My guest today is the founder and CEO of Thrive Global, Arianna Huffington. Throughout the past decades, Arianna has become a prominent voice focused on media, politics, and well-being as the founder of both The Huffington Post and Thrive Global. She’s written 15 books, most recently Thrive, The Sleep Revolution, and Your Time to Thrive, and is one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. Since our work overlaps, we had a thoughtful conversation about ending the burnout crisis, improving our well-being, and changing human behavior for this podcast episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: You’ve been a public figure since the 1970s appearing on shows, writing columns and books, and then eventually launching the Huffington Post media company. Even your new company, Thrive Global, is partially a media company. What was the inspiration that originally led you to establish a media career and when did you know that you could be successful? As the CEO of Thrive Global with over 100 employees, how have you been able to manage your own well-being while leading others? My dad has always said “you have to walk before you run” and I say “small steps before big leaps”, which you sum up as taking “Microsteps”. What are some Microsteps people can start taking that will lead to positive health and well-being outcomes? Last year, both of our firms released research. Your Thrive Global survey found that 75% of employees feel overwhelmed and less productive while remote working during Covid and our study with Oracle found that 78% of workers said Covid negatively impacted their mental health. During such a difficult time, what can individuals and organizations do to be more resilient? What’s your best piece of career advice? Video interview Follow Arianna’s journey: CompanyWebsiteBookTwitterFacebookInstagramLinkedIn

My guest today is actor, producer, comedian, and Founder of Crystal Head Vodka, Dan Aykroyd. Even though Dan intended on becoming a priest, he dropped out of college and worked as a comedian in Canadian nightclubs. He rose to fame as a cast member for Saturday Night Live and eventually starred in hit movies like The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters. After decades in the entertainment business, Dan pursued his latest venture founding Crystal Head Vodka. We discuss both his career in entertainment and business during this podcast episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: What did your parents see in you as a child that made them encourage you to be an actor and how did they support your career as it progressed? You were in an all-star cast during your Saturday Night Live days. How did being the youngest cast member on the show be an opportunity for you to stand out and shine? What did you learn about the entertainment business during your time spent at Second City that helped you with your future endeavors? I was at the premiere in NYC for Patron founder and billionaire John Paul DeJoria’s documentary “Good Fortune” that you attended as the narrator of the film and as his former business partner. Can you talk about the business and life lessons you learned from him as you launched Crystal Head Vodka? What is your best piece of career advice? Video interview Follow Dan’s journey: CompanyTwitterFacebookInstagram

My guest today is co-host of The Five on Fox News, Dana Perino. Dana is the former White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush, where she was the first Republican woman to hold the job. She served for over seven years in the administration, including at the Department of Justice after the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Currently, she’s a Fox News anchor, co-host of The Five, and author of the new book “Everything Will Be Okay”, which we discuss in this podcast episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: In your book, you detail your quarter-life crisis and explain that people today experience it over a longer period of time into their 30s. How did you overcome your quarter-life crisis to successfully pursue a long-term career in politics and media? About 3 million women have dropped out of the U.S. workforce over the past year due to the pandemic and disproportionate caregiving demands. What is your advice to women on how they can rebound from this crisis and get back to work? Last year, women made only 81 cents for every dollar a man made (PayScale). What role do men have in supporting women’s careers as we strive for gender pay equality? You’ve said that mentoring is one of your passions but in my experiences, people struggle to find and cultivate a mentoring relationship. Can you give an example of a successful mentoring relationship you had and how both parties benefitted? What’s your best piece of career advice? Video interview Follow Dana’s journey: WebsiteBookTwitterFacebookInstagram

My guest today is former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly. Scott is best known for spending a record-breaking year in space. He is a former US Navy fighter pilot, test pilot, and veteran of four spaceflights. After retiring in 2016, Scott has written a series of books including his latest one for children called “Goodnight, Astronaut”. We discuss the book, as well as his experience as an astronaut, during this podcast episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: While many children dream of being an astronaut, very few actually realize that dream because of the qualifications, competitiveness, and limited jobs available. When did you know you wanted to be an astronaut and what did it take the get the job? Your twin brother Mark was also an astronaut. How did your relationship with him develop from childhood to sharing the same profession as him and how did you each support each other on your voyages? How do you think your children’s book “Goodnight, Astronaut” can help open up a child’s mind to the possibilities of life and inspire them? What was your biggest challenge during your 520 days in space and how did you overcome it? What is your best piece of career advice? Video interview Follow Scott’s journey: WebsiteBookTwitterFacebookInstagram

My guest today is co-host of The Talk on CBS, Sharon Osbourne. Throughout Sharon’s remarkable life, she was raised by a violent and manipulative father, married a rock star and helped launch his career, starred in a reality TV show with her family, and survived cancer. We discuss how she’s persevered despite her many life challenges during this podcast episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: Ever since childhood, you’ve dealt with reoccurring family abuse and illness. How have you been able to manage through these experiences and become a stronger and smarter person as a result? You recently did a special episode of THE TALK to spread awareness for World Mental Health Day. What advice can you offer to those who are suffering from mental health issues right now and want to heal? You’ve said that you take pride in your “truthfulness”. How have you handled criticism from people who disagree with you even though you’re sharing your truth? How has being a public figure for so long both made it easier and harder to be a wife and mother? What’s your best piece of career advice? Video interview Follow Sharon’s journey: WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagram

My guest today is a professional athlete and author, Tim Tebow. Tim is a two-time national champion, first-round NFL draft pick, and Heisman Trophy winner. After playing for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and New England Patriots, he decided to pursue a career with the New York Mets as a left fielder and designated hitter. Sports aside, Tim has a passion for bringing faith, hope, and love to children everywhere with both his foundation and children’s book “Bronco and Friends”, which we discuss in this podcast episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: As someone who is known for being outspoken in their Christian faith, how does religion play a role in how you lead on and off the field? Not many athletes have successfully transitioned between sports. What do you hope to accomplish in your baseball career that you weren’t able to in football? You’ve written a children’s book at a time when children are witnessing a historical pandemic that’s left much learning at home in isolation. What would you say to give children, and their parents, hope for a brighter future? You have dyslexia, and the main character in your book “Bronco” has a vision disability. How have you managed your disability and what do you recommend to both children and adults who have special needs? What’s your best piece of career advice? Video interview Follow Tim’s journey: WebsiteBookLinkedinTwitterFacebookInstagram

My guest today is former WWE Hall of Famer turned TV host, Stone Cold Steve Austin. Steve is most known as being one of the most successful wrestlers of all time with 19 total championships and as the “poster boy” for WWE’s Attitude Era. He is the only wrestler to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Chairman Vince McMahon. Since retiring he has become a popular podcaster and TV host. As a long-time wrestling fan, I had the pleasure of speaking with Steve about his wrestling career and season 2 of “Straight Up Steve Austin” for this podcast episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: You retired from wrestling back in 2003 and we just witnessed The Undertaker Mark Calloway retire after 30 years in the business. When you examine your entire wrestling career, what do you most want to be remembered for and what do you see for the future of the business? You’ve gone through a huge grind during your career, from an intense travel schedule to injuries. How have you maintained a healthy lifestyle post-retirement and what does your diet look like these days? You spent time with a variety of celebrities, like Ice-T, Steve-O, and Brett Favre, during the filming of your show “Straight Up Steve Austin“. What did you learn from your guests during these conversations and activities? In today’s media world, authenticity is hard to come by. What is your secret for having authentic conversations with your TV show and podcast guests? What’s your best piece of career advice? Video interview Follow Steve’s journey: TV showPodcastTwitterFacebookInstagram

My guest today is actress and author, Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Priyanka moved a lot growing up and had to face racism and bullying in school. But she never gave up on herself, and with the support of her family, she eventually became Miss World and later appeared in more than sixty films produced in India and the United States. In 2015, she made history as the first Indian-born actor to lead an American network TV series when she starred in the ABC drama Quantico. She traces her 20-year entertainment career in her new memoir “Unfinished”, which we discuss in this podcast episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: You and I were both bullied in Newton, Massachusetts high schools, except you dealt with racism. How did you regain your confidence after this experience? In your memoir, when you talk about your insecurities you state “the worst thing to do is to feel sad alone”. What do you recommend to people who are suffering from mental health issues right now but don’t know what to do or where to turn? You said that after your dad died you were “in the darkness for a while”. Can you explain this sad period of your life and how you got out of it? What would you say the biggest obstacle you faced during your 20-year Hollywood career and how did you overcome it? What is your best piece of career advice? Video interview Follow Priyanka’s journey: BookTwitterFacebookInstagram

My guest today is bestselling author, Robert Greene. Robert has mastered the arts of psychology and understanding what drives us and has incorporated his research and insights into many bestselling books, including The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, and his latest, The Laws of Human Nature. During this episode, Robert and I have a deep conversation about how understanding human nature can make us successful and happy in life. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: A few years ago you had a stroke and almost died. Can you talk about that experience and how you turned a negative situation into a positive one that helped you recover? Like you, human behavior fascinates me and I find myself constantly trying to understand why people think and act the way they do. How has understanding people’s motivations helped you live a better life and have a more successful career? Speaking about choosing the wrong person. Throughout our lives we meet, befriend and work with different personality types. While some bring us great joy, we fail to break away from the toxic ones. How do we decide who should stay in our lives and who we should let go of? Our emotions tend to get the best of us and override the logic that would help us make better decisions. How do we detach ourselves from our own emotions and master self-control? What is your best piece of career advice? Video interview Follow Robert’s journey: Website BookTwitterInstagram

My guest today is stand-up comedian, Lewis Black. Lewis is known for his regular appearances on The Daily Show, his Comedy Central standup’s, and being the voice of Anger in the Pixar film Inside Out. We discuss the root of his anger, being optimistic during troubling times and why building a career shouldn’t be about the money, during this podcast episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: Many talented comedians acknowledge the dark side of comedy in that it can come from a place of pain and insecurity. Is there a connection between your childhood experiences and the anger you use in your comedy? Based on the struggles and successes you’ve had throughout your career, why do you think you were able to achieve what you have while many other comedians fall short? How do you think using anger through your comedic routines have helped you both make people laugh while conveying important social and political messages? Speaking of social and political issues, our society is more divided than any time in my lifetime at least. Despite all of the issues you talk about in your comedy routines, what gives you hope for the future? What is your best piece of career advice? Video interview Follow Lewis’s journey: Website PodcastFacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube