Our guest today is Ed Howard — founder of One Breath Leadership, a new human-centred leadership framework combining neuroscience, psychology, AI and three decades of Zen training. Before becoming a founder, Ed spent 20 years as a Regional Head of Compliance in global investment banking, where he saw firsthand how burnout, overwhelm, and cognitive overload were affecting leaders. Today he teaches practical tools for clarity, resilience, and peak decision-making in the age of AI. He’s also the author of the upcoming book One Breath Leadership, and he helps leaders apply ancient wisdom and modern science to perform at their best.”

Rain Bennett

Rain Bennett, author of The Chief Storytelling Officer | Emmy-Nominated Filmmaker | Host, The Storytelling Lab

Rain Bennett is the CSO of Elemmir, as well as an award-winning filmmaker, author, and storytelling coach. He hosts a weekly podcast called The Storytelling Lab which features the top storytellers in the world and is the author of the upcoming 2026 book, The Chief Storytelling Officer. In 20 years and over 1000 interviews, he has realized one consistent truth: stories hold a profound power, but only if one knows how to tell them effectively to who need to hear them most.

Gilad Rom

Gilad Rom is the founder of GetOpener, a platform helping brands get into retail and actually sell once they’re there. Before this, he worked with companies like Shopify, Clearco, and Google, and is now on a mission to fix what he sees as a broken distribution system where brands fight to get on shelves but fail to move product once they do. His work focuses on helping brands go direct to retailers, cut out middlemen, and turn cold outreach into real retail growth.

Most brands think getting into retail is the hard part. It’s not. The real challenge is what happens after you’re on the shelf—and that’s where most brands fail. I’ve worked with companies like Shopify, Clearco, and Google, and now I’m the founder of GetOpener, where we’re fixing what I believe is a broken distribution system. Today, brands rely on brokers and middlemen, fight to get into stores, and still struggle with sell-through once they’re there.

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David Dorfman

CEO @ Claimio | Techstars USC | Founder @ Yapi | 8-Figure Exit

Irvine, California, United States

Blue Navy Recovery has rebranded and is now known as Claimio. Co-founder and CEO David Dorfman leads the technology-driven platform, which automates the navigation, verification, and filing processes required to recover unclaimed property from state governments across the United States

intao (LT) Lu is a global business executive, engineer, entrepreneur, and author. He is the founder, President, and CEO of NAVAC Inc., a New Jersey-based company specializing in HVAC tools, instruments, and industrial vacuum technology. Under his leadership, NAVAC has grown into an international brand known for innovation in the HVAC industry.

He was born in a rural fishing village in China during the Cultural Revolution. According to his published biography, he overcame poverty to become the first person from his village to attend university. He later earned a doctorate in France, became fluent in multiple languages, and built a career leading businesses across China, France, Singapore, and the United States. He also holds seven U.S. patents.

In April 2026, Lu published the memoir In Through the Window: On Forging Your Own Path to Success, which chronicles his journey from rural China to international business leadership. The book emphasizes resilience, perseverance, innovation, cross-cultural leadership, and the philosophy that "when the door is closed, go in through the window.

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Bren Marrick

Author of Dicks I’ve Met Online | Exploring Self-Discovery Through Uncomfortable Experiences

I didn’t set out to tell a story like this. I set out to tell the truth—about what happens when the life you built no longer fits, the quiet courage it takes to open doors you thought would stay closed, and the unexpected humor you find while figuring it out.

At a certain point, I realized my life had been shaped more by habit than choice. So I started paying attention—to what I wanted, what I avoided, and what I kept explaining away. Writing became a way to look at things honestly, without judgment, and with a little more compassion for every version of myself along the way.

That reflection became my book, Dicks I’ve Met Online: How I Turned Casual Meetups Into a Journey of Discovery.

It’s not a guidebook. It’s an honest account—sometimes funny, sometimes uncomfortable—about connection, self-discovery, and what our experiences reveal when we actually pay attention to them.

In my writing and in conversation, I’m drawn to intimacy, identity, and the messy truths of everyday life—because those are the stories that actually connect us.

If something in this conversation resonates, I hope it leaves listeners feeling a little more seen, and a little less alone in figuring things out.

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Mark Kollar

Retirement Income Specialist | Helping Retirees Avoid Running Out of Money | Author of The Retirement Navigator”

Our guest today is Mark Kollar, a retirement income specialist and the author of The Retirement Navigator. Mark is the owner of Kollar Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm, and has spent more than 34 years helping retirees protect their assets and create reliable income streams.

He’s been featured in major media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, CNBC, The Washington Post, and Fox Business, and as the host of Retirement & Income Radio in Chicago.

Mark specializes in helping retirees avoid one of the biggest risks they face—running out of money in retirement—and today he’s going to share some of the most common mistakes people make and how to protect yourself from them.

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Book 101 Review in its sixth season features Paula Panariello as my guest. Join us for a captivating and insightful conversation as Paula shares her journey as an author, the inspiration behind her work, and the experiences that have shaped her personal and professional life. Through thoughtful discussion, we explore the creative process, the challenges and rewards of writing, and the powerful role that storytelling plays in educating, inspiring, and connecting people across different backgrounds and experiences.

In this episode, Paula offers valuable perspectives on perseverance, personal growth, and the importance of following one's passion despite obstacles and uncertainty. We delve into the themes and messages found within her work, the lessons she hopes readers will take away, and the impact that literature can have on fostering understanding, empathy, and meaningful change. Whether you are an aspiring writer, an avid reader, or someone seeking inspiration from a remarkable journey, this conversation provides wisdom, encouragement, and a deeper appreciation for the transformative power of books and storytelling.

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