By now, nearly everyone knows that William Shatner, aka Captain James T. Kirk, flew into space aboard the Blue Origin spacecraft on October 13th.

Why would Jeff Bezos, who owns the rocketship company, want to invite a 90-year-old actor whose turn in the original Star Trek series took place more than 50 years ago on board when Bezos could have sold that seat for tens of millions of dollars? 

Longtime Wizard of Ads Partner Jeff ‘The Professor’ Sexton tells host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart that there are priceless marketing lessons to be gleaned from Bezos’s inclusion of Shatner — insights that can lead to out-of-this-world success whether you’re selling space exploration, insurance, beer, breakfast cereal, or even toilet paper.

Strap yourself in, Jeff and Dean are ready to blast off.

Read Jeff Sexton’s article, “Two Marketing Lessons From William Shatner and Blue Origin.”

Photo: Jeff Sexton, Wizard of Ads Partners
Posted: October 25, 2021
Monday Morning Run Time: 43:00

David Cowan had a skilled career in geographic information systems — linking data to maps, when he thought he’d try his hand at financial services. Instead of making more money, he made none.

Hard times quickly followed. In his early fifties, David found himself without a car, renting a single room to live in, and walking to a nearby McDonald’s where he worked the drive-thru window overnight. 

“You just can’t give up on yourself,” David tells host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart. This week, Dean and Monday Morning Radio debut The Comeback Project, an occasional series of profiles featuring great global comeback stories. 

Rallying from misfortune — be it financial, health, a relationship gone bad, a natural disaster, a violent crime, or any other variety of setbacks — may seem impossible in the moment. But as David’s story demonstrates, it is possible to rebound from the depths of despair and inspire others to do likewise.

Do you have your own comeback story to tell or do you know someone — a family member, friend, colleague, or neighbor — who rebounded after a major setback and can serve as an example to others?

Please send any leads for our Monday Morning Radiol Comeback Project to editor@shareyourcomeback.com.

Photo: David Cowan, The Monday Morning Radio Comeback Project
Posted: October 18, 2021
Monday Morning Run Time: 39:59

More than six million listeners worldwide tune in each week to hear Scott Jeffrey Miller’s On Leadership podcast, produced by Franklin Covey.

In his newest book, Master Mentors, Scott draws on interviews he’s conducted with his podcast guests — including Daniel Pink, Seth Godin, and Susan Cain — to offer tightly focused, transformative insights aimed at current and would-be leaders.

What overarching trait do the 30 mentors share? 

Host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart asked Scott the question, but Dean disagreed with Scott’s answer. Listen in, and see how you think about it.

Photo: Scott Jeffrey Miller, Master Mentors
Posted: October 11, 2021
Monday Morning Run Time: 50:26

For Your Monday Morning Radio Bookshelf:

Master Mentors: 30 Transformative Insights From Our Greatest Minds -- Scott Jeffrey Miller

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 30th Anniversary Edition -- Steven R. Covey

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us -- Daniel H. Pink

Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us -- Seth Godin

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking -- Susan Cain

September Twelfth: An American Comeback Story -- Dean Rotbart

Chrysta Castañeda was a solo legal practitioner in Dallas when the legendary oil magnate T. Boone Pickens asked her to represent him in a decade-old business dispute involving investments he made in the three-billion barrel Red Bull region of West Texas.

After about three hours of deliberation, the jury awarded Pickens $146 million.

Host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart says he doesn’t know who is more impressive, Chrysta Castañeda for winning the case so convincingly or the late Boone Pickens, who was 88 years old when the trial began in November 2016.

This week Chrysta shares behind-the-scenes details of the lawsuit and the “real” Boone Pickens. She is joined by Loren C. Steffy who, with Chrysta, co-authored The Last Trial of T. Boone Pickens.

Photos: Chrysta Castañeda and Loren C. Steffy, The Last Trial of T. Boone Pickens
Posted: October 4, 2021
Monday Morning Run Time: 41:46