interview

Courageous Introspection Leads to Bold Creativity With Crystal Waddell

“Accomplishing goals is not success. How much you expand in the process is.”

This quote from Brianna Wiest perfectly explains this week’s episode.

This is the first interview I’ve done with a guest in almost a year.

So I’m super excited to share it with you.

Crystal was generous enough to be the first guest to experiment with the new episode format.

We both shared very personal stories from our lives & businesses.

Honestly, this is one of my favorite episodes.

Crystal is a genius SEO Content Marketer and the founder of Collage & Wood.

She is the co-host of the podcast Simple and Smart SEO Show.

You can learn more about her here.

I hope you enjoy this week’s episode!

P.S.

If you’re ready to unlock the doors to the marketing genius inside of you…

…then you’re a perfect candidate for our Immersion Program.

We don’t believe in spoon-feeding people answers.

We believe in giving you the tools & skills you need to discover your own solutions.

So if you’re ready to unleash the storyteller within you then come join us.

Here are the details:

https://tomearl.me/dcminvite

Having The Courage To Ask Bigger Questions With 𝐃𝐫. 𝐁𝐫𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐜𝐄𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲

Original Air Date: August 10, 2020

Imagine coming home from work only to find that your partner of 7 years has completely moved out of the home you shared together.  

No warning. No note. No discernible reason.  

Just the empty space where that person’s furniture, clothes, dishes, and presence once were. 

Ok. Now let’s jump back one year. 

Let’s say you were to study your ass off for years. You go through the rigorous and grueling process of medical rotations. You walk across the stage to receive your pharmacy doctorate – only to realize less than 1 year later that this profession isn’t for you. 

We all have an origin story. 

These are just two of the life events that this week’s guest, 𝐃𝐫. 𝐁𝐫𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐜𝐄𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 shared with us in this powerful episode. 

This interview is personal.  

It is vulnerable.

It is transparent. 

It is real.

𝐃𝐫. 𝐁𝐫𝐲𝐚𝐧 lives the truth that he shares as a holistic life coach, business mentor, and speaker. The core premise of his work is to empower and teach each person he encounters to take control of their mind, body, and life by investing in themselves.

I promise you: you will not regret jumping into this episode. It’ll be a cool pool on a hot summer’s day. 

We got real as we talked about mental health, social justice, neuro-linguistic programming, self-awareness, how to transition from loss, and how to move forward when your world falls out from underneath you. 

Bryan and I also went deep on men and mental health. We talked about how toxic masculinity and patriarchy keep men in an unhealthy box, and how we can break free from that box.

Most importantly, Bryan made sure that he didn’t just speak in the theoretical or philosophical. He shared tools, steps, exercises, and processes you can use to address the issues that were raised in this interview. 

I’m telling you, we went in on this episode. 

Here’s my suggestion: hit play and brace yourself. 

You can learn more about 𝐃𝐫. 𝐁𝐫𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐜𝐄𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 through his website; or you can follow him on Instagram

tomearl.me/bm

Express Session Featuring SuperB

Original Air Date:

On this week’s episode, I interview one of my favorite poets, the genius SuperB!

We really went deep on this one.  We even took a pause and just soaked in the beauty of where the interview went.  

SuperB’s talked about his origin story, creativity, connection, how he almost became a Catholic priest, and on pursuing one's dreams. 

I highly recommend you take listen!  Enjoy! 

SuperB will be the featured poet for this month’s Live and Online: Expression Session.  Taking place on Sunday, October 15th, the LO:ES is an online writing workshop that culminates a performance by our feature SuperB.

tomearl.me/sb

Copywriting, Mindfulness, and Courage With Jo Mckee

Original Air Date: October 12, 2020

Communication is a top-shelf skill that every entrepreneur must master. 

If you have an important mission, movement, product, or business, the ability to connect with your audience is vital. 

Verbal and nonverbal communication is absolutely essential. 

But what is often overlooked is copywriting.  

Copywriting, and the ability to move people with your words, is so crucial.  

Are you with me? 

Because if so, we’re in luck. 

This week’s guest, Jo McKee, is both a phenomenal teacher of copy and a master copywriter herself. 

Jo Mckee is the founder of McKee Creative, a marketing agency with a mission to connect clients with their customers. Jo has also just released Copywriting for Profit – the hands-on system to train agency team members as in-house copywriters.

Throughout the interview, Jo shares with us templates, tools, and strategies you can use to write with persuasion and authenticity. 

Most importantly, Jo shares with us how to write in a way that centers your audience as the heroes of the story rather than yourself.

This episode is about more than just the written word. 

We also go all in on the importance of mindset, courage, and emotional intelligence. 

I am always eager to learn how accomplished entrepreneurs move through challenges, cope with stress, and continue to perform at the highest level. 

Jo offers advice on all of this and more. 

I’m telling you, this episode is packed with holistic insights and action steps you can take right now. 

tomearl.me/jm

An Intention Greater Than Yourself With Sudduf Wyne

Original Air Date: August 2, 2020

Living spiritually. Building community. Growing purposefully.

These are the 3 pillars that guide this week’s guests, Sudduf Wyne.

Over the span of my podcast,  it’s been an honor to interview almost 300 remarkable entrepreneurs so far.

But this is one of the most courageous, real, honest, vulnerable, and inspiring conversations I’ve ever had.

Why can I say that?

With each question I asked, Sudduf would take us to a deeper level with each of her answers.

I almost don’t want to spoil the journey this episode is by revealing too much of what we talked about. I’m that excited for you to listen to it.

So… If you're looking for a deeper meaning, 

If you believe we are here for a reason,

If you have ever felt excluded, overlooked or not seen,

If self-doubt has ever held you back,

Then this episode is for you.

Let’s start this journey.

Hit play.

More About Sudduf:

Sudduf runs the INTENTION membership. She stands confidently in her faith and leads intentionally and passionately.

Sudduf weaves her spiritually fuelled business approach into the lives of entrepreneurs struggling to gain clarity and purpose in their business.

Living spiritually. Building community. Growing purposefully. These are her pillars.

Sudduf’s magic has been affirmed and celebrated by many sources. The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, and the Canadian House of Commons to name but a few.

Her circle is grateful for her dedication, drive, passionate presence, and unwavering commitment to up-level the Muslim business community.

http://www.salamsudduf.com/

​​http://instagram.com/salamsudduf

http://facebook.com/salamsudduf

tomearl.me/sw

Drag THINGING!, Belonging, and Honoring Your Anger With CYRO

Original Air Date: November 9, 2020

Honor your anger. Honor your pain.

CYRO’s words resonated deeply with me – like a bell used to awaken your spirit.

This isn’t just an interview.

It’s an awakening. It’s a residence. It’s a healing.

I am so grateful that CYRO took the time to sit down and share their passionate and powerful wisdom with all of us.

Leah Kirby, also known as CYRO, creates theatre that incites change and incorporates non-western techniques in order to explore social, economic, and political issues through a non-traditional format. 

They are an activist, theatre maker, actor, writer, and drag thing named CYRO. 

CYRO is a Queer, Non-Binary, DRAG THING! 

They bring strength, beauty, and awareness to the stage with acts like 'Run Rabbit', exploring the struggles of gang induction and violence within black communities, and 'I am not your', a piece that delves into black masculinity within a non-binary body and shows the beauty it can exude by stripping back the facade. 

They use spoken word, movement, composition, Lip syncing, and storytelling within their work to incite change through artistic calls to action.

I am telling you: this interview is everything you have been looking for in a THE Celebration episode.

Do yourself a favor. 

Hit play.

You can learn more about Cyro through their website, or you can follow them on Instagram.

tomearl.me/cy

Facebook Ads, Leadership, and Flourishing With Monica Louie

Original Air Date: October 22, 2020

I love getting to interview people who are grounded in their own genius. 

Yes, the tactical knowledge and tools that I learn about are amazing – sometimes they’re life changing. 

What I really love about these sorts of people, though, is how they emphasize the ability we all have to truly live our own greatness. 

Boldly.

This week’s guest, Monica Louie, is all of that and more. 

Monica is a Facebook and Instagram ads strategist who helps ambitious online entrepreneurs increase their impact with high-converting ads. 

You may have heard her on the Smart Passive Income Podcast, the Boss Mom Podcast, the Art of Online Business Podcast, or her own podcast, Flourish to 7 Figures. 

Along with her premium agency, Team Flourish, Louie manages ads for 6- and 7-figure online business owners, has managed more than $2 million in ad spend, and has taught hundreds to successfully run their own ads through her online training program, Flourish with Facebook Ads. 

Whether you are looking for epic strategies for running Facebook ads, or really have no interest in running an ad, you will draw something valuable from this conversation. 

Yes, we went all in on FB/IG marketing tactics. 

But we also talked about Monica’s journey from being in massive debt to building her dream company. 

Monica shared huge insights on leadership, building a team, cultivating a growth mindset, and how to bring your vision to life. 

I’m telling you – Monica is a genius, and it shines through in this interview. 

Do yourself this favor and dive into this episode. 

Yeah? 

Yeah. 

Alright then. 

And if you’re looking for the free resource Monica created just for T.H.E. Celebration family - head here.

Monica’s links: 

Flourish to 7 Figures podcast.

Flourish with Facebook Ads.

tomearl.me/ml.

Conscious Sales With Nina Concepcion

Original Air Date: August 28, 2020

Sales. Salesperson. Closer. 

Most people have visceral reactions to these words and phrases, and almost all of us hold stereotypes or preconceived notions of what they mean. 

First off, we usually think of a man. 

Probably a white guy. 

Headset on, maybe. 

Yelling, probably.

Definitely intense, right? 

Maybe you envision the Wolf of Wall Street, or buying a car? 

Here’s the thing.  

If you have a life-changing idea, product, service, business, and/or brand, you are going to need to engage in sales. 

Even if you’re a nonprofit, you’re selling something. 

Even if you’re an activist, you’re selling something. 

For my entrepreneurs, business owners and side hustlers: sales is probably one of the biggest roadblocks holding you back right now. 

No matter how much exposure, leads, or prospects you get, if you can’t close them – if you’re afraid of sales – it will all be for naught. 

Now, this is usually where the tight feeling in our stomachs comes up. Or the explanation for how “my business is different though” starts to make its way into the conversation. 

But before we go there. Let me introduce to you this week’s guest: Nina Concepcion. 

Nina is here to turn all of your assumptions upside down. 

Nina is a master and teacher of Conscious Sales: a co-creation and a synergistic relationship between two or more people that is beneficial for both parties and the rest of the world. 

Now I bet that sounds more in alignment with your values, right? 

Sales and selling don’t have to be ugly. 

When done right, it provides growth, opportunity, and a step forward. 

I invite you to take a few minutes of your week and hear what Nina has to say. 

Not only will it change your entire perspective on what it means to be in sales, you’ll also have the opportunity to meet a truly remarkable entrepreneur. 

In addition, you’ll get to hear Nina talk about:

-How your values drive your life

-How to get your coaching business off the ground

-The power of social media

-What to do on a sales call

-What’s stopping you from moving forward

-How to overcome self-sabotage and step into your inner power 

I’m telling you: this interview is essential! 

Hit play and let me know what your number one takeaway was. 

Be sure to hit Nina up and show her some love → through her Facebook 

tomear.me/nc

Ecommerce Marketing Strategies with Veena Gandhi

Original Air Date: August 13, 2020

A few months ago, my nephew and I came up with an epic idea for a T-shirt company. 

It began when I asked when he planned to come out and visit Adaora and me again.  

He said he needed to get the funds first; so I proposed we sell t-shirts to get the money that he needed. We decided that he’d design them, and I’ll sell them through Facebook and IG ads. 

And boom. Just like that, we had an e-commerce company. 

Even before COVID-19 disrupted the economy and the way we shop, e-commerce was a trillion dollar industry in the U.S. alone.  

E-commerce has revolutionized our ability to sell products directly to consumers without having to go through gatekeepers or big box retail.

Now, while it is relatively easy to get your product loaded onto Etsy or Shopify, marketing that product can be quite a task. 

That is where e-commerce consultants like Veena Gandhi step in. Veena is a strategic digital marketer who specializes in providing creative and innovative solutions to advertising agencies, small businesses, start-ups, and entrepreneurs on the cluttered world of the Internet.

She is also the founder of Digital Street, which is a marketing agency that builds successful sales funnels for fashion, beauty, lifestyle and fitness e-commerce brands.

Whether you’re a seasoned brand or are just getting started in e-commerce, this interview will serve you. 

Rather than just giving general information you could google for yourself, Veena got down to the nitty-gritty of how to build a successful e-commerce campaign. 

Veena shared her knowledge on:

  • How to build audience personas for your Facebook ads.

  • The importance of data, and how to analyze it. 

  • How to set up your creative strategy for an ads campaign. 

  • Which metrics to use in determining which ads to turn off and which ones to increase ad spend on. 

  • The importance of testing your ads and campaigns.

  • How to use Instagram stories as a retargeting strategy.

For agency owners, media buyers, and ad managers, you will walk away from this interview with a plethora of industry secrets 

If you’re just getting started in e-commerce and are worried this might go over your head, don’t worry! Jump in and learn from a master of her craft. 

Alright. That’s enough from me.  

Let’s jump into this week’s episode.

If you have any questions or would like to reach out to Veena, you can do so through her website.

tomearl.me/vg

Writing Emails That Convert with Samar Owais

Original Air Date: May 18, 2018

Let’s say you were to ask Samar Owais to be your copywriter, and to sprinkle her magic on your email sequences. You’d need to be prepared to cut a check with a lot of zeros. 

In other words, Samar is a seriously sought after copywriter who crafts emails that convert lurkers into customers – then into repeat customers, and finally into raving fans. 

If you are an entrepreneur – from any industry – you need to be tapping into the full potential of your email list.

On this week’s episode, Samar really breaks down the ins and outs of writing email sequences. Whether we’re talking about a sales sequence, nurture sequence, abandoned cart sequence, whatever: if you’re sending it by email, she drops the gems on this one. 

This episode is especially for the folks who are sick of staring at a blank screen when trying to craft an email. Plus, Samar gives you series insights into the research you need to do before you even start writing your first email. 

Samar’s insight is really meant to empower you with the tools you need, so you can ultimately work with clients and customers that excite you and allow you to raise your prices. 

Now if you’re thinking, “wow Tom, I’m not sure I can do 60 minutes of geeking out about email copywriting.” Don’t worry. I got you. 

Samar and I also discussed: 

- Entrepreneurial mindset

- How to overcome challenges and adversity, especially when trying to pivot from one job to the next

- Owning your identity especially in the face of bias and/or discrimination

- Activating your innate power

- Communicating with passion, purpose and clarity

All this to say: do yourself the favor of hitting play on this epic interview. Samar delivers serious value and offers some amazing insights. 

Here we go. 

You can get in touch with Samar from her website.