Camera Ready & Abel

How to Stand Out in a Saturated World: Barbara Barna Abel on Sales is Not a Dirty Word

This episode is a rebroadcast of my conversation with Aleasha Bahr on her Sales is Not a Dirty Word podcast about all the many ways to Stand Out in a Saturated World. 

It’s extremely rare to be first or even early so a saturated marketplace is something we all have to live and work with. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and some days, defeated, but please know, from the core of my being, there is room for you. 

Key takeaways

• Let go of trying to fit into the mainstream. There is no mainstream anymore. 
• Find your audience (who needs and wants what you do) and adapt your message to them.
• Focus on the value of what you do and how it makes your audience's life better.
• Understand what lights you up so you can light up others.
• Be present and demonstrate you’re actively engaged. 
• Be bold - bold means showing up to be seen. It has nothing to do with loud or outrageous. 
• Work on your Presence to increase your confidence, connection and charisma (coaching helps)

For more Sales is Not A Dirty Word visit https://sndw.aleashabahr.com/

Read The Charisma Myth and download the workbook.

Prepare & Practice to Pursue Your Dream: Barbara Barna Abel on Second Act Actors

This episode is a rebroadcast of my appearance on Dr. Janet McMordie's Second Act Actors, the podcast for people who have made a major life or career change into acting. I discovered this information is meaningful across many fields and disciplines.

 

Janet and I discussed:

• The hows and whys of preparation and practice
• The importance of giving yourself permission to pursue your dream
• The myth of natural talent
• Why everyone needs to nurture and develop their skills
• The beauty and power of being a Latebloomer

Stick to the end because I share a lot of valuable advice and strategies you don't want to miss.

 

For more Second Act Actors visit: 

https://www.youtube.com/@secondactactors

I Have Skills, Now What Do I Do With Them? with Jolene Latimer

This episode is brought to you by the phrase, I have skills, now what do I do with them?

Follow up question number one is: Who needs what I've got? 

Here to discuss is the multi-talented Jolene Latimer, whose superpower is her ability to get to the heart of a story. Jolene asked herself: How do I leverage my skills? How do I get better? How do I become the person I know I can be? and shares the strategies and steps she took to pursue her dream and break into major media.

Key takeaways

 

• Identify your strengths
• Align your skills with your passion
• Prioritize developing meaningful relationships
• Partner with people who know more than you and listen
• Go hyperniche
• Small steps lead to big moments
• Learn as you go - never stop studying
• Remember: you have the skills, you can adapt!

Jolene is a writer, producer and sports journalist with a Masters in Journalism from USC. Jolene has covered major events like the Winter Olympics, World Series, and the NBA Awards and her byline has appeared in the Associated Press, CBC, USA Today, PEOPLE, and TeenVogue.  

 

Check out Jolene's work by visiting https://jolenelatimer.com/ and connect with Jolene on instagram.

 

To build on these strategic steps, listen to Brian Baltazar Think Like a Producer

Question Everything with Danielle Robay

Everyone from Socrates to Euripedes to Virgil Abloh has commanded us to Question Everything. My guest for this episode, television host and professional interviewer Danielle Robay, figured out early on that questions are a superpower - and all of us can develop and tap into it. 

At a critical time in Danielle's career, when she was rebounding from the dream job that turned out to be a soul crushing mistake, she turned her superpower inward, asking herself five thoughtful questions per day, and emerged more confident and more clear and committed to her path.

Danielle shares...

• what she learned from her worst interview ever 
• what she learned from her mentor Larry King
• how to prepare for an interview
• how to ask for an interview

and her favorite quote from Shirley Chisholm: Service is the rent you pay for a room on this earth.

Watch and listen to Danielle's video podcast PRETTYSMART, her love letter to bold, inquisitive women who have something to say.

Stay in touch with Danielle on Instagram at @daniellerobay and check out her other offerings:

QUESTION EVERYTHING CARD GAME link for purchase: https://prettysmartshop.com/collections/shop/products/question-everything-card-deck-1

PRETTYSMART podcast link: https://pod.link/prettysmart

Nothing Appears As It Seems with Laura Geller

I am thrilled to be joined by Laura Geller on this episode Camera Ready & Abel discussing the wise words of her father: Nothing Appears As It Seems.

Translation: There's always more to the story than meets the eye. Don't compare and despair.

Laura is the legendary founder of Laura Geller Beauty. Laura began her career as a makeup artist, often working on TV and with Broadway actors before launching her hugely successful makeup line on QVC in 1997.

Key takeaways:

• Do your homework!
• Know and observe all your competitors
• Identify what is different about you AND/OR your product
• Do a soft launch on social media to gain Proof of Concept
• Mind your own business: Know and understand the financing backend and frontend 
• Find a mentor
• Talk to your audience/customer where they are
• Innovate, don't imitate
• Create opportunities by joining professional organizations 

Laura is a member of Forbes 50 over 50 and QVC's 50 and Fabulous - a testament to her great success - but as she’ll remind you, her success did not come overnight. Laura's resilience and ability to weather the storms along the way have helped give her profound appreciation for her success. 

Laura delivers a masterclass in playing the long game, and most importantly, YOUR long game. 

Visit www.laurageller.com for more information about Laura’s products and follow her on Instagram at @lauragellerbeauty and @aurajgeller.

Full disclosure: I wear Laura's products every day <3

How to be CEO of Your Own Life with Franchesca Ramsey

Feeling a little stuck? Need to change your energy? My guest for this episode, actor-writer-sought after public speaker-instagram slayer, Franchesca Ramsey, delivers a Master Class in how to reenergize, refocus, get back in alignment to bring back the joy and make your goals happen. 

In short, how to be CEO of your own life.

Franchesca is a highly successful creator. But she didn't start there and she generously shares the steps she took to evolve from her career as a graphic designer working for the City of Miami to making YouTube videos to creating and starring in the award-winning MTV series, DeCoded, to being a writer-correspondent for The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore to the triple threat, full-on CEO of her own life she is today. 

Key takeaways:

• Don't wait for permission - take initiative!
• Be someone people want to work with
• Be a generous connector
• Keep a wins jar
• Focus on goals you can control

Enjoy Franchesca on instagram and Visit www.franchesca.net to get more of Franchesca’s gems. While you're there check out her NAACP-nominated book, Well That Escalated Quickly, one of Amazon’s best books of 2018. 

Good news! All of the Camera Ready & Abel episodes + grab-n-go clips of inspiration and actionable insights are now available on YouTube. 

How to Find Your Drive with Raquel Bruno

This episode of Camera Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase How to Find Your Drive because there is great power in finding what ignites you as you develop a life and career you can sustain with joy and excitement.

Here to discuss is Raquel Bruno, founder, president, and CEO of Drive Entertainment Group whose tagline Thrive With Drive gives you a glimpse into her intentional and proactive approach to helping others take their career to new heights. Raquel is a TV, film, and digital producer,  talent booking savant, media and creator coach, and a popular DJ on Twitch who has worked with all A-list talent in media & arts from Lady Gaga to RUN DMC, launched TV Land, Co-Produced Emmy-nominated TV Specials & content and booked various film documentaries.

Raquel’s conversation goes beyond how to find your drive, she also opens up about what to do when you’ve misplaced it. 

You can learn more about Raquel’s work at driveentertainmentgroup.com and follow her on Instagram at @raquellovesdrive.

Why You Need to Think Like a Producer with Brian Balthazar

In my years as a casting director and talent development executive, I've observed that the secret to many of the most successful hosts and performers is that they understand how television production works and how their part of the show (or segment) fits into something larger than themselves.

I saw this first hand when I booked my guest for this episode, Brian Balthazar, on Page Six TV back in the day, and he was always so great because he knew how to make good TV. 

It's a treat to have him discuss and share actionable insights on how to think like a producer because Brian has built an impressive career simultaneously in front and behind the camera as a television host, producer and network executive.

Brian is the executive producer and founder of Balthazar Entertainment, specializing in compelling lifestyle programming including Christina on the Coast and Tough Love with Hilary Farr for HGTV and My Dream Kitchen with Carla Hall on Food Network. Brian oversaw the launch of the fourth of Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda where he later became a beloved guest dishing pop culture and trends, was a co-executive producer of The View and was a vice president at Discovery Networks (now Warner Brothers Discovery) where he oversaw mega hits like Flip or Flop and my favorite, Love It or List It. 

Key takeaways

• Production is not personal (even though it often feels that way)
• Never go to a pitch meeting with only one idea (your idea isn't that unique)
• If you are pitching yourself as talent, start self-producing examples on social media 
• There is not one right way to succeed. Find the way that is right for you.
• Be grateful for the opportunities

Follow Brian on Instagram at @brianbalthazar…trust me, he’s a fun poster!

Life is About Moments with Brian Medavoy

It's a truism in coaching that we learn something from everyone we meet. I learned a ton from my conversation with award-winning producer, manager, and Hollywood Navigator, Brian Medavoy and I learn something new every time I listen to this episode: Life is about moments.

Because it's the little wins, the moments, that add up to something bigger. There's no Olympics, World Cup, World Series, Super Bowl or Oscars without the moments that add up to get there. 

Key Takeaways:

• Moments gets you out of your head and into the present
• Moments gets you away from being results-focused
• Success is measured by what we do for others.
• The best way to get a person's attention is to help them. 
• You can learn a lot from an Oscar winning actress or an actor, but you can learn a lot more from what he or she did before they became really successful

As a personal manager, Brian Medavoy has had a hand in the careers of Ryan Reynolds, Toby McGuire, Josh Brolin, David Schwimmer, Jason Bateman and Maria Bello, among others + developed and produced TV classics like Dharma and Greg, The Single Guy, and Just Shoot Me. Brian is also the writer of an insightful and generous blog, Welcome to Hollywood.

Resources mentioned by Brian in this episode:

The Five Minute Journal

Building a Second Brain - Tiago Forte

Late night legend Dick Cavette interviews jazz legend Oscar Peterson 

Brian Medavoy's Business Plan for Actors

Build Discipline, Embrace Fear with Eric Cogorno

This is another one of my "asking for a friend" episodes. I thought you'd be as interested in me in learning how performance golf coach, Eric Cogorno, built a 7-figure business with his popular YouTube channel and online training platform, cogornogolf.com.

I got that and so much more: A masterclass in working through fear, setting goals, writing a detailed 10-year plan that includes income projections, the power of meditation and daily visualizations and showing up consistently even when you feel like quitting. 

Eric credits having a great creative partner, Mary Lengle, reading Feel the Fear...and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers and following Jim Rohn's Goal Setting Method.

The result is deeply inspiring and totally actionable. 

Also visit Eric's second channel Lessons I've Learned with Eric Cogorno including this keeper: The Secret to Stopping Fear & Anxiety.

Marketing: If You Build It and You TELL People About It, They Will Come with Brian Patacca

This episode with life, business and career coach, Brian Patacca, has been one of my go-to's ever since he shared this nugget with me: Marketing is going public with your gifts and being seen for your gifts. If you build it and you tell people about it, they will come.

Grab your journal. Brian and I begin with marketing and end with dignity and respect. 

Along the way, Brian reframes the entire concept of marketing around generosity and purpose:

• Be determined each day, not to leave your function unfulfilled.
• Clarity is kindness and kindness is clarity - banish the vague and wishy washy and ASK.
• Your creativity is your birthright and the world is a better place when you are doing what you are called to do.
• Effective marketing does 3 things, makes you FEEL something, makes you DO something, makes you NOTICE something.
• Don't be afraid of the word No. Hearing No frees you to focus your energy on where you'll find your Yes.

Brian is a spiritual practitioner who engages creative professionals seeking to ignite their businesses with fierce accountability, marketing innovation and soul satisfying success. He is the founder of a coaching organization and creative community with locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. Now based in Los Angeles, Brian coaches nationwide in several web-based group courses including his latest programs, Agent Goals and Actor Operating System. 

Get more Brian by tuning into his podcast at www.BrianBreaksCharacter.com and download his free guide to 23 stories of people growing their networks in unusual ways that you can put into practice, at  supersneakyauditons.com.

Everything You Need to Know About Sales with Aleasha Bahr

I used to think sales was a dirty word, especially when it came to selling myself and my services. I know I'm not alone in this, which is why I am excited about this episode with Aleasha Bahr who shares everything you need to know about sales. 

We're all in sales - whether you're selling yourself to an employer in an audition or job interview or pitching your idea to a network or for financing or trying to get your boss or team to buy into your idea. 

Aleasha is a woman in a male-dominated industry who is calling out the common lies in sales - primarily, that sales is a one-size-fits-all proposition and that you have to do things that feel “weird” or "yucky" and out of alignment to close the deal.

Aleasha says embrace the Black Sheep Sales Method instead:

• Find your tribe and thrive (because if it's a fit, it's a fact)
• Ask yourself: what are better questions I could be asking?
• Put yourselves in your customer's shoes (empathy)
• Focus on what makes your customer's life better/easier
• Customize your pitch to motivate your customer
• Prioritize building relationships and you naturally sell yourself
• Try different approaches to see what works best for you
• Be mindful of reputation management

Try this action step: I am going to innovate my approach to pitching myself by innovating my approach to ______ (fill in the blank). Aleasha explains how around 25 minutes into the episode.

Learn How to Sell Like a Natural via Aleasha's Sales is NOT a Dirty Word podcast + so much more on Aleasha's website including how you can work with her.

Listen to Aleasha and me discuss How to Stand Out in a Saturated World.

Creativity is a Transferable Skill with Ed Bazalgette

Creativity is the ability to create, produce, or develop original work theories, techniques, thoughts and ways of seeing. You are creative, whether you tap into it or not, and you take your creativity wherever you go, and I think it's often overlooked how valuable creativity is as a transferable skill: the abilities you take from job to job.

Here to discuss is BAFTA-nominated television director, Ed Bazalgette, who exemplifies creativity as a transferable skill, having first found success as a musician, then editor, and now director and producer. I first met Ed when he was the lead guitarist for The Vapors, supporting their global hit, Turning Japanese, and I've been a super fan ever since. Please do yourself a favor and check out the power-pop majesty of their full albums, New Clear Days and Magnets.

Ed's directing credits include Dr. Who, Poldark, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, and The Witcher. 

Ed opened my eyes in so many ways:

• stay humble
• there's room for more than one person's creativity on a project
• creating an environment that fosters sharing creative ideas serves the project
• leadership, communications and soft skills are essential
• never stop learning and questioning what's in service of the story
• combine a let's try it! mentality with discipline
• the ripple effect of creativity as a transferable skill because the more you put out there, the more everybody working with you takes with them to the next thing they do

Ed's currently in post-production on Marie Antoinette for PBS.

For more on creativity, listen to Maria Brito discuss how Creativity Rules the World.

For more on breaking into directing, listen to Mike Simon discuss Directing Talent.

How to Build a Sustainable and Successful Career with Producers Roni Selig and Marcie Mulé

If you want to know how to build a sustainable and successful career, then look no further because this episode of Camera Ready & Abel delivers a masterclass from 2 titans of the unscripted television world, Roni Selig and Marcie Mulé.

Roni is a multi-Emmy-winning producer whose credits span from GMA to CNN most recently launched a new digital platform for The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and executive produced The Call to Unite, a 24-hour global livestream event, hosted by Tim Shriver in response to the COVID 19 pandemic.  

Marcie is a two-time Emmy-winning producer for the Bravo series Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List and the former co-founder of Picture This Television, a full -service production company that created programming for Bravo, Lifetime, TLC, Food Network, MTV and PBS.  

Now Roni and Marcie have joined forces to create RonMar Studios Inc, producing innovative unscripted content from long form documentaries and reality programs to digital fundraisers, live streams including and musical performances. These legends dive into the role their rugged, resourceful, and resilient work ethic played in growing and sustaining a successful career. 

Learn more about RonMar Studios Inc. by visiting their website at www.ronmarstudios.com and check out their impressive body of work.

Feeling stuck? Try unlearning your need for approval with Chris Witherspoon

This is one of my favorite evergreen episodes.

Chris Witherspoon is an entertainment journalist, producer, entrepreneur and CEO of PopViewers who taught me how his career soared to the next level when he unlearned the importance of seeking approval. Instead of looking outward he focused inward on his approval matrix: Feeling happy, great in his own skin, confident and loving his work.

As a recovering people pleaser I know firsthand how much time and energy is wasted seeking approval.

Chris has overcome enormous challenges to create his life and career. Therapy, digging dip and doing the hard work helped Chris learn to let go of needing approval. So did listening to the sage advice of two very wise women:

Sister Harden (14:17) - one of the church muthas at his congregation growing up in Ohio - told Chris before he left for college, “If you don’t see the example, be the example."

Oprah has a soft spot for Chris as an interviewer and shared with him how, when the chips are down and you feel you're at rock bottom, go sit under a tree, get settled and at peace with the moment so you can receive the answers you seek (21:13) and how early in her career she  sacrificed her authenticity and integrity in exchange for approval and never made that mistake again (25:54).

Bonus tip: Oprah always repeats your name when you interview her. So does Barack Obama. 

More key takeaways:

Ask what makes you happy?

Ask what makes you feel alive?

Ask what makes you jump out of bed in the morning?

Ask for help - it's an act of bravery.

Chris is the founder and CEO of PopViewers, the platform that helps you find what to watch next, invites you to react to the TV and movies you’ve watched, and encourages you to share the experience with fellow content-lovers.

Follow Chris on instagram @witherspoonc and connect on LinkedIn.

Determination with Shannon O'Dowd

My guest for this episode, Shannon O'Dowd, has one of the most unique perspectives of the camera-ready universe of anyone I've ever interviewed because her experience covers every aspect of the industry both in-front of and behind the camera. Shannon is an on-camera host, commercial spokesperson, actor, media trainer, certified life coach, author, CEO of Shannon O'Dowd Presents and agent with Taylor Talent Services.

When Shannon says determination is essential for success, she knows what she's talking about. She also revealed:

• Being a performing and earning a living at it is one of the most challenging things you can do
• If you wake up in the morning and there is anything else that you wanna do for a living, you should go do that
• Be coachable and open to feedback - it's as important as your determination
• Learn to adjust your vision and pivot with purpose (you'll reap the rewards)
• Ask yourself: Who do I need to know? and Who needs to know me?

Follow Shannon on Instagram @theshannonodowd.  

Explore Shannon’s brand positioning course 

Visit Taylor Talent Services 

Listen to Shannon's partner, Blair Taylor discuss How To Create Opportunity and Make Money

How to Seize the Opportunity with Hena Doba

Seizing opportunity is essential to getting ahead in media and entertainment. It is not a passive, I-think-I'll-wait-until-it-comes-to-me kind of a business.

You not only have to seize the day - carpe your diem - you have to do something with the opportunity if you want to move forward in your life and career.

My guest for this episode, Hena Doba, generously walks me through how she did just that, going from a local news producer, behind the camera in Watertown, NY, to anchor and contributor on national programs from CBS News (where she became one of the first Pakistani anchors in America) to Cheddar (where we met) to NewsNation where Hena now hosts the weekend edition of Morning in America. 

Key takeaways:

• Be adaptable
• Take smart risks
• Listen to feedback
• Invest in training
• Learn how to write and tell a story
• Know how to use video and communicate with your audience through a lens
• Observe industry standards (as well as the competition)
• Know the competition
• Study your weaknesses
• Work through insecurities
• Play to your strengths

Connect with Hena on Instagram and LinkedIn.

If you have a word, phrase, or topic you'd like me to explore on Camera Ready & Abel, please shoot me a note by my website or send me a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn.

How to Stay in the Room with Buki Elegbede

It's one thing to get in the room. It's a whole other strategy to stay there. Here to discuss and go deep is multi-Emmy award winning television host, producer and journalist, Buki Elegbede.

Buki shares that when you get in the room it feels good and it's a cause for celebration but it's only base camp. You've still got a whole mountain to climb. 

• Be prepared to play the long game
• When the industry shuts down, you don't shut down - you hone your craft and strategize
• Embrace delayed gratification and know that the rewards will come later
• Ask yourself: and then what?
• Stay ready so you never have to get ready
• Focus on relationships

Buki is the creator/host/executive producer of the Emmy award winning Table for All, which takes you into NJ restaurants and home kitchens to try new cuisines, meet the people and hear their fascinating stories behind the recipes, serving up a cinematic docu-series focusing on culture and diversity. Buki has also produced content for ABC, ESPN, Create TV, PBS, Disney and Health Magazine + has produced & hosted docu-series, talk shows, panel shows and LIVE events. 

Watch Table for All with Buki Elegbede, check out Work Ethic is a Supower, Buki’s previous episode of Camera Ready & Abel and follow Buki on IG @thebukishow.

How to Know When You Are Ready For Your Big Break with Kamie Crawford

This episode of Camera, Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase, How to Know When You Are Ready for Your Big Break. It's an important question to ponder because, let's face it, the world is full of people you don't remember who flamed out because they weren't ready. And it's very hard to get a second chance, especially in the entertainment arena. But it's not impossible.

My guest for this episode is Kamie Crawford - television and podcast host, content creator, genuine influencer, body positivity activist, former Miss Teen USA, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition Rookie of the Year and host of Catfish on MTV - who generously opens up about how unprepared she was the first time we met at an audition for E!. 

Kamie was a 19-year old college student who made an enormous impression on me that day. She had that ineffable quality, that IT factor, but she wasn't ready for her TV break yet. Unbeknownst to be, Kamie was a puddle of nerves and tears on her way to my office.

With enormous candor and vulnerability, Kamie explains how she struggled to learn how to connect to herself in order to connect to the camera, the content and the audience to build her career.  By the time Kamie auditioned for Catfish on MTV, she blew them away. Her confidence was through the roof and she owned it. There was no one else who could step into that role like she could, and Kamie quickly became a fan favorite. 

Key takeaways:

• It's okay to say I'm not ready 
• Learn the difference between caution and fear
• Focus on doing the work of developing your craft - and stick with it
• Build connections and find people who can help you
• When you are ready mentally, emotionally and physically the dots will connect and opportunities will come to you

Have fun and keep up with Kamie at www.kamiecrawford.com, on Instagram, in Sports Illustrated and her check out her podcast Relationsh*t.

If you want to feel confident and prepared for your big break - or your next presentation - I'd love to work with you. Shoot me a note via my website abelintermedia.com. 

Redefining Success with Leila Sbitani

This episode of Camera Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase Redefining Success, a personal, perennial favorite of mine. The Berkeley Wellbeing Institute defines success as: reaching your goals, learning something new or overcoming fear. If that's what success is, why don't we all feel massively successful?

My guest for this episode, Leila Sbitani, is a beloved TV host, media coach and teacher with one of the best workshops in New York City (I highly recommend). Her list of credits is a mile long. Highlights include: Entertainment Tonight, Full Frontal Fashion, FYE for E! and most recently Sit Down With the Stars for Regal Cinemas.

Leila says success happened for her when she "had to get rid of that kind of rigid career plan that I had for myself and realize that if I would just let go of that and open myself up to unexpected opportunities, wonderful things can happen.” 

She then had to dig deep and redefine success for herself when a cousin, at a family gathering, turned to her and said, "oh, it never really happened for you did it?" Her cousin was equating fame with success, that because Leila wasn't a household name she hadn't "made it."

This is a false narrative. Fame does not equal success. Nor do followers and likes. 

If you are making a living as a performer - television host, presenter, actor, voice artist etc - you are successful. 

Celebrate your wins. 

Learn more about Leila and her classes + private coaching (virtual and in person) at https://www.leilasbitani.com/media-training and follow @leilasbitani on all platforms.

Permission with Barbara Barna Abel

I've wanted to explore the word permission ever since Marki Costello asked this most relevant question on her episode of Camera Ready and Abel: Are you prepared to walk in the room and kick ass?

Why permission?

Because after you explore all the ways to prepare to kick ass like getting your talking points and marketing assets together, plus a cute outfit and flattering makeup, the salient question is:

Do you give yourself permission to walk in the room and kick ass?

Permission means to grant authorization or to give formal consent and it's key to your preparation. Depending on where and when you grew up, your gender, ethnicity, and lived experience, your gremlin may be popping up to shut you down.

No one can give you permission to carpe your diem except you. 

Repeat after me: I give myself permission to walk in the room and kick ass!

If it helps, remind yourself when you kick ass you're sharing your gifts - and that's helpful. You're providing something valuable that your audience needs. Hold onto that. Figure out the steps you need to take in order to prepare, and then give yourself permission to go after what you want.

How to Land Your Dream Job with Elizabeth Wagmeister

This episode is brought to you by the phrase, How to Land Your Dream Job. It's a rebroadcast of my episode with Elizabeth Wagmeister and was originally titled, Resilient, because Elizabeth rightly believes being resilient is a key to success.

It's been a joy to know and work with Elizabeth since we met when I was casting Page Six TV and she became one of the hosts. Elizabeth is a consummate professional and genuine pleasure - and makes the work look easy.

But as Elizabeth points out, hard-work creates luck. As a little girl, Elizabeth dreamed of being a dancer. She tried out for the dance team but didn't make it. She tried out again - and again and again - until she made the team and went on to become nationally ranked. 

As so many of my guests have shared on Camera Ready and Abel: Learn from the disappointment, make adjustments and keep going.

When Elizabeth and I originally recorded this episode, she was the senior correspondent at Variety (responsible for numerous covers + breaking the Matt Lauer story with Ramin Setoodeh). Now Elizabeth is CNN's Los Angeles-based entertainment correspondent.

No matter what your dream job is, Elizabeth beautifully walks you through the best practices, strategies, and steps to get it, including this gem: No matter what your ambitions are, be good at the job you were hired to do. Always have your boss's back.

Follow Elizabeth at @ewagmeister.

Preparation with Marki Costello

Winners don’t wing it, they prepare for it!

I believe this so much it's tip #12 in my 12 Tips for Success On-Camera (and off)

Here to join me for a rollicking conversation about how preparation makes and breaks careers is the legendary talent manager, casting director, media trainer and CEO of Become A Host, the premier TV hosting Academy, Marki Costello.

Marki pulls back the curtain on how TV really gets made, what executives are really looking for, how and why one of the secrets to billionaires' success is they prepare (!) and how that mindset is what sets talent with sustainable careers apart from everybody else. 

She pulls no punches: Are you prepared to walk in the room and kick ass? Are you prepared for the constant changes in the industry? 

Oh, and she's hilarious. 

Her 3 Rs: Reveal - Relatable - Ratings are GOLD.

Marki is the granddaughter of Hollywood royalty, the great comedic talent, Lou Costello, and got her start in the industry working on Chuck Barris', The Gong Show. She has media trained dozens of a-listers like Kelly Clarkson, Ceelo Green, and Michael Strahan. She is the author of Become a Host: the Insight Secrets used by every successful television host and was the star of her own reality series, the Drama Queen on E!

Follow Marki on instagram https://www.instagram.com/markicostello/ and learn about classes and bootcamps at becomeahost.com.

How to Craft an Amazing Speech or Presentation with Barbara Barna Abel & Kim Rittberg

This episode is a rebroadcast of my appearance on Kim Rittberg’s The Exit Interview podcast, where we discussed how to craft an amazing speech or presentation. In our conversation I offer practical tips for delivering a powerful and clear message while mining the G.A.P. (Goal Audience Platform), which is a shorthand reminder to adapt your delivery based on the audience and the platform.

Kim is a digital marketing strategist, social media and video expert, an on-camera media coach and public speaker with a proven track record and 500 million video views. Kim formerly launched and ran the video unit for US Weekly and is now the Founder & Principal at Henry Street Media which helps companies, individuals and publishers of all sizes expand their brand and maximize revenue through unforgettable content and communications.

Learn more about Kim and her services at www.kimrittberg.com and check out her previous appearance on Camera Ready & Abel titled, The Secrets to Creating Social Video that Gets Noticed.

How to Know Your Worth with Bianca Jade

Knowing your worth and believing you are worthy is essential for happiness and wellbeing according to Psychology Today.  When your self-worth depends on external situations it can get unstable, especially in the Camera Ready & Abel space. Knowing your value in the marketplace and having the confidence to ask for what you're worth are also key. Joining me to dive deep and discuss is Health & Wellness Expert and TV/Digital Host, Bianca Jade, who advocates for female empowerment and transformation as the visionary founder and CEO of mizzfit.com.

Bianca delivers forecasts and insights on emerging trends within the beauty, health, and fashion domains for various national syndications, local news programs and HSN where she serves as a brand ambassador and guest host and her valuable takeaways are an on-camera career blueprint:

• Be strategic, be patient and play the long game
• Seize opportunities
• Be willing to take lower pay in exchange for gaining experience, developing skills & confidence and building relationships
• Take inventory of your strengths and be persistent (Bianca auditioned for HSN over 60 times before being hired by a brand)
• Be discoverable and broadcast your wins
• Know your brand, know the trends and be able to speak to them
• Start niche then expand 
• Provide consistent value to your clients and your audience

Bianca consistently produces inspirational and captivating content for her hundreds of thousands of followers (including me) with the aim of boosting confidence, morale, and purpose. 

Visit Bianca at mizzfit.com and follow her on instagram. 

Learn more tips on How to Get Discovered with Vinnie Potestivo.

Submit to be an HSN host here.

How to Manage Your Stress & Anxiety with Marta Ravin, Dr. Heather Hans, and Patricia Stark

This episode is brought to you by the phrase, How to Manage Your Stress and Anxiety- a Camera Ready evergreen topic featuring actionable advice from Podcast guests Marta Ravin, Dr. Heather Hans, and Patricia Stark.

The World Health Organization defines stress as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Anxiety is defined by Oxford Languages as a feeling of worry, nervousness or unease typically about an imminent event with an uncertain outcome and can produce physical symptoms like increased heart rate and muscle tension. 

Stop and read the room with Marta Ravin. Marta is an Emmy nominated executive producer and showrunner and sought after keynote speaker who started her career in standup comedy. She has been sharing compelling stories, producing iconic content and making people laugh for her entire career. You can learn more at www.martaravinproductions.com and be sure to check out Marta's previous episode on Camera Ready and Abel, How to Read the Room.

Switch your thoughts like you switch your tv channels with Dr. Heather Hans. Heather is a licensed clinical social worker & psychotherapist, Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional, Certified Intuitive Coach & Holistic Healer, and recovering CPA. She empowers individuals and organizations to perform at their highest  potential. Learn more about overcoming anxiety naturally in Heather's online course, Create Profitable Relationships by Mastering Anxiety and other great resources via her website www.heatherhans.com. You can check out Heather’s full episode on Camera Ready & Abel titled, Love You Anxiety. 

And finally, keep calm and carry on with Patricia Stark and her hot tips on calming product must-haves. Patricia Stark works on both sides of the camera and stage as a Media Trainer, Public Speaking Trainer, Certified Body Language Specialist and Calmfidence® Coach. After helping thousands of students and clients find their own voices and abilities, she made her methods available in CALMFIDENCE: How to Trust Yourself, Tame Your Inner Critic, and Shine in Any Spotlight—a comprehensive guide to improving self-talk and outward communication skills in any social interaction with calm and confidence. For more about Patricia hop on over to PatriciaStark.com and listen to our full conversation in her episode titled, Calmfidence®.

It Gets Greater Later with Bevy Smith

This encore episode of Camera Ready and Abel is brought to you by the phrase It Gets Greater Later, which is the signature mantra of the divine Bevy Smith who first came on the podcast in late 2021. 

Quintessential Harlem girl, Gracie Award winner, and life-long New Yorker, Bevy is the host of Sirius XM’s “Bevelations” on Radio Andy and the author of “Bevelations: Lessons from a Mutha, Auntie, Bestie,” where she generously lays out, step-by-step, how she successfully transitioned from a highly lucrative career as a fashion advertising executive to on-camera personality and media mogul, proving you can manifest your most bodacious dreams. Bevy is also a beloved motivational speaker, brand ambassador, businesswoman and generous mentor.

Her signature quote, “It gets greater later!”  lives above my desk.

Get more Bevy at www.bevysmith.com and check out her impactful talk on the TED mainstage  titled, How To Discover Your Authentic Self At Any Age, at the link below:

https://www.ted.com/talks/bevy_smith_how_to_discover_your_authentic_self_at_any_age?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

Imperfect Success: Stop Shoulding Yourself with Barbara Barna Abel & Nicole Baker

This episode is a rebroadcast of my appearance on Life Coach Nicole Baker's Imperfect Success podcast, discussing one of my favorite topics, stop shoulding yourself.

We all have an inner critic that likes to should on us. Your shoulds are a list of false rules you tell yourself that feed your narrative but ultimately hold you back, such as, I should be more productive, thinner, disciplined, etc.

My shoulds are often a loud discussion inside my head and I’ve finally learned to turn down the volume. Break free from the trap of unrealistic expectations and learn how to stand out amongst the crowd in this reboardcasted conversation with me and Life Coach Baker.

Get more Imperfect Success podcast at www.lifecoachbaker.com/podcast.

How to Read the Room with Marta Ravin

This episode is brought to you by the phrase, how to read the room, an essential skill for everyone whether you're giving a presentation or a speech, going to a meeting or job interview or audition, leading your team or asking your boss for a raise...

Here to discuss is returning champion Marta Ravin. Marta is an Emmy nominated executive producer and showrunner and sought after keynote speaker who started her career in standup comedy, which is where we first met, and where Marta honed her exceptional skills in how to read the room.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines reading the room as to be or become aware of the opinions and attitudes of a group of people that you are talking to. How do you do this? It’s a sensory experience, explains Marta, and requires you to be present in the moment and attuned to the energy of the space, taking in information with all 5 senses.

3 key takeaways:

• You have the power to shift the mood of the room and can pivot at any time by engaging the audience with questions.
• When possible, study up on who your audience is. Take to social media, review websites, Google them so you are prepared with talking points that they will connect to.
• Reading the Zoom is harder than reading the room. Put your best foot forward and leave your camera on, let people know you are present and engaged…besides, you are Camera Ready!

Marta has been sharing compelling stories, producing iconic content and making people laugh for her entire career. You can learn more at www.martaravinproductions.com and be sure to check out Marta's previous episode on Camera Ready and Abel focused on timing.

Why Everyone Should Take a Commercial Acting with Brooke Thomas & Mary Egan Callahan

The directive to just be yourself can be easier said than done when it comes to lights, camera, actions but in some arena’s it’s critical to your success and as Brooke and Mary have said in the past, “honesty is the most attractive thing people want to see on camera.”

This episode is brought to you by the phrase, Why everyone should take a commercial acting class. Here to discuss are legendary commercial casting directors and teachers, Brooke Thomas and Mary Egan Callahan.  

Brooke Thomas and Mary Egan Callahan are veteran commercial casting directors based in New York City who began their careers over 20 years ago at Liz Lewis Casting. Mary is now the co-owner of House Casting NY and after recognizing a need for more personalized casting services Brooke went on to form Brooke Thomas Casting. These power houses come together to teach a word-of-mouth, always-sold-out, award-winning commercial class for aspiring actors, many of whom are top notch-talent on the NYC improv and comedy scene and have gone on to achieve amazing success in television and film. So you are in for an exclusive treat!

Key takeaways:

• It’s about being yourself, not a character.
• Add a little bit of yourself to what the copy editor wrote, have fun with it!
• Bring to mind who it is that you are talking to and talk to them.
• Confidence is everything. Confidence is not cocky. 

I encourage all of my clients and students to study commercial acting along with comedy improv. Brooke and Mary remind us that commercials offer great work that can be lucrative, respected, and fun.

Get more Brooke at brookethomascasting.com and Mary at housecasting.com.

How to Create Opportunity and Make Money with Blair Taylor

This episode of Camera Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase, How to Create Opportunity and Make Money. 

My insightful - and delightful - guest is talent agent Blair Taylor, CEO of Taylor Talent Services, who has been innovating and creating opportunities for his clients for over 25 years.

Blair has built a successful career by accessing opportunities untapped by traditional agents. He has represented commercial actors and spokespeople for national and international campaigns for some of the world's most recognizable companies, including McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Chevy, Trucks, and Verizon, as well as direct response campaigns and celebrity endorsements for folks like Robert Hajek of Shark Tank and NFL, legend Joe Montana, plus several of the Kardashian Jenner clan, including Kim, Chris, Kylie, and Kendall.

Key takeaways:

• Invest in relationships, they have an invaluable return on investment.
• Break the rules…gently.
• Having followers and influence are not one in the same. Gaining followers is a result of the quality of your work and having influence means you have a subject area expertise.
• The entertainment business is like an iceberg- all the work is underneath the glitz and the glam.

Connect with Blair at taylortalentservices.com.

Listen to Blair discussing where to find TV Hosting Jobs with Nicole Sellars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqzO0qYe3hk 

Listen to me discussing mastering auditions and million dollar deals on Lights Camera Cash with Nicole Sellars https://camerareadyandabel.podbean.com/e/lights-camera-cash-with-nicole-sellars/

Measure Your Inchstones with Angela Marie Hutchinson

This mini episode is brought to you by the phrase, Measure Your Inchstones, which was a gem that Angela Marie Hutchinson shared with me on her episode of this podcast.

We all know about milestones, even if we forget to mark them. A milestone is defined as an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development. Angela opened my eyes to the beauty and power of measuring your inchstones, the small, incremental essential steps you take daily, weekly, monthly, and even yearly that move you forward in a meaningful way toward achieving your goals.

Focus on this: Progress is success.

I hope you enjoy this reminder as much as I did!

Angela Marie Hutchinson is a showrunner, screenwriter, producer, television host, working mom and former talent agent. Want to hear more of her insights?!

READ her book, Create Your Yes- http://createyouryes.com/

WATCH her TEDx talk, Create Your Own Yes, When You Keep Hearing No- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8XQ6N94aZc

LISTEN to her full Camera Ready & Abel episode- https://camerareadyandabel.podbean.com/e/create-your-yes-with-angela-marie-hutchinson/

Unsubscribing from Perfectionism with Nicole Baker

This is one of my favorite asking for a friend episodes. When Nicole Baker - host of the Imperfect Success podcast and a coach who helps high achievers ditch perfectionism, cut out hustle culture, and start achieving their goals with fun, fulfillment, and a whole lotta free time - connected with me, I immediately thought, this woman has wisdom I need to hear.

So many highlights and takeaways to Unsubscribing from Perfectionism:

• Perfectionism is often the root cause of procrastination
• Our success often = our worth = trapped in hustle culture
• You can’t get to 100 without steps 1-99
• Learn to take up space and own that space with joy!
• Your schedule is the secret to getting more done in less time (and the secret to learning to say no)
• The past does not equal the present unless you live there - change is always possible.

Nicole walking through in detail how she identifies and implements her weekly milestone goals in service of her big Everest Goal is a gift at 36 min.

Nicole is the CEO of Life Coach Baker and the host of the top 2.5% globally ranked podcast Imperfect Success. Learn more at www.lifecoachbaker.com/

The Secrets to Creating Social Video that Gets Noticed with Kim Rittberg

On this episode of Camera Ready & Abel the highly engaging Kim Rittberg teaches how to crack the code of creating social video that gets noticed.

Because as Kim says, if you're hiding from the camera, you're hiding from clients.

Kim's simple strategy is based on her Four Cs:

• Confidence
• Concise
• Consistency
• Creativity

and she gives a big permission to let go of perfection, focus on value and don't get hung up on all the technology. Keep it simple with a ring light and a microphone and easy, user-friendly apps like CapCut and InShot - or outsource!

Kim is a digital marketing strategist, social media and video expert, an on-camera media coach and public speaker with a proven track record and 500 million video views. Kim formerly launched and ran the video unit for US Weekly and is now the Founder & Principal at Henry Street Media which helps companies, individuals and publishers of all sizes expand their brand and maximize revenue through unforgettable content and communications.

Learn more about Kim and her services and download her Top Ten Tips to Create Awesome Video at www.kimrittberg.com.

Lights Camera Cash with Nicole Sellars

Relationships: It’s Who Knows You!

The topic of relationships come up often in my conversations on Camera Ready & Abel. This is no surprise since media and entertainment are relationship-driven industries. People like to work with people they know and trust to to get the work done on time, on budget and well executed. It's also a fact that media and entertainment are referral driven businesses, and people recommend people they know, like, and trust.

So I've pulled together a best-of featuring snippets from my conversations with Emily Grace, J.D. Durkin, Buki Elegbede, and Matthew Hoffman who all advanced their careers in MAJOR ways by nurturing relationships that turned into opportunities because of the people who knew them. 

Career coach and Sundance award-winning actress, Emily Grace, tells us how she got her break as an actor, in the role that won her the award at Sundance, without an agent!

J.D. Durkin, host and reporter at the New York Stock Exchange for the financial news site The Street who previously created the Washington Bureau for Cheddar News when he was their White House correspondent explains how he came to Washington as an outsider with zero contacts and developed key relationships by being patient and doing simple things that no one else seemed to be doing.

Television host, producer and journalist, Buki Elegbede, moved from behind the camera to in front when he won PBS’ Create Cooking Challenge and it was the relationships that were formed there that helped launch him to the next level and create Table For All with Buki Elegbede which was nominated for multiple Emmy awards this year!

TV host, media personality and popular narrator, Matthew Hoffman, got his big break when he was invited to audition to be the official narrator of the US version of the UK TV smash Love Island. Matthew was competing with household name talent and felt there was absolutely no way he was ever going to book the job, but he was so honored to be invited to audition that he decided to go all out for it, not to get hired, but to maintain his relationship with the casting team and production company so that they would call him again for the next opportunity. Matthew's story inspires me every time I listen to it. Matthew, like Buki, knows his being industrious is a superpower.

My conversations with Emily, J.D., Buki, and Matthew are bound together by the phrase, Relationships: It’s Who Knows You! 

If you are looking for help tapping into your super-powers and advancing your career, I am here for you! Please send me a note via my website abelintermedia.com and be sure to download my free ebook, 12 Tips for Success on Camera.

Play to Your Strengths with Sean DeSimone

My dear friend, Sean De Simone, is back on the podcast and we are discussing the phrase, Play to Your Strengths. This comes up in all areas of our business from coaching to casting to the courses we teach.

My favorite definition of Play to Your Strengths is: Do what you are able to do well, instead of trying to do other things. Sounds simple but so often we waste energy on trying to conform to a narrow ideal - The Shoulds - that we miss the opportunity to highlight our unique value and what makes us stand out.

Preparing for this episode I stumbled on playtoyourstrengths.org, a not-for-profit with a mission to help people thrive in life - my kind of people! - and they say understanding your unique strengths empowers you to greater success; working within your strengths produces energy and passion. 

If you haven't met Sean, he is a casting director and TV hosting coach who has cast all of the hosts for QVC and HSN for the past 15 years and works with major brands in the beauty, fashion, cook and tech spaces.

Key takeaway: Identifying your strengths is not bragging. It's smart, strategic and helpful.

Camera Ready and Confident with Barbara Barna Abel & Vinnie Potestivo

Camera Ready and Confident is a rebroadcast of my guest appearance on Vinnie Potestivo's I Have a Podcast two years ago, shortly after the launch of Camera Ready and Abel.

Vinnie is my dear friend, co-conspirator and Emmy Award-winning media advisor who helps people and their business get seen and heard. Vinnie and I met years ago when we were talent executives at MTV Networks. 

Listening back to this episode I can hear how far I've come as a podcaster which is reminder that consistent practice pays off.

In our conversation we take a trip down memory lane about our years at MTV Networks, and then get down to it with tips and insights on how to be camera ready and confident, including: 

• breaking through your fears
• breathing
• practicing out loud
• taming your gremlin
• developing the stamina to be on camera

If you're looking for help with how you can be more confident and camera ready, please shoot me a note via my website abelintermedia.com. And be sure to download my free ebook, 12 Tips for Success On-Camera (And Off).

Listen to more episodes of I Have A Podcast with Vinnie Potestivo at ihaveapodcast.com.

Daily Disciplines with J.D. Durkin

This episode of Camera Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase Daily Disciplines. According to success.com being a high performer is the result of your daily disciplines.

Here to discuss is my friend, journalist, J.D. Durkin, who opens up and shares the personal details of how developing his daily disciplines with intention helped him navigate his career, work through challenging times in his life and evolve as a human being.

J.D. is a host and reporter at the New York Stock Exchange for the financial news site The Street, the investment app Public, and a regular guest on CBS News. He previously served as the White House and Capitol Hill correspondent for Cheddar, and anchored a nightly national news show after hosting and co-creating the documentary series The Pivot Counties. He is a moderator and host at various fintech and business conferences, including Collision, Politicon, and Web Summit in both Brazil and Portugal. Before his time in Washington, he was Senior Editor for Mediaite. 

Key takeaways:

• Understanding urgency vs importance
• Having the time vs making the time
• Loving the climb up the mountain
• Study those who have gone before you
• Everyone's trying to figure it out (you're not alone)
• The will to win is a mindset
• Every battle's won before it's even begun

Get more J.D. at www.instagram.com/jd_durkin + www.linkedin.com/in/j-d-durkin

Am I Allowed to Say That with Karith Foster

I get asked all the time by clients and students Am I allowed to say that??

It used to be we were afraid of causing offense or being inappropriate, now add to that the very real fear of being canceled.

I'm very happy to have this timely conversation with a bonafide expert on the subject, Karith Foster, who is a diversity engagement specialist and creator of the groundbreaking INVERSITY™ methodology and other signature programs. 

Karith is also a humorist, author, television and radio personality, producer and entrepreneur who's been on all sides of this issue and is revolutionizing the way we address issues of diversity and leadership.

Key Takeaways:

• Deepen the impact of DEI by adding Belonging
• Call someone in versus call someone out
• Choose: You can be perfect or you can be happy
• Remember: If you can laugh at it, you can get through it.

+

C.A.R.E 

• Conscious Empathy
• Active Listening
• Responsible Reactions
• Environmental Awareness. 

Learn more at www.inversitysolutions.com + https://www.instagram.com/karithfoster/

How to Talk to Anyone with Crystal Jones

Humans are social creatures and yet it can be mighty hard to talk to people. It's a serious challenge - when you Google, how to talk to anyone, 455 million hits come up.

Here to discuss is my dear friend Crystal Jones, who is the associate director of Major Gifts for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and who talks to people all day, every day for a living and talks them into making serious donations.

The alternative title to this episode of Camera Ready & Abel could have been How to talk to anyone...and get them to give you money because what Crystal expertly shares is invaluable advice if you are looking for financing for your project.

 

You hear a lot of nos on the road to yes. Crystal says the key to talking to anybody and building relationships is shared values, strategy, and integrity. And persistence.

Takeaways

• Good communication begins with active listening 
• Be curious and create connection
• Do your research
• Be ready when someone asks how can I help you?
• Tune into energy
• Demonstrate empathy
• Stay grounded and humble
• Always say thank you

Connect with Crystal on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-k-jones-she-her-a373114/

Question Everything with Danielle Robay

Everyone from Socrates to Euripedes to Virgil Abloh has commanded us to Question Everything. My guest for this episode, television host and professional interviewer Danielle Robay, figured out early on that questions are a superpower - and all of us can develop and tap into it. 

At a critical time in Danielle's career, when she was rebounding from the dream job that turned out to be a soul crushing mistake, she turned her superpower inward, asking herself five thoughtful questions per day, and emerged more confident and more clear and committed to her path.

Danielle shares...

• what she learned from her worst interview ever 
• what she learned from her mentor Larry King
• how to prepare for an interview
• how to ask for an interview

and her favorite quote from Shirley Chisholm: Service is the rent you pay for a room on this earth.

Watch and listen to Danielle's video podcast PRETTYSMART, her love letter to bold, inquisitive women who have something to say.

Stay in touch with Danielle on Instagram at @daniellerobay and check out her other offerings:

QUESTION EVERYTHING CARD GAME link for purchase: https://prettysmartshop.com/collections/shop/products/question-everything-card-deck-1

PRETTYSMART podcast link: https://pod.link/prettysmart

The 3 M’s: Mastery, Marketing & Mindset with Wendy Alane Wright

Mastery = deep, comprehensive knowledge or skill which is the difference between knowing how to do something and doing that something extremely well.

Marketing = the activity or business of promoting and selling products or services.

Mindset = the established set of attitudes held by someone

Here to discuss the 3 M’s is Wendy Alane Wright - acting career coach, Hollywood talent manager and founder of the Hollywood Winners Circle Academy and the Talent Managers for Actors (TMFA) conference. Wendy knows what she's talking about. She coaches tens of thousands of actors around the world through her immensely popular YouTube channel, secrets of a Hollywood Talent Manager, as well as the over 100,000 members in her Facebook group. Wendy is also a writer for Backstage.com and a frequent guest on industry podcasts.

In our conversation Wendy shares the importance of training the courage muscle by taking contrary action; doing the opposite of what your fear is telling you to do.  Her message is powerful and her tips are tangible.

If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done.

Wendy has created a proven strategy for replicating success and has converted hundreds of coaching clients into network series regulars, guest stars, co-stars, supporting and lead actors in feature films. Learn more at hollywoodwinnerscircle.com.

Interested in joining the Hollywood Winners Circle Academy? Wendy is offering a 50% off sale right now, so don’t miss out!

Follow Wendy on Instagram at @Wendyalane1.

Work Ethic is a Superpower with Buki Elegbede

Several guests have said this to me: Working harder IS working smarter. 

My guest for this episode of Camera Ready & Abel - multi Emmy nominated Television Host, Producer and journalist, Buki Elegbede - says his Work Ethic is his Superpower.

Buki believes his work ethic is what has given him a competitive advantage in an industry that is saturated with talent. As he says, quoting Milton Berle, “when opportunity doesn't knock, build your own door.”

More takeaways:

• Work ethic includes working smart and trusting your gut
• As a producer putting together the right team is everything
• Learn what everybody does, the value to the team and respect it
• With the right team in place you can go to the stratosphere
• Preparation, preparation, preparation

Buki also jokes that for Christmas he's going to ask Santa for audacity.

Buki is the Creator/Host/Executive Producer of Emmy-nominated Table for All, which takes you into NJ restaurants and home kitchens to try new cuisines, meet the people and hear their fascinating stories behind the recipes, serving up a cinematic docu-series focusing on culture and diversity. 

Buki has also produced content for ABC, ESPN, Create TV, PBS, Disney and Health Magazine + has produced & hosted docu-series, talk shows, panel shows and LIVE events. 

You can check out Table for All episodes at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiZ284L7DnPGhaAOLNpUmup807brb2iGS

Follow Buki on IG @thebukishow

Write Your Dream Role with Emily Grace

This episode of Camera Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase Write Your Dream Role, an action at the heart of creating opportunity. A core principle of being camera ready.

My guest for this episode is Emily Grace - a career coach and Sundance award-winning actress - who lives the mantra:

Why wait? Don't ask for permission. Go do.

Because that's what Emily did. She learned hard lessons as an actor going from making a big splash to fizzle and went on a mission to figure out how the industry actually works, identify what she didn't know and needed to learn and create her own success.

7 Key Takeaways:      

• The hardest part of getting started is getting started
• Take the first step – even if it’s in the wrong direction because you’ll gain clarity and valuable information
• You can create something out of nothing
• You really don’t know what you don’t know so find a coach, take a class, read books, study
• Get out of The Frustration Loop by asking for help
• Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Issa Rae are inspiring case studies of people who wrote their dream roles to success
• An essential part of building relationships is following up

+

Emily explains how she got her first lead in a film without an agent (25:14)

Learn more about Emily’s programs

Write Your Dream Role https://pickfordwest.lpages.co/write-your-dream-role-free-video/  

Short Film Digital Lab https://pickfordwest.lpages.co/short-film-lab-digital/

Reach out and connect with Emily on her Instagram @theonlyemilygrace.

Industry Trends with Mark Turner

Trends and market changes - like emerging technologies and shifts in consumer behavior impact every industry -  and are hitting entertainment and media particularly hard right now. 

 

Here to discuss both the opportunities and challenges of current industry trends is legendary agent Mark Turner, who currently serves as a Partner and Vice President of programming, digital media licensing, branding and head of unscripted talent at A3 Artists Agency. 

 

Mark started his storied career after graduating from Connecticut College as an assistant to the head of the commercial department at Abrams Artist Agency in New York, and was quickly promoted to agent and started the Host/Broadcast Division. Over the last two decades, that department has morphed into a one-stop shop for all things under the non-fiction umbrella. Mark has represented top on-air host experts, personalities, producers, and digital influencers in all aspects of unscripted TV and digital, and has placed talent literally everywhere.

Learn more about Mark https://www.a3artistsagency.com/.

Balance with Erin Palinski-Wade

I grew up with an imbalanced idea of what life balance is, thinking all the different parts had to be in equal amounts. What a huge relief and step forward when I met my guest for this episode, Erin Palinski-Wade, who helped me understand balance is about having the correct proportions.

Erin is the ultimate multi-hyphenate:  a nationally recognized nutrition, diabetes, and fitness expert, author, TEDx speaker, business owner, frequent television guest, and busy mom of three, who also happens to be a huge content creator sharing real life nutrition advice and recipes on her successful TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram channels. 

Key takeaways:

• figure out how to make it work for you when the opportunity arises
• preparation through trial and error allows you to say yes to last-minute opportunities
• Don't be afraid to say NO if you are not well-versed and credible in a topic even if it would be "great exposure"
• Look at your adaptable skills 
• As a content creator, prioritize discoverability over likes

Keep up with Erin and follow on any of the platforms below:

Instagram: http://instagram.com/erinpalinskiwade

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tiktoknutritionist

YouTube: https://youtube.com/healthymomhappyfamily 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealthyMomHappierFamily 

Learn more about her books by visiting www.erinpalinski.com: "Belly Fat Diet For Dummies," "2 Day Diabetes Diet," "Walking the Weight Off For Dummies"

On Message with Johanna Maska

Being on message means saying things that agree with the official position of a political party, organization, business, or brand…and most importantly, being true to your own message!

My guest for this episode, Johanna Maska, is an expert bar none on the how and why of being On Message.

Johanna shaped the message and image of Barack Obama, beginning with the Iowa caucuses in 2007, all the way through being White House Director of Press advance until 2015, and recently launched her podcast, Press Advance, which debuted in the top ten and is getting rave reviews from both Democrats and Republicans.

Johanna lives the motto of the first Obama campaign: Respect, Empower, Include and says the message of her podcast is listening - listening to really smart people who I disagree with or who I agree with, but it's listening and trying to figure out how in this moment we actually press advance to tackle the big issues that really matter.

More takeaways:

• open your heart and mind to other perspectives and points of view, especially those you disagree with
• hold space to let others speak for themselves
• pay attention to the news that actually matters (even if you have to search for it)
• intention: always try to do better
• understand the difference between opinions and facts
• don't be afraid to break some eggs!

Johanna is the CEO of Global Situation Room - a highly respected public relations firm - and is a political contributor to NewsNation, appearing frequently on their 5pm (eastern) program, The Hill.

Listen to Press Advance

Connect with Johanna on LinkedIn

Learn more at Global Situation Room and JohannaMaska.com

Industrious with Matthew Hoffman

This feel great episode is brought to you by the word industrious which means diligent and hardworking, and also implies a habitual devotion to the work, which in the Camera, Ready & Abel universe is one of the keys to success.

This episode could also have been called Industrious: How to Get the Gig! because my guest, TV host, narrator, and media personality, Matthew Hoffman, generously - and hilariously - walks me step by step through how he landed the gig that propelled him to the next level, narrating and co-writing Love Island USA for CBS and Netflix. Hint: he focused on what he could control and put his energy not into getting the gig, but winning the hearts of the producers, casting directors and network executives (this part of the conversation starts around the 19 minute mark.)

Key Takeaways:

• working hard is working smart
• learn the power of saying no
• know your why and who you are doing it for
• finding joy in giving with no expectation of reward
• you have to build a life outside of waiting for your big break

Matthew's distinctive voice can also be heard as the co-creator, series producer, and host of Previously On...The Official Love Island USA Podcast for ITV America and Peacock, as well as the Co-creator and host of Love Notes, a LIVE weekly radio show for Amazon Amp. His diverse professional portfolio includes serving as a special correspondent for Extra and the host of Sit Down with the Stars for Regal Cinemas, as well as an investor in theatrical productions such as The National Tour of Magic Mike Live and the Broadway Productions of Life of Pi, Merrily We Roll Along in NYC, and Prima Facie…to name a few.

Bonus: If you are looking for an uplifting, heart-centered piece of content then be sure to check-out Tuesdays With Matthew, a volunteer program founded by Matthew for Senior Citizens who recreate famous scenes from iconic movies and read this glowing piece in the New York Times.

Keep up with Matthew at:

IG: @matthewhoffman.tv

Website: www.matthewhoffman.tv/

Matthew's Love Island USA greatest hits season 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QJgPjVbE9Y

You Choose! with Beth Schiff

Life is a series of choices. To choose means to select freely after consideration, to decide upon, to vote (important reminder!), to have a preference. This implies both freedom and responsibility.

Joining me to discuss on Camera Ready & Abel to discuss the phrase You Choose! is legendary Talent Executive, Producer and Casting Director, Beth Schiff, who believes in the power of choosing so much she named her business You Choose Creative.

Beth has more than twenty years in the entertainment industry, and for over 12 of those years led the casting team on Food Networks' juggernaut, Chopped, developed by our dear podcast friend, Dave Noll, and his partner Cleve Keller, and for the past two years has shaped the talent at Yahoo Creative Studios.

Beth reminded me that in any creative endeavor the rule of Fast-Good-Cheap applies. If you want Fast + Good, it won't be cheap. If you want Good + Cheap it won't be fast. If you want Fast + Cheap it most definitely won't be good. You get two out of three. You choose.

More key takeaways:

• Perspectives are always different
• Everyone can benefit from comedy improv training + media training
• Practice! Record yourself and do mirror work
• Be discoverable
• Be memorable because no means not now and we'll call you again next time
• Get out of your head by thinking about what makes you smile

In addition to uncovering and shaping compelling stories for TV, branded content, podcasts, events, and corporate projects, Beth is producing a documentary about climate change and our food system coming out late 2023.

Connect with Beth via Instagram and LinkedIn.

Alignment with Tamiko White

“Alignment is a real place,” shares my guest Tamiko White who joins me on this episode of Camera Ready & Abel to discuss the journey to alignment.

Tamiko White is the founder of White Noise Consulting and creator of #NOWTrending, a branding course and community for entrepreneurs. She is a fashion and media entrepreneur, creative brand consultant and writer who has worked with an impressive list of clients over the past 30 years- in front of the camera and behind the seams- to help everyone she works with build an inedible and profitable brand.

 

Tamiko has built a thriving and impactful business by aligning her values, skills, and interests.

Sometimes we are gently veering off the road and have to constantly tweak the wheel to stay on track. Tamiko is here to be your life mechanic and help keep you on the road to alignment one daily habit at a time.

Fun fact, Tamiko has been a hand model for 25 years and has played the hands of Viola Davis’! 

Learn more about Tamiko and her course #NOWTRENDING:

Website: www.tamikowhite.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tamikowhite/

#NOWTRENDING: https://tamikowhite.kartra.com/page/NOWTrending23

How to Pitch with Dave Noll

If you're thinking I'm not in sales or I'm not a creative, I'm never going to pitch anything, think again!

As my guest for this episode, Dave Noll, says, life's a pitch, life's a series of pitches...whether it's love or work or anything important. Selling anything, creating anything, anything important in life comes with a pitch.

Dave knows what he's talking about. He and his partner, Cleve Keller, are the mega-successful creators and producers of Chopped (the most successful show in the history of the Food Network) and America Says (the most successful show in the history of the Game Show Network) plus 60 other shows that went from idea to successful pitch.

Dave lives by these Four P's: Positive, polite, persistent, professional.

More Dave nuggets:

• Research, research, research! It's the end all and be all of a great pitch
• Rehearse what you are pitching
• Rehearse your pitch in front of someone and ask them to flag anything negative that seeps in
• Reframe any negatives into positives
• Identify that one thing that is going to make you memorable and be clear on that one thing
• One extraordinary idea can change your life
• Always ask: What about this...?

Dave's book, The Visionary in Charge, comes out fall 2023.

Enjoy Dave explaining the power and impact of positivity in this episode of Camera Ready & Abel.

Connect and follow Dave at www.linkedin.com/davenolltv

Dave recommends two of his favorite books: Jerry Weintraub's When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead and The Last Great Ride by Brandon Tartikoff, former NBC programming chief.

Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat with Alice Ford

Dreams only become reality when we actually are curious enough to start implementing and making them happen. - Alice Ford

I say all the time that I'd be sitting in my villa in Tangier right now if I had a dollar or ten for every single person I've encountered who said I want to host a travel show. My guest for this episode, award winning host, adventure filmmaker and stunt woman, Alice Ford, created a travel show and turned it into a viable business.

Alice says curiosity is the key to all of it.

Curiosity not only didn't kill the cat, it made the cat smarter and more confident, according to Alice.

Key takeaways

• You can turn your curiosity into a career
• Curiosity allows you to be open to new opportunities
• Share your curiosity with others
• Ask questions!
• Be curious to start doing it, creating it, exploring it
• Know the limits/boundaries of your curiosity (ask yourself is this safe? how does my curiosity impact others?)

Alice's impressive resume is built on her exercising her curiosity. She is a self-described adrenaline junkie who has hiked some of the world’s tallest mountains, gone swimming with sharks, jumped out of airplanes, repelled down cliff sides and traveled solo all over the world documenting every moment for her award-winning series Alice’s Adventures on Earth, AND Alice has worked as a stuntwoman on some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters over the last decade including Spiderman - No Way Home, Transformers 4 & 5, Star Trek Into Darkness, Red Notice and Tenet.

Get more curious about Alice: alicesadventuresonearth.com (website), AliceFordAdventures (youtube), AlicesAdventuresonEarth (instagram)

Civility with Kristi Spencer

I am a card-carrying etiquette nerd along with my guest, for this episode, Kristi Spencer, who spent over two decades working in the rough and tumble world of local news before becoming a certified business etiquette expert and launching her business The Polite Company.

Why does it matter?

Good manners are good for business. Good manners minimize or prevent problems with reputation and employee/client retention (which impact the bottom line), make you more memorable and good manners are key to building relationships, the foundation of all business.

9 Key takeaways:

• Assume good intentions
• Etiquette is built on consideration, respect and honesty
• Empowering etiquette means knowing how and when to ask for what you want
• Learn to disagree politely
• Rudeness is a two-way street (self-audit)
• Don't correct other people's bad manners if they're not in your immediate family
• You have two seconds to tell someone you've heard that story before
• Kindness and listening have a positive ripple effect
• Only say sorry when you really mean it

Kristi is a passionate advocate for workplace civility and professionalism and is regularly called on to provide etiquette expertise for media outlets. Learn more about Kristi's services at www.thepolitecompany.com.

Dealing with Bozos and Bullies with Iggy Perillo

The title of this episode of Camera Ready & Abel - Dealing with Bozos and Bullies - tells you a lot about my guest for this episode. Iggy Perillo, founder of WSL Leadership, helps leaders and educators do right by their people with warmth, humor and compassion, training them to do the hardest part of great work more easily, through group and one-on-one coaching masterminds and experiential workshops designed to make it simple for them to connect with their people, create meaningful change and amplify positive culture.

Because research shows positive work cultures lead to more innovation, growth and profit (and less stress).

You've probably encountered at least a few bozos and bullies in your life. I know I have. Iggy makes it clear your perception is a matter or perspective. More key takeaways:

• Power dynamics are real
• It really does start at the top
• We're all doing the best with what we have
• Leaders must promote psychological safety
• A thriving workplace requires cognitive empathy
• Know when to flex versus when to be flexible.

Learn more about Iggy's transformational work at https://www.wslleadership.com/

Here are the books we discuss inspired by Iggy's Books Applied Podcast 

Quit - Annie Duke

Mindset - Carol Dweck

Peak - Anders Ericsson

Atomic Habits - James Clear

Dare to Lead - Brene Brown

The Dawn of Everything - David Graeber and David Wengrow

The Creative Act - Rick Rubin

The Forty Rules of Love - Elif Shafak

Pachinko - Min Jin Lee 

Talent is Overrated - Geoffrey Colvin 

Latebloomers - Rick Karlgaard

The War of Art - Steven Pressfield

The Artists Journey - Steven Pressfield

Do the Work - Steven Pressfield

Turning Pro - Steven Pressfield

Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t - Steven Pressfield

Laughter On Call with Dani Klein Modisett

Dani Klein Modisett is a comedian, actor, author and accidental entrepreneur who (accidentally) founded, Laughter On Call - a company that runs innovative, interactive workshops for individuals and organizations rooted in mental wellness, designed to foster connection through shared laughter, by combining compassion with comedy to boost morale - when she saw the positive impact comedy had on her mother when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. 

Since the company's founding in 2018, more than 20,000 people have been through the Laughter on Call program and it's now the subject of a Harvard Case Study.

I learned so much from this conversation. Key takeaways:

• Comedy is a craft that you can study and develop
• Comedy requires courage and a unique point of view 
• Slipping on a banana peel is universally funny
• Puppies are universally joyful and comforting
• Leaders create psychological safety by making vulnerability okay
• Yes AND will move you forward. Yes but or yeah maybe keep you stuck
• Surround yourself with Yes AND people
• Create opportunity

Visit Laughter On Call to learn more about their individual and group services or how your company can make Laughter On Call part of your benefits package.

On Brand Part 2: It’s Always an Audition

On this episode of Camera Ready & Abel my conversion with Aliza Licht continues but this time I am in the guest seat as I re-air my interview on her podcast, Leave Your Mark. This episode is brought to you by the phrase, it's always an audition, because no matter the career field you are in, a job interview is an audition. 

What makes a great audition? First off, to recognize that it starts the minute you walk into the building, so be memorable and be delightful. Leave the room better than you found it. Even if you don't land the gig, you'll make an impression that may pay dividends in the future.

Nuggets of wisdom shared in this episode became the seeds for what has grown to be Chapter 7 of Aliza’s new book ON BRAND: shape your narrative, share your vision, shift their perception, in which I was honored to be a contributor.

Aliza Licht is an award-winning marketer, bestselling author, podcaster, personal branding expert, and the founder of LEAVE YOUR MARK, a multimedia brand and consultancy. Learn more about Aliza and her check out her new book at www.alizalicht.com.

On Brand with Aliza Licht

Problem: What's my personal brand?

Solution: Aliza Licht, my guest for this episode of Camera Ready & Abel discussing her new book, ON BRAND: shape your narrative, share your vision, shift their perception.

Aliza explains being on brand means you have a clear understanding of what you align with, what it is you want to be known for and how to make sure other people see you that way.

That last bit is key because your brand is your story and in the absence of your story, people will create one for you. 

The book notes for ON BRAND say it best: How you present in person, over email, and on social media communicates your personal brand. That brand deserves thoughtful cultivation and crafting as you shape your narrative, build your network, grow your confidence, and plot your future.

In a world where we communicate nonstop in both obvious and subtle ways, getting your message right and learning how to market yourself is paramount to success.

Full disclosure: I am honored to be included in chapter 7 of ON BRAND: Become a captivating speaker and own the room

Aliza is an award-winning marketer, bestselling author, podcaster, personal branding expert, and the founder of LEAVE YOUR MARK, a multimedia brand and consultancy.

Aliza’s first book, LEAVE YOUR MARK: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It in Your Career. Rock Social Media, provides personal and professional guidance for people just starting their careers and for people who are well on their way.

Learn more about Aliza at www.alizalicht.com and listen to her weekly podcast, Leave Your Mark.

Listen to Aliza discussing mentorship on Camera Ready & Abel here

ON BRAND: shape your narrative, share your vision, shift their perception is available wherever books are sold.

Gratitude with Barbara Barna Abel

Time flies when you're learning and growing! I cannot believe this episode celebrates my two-year podaversary. It's been - and continues to be - a creative joy and an education which is why this episode of Camera Ready & Abel is brought to you by the word, GRATITUDE. From the Latin word gratis meaning thankful or pleasing.

I struggled for a bit before hitting the record button, wondering what I had to add to the Gratitude conversation, and then the Universe provided me with two quotes that helped reframe my internal dialogue on the subject:

The difference between thankfulness and gratitude is that thankfulness is an emotion, but gratitude is an attitude of appreciation under any circumstance which means gratitude is a state of being.

The second quote I heard in an online course I'm taking from the brilliant Gina Mollicone-Long who said, there's a difference between thinking about being grateful and actually physically being grateful. It's not enough to think you're grateful. You have to BE grateful.

The good news, which I explain in this episode, is that it's easy for all of us to get into a state of gratitude. As per usual, it begins with consciousness and intention.

I have endless gratitude to all of my guests for sharing their wit and wisdom and to you, for listening. Thank you.

If you need help getting to where you want to be from where you are today, please shoot me a note via my website abelintermedia.com and when you're there download my free ebook, 12 Tips for Success on Camera.

Decoding Success with Matt LeBris

Sometimes the universe brings you the person you absolutely need to speak with in that moment, and that’s what happened when I connected with my guest for this episode, Matt LeBris, host of the top 1% globally ranked podcast Decoding Success which is hyper-focused on delivering value through decoding others’ success.

 

Matt insists he’s not great at math but he shares two powerful equations:

Events + Perspective = Outcome

Knowing How to do something + the Courage to do it = What you really need

 

Key takeaways:

• We can't control everything in life but we can control our perspective
• Work with deliberate intention and act as if what you want is already happening
• The work never ends
• Don't waste time worrying about things that don't matter in the end
• Small daily steps yield big results

Matt LeBris is a born and raised NY’er with the hustler's spirit. A Forbes 30 Under 30 nominee, Matt previously worked with Daymond John of Shark Tank and lives the mission to positively impact one life every day. 

Learn more about Matt and the Decoding Success podcast at hoo.be/decodingsuccess.

Mindset with Tai Beauchamp

I was well into my adult years before I really started to understand how much choice I had in setting my mindset.

Mindset is defined as an established set of attitudes held by someone. It’s all about the way you think and feel about someone or something. This is typically reflected in our behavior, whether intentional or not. You can attach an infinite number of descriptors to mindset, including abundant, courageous, loving, positive, negative, fearful, or closed. The one I never connected until this powerful conversation about Mindset with Tai Beauchamp, is choice.

So many takeaways!

• Mindset is consciousness + intention
• Mindset is a choice
• Redirect anxiety to anticipation
• Be inspired by the mountaintops and then look at the cracks in the ground and be inspired there
• Ask how do I show up differently? 
• How you begin is half the win

Tai is the creator and host of the popular Instagram live series Morning Mindset with Tai, a daily live session aimed at spirit, heart and mind which has grown into a global community since launching two years ago.

Tai is also a former beauty and fashion magazine editor of O, The Oprah Magazine, Seventeen, and InStyle as well as an established serial entrepreneur and TV host who has hosted her own shows on TLC and GSN. Last summer, Tai hosted and produced Lens of Culture, a travel show created for millennials of color on CleoTV. A true multi-hyphenate committed to the upliftment of women, in 2019 Tai launched Beyond Ready, a purposeful development platform that partners with corporations, organizations, and brands to support the professional and personal growth of its employees. 

In April of 2020, Tai further expanded her entrepreneurial footprint joining Brown Girl jane, a plant-based wellness and CBD company, as Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer. In partnership with two fellow Spelman alumni, Tai endeavors to not only shift the perception of what wellness means for women of color but is committed to providing education and access to natural products and services that meaningfully support women in actualizing wellness for themselves. 

Tai can be found online at Taibeauchamp.com and @taibeau across social platforms. Join the Brown Girl jane tribe at BrownGirljane.com and Instagram via @itsbrowngirljane.

Join Morning Mindset with Tai Monday-Friday 6:30am PT/9:30am PT on Instagram Live.

From the archives:

BBA on Morning Mindset with Tai.

7 Ways to Make an Entrance originally posted on The Tai Life

Rock N Roll Spirit with Allison Hagendorf

Rock N Roll Spirit is difficult to define but you know it when you feel it. 

I sure felt it when I met my guest for this episode, Allison Hagendorf, the first time she walked into my TV Hosting class at TVI 20 years ago. Allison brings her Rock N Roll Spirit to everything she does. That includes: 

• a trailblazing attitude and mindset
• a singular vision free of distraction
• relentless perseverance
• the will to go above and beyond (again and again)
• being comfortable outside your comfort zone because blazing trails is often scary

Allison's career is long and impressive. She is an accomplished music journalist, media personality, and influencer and the host of The Allison Hagendorf Show, a weekly video podcast featuring interviews with some of the most globally iconic musicians and tastemakers. 

Allison is the former  Head of Rock at Spotify and started her career as an A&R executive at Columbia and Epic Records (after talking them into creating a position for her), before transitioning to TV host and music journalist, interviewing artists and covering music news for Fuse Television Network and The CW’s music-competition show The Next, as well as The X Games on ABC and ESPN. In 2012, Allison became the Official Host of Times Square New Year’s Eve for over one million revelers and over one billion global livestream viewers.

Visit Allison at allisonhagendorf.com and follow her at @allihagendorf on Instagram and TikTok and listen to The Allison Hagendorf Show on iTunes or your favorite podcast platform.

Failure with Ben Currier

Embracing failure has been a throughline in many of the success stories shared on Camera Ready & Abel but this is the first time it has taken center stage.

According to experts on the interwebs, failure is defined as a lack of success or the inability to meet an expectation. I'm thrilled that here to discuss with me is Ben Currier, the self-proclaimed world's number one failure, who is the host of the ironically successful Failure Guy podcast, which Chartable ranks in the 99.8 percentile for global reach - certainly a marker of success.

Ben says he is amazed how much failure people can endure and still succeed.

Ben spent the last 15 years in corporate America financially forecasting billions of dollars across multiple industries. He is an extremely talented Excel guru, 4-time Microsoft MVP Award Winner, and creator of an enormously successful online Excel training (rated one of the six Best Online Excel Classes per Investopedia.) 

Despite these successes, Ben has been fired from every job he's had since graduating college. This has inspired him to investigate how to get better at dealing with failure, rather than avoiding facing the reality of his problems. 

Key takeaways:

• Turn setbacks into success
• The ultimate failure is failing to learn from failure 
• When we change our energy we change our lives
• Try new things and get proficient at them before moving on
• You (really) can learn to paint with Bob Ross

Learn more about Ben and the Failure Guy podcast at www.failureguy.com.

Overcoming Challenges in Media, Your Career, and Life with Jane Hanson

My guest for this episode is legendary New York broadcast journalist and 9 time Emmy Award-winner Jane Hanson who shares her blueprint for how to thrive by successfully overcoming challenges in media, your career and life.

Jane grew up in rural Minnesota with no contacts in news or entertainment, and arrived in New York with determination, a strong work ethic and the best advice she ever received from her aunt who said the secret to a long, happy life is your ability to change your attitude.

Jane is also a much sought after speaker and communications coach whom I've been following for ages, and it was her LinkedIn post on women owning their space that made me say, I have to talk to Jane Hanson!

Jane's key takeaways:

• listen more (listening is the key to a great interview)
• make eye contact
• stop playing it small and start taking up space
• language matters especially body language
• change your attitude
• consider other perspectives
• ask questions
• develop relationships and allies

Key words:

• tenacity
• grit
• perseverance
• discipline
• adaptability
• work ethic

Learn more about Jane’s work at www.janehanson.com or visit her on social media at:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/janehansonofficial

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/janehanson

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JaneHansonTV

Tapping Into Your Talent with Vinnie Potestivo

Tapping Into Your Talent is the heart of the Camera Ready and Abel podcast and I'm thrilled to have my dear friend and co-conspirator Vinnie Potestivo here to break it all down and celebrate my 100th episode!

Vinnie shares with us how to leverage your talent by identifying your strengths, weaknesses and interests to build a career you can sustain and grow. Identifying into your talent can start with a simple question:

What are you good at and interested in doing?

Tapping into your talent means practicing and developing your skills:

• Plant seeds - some ideas taking longer to grow than others
• Reflect, revisit and re-assess
• Set specific goals
• Learn from others
• Stay motivated and persistent 
• Think how your audience could best experience you based on available technology
• Remember shareability is more valuable than visibility

Vinnie is an Emmy Award-winning media advisor who helps people and their business get seen and heard. Vinnie and I met years ago when he was a television network executive at MTV Networks where he discovered talent & developed new ways to support their goals. Pioneering how brands and business owners could contribute to their public narrative, he helped them become hosts, stars, and producers of their own tv series.

As an advocate for independent creators, Vinnie hosts "I Have A Podcast®" and serves as the editor-in-chief of ihaveapodcast.com, a premier destination for indie podcasters looking to advance their careers. He also shares valuable creator economy business strategies, insights, and experiences with co-host Judi Fox on "Let's Talk Social Audio.”

Monetize Your Mastery with Nicole Sellars

Mastery is comprehensive knowledge or skill in a subject, and to monetize is to earn revenue from it. Sounds simple. But if it were really that easy everyone would already be doing it...so I'm thrilled Nicole Sellers - seasoned media trainer, entrepreneur, producer, journalist, television host, and actress is joining me on this episode of Camera Ready & Abel to discuss how she built a thriving business on monetizing her mastery.

First, to monetize your mastery you must identify what your marketable skills and expertise are. Nicole insists you have more than you realize!

If you are having a hard time pinpointing your special sauce, Nicole suggests you start by asking yourself:

• What am I passionate about?
• What do I have experience in?
• What lights me up from the inside?

Then ask yourself:

• What value do I bring? 
• What can be monetized?
• Who is willing to pay for it? 
• What are my points of differentiation?

Caveat: you aren't really serving anyone if you are trying to serve everyone, so niche down.

One of your most important marketing assets is your bio and Nicole  offers her free, downloadable workbook, Craft Your Killer Bio, at https://tvhostingacademy.com/

Nicole is also very generously offering Camera Ready & Abel listeners a 50% discount on her course Business Bootcamp for Hosts with the promo code BBA50

Amplify Your Expertise with Laura Fravel

What is expertise? And why do you want to amplify it?

According to my guest for this episode, Executive Communications and Leadership Coach (and former television producer), Laura Fravel, your expertise is your experience, knowledge and perspective delivered with personality and purpose.

Laura urges us to lean into what we enjoy doing in order to do it well and always, always think about our clients/audience:

• What do they need to be inspired by?
• What do they need to be educated by?
• What would entertain them?

The one thing you can do today is start sharing your thought leadership on relevant platforms...that's rocket fuel to spread your expertise, and remember: Your perceived weaknesses can actually be your strengths or your differentiating factor.

Laura has helped executives from Adidas, founders from TechStars, and led trainings for Warner-Bros Discovery.  She brings 20 years of TV-media and storytelling experience (and adventurous spirit from 15 years with National Geographic) to help amplify your expertise and your voice. She is on a mission to help executives and entrepreneurs spread their brilliance like wildfire.  

Check out Laura’s post  Everyone should have a 12 year old business coach and to learn more about her work visit https://laurafravel.com/.

The Power of Persistence with Baker Machado

A wise person once said to me luck is what happens when preparedness meets opportunity and persistence and my guest for this episode, Cheddar News anchor, Baker Machado, is living proof of this. 

In this lively, fun episode Baker recounts how he hit roadblocks and heard no time after time yet persisted instead of quitting and giving up on his dream of working on camera. 

When he got rejected from journalism school he tried again.

When he was told there was no place for him in the broadcast department and the campus television station he chose radio to gain experience and was named National Radio DJ of the year.

When he didn't get his dream internship at E! he continued for more than two years to make connections there which led to his first big break as a reporter there.

Persistence pays off when you:

• are clear on your goal(s)
• continue to study and prepare for opportunities
• know your value
• focus on building relationships
• show up generously

Baker anchors Cheddar's morning program, Wake Up w/ Cheddar and he appears on hyper-local News12 networks and gas stations across America on GSTV (so keep your eyes peeled).  Before joining Cheddar Baker spent five years as a reporter for E-News in Los Angeles and covered major entertainment news stories and interviewed more a-list celebrities than he can count. 

Follow Baker on Instagram at @bakermachado. and on twitter @bakermachado.

Timing with Marta Ravin

No matter what industry you're in, no matter what your dreams and goals are, timing matters.

As my guest for this episode, my dear friend, executive producer, creator and showrunner, Marta Ravin says, timing and reading the room really relate to one another.

Timing is a combination of:

• emotional intelligence
• intentionality
• being clear on the result you want
• listening
• patience
• storytelling
• keeping your audience top of mind whether that's one person or a million.

Marta started her career as a standup comedian - talk about timing! - eventually working as a writer and on camera talent for MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and NBC before transitioning to producing and heading up celebrated live events, series and specials for MTV, Bravo, Nickelodeon, We, Oxygen and VH1, including MTV's Total Request Live, Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards, and VH1's Love and Hip Hop reunions. Marta has also created and developed original formats like Long Island Medium, and most recently launched The Sharpton Sisters on Fox Soul.

Learn more about Marta’s work by visiting her website at www.martaravinproductions.com.

Aspire Higher with Ken Lindner

To aspire means to seek to attain or accomplish a particular goal, and to aspire higher is to dream bigger and to soar.  It's also the name of a book by Ken Lindner, one of the world's most respected and successful broadcast agents, and in this episode Ken makes it clear that it all comes down to the power of choices and making decisions.

Key takeaways:

• Our life choices and decisions impact our feelings of self-esteem, self-love and self-image
• Talent is potential and the key to realizing potential is making great choices that go along with the talent.
• Eyesight isn’t necessarily insight
•  Find your advocates and allies
• You will grow when you are ready to grow

Strategy is essential to making good choices and Ken, a star tennis player in college, shares this wonderful anecdote about how he once beat Arthur Ashe in a tournament, then ranked 5th in the world:

I had seen him play in a tournament and I actually charted out how he hit his shots, where he hit his shots...I knew where he was gonna go and I knew that when I would approach on his backhand nine times out of ten, he was going to go down the line on his attempted approach. He didn't like changing it up to go cross court. So the problem was I sort of ambushed him because I knew everything about him. He knew nothing about me and I was very comfortable. I was good enough at that time to execute my game plan well enough to win the set.

Ken is the founder and CEO of one of the world’s most well-respected and successful television news and hosting agencies, Ken Lindner & Associates, Inc. (“KLA”). He is also the founder of Positive Life Choice Psychology™ and the Positive Life Choice Psychology Lifestyle™. In addition to Aspire Higher, Ken is the author of CAREER CHOREOGRAPHY™: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Finding the Right Job and Achieving Huge Success and Happiness.

Learn more about Ken’s work at https://positivelifechoicepsychology.com/.

Make It Your Own with Sean De Simone

To make something one's own is to take something and adapt it to oneself and is absolutely essential in the camera ready universe.

Whether you are auditioning for a project and reading the same script as everyone else or interviewing for a job and meeting all of the same qualifications as every other applicant, how you make it your own determines if you make it to the next round and ultimately get hired.

Here to discuss is my dear friend, casting director, coach, actor, documentary filmmaker, and four-peat champion on Camera Ready & Abel, Sean De Simone, who has strong opinions on the subject, having cast all of the hosts on QVC and HSN for the past 15 years.

Sean describes it as, "when someone is making it their own for me is when I like kind of sit up straight and like I start to listen a little bit more and my clients start to get a little bit more excited when we see people sort of breaking away from what we think they think we want to see and they are just being themselves."

Key takeaways:

• Play to your strengths
• Adapt to the situation
• The personal is professional
• Identify ways to connect personally to the content
• Use I Statements

Join us for our HOSTING FOR HOME SHOPPING & BRANDS WORKSHOP Feb 11& 12, 2023 and visit Sean at Sean De Simone Casting follow him on Instagram and his lively Facebook Group.

If you're not sure what your superpowers are, check out my favorite personal branding tool, the HOW TO FASCINATE ASSESSMENT.

Travel-Transform-Thrive with Kathy McCabe

If I had a dollar (or a euro) for everyone who's ever told me they want to host a travel show, I would've recorded this episode of Camera Ready & Abel from my villa in Italy instead of my office in Brooklyn.

My guest for this episode, Kathy McCabe, is here to share how she did something truly remarkable, how she made her dream a reality and turned her passion for Italy into the Dream of Italy newsletter, magazine, podcast and PBS Series distributed to 97% of the United States (and the number one watched program of any genre distributed by American Public Television on Amazon Prime.)

Kathy is a beautiful example of the transformational power of traveling, following your dream and thriving in life.

Key takeaways

• Build a community, not an audience.
• Gather emails and communicate directly with your audience.
• Own your content as much as you can
• Show up consistently
• Be tenacious and committed - and believe that it's possible
• Your reputation and your track record matter a lot - especially in fund-raising

Visit Dream of Italy and listen to the Dream of Italy Podcast (which The New York Times recommends as one of “13 podcasts for wandering souls.”)

Connect with Kathy on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

My Word of the Year 2023: Refinement with Barbara Barna Abel

I wish I knew who came up with the brilliant notion of replacing the traditional New Year's Resolution with one single word to focus on for the coming year. I'd like to thank them. 

Your word is an organizing principle or theme, perhaps even your annual north star, instead of a decision/goal you may or may not stick with (the data says overwhelmingly we don't stick with them). 

I chose refinement because it's the right word for where I am at the moment: making improvements by making small changes that make a significant difference.  

A few important takeaways about choosing your word of the year:

• Make sure your word connects with you emotionally
• Don't get stuck in The Shoulds choosing a word that sounds good but doesn't feel right
• Give yourself permission to change your word if you discover it's not really working for you (being adaptable is key to survival and success)
• Give yourself space to let your word find you (there are signs all around you)
• It's okay to carry over your work from last year if there's more work to be done or you feel you can still go deeper (or revisit an older word)

If you need a prompt to find your word, hit the googles for support. Here are two websites I found with hundreds of ideas: WildSimpleJoy and HappinessIsHomemade.

I would love to hear what word you choose! Drop me a note here and share.

Wishing joy, health and abundance in 2023!

Think Like a Producer with Brian Balthazar

In my years as a casting director and talent development executive, I've observed that many of the most successful hosts and performers understand how television production works and how their part of the show (or segment) fits into something larger than themselves.

I saw this first hand when I booked my guest for this episode, Brian Balthazar, on Page Six TV back in the day, and he was always so great because he knew how to make good TV. 

It's a treat to have him discuss and share actionable insights on how to think like a producer because Brian has built an impressive career simultaneously in front and behind the camera as a television host, producer and network executive.

Brian is the executive producer and founder of Balthazar Entertainment, specializing in compelling lifestyle programming including Christina on the Coast and Tough Love with Hilary Farr for HGTV and My Dream Kitchen with Carla Hall on Food Network. Brian oversaw the launch of the fourth of Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda where he later became a beloved guest dishing pop culture and trends, was a co-executive producer of The View and was a vice president at Discovery Networks (now Warner Brothers Discovery) where he oversaw mega hits like Flip or Flop and my favorite, Love It or List It. 

Key takeaways

• Production is not personal (even though it often feels that way)
• Never go to a pitch meeting with only one idea (your idea isn't that unique)
• If you are pitching yourself as talent, start self-producing examples on social media 
• There is not one right way to succeed. Find the way that is right for you.
• Be grateful for the opportunities

Follow Brian on Instagram at @brianbalthazar…trust me, he’s a fun poster!

Follow Your Intuition with Jessica Cording

Do you ever have a gut instinct about something but are too nervous to act on it? Or find yourself pulled between trusting your feelings vs accepting the facts?

This episode is a permission slip to lean into your inner guidance system.

Joining me on this episode of Camera Ready & Abel to generously and candidly share how following her intuition has always served her - and in turn served others - is multi-hyphenate powerhouse, Jessica Cording. 

Jess is a registered dietitian, health coach, in-demaind public speaker, host of the Drama-Free Healthy Living Podcast and author of The Little Book of Game Changers: 50 Healthy Habits for Managing Stress and Anxiety, and her latest The Farewell Tour, a Caregiver's Guide to Stress Management, Sane Nutrition and Better Sleep.

Connect with Jessica via her website, listen to the Drama-Free Healthy Living podcast and follow Jess on instagram   @jesscording.

Showrunner with Jim Biederman

The Showrunner in television literally runs the show, like a hands-on CEO: In charge of vision, creative (often the head writer), leading (and inspiring) a crew of hundreds, managing multiple agendas from the network to the legal department, marketing and advertisers while putting out daily fires and tapping into the personal magic that earned them the role in the first place. 

Sharing all his wisdom on the subject is Jim Biederman, seasoned Showrunner, Executive Producer, Writer and Director specializing in comedy programming with a list of trailblazing credits including Kids In the Hall, the Howard Stern Radio Show, The Whitest Kids You Know, the Onion News Network, The Big Gay Sketch Show and Would You Rather With Graham Norton (where I had the distinct pleasure of being Jim's Talent Executive)

This is really and truly a masterclass:

• Ask questions
• Listen more, speak less
• Show respect
• Protect your staff
• Never respond right away to the notes from the network
• Get comfortable with tough choices and difficult conversations
• Learn to bounce back early from failure
• TV is global
• Be curious and learn to work across language and cultural differences
• We can all earn something from The Joy Act, a standard feature in Chinese programming (it's not what you think!)

Successful showrunning is so much about the power of language and how we communicate. Jim's goal is to always make sure that everyone working on the show feels welcome and valued at the table. And this:

You don't need to be aggressive about it. You can just say, I think there's another way to solve this problem.

(It dawned on me listening to this episode that with the amount of negotiating and compromise required to get a show on the air...Showrunners could be useful mediators in global conflicts.)  

Check out more of Jim's work at http://www.jimcotv.com/.

How to Slow Down with Candis Hickman

Strange but true: It's hard to slow down.

My guest for this episode, Spiritual Life Coach and Marketing Mentor, Candis Hickman, changed my life forever when she taught me To Become Known You Must First Become Known to Yourself (episode #3) and now she's back gently walking me through the transformational wisdom of learning how to slow down.

To put it simply, slowing down is the opposite of rushing. Remarkably, I've discovered it doesn't add more time; it's a mindset and energy shift that reduces stress and boosts the joy factor.

Imagine dialing back with mindfulness and intention the intensity you feel going into a meeting, scrambling to get out the door to get to an appointment or catch a flight...

Picture what it would look like to make softer decisions and do life with other people more.

If you're an adrenaline junkie, your body will thank you.

The Slow Year was born of Candis' commitment to support high functioning professionals, business owners and everyday people to disconnect from the grind and embody the principles of Slow Living to nourish your mind, body, soul and relationships.

You can join the waitlist for The Slow Year at https://theslowyear.com/ and join their digital summit on December 5th for more information.

Accountability with Carol Clegg

According to the Cambridge English Dictionary Accountability in a person means someone who is completely responsible for what they do.

If accountability was easy we wouldn't need people like my guest for this episode, productivity and accountability coach Carol Clegg.

Carol explains that accountability is really a combination of mindset and the right tools and systems that work for you in alignment with your own personal capacity, i.e. focus your goals and learn to say no because if you have too much on your plate, your accountability inherently diminishes.

I love Carol's quote: Show up consistently in your capacity.

Carol works with midlife women in the early stages of growing an online business. Her focus is on teaching solutions to mastering marketing, building basic foundations and streamlining strategies. Her tailor made 1:1 coaching and consulting helps women set goals, learn about project management and create a lifestyle business with flexibility and balance.

Check out her 30 Business Tools and tune in to her Connect Inspire Create podcast, which explores ways to encourage women on the entrepreneurial journey.

 

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

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

Clubhouse: https://www.clubhouse.com/@carolclegg

Being Yourself On-Camera with Hena Doba

Authenticity, as is often mentioned on the podcast, means to be real, actual, true to one's own personality, spirit or character. It can be hard enough day to day. Translating this on-camera is next level.

Joining me on this episode of Camera Ready & Abel to discuss how to be your awesome self on-camera is Hena Doba who is an anchor for Cheddar News and the host of Cheddar News Wrap, Trending and Life on the Bright Side.

Hena is a vibrant, welcoming presence who seamlessly transitions from hard-hitting breaking news to the most light-hearted lifestyle stories without skipping a beat and is always uniquely Hena.

This episode is a true masterclass in:

• Create opportunity + take advantage of opportunities
• Look ahead and take smart risks
• Play to your strengths
• Study your weaknesses and get training
• Representation matters
• Emotional intelligence, self-awareness and empathy 
• Working though the insecurities
• Observing industry standards and the competition

Hena started her career as producer at WWTI-TV, in Watertown, NY and became one of the first Pakistani anchors in the U.S. Prior to joining Cheddar, Hena was a national correspondent for CBS News where she anchored The National Desk with Hena Doba.

Learn more about Hena at

www.linkedin.com/in/hena-doba

https://www.instagram.com/henadoba/?hl=en 

https://www.tiktok.com/@henadoba

Credible Authenticity with Barb Morrison

The word authenticity gets thrown around a lot to the point that its meaning gets diluted, so producer, composer, mentor and guest for this episode of Camera, Ready & Abel, Barb Morrison couples it with credible to combine true to one's own personality with worthy of trust. In other words, don't just tell me you're authentic, show me.

Barb lives it every day.

Barb says authenticity is a feeling, measured not by how others feel about you but how you feel about yourself when you look yourself in the eye. It's essential to Barb's work as a Music Mentor: I look them in the eye and I say, instead of trying to make the right pop record or the right dance record or whatever you're trying to fit into, what is it that's unique about you? That's your story and your message to the world.

Barb is a Top 5 Billboard dance chart songwriter, and Platinum record producer, best known as a producer for numerous artists such as Blondie, Rufus Wainwright, Franz Ferdinand, LP, Asia Kate Dillon and as an ASCAP-featured film score composer.

Learn more about Barb and Music Mentor at www.barbmorrisonmusic.com.

For more on authenticity, listen to Episode 5 of Camera Ready & Abel with Sean De Simone: Authenticity is a Process, Not Just a Buzzword (and that process has a lot to do with your breath work).

Collaboration with Cathleen Murphy & Karen LeFrak

A lot of creating, especially writing - whether it be music, prose, poetry or nonfiction - is a solo pursuit and often happens in isolation which is why this conversation about Collaboration is so inspiring to me. My guests for this episode, composer and author Karen LeFrak and creative facilitator and strategist, Cathleen Murphy, explain how they came together to collaborate and what they did to translate Karen's vibrant music to a global, digital audience and over 18 million (and counting) streams worldwide. 

Theirs is a mature creative partnership built on trust, mutual respect, active listening, open communication and joy.

Key Takeaways

• Find opportunity
• Adapt to new platforms
• Conform to industry standards of quality
• Be open
• Ask questions
• Know your audience
• Go to where your audience is
• Show up consistently
• Build relationships
• Find the right partners
• Think strategically and long term
• Be discoverable
• You Can Find Your Voice at Any Age

Karen has released seven studio recordings since March of 2021, including her latest, Renewal. Her works have been commissioned and performed by the New York Philharmonic, the American Ballet Theater, and the Shanghai and Miami Symphony orchestras. She is an ardent champion of musical and literary education for children and has received wide accolades for her children’s books. Discover more about Karen at KarenLeFrak.com

Cathleen is a widely respected music industry professional and the CEO of Key Of C Entertainment, who has established one of the industry’s most diverse and creative driven careers leading initiatives, major labels and music publishing companies, working with a staggering list of acclaimed Grammy, Tony Pulitzer Prize and Academy Award-winning artists, including Yo-Yo Ma, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Billy Porter, Idina Menzel, Nile Rogers, the Blind Boys of Alabama, 2 Cellos, Bobby McFaren and Cindy Lauper, among many others. Find Cathleen at KeyOfCEntertainment.

Managing Stress with Sarah Vallely

If you are like me, there is a certain amount of stress you find energizing but it can be a fine line between productive and overwhelmed. Stress is the body's response to physical, mental, or emotional pressure and causes chemical changes in the body that left unmanaged can wreak havoc on your mind and body.

Here to discuss how to manage stress is Sarah Vallely, lead instructor/coach and founder of TSD Mindfulness meditation center. In this episode, Sarah explains how mindfulness can be used as a powerful tool to reduce stress. Her approach to stress management removes one-size fits all rules and underscores the importance of knowing your unique stress type.

Sarah has been teaching mindfulness and meditation for over 20 years in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Asheville, North Carolina, and online. She has written four books, including Sensational Meditation for Children, and Tame-Soothe-Dwell, and is the host of the mindfulness podcast The Aware Mind.

Learn more about Sarah’s mindfulness coaching at www.sarahvallely.com.

Evolution with Franchesca Ramsey

Feeling a little stuck? Need to change your energy? My guest for this episode, actor-writer-sought after public speaker-instagram slayer, Franchesca Ramsey, delivers a Master Class in how to regenerzie, refocus, get back in alignment to bring back the joy and make your goals happen. 

Franchesca currently has shows in development at Paramount+ and Amazon. But she didn't start there and she generously shares the steps she took to evolve from her career as a graphic designer working for the City of Miami to making YouTube videos to creating and starring in the award-winning MTV series, DeCoded, to being a writer-correspondent for The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore to the triple threat, full-on CEO of her own life she is today. 

Key takeaways:

Don't wait for permission - take initiative!

Be someone people want to work with

Be a generous connector

Keep a wins jar

Focus on goals you can control

Enjoy Franchesca on instagram and Visit www.franchesca.net to get more of Franchesca’s gems. While you're there check out her NAACP-nominated book, Well That Escalated Quickly, one of Amazon’s best books of 2018. 

Good news! All of the Camera Ready & Abel episodes + grab-n-go clips of inspiration and actionable insights are now available on YouTube. 

Results with Blaine Oelkers

Bookmark this episode of Camera Ready & Abel! You will want to come back to it over and over again.

Joining me to discuss RESULTS is America’s only Chief Results Officer® Blaine Oelkers who generously shares not just what you need to do to achieve results but also science-backed strategies and tips on how to achieve them:

• Unlock what's between you and your goals by truly knowing and embracing what you want.
• Stress less! Do more!
• Win early, win often. Small daily wins are where transformation occurs
• ...because information is not transformation - you have to act and implement
• We are designed to bring about our desires...so remember What You Think About, You Bring About
• Choose better over bitter
• You can pivot your life from any circumstance
• To start your day with purpose begin with Next Day Planning
• Reframe: what can you do less of today?
• LUL is Blaine's strategy for creating new habits in 21 seconds

Blaine is a TEDx Speaker and leading authority in personal implementation and consistency. He’s a habit master with documented streaks of 1616 days in a row and counting! As a top LinkedIn Connector he has over 25,000 1st level connections. He is powered by Selfluence, a personal development and training company.

Access Blaine's free resources to get more results at http://blainetedx.com/ and  www.superresultsexperience.com.

Learn more about the Pomodoro Method HERE.

Goal Mapping with Midori Verity

A goal map is a roadmap for your career or your life that clearly lays out your goals and objectives, and per my guest for this episode, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Fuel to Fire, Midori Verity, goal mapping is a methodology that helps you stay focused in order to accelerate your success and can be applied to everything from building your business to creating the life you want.

Because as Midori says, if you're trying to go from California to New York - if you're driving - you better have a map...or also who knows where you're gonna end up?

The same applies in life.

Having a tangible game plan to achieve the goals is also one of the kindest things you can do for yourself. It reduces overwhelm, sets you up for success, and in the end will give you back life’s greatest resource…time.

Midori has generously share access to her Summit Goal-Mapping Framework here.

Learn more about her work at www.midoriverity.com.

Bouncing Back When Bouncing Back is Hard with Kathleen Donnelly Israel

There are so many sub-titles and themes for this episode of Camera Ready & Abel with Transformational Breathing Facilitator, Kathleen Donnelly Israel:

• You are never too old to learn, grow and heal
• Healing has no timeline - it doesn't care how old you are
• You will never be younger than you are today, so do it now
• Hold on to your dreams and goals - even if it feels like they are far out of reach
• You never truly walk alone
• You have the power to rewrite your story

For 17 years Kathleen cared for her husband who had Parkinson’s disease. After his passing, she decided to walk the 500 mile pilgrimage across Northern Spain known as The Camino Santiago de Compastela. Kathleen was 69 years old. She gathered her wisdom and philosophy in her book Wisdom on the Camino: A Spiritual Journey Sharing Forgiveness and Possibilities to Inspire the Rest of Your Life. 

Kathleen delivers a powerful message of patience and perseverance. Learn more about transformational breathing techniques, reclaiming your power, and reimaging your life at any age in this conversation brought to you by the phrase bouncing back when bouncing back is hard. 

Visit wisdomonthecamino.com to learn more about Kathleen’s work.

Belief to Breakthrough with Cynthia Garrett

If you're not where you want to be, give yourself space to sit still and listen to this episode of Camera Ready & Abel with Cynthia Garrett.

Cynthia shares with her signature grace, warmth and humor her very human story of struggle to surrender to belief to breakthrough. You'll smile, laugh, nod your head in recognition and open your eyes wide in amazement as Cynthia inspires you to disrupt the patterns holding you back from living to your full potential.

Cynthia is an extraordinary communicator - an ordained minister, highly sought-after speaker and media personality who broke barriers when she became the first Black woman to host a network late-night show, NBC’s Later with Cynthia Garrett. She is a frequent contributor on political news channels and currently hosts The Sessions with Cynthia Garrett, airing weekly on TBN and GIRL CLUB streaming on multiple platforms including her own CGM TV YouTube Channel. 

You can learn more about Cynthia at www.cynthiagarrett.org.

How to Get Discovered with Vinnie Potestivo

Do you feel like you are the world's best-kept secret? Are you stumped on how to stand out from the crowd in your space?

My dear friend Vinnie Potestivo - multimedia advisor, celebrity brand executive and host of the podcast, I Have a Podcast, returns to Camera Ready & Abel to generously share how to get discovered which Vinnie explains is simply exposure X action.

What action do you want someone to take as the result of discovering you? Are you making it easy for them to take that action?

In our conversation we also explore discovery-moments, why and how you should regularly update your credentials (even when you have nothing new to add), and the three components of exposure- amplification, distribution, and aggregation. 

To learn how Vinnie can help you create, invent or reinvent your personal or business brand business with carefully crafted strategies visit vpe.tv and hop on over to LinkedIn and follow #LinkedVin where Vinnie shares resources, tips, and leads.

The Power of Publicity with Brielle Cotterman

Publicity has changed dramatically in my lifetime. Heck, it's changed a lot in the past few years. But The Power of Publicity remains something every business owner, subject expert and performer needs to harness.

My guest for this episode, Brielle Cotterman, is a Publicity Expert and Celebrity-Maker, who distills the Power of Publicity down to one phrase we discuss here a lot on the podcast: Listen to the stories you are telling.

Stories that inspire action have three parts according to Brielle:

• Who you were before
• the transformative experience
• who you are after (or the rise). 

It is sharing your rise that inspires action.

More potent takeaways:

• Publicity isn’t the end goal but it’s a means to an end
• Don’t get hung up on top tier publicity, shine in your niche and build up
• Publicity leads to more publicity
• Practice makes permanent 

Brielle Cotterman is a TEDx Speaker, Contributor at Entrepreneur, Activist Against Domestic Violence, Publicity Expert, and Celebrity-Maker. She has spent the last decade helping clients to craft and scale dream careers to 7 figures and beyond by leveraging their personal stories and passions in order to create speaking tours, author award-winning books, procure media placements, and inspire the millions of people that need to hear their story. 

Follow Brielle at @briellecotterman and learn about her Celebrity Incubator program, whose tagline reads “Learn the Skills, Gain The Confidence, and Create The Media Collateral You Need to Become a Niche-Celebrity and Get the Highest Levels of Publicity.”

Storytelling Through a Lens with Michael Nigro

It fills my heart to discuss Storytelling Through a Lens with my long-time friend, six-time Emmy-nominated writer-director and multimedia journalist, Michael Nigro, on this episode of Camera Ready & Abel.

Michael brings heart, humanity and a powerful, fresh perspective to everything he does from photography to film to video to print.

You have seen Michael's photojournalism, unforgettable images of the January 6th Insurrection, the Caldor Fire in California, Standing Rock, Charlottesville, Virginia, COVID 19 workers, Occupy Wall Street and the migrant caravan in Tijuana.

You've also seen Michael's work as a director on National Geographics' Brain Games and as a writer on VH-1's beloved Pop-Up Video.

How exactly does one jump from television, to film, to photojournalism? Per Michael: Diversify, diversify, diversify.

When Michael knew he was ready to evolve from writer-producer to director he studied what successful directors were doing then created opportunity for himself by shooting short films and a self-funded documentary to build a body of work that demonstrated his skills, talent and point of view.

From catwalks to conflicts, Michael will go anywhere (with his camera) "except shopping."

View Michael's work here and consider supporting his work as an independent journalist by making a donation.

Nicstalgia: Super Fans, Selling Out, and Personal Growth

This is a special episode of the podcast because while I'm away enjoying a holiday with my family I am sharing my episode as a guest on Nicole Tremaglio’s podcast, Nicstalgia, where I had a blast going deep discussing what I love to talk about pop culture, change, and personal growth. 

If you're new to the podcast Nicole was a guest on Camera Ready & Abel and discussed the important difference between building a community and building an audience. Nicole Tremaglio is a brand and consultant pop culture expert, writer, and self-described millennial Sporty Spice.

The Nicstalgia podcast, unlocks core memories from the 90s and 2000s while examining the past through a contemporary lens. In this episode of Nicstalgia I join Nicole to talk about how enthusiasm is valuable, how to avoid the ‘shoulds’, stand out as yourself, and find your calling when you don’t fit into neat little boxes.

Interested in one-on-one training with me, for you or your team? Shoot me a message at www.abelintermedia.com and let’s get connected!

NonFiction Branding™ with DP Knudten

It’s time to deliver an impactful lesson on branding that will change how you think of the subject forever. Here to deliver the message on Camera Ready & Abel is DP Knudten, Chief Collaborator at his business, Collaborator Creative.

DP is the author of the must read, NONFICTION BRAND—Discover, craft and communicate the ‘completely true / completely you’ brand you already are. His fresh take on branding is a call to action with an action plan, so you aren’t left wondering where to get started.

When it comes to branding and discoverability DP shares:

• Imposter syndrome can be a good thing and can keep you honest about your deliverables
• False modesty will limit your discoverability, it’s your job to tell people about the value you offer 
• Everyone is a unique combination of expert and amateur
• Be the scalpel and not the Swiss Army knife. It’s the difference of being a purpose-built tool to do one thing versus an average jack of all trades…and scalpels get paid better.
• If you are not a brand you are a commodity 
• Tell the truth about who you are, what you do and how you do it

DP’s worked on some of the biggest brands in the business including Coca-Cola®, The Athlete’s Foot®, and ClosetMaid® during tenures at DDB Needham (Chicago), McCann Erickson (Atlanta) and creative shops in Denver, Sarasota, and Madison, WI. He is also a keynote speaker and clinician in branding, social media, creativity and culture for groups throughout the United States. 

DP is the creator-host of the popular podcasts, The ROTOMA Podcast and NONFICTION BRAND and co-author of the book ROTOMA—The ROI of Social Media ‘Top of Mind/’.

Keeping the Blinders On with Katie Linendoll

I strive to deliver positive, actionable takeaways at Camera Ready & Abel but this is an especially inspiring episode!

It's not easy to stay the course in pursuit of your dreams. There's a constant din of outside noise, opinions, societal pressure and your own gremlins.

Katie Linendoll shares generously how learning to keep the blinders on took her from production assistant at ESPN to Emmy Award-winning consumer technology expert and one of the leading women in media technology with television appearances everywhere (literally), partner at MetroCap Partners focused on engagement with early-stage startups, a robust speaking career and charting on the country music charts.

Key takeaways:

• Combine your creativity with a strong work ethic
• Post your goals where you can see them and refer back often
• Schedule your day
• If you're not getting high fives don't worry - go ahead and celebrate yourself
• Give yourself permission to change
• Every tv appearance is an audition for the next tv appearance
• Keep at it, you're in charge of you!

Learn more about Katie via katielinendoll.com

Follow Katie on IG @katielinendoll and Twitter @katielinendoll

Listen to Katie's music and watch episodes of Technically Katie

Approval with Chris Witherspoon

We can give approval, we can receive approval and very often we put too much time and energy into seeking approval. As a recovering people pleaser, I know this well.

 

My guest for this episode of Camera Ready & Abel, entertainment journalist, producer, and entrepreneur Chris Witherspoon, gets raw and vulnerable sharing how his quest for approval stalled him from getting to his next level of greatness in his career until he focused on what made him truly happy and listened to two very important women in his life.

 

Sister Harden - one of the church muthas at his congregation growing up in Ohio - told Chris before he left for college, “If you don’t see the example, be the example."

 

Oprah - no last name needed - has a soft spot for Chris as an interviewer and that early in her career she sacrificed her authenticity and integrity in exchange for approval and never made that mistake again.

 

Key takeaway - besides always listen to Sister Harden and Oprah - tune out the noise and tune into your own internal approval matrix:

 

What makes you happy?

What makes you feel alive?

What makes you jump out of bed in the morning?

 

Tapping into this led Chris to become the founder and CEO of Popviewers, the platform that helps you find what to watch next, invites you to react to the TV and movies you’ve watched, and encourages you to share the experience with fellow content-lovers.

Intellectual Property with Francesca Witzburg

You don't know how little you know about Intellectual Property (IP) until you interview an attorney specializing in IP on your podcast. I don't think I've ever taken so many notes during a recording of Camera Ready & Abel before.

For the uninitiated, Intellectual Property is defined by the World Intellectual Property Organization as: Creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs and symbols, names and images used in commerce.

My guest for this episode, Francesca Witzburg, Esq., is an award-winning legal strategist, brand protection expert and phenomenal communicator, who makes the complicated accessible with energy and humor. Francesca represents top businesses, entrepreneurs, brands, and celebrities in real life and the Metaverse. Inspired by a love of culture and the arts, she helps businesses monetize their intellectual property and stay protected and profitable with their current and forward-thinking business models including NFTs and Web3. 

Francesca is a partner at the nationally-ranked law firm Loza & Loza where her practice centers on all aspects of trademark, copyright, and brand protection matters, as well as commercial transactions. Prior to joining the firm, she worked in the Manhattan office of the world’s largest law firm and has in-house experience at large-scale brands including Prada and Tory Burch. Francesca has counseled top businesses, celebrities, artists, athletes and influencers, as well as an array of clients from Fortune 500 companies. 

3 simple yet important things to know:

1. Figure out what IP you have. Understand what has value and then get it protected because you want to make sure you actually own it.  
2. Have contracts to protect your IP to set the terms and expectations with clarity and in a positive way. 
3. Enforcing your IP protection, which requires strategy because there can be a world of difference between a person creating a meme out of something you've done and someone stealing your work or knocking off your bag. 

To learn more, check out Francesca's Legal Limelight IG Live On Thursdays + great info every day or her @IPLawyerFrancesca on TikTok and contact her via her website.

Marketing with Brian Patacca

Grab your journal. This episode of Camera Ready & Abel is full of nuggets you're going to want to remember. My nourishing conversation with life, business and career coach, Brian Patacca, begins with marketing and ends with dignity and respect.

Along the way, Brian reframes the entire concept of marketing around generosity and purpose:

• Marketing is going public with your gifts and being seen for your gifts.
• If you build it and you TELL people about it, they will come
• Be determined each day, not to leave your function unfulfilled.
• Clarity is kindness and kindness is clarity - banish the vague and wishy washy and ASK.
• Your creativity is your birthright and the world is a better place when you are doing what you are called to do
• Effective marketing does 3 things, makes you FEEL something, makes you DO something, makes you NOTICE something.
• Don't be afraid of the word No. Hearing No frees you to focus your energy on where you'll find your Yes.

Brian is a spiritual practitioner who engages creative professionals seeking to ignite their businesses with fierce accountability, marketing innovation and soul satisfying success. He is the founder of a coaching organization and creative community with locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. Now based in Los Angeles, Brian coaches nationwide in several web-based group courses including his latest programs, Agent Goals and Actor Operating System. 

Get more Brian by tuning into his podcast at www.BrianBreaksCharacter.com and download his free guide to 23 stories of people growing their networks in unusual ways that you can put into practice, at  supersneakyauditons.com.

Building Community vs. Building Audience with Nicole Tremaglio

One of the best parts of having a podcast is being able to explore interesting ideas with interesting people. It was my pleasure to be a guest on the Nicstalgia podcast with host Nicole Tremaglio and something Nicole mentioned in that conversation about the difference between building community versus building audience sparked me into needing to learn more. 

Nicole is a branding consultant, pop culture expert writer, and self-described millennial sporty spice and quickly gets to the heart of it in this episode: Community exists when there is a peer to peer connection, when your fans and followers begin to talk to each other. Visually, that's when your audience expands from vertical (top down - you putting out information/product) to horizontal.

Music has always been a source of connection for me and Nicole breaks down how BTS has created a global, impactful community - the BTS ARMY - and how that relates, by extension, to building any brand and why building community should be part of your business plan.

In addition to hosting the Nicstalgia podcast, which unlocks core memories from the 90s and 2000s while examining the past through a contemporary lens, Nicole writes the Nicstalgia newsletter, which serves as a valuable cultural commentary source that fosters belonging and advances conversations around individual and collective identity, cyclical trends, consumer behavior, and popular culture. Connect with Nicole on social @nicoletremaglio.

Feedback with Alan Ibbotson

Giving and receiving feedback is essential to camera readiness and a hallmark of leadership. But it strikes fear into the hearts of so many of us. I said feedback but you heard criticism, shame, what you did wrong.

Here to reclaim FEEDBACK from its negative reputation is returning podcast champion, Alan Ibbotson, who gave us a masterclass on resilience in episode 6 which I highly recommend you (re)listen to. 

Alan is a leadership and emotional intelligence (EQ) coach, founder of The Trampoline Group, Host of WYDAF: Wisdom You Didn’t Ask For, and a keynote speaker on culture change, EQ, leadership and resilience. In 2002 he decided to take the leap of inventing a new name for himself – Changeologist, and has since been on a personal mission to make work a great place to spend half your life.

Alan is here to remind us that there is no such thing as negative feedback, it’s all help!

To embrace giving feedback, Alan’s advice is to give it like you C.A.R.E., that is to provide Context, identify the Action and Result, and Engage in dialogue. Hit on these 4 guide posts and your feedback will be specific and meaningful.

In addition to giving feedback, Alan and I also discuss receiving feedback, and the role feedback plays in communicating expectations and managing up.

To learn more about Alan’s work visit The Trampoline Group or follow him on LinkedIn at @alanibbotson.

If you're interested in one-on-one training with me, for you or your team, please shoot me a note at www.abelintermedia.com I’d love to hear from you!

From Post to Published with Cathy Pedrayes

I talk about tapping into your superpowers all the time to grow your business and make an impact on the world. Cathy Pedrayes tapped into her innate ability as a well-prepared, analytical thinker to make complicated information around cybersecurity super simple and digestible, combined it with her natural warmth and relatability, posted a video to TikTok about what she carries in her first aid kit which got over 2 million views and "The Mom Friend" was born.

Cathy found the intersection of passion, purpose and - this is key - what the world needs and built a platform with over 2.4 million followers.

Also key: Cathy made herself discoverable (in a safe way - we discuss this a lot in the episode) and it didn't take long for

Simon & Schuster to come calling and Cathy is now the author of The Mom Friend Guide to Everyday Safety and Security.

When it comes to creating well-executed content, Cathy shares:

• Listen to your audience
• Good ideas come from everywhere
• If you can batch content - do it!
• Be prepared: Create shot lists + decide what works best for you and resonates with your audience
• Feeling relaxed and enjoying your content + the process makes being consistent easy

Learn more about Cathy and her signature blue dress at www.cathypedrayes.com and follow her on Tik Tok or Instagram @cathypedrayes.

How to Build with Lauren Maillian

To build means to make, by putting together parts and materials. It's a powerful, positive, active verb. This episode of Camera Ready & Abel is a master class in How to Build with brand strategist, change agent, marketing maverick and investor, Lauren Maillian.

Lauren shared so much valuable information I'm going straight to the Key takeaways:

• Learn how to thrive in uncertainty
• Failure is always an option so you ask yourself: is it worth it even if I fail?
• Optimize your talent
• Understand both how you work (skillset) and what you do (areas of expertise) because skills are transferable
• Develop the ability to observe
• Strive to work in your zone of genius
• Be clear on what motivates you as well as your team and the people around you.
• Look at systems - change and transformation require a multi-prong model
• Data is an equalizer - learn to read and decipher data + how to storytell around data. 

Lauren has advised and invested in over 40 startups and her portfolio represents over $5 billion in market capitalization. Since 2020, Lauren has been the CEO of digitalundivided, the leading nonprofit leveraging data programs and advocacy to catalyze economic growth for black and Latin X women, entrepreneurs and innovators with the mission to create a greater world in which all women of color own their work and worth.

Learn more about Lauren’s work at www.laurenmaillian.com and sign up for her bi-weekly newsletter where Lauren shares her insights and opinions on all things diversity, equity, inclusion, innovation and why storytelling matters.