Daily Influence

In today's episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith dives into how we can overcome the polarization that's fracturing relationships with friends, family, and associates. Brian shares strategies for leading with curiosity instead of judgment, focusing on shared values, and rebuilding trust through intentional conversations. Learn how to shift from division to connection by listening to under...

In today's episode, Brian Smith tackles how leaders can navigate uncertainty by applying S.M.A.R.T. Management tactics. Whether facing economic instability, shifting tariffs, or market disruptions, being Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely builds organizational resilience. Learn how transparency, strategic communication, and small measurable wins can stabilize your teams, st...

In this deeply introspective and energizing episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Benny Mathew—visionary founder of Orion 3 and host of the Creating Conscious Serendipity podcast. Benny shares his incredible journey from surviving a life-altering car accident to launching a purpose-driven community designed to foster intentional, human-first connections among executives fr...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith returns from a global journey to dive into one of today’s most dynamic and debated topics—Artificial Intelligence. Through the lens of the SMART Management model, Brian explores how AI can responsibly amplify human judgment rather than replace it. He shares personal experiences coaching clients on AI adoption, and gives a grounded perspective on how...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes Steph Corker, leadership strategist, former professional endurance athlete, and values-driven entrepreneur, for a powerful conversation about transformation, authenticity, and responsible influence. Steph opens up about her journey from building the Corker Co. to joining Veritas, the courage it took to walk away from h...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Yelena Johnson—educator, advocate, and founder of Reva's Bridge—to explore how culturally responsive practices are transforming classrooms and empowering students across the country. Yelena shares her powerful personal journey from corporate consulting in New York City to becoming a passionate change-maker in...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes Jessica Merar, Director of the Dragonfly Foundation Chicago and a certified child life specialist with a heart for healing. Jessica shares her incredible journey from working in pediatric oncology at Lurie Children’s Hospital to launching and leading the Chicago chapter of Dragonfly—a nonprofit that now supports over 1...

In this heartwarming and wisdom-packed episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with the unstoppable Dorothy Wilhelm, a 91-year-old broadcasting legend, author, columnist, and speaker who proves that influence doesn’t expire—it evolves. Dorothy, the longest-running continuous broadcaster in the Pacific Northwest and host of Swimming Upstream Radio Show, shares her extraordina...

In this heartwarming and energizing episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Steve Harper—entrepreneur, speaker, author, and the visionary behind Ripple Central. Known as the "Chief Rippler," Steve shares the inspiring philosophy behind the Ripple Effect: the idea that small, intentional actions can create profound positive change in others' lives. From overc...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Alex Draper, founder and CEO of DX Learning, to explore the powerful concept of human-centric leadership and what it means to lead with care—not the cuddly kind, but the kind that drives results. Alex shares his personal journey from the countryside of England to the front lines of leadership development in the U.S., revea...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Kristen “Kiki” Wilkinson, founder of Thrive Mind Collaborative and a transformative leadership coach dedicated to helping high-achieving leaders lead with purpose, confidence, and clarity. Kiki shares her incredible journey from early days at a little-known startup called Airbnb—where she wore multiple hats and f...

In this uplifting episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes Lauri Stern—host of The Real and The Woo podcast and founder of Custom Designed Wellness. With nearly four decades in the fitness and wellness space, Lauri blends real-world insights with spiritual practices like yoga, Reiki, and chakra balancing to help people reconnect with their inner selves. Lauri shares the inspiration...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno is joined by Dr. Angela Brooks — an educator, leadership coach, and well-being advocate who has dedicated her life's work to helping leaders and organizations thrive from the inside out. Dr. Angela shares her inspiring journey from a naturally empathetic child to an award-winning principal and transformational leader. She unpacks how...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes Arlene Martin, Vice President and SBA Business Development Officer at Busey Bank. With nearly 40 years of experience in business banking, commercial lending, and SBA financing, Arlene shares her inspiring journey of balancing a high-level career while navigating personal challenges, including caring for her husband through a liv...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Erin Wilson, founder of The Law Office of Erin M. Wilson LLC. Erin shares her powerful journey from aspiring psychologist to dedicated family law attorney, driven by her passion to help families and children navigate life's most challenging transitions. Together, they discuss how responsible influence, integrity, and c...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Steve Spiro, founder of Halotherapy Solutions, a company revolutionizing respiratory wellness. Steve shares his incredible journey from corporate America and tech startups—including being part of the founding team at Audible.com—to building a business with heart and healing at its core. Celebrating the 10-year an...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, we welcome Elissa Kalver, founder and CEO of WeGotThis.org, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that no one faces cancer alone. Diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2021, Elissa turned her personal challenge into a powerful movement, creating the first nonprofit gift registry for cancer patients. She shares the story behind her mission, the impact...

In this empowering episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Jorie Houlihan, a leading voice in the ADHD community and founder of the ADHD Transformation Café. Diagnosed at the age of 49 after decades of being misunderstood, Jorie shares her personal journey of discovering her ADHD, the struggles she faced, and how she transformed that diagnosis into a mission to uplift a...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Sarah Wallace, a leader in customer experience strategy and passionate advocate for positive change. With over 20 years of experience, Sarah has led 400+ workshops across 22 industries, helping businesses align customer experience with success. Beyond her professional work, she serves as President of the Board at Resilience, Ch...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Megan Schwan—CEO of Sidekick Accounting Services, certified Profit First professional, and solo mom of four—for a powerful conversation about financial empowerment, entrepreneurship, and resilience. With over 20 years of experience and a passion for helping women and minority-owned businesses thrive, Megan shares her journ...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Jillian Bernstein, founder of Wellness Extension, to explore how small, intentional moments of gratitude can transform workplace culture. Jillian shares her journey from economics to HR leadership, her passion for holistic employee well-being, and how she helps companies implement meaningful benefits and policies that truly sup...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Jillian Bernstein, founder of Wellness Extension, to explore how small, intentional moments of gratitude can transform workplace culture. Jillian shares her journey from economics to HR leadership, her passion for holistic employee well-being, and how she helps companies implement meaningful benefits and policies that truly sup...

Success isn’t about grand, dramatic moments—it’s about the power of small, consistent actions over time. In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with writer, speaker, and chief storyteller Carla Birnberg to explore how steady daily effort leads to transformational results. Carla shares insights from her journey, from fitness and leadership to storytelling and social...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes Jonathan Barnes, a seasoned corporate communications and public affairs executive currently serving as Client Success Manager at the Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation. With over 25 years of experience, Jonathan shares his journey from journalism school in Atlanta back to his roots in Delaware, and how his passion for service, laug...

In today’s heartwarming episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg Koleno reconnects with her dear friend of over 20 years, Lily. From their first meeting in Israel to a lifelong friendship built on kindness and resilience, Lily shares profound insights on what it means to be a human first—above all else. Through her inspiring acts of service, from reuniting lost pets in times of crisis to bringing jo...