On the latest Backstage Pass episode, Gail Davis sits down with former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino to explore the out-of-this-world lessons he learned in space. From teamwork and communication to overcoming obstacles, Mike shares invaluable insights that apply far beyond the cosmos.

Show Notes
Mike Massimino, a former NASA astronaut and celebrated space walker who repaired the Hubble Space Telescope, is our guest today. As a keynote speaker, he brings authenticity and inspiration to every stage he steps on. Mike shares the biggest lessons he’s learned during his career in this conversation, as well as the strengths he brings to his speaking events.

Key topics in this episode include:

• What inspired Mike to become an astronaut, and who he brought to space.
• One of Mike’s biggest fears and why he didn’t let it stop him.
• How many times he applied to NASA before he actually got accepted.
• Why your goals are worth trying for, even if they seem out of reach.
• Why it’s better to speak up than stay silent, especially when it comes to ideas.
• What happens when a whole team focuses on one mission and goal.
• The value of adaptability in the workplace.
• Mike’s biggest lessons from his visits to space.
• What Mike did in space that no one else had ever done before.
• One of the best things you can do to support your team as a leader.
• The topics Mike covers in his speaking events and how he entertains the audience.
• How Mike can fulfill the specific needs of event planners.
• Why he loves doing Q&As and meet-and-greets with the audience.
• Tips for event planners who aren’t sure about setting up a Q&A.
• The view of space programs internationally and how those talks are received.

Gail Davis is joined by Suneel Gupta who discusses how to practically manage energy and bolster emotional resilience in order to unite our wellbeing and performance at work.

Show Notes
Today we’re joined by Suneel Gupta, an expert on how well-being impacts performance. He’s a healthcare entrepreneur, best-selling author, and visiting scholar at Harvard Medical School. He helps people bolster their emotional resilience so they can reset, reignite, and find meaning in their work. Suneel shares tips for increasing your daily productivity, resilience, and energy levels no matter what stage of life you’re in.

Key topics in this episode include:

• The difference between people who reach their potential and those who don’t.
• A common misconception about burnout (and what the truth really is).
• Why you don’t need a long vacation to recuperate and reset.
• How little moments of rest can change your capacity to take on life.
• What the science of human performance has shown about rest.
• Why your best years are yet to come, no matter how old you are now.
• The human energy crisis of our time and how it impacts us at work.
• How cutting back on your schedule can increase your output and energy.
• How using rhythmic renewal in your daily life enhances your resilience.
• How to monitor your energy level and know when it’s time for a break.
• The experience Suneel had with his dad that inspired his vision.
• The surprising person who has a significant influence on your mental health.
• How the legacy of a great leader lives on and the small things that make a big difference.
• Where Suneel is investing his time right now and why he’s passionate about it.
• The many applications of energy management and who it can help now.

Gail Davis is joined by Nando Parrado who shares the powerful message behind his story of survival and why it continues to resonate with generations and audiences of all ages today.

Show Notes
We wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for Nando Parrado, the first speaker ever booked by GDA Speakers 25 years ago. Nando is the hero of a 1972 plane crash in the Andes Mountains, which he discusses in today’s episode, and he’s lived through one of the greatest survival stories of all time. His story continues to resonate with audiences today; when he attends as a speaker, he promises to give the audience the best speaker experience they’ve ever had. We also discuss GDA Speakers' 25th anniversary and Nando's continued involvement and influence in the company.

Key topics in this episode include:

• What audiences find so engaging and appealing about Nando’s story.
• How he celebrates his survival and honors those who were lost.
• Why Nando is visiting the podcast office today.
• Why Nando was chosen as the first speaker booked at GDA Speakers (and how he filled a tall order).
• Where he’s speaking next and why it’s such a big accomplishment.
• The secret to his survival and why it’s a miracle that Nando is here today.
• The small ways people survive every day and why it matters.
• What to watch for in an engaged audience and how to know if they’re all in.
• Nando’s experience with the movie Society of the Snow.
• Why he says speaking is a part of his life (and what the other important parts are).
• His thoughts on going to the Oscars and what it was like.
• How he selects speaking engagements to do (and why he says no sometimes).
• The reasons why Nando gets booked again and again.