My guest today is one-third of the Grammy Award-winning hip-hop music group Naughty by Nature, Vin Rock. Since the group formed in the 1980s, they’ve produced hits including “O.P.P.”, “Feel Me Flow” and “Hip Hop Hooray” and worked with everyone from Queen Latifah, who mentored them originally, as well as Easy-E and Run-D.M.C. More recently, they unveiled a new limited-edition clothing line with Champion. I caught up with Vin Rock to get his perspective on everything from the origins of the group, how he’s maintained his friendships, and his perspectives on the social movements going on today for this podcast episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: What brought all three of you together in high school and when did you realize that your combined efforts would pay off? We’re living through a period of civil unrest caused by systemic racism, police brutality, and economic inequality in a pandemic and recession. As hip-hop moguls with a platform, how are you using your voices to make a difference, challenge the status quo and encourage activism? Like many successful groups, you broke up and came back together. How have you been able to maintain your friendships despite your business and personal disagreements? The music business has changed drastically since you came up in the 90s. If you were to start fresh today, what would do differently to stand out and what would you avoid based on what you’ve learned throughout your career? What’s your best piece of career advice? Follow Vin Rock’s journey: WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagram

My guest today is psychotherapist, author, and podcast host Lori Gottlieb. Lori is best known as the author of the bestselling book, “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone”, which has helped start a global conversation about human connection, which is what I’ve also been promoting. She writes the weekly “Dear Therapist” advice column for The Atlantic and co-hosts the “Dear Therapists” iHeart Radio podcast with Guy Winch. In this episode, you’ll learn about the ideal therapist relationship, why people avoid therapy, and how we can remove the stigma around mental health. I believe mental health is the biggest topic of our time, which is why I wanted to bring Lori on the show. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: After seeing multiple therapists in my life, and self-reflecting, I feel that many of the questions I asked my therapists I already knew the answer to. I was seeking validation from my therapists instead of advice. Is this common? What is the ideal therapist and client relationship? What would you say are the biggest mental and emotional obstacles that keep people from making changes in their lives and how do they overcome them? You’re a therapist who needed therapy. What did you learn about yourself when you went through therapy and what impact did it have on your own practice? Mental health is one of the most important topics in our culture right now, yet it’s often misunderstood, mistreated, and even dismissed entirely. How do you think we can remove the stigma around it and support those who are suffering? What is your best piece of career advice? Follow Lori’s journey: WebsiteAtlantic ColumnPodcastBookTwitterFacebookInstagram

My guest today is actress, producer, and author, Patricia Heaton. Patricia is best known for her starring roles in the sitcoms Everybody Loves Raymond, The Middle, and Carol’s Second Act. In this episode, you’ll learn how her mom’s death impacted her life, how she’s reinvented herself, overcome obstacles, and why being both a leaper and planner have led to her success. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: How did the death of your mom during your childhood affect how you see the world, your work ethic, and life choices? Most people struggle during major life transitions because as humans we fear and are uncomfortable with change. How did you overcome the mental and emotional obstacles you faced as you transitioned from your first to your second act, and then commit to pursuing your new goals? Like my dad and his brother, I’m a lifetime worker with no plans to retire because I believe that being productive is good for our mental health. You recently said that you want to “die on a soundstage”, but what motivates you to continue to stay productive, juggle multiple projects and challenge yourself? Personal fulfillment is a lifetime journey of self-discovery, followed by both personal and professional accomplishments. How have your humanitarian efforts made you more personally fulfilled and shaped this next phase of your life? What is your best piece of career advice? Follow Patricia’s journey: TV ShowBookTwitterFacebookInstagram

An interview with Gretchen Carlson about the biggest career decisions she’s made, standing against sexual harassment, being courageous, finding common ground, and her best career advice. You’re listening to the 5 Questions podcast and I’m your host, Dan Schawbel. In fewer than 10 minutes, my goal is to extract the best advice from the world’s smartest and most interesting people by asking them just 5 questions. This episodes guest: My guest today is former Fox News host turned author, activist and speaker, Gretchen Carlson. After hosting Fox & Friends and The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson, she filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, which inspired the film Bombshell. Since then, Gretchen wrote Be Fierce, became one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, and is on a mission to eliminate non-disclosure agreements. I caught up with her to talk about her experiences, learn more about where her courage comes from, and to seek advice for those who have suffered from sexual harassment for this podcast episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: You’ve had a unique career trajectory, starting off as a violinist in your childhood, then entering beauty pageants, then transitioning to hosting a TV show and now you’re an activist, author, and speaker. What were the biggest decisions you made that allowed you to make these career transitions, were they intentional, and why? Sexual harassment like what you experienced during your tenure at Fox News was an example of abuse of power. How should people stand up to their boss when they feel suppressed, taken advantage of, or harassed knowing that they may lose their job by doing so? When you filed your lawsuit against Fox News, you gave other women the courage to follow suit. And now, you’re doing the same with your mission to void nondisclosure agreements so the public can hear the stories of all these women. Where does your courage to stand up for yourself, and others, come from knowing that there may be a backlash or repercussions as a result? We live in a time of radical social, racial, and political division that is exasperated by social media. What are some ways that we can find common ground, create connections, and be at peace even in social-isolation? What is your best piece of career advice? Follow Gretchen’s journey: WebsiteBookTwitterFacebookLinkedInInstagram

An interview with D.L. Hughley about how he turned his life around after joining a gang as a teenager, where he gets his work ethic from, how to create a more equal society, why comedy is effective in addressing political and social issues, and his best career advice. Welcome to the 94th episode of 5 Questions with Dan Schawbel. As your host, my goal is to curate the best advice from the world’s smartest and most interesting people by asking them just 5 questions. This episodes guest: My guest today is standup comedian, radio host, and author, D.L. Hughley. Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, D.L. grew up in South Central, Los Angeles where he spent his teenage years in a gang and was eventually kicked out of high school. After turning his life around, which we will explore in this episode, he got his first job at the Los Angeles Times. From there, he hosted ComicView on BET before writing and starring in the TV sitcom series, The Hughleys. D.L. went on to star in the Spike Lee film, The Original Kings of Comedy, with costars Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and Bernie Mac. More recently, he is the host of the talk show The D.L. Hughley Show which is syndicated in more than sixty markets and is the author of the new book, “Surrender, White People!”. I caught up with D.L. to learn more about his perspectives on the political and social issues that we are facing in America for this podcast episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: After joining a gang and getting kicked out of high school as a teenager, how were you able to turn your life around so that you could pursue your career? In the last episode, Al Roker told me that his father said to him in high school, “you’re going to have to work twice as hard and be twice as good to get half as far as the white kid next to you”. Does this statement reflect your life experience and if so, what did you have to do in order to overcome it? The killing of George Floyd created a national conversation about racism, oppression, and inequality that’s existed in our society for over 400 years. What can individuals and institutions do to address these issues in order to create a more inclusive, equal, and prosperous society? You’ve tackled race issues throughout your entire career as an entertainer. Why do you think comedy is such an effective vehicle for addressing the social and political issues we face? What is your best piece of career advice? Follow D.L.’s journey: WebsiteBookRadio ShowTwitterFacebookYouTubeInstagram

An interview with Al Roker about why we should avoid long-term career plans, why he decided to move to New York to pursue his career, how he landed his first job, manages multiple side hustles, and his best career advice. Welcome to the 93rd episode of 5 Questions with Dan Schawbel. As your host, my goal is to curate the best advice from the world’s smartest and most interesting people by asking them just 5 questions. This episodes guest: My guest today is the co-anchor of NBC’s The Today Show, Al Roker. Born in Queens, New York, Al wanted to be a cartoonist growing up until he went to college. During college, he worked as a weather anchor at WTVH in Syracuse, New York, while also DJ’ing at the campus radio station. Upon graduation, he took weather casting positions at both WTTG in D.C. and WKYC in Cleveland. In late 1983, Al returned to New York City to work at WNBC-TV before becoming a national weather forecaster at NBC’s The Today Show, eventually becoming a co-anchor beginning in 2012. Over his career, he’s hosted programs on Food Network, MSNBC, and The Weather Channel. His other achievements include losing 100 pounds, running a marathon, having the Guinness World Record for reporting for 34-hours straight, and being part of the Broadway musical Waitress. I spoke to Al about his weight loss in 2013 and today I talk to him again about his new book “You Look So Much Better in Person” for this podcast episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: You start your book saying that you never had a career plan. Why should people avoid crafting longer-term career plans and what should they do instead? You mention that you respected WTVH anchor Ron Curtis’s decision to stay in Syracuse with his family instead of move to New York City for a more prestigious position. Even though you respected that Ron prioritized his family over his career, you eventually decided to make the move that he didn’t. What motivated you to make such a major career change knowing that you would be leaving important relationships behind? I can relate to your persistence getting your first job, but unlike you, I would have given up before a restraining order was issued. To get my first job it took 8 month’s meeting 15 people for 3 different positions at the same company. While many people apply to multiple companies, why do you think to have a singular focus was key to landing your first job? You say that the secret ingredient to your career has been being open to new opportunities and while you have a full-time job, you also have 7 side hustles. I own a research company with 4 side hustles. How do you balance all of your gigs and know what to prioritize each day? What is your best piece of career advice? Follow Al’s journey: CompanyBookTwitterhFacebookInstagram

An interview with Chamath Palihapitiya about what he learned during his identity crisis, how people can sustain themselves right now, what all successful entrepreneurs have in common, why he gave up social media, and his best career advice. Welcome to the 92nd episode of 5 Questions with Dan Schawbel. As your host, my goal is to curate the best advice from the world’s smartest and most interesting people by asking them just 5 questions. This episodes guest: My guest today is the CEO of Social Capital, Chairman of Virgin Galactic and the part-owner of the Golden State Warriors, Chamath Palihapitiya. Born in Sri Lanka, Chamath immigrated to Canada at age six where he and his family lived on welfare. He worked part-time to help his family while attending the Lisgar Collegiate Institute. After graduating from the University of Waterloo he worked as a derivatives trader before moving to California. Several years later, Chamath became the youngest Vice President in AOL’s history before joining the Mayfield Fund and then became a Vice President at Facebook. He left Facebook to start Social Capital with successful investments in Slack, Box, and Yammer. Today, he’s the Chairman of Virgin Galactic, an investor in the Golden State Warriors, and has been regarded as the “next Warren Buffett”. After telling Chamath’s story during my keynote speeches around the country, I was happy to speak to him personally for the very first time. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: In my keynote presentation, I talk about your story of going through an identity crisis, where you realized that you were unhappy even after accumulating wealth and achievements. Can you describe what you discovered through your recovery and share any lessons you learned? You recently went viral after speaking out against the government bailing out mismanaged companies, billionaires and hedge funds while leaving the average person behind. What do you recommend to average citizens trying to sustain themselves during this crisis? In a previous episode, I asked fellow venture capitalist Ben Horowitz about the common qualities all successful entrepreneurs have and he said they have to be original thinkers and have leadership skills. Would you add anything to this list and what can entrepreneurs do during this crisis to survive and thrive? Even though you were an early executive at Facebook, you have since stopped using social media and don’t let your kids use it. How has the decision to keep social media out of your life affected your mental health and relationships? What is your best piece of career advice? Follow Chamath’s journey: CompanyMediumTwitterLinkedIn

An interview with R.L. Stine about his decision to become a writer, the most important storytelling elements in a book, how he writes books so frequently, adapts his writing to different age groups, and his best career advice. Welcome to the 91st episode of 5 Questions with Dan Schawbel. As your host, my goal is to curate the best advice from the world’s smartest and most interesting people by asking them just 5 questions. This episodes guest: My guest today is bestselling children’s book author, R.L. Stine. Born in Columbus Ohio, R.L. began writing at age nine after discovering a typewriter in his attic. While at Ohio State University, he edited the school’s humor magazine The Sundial before moving to New York City to pursue his writing career. There, he created the humor magazine Bananas that printed 72 issues between 1975 and 1984. Then, he wrote his first horror novel called Blind Date and the Fear Street series a few years later before launching his famous Goosebumps series. Throughout his career, R.L. has penned hundreds of books with over 400 million copies sold. The Guinness Book of World Records cites him as the most successful children’s book author of all time and he won the Horror Writers Association’s Lifetime Achievement award in 2014. More recently, he published the children’s book, “Just Beyond: The Horror at Happy Landings”. When I was growing up, I never wanted to read until I picked up the Goosebumps collection, which my parents still have in their home today. That’s why I was so excited to speak to R.L. for this podcast episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: As a child, your teachers told you not to write and you received criticism about your comic book drawings from your classmates. How did this harsh feedback influence your decision to become a writer? I refused to read books in my childhood until I came across your Goosebumps series. What do you think are the most important storytelling elements that capture the hearts and minds of readers even those who resisted reading like me? You’ve said that you could write a Goosebumps book in about 2 weeks, whereas I’ve written 3 books in 10 years. How have you produced quality work in such a short period of time and what habits make you so efficient? How have you adapted your writing style, characters, and themes to different age groups and audiences of readers? What is your best piece of career advice? Follow R.L.’s journey: WebsiteBooksTwitterFacebookInstagram

An interview with Richard Marx about how he originally became a musician, what he learned from Kenny Rogers, how his father’s death affected him, his new album, and his best career advice. Welcome to the 90th episode of 5 Questions with Dan Schawbel. As your host, my goal is to curate the best advice from the world’s smartest and most interesting people by asking them just 5 questions. This episodes guest: My guest today is singer, songwriter, and record producer, Richard Marx. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Richard’s mother was a singer and father was a jazz musician and the founder of a jingle company. He started his music career at age five singing jingles for his dad’s company. Then, as a teenager, a tape of Richard’s songs reached Lionel Richie and he moved to Los Angeles to work with him. In the 1980s and 1990s, he had several top Billboard hits including “Endless Summer Nights” and Right Here Waiting”, collaborating with Kenny Rogers, N’ Sync, and Cher. I caught up with Richard during the release of his twelfth studio album called “Limitless”. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: You started your music career at age 5. I don’t remember doing anything memorable at that age. How did you originally get into music and when did you know that your love for music would turn into a lifetime career? You’ve surrounded yourself with a loving family and the support of some of the most prominent artists of all time like Madonna and Lionel Richie. What life lessons did you learn from the people who most impacted your career? You’ve had very high points in your life like topping the Billboard music charts, but you also lost your father and went through a divorce. How have your biggest life struggles given you a sense of gratitude and made you a stronger person? The music world has completely changed since you became established back in the 1980s. Why is your new album “Limitless” special to you and how will you promote it differently than your previous ones? What is your best piece of career advice? Follow Richard’s journey: WebsiteTwitterYouTubeFacebookInstagram

An interview with Stacey Abrams about inspiring people during this pandemic, how people can make a positive change, the importance of voter rights, why she wrote several romance novels, and her best career advice. Welcome to the 89th episode of 5 Questions with Dan Schawbel. As your host, my goal is to curate the best advice from the world’s smartest and most interesting people by asking them just 5 questions. This episodes guest: My guest today is a politician, lawyer, entrepreneur, and author, Stacey Abrams. Born in Madison Wisconsin, Stacey grew up with five other siblings in Atlanta. As a teenager, she was hired as a typist for a congressional campaign and was then hired as a speechwriter. She studied political science and economics at Spelman College, public policy at the University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs, and received her Juris Doctor from Yale Law School. Upon graduation, Stacey was a tax attorney at Georgia law firm Sutherland Asbill & Brennan. Starting in 2007 she served in the Georgia House of Representatives before resigning in 2017 to run in the gubernatorial election where she became the first African-American female major-party gubernatorial nominee in the United States. Then in 2019, Stacey became the first African-American woman to deliver a response to the State of the Union address. More recently, she’s the founder of Fair Fight Action and Fair Count, which fight for fair elections and for a fair count in the U.S. Census. Stacey’s new book “Our Time is Now”, and her upcoming documentary, both focus on voter suppression, which is part of what we talk about in this podcast episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: Can you offer any inspiration and advice to those who are struggling right now as they suffer from unemployment, illness, mental health issues, racism, or any other issues? Over the past month, we’ve witnessed the LGBTQ+ and African American communities protest systemic and perpetual social, political, and economic injustice, with some positive outcomes for both groups. What tangible actions can both institutions and individuals take to support these suppressed communities above and beyond posting activist content on social media? The right to vote is essential to America’s democracy. How did your loss during the 2018 Georgia election inspire you to be an advocate for voter protections and what steps will you take to ensure there’s election integrity for future races? What most people might not know about you is that aside from being a politician and a lawyer, you are also a novelist and entrepreneur as the author of 8 romance novels and founder of NOW Corp. and Nourish, Inc. What role have these pursuits played in your career and life goals? What is your best piece of career advice? Follow Stacey’s journey: WebsiteBookTwitterFacebookInstagram