Ryan produced shows for Royal Caribbean, Six Flags and Disney before most people his age had a 401k. He bootstrapped the entire business for over two decades, bought three companies during COVID, then walked into 42 private equity meetings himself with his laptop and a presentation he built from scratch. This is one of the most honest, specific and genuinely inspiring entrepreneurship conversations the show has ever had.

In This Episode:

• Growing up in Greensburg, Pennsylvania with two entrepreneur parents and why that wired Ryan for business
• Quitting his job, setting up a phone line in his apartment and landing a $200,000 Clear Channel contract on his first pitch
• Why creativity and operations have to have equal respect, and what happens when they don't
• The one-stop shop model: how RWS produces original shows, costumes, casting and choreography for one check
• How Ryan bought the legendary Binder Casting agency to preserve a mentor's legacy, and what that unlocked for his talent pipeline
• Bootstrapping for 20 years: why he never took a loan or an outside investor and how operations funded every bit of growth
• Losing himself as a leader after COVID and the moment he reclaimed his identity and culture with "my way or the door"
• Why he pitched 42 private equity firms himself instead of hiring a banker, and what he learned in every room
• The transition from operating CEO to executive chairman: what it feels like to hand off the baby you raised for 23 years
• What leaving space in your morning schedule does to your brain when you stop filling every hour with calls
• Being an out gay CEO in corporate entertainment and why holding your husband's hand in a flyover state is an act of change
• Why visibility in small towns matters more than visibility in New York or LA

Timestamps:

00:01 – Welcome & how Jim and Ryan met through mutual friend Rema Awad

03:05 – Ryan's background: Greensburg, PA, child performer and theme park show obsession 06:12 – Senior year of high school: "Maybe I want to produce this."

07:19 – Writing corporate shows in college as a one-stop shop for hire

09:23 – Quitting his job, setting up a fake phone operation in his apartment and launching RWS at 21

10:59 – Never burn a bridge: the email that launched everything the next morning

12:00 – Walking into Clear Channel in Times Square and winning a $200,000 contract on day one

15:28 – First hire, first office and 23 years of zero outside funding

18:22 – Bootstrapping principle: the money that comes in is the money that goes out

24:00 – The acquisition strategy: buying companies to build the full vertical

27:32 – Buying Binder Casting to save a mentor's legacy and unlocking Broadway and Radio City

29:01 – What a true one-stop shop looks like from a client's perspective

33:26 – "Every dream I had has come true. Now I want to make everyone else's dreams come true."

34:10 – How RWS not only survived COVID but came out stronger through acquisitions

35:52 – Losing himself as a leader post-COVID and reclaiming his culture

38:38 – The decision to bring in private equity and why he did it himself

40:00 – Pitching 42 PE firms solo and getting 13 interested

41:42 – Choosing minority ownership and why the right partner showed up at the last minute

43:53 – 7 global HQs and an office open somewhere in the world around the clock

50:00 – The transition from CEO to Executive Chairman: what changes and what doesn't

54:56 – "It's like being a smoker without cigarettes": the honest truth about stepping back

58:20 – Morning walks in Miami with no phone and what the brain does when you let it rest

59:38 – Control the controllable, but leave space for the possible

01:00:50 – Being an out gay CEO in corporate entertainment and the responsibility that comes with visibility

01:04:53 – Why mentorship is the bridge to the next generation's success

01:06:47 – Happy Pride and what comes next for RWS Global

Mentioned in This Episode:

• RWS Global (rwsglobal.com)
• Binder Casting
• Royal Caribbean, Six Flags, Disney
• Radio City Rockettes
• The Lion King, Chicago the Musical (Broadway)
• Jim Fielding's book: Control the Controllable
• Clear Channel Worldwide

Connect with Ryan Stana:

LinkedIn: Ryan Stana

Website: rwsglobal.com

✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer:

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Website: hijimfielding.com

#RyanStana #RWSGlobal #LiveEntertainment #Entrepreneurship #FounderStory #StartupStory #BootstrapBusiness #CEO #PrivateEquity #AskForAnAnswer #JimFielding #LiveEvents #ThemePark #GayCEO #LGBTQLeadership #Pride2026 #BusinessGrowth #Leadership

From the 51% rule that saved their business partnership to the psychology of why LGBTQ people are wired for creativity, from winning the Amazing Race to the real difference between kindness and niceness, Brent and Josh bring equal parts wisdom, warmth and wit to every topic Jim puts in front of them.

In This Episode:

• How Beekman 1802 grew from goat milk soap wrapped by neighbors to a major beauty brand sold at Ulta
• The 51% rule: the surprisingly simple system that ended years of business disagreements between partners
• Why "being nice is a deferred payment plan" and kindness always costs you something upfront
• The theory that LGBTQ creativity is really just lifelong problem solving, and why that's a superpower
• How winning the Amazing Race came down to one rule: no cheerleading, no fighting, just focus
• The unexpected phone call from a CBS executive at a cookbook signing that started it all
• Why Brent and Josh believe the business may have actually saved their relationship
• What it feels like to be a visible gay couple in the South right now and why just going to dinner is an act of activism
• The "boys" problem: why even running a $100M company, language still has the power to diminish
• How to use your privilege well, especially during Pride season when the community needs its elders most
• What cocktail o'clock taught them about protecting their relationship from their business

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome back, Brent. And introducing Josh

01:03 – Did the vision for Beekman 1802 ever match the reality?

02:53 – Starting with kindness: "How can we lift as many people as possible?"

06:01 – Do Brent and Josh ever disagree? (Oh, yes.)

08:40 – The 51% rule: how to make decisions as equal partners

10:11 – Why LGBT couple founders may be more successful than straight ones

13:30 – Creativity is problem solving: the LGBTQ superpower

20:09 – 80 employees, Ulta stores and what Beekman looks for in talent

23:34 – "The ultimate act of kindness is transparency"

25:31 – Kind vs. nice: why they are not the same thing

26:46 – "Being kind has an immediate cost. Nice is a deferred payment plan."

29:18 – Josh on the Amazing Race: "It was the hardest thing I've ever done."

30:16 – Why their age and Gen X doubt actually helped them win

35:16 – "The middle-aged gay couple never wins. Our job is to be everyone's friend and gracefully exit."

37:21 – Did the show Hacks owe them royalties? (The goat milking episode)

39:32 – Inside a week at the farm: cocktail o'clock and how they protect their relationship

41:08 – "The business may have saved our relationship."

44:18 – A gay Shark Tank? Jim pitches a TV idea live on air

46:47 – "What do the boys think?" Why that phrase still stings at $100M

51:46 – Safe spaces, moving to Atlanta and what it means to turn your gaydar back on

57:33 – What Jim, Brent and Josh believe it means to be elders in the community right now

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Beekman 1802 (beekman1802.com)
• Beekman 1802 Almanac (their book)
• The Amazing Race, CBS
• The Fabulous Beekman Boys (Planet Green reality series)
• Hacks (HBO Max)
• Schitt's Creek
• QVC / HSN

Connect with Brent Ridge & Josh Kilmer-Purcell:

Website: beekman1802.com

Instagram: @beekman1802

Instagram: @josh.kilmer.purcell

✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer:

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Website: hijimfielding.com

#BeekmanBoys #Beekman1802 #BrentRidge #JoshKilmerPurcell #LGBTQEntrepreneurs #Pride2026 #PrideMonth #GayOwned #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #AmazingRace #Kindness #AskForAnAnswer #JimFielding #LGBTQBusiness #BeautyBrand #GayCouple #QueerJoy

In this episode of Ask For An Answer, host Jim Fielding sits down with 20-year unscripted television veteran and creative entrepreneur Liza Keckler. Liza has navigated the complex world of alternative TV, from producing home improvement shows to leading development for major networks and production companies.

Jim and Liza dive deep into their time working together at Archer Gray, where they focused on building "highly repeatable formats" and prestige non-narrative content during a time of extreme industry contraction. Liza shares the inspiration behind her newest venture, Hedyverse, a creative IP studio she co-founded to build content that lives across platforms—including mobile games, tabletop games, and television.

In this conversation, they explore:

• The Shift to Ownership: Why owning your intellectual property is the ultimate goal for creators today.
• Market Trends: What’s working in unscripted media right now, from The Masked Singer to Squid Game: The Challenge.
• Creative Resilience: How to advocate for your creative vision and navigate industry obstacles like mergers and strikes.
• Collaboration: The power of looking at those in your orbit to see what you can build together.

• 03:57 – Meet Liza Keckler: A look into Liza’s 20+ year background in unscripted and alternative TV.
• 06:01 – Franchisable Content: Jim and Liza discuss their partnership at Archer Gray and the goal of creating repeatable, premium content.
• 09:20 – The State of Entertainment: An honest look at the "hard years" of the industry, including COVID impacts and the writer's strikes.
• 12:17 – Adapting Strategy: Why creative pivots are necessary when meeting a changing marketplace.
• 14:15 – Lessons in Leadership: Liza shares her biggest takeaway: the importance of clarity and advocating for the right choices.
• 17:40 – Launching Heady Verse: How a family trip and a conversation with a friend led to the creation of a cross-media studio.
• 19:27 – Owning the IP: Moving from "work for hire" to building equity in your own creations.
• 20:01 – Mood Box Games: Liza shares details on a new partnership with gaming giant ASMODEE.
• 22:40 – The Next Big Hit: A discussion on why fresh ideas like The Masked Singer take time to cut through the noise of legacy shows.
• 25:13 – Current Watchlist: Jim and Liza breakdown the brilliance of Squid Game: The Challenge and the rise of biography documentaries.

• 💼 Follow Jim Fielding on Instagram: @jimfielding
• 🌐 Learn more about Hedyverse: [Hedyverse.com]
• ✨ Guest: Liza Keckler

What does it take to keep chasing your dream — even after setbacks, reinvention, and unexpected career turns?

In this episode of Ask For An Answer, Jim Fielding sits down with Eva Steortz, executive coach, author of From the Outhouse to the Mouse House, and a longtime entertainment marketing leader, for a conversation about bold moves, career growth, resilience, and the relationships that shape our lives.

From leaving West Virginia with a one-way ticket to Los Angeles, to building a 20-year career at Disney, to navigating layoffs, consulting, authorship, and executive coaching, Eva shares what it means to bet on yourself again and again. Together, Jim and Eva explore imposter syndrome, leadership blind spots, the power of coaching, work-life integration, and why relationships remain the most important asset in any career.

This is a conversation about courage, reinvention, and refusing to let your dream go unrealized.

If you are navigating a transition, building your next chapter, or wondering how to lead with more confidence and authenticity, this episode is for you.

• Why bold moves often begin before you feel ready
• How executive coaching can uncover blind spots and accelerate growth
• The role of imposter syndrome in leadership and career transitions
• Why relationships are the foundation of career success and personal well-being
• How to navigate layoffs, reinvention, and change with resilience and gratitude

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Why dreams matter and the courage to chase them

03:20 – Leaving West Virginia for Los Angeles with a one-way ticket

06:45 – The feedback that changed Eva’s leadership career

16:00 – Why relationships are the foundation of success

22:30 – Corporate change, layoffs, and starting over

32:19 – The dream Eva’s father never got to live

41:24 – Work-life balance, empathy, and leadership with heart

47:00 – Imposter syndrome and confidence in leadership

Follow Eva Steortz

Book: From the Outhouse to the Mouse House

Follow Jim Fielding and Ask for an Answer:

Instagram: @jimfielding

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Website:

Podcast: Ask for an Answer

If this episode sparked something for you, don’t just agree with it, reach out to one person, revive one relationship, or take one bold step toward the dream you’ve been postponing.

What does it take to build a global entertainment brand from scratch and sustain it for over three decades?

In this episode of Ask For An Answer, host Jim Fielding sits down with legendary entertainment executive Luis Balaguer, CEO and founder of Latin World Entertainment (LatinWE). As the longtime business partner of Sofía Vergara, Luis has been the strategic architect behind one of the most successful talent management and brand empires in the world.

Luis pulls back the curtain on the "secret sauce" of their 30-year partnership, sharing the raw, "hungry" early days of selling DIY calendars out of desperation and how they eventually pioneered the "crossover" from Univision to Hollywood. They discuss the evolution of their "Three Buckets" business model, the eight-year struggle to book Modern Family, and the calculated risk of Sofía shedding her comedic persona to become Griselda. This isn't just a Hollywood success story; it’s a masterclass in intuition, brand longevity, and the power of staying true to your audience.

Episode Timestamps & Key Takeaways:

1. 04:11 – The 30-Year Partnership: Luis reflects on his three-decade journey building Latin World Entertainment and the mutual respect that defines his relationship with Sofía.
2. 06:09 – The $10 G-String Calendar: The "desperation-driven" origin story of their first million-dollar venture and learning to do business directly with the audience.
3. 09:48 – The Three Buckets of Business: How a strategic framework—Ownership, Sharing, and Endorsements—transformed their "kitchen-run" company into a high-value global brand.
4. 14:50 – Culture Shock in Hollywood: Navigating the shift from "loud" Latin production meetings to the polished—but often ridiculous—landscape of LA studios.
5. 18:16 – The Eight-Year Climb: A candid look at the resilience required to survive canceled pilots before Modern Family changed the landscape of network television.
6. 21:36 – The Ultimate Creative Risk: Luis reveals why Griselda was the scariest test of Sofía’s career and the necessity of reinventing yourself at the top of your game.
7. 23:13 – The Matriarch: Sofía’s early responsibility for her family and heritage, and why she started being a "boss" at just 22 years old.
8. 25:22 – The Idea Fountain: How Luis translates Sofía’s raw passions—from fashion to home decor—into massive retail wins at Walmart and beyond.

If you’ve ever wondered how celebrity, strategy, and entrepreneurship come together to create a lasting brand, this episode offers a rare inside look into the business of being Sofía Vergara.

✨Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer:

💼Instagram: jimfielding

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What happens when storytelling moves beyond the stage and becomes a fully immersive experience?

In this episode of Ask For An Answer, Jim Fielding sits down with Vance Garrett, one of the creative minds behind groundbreaking immersive experiences like Sleep No More, 29Rooms, and the Museum of Ice Cream. Together they explore how experiential storytelling is transforming entertainment, retail, and live culture.

From Shakespeare-inspired immersive theater to Instagram-era experiences and large-scale retail activations, Vance shares what it takes to design moments that bring people together. Jim and Vance also dive into why audiences today crave collective experiences — from Broadway shows to Beyoncé concerts — and how immersive storytelling is reshaping the way brands and creators connect with people.

This conversation is about creativity, culture, and the power of shared joy.

If you believe experiences matter more than ever, this episode is for you.

1. How immersive theater like Sleep No More changed live entertainment
2. tWhy experiential retail became the future of consumer engagement
3. What Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Kendrick Lamar understand about immersive storytelling
4. Why audiences crave communal experiences after the pandemic
5. The future of Broadway, live theater, and immersive experiences

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Why storytelling and communal experiences still matter

01:30 – How Jim and Vance first met working on ModelLand

03:00 – Vance’s background in immersive theater and experiential storytelling

04:00 – The phenomenon of Sleep No More and the birth of immersive theater

05:30 – Creating 29Rooms and the rise of Instagram-era experiences

06:20 – Building the Museum of Ice Cream and the explosion of experiential entertainment

07:25 – Bringing immersive experiences into retail with Westfield

10:50 – Why consumers want experiences more than products

13:00 – Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and the rise of immersive concerts

16:40 – The psychology of collective joy and live entertainment

20:00 – Broadway, theater, and why live performance still moves audiences

28:20 – The business challenges of Broadway and live productions

32:00 – Favorite theater and immersive experiences of all time

Connect with Vance Garrett:

Instagram: @vancegarrett

Email: V@vancegarrett.com

Follow Jim Fielding and Ask for an Answer:

Instagram: @jimfielding

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Website:

Podcast: Ask for an Answer

If this episode sparked something for you, don’t just agree with it, try it: take one question into your next meeting and see what changes.

What happens when the spotlight fades and the crown comes off?

In this episode of ASK FOR AN ANSWER, host Jim Fielding sits down with former Miss USA Olivia Jordan to discuss the raw reality of life after the title. Known for her grace during one of the most infamous moments in Miss Universe history, Olivia opens up about the "evolution behind the headlines."

From the high-pressure world of pageantry in Los Angeles to finding peace and rebuilding her life in Tulsa, Olivia shares how to navigate identity shifts, personal growth, and the journey of reinvention.

1. Confidence Under Pressure: The surprising mindset lessons learned from the Miss USA stage.
2. The Power of Pivot: Why Olivia left Hollywood to build a new dream in her hometown.
3. Modern Motherhood & Healing: How she is rewriting her identity to become a role model for her daughter.
4. Finding Purpose: Practical advice for anyone asking "what comes next?" in their career or personal life.

This is not just a story about pageants or Hollywood. It is about growth, vulnerability, service, and stepping into your most realized self. If you are in a season of reinvention or asking what comes next, this episode is your invitation.

✨Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer:

💼Instagram: jimfielding

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What if a school bus could change lives?

On this episode of ASK FOR AN ANSWER, Jim Fielding sits down with Adam Powell, co-founder of the LGBTQ+ book platform Our Story (formerly Shop Queer), to talk about turning a 10-book idea into a thriving national movement. From launching a bookshop out of their apartment in 2022 to building 30+ book clubs and taking the Rainbow Book Bus across the country, Adam shares how he and his partner Eric are amplifying queer voices—especially in places where those stories are being silenced.

They dive into the realities of entrepreneurship as life partners, the power of in-person community, drag as creative liberation, and why “selfish” might be the most important word to reclaim for your mental health.

In this episode, we explore:

1. How Our Story grew from a garage startup to a 30+ club national community
2. The Rainbow Book Bus tour and giving away 8,000 banned books across the U.S.
3. Boundaries, burnout, and building a business with your partner
4. Why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for connection and resistance

This is a conversation about courage, creativity, and choosing joy—even when the world feels heavy.

If you believe in the power of story to bring people together, this one’s for you.

✨Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer:

💼Instagram: jimfielding

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What happens when an untold American legacy becomes a modern business movement and a masterclass in leadership, culture, and brand truth?

In this episode of Ask for an Answer, Jim Fielding sits down with Katharine “Kate” Jerkens, Chief Business Officer of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, to explore what it takes to build an iconic brand in uncertain times—without hiding behind “having all the answers.”

Kate shares the inside story of Uncle Nearest’s rise, including the origin of the Nearest Green legacy (the first known African-American master distiller who taught Jack Daniel), the leadership realities of building distribution and culture in a white, male-dominated industry, and how COVID reshaped consumer behavior, team dynamics, and decision-making.

This is a conversation about modern leadership, authentic storytelling, psychological safety, and the kind of long-game thinking that builds trust, not just revenue.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. The real origin story behind Uncle Nearest and why legacy-driven brands outperform “marketing-first” brands
2. What it’s like to lead as a woman executive in the spirits industry — and how to keep your edge without losing your humanity
3. How to navigate uncertainty (COVID, shifting consumer trends, cultural change) with curiosity instead of control
4. Why psychological safety is the hidden driver of better decisions and stronger teams
5. A leadership reminder that applies everywhere: you can’t control the world, but you can control how you show up

Mentioned in the episode:

1. The Nearest Green story and the mission behind Uncle Nearest
2. The Nearest Green Foundation and education legacy
3. The “HBCU Cocktail” initiative and HBCU Heroes
4. 
   

Follow Katharine Jerkens / Uncle Nearest

Instagram: @unclenearest

Website: unclenearest.com

Follow Jim Fielding / Ask for an Answer

Instagram: @jimfielding

Website:

Podcast: Ask for an Answer

If this episode sparked something for you, don’t just agree with it, try it: take one question into your next meeting and see what changes.

What if success doesn’t arrive all at once, but shows up quietly when you finally stop running from who you are?

Actor Gerardo Celasco opens up about growing up between cultures, being “othered” in El Salvador, chasing an acting dream without a safety net, and enduring years of near-misses before landing career-defining roles like The Waterfront. In a deeply personal conversation with host Jim Fielding, Gerardo reflects on marriage, fatherhood, creative identity, and what it really means to stay the course when doubt never fully disappears.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

1. Growing up between countries, cultures, and expectations
2. The reality of chasing a creative dream without connections
3. Redefining success, masculinity, and belonging at midlife

If you’ve ever questioned your path, your timing, or whether it’s “too late,” this conversation is a reminder that your story is still unfolding and you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

What really happens when leaders stop playing it safe—and start trusting their people?

In this live Los Angeles episode, Jim Fielding is joined by former direct reports Launi King, Elizabeth Litten Miller, and Erin Morris to unpack the real story behind building a high-performing team during a period of massive change at 20th Century Fox. From career pivots and creative freedom to empathy-driven leadership, they share what worked, what didn’t, and the lessons that still shape how they lead today.

Together, they explore what it takes to create psychologically safe teams, earn trust in uncertain times, and lead humans—not just org charts.

Key themes include:

1. Leading with empathy instead of fear
2. Building trust during change and uncertainty
3. Respecting creativity, fandom, and the people behind the work

If you’re a leader—or aspiring to be one—this conversation is a powerful reminder that how you lead matters just as much as what you build.

What if the real competitive advantage in business isn’t technology, talent, or capital — but belief?

In this kickoff episode of the 2026 Leading With Pride Book Club, Jim Fielding sits down with retail and leadership veteran Matt Marcotte to explore the ideas behind his book Built on Belief: Why Cultures of Commitment Are the Competitive Advantage. From Gap and Apple to Tory Burch and Salesforce, Matt shares how decades of leading through reinvention taught him one truth: companies win when their people truly believe in what they’re building.

Together, Jim and Matt unpack what it really takes to build cultures where curiosity, trust, and human connection fuel growth — even in the most demanding, tech-driven industries.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

1. Why curiosity beats certainty in great leadership
2. How to build a North Star that aligns teams instead of siloing them
3. What it takes to create cultures of commitment, not compliance

If you’re ready to lead with more purpose, clarity, and courage, this conversation will change how you think about culture — and your role in shaping it.

Matt Marcotte

🌐 m2collaborative.com

📘 Built on Belief — available wherever books are sold

Jim Fielding

🌐 jimfielding.com

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Instagram: jimfieldingnyc

LinkedIn: jimfielding

From the erosion of rights in Russia and Senegal to the slow but real progress in India, Fabrice brings a global lens that most conversations about LGBTQ rights simply do not have. He and Jim also get deeply personal about what it feels like to be a visible, proud gay man navigating a world that feels like it is moving backwards, and what it will take to move it forward again.

In this episode:

• Why 96% of LGBT people live outside the US and why that context matters right now
• The gradual erosion of rights in Russia, China and Senegal and what it warns us about at home
• Why the LGBTQ community has never clearly defined what success actually looks like
• The case for economic liberation alongside legal rights: only 3 out Fortune 500 CEOs are out
• Why community unity is fracturing and what the NIMBY mentality inside our own movement is costing us
• The debt every visible LGBT person owes to those who came before them
• Why corporate withdrawal from Pride may not be the crisis people think it is
• How to use LGBTQ spending power, savings and investment as tools for change
• Why looking backward at Stonewall and the AIDS era may be slowing down the movement today
• How to protect your mental health and avoid doom scrolling when your community is under attack
• Why the answer to this moment is not a single unifying leader but a coalition of economic, political and cultural voices

Timestamps:

00:01 – Welcome and Fabrice's background: World Bank, UN and two nonprofits

03:28 – Coming to the US at 22 to come out and 25 years as a global citizen

05:14 – Only 4% of LGBT people live in America. What about the rest?

07:24 – Russia, China, Senegal and what global setbacks tell us about the US right now

11:19 – The LGBTQ community has never defined what success looks like

12:47 – Economic liberation: board seats, Fortune 500 CEOs and the power of our money

23:30 – NIMBY in the LGBTQ community: the Palm Springs story

29:06 – Are trans issues really dividing us or is that just an excuse?

31:04 – The debt every out LGBT person owes to those who fought before them

33:32 – Who could be the unifier for this community right now?

36:31 – Why copying the playbook from Stonewall or the AIDS era will not work today

39:39 – Digesting January 2025 and the double whammy of federal and state rollbacks

43:00 – Working on the piece you can actually influence

45:44 – Doom scrolling, occupied consciousness and keeping part of your brain on the future

48:38 – Surrogacy, global perspective and recognizing the Trojan horse tactics of opponents

51:41 – Corporate withdrawal from Pride and why reclaiming community ownership may be the answer

52:51 – Using LGBTQ savings, retirement funds and investment as tools for collective power

Mentioned in This Episode:

• COPPA (economic empowerment of LGBT people in the Global South)
• Free and Equal (UN Human Rights LGBT campaign)
• The Advocate
• Harvey Milk
• Larry Kramer
• Brian Sims

🔗 Connect with Fabrice Houdart:

LinkedIn: Fabrice Houdart

✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer:

💼 Instagram: Instagram: https://instagram.com/hijimfielding/

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Website: hijimfielding.com

#FabriceHoudart #LGBTQRights #Pride #PrideMonth #LGBTQCommunity #QueerLiberation #EconomicEmpowerment #HumanRights #AskForAnAnswer #JimFielding #LGBTQPolitics #GlobalLGBTQ #PrideHistory #LGBTQLeadership #QueerPolitics

What happens when curiosity, courage, and otherness collide into a life of impact?

In this Los Angeles Sessions episode of Ask For An Answer, Jim Fielding sits down with pioneering media strategist and XR visionary Wadooah Wali for a deeply human conversation about identity, creativity, and carving a non-linear career path. From growing up feeling “othered” in Gainesville, Florida, to riding the front lines of tech, digital media, and immersive storytelling, Wadooah shares how following curiosity rather than titles led her to reshape the future of entertainment.

Together, Jim and Wadooah explore what it really means to live authentically in your work, why careers are rarely linear, and how representation and storytelling can quite literally save lives. This episode is a powerful reminder that growth comes from risk, purpose comes from community, and your story matters more than you think.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

1. Embracing “otherness” as a leadership superpower
2. Why curiosity and side hustles shape the most meaningful careers
3. The importance of representation, community, and telling stories that endure

If you’ve ever felt different, uncertain, or called toward something bigger, this conversation will remind you that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Connect with Jim Fielding

Instagram: @jimfielding

LinkedIn: Jim Fielding

Connect with Wadooah Wali

Website: www.newcanvas.co

Instagram / X / LinkedIn: @WadooahWali

New Canvas: @newcanvasxr

What happens when a lifelong radio obsessive builds a show that lets everyday Americans talk back to the news?

From sneaking off to summer camp and calling into radio stations as a kid to hosting national programs on NPR and launching The Middle, Jeremy Hobson shares how curiosity, storytelling, and Midwestern values shaped a career built on listening. Along the way, he reveals why live, unscripted conversations may be exactly what our fractured media landscape needs right now.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Why The Middle is redefining what civil discourse sounds like
2. How growing up in a professor’s household shaped Jeremy’s voice and values
3. What real people across the country are saying about the economy, media, and the future

If you believe stories can still bring people together, this conversation will remind you why listening matters more than ever.

What does it take to protect hope when the world feels increasingly hostile?

In this powerful episode of Ask For An Answer, host Jim Fielding sits down with Jorge Valencia, CEO of the Point Foundation and former Executive Director of The Trevor Project, for a deeply personal and timely conversation about LGBTQ+ leadership, resilience, and responsibility. Jorge shares how education, mentorship, and community can quite literally save lives—especially during moments of cultural backlash, political change, and isolation.

In this conversation, you’ll hear about:

1. Why scholarships are only the beginning—and community is the real impact
2. How LGBTQ youth are navigating education, safety, and identity in a post-COVID world
3. What history teaches us about resilience, resistance, and the power of staying visible

This episode is a reminder that hope isn’t passive—it’s built through action, mentorship, and showing up for the next generation when they need it most.

Learn more, support scholars, or get involved:

👉 https://pointfoundation.org

Some years give us answers — but as Chris Glass reminds us, some years ask questions that transform who we become.

In this conversation, Jim Fielding sits down with Chris Glass, Global Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Soho House, to explore the humanity behind leadership, identity, and personal evolution. From navigating DEI in a shifting global landscape to returning to the U.S. after decades abroad, Chris shares how curiosity, humility, and service shape the way he moves through the world. Together, they unpack the idea of “asking for an answer” — a grounded practice of stepping back, seeking perspective, and letting growth lead.

Key Themes:

1. Why leaders don’t need all the answers — and shouldn’t pretend to
2. How living abroad reshapes identity, belonging, and the idea of “home”
3. The changing DEI landscape and how to lead with agility and humanity
4. Turning challenges into lessons instead of failures

Chris’s story is an invitation to slow down, stay curious, and trust that every chapter — even the messy ones — is here to teach us something meaningful.

Connect with Chris Glass

Instagram: Herrglass

Connect with Jim Fielding

Instagram: jimfieldingofficial

LinkedIn: jimfielding

It's the one thing on everybody's mind:

A.I.

Is it here to help? To destroy? With so many opinions and so much complexity, it can be hard to understand where this technology is going and what it actually does to help.

Jim is joined this week by AI pioneer Scott Clendaniel to discuss this topic and better understand the opportunity it presents, and the drawbacks it may bring.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

0:34 - Episode beginning

1:11 - Meet Scott Clendaniel

5:52 - Scott’s journey, AI’s history

14:47 - Generative AI’s future

19:07 - Microsoft Co-Pilot and the problem it reveals

24:58 - Should we be afraid?

30:48 - The “return to office” push + AI

34:30 - Anyone can use AI

40:13 - Different tools and the problem w/ software

50:31 - Scott's wisdom-drop

53:31 - Episode wrap-up

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

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

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

CONNECT WITH SCOTT CLENDANIEL

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

Jim sits down with Brent Ridge (Beekman 1802 co-founder and author of Goat Wisdom) for a heart-forward chat about building a legacy brand, leading with kindness, and turning real community into real company culture. 

They get into the Beekman origin story (yes, the goats), why “kindness” became the brand’s north star, and practical lessons on partnerships, hiring, and storytelling in a three-second world.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Welcome and introduction to Brent

3:25 - Why the book, why now?

8:35 - Have you ever felt like you “arrived”?

12:41 - Kindness, building brand

14:41 - Brent’s first big order

19:50 - What the firm (and product) has grown into now

23:36 - Disney, company culture

28:10 - Culture and attention in the era of social media

36:19 - “Two heads are better than one”

40:36 - 51% rule

47:28 - Need for nature

53:06 - Empathy

54:13 - “What would you tell 25-year old Brent?”

55:42 - Episode wrap-up

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

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

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

CONNECT WITH BRENT RIDGE

Website: https://beekman1802.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-ridge-md-0641791/

This week's episode features a trip down memory lane!

Jim returns to Indiana University to sit down with student Joey Mora live and in front of the next generation of retail and fashion to discuss his journey, but more importantly: his success in the retail industry - how he got involved, and what informed him along the way that he was in the right place.

Jim also dives into the specifics of his early career, including trips to Japan, living with a Danish family, and his big jump into the upper echelons of corporate leadership - and his newest chapter.

Episode Highlights:

(0:00) - Intro

(0:37) - Episode beginning

(2:31) - Meet Joey

(5:45) - Getting into retail

(12:32) - Travelling, fashion, where it takes you

(16:20) - More on Joey and her work on campus

(22:01) - This semester for Joey

(32:54) - Advice you give to students starting their careers

(39:44) - Staying true to yourself

(55:49) - Wrap-up

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

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

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

This week, on Jim Fielding and Friends, Jim is joined by Oana Leonte, the Founder & Editor-in-Chief at unmtchd. Her company is a media platform decoding the business of brand and translating cultural insight into systems that scale.

Oana sits down with Jim to discuss the path less travelled:

Leaving corporate (and your job + safety net).

The reason? To achieve a balance in life that few get. The synchronicity between what you're doing, what you're good at, and what you like.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 – Welcome and introduction to Oana

2:56 – How Jim and Oana met

7:23 – Diving into “the journey”

8:04 – Building your own brand

10:12 – From “different” to Unmatched positioning

13:22 – Hardest part of the transition

16:48 – “Disney deprogramming” & imposter syndrome

24:15 – Growing up (fast) as an entrepreneur

26:39 – Multi-hyphenate authenticity vs titles

35:03 – Biggest surprise of year one

36:30 – Rediscovering self before strategy

42:13 – Bad Bunny case study: roots → global demand

51:30 – Wrapping up + contact Juana

52:17 – Mic-drop advice: be faithful to your unmatched essence

55:02 – Gratitude & sign-off

57:11 – Outro + subscribe/reminder

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

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

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

CONNECT WITH OANA LEONTE

Website: https://theunmtchd.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oana-leonte

Blake Collazzo is a PR operations and culture lead, community connector, and longtime collaborator on Jim’s book, brand, and podcast.

Jim and Blake trace the genesis of their collaboration and their first intro via Joanne Martino, unpack a wild personal-assistant story that ended at a Ramada, talk vitality vs. stagnation, and get candid about coming out, “inviting in,” and showing up for the LGBTQ+ community.

They also cover a practical mindset that can do wonders for your day to day experience..

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Welcome and introduction to Blake

2:32 - From book launch to brand and podcast

6:10 - Vitality over stagnation and lessons from Jim’s dad

8:32 - The 1% assistant story and the Ramada pivot

14:17 - The 2015 epiphany and 2016 move to LA

18:23 - Coming out at 19 and “inviting in”

27:40 - Representation, safe spaces, authentic leadership

28:11 - Control the controllable, leave space for the possible

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

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

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

CONNECT WITH BLAKE COLLAZO

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

Brian Tran is a multi-hyphenate founder, designer, and community builder whose journey runs from Houston to Pandora, Kleiner Perkins, and an eight-year startup ride focused on LGBTQ+ connection.

Jim and Brian unpack coming out at 13, landing a first VC check in 15 minutes, surviving pivots (including web3), the painful decision to shut down—and the hopeful next chapter: SE / “sector,” a platform creating intergenerational connections for LGBTQ+ industry leaders.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:36 - Meet Brian Tran—founder, designer, connector

2:20 - Houston roots & coming out at 13

6:36 - Why he builds LGBTQ+ community products

7:05 - How Jim & Brian met; authenticity, connection, community

9:13 - College pivots: journalism → film theory → entrepreneurship

14:26 - First roles: Pandora product design → Kleiner Perkins (VC)

16:50 - What VC taught him (scale, stakes, networks)

18:20 - Side app to funded venture

19:52 - The 15-minute pitch that landed the first check

21:29 - Angel investing 101: what investors really back

24:10 - Eight years of pivots

30:13 - Why the web3 chapter was the toughest

31:54 - 2025 return to hospitality; real-estate hurdles

33:34 - Building a membership without a space; sponsor headwinds; shutdown

35:08 - Founder reality: failure, resilience, learning

39:03 - The next chapter: SE/“sector” for LGBTQ+ leaders

41:57 - Mentorship as a two-way street

44:02 - Closing & where to find Brian

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

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

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

Harvey shares the single line from Daniel Goleman's landmark book that changed his life, why he went from an introverted, fear-driven child of Lithuanian refugees to one of North America's leading voices on emotional intelligence, and how anger was the surprising emotion that set him free.

In this episode:

• The page-four line in Goleman's Emotional Intelligence that became Harvey's life-changing aha moment
• Growing up in poverty with an abusive father and how school became his escape hatch
• Why IQ alone will never be enough to build the career and relationships you want
• The Mankind Project: how men's emotional health circles changed Harvey's life (and why they matter more than ever)
• The difference between anger as a motivator vs. anger as a trap, and how to move from one to the other
• How childhood fear and trauma follow us into the workplace (and what to do about it)
• Why Harvey now leads from love instead of anger, and what took 25+ years to get there
• The unexpected phone call from Chris Gardner (The Pursuit of Happyness) that reminded Harvey anything is possible
• Radical kindness: why Jim and Harvey both believe now is the moment the pendulum swings back
• Practical tips for managing anxiety in a world that constantly seeps into your peace of mind

Timestamps:

00:01 – Welcome & Harvey's background

01:02 – Emotional Intelligence Game Changers, published in 4 countries

04:40 – Harvey's family story: Lithuanian refugees, poverty & an abusive home

08:30 – The Goleman line that changed everything: "Intellect can come to naught..."

10:26 – The Mankind Project & men finally talking about feelings

11:24 – Why Harvey decided to write his own EQ book

22:54 – Jim's parallel story: masking fear, finding California, seeing in color

38:44 – What surprised Harvey most after 25 years in EQ

39:37 – Moving from anger to love as your motivator

42:28 – How the state of the world seeps into our emotional lives

45:41 – Fight or flight: using your voice and platform as an antidote to angst

47:47 – Radical kindness and why the pendulum may finally be swinging

📚 Mentioned in This Episode:

• Emotional Intelligence Game Changers by Harvey Deutschendorf
• The Other Kind of Smart by Harvey Deutschendorf
• Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman
• The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner
• The Mankind Project (mankindproject.org)
• Free 15-question EQ quiz (available in 120 languages): theotherkindofsmart.com

🔗 Connect with Harvey Deutschendorf:

Website: theotherkindofsmart.com

Email: EIGuy@shaw.ca

✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer:

💼 Instagram: Instagram: https://instagram.com/hijimfielding/

🌐 Podcast: Ask For An Answer

Website: hijimfielding.com

#HarveyDeutschendorf #EmotionalIntelligence #EQ #EI #MentalHealth #Resilience #PersonalDevelopment #RadicalKindness #AskForAnAnswer #JimFielding #MindsetShift #Leadership #SelfAwareness #MensHealth #Kindness

Dr. Jon Paul is fighting “the good fight” – which is even more important now, more than ever.

Dr. Paul’s new book, “Black. Fat. Femme: Revealing the Power of Visibly Queer Voices (in Media) and Learning to Love Yourself” is a guide to standing at the intersection of multiple identities, communities, and causes shapes people and how they see the world.

Jim sits down with Dr. Jon to explore his journey in creating this book, the influences he sought and most importantly: his lived experience which informed the book.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

1:20 - The Dr. Jon Paul story

7:58 - What has surprised you the most?

12:30 - Influences in the book and on Jon

18:56 - Sometimes you need to say what needs to be said

29:11 - RuPaul’s Drag Race

44:19 - Final thoughts

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

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

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

CONNECT WITH DR. JON PAUL

Website: https://www.doctorjonpaul.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.instagram.com/doctorjonpaul/?hl=en

In this special episode of Jim Fielding and Friends, Jim is joined by a close friend – Chris Glass!

Chris is the Global Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Soho House & Co and is responsible for lead strategy and execution of DEI initiatives across the company's +40 Houses and +100K members.

Chris joins Jim to catch-up and discuss recent events and how a changing political environment challenges him in both his career and in his life.

On a lighter note, Chris shares his unique experience of being an ex-pat living in Germany and what he found in Europe that he couldn’t state-side.

Lastly, there are the gold nuggets, the insights that only years of doing it ‘right’ (and wrong) can inform. Jim and Chris explore why you should live life in ‘1 year terms’, the importance of finding what works for you and why designing your life to your exact standards SHOULD be the standard, not the dream.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:38 - Episode beginning

3:13 - What Chris does

4:18 - Commitment to DEI in 2025

7:38 - “Do you feel pushback in your job?”

9:26 - How Chris’ job has changed

13:45 - Living and working abroad as an American

16:22 - Chris’ “moment”

19:13 - Thinking about your life in ‘1 year terms’

24:40 - “There is no one way for everyone”

30:27 - What locations are left on Chris’ bucket list?

36:26 - What does Chris see for the next year?

44:40 - Episode wrap-up

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

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

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

CONNECT WITH CHRIS GLASS

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-glass-29295/

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

In this special episode of Jim Fielding and Friends, Jim is joined by fellow author Bruce Brackett!

Bruce W. Brackett is a social media personality, author, entrepreneur, self-taught visual artist, and international motivational speaker. His book, “How to Breathe While Suffocating: A Story Of Overcoming Addiction, Recovering From Trauma and Healing My Soul” published by Wiley is now available everywhere books are sold.

Bruce sits down with Jim to discuss his new book and explore what he is looking to achieve with his story. They also dive into the experiences within the book and how Bruce began his journey in sobriety and more broadly, his journey to helping others in similar situations.

Additionally, they discuss the mechanical experience of writing a book (and the challenges therein), how Bruce got the idea (and got started) and most importantly: the biggest lessons from the book and why you should read it.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:39 - Episode beginning, intro to Bruce Brackett

4:27 - More about Bruce

10:24 - “Did you always plan on writing a book?”

13:37 - How long it took Bruce to write the book

25:20 - “Did you see yourself becoming an author?”

30:22 - [After the book release] “What’s been the biggest surprise?”

41:43 - Biggest lessons from the book

48:06 - Closing thoughts and where you can find Bruce

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

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

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

CONNECT WITH BRUCE BRACKETT

Website: https://www.bwbart.com/

Instagram: BWB.Positivity

X: BWB.Positivity

In this special episode of Jim Fielding and Friends, Jim reconnects with one of his closest friends of over 40 years, Paul Caine, President of Endeavor’s IMG Events and On Location. What starts as a walk down memory lane quickly becomes a masterclass in leadership, entrepreneurship, and the power of relationships.

Paul shares what it’s really like to run some of the world’s biggest events, from the Olympics and Super Bowl to exclusive music festivals and global culinary showcases. As the driving force behind On Location, he offers a behind-the-scenes look at how they create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for fans and brands alike.

Jim and Paul also reflect on their college days at Indiana University, where they co-founded a fraternity that would shape their leadership styles and values for decades to come. It’s a full-circle moment filled with laughter, perspective, and a few lessons learned along the way.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

1:12 - How Paul and Jim met

2:41 - More about Paul

6:01 - What made Paul want to start his own fraternity

16:28 - What Paul is doing now

24:48 - Paul’s foundation

28:47 - Talking “On Location”

42:26 - “I’m driven by time”

45:55 - Paul’s one big piece of advice and closing thoughts

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

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

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

CONNECT WITH PAUL CAINE

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

Foundation Website: https://griffincaresfoundation.org/

On Location: https://onlocationexp.com/

This week, Jim sits down with legendary executive Mindy Grossman, Partner at The Consello Group and former CEO of WW (formerly Weight Watchers), to talk about what it really means to lead with purpose.

Mindy shares the bold decisions that defined her career, from walking away from law school to diving headfirst into the fashion industry in New York City, and how trusting her gut led her to helm some of the world’s most iconic brands.

In this episode, Jim and Mindy dive into why modern leadership requires vulnerability and empathy, the current state of retail, (really) building culture and more!

This conversation is part masterclass, part motivational playbook  and a rare look into the mindset of a true visionary.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

2:13 - Meet Mindy

9:03 - Two important things (for young people)

10:24 - Risk taking

12:11 - Mindy’s favorite role

19:32 - Culture

22:10 - The “Barbeque Effect”

25:27 - “Talking up” to the customer

35:05 - How does Mindy describe herself?

39:07 - Today’s marketplace: What are you saying to clients?

42:12 - Mindy’s mantra

45:15 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT JIM FIELDING

Jim Fielding began his career on the department store floor, where he discovered a deep passion for face-to-face interaction and customer experience. That early spark launched a career spanning over 30 years in senior executive roles at some of the world’s most iconic retail and media brands, including Gap, Disney Stores, Claire’s, DreamWorks, and 20th Century Fox. Throughout his leadership journey, Jim became widely recognized for his commitment to developing talent and building inclusive, people-first cultures—believing that individuals perform at their best when they can bring their whole, authentic selves to work.

Today, Jim’s full-time focus is on sharing the lessons he’s learned. Through speaking engagements, coaching, writing, advocacy, and community building, he inspires leaders and organizations to create spaces where everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

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

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

CONNECT WITH MINDY GROSSMAN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-grossman/

Website: https://consello.com/

What if retail wasn’t a fallback plan, but a power move?

This week, Jim is joined by Ron Thurston, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and fierce advocate for the people who keep retail running.

In this episode, Ron’s not just talking shop. He’s reframing the conversation entirely as they dive deep into the real value of retail work and why it deserves more respect, more pride, and a brighter future in the age of A.I.

From stocking shelves to leading global brands like Gap and Apple, Ron has seen it all. His newest book, Human Pride, builds on that lived experience and delivers a bold message: Your career doesn’t have to be linear to be meaningful. And your skills are more powerful than you think.

Whether you’re just starting out or decades in, this conversation is a celebration of work that’s often overlooked but never irrelevant.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

1:54 - “How do we know each other?”

4:06 - Ron talks his book and what “pride” means to him

12:51 - Talking about “Human Pride”

20:46 - Jobs and A.I.

29:52 - Careers in retail

31:03 - “Retail is detail”, GAP’s renaissance

33:30 - Transferable skills (and how to market them)

36:31 - Don’t be afraid of new tech

40:09 - Stores reflecting consumers

40:33 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT JIM FIELDING

Jim Fielding began his career on the department store floor, where he discovered a deep passion for face-to-face interaction and customer experience. That early spark launched a career spanning over 30 years in senior executive roles at some of the world’s most iconic retail and media brands, including Gap, Disney Stores, Claire’s, DreamWorks, and 20th Century Fox. Throughout his leadership journey, Jim became widely recognized for his commitment to developing talent and building inclusive, people-first cultures—believing that individuals perform at their best when they can bring their whole, authentic selves to work.

Today, Jim’s full-time focus is on sharing the lessons he’s learned. Through speaking engagements, coaching, writing, advocacy, and community building, he inspires leaders and organizations to create spaces where everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

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

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

CONNECT WITH RON THURSTON

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

Check out Ron’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Retail-Pride-Celebrating-Accidental-Career/dp/1544515928

What happens when a kid from Philadelphia’s inner city, armed with nothing but ambition and a guitar, transforms into a Grammy‑nominated songwriter behind P!nk’s anthems and Beyoncé’s ballads? Billy Mann knows.

Welcome back to Jim Fielding and Friends!

This week, Jim is joined by Billy, a music industry heavyweight whose name you may not know, but whose work you've certainly heard.

Billy’s journey isn’t just about hits or fame it’s a roadmap of resilience, reinvention, and real-world pursuit of purpose. Whether you’re an aspiring creator or simply curious about success, this conversation goes beyond the spotlight into the roots of creativity.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

1:45 - Intro to Billy Mann

8:05 - “What was the first hit?”

10:56 - Working with others, or solo?

12:15 - “How do you describe yourself?”

13:57 - Which song represents you best?

18:30 - Billy’s favorite collaborators

20:38 - Writing with Grayson Chance, “Brown Paper Bag”

26:58 - Getting what you want out of life, fulfillment

34:46 - Comparmentalization (for better or worse)

42:22 - Using survivor’s guilt

44:25 - Being tribalized

46:24 - Billy’s “Golden Mantra”

50:08 - Billy talks Chosen Family

ABOUT JIM FIELDING

Jim Fielding began his career on the department store floor, where he discovered a deep passion for face-to-face interaction and customer experience. That early spark launched a career spanning over 30 years in senior executive roles at some of the world’s most iconic retail and media brands, including Gap, Disney Stores, Claire’s, DreamWorks, and 20th Century Fox. Throughout his leadership journey, Jim became widely recognized for his commitment to developing talent and building inclusive, people-first cultures—believing that individuals perform at their best when they can bring their whole, authentic selves to work.

Today, Jim’s full-time focus is on sharing the lessons he’s learned. Through speaking engagements, coaching, writing, advocacy, and community building, he inspires leaders and organizations to create spaces where everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

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

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

Welcome back to another episode of Jim Fielding and Friends!

This week, Jim is joined by Ingrid Nilson and Erica Anderson!

Ingrid is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of The New Savant, a modern fragrance brand rooted in storytelling and connection. Before launching the company, she spent over a decade as a trailblazer on YouTube, helping shape the creator economy and building a loyal following of millions. Today, Ingrid continues to create community, this time through scent by crafting unique fragrances designed to spark emotion, memory, and meaningful connection.

Erica is the Co-Founder and CEO of The New Savant. Prior to launching the brand, Erica built a career at the intersection of media and technology holding key roles at CBS News, Twitter, Google, and MTV. Erica brings that same strategic vision and digital fluency to The New Savant, providing the brand with a strong, future-facing foundation.

Over the course of the episode, Jim explores The New Savant – not only the company’s genesis – but that of Erica and Ingrid as well. From humble beginnings in Indiana, YouTube fame and glory to starting all over with something new, Jim shares the interesting work that these two are doing in the fragrance industry and most importantly, their experiences as queer individuals in the entrepreneurial space.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:39 - Episode beginning

3:41 - Intro to Ingrid and Erica

6:34 - Ingrid’s YouTube journey

15:29 - Pivot to “The New Savant”

21:30 - Fragrance Houses and creating new scents

25:45 - “Mixed Feelings” scent

27:09 - Funding and getting The New Savant started

33:35 - Retailers, new brands and the product itself

39:33 - Words of wisdom

44:07 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT JIM FIELDING

Jim Fielding began his career on the department store floor, where he discovered a deep passion for face-to-face interaction and customer experience. That early spark launched a career spanning over 30 years in senior executive roles at some of the world’s most iconic retail and media brands, including Gap, Disney Stores, Claire’s, DreamWorks, and 20th Century Fox. Throughout his leadership journey, Jim became widely recognized for his commitment to developing talent and building inclusive, people-first cultures—believing that individuals perform at their best when they can bring their whole, authentic selves to work.

Today, Jim’s full-time focus is on sharing the lessons he’s learned. Through speaking engagements, coaching, writing, advocacy, and community building, he inspires leaders and organizations to create spaces where everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

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

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

What happens when you combine sharp political strategy with unapologetic advocacy for equality? You get Brian Sims.

Brian is currently the CEO of Agenda PAC, a political action committee with an aggressive and refreshing approach to defeating anti-LGBTQ+ politicians. Agenda PAC targets incumbents with anti-equality records using data-driven messaging, hard-hitting digital ads, and grassroots organizing to unseat what Brian calls “beatable bigots.”

In this conversation with Jim, Brian breaks down what he’s learned from his career in politics — from serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to leading one of the most targeted pro-equality PACs in the country.

They don’t just talk shop, either. Jim and Brian go deeper, exploring how America’s cultural landscape has shifted, why diversity is wrongly being framed as a weakness, and why so many young people have lost faith in political participation. Plus: what Democrats are getting wrong, and how they can fix it.

If you’ve been frustrated by politics lately, this conversation won’t just resonate.. it might just re-ignite your fire.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:37 - Beginning and intro to Brian

5:56 - Making impact, the importance of school boards

8:44 - All politics are local

13:42 - Republicans being intentional about local politics

19:14 - Where should the “democrat response” come from?

24:27 - One big mistake with the Democratic strategy

31:16 - The incumbent advantage

33:38 - Who Brian is excited about in the democratic party

36:29 - “We used to celebrate our differences”

42:56 - Diversity, pessimism and the new reality

50:40 - Episode wrap-up, where you can find Brian

ABOUT JIM FIELDING

Jim Fielding began his career on the department store floor, where he discovered a deep passion for face-to-face interaction and customer experience. That early spark launched a career spanning over 30 years in senior executive roles at some of the world’s most iconic retail and media brands, including Gap, Disney Stores, Claire’s, DreamWorks, and 20th Century Fox. Throughout his leadership journey, Jim became widely recognized for his commitment to developing talent and building inclusive, people-first cultures—believing that individuals perform at their best when they can bring their whole, authentic selves to work.

Today, Jim’s full-time focus is on sharing the lessons he’s learned. Through speaking engagements, coaching, writing, advocacy, and community building, he inspires leaders and organizations to create spaces where everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

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

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

CONNECT WITH BRIAN SIMS

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

Website: https://www.agendapac.org/

Welcome to the very first episode of Jim Fielding and Friends – the podcast where we explore what it truly means to lead and live with authenticity, kindness, and impact.

This isn’t just a podcast about leadership—it’s about staying constantly curious, learning from people who challenge the status quo, and creating space for real conversations. Whether it’s a Fortune 500 executive, an LGBTQ+ trailblazer, or a visionary entrepreneur, every guest is here for a reason!

In this inaugural episode, Jim is sitting down with two people who were integral in getting Jim Fielding and Friends started; Podcast Principles founder Ryan Sullivan and strategic marketing consultant and longtime friend, Andria Younger.

Together they discuss more about what this show is and what Jim is trying to accomplish, why it’s happening and what you can expect in the coming weeks and months.

Episode Highlights:

(0:00) - Introduction

(1:05) - Meeting the guests and the podcast

(10:25) - What drove Jim’s vision to do “something else”

(16:02) - The art of the pivot

(20:11) - Retirement vs. redefining

(23:05) - What’s next for this podcast

(35:14) - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT JIM FIELDING

Jim Fielding began his career on the department store floor, where he discovered a deep passion for face-to-face interaction and customer experience. That early spark launched a career spanning over 30 years in senior executive roles at some of the world’s most iconic retail and media brands, including Gap, Disney Stores, Claire’s, DreamWorks, and 20th Century Fox. Throughout his leadership journey, Jim became widely recognized for his commitment to developing talent and building inclusive, people-first cultures—believing that individuals perform at their best when they can bring their whole, authentic selves to work.

Today, Jim’s full-time focus is on sharing the lessons he’s learned. Through speaking engagements, coaching, writing, advocacy, and community building, he inspires leaders and organizations to create spaces where everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Brad shares the exact content system he uses to go from a single idea to a social media post, a newsletter, and eventually a bestselling book. Plus, why he believes joy, not suffering, is the real secret to sustainable high performance.

In this episode:

• Why Brad measures success by pride in his craft, not book sales
• The "mini essay" method he uses across Instagram, LinkedIn & X to test ideas at scale
• How 52 newsletters a year became the backbone of his book writing process
• Why intensity and joy are not opposites (and what Olympic athletes prove about this)
• The danger of the "1% better every day" mindset and what to do when you hit a plateau
• How to know when to leap from a side passion to a full-time career (and the research that backs it up)
• Why all the interesting growth happens after you stop making obvious progress

Jim and Brad also explore the realities of building a platform as a writer, tailoring the same ideas for different audiences, navigating AI and content saturation, and why excellence is ultimately a practice of self-discovery, not just performance.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome & intro to Brad Stulberg

01:00 – Is The Way of Excellence his best book yet?

03:24 – Brad's content ecosystem: from social posts to books

05:48 – Instagram vs. LinkedIn: same ideas, different audiences

08:54 – Why joy is the most important chapter in a book about excellence

14:06 – How The Way of Excellence came to be

20:31 – Leaving McKinsey: faith vs. evidence in a career leap

47:25 – The biggest trap in the pursuit of excellence

📚 Mentioned in This Episode:

• The Way of Excellence by Brad Stulberg
• Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
• The Science of Happiness course (Yale / Coursera)

Follow Brad Stulberg:

Instagram: @bradstulberg

Website: bradstulberg.com

LinkedIn: Brad Stulberg

✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer:

💼 Instagram: Instagram: https://instagram.com/hijimfielding/

🌐 Podcast: Ask For An Answer

Website: hijimfielding.com

#BradStulberg #TheWayOfExcellence #Excellence #HighPerformance #PersonalDevelopment #Productivity #Mindset #AuthorInterview #AskForAnAnswer #Writing #ContentCreation #Burnout #JoyAndPerformance

Great leaders don’t just hold titles—they inspire change.

On Jim Fielding and Friends, we explore what it truly means to lead and live with authenticity, kindness, and impact.

Each episode brings together leaders who inspire me—leaders, creatives, changemakers, and bold thinkers—people who lead with heart, break barriers, and redefine success. Through candid conversations, we’ll uncover the personal stories, leadership philosophies, and game-changing insights that drive real impact.

This isn’t just a podcast about leadership—it’s about staying constantly curious, learning from people who challenge the status quo, and creating space for real conversations. Whether it’s a Fortune 500 executive, an LGBTQ+ trailblazer, or a visionary entrepreneur, every guest is here for a reason—because I respect them, I’ve learned from them, and I want you to learn from them too.

If you’re looking for honest, insightful, and thought-provoking conversations, pull up a chair—let’s talk.

In this episode of Ask For An Answer, Jim Fielding sits down with leadership coach, speaker, and author Erin Coupe for a deeply honest conversation about burnout, emotional resilience, childhood trauma, parenting, corporate leadership, and the long process of learning how to stop abandoning yourself.

Erin shares the powerful story behind her transformation from high-performing corporate executive to entrepreneur, coach, and author. Raised in a working-class family while caring for a terminally ill father, Erin learned early how to survive, overfunction, and push through pain. But eventually, survival mode stopped working.

Together, Jim and Erin unpack the hidden cost of people-pleasing, the pressure of always being “the strong one,” and why so many successful people secretly feel disconnected from themselves.

This conversation is about reclaiming your energy, choosing intention over performance, and building a life that actually reflects who you are becoming.

In this episode:

• Erin’s journey from corporate leadership to personal reinvention
• How childhood trauma shapes ambition, perfectionism, and burnout
• Why high achievers often struggle with self-worth
• The leadership lessons hidden inside difficult workplaces
• Parenting, emotional awareness, and breaking generational patterns
• What it means to stop outsourcing your power and energy

Jim and Erin also explore the realities of aging parents, emotional healing, identity shifts, and why growth often begins the moment you stop pretending everything is fine.

Chapter Highlights

00:00 – “I’m no longer going to outsource my power”

01:17 – Erin’s origin story and growing up in survival mode

05:14 – Childhood responsibility, caregiving, and emotional maturity

12:40 – Corporate success, burnout, and searching for something deeper

24:32 – Leadership lessons from difficult managers and toxic workplaces

33:10 – Why vulnerability became central to Erin’s work

42:18 – The cost of constantly performing for others

56:20 – The deeper meaning behind I Can Fit That In

57:50 – Parenting, emotional intelligence, and breaking old patterns

This episode is a reminder that healing is not separate from leadership. The way we work, parent, communicate, and show up in relationships is shaped by the stories we carry and the ones we decide to rewrite.

Follow Erin Coupe:

Instagram: @jauthenticallyec

✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer:

💼 Instagram: @jimfielding

🌐 Podcast: Ask For An Answer

In this deeply personal solo episode of Ask For An Answer, Jim shares the real story behind the paperback release of his bestselling book, the emotional impact of being truly seen by readers, and how one vulnerable project unexpectedly transformed into a podcast, a leadership platform, a community, and an entirely new chapter of his life.

Broadcasting from his home office in Atlanta, Jim opens up about the fear, uncertainty, and reinvention that followed his corporate career, why recording the audiobook forced him to confront insecurities he carried for decades, and how authenticity became more than a buzzword. It became survival.

This conversation moves beyond leadership theory and into something far more personal: grief, gratitude, chosen family, creativity, visibility, and the courage to keep evolving publicly.

In this episode:

• The emotional story behind releasing the paperback edition of *All Pride, No Ego*
• Why Jim almost refused to narrate his own audiobook
• The unexpected ripple effect of vulnerability and storytelling
• How radical kindness became the foundation of his work
• What he learned about identity after leaving corporate leadership
• Why community matters more now than ever before

Jim reflects openly on the realities of reinvention, leadership, community, and what it actually takes to keep evolving through every chapter of life.

Chapter Highlights

00:00 – Why Jim decided to record his first solo episode

02:56 – The moment *All Pride, No Ego* started connecting with readers

06:10 – Why the paperback release feels different

10:45 – Recording the audiobook and confronting old insecurities

15:34 – How the book unexpectedly created a movement and community

20:06 – Gratitude, chosen family, and the people behind the journey

22:07 – Launching the League of Radical Kindness

23:49 – What Jim hopes people take from this next chapter

✨Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer:

💼 Instagram: jimfielding

🌐 Podcast: Ask For An Answer

In this episode of Ask For An Answer, Jim Fielding sits down with longtime retail executive Ken Pilot for a candid conversation about the realities behind leadership, brand building, and staying relevant in a constantly evolving industry.

From their early days in the denim business to navigating decades of change across retail, Ken shares what he has learned about decision making, adaptability, and why the fundamentals still matter more than ever.

In this episode:

• How early career experiences shape long-term leadership instincts
• What separates operators from leaders in high-pressure environments
• Why most people misunderstand what drives success in retail
• How to make decisions when there is no clear answer
• What it takes to stay relevant as industries evolve
• The mindset required to build a career that actually lasts

This conversation is about what actually holds up over time. The choices you make, the way you lead, and how you stay steady when everything around you keeps changing.

00:00 – Where it all started in retail

05:42 – Learning by doing and earning your way in

10:18 – The leadership lessons that stick

17:05 – Making decisions without perfect clarity

24:30 – How retail has evolved over time

32:12 – Staying relevant in a changing industry

41:20 – The discipline behind long-term success

52:08 – What leaders need to understand right now

If you are building a career, leading a team, or navigating change in your industry, this conversation offers a grounded and practical look at what it takes to move forward with clarity and confidence.

✨Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer:

💼 Instagram: jimfielding

🌐 Podcast: Ask For An Answer

In this episode of Ask For An Answer, Jim Fielding sits down with Kristen Shelt for a grounded and deeply personal conversation about burnout, identity, and what it actually takes to make a real change in your life.

Kristen shares the experience of reaching a point where doing more, achieving more, and holding it all together no longer worked. What followed wasn’t a quick fix, but a process of stepping back, reassessing, and choosing a different path forward.

Together, they explore the tension between external expectations and internal truth, the challenge of redefining success on your own terms, and how to rebuild your life in a way that feels sustainable, not performative.

This conversation is about paying attention to the signals you’ve been ignoring, having the courage to shift direction, and learning to trust yourself even when the next step isn’t fully clear.

01:12 – How Jim and Kristen Know Each Other and Why This Conversation Matters

06:05 – Recognizing the Moment When Something Has to Change

10:18 – Questioning the Definition of Success You’ve Been Following

15:42 – The Pressure to Keep Performing and the Cost of It

21:10 – Stepping Back and Rebuilding with Intention

28:36 – Boundaries, Energy, and What You Actually Have Capacity For

36:14 – Relearning How to Trust Your Own Decisions

44:02 – What Reinvention Looks Like Beyond the Highlight Reel

52:27 – Moving Forward Without Needing Certainty

Growth does not always look like progress from the outside. Sometimes it looks like slowing down, stepping back, and being honest about what no longer fits. This conversation is an invitation to do exactly that.

✨Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer:

💼 Instagram: jimfielding

🌐 Podcast: Ask For An Answer

What happens when service is taken from you and you choose to serve anyway?

In this episode of Ask For An Answer, Jim Fielding sits down with Bree Fram, former U.S. Space Force Colonel turned congressional candidate, to explore leadership, identity, resilience, and what it means to stand up for democracy in a moment of uncertainty.

After more than two decades of military service, Bree was forced out under a policy targeting transgender service members, despite a record of leadership, innovation, and impact. What followed wasn’t retreat, it was reinvention.

Now running for Congress in Virginia’s 11th District, Bree shares the deeply personal story behind that decision, the weight of public service, and the responsibility to fight for a future where every American has the freedom to live authentically.

Together, Jim and Bree explore courage under pressure, the cost of leadership, the power of authenticity, and the urgent need to bridge division in today’s world.

In this episode:

• What it means to lead when the system turns against you
• The moment that sparked a run for Congress
• Why authenticity unlocks energy, clarity, and impact
• The real challenges of modern leadership and public service
• How to move beyond division and rebuild shared humanity

This is a conversation about courage, conviction, and choosing to lead—especially when it’s hardest.

00:00 – Service, identity, and the fight for freedom

07:00 – The policy that ended Bri’s military career

10:30 – Turning loss into purpose and public service

14:00 – The decision to run for Congress

20:00 – History, democracy, and why this moment matters

38:30 – What campaigning reveals about the system

49:00 – Authenticity, identity, and leadership

52:00 – Bridging division and rebuilding connection

Website: teambree.com

Instagram: @jimfielding

Podcast: Ask For An Answer

If this episode sparked something for you, don’t just agree with it—act on it. Start one conversation, challenge one assumption, or take one step toward being part of the solution.