In a recent episode of "Let's Talk," Lisbet Newton had the pleasure of conversing with Leslie Amerman, Principal at Dynamic Interactions and a member of the Leadership Team at Conscious Capitalism. Their discussion delved into the key factors that contribute to the success of organizations, with a focus on fostering environments that encourage employee growth, cultivate strong teamwork, and ultimately, create fulfilling workplaces.

For 1,775 days, Jose Pereira, former CEO of Citgo Petroleum, endured wrongful imprisonment in Venezuela due solely to his American citizenship. This harrowing ordeal, detailed in his poignant memoir, From Hero to Villain: My True Story of the Citgo6, transformed him from a successful executive into a symbol of unwavering resilience. While enduring unimaginable hardship, Pereira smuggled letters to his wife, which later became the cornerstone of his powerful narrative. Today, Pereira leverages his unique perspective – a blend of C-suite leadership and the profound trauma of hostage captivity – to guide others. He coaches C-suite executives and entrepreneurs on navigating adversity, cultivating inner strength, and achieving a harmonious balance between professional success and personal fulfillment. As an acclaimed speaker, Pereira has captivated audiences at prestigious venues like TAG Talks at Marriott Dallas and the Global Speaker Summit, inspiring them with his lessons on resilience, faith, and the enduring power of the human spirit. His journey, deeply rooted in an unwavering faith in God, provides a powerful testament to the human capacity to overcome even the most daunting obstacles. Recently, Pereira shared his invaluable insights on helping individuals and families heal from the trauma of hostage experiences during a compelling interview on Houston City Beat's "Let's Talk" segment. Find Jose on the Houston Business Beat.

Pastor Ed and Diane Reynolds, driven by a deep sense of compassion, have dedicated themselves to serving the homeless population in Houston. Since 2013, they have been actively involved in outreach efforts, providing meals and essential support to hundreds of individuals. Recognizing the systemic nature of homelessness, they founded Matthew’s Light in 2021, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the root causes of this complex issue. Expand Pastor Ed recently shared his insights on the homelessness crisis in Houston during an episode of "Let's Talk on Houston City Beat." He highlighted the significant impact of rising housing costs and stagnant wages, which have disproportionately affected vulnerable populations. Inspired by his visit to Austin's Community First Village, a successful model for community-based support for the homeless, Pastor Ed and Diane have developed a visionary plan: Cana Village. Cana Village aims to create a supportive community environment that addresses the multifaceted needs of individuals experiencing homelessness. This innovative approach integrates successful elements from various programs, offering a comprehensive solution that includes housing, mental health support, job training, and life skills development. To learn more about Pastor Ed's vision for Cana Village and the critical need for funding, watch the full "Let's Talk on Houston City Beat" episode. By supporting Matthew’s Light, you can directly contribute to the development of Cana Village and help end homelessness in Houston.

Tune in to Let's Talk on Houston City Beat and be inspired by Jenn Marie Cook, a high-performance mindset coach who empowers her clients to conquer life's hurdles, both personal and professional. Jenn Marie's own journey took an unexpected turn when she found herself facing a heart-wrenching battle against the father of her children. Her story is a testament to the power of mindset and resilience. In this episode of Let's Talk, Jenn Marie shares her personal experiences, the tools she uses to guide her clients towards success, and insights on developing a high-performance mindset. Don't miss this opportunity to hear how Jenn Marie found the strength and support to navigate through her toughest challenge and discover valuable strategies for overcoming adversity in your own life.

Adrianna Rubio Clasen, a woman driven by a deep love of life and the founder of MenoWake, has embarked on a mission to redefine the experience of menopause. Her personal journey, marked by the intense experience of hot flashes, sparked a profound realization that challenged conventional perspectives. For Clasen, these physical sensations were not simply discomfort, but rather, powerful expressions of energy, a testament to the innate strength of womanhood. Clasen rejects the notion that menopause is a period of punishment. Instead, she perceives it as a sacred, spiritual awakening, a time to fully embrace the Divine Feminine and forge a deeper connection between body, mind, and soul. This transformative period, which she has eloquently named "MenoWake," is an invitation to celebrate, thrive, and live unapologetically in one's own skin. For Clasen, it all began with a simple realization: the hot flashes she experienced were not mere discomfort, but manifestations of energy coursing through her body. "As women, we've been entrusted with the remarkable ability to bring life into this world—a role bestowed upon us by our Creator. Why would we be punished during this time? This did not resonate within my heart. In truth, this is a profoundly spiritual time in our lives. It's an awakening—an embrace of our Divine Femininity, a connection to body, mind, and soul. Rather than resist it, let us celebrate this beautiful chapter. Let us live fully, thrive unapologetically, and revel in our own skin. This profound time is for me is called MenoWake," Clasen states. This philosophy extends to the products offered through her work. Clasen champions the use of natural, thoughtfully sourced ingredients from around the world, emphasizing the healing power of Mother Earth. She advocates for a holistic approach to wellness, steering clear of synthetic pellets and potentially harmful drugs. Her core belief is that true health and happiness stem from self-nurturing, a principle encapsulated in the empowering phrase: "YOU ARE THE MEDICINE." Through her work, Adrianna Rubio Clasen seeks to empower women to embrace their inner strength, celebrate their natural cycles, and discover the transformative potential of MenoWake. She encourages women to recognize the inherent power within themselves, and to heal themselves with the natural resources available to them.

Meet Amber Lowe. If her name doesn't immediately ring a bell, prepare to be impressed by her multifaceted career. Amber is a CEO, comedian, TV producer, publicist, the voice behind the Matchmaker Hotline, a passionate advocate for mental health, and the founder of Corporate Comedy Live. Our conversation, however, delved into a deeply personal and universally resonant topic: betrayal. Amber is currently working on a book titled "The Betrayal Clause," where she bravely explores the challenges and emotional fallout that occur when trust is broken by those closest to us. It’s a theme that undoubtedly touches many of our listeners here in Houston, and Amber's insights promise to be both raw and ultimately empowering. Amber also shared her journey into the world of comedy, a path she started on back in 2010. She offered a candid look at the realities of the entertainment industry, particularly the hurdles and biases that women often face. Her experiences underscore a broader truth about navigating numerous professional landscapes, where perseverance and self-belief are paramount. A key takeaway from our discussion was Amber's emphasis on the critical importance of understanding your "why." She stressed that this driving force behind your endeavors needs to be deeply rooted and authentic, extending far beyond superficial motivations. In a world often driven by external validation, Amber’s message about connecting with a genuine purpose resonated powerfully. Beyond her professional pursuits, Amber is a dedicated advocate for suicide prevention, particularly within the entrepreneurial community. Having navigated personal tragedy, she has channeled her experiences into initiatives aimed at supporting others. It’s truly inspiring to witness how Amber has taken profound pain and transformed it into a mission to bless and uplift those around her. Amber's story is a testament to resilience, the power of finding your true north, and the importance of using your experiences to make a positive impact. Her upcoming book, "The Betrayal Clause," promises to be a valuable resource for anyone who has navigated the difficult terrain of broken trust.

In the high-stakes world of law, where relentless deadlines and sky-high expectations are the norm, burnout isn't just a possibility – it's often an inevitability. For high-performing law firms and legal professionals feeling the constant pressure, Wayne Basist offers a lifeline. As the founder of ESQ Mental Fitness, Wayne doesn't just offer coping mechanisms; he provides an actionable and sustainable plan to prevent burnout, boost well-being, and unlock peak performance by mastering the often-overlooked skill of mental fitness. Wayne understands the unique demands of the legal profession firsthand. A former litigation and corporate bankruptcy attorney himself, he lived the very challenges his clients face. He knows the feeling of running on fumes and the constant drive to prove oneself. But through his own journey, Wayne discovered a powerful path to navigate this demanding landscape with greater focus, balance, and purpose. Now, he empowers other attorneys to do the same. His approach isn't about fleeting motivational tactics or generic wellness advice. Instead, Wayne delves into the root causes of burnout and negative emotions, identifying the internal "saboteurs" that undermine well-being and performance. "Many of the sabotaging thoughts we experience daily are learned patterns, often stemming from childhood," explains Wayne. "These hidden saboteurs fuel overthinking, perfectionism, and chronic stress, ultimately leading to mental fatigue and physical exhaustion." Wayne's methodology shines a spotlight on these underlying issues through his signature Saboteur Assessment. This powerful tool reveals the specific strength and impact of an individual's internal critics and negative thought patterns. Following the assessment, Wayne guides clients through a comprehensive 7-week training program, complete with app support, designed to intercept these destructive mental habits. The program, rooted in the science-backed principles of Positive Intelligence (PQ), equips attorneys with practical tools to cultivate: Balance: Learn to set clear boundaries, effectively manage stress, and maintain consistent performance without sacrificing personal health or life outside of work. Resilience: Develop the mental fortitude to remain composed and strategic under pressure, bouncing back from setbacks with clarity and unwavering confidence. Ownership: Shift from a reactive stance to intentional leadership, fostering the mental discipline needed to make high-stakes decisions with precision and clarity. This isn't "mindset fluff," as Wayne emphasizes. It's a proven system used by high achievers across diverse industries, meticulously tailored to the specific pressures and challenges of the legal world. His clients learn to identify and weaken their saboteurs, replacing negative mental chatter with tools that unlock creativity, enhance strategic focus, and foster calm, grounded leadership. The transformative results speak for themselves: greater professional performance, significantly reduced stress levels, and a profound sense of satisfaction – both in their demanding legal practices and their personal lives. Whether you are a law firm leader seeking to build a more resilient and thriving team from within, or an individual attorney ready to regain control, elevate your performance, and find genuine balance in a demanding profession, Wayne Basist and ESQ Mental Fitness offer a clear path forward. It's time to master the one skill law school never taught you – the power of a fit and resilient mind. Find Wayne Basist and ESQ Mental Fitness at www.esqmentalfitness.com

On a recent episode of "Let's Talk" on Houston City Beat, host Lisbet Newton engaged in a compelling conversation with Wayne Basist from ESQ Mental Fitness, delving into the complexities of a particularly challenging individual: the high-achiever whose drive morphs into detrimental controlling behavior. Lisbet, playfully dubbing them "anti-superheroes," steered the discussion toward understanding the dynamics and potential for change in individuals wielding this potent, often negative, combination. The conversation immediately tackled the core issue: the collision of high ambition with a need for absolute control. Lisbet highlighted this pairing as a potential source of significant organizational friction, even labeling it the recipe for a "most horrible boss." Wayne echoed this sentiment, raising a critical question about self-awareness. Do individuals entrenched in this hyper-achiever controller mindset ever truly recognize their impact on others? A key point of exploration was the differing levels of acknowledgment these individuals might possess. While someone might readily identify with being a high-achiever, often framing it as a positive attribute synonymous with success, the "controller" aspect proves far more elusive. People generally resist being labeled a "control freak." Lisbet astutely suggested shifting the focus to observable behaviors, such as the tendency to take over projects or excessively micromanage, as a less confrontational way to address the issue. Wayne provided a powerful real-world example of a CEO whose strong controller tendencies, initially perceived as performance-driving, ultimately led to negative corporate outcomes. It wasn't until a saboteur assessment brought his dominant "controller" trait to light, revealing its detrimental impact on team morale and stress levels, that a significant change occurred. By consciously adopting a more supportive and collaborative "sage" approach, the CEO fostered a turnaround in both performance and employee well-being. The discussion naturally transitioned to the often-used term "narcissist" and its potential overlap with the controller-hyper-achiever profile. Wayne clarified that the fundamental challenge lies in a self-absorbed difficulty connecting with and considering others, a trait that can certainly fuel controlling behaviors. While not always perfectly aligned with the drive of a hyper-achiever, narcissistic individuals might still seek external validation and prioritize their own image, further complicating interpersonal dynamics. A crucial hurdle for such individuals, Wayne emphasized, is developing genuine empathy. Lisbet then broadened the scope by considering contextual factors that might contribute to controlling tendencies, such as inheriting a family business or being hired to achieve specific stakeholder outcomes under pressure. This led to a vital question: how can individuals exhibiting these behaviors enact meaningful change, not only for their own benefit but for the well-being of those around them? Lisbet underscored the interconnectedness of personal and professional lives, highlighting the ripple effect of such behaviors. Wayne offered a crucial distinction between "pushing" through fear and "pulling" through encouragement and support. He then addressed the difficult reality of whether some individuals are beyond help, asserting that genuine transformation typically stems from an internal desire for change, often triggered by personal pain or discomfort. Without this intrinsic motivation, external interventions often prove ineffective. As the conversation neared its conclusion, Lisbet turned the focus toward practical solutions, inquiring about Wayne's program. Wayne detailed a process that begins with a self-assessment available through his website (ESQmentalfitness.com) or direct contact. This assessment provides a deeper understanding of one's sabotaging tendencies beyond surface-level awareness. A complimentary follow-up session offers personalized insights into the results, potentially leading to enrollment in a seven-week intensive program. This program, supported by an app, incorporates educational content and daily practices aimed at managing saboteurs and cultivating one's "wise sage," or best self. Lisbet enthusiastically expressed her intention to participate in this seven-week journey, humorously acknowledging that her sage-colored jacket was merely a starting point. She embraced the concept of identifying and harnessing her own "sage powers," aligning with Wayne's perspective that these positive attributes represent our true strengths. In closing, Lisbet conveyed her sincere appreciation for a "fantastic and fun" discussion, clearly energized and ready to embark on her personal growth journey. The conversation offered valuable insights into the complexities of the high-achiever controller archetype and provided a hopeful outlook on the potential for positive change through self-awareness and targeted strategies.