Season One wasn't just about career pivots — it was about the raw, unfiltered humanity behind every bold move, every risk, and every reinvention. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron pull back the curtain on their first season of The Exit Interview, year-end reflecting on the moments that surprised them, the lessons that changed them, and the conversations that proved this show is about so much more than resumes and LinkedIn profiles. From learning to be on camera for the first time to discovering the exhausting reality of active listening, they share what it really takes to create a podcast that goes beyond surface-level career advice and dives into the deeper questions of identity, values, and what success actually means when you strip away the titles.

They reveal which guest moments made them stop and say, "This is why we built this," from Jimmy Jean-Louis sharing how Nelson Mandela instilled pride in his Haitian identity to Janine Rubenstein's game-changing advice: never accept a no from someone who doesn't have the authority to give you a yes. Shana and Kisha unpack the hardest parts of finding their rhythm as co-hosts, the self-doubt and brain chatter that plagued early episodes, and the moment it finally clicked that their different perspectives were their greatest strength. They get emotional discussing Niki Ghazian's story of widowhood and raising a son with autism, the veteran who opened up about every tour, and how almost every guest reinforced one universal truth: authenticity is the highest vibration.

Plus, the behind-the-scenes chaos of outfit drama, the realization that fighting change is the biggest waste of time, and why Ronen's dreamy vibe and zero ego caught them completely off guard. They share what's coming in January — business-focused episodes packed with finance experts, consultants, coaches, doctors, and wellness leaders — and tease a season one wrap party you might just get invited to. Whether you've been with them since episode one or you're just discovering the show, this recap is a love letter to the power of going beyond the resume and getting real about who we are, what we've survived, and how we show up in our work and our lives.

Hosts: Shana Ayabe x Kisha Imani Cameron

Produced by: Grace Media Digital

The Exit Interview | On-Air — Real conversations. Season One reflections.

• 00:00:00 Introduction: Season One Recap
• 00:00:15 The Energy of Being On Camera
• 00:01:41 Defining Moments: Stories That Made It All Worth It
• 00:03:48 Finding Their Rhythm as Co-Hosts
• 00:06:29 The Deepest Emotional Connections
• 00:08:28 Career Lessons: Stop Fighting Change
• 00:10:36 Behind the Scenes: Outfit Agony and Real Talk
• 00:11:22 Advice They're Actually Using: Authenticity and Self-Trust
• 00:13:33 If They Could Go Back to Episode One
• 00:14:24 What The Exit Interview Is Really About
• 00:16:28 What's Next: January Business Focus and Season Wrap
• 00:16:59 Most Surprising Guests: Ronan and The Veteran

Ameetess Dira, CMO of Petzey proves that starting over isn't failure — it's the ultimate act of self-reinvention and courage. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the CMO of Petzey and entrepreneur behind NogSmith, who walked away from a high-profile media career in Manila to start over as a nobody in the United States. From hosting morning shows and running her own marketing company to pumping gas for the first time as an adult and working as a hostess at the Peninsula Chicago, Ameetess unpacks her journey of radical humility — how she left everything that defined her in one country to rebuild herself in another, why she chose challenges over comfort every single time, and how the devastating loss of her senior rescue dog led her to revolutionize access to pet care through telehealth.

Ameetess reveals why confidence is a decision you make daily, how working on Oprah Winfrey's digital strategy felt like full-circle validation, and why pivoting toward passion instead of ego or money is the only sustainable path forward. She shares raw truths about learning to forgive herself for not being perfect, why she needed to prove she could succeed without her family's safety net, and how separating your worth from your work became her greatest lesson. Plus, the moment she realized she needed to lean into her strengths, why her new eggnog business funds senior animal rescues, and how stillness and self-awareness became her compass for knowing when it's time to exit. Whether you're navigating a career pivot, rebuilding after loss, or trying to figure out what success really means beyond titles and paychecks, this episode offers battle-tested wisdom from someone who's mastered the art of starting over — again and again.

Hosts: Shana Ayabe x Kisha Imani Cameron

Guest: Ameetess Dira | CMO, Petzey | Co-Founder, NogSmith | Pet Space Leader & Entrepreneur

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ameetessdira/

Produced by: Grace Media Digital

The Exit Interview | On-Air — Real conversations. Reinvention through courage.

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:01:21 From Manila to America: The Bold Decision to Start Over
• 00:04:13 Growing Up with Brilliant Parents: The Foundation of Confidence
• 00:09:40 The Humbling Move: Learning to Pump Gas and Do Laundry
• 00:13:27 Finding the Path: From Hospitality to Financial Services to Oprah
• 00:16:14 The Oprah Effect: When Your Role Leads to Your Inspiration
• 00:23:29 Riggley's Legacy: How Loss Led to Purpose in the Pet Space
• 00:26:26 Building Petzey: Democratizing Pet Healthcare Through Technology
• 00:29:51 AI and Animals: The Future of the Human-Animal Bond
• 00:33:09 The Worst and Best Pivots: Money vs Mission
• 00:35:28 NogSmith: Brewing Eggnog with Purpose
• 00:44:45 Exit Strategy: Listening to Your Inner Voice
• 00:47:44 Advice for 2026: Look Inward, Not Outward
• 00:54:14 Overcoming Fear Through Understanding
• 00:55:15 Redefining Success: Agency Over Your Day

Chris Lowder proves that crushing your ego and embracing cultural intelligence is the ultimate competitive advantage in global business. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the co-founder of Lowder Toscarella Hospitality, a globally awarded hospitality leader who's built world-class bars and restaurants from Shanghai to Seoul to Miami. From starting as a translator to surviving COVID lockdowns in China, importing $300,000 whiskey casks with custom cartoon labels, and opening the first bar in Korea to crack the World's 50 Best list, Chris unpacks his non-linear journey of radical adaptability — how he learned Mandarin to sell spirits in back-room offices filled with duck piss tea and cigar smoke, why he walked away from crushing it at New York's Nomad Hotel to carve his own path in Asia, and how understanding face culture versus ego culture transformed his approach to leadership and team building.

Chris reveals why the pain of change is way less scary than the pain of staying the same, how Google Translate made him pivot his entire career before it was too late, and why great hospitality is about creating spaces for people — not for yourself. He shares raw truths about working for jerks who squandered the gift of leadership, why he reads the room in every culture by watching group dynamics and asking what restaurants people love, and how jujitsu became his anchor in a world of constant tumult. Plus, the moment he realized servers in Korea weren't supposed to hover like American fine dining staff, why he burned the boats when running a wine import company in China, and how relentless optimism means watching the game already knowing your team wins. Whether you're navigating cross-cultural business, building teams across continents, or trying to figure out your next big pivot, this episode offers battle-tested wisdom from someone who's mastered the art of reinvention on a global scale.

Hosts: Shana Ayabe x Kisha Imani Cameron

Guest: Chris Lowder | Co-Founder, Lowder Toscarella Hospitality | Global Hospitality Leader

Produced by: Grace Media Digital

The Exit Interview | On-Air — Real conversations. Building success across cultures.

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:01:36 From Translator to Hospitality Leader
• 00:03:49 Selling Whiskey in China: The Art of the Deal
• 00:14:22 Face Culture vs. Western Ego
• 00:20:32 Crushing Your Ego: Lessons in Leadership
• 00:22:55 Korea and the Water Glass Revelation
• 00:28:04 Consumer Art: Creating for the Audience
• 00:29:32 Building Teams Across Cultures and Languages
• 00:34:34 From Nomad to Four Seasons: Management Training
• 00:37:00 YouTube University and Learning P&L Management
• 00:40:20 The Pain of Change vs. The Pain of Staying the Same
• 00:45:11 Finding Gravity in a World of Constant Change
• 00:47:01 Entrepreneurship: Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat
• 00:48:58 Watching the Game Knowing Your Team Wins
• 00:50:51 Leading with Purpose: The Gift of Leadership

You can follow our guest here:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/getlowdernow/

What happens when a global pandemic meets the world's most technologically advanced surveillance state? Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron interview one American entrepreneurs experience living in Shanghai when COVID first broke out. He reveals to listeners how QR codes determined your freedom, security cameras monitored your quarantine, and an entire apartment building adopted a goat as their pandemic mascot. This raw, unfiltered episode pulls back the curtain on what life was really like living through lockdowns in China, where technology that tracks your every move became the infrastructure for extreme pandemic control, and where the trade-off between privacy and public health reached levels unimaginable in the West.

From green, yellow, and red QR codes that controlled access to everything from subway stations to your own bank account, to buildings locked down for months with residents bartering for supplies, this conversation reveals the stark contrast between China's zero-COVID approach and the Western experience of banana bread and Zoom happy hours. They unpack the consumer technology ecosystem that made mass surveillance seamless — where WeChat and Alipay function as super apps integrating everything from banking to contact tracing — and how that same infrastructure has enables influencers to live-stream e-commerce for thousands. Plus, the moment a friend's building pooled money to buy a goat for food, has Disney trapped over 30,000 people, and the reality of testing positive and being taken away in a van to a gymnasium filled with cots and fluorescent lights.

Whether you're trying to understand how technology shapes social control, what extreme public health measures look like in practice, or simply want to hear a COVID story that makes your lockdown experience feel tame, this episode offers a firsthand account of surviving the pandemic in the world's most futuristic — and most surveilled — society.

Guest: Chris Lowder | IG: https://www.instagram.com/getlowdernow/

Hosts: Shana Ayabe x Kisha Imani Cameron

Produced by: Grace Media Digital

The Exit Interview | On-Air — Real conversations. COVID from the other side of the world.

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:00:26 China's Futuristic Tech Ecosystem: The Super App Revolution
• 00:01:28 When COVID Hit: Real-Time Tracking and Mini Programs
• 00:07:24 The Green QR Code System: Life Under Digital Surveillance
• 00:10:22 Daily Life in the Bubble: Temperature Checks and Constant Monitoring
• 00:10:56 Back to Normal by May 2020: Nightclubs Without Masks
• 00:12:30 Building Lockdowns and Government Grocery Bags
• 00:15:32 The COVID Goat: When Food Became a Pet
• 00:16:54 Yellow and Red Codes: When Your Phone Controls Your Freedom
• 00:18:40 The Van and The Centers: Immediate Quarantine Facilities
• 00:19:46 Disney and Uniqlo Lockdowns: Trapped Until Tested
• 00:20:55 Surviving as a Business: E-Commerce Pivot and TikTok Shopping
• 00:23:20 Escape to Denver: Recovery from a Draconian Hellscape

Jim Wagner proves that marketing is more than packaging and leadership is about launching people. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the marketing and branding powerhouse who spent 14 years at Mattel building the Hot Wheels empire side by side with Barbie, served as CMO of MGA Entertainment, is President of Razor Scooters, and now teaches entrepreneurship and leadership at LMU while writing his book on leadership from the world's top coaches and athletes. From sports writing to the 44th floor of a consulting firm he almost joined, to accidentally spending 14 years in the toy industry, Jim unpacks his journey of pivots — how he transformed Hot Wheels from a struggling commodity brand into a billion-dollar powerhouse, why he chose challenges over comfort every single time, and how "blue flag moments" became the rallying cry that united his team.

Jim reveals why data beats seniority when selling ideas up the ladder, and how outworking everyone gave him the confidence to take career-defining risks. He shares raw truths about the commercial that flopped and cost him a fortune, why complacency is a killer even when you're on top of the mountain, and how he learned that people come before performance. Plus, the power of round table conversations where team members admit "I want your job," why features plus feelings wins every time, and how his definition of success evolved from climbing corporate ladders to launching the next generation of leaders. Whether you're navigating a brand turnaround, managing ego in high-stakes environments, or trying to figure out your next pivot, this episode offers battle-tested wisdom from someone who's built empires in fun — and now dedicates his life to helping others rise and shine.

Hosts: Shana Ayabe x Kisha Imani Cameron

Guest: Jim Wagner | Marketing & Branding Expert | Former Mattel Executive, Hot Wheels Brand Leader | Former CMO, MGA Entertainment | President, Razor | Professor of Entrepreneurship & Leadership, LMU

Produced by: Grace Media Digital

The Exit Interview | On-Air — Real conversations. Launching people, not just products.

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:03:06 From Sports Dreams to Marketing Reality
• 00:04:04 The MBA Pivot: Choosing Play Over Prestige
• 00:07:08 Reviving Hot Wheels: Finding the Brand's Soul
• 00:10:59 The Power of Questions: Leading Through Curiosity
• 00:11:30 Adaptability vs. Strategy: The Flux Generation
• 00:15:55 Innovation Within Iconic Brands
• 00:19:46 Leading Teams You Don't Understand
• 00:23:44 Embracing the Muck: The Tougher the Battle, The Sweeter the Victory
• 00:35:39 People Before Performance
• 00:39:20 Lessons from Students: Silence and Creativity
• 00:41:22 Beyond Performance Marketing: Hearts and Minds
• 00:58:01 Building Personal Brands and Leveraging AI
• 00:59:37 Redefining Success: From Climbing Ladders to Launching People

You can follow our guest here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimlwagner/

The Netflix-Warner Brothers merger just changed the game — and hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron are breaking down what it means for you. In this timely episode, they unpack the seismic shift happening in media and entertainment as Netflix officially acquires Warner Brothers, marking the first major acquisition where a tech company takes over a legacy entertainment studio. From the initial shock of the announcement during holiday season to the real-world implications for thousands of employees navigating uncertainty, Shana and Kisha deliver practical, no-BS advice for anyone caught in the crosshairs of this massive industry consolidation.

They reveal why now is the time to treat yourself like you're interviewing for a new job, how to align your skill sets with the acquiring company's priorities, and why creativity is your secret weapon in times of upheaval. Drawing on insights from past guests like Janine Rubenstein, Anne Jacoby, and Jimmy Jean-Louis, they share strategies for networking during the holidays, understanding Netflix's unique work culture, and separating your work from your worth. Plus, why speed matters when positioning yourself internally, how to leverage your existing connections at Netflix, and the importance of coming to the table with bold ideas even if they feel out of the box. Whether you're facing potential layoffs, integration into a new company culture, or simply trying to make sense of the changing media landscape, this episode offers actionable guidance for navigating one of the biggest mergers in entertainment history.

Hosts: Shana Ayabe x Kisha Imani Cameron

Produced by: Grace Media Digital

The Exit Interview | On-Air — Real conversations. Navigating industry transformation.

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:01:02 The First Tech-Entertainment Merger of Its Kind
• 00:01:51 The Human Cost: Layoffs and Uncertainty
• 00:03:04 Practical Advice: Treat It Like a Job Interview
• 00:04:47 Flexibility and Openness: Embracing the New Culture
• 00:05:50 You Have Options: Taking Control of Your Future
• 00:06:19 Creativity as Your Superpower
• 00:07:23 Understanding Netflix's Unique Culture
• 00:08:50 Industry-Wide Impact and Compression
• 00:09:49 Network Now: The Holiday Season Advantage
• 00:11:45 Separate Your Work from Your Worth
• 00:13:26 Rejection Isn't Personal: Moving Forward
• 00:15:12 Final Thoughts and What's Next

Anne Jacoby proves that creativity isn't a luxury— it's the competitive advantage every organization and employee needs to thrive. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the author of Born to Create, a creative culture expert who's dismantling the myth that you're either creative or you're not. From performing arts stages to scaling a legal services startup globally, Anne unpacks her unconventional journey and how she developed a "spidey sense" for reading company cultures across every sector imaginable.

Anne reveals the difference between creativity and innovation, how to know when it's time to exit a toxic culture, the real ROI of creativity, and why rewarding the creative process (not just the output) changes everything. She shares raw truths about psychological safety, why the best ideas can even come from six-graders (not MBA programs), and how to navigate corporate holiday parties with intention. Plus, why success today means doing meaningful work on your own terms — not chasing external validation.

Hosts: Shana Ayabe x Kisha Imani Cameron

Guest: Anne Jacoby | Public Speaker | Author, Born to Create | CEO, Spring Street Solutions

Produced by: Grace Media Digital

The Exit Interview | On-Air — Real conversations. Creativity as your competitive edge.

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:02:22 From the Arts to Business: An Unconventional Path
• 00:04:40 Creativity Belongs in Business
• 00:07:33 Innovation vs Creativity: Understanding the Connection
• 00:10:59 Fostering Creativity in High-Pressure Environments
• 00:30:05 The Epiphany: Patterns in Corporate Culture
• 00:27:42 Psychological Safety and Creative Leadership
• 00:21:33 The Power of Reflection Over Hustle
• 00:31:11 Born to Create: Writing the Book
• 00:31:55 Feedback as a Creative Process
• 00:42:40 AI and the Future of Creativity
• 00:46:45 Holiday Party Etiquette: The Yays and Nays
• 00:56:29 Redefining Success: Internal vs External Rewards

You can follow our guest, here: Anne Jacoby | Creative Culture Expert, Author & Public Speaker

Web: www.annejacoby.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/annejacoby

Book: https://a.co/d/5vQLSPz

Bucknell University proves that the student-athlete experience builds more than champions — it builds leaders for life. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron return to Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, sitting down with Todd Newcomb, Sr. Associate Director of Athletics, and Valentina Rozas Moreno, the first women's water polo player inducted into the Bucknell Hall of Fame. From the grueling five-to-six-hour daily practice schedules to balancing rigorous academics at a top-tier institution, they unpack what it really means to be a student-athlete — and how those lessons translate into professional success long after the game ends.

Val shares her journey from getting cut from the basketball team to becoming a Division I water polo champion, playing professionally in Greece and Spain, and ultimately building a career in the solar industry. She reveals the culture of excellence that permeated Bucknell's athletic program, why upper-classman leadership set the standard for time management and academic performance, and how the mantra of "just get it done" became her secret weapon in the professional world. Todd breaks down the challenges of recruiting and retaining student-athletes in the NIL era, why the Bucknell alumni network is unmatched, and how Bucknell’s academic-first philosophy creates higher-performing individuals both in the classroom, during the game and beyond. Plus, the emotional moment Val learned she was being inducted into the Hall of Fame, why being a student-athlete at Bucknell feels invincible, and how the connections built during those four years become lifelong bonds that transcend geography and time.

Hosts: Shana Ayabe x Kisha Imani Cameron

Guests: Todd Newcomb, Sr. Associate Director of Athletics, Bucknell University | Valentina Rozas Moreno, Hall of Fame Inductee | Women’s Water Polo

Produced by: Grace Media Digital

The Exit Interview | On-Air — Real conversations. Life after the game.

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:02:32 From Chile to California to Bucknell
• 00:03:51 The Recruiting Process and Building a Culture
• 00:08:06 Student Athlete Life: Balancing Academics and Athletics
• 00:16:30 The Power of Team Culture and Upper-Class Leadership
• 00:20:40 Water Polo: The Most Difficult Sport
• 00:10:44 Life After the Game: Playing Professionally Abroad
• 00:13:05 The Bucknell Network and Career Success
• 00:26:09 Transferable Skills: From Pool to Professional World
• 00:30:56 Hall of Fame Induction and Defining Success

Learn more about Bucknell University Athletics here: https://bucknellbison.com/

Mellisa Nielsen Silverman proves that human connection is the ultimate currency in business and life. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the powerhouse auctioneer, founder, and CEO of Charity Angels who has raised over a billion dollars for charitable causes while breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry. From growing up on a farm with reading difficulties to commanding stages and raising as high as $36 million in a single auction, Mellisa unpacks her journey creating human connections — how she walked into an auctioneering school full of cowboy-hat-wearing men and emerged as one of the nation's top auctioneers, why she practiced her craft while brushing her teeth, and how she built an empire by making every human connection count.

Mellisa reveals the art of reading a room, the strategic thinking behind networking diagonally (not just up), and why being underestimated became her secret weapon. She shares raw truths about managing impostor syndrome while raising millions, why she stepped back from running her founded Charity Angels to reclaim her identity beyond her title and how she stays grounded. Plus, the auction that completely flopped and what she learned, why billionaires don't always make the best donors and why success today means saying no without a 30-second explanation.

Hosts: Shana Ayabe x Kisha Imani Cameron

Guest: Mellisa Nielsen Silverman | Auctioneer, Founder & CEO, Charity Angels

Produced by: Grace Media Digital

The Exit Interview | On-Air — Real conversations. Building success through human connection.

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:02:05 From Farm Life to City Dreams
• 00:02:48 Finding Her Path
• 00:04:27 The Auctioneer
• 00:09:43 Walking Into a Male-Dominated World
• 00:06:55 Finding Her Voice and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
• 00:19:28 The Art of Auctioneering
• 00:29:47 When Auctions Don't Go as Planned
• 00:16:05 The Power of Networking and Human Connection
• 00:14:52 Mentorship and Giving Back
• 00:40:01 Letting Go and Redefining Identity
• 00:49:03 Success, Stillness, and Being Present

You can follow our guest, here:

IG:

https://www.instagram.com/mellisanielsen.co/

https://www.instagram.com/thecharityangels/

Support the Cause: https://www.mattsfoundation.org/about-us

Jimmy Jean-Louis reveals how he transformed self-awareness into success and personal tragedy into purposeful action. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the Haitian actor, producer, and humanitarian who built an international career by refusing to be confined to one market. From homelessness in Paris to starring in Heroes and growing into an international sensation, Jimmy unpacks his journey of radical resilience — how he networked his way from the dance floor to musical theater, turned modeling into acting, and leveraged one of American’s top TV shows into his own global empire. He shares raw truths about globetrotting, meeting Nelson Mandela and finding pride in being Haitian after navigating years of stigma, why he parted from his representation team at the height of Heroes to bet on himself internationally, and how he learned that rejection is never personal — it's educational.

Jimmy reveals the super power of self-knowledge and the strategic thinking behind building careers in France, Spain, Italy, Africa, and the Caribbean simultaneously, playing Toussaint Louverture and representing an entire culture through his work. Plus, the devastating loss of his brother and then his 22-year-old son to cancer that led him to write his memoir, how suffering taught him the art of surrender, and why success is about being at peace with yourself.

Hosts: Shana Ayabe x Kisha Imani Cameron

Guest: Jimmy Jean-Louis, Actor, Producer & Humanitarian

Produced by: Grace Media Digital

The Exit Interview | On-Air — Real conversations. The Hero’s Journey.

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:01:49 From Haiti's Slums to Paris Streets
• 00:06:26 Surviving Homelessness in Paris
• 00:09:16 Barcelona Breakthrough: From Clubs to Career
• 00:15:30 Meeting Mandela: Finding Pride in Being Haitian
• 00:20:39 Breaking Into Hollywood and Heroes
• 00:28:03 Going Global: Diversifying Beyond Hollywood
• 00:31:45 Bold Decisions: Leaving His Team at Peak Success
• 00:41:43 Tragedy and Transformation: Losing His Brother and Son
• 00:49:07 Finding Peace Through Radical Acceptance

You can follow our guest, here: Jimmy Jean-Louis | Actor, Producer & Humanitarian

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jimmyjeanlouis/

Book: Héros (Available in French)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/2385771535?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_DGBDB0VEGE7Q3HGD8QEK_1&bestFormat=true