The He's Just Podcasts

Susan Polgar’s story is one of grit, genius, and breaking barriers. Born into a modest Jewish family in Cold War-era Budapest, she was already winning chess championships by age four—perched on telephone books just to reach the board. At 15, she became the top-ranked female chess player in the world. . Susan was the first woman to earn the Grandmaster title through tournament play, a feat once thought impossible for women. Over her legendary career, she won 4 World Championships, 12 Olympiad medals (including 5 gold), and all 6 of the most prestigious world chess titles.

In 2024, she was named by FIDE as the greatest female chess trainer in history, honoring her impact on generations of players.

Today, we discuss her incredible memoir “Rebel Queen”, which pulls back the curtain on Cold War politics, sexism in elite chess, and the making of a legend. This is Rebel Queen: The Grandmaster.

Alia Dastagir a former USA Today reporter whose powerful work on gender and mental health has earned some of journalism’s top honors, including the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism. Her reporting was recognized with a National Headliner Award and the American Association of Suicidology’s first Public Service Journalism Award, Alia has been featured on CNN, NPR, and C-SPAN.”

“Today we’re talking with Alia about her new book, To Those Who Have Confused You To Be a Person: Words as Violence and Stories of Women’s Resistance Online. It’s a profound exploration of how language can be used as a weapon — and how women are standing up, speaking out, and building resistance in digital spaces. Alia brings incredible heart and insight to a conversation that has been dormant for far too long. More Than Just!

As a young boy, Dr. Emilio M. Justo fled Fidel Castro’s oppressive regime with his family, carrying nothing but hope and the determination to build a better life. That journey shaped the values that define him today—resilience, discipline, and a deep belief in the power of delayed gratification. By the age of 23, Dr. Justo earned his medical degree, from the University of Michigan, completed his ophthalmology and oculoplastic surgery training by 27, and soon after opened the doors to his own practice.

Now a two-time TEDx speaker with a global following, Dr. Justo’s talks… “Delayed Gratification: Your Superpower to Success” and “The Obsession Advantage to Unprecedented Success, have touched the lives of millions. With over 10 million views combined and his latest talk ranked the #1 TEDx video of 2024, Today we discuss his bestselling book, The Power of Pause: Mastering Delayed Gratification Towards Success. Through his story and his work, Dr. Justo reminds us that no matter where we start; with perseverance, passion, and a willingness to wait for what truly matters, success, and living a life with meaning can be possible.

Lisa Morgan, Breakthrough & Empowerment Coach whose work goes far beyond traditional life coaching. With a background as a Certified Professional Coach, Board-Certified Music Therapist, with three decades of personal life-experiences, Lisa digs deep into inner healing, She helps her clients release subconscious blocks, heal from past trauma, and reclaim their voice. Lisa's methods of trauma-informed, spiritually grounded techniques, are rooted in somatic wisdom. Lisa doesn’t just talk about transformation, she facilitates soul-level breakthroughs, that are felt in the body, rewired in the nervous system, and anchored in the heart. Today we talk to Lisa about a book she co-authored with Lisa Nichols “Against All Odds” which serves as a testament to the human capacity for resilience and determination. Today we walk with Lisa and learn about her journey of reclaiming identity of turning pain into purpose- and how she rewrote her story, on her own terms.

Despite his many accolades, Dean Tolson counts learning to read and write—something he didn’t achieve until the age of 33, as his greatest accomplishment.

A former NBA player and motivational speaker, Dean’s journey began in the ghettos of Kansas City, Missouri. From humble beginnings, he rose to become one of the top high school basketball players in the nation. He went on to play at the University of Arkansas and served honorably in the U.S. Army during his college years.

Dean’s dream of going pro came true when he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics. After three seasons in the NBA, he spent eleven years playing professional basketball internationally. But it was his return to education, encouraged by his mother, and supported by University of Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles. that marked a profound turning point in Dean's life. His graduation, a testament to perseverance, was even featured in Sports Illustrated.

Today, we speak with Dean about his about his book "Power Forward" which chronicles his remarkable journey, from a childhood in an orphanage to overcoming illiteracy, and ultimately graduating magna cum laude with a Master’s degree in Education.

Through his story and public speaking, Dean inspires young people to value education and chase their dreams, no matter the odds. We’re proud to walk beside him as he shares his story of grit, growth, and greatness.

Kathy Allan is a Board-Certified Holistic Nurse with 60 years of experience in nursing. She is a retired Healing Touch Certified Instructor, and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. Kathy has extensive training in energy medicine. Her trauma expertise includes Somatic Experiencing International, where she assists in PTSD practitioner training, as well as Touch Training for Psychotherapists, NARM, and NeuroAffective Touch. Kathy is also the founder of The Gutsy Nurse (www.thegutsynurses.com), a platform dedicated to transforming the nursing profession. Her mission is to reignite passion, increase aliveness, and restore balance and harmony in nurses and the systems in which they work—creating environments that foster true healing as their superpower. More Than Just.. Kathy Allan is The Gutsy Nurse.

Corinna Barrett Lain is the S. D. Roberts & Sandra Moore Professor of Law at the University of Richmond School of Law. She is one of the nation’s leading authorities on the death penalty, presenting her work at national and international conferences and publishing in the top law journals in the country. Lain is also one of the leading voices on criminal justice in Virginia more broadly, serving as the principal co-author of a four-volume treatise on Virginia criminal law and procedure, and regularly lecturing at annual conferences for the Virginia bench and bar. She is a former prosecutor, a former sergeant in the United States Army, and a recipient of the University of Richmond’s Distinguished Educator Award. Today, we’re excited to discuss Corinna’s new book “The Killing State: The Untold Story of Lethal Injection, which exposes the hidden history and legal complexities of America’s primary method of execution.

Women in business continue to face diverse challenges and opportunities. Dr. Marina Gerner, an award-winning financial journalist and columnist, has contributed to The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, The Times, Financial Times, The Guardian, and Wired. She is also an adjunct professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business and holds a PhD from the London School of Economics.

In her latest book, “The Vagina Business, The Innovative Breakthroughs that Could Change Everything in Women's Health." Gerner explores groundbreaking innovations in femtech health— that have the potential to transform medicine, science, and business. Backed by research grants from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and The Society of Authors, her work brings fresh insight to a conversation that has long been overlooked for far too long. Nothing personal, just business. The Vagina Business.

We all face life-changing moments that test our resilience and drive us toward change. For Deborah Mallow—better known as the ‘Ray of Sunshine' these moments fueled her mission to help others transform negative habits into positive ones.

Deborah is a dynamic motivational speaker, success coach, and author of “6 Steps to Fewer Days That Suck.” Listen in to Mallow’s journey and her inspiring message of resilence. After earning a degree in Textile Design and Business from Syracuse University, she built a thriving design and licensing company before making a bold pivot into biotech sales—where she became the #1-ranked dermatology sales rep at Johnson & Johnson.

Now, through The Daily Decisions and her Positive Energy Club, Deborah shares practical strategies for achieving a positive mindset, worrying less, and enjoying life more. With her infectious energy and actionable advice, she’s here to help you make every day a little brighter.

In this episode, we sit down with Susan Sturm, Columbia Law professor and author of What Might Be: Confronting Racism to Transform Our Institutions. Susan received Columbia’s Presidential Teaching Award and co-authored Who’s Qualified with Lani Guinier. A passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, Susan challenges us to rethink how we build fair and welcoming spaces in our communities, workplaces, and beyond. She shares powerful insights on the foundational pillars of justice and how we can take meaningful action to drive lasting change. Join us for an inspiring conversation about whats possible when we commit to transformation. What might be? I’m still standing.