12 Minute Convos W/ Engel Jones

Aliki is a vibrant entrepreneur who blends science and creativity. As an author, singer-songwriter, muralist, engineer, and technical project manager, she excels in crafting life plans that balance all these deep passions. After a decade in spacecraft design and program management, she left the industry to lay out The Summit Method, a life-planning technique she has developed for over 10 years. She has helped countless individuals through her Conquer Your Summit platform, inspiring others to pursue their passions and reach for the stars. Website Instagram

I was a canine handler in the Air Force, and before that, I had never owned a dog. Much of what I initially learned about dog training came from the military, though I’ve gained even more knowledge since then. While serving, I was selected for a Secret Service mission, providing security for President Trump in 2020. During that assignment, I spoke with Secret Service canine handlers who encouraged me to leave the military and pursue a similar role with them. I decided to take their advice and began the year-long application process, but at the last minute, it didn’t work out. While waiting during that time, I started training dogs as a side project. I had no idea people would actually pay for it, but I quickly realized it was both profitable and something I genuinely enjoyed. Helping dog owners became a passion. When the Secret Service opportunity fell through, I made the decision to pursue dog training full-time. I researched dog-friendly cities in the U.S., and at the time, Tampa was ranked number one. My w

Speaker and Coach, Cindy is the founder of CBC - Cindy Baker Coaching, a coaching and education company for entrepreneurs. With a master's in counseling and over 19 years as an educator, Cindy's mission is to share the success secrets she has discovered in her own journey as an entrepreneur with ADHD to inspire other creative professionals to leverage their brain's superpowers to become positive, prepared, and productive. Her productivity training has helped countless entrepreneurs grow their businesses by overcoming overwhelm, gaining clarity and focus, and managing their time. Fueled by faith and coffee, she loves being a wife, grandma, and dog mom. When not coaching she can be found singing in her church's choir or spending time outdoors. Website Link to Cindy’s free course (How to Beat Procrastination My book is out. Focus to Fortune 

Kit Sadgrove is the author of a new book, "The Concierge Class". It’s about an unseen group of middle-class professionals who work for corporations and the ultra-wealthy. They’re the Magicians, the Enablers, the Pushers, and the Suppliers. They’re found in countless professions, from economists to scientists, and from lawyers to think tanks. The result, he says, is a widening of inequality, growing political unrest, and a loss of trust in democracy. Kit has run his own successful company for two decades, so he's not anti-business. On the contrary, he understands the challenges that small and medium-sized businesses face. And he has first-hand experience of the way large corporations fix the market to the detriment, he says, of their customers and suppliers. Kit Sadgrove's Website

As a student-athlete and entrepreneur, I’ve spent my college career balancing the intense demands of being a safety on the Wake Forest football team with building a wellness startup, Ascend. My journey is one of resilience, innovation, and growth—transforming challenges into opportunities both on and off the field. Ascend is a meditation and wellness app aimed at helping people find balance in their busy lives, inspired by my experiences managing the pressures of athletics, academics, and entrepreneurship. I’m passionate about sharing actionable insights on leadership, discipline, and starting a business from the ground up, especially as a full-time student. Listeners will leave with strategies for achieving balance, stories of perseverance, and inspiration to pursue their passions—whether they’re on a field, in a classroom, or starting their own venture. Links: Facebook LinkedIn Website

Scott Cutlan is known around the world as the "More" guy. Despite little formal training, Scott has climbed all 7 summits, including being one of the few Americans who has scaled the North Face of Mount Everest solo. He has visited over 100 countries and launched multiple international nonprofit operations. And it all started when someone challenged him to live "More." Today, Scott is brought in around the world to help leaders and teams tap into their "More" and unlock the greatness inside of them. He is a keynote speaker, bestselling author, and professional explorer. He's coached high level executives, investment gurus and professional athletes to tap into their "More" and step into their greatness. Connect with Scott: Seven7impact ClimB4Community New Reach Foundation Website LinkedIn Facebook

Arunjay Katakam is the author of Generation Hope: How Inclusive Economics Can Help Us All Thrive. He is a writer, speaker, thinker, serial entrepreneur and recovering wealth-chaser, having realized in May 2020 that by wanting to be super rich, he was part of the problem. Arunjay left a career in investment banking and has spent over a decade in international development, working with the GSMA and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, among other development agencies, to increase financial inclusion through cross-border payments and digital public infrastructure. In a previous life, he mentored over 20 inclusive fintech startups with DFS Lab and was a venture builder with Catalyst Fund. He diligently advocates for a zero-fee customer payment model in his first book, The Power of Micro Money Transfers. In 2020, Arunjay created the Inclusive Action Lab, a nonprofit startup that is incubating moonshot ideas focused on ending poverty for the last billion people by 2030. Website

Brian Hite, Ph.D., has spent over 30 years blending the worlds of professional stunt work and psychology, with more than 100 film and television credits, including a Screen Actors Guild Award for 24. His experience in high-pressure environments fuels his work as a coach, empowering leaders, athletes, and professionals to dismantle the illusion of pressure and unlock peak performance. With a Master's in Sport Psychology and a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology, Brian spent a decade with the U.S. Army, helping soldiers develop resilience and adaptability. Now a faculty member at Grand Canyon University, he mentors doctoral candidates while sharing his expertise in performance psychology. Through his coaching program, PressureX, Brian helps clients and organizations overcome mental barriers and embrace clarity. He also shares his insights on the podcast Poking Holes in Blinders and in his book, Begin Again, which integrates Eastern and Western philosophies for modern success. His upcoming book, Flow Under Fire,

As an ITI-Certified medical translator with 25 years of experience, I specialize in delivering precise, high-stakes translations for clinical trials, medical reports and academic research. My background as a former medic, including three years at Bristol Medical School and over one year’s hospital training, equips me with a unique understanding of medical terminology and the rigorous standards of the life sciences industry. Beyond translation, I am also committed to championing freelance translators in navigating the challenges of the AI-powered marketplace. I combine linguistic precision with strategic expertise to help translators: · Attract direct clients in a competitive environment. · Build a standalone online presence through unique personal branding, quiz marketing and email list-building techniques. · Foster durable client relationships that adapt to technological advancements while maintaining the indispensable value of human expertise. Through actionable frameworks, including lead-generation quizzes

Alexander Concepcion first learned to love books from his Cuban-American parents in Miami, Florida. After burning his college diplomas, he moved to Texas, stumbled into real estate, and became one of Texas's top producing (and only taco-themed) independent brokers despite working part-time hours. The rest of his time is spent studying history, playing disc golf, hosting extravagant dinner parties, and romping around the world. He lives and eats tacos in East Austin, Texas. Alexander Concepcion's Website Instagram

Rhonda Britten – Emmy Award-winner, Repeat Oprah guest, Master Coach – has changed lives in over 600 episodes of reality television including starring in the hit daytime reality show, "Starting Over," is the author of four bestsellers including her seminal work, “Fearless Living” and is the Founder of the Fearless Living Institute, home of the Ivy League of Life Coaching Training. Named “America’s Favorite Life Coach,” she brings the neuroscience of fear down to earth giving you a path out of “not being good enough” using the “Wheels” technology she developed that saved her own life. Find out more at http://www.FearlessLiving.org LinkedIn Facebook

I am the CFO, Founder & Co-Host of Next Level University, a Global Top 100 Self-Improvement Podcast with more than 1,900 episodes and 1 million listens in over 170 countries. Some people find rock bottom... I found out that rock bottom had a basement. In my mid 20's... I had it all. I had a beautiful girlfriend, high paying job, sports car, my dream body... but I still ended up sitting on the edge of a bed debating suicide. After my rock bottom moment, I went all in on holistic self-improvement. I was determined to overcome my anxiety, depression and to finally live the life I'd always dreamed of. Years later, I now host a podcast that impacts hundreds of thousands of people in countries all over the world. At this stage, I've helped grow the podcast into a multi six-figure business, and I've recorded well over 1,650 episodes. I've also given hundreds of speeches, trainings and coaching calls with people all over the world. The main thing that changed was ME. I focused on learning what I didn't know (unle

Dr. Asanee Brogan is a spiritual coach, educator, and guide who specializes in traditional African religions. As the founder of her flagship coaching business, Asanee 44 LLC, she pioneers a platform dedicated to educating and empowering others about African spirituality. Her specializations focus on the Ifá tradition and Haitian Vodou. Though, her vision extends beyond curating a knowledge-based system. Instead, she aims to help others foster connections with the ancestral wisdom from their spiritual legacy. As an educator and publisher, Dr. Asanee provides invaluable resources to seekers along their spiritual journeys. Through works like Connecting with Your Ancestors and African Spirituality for Beginners, she offers insightful foundations into African spiritual traditions. In her courses, Haitian Vodou: Mystery of the Cosmos and Ancestor Altars: Building Gateways for Divine Communication, she guides learners toward even deeper understanding and connectivity. Not content with static mediums alone, Dr. Asane

Genevieve Skory knows that one of the greatest barriers entrepreneurs face isn't always a lack of strategy, resources, or vision—it's mindset and resilience. Overcoming the mental hurdles of fear, doubt, perfectionism, or "imposter syndrome" can often feel harder than solving the toughest business challenges. Genevieve understands how mindset can fuel growth or keep entrepreneurs stuck in patterns of overthinking, hesitation, or resistance to change. Many entrepreneurs struggle with knowing when to pivot, how to prioritize, or how to step into the next stage of growth confidently. Genevieve has helped thousands of entrepreneurs identify these mental blocks, reframe their perspectives, align processes, and build a mindset rooted in clarity, resilience, and action. Genevieve Skory is an executive resilience coach, dynamic storyteller, and keynote speaker whose journey seamlessly blends the innovative hustle of entrepreneurship with the strategic mindset of the C-suite. With years of experience navigating entrep

Robert A. Lane is an Audiobook Coach & Producer as well as a Transformational Speaker. He spent 30+ years working in the entertainment industry in various facets including on & off camera, post production and corporate management. Fourteen of those years were spent at 20th Century Fox, working on the studio lot in L.A. as their Feature Project Manager. He also has over 23 years of experience as a re-recording mixer, sound designer and music composer for many films, tv shows and industrial videos. After leaving the entertainment world in 2020, Robert founded Robert Lane Coaching, first as a Career/Life Coach, then expanding the business as an Audiobook Coach & Producer. After publishing his #1 bestselling book “Lights, Action, YOU!” based on his experiences in the entertainment business, he created the “Your Book Your Voice” audiobook coaching program, a one-on-one program helping nonfiction authors narrate and publish their own audiobooks on Audible, Amazon & Apple Books as well as other distr

Talk about a quiet storm! After retiring from a rewarding teaching career in 2015, I quickly realized that supplementing my pension with more work just wasn't the life I envisioned. So—I did something bold. In 2017, I packed my bags and moved to Mexico, embracing a fresh start filled with purpose, freedom, and adventure. What began as a practical decision has become a deeply fulfilling chapter, proving that it's never too late to rewrite your story. I’m passionate about sharing this journey to inspire others—especially retirees—who are seeking alternative lifestyles, financial freedom, and empowerment through change. Let’s Connect on LinkedIn

Steve Huff is an innovator, storyteller, humanitarian, and recovering tech entrepreneur whose diverse experiences span from the bustling corridors of Fortune 100 companies to the challenging environments of refugee camps in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite personal and professional setbacks, Steve has discovered that focusing on kindness and gratitude amid chaos leads to true joy and success. Driven by a lifelong quest for understanding favorable outcomes and attaining success in both personal and professional realms, his unique perspective resonates with anyone curious about self-improvement, better relationships, and finding joy in life's journey. Join Steve in discovering how to turn life’s chaos into living your best life. LinkedIn Website

Craig Mattson is an organizational researcher who serves as a professor of communication at Calvin University. He's written several books and numerous essays, often exploring the communicational complexities of organizational life. But when he's not writing and reading and podcasting, he's enjoying the natural world, hiking, running, and playing driveway pickleball. Craig lives with his wife Rhoda in Grand Rapids, MI, and their four adult children live and study and work across the Midwest. Books: Digital Overwhelm: A Mid-Career Guide to Coping at Work (2024) Why Spiritual Capital Matters: Activating Latent Resources in Your Organizational Community (2021) Rethinking Communication in Social Business: How Re-Modeling Communication Keeps Companies Social and Entrepreneurial (2018) Websites: TheModeswitch Digitaloverwhelm

W. Terry Whalin understands both sides of the editorial desk--as an editor and a writer. He worked as a magazine editor and his magazine work has appeared in more than 50 publications. A former book acquisitions editor for several publishers and a former literary agent, Terry is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing.  He has written more than 60 books through traditional publishers in a wide range of topics from children's books to biographies to co-authored books. Over 20 years ago, in eleven days, Terry wrote a diet book called First Place by Carole Lewis which has sold over 100,000 copies.  Terry's newest book is 10 Publishing Myths, Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed (Morgan James Publishing). Tonight, everyone can get a physical copy of 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 including the shipping plus it comes with over $200 of free bonuses. You can get this special offer at publishingoffer.com He is a popular speaker and teacher at numerous writers' conferences and an active member of the Ame

I, Vasundhara (Vasu) Tolia, represent a unique intersection of medicine and art. My transition from healing through medicine to healing through art has shaped my distinctive approach to creating transformative artwork. Drawing from my background as a tenured Professor of Pediatrics at Wayne State University, I create abstract and semi-abstract pieces that bridge the gap between scientific understanding and artistic expression. My work in acrylic and mixed media focuses on empowerment and healing, particularly in supporting neurodivergent individuals and promoting emotional well-being. Email Links: Facebook Instagram  LinkedIn Download My 2025 Healing Art Calendar Website