My guest today is TV and podcast host, Ricki Lake. Ricki is best known as the Emmy Award-Winning host of The Ricki Lake Show and her lead role in Hairspray. We talk about her acting and hosting career, as well as her new podcast “Raised By Ricki” during this episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: What do you think made you stand out while auditioning for Hairspray and how did that role lead to other opportunities? What were the obstacles to hosting your own show at age 24 and how have you matured as a host since? How has your podcast “Raised by Ricki” helped you dive back into memories you’ve had in your career and life? What cultural trends from the 90s do you miss the most and which current ones are you enjoying? What’s your best piece of career advice? Video interview: Follow Ricki’s journey: Podcast Facebook Instagram Twitter

My guest today is restaurateur and author, Will Guidara. Will is the founder of Thank You, the former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park and the NoMad, and the co-founder of the Welcome Conference, an annual hospitality symposium. We talk about his new book “Unreasonable Hospitality”, and building a hospitality-first culture, during this episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: Your parents were both in the service industry. What lessons did your parents instill in you about hospitality and how did you translate that into your own career? You’ve managed large and diverse teams at some of the finest restaurants. What have you found is the best method to develop talent in hospitality? You share a lot about building a hospitality-first culture. What are the biggest takeaways that other industries can learn from restaurants in building a strong culture? You share a lot of examples in your book about creating memorable surprise and delight moments. Why is so important for brands to adopt this mindset? What is your best piece of career advice? Video interview: Follow Will’s journey: Book Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn

My guest today is actor, film director, and comedian, Paul Feig. Paul is known for directing films including Bridesmaids and Ghostbusters 2016, as well as creating the comedy series Freaks and Geeks. We talk about his latest show on FOX, Welcome to Flatch, as well as his career influences and collaborations during this episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: How did doing standup comedy at the start of your career influence the types of films and shows you’ve produced since? You’ve worked on several projects with Judd Apatow and Melissa McCarthy. Why do you think these collaborations were so successful, while others might have fell short? What are the unique challenges of producing a TV series such as Welcome to Flatch compared to a streaming service or theatrical distribution? What was your inspiration for Welcome to Flatch and what aspects of the series most reflect our culture? What’s your best piece of career advice? Video interview: Follow Paul’s journey: Show Book Facebook Instagram Twitter

My guest today is actress, Katherine Heigl. Katherine is an Emmy Award-winning and two-time Golden Globe-nominated actress who is most known for her roles in “The Ugly Truth”, “27 Dresses” and “Knocked Up.” The second season of her show Firefly Lane is now on Netflix. We talk about the show, dropping out of high school, her foundation, and her next project during this episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: After balancing your film and modeling work with being a high school student, how did you know it was time to dropout, and how difficult of a choice was that to make? What can we learn about friendship based on the characters in your show Firefly? Why did you decide to executive produce and portray Victoria Woodhull in your upcoming series and how did her story inspire you? Why has it been your mission to help dogs through The Jason Debus Heigl Foundation and Badlands Ranch? What’s your best piece of career advice? Video interview: Follow Katherine’s journey: Show Facebook Instagram Twitter

My guest today is TV writer, producer, and author, Phil Rosenthal. Phil is best known as the creator and producer of the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. More recently, he produced Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil, which he also turned into a companion book. We talk about his career, food culture, and more during this episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: Why did you transition from being an actor to a writer and producer early in your career and how did that lead to Everybody Loves Raymond? What have you learned about yourself and the world we live in while observing global cultures for your show? How has food culture and your taste in food changed over the years? In what ways have you been an activist for voting and anti-corruption outside of your entertainment career? What’s your best piece of career advice? Video interview: Follow Phil’s journey: BookShowFacebookInstagramTwitter

My guest today is actress and author, Tamera Mowry-Housley. Tamera is known for her roles in Sister, Sister, Twitches, Tia & Tamera, and as a co-host on The Real and a host of Amazon Prime Video’s Dr. Seuss Baking Show. We talk about her new book “You Should Sit Down for This”, her relationship with her sister, and more during this episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: How did being raised in Hawaii with two parents in the U.S. army impact you? What were the benefits and drawbacks of partnering with your sister on Sister, Sister as a teenager? Your book subtitle is “A Memoir about Life, Wine, and Cookies”. What did you choose these three things and what do they say about who you are and what you care about? Can you share some “Tameraisms” that you’ve used to empower other women to overcome the obstacles that you did? What’s your best piece of career advice? Video interview: Follow Tamera’s journey: BookFacebookInstagramTwitter

My guest today is actor and author, William Shatner. William is best known for his portrayal of James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise. He’s also written nine Star Trek novels and several nonfiction books. We talk about his career, going into space, and the new book “Boldly Go” during this episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: Why did you decide to get into acting at an early age and how were you able to start your movie career during college? At 91 years old, where do you get your energy to continue to perform, write books, and make appearances? Why did you decide to go into space last year and how did it forever transform how you see yourself and the world? What are some ways you’ve applied the joy of exploration in your own life? What’s your best piece of career advice? Video interview: Follow William’s journey: BookFacebookInstagramTwitter

My guest today is comic book writer and artist, Alex Ross. Alex has done a variety of projects for both Marvel and DC Comics, illustrating characters such as Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, and The Avengers. We talk about his new book “Fantastic Four: Full Circle”, his influences, favorite characters, and more during this episode. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: Who were the main influences on your work and what do you think it is about your art that makes it unique and memorable? What are your favorite comic book characters to draw and any non-comic material? Why did you decide to create the Fantastic Four: Full Circle graphic novel and what is your attachment to those characters? How do you think Web 3.0 and NFTs will create opportunities for you as an artist and what are your plans for it? What’s your best piece of career advice? Video interview: Follow Alex’s journey: WebsiteBookFacebookYouTubeInstagramTwitter

My guest today is entrepreneur and author, Carly Zakin. Carly, along with Danielle Weisberg, co-founded theSkimm, a media company dedicated to helping millennial women live smarter. We talk about founding the company, raising capital, and political activism during this episode. This episode is proudly sponsored by Proximity, a workspace management company that streamlines how companies operate and manage their hybrid workspace. Go to www.proximity.space/fivequestions for a free Workspace Efficiency Audit. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: What was it about your co-founder Danielle that made you want you want to launch theSkimm with her when you met in Rome and how was it reinforced when you worked at NBC? When you were originally pitching to get investors, like most entrepreneurs, you got a lot of rejections. Why was hearing “no” a blessing in disguise for you? Reflecting on your last 10 years of being in business, what are you most proud of and what would you have done differently? Using theSkimm platform, you have inspired hundreds of thousands of people to vote in elections and more recently pushed companies to offer paid family leave to working women. What responsibility do you, and theSkimm have, in impacting change in how we work and live? What is your best piece of career advice? Video interview: Follow Carly’s journey: CompanyLinkedInInstagramTwitter

My guest today is author and cartoonist, Jeff Kinney. Jeff is best known as the bestselling author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and the Awesome Friendly Kid series. His latest book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is Diper Överlöde. We talk about his career, and how he created an empire, during this episode. This episode is proudly sponsored by Proximity, a workspace management company that streamlines how companies operate and manage their hybrid workspace. Go to www.proximity.space/fivequestions for a free Workspace Efficiency Audit. The 5 questions I ask in this episode: How did the success of your comic strip in college inspire you to pursue a career as a cartoonist? What were the biggest challenges trying to get Dairy of a Wimpy Kid published? How did you turn Diary of a Wimpy Kid from a book series into a brand and empire? What can someone learn, regardless of age, from the lessons in your new book “Diper Överlöde”? What is your best piece of career advice? Video interview: Follow Jeff’s journey: WebsiteBooksInstagramTwitterTik TokFacebook