Ask For An Answer

What happens when service is taken from you and you choose to serve anyway? In this episode of Ask For An Answer , Jim Fielding sits down with Bree Fram , former U.S. Space Force Colonel turned congressional candidate, to explore leadership, identity, resilience, and what it means to stand up for democracy in a moment of uncertainty. After more than two decades of military service, Bree was forced...

In this episode of Ask For An Answer , host Jim Fielding sits down with 20-year unscripted television veteran and creative entrepreneur Liza Keckler . Liza has navigated the complex world of alternative TV, from producing home improvement shows to leading development for major networks and production companies. Jim and Liza dive deep into their time working together at Archer Gray , where they foc...

What does it take to keep chasing your dream — even after setbacks, reinvention, and unexpected career turns? In this episode of Ask For An Answer , Jim Fielding sits down with Eva Steortz , executive coach, author of From the Outhouse to the Mouse House , and a longtime entertainment marketing leader, for a conversation about bold moves, career growth, resilience, and the relationships that shape...

What does it take to build a global entertainment brand from scratch and sustain it for over three decades? In this episode of Ask For An Answer , host Jim Fielding sits down with legendary entertainment executive Luis Balaguer , CEO and founder of Latin World Entertainment (LatinWE) . As the longtime business partner of Sofía Vergara , Luis has been the strategic architect behind one of the most...

What happens when storytelling moves beyond the stage and becomes a fully immersive experience? In this episode of Ask For An Answer , Jim Fielding sits down with Vance Garrett , one of the creative minds behind groundbreaking immersive experiences like Sleep No More , 29Rooms , and the Museum of Ice Cream . Together they explore how experiential storytelling is transforming entertainment, retail,...

What happens when the spotlight fades and the crown comes off? In this episode of ASK FOR AN ANSWER, host Jim Fielding sits down with former Miss USA Olivia Jordan to discuss the raw reality of life after the title. Known for her grace during one of the most infamous moments in Miss Universe history, Olivia opens up about the "evolution behind the headlines." From the high-pressure world of pagean...

What if a school bus could change lives? On this episode of ASK FOR AN ANSWER , Jim Fielding sits down with Adam Powell, co-founder of the LGBTQ+ book platform Our Story (formerly Shop Queer), to talk about turning a 10-book idea into a thriving national movement. From launching a bookshop out of their apartment in 2022 to building 30+ book clubs and taking the Rainbow Book Bus across the country,...

What happens when an untold American legacy becomes a modern business movement and a masterclass in leadership, culture, and brand truth? In this episode of Ask for an Answer , Jim Fielding sits down with Katharine “Kate” Jerkens , Chief Business Officer of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey , to explore what it takes to build an iconic brand in uncertain times—without hiding behind “having all the ans...

What if success doesn’t arrive all at once, but shows up quietly when you finally stop running from who you are? Actor Gerardo Celasco opens up about growing up between cultures, being “othered” in El Salvador, chasing an acting dream without a safety net, and enduring years of near-misses before landing career-defining roles like The Waterfront . In a deeply personal conversation with host Jim Fi...

What really happens when leaders stop playing it safe—and start trusting their people? In this live Los Angeles episode, Jim Fielding is joined by former direct reports Launi King, Elizabeth Litten Miller, and Erin Morris to unpack the real story behind building a high-performing team during a period of massive change at 20th Century Fox. From career pivots and creative freedom to empathy-driven l...

What if the real competitive advantage in business isn’t technology, talent, or capital — but belief? In this kickoff episode of the 2026 Leading With Pride Book Club, Jim Fielding sits down with retail and leadership veteran Matt Marcotte to explore the ideas behind his book Built on Belief: Why Cultures of Commitment Are the Competitive Advantage . From Gap and Apple to Tory Burch and Salesforce...

What happens when curiosity, courage, and otherness collide into a life of impact? In this Los Angeles Sessions episode of Ask For An Answer , Jim Fielding sits down with pioneering media strategist and XR visionary Wadooah Wali for a deeply human conversation about identity, creativity, and carving a non-linear career path. From growing up feeling “othered” in Gainesville, Florida, to riding the...

What happens when a lifelong radio obsessive builds a show that lets everyday Americans talk back to the news? From sneaking off to summer camp and calling into radio stations as a kid to hosting national programs on NPR and launching The Middle , Jeremy Hobson shares how curiosity, storytelling, and Midwestern values shaped a career built on listening. Along the way, he reveals why live, unscript...

What does it take to protect hope when the world feels increasingly hostile? In this powerful episode of Ask For An Answer , host Jim Fielding sits down with Jorge Valencia , CEO of the Point Foundation and former Executive Director of The Trevor Project, for a deeply personal and timely conversation about LGBTQ+ leadership, resilience, and responsibility. Jorge shares how education, mentorship, a...

Some years give us answers — but as Chris Glass reminds us, some years ask questions that transform who we become. In this conversation, Jim Fielding sits down with Chris Glass, Global Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Soho House, to explore the humanity behind leadership, identity, and personal evolution. From navigating DEI in a shifting global landscape to returning to the U.S. a...

It's the one thing on everybody's mind: A.I. Is it here to help? To destroy? With so many opinions and so much complexity, it can be hard to understand where this technology is going and what it actually does to help. Jim is joined this week by AI pioneer Scott Clendaniel to discuss this topic and better understand the opportunity it presents, and the drawbacks it may bring. Episode Highlights: 0:...

Jim sits down with Brent Ridge (Beekman 1802 co-founder and author of Goat Wisdom ) for a heart-forward chat about building a legacy brand, leading with kindness, and turning real community into real company culture.  They get into the Beekman origin story (yes, the goats), why “kindness” became the brand’s north star, and practical lessons on partnerships, hiring, and storytelling in a three...

This week's episode features a trip down memory lane! Jim returns to Indiana University to sit down with student Joey Mora live and in front of the next generation of retail and fashion to discuss his journey, but more importantly: his success in the retail industry - how he got involved, and what informed him along the way that he was in the right place. Jim also dives into the specifics of his e...

This week, on Jim Fielding and Friends, Jim is joined by Oana Leonte, the Founder & Editor-in-Chief at unmtchd. Her company is a media platform decoding the business of brand and translating cultural insight into systems that scale. Oana sits down with Jim to discuss the path less travelled: Leaving corporate (and your job + safety net). The reason? To achieve a balance in life that few get. T...

Blake Collazzo is a PR operations and culture lead, community connector, and longtime collaborator on Jim’s book, brand, and podcast. Jim and Blake trace the genesis of their collaboration and their first intro via Joanne Martino, unpack a wild personal-assistant story that ended at a Ramada, talk vitality vs. stagnation, and get candid about coming out, “inviting in,” and showing up for the LGBTQ...

Brian Tran is a multi-hyphenate founder, designer, and community builder whose journey runs from Houston to Pandora, Kleiner Perkins, and an eight-year startup ride focused on LGBTQ+ connection. Jim and Brian unpack coming out at 13, landing a first VC check in 15 minutes, surviving pivots (including web3), the painful decision to shut down—and the hopeful next chapter: SE / “sector,” a platform c...

Dr. Jon Paul is fighting “the good fight” – which is even more important now, more than ever. Dr. Paul’s new book, “Black. Fat. Femme: Revealing the Power of Visibly Queer Voices (in Media) and Learning to Love Yourself” is a guide to standing at the intersection of multiple identities, communities, and causes shapes people and how they see the world. Jim sits down with Dr. Jon to explore his jour...

In this special episode of Jim Fielding and Friends , Jim is joined by a close friend – Chris Glass! Chris is the Global Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Soho House & Co and is responsible for lead strategy and execution of DEI initiatives across the company's +40 Houses and +100K members. Chris joins Jim to catch-up and discuss recent events and how a changing political environm...

In this special episode of Jim Fielding and Friends, Jim is joined by fellow author Bruce Brackett! Bruce W. Brackett is a social media personality, author, entrepreneur, self-taught visual artist, and international motivational speaker. His book, “How to Breathe While Suffocating: A Story Of Overcoming Addiction, Recovering From Trauma and Healing My Soul” published by Wiley is now available ever...

In this special episode of Jim Fielding and Friends , Jim reconnects with one of his closest friends of over 40 years, Paul Caine, President of Endeavor’s IMG Events and On Location. What starts as a walk down memory lane quickly becomes a masterclass in leadership, entrepreneurship, and the power of relationships. Paul shares what it’s really like to run some of the world’s biggest events, from t...