Podcast
Making It with Jess Ekstrom
Hosted by Jess Ekstrom · EN
Making It with Jess Ekstrom is a top rated business podcast designed to help you amplify your ideas, influence and income. We have a special focus on amplifying women's voices, but this show is open to everyone. Tune in every other Tuesday to hear from Forbes Top Rated Speaker, Jess Ekstrom as she talks to speakers, authors and entrepreneurs who are crushing it in their own way.
24episodes
Episodes
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How to Turn Play into Your Creative Superpower with Adam Tanaka
Aug 1900:29:28Tap to summarizeHave you ever felt like you're not what meets the eye, with a deep, complex backstory hidden behind a seemingly successful exterior? What if the most difficult parts of your past, the ones you tried to escape, are actually the secret ingredients to your greatest triumphs and your most powerful message?This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with Adam Tanaka, a founder and speaker who has built and sold companies and now teaches others how to unlock their most creative selves through the power of play. Adam's journey is far from linear and his seemingly picture-perfect success story is built on a childhood filled with trauma and chaos, where a game of hide and seek was an act of survival.He opens up about his "normal," which included a mother struggling with addiction, his heroic act of saving her from a house fire at age 15, and how that trauma unknowingly followed him into adulthood. Adam shares how his success led to one of his darkest moments, what truly saved his life, and the powerful framework he created to ensure he and others always have a community to fall back on.Tune in for:The childhood trauma that led Adam to seek control and stability by building his own businesses.How Adam learned to stop waiting for permission to play and why he believes play is a crucial tool for both creativity and healing.The moment a sheep farmer in Iceland changed Adam's perspective on overcomplicating life and rigid goals.The importance of building your community before you need it.The "Community Tag" framework, a powerful and simple system for checking in on those around you that Adam created after a near-fatal moment.Why Adam's mission as a speaker is to help people bring play into the workplace and life.About Adam Tanaka:Adam Tanaka is a founder, speaker, and advocate for the power of play. With a background in building and selling companies, Adam's mission is to help people move from rigid, "hustle culture" to a more creative and connected way of working and living. He is the founder of a kids' brand, cavehousesupply.com, and an author.Resources & Links:Cave House Supply: https://cavehousesupply.comAdam Tanaka's Website: https://adamtanaka.comFollow Adam Tanaka on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-tanaka-7b43a85b/Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. Visit walkwest.com to see more!
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From The Today Show to Building AI That Tells Human Stories with Patrice Poltzer
Aug 5, 202500:39:25Tap to summarizeHave you ever felt completely lost in your career, only to find that your most challenging experiences became your greatest assets? And how can AI, often seen as a threat to creativity, actually unlock your most authentic stories?This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with Patrice Poltzer, co-founder of My Story Pro AI, a storytelling and AI strategist, and a former award-winning producer for The Today Show. Patrice has a somewhat non-linear journey - from the grit of door-to-door book sales and navigating a toxic startup culture after leaving her dream job, to more unexpected pivots and entrepreneurial endeavors.Plus Patrice talks about her "lost twenties" - and why they were foundational to her success.Tune in for:Why embracing non-traditional career paths and "being behind" can be your unfair advantage.The unexpected "grit" and "hustle muscle" developed through challenging early career experiences.Patrice's jarring experience transitioning from a dream corporate job to a toxic startup, and what she learned about knowing when to walk away.How a personal crisis (her husband losing his job, moving to a new country) became the "fire energy" that fueled her entrepreneurial leap into AI.Why Patrice, as a seasoned storyteller, initially resisted AI but was "jolted" into embracing it.Her revolutionary approach to AI: using it as a "mirror" to uncover your deepest insights and understand your audience, rather than just generating content.The crucial difference between soulless AI-generated content and emotionally connective storytelling.How Patrice’s tool, My Story Pro AI, acts as a "third-party" coach, helping founders overcome self-censorship and unleash their authentic voice.Why small business owners and solopreneurs now have access to "six-figure marketing research insights" through AI, a previously unattainable advantage.How AI can help you "get out of your own feedback loop" and broaden your perspective on what truly resonates with your audience.Patrice's advice for the "AI-shy" or "AI-resistant" creative, ensuring your unique voice and tone are amplified, not replaced.About Patrice Poltzer:Patrice Poltzer is the co-founder of My Story Pro AI, a storytelling and AI strategist, and a former award-winning producer for NBC's Today Show. With a unique blend of media expertise and entrepreneurial grit, Patrice empowers individuals and businesses to leverage AI as a tool for deeper self-discovery and more authentic, impactful storytelling.Resources & Links:My Story Pro AI, free for 7 days: https://patricepoltzercreative.com/story-pro-for-businessFollow Patrice Poltzer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricepoltzer/Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. Visit walkwest.com to see more!
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Unlock Your Inner Child and Tap Into Your Creativity, with Natalie Nixon
Jul 22, 202500:28:22Tap to summarizeDo you sometimes feel like your creative well has run dry? In a world increasingly dominated by AI and efficiency, how do we protect and cultivate our unique human spark?This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with Natalie Nixon, PhD, a renowned creativity expert, innovation strategist, and author, famously dubbed the "Creativity Whisperer to the C-Suite." Natalie shares profound insights on how to reclaim your inherent creativity, understand its real-world ROI, and navigate the evolving relationship between human ingenuity and artificial intelligence.Drawing inspiration from childhood wonder, Natalie and Jess explore how our natural creative impulses often get "disciplined" by traditional education and societal norms. You'll learn why "getting lost on purpose" can be a powerful catalyst for new ideas and how leveraging AI can actually amplify, rather than stifle, your human creativity.We tackle:Why children are the ultimate "wonder mentors," modeling the pure, uninhibited creativity we often lose.The profound impact of educational systems on stifling or cultivating creativity, drawing from Natalie's diverse schooling experiences.The importance of striking a balance between "wonder" and "rigor" in fostering creative thinking.Natalie's pragmatic and optimistic view on the relationship between AI and human creativity.Why intentionally "getting lost" (literally and figuratively) can unlock serendipity and new ideas.The concept of a "human revolution," not just a tech revolution, and how AI creates "spaciousness" for deeper human connection and thought.The value of liminal space and embracing ambiguity—just like artists do.How to use AI to ask better questions and prompt deeper reflection.The power of incorporating "daydream breaks" into your daily routine to activate your brain's default mode network.Why allowing for boredom (especially for kids!) is an invitation to imagination.A brilliant hack for overcoming creative blocks when the "stakes" of getting paid influence your work: "role-playing with your past self."Why "plenty of ideas end up on the cutting floor" is not failure, but "flow."About Natalie Nixon, PhD:Natalie Nixon, PhD, is a global expert in creativity, innovation, and the future of work. She advises leaders on how to make their organizations more nimble and innovative through her unique approach to applied creativity. As a speaker, strategist, and author of The Creativity Leap, Natalie empowers individuals and teams to unlock their creative potential and drive tangible results. She is also launching her new book, Move, Think, Rest, in 2025.Resources & Links:Pre-order Move, Think, Rest by Natalie Nixon: https://www.amazon.com/Move-Think-Rest-Productivity-Relationship/dp/0306835584Download Natalie's Wonder-Rigor Tip Sheet: https://www.figure8thinking.com/wonderrigor-tip-sheet/Figure 8 Thinking: figure8thinking.comFollow Natalie Nixon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalienixonphd/Follow Natalie Nixon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natwnixon/Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.
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Saying Yes Too Often? Here’s How to Set Boundaries with Kwame Christian
Jul 8, 202500:34:28Tap to summarizeAre you tired of feeling like you have to be inauthentic to be liked? Do you struggle with setting boundaries and advocating for yourself, fearing it might damage your relationships?This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with her dear friend, Kwame Christian, a top-booked negotiation keynote speaker and host of the #1 podcast, Negotiate Anything. Kwame shares a deeply personal and formative childhood story that shaped his journey from people-pleaser to negotiation expert, revealing how his early experiences led him to compromise himself for the sake of being liked. He explains how this common "people-pleasing pressure" can actually damage the very relationships we're trying to protect.You'll discover:The surprising link between childhood experiences and our adult people-pleasing tendencies.How the "big five personality traits" (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and emotional stability) influence our negotiation style.Why being overly agreeable can lead to an "emotional hangover" and resentment.The profound impact of unspoken boundaries on relationships, both personal and professional.Kwame's simple "yes-no-yes" framework for setting and maintaining effective boundaries.Why the definition of negotiation is often warped, and how redefining it can empower you in daily life.The concept that "assertiveness is teaching the person how to treat you."How to navigate the "assertiveness penalty" that women (and other groups) often face in professional settings.Why overthinking is your "kryptonite," and how a "shot clock" can help you make better decisions faster.The psychological insight that you'll never truly "get over" stage fright, and why that's a good thing.How Kwame uses AI daily to amplify his humanity, manage emotions, identify blind spots, and create cohesive negotiation strategies.The power of mirror neurons and how our tone and attitude can unconsciously impact others.About Kwame Christian Kwame Christian, Esq., M.A. is the CEO of the American Negotiation Institute (ANI) and a leading voice in the field of negotiation. He hosts the #1 negotiation podcast, Negotiate Anything, and his TED Talk has garnered over 600,000 views. He is also a LinkedIn Top Voice and the author of Finding Confidence in Conflict and How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race. Kwame's mission is to make the world a better place, one difficult conversation at a time.Resources & Links:American Negotiation Institute: americnnegotiationinstitute.comFollow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwamechristian/Listen to the Negotiate Anything podcast: https://negotiateanything.com/Finding Confidence in Conflict by Kwame Christian: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Confidence-Conflict-Negotiate-Anything/dp/0578413736How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race by Kwame Christian: https://www.amazon.com/Have-Difficult-Conversations-About-Race/dp/1637741308TEDx, Finding Confidence in Conflict: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Zg65eK9XUAmplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.
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