Introducing award-winning independent filmmaker, director, and producer Russell Emanuel
Which genre of films and actors he has worked with
The current films Russ is working on and those in production
How Russ finds funding for his films

Russ is an award-winning American director, producer, and independent filmmaker, having directed such actors as John Heard, Robert Picardo, Vincent Pastore, Glynnis O'Connor, Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Jeremy London, Ryan Hurst, William Devane, Marina Sirtis, Sean Kenney, Armin Shimerman, and Gary Graham. He grew up in both Japan and the United States and graduated from the U.S.C. to study Cinema-Television. He founded Russem Productions in 2002 to promote his films including GIRL WITH GUN (2005) and documentary RESTORATION OF PARADISE (2014). Presently, STAYCATION (2022) - the sequel to ROUTINE currently being filmed - marks Emanuel's sixth foray into feature filmmaking, after directing P.J. (2007), CHASING THE GREEN (2009), THE LEGENDS OF NETHIAH (2012), OCCUPANTS (2015), and WISPER (2020).

Brought to you by J.C. Cooley Foundation "Equipping the Youth of Today for the Challenges of Tomorrow".

<ul>
<li>Introducing award-winning independent filmmaker, director, and producer Russell Emanuel</li>
<li>Which genre of films and actors he has worked with</li>
<li>The current films Russ is working on and those in production</li>
<li>How Russ finds funding for his films</li>
</ul>
Russ is an award-winning American director, producer, and independent filmmaker, having directed such actors as John Heard, Robert Picardo, Vincent Pastore, Glynnis O'Connor, Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Jeremy London, Ryan Hurst, William Devane, Marina Sirtis, Sean Kenney, Armin Shimerman, and Gary Graham. He grew up in both Japan and the United States and graduated from the U.S.C. to study Cinema-Television. He founded Russem Productions in 2002 to promote his films including GIRL WITH GUN (2005) and documentary RESTORATION OF PARADISE (2014). Presently, STAYCATION (2022) - the sequel to ROUTINE currently being filmed - marks Emanuel's sixth foray into feature filmmaking, after directing P.J. (2007), CHASING THE GREEN (2009), THE LEGENDS OF NETHIAH (2012), OCCUPANTS (2015), and WISPER (2020). Brought to you by J.C. Cooley Foundation "Equipping the Youth of Today for the Challenges of Tomorrow".

It's Your Life with Dr. James JC Cooley a motivational speaker here to equip you to strive for greatness and overcome adversity. Life is a series of circles and cycles, phases, and stages. These are the experiences that teach you the lessons of life. You can either ignore them or EMBRACE them. Dr. Cooley offers motivation and inspiration for life's challenges.

Catch up on the podcast and listen to It's Your Life on The Answer in Dallas or San Diego, on Salem Radio Networks.

For more about James Cooley and how you can support the show or become a guest visit www.CooleyFoundation.org.

It's Your Life with Dr. James JC Cooley a motivational speaker here to equip you to strive for greatness and overcome adversity. Life is a series of circles and cycles, phases, and stages. These are the experiences that teach you the lessons of life. You can either ignore them or EMBRACE them. Dr. Cooley offers motivation and inspiration for life's challenges.
Catch up on the podcast and listen to It's Your Life on The Answer in Dallas or San Diego, on Salem Radio Networks.
For more about James Cooley and how you can support the show or become a guest visit <a href="http://www.cooleyfoundation.org/">www.CooleyFoundation.org</a>.

It's Your Life Podcast

It's Your Life

A conversation with award winning filmmaker Russell Emanuel

Show Highlights

·       Dr. James JC Cooley along with Co-Host Dr. Michael Mantell-  renowned and esteemed mental health architect and prolific author have a sit-down conversation with

Joshua D. Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA – Military Veteran, Practicing Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Physician, and a Certified Executive Coach

·       Leadership inspired by caring creates cultures where people can thrive personally and professionally. 

·       Leading from a place of caring is evidence-based leadership

·       Leading from a place of caring is not soft.

·       Leading with care can be learned and intentionally implemented. 

 Summary:

 According to Dr. Joshua Hartzell, caring should be the foundation that drives how we lead others, shaping cultures where individuals can truly thrive both personally and professionally. Leadership rooted in caring is not just an idealistic approach but an evidence-based one, consistently linked to higher engagement, stronger performance, and improved well-being. Far from being “soft,” caring leadership requires courage and discipline, as it involves holding high standards, making tough decisions, and providing honest feedback while maintaining respect and empathy. Importantly, leading with care is not an innate trait reserved for a few—it is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and intentionally implemented through self-awareness, consistent behaviors, and a genuine commitment to valuing people.

 

Joshua D. Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA

Biography

Joshua D. Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA is a retired Army Colonel who spent 25 years in military medicine. Dr. Hartzell has held numerous leadership positions throughout his career including being Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency and Assistant Chief of Graduate Medical Education at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Assistant Dean for Faculty Development at the Uniformed Services University. He deployed as a Battalion Surgeon with the 82nd Airborne Division to Afghanistan. Dr. Hartzell is also faculty at the MGH Institute of Health Professions where he teaches leadership development.  A practicing Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Physician, he has devoted the last decade to developing leaders training and teaching thousands of students, residents, and faculty within healthcare. Dr. Hartzell has delivered over 100 talks on leadership development and has written numerous papers on the topic. Dr. Hartzell is a Certified Executive Coach and holds additional coaching certification in the Leadership Challenge 360.  He combined his years of boots on the ground leading in medicine with his research to teach other leaders practical strategies about how to sharpen their leadership skills in his book, A Prescription for Caring in Healthcare Leadership: Building a Culture of Compassion and Excellence.

Website: https://joshuahartzellmd.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joshhartzellmd

Show Highlights
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr. James JC Cooley along with Co-Host Dr. Michael Mantell-&nbsp;&nbsp;renowned and esteemed mental health architect and prolific author have a sit-down conversation with
Joshua D. Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA&nbsp;&ndash; Military Veteran, Practicing Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Physician, and a Certified Executive Coach
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Leadership inspired by caring creates cultures&nbsp;where people can thrive personally and professionally.&nbsp;
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Leading from a place of caring is evidence-based leadership
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Leading from a place of caring is not soft.
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Leading with care can be learned and intentionally implemented.&nbsp;
&nbsp;Summary:
&nbsp;According to&nbsp;Dr. Joshua Hartzell, caring should be the foundation that drives how we lead others, shaping cultures where individuals can truly thrive both personally and professionally. Leadership rooted in caring is not just an idealistic approach but an evidence-based one, consistently linked to higher engagement, stronger performance, and improved well-being. Far from being &ldquo;soft,&rdquo; caring leadership requires courage and discipline, as it involves holding high standards, making tough decisions, and providing honest feedback while maintaining respect and empathy. Importantly, leading with care is not an innate trait reserved for a few&mdash;it is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and intentionally implemented through self-awareness, consistent behaviors, and a genuine commitment to valuing people.
&nbsp;
Joshua D. Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA
Biography
Joshua D. Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA is a retired Army Colonel who spent 25 years in military medicine. Dr. Hartzell has held numerous leadership positions throughout his career including being Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency and Assistant Chief of Graduate Medical Education at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Assistant Dean for Faculty Development at the Uniformed Services University. He deployed as a Battalion Surgeon with the 82nd&nbsp;Airborne Division to Afghanistan. Dr. Hartzell is also faculty at the MGH Institute of Health Professions where he teaches leadership development.&nbsp; A practicing Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Physician, he has devoted the last decade to developing leaders training and teaching thousands of students, residents, and faculty within healthcare. Dr. Hartzell has delivered over 100 talks on leadership development and has written numerous papers on the topic. Dr. Hartzell is a Certified Executive Coach and holds additional coaching certification in the Leadership Challenge 360.&nbsp; He combined his years of boots on the ground leading in medicine with his research to teach other leaders practical strategies about how to sharpen their leadership skills in his book, A Prescription for Caring in Healthcare Leadership: Building a Culture of Compassion and Excellence.
Website: <a href="https://joshuahartzellmd.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">https://joshuahartzellmd.com/</a>
LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="http://linkedin.com/in/joshhartzellmd" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">linkedin.com/in/joshhartzellmd</a>

360° Health Caring and Leadership -How Caring should drive how we lead others 

Show Highlights

·       A sit-down conversation with Dr. Michael Mantell-  renowned and esteemed mental health architect and prolific author

·       How we disturb and upset ourselves

·       The key thoughts we use to sweat the small stuff

·       Self-rating is harmful

·       Stress… its negative impact on our lives

 SUMMARY:

We often disturb and upset ourselves not because of events themselves, but because of the way we think about them. When we “sweat the small stuff,” it is usually driven by key thoughts such as demanding perfection, assuming minor problems are catastrophic, or believing that mistakes define our worth. This leads to harmful self-rating, where we judge our entire value as a person based on single outcomes or flaws rather than viewing ourselves as complex and constantly developing individuals. These patterns of thinking fuel stress, which can negatively impact our mental focus, emotional well-being, relationships, and even physical health. By recognizing and challenging these unhelpful thoughts, we can reduce unnecessary stress and respond to life’s challenges in a healthier, more balanced way.

Biography

Dr. Michael Mantell, a renowned and esteemed mental health architect, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1976 and his MS in Clinical Psychology in 1972 from Hahnemann Medical College. He guides clients to disturb themselves less, by identifying, challenging, and restructuring irrational beliefs, helping them build a reliable foundation of rational, flexible thinking, and adopt healthier behaviors and attitudes. His expertise bridges the art and science of mental health, empowering clients to disturb themselves less and construct a mindset that enables them to respond to life’s challenges with resilience, acceptance, and self-compassion.

Throughout his career, Dr. Mantell has held various prestigious positions, including Chief Psychologist for Children's Hospital of San Diego, Chief Psychologist of the San Diego Police Department, and Chief Behavior Science Consultant for the American Council on Exercise. He was a co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Plus Size Certified, Inc. and is a member of the Science Advisory Council of the International Council on Active Aging. In addition, he served as Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD Medical School, where he taught the Doctor-Patient Relationship course. He brings a specialty focus on physician wellbeing, physician burnout and elevating the patient experience. He has lectured at Pt. Loma Nazarene University and has provided a yearly 3-day Physician Wellness Studio for the American Society of Hematology. He is an invited guest instructor at Harvard University.

Dr. Mantell is a prolific author with four books to his name, including his recent work, "The Link is What You Think," "Ticking Bombs: Defusing Violence in the Workplace," and his iconic 1988 original "Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff PS: It’s All Small Stuff" and its 25th Anniversary Edition. Dr Mantell has been a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1981, Chair of its Election Committee and Vice-Chair of the Government Affairs and Public Policy Committee. He was elected to the Board of SAG-AFTRA San Diego in September, 2025. He’s been bringing psychology to the broadcast media for decades including regular appearances on Good Morning, America, Oprah Winfrey and weekly spots on local and nationwide news.

You can follow his free daily “MantellPoints2Ponder” on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Show Highlights
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A sit-down conversation with Dr. Michael Mantell-&nbsp;&nbsp;renowned and esteemed mental health architect and prolific author
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;How we disturb and upset ourselves
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The key thoughts we use to sweat the small stuff
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Self-rating is harmful
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Stress&hellip; its negative impact on our lives
&nbsp;SUMMARY:
We often disturb and upset ourselves not because of events themselves, but because of the way we think about them. When we &ldquo;sweat the small stuff,&rdquo; it is usually driven by key thoughts such as demanding perfection, assuming minor problems are catastrophic, or believing that mistakes define our worth. This leads to harmful self-rating, where we judge our entire value as a person based on single outcomes or flaws rather than viewing ourselves as complex and constantly developing individuals. These patterns of thinking fuel stress, which can negatively impact our mental focus, emotional well-being, relationships, and even physical health. By recognizing and challenging these unhelpful thoughts, we can reduce unnecessary stress and respond to life&rsquo;s challenges in a healthier, more balanced way.
Biography
Dr. Michael Mantell, a renowned and esteemed mental health architect, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1976 and his MS in Clinical Psychology in 1972 from Hahnemann Medical College. He guides clients to disturb themselves less, by identifying, challenging, and restructuring irrational beliefs, helping them build a reliable foundation of rational, flexible thinking, and adopt healthier behaviors and attitudes. His expertise bridges the art and science of mental health, empowering clients to disturb themselves less and construct a mindset that enables them to respond to life&rsquo;s challenges with resilience, acceptance, and self-compassion.
Throughout his career, Dr. Mantell has held various prestigious positions, including Chief Psychologist for Children's Hospital of San Diego, Chief Psychologist of the San Diego Police Department, and Chief Behavior Science Consultant for the American Council on Exercise. He was a co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Plus Size Certified, Inc. and is a member of the Science Advisory Council of the International Council on Active Aging. In addition, he served as Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD Medical School, where he taught the Doctor-Patient Relationship course. He brings a specialty focus on physician wellbeing, physician burnout and elevating the patient experience. He has lectured at Pt. Loma Nazarene University and has provided a yearly 3-day Physician Wellness Studio for the American Society of Hematology. He is an invited guest instructor at Harvard University.
Dr. Mantell is a prolific author with four books to his name, including his recent work, "The Link is What You Think," "Ticking Bombs: Defusing Violence in the Workplace," and his iconic 1988 original "Don&rsquo;t Sweat the Small Stuff PS: It&rsquo;s All Small Stuff" and its 25th Anniversary Edition. Dr Mantell has been a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1981, Chair of its Election Committee and Vice-Chair of the Government Affairs and Public Policy Committee. He was elected to the Board of SAG-AFTRA San Diego in September, 2025. He&rsquo;s been bringing psychology to the broadcast media for decades including regular appearances on Good Morning, America, Oprah Winfrey and weekly spots on local and nationwide news.
You can follow his free daily &ldquo;MantellPoints2Ponder&rdquo; on LinkedIn and Facebook.

The Link Is What You Think

Show Highlights

·       Dr. James JC Cooley along with Co-Host Dr. Michael Mantell-  renowned and esteemed mental health architect and prolific author have a sit-down conversation with Lee Jordan, MS, NBC-HWC, SHRM-SCP- Adjunct Professor of Kinesiology & Integrative Wellness, Nationally Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach, ACE Subject-Matter-Expert, author, speaker and consultant.

Fears – “Will I (HWC’s) be replaced?

Historical examples where skilled workers felt threatened by emerging tech but were actually elevated. One example is the emergence of calculators in the 70’s – instead of declining the mathematician profession, it took away tedious tasks and created time for conceptual thinking – automation of routine tasks raised the value of complex thinking and judgement. Another example more directly connected to health and wellness, when telemedicine rapidly expanded during and post pandemic there was concern in-person traditional practice might take a hit $ and erode. Instead, telemedicine expanded access and increased efficiency.

Primary Difference – “AI can hear but it can’t listen.” AI is very good at behavior tracking, personalizing engine for lifestyle data, admin and content tasks. A health coaches’ value is our ability to “be with someone” to be fully present, People crave acceptance and connection – they want to be valued NOT for what they can DO, but simply for who they are. AI can imitate but it can’t replicate the human experience. Listening is the True Superpower to facilitating the change people seek. This type of listening means we are listening to people’s words, emotions and expressions. We hear and notice not only what is being said, but what is not being said. The experience being delivered is that I have time for you… not just time to address your problem… time with and for you.  

The Link is What you Think - What HC’s chose to think about AI and their future as HC’s and how it impacts the people, they are called to serve will significantly shape their experience in the field.

Word on the street – Daniela Amodei, cofounder and president of Anthropic, an AI company (Claude) that raised $30 billion in Series G funding valuing their company at $380 billion, says, “The things that make us human will become much more important instead of much less important… “And what I mean by that is when we look to hire people at Anthropic today, we look for people who are great communicators, who have excellent EQ and people skills, who are kind and compassionate and curious and want to help other people.

 

Lee Jordan, MS, NBC-HWC, SHRM-SCP

Biography

Lee Jordan lives out his purpose to "show up for people in meaningful and transformative ways" through his work as an Adjunct Professor of Kinesiology & Integrative Wellness, Nationally Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach, ACE Subject-Matter-Expert, author, speaker and consultant.

Lee helps people throughout the United States live a full life through his physician-endorsed behavior change program, 30 Seconds to Victory™. In his role as a consultant he has helped shape and deliver corporate health and wellness coaching programs and works with digital health companies creating apps engineered with evidence-based health behavior constructs. Lee speaks on health and wellness coaching and other wellness-related topics at conferences such as the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) and the IDEA Nutrition & Behavior Change Summit. Lee is dedicated to equipping a legion of passionate wellness professionals with the practical competencies needed to transform lives.

Social Media:

www.linkedin.com/in/leejordanhealth

Show Highlights
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr. James JC Cooley along with Co-Host Dr. Michael Mantell-&nbsp;&nbsp;renowned and esteemed mental health architect and prolific author have a sit-down conversation with Lee Jordan, MS, NBC-HWC, SHRM-SCP- Adjunct Professor of Kinesiology &amp; Integrative Wellness, Nationally Board-Certified Health &amp; Wellness Coach, ACE Subject-Matter-Expert, author, speaker and consultant.
Fears &ndash; &ldquo;Will I (HWC&rsquo;s) be replaced?
Historical examples where skilled workers felt threatened by emerging tech but were actually elevated. One example is the emergence of calculators in the 70&rsquo;s &ndash; instead of declining the mathematician profession, it took away tedious tasks and created time for conceptual thinking &ndash; automation of routine tasks raised the value of complex thinking and judgement. Another example more directly connected to health and wellness, when telemedicine rapidly expanded during and post pandemic there was concern in-person traditional practice might take a hit $ and erode. Instead, telemedicine expanded access and increased efficiency.
Primary Difference &ndash; &ldquo;AI can hear but it can&rsquo;t listen.&rdquo;&nbsp;AI is very good at behavior tracking, personalizing engine for lifestyle data, admin and content tasks. A health coaches&rsquo; value is our ability to &ldquo;be with someone&rdquo; to be fully present, People crave acceptance and connection &ndash; they want to be valued NOT for what they can DO, but simply for who they are. AI can imitate but it can&rsquo;t replicate the human experience. Listening is the True Superpower to facilitating the change people seek. This type of listening means we are listening to people&rsquo;s words, emotions and expressions. We hear and notice not only what is being said, but what is not being said. The experience being delivered is that I have time for you&hellip; not just time to address your problem&hellip; time with and for you.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
The Link is What you Think&nbsp;- What HC&rsquo;s chose to think about AI and their future as HC&rsquo;s and how it impacts the people, they are called to serve will significantly shape their experience in the field.
Word on the street &ndash;&nbsp;Daniela Amodei, cofounder and president of Anthropic, an AI company (Claude) that raised $30 billion in Series G funding valuing their company at $380 billion, says,&nbsp;&ldquo;The things that make us human will become much more important instead of much less important&hellip; &ldquo;And what I mean by that is when we look to hire people at Anthropic today, we look for people who are great communicators, who have excellent EQ and people skills, who are kind and compassionate and curious and want to help other people.
&nbsp;
Lee Jordan, MS, NBC-HWC, SHRM-SCP
Biography
Lee Jordan lives out his purpose to "show up for people in meaningful and transformative ways" through his work as an Adjunct Professor of Kinesiology &amp; Integrative Wellness, Nationally Board-Certified Health &amp; Wellness Coach, ACE Subject-Matter-Expert, author, speaker and consultant.
Lee helps people throughout the United States live a full life through his physician-endorsed behavior change program, 30 Seconds to Victory&trade;.&nbsp;In his role as a consultant he has helped shape and deliver corporate health and wellness coaching programs and works with digital health companies creating apps engineered with evidence-based health behavior constructs.&nbsp;Lee speaks on health and wellness coaching and other wellness-related topics at conferences such as the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) and the IDEA Nutrition &amp; Behavior Change Summit. Lee is dedicated to equipping a legion of passionate wellness professionals with the practical competencies needed to transform lives.
Social Media:
<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/leejordanhealth" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">www.linkedin.com/in/leejordanhealth</a>

A conversation with award winning filmmaker Russell Emanuel

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