Backstage Pass with GDA Speakers

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with world champion adventure racer, San Diego firefighter, New York Times bestselling author, and CNN Hero Robyn Benincasa.

Robyn shares how years of extreme adventure racing taught her that the strongest teams don’t simply rely on individual performance—they find ways to get everyone across the finish line together.

Key topics include:

• How Robyn found her way into extreme adventure racing
• Why every person’s unique strengths can make a team stronger
• The essential elements of extreme teamwork
• Shifting from “me thinking” to “we thinking”
• Why great teammates give, ask for, and accept help
• Turning adversity into an opportunity to adapt and grow
• How Project Athena helps survivors take on new adventures after major setbacks

Robyn’s story is a powerful reminder that the best teams don’t leave anyone behind—they work together to find a way to the finish line.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Robyn Benincasa to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with internet pioneer, relationship expert, and New York Times bestselling author Tim Sanders to explore what it takes to build stronger teams, create better experiences, and become an essential partner to the people you serve.

Drawing from his experience in technology, leadership, and business, Tim shares why success should be designed intentionally and how empathy, collaboration, preparation, and adding value can transform the way organizations work with both employees and customers.

Key topics include:

• Why great leadership and customer experiences are designed, not left to chance
• Using empathy to build stronger cultures and better experiences
• Breaking the customer journey into smaller touchpoints to uncover opportunities
• Why diverse perspectives lead to better problem-solving and collaboration
• Building stronger teams around a shared purpose
• The importance of preparation and maximizing “return on attention”
• How likability and connection influence business relationships
• Going from a good option to an essential partner by consistently adding value

Tim’s message is a reminder that lasting success comes from intentionally creating value for others—and becoming the kind of person or organization people consider essential.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Tim Sanders to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with mother-daughter duo Kristina Wandzilak and Constance Curry, co-authors of The Lost Years, to share their deeply personal journey through addiction, recovery, and rebuilding their relationship.

Kristina and Connie offer both sides of a family’s experience with addiction—from the difficult decision to let go to the long process of rebuilding trust. Together, they share a powerful message about hope, healing, and the possibility of creating something meaningful from even life’s most difficult chapters.

Key topics include:

• Kristina’s journey from addiction and homelessness to recovery
• Why Connie’s decision to let Kristina go became a turning point
• How addiction impacts the entire family system
• Rebuilding trust and relationships during recovery
• Finding purpose, passion, and meaning after addiction
• Kristina’s approach to helping both individuals and families heal
• Why addiction can affect any family
• Finding hope and the possibility for change in your own “lost years”

Kristina and Connie’s story is ultimately one of redemption and a reminder that our hardest experiences don’t have to define us—what matters is what we choose to do with them.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Kristina Wandzilak and Constance Curry to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with New York Times columnist and six-time New York Times bestselling author Bruce Feiler to explore what his travels, research, and storytelling have taught him about families, relationships, and creating a more connected life.

Bruce shares why he believes some of today’s biggest questions can be answered by combining the timeless wisdom of the past with the realities of the present. From exploring cultures and religions around the world to studying what makes families thrive, his work centers on finding common ground and bringing people together.

Key topics include:

• Why Bruce believes we can learn from the wisdom of the past
• What it means to “be a traveler, not a tourist”
• Building bridges with people who think or live differently
• The three things high-functioning families have in common
• Why families need to continually adapt as life changes
• The importance of communication, family stories, and shared experiences
• How Bruce’s cancer diagnosis led to The Council of Dads
• Creating greater connection in an increasingly disconnected world

Bruce’s message reminds us that whether we’re navigating relationships, families, or differences with others, meaningful connection starts with understanding one another and finding ways to come together.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Bruce Feiler to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with adventurer, New York Times bestselling author, and leadership expert Alison Levine to explore the lessons she’s learned from some of the world’s most extreme environments.

From climbing the Seven Summits and skiing to both poles to teaching leadership principles at West Point, Alison shares how adaptability, failure tolerance, and relentless forward progress can help people navigate challenges and achieve big goals.

Key topics include:

• How heart surgery inspired Alison to pursue adventure
• The journey from climbing her first mountain to completing the Adventure Grand Slam
• Why great leaders must be willing to adapt when plans change
• How failure tolerance creates room for progress and innovation
• Alison’s experience leading the first American Women’s Everest Expedition
• Why fear of failure kept her from returning to Everest for eight years
• The power of focusing on the next step instead of the summit
• Why relentless persistence matters more than being the fastest or strongest

Alison’s experiences are a powerful reminder that success isn’t about having perfect conditions or a perfect plan—it’s about adapting, learning, and continuing to move forward.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Alison Levine to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with nutritionist Carly Pollack to explore the connection between food, emotions, stress, and overall well-being. Carly shares her own journey with anxiety, body image, and dieting and how those experiences shaped her approach to helping others create healthier, more sustainable habits.

Carly explains why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition and why lasting change requires looking beyond what’s on our plate to understand the thoughts and emotions driving our behaviors.

Key topics include:

• Finding an approach to nutrition that works for your individual body
• Breaking the cycle of restrictive dieting and emotional eating
• Why knowing what to do doesn’t always lead to lasting change
• Creating healthier boundaries with food
• The connection between stress, emotions, and our behaviors
• Practical strategies for building healthier habits
• Training your mind to focus on what you can control

Carly’s message reminds us that creating a healthier life isn’t just about changing what we eat—it’s about understanding ourselves and building habits that support lasting well-being.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Carly Pollack to your next event.

What does it take to keep chasing a dream after being told no 11 times?

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with astronaut José Hernández to hear his journey from growing up in a family of migrant farm workers to achieving his childhood dream of traveling to space.

José shares the people and experiences that shaped his path, the persistence it took to finally be selected by NASA on his 12th attempt, and what his journey taught him about education, perseverance, and taking calculated risks.

Key topics include:

• Growing up in a family of migrant farm workers
• The childhood moment that inspired José to become an astronaut
• The teacher who helped change the trajectory of his education
• Overcoming 11 NASA rejections before finally being selected
• What it takes to become an astronaut
• What launch and life in space actually feel like
• Why investing in science and technology matters
• Embracing technological change instead of being left behind

José’s story is a powerful example of what can happen when you stay committed to a dream, even when the path to achieving it isn’t easy.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing José Hernández to your next event.

What if five seconds could change the way you take action in your life and work?

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Mel Robbins to explore the story behind her 5 Second Rule and how one simple tool can help people interrupt old habits, overcome self-doubt, and take control of their decisions.

Mel shares how the rule began as a way to stop hitting the snooze button during a difficult period in her life—and ultimately became a practical strategy she began using to change her behavior five seconds at a time.

Key topics include:

• The story behind the 5 Second Rule
• How small decisions can create meaningful change
• Breaking patterns of fear, self-doubt, and procrastination
• Why being intentional with your attention matters
• The importance of being present and “where your feet are”
• How storytelling and human connection shaped Mel’s career
• Turning the 5 Second Rule into a tool for behavior change

Mel’s message is a reminder that meaningful change doesn’t always require a huge first step—sometimes, it starts with just five seconds.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Mel Robbins to your next event.

How can we embrace technology without letting it take over our lives?

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Amy Blankson, author of The Future of Happiness, to explore how we can use technology more intentionally to support greater productivity, well-being, and happiness.

Amy shares why technology itself isn’t the problem—it’s how we use it—and offers practical strategies for creating healthier boundaries, reducing digital distractions, and staying connected to what matters most.

Key topics include:

• Finding a healthier balance with technology
• Why intentionality matters in our digital lives
• Recognizing your personal “Happiness Cliff”
• How digital distractions affect focus and productivity
• Simple strategies for creating better technology boundaries
• Using technology to strengthen human connection
• Why happiness is a choice we can actively make

Amy reminds us that technology is a tool—and when we use it intentionally, it can help fuel our potential, connection, and happiness.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Amy Blankson to your next event.

What does the future hold for the economy, technology, and the way we work?

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Kyle Davis sits down with financial market futurist Jason Schenker, founder of Prestige Economics and one of the world’s top-ranked forecasters, to explore the forces shaping the economy and the future of work.

Jason shares how he separates the signal from the noise when forecasting, where he sees technology and FinTech creating disruption, and why automation presents both opportunities and challenges for the workforce.

Key topics include:

• How Jason became one of the world’s top-ranked forecasters
• Why great forecasting requires more than data
• The importance of separating the signal from the noise
• How FinTech is disrupting traditional financial services
• The impact of automation on jobs and the skills gap
• Why strategic, long-term thinking will remain critical in a technology-driven world
• The ideas behind Jason’s book, Jobs for Robots

Jason offers a fascinating look at how economics, technology, and human decision-making intersect—and what those forces could mean for the future.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Jason Schenker to your next event.