Michelle Loucadoux & Matthew Shaffer share their stories and career highlights with Michelle Zeitlin, in anticipation of the April 8-10, 2022 dance convention called PDN, Professional Dance Network. Michelle Zeitlin will be leading master classes in jazz and contemporary, and judging dance showcases.  Michelle Zeitlin, host of Passion to Power, and talent and literary manager, CEO of More Zap Productions & Management and dance pro, also represented both authors for their respective...

Ty Humes, 6’6,” African American, is imposing, impressive and especially well spoken. He is also humble in recognizing his own professional contributions, while cognizant of challenges of race, class and “lessons learned” that have shaped him and his career. Ty is a proud father of two (tall) kids and coaches ball for their sports teams. Ty, though super tall To these tweens says in athletic circles he is “average” height. Ty Humes has run companies as CIO, Global Business Development ....

Joe Towne is an actor, writer, director and the founder of The Performers Mindset.  “To revolutionize the way we Think about performance… and then Train accordingly.” He's worked in television, feature films and theatre around the country, and currently he's coaching, speaking and hosting his own podcast. He graduated with a BA in Theater from The University of Southern California and interned at 20th Century Fox. Before that, however, Joe was inspired by theatre and the performing arts,...

Tammy Pahel is the VP of Spa & Wellness Operations, Carillon Miami Wellness Resort. She shares her experience growing up in an entrepreneurial household. Many jobs in her youth including as a fifteen year old bartender and waitress in her family restaurant, then in lumber— contributed to her success in working with people. Her focus is now on running a 70,000 square foot facility that is considered a mecca in the industry of global health and wellness. Speaker, educator, mentor and mother...

A writer with a big "W" is what Adam Belanoff is....along with being a producer for television in a few varied formats. He's worked in writer rooms for sitcoms (*situation comedies) and one hour procedural dramas and he's thinking about doing a feature film. Ideas are brewing. If you look up his credits on IMDB, you will see iconic shows starting in the 1990's and he is "grateful for 30 years of working steadily" in the television industry. Now he's taking stock, reflecting and designing his...

Ed Steckley is an illustrator. He works on children's picture books, middle grade chapter books and advertising assignments. He's been a caricaturist, cartoonist and tried animating too- but that wasn't his wheelhouse, he says. He shares his passion, his journey and his goals. He also expresses gratitude for his mentors, some of the greatest artists that have contributed work in the last 100 years. Along with drawing "tractors and lawn mowers," to get practice in his early years, he has...

Nickelodeon and Disney writer Jordan Gershowitz has been incredibly prolific and he's had some adventures on his way to his current title as Head Writer for the kid and family genre of television entertainment.  In interviewing Jordan, these three words were especially vibrant and resonant:  ABSORB ADAPT ADJUST He is an award-winning musician and was nominated for the MTV VMA for Best Breakout Artist as a member of the band Rushmore. He opened for Justin Bieber and performed his punk...

Tod Szewczyk's official title is Executive Vice President, Digital Engagement at August Jackson. That means he's figuring out what's next in the world of meetings for his clients, including Fortune 500 brands, as an ad agency pro with his finger on the pulse of technology based platforms for communication and presentation. I asked him "what the heck is Hybrid" In the world of corporate events. The experiential space has changed drastically since the Covid-19 pandemic and will continue to...

LARRY DEUTSCH; Connector extraordinaire. Foodie. Runner, Partner of dvk marketing.  Larry shares his story, his experience, his advice and his vision for a business model where he can support, build brands, and create viable campaigns that resonate with purpose driven content.  Over the course of our 90 minute conversation, Larry quoted "The Good the Bad and the Ugly," "A Few Good Men," and "The Wizard of Oz." Since I am the Hollywood iNSIDER, Larry liked sharing analogies and metaphors with...

http://passion-power.com/  Michelle Zeitlin: I am so excited to be podcasting LIVE amongst people on a real red carpet! This is the first “real life” event I’ve experienced since the lockdowns started with Covid-19 in March of 2020, and it feels good!  This two day event is the La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival, presented by Fred Sweet. Fred Sweet, the organizer and founder of this festival shares his mission and ideas for a world class event where filmmakers, fashion designers and...

Farah Ramzan Golant is CEO of kyu EMEA: A collective of creative companies that Farah (rhymes with Sarah) leads in a rare and vigorous role to evaluate creative partnerships, incite ideas, ignite and activate collaborations and identify which "epic" projects and campaigns to help green-light. She says of her role, "I am inspired to imagine a future in which the global creative industries collaborate in new and unconventional ways to address the world’s most complex challenges." "SIGNIFICANCE...

Arielle Moyal was a champion chess player as a kid, an overall athlete who loved soccer, and very determined.  Growing up in a single parent household she learned to be assertive, forthright and activate her goals early on. Ms. Moyal thought about being a doctor, and she was well on her way in that direction, but changing lanes was a good idea when she got her first athlete recruiting job at UCLA.  Michelle Zeitlin, host of Passion to Power suggested that this was a 'playing to one's...

What is a Creative Director? What do they do?  What do they get paid for?  Where do you get the skills and training and know-how to be one?  Mike Goldberg answers these questions and more. He also talks about his campaigns for Finagle a Bagel and Mentos in Madison, WI.  A fine artist, Goldberg does paintings on pieces of wood, and uses his fingers to rub the oil paint into the wood. His character paintings were the backdrop for this ZOOM conversation and Michelle Zeitlin drew out his...

Sarah Vermunt has a wry sense of humor and an upbeat vibe. Refreshingly candid and optimistic, she offers tools for realigning with your happier self in work and life. As a "reformed" academic, she knows that some careers can feel stale. She has created a cohesive and comprehensive program for those who may not know what they want, but know they want something else. Listen up to Vermunt's tested tips and tools for those who are not happy in their current jobs, and want to find their creative...

Listen and get some "SEAT TIME" with expert Tami Powers who is celebrating her 20th year as an executive in motorsports, and she is a driving force in this industry. Her goal is to "normalize" the motorsports industry and get equal sponsorship funds, recognition and opportunity for women race car drivers. Powers is gung-ho to make it happen now and to level this playing field.  Her motto: "the race car knows no gender." Michelle Zeitlin and Tami Powers talk about the world of advertising,...

Kristen V. Carter is a writer-producer and show runner in unscripted television.  She has worked on productions with BET, HBO Max and Kevin Hart. Currently developing her own work as an independent contractor for award shows, magazine shows and fact-based entertainment, she also mentors youth and young adults. Kristen attended boarding school through an initiative supported by Oprah Winfrey, A Better Chance, and because of those inspiring grades 8-12, Kristen now offers mentorships to other...

Tech guru, new venture activator, innovator- Jason Kirk has a cool job! He is the GM of the Disney Accelerator. Listen Up for advice and tools for success- whether you are new in the game or pivoting in your new iteration.  Jason puts creativity and strategy into everything he does.  From interning at ICM to running a tech start up to being on the dream team now- he is excited and motivated to be making decisions about which companies are "next" in the portfolio for the Walt Disney...

Chair, Sylvia Lane of UC Weston in the United Kingdom has produced an international symposium with the theme "creating opportunity out of a crisis." With Joe Miller, also on faculty at UC Weston, they invited an esteemed industry panel of guests.  Michelle Zeitlin, CEO of More Zap and Host of Passion to Power, was invited along with casting directors, James Pearson UK and Matthew Lessall, USA; additionally actress/singer, Alice Fern, Matthew Shaffer, actor/author and Emily Alabi,...

🎧 Andy Bateman has been a lifelong strategist. He is CEO of the US HQ for Sid Lee, a creative company that offers services in marketing, advertising, architecture and design, and looks to connect buyers and sellers. Andy talks about how their company is building community and how now, during this worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, being "more human" and being both a 'person and professional' while living with a 'work and life congruence' is more important than ever. Andy was born in Britain and...

Kendra Levin balances her career in books and life coaching....she is a straight shooter, yet gentle and gracious. Here we talk about her work as Editorial Director at S&S Books for Young Readers, acquiring books. She is also the author of The Hero is You.

Blair Taylor has a big personality, a straightforward approach and an abundance of energy. He has been an agent for over 20 years and he loves his work. He has closed big endorsement deals. Now he is a daddy and works remotely with the baby monitor close by. We talked about unions and how so much of the advertising business is going non-union. We discussed options for actors. We shared laughs and I was reminded that Blair went to University where I grew up- Madison, WI. For advise, motivation...

Jonas Agin is VP, Original Series, Disney Branded Television. He shares his experience working in kid and family entertainment, and how the pitch process works, the development process, the wins and losses. According to Agin, "90% of the projects we develop don't go to pilot..." The Wins are important, but sometimes he learns more from the losses. In fact, he says one can fail upward in this industry, by taking risks. He is an advocate of creative risks, and gets very excited about taking new...

Founder of the American Reality TV Awards, Kristen Moss shares her work in the Unscripted Reality TV world. Currently she has two major productions on the way... her first baby, a daughter, and the American Reality Television Awards, as a virtual presentation this year in February, 2021.  How did she start? She worked in hospitality...a people person...and answered an ad on Craig's List!  What has she learned? "SAY YES" as you never know when the next opportunity will turn into a golden...

Matthew Lessall has been the President of the Casting Society of America, a staff casting director in London and Los Angeles. Positions include casting TV pilots, working on big studio films and "first-time" director indies. He loves his new role working with Effie Brown and Game Changer Films. He offers advice, 'tips and tools for success' and insights on how the casting process has changed, and his own process.  Matthew Lessall and Michelle Zeitlin will be panelists together for an...

"I have an incredibly short attention span..."  That's why Kevin Beggs loves TV- it integrates all the many skillsets he has as a "generalist." Kevin Beggs is the Chairman of Lionsgate TV, in his 22nd year working with this massive entertainment company that has international sprawl.   "This year has been, as you say, a really crazy year...morale, staff...and pivoting into this new normal...many many things, a crazy political year on top of it...ironically enough, zooming in has brought...