The Neil Haley Show Featuring Christian Hubicki, Liam Twohig, Enza West, Jennifer Jones, and Danielle Nicolet

Neil opened live from the 2026 FIRST Championship with Christian Hubicki, FIRST alum, Florida State University robotics professor and Survivor 50 contestant, alongside Liam Twohig, a high school competitor. Liam shared how joining the team in eighth grade transformed him from someone who couldn't talk in front of people into a confident presenter. Christian explained FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, the leading global K-12 robotics nonprofit with 19,000 students at this championship, 50,000+ participants, and 80,000+ teams worldwide. Students learn 3D printing, coding, fundraising, marketing, and accounting alongside real-life mentors. Visit firstinspires.org/learn.The Cross Media Group podcast simulcast with Sherri brought on Enza West, Director of Organizational Development at eni, a wellbeing educator and certified coach who helps individuals and organizations navigate stress, uncertainty, and change. Enza explained that the modern workforce is uniquely complex because five generations now share the same workplace, all reacting to change through different lenses. She advocated two-way mentoring programs, communication style awareness, and meeting employees where they are (calling Bob who prefers phone calls, texting Sue who needs flexibility for the bus stop). She pushed back on the return-to-office mandate trend, arguing it represents two steps backward at a moment when 58 percent of the workforce reports stress and depression. Citing NeuroLeadership Institute research, she explained that wellbeing is no longer fluff but a capacity issue tied directly to recruiting and retaining talent. Reach her at enzawest-e and learn more at storehousemediagroup.com.The Live from the Grotto celebrity simulcast then welcomed author, activist, artist, and Tony Award-winning dancer Jennifer Jones, the first African American Rockette. Jennifer shared how, at 20 years old in 1987, she auditioned for the Rockettes simply to get better at auditioning, not knowing she would break a 63-year color barrier at Radio City. She recounted the painful moment a PR director pulled her aside before her Super Bowl halftime debut and told her, "Nobody cares about you, you're old news, you're lucky to be here," words that haunted her for years. After 15 years as a Rockette, she went on to win a Tony Award as part of 42nd Street: The Revival in 2001, performing on the very Radio City stage that had been her home. She is also a colorectal cancer survivor and creator of the Dancing Jen doll available at Walmart Marketplace. Find her books Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience and the children's picture book On the Line: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette at RocketteJen.com.Neil closed with director, writer, and actress Danielle Nicolet (best known for The Flash) discussing her new thriller film Long Time Listener, the first of four pictures under Green Apple Entertainment's deal with AMC streamer ALLBLK. Danielle explained that the story follows Genesis, a successful true crime podcaster who receives a chilling call from a longtime listener claiming to know all her secrets and coming for her. Following recent acclaim from her short films at festivals, Danielle jumped at the chance to direct a thriller because, despite her sweet-character reputation from The Flash, thrillers and horror are her true love. She broke down the director versus producer dynamic (the director drives the ship and turns imagination into visual reality, the producer navigates around icebergs), praising producer Joan Rood and editor Jonathan Knops for assembling the puzzle pieces in post-production. She also reflected on the unique challenge of directing herself while wearing both hats simultaneously.