Ask For An Answer – Details, episodes & analysis

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Ask For An Answer

Jim Fielding

Business

Education

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/10d. Total Eps: 41

ASK FOR AN ANSWER is more than a podcast—it’s a practice space for real leadership. Hosted by Jim Fielding, each episode features an honest, unscripted conversation with a leader facing a real challenge: a hard transition, a high-stakes decision, or a moment when the answers aren’t clear. Together, they work through it in real time with clarity, candor, and a growth mindset. This isn’t abstract theory or polished performance. It’s leadership as it actually happens: live, thoughtful, and grounded in shared insight. More than anything, ASK FOR AN ANSWER captures what it sounds like when leaders stop performing and start thinking—when they lower the armor, ask for help, and trust the process. If you believe leadership is a practice, not a pose, this podcast is for you.

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🇬🇧 Great Britain - management
14/06/2026
#85

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https://www.hijimfielding.com/
15 shares
http://hijimfielding.com/
5 shares
https://pointfoundation.org/
2 shares

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Score global : 69%

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Ryan Stana | From $600 a Week to 7 Global Offices: The RWS Story, Private Equity & Being a Gay CEO in Entertainment | #23

Episode 24

Thursday, June 11, 2026 • Duration 01:12:43

What does it take to build a global live entertainment company from scratch at age 21, with no investors, no loans and two roommates answering your phones for $3 off the utility bill? In this episode, Jim Fielding sits down with Ryan Stana, founder and CEO of RWS Global, the world's premier one-stop shop for live entertainment, to tell the full founder story from a living room in New York City to seven headquarters across the globe.

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:

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

🌐 Podcast: Ask For An Answer

Website: hijimfielding.com

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

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Brent Ridge & Josh Kilmer-Purcell: The Beekman 1802 Boys on Building a $100M Brand From a Bar of Soap, Winning the Amazing Race & What Pride Means in 2026 | #23

Episode 23

Monday, June 8, 2026 • Duration 01:01:59

What does it take to build a $100 million beauty brand from a single bar of goat milk soap on a farm in upstate New York? In this special Pride Month episode, Jim Fielding sits down with both halves of the duo behind Beekman 1802, Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, for one of the most honest, joyful and wide-ranging conversations the show has ever had.

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?"

Beyond Reality TV: Creating Multi-Platform Content with Heady Verse Founder Liza Keckler | #14

Episode 14

Thursday, April 9, 2026 • Duration 51:03

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.

Episode Timestamps:

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.
How a family trip and a conversation with a friend led to the creation of a cross-media studio.

Bold Moves Change Everything: Eva Steortz on Reinvention, Coaching, and Career Courage | #13

Episode 13

Thursday, April 2, 2026 • Duration 52:22

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.

In this episode:

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

Hollywood Success Isn’t Luck: Luis Balaguer on 30 Years with Sofía Vergara | #12

Episode 12

Thursday, March 26, 2026 • Duration 51:41

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:

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.
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.
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.
14:50 – Culture Shock in Hollywood: Navigating the shift from "loud" Latin production meetings to the polished—but often ridiculous—landscape of LA studios.
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.

Immersive Entertainment and the Power of Collective Joy with Vance Garrett | #11

Episode 11

Thursday, March 19, 2026 • Duration 53:25

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.

In this episode:

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

Beyond the Crown: Olivia Jordan on Confidence, Identity, and Starting Over | #10

Episode 10

Thursday, March 12, 2026 • Duration 52:21

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.

Key Takeaways from This Conversation:

Confidence Under Pressure: The surprising mindset lessons learned from the Miss USA stage.
The Power of Pivot: Why Olivia left Hollywood to build a new dream in her hometown.
Modern Motherhood & Healing: How she is rewriting her identity to become a role model for her daughter.
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

🌐Podcast: Ask For An Answer

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Building A Queer Community, One Book at a Time with Adam Powell | #9

Episode 9

Thursday, March 5, 2026 • Duration 49:43

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:

How Our Story grew from a garage startup to a 30+ club national community
The Rainbow Book Bus tour and giving away 8,000 banned books across the U.S.
Boundaries, burnout, and building a business with your partner
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

🌐Podcast: Ask For An Answer

Leadership, Legacy, and Building an Iconic Brand (with Uncle Nearest CBO Katharine Jerkens) | #8

Episode 8

Thursday, February 26, 2026 • Duration 59:02

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:

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

Mentioned in the episode:

The Nearest Green story and the mission behind Uncle Nearest
The Nearest Green Foundation and education legacy
The “HBCU Cocktail” initiative and HBCU Heroes

The Long Way to Belonging with Gerardo Celasco | #7

Episode 7

Thursday, February 19, 2026 • Duration 01:03:22

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:

Growing up between countries, cultures, and expectations
The reality of chasing a creative dream without connections
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.

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