The Intern Whisperer

In this episode of The Intern Whisperer Podcast, host Isabella Johnston welcomes Spencer Elliott, the Director of Smart Cities at Plug and Play Tech Center. Spencer, an experienced CEO and investor, shares his journey from startup founder to venture partner and discusses how he’s helping shape the future of startups in Orlando and beyond. Learn about the innovative ecosystem Plug and Play is build...

In this episode of The Intern Whisperer Podcast, host Isabella Johnston sits down with Chuck Goldstone, founder of Chuck Goldstone | Strategies and Stories and the New Venture Institute. Chuck has coached and mentored thousands of startups across the globe, helping them use storytelling and strategic communication to secure funding, create partnerships, and stand out in competitive markets. Chuck...

In this episode of The Intern Whisperer Podcast, we’re joined by Jerrid Kalakay, PhD. Jerrid and I go back to when we worked together at Rollins College. He is an expert in social entrepreneurship, higher education, and an author.    His book is entitled,  Igniting Innovation: A Guide to Entrepreneurship and Positive Change. Jerrid shares his unique career journey—from his experiences in the busin...

In this insightful episode of The Intern Whisperer Podcast, Margie Meacham, renowned as the "Brain Lady," joins host Isabella Johnston to discuss how neuroscience and AI are reshaping talent development. With a background in neuroscience and AI, Margie is leading the way with her new company and platform, Learning2Go.ai, which blends the power of the brain with cutting-edge technology to enhance l...

In this exciting episode of The Intern Whisperer Podcast, we welcome Rosangela Parker, Program Manager at Plug and Play Tech Center, to discuss her journey into the startup ecosystem and how she’s driving innovation in Orlando. Rosangela shares her experience in fostering Smart Cities, exploring AI’s role in startups, and how Plug and Play accelerates the growth of small businesses. With insights...

This episode is full of insights on the future of aviation, mentorship, and the role of AI in transforming industries. Don't miss Jessica McClintock’s valuable perspective on leading in business aviation, empowering women in the field, and embracing technology to drive sustainability in aviation. In this episode of The Intern Whisperer Podcast, we’re joined by Jessica McClintock, VP of Leasing at...

In this episode of The Intern Whisperer Podcast, we’re joined by Paige Dansinger, a visionary leader at the intersection of art, technology, and community building. Paige is the founder of the Better World Museum, Horizon Art Museum, and Women in Horizon. She’s a renowned speaker in XR (Extended Reality), with over a decade of pioneering work in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), artifi...

In this episode of The Intern Whisperer Podcast, we’re joined by Brooke Avery, a Technical Program Manager at Limble and the founder of the Angular Community Meetup. Brooke’s journey from teaching to software engineering, and later to technical program management, is a true testament to resilience and adaptability. She shares her story of overcoming health challenges, discovering her passion for p...

In this episode of The Intern Whisperer Podcast, we have the privilege of speaking with Robert Katz, the CEO of the World Innovation Network (WIN), a top technology think tank and internationally recognized nonprofit. Robert shares his incredible journey that started long before he was born—he's passionate about space exploration, and his career has been focused on using innovation to inspire chan...

In this episode of The Intern Whisperer Podcast, we chat with Adam Ben-Evi, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Spot Fitness, an innovative app designed to bring all fitness activities into one place. Adam’s entrepreneurial journey began at the young age of 21, launching his first company, and has since evolved into launching and selling over 20 businesses across various industries. From produ...

In this episode of The Intern Whisperer Podcast, we chat with Chris Paxton McMillin, founder of D3 Training Solutions and a passionate advocate for accessibility in e-learning. Chris shares her journey from studying journalism to becoming an expert in instructional design, highlighting how she evolved her career into creating accessible training solutions for diverse audiences. She talks about her...

In this episode of The Intern Whisperer Podcast, we’re joined by Adrienne Garland, founder of She Leads Media, a powerhouse company dedicated to elevating women’s voices through conferences, events, publishing, and podcasting. Adrienne talks about the art of gathering — creating intentional spaces that foster connection and support for women across industries. She shares her thoughts on how we can...

I find Shannon Latimer to be such an interesting person, she is an educator, futurist, and creative powerhouse. In this compelling episode, we sit down with Shannon to explore the future of education and work in 2030. With a career journey that spans journalism, corporate communications, and teaching, Shannon shares how her diverse experiences have shaped her vision for integrating core academic c...

In this episode of The Intern Whisperer Podcast, I sit down with Glenn Cook, an entrepreneur, mentor, and mobility innovator who’s been at the forefront of disruptive technologies. I met Glenn when we were both accepted into the Avalon Innovation Competition.  He is a brilliant, entertaining character that will keep you amazed at the richness of his life and impact.  Glenn shares his personal jour...

In this insightful episode of The Intern Whisperer Podcast, Isabella chats with Enrico Marcellino, a seasoned leader in the healthcare and innovation sectors. Enrico shares his multifaceted career journey, from his creative beginnings in film to his pivotal roles with Advent Health. Enrico is a key leader in process improvement and internal communications. His passion for strategic decision-making...

306 Michelle Sanabria and Caleigh Hoyne - The Ladies In Pink Are Back!    In case you do not know these two ladies, their episode from 2023 DOMINATED audio and YouTube streaming channels. Michelle Sanabria is the founder/owner of SMS Events and Caleigh Hoyne is the Ops Manager. These ladies in pink are THE event gurus you should hire to make every event an experience that is memorable.    They won...

Disclaimer: We experienced audio problems that were unfortunately not able to be corrected.  We hope you will find Juan’s interview interesting and leave us comments about his responses.    This guest epitomizes the definition of a Renaissance Man. Juan Santos is the Senior Vice President of Brand Experience and Innovation with Tavistock.  He has 20+ years of creating magical experiences and been...

  Meet Rafael Caamano, a gentleman that I have known at events for years and finally had the opportunity to have a conversation with him about his life. I hope you enjoy meeting him as much as me. Sharing one of the stories from this episode with you.    When asked who are some of his favorite thought leaders. His reply was different from others.  He shared a story about the quality time he spent...

I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to interview Safia Porter and hope you do also. She is warm, caring, and visionary.  She actually selected the same word to describe herself.  Safia shared a story from her childhood about her love for the performing arts & music. She believes it helps to awaken our imagination and we should all lean into our inner child. I totally agree with her and have e...

Denise Musselwhite is the founder of Tech and Thrive. She is a dynamic person that is memorable. We have been connected through a number of Women’s groups that focus on technology. One of the words she shared to describe herself is Deliberate, and the definition of this word means to carefully think or talk something through. Slow and measured, the pace of this kind of careful decision making. As...

Andres Goyanes is a personal coach on a mission to help people become their best version of themselves. Andres spent a lot of time thinking about his purpose in life. As he looked forward , he also looked backwards and thought about how he helped people.  Some really great wisdom nuggets that came out of the show are: Celebrate successes and learn from failures.  Communication is one of the best w...

I have known Michael Weiss for quite some time through his day job with UCF Incubator as a manager over two incubator sites.  What I didn’t know is that he is an entrepreneur, graduated with hospitality as his field of study, and that he has quite a bit of knowledge and experience in the sports industry.  When I asked him what his five words are that defined him, he shared that he likes to have fu...

Emily Walker is a vibrant woman that believes that using color in your wardrobe says a lot about your personal and business brand.  For those that can see her picture on the thumbnail or in our social feeds you will better understand what I mean by that.  I kicked off the show by asking my guests to describe themself using 5 words.  Two of these words she selected were the epitome of her essence....

Rey Ortega is an incredibly smart, well-read, and self-taught programming engineer that is driven to help others reach their goals and potential. His mentoring advice to others is “Make sure you do a deep dive and become a problem solver. Apply this in everything you want to learn. If you don’t know your stuff, people will know you don’t know what you are doing.” Wise words, right?   We talked qui...

As a previous TEDx Orlando organizer and leader, I am asked a lot about how to land a TEDx speaking opportunity. I thought it best to bring an expert that can share that knowledge with us. I know Adam Lewis Walker from one of my favorite events - Podfest. He has been exhibiting and speaking at that event for years. Adam helps authors, coaches, consultants, and speakers become the thought leader in...