Passion to Power

Tod Szewczyk's official title is Executive Vice President, Digital Engagement at August Jackson. That means he's figuring out what's next in the world of meetings for his clients, including Fortune 500 brands, as an ad agency pro with his finger on the pulse of technology based platforms for communication and presentation. I asked him "what the heck is Hybrid" In the world of corporate events. The...

LARRY DEUTSCH; Connector extraordinaire. Foodie. Runner, Partner of dvk marketing.  Larry shares his story, his experience, his advice and his vision for a business model where he can support, build brands, and create viable campaigns that resonate with purpose driven content.  Over the course of our 90 minute conversation, Larry quoted "The Good the Bad and the Ugly," "A Few Good Men," and "The W...

http://passion-power.com/  Michelle Zeitlin: I am so excited to be podcasting LIVE amongst people on a real red carpet! This is the first “real life” event I’ve experienced since the lockdowns started with Covid-19 in March of 2020, and it feels good!  This two day event is the La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival, presented by Fred Sweet. Fred Sweet, the organizer and founder of this fest...

Farah Ramzan Golant is CEO of kyu EMEA: A collective of creative companies that Farah (rhymes with Sarah) leads in a rare and vigorous role to evaluate creative partnerships, incite ideas, ignite and activate collaborations and identify which "epic" projects and campaigns to help green-light. She says of her role, "I am inspired to imagine a future in which the global creative industries collabora...

Arielle Moyal was a champion chess player as a kid, an overall athlete who loved soccer, and very determined.  Growing up in a single parent household she learned to be assertive, forthright and activate her goals early on. Ms. Moyal thought about being a doctor, and she was well on her way in that direction, but changing lanes was a good idea when she got her first athlete recruiting job at...

What is a Creative Director? What do they do?  What do they get paid for?  Where do you get the skills and training and know-how to be one?  Mike Goldberg answers these questions and more. He also talks about his campaigns for Finagle a Bagel and Mentos in Madison, WI.  A fine artist, Goldberg does paintings on pieces of wood, and uses his fingers to rub the oil paint into the wood. His character...

Sarah Vermunt has a wry sense of humor and an upbeat vibe. Refreshingly candid and optimistic, she offers tools for realigning with your happier self in work and life. As a "reformed" academic, she knows that some careers can feel stale. She has created a cohesive and comprehensive program for those who may not know what they want, but know they want something else. Listen up to Vermunt's tested t...

Listen and get some "SEAT TIME" with expert Tami Powers who is celebrating her 20th year as an executive in motorsports, and she is a driving force in this industry. Her goal is to "normalize" the motorsports industry and get equal sponsorship funds, recognition and opportunity for women race car drivers. Powers is gung-ho to make it happen now and to level this playing field.  Her motto: "the rac...

Kristen V. Carter is a writer-producer and show runner in unscripted television.  She has worked on productions with BET, HBO Max and Kevin Hart. Currently developing her own work as an independent contractor for award shows, magazine shows and fact-based entertainment, she also mentors youth and young adults. Kristen attended boarding school through an initiative supported by Oprah Winfrey,...

Tech guru, new venture activator, innovator- Jason Kirk has a cool job! He is the GM of the Disney Accelerator. Listen Up for advice and tools for success- whether you are new in the game or pivoting in your new iteration.   Jason puts creativity and strategy into everything he does.  From interning at ICM to running a tech start up to being on the dream team now- he is excited and motiv...

Chair, Sylvia Lane of UC Weston in the United Kingdom has produced an international symposium with the theme "creating opportunity out of a crisis." With Joe Miller, also on faculty at UC Weston, they invited an esteemed industry panel of guests.  Michelle Zeitlin, CEO of More Zap and Host of Passion to Power, was invited along with casting directors, James Pearson UK and Matthew Lessall, USA; add...

🎧 Andy Bateman has been a lifelong strategist. He is CEO of the US HQ for Sid Lee, a creative company that offers services in marketing, advertising, architecture and design, and looks to connect buyers and sellers. Andy talks about how their company is building community and how now, during this worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, being "more human" and being both a 'person and professional' while livi...

Kendra Levin balances her career in books and life coaching....she is a straight shooter, yet gentle and gracious. Here we talk about her work as Editorial Director at S&S Books for Young Readers, acquiring books. She is also the author of The Hero is You.

Blair Taylor has a big personality, a straightforward approach and an abundance of energy. He has been an agent for over 20 years and he loves his work. He has closed big endorsement deals. Now he is a daddy and works remotely with the baby monitor close by. We talked about unions and how so much of the advertising business is going non-union. We discussed options for actors. We shared laughs and...

Jonas Agin is VP, Original Series, Disney Branded Television. He shares his experience working in kid and family entertainment, and how the pitch process works, the development process, the wins and losses. According to Agin, "90% of the projects we develop don't go to pilot..." The Wins are important, but sometimes he learns more from the losses. In fact, he says one can fail upward in this indus...

Founder of the American Reality TV Awards, Kristen Moss shares her work in the Unscripted Reality TV world. Currently she has two major productions on the way... her first baby, a daughter, and the American Reality Television Awards, as a virtual presentation this year in February, 2021.  How did she start? She worked in hospitality...a people person...and answered an ad on Craig's List!&nbsp...

Matthew Lessall has been the President of the Casting Society of America, a staff casting director in London and Los Angeles. Positions include casting TV pilots, working on big studio films and "first-time" director indies. He loves his new role working with Effie Brown and Game Changer Films. He offers advice, 'tips and tools for success' and insights on how the casting process has changed, and...

"I have an incredibly short attention span..."  That's why Kevin Beggs loves TV- it integrates all the many skillsets he has as a "generalist." Kevin Beggs is the Chairman of Lionsgate TV, in his 22nd year working with this massive entertainment company that has international sprawl.   "This year has been, as you say, a really crazy year...morale, staff...and pivoting into this new normal...many m...

Business is in the home kitchen right now for Splash Entertainment's Mike Young and his wife, Liz.  They are creating stories, story boards, designs, character bibles and layouts for movies and television programming. Their partners are in multiple countries, and they are facilitating a busy market in animation, while live action has stalled considerably during the Covid-19 pandemic. As Mike expla...

Catherine Falcon has been casting talent for over twenty five years in Vancouver, Canada. She has worked on major commercial campaigns such as Mattel Barbie and currently she is casting movies for television- especially focusing on Lifetime and Hallmark. With a teen daughter on camera and a step daughter who is a talent agent- she has a unique viewpoint about the relationships that one establishes...

She has experienced the "gifts of Covid" during the quarantine, held multiple online international meetings, reflected and given herself permission to let go of what is not healthy, and maybe harmful. Avani Parekh (pronounced Avnee Pah-rake) brings people and builds communities-- from North Carolina to Delhi, India, from the Facebook HQ in Menlo Park, CA to destinations all over the map. She has b...

This recording took place the day after Election Day 2020. Music moves us and this episode is motivated by musical chapters of Donna's career story. 🎧 An advocate for women entrepreneurs, an active mom for special needs kids, including her own, and one of the few women of color who has become successful in music publishing, outside of recording artists. Donna Ross Jones is the CEO of Transition M...

Leslie -- "The fastest road to your destination is Not a straight line. You need to jump off the bridge sometimes. Dorothy- "Turn the NO's into YES's." These ladies are strong, dynamic, successful and they do not demure to challenges. "It's a valued asset" - our thoughts and our company, says Dorothy. 🎬🎧. Check out their own podcast "Producer's Confidential" and their slate of new shows. They ha...

Grace, gumption and courage! Ashley Bouder 🩰 is an American ballet dancer who is currently a principal dancer at the New York City Ballet. She also founded and runs her own collective, The Ashley Bouder Project. Now she can add "author" to her list of accomplishments with a children's book called "Welcome to Ballet School."

"Go the agency route... we have a no asshole policy... just be yourself... " Great quotes from the Twins Paskoff! #producers #showbiz #skysthelimit #connections #passiontopower 😁 Andrew is Scott's older brother by 8 minutes. They finish each other's sentences, support each other's goals and promote family. Each twin dad has 2 kids. They talk about the scripted vs unscripted worlds- being EP's - o...