Few things bring me more joy than seeing someone shoot their shot, and that’s how today’s episode came about. I got an email from Brandon Fong saying he loves the show and wants to kick it with me in the Diner and I just had to say yes. Brandon is the host of the podcast 7-figure Millennials and wise beyond his years (which sounds like an old-person thing to say… but, well, he is).  He shared so many nuggets, including a favorite quote by Carl Jung that I loved: “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will control your life and you’ll call it fate.” We talked about business, personal growth, psychology, values, and more. He shared his strategy for goal setting and reflection that will have you reaching for your journal before the show is over.  

About the Guest: 

Brandon Fong is a husband to his highschool sweetheart, Leah, and is on a mission to create a more deeply connected world.

While growing up on the government-provided “free lunch program” at school, Brandon realized that his most valuable resource wasn’t money… it was his relationships. This is why, at his core, Brandon is a connector — of people, ideas, and resources.

Before age 26, Brandon leveraged his skill of connection to become a published author, run the marketing for an online education company with 250,000+ students, travel to 23 countries with his wife, get featured on TV, and launch his podcast, 7-Figure Millennials, to a top 2% global ranking in less than a year.

Every week, Brandon interviews elite performers with eclectic backgrounds to discover how he and his audience can prioritize their happiness, health, and relationships while making their entrepreneurial dreams a reality. Brandon is on his own path to build his first 7+ figure business while staying in alignment with the 7FM values and sharing what he learns along the way.

Past guests include Olympians, an illusionist, a decorated air fighter pilot, a hypnotist, former drug dealers turned (legal) millionaires, a Hollywood storytelling legend, NYT bestselling authors, main stage TED speakers, 7, 8, and 9+ figure entrepreneurs, and even a Shark from Shark Tank.

Brandon is also the creator of The Magic Connection Method™ — a system that helps Founders and CEOs to leverage a podcast to build real relationships with dream clients and strategic partners that lead to more profits and greater impact.

He loves having new and incredible experiences with Leah, enjoying a good batch of homemade kombucha, and playing Spikeball.

Connect and learn more:

Site: https://7figuremillennials.com/about

Podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/7fm

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonsfong/

About the Host: 

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:  

I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh! 

I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a...

Today in the booth is TV Host and all-around badass, Elizabeth Ries! I’ve had the privilege of sharing the microphone with her before on live TV, but today we got to kick it via audio. Elizabeth is the host of Twin Cities Live and is a breath of fresh air (which I feel like we all could use in our lives). She shared so much wisdom in this episode about confidence, going after what you want, staying true to yourself, and setting (and maintaining) boundaries. We laughed, we cried, and we talked about how to up your pancake game with some blueberry compote. This conversation feels like a hug, and it will leave you wanting to chase down your dreams while also being kind and curious to everyone you meet along the way.

About the Guest: 

Elizabeth Ries is a television and radio personality in the Twin Cities. She co-hosts Twin Cities Live weekdays afternoons from 3-4:30 on KSTP.. She also co-hosts a podcast called Best to the Nest focused on making our homes happy, healthy sanctuaries where we are at our best. She grew up in Apple Valley but now lives in Minneapolis with her husband Jay, daughter Bernadette and sons Franklin & Heathcliff. They also share their home with a German Shorthair Pointer named Gracie Lu and a flock of chickens in the backyard. Elizabeth is passionate about cooking with as much home grown produce as possible and wants to add a hive of bees to her yard next!

Connect and learn more:

@elizries on IG

https://hometohomestead.com/

https://www.besttothenest.com/

https://www.twincitieslive.com/

About the Host: 

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:  

I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh! 

I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

YouTube:

Sliding in the booth with me this week is Extreme Meetings emcee, Brian Walter! To quote Brian, we are both “raging extroverts,” so this was a good time! We discussed our mutual love for mac n’ cheese and then dove into Brian’s band-geek-trombonist past. After that we talked about being extroverts and how we both have a need to be liked and how both of those have changed over our lives. Brian then shared his a bit of his timeline highlights between college and his current role as an Extreme Meetings emcee. I loved when Brian talked about his philosophy of assertive activism. We finished discussing finding confidence and standing in front of audiences and trying to make them feel. 

About the Guest:

Brian Walter is a professional speaker/emcee with an emphasis on humor. He runs a business called Extreme Meetings which provides customized infotainment to make meetings memorable... as well as engaging videos and presentation graphics for companies. So, he is a speaker, writer, humorist, and multi media producer. Brian has been married to the love of his life (Karen Walter) for 37 years (we were college sweethearts). He has two adult daughters and a very spoiled fluffy Corgi named Roxy. Brian is a past Guiness Book of World Recorders hold for producing the world's shortest TV commercial. He is left handed, right armed, and left legged. And he can do an awesome imitation of Yoda.

Connect and learn more:

Extrememeetings.com and Extremetrainings.com

About the Host: 

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:  

I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh! 

I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP

Twitter:

Diner Talks with James this week is with my dear friend, Sexual Violence Awareness and Healthy Relationships Speaker, Bonny Shade.  We first kicked it off talking about buffalo wings with proper “wingo” and diner orders. She then told me about growing up with less than enough in Lake Worth, Florida, and what decisions her family made to set her up for success and make ends meet. From that time, Bonny developed a fascinating and, at times, debilitating relationship with money and finances. She then flipped the script on me and asked me to talk about my insecurities that I am still working on from high school.  We talked about the desire to be relevant and fear of being irrelevant.  We then discussed the Enneagram. Bonny is a type 3, “the achiever,” so that launched us into a important convo about being perfectionists in work, our marriages, and as parents. One of the most powerful moments was when Bonny told the story about how she never wanted to be a mom and her journey to being proud to be a mother.  This was a beautiful episode, y’all. Hope you enjoy it!

About the Guest: 

Bonny Shade helps student leaders and professionals learn how to prevent sexual violence, build healthy relationships, and empower each other to feel like they belong. As a professional speaker and curriculum designer with her own company, Bonny Shade Speaks, she travels and speaks to over 10,000 students annually. She also serves as the Associate Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life at UNC Charlotte. When she's not working, Bonny enjoys spending time with her family - her partner Chris and their 2 tiny humans. She loves chicken wings (bone- in only), bourbon, and a good pun.

Connect and learn more:

https://www.bonnyshade.com/

@bonnyshadebb on Instagram and TikTok

Book me - https://www.bonnyshade.com/contactus

About the Host: 

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:  

I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh! 

I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn:

This conversation was so powerful that it had both of us welling up. Joining me in the booth was former Fire Chief and lifelong first responder, Rich Gasaway. It’s so fascinating to think about individuals in those roles that we often take for granted until we need them, and it was so beautiful to hear Rich describe the work that he does, how he got into it, and how he stays in it. I will routinely return to a quote he shared – “don’t ever judge the people by the chapter of their life that you happen to stumble into when you respond to a call.” This is advice we can all take to heart. Rich has seen a lot in his time and is doing some incredible work with high-risk-decision-making and helping us identify our patterns. He’s a wealth of wisdom and you won’t want to miss this episode!

About the Guest: 

Rich Gasaway is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision-making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making. He has authored and 6 books and his training programs have been delivered to more than 90,000 students worldwide. In 2019, Rich sent six weeks walking 500+ miles on the Camino De Santiago.

Connect and learn more:

SAMatters.com

About the Host: 

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:  

I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh! 

I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP

Twitter:

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!

This week’s diner guest is my favorite human because it’s my wife - Tina VanSteenbergen Robilotta!!! We kicked off the conversation learning about Tina’s love of bourbon and bubbly water then we dove off the deep end.  Tina told me about why being a mother is something she has always wanted to do.  We discussed the way our parents influenced us in known and unknown ways. Tina and I then discussed our devastating experience with pregnancy loss in the second trimester.  She then discussed dealing with loss while trying to grow a young business she was passionate about. Climbing out of that horrible time, we both chatted about the stress of trying to get pregnant again.  Then…spoiler alert… it worked! So then we discussed whether or not we are going to raise a good human.  Tina shared one thing she is excited to teach our child with a really powerful story.  We lighted the mood debating “Duck, Duck, Grey Duck” vs. “Duck, Duck, Goose.”  We wrapped up the conversation with Tina discussing the role other women have played in Tina’s pregnancy journey.

About the Guest: 

I believe in women. I love women. I love you, even if I don’t know you yet. 

I learned too late in my life that women need women. To be successful in the workplace. To feel understood. To help us believe in ourselves. To feel less alone in the world. Women need women. Women deserve strong communities full of empathy, kindness, and empowerment at work, at home, and literally everywhere in their lives. That’s where I come in. 

Hi, my name is Tina VanSteenbergen and I help women tear down the walls built between us. My speaking style gives women permission to open up, have honest conversations, and connect. With a combination of authenticity, storytelling, and humor, I’ve been able to help hundreds of thousands of women build relationships with one another, believe in themselves, and take up space at companies,campuses, and organizations around North America.  

My work sets my soul on fire. So does a good nap. An excellent pour of bourbon. A beautiful snow. A peaceful and reflective sunset flight. An episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race. A perfectly green avocado. The skyline of New York City. A warm and cheesy mac n’ cheese. A well-written West Wing quote. My husband – James Robilotta, my dog, and a Minnesotan accent, of course.

Connect with Tina and learn more:

https://www.tinaraevan.com/

https://www.instagram.com/tinaraevan/

About the Host: 

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:  

I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh! 

I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of...

With me in the Diner today is the man, the myth, the musical comedian – Tom McGovern. I love having fellow comedians in the booth with me because we can riff on everything from grape jelly to sharks (which is… what we did). In this episode Tom shared about his early love for theatre and how it morphed into this amazing career that he now has creating musical comedy content. He shared excellent advice about giving fewer shits and showing up authentically in your work, and how he has had significantly more success (like performing for American Idol) since he stopped trying to fit into a box. Tom is a ton of fun and you’re going to love kickin’ it with him. See ya in the booth! 

About the Guest: 

Tom McGovern is a musical comedian, actor and producer. Unfortunately, he was born and raised in New Jersey. His award-winning musical sketch-comedy has been featured in festivals across the US and Europe, and you may have caught him off-Broadway as Jim Halpert/Andy Bernard in The Office! A Musical Parody. He recently won grand prize in the Glad Jingle Contest, and was featured on season four of American Idol on ABC, where he got to perform one of his Jingles for Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. Tom also wants to make it clear that sharks deserve more love in the media. 

Connect and learn more:

@tommcgovern27 across all socials (Instagram, TIkTok, Twitter, YouTube)

About the Host: 

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:  

I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh! 

I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the...

This week I got to hang out with communication expert, Dr. Amelia Reigstad, and I’m walking away with so many thoughts and ideas on how I can improve my communication and self-awareness. With her badass purple mohawk, she shares about the importance of living an authentic and brave life and I’m here – for – it! She discusses her research on gender roles in communication and how we can better express ourselves. We also talk about how communication shows up in parenting. Though it’s not always easy, it’s important for us to speak with clarity and stand up for ourselves and stand in our truth – and that’s what you’ll hear more about in today’s episode.

About the Guest: 

Dr. Amelia Reigstad, Ph.D. is a passionate change agent, speaker, communication consultant and coach with over two decades of industry experience. She is a firm believer in authenticity and her favorite quote is "Be fearlessly authentic. Bravely be you." With her platinum blonde hair and purple mohawk, she's doing just that. She has spoken on a global scale at many professional events and conferences and has taught a variety of communications courses across the U.S., Canada, Europe and the U.K. With a passion for helping others, she consults and educates business professionals on the importance of understanding gender differences and communication styles and how this leads to more effective communication and productivity in the workplace. As the founder of The Women Empowerment Series, she inspires and encourages women to use their voice to initiate change.

Connect with Amelia and learn more:

https://ameliareigstad.com/

www.linkedin.com/in/ameliareigstad

About the Host: 

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:  

I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh! 

I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach.  If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: