How To Show Up, Be Vulnerable & Grow Your Business With Alex Emm, Adrian McGee & Alisha Kumar

“Imposter syndrome.”

“Being in a space where no one looks like me.”

“Learning to be my authentic self.” 

These are just three of the honest conversations we had on this week’s episodes.

My guest - Adrian, Alex, and Alisha - are each a powerhouse in their entrepreneurial field.

They generously shared brilliant advice on marketing, social media, content creation and the power of storytelling. 

Even more importantly - we had vulnerable conversations on the mindset, struggles, and journeys of entrepreneurship.

Alex Emm is a Social Media Manager and Copywriter helping small businesses be present and tell their stories in the fast-paced world of social media.

You can follow him on IG here

Adrian McGee is the CEO of The Grind Season, a platform that provides tips on success, pursuing purpose, and wealth building.

You can follow her on IG here

Alisha Kumar is passionate about helping businesses ​take advantage of the latest and greatest digital marketing trends to create a unique footprint with their marketing. 

You can follow her on IG here

This episode will give you both the tactics and the real conversations that are at the heart of living with and pursuing your passion. 

Do yourself this favor. 

Hit play. 

Listen to "How To Show Up, Be Vulnerable & Grow Your Business With Alex Emm, Adrian McGee & Alisha Kumar" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Feel All The Feelings (Without Toxic Positivity)

Feel all of the feelings. 

Even the ones that feel messy. 

Or don’t fit neatly into a polished box of positivity. 

Create your own paintings. 

Express your unique style. 

They’ll tell you:

To put on a smile,

Take the stage, 

Work the gimmick, 

Wear the mask of plastic happiness. 

It’s what they want to see...

The spectators. 

The followers. 

The audience. 

Do it for the show.

The hallowed accolades

Followed by the inevitable silence. 

Artificial lights that glowed begin abruptly fade. 

When will we come home to the movement inside us? 

The honesty behind the performance. 

The fuel. 

The sadness. 

The fire. 

The heaviness. 

The energy. 

The struggle. 

The ignition. 

The pain. 

Feelings are feelings when we let ourselves feel them. 

Trapped inside a lie of good vibes 

It’s the farce that starts to tear us apart. 

An elephant’s painting, 

Words created by AI. 

Without the:

Worry or 

anxiety... 

Sans the risk, 

Of ridicule

And rejection…

Creation without risk is imitation. 

It’s the vulnerability that makes it creativity. 

Feeling all the feelings. 

It’s not easy. 

But it sure beats the drudgery

Of pretending. 

Feeling all the feelings

Is human.

Feeling all the feelings 

Is you and me

Being. 

P.S. 

I hope you enjoy this week’s episode: Feel All The Feelings (Without Toxic Positivity) 

Listen to "Feel All The Feelings (Without Toxic Positivity)" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Owning Your Inner-Power Tom Earl Interviewed By Natasha Bazilevych

I LOVED this conversation on marketing, running ads, the creative process, and so many other topics.

Natasha Bazilevych invited me to be a guest on her podcast and it ended up being one of my favorite interviews.

On this episode, you get to see me switch hats and become the interviewee.

Natasha really brought out some honest answers from me and we explored things I’ve never shared before.

She even got me to perform one of my spoken word poems.

I had a blast!

We also covered a lot of ground that any creative, entrepreneur, or leader will get a ton of value from.

Thank you Natasha for such an awesome experience.

You can listen to Natasha’s podcast here and learn more about her work here

Do yourself this favor.

Hit play.

Listen to "Owning Your Inner-Power Tom Earl Interviewed By Natasha Bazilevych" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

The Psychology of Belonging In Marketing

The need to belong. 

To not just guess the words, 

But to join in the song. 

All along,

It’s what we’re searching for. 

Whether we pour our feelings in openness, 

Or keep them locked inside our secret box of silliness. 

Trombones and violens. 

Percussion of every persuasion. 

Couldn’t save a parade of boring. 

Pouring into a thirsty cup, 

will fill you up

Richer than hoarding gold

Ever could. 

Dragons should soar the sky, 

Not die for shiny metal. 

Settle? 

Never. 

Searching outside for the missing piece is an unrequited endeavor. 

It will leave you…

And then you’ll be wanting more. 

And more.

Your paper cup has a hole in it 

But what’s a flat tire

When you’re consuming fire. 

Scorched earth 

Isn’t the result of burning passion. 

It’s the consequence of individualistic sadness. 

Majestic, 

Prophetic, 

Angelic, 

Sound so bold, 

But quickly become dogmatic 

When all I see is me. 

We need to belong to something. 

Have you taken the time to write down your greatest and most important values? 

Have you traced them like a line and uncovered who buried them within you?

Uncover a great meaning, 

And you’ll have found the key. 

Belonging, 

It is one of the deepest, 

And most important, 

Of all the human needs.

P.S. 

I hope you enjoy this week’s episode. :) 

Listen to "The Psychology of Belonging In Marketing" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

The Elevation of Education With Dr. Shaun Woodley & Stacey Cosden

Relationships are at the heart of creating inclusive and transformative classrooms. 

That was one of the themes they rang throughout this week’s episode. 

Our guests, Dr. Shaun Woodley & Stacey Cosden, shared their expertise on where education is at and what it can be. 

Dr. Shaun Woodly has dedicated his professional career to education. He is a decorated K-12 teacher, university professor, and author whose deep passion and research have allowed him great success as an educator and entrepreneur. He is the architect behind the educator movement “Teach Hustle Inspire” and has written the best-selling book “MC Means Move the Class: How to Spark Engagement and Motivation in Urban and Culturally Diverse Classrooms”. 

Stacey is a Marketing Coach with Tom Earl at T.H.E. Celebration and Marketing Director at Blue Level Training. While she is currently in marketing, she’s spent over 20 years working with the public school system. Through her various roles in the system, Stacey has been an advocate for her community, students, and their families, and an activist for reform. Stacey’s true passion is building a healthy community that supports marginalized voices.  

Shaun and Stacey also covered the important role self-awareness & emotional intelligence plays in creating a transformative classroom. 

This interview is for anyone who is passionate about education & the power of relationships. 

I promise you will walk away with a whole new mindset. 

Do yourself the favor. 

Hit play. :) 

You can follow Shaun on Instagram - @teachhustleinspire

You can follow Stacey on Instagram - @staceyreneec 

Listen to "The Elevation of Education With Dr. Shaun Woodley & Stacey Cosden" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Staying On The Path An Interview With Warrior Poets Jamie Dawson and Sam(ira) Obeid

For all of us striving to stay on the path - this one is for you. 

This week’s episode is truly special. 

I felt so honored and grateful just for getting the chance to be in the same room as these two warrior poets. 

My guests this week, Jamie Dawson and Sam(ira) Obeid, are two of the most creative and brilliant people I have had the privilege of knowing. 

We wove through many important and timely conversations all while striving to remain open, honest, and vulnerable. 

Accountability and introspection were two themes that tied together the thoughts expressed. 

Jamie and Sam both shared their deep insights on heavy conversations such as:

-How do we process the grief, the trauma, and the roller coaster that these past 12+ months have been? 

-What does true allyship look like? 

-What role do creativity, art, and poetry play in processing? 

-What lies at the intersection of art and activism? 

Jamie and Sam both provided true gifts on this one. 

Please do yourself the favor of listening in. 

For all of us striving to stay on the path - this one is for you. 

You rock. 

Jamie Dawson is a professional writer, performer, and black arts scholar whose talents range from spoken word, theatre, and commissioned works on the topics such as black life, multiculturalism, women’s rights, healing, and connection to each other through Earth.

You can follow Jamie on Instagram here

Sam Sam(ira) Obeid is an Indian. Scholar. Warrior. Poet. Queer. Sam has been placed 5th at the Women of the World Poetry Slam in 2015. Sam has been featured on Button Poetry and an international anthology, The World That Belongs to Us: An Anthology of Queer Poetry from South Asia by Harper Collins India. 

You can follow Sam on Instagram here

Listen to "Staying On The Path An Interview With Warrior Poets Jamie Dawson and Sam(ira) Obeid" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

My Special Birthday Episode: Reflections, Vulnerability & Celebration

It is my birthday week! 

Each year, I dedicate a podcast episode to speak reflections out loud. 

To give sound to the inside, 

So that vibrations can become lessons learned.

Wisdom is earned, 

Creativity burns bright through consistency. 

To be here for another year is a blessing.

Take the risk and go for it, 

Or spend your 365th-day second-guessing. 

Accountability over blame. 

I’m grateful for the losses

and the gains. 

For the downwind ease

And the uphill pain. 

There is a release of worry,

When you can learn to taste the rain. 

Each misstep a new campfire story. 

The hurricane 

And the boring. 

Even amidst the turbulence 

Finding pockets of stillness. 

I give thanks 

For the new smiles shining with brilliance.

I see now I’m supposed to feel all of this. 

No hiding. 

Sadness.

Mourning.

And then in the morning.

There you are everywhere. 

In the air, 

Alive in our memories. 

Truly, 

It is a blessing. 

To be here for another year. 

InshAllah. 

Will you join me? 

In celebrating my birthday?

I’d like to request a gift. 

Will you share with me:

A memory. 

A story.

Of how we met, 

Of a time our lines crossed.

A moment we connected. 

It would mean the world to me. 

Thank you for being a part of my journey. 

Listen to "My Special Birthday Episode: Reflections, Vulnerability & Celebration" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Give The People What They Want (Hint: It’s You) With Jeanne DeClue & Imari Graves

This one is for everyone who has something important to share, but are doubting themselves.

For those hiding their gifts…

Their vision…

Their passion…

Whether out of fear, 

Worry, 

Trauma, 

Or that lying feeling of unworthiness. 

This one is for you.

You are brilliant. 

You are enough. 

You matter. 

What you have to say is exactly what someone, somewhere, in this very moment, needs to hear. 

That video you’re thinking about recording…

That course you’re thinking about launching…

That podcast you’re considering starting…

Those words you're itching to start writing…

They are the key someone is looking for to unlock a new essence of greatness. 

In case you needed that extra push.

This one is for you.

My guests this week - Jeanne DeClue & Imari Graves - are here for you. 

And they want to share this reminder: 

Give The People What They Want 

Hint: It’s You

If that doesn’t do it for you.  Let’s drop the bios. 

Jeanne (genie) DeClue is a content strategist who thrives in driving campaigns and products for retail and CPG businesses, software companies, and online publishers. For over 10 years, she’s helped both small business and enterprise platforms solve creative problems and improve user experiences.

Imari Graves is a blogger, social media, and digital marketing specialist. She’s been featured in media outlets like voyage ATL magazine and WALB news 10 in Albany, GA. Her mission is to help small business owners create time and money-saving strategies to take their businesses to the next level.

This is one of my favorite episodes of 2021. 

Do yourself this favor. 

Hit play on this one. 

Dive in. 

And remember: 

You Rock. 

Listen to "Give The People What They Want (Hint: It’s You) With Jeanne DeClue & Imari Graves" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Purpose Driven Sales & Marketing With Cody May

There are people who are just pure geniuses at marketing. 

And then there are people who are genuinely amazing human beings. 

I’m going, to be honest - it is rare to see these qualities overlap. 

My guest this week, Cody May, is one of those truly special people who is both a genius at marketing, and a kind and gracious person. 

Having been in this industry for a while, I can tell you, it is refreshing. 

On top of that, you’re going to get the chance to learn some seriously valuable marketing, sales, and entrepreneurial insights. 

Cody is the co-founder of Create Your Purpose, a motivational and uplifting brand to help people find their purpose and experience fulfillment throughout life. 

He is also the COO of the full-service digital marketing agency StudioPTBO. 

In this interview, we cover everything from marketing psychology, what’s working in Facebook Ads Land, how to book calls, and the blueprint for a successful sales call. 

Like me, Cody believes in relationship centered marketing. 

His commitment to living a purposeful life shines through in the advice he offers to all of us on this episode. 

Trust me, this is a must listen. 

Do yourself this favor. 

And hit play. 

You rock. 

You can learn more about Cody here.

Listen to "Purpose Driven Sales & Marketing With Cody May" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Expand Your Impact With Facebook Ads: Tom Earl Interviewed By Dijana Llugolli.

I am a huge fan of people who have important work connecting with their community. 

With all of its controversies and confusion aside, I believe that FB / IG ads are the most effective way to do that. 

Contrary to popular belief, you can find success with even a modest budget of $1 a day. 

In this week’s episode, I share with you the strategy and systems that are getting entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and activists results. 

This is a replay from when I was a guest on my friend Dijana Llugolli’s podcast. 

You may remember Dijana was a previous guest on this podcast.  

You can check out that replay at tomearl.com/dijana. 

Whether you’re just dipping your toes into the marketing waters, or are ready to do a cannonball - you’ll discover some gems in this episode. 

Do yourself the favor of giving this a listen. 

You rock. 

And be sure to support Dijana and her awesome work here.

Listen to "Expand Your Impact With Facebook Ads: Tom Earl Interviewed By Dijana Llugolli." on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.