment for civil rights and instilling a love of identity in children. I asked him, “When did you fall in love with your blackness?” and he talked about loving your blackness while still loving everyone else. We then dove into teaching the realities of history to children early and teaching them about societal issues. He talked about why we need to get comfortable having difficult conversations and not shying away because it’s hard. Rick then grabbed the microphone and dropped a great lesson about the complexity of racism and a deep dive into critical race theory. Oh, and also, quick reminder that black lives matter :-)

About the Guest:

Rick Daniels is the Director of Campus Inclusion at Oakton Community College. He is a powerful educator and speaks nationally about social justice. A successful entrepreneur, Rick is also hired by companies and universities as a consultant to help them develop more sustainably inclusive work places. A proud brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, Rick is a proud father of 5 beautiful and strong children who he raises with his incredible wife, Erica. Lastly, Rick is a huge Milwaukee Bucks fan and is enjoying these last couple years of being able to beat his son in basketball, but his time is coming.

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

I also occasionally host my own event multiple times a year called: Living Imperfectly Live. It is a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community in the pursuit of getting out of their own way so they can live a great story. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Is Social Media Connecting Us Or Dividing Us More? With Dr. Josie Ahlquist - Encore

James Robilotta — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!

This week I am joined in the Diner by social media expert, Dr. Josie Ahlquist! We kicked it off by randomly talking about Josie’s high school dating life. We then discussed her huge transition moving from Wyoming and South Dakota to Los Angeles, what some of the values she missed were and new ones she appreciated. Josie and I then bonded over dealing with imposter syndrome when writing a book and how much better she is at asking for help than I am. Speaking of books, we got to hear all about Josie’s new book: Digital Leadership in Higher Education: Purposeful Social Media in a Connected World. She taught me about self awareness and being intentional on social media as a leader. After a fun random facts segment, we dove back in and discussed Josie’s lack of connection with girls when she was younger and how that has changed in adulthood. We finished up by talking about whether or not social media connecting us or dividing us more, how to own your truth online, and whether or not #activism works. Having Dr. Josie Ahlquist was insightful, educational, and super fun. I hope you learn as much as I did!

About the Guest:

Dr. Josie Ahlquist is a digital engagement and leadership researcher, speaker, and consultant. She teaches teens, young adults, education professionals, and campus executives how to humanize technology tools and prioritize building online community. She is the author of the book: Digital Leadership in Higher Education: Purposeful Social Media in a Connected World.

Josie also serves as a research associate and instructor at Florida State University, creating a curriculum to build digital literacy and leadership skills for undergraduates up to doctorate level students. She is extensively published and maintains an active blog and podcast (Josie & The Podcast), which have received accolades from EdTech Magazine, Inside Higher Ed and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Her book, Digital Leadership in Higher Education: Purposeful Social Media in a Connected World, came out September 2020. Josie received her doctorate from California Lutheran University in Higher Education Leadership, Masters in Education from Northern Arizona University. She majored in sociology and human development at South Dakota State University. Josie resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband Lloyd Ahlquist and their two rescue-fur babies. She is a proud auntie, underdog triathlete and recent peloton addict.

Connect with Josie and learn more:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/josieahlquist

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josieahlquist/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josieahlquist/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJosieAhlquist/

Email: josie@josieahlquist.com

Website: https://www.josieahlquist.com

Book: https://www.josieahlquist.com/digitalleadership/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.instagram.com/tomkrieglstein/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Processing The Fall Out Of A Million Dollar Business with Tom Krieglstein - Encore

James Robilotta — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!

Tom Krieglstein became my first guest to actually eat while he was in the diner! Since he was munching on a veggie pizza, we started by chatting about the impact The Simpsons had on Tom’s dietary choices. We then dove into Tom’s passion of creating a culture of connection. He told me about his chase for the Guiness World Record for hugging and we let the roll into a great talk about where Tom’s passion for connecting others stemmed from. Tom then opened up and processed the failure of a million dollar business that he started and was then fired from. In doing so we talked about self-help practices because he is a huge proponent for journaling. Then after a fun segment where we learned about Tom’s passport mishap in Indonesia and an embarrassing puberty moment for me, we dove back in. We ended the conversation discussing his new role as a step-father and the difference between being a tourist and being a traveler. Tom dropped a lot of nuggets in here, y’all. I can’t thank him enough for joining me in the booth!

About the Guest:

After starting his first business in college that grew to $1.5 million in annual sales, Tom went on to be the Founder and Lead Facilitator of Swift Kick. Since 2004, Tom has trained over half a million leaders around the US and the world including England, South Korea, Indonesia, and Bermuda on how to build a Culture of Connection™ within their organization. Tom has spoken to leaders at some of the largest companies in the world such as Coca Cola, Pfizer, Disney, US Navy, and UCLA. Through his speaking, he holds an unprecedented 6 National Speaking Titles from APCA. He is a TEDx speaker, held a Guinness World Record, and sat on the board of the NYC Entrepreneurs’ Organization for five years. On a personal note, he was named after a cat and loves peanut butter.

Connect with Tom and learn more:

www.swiftkickhq.com

https://swiftkickhq.com/freshman-success-book/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

www.instagram.com/jess_ekstrom

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Competing ambitions in relationships and trust building with Jess Ekstrom - Encore

James Robilotta — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!

I got to sit down with entrepreneur, speaker, and great friend Jess Ekstrom and we jumped right in with their decision to sell their apartment and move into an Airstream. Hearing about her relationship and having different ambitions as a partner and how to communicate about it was awesome. I asked her where do you develop a stick-to-itiveness nature with bring ideas to life. Then we chatted about branding yourself while wanting to still be yourself and how do you know when you can turn around and help someone who is behind you? We closed it out with developing trust in your working and personal relationships.

About the Guest:

Jess Ekstrom is the founder and CEO of Headbands of Hope, author of Chasing the Bright Side and just launched her podcast called Business on the Bright Side. She's passionate about helping women tell and sell their story through public speaking and book writing. Jess lives full time in her Airstream trailer with her husband, Jake, and their dog, Ollie. She can run multi-million dollar businesses but she can't keep a plant alive and doesn't own an iron.

www.jessekstrom.com

www.brightpages.com

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

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Being in Your Underwear in Times Square with Stacy Nadeau - Encore

James Robilotta — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 06:00:00 -0500

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!

Joining me this episode in the Diner is body image expert, coach, speaker, and badass mom, Stacy Nadeau! She and I first discuss why she was in her underwear in Times Square and the journey to being comfortable in your body for men and women. We then chatted about ways to silence our inner critic. Stacy is new-ish parent so I wanted to hear about telling yourself stories as a parent and being a brand new mom and being an entreprenuer. We ended with an eye-opening convo about why we should no longer seek balance and what we should look for instead and “Hell yes” vs. “Hell no” when making decisions.

· Being in your underwear in Times Square

· The journey to being comfortable in your body for men and women

· Ways to silence our inner critic

· Telling yourself stories as a parent

· Why we should no longer seek balance and what we should look for instead

· Hell yes vs. hell no

· Being a brand new mom and being an entreprenuer

About the Guest:

In the summer of 2005, six women made national news when they appeared on a Times Square billboard, dressed only in their underwear. While other nearby billboards featured actresses and supermodels, this one, promoting Dove brand products, promoted real women with real curves and the nation went wild. Suddenly, Stacy, an industrial organizational psychology major at DePaul University, was thrust into the national spotlight. As one of the real women featured in the ad campaign, Stacy quickly emerged as a spokeswoman for healthy body image. She appeared on the Today Show, CNN, Ellen, Dr. Phil, Tyra, and Oprah (twice).

Since then Stacy has committed her life and career to helping leaders re-connect to their power in order to unleash their confidence and move their organizations forward. Stacy has leveraged her experience and organizational psychology background to create impactful programming for countless clients like Walgreens, Cisco, and Lowe’s. Stacy lives in Chicago, IL with her family. She works full-time as a speaker, consultant, and coach to empower women everywhere.

Website: Stacy Nadeau

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacylnadeau/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://beckysmindfulkitchen.com

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Goats, Diabetes, and Stoicism with Consultant, Coach and Cook, Becky Schmooke

James Robilotta — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Today I was joined in the diner booth by leadership consultant and owner of Becky’s Mindful Kitchen, Becky Schmooke. Becky, her wonderful sarcasm, and I dove in discussing popcorn in bed and Minnesota diners. We then talked about what she wanted to be when she grew up and how she got to meet both Michelle Kwan and Jill Biden (but didn’t realize it was her). From figure skating to playing the cello to running cross country, Becky has had no shortage of interests. It was cool to hear her talk about her theory that winners quit. She then told me about what mindfulness means to her, and I was surprised by her answer! Lastly, we dove into her passion for stoicism and how it shows up in both her daily life, teaching, and leadership consulting work. Lots of laughs throughout this one and some pretty great insights. Enjoy!

About the Guest:

The year was 1987, the month January, and as the sun rose on the final day of the first week of the new year, a blessed baby was born over looking the Pacific Ocean… no? Not the bio you were looking for?

Okay… take two Becky Schmooke is the founder, owner, goat wrangler and dishwasher of Becky’s Mindful Kitchen. A cooking school in the Midwest that has evolved into a truly one of a kind countryside escape and home to summer camps, leadership retreats, mindfulness workshops, and bachelorette parties.

After 10 years of studying mindfulness, leadership and stoic philosophy, she now focuses on mindful leadership consulting and speaking, helping organizations find simple and effective ways to integrate her mindful leadership systems into their workplace and personal lives. Becky has started speaking in schools about mental health and mindful leadership and teaches mindful parenting from a leadership perspective.

Cooking still remains and will forever remain a part of BMK, from kid classes to corporate team building- the skills learned in the kitchen extend beyond the table.

Breeding goats and contending with 60 plus hens means life here is never dull. With a vet supply shelves stocked full, Becky has had to deal with a multitude of goat and chicken emergencies. She also splits her own wood, uses a chainsaw, teaches archery and fire starting, makes soaps and candles and skin care products to gift to people. Other fun facts, she has 2 bio daughters, 1 bonus daughter, Married, Type 1 diabetic and has almost died a few times!

Connect with Becky and learn more:

https://www.facebook.com/beckysmindfulkitchen/

https://www.instagram.com/beckysmindfulkitchen/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://instagram.com/allheartinspirations

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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The Stories of A Radiant Haitian Queen with Storyteller and Activist Ferene Paris Meyer

James Robilotta — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Today I was joined by storyteller and activist, Ferene Paris Meyer. This episode was humorous and heartfelt as Ferene shared about her experience growing up in a family of Haitian immigrants and how that shaped her current world. She spoke about her awakening and coming alive as a proud Haitian woman and how she dove into her culture through food, language, and experiences in Haiti. She also shared about how this ultimately led to her leaving her toxic workplace to start a business of her own, which centers around manifesting opportunities to have heartfelt inspirational moments. Ferene is honest, powerful, thoughtful, and someone you want to spend hours within The Diner – you’re not going to want to miss this episode.

*CONTENT WARNING* This episode includes stories of experiencing racism and hate crimes.

About the Guest:

Ferene Paris Meyer (she/her) is a radiant Haitian Queen who is here to live out loud and love deeply! Storyteller & Founder for All Heart Inspirations (est. 2020). Ferene create heart-centered spaces through storytelling workshops, community engagements, culinary art, and more! Why is storytelling her jam?! It saved her life. She was questioning many things, including her life's purpose and self-worth. The art of storytelling would help Ferene make meaning of her lived experiences, be open to new dreams, let go of past expectations, take a leap of faith, manifest awesome shit and more! She is her ancestors’ wildest dreams. And it all started with her finally being honest with herself and those that cared for her, Ferene was not okay back in Fall 2019, but she was rewritten her story!

Connect with Ferene and learn more:

https://www.allheartinspirations.com

https://linktr.ee/ALLHEARTINSPIRATIONS

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Being Between Dreams with Actress, Director and Reiki Practitioner, Leslie Meisel

James Robilotta — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

My dear friend, Leslie Meisel, joins me this week in the diner. She is an actor who has appeared on Broad City, RISE, Difficult People, and a director. Recently she has also become a practicing reiki master! We talked about whether you should order steak at a diner and a fun quirk about her related to Grease 2. I loved hearing about how Leslie’s acting dreams started and the mental ups and downs of trying to pursue it. We then reminisced about one of the most random jobs either of us has ever had when we worked for The Ride in Times Square. We then shifted to a powerful talk about Leslie’s transition from doing more acting/directing work to doing more spiritual and healing work. Leslie now does Reiki and I had no idea what that is so I got an education! What a beautiful, funny, and sincere episode; please enjoy it with a side of fries!

About the Guest:

Leslie Meisel is a Certified Reiki Practitioner (attuned by Joan Volpe PH.D, Reiki Master, Shaman). She is also an actor, writer, director, teacher and in college worked at a bowling alley thinking it would be exactly like Grease 2*..........................it wasn't.

Leslie came to discover Reiki through her own healing journey about 10 years ago when working with Joan. Once she saw the benefits of this method in her own life, learning the art became a wonderful passion and mission to assist others in achieving healing in their own lives.

As far as the acting/directing/writing part of Leslie's life, she was previously co-host of the monthly show COUPLES SKATE at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre NY, a cast member on the UCB house team CHARACTERS WELCOME (Season 1 & 2). On screen, Leslie has worked with Ed Burns, Michael Imperioli, Dane DeHaan, and appeared on the NBC show RISE, Difficult People, Broad City, Netflix’s The Characters, and the feature film Bachelorette (w/Rebel Wilson & Kirsten Dunst).

As a director, she has worked on many shows at the UCB Theatre, including AzN Pop!: Live in Concert!, All In Favor, United Federation of Teachers with Natasha Vaynblatt (IFC, Funny or Die, McSeeney’s), co-directed Stone Cold Fox: Sexy Idiots with Aaron Burdette, (Man Seeking Woman, The Onion), several Maude sketch teams, co-director/writer of He Said She Said with Kate Riley-Zelensky (MTV, Two Guys Named Josh) and worked with Bridge & Tunnel‘s staged show for Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival (Kristen Bartlett; Full Frontal with Samantha Bee).

*Leslie is one of many "Martys" who always wanted to be a "Rizzo"... which is why she may think that Grease 2 is MUCH better than Grease.

Connect with Leslie and learn more:

http://www.lesliemeisel.com(website)

@meiselellis (Instagram)

https://www.northportwellnesscenter.com/practitioner/leslie-ellis-reiki (reiki)

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.odellspeaks.com/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Marketing and the Hustler’s Mindset with speaker and master marketer, Odell Bizzell II

James Robilotta — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

My man Odell Bizzell II slid into the diner booth with me this week. He and I have known each other for a number of years from the speaker circuit and I have always respected his hustle. We talked about how he and I travel differently and why he typically spends all of his time on the road in the hotel. He told me some of the powerful lessons he father taught him growing up black in Guilford County, North Carolina. I loved hearing about how he chose to go NC State as opposed to an HBCU (Historically Black College/University). We talked about where his hustler’s mindset comes from, how he has written 10 books, and what fuels him. He and Stan Pearson III are creating a brand new association in the higher education space called NAMCA. The last thing we discussed was how to get out of your own way and learn how to market yourself and your strengths.

About the Guest:

Odell Bizzell is Andy & Doris's first born. Christine's favorite. Sierra's husband. Makayla, Raine, & Will's Dad. After all of that Odell is a master marketer, super communicator, and a professional speaker author and coach to thousands all over the planet. He was voted Guilford County's 85th funniest person in a random study, Odell's career has spanned close to 15 years as a speaker, writer, podcast host. He is the self-proclaimed greatest basketball player/rapper/speaker/published author in the history of the world.

Connect with Odell and learn more:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/odellbizzell/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.candleinadarkroom.com/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

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Turning You Mess into your Message with abuse survivor and victim advocate, Desi Garcia

James Robilotta — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

This week in the diner I had a thoughtful and vulnerable conversation with Survivor and CEO of Candle In A Dark Room, Desi Garcia. Desi shared her gripping and heart-wrenching story of surviving childhood physical and sexual violence. She told the story of how she turned her “mess into her message” and how she felt called to help other survivors and families of survivors to cope and restore their power. She shared about her podcast and her foundation and the dreams she has for what it can become. Desi’s strength and fortitude are profound and inspiring, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to listen and learn from her.

*CONTENT WARNING* This episode includes stories of trauma, child physical and sexual violence, bullying, stalking, and suicide. Resources can be found at: https://www.candleinadarkroom.com/

About the Guest:

Desi Garcia is a mom, wife, survivor, advocate, counselor, crisis worker, trauma expert, podcaster & public speaker, I am the CEO/Founder of Candle in a Dark Room (CIADR). I am a survivor of child physical and sexual abuse.

CIADR now offers many things. We help survivors of physical and sexual trauma, as well as mental health that stems from trauma. We also help with other trauma such as grief, adoption and more. She now goes to court with victims around the country to face their perpetrators in court, I help prepare them before, support them during, and offer long term help after. I help survivors take their power back, and start the proper steps of healing through their trauma.

Connect with Desi and learn more:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/candleinadarkroom/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/candleinadarkroom/?hl=en

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/candle-in-a-dark-room-podcast/id1454847769

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Mrs.ErneePeppers

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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The Juxtaposition of Forgiveness and Discipline with high energy powerhouse entertainer, Ernee Peppers

James Robilotta — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 04:00:00 -0500

You can skip today’s cup of coffee because today’s guest – Ernee Peppers – has enough energy for all of us. Ernie has an electric and contagious personality and will inspire you to drop your baggage and step into your badassery. Todays episode centered around the power of forgiveness and the gift that is for yourself. Ernee shared about some trauma she faced in childhood and how freeing it was to forgive the person who caused that trauma and how that opened up her life. This conversation was so inspiring and I’m so grateful that Ernee showed up with her whole damn self. If you find yourself holding on to something from your past, this episode is for you.

About the Guest:

Ernee Peppers is a high hair wearin, high heel steppin, high energy givin, sashay walkin, sassy talkin Bold Badass Hot Pepper, is here to sizzle up your confidence and WOW up your life with her signature authentic girlfriend style type of conversations with a side order of gut-busting laughs. In her own words, “I will fart, piss and cry at the same time when I’m startled, hate eggs, love humor, and a cus word or two.” Ernee is an award-Winning talk show host, speaker, author, actress, entertainer, coach, and entrepreneur and, more importantly, a wife, mom, sister, and friend.

Connect with Ernee and learn more:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/theerneepeppersshow

Book: www.mrspeppersplaybook.com

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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What Continuing to Believe in Yourself Looks Life with speaker and entrepreneur Jake Kelfer

James Robilotta — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 04:00:00 -0500

Today we’re kickin’ it in the Diner with your new friend and mine, Jake Kelfer. He’s an incredible entrepreneur who shared story after story about how he would bet on himself and keep pushing and trusting his ideas until they either came to fruition or failed. He shared about massive successes – writing a bestselling book and starting an NBA draft combine – as well as a failure in an online course he created that flopped. Our conversation centered around audacity and confidence and what to do with fear and the stories that creep into our head that are less than helpful. He has a cool blend of confidence and humility and I loved when he said, “if I can make it through life with more assists than turnovers, I’m going to be all right.” If you’re an entrepreneur or someone who’s trying to put something new out into the world, this episode is for you.

About the Guest:

Jake Kelfer is a lifestyle entrepreneur, life elevator, and coach to ambitious entrepreneurs and freedom seekers helping people create incredibly impactful and profitable businesses. He is a 3x bestselling author, a high-energy motivational speaker, and the founder of the Professional Basketball Combine which has helped 70+ NBA draft prospects turn their dreams of playing pro basketball into their reality. He and his work have been featured on Forbes, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and many other major media outlets. Connect with Jake on social @jakekelfer!

Connect with Jake and learn more:

@jakekelfer

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonhewlett/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Do You Keep Promises with Yourself? With Hall of Fame Speaker and Entertainer, Jason Hewlett

James Robilotta — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 04:00:00 -0500

Today in the booth, Jason Hewlett is coming in hot and ordering up a Moons Over My Hammy and dishing out advice that’s good for the soul. We talked about body image and being comfortable in our own skin, ways to discover our signature moves – or our natural strengths, how to be comfortable in the different seasons of parenthood and ditch the idea of balance, and how to have grace with ourselves and be mindful of the way we speak with ourselves. This episode is jam-packed with selfcare and Jason delivers advice thoughtfully and hilariously. If you’re looking for a feel-good episode that will remind you to have forgiveness and grace for yourself – this one’s for you!

About the Guest:

Jason Hewlett, CSP, CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame and Keynote Speaker, for the top corporate events in the world with his message, "The Promise". Combining the powerful business-meets-personal mindset shifting philosophy of The Promise we make as Leaders, A family man, husband and father of 4 beautiful children, Jason's message and value is expressed in his insightful and hilarious blog posts, videos, and live performances to delighted audiences. Jason’s hobbies include hiking in the mountains, writing music, playing with his kids, being a diehard Utah Jazz fan and staring at his wife.

Connect with Jason and learn more:

JasonHewlett.com

https://www.facebook.com/jasonhewlettentertainer/

Instagram: @JasonHewlett

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Be Ready For Your Story to Change Someone’s Life with Big Bang Theory Actor, Alessandra Torresani

James Robilotta — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 04:00:00 -0500

Sliding into the diner this week is actor, Alessandra Torresani. You’ve seen her on Big Bang Theory, American Horror Story, and most recently the movie, Women is Losers. She and I kicked things off by disclosing our first on-stage kisses (spoiler, hers was Frankie Muniz) then made our way back to our favorite diner orders. Alessandra told me about her California journey from the Bay Area to LA and the start of her acting career. We then talked about when we both learned that we may be struggling with mental health issues. I loved the way Alessandra talked about her journey with bi-polar disorder and the beauty of medication. Her story about how a conference in London changed her life was beautiful. We ended by discussing a few other things including the role that humor can (and probably should) play in mental health.

About the Guest:

Alessandra Olivia Torresani began studying dancing and singing when she was two years old. At the age of 8, she landed a job doing interviews between cartoons on The WB Television Network. She holds a black belt in taekwondo. Torresani's television debut was at age nine when she hosted the "Kids' WB Club" for San Francisco's KBWB. She co-starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Going to the Mat. Her other television credits include guest appearances on Even Stevens, JAG, ER, The War at Home, Malcolm In The Middle, Arrested Development, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, CSI, Husbands, Big Bang Theory. Torresani is bipolar and hosts EmotionAL Support with Alessandra Torresani, a mental health podcast.

Connect with Alessandra and learn more:

Podcast: EmotionAL Support with Alessandra Torresani

Instagram: @AlessandraTorresani

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Living a Life Where You Need to Pinch Yourself with Stu Massengill

James Robilotta — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 04:00:00 -0500

This week in the diner I hung out with my man, Stu Massengill. What I appreciate about Stu is that he is so dedicated to looking for what’s next and building his legacy, but he’s also so in tune with the present moment and savors every day, and I loved the way he talked about striking that balance. In this episode, we talked about Stu’s career as an entrepreneur, his battle with cancer, and his decision to leave his career in the wellness industry to start a speaking business and begin working with the GOAT – Tony Robbins. Stu is a maximizer and up to big things in this world, and I know you’re going to love what he shares in this episode.

About the Guest:

Hey, my name is Stu Massengill and I am on a mission to help people answer the question, "What do I want to do with my life?" Over the last 10 years, I have been immersed in the personal development world which led me to opportunities such as speaking on stages in front of 10,000 people, building a business that did 8 million dollars in revenue, and now working with the GOAT himself, Tony Robbins. One of the biggest things this helped me with, however, was beating cancer at the age of 24 due to what I learned from personal development. Aside from my mission to make an impact I love the outdoors, am a huge snowboarder and avid traveler, and doing my best to enjoy my time here on earth.

Connect with Stu and learn more:

5 Day Find Your Future Challenge: www.findingdirectionuniversity.com

website: www.stumassengill.com

Social Media (IG, Facebook, LinkedIn) Stu Massengill on everything

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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What Does it Mean to Show Up for Someone? with CEO Ercole Perrone

James Robilotta — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 06:00:00 -0500

In the booth with me this week is the one and only Ercole Perrone (say it with a thick Italian accent or you’re doing this glorious name (and man) a disservice). This conversation was so good – it centered around the theme of being a better listener, leading and taking care of others with great empathy, and being a good human who stands up for other humans and has compassion for the mental health and personal growth of others. Whether it’s in the mentoring space, the DEI space, or the mental health space – we need to serve and take care of our fellow beings. And ultimately, we need to ask better questions and actually listen – which is what we’re all about here in the diner. This episode has a lot of heart and I can’t wait for you to tune in!

About the Guest:

Ercole is a consultant and advisor to senior managers of non-profit organizations and mid-sized companies, specializing in higher education. Ercole has fifteen years of senior management experience in roles that have spanned both industry associations and public sector organizations as a social impact executive. His range of professional and volunteer experiences includes working with youth, charities, various levels of government and in academia.

Currently, Ercole is the CEO of IGNITE Student Union, leading one of the largest student unions in Canada through significant and transformative change during the most challenging time in postsecondary education history.

Ercole lives with his amazing wife, three wonderful kids and a mischievous dog in Oakville, Ontario.

Fun Facts: My favourite socks have a picture of my wife's face on them; I am a master campfire maker; and I love fig jam.

Connect with Ercole and learn more:

Twitter: @ErcoleDPerrone

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ercoleperrone

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Link to their book on Amazon

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Divorce Sucks…Temporarily with "Our Happy Divorce" Authors, Nikki DeBartolo and Benjamin Heldfond

James Robilotta — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0500

"Our Happy Divorce" authors, Nikki DeBartolo and Benjamin Heldfond slid into the diner booth with me this week. Divorce is never easy but these two have figured out a way to make it work for their son Asher. We started our conversation talking about how Ben and Nikki met, when the sparks flew, and what brought them from San Francisco to Tampa, Florida. Making friends in a new city is hard and resentment is a tough emotion to shake when it starts building. I really appreciate the candor and self-awareness they both showed when owning how the years leading up to the divorce and the few after could have been handled better. We also talked about how they worked through the popular, though flawed, rationale many unhappy couples have: Stay together for the kids. We ended talking about the importance of counseling, the beauty of an open mind, and the power of clarity in communication. This was filled with just the right amount of couple bantering and deep-hitting realities. Excited for you to hear it!

About the Guest:

From weeknight dinners and homework sessions with their son to Christmas card photos and vacations, Nikki DeBartolo and Benjamin Heldfond have created a tight-knit, enviable family. They work and play well together, from the smallest daily tasks to the biggest life events—and it only took a divorce to get them there. Though their marriage has been over for nearly a decade, they still share a happy life with each other and their son Asher, along with their new amazing spouses and children.

Ben and Nikki had hoped their wedding would start their happily ever after—but seven years, one child, and countless financial and familial entanglements later, their I do-s had turned into We can’t-s. Armed with their fierce love for their son and a desire to give him the best, they realized they needed to find an alternative to the seemingly inevitable toxic divorce that loomed over their lives.

Refusing to participate in the standard litigious legal divorce process, they devised a new strategy and worked to confront their hurt feelings and fragile egos head-on. Committed to putting Asher’s needs first in every decision, they helped each other heal and build a future. Their happily blended family today is a testament to their commitment to a few core principles and their incredible son—during the divorce and beyond.

In their stunning book "Our Happy Divorce," Ben and Nikki elaborate on the difficulties of their divorce experience, their individual pains and triumphs, and their unique approach to relationships and blended families. Their story is sure to inspire others to pursue something few believe possible…a happy divorce.

Connect with Ben and Nikki and learn more:

@ourhappydivorce on Instgram

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Rewrite the Definition of Success with Washington Post Best Selling Author Laura Gassner Otting AKA LGO

James Robilotta — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0500

Buckle up, y’all because this episode is jam-packed with nuggets of wisdom that will stick with you long after listening. Today I kicked it in the booth with bestselling author, socially conscious entrepreneur, and speaker Laura Gassner Otting (aka LGO). We talked about finding what you love to do, defining success and what is enough for yourself, motivation vs. discipline, control, imposter syndrome, and a new way to think about confidence. LGO is incredibly entertaining, an excellent storyteller, and someone who offers a fresh perspective. This episode has a little bit of everything for everyone and is well worth your time. Not to mention, it starts out with some PRO tips for ordering at the diner. Check it out!

About the Guest:

Washington Post Best Selling Author and Motivational Keynote speaker, Laura Gassner Otting, inspires people to push past the doubt and indecision that keep great ideas in limbo because her presentations make listeners think bigger and accept greater challenges that reach beyond their limited scope of belief.

She delivers strategic thinking, well-honed wisdom, and perspective generated by decades of navigating change across the start-up, nonprofit, political, as well as philanthropic landscapes. Laura dares listeners to find their voice, and generate the confidence needed to tackle larger-than-life challenges. She leads them to seek new ways of leading, managing and mentoring others.

Laura’s entrepreneurial edge has been well-honed over a 25-year career that started as a Presidential Appointee in Bill Clinton’s White House, where she helped shape AmeriCorps.

She left a leadership role at the respected nonprofit search firm, Isaacson, Miller, to expand the startup ExecSearches.com. Laura also founded and ran the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group, which partnered with the full gamut of mission-driven nonprofit executives, from start-up dreamers to scaling social entrepreneurs to global philanthropists. In 2015, Laura sold NPAG to the team that helped her build it, both because she was hungry for the next chapter and because she held an audacious dream of electing our nation’s first female president.

Along the way, while serving on Hillary Clinton’s National Finance Committee, she was asked to do a TEDx talk which became so popular that it launched a speaking career. Laura has spoken across the United States and internationally to universities, companies, conferences, accelerators, TEDx, and the US Military.

She is the author of Mission-Driven: Moving from Profit to Purpose (2015) and the Washington Post Best Seller Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life (2019). She lives with her husband, two teenage sons, and troublesome puppy outside of Boston, MA.

Fun facts: I went to computer sleep away camp. I am running my fourth marathon in a week, having never run a mile in my life before I turned 39, and now the reigning lightweight indoor rowing champion of my age group. I have an irrational fear of whales.

Connect with Laura and learn more:

myfourquestions.com

lauragassnerotting.com

@heylgo on Instagram

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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What Living in China for 6 years and Leaving Your Dream Job Taught Life Coach, Geneviève Pépin

James Robilotta — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 06:00:00 -0500

I don’t even know if there are diners in the Canary Islands, but I do know that this week’s guest, Geneviève Pépin, slid into this diner all the way from off the coast of Morocco. Geneviève and I started off discussing the magical foods that are poutine (because she’s from Quebec City) and arepas (because they are delicious). Then she told me about how she went from being a loner as a child who wanted to be an artist to getting lost in the corporate world. In her 20s she became a voracoius traveler and wound up studying and then working in China for 6 years! I loved hearing about her experience in China, what she loved about the culture there, and what surprised her. Because she has lived in many places, Geneviève calls herself a free agent of cultural norms, so naturally, I had to ask how one does that. We then discussed some of her professional careers. She talked about getting your dream job and then realizing it was not right for her and then knowing when to leave. It was fascinating hearing her talk about coming to terms with your control issues and understanding your relationship with control. And we finished up by going back and forth about, as a coach, how do you spark change? Loved this one y’all!

About the Guest: (Bio, Personal Links, Resource Links)

Geneviève Pépin is passionate about helping people go from busy & stressed to happy & productive, as a result of her own journey in the professional world. She is an accredited life coach (IAPC&M), certified mindset specialist, productivity and leadership development coach (Fortune 500 companies), and improv facilitator. Before coaching, Geneviève built her career internationally in event management and marketing, living, working, and traveling in 20 countries, in four different languages. She likes to enjoy a black espresso and a good laugh with friends, practice improv comedy, and spend time with her husband and two dogs in the beautiful Canary Islands that she calls home.

Connect with Geneviève and learn more:

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/GenLIProfile

Website: https://nettolacoaching.com/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

instagram.com/joethereporter

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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The Pursuit of Truth with Emmy-Nominated Reporter and Anchor, Joe Mauceri

James Robilotta — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0500

Longtime friend and Emmy-nominated anchor and reporter, Joe Mauceri, slid into a Brooklyn diner booth with me for this episode! Joe and I talked about a few childhood memories and what kind of burger you’re allowed to order in a diner. After asking Joe what he wanted to be when he was a kid, we learn about the home videos where his on-camera experience started and it was very cool to hear how he went from there to being a journalism/broadcast major at Syracuse. I asked Joe how he finds places to inject his personality when doing the news, which is typically quite serious and heavy. We also talked about the role that bias does and doesn’t play as a sports reporter. The current state of the media in our country is fascinating. I asked Joe a few questions about being in the field of journalism and what advice he would give to newcomers. We rounded the conversation out with me asking Joe how he is raising his children to have an open mind and why being a Dad matters to him. One of Joe’s quotes that I loved was, “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me the truth.” Another special diner talk in the books, y’all!

About the Guest:

Joe Mauceri is a Brooklyn Boy with a large extended family, but he’s an only child. He is married to my amazing wife Erin and they have two awesome children Maddox 4 and Lucas 2. Joe lives four blocks from where he grew up, loves his mom's cooking and sports. Joe is a sports anchor and reporter for WPIX in New York City. He is also an entrepreneur who has started 3 businesses. Joe is an adrenaline junkie who has been sky diving, bungee jumping, and zip-lining. Last, but not least, he is a morning person, but works nights!

Connect with Joe and learn more:

www.dadhab.com

instagram.com/TheDadHabit

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://sociatap.com/TheOfficialGlue

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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How to Make Conversations Less Awkward with Networking Strategist and Speaker, Tollisha Joseph

James Robilotta — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 06:00:00 -0500

This week in the booth is networking expert and Twix connoisseur, Tollisha Joseph. We spent our time talking about how to form relationships, how to stand out in a room full of people, and how to get out of our own way. We talked about boundaries and values, and she shared advice for looking to your past to help you figure out what you should do with your future. We rounded out the episode by talking about conversation strategies and the role of being either interested or interesting, and how to balance each in order to maximize the relationship. We ended on an analogy about having to pee, and you’re going to just have to tune in for that nugget of gold. This was a great episode with so many points and takeaways – you aren’t going to want to miss it!

About the Guest:

Tollisha Joseph is the CEO of “The Official GLUE” a consultant agency that is driven by the heartbeat of human connection. Tollisha turned her frustration around professional networking into a successful business that teaches individuals how to master the art of effective networking and leverage it to increase visibility and revenue for their businesses. She’s created success by teaching small and midsize businesses the art of effective networking and getting them on the “YES” side of their business.

Connect with Tollisha and learn more:

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

www.Instagram.com/mikeganino

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Gay Dad Life and Storytelling-time with Mike Ganino

James Robilotta — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0500

In the booth with me this week is the storytelling, improv-loving, eggs benedict-hating, Mike Ganino. He’s lived 79 lives, and because he’s an efficient storyteller we got to hear about most of them. We talked about everything from his time as a flight attendant (including month-long layovers in Hawaii and dating for drinks), his leading role in a personal injury lawyer commercial, his evolution to public speaking, and his newest role as a stay-at-home dad. He shared a powerful story about coming out and dropped some insightful notes about finding your thru-line in life to recognize your innate talents. By the end, we were those two dudes in a booth crying into our milkshakes… the Diner Talks special! You’re going to love Mike’s stories and little nuggets sprinkled throughout -- you’re not going to want to miss this episode.

About the Guest:

Mike Ganino is a storytelling + public speaking expert who hosts The Mike Drop Moment podcast. He’s been named a Top 10 Public Speaking Coach by Yahoo Finance, and California’s Best Speaking and Communication Coach by Corporate Vision Magazine. He is an author, former Executive Producer of TEDxCambridge, and has been named a Top 30 Speaker by Global Guru, Mike’s worked with organizations like Disney, American Century Investments, American Marketing Association, and UCLA. Mikes a new Dad, a coffee snob, and chronically late.

Connect with Mike and learn more:

www.mikeganino.com

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

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Why Women Need Women with Women’s Empowerment Speaker (and my wife!) Tina VanSteenbergen

James Robilotta — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0500

It’s Diner Talks with James’ first birthday! To celebrate Tina VanSteenbergen, my badass wife, slid back into the diner booth with me! Tina is a professional women’s empowerment speaker and runs her own women’s conference called Persist. We started the way we always do, talking late-night foods. The last time Tina was on the podcast she was pregnant, now we have a baby, and I asked her how that feels. We then threw out the best and worst advice we got when she was pregnant. Tina talked about the feeding struggles and other really hard topics that aren’t shared enough with new moms. But how do you know you’re a good parent? Our two very different perspectives were fascinating to hear. Also, we weren’t head over heels in love with our baby the day he was born and that is ok. A big thing we are still dealing with is the loneliness of becoming parents so we chatted about that struggle. Then we took a hard left and got to hear about Tina’s new passion project: Persist: A Badass Women’s Conference. She wonders, are women writing a story that their success is limited? Tina rounded out our time together discussing why, for women, confidence must be a team sport. What a special one, y’all! Thank you to all of you who helped this fun idea I had stick around for a full year, now on to year 2!

About the Guest:

My work sets my soul on fire. So does a good nap. An excellent pour of bourbon. A beautiful snow. A peaceful and reflective sunset flight. An episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race. A perfectly green avocado. The skyline of New York City. A warm and cheesy mac n’ cheese. A well-written West Wing quote. My husband–James Robilotta, my dog, and a Minnesotan accent, of course

Connect with Tina and learn more:

Website: www.tinaraevan.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/tinaraevan

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community in the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

http://www.CenterForRespect.com

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

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Women, Use Your Voice! with the Enigmatic Emcee and Potent Professional Speaker, Quinn Conyers

James Robilotta — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Quinn Conyers slid in the Diner booth with me this episode! She is an incredible Master of Ceremonies (emcee) and powerful public speaker who specializes in helping Black women find and use their voices. Quinn and I first bonded over our love of crabby fries. Then we learn how Quinn fell in love with being an emcee. I loved her mantra of, “I don’t want to be booked and busy, I want to be peaceful and paid!” It was powerful learning when Quinn learned to step into her voice and speak up as a black woman. Especially while being raised by her mother who is from a generation that was taught to be quiet to survive. Quinn told us why and how she started to help fellow black women recognize their value, use their voices, and become speakers. She shared with us a few ways women can use their voices more at work, at home, and in the wild. We ended with her answer to an important question: what can leadership do at companies to ensure women and people of color can use their voice at work? Real strong episode here, y’all!

About the Guest:

Quinn Conyers broadcast the brilliance of women in business! She shows them how to Turn Conversations into Cash so they can profit from public speaking. Quinn believes your voice is your secret weapon in business and is a master at training entrepreneurs how to leverage public speaking as a marketing strategy, lead generation tool, and revenue stream in your business. If you are ready to maximize and monetize all speaking opportunities on behalf of your business, book, or brand you are in the right place. After this powerful presentation, Quinn will show you how to verbalize your value and articulate your awesomeness so you can leverage your mouth as your #1 marketing strategy in business and be super successful! She has over 16 years of virtual and in-person speaking, event hosting, and training experience.

Quinn is eager and excited to unleash the voices of women in business all across the globe so they are clear, concise, and compelling every time they open their mouths. Quinn has taught Speech Communications for 5 years at Coppin State University, earned a Bachelor's Degree from West Chester University and a Masters from Howard University in Washington DC. Quinn is the author of 2 books, made it to the 2nd round of Shark Tank auditions four times, been featured on the Entrepreneurs Elevator Pitch TV show as well Essence, Black Enterprise, Vision and Purpose and Empowering Women to Speak Out Magazines. Get your pen and paper ready and join me in welcoming our guest speaker Quinn Conyers.

Connect with Quinn and learn more:

Website: www.quinnconyers.com Clubhouse: @quinnconyers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quinn.conyers

Instagram: https://instagram.com/quinn.conyers?igshid=db4vywpumxaz

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinnconyers

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/quinnconyers?lang=en

How to Get Respect and Teach Respect in Relationships, Parenting, and Humanity with Mike Domitrz

James Robilotta — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 06:00:00 -0500

This week incredible professional speaker, respect expert, and dear friend, Mike Domitrz is in the booth with me! Age has hurt Mike’s ability to do a lot of late-night eating so we quickly moved past that. We did bond over being in charge of the morning announcements in grade school and getting in trouble for something we said. Then Mike shared the moment he decided to drop his dream of Broadway and decided he wanted to be a family man. Tragically his youngest sister had been raped and it completely, and understandably, rocked him. Mike talks a lot about respect and hearing how he absorbed it was fascinating because the way we learned it was completely different. We talked about the different ways one comes to respect someone else: etiquette and honor-focused vs. role-modeled and earned respect. Mike went on to create the Center for Respect and discussed the work they do. He discussed the unintentional ways we sometimes disrespect others. A powerful part of our conversation was when we talked about how can we get individuals to know that just because they themselves may not be the problem, they can and should be a part of the solution of important issues such as sexual violence. This was a great one, y’all, enjoy!

About the Guest:

As the Founder of The Center for Respect, Mike Domitrz speaks around the world. You may have seen him quoted in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, or maybe you’ve seen him as a featured expert on the Dateline NBC Special “My Kid Would Never Do That.” For 3 decades, businesses of all sizes, organizations, schools, and the US Military have been bringing Mike, his passion, and his high energy for helping them build a culture of Respect. Mike believes "Respect is not the standard of excellence. Respect is the bare minimum requirement." AND he loves to dance, he loves being a husband, he loves being a dad to 4 grown men, and he LOVES being a grandpa.

Connect with Mike and learn more:

https://www.YouTube.com/MikeDomitrz

https://www.Instagram.com/MikeRespects

https://www.Facebook.com/MikeRespects

https://www.Twitter.com/MikeRespects

https://www.tiktok.com/@mikerespects

https://www.amazon.com/Can-Kiss-You-Thought-provoking-Relationships/dp/0997286601

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community in the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Instagram.com/the.main.paige

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Punching the Misconceptions of Sex Work in the Face with Paige Savage: Model, Content Creator, and Bada$$ Sex Worker

James Robilotta — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 06:00:00 -0500

It is so important to have conversations with individuals that we don’t know anything about, because if we don’t hear their story from them, we’ll write the story for them, and often inaccurately so. That’s what today’s episode is all about. I got to kick it in The Diner with my friend, Paige who has built a career as a sex worker. We talk about her entrance into the industry, the things she’s learned about herself and about the industry along the way, the importance and validity of this profession, and the rich relationships she builds with her clients. This conversation is so important, and if you’re not familiar with the industry, I hope you’ll take the time to tune in and learn from Paige.

About the Guest:

Paige Savage is a plus-size model, content creator, photographer, consultant, and sex worker based in Minneapolis, MN. Paige joined the adult industry a few years ago and soon after, left her traditional 9-5 career in Education. Although one day she may venture back into the education realm, she's loving what she does now, thoroughly enjoying being a "jane of all trades" and her own boss. If she's not at the gym training for her first show in 2022, she could be working on her FIRE investing, singing off-key to every song (you do know she can he Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight"), at a Drag Brunch with her friends, or working on a 1000 piece Harry Potter puzzle that has eluded her for almost 8 months now. Either way, she's still just a regular shmegular human being and "real down to Mars girl".

Connect with Paige and learn more:

Twitter.com/themainpaigexo

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

www.SecondChanceAthletes.com

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

From College Football Star to Attempting Suicide to Mental Health Expert with Darryll Stinson

James Robilotta — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Conversations about mental health need to be in the forefront of our lives, and this episode with my man, Darryll Stinson, is the perfect example of their impact and the power of vulnerability. Darryll was a D1 athlete who was destined for the NFL, but when he injured his back his life took a different path. Addiction and suicidal thoughts took over and he nearly ended his life. In this episode, he shares an incredible story of how his mom saved his life and how he navigated (and continues to navigate) his mental health journey to serve others. We talk about the power of vulnerability and checking our ego, and he shares story after story that will draw you in and make you think. You’re not going to want to miss this powerful episode.

About the Guest:

Darryll Stinson is a former Division I athlete, author, two-time TEDx speaker, and founder of Second Chance Athletes.

After going from suicidal to successful, Darryll uses his experience to help heart-centered leaders find their unique leadership style and strength that align with their highest purpose. Darryll has mentored and taught athletes, entrepreneurs, religious and business leaders, youth groups, and many more. When he is not working, Darryll enjoys spending time with his wife and three beautiful daughters. #girldad

Fun Fact: (As a full-grown young man) Darryll, an elite athlete who would later be on track to join the NFL, was ranked below multiple three-year-olds in a YMCA swim class. ; )

Connect with Darryll and learn more:

WEBSITES:

www.DarryllStinson.com

SOCIAL:

https://www.instagram.com/stinsonspeaks/

https://www.facebook.com/stinsonspeaks/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/athlete-transition-mentalhealth-career-coaching

BOOK:

“Who Am I After Sports?” : An Athlete's Roadmap to Discover New Purpose and Live Fulfilled

Find on Amazon

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

www.instagram.com/thebrittpiper/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Speaking Out Against Sexual Violence while Creating Space for Trauma Healing with Trauma Expert, Brittany Piper

James Robilotta — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Jumping into the Diner with me today is trauma and sexual assault expert, Brittany Piper. Before we got too deep we started out talking about late-night Dairy Queen runs for some blizzards, because, priorities. I then asked how Brittany has found and built her online community and how she made the decision to live her mom-life and sexual assault survivor life out loud. As a new parent myself I was eager to hear her thoughts about what do you share and who do you listen to as new parents. We had a fascinating conversation about what options you have for the afterbirth/placenta of your child. I appreciate Brittany being open about the choices she made despite it being different from what Tina and I decided. We then switched gears and jumped into the science of how we carry and store trauma in our bodies. Brittany discussed when should we share our trauma and with whom. Brittany shared her 4 “P’s” of purposing your pain. We ended by discussing sexual violence and I asked what men can do to play a bigger role in conversations around eradicating sexual violence.

About the Guest:

Brittany Piper is an international activist, speaker and healing coach— cultivating 400+ programs spanning 10 years and 3 continents. Her work has been recognized by The U.S. Army, the Laura Bush Institute of Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, Elite Daily + more. She is a rape survivor and leading national expert and advocate on sexual violence prevention and recovery—speaking to tens of thousands of audience members each year. She is also a forensic neurobiology expert—conducting dozens of trauma-informed trainings and programs with the United States Army and Sex Crimes Detectives annually. Lastly, she is the founder and creator of The Functional Breakthrough Method—a 1-on-1 coaching and healing program that supports survivors of trauma. Brittany believes that when met with empathy, our pain can be transformed into our greatest purpose.

Connect with Brittany and learn more:

www.brittanypiper.com

Riding the Self-Esteem Rollercoaster as an Actor with Anna Roisman

James Robilotta — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0500

What do you get when you put two New York comedians in a Diner? Well, you get 15-minutes up-top talking about soup and how much we love to hate on New Jersey. Solid gold commentary and when you’re getting soup recs from the queen of viral internet soup videos, you better watch your mouth and listen up! This conversation was so fun and Anna is a blast. We talked about her love of acting, producing, and all things comedy. We bonded about our roles in Guys and Dolls, talked about family dynamics, and shared some dreams for our futures. She will inspire you to appreciate the present, to try new things, and to just hit record and stop worrying so much. Listen in, and be sure to let us know how you zhuzh up your matza ball soup.

About the Guest:

Anna Roisman is a comedian, host, writer, and actress. She is the host of HQ Words and HQ Trivia and was recently seen on NBC’s Celebrity Sleepover. Anna’s work has been featured at the Tribeca Film Festival, JFL, NY Times, and LA Times, and more. You can follow her everywhere as Anna Roisman and find her dog on Instagram too.

Connect with Anna and learn more:

@AnnaRoisman across the board on socials.

Unemployed Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.instagram.com/archie_cares/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Swimming in Antarctica and Multiple Overdoses with Mental Health Expert, Archie Messersmith-Bunting

James Robilotta — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0500

This week I got to kick it in the booth with Archie Messersmith-Bunting, aka The Feelings Guy™ and we got DEEP. Before diving into conversations about mental health, drug abuse, singing on Broadway, and an experience of being bucked into the waters of Antarctica – we talked about Archie’s hometown in Alabama which is where all of the unclaimed baggage from airplanes goes… to a place, cleverly named Unclaimed Baggage. While talking about Alabama, Archie told us about his traumatic experience growing up gay in the deep south, he then shared about his move to New York, his experience with drug abuse, and the powerful experience of meeting a sponsor and a therapist that normalized his mental illness. He’s on a mission to create space for feelings of all kinds and to normalize mental health for the masses. Archie holds so much power in his story, and we created a conversation that will stick with you long into the future. You aren’t going to want to miss this episode!

About the Guest:

Archie Messersmith-Bunting, M.S., The Feelings Guy™, is a mental wellness coach, consultant, and professional speaker who helps people discover how leading with their feelings can improve their quality of life and save the lives of those they come in contact with. Archie was a successful musical theater performer in New York City before addiction and clinical depression destroyed his childhood dream and led him to a place where he believed suicide was his only answer. After battling back from the jaws of addiction, Archie now uses his voice to remind others that we are all more than "just" the wreckage of our past. He teaches that individual moments and decisions in our life do not define us, but they can help

design us. Archie has been featured on numerous NBC, CBS and FOX affiliates, on dozens of podcasts, and is the host of the new (and fabulous) podcast “What A Feeling!”

Connect with Archie and learn more:

www.archiecares.com

https://archiecares.com/listen/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.breakthroughplay.com/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

When is the Last Time You Played as an Adult? with Gary Ware

James Robilotta — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0500

My man, Gary Ware, stepped into the diner and brought a bunch of truth and his expertise in play to the booth. Before we dove into all that we compared notes on how we both eat our pancakes. Then we discussed our mutual love, improv comedy. I asked Gary how Gary got into improv (turns out it was completely on accident!) and what improv taught him about himself. We then chatted about getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and where the shame creeps in. Gary made a huge shift going from a full-time marketing job to selling everything to starting his own company as an entrepreneur, so naturally, we had to talk about it. Then we got into his bread and butter: Play. We discussed why it is hard for adults to play and what we need to do to incorporate more play in their lives. This one ended super strong, y’all!

About the Guest:

Gary Ware, the Founder of Breakthrough Play is a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and self-proclaimed Creative Catalyst. Gary has over 14 years of experience in the corporate word holding various leadership positions. Being a multifaceted individual Gary also comes with nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theatre. After experiencing burnout in his pursuit for success and happiness, he realized that what was missing was play. Committing to a life of play is what led Gary to discover his passion for facilitating. Gary uses the power of applied improvisation and other playful methods to assist people in unlocking creativity, confidence, and better communication. Gary was recently featured as one of the Top 100 HR influencers of 2020 by the Engagedly HR software platform. When Gary isn't leading workshops or speaking, you can find him learning magic or off an adventure with his wife Courtney and son Garrett.

Connect with Gary and learn more:

http://instagram.com/garyware

https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyware/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Balancing Work Ethic and Being Gentle with Ourselves with Survivor’s Andrea Boehlke

James Robilotta — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0500

You love to see a human that’s like, yeah, I did Survivor… THREE times. This week’s guest in the Diner was the woman, the myth, the legend – Andrea Boehlke. She was born and raised in Wisconsin and moved to New York to pursue a career in acting, which is where we met. We talked about her farmer work ethic that translated well to persevering through strange acting gigs, successful Survivor auditions, and eventually a transition to being a host with People Mag. We talked a lot about the balance of wanting more for our careers and a desire to be present. We also had a vulnerable conversation about mental health and working through depression and anxiety. She talked about the importance of listening to our bodies and being gentler with ourselves, which is exactly what she did when she moved from NYC back to Wisconsin and bought a sheep. Also, it should be noted that her sheep just had a lamb… so technically she’s a sheep-grandma now. This conversation was so fun and so interesting – you’re not going to want to miss it!

About the Guest:

Andrea Boehlke is a Wisconsin-born entertainment host, who lived in NYC for 10 years and now she's back in Wisconsin and has no idea what's next! She's currently working for People Mag, and two other shows as a host, which is her passion. She has a lot of party tricks... juggling, the splits, the worm. She also LOVES sheep and bought a sheep this summer who now has a baby, so she is technically a sheep-grandma now. We can't forget she was on Survivor three times! Overall, Andrea loves deep conversation and getting to know people!

Connect with Andrea and learn more on Instagram: @andreaboehlke

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.tiktok.com/@helpmeharlan

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

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Falling in Love with Rejection with New York Times bestseller, Harlan Cohen

James Robilotta — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0500

This week was so much fun, I got to hang out with New York Times Bestselling author, Harlan Cohen, and he shared so many powerful nuggets of wisdom. We kicked off the conversation talking about food (as one does in The Diner) and that led to an interesting conversation about having (or in Harlan’s case not having) strong opinions. We talked about conflict, the power of mindfulness and meditation, and then, my favorite topic, shame. He told me about this cool experiment he did where he kept track of and tried to eliminate when he would shame himself and others. After shame, we scooted over to the other side of the booth to talk about rejection (we really know how to party!) and he told us about his new book that’s out called, “Win or Learn” that’s all about the beauty of rejection. And get excited, because it’s a picture book! I could go on for days about how good this conversation was, but you’ll have to check it out for yourself!

About the Guest:

I made the state championship for bowling when I was in 7th grade. ABOUT: Harlan Cohen is a New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and speaker who has visited over 500 high school and college campuses. He is the author of seven books including WIN OR LEARN: The Naked Truth About Turning Every Rejection Into Your Ultimate Success and The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into In College. His books have over 1 million copies in print.

Harlan is an expert on leadership, grit, resilience, and navigating change. He is a frequent guest on television and radio programs and is the founder of www.BeforeCollege.TV. Harlan is based in Chicago, Illinois where he lives with his wife, three children, and two dogs.

Connect with Harlan and learn more:

Website: www.BeforeCollege.TV & www.HarlanCohen.com

IG: @harlancohen

https://www.facebook.com/HelpMeHarlan/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Perfectionism and Integrative Medicine with Wellness Expert Kristel Bauer

James Robilotta — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Today I’m hanging out in the diner booth with wellness expert, Kristel Bauer. We talked mind, body, heart, and soul – as we do in the diner, we covered it all. She shared about how she got into integrative medicine and how she valued a holistic approach to wellness. We talked about perfectionism and how vulnerability is far more relatable and powerful in coaching. And we rounded it out with a conversation about grace and having the courage to start. It should also be noted that Kristel ordered an apple with peanut butter at the diner… we’re still waiting on it.

About the Guest:

Kristel is a wellness expert, female entrepreneur, consultant, wellness advisor, Keynote Speaker, and Podcast Host set out to empower you to live your best life!

As an Integrative Medicine Fellow, Physician Assistant experienced in Integrative Psychiatry & Functional Medicine, and Reiki Master, she founded Live Greatly to share her findings on how best to achieve optimal health in mind, body, & spirit to attain success.

Kristel is an Integrative Medicine Fellow in the Andrew Weil Integrative Medicine Fellowship and has successfully helped many people overcome challenges to achieve their goals. She has been a Physician Assistant since 2006 and has a long-term passion for helping others achieve their ultimate potential. With her history as a Reiki Master, she has a strong interest in spirituality and how it affects your overall well-being.

Kristel is passionate about teaching and is a University lecturer, and also an Adjunct PBL Facilitator for Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University Physician Assistant Program.

Kristel’s personal interests include running, spin, yoga, meditation, spending time in nature, travel, and spending time with her family, friends, and 2 dogs.

Connect with Kristel and learn more:

Website: https://www.livegreatly.co/

Instagram: @livegreatly_co

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Everyone’s Favorite Sardine Eating, Ukrainian Immigrant, Stand-Up Comic, Boris Khaykin

James Robilotta — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Boris and I go way back, and I’m so glad he finally made it to The Diner. My boy rolled up with a can of sardines and apologies in advance for what it sounds like on a podcast when a guest eats sardines. After a lot of talk of omlettes and the many versions of canned fish that exist, Boris shared about his childhood in Ukraine, and their journey to America as Jewish refugees from the Soviet Union in the 90’s. He shared comical stories of his childhood, including that of a circumcision at the ripe old age of 7, and the experience of learning English. Then we talked about how he got into comedy and the highs and lows of being a standup comedian. And then we rounded it out talking about the science and intentionality of storytelling and standup. It was such a fun conversation and I hope you’ll check it out.

About the Guest:

Boris Khaykin is a comedian currently residing in Brooklyn, NY, and originally hailing from Ukraine. He’s been on a bunch of stuff including Bull, The First Purge, Amazon Prime’s Red Oaks, and is a regular guest on The Comedy Cellar’s Live From America Podcast. Boris is also an avid omelet chef and posts impressive videos of omelet flips in his kitchen.

Connect with Boris and learn more:

Website: boriskhaykin.com

Instagram: @theborisk

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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How to Talk About Mental Health in Classrooms and with Friends with Mental Health Pioneer, Ross Szabo

James Robilotta — Thu, 27 May 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Mental health is important, talking about it is hard and that is exactly why my guest, Ross Szabo is consistently sought after as a go-to teacher on the topic. It was awesome having my friend in the diner and we kicked things off chatting about Pennsylvania diners and circus fries. We then took a classic James hard left and we talked about how Ross got into doing mental health work and the time he tried to take his life in high school. He told me about rebounding from bullying and being labeled from sharing his story. There were some of the role models who helped him early on that I loved hearing about. I then asked him why Physical Education is taught in schools but Mental Health Education is not. One of the reasons is because mental health is often approached from a reactive place, and that is something that needs to be changed. Ross told me some ways teachers can bring mental health work into the classroom. We then shifted focus to men and mental health – what happens in adolescence that needs to be undone later.

About the Guest:

Ross Szabo is an award-winning pioneer of the mental health movement. During his 8 years as Director of Outreach at the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, he helped create the first youth mental health speakers’ bureau in the country and personally spoke to over one million people. He is currently the Wellness Director at Geffen Academy at UCLA and CEO of the Human Power Project. He has spoken to over 2 million people about his experiences with mental health, written 2 books and created a curriculum that is used by over 200,000 students. He also knows how to track lions in Botswana and enjoys running, but never runs from lions.

Connect with Ross and learn more:

Website: http://RossSzabo.com and www.humanpowerproject.com

Instagram: @rossszabo

Twitter: @rossszabo

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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The Realness of Being a Stay at Home Mom with motherhood content creator Tasheka Grant

James Robilotta — Thu, 20 May 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Y’all, Tasheka Grant, motherhood community creator and influencer, took the diner by storm this week. Tasheka is a fellow New Yorker, so naturally, we kicked things off talking about our fondness of New York diners. We then talked about being a stay-at-home mom and how that came to be in her life. She told me about the strained relationship she has with her mom. We discussed just how hard being a stay-at-home mom is. Letting yourself and your children feel what they are feeling and talk through it. I was excited to talk about setting boundaries as parents. That lead to Tasheka telling a powerful story about a time she felt pressure to have an abortion. We discussed why you have to put yourself and your marriage at the forefront of your family. We then shifted gears and talked about being in an interracial marriage and why it matters. She told me about the importance of talking to her kids about being bi-racial and the world they are growing up in. We ended our time in the booth with Tasheka talking about how she is creating a community for mom with Life with Tasheka on Instagram and her blog.

About the Guest:

Tasheka Grant is a mommy content creator/influencer about all things parenting. She posts, teaches, and shares about Motherhood, Marriage, Women Empowerment, her Favorite Brands and Food. She is a proud stay at home mama to FOUR tiny humans and married to a man who makes her laugh until she gasps. They reside in beautiful Texas. Tasheka is a Gemini, true Enneagram 2, and a lover of just loving.

Connect with Tasheka and learn more:

Website: http://LifeWithTasheka.com

Instagram: @LifeWithTasheka

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Punching Low Self Worth in the Face with Married at First Sight’s Rachel DeAlto

James Robilotta — Thu, 13 May 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Relationship expert and media personality, Rachel DeAlto brought highly caffeinated (her words, not mine) joy and energy to the Diner and we covered A LOT of ground. We talked about deviating career paths and both of our desires to be actors and how we ironically went in very different directions (lawyering for her marine sciencing for me) only to end up back in media/speaking roles. Then we dove in deep with conversations about self-worth, divorce, and finding love again. She shared about her dating company that got picked up by a Shark from Shark Tank, her entry into being a relationship expert, and her new book that’s coming out – “relatable: How to Connect with Anyone Anywhere (Even if It Scares You)”. Finally, we ended our amazing conversation on a note about leaving self-deprecating humor behind and believing you’re enough. This was such a fun episode, and you’re not going to want to miss it.

About the Guest:

Rachel DeAlto is a relationship expert, media personality, and the author of “relatable: How to Connect with Anyone Anywhere (Even if It Scares You)” (Simon & Schuster’s Tiller Press, Fall 2021).

Rachel has appeared as a relationship expert on Lifetime’s Married at First Sight, TLC’s Kate+Date, and over 200+ national media outlets.

Rachel speaks on relationship building, the power of connection, and authenticity with her most recent TEDx, Being Authentic in a Filtered World, featured on TED.com.

She lives in NJ with her family, where she enjoys laughing at her own jokes, Crossfit, and telling people she does Crossfit.

Connect with Rachel and learn more:

Website: https://www.racheldealto.com/

Instagram: @racheldealto

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

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Screw the NBA, I Want to Play Ball in Europe with Professional Basketball Player, Taylor Rochestie

James Robilotta — Thu, 06 May 2021 06:00:00 -0500

It’s not every day you get to hop in a diner booth with a professional basketball player, but today was that day! Taylor Rochestie is an incredible man with a great story and a brand new bestselling book. We naturally started with when the goal of being a professional basketball player started for him. Surprisingly, NBA was not the dream! It was fascinating to learn about his work ethic and learning progress over perfection in order to become elite. Just to keep it fun he met his wife in France and they had their first baby in China and their second back in France. The stories he has around those experiences are great and eye-opening! I love hearing which country surprised him the most that he had gotten to live in and the reputation of being an American abroad. Taylor ended by talking about how to create generational happiness – a concept I will not soon forget!

About the Guest:

Taylor Rochestie is a professional athlete who's traveled the world playing basketball for over 11 years. Having lived in 12 countries, immersing himself in local cultures and learning about the diversity of life's "truths." He offers a unique perspective for the future in his new book, "A New 20/20 Vision: Cultivate Joy, Reprogram Your Mind, and Define Life Through an Authentic Lens." Using a positive filter to all that he encounters, Taylor is unwavering in optimism and powered with a purposeful voice to inspire positivity and happiness. Taylor is a father of two. met his wife in France, who gave birth to their daughter in China and their son in France.

Connect with Taylor and learn more:

Website: www.TaylorRochestie.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/trochestie

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08W5DYFNW/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_EY2FE8XMFPCV7GNDVSDJ

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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How to Stop Playing Small and Realize You’re a Big Deal with Erin King

James Robilotta — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Today I was joined in The Diner by Erin King, a badass with serious Big Deal Energy (tune into the episode for more about that). We kicked off the conversation talking about life in a big Irish family (we both used our best Irish accents) and Erin shared some wisdom from Nana: “You can be someone’s shot of whiskey or everyone’s cup of tea.” Okay, Nana! Erin shared about growing up at an all-girls school and what that did for her confidence and her love of being a woman, and how her experiences (and hearing experiences from other women) played into her new book that’s coming out. She explained the concept of “Big Deal Energy” (BDE), a prevalent theme in her book, which blends confidence with the audacity to do big things. We heard about her experience pitching to venture capitalists, her business failures and successes, and the idea of borrowing BDE from others to accomplish big things yourself. We rounded out the conversation with Erin encouraging us all to believe that our story is big enough to impact others and to believe in the power of telling it. This conversation was so dope, you’re not going to want to miss it.

About the Guest:

Erin King is a best-selling author, 3x entrepreneur, and the CEO of the Socialite Agency. She’s helped clients ranging from The Academy Awards in Hollywood to The United States Navy at the Pentagon communicate more compellingly using her award-winning PUB method. She is the author of “Digital Persuasion” and “You’re Kind of a Big Deal” which both draw from her personal and professional experiences having founded three companies before the age of 40. Off-duty, you can find her either mountain biking with her husband Hartman, Facetiming with her huge, crazy Irish family, or being an annoyingly extra dog mom to a cavapoo.

Connect with Erin and learn more:

Website: www.erinking.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mrs.erin.king

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I love the most: making people think and making people laugh!

I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community in the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Beatboxing all the way to Broadway with World Champion Kaila Mullady

James Robilotta — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0500

When a World Champion Beatboxer comes into the diner you turn the jukebox off and buckle up. That’s exactly what happened when Kaila Mullady slid into the booth with me. Since we are both Long Islanders we first reminisced about the beauty of diners and we ranted about bagels. Kaila then told me about her goal of conquering 30 fears before she is 30, and she decided she is starting with snakes. In asking about her childhood, she told a horrific story about a nightmare audition that changed everything for her. It wound up leading Kaila to meet her mentor and starting to beatboxing. She talked about performing for money on the streets of NYC alone in high school. Then as she got deeper into the beatboxing community she had to deal with bullying and sexism being the only girl beatboxer…and being great on top of that. She also casually won a World Championship, or two, or three, and performed in Freestyle Love Supreme on Broadway with Lin Manuel Miranda. It was powerful to hear about how Kaila used the arts as a way to both hide and overcome depression. Taking her love and applying it to helping others is Kaila’s most recent endeavor. She has worked with NYU and other elite institutions to help kids with speech impediments using beatboxing. Her school, The Academy of Noise, is helping many build their confidence and have a ton of fun along the way.

About the Guest:

Kaila Mullady is the 2015 & 2018 World Beatbox Champion, the 2014 American Vice Beatbox Champion, 3x Loop Station Champion and 3x reigning Beatrhyme Champion. Kaila performs all over the world infusing beatboxing, singing, rapping, and theater to push the boundaries of creativity and show just what the human instrument is capable of.

One of the most fulfilling parts of Kaila's career has been traveling the world teaching workshops promoting expression and leadership through music. Her work using beatboxing as a tool for speech therapy led to a partnership with New York University where a class was explicitly designed to build tools in the classroom for blind students based off of her curriculum.

Giving back to communities is an integral part of Kaila’s creative process which motivated her to take over producing the American Beatbox Championships in 2016 which is the largest platform for Beatboxers in North America.

Whether on stage in front of beatbox fans, in an auditorium speaking to students, or helping staff training at a corporate event, Kaila has seen the benefits of beatboxing and how it allows people to open up, work together and build listening skills, no matter what their musical skill level is. Kaila believes beatboxing is the perfect vehicle to allow audiences to come out of their shell and build confidence in their voice.

Connect with Kaila and learn more:

Website: www.Kailamullady.com

Company: www.Theacademyofnoise.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kailamullady

About the Host

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Why We Teach Others What We Need to Hear with Dr. Bryan McElderry

James Robilotta — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0500

When I met Dr. Bryan McElderry in a Clubhouse room (that’s the new social media all the kids are into… and by kids, I mean grown-ass adults, the “kids” have no interest in the platform), I knew I needed to have him to The Diner. And I’m glad I did! We talked about his life growing up in Birmingham, Alabama and his days playing college golf. We touched on race in the sport of golf and the shifts that are beginning to happen to make it more inclusive. Then we talked about his time in pharmacy school and the pivotal moment when he realized there needs to be more focus on prevention rather than simply medicating. This curiosity (and a pivotal moment when he lost his grandmother to a preventable disease 2 days before graduating) led him into a life of holistic health and ultimately into coaching. We rounded out the conversation with insights on how our coaching tends to align with our own needs as a coach and how it’s important for us to take our own medicine (and yes, the pharmacy pun was intended and executed perfectly).

About the Guest:

Dr. Bryan is a servant leader, believer, avid scratch golfer, and former pharmacist who is secretly clumsy, but serves powerfully as a holistic life and business coach to thought leaders looking to turn their purpose into profit.

After denial, betrayal and abandonment of loved ones, he was left to figure this personal development & entrepreneurial journey on his own, which lead him to believe is that through more effective communication, genuine connection and curiosity of others we can create a daily shift in our lives that will exponentially expand our horizons.

He is also the founder The SHIFT Academy, Alchemy Leadership Mastermind, the Evolve U Podcast and new author of The Purpose Shift set to officially release in 2021.

Connect with Bryan and learn more:

Website: www.bryanmcelderry.com

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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What Happens When You Book a Dream Role with Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s Lauren Adams

James Robilotta — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s, Lauren Adams, slid into the diner booth with me this week! We kicked it off reminiscing about New York diners now that we have both moved. We poked the bear of New York vs. LA culture, too. Then we dove in and I asked when did the theater and being an actress become the dream. We discussed the musical theater program at Elon University and diving into the Upright Citizens Brigade improv scene after moving to New York. Both of us got some deeply personal improv notes from Chris Gethard and we laughed about when notes expose personality traits and comfort zones you didn’t expect from a comedy class. Lauren disclosed that she is a fixer in social and family dynamics and working to let things be. She told me about making the choice to use her platform for social good (shout out to the LA Food Bank). We ranted about how it’s easier to talk about politics than it is to talk about humanity and why that’s frustrating. After she shared some great random facts about herself, I asked her about being on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, working with Tina Fey, and if she enjoyed the moment or if she wishes she did. Not to spoil it but that turned in to her discussing the highs and lows of chasing the dream of being an actor and why she loves playing the weird characters.

About the Guest:

Lauren is a dog lover and pizza eater who sometimes appears on your TV screen on shows like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Modern Family or the recent IFC film Greener Grass. She loves talking about grief and never forgets a meal- like seriously it’s scary how she remembers what you ate at dinner 4 years ago.

Connect with Lauren and learn more:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ImLaurenAdams

Follow the LA Food Bank too: @LAFoodBank

Donate: LAFoodBank.org

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Making Friends as an Adult and When You feel Alone with Adam Smiley Poswolsky

James Robilotta — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0500

I jumped into the diner booth with author and entrepreneur, Adam Smiley Poswolsky! His newest book, Friendship in the Age of Loneliness is coming out in May but before we got to that you know we had to talk about our late-night food preferences. He gave a shout-out to El Farolito in San Francisco and we also bonded over the fact that pineapple has no place on pizza. He then told me wow the nickname “Smiley” happened to him. We discussed his assorted dreams around being a writer and winding up as a film major at Wesleyan University. Smiley had a number of jobs/careers that he tried and none of them felt right so he decided to create his own lane as an entrepreneur. I loved hearing him talk about learning to see opportunity instead of adversity in front of you. Figuring out that you do not need to wait for permission – there are many paths to success if you keep putting yourself in the way of opportunities. We then discussed how to find friendship in the age of loneliness and why finding it matters. He reminded me of the always startling statistic that social relationships are the largest determiner for how long you will live… more than health and genetics. We talked about how awkward making friends as an adult is and Adam ended by sharing some quick tips for how to help.

About the Guest:

Adam Smiley Poswolsky is a millennial workplace expert, motivational speaker, and author of The Quarter-Life Breakthrough, The Breakthrough Speaker, and Friendship in the Age of Loneliness. Smiley regularly speaks at Fortune 500 companies and has advised heads of state and foreign leaders about millennial talent, multigenerational engagement, and fostering belonging in the digital age. Smiley’s TED talk on “the quarter-life crisis” has been viewed over 1.5 million times, and he has spoken in front of fifty thousand people in twenty countries. Smiley’s work has been featured in the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Washington Post, Fast Company, CNN, and the World Economic Forum, among many other outlets. Smiley is a 13-time camp counselor at Camp Grounded: Summer Camp for Adults. FUN FACTS: Nickname Smiley since freshman year of high school. Favorite food: bagels with lox and cream cheese. Quirk: I love rom coms.

Connect with Smiley and learn more:

Website: smileyposwolsky.com

New Book: smileyposwolsky.com/friendship

IG/Twitter: @whatsupsmiley

LinkedIn: Adam Smiley Poswolsky

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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What the Hulk has to do with being an Anti-Racist with Victoria Alexander

James Robilotta — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Soon-to-be Doctor, Victoria Alexander, jumped into the diner and dropped a whole bunch of knowledge about identity work and being anti-racist. This one got delightfully academic, but before we dove into all that we talked about Victoria’s preference of eating baklava and challah bread French toast at New York diners. Victoria told me about growing up with 7 siblings and what it feels like to to be the oldest. Her father told her at an early age “Success is what happens at the end of the race and either you get it or you don’t.” Naturally, we then had to talk about carrying the pressure of never being satisfied. I then asked about Victoria’s journey to learning, owning, and loving her racial identity. We discussed what being an ally actually means and what’s the difference between advocates and allies. I asked her about what anti-racism means and what it looks like on a daily basis. I loved how she spoke about trying to balance self-care and burnout in her social justice work. Then we ended our discussion by talking about how we can do the work and learn more about our own identity and why that is important.

About the Guest:

Victoria Lynn Alexander is a Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland College of Education, studying Higher Education. Her research interests include anti-racist pedagogy, critical consciousness building, and experiences of Black students in predominately white institutions. She enjoys running and spin classed though recently she has been enjoying naps and Netflix more.

The aim of Victoria’s work is to conduct critical research with which to challenge myths regarding the historical and present-day distributions of power, investigate the role of racism and anti-racism in social, professional, and educational spaces, and empower people to analyze and leverage their own social identities and positions within systems of power.

Connect with Victoria Alexander and learn more:

Website: victorialynnalexander.com

Twitter: @victoriaalxndr

Instagram: @victoriaalxndr

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/victorialynnalexander/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Choosing Authenticity on Social Media with Joyce Pring

James Robilotta — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Joyce Pring jumped into the diner all the way from Manila in the Philippines! She is a TV host and social media influencer who hosts the number one podcast in the Philippines, Adulting with Joyce Pring. We jumped in and talked about how much she loves eating cheesecake and coffee in the morning when she visits New York City. She also told me about her favorite late-night food move in Manila: Beef Pares. Joyce then told me about her childhood and being raised in a poor family while dreaming of being a doctor. Her friends pushed her to do more though and that’s how she found media. It was awesome to hear Joyce talk about the power of social media vs. television. Her online presence is delightfully refreshing and we talked about making the choice for how you show up online and how to live your life with authenticity. Knowing we were coming from two different cultures, I wanted to learn about sexism and being a woman in the media in the Philippines. It was eye-opening to see the contrasting and also similar ways women are treated differently in the Philippines vs. the USA. We then swapped scar stories and I let the listeners know that Joyce is pregnant (she is very open about this on social media)! We ended our talk with a simple yet deep question: What is one thing you want to teach your child?

About the Guest:

Joyce Pring is passionate about personal living and maximizing human potential for the greater good. From hosting TV shows and events to interviewing international acts - Joyce is a flexible presenter for different platforms. To date, she has hosted countlessly for digital shows, TV programs, live events, and worked with major local and international brands.

On-air as a radio jock for 4 years, Joyce now hosts the leading podcast in the Philippines, Adulting with Joyce Pring, which garnered popularity since its launch in 2018 - garnering the number one spot on both Spotify and iTunes, with more than 350 thousand listeners globally and almost 4 million streams across all platforms. The podcast won Best Informative Podcast at the Platinum Stallion Media Awards in 2020.

Believing in the unshakable power of the digital platform, Joyce has been creating content since 2012. Apart from her podcast, webinars, online events, and this website, she produces her own show on YouTube called Joyce Pring TV - with videos on lifestyle, self-help, and her family.

Joyce is also a World Vision Ambassador for Education. She has been a child sponsor for 9 years, and 3 years ago, she became a World Vision Ambassador - championing for the protection, and education of children. Recently, Joyce was appointed by the Department of Education and World Vision Philippines as the ambassador for their latest campaign, Brigada Pagbasa.

Connect with Joyce Pring and learn more:

Instagram: @joycepring - https://www.instagram.com/joycepring/

Twitter: @joycepring – https://bit.ly/joycepringtwitter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakeTheRightJoyce

Website: https://www.joycepring.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GVJ57XsbtgwRW7TJxNI0c?si=4acLpBWDQPyGX3afKh-c9w

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Turning Up the Volume of Introverts with Amma Marfo

James Robilotta — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0500

This week, comedian, author, and educator Amma Marfo jumps into the diner booth with me! She has written three books, the first of which, The I’s Have It, is all about introverted leaders. Since I am a giant extrovert, I had some questions. We discussed assumptions that are often made about introverts and why introverts do not get the love they deserve. It was cool to hear when Amma became proud of her introversion. We also discussed the intersection of being a woman and a person of color who also identifies as an introvert. We then shifted our convo to underselling yourself as an entrepreneur. Amma dropped some great tips for how to get better. As a community Watching your mouth as an educator and a comedian at the same time. Balancing sensitive topics around sensitive topics. Amma’s latest passion project has been around the importance of creativity. I asked her, how do you teach creativity to adults and really loved her insights about how we need to separate being creative and being artistic.

About the Guest:

Amma Marfo is a thoughtful yet incurably speaker, writer, and occasional comedian based in Boston, MA. She's written books about creativity and introversion, spoken at conferences all over the country on those same topics, and hula-hooped for 51 minutes straight.

Amma’s keynotes, workshops, and trainings don’t look like other events of their kind. Literally. Participants are challenged to reflect on their ideas through writing and drawing, to leave their seats to interact with concepts and one another, and to laugh as much as they learn. All this can take place as she works with participants on topics like temperament and group dynamics, building a culture of creativity, instilling humor in your organization, values-based leadership and activism, and much more.

Connect with Amma Marfo and learn more:

Website: http://www.ammamarfo.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ammamarfo

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ammamarfo

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Getting Men to Have Better Conversations with Tim Mousseau

James Robilotta — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Tim Mousseau jumped into the diner with me and things got heated early. We tried to settle the age-old debate of which is better: pie or cake. I’m not sure if we got anywhere but hungry, but it was worth it. We then discussed Tim’s wonderful way with words and as a writer (see what I did there?). Along with painting with words, he himself is also “painted” with tattoos and I loved hearing about the origin of wanting to be almost completely covered. We then jumped into a powerful conversation about masculinity. When does one learn what kind of man they are? How do we take responsibility as men? Is the Alpha Male dead? We connected over the need for men to have harder conversations with other men. One area men need to talk more about is the role they play in the perpetuation of sexual assault and sexual violence. Privilege is often an uncomfortable conversation, but that’s exactly why we need to talk about it more and owning where we as white men benefit from it.

About the Guest:

Tim Mousseau is a survivor of sexual violence turned speaker, advocate, and researcher on the topic. For the last eight years, he has traveled the world educating everyone from colleges to international corporations to Congress on this issue. He's currently focused on studying how we create feelings of safety within organizations. As an Air Force brat, Tim has never lived anywhere longer than 4 years, although he calls NYC home. Tim is also an inspiring children's book author currently working on a middle grade detective novel with his wife Skylar, an illustrator. He reads far too much, has developed the wonderful habits of writing in his books, and currently has seven open at various places throughout the house.

Connect with Tim Mousseau and learn more:

Website: https://www.timmousseau.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tim_mousseau/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-mousseau/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Politicizing Therapy to Spark Real Healing with Dr. Jennifer Mullan

James Robilotta — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Y’all, this week Dr. Jennifer Mullan, the founder of Decolonizing Therapy and great friend, slid into the diner booth with me. She and I worked together at New Jersey City University and became friends really quickly! We discussed late-night guilty pleasures, what we are currently watching, and then dove in! I loved learning how Astrology is woven into so many facets of Dr. Mullan’s fabric. We talked about getting into crystals, charts, and past lives…all of which were new to me. I then asked her about how she balances spirituality, astrology, and psychology in her practice. In her answer, she discussed the difference between treatment and healing. It was powerful to hear her gush about when students become our best teachers and motivators. I then asked her about her new path with decolonizing therapy. What does decolonization mean and why does it matter? She talked about ways for people to correlate trauma with colonization. And we wrapped up with the question, when does the teaching/learning start for people on this topic? We got REAL deep on this one, and I am here for it!!!

About the Guest:

Dr. Jennifer Mullan (Pronouns: She/ Her) creates spaces for people and organizations to heal. She believes that it is essential to create a dialogue to address how mental health is deeply affected by systemic inequities and the trauma of oppression, particularly the well-being of Queer Indigenous Black Brown People of Color (QIBPOC).

Dr. Mullan has earned her Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D) in Clinical Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies; a Master’s in Counseling & Community Agencies from New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education; and her BA in Psychology and Elementary Education, from New Jersey City University.

In 2019, she founded Decolonizing Therapy, LLC. They seek to create spaces to “call mental health professions IN” (rather than call people out). Dr. Mullan believes it is essential to ask mental health professionals to reassess their education, “whom they are serving? “and begin to question the relatability of the mental health industrial complex to the People they serve. It is her belief that we can tend to our emotional/ mental health AND hold systemic oppression accountable.

Dr. Mullan also centralizes Historical and Intergenerational Trauma, which she identifies as Ancestral Trauma, at the crux of decolonization work. Through the movement of Decolonizing Therapy, Dr. Mullan can be found providing international keynotes, holding Radicalizing Rage workshops, doing Coaching sessions while un-training mental health professionals, and providing Ancestral healing sessions.

Whether on stage or through her writing, Dr. Mullan offers conscious, clear, and authentic dialogue that is a healing interchange of therapy, intersectional awareness, social justice work, and practical interventions that pave a path for her participants to carve out a purposeful life for themselves. She is passionate about helping people and movements define their own healing and resistance to oppression. She loves cats, the ocean, brunch, dancing, and affirmation cards.

Connect with Dr. Jennifer Mullan and learn more:

Website: https://www.drjennifermullan.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decolonizingtherapy/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Financial Literacy and Dancing Geckos with Peter Bielagus

James Robilotta — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Coming in hot to the diner this week is financial literacy expert and surprise fiction author, Peter Bielagus! I shared a pretty embarrassing story about a dancing geckos hoodie I bought that turned into a funny episode throughline. I asked Peter to tell us about how he went from being a money management speaker into a fiction author and it turned into quite an endearing moment about his childhood. I asked him, how do you jumpstart an old dream? He also shared about his brief career as a voiceover actor and the switch from that to teaching financial literacy internationally. He dropped some real pro-tips for listeners about the untapped value of Unclaimed.org and a dirty little secret about planning for retirement. Lastly, one of my favorite moments of the episode was when Peter shared multiple stories around his fear of blood. This was a good one, y’all!

About the Guest:

Peter Bielagus is an author and a speaker who focuses on money management for people with modest incomes (and even no income). For the past 15 years, he has traveled the world delivering speeches in 49 of the United States and eight countries. He has even spoken on military ships at sea. When he is not traveling, he enjoys, well, traveling with Antarctica being next on his list. The author of three non fiction books, Peter he is now working to publish his first fiction book, due out in late 2020.

Connect with Peter Bielagus and learn more:

Website: Peterbspeaks.com

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Reimagining education and leaving a legacy with Mr. Jeff Dess

James Robilotta — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Mr. Jeff Dess, educator, author, speaker, and activist, joins me in the diner this week! We kicked things off with a proud discussion about proper New York diner ordering protocol. We then took a hard left and Jeff told me about the hidden curriculum in education and who it’s hurting. Where are the priorities in schools with poorer students? Discipline or education? We talked about when do people make the choice to give up on others, particularly educators. Jeff said something powerful when he shared, “You cannot have an ego and be an agent for change at the same time.” So in thinking about educators, we chatted about the power of relatability and authenticity in learning. Educators need to stop being afraid of letting their personalities shine! I then asked the ever-confident Jeff what his biggest fear is. We finished real deep discussing the weight of wanting to leave a legacy, how to go about doing just that, and the power of alignment.

About the Guest

Jeff Dess is a dynamic public speaker, author, poet, emcee, and professor of Haitian descent. The native New Yorker known as the Disruptive Educator is also the Co-Founder of the Leadership Institute, Trill or Not Trill. He is a TEDx speaker who has delivered lectures, workshops, and talks at over 60 colleges and universities including UCLA, Columbia University, and Princeton University. He is the author of 5 books including his latest text, We Wear Kicks To Work which he co-wrote with Lenny A. Williams. Jeff is a seasoned Higher Ed professional, avid Knicks fan, and lover of The Office and A Different World.

Connect with Jeff Dess and learn more:

Website: http://trillornottrill.com/

Jeff’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Wear-Kicks-Work-Leadership-Education-ebook/dp/B08HR7JSW3/ref=nodl_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjeffdess/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

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Raising 3 daughters as an imperfect man with Steve Whitby

James Robilotta — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Stepping into the diner this week is my good friend and wedding officiant, Steve Whitby! We talked about being a Dad to three girls – and, spoiler, no he didn’t want a boy for the third one. It got a little deep when we discussed raising daughters as a man who knows he is flawed and has made bad choices. Then we shifted gears to talk about what happens when a job you love gets taken away from you and where you go from there. I loved how he discussed finding the beauty in the bitterness. We wrapped up our conversation talking about faith, which he and I do not see eye to eye on. Listening to the way he discussed how conversations about faith should feel like music was a stunning visual that I respected a lot and really is a blueprint for how to have many touchy conversations.

About the Guest:

Steve Whitby is a storyteller who puts his twenty-five years of on-the-ground leadership development work into action by challenging people to make real changes by better understanding their own role in the story.

As one of the authors of the most widely used risk management prevention curriculum used by fraternities, sororities, and college campuses, Steve has put his passion for creating change into action. As a pastor, creative director, and community activist for the past 15 years, he uses story, art, and small actions to drive community-level changes. He is an intentional speaker, conveying critical lessons about leadership and human potential through stories of normal people facing extraordinary opportunities.

Steve lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with a ridiculously-patient wife and three beautifully-squirmy daughters, and roots for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Connect with Steve and learn more:

Website: http://stevewhitby.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevewhitby/

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevewhitby/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Diving into our darkest fears with Darryl Bellamy Jr.

James Robilotta — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Stepping into the diner this week is my man, Darryl Bellamy Jr. He is a fear researcher and an outrageous speaker. Before we got into that, Darryl and I debated the right way to eat grits. He then told me about an early entrepreneurial failure of his after college that left him sleeping on friends’ couches. Then he landed a good paying consulting gig... but that just was not it for him. Confidence is ultimately what kept him moving towards what he wanted to do, being a speaker. As a speaker Darryl talks about fears… think failure not spiders. His research shows that the fear of not being enough has overtaken the fear of failure as most popular. So we talked about what happens when you don’t wake up and feel fearless. I asked Darryl where is consistent confidence, optimism, and discipline comes from, because I often don’t have all of them.

About the Guest:

Darryl has collected, read, and shared thousands of students fears on campuses all over the country. He prides himself in reading every fear, which keeps him connected with what students are feeling and at times, hiding. His energy is infectious, along with providing actionable strategies to move your student’s from Fearful to Fearless. Thousands of student’s wear “The Fearless Bracelet,” given to every student inspiring them to push through fear long after Darryl leaves the campus.

Darryl Bellamy graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2012, and three years later became a Corporate America dropout after quitting his job to travel the country inspiring students to conquer their fears and self-doubt.

While in undergrad Darryl was heavily involved on campus as an RA, Orientation Counselor, SGA Chair, leadership workshop facilitator, as well as a proud brother of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Darryl, known for his infectious energy, was an overly involved student leader who overcame his own fears to receive multiple awards, participate in two corporate internships and run for student body office.

After collecting, (still) reading, and cataloging over 34,000+ written student fears as of today, Darryl is now considered an expert on the topic of student fear. The first time he asked students to write their fears; He was taken aback by their rawness and transparency, inspiring him to find his true calling by solely focusing on ensuring they can overcome their fears to achieve and lead fearlessly.

Connect with Darryl and learn more:

Website: https://www.bellamyinspires.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellamyinspires/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BellamyInspires/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

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How fun is anxiety!? With cheese monger/actor Anne-Marie Pietersma

James Robilotta — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

This week Anne-Marie Pietersma, actor and cheese monger, joins me in the diner! We first talked about her experience with COVID-19 because losing your sense of taste as a cheese monger is probably not ideal. We compared east coast vs. west coast late night eating options and then jumped into Anne-Marie’s life. We started with her journey from going space camp to wanting to be a therapist to finally setting into acting. Anne-Marie was raised on a dairy farm and it was fascinating to learn how it shaped perspective in multiple avenues of life. Naturally from dairy farming we went head first into a delicious conversation about cheese making and different types. After nerding out about cheeses Anne-Marie told an incredible story about being in a hot air balloon accident. We wrapped our conversation with a deep chat about living with anxiety – how it shows up, and how Anne-Marie is working on worrying less and improving her mental health.

About the Guest:

Anne-Marie Pietersma is an actress, writer, comedian, and cheese educator who grew up on PBS and British Comedy, and saw Spaceballs before she saw Star Wars. She is a California-raised and Brooklyn-based artist that comes from a family of farmers. She gets excited about any opportunity to merge empathy and humor, and/or art and agriculture. Anne-Marie will never turn down pizza. Inside of her brain she has A LOT of ideas...A LOT, and has often struggled to choose which ones to pursue and prioritize. Just in the past few years, she has started to look inward for what is true and good for her rather than seeking those answers from outside sources. She believes every person should be required to do three things: take a theatre class/be in a show, go to therapy, and know where their food comes from.

Connect with Anne-Marie and learn more:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woah_annemarie_just/

Video: Magic the Gathering: https://youtu.be/udeGVqP63Zo

Video: I Got Dressed Today: https://youtu.be/q24Kv8_0TD4

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

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2 Men Swimming in Vulnerability with Don Fanelli

James Robilotta — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

This week in the diner I got to kick it with an old friend and improv buddy, Don Fanelli. This session was jam packed with personal development strategies, parenting insights, and the quick wit that you love to see from two comedians. We talked about the self-talk strategies that are useful in a creative field and life in general, and Don gave an honest take on the ups and downs of parenting. We talked about the importance of therapy, the vulnerability needed in forming adult relationships (especially relationships between men) and recognizing how friendships morph and serve us in different ways over time. Whether you’re a parent, a creative type, or a friend, this episode is full of nuggets of wisdom and worth your time.

About the Guest:

Don Fanelli (4% Homo Neanderthalensis) grew up in Northern New Jersey and graduated with an engineering degree which he used for approximately 11 months. He finally discovered the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City and had the honor of performing with the longest running weekend team, The Stepfathers, as well as 2x Cagematch Finals Champions, Fuck That Shit and 3x Three-on-Three Tournament Champions, Sabonis, and in UCB’s flagship show, Asssscat.

Don was honored to be selected to perform in the 2015 Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal in the New Faces: Characters division and was a series regular on the PopTV show Nightcap where he got to improvise with stars such as Paul Rudd, Michael J. Fox, Whoopie Goldberg, and up and comer Julianne Moore. Don continues to act and write out of Los Angeles and retired his long running podcast The Need to Fail this year.

He joined the ranks of fatherhood last year which is a constant source of joy and fear, dabbles in secular Buddhism and evolutionary psychology, took a break from most social media, and finds peace in cooking. Amen.

Connect with Don and learn more:

Website: www.don-fanelli.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donfanelli

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/donfanelli

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

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Watch Your Mouth! Why language matters with Christina Parle

James Robilotta — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

This week in the diner I'm kickin' it with my friend, language enthusiast, and DEI speaker - Christina Parle. She hails from Kansas City, so you know we spent the opener expressing our love of BBQ. From there we jumped into learning about Christina's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work she does with organizations, and she takes the time to explain the language foundation that is necessary before diving into larger concepts within DEI. We then talked a lot about identity development, growing up biracial, and an early appreciation for language and the balance between intent and impact. Then we rounded things out with a conversation about accountability. This conversation was so dope and filled with so many nuggets of wisdom and insight.

About the Guest:

Christina Parle is a speaker, consultant, and instructional designer in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Christina believes she has a social responsibility to educate others and create space for dialogue related to foundational DEI concepts. Much of her work is rooted in unlearning, conflict resolution, and effective communication skills. Christina's particular interest is on language and its impacts on humans. Christina designs and facilitates DEI curriculum for students, volunteers, and staff.

Christina is a Kansas City, Missouri native. She currently serves as the Director of Chapter Services and Conduct for Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity, Inc. (ZBT). Prior to her work at ZBT, Christina served as the Assistant Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards at the University of Kansas (KU).

Christina earned her bachelor’s in criminal justice and political science at the University of Central Missouri where she was initiated into the Delta Eta chapter of Sigma Kappa Sorority. Christina then attended Penn State where she earned her master’s in higher education with an emphasis in student affairs.

Connect with Christina and learn more:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinaparle

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ christinaparle

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-parle-b724a81b7/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.danfaill.com/

Thanks for listening!

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Getting out of your own way and connecting as men with Dan Faill

James Robilotta — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Dan Faill, educator, speaker, and great friend, joined me in the diner this episode. After the Top 3 Top 3 we reminisced about how Dan was my orientation leader in college and I was a homesick first year student. That jumped us into a conversation about friendship and the stories we tell ourselves when we long for connection and how do you learn who trust with your story. One of my biggest fears is being a burden to others and that impacts what we think we deserve. Dan and I bonded over how difficult it as men to let others in, share our feelings more freely, and admit when we need/want help. We then shared some random facts about ourselves, like the fact that Dan used to be a competitive mime! After the segment we discussed the difference between having a talent or hobby that you love and wanting to be paid for it. We ended by talking about that feeling like something is not quite right in your career/passion and rather than looking outside of it, you must find the courage to explore other possibilities inside of the passion area.

About the Guest:

Dan Faill has spoken to thousands of college students across the country. But rather than listing off a resume of jobs and accomplishments that most of you will tune out anyway, here are some fun facts: In high school, Dan was nominated for the senior superlative of class clown, but came in second. After his first semester in college he changed his major from Acting because his professor told him he’d never make it because his eyebrows were too expressive for the silver screen. After graduating from the University North Carolina at Wilmington, Dan knew he wanted to get a masters degree close to home, so he went to the University of the Pacific...on the exact opposite coast. Apparently following directions has never been his strong suit. Dan has been a facilitator of community building and social justice work for over a decade, and recently followed his passion to be a full time speaker, coach and consultant, helping audiences be brave enough to have the conversations that matter. He currently lives in Los Angeles where he can be close to his two adorable children, volunteering to help coach sports that he knows nothing about, all the while dreaming of North Carolina BBQ and sweet tea.

https://www.instagram.com/danfaill/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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The Role of Compassion and Authenticity in Business with Isaac Addae

James Robilotta — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

This week in the Diner, I’m joined by Isaac Addae – a proud Ghanaian-American, father, and business professor. Per usual, we kicked things off with discussion around late night eats and our love of chicken wings. After food, Isaac shared about his tribe in Ghana and the history and make up of African tribes. I have always been curious to learn more about tribes and appreciated having him teach me. Isaac then shared about his experience growing up in a bicultural environment and the friction and benefits that come with that. We then got into a conversation about his business philosophy and how he instills compassion and ethics in his students. He also spent some time talking about ethics in business in a time of COVID-19. We rounded out the conversation talking about the role that authenticity and vulnerability play in business and the importance of instilling self-confidence in our rising leaders.

About the Guest:

Isaac Addae is a first generation Ghanaian-American, father and fiancée. He grew up in the Southern United States and began his collegiate journey at Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN. After completing bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering, Isaac began his career at IBM and eventually held roles at Raytheon, Booz Allen Hamilton and CACI. He is now a professor in the TSU College of Business where he teaches business strategy, entrepreneurship and leadership. Isaac is very involved in his community and has led many efforts and serves on numerous nonprofit boards. He's also an avid runner and cyclist and has biked 100+ miles on 4 separate occasions.

Connect with Isaac Addae and learn more:

Website: http://isaacaddae.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yaoaddae

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/yaoaddae

About the Host:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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The Power of Self-Advocating as an Accommodator with Tara Fuller

James Robilotta — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

This episode, advocate, educator, and speaker Tara Fuller joined me in the diner. We jumped right in laughing and bonding over the joy of being accommodators. Tara has done some personal power work to try and shift that about herself and we learned about that by going down a delightfully random rabbit hole about chakras. As it turns out, I didn’t even know how to spell “chakras” let alone what they actually are! Through her internal work, Tara is trying to get better at advocating for herself. One place where they came up was when we discussed her veganism. We then got a little deeper into her past and Tara open up about being adopted and what it was like to reconnect with her biological parents and siblings. She also did some much needed educating about what people should know about individuals who are adopted. We wrapped up by talking about when do we share our story and how do we share our story because not everyone gets to hear our whole story, and that’s ok.

About the Guest:

Tara Fuller has been passionate about understanding others who are different from her for as long as she can remember. Tara was adopted as an infant, has been challenged by mental illness, and identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community. She is grounded by her ability to build relationships and sees this as the foundation to making a big community impact.

Tara has worked in higher education and student affairs on a number of campuses for more than 10 years. Currently, she is a speaker with CAMPUSPEAK and she serves as the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey.

She believes all people are on lifelong journeys to belong. Her experiences continue to show her the importance of relying on the support of others.

Website: https://campuspeak.com/speaker/tara-fuller/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TaraMichGrams

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taramichspeaks

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/TaraMichTweets

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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The Power of Interdependence with World Blind Golf Champion, Jeremy Poincenot

James Robilotta — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

This week, World Blind Golf Champion, Jeremy Poincenot stepped into the diner. Jeremy has an incredible story, he lost his site in his sophomore year in college and it was super powerful to hear him share the story about the mental stages he went through after becoming blind. When we experience trauma, those around us are often well-meaning but freqently say the wrong thing when trying to help. Jeremy shares a little about his experience with that and also shared one of the most powerful things that was said to him during that time: “You’re allow to visit the poor me house, but you’re not allowed to move in.” I then asked him about who you let in when you’re struggling and when do let yourself be loved again? Jeremy and I switched gears a little and talked about his road back to golf, how he learned about the United States Blind Golf Association, and what it felt like to compete at a high level in that arena. As a blind golfer, he has had to learn a lot about interdependence, so much so that he devotes a lot of his work to teaching it to others. We then dropped the bomb that Jeremy is weeks away from being a father! It was special to get to talk with a fellow-future father and talk about what raising children will be like both as a blind man and as a fully-sighted man.

About the Guest:

Jeremy Poincenot suddenly became legally blind as a 19-year-old sophomore in college. He competes in blind golf tournaments around the world, and with his Dad as his Guide they have won 3 World Blind Golf Championships & 8 National Blind Golf Championships. Jeremy is a professional Inspirational Speaker, providing perspective to groups in person when possible, and virtually when required. He's also a Coach, helping clients find their purpose and passion. He and his wonderful wife, Ellen, are expecting their first child, a baby boy, due on November 8th! One of the many things Jeremy's learned since suddenly losing his sight is that independence is overrated and that we need to embrace the power of interdependence in our lives. Jeremy is a sports-nut, he's a die-hard San Diego Padres fan, Green Bay Packers fan, and golf enthusiast. He has golfed with many interesting people on some of the best courses in the world and has even played a round of golf with James guiding him!

Connect with Jeremy Poincenot and learn more:

Website - https://www.jeremypoincenot.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jeremypoincenot/

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/JeremyPoincenot

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JeremyPoincenot

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://theantonioneves.com/the-best-thing-podcast-with-antonio-neves/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Wanting more of the addictive drug called Validation with Antonio Neves

James Robilotta — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

My man, Antonio Neves joined me in the booth this week! He is an author, host of The Best Thing podcast, internationally recognized speaker, and a success coach. We jumped in by Antonio discussing his current relationship with food and then we dove into life path. He told me about how he traded in a comfortable corporate job at Kraft for couch surfing in NYC with a small amount of money to follow his dreams of being on television. He and I bonded over the beautiful yet addictive drug called validation. He told a great story about if a blue check mark next to your name on social media can actually verify you. We talked about vulnerability and how not everyone deserves to hear your story while I gleefully quoted Brene Brown. Then we dove into Antonio’s newest book, Stop Living Your Life on Auto-Pilot. He dropped a powerful visual on me when he said there should be 3 dates on everyone’s tombstone: the day you were born, the day you gave up, and the day that you die. WOOF! We finished up our time together talking about the always light topic of letting other people down. Needless to say, we got deep and I loved it. Thanks for joining me Antonio!!!

About the Guest:

Antonio Neves is an author (Stop Living on Autopilot), host of The Best Thing podcast and internationally recognized speaker. A success coach, Antonio regularly delivers keynotes and trainings at top organizations worldwide. An award-winning journalist, for over 10 years Antonio worked as a business correspondent, host, and producer with top television networks. During his career he has spent hundreds of hours interviewing and profiling prominent CEOs, startup founders, politicians, entertainers, athletes, and beyond. Antonio earned his master's degree from Columbia University and he believes in always carrying a pocketknife.

Connect with Antonio and learn more:

www.theantonioneves.com

www.instagram.com/theantonioneves

www.facebook.com/theantonioneves

www.twitter.com/theantonioneves

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Is social media connecting us or dividing us more? With Dr. Josie Ahlquist

James Robilotta — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

This week I am joined in the Diner by social media expert, Dr. Josie Ahlquist! We kicked it off by randomly talking about Josie’s high school dating life. We then discussed her huge transition moving from Wyoming and South Dakota to Los Angeles, what some of the values she missed were and new ones she appreciated. Josie and I then bonded over dealing with imposter syndrome when when writing a book and how much better she is at asking for help than I am. Speaking of books, we got to hear all about Josie’s new book: Digital Leadership in Higher Education: Purposeful Social Media in a Connected World. She taught me about self awareness and being intentional on social media as a leader. After a fun random facts segment, we dove back in and discussed Josie’s lack of connection with girls when she was younger and how that has changed in adulthood. We finished up by talking about whether or not social media connecting us or dividing us more, how to own your truth online, and whether or not #activism works. Having Dr. Josie Ahlquist was insightful, educational, and super fun. I hope you learn as much as I did!

About the Guest:

Josie also serves as a research associate and instructor at Florida State University, creating curriculum to build digital literacy and leadership skills for undergraduates up to doctorate level students. She is extensively published and maintains an active blog and podcast (Josie & The Podcast), which have received accolades from EdTech Magazine, Inside Higher Ed and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Her book, Digital Leadership in Higher Education: Purposeful Social Media in a Connected World, comes out September 15th 2020!

Josie received her doctorate from California Lutheran University in Higher Education Leadership, Masters in Education from Northern Arizona University. She majored in sociology and human development at South Dakota State University. Josie resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband Lloyd Ahlquist and their two rescue-fur babies. She is a proud auntie, underdog triathlete and recent peloton addict.

Connect with Josie and learn more:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/josieahlquist

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josieahlquist/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josieahlquist/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJosieAhlquist/

Email: josie@josieahlquist.com

Website: https://www.josieahlquist.com

Book: https://www.josieahlquist.com/digitalleadership/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.douglaswidick.com/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

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Comedy is a Survival Mechanism with Douglas Widick

James Robilotta — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Douglas Widick, hysterical actor, music producer and improviser, joins me in the diner this week! Fun fact, he created the theme song for Diner Talks with James and he and I are the co-owners of the internationally known hip-hop improv comedy team, North Coast. We kicked off our convo discussing the beginnings of our friendship, North Coast, and, naturally, Doug’s diner prowess. We then talked about the delicate dance that is being great friends who go into business together. I then switched gears and wanted to ask Doug about his impressive and unrelenting work ethic and what drives it. We touched on the societal responsibility of coming from more than enough and then got a little bit cerebral and discussed using humor as a defense and survival mechanism. Then we got deliciously deep when Doug Widick and I jumped into our deepest fears. We finished our hysterical chat with some wisdom. Doug discussed the importance of enjoying the journey on the way to your goals and the interplay between side hustles and the main dream. This episode had some gem’s y’all. Enjoy!

About the Guest:

Douglas Widick is a founding member of Hip-Hop Improv group, North Coast, which was named one of Timeout NY’s Top 10 Comedy Shows of 2014. You can catch him performing around NYC with many other musical improv, improv, and sketch groups as well. He is a member of house Musical Improv teams at both the Magnet and PIT Theaters, and just finished sketch shows with Pop Roulette (PIT), The 2017 Tony Awards (UCB), Dead Dads Club (UCB).

He also performs with UCB Theater NY Maude Sketch Team Dangerous Woman. Doug teaches an 8-week Hip-Hop Improv class at the Magnet Theater, and was recently seen in the Off-Broadway musicals, F#%king Up Everything and Blank! The Musical. Lastly, Douglas owns and operates VeryOwnSong.com where, after sharing a few fun details about a loved one, he and his team will write and produce a brand new song for you to give them as a heart-warming gift.

Connect with Doug and learn more:

https://www.veryownsong.com/

https://www.northcoastnyc.com/

https://www.instagram.com/douglaswidick/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.instagram.com/saraspeakz/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Why Black Women are Invisible with Sara Lowery

James Robilotta — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Sara Lowery hopped into the diner with me for this episode and it was enlightening, to say the least. Before we dove into deeper topics we first had to debate about the correct way to to order Waffle House hashbrowns and grits. Then we jumped in the deep end of the pool when I asked Sara, “As a Black women, how are you doing in 2020?” Sara tought me about how Black women have always been and still are invisible in society. We talked about how even this year George Floyd had to die so we even looked at Breonna Taylor. Sara talked about how exhausting it is and how she balances being a social justice educator AND needing time to process. She went off and told us all that we need to get past the table of contents of people who are different than us that we meet. At the end of the day intersectionality is great but labeling people is not. After a fun segment where we learned some fun facts about each other, Sara and I talked about the importance of, and how to, know your value. We talked about how you introduce yourself is how you show up in life. At the end, the episode closed out with an impromtu, fantastic, TED-like talk from Sara and you don’t want to miss it because she got me fired up and I know she’ll do the same for you. Thanks for coming to the diner, Ms. Lowery!

About the Guest: (Bio, Personal Links, Resource Links)

Sara Lowery is a professional speaker and Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Leadership & Learning at University of Delaware. She speaks to audiences about authentic leadership, mental health and promotes the idea of real love, as SELF LOVE. As a speaker, she is doing the two things she loves the most: encouraging individuals to think critically about their leadership journey and inspiring people to be their best; even if they think their walk is a mess! She has shared her messages with many colleges, conferences and institutions nationwide.

Connect with Sara and learn more:

https://www.twitter.com/saraspeakz/

About the Host: (Bio, Personal Links, Resource Links)

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.tinaraevan.com/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Pregnancy loss and powerful parenting with my wife, Tina VanSteenbergen!

James Robilotta — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

This week’s diner guest is my favorite human, because it’s my wife - Tina VanSteenbergen Robilotta!!! We kicked off the conversation learning about Tina’s love of bourbon and bubbly water then we dove off deep end. Tina told me about why being a mother is something she has always wanted to do. We discussed the way our parents influenced us in known and unknown ways. Tina and I then discussed our devastating experience with pregnancy loss in the second trimester. She then discussed dealing with loss while trying to grow a young business she was passionate about. Climbing out of that horrible time, we both chatted about the stress of trying to get pregnant again. Then…spoiler alert… it worked! So then we discussed about whether or not we are going to raise a good human. Tina shared one thing she is excited to teach our child with a really powerful story. We lighted the mood debating “Duck, Duck, Grey Duck” vs. “Duck, Duck, Goose.” We wrapped up the conversation with Tina discussing the role other women have played in Tina’s pregnancy journey.

About the Guest:

“I believe in women. I love women. I love you, even if I don’t know you yet.

Connect with Tina and learn more:

https://www.instagram.com/tinaraevan/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.instagram.com/tomkrieglstein/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Processing the fall out of a million dollar business with Tom Krieglstein

James Robilotta — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Tom Krieglstein became my first guest to actually eat while he was in the diner! Since he was munching on a veggie pizaa, we started by chatting about the impact The Simpsons had on Tom’s dietary choices. We then dove into Tom’s passion of creating a culture of connection. He told me about his chase for the Guiness World Record for hugging and we let the roll into a great talk about where Tom’s passion for connecting others stemmed from. Tom then opened up and processed the failure of a million dollar business that he started and was then fired from. In doing so we talked about self-help practices because he is a huge proponent for journaling. Then after a fun segment where we learned about Tom’s passport mishap in Indonesia and an embarassing puberty moment for me, we dove back in. We ended the conversation discussing his new role as a step-father and the difference between being a tourist and being a traveler. Tom dropped a lot of nuggets in here, y’all. I can’t thank him enough for joining me in the booth!

About the Guest:

Connect with Tom and learn more:

www.swiftkickhq.com

https://swiftkickhq.com/freshman-success-book/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Confronting an absent father with curiousity with Justin Jones-Fosu

James Robilotta — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Justin Jones-Fosu jumped joyfully into the Diner this (j)episode. We kicked it off commiserating about how to grieve what you miss in quarantine/Covid-19 times and what it’s like parenting in this madness. Justin then spoke about the importance of involving your kids in their growth and learning plan. We then shifted gears and Justin opened up to me about his life-changing trip to Ghana in 2018. On the trip, he confronted his absent father but he did it using a surprising approach: curiosity. After that powerful talk with he told me about his ABC and 80/20 rules for who you give time to in your life. We ended by discussing the possibility that perhaps we have trained our friends to communicate with us in certain ways/patterns and how to break those. It was awesome to have Justin in the diner booth with me!

About the Guest:

Justin Jones-Fosu, MBA, CSP is a full-time family man who also happens to be a highly sought-after business speaker, social entrepreneur, and meaningful work researcher. He is the founder and CEO of Work. Meaningful. Where he combines over a decade of leadership in Fortune 00 companies, his real-life experience and research to help global organizations create new rhythms of sustainable excellent, profitability, and engagement. Speaking over 60 times a year, Justin speakers and leads workshops and trainings with companies, organizations and associations in the US and internationally on meaningful work and workplace engagement.

He is passionate about helping organizations and individuals take ownership of their mindset, purpose, and performance to achieve amazing results. His latest book, “You WHY Matters NOW: How Some Achieve More and Others Don’t,” challenges the reader to merge their purpose and productivity to get more out of work and life. He is all about turning events into memorable and action-oriented experiences with his humorous and engaging delivery as well as with his research-based content!

Links:

About the Host: (Bio, Personal Links, Resource Links)

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Being in Your Underwear in Times Square with Stacy Nadeau

James Robilotta — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Joining me this episode in the Diner is body image expert, coach, speaker, and badass mom, Stacy Nadeau! She and I first discuss why she was in her underwear in Times Square and the journey to being comfortable in your body for men and women. We then chatted about ways to silence our inner critic. Stacy is new-ish parent so I wanted to hear about telling yourself stories as a parent and being a brand new mom and being an entrepreneur. We ended with an eye-opening convo about why we should no longer seek balance and what we should look for instead and “Hell yes” vs. “Hell no” when making decisions.

About the Guest: (Bio, Personal Links, Resource Links)

Diner talks with James listeners have a special page: http://stacynadeau.com/diner for the free tools we chatted about and a complimentary discovery call! Link: http://stacynadeau.com/diner You can also find her at https://www.instagram.com/stacylnadeau/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.instagram.com/cjeannette/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

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Being Latina While Black Lives Matter with Cristina Perez-Simmons

James Robilotta — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Cristina Perez-Simmons and I kicked in the diner this episode. She told me what life as a coffee snob is like and the importance of buying fair trade. We then talked about her move away from California and shifting from a Latinx community to a predominantly white community in the southeast. She told me about working to reclaiming heritage and identity after years of shying away from it. I also asked her about being Latinx during the Black Lives Matter movement. Then we got personal and dove into the fear of inadequacy, not living up, and balancing perfectionism. We wrapped up with an interesting debate about doing the diversity and inclusion work from inside vs outside of an organization and where to start.

About the Guest:

Cristina Pérez-Simmons is a training and development professional by way of higher education. She has a passion for helping others reach their potential and cultivating inclusive and empowering spaces where folks can thrive authentically. She is able to do just that in her professional role creating meaningful leadership experiences for college women. Born and raised in Southern California by two Mexican immigrants, Cristina continues to find ways to celebrate her Latinidad and be an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. In her spare time, you can find her with a cup of coffee in hand, exploring the best eateries, or getting lost in a good book.

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I love the most: making people think and making people laugh!

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago that I didn't think I was good enough to pull off. Then 2020 happened and I finally acted on it and Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

TW: https://www.twitter.com/theepiclloyd

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

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Is being famous a good goal? With Lloyd Ahlquist

James Robilotta — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 06:15:00 -0500

EpicLLOYD Ahlquist of Epic Rap Battles of History joined me in the diner booth this week! We talked about his gymnast background and then the skill it takes to play a great antagonist. Then we talked about making the decision to publicly do what is right and figuring out when you make the choice to double-down or pivot in a creative business. We closed with a deep convo about what does being famous mean and is it a worthy pursuit?

About the Guest:

Lloyd Ahlquist is an actor, improviser, rapper and writer who lives in Los Angeles. Known online as EpicLLOYD, Ahlquist is the co-creator and star of the acclaimed YouTube series, Epic Rap Battles of History. With 12 Certified Gold Records, an Emmy nomination, 4 PGA nods, 5 streamy Awards, 4 Webby awards, 14 million subscribers and over 3 billions views, ERB has solidified itself as one of the most successful digital series of all time. Lloyd’s other online projects appear on his personal channel, YouTube.com/EpicLLOYD and include original music and hit anti-bullying series; Dis Raps For Hire.

Ahlquist complements his digital presence with a successful TV & Film career having appeared in such projects as Key & Peele, The League, Crossroads of History, Dirty 30, and the SpongeBob Square Pants Movie.

IN: https://www.instagram.com/ theepiclloyd

YT: https://www.YouTube.com/EpicLLOYD

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

https://www.instagram.com/rickdaniels1/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Falling in love with being Black with Rick Daniels

James Robilotta — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 06:10:00 -0500

About the Guest:

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

www.instagram.com/jess_ekstrom

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Competing ambitions in relationships and trust building with Jess Ekstrom

James Robilotta — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 06:05:00 -0500

About the Guest:

www.jessekstrom.com

www.brightpages.com

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

IN: https://www.instagram.com/samdavidson

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Winning in business while failing at love with Sam Davidson

James Robilotta — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Sam and I had a powerful conversation about relationships, fatherhood, and entrepreneurship. We discussed becoming a father in the middle of the most successful month ever as an entrepreneur. And how you need to your network before you need it. We debated being Type A vs. being a hot mess... guess which one I am! We wrapped up discussing winning in business while failing at love and the role divorce plays in personal development.

 About the Guest:

Sam Davidson is a 4-time entrepreneur based in Nashville, TN. He is currently the co-founder and CEO of Batch, a gift company that helps you send unforgettable gifts made by small businesses all across America. When not overseeing Batch, Sam travels and speaks to colleges and conferences about leadership, entrepreneurship, and community. He posts regularly on his blog Brain Snacks - ideas that will take you a minute to read but a lifetime to master. And when not doing all that, he's trying his best to be a great husband and dad.

TW: https://www.twitter.com/samdavidson

FB: https://www.facebook.com/samdavidsonspeaks

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Welcome to Diner Talks with James!

James Robilotta — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Friends! Welcome to the first episode of Diner Talks with James! In this episode I introduce the why, who, and what behind this podcast. I also make myself laugh a little because the internet is a quiet place when you’re talking to no one, haha! Excited to have you on this journey with me!

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is aligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/