Winged & Ready
Using real stories to understand the pivotal moments and critical skills to get you and your business winged and ready to take flight, move nimbly and stop waiting (in the wings).
17 Sep 2026
Amanda Beausoleil - "Healing and Hope: A Conversation on Self-Injury Recovery & Awareness"
This episode on Winged & Ready, Diane is joined by Amanda Beausoleil, founder and Executive Director of SIRA (Self-Injury Recovery & Awareness). In honor of Suicide Awareness Month, Amanda opens up about her own lived experience with non-suicidal self-injury, the crucial difference between self-injury and suicide, and what it truly means to separate oneself from maladaptive coping behaviors. Together, they explore SIRA’s mission to provide peer support and education, the creation of their "Understanding You" program, and why holding space for difficult conversations, and even finding moments to laugh, is vital to the healing process.
27 Apr 2026
Joseph Sciortino - "Go Ahead, Take Credit” Part II
Private credit is back in the headlines, so I sat down with Joe Sciortino to separate clickbait, misconceptions, and noise from the fundamentals that matter. In this episode of Winged & Ready, I reconnect with Joe Sciortino, Head of Private Credit at UBS, to revisit our private credit conversation from about a year ago.Since then, private credit has been the subject of increased attention, headlines, and clickbait, often with limited context. Rather than repeating Private Credit 101, we focus on what has changed in the market, what has not, and how experienced investors separate myths and misconceptions from underlying fundamentals. Joe shares how private credit portfolios are evaluated, how risk and liquidity are assessed, and how themes such as valuation, payment‑in‑kind, redemptions, and volatility are monitored in practice. We also discuss why headlines do not always reflect portfolio reality, and how investors think through private credit across market cycles. If you are new to private credit, I recommend listening to our earlier episode first. This conversation builds on that foundation and is designed to support more informed discussions around private markets.
11 Nov 2025
Madineyah Isaacs - "Yes, Yes, Yes!"
Certified Life Coach Madineyah joins Winged & Ready to discuss her powerful blend of practical, psychological, and energy wisdom. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in helping growth seekers who feel stuck or lost move swiftly toward their goals. If you’re ready to trade stress and self-doubt for clarity, inner peace, and empowered living, tune in. Madineyah reveals her unique and intuitive approach for achieving rapid transformation and deep life satisfaction.
04 Nov 2025
Steve Panzik - "From Fine to Fearless"
Steve Panzik, founder of Power Ten Fitness Club, lives by the principle that defines his gym: push through and give 110%. Inspired by the rowing term “Power Ten”—ten strokes of your absolute best effort—Steve has applied this philosophy to every part of his life. From devoted husband and father to ultra-runner, his journey is proof that greatness starts where comfort ends. In this episode, we dive into how Steve transformed his life from “fine” to extraordinary. Get ready to challenge your limits, embrace discomfort, and discover what happens when you commit to giving your all. Tune in—and take your first Power Ten toward the life you want.
04 Aug 2022
Good is good - governance unpacked
Brenda DeSaro is a self described helper! She loves nothing more than using her expertise to help, and teach people more about the world of retirement plans by unpacking the law and the EQ to help founders, investment committees, and management. While this may sound straight forward it is not: having good governance around plans may have a proactive and meaningful impact on both plan sponsors as well as the participants. Brenda is a Director in EisnerAmper's Pension Services Group. She has over 20 years of experience, handling the related pension plan audit and consulting requirements for a broad client base. She efficiently and accurately manages all types of pension plan audits. Brenda has served both public and private clients in a wide variety of industries with both defined benefit and defined contribution plans, including 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 11-Ks, and ESOPs. She consults with clients and is responsible for supervision and review of staff and work product, including detailed testing. Brenda is involved in the maintenance of the firm’s master engagement templates as well as design and delivery of annual firm-wide continuing professional education in the employee benefit plan audit area. Throughout the year, Brenda attends seminars to keep abreast of unique ERISA, DOL and AICPA employee benefit plan issues. She has presented to various professional groups on employee benefit plan topics. She is also very active in teaching and planning continuing professional education courses.
Contact information
Contact information
Diane Johnston
One Jericho Plaza
Suite 205
Jericho, NY 11753
(516) 745-8964
(800) 333-7707
