Championship Traits For Life - Brad Thomas
Sacrifice and service are two words that those on teams and the military use often – but with drastically different meanings. No matter the arena, the group that understands the severity and calling of those words will be in a position to succeed.
Brad Thomas is the founder, songwriter and lead guitarist for Silence & Light – an all-veteran band that brings mental health awareness through music. Brad is also a former Army Ranger and Delta Force operator, having spent over 20 years in the service.
While Silence & Light has attracted grammy award winning producers and quite the fan base, the band has embraced the higher mission of giving back by donating their royalties to special operations, veterans and first responder charitable organizations.
He’s the first guest we’ve had on the show that we can say is both a Rock Star and a member of the tier-1 special operations.
Life After The Military: Colonel (Retired) Kirby Watson
Do you want to learn the lessons of what to do and what not to do IOT to have a low stress and highly successful transition from the military to the public or private sector?
Did you say “YES?
Then check out the newest Pivotal Moments Media, Life After The Military podcast with Army Colonel (Retired) Kirby Watson!
Kirby is one of the finest, most authentic, and genuinely caring leaders that our co-host, Howie Cohen, EVER served with during his 27+ year military career!
Kirby spent 33 years as an Army Signal Officer and candidly discusses everything he did right and wrong
- what he did wrong while transitioning – overscheduling interviews, not focusing on one area of need, not properly informing colleagues of the transition
- what he got right – focusing on finding a good team, taking advantage of the TAP program, being honest about his health state, sourcing colleagues and job applications and honest company reviews through his LinkedIn network, carefully preparing for interviews
- Discusses how he transitioned out as a veteran by taking the initiative to seek out mentors and carefully going through each step leading up to the job search process
Howie, Lee and Kirby implore listeners to
- Be honest about medical needs during the transition
- Put yourself and your needs (and the needs of your family) first
- Connect with colleagues on LinkedIn and extensively research positions
- Focus on team building rather than resume building
Kirby also shares advice and guidance for veterans looking to enter the government contracting space and what mental fitness means to him
Show Notes:
00:00 Lee introduces Kirby Watson, a decorated 33-year Army veteran
3:08 After 33 years, Kirby discusses what he did to prepare to transition – focusing on the TAP programs and educational opportunities available at the Pentagon
6:44 Kirby gets specific about what he did wrong while transitioning – overscheduling interviews, not focusing on one area of need, not properly informing colleagues of the transition
10:46 Howie relays an important point, that transitions are just as important for long-time servicemembers once they believe their military career has ended
14:09 The discussion shifts to the need for servicemembers to sometimes put themselves first – a difficult task for those who are trained to serve others
17:48 Kirby discusses what he got right – focusing on finding a good team, taking advantage of the TAP program, being honest about his health state, sourcing colleagues and job applications and honest company reviews through his LinkedIn network
22:48 The group recaps Kirby’s most important steps during the transition – owning the process, taking advantage of LinkedIn, starting as early as possible
27:45 Kirby tees up his final important steps during transitioning: careful preparation for interviews
32:40 Howie shares parallels between Kirby’s story and his own, imploring listeners to speak up for themselves and their health during their transition
37:28 Kirby shares advice and guidance for veterans looking to enter the government contracting space: ask questions and seek to understanding the language of the place you’re at, find a good team and constantly expand it
45:03 Lee relates to Kirby’s lessons on the extreme importance of networking/network-building
48:00 Howie implores veterans transitioning to learn about basic business principles for for-profit companies, noting the difference in the employment model of the military
52:18 The discussion shifts to business acumen over time
54:36 Lee gives Kirby his created book title
56:40 Kirby answers the question, “what does mental fitness mean to you?” – surrounding yourself with good people, maintaining a sense of camaraderie, and being careful about what defines you
1:07:13 Lee and Howie close the show, “never verbalize a negative thought”
Supporting a Multi-generational Team with Tom Power
“Managing a company is like flying an airplane, you know where you want to go, but you’ve always gotta make adjustments depending on which way the wind is blowing.” Joining this episode is Tom Power, President and CEO of Sunshine Minting Inc., the leading domestic and global supplier of precious metal and base metal mint products. Power chats with Jenn about his experience at the helm of the company including his approach as an ‘intrapreneur,’ the importance of allowing yourself the space to make mistakes and the true value of establishing community and a supportive culture among a multi-generational team. And, of course, he shares his definition of mental fitness!
GUESTS SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-power-16b3014
Sunshine Minting Website: http://www.sunshinemint.com/
Show Notes:
00:00 Introduction to Tom Power and Sunshine Minting, Inc.
4:00 Tom shares what led him to work for the Sunshine Minting, Inc. company, beginning with the historical NAFTA agreement between the US and Canada in the 90’s
7:18 Jenn asks Tom, given his extensive experience in leadership, “how would you define mental fitness”?
10:59 Tom discusses how the company structure allowed him to develop himself as an ‘intrapreneur’, allowing him the freedom to make mistakes as well as setting up his confidence
12:19 Jenn discusses the dynamic landscape of the workforce, prompting a discussion about how there are currently four generations working together in the overall American workforce
17:47 Tom and Jenn discuss what they believe is a happy medium between the machismo-based definition of mental fitness, and the more empathetic and inclusive definition
23:15 The discussion shifts to the importance of putting together an effective team, and how the concept of accountability sometimes differs from generation to generation
26:00 Jenn and Tom discuss effective techniques they’ve used to learn in order to community effectively with multi-faceted teams
29:04 Tom discusses how he built a circle of trust to combat the self doubt he experienced after becoming a CEO, fortifying his mental fitness
31:00 Tom shares incredibly good advice for other company leaders to address mental awareness and wellness in the workplace – “establish the right culture”
34:53 Tom leaves lasting words for the PMM audience
Life After the Military: Jai Salters
Do you know who David Goggins is?
Have you read or listened to his book Can’t Hurt Me!?
Have you seen/listened to any of his podcasts with Joe Rogan or Ed Mylett or the other great interviews he’s conducted over the last 3-4 years?
If you answered Yes to any of these questions, I want to introduce you to the David Goggins of Veteran Service Organizations: Navy Officer Jai Salters, founder of ACT NOW EDUCATION!
If you answered NO to any of these questions, then check out David Goggins on YouTube, read or listen to his book, Can’t Hurt Me, then listen to or view this Pivotal Moments Media podcast episode of Life After the Military with Jai Salers as our guest! Jai and his story is amazing!
Learn how Jai consistently did the following:
– Overcame repeated adversity in his childhood and his life as a child in the foster care system and built a life of pure grit and resilience
– Pursued education as a way to better himself
– Committed himself to help active duty service members, veterans, military spouses and family members thrive and successfully transition to life after the military by creating and leading ACT NOW EDUCATION
– Flexed his mental fitness muscles
– Never hesitated to seek help when he needed it
Links
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jai-salters/
FaceBook/Meta: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=jai%20salters
ACT NOW EDUATION: https://www.actnoweducation.com/
ACT NOW EDUCATION Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ACTNOWEDUCATIONGROUP
InstaGram: @jai_salters
Show Notes:
00:00 Lee and Howie introduce Jai to the PMM audience, noting his work with ACT NOW EDUCATION, an organization that has helped over 14,000 military members and families with educational resources
3:03 Jai discusses what motivated him to create the organization while he was an active duty officer, starting with a series of awkward presentations
8:27 Jai tells the story of how his personal family history affected his early years and eventual enlistment into the military on September 11, 2002
11:00 Howie and Jai discuss the David Goggins story noting some of the parallels between he and Jai’s backstory
16:11 Jai shares very intimate details of his early beginnings and experiences in the foster care system and how it influenced his will to overcome painful circumstances
23:23 Lee and Jai discuss how Jai’s experience has equipped him to impact others, and to see the signs of a hurting comrade
33:27 Howie shares an anecdote of an important comrade in his life
37:08 Jai discusses his mentorship work with organizations like Veterati and ACP, and the process of onboarding mentees
43:37 Lee, Jai and Howie urgently implore all transitioning veterans to ‘do it NOW’; get started on the transition process ASAP
55:05 Howie tells the story of how a chance encounter at a networking event led to his compensation package being almost doubled
57:32 Jai tells the audience some of what he does to strengthen his mental fitness – positive self talk, taking a mental pause, enlisting people who can help him with the problem, etc.
1:06:15 Lee transitions to Jai’s prospective book title, and Howie takes a stab at it also!
1:09:54 Show closing
Sink or Swim: Llywelyn Williams - Lightbeam
When Llywelyn Williams was hit by a car, his life changed in an instant; however, as he lay in-hospital and adjusted to losing a leg, he decided he wouldn’t lose his dreams too.
What's Your Everest? - Lightbeam
What’s Your Everest? is an annual celebration of people of all abilities. The weekend-long fundraiser builds camaraderie, confidence, and reminds attendees that what’s within you is stronger than what’s in your way.
Applying Positivity with Eliza McDevitt
“If we only focus on the negative, we are missing a whole half of the human experience.” In this episode, we are joined by Liza McDevitt, AAMS® and Financial Advisor at Raymond James & Associates, Inc., for a conversation about Applied Positive Psychology.
“If we only focus on the negative, we are missing a whole half of the human experience.” In this episode, we are joined by Liza McDevitt, AAMS® and Financial Advisor at Raymond James & Associates, Inc., for a conversation about Applied Positive Psychology. Liza explains how her experience in business led her to earn a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology and how she utilizes it in her current role today working with financial clients. On top of that, she shares some positive problem solving advice for us all to follow!
**Raymond James & Associates, Inc. member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Any opinions are those of Liza McDevitt and not necessarily those of Raymond James.
GUESTS SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/little_lizajane
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizajanemcdevitt/
SHOW NOTES/”KEY TAKEAWAYS”:
00:00 Jenn opens the show, and Eliza introduces herself to the PMM audience, detailing how she began in business and how it lead her to earn a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology
5:23 Eliza explains what Applied Positive Psychology is, noting its stark difference from classical psychology
11:40 Jenn asks how positive psychology is utilized in Eliza’s current role as a financial advisor
17:00 Eliza explains her definition of the concept of mental fitness
18:46 Eliza discusses how she keeps her personal perspective in check when working with financial clients, regarding what is best for their goals
24:36 Jenn asks, “How can we apply positive psychology when it comes to mental fitness?”, and Eliza puts Jenn on the hot seat!
28:08 Eliza gives the audience some positive problem solving advice and Jenn closes the show
QUOTES MENTIONED:
“Psychology is really the field of science that measures the intangible, our thoughts and emotions, which then lead to our behaviors.” – E
“The biggest things that are stressors for people are finances, and finances.” – J
“If we only focus on the negative, we are missing a whole half of the human experience.” – E
“Emotions serve a function.” – E
“No emotion is meant to last forever, it’s supposed to tell you something about what’s going on in your environment, and oftentimes your emotion will feed your behavior.” – E
“…Mental fitness is the ability to tackle whatever life challenges are in front of you through cognitive skills” – E
“What are those things in the mental space that we can work on that are gonna help us conquer life challenges that come our way?” – E
“You as an individual have the power to curate positive emotions, and make change in whatever facet of your well being that might be lacking…” – E
“Are we doing things that generate positive emotion in our day to day lives?” – E
“Hope is a very powerful emotion, as are joy, awe, and connectedness.” – E
“We do have shorter attention spans these days.” – J
“Whats holding me back? Is there some way I’m thinking about things that isnt’ a perspective that’s helping me? If I shift my perspective will that help me shift my emotions and behaviors…?”
Life After The Military: Jay Santiago Jr. Colonel (Retired)
Does anyone ever say “Thank You for your service” to you when they know you serve or previously served in the military? Ever hear a response like, “Thank You! You are worth it!” Well, you will hear it in this Life After the Military episode!
This episode of Life After the Military, features Army Colonel (Retired) Jay Santiago – who represents three (3) generations of Army Officers (Jay, his father, and his two sons).
Jay provides his insights into the transition process, shares his lessons learned, and describes how he treated it as a “mission.”
Unlike most transitioning senior officers and noncommissioned officers, Jay is still with the same company, Worldwide Technologies, that he joined over 11 years ago. Learn about the transition preparation and criteria Jay applied to make such a great choice!
00:00 Lees introduces Jay Santiago, Jr.; Jay starts off the interview with very detailed advice for a smooth transition
08:37 Jay lists the things he did well during his transition, noting that the most important thing was to take the time to think, to understand the need, and to develop the right connections
13:20 Howie and Jay implore you to consider how important the transition will be for your family
18:00 Howie and Jay get specific; Howie drops a big tip about health insurance premiums for transitioning vets
20:48 Jay discusses how he carefully chose the company he transitioned into, World Wide Technology, and how he has been progressing with the company for the last 10 years
36:04 The extreme importance of community within and throughout any industry
40:55 Lee asks, “What advice do you have for the specific trajectory of government contracting?
44:26 Howie shares what went wrong during his experiences in contracting noting how a good mentor saved his career
51:35 The discussion shifts back into the need for developing relationships, asking for help, and becoming a lifelong learner
1:03:54 Personal mission and identity aren’t defined by military titles
1:08:43 Howie’s favorite part of the show
1:14:06 Jay details how following his faith and staying purposeful in a community adds significance to his life and aids with mental fitness
1:21:09 Howie closes the show – “you reap what you sow”
Championship Traits For Life - UCLA Health President Johnese Spisso, RN, MPA
We say at the top of every episode that we interview champions and trailblazers. While our show has a strong sports focus, we know that to learn to truly “WIN”, we had to look just beyond athletics. Today’s guest is a champion in her field, a trailblazer in her field, and one of the most influential leaders in her field – and I guarantee you will learn something from listening to her today.
This week’s guest, Johnese Spisso, RN, MPA, is one of the top clinical leaders and one of the top most influential Women leaders in America. Her life has been dedicated to service for others and her journey has taken her from starting as a Registered Nurse to becoming the current President of UCLA Health, the CEO of the UCLA Hospital System and the Associate Vice Chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences.
In short everyone – listen up! Johnese is about to gift us with 45 minutes of knowledge!
Auti Signs with Pivotal Records Division of Pivotal Moments Media
†FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
INSPIRING SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION AND INDIE MUSIC ARTIST AUTI
SIGNS WITH PIVOTAL RECORDS DIVISION OF PIVOTAL MOMENTS MEDIA
NEW MUSIC SET TO BE RELEASED THIS SPRING
Nashville, TN. (March 30, 2022) – Viral music sensation AUTI, with 400 million + views of her “Shallow” duet with her father, announces studio sessions and upcoming EP in signing with Pivotal Moments Media (PMM), Pivotal Records division. The deal signals Auti’s commitment to using her platform as an advocate for suicide prevention and mental health. The partnership includes new recordings, co-writing projects, and advocacy for brands and non-profits focused on ending mental health stigma helping more young feel safe and supported in asking for help.
“My journey, including facing the pain that comes from losing a friend to suicide, as well as dealing with my own mental health challenges, is a big part of my music and drive. I love hearing from people around the world that my music is something they can relate to and derive comfort from. I’m thrilled to work with Pivotal Records at this early stage in my career to reach more people,” said AUTI.
AUTI is currently in the studio recording her first EP. Her style is alternative pop with an engaging sound influenced by her fandom for artists like Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, and Avril Lavigne. Look for her first single release in early May.
Her signing with Pivotal Moments follows the organization’s recently announced deal with Multi-platinum country music recording artist Ty Herndon. Herndon announced that he will host a new, ten-episode podcast SOUNDBOARD on the PMM platform channel Resilience, featuring conversations with high-profile artists discussing their wins and struggles in their mental fitness journeys.
“I’ve been in music for a long time now. I’ve experienced the ups and downs associated with mental wellness and standing up for something bigger than music. To see AUTI at such a young age align her music with passion for mental health is a model of courage that I am proud to support as ambassador for Pivotal Moments,” said Herndon.
Pivotal Moments Media is a newly formed global entertainment and education brand, whose mission is to strengthen mental fitness worldwide by creating, distributing, and promoting entertainment and education programs that inspire and motivate people to become mentally fit, overcome adversity, and lead fulfilling lives.
About AUTI
Growing up in the Charleston, West Virginia area, Auti has looked at life through a different lens after being bullied in school and experiencing the loss of a close friend to suicide that led to her own mental health challenges. At 14, Auti went viral in a video singing “Shallow” (originally performed by Lady GaGa and Bradley Cooper) with her dad, amassing over 400 million views across various outlets, and hosted social media live performances to her following of more than 350,000 amazing fans. Auti taught herself multiple instruments in order to deliver the compassionate, imaginative, and reflective lyrics she has been writing for years. She has since worked with Dolly Parton’s producer Kent Wells and recorded a duet with artist, MattyB, that has accumulated another 3 million views. She has opened for multi-platinum, Grammy nominated artists, Ty Herndon, Brady Seals, Jamie Floyd and others. In 2021, Auti won “Artist of the Year ” at The Josie Awards, which is the largest independent artist award show globally. Look for new music to be released in 2022.
About Pivotal Moments Media:
Pivotal Moments Media recognizes that many people do not get the information and education to identify and cope with mental health issues early enough. Recent health reports indicate that we live in an unprecedented mental health crisis, and our youth are especially affected (HHS). The PMM platform will curate and produce education and entertainment through its website, film, music, and other avenues with resources to encourage mental fitness. Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Website
