Amy Meislin Pollack is an American children's author and retired educator best known for creating the Jelly Bean middle-grade fiction series. Her debut series, published by Austin Macauley Publishers, includes The Adventures of Jelly Bean, The Further Adventures of Jelly Bean, and The Still Further Adventures of Jelly Bean. [

Literary Career

The inspiration for Pollack’s coming-of-age series dates back to her fourth-grade classroom in the 1960s, where her teacher frequently called her to the front of the room to share impromptu stories about a character named "Jelly Bean". Though she began drafting the stories later in life, she formally completed and published the series during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Geared toward readers aged 7 to 13, her books follow the nostalgic, real-world complexities of adolescence in the 1960s. Her writing has earned critical recognition from outlets such as Kirkus Reviews and The US Review of Books for tackling sensitive, relatable youth themes, including bullying, mixed-race identity, poverty, and family dynamics. [1,

Professional Background

Before launching her publishing career, Pollack spent more than 40 years in education. She taught a diverse range of subjects and grade levels, working as a high school English teacher, reading specialist, and special education teacher. Additionally, she served for six years as a writing professor and tutor center advisor at Montclair State University. In the early 1970s, prior to entering education, she worked briefly in the New York City advertising industry

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Dr. Sieglinde Othmer is an author, style and wellness advocate, and octogenarian powerhouse on a mission to redefine how we view the aging process. Born in Germany, Dr. Othmer survived a daring childhood escape from behind the Iron Curtain before immigrating to the United States, where she established herself as a social scientist, researcher, and academic.

Following the loss of her husband, she channeled her personal resilience into creating Joyous Longevity, an educational movement and field guide exploring mindfulness, socialization, and cognitive activity. Her empowering message that "joy is a conscious decision" has made her a highly sought-after guest on programs like Kansas Public Radio and various wellness podcasts. When she isn't writing or speaking, Dr. Othmer is an avid gardener, global traveler who has visited over 40 countries, and the proud mother of three children.

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Brian Beck helps mid-sized organizations move beyond the hype around AI and cybersecurity and turn emerging technology into practical business results.

While much of the conversation around AI focuses on what the technology can do, Brian focuses on a more important question: Why are so many companies struggling to actually implement it?

His work centers on helping leadership teams identify where AI can create meaningful impact within their existing operations, align teams around execution, and implement solutions that improve efficiency, reduce risk, and support better decision-making.

Brian brings a practical perspective shaped by real-world experience—including seeing initiatives stall, budgets get wasted, and expectations fall short of reality. Rather than focusing on the latest tools or buzzwords, he breaks down what actually works, where organizations commonly go wrong, and what leaders should consider before making their next technology investment.

On the podcast, Brian offers a straightforward, no-hype perspective on AI, cybersecurity, leadership, and implementation—giving business leaders actionable insights they can take back to their organizations and put to work immediately.

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What if Type 2 Diabetes isn’t really a blood sugar problem—but a cellular and metabolic problem hiding underneath it?

Dr. Jason Shumard is a Functional Medicine practitioner with more than 20 years of experience helping people understand and overcome Type 2 Diabetes, insulin resistance, and metabolic dysfunction. He goes beyond simply managing numbers and symptoms, using detailed lab-based assessments to uncover what’s actually driving the problem.

But this mission is personal. After watching his own mother struggle with diabetes, Dr. Shumard became passionate about helping others understand the condition from a completely different perspective.

Known for breaking down complex metabolic science into conversations anyone can understand, he challenges conventional thinking and asks an important question: Why do so many people keep hitting the same walls with diabetes—and what can we do differently?

On the podcast, Dr. Shumard brings science, personal experience, and a fresh perspective to a topic affecting millions of people. Expect an eye-opening conversation about diabetes, insulin resistance, metabolism, and the hidden factors that may be keeping people stuck.

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Our next guest is a serial entrepreneur, growth specialist, and a true powerhouse in the world of customer experience. Over his incredible career, he has built, scaled, and successfully sold six different companies by following a simple mantra: the customer is at the center of the universe.

He is widely known for leading the massive U.S. market expansion of the Australian software giant Panviva, and today, he advises Fortune 500 companies on how to transform their corporate culture and turn casual buyers into lifelong brand ambassadors. He is also a sought-after speaker, an author, and the host of his own hit show, The Science of CX.

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Buckle up, because today’s guest is about to completely change the way you think about relationships, business, and success! We are joined by the one and only Jeffrey Meshel—a real estate powerhouse, serial entrepreneur, and quite literally a master networker who is always just One Phone Call Away from solving any business challenge!

As the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Candor Capital Partners and the visionary mind behind The Strategic Forum, Jeff has spent over 40 years building elite, high-value alliances. He is a phenomenal author of four game-changing books, including his absolute must-read latest release, Know Who You Know. If you want to transform your network into your ultimate net worth, you are in for an absolute treat!

High-Octane Talking Points

• Become an Opportunity Magnet: Learn the exact, actionable mindset shifts you need to make so that high-value business deals and partnerships start chasing you!
• The "One Phone Call" Rolodex: Jeff breaks down how to build an inner circle so powerful that you can solve any major business crisis with a single, strategic phone call.
• The High-Stakes Truth About Trust: Why trust is a double-edged sword, how to guard it fiercely, and how to use it as your ultimate competitive advantage.
• Battle-Tested Resilience: Epic stories and lessons learned from the front lines of real estate, tech startups like DivorceForce, and serving on major banking boards.

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Sarah Saffari is an entrepreneur, business strategist, and influencer-marketing expert who has built her career at the intersection of creators, brands, and digital growth. As the founder and CEO of InfluencerNexus, Sarah helps brands connect with the right influencers and build campaigns designed to drive real awareness, engagement, and conversions.

Sarah's journey gives her a unique perspective on the rapidly evolving creator economy. After years of helping influencers build their audiences and businesses, she recognized the gaps between brands and creators and built InfluencerNexus to help bridge them. Her insights into influencer strategy, Gen Z marketing, personal branding, and the business behind social media make her a fascinating guest for entrepreneurs, creators, and anyone trying to understand where digital marketing is headed.

She’s not just talking about the influencer economy—she’s helping build what comes next.

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Matt Friedman is a serial entrepreneur, business leader, and the co-founder of Wing Zone, a restaurant brand he launched with Adam Scott while they were students at the University of Florida. What began in 1991 as a late-night wing experiment in their fraternity kitchen grew into an international franchise business with locations across the U.S. and abroad.

Matt’s entrepreneurial journey is a story of spotting an opportunity, taking a risk, building a brand from the ground up, and learning what it takes to scale a business. After decades of growing Wing Zone, he has continued his entrepreneurial journey and is now CEO of Epic Wings.

He brings a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship, franchising, leadership, branding, and business growth—and an incredible story of how a simple idea between college friends became a global franchise.

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Lisa Baker is an accomplished executive coach, leadership strategist, speaker, and founder of Ascentim, bringing more than two decades of Fortune 500 leadership experience to the conversation. She is passionate about helping ambitious professionals unlock their potential, build confidence, lead authentically, and create careers with greater purpose and impact.

Through Ascentim, Lisa combines real-world leadership experience with practical coaching strategies to help individuals navigate career growth, leadership challenges, and personal development. Her unique perspective makes her an engaging and inspiring podcast guest for anyone looking to become a stronger leader, find greater clarity, and take their professional growth to the next level.

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Jason Roberts is a prominent real estate investor, entrepreneur, and the founder and managing broker of Better Blueprint Realty. Successfully transitioning from a corporate engineering background into full-time entrepreneurship, Roberts scaled a minimal initial investment into a multi-million dollar real estate and educational ecosystem.

Early Life & Career Transition

• Real Estate Roots: Raised in New York as the son of a real estate agent and a home builder, Roberts grew up around construction sites and residential developments.
• Corporate Background: He initially pursued a stable career track, working a conventional 9-to-5 job in the engineering sector.
• The Pivot: Seeking a high-yield vehicle to grow his personal savings, he chose to leave his engineering role to pursue active real estate investing full-time.

Investment & Business Growth

• Rapid Scaling: Roberts initiated his investing journey with just $5,000 in capital, generating $400,000 in cash and equity within his first 18 months.
• Volume and Portfolio: During his first three years in the industry, he participated in more than $100 million in sales and acquired a portfolio of over 60 investment properties.
• Strategy Focus: Specializing in high-margin asset types, his operations span high-end fix-and-flips, short-term vacation rentals (Airbnb), multifamily properties, luxury developments, and BRRRR projects.

Mentorship & Media

• Better Blueprint Academy: Moving past the capacity limits of 1-on-1 coaching, Roberts institutionalized his systems into an online educational platform and national mentorship program designed to train six-figure house flippers.
• Philosophy: He strongly advocates for a "quality over quantity" approach, frequently highlighting the structural advantage of managing a single, high-margin $200,000 flip over multiple resource-draining deals.
• Media Appearances: He hosts the Abstract podcast, speaks regularly at live real estate dealmaker masterclasses, and was featured in the television series Legacy Makers.

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