Wake Up Call (The Reboot)

I created "Wake Up Call" to interview trailblazers who take risks and live life on their own terms.  So when Jennifer Hilligus said I should be my own guest, I took her up on her offer to interview me!  Find out how I overcame a childhood of poverty and substance abuse (without becoming a stripper) and became a lawyer in spite of everything.  

Amy is a self-proclaimed "reformed" corporate lawyer. She achieved the American Dream, living in NYC, and holding a prestigious corporate attorney job at Skadden Arps.  Now she's a prolific writer living a more authentic life.  We cover everything from Amy's creative writing process and how to break into writing, to being a woman in the boys' club at Big Law, as well as the future of wom...

Is the idea that women can "have it all" just a beautiful myth?  And what does "having it all" really mean anyway?  These dynamic women talk about raising kids, practicing law, running a business, creating their own lives and making their own paths.  This is the new breed of women.  They don't just have a seat at the table. They OWN the damn table! (Guests: Melissa Ruvolo, Esq. + Angela Pastor, Es...

Kristen David doubled her law firm revenues numerous times - and then she taught other people how to do that as a coach at a nationally recognized consulting group.  Now she's living her best life living in Paris 1/3 of the time,  her home in Seattle 1/3 of the time, and traveling the rest of the time!  She founded her own coaching business - The Kristen David - to teach other busin...

Stacy Feintuch experienced the trauma of becoming a widow and single mom at the age of 45 when her husband suddenly died from a heart attack.  Stacy managed to function for her daughters, but she was living with depression for several years.   She finally sought help and the veil lifted.  Stacy reinvented herself and found a dormant writer inside of her.  Hear about her ex...

"Donna" shares her experience - from beginning to end - getting a divorce.  She explains the years leading up to making the decision to end a 17-year marriage, the trauma of enduring the public humiliation of her husband's infidelity and the shame of divorce, and the trials and tribulations of the entire divorce process - and more importantly, coming out the other side whole.  If you are...

Angie Kitko was a beautiful baby born into an environment of drugs and addiction.  Her mother died of drug-related complications when she was only six-years old.  She was left a motherless daughter with a heavily drug addicted and abusive father.  She narrowly escaped the dangerous environment at home and at the age of 16 became an emancipated minor. Despite having escaped the dysfu...

David Rubel has lived most of his life with debilitating OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).  David explains the compulsion to wash his hands until they bleed and wear vinyl gloves as a means to cope with the anxiety caused by OCD.  Despite these incredible challenges, David has managed to have relationships, run a business, and go to law school.  If you think you understand OCD as...

Keren Barrios was kidnapped and held for ransom for 13 days in Guatemala when she was only 10 years old.  Hear her amazing story of strength and survival, and how she has used this incredible experience to live a successful life.  

Attorney John Nachlinger shares his experience growing up gay and coming out in the conservative state of Texas.

Find out what  women (ages 35-40) are saying about men, dating, and climbing the corporate ladder.  Do they care what you do for a living?  Do they have marriage on the brain?  Do they care how much money you make?  Listen here.

Every once in a while you meet someone whose life trajectory takes a 90 degree turn. Film director Hezues R. Talks about a young life on the street and finding his purpose in film.

Denny Mendez grew up in Queens with aspirations to be a doorman.  His plot to avoid school by working in a Wall Street mailroom set him on a course for the rest of his life.  Now he's a financial advisor with a celebrity clientele. He teaches millionaire celebrities and athletes how not to go broke.

Suzette Zuena started her business doing lashes in a one-room "Lash House" and has expanded to the LH Spa + Rejuvenation (Med Spa) with two locations (and growing).  She shares her business acumen as well as some insider beauty secrets.  

Robin has an amazing story how she escaped a disadvantaged childhood to become a great success.  She has overcome great odds and now she teaches other people how to overcome a victim mindset and start "behaving wealthy."  

Dana was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of 33.  She shares how this experience has had a profound impact on her life.  See how she lives her life differently after what I call the "blessing" of a pivotal event such as cancer.  

From national recognition as the "DYFS Diva" to 7-figure law firm owner and now "Law Firm Mentor," Allison Williams, Esq. has lived (at least) three lives already!  Allison gives us a rare and up-close glimpse of her personal struggles and challenges - and how she overcame them to live her best life.  

Karianne Anthes is the co-owner of CrossFit Morristown (New Jersey) and BKØM Coaching.  Karianne talks about her evolution from physical fitness to the active pursuit of personal development and fulfillment.  

Brittany Messuti candidly shares her experience growing up with a schizophrenic parent, finding herself, finding love and building an amazing yoga studio and coaching business.  

Faced with approaching her 40s without a mate, Amy Ottavinia shares every detail of her very personal experience having a baby on her own.  If you find yourself in a similar situation, you don't have to forego children.  Amy did it and so can you.  

Elena Deutsch created WILL - Women Interested in Leaving (big) Law - to help women find their real passion and leave their big law jobs.   However, she shares a sensitive childhood experience that makes her so qualified to coach women (and men) who are unhappy in law.  

Fat loss and fitness coach Maria Gargiulo tells us how she transformed her body and her life.  She went from fat to fab, left a toxic relationship, moved from Missouri to  California and built a thriving coaching business.  Find out how!