Authors, Coaches, and Entrepreneurs share their personal and professional journeys. Past guests include Bruce George of the Genius is Common Movement, Life Coach Bobbi Stevens, Financial Expert Steven Hutchinson, Sen. Barbara Robinson, Geraldine Hollis of the Tougaloo Nine, Author Bernard N. Lee, Jr., and Author and Speaker Tawana Williams.
Episodes
Friday Oct 23, 2020
Friday Oct 23, 2020
Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Janae Marie, author of Sleeping with the Enemy
Janae Marie began writing at the age of 13 and published her first book at the age of 25. She was awarded a degree in Media Arts at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mi. She later relocated to California where she earned a second in Broadcast Journalism and published two more books by the age of 30.
Janae Marie is the author of four books, Flirting with Temptations, Daddy's Home, Double Take, and Besties. Her upcoming work, Sleeping with the Enemy, is due out in December of 2020. Janae acts as the CEO of JM Publications, which is part of JMP Media Group. She owns Janae's Closet Shop online clothing boutique and is the writer, producer, director, and editor of the short film My Mother Donna.
Friday Oct 09, 2020
Friday Oct 09, 2020
Financial Advisor Jason Zara joins me on Somewhere in the Middle
Jason Zara is a financial advisor with Transamerica/World Financial Group. He is life, health, and securities (Series 6 & 63) licensed and loves working with families to help them find financial independence.
He has worked with chambers of commerce for more than five years. He has years of experience in marketing, journalism, and as a small business owner. He has an MBA with a concentration in marketing. He is president of the Fontana Kiwanis Club, the Fontana Chamber of Commerce, and BNI Connect and Thrive (Fontana Chapter).
Jason lives in Fontana, California, with his wife, Kris. They have one daughter, Amber.
Friday Sep 25, 2020
Friday Sep 25, 2020
Dr. Beverly A Browning, author of Grant Writing for Dummies, joins me on Somewhere in the Middle
Dr. Beverly A. Browning has been consulting in the areas of grant writing, RFP responses, technical writing, and organizational development for over four decades. Her clients have included Tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, career, volunteer and combination fire departments; chambers of commerce, faith-based organizations, and units of government including state and federal government agencies; school districts, and colleges; charter schools, social and human service agencies, hospitals, service associations, and Fortune 500 corporations. Dr. Browning has assisted clients and workshop participants throughout the United States in receiving awards of more than $500 million.
Dr. Browning is the author of 43 grant-related publications, including six editions (over 1 million books sold) of Grant Writing for Dummies™ (Wiley.com). She is also an international trainer and keynote speaker. In 2015, she was selected by the Centers for Disease Control NICRD division to conduct a five-day Grant Writing Boot Camp in South Africa for ministers of health and other top-level health directors from 23 African countries.
Dr. Browning holds graduate and post-graduate degrees in Organizational Development, Public Administration, and Business Administration. She has been a grant writing course developer and online facilitator for Cengage Learning (www.ed2go.com) for 19 years. Her online courses (taught to thousands of students annually) are Advanced Proposal Writing, Becoming a Grant Writing Consultant, and A to Z Grant Writing: Part 2 – Beyond the Basics.
Dr. Browning is the Founder and Director of the Grant Writing Training Foundation and CEO for Bev Browning, LLC. She was a 17-year member of the Grant Professionals Association (GPA) and has presented training workshops and keynote presentations for multiple GPA chapters U.S.-wide. In 2017, Dr. Browning joined the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and was a workshop presenter at their 2018 International conference in New Orleans. She is an approved trainer for GPA and CFRE International.
Dr. Browning has been married 54 years to John and has one daughter, Lara, a licensed therapist, and a special needs granddaughter, Aaliyah.
Friday Sep 11, 2020
Author B.G. Howard shares his journey through amnesia to build a new life
Friday Sep 11, 2020
Friday Sep 11, 2020
Author B.G. Howard joins me on Somewhere in the Middle
G. Howard was born and raised in the small town of Baxley, GA, where he graduated high school before relocating to Macon, GA. There, he attended College at Mercer University, though circumstance prevented him from completing his collegiate education. He has lived in several cities throughout the eastern part of the United States, before finally relocating to Florida and, eventually, becoming self-employed.
Now,, the former business owner resides in Jacksonville, where he suffered an automobile accident several years ago, leaving him classified as "clinically disabled." He considers the extensive injuries sustained as a blessing in disguise. The incident subsequently opened the opportunity for him to embark upon a new career as an author.
A state and national award winner as a newspaper columnist before the accident, B. G. Howard resumed his efforts writing an opinion column for the hometown Baxley News-Banner in September 2015. He also writes philosophy, poetry, and short stories. As B. G. says, "There is so much occupying the space inside my head writing is simply a mandatory outlet."
Friday Aug 21, 2020
Friday Aug 21, 2020
Nicholas Maze, the author of White Collar Woman, talks with us about becoming an author, the publishing process, and sharing stories that uplift
Nicholas Maze started writing at the age of 12. Despite becoming distracted from writing early in life, he later went all in pursuing a master’s degree in creative writing. Maze is the author of the popular book series, White Collar Woman. The book series focuses on a successful young woman named Marla Evans and her adventures as she grows in her career and finds love.
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Spiritual Photographer and Author Kaolin K joins me on Somewhere in the Middle
Kaolin is originally from Brooklyn, New York, where she raised her two adult children. She worked in politics and the Arts, and in the 90's Kaolin moved to Northampton, Massachusetts. She attended Holyoke Community College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and matriculated in the Opera Department at Smith. Kaolin has performed as a vocalist in a summer series at Damrosch Park. She also has performed at the Lincoln Center in New York City in "Children of Adam," which was produced by the Urban Arts Corps and conducted by Chapman Roberts.
Kaolin is also a spirit photographer and does phone and photo readings. She is writing a photography book with narratives about that work, which will be out later this year.
Learn more about that work on http://www.spiritually-speaking.org. Call 413.404.5683 for more information and to schedule an appointment.
Friday Jul 24, 2020
Friday Jul 24, 2020
Author LaTara Robertson joins me on Somewhere in the Middle with Michele Barard
LaTara Robertson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she was reared by her beloved grandmother, who passed away three weeks before LaTara’s 13th birthday. LaTara is a former model with Casablanca Model Management Talent Agency and is the mother of one son, Romond, who is her inspiration.
Robertson first discovered her passion for writing books in elementary school. She spent lots of time with her favorite uncle, Billy Gene Marshall, who is currently serving time in prison for crimes he did not commit. He encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming an author. Due to her initial fear of publishing her work, she wrote books but would share them only on social media. She decided to write her first book, The Pain Within, while studying Criminal Justice & Journalism in college.
Last year, Robertson overcame her fear of publishing. She is now self-publishing her books under two brands she has developed, Show Stoppers Presents and Mega Millions Introduces, as Queen L.L.
LaTara Robertson now resides in Colorado with her son. She spends her time fighting for her uncle’s freedom. She also is co-writing her upcoming TV show, “Backstabbers.”
Friday Jul 10, 2020
Friday Jul 10, 2020
Somewhere in the Middle with Michele Barard welcomes bestselling author Rev. Dr. Nicole B. Simpson
Reverend Dr. Nicole B. Simpson, CFP®, is a practitioner with over 29 years of experience in the securities industry. On September 11, 2001, her life was drastically altered while working as a financial planner on the 73rd floor of 2 World Trade Center. Simpson was on the 44th floor when Tower 2 was hit during the World Trade Center attacks.
Today, Simpson compassionately assists families on how to begin to walk along the road to recovery when faced with a catastrophic, unexpected disaster. She is actively involved in spiritual, emotional, and economic empowerment. A compelling empowerment speaker, television/ radio personality and author, Ms. Simpson travels throughout the United States teaching in a practical and easy to understand manner. Her straightforward approach motivates everyone who hears her message to take action to change their future. Her commitment is to engage people with the thought, “If money were not an issue, what would be your life’s purpose?”
Pastor Nicole’s life began to take shape when she turned seven years old. Gifted with a Bible by her mother, she spent most of her time in her room reading the red words in that Bible, which sparked her interest. Those red words told her to do good to please God, and they taught her how to pray. Through scripture, she learned how to seek God’s comfort amid every storm. Like most individuals, Nicole has suffered unexpected, significant personal tragedies that have affected her entire family emotionally and financially. What is critical, but often avoided, is the experience and willingness to share strategies that instruct others how to overcome unexpected disasters that can stagnate one’s personal life because of a crisis. “How does one pick up the pieces of their life and move toward their ordained purpose?” She can answer those questions and put the necessary steps into perspective to begin the recovery process.
In January 2016, Dr. SImpson embarked on a new life journey. She became the pastor of Micah 7 Ministries in Piscataway, NJ. She is the visionary and CEO of the Power of Gospel Ministries, a best-selling author, and an entrepreneur. Simpson has written several books, including Planning for A Reason, a Season, and a Lifetime, The Ultimate Plan…A Financial Survival Guide for Life’s Unexpected Events, which was nationally distributed through Tate Publishing, and Dare 2 Dream…Pushing Past Your Pain to Pursue Purpose, a book that changes the lives of everyone who reads it. It later became her first Amazon bestseller.
In June 2011, Simpson released 9/11/01: A Long Road Toward Recovery, her second best-selling book. The book reflected upon the challenges of World Trade Center survivors who had been neglected emotionally and economically. In January 2014, she released her fifth book, Personal Prayer for all Occasions. Her highly anticipated sixth title addressing how to recognize the voice of God, Listen and Learn How God Speaks to You, was recently released. Nicole’s media profile includes appearances on CNN News, BBC World News, Huffington Post, Crain's NY Business, Fox News, and UPN 9.
Nicole B. Simpson is a Cum Laude graduate of Oral Roberts University. She completed her Master of Divinity degree at New Brunswick Theological Seminary in May 2016 Magna Cum Laude. In January 2017, Simpson enrolled in Boston University to pursue her Doctor of Ministries in Transformational Leadership, which she completed in December 2019.
Friday Jun 26, 2020
Friday Jun 26, 2020
Somewhere in the Middle with Michele Barard welcomes Diversity and Criminal Justice Reform Advocate Dr. Maxine Bryant
Dr. Bryant holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Ball State University, a Master of Arts Degree from Saginaw Valley State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Services Degree from Walden University. All of her degrees have a concentration in Criminal Justice & Corrections.
Dr. Bryant has given leadership to two criminal justice agencies. She founded and served as the Program Administrator of the Arete Community Corrections Center, a federal halfway house in Saginaw, Michigan; and she served as the Executive Director for Offender Aid & Restoration of Marion County, an agency providing educational and counseling services to inmates housed in the Marion County Jail and to ex-offenders needing assistance.
Friday Jun 12, 2020
Friday Jun 12, 2020
Diane Sears, United States Coordinator for International Men’s Day, shares why we need prison reform
DIANE A. SEARS is the United States Coordinator for International Men’s Day (www.imd-global.org) – a position she has held since 2009; the creator of the International Day of Prayer for Men and Boys which launches the United States’ observance of International Men’s Day; Chair, USA 2012- 2022 International Men’s Day Ten Year Plan Committee; a member of the International Men’s Day Coordination Committee where she represents the United States; Editor of a book on Fatherhood and Men’s Issues – IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® -- TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES
(www.xlibris.com); and Managing Editor of a quarterly Fatherhood and Men’s Issues Journal —IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® -- which moderates a Global Dialogue on Fatherhood. The concept for IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® was created by Sears’ mentor, the late L.T. HENRY, a classically trained jazz musician who briefly performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and was a former drummer for internationally acclaimed songstress and film and television actress MS. DELLA REESE; author; photojournalist; and sales and success motivation trainer who died in March 1999 – a concept Ms. Sears has resurrected. MS. SEARS serves as an External Board Member of the results-oriented two-tiered FATHERS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER Initiative created by members of United Community Action Network (U-CAN) at SCI Graterford which is designed to eradicate Fatherlessness and intergenerational incarceration. MS. SEARS’ work on Fatherhood and Men’s Issues has received global attention as evidenced in a 2009 International Men’s Day speech given on the floor of the Western Australian Parliament by THE HONORABLE NICK GOIRAN (http://nickgoiran.com.au/ 2009/12/02/ international-mens- day-adjournment-debate-speech/). A member of the University Council for Akamai University’s Fatherhood and Men’s Studies Program (www.akamaiuniversity.us) which is located in Hilo, Hawaii, SEARS advises the President of Akamai University on Fatherhood issues and assists him in the enhancement of the institution’s Fatherhood and Men’s Studies curriculum and in forming strategic alliances with national and international Fatherhood organizations. She is also a member of the National Affinity Network for The Boys’ Initiative (www.theboysinitiative.org) which is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
MS. SEARS has interviewed Men who are Fathers throughout our global village concerning issues, directly and indirectly, related to Fatherhood and has developed and maintains working relationships with male parenting organizations in Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States. She has authored and published reviews for numerous books about Fatherhood and Men’s issues which include Father and Child Reunion: How To Bring The Dads We Need to the Children We Love, by Warren Farrell, Ph.D.; Swallowed By A Snake: The Gift Of The Masculine Side Of Healing by Thomas R. Golden, LCSW; The Ultimate Survival Guide for the Single Father by Thomas Hoerner; Nothing’s Wrong: A Man’s Guide To Managing His Feelings by David Kundtz; Hey Daddy, Read This by Donald Roberts, an award-winning journalist and anchorman for Virginia’s NBC-affiliate television station WAVY-TV; We Fish: The Journey To Fatherhood by University of Pittsburgh Professor Jack L. Daniel, Ph.D. and his son Omari C. Daniel, Ph.D.; Death To Diabetes: The 6 Stages Of Type 2 Diabetes Control & Reversal by DeWayne McCulley; Fatherhood by William H. Cosby, Jr., Ed.D.; The Spirit Of Fatherhood: Embracing Our Role As Fathers And Reclaiming Our Children by S. Bruce Olamina Stevenson; 25 Things That Really Matter: A Comprehensive Guide To Making Your Life Better by Gary A. Johnson, the Founder and Publisher of the Homework Help Page and Founder of the Gary A. Johnson Company, a management-training and consulting firm; The Self-Esteem Trap: Raising Confident And Compassionate Kids In An Age Of Self-Importance by Polly Young-Eisendrath, Ph.D.; A Promise To Ourselves: A Journey Through Fatherhood And Divorce by television, film and Broadway actor Alec Baldwin; A Father’s Right by Anthony Gallo; 2011: The Global Depression by global economist and economic consultant to the Government of Canada and the United Nations Economic Commission Ruben James; Do-Over! by Robin Hemley: and The Man’s Book: The Essential Guide For The Modern Man by Thomas Fink.
SEARS has co-moderated discussion forums, panel discussions, and national teleconferences on Fatherhood and Men’s Issues and has been a frequent featured guest on radio talk shows in the United States and Australia