Camera Ready & Abel

HOPE is both a verb and a noun and I learned so much talking about hope with multi-platform storyteller and executive producer Danielle Gelfand on this episode of Camera Ready & Abel: Hope and resilience go hand in hand Some chance of a positive outcome is better than no chance, and worth holding on to It turns out the story we've been telling ourselves is often wrong The key is showing up She knows from painful experience what it takes to persevere and hold on to HOPE even when the odds are stacked against her. Danielle is deep, insightful, vulnerable and very funny.  She opens up about keeping big secrets, dating, freezing her eggs and releasing the weight of shame and grief when she published her first essay in the New York Times, Years of Atonement, about her father's suicide.  Through the power of story, Daniells shares how she transformed her personal life after years of giving tirelessly to her career, one hopeful step after another.  As a veteran VH1 executive producer, Danielle developed and oversaw such hit television series as the Love & Hip Hop franchise and I Want to Work for Diddy. Danielle has directed A-list celebrities and talent, including Mariah Carey, Madonna, and Diddy. Her credits include hundreds of hours of docu-soap, reality, and relationship shows.  Danielle is currently writing a memoir about overcoming her traumatic past to find late-blooming love and family. Follow her on instagram at @daniellemgelfand and stop by her website daniellegelfand.com to read her most recent New York Times essay, The Wedding I Thought Would Never Happen.

Your voice is one of your greatest assets and instrumental to your success. And, in case you haven't noticed, “we are living in a voice-first world,”  per my guest for this episode of Camera, Ready & Abel, award-winning voice actor and voiceover artist, Maria Pendolino, (who is also the voice of my audio book, How to Get Your Foot in the Door: Television Hosting & Presenting.) Whether you are a media professional who records audio or video content or have been thrust on-camera via the zoom room, Maria shares tips and insights on how to use your voice most effectively, from warming-up and warming-down your voice, to sounding conversational, to using your voice to negotiate a contract that values your time and worth. Maria has been acting since she was 11 years old and has been a professional working actor for more than 15 years. Trained in musical theatre, Maria now lends her voice to commercials, animation, video games, corporate & explainer videos, e-learning courses, audio books, telephone systems and more.  You can see more about Maria on her website voicebymaria.com or follow her on IG/Twitter/Tiktok @mariapendo.  This episode is a mini masterclass with the wildly talented Maria Pendolino, so tune in!

“To heal is to touch with love that which we previously touched with fear.” -Stephen Levine The news cycle has been especially difficult lately. I know I've been struggling, feeling a lot of sorrow and helplessness, which is why it's timely that my guest for this episode is of Camera Ready & Abel is Intuitive Coach and Spiritual Consultant, Seth Eliot Santoro -  and his spiritual guides. Seth is on a mission to inspire everyone on the planet to HEAL, reclaim their happiness, and to live a more enthusiastic, energetic, and purposeful lifestyle and generously shares tools with me that you can use today. Seth Eliot Santoro, CEC is a Spiritual Consultant, Reframer, Intuitive Advisor, Intuitive Business Coach, Bestselling Author, Psychic Medium, Animal Communicator, HR Advisor, Keynote Speaker, Bereavement Facilitator, Husband, Friend, and Death Expert. Combining his passion for Corporate America, his training as a coach, and his metaphysical gifts of intuition and mediumship, Seth partners with clients to reframe their minds, re-engage in their present, find happiness again, AND create a better legacy, future, and fulfilling life for themselves and everyone around them. Seth is the 2-time #1 international best-selling author of “Smile From The Inside” and “Finn & The Ferocious Flu!” To learn more about Seth, or for free resources and support, visit SethSantoro.com.

The CARE you demonstrate in your day-to-day life can have an enormous impact on those around you. It sends a message of value, worth, and appreciation for someone or something- and the world can use as much of those good vibes as possible! My guest for this episode is Director and activist, Sian-Pierre Regis, who brought the things he cares deeply for to life in his debut feature documentary, Duty Free. Duty Free examines ageism, the care crisis, and economic insecurity in America. After his mother, a 75 year old immigrant, is abruptly fired from her job as a hotel housekeeper, Sian-Pierre takes her on a bucket list adventure to help her reclaim her life. He documents a journey that uncovers the betrayals plaguing her past and the economic insecurity shaping not only her future, but that of an entire generation. Sian-Pierre Regis is a storyteller with entrepreneurial guts. He is an award-winning journalist, on-camera personality, and cultural critic with an undying love for both pop-culture and social responsibility. He has been a contributor for CNN, HLN, MTV and CBS, covering stories of youth political activism and pop-culture.  Zip on over to dutyfreefilm.com to watch this heartfelt film in the comfort of your own home and while you are waiting for the popcorn to pop follow @sianpierre and his mother, Rebecca on Instagram at @rebrexit.

RESILIENT is a mindset - and a choice. It means to be able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. If you are reading this, you are resilient. You came face to face with a global pandemic that required you to adapt to an extremely difficult situation. A core principle to being a RESILIENT person is leaning into your emotional intelligence and cultivating a belief in your ability to cope which is why I was excited to speak with award-winning multimedia entertainment journalist Elizabeth Wagmeister. She's taught me a thing or many about being resilient and shares in this episode how she lives it every day and how it's helped her flourish in her career. Elizabeth is the senior correspondent at Variety and host of The Take - Variety's weekly video roundup of the top entertainment stories of the week. She's also a former co-host of the nationally-syndicated newsmagazine "Page Six TV" which I had the pleasure of casting. Fun fact: It was Elizabeth's first audition and she didn't have an agent. Elizabeth was named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2019. She established herself as a leading voice in entertainment news by breaking highly influential stories, including the bombshell Matt Lauer investigation, and continues with her on-going coverage of Harvey Weinstein and Brittney Spears. Every successful career has its pile-up of disappointments, challenges and dead-ends. So how did Elizabeth remain RESILIENT to rise up the ranks in a competitive career field at such a young age? It started by knowing she wasn’t going to take someone else’s NO and make it the final answer.  Tune in to learn more and follow Elizabeth at @ewagmeister and check out her work at variety.com.

I am naturally optimistic. In fact, my ability to see opportunity and look at the bright side of things is a super power that has served me well in a lot of ways. But...there's a shadow side to being overly positive. Honestly, it's one more example of The Shoulds and you've likely experienced this if you’ve ever had your feelings discounted and dismissed by someone else's need to put a positive spin on things. Expressing only positive emotions can take a toll, especially during times of real crisis, creating anxiety and other health issues. When I read Dr. Darcy Sterling’s blogpost, The Dark Side to Looking at the Bright Side, I saw myself in her words and needed to amplify this message, and am thrilled Dr. Darcy joins me on this episode of Camera Ready & Abel to discuss TOXIC POSITIVITY. Get ready - she lays it all on the line. Therapist and Relationship Expert, Dr. Darcy Sterling is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the host of E! Network’s Famously Single. She’s the former Global Ambassador of Tinder, and her private practice, Alternatives Counseling in New York City, specializes in helping people thrive in their relationships.  In addition to providing counseling services, Dr. Darcy teaches online courses on the psychology and science of Love and Relationships: Her newest course tackles one of the biggest relationship challenges - JEALOUSY. Follow Dr. Darcy on instagram at @drdarcysterling and visit her website askdrdarcy.com.

I love COLOR. It is a powerful communication tool. Color is an exterior representation that evokes emotion, conveys a message, and affects your mood. It can also help you stand out OR it can wash you out, which is why I invited Hollywood’s Guru of Hue, Jill Kirsh, to provide color coaching so you can clarify your message in style. Color Expert, Jill Kirsh, has created the ultimate fashion hack with her wallet size customized swatch books filled with pieces of fabric that she’s curated of all your best shades of every color, based entirely on your present hair color. Her unique color system for fashion & beauty has been the talk of the fashion world for the past fifteen years. Jill was named Best Color Consultant in the Best of LA issue of Los Angeles magazine and is frequently called upon by Red Carpet celebs, Grammy winning musicians and titans of business for her virtual & in person color coaching.  Jill is featured as the Color Expert in the award winning documentary Gray Is the New Blonde and has just written her first ebook, The Color Question: Are You Wearing the Perfect Shades…For Somebody Else?, which is available for free on her website jillkirshcolor.com. Tune in for some color coaching and shine a little brighter in your day-to-day!

ADVERSITY is part of the human experience and learning to cope with it has shaped my life and been a great teacher of resilience. I am where I am because of experiencing loss, heartbreak and perceived failures like getting fired (more than once!).   My guest for this episode, Performance Psychologist and Purpose-Driven Speaker, Dr. Gregg Steinberg, has taught me a ton about emotional toughness and turning adversity into strength. Here he teaches the what and the how of embracing adversity to live a fulfilled and meaningful life or what Gregg calls FALLING UP.   Prepare to take notes because Gregg gets into the nitty gritty and by the end you will have what you need to raise your game under pressure, perform in the storm and set you on the path of transcendence. Tune in and check out Dr. Gregg’s TED talk, How to Fall Up and visit his website for information on courses and resources.

If you're a creative, solopreneur or dreamer of big dreams it's not uncommon to feel lost in the forest from time to time as you forge your path. Sometimes you don't know where to begin or what the next best steps are, regardless if you are beginning your career, changing careers or happily growing in your current career. That's why everyone needs a MENTOR - whether virtual or in real life - and my guest for this episode of Camera Ready & Abel literally wrote the book on mentoring, Leave Your Mark.   ALIZA LICHT is a legendary fashion executive and the Founder & President of LEAVE YOUR MARK LLC; a multi-media brand focused on career development and personal branding. LEAVE YOUR MARK currently includes a best-selling book, podcast, community, and live mentorship events. Drawing invaluable lessons from her experience as a top fashion publicist, Aliza shares advice, inspiration, and a healthy dose of real talk in LEAVE YOUR MARK. Immediate takeaway from this episode: Aliza advises you to approach a potential mentor with not just your ‘asks’ but your ‘gives.’ What do you have to offer to the relationship? Here’s the thing- you have A LOT to offer, so identify something you can provide in exchange for some for this person's time. Check out the LEAVE YOUR MARK podcast for more of Aliza’s wisdom and join her newsletter...I did! If you have been enjoying the Camera Ready & Abel podcast please help us leave our mark and write us a review.

Say it with me, calendars are sexy! This essential tool is built right into your phone - and is a useful catalyst for FOCUS. With everything that is competing for your energy and attention it's easy to lose focus - the subject of this episode of Camera Ready & Abel with Rob Barnett, the author of Next Job, Best Job. Rob explains how FOCUS is vital to all job seekers, how NOT to work with a**holes (amen), and other strategies to land the job you want. Rob Barnett is a headhunter, management executive, author, podcaster, and entrepreneur. As founder of Rob Barnett Media, he has discovered, hired, and led hundreds of talented creators and executives in senior management roles at MTV, VH1, and Audible/Amazon. He was President of Programming at CBS Radio. Today, as an advisor to thousands of job seekers and company leaders, he offers expert guidance as headhunter with a unique ability to speed up every search. Rob’s new book, NEXT JOB, BEST JOB: A Headhunter's 11 Strategies to Get Hired Now (Citadel, June 29, 2021), reinvents the career search with a proven process to land the right job fast. If you have been fired or furloughed, the initial shock can easily turn into fear. Rob shows you that with the right mindset and approach, you can win the career you want and deserve – without delay!  A digital pioneer, Rob founded My Damn Channel, one of the first original online studios and networks. Representing diverse careers, companies, and opportunities. His multi-platform content and no-nonsense approach inspires people to define and sell their best professional brand. Visit RobBarnettMedia.com to learn more about his work.