Behind the Brilliance

Sex trafficking survivor Rebecca Bender tells the story of how she went from girl next door to sex worker in a matter of months. Between pimps, drugs, and alcohol, Rebecca manages to escape, reinvent herself, and enjoy a new life as a wife and mother. Building on her remarkable resilience, she's now traveling as a speaker and author who is raising awareness about sex trafficking and reshaping what it means to be a modern Christian.

The talented and adventurous Laura Wise is this week's guest who shares her story of spending 18 months in the Phillippines as a missionary. We cover cutlure, the international effects of American media, and the current paradox of black women in entertainment.

Filmmaker + entrepreneur Pete Chatmon is the director/producer of multiple films starring top talent including Kerry Washington, Zoe Saldana, and Dorian Missick.

After succesfully producing and directing his first feature film, he went on to create a multimedia company where he works on a wide range of creative projects.

In this episode, he shares his thoughts on his journey into making movies, his thoughts on the new digital landscape, and the most important traits creative people need to be successful.

New York Times bestselling author Heidi Durrow shares her story of growing up Danish and African American and sorting out her identity. We also talk about how she landed on the New York Times list after 48 rejections from publishers. Her inspiring story of persistence and commitment to craft offers insight on the resilience necessary to thrive as a creative.

In this abbreviated episode, I share my reflections on the past year of my life and my hard-earned wisdom on taking risks, achievements, and the awkwardness of making friends as an adult.

Author, humorist, and amazing woman Bunmi Laditan graces Lisa's virtual couch to talk about her journey as a writer and entrepreneur. She shares hard won insight on perserverance, reinventing yourself, and surviving parenthood.

Kiel Berry, EVP of Machine Shop, the creative studio of Linkin Park, stops by to share his story as a dynamic thinker using his business acumen on creative endeavors. We explore his journey to building a career he loves, his book Stunt, and his first exposure to ratchet Southern hip hop.

Bestselling author, speaker, and coach Pam Slim stops by to share her story of going from nonprofit consultant to successful thought leader. We cover a range of topics including parenthood, authenticity, and figuring out your purpose in life.

Writer Michael Starrbury (The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete) stops by to chat about his life as a writer and his philosophy on a range of issues including class, race, and the creative process.

This is one of my top 5 favorite interviews of all time after talking to more than 150 people throughout my career. Michael is candid, funny, and smart, and the conversation is insightful for anyone hoping to do great work - especially writers.

Stacey Ferreira stopped by to share her story as a game changer and young entrepreneur. She tells the story of how she raised $1 million from Richard Branson and his business partner and then sold the company. She also shares her thoughts on dating as a female entrepreneur.