Blair is an author, poet, educator, YouTuber, and Mystic who has written five books and has been doing YouTube for 90 days. He was a business consultant until he was fired for whistle-blowing and then began to journal and realized he had something of value that he could turn into books. He discussed his journey to higher Consciousness and how he developed the Best Possible Outcomes Process. He believes mindfulness practices can help us savor life, heal ourselves, and empathize with others. He offers services to help people manifest these things into their lives, such as books, blog posts, a YouTube channel, and a free meditation bracelet. He encourages people to educate themselves and to be compassionate and empathetic towards others.Action ItemsTake advantage of Blair's free book and meditation bracelet giveaway.Contact Blair if you have any questions.Practice mindfulness and meditation to achieve higher Consciousness.Manifest your goals and dreams using Blair's Best Possible Outcomes Process.Identify yourself and be mindful to achieve happiness.Bio,Blair Abee, President, Energetic Wave Publishing. Blair Abee is an author, poet, educator, YouTuber and ordinary mystic. He’s written 5 best selling books at Amazon Books on the subjects of meditation, mindfulness, manifestation and related topics. “I am an explorer who has discovered a variety of techniques, tools and ideas that I think you will find useful in your own personal development.”Blair developed Higher Consciousness Meditation after many years of meditation and yoga, and a traumatic year at a new job with a difficult boss who was abusing employees. This forced him to dive deep into his meditation practice to stay sane. As a result, he emerged with new, vibrant ways of coping with life’s challenges.Linksemail: blair.abee@gmail.com">blair.abee@gmail.comhttps://HiCMeditation.com Free giveaway for your listenershttps://www.HiCMeditation.com/giveaway https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiN0... 

Charles Smith is an army veteran, author, and inspiration guru who has written seven self-help books. He experienced much trauma in his life, including his mother's death when he was six, his father's death when he was eleven, and living on a Navajo reservation and in a Mexican town. He discussed how society has lost the ability to connect and openly discuss even the hard things and how people are afraid to live life due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He shared his 7-11 breathing technique, which helps to calm anxiety, and his coaching program, which focuses on mindfulness techniques and preventing self-sabotage. He encouraged people to reach out for help if they are feeling alone, confused, or in a suicidal ideation phase and to support veterans organizations, such as Project Hope, by adopting a child for Christmas.

Action Items

1. Support veterans organizations, such as Project Hope, by adopting a child for Christmas.
2. Reach out for help if feeling alone, confused, or in a suicidal ideation phase.
3. Utilize 7-Eleven breathing technique to calm anxiety.
4. Utilize mindfulness techniques and prevent self-sabotage.
5. Become more practical aware in order to protect oneself.
6. Live life despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
7. Connect and openly discuss even the hard things.
8. Write books and discover how to write books.

Bio,

My story starts with being the best dressed little kid in town, I had everything I wanted in life. My father owned multiple Nursing Homes in the Worcester MA area which would be my legacy. His Nursing Home in Millbury is where he met my mother who worked for him as a CNA. When I was about 3 years old my life changed drastically as my father lost everything due to an unknown reason in one day at least we kids never learned why.

When I was 5 years old my mother died, and my father moved me and my sister around a lot. This included a Navajo Reservation in Arizona where I was the only white boy on the Res and was treated as such. I was actually forced to become a blood brother when some of the kids held me down, cut me, forcing me to exchange blood with another. This was some sort of ritual to make me more like them I guess.

We moved to the US-Mexico border in the small town of Van Horn Texas after that, where again I was the minority and treated as such, I was bullied and in fights every day with the other kids. At this point when I tell my story, some have asked me if I ended up prejudiced, and I reply with "nope and I got a son that is part Spanish and part Hawian to prove it, and his mother is one of my trusted friends to this day". When I was 11 years old my father died, I held his hand as he died in the hospital leaving me and my sister, now as orphans without any family around; in that part of the country anyway.

My family up in Massachusetts heard about what happened and sent my Uncle down to rescue us, we were flying back so my sister and I had to leave just about everything behind, including my dog Max whom I hear was taken in by a neighbor. My Uncle could only describe our living conditions to my Grandfather as unlivable when he asked. My father did the best he could for us, but we still lived extremely poorly.

When my father died I was in a deep shock, unable to speak for about 6 months. I ended up getting through this, but it was replaced by hatred and resentment. I ended up being a kid who hated the world for what happened to me, and anyone who tried to be my family, thinking why did my life end up like this? I felt like the world owed me for my loss. I went through most of my young adult life like this too and became an addict, addicted to cocaine, alcohol, and smoking a lot of marijuana!

I ended up going into the military because I screwed my life up so much my Aunt that I lived with told me to go out and get a job or don't come home, which now I see as a blessing! I came back and told her and my Uncle I joined the Military, and I'm leaving home! I went to Basic Training in Fort Benning Georgia, I was so skinny and weakened that it almost killed me, but I began to see what I was capable of as I was fighting for my life! After graduating Basic & AIT and being the only soldier without family at my graduation, I went to Fort Carson Colorado where I spent the next 3 years active duty being my CO's Bradly Driver and finding a place I could excel, I also found myself in a tank explosion and Gitmo Bay Cuba for 6 months, but I gotta save some for my autobiography.

After the military, I worked odd jobs including security and sales until my Uncle who raised me and my Grandfather died a month apart. When this happened I ended up in a dark depression, I became a carver, cutting into my skin to feel something other than the hellish pain I was feeling. I wanted to have them back now after resenting them all these years. I wanted to tell them, show them I loved them and could change! I was so darkened by this depression that I tried taking my own life with a bottle of sleeping pills and the words "f** you world" carved into my arm. Some of my friends found me the next day and got me to the hospital. I remember hearing a Dr. say he's amazed I was still alive, he wasn't the only one! The hospital sent me to the VA Brockton Mental Health facility where I spent a few days before they sent me away and I ended up homeless on the streets of Boston for a while before finding VA Homeless shelters where I began to see things in a different light. I was finally diagnosed with P.T.S.D. which the Dr's tell me I had since my mother died, my family and I never knew, and P.T.S.D. was unheard of in someone who wasn't in a war zone until a few years before. Who would have thought a child had what was known as "battle fatigue"? I went undiagnosed for decades, but now that I knew I could begin proper recovery.

I have seen all the homeless heroes/veterans and began to realize I wasn't alone, life kicks a lot of us in the ass and it's up to us if we lay down and die with the words "f** you world" carved in our arms, or we get up, brush the dust off and keep moving forward! I ended up brushing the dust off, it took me a few years but I got out of that situation and found peace in my life for the first time since I was a child. I began to find coping skills that worked for me such as martial arts and exercise. I also began to realize one of my best coping skills and qualities was helping others and sharing my story. I began working as a Private Investigator and Security Consultant for a time, and as a Peer Support Specialist including addiction recovery, and a Case Manager, oh, and an author of some great self-help books! Like I said though I have gotta save some for my autobiography.

These days life is not perfect, I only see my son on the weekends, but I talk to him daily. Not the life I want for either of us, especially given how close we are, but this is how life turned out for us. I still have tragedies like my cousin whom I idolized going missing for 6 months 2 years back, this guy had all the girls, money, the biggest truck, and the title for being one of the toughest people in Worcester! The only thing that was stronger than he was, was the opioid epidemic we currently face! His body was found in the woods with Lyme and drug paraphernalia around his body and worst of all they had to do dental recognition to identify him when a hunter was walking his dog and found him. It was pure hell searching for him for 6 months, it engulfed me, my entire life at that time, and when he was found it was like someone stabbed me in the gut! Instead of letting this pull me back down though I used my coping skills to remain strong and help those whom this epidemic is killing! I began helping to find people who are missing in my area, especially those who are affected by this epidemic were facing. I now live for the memory of those I lost in my life, being the person they would want me to be. I tell my story to inspire others and show them no matter how bad life gets if you keep pushing, fight hard, and refuse to be put down then you can rise above and have a good life no matter what cards you're dealt with! 

Links

charliedirenzo1@gmail.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-smith-29681513/

https://www.facebook.com/lifelongexperience

https://www.instagram.com/lifelongexperience/

https://lifelongexperience.net 

 Vinnie Potestivo 

Vinny Potestivo is an emmy award-winning media advisor and talent development executive. He discussedhis journey to becoming a casting director and how he used technology toinnovate the casting industry. He also discussed the importance of having agood pitch deck, team, and culture to help with content creation. He encouragedlisteners to create something that makes them laugh and build their creativemuscle. He suggested trusting yourself and taking trends, and making them yourown. He also discussed the importance of applying for awards, leveragingdistribution platforms, repurposing content, and using social media platformsto reach a wider audience. 

Action Items  

1. Take a chance on a $20 ad in a magazine. 
2. Prepare and challenge yourself to learn something new. 
3. Create a good pitch deck. 
4. Use Notion and Clarity to keep projects organized. 
5. Build a good team and culture to help with content creation. 
6. Leverage distribution platforms to increase discoverability. 
7. Repurpose content and use platforms such as IMDb and PodChaser to increase visibility. 
8. Leverage social media platforms like Instagram to reach a wider audience. 
9. Create something that makes you laugh and build your creative muscle. 
10. Trust yourself and take trends and make them your own. 
11. Contact Vinnie on LinkedIn and his website vpe.tv. 
12. Share, like, and subscribe to the Dead America Podcast. 

BIO, 

Vinnie Potestivo is anindustry-leading talent & media development strategist widely known forlaunching celebrity brands & media properties that continue to influencemodern pop culture. 

With over 25 years ofexperience, he and his teams have become well-trusted connectors who sell, develop,produce, launch, distribute, and amplify some of the most talked-about originalseries & talent brands in modern pop culture. 

Talent brands Vinnie hashelped elevate through the use of original content include Mandy Moore, AshtonKutcher, Ashlee Simpson, Jessica Simpson, Tyrese Gibson, Lauren Conrad, Dianevon Furstenberg, Nick Cannon, Danielle Fishel, Peter Thomas Roth, KellyOsbourne, Kristin Cavallari, Molly Sims, Vanessa Lachey, Damien Fahey, Quddus,Suchin Pak, Gideon Yago, DJ Clue, LaLa Anthony, Hilary Duff, TJ Lavin, and LeahMcSweeney among others. 

Television series castor produced by Vinnie include Punk’d, Wild ‘n Out, The Challenge, TRL, TheOsbournes, Newlyweds, Laguna Beach, The Hills, The Ashlee Simpson Show, 8th& Ocean, Pimp My Ride, Cribs, The Tom Green Show, 2gether, All Things Rock,Headbanger’s Ball, Direct Effect, YO! MTV Raps, Loveline, Man & Wife,Making the Band, Fashionably Loud, VMAs, MTV Movie Awards, Sunset Daze,Biography, The Real Housewives of New Jersey, The Millionaire Matchmaker, DogsIn The City, Celebrity House Hunters, I’m Married To A, House of DVF, andA Question of Love. 

Multimedia series castor created by Vinnie include Macy’s Million Dollar Makeover, Samsung’s PrivateIsland Giveaway, YouTube Originals’ Kid Correspondent, Vevo’s Certified,Simplified with Josh McBride, and Day One Stories byPrudential.  

Podcasts include Man& Wife (Fatman Scoop & Shanda Freeman), Whistleblower(Natalie Khawam), Absolutely Danielle (Danielle Staub), Success byDesign (Elizabeth Sutton), The Polished Woman (Jessica R Bunevacz), RitchIn Life (Ritch Erani), and Camera Ready & Abel (Barbara BarnaAbel). 

Corporate brands Vinniehas worked closely with include Macy’s, Samsung, Nikon, MLB, Peter Thomas Roth,Naturally Serious Skin, Kiehl’s, Hope Fragrances, Ciroc, AARP, Prudential, andAllstate. 

Links 

 https://deadamerica.website/vinnie-potestivo 

vinnie@vpetalent.com 

https://twitter.com/vinniepotestivo 

https://facebook.com/vinniepotestivo 

https://instagram.com/vinniepotestivo 

https://linkedin.com/in/vinniepotestivo 

Tom Basey, an independent insurance broker based in Texas, discussed the pros and cons of being an insurance broker, the steps to becoming an independent agent, and the different types of insurance policies. He also discussed the commission structure and the importance of building a book of business. He shared his business practices, such as sending yearly appreciation gifts and checking in with clients periodically. He also mentioned that his income is unpredictable and that he needs to work until he has a stack of clients and residual income. He encouraged people to contact him on social media or visit his website to further the conversation.Action Items1. Get appointed with one or more carriers.2. Get a business license.3. Have errors and omissions insurance.4. Consider virtual or physical presence for a business.5. Research different types of insurance policies.6. Understand the commission structure.7. Build a book of business and retain it.8. Send out yearly appreciation gifts.9. Check in with clients periodically.10. Reconcile accounts if needed.11. Contact Tom Basey on social media platforms or visit his website.Linkshttps://deadamerica.website/dealing-i...Tom Baseyinsurance.com%2F&v=aKuZxFyi5Ao">https://basey-insurance.comTom.basey@gmail.com">Tom.basey@gmail.comwww.linkedin.com/in/tombaseywww.facebook.com/tom.baseyhttps://twitter.com/TomBasey 

 Katherine Klimitas is an artist and graphicdesigner who has osteogenesis imperfecta. She has been painting since she wasfive and sells her work, mostly watercolor paintings of animals. She also doesbranding design, business cards, logos, letterhead, websites, and social mediamanagement. She has worked with high-profile people such as Rod Stewart andencourages people to find something they can contribute to society. Her websiteis kakartnola.com, and she can be found on social media as @kakartnola. 

Action Items 

1. Buy brushes on Black Friday. 

2. Complete paintings in two to five days. 

3. Create pet portraits, graphic design,public speaking, and jewelry design. 

4. Promote the website (kakartnola.com) andsocial media (@kakartnola). 

5. Encourage people to find something tocontribute to society and put in the effort. 

Bio 

Katherine Klimitas is a New Orleans-basedartist and designer who sold her first watercolor at age 10. As the daughter ofveterinarians, Katherine expresses her family’s lifelong love of animalsthrough her meticulous life-like paintings. She earned a B.A. from LoyolaUniversity in 2011; at age 33, she runs her multifaceted business, KAK ART& Designs, from home. When clients learn that Katherine has OsteogenesisImperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, they are captivated by herunique perspective. She and her parents stopped counting her broken bones at500 at age 10. She’s 2 feet 7 inches tall, gets around in an electricwheelchair, and creates all her art, jewelry, and commercial graphic design whilelying on her side. 

Links 

 kklimitas@gmail.com 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVRhBQ4oHeLhhN5t33JxZOg 

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherineklimitas 

 https://www.facebook.com/kakartnola 

 https://www.instagram.com/kakartnola 

 https://kakartnola.com 

 Tom Basey from Basey Insurance discussedthe importance of a long-term care policy to protect one's assets and legacy.He explained that two out of three people over 65 are expected to need someform of long-term care, typically lasting for three years. He suggested thatpeople consider getting a policy in their 40s or 50s, as it gets more expensivethe longer you wait. He also discussed the different types of policies, thelimitations of Medicare and Medicaid, and the potential of using a reversemortgage to cover long-term care costs. He encouraged people to contact him orvisit his website to learn more about their options. 

Action Items 

1. Consider getting a long-term care policy in your 40s or50s. 

2. Research different types of policies, such as term,hybrid, and life insurance policies, with a long-term care rider. 

3. Contact Tom Basey or visit his website to learn moreabout your options. 

4. Connect with Tom on social media. 

5. Research the limitations of Medicare and Medicaid. 

6. Consider using a reverse mortgage to cover long-term carecosts. 

7. Share, like, and subscribe to the Dead America Podcast. 

Links 

insurance.com">https://basey-insurance.com 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tombasey 

https://www.youtube.com/c/BaseyInsurance 

Barbara Ann MojicaAuthor, historian, educatorBarbara is a historian and retired educator with forty years of experience serving as a teacher, special educator, principal, and school district administrator. Using the whimsical Little Miss HISTORY character to narrate her book series, she makes learning history a fun-filled adventure. She firmly believes, "If you don't know your history, you don't know what you're talking about." Barbara provides the tools to educate, inspire, and empower the youth who will become the leaders of tomorrow.Barbara Ann Mojica is the author of the Little Miss History book series, which focuses on various topics from iconic historical sites to prehistory and archaeology, as well as modern-day issues such as Native American rights and black history. Her books are written to be interactive and to teach children to be critical thinkers, and she has created teaching videos and resources for parents and teachers to help children develop these skills. She encourages children to explore different points of view and to take risks to learn and grow, and her website provides resources, book reviews, and tips for authors.Action ItemsCreate teaching videos and resources for parents and teachers to help children develop critical thinking skills.Encourage children to explore different points of view and to take risks to learn and grow.Encourage parents to mentor their children rather than be authoritarian figures.Provide resources, book reviews, and tips for authors on the Little Miss History website.Linksemail: barbara@littlemisshistory.comLinkshttps://linkedin.com/bamauthor https://www.facebook.com/Littlemisshi... https://twitter.com/bamauthor https://www.LittleMissHISTORY.com https://instagram.com/bamauthor https://pinterest.com/bamauthor https://bamauthor.me YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVUU...Many of my podcasts are listed under the podcast group. 

 James Heppner is a self-helphacker and strategist who helps people live fully alive, passionate, andfulfilled. He has gone through a dark night of the soul and has come out theother side with an unshakable love of life. He encourages people to accept life'schallenges and to look upriver to discover the source of the problems ratherthan just putting a Band-Aid on them. He offers one-on-one coaching servicesand a free community call every Friday to discuss wins and losses. He alsoshares a story about his son, Harrison, who realized that all he had to do wasparticipate in what was directly in front of him to be just fine. Apologize tochildren to strengthen relationships and learn from them. Embrace life's winsand losses and utilize them to maximize life. Adopt the belief that life owesthem nothing, that nothing has to be perfect, that everything is a co-creation,and that nothing traps them. Participate with what is directly in front of themto be just fine. Join James Heppner’s weekly wins and losses call. Check outJames Rollins' website for speaking engagements and a media kit. ABOUT JAMES Mylife worked until it didn’t. The business was strong, the capital wasplentiful, and life seemed all I had ever dared wish it to be. Performing lifevs. Living life nearly cost me my business, my investments, my children, and mymarriage. The never-ending hyper-vigilant striving to achieve the next level ofsuccess suddenly awakened me to the deep emptiness of my current livedexperience. Unable to truly celebrate and instead deeply anxious about therawness of who I really was on the inside, I flip-flopped between beingrestless & bored and anxious & depressed. Thankfully peace didn’t come,but instead, I fell into a million tiny pieces. It forced me to build a newinfrastructure grounded upon authenticity and gratitude. I made criticaldecisions like “my joy is not for sale” and “losses are simply disguised giftshidden in plain sight.” I’ve spent the last decade designing my life ofgratitude and can honestly say I have an unshakeable love for my life. Not inspite of the losses that I’ve had to endure however rather BECAUSE of thelosses that I’ve utilized well. Fearing Fear itself has now left me. Today Ihelp people ignite their vibrant energy toward life by turning toward what theyreally want - to courageously step towards their comforts and discomforts withcuriosity and an open embrace of the goodness that lies at the core of both thewin and the loss. The truth is - Real life is made up of both wins and losses.Both were designed for your good - that's the basic reality. Without facing andlearning how to embrace your losses for greater gain, you miss out. Why chooseto leave 50% of your life experience on the table when you can choose to do thework so that you can have it all? Life can be good news - if we let it. Lifecan shine In through the cracks - if we let it in. I INVITE YOU TO TAKE THERIDE OF YOUR LIFE BY ENGAGING WITH ME AS YOUR GUEST ON YOUR SHOW. Together wecan deliver a transformative and deeply invigorating message that meets peopleexactly where they are at today. Links WEBSITE https://www.JamesHeppner.com GIFT - NO CHARGE EXPERIENCE https://www.WeeklyWinsAndLosses.com SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS TWITTER: https://twitter.com/JamesMegHeppner LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameshepp... FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/JamesHeppner... YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXg9... SCHEDULING WITH ME - HERES MY CALENDAR https://calendly.com/james-heppner Another contact: Email: coach@jamesheppner.com  

Gordon Firemark

Gordon Firemark is a lawyer specializing in entertainment, media, and business law. He is known as the "Podcast Lawyer" and offers online courses and information products to help people understand the legal structures and strategies they need to have in place when creating a podcast. He also advises avoiding legal issues when using artificial intelligence and deep fakes. He emphasizes the importance of having a release form in place to protect oneself from potential lawsuits. He can be found on social media and his podcast, and his website GordonFiremark.com has links to his online courses, forms and templates library, and more information. He also does speaking engagements outside the podcasting realm, such as for entrepreneurs, YouTubers, media creators, and more.

Action Items

1. Obtain written permission from guests before recording them for a podcast.
2. Create a release form to protect the podcast from potential lawsuits.
3. Understand the consequences of not obtaining the necessary permissions and releases.
4. Visit GordonFiremark.com to sign up for his podcast, access online courses, forms and templates library, and more information.
5. Reach out to Gordon Firemark on social media or by email.

Bio

Gordon Firemark helps creatives, artists, entrepreneurs, and others achieve the dream of getting their messages out and making a meaningful impact with their craft.

He has practiced media, entertainment, and business law since 1992 and is often referred to as The Podcast Lawyer™.

A podcaster himself, he’s been producing and hosting the Entertainment Law Update podcast since 2009. In 2020, he launched the More, Better, Faster podcast, which offers insights and advice to creative professionals and businesses who want to achieve more, better, faster. Gordon is the author of the Podcast Blog & New Media Producer’s Legal Survival Guide and creator of several online courses for creatives.

His undergraduate degree in radio, television, and film and his experience in live theatre production informs his thinking about all things legal. In addition to his busy law practice, He teaches Entertainment Law at Columbia College Hollywood, Intellectual Property and Media Law at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and Contract law at Pepperdine Law School. 

Links

Entertainment Law Update https://entertainmentlawupdate.com

Legit Podcast Pro http://youtube.com/gfiremark

OR

https://legitpodcastpro.captivate.fm

email gfiremark@firemark.com

https://linkedin.com/in/gfiremark

https://facebook.com/podcastlaw

https://twitter.com/gfiremark

https://gordonfiremark.com

Free Podcast Release: https://podcastrelease.com

Podcaster Legal checklist: https://podcasterchecklist.com 

Donna TashjianDonna is the founder of Vibrant Living International, a non-profit organization. She is a Life Mastery Coach, an ordained minister, a podcaster, and an author. She helps bring accelerated transformation to people across the world. She empowers you to master life, spirit, soul, and body. Donna has been speaking and coaching for over 25 years.She has developed powerful programs and workshops to help you through life's transitions and pain to achieve your goals or dreams. She also produces a podcast called “You Were Designed for Greatness” and has written four books.Her clients say she has a knack for turning fear into excitement and exposing lies so the truth can shine through.Donna Tashjian and Ed Watters discussed how to create a life by design, not by default. They discussed the power of choice and how it can make a difference in one's life, as well as how to recognize and overcome negative feelings and self-sabotaging behavior. Donna also discussed the importance of communication and listening to other people's stories, and encouraged listeners to schedule a free consultation with her to see if they are a good fit for her programs.Action Items1. Take control of thoughts and emotions.2. Listen to other people's stories.3. Recognize and overcome negative feelings and self-sabotaging behavior.4. Have faith and look for the silver lining in difficult situations.5. Set boundaries and give yourself permission to be negative for a certain amount of time.6. Be curious and seek support instead of judgment.7. Schedule a free consultation with Donna Tashjian to see if her programs are a good fit.LinksWebsitehttps://www.ivibrantliving.com/ Free book available on home pagEMPOWERING HABITS LINK: https://www.ivibrantliving.com/empowe...Speaker Biohttps://www.ivibrantliving.com/speake... LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/donnatash...FacebookPersonal:https://www.facebook.com/drtashjian/Vibrant Living pagehttps://www.facebook.com/VibrantLivin...Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/drtashjian/Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXMF...Twitter:https://twitter.com/DonnaTashjianYou Were Designed For Greatnesshttps://www.ivibrantliving.com/podcast/