The He's Just Podcasts

Dr. BOBBY HOFFMAN is an Associate Professor at the University of Central Florida who specializes in motivation science and solving the mysteries of human behavior. At UCF he teaches a variety of graduate-level courses in motivation, learning, cognition, and intelligence. Hoffman has authored over 100 publications in the fields of education, psychology, leadership, and organizational development and serves on six journal editorial boards. He holds a BA in Psychology and an MA in Human Resources Psychology. Before earning his PhD in Educational Psychology from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he worked for over 20 years in HR management and performance, consulting for some of the world’s most successful companies including GE, NBC, KPMG, and the NBA. A regular contributor to the Psychology Today website where his blog “Motivate” has been viewed over 1.2 million times, Dr. Hoffman is the author of four previous books including Hack Your Motivation and Motivation for Learning and Performance.

Today we talked to Dr. Hoffman about his new book "The Paradox Of Passion" How Rewards Covertly Control Motivation. We walk with Dr. Hoffman to explore how we can reframe motivation—not just as a drive for rewards, but as a tool that helps us navigate life’s pathways, guiding us toward the outcomes we need and the goals we truly want.

MASON DONOVAN and MARK KAPLAN are Managing Partners of The Dagoba Group, a global consulting firm advancing inclusive leadership, employee well-being, and organizational culture. They are also the authors of The Inclusion Dividend, a perennial best-seller leveraged in corporate and academic classrooms worldwide, as well as SET for Inclusion and The Golden Apple. Their work has been featured by Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company.

Mason and Mark working parents themselves, bring decades of expertise in employee engagement, wellness, and workplace inclusion. As thought-leaders and advisors to Fortune 1000 companies, they’ve helped organizations reframe talent development for a modern workforce—one that recognizes the lived experience of parenthood as a professional asset, not a detour. Today we talked about their new book The Parenthood Advantage: Building Corporate Cultures That Value Working Parents.

Today we walk with Mark and Mason in conversation, exploring how organizations can reimagine the workplace to recognize working parents as assets- and as stronger leaders shaped by the profound experience of parenthood.

Jamie Del Rio has lived a life of service and community outreach since childhood. After earning his business degree from New York University, the tragic events of September 11th inspired him to pursue his dream of becoming a police officer. He entered the next NYPD Academy class and went on to serve with distinction for 20 years, retiring as a Detective 2nd Grade.

Grounded in his faith, Jamie found strength and purpose throughout his career, and that same spirituality now fuels his passion for empowering the next generation. A gifted motivational speaker, he challenges young people to discover their potential and step into leadership, connecting with them through authenticity and real-life stories from his years “on the force.”

In retirement, Jamie leads a thriving youth group at his local church and founded Blue Bridge, an initiative bridging the gap between law enforcement and urban youth. He also mentors through My Brother’s Keeper, continuing his commitment to service, faith, and building futures of hope and impact. This is We Are One.

Jae Tracy is an artist, business owner, and trauma educator. She spent over a decade working in creative and survivor- centered spaces running a mural company, and working as a certified PADI Divemaster, and creating media that helps kids understand boundaries. She's volunteered with Special Olympics in Hawaii, Oregon, and Virginia, and served in mutual aid and outreach programs including Food Not Bombs, Union Gospel Mission, and Love in Action Hawaii, and Home Aid Hawaii. Today, she leads Boundary Bandits: No Excuse For Abuse, a creative education project teaching kids how to identify harm, build emotional safety, and grow up clear, confident, and protected. The question is will we notice in time? This is Boundary Bandits.

Howard Yaruss an economist, professor, attorney, businessman, and activist whose passion lies in making complex ideas accessible to empower people with knowledge. Howard brings decades of experience from the world of finance, law, and public policy, which includes his time as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Radian Group. Yaruss, a graduate of Brown University, with studies at the London School of Economics and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Today we will talk to Howard about his highly praised book, and winner of the Bronze Award at the Axiom Business Book Awards, “Understandable Economics”: Because Understanding Our Economy Is Easier Than You Think and More Important Than You Know,

Howard’s book is a powerful guide that breaks down how our economy actually works, why it matters, and how understanding it, can help us navigate the complexities of our economy, towards a path of professional development and success.

This unforgettable 100th Episode Jules Douge takes life's unpredictable journey. The fun times and joys of childhood to the unexpected spins of grief. Emerging with resilience with his signature mix of raw storytelling Jules shares his emotional honesty of what happens when we encounter loss. Facing trauma head-on. Jules opens up about the lessons that shaped his life and experiences. This episode offers both the personal and the practical strategies that significantly can support us through challenges.. More than a milestone, The He’s Just Podcast eclipsed a monumental episode. This chapter might feel like an ending, but more often than not, it's the beginning. 100- Good Things Bad Things All things.

Listen in on this powerful conversation with Steven Eichenblatt. An accomplished attorney, a devoted father of five, and a relentless advocate for children and families. Steven is a graduate of Florida State University and the University of Florida College of Law, Eichenblatt has spent more than three decades standing up for those whose voices too often go unheard; whether serving as a pro bono guardian ad litem or representing the families of first responders lost on 9/11.

But today, Steven joins us in a different role: as an author, a father, and a man reckoning with the deep intersections of trauma, resilience, and family. His new memoir, “Pretend They Are Dead” , A Father's Search for the Truth, is a raw and honest journey into the legacy of pain, the weight of silence, and the strength it takes to confront our past, for the sake of our children’s futures.

Father Nathan Castle is a Catholic priest with the Dominican Order, Father Nathan has developed a remarkable ministry: helping souls who died suddenly and traumatically such as victims of fires, car accidents, shootings, drownings, and suicides to find peace in the afterlife. Often appearing to him in dreams, these souls seek his aid in completing what he calls Interrupted Death Experiences.

He documents these profound encounters in his acclaimed Afterlife, Interrupted series (Books 1–3), sharing moving stories of grace, healing, and hope. His other work, And Toto, Too: The Wizard of Oz as a Spiritual Adventure, explores classic storytelling through a mystical and faith-based lens.

Father Nathan believes his calling is a gift from the Holy Spirit—a sacred task that bridges worlds, bringing comfort to the living and liberation to those that are no longer with us.

Natalia Diaz is the inaugural Chief of Staff at NYC Her Future, a groundbreaking New York City initiative dedicated to uplifting young women and girls of color. A proud Latina and daughter of immigrants, Diaz brings a culturally grounded and community informed lens to every aspect of her leadership. Her role is central to shaping the agency’s strategy, operations, and internal culture, ensuring that each program and partnership aligns with the mission of racial equity, access, and care.

A seasoned public servant, Diaz previously served as the Director of Programs for the Young Men’s Initiative (YMI), where she led educational investments and helped launch innovative initiatives designed to support young men of color. During her nine-year tenure, she rose through the organization’s ranks, driving impact through collaboration and evidence-based programming.

Today we walk with Natalia on her plight to make everyone and everything feel welcomed, valued and respected.

Claudia Rowe has spent more than 30 years shining a light on the often overlooked places where children and government systems collide. Originally from New York City and now rooted in Seattle, she’s made a career out of listening deeply and writing with compassion and clarity. Her investigative reporting on racially biased school discipline at The Seattle Times didn’t just spark conversation, it helped change education laws in Washington State. Her powerful work exploring the lives of Latino youth involved in gangs earned her a Pulitzer Prize nomination.

Beyond the newsroom, Claudia’s voice has reached national audiences through The New York Times, Mother Jones, and Amazon Original Stories. Her 2018 memoir, “The Spider And The Fly”, a haunting true crime narrative, won the Washington State Book Award and showcased her unique ability to blend storytelling with psychological insight.

Today, as a member of the editorial board at The Seattle Times, Claudia focuses her lens on some of the most vulnerable members of society: foster youth, kids in the justice system, and students navigating a complex public education system. Her latest book, Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care, continues her commitment to giving voice to those often left unheard.