Growth & Failure

This is the story of Jo Riley, CEO and Co-Founder of Censia, a technology platform that was designed to transform the way companies hire talent. In this episode, we discuss Jo's journey with her athletic scholarship to UVA where she speaks about how rowing changed her mindset. When she retired from rowing, we transition the conversation to her time being in the FBI and ultimately why she left the bureau to become an entrepreneur. Jo has traveled to over 110 countries in the last decade as she asks executives around the world three questions: 1) What is your most important asset? 2) What is your biggest problem?and 3)What are you most afraid of? The common theme for all three was what helped launch Censia. Please enjoy this conversation with the remarkable and resilient Jo Riley. 

This episode profiles Candice Myhre and we discuss her ER career starting in LA, why she transitioned to an ER in Hawaii and all of the hardships along the way. We discuss how she got the nickname of Dr. Bikini and why embracing that name will help in her fight to end sexism in the medical profession. It's clear that Dr. Myhre is passionate about saving lives but also about living a balanced life for herself, which ultimately makes her a better doctor to others. Please enjoy this episode with the mer-mazing Dr. Candice Myre. Thanks! YInh 

This is the story of Nikki Foster and her journey to being a combat pilot in the Air Force Academy.  As the daughter to immigrant parents, Nikki shares her journey of being an Air Force recruit, how she got to be an All-American Rugby Player (Two-Time National Champion), discovering her love for flying, and earning EIGHT Air Medals in combat. We discuss how she felt leaving her 18-month old at home while she had to serve for her country, what it was like flying over 3,000 hours in combat and the importance of mental health all along the way. I am grateful for Nikki's service and inspired by her strength and integrity. Please enjoy this episode with the remarkable leader - Nikki Foster. 

In this episode, we travel with Shelley around the world from South Africa to Australia before ultimately landing in Japan. All along the way, Shelley amassed over 40 years experience in early childhood education. We discuss her school's mission which includes teaching children how to embrace differences, be confident in themselves, and also to think about sustainability. One of my favorite education stories is from Shelley as she teaches the kids what it's like NOT to have....This story left me feeling grateful and optimistic. Please enjoy this conversation with Shelley Sacks. 

This is the profile of Jessa Jones, the owner of iPad ReHab. Jessa's story is one of my favorites - she has a PhD in molecular genetics from The Johns Hopkins University and today is a masterful Microsolderer. This episode highlights her journey from slicing up fruitfly eyeballs to fixing logic boards of phones and laptops. We discuss how that transition happened when she smashed open a toilet...I loved hearing about the emotional connection she has in device recoveries and we talk about everything from porn stars and newborn babies to homicide victims. Jessa's profile and mindset makes me question conventional wisdom (and my perspective of pajamas may have changed forever). Please enjoy this profile of the incredible Jessa Jones.

This is the story of Martha Tolles, the best selling author widely known for her Katie and Darci series that have sold over 2 million copies around the world.In this episode, Martha discusses her popular Katie and Darci series which is about a little girl, inspired by her daughter Cindy. From the 70s to the late 90s, Martha's books were some of the most popular in the Scholastic book offerings selling millions of copies around the world. More recently, she has expanded her writing to adult novels as well. Martha turned 99 years young this year, and I am inspired by her kind spirit and positivity. Stick around to the end of the interview to be inspired by her green banana themed birthday parties - I absolutely loved it! I also hope you relay her suggestion, especially to older people, that they write memoires to share precious stories that may not carry forward. Please enjoy this conversation with the marvelous Martha Tolles.____Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Subscribe on Android | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS Feed

Kayla is a professional magician and ultimate storyteller. She is part scientist, part comedian, part bartender and part entrepreneur. In this episode, you'll hear about Kayla's evolution as a magician. We start at the age of 7 when she first discovered a fascination for magic and then spent decades practicing, failing, refining and ultimately dazzling. She has performed on Penn & Teller's Fool Us with Teller falling in love with and went on to win David Copperfield's “Search for the Next Great Magician.”  Please enjoy Kayla Drescher's magical story.____Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Subscribe on Android | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS Feed

This is the story of Tracy Holland, Entrepreneur extraordinaire. Tracy is the co-founder and CEO of HATCHBEAUTY - an incubator for beauty and wellness products. She has won numerous entrepreneur of the year awards all while balancing being a mother of three.On this episode, you'll hear Tracy's journey, the things she learned when she was sent to reform school when she was 15, how she was fired as a waitress only to be promoted to GM of the same restaurant. It was at this restaurant that her life took a different path as she encountered a friend that would encourage her to explore different options. Tracy moved to Spain for a year and her amazing a-ha moments living abroad. From there, her path took a pivot to politics and while she was getting her graduate degree at Colombia she decided to create a business around scented nail polish which grew to be a multi million dollar business in 2 years. Tracy has an incredible mind that mixes innovation and strategy. Over the last ten years, Tracy has built an incredible and successful business with HatchBeaty becoming a multi million dollar business. Tracy's energy is magnetic. For all my listeners, please stick to the end to hear one of my favorite stories ever of a working mom trying to balance it all...and ultimately how that landed her a Costco business deal. Please enjoy this conversation with the supernova Tracy Holland.____Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Subscribe on Android | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS Feed

In this episode, you'll hear Amber Freed's incredible story. She grew up in poverty and was able to escape a very challenging environment. When she was a teenager, she adopted her younger sisters when they were emancipated from their parents. Amber received numerous awards and scholarships to get her college education paid for but still worked three jobs in college to support her sisters. Her story crossed my desk because of her son, Maxwell. While Amber was soaring in her career as an equity research analyst, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a mother. Her twins, Maxwell and Riley turned 3 this year and while her daughter RIley is healthy and thriving, she discovered that her son Maxwell has a rare genetic disorder called SLC6A1. It is so rare that it doesn't have a formal name and is labeled based on it's genetic location. This is the story of Amber Freed fighting like a mother.With Covid 19 affecting her son's treatment and progress, Amber's family is racing against the clock for Maxwell. Thank you for listening to her story and if you can, please get in touch with Amber or me directly to find out how to help. Thank youhttps://slc6a1connect.org/milestones-for-maxwell/____Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Subscribe on Android | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS Feed

This is the story of Holly Mandel. In this episode, Holly and I discuss how improv changed her life.Her journey took her from St. Louis, Missouri to Los Angeles. After graduating from UCLA, she worked at Walt Disney Studios and eventually became a Groundlings member. After six wonderful years with The Groundlings as a main company member, she moved to New York and opened up her own improv school called Improvolution. On the back of that success, she also founded iMergence which is a training program that uses the technology of improvisation training corporate clients like Netflix, PBS, Comedy Central and dozens more. Holly helps unpacks the mantra of Improv - the two words; Yes And... This conversation is packed with sociology and psychology, and helped me understand that improv (and Yes, And) is a way of life. Holly inspires people to Let go. Trust. Listen. To learn. And ultimately to grow. I have no doubt you'll enjoy conversation with the wonderful Holly Mandel. Please enjoy - Yinh