A Shot Of Inspiration

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On A Shot of Inspiration podcast with guest Mark Labriola II, I sat down with Mark to talk about resilience, healing, and how setbacks can become the turning point that leads you into your real purpose—from early trauma to building Brand Viva Media.

3 Key Takeaways:

1. Your past doesn’t disqualify you—it can shape who you’re becoming
2. Stay in motion and put yourself in a position to receive
3. Plant seeds, do your part, and trust the process

About Mark:

Mark Labriola II is the founder of Brand Viva Media, a creative agency he grew from his basement into an almost 7-figure business serving brands across the country. He’s a podcast host, video producer, and marketing strategist who helps entrepreneurs and organizations look bigger than they are through powerful content. As the host of The Friday Habit Podcast, Mark blends real-world business lessons with creative inspiration, drawing from his own journey of overcoming life’s challenges and refusing to let them define him. Instead, he’s built a career on turning obstacles into opportunities—and helping others do the same.

Resources:

www.brandvivamedia.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/

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In this episode of A Shot of Inspiration podcast with host Greg Stephens and guest Maruxa Murphy, I sit down with Maruxa to explore what it truly means to build a movement—not just a business. We talk about leadership rooted in belonging, how purpose and profit can coexist, and why community built with intention creates lasting impact. Maruxa shares her personal journey, the influence of unconditional love on her leadership style, and how honoring humanity fuels sustainable growth.

3 Key Takeaways

• True movements are built on belonging, not numbers or tactics alone.
• Purpose-led leadership creates stronger communities and more sustainable profit.
• When leaders honor humanity first, growth follows with greater ease and impact.

About Maruxa:

Maruxa Murphy is a visionary community strategist and founder of Revolutionary Communities and The Revolutionaries Network. With over two decades of experience, she helps impact-driven leaders build profitable, purpose-led communities that increase engagement, retention, and revenue. Her work has supported brands scaling from thousands to millions of members and has been featured in Forbes, Fox News, and The Huffington Post.

Resources:

Website: https://revolutionarycommunities.com/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/maruxamurphy/

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/MaruxaLive

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/maruxamurphy/

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In this episode of A Shot of Inspiration podcast with guest Eric Kaufmann, I talk with executive development leader Eric Kaufmann about the difference between conscientious leadership and conscious leadership—and why real leadership requires personal evolution, not just “doing the right thing.” Eric shares a powerful personal story about facing an inner critic in deep solitude, and we connect it to how leaders shape organizations, families, and society. We close with a practical framework: moving beyond the ego’s need to be right, liked, or in control into wisdom, love, and grounded power.

3 key takeaways

1.  Conscious leadership requires inner maturity, not just ethical behavior.

2.  Stillness and devotion are essential for self-acceptance and growth.

3.  Ego blind spots block leadership; wisdom, love, and grounded power unlock it.

About Eric:

Eric Kaufmann is a Zen-trained executive coach and strategist who works with C-suite leaders navigating growth, complexity, and cultural transformation. He has advised executive teams at companies including Verizon, Facebook, SunPower, Circle, Dr. Bronner’s, and ASML. Eric is Chairman of the Board at Dr. Bronner’s, a Fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Coaching, a TEDx speaker, and the author of Leadership Breakdown and The Four Virtues of a Leader.

His work centers on helping leaders move beyond Ego-Myopia™—the need to be right, liked, or in control—and lead with wisdom, love, and grounded power. A lifelong Zen practitioner, Eric brings a rare blend of business insight, psychological depth, and presence-based practice to leadership development.

Resources:

https://sagatica.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/erickaufmann7

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In this episode of A Shot of Inspiration podcast, I talk with Thom Singer about the human side of business—relationships, community, and why real leaders show up. Thom shares how he built a speaking career, what COVID taught him about not relying on one stream of income, and how he’s reinventing the Austin Technology Council to keep Austin’s tech community connected.

3 key takeaways

1. Build real relationships—opportunities come through people.
2. Don’t put all your income eggs in one basket.
3. Community grows when leaders show up and participate.

About Thom:

Thom Singer is the CEO of the Austin Technology Council and a sought-after keynote speaker known for bringing the human side of business to life. He speaks to organizations that value relationships, trust, and accountability as drivers of success.

With a background in sales and marketing, Thom became a growth leadership speaker in 2009 and has since delivered high-energy, action-oriented presentations to more than 1,000 audiences. Known as “The Conference Catalyst,” he creates engaging, interactive experiences and remains actively involved with attendees before, during, and after events.

Thom earned his Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation in 2014. He is the author of 12 books and the host of the Making Waves at C-Level podcast, where he has interviewed over 1,000 business leaders about closing the gap between potential and results.

He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and two daughters.

Resources: 

http://www.thomsinger.com/

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On A Shot of Inspiration podcast, I sat down with guest Joshua Tomeoni to talk about what men often face after divorce—identity loss, shame, and the pressure to just push through. Joshua shared why therapy helps you process the past, while coaching helps you build your future, and how men can rebuild with clarity, strength, and purpose.

3 key takeaways:

• Therapy heals the past; coaching builds the future.
• Healthy masculinity beats shame and victimhood.
• Rebuild identity, mindset, and money together.

About Josh:

oshua Tomeoni is a fiduciary financial planner, author, and podcast host with over 20 years of experience helping high-earning professionals navigate major life transitions, especially divorce. Raised in a family financial planning business, he learned early the importance of integrity and client-first guidance. As a CFP® and fiduciary, Joshua is legally and ethically committed to putting his clients’ interests first.

He works primarily with family-focused business owners and professionals who value clarity, conservative strategies, and trusted advice. A divorced father himself, Joshua brings personal insight to his work. He is the author of The Gospel of an Ex-Derelict: Fight. Fail. Rebuild. and The 5 Traps Men Face in Divorce… and How to Triumph Over Them!, and host of The Derelict Podcast.

Resources:

www.narrativefinancialgroup.com

www.thederelict.biz

www.instagram.com/joshthederelict

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On A Shot of Inspiration podcast with guest Josselyne Herman-Saccio, I talk with Josselyne about the Art of Being Unmessable With—learning to shift from reaction to creation so you can live your dream now, not someday. She explains why vision is different from goals, how to recognize your personal “red flags” (physical and language cues) before you spiral, and how building teams and systems helps you increase impact without burning out.

3 Key Takeaways

1. Vision is the context that guides your goals and your yes/no decisions.
2. Red flags (body + language) let you catch reaction early and reset fast.
3. You expand by developing people and systems so you’re not the bottleneck.

About Josselyne:

Josselyne Herman-Saccio is a master coach in the Art of Being Unmessablewith, empowering people to live the life of their dreams now—not someday. With over 30 years of experience, she’s worked with more than 200,000 individuals, from CEOs and creatives to couples and activists, producing transformative results in all areas of life. As the founder of the non profit United Global Shift, she’s led programs in over 20 countries and raised nearly $90 million for nonprofits. Josselyne is also a former Billboard #1 pop artist, author, entrepreneur, and TEDx speaker. Wife and mother of three, she splits her time between New York and Paris.

Resources:

unmessablewithgift.com 

 beunmessablewith.com

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In this episode of A Shot of Inspiration podcast, I talk with Dr. Monica Anderson about resilience, faith, and self-advocacy. Dr. Mo shares how she faced a life-altering cancer diagnosis, navigated the healthcare system, and continues to live with purpose, hope, and intention despite ongoing challenges.

3 short key takeaways

1. Advocate for your health.
2. Hope fuels endurance.
3. Growth requires self-awareness.

About Dr. mOe:

Monica F. Anderson, DDS, DBA (known as Dr. mOe) is a bestselling author, award-winning podcast host, speaker coach, and dynamic motivational speaker who has presented nationally and internationally. She has been featured in major media outlets including Parade Magazine, Fox News, Authority Magazine, and ABC’s Good Morning Texas.

With decades of experience spanning healthcare and entrepreneurship, Dr. mOe brings both professional depth and lived perspective to her work. She is also a survivor of a rare cancer diagnosis and a committed community activist. Today, she uses her story of resilience and reinvention to deliver powerful, practical life lessons, combining clarity, humor, and passion to inspire lasting change.

Resources:

https://drmoeanderson.com/

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On this episode of A Shot of Inspiration podcast with host Greg Stephens and guest Hussein Hallak, I sit down with a serial entrepreneur and strategist who believes real leadership is impossible without ethics. We talk about putting people and relationships first, learning from hard feedback, and how to move through failure instead of getting stuck in it. Hussein also shares how his book The Dark Art of Life Mastery grew out of a lifetime of navigating uncertainty with courage and curiosity.

Key takeaways

1. Ethical leadership is the only real leadership because trust is the foundation of influence.
2. Great leaders put relationships first, invite disagreement, and stay committed to shared results.
3. Failure and hard feedback become superpowers when you pause, listen, and move through them instead of avoiding them.

About Hussein:

Hussein Hallak is a founder, entrepreneur, and strategist known for helping people and organizations find clarity in complexity and build meaningful impact. As CEO of Next Decentrum, he guides leaders and teams across the globe through digital transformation, innovation, and values-driven growth. He is also the author of The Dark Art of Life Mastery, a guide to living with courage, confidence, and purpose.

Books by Hussein Hallak:

• Author of The Dark Art of Life Mastery
• Upcoming Novel: Scales of Eternity
•  Upcoming Memoir: Keep Moving
• The Streetlight
•  Present Like an Artist
• Museums Are Us
•  The Imposters of Tech
• The Collector's Guide to Avoid Insidious NFT Scams
• Pixels Over People
• Finding Authenticity Amidst The AI Mirage
• The rise of the paper Google
• Why It’s More Important than Ever to Build a Successful Personal Brand

Resources:

Website:  husseinhallak.com

Substack: husseinhallak.substack.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/husseinhallak 

BlueSky: darkal777.bsky.social 

Instagram: instagram.com/hhdarkal/

Book: The Dark Art of Life Mastery: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Art-Life-Mastery-Right-ebook/dp/B0FBTKR9QM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3DPTX4QTGBJEG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tQdbkxpJG3Otfmxdf-nDivuCdNkzyg7xKvGfztBDeDY.Y2j0nRvCfjVUJl4CQHTCeaNxazEYJX3oK86dsfQi4nw&dib_tag=se&keywords=hussein+hallak&qid=1765334545&sprefix=hussein+hallak,aps,123&sr=8-1

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I’m Greg Stephens, host of A Shot of Inspiration podcast with guest Mista Yu, and in this episode we dive into how his nickname became a powerful brand, how he built multiple shows with purpose, and why creating real community—especially for men—drives everything he does. We talk about his roots, his heart for helping people, and the legacy he hopes to leave through authentic encouragement and service.

Key takeaways

1. How “Mista Yu” grew into a multi-show platform with a mission.
2. Why meaningful men’s community is needed now more than ever.
3. How generosity, mentorship, and lived experience shape his work.

About Mista Yu:

Yusef Marshall—better known as Mista Yu—may be certified, authorized, and licensed in more areas than he can list, but he sees himself as an ordinary man shaped by extraordinary experiences. A true jack-of-all-trades and wearer of many hats, he believes every person has a purpose, and life becomes its best when we discover it. Spend a few minutes talking with him and encouragement is guaranteed.

Resources:

https://theycallmemistayu.buzzsprout.com (for all social media links)

Big Blue Lifers:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbtRni7tMhnD_OWrIJvcQZlHNfWOPcolR

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In this episode of A Shot of Inspiration podcast with guest Rajeev, I explore how a single Google search can shape someone’s future—for better or worse. Rajeev breaks down how online misinformation, haters, and even mistaken identity can cost people jobs, relationships, and credibility. We also dig into how he uses personal branding, UN speaking opportunities, and global mentorship programs to help people reclaim their narrative, expand their influence, and turn setbacks into breakthroughs.

3 Key Takeaways

1. Your Google results can instantly impact your opportunities, reputation, and income.
2. UN visibility can open unexpected doors for influence, purpose, and revenue.
3. Fixing online misinformation requires strategy, speed, and expertise.

About Rajiv:

Rajeev Jadhav is the CEO of Rsquare Media, reputation-management expert, United Nations advisor, and cancer survivor whose work helps leaders protect their credibility and amplify their influence. Rajeev specializes in removing harmful online content, rebuilding digital trust, and guiding clients through high-stakes visibility. His mission goes beyond crisis repair. He empowers people to rise stronger, communicate with clarity, and create meaningful impact in a noisy digital world. Known for his strategic insight, optimism, and ability to turn challenges into opportunities, Rajeev is a powerful example of resilience, purpose, and modern leadership.

Resources:

https://rsquaremedia.com/speak-at-the-united-nations/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajivjadhav/