Why Not Now? with Amy Jo Martin

Amy Browns-Taylor is a US citizen living in Poland. She is personally involved with helping Ukrainian refugees.   Amy and her family recently said “Why Not Now?” and moved to Poland. Not long after, they found themselves faced with a unique opportunity to open their home up to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war. After making that difficult decision, they haven’t looked back.   Amy is a communications professional with her Bachelors in Journalism and Masters in Arts Administration. In this episode, you’ll hear how Amy has learned to leverage technology to do a whole lot of good. She has truly become a home base connection point for many Ukrainians needing help in Poland, and you’ll hear some of those heartfelt and inspiring stories during this conversation.   She also discusses the amazing ways technology has allowed her efforts to be amplified as well as the hardships she has faced. It has not been an easy journey, but she says the love and humanity she see’s daily is incredible.   Visit the link below to learn more about the work Amy is doing for those in need gofund.me/823af619   Enrollment for the next Renegade Accelerator is now open. Learn more and apply: http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21 Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyJoMartin/ Why Not Now? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whynotnow/ Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book Follow Renegade Global: https://www.instagram.com/renegade_global

Tatiana Ferreira is the Senior Vice President of Customer Service Excellence at Neiman Marcus. Tatiana has quite a colorful career journey. She has worked for some of the biggest brands in retail and fashion, and got her start at Disney.    As a top Latina executive in the luxury experience arena, she has been able to do things that are pretty unheard of. One of which is bringing mindfulness into the corporate world. She talks through some tactical suggestions on how you can introduce mindfulness into your own business or corporation and the ROI of doing so.    Tatiana refers to her Why Not Now? story as “productivity hell”. She talks about her addiction to work. Specifically, she dives into what resulted from that, some of the rules she set for herself to overcome the problem, the concepts around those rules and how she was able to shift and get ruthless about her new priorities.    Tatiana also discusses Service Excellence. What it looks like today, and how it compares to Service Excellence experiences of the past. Hearing from someone who is at the highest level of customer service excellence is a treat, and you’ll learn ways to reframe the way you’ve thought about customer service.  Amy Jo and Tatiana also talk through remote work and Tatiana’s experience in that space. Tatiana is a corporate Renegade, and we need more of those in the workplace. You can learn more about Tatiana on LInkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatianaferreira.   Enrollment for the next Renegade Accelerator is now open. Learn more and apply: http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/ Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21 Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyJoMartin/ Why Not Now? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whynotnow/ Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book Follow Renegade Global: https://www.instagram.com/renegade_global

John Hardin is the co-founder and Executive Director of Proclaim Justice—a not-for-profit organization that frees victims of wrongful convictions. He is also a private investigator who has years of experience in public affairs communications. John is known for bringing media and public attention to situations where there’s a wrongful conviction.    John’s co-founder, Jason Baldwin, was one of the members of the “West Memphis Three,” a well-known case in which three people in Arkansas were wrongfully convicted of a crime and sent to prison for many years. John played a critical role in freeing the trio. Now, together, John and Jason are doing that for other people.    In this multifaceted conversation, John shares what he’s learned from knocking on doors and looking for answers. John also discusses the power of persistence and resilience; how it feels to come up short and not find what you’re looking for; and getting up each day to fight for what you believe is right.    John’s experience with the West Memphis Three changed the course of his career, taking him from an unhappy existence in political and legislative consulting to a life fueled by purpose. John shares advice for dealing with discouragement and roadblocks, and why it’s important to find what works for ourselves in order to reset and renew our passion for our lives and careers.   Lastly, John gives an incredibly powerful answer to Amy Jo’s question on what he would say to himself if he was to go back to his crossroads moment prior to starting the organization.    Learning to be persistent takes time and effort. Getting angry doesn’t change the situation. You have to take action to make change.   For more information about Proclaim Justice, head to www.proclaimjustice.org.    Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21 Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyJoMartin/ Why Not Now? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whynotnow/ Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book Follow Renegade Global: https://www.instagram.com/renegade_global

Andres Traslavia has interviewed more than 2,000 executives as a longtime recruiter and the head of executive search and talent acquisition at Whole Foods Market. He has a rare view into talent trends spanning the past 15 years—and insights into what he calls “the Great Rebellion,” or the mass resignations employers are seeing in 2021 and 2022. Dangling shiny salaries and massive compensation packages is not enough to attract talent anymore. In this episode, Andres shares how employers can retain talent and maps out three things he is looking for when he interviews an executive. Listen for his cheat sheet for anyone going through the interview process. Andres grew up in Bogota, Columbia. He came to the United States and fell for the idea that success was about having material things. In the midst of this lonely realization, he walked into Whole Foods and fell in love with how happy the workers were. Andres knew he had to work for this “Disneyland for foodies.” So he said, “Why Not Now?” and moved to Austin with his wife. Andres talks about his dedication to finding a job that brings happiness and connection with a higher purpose. He expresses how meaning will make or break a job. He advises people to do the research and find an environment they can connect with rather than rushing a job switch as a Band-Aid for mental health. This episode is full of tangible tips for nailing an interview with a company that is a good match for you, as well as advice for creating a caring environment as a leader so that people will want to work for your company.   Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21 Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyJoMartin/ Why Not Now? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whynotnow/ Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book Follow Renegade Global: https://www.instagram.com/renegade_global

Vanessa Van Edwards, Lead Behavioral Investigator at Science of People, delves into charisma, debunking myths of being born with it. She shares insights on managing social anxiety and awkwardness, explores non-verbal cues for charisma, and discusses the importance of saying no to opportunities that don't align with goals.

Noramay Cadena has a resume many people would envy—she has three degrees from MIT, spent many years at Boeing as an aerospace engineer and is a venture capitalist.  But Noramay has had her fair share of adversity. In this wide-ranging conversation with Amy Jo, she shares powerful advice on how to navigate inflection points in your career.  Noramay shares the importance of muscle memory—doing one hard thing enables you to do another hard thing, and another and so on. She describes how her experience as a teen mom built up her own ability to navigate hard situations in life and business. Those early experiences also taught her to look at difficult times as an ecosystem of possibilities in which the opportunity ahead of her is expansive, and not diminished by her circumstances. And she talks through a key Why Not Now? moment. Noramay was approaching burnout and at a crossroads in her career, considering leaving her corporate life for entrepreneurship. For the first time in a long time, she put her own desires to make change first and started a Venture Capital firm. Noramay details the exact 10 seconds of bravery that changed her trajectory forever. Supply Change Capital has since made investments in seven early-stage companies at the intersection of food, culture and tech.  You’ll also learn Noramay’s approach to company culture, called Operational Kindness, and how you can apply it to your day. Lastly, you’ll hear an exceptional nugget from Noramay where she shares her No. 1 life lesson. It's too good to spoil. Noramay is a graduate of the Renegade Accelerator program and a valued member of the Renegade community. You can follow Noramay on social media via @NoramayC   Enrollment for the next Renegade Accelerator is now open. Learn more and apply: http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/ Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21 Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyJoMartin/ Why Not Now? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whynotnow/ Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book Follow Renegade Global: https://www.instagram.com/renegade_global

Amber Allen is a true badass. Her energy and zest for life are contagious. Amber loves to play. Her personal motto is, “Every day that childlike Amber high-fives adult Amber, I’ve won.” She believes that if we can ingrain more play in learning, we will remember what we learn for so much longer.  Amber is the founder and CEO of Double A Labs, a software company that is a catalyst for human connection. She was named one of the 30 most influential people in the metaverse.  This wide-ranging conversation covers the biggest lessons Amber has learned as an entrepreneur, her upbringing as the daughter of a Baptist preacher and a Why Not Now? moment that ranks as one of Amy Jo’s all-time favorites. Amber decided to move one day while having brunch—as in literally got up from the table and packed up her car. A renegade to her core, she's an idea-to-action woman. When Amber says “Now!”, she means it. Amber breaks down the metaverse and Web 3.0 in simple terms that anyone can understand. She talks through the desire to play in this space, and how she's building bridges into the metaverse with her team at Double A Labs. She also shares the traits she is seeing in her own employees that are allowing them to thrive and grow at a time when a lot of people are leaving jobs.   Enrollment for the next Renegade Accelerator is now open. Learn more and apply: http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/   Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21 Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyJoMartin/ Why Not Now? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whynotnow/ Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book Follow Renegade Global: https://www.instagram.com/renegade_global  

Matt Lombardi is a former Professional Athlete and the Co-Founder of Beam, a company that makes functional wellness products to help you reach your potential. It's quickly disrupting the category with ingredients like nano hemp, nootropics and adaptogens.    Matt goes deep fast, and toward the end of the conversation he has Amy Jo in tears. Matt and Amy Jo cover topics from inspiration to heartbreak and everything in-between, including mental health.    When it comes to being successful in business, Matt believes risk and reward go hand in hand.    He talks about the importance of failing and going through challenging times in order to create something great, whether that be in business or in life, and how understanding that is a key to success.    Matt shares how the death of his Dad taught him to be unshakeable and to keep finding a way to move forward. He discusses how his experience in pro sports helps him find joy in the struggles he encounters on the entrepreneurial journey.   You’ll also hear Matt’s tips on how to maintain focus, prioritize your health and deal with imposter syndrome.     Enrollment for the next Renegade Accelerator is now open. Learn more and apply: http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/   Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21   Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyjomartin   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyJoMartin/   Why Not Now? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whynotnow/   Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book   Follow Renegade Global: https://www.instagram.com/renegade_global

Juliet Funt is a Productivity Wizard. She is a renowned Keynote Speaker, CEO, Author and tough-love advisor to the Fortune 500.   In this episode, Juliet gets into the tactics of how and what to do in order to create more space in your day and life. You’ll learn how to recognize that you’re doing too much, how Juliet helps companies and individuals reduce busyness and why space to recover, think, and be strategic, is the key to your efficiency.   If you are a person in constant rush, throwing your hands in the air right at the brink of burnout, Juliet discusses what you can do to create more space and give yourself permission to “Opt-Out”.   If you are employer, Juliet gives you actionable tools to avoid being a casualty of the great resignation, and retain your talent.   You’ll also hear Juliet break one of her own rules, and share her ultimate Why Not Now? story; a story that she has never shared during a podcast interview before that involves her traveling to 14 countries in 2 years whilst still running her business and schooling her 3 children. Lastly, Juliet gives you her step approach to dealing with anxiety around email, managing our inboxes and scheduling meetings.   Juliet’s new book “A Minute To Think” is out now.   Learn more about Juliet here: https://www.julietfunt.com/   Enrollment for the next Renegade Accelerator is now open. Learn more and apply: http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/   Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21   Follow Amy Jo…   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyJoMartin/ Why Not Now? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whynotnow/ Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book Follow Renegade Global: https://www.instagram.com/renegade_global

We’re back and we have some big news!  For Amy Jo, 2022 is all about living life on offense, playing full out and falling in love with her life a little more every day. Imagine how that can compound over time? Regardless of where you're starting from, whether you're at a deficit or a surplus of joy, imagine falling in love with your life just a little bit more every single day. Little and often. That consistency definitely compounds over time. Which bring us to the reason we took a break to begin with. In true Why Not Now? and Renegade form, we’ve launched a new company - Renegade Global. In this episode you’ll learn why we started Renegade Global, who we are, what we do and how our Renegade approach is bringing true joy and fulfillment to our clients in this time of "The Great Resignation", or as we like to call it, The Great Rebellion. Next week we’ll be back with our usual interview format. For more info head to renegade.global.