Diner Talks With James artwork

Diner Talks With James

91 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 123 ratings

Remember the last time you and few close friends stayed up too late at the Diner because no one wanted to leave? You didn’t need that grilled cheese with a side of pancakes but damn if it didn’t hit the spot! You laughed until you cried or cried until you laughed. Regardless of which lead to what, you left feeling a little more thoughtful, grateful, and actually full. Those are the best conversations we have in our lives, and the reason why Diner Talks with James exists. I’ll be your bearded bespectacled host, James Robilotta. I’m an author and professional speaker who talks to willing and unwilling audiences on the role that authenticity and vulnerability must play in life and business. I am a life coach with a Masters in counseling and 16+ years of improv comedy experience. Most importantly, I am a fellow human being with a fervent curiosity for others’ passions, relationships, insecurities, ambitions, patterns, and food quirks. So, come join me in The Diner. Slide into the booth, place your order, and tell me a story.

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Episodes

Chasing Your Goals as an Entrepreneur with Entrepreneurship Researcher Brandon Fong

June 16, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 50 MB

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 unconscio...

Protecting Your Boundaries and Standing in Your Truth with TV Host Elizabeth Ries

June 09, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 56.2 MB

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 talke...

Practicing Assertive Optimism with Former Band Geek and Extreme Meetings Emcee, Brian Walter

June 03, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 49.7 MB

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 ...

Vulnerability vs. Perfectionism with Healthy Relationships Speaker, Bonny Shade

May 19, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 48.8 MB

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. Sh...

Instincts vs. Training as a First Responder with Former Fire Chief Rich Gasaway

May 12, 2022 09:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MB

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 y...

Pregnancy loss and powerful parenting with my wife, Tina VanSteenbergen! - Encore

May 05, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 57.7 MB

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 t...

Carving Your Own Lane with Comedic Musician and American Idol’s Tom McGovern

April 28, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 44.9 MB

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 signi...

The Beauty and Power of Clarity with Authentic Communication Expert, Dr. Amelia Reigstad

April 21, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 51 MB

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...

What it Means to be Likeable with Human Behavioral Investigator and Speaker, Arel Moodie

April 14, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 49.6 MB

Today I got to kick it in The Diner with fellow New Yorker, Arel Moodie. He’s a professional speaker who helps other speakers start and grow their own businesses. We talked about the experience of fitting in during our younger years (and the difficulty of blending his life growing up in the projects while simultaneously attending Jewish Day School) and how that still shows up in our adult lives, especially when it comes to influencing people and making friends. Arel offered some incredible a...

From 911 to Peace to Empowerment with Self Defense Expert and Speaker, Jennifer Cassetta

April 07, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 49.8 MB

Today’s conversation with Jennifer Cassetta was incredible. She shared a powerful story about her experience in New York on 9/11, how she found safety in her martial arts dojo, and how that moment and that feeling would become a thru line for her work in self-defense and personal development. We talked about confidence and our relationship with ourselves and different avenues, including meditation, we can take for personal growth. I got to learn a little more about her upcoming book, The Art...

Musical Theater and Suicide Prevention with Mental Health Educator, Joshua Rivedal

March 31, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 52.4 MB

Today in the Diner is my man, Joshua Rivedal – he’s an amazing storyteller who is full of compassion and wisdom, and he’s got a wit that won’t quit.  He gave me so much to think about regarding how we as a society are approaching suicide prevention, and what we can do as individuals to be there for others.  He has some dope insights on vulnerability, being a force for others, and how to live a life full of grace. We discussed some powerful topics like suicide and abuse. We also may or may no...

Power of Perseverance in White America with Dr. James Smith, Jr.

March 24, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 53 MB

My man Dr. James Smith Jr brought the heart today – the wordplay and wisdom was on point! He shared about his experience growing up in West Philadelphia (you know he sang it when he said it) and his experience growing up Black in America. We had a thoughtful conversation about the problematic phrase of “picking yourself up by the bootstraps” and the nuances of that concept. He shared great advice on fatherhood and just being an authentic and incredible man in this world. Dr. James Smith Jr i...

Drama Squashing with Workplace Culture Expert and Speaker, Joe Mull

March 17, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 58.7 MB

Today I was joined by professional speaker and storyteller, Joe Mull. This conversation was full of wisdom and wit as Joe shared about his experience of being a social chameleon and learning the moments where it’s more important to give up being liked in order to do the right thing. This ties into his work as a “leadership nerd” (his words) where he helps teams give up their team drama and put in the work to learn how to have healthy confrontation (which, as it turns out, is much easier to d...

How Being a Teen Mom Taught Resilience Expert, Summer Owens, to Say SO What!

March 10, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 55.5 MB

Kicking it in the booth with me this week is Resilience Expert and Leadership Speaker, Summer Owens! I love that Summer’s late night guilty pleasure is dark chocolate and red wine. Pretty sure that makes her the classiest guest in the diner so far! Summer and I then discussed how she used to pull her hair out as a nervous twitch when she was much younger, and the bullying that stemmed from it.  Then one day a boy told her she was pretty, he took things too far, and got her pregnant at 15. Su...

Ask For Help with Mike Skrypnek

March 03, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 46 MB

Executive Coach and leadership presence expert, Justin Patton, slides into the diner booth with me this week! We reminisce about eating late-night pizza and our topping preferences.  Then I learned that Justin grew up on a farm in Kentucky shoveling manure and bailing hay.  Though that was not his destiny it is where he learned a work ethic that he carries with him today. Justin told me about he unexpectedly lost his Dad at 18 years old and how he did not deal with the trauma for 12 years. We...

Stepping into Your Leadership Presence with Executive Coach and Speaker, Justin Patton

March 03, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 46 MB

Executive Coach and leadership presence expert, Justin Patton, slides into the diner booth with me this week! We reminisce about eating late-night pizza and our topping preferences.  Then I learned that Justin grew up on a farm in Kentucky shoveling manure and bailing hay.  Though that was not his destiny it is where he learned a work ethic that he carries with him today. Justin told me about he unexpectedly lost his Dad at 18 years old and how he did not deal with the trauma for 12 years. W...

Falling In Love With Being Black with Rick Daniels - Encore

February 24, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 67.3 MB

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy! Rick Daniels dropped all of the knowledge in this episode. He and I recorded this the week that George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis so you already know that we had a lot to talk about. We discussed parenting in the middle of a powerful moment for civil rights and instilling a love of identity in children. I asked him, “When did you fall in love with your blackness?” and he talke...

Is Social Media Connecting Us Or Dividing Us More? With Dr. Josie Ahlquist - Encore

February 17, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 53.3 MB

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy! This week I am joined in the Diner by social media expert, Dr. Josie Ahlquist! We kicked it off by randomly talking about Josie’s high school dating life. We then discussed her huge transition moving from Wyoming and South Dakota to Los Angeles, what some of the values she missed were and new ones she appreciated. Josie and I then bonded over dealing with imposter syndrome when writi...

Processing The Fall Out Of A Million Dollar Business with Tom Krieglstein - Encore

February 10, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 45.3 MB

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy! Tom Krieglstein became my first guest to actually eat while he was in the diner!  Since he was munching on a veggie pizza, we started by chatting about the impact The Simpsons had on Tom’s dietary choices. We then dove into Tom’s passion of creating a culture of connection.  He told me about his chase for the Guiness World Record for hugging and we let the roll into a great talk abou...

Competing ambitions in relationships and trust building with Jess Ekstrom - Encore

February 03, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 84.3 MB

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy! I got to sit down with entrepreneur, speaker, and great friend Jess Ekstrom and we jumped right in with their decision to sell their apartment and move into an Airstream. Hearing about her relationship and having different ambitions as a partner and how to communicate about it was awesome. I asked her where do you develop a stick-to-itiveness nature with bring ideas to life. Then we ...

Being in Your Underwear in Times Square with Stacy Nadeau - Encore

January 27, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 53.8 MB

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy! Joining me this episode in the Diner is body image expert, coach, speaker, and badass mom, Stacy Nadeau!  She and I first discuss why she was in her underwear in Times Square and the journey to being comfortable in your body for men and women. We then chatted about ways to silence our inner critic.  Stacy is new-ish parent so I wanted to hear about telling yourself stories as a paren...

Goats, Diabetes, and Stoicism with Consultant, Coach and Cook, Becky Schmooke

January 13, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 62.6 MB

Today I was joined in the diner booth by leadership consultant and owner of Becky’s Mindful Kitchen, Becky Schmooke. Becky, her wonderful sarcasm, and I dove in discussing popcorn in bed and Minnesota diners.  We then talked about what she wanted to be when she grew up and how she got to meet both Michelle Kwan and Jill Biden (but didn’t realize it was her).  From figure skating to playing the cello to running cross country, Becky has had no shortage of interests. It was cool to hear her tal...

The Stories of A Radiant Haitian Queen with Storyteller and Activist Ferene Paris Meyer

December 30, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 45.7 MB

Today I was joined by storyteller and activist, Ferene Paris Meyer.  This episode was humorous and heartfelt as Ferene shared about her experience growing up in a family of Haitian immigrants and how that shaped her current world.  She spoke about her awakening and coming alive as a proud Haitian woman and how she dove into her culture through food, language, and experiences in Haiti.  She also shared about how this ultimately led to her leaving her toxic workplace to start a business of her...

Being Between Dreams with Actress, Director and Reiki Practitioner, Leslie Meisel

December 23, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 52.2 MB

My dear friend, Leslie Meisel, joins me this week in the diner.  She is an actor who has appeared on Broad City, RISE, Difficult People, and a director.  Recently she has also become a practicing reiki master! We talked about whether you should order steak at a diner and a fun quirk about her related to Grease 2. I loved hearing about how Leslie’s acting dreams started and the mental ups and downs of trying to pursue it.  We then reminisced about one of the most random jobs either of us has ...

Marketing and the Hustler’s Mindset with speaker and master marketer, Odell Bizzell II

December 16, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 50 MB

My man Odell Bizzell II slid into the diner booth with me this week.  He and I have known each other for a number of years from the speaker circuit and I have always respected his hustle. We talked about how he and I travel differently and why he typically spends all of his time on the road in the hotel.  He told me some of the powerful lessons he father taught him growing up black in Guilford County, North Carolina.  I loved hearing about how he chose to go NC State as opposed to an HBCU (H...

Turning You Mess into your Message with abuse survivor and victim advocate, Desi Garcia

December 09, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 40.8 MB

This week in the diner I had a thoughtful and vulnerable conversation with Survivor and CEO of Candle In A Dark Room, Desi Garcia.  Desi shared her gripping and heart-wrenching story of surviving childhood physical and sexual violence. She told the story of how she turned her “mess into her message” and how she felt called to help other survivors and families of survivors to cope and restore their power. She shared about her podcast and her foundation and the dreams she has for what it can b...

The Juxtaposition of Forgiveness and Discipline with high energy powerhouse entertainer, Ernee Peppers

December 02, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 45.5 MB

You can skip today’s cup of coffee because today’s guest – Ernee Peppers – has enough energy for all of us.  Ernie has an electric and contagious personality and will inspire you to drop your baggage and step into your badassery. Todays episode centered around the power of forgiveness and the gift that is for yourself. Ernee shared about some trauma she faced in childhood and how freeing it was to forgive the person who caused that trauma and how that opened up her life. This conversation wa...

What Continuing to Believe in Yourself Looks Life with speaker and entrepreneur Jake Kelfer

November 25, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 45.2 MB

Today we’re kickin’ it in the Diner with your new friend and mine, Jake Kelfer. He’s an incredible entrepreneur who shared story after story about how he would bet on himself and keep pushing and trusting his ideas until they either came to fruition or failed. He shared about massive successes – writing a bestselling book and starting an NBA draft combine – as well as a failure in an online course he created that flopped.  Our conversation centered around audacity and confidence and what to ...

Do You Keep Promises with Yourself? With Hall of Fame Speaker and Entertainer, Jason Hewlett

November 18, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 50.4 MB

Today in the booth, Jason Hewlett is coming in hot and ordering up a Moons Over My Hammy and dishing out advice that’s good for the soul. We talked about body image and being comfortable in our own skin, ways to discover our signature moves – or our natural strengths, how to be comfortable in the different seasons of parenthood and ditch the idea of balance, and how to have grace with ourselves and be mindful of the way we speak with ourselves. This episode is jam-packed with selfcare and Ja...

Be Ready For Your Story to Change Someone’s Life with Big Bang Theory Actor, Alessandra Torresani

November 11, 2021 09:00 - 53 minutes - 41.1 MB

Sliding into the diner this week is actor, Alessandra Torresani. You’ve seen her on Big Bang Theory, American Horror Story, and most recently the movie, Women is Losers. She and I kicked things off by disclosing our first on-stage kisses (spoiler, hers was Frankie Muniz) then made our way back to our favorite diner orders. Alessandra told me about her California journey from the Bay Area to LA and the start of her acting career. We then talked about when we both learned that we may be strugg...

Living a Life Where You Need to Pinch Yourself with Stu Massengill

November 04, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 55.3 MB

This week in the diner I hung out with my man, Stu Massengill. What I appreciate about Stu is that he is so dedicated to looking for what’s next and building his legacy, but he’s also so in tune with the present moment and savors every day, and I loved the way he talked about striking that balance. In this episode, we talked about Stu’s career as an entrepreneur, his battle with cancer, and his decision to leave his career in the wellness industry to start a speaking business and begin worki...

What Does it Mean to Show Up for Someone? with CEO Ercole Perrone

October 28, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 55.8 MB

In the booth with me this week is the one and only Ercole Perrone (say it with a thick Italian accent or you’re doing this glorious name (and man) a disservice). This conversation was so good – it centered around the theme of being a better listener, leading and taking care of others with great empathy, and being a good human who stands up for other humans and has compassion for the mental health and personal growth of others. Whether it’s in the mentoring space, the DEI space, or the mental...

Divorce Sucks…Temporarily with "Our Happy Divorce" Authors, Nikki DeBartolo and Benjamin Heldfond

October 21, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 55.4 MB

"Our Happy Divorce" authors, Nikki DeBartolo and Benjamin Heldfond slid into the diner booth with me this week. Divorce is never easy but these two have figured out a way to make it work for their son Asher. We started our conversation talking about how Ben and Nikki met, when the sparks flew, and what brought them from San Francisco to Tampa, Florida. Making friends in a new city is hard and resentment is a tough emotion to shake when it starts building. I really appreciate the candor and s...

"Our Happy Divorce" Authors, Nikki DeBartolo and Benjamin Heldfond

October 21, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 55.4 MB

"Our Happy Divorce" authors, Nikki DeBartolo and Benjamin Heldfond slid into the diner booth with me this week. Divorce is never easy but these two have figured out a way to make it work for their son Asher. We started our conversation talking about how Ben and Nikki met, when the sparks flew, and what brought them from San Francisco to Tampa, Florida. Making friends in a new city is hard and resentment is a tough emotion to shake when it starts building. I really appreciate the candor and se...

Rewrite the Definition of Success with Washington Post Best Selling Author Laura Gassner Otting AKA LGO

October 14, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 59.7 MB

Buckle up, y’all because this episode is jam-packed with nuggets of wisdom that will stick with you long after listening. Today I kicked it in the booth with bestselling author, socially conscious entrepreneur, and speaker Laura Gassner Otting (aka LGO). We talked about finding what you love to do, defining success and what is enough for yourself, motivation vs. discipline, control, imposter syndrome, and a new way to think about confidence. LGO is incredibly entertaining, an excellent story...

What Living in China for 6 years and Leaving Your Dream Job Taught Life Coach, Geneviève Pépin

October 07, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 49.1 MB

I don’t even know if there are diners in the Canary Islands, but I do know that this week’s guest, Geneviève Pépin, slid into this diner all the way from off the coast of Morocco. Geneviève and I started off discussing the magical foods that are poutine (because she’s from Quebec City) and arepas (because they are delicious). Then she told me about how she went from being a loner as a child who wanted to be an artist to getting lost in the corporate world. In her 20s she became a voracoius t...

The Pursuit of Truth with Emmy-Nominated Reporter and Anchor, Joe Mauceri

September 30, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 56.9 MB

Longtime friend and Emmy-nominated anchor and reporter, Joe Mauceri, slid into a Brooklyn diner booth with me for this episode! Joe and I talked about a few childhood memories and what kind of burger you’re allowed to order in a diner. After asking Joe what he wanted to be when he was a kid, we learn about the home videos where his on-camera experience started and it was very cool to hear how he went from there to being a journalism/broadcast major at Syracuse. I asked Joe how he finds place...

How to Make Conversations Less Awkward with Networking Strategist and Speaker, Tollisha Joseph

September 23, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 53.1 MB

This week in the booth is networking expert and Twix connoisseur, Tollisha Joseph. We spent our time talking about how to form relationships, how to stand out in a room full of people, and how to get out of our own way. We talked about boundaries and values, and she shared advice for looking to your past to help you figure out what you should do with your future. We rounded out the episode by talking about conversation strategies and the role of being either interested or interesting, and ho...

Gay Dad Life and Storytelling-time with Mike Ganino

September 16, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 62.3 MB

In the booth with me this week is the storytelling, improv-loving, eggs benedict-hating, Mike Ganino. He’s lived 79 lives, and because he’s an efficient storyteller we got to hear about most of them. We talked about everything from his time as a flight attendant (including month-long layovers in Hawaii and dating for drinks), his leading role in a personal injury lawyer commercial, his evolution to public speaking, and his newest role as a stay-at-home dad. He shared a powerful story about c...

Why Women Need Women with Women’s Empowerment Speaker (and my wife!) Tina VanSteenbergen

September 02, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 54.1 MB

It’s Diner Talks with James’ first birthday! To celebrate Tina VanSteenbergen, my badass wife, slid back into the diner booth with me! Tina is a professional women’s empowerment speaker and runs her own women’s conference called Persist.  We started the way we always do, talking late-night foods. The last time Tina was on the podcast she was pregnant, now we have a baby, and I asked her how that feels. We then threw out the best and worst advice we got when she was pregnant. Tina talked abou...

Women, Use Your Voice! with the Enigmatic Emcee and Potent Professional Speaker, Quinn Conyers

August 26, 2021 11:00 - 59 minutes - 45.8 MB

Quinn Conyers slid in the Diner booth with me this episode!  She is an incredible Master of Ceremonies (emcee) and powerful public speaker who specializes in helping Black women find and use their voices. Quinn and I first bonded over our love of crabby fries. Then we learn how Quinn fell in love with being an emcee. I loved her mantra of, “I don’t want to be booked and busy, I want to be peaceful and paid!” It was powerful learning when Quinn learned to step into her voice and speak up as a...

How to Get Respect and Teach Respect in Relationships, Parenting, and Humanity with Mike Domitrz

August 19, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 52.9 MB

This week incredible professional speaker, respect expert, and dear friend, Mike Domitrz is in the booth with me! Age has hurt Mike’s ability to do a lot of late-night eating so we quickly moved past that. We did bond over being in charge of the morning announcements in grade school and getting in trouble for something we said. Then Mike shared the moment he decided to drop his dream of Broadway and decided he wanted to be a family man. Tragically his youngest sister had been raped and it co...

Punching the Misconceptions of Sex Work in the Face with Paige Savage: Model, Content Creator, and Bada$$ Sex Worker

August 12, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 59.1 MB

It is so important to have conversations with individuals that we don’t know anything about, because if we don’t hear their story from them, we’ll write the story for them, and often inaccurately so. That’s what today’s episode is all about. I got to kick it in The Diner with my friend, Paige who has built a career as a sex worker. We talk about her entrance into the industry, the things she’s learned about herself and about the industry along the way, the importance and validity of this pro...

From College Football Star to Attempting Suicide to Mental Health Expert with Darryll Stinson

August 05, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 55.7 MB

Conversations about mental health need to be in the forefront of our lives, and this episode with my man, Darryll Stinson, is the perfect example of their impact and the power of vulnerability. Darryll was a D1 athlete who was destined for the NFL, but when he injured his back his life took a different path. Addiction and suicidal thoughts took over and he nearly ended his life. In this episode, he shares an incredible story of how his mom saved his life and how he navigated (and continues t...

Speaking Out Against Sexual Violence while Creating Space for Trauma Healing with Trauma Expert, Brittany Piper

July 29, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 51 MB

Jumping into the Diner with me today is trauma and sexual assault expert, Brittany Piper. Before we got too deep we started out talking about late-night Dairy Queen runs for some blizzards, because, priorities. I then asked how Brittany has found and built her online community and how she made the decision to live her mom-life and sexual assault survivor life out loud. As a new parent myself I was eager to hear her thoughts about what do you share and who do you listen to as new parents. We ...

Riding the Self-Esteem Rollercoaster as an Actor with Anna Roisman

July 22, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 51.9 MB

What do you get when you put two New York comedians in a Diner? Well, you get 15-minutes up-top talking about soup and how much we love to hate on New Jersey. Solid gold commentary and when you’re getting soup recs from the queen of viral internet soup videos, you better watch your mouth and listen up! This conversation was so fun and Anna is a blast. We talked about her love of acting, producing, and all things comedy. We bonded about our roles in Guys and Dolls, talked about family dynamic...

Swimming in Antarctica and Multiple Overdoses with Mental Health Expert, Archie Messersmith-Bunting

July 15, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 57.9 MB

This week I got to kick it in the booth with Archie Messersmith-Bunting, aka The Feelings Guy™ and we got DEEP. Before diving into conversations about mental health, drug abuse, singing on Broadway, and an experience of being bucked into the waters of Antarctica – we talked about Archie’s hometown in Alabama which is where all of the unclaimed baggage from airplanes goes… to a place, cleverly named Unclaimed Baggage. While talking about Alabama, Archie told us about his traumatic experience ...

When is the Last Time You Played as an Adult? with Gary Ware

July 08, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 55.2 MB

My man, Gary Ware, stepped into the diner and brought a bunch of truth and his expertise in play to the booth. Before we dove into all that we compared notes on how we both eat our pancakes. Then we discussed our mutual love, improv comedy. I asked Gary how Gary got into improv (turns out it was completely on accident!) and what improv taught him about himself. We then chatted about getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and where the shame creeps in. Gary made a huge shift going from a ful...

Balancing Work Ethic and Being Gentle with Ourselves with Survivor’s Andrea Boehlke

July 01, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 53.5 MB

You love to see a human that’s like, yeah, I did Survivor… THREE times.  This week’s guest in the Diner was the woman, the myth, the legend – Andrea Boehlke. She was born and raised in Wisconsin and moved to New York to pursue a career in acting, which is where we met.  We talked about her farmer work ethic that translated well to persevering through strange acting gigs, successful Survivor auditions, and eventually a transition to being a host with People Mag. We talked a lot about the bala...

Falling in Love with Rejection with New York Times bestseller, Harlan Cohen

June 24, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 55.9 MB

This week was so much fun, I got to hang out with New York Times Bestselling author, Harlan Cohen, and he shared so many powerful nuggets of wisdom. We kicked off the conversation talking about food (as one does in The Diner) and that led to an interesting conversation about having (or in Harlan’s case not having) strong opinions.  We talked about conflict, the power of mindfulness and meditation, and then, my favorite topic, shame. He told me about this cool experiment he did where he kept ...

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