The Exit Interview On Air Episodes

Micki Jafa-Bodden proves that standing up to a predator isn't career suicide — it's the ultimate act of moral courage when everyone else is too scared to speak. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the former in-house counsel and VP of Compliance for Bikram Yoga, a lawyer who uncovered a pattern of sexual harassment and assault so pervasive it reached into hotel rooms, training camps, and even her own workplace — then did the unthinkable: sued her own employer, took it to trial, and won a unanimous multi-million dollar jury verdict. From being headhunted in her late thirties to transform a mom-and-pop yoga operation into a world-class franchise across 38 countries, to discovering the founder's decades-long pattern of predatory behavior toward young trainees, to becoming a target herself when he beckoned her into his hotel bed during a deposition prep, Micki unpacks her journey of radical accountability — how she went from protecting the company to protecting the victims, why she refused to settle or go quietly into the night, and how taking on one of the most powerful figures in the yoga world cost her everything but gave her back her voice.

Julian Alcaraz proves that building a business with your spouse isn't just about strategy and execution — it's about surrender, vulnerability, and knowing when your foundation is crumbling beneath you. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the co-founder of Street Parking, a husband and father of three who walked away from a promising acting career to pursue competitive CrossFit, then built a multi-thousand member fitness subscription business alongside his wife — all while navigating the brutal truth that external success means nothing when your marriage is falling apart. From growing up in rural Oregon and chasing Hollywood dreams at 17, to booking his first major motion picture Red Dawn, to discovering CrossFit at the Games and finding community in a space where acting never gave him one, Julian unpacks his journey of radical reinvention — how he became the Robin to his wife's Batman in business, why their marriage became the lowest priority while the business thrived, and how two years ago everything came crashing down when they finally admitted they couldn't do it on their own anymore.

Anaïs Lempereur proves that adapting to change isn't just a survival skill — it's the ultimate competitive advantage. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the CFO of Hallmark Media, a finance powerhouse who's mastered the art of transition across some of the world's most dynamic companies — from Caesars Entertainment to Spotify, Pluto TV, Sweetgreen, and now Hallmark. From landing her first finance job at a career fair meant for cocktail waitresses to navigating multiple IPOs, leading companies through public-to-private transitions, and building finance infrastructure from scratch with nothing but a laptop, Anaïs unpacks her journey of radical adaptability — how she learned that creativity drives the numbers (not the other way around), why working in a casino taught her everything she needed to know about business, and how marrying a creative completely transformed her understanding of what finance leaders actually do.

Hermoz Parsa proves that moving forward is the only option. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the CEO of 1.0.1 Vodka, an entrepreneur who survived third-degree burns on 70% of his body, two months in a coma, and the complete collapse of everything he'd worked for when his distillery caught fire. A distillery he built in his 20’s landing deals with Ralph's and Walmart, to a freak accident involving 190-proof alcohol and a single spark that changed everything, Hermoz unpacks his journey of radical resilience — how he put himself out while on fire using a five-gallon water cooler, endured 23 surgeries and four months in the hospital, and woke up to discover his business had completely fallen apart while he fought for his life.
Hermoz reveals the brutal reality of recovery — from being mummified in bandages and unable to speak, to having skin grafted from his legs and back to cover open wounds, to the emotional toll of missing his seven-month-old daughter's first steps while battling infections with 105-degree fevers. He shares raw truths about the million-dollar medical bills, the isolation of pandemic-era hospital restrictions, the moment his daughter didn't recognize him when he finally came home, and why his wife became his lifeline through the darkest period of his life. Plus, the devastating realization that buyers and distributors moved on without him, the year-long struggle to rebuild relationships and get back into stores, and how a chance encounter at a wine night led to a Dancing with the Stars sponsorship that reignited his brand.

Ameetess Dira, CMO of Petzey proves that starting over isn't failure — it's the ultimate act of self-reinvention and courage. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the CMO of Petzey and entrepreneur behind NogSmith, who walked away from a high-profile media career in Manila to start over as a nobody in the United States. From hosting morning shows and running her own marketing company to pumping gas for the first time as an adult and working as a hostess at the Peninsula Chicago, Ameetess unpacks her journey of radical humility — how she left everything that defined her in one country to rebuild herself in another, why she chose challenges over comfort every single time, and how the devastating loss of her senior rescue dog led her to revolutionize access to pet care through telehealth.

Chris Lowder proves that crushing your ego and embracing cultural intelligence is the ultimate competitive advantage in global business. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the co-founder of Lowder Toscarella Hospitality, a globally awarded hospitality leader who's built world-class bars and restaurants from Shanghai to Seoul to Miami. From starting as a translator to surviving COVID lockdowns in China, importing $300,000 whiskey casks with custom cartoon labels, and opening the first bar in Korea to crack the World's 50 Best list, Chris unpacks his non-linear journey of radical adaptability — how he learned Mandarin to sell spirits in back-room offices filled with duck piss tea and cigar smoke, why he walked away from crushing it at New York's Nomad Hotel to carve his own path in Asia, and how understanding face culture versus ego culture transformed his approach to leadership and team building.

Jim Wagner proves that marketing is more than packaging and leadership is about launching people. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the marketing and branding powerhouse who spent 14 years at Mattel building the Hot Wheels empire side by side with Barbie, served as CMO of MGA Entertainment, is President of Razor Scooters, and now teaches entrepreneurship and leadership at LMU while writing his book on leadership from the world's top coaches and athletes. From sports writing to the 44th floor of a consulting firm he almost joined, to accidentally spending 14 years in the toy industry, Jim unpacks his journey of pivots — how he transformed Hot Wheels from a struggling commodity brand into a billion-dollar powerhouse, why he chose challenges over comfort every single time, and how "blue flag moments" became the rallying cry that united his team.

Anne Jacoby proves that creativity isn't a luxury— it's the competitive advantage every organization and employee needs to thrive. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the author of Born to Create, a creative culture expert who's dismantling the myth that you're either creative or you're not. From performing arts stages to scaling a legal services startup globally, Anne unpacks her unconventional journey and how she developed a "spidey sense" for reading company cultures across every sector imaginable.
Anne reveals the difference between creativity and innovation, how to know when it's time to exit a toxic culture, the real ROI of creativity, and why rewarding the creative process (not just the output) changes everything. She shares raw truths about psychological safety, why the best ideas can even come from six-graders (not MBA programs), and how to navigate corporate holiday parties with intention. Plus, why success today means doing meaningful work on your own terms — not chasing external validation.

Bucknell University proves that the student-athlete experience builds more than champions — it builds leaders for life. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron return to Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, sitting down with Todd Newcomb, Sr. Associate Director of Athletics, and Valentina Rozas Moreno, the first women's water polo player inducted into the Bucknell Hall of Fame. From the grueling five-to-six-hour daily practice schedules to balancing rigorous academics at a top-tier institution, they unpack what it really means to be a student-athlete — and how those lessons translate into professional success long after the game ends.
Val shares her journey from getting cut from the basketball team to becoming a Division I water polo champion, playing professionally in Greece and Spain, and ultimately building a career in the solar industry. She reveals the culture of excellence that permeated Bucknell's athletic program, why upper-classman leadership set the standard for time management and academic performance, and how the mantra of "just get it done" became her secret weapon in the professional world. Todd breaks down the challenges of recruiting and retaining student-athletes in the NIL era, why the Bucknell alumni network is unmatched, and how Bucknell’s academic-first philosophy creates higher-performing individuals both in the classroom, during the game and beyond. Plus, the emotional moment Val learned she was being inducted into the Hall of Fame, why being a student-athlete at Bucknell feels invincible, and how the connections built during those four years become lifelong bonds that transcend geography and time.

Mellisa Nielsen Silverman proves that human connection is the ultimate currency in business and life. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the powerhouse auctioneer, founder, and CEO of Charity Angels who has raised over a billion dollars for charitable causes while breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry. From growing up on a farm with reading difficulties to commanding stages and raising as high as $36 million in a single auction, Mellisa unpacks her journey creating human connections — how she walked into an auctioneering school full of cowboy-hat-wearing men and emerged as one of the nation's top auctioneers, why she practiced her craft while brushing her teeth, and how she built an empire by making every human connection count.

Jimmy Jean-Louis reveals how he transformed self-awareness into success and personal tragedy into purposeful action. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the Haitian actor, producer, and humanitarian who built an international career by refusing to be confined to one market. From homelessness in Paris to starring in Heroes and growing into an international sensation, Jimmy unpacks his journey of radical resilience — how he networked his way from the dance floor to musical theater, turned modeling into acting, and leveraged one of American’s top TV shows into his own global empire. He shares raw truths about globetrotting, meeting Nelson Mandela and finding pride in being Haitian after navigating years of stigma, why he parted from his representation team at the height of Heroes to bet on himself internationally, and how he learned that rejection is never personal — it's educational.
Jimmy reveals the super power of self-knowledge and the strategic thinking behind building careers in France, Spain, Italy, Africa, and the Caribbean simultaneously, playing Toussaint Louverture and representing an entire culture through his work. Plus, the devastating loss of his brother and then his 22-year-old son to cancer that led him to write his memoir, how suffering taught him the art of surrender, and why success is about being at peace with yourself.

Niki Ghazian shows us why being unapologetically yourself is your greatest asset and redefines what strength really means. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the attorney, model, widow, and mother who's built her own law practice on her own terms — no permission needed. They unpack the real cost of being unapologetically yourself in a conservative profession, why authenticity is the highest vibration, and how she navigated unimaginable loss while raising a special needs child alone. Niki shares raw truths about rejecting the patriarchy's playbook, why she'll never ask for vacation days again, and how surrendering isn't giving up — it's the ultimate power move. From fighting for the first women's water polo team at her university to playing tackle football before it was accepted, Niki's been a trailblazer by simply being true to herself. She reveals how modeling while practicing law isn't a liability but an asset, why work-life balance is complicated when you're a sole parent, and the synchronicities that proved her late husband is still guiding her path. Plus, the Queen song that got her through the darkest days, the importance of meditation, and how she learned that happiness isn't perfection — it's patching together moments of joy despite the chaos.

Janine Rubenstein steps into the spotlight. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with People Magazine's Editor at Large to unpack what it means to reinvent yourself without leaving — from sorting books as an editorial assistant to hosting red carpets and interviewing A-listers. They explore the art of saying yes, the power of raising your hand, and how to transform within a legacy brand while staying true to your voice. Janine shares candid insights on navigating media's evolution, building authentic connections with celebrities from Matt Damon to Snoop Dogg, and why sometimes the best career move is staying put and growing where you're planted. Plus, the secret to maintaining joy through 13 years of industry upheaval, balancing motherhood with red carpet moments, and why she still gets butterflies before some interviews.

Ronen Rubinstein steps into a new light. Shana and Kisha sit down with the 9-1-1: Lone Star and S.W.A.T. actor, activist, and new dad to talk about the courage behind creative expansion — from navigating fame and purpose to channeling vulnerability through music. They unpack the power of reinvention, parallel passions, and what it really means to evolve in the public eye.