Unconventional Leaders

Today’s guest believes that creatives should NOT be put in a box and told to “niche down”, Say WHAT? We are joined by the incredible Jeffery Shaw who spent years as an extremely successful photographer and now helps others who are self-employed become widely successful by operating a “business with soul”. Today we discuss why we should use a “filter of discernment” when going the unconventional path, why we should find our ‘area of expertise', and how to find belonging wherever we go by clarifying our unique value system. Make sure you connect with Jeffery at https://jeffreyshaw.com and order his book: www.theselfemployedlife.me GIFT: www.selfemployedbundle.com   WHO IS JEFFERY? How many people can say they’ve never worked for anyone else? Selling eggs door-to-door at 14 years old began a lifetime of self-employment. As a speaker and small business consultant, Jeffrey Shaw helps self-employed and small business owners gain control of their business in what seems like otherwise uncontrollable circumstances. D

“Do you feel trapped in what you are doing? Or does it fuel you in some way?”   Today we are joined by musician and comedian Rory Gardiner who went from being a software consultant to pursuing a career in the arts. He now advocates for being a “Balanced Artist” and today we dig into why creating intentional tension in your life will help your creative pursuits. Connect with Rory www.rorygardiner.com   TOPICS: Abandoning complacency with balance When should we abandon ship? And go all-in with our dream? Intentionally creating adversity in our lives for creative inspiration Not giving up on your dream even through failure WHO IS RORY? Rory Gardiner is an award-winning songwriter, comedian, TEDx speaker and content creator. As a former Software consultant working on multi-million dollar government projects, he chose to abandon “complacency”, to create a name in the entertainment industry. A CCMA-nominated country artist, his songs have been placed in commercials starring Kevin Nealon, Arnold Palmer, Chris Bo

There is a still small voice within all of us. Are we listening to it? Is there a spark inside of you to create something or pursue a certain path? Today we are joined by the creator of Tony Talks, Antonio Baldwin to talk about the unconventional path and finding the VALUE in your gifts. Originally he wanted to be a pastor and then a therapist, but Antonio found another spark within him that he decided to trust and lean into. As a viral video creator, Tony uses his comedy writing skills and acting to bring joy to hundreds of thousands of people and “be a light”. Today, we dig into staying dedicated to your craft in difficult times, the inner work of pursuing the creative path,  and cultivating the right energy to “tap in” and find the purpose in your work. Connect with Tony: Www.IamTonyTalks.com   TOPICS: Manifestation and trusting that still small voice Being patient with the process and getting out of a funk Dealing with the ups and downs of the creative path RESOURCES: KAJABI: www.HeatherParady.com/Kaj

Are there things from your past, emotional trauma, or other unresolved issues that might be sabotaging your goals? Our guest this week, Yoga and Meditation teacher Adri Kyser believes that there could be. Today she shares her own journey of “healing from the inside out” and why she believes movement through yoga, is the best medicine. We dig into beginner tips for meditation and how to overcome the resistance that we might face in doing the inner work.  Connect with Adri & access The Sacred Movement Online Studio: https://innerbeautyyoga.com/online-studio    WHO IS ADRI? Adri Kyser is an international holistic wellness expert who has spent the past 16 years helping highly-driven men and women get out their own way, utilize their unique skills, and build unstoppable confidence to succeed in life and business. Using her Enlightened Alchemy™ Method, she has helped over 4500 women worldwide achieve everything from reduced pain and stress to increased productivity and better health. Rather than drawing from on

I originally ran across Dr. Kojo on TikTok. He is a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who has built a huge following online talking about mental health. Although Dr. Kojo has spent years working in very intense mental-health situations, he is leading the way showing how to use viral videos and creative content to advocate for mental health and empower his audience through education. Today we dig into how to use online media to spread messages you care about, why he is on a mission to bring mental health into the entertainment space, and how we can let go of self-judgment as creators and as he puts it, simply do.   Connect with Dr. Kojo: https://www.kojosarfo.com/   WHO IS DR. KOJO?  Dr. Kojo Sarfo, DNP, PMHNP-BC is a Ghanaian-American Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, entrepreneur, and writer. He graduated from The University of West Alabama with his Associate’s Degree in Nursing and then obtained his Bachelor’s in Nursing from Western Governors University. He went on to obtain his Doct

If you are interested in being more visible online you have probably heard that being a podcast guest is the way to go. Whether you are sharing about your service, art, or products, getting in front of new audiences is crucial if you want to grow your online brand. But how do you get these opportunities? More importantly, how do you make the most out of the opportunities when they arise? Today we have podcaster and founder of Command Your Brand, Jeremy Slate on to share with us how we can be better podcast guests, and even better podcast hosts by rethinking the podcasting landscape. Connect with Jeremy: https://commandyourbrand.com/     WHO IS JEREMY? Jeremy Slate is the founder of the Create Your Own Life Podcast, which studies the highest performers in the world.  He studied literature at Oxford University, Specializes in using podcasting and new media to create celebrity, and was ranked #1 in iTunes New and #78 in the iTunes Top 100. He was named the #1 Podcast to Listen to by INC Magazine in 2019, as well

Money is the most loaded topic, right? There is a lot of baggage that we sometimes bring into our relationship with money,  but if we want to excel in our creative businesses well, ya know what we gotta do. It is time for us to look at those finances y’all! Melissa Houston is a previous social worker, turned accountant who now works with business owners to get to the ROOT around their money mindset issues and finally see the financial success they want to see. Today we dig into all things money, budgeting, and getting to the core of our limiting beliefs. Connect with Melissa: WEBSITE: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/  PODCAST: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/think-like-a-cfo-podcast The 4-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/4-step-biz-finance-roadmap   WHO IS MELISSA? Melissa Houston is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Business Finance Coach with over 20 years of business experience.  Melissa is passionate about helping entrepreneurs and teaches them how to m

As a teen mom of two little girls, our guest this week, Danielle Sabrina, became one of the youngest traders on Wall Street. Since then she has grown an award-winning PR firm, and is a “sought after brand and media strategist”. What got her there? A healthy mix of ambition AND spirituality. Today we dig into how to align yourself with your calling and the courage it takes to walk the unconventional path. Connect with Danielle: https://tribebuildermedia.com/   Conscious Language:  https://www.amazon.com/Conscious-Language-Discovery-Upgrade-Operating/dp/0978929128   WHO IS DANIELLE? Danielle Sabrina is a celebrity publicist and the founder of Tribe Builder Media, an award-winning boutique PR firm. Before founding her agency she started her career on Wall Street at just 19 years old becoming one of the youngest traders in the industry. Known for her media and brand strategy, her results-oriented reputation through the years has gained the trust of many high-profile CEOs, professional athletes, and celebrities m

Can we HACK into the body’s innate ability to heal itself? Today’s guest Victor Mifsud, also known as the “Blind Bio-Hacker” believes that we can. He is a citizen scientist and documentary filmmaker who is on a mission to not only heal his vision but help others discover an inner journey and path to optimal health. Connect with Victor:  https://www.myneuroplasticadventure.com/     REGISTER FOR VISION OPTIMIZATION SUMMIT: http://visionoptimizationsummit.com/   WHO IS VICTOR?   Victor Mifsud is an optimal health/holistic vision coach, citizen scientist, motivational speaker, and documentary filmmaker. He has mentored cutting-edge doctors and scientists who are using modern science and ancient wisdom in equal measure to achieve optimal health and spiritual fulfillment. He also happens to be blind.   TOPICS: What is biohacking? Neuroplasticity? Understanding the inner work’s role in science Patience and trusting the process with gradual change     RESOURCES: Kajabi: www.heatherparady.com/KAJABI Text us! +1 (501

Are you considering launching a product or service but hesitating to go all in? How do you REALLY build something profitable? Our guest this week, Jeremy Parker, co-founder of Swag.com, advises us today to “launch quicker” and “listen better”.  Jeremy started off in filmmaking and was deeply interested in branding and marketing. He ended up winning a film festival but had a gut check where he had to be honest about two questions.. Am I good enough? Do I really love this?  He went on to start his first few companies one of which cleared 10 million last year (during a pandemic) and today he shares with us how he and his partner were able to identify what would work in their business THROUGH action and listening.  Make sure you connect with  Jeremy: https://swag.com/   WHO IS JEREMY?  Jeremy Parker is co-founder/CEO of Swag.com, top eCommerce platform for purchasing promo materials people actually want to keep.  Swag warehouse products until customers would like to have them delivered to remote clients and emplo

What has been the thing that was “always there” for you? Singing? Dancing? Taking pictures on your grandpa’s old camera? Have you ever considered taking a more creative or unconventional path but didn’t know if it was something you could TRULY do with your life? Today we connected with actor Kevin L. Johnson, most known for his role as “Sam” on the Netflix hit Ozark, about his creative journey and what it really takes to make a life doing what you love. We hear about his decision to leave the beaten path to pursue the unknown, how to deal with rejection as a creative, and how he has been able to stay the course through the ups and downs of acting. Make sure you connect with Kevin on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thekevinljohnson/   WHO IS KEVIN? Kevin L. Johnson is an actor currently recurring on the Netflix hit Ozark. Johnson began his acting career at Clemson through a winding road of computer science and as an English major which led to what grew to be his passion, Performing Arts. Kevin graduated with a d

Do you have multiple creative interests and do not know which one to pursue? Are you curious about using your talents in a variety of different ways but worry that you “have to pick one lane”? Our guest this week Robert Williams has spent his entire life creating and hasn’t limited himself on how. He said that his love for creativity started when he was a little boy writing songs walking down the road with his brother. Robert says, “One thing led to another” and through a bunch of pivots in his creative journey, he says he is “now having the time of his life” creating skits on TikTok. Today we talk about what it looks like to be true to YOU and free in your creativity. Connect with Robert: https://www.instagram.com/robertwilliamsfilms/   WHO IS ROBERT? Robert Williams was born and raised in Hamilton, NJ and is soon to be retired from the US Army. He is a Content Creator and Filmmaker. Works in Product, Promotional, and Wedding Videography in the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia) area. Pre-COVID 19 90% of work w

His TikTok comedy skits have been cited by a US federal judge, featured on CNN, and hundreds of thousands of people are having meaningful conversations around politics, policy, and cultural change because of them. Why? Karan Menon says he is making “woke” TikToks and comedy is the vehicle he is using to educate his audience about big issues and advocate for the change he wants to see in this world. Unconventional? Yup.   Connect with Karan: https://karanmenon.com/   WHO IS KARAN? Karan Menon is a 20-year old stand-up comedian and writer based in LA. He is best known for his "woke TikToks", using humor to break down current social issues like police brutality and voter suppression for a Gen Z audience. He has amassed over 100k followers and 2.7 million likes on TikTok, and his work has been featured by The New York Times, CNN, the National Lampoon, and Al Jazeera. He recently partnered with the National Police Accountability Project to use his comedic voice to shed light on overlooked legal doctrines in the Am

This college student is a “Christian Comedian” on TikTok. Say what? Can we laugh about this?  CJ Owensby says that “The church can be one of the funniest places—if you are paying attention”. Today we are digging into how to make your online videos funnier, letting go of self-judgment when creating content,  and leaning into your unconventional calling.   TOPICS: How to make your videos funnier Making content without fear of what others think Making aligned content (you don't HAVE to follow trends)   RESOURCES: Text us! +1 (501) 214-4307 Join our Private Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/2lPut5A Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unconventionalleaders/message

His mom became pregnant with him when she was 14 and he said that he “taught himself to be a man”. After puberty his goal was to be a male stripper. And he became one. However he said after he had an encounter with God at the beach he started seeing the “repercussions” of his lifestyle. Today we dig into what he believes the consequences are, the loneliness and struggle of going against the grain, and why he now teaches abstinence. Connect with Rob: https://robbkowalski.com/ or https://www.cityfam.com/   WHO IS ROB? Rob is considered the #1 authority on sex, waiting for the right person, and overcoming loneliness in life during the wait. He is a best-selling author, coach and speaker. His video entitled 10 Reasons Not To Have Sex Before Marriage made me a viral sensation on YouTube and became the #1 video in the world on the subject with 1.7 million views and climbing. He is the founder of CityFam, a global movement of “friends with better benefits” on a mission to end loneliness.   TOPICS: What does hearing

There are few things in the world that we can control. As unconventional leaders, we want to make a difference in this world but without having a strong inner world- we can become easily discouraged. Is self-development enough? Are there more ways to “construct our inner world” and become more comfortable (and even thrive) in uncertainty and change? Today we are talking with meditation teacher and content creator Bijan Pousti who said as a young man he learned quickly that personal development was great-but not enough- and it was time to go deeper into spirituality in order to reach his full potential. In this conversation, dive into self-actualization, finding peace with being in the moment (even when you are driven!), and how we can practice spirituality without being overwhelmed.    Connect with Bijan: bijanpousti.com   BOOKS MENTIONED: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: https://amzn.to/3nfePOH The Power of Now: https://amzn.to/2WcQKfE   TOPICS: Being accountable to ourselves and “construct our inner world”

As content creators, we are constantly creating, giving, and showing up. If we are not intentional, we can become burnout and struggle with our mental health. Others may assume you “have it all together” and you might struggle with guilt or shame admitting to them (and yourself) that you are having a hard time. Today we are connecting with Dr. Nahla, a “budding psychiatrist” and content creator who has dedicated her life to debunking the stigma and misconceptions around mental health. Today we talk about mental health issues surrounding content creators and unconventional leaders and how we can make progress in our goals without damaging our mental health. Connect with Dr. Nahla: https://www.instagram.com/imdoctornahla   TOPICS: Moving the needle with our goals without neglecting our mental health Being consistent without burning out Letting go of self-judgment and  GUILT of not “doing more” Admitting you need help (even as a driven person) The spiritual side to ambition and your calling Separating our ident

He has been a musician his entire life. He started performing on stage at seven years old and has toured all over the US since. Our guest this week, Arturo Knight, says he has “been through the dirt and the riches” One thing is certain though, the creative life is as he puts it “not all that it looks like”. It is REALLY difficult making a full-time income as a musician, artist, writer, whatever... You want to spend your life pursuing your craft- but you don't want to be a “starving artist”. So what do you do? Today we dig into Art’s passion for helping creatives make money online from their laptop so they can do what they were created to do. Connect with him at https://arturoknight.com/   Meet ARTURO: Arturo Knight, Founder of Knight Creative, is an innovative and influential Entrepreneur, Influencer, Mentor, Graphic Designer, Web Developer, Digital Marketer and Touring Musician. KNIGHT has worked with high-profile clientele including Billboard Magazine, Grammy Award Winner Roger Velasquez, Dj Ashba of Guns n

He walks up to people on the street and takes their picture. Over a million viewers watch him as he reveals the hidden beauty in everyday people who are at first weary to have their photo taken and then amazed by what Dino Serrao captures in his camera. Why is he doing this? He says that his message goes “deeper than beauty” and his hope is to dismantle our “culture of rejection” by showing everyday people their hidden potential. Today we are digging into how we can reframe our insecurity and doubt, dream bigger, lean into our calling, and truly see the real BEAUTY that lies within.  Connect with Dino at https://www.instagram.com/dino.serrao/   TOPICS: Overcoming the“Culture of Rejection” Overcoming hard things through inspiration Finding the POWER to dream bigger and follow your calling Overcoming the excuse of “the best time” Overcoming REJECTION and worrying what people think RESOURCES: Text us! +1 (501) 214-4307 Join our Private Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/2lPut5A Youtube Channel: https://www.youtu

Our guest this week, Marius Woodward, grew up on an 18-acre farm in a small village in Romania. He said his family worked hard and they were happy. However, one night everything changed when his dad came home drunk and decided to burn Marius and his mother alive. Marius lost his parents that night and was burned on over 75% of his body. After spending months in the hospital, he learned about his parent's death, met two young girls who would change his life, and began his unconventional leadership journey. Since then he has had a documentary made about his life, and now shares his story daily with his over one million followers, in order to give hope and spread the message of “never giving up.” Connect with him at https://teammarius.org/   Meet Marius. Marius is a Romanian-American with a story unlike any other and he is here to change one frown upside down at a time.    TOPICS: Forgiveness and finding hope after tragedy Using your voice and sharing your story  Building the confidence to do what you love R