Disrupt the Spotlight with Opera Singer and Leader Keri Alkema

Disrupt the Spotlight with Opera Singer and Leader Keri Alkema

What happens when you step away from the spotlight and choose to lead in an entirely new way? Patrick sits down with internationally acclaimed opera performer Keri Alkema to discuss reinvention, leadership, creativity, and the future of the arts. After a celebrated career performing on some of the world’s biggest stages, Keri is stepping into a new role as the future director of the Nashville Opera. Together, they explore the transition from performer to leader, what it means to carry forward an art form while challenging the status quo, and how disruption often requires the courage to leave behind an identity that once defined you. Keri brings energy, honesty, and vision to a conversation about purpose, leadership, and building something bigger than yourself.

Disrupt the Stories We Tell with Fox Business Reporter Lydia Hu

How do you find your voice and stay steady when the world feels chaotic? Patrick sits down with Lydia Hu, attorney turned journalist and familiar face on Fox Business, for a conversation about career pivots, high-pressure moments, and navigating disruption in real time. The two first connected while appearing together on Varney & Company during the height of Patrick and James Patterson’s media tour. Lydia shares her journey from practicing law to becoming a nationally recognized business reporter covering some of the most disruptive moments in recent history, including COVID, financial uncertainty, and rapidly changing economic conditions. This episode explores communication, reinvention, and the importance of stepping into uncomfortable opportunities before you feel fully ready.

Disrupt the Way You See Problems with DonCo’s President David Mendelson

Most people see waste, excess, or leftover materials as a problem. David Mendelson sees opportunity. Patrick talks with David Mendelson, leader of multi-generation family-owned company DONCO, about creativity, problem solving, and operating in a world where every phone call brings a new challenge. David and his team help organizations rethink industrial byproducts, excess inventory, and unused materials by finding innovative ways to put them back into use. Featured in Disrupt Everything and Win, David exemplifies what positive disruptors do best: seeing what others miss and thinking differently when faced with uncertainty. This conversation is about mindset, ingenuity, adaptability, and why some people are able to find possibilities where others only see obstacles.

Disrupt Career Reinvention with Forbes Contributor Kathy Caprino

What does it take to reinvent yourself in a world shaped by layoffs, AI, uncertainty, and constant change? In this episode, Patrick sits down with career and leadership expert Kathy Caprino, Forbes columnist, executive coach, educator, and host of the Finding Brave podcast. The two first met at the World Business Forum in New York City, where Kathy’s thoughtful questions and genuine care for people immediately stood out. Together, they explore career reinvention, leadership visibility, personal growth, and what it really means to navigate disruption well. Kathy shares insights from years of helping professionals find clarity, courage, and direction in moments when the future feels uncertain. Whether you’re considering a career pivot, trying to lead through change, or simply wondering what’s next, this conversation will help you think differently about your path forward.

Disrupt Your Voice with Megan Piphus

What does it really mean to find your voice?  In this episode of Disruption Lab, Patrick sits down with Megan Piphus to explore how voice is not just something you have. It is something you develop, refine, and sometimes fight to uncover.  Megan’s journey is anything but typical. She started as a self-taught ventriloquist at a young age, went on to appear on America's Got Talent, built a career that spans performance, music, and storytelling, and eventually became a puppeteer and cast member on Sesame Street.   But what makes this conversation stand out is not just what she has accomplished. It is how she disrupted herself along the way. From finance and real estate to creative work that aligns with who she truly is, Megan made intentional choices to step into her voice rather than settle for a path that did not fully fit.   This conversation will challenge you to disrupt the assumptions you carry about who you are supposed to be and how you are supposed to show up. It is about finding the confidence to use your voice, even when it looks different from what others expect.  Megan’s story is also featured in the New York Times bestselling book Disrupt Everything and Win, which Patrick coauthored with James Patterson.  To learn more about Megan and her work, visit her website: https://www.MeganPiphus.com [https://www.MeganPiphus.com]