Full Cup Conversations

In this week’s episode, Bill Bonbrest, hospitality guru and former COO of Tao Group, takes us on a journey detailing his illustrious 40 year career — from his earliest days bussing tables in world-renowned hot spots. Bill is a true master of curating the “guest experience” which, as he says, can never exceed the employee experience. Bill now consults other hospitality brands on how they can build compassionate, people-first leadership teams which ultimately translates to phenomenal business results. Bill’s infectious enthusiasm will inspire you to keep learning and growing, even when you are — by all accounts — a true OG. In this episode we talk about: Why “starting from the bottom” and working your way up is often the best way to make it to the top in businessThe defining hospitality moments that cemented Bill’s love for the industry and informed how he leads today The special sauce that makes brands like Carmine’s and Tao Group thrive while others fizzle out Why the guest experience can never exceed the team members' experience (and how that translates from hospitality to EVERY industry)Why psychological safety and transparency are crucial in maintaining high morale during challenging timesThe importance of mentorship and how to find yourself a great mentor (it’s easier than you think!) Why and how Bill is still investing heavily in his own learning — 40 years inHow to stay inspired by your job & company as a long-time employee

As the Chief Communications Officer of a $14.9 billion global asset management firm and board member of multiple charities such as Yellowstone National Park, Arielle Patrick knows a thing or two about building a big career. Frequently lauded as one of the most powerful people in PR, Arielle attributes her massive success at a young age (did we mention she’s only 35?) to something unusual for folks in her position: self-compassion, intuition, and making space for others to win alongside her.In this episode, Arielle breaks down the exact practices, principles, and thought processes that have led to her exceptional career. Arielle provides advice for anyone to take better care of themselves, their businesses, and their people — while also tending to the bottom line. From a tried-and-true formula to tackle DE&I to why Arielle records compliments on her phone, this episode is packed with actionable tips from one of the most brilliant minds in modern business.We talk about:The confidence exercise from Arielle’s therapist we should all be doingA script to say ‘no’ in a way that actually empowers your teamHow Arielle overcame people-pleasing as she rose through the ranks in businessThe surprising trait to which Arielle attributes her massive success at such a young ageExactly how Arielle started a self-compassion practice — and why it’s been a critical component of her successA data-driven approach to strengthening your intuition as you grow in your careerThe best visualization to prioritize where to spend your timeArielle’s can’t-miss message to anyone who wants to quit their job but feels indebted to their bossThe 3-part framework Arielle uses to address DE&I in a way that’s impactful to your people *and* positively impacts your bottom line

Hilary Hoffman, the founder of SOTO Method, is a phenom in the notoriously competitive fitness industry. In this inspiring episode, Hilary details how what she learned about risk, finance, and feedback as a trader at Goldman Sachs helped her start a fast-growing fitness company, and how SOTO solves a common problem her and many busy professionals face. She gets real about the early days of running SOTO Method from her garage, why she chose to start SOTO while working full-time, and how she makes difficult decisions when it comes to business, finance, and family. Hilary also gives the best advice about how to maintain your vision amidst feedback and criticism, and exactly how to succeed in building a customer-centric business. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, ladder-climbing professional, or somewhere in-between, this episode has astute advice that will help you work smarter and happier.We talk about:Real talk about balancing financial security and bold career decisionsWhy training your mindset will benefit your career, and exactly how to do itA must-do exercise to overcome fear in your career journeyWhy Hilary is a big proponent of leaving the door open professionallyThe mindset shift you need to keep pursuing your vision when not everyone around you believes in itHow to know when feedback is valuable — and when to throw it outThe mentorship moment that transformed the way Hilary thinks about growthHow to know if startup life is for you (hint: it’s not for everyone, and that’s okay!)

In this episode, we sit down with the brilliant and surprisingly candid Dr. James Doty, author, Stanford professor, and founder of Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research. We dive into his transformative journey from a traumatic childhood marked by poverty to his encounter with a mentor who inspired his NY Times Bestselling book “Into the Magic Shop” and also changed the trajectory of his life. With his new book, “Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything” James takes learnings from his own wildly fascinating life and distills them down into systems that can help us all find a little more magic in our everyday lives. We talk about:How childhood trauma can affect future success and well-beingThe profound impact of mentors in shaping one's self-worth and resilienceHow to hone your intuition and use it to build an authentic lifeRedefining "magic" as the potential for extraordinary events to manifest when we shift our outlookThe importance of self-acceptance and finding joy in the journey, regardless of external measures of successCompassion and altruism as the ultimate signs of a strong character How to see setbacks as opportunities for growth and self-discoveryHow to find awe and gratitude in everyday experiencesWhy Atheists (like Dr. Doty) can also be spiritual

Lydia Fenet is one of, if not THE, most sought-after charity auctioneers in the world. She’s graced thousands of stages and raised over $1 billion for over 800 nonprofit organizations. Take a peek at Lydia’s Instagram or scroll through one of her books, and you’ll immediately be transfixed by her infectious energy and you-can-sit-with-me confidence. Now the founder of the Lydia Fenet Agency, Lydia’s rise to the top came with important lessons about owning your worth, taking calculated risk, and being willing to put in the work. Lydia has built a BIG life for herself — and she’s spilling all of her secrets.In this episode, we talk about:Why rejection is actually the key to building confidenceLydia’s best tips for cultivating a big life — no matter where you come fromHow to own your worth and ask for what you deserve in your careerA tried-and-true way to overcome imposter syndrome, even in the most intimidating roomsThe pivotal moment when Lydia decided to start charging money as a charity auctioneer (we can all relate!)Lydia’s advice for filling your cup when you have a very full plateWhy financial literacy is crucial to success — and where to start if you feel behindHow Lydia manages occasionally missing out on big life moments as an entrepreneurWhy Lydia is willing to send YOU a copy of her book proposal (seriously.)Lydia’s favorite independent bookstores where you can buy her book (in addition to the usual spots):Diane’s Books in Greenwich, CTG.J. Ford Bookshop in St. Simons, GAGarden District Book Shop in New Orleans, LA

Rebekah “Bex” Borucki’s success story is as unique and inspiring as she is. Starting her career as an OG YouTube wellness guru and rare woman of color in the industry, she is now the Founder of Row House Publishing – an imprint revolutionizing the publishing industry by amplifying marginalized voices and paying (gasp!) fair wages to their authors. Bex is a quintessential multi-hyphenate, a “hot grandma” (our words not hers), and one of the most big-hearted people we know. In this episode we talk about:The common thread tying together past and present professional incarnations of BexChallenges faced and lessons learned from growing up in a community with limited resourcesHow childhood experiences shaped Bex's career path – centering community and service Embracing both left-brained and right-brained qualities in navigating life and workRejecting traditional hierarchies in favor of collaborative leadershipBalancing motherhood, activism, and entrepreneurshipOvercoming fear and embracing authenticity in all aspects of lifeHow mindfulness helps Bex as a neurodivergent founder with a very full plate

After a wildly successful career in modeling, Agatha Relota Luczo returned to her family’s ancestral roots in Sicily (literally) to found Furtuna Skin — a fully regenerative line of luxe skincare. Now the brand’s Founder and CEO, she shares the magic of La Furtuna Estate, the 800 acre farm behind Furtuna Skin, as well as the challenges involved in scaling a business while remaining steadfast in her dedication to quality, sustainability, and transparency. In this episode we talk about:The complex process of developing a bespoke formula from scratch (it ain’t easy, folks!)How Furtuna Skin found their niche in an overly crowded industryWhy “wildly potent” ingredients matter for skincare efficacyWhy Agatha initially chose to be the Chief Creative Officer and NOT the CEO of the company she foundedWhat “regenerative beauty” means and how it differs from clean beautyHow to avoid being green-washed by the other beauty brandsThe challenges of scaling a business while maintaining high sustainability standards — and how to overcome themHow Agatha juggles parenting four kids while running a businessWant to experience the magic of Fortuna Skin for yourself? Agatha is offering a special discount exclusively for Full Plate Full Cup listeners! Use code FPFC20 to take 20% off your next order. Limit one per customer, valid three months from 3/24/24.

James McCrae, the mystic behind the viral @wordsarevibrations IG account, began his creative journey long before anyone knew of his work — writing thousands of poems the world never saw. Today, the author, teacher, and community leader is impassioned about helping anyone unleash their inner creative — and find the courage to put their work into the world. In this episode, James shares how he used intuition and a sense of play to leave an unfulfilling corporate career and build a creative empire. This episode will give you a new appreciation for your innate creativity and a clear roadmap to not only help it blossom, but also to incorporate it into your work and life.We talk about:Where to start if you want to tap into your creativityWhy we should all spend more time doing nothingThe surprising relationship between ego and intuitionWhy launching an idea before you’re ready can drastically improve your chance of successHow to work with — not against — your inner critic when putting work into the worldThe yin and yang of creativity — and how to use them to get unstuck in your creative processWhy being an artist is not all about talent — and what’s more important instead

Corey Keyes is a sociologist, professor emeritus at Emory University, and author of “Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down” who studies what makes life worth living. In this episode, Corey shares how he emerged from a horrific childhood to a possibility-filled life of challenging the status quo. We dive into how ‘the way things are’ often contributes to our feelings of languishing and why action is the antidote. Corey invites us to challenge the ideas of success, burnout, and mental illness — providing a roadmap for anyone to flourish.We talk about:What it was like to be the first to study mental HEALTH — not illnessHow to tell if you’re “languishing” — and exactly what to do about itThe one thing you can do today to flourish in your lifeWhat it means to live an ethical life beyond the context of religionHow to get off autopilot and feel re-engaged in your careerThe difference between burnout and demoralizationThe fascinating relationship between stress and flourishingTwo questions to ask yourself if you want to find more purpose in your work