The Chris Voss Show

Fashion Brand Founder Overcomes Legal Challenges and Ensures Compliance Michellemaewholesale.com

Ellalane.com

About the Guest(s): Ashley Lacer is the founder of Fashion Brands Ella Lane and Michelle May. With a background in real estate, wedding coordinating, and entrepreneurship, Ashley has grown her business in the fashion industry to offer size-inclusive apparel and emphasize accessibility and quality in her brands.

Episode Summary: In this engaging episode of The Chris Voss Show, Ashley Lacer discusses her entrepreneurial journey and the legal challenges she faced while running her fashion brands. From dealing with copyright infringement lawsuits to making tough decisions to protect her business, Ashley shares valuable insights on resilience and business integrity. Listeners will learn about the importance of due diligence, turning crises into opportunities, and how to navigate legal pitfalls in entrepreneurship.

Key Takeaways: Ashley Lacer emphasizes the significance of having a great attorney on retainer and seeking legal advice before making business decisions. The impact of setbacks can serve as a setup for comebacks, highlighting the resilience and growth potential in facing challenges. Delegating tasks and building a reliable team can help entrepreneurs focus on solutions rather than problems. Entrepreneurs are urged to trust their instincts, make proactive changes, and embrace challenges with a positive mindset. Learning from past experiences, implementing preventive measures, and adapting to new business practices can lead to long-term success.

Notable Quotes: “Fighting wasn’t a combative thing. Fighting was just an internal battle with myself to make me, my brand, and my team better.” “The reality is, as a business owner, you have a responsibility to know you have the rights to sell what you’re selling.” “Every setback is a set up for a comeback.” “It’s whack-a-mole. You’re just like problem, bang, problem, bang. You’re just like this all the time.” “I’d rather invest in those partnerships for my company than pay an attorney on a settlement again.”

Misunderstood by Jay Sherfey

https://amzn.to/3SkJb3W

Jaysherfeytales.com

Something bad had happened in New York. Misdiagnosed as psychotic, abandoned by family, and in the hands of Pennsylvania Social Services, Jason Sutter enters the Dubois foster home for difficult cases.

The voices come from every direction and plague his waking hours. The medication offers relief but banishment from the house to the toolshed outback quieted the screams and sobbing calls for help.

Jason is not psychotic. A gifted telepath he must struggle to get out from under the medication then start down the long path to discovering what happened and how to control his abilities. He will make friends along the way and learn more and more about himself and his enemies: dangerous people like himself and normal persons like his foster mother Lydia Dubois.

The story in Book 1 tells how Jason recovers and decides how best to protect his friends and himself.

Future installments will capture the battles, the reuniting of his family, and how Jason’s kind came into

existence.

About the author An electrical engineer by trade I am closing on 60 years old. I am married with two near adult children. I live in Worcester, MA.

This is How We Heal from Painful Childhoods: A Practical Guide for Healing Past Intergenerational Stress and Trauma by Ernest Ellender PhD

https://amzn.to/3WiRP3Q

Ernestellenderphd.com

Many of your adult struggles are likely tied to painful childhood experiences!

During prolonged periods of chronic stress, family traumas, or dysfunctional family dynamics, your young brain likely created deeply ingrained physical and mental habits to help you survive. Unfortunately, these habits and core beliefs work against your adult life and relationship goals.

Even if you did not directly experience adverse childhood experiences like abuse or neglect, you have likely felt the harmful effects of intergenerational trauma (also known as generational trauma or transgenerational trauma) from your family, which can be inherited as genetic issues or passed along through skills deficits and dysfunctional relationships. When these ancestral issues go unaddressed, we hand them down to the next generation. Natural responses to childhood stress can include: Chronic anxiety symptoms Unhealthy, chaotic, or toxic relationships with self & others Survival-based thinking (short-term, defensive, distrusting) Personal or family substance abuse (or addictions like gambling, sex, work, porn) These perfectly normal reactions to childhood stress do not automatically go away when you grow up! Recovery is challenging but quite possible through focused self-education and therapy as trauma survivors empower themselves with critical new skills.

This book presents 20 key concepts for comprehensively thriving past your stressful childhood. Each chapter explains a key concept before offering realistic drills (trauma workbook exercises) to develop healthier mental and physical habits that will help you self heal your past trauma and ultimately thrive! Many trauma recovery workbooks focus on two to three of these issues in depth but leave out many important concepts. Here are just a few of the 20 rules: Trauma lies are just that…LIES We must slow down to speed up Practice treating yourself in a self-loving and self-respecting fashion We are responsible for the decisions that we are aware of It’s us against trauma world This encouraging and reality-based guide was authored by Ernest Ellender, PhD, who has worked directly with trauma survivors from all walks of life since 1995. He combined insights from his clinical psychology doctorate education and career with training methods from his martial arts career (Jiu-jitsu black belt instructor) to create this comprehensive and effective curriculum for healing from childhood struggles.

Clients benefiting from this curriculum have included those struggling with mental health instability; men and women in codependent and dysfunctional relationships; single parents wanting to do better for their children; divorced parents struggling with healthy co-parenting; clients diagnosed with C-PTSD (complex post traumatic stress disorder), ADHD, bipolar disorder, major depression, or dissociative disorders; clients whose prior therapists were poorly trained in trauma and CPTSD treatments; and parents who want to strengthen their family to prevent or minimize the impact of future traumas.

Following the guidelines of this book will lead to… More control, stability, and confidence in yourself A daily life free of toxic shame! Empathic and mature self-care skills Advanced self-advocacy and communication skills Healthier, mutually supportive, and deeply engaged relationships with loved ones The ability to articulate, set, and enforce healthier boundaries with both loved ones and toxic individuals A lifestyle of healing and healthy pursuit of long-term goals

The Everything War: Amazon’s Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power by Dana Mattioli

https://amzn.to/3LyItfx

Most Anticipated by Foreign Policy • Globe and Mail • Publishers Weekly • Next Big Idea Club Must Read April Books

“Will stand as a classic.” – Christopher Leonard “Riveting, shocking, and full of revelations.” – Bryan Burrough

From veteran Amazon reporter for The Wall Street Journal, The Everything War is the first untold, devastating exposé of Amazon’s endless strategic greed, from destroying Main Street to remaking corporate power, in pursuit of total domination, by any means necessary.

In 2017, Lina Khan published a paper that accused Amazon of being a monopoly, having grown so large, and embedded in so many industries, it was akin to a modern-day Standard Oil. Unlike Rockefeller’s empire, however, Bezos’s company had grown voraciously without much scrutiny. In fact, for over twenty years, Amazon had emerged as a Wall Street darling and its “customer obsession” approach made it indelibly attractive to consumers across the globe. But the company was not benevolent; it operated in ways that ensured it stayed on top. Lina Khan’s paper would light a fire in Washington, and in a matter of years, she would become the head of the FTC. In 2023, the FTC filed a monopoly lawsuit against Amazon in what may become one of the largest antitrust cases in the 21st century.

With unparalleled access, and having interviewed hundreds of people – from Amazon executives to competitors to small businesses who rely on its marketplace to survive – Mattioli exposes how Amazon was driven by a competitive edge to dominate every industry it entered, bulldozed all who stood in its way, reshaped the retail landscape, transformed how Wall Street evaluates companies, and altered the very nature of the global economy. It has come to control most of online retail, and uses its own sellers’ data to compete with them through Amazon’s own private label brands. Millions of companies and governmental agencies use AWS, paying hefty fees for the service. And, the company has purposefully avoided collecting taxes for years, exploited partners, and even copied competitors—leveraging its power to extract whatever it can, at any cost. It has continued to gain market share in disparate areas, from media to logistics and beyond. Most companies dominate one or two industries; Amazon now leads in several. And all of this was by design.

The Everything War is the definitive, inside story of how it grew into one of the most powerful and feared companies in the world – and why this lawsuit opens a window into the most consequential business story of our times.

The Yielding Warrior: Discovering the Secret Path to Unleashing Your True Potential by Jeff Patterson

Theyieldingwarrior.com

https://book.theyieldingwarrior.com/free-plus-shipping

Discover the Secret Path to Unleashing Your True Potential

Are you prepared to embark on a journey of personal growth and transformation that surpasses what you once believed was possible?

The Yielding Warrior offers a unique perspective on the intersection of meditative arts principles and life’s everyday challenges. Incorporating the core principle of yielding into actionable advice, Jeff Patterson, an expert in the meditative arts, offers readers a priceless and life-enriching resource.

After teaching 25,000 students in his martial arts academy and earning the equivalent of black belts in the martial arts of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Eskrima, Tai Chi, Qigong, Muay Thai, and Kenpo, Jeff now shares personal experiences, age-old wisdom, and the philosophies of meditative arts with his readers. In The Yielding Warrior, you will learn:

How to attain a higher level of proficiency in any sport or physical activity To enhance emotional control and sharpen intuition for increased happiness and self-acceptance To deepen self-awareness and esteem through the benefits of yielding To apply meditative practices to excel in interpersonal communication and business relationships To improve your focus by applying the skills attained through yielding awareness Don’t miss out on the opportunity to enhance your life with an engrossing book that offers realistic, easy-to-understand guidance in the ancient technique of yielding awareness.

About the author Jeff Patterson is a highly experienced martial artist, residing in Portland, Oregon, with over 36 years of practice under his belt. He is renowned for his exceptional skills in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Eskrima, Tai Chi, Qigong, Muay Thai, and Kenpo, having achieved black belt equivalency in all these martial arts disciplines.

Jeff’s passion for martial arts and its transformative power led him to establish Northwest Fighting Arts and Portland Tai Chi Academy, an organization that has flourished over the past 29 years, with over 25,000 students benefiting from his teachings. With a large student base of over 500 individuals, the academy offers a diverse range of classes, meticulously crafted comprehensive curricula for each martial art they teach, including Muay Thai, Western Boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Tai Chi, and Qigong.

Jeff is a firm believer in the benefits of meditative arts and their power to enhance overall life experiences. He has extensively studied the historical, philosophical, and health aspects of meditative arts and recognized the importance of the yielding concept to attain expertise in each discipline. Through his dedication and teachings, he has witnessed positive and profound changes in his students, which fuels his ongoing passion for sharing his knowledge.

Business on the Edge: How to Turn a Profit and Improve Lives in the World’s Toughest Places by Viva Ona Bartkus, Emily S. Block

https://amzn.to/4bQtrg2

A road map for how businesses can grow and make money while reducing poverty and conflict in some of the world’s most challenging environments

Many companies worry that expanding into emerging markets is a risky—and even dangerous—move. Professors Viva Ona Bartkus and Emily S. Block see things differently. They argue that by entering markets in the world’s frontline regions—areas stuck in cycles of violence and extreme poverty—businesses can actually create stability and expand opportunity for communities and corporations alike.

From helping Colombian farmers transition from growing coca to produce to disrupting human trafficking rings by creating more construction jobs in the Philippines, Business on the Edge proves that businesses can make money while advancing corporate social responsibility, environmental conservation, and social justice. Partnering with groups including multinational companies, NGOs, and the US military, Bartkus and Block outline their process for generating opportunities, detailing their successes and failures in launching over eighty growth-oriented business solutions in thirty countries.

Bridging the gap between academic research and real-world experience, Business on the Edge shows how businesses can reduce risks, cut costs, and increase profits, all while creating economic opportunities that transform communities.

About the author Emily Block is an Associate Professor of Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Management and the George Cormie Chair in Management at the Alberta School of Business. Her research program explores how values pluralism impacts the processes of legitimacy and change, the nature of social evaluations and how organizational theory can be used to understand and address grand challenges. Emily’s research has been published in journals such as AMJ, SMJ, JBV, JOM, MISQ and JMS. Her book, “Business on the Edge,” explores how business can both thrive and improve lives in post-conflict environments. She serves on the ASQ editorial board and is a Visiting Professor at Strathmore University in Nairobi, Kenya. She received her BBA in Management from the University of Notre Dame and her PhD in Organizational Behavior from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign.

Pattern Breakers: Why Some Start-Ups Change the Future by Mike Maples Jr, Peter Ziebelman

https://amzn.to/4bQrwrx

Based on extensive research and real-world examples, this book upends accepted wisdom about how to achieve success when launching a startup or creating a new product.

The breakthrough concepts of Pattern Breakers come from the observations of Mike Maples Jr., a seasoned venture capitalist, who noticed something strange. Start-ups like Twitter, Twitch, and Lyft had achieved extraordinary success despite their disregard for “best practices.” In contrast, other startups deemed highly promising often failed, even when they seemed to do everything right.

Seeking answers, Maples and coauthor Peter Ziebelman set out to discover the hidden forces that drive extraordinary start-up success. Pattern-breaking success, they reveal, demands a different mindset and actions to harness developments others miss or that may, at first, seem crazy.

Pattern Breakers is filled with firsthand storytelling about initial interactions with some of the most transformative start-ups of recent times. Maples and Ziebelman challenge us to rethink how to transcend the ordinary and achieve the extraordinary.

About the author Mike Maples, Jr. is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author. He is focused on backing the founders of startup companies at the very beginning of their startup journeys. As a co-founding partner at Floodgate, he’s been on the Forbes Midas List eight times for his investments in companies such as Twitter, Twitch, Okta, Outreach, Rappi, Chegg, and Applied Intuition.

Maples co-authored Pattern Breakers, which entrepreneurship thought leader Steve Blank calls “the most important book on startups in the last ten years.” He additionally hosts a podcast and newsletter, which explore the pivotal role of pattern-breaking founders in reshaping business and culture in the 21st Century.

A Call to Wholeness: Empowering Organizations Through Possibility by Ph.d. Byars, Jan, Susan Taylor

https://amzn.to/466rtqB

Generoninternational.com

Living in a fragmented state changes our hearts, minds, and bodies. Most of us know this as a feeling of overwhelm or burnout. We know the words, but often do not really understand their impact on our lives, our work, the people around us, and our organizations. Thankfully, it just takes a leap of faith and willingness to emerge from a fragmented state to answer the call to Wholeness. Told as a fictional story underpinned by Bohm’s understanding of Undivided Wholeness and Dialogue, Jan Byars, PhD, and Susan Taylor combine years of experience in counseling and coaching both individuals and organizational leaders to offer hope and help to those desiring to move from the turmoil of overwhelm and burnout into a peaceful state of clarity and coherence. In a follow-up section enhanced by tools, practices, and resources, Byars and Taylor provide trusted guidance that invites others to plant the seeds of transformation, explore self-care, and ultimately uncover their own path to Wholeness. A Call to Wholeness shares a story about accepting power and recognizing possibility that is enhanced by tools and exercises that guide others into a new paradigm for life and business.

How Democrats Can Win Back Men: Why Understanding Male Voters and Their Issues is Vital for Democratic Victory by Mark W. Sutton

https://amzn.to/46cj7NT

“How Democrats Can Win Back Men could be the most important book ever written toward both the re-election of President Biden in 2024 and reversing the loss of men to the Democratic party in the next decades if the people running President Biden’s campaign implement its advice…” — Dr. Warren Farrell, author of The Boy Crisis

Democrats have been losing men — it’s time to win them back! A registered Democrat for 35 years, debut author Mark W. Sutton examines voting patterns, Democratic strategy, and policy decisions revealing the urgent need for the party to better appeal to male voters in 2024 and in the coming decades.

The margins of victory, particularly in key swing states, have been razor-thin in the last two presidential elections. If Democrats can sway just a small percentage of male voters, they greatly improve their chances of taking both the White House and Congress. Sutton shows how Democrats can reframe messaging and adjust strategic and policy decisions to increase their odds of winning in 2024 and beyond.

Solomea: Star of Opera’s Golden Age by Andriy J Semotiuk

https://amzn.to/3ya7Y3A

Myworkvisa.com

What does it take to reach the very top of your profession or calling? How does one rise from humble beginnings to achieve greatness and to perform with other first-class artists on the world stage? How do you break through barriers blocking you from reaching success because you are not the “right kind” of person? How do you break through the glass ceiling as a woman? As a parent or grandparent, where can one find a great model for children or even grandchildren to emulate? These are just some of the questions answered in this book.

Solomea Krushelnytska was hailed as the world’s leading dramatic soprano during the Golden Age of opera at the turn of the 20th century. Born in 1872 into a family with eight children in a small village in Western Ukraine, she studied opera and battled her way to superstardom while performing with opera legends like composer Giacomo Puccini, director Arturo Toscanini, and tenor Enrico Caruso.

Working with Arturo Toscanini, she played the lead roles of Salome and Elktra in the premiers of these operas in Italy. Among other major successes, Krushelnytska helped Giacomo Puccini rescue the opera Madama Butterfly from its failed debut at La Scala in Milan in 1904 by playing the lead role of Cio-Cio-San in the opera’s re-creation in the Teatro Grande in Brescia, Italy later that year. Thanks to their joint efforts, Madama Butterfly remains one of the most popular operas to this day. She also played other leading roles in major opera houses in Europe, South America, North America, and Northern Africa. Throughout her career, she shared the fruits of her success with her family.

Towards the end of her career, she moved back to Western Ukraine on the eve of World War II. Her beautiful voice was then drowned out by the gunfire of Soviet and Nazi armies and she was reduced to struggling for survival. Yet reverence for her talent likely helped her escape most of the ultraviolence that rampaged through her city at that time. Throughout the world war, she sheltered the author’s mother, aunt, and grandparents in her apartment. She spent her final years in Lviv, teaching at the same place where her rise to fame and fortune had begun.

Told from the perspective of her grand nephew Andriy Semotiuk, with intimate details related to his family’s immigrant experience never before shared, her rags-to-riches life story is an amazing odyssey, a triumph of the human spirit, an incredible testament to her dedication to art, and an inspiration to people everywhere.

The Power of Instinct: The New Rules of Persuasion in Business and Life by Leslie Zane

https://amzn.to/4bK6GtQ

Award-winning Fortune 500 brand consultant and behavioral expert Leslie Zane shatters conventional marketing wisdom, showing readers how to tap into the hidden brain where instinct prevails, creating a powerful network of connections that drive people to buy your product, company, or vision.

People don’t make decisions with their conscious mind, but on instinct. In The Power of Instinct, marketing consultant and behavioral science expert Leslie Zane shows that to grow a brand, business, or even a social movement, traditional persuasion tactics fall short. Instead, you must connect to the instinctive mind. And to do this, you need to understand the science of consumer choice and employ techniques that work with a person’s brain, not against it.

Zane uncovers the hidden network of connections that dictates the snap decisions we make and cracks the code on how to influence it. With a revolutionary set of rules for expanding the network, Zane shows us how to make any brand, business, political candidate, or idea the dominant instinctive choice. With science as your guide, as well as stories from the world’s most successful brands from McDonald’s and Lululemon to the Yankees and Taylor Swift, you’ll learn:

What kind of messages create the greatest amount of positive associations; Why finding new customers accelerates growth and relying on existing ones is a trap; Why emotional stories are not enough to drive trial and long-term brand loyalty.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, Fortune 500 executive, marketing professional, or job seeker, mastering the power of instinct will help supercharge your growth and make whatever you’re selling the first choice for any audience.

About the author Leslie Zane is an award-winning marketer, TEDx speaker and the foremost authority in harnessing the instinctive mind to accelerate brand and business growth. Like many pioneers, Zane’s provocative ideas were dismissed early on. In 1995, she founded Triggers®, the first brand consulting firm rooted in behavioral science, where she continued to champion the primacy of the instinctive mind in brand decisions. With her groundbreaking discoveries in boosting salience, the Brand Connectome® and Growth Triggers®, Zane and her team have delivered over 2X incremental revenue growth for their Fortune 100 clients.

Mike Kuczkowski, the founder of OrangeFiery, on Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Building Better Companies

Orangefiery.com

About the Guest(s): Mike Kuczkowski is an experienced professional with over 25 years in communications, management, consulting, journalism, and politics. In 2014, he founded Orangefiery, a firm that focuses on strategic consulting and communications to assist clients in solving business problems and driving change.

Episode Summary: In this episode, Chris Voss interviews Mike Kuczkowski, the founder of Orangefiery, discussing leadership, entrepreneurship, and building better companies. Mike shares insights on communication strategies, effective leadership, and aligning employees with corporate strategies. The conversation delves into the importance of listening, sense-making, and maintaining trust as a leader.

Key points covered include the significance of active listening in the first 90 days of leadership, the need for leaders to see around corners by engaging with stakeholders, and aligning employees with corporate strategies to drive organizational success.

Key Takeaways: Leaders should focus on being vulnerable, listening actively, and adapting to change in dynamic business environments. Developing a sense-making approach is crucial for making informed decisions as a leader and gaining trust from stakeholders. Building trust involves showcasing transparency, integrity, and aligning actions with the organization’s core values. Effective leadership requires continuous communication, empathy, and a servant leader mentality to inspire and engage employees. Encouraging a culture of learning from failure, promoting innovation, and fostering a collaborative environment are key aspects of successful leadership.

Notable Quotes: “Trust is about behaviors, doing the right thing, aligning actions with core values, and making decisions based on a sense of purpose.” – Mike Kuczkowski “Leading from a place of vulnerability, listening actively, and maintaining empathy can drive organizational success and build strong relationships.” – Mike Kuczkowski

For more insights on leadership, communication strategies, and corporate alignment, tune in to the full episode and explore additional valuable content from the podcast.

Customer Experience Expert Lynn Daniel Shares Insights on Entrepreneurism and Respect

Thedanielgroup.com

### About the Guest(s):

Lynn Daniel is the CEO of The Daniel Group, a company he founded in 1989. With a background in management, consulting, corporate planning, and product management, Lynn has led The Daniel Group to specialize in helping B2B companies measure, manage, and improve customer experience since 2005. His firm works with clients such as AGCO, Navistar, Kuma, and 80% of Caterpillar dealers to enhance profitable and loyal customer relationships. Lynn holds a BA in Political Science from North Carolina State University and an MBA from the University of Virginia.

### Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode of The Chris Voss Show, Lynn Daniel, CEO of The Daniel Group, shares insights on how his company focuses on customer experience consulting for B2B companies. He discusses the importance of customer service, the power of referrals, and the impact of emotional satisfaction on customer relationships. Lynn emphasizes the significance of leadership’s role in shaping a company’s commitment to customer experience and highlights the correlation between employee experience and customer experience for business success.

### Key Takeaways:

* The Daniel Group specializes in measuring, managing, and improving customer experience for B2B companies. * Customer satisfaction directly influences referrals, with highly satisfied customers being more likely to refer a company. * Emotional satisfaction plays a crucial role in customer relationships, surpassing rational satisfaction in impact. * Leadership commitment is essential in prioritizing customer experience within a company’s strategic goals. * There is a strong connection between employee experience and customer experience, highlighting the need for a positive work environment.

### Notable Quotes:

* “One of the things we have learned is emotional satisfaction. How you feel about something is far more powerful by far than any kind of rational satisfaction.” * “There’s such a strong connection between employee experience and customer experience. Ultimately, that’s gonna backfire on you.”

Don’t miss out on the insightful discussion with Lynn Daniel on The Chris Voss Show as he delves into the world of customer experience, leadership, and employee engagement. Tune in to gain valuable insights and stay informed on the latest trends in customer service and business strategy.

Shocks, Crises, and False Alarms: How to Assess True Macroeconomic Risk by Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak, Paul Swartz

https://amzn.to/3zruzcg

An essential new guide to navigating macroeconomic risk.

The shocks and crises of recent years – pandemic, recession, inflation, war – have forced executives and investors to recognize that the macroeconomy is now a risk to be actively managed. Yet unreliable forecasting, pervasive doomsaying, and whipsawing data severely hamper the task of decoding the landscape. Are disruptions transient and ephemeral—or permanent and structural? False alarms are costly traps, but so are true structural changes that go undetected.

How can leaders avoid these macro traps to make better tactical and strategic decisions?

In this perspective-shifting book, BCG Chief Economist Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak and Senior Economist Paul Swartz provide a fresh and accessible way to assess macroeconomic risk, and a corrective to prevailing thinking and practice. Casting doubt on conventional model-based thinking, they demonstrate a more powerful approach to building sound macroeconomic judgment. Using incisive analysis built upon frameworks, historical context, and structural narratives – what they call “economic eclecticism” – the book empowers readers with the durable skills to assess continuously evolving risks in the real economy, financial system, and the geopolitical arena.

Moreover, the authors’ richer and more nuanced approach reveals that the all too common narratives of economic collapse and decline are often false alarms, while the fundamental strengths of our current “era of tightness” become visible.

With rational optimism rather than gloom, Shocks, Crises, and False Alarms speaks to the key financial and macroeconomic controversies that define our times – and provides a compass for navigating the macroeconomy. Rather than relying on blinking dashboards or flashy headlines, leaders can and should judge macroeconomic risks for themselves.

About the author Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak is BCG’s Global Chief Economist and a Managing Director & Partner in the firm’s New York office. He is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review, World Economic Forum Agenda, and other business publications. You can read Philipp’s latest thinking in his Fortune column. Philipp was previously Chief Economist at Sanford C. Bernstein where he covered the economy and markets for institutional investors across the global asset management industry. Earlier in his career, he worked for the OECD and McKinsey & Company . Philipp studied at LSE and has a Ph.D from Oxford University.

A Wedding in Lake Como (Meet Me in Italy) by Jennifer Probst

https://amzn.to/3WbvJl8

A destination wedding in Italy’s Lake Como brings three best friends back together to face the secrets of the past in this romantic novel from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.

Best friends Ava, Madison, and Chelsea made a pact to reunite for each other’s weddings when their careers sent them in different directions. But after one of them makes a choice that tears the group apart, an upcoming wedding might be their last chance to heal old wounds.

Ava is about to marry the man she loves in a lavish ceremony on the shores of Lake Como, but she’s haunted by the mistakes she’s made.

Madison’s made a name for herself as an influencer in the fashion world but is threatened by a scandal impacting everything she holds dear.

And Chelsea has the perfect family she always craved, but her professional dreams have fallen by the wayside.

As they return to Italy’s gorgeous coast, the three women revisit their life-changing first trip to Lake Como during college. When Madison comes face-to-face with the college sweetheart who was at the heart of one of the most pivotal times of her life, can they forge a new way forward?

Purpose: What Evolution and Human Nature Imply about the Meaning of Our Existence by Samuel T. Wilkinson

https://amzn.to/3WaeLU5

A Next Big Idea Club Must-Read

By using principles from a variety of scientific disciplines, Yale Professor Samuel Wilkinson provides a framework for human evolution that reveals an overarching purpose to our existence.

Generations have been taught that evolution implies there is no overarching purpose to our existence, that life has no fundamental meaning. We are merely the accumulation of tens of thousands of intricate molecular accidents. Some scientists take this logic one step further, suggesting that evolution is intrinsically atheistic and goes against the concept of God.

But is this true?

By integrating emerging principles from a variety of scientific disciplines—ranging from evolutionary biology to psychology—Yale Professor Samuel Wilkinson provides a framework of evolution that implies not only that there is an overarching purpose to our existence, but what this purpose is.

With respect to our evolution, nature seems to have endowed us with competing dispositions, what Wilkinson calls the dual potential of human nature. We are pulled in different directions: selfishness and altruism, aggression and cooperation, lust and love. When we couple this with the observation that we possess a measure of free will, all this strongly implies there is a universal purpose to our existence.

This purpose, at least one of them, is to choose between the good and evil impulses that nature has created within us. Our life is a test. This is a truth, as old as history it seems, that has been espoused by so many of the world’s religions. From a certain framework, these aspects of human nature—including how evolution shaped us—are evidence for the existence of a God, not against it.

Closely related to this is meaning. What is the meaning of life? Based on the scientific data, it would seem that one such meaning is to develop deep and abiding relationships. At least that is what most people report are the most meaningful aspects of their lives. This is a function of our evolution. It is how we were created.

About the author Samuel T. Wilkinson is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, where he also serves as Associate Director of the Yale Depression Research Program. Dr. Wilkinson received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Brigham Young University and later his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Yale, where he joined the faculty following his post-graduate medical training.

His primary research has focused on depression and suicide prevention and has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

His research and articles have been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. He has been the recipient of many awards, including Top Advancements & Breakthroughs from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (2017 and 2020), Top Ten Psychiatry Papers by the New England Journal of Medicine Journal Watch, the Early Career Scholar Award from the American Psychiatric Association, and the rank of Eagle Scout.

The Wolves and the Greyhounds: A Novel of the Great War by Robert Schreiner

https://amzn.to/3LcWZcA

A rogue German fleet has somehow disappeared. The Royal Navy must find them—before the unthinkable happens.

At the outbreak of the First World War, the fearsome German East Asia Squadron eluded a Royal Navy task force, steamed into the vastness of the Pacific—and vanished. The possibility that the elusive German fleet might suddenly appear on any horizon paralyzed the British Empire and set in motion a frantic search for the enemy warships.

The fates of two naval commanders—one British, one German—are inexorably drawn together as the world plunges into war.

John Luce, a veteran Royal Navy captain, must face the greatest challenge of his career as he leads a ragtag squadron of obsolete British warships into unfamiliar waters in search of the rogue enemy fleet. His darkest fears are realized, and the hunters may now become the hunted.

Captain Julius Maerker of the Kaiserliche Marine has assumed his new command with the East Asia Squadron. As war is declared, he finds himself serving in the shadow of a mercurial and fiery admiral, whose ambition will take the German fleet on an extraordinary odyssey and risk the lives of thousands of his men.

In this epic wartime adventure, bold gambles and tragic miscalculations pull these two captains, their ships, and their rival empires into a desperate clash—culminating in the most decisive naval battles of the war. The Wolves and the Greyhounds brilliantly dramatizes a largely forgotten chapter of WWI that will captivate fans of historical fiction and military thrillers.

About the author ROBERT SCHREINER is a former CIA Intelligence Officer. After leaving government service, he embarked on a subsequent career as a consultant and executive in the global private security industry. He is an avid amateur military historian who has traveled the world, routinely sneaking in side-trips to visit ancient fortifications and battlefields. He lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee with his wife, two spoiled cocker spaniels, and an amusingly musical cockatiel.

Purposeful Health: An Intentional Guide To Personalized Wellness by Katie Molumby

https://amzn.to/3xHcztY

In this compelling exploration of the modern health landscape, delve into the harsh realities and gaps in our overall wellness. Purposeful Health takes you on a riveting journey through the disconnect from our bodies, the profit-driven healthcare pitfalls, and the alarming rise of prescribed medications. Discover how shifting mindsets, despite limited time with healthcare providers, can be your catalyst for change. It’s time to empower yourself with daily choices that have profound impacts on your well-being.

Meet Katie, a certified health and mindset coach driven by a profound mission: guiding others to discover their purpose and integrate it into their wellness journey. With a background in social services, Sociology, and Psychology, Katie’s path culminated in her dream role of health coaching. Her journey, enriched by hundreds of clients, humbles and empowers her. Trained by the Institute of Integrated Nutrition (IIN), Katie adeptly blends holistic practices into her coaching, fostering transformative lifestyle shifts. Passionate about nurturing purpose, balance, and joy, Katie dedicates herself to empowering individuals to embrace their healthiest, happiest selves—an endeavor she finds deeply fulfilling.

About the author Meet Katie, a certified health and mindset coach driven by a profound mission: guiding others to discover their purpose and integrate it into their wellness journey. With a background in social services, Sociology, and Psychology, Katie’s path culminated in her dream role of health coaching. Her journey, enriched by hundreds of clients, humbles and empowers her. Trained by the Institute of Integrated Nutrition (IIN), Katie adeptly blends holistic practices into her coaching, fostering transformative lifestyle shifts. Passionate about nurturing purpose, balance, and joy, Katie dedicates herself to empowering individuals to embrace their healthiest, happiest selves—an endeavor she finds deeply fulfilling.

LIFE MASTERY – Life by Design by Mark W. Collins

https://amzn.to/4cK5esi

Courses.freedom-for-life.net

Life Mastery, life by design, is a book that focuses on the readers created value, their unique Identity and their ability to shape their life into the uncompromisingly awesome experience they were created for.

Through the conversations laid out in each chapter, they will not only learn tools to upgrade their lives but will also find powerful insights to demolish the false beliefs and lies that are standing in the way.

Life mastery is a labor of love born from Mark’s own experience in striving for the life he was created for and from mentoring hundreds of others to do the same.

If you want the life you dreamed you could have and want battle-tested tools to overcome what is standing in the way, then Life Mastery—Life by Design—is for you.

How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain by Peter S. Goodman

https://amzn.to/3VFzJca

By the New York Times’s Global Economics Correspondent, an extraordinary journey to understand the worldwide supply chain—exposing both the fascinating pathways of manufacturing and transportation that bring products to your doorstep, and the ruthless business logic that has left local communities at the mercy of a complex and fragile network for their basic necessities.

“A tale that will change how you look at the world.” —Mark Leibovich

One of Foreign Policy’s “Most Anticipated Books of 2024”

How does the wealthiest country on earth run out of protective gear in the middle of a public health catastrophe? How do its parents find themselves unable to locate crucially needed infant formula? How do its largest companies spend billions of dollars making cars that no one can drive for a lack of chips?

The last few years have radically highlighted the intricacy and fragility of the global supply chain. Enormous ships were stuck at sea, warehouses overflowed, and delivery trucks stalled. The result was a scarcity of everything from breakfast cereal to medical devices, from frivolous goods to lifesaving necessities. And while the scale of the pandemic shock was unprecedented, it underscored the troubling reality that the system was fundamentally at risk of descending into chaos all along. And it still is. Sabotaged by financial interests, loss of transparency in markets, and worsening working conditions for the people tasked with keeping the gears turning, our global supply chain has become perpetually on the brink of collapse.

In How the World Ran Out of Everything, award-winning journalist Peter S. Goodman reveals the fascinating innerworkings of our supply chain and the factors that have led to its constant, dangerous vulnerability. His reporting takes readers deep into the elaborate system, showcasing the triumphs and struggles of the human players who operate it—from factories in Asia and an almond grower in Northern California, to a group of striking railroad workers in Texas, to a truck driver who Goodman accompanies across hundreds of miles of the Great Plains. Through their stories, Goodman weaves a powerful argument for reforming a supply chain to become truly reliable and resilient, demanding a radical redrawing of the bargain between labor and shareholders, and deeper attention paid to how we get the things we need.

From one of the most respected economic journalists working today, How the World Ran Out of Everything is a fiercely smart, deeply informative look at how our supply chain operates, and why its reform is crucial—not only to avoid dysfunction in our day to day lives, but to protect the fate of our global fortunes.

About the author Peter S. Goodman is the global economic correspondent for The New York Times, based in New York.

Over the course of three decades in journalism, Goodman has covered some of the most momentous economic transformations and upheavals – the global financial crisis of 2008 and the Great Recession, as the Times’ national economic correspondent; the emergence of China into a global superpower as the Shanghai bureau chief for The Washington Post; the advent of the Web followed by the dot-com crash as a technology reporter for the Post, based in Washington. During a five year stint in London for the Times, he wrote about Brexit, the rise of right-wing populism in Europe, the crises in Turkey in Argentina, the endurance of economic apartheid in South Africa, the struggles of migrant workers in the Persian Gulf, the tragic failure of land reform in the Philippines, and the catastrophe of the coronavirus pandemic.

Goodman has reported from more than 40 countries, including stints in conflict zones such as Iraq, Cambodia, Sudan and East Timor.

​

He has been recognized with some of journalism’s top honors, including two Gerald Loeb awards, and seven prizes from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers. His work as part of the Times’ series on the roots of the 2008 financial crisis was a finalist for the Pulitzer.

Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell

https://amzn.to/3VOMYaD

An aimless young woman starts writing to an accused serial killer while he awaits trial and then, once he’s acquitted, decides to move in with him and take the investigation into her own hands in this dark and irresistibly compelling debut thriller.

Recently ghosted and sick of watching her friends fade into the suburbs, thirty-something Hannah finds community in a true-crime forum that’s on a mission to solve the murders of four women in Atlanta. After William, a handsome lawyer, is arrested for the killings, Hannah begins writing him letters. It’s the perfect outlet for her pent-up frustration and rage. The exercise empowers her, and even feels healthy at first.

Until William writes back.

Hannah’s interest in the case goes from curiosity to obsession, leaving space for nothing else as her life implodes around her. After she loses her job, she heads to Georgia to attend the trial and befriends other true-crime junkies like herself. When a fifth woman is discovered murdered, the jury has no choice but to find William not guilty, and Hannah is the first person he calls upon his release. The two of them quickly fall into a routine of domestic bliss.

Well, as blissful as one can feel while secretly investigating their partner for serial murder…

vΣ Book I: Thumos Rising: Thumos Rising By Demitrios Lopez

https://amzn.to/3L4iY5K

“They said he was handsome,

but with alien features,

purple, pupil-less eyes…”

With the world of Ninivon on the brink of annihilation, Zeno finds himself pitted against a vampiric overlord from beyond the stars. The tyrant, wraithlike purple glowing from his eyes, is obsessed with one thing: unraveling the mystery of the Σ a primordial and otherworldly power. A power that has chosen Zeno as it’s champion.

But Zeno will not accept the power, terrified of what the Σ will make of him. Until he discovers that Alexandra, his childhood best friend, is leading a rebellion against the Vampire and his monsters. Then Zeno becomes the demigod he was destined to be and joins the fray. But the lines blur between his duty to save Ninivon and his desire to protect Alexandra, whose past is shadowed in secrecy.

Where dragons soar alongside futuristic spacecraft and magic intertwines with advanced technology, Thumos Rising chronicles Zeno’s quest to unlock the mystery of the only thing those with purple eyes fear: The Σ.

Ember (The Tier One Thrillers, Book 8) by Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson

https://amzn.to/3zeFVAl

From New York Times bestselling authors Andrews & Wilson

After surviving the most dangerous mission of his career, John Dempsey is back at Ember. But Ember has changed — and so has he. Meanwhile, a new adversary sees an opportunity to rise. As Dempsey and Vice President Jarvis soon discover, the world stage is about to get deadlier than ever …

To survive the notorious prison IK-2 and assassinate Russian President Vladimir Petrov, John Dempsey had to become rosomakha, the wolverine. Now, back home in America, he’s trying to put the pieces of his life at Ember back together. But which man returned from Russia — Dempsey, or the wolverine? From the way his teammates look at him, it’s obvious they’re not sure, and neither is he.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kelso Jarvis has barely had time to mourn the death of his mentor before a devastating attack reveals a new threat. Because of Dempsey’s mission in Russia, the rules of the game have changed — only now it’s not clear who the players are. As Dempsey leads Ember on a mission to protect and avenge a shocking attack on America, Jarvis’s oath to his nation is tested in ways he never imagined. Together, they must determine who is behind this rising threat and stop the mastermind before it’s too late.

And just as Dempsey begins to feel like himself again, an old ally resurfaces — someone he thought he’d left for dead long ago …

About the author Brian is a US Navy veteran, nuclear engineer, and former submarine officer. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in psychology, holds a Master’s in business from Cornell, and is a Park Leadership Fellow. He is a principal contributor at Career Authors, a site dedicated to advancing the careers of aspiring and published writers: www.careerauthors.com.

He is half of Andrews & Wilson, the USA Today, Wall Street Journal, & #1 Amazon best-selling co-author team behind multiple series including:

– TIER ONE, a military thriller series featuring Navy SEAL, John Dempsey.

– SONS OF VALOR, a TIER ONE shared world series from Blackstone Publishing.

– THE SHEPHERDS, a faith-based, supernatural thriller series from Tyndale House.

– ACT OF DEFIANCE, Jack Ryan #24 in the Tom Clancy universe

In addition to their novels, Andrews & Wilson have multiple projects under development for film and television with major motion picture studios including: Tier One, Dark Intercept, 4 Minutes, Portal, Quantum War, Glitch, and The In Between.

The Wannabe Investor: 40 Must-Know Facts Before Buying Your First Stock by Ann Marie Sabath

https://amzn.to/3VWS6uH

Annmariesabath.com

LET THE WANNABE INVESTOR BE THE KEY TO UNLOCKING A BRIGHTER FINANCIAL FUTURE FOR YOU!

Do you find the stock market intimidating? Does the thought of losing your hard-earned money hold you back? Do you think you don’t have enough time to dedicate to investing in the market?

You’re not alone! A staggering 40 percent of Americans shy away from investing in the stock market due to a lack of knowledge, funds, or confidence. In this groundbreaking book, Ann Marie Sabath, a former wannabe investor turned diversified stock owner, shares her wealth of knowledge to empower you to enter the world of investing one step at a time.

Sabath’s writing style is refreshingly down-to-earth, making even the most intricate concepts easy to grasp. She shares the essential pre-investment steps, ensuring you have a solid foundation before buying your first share of stock. She explains the seven excuses people make for not investing, how to identify your risk tolerance level, the power of compounding, the one-hour-a-year investment strategy, and much more.

The Wannabe Investor isn’t just another dry investment book. It’s a transformative guide that reveals the strategies that self-made millionaires use to build wealth. Don’t let your hard-earned money languish in low-yield savings accounts or slow-growing bonds any longer. You will be ready to take control of your financial future after reading The Wannabe Investor.

About the author ANN MARIE SABATH is the author of ten books, including the best-selling “What Self-Made Millionaires Do That Most People Don’t.” Her passion for investing was ignited during her ten life-changing years under the guidance of a seasoned stock market guru. Inspired by his six-decade fortune-building journey, she developed a keen understanding of investment principles and practical choices, which allowed her to build her own substantial nest egg. Today, Sabath dedicates her time to empowering individuals to create their own success through the content in “The Wannabe Investor” and her other books.

The Reaction to Inaction, How Organizations, Employees, and Customers Lose When People Fail To Act by Jack Jackson

Thereactiontoinactionbook.com

ABOUT THE BOOK

How It Will Change Your Entire Organization Jack Jackson, an award winning and seasoned executive, has been working on this book for twenty years. Over his twenty-year career as an Executive he has taken detailed notes, interviewed researchers, psychologists, business leaders, and personally witnessed firsthand the downgrade of the American company. For decades now modern American companies, organizations, and teams have operated within an old-fashioned and archaic methodology. Organizations from corporate America to the US military have spent millions of dollars on fancy retreats, consultants, coaches, and “experts” to improve performance. This framework for the organization of the future will shape and build your organization into a powerhouse of performance, a culture of innovators, entrepreneurs, free thinkers and high achievers. This book helps every team member from the janitor to the Chief Executive Officer find purpose and fulfillment in their day-to-day work and strive to be their absolute best.

A COMPLETELY NEW FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS

This book IS “the anti-coach book. The anti-consultant book, the anti ‘I bought this leadership book and now I am asking my team to read it’ book.” In this groundbreaking and genuinely new approach to modern business, Jackson offers a framework and blueprint backed by research and years of data that will once again ignite American business innovation and inspire teams to achieve at the highest level.

Real World Application This book is not meant to be read once and left alone. This book is meant for everyone within a team, an organization or enterprises of any size and any industry that wants to drastically improve. This book is designed and written for real world application. Each chapter comes with templates, how to’s and suggestions to implement the framework that will radically change your organization and begin your journey to excellence.

The Power of Now Discover the transformative power of living in the present moment with the best-selling book by Eckhart Tolle. Find inspiration and guidance to help you overcome anxiety, stress, and negative thoughts. Start your journey today.

The Jersey Death Squad: A Journey to Kill Jessie Freeman by Mark Meding

https://amzn.to/3RzTrVB

This is a story about four friends who grew up together in rural northern New Jersey. The four are close enough to be brothers- chosen family- whose loyalty and love for one another becomes a powerful force in their lives growing up. But when the boys witness a tragic accident befall a local police officer, they are severely impacted, especially upon learning the full extent of the injury. As the boys witness the impact of the tragedy on their friend’s wife and family, they create a pact: if any one of the boys should ever become a mental or physical burden to their friends or family, the remaining friends need to end their life. Decades later, once the boys grow up to be men, they are devastated to learn that due to a horrible accident, one of them meets the condition they had described in the pact. The remaining friends connect with one another and set off on a journey to get to their soul brother to fulfill their fateful obligation. A compelling, frequently funny story about reconnection, friendship, and love that asks the question….?? can the boys fulfill the pact and murder their friend this many years later and with so much to lose? ??

Michael Sakata Dives Deep into Infrastructure Challenges in Maryland and America

Mtbma.org

About the Guest(s): Michael Sakata is the President and CEO of the Maryland Transportation Builders and Materials Association (MTBMA). Boasting over 20 years in the transportation sector, Michael has driven record membership growth and advocates for 35,000 workers and business owners. His impactful partnerships include appointments by Maryland Governors Wes Moore and Larry Hogan. Michael previously held significant roles at the American Road and Transportation Builders Association and has received accolades for innovation. He holds a degree from George Mason University and an Executive Education Certificate from Yale School of Management.

Episode Summary: In this enlightening episode of The Chris Voss Show, Chris is joined by Michael Sakata, President and CEO of the Maryland Transportation Builders and Materials Association. Michael shares deep insights into the intricacies of infrastructure management, the state of US infrastructure, and the critical need for investments and innovations in this sector. The conversation ranges from specifics about local infrastructure projects to broader discussions about federal funding mechanisms and the challenges of maintaining and upgrading transportation systems.

The episode kicks off with Chris and Michael discussing the importance of infrastructure and the repercussions of failures like the Francis Scott Key Bridge incident. Michael addresses the current state of infrastructure in the US and underscores the necessity for sustained funding and innovative solutions to overcome the challenges posed by outdated systems and modern-day needs. They also delve into the intricacies of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and its impact on infrastructure projects across the nation. Other topics include the role of public-private partnerships, the influence of electric vehicles on gas tax revenue, and the critical importance of active citizen engagement in lobbying for better infrastructure.

Key Takeaways: Infrastructure’s Critical Role: Michael stresses that robust infrastructure is essential for economic stability and public safety, reflecting on the devastating impact of infrastructural failures like the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Federal and State Funding: Federal funding, largely stagnated since 1993 without increased gas taxes, is insufficient alone. States need to find innovative funding solutions to supplement these shortfalls. Public-Private Partnerships (P3s): P3s are highlighted as an essential strategy for developing infrastructure quickly, though they come with long-term costs and commitments. Impact of Electric Vehicles (EVs): EVs, due to their lower contribution to gas taxes and heavy weight, pose unique challenges for infrastructure funding and maintenance. Actionable Advocacy: Engaging with legislators to emphasize the importance of infrastructure funding is crucial for sustaining and improving transportation systems.

Notable Quotes: “Infrastructure improvements are essential to move us from a C rating to something more respectable, ensuring the economic well-being and safety of our nation.” “The federal gas tax hasn’t increased since 1993, and this stagnation is a significant hurdle for funding infrastructure.” “Public-private partnerships can fast-track infrastructure projects, but come with the obligation of long-term tolls and private management.” “Electric vehicles, despite their environmental benefit, are not contributing similarly to infrastructure maintenance due to their minimal gas tax payments.” “It’s vital for citizens to lobby their legislators for improved infrastructure funding – our roads, bridges, and overall transport systems depend on it.”

Rashmi Airan Shares Journey of Resilience and Transformation

Rashmiairan.com

About the Guest(s): Rashmi Airan is a captivating speaker, consultant, and catalyst for transformation, focusing on fostering organizational cultures centered around authenticity. With a background as an investment banker and an attorney, she brings a unique perspective on leadership, core values, and decision-making. Rashmi’s powerful story includes her time in federal prison, which she now uses to inspire and motivate others. She has worked with global corporations and associations, providing keynotes, leadership workshops, and ongoing consulting services aimed at creating safe havens for courageous and often challenging conversations.

Episode Summary: Welcome to another episode of The Chris Voss Show! In this engaging and insightful episode, Chris Voss sits down with Rashmi Aaron, a dynamic speaker and consultant dedicated to fostering authenticity in organizational cultures. Rashmi shares her compelling journey from a successful career as an attorney and investment banker to her time in federal prison, and how she has emerged stronger, using her experiences to teach others about leadership, resilience, and ethical decision-making.

Rashmi delves into her process called “Rise through It,” a three-step method focusing on acceptance, letting go, and taking bold action. She discusses the importance of self-accountability and vulnerability in leadership, and shares how her consulting work helps C-suite executives and teams build trust and improve accountability. Rashmi’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and the human spirit, making this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to navigate challenges and lead with integrity.

Key Takeaways: Acceptance and Ownership: Recognize and take ownership of your current situation to pave the way for transformation. Letting Go: Release ego, fear, control, and judgment to find enlightenment, courage, conviction, and grace. Bold Action: Act with courage and make significant changes to rise through challenges. Relatability and Vulnerability: Sharing personal stories and vulnerabilities can open the door to deeper, more meaningful conversations and trust within teams. Fear and Uncertainty: Addressing fear, especially related to change and uncertainty, is crucial for growth and resilience.

Notable Quotes: “Failure is just an opportunity to try again.” “If you’re not trying to fail, you’re not trying hard enough.” “Not doing something is still doing something wrong.” “We are all humans, we are all drops from the same ocean, and how dare I pass judgment on others?” “When we can actually recognize that the entire purpose of being humans on this earth is to be fallible, that is the human experience.”

Art of Tea: A Journey of Ritual, Discovery, and Impact By Steve Schwartz

https://amzn.to/4bejI2C

Artoftea.com

Have you ever wished the world would just stop for a minute?

What if it could?

As a teenager, Steve Schwartz lived in 24/7 survival mode, going hungry whenever he couldn’t find enough work to pay for a school lunch. At the age of eighteen, he nursed his dying mother through the final stages of terminal cancer.

His mother’s death launched him on a journey to the far reaches of the world, where he discovered a passion for the ancient, calming rituals of tea.

Fascinated by the craft, he voyaged with sages and tea gurus around the globe, sourcing in far-flung fields and developing award-winning blends along the way, turning that passion into world-renowned teas.

Join Steve, the founder of Art of Tea, as he reveals the surprising true story behind its international success. Learn how he grew a tiny tea concept into partnerships with brands like Wolfgang Puck, Caesars Palace, Disney, and Vera Wang, all through the timeless ritual of tea itself-and its mysterious ability to carve small pockets of peace into modern life.

About the Guest(s): Steve Schwartz is the founder and master tea blender of Art of Tea, a handcrafted tea purveyor based in Los Angeles. He is also the bestselling author of “Art of Tea: A Journey of Ritual, Discovery, and Impact” and an expert in Ayurvedic traditions. Steve’s passion for combining herbs and botanicals was deeply influenced by his studies at the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico and his personal journey following his mother’s battle with cancer. His company, Art of Tea, sources the top 1-2% of tea leaves and botanicals from around the world to create award-winning tea blends.

Notable Quotes: “Stories are the owner’s manual to life.” – Chris Voss “I found the school in New Mexico called the Ayurvedic Institute and fell in love with the alchemy, blending herbs and teas and botanicals.” – Steve Schwartz “The beauty behind tea is, when you’re making a high-quality tea, 97 to 98% of that is water.” – Steve Schwartz “Imagine, getting a bag of unsalted unflavored chips. So on the top of the bag you get these beautiful uniform shapes, right? Well, that’s what we source in tea.” – Steve Schwartz “Incorporating a seven-minute tea ritual in your day can significantly enhance your time management and focus.” – Steve Schwartz

Top 5 Digital Marketing Hacks For Creating Brands: Build a Multi Dollar Business by Ms Maliha Farooq Ismail

https://amzn.to/3VvFVmP

As a marketer I have always been looking for novel ways to study this discipline. Not just that I have also been constantly trying to find new avenues to apply this knowledge to gain a better perspective.

Marketing has evolved to adapt to an increasingly online world with businesses following suit to incorporating the digital wave of marketing in their day to day operations

At the onset, digital marketing may seem daunting. Whatever the reasons for you to delay jumping on this digital marketing bandwagon, you will eventually regret not embracing it sooner.

The greatest advantage of using digital marketing is that it is scalable. You don’t need to invest a huge sum of money to start and whatever you invest can be easily tracked and monitored through the help of analytics.

This book is an attempt to highlight the top 5 digital marketing hacks for creating brands. It gives you an in-depth look at the hacks you can. use to deliver a rock solid digital marketing campaign.

I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I have enjoyed writing it for you ….

Mission Ready Building High-Performing Teams from the Battlefield to the Boardroom By William Branum and Brenda Neckvatal

Missionreadyleadership.com

~THE BOOK We will bring you to your next level of business. In today’s fast-paced and competitive business environment, merely keeping up is no longer enough. To truly thrive and outpace the competition, elevating your team to its next level of performance is not just an advantage—it’s a necessity. With decades of experience in the most demanding environments imaginable, William brings the unparalleled discipline, leadership, and teamwork skills honed during his 26 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL. Brenda, with her expert insight into HR practices, crisis management, and group dynamics, complements this perfectly, translating these high-stakes military strategies into actionable, impactful corporate methodologies.

William Branum is a highly decorated Navy SEAL veteran who served in the United States military for 26 years. During his extensive military career, he honed his leadership skills, cultivated a strong mindset, and gained invaluable experience in high-pressure situations as a sniper instructor, leading teams on operations ranging from protecting the interim Iraqi elected officials to direct action missions in Baghdad as well as specialized in undersea operations with missions that were required to be approved by the President of the United States. After retiring from the military, William has made it his mission to share the lessons he learned with others as a speaker, author, and business, and leadership advisor.

William’s expertise in leadership and mindset has been sought after by organizations ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. He draws on his experiences to provide practical advice on how to cultivate a leadership style that inspires and motivates others, and how to develop the resilience needed to succeed in challenging environments.

William’s commitment to serving others has also led him to support several philanthropic causes, including the Navy SEAL Foundation and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

Through his work, Branum continues to inspire individuals and organizations to embrace the qualities that have made him a successful leader: discipline, dedication, and a willingness to push beyond one’s limits.

Brenda Neckvatal

Brenda is an award-winning HR professional, a 2x bestselling author, and has been featured in publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Inc., and US News and World Reports. Perseverance, integrity, and relentless optimism are just a few of the ingredients that make up what you experience when meeting and working with Brenda.

Not only does she help business leaders solve their most difficult people issues, but she is also a specialist in group dynamics, crisis management, and HR compliance, and a mentor to professionals in HR working as an HR department of one.

She started as an HR sprout after a solid fourteen-year career in retail management. She really enjoys helping people solve their unique problems, and human resources offered her the ability to support her co-workers in a greater capacity. Having the benefit of working for a total of six Fortune 500 companies, she converted her experience into advising her audience to use tried and trusted best practices that help small businesses achieve their workforce goals.

In her 30-year career in human resources and business, she has consulted to over 600 small businesses and C-suite leaders. She has optimized employee effectiveness and helped mitigate the high costs associated with making hasty employment-related decisions.

The Mighty Moo: The USS Cowpens and Her Epic World War II Journey from Jinx Ship to the Navy’s First Carrier into Tokyo Bay by Nathan Canestaro

https://amzn.to/3xkqDcQ

The Mighty Moo is the tale of how a scrappy little World War II aircraft carrier and its untested crew earned a distinguished combat record and beat incredible odds to earn 12 battle stars in the Pacific.

The USS Cowpens and her crew weren’t your typical heroes. She was a flattop that the US Navy initially didn’t want, with a captain nearly scapegoated for the loss of his last command, pilots who self-trained on the planes they would fly into combat, and sailors that had been in uniform barely longer than the ship had been afloat. Despite their humble origins, Cowpens and her band of second-string reservists and citizen sailors served with distinction, fighting in nearly every major carrier operation from 1943 to 1945, including the Battles of the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf. Together they faced a deadly typhoon that brought the ship to the verge of capsizing, and at war’s end there was only one US aircraft carrier in Tokyo Bay to witness the Japanese surrender—The Mighty Moo.

In the years to follow, Cowpens’ service has become the wellspring for a remarkable modern tradition, both within the US Navy and the small Southern town that still celebrates her legacy with a festival every year. The Mighty Moo is a biography of a World War II aircraft carrier as told through the voices of its heroic crew—a “Band of Brothers at sea.”

Melissa McKenzie Dives Deep into Website Design and Squarespace Templates

Carbonandclay.co

Discount Code: Use code “Chris10” for 10% off any website template on Carbon and Clay.

About the Guest(s):

Melissa McKenzie is a talented website developer and the owner of Carbon and Clay. With a background in graphic design and a minor in website design, she has carved out a niche for herself through her budget-friendly Squarespace templates tailored for service-based businesses. Melissa is also a mom of five who successfully runs her business in just a few hours a day. Her expertise lies in transforming ordinary websites into 24/7 client-generating machines by infusing strategic insights into her designs.

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Chris Voss Show, Chris Voss welcomes Melissa McKenzie, the owner of Carbon and Clay, to discuss how businesses can leverage affordable Squarespace templates to build compelling and effective websites quickly. Melissa shares her journey from a graphic design graduate to a successful entrepreneur managing a thriving business while raising five children. Highlighting the evolution of web design, she makes a compelling case for ready-made templates, especially for service-based businesses, coaches, influencers, and course creators aiming to create professional websites without a hefty price tag.

Melissa dives deep into the advantages of using Squarespace templates, emphasizing their user-friendliness, design sophistication, and strategic layout options that help businesses convert visitors into customers. She explains the importance of having a mobile-friendly website and optimal content placement to reduce bounce rates and increase engagement. The conversation also covers Carbon and Clay’s unique services, including five-day website launches, done-for-you customization options, and valuable resources like copywriting and training videos. By the episode’s end, Melissa offers listeners a special discount code to get started on their web design journey.

Key Takeaways: Affordable Professionalism: Using Squarespace templates allows businesses to achieve a professional look and functionality at a fraction of the cost of custom websites. Time Efficiency: Carbon and Clay offers a five-day website launch service, ensuring that customers can get their sites up and running swiftly. User-Friendly Platforms: Squarespace’s all-in-one capabilities, including e-commerce, blogging, and invoicing, make it a versatile choice for various types of businesses. Mobile Optimization: In today’s mobile-first world, having a mobile-friendly website is crucial for user engagement and reducing bounce rates. Comprehensive Support: Carbon and Clay provides resources like copywriting, training videos, and customer support to help clients make the most of their new websites.

Notable Quotes: “Nowadays anyone can make a website. All you have to do is put your content in and places like Squarespace or WordPress develop it for you.” – Melissa McKenzie “If you lay it on a site that has like 16 gazillion links at the top, you’re just, you’re gonna exit out and you’re gonna find somewhere else because it’s just too overwhelming.” – Melissa McKenzie “I would like to bust the myth that your website is just like a landing page to send people to or like a static brochure.” – Melissa McKenzie “A lot of times people will come from WordPress and be like, I cannot manage my site. I’m paying someone all the time to just switch out an image or add a page, and then they switch to us and they’re like, that is so easy.” – Melissa McKenzie “Starting to think about your website in a way where it is actually working for you to gain leads and sales on autopilot.” – Melissa McKenzie

Diving Deep into Crypto with Expert David Doss!

CKC.fund

About the Guest(s):

David Doss is an accomplished entrepreneur and fund manager with over 15 years of experience in marketing, growth, and investment. He holds a summa cum laude BA from UC Berkeley, an MA as a Fulbright Scholar, and an MBA in strategy and innovation. David has led teams with seven-figure budgets in the digital economy and alternative assets, working with notable entities such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Citi. Currently, he chairs CKC Studio Blockchain Growth Studio and manages CKC Fund, focusing on de-risking digital asset investments and providing blockchain services. He also serves on Chain Board’s overseeing corporate events and managing Cayman-based alternative asset funds.

Episode Summary: In this dynamic episode of The Chris Voss Show, host Chris Voss interviews David Doss, the founder of CKC Fund. David delves into his extensive background in marketing, global digital transformation, and fund management. He shares his journey from growing up in Silicon Valley to becoming a leading expert in blockchain and digital assets. Highlighting the potential and growth of these innovative financial vehicles, David provides insights on the benefits of decentralized investments and the appeal of cryptocurrencies. David Doss emphasizes the advantages of investing in blockchain technologies and digital assets while addressing the misconceptions that often surround these markets. As a watch and alternative investment enthusiast, David draws parallels between his early interest in collectibles and the intricate world of digital currencies. His expertise spans managing substantial portfolios and navigating the complex regulatory environments, particularly in locations like the Cayman Islands. Throughout the episode, David underscores the importance of proper risk management and diversified portfolio strategies in achieving significant returns in the dynamic digital economy.

Key Takeaways: Investment Opportunities in Blockchain: David Doss explains how blockchain technology opens new investment opportunities, offering significant growth potential and diversification in one’s portfolio. Regulatory Environment in the Cayman Islands: He provides insights on the benefits of using Cayman Islands for investment vehicles due to its stringent regulatory framework and global focus. Evolution and Growth in Digital Assets: The episode reveals the cyclical nature of digital asset markets, with notable growth phases following periods of consolidation, indicating a promising outlook for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Diversification in Digital Portfolios: Emphasizing the importance of a well-balanced portfolio, David discusses the strategy of allocating investments across various digital assets to maximize returns and manage risks. Alternative Investments: David shares his journey and passion for alternative investments, including his early interest in collectibles like trading cards, shaping his approach to the digital asset space.

Notable Quotes: “We’re providing blockchain services overall in two main areas: digital asset fund management and blockchain program management.” – David Doss “There are roughly 25,000 different cryptocurrencies, not even counting tokenized assets.” – David Doss “The crux of it is wanting to provide people with hardworking investments.” – David Doss “Digital assets are acting as a hedge against volatility in other markets.” – David Doss “Thinking of asymmetric upside is having a floor but not having a ceiling, which can really benefit a portfolio when properly managed.” – David Doss

Chrysalis: Awakening to God’s Path, Protection, and Power in Your Life by Guy W Gane

https://amzn.to/4bYa6KG

Ganewisdom.com/

This book will show you how to achieve any goal, realize any dream, and attain every wish. By adhering to God’s word, by listening for His voice and by accepting His guidance and directionyou will bring to pass the life that He has planned for you.

Man suffers by his own choice. Not out of hoping to do so, but out of ignorance of not knowing otherwise.

Best-selling author Guy W. Gane, Jr. has now written a book truly for the ages. Not since ‘Think and Grow Rich’ has a book had the capability to change a persons’ destiny in such a profound way.

Throughout the Bible lies the blueprint for a life of happiness, peace and love. Gane has constructed a manuscript that allows scripture to attest to just that.

PlanAssist®: Make Better Financial Decisions Kindle Edition by Timothy Clifford

https://amzn.to/4b0hWSv

Planassist.com

A comprehensive guide for individuals seeking to navigate the complexities of personal finance with confidence and clarity. Through the innovative PlanAssist® process, this book offers a structured approach to financial planning, emphasizing the importance of proactive decision-making, strategic diversification, and the value of seeking formal and informal counsel. It dismantles the often daunting landscape of financial management into manageable steps, making wealth-building accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial background or stage in life. At its core, the book champions the philosophy that financial success is not merely about making money, but about making wise decisions that lead to having money. By prioritizing planning, diversification, and seeking counsel, it guides readers towards achieving financial security and independence, advocating for a disciplined yet flexible approach to personal finance that adapts to life’s changes and challenges. The underlying message is through responsibility, discipline, and informed action, anyone can navigate their path to financial well-being and stability, building a legacy of wealth that extends beyond the mere accumulation of assets.

Exploring Urban Farming and Food Justice with Erica Allen

urbangrowerscollective.org

About the Guest(s): Erika Allen is the founder and CEO of Strategic Development and Programs for Urban Growers Collective, an organization focused on creating sustainable and equitable community food systems. She is also the President of Green ERA Educational NFP and co-owner of Green Era Sustainability Partners. Erika Allen has been appointed by the Illinois Governor to the Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education and by the Biden Administration to join the Farm Service Agency Committee for Illinois. She also serves as the co-chair of the Food Equity Council for the city of Chicago.

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Chris Voss Show, host Chris Voss is joined by Erika Allen, an influential leader in sustainable agriculture and food justice. Erika discusses the importance of growing your own food, especially in urban settings, highlighting the numerous health and community benefits. From food as medicine to creating local economies and addressing food deserts, Erika’s insights are both profound and accessible.

Erika shares the transformative work being conducted at the Urban Growers Collective and the Green Era Campus in Chicago. These projects focus on creating circular food economies that reduce food waste, generate renewable energy, and provide educational opportunities. She emphasizes the role of such initiatives in empowering communities, mitigating climate change, and offering sustainable economic opportunities. This episode is a treasure trove of information for anyone interested in sustainable agriculture, food justice, and community development.

Key Takeaways: Community food systems can drastically improve food security, economic opportunities, and public health, especially in underserved areas. The Green Era Campus utilizes anaerobic digestion technology to convert food waste into renewable energy and nutrient-rich compost. Urban Growers Collective focuses on food justice through educational programs, community gardens, and support for local food economies. Growing your own food not only provides nutritional benefits but also fosters a deeper connection to the environment and community. Sustainable agriculture projects can serve as powerful tools for trauma-informed care and community healing.

Notable Quotes: “We all should know how to grow food and to be able to continue our relationship with the earth and with one another through our food system.” “There’s a correlation between environmental health and our human health.” “Knowing that one’s life energy can be spent on, you know, creating peace and prosperity within our own communities.” “The food that we eat, if it’s not nutritionally dense, we’re depriving our systems of the building blocks to repair ourselves.” “We get addicted to processed foods, and to mitigate that, if you start eating fresh, local foods, it drastically improves your health.”

Too Brown to Keep: A Search for Love, Forgiveness, and Healing by Judy Fambrough-Billingsley

https://amzn.to/45iWOG7

Judy Fambrough-Billingsley bares her soul by describing the transformation experienced in her quest to find both birth parents after being abandoned to live in a Kinderheim shortly after World War II. Too Brown to Keep: A Search for Love, Forgiveness, and Healing recounts the captivating, true account of the emotional and psychological effects of being an abandoned biracial international adoptee who overcame the odds of the emotional trauma of abandonment, grief, and loss. She includes a thought-provoking chapter on Forgiveness and Healing. This easy-to-read self-help book concludes with a guide to researching your own ancestry or finding and reconnecting with a person who has been missing from your life.

Back Roads and Better Angels A JOURNEY INTO THE HEART OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY By Francis S. Barry

Reversing Alzheimer’s: The New Toolkit to Improve Cognition and Protect Brain Health by Heather Sandison

https://amzn.to/3KGoX0h

A revolutionary and much-needed exploration of Alzheimer’s and how patients and their caregivers can take back control from this insidious disease.

A significant portion of our population worries about the grip of dementia as we age. With over 6.5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, the urgency for a solution has never been greater.

Dr. Heather Sandison is at the forefront of dementia care and research. The founder of Solcere Health Clinic, San Diego’s premier brain optimization clinic, and Marama, the first residential memory care facility to have the goal of returning cognitively declined residents to independent living, Dr. Sandison knows better than most what Alzheimer’s does to people—to their brains, their bodies, their families, and their lives.

If you’re facing the challenge of Alzheimer’s, either personally or as a caregiver, there is hope. A growing body of evidence shows that implementing a handful of strategies can improve cognition and quality of life in dementia patients. In Reversing Alzheimer’s, Dr. Sandison lays out this customizable and doable approach so that you can start supporting you or your loved one’s brain health right away.

Within these pages, Dr. Sandison distills complex neurocognitive research into actionable steps, empowering you to:

Fortify your brain health against cognitive decline Implement lifestyle changes that can reverse the effects of Alzheimer’s Transform your environment to support cognitive wellness Understand options for brain health to fit any budget Dr. Sandison’s expertise, derived from her clinical practice, residential care, and peer-reviewed research, charts the course for a future where Alzheimer’s is not a terminal diagnosis, but a reversible condition. Reversing Alzheimer’s is an essential tool for anyone aspiring to rewrite their story and achieve a future free from the affliction of Alzheimer’s.

About the author Dr. Heather Sandison, a distinguished naturopathic doctor, has devoted her career to providing compassionate care and innovative solutions to those affected by dementia. Renowned for her pioneering work, Dr. Sandison has integrated groundbreaking, holistic, and multimodal interventions, seamlessly creating clinical, residential, research, and educational platforms. Her relentless dedication has not only transformed the lives of patients and caregivers she has also set new standards in the field of dementia care.

Richard Lovatt Talks Bollywood, Sales, and Soap!

Sales Consulting and Coaching: ClosedAndPaid.com

Grapplers Guard Soap: GrapplersGuard.com

liquiditystudio.com

About the Guest(s): Richard Lovatt is a British-born actor and a skilled sales director. Best known for his unique and bombastic journey into Bollywood, Richard rapidly rose through the ranks of the Indian film industry despite his foreign origins. With a robust acting background, he has pivoted to apply his expertise in sales, working with top-tier entrepreneurs and high-revenue businesses as a sales director. Richard is also a passionate practitioner of grappling sports like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has recently launched a product, Grapplers Guard, a specialized soap aimed at fighters and grapplers to prevent bacterial infections.

Episode Summary: Join Chris Voss on a riveting journey as he converses with Richard Lovett, a British-born actor who defied the odds and carved a name for himself in Bollywood. Now in the world of sales and entrepreneurship, Richard shares his extraordinary story from Manchester, UK, to the glittering world of Mumbai’s film industry, highlighting the gripping twists and turns along the way. Pivoting from acting, Richard is now a sales director for high-revenue B2B businesses and has recently launched a hygienic product called Grapplers Guard—a soap designed for athletes.

In this episode, Richard discusses his transition from Bollywood to sales, revealing the secrets behind his coaching strategies that have helped companies and sales reps achieve remarkable success. Digging into his latest venture, Grapplers Guard, he explains how his personal experience with staph infection inspired him to develop this unique product. Richard delves into the properties of colloidal silver, the active ingredient in his soap, and its benefits for athletes, especially grapplers. This episode offers a blend of entertainment, inspiration, and practical advice for listeners.

Key Takeaways: Richard’s unique journey from a British actor in Bollywood to a successful sales director for high-revenue businesses. The surprising yet effective ways Richard helps businesses assess and refine their sales processes. Insightful stories of individual sales reps, including remarkable success stories from Richard’s coaching. Richard’s creation of Grapplers Guard, a specialized soap for fighters and grapplers, inspired by his personal bout with a staph infection. The therapeutic benefits of colloidal silver in combating bacterial infections and promoting overall health.

Notable Quotes: “When I first started, I made $17,000 in my second month. I made 25,000 in my third, 33 in my fourth, and continually going up since then.” “In three days, the staph infection cleared up completely after using colloidal silver.” “Quite a lot of companies I work with have funding from VC, capital, or angel investors, but if you have my consulting fees, I’m happy to work with anyone.” “You have no idea, it’s 0.5% silver, but that’s all you need for it to have an effect.” “You have to accept, sometimes there’s just balls on your face. That’s part of the jujitsu journey.”

My Dad My Dying Sun: A True Story of Love and Legends by David Sahadi, Lou Sahadi

https://amzn.to/3xkKubA

Lou Sahadi was born into a life of adversity, but he overcame it. For nearly three decades, Lou was a successful magazine publisher and also authored thirty-one acclaimed sports books, many of which became best sellers. From the 60s through the 90s he was the most prolific sports author of his time. Lou loved sports. Lou also absolutely adored his son.

David Sahadi landed his first job at NBC Sports when he was just twenty-three. His love and passion for the sports industry combined with Lou’s connections opened doors. With his guidance, David became an Emmy-Award winning television producer and director. He has been honored to receive 27 PROMAX Gold Medallion Awards. And though many believe the son became more famous than his father, there was never an ounce of envy. Lou was simply so proud and in awe of the son he loved and guided.

At eight, David met Cassius Clay at the Fountainbleu Hotel. Lou was interviewing him. As David boarded a plane the following day, there he was. With immediate recognition, Clay vaulted him up onto his lap, telling the flight attendant, “He’s sitting with me.”

At thirteen, Lou ushered his scrawny kid David into the locker room at Shea Stadium. The New Orleans St. beat the Jets. Payton and Eli Manning’s dad Archie who was the NFL’s best quarterback at the time. Archie at over 220 lbs handed David his sweaty t-shirt from the game. It must have weighed ten lbs. David would wear that over-sized shirt for ten years.

When Lou was sixty-eight, the tables turned. David was working for the WWE and Lou showed up at one of his son’s shoots in South Beach. Lou met The Rock. The connection was instantaneous. David made Lou an extra in the commercial, with his new found friend, The Rock.

Adversity found Lou on August 30th, 2020, after suffering a horrific fall. Cracking his skull and causing severe brain trauma, with the doctors saying he had only an 8 percent chance of survival. Miraculously, through boundless love and Lou’s unrelenting determination to stay alive for his five children, Lou made a full recovery.

Lou lived another two-and-a-half years before succumbing. David knew that Lou hung on because of his five children. David was with him that day. David kissed Lou’s lifeless forehead after his last breath was released into the ethers, torrents of tears rolling down his swollen cheeks, and said, “I love you so much Poppa. And don’t worry about your children. They are my children now, and I will take care of them.”

This book is Lou’s story. David’s story. The emotional story of Love, Connection and the Blessed lives they lived together in the shadows of Legends.

Grand Theft AI by James Cox

https://amzn.to/3XfFgbL

“The Matrix meets Blade Runner.” –Nicholas Sansbury Smith, New York Times bestselling author of Hell Divers

San Francisco, 2051. Rising like neo-Shanghai over the Bay, a labyrinth of quantum accelerators, hologram dreams, and fiercely regulated androids. Forget powder, pills, or bud–kids get high slotting wafers of data under the ear, and they’ll pay fat ¢rypto for the best. At the hottest nightclub in the city … the Fang.

Baz Covane is a battle-scarred thief who sticks to small-time bots. Ria Rose is the underworld “fixer” with a big-time score that could easily get ’em both killed. ‘Cuz the Fang’s psychotic kingpin Otto Rex has a vault with more security than a fusion reactor. And the glass inside is priceless–enough to set up Baz, Ria, and their crack team of cyber-misfits on the white sands of Tahiti forever.

But this crime doesn’t just carry infinite VR-Prison time–it’s Baz and Ria’s last shot at redemption. Forced to confess every last secret on their neurals, they’ll have to trust each other completely if they stand any chance of infiltrating Otto’s lair, raiding its spiraling rings of physical and virtual firewalls, to finally hack into his mind and crack his deepest layer of security, before the Blackhawks touch down with federal warrants–for Grand Theft AI.

Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers by Frank Figliuzzi

https://amzn.to/3KxBHGo

“A true-crime masterpiece.” —Don Winslow

From the FBI’s former assistant director, a shocking journey to the dark side of America’s highways, revealing the FBI Highway Serial Killings Initiative’s hunt for the long-haul truckers behind an astonishing 850 murders–and counting.

In 2004, the FBI was tipped off to a gruesome pattern of unsolved murders along American roadways. Today at least 850 homicides have been linked to a solitary breed of predators: long-haul truck drivers. They have been given names like the “Truck Stop Killer,” who rigged a traveling torture chamber in the rear of his truck and is suspected to have killed fifty women, and “The Interstate Strangler,” who once answered a phone call from his mother while killing one of his dozen victims. The crisis was such that the FBI opened a special unit, the Highway Serial Killings Initiative. In many cases, the victims—often at-risk women—are picked up at truck stops in one jurisdiction, sexually assaulted and murdered in another, and dumped along a highway in a third place. The transient nature of the offenders and multiple jurisdictions involved make these cases incredibly difficult to solve.

Based on his own on-the-ground research and drawing on his twenty-five-year career as an FBI special agent, Frank Figliuzzi investigates the most terrifying cases. He also rides in a big-rig with a long-haul trucker for thousands of miles, gaining an intimate understanding of the life and habits of drivers and their roadside culture. And he interviews the courageous trafficked victims of these crimes, and their inspiring efforts to now help others avoid similar fates.

Long Haul is a gripping exploration of a violent, disordered world hiding in plain sight, and the heroes racing to end the horror. It will forever unsettle how you travel on the road.

About the author Frank Figliuzzi was the FBI’s Assistant Director for counterintelligence where he served 25 years as a special agent and directed all espionage investigations across the government. He is a national security contributor for NBC News and a columnist for MSNBC Daily. He is the author of the national bestseller, The FBI Way: Inside the Bureau’s Code of Excellence.

Jack’s Boys by John Katzenbach

https://amzn.to/3X9WTtH

From #1 internationally bestselling author John Katzenbach

Five serial killers …

Known only to each other as:

Alpha. Bravo. Charlie. Delta. Easy.

Connected through a secure internet location, encrypted and concealed, a unique chat room they have named Jack’s Special Place in homage to their ultimate model–the one killer they hold in the highest esteem:

Whitechapel, London. 1888. The infamous murderer remembered in dark history as Jack the Ripper.

And so, they are Jack’s Boys.

They delight in each other’s crimes. They relish in taunting police around the world with odd clues and deep confusion–the modern version of the Victorian-era killer they emulate. While the original Jack sent letters to Fleet Street papers, they send pictures and online boasts and insults. In this fashion, they feed on each other’s killings, a private community of death. Arrogant. Conceited. Untouchable.

Or so they thought.

Until one day they are hacked.

Two teenagers, lying on their bed at home. Boyfriend and girlfriend. Slightly disaffected, each with their own issues–but deeply in young love and equally fascinated by the world of the dark web, where they accidentally stumble upon Jack’s Boys in their private space . . .

Whom they immediately mock.

This triggers a landslide of anger and revenge as the killers decide to teach the two teenagers a lesson in humility and respect for their betters. And caught up in this web of death are the teenage boy’s grandmother and grandfather–an ICU nurse and a former college admissions counselor with his own hidden, murderous history, an ex-Marine, Viet vet, still haunted by his time in that conflict.

When the five killers emerge from their shadows, this odd band of young and old will have to find a way to expose them. Or defeat them. Or save their own lives.

Katzenbach is New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award nominated author, with a background as a criminal court reporter for the Miami Herald and Miami News. He currently lives in Western Massachusetts. Notably, Scarlett Johansson is set to lead the Amazon limited series ‘Just Cause’ based on Katzenbach’s novel.

Out of Darkness Into Light by Lauralee Lindholm

https://amzn.to/4bOsTYy

I am a living witness and a fruit of the light that shined in the deepest darkness. This book shows the power of the Gospel to transform lives. -Beletew Kebede, president of the Ethiopian Addis Kidan Baptist Church

Living in the highlands of Ethiopia was like living in the Wild West. No one trusted anybody; a gun or a doola was always at hand-and was often used; farming was primitive, and famine was always close at hand; and evil spirits held real power over the people’s lives. Theirs was not a good life, and we wanted to help. We went as a community development team, asked God for guidance, and things began to change. As a spiritual battle broke out, we relived events from the book of Acts. Amazingly, God worked, and we watched a people group come out of darkness and into the light!

Be Human, Lead Human: How to Connect People and Performance by Jennifer Nash

https://amzn.to/3Vt43b7

Drjennifernash.com

What readers have to say:

“Not your parents’ leadership book” – Kaitlyn H.

“Timely, well organized, and personalized” – Austin A.

“A fresh perspective in an oversaturated market” – Peyton P.

“A must-read for anyone aspiring to lead in today’s complex business environment” – Dan P.

In a post-pandemic world where adaptability, empathy, and human connection have become more important than ever, Dr. Nash’s message is both timely and timeless. Be Human, Lead Human addresses a central issue facing contemporary workplaces: the urgent need for human-centric leadership that fosters engagement, creates connection, and powers performance.

Be Human, Lead Human is more than just a book; it’s a movement. It holds the promise of a new leadership ethos, one that disrupts the status quo and champions humanity at the heart of organizational effectiveness. If you’re ready to lead with courage, empathy, and authenticity, this book is your starting line.

Ready to transform your leadership approach and craft a more empathetic, connected, and effective workplace? Be Human, Lead Human is your indispensable guide. Discover how to bridge the gap between people and performance — because to lead humans, one must first be human.

About the author Jennifer Nash, PhD, MBA, PCC is a leadership expert and consultant to Fortune 50 organizations such as Google, Ford, Exxon Mobil, JP Morgan, IBM, The Boeing Company, and Verizon. She is Founder & CEO of Jennifer Nash Coaching & Consulting, a leadership advisory firm helping successful leaders connect people and performance to deliver exceptional results.

Jennifer’s 25-year resume includes serving in executive and leadership roles at Deloitte Consulting and Ford Motor Company and as adjunct professor at the University of Michigan. She contributes to Harvard Business Review, has presented her research at Columbia University, and is a Harvard/McLean Institute of Coaching Fellow.

Rewire Break the Cycle, Alter Your Thoughts and Create Lasting Change (Your Neurotoolkit for Everyday Life) By Nicole Vignola

https://amzn.to/3Vdx5Kz

Change your mind to change your life—discover the neuroscience of a better you in this revolutionary book from neuroscientist and online sensation Nicole Vignola that teaches you how to rewire your brain to achieve peak mental wellbeing.

Are you stuck in a habit of believing you are not good enough?

Do you fixate on a particular story about yourself that you wish you could change?

Are negative beliefs holding you back from reaching your fullest potential?

Do you sometimes feel like it’s just too hard, or too late, to change?

If any of this sounds familiar, you need Rewire, your personal guide to understanding the neuroscience of why you are subconsciously programmed to repeat certain habits and how you can do, or undo, any type of behavior to be the person you want to be.

BREAK THE CYCLE, ALTER YOUR THOUGHTS AND CREATE LASTING CHANGE

In clear language, neuroscientist Nicole Vignola demystifies the science of breaking bad habits and how to make good ones, the principles of neuroplasticity, and neurohack methods for changing behavioral patterns. In the end, she helps you to see yourself in a different way and control how you react to any life situation, from overcoming negative, limiting beliefs to managing stress and achieving peak mental wellbeing.

Think of your brain as your hardware and your mental health as your software. Your hardware must work well before you can upgrade your software; Once you learn the fundamentals of rewiring your brain, you can instill new habits, shift your mindset, and change unwanted behavior to create the best version of yourself.

We all have habits and behaviors that hold us back from reaching our fullest potential. This book will help you see that you are not stuck, that you can rewrite your story—and shows you how.

As Large as Your Spirit: a reverse refugee memoir by Joel David Bond

https://amzn.to/3Rc5vwa

Joeldavidbond.com

Joel David Bond lives in Iraq. By choice. So when he suddenly finds himself quarantined indefinitely on a remote Greek island, friends and family romanticize it as a fortunate event. But even paradise has its troubles: away from his love and the life he knows, and with nothing but a carry-on bag, a weak internet signal, and a fair amount of pluck, Bond is forced to learn some hard locked-down life lessons as an unintended refugee from both heart and home. Through the happy accident of exile, Bond’s path crosses with that of true refugees, and as their lives intersect, some universal truths are learned about loving your neighbor as yourself.

Bond’s account captures the refugee experience — be it refugee of heart or home — and how our universal humanity can only be found when we listen to the still, small voice inside. As Large as Your Spirit is an extraordinary memoir of persistent hope, creative grit, uncanny encounters, and what it means to accept yourself and others.

Telling Your Story, Building Your Brand: A Personal and Professional Playbook by Henry Wong

Henry Wong’s personal website: henrywong.co View Branding: vyoo brand.com

Today, everything and everyone is a brand. If you want to develop your personal brand, but can’t afford the fees of a branding firm, this book provides access and insights into a thought-leading mind.

For entrepreneurs and professionals looking to manage their business career, it’s more than just theory. It’s part step-by-step guide, part story-sharing written to inspire and help bring your own brand to life. Here, branding expert Henry Wong shares his process to help you compete in the market and workplace.

About the Guest(s): Henry Wong is a brand strategist, creative director, designer, and writer. He is the president and brand strategist at View, a branding and content company he founded which focuses on impact companies. Based in Toronto, Henry has a rich history spanning over 25 years in senior advertising positions, including being an executive VP creative director for the global ad agency, Saatchi and Saatchi. He has also bought and sold boutique ad agencies and continues to counsel and advise brands and organizations. Henry’s industry recognition includes awards from Creativity, Clio, and Marketing among others. He is the author of the book “Telling Your Story, Building Your Brand: A Personal and Professional Playbook,” which offers insights into building a personal and professional brand.