Adeptus On Air

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Bee Baumann, a stand up comedian, communication coach, writer, and speaker who helps people use humor to regulate anxiety, build confidence, and connect with others. Bee shares how moving from the United States to Germany led her to rethink her voice, her identity, and the role humor played in her life and work. She talks about struggling with...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Kurt Ellenberger, a pianist, composer, author, and longtime music educator whose career spans performance, teaching, and writing. Kurt reflects on growing up in a musical household and how early exposure to both classical and jazz traditions shaped his curiosity about how music works beneath the surface. He shares how his career evolved from pr...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host James Walker chats with Dan Esposito, a former NFL player and national champion sprinter who rebuilt his health after years of chronic pain and physical decline. Dan explains how his experience with inflammation, diet, and lifestyle breakdown pushed him to question conventional explanations for pain and healing. He walks through how chronic pain develops over time, wh...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Sandra Cavanaugh, a coach, teacher, and author who has spent decades helping people recognize and trust their creative intelligence. Sandra shares how her work with actors, business leaders, educators, and individuals with special needs shaped her belief that creativity is not a talent reserved for a few, but a core part of being human. She exp...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Julie Piekarski, an actress best known for her role as Sue Ann Weaver on The Facts of Life and her early years as a Mouseketeer. Julie reflects on growing up in front of the camera and how her family’s steady foundation helped her navigate fame at a young age without losing her sense of self. She shares what it was like working alongside legend...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Jayson Johnson, an award-winning writer, director, and producer whose work spans short films, feature development, and collaborations across major networks and independent platforms. Jayson shares how early experiences watching television with his family sparked a curiosity about the people behind the screen and eventually led him into radio, T...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host James Walker chats with Ivy Dieujuste, a Temple University senior majoring in accounting and finance and the latest recipient of the James E. Walker Scholarship. Ivy shares what it feels like to navigate college as a first-generation student while balancing a demanding academic workload, work responsibilities, and the pressure to plan for life after graduation. She re...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Shannon Malone-DeBenedictis, a two-time Emmy Award winning documentary filmmaker whose work spans Disney Plus, Netflix, National Geographic, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Shannon shares how her path into nature filmmaking was unexpected, beginning as a self-described city mouse before being pulled into the world of wildlife storytelling through h...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Tim McLoone, a New Jersey Hall of Fame inductee, musician, restaurateur, and founder of the nonprofit Holiday Express. Tim shares how music has always been the throughline of his life, from early piano bar gigs and years on stage with legendary artists to the moments during the pandemic when playing became a form of personal survival. He reflec...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Simmy Kustanowitz, an Emmy-nominated executive producer whose career spans hit shows from Total Request Live to Impractical Jokers. Simmy describes how live television shaped the way he thinks under pressure and how that mindset carried into years of creating unscripted moments built on authentic reactions. He reflects on the cross-generational...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host James Walker chats with Teri Pruitt, a Broadway wardrobe professional who has spent over 25 years bringing some of theater’s most iconic productions to life, including 18 years with Wicked. Teri shares how an unexpected audition in junior high sparked a love for theater that carried her from Kansas to some of the country’s most respected regional stages. Teri reflects...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Courtney Stanfield, a Canadian TV broadcaster, mom of three, and creator of the anonymous emotional wellness app Air Out. Courtney describes how a dream set her on the path to develop an app for those who need to vent. She talks about the intention behind Air Out and the relief people find when they can share honest thoughts without attaching t...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Toni Will, a general manager, speaker, and advocate for women in sports. Toni reflects on her unconventional path to becoming the first female general manager in ECHL history, leading the Kalamazoo Wings to record-breaking attendance and multiple league honors. She discusses the challenges she’s faced as a woman in a male-dominated sport and ho...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host James Walker chats with Julian Hampton, an award-winning author, screenwriter, and director known for his captivating storytelling and thoughtful approach to filmmaking. Julian explains how his creative ideas often begin with a simple “what if” moment that evolves into full-length scripts, and he shares his deep passion for exploring emotion and human experience throu...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Nan Avant, an award-winning composer and pianist whose work bridges classical tradition with modern expression. Nan shares how her early piano lessons led to a lifelong passion for composing orchestral works, often inspired by her surroundings and emotional experiences. From her years of studying at the California Institute of the Arts to her f...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with DC Glenn, half of the legendary hip-hop duo Tag Team and the voice behind the iconic anthem “Whoomp! There It Is!” DC shares his remarkable journey from DJing in Atlanta’s Magic City to achieving platinum success and navigating the realities of the music business. He discusses the lessons learned through legal battles, his evolution into acting...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host James Walker chats with Mayim Vega, a former NASA computer scientist turned holistic healing educator. Mayim shares how her early passion for STEM led to a career at NASA, where curiosity and research fueled her growth. She reflects on her shift into holistic health, inspired by childhood lessons and a deep belief in the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Mayim ex...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Patrick Marini, a British expat and entrepreneur who is both the Director of Marketing at Holland Ridge Farms and the founder of Camp Goldie. Patrick shares how a trip with his wife to meet golden retrievers sparked the idea for Camp Goldie, where visitors can cuddle, play fetch, and even swim alongside a pack of goldens. He recalls the chaos o...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host James Walker chats with Brenda Do, a children’s author and a seasoned copywriter. Brenda shares how a simple moment with her young nephew spilling leftovers and immediately calling himself “stupid” sparked the idea for her debut picture book, “It's Okay Not to Know.” Drawing on her background in direct response copywriting, she explains how observing human behavior an...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Steve Stagner, CEO of Crete Professionals Alliance. Steve explains how the firm partners with accounting and professional services firms across the country using a model he calls “partner equity” rather than private equity. He discusses why preserving local culture and ownership is central to their approach, and how access to talent, technology...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Arias WebsterBerry, founder and CEO of WebsterBerry Marketing, Ignite Funnels, and Launch Ignition AI. Arias shares how his early experiences of loss and instability shaped his resilience and fueled his drive to build businesses that help others grow. He explains how a career that began in promotions and concerts evolved into running a full-ser...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Casey Flay, a competitive wingsuit pilot representing Team GB. Casey shares how he went from his first skydive just a few years ago to competing on the world stage, and why the sport quickly became an obsession. He explains what it takes to train at a high level, from early morning conditioning and gym work to studying flight data and waiting o...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host James Walker chats with Chris Bjork, professor of education at Vassar College and coauthor of More Than Just a Game: How the Youth Sports Industry is Changing the Way We Parent and What We Can Do About It. Drawing on years of research that included shadowing travel teams, speaking with parents and coaches nationwide, and interviewing college recruiters, Chris explains...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Jessica Pascale, an entertainment attorney who works with actors, production crew to online content creators. Jessica shares her perspective on the legal pitfalls many new creators face, from handshake deals and vague agreements to unclear ownership of rights. She explains when to involve an attorney, how to navigate exclusivity clauses, and wh...

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Rachel Matos, founder and CEO of Refined Media Group. Rachel shares how she went from working on early influencer campaigns in 2011 to building an agency that connects brands with creators and manages end-to-end digital marketing strategies. She explains how brands vet creators, the challenges of working with tight budgets in multicultural camp...