Camera Ready & Abel

When I sat down to speak with Rakia Reynolds - thought leader, tastemaker and gamechanger - about AUGMENTED REALITY for this episode, I had no idea how many ways I'd been using AR for years plus its infinite potential to enhance my business. I'm still processing all the ways Rakia opened my eyes and blew my mind during our conversation. If you've ever used a filter on social media or zoom to chang...

Why fit in when you can stand out?! is one of my mantras so I was over the moon when Alan Ibbotson (episode 6 "Resilience) introduced me to my guest for this episode, Austin McGhie, the visionary author of " Find Your Difference: Challenging Conformity in Business and in Life .” Just like we value IQ (intelligence quotient) and EQ (emotional intelligence) we should value our DQ (difference quotien...

A barrier is an obstacle that prevents movement or access and we all encounter them from time to time on our career paths. My guest for this episode, Erin Ashley Simon, is a true trailblazer who has been making a significant impact in e-sports and media for years with a singular, hopeful vision. She joins me on this episode of Camera Ready & Abel to generously discuss BREAKING BARRIERS. Erin Ashle...

“Do The Work, Identify Your Intentions, Know Your Worth, Don’t Be Tempted By Shiny & know that things are subject to change so REMAIN OPEN” – Bevy Smith What do you get when you mix essential words of wisdom with unapologetic boldness and heart? You get a BEVELATION! Joining me on this episode of Camera Ready & Abel is the divine Bevy Smith. Quintessential Harlem girl, Gracie Award winner, and lif...

Confidence is the fuel that drives us toward our ambitions, and calm eases the way. And when the two states combine, they form a magical and powerful combination. It is also nearly universal that everyone - even the most seasoned speakers - at some point feels pangs of anxiety before presenting. That is why I am over the moon to have Patricia Stark joining me on this episode of Camera Ready & Abel...

As Heraclitus said 2500 years ago: The only constant is change. Duly noted, but...humans are creatures of habit and change is often scary. Fear and uncertainty go hand in hand. Joining me to discuss the importance and impact of CHANGE is actor, writer and musician, Matt Wells. In our conversation we discuss identity, the disappointment of missed opportunities, fighting the depression that often ac...

I am a big believer in daily rituals. I don't have the same work schedule every day so I find simple, thoughtful daily disciplines enormously impactful in helping me focus, manage stress, gain clarity and perspective, creative breakthroughs and approach each day with enthusiasm. Here to discuss the POWER OF RITUAL on this episode of Camera Ready & Abel is my friend Carlos Greer whose daily ritual...

It's a core human desire to be seen and I am thrilled to be joined by author, on-air host and truth-teller Nancy Redd to discuss the importance of REPRESENTATION. Nancy has been slaying taboos and normalizing stories that traditionally exist in the margins for as long as I have known her from her first book, BODY DRAMA, giving real answers about real bodies to real girls (and her follow up, DIET D...

Being camera ready for photographs is as important as being camera ready for video, and yet, how much thought did you put into preparing for the photo(s) you use in your LinkedIn profile, on your website and the social media content in between? I had a recent photoshoot with my go-to photographer, Nick Coleman, and it was a brilliant lesson in self-compassion, preparedness, and endurance. Nick's a...

Are you on the fast track to burn out? In a culture of DO, DO, DO the reminder to also BE is critical to your wellness and overall success. Combat fatigue, limiting beliefs, and emotional blocks with a HOLISTIC approach.  So where do you start? Right here! Joining me on this episode of Camera Ready & Abel is award-winning holistic coach and TV journalist Hilary Russo.  Hilary Russo is The HIListic...

Grab a wheelbarrow because you're going to need one to carry all the gems that my guest, Dave Noll, drops in this episode of Camera Ready & Abel. It will only take you a few seconds to feel this week's theme - POSITIVITY - in Dave's energy as he generously walks through the mindset, technique and practice that has made him a two-time Emmy award winning producer and show formats mastermind with ove...

Confidence is an inside job and believing in your enoughness is a forever journey but there are easy, actionable steps you can take every day in your confidence building.   Joining me on this episode of Camera Ready & Abel is makeup artist, content creator and beautypreneur Delina Medhin, who shares how important confidence was when she made the huge career pivot from corporate America to launchin...

The good people at Merriam-Webster define RELATABLE as possible to understand, like, or have sympathy for because of similarities to oneself or one's own experiences. Being relatable is a critical, contemporary skill because if I can see myself in some aspect of you, your values or your situation, I am much more likely to pay attention to you and what you are saying. Joining me on this episode of...

You've likely seen this quote attributed to Charles Darwin: It is not the strongest of the species that survives nor the most intelligent. It is the one most adaptable to change. My guest for this episode of Camera, Ready & Abel, DeDe Brown, Senior Vice President of Multicultural Marketing and Publicity at Paramount Pictures, is both strong and highly intelligent but you want to settle in and list...

COMMUNITY is a feeling of fellowship with others whether virtual or in real life. It feels good to be in community. This is especially true for creatives who often work alone in highly competitive fields. My guest for this episode of Camera Ready & Abel, TV host, actress and entrepreneur Shay Holland, talks to me about how she built one of my favorites Facebook communities, Hosts in LA, from 50 me...

HOPE is both a verb and a noun and I learned so much talking about hope with multi-platform storyteller and executive producer Danielle Gelfand on this episode of Camera Ready & Abel: Hope and resilience go hand in hand Some chance of a positive outcome is better than no chance, and worth holding on to It turns out the story we've been telling ourselves is often wrong The key is showing up She kno...

Your voice is one of your greatest assets and instrumental to your success. And, in case you haven't noticed, “we are living in a voice-first world,”  per my guest for this episode of Camera, Ready & Abel, award-winning voice actor and voiceover artist, Maria Pendolino, (who is also the voice of my audio book, How to Get Your Foot in the Door: Television Hosting & Presenting.) Whether you are a me...

“To heal is to touch with love that which we previously touched with fear.” -Stephen Levine The news cycle has been especially difficult lately. I know I've been struggling, feeling a lot of sorrow and helplessness, which is why it's timely that my guest for this episode is of Camera Ready & Abel is Intuitive Coach and Spiritual Consultant, Seth Eliot Santoro -  and his spiritual guides. Seth is o...

The CARE you demonstrate in your day-to-day life can have an enormous impact on those around you. It sends a message of value, worth, and appreciation for someone or something- and the world can use as much of those good vibes as possible! My guest for this episode is Director and activist, Sian-Pierre Regis, who brought the things he cares deeply for to life in his debut feature documentary, Duty...

RESILIENT is a mindset - and a choice. It means to be able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. If you are reading this, you are resilient. You came face to face with a global pandemic that required you to adapt to an extremely difficult situation. A core principle to being a RESILIENT person is leaning into your emotional intelligence and cultivating a belief in your ability...

I am naturally optimistic. In fact, my ability to see opportunity and look at the bright side of things is a super power that has served me well in a lot of ways. But...there's a shadow side to being overly positive. Honestly, it's one more example of The Shoulds and you've likely experienced this if you’ve ever had your feelings discounted and dismissed by someone else's need to put a positive sp...

I love COLOR. It is a powerful communication tool. Color is an exterior representation that evokes emotion, conveys a message, and affects your mood. It can also help you stand out OR it can wash you out, which is why I invited Hollywood’s Guru of Hue, Jill Kirsh, to provide color coaching so you can clarify your message in style. Color Expert, Jill Kirsh, has created the ultimate fashion hack wit...

ADVERSITY is part of the human experience and learning to cope with it has shaped my life and been a great teacher of resilience. I am where I am because of experiencing loss, heartbreak and perceived failures like getting fired (more than once!).   My guest for this episode, Performance Psychologist and Purpose-Driven Speaker, Dr. Gregg Steinberg, has taught me a ton about emotional toughness and...

If you're a creative, solopreneur or dreamer of big dreams it's not uncommon to feel lost in the forest from time to time as you forge your path. Sometimes you don't know where to begin or what the next best steps are, regardless if you are beginning your career, changing careers or happily growing in your current career. That's why everyone needs a MENTOR - whether virtual or in real life - and m...

Say it with me, calendars are sexy! This essential tool is built right into your phone - and is a useful catalyst for FOCUS. With everything that is competing for your energy and attention it's easy to lose focus - the subject of this episode of Camera Ready & Abel with Rob Barnett, the author of Next Job, Best Job. Rob explains how FOCUS is vital to all job seekers, how NOT to work with a**holes...