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/

What if retail wasn’t a fallback plan, but a power move?

This week, Jim is joined by Ron Thurston, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and fierce advocate for the people who keep retail running.

In this episode, Ron’s not just talking shop. He’s reframing the conversation entirely as they dive deep into the real value of retail work and why it deserves more respect, more pride, and a brighter future in the age of A.I.

From stocking shelves to leading global brands like Gap and Apple, Ron has seen it all. His newest book, Human Pride, builds on that lived experience and delivers a bold message: Your career doesn’t have to be linear to be meaningful. And your skills are more powerful than you think.

Whether you’re just starting out or decades in, this conversation is a celebration of work that’s often overlooked but never irrelevant.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

1:54 - “How do we know each other?”

4:06 - Ron talks his book and what “pride” means to him

12:51 - Talking about “Human Pride”

20:46 - Jobs and A.I.

29:52 - Careers in retail

31:03 - “Retail is detail”, GAP’s renaissance

33:30 - Transferable skills (and how to market them)

36:31 - Don’t be afraid of new tech

40:09 - Stores reflecting consumers

40:33 - 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 RON THURSTON

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

Check out Ron’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Retail-Pride-Celebrating-Accidental-Career/dp/1544515928

Welcome back to another episode of Jim Fielding and Friends!

This week, Jim is joined by Ingrid Nilson and Erica Anderson!

Ingrid is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of The New Savant, a modern fragrance brand rooted in storytelling and connection. Before launching the company, she spent over a decade as a trailblazer on YouTube, helping shape the creator economy and building a loyal following of millions. Today, Ingrid continues to create community, this time through scent by crafting unique fragrances designed to spark emotion, memory, and meaningful connection.

Erica is the Co-Founder and CEO of The New Savant. Prior to launching the brand, Erica built a career at the intersection of media and technology holding key roles at CBS News, Twitter, Google, and MTV. Erica brings that same strategic vision and digital fluency to The New Savant, providing the brand with a strong, future-facing foundation.

Over the course of the episode, Jim explores The New Savant – not only the company’s genesis – but that of Erica and Ingrid as well. From humble beginnings in Indiana, YouTube fame and glory to starting all over with something new, Jim shares the interesting work that these two are doing in the fragrance industry and most importantly, their experiences as queer individuals in the entrepreneurial space.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:39 - Episode beginning

3:41 - Intro to Ingrid and Erica

6:34 - Ingrid’s YouTube journey

15:29 - Pivot to “The New Savant”

21:30 - Fragrance Houses and creating new scents

25:45 - “Mixed Feelings” scent

27:09 - Funding and getting The New Savant started

33:35 - Retailers, new brands and the product itself

39:33 - Words of wisdom

44:07 - 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/

What happens when you combine sharp political strategy with unapologetic advocacy for equality? You get Brian Sims.

Brian is currently the CEO of Agenda PAC, a political action committee with an aggressive and refreshing approach to defeating anti-LGBTQ+ politicians. Agenda PAC targets incumbents with anti-equality records using data-driven messaging, hard-hitting digital ads, and grassroots organizing to unseat what Brian calls “beatable bigots.”

In this conversation with Jim, Brian breaks down what he’s learned from his career in politics — from serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to leading one of the most targeted pro-equality PACs in the country.

They don’t just talk shop, either. Jim and Brian go deeper, exploring how America’s cultural landscape has shifted, why diversity is wrongly being framed as a weakness, and why so many young people have lost faith in political participation. Plus: what Democrats are getting wrong, and how they can fix it.

If you’ve been frustrated by politics lately, this conversation won’t just resonate.. it might just re-ignite your fire.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:37 - Beginning and intro to Brian

5:56 - Making impact, the importance of school boards

8:44 - All politics are local

13:42 - Republicans being intentional about local politics

19:14 - Where should the “democrat response” come from?

24:27 - One big mistake with the Democratic strategy

31:16 - The incumbent advantage

33:38 - Who Brian is excited about in the democratic party

36:29 - “We used to celebrate our differences”

42:56 - Diversity, pessimism and the new reality

50:40 - Episode wrap-up, where you can find Brian

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 BRIAN SIMS

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

Website: https://www.agendapac.org/

Welcome to the very first episode of Jim Fielding and Friends – the podcast where we explore what it truly means to lead and live with authenticity, kindness, and impact.

This isn’t just a podcast about leadership—it’s about staying constantly curious, learning from people who challenge the status quo, and creating space for real conversations. Whether it’s a Fortune 500 executive, an LGBTQ+ trailblazer, or a visionary entrepreneur, every guest is here for a reason!

In this inaugural episode, Jim is sitting down with two people who were integral in getting Jim Fielding and Friends started; Podcast Principles founder Ryan Sullivan and strategic marketing consultant and longtime friend, Andria Younger.

Together they discuss more about what this show is and what Jim is trying to accomplish, why it’s happening and what you can expect in the coming weeks and months.

Episode Highlights:

(0:00) - Introduction

(1:05) - Meeting the guests and the podcast

(10:25) - What drove Jim’s vision to do “something else”

(16:02) - The art of the pivot

(20:11) - Retirement vs. redefining

(23:05) - What’s next for this podcast

(35:14) - 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.