Caroline D'Amore
Caroline D’Amore has done it all, from slinging pizzas at her dad's restaurants to acting, modeling and DJing all over the world. Today, she is the founder and CEO of her own organic Italian foods and kitchen electronics company called Pizza Girl.
Caroline was born and raised in Los Angeles and grew up as one of four girls. Her mother passed away when she was only five years old and life with a single dad had its clear challenges. She was often up late on school nights catering with her dad, Joe D’Amore, with his pizza company D’Amore’s Pizza. Inspired by her family’s well-known pizza biz, she started Pizza Girl.
With her impressive journey as a business owner, model, DJ and actress, Caroline embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship and advocacy. Recently, she sat down with APB to share her hot takes on everything from the power of authenticity in social media to grief, positivity, self-acceptance and more.
Nada Sanders
As the world’s leading authority on forecasting and global supply chain management, Dr. Nada Sanders has become the go-to expert on predicting economic trends and helping companies prepare for the future. She has been a regular contributor to numerous news outlets, including CNN, BBC, CNBC, NPR, The New York Times, The Economist, The Atlantic, Fortune, Fast Company, The Boston Globe and every influential source of intelligence for today’s corporate directors, predicting economic and business outcomes.
Recently, Nada sat down with APB to share her hot takes on navigating the AI hype, being successful, achieving your business goals and more.
John O'Leary
In 1987, John O’Leary was a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with matches and gasoline, he created a massive explosion in his home and was burned on 100% of his body. He was given less than a 1% chance to live. Today, John inspires tens of thousands of people with his epic story of survival and has been repeatedly described as “the best speaker we’ve ever had.” Having spoken at companies and organizations spanning multiple industries, his emotional storytelling, unexpected humor and authenticity make each presentation unforgettable. Recently, John sat down with APB to share his hot takes on everything from inspiration and motivation to fear, love and his upcoming movie.
Molly McPherson
Molly McPherson is renowned for transforming chaos into control. She is a leading crisis communication strategist while also moonlighting as TikTok's “PR Lady” on social media. She is best known for her incisive analysis of brand and celebrity actions and her ability to foresee and manage public relations crises. Whether delving into innovation in crisis management or guiding teams through social media backlash, Molly’s expertise shines through—making her an indispensable asset to any organization facing a media storm.
She recently sat down with APB to share her hot takes on everything from PR crises and celebrity scandals to TikTok and corporate America.
Richard White
At an age when many of us were headed off to nursery school, a young Richard Antoine White, aka "Raw Tuba," was homeless and coping with deprivation, poverty and a mother who was struggling with alcoholism. After being adopted by his grandparents, his saving grace, and with support from a few caring educators and mentors, Richard began to thrive. He gained confidence and learned the valuable lesson that he could reach his full potential. Today, Richard is a distinguished professor at the University of New Mexico and a seasoned consultant in higher education, specializing in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Holding a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute, and both master’s and doctoral degrees from Indiana University, Dr. White is also a certified DEI practitioner from Cornell University. He recently sat down with APB to share his hot takes on everything from DEI and tokenism to success and goals.
Stephanie Ramos
As one of ABC News' top correspondents, Stephanie Ramos has been front and center on every major news story, having covered everything from the White House to the COVID pandemic, the tragic Parkland shooting, Hurricane Irma and more. Also a U.S. Army Reserve officer, her service has been valuable to ABC’s reporting and understanding of conflicts around the world. Drawing from years of balancing her responsibilities as a reporter, mother and officer, Ramos shares her own rich experiences and journey toward finding balance in life and truly having it all. She recently sat down with APB to share her hot takes on everything from balance and thriving under pressure to self-belief, taking chances in life and more.
Nagin Cox
As a 10-year-old girl fascinated by Star Trek and Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, Nagin Cox had a dream of exploring space. And through incredible determination, a fighting spirit and a never-quit attitude, she has done just that. Cox has been a spacecraft operations engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for more than two decades and has played a key role in a number of robotic space exploration missions. She recently sat down with APB to share her hot takes on everything from NASA and landing rovers on Mars (four times!) to perseverance, DEI, the importance of STEM and more.
Abe Newman & Henry Farrell
In this exciting episode of our Hot Takes series, Political Scientist Abe Newman and International Affairs Professor Henry Farrell team up to discuss everything from a weaponized global economy and globalization to disruption, the human workforce, AI and more. Farrell and Newman’s idea, "weaponized interdependence," has shaped how U.S., European and Asian leaders think about the geopolitics of the global economy. The duo authored the acclaimed book Underground Empire: How America Weaponized the World Economy, which Dani Rodrik called “the book you need to read if you want to understand where the world economy has been and where it may be headed.”
Kevin Brown
A branding and culture expert with over 30 years of experience, Kevin Brown understands what drives organizational excellence and customer loyalty. As the creator of The HERO Effect®, Kevin imparts a simple philosophy that separates world-class organizations and high-performance people from everybody else. He recently sat down with APB to share his hot takes on everything from how to expand your vision and develop potential to culture and the importance of being open.
Mike Massimino
Mike Massimino’s dream of becoming an astronaut began when he was six years old watching television as Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the moon. The path to achieving this dream was wrought with unexpected challenges, failures, disappointments and self-doubt. Mike was rejected three times by NASA, including a medical disqualification that he overcame by teaching his eyes to “see better.” His persistence paid off with two missions on the Space Shuttle and four spacewalks to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. Mike recently sat down with APB to share his hot takes on everything from perseverance and achieving goals to the importance of following your passion in life and more.
Justin Shaifer
Named a Forbes 30 Under 30 in Education, Justin Shaifer, aka "Mr. Fascinate," is an award-winning science communicator, TV host, producer and STEMbassador on a mission to make science cool. As the Founder of Fascinate Media, he is turbocharging STEM education through immersive content using cutting-edge technologies. His content has reached millions via shows with major networks such as PBS Digital Studios, ABC News and Hulu, while creating edu-taining branded content for companies such as LinkedIn, Chevy, Nvidia and Intuit. Justin has been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Technology, cementing his status as a leader who is reshaping the landscape of science and technology education with his innovative approach. He recently sat down with APB to share his hot takes on everything from authenticity and empowerment to technology, AI, virtual reality in education and more.
Juliette Kayyem
Professor Juliette Kayyem is the faculty chair of the Homeland Security and Security and Global Health Projects at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. She also serves as CNN Senior National Security Analyst for CNN where she has been described as CNN’s “go to” for disasters. She is a frequent speaker and advisor to major corporations and associations on national and homeland security, planning for a crisis, cybersecurity and resiliency efforts.
Juliette recently sat down with APB to share her hot takes on everything from from risk reduction and crisis management to leadership, empowerment and more.
Michael Easter
Michael Easter is a New York Times bestselling author and professor, who has made a career of traveling the world to uncover innovative and practical ideas that help people live healthier, happier and more productive, remarkable lives. His work has been embraced by leading institutions, ranging from professional sports teams to the military to Fortune 500 companies. The tactics he uncovers have changed how organizations approach critical issues like physical and mental health, performance, innovation and success.
Michael's books include The New York Times bestseller Scarcity Brain and The Comfort Crisis. He's appeared in many of the world's most influential media outlets, including Good Morning America, The New York Times, CBS Saturday Morning and The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. He recently sat down with APB to share his hot takes on everything from overcoming challenges and improving your life to digital media, escaping the "scarcity loop" and more.
Stephanie Stuckey
Stephanie Stuckey had no entrepreneurial experience before taking over her family's business and saving it from ruin. Today, under her leadership, Stuckey’s has purchased a pecan-shelling and candy-manufacturing facility in Wrens, GA, revamped its distribution operations based in Eastman, GA, acquired a healthy pecan-snack company, rebranded its products and website, added four new franchised stores, expanded its B2B retail customer base and increased online sales 550%. Stephanie recently sat down with APB to share her hot takes on everything from leadership and empowerment to business opportunities, passion and more.
Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Dr. Moriba Jah
Dr. Moriba Jah is an internationally recognized scientist, educator and MacArthur fellow acknowledged for his work in space environmentalism. With his extensive expertise in space situational awareness and astrodynamics, Dr. Jah has dedicated his career to addressing the environmental challenges posed by human activities beyond Earth.
Having quickly become one of our most sought-after speakers, Dr. Jah is known for his ability to bridge the gap between scientific research and public understanding, making complex concepts accessible and engaging no matter the audience. Dr. Jah recently sat down with APB to share his hot takes on everything from the increasing threat of space debris and pollution to leadership, interconnectedness and more.
John Medina
Wherever the very latest neuroscience intersects with real-world challenges facing the workplace, classroom, healthcare and our everyday lives, you’ll find energizing insights from brain scientist Dr. John Medina. His client-customized presentations, based on his research and the findings of others share a common takeaway: How to optimize the performance of the human brain by improving practices, interactions and environments.
Dr. Medina recently sat down with APB to share his hot takes on everything from brain power and mindfulness in life and the workplace to managing anxiety, depression and more.
Dr. Eva Selhub
Dr. Selhub recently sat down with APB to share her hot takes on everything from business and spirituality to burnout, self care and more.
Percy "Master P"Miller
Percy Miller, aka Master P, is the founder of P. Miller Enterprises and No Limit Records, selling over 100 million units worldwide independently. Also a savvy businessman with a range of investments and interests beyond music, Miller believes ownership is the way to success and has created numerous products and brands. In addition, he founded the You Are Not Alone Foundation and the Team Hope Foundation, servicing at-risk youth and senior citizens in communities across the US. Miller's resume doesn't stop there—he has played for two NBA teams: Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors.
A passionate voice who encourages others to own and have control over their careers and livelihoods, Master P recently sat down with APB to share his hot takes on success, believing in oneself, role models, mental health and more.
Susan Brady
A celebrated speaker and executive coach, Susan Brady educates and ignites leaders on fostering a mindset of inclusion and self-awareness. Having been featured on Good Morning America and in Forbes and Inc, she is a sought-after consultant by organizations worldwide on how to create equity in leadership. Susan recently sat down with APB to share her hot takes on leadership, the future of work, imposter syndrome and more.
Rebekah Taussig
Rebekah Taussig, who has been paralyzed since the age of three, is a mom, wife, author, disability advocate and educator. She challenges everything we think we know about disability as she invites us into her experience of living in a body that looks and moves differently than most. On a mission to show that disabled people have incredible value, she recently sat down with APB to share her hot takes on disability, human connection, building a more inclusive world and more.
Mark Blyth
Acclaimed for his bold prediction that Europe’s turn to austerity would end badly (it did) and then predicting (very early) both Donald Trump’s victory and Brexit, Brown University professor Mark Blyth continues to pinpoint the key forces that shape our economic futures. Renowned for making complex topics understandable and refreshingly entertaining, Blyth energizes audiences with his sharp Scottish wit and brilliant insights into what’s to come. He recently sat down with us to share his hot takes on inflation, the 2024 election, AI predictions and more.
Lindy Elkins-Tanton
Recently, the world watched NASA's successful launch of the Psyche mission, a groundbreaking journey over a decade in the making to explore a unique metal-rich asteroid orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. Principal Investigator and APB Exclusive Speaker Lindy Elkins-Tanton recently sat down with us to discuss this incredible project and more.
Steve Pemberton
A passionate communicator and powerful presenter, Steve Pemberton is widely appreciated for his ability to connect with a broad spectrum of audiences. From corporate America and the non-profit world to healthcare and higher education, Steve's relentless mission and framework continue to inspire and encourage others to deliver trusted guideposts for living, learning and leading. He recently sat down with us to share his hot takes on leadership, community and more.
Dia Simms
One of the country’s few female and African American CEOs, Dia Simms is renowned for her expertise in leading brand strategies and launching brands, driving sales, maximizing revenue and creating cultures where people want to work. Currently the CEO of Lobos 1707 Tequila & Mezcal, Simms has been twice listed as “One of the Most Powerful Executives in the Industry'' by Billboard magazine. She recently sat down with us to share her hot takes on everything from making an impact to building businesses from scratch.
John Quiñones
One of the most popular inspirational speakers in the world today, John Quiñones' moving keynotes focus on his odds-defying journey, celebrate the life-changing power of education, champion the Latino American Dream and provide thought-provoking insights into human nature and ethical behavior. We recently sat down with him to get his hot takes on everything from journalism to his acclaimed, wildly popular show, What Would You Do?