Gen X Amplified with Adrion Porter – Details, episodes & analysis

On this very special episode of Gen X Amplified, I am chatting with writer, 2x creative entrepreneur, and former multi-agency brand strategist Chauncey Zalkin.

As a podcaster, Chauncey is also the host of the groundbreaking podcast Actual People, which is an unfiltered exploration of individual and societal shifts in a world undergoing tremendous change.

During our conversation, Chauncey and I discuss her overall Gen X journey as storyteller, creator, brand strategist, and entrepreneur. And also Chauncey shares personal and professional insights on navigating today's world as a Gen X woman, particularly during midlife and mid-career.

In this episode, Chauncey and I unpack:

• Chauncey's inspirations and motivations for her writing and creativity
• Why Chauncey decided to launch the Actual People podcast
• Chauncey's experiences living in New York during the early 2000s and the golden age of hip-hop
• Why publishing a novel (or two) is her ultimate dream
• Chauncey's very candid and powerful "Suddenly 50: Where We Are & What's Next As Gen X" episode of her podcast
• Chauncey's passions for observing culture through a Gen X lens
• Why Chauncey prefers to work with startups as opposed to larger companies and career pursuits of becoming a CMO
• And more!

Chauncey's Personal Theme Songs

"Clean Slate" by M Ward

"The Final Countdown" by Europe (Honorable Mention)

About Chauncey

Chauncey Zalkin is a writer, 2x creative entrepreneur, former multi-agency brand strategist, and most recently VP then SVP of Marketing at tech startups establishing brand architecture, cross-channel, cross-funnel messaging and operationalizing marketing and building processes for success.

She is also the host of the groundbreaking podcast "Actual People", which is an unfiltered exploration of individual and societal shifts in a world undergoing tremendous change.

In this podcast, Chauncey opens up about her own experiences in order to dive into social and cultural phenomena, positive developments, and collective pain. Each episode is dedicated to meaningful conversations about the evolving landscape of our lives and the power of our own creativity and imagination to make magic.

Chauncey got her start observing culture as founder of a pre-blog era blog called Girl on the street, was nominated for a webby and got some press in places like Teen People, Trace magazine, NY Post, Daily News and then went on to join the ad world at the height of cripsin porter + bogusky's success, and went on to work at 2 other agencies over her career. going into advertising, she's not sure that was the right choice.

She is a writer first and foremost, former multi-agency brand strategist, owned a brand documentary agency which she loved and did for companies like beyond meat and timex, and then went on to be a senior executive marketer for startups. she's since leaned back into pure content and story for herself and select clients that she feels are meaningful in the context of today's culture and building the future.

Her substack is https://chaunceyzalkin.substack.com/ and her website is www.chaunceyzalkin.com.

Actual People can be found wherever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast. There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

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For this very special episode of Gen X Amplified, I have the pleasure of being joined by Ebony Flake, Business Journalist for ESSENCE. What makes this conversation extra amazing is that Ebony graciously featured me in a story she wrote last year as a full-page profile for their annual Men's print Issue.

The story was titled "Gen X Leaders Are Dominating the C-Suite" and it featured insights on how the middle generation is now holding the keys to the boardrooms and shaping the future of work for everyone.

Well, this episode is all about EBONY FLAKE, and her inspirational and intentional career journey. And I couldn't wait to feature her on the podcast, and spotlight her journey as a perfect example of true mid-career mastery.

In this episode, Ebony and I unpack:

• Ebony's discovery of her passion for writing that became the spark for her career path
• Some of the early inflection points and external advocates that helped propel Ebony for a successful career in journalism and writing for ESSENCE
• The various lessons from Ebony's corporate and leadership experience that became valuable throughout her journey
• Why she is a passionate advocate for the experiences and opportunities of the underrepresented, particularly black women in corporate and entrepreneurship
• Why Gen X is the generation that is well suited for meaningful leadership in today's ever-changing world of work
• And more!

Ebony's Personal Theme Song

"Sweet Life" by Frank Ocean

About Ebony

Ebony Flake is a highly acclaimed writer and business reporter covering leadership, careers, and entrepreneurship for ESSENCE. She has been on a passionate mission to also amplify the voices, experiences, triumphs, and challenges faced by Black women in the workplace and beyond.

Previously, as a C-suite reporter for Business Insider, Ebony explored the strategies and successes of high-level executives across various industries.

Before transitioning to journalism, Ebony gained over a decade of HR leadership experience, spanning the food and beverage sector with industry giants including PepsiCo and Tyson Foods to the innovative and agile startup world as HR Director at an Austin-based boutique firm.

Ebony's writings and perspective are grounded in insights gained into corporate culture, talent management, lean startups, and careers.

Additionally, as Entrepreneur-in-Residence with the Ford Foundation, Ebony co-founded and led Urban Content Studios, a content collective offering full-service media for nonprofit clients, including contracts with the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, the Sean Anderson Foundation, and Gleaners Community Food Bank.

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast. There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

Subscribe to Gen X Amplified!

We are back for another #FabulousOver40 edition of Gen X Amplified, featuring my chat with Sunny Bonnell, who is the co-founder and CEO of Motto — one of the top branding agencies in the country.

Sunny is also the co-author of the bestselling book RARE BREED: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different (HarperCollins), which has been hailed as one of the most unique business books of its time and used by global teams everywhere.

During our conversation, Sunny and I discuss her professional journey, her insights on thriving in mid-career, and also unpack the gems and nuggets of her book RARE BREED.

And as mentioned, Sunny also happens to be one of the phenomenal leaders previously featured in the #FabulousOver40 Spotlight Series on LinkedIn.

About Sunny

Sunny is a leadership and brand expert, speaker, and the co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer of MOTTO — one of the top branding agencies in the country.

Along with her fellow MOTTO co-founder Ashleigh Hansberger, Sunny is also the author of the bestselling and highly praised book "RARE BREED: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different."

Through her agency and book, Sunny and team are on a passionate mission to create magnetic brand experiences for promising startups and companies, while also creating a world of rule-breakers and game-changers.

Sunny has a very inspriational and unconventional professional journey.

Growing up in the Appalachian mountains, Sunny started playing guitar at the tender age of eight, and also became a prominent bluegrass player by the time she was eleven.

During her 20s while she was in college, Sunny then stepped out on faith, and launched MOTTO with $250 in order to create a disruptive and differentiated branding agency unlike many others in the industry.

Through MOTTO, Sunny has worked with many top global brands such as Google, Microsoft, Hershey's, and Twentieth Century Fox.

A gifted storyteller and wordsmith, Sunny is a columnist for Inc. Magazine, and is a founding member of the Rolling Stone Culture Council.

She has also been featured by a number of media outlets including Entrepreneur, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Yahoo!, The Breakfast Club, and more.

Sunny is definitely thriving and winning during this meaningful stage in her career.

And the presence of her passion, along with her always visible fedora, will continue to be felt by those who truly choose to change the world.

 

Sunny's Personal Theme Song

• "Don't Kill My Vibe", by Sigrid

 

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast. There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

 

Subscribe to Gen X Amplified!

For this episode of Gen X Amplified, we're back for another #FabulousOver40 Fireside chat edition, featuring Erik Moses, who is currently the Executive Director/CEO of the Fiesta Bowl.

He previously served as the President at Nashville Superspeedway, which is the largest concrete-only track in NASCAR.

Erik is is also one of the recognized leaders in the #FabulousOver40 Spotlight Series on LinkedIn.

As mentioned in his spotlight, when Erik was named president of Nashville Superspeedway in 2020, it marked a watershed moment for representation — as he became the first Black track president in NASCAR history. 

During this episode, Erik and I discuss his professional story, his thoughts on thriving as a seasoned professional in mid-career, and how he made race week at Nashville Superspeedway a "must-attend" destination in the Southeast Region.

• Please note that this interview was conducted prior to him being named the new Executive Director and CEO of the Fiesta Bowl.

About Erik

Erik Moses is the Executive Director/CEO of the Fiesta Bowl. 

Also notable is Erik made history in 2020 when he became the first African-American NASCAR track president.

Because of his successful leadership experience in the world of sports, events, and live entertainment, Erik was hired to revive and renovate the NASCAR track in Nashville— which had been closed since 2011.

One of Erik's grand achievements from the outset was hosting the track's first NASCAR Cup Series during Father's Day weekend in June.

Erik started his career practicing law as an attorney, but then shifted gears to a variety of executive roles in sports and city government within the Washington D.C. area.

Most recently, Erik served as the founding president of the DC Defenders, a member of the XFL professional football league.

Prior to the XFL, Erik was SVP, Managing Director at Events DC, where he develop valuable partnerships with the NCAA, National Hockey League (NHL), MLB, PepsiCo and others.

He also served as the CEO of the DC Sports & Entertainment, Director of the District of Columbia Department of Small and Local Business Development, and as Senior Counsel at AOL.

Erik is a graduate of both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Carolina and Duke University School of Law.

He is a member of the Washington Business Journal Leadership Trust — and was also named to its 2019 Power 100 list.

Erik has also served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University's Sports Industry Management Program for over 10 years.

For much of his life and career, Erik has been the consummate "builder."

Whether it is building relationships, business deals, or a legacy of inspiration — Erik is always striving to render the biggest impact on others.

And that includes building Nashville Superspeedway as not only the "must-attend" destination for NASCAR fans in middle Tennessee…

But also expanding the narrative of NASCAR within diverse communities around the world.

Erik's Personal Theme Song

• "Public Service Announcement", by Jay Z

 

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast. There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

For this very special #FabulousOver40 Fireside Chat edition of the podcast, I am having a conversation with the phenomenal and MACKnificent...Mack Mckelvey — who is the Founder and CEO of SalientMG, a strategic marketing firm focused on accelerating market position for growth stage tech companies...

And also who I had the pleasure of featuring in the #FabulousOver40 Spotlight Series on LinkedIn!

During this episode, Mack and I chat about her professional journey, her passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, the importance of community, and the power of your "name."

 

About Mack

Mack McKelvey is the Founder and CEO of SalientMG, a strategic marketing firm focused on accelerating market position for growth stage tech companies, and also the executive presence and visibility for their respective leaders.

SalientMG's clients have included Rovio (Angry Birds), Etsy, Verizon, Starwood Hotels, UberMedia, Ogury, Caesars Entertainment, ExecOnline, Whitebox and Sparkfly.

A true catalyst of positive disruption at the highest echelon, Mack has been leading transformative teams throughout her 20+ career.

Prior to SalientMG, Mack was the Senior Vice President of Marketing at Millennial Media, from the company's start-up stage through its successful 2012 IPO.

Before Millennial, Mack held senior business and marketing roles at SIRIUS XM, VeriSign, CGI, and British Telecom; she began her career at Lucent Technologies/AT&T.

Mack is also a consistent and relentless advocate for diversity, inclusion, and representation in business, technology, and advertising.

As a thought leader, she is a contributor to Fortune, Entrepreneur, MediaPost, Luxury Daily, CMO.com, and other business and trade publications on leadership, diversity, visibility, management, and marketing innovation.

Mack worked with Business Insider to create the 2016, 2015 and 2014 lists of "The Most Powerful Women in Mobile Advertising".

In 2013 and 2012, Mack was named one of "The Most Powerful Women in Mobile Advertising" by Business Insider.

Mack is also a startup tech advisor, investor, speaker, and business/industry awards' judge.

She serves on the Advisory Boards of technology startups, including Real Atom, a commercial real estate fintech startup based in DC.

Mack is also on the Board of Directors for Creative Spirit, a non-profit which seeks to create jobs for the intellectually and developmentally disabled, and she participates in ACP's US Military Veterans Mentor Program.

 

Mack's Personal Theme Song

• "Return of the Mack", by Mark Morrison

 

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast. There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we are excited to have another special Gen X Amplified LIVE conversation that's all about generations!

That's because I am  joined by Marcie Merriman, who is the Americas Cultural Insights & Consumer Strategy Leader at EY (Ernest & Young). And will be discussing not only her professional journey as a Gen X leader, speaker, and strategist for one of the largest professional services in world, but also the impact of Gen Z in both today's workplace and in the future of work.

Marcie Merriman is EY Americas Cultural Insights & Customer Strategy Leader. She is an internationally recognized leader in cultural anthropology and brand strategy, having her work frequently featured in news publications.

For over 25 years she has been working with teams to anticipate disruption and propel growth through human-centric strategies. She leads practices focused on helping organizations understand the nuances of human behaviors and the organizational implications that can be addressed through improved experiences, including the deployment of digital technologies.

Prior to joining EY, Marcie was an executive at a global fashion retail company and a successful business leader and entrepreneur.

Marcie earned an MBA from Case Western Weatherhead School of Management and a bachelor's degree in Social Science, International Studies, Anthropology & Sociology from Michigan State University.

(Above bio courtesy of EY.com)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Marcie on LinkedIn
• EY.com
• Gen Z Segmentation Study

Marci's Personal Theme Song

• "Right Here, Right Now", by Jesus Jones

Thank you for watching and listening!  

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we are having another special conversation with speaker, author, champion for women, and the Chief Executive Officer of Ebony & Jet Magazine, Michele T. Ghee.

And we will be chatting about the power of nurturing strong relationships, and also how to be resilient during difficult and uncertain times. Such as the current coronavirus pandemic that all of us are going through right now.

Michele T. Ghee is a strategic force inside and outside the bounds of corporate america, having managed more than a billion dollars in revenue for some of the world's largest media companies including: CNN, A&E, The History Channel, The Weather Channel, and BET Networks/BET Her.

Michele now currently serves as the new Chief Executive Officer of the legacy brands Ebony and Jet. Both are iconic and legacy brands founded by John H. Johnson, that celebrate the life of Black America.

Michele is also the author of Stratechic: Life and Career Winning Strategies for Women, Stratechic 2.0: Her Plan. Her Power. Her Purpose, and SUCCESS On Your Terms.

Michele has received a host of honors including the ADCOLOR Change Agent Award, American Advertising Federation Mosaic Role Model of the Year Award, She Runs It Working Mother of the Year Award Class of 2018, and most recently, a Multichannel News 2019 Wonder Woman.

Over her 20-year career, Michele's passion for excellence has allowed her to master the following critical skills: leadership, diversity and inclusion, strategy, transformation (personal and professional), revenue generation, teamwork, work-life balance, and relationship building. And she has spent the last several years speaking across the country and sharing her knowledge with vast audiences.

She is also the proud wife to Tony and blessed mom of Taylor and Jordan.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Michele's Website
• Stratechic Alliance
• Michele on LinkedIn
• Michele on Twitter
• Michele on Instagram
• Stratechic 2.0: Her Plan. Her Power. Her Purpose
• Success: On Your Own Terms

Michele's Personal Theme Song

• "Blessings on Blessings", by Anthony Brown & group therAPy

Thank you for watching and listening!

On this very special episode of Gen X Amplified, we are featuring the video and audio from our premiere livestream event- Building Generational Bridges Through Crisis: A Candid Conversation about the Impact of COVID:19 on all generations, particularly Gen X.

And for this special conversation, Adrion is joined by two friends and phenomenal thought leaders and Gen X Amplified former guests: Lindsey Pollak, multigenerational work expert, NYT bestselling author, speaker, and Thinkers50 Radar Class of 2020, and Tara Jaye Frank, speaker, consultant, Founder at MORE THAN: A Movement, and former Hallmark Cards, Inc. executive.

Currently, we're going through one of the most unprecedented and challenging experiences in our lifetime. The coronavirus, specifically COVID-19, has shaken all of us. from every age, and every generation – both personally and professionally.

Especially for many of us that are in that "middle" such as Gen X, are sandwiched, and building bridges between the older and younger generations… both whom we care deeply for.

And we have a great conversation about it!

Remember, as all generations, we can definitely get through these challenging times. As long as we learn together, grow together, and build together.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Jon Fort of CNBC on Gen X Amplified
• Tara Jaye Frank's Interview on Gen X Amplified
• Tara Jaye Frank's Website
• Tara on LinkedIn
• Lindsey Pollak on Gen X Amplified
• Lindsey Pollak's Website
• Lindsey on LinkedIn

Tara Jaye Frank's COVID-19 Theme Song

• "Venus" by Bananarama

Lindsey Pollak's COVID-19 Theme Song

• "Once in a Lifetime" by Talking Heads

Thank you for watching and listening!

 

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion Porter is joined by Jon Fortt, who is the co-anchor of Squawk Alley on CNBC, and the host of the Fort Knoxx podcast. And they discuss not only Jon's professional journey as a business journalist and anchor, but also his thoughts on the current COVID-19 pandemic and its significant impact on people of all ages.

Adrion and Jon also spend time unpacking how Gen Xers are uniquely positioned to be very effective and powerful leaders that can build bridges across all generations - especially during challenging times such as these.

Jon Fortt is co-anchor of CNBC's "Squawk Alley" (M-F, 11AM-12PM ET) broadcast live from the New York Stock Exchange. Previously, he was an on-air editor based at CNBC's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. Fortt joined CNBC as technology correspondent in July 2010, working from CNBC's Silicon Valley bureau where he covered the companies, start-ups and trends that are driving innovation in the industry. He also contributes to CNBC.com.

He came to CNBC from Fortune magazine, where as a senior writer he covered both large technology companies— such as Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, and Microsoft—and trends, including cloud computing and the smartphone revolution.

Before joining Fortune in 2007, Fortt was a senior editor at Business 2.0magazine where he produced the "What Works" section.

From 1999 to 2006, Fortt wrote and edited at the San Jose Mercury News, Silicon Valley's hometown newspaper. There he contributed to several efforts that won awards from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.

As a personal technology writer, his coverage duties included Apple, Palm and Adobe. He also served in roles outside the business department, covering education, editing local news and developing technology strategy. As the newspaper's senior Web editor, he helped develop a blog and podcast network, managed the creation of multimedia projects and served on the board of the Associated Press Managing Editors.

Fortt graduated from DePauw University as a Media Fellow, with a B.A. in English.

(Above Jon Fortt bio courtesy of cnbc.com)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Squawk Alley on CNBC
• Jon Fortt on LinkedIn
• Jon Fortt on Twitter
• Fort Knoxx Podcast
• Jon's Recent Interview with Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella

Jon's Personal Theme Songs

• "Power Trip", by Lecrae
• "Duck Down!" by The Roots
• "High Hopes" by Panic! At The Disco

Thank you for listening!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we have a conversation with advertising veteran, digital expert, thought leader, and awesome Gen-Xer... the one and only Ian Schafer, who joins Adrion to discuss and unpack his latest venture, Kindred, and its inaugural event Kindred 2020, which will be held on September 14-17 in San Diego.

Kindred, is an events-based startup that focuses on bringing together brands, nonprofits, and cultural leaders to accelerate sustainable, purpose-led business transformation. 

Ian Schafer has been named a "Media Maven" by Advertising Age, one of Campaign Magazine's "40 over 40",  and the "Best CEO on Social Media" by the Shorty Awards.

He has been at the forefront of media, content, advertising and marketing since 1997 - including being the founder, CEO, and Global Chairman of the influential advertising agency Deep Focus - which had been the winner of numerous accolades including Cannes Lions, Webby, and Emmy Awards.   However, Ian recently mad a major career pivot ,and is now focused on harnessing the collective power of culture to make positive impact in the world through his new venture as the co-founder and CEO of Kindred.   During this episode Ian talks about not only his professional journey as an entrepreneur, but also why his passion for making social change led him to launch Kindred. And why it's critical for businesses to join other companies, communities and cultural leaders, to embrace a purpose-led approach to accelerate solving the world's problems.   Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Kindred.live
• Kindred on Twitter
• Ian on Twitter
• Ian on LinkedIn
• Ian on Twitter
• Comic Relief USA

Ian's Personal Theme Song

• "Easy", by The Commodores

Thank you for listening!