My opening question for every episode of I Used to be Somebody is an "ice breaker" question for the guest. Ice breaker questions are a great lead-in, whenever you meet someone new. It's often a question I ask that's a little off beat and it often reveals a lot about that person. And the answer will give you a bird's eye view of who that person is, as well as their outlook on life.
I've asked this question a lot to people over the years, people who have had very successful careers. For most part, they have had some truly crappy jobs in the beginning of their work lives. But it seems everyone I've talked with has learned something from those experiences. (Like what not to do!)
When guests start talking about their first jobs or their worst job, they become very animated and you also learn what kind of storyteller they are. That time brings them back, and they tell their story, which helps make the interview for my show better. For the audience, the last thing you want to listen to is stock answers and corporate speak. (I know I don't!) Right from the get go, the guests become more personable and more real--which is the goal.
So there is some thought in my craziness.
Sure enough, after reading the podcast results so far, it ends up that the most commented part of the podcast interviews from listeners is often the "ice breaker" questions. So I thought, "Why not put together an episode of just my ice breaker questions (and always interesting answers)?" This bonus episode is really entertaining and will give you some instant insight as to where this guest came from and who they are. Enjoy!
Susan Stewart Interview: Do it, Don’t Wait! One Life!!!
Diana Landau | June 22, 2021
When you meet Susan Stewart, you think right away that you must be friends. She really cares about people. A former golf prodigy then pro, a colleague along the way saw her promise and helped her build her resort merchandising career. Then in 2017, tired of corporate life, she risked it all (her wife was very supportive) and started her own retail store in 2017. Strapping sells funky, kitschy, relevant, irrelevant, unusual items and it’s been a big hit with two stores and a thriving online business.
Susan has a successful business in a neighborhood in a transition with a long history but no surprise--she has become a community leader and advocate. She's advocate for everyone! She just opened in her second store during a pandemic—and she’s excited about it! (You’ll see in the podcast episode.) She is inspiring and inspires others with her infectious energy.
This budding yet savvy entrepreneur grew up in Hudson Valley in New York. Her parents were chefs and eventually the family moved to Palm Springs. As a child, Susan loved golf. After high school she had a job with Paramount Studios as a runner, meeting Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and one of her golf heroes, Arnold Palmer.
A couple of careers later, Susan decided to go for it. “In January I had the idea, in February I found the space, in March I got the key and in April I opened!” she says. “I’m a doer. I think most entrepreneurs are. You jump in with both feet!” Now she is a successful shop owner who really views her business as a way to be an integral part of the community. Susan is hoping to hire some extra management and play a little more golf, looking for that sustainable life balance.
Susan’s advice on becoming an entrepreneur in your Second Act:
“Failure is okay, it brings you to where you are.”
“People always ask me; how did you pay for this? Be prepared that banks aren't going to loan you the money.”
“Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. You have to be adaptable. You have to really see your failures and grow from it.”
“You don't know that you don't know something until you (eventually) know something!”
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the “I Used to Be Somebody” weekly blog.
Jerry Reynolds Interview: NBA Legend -- Retired, Relaxed and Remarkable!
Diana Landau | June 11, 2021
Carl sat down with Jerry Reynolds, a former NBA coach, General Manager, broadcaster and so much more for the Sacramento Kings. Jerry is a local legend and one of the most respected people in the league. It was a truly a highlight in Carl's life to meet and interview him.
Jerry just (un)retired recently at age 77 and now is the star of the Kings Herald Show. Jerry coached and served as the General Manager for the Sacramento Kings (more about that in the podcast), as well as General Manager for the Sacramento Monarchs WNBA team. He was also the director of player personnel, color commentator and lead analyst for broadcasting of the organization. Prior to the NBA, Jerry was a successful coach in the college ranks for various teams. He was selected for induction into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
So, after 35 years of service to the Kings organization, the media entrance to the Golden 1 Center will be officially known as the “Jerry Reynolds Media Entrance.” There is a plaque and pictures adorning the walls leading into the area and signage outside for the fans to visit. Jerry has a sense of humor and insight about the tumultuous times the Kings had under very different, often changing and under-funded ownership. “Whether you win or lose, it’s a stressful job either way. You need a really good team off the floor to have a really good team on the floor.”
Born in French Lick, Indiana, Jerry is a country boy at heart. He's the second most famous person born there—NBA legend Larry Bird is also a native and he and Jerry are long-time friends. The family was quite poor, with no running water or indoor plumbing. His father eventually got a job with the Texas Eastern Corporation and the family moved into subsidized housing. Jerry grew up with 5 siblings and he remembers his parents laughing a lot—which is probably where his sense of humor began.
Jerry played basketball on a college scholarship and eventually landed a coaching gig after college. The rest is history. Jerry recalls the NBA of simpler times, when there were 10 players, 2 coaches, a trainer and they all flew on commercial airlines. In 1985-1986 he started advance scouting, flying all over the country, and loved it. “I got about 5 years of experience in one year!” he says. “It was the best of times. The league was pure, the game was better, more physical. You kinda had to earn your points.” Career highlights for Jerry include the first game ever played in Sacramento and the Monarch’s World Championship win.
About a year before his (un)retirement, Jerry started thinking about how to ease into it. He went part-time as a transition. Now he continues to do a bit of broadcasting and hosts the podcast. Jerry and his wife Dodie have been married 53 years and live in the Sacramento region. He also enjoys spending time with family and going up to Lake Tahoe. “I’ve been blessed,’ he says. “I got to pick my own end.”
Jerry’s (un)retirement advice:
Do what you want to do when you want to do it!
Be true to yourself. If you're taking on to a job only for money or fame, you're probably gonna fail.
Take your time to explore hobbies, community service and find ways to make yourself valuable.
Find two things a day to do—one activity in the morning and one in the afternoon. That makes for a great, relaxing day!
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the “I Used to Be Somebody” weekly blog.
Don't trust anyone Over 30...Except our first 30 podcast guests!
Carl Landau | May 25, 2021
I'm not quite sure why I paused to reach out when we produced our 30th episode of I Used to be Somebody. The facts are that just a small percent of new podcasts actually hit 30 episodes. But I guess it's just that I'm having so much fun, our guests so inspire me, (and hopefully you!) and I'm happy to celebrate them! I'm happy to celebrate anything after the year we all just had.
Each week we get pretty attached to each guest. You really get a pretty good sense of who they are, what they've accomplished and what unretirement looks like for them. So I contacted our previous podcast guests and here's some of updates about what they're doing right now....
If you've accomplished something really cool, please let me know and we can share in future newsletters: podcast@pickleballmediahq.com
#1 Joe Pulizzi
"Well, as you know, I can't stay in retirement. New book launching May 25th Content Inc. and just launched the new media business for content entrepreneurs, The Tilt."
#2 Moira McGarvey Black
"My fourth book, a romantic comedy, came out this past February — Love On The Line — and I have a new thriller out on May 28 called A Text Before Dying, which is book #5."
#7 Jim Roddy
"I’ve launched a Walk-On Method Workshop that has generated tons of positive feedback from attendees of all ages – executives to staff to students about to enter the professional world. I was also named one of the world’s Top 100 Retail Influencers and named a Leading CannaTech Influencer."
#10 Debb McColloch
"I continue to serve on my various Boards: Neighborhood Gardens Trust had a very successful fundraising campaign called Dig Deeper; Community Ventures completed an affordable housing development and won a Blue Ribbon Award. I also learned a cool new quilting technique called Jelly Roll!"
#11 Mark Shaiken
"I have finished my next book, a bankruptcy law mystery called: “Fresh Start” which should be out the last part of June. I have started my next book, another bankruptcy law mystery called “Automatic Stay.” So, keeping busy in my new life!"
#14 Richard Haiduck
"New adventures include relocating to Pacific Grove, and also launching the audiobook version of Shifting Gears; 50 Baby Boomers Share Their Meaningful Journeys in Retirement."
#18 Val Haller
"Hooray! Live music is coming back and I can't wait to get in front of those stages again; I'm getting tickets to make up for a year's worth of sitting at home. And I'm excited to announce that we're bringing back our Winnetka Music Festival (N. Shore of Chicago) on Sept 11."
#20 Mike Drak
"Since last talking to you I have created a speaking tour, which we are quite excited about and I also hired a triathlon coach to make sure I make the starting line at Ironman Cozumel Nov/2022. I never thought I would pay someone to yell at me - I must be losing it."
#21 Ed Casey
"I'm very excited to share with you that a lifelong dream was fulfilled since we spoke and my short film, "The Trial and the Tribulations of Sally" was a finalist in the Best Director Film Festival in the UK. Then, we won a Special Jury Award for Editing for "Sally" in the Europe Film Festival - both in April. "
#24 Caroline Ceniza-Levine
"I am currently on a 4-week road trip – from Jax, FL up to Columbus, OH and then west to NM and CO before heading back to Jax. I’m leading workshops for audiences in Asia and the US and coaching clients as far as the UAE, all while enjoying places I have never been -- proof positive that the digital nomad life is viable at any age."
To learn more about Pickleball Media or subscribe to the I Used to be Somebody newsletter go here!
Carl interviewed author, speaker, radio & TV commentator Kerry Hannon this week. In addition to writing 14 best-selling books, Kerry is a nationally recognized expert, spokesperson and strategist on career transitions, personal finance and retirement. She has covered all aspects of careers, business and personal finance as a columnist, editor and writer for The New York Times, Forbes, Money, U.S. News & World Report and USA today, as well as appearances on Dr. Phil, all the major networks, including CNBC, NPR and PBS. Kerry’s latest book is “Great Pajama Jobs.” We think the best way to describe Kerry is probably “prolific dynamo.”
Kerry grew up in Pittsburgh with her parents and three siblings. Her father had an entrepreneurial spirit as a consultant to large corporations to work on efficiency and management training. Dinner conversations were engaging, as her father was always taking on new clients in various businesses with new kinds of challenges. Her mother eventually worked with her father after the kids were raised. This love of meeting new people and taking on new challenges inspired Kerry. She knew at a very young age she wanted to be a writer and wrote her first book at age 12.
Kerry started writing for Duke University while a student there, as well as Pittsburgh Magazine and various horse-related magazines. “I’m a horse freak!” she says. After graduating she wrote for Business Times, Business Week, Advertising Age, even a column about alternative dance. Kerry has always loved diving into new subjects. Her dream job at the time was to write for Forbes, because her father was a devoted subscriber. At 24, she asked for an interview, eventually the job, moved to NYC. “I never looked back,” Kerry adds.
Not just a writer but a passionate spokesperson for people over 50, Kerry has testified before Congress about the importance of older workers. Before she takes on each job, she asks, “Is this something that is going to make a difference in someone’s life? I want to help people!” Kerry currently lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, a documentary producer and her Labrador Retriever, Zena. She is still horse-crazy.
Kerry’s Tips for Preparing for UnRetirement
Soul search: “Take a couple of years to plan and think about it. I call it an inner MRI,” Kerry says. “Think about what you really want to do. Take baby steps. It (your path) is not necessarily linear, it’s more like a patchwork quilt, with different areas of interest.”
Get lean and mean: “The other piece of this (your unretirement plan) is you might want to work on getting financially fit. Pay down your debt, get control of your spending and credit cards, maybe downsize. Debt is the biggest dream-killer!”
Consider your options: “Then, when you are financially fit, you can do lots of things that are not so dependent on that paycheck. You can take a job that is enjoyable to you, or even start your own business. Working from home is great for older people, because there is little ageism, the focus is on performance.”
Embrace being a beginner: “Let your ego go. You’ve already accomplished a lot. It’s okay to be the person in the corner, not knowing how to do something, asking lots of questions. It’s good for you psyche. Be curious!”
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the “I Used to Be Somebody” weekly blog.
My opening question for every episode of I Used to be Somebody is an "ice breaker" question for the guest. Ice breaker questions are a great lead-in, whenever you meet someone new. It's often a question I ask that's a little off beat and it often reveals a lot about that person. And the answer will give you a bird's eye view of who that person is, as well as their outlook on life.
When you meet Susan Stewart, you think right away that you must be friends. She really cares about people. A former golf prodigy then pro, a colleague along the way saw her promise and helped her build her resort merchandising career. Then in 2017, tired of corporate life, she risked it all (her wife was very supportive) and started her own retail store in 2017. Strapping sells funky, kitschy, relevant, irrelevant, unusual items and it’s been a big hit with two stores and a thriving online business..png)
“Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. You have to be adaptable. You have to really see your failures and grow from it.”.png)
Carl sat down with Jerry Reynolds, a former NBA coach, General Manager, broadcaster and so much more for the Sacramento Kings. Jerry is a local legend and one of the most respected people in the league. It was a truly a highlight in Carl's life to meet and interview him.
I'm not quite sure why I paused to reach out when we produced our 30th episode of I Used to be Somebody. The facts are that just a small percent of new podcasts actually hit 30 episodes. But I guess it's just that I'm having so much fun, our guests so inspire me, (and hopefully you!) and I'm happy to celebrate them! I'm happy to celebrate anything after the year we all just had.
#1 Joe Pulizzi
#2 Moira McGarvey Black
#7 Jim Roddy
#10 Debb McColloch
#11 Mark Shaiken
#14 Richard Haiduck
#18 Val Haller
#20 Mike Drak
#21 Ed Casey 
#24 Caroline Ceniza-Levine.png)
Carl interviewed author, speaker, radio & TV commentator Kerry Hannon this week. In addition to writing 14 best-selling books, Kerry is a nationally recognized expert, spokesperson and strategist on career transitions, personal finance and retirement. She has covered all aspects of careers, business and personal finance as a columnist, editor and writer for The New York Times, Forbes, Money, U.S. News & World Report and USA today, as well as appearances on Dr. Phil, all the major networks, including CNBC, NPR and PBS. Kerry’s latest book is “Great Pajama Jobs.” We think the best way to describe Kerry is probably “prolific dynamo.”.png)
