The Second Act
by Michael Newborn, John Ballenger
Latest episode
77: Lose The Script with Salvatore Manzi (How A Public Speaking…
77: Lose The Script with Salvatore Manzi (How A Public Speaking…
About this podcast
What actually drives someone to walk away from a conventional path and start over? In this podcast, Michael and John pull back the curtain with executives, founders, operators and veterans who have lived it. No PR scripts or polished highlight reels. Just an insider’s look into the pivotal moments, the mentors who left a mark, and the raw turning points that reshaped how our guests think, act, and choose to build something new. Whether you're launching your first move or staging a complete reinvention, this is your blueprint.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 84 episodes
- 77: Lose The Script with Salvatore Manzi (How A Public Speaking Disaster Set Salvatore On A Path To Help Leaders Become Extraordinary Communicators) · 57 minImagine stepping onto a stage to pursue your destiny, only to be so terrified you lose your voice completely. That's exactly what happened to Salvatore Manzi. Growing up in…
- 76: Courage Creates Opportunity with Mike Dwyer (Why Some Of Mike Dwyer’s Biggest Setbacks Led To His Best Ideas, And What They Teach Us About Risk, Reinvention and Growth) · 53 min · Episode 76Mike Dwyer walked away from a family business, bet his livelihood on straight-commission airplane sales, left a lucrative career at Gulfstream and later mortgaged his home to…
- 75: Choose Different Early with Kimi Green (Kimi Shares Why The Career You Never Planned May Become The One You're Meant To Build) · 1 h 10 minKimi Green was barely into her career when she heard a room full of highly paid professionals admit they hated their lives, and decided she was getting out before it became hers…
- 74: The Human Advantage with Kent Richeson (Kent Reveals Why Trust, Resilience, And Execution Matter More Than Your Next Big Idea) · 57 minMost people would have laughed at the idea of building a television show around intentionally bad startup pitches. Kent Richeson built it anyway. Raised in rural Oregon, where…
- 73: Say Yes Anyway with Jason Middleton (From Eco Challenge Survival To Aviation Leadership, Jason Shares What Hard Seasons Teach About Growth) · 1 h 3 min · Episode 73Jason Middleton didn’t just reinvent himself once. He built an entire life around jumping into the unknown. Growing up as an overweight kid in Bakersfield with little confidence…
- 72: It Still Failed with Eileen Nebhut (Eileen Shares What Happens When The Path You Follow Stops Working And You Choose Yourself Instead) · 56 min · Episode 72She did everything right, and it still didn’t work. Eileen Nebhut built a decades-long career across publishing, energy, and fintech, earned her MBA, and followed the traditional…
- 71: Try Something New with Angie Callen (Angie Shares Lessons On Risk, Resilience, And Building A Life Aligned With What Truly Matters) · 49 min · Episode 70Angie Callen didn’t plan a radical career reinvention. It found her. She began her career as a civil engineer and moved to Colorado for what seemed like the perfect opportunity…
- 70: Standards Shape Futures with Ron Johnson (Ron Uncovers How Consistent Excellence Opens Doors to Reinvention, Impact, and Purpose) · 54 min · Episode 70Ron Johnson’s journey is a powerful testament to reinvention, resilience, and purpose across every chapter of life. Raised on Chicago’s West Side by a single mother and…
- 2Yr Anniversary Parting Advice Recap · 31 minTo celebrate two years of The Second Act Podcast, this special anniversary episode distills the most powerful parting advice ever shared by our guests into a single, focused…
- 69: Start With Curiosity with JB Bolton (JB Shares How Radical Curiosity Can Help You Reinvent Your Career, Redefine Your Identity, And Take The Next Brave Step) · 58 min · Episode 69What happens when everything you thought defined you, your title, your income, your path, suddenly stops feeling true? For JB Bolton, that question ignited a transformation he…
- 68: Becoming Your Next with Cara-Lyn Giovanniello (Explore how Cara-Lyn uncovers the courage, trust, and self-belief behind every great transformation) · 1 h 0 min · Episode 68She never set out to be a coach. In fact, she thought she’d be a doctor. But when a single question from her boss changed everything, Cara-Lyn Giovanniello discovered her true…
- 67: Start With A Win with Adam Contos (Learn How Adam’s Path From Street Hustle to the C-Suite Teaches Momentum, Growth, and Lasting Success) · 59 min · Episode 67Adam Contos turned unconventional beginnings into an extraordinary career, rising from hands-on hustle to lead RE/MAX as CEO. Along the way, he built resilience and sharpened his…
- 66: Strength Through Struggle with Giovanna Camacho (Discover How Giovanna’s Journey from Foster Care to NASA Teaches Resilience, Reinvention, and Finding Your True Path) · 1 h 1 min · Episode 66What do a foster kid, a West Point boxer, an Olympic Trials competitor, and a NASA engineer have in common? They are all chapters in the extraordinary journey of Giovanna…
- 65: Reclaiming Real Connection with Joey Odom (What Missing One Moment Taught Him About Life, Family and Focus) · 1 h 2 min · Episode 65Joey Odom began his journey in Tulsa, Oklahoma with no clear path, transitioning from theology to marketing at Oral Roberts University before building a 15-year career in…
- 64: Build Your Breakaway with Michaella Gallina (Lessons in Financial Independence and Fearless Reinvention from Wall Street to Life on Her Terms) · 56 min · Episode 64Michaella Gallina grew up in a rural town of 4,000 where hard work and grit were ingrained early, riding horses to track practice and dreaming of something more. Determined to…
- 63: Bet on Yourself with Collin Strachan (What off-grid living and brand storytelling teach us about reinvention) · 58 min · Episode 63Collin Strachan began life battling severe autoimmune disorders that nearly left him blind and bedridden, but through resilience, fitness, and mindset, he overcame his health…
- 62: Roots to Resilience with Ali Schroer (A Psychotherapist, Mental Health Expert and Well-Being Advisor Discusses Slowing Down, Reconnecting, and Thriving in a Fast World) · 53 min · Episode 62Ali Schroer, MSW, LCSW, C-PD grew up in California and Indiana, where early experiences navigating change and hardship sparked her passion for supporting others. Inspired by a…
- 61: Cut Loose with Paul Kent (What a Wall Street executive learned by shedding identity, wealth, and limbs to discover what truly lasts) · 1 h 0 min · Episode 61After a high-powered Wall Street career and a life defined by achievement, Paul Kent’s world was upended by a rare genetic condition that triggered a decade-long health crisis…
- 60: Quieting the Chaos with Brett Murphy (A Guide to Redefining Success on Your Terms) · 56 min · Episode 60Brett Murphy grew up in Colorado, inspired by his grandfather’s small-town five and dime store and his father’s relentless work ethic in real estate. Watching his father pivot…
- 59: Beyond Boundaries with Jasmine Motupalli (The Mindset, Strategies, and Lessons for Fearless Reinvention · 54 min · Episode 59Jasmine Motupalli's journey is a testament to courage, adaptability, and purpose-driven leadership. Growing up in a supportive, education-focused household, she excelled in…
