the ACT OUT podcast

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with entrepreneur, broadcaster, and media personality Arrington Gavin for a conversation about entrepreneurship, podcasting, radio, personal branding, and what it takes to build a platform from the ground up. Arrington shares his journey from studying health and wellness in college to launching Rugged Evolution, a bea...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with Morgan DeNicola, Executive Director of the DeNicola Family Foundation, for an inspiring conversation about philanthropy, leadership, global service, and what it really means to create lasting impact. Morgan shares how a life-changing trip to Africa led her away from a career in marketing and into the world of non...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with Ty Champion, Vice Chairman of the Norfolk Democratic Committee and President of the Black Caucus of the Virginia Young Democrats, for a candid conversation about politics, public service, leadership, and what motivates people to get involved in their communities. Ty shares his journey from growing up in Norfolk t...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with Jason Lange, founder of Evolutionary Men and a longtime men's group facilitator, for a thought-provoking conversation about modern masculinity, men's mental health, community, and the challenges facing men today. Jason shares his personal journey into men's work, which began in 2006, and explains h...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with women’s coach, author, and self-proclaimed “Inner Glow Coach” Angie Hawkins for a powerful conversation about self-trust, fulfillment, personal growth, and what happens when you stop living your life for everyone else. Angie shares her journey from spending 20 years in corporate America checking all the boxes of...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with dyslexia coach Russell Van Brocklen for a fascinating conversation that challenges everything most people think they know about dyslexia, reading, intelligence, and learning. Russell shares his remarkable personal journey from having a first-grade reading and writing level in college to attending law school, cond...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with psychologist and women’s coach Dr. Wendy O’Connor for a relatable and eye-opening conversation about burnout, fulfillment, motherhood, and the pressure so many women feel to “have it all together.” What starts as a discussion about psychology and coaching quickly becomes a deeper exploration of happiness, identit...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with trauma therapist Trisha Wolfe for a fascinating and deeply relatable conversation about the brain, childhood trauma, emotional survival strategies, and why so many people intellectualize their feelings instead of actually processing them. What starts as a discussion about brain development quickly turns into an e...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with Lisa Vedernikova Khanna for a compelling conversation about politics, identity, motherhood, and what it’s like running for office while pregnant. Lisa shares her journey from growing up in Russia to building a life in the United States, eventually stepping into the political arena and discovering firsthand how di...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with Zolal Habibi for a powerful and insightful conversation about identity, resilience, and what it means to navigate life between cultures. Zolal shares her personal story of growing up as an Iranian refugee, offering a raw and honest look at the challenges of displacement, cultural expectations, and finding your pl...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, Adam Tomlin sits down with Lee Atherton, a hospice chaplain and end-of-life grief coach, for a deeply meaningful and eye-opening conversation about death, dying, and what it truly means to live a complete life. What begins as a discussion about Lee’s unique career quickly evolves into a powerful exploration of grief, spirituality, and the human...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with Nicholas Ruchlewicz, a traumatic brain injury survivor, mental health advocate, and self-proclaimed nerd, for an honest and deeply personal conversation about trauma, healing, and what it means to keep rebuilding yourself after life changes in an instant. What starts as a conversation about Nicholas’s advocacy wo...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with Noah May, host of the Lethal Venom Podcast , for a fun and honest conversation about podcasting, authenticity, and what it looks like to build something meaningful from the ground up. Noah shares how he went from studying journalism at Auburn to becoming a full-time podcaster, even though podcasting was never the...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with Arnold Beeks, a brain retraining specialist, coach, and trainer with more than 50 years of experience helping people grow into better leaders—and more importantly, better humans. What starts as a conversation about “upgrading your brain” quickly turns into a deeper and deeply personal discussion about fear, child...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with Nancy Dillingham Marks, a glass artist whose work and life have been shaped by creativity, resilience, and a deep connection to craft. What starts as a conversation about glassmaking quickly unfolds into a powerful story about artistic identity, perseverance, and the role creativity plays in shaping a meaningful...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with Shaun Dawson, host of the Raising Men podcast, for a powerful and honest conversation about identity, healing, and what it really means to navigate life as a modern man. What starts as a discussion around personal struggles quickly opens up into a deeper exploration of self-awareness, emotional growth, and the st...

In this episode of the ACT OUT Podcast, Adam heads to Skydive Suffolk to jump out of a plane with tandem instructor David Rosas—and what starts as a high-adrenaline adventure quickly turns into a deeper conversation about fear, freedom, community, and what it really means to pursue happiness. David shares how his own first jump didn’t immediately hook him, but how skydiving slowly opened up into s...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with Duncan Rich, co-founder of MELD Community Incorporated , for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, community, and the powerful role that place can play in shaping people’s lives. Duncan shares his journey from growing up in the Boston area to building a life in the Catskills near Woodstock, New York—a reg...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with John Peace, host of the Rural Route Review podcast, for a thoughtful conversation about rural America, politics, and the growing divide between urban and rural perspectives. John shares stories from growing up on a small dairy farm in Wise County, Virginia, where agriculture, coal mining, and family traditions sh...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! CW: This episode contains content regarding themes of suicidal ideations. Viewer discretion advised. In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with men’s coach and founder of Dad Mode Activated , Aaron Gambel, for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about men’s mental health, fatherhood, emotional awareness, and what it really takes to break generationa...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with Robert Mahoney, founder of TVTP Solutions (Targeted Violence & Terrorism Prevention Solutions), for a fascinating and eye-opening conversation about preventing targeted violence before it ever reaches the “headline” stage. Robert breaks down why we don’t actually have a reporting problem—we have a coordinatio...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with Nicole Gamboa, a preschool teacher who’s been working with young kids for decades—and has truly seen it all. What starts as a hilarious trip down memory lane (including Adam’s unforgettable attempt at coaching little kid soccer) turns into a real conversation about what it actually takes to guide children through...

In this episode of the ACT OUT Podcast, Adam climbs 50 feet into the air to talk with Ryan Palmer of Iron, Wood & Glitter Productions while taking down a massive Christmas tree in Newport News, Virginia. What starts as a conversation about lights, cables, and holiday displays quickly becomes a deeper look at what it really means to pursue happiness—and the risks, mindset shifts, and life decis...

Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam Tomlin sits down with State Senator Angelia Williams Graves for a real, thoughtful conversation about leadership, public service, and what it actually takes to govern when the world feels loud and divided. From growing up in Norfolk as a pastor’s daughter to serving on City Council, the House of Delegates, and now the Virginia State S...

In this episode of the ACT OUT Podcast, Adam sits down with Tara, an engineer by day and artist by heart, for an honest and refreshing conversation about creativity, identity, and what it really means to pursue happiness. Tara shares how art has been a constant thread throughout her life—from childhood drawings hanging in her mom’s bathroom to painting large-scale murals—and how creating without r...