Adding Context

Marlene Sharp hails from the entertainment town of New Orleans. After college, she wanted a change of pace, so she headed out west to LA, for a different kind of entertainment. In the time she has spent building her resume, she has held several positions in the gaming and video industries. She has worked for Sega of America in a number of production capacities, most notably developing SONIC the Hedgehog from a game to an animated series and movies. She is currently the head of Pink Poodle Productions and the Head of IP Strategy and Acquisitions for Rainshine Entertainment. We chatted about her path into the entertainment industry and some of the wide array of jobs involved in making movies. You can follow all of her adventures through her Linktree.

Geoffrey D. Calhoun is an award-winning screenwriter. When not writing his own original scripts, he is a sought-after consultant and re-writer. He also enjoys teaching newer writers how to sharpen their skills in storytelling. Through his seminars, his book, and his podcast, he explores all elements of narrative storytelling to help writers create pitch-ready scripts. Tune in to hear about his experiences in the industry and some nuggets of knowledge he has to share.

Nick Loper is an author, entrepreneur, and a lifelong student in the game of business. Through his personal experiences, he has amassed a nuanced knowledge of how to properly navigate the side hustle. He shares his ideas and thoughts on his website, his podcast, in his TED talk, in his books. He thrives on helping people better understand the “Side Hustle” and how to help choose the right for them. The “gig economy” is growing exponentially and people are looking for ways to become more financially stable. Nick has some wise words to share.

Melanie Gibson is a martial artist and an author among her many titles. She has been to some dark places, as many of us have. She shares her journey from her “madness” in her book, “Kicking and Screaming: a Memoir of Madness and Martial Arts. She wants to use her experiences and the methods she employed to get to a better, healthier place to help others. We spoke about the slow deteriorating stigma that envelopes many aspects of mental health, the struggles many have with finding adequate help, and some less conventional ways to help course-correct to a better, happier person. Check out her link tree for all the ways to follow and see what she is up to, including her long-running blog (Littleblackbelt) and her podcast, Movie Pain or Pleasure?

Dan Henk is a talented, multi-medium artist. Raised under a conservative roof, he grew into a punk rockin’ tattoo artist. His well-traveled life has provided him with a wealth of experiences and traumas that come with being human. Dan is a survivor of many obstacles including cycling accidents, being stabbed, and brain cancer. Dan is a painter, an illustrator, a tattoo artist, an author, and much more. Find his various works on his IG, Twitter, or his Website.

David Fishof is a walking example of a self-made success story. From the Catskills to Los Angeles and around the world, he has been the guy behind the scenes. He is an entertainment architect that knows how to put together not just a show, but all-out tours. He revived groups like the Monkees and the Association with sensational tours. He has represented athletes as an agent on the side of being a music promoter. He is not just there for the musicians, he is a life changer. He founded the Rock n’ Roll Fantasy camp where everyday musicians get to work with and learn from their favorite musicians. Icons of rock from Roger Daltrey and Alice Cooper to Kiss and the Eagles to Vernon Reid and Slash, these masters of their instruments share stories and techniques while changing lives forever.

Ezra Dyer is a writer for Hearst Publications covering automotive news. A career that began as a humorist for The Improper Bostonian has transformed into a career of traveling and test driving a broad spectrum of vehicles. Covering everything from supercars, like Bugattis, to daily commuters like Dodge Caravans, to midnight cannonball-esque drives to Florida, to clandestine meetings with other writers to discuss the newest models. Check out Ezra’s work for Car & Driver and follow his adventures in writing and driving @EzraDyer on Twitter and Instagram. 

Capt. Travis Rosbach has experienced a lot of highs and lows, as a pilot, as a divemaster, and in life. His journey has been long and full of trial by fire. While he has lived in a nomadic style, it has provided him with many opportunities to innovate. Climbing exposed a “problem” and frustration manifested into a tangible solution, the creation of the Hydro-Flask. His newest venture, the Tumalo Group, where he uses his trial and error to help others realize their dreams. Follow his next big adventure on Instagram or contact him on LinkedIn.

Christopher Moore is a New York Times best-selling author. He writes stories that blend mystery, satire, adventure, comedy, and a little horror in a unique and extremely entertaining way. He has penned and released 18 titles since 1992, which include five different series full of hilarity and intrigue. We talked about his childhood, radio DJing, scuba diving, and writing. His latest book, Razzmatazz, is due to be released in May 2022, is a follow-up to Noir. His books are available on Amazon and are where books are sold. Check out his website ChrisMoore.com and follow him on Twitter at @TheAuthorGuy.

Harriet Hunt is a 2-time NASA intern who is working to complete her Aerospace Engineering degree. Recipient of the prestigious Brooke Owens Fellowship, she has had her hands, and mind, on a number of space-related projects. Whether she is working with astronauts or engineers, helping build the next lunar EVA device, or calculating fuel consumption for the Mars entry vehicle, she is sure to have a smile on her face. With a combination of “I’ll show you” and a passion for science, she is pursuing the stars in a number of ways. Currently, she is interning at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Follow her journey around the globe and into outer space on her website, Twitter, and Instagram.