It Just Takes One

On today's episode, we feature our most recent best-selling author, Ethan Spelman. His book, Leadership Over Loneliness, is an inspiring true story that blends life, leadership, and lessons learned. ​​Throughout most of his life, Ethan Spelman felt like he was never good enough. Despite his friendly demeanor and perceived success, he was haunted by his past, controlled by his fears, and consumed by emptiness and loneliness. But destiny – disguised as an ill-timed business trip – ultimately changed the trajectory of his life, and led him to discover and then champion the life-changing power of leadership done right. By immersing himself in leadership principles and practices and infusing them into his own life story, Ethan discovers that leadership can transcend lives – especially his own. As he works to incorporate leadership into all aspects of his life, he unleashes the leader within – and finds the courage and strength to come to terms with his past, overcome his fears, leave the loneliness behind, and mov

On today's episode, I have a conversation with Dave Carlson, the recent bestselling author of Shorten the Learning Curve: Using Light Bulb Moments. As a former math teacher, Dave's unique perspective shows how important it is to never stop learning because life never stops teaching.  Listen in as we discuss what lightbulb moments are and why it's so important to capture them in order to minimize your learning curve. Dave is also an avid sports fan and world traveler, and all of those topics come up as he describes his experiences and his passion for life. All of his information is in the show notes below as well. Enjoy this episode of It Just Takes One.   ---------- Dave Carlson started his career as a high school math teacher. Then he switched to real estate where he sold/developed property, managed offices, and finally, went to the corporate side of the business. He has coached hundreds of managers and owners, as well as thousands of sales associates. The attendees overwhelmingly found his coaching and insi

During 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, forced so many to learn new things during quarantine. Many went through a number of emotions, trials, and tribulations. Seeking to do more for her friends, family and local community, Josie Collier began posting ideas to cope with staying indoors on social media (#IncredibleIndoorIdeas). Many of those ideas led to the creation of Josie's recent best-selling book, What a Year!: Collierisms, Cocktails, & Cooking. Each month of 2020 and part of 2021, Josie figured out ways to stay safe and sane indoors as she made new culinary discoveries, remembered some old favorites and used the lessons of resilience to cope with the new normal. You'll hear all about that as you listen to Josie's story on this episode today. If you have memories of how you got through the pandemic, then you will relate to Josie's experience as well. And if you're someone who has a creative flair and enjoys trying new things, then you're going to enjoy her book! For now, I think you're really going to en

You've heard the quote that "the only constant in life is change." It's true that change is inevitable, but how intentional is the change that you're creating or experiencing in your life...or in your business? On today's episode, Tim Rhode, the recent bestselling author of Changing Lanes for Business: 4 Simple Steps to Overcome Problems, Accelerate Progress, and Achieve Your Goals!, will help you answer that question. Because we learn best through stories, Tim wrote his book as a parable and through the experience of the main character, we learn the 4 steps of how to be more strategic and intentional about change. In Tim's words, "We don’t need more complexity.  We need simplicity." That's why “Changing Lanes” is a metaphor for the familiar approach you use when driving, to develop the clarity, confidence, and agility that are essential in today’s challenging business world. Ultimately, Tim's goal is to help all of us to make progress whenever we want, for the rest of our life. And as Tim suggests in our con

A hard childhood. A devastating divorce. A desire to run. A passion for people.  Caren Ware's focus to become FIT led her to run a marathon on every continent from Alaska to the Australian Outback, and from the Galapagos Islands to Antarctica! She even ran the Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Everest marathons! But Caren's life is about so much more than running marathons. She has an incredible heart for helping people in cultures all over the world. And it all started because of her own arduous journey through her childhood. Her bestselling book, Finding Fit: What Running Through an Arduous Childhood and a Remote Marathon on Every Continent...Can Help You FIND!, is a spellbinding account of her life, her courage and her authenticity. In this episode, Caren shares more about all of her experiences and also about her book. And I guarantee our conversation is going to inspire you.  So I invite you to sit back and listen in as Caren Ware shares her story! -----------   You can find Caren's book on Amazon. You can also f

In all the years I have known and worked with my friend, Todd Durkin, this is the very first time I've had the opportunity to sit down and interview him. While he was visiting here in Upstate New York recently, we had a chance to sit down and talk for a few minutes about everything having to do with books....from writing to publishing to marketing and more! Todd's desire to create a legacy through his writing led him to publish his first 4 books, and he has 2 more that he's working on right now. He talks about those projects and gives you some insights from behind-the-scenes of the writing and publishing process. If you've always wanted to write a book and aren't sure where to begin...then this episode will inspire you! If you've already written a book and you want to get it into the hands of more people...then this episode will motivate you! And if you just need a dose of positivity...then sit back and listen into this conversation where Todd shares his uplifting story...and then some! ------------ Todd Durk

We are excited to have Heather Deffenbaugh back for a 2nd time on the show. She recently released her audiobook for From Ashes to Beauty, a book she published in 2022. And we invited her back to share more about that experience. It's also a great opportunity to talk more about her story, her journey since she published her book, and some of the exciting things that are coming up for her.   We hope you'll enjoy the conversation.   -------   Heather is an author, speaker, and wellness advocate who aims to help people overcome strongholds and become the very best version of themselves. She has been in the fitness industry for over 30 years teaching group exercise, personal training, and coaching transformation programs. As a certified holistic nutritionist, she has guided and taught people how to infuse healthy and delicious food into their daily routine in order to achieve optimum health. She is passionate about “wholeness” in one’s life and teaches others how to thrive by achieving overall wellness in 5 key ar

How many times have you felt like you were drowning? Maybe it's because you're overwhelmed at work or maybe you're battling with personal struggles that are weighing you down. If you can relate to those moments in life, then you will enjoy the conversation I have in this episode with Lizzie Claesson. Lizzie is the Amazon best-selling author of From Suffering to Surfing: How Successful Leaders Make the Leap. In our discussion, Lizzie describes how she incorporates the latest neuroscience research to coach leaders on how to navigate challenges and embrace change.  -------------- Lizzie Claesson is the founder and CEO of Brighter Leaders, a coaching company that specializes in leadership development for executives and HR leaders. With 20+ years of experience and a multicultural background, Lizzie uses neuroscience to help clients unlock their full potential. She’s certified by coaching associations in Sweden, Spain, and Denmark and authored the e-book ‘Stop Worrying about how to Level-Up your Leadership’. At Bri

Everyone loves a good story, and that is exactly what you're going to hear today. On this episode, I interview Adam Clark. He is the recent bestselling author of A Magical Ride: A Story About Overcoming Adversity. Inspired by his interest in books by authors like Jon Gordon, Adam decided to write his own parable. His book is a heartwarming story that contains some great life lessons. I'll let Adam explain the rest, as I invite you to sit back and listen in to this episode.   ----------------- Adam Clark is a business owner, personal trainer, author and speaker who inspires people to get 1% better every day. He is the author of “Play Like A Champion Every Day: Your Guide to Being Your Best You” and is a Power of Positive Leadership Certified Trainer through the Jon Gordon Companies. Whether it is interacting with his clients at his gym, leading his team, speaking or writing, Adam’s passionate about helping people live their best lives. For more information on Adam, please visit AdamClarkFitness.com. You can a

This interview is a long time coming! Today, you will meet Tim Walther, the recent bestselling author of All In Adventure Stories. However, I first met Tim about 4 years ago when our friend, Rick Ivone, introduced us so that we could begin working together to write and publish this book. And now the book is done and available on Amazon (see the link below). In this conversation, we talk about the book and about the adventures Tim has had. He shares his desire to inspire people to add more adventure to their lives and his mission to give back to the people he's met and places he's visited. There are moments in this interview that are very emotional because when you live life to the fullest, you inevitably experience the highest of highs and lowest of lows. We talk about all of that....and much more! If you're someone who enjoys a good adventure story, then listen in. If you're someone who needs to add a little more adventure to your life, then you'll love this episode. If you are someone who is inspired by hea

If you've been following U.S.A. gymnastics at any point over the past 20-25 years, then you will know my guest today. Chellsie Memmel is one of the most accomplished gymnasts in our country, winning medals in national and world competitions. And she has now written a best-selling book about the lessons she learned along the way. We talk about the book (Chellsie's Challenges: Life Lessons Learned From an Olympic Gymnast), her career, and so much more in this episode, so please sit back and listen in while Chellsie shares her story. ------ Chellsie Memmel came into the gymnastics spotlight in 2003 when she won five medals, including the team and all-around gold, at the Pan American Games. That same year she competed in the World Championships and helped secure the team gold. For her outstanding 2003 season, she was named the TOPs Co-Athlete of the Year with Carly Patterson. At the 2005 World Championships, she became the first U.S. woman since 1994 to win the all-around gold medal. That year, she tied for USA G

Today Francisco Gonzalez, author of The American Dream is a Terrible Thing to Waste, joins us from Guatemala to share more about his recent bestselling book. The book is a compilation of interviews Francisco has conducted with entrepreneurs from all over the country. As we talk, he shares many stories of the creativity and inventiveness of entrepreneurs from all walks of life who have found ways to make lives better. These stories will inspire you and perhaps even motivate you to start on your own entrepreneurial journey.   ----- Francisco Gonzalez is the founder & CEO of Fearless Journeys, a community for aspiring and ascending entrepreneurs and travel enthusiasts. He is also the host of the Agents of Innovation podcast. More recently, he was a visiting professor at the Universidad Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala City, where he taught courses on entrepreneurship and innovation. Francisco has previously served in philanthropic development roles for three nonprofit organizations: National Review Institute

Today I am interviewing one of my close friends, Lizzie Merritt. She is the bestselling author of You are a Miracle: How to Lose Weight and Love Your Body Too. As you will hear in this episode, Lizzie has a wonderful way of telling stories and creating visuals to make her points, and her book is full of real-life examples and tools that we can all use in our daily lives. Her most important message is that rather than putting ourselves down or judging ourselves, we need to remember that we are a miracle! Once we remember that, our whole life can change. Listen in to hear more!   ---------- Lizzie Merritt is a Martha Beck Certified Wayfinder Life Coach and professional weight loss coach. She specializes in helping people figure out why they don’t do the things they think they *should* do in order to lose weight and feel happy. She believes that diets are just the worst; the only way to lose weight is imperfectly; and that weight loss is much more about what’s between your ears than what’s on your plate. She als

Dr. Paul Wichansky was born with cerebral palsy and a hearing loss. Some people might consider these challenges that cannot be overcome, but Dr. Paul is the opposite. In his recent bestselling book, "Yes I Can! Lessons Learned From A Life Less Ordinary," he shares stories about times when people initially thought differently of him, and then were surprised to find out how much he has achieved. His attitude of positivity is an inspiration to all of us, and through his presentations and his writing, he continues to spread a message of "ability" rather than "disability." It is a pleasure to welcome Dr. Paul to our show to share more about his life, his message, and his book.   -------- You can learn more about Dr. Paul at: justthewayyouare.com   And his book is available on Amazon: https://bit.ly/3VdCvD9

At age seven, Luka, a perfectly healthy and active young boy, suddenly turned ill. After undergoing many tests, he was diagnosed with an incurable, inoperable brain tumor. For four and a half years, he fought with the utmost courage, optimism, and unwavering faith to beat this cancerous tumor. On today’s episode, we talk with Luka’s mom, CarolAnn Braovac, the recent bestselling author of Luka’s Light. This conversation will give you an opportunity to hear more about Luka, to learn about the incredible wisdom he shared in his short 11 years of life. As you listen, you will laugh and cry because this is a story about all of it… it’s about life, about love, and about faith. I invite you to enjoy this heartwarming, emotional, and inspirational episode. -------------------- You can find Luka’s Light on Amazon. Here’s a link to purchase the book: https://amzn.to/3HJvc33 You can also continue to connect with CarolAnn on her Facebook page at: @Luka’sLight  

This is a very special episode because our guest, Colleen Dulieu, was one of my childhood friends. We were in the same class in 2nd grade when she had a terrible accident and experienced a traumatic brain injury. It was a pivotal moment in her life, and it led her on a completely new and unexpected path.  In our conversation she shares the story of how she recovered with the love of her family, the support of her community and the redeeming healing power of the Lord. In fact, Colleen defied her prognosis and the expectations of medical professionals, educators, and societal opinion to become a loving, caring, strong and independent woman. After listening to this episode, I hope you have a better understanding and awareness about TBI and recognize the importance of prevention as a cure. Colleen's story will open your eyes at the same time that it warms your heart. -------- About Colleen: As a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivor, Colleen, has worked with TBI survivors and their families in various professiona

Today's guest is Heather Deffenbaugh, the bestselling author of From Ashes to Beauty. In her compelling and inspiring memoir, Heather bares her soul as she takes us through her awe-inspiring life journey of how she survived a tumultuous childhood riddled with neglect, abandonment, and abuse, and overcame insurmountable odds. Her incredible story of surviving the pain of childhood trauma, the consequences of having mentally ill parents and having to become an adult at a very early age is nothing short of a miracle. In our conversation, Heather shares some of the stories that shaped who she has become. Ultimately, her message is one of hope and faith.    --------------- Heather is an author, speaker, and wellness advocate who aims to help people overcome strongholds and become the very best version of themselves. She has been in the fitness industry for over 30 years teaching group exercise, personal training, and coaching transformation programs. As a certified holistic nutritionist, she has guided and taught

Are you a growth-minded woman who is feeling unfulfilled, unhappy and stuck? Do you find yourself searching to fill the void of knowing who you truly are? Then you will enjoy the conversation I have with our guest today. Deanna Herrin is the best-selling author of Unbecoming: A Journey to Finding HER. Her book gives you the tools to unlock the traps keeping you from becoming HER.  In this episode you are going to hear about Deanna's story and how it allowed her to step into her own strength. And her story will inspire you to find the greatness in yourself as well.  If you'd like to find out more about Deanna, you can find her at: Website: deannaherrin.net IG: @deannaherrin FB:  deannaherrin You can also find her book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3y9H5L3  

In 2020, we gathered 9 teenagers together to write a book about their experience during the quarantine. Their book, QuaranTEEN: Our New Normal, became an Amazon bestseller in August 2020. Since then, it has continued to be one of Scriptor's bestselling books. Today, I invite you to listen in as we interview those same 9 teenagers TWO YEARS later. I wanted to bring them back on the podcast to talk about where they are now, how they experienced the pandemic, but also to share what it's been like to be a best-selling author at such a young age. As you listen, there's another surprise as well....hear how they react when they find out how they inspired another group of students in Australia.  Although it's a longer episode than most, I hope you will enjoy it. I think you will come away with a sense of hope and inspiration for our future!   Click here to purchase Quaranteen: Our New Normal.  

Burnout is real. It happens when we wear too many hats and become overwhelmed by everything. In today's episode, bestselling author, Alejandra Marques Mendez, shares her story of burnout and how that led to her new book, From Burned Out to Unstoppable. Listen in to hear tips on how to stop living for the hustle, release burnout and start living the life you desire. ----------------------- Alejandra Marques Mendez is the go-to Productivity and Balance Mentor for entrepreneurs and business owners. She has helped driven women worldwide create the life they desire by using their time as their most precious resource. Her signature T.I.M.E. Method is a blueprint to elevate time management, prioritize balance, increase productivity and achieve goals with ease. Her expertise has been featured in Entrepreneur, Medium, Authority Magazine, Thrive Global, and more.  You can follow Alejandra at: Website:  www.alejandramarques.com IG:  @alejandramarques_yourplana   And her book is available on Amazon at: https://a