Behind The Brilliance

Nitasha Tiku is a senior technology writer for WIRED. Her past work includes writing for Gawker, BuzzFeed, Inc, and The Verge. During this chat, we cover a lot of topics including:  -How Nitasha broke into journalism (and her advice for people who want to break into any creative field)  -Nitasha's observations about founders who do well -How Nitasha dealt with intense criticism and scrutiny (useful advice included) -Orgasmic meditation (yes, really)  -Nitasha's advice for slaying the green-eyes jealousy dragon  -and much more!  Say hi to Nitasha on Twitter or Instagram: @nitashatiku  Get show notes at www.behindthebrilliance.com

It's the Season 7 kickoff of Behind the Brilliance!  The cynics say the advice about waking up early, meditating, and all of the other usual stuff is overblown and doesn't account for the role of LUCK in being successful. I agree with them so I decided to devote an episode to ways we can make our own luck.  Some stuff is legitimately beyond our control (like dicks/vaginas, skin color, etc) but there's a lot we can do that makes a difference.  This entire season will be devoted to making luck and hacking happiness. I can't wait for you to hear the conversations.  In the mean time, give this episode a listen. It covers:  -a twist on the conventional advice to "work hard"  -how to find your Prosper Point -why "hobbies and interests" matter -a different way of thinking about big goals  -and much more Let me know if you're making your own luck and what you thought of this episode: Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @lisanicolebell 

Season 6 was a solid collection of conversations from an eclectic array of folks including writers, entrepreneurs, actors, and artists. I'm grateful to the amazing guests who generously shared their time and opened up about their experiences and lessons learned. I'm also grateful to you, the listener, for joining me in this special little community of people who want to be, do, and have more as we celebrate what we've got. I've recapped 7 episodes from Season 6: 108 - Eric Bahn : entrepreneur + investor at 500 Startups 109 - Jamila Daniel : television writer, Star on FOX 111 - Tamara Floyd : blogger turned entrepreneur 115 - Tina Lifford : star on OWN's hit television show Queen Sugar 117 - Damon Young : writer + founder, Very Smart Brothas 121 - Dr. Andrew Newberg : neuroscientist + author of How God Changes Your Brain 128 - Tiffany Dufu : Author of Drop the Ball + Chief Leadership Officer at Levo Drop a line and let me know what you thought about Season 6! @LisaNicoleBell on Twitter, Facebook + Instagram Se

My nickname for this show is the Creativity Meets Commerce. Jessica has designed systems and processes for her work and offers frameworks for other artists. Her work deals with the hard stuff: staying out of your own way, thinking about the bigger picture of your goals, managing limited time, deciding to charge for your creative work. During this conversation, we covered a lot of ground on how to get art done even as the artist struggles through the process. Jessica is practical (which I love), and she offers clear, accessible ways of solving common problems for people who want to make things. Say hi to Jessica and let her know what you thought about our chat: @jccabel We covered a lot including:  -melding creativity and commerce -what idea debt is and how to eliminate it -time management advice that works for creative types -redefining "marketing" for people who hate salesy stuff -art as a service -overcoming dark times in the middle of a project   Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB131

Felecia Hatcher is a White House Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Globally Sought after Speaker and Author who works to rid communities of innovation deserts and creates cool books, products and courses to help Start-Ups, Creatives and Broke Entrepreneurs follow their most epic dreams.  In this conversation, we talk about her journey from C student to award-winning entrepreneur. We talk about the $1 million grant she recently received for her latest venture, Code Fever.  We covered a lot including:  -time management hacks -delegating (Felecia's war stories and advice)  -working with her spouse (and the effect it had on her marriage, spoiler alert: they didn't kill each other)  -the hardest lesson she's learned -why she advises taking it slow with investors  -and much more Say hi to Felecia on Twitter and let her know what you thought: @feleciahatcher Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB130    

In the last solo episode of Season 6, I share some thoughts on weaving minimalism into our lives in practical ways. Of course, shenanigans are sprinkled throughout for our mutual amusement.  This episode covers:  -the Fleeing Suitcase exercise  -delaying purchases (aka the Amazon cart for life) -curating + auditing what we own (and why we should do it regularly) -the importance of gratitude and celebration  -and more  Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB129

My nickname for this episode is the Sanity Show. It's full of fresh ideas and perspective on getting things done with grace, staying sane when you're ambitious, and learning how to leverage relationships to fulfill your personal and professional potential. Tiffany Dufu is the author of the new book, Drop the Ball. We covered a lot of topics including time management, renegotiating relationships, comparative advantage (and how to use it to your benefit at work and at home), and much more.  Say hi to Tiffany and let her know what you thought about our chat: @tdufu TOPICS COVERED (partial list) -how to "find your purpose" and connect it to your daily work -lessons on delegating effectively -the importance of renegotiating relationships -how to apply comparative advantage at home  -how to have critical conversations when you need support -redefining what it means to be "good" at any given role in your life  -and much more Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB128

In the last Q+A episode of Season 6, I answer a question about how I discovered and implemented my system of values and a question about choosing between a lifestyle business and a scalable business.  Topics covered in this episode:  -Why I decided to clarify my values  -The process of choosing and implementing a new values system -How to troubleshoot faulty values -How to choose between a lifestyle business and a scalable business -Why no one is really their "own boss" and why it doesn't matter anyway -Much more!  Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB127

Kristi and I had such a good conversation that lasted about 2 hours. We talked about her essay "Enjoli - read it at http://bit.ly/KristiEnjoli,why you're never too old to start over, and much more.  Kristi is a writer and soon-to-be author who penned the (popular and somewhat controversial) essay "Enjoli" on Medium last summer. The response opened a floodgate of reactions from people discussing alcohol consumption, being sober, and how the choice plays into other aspects of life.  After reading the essay earlier this year, I was struck by both Kristi's writing style and her observations about alcohol and what it's done to us culturally.  Even if you don't "think" you have an alcohol problem, this episode is a good reflection on anything we consider to be a detriment or vice to well-being. I've thought deeply about it as it applies to a variety of areas of my life. Maybe you will too.  Say hi to Kristi and let her know what you thought about our chat: @kristiccoulter  Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB126

On Part 2 of Tipsy Talk, listener Priscilla asks about sustaining herself as an artist. I shared my experiences, and we covered a lot including:  -why financial literacy is a must for creatives -high level marketing considerations for artists -rethinking how much money is "enough"  -why doubling prices is often a great idea  -much more!  Share this episode with friends who are trying to work out the numbers of their ventures and art.  Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB125

This episode is probably in my top 10 favorites of all the BTB episodes because of how practical and important the conversation was. It wasn't until the past couple of years that I stopped obsessing over making more money and started thinking more deeply about what money actually represents in my life. Most so-called finance gurus repeat platitudes about skipping lattes and "saving more" without ever addressing the stuff that really gets in the way of people making the kind of money they want to make and knowing what to do with it when they make it. Daniel and I unpacked all of that and more in this conversation. We covered a lot of topics relating to money and lifestyle including:  -the amount of money research says is optimal for "happiness"  -why you shouldn't "stay in your lane" when it comes to education and career -modern considerations for wealth creation -the reason super smart people get money management wrong -the connection between money and lifestyle satisfaction -and much more Let me + Daniel kno

In this first part of Tipsy Talk, listener and former guest Tamara turns the mic on me to ask about everything from my cross country move, how I clarified my values, my favorite project from the past and more.  Show Notes: http://bit.ly/TipsyTalk1

This conversation is a must-listen for creatives and people who want to make something out of nothing. Amanda is one of the most inspiring creatives I've had on the show. In spite of not having the arts degree, the wealthy family, and whatever else you assume you need to succeed, she found a way to make what she wanted to see. You should too. This episode is a blueprint for creating personal art and a passionate life. We covered a LOT including:  -how Amanda developed her entrepreneurial muscle as an artist -how Amanda deals with Imposter Syndrome -how Amanda manages her responsibilities on TV, radio, and print -why Amanda believes the right partner is an asset to artists -the way Amanda learned to surrender and appreciate life's flow -how to gracefully end friendships The conversation was honest, inspiring, and funny. Drop me + Amanda a line and let me know what you got from it: @amanda_parris | @lisanicolebell Show Notes: bit.ly/BTB122

This episode is a spiritual nerd’s dream come true. I sat down with Dr. Andrew Newberg (neuroscientist + author of How God Changes Your Brain) to talk about how meditation, prayer, and religion change your brain. As a researcher, he’s a pioneer in the neurotheology. We discuss how he got his start, what he’s discovered in his research, and how all of these findings apply to people like me and you. We covered a lot including:  -what the heck "neurotheology" is -the impact of religion on health and longevity -Andrew's advice to newbie meditators -the power of yawning  -the practical value of optimism -the measurable effects of faith -and much more Let me know what you thought of this episode – did you learn anything interesting? I'm @lisanicolebell on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Show Notes: bit.ly/BTB121

This episode is a Q+A with answers to questions on how and why I weight train, my favorite books of 2016, and how I find time to read. My answers cover a lot of topics: -why I started weight training -the supplements I use to get results -the benefits of weight training -tactics for transitioning into harder workouts -how I find time to read 20-30 books each year -my favorite titles of 2016 -and much more SHOW NOTES: http://bit.ly/BTB120

This episode is one my favorite kind - one that touches on a wide range of topics with candor and curiosity. Andrea Pippins is an illustrator (you've seen some of her recent work in the Lenny Letter), designer, author, and generally amazing person. This conversation was rich with inspiring and funny stories and wisdom. Here's a sample of what we covered: -How Andrea got her start as a designer + illustrator -How Andrea faces her fears -The serendipitous story of Andrea's book deal -Andrea's natural hair journey and what inspired her book, I Love My Hair -the joys and complexities of splitting time between the United States and Sweden -work/life harmony -minimalism -much more Say hi to Andrea and tell her what you thought of this episode: @andreagpippins Show notes: bit.ly/BTB119

This episode is a Q+A with answers to questions about how and why I meditate, how I deal with Imposter Syndrome, and whether working for free is a good idea. My answers cover a lot of topics: -why I started meditating and what I get out of it -the step by step of how I meditate -my favorite meditation apps -what Imposter Syndrome is and what causes it -how I deal with Imposter Syndrome my thoughts on working for free -how leverage unpaid opportunities for career success -why some opportunities are -and much more Let me know what you thought: @LisaNicoleBell on FB, Twitter, Instagram

This episode is the perfect kickoff to Black History Month. Writer and Very Smart Brothas founder Damon Young (a self-described Professional Black Person) joined me for a funny and fascinating conversation about his journey from basketball star to writer. Beyond sharing his witty observations, Damon gets personal and talks about how getting married changed his art for the better, why desperation has been useful for his craft, and so much more. Say hi to Damon and tell him what you thought of this episode: @verysmartbros Topics Covered: -The realization Damon had that led him to give up his basketball career (he's still a Pittsburgh hoop legend) -Why 'Dick and Haiku' is the grandfather of 'Netflix and Chill' -Damon's stint as a teacher and his made up curriculum -How Very Smart Brothas was born and how Damon thinks about its growth -The serendipitous events following the release of Damon's first book -Damon's advice to aspiring full-time creatives -How Damon thinks about parenting, being an outsider, and manag

This week's episode is a solo talk on the 11 things we should all stop doing in 2017. A lot of "to do" lists come out near the top of the year, but I decided there were more things we should probably quit than start. 1. Being busy for the sake of being busy (instead of productive) 2. Being lazy / cutting corners 3. Avoiding hard conversations 4. Using outdated definitions of success 5. Catering to the ego 6. Waiting on perfect timing 7. Allowing feelings to be an excuse for bad behavior 8. Flaking on people and things 9. Denying the truth of who we are 10. Hoping goals will just happen 11. Procrastinating unproductively Drop a line and let me know what you thought of this episode and if it was helpful. @LisaNicolebell

This show should be titled Hustle and Heart because those are the two things Tina Lifford has in spades. This conversation tells the story of Tina turning her wishful dream into a thriving career, recovering from major life setbacks, and developing the grit and clarity necessary to courageously live life the way she wants. From getting fired to buying property to choosing projects, this conversation is an inside look at the mindset and attitude of a dynamic artist. We covered a LOT including: -How Tina went from wanting to be an actress to being a sought after, working actress -The story of how Tina took a generous offer from a colleague and turned it into a personal wealth tool -Why getting fired can be a gift if you have the right perspective -How Tina chooses her projects -How Tina coped with losing her brother, dog, and father within 6 months of each other -Tina's advice to creatives who want to be wealthy without being controlled by the pursuit of money -and much, much more! Say hi to Tina and tell her w