Motivational Mondays: Conversations with Leaders

Authenticity and representation have become common goals in media and business, but sometimes it can seem like organizations are simply “checking the boxes.” How can we make representation truly authentic and meaningful?You won’t want to miss this entertainment-inspired episode with Logan Clark, whose organization, the Casting Collective, has helped cast entertainers in shows like “Dancing with the Stars,” “Legendary,” and “Living for the Dead.” Clark and his team are dedicated to furthering diversity and inclusivity in the entertainment world in an authentic way.Listen to the episode to discover how you can help further the movement for representation in entertainment, at work, and in any spaces close to your heart!In this episode, you’ll learn the importance of advocating for others, what authentic representation really means, and casting for representation in “Living for the Dead” and beyond.LEARN MORE:>>Check out the Casting Collective’s amazing team and recent casting calls. (https://www.thecastingcollectivela.com)>>Keep up with the latest from the Casting Collective on Instagram. (https://www.instagram.com/thecastingcollectivela)>>Dive into the paranormal with Hulu’s LGBTQ+-powered “Living for the Dead.” (https://www.hulu.com/series/living-for-the-dead-86b5aeeb-352d-4158-91fb-4642a3410f9b)NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:>>Listen to the bonus episode to hear Clark’s advice on being an authentic champion for diversity and inclusivity in your work. (https://thens.ls/3Qw2WUu)Mentioned in this episode:Get 20% Off at the NSLS ShopUse code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.orgNSLS Shop

If fear is holding you back from the action that would make your dream a reality, this week’s episode is a must-watch. Jennifer Dulski, CEO and founder of Rising Team, thought leader, and author of “Purposeful: Are You a Manager or a Movement Starter?” joins Motivational Mondays to share the power of small steps and a community of equally-passionate peers for starting a movement. Bring your dreams to the table and tune in to learn how to make them a reality using Dulski’s three factors for success!You’ll learn the importance of empowering others, why strong movements outlive their leaders, and the power of taking small steps toward success.LEARN MORE:>>Start your movement with advice from Dulski’s book, “Purposeful: Are You a Manager or a Movement Starter?” (https://amzn.to/3ZwtHfn)>>Check out how Rising Team helps managers build connected and engaged teams. (https://risingteam.com)>>Keep up with Dulski and Rising Team on Instagram or LinkedIn. (https://www.instagram.com/risingteamhq), (https://www.linkedin.com/company/rising-team)NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:>>Listen to the bonus episode to learn about the toolkits Rising Team equips managers with to build connected, successful teams. (https://thens.ls/3Ms03CF)Mentioned in this episode:Get 20% Off at the NSLS ShopUse code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.orgNSLS Shop

Empowerment starts with claiming your space, but so many of us are still afraid to take up space around us.Author, survivor, podcaster, and Transformation Teacher Eliza VanCort regularly helps others grow into the most empowered versions of themselves. She does this using lessons learned by facing her own biases and behavior, as well as coaching others through their own.VanCort joins Motivational Mondays to share how she faced major challenges one small step at a time, her advice for more effective communication, and her top strategies for learning how to truly inhabit your own space and empower yourself.Tune in to the episode to learn why grace is an essential tool for educating others about biases and microaggression, strategies to become a more effective communicator, and why it’s essential to lift up others as well as ourselves.LEARN MORE:>>Empower yourself with more strategies in VanCort’s book, “A Woman’s Guide to Claiming Space: Stand Tall. Raise Your Voice. Be Heard.” (https://amzn.to/3EYaava)>>Learn more about VanCort and her work at ElizaVanCort.com. (https://www.elizavancort.com)>>Check out resources VanCort values. (https://linktr.ee/ElizaVanCort)>>Find more lessons on empowerment on VanCort’s podcast, Claim Your Space. (https://www.elizavancort.com/claim-your-space)>>Follow VanCort on TikTok or LinkedIn. (https://www.tiktok.com/@elizavancort), (https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizavancort)NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:>>Listen to the bonus episode to learn how mentorship can change lives. (https://thens.ls/3QzPz6Y)Mentioned in this episode:Get 20% Off at the NSLS ShopUse code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.orgNSLS Shop

How can stories help make the world a better place? At Born This Way Foundation, stories pave the way for connection and help build a community-driven to improve mental health among young people. Shadille Estepan, Senior Manager of Communications for Born This Way Foundation, co-founded by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Bissett Germanotta, has observed the power of storytelling from her earliest years as a member of the organization’s inaugural youth advisory board. In her current role, she helps bring the experiences of others to life and helps share the compelling narratives behind the Born This Way Foundation’s programs.Estepan shares the story of the Born This Way Foundation and its programs, illustrating how the organization works to build a braver, kinder world.Tune in to learn how young people are driving change and calling for better mental health support, why storytelling is so effective at driving change, and how you can join the movement and support those struggling with their mental health.LEARN MORE:>>Earn your Be There Certificate to learn about mental health and gain the skills to support others. (https://bornthisway.foundation/current-programs/be-there-certificate)>>Join the movement and discover the Born This Way Foundation’s programs and partnerships. (https://bornthisway.foundation)>>Keep up with the Born This Way Foundation on TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. (https://www.tiktok.com/@btwfoundation), (https://www.facebook.com/bornthiswayfoundation), (https://twitter.com/btwfoundation), (https://www.instagram.com/btwfoundation)>>Learn young people’s stories, submit your own, and take kind action through Channel Kindness. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDjoC8nonyw&list=PLOvheSThxbiVlmdWeVw7iYr3_N1vl90NO&pp=iAQB)>>Follow Estepan on Twitter or Instagram. (https://twitter.com/shadille), (https://instagram.com/shadille)NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:>>Listen to the bonus episode to learn how Estepan’s education impacted her career and how she strives to be a lifelong learner on the job. (https://thens.ls/3tM4Bh3)Mentioned in this episode:Get 20% Off at the NSLS ShopUse code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.orgNSLS Shop

Is student loan anxiety weighing you down? This week’s episode of Motivational Mondays is one you can’t miss. Zack Geist is the founder and CEO of Student Loan Tutor, the longest-operating student loan repayment management and solutions firm, and an advocate for financial literacy to help people navigate student loan forgiveness and build their future. He has dedicated Student Loan Tutor and its parent company, Holistic Finance, to helping people learn the rules of the economic game we have to play.Geist shares how you can liberate yourself from the weight of debt and ensure your future success with vital financial knowledge and mentorship.You’ll learn the importance of relationship-building to success, how to play the economic game we’re all part of, and ways to liberate ourselves from the student loan crisis.LEARN MORE:>>Start your student loan education with informational videos from Student Loan Tutor. (https://www.youtube.com/c/Studentloantutor)>>Keep tabs on the latest from Student Loan Tutor on Facebook or LinkedIn. (https://www.facebook.com/studentloantutor), (https://www.linkedin.com/company/studentloantutor)>>Learn how Student Loan Tutor can help you lift the burden of debt.(https://www.studentloantutor.com)NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:>>Listen to the bonus episode to learn how Geist and Holistic Finance reframe investment to benefit not just the individual, but the wider community as well. (https://thens.ls/3M0AdFB)Mentioned in this episode:Get 20% Off at the NSLS ShopUse code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.orgNSLS ShopGet 20% Off at the NSLS ShopUse code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.orgNSLS Shop

Looking for inspiration to help give you a push toward your dreams? You’ll certainly find it in the story of this Mexican-born Houston resident who followed his heart to New York City.Hugh Jones seized an opportunity to become an entertainer in the city of his dreams, and now his credits include the film “In the Heights” and the MAX series “The Undoing.”Jones joins Motivational Mondays this week to share how he invested in his future and took a risk to make his dreams a reality.You’ll learn how Jones took a chance on himself and made his dreams come true, why it’s so important to support others outside your own community, and the importance of voting in any arena.LEARN MORE:>>Follow Jones’s journey on Instagram as he lives his dream. (https://www.instagram.com/hughyorkcity)>>Learn more about the SAG-AFTRA strike and discover how you can join the fight. (https://www.sagaftrastrike.org)>>Follow the progress of the performer’s strike through the SAG-AFTRA feed on X (formerly Twitter). (https://twitter.com/sagaftra)>>Check out what’s on at the Metropolitan Opera. (https://www.metopera.org)NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:>>Listen to the bonus episode to learn Jones’s advice for making your dream a reality. (https://thens.ls/48TwjZ2)Mentioned in this episode:Get 20% Off at the NSLS ShopUse code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.orgNSLS ShopGet 20% Off at the NSLS ShopUse code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.orgNSLS Shop

A successful journey of 1,000 miles may begin with a single step, but a great mentor can get you there faster. This week on Motivational Mondays, we’re tackling the power of mentorship to build a better future!Blake Johnson has successfully founded and sold several businesses in his career, including his most recent company, Byte, which Forbes Magazine called the fastest-growing company ever —and Byte got there without any external capital.Johnson leveraged the mentorship he received as a teen to build his current success, and now he is dedicated to bringing that same advantage to more children through the Blake Johnson Alliance. Tune in to learn how you can do the same!You’ll learn about Johnson’s plans to help more children gain mentors, the art of the pivot, and the importance of a supportive community for success.LEARN MORE:>>Learn how the Blake Johnson Alliance is making a difference in children’s lives. (https://www.theblakejohnsonalliance.com)>>Keep up with Johnson on LinkedIn. (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-blake-johnson-alliance)>>Learn about the Big Careers program, a collaboration between the Blake Johnson Alliance and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County & the Inland Empire. (https://www.ocbigs.org/programs/big-careers)>>Find out more about the unexpected ways volunteering can benefit you! (https://www.nsls.org/blog/unexpected-benefits-volunteering-will-inspire-you)NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:>>Listen to the bonus episode to hear Johnson’s advice for college students. (https://thens.ls/48HpM3y)Mentioned in this episode:Get 20% Off at the NSLS ShopUse code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.orgNSLS Shop

Will you give yourself permission to follow what lights you up? This week’s guest, Victoria Song, is a Leadership Advisor who helps successful CEOs, celebrities, and entrepreneurs find fulfillment and rewarding careers. Song chats with Corey Andrew Powell about the power of learning to view life from an expansive lens and tuning into our natural gifts. Song works with clients to go beneath the surface and face their subconscious fears, freeing them to build a more positive and fulfilling reality.Check out the episode to find out how you can fight limiting beliefs and pursue your passion wholeheartedly!You’ll learn how social programming disconnects us from our true nature, why it’s important to view life through an expansive lens, and how to move into the zone of genius!LEARN MORE:>>Check out Song’s courses and coaching resources! (https://victoriasong.me)>>Find your path to success with Song’s book, “Bending Reality: How to Make the Impossible Probable.” (https://amzn.to/3NQbHqR)>>Keep up with Song on Instagram and LinkedIn! (https://www.instagram.com/victoriaesong), (https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriasong)NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:Listen to the bonus episode to learn Song’s advice for those seeking the path that’s right for them. (https://thens.ls/3rEjSzs)Mentioned in this episode:Get 20% Off at the NSLS ShopUse code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.orgNSLS Shop

Ever wondered about the truth behind our American myths and history? Looking for the truth behind the stories of American heroes like Christopher Columbus or Pocahontas? Look no further than this week’s Motivational Mondays!Michael Harriot of The Guardian and theGrio.com joins us this week to share what he has learned about American history with his trademark humor! With his expertise as a journalist, author, and cultural critic - and his status as "one of the most eloquent writers in America" - he’s one writer you’ll want on your TBR! (https://medium.com/the-daily-kerfuffle/michael-harriot-one-of-the-most-eloquent-writers-in-america-today-f2e1ef846d4b)Tune in to learn more about how his new book, “Black AF History,” views history through the lens of black people in America.LEARN MORE:>>Read the unvarnished stories from history that Harriot shares in “Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America.” (https://www.amazon.com/Black-AF-History-Whitewashed-America/dp/0358439167)>>Learn more about Harriot and his work on his website. (MichaelHarriot.com)>>Check out the channels Harriot follows on YouTube. (https://www.youtube.com/@michaelharriot/featured)>>Keep up with Harriot on Twitter or Instagram. (http://twitter.com/michaelharriot), (https://www.instagram.com/michaelharriot)NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:>>Listen to the bonus episode to learn about Harriot’s thoughts on the Montgomery Brawl incident and how it may contribute to ongoing conversations about race (https://thens.ls/3Lvkyhj)Mentioned in this episode:Get 20% Off at the NSLS ShopUse code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.orgNSLS Shop

Get ready to jump-start your path to freedom! Amy Porterfield, CEO and author of “Two Weeks Notice,” joins Motivational Mondays to teach us about taking control of your own professional journey and creating a career that gives you a sense of freedom. Porterfield chats with Corey Andrew Powell about finding your purpose and what makes you unique — two vital steps in the process to shaping a successful career. No matter what career stage you’re in, you’ll want to catch this week’s conversation! Porterfield tackles topics like diversity, starting with a selfish “why,” and hilarious business card gaffes.LEARN MORE:>> Seek actionable steps for your venture in Porterfield’s book, “⁠Two Weeks Notice⁠” (⁠https://amzn.to/3WYy8yn⁠)>> Follow Porterfield on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠TikTok⁠ (⁠https://www.instagram.com/amyporterfield⁠), (⁠https://www.facebook.com/AmyPorterfield⁠), (⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@amy.porterfield⁠)>> Connect professionally with Porterfield on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ (⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/amy-porterfield-inc.⁠)>> Find even more resources or join her “Learn with Amy” course on her website (⁠https://www.amyporterfield.com⁠)NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:>> Listen to the bonus episode to learn about confronting scarcity mentality and why Porterfield instituted 4-day work weeks. (⁠https://thens.ls/3r3WfQE⁠)Mentioned in this episode:Get 20% Off at the NSLS ShopUse code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.orgNSLS Shop