Vroom Vroom Veer with Jeff Smith

Vroom Veer Media
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Vroom Vroom Veer with Jeff Smith

A personal transformation podcast aimed mainly at GenX’rs who are burned out from the revved-up mindset that has driven them to where they are—both professionally and personally—and are searching for more fulfilling, authentic and meaningful ways to move forward. The show's format is set up as lively conversations, storytelling and sharing of advice between host, Jeff Smith and his various guests—all of whom have had a unique and distinct experience of metaphorically shifting from "vrooming" to "veering" in how they've approached certain aspects of their lives.

  1. 5D AGO

    David Hamilton – Social Expression (BOV)

    David Hamilton is a confidence and success coach from Denver, CO. Besides loving his work transforming people's lives - he likes playing his own music, doing martial arts, staying in shape and hanging with his amazing friends and family. David Hamilton Vroom Veer Stories Vrooming in New York City, working in IT and climbing corporate ladders Veered when his mother was diagnosed with ALS aka Lou Gehrigs's disease Quit his high-paying job to moved to Denver to help take care of his mother Decided to return to coaching, and started vrooming and reaching Realized he was "chasing" and was suffering from burn out and needed to slow down Once he slowed down and relaxed into his business, better clients started showing up Found a new niche helping men improve their social interactions David Hamilton Links http://socialexpression.net

    1h 10m

  2. MAR 31

    Jon Chandonnet – Denial to Discovery: Jon’s Journey with MS

    Jon Chandonnet was on the fast track to success, earning his master's from MIT and leading teams to develop software to launch startups, while also scaling mountain peaks and running marathons. But at 33, his life took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. For years, Jon lived in denial, ignoring his condition as he pushed himself to even greater extremes.Eventually, his health deteriorated, forcing him to embark on an eight-year journey to understand life's essential elements for vibrant well-being despite his illness. His book Shadow Summit chronicles this inspiring odyssey through denial, suffering, and ultimately healing and wholeness. On this quest, Jon identified seven foundational elements for creating one's healthiest, most fulfilled life. Drawing on his software background, he realized humans, like computers, process daily inputs that shape their outputs. Jon distilled these insights into the 7 VIBRANTs™ well-being system, a holistic framework to mindfullycurate the inputs we receive through food, thoughts, emotions and social interactions. This allows anyone to naturally cultivate the vibrant life they desire with greater focus, persistence, joy and ease. Jon Chandonnet Vroom Vroom Veer Show Summary In this episode of "Vroom Vroom Veer," titled "Denial to Discovery: Jon's Journey with MS," host Jeff Smith welcomes guest Jon Chandonnet, who shares his inspiring journey of dealing with multiple sclerosis (MS). Jeff and Jon chat about San Diego, where Jon currently resides, and Jeff asks him about his business at Vibrant U Academy. Jon expresses excitement about his business, revealing that he wrote a book outlining the "seven keys to living your best life," which he developed after struggling with MS. He emphasizes the importance of being aware of energy leaks in various forms—physical, emotional, professional, financial, social, mental, and spiritual. Jon narrates his past as a high-achieving individual, a captain of sports teams, and a smart student who attended the University of Richmond before moving on to graduate school at MIT. His life took a drastic turn at 27 when he was playing basketball and suddenly lost control of his right arm and leg, leading to a diagnosis of MS. Initially, he was in denial about his condition, allowing him to push through difficult times in his career and maintain an active life, including running marathons and climbing mountains. As Jon successfully pursued his career in a technology startup, he continued to deny the impacts of MS. He recounts how, six years later, he began to experience troubling symptoms, including speech difficulties and loss of coordination. This forced him to confront his diagnosis head-on, leading to a realization that he needed to take his health seriously to ensure a better future for himself and his young son. Jon describes a transformative experience at a raw vegan retreat that helped him heal and regain control of his life. Following this retreat, he found a clear connection between emotional well-being and physical health, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and emotional literacy. Jon discusses the necessity of adopting healthier eating habits, which eventually led him to develop the "Vibrant U operating system." The conversation delves into Jon's coaching program at Vibrant U Academy, where he helps clients assess their lives in various domains, set long-term goals, and create a personalized operating system for achieving their dreams. He believes that it’s essential for individuals to recognize their unique desires and what they want from life. As the episode comes to a close, Jon mentions his ongoing journey and the impact of a paleo-keto diet on his condition, highlighting the importance of self-responsibility in managing health issues like MS. He encourages listeners to pursue their version of a vibrant life, reminding them that their journey is uniquely theirs.

    50 min

  3. MAR 24

    Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons – Navigating the Retirement Transition

    Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons, J.D., is a Retirement Transition Expert, lawyer, and co-founder of two consulting firms, Zelinka Parsons and Encoraco. A magna cum laude graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and summa cum laude graduate of James Madison University, Elizabeth has spent over two decades shaping professional development and transition strategies for legal professionals. A former attorney at Milbank, she built a national consulting firm assisting AmLaw 100 firms with talent solutions. Author of "Encore: A High Achiever’s Guide to Thriving in Retirement " (Feb. 5, 2025), Elizabeth combines analytical rigor with creative vision to help professionals redefine retirement as a dynamic opportunity for growth and fulfillment. Elizabeth Zelinka Parson Vroom Vroom Veer Summary In this episode of "Vroom Vroom Veer," host Jeff Smith welcomes guest Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons, a Retirement Transition Expert and lawyer. After a brief introduction by Michelle e Dickinson and an advertisement for the show, Jeff expresses excitement about the episode's topic, namely tips for retirement, as he has been retired for a long time and is eager to learn. Elizabeth shares insights about her work at her consulting firms, Encoraco and Zelinka Parsons, highlighting her new book, "Encore: A High Achiever’s Guide to Thriving in Retirement," which was released in February 2025. She explains that many people overly focus on the financial aspect of retirement, neglecting the personal identity challenges that come with it. Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of redefining retirement as a dynamic opportunity for growth and fulfillment. Jeff and Elizabeth discuss the psychological impact of leaving a long-standing career, touching upon the pressure high achievers feel to remain successful. Elizabeth recounts her experience when she transitioned from a demanding law career to focusing on family, which drastically altered her identity and self-worth. She describes feeling lost and having to rebuild her life without the structure her career provided. They reflect on how their early identities were shaped by their achievements and how challenging it can be to adjust to a new reality without traditional markers of success. Elizabeth encourages listeners to seek engagement and purpose in various aspects of their lives, advocating for a more experimental mindset as they explore new interests and connections. The conversation also covers the difficulties transitioners face regarding social connections and community building post-retirement. Elizabeth speaks about the need to be intentional in forming relationships and finding new activities that bring joy and meaning. As the episode concludes, Elizabeth discusses her process of writing her book, which grew out of her experiences and the desire to help others navigate their retirement transitions. Jeff praises the value of Elizabeth's work and encourages listeners to engage with her content on her website, encoraco.com, and through her LinkedIn page. The episode ends with playful banter as Jeff thanks Elizabeth for her time, reinforcing the importance of navigating life’s transitions thoughtfully and intentionally. The show wraps up with a reminder to visit vvvveer.com for more information and show notes. Connections Website LinkedIn

    54 min

  4. MAR 17

    Dre Baldwin – Work on Your Game (BOV)

    Dre Baldwin: for the past 15 years, "DreAllDay" has changed the lives of over 60 million entrepreneurs, athletes and business professionals, sold thousands of copies of his books, courses and programs, pioneered personal branding through content, and built a business that helps tens of thousands of people master their "Game" in business, sports and in life, from the inside-out. Dre Baldwin Vroom Veer Stories Grew up in Philly; his mom was very big on academic success with him and his older sister; sister is an academic to this day; Dre just got by on grades Tried football but didn't know his parents had to buy the equipment; tried baseball but sucked at it Had to teach himself how to play basketball; good thing about basketball is all you need is the ball Struggled to play basketball and improve his game in high school; finally made the team as a senior and sat the bench Applied to any college who sent him a fee-free invitation to apply; got accepted to many schools all over the country Played college ball for an almost division 3 school for his freshman year; got recruited to play by another Penn state campus for his sophomore and junior years; new coach came in and cleaned house so he was out of basketball his senior year Wanted to to "go pro" in basketball but knew the NBA was not going to happen; paid to go to a sort of basketball Audition camp; he got a VHS tape and a scouting report Sent that VHS tape out to basketball agents all over the country and found someone to represent him Digitized that VHS tape and posted it to this new in 2005 web site called YouTube About 5 years or so into his pro career he created a basketball program to teach people who to dribble and sold it online; his new career as an online entrepreneur was born Connections Website Book: Mirror of Motivation

    51 min

  5. MAR 10

    Damion Lupo – Total Control Financial (BOV)

    Damion Lupo is the Founder of Yokido ™, a fusion of Aikido & Yoga plus holder of 3 other black belts. Paid for his first rental house with a VISA, then bought 150 houses across 7 states over next 5 years and went through a $20,000,000 meltdown in 2008. Founded & running a FinTech in Austin to disrupt Wall Street with the eQRP ™. Author of 5 published books. Damion Lupo Vroom Veer Stories Was a rebel in Alaska, started selling video games at age 11 Tried to go to college 4 times, finally got the message that college wasn't for him Made millions in real estate only to lose it all in the crash Nearly died several times sky diving, finally got the message after the space shuttle exploded over him Trigger Event (Big Veer), hiding from the FBI(?) only to find they were not after him Got the help he needed with an expert coach who him helped him ask "what is true" Started to focus on Total Control Financial after his dad died too early Damion Lupo Links Website Yokido

    1 hr

  6. MAR 3

    Robert Greenlee – Podcast Pioneer (BOV)

    Robert Greenlee is the head of content for Spreaker, a platform that gives podcasters the tools to create, host, and distribute their content. More importantly, Robert Greenlee is the former host of the Webtalk World Radio Show, recognized as the first syndicated radio show in the world to begin podcasting all the way back in 2004. Since the birth of podcasting, Robert has made himself a part of the business at Microsoft, PodcastOne.com, and Spreaker. Robert can teach your listeners about advertising trends and podcast monetization, as well as provide an insider's view into the state of the industry and where it is likely to go from here. Not to mention Robert was inducted into the Podcaster Hall of Fame this year! Robert Greenlee Vroom Veer Stories Paid for studio time in 1999 to produce an "internet radio" show Show was like Howard Stern for nerds, live show with 4 friends & guests Was one of 13 content providers on sync and go, made 5K/month! WOW! Worked at Microsoft from 2007 to 2014 on the Zune podcast platform Podcasts have a discovery problem, most android users do NOT discover podcasts Podcast industry leaders hope Google creates a podcast app installed on all phones Production costs for podcasting are still low enough to allow for hobby shows Spreaker is working on a platform to allow podcasters to do a live 3-hour show Robert Greenlee Links twitter.com/robgreenlee blog.spreaker.com SpreakerLiveShow.com Spreaker.com robgreenlee.com rob (at) Spreaker.com

    54 min

  7. FEB 24

    Angus Nelson Up in Your Business (BOV)

    Angus Nelson works with executives of the world’s largest companies as a speaker, coach, and facilitator. He spoke at corporate headquarters for Walmart, Whole Foods, Coke, Adobe BMW and others. His podcast,  “Up In Your Business”, was recognized as a Top 20 Business Podcast of 2015 by Inc.com. Angus Nelson was featured on Aol.com, Huffington Post, VentureBeat, SocialFresh.com, and the big three major television networks. Angus has also been recognized as a Top 5% speaker by Monster.com and “Volunteer of the Year, Wausau, WI”. His book, “Love's Compass: How Do You Recover After a Lost Relationship”, earned him “Most Promising New Writer 2010”. Angus lives in Nashville, TN, is married and has three children. Angus Nelson Vroom Veer Stories Early childhood veer when his father became more involved in a life in faith and moved away from consumerism Co-founded a non-profit youth center with his twin brother in his 20's When the business was stressed, he tried to solve the problem by working harder To cope with working too much, Angus turn to pornography and alcohol, which led to a messy divorce  Spent two years soul searching, reading books, attending personal development workshops Met his new (future) wife at a personal development workshop and veered toward service and compassion Wrote his first book "Love's Compass" while he was playing Mr. Mom Quit a waiter job at a steak house--started consulting Fortune 500 companies Angus Nelson Links AngusNelson.com Love's Compass Those Crazy Nelsons

    48 min

  8. FEB 17

    Michelle E. Dickinson – Harnessing Stress as a Strength

    Michelle E. Dickinson - she's flipping the script on how we handle stress and build resilience. As a TED speaker and bestselling author, she's taught over 15,000 people across education, Fortune 500s, and healthcare how to actually deal with burnout and overwhelm - not just talk about it.Michelle doesn't do typical coaching. Instead, she teaches practical skills that work right away - think of it like getting a user manual for your brain. Her clients see real results fast: 30% less stress within three sessions, and 50-70% reduction after completing her program. But here's what's really different: her clients keep getting better long after the training ends.In just 6-8 sessions, she shows people exactly how to:Handle tough situations without getting overwhelmedBuild daily habits that actually stickTurn stress into something manageableTake charge of their own well-being without depending on othersHer approach is backed by hard data from over 1,500 coaching hours and countless success stories. From teachers to CEOs, people who used to roll their eyes at terms like 'mindfulness' now use her techniques every day.Michelle's not interested in endless therapy-style conversations or quick-fix solutions. She gives people real tools they can use immediately - at work, at home, anywhere. Her clients don't just cope better with stress - they completely change how they handle life's challenges through personal agency.What makes her different? She skips the fluffy self-help talk and gets straight to what works. Her clients don't become dependent on coaching - they become skilled at managing their own lives. It's like learning to drive - once you know how, you can handle any road ahead. Michelle E. Dickinson Vroom Vroom Veer Show Summary In this episode of "Vroom Vroom Veer," host Jeff Smith welcomes Michelle E. Dickinson as the guest. Jeff introduces the show by emphasizing the importance of navigating life's challenges creatively. Michelle is introduced as a TED speaker and bestselling author who has taught over 15,000 people across various fields how to manage stress and burnout effectively. She shares her excitement for her work, particularly the powerful impact it's having on educators and corporate clients who are on the brink of burnout. The two discuss Michelle's background, including her upbringing in Westfield, New Jersey, where she was shaped by her mother's bipolar disorder. This challenging experience inspired Michelle to become a resilience advocate after giving a TED talk about her childhood, leading her to write a memoir and eventually create her business, "Resilience as a Lifestyle." Throughout the episode, they explore themes of stress management and resilience. Michelle explains the unique approach of her coaching, which focuses on practical skills and immediate results, such as reducing stress levels significantly within just a few sessions. She highlights the importance of sleep, creating morning routines, and taking control of one's mental well-being rather than relying on therapy or quick fixes. They dive into the significance of daily habits, including gratitude practices and meditation, and ways to view stress as a strength rather than a burden. Michelle asserts that resilience should not just be about bouncing back from adversity but about recognizing one's agency in every situation. The conversation also covers how to turn life's stress into a valuable learning experience and the detrimental effects of living in a constant state of negativity or victimhood. Michelle encourages listeners to become aware of their thought patterns, suggesting that individuals are often not the negative narratives they continuously tell themselves. By the end of the episode, Michelle emphasizes the importance of practical strategies for self-care and mental wellness, advocating for a proactive approach to resilience that prioritizes immediate, actionable steps.

    50 min
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    4.9
    out of 5
    79 Ratings

    About

    A personal transformation podcast aimed mainly at GenX’rs who are burned out from the revved-up mindset that has driven them to where they are—both professionally and personally—and are searching for more fulfilling, authentic and meaningful ways to move forward. The show's format is set up as lively conversations, storytelling and sharing of advice between host, Jeff Smith and his various guests—all of whom have had a unique and distinct experience of metaphorically shifting from "vrooming" to "veering" in how they've approached certain aspects of their lives.

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