Between Us with John Roa

Jordan Harbinger runs one of the most successful podcasts in the world, "The Jordan Harbinger Show." The journey that took him there isn't so simple and these days Jordan cringes at the online "experts" that advertise sure-fire ways to rise to the top. On today's show, John and Jordan discuss the similarities of their stories, the potential toxicity of influencers' advice, Jordan's early Wall Street career, his TWO kidnapping stories, and how he turned a small-time pick-up-artistry show into the podcasting icon his show is today.  Follow John on social media! @JohnRoa @BetweenUs_Pod A Jam Street Media Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this continuation of John's conversation with Dr. Michael Freeman, the topic moves from the general dangers of entrepreneurship to some of the specific situations detailed in John's memoir "How to Get Rich and Die Trying." They also talk about the similarities between modern silicon valley and the gold rush of 1849, the five genetically-passed traits associated with entrepreneurship, and Dr. Freeman's brush with the world of Steve Jobs. Follow John on social media! @JohnRoa @BetweenUs_Pod A Jam Street Media Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Michael Freeman is the world's leading expert on how entrepreneurship affects mental health. For the past 20 years, he's been studying the effects of this career path on peoples' well-being. On today's show, John and Dr. Freeman talk about how his research aligns with the purpose of John's book as well as the identifying factors that can contribute to the pitfalls of entrepreneurship. They also talk about the modern phenomenon of entrepreneurs becoming celebrities, mental illness and suicide, as well as Dr. Freeman's company ECONA that is helping to destigmatize these discussions in the field of entrepreneurship. Follow John on social media! @JohnRoa @BetweenUs_Pod A Jam Street Media Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mario Lopez has become a household name both because of and in spite of his success as a childhood actor; a career path that tends to have massive pitfalls. In today's conversation, Mario tells John his tips and tricks for achieving and maintaining success. This also includes his "Five F's" which Mario sees as his secret weapon. Follow John on social media! @JohnRoa @BetweenUs_Pod A Jam Street Media Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the last 40 years, Andy Bernstein has become one of the most iconic photographers in sports history. Even if you don't watch basketball, you're likely familiar with his work shooting historic figures like Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and the late Kobe Bryant. On today's show, John and Andy discuss how he got into sports photography, the battles regarding self-worth along the way, and the pitfalls that success can bring. They also talk about Andy's relationship with Kobe, how photography has evolved over the years, and Andy's affinity for the movie The Blob. Follow John on social media! @JohnRoa @BetweenUs_Pod A Jam Street Media Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it our nature or our nurturing that ultimately creates geniuses? Our guest today, Laura M. Wilde, is a Sports Mental Coach and Mind-Body Consultant for the NBA and believes unlocking "genius" requires a mix of both. John and Laura get into her past and what caused her to seek out a better way to help people discover their true potential. They have a good-mannered debate on the limits of the power of positive thinking. They also discuss how the identification and treatment of certain epigenetic markers in an individual can help them tap into their true potential. Follow John on social media! @JohnRoa @BetweenUs_Pod A Jam Street Media Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After turning her passion for baking into a nation-wide business success story, Melissa Ben-Ishay's journey would already be inspirational. What makes her story so extraordinary is who she built her empire alongside. Melissa runs "Baked by Melissa" with her husband and brother. Despite her proactive approach to running her company, she still finds time to raise her two daughters. In today's episode, John and Melissa get into the struggles and joys of running a business intertwined so closely with one's family and suggestions Melissa has for anyone attempting to do the same. Follow John on social media! @JohnRoa @BetweenUs_Pod A Jam Street Media Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Budnick was on-track to be one of the most successful producers in Hollywood. Having worked with Todd Philips on films like Road Trip, Old School, and The Hangover, something happened to Scott that completely changed his perspective on what it means to be "successful" in life. Nowadays, Scott runs a non-profit called the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) that supports formerly incarcerated people in getting back on their feet and advocates for criminal justice reform. On today's show, Scott and John talk about what experiences led him to leave his old life and start down this new path. They also talk about how and why he's now approaching a return to filmmaking. Plus, his experiences working with actors like Will Farrell, Robert Downey Junior, Zach Galifianakis, and Scott's new film "Just Mercy." Follow John on social media! @JohnRoa @BetweenUs_Pod A Jam Street Media Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in June, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests that erupted across the country, John and Keyon walked through SoHo, New York. Along the way, Keyon was recognized by a couple people passing by, John talked about the artwork created on the plywood installed by the local businesses, and Keyon brought his trumpet. Keyon played a couple songs that literally stopped traffic and about a hundred other people walking along. Here's a special bonus recording of John and Keyon's walk around SoHo back in June.  Follow John on social media! @JohnRoa @BetweenUs_Pod A Jam Street Media Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keyon Harrold is a world-renowned jazz musician and producer. Recently he also provided the music for “Miles Ahead,” the Miles Davis biopic. In today’s episode, John and Keyon discuss the pandemics of 2020. Namely the COVID crisis and the racial injustice protests. Keyon talks about his life growing up as a black man in Ferguson and how he now talks to his son about racism. They talk about growing up with 15 siblings and how he got his passion for music. A passion that has led him to play music around the world, including at the Black Lives Matter protests. Follow John @JohnRoa Follow Between Us @BetweenUs_Pod A Jam Street Media Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billionaire David Rubenstein wants you to fail and spend time with your family. Most of us will spend our entire lives chasing money, attempting to be perfect, but David thinks we should have a different kind of investment. John and David explore the financial juggernaut’s beginnings and what he now sees as the most important keys, not only to personal success in life but the future in general. As a member of The Carlyle Group, The Smithsonian, The Council of Foreign Affairs, and The Kennedy Center he’s clearly invested in giving back. He’s signed with “The Giving Pledge,” an organization founded by billionaires like Warren Buffet and Bill Gates which pledges to “encourage extremely wealthy people to contribute a majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes.” David talks about the 2020 election, the impacts of the coronavirus, and how despite his immense wealth, he’s still a human seeking happiness.  For more advice, check out David’s books “How to Lead,” and “The American Story.” Follow John on social media @JohnRoa and follow the show @BetweenUs_Pod A Jam Street Media Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode, the harrowing story of how Amanda Knox was wrongfully convicted of murder by an Italian court and spent 4 years in prison — only to be exonerated and acquitted of the crime in 2011, and again exonerated in 2015. Amanda shares her thoughts on the mental health impact of COVID, and some of the misinformation that has surrounded masks and distancing during the pandemic. Then John and Amanda get into the details of Amanda’s memoir and recounting of her arrest, imprisonment, and release back into a hostile world. They talk about how she was inspired to pursue and examine criminal justice reform through her conviction and acquittal. Amanda also talks about the incentives in the media and in criminal justice that can often lead to someone being “convicted” before they’ve had their day in court. We can’t often choose the struggles that life throws us, but we can choose how we deal with them and Amanda Knox took her own pain and suffering and is using it to improve the lives of others going through similar hardships. Follow John on social media! Twitter Instagram A Jam Street Media Production  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The John Roa Show is now Between Us with John Roa and our first guest is Dr. Drew! You know his successful career treating addicts and giving relationship advice on shows like Celebrity Rehab and Loveline but now hear his untold story. Hear about the childhood that formed his personality. Listen to how he dealt with the fact that he had immense amounts of medical knowledge, but was convinced he wasn’t the one to share that knowledge with the world. Plus, how he took his unique perspective and created a media empire in the “wild west” of the 90’s dot-com boom. Follow John on social media! Twitter Instagram A Jam Street Media Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The goal here at the show is to bring you the most interesting conversations with the world's most successful people. Like any good entrepreneur, I am always looking for ways to do that better, and I believe we've come across some of those, so it's time to pivot! We are going to take a very brief hiatus as we re-program a bit of this show. Stay tuned for this feed, and at @johnroa, for all of the updates! Thank you so much for your support, reviews and listenership. -John Roa Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been seven weeks since the coronavirus pandemic began. In that time, John has talked to 19 different leaders. From a mega real estate broker, to the owner of a hair salon in Chicago, to an NFL coach, and the drummer of The Smashing Pumpkins.  This final episode of Leading from Home highlights some of these incredibly inspiring conversations and gives some insight into the ways in which people are leading with empathy, exploring the messiness of life, and offering some ways to navigate through this crazy, unprecedented time.  It’s a bittersweet wind down. But, we will get through this.  This summer, we will be launching The John Roa Show, with iHeartMedia. The show will feature long-form conversations with incredibly insightful, influential and successful people, about our real lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John speaks with performance coach Courtney Seard on the importance of managing expectations and some ways to navigate life and business, through the coronavirus pandemic.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John and his close friend, drummer Jimmy Chamberlin -- one of the founding members of The Smashing Pumpkins -- discuss how the coronavirus has affected the music industry, how it compares to other shakeups over the decades, and what may happen next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Louis Black, co-founder of SXSW, joins John on today’s episode from an Airbnb in the small town of Lockhart, Texas, to talk about the festival’s cancellation, retirement, as well as, the profound and often unpredictable ways he’s helped transform Austin.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keyon Harrold, one of the foremost trumpeters of his generation, joins John on today’s episode to talk about canceling his spring tour dates, writing songs with a conscience, and using jazz as a force for good. He even recorded a special track just for us, called "Peaceful Ghostown". This isn't one to miss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The coronavirus is changing the entertainment industry worldwide. From theatrical releases to film festivals, the outbreak has effectively cancelled Hollywood. And there’s no end in sight. So, what will a post-pandemic Hollywood look like? John speaks with Academy Award-nominated film and TV producer Laura Bickford, who shares her feelings, predictions, and thoughts on returning to work.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices