25 APR 2024 · “Just be who you are. Just be Mo.” That’s exactly what Ms. Monét did when she took the stage in 2020 at the World Expo in Dubai. When the audience rushed the stage she discovered how powerful her performances could be and now refers to them as a ministry. Ms. Monét shares with Jeanne the thought process behind her newest single; why seeing a woman in her 50s succeed in this industry is important for so many other women; why she kept returning to regular 9-5 jobs between singing gigs; why you just have to say “no” sometimes; and why it’s so important for her to continue to make her mother proud.   Born as Conesha Monét Owens, this Bay Area native was touched with the gift that only God could provide: the gift to truly move people. Given the talents of all that performing arts can give, including improv and dramatic acting, dance/choreography, topped with a 5-octave vocal range in modern and classical music, it's no wonder this "gifted" singer-songwriter, arranger, and thespian has been sought after by some of the industry's best, most diverse and accomplished artists and producers. Some include producers Walter Afanasieff, Patrick Leonard, Steve Jordan, and the great Phil Spector. Ms. Monét was one of the top 24 and first ever "Super Saves" on Season 24 of NBC's award-winning show "The Voice.” She recently released a single called “Celebrate” and is currently a radio personality for KUNV.  Instagram: @THEEMSMONET X/Twitter: @MSMONET YouTube: @MSMONET50 Facebook: /MONIACS

18 APR 2024 · What do you do when you’re stuck? Renowned speaker and leadership development consultant Amy Riley says it takes reflection and action to make a breakthrough; you have to focus on your feelings to help you figure out your next step. And that takes courage, something Amy credits for her success in both her professional and personal life. She shares with Jeanne what courage looks like in leadership; the difference between a waffle brain and a spaghetti brain; her reflective way of bouncing back from a failure; the moment she figured out she was meant to be a consultant; and what helped her run an ultramarathon (100 miles!) on her 50th birthday.  Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and leadership development consultant. She’s worked with organizations such as Deloitte, Cisco Systems, and Aon Hewitt and has over 20 years of experience working with leaders at all levels. Amy earned a Master of Science in Training and Development (MSTD), with an emphasis in Organization Development (OD), from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. She is a Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst (CPBA), a certified Tiara International LLC Coach, and certified in the Myers-Briggs Type Instrument. Amy’s second book, The Courage of a Leader: How To Inspire, Engage and Get Extraordinary Results, was released on March 3, 2021, and immediately reached #1 international best-selling status. Website: https://courageofaleader.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/courageofaleader/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXIynEP0yvY3rEkUKOSYww LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyshoopriley/ Email: https://courageofaleader.com

11 APR 2024 · Nicole Clarke-Springer isn’t losing sleep over the final product; as a dancer and choreographer, she’s more interested in the process. She says the communal nature of her work is what makes the performance authentic and affects the audience. Nicole shares with Jeanne why she threw out her plan to move to New York City for training; what the three points of collaboration are when she’s choreographing and why they matter; how embracing the process contributes to her success; why listening to your intuition is important; and why she doesn’t tell herself she will do better. Nicole Clarke-Springer, with a B.S. in arts administration-dance from Butler University, excelled early, honored as Butler Ballet's Outstanding Performer. Her career blossomed at Deeply Rooted Dance Theater (DRDT), starting as an apprentice before becoming a company member. Clarke-Springer's notable performances include working with Roberta Flack and Jennifer Holiday. She took a brief hiatus in 2007 to teach at Western Kentucky University and tour Istanbul with the Clifton Brown Dance Company. Returning to DRDT, she directed the Summer Dance Intensive, honed her choreographic skills with works like Nine and Femme, and contributed to Congo Square Theatre's Nativity. In 2013, she joined DRDT's Artistic Team and was spotlighted as an Emerging Choreographer for "Generations." Her piece Hadiya was acclaimed for its poignancy and tribute to victims of violence. Clarke-Springer's influence extended to choreographing for the Steve Harvey Show and teaching nationwide, including positions at Chicago State University and Northwestern University. Upholding Deeply Rooted's mission, she fosters an environment of spiritual affirmation, open dialogue, and accountability, leading to her appointment as Artistic Director in 2019. Website: deeplyrooteddancetheater.org  instagram: @nikkispringer5 facebook: Nicole Clarke-Springer

4 APR 2024 · “The beauty that comes from growth and change is incredible if we can just embrace it.” Cassidy Glo Novak has embraced a life full of pain and heartache after a lot of soul-searching and prayer. Those experiences helped her find empathy and forgiveness for others, leading her on a mission to find the positive in even the worst day. Cassidy shares with Jeanne the story of her brain injury and the ripples it created in her life; what the keys were to her healing journey; how she turned her mindset from pain to positivity; how she wrote and released a book in two months; and what embracing her weaknesses has done for her self-worth. Cassidy Glo Novak has experienced just about every major trauma any person can, from childhood sexual abuse, a near-death experience, rejection, eating disorders, anxiety, anger issues, a broken marriage, and more. Through it all, she leaned into her faith and God brought her through every single tragedy. Today, Cassidy is the mom of five beautiful children, including identical triplets which she homeschools. She and her husband, Clif, live on a small farm outside Chicago where she loves to ride horses with her children. Cassidy and Clif also enjoy public speaking and sharing their testimony while also helping to lead worship at their local church. Cassidy’s Book: I Can I Have I Will: Blooming Through Life’s Greatest Tragedies https://a.co/d/iTcXNLP Web: https://www.publishandgo.com/cassidy-novak Email: mailto:cassidygnovak@gmail.com

28 MAR 2024 · Nicole Robinson never imagined she would be a dance educator - she didn’t commit to dance until she was in college. But now she provides a vital creative outlet for her students of color that brings joy to them and her. Nicole shares with Jeanne (her cousin!) why the work she does matters; how teaching found her; why she’s calm when facing adversity; how she realized she was asking the wrong question about doors being open or closed to new opportunities; how she handles imposter syndrome; and why she wants to build her legacy through mentorship.  Nicole Robinson is a dancer, teacher, choreographer and dance education advocate from Riverside, CA.  She is a graduate from California State University, San Bernardino with a degree in Kinesiology.  She holds a Master of Arts in Dance Education from California State University, Long Beach. Nicole is a strong advocate for providing dance education opportunities to underserved populations. Nicole began the A. B. Miller Dance Program in 1995 and established the A. B. Miller Conservatory of Dance in 2011.  She is the dance specialist for the Fontana Unified School district leading professional development projects and workshops for teachers grades K-6 and is the lead teacher for the FUSD Dance Collaborative which provides dance education for students in grades PK-8. In 2015, she was named California League of Teachers’; Teacher of the Year for Region 10 and named the 2017 Carlston Family Foundation Teacher of the Year.    https://www.abmillerdance.org LinkedIn: Nicole Robinson X: @adancingirl FB: Nicole Atlas Robinson Email: mailto:iamnicolesrobinson@gmail.com

21 MAR 2024 · “I do not suck things up very well … I have to talk about it.” And talk about it she does. Whether it’s her PTSD diagnosis from repeated exposure as a reporter to horrific events or viewer comments about her appearance, Marcella Raymond is fearless in the way she expresses her anguish or exasperation. She shares with Jeanne how she coped with the heartache on deadline; when she knew it was time to leave TV news; how her love of journalism started; why she became an entrepreneur; and why she’s optimistic about her future.  Marcella was born in NYC and moved to Chicago when she was ten. She went to Catholic grade school and high school in west suburban Downers Grove. She graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a Broadcast Journalism degree and her first reporting job was in Rockford, IL. She landed in Chicago after two years in Ohio, first at CBS2 then WGN. She retired in June 2023 after 25 years on-the-air. She covered President Obama's first inauguration, the blizzard of 2011, and the murder trial of Bolingbrook cop Drew Peterson. But the stories she loves the most are those that involve ordinary Chicagoans! She’s transitioned from journalism to public relations and now has a small PR company, https://www.marcellaraymondmedia.com/, and is excited to watch it grow. INSTA: @marcellaraymondmedia FB: marcella raymond media Email: marcella@marcellaraymondmedia.com

14 MAR 2024 · “Satisfaction comes from the character’s journey,” according to one of Jeanne’s favorite repeat guests (this is her third episode!), award-winning Chicago crime writer Tracy Clark. And what a journey Tracy takes us on in Fall, the second in her Harriet Foster thriller series, out now! She shares with Jeanne how she’s still trying to find a way into Harriet’s head after 2 books; why she’s a pantser; what the key is to getting people to buy into a character; why the bad guy has to resonate as much as the good guy; and why she sometimes needs a hard hat and a pick ax when she sits down to write.  Tracy Clark, a native Chicagoan, is the author of the award-winning Cass Raines Chicago Mystery series, featuring ex-cop turned PI Cassandra Raines, and the Detective Harriet Foster series, featuring Harriet Foster, a homicide detective with the Chicago Police Department. Two tough, smart, African American female characters working the mean streets of the Windy City. A multi-nominated Anthony, Lefty, Macavity, Edgar and Shamus Award finalist, Tracy is also the 2020 and 2022 winner of the G.P. Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award, as well as the 2022 Sara Paretsky Award, and is a proud member of Crime Writers of Color, Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, and currently serves on the Bouchercon national board and the board of the Midwest Mystery Conference. Facebook: /tracyclarkbooks  Twitter: @tracypc6161

7 MAR 2024 · Ina Pinkney's resilience and culinary genius have left an indelible mark on Chicago. She's not just a chef but a beacon of community and courage. Despite not baking her first cake until she was 37, she reigned as the beloved "Breakfast Queen" for 33 years as owner of Ina's in the city's West Loop. She shares with Jeanne her journey of overcoming polio and why she believes in second chances; why you have to purge your friends; why you should always listen to your instincts; what her superpower is; and how she overcomes fear and owns the room. Ina Pinkney is a Chicago legend of the tastiest kind. Known as the "Breakfast Queen", she fed Chicagoans for 33 years – first, out of a small bakery and then from her beloved breakfast restaurant in the West Loop, which she closed in December of 2013. There is so much more to Ina than being an outstanding chef and astute businesswoman: She's a community leader, a pioneer, a television personality, a columnist at the Chicago Tribune, the subject of an award-winning documentary called Breakfast At Ina's, and author of Ina's Kitchen, a memoir cookbook. The title she wears most proudly is a polio survivor. Twitter @breakfastqueen1 Instagram @thebreakfastqueen1

29 FEB 2024 · rich past and vibrant culture. As the CEO and chief storyteller at Chicago Mahogany Tours, he’s turned his love of everything Chicago into an Emmy Award-winning celebration of his mission to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself. He shares with Jeanne how his devotion to Chicago history started: why he compares his child-raising philosophy to bowling; how he uses the power of history to cross bridges; how history hurts and his goal to change it; and why he feels he owes Chicago more than he could ever give back. Shermann "Dilla" Thomas is an urban historian and CEO/Chief Storyteller at Chicago Mahogany Tours as well as a contributor to WBEZ-Radio. He uses his passion and insider knowledge of Chicago's history, architecture, and culture to bring the city to life with his captivating storytelling. Dilla is an Emmy Award-winning, self-taught historian who was named the City of Chicago's Tourism Ambassador of the Year by Choose Chicago; Public Narrative named Dilla the 2022 Studs Terkel Uplifting Voice recipient and The Chicago Public Library awarded Dilla the 21st Century Award for his recent achievements in promoting Chicago to the world. Dilla has been independently studying the history of Chicago for over 20 years, and his candid and truthful reflection of that history can be felt in his videos and presentations. He embodies the essence of the city and reverberates his message everywhere that "Everything Dope About America Comes From Chicago". x - @https://twitter.com/6figga_dilla?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor IG- https://www.instagram.com/6figga_dilla/?hl=en TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@6figga_dilla?lang=en FB- https://www.facebook.com/Historiandilla/

22 FEB 2024 · Nicka Sewell-Smith is a leading authority in the world of genealogy with her talent going well beyond names and dates. She shares with Jeanne (her cousin!), her gifts for digging up family history, how she makes the past come alive and uncovers long-forgotten details, and why knowing our identity shapes who we are today and helps us plan for our future. Nicka shares amazing stories of her and Jeanne’s ancestors that make you think about your family in a whole new way. About Nicka Nicka Sewell-Smith is a host, consultant, and documentarian with more than 20 years of experience as a genealogist, focusing her extensive research on the enslaved and their communities. She's appeared on TODAY, Good Morning America, CNN, MSNBC, and an Emmy award-winning episode of the series Who Do You Think You Are. She has been interviewed by National Geographic, TIME, USA Today, and New York Times. Nicka developed and hosts BlackProGen LIVE, an innovative web show focused on people of color genealogy and family history. She is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, a member of two lineage societies, Sons and Daughters of the Middle Passage (SDUSMP) and the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and a past board member of the California Genealogical Society (CGS) and the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC). Nicka is also the historian and lead researcher for the Atlas family of Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, Louisiana, and guides and coaches an active group of family historians at the Who is Nicka Smith Patreon community.