Few things bring me more joy than seeing someone shoot their shot, and that’s how today’s episode came about. I got an email from Brandon Fong saying he loves the show and wants to kick it with me in the Diner and I just had to say yes. Brandon

Protecting Your Boundaries and Standing in Your Truth with TV Host Elizabeth Ries

Jun 9th, 2022 1h 21m

Today in the booth is TV Host and all-around badass, Elizabeth Ries! I’ve had the privilege of sharing the microphone with her before on live TV, but today we got to kick it via audio. Elizabeth is the host of Twin Cities Live and is a breath o

Practicing Assertive Optimism with Former Band Geek and Extreme Meetings Emcee, Brian Walter

Jun 3rd, 2022 1h 12m

Sliding in the booth with me this week is Extreme Meetings emcee, Brian Walter! To quote Brian, we are both “raging extroverts,” so this was a good time! We discussed our mutual love for mac n’ cheese and then dove into Brian’s band-geek-trombo

Vulnerability vs. Perfectionism with Healthy Relationships Speaker, Bonny Shade

May 19th, 2022 1h 11m

Diner Talks with James this week is with my dear friend, Sexual Violence Awareness and Healthy Relationships Speaker, Bonny Shade. We first kicked it off talking about buffalo wings with proper “wingo” and diner orders. She then told me about

Instincts vs. Training as a First Responder with Former Fire Chief Rich Gasaway

May 12th, 2022 19m 50s

This conversation was so powerful that it had both of us welling up. Joining me in the booth was former Fire Chief and lifelong first responder, Rich Gasaway. It’s so fascinating to think about individuals in those roles that we often take for

Pregnancy loss and powerful parenting with my wife, Tina VanSteenbergen! - Encore

May 5th, 2022 1h 24m

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!This week’s diner guest is my favorite human because it’s my wife - Tina VanSteenbergen Robilotta!!! We kicked off the conversation lear

Carving Your Own Lane with Comedic Musician and American Idol’s Tom McGovern

Apr 28th, 2022 1h 5m

With me in the Diner today is the man, the myth, the musical comedian – Tom McGovern. I love having fellow comedians in the booth with me because we can riff on everything from grape jelly to sharks (which is… what we did). In this episode Tom

The Beauty and Power of Clarity with Authentic Communication Expert, Dr. Amelia Reigstad

Apr 21st, 2022 1h 14m

This week I got to hang out with communication expert, Dr. Amelia Reigstad, and I’m walking away with so many thoughts and ideas on how I can improve my communication and self-awareness. With her badass purple mohawk, she shares about the impor

What it Means to be Likeable with Human Behavioral Investigator and Speaker, Arel Moodie

Apr 14th, 2022 1h 12m

Today I got to kick it in The Diner with fellow New Yorker, Arel Moodie. He’s a professional speaker who helps other speakers start and grow their own businesses. We talked about the experience of fitting in during our younger years (and the di

From 911 to Peace to Empowerment with Self Defense Expert and Speaker, Jennifer Cassetta

Apr 7th, 2022 1h 12m

Today’s conversation with Jennifer Cassetta was incredible. She shared a powerful story about her experience in New York on 9/11, how she found safety in her martial arts dojo, and how that moment and that feeling would become a thru line for h

Musical Theater and Suicide Prevention with Mental Health Educator, Joshua Rivedal

Mar 31st, 2022 1h 16m

Today in the Diner is my man, Joshua Rivedal – he’s an amazing storyteller who is full of compassion and wisdom, and he’s got a wit that won’t quit. He gave me so much to think about regarding how we as a society are approaching suicide preven

Power of Perseverance in White America with Dr. James Smith, Jr.

Mar 24th, 2022 1h 17m

My man Dr. James Smith Jr brought the heart today – the wordplay and wisdom was on point! He shared about his experience growing up in West Philadelphia (you know he sang it when he said it) and his experience growing up Black in America. We ha

Drama Squashing with Workplace Culture Expert and Speaker, Joe Mull

Mar 17th, 2022 1h 12m

Today I was joined by professional speaker and storyteller, Joe Mull. This conversation was full of wisdom and wit as Joe shared about his experience of being a social chameleon and learning the moments where it’s more important to give up bein

How Being a Teen Mom Taught Resilience Expert, Summer Owens, to Say SO What!

Mar 10th, 2022 1h 14m

Kicking it in the booth with me this week is Resilience Expert and Leadership Speaker, Summer Owens! I love that Summer’s late night guilty pleasure is dark chocolate and red wine. Pretty sure that makes her the classiest guest in the diner so

Stepping into Your Leadership Presence with Executive Coach and Speaker, Justin Patton

Mar 3rd, 2022 1h 7m

Executive Coach and leadership presence expert, Justin Patton, slides into the diner booth with me this week! We reminisce about eating late-night pizza and our topping preferences. Then I learned that Justin grew up on a farm in Kentucky shov

Falling In Love With Being Black with Rick Daniels - Encore

Feb 24th, 2022 1h 32m

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!Rick Daniels dropped all of the knowledge in this episode. He and I recorded this the week that George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis

Is Social Media Connecting Us Or Dividing Us More? With Dr. Josie Ahlquist - Encore

Feb 17th, 2022 1h 13m

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!This week I am joined in the Diner by social media expert, Dr. Josie Ahlquist! We kicked it off by randomly talking about Josie’s high s

Processing The Fall Out Of A Million Dollar Business with Tom Krieglstein - Encore

Feb 10th, 2022 1h 8m

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!Tom Krieglstein became my first guest to actually eat while he was in the diner! Since he was munching on a veggie pizza, we started by

Competing ambitions in relationships and trust building with Jess Ekstrom - Encore

Feb 3rd, 2022 1h 32m

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!I got to sit down with entrepreneur, speaker, and great friend Jess Ekstrom and we jumped right in with their decision to sell their apa

Being in Your Underwear in Times Square with Stacy Nadeau - Encore

Jan 27th, 2022 1h 12m

We are excited to bring you this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes. We hope you enjoy!Joining me this episode in the Diner is body image expert, coach, speaker, and badass mom, Stacy Nadeau! She and I first discuss why sh

Goats, Diabetes, and Stoicism with Consultant, Coach and Cook, Becky Schmooke

Jan 13th, 2022 1h 25m

Today I was joined in the diner booth by leadership consultant and owner of Becky’s Mindful Kitchen, Becky Schmooke. Becky, her wonderful sarcasm, and I dove in discussing popcorn in bed and Minnesota diners. We then talked about what she want

The Stories of A Radiant Haitian Queen with Storyteller and Activist Ferene Paris Meyer

Dec 30th, 2021 1h 17m

Today I was joined by storyteller and activist, Ferene Paris Meyer. This episode was humorous and heartfelt as Ferene shared about her experience growing up in a family of Haitian immigrants and how that shaped her current world. She spoke ab

Being Between Dreams with Actress, Director and Reiki Practitioner, Leslie Meisel

Dec 23rd, 2021 1h 13m

My dear friend, Leslie Meisel, joins me this week in the diner. She is an actor who has appeared on Broad City, RISE, Difficult People, and a director. Recently she has also become a practicing reiki master! We talked about whether you should

Marketing and the Hustler’s Mindset with speaker and master marketer, Odell Bizzell II

Dec 16th, 2021 1h 8m

My man Odell Bizzell II slid into the diner booth with me this week. He and I have known each other for a number of years from the speaker circuit and I have always respected his hustle. We talked about how he and I travel differently and why

Turning You Mess into your Message with abuse survivor and victim advocate, Desi Garcia

Dec 9th, 2021 1h 10m

This week in the diner I had a thoughtful and vulnerable conversation with Survivor and CEO of Candle In A Dark Room, Desi Garcia. Desi shared her gripping and heart-wrenching story of surviving childhood physical and sexual violence. She told