Behind The Brilliance

THE SHOW This episode is one of my favorites. Eli is the first social psychologist who's been on the show, and I thoroughly enjoyed our chat.  Eli Finkel is a social psychology professor who studies interpersonal attraction, marriage, conflict resolution, and how our social relationships influence our goal achievement. Our conversation centers on his brilliant book, The All or Nothing Marriage, and what he's learned about modern marriages and how we can connect with the right partner and thrive in our relationships. Behind His Brilliance: Proactively avoiding boredom TOPICS COVERED -Eli's path into social research and relationship psychology -Eli's findings on what makes modern marriages successful -highlights from Eli's book, The All or Nothing Marriage -happiness as an appropriate (or inappropriate) goal for marriage -managing expectations in relationships and marriage -how self-actualization plays into healthy marriages -destiny belief vs growth belief in relationships -Eli's "love hacks" birthed from rese

THE SHOW This is a bonus solo episode with the (sometimes) annual birthday  recap of what I learned from the past year and what lit me up. TOPICS COVERED -books and TV Lisa loved -a random unprompted rave about cauliflower rice -6 lessons from the past year on saying no, killing ego, productive patience, sexy pajamas, friendship, and more Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB153 STUFF MENTIONED BoJack Horseman Catastrophe The World's Most Extraordinary Homes Cauliflower rice Cauliflower pizza crust Hell yeah or no (video) How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss Unbought and Unbossed by Shirley Chisholm Principles by Ray Dalio Night Shift (iOS) Flux Butter & Nectar pillowcases Dr. Breus (The Sleep Doctor) on Behind the Brilliance  Essential oil for sleep Good Night Sleep Improving LED light bulbs   

The Show This is a breathtaking underdog and reinvention story. Perhaps the most remarkable I've heard on Behind the Brilliance. Deesha shares her journey from boarding school to dropping out of college because she ran out of money to becoming a White House intern at 30 years old to becoming the Social Secretary under the Obama Administration. She opens up about the imposter syndrome, setbacks, and insecurities she faced, and how she conquered them all.  The Guest Deesha Dyer is a speaker, writer, Creative Event and Strategy consultant, and most notably known as the former Obama Administration Social Secretary. The Philadelphia native became a White House intern at the age of 30 and completed a seven-year tenure there that honed her expertise in event coordination, logistics, protocol, and statecraft.  Her storied career is unconventional at best, with themes of reinvention, drive, and a commitment to community service integrated throughout. In this episode, we cover:  -how Deesha bounced back from setbacks t

Amy Morin was a vibrant twenty-something with a bright future ahead of her when tragedy struck not once, but twice: she lost her mother and her husband in a span of three short years. Refusing to feel sorry for herself, Amy used what she'd learned as a psychotherapist to develop the mental toughness necessary to find peace and push forward to brighter days. She penned the viral article, 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, which became the bestselling book of the same title. Now she's sharing her journey and observations with the masses. We covered:  -Amy's journey into psychotherapy -Amy's advice on becoming mentally tough without having a bunch of drama -how Amy handled losing her mother and husband unexpectedly just 3 years apart -what Amy's learned about mental toughness and resilience -Amy's approach to managing anxiety and overwhelm -and much more!   Say hi to Amy on Twitter: @AmyMorinLCSW Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB151

This episode is a recap of Season 7 highlights. The episode features snippets of 7 episodes, some reflections on making your own luck, a little housekeeping, and a freestyle. You're welcome.  Episodes Covered:  135 - AFRICA MIRANDA @africamiranda 136 - DUANE SPIRES @duanespires  141 - KELLY HOEY @jkhoey 142 - RODERICK COX @rcoxmaestro 146 - LUCHINA FISHER @luchina 148 - TONYA RAPLEY @myfabfinance 149 - LISA CONGDON @lisacongdon

Lisa Congdon's brilliance in her courage, dedication, and willingness to take calculated risks. After leaving her elementary school and nonprofit careers at 40, she become a self-taught artist. Now she manages an empire of passive and active income that spans e-commerce, books, teaching, and more. In this conversation, she pulls back the curtain on her path to profitability, her thoughts on thriving as an artist, and why she feels grit matters more than talent.  We covered:  -how Lisa went from teacher and nonprofit pro to self-taught thriving artist -Lisa's approach to building a devoted following that threw money at her before she was ready  -how Lisa managed the transition from steady paycheck to income uncertainty -Lisa's thoughts on imposter syndrome, confidence, and managing insecurities  -Lisa's approach to risk-taking, negotiation, and time management -and much more! Say hi to Lisa on Twitter + Instagram: @lisacongdon Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB149

Tonya Rapley is a leading financial educator and the founder of My Fab Finance. She's a dynamic woman who brings a smart and balanced perspective to money matters. Our chat spans way beyond money to include spirituality, starting over, hustle, ego, and much more. We covered:  -how Tonya found her way from music to money as a career -money stories: what they are and how to change them -Tonya's path to overcoming physical and emotional abuse  -advice on setting boundaries with friends and family around money  -Tonya's spiritual journey  -how Tonya made more money working fewer hours  -pride vs ego -Tonya's advice for starting over and getting started  -and much more! Say hi to Tonya @myfabfinance on Twitter and Instagram  Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB148

This is a solo episode with 8 musings for 2018. They cover things like celebrating wins, clearing clutter, and other important stuff. As always, my shenanigans are sprinkled throughout. Let me know what you thought of this episode! @LisaNicoleBell Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB147

Luchina Fisher is an award-winning writer, director, and producer. Her latest film, Birthright, challenges the war on reproductive rights in America. As an accomplished artist and dynamic woman, Luchina shares hard-won wisdom and reflections on a wide range of topics including:  -her early days as a writer -how she ended up living with Gladys Knight  -why she doesn't believe in staying in her lane -her experience working with music legend BB King -how her latest film, Birthright, came to be  -the attack on women's reproductive rights in the US -and much more  Say hi to Luchina on Twitter: @Luchina Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB146

A listener from Twitter asked whether I felt a responsibility to use my platform good. I answered. In detail. Black women are centered and I share my thoughts on protests, converting points of view, economic empowerment, and much more.  

Idil Ahmed has amassed a following of more than 1 million people on Twitter (@idillionaire), Instagram, and Facebook by delivering inspiring and illuminating content. An author, entrepreneur, speaker, and science enthusiast, Idil has made it her life's work to help as many people as possible operate from a place of power and clarity. In this conversation, we talk about her journey, the practical aspects of spirituality, how she turned a growing Twitter account into a 7 figure following, and much more.  We cover:  -how Idil turned her passion into a profitable pursuit -Idil's early days and how she started her first business -Idil's thoughts on reconciling science and spirituality  -how the Idillionaire brand came to be and how she grew it  -the inspiration for Idil's book, Get Out of Your Own Way  -Idil's wisdom on forgiving yourself, navigating change, and finding your way forward -the importance of avoiding comparison  -and much more! Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB144  

Dr. Michael Breus is the leading authority on sleep in the United States. He is a clinical psychologist and one of 163 psychologists in the world with his credentials and distinctions related to sleep disorders. In this fast paced conversation, I bombard him with my burning questions about sleep, coffee, alcohol, travel, beauty and all of the other random things we all need to understand about sleep and how it affects our bodies.  Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB143

Roderick Cox is just one of a handful of African-American conductors in the world. He is currently the associate conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra and has gained national attention for his outstanding talent. During this conversation, he pulls back the curtain on his process, his dedication to his craft, the hard lessons he's learned about excellence, and much more. We cover:  -how Roderick got his start in music  -the mental and emotional aspects of performance excellence -Roderick's thoughts on the sacrifices and commitment necessary to thrive at a craft -how Roderick manages his insecurities  -Roderick's lessons learned on discipline  -Roderick's daily routine  -advice to classical music newbies -and much more!  

Kelly Hoey is an author, speaker, and angel investor. Her book, Build Your Dream Network, is a guide for making modern career connections that power a career you love. Whether you're an indie artist or a high powered C level exec, Kelly's advice is useful.  In this conversation, we cover:  -Why Kelly decided to start going after equity instead of paychecks (and you should too)  -How the New York Times engagement announcements became part of Kelly's networking strategy  -Why you should never ask anyone to mentor you  -Kelly's networking advice for introverts  -How Kelly made the leap from corporate attorney to author, speaker and investor -Why curiosity and side projects are essential to a great career -and much more!

A'Lelia Bundles is a four time author, public speaker, journalist, and television producer. Her Madam CJ Walker biography On Her Own Ground is being produced for TV by Octavia Spencer and LeBron James. We talk about A'Lelia's dynamic career, her approach to decision making, and the lessons she learned from the first self-made American woman millionaire - her great-great-grandmother, Madam CJ Walker.  Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB140

Angela Nissel is the bestselling author of The Broke Diaries, a television writer, and all around dope and funny woman. We talk about her varied and fascinating career, the best lessons she's learned, and why she'd rather have money than fame.  We cover a lot of topics including:  -Angela's experience co-founding Okay Player with Questlove (and the funny story of how they met) -Angela's book, The Broke Diaries, and how her relationship with money has changed since then -the value of surrender in life and work -the illusions of "success" and why Angela prefers money to fame -the valuable lesson Angela learned after her appearance on Oprah's talk show  -finding your way to "work/life balance" as a creative  -and much more! Say hi to Angela on Twitter + Instagram: @angelanissel

This episode is a short and sweet compilation of questions. They'll challenge you, inspire you, and make you think. Journal about them, discuss them with friends, or just think on them. They're the perfect way to prepare for 2018.  PLUS! I share deets on the first digital download, Higher Concerns. It's available now at HigherConcerns.com or BehindtheBrilliance.com. Use the code "BTB" to get $5 off.  Let me know what you thought about these questions - I'm @LisaNicoleBell on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

Rachel Hill is a former corporate superstar turned wanderlust warrior. She left a 6 figure salary at a Fortune 50 company to backpack through Asia. She's been traveling ever since. Now she runs RachelTravels.com, a travel blog and business that delivers useful and inspiring advice on traveling the world...or your own backyard. Topics Covered:  -how Rachel discovered she was depressed and what she did about it -how and why Rachel took off for Southeast Asia with a backpack and a dream -how Rachel turned her passion into a profitable pursuit -Rachel's thoughts on travel bucket lists, her favorite countries, and her advice to newbie travelers -Rachel's secrets to traveling in style without breaking the bank -what Rachel has learned about business and her approach to the gamification of marketing -how Rachel fails forward -and much more! Say hi to Rachel on Twitter or Instagram Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB137

Duane Spires is a serial entrepreneur who brings passion and enthusiasm to everything he does. We covered a LOT in this episode including the details of his journey to building multiple $1M+ businesses, his take on dealing with setbacks, how he handled friends who didn't support his wins, and much more.  This conversation covers:  -how Duane turned a $5 loan from his mom into an empire (and later hired her full time to be on his team) -how Duane changed his relationship with money after blowing it on ballerific nonsense -Duane's thoughts on choosing the right spouse when you have big goals  -how Duane's relationships changed after he became successful (and what he did about it)  -Duane's habits that resulted in him creating a $1 million side hustle  -and much more!

Influencer, actress, and entrepreneur Africa Miranda stops by to chat about her journey from a girl with New York City dreams in Alabama to star of Bravo's "The New Atlanta" to dynamic woman birthing a luxury beauty brand.  During this talk, Africa opens about the best and worst parts of her path and shares the secrets to her resilience. We cover a lot of topics including:  -Africa's approach to making big decisions (you'll love her framework and want to steal it for yourself) -Africa's secrets for creating enviable brand identity (luxury radiates from her new brand) -The beauty secrets that yield glowing skin and slaytastic hair -How Africa actively designs a life she loves (with advice you can actually use) -Africa's reflections on life after reality TV -Africa's leap from Alabama to New York City and why the move was so important -and much more! Say hi to Africa on Instagram and Twitter : @africamiranda  Rate the show on iTunes and share it with somebody who can use a shot of funny inspiration. Get show no