It's About To Go Down! with Marc & Cathey

 “That’s just the nature of my creative process. Until it ripens, it’s not supposed to come out.” - Mario Lewis, speaker, speaker coach, and finalist from the World Championship of Public Speaking. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Mario about different approaches to content creation. They introduced the Bon Jovi approach, the Jay-Z/Lil’ Wayne method, and the Idea Map. Though their creative processes are all different, what they discovered is that each is based on intentionality, authenticity, and adaptability. They land on the importance of surrounding yourself with a “diversity of creativity” to produce our best content. By the end of this conversation, you’ll be encouraged to challenge yourself to experiment with different creative approaches. To learn more about Mario, go to https://www.omniprosb.com/

“We’re all beautiful, but it’s the belief that we’re not that is the problem.” - John McSherry, real stake broker and investor. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with John about how to use your pain to power success. John shares his personal journey from being homeless to investing in multiple properties. They explore how a personal experience, one particular analogy, and several asset-based questions can lead to a relatable concept for mindshifting success. By the end of this conversation, they ponder on the consideration of shifting your original idea to a new focus. To learn more about John and how you can use his formula for daily asset-based thinking, go to https://www.instagram.com/john.mcsherry/

 “People need people.” - Ian Williams, founder and owner of Deadstock Coffee. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Ian about defining and building community. They explore how to angle an idea, saying it in a way that people understand while also challenging their thinking. During their play a game of semantics, they end with the notion that one of the keys to finding your unique perspective is asking yourself questions that are not easy for you to answer. By the end of this conversation, like Ian, you'll be able to figure out why you need community and how to express your complex ideas in a simpler way. To learn more about Deadstock, go to https://deadstockcoffee.com/

“You don’t know what can happen by just running with an idea.” - Brian Robinson, speaker and author. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Brian about how to help an audience to successfully implement your idea. At which level of the problem can you get people to take action? The conversation starts with the story of Brian’s skyrocket success with what was once a comical idea. Then, they discuss his newest idea about fixing problems by facing them. They discover that to influence people’s behaviors, rather than starting your idea from a place of “backs against the wall”, begin with empowering people through smaller level victories. By the end of this discussion, you will be able to make your ideas more relatable through Level 1 implementation. Learn more about Brian Robinson from his upcoming website faceittofixit.com. 

 “Different opportunities come in different ways.” - John Glozek, drummer,comedian, and publisher of NY Golf Magazine. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with John about how to turn your passion into your business. During this conversation, they explore the lessons learned from John's career path: practice your hobby endlessly, write about it, form friendships with those who are the best at it, and then make the decision to turn your hobby into business. They revealed that the idea worth sharing is in the unexpected detours you experience. By the end of the discussion, you will develop a deeper awareness of the significance of unintended interactions and activities that may lead you to your most successful business venture. Learn more about NY Golf Magazine at https://golfingmagazine.net/

“An hour of my time could mean a lifetime for someone else.” - Shima Miabadi, architect, volunteer, and best buddy. - In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Shima about why volunteering works. During the conversation, they explore how to get people to tap into an idea that might feel daunting and time consuming. They discuss the power of making personal connections to your idea to make it work for everyone who implements it. In the process, they zeroed in on word choice to help frame an idea. By the end of this discussion, you will be able to identify a cause to support as a volunteer.

“But when I relived it, I remembered those details.” - El Seremaga, NDE survivor. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with El about how to speak about her NDE (near death experience). She wanted to know how to start her stories without rambling, while also capturing the details that people most want to hear. During the conversation, they spoke about adding “thought messages”, incorporating vivid details to create out-of-the-room experiences, and addressing commonly asked questions and misquotes. By the end of the discussion, you will not only know more about NDEs, but also, you’ll be able to identify the “juicy” parts of the stories you are set to tell.

“What is the greatest accomplishment of your life, outside of your family?” - Nina Byrd, business strategist and industry agnostic. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Nina about her idea to curate your best life and discover who you really are by reviewing the most replayed moments of your life. Nina’s work has revealed the difficulty that many people have with planning out their lives. A deeper dive into the idea through a series of question prompts, not only produced several creative one-liners, but also shifted the framing of her idea.

“There’s no room for shame. Every opportunity is an opportunity to learn. And we don’t learn unless we reflect on our mistakes.” - from Season 6 of It's About to Go Down. In this "rap-up" episode, Marc and Cathey catch up with two members of the Season #6 community: Sophia Asghar and Trish Kerin. As they shared updates of their ideas, new questions popped up, new notes were taken, and new phrases were formed, like “It’s not about egos; it’s about outcomes.” Special shout out to the rest of the Season #6 community: Carlin Isles, Leo Flowers, Scott Mason, Jeff Davis, Savas Georgalis, Linda Dulye, and Kinja Dixon.

“We are all works in progress and what we may have considered our worst could be our best.” - Kinja Dixon, author, speaker, and re-creation strategist. In this episode, Marc, Cathey, and Kinja talk about the four pillars of your life’s purpose. The conversation begins with the statement, “Turning your life force into a progressive movement through daily creative action.” They explore how you can condense your complex idea into a message that your audience can easily digest from the start so they will be inspired to learn more. After this, you’ll be able to develop a plan to level out your four pillars, a-PHEK your life force, and re-create your purpose.start to notice and manage the platypus in your life so that you can prevent undesirable incidents. To learn more about Kinja Dixon, go to https://kinjadixon.com/

“We can geek out on this stuff forever.”  Marc, Cathey, and Savas (a TV documentary producer) were set to have a conversation about how to come up with creative ideas. That’s when Cathey lost power. But rather than cancel the show, they decided to keep the conversation going. During the exchange, they shared several idea-shortcuts, including what to read, how to flip details, what to cut, and how to tell stories. This is a behind-the-scenes look at what an unexpected idea conversation can produce.

“It’s a subtle shift in the presentation that can make an idea work.” - Sava Georgalis, TV documentary producer. In this episode, Marc, Cathey, and Savas talk about where good ideas come from and how to cultivate them. They explore how filmmakers, songwriters, speakers, and leaders use basic principles to hook an audience, frame an idea, and use feedback to best express your thoughts. Their conversation reveals the essential qualities of a good idea. After this discussion, you will realize that even though simplicity is hard, a subtle shift will make your idea go viral.”

“How can you see light when you have forgotten what it looks like?” - Scott Mason, speaker, transformational coach, podcaster, and Myth Slayer. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Scott unravel his idea about how to monetize and magnetize your financial freedom. Through a thematic reference to mythology, Scott outlines 5 toxic myths you may be telling yourself about yourself. The conversation demonstrates one way to drill down a big concept into its simplest and most universal form: explore your choice of words and the deeper meaning behind them. After this discussion, you will learn to attract the life you want, like a mythological Olympian.

“It’s hard enough to do things when everything is falling into place.” - Redray Frazier, singer, songwriter, and recording artist. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Redray uncover the core message from within his original idea. Through a process of pulling out transformational stories about key people and unexpected moments, this idea conversation closes with a foundational phrase that can inspire a wider audience. By the end of this discussion, you may surprise yourself with who supports you and say yes to things you never thought you would. To learn more about Redray Frazier, check out www.redrayfrazier.com/

“It’s hard enough to do things when everything is falling into place.” - Redray Frazier, singer, songwriter, and recording artist. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Redray uncover the core message from within his original idea. Through a process of pulling out transformational stories about key people and unexpected moments, this idea conversation closes with a foundational phrase that can inspire a wider audience. By the end of this discussion, you may surprise yourself with who supports you and say yes to things you never thought you would. To learn more about Redray Frazier, check out www.redrayfrazier.com/

"Paint your picture how you want to paint it and don't let life paint it for you." - Carlin Isles, 2x Olympic athlete and the fastest rugby player in the world. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Carlin create a shortcut to his idea, which is about how and why we need to understand and direct our emotions. The fastest route to your idea can reach the largest audience. This idea conversation poses the question: Are your objectives led by your emotions or are your emotions led by your objectives? Talking this through, Cathay, Carlin, and Marc explore a visualization that adds further clarity and stickiness to the idea.

“I would love to make the connection for you.” - from Season 5 of It's About to Go Down. So what happens when a pair of idea creators get together to explore the connections between their thoughts? In this "rap-up" episode, Marc and Cathey catch up with five members of the Season #5 community: Rick Ornelas, Brittany Zimmerman, Cozy Stone, Nyasha-Harmony Gutsa, and Aaron Marshall. They build a playlist for diversity, confess to what they’ve recently put in the garbage, and share what they have done with their ideas. From going to award shows to visiting schools, these experts are bringing their ideas to life.

"The only time that we have is right now." - Shauna-kaye Brown, transformation speaker, coach, and trainer. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Shauna-kaye transform her keynote message into her unique idea for a TED Talk. They go from setting goals for the future to manifesting greatness in the moment. This idea conversation explores how to package an idea for people who are not ready yet to receive your message by looking at the strategic placement of your stories and diversifying the evidence you use to support your idea. By the end of this episode, you may have your answer to the question: “What is my great now?”

Learn more at http://www.shaunakbrownspeaks.com

"The idea [for better education] is simple and right in front of your face: take a risk." - Dave Graber, educator and character of characters. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Dave explore how to convince educators to take creative risks so that they can assess children authentically. They discuss why ideas that  might be simple and obvious are sometimes tough to implement, and how to get around that implementation-obstacle. During the conversation, they even solve a real-world math problem to show how interactive tasks are a great learning tool for getting your point across to an audience. After this episode, you may think twice about how you can take risks with your own teaching and learning.

"Happiness is a lifestyle. "There's a lot you cannot laugh at but you can still make humor out of it." - Cozy Stone, HumorVational speaker and pickleball fanatic. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Cozy unveil concepts related to her topic of the Happiness Bandwagon. They discuss the marketing power of the right title for a talk, the act of sensationalizing a positive idea, the unconventional association of different words, the use of a polarizing question, and the impact of closing with a responsibility statement, all in the effort to get an audience to remember you and your message. After this episode, you will cozy up, pay attention, and might be able to find humor in just about anything. Learn more about Cozy Stone at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-zimmerman/

"Painting [green] solutions as if there are solutions is the most dangerous thing we can do to our youth." - Brittany Zimmerman, space industry expert who is working on how to habitat on Earth and other planets.In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Brittany communicate her expert knowledge about decarbonization in a way that makes a general audience understand and care. Together, they explore how to incorporate an action item and a “right now” effect to get people to implement your idea. After this episode, you might consider putting the word “climate” in front of your job title and then asking yourself two important questions that Brittany reveals at the end. Learn more about Brittany Zimmerman at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-zimmerman/

"Anybody can be a role model but can you be a real-model?" - Corey Pegues, law enforcement expert, community leader, and real model. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Corey build a bridge between two ideas: the need for everyone to go through an extreme transformation and the concept of finding/becoming a real role model. Together, they explore how to create a quadrant from your idea to resemble the stages of transformation your audience can experience when they implement your idea. After this episode, you might consider who unintentionally helped you to become better. Learn more about Corey Pegues at www.coreypegues.com

"We're more powerful and impactful as a group than we are as individuals, but we all have our individual work to do." - Alexis Braly James, EDI consultant/leader and founder of Construct the Present. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Alexis find a different and unique way to frame her idea of how to help people find the joy in anti-racism. It turns out that the answer was found in her use of one word, one question, and a combination of two interests. The conversation explores what works and what does not work in professional development trainings and uses that discovery to engage audiences in a much more creative way. After this episode, you may think about how you connected with someone you never thought you would.

"For every single little action that we make, there is a ripple effect that goes far beyond the initial act." - Rick Ornelas, founder of iSpark Change and best selling success author. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Rick come up with a name for his idea that will connect with audiences. The conversation addresses how to compel audiences to put your idea into practice. They exchange stories and play three idea games to build on the thought that every person can do something to impact a positive change on others. After this episode, you may start tracking the ripple effect on your portion of the planet.

“Get out there and figure out what you don’t want to do before you figure out what you do want to do.” - from Season 4 of It's About to Go Down. So what happens when a pair of idea creators get together to exchange thoughts and ambitions? In this "rap-up" episode, Marc and Cathey catch up with two members of the Season #4 community: Reland Logan and Dr. Rukiya Ware Jeffers. They discuss how to speak on bigger stages, how to figure out if you want to be a keynoter or trainer, and how to partner up with other speakers. After this conversation, you will discover how to combine your “it’s not too late to be great” with the “power of your smile”. Stay tuned for details about an event that Reland and Rukiya will co-host on August 20th, 2022.

"I felt so young looking at the future." - Dr. Rukiya Jeffers Ware, world-class runner, educator, and speaker. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Rukiya about the idea of how not to be too late to be great at the things you wanted to do when you were younger. In the process, they explore how to reframe the impact of your idea with just one word and how to use your vulnerability strategically to break the invisible wall between you and your audience. By the end, you may ditch your retirement plan for something entirely new and reinvigorating.

"When we have faith, there is a security inside of us that no one can take away from us." - Fleriser Bello, creative events and marketing strategist from BelloFashinistas. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Fleriser  about how to become your authentic self in order to bring out your natural spark. In the process, they explore how to tower your idea by starting with something that no one is used to hearing. By the end, you may discover how to use your faith, create your own four pillars, and become untouchable.

"A million grains of sand really is a mountain. And you only see the mountain after it is made. You don't see it when it's grains of sand at a time." - Stephen Green, small business advocate who is everything from spreadsheets to sneakers. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Stephen about cheating on large businesses to support small businesses. In the process, they explore how to create a ripple effect with your message so that the people who are not in the room for your talk will be affected by the conversations that happen afterwards. By the end, your stories will become data, your hashtags will become action steps, and will find two more small black businesses to support.

"We subtract to add. Get crystal clear on what you want in your life outside of the material things.” - Craig Stanland, motivational speaker, author, and reinvention architect. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Craig about being on a golden treadmill: having a desire for happiness but chasing the wrong things in pursuit of that happiness. In the process, they explore how to help a wider audience see their connection to your idea and how to find creative ways to help people put your concept into practice. By the end, you will learn how to get off the golden treadmill and find the blueprint for your meaning, fulfillment, and purpose in life.

"Let people know what makes you different so that they can tell your story when you are not present.” - Stephan Dyer, bilingual comedian, keynote speaker, and lifestyle entrepreneur.  In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Stephan about escaping competition by bringing forth your authenticity. In the process, they explore how to take the many ideas you may have gathered from other people to uncover your own unique concept. By the end, you will learn how to identify your authentic combination of weirdness that may open you up to a world of opportunities.

To become yourself, you have to forget everything you learned in the past.” - Lennox Jeffrey, financial consultant who mentors young men in the areas of life, wealth, and emotional intelligence. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Lennox about substituting the chase for wealth for the chase for life. In this idea conversation, they explore how to use TV, youtube, and podcasts to duplicate an idea and put it on a bigger platform in order to impact people’s lives. By the end, you will learn how to develop and pitch a system that will “change the frequency” of your target audience.

"Your Plan B is to work on your Plan A. So find the thing you know that you were meant to do.” - Kai Martinez, professional dancer, choreographer, and animation consultant. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Kai about her journey from Jackson Heights, Queens to a Disney feature film. In the process, her idea of seeking out who you are and what you were meant to and being brave enough to follow it is transformed into one concise and clarifying call to action. In this idea conversation, you will learn how to make your story a backdrop and a big social proof for a keynote you can deliver to audiences.

"Create an abundance in your life so that saying 'no' feels sexy.” - Rajiv Harry, health & wellness coach and the secret sauce behind Plant Bomb. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Rajiv about reframing his idea about investing in oneself into a new concept about “unavailability”. In this idea conversation, they explore how to create your own unique intellectual property. By the end of this discussion, you may find yourself saying "no" more often to reach, influence, and empower a larger audience.

"It’s not about being the best at something; it’s about doing something new and different and finding someone else to reproduce it.” - Farhad Ghafarzade, founder of Green Drop Garage. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Farhad about intersecting two ideas that are least connected. In the process, they explore how to oscillate between a crazy idea and a different idea being crazy or different. This conversation will show you how to get your audience to buy-in to the idea of doing something different from what they are used to.

"I learned how to smile and say 'F-you' at the same time." - Reland Logan, marketing magician and anti-Whohoo girl. In this episode, Marc and Cathey help Reland discover ways to hit audiences with something they won't expect to hear. The power of a smile is not just about happiness; it's about resilience and getting stuff done. This conversation will show you how to use research to reframe your idea and make it uniquely different. After this episode, you may change the way you smile, strategically.

“How do you, how can you, and how will you contribute to this community?” - from Season 3 of It's About to Go Down. So what happens when a bunch of idea creators get together in the same zoom? In this "rap-up" episode, Marc and Cathey catch up with the members of the Season #3 community: J.T. Compeau, Bo Babenko, Emily Purry, Jaclyn Lee, Diane Nathaniel, Chad Phillips, and Virginia Morris. Ideas are exchanged, deep connections are made, and they let us know what has transpired with their ideas since they last spoke with Marc & Cathey. This is not just a cliffsnotes version of season #3, but also a coming together of ways of making the world a better place. After this conversation, you might discover how to go from speaking about your idea to executing your idea.

"Your impact can be momentary, whereas your imprint is like you left, you’ve touched it lightly. How do [you] contribute in a way that has a lasting, positive flow to it?” - Virginia Morris, an idea creator, curator, and implementer. In this episode, Marc and Cathey talk with Virginia about how to develop an idea that you can actually execute. In the process, Virginia shares her system for generating ideas and demonstrates how to use her method by thinking through two of her newest ideas. By the end, you may be NSPIR’d to take your idea through a MILE, hashtag your concepts, and assemble an advisory circle.