YOU WANNA DO WHAT?!: Personal Brand, Public Speaking, Thought Leadership for Career Professionals and Founders

136. AVOID these Public Speaking Mistakes

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know I offer 1:1 coaching for ambitious leaders looking to level up their personal brand, thought leadership, and public speaking skills? Book...

135. The Power of Social Media: Expert Tips for Personal Branding and Career Advancement

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Being an ambitious corporate leader and professional, I know social media is not a new concept for you, but today you're learning social media made si...

134. How to Monetize Your Personal Brand?

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered how an extra $500 or $5,000 a month could impact your business and life? Forget schemes or hacks, we're talking sustainable personal bra...

133. Thought Leadership: How to Become an Industry Authority

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered how some people become the go-to experts in their field? Forget the myth that thought leadership requires a massive following, celebrity...

132. What is a Personal Brand? (And Why it Matters)

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Uncover the fundamental concept of a personal brand and why it's vital for your professional success in 2024 and beyond. Immerse yourself in compellin...

131. [REPLAY] Networking Strategies for Career Advancement with Yai Vargas

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this replay episode, Monica revisits a powerful conversation with networking ninja and empowerment enthusiast, Yai Vargas. In this episode, we unco...

Welcome to YOU WANNA DO WHAT?! Personal Brand, Thought Leadership with Monica M. Rivera

09 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Unleash the power of your personal brand with the YOU WANNA DO WHAT?! podcast sits at the intersection of personal branding, thought leadership, and p...

130. [REPLAY] 5 Types of People You Need in Your Inner Circle for Growth and Success

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Motivational speaker Jim Rohn says we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. How often do you audit, prune, and welcome new ...

E129: YOU are where the heart is. So let's celebrate!

02 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I don't have to tell you that 2020 has been far from perfect. But you've made it this far, through COVID and quarantine and phased re-openings. Maybe ...

E128: How to Make Reading a Habit (and Hobby)

24 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When was the last time you finished a book? You say you want to read more books — but the challenge is making reading a regular habit. In today's ep...

E127: How to Start Running - Beginner Tips with The Mirnavator, Mirna Valerio

17 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you're an aspiring beginner runner, a sometimes runner, or a wannabe runner that daydreams about running if only you had more energy, the right clo...

E126: Anti-Racism, and Being Black in America

08 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

YOU WANNA DO WHAT?! celebrates 3 years! Each episode delivers practical motivation for living, inspiring stories, and useful strategies to do more, wa...

E125: 10 Tips to Find Your Next Job

27 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you're on the hunt for your next job, press play right now! With more than 38 million jobless claims, it feels like every time you open up Faceboo...

E124: How has 2020 Changed What Matters to YOU?

20 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"Do you think life will go back to normal after the pandemic?" Living in NYC, I get that question - a lot. With more than 30 million Americans filing ...

E123: Increase your happiness right now!

13 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What if I told you there was something you could do right now that would increase your happiness, is good for your health, evokes gratitude, fosters c...

E122: Flex Your Creativity Muscles While at Home

06 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Do you know what really turns me on? It's when I see YOU flexing your creative muscles and trying something new. Businesses are pivoting to adapt to c...

E121: What is the main contributor to success? Hint: You already own it.

29 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What if I told you that the main ingredient, the secret sauce, one of the main contributors to your success, my success, your mama's success, her mama...

E120: Feeling alone? Ways to Manage Anxiety

22 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the United States, but what happens to our anxiety in the middle of a global pandemic? You g...

E119: Virtual Book Clubs and Finding Community

08 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Are you craving human connection? How about a bit of distraction from the news? Books have always been a simple and effective way for me to get lost ...

E118: 10 Skills to Learn During Isolation

01 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We are in a time of isolation, lockdown, and quarantine, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop showing up every week to support and inspire you!  ...

E117: 7 TV Shows & Movies to Binge Watch Now

25 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A quick and handy guide to the most binge-worthy TV shows and movies streaming now and why you should watch them. I'm sharing 7 of my favorite romanti...

E116: My top work from home strategies

20 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Are you one of the millions of people that are working from home? Are you struggling to establish a new routine and be productive? For over 5 years, I...

E115: Why I (Almost) Quit the Podcast

18 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever fallen in love with a podcast? Me too! Each week you wait for your favorite show to release a new episode, happily push in your ear pods...

E114: 5 Ways to Make Money While (Holiday) Shopping

04 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but they can take quite a toll on your bank account. Between family gatherings, work celebration...

E113: How to Practice Gratitude for the Holidays

26 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There is never a wrong time to practice a little "thank you." They say the Holidays are the MOST wonderful time of the year, but between the little th...

E112: Can a Woman be Likable and Successful?

20 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Can you be likable and successful? Is it important for you to be liked? "Women are stuck in an impossible bind. At work, strong women are criticized ...

E111: 5 Hacks to Sleep Better Tonight

13 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sleep is a primary biological need, but 2 out of 3 people are not getting enough sleep. Is that you?  Sleep affects almost every type of tissue and s...

E110: Is Work - Life Balance a Myth?

06 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We spend a lot of time on YOU WANNA DO WHAT?! talking about side hustles, bucket list items and achieving goals - from mindset to health and everythin...

E109: TEDx Talk - The Flipside of Loneliness

30 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is there a solution to cure loneliness? Loneliness comes in many forms job loss, deployment, divorce, death, illness, or moving to a new city. For me,...

E108: How to Rebuild and Transform Your Life

16 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever experienced your life falling apart all at once? Sometimes, life seems to get a bit off track. You're up at night wondering why it happe...

E107: Alicia Menendez on Why Likability is a Trap

09 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Why fit in when you were born to stand out? Times have changed. With over 7 billion people in the world, a changing business landscape, and the compet...

E106: What Suze Orman, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Oprah taught me about saying YES to events

02 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Are you saying YES to invitations, announcements and event emails?  In today's world, we are often so busy (or convince ourselves we're so busy), tha...

E105: Making Mistakes, Working for Shark Tank's Daymond John and Entrepreneurship

25 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Are you comparing your roadmap to someone else? Matt LeBris was just 17 when he began working in the NYC nightlife industry. Captivated by money, Matt...

E104: How to Prepare for a TEDx Talk

18 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Fresh off the stage from my first TEDx talk, the most-asked question I received was, "What strategy or takeaways can you recommend?" In this episode, ...

E103: Achieving Your Goals: A Success Story

28 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a passionate multitasker with a packed calendar? Endless to-do list? How much are you accomplishing versus doing? Busy does not mean productiv...

E102: Stop Believing These Lies

07 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode: 3 big lies you tell yourself Root of those nagging negative thoughts through cognitive reappraisal. Cognitive reappraisal is an ...

E101: Building Relationships for Connection and Collaboration

24 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The keys to all of the doors you need opened are in other people's pockets. But how do you develop the kinds of relationships and build a network that...

E100: Life Lessons - Advice to Your Younger Self

10 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

"The days are long but the years are short." - Gretchen Rubin Celebrate a special 100th episode of YOU WANNA DO WHAT?!  In 2013, I bought my first m...

E99: Self Care for Moms (and Dads)

05 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How do you live a YOU WANNA DO WHAT?! multi-passionate lifestyle as a mother (or father)?  On episode 99, busy mom and self-care expert, Jody Agard, ...

E98: 6 Ways to Make Faster, Better Decisions

29 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Every day, our brain makes thousands of decisions, from the clothes we wear, the lunches we eat and the routes we drive to work. These decisions feel ...

E97: Confidence as a Young Woman in STEM

22 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Were you ever asked the question, "what do you want to be when you grow up"? Today's episode will remind you of who your teenage-self used to be. If ...

E96: Is this Mistake Why You're Not Reaching Your Goals?

15 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, we explore: The #1 mistake sabotaging your goals Why when you're focused on everything, you're really focused on nothing 5 techni...

E95: Three Ways to Reframe Rejection (and Move On)

08 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered what you have in common with Beyonce, George Clooney, and Lebron James? Rejection! We all face it, and we all share it in commo...

E94: How to Date Yourself

01 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When was the last time you went out on a date...with yourself? If dining alone or seeing a movie solo freaks you out, I have three reasons why a date ...

E93: How to Invest in Your Personal Development

24 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What does personal development mean to you? Is it self investment? Finding resources? Becoming the best version of yourself? What wraps all the areas ...

E92: How to Invest in Your Career

17 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Are you happy with your job? Is your career tied to your passion or your purpose? A whopping 70% of people are unhappy with their jobs. Is that you? ...

E91: How to Invest Your Money

10 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that the most profitable investment you'll ever make is in YOURSELF? When you invest in your personal growth, and you declare that you'r...

E90: How to Invest in Your Health

03 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today's YOU WANNA DO WHAT?! crazy, big idea is to get real on the concept of investing in yourself. When you make the decision to invest in yourself,...

E89: How to Have Your Most Productive Day

27 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine your day without thousands of instant messages, emails and calls interrupting your workflow, without complex, unmanageable and unreachable g...

E88: How to Be Awesome with Alison Faulkner (from The Alison Show)

20 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine feeling awesome every day without having to change a thing about yourself. How willing are you to try? I invited Alison Faulkner to join us to...

E87: Emily McDowell - How a Greeting Card Changed Her Life

13 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We've all heard the term "overnight success", but the truth is that there is no such thing. What successful people do is they refused to give up. The...

E86: How to Talk to Anyone (11 Tricks for Success)

06 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The question I'm asked most often is, "How do you talk to a stranger?" People assume you must be an extrovert to be successful at networking, but tha...

E85: How to Declutter Your Life and Your Mind

27 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mess causes stress! The average American home has 300,000 items, 300,000. Those piles of clutter aren't only in your way, they're weighing on your min...

E84: STOP Should-ing All Over Yourself

20 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Are you "shoulding" all over yourself? It usually goes something like, "I should have done laundry / gone to the gym / said no to dessert / and well, ...

E83: Why Last Minute Travel is the Cure to Recharging

13 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do ever sit at your desk daydreaming about a quick escape to someplace far away? Me too. I recently flipped a daydream into a reality when in less tha...

E82: How Stressed Are You? 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Now

06 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

10 Simple Questions to determine your current stress level. Using a 10-question stress test, we explore how to answer the question, How Stressed Are ...

E81: Weight Loss Transformation Challenge #BetterMe

30 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Need to jump start your weight loss or fitness goals? Kicking off the #BetterMe Fitness Transformation Challenge.  **Join the YOU WANNA DO WHAT?! Fac...

E80: Do You Need Therapy?

23 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you struggle with taming anxiety, calming depression, or finding peace of mind? You're not alone. 1 in 5 adults in America have a mental health co...

E79: How to Age Well

16 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's impossible to stop aging, but there are ways you can slow down the effects of aging on your body and mind.  On Episode 79 you'll learn about:  ...

E78: How to Learn Anything

09 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hear my tips and tricks to learn any new skill - starting from scratch, zero experience necessary. If you're looking to upgrade your professional skil...

E77: The Truth about Positive Thinking

02 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This is the no bullsh*t, straight talk, honest truth on positive thinking. If you're a self-proclaimed realist, skeptic or just believe positive thin...

E76: The 1 Phrase to a Happy, Healthy Life

26 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The next time you're losing track of your goals or wondering how you ended up on your current path, repeat this simple, effective 7-word phrase and wa...

E75: How to Practice Gratitude

19 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gratitude just doesn't feel good, it can also be good for you. Learn the one question you should ask yourself when searching for gratitude, and why a...

E74: How to Regain Momentum and Disrupt Fear

10 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do when you lose momentum? You set a goal, make a plan, spend weeks or months executing it and then, bam! Life happens and it stops you in...

E73: Enough Excuses! Put Yourself First

14 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Do you people please? Put yourself on the bottom of your to-do list? Wait until everyone else is taken care of before you tend to your own physical, e...

E72: How to Combine your Purpose and Passion at Work with Corinne Milien

07 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Do you dream of a career where you can combine your passion and your purpose? Corinne Milien is the Executive Director of Winning Edge Leadership Acad...

E71: The Value of Community

31 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A community is a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals and is essential to positive mental ...

E70: Tricks for Making Smarter Decisions

24 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Do you struggle with making decisions? I'm sharing the 5-step strategy I use to make smarter decisions. Number 3 is my favorite.  Whether you're bad ...

E69: Tiffany Pham: How to Find Your Why, Build Connections and Learn New Skills

17 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Tiffany Pham created the global technology and media empire, Mogul, at 27 years old. On this episode, Tiffany shares the personal tragedy that led t...

E68: Fertility and Freezing Your Eggs

10 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A woman's choices around fertility are personal. But women are also speaking more openly and candidly about fertility goals and reproduction. Ko Im, ...

E67: 7 Ways to Feel Better Now

03 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Society is stressed and you need ways to feel better and own your mood. In this episode, I share 7 ways to feel better for FREE. Use the hashtag #OwnO...

E66: Jails, People and Communities

30 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know 70 million Americans have a criminal record? Jen Chien is the Managing Editor for the podcast, 70 Million. This documentary podcast chro...

E65: The Accident that Changed NFL player, Mohamed Massaquoi's Life

26 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mohamed Massaquoi, ex-NFL WR, had most of his left hand amputated after an ATV accident. We discuss his comeback, lessons learned and how he pivoted ...

E64: Fat Girls Run, Training for the Chicago Marathon

19 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Sanchez is a on mission to remove the stigma from the word "fat." As she prepares to run her first marathon, in her hometown of Chicago, Jenn...

E63: 5 Types of People You Need in Your Circle

12 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Motivational speaker and businessman, Jim Rohn, once said, "You're the average of the 5 people you spend most of your time with." The people around yo...

E62: Would You Walk Away from $100 Million?

05 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Choosing to walk away from his family's $100 million business was the hardest decision Joe Pardo has ever made. He started in the business at 6-years ...

E61: ESPN's Maria Taylor on Women in Sports, Mentors and Self-Care

29 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Maria Taylor is the co-host of ESPN's College Gameday and sideline reporter for ABC's Saturday Night Football. She's just signed a new deal that wil...

E60: How to Design Your Life with Darrah Brustein

22 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

You have the power to design your life according to how you want to live. If you believe having the life you want is impossible, today's episode is fo...

E59: How to Travel Like a Local

15 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Monika Bhasin quit her 6-figure job at a pharmaceutical company because she felt like she was "pulling her hair and her teeth every single day." She w...

E58: Let Go of Perfect

08 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The need to be perfect is holding you back. All the stories we tell ourselves that our work or our life has to be perfect before we can get started or...

E57: 5 Ways to Cultivate Relationships

01 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How do we keep strong ties with people we care about and continue to meet new people in real and meaningful ways? In a technology obsessed world, buil...

E56: NPR and Career Changes

25 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever thought about changing careers? What about starting a side hustle? If you're like me, the thought of switching careers after a lifetime ...

E55: Stop Taking It Personally

18 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Based on the best selling book, The Four Agreements, we are talking about what to do when you find yourself taking things personally. The book shifte...

Say Yes and Get Out of Your Own Way (epsiode 54)

11 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are talking with The Business Bully, Dave Anderson about  getting out of your own way by doing things that work but might feel uncomfortable...

Keep in Touch! (episode 53)

04 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Success is about creating opportunities. If you struggle with how to get started on an idea, this episode is for you. If you wonder how one or two pe...

Change Your Life in One Year (episode 52)

27 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Are you telling yourself a story about why you haven't reached your goal? Maybe it's because you don't have the time, the money or because you're need...

What Grief Teaches You about Life (episode 51)

20 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever lost hope? Chelsea Dinsmore was hours away from reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro when her entire life changed.  No one would ha...

Save Your Life by Helping Others (episode 50)

13 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Would you give away everything you own, pack the trunk of your car and drive 2200 miles to a place where you know no one?  Empowerment Expert, Cyrus ...

The Motivation Myth (episode 49)

06 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to accomplish something big -- or even something small -- and have been waiting for motivation to strike, this episode is for you. "Motiv...

How to Avoid Burnout (episode 48)

30 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Who doesn't feel overwhelmed or stretched thin sometimes? But when relentless work, school or family stress pushes you into the debilitating state we ...

Why Professional Networking is the Key to Success (episode 47)

23 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Connections matter. Building a strong and diverse professional network is crucial for success. Professional networking enables you to connect with lik...

Reasons to Play More and Stress Less (episode 46)

16 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Who says kids get to have all the fun? Most adults are oblivious to what we knew as children — that play is where you live. Playful adults have the ...

Are You Really Living? Creating Moments that Last (episode 45)

09 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

98% of us actually feel like time is speeding up. In some ways we're obsessed with it, but how many of us are doing the most with it? What if I told y...

I Wanna Hack My Week: 3 Secrets to a Highly Productive Week (episode 44)

02 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What's the key to real productivity? If you've ever had a jam packed, 'when will I sleep?' type of week, this episode is for you. You'll learn 3 secre...

Conscious Communication, True Transformation (episode 43)

25 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I speak with CEO, author, and developmental powerhouse, Mary Shores. Mary is on a mission to generate positive and pragmatic solut...

Changing Perspective, Strengthening Community (episode 42)

18 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I speak with entrepreneur, author, speaker and father, Castell J. R. Barnes. Growing up in several economically challenged neighborho...

I Wanna Listen: What Adults Can Learn from Kids (episode 41)

11 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know kids can make the best teachers? They look at the world with fresh eyes. Problems have simple solutions. Hear what a 6-year old and 3-mon...

I Wanna Be More than a Job Title (episode 40)

04 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

You are not your job. Asking the question, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" to our kids and ourselves, leads to challenges later in life. Le...

I Wanna Be Decisive / Shooting my Shot (episode 39)

28 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Taking a chance no matter the outcome is what "shooting your shot" is all about. How many times do doubt, worry, anxiety, and fear stop you from movin...

I Wanna Spark New Ideas (episode 38)

21 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Feeling stuck? What if I told you that getting out of a rut or generating new ideas was as simple as a bus ride to a new place? Need more help? Grab  ...