"Community is what fills you up. Earning money is what helps you pay your bills.” 

Real leadership shows up when success expands beyond personal gain and turns into responsibility for others. Building something meaningful takes communication, commitment, and a willingness to step into problems rather instead of avoiding them. When people align around purpose instead of convenience, work becomes fulfilling, communities strengthen, and momentum grows naturally through shared effort. 

Eric Axelrod explains how decades in recruiting taught him the fundamentals of listening, problem-solving, and guiding people through uncertainty—and how those same principles fueled the creation of Wood For Good. What began as helping a few families during COVID quickly turned into a scalable community effort because volunteers found purpose, connection, and pride in meaningful action. He highlights how isolation weakens societies, while shared service restores confidence, energy, and human dignity. 

Eric is a longtime recruiting executive and nonprofit founder based in Vermont. Through Wood For Good, he mobilizes volunteers to provide firewood to families facing heat insecurity, demonstrating how entrepreneurial skills can be redirected toward community resilience and lasting impact. 

Expert action steps: 

1. Listen deeply before acting—real solutions come from understanding people, not assumptions. 

1. Lead with visible passion—energy and sincerity create momentum and trust. 

1. Treat obstacles as opportunities—how you interpret problems determines your progress. 

Learn more & connect: 

https://wood4good.org/ 

Socials: 

https://www.facebook.com/Wood4GoodVT/ 

https://www.instagram.com/wood4goodvt 

Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

“People can take everything from you, but they can never take your education.” 

Freedom does not arrive as a single event; it is built through courage passed from one generation to the next. When people are denied voice, dignity, and agency, resistance becomes cultural, familial, and inevitable. Education, memory, and moral clarity act as long-term weapons against authoritarian control, shaping individuals who refuse to internalize fear. Over time, this produces a population that understands oppression deeply—and rejects it decisively. 

Pardis Mahdavi frames Iran’s current uprising as intergenerational resistance, tracing how children of the revolution became parents of a new resistance movement. She explains how education, women-led defiance, youth courage, and cultural creativity have steadily weakened the regime’s grip. From everyday acts of dissent to mass protests, these movements have grown brighter, louder, and impossible to ignore—inside Iran and across the global diaspora. 

Pardis is an Iranian-American scholar, author, and educator whose work focuses on Iran, gender, youth movements, and resistance under authoritarian regimes. She has written multiple books, taught at leading universities, and continues to advocate globally for a free Iran through research, media, and public discourse. 

Expert action steps: 

1. Stay informed – Learn Iran’s historical and political context to understand the present moment clearly. 

1. Keep Iran visible – Use conversations and social platforms to maintain global attention. 

1. Resist division – Act from unity and open-heartedness within the diaspora to avoid fragmentation. 

Learn more & connect: 

https://www.pardismahdavi.com/ 

IG: @mahdavipardis 

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pardis-mahdavi-3b8618229/ 

X: @pardismahdavi 

Email: pardis.mahdavi@gmail.com 

Books written by Pardis: 

• Book of Queens: The True Story of the Middle Eastern Horsewomen Who Fought the War on Terror 

• Hyphen 

• Crossing the Gulf: Love and Family in Migrant Lives 

• From Trafficking to Terror: Constructing a Global Social Problem 

• Gridlock: Labor, Migration, and Human Trafficking in Dubai 

• Passionate Uprisings: Iran’s Sexual Revolution 

• Riding 

Also in this episode: 

Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

“It’s a country where Westerners can visit, business can be done, and stability is going to break out all over the Middle East.” 

The true colours of the Iranian Regime are on full display. This episode confronts what happens when ordinary people refuse to surrender their identity, history, and right to freedom.

We're joined again by Wayne Allyn Root on his show, War Zone, to ask the question, what does freedom in Iran truly mean to Iranian people and the rest of the world?

Wayne Allyn Root is a nationally syndicated radio and television host, bestselling author, and longtime political commentator. He has hosted programs on Real America’s Voice, Lindell TV, and USA Radio Network, reaching audiences across the U.S. Root is the author of multiple bestselling books, including The Great Patriot Protest & Boycott Book (coauthored with Nicky) and TRUMP RULES, and is a former Libertarian vice-presidential nominee. 

Learn more & connect: 

https://rootforamerica.com/  

https://patriot.tv/ 

Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

“Seventy-five percent of Iran’s urban population was on the streets. That’s not a protest—that’s a nation.” 

Iran’s struggle is not abstract or distant—it is a real-time confrontation between courage and tyranny. When people are willing to face armed forces with nothing but conviction, it signals something deeper than protest. It reveals a collective refusal to live without dignity, and a belief that history can still be bent by human will. Change, when it comes, is never clean—but it always begins when fear loses its grip. 

Steve Kuhn brings a unique perspective shaped by military service, global intelligence networks, and firsthand experience inside political movements across Europe. He outlines why Iran has reached a breaking point, how external pressures and internal unity intersect, and why global silence has only intensified the stakes. His insights frame Iran not as an isolated crisis, but as part of a larger geopolitical realignment unfolding simultaneously across the world. 

Steve is a former U.S. soldier, international entrepreneur, political strategist, and founder of the Take America Back movement. Having lived in ten countries and built businesses across continents, he now focuses on citizen leadership, geopolitical analysis, and mobilizing principled action at the grassroots level. 

IG: @steveneugenekuhn 

Join Take America Back: 

Jointab.us 

Also in this episode: 

Steve, his wife and their two sons have a fun loving and very popular channel for teaching English: @englishwithbaba3 

Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

“That one letter of encouragement from that one mentor, completely unsolicited, didn’t expect it, didn’t know it was coming, changed the entire arc of my career.” 

Scott Adams left an unmistakable imprint on modern culture through his ability to translate complex human behavior into simple, enduring ideas. As the creator of Dilbert, he reshaped how office life, power dynamics, and absurdity in corporate systems were understood—using humor as a vehicle for truth. Beyond his art, he became a widely read thinker and speaker, known for examining persuasion, mindset, systems, and the unseen forces that shape outcomes. His work consistently challenged people to think differently, act intentionally, and recognize how small actions can ripple outward in ways far larger than intended. 

This conversation captures Scott in his element: reflective, precise, and deeply aware of how influence actually works in the real world. He speaks openly about persuasion, systems versus goals, talent stacking, and the psychology behind success—not as abstract theory, but as lived experience. Throughout the interview, he emphasizes personal responsibility, disciplined optimism, and the long-term consequences of how ideas are framed and shared. 

At the heart of this interview is a powerful throughline: encouragement matters. Scott recounts how a single unsolicited letter and a few affirming words changed the trajectory of his life—and how that change went on to affect countless others. It is a reminder that creative courage is often unlocked not by grand gestures, but by timely belief, offered sincerely. The message he leaves is clear: paying it forward is not optional—it is consequential. 

Expert action steps: 

1. Build systems, not goals: Focus on daily practices that continuously improve your options rather than fixating on distant outcomes. 

1. Care for the body to support the mind: Physical health directly influences clarity, discipline, and emotional stability. 

1. Develop a talent stack: Combine complementary skills to create uniqueness and long-term value in the marketplace. 

Learn more & connect: 

Real Coffee with Scott Adams (YouTube) 

https://www.youtube.com/RealCoffeeWithScottAdams 

Scott on X: @ScottAdamsSays 

https://x.com/ScottAdamsSays 

Also in this episode: 

Cartoonist John R. “Jack” Cassady 

https://nationalcartoonists.com/author/john-r-cassady/ 

Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

“A trades business is a very powerful vehicle for building yourself as an entrepreneur.” 

Building a scalable trades business takes more than just skill. Visibility, trust, and strategic positioning give you access to a much bigger world. Thought leadership creates leverage by shifting a tradesperson from being seen as a commodity to being viewed as an authority. When people see you as an expert, it opens doors to higher-quality clients, long-term partnerships, and opportunities beyond day-to-day labour. You can transform a local service business into a platform for influence, referrals, and sustainable growth. 

Michael Cappa saw accelerated growth with his painting business, Altona Painting, at the same time that people started asking for his advice. Realtors and fellow tradespeople wanted to know how he built trust, secured repeat clients, and positioned himself as a preferred vendor. By speaking and mentoring, Michael turned experience into intellectual property opening him up to coaching opportunities and partnerships all while his painting business continued to grow. 

Michael is the founder and operator of Altona Painting. He started in the trades as a teenager and went on to build a rapidly growing service business. Known for blending traditional work ethic with modern business strategy, he’s emerging as a thought leader focused on helping young people enter the trades and helping trades businesses scale through relationships, credibility, and leadership. 

Expert action steps: 

1. Position yourself as an educator, not just a service provider, within your local industry. 

1. Build strategic partnerships with adjacent professionals who control deal flow. 

1. Use speaking and teaching as leverage to create scalable income opportunities. 

Learn more & connect: 

https://altonapainting.com/ 

IG @altonapainting 

LinkedIn: 

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/michael-cappa-260ba110b 

Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

“This will usher in an era of peace and prosperity globally.” 

The people of Iran are reclaiming their culture, their prosperity, and their freedom. All things were taken away during the Iranian revolution in ‘78 and ’79 when their Monarch, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, was forced into exile by the Islamic Republic.   

They promised freedom, dignity, and justice but they delivered quite the opposite. They served only themselves, they stole from the people to fund terrorism, and used fear to suppress the Iranian people. 

But fear is only powerful when people are isolated. Now, with the force of their collective strength, backed by a “locked & loaded” US military, the Iranian people are taking back what belongs to them.  

President Trump said, “If you do what you normally do, what your custom is, is shoot and kill these peaceful protesters, the US military is locked and loaded and we’re ready to rescue them.”  

The only thing about Iran that’s fragile is its corrupt regime. So, what happens if the regime collapses?  

Real change comes from brotherhood, communication, and a shared sense of community. Collective energy is what moves events forward behind the scenes. And that's when the regime eventually collapses, Iran won’t fall into chaos. The people are already organizing around unity, not fear—and that kind of cohesion is what brings clarity, stability, and light when it’s needed most. 

Wayne Allyn Root is a nationally syndicated radio and television host, bestselling author, and longtime political commentator. He has hosted programs on Real America’s Voice, Lindell TV, and USA Radio Network, reaching audiences across the U.S. Root is the author of multiple bestselling books, including The Great Patriot Protest & Boycott Book (coauthored with Nicky) and TRUMP RULES, and is a former Libertarian vice-presidential nominee. 

Learn more & connect: 

https://rootforamerica.com/ 

https://patriot.tv/ 

Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

“Comfort absolutely murders your passion for life.” 

Progress comes from earning results the hard way—through discipline, physical effort, and daily standards that do not bend when motivation fades. Comfort weakens execution, while controlled hardship sharpens judgment, energy, and resilience. Whether in business, health, or life, the ability to persist when things get hard determines who lasts and who fades out. 

Joe De Sena reflects on a life shaped by hustle, structure, and relentless effort—from early business lessons learned as a teenager to walking away from Wall Street in pursuit of something more alive. He shares how Spartan began as a failed idea, survived a decade of losses, nearly collapsed during the pandemic, and still grew into a global movement with a single mission: get people off the couch and back into ownership of their lives. 

Joe is the founder of Spartan Race, bestselling author of Spartan Tough, and a lifelong advocate for physical challenge as a gateway to mental strength. His work has influenced millions worldwide by blending endurance, mindset, and discipline into a framework that rewards action over comfort. 

Expert action steps: 

1. Win the morning – Wake up early, train first, and earn your day before distractions take over. 

1. Manufacture discomfort – Use cold exposure, physical challenge, and discipline to sharpen focus and resilience. 

1. Eliminate friction – Remove social media consumption and processed habits that dilute energy and execution. 

Learn more & connect: 

https://joedesena.com/ 

IG: @realjoedesena 

Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

“Authenticity is really the new currency in our world everywhere.” 

Join the audience on this special episode. I was given the opportunity to speak about the power of podcast guesting on the stage of Jack Canfield’s Transformational Leadership Council. I was invited to teh stage by my good friend, Raymond Aaron. I shared how many treat podcast appearances as a branding exercise but the real value comes from long-form conversations where you can demonstrate your authenticity, creating trust and meaningful connection. Podcast guesting allows people to be heard in context, not soundbites, and to communicate ideas without the noise and friction of traditional marketing. 

Build strong relationships with hosts while getting direct access to their engaged audiences, potentially high-income listeners, and decision-makers who already trust the host. It's a rare opportunity to build familiarity that short-form media can’t replicate. When done well, podcast guesting leads to inbound conversations, collaborations, and qualified business opportunities. 

Also in this episode: 

The Transformational Leadership Council is a caring community of transformational leaders who support each other in personal growth and contributions to the world. 

https://www.transformationalleadershipcouncil.com/ 

Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

“The deeper we meet ourselves, the deeper we can meet someone else.” 

True leadership begins with self-ownership. Growth is not about eliminating pain, conflict, or contradiction, but learning how to integrate them. When individuals stop chasing a one-sided version of positivity and instead understand polarity—challenge and support, strength and vulnerability—they gain clarity, resilience, and authenticity. Life stops happening to them and starts unfolding for them, revealing meaning even in the moments once labeled as failure or trauma. 

Donna Parker is a global coach and speaker who helps people see themselves—and their lives—more honestly. She challenges the idea that growth comes from staying positive or avoiding discomfort, and instead points to the value of owning both sides of who we are. In this conversation, Donna explores how judgment, blame, and victim stories quietly keep people stuck, and why the moments we resist most often become the ones that shape our purpose. Drawing from decades of real-world experience, she shows how values drive behavior, how relationships act as mirrors, and how taking responsibility can lead to deeper freedom, clarity, and connection. 

Learn more & connect: 

Website: https://www.donnaparker.com 

Social media: 

Facebook – Donna Andrews Parker 

Instagram – @global.coach.dparker 

Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level.