In this episode 18-year-old author Shanti Hershenson takes us through her incredible journey from creating stories as a child to becoming a published author with 38 books across different genres.

Shanti shares how she got started, how she balances writing with high school, the realities of publishing as a young author, and what she’s learned from building a TikTok audience of more than 50,000 followers.

Whether you’re an aspiring writer, a parent, a teenager with a creative dream, or someone interested in building a personal brand through social media, Shanti’s story offers plenty of inspiration and practical insight.

Sometimes, the best time to start building your dream is when you’re young enough to believe it can happen.

You can find Shanti’s books through her Amazon author page, and you can visit shantihershenson.com to learn more about her books, events, press, and work.

In this episode Kirk McCarley shares his remarkable journey from a 35-year career as a Human Resources executive to becoming a career and life coach and author.

At 68, Kirk offers a powerful perspective on purpose, faith, reinvention, health, leadership, and the courage to explore new possibilities later in life. 

Kirk’s story is a reminder that your age may mark where you are, but it doesn’t have to determine where you’re going.

Learn more about Kirk at theseedsowercoach.com.

In this episode of Celia’s Corner, I’m joined by Kevin “Kevie The Dreamer” Jackson, a creative storyteller, singer, longtime nurse, and host of Kultivation w/ Kevie: Stories, Nostalgia and Empowerment.

After nearly 200 podcast conversations with entertainers, entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, creatives, and everyday people, Kevie has built a platform centered around storytelling, nostalgia, vulnerability, personal growth, and meaningful human connection.

We talk about what makes a great interview feel like a genuine conversation, why nostalgia can be a powerful tool for healing and self-discovery, and how storytelling can help us develop confidence, purpose, and self-acceptance.

Kevie also shares his experience balancing nearly two decades in nursing with podcasting, music, entrepreneurship, and personal branding.

We explore his Four C’s—Courage, Confidence, Consistency, and Creativity—and discuss why authentic relationships can be more valuable than chasing high-profile opportunities.

Most importantly, we talk about building something that goes beyond content: creating a brand and community that makes people feel seen, encourages them to embrace their stories, and empowers them to grow through what they go through.

Connect with Kevie and explore his podcast and creative work at keviethedreamer.com.

Kevie’s journey is a powerful reminder that your story doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful—and sometimes the most authentic version of yourself is the most powerful brand you can build.

In this episode of Celia’s Corner, I’m joined by Patrick Williams, a TEDx speaker, award-winning artist, educator, consultant, writer, independent scholar, and founder and president of Satori Innovation.

With more than four decades of experience teaching creativity and deep learning, Patrick brings a fascinating perspective on the relationship between creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, and human potential.

We explore what creativity really means, whether creativity can be taught, why so many adults lose touch with their childhood creativity, and how anyone—including people who don’t consider themselves artistic—can become more creative.

Patrick also explains the difference between creativity and innovation, how entrepreneurs can stay creative under pressure, why fear can suppress our creative thinking, and how leaders can build environments where unconventional ideas can thrive.

From Creative Colonization and Creative Collapse to the Creative Void and Creative Metamorphosis, Patrick introduces powerful ways of thinking about what happens to our creativity—and how we can restore it.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, artist, business leader, educator, or simply someone who wants to think differently, this conversation offers practical insights into unlocking a capability that may have been there all along.

Learn more about Patrick and his work at patrickwilliamsstaycreative.com.

Patrick’s message is ultimately simple and powerful: creativity may become misplaced as we grow older, but it is never truly lost.

In this episode of Celia’s Corner, I’m joined by Sagar Nagda, technology entrepreneur, Founder of Nimap Infotech, angel investor, and EO member, for a practical conversation about financial education, wealth-building, and preparing children for financial independence.

Sagar shares his perspective on why earning a high income doesn’t automatically translate into financial security, the difference between income and wealth, and the financial mistakes even successful entrepreneurs and senior executives can make.

We also explore how parents can teach children about saving, spending, investing, delayed gratification, and financial responsibility without creating fear around money—or raising financially entitled children.

From allowances and digital spending to social media, investing, entrepreneurship, this conversation offers practical lessons for parents who want to give their children something more valuable than money: the knowledge and mindset to manage it wisely.

Connect with Sagar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagarnagda-founder/

Sagar brings a unique perspective that combines technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal finance—and his insights offer a powerful reminder that true success isn’t only about building wealth, but knowing how to use it wisely and pass better financial habits to the next generation.

In this episode, I’m joined by Adam Goldman, a franchise coach, consultant, entrepreneur, investor, and author of The Franchisee Lifestyle, to explore why franchising can be a compelling alternative investment for real estate investors and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Adam has spent the past nine years helping hundreds of people navigate franchise ownership, from selecting the right business model to understanding the financial and lifestyle commitments involved.

We discuss how much franchises can realistically make, the true costs of franchise ownership, how much time owners need to commit, what makes a franchise a good fit, and the red flags investors should watch for.

🌐 Learn more about Adam and explore franchise opportunities:
 https://www.franchisecoach.net/houston/

Adam Goldman shows us that franchising isn’t simply about buying a business it’s about choosing a business model that can align with your financial goals, lifestyle, and vision for the future.

In this episode of Celia’s Corner, we sit down with Elias Curtis, Founder and CEO of Transformed Design Inc., to explore how businesses can bring branding, website development, SEO, Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), AI automation, CRM systems, and lead generation together to create smarter and more scalable growth engines.

With more than 17 years of experience in digital growth, Elias shares practical insights into why businesses struggle to scale, how websites can become active sales tools, where marketing funnels commonly leak leads, and how AI-powered search is changing the way customers discover businesses.

We also explore the growing importance of GEO and what entrepreneurs can do today to improve their visibility across AI-driven platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity.

Elias is offering listeners a complimentary 30-minute business growth strategy session.

Book your complimentary 30-minute strategy session here:
 https://transformeddesign.com/contact

Whether you’re launching a new business or scaling an existing one, you’ll receive practical recommendations tailored to your goals with no obligation.

In this episode of Celia’s Corner, we sit down with David Maeda, author, former Director of Elections for the Minnesota Secretary of State, and a passionate advocate for authentic conversations around mental health.

David shares his powerful journey of serving in public office during one of the most challenging times in election administration while also navigating a lifelong battle with depression. Through his memoir, he opens up about vulnerability, resilience, relationships, humor, and the experiences that shaped him.

Listeners will gain insight into the realities of the U.S. mental health care system, the importance of seeking connection, and the courage it takes to share your story.

Learn more about David and his memoir here:
 https://www.davidmaeda.com/

David Maeda’s story is a powerful reminder that even through struggle, authenticity and resilience can create a path toward hope.

In this episode of Celia’s Corner, Tom Hunter, founder of Story Recruitment, shares what founders get wrong about their first key hires and how to build stronger leadership teams from the beginning.

Tom discusses why hiring for roles you’ve never managed can be challenging, the difference between a first finance hire and a CFO, where the best finance operators can actually be found, and how AI is transforming the future of recruitment. He also shares his journey from primary school teacher to recruitment founder and how he built Story Recruitment through specialization, relationships, and community.

Learn more about Tom and listen to The CFO Track here: https://storyrecruitment.com.au/cfo-track

In this episode of Celia’s Corner, Dr. Mark Silinsky shares insights from four decades in counterintelligence and counterterrorism, discussing the Hamas-Israel conflict, Iran’s regional influence, information warfare, and the evolving challenges facing policymakers and intelligence professionals. Drawing from his latest book, Cauldron of Terror, he explains how he analyzes recent events and the broader strategic issues he believes are shaping international security.

This conversation presents one expert’s analysis of complex geopolitical issues and encourages listeners to critically evaluate different perspectives while deepening their understanding of global affairs.

To learn more about Dr. Mark Silinsky, his books, and his podcast channels—including his newest podcast focused on Cauldron of Terror—visit:

https://kensingtonsecuritypodcasting.com/