Amplify Hope Today

Simon T. Bailey
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Weekly

Amplify Hope Today is a raw and deeply human podcast hosted by Simon T. Bailey, exploring what it means to lead, rebuild, and remain hopeful in a world marked by constant change and uncertainty. Through honest conversations about the topics most people avoid—grief, identity shifts, leadership under pressure, entrepreneurship, faith, communication, resilience, and the courage to begin again—each episode challenges listeners to expand their capacity and navigate life with clarity and purpose. This is not surface-level positivity. It is a practice of choosing goodness, taking action, and becoming hopeful so you can be helpful. Amplify Hope Today invites listeners into meaningful conversations that remind us hope is not passive—it is intentional, transformative, and necessary for the world we live in today.

  1. 4d ago

    34. Plan Your Next Career Move on Day One

    When should you start planning your next career move? The day you start your current job. Simon T. Bailey sits down with Larry Lynch, his former boss and mentor at Disney Institute. Larry has spent more than 45 years in leadership and career reinvention: law enforcement, association leadership, Disney Institute, the National Restaurant Association, food safety, real estate, and now owner and CEO of the United States Personal Chef Association. Most professionals wait for a layoff, a restructuring, or burnout to force the question "What do I do next?" Larry explains why reinvention starts much earlier, and why separating who you are from what you do gives you the confidence to lead through uncertainty. Simon and Larry also look back at their time together at Disney Institute: why Larry took a chance on Simon, and why he pushed him past tactical thinking. Larry makes the case that developing leaders takes more than encouragement. It takes trust, honest feedback, and uncomfortable conversations. And he shows how he uses AI to get done in hours what used to take days. In this episode, you'll learn: How to reinvent your career at any stageHow to prepare for a layoff or unexpected career changeHow to know when it's time to leave a jobWhy your job title should never define your identityHow great mentors develop future leadersHow leaders can use AI to boost productivity without fearing itWho is Larry Lynch? Larry Lynch is owner and CEO of the United States Personal Chef Association and a former leader at Disney Institute and the National Restaurant Association. He has spent more than 45 years leading through career and organizational change. Quick answers from this episode: When should you start preparing for your next career move? On your first day in your current role. Larry Lynch says waiting for a layoff or restructuring leaves you reacting instead of choosing. How do you stay confident during a career transition? Keep your identity separate from your job title. Your skills, values, and ability to learn go with you to every role. Should leaders fear AI? No. Larry uses AI to create content, communicate with members, and finish in hours what once took days. He tells leaders to learn it and use it. Your career will change. Your company will change. Technology will change. Your ability to learn, adapt, and reinvent yourself goes with you everywhere. Subscribe to Amplify Hope Today and share this episode with someone who is waiting for change to force their next move.  Connect with Larry:  Website:  https://www.uspca.com/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrylynchcae/ ----------------------------------------------------- Watch full episodes on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@AmplifyHopeTodayShow Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amplify-hope-today/id1881115485?i=1000752112808  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OJS29kGxgcYTJnzZCoehb?si=b36e8692245b4551 STAY CONNECTED Follow Simon at: Website: https://www.simontbailey.com/ Instagram: @SimonTBailey LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/simontbailey Follow our podcast at: Website: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/ Instagram: @AmplifyHopeToday ----------------------------------------------------- Special thanks to our partners: Hi Hello Labs in Orlando, Florida, for powering and producing this show. Sponsored by: Hi Hello Labs Produced at: Hi Hello Labs Learn More: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/

  2. Oct 25

    33. Breaking Generational Poverty: What Actually Works

    Why do so many well-funded efforts to fix struggling neighborhoods fade away? Eddy Moratin, President and Co-Founder of Lift Orlando, has spent years answering that question. His answer is that most solutions are built for communities instead of with them. Simon T. Bailey sits down with Eddy to explore what changes when leaders listen first. Eddy walks through the Lift Method, the framework behind Lift Orlando's work: L — Learn the root cause I — Identify what works F — Focus on place T — Transform He explains how Lift Orlando brings residents, business leaders, schools, healthcare, mixed-income housing, and workforce partners to the same table. He also makes the business case: community investment isn't charity. Stronger neighborhoods build stronger economies and talent pipelines. In this episode: • Why listening beats having all the answers • How businesses can invest beyond writing checks • The three lenses for talking about underserved communities: dignity, local, and mobility • Why financial well-being is central to breaking generational poverty • Eddy's practice of "gritty optimism," and how joy coexists with grief and failure • How personal alignment strengthens both leadership and marriage • Why the next generation gives him hope For CEOs, nonprofit and community leaders, philanthropists, educators, and anyone working on economic mobility and social impact.The takeaway: You don't have to be the hero. Listen, build alongside people, open doors to opportunity, and let them write their own success stories. Connect with Eddy:  Website: https://www.liftorlando.org/ Website: https://www.eddymoratin.com/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddymoratin/ ----------------------------------------------------- Watch full episodes on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/@AmplifyHopeTodayShow Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amplify-hope-today/id1881115485?i=1000752112808  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OJS29kGxgcYTJnzZCoehb?si=b36e8692245b4551 STAY CONNECTED Follow Simon at: Website: https://www.simontbailey.com/ Instagram: @SimonTBailey LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/simontbailey Follow our podcast at: Website: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/ Instagram: @AmplifyHopeToday ----------------------------------------------------- Special thanks to our partners: Hi Hello Labs in Orlando, Florida, for powering and producing this show. Sponsored by: Hi Hello Labs Produced at: Hi Hello Labs Learn More: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/

  3. Oct 18

    32. Career Change at 40 or 50? You’re Not Starting Over

    Thinking about a career change at 40 or 50 and feel like you’re starting over? You’re not. You’re starting from experience.Best-selling author and She Believed She Could founder Allison Walsh joins Simon T. Bailey on Amplify Hope Today to share how to reinvent your career, rebuild your confidence, and take your next step without having the whole plan figured out. Her first move is to build a win list, a written record of your accomplishments, skills, and the moments you came through. It reminds you what you bring into your next chapter.In this episode: How to reinvent yourself without discounting 15, 20, or 25+ years of experienceHow to rebuild confidence when it’s been shaken, including “borrowing confidence” from mentorsWhy daily habits and routines build self-trustWhy you don’t need the entire plan before your next stepHow women can move from feeling invisible to owning their authority and valueAllison also shares her own career transition when her family needed her, and the vision behind the ICONIC Summit and the She Believed She Could community. If you’re navigating a career change, midlife reinvention, burnout, or a leadership transition, this episode is a reminder that everything you’ve lived, learned, and overcome is fuel for what comes next. Connect with Allison: Website: https://www.shebelievedshecould.coInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonwalsh Iconic Impact: https://www.shebelievedshecould.co/iconic-impact ----------------------------------------------------- Watch full episodes on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/@AmplifyHopeTodayShow Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amplify-hope-today/id1881115485?i=1000752112808  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OJS29kGxgcYTJnzZCoehb?si=b36e8692245b4551 STAY CONNECTED Follow Simon at: Website: https://www.simontbailey.com/ Instagram: @SimonTBailey LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/simontbailey Follow our podcast at: Website: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/ Instagram: @AmplifyHopeToday ----------------------------------------------------- Special thanks to our partners: Hi Hello Labs in Orlando, Florida, for powering and producing this show. Sponsored by: Hi Hello Labs Produced at: Hi Hello Labs Learn More: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/

  4. Oct 11

    31. Every Dollar Needs a Mission

    Poverty is not the lack of cash. It’s the breakdown of order.” Dr. Obom Bowen learned discipline as a U.S. Marine, then had to learn it again lying paralyzed after an injury in service. The way he rebuilt his body, through faith, visualization, and small actions repeated daily, became the way he rebuilt his finances and businesses. Simon T. Bailey sits down with the author of Kingdom Economics to talk about why more money won’t fix a disordered life, how his JARS system gives every dollar a mission, and why working harder in the wrong direction only leads to exhaustion. Effort is the engine; positioning is the steering wheel. In this episode: • The JARS system, and why unassigned dollars “wander away” • When to work harder and when to reposition • Becoming a “solutionist”: solving problems people will pay for • The biblical principles behind his approach to wealth • Why hope has to be followed by action About Dr. Obom Bowen: Retired U.S. Marine, entrepreneur, investor, behavioral expert, and best-selling author of Kingdom Economics.  Coming soon: Simon's new book, Amplify Hope: Lead From Where You Are Standing. Barry's story is a living example of its central idea — that leadership isn't a title you wait to receive. It's something you practice from wherever you're standing right now. Subscribe to Amplify Hope Today with Simon T. Bailey for conversations about leadership, personal growth, purpose, service, and becoming an amplifier in the lives of others. ----------------------------------------------------- Watch full episodes on YouTube:   http://www.youtube.com/@AmplifyHopeTodayShow Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amplify-hope-today/id1881115485?i=1000752112808  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OJS29kGxgcYTJnzZCoehb?si=b36e8692245b4551 STAY CONNECTED Follow Simon at: Website: https://www.simontbailey.com/ Instagram: @SimonTBailey LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/simontbailey Follow our podcast at: Website: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/ Instagram: @AmplifyHopeToday ----------------------------------------------------- Special thanks to our partners: Hi Hello Labs in Orlando, Florida, for powering and producing this show. Sponsored by: Hi Hello Labs Produced at: Hi Hello Labs Learn More: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/

  5. Oct 4

    30. Booked Solid and Burned Out: Victoria Angela on Redefining Success

    Victoria Angela's photography business looked like a success story. Inside, she was functioning but not fine. A conversation about burnout, boundaries, and redefining success. Victoria Angela was traveling the world, photographing major events, and working alongside celebrated professionals. Her calendar was full and her business was thriving. But underneath it all, she was functioning, and she wasn't fine. In this episode of Amplify Hope Today, Simon T. Bailey sits down with fourth-generation photographer and entrepreneur Victoria Angela. She shares what happened when financial, mental, and physical strain collided, and how she rebuilt her life and business on different terms. One of her biggest shifts: she stopped asking, "Will you be my client?" and started asking, "Are you the right client for me?" Because the wrong client has a price too. In this conversation: How to recognize burnout when your business still looks successfulDepression, mental health, and knowing when to ask for helpWhy not every dollar is good revenue, and how to choose clients who fitRebuilding your identity beyond your career, relationships, and inherited expectationsWhy prestige and visibility don't always equal expertiseLearning to trust your own judgment as you redefine successIf you're struggling with depression or thoughts of self-harm, you don't have to carry it alone. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Coming soon: Simon's new book, Amplify Hope: Lead From Where You Are Standing. Barry's story is a living example of its central idea — that leadership isn't a title you wait to receive. It's something you practice from wherever you're standing right now. Subscribe to Amplify Hope Today with Simon T. Bailey for conversations about leadership, personal growth, purpose, service, and becoming an amplifier in the lives of others. ----------------------------------------------------- Watch full episodes on YouTube:   http://www.youtube.com/@AmplifyHopeTodayShow Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amplify-hope-today/id1881115485?i=1000752112808  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OJS29kGxgcYTJnzZCoehb?si=b36e8692245b4551 STAY CONNECTED Follow Simon at: Website: https://www.simontbailey.com/ Instagram: @SimonTBailey LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/simontbailey Follow our podcast at: Website: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/ Instagram: @AmplifyHopeToday ----------------------------------------------------- Special thanks to our partners: Hi Hello Labs in Orlando, Florida, for powering and producing this show. Sponsored by: Hi Hello Labs Produced at: Hi Hello Labs Learn More: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/

  6. Oct 3

    29. Stop Replaying Your Past. Start Pre-Playing Your Future

    Are you still replaying a mistake from years ago, while the world tries to tell you who you should be? In this episode of Amplify Hope Today, Simon T. Bailey explores the first arrow from his new book, Amplify Hope: Lead From Where You Are Standing: Fasten Your Identity. Social media, the news, AI, notifications, and other people's opinions compete for your attention every day. If you don't decide what shapes your thinking, something or someone else will. Simon shares a lesson from his mentor, Dr. Denis Waitley: what you read, listen to, internalize, and repeat ultimately becomes who you are. You'll learn how to: Stop replaying past mistakes and start "pre-playing" the future you wantBecome teachable without becoming timidRecognize who is influencing your thinking, and whether they align with your valuesThink critically in an age of information overloadFocus on what's right about you, not what's wrong with youBuild confidence and hope through intentional daily practices If you're wrestling with self-doubt, past mistakes, or uncertainty about what's next, this episode gives you practical steps forward. Your past happened, but you don't have to keep replaying it. Fasten your identity. Pre-play your future. Amplify hope. Coming soon: Simon's new book, Amplify Hope: Lead From Where You Are Standing. Barry's story is a living example of its central idea — that leadership isn't a title you wait to receive. It's something you practice from wherever you're standing right now. Subscribe to Amplify Hope Today with Simon T. Bailey for conversations about leadership, personal growth, purpose, service, and becoming an amplifier in the lives of others. ----------------------------------------------------- Watch full episodes on YouTube:   http://www.youtube.com/@AmplifyHopeTodayShow Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amplify-hope-today/id1881115485?i=1000752112808  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OJS29kGxgcYTJnzZCoehb?si=b36e8692245b4551 STAY CONNECTED Follow Simon at: Website: https://www.simontbailey.com/ Instagram: @SimonTBailey LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/simontbailey Follow our podcast at: Website: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/ Instagram: @AmplifyHopeToday ----------------------------------------------------- Special thanks to our partners: Hi Hello Labs in Orlando, Florida, for powering and producing this show. Sponsored by: Hi Hello Labs Produced at: Hi Hello Labs Learn More: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/

  7. Sep 20

    28. Be a Schlepper: 37 Years Inside Disney's Leadership Playbook

    Barry Jacobson once ironed Bob Iger's shirt. He also started out as a lifeguard, held nearly 30 different roles, and spent 37 years inside The Walt Disney Company. In this episode of Amplify Hope Today with Simon T. Bailey, Barry shares the behind-the-scenes leadership and customer service principles that created Disney magic — and how any leader, in any organization, can put them to work. A paycheck is given to people who show up. Opportunities are given to individuals who think and work beyond what they're paid to do. — Simon T. BaileyBarry's most powerful lesson is also his strangest: be a schlepper. For Barry, being a schlepper means being willing to help, serve, connect, and do the work others overlook. It meant volunteering in housekeeping as a young lifeguard. It meant getting coffee for an executive. It meant ironing Bob Iger's shirt and finding a way to fulfill an unexpected guest request. Over 37 years, Barry learned that service creates visibility — and visibility creates opportunity. He also explains why great customer experience always starts with employee experience, why leaders should "solve for yes" instead of defaulting to no, and how Disney's philosophy of "plussing" turns an ordinary interaction into a moment a guest never forgets. Along the way, you'll hear stories from working around Disney executives, launching experiences around the world, serving Disney's passionate D23 fan community, and leading experiences at Golden Oak. Barry shares lessons from his work beyond Disney as well, including the Dallas Cowboys and other major hospitality brands, and explains why clear standards, empowered employees, real training, and a shared sense of purpose are what make a brand experience consistent. In this conversation, you'll learn: Disney leadership lessons drawn from a 37-year careerHow to create exceptional customer experiencesWhy employee experience drives customer loyaltyHow leaders build a culture of careWhy listening is one of the most important leadership skillsHow "plussing" creates surprise-and-delight momentsWhy working beyond your job description accelerates career growthHow to "solve for yes" instead of defaulting to noWhy relationships remain at the heart of great organizationsHow small, personalized gestures create lifelong customersIf you're a leader, entrepreneur, hospitality professional, customer experience professional, or anyone who wants to stand out in your career, this conversation is packed with lessons you can put into action immediately. Coming soon: Simon's new book, Amplify Hope: Lead From Where You Are Standing. Barry's story is a living example of its central idea — that leadership isn't a title you wait to receive. It's something you practice from wherever you're standing right now. Subscribe to Amplify Hope Today with Simon T. Bailey for conversations about leadership, personal growth, purpose, service, and becoming an amplifier in the lives of others. ----------------------------------------------------- Watch full episodes on YouTube:   http://www.youtube.com/@AmplifyHopeTodayShow Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amplify-hope-today/id1881115485?i=1000752112808  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OJS29kGxgcYTJnzZCoehb?si=b36e8692245b4551 STAY CONNECTED Follow Simon at: Website: https://www.simontbailey.com/ Instagram: @SimonTBailey LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/simontbailey Follow our podcast at: Website: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/ Instagram: @AmplifyHopeToday ----------------------------------------------------- Special thanks to our partners: Hi Hello Labs in Orlando, Florida, for powering and producing this show. Sponsored by: Hi Hello Labs Produced at: Hi Hello Labs Learn More: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/

  8. Sep 13

    27. She Bought Her Company Back...In the Middle of COVID

    In 2020, her entire industry went to zero. That's when she bought her company back. Jennifer Miller spent nearly thirty years building Access Destination Services into the largest destination management brand in North America. She became its first female CEO. She led through 9/11 and the Great Financial Crisis. She took the company through a major private equity transaction — and then, during COVID, when corporate travel had stopped completely, she bought it back and rebuilt it. She says she wasn't betting on the market. She was betting on the people. In this episode of Amplify Hope Today, Jennifer joins Simon T. Bailey for a conversation about what holds an organization together when the plan stops working. Why culture stops being a poster and starts being load-bearing. Why scaling is about multiplying leaders rather than revenue. And why, in her experience, people need hope before they can use a strategy. She also talks about the moment she knew it was time to leave — and what that realization taught her about what she'd actually been building. The goal was never to make herself indispensable. It was to build something that could thrive without her. You'll learn: Why hope has to come before strategyHow to scale without becoming the bottleneckWhy decentralized leadership produces accountability rather than chaosHow to lead through layoffs when no version of the decision feels goodHow a founder knows it's time to step awayWhy character is the one competitive advantage nobody can copySimon's twelfth book, Amplify Hope: Lead From Where You Are Standing, releases October 1. ----------------------------------------------------- Watch full episodes on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/@AmplifyHopeTodayShow Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amplify-hope-today/id1881115485?i=1000752112808 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OJS29kGxgcYTJnzZCoehb?si=b36e8692245b4551 STAY CONNECTED Follow Simon at: Website: https://www.simontbailey.com/ Instagram: @SimonTBailey LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/simontbailey Follow our podcast at: Website: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/ Instagram: @AmplifyHopeToday ----------------------------------------------------- Special thanks to our partners: Hi Hello Labs in Orlando, Florida, for powering and producing this show. Sponsored by: Hi Hello Labs Produced at: Hi Hello Labs Learn More: https://www.amplifyhopetoday.com/

See All (34)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Amplify Hope Today is a raw and deeply human podcast hosted by Simon T. Bailey, exploring what it means to lead, rebuild, and remain hopeful in a world marked by constant change and uncertainty. Through honest conversations about the topics most people avoid—grief, identity shifts, leadership under pressure, entrepreneurship, faith, communication, resilience, and the courage to begin again—each episode challenges listeners to expand their capacity and navigate life with clarity and purpose. This is not surface-level positivity. It is a practice of choosing goodness, taking action, and becoming hopeful so you can be helpful. Amplify Hope Today invites listeners into meaningful conversations that remind us hope is not passive—it is intentional, transformative, and necessary for the world we live in today.

Information

  • Creator
    Simon T. Bailey
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Amplify Hope Today
  • Show Website
    Amplify Hope Today