In this episode of It’s About to Go Down!, Marc and Cathey reunite with Lou Radja, their very first guest from Season 1, to celebrate 10 incredible seasons of the show. Lou, a motivational speaker, educator, and mango enthusiast, reflects on his journey as a speaker and the lessons learned along the way. From embracing authenticity and overcoming imposter syndrome to finding courage in vulnerability, Lou shares invaluable insights for anyone looking to find their voice and make an impact. Key moments include: how Lou’s father inspired his love for public speaking; the pivotal moment Lou removed the “mask” and embraced his authentic self; and practical tips for breaking into the speaking profession and navigating its challenges. To connect with Lou Radja, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/louradja/

In this episode of It’s About to Go Down!, Marc and Cathey have an engaging conversation with Urmi Hossain, a dynamic speaker, mentor, and advocate for empowering women. Urmi shares her inspiring journey of discovering her voice, the importance of diversity in public speaking, and how positive affirmations and visualization can transform courage into action. Highlights of the conversation include how cultural identity shaped Urmi's perspective on speaking up, the pivotal moments that inspired her to give a voice to the voiceless, and practical advice for overcoming fear while finding balance between intention and impact. Connect with Urmi Hossain at https://www.linkedin.com/in/urmihossain/.

In this episode, Marc and Cathey sit down with George Rivera, an educator, coach, and curriculum developer, who shares his groundbreaking exploration into what he calls luminary communication. Inspired by a life-changing trip to the bioluminescent bays of Puerto Rico, George takes us through the science and metaphor behind leadership that shines. He unpacks principles such as adaptive brightness, nonverbal radiance, and responding with warmth and light. George’s stories and insights will inspire leaders and communicators to think about how they bring light into their environments and adapt to the needs of their teams. Whether you're an experienced leader or just starting your journey, this conversation will help you with being responsive, empathetic, and connected. To connect with George Rivera, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-j-rivera-msed-9b689a5/ 

In this episode of It’s About to Go Down!, Marc and Cathey engage in an insightful conversation with Kareem McQuilkin, a passionate educator, husband, and father of three. Kareem shares his innovative concept of the Imagination Cipher, a practice of keeping one’s creative energy alive through community and continuous exploration. From personal stories of his children's boundless creativity to reflections on maintaining motivation in education, Kareem dives into how educators and leaders can reawaken their imaginative spirit to inspire others. Listeners will learn how imagination can be cultivated, how feedback can serve as a tool for growth rather than just critique, and why creativity isn’t just for children—it’s a practice that adults need to sustain and develop to lead effectively. To connect with Kareem McQuilkin, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareem-mcquilkin-m-ed-936578188/ 

In this episode of It’s About to Go Down!, Marc and Cathey sit down with Paul Brown, President of a tech recruiting company and a passionate advocate for social issues. Paul brings a fresh perspective to the issue of homelessness in Portland, exploring how vacant office spaces could be creatively repurposed to provide safe shelter for the unhoused community. As Paul shares his journey, listeners will gain insight into how impactful ideas are born, refined, and reshaped. This episode dives deep into the challenges of balancing idealism with practicality, the importance of community collaboration, and the humbling process of reshaping an idea to address complex social issues. By the end, you’ll come away with valuable lessons on how to develop, expand, and adapt your own ideas to make a meaningful difference.To connect with Paul Brown, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-cinder/

In this episode, Cathey and Marc talk with Kathryn Madison, the rockin’ grandmother and CEO of Dye Candy. From her diverse background in hairdressing, residential real estate, and entrepreneurship, Kathryn shares how “flexible creativity”—the ability to adapt, play, and break routine—can bring new life to both personal and professional pursuits. Kathryn emphasizes that creativity comes with resilience and that finding joy in the unexpected is key to unlocking passion in your work. “If you don’t like coming through the door, then you shouldn’t be there,” she says, reminding us that it’s not just about staying busy or making money, but about loving what you do. This conversation is filled with playfulness, risk-taking, and plenty of quotable moments, including Kathryn’s wisdom: “Nothing is lost.” Discover how you can bring more flexible creativity into your life and reopen your heart to the possibilities around you. Learn more about Kathryn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynmadison/ .

 “It’s hard to read the label when you are inside the jar. So I am a jar label reader.” - Gina Riley, a career transition coach, and All-Star Trainer. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Gina about how to communicate your unique journey so that you can be heard. They chat about the power of combining your strengths, values, and the “thread” from your first job. They explore the impact of using frameworks, models, and concentric circles to illustrate an idea. By the end, you'll be able to speak your unique story in such a powerful way that you won’t have to say much. To learn more about Gina Riley, go to https://ginarileyconsulting.com/

 “Don’t wake up planning on failure. Just plan on problems and hurdles, and getting over them. Try to fail fast so that [you] can recover quick.” - Colin Ho-Shing, an inventor who’s been nicknamed “The Fountain of Interesting”. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Colin about how to make your idea camera ready. They chat about the process of designing, creating, and thinking about an idea. They explore the steps of prototyping an idea and exploring the many details one must consider when trying to launch something very different from what has ever been seen or done before.This conversation highlights the need to creatively think and problem solve… because there will always be problems to solve. In addition, they discuss two critical thoughts: ideas are important because they pave the way for newer ideas; and intelligence needs to be nurtured. By the end, you'll reflect on how your hobby can become an investment and can be used to solve a problem that will make a difference in the world.  

“It takes a lot to make things happen, especially when you are in the trenches.” - Lisa Shroeder, founder and executive chef of Mother’s Bistro & Bar. In this episode, Marc and Cathey chat with Lisa about how to market an idea in transition. It takes a lot to market a business, to keep it going, to reinvent it. You always have to be new and different. They explore how to ensure your vision lives on, brainstorm marketing strategies, and generate fresh ideas. This conversation highlights the challenges of keeping a business (or any idea for that matter) dynamic and innovative. By the end, you'll reflect on cherished memories with motherly figures and (and over a slice of cheesecake) reimagine the next phase of your idea. Learn more about Lisa at https://www.mothersbistro.com/

“Life is not perfect but life is perfect when you know how to navigate it.” - Richard Symister, Physical Therapist and Strength & Conditioning Coach. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Richard about unveiling intrinsic wealth, abundance, and “gushiness”. They explore several concepts: prosperity consciousness, abundant moments, and wealth elements. During this idea-conversation, they discuss how you can bottle up your idea for audiences, ways to help people reflect on their connection to the idea, and practical questions people can pose to gauge the impact of your idea on their lives. By the end of this conversation, you will express sheer love for someone else through the passion that resets your energy. To learn more about Richard Symister, go to https://movevolutionpt.com/