Ask for An Answer with Jim Fielding

Jim Fielding
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Jim Fielding spent 35 years leading teams at Disney, DreamWorks, Fox, and Gap. One day a trusted team leader pulled him aside and said, "Jim, we know you're going to make the call. Could you let us make it first?" That one sentence landed harder than any feedback he had ever received. He had been asking questions he had already answered in his head, and the room knew. It woke him up, and he changed his style. Ask for An Answer is where he keeps practicing: Community and Conversation with interesting humans who believe that asking better questions is more important than having all of the answers. On Thursdays, Jim sits down with the leaders who feed his constant curiosity for unscripted conversations about showing up as a whole person while still delivering results. Each episode includes Ask on Purpose: one question from someone who knows the guest well. Jim's book, Ask for An Answer, publishes March 30, 2027 Subscribe to Jim's Field Notes: https://jimfieldingfieldnotes.beehiiv.com/subscribe?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcastdescription Follow Jim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimfielding/ Jim's Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com

  1. 1 day ago

    Nobody Tells You What It Really Takes To Get On A TEDx Stage (With Tom Puketza)

    📝 Get Field Notes: One story and one practice every Tuesday. https://jimfieldingfieldnotes.beehiiv.com/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=s3e10 What If the Rejection You Took Personally Was Never About You? Jim Fielding applied to more than 80 TEDx events. Belarus. Bulgaria. Sweden. Every door stayed shut. Then an unknown number from Florida rang through to voicemail. Meet Tom Puketza. He is an event producer, speaker, and professional speaker coach who made that call. Tom won national speaking competitions at Wake Forest University and Harvard while still in high school. He later earned his Theater degree at Temple University. That stage experience shapes everything he builds: a room, a speaker, and a moment the audience can feel. In this episode of Ask for an Answer, Jim sits down with Tom for a warm, funny, and honest look at what happens behind the curtain of a TEDx event. Jim shares how he nearly ignored the voicemail that changed his year. Tom explains why he coaches speakers for six weeks instead of six months. They talk about the cane, the stool, the forgotten line that nobody noticed, and the long silence of waiting for a talk to be posted. In this episode: 1. Why setting intentions around your own calendar can beat a January 1 resolution. 2. How one yes can outweigh 80 rejections. 3. Why the talk you apply with may not be the talk you end up giving. 4. How a six-week speaker intensive turns nerves into confidence. 5. What a great coach does when you say “I can’t stand for this speech.” 6. Why negative self-talk gets loudest while you wait. 7. How to use an AI assistant for tedium while your creative voice stays yours. 8. Why simple tools often beat overproduced ones. 9. What “make them feel it” means for speakers, events, and leaders. 10. How leaders build psychological safety before every detail is solved. Timestamps: 02:08 Intentions over resolutions: 80 TEDx rejections 04:07 The unknown number from Florida 06:42 Meet Tom Puketza: event producer and speaker coach 07:25 Inside the TED industrial complex 11:42 Nine speakers and the theme of emergence 13:22 The stool, the cane, and a seamless stage entrance 16:12 Waiting for the talk to go live 22:48 The Editor’s Pick email Tom could not believe 27:58 A quick word on Field Notes 28:53 What Tom does now 29:20 Meet Tom bot: an AI assistant with rules 40:55 The ethos: make them feel it 46:21 Psychological safety and servant leadership 48:36 The day Tom told the speakers “we don’t have a venue” 50:27 The 15-hour day and the comedown 53:12 Fate, gratitude, and the 79 other no’s Meet Tom Puketza Tom Puketza is an event producer, speaker, and professional speaker coach. He discovered his passion for performance early by winning national speaking competitions at Wake Forest University and Harvard while still in high school. After earning his Theater degree at Temple University in Philadelphia, he studied feature film accounting under industry veteran John Gaskin. He consulted with the Winstead PC Law Firm. He produced the Off-Broadway premiere of the stage play Sunset Village. He also served on the board of the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre. In 2024, Tom spoke at TEDxOcala. That same year, he founded Event Incubator, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to providing resources to new or independent event producers. He lives in Florida with his wife plus three spazzy cats. ✨ Connect with Tom Puketza 🌐 Website: finaleevents.com 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thomaspuketza ✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer: 🌐Website: hijimfielding.com ♥️ Instagram:@hijimfielding 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimfielding 🔗 Podcast: Ask For An Answer, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Subscribe to Ask for an Answer on your platform of choice. Leave a review if you want more honest conversations like this one. #TEDx #PublicSpeaking #SpeakerCoaching #EventIncubator #EmotionalIntelligence #Leadership #PsychologicalSafety #AskForAnAnswer

  2. 29 Oct

    Can You Be Queer And Christian? Answering Your Questions About Faith and Love (With Cory L. Scott)

    📝 Get Field Notes: One story and one practice every Tuesday. https://jimfieldingfieldnotes.beehiiv.com/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=s3e09 What if the voice you keep ignoring is the one that knows the way? Cory L. Scott has listened to that voice since he was seven years old. He calls it the “something told me.” It sent him to Howard University after he had already picked another school. It moved him to come out publicly after the Pulse nightclub tragedy. It then led him to build a foundation that honors Black queer leaders while they can still feel the love. On this episode of Ask for an Answer, Jim Fielding sits down with Cory for a conversation that is funny and wise. Cory is an author, activist, strategist, and former lead pastor. He is also a sex educator who creates spaces where joy is sacred resistance. As Founder and Chair of the Board of the Pauli Murray Awards Foundation, he leads a nonprofit that honors Black LGBTQ+ excellence. Cory takes us back to a Chicago summer when he was six. He signed a pledge never to go to jail. He joined a church and started praying for miracles. Yes, he really did pray for an angel to wash the dishes for eleven people. From there, the story moves through a first-grade courtroom, a grandmother who raised him on hard truths, and a college campus that felt like a transformation. Along the way, Cory shares what it was like to be outed at eighteen. He also describes how a mentor’s honest “I don’t have an answer for you” changed his view of faith and love. IN THIS EPISODE: Why the quiet inner nudge deserves more of your attention than the loudest opinion in the room.How a child’s bold faith experiments built a trust that no critic could shake later.What a lost first-grade court case taught Cory about injustice.Why a grandmother’s rule about never being the smartest person in the room still works for leaders.How community can protect a child long before the world has words for who he is.What it feels like to be outed before you are ready and how Cory found his footing.How one honest question to a mentor opened a door that sermons had kept shut.Why hateful noise after the Pulse tragedy turned Cory’s silence into courage.Why honoring people while they are alive matters more than any lifetime tribute.How loosening your attachment to hair and image can free you to change. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 01:58 Cory’s story: author, activist, pastor, founder 03:55 The “something told me” voice 07:08 Vacation Bible School at six and a pledge never to go to jail 14:39 Room for God in the 80 percent we do not know 21:58 Early awareness of attraction 23:08 The night Cory woke up knowing he was going to Howard 29:35 Arriving at Howard in Chocolate City 34:05 A church that protected a little queer boy 37:07 Lessons from Cory’s grandmother 47:20 A spiritual father and one honest question 54:39 Pulse nightclub and coming out publicly 59:49 Building the Pauli Murray Awards Foundation 1:02:43 The hair story Meet Cory L. Scott Cory L. Scott is an author, activist, strategist, pastor, and Black sex educator whose work lives at the intersections of sacred purpose, radical possibility, and transformative justice. Born in Chicago and raised in Washington, DC, he is now based in the Bronx. He creates spaces for Black queer people to embrace wholeness. A proud Howard University alumnus, he is a former lead pastor of Transformers Church Chicago. His path spans grief and bereavement care, sex education, nonprofit leadership, and theology. From 2016 to 2022, he was a regular cast member, contributor, and producer on The Grapevine TV. He is the author of The Counterculture Devotional (2019) and is writing Forgotten We Once Flew: Reconciling Queer Identity & Christianity. He shares life with his fiancé Jordan, their adult sons Catrell and Zale, and a beloved Frenchton named Royale. ✨ Connect with Cory L. Scott 🌐 Pauli Murray Awards Foundation: paulimurrayawards.org 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/corylscott ✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer: 🌐Website: hijimfielding.com ♥️ Instagram:@hijimfielding 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimfielding 🔗 Podcast: Ask For An Answer, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify If this conversation moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. #AskForAnAnswer #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipPodcast #PauliMurray #BlackQueerHistory #FaithAndIdentity #PersonalTransformation #ResilienceStories

  3. 22 Oct

    Why Your Menstrual Cycle Changes How You Train with Jess Mather

    📝 Get Field Notes: One story and one practice every Tuesday. https://jimfieldingfieldnotes.beehiiv.com/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=s3e08 How do you turn physical strength and bodily awareness into a tool for emotional healing after severe trauma? Jess Mather, CPT, LPTA, SFG, FRCms, FMS joins Ask for an Answer for a conversation on resilience, listening to your body, and redefining what strength truly means. As a physical therapy and rehabilitation professional with over 14 years of experience who has spent a decade operating a global telehealth practice at the intersection of movement, complex chronic pain, and trauma, Jess shares how physical training can serve as a grounding anchor when navigating life's heaviest stressors. Jim and Jess explore her journey from a TEDx stage to founding the Chronic Pain & Trauma Curriculum for healthcare professionals, diving into the subtle art of quiet confidence over flashy performance. They unpack the realities of normalizing physical pain, the importance of psychological safety in workout spaces, and why tuning into natural body rhythms through programs like Feminine Strength builds lasting emotional resilience. Jess also opens up about her passion projects, including training her Rottweiler to serve as a therapy dog in children's hospitals and veterans' facilities. IN THIS EPISODE: How strength training acts as a spiritual and emotional anchor during recovery from major life trauma.Why syncing workout intensity with natural body cycles creates sustainable long-term fitness.Understanding the trauma pain trifecta and how chronic physical discomfort gets normalized over time.How to build psychological safety in movement spaces for individuals healing from past stress.The distinction between quiet professional confidence and external performance-driven arrogance.Why letting go of perfectionism makes high-stakes public speaking moments far more authentic.How unconditional support in relationships creates a stable foundation for personal growth.Using functional strength to build practical capability rather than just aesthetic appearance.How training service animals brings comfort to individuals recovering from surgery and illness.Why real leadership means focusing on adding value and leaving every environment better than you found it. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 01:07 Connecting Through the TEDx Journey 06:15 Navigating Post-Performance Expectations 11:06 Menstrual Cycle Syncing and Weight Training 15:37 The Connection Between Trauma, Stress, and Chronic Pain 21:15 Realizing How Much Physical Pain We Normalize 24:57 Creating Safe Spaces for Healing and Strength 29:58 Choosing Quiet Confidence Over Displayed Arrogance 33:17 The Power of Human Connection Behind Big Stages 44:34 Building Unconditional Support in Relationships 48:47 Training a Therapy Dog for Children and Veterans 52:07 Closing Thoughts and Leading With Curiosity Meet Jess Mather Jess Mather, CPT, LPTA, SFG, FRCms, FMS, is a strength and rehabilitation professional, educational provider, and founder of the Chronic Pain & Trauma Curriculum. With over 14 years of experience supporting thousands of individuals aged 9 to 99, she operates a successful telehealth practice working with clients across more than a dozen countries. Jess trains physicians, physical therapists, and health professionals to approach chronic pain through a trauma-informed lens while helping women build resilient bodies through her Feminine Strength programs. ✨ Connect with Jess Mather 🌐 Website: rebuildingbody.com 💼 Instagram: instagram.com/liverehabited 💼 Facebook: facebook.com/jess.mather.75 🎁 Free Resource: rebuildingbody.com/femstrengthkit 🎙️ Podcast: rebuildingbody.com/femstrengthpodcast ✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer: 🌐Website: hijimfielding.com ♥️ Instagram:@hijimfielding 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimfielding 🔗 Podcast: Ask For An Answer, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Subscribe to Ask for an Answer on your platform of choice, and leave a review if you want more of this kind of honest, unscripted conversation. #EmotionalResilience #TraumaRecovery #FeminineStrength #MindsetShift #Leadership #AskForAnAnswer #PhysicalTherapy #QuietConfidence #MindBodyConnection #LifelongLearning

  4. 15 Oct

    When Early Dementia Secretly Changes The Person You Love with Vivian Olodun

    What happens when life flips the script and forces you to step up as the parent to your own parents? Vivian Olodun joins Ask for an Answer for a conversation about high emotional intelligence, financial literacy, and the messy reality of navigating the sandwich generation. A best-selling author, CEO of Flourish Media, marketing strategist, and creator of Proximity to Money, Vivian built a life around building strong relationships and applying hard-won wisdom. From growing up as a military child across nine schools to launching her Substack, Vivian has dedicated her work to teaching others that proximity changes what is possible. In this episode, she and Jim dig into the emotional toll and financial maze of caring for aging parents with cognitive decline. Can Financial Literacy Save You in a Family Crisis? The conversation shifts to the stark realities of elderly care and why financial preparedness is non-negotiable. Vivian and Jim shed light on the unexpected gaps in traditional health insurance, the immense cost of memory care, and how proximity to money creates real solutions when high-stakes decisions arise. Vivian emphasizes the value of veteran resources, while Jim reflects on the foresight of long-term care insurance. The episode concludes with practical wisdom on emotional resilience, accepting help without judgment, and leading through life's hardest transitions with empathy and grace. KEY TAKEAWAYS How growing up in dynamic environments like military life can build exceptional emotional intelligence and adaptability.Why seeking proximity to financially successful people accelerates personal growth and financial literacy.How cognitive decline often shows up through subtle signs like hiding symptoms, hoarding, or double-paying bills.Why caring for an aging parent requires redirecting conversations rather than constantly correcting their reality.How the emotional burden of caregiving can create unique friction and stress among siblings.Why traditional health insurance often fails to cover long-term memory care or cognitive decline facilities.How long-term care insurance and proactive financial planning serve as essential safety nets for families.Why reducing an aging parent's environment or routine can actually give them greater comfort and security.How specialized veteran resources can offer critical, high-quality support for cognitive decline care.Why leading through family adversity demands letting go of perfectionism and embracing vulnerability. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 01:35 Meet Vivian Olden: Entrepreneurship and Proximity to Money 07:26 Growing Up Military: Developing Emotional Intelligence Through Change 13:18 Stepping Into the Sandwich Generation: Toddlers and Aging Parents 17:38 Navigating Dementia: Military Benefits and Social Work Support 21:58 Financial Red Flags, Hoarding, and Sibling Dynamic Stress 27:06 Medication Management and The Decision for Assisted Living 33:13 Understanding Care Costs, Insurance Realities, and Memory Care 42:40 Handling Behavioral Changes and Loss of Filters with Humor and Patience 53:08 Treating Parents Like Toddlers: Creating Safe and Smaller Spaces 56:37 Planning Ahead: Long-Term Care Insurance and Estate Protection 01:02:44 Closing Thoughts and Final Words Meet Vivian Olden Vivian Olodun is a best-selling author of Stumbling Through Adulthood, CEO of Flourish Media, keynote speaker, and marketing strategist. She is the creator of Proximity to Money, where she teaches ambitious individuals how habits, identity, and tribe dictate wealth and opportunity. Drawing from her background as a military child who attended nine schools, she leverages public relations and high emotional intelligence to help people navigate business, relationships, and financial growth ✨ Connect with Vivian Olden 🌐 Website: vivianolodun.com 💼 Substack: Proximity to Money 📚 Book: Stumbling Through Adulthood ♥️ Instagram: instagram.com/vivianolo 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vivianolodun 📩 Contact: mail@vivianolodun.com ✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer 🌐Website: hijimfielding.com ♥️ Instagram:@hijimfielding 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimfielding 🔗 Podcast: Ask For An Answer, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Subscribe to Ask for an Answer on your platform of choice, and leave a review if you want more of this kind of honest, unscripted conversation. #SandwichGeneration #EmotionalIntelligence #CaregivingJourney #FinancialLiteracy #ProximityToMoney #LeadershipPodcast #AskForAnAnswer

  5. 8 Oct

    How He Broke Free From Opioid Addiction & Restructured His Entire Life with Hans Weygoldt

    What happens when you trade external validation and financial success for internal alignment and emotional freedom? Hans joins Ask for an Answer for a conversation about personal transformation, overcoming addiction, and the courage to start over. Hans spent two decades in North Carolina after moving from Germany at 25 to work in his family's veneer manufacturing business. From the outside, he seemed to have everything a person could dream of. On the inside, he felt empty, hollow, and profoundly disconnected, eventually leading to severe depression, anxiety, and an eight-year struggle with opioid addiction. Everything changed when he chose to stop running, step away from the family business, and embrace the power of plant medicine and breathwork. Now a breathwork facilitator and integration coach, Hans helps others release suppressed emotions, heal trauma, and rediscover their true purpose. Jim and Hans explore the moments that sparked this profound shift. Hans shares how an unscripted trip to Peru for an ayahuasca ceremony shattered his expectations and showed him the path toward recovery. He discusses why letting go of control allowed him to surrender to his inner guidance and break free from addictive patterns. Hans also opens up about his recent decision to relocate his entire life back to his hometown in Germany with his wife and two children, proving that true growth requires stepping into the unknown. IN THIS EPISODE: How external markers of success can mask deep internal emptiness, depression, and disconnection.Why real personal change occurs when the fear of remaining unchanged outweighs the fear of the unknown.How letting go of rigid expectations creates space for unexpected healing and personal insight.How somatic breathwork helps access the inner healer to process suppressed emotional pain.Why revisiting past trauma through conscious breathing allows people to reframe their stories and take full ownership of their lives.Why integration coaching, journaling, and daily habits are vital for turning emotional insights into permanent life shifts.How practicing radical gratitude for past hardships breaks the cycle of addiction and self-blame.Why trusting the process and surrendering control lowers anxiety during massive life transitions.How simple conscious belly breaths can serve as a daily reset tool when feeling overwhelmed or distracted.How authentic personal growth positively impacts immediate family dynamics and personal relationships. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 01:12 Welcoming Hans: A Major Transition Back to Germany 03:27 Moving to America at 25: Chasing Financial Success 06:43 Feeling Hollow: The Long Journey to Recognizing the Need for Change 09:18 Quitting the Family Business and Choosing Trust Over Fear 13:11 The Hidden Struggles: Opioid Addiction, Depression, and Anxiety 14:40 The Ayahuasca Experience: Dropping Expectations and Finding Inner Peace 17:35 Breaking Free: Reclaiming Curiosity, Sobriety, and Personal Growth 20:49 Discovering Somatic Breathwork as a Powerful Path to Healing 22:45 How Breathwork Sessions Work: Surrendering to the Inner Healer 31:32 Transforming Pain with Gratitude: Finding Freedom from Past Addiction 38:39 Virtual vs In-Person Breathwork: Building a Practice Across Borders 48:46 The Importance of Integration Coaching and Daily Action Steps 54:05 Closing Reflections: Leading with Curiosity, Kindness, and Awareness Meet Hans Hans is a breathwork facilitator and integration coach dedicated to helping individuals break free from emotional suppression, addictive patterns, and internal stagnation. After spending 20 years in North Carolina working in engineering and manufacturing, he navigated a personal recovery journey from opioid addiction, depression, and burnout through somatic breathwork, plant medicine, and self-reflection. Today, he works with clients globally, combining deep breathing practices with structured integration coaching to facilitate lasting emotional healing, self-trust, and resilience. He lives in the Black Forest region of Germany with his family. ✨ Connect with Hans Weygoldt 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hans-andreas-weygoldt-151777356 📱 Facebook: facebook.com/hans.whygold ✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer 🌐Website: hijimfielding.com ♥️ Instagram:@hijimfielding 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimfielding 🔗 Podcast: Ask For An Answer, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify

  6. 1 Oct

    How To Secure $10 Million in Venture Capital Funding with Allison Byers

    How Do You Raise Capital and Build Success When the System Wasn't Built for You? Allison Byers joins Ask for an Answer with Jim Fielding to discuss self-trust, overcoming trauma, and reclaiming power in venture capital. After walking away from corporate management consulting following a maternity leave ultimatum, Allison co-founded a medical device company out of MIT, raised nearly $10 million, and brought an FDA-registered product to market. When a Series B round stalled, an asset sale turned into a painful wake-up call. The all-male acquiring team went on to raise $55 million using her team's assets. Instead of playing the victim, Allison dived deep into capital allocation research, exposing systemic bias and founding Scroobious to level the playing field for every underrepresented founder. Jim and Allison dig into what it truly takes to navigate inequity without losing your identity. They unpack the power of turning personal hardship into systemic change, why equity investing is a form of everyday voting, and how setting healthy boundaries protects high performers from burnout. Allison also opens up about her grassroots political work with Founders for Kamala, her role in co-authoring California's landmark Fair Investment Practices by Venture Capital Companies Law, and why entrepreneurship gave her back her professional identity. IN THIS EPISODE: 1. How to spot and reframe real-time bias during high-stakes investment pitches. 2. Why separating your personal identity from your company protects mental health. 3. How physical burnout and stress signal the need for immediate boundaries. 4. The key differences between fiduciary venture funds and angel investor groups. 5. How groupthink inside angel networks can accidentally block funding for great ideas. 6. Why female founders deliver more profit per dollar invested despite receiving less capital. 7. How alternative funding sources can liberate founders from demoting themselves for venture money. 8. Why legislative policy and data collection are mandatory for long-term systems change. 9. How treating everyday spending and investing as voting shapes our economy. 10. Why entrepreneurship offers a vital lifeline for reclaiming professional agency. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 01:06 Welcome Allison Byers, author of Fundraising for the Rest of Us 02:40 Origin story: From management consulting to spinning out an MIT medical device 03:45 The asset sale, systemic disparities, and turning trauma into action 08:31 How historical bias shapes check-writing decisions 12:28 Identifying bias inside the room and shifting the narrative 16:50 Physical limits: Battling facial shingles from extreme stress 18:50 Healing through community, partnership, and separating self from business 22:40 Launching Scroobious in 2020 and building a movement 38:34 Why founders shouldn't dim their light for venture capital 42:28 Writing California's historic Fair Investment Practices by Venture Capital Companies Law 55:53 Why consumer dollars and investments dictate daily life 01:00:03 The final question: Why entrepreneurship matters so deeply MEET ALLISON BYERS Allison Byers is a founder, investor, capital access advocate, speaker, and author of Fundraising for the Rest of Us: How to Build Your Pitch, Navigate Bias, and Raise Capital on Your Terms. She is the founder of Scroobious, a relationship-first capital access platform built to scale startup growth for underestimated founders. With experience spanning corporate management consulting and medical device innovation out of MIT, Allison co-authored California’s landmark Fair Investment Practices by Venture Capital Companies Law and serves on multiple boards. ✨ Connect with Allison Byers 🌐 Website: allisonbyers.com | scroobious.com 💼 LinkedIn: Allison Byers | Scroobious 🦋 Bluesky: @apbyers.bsky.social 📸 Instagram: @apbyers | @scroobious 📚 Book: Fundraising for the Rest of Us ✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer 🌐Website: hijimfielding.com ♥️ Instagram:@hijimfielding 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimfielding 🔗 Podcast: Ask For An Answer, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Subscribe to Ask for an Answer on your platform of choice, and leave a review if you want more of this kind of honest, unscripted conversation. #LeadershipPodcast #FundraisingForTheRestOfUs #WomenInBusiness #StartupCapital #Resilience

  7. 24 Sept

    You Don’t Need to Change Your Story — You Need to Own It with Dr. Joel Davis Brown

    What happens when you stop running from your past and finally claim your full story? Dr. Joel Davis Brown joins Ask for an Answer for a deep, soul-stirring conversation about the messy reality of personal transformation, emotional growth, and what it truly means to lead an authentic life. As an awareness agent, organizational development consultant, university professor, and Chief Visionary Officer of Pneumos LLC, Dr. Joel shares how unaddressed trauma and unhealed wounds silently govern our choices until we take ownership of our narrative. Jim and Dr. Joel unpack the subtle art of inner work. They explore why real leadership starts from the inside out, how to break free from generational patterns, and why forgiveness is a physical release rather than a quick, surface-level exercise. Dr. Joel opens up about his journey writing his latest book, reflecting on his relationship with his late father, learning to parent himself, and finding true freedom in total vulnerability. IN THIS EPISODE: How claiming every part of your personal story eliminates the leverage others have over your self-worth.Why authentic leadership requires doing deep internal healing work before attempting to lead external organizations.How unaddressed emotional trauma and anger eventually bleed out onto loved ones and colleagues if left unchecked.Why true healing involves learning to parent yourself and stepping into full governance over your own narrative.How to break the cycle of generational trauma when caring for aging parents or navigating family dynamics.Why forgiveness is an active, physical release of bitterness that makes you lighter rather than a one-time gesture.How overextending yourself for others can actually be a subtle symptom of unhealed personal wounds.Why reframing leadership beyond corporate titles allows you to show up better in everyday personal relationships.How embracing complete stillness without overstimulation restores emotional energy and prevents burnout.Why self-acceptance and inner peace are essential prerequisites before building healthy long-term partnerships. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:37 Welcoming Dr. Joel Davis Brown to Ask for an Answer 01:05 What It Means to Be an Awareness Agent and Strategic Storyteller 05:28 The Inspiration Behind Souls of Queer Folk and Redefining Leadership 10:14 Embracing the Beauty and Complexity of Intersectional Human Identity 15:44 Finding Belonging, Community, and Authenticity Across Different Cities 24:09 I Had to Become the Father: Unpacking Healing, Repair, and Letting Go 31:58 Navigating Generational Trauma and Caregiving for Aging Parents 42:42 Owning Your Truth and Finding Total Freedom in Vulnerability 45:49 Redefining Family, Parenting, Mentorship, and Healthy Relationships 53:36 Prioritizing Self-Care Through Stillness and Peace 56:56 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks Meet Dr. Joel Davis Brown Dr. Joel A. Davis Brown, Esq., PCC, is the Chief Visionary Officer of Pneumos LLC. As a certified leadership, life, and executive coach trained in somatic coaching, Gestalt methodology, and trauma-informed care, Dr. Joel works collaboratively with organizations, civic groups, and professionals to create synergistic cultures, breakthrough performance, and dynamic leaders. He teaches strategic storytelling at a university in France, specializes in cultural intelligence, emotional intelligence, and organizational strategy, and has spent nearly 30 years working with Startups, Non-Profits, Philanthropic Organizations, and Fortune 500 companies. He is the author of Souls of Queer Folk: How Understanding LGBTQ+ Cultural Values Can Transform Your Leadership Practice and I Had to Become the Father: The Art of Healing, Reconciliation, Repair, and Letting Go. ✨ Connect with Dr. Joel Davis Brown 🌐 Website: pneumos.com 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joelanthonybrown 📧 Email: joel@pneumos.com 📚 Books: Souls of Queer Folk & I Had to Become the Father ✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer: 🌐Website: hijimfielding.com ♥️ Instagram:@hijimfielding 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimfielding 🔗 Podcast: Ask For An Answer, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Subscribe to Ask for an Answer on your platform of choice, and leave a review if you want more of this kind of honest, unscripted conversation.

  8. 17 Sept

    She Hid Her Therapy From Her Colleagues—Until Her Daughter Found Out (With Dr. Julie Basler)

    How do you find the courage to lead with total vulnerability when the whole world expects you to stay invincible? Dr. Julie Basler walked away from a high-profile career as a college president to help leaders reclaim their mental health, their boundaries, and their lives without losing their seat at the table. Armed with a PhD in English and decades of leadership experience, Dr. Basler is an author, speaker, and advocate who wrote her transformative book, She Is Strong Enough to Break, to break the silence around female leadership, mental health, and the burden of carrying it all alone. What Happens When Leaders Stop Hiding Behind the Armor? Dr. Julie Basler joins Jim Fielding on Ask for an Answer for a deeply moving conversation about emotional intelligence, personal growth, and the quiet struggles high achievers carry behind closed doors. From secretly going to therapy while running a college to sending a middle-of-the-night email to her entire campus admitting she was broken, Dr. Basler shares the moment her youngest daughter made her realize that hiding mental health struggles teaches the next generation to do the same. Jim and Julie explore how true strength comes from authenticity, why choosing kindness is a radical leadership strategy, and how breaking down opens the door to genuine healing. IN THIS EPISODE: How to recognize when hiding mental health struggles sends the wrong message to those watching you.Why true strength requires stepping away from perfectionism and embracing vulnerability in front of your team.How to shift your focus from the First Mountain of ambition to the Second Mountain of servant leadership.Why simple, intentional acts like handwritten notes can transform how someone feels seen and valued.How standing up for personal values creates long-lasting ripples of courage for others.Why emotional intelligence and high-level leadership belong together in modern organizations.How reframing traffic disruptions or everyday frustration with empathy helps you realize everyone is carrying hidden pain.Why forgiving previous generations for their lack of mental health awareness brings personal peace.How embracing the role of a lifelong learner builds long-term resilience and intellectual curiosity.Why breaking down is often the necessary first step to breaking through into a more authentic life. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Teaser: A Daughter's Six Words That Changed Everything 00:40 Introduction: Welcoming Dr. Julie Basler 03:48 From English PhD to College President 06:01 Leaving the Office Behind: Transitioning to the Second Mountain 10:35 The Book: She Is Strong Enough to Break 12:05 Sneaking to Therapy: The Middle-of-the-Night Email 19:40 Writing for Women in Leadership 21:35 The Dinner Table Conversation That Added an Extra Chapter 24:14 Someone Noticed Her: The Power of Handwritten Letters 31:18 Jim's Story: The Indiana University Resignation Letter 37:20 Hidden Pain: Why Everyone Is Carrying Something 41:24 25 Years Later: Going Back to College for Counseling 44:41 Research Notes vs. Tech Dashboards 55:20 Generational Trauma and Forgiving Our Parents 01:03:50 Final Words and Where to Find Dr. Julie Basler MEET DR. JULIE BASLER Dr. Julie Basler is an author, keynote speaker, executive mentor, and President of Strong Teams, a company dedicated to building empathy, service, and compassion in workplace culture. With nearly three decades in higher education leadership, including serving as Vice President of Academic Affairs and President of Platt College for over 18 years, Dr. Basler led her team to achieve initial nursing accreditation with ACEN, the first prelicensure BSN program at a career college to do so. ✨ Connect with Dr. Julie Basler 🌐 Website: juliebasler.com 💼 LinkedIn: Dr. Julie Basler 📚 Book: She's Strong Enough to Break: How Female Leaders Can Reclaim Their Mental Health, Their Boundaries, and Their Lives Without Losing Their Seat at the Table ✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer: 🌐Website: hijimfielding.com ♥️ Instagram:@hijimfielding 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimfielding 🔗 Podcast: Ask For An Answer, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Subscribe to Ask for an Answer on your platform of choice, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it today. #EmotionalIntelligence #Resilience #MentalHealthMatters #WomenInLeadership #AskForAnAnswer

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Jim Fielding spent 35 years leading teams at Disney, DreamWorks, Fox, and Gap. One day a trusted team leader pulled him aside and said, "Jim, we know you're going to make the call. Could you let us make it first?" That one sentence landed harder than any feedback he had ever received. He had been asking questions he had already answered in his head, and the room knew. It woke him up, and he changed his style. Ask for An Answer is where he keeps practicing: Community and Conversation with interesting humans who believe that asking better questions is more important than having all of the answers. On Thursdays, Jim sits down with the leaders who feed his constant curiosity for unscripted conversations about showing up as a whole person while still delivering results. Each episode includes Ask on Purpose: one question from someone who knows the guest well. Jim's book, Ask for An Answer, publishes March 30, 2027 Subscribe to Jim's Field Notes: https://jimfieldingfieldnotes.beehiiv.com/subscribe?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcastdescription Follow Jim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimfielding/ Jim's Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com

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