The Second Act with Michael and John

Mike Dwyer walked away from a family business, bet his livelihood on straight-commission airplane sales, left a lucrative career at Gulfstream and later mortgaged his home to keep his own company alive. His story starts on the floor of a graphite machine shop in Waterbury, Connecticut, a place he calls “a wonderful place to be from,” where long hours taught him how to work but also convinced him he wanted a very different life. After discovering flying, he took a chance on aviation with only a few hundred hours in the cockpit and no guaranteed paycheck. That leap carried him through Mooney, Cessna and Gulfstream before he decided success still wasn’t enough reason to stand still. He launched Guardian Jet, eventually reaching a moment when the money was gone and he had to tell his small team there would be no more salaries. They stayed. The company survived, grew, and some of its most important ideas came from failures that forced Dwyer to rethink how the business worked. His journey is a reminder that the most interesting lives are rarely built by protecting what you already have. They’re built by knowing when to take the risk, learning when you get knocked down and having the courage to keep going when the safe choice would be much easier.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@michaelnewborn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

John Ballenger (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@john-ballenger53⁠)⁠⁠⁠

Guest:

Mike Dwyer

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-dwyer-a82a5512/

https://www.guardianjet.com/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@seltzerkings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seltzerkings.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Theme Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Saint Josh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen Here:

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

iHeart: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Socials:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠secondactmovement.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Match with your perfect (human) coach: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠trysam.ai⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kimi Green was barely into her career when she heard a room full of highly paid professionals admit they hated their lives, and decided she was getting out before it became hers. She left the corporate path behind, joined a small donut company with plans to franchise, and watched the opportunity fall short of what she imagined. But that experience pulled her into entrepreneurship, led her to cold-email her way into the startup world, and eventually put her in the orbit of entrepreneur Sam Parr. One message later, Kimi was helping build Sam’s List, a fast-growing marketplace connecting businesses with trusted accounting and finance experts. What began as an early refusal to settle became the foundation for a career she is still creating in real time.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@michaelnewborn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

John Ballenger (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@john-ballenger53⁠)⁠⁠

Guest:

Kimberly Green

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-green-wtx/

https://samslist.com/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@seltzerkings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seltzerkings.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Theme Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Saint Josh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen Here:

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

iHeart: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Socials:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠secondactmovement.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Match with your perfect (human) coach: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠trysam.ai⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most people would have laughed at the idea of building a television show around intentionally bad startup pitches. Kent Richeson built it anyway. Raised in rural Oregon, where chopping firewood to heat the family home taught him grit long before he became an entrepreneur, Kent inherited his father's instinct for building things differently. After helping grow the family business, launching startups, and spending years connecting founders with investors, he realized investors weren't just betting on ideas, they were betting on people. That insight became ShitPitch, an unconventional pitch competition that strips away polished presentations to reveal the human behind the founder. What started as a crazy experiment has since expanded across the country, been featured by CNBC, helped founders raise millions, and evolved into The Cut, a television series built around one simple belief: the people willing to take risks, embrace uncertainty, and keep moving forward are the ones who change what's possible.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@michaelnewborn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

John Ballenger (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@john-ballenger53⁠)⁠

Guest:

Kent Richeson

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentricheson/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@seltzerkings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seltzerkings.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Theme Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Saint Josh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen Here:

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

iHeart: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Socials:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠secondactmovement.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

AI-powered coach-client matching platform: ⁠⁠⁠⁠trysam.ai⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jason Middleton didn’t just reinvent himself once. He built an entire life around jumping into the unknown. Growing up as an overweight kid in Bakersfield with little confidence and no clear direction, he found salvation in endurance sports, eventually becoming a professional triathlete before pushing himself even further into the savage world of Eco Challenge adventure racing, battling jungles, oceans, sleep deprivation, and seven-day races that pushed human limits. When the sport began to outgrow him, he pivoted again, discovering aviation almost by accident and chasing a completely new dream as a pilot. Then 9/11 shattered his career plans overnight. What followed were years marked by devastating personal loss, financial collapse, divorce, and moments where he nearly lost himself entirely, yet every setback became fuel for another transformation. Today, as the founder and CEO of Silver Air Private Jets, Jason’s story is proof that second acts aren’t born from comfort or certainty. They’re forged by people willing to suffer, risk, evolve, and keep saying yes long after most would quit.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@michaelnewborn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

John Ballenger (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@john-ballenger53⁠)

Guest:

Jason Middleton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-middleton-03882978/

https://www.silverair.com/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@seltzerkings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seltzerkings.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Theme Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Saint Josh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen Here:

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

iHeart: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Socials:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠secondactmovement.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

AI-powered coach-client matching platform: ⁠⁠⁠trysam.ai⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

She did everything right, and it still didn’t work. Eileen Nebhut built a decades-long career across publishing, energy, and fintech, earned her MBA, and followed the traditional path to success, only to find herself after COVID unable to land the roles she expected and questioning where she truly fit. Shaped early by a childhood of standing out and learning to navigate being “other,” she developed deep empathy and self-awareness that carried into her professional life, but it was this breaking point that forced a shift. Faced with a choice between continuing to force herself into a path that no longer aligned or taking a terrifying leap into the unknown, she chose reinvention. What began as image consulting grew into a broader mission focused on executive presence, helping professionals be seen, heard, and trusted. Through fear, risk, and constant experimentation, she turned uncertainty into purpose and ultimately redefined success as building something meaningful that empowers others to step fully into who they are.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@michaelnewborn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Hunter Heavener (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunterheavener/)

Guest:

Eileen Nebhut

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eileennebhut/

https://www.venusrisingagency.com/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@seltzerkings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seltzerkings.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Theme Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Saint Josh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen Here:

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

iHeart: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Socials:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠secondactmovement.com⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

AI-powered coach-client matching platform: ⁠⁠trysam.ai⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Angie Callen didn’t plan a radical career reinvention. It found her. She began her career as a civil engineer and moved to Colorado for what seemed like the perfect opportunity, but the 2008 financial crisis forced her to question everything about the path she was on. Walking away from engineering, she spent a year trying anything that crossed her path, from running an artist’s gallery to selling advertising, simply gathering clues about where she truly belonged. The journey was not smooth. After a business collapse and bankruptcy, Angie and her husband rebuilt their lives while living in a converted school bus in the mountains for four years. Through those experiences she discovered her real calling: helping others break free from expectations, redefine success, and pursue work aligned with their values. Today, Angie is an author, entrepreneur, and coach who empowers people to step boldly into their own second acts.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@michaelnewborn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

John Ballenger (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@john-ballenger53⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Guest:

Angie Callen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/angiecallen/

https://themoderncoach.co/

https://careerbenders.com/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@seltzerkings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seltzerkings.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Theme Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Saint Josh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen Here:

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

iHeart: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Socials:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠secondactmovement.com⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

AI-powered coach-client matching platform: ⁠⁠trysam.ai⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ron Johnson’s journey is a powerful testament to reinvention, resilience, and purpose across every chapter of life. Raised on Chicago’s West Side by a single mother and grandparents, Ron learned early that excellence could be a way forward, earning his path to West Point and embarking on what he thought would be a short Army commitment that ultimately became a 32-year career of service. Rising to Major General and Deputy Chief of Engineers, he led complex global operations before being told it was time to retire, an ending that became the doorway to an unexpected second act. Recruited by NBA Commissioner David Stern, Ron became the league’s first-ever Senior Vice President of Referee Operations, restoring trust and integrity through data-driven leadership in one of the most scrutinized roles in professional sports. From there, his journey evolved again into higher education, where he found deep joy teaching, mentoring, earning his doctorate at age 69, and now serving as Chief of Staff at Georgia Tech. Across every transition, Ron redefined success not by titles or plans, but by courage, curiosity, service, and an unwavering commitment to growth.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@michaelnewborn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

John Ballenger (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@john-ballenger53⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Guest:

Dr. Ron Johnson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rleejohnson/

https://www.isye.gatech.edu/users/ronald-johnson

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@seltzerkings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seltzerkings.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Theme Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Saint Josh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen Here:

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

iHeart: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Socials:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠secondactmovement.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

AI-powered coach-client matching platform: ⁠trysam.ai⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To celebrate two years of The Second Act Podcast, this special anniversary episode distills the most powerful parting advice ever shared by our guests into a single, focused conversation for anyone standing at the edge of what’s next. Across founders, operators, creatives, coaches, and leaders, a clear pattern emerges: second acts aren’t about reinvention for reinvention’s sake, but about curiosity, courage, self-trust, and taking the next honest step forward. From learning to bet on yourself, to letting go of perfection, to building systems, community, and alignment at home, this episode captures the hard-earned wisdom guests left for listeners when it mattered most. If you’re contemplating change or just getting started, this recap is both a mirror and a nudge reminding you that clarity follows action, progress beats certainty, and your next chapter is built one intentional step at a time.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@michaelnewborn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

John Ballenger (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@john-ballenger53⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@seltzerkings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seltzerkings.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Theme Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Saint Josh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen Here:

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

iHeart: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Socials:

Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠secondactmovement.com⁠

Coach-client matching platform: ⁠trysam.ai

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens when everything you thought defined you, your title, your income, your path, suddenly stops feeling true? For JB Bolton, that question ignited a transformation he never saw coming. Growing up in Colorado Springs, he watched his parents navigate change with resilience, a lesson that later fueled his own nonlinear path from retail sales to finance to tech. But it was the birth of his daughter that triggered a radical reset. JB and his family sold nearly everything, hit the road in an RV, and stripped life down to what actually mattered. That clarity led him from answering phones at a scrappy startup to becoming a senior executive guiding a high-growth SaaS company through scale and transformation. Ultimately, the conversations he valued most, helping people navigate challenge, identity, and purpose, pulled him into full-time coaching. Today, JB helps leaders reinvent themselves by starting with courageous and compassionate curiosity.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@michaelnewborn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

John Ballenger (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@john-ballenger53⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Guest:

JB Bolton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanrobertbolton/

https://www.boltonco.net/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@seltzerkings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seltzerkings.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Theme Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Saint Josh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen Here:

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

iHeart: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Socials:

Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠secondactmovement.com

AI-powered coach-client matching platform: trysam.ai

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

She never set out to be a coach. In fact, she thought she’d be a doctor. But when a single question from her boss changed everything, Cara-Lyn Giovanniello discovered her true calling: helping people evolve into the leaders they were meant to be. From her beginnings in a family of educators to shaping leadership cultures at UC Berkeley, Booz Allen, Square, and Nextdoor, she’s built a career around courage, connection, and emotional intelligence. Now, as founder of CLG Coaching, Cara-Lyn empowers others to take bold leaps, embrace imperfection, and unlock their fullest potential, proving that clarity doesn’t come before the leap, it comes after.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@michaelnewborn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

John Ballenger (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@john-ballenger53⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Guest:

Cara-Lyn Giovanniello

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-lyn-giovanniello-pcc/

https://clgcoaching.com/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@seltzerkings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seltzerkings.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Theme Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Saint Josh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen Here:

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

iHeart: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Socials:

Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠secondactmovement.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices