Episodes

Brain-Based Leadership: How Awareness, Curiosity, and Presence Transform the Way You Lead Guest: Tracy Benson, Top 1% LinkedIn Coach & Brain-Based Leadership Expert Host: Julie Riga Overview Join Julie Riga as she sits down with Tracy Benson, a top 1% LinkedIn coach and brain-based leadership expert who has spent over three decades helping senior leaders create clarity, alignment, and real performance. Tracy blends neuroscience, leadership psychology, and practical business strategy to give lead...

The Truth About 2025: My Raw Review of Small Business Reality Host: Julie Riga | Episode Type: Solo Episode Overview This isn't your typical year-in-review episode. Julie Riga gets brutally honest about what 2025 really looked like as a small business owner: the hustle that led nowhere, the rejection that stung, the corporate friends who disappeared, and the Friday nights spent wondering if she should just get a "real job" again. But here's the twist: she's not quitting. In this raw, unfiltered ...

Three Ingredients for Building Unbreakable Resilience: Lessons from a Firefighter's Journey Guest: Gary Roberts - 20-Year Firefighter & Founder of Neurovus Host: Julie Riga Overview Julie sits down with Gary Roberts, a 20-year Fort Lauderdale firefighter who transformed personal tragedy into mission. After losing his daughter to an opioid overdose on her 27th birthday, Gary created Neurovus, an AI-powered mental health platform combining biometrics, voice-driven AI, and evidence-based therapies ...

This episode marks an exciting milestone for the podcast. After launching in 2022, the show has officially begun charting on Apple Podcasts, and the momentum is just getting started. The focus for this year is clear and ambitious becoming a Top Ten podcast in the Entrepreneurship category. Listeners are invited into the Before I Lead community on Skool, a free space designed for small business owners who want greater visibility, stronger leadership skills, and real connection. The community offe...

Beyond the Game: How One NBA Player Transformed Adversity Into Impact Guest: Gary Forbes, Former NBA Player, Published Author & Founder of Soul Survivors Host: Julie Riga Overview In this inspiring episode of the Stay On Course podcast, host Julie Riga sits down with former NBA player Gary Forbes to explore what happens when life takes you beyond the game you thought would define you. Gary shares his powerful journey from professional basketball to purpose-driven entrepreneurship, revealing the ...

The Elevator Pitch Recipe: Crafting Marketing Messaging That Stops the Scroll Guest: Katie Lantukh, Founder of Murphy Marketing Host: Julie Riga Overview In this transformative episode, Julie Riga sits down with Katie Lantukh, founder of Murphy Marketing, to decode the art of the perfect elevator pitch. Katie reveals her proven recipe for creating marketing messaging that captures attention and inspires action. Together, they explore the critical ingredients every business leader needs to craft ...

2025 Highlights: The Doctor of Connections & Building Momentum for 2026 Guest: Theresa Benvenuto, Doctor of Connections Host: Julie Riga Episode Type: Special Holiday Edition - Year in Review Overview In this special holiday edition, Julie sits down with Theresa Benvenuto (affectionately known as "Benvenuts" and the "Doctor of Connections") to reflect on an extraordinary year of growth, transformation, and meaningful relationships. Together, they celebrate the wins, share lessons learned, and lo...

Building Trust & Psychological Safety: The Workplace Wellness Toolkit Guest: Malka Shaw, LCSW - Psychotherapist & Trauma Specialist Host: Julie Riga | Stay On Course Podcast Overview Trust is the defining leadership challenge of 2026. In this transformative episode, psychotherapist and trauma specialist Malka Shaw shares her innovative ARC Method for creating psychological safety in the workplace. With over 25 years of experience and expertise in workplace dynamics, Malka reveals why cultural hu...

Managing Your Thoughts to Create the Life You Want Guest: Amy Kemp, Founder & CEO of Amy Kemp Incorporated Host: Julie Riga Overview In this transformative conversation, Julie sits down with Amy Kemp, author of "I See You," to explore how thought habits shape every aspect of leadership and success. Amy shares her powerful philosophy: you can't outwork your thought habits. Discover three essential ingredients for creating the life you want—the stories you tell yourself, setting goals with boundar...

Stay On Course Podcast - Episode Show Notes Lead Louder: How Storytelling & Psychological Safety Transform Team Performance Guest: Jesse Pudles, CEO & Founder of SpotCorp Host: Julie Riga Overview In this powerful episode, Julie sits down with Jesse Pudles, the visionary CEO and founder of SpotCorp, where creativity meets compassion in workplace transformation. Jesse shares how his company uses theatrical innovation, bold facilitation, and the ancient art of storytelling to help teams build psyc...

Stay On Course Podcast - Episode Show Notes Working Less, Playing More: The Path to Living Life by Design Guest: James R. Elliot, Business Coach for Natural Health Practitioners Host: Julie Riga Episode Overview Discover how to break free from the time-for-money trap and transform your business from burnout to breakthrough. In this inspiring conversation, Julie sits down with James R. Elliot, a business coach who helps natural health practitioners and coaches build thriving businesses while work...

Stay On Course Podcast - Episode Show Notes From Corporate Ladder to Freedom: The Franchise Path to Business Ownership Guest: Doris Fink, President of Plan B 2000 Inc | Host: Julie Riga Overview Julie sits down with Doris Fink, who turned an unexpected $300,000 opportunity into two decades of helping professionals create their Plan B. Doris shares her journey from single mom working three jobs to successful business owner, revealing the truth nobody talks about—why the first two years are hardes...

The Bravery Effect: How to Lead Yourself Before You Lead Others Episode Overview What if the key to your greatest success isn't waiting until you feel confident but acting despite your fear? Marine Corps veteran Jill Schulman reveals why professionals are stuck in comfort that masquerades as happiness, and how developing bravery transforms your career and life. Drawing from 25 years of leadership development and positive psychology research, Jill shares three evidence-based ingredients to build ...

Reimagining Wine: From Intuition to Innovation with Visionary Leadership Guest: Amanda Thomson | Host: Julie Riga Join Julie Riga as she sits down with Amanda Thomson, CEO and founder of B Corp Certified Noughty, to explore how intuition, vision, and curiosity can transform not just an industry—but your entire approach to entrepreneurial leadership. A former BBC Arts broadcaster and Le Cordon Bleu Paris alum, Amanda shares the purpose-driven journey behind creating premium alcohol-free wines and...

Future-Ready Mindset: Breaking Free from Change Fatigue Guest: Allister Frost | Host: Julie Riga Join Julie Riga as she sits down with Allister Frost, global keynote speaker, award-winning author, and former Microsoft leader, to explore what it means to build a future-ready mindset in a world of constant transformation. With over 10 years of leadership experience and a passion for helping professionals break free from change fatigue, Allister shares the purpose-driven framework that helps leader...

The Ultimate Networker: Building Connection, Confidence, and Legacy Guest: George Dubec | Host: Julie Riga Join Julie Riga as she sits down with George Dubec, founder of The Ultimate Networker and The Founder’s League , to explore what it means to build a purpose-driven network rooted in leadership, integrity, and growth. With over 50 years of experience in business, entrepreneurship, and mentorship, George shares the mindset and values that helped him lead with clarity, build authentic relation...

Stay On Course Podcast - Episode Show Notes Flex Your Resilience Muscle: The Three Pillars of Leading Through Change Guest: Sheena Eizmendiz, CEO & Founder of The WellBiz Host: Julie Riga About This Episode Julie sits down with Sheena Eizmendiz, a resilience champion and CEO of The WellBiz, a boutique consulting firm driving organizational development and cultural transformation. Sheena is a bestselling author and keynote speaker who blends positive psychology with strategic leadership to help p...

No Followers Needed: How to Build a Six-Figure UGC Business Guest: Megan Collier, Content Creator & UGC Coach Host: Julie Riga About This Episode Julie sits down with Megan Collier, who built a six-figure User Generated Content (UGC) business in just 14 months starting with only 200 followers. Megan now helps GenXers and Boomers launch successful UGC careers, and she's here to break down exactly how everyday people can get paid by brands without any influencer status. What is UGC? User Generated...

Building Community Through Connection with Bruce Starr Guest: Bruce Starr | Host: Julie Riga Join Julie Riga as she sits down with Bruce Starr, an internationally recognized relationship coach with over 40 years of experience, speaker, and youth advocate. Bruce shares his passion for supporting foster youth through We Save Teens, his upcoming Body and Soul Expo, and his book "Her Teen Love Coach" - a guide helping teenagers navigate growing up. Discover how Bruce is creating community through we...

Welcome back to Stay on Course ! In this episode, Julie Riga sits down with Omazing Rashad—a multidisciplinary healer and martial arts trainer with over 20 years of experience and the creator of Empower Caravan. Rashad's story is one of profound transformation that exemplifies authentic leadership. From personal struggles to a life of mind–body–spirit and financial empowerment, he now dedicates his work to helping business leaders and entrepreneurs reclaim their own power. This uplifting convers...

Join host Julie Riga as she sits down with Caterina Rando, mentor extraordinary for women in business, to uncover the fastest path from speaking to clients. Discover why speaking beats social media for service-based entrepreneurs, learn Caterina's "sales fountain" approach that keeps clients coming back, and find out how she generates multiple five-figure sales from a single retreat. In this episode, you'll learn the three types of clients (Insta-clients, slow cookers, and super slow cookers), w...

Guest: Cindy Gelormini, The Paint Diva Join Julie Riga as she sits down with Cindy Gelormini, "The Paint Diva," who has been transforming overwhelming color decisions into enjoyable experiences for over 20 years. In this episode, discover: The three-step Paint Diva Method that prevents costly color mistakes Why undertones matter more than the actual color you choose How design trends have evolved from the 1950s to today's "color drenching" The psychology behind color preferences and personality ...

When the Need Becomes the Call: Jen Mallan on Purpose-Driven Leadership Guest: Jen Mallan, Host of Come Home with Jen Mallan In this powerful episode, Julie sits down with Jen Mallan, host of the faith-based TV show "Come Home with Jen Mallan" that reaches half a billion homes globally. As a media personality, author, and spiritual mentor, Jen shares the essential ingredients for success in leadership and life. What You'll Learn: The "Ministry of Showing Up" - why presence matters more than perf...

Guest: Tom Fenoglio, Co-Owner & Co-Founder of Fenom Comics Host: Julie Riga Join Julie as she sits down with Tom Fenoglio, who transformed his Hollywood screenwriting dreams into a thriving comic book empire. Alongside his brother Joe, Tom co-founded Fenom Comics, creating an impressive universe featuring titles like Hunter Ninja Bear , Star Riders , and Something Fierce . In this episode, Tom reveals how he pivoted from chasing Hollywood success to building his own creative empire through comic...