Once Upon The Podcast

Liv Davick

I'm Liv Davick, a Los Angeles entrepreneur (long before it became a buzzword). Inspired by my own personal & professional journey, ONCE UPON THE PODCAST is a destination for thought-provoking, in-depth, honest conversations with many of the most successful, resilient, innovative, & creative people in culture, entertainment, lifestyle, sports, business, & philanthropy. Each episode unpacks their climb to success; their mindsets, characteristics, & habits; their challenges & strategies for overcoming them; & how they have cultivated meaning in their lives. As a woman in business, I also place a special focus on the stories & experiences of female entrepreneurs & creatives, how they have pursued their passions, built their businesses, crafted their brands, & learned & evolved along the way. I share my own knowledge & insight into entrepreneurship, specific hurdles faced & my approaches to navigating them, & my experiences operating a woman-owned business. My goal is to empower you via the valuable lessons of high-achieving women & men - providing you with practical, actionable strategies; grounded solutions; tactics proven by real world experience; & the tools & inspiration to help you succeed in work & in life. A new episode of ONCE UPON THE PODCAST drops every other Thursday.

Episodes

  1. Aug 6

    Grace & Gravitas: How Hard Work & Silent Self-Belief Shape Success

    In this raw & revealing episode, CNN anchor & correspondent, Carolyn Manno, pulls back the curtain on life in front of the cameras as she reflects on her career path, from South Bend, Indiana to New England, eventually culminating at NBC Sports & CNN – covering eight Olympic Games, five Paralympic Games, & a wide array of sports. Carolyn shares her hard-won achievements, challenges she faced, her private insecurities, & the inner qualities that helped drive her success while opening up about how early self-reliance & the strong foundation shaped by her family who gave her the encouragement, independence, grit, & resolve to succeed. Carolyn also discusses the mentors who believed in & helped her, the leap of faith she took when offered her job in Boston, & how the stakes were raised as she advanced in her career. Carolyn talks about imposter syndrome, navigating a male-dominated industry, & how she tried to downplay & camouflage her femininity early in her career. In addition, Carolyn chats about hosting the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show & the annual AKC National Championships, how much she loves working alongside her canine & human colleagues, & her admiration for the dogs she has met.  Finally, Carolyn discusses her professional future, the joy she has found in her work, & her work-life balance as a mom with a meaningful, fulfilling personal life. 🔹More About Carolyn Manno:⬇️   CNN Anchor & Correspondent Having covered eight Olympic Games for NBC Sports, Carolyn was a CNBC host for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, an Olympic Channel host for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, an NBCSN host for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics & the 2016 Rio Olympics, a freestyle skiing reporter at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, a multi-event reporter at the 2012 London Olympics, & a studio/cable for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Carolyn also covered five Paralympic Games with NBCU.  In addition to hosting the America Kennel Club's (AKC) digital streaming platform & appearing occasionally on New York City's WNBC, Carolyn has also served as host for Big Ten Women's Basketball on Peacock and has previously worked across numerous NBC Sports events, including NFL, NASCAR, & horse racing. Carolyn earned multiple first place awards from the Associated Press, including an Edward R. Murrow Award for Sports Journalism. 🔹To connect with Carolyn:⬇️ X: @CarolynManno Facebook: @carolynmanno Instagram: @carolynmanno 🎙️ONCE UPON THE PODCAST Available On:⬇️ Apple Podcasts🔹Spotify🔹YouTube🔹iHeart🔹Amazon Music🔹Audible 🔹 Wherever You Get Your Podcasts🔹

    Grace & Gravitas: How Hard Work & Silent Self-Belief Shape Success
  2. Jul 23

    The Career Reset: from Burnout to Purpose-Aligned Success

    Recent studies show that 55% – 72% of American employees suffer from professional burnout, hitting a six-year high. And younger generations face the highest risks, with burnout afflicting 74% of Gen Z & 83% of younger Millennials.   In today's professional landscape, high achievers often find themselves "stuck", feeling unfulfilled & disconnected. Workplace disengagement costs the economy trillions, but the personal cost of misaligned talent is immeasurable.   As a tactical response to this widespread professional stagnation, certified John Maxwell coach & trainer Lyn Scales Gholston, discusses her passionate commitment to helping people stop settling for a job & start building a legacy. Lyn discusses the motivation behind her dedication for solving this global crisis & how she has incorporated her personal insights, experiences, & world-class leadership into the principles of her CLEWS Framework – a proven repeatable strategic roadmap/model to help people transition from burnout to entrepreneurship.   Lyn & I delve into her mission to guide entrepreneurs & professionals with clarity, empathy, & strategic foresight, helping them to rediscover work that matters to them & is aligned with their strengths, values, & gifts while elevating their potential by better aligning their careers with their core purpose.     To learn more about Lyn Scales Gholston:⬇️ 🌐lynscalesgholston.com/   🔹To connect with Lyn:⬇️ Facebook: @LynScalesGholston Instagram: @LynScalesGholston To learn more about CLEWS:⬇️ 🌐lynscalesgholston.com/clews.html 🎙️ONCE UPON THE PODCAST Available On:⬇️ Apple Podcasts🔹Spotify🔹YouTube🔹iHeart🔹Amazon Music🔹Audible 🔹 Wherever You Get Your Podcasts🔹

    The Career Reset: from Burnout to Purpose-Aligned Success
  3. Jul 9

    Ditch the Script: Staying Agile in a Changing Media World

    NewsNation National Correspondent, former FOX News Channel weekend anchor of America's News HQ, & former HLN/CNN reporter/anchor, Elizabeth Prann, recounts her career journey spanning four of the nation's leading news networks.   Elizabeth and I discuss the evolution of media; the importance of agility & adaptability, meeting the audience where they consume their content; the impact of digital & social media on news coverage; & the role of podcasting in communicating with an audience.   We talk about politics; Spencer Pratt's candidacy for Los Angeles Mayor; geographical political changes & voting trends in states like Georgia & California; & whether Elizabeth brings her political perspectives to her roles as correspondent/anchor/reporter, covering political stories & breaking news events.   We also chat about the public's thirst for authenticity among both broadcast & social media personalities, why imperfection is the key to relatability & true connection, & the false, archaic stereotypes that can be assigned to successful women.   In addition, Elizabeth reflects on her experience as an MLB wife (whose husband Darren O'Day was a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, New York Mets & Yankees, & Anaheim Angels – now a color analyst for the Atlanta Braves Radio Network) & how they have tried to juggle both of their high-profile careers.   Finally, Elizabeth talks about life post-baseball; the changes as their children have grown & life has evolved into a new iteration; & how they've found fulfillment leading a real life of kids, careers, dogs, chickens; & giving back to their communities.   To learn more about Elizabeth Prann:⬇️ 🌐newsnationnow.com/author/elizabeth-prann/ 🔹To connect with Elizabeth:⬇️ X: @ElizabethPrann Facebook: @ElizabethPrannMedia Instagram: @ElizabethPrann 🎙️ONCE UPON THE PODCAST Available On:⬇️ Apple Podcasts🔹Spotify🔹YouTube🔹iHeart🔹Amazon Music🔹Audible 🔹 Wherever You Get Your Podcasts🔹

    Ditch the Script: Staying Agile in a Changing Media World
  4. Jun 25

    Rise & Lead: Wisdom for Women in the Workplace

    In Part 2 of our conversation, former Fortune Global 500 executive, Maria Johnson, and I discuss the challenges faced by many young people & the skills women need as they embark upon their career journeys. We also address the critical importance of the people with whom you spend your time as you navigate the workplace & the influence of family of origin on professional success. In addition, Maria reflects on her experience being bullied as a child & how it impacted her life & career path, fostering resilience, a strong will to succeed, & a desire for taking on "tough things" & winning. Standing at 4'11", Maria explains why her height (the source of the bullying she endured), ultimately became her "superpower". Finally, we talk about work/life balance & whether that is even possible as well as the changes in the workplace culture for both women & men over the past 40 years. 🔹About Maria Johnson:⬇️   Retired Chubb Insurance Executive   Former North American Sales & Distribution Leader, Personal Risk Services   Before retiring in October 2025, Maria served as the North American Sales & Distribution Leader for Personal Risk Services, driving profitable growth across the US & Canada. Her primary responsibilities included leading & developing the Sales & Distribution team to achieve growth targets, implementing distribution tier strategies & agency/broker partner programs, creating & promoting adoption & measurement of sales initiatives & best practices in all regions, collaborating with internal teams such as product lines, underwriting, & field administration to reach division sales goals, as well as monitoring competitive landscapes, analyzing financial trends, & identifying new growth opportunities locally & regionally. During her 33-year career at Chubb, Maria advanced through a variety of positions offering progressive career growth. Her special skills include strategic planning, project management, driving transformative change, improving individual staff & territory performance, pipeline management, sales execution, & employee development. Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property & casualty (P&C) insurance company, operating in over 50 countries. 🔹To connect with Maria:⬇️ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maria-johnson-07b77b18/ 🎙️ONCE UPON THE PODCAST Available On:⬇️ Apple Podcasts🔹Spotify🔹YouTube🔹iHeart🔹Amazon Music🔹Audible 🔹 Wherever You Get Your Podcasts🔹

    Rise & Lead: Wisdom for Women in the Workplace
  5. Jun 11

    Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Lessons on Breaking Barriers

    In Part 1 of our conversation, former Fortune Global 500 executive, Maria Johnson, joins me to talk about her rise to the top, her early years working in a then male-dominated field, challenges she navigated, the mentors who helped guide her, & the core qualities & factors responsible for her success. In addition to discussing the evolution of women's workplace culture, Maria delves into the essential characteristics & personality traits she looked for when hiring, why EQ is often more important than IQ, & the advice she imparts to women (& men) as they pursue a path to professional success. 🔹About Maria Johnson:⬇️   Retired Chubb Insurance Executive   Former North American Sales & Distribution Leader, Personal Risk Services   Before retiring in October 2025, Maria served as the North American Sales & Distribution Leader for Personal Risk Services, driving profitable growth across the US & Canada. Her primary responsibilities included leading & developing the Sales & Distribution team to achieve growth targets, implementing distribution tier strategies & agency/broker partner programs, creating & promoting adoption & measurement of sales initiatives & best practices in all regions, collaborating with internal teams such as product lines, underwriting, & field administration to reach division sales goals, as well as monitoring competitive landscapes, analyzing financial trends, & identifying new growth opportunities locally & regionally. During her 33-year career at Chubb, Maria advanced through a variety of positions offering progressive career growth. Her special skills include strategic planning, project management, driving transformative change, improving individual staff & territory performance, pipeline management, sales execution, & employee development.  Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property & casualty (P&C) insurance company, operating in over 50 countries.🔹To connect with Maria:⬇️ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maria-johnson-07b77b18/ 🎙️ONCE UPON THE PODCAST Available On:⬇️ Apple Podcasts🔹Spotify🔹YouTube🔹iHeart🔹Amazon Music🔹Audible 🔹 Wherever You Get Your Podcasts🔹

    Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Lessons on Breaking Barriers
  6. May 28

    How Oakland Forged an MLB All-Star: Bip Roberts on Grit & Glory & Giving Back

    Veteran MLB All-Star Bip Roberts' 12-year Major League career spanned six MLB teams, including, most notably, the San Diego Padres as well as the Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals (playing in the 1997 World Series), Cleveland Indians, & Detroit Tigers. A second baseman & outfielder known for his exceptional speed & versatility, Bip twice stole over 40 bases in a single season. In our conversation, Bip traces his MLB career over the years, reflecting on the most memorable moment of his life in the sport & the impact of his former Padres teammate Tony Gwynn on his baseball journey.  Bip shares memories of his close friend & former Oakland A's teammate Rickey Henderson, his shock when he first learned of his passing, & emceeing Rickey's Celebration of Life at Oakland Arena alongside former Oakland A's second baseman Shooty Babitt & San Francisco Giants former PA announcer Renel Brooks-Moon. Bip reflects on the changing Bay Area sports scene & how the Golden State Warriors, Raiders, & Athletics all leaving Oakland has affected the city & its people. We delve into the immense importance of professional sports on urban youth & the specific vital benefits that sports offer to young people living in big city environments. Bip & I discuss how his organization Better In Person (named after BIP), is committed to listening to & uplifting the people of Oakland, especially those at risk. Bip explains the wraparound services that they provide & the critical ways that Better In Person supports youth in navigating their educational journey & empowers them to stay on track & thrive, not just survive. Finally, we talk about the role that faith plays in Bip's life & how it continues to guide him in his work, helping to enrich the lives of both youth & adults. To learn more about Better in Person:⬇️ 🌐BetterInPerson10.org To connect with Bip:⬇️ 📧biproberts@betterinperson10.org 🎙️ONCE UPON THE PODCAST Available On:⬇️ Apple Podcasts🔹Spotify🔹YouTube🔹iHeart🔹Amazon Music🔹Audible 🔹Wherever You Get Your Podcasts🔹

    How Oakland Forged an MLB All-Star: Bip Roberts on Grit & Glory & Giving Back
  7. Mar 5

    The Silicon Valley Playbook: Turning a Tech Idea into Reality

    Join me as I talk with former NBA (Minnesota Timberwolves) play-by-play announcer & Emmy Award-winning sports anchor turned Silicon Valley founder & CEO of TIXSCAPE. After entertaining sports audiences from coast to coast during his four plus decades in the business, Dave, an entrepreneur at heart, founded the new game-changing tech startup TIXSCAPE, revolutionizing the ticket-buying experience for consumers – from sporting events to concerts and all forms of entertainment in between. In this episode, Dave opens up about his amazing journey that led him to becoming a Silicon Valley tech founder & CEO, how his new venture is a culmination of his lifetime of experience in front of the camera, how belief in himself and his ideas and goals were integral to his success, and the advice that he has for those contemplating starting their own business. Whether you're a sports fan, entrepreneur, or anxious about stepping into the unknown, listen and be inspired by the wisdom and lessons of an entrepreneur who took risks, faced fears, and won. TIXSCAPE:⬇️ 🌐website: TixScape.com To download TIXSCAPE:⬇️ 👉🏻Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tixscape/id6470370409 👉🏻Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tixscape&hl=en_US To connect with Dave:⬇️ X: @davebenz 🎙️ONCE UPON THE PODCAST Available On:⬇️ Apple Podcasts🔹Spotify🔹YouTube🔹iHeart🔹Amazon Music🔹Audible 🔹Wherever You Get Your Podcasts🔹

    The Silicon Valley Playbook: Turning a Tech Idea into Reality

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

I'm Liv Davick, a Los Angeles entrepreneur (long before it became a buzzword). Inspired by my own personal & professional journey, ONCE UPON THE PODCAST is a destination for thought-provoking, in-depth, honest conversations with many of the most successful, resilient, innovative, & creative people in culture, entertainment, lifestyle, sports, business, & philanthropy. Each episode unpacks their climb to success; their mindsets, characteristics, & habits; their challenges & strategies for overcoming them; & how they have cultivated meaning in their lives. As a woman in business, I also place a special focus on the stories & experiences of female entrepreneurs & creatives, how they have pursued their passions, built their businesses, crafted their brands, & learned & evolved along the way. I share my own knowledge & insight into entrepreneurship, specific hurdles faced & my approaches to navigating them, & my experiences operating a woman-owned business. My goal is to empower you via the valuable lessons of high-achieving women & men - providing you with practical, actionable strategies; grounded solutions; tactics proven by real world experience; & the tools & inspiration to help you succeed in work & in life. A new episode of ONCE UPON THE PODCAST drops every other Thursday.