Are You Waiting For Permission?

Dear listeners, in this special segment, not only will you hear from the incredible Alphonso James, but this will also be our last episode.

Joseph and I are incredibly grateful for the support you have shown us over the past few years, and we can't thank our incredible guests enough for showing up and sharing their truths about how they haven't waited for permission to live the life they want. We also want to thank those who are still waiting and brave enough to share the moments when they have felt stuck. Your stories have inspired us, and we hope they have inspired our listeners as well.

As we close this chapter, we want to remind you to keep pushing forward, embracing your journey, and never giving up on the life you envision for yourself. Thank you for being a part of this amazing experience with us.

Now, please meet Alphonso James: 

Alphonso James was a 17-year-old child in 1985 when he was arrested and falsely convicted of 1st Degree Intentional Homicide for the murder of a man he’d never seen or met. After a brief two-day trial, he was sentenced to Life plus 5 years in prison. Although he was physically confined and dealt with seemingly impossible obstacles to his release, Alphonso found freedom and liberation within himself. He went from a 3rd grade reading level to earning degrees in theology and culinary arts and authoring a memoir. Alphonso worked faithfully and with courageous belief on his own process of inner healing, and today he walks in a hard-earned spirit of love and forgiveness. With tireless persistence, and the work of the Wisconsin Innocence Project, Alphonso was finally freed in 2017 after 32 years of confinement for a crime he did not commit. Besides righting the wrong of his conviction once and for all, Alphonso is committed to inspiring others to break free of the prisons within themselves and pursue their own journey of healing.  

Please check out Unfragile Farm: A The Journey Within Program of Unfragile Farm is focused on supporting individuals who have been freed from wrongful incarceration, offering them a safe space to heal from the trauma of injustice and inhumane treatment. 

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Justin Breen is the founder of Epic FIT Network. His next book, Epic Journey, features a foreword from Dr. Deepak Chopra. Justin's purpose in life is "connecting visionaries to serve humanity"

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Terrance Wallace has also dedicated 25 years to working with urban youth, providing valuable mentoring, education, employment training, and holistic programs. Remarkably, his efforts have led to a 97% youth participation rate and a 100% achievement in further education and employment for these young individuals. 

Apart from his professional achievements, Terrance is also recognized as a host and facilitator of monthly conversations aimed at promoting racial reconciliation. In addition, he has a strong background in development and fundraising, having raised nearly $100 million over the course of 25 years. His entrepreneurial spirit extends to both for-profit and not-for-profit ventures. He has successfully started multiple initiatives, including ScanOne LTD based in New Zealand, InZone Project (operating in New Zealand and the USA), New Life Covenant Southeast Church in Chicago, and is currently the Executive Director of Hope Center USA in Lake Zurich, Illinois. Terrance has provided consultancy services to various corporate companies for their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. 

He has worked with companies such as Flexera IT, a global organization. 

HONORS: Chicago Black History Maker (2021) Award of Excellence (2018) NZIOB Safety Excellence Award (2017) Vodafone New Zealand‘World of Difference’ award (2013) PROJECTS InZone Project ScanOne Hope Center USA

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Reuben Swartz is the founder of Mimiran, the fun Customer Relations Manager for independent consultants who love serving clients but hate "selling". He's also the host and chief nerd on the Sales for Nerds podcast. He went from a background in computer science and software engineering to sales and marketing consulting for the Fortune 500, while struggling with sales and marketing for his own firm. His mission is to help other independent consultants make a bigger dent in the universe and get more clients by using their talents to teach instead of market, connect instead of network, and help instead of sell.

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Jenny Lincoln? Oh, she’s that magical unicorn of speakers who could chat about paint drying and you’d suddenly want to renovate your house. Vulnerable yet tough, charming but no-nonsense, she's a story-weaving sorceress with a knack for nudging you into action. Her talks are like lightning bolts to your heart & soul. Jenny’s got the mojo to lift your conference from meh to magnificent. Her secret sauce? Serving up the truth with a side of love and a sprinkle of grace, holding authority and gentleness in perfect balance. She's that wise nomadic sage with over 30 years in the corporate trenches & now diving headfirst into life’s biggest quandaries with the zest of a rebel heart. Jenny is the visionary behind HUMNAV—the HUMan NAVigation Practice. Think of it as your inner GPS for all things leadership. It’s designed to support leaders who prioritize heart-centered, intuitive, and truth-driven leadership. Want a feedback loop that’s more personal than your smartphone and knows your purpose path better than you do? That’s HUMNAV. It’s like getting life’s cheat codes for being more—more potent, productive, successful, and heck, even more smiley on Monday mornings. 
 

Please connect with Jenny here:  LinkedIn,Instagram 

www.jennylincoln.com

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Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Kassi served as the inaugural meditation advisor at Harvard Innovation Labs. She is a teacher, author, elder millennial divorcee... and mom! She's also taught at Columbia, Soho House, and Wanderlust, and been featured in The New York Times, Women's Health, Create & Cultivate, Yoga Journal, and more. She is the author of May Cause Love (HarperOne) and host of the Big Energy podcast. She holds masters degrees from Columbia and Harvard. https://kassiunderwood.com/

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Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Lisa is an ICF Certified Professional Coach (PCC), Energy Leadership Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) and CORE Performance Dynamics Specialist. A dedicated life-long learner, she has been trained in Positive Psychology & Mental Fitness and continues her ongoing studies in mental health, mindfulness and spirituality. Lisa is a passionate creative professional with over 25 years experience working in the performing arts industry as a director, choreographer, producer, writer and dance educator. She hosts the popular podcast STOPTIME: Live in the Moment and has a vision to share the power of her coaching work with the entertainment community and beyond by creating safe, mentally & spiritually healthy spaces for all to thrive creatively and become artists of their lives. Connect with Lisa at https://www.wideopenstages.com/

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Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

With over a decade of experience in coaching, Alyssa combines her extensive knowledge of leadership development, performance psychology, and personal growth strategies to empower her clients to excel in their respective domains. She possesses a remarkable ability to connect with individuals, build trust, and create a safe space for exploration and growth. Connect with her at her website, or Linkedin page:alyssagioscia.com/  linkedin.com/in/alyssagioscia/ 

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Please enjoy our most recent conversation with Suzanne Dunn, the visionary behind SUZANNE DUNN JEWELRY. With two decades of experience, she's a designer and storyteller, her journey from Jamaica to the US leading her to the world of fine jewelry. In 2021, she launched her luxury brand, known for its bold sophistication and spiritual depth. Suzanne's upbringing and faith guided her from medicine to design. Graduating from the Gemological Institute of America, she now creates responsibly sourced jewelry, drawing inspiration from faith, architecture, anthropology, and urban art. Beyond aesthetics, her brand empowers women globally, with a portion of sales supporting women's empowerment nonprofits. Suzanne's mission is to be a beacon of hope, love, and empowerment. Website: suzannedunn.com IG: @suzannedunnjewelry Tiktok: @suzannedunnjewelry

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Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you. 

Your hosts of Are You Waiting for Permission? are Meridith Grundei and Joseph Bennett. They're friends, co-hosts, actors, improvisers, and coaches. She lives in NYC and coaches actors, business professionals, and presenters to fully engage with their audience, and themselves. She also mentors young actors and directors. He lives in San Miguel de Allende, México, and coaches artists and other creative beings about the beautiful business of art — and life. 

You can find Meridith: Meridith Grundei the performer artist gal. Or if you are looking to be a more confident and credible speaker, please reach out to Meridith here at Meridith Grundei Coaching

You can find Joseph at Joseph Bennett the artist/coach extraordinaire

*Special thanks to Amy Shelley and Gary Grundei of high fiction for letting us use their music for the Are You Waiting for Permission? podcast.

And... while the podcast is free, it's not cheap. We'd be thrilled to have your support on PATREON

Thank you.