In this special episode of Jim Fielding and Friends, Jim is joined by fellow author Bruce Brackett!

Bruce W. Brackett is a social media personality, author, entrepreneur, self-taught visual artist, and international motivational speaker. His book, “How to Breathe While Suffocating: A Story Of Overcoming Addiction, Recovering From Trauma and Healing My Soul” published by Wiley is now available everywhere books are sold.

Bruce sits down with Jim to discuss his new book and explore what he is looking to achieve with his story. They also dive into the experiences within the book and how Bruce began his journey in sobriety and more broadly, his journey to helping others in similar situations.

Additionally, they discuss the mechanical experience of writing a book (and the challenges therein), how Bruce got the idea (and got started) and most importantly: the biggest lessons from the book and why you should read it.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:39 - Episode beginning, intro to Bruce Brackett

4:27 - More about Bruce

10:24 - “Did you always plan on writing a book?”

13:37 - How long it took Bruce to write the book

25:20 - “Did you see yourself becoming an author?”

30:22 - [After the book release] “What’s been the biggest surprise?”

41:43 - Biggest lessons from the book

48:06 - Closing thoughts and where you can find Bruce

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimfielding/

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

CONNECT WITH BRUCE BRACKETT

Website: https://www.bwbart.com/

Instagram: BWB.Positivity

X: BWB.Positivity

In this special episode of Jim Fielding and Friends, Jim reconnects with one of his closest friends of over 40 years, Paul Caine, President of Endeavor’s IMG Events and On Location. What starts as a walk down memory lane quickly becomes a masterclass in leadership, entrepreneurship, and the power of relationships.

Paul shares what it’s really like to run some of the world’s biggest events, from the Olympics and Super Bowl to exclusive music festivals and global culinary showcases. As the driving force behind On Location, he offers a behind-the-scenes look at how they create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for fans and brands alike.

Jim and Paul also reflect on their college days at Indiana University, where they co-founded a fraternity that would shape their leadership styles and values for decades to come. It’s a full-circle moment filled with laughter, perspective, and a few lessons learned along the way.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

1:12 - How Paul and Jim met

2:41 - More about Paul

6:01 - What made Paul want to start his own fraternity

16:28 - What Paul is doing now

24:48 - Paul’s foundation

28:47 - Talking “On Location”

42:26 - “I’m driven by time”

45:55 - Paul’s one big piece of advice and closing thoughts

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimfielding/

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

CONNECT WITH PAUL CAINE

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pcaine/

Foundation Website: https://griffincaresfoundation.org/

On Location: https://onlocationexp.com/

This week, Jim sits down with legendary executive Mindy Grossman, Partner at The Consello Group and former CEO of WW (formerly Weight Watchers), to talk about what it really means to lead with purpose.

Mindy shares the bold decisions that defined her career, from walking away from law school to diving headfirst into the fashion industry in New York City, and how trusting her gut led her to helm some of the world’s most iconic brands.

In this episode, Jim and Mindy dive into why modern leadership requires vulnerability and empathy, the current state of retail, (really) building culture and more!

This conversation is part masterclass, part motivational playbook and a rare look into the mindset of a true visionary.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

2:13 - Meet Mindy

9:03 - Two important things (for young people)

10:24 - Risk taking

12:11 - Mindy’s favorite role

19:32 - Culture

22:10 - The “Barbeque Effect”

25:27 - “Talking up” to the customer

35:05 - How does Mindy describe herself?

39:07 - Today’s marketplace: What are you saying to clients?

42:12 - Mindy’s mantra

45:15 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT JIM FIELDING

Jim Fielding began his career on the department store floor, where he discovered a deep passion for face-to-face interaction and customer experience. That early spark launched a career spanning over 30 years in senior executive roles at some of the world’s most iconic retail and media brands, including Gap, Disney Stores, Claire’s, DreamWorks, and 20th Century Fox. Throughout his leadership journey, Jim became widely recognized for his commitment to developing talent and building inclusive, people-first cultures—believing that individuals perform at their best when they can bring their whole, authentic selves to work.

Today, Jim’s full-time focus is on sharing the lessons he’s learned. Through speaking engagements, coaching, writing, advocacy, and community building, he inspires leaders and organizations to create spaces where everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.

CONNECT WITH JIM FIELDING

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimfielding/

Website: https://www.hijimfielding.com/

CONNECT WITH MINDY GROSSMAN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-grossman/

Website: https://consello.com/