Jennifer Chassman Browne Interview | Disability Advocacy, Inclusion, Storytelling & See US, Know Us

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Jennifer Chassman Browne—disabled educator, keynote speaker, writer, storyteller, and disability advocate.

Jenn has lived with Rheumatoid Arthritis since she was six years old, an experience that has shaped her understanding of disability, resilience, education, accessibility, and the importance of belonging. For much of her professional life, she worked as an English teacher and school leader, building meaningful relationships with generations of teenagers—many of whom remain part of her life today.

Today, Jenn works as a DEI and Disability Advocate, helping organizations and individuals understand not only the barriers faced by people with disabilities, but also the strengths, perspectives, talents, and gifts that disabled people bring to their communities and workplaces.

Her message goes beyond awareness. Jenn emphasizes the importance of creating allies, systems, structures, accessibility, and genuine inclusion so people with disabilities can fully participate and belong.

She has also earned certification as a listener poet, bringing poetry, storytelling, and deep listening into her work. Through these creative practices, she helps people build empathy, challenge assumptions, connect across differences, and develop a deeper understanding of one another.

Jenn is also the author of the upcoming book See US, Know Us: Profiles of Disability, scheduled for release in October 2026.

This is a powerful conversation about disability, education, advocacy, creativity, resilience, empathy, accessibility, and belonging.

From her base in California, Jenn shares an honest and inspiring story about transforming lived experience into a mission to help others see disability through a broader and more human lens.

Official Website:
https://jenniferchassmanbrowne.com/

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T.A. Thompson Interview | The Mark, Dark Fiction, Dystopian Worlds & Arcing

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Michigan-based author T.A. Thompson, a fiction writer who creates stories designed to make readers gasp, question what they believe, and develop complicated feelings about the characters they follow.

An avid reader and gamer, Thompson draws inspiration from dark fiction, epic fantasy, role-playing worlds, and unpredictable storytelling where no outcome feels guaranteed. His influences include literary and genre giants such as Stephen King, George R. R. Martin, and Robert Jordan, along with the expansive world-building traditions of Dungeons & Dragons.

His professional background brings another fascinating dimension to his fiction. With more than 12 years in commercial insurance, as well as experience in sales, banking, public speaking, and training, Thompson has spent years thinking about risk, consequences, uncertainty, and worst-case scenarios—all powerful ingredients for a fiction writer.

We get into his current novel, The Mark, a thought-provoking dystopian thriller built around a biological catastrophe that radically changes human life and forces society to confront survival, morality, power, motherhood, and the consequences of a world without time.

We also look ahead to Arcing, his upcoming book scheduled for October 2026, and discuss his evolving approach to storytelling, world-building, writing, gaming, and creating characters readers can't easily forget.

If you're a fan of dystopian fiction, dark fantasy, psychological thrillers, speculative fiction, horror, epic fantasy, or immersive world-building, this is a conversation you'll want to hear.

T.A. Thompson Official Website:
https://tathompsonwriter.com/

T.A. Thompson's official site describes The Mark as a dystopian thriller exploring survival, power, motherhood, morality, and a world where biological collapse changes humanity's relationship with age and time.

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Michael Ashford Interview | Communication, Leadership & Asking Better Questions

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Michael Ashford—Senior Director of Customer Marketing, 2x TEDx Speaker, speaking and communication coach, author, former award-winning journalist, and host of the Rethinking Communication podcast.

Michael has spent years helping people communicate in ways they were never taught in school. His work sits at the intersection of leadership communication, conflict communication, public speaking, storytelling, curiosity, and change activation. His philosophy is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: many of the most important communication skills are learned through experience rather than formal education.

With 15 years of experience as a marketing executive across bootstrapped startups and private-equity-backed companies, combined with his background in journalism, Michael has developed a unique perspective on how people communicate, lead, listen, and navigate difficult conversations. His journalism background also sharpened his belief in the power of asking thoughtful questions and genuinely listening for the deeper story.

He is also the author of Can I Ask A Question? and the host of Rethinking Communication, a podcast focused on the communication skills many of us were never taught—including navigating conflict, asking curious questions, acknowledging emotions, listening effectively, and leading change.

Michael's own Rethinking Communication philosophy asks us to reconsider how we connect with people—from the stage to the meeting room to the living room.

More Michael Ashford:
Michael Ashford Official Website

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Lisa Rabinowitz Interview | ADHD Relationships, Couples Therapy & Lasting Connection

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Lisa Rabinowitz, a licensed therapist, couples specialist, Gottman and PACT Couples Therapist, author, international speaker, and leading voice on ADHD and relationships.

For more than a decade, Lisa has helped couples move from constant conflict, frustration, and emotional distance toward deeper connection, understanding, communication, and lasting intimacy.

Lisa specializes in working with neurodiverse couples, particularly partners navigating the unique challenges that ADHD can bring to romantic relationships. From communication struggles and interruptions to emotional regulation, misunderstandings, intimacy, and feeling unheard, she helps couples understand what may be happening beneath the surface of their conflicts.

She is also the author of Why Won’t You Stop Interrupting Me? Simple Solutions for ADHD Couples, a practical resource for couples looking to better understand ADHD dynamics and develop healthier ways of communicating and connecting.

As a Gottman and PACT Couples Therapist, Lisa brings evidence-based relationship approaches together with years of clinical experience. Her work focuses on helping couples understand each other's perspectives, communicate more effectively, rebuild trust, and create relationships where both partners feel seen and understood.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore ADHD and relationships, couples therapy, neurodiverse relationships, communication, conflict resolution, emotional intimacy, romantic relationships, Gottman Method therapy, PACT therapy, active listening, interruptions, emotional connection, and building healthier partnerships.

Lisa also shares her personal and professional journey from her base in Maryland, along with the experiences that have shaped her unique approach to helping couples communicate better and connect deeper.

Whether you're navigating an ADHD relationship yourself, supporting a partner with ADHD, working through recurring relationship conflict, or simply interested in building stronger communication and intimacy, this conversation offers plenty of valuable insight.

More Lisa Rabinowitz
Lisa Rabinowitz — Counselor for Couples 

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Kellie Manderfeld Interview | Life Coaching, Goal Setting, Action & Accountability

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Life Coach and Success Coach Kellie Manderfeld, who helps busy professionals and entrepreneurs turn their aspirations into meaningful action.

Kellie's work is centered around a simple but powerful challenge: how do we move from knowing what we want to actually doing something about it?

As a success coach, Kellie helps clients gain clarity, create actionable goals, overcome obstacles, build accountability, and follow through on the things that matter most. Her approach is especially valuable for people who feel overwhelmed, stuck, distracted, or unsure about their next step.

Kellie also brings a unique perspective to coaching through her background in clinical psychology and years of experience helping people navigate complex personal and professional challenges. She combines practical strategy with deeper insight into the thoughts, behaviors, and patterns that can either help us move forward or keep us stuck.

In this engaging conversation, we explore life coaching, success coaching, goal setting, personal growth, accountability, motivation, overcoming obstacles, taking action, professional development, entrepreneurship, clarity, confidence, productivity, and creating meaningful change.

We also get into Kellie's personal journey, from Brooklyn to Arlington, and the movement, determination, experiences, and lessons that shaped her approach to helping others.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, busy professional, aspiring leader, career changer, or simply someone who knows there's more you want to accomplish, this conversation offers practical inspiration for turning intention into action.

More Kellie Manderfeld
Kellie Life Coach

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Victoria Nelson Interview | The Power of the Ask, Negotiation, Leadership & Communication

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Victoria Nelson, founder of Power of the Ask, acclaimed author, negotiation expert, executive communication advisor, and former professional photographer.

Trained at Harvard and Columbia, Victoria has spent more than two decades navigating some of the most competitive and high-stakes creative industries in the world. Today, she helps leaders understand the power of asking—and how the right question, delivered with confidence and strategy, can transform negotiations, relationships, careers, and organizations.

Victoria's personal journey is just as compelling as her professional story. Raised in a post-Soviet system, she learned early that authority isn't always simply given—it is often negotiated. At 21, she immigrated first to London and then to the United States, building a new life and career from the ground up.

Before becoming an executive communication and conflict advisor, Victoria spent nearly 20 years working in New York's highly competitive, reputation-driven creative industries. She worked on major global campaigns involving millions of dollars, large production teams, demanding clients, and public-facing results where communication and decision-making mattered enormously.

That experience became the foundation for her work today.

Through The Power of the Ask, Victoria teaches leaders how to navigate difficult conversations, negotiate effectively, communicate with authority, manage conflict, and advocate for themselves without sacrificing relationships or authenticity.

In this fascinating conversation, we explore negotiation, executive communication, leadership, conflict resolution, asking for what you want, confidence, career advancement, immigration, entrepreneurship, photography, creative industries, professional relationships, and the psychology behind effective communication.

From her base in New York City, Victoria shares the remarkable story of how she transformed decades of high-pressure professional experience into a powerful framework for helping others find their voice and learn to ask for what they need, want, and deserve.

More Victoria Nelson
Power of the Ask 

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Rafael Greco Interview | Verses Under My Shadow, Venezuelan Jazz & Guaco

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Venezuelan-born jazz saxophonist, composer, singer, producer, and arranger Rafael Greco. In this episode, we take a deep dive into his compelling new 2026 album, Verses Under My Shadow, his love of jazz, his Venezuelan roots, and an extraordinary career in music.

Released by Blue Canoe Records in April 2026, Verses Under My Shadow is Rafael's sophomore release for the label and features a remarkable cast of musicians, including Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jimmy Haslip, Anton Fig, Scott Kinsey, Charles Altura, Luisito Quintero, Mark Ferber, and others.

The album moves through a fascinating blend of contemporary jazz, Afro-Latin rhythms, groove, experimental textures, vocals, electronics, percussion, and deeply personal storytelling. Across its 12 tracks, Rafael draws inspiration from literature, family, memory, friendship, loss, humor, history, and the world around him.

Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Rafael graduated from the prestigious José Luis Paz Conservatory and was an integral member of the National Youth Orchestra of his home state of Zulia. After moving to Caracas in 1988, he continued his advanced musical studies with masters including Gerry Weil, Álvaro Cordero, and Olegario Díaz.

Rafael went on to enjoy a distinguished career with Guaco, Venezuela's influential, multi-Latin Grammy-winning group. For decades, he toured internationally with the band, bringing the unique rhythmic spirit and musical perspective of Venezuela to audiences around the world.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore Venezuelan jazz, Latin jazz, Afro-Latin rhythms, composition, saxophone, vocals, production, arranging, Guaco, world music, touring, creativity, storytelling, and the inspiration behind Verses Under My Shadow.

It's a fascinating journey through Venezuelan music, jazz, literature, memory, and a lifetime spent creating across borders.

Get the Album
Rafael Greco — Verses Under My Shadow | Blue Canoe Records

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