The Ripple Effect Podcast with Steve Harper

I am so honored to have my friend and storytelling mentor, Lyn Graft on this episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast. Aside from Lyn being a New Mexico homie, he's one of the nicest, most genuine guys I know. And I am I thrilled for you to get to know him too! Here's a bit more about Lyn: Lyn Graft is the Chief Story Officer at Shār Snacks, founder of Storytelling for Entrepreneurs, and author of the best-selling book, Start With Story. He has filmed over 1,000 entrepreneurs including the founders of Starbucks, Whole Foods, TOMS, and LinkedIn. He co-created and produced CNBC’s first primetime TV series ‘American Made’ and has produced 1,200 videos for entities such as Entrepreneur Magazine, Microsoft, Dell, and Nestle. Lyn founded 8 companies and has raised $10.0M in venture funding and serves or has served on advisory boards for SXSW, Dell, and Empowering a Billion Women. Lyn has given over 50 keynote presentations on entrepreneurial and business storytelling at entities such as HP, Dell, EY, EO, SXSW, Wharton School of Business, and the University of Texas. He also is a mentor at the SKU Consumer Packaged Goods Accelerator, Founding Institute Startup Accelerator, and EBW Women Executive Accelerator. Lyn has a BA in electrical engineering and an MBA in marketing and entrepreneurship. For more information, go to LynGraft.com.

Talk about a guy that has been through a lot and has come out on the other side so much better for it. G. Brian Benson is an amazing speaker, writer, producer, actor, Iron Man, cancer survivor, podcaster and one hell of a guitar player. Oh and did I mention, he might be one of the kindest, most soulful guys you could ever hope to meet. I am so honored to have this amazing man join me for The Ripple Effect Podcast. I am in awe of all that he is done and all that he still strives to do. He's inspirational from the word go and I am forever in his debt to have this opportunity to sit down and learn from him. Here's a bit more about Brian: In 2008, Brian followed a hunch and left his family’s golf center business, stepping into the unknown. Ever since, inspiration has followed. Letting intuition be his guide, he began to step out of his comfort zone and unexpected paths and talents started to emerge such as writing, acting, and crafting stories. Tapping into this emerging creativity, Brian began his own hero’s journey of self-realization and growth, which continues to influence his empowering and inspiring books, films, and presentations. Learn more about Brian's great work at his website: https://www.gbrianbenson.com/

In this engaging podcast interview, Steve Harper is excited to welcome his friend and colleague Patti DeNucci to The Ripple Effect Podcast. Patti, renowned for cultivating authentic networks and engaging in profound conversations, is currently promoting a new book and a newfound love of conversation. Topics you know Steve, can't help but get excited about! Patti provides insights into her background, hailing from a mining town in northern Minnesota, where she learned the art of conversation and connection from her gregarious father and grandfather. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity in networking, regardless of one's personality type. Patti's first book, "The Intentional Networker," guides readers in effective, genuine networking, while her second book and recently released, "More Than Just Talk," serves as a valuable resource to enhance conversational skills and get past the unproductive small talk many of us find annoying. Steve and Patti have a fun and engaging conversation that underscore the significance of gratitude, curiosity, and meaningful questions in building strong connections. Their anecdotes and strategies illuminate the path to authentic networking and the power of sincere conversations in both personal and professional spheres. This powerful episode is an essential episode to save to your library as you will want to reference it again and again. To learn more about Patti and her work, please check out her website intentionalnetworker.com, for additional resources and information on her books.

You've been asking for a solo episode, and I've listened. As we enter the fall season, with the excitement building, I want to delve into a concept that's not just for sports fans but for anyone looking to build their own dream team: the Fantasy Draft of your network. I'll discuss the power of curating your network, and selecting individuals with unique skills, experiences, and talents to form your dream team. Just like in a fantasy draft, where you choose players strategically to create a winning team, you can do the same in your professional and personal life. This episode is brought to you by ripplecentral.com/pond, where you can explore resources and connect with others who can help you draft your own network dream team. For those looking to take it a step further, our Connect and Grow Coaching Membership offers a 12-month experience packed with valuable content, masterclasses, TED ripple sessions, and even personal coaching sessions with me. So, stay tuned for more insights on how to create your fantasy draft of a network that can help you achieve your goals and dreams. #RippleEffectPodcast #FantasyDraft #NetworkBuilding #DreamTeam #Community #CoachingMembership

I've been connected with Laura Williams via Twitter (we both refuse to call it X) for quite a while. She inspires me along with thousands of teachers, administrators and educational professionals worldwide. She can always be counted on to put out an inspirational thought, a word of encouragement or just something that will make you smile. She is the epitome of a Rippler and I am so grateful to know her and to be connected with her! Check out her work at authenticlearningalliance.org and be sure to follow her on Twitter @mrswilliams21c Here's a little bit of her official bio from her website: ​I'm Laura Williams, your resident authentic learning expert and host of the Authentic Learning Alliance google group and facilitator of the Iowa Authentic Learning Network. Over the past 10 years I've dedicated myself to transforming education through incorporating authentic learning experiences with area partnerships into PK-12 classrooms as an educator, consultant, and 21st Century Learning Specialist. I have also supported area partners in the visioning around these experiences to maximize a win-win-win experience for all stakeholders. I believe that education can be the great equalizer if we can leverage our students interests and passions. We have ~6.5 instructional hours a day and I believe we can be the difference. We just have to dedicate the time, space, and connections to "up the ante" for students. I believe we can help each learner find their super powers and help them develop 21st Century skills to be successful in living, learning, and working. Iowa Roots Through this endeavor, I have made some great partners along the way! My role as a 21st Century Learning Specialist for AEA Learning Online has privileged me to work with some great educators, leaders, business partners in order to support schools across the state to design, launch, and implement authentic learning programming. ​Check out the Iowa Authentic Learning Network to explore resources and get connected with some amazing consultants and educators in Iowa who are just as passionate about this incredible movement in education! Currently we have around 500 educators joining this movement in Iowa! Follow @iowaaln on Twitter to learn more! It is our sincere hope we can connect passionate educators to share and learn from each other from across the globe!

I discovered Lauren Bateman a while ago. Let's just say Instagram is way smarter than I am and fortunately dropped her amazing guitar lessons in my feed. She was engaging so I kept watching. Before long, I was watching her Youtube videos and well...you could say I was hooked. As much for the guitar knowledge, Lauren was dropping as her personality. She is just plain cool. I was so honored she agreed to be a part of The Ripple Effect Podcast. Check out Lauren on Youtube and her website at laurenbateman.com More on Lauren: As a childhood cancer survivor, Lauren knows the importance of living in the moment. That's why she quit her job at 27 to pursue a career in music. That decision changed her life forever. Without a degree in music or teaching, Lauren has become a worldwide sensation teaching guitar to students all over the world. Her YouTube channel has over 330,000 subscribers and growing. Lauren teaches students that the most important thing is to have fun. That it doesn't matter how old or talented you, but rather your desire to play that makes you a better guitar player and student.

I was so excited that Coach Birmingham agreed to come on the podcast. I have been a big fan of his as he is a legend in college baseball. I just knew if we could have an opportunity to visit, he'd share some of the incredible wisdom he's acquired throughout his career and boy was a right. This episode is pure gold and is chalked full of great stories about motivating and leading that everyone can learn from. Plus he is just one of the kindest and most thoughtful men I think I've ever met. Although I knew him through his social network presence, the conversation with him was so easy to have. He made me feel like he and I have been friends for years. He's a Rippler through and through. Here's a bit more about Coach: At UNM, Birmingham has the second-most wins in program history with 402 to his credit as the Lobo skipper, earning his 400th DI Career win on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021 versus Air Force. He also initiated and had led the ongoing development and execution of the $3.65 million expansion of Santa Ana Star Field as well as UNM’s first privately-funded building on campus – the R.D. and Joan Dale Hubbard Clubhouse that was completed in December of 2016. For his overall career, Birmingham is in exclusive company having won over 1,000 games. Entering the 2021 season, Birmingham will have coached in parts of six decades dating back to the late 1970s. Birmingham is also the winningest coach in the state’s history as all 1,220 of his victories have come coaching for teams in his home state of New Mexico (College of the Southwest, New Mexico Junior College and UNM). In 2015, Birmingham was inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame and was also inducted into the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2011. He also currently serves on the College Baseball Hall of Fame Selection Committee. Birmingham has also coached or spoken at numerous clinics throughout the United States and South America. He has been published in the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Journal and worked professionally for the Cleveland Indians, Oakland A’s and Kansas City Royals. In 2004, Birmingham led the NJCAA all-star team to four wins in five games over the Chinese All-Stars in Beijing, China. In 2007, Birmingham was selected as the head coach of the NJCAA all-star team when China returned to the United States to play the U.S. team. Birmingham also coached the NJCAA West All-Stars to a three-game sweep over the East All-Stars in the summer of 2009. In the summer of 2014, Birmingham served as the hitting coach for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, which was made up of the top collegiate players from around the country. Team USA played games across North Carolina before traveling to the Netherlands to participate in Honkbal-Haarlem Baseball Week. The CNT won the international tournament by outscoring its opponents 34-6 over its final seven games. Birmingham helped guide Tennessee’s Christin Stewart to “Best Hitter” honors at the tournament and Albuquerque’s own Alex Bregman of LSU was named Honkbal Baseball Week MVP. Team USA concluded its summer with five games in Cuba, finishing with an overall record of 18-8-2. In his 43rd year of coaching, Birmingham has been a part of 22 championships. All the college baseball programs Birmingham has coached have reached the top 25 in the national rankings at some point. Between University of the Southwest, New Mexico Junior College and New Mexico, 167 athletes have gone on to play professional baseball with 39 coming while the head coach at UNM. Additionally, under Birmingham at UNM, 40 athletes have earned All-America honors and 10 have been freshman All-Americans as well. Birmingham was also the coach of NMJC’s first basketball conference championship team – a team that was ranked No. 1 in the country.

Spend five minutes with Carrie Vanston and you'll see someone who is truly committed to helping bring the best out of you. She's kind, personable, and sweet as the smoothest glass of Texas sweet tea you've ever had. But don't let that fool you. She is relentless too! But in a good way. Her commitment to helping leaders find that next gear and to bring a better version of themselves to the surface is fierce. She won't let you get away with not putting in the work let alone living on the same old tired excuses. Carrie's belief is the real leader the world needs is still inside of you, and she's on a mission to bring it out. Her leadership mindset approach is changing the way companies are run and helping leaders become something they never thought possibe. Here's a bit more about Carrie: Carrie's articles have appeared in the Austin Business Journal, Texas CEO Magazine, and the Austin's National Speakers Association Anthology. Her article, "3 Ways to Energize Your Mindset After a Win," appeared in the Texas CEO Magazine in June 2023 and an earlier article "Five Keys to an Engaged and Innovative Culture" was one of the magazine's top 5 most read articles of the year. She is a popular speaker on being a more self-aware, connected, and visionary leader and has made presentations around the world including the Product Management Institute, VMware, Unilever International, Remax, IEEE, University of Texas SAGE Program, National Association of Health Care Recruiters​, Morgan Stanley, Laurea University, Finland, Product Camp, Texas Women's Chamber, and many others. Carrie has a long history of helping others be more innovative, successful, and sustainable. During her years at Technology Futures, Inc. (TFI), she co-authored the award-winning book, MiniTrends: How Innovators & Entrepreneurs Discover & Profit From Business & Technology Trends. The book, as well as workshops and conferences she directed, focused on the importance of a growth-oriented mindset for success and sustainability.​ She is presently a Board Member at TFI. She later led Corporate Cultures That Rock, which helped organizations improve their culture and engagement. Carrie founded the Austin/San Antonio Chapter of Association of Corporate Growth's ACG C-Suite Roundtable and Mastermind and directed it for a year and a half. She has been the ACG Ambassadors Officer since 2018. She was a 2022 Honoree for Austin Business Journal's Women in Business and is an Advisor for the non-profit, Art 84. She was formerly a National Adviser and Austin Board Member of the Academy of Culture Ambassadors. Carrie is an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP), iPEC Certified Professional Executive Coach (CPC), Accredited ICF Coach (ACC), and a Professional Speaker at the National Speaker Association. On the personal side, Carrie loves to dance, travel, and spend time with her two amazing teenage sons.

Nicole Casanova understands what it takes to connect, engage and create Ripples of immeasurable value. She is a kind, thoughtful soul that just so happens to be one amazing, kick-ass entrepreneur! This episode was so much fun to record because Nicole is such a warm, inviting individual. Her approach to life and every venture she has ever undertaken is a lesson in diligence, following your heart and your gut. She is one incredible lady and I am so grateful to call her a friend. Here's a bit more about Nicole: Nicole Casanova, a visionary leader at the intersection of the sacred and the innovative, invites you to journey with her towards freedom and sovereignty. With a trailblazing career in media, advertising, and tech, Nicole has empowered female founders, fostering over $200M in growth. But her true wealth lies in the relationships she's nurtured with exceptional individuals worldwide. Through her ventures, including The Conspiracy, a community leveraging relationships for good, they tap into the transformative power of unity and connection. Nicole's "Last Casanova's Love Letters" chronicle her personal journey of radical self-love, reflecting her ability to manifest magic through words. She believes in the infinite potential of every individual's unique expression. Nicole is here not just as a mirror of your divinity, but as a catalyst for your empowerment. Let's shift the game, power the people, and breathe together. Learn more about her at: https://bio.site/Nicolecasanova

Ann Fry is a very special person to me, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to interview her for the show. She is in the fight of her life yet still shows all the wit and wisdom I've come to admire and love all these years. Battling early-onset dementia, Ann has recently had to retire from the work she has loved for so many years. But that spark she is so known for is still there. Her deep desire to make a difference and continue pushing you to be the best version of yourself is very evident and is on full display during our time together. Ann and I met during my early days of consulting and coaching. She sized me up pretty quickly recognizing I was lacking confidence and struggling to believe I had anything worthwhile to share with the world. She and I met for the first time outside an event I had just spoken at, and she sensed I had more to give. There was more inside my message than I was actually sharing due to my insecurity. Ann being Ann, couldn't let that stand. She took me aside and though expressed gratitude for my message, told me she could tell I was not being my full self up on stage. I had more to give and the world needed to see it. They longed to see it. This gave me so much confidence and a new perspective to stop trying to be something I was not. If I were going to make a difference, well, I needed to be me and let the chips fall where they will. Her advice and support gave me so much confidence and I was truly grateful for her willingness to be open and honest with me. She was a gift to me as she has been to so many of her students, clients, and friends. Ann is retired, but you can still follow her at: facebook.com/ann.fry.94, and you can still purchase one of several books she has authored by contacting her through Facebook.

Sandy Stewart is someone that has always impressed me. We met shortly after the release of my book and we just clicked. We had similar views on what it takes to be a strong leader, build a successful company and build something more than just about the money. I admire her greatly because she's a no-nonsense kind of person who will tell like it is. She probably gets that from her West Texas upbringing. She's a true badass and someone I deeply admire. Even more, after hearing the trials and tribulations she's gone through these past few years. To see her confident, focused, and ready to create bigger and bigger Ripples is inspiring. And let's just be honest, you can't help but love that sweet southern twang and her laser focus drive to change the world. It's intoxicating. Here's a bit about Sandy and her latest venture: Sandy Stewart is the creator and founder of Think Big, an outsourced sustainability support and training program for small- and mid-sized businesses. Her twenty-two-year career helping SMBs and SMEs grow value now has an added focus on what’s known as the triple bottom line (people, planet, and profits). She believes that companies that care for their people, their customers, and their community have a duty to run a profitable, thriving business. She’s a speaker, trainer, author, social impact strategist, carbon footprint specialist, value growth expert, and her current volunteer work includes Past President & VP/Treasurer for Tapestry Dance in Austin, TX and founder & Membership Chair for NAWBO Austin. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-stewart-9534a/ https://www.instagram.com/thinkbigprogram/ www.thinkbigimpact.com

"I've reached a point in my life, where there are a lot more yesterdays than there are tomorrows." - Bruce Springsteen Prepare to be captivated by Steve Harper's heartfelt musings in this new episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast. Drawing inspiration from some amazing nuggets of wisdom Steve uncovered from some of his recent guests such as Ben Dennis, Carol Costello, Maggi Thorne has him thinking about his very own legacy. Couple that with a popular TikTok and Instagram trend about writing your own obituary, well, you know Steve, he's gonna have a lot to say about that. This becomes too good not to have a solo episode with The Ripple Man himself! Steve implores listeners to break free from the monotony of life and dare to dream bigger - and want a whole lot more. With an engaging mix of humor, introspection, and valuable life lessons, Steve encourages listeners to ask better questions, challenge societal expectations, and seize every moment to live a more authentic and fulfilling life. Whether you're seeking inspiration, personal growth, or a fresh perspective on life, this episode will leave you with a renewed sense of purpose and a burning desire to create a life that truly matters. Check out these past few episodes for more: Ben Dennis - https://youtu.be/--aQbMhkYM4 Carol Costello - https://youtu.be/LALQWqNqRjo Maggi Thorne - https://youtu.be/kdiiLYfKa1o

The most amazing connections come from some of the least expected opportunities we experience in life. Just like the unlikely heroes we read about in stories and mythology, the impossible becomes possible. Such was the random comment I made one day to my friend Ted Rubin (Season 8, Episode 5), as he shared some of his musings about a ski vacation he was having with a friend he met by chance some thirty years earlier on Instagram. These two friends were clearly having a blast and I was enjoying the snippets of check-ins being posted by Ted about their ski trip together. One of these posts caught my attention, specifically when Ted recorded a video coming down into the lodge to find his friend. He said something like, "There's Ben, snuggled away in the corner, thinking and writing again." There was something about the intensity of his friend sitting there in the corner in that video that really caught my attention. It was as if he spoke to me at that moment. So, of course, I asked what he was writing to which Ted replied, "Who knows but with Ben, it's sure to be interesting. You'd like Ben, he's a deep thinker." Ted was right. I not only like Ben Dennis, but I have become fascinated with how this man thinks, tells a story and looks at the world and his place in it. He has a calming, almost meditative spirit about him that washes over you. I found myself wishing our conversation could go on forever because he just has a way that inspires me. I know if you listen to this whole podcast, he will do the same for you as well. A little more about Ben: Ben is a mythologist and writer cultivating an ongoing life-long love of story, myth, and psychology. He is passionately involved in ritual, rites of passage, psychodrama, and storytelling. His mythic interests include Greek mythology, Native American story, European Fairy tales, and Hindu epic literature. He has a wide variety of experience having worked in diverse fields such as commercial fishing, construction, and Investment Banking, and a veteran of the U. S. Air Force. Ben is a retired 28-year veteran Fire Fighter in Seattle where he served as a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team. Ben has been adjunct faculty at Antioch University Seattle and holds his PhD in Mythological Studies with an Emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Ben has participated in and led a variety of workshops and conferences. He has assisted and taught at the Minnesota Men’s Conference as a featured Storyteller since 2013. He has also been a featured storyteller and teacher with Veteran’s groups dedicated to addressing “the emotional, moral, and spiritual wounds of veterans, their families and communities.” Over the past 20-years Ben has facilitated rites of passage events for young men, mentored in the workplace and in his community, and offers storytelling and drum making classes. “With a life-long fascination in literature, myth, and story I recognize that teaching is a vital part of individual growth, community support, resiliency, and understanding the community we live in. I believe it is crucial to engage the imagination in startling and fresh ways. We each have survived and thrived countless generations through oral tradition, self-reliance, dedication to community, and the archetypal desire to share what we have learned with future generations. My intention is to learn and teach in whatever way I am able.”

Carol Costello is one the most authentic and trusted journalists in the modern era. Watching her conduct an interview is like a masterclass in how it should be done. Her warm and inviting presence always made her guests comfortable and willing, to tell the truth - no matter how difficult or sensitive the topic happens to be. I swear, she is either Wonder Woman in disguise or was gifted her very own "Lasso of Truth" by her. She's that good at getting real, truthful answers from whomever she might be interviewing. I've been a huge fan of Carol's for as long as I remember, and I still can't believe she said yes to come onto the show. She tells it like it is, and honestly, in a way we all need to hear it. Gosh, how I miss seeing her on television every day. But she's creating even bigger RIpples today. Helping the next generation of journalists learn to think for themselves, question everything and pursue the facts, not simply strive for the likes, the views, or the notoriety. Why? Because journalists should never be part of the story. The good ones know how to tell it so that we understand and, hopefully, learn from it. To that end, I am grateful to know people like Carol are out there shaping the hearts and minds of our future journalists. Carol's Bio: Carol Costello is an award-winning journalist and former anchor and correspondent at CNN and HLN. Her distinguished career as a local, regional, and national broadcaster spans three decades, covering a broad range of world leaders, events, and politics. Carol serves as Special Advisor and Ambassador at LMU and teaches a broadcast journalism course in LMU’s journalism program. She also hosts “Carol Costello Presents: Blind Rage,” a true-crime serial podcast and “I Hate Your Generation,” a podcast series exploring the generational divide. In 2019, Carol created Project Citizen, a special program at LMU that provides resources and mentorship for student journalists. Project Citizen’s core mission is to discover ways to ease the partisan divide in our country. Carol also serves on the journalism professional advisory board at Kent State University in Ohio and is a mentor to its journalism students. In 2001, Carol joined CNN as an anchor on “Headline News.” From 2002 to 2009, she anchored “Daybreak,” the network’s former early morning news program. And from 2012 to 2018 she anchored “Newsroom.” She also sub- anchored and was a political reporter for “The Situation Room.” Carol contributed to CNN.com Opinion from 2015-2017. In 2018, she hosted HLN's Across America with Carol Costello. At CNN, Carol was at the forefront of some of the world’s most significant stories. She was part of CNN's Peabody Award-winning coverage of the Gulf Oil Spill, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2008 presidential election. She also reported on Pope Francis’ visit to the United States, the Boston Marathon bombing, the last space shuttle launch, the Ohio midterm elections, the shooting at Virginia Tech, the tsunami disaster in South Asia, the Russian school hostage crisis, and Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne. Carol interviewed four former U.S. presidents: President Jimmy Carter, President Ronald Reagan, President George H.W. Bush, and President Bill Clinton; and she covered five presidential inaugurations as well as the 1992, 2008, 2012 and 2016 presidential elections. Before joining CNN, Carol worked at WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., where she was an anchor and investigative reporter for five years. Prior to that, she spent three years at WBAL-TV in Baltimore. She began her career as a weekend anchor and reporter for WAKR-TV in Akron, Ohio, then moved to WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio, to serve as the station's principal weeknight anchor. Costello earned a degree in journalism from Kent State University in Ohio. Carol's reporting has been honored numerous times, including a 1991 Emmy Award for a special on crack and cocaine, a UPI award, and...

Maggi Thorne's Journey as an Athlete, Motivational Speaker, and American Ninja Warrior In this captivating episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast, special guest Maggi Thorne, a remarkable athlete, motivational speaker, and American Ninja Warrior competitor, takes center stage. Maggi's incredible journey, marked by triumphs and overcoming adversity, inspires listeners as she shares her insights on mental resilience and personal growth. Maggi's path to success was not traditional. From growing up in a low-income family and late initiation into sports, she defied the odds to become the number one runner in California during high school. This achievement led her to earn a full scholarship to compete in track at Nebraska. However, personal tragedies struck when she lost her brother and best friend, prompting a powerful realization that her calling was to build and empower others. With unwavering determination, Maggi embraced new challenges and opportunities, including becoming a top competitor on NBC's American Ninja Warrior. She emphasizes the significance of failure as a catalyst for growth, urging individuals to reframe setbacks and view them as valuable learning experiences. Maggi's journey showcases the power of visualization, mindset shifts, and self-compassion in overcoming obstacles and unleashing one's full potential. Key Takeaways: Maggi Thorne's story is a testament to the transformative power of mental resilience, inspiring listeners to believe in their potential and strive for greatness in their chosen endeavors. Check out maggithorne.com and follow her on Instagram @nvr_gvup

In this episode of The Ripple Effect podcast, hosted by Steve Harper, he shares his personal journey and recent successes, expressing excitement for upcoming opportunities. Steve discusses his commitment to supporting people in career transitions and creating a women-focused group within his community. He reflects on his growth as an interviewer and encourages listeners to overcome self-doubt and ask for what they want. Throughout the episode, Steve emphasizes the power of taking risks, believing in oneself, and creating positive ripples in personal and professional networks. Key takeaways:

Linda is an amazing entrepreneur, and I am so grateful to call her a friend. She is incredibly smart, dedicated, and committed to changing how corporations find, attract, and retain talent. Her company TalentGuard is changing the game regarding workforce skills management. Despite their success, Linda continues to grind every day to continue to be a thought leader in how AI can develop the best talent for an organization. She and her team are breaking new ground with their software and approach, and I, for one, am so grateful she shared a little bit of their approach and some secrets to her entrepreneurial success. Here's a little bit more about Linda: Linda is the Founder and CEO, TalentGuard • Linda is the Founder and CEO of TalentGuard, a leading Workforce Skills Management Platform that enables organizations to meet business and workforce demands for reskilling, talent mobility and personalized development. • Before TalentGuard, she founded a successful career development franchise, The Ginac Group, serving clients across the U.S. and Canada. Prior to this, Linda was Vice President of Product Strategy at Cofiniti, where she was instrumental in pioneering Cofiniti’s global entry into collaborative financial planning using cloud-based technology and helping to prepare the company for a successful exit to H&R Block. • Linda also served as marketing executive at pcOrder collaborating with the team that led the company from a start-up to a NASDAQ-listed public corporation. In prior leadership roles, Linda served as Vice President of Marketing at EPSIAA, where she led global expansion of the brand through acquisition by Fiserv, Vice President of Business Development at Computer People and a few roles in marketing at Digital Equipment Corporation. • Linda is based in Austin, TX, USA, and has a Master’s Degree in Career Development from John F. Kennedy University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Norwich University Follow Linda on Instagram @lindaginac and be sure to check out her company at talentguard.com

I was so honored to speak at the Texas Education Foundation Network event. A very well-organized event and they made me feel like a real rock star! Believe it or not, my appearance there was actually a Ripple, one that started many years ago with a relationship that seems to have only gotten stronger over the years. Lisa Cox, knew me when I was knee-high to a grasshopper and still massively unsure of myself or my abilities. She saw something in me that I know I didn't even see in myself. Just telling this story made me think of another person who had an influential and profound impact on my life, my teacher, mentor, and friend, Jay Stephenson. In life, you are lucky if you get one person to believe in you more than most. I've been blessed with two. Two amazing friends who would never let me give up on myself. Even when I so desperately wanted to. _______________________________- To inquire about Steve's availability for conference keynotes, corporate training or performance coaching please contact info@ripplecentral.com Follow me: on http://www.ripplecentral.com on http://instagram.com/rippleon on https://www.facebook.com/rippleon on https://twitter.com/rippleon

I am so honored to Ripple with American Ninja Warrior Angela Gargano. You would be hard-pressed to find a kinder entrepreneur than Angela. Her story is so inspiring! Here are a few takeaways from Angela in this episode: Check out Angela's Youtube @AngelaGarganoFitness or her website: angela-gargano.com and of course, don't forget to follow her on Instagram @angela_gargano Angela's BIO: Angela Gargano is a fierce athlete, coach, international fitness model, and speaker. Before becoming a full-time multi-passionate entrepreneur, Angela worked as a biochemist at Brown University. Since throwing in the lab coat and goggles in 2013 to open her own gym in Cranston, Rhode Island, Angela has truly lived multiple lives in the athletic and entrepreneurial space, defying odds and setbacks to become an authentic and relatable voice to the public eye. Angela has now competed on American Ninja Warrior 5x, won the Title of Miss Fitness America 2016, and created an online fitness empire for women called Strong Feels Good, where she teaches women to ditch the scale and focus on strength and feeling as a way to measure progress. She has also helped over 500 women conquer their pull-ups with her online program, Pull-up Revolution. In summer 2021, Angela appeared all over the world as the Oxygen Magazine Covergirl, where she spoke about tearing her ACL on the Ninja Warrior course and coming back 11 months later stronger than ever. Angela is a huge advocate for speaking about body image, as she was made fun of growing up for her “manly” arms and build. She would hide in a sweatshirt daily at school to avoid being made fun of, and was rejected by many fitness modeling agencies. But this didn't stop Angela from now having 3 magazine covers and becoming an international fitness model in some of the world's biggest publications: Women’s Health, Shape, Strong Fitness Magazine, and Popsugar Fitness. Angela is strong, both mentally and physically, and she teaches you to love the body you are in. She is real, relatable, approachable, and down-to-earth. With Angela, there is fun and smiles, and there is grit, determination, and sweat. She is easy to understand and great to work with. Angela’s mission is to revolutionize the way people feel about their bodies through identifying their inner strength and embracing the powerful body and mind that they have been gifted. Her vision? To continue to expand the Strong Feels Good Community, speak at large events to spread her message and work with conscious, authentic brands who feel the same - the ones who truly want to help and impact the lives of their end consumer.

To inquire about Steve's availability for conference keynotes, corporate training or performance coaching, please contact info@ripplecentral.com follow me: on http://www.ripplecentral.com on http://instagram.com/rippleon on https://www.facebook.com/rippleon on https://twitter.com/rippleon