“I've messed up in every aspect of my life in every way possible, and I've learned from it. And hopefully someone takes that and they can learn something and then make their own mistakes, too.” - Erika Ayers Badan

Do you want to discover the secret to turning your passion into a successful business? Get ready to unlock the key to transforming your passion into a thriving business.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Unleash the power of your passion and turn it into a thriving business venture.

• Discover the key to navigating career transitions and finding genuine happiness in your work life.

• Unlock the hidden benefits of diverse work experiences and how they can elevate your professional journey.

• Master the art of building a captivating personal brand on social media to stand out in the digital world.

• Explore effective strategies for achieving a harmonious work-life balance and reclaiming your time and energy.

Erika Ayers Badan is a digital innovator, disruptor, and seasoned executive on the cutting edge of content creation, distribution, and monetization of premier and culturally relevant content. As an early adopter of internet culture, Ayers has always been interested in what’s next, driving digital entrepreneurship and large-scale revenue growth within companies.

Ayers Badan was recently named CEO of Food52 after serving as a board member and advisor since 2019.

Ayers Badan currently serves on the boards of the Premier Lacrosse League, and global public safety technology leader Axon Enterprise (AXON).

She is also the author of the book “Nobody Cares About Your Career: Why Failure is Good, The Great Ones Play Hurt and Other Hard Truths” which was released in July of 2024. Intertwined with anecdotes from her own career, Ayers Badan shares inspiring insight into how work really works, and how you can get it to work for you.

As the first-ever CEO of media magnate Barstool Sports, Ayers Badan led the company through explosive growth (+5000% in revenue and significantly more in audience), expanding the company from a regional blog to a national powerhouse brand and media company. During her 9 years steering the company, Barstool became a top ten podcasting publisher in the US, with the world's #1 sports, hockey, golf, and music podcasts, and a top 6 brand globally on TikTok. Ayers Badan has launched over 35 brands, including breakout franchises like Pat McAfee and Call Her Daddy.

Following Barstool’s exponential growth, Fast Company named Ayers Badan as one of its "Most Creative People in Business" in 2018, citing Barstool Sports' expansion into multimedia and merchandising during her tenure. That same year, Forbes ranked her 25th on its "Most Powerful Women in U.S. Sports.” In 2019, she was ranked #19 on The Big Lead's list of "The 75 Most Powerful People in the Sports Media Business." That year, she was also included on Crain's New York's "Notable Women in the Business of Sports.” Adweek named Ayers Badan as one of its "Most Powerful Women in Sports" in 2017 and 2020.

Ayers Badan has also held several senior roles at influential media and technology organizations, including President of BKSTG, CMO for AOL, VP of Branding at Yahoo! and Senior Director of MSN Branded Experiences for Microsoft.

As a dyslexic, I can see from the creative, to the manufacturing, to the economic, to the distribution, to the end result in a blink of an eye. And I can tell you where there is a discord. I might not be able to tell you right away why, but I can tell you for sure that's where it is. - Gil Gershoni

Discover the surprising journey of Gil Gershoni, a dyslexic entrepreneur who turned a childhood passion for magic tricks into a thriving creative agency. Embracing dyslexia as a superpower, Gil's radical collaboration approach has redefined the way we solve problems and foster inclusivity. But here's the unexpected twist: Gil's dyslexic design thinking has not only led to groundbreaking creative solutions but has also sparked a global movement through the "Dear Dyslexia" postcard project. Want to know how dyslexia can unlock creativity and resilience in the business world? Get ready to be inspired and join the conversation. Stay tuned for more insights and surprises.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Unleash your passion and turn it into a thriving business.

• Harness the power of dyslexic design thinking for creative problem-solving.

• Overcome dyslexia-related challenges in education and thrive.

• Start and grow a successful creative agency from the ground up.

• Discover the meaningful impact of the "Dear Dyslexia" postcard project.

My special guest is Gil Gershoni.

For over 30 years, Gil Gershoni has been bringing together cutting edge ideas and keeping brands like Google, Apple, Spotify, and Nike ahead of the curve. After immigrating to the United States from Israel and supporting himself through a brief stint as a magician, Gershoni founded Gershoni Creative, a San Francisco-based creative agency, in 1996.

As the agency expanded, Gil realized that his dyslexia had benefits within the creative process that helped his team and clients innovate and thrive. Through his work and advocacy, Gershoni is helping others discover something he’s long known: there’s a little bit of magic in dyslexic thinking.

In 2017, Gil founded Dyslexic Design Thinking, a program that teaches people how to leverage strategies that come naturally to dyslexics to enhance how they work, think, create, and problem-solve. His mission is to educate people about dyslexia and move away from the traditional – and incomplete – perception of the condition as a debilitating limitation. For Gil, dyslexia is a hyper-ability, not just a disability. Dyslexics are often able to make surprising connections and find solutions in unexpected places – and Dyslexic Design Thinking can help linear thinkers unlock their creative potential.

Dyslexic Design Thinking has grown to include the Dyslexic Design Thinking podcast and The Bigger Picture with Amazing Dyslexics, a virtual salon series that explores how dyslexics and non-dyslexics alike can use big-picture thinking to create and innovate across different fields.

In October of 2022, Gil executive produced Dyslexic Dictionary, an exhibit in San Francisco showcasing works by dyslexic artists and leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and Twitter logo designer Martin Grasser.

“If we all looked at life as ‘what are we supposed to learn and what are we supposed to achieve? What are we supposed to do here in this world, in this lifetime?’ I think we would feel more empowered.” - Melissa Muszynski

Want to achieve career transformation and follow your passion? Embrace change and find fulfillment in your work? Well, I've got the solution for you! In this captivating story, Melissa Muszynski shares her journey of turning her passion for interior design into a successful business, overcoming challenges, and following her heart. Get ready to be inspired as we dive into her story and discover the key to embracing change and achieving career transformation. Let's unlock the secrets to turning passion into a thriving business and find the fulfillment you've been seeking. Get ready to be inspired and take your career to the next level!

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Unleash the power of turning your passion into a thriving business.

• Discover effective strategies for overcoming concussions and migraines.

• Explore the intriguing world of interior design psychology and emotion.

• Embark on a transformative journey to start your own design business.

• Understand the profound impact of home environment on mental health.

My special guest is Melissa Muszynski.

Melissa is the founder and creative director of MBM Design. She offers her clients full service residential and commercial interior design coupled with strategic project management services. She has the expertise to take on projects of all sizes and complexities, ranging from single family homes to multi-story residences and offices.

Along with her commitment in providing the highest quality work for her clients, she is an active member of the CT Home Builder’s and Remodeler’s Association and serves on the Board of Directors for the Interior Design Society, Connecticut Chapter.

During her “free time” she can be seen at local art galleries, cheering at swim meets and finding design inspiration while traveling with her family.