Janae Bakken grew up in Minnesota - where she spent too many frozen winters on the cross-country ski team, and went to college in Chicago - where she rarely saw the sun, so she made her escape to Los Angeles soon after graduation.  She worked on the production staffs of such shows as Mad About You, Caroline in the City, and Malcolm in the Middle before making the jump to writer, where she spent eight years writing on the critically-acclaimed Scrubs, rising from a Staff Writer to Co-Executive Producer.  Janae was twice-nominated for an Emmy Award with the other Scrubs writers.  In addition, she has written & sold television pilots for Warner Brothers, ABC Studios, MRC and ABC Network.  Janae was most recently a Co-Executive Producer on Freeform’s Baby Daddy for four years, and before that a Co-EP on Anger Management and Gary Unmarried.  In 2007, she was selected to participate in the WGA Showrunner Training Program.  In 2011, Janae was a guest professor at her alma mater Northwestern University, teaching Television Writing to the MFA Creative Writing students.  Notes from the show: Grew up in a suburb of Minneapolis St. Paul, MN. She discovered "The Wonder Years," her favorite and my favorite television show. Northwestern University's "Creative Writing for the Media" program - selected 12 people each year, was in the program with me, Breen Frasier ("Criminal Minds") Heavily influenced by the show "Friends." A lot of her friends back home in MN got married in their early 20s. She lived in London, England after college. Hollywood will always be there, but you're better off going without attachments. La-La Land. If you want to be in television, you need to be in Los Angeles. 20 years later, she loves Los Angeles. "Everyone's starting over... you're in it together." It helps there are so many alumni there. Has been in the workforce since the age of 14, but all Los Angeles jobs were "in the industry." First screenplay was a comedy. First TV job was a comedy. Gave a funny speech at high school graduation. First job she had in L.A., she got fired. Agency job is a good foot in the door. On her resume, she mentioned her job as "Gedney the Minnesota Pickle." William Morris called about it. Interview with Pang-Ni Landrum; Mascot life got her the job. Unruly: most people can't do funny. At least 70% who made it in television comedy went the assistant route. During all down time, she wrote scripts. Every night, after work, would stay at desk and work on own scripts. Skills went "through the roof" being in the room with great writers. Had "interview" with UTA, thought she was being interviewed. "The longer I have done this, the more I realize how hard it is to run a show. And it's really easy to see who does it well and who doesn't." "I'm not young enough to know everything." - Oscar Wilde "Baby Daddy" is over, and she can't wait to get back in a writer's room. "The TV Writer's Workbook" - Ellen Sandler "Writing the TV Drama Series 3rd edition: How to Succeed as a Professional Writer in TV" - Pam Douglas Take a UCLA Extension class or Santa Monica Community College class

How I Broke Into: Michael Prywes Interviews Artists and Entrepreneurs About Their Big Break

Sitcoms with Janae Bakken ("Scrubs") - 026

Taffy Brodesser-Akner is a writer who has contributed compelling non-fiction features to major publications such as the New York Times Magazine, GQ, Cosmopolitan, Los Angeles Times, SElf, and so many more. Taffy is also the author of the forthcoming Random House novel, Schrödinger's Marriage. Taffy has been a finalist for multiple awards, including the James Beard Award and the Mirror Award, and has won awards from the New York Press Club, the Los Angeles Press Club, Society of Feature Journalists. She also teaches a phenomenal writing class, but the class we discuss in this interview unfortunately sold out before we launched. Subscribe to "How I Broke Into" on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, I Heart Radio, or Google, or listen to the entire podcast here: Notes from the show: John Cheever's short stories Inspired by writer Lauren Slater. "It’s also telling that I’m not a trained journalist.  I have a degree in screenwriting from NYU. The highest priority when I’m writing is on storytelling, not voice, but storytelling.  That’s my business.  Voice comes easily to me because it’s easy for me to write how I sound.  And structure is the thing that I think about the most.  ‘What is the beginning, middle, and end of this?’ " Loved the soap opera Santa Barbara, and got a job at a Soap Opera publication Worked at Mediabistro in Los Angeles PTSD from giving birth "Moving Swift-ly on? Giggling Tom Hiddleston is spotted bidding farewell to a mystery brunette during evening stroll back in London" - Daily Mail "Chasing the New American Dream" "My Color Story" "Obsessive-compulsive disorder nearly ruined her life" by Sarah Maraniss Vander Schaaff "Who Controls Childbirth?" - Self Magazine "We Have Found the Cure! (Sort Of)" - Outside Magazine Water's Edge (The story of Bill May, the greatest male synchronized swimmer who ever lived, and his improbable quest for Olympic Gold) - ESPN Magazine The Art of War by Steven Pressfield Interviewing celebrities is never not weird. Classes at: taffyakner.com/classes (but August 2017 class is sold out)

How I Broke Into Writing with Taffy Brodesser-Akner (GQ, NY Times) - 025

Jordan Matter, a Manhattan portrait photographer, is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Dancers Among Us, a collection of photographs of dancers in everyday situations around the world, and his collection of photos of nudes in public places, Dancers After Dark, is a monumental achievement, in my humble opinion. He and his work have been featured on television, in print, online, and in exhibitions throughout the world, including Buzzfeed, ABC World News Tonight, Today, The Tyra Banks Show, the BBC, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, #1 on Reddit, Daily Mail U.K., O, The Oprah Magazine, NPR, Lincoln Center, and the Savina Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul, Korea. Matter lives in New York with his wife, two children, dog and cat. Notes from the show: Serendipity Dancers Among Us: A Celebration of Everyday Life My interview with my father. My interview with ballet champion Brooklyn Mack. Behind the Scenes "Ode on a Grecian Urn" by John Keats The Professional Photographer's Legal Handbook by Nancy Wolff Henri Cartier-Bresson Uncovered: Women in Word and Image The Beauty Myth - Naomi Wolf Camera + App actually DOES work with the iPhone 7 Plus dual lens system (but not "Portrait Bokeh" mode) Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs    

How I Broke Into Photography with Jordan Matter ("Dancers Among Us") - 024

Nelson Ruger grew up along the beaches of southern New Jersey, finding his stomping grounds among Ocean City’s 7th Street and North Street beaches and boardwalks.  Loving art from an early age, he dove into a career as a theatrical artist, designing scenery and lighting for stage productions up and down the eastern United States, lending his creative style from tiny one-room shows to huge regional theaters. In 1998, he fulfilled his dream of designing on Broadway.  With this life goal achieved so young, Nelson began searching for new horizons and artistic possibilities. Nelson eventually left the theatre industry to pursue his surf painting and zen watercolor art. He formed the ‘Nelson Makes Art!’ Studio in Virginia, where he spent several happy years developing commissioned pieces in his flip-flops. ‘Nelson Makes Art!’ then led him far far west to the opposite coast of sunny Los Angeles.  As Creative Director at RGH Themed Entertainment, Nelson worked with a diverse team of artists across many disciplines, designing theme parks and attractions around the world.   In 2014, Nelson discovered a passion uniting two of his favorite things - painting, and tropical beverages.  This led him to his most exciting works to date - the Huli Pau Glassware series - painted glassware featuring the beautiful waves of oceans from around the world. He's the guy who believes you deserve to live the life you've always wanted.  And he's gonna do everything he can to help get you there. Notes from the show: He didn't like the "drama" offstage of theatre. He went to work for Apple. He was invited to build a theme park in Los Angeles. He opened an Etsy store. Can Infringement on Etsy, Ebay, or CafePress be Considered "Fair Use?" Helped by Amy Colella Kim Bloomberg Designs The One of a Kind Show Winsor-Newton paintbrushes Liquitex enames to be discontinued. Gordon Firemark Jason Fellerman Glass Buck's Rock Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss 1000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly James Schramko's SuperFast Business SoCal vs. Hawaii Ocean City, NJ A Crash Course on Taking on Centuries-Old Brands... and Succeeding The Virgin Way by Richard Branson Simon Sinek's TED talk No, No, No, No, No, Yes. Insights From a Creative Journey: Motivation & Self-Improvement (Creative & Innovation series Book 1) by Gideon Amichay etsy.com/nelsonmakesart facebook.com/nelsonmakesart instagram.com/nelsonmakesart NelsonMakesArt.com

Surf Art with Nelson Ruger, "Nelson Makes Art" - 023

Bradley Broder is the founder and Executive Director of the Kenya Education Fund. Bradley founded Kenya Education Fund as a means of supporting the children he befriended while serving in the US Peace Corps for two years (Kenya 1999-2001).   Bradley has over 17 years experience working with Kenya and speaks fluent Kiswahili.  His deep, personal connection with Kenya and knowledge of international development issues has led Bradley to focus KEF focus on keeping Kenyans in school to develop the country’s human capital and reduce dependency on foreign aid.  Brad holds a BA in Spanish from SUNY Stony Brook and an MA in Political Science from Western Washington University.   He lives in New York City with his wife and two sons. The story of KEF weaves together the rich histories of three organizations,  the Kenya Education Fund (est. 2006), the Nomadic Kenyan Children’s Educational Fund (NKCEF, est. 2001) and the Children of Kibera Foundation (est. 2007). KEF has over 20 years of collective experience working to promote education in Kenya. KEF was started by former Peace Corps Volunteer, Bradley Broder and local community leader, Dominic Muasya, to keep kids in high school when their means did not allow.  NKCEF was formed after a group of families from McLean, Virginia accompanied their children’s high school teacher, Hon. Joseph Lekuton, on a trip to his nomadic homeland in Northern Kenya where many of the children were not in school. NKCEF combined with KEF in 2011. Children of Kibera Foundation was founded by Honorable Ken Okoth (Kibra) and provided hundreds of educational scholarships to primary, secondary and university students from Kibera –Africa’s largest slum. CoKF decided to join hands with KEF in 2013. Notes from the show: Brad founded the KEF in 2006. The KEF gives scholarship to Kenyan high schools; you can sponsor a child for just $750 a year. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Loitoktok, Kenya from 1999-2001. He was in Namibia when the towers came down. When he returned to Kenya 3 years later, so many people had died from AIDS. The KEF started with asking friends and family for money to send one girl and then five kids to school. About Schmidt (2002), starring Jack Nicholson. The KEF has helped thousands of kids get an education. "The ask is sort of an art... asking is a sales pitch. Barack Obama: "Fired up, ready to go" video Salesforce.com gives 10 free licenses to non-profits Chronicle of Philanthropy The Art of the Ask - Connie Phieff Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson The Ask - Laura Fredericks Ask. - Ryan Levesque Essentialism - Greg McKeown

Charity with Brad Broder, Kenya Education Fund - 022

Chef Rossi, of the renowned Raging Skillet, is a master storyteller, and this episode doesn't disappoint. She is not your ordinary chef. She credits her success to everything from "kishka and grits" to marijuana munchies to the Hasidim in Crown Heights to foul-mouthed bar tending. Her stories are phenomenal, worthy of a Moth competition. Oh, and don't take my word for it: her cookbook (!)/memoir is being turned into a play and screenplay! Rossi, yes, she only has one name -– has been a writer for many publications, such as The Daily News, The New York Post, Time Out New York and Mcsweeney's to name a few. She has been the food writer of the "Eat Me" column for Bust magazine since 1998, hosts her own hit radio show on WOMR and WFMR in Cape Cod called "Bite This," now in its twelfth season, has been featured on "The Food Network" and "NPR” and is a popular blogger for “The Huffington Post.” As the owner and executive chef of "The Raging Skillet," a cutting-edge catering company known for breaking any and all rules, she has earned a reputation as the one to call when it's time to do something different. The Raging Skillet has been called "a new breed of rebel anti-caterer" by The New York Times, "the wildest thing this side of the Mason Dixon line" by Zagat and has been named among The Knot’s Best Of Wedding Caterers for 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 2015 and now 2016. Having won six years in a row, The Raging Skillet is in The Knot’s Hall of Fame. On November of 2015 Rossi’s first memoir; The Raging Skillet/The True Life Story of Chef Rossi was published from the Feminist Press to rave reviews. From Kirkus - "A humorous and witty chronicle of a woman’s pulling-herself-up-by-her-bootstraps rise through the culinary ranks." From Publisher’s Weekly: "With an insightful and irreverent voice, Rossi’s debut is well suited for foodies, feminists, and creative revolutionaries." Rossi’s motto is simple; "molds are a delicious thing to break!” Notes from the show: As a child, she always thought she would end up as President of the US. Then she thought she would end up an artist. She has always had a problem with authority and considers herself completely unemployable. Her parents bought swampland in Panama City, Florida (the "Redneck Riviera"), diet of "kishka and grits." At 13, her mother got a microwave and that was the end of home-cooked meals. She discovered marijuana, made stoner food. At 16, she ran away from home. Her parents drove her to Hasidic Crown Heights... "like being dropped off on Mars with matzoh balls." She explored different cuisines based on the ethnicity of women she dated. She hired a sous chef who was so good, should have been the chef. She cooked for 10 years before going solo. "The Raging Skillet" came to her like a light bulb. Doing V-Day for The Vagina Monologues led to her listing in Celebrities love to be treated like everyone else, and she likes to treat everyday people like celebrities. She is most comfortable with 150-200 people. She did not like working in restaurants: too high stress yet boring. She lived for the daily specials. Her goal is to delegate more and have more fun. By working for others, she learned what not to do. She has a "Zen kitchen." No yelling allowed. "Gordon [Ramsey], there's no way people aren't spitting in the food." She turns down competition shows. "Why One Neuroscientist Started Blasting His Core" - The Atlantic Like Water for Chocolate Stay super-organized. Never let things accumulate. The food processor: "mi esposa." The play based on her book is written by Jacques Lamarre. Advice: go work for as many different types of kitchens. She loves The White Trash Cookbook.  

Chef Life with Chef Rossi, Anti-Caterer, "The Raging Skillet" - 021

Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson is the Voice of the Greatest Show on Earth. He began performing at age 11 with the world-famous Boys Choir of Harlem. For seven years, he was intensely trained in all forms of music including classical, jazz, hip hop and gospel. Johnathan experienced a string of unforgettable, inspiring moments as a member of the Boys Choir, which included being awarded the lead tenor role for the choir, singing at the intermission for Luciano Pavarotti's Concert in Central Park, performing in a live show on Broadway for two weeks and winning second place in the Lena Horne Vocal Jazz Scholarship. Johnathan graduated from the University of Hartford's Hartt School in May 1998 with a degree in voice performance, and shortly after his graduation, Johnathan was invited to begin his professional entertainment career with the 129th Edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®. Johnathan couldn’t refuse the offer and felt his prominent role in the show was an unbelievable dream come true. Johnathan toured with Ringling Bros.® all around the United States, and his charismatic charm and incredible voice caught the eye of Barbara Walters, who within a year of his first tour named him one of the ten most fascinating people in 1999. Johnathan’s historical tenure with The Greatest Show On Earth is featured in numerous publications, including: the New York Daily News, the Huffington Post,  Black First: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events by Jessie Carney Smith, African-American First by Joan Potter, Live Life! Be Young, Black, and Successful by Quincy Benton, and Beat of a Different Drum: The Untold Stories of African-Americans Forging Their Own Paths in Work and Life by Dax-Devlon Ross. Notes from the Show: He was a nominal fan of the Greatest Show on Earth (Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus) as a boy. His favorite act was Globe of Death/Globe of Steel He studied to be an opera singer. He planned to move to Europe to launch his opera career. He auditioned for the Fireside Dinner Theatre in Wisconsin, which was directed by the director of Ringling Bros. He loved being around the late great Gunther Gebel-Williams. He credits the Boys Choir of Harlem for his commitment to excellence. He saw Placido Domingo in Tokyo when he was with the Choir, and at 13 years old, knew he had to become an opera singer. He credits Dr. Walter J. Turnbull for so much of his success. "You have to walk boys to manhood." He went to Fiorello LaGuardia High School. Tyranny always targets artists and intellectuals. "Believe me, when you're 40 feet up in the air, about to turn a triple somersault, you could care less if your catcher is black, white, gay, straight, speaks English, whatever." "The Mongolian father has the same concerns for his kids as I do mine. The Chinese guy over there is just as romantic or he's vying for that woman's attention like I would have when I was single. We all have these same types of things. It's really fascinating. I think the arts open the gateway to our common humanity." A check for the ego: the animals are the reason people come to the circus. The circus is a singer's nightmare. His first year was vocally traumatic. Working in the circus is a "learn-on-the-job thing." Frank Sinatra was so much better after Ava Gardner. Mortality is what distinguishes his colleagues from him. The band is the hardest working band in show business. "You can't phone it in in the circus. You have to be focused." He puts Vaseline on his teeth and a lozenge under his tongue to have moisture in his mouth. "I continue to be a student of my voice." "I've never trained with an academic. Ever. I don't trust someone who's just learned it from a book. They don't know anything. People who've gone out and done it can teach it." "It's a hard life to be a performer of any kind." His wife is his boss. "I consider myself the wealthiest man in show business." Early in his career, it was all about self-promotion. But having wife and kids has changed his perspective. "How do I give?" "The noblest art is that of making others happy." - P.T. Barnum If you're a performer, be grateful. Twitter: @Bigtopvoice Recommends the documentary "The Last Great Circus Flyer" "How I Broke Into" is now on iHeartRadio! Also, iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, and Stitcher. Please subscribe!  

Circus Life with Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson (Ringling Bros. "Greatest Show on Earth") - 020

Adam Moskowitz is the wunderkind President of Larkin Cold Storage and Columbia Cheese, and he founded the Cheesemonger Invitational, an in-demand twice-a-year event that is considered the Olympics of cheese skills, an celebrates what are to cheese what sommeliers are to wine. The profits from the CMI, which Adam hosts as his alter-ego, "Mr. Moo," go towards The Barnyard Collective, an organization devoted to food education. Adam was responsible for the introduction of Challerhocker cheese to the U.S., just as his father was responsible for the introduction of cave-aged Gruyere to the U.S. But Adam bought out his own father's business long after Adam had pursued other entrepreneurial and artistic endeavors, and, in a decade Adam has grown various multi-million dollar revenue streams by focusing on "small ponds," "big trees," and "not chasing butterflies." He has been featured in the cover story of Cheese Connoisseur Magazine and has appeared as a judge and expert on the Food Network. Notes from the show: "New York's Prince of Cheese" - Politico His grandfather was one of the first importers of cheese in New York. His father started up Larkin Cold Storage. Adam took over 10 years ago. Adam considers himself a cheerleader. Adam has always been entrepreneurial; in college, he launched a valet company, and sold pot. In his early 20s, Adam worked for Yahoo, and earned a lot of money. Adam used his earnings from Yahoo to launch his rap career as The Beat Poet. His father saw an entrepreneur, even more than an artist, when he saw Adam at CBGB. Adam worked at Essex Food Market to develop skills. "Cheese is the perfect food." He loves connecting to the land, to the animals, to families. "I made a conscious decision early on to make choices that would lead me not to have regret." He has 5x earnings in 10 years. He loves helping people: artisans, cheesemongers, connect supply chain, employees. "All life experiences are cumulative." "I'm not going to regret that decision. I am simply going to make another decision." Still uses pen and paper for inventory. Jiro Dreams of Sushi The conundrum of the perfectionist. Adam fires toxic customers. The Importance of Being Dirty: Lessons from Mike Rowe The Complete Counselor webinar on work-life balance: uncrossable lines. "Food is the great equalizer. Food has no social class. A great piece of meat tastes the same--amazing--whether you're rich or poor." Life's Too Short for Miller Lite "I'm a mission-driven entrepreneur." Flavor: taste, aroma, trigeminal stimulation. He owns Larkin Cold Storage, Columbia Cheese, and the Cheesemonger Invitational. Becoming a father reset Adam's notions of success. Kids don't follow the entrepreneur's playbook. "The return is giving." On the horizon: curriculum and lexicon, empowering people with words. Adam is interested in content creation. Latest favorite cheese: Wrangeback from Sweden. Favorite bubbly: Cremant du Jura. Beer: Fat Tire Amber Ale Meats: Olympia Provisions, Herb Eckhouse Prosciutto, Smoking Goose Olympia Provisions is an example of an excellent product being more important than its name. "Let go of your food fear." Michael Prywes is Managing Attorney of Prywes, PC. For more information, visit www.NewYorkStartUpAttorneys.com

Artisan Cheese with Adam Moskowitz, founder of the Cheesemonger Invitational - 019

Amy Ignatow is a writer and illustrator living in Philadelphia with her family. After graduating from Moore College of Art and Design she worked as a freelance illustrator, a stationery designer, an air-brush face and body painter, an art teacher, an SAT prep instructor, a reporter, a wedding singer, and a florist. Amy was not very good at working for other people. Or with other people.  Or around other people. Now she happily works in a studio by herself. She is the author and illustrator of the critically acclaimed middle grade POPULARITY PAPERS series as well as the upcoming ODDS series. The first ODDS book, THE MIGHTY ODDS, debuts in September 2016. In her spare time Amy enjoys knitting, peeling oranges, yelling, and absurdity. She is a relatively good driver. As an aside, she is pretty hilarious. Notes from the show: She loves it when boys read her book. Each page is hand draw and handwritten, unlike "Diary of a Wimpy Kid." Amy has different handwritings for herself under different circumstances. She was working gig jobs, including teaching, but they weren't her passion. Shel Silverstein - The Devil and Billy Markham 'Ig City" - weekly web comic An agent on Craigslist sought clients, didn't like her web comics. She sent the site of the comics to the guy who ultimately became her agent. The agent told her she needed a story. He suggested writing for kids. When they started sending out queries for Popularity Papers, 75 pages were sent out. She kept getting rejections, and then Random House made an offer. They leveraged that offer to get more offers. "Amy, you're the writer. You get to wear anything you want." Went with "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" imprint Abrams Books/Amulet. Scholastic's office was awesome but they didn't offer enough money. "You have to gauge: who am I most comfortable with? Who do I want to work with?" Her agent gave her a huge packet titles, "Now You Have a Book Deal." She went to Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia. She learned how to take criticism there. "As an artist, you have to get really used to rejection. And get used to defending your work and get used to taking criticism to make you and your work better." Long Island High School for the Arts Illustrators are hilarious. Jim Henson was a big influence. Sesame Street Old School Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens Canson All-Media Paper Dyslexic kids like the handwriting in her book series. Her new book has four main characters in a Lancaster, PA setting, based on Lititz, PA. "A Better Place to Be" - Harry Chapin's Greatest Stories Live She will be part of an anthology of stories called "Funny Girl." She played Pictionary with Daniel Handler. Farscape Buck's Rock Camp Interview with Charlie McWade Dan Rothenberg at Pig Iron Theatre Agent: "You are being a little too kind to your characters." "Put the work out there. Even if you're afraid, you have to be fearless." Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyignatow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyignatowauthor/

Modern KidLit with Amy Ignatow ("The Popularity Papers, "Mighty Odds") - 018

 For most of my life, I was a night owl. Starting a little more than 5 years ago, I went through a series of transformations to better my life, and one of my greatest and most difficult transformations was going from a night owl to an early bird. When people heard what I was doing, many told me about this amazing book, The Miracle Morning, widely regarded as “one of the most life-changing books ever written”. I read it (and listened to the audio book), and I was inspired. When I started up my podcast, "How I Broke Into," Hal Elrod was on the short list of people I just had to interview. Hal Elrod is the #1 best-selling author of The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed To Transform Your Life… Before 8AM. It is also one of the highest rated books on Amazon with over 1,300 five-star reviews. What’s even more incredible is that Hal actually died at age 20. He was hit head on by a drunk driver at 70 mph, broke 11 bones, died for 6 minutes, and spent 6 days in a coma only to wake up to face the news that he may never walk again... Not only did Hal walk, he went on to run a 52-mile ultra marathon, become a hall of fame business achiever, an international keynote speaker, one of the world’s top success coaches, he’s a hip-hop recording artist, has been featured in the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series, writes for Entrepreneur.com, has appeared on radio and TV shows across the country, and the list just goes on and on. Robert Kiyosaki, author of the all-time bestselling book, Rich Dad Poor Dad, said the following about Hal: “Hal Elrod is a genius and his book The Miracle Morning has been magical in my life. As my rich dad often said, ‘I can always make another dollar, but I cannot make another day.’ If you want to maximize every day of your life, read The Miracle Morning.'” Notes from the show: The Miracle Morning really changes lives: "What do you want to change in your life right now?" At 19, Hal started in sales. He didn't know how to sell, but was enthusiastic and knew how to work hard. At 20, Hal was hit by a drunk driver, and was told he would never walk again. He thinks it was one of the best things to ever happen to him. He chose to be grateful for what he had. 2 weeks after the crash, doctors were concerned that Hal was having delusions and was in denial. He was always telling jokes, smiling. He told his Dad, "I love my life by the five minute rule... It's okay to be negative when things go wrong. But not for more than 5 minutes." "Everything happens for a reason, but I think we have to choose the reason." "We can take an adversity... if we learn and grow from it, it becomes an advantage." Cutco is a microcosm for life: "It's not about knives. It's about who we're becoming." "For anything we do in life, it's who we're becoming that's more important than what we're doing. Yet, the interesting thing is that what we're doing determineswho we're becoming." If it weren't for his mentor Jesse Levine, Hal would have quit Cutco on the very first day. Before Cutco, Hal had never heard the terms "personal development" or "positive thinking." You need to lead by example. You can't force people to change. He pushed healthy eating and the Miracle Morning practice on his wife, and she turned off. But when he stopped pushing, she responded. It's important to ask a lot of questions. He recommends Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday. Started doing The Miracle Morning practice with 1 other person, his client Katie, and realized that if it could change two people's lives, it could change a whole lot more. The book has been translated into 20 languages, but he still is surprised by its massive successful. He believes the success of the book lies in distilling the 6 most powerful practices in personal development, which can be applied in every arena. The Miracle Morning for Parents and Families is coming out in the fall of 2016. The Happiness Advantage - Shawn Anchor Happy for No Reason - Marci Shimoff 5 Minute Journal App People have said they've gotten off of depression medication within weeks of the Miracle Morning practice. The Optimistic Child - Martin Seligman To be physically fit, you have to work at it. Why would emotional well-being be any different? Hal believes in trying to exhaust other possibilities before anti-depressants. He knows someone who stopped chemo and went on a raw vegan diet, and hasn't had cancer since. Socrates said, "Let thy medicine be thy food." Make changes now that will allow you to live longer. OmVana App 7 Minute Workout App - 30 seconds of exercise Blinkist App Hal's program is Best Year Ever. Live program is in San Diego in December: http://bestyeareverlive.com/ Hal's web site portal: http://halelrod.com/ Hal's Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MyTMMCommunity/ I Am Not Your Guru with Tony Robbins 

Miracle Making with Hal Elrod, Author of "The Miracle Morning" - 017

This "How I Broke Into" interview is filled with stories of courage and self-discovery, and provides tremendous insight into how a global brand can result from the initial efforts of one person’s decision to forge a new path. Here are notes from the show: Jill's love of yoga and fitness began early on. She has a love/hate relationship with business--she grew up in a solar community and her family's business was solar. She worked in the family business from a young age. As a child, Jill was on the standard American diet, was overweight, teased, scrutinized. She discovered Jane Fonda's Workout and Raquel Welch's Yoga Program (Total Beauty and Fitness). She discovered how important a teacher, even one on video, is. But she overdid t with the videos and became anorexic. We discussed "The Best Little Girl in the World" (1981) with Jennifer Jason Leigh (I wrongly said it starred Ally Sheedy). Anorexia/Bulimia is the #1 cause of death in teenage girls. For Jill, falling in love led to a path to self-love. She started studying shiatsu while attending Northwestern University, and this led to healing. The Coregeous Ball is part of her product line; it's a soft, grippy pliable ball meant for self-healing. She never planned to teach. But she was inspired by her mentor Glenn Black at the Omega Institute. Shortly before 9/11, she decided to explore teaching. She enrolled in the 200 hour Teaching Program for yoga. She felt inhibited by the rigidity of the teaching program's failure to take time for body and tissue sense. She started to change the way she taught. Jill became known for her lateral abdominal churning--Nauli Kriya--and had an 8 page spread in Yoga Journal. Her mother worked for JetBlue, which has a family program of flights all over the U.S. Jill offered to fly to yoga studios all over the country. "I had balls. And now I have a ball products business." She does compassionate cadaver labs with Gil Hedley so movement educators can see the anatomy on the inside. Yoga Tune Up does not stay in the yoga space. Center for Pain Rehabilitation - Mitchell Prywes, MD, Danbury, CT Hospitals are finally embracing all parts of well-being. Tune Up Fitness has 500 teachers worldwide. Jill's husband Robetr is a serial entrepreneur. 6 months into dating, he came to a 3 hour core workshop and couldn't believe how fast it flew by. He said, "We need to bottle this." The collapse of her mother and step-father's business made Jill reticent to build a business. She licenses materials and products globally. The Roll Model is being translated into other languages. "Self care health care." She has shared perspective with Dr. Kelly Starrett, best-selling author Becoming a Supple Leopard and Katy Bowman, author of Move Your DNA. She doesn't quite feel like she's arrived yet. We discussed the school system and deskbound kids. She recommended Starrett's Deskbound: Standing Up to a Sitting World.  I mentioned how much I enjoyed Starrett's appearance in 30 Days of Genius on Creative Live, in which he mentioned Jill. She did programs on breath, fascia, and pre-natal fitness for Creative Live. "We met at a time when all of us were trying to reach people." Robert is her business backbone, loves building businesses. It's scary to go along with new initiatives. Jill knew, in writing her first book, that she need to capture the soft-tissue soft tool market, so she did The Roll Model instead of a book on breath. That will be her second book. She has become known as a go-to expert in the field of fascia. She is impressed with Wim Hof's breathing method. Her daily practice involves soft tissue self-care, walking, range-of-motion exercises. Josh Landis is a strength and conditioning coach that has been helpful. Web sites include YogaTuneUp.com and TuneUpFitness.com. Subscribe to "How I Broke Into" on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, I Heart Radio, or Google.

Fitness Therapy Products and Instruction with Jill Miller of Tune Up Fitness Worldwide - 016

After practicing law for nearly 10 years, Melissa Garcia left it all behind to follow her dreams in fashion and hasn't looked back since.  Melissa spends her days making appearances as a fashion expert on shows such as the TODAY Show, The Wendy Williams Show, EXTRA or The Meredith Vieira Show to name a few; shooting segments for global network-Fashion One as their Business/Fashion Expert; writing fashion Columns for sites such as E! or Ivanka Trump or styling actors/TV personalities. Melissa embraces charity work; she was lead stylist on a charity shoot benefiting the Women's Prison Organization, is a volunteer for Dress For Success and has also offered her services for both women's and children's cancer organizations.  Her relatability, professionalism and expertise make Melissa one of the most highly sought after fashion experts in the country. Melissa lives in New York and is married to her high school sweetheart with whom she has three beautiful children. Follow her on Snapchat @mgarciastyling Follow her on Instagram http://instagram.com/melissagarciastyling Follow her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/melissagarciastyling Follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/mgarciastyling Notes from the show:  From an early age, Melissa loved fashion. Her grandmother knitted and crocheted and her grandfather was a tailor. She always thought that success meant becoming a doctor or lawyer. She almost dropped out of law school, but she doesn't consider herself a quitter. Melissa practiced for 10 years, and hated most of it. While she was an attorney, Melissa found that people sought her fashion advice. Melissa's best friend, a holistic life coach, convinced her to leave law. She started up a web site after taking an 8 week online course. A local blogger, Amy Selling of LuluandLattes.com promoted her. She creates a "digital lookbook" for easy repeat use from a phone. Every woman has a different feeling about hiring a personal stylist. There is a lot of insecurity involved. "I feel we're all given gifts that we're born with, and whether you choose to pursue them or not is up to you... What do you love to do that comes naturally and easy to you, that's not easy for everyone else? That's your gift." Her job is to tap into each individual's personal style. Having a supportive husband was instrumental to her success. One of her best friends' friend is in PR, and connected Melissa. They shot a segment on an iPhone and that got her her first gig: better TV. "I always come from a place of 'Yes.' " "Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real." "If you don't let fear get in the way, and you kind of take a huge chance and leap of faith and walk through the fear, amazing things happen on the other side." The Today Show had her first appearance during a blizzard. "My real job is when I am home." It takes a village. Social media keeps her in the loop. "I've had to become comfortable in the uncomfortable." Book recommendations: Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success by Steve Harvey Destiny: Step Into Your Purpose by T.D. Jakes Discussed Life is Too Short for Miller Lite The joys of helping clients feel beautiful She has worked with a number of charitable organizations, including Dress for Success and Women's Prison Association. She still works with everyday women. Melissa wants to do more television and more charitable work. When she left law, her family took a financial hit. Her preference for social media platforms has shifted from Facebook to instagram to Snapchat. "Please, take that leap of faith!"

Celebrity Styling with The Today Show's Melissa Garcia - 015

My Dad Arnold Prywes is a true Renaissance Man. By trade, he is a physician and an inventor, but he is also an entrepreneur, a sculptor, a photographer, an architect, and a terrific father. He has been Chief of the Glaucoma Service at the Northwell Department of Ophthalmology since 1981. An Associate Clinical Professor at the Northwell-Hofstra and NYU School of Medicine, he is currently President of the New York State Ophthalmological Society and has served as President of the Long Island Ophthalmological Society, Nassau County Medical Society and Nassau Academy of Medicine. My Dad is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and Fellow and past Councilor of the  American Academy of Ophthalmology. He has also been listed in the Castle-Connolly Guide to Top Doctors for well over a decade. He has been involved in clinical care, teaching and research as founding partner of Glaucoma Consultants of Long Island and Eye Care Associates. He also holds multiple patents, one of which () is completing FDA clinical trials and is being used in Europe and Canada. My Dad has enjoyed art (photography, ceramics, sculpture, architecture) as an avocation throughout his medical career. His more recent work has been inspired by his mentor of more than 25 years, the museum sculptor Rhoda Sherbell. His work has been exhibited at Allied Artists of America and Audubon Artists of America at the Salmagundi Club in New York City. He was also an All-City lineman for the Stuyvesant High School football team, because why not?

Being a Renaissance Man with Doctor and Inventor Arnie Prywes, MD - 014

Brooklyn Mack is originally from South Carolina, and is a dancer with The Washington Ballet. He began his dance training at age 12 with the Pavlovich Dance School under Radenko Pavlovich and Milena Leben before receiving a scholarship to study at the Kirov Academy of Ballet. Brooklyn then apprenticed with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago and later joined American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company. Before joining The Washington Ballet, Brooklyn spent three seasons as a principal dancer with Orlando Ballet. He has performed internationally in Venezuela, Latvia, Japan, and many others. He has won many awards and medals, including the gold medal at the legendary International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, the oldest ballet competition in the world. He was one of only three Americans ever to win. Most recently, Brooklyn was featured in Ebony Magazine, the Grio’s Top 100, and was named as a top “25 [dancers] to watch” by Dance Magazine. In 2015, Brooklyn and Misty Copeland made history at the Kennedy Center in D.C. as the first two African-American leads in a major production of Swan Lake. Notes from the show: Brooklyn has always danced, but discovered ballet at 12 years old. Growing up in South Carolina, there were lots of stereotypes and misconceptions about ballet and male ballet dancers. At an annual gala, he was blown away by the athleticism of the ballet dancers. Brooklyn really loved football and wanted to try out. His mom wouldn't take him to tryouts. He asked her, "If you take me to tryouts, I'll take ballet lessons." His mom was shocked. His Mom researched and decided on the Pavlovich Dance School under Radenko Pavlovich. He attended 6 days a week. Brooklyn took two buses to class each day. Ballet became like "wisteria." He got a scholarship to the Kirov Academy of Ballet. He made a pact with himself: "If you're not a soloist by the age of 21, you'll go back to school and pursue football." He started out loving bravura roles like those in Dox Quixote and The Pirate, but then really took to more romantic roles. "If I can move them in some way, then I don't really care what any artistic person has to say that much, because it's for the audience, first and foremost." At the Chicago Dancing Festival in Millennium Park, there were almost 12,000 people.He felt "invincible" because of the energy he was getting from the audience. The Bowie & Queen show at the Kennedy Center in DC came close in energy level despite the audience being one tenth the size of the Chicago show. When Brooklyn watches a recording, he picks himself apart. It's hard for him to enjoy watching a recording. When you have reached a certain level, you need to find someone you trust, who understands artistry, someone who is invested in you. Pavlovich is one of Brooklyn's favorite coaches to this day. "He's almost like a Dad to me." Brooklyn performs with the Columbia Classical Ballet each year for the LifeChance International Gala of the Stars. Brooklyn danced with Misty Copeland for the first time in 2015--and made history--in the Kennedy Center's "Swan Lake." Brooklyn admires Misty's ambassadorship for bringing ballet to young people through her appearances in commercials such as Under Armour. His first job was with the Joffrey Ballet. He is very much a perfectionist.; every day is the pursuit of perfection. The small linking steps in ballet are so important; they make a leap sparkle. Brooklyn was able to do the big "tricks" during his first year and a half, but they were very unrefined. The smaller steps and techniques refined the more showy tricks. Winning Gold Medal at Varna was a moment of "Wow, I can't believe I did that." Everyone who has won is a legend. Being listed among them is still surreal. "Was that a dream?" The hardest ballets, though he doesn't feel like they're hard when he's dancing, include "Romeo and Juliet" and "Swan Lake." Adagio is uncommon for a male dancer; it is very slow and you have to control every element. "It's like the difference between 20 fast push-ups and 20 eight count push-ups." Brooklyn usually gets into character, but he does sometimes talk to himself during a performance. He has fallen only once during a performance, and his memory of it is priceless. Brooklyn prepares through visualization. He shares his physical and nutrition regimen. Stretch! Stretch! Stretch! Don't be discouraged if you're not the favorite--there will be a favorite and pay attention to what a teacher or coach says to the favorite. "Shed your pride. Shed your insecurities. Just be a sponge." "Put in the extra hours. There's always going to be someone who does something better than you. If you want to be the best, the only way to ever catch that person is to be doing more than they're doing."

Dance with Ballet Champion Brooklyn Mack - 013

Anthony Gelo is one of the hardest working DJs in New York. Anthony was born and raised in Queens, New York and has been in the DJ Entertainment business since 1994. He has performed at events ranging from Wedding Receptions, Corporate Events, Private Parties, School & Nightlife Events to working the crowd in Times Square during Fleet Week. He is a graduate of St. John’s University, where he still regularly works the crowds with expert beat matching and a vast collection of music. Anthony’s company is Good Times Productions, LLC. Notes from the show: Anthony got his start working in a video store, and got the opportunity to DJ his boss's teen dance party. It was a disaster. But he was hooked on DJing. He bought entire record collections from garage sales. He doesn't consider himself a specialist. "When I'm playing to a crowd, I'm playing for them, not myself." His Monday routine: download music from DJ services such as Promo Only Track Trends and Prime Cuts, and organize. Anthony doesn't like to emcee a lot; he prefers the music to do the talking. He switched to Serato Scratch Live (Serato DJ) in 2004. Experience trumps a great music collection. He thought he was going to have a career in radio. To this day, Anthony is still very protective of his personal brand; he still considers himself "single op." His advice to young DJs: get an all-in-one controller, learn basic beat matching, learn different types of music, how to deal with clients, how NOT to make the work about you. Most of Anthony's clients come from referrals and online reviews. A Yankee fan from Queens. The difference between Brooklyn/Manhattan weddings and Long Island weddings. What it felt like to work Times Square during Fleet Week. How he stays healthy and builds routines. Recommended books: Book Yourself Solid - Michael Port Guerrilla Marketing - Jay Conrad Levinson The Best Wedding Reception... Ever! - Peter Merry Last Night a DJ Saved My Life - Bill Brewster Recommended conference: DJ Times Expo Recommended social media: Facebook This podcast hosted by New York attorney Michael Prywes was sponsored by Prywes, PC, a law firm devoted to artists and entrepreneurs. This podcast may contain attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.  

DJing with Anthony Gelo (DJ Good Times of NYC) - 012

Every writer, actor, fine artist, filmmaker, musician, artisan food / liquor magnate, or mom & pop small business owner has a story of the "Big Break." New York startup attorney Michael Prywes interviews successful artists and entrepreneurs, and common themes become evident: there is no such thing as overnight success, learning continues for a lifetime, and relationships are everything. The guests--who all have succeeded where so many others have failed-- share actionable insights, retrospective advice, and instructive stories.

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How I Broke Into: Michael Prywes Interviews Artists and Entr...

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