Guest Name: Tom LeNoble

www.tomlenoble.com

www.linkedin.com/in/tomlenoble

https://www.facebook.com/tomlenoble

https://www.instagram.com/lenoble.tom

📝 Summary:

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, award‑winning author and philanthropist Tom LeNoble shares the remarkable story behind his memoir My Life in Business Suits, Hospital Gowns, and High Heels. From growing up in a shack in Jacksonville Beach to performing in drag pageants, from leading operations at Facebook as one of its first 75 employees to surviving two life-threatening illness, Tom’s life is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and purpose.

He opens up about living through three “six‑months‑to‑live” diagnoses, building a high‑level corporate career while battling life‑threatening illness, and ultimately dedicating his life to philanthropy, coaching, and helping others live fully. Tom also reveals what’s next: a one‑person stage production that brings all three of his life personas to the spotlight, and two upcoming books that continue his extraordinary story. This episode is inspiring, raw, funny, and unforgettable.

🎙️ Topics explored in this episode:

1. Your beginnings don’t define your destiny. Tom grew up in a one‑bedroom shack with no hot water, yet built a global career.

2. Identity is layered. His life includes business suits, hospital gowns, and high heels — all equally real and formative.

3. Performing helped him. It gave him a community, confidence, and a belonging during some difficult times.

4. He survived the AIDS crisis firsthand. Diagnosed with full‑blown AIDS in 1989 with only nine T‑cells.

5. Purpose fuels survival. Returning to work after disability dramatically improved his health and outlook.

6. He helped create the early Facebook culture. As one of the first 75 employees, he built customer operations and worked directly with Mark Zuckerberg.

7. Philanthropy is his life’s mission. He supports underserved communities, youth in the arts, first‑gen students, and more.

8. Manifestation works — when you release control. Tom shares powerful stories about letting go of expectations and allowing life to unfold.

9. We are the sum of all our parts. Every chapter — even the hidden ones — shapes who we become.

10. Living fully is a choice. Tom teaches that we are all “living while dying,” and gratitude is the foundation of a meaningful life.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Tom LeNoble

03:51 Growing Up in a Shack: Early Life and Family

07:00 Transitioning from Childhood to Adulthood

09:38 The High Heels Era: Embracing Performance and Identity

12:24 Career Journey: From Bartending to Corporate Success

15:23 Life Threatening Illnesses: Overcoming Adversity

18:20 Philanthropy and Coaching: Giving Back to the Community

25:24 A Journey of Resilience and Reflection

30:39 Living Fully While Dying

36:39 The Power of Gratitude and Service

40:15 Manifestation and Expectations

49:24 The Sum of Our Parts: Embracing Life's Journey

Keywords:

#aidssurvivor #authorinterview #cancerwarrior #cksimsshow #dragstory #empowermentjourney #facebookhistory #healingjourney #hivaidsawareness #inspirationdaily #interviewpodcast #lifelessons #lgbtqstories #memoirwriter #mindsetshift #motivationtalk #overcomingadversity #personaltransformation #philanthropywork #podcastconversation #podcastguest #podmatch #resilience #selfgrowth #selfhelpstories #survivorstories #tomlenoble #transformationjourney #wellnessmindset #womenandallies

Want to be a guest on The C.K. Simms Show? SendC.K. a message on PodMatch at ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1715119227867423c07672fbc

Guest Name: Dr. Melanie Gray

https://www.drmelaniegraytheconfidencecoach.com/

Instagram: drmelaniewellnesscoach

Facebook: melanie.gray.550422

LinkedIn: drmelaniegray

📝Summary:

In this powerful Black History Month episode, C.K. Simms sits down with Dr. Melanie Gray — a 2017 Black Excellence Award recipient — to explore her extraordinary 41‑year journey in nursing, higher education, trauma‑informed care, and leadership. From growing up in a family shaped by Jim Crow to becoming the first in her family to earn a college and terminal degree, Dr. Gray shares how she navigated discrimination, embraced pivotal career shifts, and built a life rooted in purpose and faith.

She also introduces her upcoming book Stop It, a transformational guide to overcoming burnout and reclaiming personal agency. This conversation is rich with wisdom, empowerment, and a reminder that it’s never too late to pivot into your calling.

🎙️Top 10 Takeaways:

1. Pivots are powerful. Dr. Gray’s career includes multiple reinventions — from ICU nurse to educator to trauma‑informed care expert — each driven by purpose and self‑preservation.

2. Black excellence is lived, not claimed. Her 2017 Black Excellence Award reflects decades of service, leadership, and resilience.

3. Discrimination persists — but so does strength. She recounts being mistaken for an aide, ignored by physicians, and questioned about her credentials.

4. Education was a generational breakthrough. As the first in her family to earn both a college degree and a PhD, she fulfilled dreams her parents could not access.

5. Burnout is a signal, not a sentence. Her upcoming book Stop It teaches people to recognize burnout, tell themselves the truth, and prioritize healing.

6. Social media amplifies dissatisfaction. Dr. Gray warns that constant comparison erodes self‑worth and fuels division.

7. Leadership is not about titles. Anyone guiding others — parents, volunteers, community members — is a leader.

8. Preparation creates freedom. She intentionally built financial stability before pivoting into consulting and semi‑retirement.

9. Faith is her foundation. Dr. Gray speaks openly about her relationship with God and how it sustains her purpose.

10. You are a gift. Her message to all generations — especially Black listeners — is to step away from negativity, forgive yourself, and embrace your inherent worth.

⏱️Chapters:

00:00 Celebrating Black History and Excellence

04:54 Journey into Nursing: A Personal Story

07:40 Facing Discrimination in Healthcare

10:24 The Impact of Social Media on Perception

12:58 Navigating Career Changes and Education

15:31 The State of Society and Future Generations

22:47 Navigating Career Pivots

26:23 Embracing Change and Transformation

31:58 The Journey to Writing 'Stop It'

37:19 Faith, Resilience, and Personal Growth

42:45 Empowering Generations to Overcome Challenges

#affirmation #authenticity #blackexcellence #blackhistorymonth #blackleaders #burnoutrecovery #careerpivot #cksimsshow #confidencecoach #drmelaniegray #empowerment #faithjourney #healingjourney #inspiration #leadershipdevelopment #lifepurpose #mentalhealthmatters #motivationdaily #nursingjourney #onlineeducation #personalgrowth #podcastinterview #podmatch #resilience #selfcaretips #selfworth #traumainformedcare #wellbeing #womeninleadership #wisdom

🎬 About The Show:

Season Three of Poddin’ My Noggin has evolved into The C.K. Simms Show, expanding beyond the limits of a traditional podcast into a web-based talk show experience.

The show continues to explore the psychology of adversity and personal definitions of success while introducing exciting new segments:

Small business conversations

Independent artist spotlights

Fresh faces and inspiring stories

Public figures, actors, comedians, and thought leaders

Community giveaways and contests

Want to be a guest on The C.K. Simms Show? Send C.K. a message on PodMatch at ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1715119227867423c07672fbc

Summary

In this deeply personal season finale of Poddin’ My Noggin, C.K. Simms reflects on two transformative years of podcasting, healing, creativity, and connection. Filmed on New Year’s Eve, this episode explores gratitude, anger, grief, faith, global uncertainty, and the courage it takes to remain hopeful in turbulent times. C.K. shares how books, guests, creativity, and vulnerability became a form of currency and announces the rebrand to The C.K. Simms Show, a bold new chapter rooted in authenticity, kindness, and purpose. This episode is a meditation on resilience, manifestation, and choosing compassion while stepping fully into one’s voice.

This episode serves as a powerful manifestation to reach one million listeners worldwide, including musicians, comedians, actors, public figures, and cultural icons such as Brené Brown and Oprah. It also introduces future plans for interactive audience engagement through games, prizes, and exclusive giveaways.

Takeaways

• Vulnerability is not a weakness, it is the gateway to authenticity and meaningful connection.

• Creative work, even when unpaid, still holds real value and impact.

• Gratitude is a grounding force, especially during periods of global and personal uncertainty.

• Anger often masks unresolved grief, helplessness, or unprocessed trauma.

• Choosing kindness requires first being kind to yourself.

• Faith, spirituality and questioning can coexist without contradiction.

• Stories, books, conversations, lived experiences have the power to heal and awaken empathy.

• Growth sometimes requires shedding old identities to step into truer ones.

• Hope is not toxic positivity; it is an act of resistance.

• Rebranding isn’t starting over, it’s arriving more fully as yourself.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Intentions for the Final Episode

02:35 Reflecting on the Journey of Podcasting

05:18 Gratitude and Acknowledging Influences

07:41 Personal Growth and Overcoming Anger

10:01 Manifesting Future Goals and Aspirations

12:28 Navigating Emotions and World Events

14:44 Celebrating Books and Authors

17:10 Final Thoughts and Looking Ahead

25:47 Celebrating Literary Contributions

27:53 Exploring Thrilling Reads

36:25 A New Chapter: Rebranding the Show

38:59 Manifesting Future Aspirations

44:00 Gratitude and Community Engagement

Keywords

#authenticity #happynewyear #kindness #manifest #podmatch

Want to be a guest on Poddin' My Noggin? Send C.K. Simms a message on PodMatch at https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1715119227867423c07672fbc