”Inspire Us” with J. Paul Nadeau

Episode 13 - Keka DasGupta: Listening to your heart and the universe's calling can be scary and involve risks, but the rewards can be so worth it! Keka discusses career change and more.

Hello everyone, and welcome to episode 13 of "Inspire Us." In this episode, Paul has the pleasure of speaking with Keka DasGupta. Keka believes in moving people from helpless to helpful through a powerful, free currency called: gratitude. As a 20-year award-winning PR/marketing veteran, Keka has dedicated her entire working life to studying the emotional undercurrents that connect people to people, and people to brands.
This mom-of-two has worked with such globally recognized brands as IKEA, Nike, Disney, American Express, and many other Fortune 500s. Her clients have also included various schools and boards of education.
Moreover, Keka has served as an instructor at the Schulich Executive Education Centre (SEEC), Schulich School of Business, York University. Today, Keka heads up multiple entrepreneurial ventures.
She has founded this platform called the “Art of Life-ing,” and she runs Gratitude workshops across North America for both students (with an anti-bullying focus) and corporate audiences (with a focus on building happy corporate cultures).
In today's episode, Keka talks about following your heart, even if it means taking a risk. She discusses how the Universe will sometimes push you in the direction you ought to be headed and it’s up to us to listen. She also talks about her anti-bullying programs, empowering children, expressing gratitude and so much more. I know you’ll enjoy this episode.
Here are some links for you to follow to find out more about Keka and her work:
https://www.artoflifeing.com/
https://www.ted.com/talks/keka_dasgupta_why_we_are_practicing_gratitude_all_wrong
 

Episode 12 - Antonio Mac: Gratitude and Attitude. How a boy, different than the others, went on to become a globally successful clothier by choosing the right mindset.

In this episode, Paul speaks with global clothier and multi-business success Antonio Mac.
Antonio started his business career back in 1997 with a company he still operates called Anthony M. Apparel. Over the past two decades, Antonio has built multiple companies all over the globe in the clothing and technology sectors, as well as in the marketing and PR firms in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Antonio is best known for his luxury Italian Brand, “Antonio Mac.” The company incorporated in Italy in the early 2000s and has gone on to become a globally recognized brand in both runway, luxury men’s and women’s couture and is currently launching a cosmetic line under the ANTONIO MAC brand.
Antonio has several self-help forums and podcasts with a goal not only to reach business-minded individuals, but those who need inspiration in their personal lives and relationships.
This busy CEO mostly spends his time building and scaling companies, consulting with small, medium, and large companies as well as Fortune 500 in North America and Europe. His true passion is to help others navigate their way through life.
In this episode, Antonio provides us with an insight into his world, from a young age when he was different than most other kids to how he used his creative mind to design sweaters that ultimately led to a global high-end apparel company. But there's more to Antonio than his clothing line. He was a pro golfer, a rock and roll star, and so much more.
Why is this important and inspiring during this pandemic? His drive should inspire each and every one of us to try new things, change our direction if it's not serving us, and to take risks. Many people are having to re-invent themselves these days because of circumstances not within their control (the COVID19 fallout), and Antonio's many accomplishments tell us that it can be done.
https://antoniomac.com/
https://www.antoniomacglobal.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0doUSCdx7kwQr_7I05XFWg
 

Episode 11 - Dr. Jacques Dallaire: What if we could reduce the amount of anxiety we're feeling from COVID19 and any performance we undertake? Discover how to program yourself and your winning mindset.

Dr. Dallaire is an internationally recognized performance specialist who received his Doctorate in Exercise Physiology from the University of Alberta in 1979.
Over the past forty-nine years, he has worked with thousands of individuals from the high-performance sports world and beyond, including law enforcement and other high-risk occupational professions, the entertainment world, and the business community. He splits his time delivering sports team and corporate group performance programs as well as individual, one-on-one programs with high-performance clients.
Dr. Dallaire is President of Performance Prime, a North Carolina based company which he founded and has authored three books (Performance Thinking – Mental Skills for the Competitive World… and for Life!; Helping Kids Perform – Mental Skills Every Parent, Teacher, and Coach Should Master!; Performance Thinking for Law Enforcement). He is a Founding Member of the International Council of Motorsport Sciences and in 2007, was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, recognizing the positive impact his work has made in the sport of motor racing.
 
In this episode, Dr. Dallaire discusses how focusing on results is fundamentally the wrong thing to do if we’re after the ‘best’ results. He presents a simple formula to help us achieve the absolute best results and this formula can be applied to our current pandemic to help us reduce the levels of anxiety we may be experiencing. What if you were to be able to program your mind to reduce the worry of the COVID19 outcome? You’ll find answers in this episode – ones you’ll immediately be able to apply to your life to help you focus on what really matters.
 
https://linktr.ee/drdallaire
 

Episode 10 - Sarah M. Carlson: Former C.I.A. analyst Sarah M. Carlson discusses her time in Libya during a revolution and how she dealt with her Post Traumatic following her return to the USAStress

In this episode, Sarah M. Carlson joins J. Paul Nadeau on the show. Sarah served as a targeting analyst in the CIA's Counterterrorism Center. Before that, she served as a counterterrorism analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency. She also completed rotations to the National Counterterrorism Center and U.S. Northern Command. Her counterterrorism career focused on groups operating in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia and she traveled throughout those regions.
She was in Libya in 2011 around the time Muammar Gaddafi was killed and rebel opposing tribes fought each other viciously to take power. Her time in Libya was intense. She discusses her mission and the constant threat she and her team were under during a revolution that threatened their lives and safety until they were able to escape. What she touches on is how, under extreme duress, one's body can simply shut down. One of the secrets to preventing that is to "stay busy," Sarah says.
Sarah's mission there caused her trauma, and one of the consequences of trauma is that it very often leads to "hiding." Many veterans who return home from war often hide and don’t tell people what they’re nightmares are, or tell others how they’re struggling emotionally, or mentally. Because for a lot of people who experience trauma or who have been emotionally abused - or as in Sarah’s case - have suffered PTSD, where it feels like your mental health is spiraling downward, it can feel like an embarrassing or shameful revelation, and the fear of being ignored or unsupported can be overwhelming. Again, it comes down to the stigma attached to opening up and asking for help.
In Sarah’s case, as you’ll hear, she didn’t receive the help or support she needed – nor did any of her team, once they returned from mission. The CIA did not offer her help, but, as you’ll hear, Sarah recognized her need for help and received it from her loving and supportive family as well as receiving professional help. She’s a survivor and has carried on serving to help others plan for any kind of disaster or evacuation – something she knows about, first hand. In these COVID19 times, having too much idle time on our hands can cause more anxiety and stress, and recognizing that you may be experiencing trauma is the first step to getting help.
Since leaving the CIA, Sarah has continued in public service with local government in the Seattle area as an emergency manager at the county and city levels, where she has specialized in all-hazards preparation, disaster response, and alert and warning.  
She has published multiple articles and her first book, In the Dark of War, is now available. You can find out more about her at www.sarahMcarlson.com.
 

Episode 9 - Stuart Knight: Could this pandemic time actually be the best time of your life? Serial entrepreneur Stuart Knight shares creative ways of dealing with COVID19

Twenty-two years ago, Stuart Knight did something courageous, daring and uncommon. He listened to his heart. It told him that too many people were not living up to their potential, and he decided to do something about it.
At the ripe age of 24, with no money or experience, he wrote an inspiring theatre show for teenagers. Within a short amount of time, it was picked up by Coca-Cola and toured nationally for three years.
From there he decided to become the first Canadian ever to write and star in a musical that he produced in his own loft. No small feat considering he couldn’t play an instrument. It became the longest-running play of its kind, and A-list influencers lined up to witness sold-out shows in a theatre Stuart not only built, but also lived in.
During that time, some of the world’s biggest business leaders recognized Stuart as a visionary who could help their organization reach new levels of success. Since then Stuart has been flown around the world, speaking in places such as Sydney, Malta, Edinburgh, Mumbai, New York, Frankfurt and Las Vegas helping Fortune 500 companies learn what it takes to be the best.
As Stuart Knight’s success flourished, he wanted to do something that would help raise thousands of dollars for charities around the world and decided to create the Top Ten Event, which is now one of Canada’s biggest speaking extravaganzas. The event has quickly grown into one of Canada’s must-see events, garnering over 30 million media impressions and has starred such names as Jim Cuddy, Deepa Mehta, Mary Walsh, Steven Page, and two-time Oscar Award Winner Jane Fonda.
On top of all of this, Stuart Knight is an award-winning entrepreneur, a critically acclaimed author of two books, an expert panelist on numerous television shows, the host of a hit radio show, has a sought-after podcast, and has over twelve thousand people from around the world tuning in each week to watch his thought-provoking videos online. As a disrupter, thought leader, and maverick, Stuart Knight has inspired over one million people to reach greater success, find deeper joy, and to ultimately boycott what they thought.
In this episode, Stuart joins Paul to share his ideas on a number of topics including how to make the best of this COVID19 pandemic.
For more on Stuart, be ready to boycott what you thought and visit his websites at:
www.stuartknight.com
https://toptenevent.com/
 
 
 

Episode 8 - B.A. Crisp: How an exotic dancer survived her tough past and went on to help in the fight against human trafficking. A story of survival, passion and victory.

B.A. Crisp has had her share of hardships. From foster homes and being molested at the age of 8, on the streets and raped at 16, and eventually becoming an exotic dancer who went on to co-own a club. Through it all, not only did she survive her troubled past, but she went on to help combat human trafficking. 
Her story is a reminder that our pasts do not define us and that no matter what hand we're dealt, we can make a positive difference in this world.
She is the author of the book Red Bird https://tinyurl.com/y6y3k5yc and for more information on this remarkable woman, visit www.bacrisp.com 
 
 

Episode 7 - Mark Henick: Every suicide can be prevented. In this episode, Mark Henick, whose TED Talk on suicide is among the most viewed of all time, tells us how

Every suicide can be prevented. In this episode, Mark Henick shares his thoughts on how, and also on how we can each deal with our own anxiety and depression in these difficult times. 
Mark himself first thought of committing suicide at the age of 10, and his first attempt was at the age of 12. He's discovered ways to deal with his own anxiety and depression and he shares many of these in this episode.
Mark has dedicated his life from an early age to opening minds and creating change.
Now he regularly speaks to diverse audiences about mental health, mental illness, suicide, advocacy, recovery, and hope. Mark’s TEDx talk on suicide is among the most-watched in the world.
His keynotes, panels, workshops, and media appearances aim to break the stigma that prevents people from speaking openly about their mental health. Mark believes that freedom is found in overcoming the barriers that stigma, disempowerment, and disconnection build. Mark has seen countless times, personally and professionally, that each and every person has the potential to unlock their most true and hopeful self regardless of how dark it may seem.

Episode 6 - Gary Noesner: Former Hostage Negotiator Gary Noesner, who negotiated with David Koresh during the Waco Texas siege in 1993 talks about the challenges of that negotiation

In this episode, your host of Inspire Us, former hostage negotiator J. Paul Nadeau, chats with retired FBI agent and fellow hostage negotiator Gary Noesner. Gary reviews his role as one of the hostage negotiators involved in the tragic 1993 Waco Texas siege, that lasted 52 days involving David Koresh and members of the Branch Davidians. The outcome was tragic: 76 members of the Branch Davidians died in that crisis, and this event stresses the extreme importance of teams working together, whether within an organization or with others outside their organization. The lessons Gary shares in this episode are priceless. He also shares how this case impacted him and how he got through.
Gary has an impressive background, to say the least. He served more than 30 years as an FBI agent, and 26 of those years were served as a special agent. In his career, he’s investigated and negotiated numerous crisis incidents such as prison riots, right-wing militia standoffs, terrorist embassy takeovers, airplane high jackings, and over 120 overseas kidnapping cases involving American citizens. Gary continues to consult independently and has appeared on many television news broadcasts, documentaries, and has been featured in many publications.
His book, “Stalling for time – my life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator” is what inspired the popular TV mini-series, "Waco," now available on Netflix.
 In this episode, Gary also shares his approach on how to avoid and resolve conflict in these troubling times, as well as how to truly connect with others to develop relationships of mutual respect and trust.
To find out more about Gary, check out his website: www.garynoesner.com
His book is available online and is a must-read.