Daily Influence

What if your biggest life pivots held the key to your purpose? In this heartfelt episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Andrea Hecht—certified life coach, writer, and host of The Next Chapter (Her)—whose journey from Wall Street to teaching, motherhood, and coaching was shaped by a profound life event: witnessing 9/11 firsthand. Andrea shares how that moment became a cataly...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Michelle Saward—an industry leader who has built a thriving real estate organization of over 1,700 agents and closed more than 2,000 career sales. But beyond the numbers, Michelle’s journey is a testament to resilience, responsible influence, and the power of belief in oneself and others. Michelle shares how she navigated...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Andre Johnson, Fund Manager at the Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation, whose journey from higher education and corporate recruiting to nonprofit leadership is grounded in one powerful principle—connection. Andre shares how active listening, authentic relationships, and leading by example have shaped his mission to support entrepre...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg Koleno sits down with Erin Bradley—entrepreneur, author, and host of the Pursuing Freedom Podcast—to explore her transformative journey from burnout to breakthrough. Erin shares how overcoming early financial struggles and the chaos of a feast-or-famine business life led her to discover the power of authenticity and well-designed systems. Le...

In this powerful episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Melissa O’Dell, the Illinois Executive Director of Defy Ventures, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping currently and formerly incarcerated individuals build pathways to financial independence. With over 20 years in this work and a decade at Defy, Melissa shares her journey from law school aspirations to leading tr...

In today’s episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg Koleno sits down with Valerie Johnson, a trailblazer in Montana’s luxury real estate scene. Discover how Valerie transformed her journey from a licensed assistant to a producing agent and now a valued partner at one of the state's top-performing teams. Drawing from her personal experiences—navigating major life transitions, overcoming postpartu...

In today’s episode of Daily Influence, we welcome Nicki Sutherland, Executive Director of Gratitude Generation, an organization dedicated to empowering the next generation to lead with kindness, gratitude, and purpose. Nicki shares the inspiring story of how a simple desire to teach children about gratitude sparked a movement that now connects families, businesses, and individuals in meaningful ac...

In today’s Daily Influence episode, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Gallup-certified strengths coach and founder of Sparkitect Coaching Studio, Jenny Henderson. Jenny shares her transformative journey—from high-pressure sales to impactful nonprofit work, and finally to a fulfilling career in coaching. Discover how understanding your core strengths, like positivity and connectedness, can un...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Eric Cohen, a CrossFit CFL2 coach and two-time CrossFit Games athlete, to discuss the transformative power of strength training—especially for individuals in their 50s and 60s. Eric shares inspiring stories of clients who have gained confidence and independence through fitness, debunks common myths about aging and exercise...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes back Kari-Ann Ryan, founder of LMJ’s Lost Souls, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting those affected by Alzheimer's disease. Kari-Ann shares her deeply personal journey that led her to become an advocate, driven by the experience of caring for her grandmother. From her early days fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Asso...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Tom Fowler, a dynamic leader with a global perspective on unlocking human and organizational potential. Tom shares powerful stories of transformation, including how a simple shift in mindset helped a young professional soar to success and how his unwavering belief in two determined entrepreneurs is helping them secure vital fun...

In this enlightening episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Dr. Veronica Kacherova, also known as Dr. K, an optometrist dedicated to enhancing vision and improving lives. As the founder of Expert Family Eye Care, she specializes in myopia management for children, cutting-edge dry eye treatments, and transformative vision solutions like orthokeratology. Dr. K shares her...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with the Queen of Action, Regina Carey—an inspiring coach, speaker, and energy powerhouse—who challenges individuals to step outside their comfort zones and embrace the power of presence. Regina shares her journey of reinvention, the importance of being over just doing, and practical ways to cultivate meaningful connections and...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Ronna Belinky, founder and CEO of Workflows by Ronna. From her early days working behind the scenes of hit sitcom Will & Grace to helping entrepreneurs and small businesses streamline their workflows, Ronna shares how strong systems create efficiency, reduce stress, and foster collaboration. She dives into the power of...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Brooke Milton, founder of Edit and Design Company, to explore the profound connection between organization, mental health, and intentional design. Brooke shares how her personal journey with OCD led her to create a business that helps individuals declutter both their spaces and minds. She discusses the emotional challenges tied...

On today’s episode of Daily Influence, we welcome Alex Marcus, CEO of Integral Recruiting Design and the visionary behind System Admin Insights. Alex is on a mission to empower HR technology professionals—many of whom stumbled into their roles without formal training—by fostering a thriving community for growth, collaboration, and career advancement. In this insightful conversation, Alex shares hi...

In today’s episode of Daily Influence, we sit down with Heather Redisch, a seasoned Human Capital Management professional and founder of Adulting 101 Master Class. With over 25 years of experience in talent acquisition and HR, Heather recognized a critical gap between academic knowledge and real-world skills in young professionals entering the workforce. She shares eye-opening insights on how the...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Kristin Wollam, a dynamic leader whose career spans from the glitz of Hollywood to the precision of financial planning. Kristin shares her transformative journey from working as a music supervisor on major projects like The Blind Side and Sex and the City 2 to building an all-female financial advisory practice at Morgan St...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Ted Rubin, thought leader, speaker, and author, to explore the profound impact of relationships on both personal and professional success. Ted shares his philosophy of Return on Relationship—emphasizing the value of authenticity, trust, and connection in building lasting influence. From life lessons instilled by his father to t...

In this episode of Daily Influence, we explore the transformative power of nature with Gayle Byck, a certified forest therapy guide and founder of In Tune with Nature. Gayle shares how forest bathing—a practice rooted in mindfulness and sensory immersion—can enhance well-being, foster self-awareness, and create deep connections with ourselves and others. From guiding individuals through emotional...

In Episode 427 of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith dives into the concept of Invisible Leadership—the ability to influence without authority. In a world where social media personalities, athletes, and entertainers wield significant influence, how do we distinguish between credible, responsible leadership and mere opinion-driven persuasion? Brian challenges us to apply the S.M.A.R.T. framework to t...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Leemor Ellman, a certified intuitive eating counselor and founder of Family Food Freedom. Leemor shares her deeply personal journey of overcoming decades of diet culture, weight cycling, and body image struggles to find true food freedom and self-acceptance. Through her work, she helps moms break generational cycles of res...

In this episode of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the critical shift from SMART objectives to SMART culture, demonstrating how organizations can create long-term sustainability through intentional frameworks. He discusses how aligning goals with core values fosters resilience, unity, and purpose-driven leadership. Learn how SMART principles—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, an...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Joe DeRamos, a certified FocalPoint business and executive coach, to discuss the power of self-awareness, confidence, and legacy in leadership. Joe shares his journey from the corporate world to coaching, how he helps small business owners navigate imposter syndrome, and why building confidence is the foundation for succes...

In today’s episode of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the fundamental difference between character and reputation—and why one stands the test of time while the other is shaped by perception. Reputation can be skewed by bias, ignorance, and incomplete information, but true character is built on integrity, values, and consistency, even when no one is watching. How do you stay true to your...