The Ambition Lab

Whiz
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The Ambition Lab is where ambition gets honest. Most people are building something. A business, a career, a family, a body, a life that actually means something. But nobody tells you the real cost of that kind of building — the sacrifices, the identity shifts, the seasons where everything feels like it is moving backwards before it moves forward.

  1. 1d ago

    Stewardship Is Not a Fundraising Strategy

    What if stewardship was never really about raising money but about how we choose to live with what we've been given? Larry W. O'Nan has spent more than four decades working in fundraising, stewardship, and organizational development. During his 18 years with Cru, he helped develop fund development initiatives that raised more than $150 million. But while researching stewardship for a billion-dollar ministry campaign, Larry discovered that the subject was much bigger than fundraising. In this episode of The Ambition Lab, Larry explains why stewardship is about more than money. It's about how we manage our time, abilities, relationships, influence, opportunities, and resources and how intentionality changes the way we live and give. We also talk about the difference between fundraising and genuine stewardship, building meaningful relationships with donors, intentional living, generosity, and what it means to make the most of what you've already been entrusted with. Connect with Larry W. O'Nan: Official Website: https://larryonan.com/ About Larry: https://larryonan.com/about-larry-onan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-o-nan-90760410/ Intentional Living and Giving: https://larryonan.com/book-launch/ In this episode: - Why stewardship is bigger than fundraising - What it means to be a steward of your resources - Moving from transactions to genuine partnership - The connection between intentional living and giving - Managing time, relationships, abilities, and influence - What organizations often misunderstand about stewardship - How to become more intentional with what you already have - Rethinking generosity when you feel like you don't have enough - The personal cost of living according to your principles

  2. 1d ago

    Stories Saved Me

    What happens when the stories that help you survive become the stories you use to help other people? Thomas R. Wilson grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire, navigating bullying, mental health struggles, and experiences that made him question his own worth. But through poetry, novels, music, and storytelling, he found something that gave him hope when the world around him didn't. Today, Thomas is a writer, advocate, educator, mentor, business owner, and Sensory Friendly Events Specialist. He has partnered with more than forty businesses and spent more than three decades turning his experiences into work that helps people feel seen, supported, and included. In this episode of The Ambition Lab, Thomas shares how stories became a source of hope, how he went from finding support to becoming an advocate for others, and why lived experience can be such a powerful tool for connection. We also explore sensory-friendly events, neurodiversity, Dungeons & Dragons, community building, navigating support systems, and the personal cost of using your own story to help others. At the heart of the conversation is a simple but powerful idea: someone else's description of you doesn't determine your worth. Connect with Thomas R. Wilson: - Official Website: https://rhcreativeadvocacyandstorytelling.net/ - Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ndttrpg - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-wilson-42762927b/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhstorytelling - Threads: https://www.threads.com/@rhstorytelling - Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9643132 In this episode: - How stories can become a source of hope - Turning lived experience into advocacy - What it means to be a peer specialist - Creating sensory-friendly events and inclusive spaces - Neurodiversity and community building - How Dungeons & Dragons can create connection and belonging - Navigating systems that aren't always easy to understand - The personal cost of advocacy - Reconnecting with your own worth - Turning the story that helped you survive into something that helps someone else

  3. Sep 30

    The Maverick Inflection Point

    What happens when being good at your job is no longer enough to move your career forward? Christina DelliSanti-Miller, founder of Full Potential Realized and creator of the Maverick Inflection Point™ framework, has spent nearly two decades helping women advance in male-dominated industries. Having worked on both sides of talent and advancement decisions, she understands what happens when technical expertise stops being the main driver of opportunity. In this episode of The Ambition Lab, Christina explains why high performers can find themselves stuck despite continuing to deliver results, and what changes when professionals move from the Expert Domain into the Trust & Alignment Domain. We also talk about Strategic Career Navigation, building trust and influence, the lessons Christina learned from founding The Athena Collaborative, and what highly capable women in STEM and finance need to understand about advancing their careers. Connect with Christina DelliSanti-Miller: Official Website: https://fullpotentialrealized.com/ Free Briefing: https://fullpotentialrealized.com/register In this episode: - Why technical expertise eventually stops being enough - The Maverick Inflection Point™ - Moving from expertise to trust, alignment, and influence - Strategic Career Navigation - Why high-performers can plateau despite strong results - Lessons from advancing women in male-dominated industries - Common career mistakes that can limit advancement - How to navigate career growth more strategically

  4. Sep 30

    Breaking the Script

    What if becoming a better speaker isn't about becoming someone else but learning how to amplify who you already are? Tom Elliott has spent 15 years on the front line of corporate entertainment, hosting galas, conferences, and awards ceremonies for organizations including Deloitte, Atomicon, and the Chartered Governance Institute. He's performed for audiences of up to 2,000 people, worked alongside comedians including Milton Jones, Joe Pasquale, and Al Murray, and learned what it takes to truly command a room. He's now a keynote coach who helps business owners and executives move beyond the traditional slide deck presentation and develop the presence, timing, confidence, and authenticity of a professional performer. In this episode of The Ambition Lab, Tom shares why so many business speakers hide behind their slides, why stage presence can be learned, and what performing alongside professional comedians taught him about reading a room and connecting with an audience. We also talk about the “fifty-speech rule,” deliberate practice, overcoming stage fright, journaling, vision, and the difference between memorizing a presentation and actually owning your message. Connect with Tom Elliott: Website: https://hellotom.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hellotom/ Book: Breaking the Script: From Stage Fright to Speaking Fees https://hellotom.co.uk/breakingthescript Get the book for postage cost only: https://hellotom.co.uk/podcastgift In this episode: - Why speakers need to stop hiding behind their slides - How to develop genuine stage presence - Amplifying your personality instead of trying to become someone else - What comedians can teach business speakers about timing - The “fifty-speech rule” and deliberate practice - Why confidence often comes from repetition - Memorizing a speech vs. internalizing your message - Journaling, vision, and turning intention into action - Overcoming stage fright and becoming more authentic - What it really takes to command a room

  5. Sep 28

    The Chief Everything Officer

    What happens when your ambition isn't the problem but the way you're operating is? Alli Murphy spent more than a decade in corporate leadership, eventually becoming a Managing Director. From the outside, she had built an impressive career. But behind the success, she was becoming increasingly absent from her own life. In this episode of The Ambition Lab, Alli shares the moment a friend's comment that she was a “figment of her husband's imagination” forced her to take a closer look at how she was living and leading. Today, through The Elevate Lab, Alli helps senior women leaders break out of what she calls the Chief Everything Officer pattern: the belief that being successful means being responsible for everything. We talk about leadership identity, delegation, over-functioning, sustainable success, and why becoming a better leader isn't always about doing more it can be about learning what you no longer need to do yourself. Connect with Alli Murphy: - The Elevate Lab: https://theelevatelab.com/ - The Thrive Report: https://thethrivereport.beehiiv.com/ In this episode: - Why ambition isn't always the problem - The Chief Everything Officer pattern - Why high performers struggle after promotion - Moving from execution to leadership - Delegation as an identity shift - Building a sustainable leadership style - Getting your time back without dropping the ball - Leaving corporate leadership to build something of your own - What sustainable success really looks like - Learning to stop doing everything yourself

  6. Sep 28

    If It's Not a Hell Yes, It's a Hell No

    What happens when you stop chasing every opportunity and start choosing only the ones that truly align? Bev Hampson, Founder & CEO of Category3 Media and a media growth strategist, has spent more than a decade helping health experts and purpose-driven entrepreneurs turn podcasts into profitable media businesses. Her work has included partnerships with leading names in health and wellness, but her approach goes beyond downloads, sponsorships, and vanity metrics. In this episode of The Ambition Lab, Bev shares why trust is one of a creator's most valuable assets, why bigger opportunities aren't always better, and how the simple rule “If it's not a hell yes, it's a hell no” can change the way you make business decisions. We also talk about audience first growth, podcast monetization, aligned partnerships, the mistakes creators make when chasing revenue, and what it really costs to walk away from opportunities that look impressive on paper but don't feel right. Connect with Bev Hampson: Category3 Media: https://www.category3.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bev-hampson-79a72336/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebevhamps/ Category3 Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/category3media/ Next Level Podcasters: https://next-level-podcasters-by-category-3.mn.co/landing In this episode: - Why alignment matters more than opportunity size - Moving beyond downloads and vanity metrics - Building a profitable media business - Why trust is a creator's most valuable asset - Choosing the right brand partnerships - The “Hell Yes or Hell No” decision-making filter - Monetizing an audience without compromising trust - The real cost of walking away from the wrong opportunity - Building sustainable influence without selling out

  7. Sep 28

    The Articulation Gap

    What happens when you're doing everything right at work but leadership still doesn't see the full value of what you're creating? Rosie Zilinskas spent 32 years in corporate America and experienced that gap firsthand. After years of delivering results and waiting to be recognized for the next opportunity, a senior executive told her, “You never said anything.” That moment changed how she understood career advancement. Today, Rosie is a keynote speaker, Certified High Performance Coach, and creator of the Articulation Gap Framework, helping high-performing women communicate their impact with greater clarity, composure, and conviction. In this episode of The Ambition Lab, Rosie explains why doing great work isn't always enough, why confidence isn't necessarily the answer, and how learning to articulate your impact can change the way leadership sees your contribution. We also talk about self advocacy, promotion conversations, career visibility, and what happens when you stop waiting to be noticed and start naming the value you already create. Connect with Rosie Zilinskas: - Official Website: https://nowomanleftbehind.com/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosiecareercoaching - No Woman Left Behind Podcast: https://nowomanleftbehind.com/podcast/ - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-woman-left-behind/id1622865017 - Impact Clarity AI: https://nowomanleftbehind.ac-page.com/impact-clarity-ai-optin In this episode: - What the Articulation Gap really means - Why high performers often believe their work will speak for itself - Clarity, Composure, and Conviction - Moving from task language to impact language - How to communicate your value under pressure - Self-advocacy without feeling like you're bragging - Preparing for promotion and leadership conversations - Why confidence may not be the real issue - How to stop waiting to be noticed and start naming your impact

  8. Sep 28

    The Verdict You Refuse to Accept

    What happens when you refuse to accept the story other people have written for your life? Frank McKinney was asked to leave three high schools, spent seven stints in juvenile detention, and graduated with a 1.8 GPA. He eventually left Indiana with $50 in his pocket and went on to build an unconventional career as a real estate artist, author, philanthropist, and ultramarathoner. In this episode of The Ambition Lab, Frank shares the journey from those early setbacks to creating and selling oceanfront mansions, building self-sustaining villages in Haiti, writing books across multiple genres, and completing the Badwater 135-mile Ultramarathon thirteen times. We also explore reinvention, risk, philanthropy, endurance, creativity, and Frank's latest book, Hell's Heaven: Is It Really Forever? a nonfiction novel he describes as "faction" and a Psycho-Spiritual Thriller. At the heart of the conversation is a simple question: What happens when you stop accepting other people's verdicts about who you are? Connect with Frank McKinney: - Official Website: https://frank-mckinney.com/ In this episode: - Refusing to let your past define your future - Going from a 1.8 GPA to an unconventional career - The journey from $50 to high-end real estate - What it means to be a "real estate artist" - Philanthro-capitalism and building communities in Haiti - Lessons from the Badwater 135 - The personal cost of ambition and reinvention - The story behind Hell's Heaven: Is It Really Forever? - Why your circumstances don't have to become your identity

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About

The Ambition Lab is where ambition gets honest. Most people are building something. A business, a career, a family, a body, a life that actually means something. But nobody tells you the real cost of that kind of building — the sacrifices, the identity shifts, the seasons where everything feels like it is moving backwards before it moves forward.

Information

  • Creator
    Whiz
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    143
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Whiz
  • Show Website
    The Ambition Lab