Behind the Brilliance

Dr. Michael Breus is the leading authority on sleep in the United States. He is a clinical psychologist and one of 163 psychologists in the world with his credentials and distinctions related to sleep disorders. In this fast paced conversation, I bombard him with my burning questions about sleep, coffee, alcohol, travel, beauty and all of the other random things we all need to understand about sleep and how it affects our bodies. Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB143

Roderick Cox is just one of a handful of African-American conductors in the world. He is currently the associate conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra and has gained national attention for his outstanding talent. During this conversation, he pulls back the curtain on his process, his dedication to his craft, the hard lessons he's learned about excellence, and much more. We cover: -how Roderick got his start in music -the mental and emotional aspects of performance excellence -Roderick's thoughts on the sacrifices and commitment necessary to thrive at a craft -how Roderick manages his insecurities -Roderick's lessons learned on discipline -Roderick's daily routine -advice to classical music newbies -and much more!

Kelly Hoey is an author, speaker, and angel investor. Her book, Build Your Dream Network, is a guide for making modern career connections that power a career you love. Whether you're an indie artist or a high powered C level exec, Kelly's advice is useful. In this conversation, we cover: -Why Kelly decided to start going after equity instead of paychecks (and you should too) -How the New York Times engagement announcements became part of Kelly's networking strategy -Why you should never ask anyone to mentor you -Kelly's networking advice for introverts -How Kelly made the leap from corporate attorney to author, speaker and investor -Why curiosity and side projects are essential to a great career -and much more!

A'Lelia Bundles is a four time author, public speaker, journalist, and television producer. Her Madam CJ Walker biography On Her Own Ground is being produced for TV by Octavia Spencer and LeBron James. We talk about A'Lelia's dynamic career, her approach to decision making, and the lessons she learned from the first self-made American woman millionaire - her great-great-grandmother, Madam CJ Walker. Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB140

Angela Nissel is the bestselling author of The Broke Diaries, a television writer, and all around dope and funny woman. We talk about her varied and fascinating career, the best lessons she's learned, and why she'd rather have money than fame. We cover a lot of topics including: -Angela's experience co-founding Okay Player with Questlove (and the funny story of how they met) -Angela's book, The Broke Diaries, and how her relationship with money has changed since then -the value of surrender in life and work -the illusions of "success" and why Angela prefers money to fame -the valuable lesson Angela learned after her appearance on Oprah's talk show -finding your way to "work/life balance" as a creative -and much more! Say hi to Angela on Twitter + Instagram: @angelanissel

This episode is a short and sweet compilation of questions. They'll challenge you, inspire you, and make you think. Journal about them, discuss them with friends, or just think on them. They're the perfect way to prepare for 2018. PLUS! I share deets on the first digital download, Higher Concerns. It's available now at HigherConcerns.com or BehindtheBrilliance.com. Use the code "BTB" to get $5 off. Let me know what you thought about these questions - I'm @LisaNicoleBell on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

Rachel Hill is a former corporate superstar turned wanderlust warrior. She left a 6 figure salary at a Fortune 50 company to backpack through Asia. She's been traveling ever since. Now she runs RachelTravels.com, a travel blog and business that delivers useful and inspiring advice on traveling the world...or your own backyard. Topics Covered: -how Rachel discovered she was depressed and what she did about it -how and why Rachel took off for Southeast Asia with a backpack and a dream -how Rachel turned her passion into a profitable pursuit -Rachel's thoughts on travel bucket lists, her favorite countries, and her advice to newbie travelers -Rachel's secrets to traveling in style without breaking the bank -what Rachel has learned about business and her approach to the gamification of marketing -how Rachel fails forward -and much more! Say hi to Rachel on Twitter or Instagram Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB137

Duane Spires is a serial entrepreneur who brings passion and enthusiasm to everything he does. We covered a LOT in this episode including the details of his journey to building multiple $1M+ businesses, his take on dealing with setbacks, how he handled friends who didn't support his wins, and much more. This conversation covers: -how Duane turned a $5 loan from his mom into an empire (and later hired her full time to be on his team) -how Duane changed his relationship with money after blowing it on ballerific nonsense -Duane's thoughts on choosing the right spouse when you have big goals -how Duane's relationships changed after he became successful (and what he did about it) -Duane's habits that resulted in him creating a $1 million side hustle -and much more!

Influencer, actress, and entrepreneur Africa Miranda stops by to chat about her journey from a girl with New York City dreams in Alabama to star of Bravo's "The New Atlanta" to dynamic woman birthing a luxury beauty brand. During this talk, Africa opens about the best and worst parts of her path and shares the secrets to her resilience. We cover a lot of topics including: -Africa's approach to making big decisions (you'll love her framework and want to steal it for yourself) -Africa's secrets for creating enviable brand identity (luxury radiates from her new brand) -The beauty secrets that yield glowing skin and slaytastic hair -How Africa actively designs a life she loves (with advice you can actually use) -Africa's reflections on life after reality TV -Africa's leap from Alabama to New York City and why the move was so important -and much more! Say hi to Africa on Instagram and Twitter : @africamiranda Rate the show on iTunes and share it with somebody who can use a shot of funny inspiration. Get show notes at www.behindthebrilliance.com

Nitasha Tiku is a senior technology writer for WIRED. Her past work includes writing for Gawker, BuzzFeed, Inc, and The Verge. During this chat, we cover a lot of topics including: -How Nitasha broke into journalism (and her advice for people who want to break into any creative field) -Nitasha's observations about founders who do well -How Nitasha dealt with intense criticism and scrutiny (useful advice included) -Orgasmic meditation (yes, really) -Nitasha's advice for slaying the green-eyes jealousy dragon -and much more! Say hi to Nitasha on Twitter or Instagram: @nitashatiku Get show notes at www.behindthebrilliance.com