The Tragedy & Triumphs of Transformations With Wally B

Original Air Date: August 28, 2020

On this day, Jan 20th, we celebrate the life and achievements of Dr. King, and today on the podcast, I talk to Wally B., an ordained minister, spoken word artist, and the Founder and Executive Director of the Heard Em Say Youth Arts Collective. 

In this episode, Wally shares his reflections on MLK and the influence Dr. King had on his life.  We dig deep into Wally's journey of transitioning from being a full-time artist to founding his nonprofit back in May 2007 to cultivating Heard Em Say. We also talk about what ultimately led to his decision to transition out of the role of Executive Director and creating a succession plan so that he could continue to grow and serve the community.

You'll hear all about his conversations with God and with his leadership team, and how he redefined what it means to be an artist and a leader. You won't want to miss this episode. 

Heard ‘Em Say was created in May 2007 to identify, cultivate and empower youth in activism and advocacy through artistic education and expression.  The organization serves over 300 young people a year, providing a healthy social outlet for teens to express themselves through spoken word and performance.  His team has competed for years at Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival.

Support Heard Em Say and you can follow Wally on Facebook.

Check out past Wally B interviews here and here.

tomearl.me/wb

Facebook Ads, Leadership, and Flourishing With Monica Louie

Original Air Date: October 22, 2020

I love getting to interview people who are grounded in their own genius. 

Yes, the tactical knowledge and tools that I learn about are amazing – sometimes they’re life changing. 

What I really love about these sorts of people, though, is how they emphasize the ability we all have to truly live our own greatness. 

Boldly.

This week’s guest, Monica Louie, is all of that and more. 

Monica is a Facebook and Instagram ads strategist who helps ambitious online entrepreneurs increase their impact with high-converting ads. 

You may have heard her on the Smart Passive Income Podcast, the Boss Mom Podcast, the Art of Online Business Podcast, or her own podcast, Flourish to 7 Figures. 

Along with her premium agency, Team Flourish, Louie manages ads for 6- and 7-figure online business owners, has managed more than $2 million in ad spend, and has taught hundreds to successfully run their own ads through her online training program, Flourish with Facebook Ads. 

Whether you are looking for epic strategies for running Facebook ads, or really have no interest in running an ad, you will draw something valuable from this conversation. 

Yes, we went all in on FB/IG marketing tactics. 

But we also talked about Monica’s journey from being in massive debt to building her dream company. 

Monica shared huge insights on leadership, building a team, cultivating a growth mindset, and how to bring your vision to life. 

I’m telling you – Monica is a genius, and it shines through in this interview. 

Do yourself this favor and dive into this episode. 

Yeah? 

Yeah. 

Alright then. 

And if you’re looking for the free resource Monica created just for T.H.E. Celebration family - head here.

Monica’s links: 

Flourish to 7 Figures podcast.

Flourish with Facebook Ads.

tomearl.me/ml.

Purpose Driven Sales & Marketing With Cody May

Original Air Date: April 12, 2021

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.

tomearl.me/cm

Conscious Sales With Nina Concepcion

Original Air Date: August 28, 2020

Sales. Salesperson. Closer. 

Most people have visceral reactions to these words and phrases, and almost all of us hold stereotypes or preconceived notions of what they mean. 

First off, we usually think of a man. 

Probably a white guy. 

Headset on, maybe. 

Yelling, probably.

Definitely intense, right? 

Maybe you envision the Wolf of Wall Street, or buying a car? 

Here’s the thing.  

If you have a life-changing idea, product, service, business, and/or brand, you are going to need to engage in sales. 

Even if you’re a nonprofit, you’re selling something. 

Even if you’re an activist, you’re selling something. 

For my entrepreneurs, business owners and side hustlers: sales is probably one of the biggest roadblocks holding you back right now. 

No matter how much exposure, leads, or prospects you get, if you can’t close them – if you’re afraid of sales – it will all be for naught. 

Now, this is usually where the tight feeling in our stomachs comes up. Or the explanation for how “my business is different though” starts to make its way into the conversation. 

But before we go there. Let me introduce to you this week’s guest: Nina Concepcion. 

Nina is here to turn all of your assumptions upside down. 

Nina is a master and teacher of Conscious Sales: a co-creation and a synergistic relationship between two or more people that is beneficial for both parties and the rest of the world. 

Now I bet that sounds more in alignment with your values, right? 

Sales and selling don’t have to be ugly. 

When done right, it provides growth, opportunity, and a step forward. 

I invite you to take a few minutes of your week and hear what Nina has to say. 

Not only will it change your entire perspective on what it means to be in sales, you’ll also have the opportunity to meet a truly remarkable entrepreneur. 

In addition, you’ll get to hear Nina talk about:

-How your values drive your life

-How to get your coaching business off the ground

-The power of social media

-What to do on a sales call

-What’s stopping you from moving forward

-How to overcome self-sabotage and step into your inner power 

I’m telling you: this interview is essential! 

Hit play and let me know what your number one takeaway was. 

Be sure to hit Nina up and show her some love → through her Facebook 

tomear.me/nc

Let’s Talk About Burnout

Original Aired Date: June 26, 2022

Let’s talk about burnout. 

We’ve all sung this song before. 

Whether it was out front leading the tune, 

Joining in the chorus,

Or subconsciously humming it to ourselves as we pick up the broom.

We can’t sweep away the exhaustion, 

The depletion of energy. 

The jagged, gnawing feeling, 

That we are nearing our candle’s end. 

For too long burnout has seemed that necessary friend

You must deal with if you want to achieve. 

If you want to be the best at ______. 

Fill in that blank with whatever extrinsic achievement we are 

Chasing, 

Hoping it will finally show everyone we are enough. 

But we can out hustle our worthiness. 

Or we’ll find ourselves buried in a hole of our own making. 

We need to redefine what it means to be winning. 

To recognize that perfectionism

And burnout often goes hand in hand. 

Where is the balance? 

Where is the rest? 

What are the flags, 

Warning signs, 

And hints 

That can suggest when we’ve gone too far. 

On this week’s episode, 

Let’s talk openly about burnout. 

Together, let’s explore ways

We can invite more balance into our lives. 

Not just when it gets so bad it can’t be ignored.

But as a practice. 

A commitment. 

A path.

That leads us back home to ourselves. 

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

Ecommerce Marketing Strategies with Veena Gandhi

Original Air Date: August 13, 2020

A few months ago, my nephew and I came up with an epic idea for a T-shirt company. 

It began when I asked when he planned to come out and visit Adaora and me again.  

He said he needed to get the funds first; so I proposed we sell t-shirts to get the money that he needed. We decided that he’d design them, and I’ll sell them through Facebook and IG ads. 

And boom. Just like that, we had an e-commerce company. 

Even before COVID-19 disrupted the economy and the way we shop, e-commerce was a trillion dollar industry in the U.S. alone.  

E-commerce has revolutionized our ability to sell products directly to consumers without having to go through gatekeepers or big box retail.

Now, while it is relatively easy to get your product loaded onto Etsy or Shopify, marketing that product can be quite a task. 

That is where e-commerce consultants like Veena Gandhi step in. Veena is a strategic digital marketer who specializes in providing creative and innovative solutions to advertising agencies, small businesses, start-ups, and entrepreneurs on the cluttered world of the Internet.

She is also the founder of Digital Street, which is a marketing agency that builds successful sales funnels for fashion, beauty, lifestyle and fitness e-commerce brands.

Whether you’re a seasoned brand or are just getting started in e-commerce, this interview will serve you. 

Rather than just giving general information you could google for yourself, Veena got down to the nitty-gritty of how to build a successful e-commerce campaign. 

Veena shared her knowledge on:

  • How to build audience personas for your Facebook ads.

  • The importance of data, and how to analyze it. 

  • How to set up your creative strategy for an ads campaign. 

  • Which metrics to use in determining which ads to turn off and which ones to increase ad spend on. 

  • The importance of testing your ads and campaigns.

  • How to use Instagram stories as a retargeting strategy.

For agency owners, media buyers, and ad managers, you will walk away from this interview with a plethora of industry secrets 

If you’re just getting started in e-commerce and are worried this might go over your head, don’t worry! Jump in and learn from a master of her craft. 

Alright. That’s enough from me.  

Let’s jump into this week’s episode.

If you have any questions or would like to reach out to Veena, you can do so through her website.

tomearl.me/vg

End-to-End Marketing and Rigorous Thinking With Wes Kao

Original Air Date: January 25, 2021

To become a strong marketer, you must develop a skillset that extends beyond just “marketing.”

This could include a knowledge of human psychology, design aesthetics, analyzing data, how to create & publish content, or an assortment of other skills. 

This empowers you to be able to bring your vision to life because you are able to execute it every step of the way. 

This week’s guest, Wes Kao, has coined a term to perfectly describe this marketer. 

She calls this an ‘End-to-end marketer.’ 

Wes explains that an end-to-end marketer can “have a vision, can develop a strategy, and can execute to bring their idea to life.”

During our interview together, Wes offers key insight into how being an end-to-end marketer is becoming a necessary skillset in today’s marketplace. 

Wes Kao has the hands-on experience to back up her insights. 

Wes Kao is a marketer who helps B2C brands launch new products and create new categories.

Previously, she was the co-creator and Executive Director @ Seth Godin's altMBA where she helped thousands of change agents level up. In the past fifteen years, she has launched 150+ products, features, and campaigns @ Flite (acq Snapchat), BareMinerals, L’Oreal, and Gap 👖.

Now she works with CEOs at companies like Poo~Pourri 💩, Outlier.org (from the co-founder of MasterClass) 🎓, Shaftesbury (creators of Slasher on Netflix) 🔪, Professor Scott Galloway 👓, Tandem Diabetes 💉, Morning Brew ☕️, and other incredible clients.

Wes believes that the “best product doesn’t always win. It’s our responsibility to help people care.” 

I know that this last line is going to resonate with many of us.  

If you are a part of this community, I know you have a product or service that will genuinely empower and transform the lives of your customers. 

Our job is to empower you to have the marketing skills that ensure your customer chooses your product over the inferior alternatives. 

This week’s episode with Wes Kao is going to offer you tangible steps and tools to make that happen. 

Do yourself this favor: 

Hit play. :) 

P.S. 

I highly suggest you check out these two blogs posts from Wes: 

The Rise of End-to-End Marketer & 

To Become A Better Marketer Study These Non Marketing Topics 

tomearl.me/wk

Work-Home Balance, Self-Ownership, and Authentic Leadership With Lucas Tindell

Original Air Date: November 2, 2020

The moment I finished this interview, I went into the next room and told Adaora: “that was the best interview ever.”

She looked at me incredulously. “You say that every single time,” she said.

I know and it’s true and for real this was epic

Let me make the case. 

Lucas and I had an honest, vulnerable, and powerful conversation. 

Right at the beginning, we discovered some similarities and connections between us that gave us both spiritual goosebumps.

That set the stage and tone for a real, honest, heart-to-heart conversation.

Lucas went on to share his powerful and inspiring journey. He was transparent about his ups and even his downs.

Lately, I’ve noticed that many people tend to paint perfect pictures of their lives where everything is always going right.

Lucas, on the other hand, shared his struggles in life and business with me – in the hopes that we could learn from the lessons that he’s had to learn the hard way.

He delivers some really valuable gifts for all of us in this interview.

I really hope you will do yourself a humongous favor and listen to this conversation.

And if you’re not already convinced that this will be one of the best hours you can spend, then let me share a little bit more about Lucas.

Lucas Tindell is an author, public speaker, corporate trainer/coach and host of a live video podcast. Lucas has spent over ten years working in key leadership positions focusing not only on organizational development but primarily on the development of people.

He now serves as a leadership development consultant, working with global leaders to identify strengths and areas of development for sustainable growth and improvement. 

Are you ready?

Let’s do this.

You can connect with Lucas via the following links: 

@Instagram

Facebook

@lucaslivemedia youtube

tomearl.me/lt

Authenticity, Personal Branding, and Flawesomeness with Dr. Natalia Wiechowski

Original Air Date: March 1, 2021

In marketing, there are certain buzzwords that can be overused.  

‘Authenticity’ and ‘personal branding’ are two of those words. Especially when they’re in the same sentence. 

So when someone can actually demonstrate how to create an authentic personal brand, that is both refreshing and remarkable to me. 

This week’s guest, Dr. Natalia Wiechowski, does just that, while also giving us a blueprint on how to up our personal branding game.

Natalia’s story is truly remarkable. I’ll give you a teaser: 

If you had the top floor penthouse suite, the high-end clothes, the high power job – if you had acquired everything you had ever wanted… could you give it all up to answer a new calling?

During my interview with Natalia, she shares her journey on discovering her calling and how she found the courage to answer that call. 

For my marketers out there, Natalia is known by Inc. Magazine as the LinkedIn Marketing Unicorn, and is a Forbes Coaches council member. 

We take a deep dive into how you can grow your business, both by using LinkedIn and following strategies to create consistent leads. 

For my personal development enthusiasts, Natalia delivers powerful insights into how we can cultivate a growth mindset.

This interview will leave you with pages of notes on how you can take your business and your mindset to the next level. 

Do yourself this favor and listen to this one. 

Instagram.

Linkedin.

tomearl.me/apbf.

Go With the Fear & Grow With Dijana Llugolli

Original Air Date: October 14, 2020

It is vital to cultivate a healthy relationship with fear and failure. 

Yeah. 

I know.

Easier said than done. 

In order to live this truth, I have to recommit to it every single day. 

Because every single day fear makes itself known. 

I feel it as a tight knot in my stomach. 

Tension in my shoulders. 

I recognize it in my defensiveness. 

When I’m short with people. 

I see it clearly during the times where I would rather be right than happy. 

Where I fight for my limiting beliefs. 

Fear would have me clutch the painful familiar rather than embrace the liberating unknown. 

I have learned it isn’t possible to get rid of fear.

Or to vision board it away. 

Instead, I must accept it as part of my present experience. 

Without resistance. 

Without fighting it. 

Just observe it. 

And little by little, its grip releases. 

A huge factor in this journey is being conscious of the voices I let into my head. 

I want to be really intentional that I am ingesting words and energy that contribute to a growth mindset. 

That is why I am so intentional of the guests I share with you each week on T.H.E. Celebration. 

On that note, this week's guest, Dijana Llugolli, is a rock star when it comes to fear and growth. 

Diana Dijana Llugolli is a leading success and business coach in Scandinavia with a client base in 23 different countries. Her story as an online marketer, coach, and speaker started in March 2018, when she burned out, nearly divorced, and, on the verge of giving up, decided to make a pivotal change in her business. 

After that rock bottom, she became obsessed with working smarter rather than harder, and she is now the go-to expert for female entrepreneurs who are ready to make more impact, influence, and income. 

Her genius lies in her knowledge of automation, systems, and funnels – and now, she is on a mission to support a million women to be, do, and have whatever they desire. To live their version of a Freedom Lifestyle.

I had so many “aha!”s while recording this episode, and I’ve been really excited for its release! 

At the root of our goals, our intentions, and our visions is our mindset. 

This conversation with Dijana is going to serve you in such a big way. 

So take a deep breath. 

Exhale. 

And then hit play. 

Let’s do this. 

You can connect with her on Instagram.

tomearl.me/gwfg