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Every week I go looking for people, products, ideas and research that can help all of us "Keep the LIVE in Alive!" Sometimes I find inspiration. Sometimes I find things that make me laugh out loud. And sometimes I discover something that makes me say...

"Whoa…Didn't see THAT coming!"

This episode had all three.

Another birthday came and went...and I couldn't be more grateful.

As we get older, birthdays become less about counting candles and more about appreciating the gift of getting another one. After surviving a few things that could have taken me out over the years, I don’t take birthdays for granted anymore.

I'm loving my family and friends and making a real effort to spend quality time with them. I'm also reconnecting in person with business associates because I've always believed that's where trust is built. I'm fortunate to be working with some incredibly innovative entrepreneurs bringing exciting new products to market, and I have to admit...I'm feeling pretty good about being at that stage of life where I know what I know.

I'm also trying to try more new things...while trying very hard not to get hurt.

(Welcome to this new phase of life!)

This past year brought its share of aggravating aches, pains and unexpected physical issues. They tested my patience, stretched my sense of humor...but thankfully never took it away.

Oh and I noticed something else.

I talk to myself a lot more these days.

Usually it starts with...

"Seriously, Debbie?"

Funny...but not funny.

Humor, I can tell you for sure, is critical to survival.

Debservation:

“If you've still got a pulse...you've still got a shot!”

SO...I celebrated my birthday a little too enthusiastically. Translation? I overate. I overdrank. 'Recovery' definitely isn't as quick as it used to be. Translation? Took me 3 days to recover from two.

Which is exactly why every Wellness Wednesday I go searching for the newest ideas, smartest people and most interesting discoveries that might help all of us age a little healthier—and a whole lot happier.

This Week We Talked About...

• Why red-light therapy and biohacking are exploding in popularity.
• The growing shortage of blood donations—and why donating could someday save someone you love.
• Important food, medication and child car seat recalls worth knowing about.
• Why buying GLP-1 medications online without proper medical supervision may not be the smartest idea.
• How AI can be incredibly helpful...but still can't replace real human connection...or a real human voice.

Guest Spotlight: Red Light Therapy & Biohacking

One of my favorite conversations this week was with Reverend Dr. Jessica Chichester, co-founder of HAUTE HEALING OASIS in Stamford, CT.

Jessica is one of those fascinating people who makes you think differently the minute she starts talking.

She explained how therapies like infrared saunas, red-light therapy and other science-backed wellness technologies are helping people improve energy, recovery and overall vitality by supporting the body's own natural healing systems.

I'll admit it...

After hearing her explain everything, I was ready to leave the radio station and drive straight there.

I even told her I wished she had a "wellness car wash."

You'd shuffle in exhausted...

...and twenty minutes later burst out the other side ready to conquer the world!

Now that's a business model I can get behind.

Debbie's Recall Round-Up

Apparently, a big theme in the news this week week was...

"Don't eat it, don't sit in it, and don't take the allergy pill."

This reported recalls included:

19 million eggs linked to a salmonella outbreak.

Lettuce and ready-made salad concerns.

Ricotta cheese.

Evenflo Revolve360 child car seats.

Cetirizine allergy medication.

Debservation:

"Every time I go to put something in my mouth these days somebody yells...'

Wait! Wait!...spit it out that's been recalled!"

The upside?

This may become the "Didn't See That Coming" Diet of 2026!

My Favorite Laughs of the Week

I admitted on the air...

• I think I'm personally one of the few people these days keeping the snack industry in business.
• Pretty soon they'll invent GLP-1 salad dressing...once we're allowed to eat lettuce again!
• My three grandchildren together are like psychedelic soup...or Pop Rocks exploding all at once.
• And grandmas everywhere understand this one: taking a car seat in and out of the car should qualify as an Olympic event.

My Challenge To You This Week

Do one thing your future self will thank you for.

Maybe it's donating blood.

Maybe it's cleaning out that spice cabinet from 2013. (Yes...I actually found one!)

Maybe it's finally scheduling that wellness appointment you've been putting off.

Or maybe it's simply deciding that another birthday is something to celebrate—not fear.

One more birthday.

One more chance to laugh.

One more chance to learn something new.

One more chance to help somebody else.

That's really what “Keeping the LIVE in Alive!” has always been about.

Until next Wellness Wednesday...

Remember "If you've still got a pulse...you've still got a shot!

Enjoy This Full Show Wellness Wednesday Podcast Episode of "Keeping the LIVE in Alive!"

Best,

Debbie

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Seeing Red Never Felt So Good! Can Red Light Therapy Really Recharge Your Body in Just 20 Minutes? Keeping the "LIVE" in Alive! Every Wellness Wednesday, I invite you to meet someone who's helping us all keep the "LIVE" in alive. Sometimes it's a doctor. Sometimes it's a scientist. Sometimes it's an entrepreneur—or someone who's simply discovered a better way to live. This week...I found myself seeing red...and it never felt so good.

If you've been hearing all the buzz about red light therapy, you're not alone. It's one of today's fastest-growing wellness trends, with people exploring it to support recovery, boost energy, healthier skin, and overall well-being.

Naturally, I had to find out what all the excitement was about.

So, I recently sat down with one of the most fascinating women I've met in a long time—Jessica Chichester, founder of Hope Healing Oasis in Stamford, Connecticut.

This isn't your typical spa.

It's a wellness playground filled with cutting-edge therapies designed to help your body do what it naturally wants to do...heal itself.

As is typical on my show there are always a couple of laughs.

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up!

Jessica casually mentioned she's taking a group to Ecuador for an ayahuasca retreat.

So naturally I blurted out...

"All the psychedelics everybody thinks their grandkids are on...but instead it's them!"

We both cracked up.

Later I told her I wished she had a wellness car wash.

You'd shuffle in feeling completely exhausted...

...and twenty minutes later come flying out the other side like a rocket ship!

Now THAT'S a drive-thru image I can't get out of my head.

Meet This Week's Guest Jessica's story is remarkable.

She battled depression as a young woman, discovered holistic health while working in a health food store, went on to become one of the strongest women in America, and eventually reinvented herself after a career-ending injury.

Today she's helping others improve their health through therapies focused on energy, recovery, and whole-body wellness.

One of my favorite things she said was:

"People think they're supposed to stay who they are. That's such a boring lie."

I absolutely loved that.

Because isn't that true for all of us?

No matter our age or stage of life, we always have permission to reinvent ourselves.

What I Learned Jessica explained why therapies like red light therapy, infrared saunas, cold plunges, and other wellness technologies are attracting so much attention.

Her philosophy is refreshingly simple:

Your body already knows how to heal. Sometimes it just needs the right environment.

She also explained that red light therapy uses concentrated wavelengths of light similar to beneficial sunlight—but without harmful UV exposure. While research is still evolving, studies suggest it may support cellular energy production, muscle recovery, skin health, and overall wellness.

Whether you're brand new to these therapies or already curious about biohacking, Jessica made the science surprisingly easy to understand.

I walked away thinking less about machines...and more about giving our bodies every opportunity to do what they were designed to do.

Debbie's Debservation I think one of the biggest wellness breakthroughs isn't a machine...

It's giving yourself permission to become a new version of yourself.

Jessica reinvented herself more than once.

Maybe that's the real secret to longevity.

Keep growing.

Keep learning.

Keep changing.

Because the minute we think we've arrived...

...we stop living.

And I don't know about you, but I'm planning to stay wonderfully curious for a very long time.

This Week's Keeping the "LIVE" in Alive! Challenge Try one thing this week you've never tried before to improve your health.

Maybe it's visiting a wellness center.

Maybe it's relaxing in an infrared sauna.

Maybe it's trying red light therapy.

Or maybe it's simply spending twenty peaceful minutes outside soaking up some sunshine.

Whatever you choose, give yourself permission to explore something new.

Your body—and your mind—just might thank you.

Catch the Full Conversation Jessica Chichester shares her remarkable personal journey, explains why energy matters more than most of us realize, and offers a fascinating look inside today's world of wellness technologies.

You may leave thinking exactly what I did...

"Where's that wellness car wash when I need it?"

I know I did.

Until next Wellness Wednesday...

Keep that "LIVE" in Alive! Best,

Debbie Nigro

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Keeping the "LIVE" in Alive!

In this Wellness Wednesday Feature Interview , I got a sneak peek at one of the world's biggest nutrition gatherings—Nutrition 2026, hosted by the American Society for Nutrition. Researchers from around the globe gather to reveal the latest discoveries about how food affects our health.

My guest was Dr. Diane Stadler, professor of medicine and director of graduate programs in Human Nutrition at Oregon Health & Science University.

One of the first things we agreed on?

Food really is medicine.

I laughed remembering my Italian grandmothers feeding us what we used to call "peasant food"—beans, greens, fresh vegetables and simple meals from the garden. Funny how those same foods are now considered some of the healthiest things you can eat! As I joked on the show:

"Our ancestors already knew what to do... somewhere along the way we forgot."

Dr. Stadler explained that convenience and processed foods gradually replaced home cooking over the past several decades—and while they've made life easier, they've also made healthy eating more complicated.

A Few Big Takeaways

Whole foods still win. Whenever possible, choose foods closer to their natural form instead of heavily processed versions.

GLP-1 medications work—but nutrition still matters. As these weight-loss drugs become more common, researchers are emphasizing the importance of getting enough protein, vitamins, minerals, and exercise to help preserve muscle while losing weight.

Food safety matters too. With recent produce recalls making headlines, Dr. Stadler recommends buying whole vegetables when possible, washing them well, and preparing them yourself.

And my favorite surprise? The humble red pepper!

When I asked Diane why she always adds one to her salad, she smiled and said:

"Red peppers are one of the highest sources of vitamin A and vitamin C... they supercharge my day."

By the end of the interview I had officially declared:

"I'll always use a red pepper from now on because of Diane!"

Debservation:

Sometimes the newest science simply reminds us of what our grandparents and ancestors practiced all along.

Eat more real food. Move your body. Don't overcomplicate it.

That's the kind of wellness advice that never goes out of style.

This Week's Keeping the LIVE in Alive! Challenge

Add one extra colorful vegetable to your plate every day this week. Maybe it'll be a red pepper... like mine. :-)

Hope you enjoy our conversation.

Best! Debbie

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Right on time for wedding season—when blended families everywhere are blending for weddings, graduations, vacations, and all of life’s big special occasions—comes a story that just might inspire everybody to behave a little better at the family table. LOL.

Meet Andrea and Heidi: two New Jersey women, moms, grandmothers, successful professionals and small business owners who share something most women don’t.

They both married the same man.

Not at the same time, people. LOL.

Heidi married Dan when they were young. They had two daughters and jumped headfirst into parenthood together. Eventually, their marriage ended.

The marriage didn’t last—but the family they created did.

Heidi rebuilt her life, working as a personal trainer, helping in her family’s excavation business, and doing whatever it took to keep moving forward.

Then she met Bob—a kind man who owned a pizza place and, very importantly, made killer pizza. Heidi and Bob have now been happily married for 20 years and run a small business together.

Andrea also married young and had two daughters. Somehow, while raising a nursing baby and a toddler, she made it through law school and went on to become a lawyer and business advisor.

Because apparently, in Andrea’s family, moms just figured things out.

Years later, Andrea met Dan on Match.com—proving that sometimes it takes an international dating site to introduce you to the love of your life who lives just 11 miles away. LOL.

Andrea and Dan have now been together nearly 20 years, blending their families and building a life centered around their children and five grandchildren.

Andrea is Gigi.

Heidi is Grammy.

And together, they are...

Wives-In-Law.

And That’s Where This Story Gets Really Good

Andrea and Heidi could have chosen tension, competition, resentment—or simply kept their distance.

Instead, they chose to try.

The friendship didn’t happen overnight. It grew through patience, curiosity, awkward moments, misunderstandings, forgiveness, and a shared commitment to making life better—not harder—for the people they loved.

At first, they made the effort because they both adored their children and wanted to put them first.

But something unexpected happened along the way.

They discovered they actually liked each other!

Not tolerated each other.

Not politely smiled through family events.

Genuinely liked each other.

Today they share grandchildren, family celebrations, vacations, Broadway shows, late-night phone calls—and yes, even bacon festivals!

Their new book, Wives-In-Law, tells the wonderfully imperfect true story of what can happen when people choose respect over resentment, curiosity over competition, and connection over pride.

“Hi, I Really Have to Pee”

One of the things I loved most about my conversation with Andrea and Heidi was their honesty.

Heidi will tell you straight out: the divorce was not friendly.

And when she first met Andrea, she was intimidated.

There had been another relationship in Dan’s life before Andrea that hadn’t exactly brought out the best in Heidi, so naturally she wondered:

“Oh boy...what’s this one going to be like?”

Then Andrea showed up at Heidi’s house for the first time and basically said:

“Hi, I really have to pee.”

LOL.

Apparently, nothing breaks the ice like skipping the formalities and asking where the bathroom is.

Andrea remembers coming out of the bathroom to find Heidi waiting with a cold bottle of water and a smile.

And somehow, in those little human moments, the walls started coming down.

Over time, they discovered something we should all probably remember more often:

The stories we make up in our heads about other people are not always true.

Heidi assumed Andrea was confident and had it all together.

Then she discovered Andrea had insecurities too.

Heidi remembers admitting that it sometimes took her two hours to get dressed while throwing clothes all over the room.

Andrea’s response?

“Oh, me too.”

That’s the thing about women.

Sometimes we’re intimidated by another woman because we assume she has everything figured out—until we get to know her and realize she’s standing in front of her closet throwing clothes on the floor too.

They Don’t Pretend It’s Perfect

Here’s what else I loved about their story: they don’t pretend their friendship is perfect.

They still misunderstand each other. They get annoyed. They’ve had arguments.

The difference is—they talk about it.

They don’t automatically leave each other in the dust when feelings get hurt. They ask questions and work through things.

As Andrea said during our conversation:

Relationships are worth the effort.

That’s a message that goes way beyond blended families.

How many relationships might have turned out differently if we had asked one more question before making an assumption?

How many people have we misunderstood because we were reacting to a story in our own head instead of finding out what was actually true?

From “Ex-Husband” to “First Husband”

Heidi no longer refers to Dan as her ex-husband.

She calls him her first husband.

She says it feels softer.

Love that.

And perhaps one of the greatest unexpected gifts of her friendship with Andrea is that Heidi can now genuinely enjoy having Dan in her life again.

She can watch him be Grandpa to their grandsons. They can remember the good times without reopening the painful ones.

Think about what a gift that is—not only to Heidi and Dan, but to their daughters and grandchildren.

And the ripple effect has grown.

Their daughters have become friends too.

The grandchildren are growing up as friends, not just relatives.

And with another family wedding on the horizon, this blended family will once again be showing up together.

Not because it all happened by accident.

Because somebody had to go first.

Somebody had to choose curiosity over assumptions.

Somebody had to keep showing up.

And eventually, everybody won.

Sometimes Tuscany Isn’t Really the Dream

A few years ago, Andrea realized something every grandparent understands:

Childhood moves fast.

Six weeks doesn’t sound like a long time until you’re measuring it in missing teeth, longer legs, soccer goals, and grandchildren who somehow look older every time you see them.

Andrea had always imagined a magical family compound somewhere wonderful.

Maybe Tuscany.

But after a three-year house search, she and Dan found a home connected to her daughter’s neighborhood by a paved, almost fairy-tale-like walking path.

Now the grandchildren can bike, scooter, or walk over to Gigi’s house whenever they want.

Watching her five grandchildren grow up together and seeing the blended family become truly connected made Andrea realize something.

Tuscany was never really the dream.

This was.

DEBSERVATION

We spend a lot of time assuming relationships have to follow a certain script.

Ex-wife.

New wife.

Stepchildren.

Bonus children.

His family.

Her family.

Their family.

But what happens when people decide that labels matter less than love?

Andrea and Heidi threw out the script.

They put their children first. They chose respect over resentment. They gave each other grace. They talked through misunderstandings instead of walking away.

And along the way, they created a freundship neither of them expected.

Sometimes the person you think is going to complicate your life turns out to be one of the people who enriches it most.

And sometimes everybody wins because somebody was willing to go first.

A Book Dedication That Says It All

The dedication in Wives-In-Law beautifully sums up the heart of this whole story:

For our children and grandchildren.

You gave us the reason to choose love over pride, connection over conflict, and family over labels.

Meet Andrea Cataneo and Heidi Prudente on The Debbie Nigro Show.

Because the truth is, nobody tells you what happens after the divorce papers are signed.

Nobody hands you a script when your family expands in unexpected directions.

This conversation is proof that families don’t have to be perfect…

They just have to be willing to keep showing up for each other.

Now THAT’S Keeping the “LIVE” in Alive!

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Nothing like a fast-moving, inspiring, laugh-filled conversation about living longer, living louder… and refusing to sit quietly on the sidelines of life.

That’s exactly what happened on this week’s Wellness Wednesday edition of Keeping the “Live” in Alive! when I welcomed powerhouse guest Michael Clinton to The Debbie Nigro Show.

Michael — former president of Hearst Magazines and now founder of Roar Forward — joined me fresh off the launch of his bestselling new book, Longevity Nation, which was just selected by the prestigious Next Big Idea Club as one of the books expected to shape conversations for the year ahead.

And honestly? I can see why.

We’re Not Just Living Longer… We’re Living DIFFERENTLY

Michael shared a staggering reality:

“If you’re 65 and healthy, you may be living another 30 years.”

That changes EVERYTHING.

Career paths. Relationships. Retirement. Housing. Friendships. Purpose. Health. Identity.

Michael explained how countries like Japan already adapted to this “new longevity” mindset far faster than the United States — with cultures intentionally built around connection, community, and aging with dignity and engagement.

One statistic that stopped me cold?

“Today’s five-year-old has a 50% chance to live to 100.”

Whoa.

The Loneliness Problem Nobody Wants to Talk About

One of the most powerful parts of our conversation centered around loneliness — a major theme featured in a recent excerpt from Michael’s book.

Michael talked about how intentional human connection has become critical in longer lives.

And one of Michael’s BEST lines of the interview?

“Texting doesn’t count. You need flesh and blood togetherness.”

YES.

He encouraged people to schedule connection, make friendships multi-generational, travel together, gather more often, and stop assuming social interaction will magically happen on its own.

I loved hearing about his adventure travel community and how they intentionally stay connected in real life — not just online.

Meet the “Re-Imagineers”

One of my favorite concepts from Michael’s work is what he calls the “Re-Imagineers.”

These are people over 50 who suddenly realize:

“I may have another 25–30 GOOD years ahead of me… now what?”

And instead of slowing down, they’re:

• launching businesses
• learning new skills
• going back to school
• traveling
• creating
• starting second careers
• falling in love again
• reinventing themselves completely

Basically… my kind of people.

Michael pointed out that older entrepreneurs are often MORE successful because they have wisdom, relationship capital, industry knowledge, and perspective younger founders may not yet have.

I nearly jumped out of my chair because I’ve been saying this forever:

“Magic happens in the balance of talents between youth and wisdom.” - Debbie Nigro

Bottom Line?

This wasn’t a conversation about aging.

It was a conversation about POSSIBILITY.

About purpose. About staying curious. About refusing to emotionally retire from life. About finding new reasons to wake up excited.

As Michael said so beautifully, this generation is rewriting the script for what life after 50, 60, 70 — and beyond — can look like.

Enjoy this inspiring and important conversation with Michael Clinton, author of Longevity Nation on “Keeping the ‘Live’ in ‘Alive’! on The Debbie Nigro Show. It’s important insight into how the world of living longer has changed. It’s about living longer with purpose, fighting loneliness, reinvention after 50, and why the “Re-Imagineers” are redefining aging.

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My best gal pal tried to get me to try mushroom coffee over a year ago. I still haven’t tried it.

Recently more friends started mentioning they were drinking it. I thought OK well maybe I should look into it.

I’m not the biggest mushroom fan, though I do like them sauteed in olive oil well done and I'm always interested in a good marsala dish!

But you’ll never get me to eat a really wild mushroom that my other half (a former chef ) might pick up excitedly while foraging through the woods.

No matter how hard he tries to convince me that wild mushrooms are a delicacy, I refuse to 'go down' from an accidentally poisonous mushroom.

Because I follow trends, I have become aware that the trend of ‘functional mushrooms and things like mushroom coffee are… well mushrooming!

So, I decided to do a little research.

On my Wellness Wednesday: Keeping the “Live” in Alive! segment, I sat down with John P. Gorst, founder of Ancient Extracts, to understand what’s behind what is clearly becoming more than just a quirky health trend.

This Isn’t Fringe Anymore—It’s a Movement

Here’s what got my attention:

• Mushroom coffee interest has surged dramatically in the last 2–3 years
• It’s part of a multi-billion-dollar functional beverage category
• Some brands are already doing hundreds of millions in sales
• And it’s quietly making its way into mainstream retail

There is a definite shift in how people think about energy, focus, and daily rituals.

From Coffee Crashes to Steady Energy

John’s story was interesting.

He went from 3–4 lattes a day to trying mushroom coffee and noticing:

• No more afternoon crashes
• More consistent energy
• No desperate reach for a “power nap”

What’s Actually In Mushroom Coffee?

Functional mushroom ingredients like:

• Lion’s Mane for focus & mental clarity
• Reishi for calm & stress support
• Chaga & Cordyceps for energy & immunity

My guest John P. Gorst also mentioned something called 'Shilajit'.

What?

It’s a hundreds of years old mineral-rich substance that that stinks that literally oozes from Himalayan rocks high up in the mountains. John mixes this stuff every morning into his morning mushroom coffee.

I couldn’t help but ask; “Who is the heck is climbing these mountains to go get this stuff?

And what's the appeal?

John says ‘Shilajit’ …

• Is packed with trace minerals our bodies need
• Supports cellular energy
• Taps into the growing “replace what modern life depleted” mindset

Very Wild… but apparently very on trend.

Why This Trend Is Blowing Up Right Now

This is the bigger story.

We are in the middle of a “coffee that does more” revolution.

People don’t just want caffeine anymore.

They want:

• Focus without jitters
• Energy without crashes
• Daily habits that double as wellness tools

And yes… even decaf that actually gives you energy.

It’s a mindset shift.

Where This Is Going

Mushroom coffee is still a small slice of the overall coffee market, but it’s pointing to something much bigger:

The rise of functional everything The merging of wellness and convenience And consumers demanding more from everyday products

My Take?

I went into this conversation skeptical.

I came out thinking:

“Okay… there’s something here.”

I love innovation. I love when people rethink everyday habits. And I REALLY love when something helps people feel better in a smarter way.

So yes… I said it on-air, and I’ll say it here:

Ok fine fine fine… I’ll try the mushroom coffee.

John offered to send me some Ancient Extracts Mushroom Coffee to try.

I’ll report back.

Here’s a Thought to Consider

Maybe pay attention to the things that make you say: “That’s weird.”

Because more than not… those are the things quietly becoming what’s next.

Enjoy the mushroom education in this podcast of my live conversation with John P. Gorst, founder of Ancient Extracts on Wellness Wednesday on The Debbie Nigro Show where my focus is all about “Keeping the LIVE in Alive!”

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Sleep issues are a BIG deal—just ask someone who’s been up all night involuntarily.

More than half of all Americans have difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Good sleep is critical for "Keeping the 'Live' in 'Alive'!

I had a ‘Random Run In’ with Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD, a nutrition scientist and a pioneer in the field of sleep health.

I was on an Amtrak to Boston, and I happened to choose the seat next to her. She was working diligently on her computer. I kept sneaking peaks at the bright fun patterned shirt she was wearing that I finally figured out reminded me of my old Peter Max stationery I loved so much as a kid. She was focused so I was quiet.

At some point during the 3 ½ hour trip I asked what she was working on. (Couldn't help it - I'm a curious stranger talker)

That’s how I found out I was sitting next to a very big brain wrapped in a very small feminine body.

Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge PhD is THE 'go-to' expert on the connection between food and sleep.

Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD, is a nutrition scientist and a pioneer in the field of sleep health.

She is the author of Eat Better, Sleep Better: 75 Recipes and A 28-Day Meal Plan That Unlock the Food-Sleep Connection (A Cookbook). She wrote it in a fun recipe collaboration with Kat Craddock Editor-in Chief, CEO and owner of SAVEUR the legacy food magazine. Developed with ingredients that trigger the body’s dietary melatonin and serotonin, these recipes align with a Mediterranean diet and trigger a healthy circadian cycle, so you feel energetic during the day and ready for sleep at night.

Dr. Marie-Pierre is also the founding director of the Center of Excellence for Sleep and Circadian Research at Columbia University, and her cutting-edge research combines her unique expertise on sleep, nutrition, and weight management to address overall health related to sleep.

The Big Takeaway for Me From Our Amtrak Conversation Was Learning That Sleep and Food Are Powerfully Connected!

The way you eat affects how you sleep The way you sleep affects how you eat

It’s a loop… and if it’s broken? You feel it.

Dr. Marie-Pierre made it simple:

Better Diet = Better Sleep = Better Life

And not in a “perfect eating” way… in a real-life, doable, smart swaps kind of way.

So What Should We Actually Be Eating To Sleep Better?

No gimmicks here. Just smart, science-backed choices:

• Fiber-rich foods (hello whole grains)
• Healthy proteins (fish, salmon, nuts, seeds)
• Foods with tryptophan (the Thanksgiving turkey effect is real-ish )
• Balanced meals—not heavy, late-night overloads

And here’s something people don’t always realize Dr Marie mentioned:

Alcohol may help you fall asleep… but it messes with your sleep later.

And Wait… “Sweets for Sleep”? I’m Listening…

Now THIS caught my attention.

There are actually desserts designed to SUPPORT sleep—like:

• Sesame shortbread cookies
• Chamomile ginger panna cotta

They’re: Lower in sugar Thoughtfully balanced Built with ingredients that help your body relax

So yes… you can have your dessert and your sleep. Just smarter.

Timing Matters More Than You Think

One thing I loved learning from Dr. Marie?

This isn’t about a “magic bedtime snack.”

It’s about your entire day of eating.

Because your body needs time to:

• Digest
• Absorb
• Convert nutrients (like tryptophan into sleep-supporting compounds)

This is a lifestyle—not a quick fix. But it matters.

And About Those Sleep Trackers…

I had to ask.

Her answer? Refreshingly sane:

Use them Learn from them BUT… don’t let them run your life

Because how you feel still matters.

My Debservation?

We spend so much time chasing energy… …but we ignore the foundation of it—sleep.

And if food is part of the solution?

That’s empowering.

Because it means we have more control than we think.

Now back to Dr. Marie-Pierre

I have no clue when this sleep expert has time to sleep. Lol

She’s a very busy woman!

Born and educated in Québec, Canada, Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge lives with her family in New Jersey. When I met her on Amtrak, she was working on a presentation that she was supposed to have made in person in Chicago that day. However, airplane delays landed her instead on the Amtrak to Boston where she would do the presentation virtually and still be in the right place for another yet another presentation in Boston.

Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD is the recipient of an Outstanding Investigator Award from the NHLBI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) at the NIH, and she is a Fulbright Scholar as well as a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine.

She has authored close to 170 peer-reviewed publications and received scientific achievement awards from the American Heart Association and American Society for Clinical Nutrition.

Amazing right?

But Even Sleep Experts Get Tired.

I noticed after typing for hours in the seat next to me that Dr. Marie-Pierre had started to doze off.

When she woke up I offered her a sample Alert Pop™.

What are the chances?

I was on Amtrak that day heading to Boston to meet a major distributor for a new product called Alert Pop™! I’m a Founding Partner of the company behind this new 'better for you' sugar free caffeinated functional energy lollipop that was invented by my partner Stephen Caldwell to help prevent drowsy driving.

Did you know 1 in 25 drivers admit to falling asleep at the wheel?

I figured Dr. Marie could appreciate the purpose of the product and told her I’d love her opinion.

She liked it! Perked her right up. I thought maybe we could somehow collaborate.

Anyway, we exchanged contacts and honestly, I felt she was way too impressive a ‘random run in’ to keep to myself. So, I'm sharing her and her knowledge with you all today on my Wellness Wednesday Show.

Listen to the Full Interview

If you missed it, here’s my conversation with Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge PhD on The Debbie Nigro Show.

It's packed with insights that could genuinely change how you feel every single day.

And it starts with a simple and powerful premise...

What you eat today will determine how you sleep tonight.

And 'Good Sleep' is key to “Keeping the Live in Alive! “

Best! Debbie

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Keeping the “Live” in Alive! – This Week’s Wellness Wednesday Recap of the upbeat show and podcast.

By Debbie Nigro

There’s a massive global shift happening—and it’s all about longevity.

Not just living longer… Living BETTER, longer.

We’re talking:

• Adding life to your years
• Not accepting “my best days are behind me”
• A whole new chapter mindset

Your BEST chapter might be coming… but only if you act like it matters.

“Longevity isn’t about adding years to your life—it’s about adding more LIFE to your years.”

That’s the whole vibe behind this week’s Wellness Wednesday— from longevity science to lollipops… and astronauts circling the moon.

World Health Day Happened Again

It is celebrated annually and each year draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world.

The 2026 Movement Theme?: "Together for health. Stand with science."

The multicultural year long campaign spotlights both scientific achievements and the multicultural cooperation. Needed to turn evidence into action.

The date of 7 April marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948.

Neuro Wellness Is the New Frontier

Okay THIS was wild…

Welcome to Neuro Wellness—aka: Technology that can track and regulate your nervous system in real time.

We’re moving from:

• “I feel stressed” TO
• “Here’s the DATA showing you’re burned out”

Think:

• Nervous system tracking
• Mental fitness training
• Real-time stress + resilience measurement

I mean… imagine your burnout showing up like a weather report?

Found a very enlightening article on Outside Online which sparked much of my conversation today.

The Rise of High-Tech Longevity Clinics

This one blew my mind…

Places like Fountain Life are popping up offering:

• Advanced AI diagnostics
• Early disease detection
• Full-body scans BEFORE symptoms show up

And yes… Tony Robbins is involved in this one.

The big idea: Stop reacting to illness… start predicting it and get ahead of it.

Would you want to know everything that might go wrong with your body in advance?

I’m still deciding.

Sleep Optimization Is a Whole Thing Now

Sleep is no longer just… sleep.

It’s:

• Hormones
• Brain recovery
• Longevity
• Metabolism
• EVERYTHING

And yes… There are now:

• Sleep trackers
• Wearables
• Circadian rhythm experts (shoutout to my Amtrak seatmate!)

Also—fun fact: Babies in Norway nap OUTSIDE in the cold (And apparently sleep better beacuse of it according to some Norwegians I ran into)

We Are Overcomplicating Wellness

Hot take from me this week:

I read we are OVERCOMPLICATING wellness. I agree.

Sometimes the answer is:

• Call a friend
• Laugh harder
• Get out of your house
• Talk to actual humans

Because: Connection = Energy Energy = Life

That’s it. That’s what I have always known.

My Tai Chi Experiment (Yes… really)

I tried Tai Chi at home (rather than embarrass myself first time doing it in a park by a stream)

Tai chi is often described as "meditation in motion," but it might well be called "medication in motion, according to an article from Harvard Medical School.

I’m trying it to try and shore up my balance. (Tipping over trying to put on a pair of pants is seriously unacceptable)

Tai chi is a low impact, "meditation in motion" practice that combines slow, graceful movements with deep breathing to improve physical and mental health.

Key benefits include improved balance and reduced fall risk in older adults, enhanced flexibility, increased muscle strength, stress reduction and better cardovascular health, making it an accessible exercise for all fitness levels.

And WOW.

Turns out: Breathing alone can energize your entire body

Who knew the thing we do for free… …could be that powerful?

Could be the perfect activity for the rest of your life!

NASA, Artemis II & A Little Perspective

Quick detour to outer SPACE (as one does on occasion…)

NASA’s Artemis II mission had people buzzing again—and it reminded me there’s still so much wonder in the world.

And reminded me that we are lucky there are some very brave people in the world willing to “Risk It! or Reget It!” on behalf of all of us.

When this radio show was live, the Artemis Crew was still up in space. I wanted to see what they were seeing so I went onto NASA’s website and sat virtually inside a spacecraft online.

TOO COOL and also hard to process that we humans and other life actually exist on this spinning planet.

The Artemis Crew has since safely returned to earth after a 10-day record setting mission. The four astronauts traveled farther from earth than any humans in 50 years.

I’m thrilled we are collectively appreciating the NASA space missions again like so many of us grew up witnessing in awe together.

I’d like to personally salute and thank the astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover. Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen

And loved that Artemis II Commander Reid Weisman and his crew named a moon crater "Carroll" after his late wife Caroll Taylor Wiseman who passed away from cancer in 2020. The touching tribute was announced by fellow astronaut Jeremy Hansen during the crew's lunar fly-around on April 6, 2026, as a memorial to her life.

He sincerely loved her to the moon and back.

Wellness Trends You Should Know (2026 Edition)

The Whole Summary

The Inside Word Straight from the Outside Magazine piece called:

"Tech, Sleep Tracking, and Social Fitness: Where Health and Wellness Is Heading in 2026"

'Wellness culture is shifting away from quick fixes.'

Big trends include:

• Metabolic health focus
• GLP-1 weight loss drugs (with caution!)
• Social fitness (goodbye lonely workouts!)
• Alcohol-free social clubs
• Run clubs & community wellness

Translation: Wellness is becoming SOCIAL again—and I love that.

I’ve written a book to help encourage people to get out and talk to one another in person as much as possible. It’s called “How To Talk To Strangers - Advice from a Professional Stranger Talker”

It’s an ebook and an audio book too that I recorded myself. It’s on Amazon.

Viral Nutrition Hacks (Worth It or Not?)

I also read in Outside Online about the upside and the downside of some trending health ‘hacks’.

They spoke of...

Apple cider vinegar shots Fiber-maxing (more important than Vitamin C!) Water stacking (careful—too much is dangerous!) Chipotle “health bowl” hack

Alert Pop™ – My “Secret Weapon” for Staying More Alive

Had to sneak this in…

If you missed it: I’ve been working on Alert Pop™ (sugar-free caffeinated lollipops for a year. They recently launched online and you’ll soon be seeing them at retail locations around the country.

Why Alert Pop™ matters:

• Created to fight drowsy driving
• Gentle energy boost
• No overload on caffeine like energy drinks which can actually harm you.

And … Alert Pop™ works FAST because of how it absorbs in your mouth.

(Watermelon, Blue Raspberry and Espresso which is my favorite )

I am a Founding Partner.

Check them out at AlertPop.com and feel free to use my discount code DN20 for 20% off.

Debbie’s End of Show “Daily Toast”

“If you want to be happy… Don’t live in the past. Don’t worry about the future. Live fully in the present.”

Because the present? It’s a gift.

Final Thought

This whole show comes down to one thing:

You don’t just want to be alive… You want to feel ALIVE!

• Try something new
• Call someone you love
• Take care of your body AND your mind

And remember…

In the immortal words of myself lol

“If ya still got a pulse… ya still got a shot!” -

Debservations

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Okay… BIG moment.

I'm finally shared something I’ve been working on behind the scenes for almost a year—and let me tell you… it’s one of those “how did this even happen?!” stories that I LOVE.

It all started with a random LinkedIn connection.

You know how sometimes you just click with someone instantly? That’s exactly what happened when Stephen Caldwell connected with me—serial entrepreneur, big thinker, and now… my partner-in-good-commotion.

What started as a simple connection turned into a wildly exciting collaboration built on mutual respect, shared energy, and what I like to call a perfect “balance of talents.”

Let’s just say I think Stephen Caldwell is a genius inventor!

And I aint so bad myself when it comes to helping take a great idea to the moon. (Well not the actual moon however come to think of it - since we did go to the moon again this week for the first time in a long while - maybe I should think about getting this product on the next moon trip? Hmm. I'll tuck that away for now, but that's kinda how I think . Hello NASA? Hi It's Debbie Nigro. LOL)

And now… I can finally introduce you to what we’ve been working on.

Meet Alert Pop™ (Yes… It’s Exactly What You Might Think It Is)

Alert Pop™ is a sugar-free caffeinated lollipop made with organic green tea caffeine designed to help combat drowsy driving.

Yep. A lollipop—with a purpose.

But it’s quickly becoming so much more than that.

It’s a better-for-you energy option for anyone who needs a little lift without the jitters, crash, or overload—and honestly, the response so far has been incredible.

I did not invent it. Stephen did! But wow I’m proud to say I’m a Founding Partner, from out of the gate (actually since the moment the idea came out of his mouth) Stephen has a background in creating and manufacturing food products, so he knew and I knew he could bring this product to life. And he did!

And based on the level of interest we’re seeing? This feels like it’s going to be a BIG winner.

Why This Little Pop Packs a Punch

Here’s what makes Alert Pop™ so cool:

• Sugar-free (yes please )
• Caffeine equals about ½ cup of coffee per pop
• Made with organic green tea caffeine
• We’re adding L-theanine + B vitamins for focus
• No jitters. No crash.
• Flavors: Espresso / Blue Raspberry / Watermelon
• And… they actually taste GREAT.

But here’s the real kicker…

It’s not just about the caffeine—it’s about how your body absorbs it.

Because it’s a lollipop, the oral stimulation keeps your brain engaged while delivering energy more efficiently.

Who knew?! (Apparently… Stephen did. )

My Real-Life “Alert Pop Moment”

True story…

I’m sitting in my car in a dark supermarket parking lot around dinner time—exhausted, answering texts and emails, trying to convince myself to get out of the car and go food shopping.

All I could think was… I need coffee.

Then I remembered—I had Alert Pop™ samples in the car.

I literally laughed out loud as I opened the espresso flavor thinking, “Let’s see if this actually works…”

It worked.

Up. Moving. Shopping. Back in action.

(And slightly amused that a lollipop just saved dinner LOL )

The Story Behind Alert Pop™ (This One Matters)

This isn’t just a clever idea—it’s a meaningful one.

Stephen is a family guy. Father of 5. Four are girls. He calls himself a Girl Dad. Married to Lory his partner in life and business forever. It was joyful meeting up with him and Lory and two of Stephens kids Lizzie and Alli Grace for the first time last September in Las Vegas. More good energy.

When Stephen joined me here on The Debbie Nigro Show, he shared the moment that sparked everything—and it will get your attention for sure.

His daughter Alli Grace ( in the photo wearing white) told him about a close college friend who fell asleep at the wheel after working and studying all night nonstop.

He totaled his car.

Walked away… thankfully.

But it could have been very different.

And like all of us, Stephen had that immediate thought:

That could have been my daughter. That could have been me. That could have been anyone.

That night, he woke up at 2AM and wrote down two words:

Alert Pop™

And just like that… the journey began.

Let This Sink In…

1 in 25 drivers admits to falling asleep at the wheel.

And those are just the ones who admit it.

We’ve ALL had those moments…

“Wait… how did I just pass three exits?”

So yes—this is a product.

But it’s also a purpose-driven solution to a very real problem.

Big News… and We’re Just Getting Started

Things are moving FAST:

• Named Top 5 Best New Product (out of thousands!) at a major upcoming national trade show
• Stephen gets to present on the main stage in Las Vegas direct to top retailers
• Launching in travel rest stops nationwide this summer
• Getting massive love from:
• Students
• Busy professionals
• Healthcare workers
• Moms-on-the-move
• And yes… my 82-year-old Aunt Linda in Florida.

(Aunt Linda is literally handing them out to her friends so they can keep up with her—iconic.)

And let me just say…

The espresso flavor? People are OBSESSED.

Like… hiding-it-from-your-friends obsessed.

Male Power & Female Power + Great Partnerships = Magic

I have been very fortunate along the way to work with and still do - some incredibly brilliant men at the very top of their game.

Men like Stephen Caldwell. Men who are ‘best in class’ at what they do and ‘best in class’ in how they treat the women in business who they work with - with total respect and appreciation. It matters.

One of my favorite parts of this journey is the entire incredible team behind it—which includes powerhouse men yes but also other totally amazing powerhouse women helping bring this to life.

No ego. All energy. Total collaboration.

(You KNOW I love that.)

And working with Stephen?

Like I said I call him a ‘genius’. He calls me an “energy bomb”

And together? Let’s just say—we’re on a roll.

The Bigger Picture

This is about more than a product.

It’s about:

• Staying safe
• Making smarter choices
• Finding better-for-you energy alternatives
• And proving that great ideas often come from real-life problems that need solving

In this case?

Drowsy driving was the problem. Alert Pop™ became the solution.

Final Thought (Because You Know I Always Have One…)

If you’ve still got a pulse—you’ve still got a shot.

And maybe… just maybe…

Now you’ve got a better way to stay awake for it.

Now THAT’S what I call Keeping the “Live” in Alive!

Enjoy the podcast of my conversation with Alert Pop™ inventor Stephen Caldwell on The Debbie Nigro Show!

If you’d rather read than listen, the full transcript is below.

The Debbie Nigro Show airs on Wellness Wednesdays | 11–12 Noon Because it’s all about Keeping the “LIVE” in Alive! (because the alternative isn’t as festive )

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Some days on the show just feel good from the first minute… and this was one of them.

I kicked off rocking my “Attitude is Everything” mug, reminding myself—and all of you—that good energy is a choice!

And on Wellness Wednesday, I’m all about finding ways for us all to feel more alive, more connected, and honestly… more joyful.

And guess what? Science says I’m onto something.

The Science of Laughter (Yes, It’s a Real Thing!)

Came upon a story about—the science behind why we laugh.

Turns out… laughter isn’t just about something being funny. It’s actually:

• A bonding signal
• A social connector
• A built-in way to reduce tension and build trust

Basically… if you laugh with someone, you’re already halfway to a wonderful connection.

I’ve used humor in business my whole life. It disarms people, breaks tension, and creates connection FAST.

Let’s just say… if you don’t have a sense of humor, we’re probably not hanging out anytime soon.

My “Secret” Project Revealed: Alert Pop™

Okay… BIG moment. I finally shared something I’ve been working on behind the scenes for almost a year with an amazing entrepreneur and inventor with comparable energy to mine who really sparked me.

We met blindly on LinkedIn over a year and a half ago when he randomly connected with me and we just clicked, and our mutually respectful and exciting ‘balance of talents’ partnership just took off.

I will introduce you all to him personally in a moment but first….

Meet: Alert Pop™

It’s a sugar-free caffeinated lollipop (yes, you read that right) invented to help combat drowsy driving—but it’s turning into so much more.

It’s not only a product with a purpose but it’s an innovative ‘better for you’ energy option when you need a ‘little lift’ to focus that has everybody and their mother interested in it. Honestly, it’s one of the most exciting products I’ve ever worked on. I am a Founding Partner and I sense by the non-stop inquiries and high level of interest from retailers, that this product looks like it’s going to be a HUGE winner.

Here’s why else I’m excited:

• The Alert Pop™ lollipops are sugar free
• Each pop = about ½ cup of coffee
• They’re made with organic green tea caffeine
• No jitters, no crash
• Three Flavors: Espresso / Blue Raspberry/ Watermelon
• And honestly… they taste great.

My Real-life Alert Pop Moment: I was sitting in my car around dinner time in the dark, in the supermarket parking lot wrapping up a slew of emails and texts on my iPhone trying to get the energy to get out of my car - to go food shopping. I was tired and wishing I had a cup of coffee. Aha! I remembered I had Alert Pop™ samples in the car. I honestly laughed to myself sitting there, as I tore open my espresso lollipop hoping it was my solution. Sure enough, it did the trick. Up. Moving. Food shopping. Back in action. Lol

The Story Behind Alert Pop™ (This One Matters)

I brought on Alert Pop™ inventor and serial entrepreneur Stephen Caldwell to introduce him to you all so together we could share the back story behind his invention.

Stephen was on a family vacation with his college age daughters when one told him about her close college pal who fell asleep at the wheel after working and studying nonstop. Totaled his car. Walked away—but it could’ve been very different. Horrible story that stuck with Stephen. It could have been his own daughter. Could have been him. Could have been anyone.

Stephen woke up in the middle of the night on vacation and wrote down “Alert Pop™”.

Here’s the reality: 1 in 25 drivers admits to falling asleep at the wheel

Let that sink in.

So, this isn’t just a product—it’s a purpose-driven innovation.

Stephen has a background in creating and manufacturing food products, so he knew he could bring this product to life. And he did!

Now almost one year later Alert Pop™ has launched.

And lucky me … I’m honored to work side by side with Stephen as Founding Partner to get this amazing product out into the universe.

Listen in as we both share what’s been going on behind the scenes with Alert Pop™ leading up to now - and what’s ahead!

Teeth, Humor & “Life Happens” Moments

Because no Debbie show is complete without a little real life…

I shared my ongoing dental saga (thank you, chemo side effects ), including:

• Test driving my “new teeth” while my dentist is on vacation
• Wondering if I looked like the Easter Bunny
• And laughing through it anyway because what else can I do?

I mentioned a relevant humorous story proving I don’t own the ‘dental mental’ market.

Seems a poor gorgeous beauty pageant contestant had her veneers fell out mid-speech…

…and she calmly popped them back in and kept going.

THAT, my friends, is resilience with style! Gotta love her.

Like I always say “Attitude is Everything!”

Get Outside—It Changes Everything

One of my biggest Keeping the “Live” in Alive! habits?

Get outside.

I’ve officially become… wait for it… a tree hugger

Not kidding:

• Flowers pushing through the dirt
• Buds forming on trees
• Ducks back on the water

It’s like nature whispering: “Hey… we’re back. So are you.”

And I posted this Italian phrase and some nature photos on my social media that really stuck with me:

“Finché c’è vita, c’è speranza.”

Translated to English…

“As long as there is life, there is hope.”

If you know me you know… I’m a dealer in hope .

Best Parks in America (Including One Close to my Home!)

Speaking of being outside…

I found out Bruce Park in Greenwich; CT is nominated as one of the Best City Parks in the U.S.

USA Today is asking for entries from around the U.S.

And it got me thinking about all the incredible places where people just… slow down.

A few standouts:

• Balboa Park (San Diego) – 1,200 acres of magic
• Central Park (NYC) – untouched perfection in chaos
• Golden Gate Park (San Francisco)
• Little Island (NYC) – a floating park (!)

There’s something powerful about a place where:

You’re allowed to just sit No rushing No pressure

We all need more of that.

Nigel Barker, Espresso Martinis & a Night to Remember

Quick highlight from a fabulous night…

I hosted a fireside chat with Nigel Barker at the Townsend Cinema a luxury 40-seat theater inside the Hyatt Regency Greenwich (yes, it’s as cool as it sounds).

And let me tell you:

• Nigel talks more than I do (I know… shocking )
• His Barker Espresso Martini & Cappuccino Martini? DELICIOUS
• And the whole experience? Next-level

Movies. Martinis. Conversation. Lovely night.

Traditions, Memories & My Mom

Ridiculous Random Sweet Memory

During the commercial break before the end of the show, my engineer Bob out of the blue just randomly handed me my late mother’s prayer card.

Said he found it in the parking lot—just before it went down a drain.

Seriously? Didn’t see that coming.

Must have fallen out of my car in the radio station parking lot one day.

Thought I would share:

• My mother rides with me on my car visor every day.
• Easter is coming… and I still haven’t made her sweet pies (again )

Reminded me:

We all try and carry on family holiday traditions.

And ‘Italian guilt’ is endless.

Spring = Comeback Season

Here’s my theory…

People who live through winter? We’re built for COMEBACKS.

Because when spring hits, we go:

• Let’s bike!
• Let’s walk!
• Let’s clean everything!
• Let’s try pickleball!
• Let’s LIVE!

And then… we get exhausted just thinking about it

But still… The energy shift is REAL

Final Thought: Whatever Turns You On—Do More of That

That’s the whole point of this show.

To spark you to find more:

• Joy
• Energy
• Curiosity
• Connection
• New things to try (even ugar free caffeinated lollipops )

Because…

“If you’ve still got a pulse, you’ve still got a shot!”

Debservations

Attitude is Everything, baby.

Hope you enjoy the podcast of the live show from the WGCH Radio Studios in Greenwich, CT.

(Show is live 11-12noon EST Wednesday on air and online at WGCH.com)

If you’d rather read than listen the transcript of the audio is below.

Follow the show on FB The Debbie Nigro Show or follow me on Instagram @therealdebbienigro, or on LinkedIn ‘Debbie Nigro’

Debbie 💛

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Some people do their best thinking on a walk. Me? I do my best thinking in the shower.

So I was thinking in the shower about how “The Most Interesting Man in the World” is back — yes, that guy, Jonathan Goldsmith, returning as the Dos Equis spokesperson after a ten-year hiatus, now with a funny “amnesia” twist and a whole lot of nostalgia.

And while I do appreciate a sexy, wise older gentleman with an open collar and a “stay thirsty, my friends” vibe, my shower thoughts flowed to this thought:

“Okay… but where is the campaign for “The Most Interesting WOMAN in the World?" Who the heck is SHE?

Because if we’re being honest, she’s probably not lounging around with a beer plotting her next adventure.

She may be plotting but she’s got a ‘sh*tload of things to finish first before cracking open a beer or pouring a glass of wine or doing whatever relaxes her.

So WHO IS SHE?

By Jove I thought to myself, “The Most Interesting WOMAN in the World” is… WE!

WE meaning – all the women over 50 (and there are plenty I tell ya!) with wisdom, passion and purpose —out there in the world 'still in the game', who’ve been there, done that, – and are still swinging against all odds most days.

I was thinking, SHE likely has wrinkles, uses reading glasses, has a very busy brain, likely has a demanding job or business or demanding caretaking obligation. And most likely has a huge heart that still puts everyone else first. Hmmm. Sounds a lot like me. Sound like you? Or someone you know?

Oh - and she buys a boatload of stuff. Like Me.

"The Most Interesting Woman in the World". Hmmm.

She’s the woman who:

• might not have a giant social media following… but has massive word-of-mouth power
• buys everything for everybody (herself, the household, the kids, the grandkids, the nieces, the nephews… and probably the neighbor)
• is old-school but open to new things (especially if they promise better health, more energy, fewer annoyances or promise to make her look younger.)

“The Most Interesting WOMAN in the World” Takes Risks!

Yes, she does!

So who am I not to?

Especially since I’m the one always pushing others to: “Risk It! or Regret It!

I decided to RISK turning on my phone camera to record an opening segment of my radio show on 'video' as well as audio, so you could SEE what you usually don’t when I do my live radio show.

Yup, you can see how I talk with my hands and see the products I brought in from my house for ‘show and tell’ on the air that day.

It was not a comfortable decision. I've been avoiding video.

I do not love my looks these days, but I did it.

And now I’m cool because I created a live radio show, that’s partially on video, that’s also a podcast, and has been turned into short media clips for other social media channels to drive back to the full video opening of my radio show on You Tube, that may encourage people to go and listen to the rest of the audio of my podcast - and maybe tune in live to the radio show.

Full disclosure: All this effort did not burn a calorie. The live radio show is easy. I’ve been doing live radio so long I could do it in my sleep. It’s all the other new pieces of the media pie - the audio /podcast /video/blog /social media puzzle, that takes quite an effort.

I’ll tell ya this much. AI filters are much cheaper than Botox, and figuring all this out was mentally exhausting.

HOWEVER! “WE… “The Most Interesting Women In the World” cannot stay interesting… if we do not embrace new knowledge and take new risks!

Ok so …For fun I brought some products from my house to the radio studio that “The Most Interesting WOMAN in the World” might own for ‘show and tell’.

• Centrum Women 50+ MultiGummy (because we’re doing our best to not fall apart like cheap patio furniture)
• Saline nasal spray (a product we somehow didn’t grow up with but now feels like a household essential. Who knew. Right?)
• Lume deodorant 72-hour protection! (Once I got past the initial awkward TV commercial with the Founder focusing on where else this stuff can make me smell nice - I decided to just get on board for the 72 hours under my arms so I’d have one less thing to worry about - just in case I forgot.)
• A gadgety little YCZ Electric Massage Pro eye tool my daughter politely gave me as a gift to try and HELP me. (warm, glowy, red light-ish… fine fine we’re trying new things!)
• Costco Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil (because it’s a BIG bottle of quality olive oil that tastes great straight from my peeps back in Italy at a great price. If I’m going to “do better,” I want food that tastes like it loves me back)
• Morning Kick by Chuck Norris (I took his quiz, got labeled a “rapid ager,” and immediately decided I need Chuck to back me freakin up. I’m testing it and kinda love it)

Also, because of the nonstop flow of information these days I always come across a lot of ‘who knew’ stuff I find out that I want to share. Like that dry roasted peanuts build your telomeres. Yup. Short telomeres equal short life. So, I stole my Dave’s peanuts for show and tell. He now brags he’s younger because he eats them, and now I have to eat them just to have my telomeres catch up. (I tell ya being interesting is a nonstop sport.)

And because "The Most Interesting Woman in the World" is also likely starting to blow some body parts… I showed off a flyer featuring that great gal Evelyn the physical therapist from ProClinix who’s been workin’ on me helping to get me get back in the game! (which starts with me getting on and off the table).

And because "The Most Interesting Woman in the World" also wants to have as much fun as possible before she’s dead… I also discussed just how many companies are pitching me to come have fun with them. Like the Royal Caribbean cruise line that begs me by email almost daily to sail away with them again, and again, and again.

YES, YES, "The Most Interesting Woman in the World" – The collective ‘WE’ – want to have more FUN!

We’re open. Where are we going? We’re IN!

Just can’t be the same day we’re already booked. Like on a day we have a Dr. or dentist appointment or are taking someone else to a Dr. or a dentist appt. Can’t be on a day when a plumber is coming to the house or on a day when we have an appointment, meeting, a zoom, going to a kids sports event or when we’re babysitting. Oh, or when we’ve got a hair appt. And it can’t be anything that starts too late at night or requires us to drive far in bad weather.

Other than we’re free. LOL

Here’s what I touched on the rest of the show

The “anti-marketing” protein bar that’s winning the protein wars is simply DAVID and why some brands win without screaming.

Apparently, a protein bar called David is crushing it, partly because it’s doing the opposite of what every loud, neon, influencer-filled protein brand is doing. Simple subway ads. Tons of white space. A sleek package. No drama.

And the numbers? Wild. The brand’s buzz has been building like a cult favorite, with big fundraising and serious sales projections. I first tasted them at a National Women’s Pickleball Foundation event and immediately understood the strategy: get it in people’s mouths first — then they’ll come looking for it later. (That’s marketing.)

Then I found our there’s a New personality label: “Otrovert”

“Wait… is that me?”

Otrovert (from “otro,” meaning “other”) is basically someone who can look extroverted and function socially just fine…but actually recharges best alone or in quieter settings. Observant, sensitive to group dynamics, craving real connection… and sometimes leaving a room feeling oddly separate.

The takeaway? Pressure’s off. You’re allowed to be social AND need silence. You’re allowed to shine AND need downtime. Be who you are. (I support this message.)

Divorce rings are a thing (and yes, I have thoughts)

And then—because my brain is a pinball machine—we hit a British Vogue trend: divorce ring parties. Women re-setting stones from old engagement rings into new jewelry to mark a fresh chapter. It’s community, champagne, and a little “we’re going to be okay.”

Whenever I speak of divorce, I always like to point out that divorce is painful. A broken dream. No matter who’s fault it is. Even when it’s necessary, it has a long emotional tail. So, if you’re in that chapter: I hope you find your next “happily ever after,” whatever that looks like.

Also: Walking sharks. That’s it. That’s the sentence.

ScienceDaily had me staring into the void with this headline: walking sharks that apparently break rules of reproduction without a measurable increase in energy use. Do I need this information? No. Did I share it anyway? Absolutely. Because that’s what I do. Discover stuff and share it.

Ozempic marketing, sweatpants history, and the courage to turn on the camera

I also touched on:

• Novo Nordisk leaning into a “Get a Mac”-style ad throwback to clarify Ozempic’s FDA-approved uses (marketing is getting very nostalgic lately)
• International Sweatpants Day, and the fact that sweatpants evolved from athletic wear to “I live here now” fashion (and yes, I did also mention the origins)

And threading through all of it was my own little “new era” moment: I turned on a camera in the studio—even though I’m not exactly thrilled about it—because staying relevant means shifting with the times. It means blending wisdom with new tools, learning new stuff, and continuing to show up.

Because “The Most Interesting Woman in the World” isn’t one person. She’s all of us. Especially those of us learning how not to let getting older get in the way of being us.

The Daily Toast (because I always end the show with a little sparkle)

I closed with a quote I loved from Dr. Steve Maraboli:

“There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself…”

Amen, Dr. Maraboli.

And my personal sign-off still stands:

‘Someday’ Has Arrived… It’s Time to Roll!

Onward!

Debbie

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When Travel, Humor & Human Connection Collide: A Joyful Conversation with Melissa Rodway

Some of the best stories on The Debbie Nigro Show start with a “premonition.” You know… that little voice that says to someone, “I should reach out to Debbie.” And when that voice belongs to someone with great energy, curiosity, and a whole lotta heart? I listen.

That’s exactly how I connected with Melissa Rodway—Toronto-based travel storyteller, longtime host of Fly Travel Radio, part-time adventurer, occasional stand-up comic, and author of the five-star Amazon hit The People You Meet.

And let me tell you… this conversation was pure joy.

From Airport Observations to Life Adventures

Melissa’s book was born from heartfelt emails she sent home while traveling through Southeast Asia and China—emails so good, friends begged for more. Sixteen years later, she finally turned them into a book. (Proof that timing is everything, people!)

Right out of the gate, she hooks you with humor—like watching President Obama on TV in an airport while wondering why the woman next to her didn’t care… “Maybe she already has dental.” 😂

That’s Melissa. Observant. Funny. Relatable.

Travel, Romance & Letting Your Guard Down

We talked about how travel changes you—how being on the road makes you more open, more authentic, and more willing to connect.

That’s how she met “the guy.” Yes, that guy. A fellow cyclist. Same passions. Same energy. A long-distance love story born on a trip.

And as Melissa so beautifully put it: sometimes travel romances stay where they began… and sometimes you bring them home and say, “Oh boy… now I have to fit this human into my life.”

(Relatable?)

The Magic of Noticing the Little Things

One of my favorite parts of her book? The tiny moments.

Like discovering a self-sanitizing toilet seat cover in a public bathroom for the first time—and wishing her grandmother could’ve seen it. If you’ve ever heard a grandma yell, “Put paper on the seat!” from another stall, you felt that one.

Melissa gets it: the little things are what connect us.

Leeches, Luxury & Life Lessons

We also dove into her wild jungle hike in Laos—three days, brutal heat, not enough water, and… leeches. Everywhere.

On the flip side? Traveling with a luxury trip designer boyfriend meant fancy hotels, endless pools, and the pressure to “do it all” in 24 hours.

Her takeaway? The best stories don’t always come from luxury. They come from real life.

Amen to that.

Strangers Who Don’t Stay Strangers

At the heart of Melissa’s book is this beautiful idea: the people you meet while traveling often leave lasting marks on your life.

Like the fearless, wildly eccentric 70-year-old woman who wandered through Asia like she owned the place. Brilliant one moment. Totally unpredictable the next. A reminder that courage has no age limit.

Some connections last. Some don’t. But all of them matter.

Why This Conversation Mattered

What I loved most about Melissa is her honesty. She’s not a “perfect Instagram traveler.” She’s real. Curious. Thoughtful. Sometimes uncomfortable. Always growing.

Her stories remind us that:

• You don’t have to be fearless to be adventurous
• You don’t have to be perfect to be inspiring
• And you never know which stranger will change you

That’s life. That’s travel. That’s storytelling.

Final Thought

If you love travel stories, human connection, honest conversations, and a good laugh (and you know I do!), The People You Meet is for you.

And if you missed our chat, don’t worry—here’s the podcast of our conversation so you can come along for the ride.

Because in a world that moves fast, stories like this remind us why slowing down, paying attention, and connecting still matters.

Onward!

Debbie

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Some conversations stop you in your tracks—in the very best way. This Wellness Wednesday on The Debbie Nigro Show, I met a man whose story is the definition of still in the game.

Meet B.J. Odom—radio veteran, comedian, podcaster, author, and a living, breathing miracle. B.J. has survived two transplants (a heart and a kidney), multiple surgeries, radiation treatments, and a lifetime of medical curveballs that started before he was even two years old. Doctors once told his parents he likely wouldn’t live past his teens. He’s now 70 years young… and funnier than ever.

His memoir, More Parts Than a Chicken Nugget, is exactly what the title promises—honest, heartfelt, humorous, and full of perspective. From growing up as a farm boy in Indiana, to a decades-long career in radio and comedy, to navigating life with transplanted organs and relentless optimism, B.J.’s story is all about resilience, second chances, and the power of attitude.

And trust me—this man’s attitude could light up a hospital wing. B.J. turns hospital beds into comedy stages, cracks jokes with nurses, and truly believes that positivity plays a role in survival. (I couldn’t agree more.) We even bonded over finding laughter during our own cancer journeys—proof that sometimes humor really is medicine.

B.J. also hosts a powerful podcast called The Gift of Life, where he gives voice to organ donors, recipients, and donor families—sharing deeply personal stories that remind us how one decision can save lives. No two stories are the same, but every one is meaningful.

With the holidays upon us, B.J. shared why his book makes such a great gift: it’s a feel-good story for people who may need hope, perspective, or just a reminder that the human spirit is incredibly strong—even when the body’s been through a lot.

Bottom line? B.J. Odom is living proof that attitude matters, laughter heals, and life—no matter how complicated—can still be rich, joyful, and full of purpose.

Listen to the full conversation on the podcast, and if you’re looking for an inspiring read (or a meaningful gift), check out More Parts Than a Chicken Nugget. You’ll laugh, you might cry, and you’ll definitely walk away grateful for every heartbeat.

"Keeping the “Live” in Alive!"—always.

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Some of the best radio & podcast conversations start exactly where you don’t expect them to…like poolside in Florida—in bathing suits, no makeup, and not a business card in sight.

That’s how I met Kari Berit—in what I call a “Random Run-In.”

Kari and her hubby were on two lounge chairs in the sun at a hotel pool in Florida. The only other slice of sun not being blocked by our mutual hotel building was hitting a lounge chair right next to them. This cold, pale New Yorker wanted that only other sunny spot, but I didn’t want to be a too-close lounger (kinda the same as a too-close talker), so I asked if they minded. They did not mind.

When I realized they were Norwegian (switching back and forth between Norwegian and English was a tip-off), I had to bring up the Norwegian word I’ve been having fun talking about for a few weeks on the radio and ask them how to pronounce it correctly.

Friluftsliv!

See, this year I decided that instead of complaining about the NY winter, I’d try to embrace the cold like the Norwegians do.

Friluftsliv (pronounced: free-loofts-liv) is a Norwegian philosophy that means “open-air life”—the belief that spending time outdoors in nature, year-round, is essential for physical health, mental well-being, and happiness.

Of course, it seemed a little bizarre that I was bragging about my newfound attempt to love cold weather while sitting poolside on an 80-degree day in Florida—but hey, no guilt. The Norwegians were there too. And we got to talking—in English—about why they were in Florida and what they do in Norway.

(I was there with my other half, Dave, to visit his son for Thanksgiving. They were there to settle the estate after the sad passing of an elderly parent.)

Fast forward to Wellness Wednesday and my ongoing segment called “Keeping The Live In Alive!” …

I asked Kari to join me on the show to talk about her fascinating journey—from Minnesota radio gal to homestead living in Norway, where she now helps people create deeply personal bucket-list trips through her company, KB Norway Tours. Whether it’s exploring stunning fjords, avoiding tourist traps, or standing on the actual land where your ancestors once lived, Kari creates travel experiences that are meaningful, soulful, and unforgettable.

We also dove into friluftsliv. Translation? Get outside. Breathe real air. Live better. (I’m still working on the pronunciation—but I love the philosophy.)

But Kari isn’t just about dreamy travel. She’s also a powerful voice in the world of caregiving. As the author of The Unexpected Caregiver, she shared real-talk wisdom on what so many families face—but rarely prepare for—caring for aging parents. Her message is reassuring, practical, and refreshing: it’s okay not to know what you’re doing. None of us were trained for this role—and you don’t have to feel guilty, alone, or overwhelmed while figuring it out.

This conversation had it all: laughter, life lessons, Norwegian fun facts (yes, they really let babies nap outside while parents go into a restaurant), and honest talk about family dynamics, responsibility, and staying sane while caring for the people you love.

If you’re curious about Norway, navigating caregiving, or just love a good “random run-in” story—you’ll love this one.

Listen to the full conversation of this warm podcast about livin the cold life. Learn more about Kari’s travel work at kbnorwaytours.com Caregiving resources at unexpectedcaregiver.com

Sometimes strangers aren’t strangers for long—and sometimes a random run-in turns into a conversation worth sharing.

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Year-End Giving Reminder: The last few weeks of the year are when most charitable giving happens — people feel more generous, tax benefits kick in for those who itemize, and many folks use year-end bonuses or appreciated stock to support causes they believe in. It’s the perfect moment to make a meaningful impact, especially with an organization that stretches every donor dollar farther than you ever could on your own.

Why United Way Might Be One of the Smartest Ways to Give

Back To Business Monday

You know how I like to start a Monday: a little caffeine, a little optimism, and a whole lot of “let’s get back to business.” And today’s business? The business of helping people — and why the United Way may be one of the most effective ways to do that in your own backyard.

I sat down with David Rabin, CEO of the Greenwich United Way, and even though we talked about his local chapter, the lessons apply EVERYWHERE — because what he shared is an example how United Ways across the country (and the world!) operate.

The Big Picture:

United Way is a massive global network with: • 1,200 local United Ways • Serving 1,800 communities • Across 40 countries

Each community has its own United Way chapter focused on local needs — and that local focus is what makes the entire model powerful.

Why United Way Might Be a Better Choice Than Donating to One Charity Directly

This was the “aha!” moment for me — and it applies no matter where you live.

1. United Way does the homework you don’t have time for. They review each nonprofit’s tax returns, audited financials, budgets, spending, and program data with a fine-tooth comb. They uncover inefficiencies and issues most donors would never spot.

2. They maximize your impact by giving where the greatest needs actually are. Local needs change constantly — mental health, childcare, housing, literacy, food insecurity — and United Way chapters run formal needs assessments to know exactly where donor dollars matter most.

3. One donation supports the entire ecosystem of help in your community. Instead of supporting one organization, your gift can strengthen dozens of essential local programs — the ones people rely on when life gets hard.

4. They build solutions when none exist. For example, in Greenwich, CT the local United Way partnered with the hospital to create a youth mental-health program where no such resource existed before. That kind of long-term, structural change is happening in communities all over the country.

A Greenwich, CT Example That Applies Anywhere

David shared that even in a wealthy town like Greenwich, nearly one-third of residents are living in poverty or are one paycheck away from trouble. Surprising, right?

That's the point.

Every community — even the ones that look well-off — has people struggling quietly.

United Way chapters exist to find those hidden needs and do something about them.

A Final Thought from Your “Dealer in Hope”

I love shining a light on the people doing good in the world and this conversation was a beautiful reminder that real impact doesn’t happen in headlines — it happens in communities, one need at a time.

Wherever you live, your local United Way is probably out there doing the heavy lifting you never see… making sure kids can read, families can access mental-health care, seniors have support, and struggling neighbors get help before they fall through the cracks.

So, if you’re thinking about year-end giving — and wondering who deserves your “deductible dollars” — United Way might be a pretty great place to start.

To learn more about United Way in your community: unitedway.org

If you want to learn more, donate, volunteer, or get involved in the Greenwich, CT United Way:

greenwichunitedway.org 203-869-2221

And to hear the full conversation with David Rabin, CEO Greenwich United Way click play on the podcast and soak up the good energy.

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Once a week I do my best to share information that I come across that might benefit others like me trying harder at "Keeping the Live in Alive!" I've posted the entire live Wellness Wednesday radio show here but in case youre in a hurry, I've summed up this week’s show highlights.

• CrepeConfession: My only use of the word 'crepe' used to be in combination with the word 'paper' as in 'crepe paper' until father time starting beating the tar out of my good looks. I didn't realize what a big problem crepe had become for the world. Now I'm doing my part to try and correct my 'crepe' on a daily basis. I'm into Gold Bond Age Renew “Crepe Corrector” (face + body in one—because who’s got time for two?). But now they're confusining the crepe out of me by offering too many options. Attitude stays delusionally young, skin becomes un-crepey? Let you know.

• Muscle = Medical: November is National Muscle Health Month. Big idea: skeletal muscle isn’t just cosmetic—it supports metabolism, immunity, mobility, cognition, and longevity. Try the Muscle 30: 30g protein meal, 30 strength reps, or 3,000 steps.
• Female-First Fuel: UK brand FreeSoul (mother–son team) goes viral with mango greens—part of a broader shift to women-designed wellness.
• Brain Gains: Long-running research spotlight—women with the highest cardiovascular fitness (measured via cycling) had dramatically lower dementia risk vs. less-fit peers. Translation: cardio for your cortex.
• Nature = Anti-Inflammatory: Even 20 minutes outdoors can lower stress hormones; some research links 12% lower inflammation within 72 hours after nature walks. Can’t get out? Put nature scenes on your screen for a mini-reset.
• Pickleball Posse: #1 recreational sport for women 40+—and a powerful loneliness antidote. Shoutout: National Women’s Pickleball Foundation (big March event in Delray Beach).
• Sleep Squad, Assemble: Magnesium may reduce nighttime wake-ups and deepen sleep. DST got you off-rhythm? Be kind to yourself and yes—Debbie issues official permission slips for 20–30 min power naps.
• Brrr-illiant?: Gyms are adding cold plunge pools & cold rooms. Reported perks: mood, metabolism, inflammation support—but skip it if you have heart/neurologic conditions. Hot-bath lovers may remain Team Sauna.
• Snackable Strength: Micro-moves all day—2 minutes of squats, push-ups, stair bursts are IN! Bonus vintage tip from My late mother Eileen Nigro: she told me to always hold my stomach in. I seriously did this throughout my life back when she was alive. Basically, I contracted my stomach muscles for a minute or so while standing on line at the supermarket or 'wherever' multiple times a day. I swear had the flattest stomach ever back then. I really need to try to remember to try to do this again. Can't hurt to try to gently brace your core in everyday life.
• Cozy Bites, Strong Sips: Protein soups (20–30g/serving) are the fastest-growing meal aisle stars. Also caught a viral-worthy eggplant sheet-pan roll-up: mozzarella, ricotta, blistered tomatoes, roasted peppers, chicken sausage—chef’s kiss. I tried it. Pretty darn good!
• Connection is Medicine: Loneliness is now a global health priority—linked to higher risks for heart disease, dementia, and early death. Tiny gestures = huge impact.
• Recovery > Hustle: Wearables are pivoting to stress & recovery (HRV, cortisol-linked scores). Rest is now a fitness behavior.
• Art As Medicine : Singing, painting, learning music can slow cognitive decline. Get older, get cooler.
• End of Show Daily Toast (Today I quoted Audrey Hepburn): “First hand helps yourself. Second hand helps others.” Classic.

Deb’s Do-This-Week Mini-Checklist (Or Best Effort)

• One 30g protein meal daily
• 20 minutes outside (or nature on screen if you must)
• 5× 60-second strength snacks sprinkled through your day
• Try an indoor pickleball session with a friend
• Consider magnesium for sleep (check with your doc)
• End a shower cooler for 15–30s if you’re cold-curious
• Call or help one person who might be lonely

If you try any of these, let me know how it goes. If you try all of them, I expect an invite to your Nobel Prize ceremony.

Stay well, stay upbeat, and keep “Keeping the ‘Live’ in Alive!”

— Debbie

View Details

Once a week I do my best to share information that I come across that might benefit others like me trying harder at "Keeping the Live in Alive!" I've posted the entire live Wellness Wednesday radio show here but in case youre in a hurry, I've summed up this weeks show highlights.

• CrepeConfession: My only use of the word 'crepe' used to be in combination with the word 'paper' as in 'crepe paper' until father time starting beating the tar out of my good looks. I didn't realize what a big problem crepe had become for the world. Now I'm doing my part to try and correct my 'crepe' on a daily basis. I'm into Gold Bond Age Renew “Crepe Corrector” (face + body in one—because who’s got time for two?). But now they're confusining the crepe out of me by offering too many options. Attitude stays delusionally young, skin becomes un-crepey? Let you know.

• Muscle = Medical: November is National Muscle Health Month. Big idea: skeletal muscle isn’t just cosmetic—it supports metabolism, immunity, mobility, cognition, and longevity. Try the Muscle 30: 30g protein meal, 30 strength reps, or 3,000 steps.
• Female-First Fuel: UK brand FreeSoul (mother–son team) goes viral with mango greens—part of a broader shift to women-designed wellness.
• Brain Gains: Long-running research spotlight—women with the highest cardiovascular fitness (measured via cycling) had dramatically lower dementia risk vs. less-fit peers. Translation: cardio for your cortex.
• Nature = Anti-Inflammatory: Even 20 minutes outdoors can lower stress hormones; some research links 12% lower inflammation within 72 hours after nature walks. Can’t get out? Put nature scenes on your screen for a mini-reset.
• Pickleball Posse: #1 recreational sport for women 40+—and a powerful loneliness antidote. Shoutout: National Women’s Pickleball Foundation (big March event in Delray Beach).
• Sleep Squad, Assemble: Magnesium may reduce nighttime wake-ups and deepen sleep. DST got you off-rhythm? Be kind to yourself and yes—Debbie issues official permission slips for 20–30 min power naps.
• Brrr-illiant?: Gyms are adding cold plunge pools & cold rooms. Reported perks: mood, metabolism, inflammation support—but skip it if you have heart/neurologic conditions. Hot-bath lovers may remain Team Sauna.
• Snackable Strength : Micro-moves all day—2 minutes of squats, push-ups, stair bursts are IN! Bonus vintage tip from My late mother Eileen Nigro: she told me to always hold my stomach in. I seriously did this throughout my life back when she was alive. Basically I contracted my stomach muscles for a minute or so while standing on line at the supermarket or 'wherever' multiple times a day. I swear had the flattest stomach ever back then. I really need to try to remember to try to do this again. Can't hurt to try to gently brace your core in everyday life.
• Cozy Bites, Strong Sips: Protein soups (20–30g/serving) are the fastest-growing meal aisle stars. Also caught a viral-worthy eggplant sheet-pan roll-up: mozzarella, ricotta, blistered tomatoes, roasted peppers, chicken sausage—chef’s kiss. I tried it. Pretty darn good!
• Connection is Medicine: Loneliness is now a global health priority—linked to higher risks for heart disease, dementia, and early death. Tiny gestures = huge impact.
• Recovery > Hustle: Wearables are pivoting to stress & recovery (HRV, cortisol-linked scores). Rest is now a fitness behavior.
• Art As Medicine : Singing, painting, learning music can slow cognitive decline. Get older, get cooler.
• End of Show Daily Toast (Today I quoted Audrey Hepburn): “First hand helps yourself. Second hand helps others.” Classic.

Deb’s Do-This-Week Mini-Checklist (Or Best Effort)

• One 30g protein meal daily
• 20 minutes outside (or nature on screen if you must)
• 5× 60-second strength snacks sprinkled through your day
• Try an indoor pickleball session with a friend
• Consider magnesium for sleep (check with your doc)
• End a shower cooler for 15–30s if you’re cold-curious
• Call or help one person who might be lonely

If you try any of these, let me know how it goes. If you try all of them, I expect an invite to your Nobel Prize ceremony.

Stay well, stay upbeat, and keep “Keeping the ‘Live’ in Alive!”

— Debbie

View Details

Every once in a while, the universe taps you on the shoulder and says, “Here ya go … this one’s one of yours.”

That’s exactly what happened when I discovered Pete Bombaci, Founder & CEO of GenWell, Canada’s Human Connection Movement — and the man behind Talk To A Stranger Week, happening November 24–30 in Canada.

As many of you know, I’m the author of How To Talk To Strangers: Advice From a Professional Stranger Talker, so when I found out about Pete’s work, I thought, “Yup. This is my kinda guy. He won't be a stranger for long! " LOL

Pete and I are kindred spirits with the same mission.

To educate, empower and catalyze people in about the importance of face-to-face social connections as a proactive step that we can all take for our own health and happiness or the health and happiness of others and society.

The Big Truth: Human Connection Is Not Just Emotional — It’s Biological

We’ve all heard “connection matters,” but the science behind it is mind-blowing:

• Face-to-face interaction activates nine times more brain activity than digital communication.
• 80–90% of communication is nonverbal, so our screens simply can’t deliver what our brains and hearts crave.
• Talking to strangers has been shown to increase happiness nearly 100% of the time — for BOTH people.
• Regular social connection lowers stress, boosts the immune system, protects heart health, and can even lengthen lifespan.

Read that again. We’re wired to connect — literally.

Pete said it beautifully:

“Talking to strangers makes us happier, healthier, and more connected. The research proves it.”

And:

“We’re all just human beings trying to live a decent life. We’re far better off together than separate.”

Exactly. Exactly. Exactly.

So What Happens During Talk to A Stranger Week?

No pressure. No scripts. No “Hi, I’m Debbie from Telemarketing.” Just real human warmth in the small everyday moments:

• Say good morning to the dog walker.
• Compliment the barista.
• Shout 'youre doing great!' to a struggling Mom with a wagon full of kids
• Call the cousin you always say you're going to get together with.

It’s about choosing connection over autopilot.

Pete broke it down simply:

“It costs nothing. It takes one second. And you may change someone’s day — or their life.”

The Best Part

People who talk to strangers regularly are up to three times happier than those who don’t.

Three. Times. Happier. If happiness were sold in a bottle, we’d all be lining up!

But here it is — FREE — hiding inside hello. And we’ve been overlooking it.

Listen to Our Heartfelt, Funny, and Very Real Conversation .

We laugh, we learn, we talk Canadian coins and Chatty Cathy dolls (no, seriously), and we lean into what the world needs now — connection.

PS So far there's no tariff on importing 'good vibes' :-)

💛 Debbie

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Every once in a while, the universe taps you on the shoulder and says, “Here ya go … this one’s one of yours.”

That’s exactly what happened when I discovered Pete Bombaci, Founder & CEO of GenWell, Canada’s Human Connection Movement — and the man behind Talk To A Stranger Week, happening November 24–30 in Canada.

As many of you know, I’m the author of How To Talk To Strangers: Advice From a Professional Stranger Talker, so when I found out about Pete’s work, I thought, “Yup. This is my kinda guy. He won't be a stranger for long! " LOL

Pete and I are kindred spirits with the same mission.

To educate, empower and catalyze people in about the importance of face-to-face social connections as a proactive step that we can all take for our own health and happiness or the health and happiness of others and society.

The Big Truth: Human Connection Is Not Just Emotional — It’s Biological

We’ve all heard “connection matters,” but the science behind it is mind-blowing:

• Face-to-face interaction activates nine times more brain activity than digital communication.
• 80–90% of communication is nonverbal, so our screens simply can’t deliver what our brains and hearts crave.
• Talking to strangers has been shown to increase happiness nearly 100% of the time — for BOTH people.
• Regular social connection lowers stress, boosts the immune system, protects heart health, and can even lengthen lifespan.

Read that again. We’re wired to connect — literally.

Pete said it beautifully:

“Talking to strangers makes us happier, healthier, and more connected. The research proves it.”

And:

“We’re all just human beings trying to live a decent life. We’re far better off together than separate.”

Exactly. Exactly. Exactly.

So What Happens During Talk to A Stranger Week?

No pressure. No scripts. No “Hi, I’m Debbie from Telemarketing.” Just real human warmth in the small everyday moments:

• Say good morning to the dog walker.
• Compliment the barista.
• Shout 'youre doing great!' to a struggling Mom with a wagon full of kids
• Call the cousin you always say you're going to get together with.

It’s about choosing connection over autopilot.

Pete broke it down simply:

“It costs nothing. It takes one second. And you may change someone’s day — or their life.”

The Best Part

People who talk to strangers regularly are up to three times happier than those who don’t.

Three. Times. Happier. If happiness were sold in a bottle, we’d all be lining up!

But here it is — FREE — hiding inside hello. And we’ve been overlooking it.

Listen to Our Heartfelt, Funny, and Very Real Conversation .

We laugh, we learn, we talk Canadian coins and Chatty Cathy dolls (no, seriously), and we lean into what the world needs now — connection.

💛 Debbie

View Details

Are you overwhelmed, overextended, and still thinking “Eh, I’ll just do it myself—it’s faster”? Yes? Well the right answer should be NO.

That’s entrepreneur delusion talking. I know I am one and I'm not the best dekgator and yes I too try and do far too many things myself.

On The Debbie Nigro Show, I linked up with the fabulous Jenna Eichholtz, partner at VA Growth Solutions, who popped in from Pennsylvania to drop some serious wisdom about delegating like a boss—without actually becoming a bossy boss.

Here’s the big takeaway: You don’t need a full team… you just need one really good virtual assistant.

Jenna’s company connects business owners with vetted, highly skilled VAs from the Philippines — fluent in English, aligned with U.S. time zones, and trained to slide right into your workflow. And get this:

• Full-time VA support starts at $1,000–$1,200/month (40 hours/week!)
• Starter options as low as $500/month — that’s literally $3–$7 an hour
• Over 8,310 VAs hired and 3,900 businesses served
• Client satisfaction score: 9.5 out of 10

Not too shabby.

Why Entrepreneurs Are Finally Giving In & Hiring VAs

Jenna and I hit on the pain points we ALL know too well:

· Social media burnout

· Inconsistent marketing

· No SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) because everything lives in your head

· Too many tasks, not enough hours, and zero desire to manage a giant team

Her message was loud and clear: Stop trying to be a one-person empire. Buy back your time.

Cool Bonus: Jenna’s Also a Pet Industry Pro

Before joining VA Growth Solutions, Jenna ran her own branding agency for pet companies — so if you’re in the pet biz, she’s double dangerous. She knows exactly how to help you grow and who to delegate it to.

Final Thought: Freedom is the Reason We Started… So Why Are We Working More and Living Less?

If you’re a solopreneur, husband-and-wife team, or small-but-mighty business… this may be your sign.

Listen to the full podcast episode with Jenna Eichholtz from VA Growth Solutions on The Debbie Nigro Show — and prepare to loosen your grip on doing it all yourself.

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I always try and bring the sunshine and some good energy and often I like to bring some good bagels.

Today if you use your 'smellavision' link ( only kidding there is none - yet lol ) it smells like fresh bagels!

I want you to meet Beth George, former attorney turned bagel whisperer and owner of Bagel-ish in Beacon, NY, and wow… this woman is rising dough and raising entrepreneurs.

Beth’s origin story is pure heart: in 2006 she started baking to help her son manage health and behavioral issues—researching the gut–brain connection long before it was trendy. That journey led her to develop healthier, more digestible bagels (tip: freeze, then toast—the “resistant starch” effect can lower the glycemic impact, and pairing with protein helps even more).

But Beth didn’t stop at a great bagel. Through Bagel-ish and her consulting/training work, she now teaches entrepreneurs how to open thriving bagel shops—in the U.S. and 12 countries (from Ethiopia to Sweden to Taiwan!). Clients range from one-store startups to multi-location operators. One early client even made it to Shark Tank and later exited big.

Want in on the bagel business?

• Startup ballpark: ~$450K on the lean end; many projects land $450K–$800K (retrofits can be closer to ~$200K).
• Revenue targets: to make the math work, plan for roughly $1.0M–$1.8M in annual sales and aim to keep about 25% by managing labor, food, and occupancy with discipline.
• Pro move: repurpose a former food location to save big on buildout.

Why her bagels stand out

• Focus on healthier wheat formulas (tastier + more gut-friendly)
• Real-world training on formulas, equipment, SOPs, and projections
• A founder who blends legal rigor, R&D, and insane passion (her BYOB—Bake Your Own Bagels—shirt says it all: Passion Makes Perfect).

If you’re heading to the Hudson Valley, pop into Bagel-ish, 226 Main St, Beacon, NY. If you’re dreaming of opening your own shop, Beth’s training center and consulting might be your best first step.

Listen to my full conversation with Beth George on The Debbie Nigro Show and get inspired to turn that bagel dream into a blueprint.

Learn more: bagel-ish.com

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On this week’s Keeping the “Live” in Alive segment of The Debbie Nigro Show, I was joined by my longtime gal pal (though we’ve never actually met in person!) Linda Arroz, who’s on an inspiring new mission in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Linda is helping raise funds for a short social impact film called Awakening Georgie — a powerful narrative about the hidden struggles of traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors and the miracles that can come from compassion.

“Thirty percent of injury-related deaths in the U.S. are caused by a traumatic brain injury. That’s a lot. We need to talk about this,” Linda shared passionately.

The project is backed by Emmy Award-winning director Jerry Scherer and filmmaker Akiva Penaloza, and it sheds light on a journey many families face but few openly discuss. To make it happen, they’ve teamed up with CauseMatch, a platform that pairs creators with nonprofits so fundraising becomes not just doable, but also tax-deductible for donors.

Linda also spotlighted another story of resilience — the book In the Face of Catastrophe, written by Jennifer Rose Goldman and her mother, after Jennifer suffered a sudden brain bleed just before her 31st birthday. Against all odds, she’s fighting her way back, one determined step at a time.

Our conversation kept circling back to one big word: compassion. “You’d be surprised how many people just need someone to care,” Linda said. And she’s right — sometimes the simplest act of kindness is the miracle someone needs to move forward.

As I like to remind everyone when life feels overwhelming: “Get in, get through, and get onward.”

And with Linda’s work, that message feels more important than ever.

Please listen to this short podcast of my live conversation with Linda Arroz on The Debbie Nigro Show. If you can help Linda with her cause - please do.

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On The Debbie Nigro Show, I like to dig into stories that make you go, “Wait, what?!”

This week’s head-turner: “Ozempic Teeth.” Yep, that’s the headline making waves, and I knew I had to call in my go-to expert, Dr. John Castanaro of Castanaro Dental in Yonkers, NY, to help get to ‘the tooth of the matter’.

What Are “Ozempic Teeth”?

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have taken the world by storm for their weight-loss benefits. But dentists are warning about side effects showing up in the mouth. According to Dr. Castanaro:

“It’s not the drug itself causing problems—it’s the side effects like acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, and sometimes malnutrition.”

Those issues can lead to enamel erosion, cavities, swollen gums, and even gingivitis. In short: less saliva = more dental drama.

Prevention Is Key

The good news? Simple changes can protect your smile:

• Drink more water. Dehydration is a big culprit.
• Use products like Biotene (a rinse that coats and protects against dry mouth).
• Chew sugar-free gum or candies to stimulate saliva.
• Stay active. Even light walking helps reduce reflux and nausea.
• Stay on top of dental visits. Dr. Castanaro recommends some patients schedule three cleanings a year instead of two.

As he put it:

“Prevention and being on top of it—being educated about it—is everything. You can’t ignore these signs.”

Dentistry’s Big Trend

Beyond Ozempic teeth, Dr. Castanaro noted a bigger shift: younger generations with fewer cavities are turning to cosmetic upgrades like Invisalign and whitening. Thanks to new tech (hello, 3D printers!), straighter, whiter smiles are now easier and less invasive than ever.

My Takeaway

Ozempic teeth might sound scary, but the fix is refreshingly simple: hydrate, care for your teeth, and don’t skip the dentist. As always, knowledge is power—and I’m glad Dr. Castanaro was here to drop some wisdom (and a little humor).

“At the end of the day, prevention and awareness go a long way.”

Thanks, Doc.

Enlighten yourself in the short podcast of my live conversation with Dr. John Castanaro on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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On The Debbie Nigro Show, I had the pleasure of spotlighting Simon Cascante, founder of Montaukila Tequila. Boy oh boy his story sure is a shining example of one of my favorite sayings - “Risk It! or Regret It!"

Simon skipped college, started bussing tables at the Lobster Roll in East Hampton, and took the long road to launching his own spirit’s brand. No investors. No celebrity endorsements. Just grit, Google, and a dream.

That persistence led him to cold-call nearly a dozen distilleries in Mexico until one finally said yes—thanks to a VP who had once vacationed in Montauk and loved the concept.

Now six years in, Montaukila is growing with a mobile cantina experience, premium celebrity-free tequila, and a hot new canned cocktail line.

Simon’s entrepreneurial focus? Staying authentic while scaling sustainably.

And here’s something I love: Montaukila is a locally owned, small-batch tequila company that believes in giving back. They donate 100% of their merchandise sales to Oceanic Global, an organization dedicated to ocean conservation.

This is the kind of business spirit that deserves a toast.

To me, Simon’s story is a reminder that success is rarely a straight line—it’s persistence, adaptability, and staying true to your vision.

And a great entrprenurial business lesson in why you should never let a NO (or a string of No’s) deter you on your way to a YES!

Cheers to that!

Enjoy listening to this short podcast of my live conversation with the very inspiring Simon Cascante on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Happy summer, friends! You know I love the beach, but nothing freaks me out more than riptides.

With Hurricane Erin stirring up the East Coast, I called in my go-to water safety guy — Wyatt Werneth, spokesperson for the American Lifeguard Association. I call him the James Bond of lifeguards … because, well, he is.

Wyatt literally jumped off the beach in Cocoa Beach, Florida to join me on the show. His first tip? “Everywhere there’s a dip, there’s a rip.”

Translation: If the water keeps rushing in and your blanket, toys, and beach bag get soaked while everyone around you stays dry — there’s a riptide zone in front of you.

We also talked about what to do if you get caught up in one.

For years, the rule was: swim parallel to the shore. But Wyatt says research shows riptides don’t always pull straight out — sometimes going sideways or in circles.

Meaning? Swimming parallel may not always work. That’s why you may have also heard new advice: turn over, float, and indicate you need help.

Wyatt broke it down in a way we can all remember with the acronym RIP:

• R = Relax
• I = Indicate you need help (signal to others!)
• P = Parallel swim attempt, if you can

The most important? Relax and float. Don’t panic, conserve your energy, and let rescuers spot you.

And here’s his mic-drop line: “Your ability to swim could save your life.”

Wyatt also shared the success of his Drown Zero Project, which places life rings at every public beach access in Brevard County. The results? They went from 14 drownings a year to zero. Yes, ZERO. Chills, right? Why aren’t we doing this everywhere???

We even touched on the nationwide lifeguard shortage. Wyatt’s dream is that lifeguards are finally recognized as true professionals — “one of the few public safety groups whose very name says it all… Lifeguards guard lives.”

I don’t know about you, but I’ll never look at a day at the beach the same way again.

Big thanks to Wyatt for running off the beach for me one more time!

Until next time, remember Wyatt’s parting words: “Swim in front of the lifeguard, America.”

Would be beneficial to you to listen to this serious lifeguard wisdom in this podcast of my live conversation with Wyatt Werneth on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Good energy is like a secret superpower. You can’t see it—but you feel it. It uplifts, comforts, and lingers long after the moment has passed. I’ve been told I carry that kind of energy—and if you do too, you know it’s not something you turn on, it’s just who you are. But here’s the best part: when two people with good energy meet along life’s path, something special happens. It’s like the universe nods and says… 'Yep, this connection matters.' That’s the vibe of today’s post and podcast.

I’d like you to meet Marcus John. He is ‘good energy’. He and I go way back to when he was a young doorman in a building I lived in in Westchester, NY. There was just something special about him from the minute I met him and I loved talking to him and loved that I could always make him laugh.

When life threw me an ovarian cancer curveball back then, I chose Marcus to be my trusted driver to and from my chemo journey in NYC. I knew that he had just the right kind of good energy to help keep my spirits up as I tried to plow through the challenge of staying alive.

We talked a lot about ‘a lot’ on those rides. And he saw me at my worst. The rides started with my own hair attached to my head, then morphed into 'bald me' wearing wigs with names we’d joke about, and culminated with 'swollen me' just trying to hang in and push through. Lucky for me I did. Marcus was a light during my darkest time.

Marcus and I both moved on from that building but stayed in touch over the years. Last week he sent me a birthday text reminding me how much I adored him and his beautiful energy. I quickly threw out a lunch invite and we both immediately made it happen.

Why? Because our connection matters and because it’s important that we all try harder to see people ‘in person’ that matter to us.

We sure had some great laughs at lunch at the Cheesecake Factory which I chose because Marcus is now a ‘vegan’ and the Cheesecake Factory offers spectacular vegan options.

Turns out Marcus is now a wildly creative vegan chef with a heart (and menu) full of love.

From artichoke croquettes to his walnut meat chopped cheese sliders. and his signature ‘Rasta Pasta’, Marcus is on a mission to turn soul food into food for your soul.

His company Beyond Bussin is redefining what vegan food can be—and where it can go next (yes, a food truck is in the works!)

By the way… I learned something new. When the kids say something is “bussin’,” they mean it’s really, really good—especially when it comes to food.

So when Chef Marcus John named his vegan company “Beyond Bussin,” he was saying: This food goes beyond delicious. It’s next level.

“Vegan food can be delicious, nutritious, and comforting—like your favorite comfort food. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice joy to eat well.” – Marcus

And Marcus and I both agree:

"Good energy can’t die. You are the good energy that changes what’s around you."

Where to Find Marcus:

• Sundays: Riverdale Craft Market (260th & Riverdale Ave, Bronx)
• On a Restaurant Menu: ‘Off The Hook’, Yonkers (Rasta Pasta & Artichoke Croquettes)
• IG: @BeyondBussin
• Catering: Available for vegan-friendly events and celebrations

Enjoy this heartwarming and hilarious Wellness Wednesday episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, featuring special guest and star vegan chef Marcus John, founder of Beyond Bussin.

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Luxury, Innovation, and Popcorn? Yes, Please.

On this Trending Tuesday episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, I’m spilling the popcorn on a jaw-dropping new addition to one of my longtime favorite iconic hotels, the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Shawn Nayyar, the hotel’s new General Manager, joined me in studio to talk about the Townsend Cinema, a first-of-its-kind 40-seat luxury movie theater built right inside the hotel—a concept developed by Monoplex and Trinity Investments, now brought to life at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich.

"We’re the first in the country to have this kind of cinema experience inside a hotel—and the response has been incredible." – Shawn Nayyar

You can sip cocktails, eat gourmet truffle popcorn, and watch first-run movies like Superman and Fantastic Four—in heated recliners!

(I’m a heated seat girl. I’m all in!” LOL)

Why It’s a Big Deal:

• First-run movies play the same day as nationwide theaters.
• Heated leather recliners, Dolby surround sound & a full menu.
• Drinks & gourmet snacks from the newly renovated café and bar.
• Revitalizes underused hotel space
• Draws both locals & travelers
• It’s already increasing traffic and revenue across hotel services

Fun Fact: The luxury theater was once just a rarely used auditorium.

“This idea is going to revolutionize unused hotel space across the country—and maybe the world.” – Debbie Nigro

Peek Behind the Scenes:

• Shawn Nayyar has managed 15+ hotels and relocated from Dallas, Texas, to lead the $40M transformation of the Greenwich Hyatt.
• The property still retains nods to its Condé Nast publishing days, with engraved pillars featuring iconic magazine titles. Before becoming a hotel, the property housed Conde Nast's printing presses, which produced magazines like Vogue, Vanity Fair, and House and Garden
• The atrium is filled with live plants, giving a “feel like you’re outside, even in winter” vibe.
• Private rentals available for birthday parties, corporate events—even pool rentals!

Catch a Flick or Book a Stay:

• Movie listings and tickets → TownsendBarandCinema.com
• Hotel info → HyattRegencyGreenwich.com

Enjoy this podcast of the fun live radio interview on The Debbie Nigro Show with Shawn Nayyar the new GM of the Hyatt Regency Greenwich.

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Ever dreamed of jamming with rock legends like Ringo Starr, Gene Simmons, or Alice Cooper? David Fishof — legendary music producer, sports agent, and founder of Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp has been making those dreams come true for 25 years and counting.

On this episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, it was an absolute blast welcoming David to share his wild ride from managing NFL stars to organizing epic jam sessions for everyday rockers. (And yes, he created Ringo’s All-Starr Band!)

“It’s my fantasy to change people’s lives through the power of music,” David said.

And wow, he sure is doing just that.

From high-powered lawyers to high school band alumni, campers come from all walks of life to fulfill their rock and roll dreams — and leave transformed. As David shared:

“Joe Perry once told a camper, ‘You’re not a lawyer who plays guitar. You’re a guitarist who practices law to pay for his guitars.’”

You can get a good glimpse inside David’s world and his Rock ‘n Roll Fantasy Camp by watching the documentary ‘Rock Camp’ free on Amazon Prime. You’ll see 4 rock ‘n’ rollers from various walks of life getting a once in a lifetime chance to jam with their heroes and 30+ legendary musicians who’ve been a part of it all.

New in 2025: David's expanding the current Rock ‘n Roll Fantasy Camp experience with songwriting camps led by hitmakers like Linda Perry (“What’s Up”), plus don’t miss the upcoming camps in Phoenix and Fort Lauderdale featuring Alice Cooper, Rob Halford, and members of the Billy Joel Band and many more. David also spoke of a heartwarming film project spotlighting music’s healing power which will air after October 7th.

Now based back in New York, David Fishof is also giving back by teaching at Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business, helping young people learn sports and entertainment marketing — and how to bring personality to business.

“Book smarts alone don’t cut it. If you can’t connect, you can’t close.”

David’s advice? Surround yourself with people better than you. Be bold. And take the shot —

And You KNOW My Advice Always! Risk It! Or Regret It! “– Debbie Nigro

Whether you play or just love music, Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp is a one-of-a-kind experience — and a rockin’ gift idea, by the way.

Listen to the full interview on The Debbie Nigro Show – shared now as a podcast and get inspired to finally live your rock dream.

Who says it’s too late to be a rockstar?

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Live Theater Is Having a Wonderful Resurgence - Wait Till You Hear About Its Next Act!

On a recent episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, I caught up with longtime pal, producer and innovator Paul Lambert about an exciting new chapter in entertainment: iStage.

What makes iStage so unique? It’s the first community-first approach to building musicals—blending digital engagement with the magic of live performance.

Instead of starting with a script and hoping people show up, iStage builds a community around a topic first, then creates a show the audience already cares about.

“Why produce a musical no one asked for? Build the audience first. Then give them the show they want.” – Paul Lambert

iStage taps into existing passion groups—like fans of American Bandstand, environmental causes, or baseball—and invites them to participate, vote, and even own a piece of the show they're helping bring to life.

“For the price of a Broadway ticket, people might actually own a small part of a musical. That’s never been done before.” – Paul Lambert

At the heart of this new model is a blend of heart and data. iStage’s Digital Business Futurist, MJ Witt, helps lead the charge by using gamified platforms to build and engage vibrant online communities. The data these fans share guides creative decisions, making sure the show reflects what the audience wants to see.

“Some call it the democratization of theater. We call it smart.” – Paul Lambert

Even better? iStage spreads investment across multiple musicals, so producers and partners aren’t betting on just one show—they’re backing a diversified portfolio with global appeal.

“We don’t pick a topic that only plays in New York or LA—we pick big, universal stories that resonate around the world,” said Lambert.

From AI and angels to iconic music and movement-building, iStage is not only creating musicals—it’s building meaningful, lasting cultural experiences that start with the audience, thrive through connection, and grow with purpose.

So whether you’re a Broadway lover, investor, or future fan, stay tuned—iStage is setting the stage for something extraordinary.

Enjoy this podcast of my live conversation about iStage with Producer Paul Lambert on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Kathy McShane is Empowering Women Entrepreneurs 50+ to Embrace the Future

On a recent episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, I was thrilled to welcome back longtime friend and unstoppable force in women’s entrepreneurship, Kathy McShane. Kathy is the founder of Ladies Launch with AI, a three-time business founder, and the former head of the U.S. SBA Office of Women’s Business Ownership. These days, she’s on a mission to help women—especially over 50—leverage AI to start and scale businesses faster, smarter, and with more confidence.

“AI doesn’t have emotions,” Kathy emphasized. “And women often run their businesses emotionally. AI gives them a clinical lens to evaluate what’s working and what’s not.”

She busts the myth that AI is just for “young tech guys,” and reminds us that many women over 50 are not only capable of mastering AI—they’re perfectly positioned to lead the next wave of entrepreneurship.

Kathy and her team help women build full business plans, marketing strategies, pricing models, and websites using AI—in as little as 10 weeks! Plus, they offer a free 30-minute consultation to ensure every woman’s business idea gets the thoughtful support it deserves.

Want to turn your great idea into a real business? Kathy says now’s the time: “Women 50+ are going through life transitions and saying, ‘This is MY time.’ AI can help them make the most of it.”

Check out the full conversation with Kathy McShane on the podcast replay of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show and get ready to launch your next chapter—with a little help from your new robot friend.

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As heard on The Debbie Nigro Show

Sometimes it really helps to just talk to other caring people about whatever you’re going through. Now there’s a place where you can.

I had a talk with Scott Kelsey, the incredibly resilient Founder & CEO of Shareapy—about his groundbreaking wellness platform born from personal tragedy and built to foster connection, healing, and personal growth.

After a life-altering fall down a staircase left him with a traumatic brain injury, Scott found himself forced to hit pause—and reflect. "I had to isolate, be in a dark room, and let my brain heal," he shared. That isolation led to introspection, which ultimately led to inspiration.

Through peer support groups and candid conversations with others who had walked similar paths, Scott experienced something powerful: true connection. And from that connection, the idea for Shareapy was born—a space where people could listen, think, and share openly in facilitator-led virtual gatherings.

"Every time I shared my story, I felt calmer… and every time, the other person would say, ‘Hey, sharing my story helped me too,’" Scott said. That mutual exchange of vulnerability and strength became the core of the Shareapy Method.

Today, Shareapy supports people from ages 19 to 81 through weekly 60-minute sessions that are safe, confidential, and completely voluntary—you don’t even have to talk if you don’t want to. Just listening can be transformative.

With loneliness now considered the number one public health issue in the U.S., according to the Surgeon General, Shareapy is more than a wellness trend—it’s a much-needed movement.

To learn more or join a session, visit Shareapy.com.

I'm sharing this podcast of my warm conversation with Shareapy Founder Scott Kelsey on The Debbie Nigro Show because I sense more people might benefit from knowing about it.

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As heard on The Debbie Nigro Show

There's a hot new real estate migration trend picking up steam among Northeasterners and former Floridians: they’re becoming “Halfbacks”—people who moved to Florida, found it a little too much (too hot, too humid, too everything), and are now settling halfway back up the East Coast. Their happy medium? Coastal North Carolina.

On The Debbie Nigro Show, I got the inside scoop from Jason Faulkner, General Manager of Kingfish Bay Development in Calabash, NC—one of the fastest-growing destinations for these lifestyle-minded movers that's just minutes from Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle. They recently won a prestigious 'Best Outdoor Living Award' for their exceptional integration of indoor-outdoor living spaces from the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association.

Key Takeaways:

· Halfbacks Are Flocking In: Retirees and pre-retirees from New York, New Jersey, Boston, Philly, and Florida are relocating to Calabash for its mild four seasons, coastal charm, and resort-style living.

Kingfish Bay Is Hitting the Sweet Spot : Award-winning home styles, riverfront views, private beach club access (with actual parking!), and outdoor living spaces with pools, porches, fireplaces, are what people seem to want. They also are drawn to a great fitness center, the tropical pool complex, fishing pier, outdoor amenities—and pickleball nearby for the fans.

· Laid-Back, Not Boring: Calabash is just minutes from Myrtle Beach and close to Wilmington, giving residents easy access to top-notch golf, restaurants, entertainment, and healthcare.

One question I just had to ask Jason on behalf of some women I know. How’s the hair weather there?

"You know there are women who would not intentionally move to a place with bad hair weather. Just saying." – Debbie Nigro 😄

That issue is neither hair nor there for most people wanting to flee the Florida heat or looking to trade in snow boots for flip-flops – they just agree the the "halfway back" lifestyle trend might be a welcome next move.

Enjoy this podcast of my live conversation about the ‘half back’ real estate migration trend - with Jason Faulkner General Manager of Kingfish Bay Development in Calabash, NC on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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This story of mind-blowing resilience is a wake-up call for anyone feeling stuck, sidelined, or afraid to bounce back.

On a recent episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, I had the joy of speaking with global wellness pioneer Dan Metcalf—international performer turned brain-injury survivor, Olympic coach, and now CEO of Total Balance Company and Born Superhuman.

Hard to believe this superhuman got in touch with me to see if I was interested in uncovering how we could inspire listeners together.

Here’s what I read when I opened his blind email to me.

Hey Debbie.

“I've been following The Debbie Nigro Show and truly appreciate the inspiring stories you bring to light. I believe I could add a compelling angle to your discussions with my unique journey in health and mental resilience. As someone who has performed live for over 5,000,000 people globally and played lead roles in Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, I've learned resilience like no other, especially after being paralyzed during a performance. This experience resulted in a brain injury in 2018, leading to partial brain death, but through sheer determination, I've completely recovered and continued to inspire others.”

I wrote him back….” You had me at Hey Debbie!” lol

SO… here’s Dan Metcalfs story.

Once paralyzed during a live performance of Starlight Express in Las Vegas, doctors told Dan he’d never walk again. Instead of giving in, he rewrote the script of his life—and proved them wrong. By tapping into the brain’s natural ability to heal, he discovered how to turn trauma into transformation.

“Why be a victim when you can be a hero?” Dan said. “And the hero isn’t for other people—it’s for yourself.”

Now fully recovered (after surviving two traumatic brain injuries), Dan’s groundbreaking work in brain-to-body mobility training is helping over 70,000 people worldwide—including individuals with Parkinson’s, MS, and seniors at risk of falling—reclaim their balance, strength, and sense of self.

Dan is living proof of the extraordinary potential within us all. From performing for millions in Andrew Lloyd Webber shows to creating life-changing innovations in human performance, his journey embodies the unwavering determination and resilience we all have access to. He’s trained tens of thousands—and learned from every real-life obstacle he’s faced.

“Turn hope into belief,” he says. “We are all born superhuman.”

Life Changing Training for Aging Longevity

Dan Metcalfs’ Total Balance Board system isn’t about fancy equipment—it’s about reactivating the miracle machine we already have: the brain.

When he first created the now-patented training system, Dan had no idea just how dynamic its impact would be. At its core, Total Balance is based on the belief that no challenge is unbeatable when met with determination, creativity, and empathy. His methods are redefining what’s possible in both peak performance and physical rehabilitation—at every age.

“Balance is the foundation of a successful physical life,” Dan says, “and my passion lies in helping people overcome challenges with movement, stability, and confidence.”

Key Takeaways:

• Falls are the #1 cause of injury-related death in seniors. Dan’s system helps rewire the brain to prevent them.
• His motto? “We don’t stop playing because we age. We age because we stop playing.”
• He believes we all have superhuman potential—and he’s living proof.

From performing for 5 million people to coaching Olympic athletes and now as a highly in demand motivational speaker, Dan Metcalf is showing the world that comeback stories aren’t just possible—they’re powerful. His story isn’t just about survival—it’s a blueprint for unlocking the extraordinary in all of us.

“Never underestimate the power you have. Every challenge has a solution.” — Dan Metcalf, Born Superhuman

Catch this wildly powerful and inspiring conversation with Dan Metcalf on this week’s episode of The Debbie Nigro Show!

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If you thought lobster rolls were just food, think again. They're fashion now, too! On The Debbie Nigro Show, Debbie caught up with her “sister from another mother,” Andrea Anthony — the iconic entrepreneur behind Lunch Lobster Roll in Amagansett and Southampton — to talk lobster love, restaurant buzz, and lobster pajamas (yes, really).

I try and track the latest trends and surprisingly discovered ‘Lobster Fashion’ was trending? Wow, I was seriously behind the lobster claw curve on this one! Then I searched online to see what I could find out and came upon endless items of clothing bearing ‘Lobsters’! Sweaters, purses and pajamas to name a few.

I was talking about the trend on my radio show and mentioned I should probably check in with my lobster business gal pal and see what’s up. So, after the show I texted Andrea Anthony and asked her if her ears were ringing, and she texted me back a photo of her Lobster Pajamas!

I cracked up and had to know more and invited Andrea to pop by my radio show.

It all started Andrea said, when the upscale kids' clothing brand Pink Chicken approached her with a fun idea: co-branded lobster pajamas using her famous restaurant’s logo. The limited-edition $65 sets sold out.

Sensing these comfy lobster pajamas had legs at a more affordable price for more people Andrea partnered with TJ Maxx for them to be sold at stores across the country. The only problem? Andrea has no idea where they ended up!

“People keep asking me where to buy them and I’m like... I have no idea! So I thought—why not turn it into a lobster pajama hunt?”

Now it’s a full-blown scavenger hunt with a tasty prize.

First 5 people who find her lobster roll pajamas at TJ Maxx and report back to her on either her Instagram or Facebook win gift cards to Lunch Lobster Roll.

(BTW Andrea monitors every single social comment herself and responds - and she’s been doing that personally forever)

But Andrea isn’t just about fun and fluff. She’s a master of smart brand partnerships!

Big Bites of News from Andrea Anthony and ‘LUNCH Lobster Roll’!

Chopt Collaboration: Her famous lobster salad is now in select Chopt locations, including Penn Station and the Upper East Side, in a special summer salad collab featuring their ginger sesame and creamy Caesar dressings.

Hamptons Happy Meal at American Cut: Get 2 lobster rolls, truffle fries or Caesar salad, and a martini for just $28 from 5–7 PM. The full crew is even doing a ticketed steak + lobster dinner at Andrea’s Southampton location July 18–19.

Lobster Roll Sliders: For the budget-conscious, Lunch Lobster Roll offers two sliders, fries, slaw, and a drink for just $22–$23 — the best deal in the Hamptons!

Andrea is genuinely one of the warmest coolest gals I’ve ever met. Great woman and brilliant businesswoman. I love her!

Enjoy this fun podcast of the live conversation with Andrea Anthony on The Debbie Nigro Show.

Now let’s all try and help her find her Lobster Pajamas at some TJ Maxx. Ha!

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As heard on The Debbie Nigro Show – Wellness Wednesday Edition

Move over French fries, there's a new crispy craving in town — and it’s doing more than just satisfying your snack attack. It’s feeding schoolkids, shaking up convenience stores, and making waves nationwide. Meet Stephen Caldwell, founder of Stuft Tots™, the world’s first patented stuffed shredded potato bite.

These aren’t your average tots. Think crispy outside, gooey inside — filled with real Wisconsin cheese, veggies, or meats — all under 60 calories, gluten-free, non-GMO, and made with just five clean ingredients.

Stephen’s inspiration? A cheese-stuffed hashbrown he tasted at a catering event in Brazil that gave him goosebumps. Unable to find anything like it back home in Portland, he and his wife Lory turned their kitchen into a lab (with help from Oregon State’s food incubator) — and later, their tot mission into a movement.

But this isn’t just a food story. It’s a comeback story.

After losing ‘everything’ in a business betrayal, the Caldwell’s literally started from scratch. They spent 15 months hand-making 2,000 tots a week — simultaneously feeding the homeless in partnership with the Oregon Food Bank. Alongside their two daughters, they turned hardship into purpose and passion.

Fast forward to today! The Stuft Tots™ story now includes:

· Winner of Convenience Store News 2024’s Best New Product Award!

· Loved by high schoolers in Alameda CA School District (8700 students’ approval)

· Blew the doors off a Holiday Station Stores test run — selling out 40,000 lbs. of tots in 6 days

· Now powered by high-speed “co-extruder” machines in a booming Las Vegas production facility

· Soon to be in stadiums, schools, coffee chains, and convenience outlets nationwide

Stephen’s motto? “If everybody waited for money to start a business, no businesses would be started.”

AND check out Stephen’s Feature Story in the June issue of the Food Industry’s Premier News Source: “Total Food Service” a fantastic publication published by Fred Klashman which features exclusive Q&A Interviews with influential chefs, hospitality trendsetters, and foodservice operators, as well as the latest foodservice industry news on products, trends, associations, and events.

Stephen Caldwell’s inspiring journey is a powerful reminder to - as I always say… “Risk it! or Regret it!”

And trust me — once you try Stuft Tots™, you can’t un-taste the magic.

I loved this guy’s passion, comeback story and his Stuft Tots™ so much I’m want to help him succeed by helping him expand.

If you’d like a personal introduction to Stephen just direct message me and I’ll set it up asap. Want to be one of the first to bring them to your school, stadium, store, or bar/restaurant? Get in touch.

Tune in to this energetic podcast interview with Stephen Caldwell heard live on The Debbie Nigro Show - but only if you want to hear a really authentic story told by a truly gritty and great entrepreneur.

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From The Debbie Nigro Show Podcast

Let’s face it—we all want to keep doing the things we love. But one unexpected twist, fall, or awkward step (looking at you, pickleball!) and suddenly we’re dealing with pain that lingers longer than our last relationship.

On this episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, Dr. Alan Siegel, co-founder of ProClinix, brings 30+ years of insight on how to recover from injuries, manage chronic pain, and keep your body moving—without relying on surgery or medications.

Here are the key takeaways anyone—anywhere—can benefit from:

Injury Prevention Starts Before You’re in Pain

Dr. Siegel stresses that many injuries, especially from fast-growing sports like pickleball, happen because people jump into activities without prepping their bodies. Tendons, joints, and muscles need maintenance—just like your car!

Integrated Care = Faster, Smarter Healing

At ProClinix, they take a modern approach to recovery—combining chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, and even regenerative medicine like PRP. This whole-body, drug-free strategy is gaining popularity across the U.S. for its effectiveness in treating everything from back pain to vertigo.

No Script? No Problem!

In many states like New York, you don’t need a prescription to start physical therapy. That means you can get help right away, instead of waiting weeks or months in pain.

Yes, Balance Issues Can Be Treated!

Think you just have to live with dizziness or gait problems? Think again. Dr. Siegel explains how physical therapy and specialized maneuvers can dramatically improve balance—and often offer instant relief from symptoms like vertigo.

From Young Athletes to Aging Joints—They Treat It All

Whether it’s your teenager’s sports injury or your mom’s hip pain, integrative practices like ProClinix are designed to treat the whole family, no matter the age or condition.

Where Can You Find ProClinix?

If you’re in the New York Metro area, you’re in luck. ProClinix has 7 locations (and growing) including Armonk, Larchmont, West Harrison, Yorktown Heights, Tarrytown, Ardsley, Pleasantville—and a new clinic opening soon in Mount Kisco.

Not local? Use this episode as a wellness checklist for choosing an integrated rehab provider wherever you are!

Tune in to this podcast episode of The Debbie Nigro Show to hear Dr. Siegel’s real talk about the body, the pain, and how to get back to living your life.

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Thrift Shops & Online Hustles Are Booming

On this week’s Trending Tuesday on The Debbie Nigro Show, we talked tariffs, thrift shops, and thriving through turbulence.

Whether you’re bargain hunting or business-minded, there’s never been a better time to think secondhand—or second income!

According to the 2024 Thrift Industry Report by Savers Value Village 16-18% of Americans shop at thrift stores each year: 12 to 15% shop at consignment or resale stores.

Nearly 90% of consumers have shopped or donated at a Thrift Store up from 83% in 2022.

It’s The Ultimate Treasure Hunt

Personally, I will donate through one door and then go back in and shop through another door. LOL I love the treasure hunt fun and get excited when I find something unique! It could be anything!

Meanwhile the report went on to say…

*Among the many incredible changes the thrift industry has seen in recent years, one of the most significant is the mainstreaming of this once-niche retail segment.

*Long seen as serving those on a limited budget, secondhand has emerged as a symbol of creativity and individuality and now appeals to a wide range of shoppers who are increasingly seeking value—and style.

*Another notable trend is the growing environmental awareness of consumers who are putting the planet first by choosing secondhand.

I was joined by Parag Amin, a savvy Los Angeles business attorney who helps entrepreneurs avoid costly mistakes (like the one that derailed his father’s American dream).

Parag shared how rising prices from tariffs are pushing more people toward secondhand shopping—and why that shift is also sparking big-time opportunity.

From consignment goldmines to online stores, more people are flipping used goods and making real money. Think resale clothing, Amazon brands, and influencer-fueled product lines. It’s all about low overhead, smart sourcing, and even smarter risk management. And yes, Parag’s seen clients go from leggings to luxury lifestyles—literally!

Pro tip from Parag: Want to test a resale biz? Start with consignment. No upfront cost, no inventory headaches, and way less risk.

Tune in for insights, laughs, and inspiration—

Listen now to this short podcast of my conversation with Parag Amin and get the full scoop on from The Debbie Nigro Show.

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From the Stage to the Soul:

Robin Lloyd’s A Believer’s Perspective on Life, Legacy & Faith

On the latest episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, I had the real honor of talking with Robin Lloyd—a man whose life journey reads like a Hollywood script… but with a whole lot more heart.

Robin started his career as a singer, sharing stages with Marvin Gaye, Tina Turner, James Brown, The Supremes, and more. He was part of the legendary Dick Clark Caravan of Stars, toured with iconic names, and was even managed by Shelly Berger (yep, the longtime manager of The Temptations).

But fame wasn’t enough.

After a moment of soul-searching (and realizing money doesn’t buy peace), Robin walked away from music and built a new life—literally. He became a celebrated minority homebuilder, landing on the cover of Builder Architect Magazine. Then, life threw another curveball: a traumatic car accident that left him fighting for his life and re-learning to walk and talk.

Out of that pain came purpose.

During his recovery, Robin began writing reflections—snippets of wisdom and gratitude—which eventually became his new book, A Believer’s Perspective.

With the encouragement of our mutual longtime friend Paul Lambert, and the help of my favorite book coach Donna Kozik, Robin's dream book became a reality.

His book is about hope, perspective, and divine connection.

“Everybody has a perspective,” Robin said on the show. “I just decided to share mine.”

Tune in to this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show and hear his incredible story, his time with greatness, his lessons from loss—and why believing is the most powerful thing we can do.

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Hey friends, Debbie Nigro here—and yes, I was literally clapping for collagen on the air.

I’ve officially joined the collagen revolution thanks to NativePath, and I feel GOOD about it.

So good, I invited their brilliant co-founder, Dr. Chad Walding, on The Debbie Nigro Show to spill the truth about this stuff that’s got my knees, skin, hair, and even my outlook bouncing back.

Here’s the scoop from our chat…

Collagen Is the Missing Link

According to Dr. Chad, our ancestors used to get collagen naturally from eating “nose to tail.” But today? We’re practically collagen-starved—relying on packaged junk, added sugars, and zero bone broth. Not ideal for staying alive and kicking over 50!

Why Grass-Fed Collagen Matters

Dr. Chad broke down the difference between “happy cows” (grass-fed, hormone-free, sunshine-loving) and sad factory-farmed ones. NativePath’s collagen comes from cows living their best lives—which means better results for your bones, joints, and glow.

Reasons to Take Collagen After 50

Here are just a few:

1. Bone-on-bone pain? Collagen helps rebuild joint tissue.

2. Calcium confusion? Turns out, collagen—not calcium—is the real MVP for bone strength.

3. Skin, hair, and nails? Fast improvement. My hair grew so fast I need to color it more often!

4. Better recovery, more energy, smoother digestion, and the list goes on...

Not All Collagen is Created Equal

Most of what’s out there is low-quality, smelly, clumpy, or made from fish or chicken—not ideal.

NativePath sticks with type 1 and type 3 bovine collagen, the exact kind our bodies crave.

Dr. Chad Walding is passionate about sharing his little-known tips for supporting bone density, soothing joint discomfort, and boosting mobility. I found his information truly enlightening.

I encourage you to go to this link (lovenativepath.com/alive) and read…

7 reasons everyone over 50 should be taking THIS kind of protein

For those who don't know, declining bone and joint health is a major reason we feel sore and stiff in the mornings.

But most importantly, Dr. Chad Walding has seen people achieve incredible reversals with a simple nutritional fix.

Something this simple could help you regain independence and mobility...

even if you think it's too late.

I’m In—and Feeling It

I now put NativePath collagen in my coffee every morning. It’s tasteless, clump-free, and now for me... non-negotiable based on what I’ve learned.

Want to hear the full conversation? Don’t miss this episode of The Debbie Nigro Show.

Learn more about how collagen can help you and then get some asap at lovenativepath.com/alive.

The Debbie Nigro Show has a special offer waiting for you there.

Because guess what? Your best days are NOT behind you!

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I did it! I took a chance, followed my gut, and launched something brand new. I told myself what I always tell you guys…Risk It! or Regret It!

Introducing my brand-new short-form syndicated radio feature: “Keeping the ‘Live’ in Alive! with Debbie Nigro” Proudly sponsored by NativePath Collagen — the stuff that’s got me hiking again, baby!

For the past 6 months, I’ve been secretly developing this new ‘thing’’. Figuring out what it should be, how it should sound, and who would be open enough to collaborate with me.

Why this, why now?

Lately, I’ve found myself diving into wellness like never before. Not just for fun (though some of it is hilarious), but because my biological clock feels more like a ticking time bomb these days.

I’m trying to maximize my remaining time on this planet as are many other people I know.

I’m constantly researching and talking about mental wellness, physical wellness, nutrition, longevity, and all the weird and wonderful science behind staying vibrant and ALIVE. And sharing it all on my “Wellness Wednesday” segments of The Debbie Nigro Show just wasn’t enough anymore.

So, I created this new feature — fast-moving, funny, and full of fascinating wellness info — to syndicate nationwide.

AND I’m testing it out in real time.

The Launch 🚀

On Monday, April 7th, I debuted the first of my four “Keeping the ‘Live’ in Alive! with Debbie Nigro” features each which will air 1x a day for 7 days across multiple network shows on the Red Apple Audio Network and its Flagship Station WABC Radio NY. The feature gets personally introduced by high-profile hosts — which, I admit, after listening in from the oustide - gave me a huge kick! (So did all the random high-five texts I got from friends who happened to catch it on-air!)

Enter: NativePath Collagen. This best-in-class wellness brand stepped up as my first sponsor. And I’m genuinely grateful — not just because they’re backing me, but because their product really works. (More on that below…)

Ready to hear the very first radio feature?

Take a listen and PUHHHLEASE BUY THE COLLAGEN!

It works! and it helps support my good work!

OK Here’s the transcript of Feature #1

Announcer:

Now here’s “Keeping the ‘Live’ in Alive! with Debbie Nigro” sponsored by NativePath Collagen.

Debbie:

Ever wake up one day and feel like you aged overnight?

You're not imagining it. You did. (lol)

Scientists have now confirmed what we've all suspected. We age in bursts, not slowly, not gradually, but in molecular surprise parties, just without the balloons.

According to research in the Journal of Nature Aging, we hit two major aging jumps, one around 44, another around 60.

That's when your body suddenly goes, Surprise! Here's some wrinkles, and here's maybe a weird pain in your knee.

Researchers followed 108 people for years looking at their DNA, their proteins, even their gut microbiomes. And they found most molecules in the body change in big, accelerated shifts at those exact ages.

In our 40s, fat and muscle start to shift. In our 60s, we start losing more muscle and the risk for things like heart disease and diabetes spikes. Okay, there's good news. Now that we know this, science can help us catch problems earlier and keep us healthier longer. So, if you're 43 or 59, what I would do is… hydrate, stretch, and hang on. I'm Debbie Nigro.

LIVE ENDORSEMENT FOR NATIVEPATH COLLAGEN

Debbie:

I always joke that I'm delusionally young and outrageously fun.

Truth is, I'm blowing a body part a week over here. No joke.

Stopped mid-hike, limped out of the woods alone while my boyfriend kept going because my knee was killing me.

I thought about collagen, and I caught an old friend in a Native Path collagen ad raving about how her knees felt better. She had more energy, her hair, her nails, her skin looked amazing.

So, I got some, started putting it in my coffee every day.

No taste, no lumps.

Now I'm back, walking strong, full of energy.

If aching joints are slowing you down, get NativePath Collagen today!

Just visit lovenativepath.com/Debbie

That's lovenativepath.com/Debbie

Free frother, free shipping, 45% off right now.

ANNOUNCER:

This has been “Keeping the ‘Live’ In Alive!” with Debbie Nigro

That's it!

Listen for a NEW FEATURE EACH WEEK airing on WABC Radio NY and the Red Apple Audio Network

P.S. BIG Shoutout to NativePath Collagen — for helping keep us all moving forward... one scoop at a time.

This idea’s been simmering for a while — and it’s only the beginning.

Would love your feedback — and if you’re in the wellness world or media world, I’d love to connect.

Debbie@DebbieNigro.com

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Hey guys, it’s Debbie Nigro — and today, I want to introduce you to someone whose spirit will stick with you long after you finish reading this.

Meet John Chiorando — a brilliant businessman, devoted family man, and philanthropist — and yes, the self-proclaimed “Coconut Commander” behind the fast-growing beverage brand Once Upon a Coconut.

But it’s not just about the coconuts.

It’s about "Greatitude." Not a typo. It’s the name of John’s new book — a powerful message born from unimaginable heartbreak: the loss of his beautiful daughter, Nina, to a rare form of terminal cancer called Leptomeningeal Disease.

A Book Born From Heartache — and Healing

John didn’t plan to write a book. But when his young son once complained about not getting enough Christmas presents, something clicked. He realized how much of today’s culture is focused on what we lack, rather than what we have.

So he wrote Greatitude, a message-driven book that gently shifts our lens toward appreciation, especially for life’s simplest joys — like a cup of coffee, a walk on the beach, or time with someone we love.

Then Nina got sick.

And suddenly, what started as a lesson in thankfulness became a tribute to her courage — and a platform for purpose.

As John shared on the show:

“My colleague told me, ‘You didn’t write this book. Your daughter did.’”

And you know what? She did.

100% of Book Proceeds Go to Charity

Every single dollar from the purchase of Greatitude goes to one of two causes close to John’s heart:

Nina Strong Foundation for rare cancer research Down Syndrome Foundation (another personal connection in his family)

And as a thank-you?

You get a free case of Once Upon a Coconut when you buy the book.

(Love that part!)

Grab it at Greatitude.org

Once Upon a Coconut: Coconut Water With a Cause

You’ve probably seen the bright, playful cans of Once Upon a Coconut on shelves — I spotted it in a DeCicco's here in New York and literally stopped in my tracks.

It’s more than delicious (hello, coconut + chocolate?!), it’s also doing good:

Plant-based, non-GMO, full of electrolytes Ethically sourced from Vietnam And here’s the biggie: 10% of all profits go to charity.

As John says:

“Giving is our best ingredient.”

Even Shark Tank’s Daymond John and NFL stars like Rob Gronkowski and Ronnie Stanley are investors. But it’s the mission that’s the real magnet.

Fastest-Growing Coconut Water Brand in America

From Whole Foods to Walmart to Target — Once Upon a Coconut is popping up everywhere. And it’s not just good business — it’s good energy.

As John says:

“We call it nature’s Gatorade.”

Cheers to that!

Final Sips of Inspiration

Talking with John was a reminder that life is fragile, beautiful, and worthy of deep appreciation — even in the face of heartbreak... in spite of it all.

If you want to feel better, do better, and drink something better… Pick up a copy of Greatitude. Sip some coconut water with purpose. And maybe, just maybe, start seeing the world through a lens of Greatitude too.

With heart, Debbie

BUY THE BOOK + GET YOUR FREE CASE OF COCONUT WATER!

GO TO GREATITUDE.org

Enjoy meeting John Choriando and enjoy the podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show

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Hey guys, Debbie Nigro here — and if you’re anything like me, you’re holding on to hope, love, and music to lift your spirits… in spite of it all.

That phrase — “in spite of it all” — felt like the perfect segue into one of the most meaningful and emotional conversations I’ve had in a long time on The Debbie Nigro Show. I had the honor of welcoming the incredible Wayne Warnicke, a legendary music producer who was diagnosed with ALS in 2022, and his powerhouse of a wife, the talented and soulful Vaneese Thomas.

Together, they are the heartbeat behind Musicians United for ALS, a one-night-only benefit concert packed with iconic talent — all coming together to raise funds for ALS research and patient support.

Meet Wayne & Vaneese: They Brought Such Great Energy to the Show. Theirs Is a Love Story in Music and Resilience

Wayne’s story is one of deep passion and remarkable perseverance. From starting as a drummer at age 9 to producing legends like Bob James, Luther Vandross, and David Sanborn, Wayne’s music journey has been nothing short of epic. He fell in love with the studio life as a teenager walking into Minot Sound in White Plains — and never looked back.

And then there's Vaneese. A force of nature. A blues powerhouse. A woman who met Wayne in the studio and never left his side. Now, she’s not only singing the blues, but she’s also living with love and lifting Wayne every step of the way. “She does everything,” Wayne said, with humor in his voice and gratitude in his heart. “I'm a lot of work,” he chuckled.

And yet, his spirit is unstoppable.

Mark your calendars: April 15th at the Concert Hall at SUNY Purchase.

This ADA-compliant venue will welcome a phenomenal lineup of artists, many of whom have deep personal ties to Wayne:

Patti Smythe of Scandal

Paul Shaffer of Late Show with David Letterman fame

Average White Band (hello, 70s groove!)

Lisa Fisher, Grammy-winning vocal goddess

James "D-Train" Williams

Bob James (another Grammy legend!)

Ed Palermo Big Band

Bernie Williams, yes, THAT Bernie from the Yankees

Rising local star Elsa, guitar virtuoso Gil Parris, and more!

And hosting the evening? None other than Vinnie Pastore of The Sopranos — you know it’s going to be a blast.

The musical direction is in the expert hands of Rob Mathes, a Kennedy Center Honors-level arranger and a dear friend of the couple.

Plus, yes — there will be cocktails and hors d’oeuvres starting at 5:30pm, all included in your ticket!

Why This Matters

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is cruel, mysterious, and currently incurable. Wayne’s journey with ALS began when he couldn’t quite stand up straight… then swimming got harder… and eventually, the diagnosis came. But rather than retreat, Wayne has rallied. He’s using his voice — and his incredible connections — to shine a light and raise funds.

As he put it, “If life hands you lemons, make lemonade.”

This event is about music, yes. But it’s also about love, awareness, accessibility, and hope. The funds raised will go directly toward research and patient support, and the energy in the room will be unforgettable.

Get Your Tickets or Donate Now!

Visit Musicians United for ALS to buy your tickets or make a donation. (Yes, it's tax-deductible!)

Show Wayne, Vaneese, and the entire ALS community that they are not alone.

Final Thoughts

You know, some people just have that light. Wayne and Vaneese are those people. Their love, their strength, their humor, and their commitment to turning a difficult diagnosis into a night of celebration… it's just extraordinary.

I promise you’ll be inspired listening to them both in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Bourbon, badass women, and a bold new brand shaking up the spirits industry? Now that’s my kind of conversation! Especially during Women’s History Month.

On The Debbie Nigro Show, I had the pleasure of chatting with Molly Kingston, the trailblazing founder of Oakley Bourbon—a woman-led brand making serious waves in a traditionally male-dominated industry. And trust me, this story is as smooth and strong as the bourbon itself!

A Spirit with Spirit: Inspired by Annie Oakley

Molly’s inspiration? None other than the legendary Annie Oakley—the sharpshooter and symbol of female empowerment. Just like Annie, Molly had the nerve (and the gut!) to disrupt an industry that didn’t see her coming. She invested in rare bourbon barrels, studied the business, and noticed something missing—a bourbon brand that truly spoke to women.

Enter Oakley Bourbon—the world’s first and only bourbon to launch with a 20-year-old edition. Yep, you read that right. Thousand-dollar bottles sold out in minutes, and collectors are lining up for more.

Why Bourbon? Why Now?

Women are making their mark in whiskey, and Molly saw an opportunity to create a brand that felt inclusive, stylish, and bold—just like the women who drink it. Oakley Bourbon is all about strength, independence, and community—values that Annie Oakley herself would have raised a glass to.

And speaking of collectors, Oakley is the first spirits brand to use Solana Blockchain anti-fraud technology on its bottles—ensuring authenticity for decades. This high-tech touch has serious whiskey enthusiasts clamoring to get their hands on a bottle.

More Than Just a Drink—It’s a Lifestyle

Molly isn’t just selling bourbon—she’s building a movement. From limited-edition collector bottles to exclusive Royale playing cards that unlock VIP experiences, Oakley Bourbon is about bringing people together over a glass of something truly special.

And let’s talk about that bottle—designed with women in mind. No clunky, hard-to-hold packaging here. Oakley Bourbon’s bottle is elegant, sleek, and made for a woman’s grip—but don’t worry, gentlemen, you’re invited to the party too!

What’s Next for Oakley?

With Collector’s Edition 2 on the way and a special summer release in the works, Oakley Bourbon is just getting started. And if Molly Kingston’s track record is any indication, the best is yet to come.

So grab your fringe jacket, cowboy hat, and a glass of Oakley Bourbon—because this is one brand that’s ready to ride into the future.

Want to learn more? Head to OakleySprirts.com and get in on the action.

And to Molly—cheers to you, your vision, and the women raising a glass to history!

Oakley Bourbon: A perfect choice to toast to women who disrupt and innovate.

P.S. Obviously Molly agrees with my mantra …“Risk It! or Regret it!”

"The Debbie Nigro Show – Where bold conversations meet unstoppable women! Tune in for smart, fun, and fearless chats about business, lifestyle, and trailblazers shaking up industries. Don’t miss the latest interviews, insights, and laughs! Listen now."

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Hey, friends! It’s your favorite delusionally young optimist, Debbie Nigro, back with another Wellness Wednesday where we keep the "live" in alive! If you missed the show, here’s a rapid-fire rundown of what we talked about—because, let’s be honest, I covered a lot. Buckle up!

1. Do We Age in Bursts? Apparently, OMG Yes!

Scientists have confirmed what we already suspected—one day, you wake up and bam, you’ve aged five years overnight.

Studies show major aging jumps around age 44 and 60 (so if you’re near one of those, hydrate and brace yourself).

Researchers analyzed DNA, proteins, and other molecular markers to prove that aging isn’t a slow, gradual process—it’s like nature’s version of a surprise party, but instead of balloons, you get wrinkles.

1. Your Heart is Aging, But Science is Catching Up!

Heart disease is still the #1 cause of death, but treatments are better than ever.

The heart actually stiffens as we age—apparently, moisturizer won’t fix this one.

New cardiology advancements are helping older patients live longer, healthier lives—yay for progress!

1. Ping Pong Could Help Parkinson’s Patients—And It’s Pretty Cool

A man with Parkinson’s found that playing ping pong helped him regain movement—and now thousands of patients worldwide are following suit.

New York City even has a dedicated Ping Pong for Parkinson’s program (and I was ahead of the curve on this story, thank you very much).

Bonus: Ping pong is fun, so even if you don’t have Parkinson’s, grab a paddle and get moving!

1. Measles Outbreaks—Yep, They’re Back (Ugh)

Measles was eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but now cases are popping up in Texas, New Mexico, and even New York.

Pregnant women and young kids are especially at risk, so let’s stay informed and proactive.

This is your friendly reminder to double-check your vaccination records (if you can actually find them).

1. Pheromones, Love Chemicals, and the $100 Attraction Boost

Did you know you can buy pheromone perfume additives to increase your attraction factor?

Dr. Winifred Cutler discovered human pheromones in 1986, bottled them up, and now you can buy them for $100 a pop.

Do we really need them, or do we just need to get out more? Hmm…

1. Collagen Loading—The Fountain of Youth?

I’ve been doubling up on collagen, and I swear I feel the difference.

It helps joints, skin, hair, and nails, but you have to stick with it for at least three months to see real results.

If you're impatient, "collagen loading" (taking a double dose for the first month) can help speed things up.

1. Strawberries & the Norovirus—Wash Those Berries, People!

The FDA is warning that strawberries might carry norovirus—yes, the one that makes you wish you never ate again.

How to avoid getting sick? Wash them thoroughly under running water (yes, even the pre-washed ones).

A vinegar soak (3 parts water, 1 part vinegar) can also help cut down on germs.

1. Spring Break Travel Warnings—Stay Safe, Folks!

Some Caribbean destinations now have heightened safety alerts from the U.S. State Department.

If you're traveling, stick with your friends and avoid risky situations (especially late at night).

A tragic story about a missing college student in the Dominican Republic is a sobering reminder to stay vigilant.

1. Ozempic & Mounjaro—More Than Just Weight Loss?

New research suggests these popular weight-loss drugs may reduce inflammation in the brain, potentially helping Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s patients.

But there’s a catch—stop taking them, and your body might go right back to square one.

1. Where Can You Breathe the Cleanest Air?

Only seven countries met the World Health Organization’s air quality standards in 2024.

If you want fresh air, head to Australia, New Zealand, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Estonia, or Iceland.

The U.S.? Not on the list. (Might need to rethink those travel plans.)

Final Thought: The Key to Longevity is... LIVING!

Inspired by Arianna Huffington’s latest piece, I want to remind you—longevity is great, but don’t get so caught up in living long that you forget to live well.

Focus on joy, love, and purpose—not just extending your years, but making those year’s worth it.

Oh, and if someone texts you the word ‘slay’, make sure you know that means you’ve done an exceptionally good job (thank you, Gen Z, for keeping me on my toes).

So, if you ask me I think I’ve pretty much ‘slayed’ this week’s Wellness Wednesday Report!

Remember, we’re all just trying to keep the live in alive—so let’s do it with energy, laughter, and maybe a little collagen.

Follow me for more fun, wellness insights, and Debservations on life!

@Debservations on Instagram and @TheRealDebbieNigro

Facebook The Debbie Nigro Show

Sign up for my free newsletter at DebbieNigro.com

Until next time—stay fabulous! 😘

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Some people walk into a room, and you just know they’re special. They’ve got an energy, a presence—maybe even a signature scent that turns heads. Well, my guest on The Debbie Nigro Show for this special Women's History Month edition is exactly that kind of person. Meet Sue Phillips, the internationally acclaimed fragrance expert, scent therapist, and newly honored Global Women Peace Ambassador!

If you love a great success story, the science of scent, and a little inspiration to keep going no matter what life throws your way, this is the episode you need to hear.

Sue Phillips: From Broadway Dreams to Fragrance Queen

Sue’s story is the kind of wild, unexpected career journey we all love. Originally from South Africa, she arrived in New York City chasing dreams of singing and acting. But when an immigration lawyer bluntly told her, “We have 20,000 out-of-work actresses. What else can you do?” she quickly pivoted.

💡 Turns out, she had a business background (thanks to her mother’s wise advice), which landed her a job as an executive assistant—a gig that eventually led to a six-year career at Elizabeth Arden, then to leadership roles at Lancôme and Tiffany & Co. (Yes, that Tiffany.)

Her claim to fame? Developing the first-ever Tiffany perfume and later Tiffany for Men. Not bad for a former aspiring actress, huh?

Reinventing Success – Over and Over Again

If there’s one theme to Sue’s life, it’s reinvention. Every time an industry shift or global crisis hit; she found a way to pivot.

When the 2008 economy crashed, she turned to the growing custom fragrance trend, creating scents for brands like Burberry, Avon, and Trish McEvoy.

When COVID-19 shut down her boutique, she unknowingly stumbled into a life-changing discovery—her ability to help people who lost their sense of smell due to COVID, asthma, and other illnesses.

She wrote a book, The Power of Perfume, which went viral and led to her helping over 250 people regain their sense of smell!

And now? She’s taking her Sue Phillips Fragrance brand global, with partnerships in Dubai and India.

The Science of Scent: Can Perfume Heal?

We all know scent is powerful—it can trigger memories, shift moods, and even attract a soulmate. But what Sue discovered during COVID was next level.

She calls it a “scent healing journey.” Using custom fragrance blends, she helped one woman regain her sense of smell after 15 months of nothing. And the results kept coming—hundreds of people found relief through her work.

Now, she’s writing a second book focused on scent therapy for COVID and asthma survivors.

Why Custom Perfume is the Future

We talked about something every perfume lover knows: A fragrance can smell amazing on someone else—but awful on you. That’s because body chemistry plays a HUGE role in how scents react. And that’s why custom perfumes are the future!

Sue is bringing her fragrance experiences to more people than ever with her Upper East Side boutique, Sue Phillips Fragrance. If you’re looking for a signature scent that’s uniquely YOU, she’s the woman to see.

Sue’s Secret to Success? The 4 P’s

Persistence Perseverance Passion

And, of course, Perfume!

Final Thoughts: Keep the Energy Moving

One thing Sue and I agree on? Energy is everything. If you keep pivoting, learning, and staying open, great things come full circle.

If you’ve got a gift, don’t stop sharing it.

And if you ever feel stuck? Maybe it’s time to shake things up and reinvent yourself—just like Sue Phillips did.

Want to hear the full story?

Listen to the podcast episode now!

Visit Sue’s boutique on the Upper East Side Check out her book, The Power of Perfume, on Amazon

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Ever feel like you're stuck in a loop of I’ll do it tomorrow? You're not alone! On this week's Wellness Wednesday episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, we tackled procrastination and the sneaky ways we self-sabotage—especially when it comes to fitness, confidence, and transformation.

My fabulous guest, Danita Young, is a transformational coach and cognitive performance expert who knows a thing or two (or a thousand!) about helping people break free from limiting beliefs. From starting as a personal trainer to becoming a national bikini competitor, to creating Booty Bands (yes, you read that right!), she’s been on a mission to help women in particular, step into their unstoppable selves.

Why Do We Procrastinate?

Danita spilled the truth: It’s not just about motivation—it’s about mindset. Most of us carry around beliefs we’ve absorbed from society, family, and the media that whisper, You can’t do this. But guess what? That’s a lie! She teaches women to track their subconscious beliefs and shift their mindset from self-doubt to unstoppable confidence.

Can You Really Transform at Any Age?

One of my favorite moments? When Danita shared the story of Joan, who started her fitness journey at 75 and now, at 80, has the best body of her life. Proof that transformation is possible at any age—as long as you believe it is.

The Magic Formula to Overcoming Stress & Procrastination

Danita offers a free masterclass that delivers five powerful steps to break free from stress, anxiety, and procrastination. She doesn’t believe in fluff—just straight-to-the-point, actionable strategies to help you stop waiting and start winning.

Let’s Talk Booty Bands!

Of course, we had to chat about her Booty Bands—the simple but genius fitness tool trusted by over 85,000 women. Whether you’re working out at home or on the go, these bands help sculpt and tone your body in just 15 minutes a day. And yes, I promised her I'd actually start using mine! (I know they're around here somewhere!)

Listen to the Full Interview!

If you're ready to ditch procrastination, shift your mindset, and finally take action on your goals, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Listen to my full conversation with Danita Young right here and check out her free masterclass at AlignWithDanita.com.

Because who doesn’t want to feel unstoppable?!

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Hey friends! On Wellness Wednesday on The Debbie Nigro Show, as always, we covered a LOT—from climbing steps like an Italian grandma climbs hills in the mountains to the latest in fancy sneakers, and even Coca-Cola's new "healthy" soda (who knew?!). Buckle up, because here’s your full recap of this week's shenanigans, wisdom, and wellness tips.

Step It Up—Like an Italian Grandmother!

I kicked off the show kinda moaning (I hate moaners) about my aching leg muscles. Was feeling every single step in my legs after just visiting my daughter’s house (which, by the way, is basically a Stairmaster disguised as a home). But then I thought—wait! The Italian women of the Blue Zones live to be 100+ because they’re always climbing hills to pick fresh food. And they don't moan. Maybe these aching legs are a good thing?

Moral of the story: Keep moving, folks! Even if it feels like torture now, your future self will thank you

Garlic: The Secret to Longevity?

Speaking of healthy living, did you know some of the longest-living people in the world eat raw garlic—like, a LOT of it? I, on the other hand, prefer my garlic caramelized in olive oil, courtesy of my chef boy toy (life partner) Dave. If you want a great hack for having garlic oil ready to go at all times, I shared an easy one—just slow-low-cook a whole bunch of garlic cloves in olive oil for like an hour and keep it in your fridge. You’re welcome.

Ice Lawns, Black Ice & The Amazon Package Slide

Winter has been extra icy this year, hasn’t it? Kids are stuck inside instead of playing out in the snow because of ice lawns! (seriously, lawns are covered in a sheet of ice). The Amazon delivery guys are launching packages across driveways like Olympic curlers, and black ice is lurking at every gas station. Like the one I stopped at on the way to the show. I’d have totally wiped out if I didn’t notice the black ice when I opened my car door at the pump about to step out. Drove to another to another pump. Told the gas station guy I just saved him a lawsuit. Small wins, people!

The Sneaker Business Just Got a Kardashian Twist

Sneaker lovers, listen up! Nike just partnered with Kim Kardashian to create Nike Skims, and I gotta admit—I didn’t see that one coming. Nike has always focused on sports, but now they’re blending “innovation and science” with “shapewear for the female foot.” If it makes sneakers comfier and more stylish, I’m in. By the way, the 'very' expensive sneaker market is starting to decline—though many pairs are still going for between $400 and $800+. I know this because an 18-year-old neighbor showed me her very expensive pair.

Coca-Cola’s New Health Kick: Prebiotic Soda

Coke is jumping on the health train with Simply Pop, their new prebiotic soda. Apparently, they’re trying to compete with brands like Poppy and Ollipop, which have been taking over the fizzy drink game. Less sugar, more gut health—sounds great, but let’s see if it actually tastes good. Anyone else tried these yet?

Collagen in My Coffee? Yep, It’s Happening.

I finally gave in to the collagen craze! After a friend raved about how it helped her joints, skin, and even bones, I decided to do a story on her. I had spotted her in an ad online for Native Path Collagen and she posted the story of my story about her online and the grateful company sent me some to try. Love it! Now dumping a scoop of collagen into my coffee is a part of my morning coffee routine. Will it make me look younger? Not sure but it’s worth a shot! LOL

Meet the "Go-Go Grannies"—The Most Heartwarming Story Ever

This one gave me ALL the feels. There’s a program called Meet the Grannies where grandmothers in places like South Africa, Colombia, and Ghana are paired with orphaned babies to give them love and human connection. Can you imagine how much that means to a baby who has no one? These amazing women are literally changing lives, and I had to give them a shoutout.

Skidjoring—The Winter Sport You Didn’t Know You Needed

Ever heard of skidjoring? Me neither. But it turns out, it’s a Scandinavian winter sport where you strap yourself to your dog and let them pull you on skis. Sounds equal parts fun and terrifying. If you’re a dog owner and need a new winter activity, maybe give it a try? Just don’t forget the harness! ( and honestly I'd just check your medical insurance policy to see if you're covered for a Skidjoring injurie. lol )

Glimmers: The Opposite of Triggers

We all know about triggers—those little things that set us off. But what about glimmers? They’re tiny moments of joy, warmth, or calm that can instantly shift your mood. Like taking a quiet bath, catching a beautiful sunset, or laughing with someone you love. Turns out, focusing on these small moments rewire your brain for happiness. So let’s all start collecting glimmers, shall we.

Final Thought: Give Away a Smile!

I wrapped up the show with a little wisdom from Dolly Parton:

"If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours."

Because let’s be honest—this world needs more smiles.

That’s a wrap on Wellness Wednesday!

Enjoy the podcast of this full live radio show.

Until next time—let’s all try to keep the live in alive!

Oh …Don’t forget to tune in live weekdays from 11 to 12 noon EST on WGCH or on WGCH.com from anywhere in the world.

And follow me on social media for more fun, info, and glimmers.

Instagram @therealdebbienigro

Facebook: TheDebbieNigroShow

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Women Are Making Major Moves On The Pickleball Court

Move over, fellas! Women are making major moves in pickleball, and The Debbie Nigro Show just got the inside scoop from two powerhouse ladies leading the charge—Alita Friedman and Catherine Barton.

If you haven't caught the pickleball bug yet, let me break it down for you: It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s the ultimate social sport. And now, thanks to these two trailblazers, women finally have their own place in the game with the launch of the National Women’s Pickleball Foundation which joins the National Women’s Pickleball Association.

The Power of Pickleball: Fun, Fitness & Philanthropy

Alita and Catherine are turning their love of the game into a movement. Here’s how:

Bringing Women Together – Pickleball is for all ages, and women are loving the camaraderie. It’s competitive, but it's also social—so whether you're in it to win it or just there to meet new friends, it’s a win-win!

Giving Back Big Time – The National Women’s Pickleball Foundation is partnering with major charities like the Special Olympics, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and even the Girl Scouts to make an impact beyond the court.

Creating a Membership Club for Women – The National Women’s Pickleball Association is launching with events, exclusive benefits, and ways to keep the community connected.

Why Pickleball Is the Hottest Sport Right Now

If you thought pickleball was just for retirees, think again! The sport is growing at lightning speed, with indoor courts popping up everywhere—even in old Bed Bath & Beyond stores! (Now that's a makeover we can get behind.)

And if you’re worried about injuries (hello, ER stories!), the ladies have some pro tips:

Stretch first. Seriously, don't skip this. Wear the right shoes. No, your running sneakers won’t cut it. *Take a lesson. Learn the basics before diving in!

Pickleball Lingo You Need to Know

Want to sound like a pro? Here are some must-know terms:

• Stay out of the kitchen – Not the one in your house! This is the no-volley zone near the net.
• Dink – A soft shot that makes your opponent scramble.
• Pickled – When your team scores zero points in a game. Ouch!
• Shake & Bake – A killer combo move that leaves your opponent in the dust.

The Big Event – Join the Fun in Boca Raton, Fla!

Want to see this movement in action? The National Women’s Pickleball Association is hosting its launch event in April at the stunning Boca West Country Club. Expect:

🌟 Pro players🎾 Fashion & gear🎟️ Raffles & fundraising💃 Tons of fun!

Check out womenspickleballassociation.org for details and to grab your spot!

Pickleball Isn’t just a Sport for Women—It’s a Movement.

It’s bringing women together, creating lasting friendships, and making a difference through philanthropy.

So, ladies, grab a paddle, get on the court, and let’s play!

P.S. – Want to hear the full conversation? Check out The Debbie Nigro Show podcast and follow me The Debbie Nigro Show on Facebook and @therealdebbienigro on Instagram for more scoop!

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Flower Power: The Secret to Happiness & Wellness with Jill Brooke

Hey there, flower lovers! If you’ve ever stopped to admire a beautiful bouquet or smiled at a fresh bloom, there’s a reason for that—flowers have scientifically proven benefits for our health and happiness! On the latest episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, we dove deep into the magic of flowers with Jill Brooke, founder and editorial director of Flower Power Daily.

Jill, a floral historian and wellness advocate, shared some eye-opening insights about how flowers can:

Reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels Calm the mind (Lavender has the same soothing compounds as Valium) Boost happiness just by being in the room Teach life lessons—resilience, patience, and adaptability

Why Flowers Are a Wellness Essential

Turns out, even medical experts like Dr. Andrew Weil have long recommended keeping fresh flowers at home for mental and emotional well-being. And guess what? Hotels, restaurants, and even supermarkets strategically place flowers at entrances because they make people feel good—so good that they even spend more money!

And here’s a fun fact: 940 million stems of roses just landed in Miami for Valentine’s Day. (Yes, that’s a real number!)

The Bud Vase Trick: Small Gesture, Big Impact

Want to brighten someone’s day without breaking the bank? Jill suggests buying mini bud vases (you can grab 48 on Amazon!) and gifting a single bloom. The sentiment matters more than the size, and it’s an easy way to spread love on Valentine's Day, Galantine’s Day, or just because.

So, the next time you need a mood boost—or want to make someone smile—grab a flower!

Enjoy this podcast of my live conversation with Jill Brooke on The Debbie Nigro Show.

Check out Flower Power Daily for more floral inspiration And stay tuned for Jill’s upcoming book, The Wisdom of Flowers!

Happy Valentine’s & Galantine’s Day! Spread the flower love!

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What NOT to Do on Social Media During a Divorce – Straight Talk with Jill Spielberg

Valentine’s Week is all about love, but let’s be real, love doesn’t always go as planned. And when it doesn’t, social media can make things way worse (like Exhibit A in court worse).

That’s why I brought in Jill Spielberg, partner in charge of the Family and Matrimonial Law Department at Abrams-Fensterman LLP, to drop some major truth bombs about social media and divorce—what not to do, what could cost you in court, and even how to protect your kids.

Biggest Takeaway? STOP POSTING!

According to Jill, the best thing you can do during a divorce is take a social media hiatus. That vacation selfie? That vent session about your soon-to-be-ex? That new relationship post? All of it can be used against you. Even “friends” might not be real friends when emotions run high.

A few ways social media can totally backfire:

Posting about your amazing new life while claiming you can’t afford child support Sharing party pics that could be used in a custody battle Saying anything* negative about your ex—your kids might see it, too!

The Flip Side: Can Social Media Help During a Divorce?

Not really, says Jill. But if you must post, make it positive—like supporting your co-parent’s achievements. Otherwise, keep the drama offline.

Why Divorce Hits Hard During Valentine’s Week

January is known as Divorce Month, but February can be brutal too. While stores are overflowing with hearts and candy, many people are struggling through heartbreak. If that’s you, know this: You are not alone.

ill’s pro tip for avoiding divorce in the first place? APPRECIATION.

The #1 reason couples split isn’t money or infidelity—it’s feeling unappreciated. Let that sink in.

A Personal Story of Divorce

Years ago, my daughter, an only child of divorce, always swore someday she'd have her own house and host every single holiday so she’d never have to “choose” between parents on a holiday again.

Well, fast forward, and guess what? My ex-husband, his current wife, his former wife after me, her current husband, myself and my significant other, all these years later actually granted my daughter her wish. Here we are all sitting together at one big happy holiday table this year. Now that’s growth!

If you’re navigating divorce (or know someone who is), this episode is a must-listen.

Enjoy this full conversation with Jill Spielberg. She’s an award-winning attorney who focuses on high-net-worth divorces, high-conflict custody cases, and prenuptial agreements.

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I took some time on The Debbie Nigro Show this week to talk about TIME, not the magazine—though that would be fun—but the concept of time, how we use it, and about a mind-blowing new invention that’s shaking up the world of luxury watches to display time. This one’s a game-changer!

I was scrolling through Instagram when I spot a post from my friend Rob Weintraub, manager of Manfredi Jewels in Greenwich, CT. Now, if you love watches—or just admire fine craftsmanship—Manfredi is the place to know about.

(I know this firsthand because I was so impressed with owner Roberto’s expertise and his entrepreneurial journey, I encouraged him to let me tell his story to the world which we did in an 8-part series of podcast interviews called ‘The Rare Watch Man’ on his website ManfrediJewels.com.)

Anyway, what I saw on Instagram wasn’t just any post. It was something I’d never seen before. A watch. On a wall. As a CLOCK. Wait, what?

Introducing WOW by KERIS

If you own a stunning luxury watch, (or a have a watch collection) you likely only wear one 2% of the time? That’s the reason the folks at WOW by Keris created an invention that could help you enjoy your watch a lot more of the time.

WOW is a sleek, high-tech display that turns your luxury wristwatch into wall art—and a fully functional wall clock! You simply slide your watch into the side of the device, and voilà! It’s projected onto a beautiful screen, showing off every intricate detail of its craftsmanship.

Rob discovered this genius invention at Watches and Wonders, the biggest watch exhibition in the world, held annually in Geneva, Switzerland. Among all the glitzy timepieces and innovations, WOW was the standout. And guess what? Manfredi Jewels is one of only two places in the entire United States where you can get it!

Why Watch Lovers Might Love This

· Showcase Your Collection – Why let your luxury watches sit in a drawer when you can put them on display?

· Functional + Beautiful – It's not just a statement piece—it actually tells time!

· A Worthy Investment – High-end watches appreciate n value. Now, you can enjoy them every day.

· Customizable to Your Style – Available in multiple finishes or match it to any Pantone color to blend seamlessly into your home.

How Much Does WOW Cost?

The base model is $5,990, and if you want a custom color or stand, you can upgrade for a bit more. Orders take about 6-8 weeks, but Manfredi has some in stock now if you’re ready to take your watch obsession to the next level.

Want to See It in Action?

Head over to the Manfredi Jewels store on Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich, CT.

Big thanks to Rob Weintraub for joining me —and for always keeping an eye on the latest and greatest in the watch world.

Enjoy this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Boosting Your Wellness with Collagen: A Chat with Cynthia Mancuso on The Debbie Nigro Show

If you've been curious about collagen and whether it actually works, my latest chat on The Debbie Nigro Show is just for you! I caught up with my longtime friend Cynthia Mancuso—who I recently spotted in an ad for Native Path Collagen—to find out why she's such a fan and how it's helped her feel better from the inside out.

I thought she'd get a laugh out of my calling her out of the blue to see just how this collagen thing was working for her, because I've seriously been thinking about starting taking it but have not yet.

I knew Cynthia would smile and knew she'd be OK having some fun with me on my radio show talking about it.

Cynthia shared how she started taking collagen to help with joint pain, fatigue, and osteoporosis, and after a few months, she noticed big improvements—less knee pain, more energy, stronger nails, thicker hair, and firmer-looking skin. She’s been adding two scoops of Native Path Collagen to her coffee every morning, and the results have been worth the consistency!

(BTW this is NOT a paid commercial for Native Path Collagen. Just a commercial for lovely Cynthia Mancuso who was featured in their collagen ad. LOL)

Cynthia and I also talked about the science behind collagen—did you know we start losing collagen in our 20’s and lose about half of our body's natural collagen by age 60? Seems collagen supplements can help restore what’s been lost.

While research is still evolving, Cynthia swears by it, and after hearing her experience with collagen, I think I’m ready to give it a try too!

Obviously I must be low on supply by now.

If you’re looking for an easy wellness boost, tune in to this fun, informative conversation.

And stay tuned—Cynthia promised to report back on her next bone density test to see just how much of a difference this routine is making!

🎙 Listen to the podcast of our warm live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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It’s not every day you get to chat with a true musical visionary, but that’s exactly what happened on Wellness Wednesday when I welcomed Grammy-nominated artist Radhika Vekaria to The Debbie Nigro Show!

Radhika’s voice isn’t just beautiful—it’s healing. Her album Warriors of Light has earned her a well-deserved Grammy nomination in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category, and let me tell you, this woman is redefining ancient music in the modern world.

Born in London with Indian and East African roots, Radhika grew up surrounded by music—literally from the womb! Her father was a connoisseur of Indian classical music, and she found her voice through song, even overcoming a lifelong speech impediment. Now, she helps others unlock their own voices through sound coaching.

Oh, and did I mention she’s collaborating with NASA on a planetarium show? That’s right—her cosmic vocals are about to be paired with stunning space imagery in a groundbreaking project with the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab.

Radhika’s philosophy? “I don’t make music for you to see me. I make it for you to see yourself.” Talk about deep!

If you need some soul-soothing sounds in your life, you must check her out. Listen to our full conversation now—trust me, you’ll feel inspired (and maybe even a little more zen).

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Ever see something so fun and fabulous that you just need to know more?

That’s exactly what happened when I spotted a bright red Moke pulling up at a swanky beach club in Delray Beach, Florida. Part golf cart, part beach cruiser, and 100% head-turner.

Naturally, I did what any curious gal would do—I took a picture, went down a rabbit hole of info, and landed right at Moke America.

Turns out, the Moke isn’t new—it’s iconic! Originally a British military vehicle (yes, parachuted out of airplanes), it’s now an all-electric, open-air, customizable dream ride. Think Lily Pulitzer editions, James Bond-inspired designs (sold out, of course), and baby blue beauties perfect for cruising vacation spots like Miami, the Hamptons, and beyond.

I chatted with Todd Rome, CEO of Moke America, who’s been leading this electric lifestyle revolution for over 10 years. Made in Sarasota, Florida, the Moke is street-legal, eco-friendly, and lets you feel like you’re always on vacation.

Todd says, "What makes the Moke so great is it's loved by everyone. It really speaks beach car. You feel like you're on vacation no matter where you have it."

Moke has become more than a ride—it’s a lifestyle.

Starting at $29K, Mokes let you mix and match everything from the roll bars to the roof.

Todd says, you can “change the car like you change your outfit”.

The future looks even brighter for Moke, with new designs and features set to debut in 2025.

Oh, and if you’re wondering—yes, there’s room for your coffee and phone. Cheers to stylish joyrides, Moke-style!

Enjoy this podcast of a cool conversation with Todd Rome CEO of Moke America live on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Looking for the perfect holiday drink? Meet Coquito, Puerto Rico’s creamy, coconut-infused answer to eggnog—and the recipe comes straight from Nick Mautone, the mixology mastermind behind the $10 million Honey Deuce cocktail at the U.S. Open.

When asked what makes the Coquito so special, Nick said, “You almost can’t screw it up. It’s rich, indulgent, and full of those sweet holiday spices that make everything feel festive.”

Nick’s take on Coquito skips the evaporated milk for more coconut richness, blending coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, dark rum, and a dash of warm spices.

Shake it up in a cocktail shaker, serve it chilled, and garnish with nutmeg or a cinnamon stick for the perfect holiday toast. Whether you sip it in a martini glass or over ice, it’s a little taste of the tropics with a festive twist.

This recipe is easy-peasy, even for the directionally challenged (yes, I’ve been known to rescue instructions from the trash one too many times). So grab a shaker, channel your inner Tom Cruise, and toast to the holiday season!

Here’s Nick Mautone’s Holiday Coquito Recipe!

Holiday Coquito By Nick Mautone

Coquito is an eggnog-like alcoholic beverage, but without eggs! A traditional Puerto Rican holiday drink it is creamy, decadent and filled with sweet spices like cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice and ginger. The key ingredients are coconut milk or cream of coconut and condensed milk. Many home recipes include evaporated milk, I skip that in favor of more coconut milk and its exotic flavor. If you want to go completely dairy free (I often do!) there is sweetened condensed coconut milk available online and in specialty markets, or use coconut cream instead of condensed milk – just be sure to mix it well.

2 oz coconut milk

1 ½ oz Dark rum

1 oz sweetened condensed milk

Generous Dash of apple or pumpkin pie spice or your favorite blend of sweet spices like cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice and ginger

Garnish: Grated Nutmeg and/or Cinnamon Sticks and/or Coconut

Glassware: Shot Glass, Martini up or Rocks glass over ice

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously, strain into preferred glass or rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish

Pro tip 1

Adding a dash of another brown spirit such as bourbon, brandy or a sweet sherry will add a real depth of flavor and complexity.

Pro tip 2

Multiply this recipe by 10 or more and stash in the fridge. It will last a week or so, ready for all your holiday entertainment.

Pro tip 3

Add a tablespoon of pumpkin purée to the recipe for a very decadent pumpkin pie “nog”

Pro tip 4

Add a tablespoon of apple butter to the recipe for a very decadent apple pie “nog”

Pro tip 5

Add a ½ ounce of peppermint schnapps or white crème de menthe to the original recipe for a very decadent peppermint bark like version.

Enjoy this podcast of my warm conversation with childhood neighbor and cocktail star Nick Mautone live on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Have you ever looked up at the night sky and seen a dazzling display of synchronized drones creating art in mid-air? I stumbled upon this awe-inspiring technology while walking in my neighborhood park. What I thought was going to be an epic video of hovering drones ton my iPhone turned out to be a great shot… of my foot. But that didn’t stop me from diving into the world of drone light shows, thanks to my recent guest, Bernard Ozarowski, President of Pixis Drones.

Bernard’s journey into the drone world is as fascinating as the shows themselves. “I was a white-collar criminal defense lawyer for 13 years,” Bernard shared. “But when I saw an NBA logo made out of drones at Liberty State Park, I knew this was something that could bring joy and magic to people, including myself. Now, I get to do work that makes me feel like a kid again.”

Pixis Drones collaborates with major brands like Warner Bros., McDonald’s, and even the NFL to create jaw-dropping aerial displays. From shaping logos to telling entire stories in the sky, the process begins with detailed storyboarding and animation, which eventually transforms into precise drone flight paths. “Each drone is programmed with a path file that tells it where to go, what color to display, and when to return safely,” Bernard explained.

As for the technology itself? Bernard broke it down simply: “Think of each drone as a pixel in a moving image. Our software calculates how every drone needs to move and light up to create a seamless visual. It’s like choreographing a dance, but with hundreds of performers in the sky.”

The possibilities are endless, whether for halftime shows, weddings, or product launches. And while smaller shows start at $40,000, premium productions can climb into six figures. Despite the cost, the safety protocols are what truly impressed me. “Our drones are surrounded by geofences that act like an invisible safety net,” Bernard said, “and we’re always prepared with a second pilot monitoring every flight.”

It’s hard not to admire Bernard’s passion. His team is composed of people from wildly different backgrounds—lawyers, special forces, and marketing experts—all united by their love for pushing creative boundaries. “I even get cool dad points,” Bernard joked, recounting how he recently put Minecraft in the sky for his son.

Drone light shows aren’t just the future of entertainment—they’re a testament to the magic of technology and human creativity. Thank you, Bernard, for sharing this inspiring glimpse into Pixis Drones. I’m officially a new fan and can’t wait to catch their next dazzling display.

Learn about the behind the scenes magic of creating syncronized drone light shows in this fascinating podcast of my live conversation with Pixis Drones President Bernard Ozarowski on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Ever find yourself enchanted by the sparkle of a circus? Not just the outfits (which I’ve always admired)—but the incredible dedication behind the scenes? Well, today’s podcast is a must-listen as I delve into the fascinating world of the Circus Ring of Fame in Sarasota, Florida, with my brilliant guest, Bill Powell.

Funny story: this whole conversation started because I stumbled upon an old photo of myself doing one of my first celebrity interviews—with a monkey from the Royal Hanneford Circus! (Yes, a monkey. It was as hilarious as you can imagine.) That quirky blast from the past sent me spiraling down an acrobatic rabbit hole of circus research, and, wow, did I uncover some incredible stuff!

Bill, who’s the Chairman and CEO of the Circus Ring of Fame Foundation and a circus industry veteran, joined me to share insights into Sarasota’s vibrant circus history and the resilience of this amazing community. Sarasota, as it turns out, isn’t just another sunny Florida spot—it’s the Circus Capital of America, a place where legends have performed and lived since the Ringling Brothers made it their winter home.

Bill’s expertise runs deep. Before leading the Circus Ring of Fame Foundation, he built an impressive career at Feld Entertainment, the company behind iconic productions like Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice, and Monster Jam. His background gave him a unique understanding of the art, business, and enduring legacy of the circus world.

But not everything has been bright lights and applause. The Circus Ring of Fame was recently devastated by hurricanes that tore through the area, leaving their iconic home in St. Armand’s Circle Park in need of major repairs. The damage was so extensive that the much-anticipated 2025 Circus Ring of Fame Global Awards Show has sadly been postponed to 2026. Bill shared how this setback has fueled the community’s determination to rebuild. As he put it, “This isn’t our first rodeo hurricane.”

Despite the challenges, the Circus Ring of Fame under Bill’s leadership is finding innovative ways to keep its magic alive. They’ve incorporated QR codes into their legendary plaques, so visitors can scan and dive into the incredible stories, photos, and videos of circus legends who’ve shaped the art form.

Bill also gave me an insider's view of what makes circus performers so special. He described the circus world as a place where people dedicate their entire lives to creating “six minutes of perfection.” Think about that! From trapeze acts to being shot out of cannons, these performers are the ultimate pros, bringing joy to audiences through unmatched artistry and effort.

If you’re ever in Sarasota, visiting the Circus Ring of Fame should be on your list—especially once the community’s hard work restores it to its former glory. In the meantime, you can support their mission and learn more about these incredible artists.

Listen to the full episode of The Debbie Nigro Show and get inspired by the magic of circus legends.

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Ever dreamed of making passive income online while you sleep? Might be time to turn that dream into reality!

Recently on The Debbie Nigro Show, I had the pleasure of chatting with Neil Twa, a leading expert in Amazon e-commerce and the brains behind countless online business success stories.

With over 45,000+ people soaking up his wisdom, Neil knows exactly how to help entrepreneurs navigate the fast-paced world of e-commerce.

We talked about how to succeed on Amazon, including insider strategies and how the platform is evolving to compete with TikTok Shop, Shein, and Temu. If you’re ready to start your own Amazon business or grow your online store, this episode is loaded with actionable tips to get you there.

Neil said: “E-commerce isn’t about chasing every shiny trend; it’s about building a sustainable business that works for you, even while you’re not working.”

A reminder that success in the digital marketplace is all about strategy and smart planning!

Neil also shared highlights from his High Voltage Business Builders Podcast, a treasure trove of insights into scaling an online business, Amazon automation, and building passive income streams.

Don’t miss this jam-packed conversation on “The Debbie Nigro Show” with Neil Twa. Whether you’re an aspiring Amazon seller, a seasoned e-commerce entrepreneur, or just curious about making money online, this episode will give you the inspiration and tools to make it happen.

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Celebrating True Heroes: Brian Rathjen & Roberts and Ryan's Mission to Serve Veterans

In honor of Veterans Day, I turned the spotlight on someone who embodies selfless service: Brian Rathjen of Roberts and Ryan, America’s first service-disabled veteran-owned broker-dealer.

If there was a show about this Wall Street firm, it would be the opposite of the show “Billions”—highlighting generosity and patriotism instead of greed.

Brian, a proud Navy veteran and the non-executive chairman of Roberts and Ryan, has made it his mission to give back. His firm has grown impressively since we first connected, now boasting 42 employees, many of whom are military and Wall Street veterans.

The most inspiring part? Roberts and Ryan donates a significant portion of its financial transaction profits to support veteran organizations and youth programs.

To date, they’ve donated $2.3 million to over 50 initiatives, covering everything from health and wellness to career transitions for veterans.

We discussed their support for Boulder Crest Retreat, an incredible place helping veterans overcome PTSD (or PTS, as Brian prefers—removing the "D" for disorder). With serene properties and life-changing programs, they promote post-traumatic growth and empower heroes to reclaim joy and purpose.

Roberts and Ryan also partners with the Robert Irvine Foundation, funding high-tech I-Bot wheelchairs that restore independence to veterans who’ve lost mobility. Each chair is a $40,000 game-changer, and so far, they’ve donated ten!

Beyond veterans, Brian and his team invest in uplifting underserved youth, like their recent internships and support initiatives in Harlem. Roberts and Ryan is a stellar example of business excellence fused with heart and integrity.

Here’s a company checking all the boxes: world-class financial service, diversity and inclusion, and an unwavering commitment to giving back.

So, to all the companies out there: consider joining forces with Roberts and Ryan and be part of a mission that truly changes lives.

As Brian says, “What we do for ourselves dies with us, but what we do for others, lives forever.”

Thank you, Brian, for your service and heart. And Thank You Always and Forever to All Our Veterans.

Let’s keep serving those who served!

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Recently on The Debbie Nigro Show, we had a very special young guest: the fabulous Destiny Bella Kinsey, a talented 10-year-old from Yonkers, NY who is making a powerful impact with her anti-bullying video, “Rise and Stop Bullies”. Destiny may be one of the youngest stars we’ve ever featured, but her story and vision are as impactful as they come!

Bullied herself in elementary school, Destiny took a difficult experience and turned it into a message of strength and hope for others. While no one was there to help her at first, once she was able to admit to her Mom what was troubling her so much, she decided to make a difference so that no other child would have to feel alone.

With the support of her film teacher, school friends, and her wonderful mom, Larnez Kinsey, Destiny crafted a moving short film showcasing how stepping up as a bystander can stop bullying in its tracks.

Her mom, Larnez, an inspiring powerhouse herself, has raised five daughters while working in New York State Corrections and running Black Gate Consulting Group, where she helps people access critical grants. Talk about a family of change-makers!

As Destiny confidently shared her vision in our studio, I couldn’t help but recognize her as a future superstar. She’s already got the spark, talent, and ambition to influence the world. Her filmmaking club at school is just the beginning!

So, whether you have kids in school or know someone who does, this video is a must-watch. "Rise and Stop Bullies" is a heartfelt call for action, urging us all to step in and support one another. Sharing it could help spread awareness and, hopefully, make every school a safer place.

And hey, Destiny might be helping me out with TikTok soon—this girl knows how to keep things fresh!

Let’s amplify Destiny's voice and celebrate her mission. More power to young heroes like her! And more power to everyone who supports the mission to 'Rise and Stop Bullies!'

Enjoy this podcast of our live in studio conversation and stay tuned for more uplifting stories on The Debbie Nigro Show!

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It’s Election Day, and wow, are emotions running high! If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably noticed that even the closest "birds of a feather" don’t always see eye-to-eye when it comes to politics.

Today on The Debbie Nigro Show, I shared some thoughts on how to keep the peace with friends and family who might be voting differently.

From tips on having respectful conversations to a reminder that it’s our differences that make life interesting, I talked about ways to stay connected—even if you’re not all on the same political page.

As I always say, “nothing new for you can come from only being with those who see things the same way you do.”

So, let’s embrace fresh perspectives, take a deep breath, and remember we’re all in this together.

This is my very first time posting a radio show monologue as a podcast! If you’re up for authentic, upbeat conversations about life’s everyday moments, I’d love for you to give it a listen.

And if you enjoy it, maybe hit “follow” or sign up for my free newsletter which today just happens to be about “Birds of a Feather’ . I like to share insights and information that I feel are relevant to things happening in all of our lives. And I’m always happy to have new birds in my flock regardless of your politics.

By the way,“Birds of a Feather’ is the title of Billie Eilish's beautiful chart topping song which I highly reccomend you listen to today if you could go for a soothing sound to quell your anxiety.

Best! Debbie

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With its roots as one of the first singles bars in Manhattan, TGI Fridays was the place to be back in the day, known for training Tom Cruise for his bartending role in Cocktail and introducing the world to Happy Hour!

Now TGI Fridays, the once-vibrant go to restaurant chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

I did notice that a few of my local TGI Fridays had gone missing and knew something was up, but not all of them. Sure hard to miss that iconic logo in a drive by. And sure hard to forget how much good commotion went on at those happy hours back in the day. If you don't know the whole entrpreneurial backstory of TGI Fridays, its surely worth your time to check it out on Wikipedia.

Business expert Parag Amin joined The Debbie Nigro Show to discuss the news and dig into what’s going wrong—and what might come next for the beloved brand. Here’s a quick summary of our fascinating conversation.

The Rise and Fall of TGI Fridays

In the beginning, TGI Fridays was a hot spot for singles in New York City. It was all thanks to founder Alan Stillman, who opened the first location with hopes of meeting the local ladies. From its humble beginnings, Fridays became a national phenomenon, famous for its fun atmosphere and flair bartenders. Over time, however, the brand shifted to family dining, and the unique vibe that once set it apart started to fade.

Why the Struggle? The Changing Face of Casual Dining

Parag Amin explained how the casual dining landscape has evolved. With more competitors entering the market, restaurants need a clear draw. TGI Fridays seemed to lose its sense of “destination dining”—the “I need to go there” factor that keeps people coming back. While other spots like Yard House have found new ways to attract both socializers and families, TGI Fridays struggled to find its footing.

Can TGI Fridays Make a Comeback?

So, what’s next? According to Parag, this could be the perfect opportunity for TGI Fridays to rebrand and bring in a fresh vision. Maybe Tuesday is the new Friday, I joked hinting that new “TGIT” or “TGITuesday” specials could be a fun twist on their original concept. Whatever happens, Parag says they’ll need to rediscover the magic that made Fridays a destination in the first place.

Not All Fridays Are Closing

Before you mourn your favorite neighborhood Fridays, don’t worry—not all locations are shutting down. While corporate-owned locations are restructuring, franchise-owned restaurants remain open and are not part of the filing. So, you may still be able to snag those famous potato skins or a signature cocktail at your local Fridays.

TGI Fridays Will Be Spending Many Days on Their What’s Next

If there’s a silver lining here, it’s that Chapter 11 gives TGI Fridays a chance to regroup and possibly reinvent itself. With the right strategy and perhaps a new CEO, this iconic brand could still find its way back to relevance—and maybe even reclaim some of its original “cool factor.”

Enjoy this podcast of my live conversation with business expert Parag Amin on The Debbie Nigro Show.

Parag Amin is the founder of the ‘Law Office of Parag Amin’. He is a business expert and an attorney who represents public figures, small business owners, and individuals in a variety of business matters.

Tune in weekdays 11-12noon EST to The Debbie Nigro Show on WGCH Radio for more business insights and more lively conversations!

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Is your life cluttered with mountains of family photos, both digital and physical, that you've been meaning to organize but can’t find the time or know where to start?

Meet Kimberly Melton, founder of Visual Story Media and a rising star in the world of photo organizing. Recently featured on The Debbie Nigro Show, Kimberly shared her passion for helping people bring order to their chaotic photo collections.

Who Is Kimberly Melton?

Kimberly, based in Charlotte, NC, has a background in marketing and project management. In 2020, she discovered the art of photo management and hasn’t looked back. Recognized by the National Association of Women Business Owners as a “Rising Star,” Kimberly has become a go-to expert for organizing both digital and paper photos.

Why Organize Your Photos?

Kimberly explains that sorting through years of photos can be overwhelming—especially when memories, both joyful and bittersweet, resurface. Visual Story Media offers a range of services to help you organize and share your treasured photos. Whether you want guidance on how to do it yourself or prefer to hand over boxes of photos and let Kimberly’s team handle it all, there’s a solution for everyone.

Services Offered by Visual Story Media

Visual Story Media provides:

1. Digital organization for smartphone photos.

2. Physical-to-digital conversion for old photos.

3. VHS and DVD conversion for videos and slideshows.

4. Customized photo books, perfect for sharing memories with family during holidays.

For those facing unique situations, like dividing family photos after a divorce, Kimberly offers solutions to ensure everyone gets fair access to memories. With Visual Story Media, preserving and sharing your family’s legacy has never been easier.

As Kimberly says, "Delete is not a dirty word"—sometimes the first step in organizing is simply letting go of what’s unnecessary. For anyone ready to dive into organizing their photo collection, Visual Story Media can make it a manageable and even enjoyable journey.

Meet Kimberly and get some great photo organizing motivation in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. Visit VisualStoryMedia.co to learn more about Kimberly’s services and get started on creating organized, shareable memories that last.

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In 2022, Dr. Lauren Ramsey, a Texas-based breast surgical oncologist, lost a close friend and fellow surgeon to breast cancer. This tragic loss spurred her mission to protect women healthcare workers who face unique occupational risks.

Recognizing that women orthopedic surgeons are nearly three times more likely to develop breast cancer than the general population, Dr. Ramsey innovated the BAT shield—a T-shirt-style radiation protection garment designed specifically for women in healthcare.

Unlike traditional protective aprons, the BAT shield offers targeted protection for high-risk areas: the breasts, axilla, and thyroid.

Clinical testing showed it reduced radiation exposure in the near-breast area by up to 97%, setting a new standard for healthcare safety.

Partnering with Burlington Medical, a leader in radiation protective gear, Dr. Ramsey's BAT shield is now available in hospitals across Texas and through national vendors where Burlington Medical is supplied.

The BAT shield’s comfortable fit, mesh panels, and 15 size options ensure flexibility and cooling comfort for long hours in the operating room. Dr. Ramsey’s goal is to make this garment a standard for all healthcare professionals, from doctors to nurses to radiologic technologists, who are exposed to radiation daily.

Dr. Ramsey’s innovation highlights her dedication to protecting healthcare workers while advancing safety standards in the medical field.

Meet this brilliant surgeon and now inventor on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Hey there, it’s Debbie Nigro! On a recent episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, I had fun chatting about something that's really taking off lately—'adult play’ and reconnecting with the joy we felt as kids.

More and more adults are leaning into activities that bring them back to that pure, playful state. And guess what? Coloring books are one of those trends making another big comeback. But this time in a more personalized way.

My guest, Madison Malloy, really gets this. Madison is a mindset coach, bestselling author, and the host of the podcast Next to Madison. She’s put together a truly unique coloring book called “Color Your Way to Abundance: A 21-Day Manifestation Guide for Wealth, Health, and Love”. But this isn’t just any coloring book. Madison combines powerful affirmations with the meditative act of coloring, helping people rewire their minds for success and abundance in a totally new way.

In our conversation, Madison shared her own journey from a high-powered job on Wall Street to becoming a coach and comedian, and now an author helping people unlock their potential.

With her book, she’s taken three of the most important areas of life—health, wealth, and love—and created a 21-day process that’s both calming and transformative. Imagine coloring in the affirmation “Wealth is my birthright” and feeling that message truly sink in. By focusing on these affirmations in a relaxed state, Madison’s approach makes it easier for people to reprogram their subconscious and build new beliefs.

Madison also hosts her own podcast, Next to Madison, where she helps listeners get happier, healthier, and wealthier, and I love how she blends heart, humor, and smarts in everything she does.

If you’re interested in starting your own journey to abundance, check out her coloring book on Amazon. And if you want to learn more about Madison, head to MadisonMalloy.com

Catch the full interview on The Debbie Nigro Show and get ready to start manifesting abundance in your life—one color at a time!

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Entrepreneurs know things don’t always go as planned. (Understatement)

Setbacks are common for those who risk new ideas and ventures but how you deal with those setbacks is critical.

There are 33 million or so small businesses in the U.S. and that includes a lot of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs are out there driving innovation and creating jobs and economic growth across all kinds of industries.

A lot of people have been encouraged now, seeing great successes out there in the media to pursue entrepreneurship. But it isn’t always simple!

On a recent episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, dynamic entrepreneur Kasey D’Amato offered invaluable insights into leadership and business acumen, particularly for those aiming to grow their small businesses and navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship.

As a business consultant and coach, Kasey shared personal stories and expert advice on achieving business growth while maintaining a healthy balance between personal life and professional responsibilities.

Overcoming Setbacks as an Entrepreneur

Kasey D’Amato’s entrepreneurial journey is filled with valuable lessons for anyone looking to succeed in business. She spoke candidly about how setbacks are inevitable but emphasized that it's the ability to overcome these obstacles that separates successful entrepreneurs from the rest. Kasey’s leadership philosophy revolves around remaining adaptable and focusing on solutions. She encourages entrepreneurs to embrace failures as learning opportunities and to continue pushing forward.

“The biggest challenge entrepreneurs face is getting stuck in the setbacks," Kasey shared during the show. "The ability to keep moving forward, no matter what, is what ultimately leads to success."

Mastering Business Acumen for Small Business Growth

Kasey’s expertise in business acumen and her focus on the strategic growth of small businesses are the abilities she uses to help others. She explained how important it is for entrepreneurs to understand their market and continually refine their strategies.

Her advice to small business owners? Focus on what makes your business unique and leverage that to outpace your competition.

"To scale your small business, you must be adaptable and always look for new ways to add value to your customers," Kasey explained. She advocates for entrepreneurs to build a strong foundation in business leadership and continually work on improving their processes.

Empowering Entrepreneurs

As a successful business consultant and coach, Kasey also discussed the importance of mentorship and leadership in business. She believes in empowering others through coaching, sharing how she helps clients harness their strengths to unlock their full potential. "Leadership isn't about having all the answers; it's about empowering your team to find solutions," Kasey said, offering advice to small business owners looking to lead their teams to success.

Kasey also touched on the significance of time and energy management, an area where many entrepreneurs struggle. She emphasized that leaders should be mindful of how they allocate their resources, ensuring that they are focusing on the most critical tasks for business growth.

If you’re looking for some expert advice on entrepreneurship and small business leadership, check out this podcast of Kasey D’Amato’s full interview on The Debbie Nigro Show and discover how you can lead your business to success.

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I'm passionate about showing people how to connect better and how to create realtionships. Realtionships matter.

In a recent episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, I welcomed Donald Weber, a renowned communications coach, to dive deep into the art of empathy and how it helps us create meaningful relationships both personally and professionally.

Donald Weber, who started off as a shy introvert, shared his inspiring journey from being bullied in school to coaching some of the world's most elite leaders, including members of European royalty and Fortune 100 CEOs. His message is clear: empathy and strong communication skills can transform how we connect with others, whether in business or life.

Fostering Empathy and Meaningful Connections

One of the main topics we discussed was empathy—understanding and connecting with others by identifying their emotions. Donald stressed the importance of being self-aware and recognizing your own emotions before trying to connect with others. He emphasized that listening and showing genuine interest are key soft skills in building trust and fostering lasting relationships.

As a fellow communication expert and author of “How to Talk to Strangers / Advice from a Professional Stranger Talker”, I agree whole heartedly that empathy plays a critical role in real conversations and successful collaborations.

Donald and I also both highlighted the importance of self-control, and I threw in mention of my “24-hour rule” for managing emotions before reacting. Ah the things that come with wisdom!

Learning from the Greats

Donald Weber attributed much of his success to influences like Dale Carnegie, author of How to Win Friends and Influence People, as well as personal mentors like Tony Robbins and Deepak Chopra. His message to listeners was clear: continuous learning and self-improvement are critical to becoming a better communicator and leader.

Who Donald Weber Helps

Donald Weber’s clients range from high-profile individuals to top-tier organizations, all seeking to improve their communication skills. Whether in one-on-one sessions or private workshops, he provides custom training to help leaders develop empathy, emotional intelligence, and effective communication strategies. Often he dioes this very privately.

Some Key Takeaways ….

Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Understanding others’ emotions is key to forming meaningful connections.

Active Listening: Show genuine interest in others and listen intently—communication isn’t just about talking.

Self-Awareness: Being mindful of your emotions helps you better control interactions.

The Power of Patience: Waiting to respond when agitated can improve outcomes.

Learning from the Best Books like Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” offer valuable lessons.

Want to learn more about fostering empathy and becoming a better communicator? You can find Donald Weber online by searching "Donald Weber Communications Coach."

Want to learn how to better connect with people in person? You might want to grab a copy of my book, “How to Talk to Strangers / Advice From a Professional Stranger Talker” by Debbie Nigro. It’s only 66 pages. You can start communicating better in about an hour. LOL

Meanwhile enjoy this podcast our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show – airing weekdays 11-12 noon EST live out of WGCH Radio studios In Greenwich, CT and airing live online at WGCH.com.

Follow me on Instargram for more of everything upbeat: @therealdebbienigro

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“Cancer can be financially toxic to patients”.

Read that powerful line in “The Roslyn News” story about SJJCC’s Stronger Than Cancer 5K to benefit the Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center which took place Sept 29th in Long Island, NY.

That why, against all odds, Judy Israel who’s fighting stage 4 metastatic breast cancer found the strength to run again in that race this year.

Judy who’s going through chemo for the third time in her life, has run the 5K for the last 8 years to raise money to help keep all the centers programs and services free! #WPIXNews in NY and the TODAY Show were among the many outlets that featured her story.

The Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center center has been a lifeline for Judy through her 3 trips through cancer hell, offering a community of individuals who could relate to her experience, and offering programs, support groups and exercise classes tailored to cancer patients and survivors. Most important their services are free and will remain free as long as their donations continue.

Judy said,

“It’s important because before I found the Nancy Marks Cancer Wellness Center, I had been for a place where I could find people who are going through a similar situation that I was going through where I wouldn't be the only one standing out. It is a safe place. It's a place where you can go and your needs are met.

“There are groups, there are exercise classes, there are walking groups, there are breast cancer groups, there are family support groups, and it's remote and in person. So there's something for everyone. a broader audience because so many people are affected by cancer whether it's the family as a unit or just an individual so we are trying to reach as many people as we can to bring them in and help them you know what are your needs?”

The Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center in Long Island also offers remote services that are remote. I asked Judy if they allowed people from other places in the country to access this helpful cancer support community?

Judy said,

“They have to register with in the center, which there's a and which involves making a phone call and registering, and then you will be able to access through the website to navigate to different, you know, there's a schedule available of exercise classes, of different groups at different times.There are caregivers groups, there's men cancer groups, what different needs for different people.”

All cancer patients need emotional and physical support. Trust me I know. I’ve been through cancer twice. I am a grateful survivor and grateful to all who helped me through it. But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t take an emotional and financial toll on my life. Staying alive ain’t cheap.

Judy Israel who I came to know and adore because her sister Ellen Israel is one of my besties from Ithaca College, continues to fight her own cancer battle, while also serving as an ambassador to the center’s advisory board.

Truly gritty of her to be using her experience to support and inspire others while dealing with yet another cancer fight of her own! AMAZING WOMAN.

Lots of emotional personal sharing also went on during this live on air conversation with Judy who’s in chemo again for metastatic breast cancer and for whom chemo will be ongoing this time.

People who’ve been through cancer can speak to each other on a different level of understanding and humor about cancer experiences. Humor is acceptable when it comes from a deeper level of caring because it’s a coping mechanism. (Her sister Ellen and I have both been through breast cancer)

Which is why our conversation took a turn to naming wigs and nailing bucket list items.

On Judy’s Bucket List is a trip up in a Hot Air Balloon (which scares the crap out of me); Driving cross country ( I had some good RV suggestions); and seeing Las Vegas! (I'm game for taking her there. LOL )

I invited Judy to join The Debbie Nigro Show so I can support her and her efforts to support the Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center organization which is so important to her and many others.

I hope you’ll take the time to listen to this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show and shre it with anyone who could benefdit from hearing Judy and from knowing about The Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center in Long Island, N.Y.

The Debbie Nigro Show airs live weekdays 11-12 noon EST on #WGCH Radio in the NY/CT. OR You can listen from wherever you are in the world on the digital livestream on WGCH.com. Just hit the Listen Live button. Visit DebbieNigro.com for more informaton or to get in touch.

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A billion people around the world have a mental health disorder. That's a true number and research says one in two people are going to have a mental health disorder at some point in their life.

Wendy Chaite is a psychotherapist who brings a world of wisdom and compassion to the table. In honor of World Mental Health Day I felt it was a good time to talk about mental wellness and loss and the importance of asking for help.

Wendy is not your everyday psychotherapist. She’s a former attorney, a career counselor for law students, and a national advocate for those living with chronic or terminal illnesses. Her work spans from helping the legal community manage stress and anxiety to guiding those dealing with grief and bereavement.

Did You Know That A Disproportionate Number of Lawyers and Law Students Suffer from Mental Illness?

Wendy said,

“Fortunately, there's been a trend in the legal profession itself, recognizing the disproportionate number of lawyers and law students that suffer from mental illness, primarily depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder. And given the stress and the pressures of the field, that's understandable and there's also those that believe that also certain type personalities are attracted to the field. For example, people that are perfectionists or overachievers and that could also add to the stress of an individual experiences.”

“There's are also the demands depending on the environment in which you work. If you work in a big law firm like I had, you have the expectations of very demanding hours where you're working till 2 o'clock in the morning, your time is not your own. Also, just very often in different areas of law, there can be secondary trauma, let's say you're dealing with domestic violence clients, or other, you know, criminal related matters, that can be very traumatic, even for the attorney or the law student that's experiencing that. “

"And there's also quite a bit of competitiveness within, certainly during law school, I saw this as a big issue when I was working, I worked for a decade at a law school and the pressures of being able to compete. And very often, law students define themselves through external validation, whether that's getting accepted onto law review or getting a big prestigious job.”

I asked Wendy the Big Question: *How Do You Know When You Need a Psychotherapist?

Her answer was simple but loud.

“I would say it's when your private suffering impacts your life, whether it be at work or your personal life, and it's interrupting your ability to function. And it does not have to be a severe dysfunction. It could even be a mild dysfunction, but where it interferes and you're finding yourself suffering.”

Wendy also shared her journey through personal loss, particularly the tragic passing of her daughter, Melanie Rose at 26, who battled a rare lymphatic disease.

Wendy didn’t just face this tragedy—she transformed it into action by founding the Lymphatic Research Foundation which has had extraordinary worldwide impact. This is a testament to her resilience, and her choosing to lean into the difficult parts of life rather than shy away from them.

Many of us have a long tail of pain from those we've lost on this planet. Bereavement and grief are such heavy issues, and some people just can't get past the pain.

Often a Psychotherapist like Wendy Can Help.

Wendy said,

"Well, I've been very successful working with my clients and not only just clients, but just people also that I meet in my day-to-day life that aren't clients. I too am part of a bereavement group of other mothers that have lost their children. You had mentioned that I created the foundation because my daughter passed away. I created it during her lifetime, not after she passed so that hopefully she could benefit from the medical discoveries and millions of others as well.”

“it's not uncommon for people to put their head in the sand, you know, because these are difficult things and you want to avoid it, you don't want to deal with it. Instead, I recognized the importance of leaning into it, and not being afraid. And so, I educated myself on the death and dying process so that I could be of support to her. And I became a trained death and dying doula. I even took her to conferences and workshops on death and dying. And so, for a young woman facing mortality, we were able to journey through that in a very profound and beautiful way.”

I think Wendy’s message of embracing life’s challenges is powerful. Her personal experiences were profound.

Whether it’s the pressures of being a lawyer or law student or the struggles of grieving a lost loved one – it’s important to know it’s healthy to ask for help.

Wendy’s work is a beacon for anyone in need of support. She’s proof that even in the darkest of times, there’s always a way forward.

If you or someone you know could benefit from her expertise, please get in touch with her. Her website at WendyChaite.com

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You’re probably wishing you had more gold right now because gold prices are going crazy. Should you buy gold now? Who's got the gold?

With gold prices hitting historic highs, all eyes are on the companies driving this surge.

Jared Lazerson is the CEO of North Bay Resources. He has 25 years in the resource game and a passion for mining. From his early days playing with core samples in Vancouver to overseeing gold mines today, Jared’s journey is nothing short of fascinating.

North Bay Resources is a gold mining powerhouse with two active mines: one in Canada and another in California’s historic Sierra County, home to the original 1849 Gold Rush.

Jared shared exciting news about North Bay’s latest developments—production is ramping up, with gold yields that are nothing short of impressive. With a production cost of about $500 per ton, they’re poised to see strong returns given gold’s $3,000 per ounce milestone.

Obviously sparked by the recent gold frenzy Jared the gold miner has had to step up whatever he’s been doing to keep up!

So what’s he been doing?

Jared said,

“About a year and a half ago. I started to get re-energized on gold. I've controlled gold projects for, well, way back to the beginning of my career, more than 20 years ago. This one up in Canada that we've taken control over, that one was, for example, something I've been involved with for 20 years, probably $20 million spent on it, 100-plus holes developed, so an advanced project."

"But in terms of what's going on globally, domestically with price of gold, as you mentioned, it's a dangerous world. So gold has always been safe haven asset, but the interesting part is that now it is because of the returns, kind of a growth asset. So I think everybody kind of knows about that. The main factors, geopolitical, a lot of folks internationally and also domestically, you know, getting off the US dollars. So, internationally, for obvious reasons, people, you know, maybe not so friendly countries want to get out of US dollar or just generally diversify. But also domestically, there's a lot of people in the US that feel there's just too many dollars out there. “

And It’s not just gold that North Bay has its eye on—Jared also mentioned the presence of platinum at their California site.

The energy in the industry is electric, and with retail buyers snapping up precious metals from unexpected places like Costco, the demand is clear.

Jared’s mining journey includes a groundbreaking venture in lithium extraction, an industry innovation that helped revolutionize battery production.

Now, he’s taking his expertise and passion into the world of gold, and it’s paying off in a big way.

With North Bay Resources' projects underway and the price of gold soaring, Jared Lazerson’s leadership could very well define this new era of the gold rush.

Enjoy these golden nuggets of gold education in this podcast of my live conversation with Jared Lazerson on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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We all know the power of social media is huge. We all know it, but it's something that continues to morph and it’s hard to keep up. It affects us every single day in everything we do, so it's not a light topic.

It's reshaping relationships and sparking debates on cultural shifts.

I invited an interesting guy to weigh in on this topic on my radio show. A spitfire celebrity, social media manager named Gary Frayter, who shared some things you should know.

Gary’s expertise goes beyond relationships. He has some solid social media insights that you can learn from, because of his experience managing the online brands of renowned figures like Mike Tyson whose followers he grew to a million.

Gary who's worked with a lot of celebrities and CEOs, has positioned himself with his Instagram handle @socialmediafortherich but I got him to share some valuable tips for free. (You’re welcome)

I was curious about the social media strategy he used for Mike Tyson who has had a bit of a checkered past, especially since Gary impresses upon people who use social media to be sure to use use the power of authenticity. What did he do for Mike Tyson that got that kind of social media growth?

Gary said, “For Mike Tyson, I was managing all of the social media for his podcast called Hot Boxing with Mike Tyson. We would have guests on from Kevin Hart to different rappers to different football players. Basically, they would sit down and have genuine conversations, real, raw and authentic. What I would do is package the best moments, take that out, and make sure that that got into the hands of all the viewers. We saw substantial growth from that, and that's what I do for basically everybody else too.”

What I heard Gary suggest was key to a great social media strategy is to be able to capture the best moments say of a podcast and repackage those moments as short bits to put out in other places on social media.

I can assure you nobody has time to listen to everybody's everything.

Gary said, “Absolutely, especially when it's an hour-long, hour-and-a-half-long podcast. Sometimes people just want the bite-sized pieces. They want the cliff notes. What are some of the best moments from that entire episode, and how do we make sure to package that with either a good caption or make it visually appealing and put that out on all platforms? That's exactly what I do.”

Well, that's what I should be doing better and many people out there who are trying to keep up with all the social media expectations.

Gary said, “What I do think is that you will always find your audience and you don't always need a big audience, right? You just need a few people that really gravitate towards your message, really believe in what it is that you have to say and it's kind of like finding a community, right? In person. But this just online just opens up a wider landscape so that you can kind of cast your net a little bit wider and this is exactly kind of, you know, comes into the conversation about dating as well. In person, back in the day, it was a little bit harder to meet somebody that's maybe in a different city. Now it's a little bit easier.”

I asked Gary about the current state of online dating because I look at the dating landscape in social media and the whole relationship thing and I feel sad for so many people who are trying to figure it out and can't meet somebody nice. How would he suggest people use social media to connect with somebody that they might want to connect with in real life for a dating relationship?

Gary said, “Well, one of the things, one of my passions as well as social media is actually helping young men in all aspects of life. And one of the ways that basically I help guys is basically telling them that they need to be as well-rounded as possible, right? But you also need to market yourself because it's never been more important to market yourself even on the dating scene, right? So for example, you could be the best person on the planet, you've got the best product, you could be the whole package, but if nobody knows about you, then what good does it do, you know? Or at least you won't get to everybody that you want. And so that is basically the key, is basically becoming as well-rounded of a man, I'm a man, so I speak for guys, and of how they need to get in shape, they need to be well-educated, they need to make money, provide some sort of value to the world, and then also just package that and show off their life on social media. And so that last part is extremely important, how you market yourself, especially in the dating pool. I know for sure when a person meets someone they’re attracted to they will definitely go check out their online presence or profile.”

Because the dating apps have presented challenges for a lot of people, does Gary recommend that you contact somebody you might be interested in romantically on say, Instagram or LinkedIn, just to start a conversation?

“Maybe not LinkedIn, but absolutely Instagram I mean Instagram has become the best dating site on the planet for you know, I'm 28 years old so it's become the best dating site at least in my generation and You know a lot of the hundreds of men that I've talked to yes, absolutely Because you could oh you could always say who it is that you are in person a little bit on a first date, but ultimately, your resume, so to say, is your social media, right? So it's going to be a lot easier for people to kind of differentiate, or at least dissect a little bit more of who it is that you actually are when it comes to social media, when it comes to Facebook, Instagram, all of these things, they can see your hobbies, they can see when's the last, okay, he hasn't posted a picture since 2013. Why is that?”

In our new world order on the subject of ‘influencers’ I happen to catch a lot of people out there hawking stuff because they're getting paid to hawk stuff, simple because they have enough followers to get paid, which brings up the subject… who on social media should you trust?

Gary said, “Well, who you trust, it's usually about following somebody. So the way that I look at influencers is like getting an inside scoop into the life of somebody that you found on social media that intrigues you, right? And so how that usually takes place is you have to build trust with that person, right? You slowly start to trust them. And the way that that influencer gets trust from you is by sharing their life with you. They share their life, they share in-depth moments, insights, and then you slowly be, you start to trust them. And then that is when you buy something.

“Usually, the people that you don't trust and that maybe you just saw pop on the scene right away with a hundred thousand followers out of nowhere, you, you start to get some sort of skepticism from them because they haven't built that trust with you.”

So I think people will ultimately buy from people that they trust and I think that that probably will bring down the saturation a little bit in terms of buying actual products from these influencers because you can't trust everybody.”

As for creating trust that’s what Gary does for his clients as a social media manager. He handles all of their content creation, from which he says most will see a return from inbound leads of people messaging on LinkedIn etc. and and saying, hey, I would love you for you to speak at this event or I would love for you to do XYZ for me.”

How Long Does the ROI on a Social Media investment Take?

Gary said, “You know, the opportunities are genuinely endless, but you have to realize that it's not going to happen overnight. And this is a chip away, chip away every single day type of thing. And then you will see a result within the next few months for sure.”

Gary Frayter does social media for Celebrities, Executives & CEO’s and guides them to becoming thought leaders. He Specializes in: TikTok/YouTube/ Instagram/ Facebook/ Twitter / LinkedIn/ Brand Building & Content Creation /Influencer Marketing / Paid Facebook, Instagram & Google Ads / SEO.

His website is: GaryFrayter.com

Gary’s who’s originally from Greenwich, CT home of this radio show checked in from his current digs in Dallas, Texas.

Enjoy this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show

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When I first saw Ann Cutbill Lenane’s real estate ad on the screen in the back of a NYC taxi - I thought it was genius! Turns out it was.

Taxi TV! Wow. Talk about a captive audience!

Ann Cutbill Lenane is the ‘OG’ of creative real estate marketing in NYC. She was the first real estate person to take advantage of movie theater ad screens. Ann created ads for her luxury NYC properties to entertain movie goers while they waited in their seats for the movie to start in the days before movie seat reservations were a ‘thing’.

She did that for 14 years before taking her “Annie Gets It Done” commercial highlighting her exclusive real estate listings and placing it onto the screens in the back seats of NYC’s yellow cabs.

So, it was no surprise that Ann who advertises on Taxi TV in NYC was featured in a recent Sunday New York Times Real Estate Section article called “Valuable Real Estate in the Back Seat “.

Those back seat taxi ads not only showcase some of New York’s most luxurious properties but they’re also ‘geo-targeted’, meaning real estate agents can restrict their ‘ads’ to only be shown while the taxi is traveling in certain areas or on certain streets where they have listings.

Ann, who’s an agent with Douglas Elliman, says buyers like to aspire and they want to see ‘into’ these apartments and this marketing strategy has translated into property sales.

Ann will tell you herself that NYC is a tough real estate market right now for sellers to get the prices they had been hoping for. But after 38 years of doing real estate in NYC, Annie prides herself on knowing just how to price an apartment and how to interpret market data with insider knowledge.

Even so, having just read that NY is #1 in the U.S. for people with marketing mindsets, I figured there must be a lot of competition for buyers these days? Does Ann worry about that?

“No, I'm always pushing it. I was the first one to advertise in the movie theater. I was the first one to advertise real estate in the taxis and I'm gonna be first to do something next. So, you know, I'm not worried about it, as you said, OG. So, I'm always gonna be out there and thinking creatively.”

Speaking of being creative…

Annie typically makes 30-second slide shows of her listings, but along the way this single Mom of 2 daughters decided to risk throwing into her ad, that she was also looking for a Mr. Right!

“That ad went viral and over 15 million people saw it around the world. I was on Good Morning America, they took it and put it on the teleprompter in Times Square, I mean there were articles in China and Russia. I was getting phone calls from men in jail. I have not found the perfect man, but yes, I sure got a lot of attention from all over the globe."

Ann didn’t find “Mr. Right” (yet) but she did find 2000 women who were rooting for her to find Mr. Right!

And Ann turned those champions into followers and friends, by creating women’s empowerment events to bring them all together under the group name “Wise and Wonderful Women”.

That’s actually how I met Ann in person as well as other wise and wonderful women at an event she threw a few years ago at the Neuberger Museum in Westchester County.

“Well, it's so funny because what actually came out of the Man for Anne Taxi ad was all of these men were reaching out, but almost an equal amount of women reached out and wrote to me, because in the ad it says, “ if you love your mother but you still don't live with her and have a kind and generous soul and can appreciate a 56-year-old, fit and fabulous woman, give me a call.”

Women were writing me, and they would come up to me and they still do, it's five years later. And they said it was so brave. And I said, tell me why it was brave. Was it because I said I was looking for love? And it was like a kind of a knowing glance, and I said, or was it because I said I was 56?”

“And they said, yes.”

“So, I said, that's got to stop. “

Ann was inspired to do something that would lift women. She founded “Wise and Wonderful Women to educate and empower women 50 and older. All her events are free.

“I didn't get the man but I got 2,000 women so I have 2,000 women that are part of the wise and wonderful women, and we do monthly events that are free and empower and educate women focusing mostly on women that are over 50. But I'm finding that my 23 and my 24-year-old daughters need our wisdom too and need to hear the topics that we are also interested in. We did one on heart health, we're doing one on launching financial grown-ups, on estate planning, all kinds of things and I learn, and these women learn as well, and many friendships come out of these events. “

“So, wow the ad worked all right. It didn't end up with what I thought was the prize, the gold ring, right? But the Wise and Wonderful Women came out of it. And that to me, when somebody tells me that it changed their life or it saved their life, which is what happened recently with some information that we shared during a heart health dinner, how cool is that?”

Very Cool!

Known as “Annie Gets It Done”, Ann is ranked as Elliman’s #1 Manhattan Broker for Transactions. She has been voted the Real Estate Board of New York’s Broker of The Year and transacted billions of dollars in sales in Manhattan over her career.

She also gives back. In 2020, in response to the sanitation department budget cuts, she co-founded and still runs “One Block”. This very successful non-profit fills 1000 bags of trash on the Upper West Side EACH WEEK with the help of volunteers and paid workers who were formally homeless! She also founded a literacy initialed in the Bahamas where she has a rental property and is a proactive member of the community there as well.

Interested in Taxi TV ?

I read in the NY Times article that NYC has two service providers for anyone interested in knowing more about how to advertise on the screens in the back seat of taxis: Curb and Creative Mobile Technologies. To advertise on Curb Taxi TV, agents can purchase ad space directly from Curb or through its sales partners like Firefly.

Enjoy this podcast of my live Interview with Ann Cutbill Lenane on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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My greatest joy is discovering somebody I wasn’t aware of who's doing something uniquely meaningful.

That brings me to Brian Page. He is a Modern Husband. What does that even mean?

Brian Page spent his career improving lives through personal finance education and he has now founded a platform called ‘Modern Husbands’ to help couples navigate their home as a team.

He and his wife have been married for over 20 years and have 3 kids. He says they’re an everyday dual income American family.

For the early part of their marriage, Brian was the one working out of the house and working long hours. His wife was home managing their life and taking care of their kids. Then one day things changed. His wife got a great job opportunity that paid more than he was making, and they made the decision to swap roles. Brian’s new job was much harder than he ever realized. When he and his wife switched working roles, he was seriously blown away by his new work responsibilities as a stay-at-home Dad!

He recently posted something on LinkedIn that caught my attention.

It was a list called ‘The Mental Load’.

In it Brian listed all the things that go on in somebody's day who's at home managing a family household. Wow - It really gives respect and insight to the day-to-day responsibilities of the stay-at-home spouse!

Brian said,

“For much of our marriage, I was the 60-80-hour-a-week breadwinner who did very little to manage the home. Early in our marriage, I probably would’ve rolled my eyes at a conversation about the mental load. You just don’t know what you don’t know, and that’s not necessarily anyone’s fault. “

“Many men rightfully feel defensive when we hear we need to do more at home. Most of us simply slip into doing certain tasks without understanding the invisible labor that goes with them.”

“I created a mental load list with just a few examples to provide some context of what it takes to run a home. However, as much as we would like our homes to be run by checklists, it’s just not that simple.”

“It’s been my experience that men desperately want to be great for their spouses. What often stands in the way is an understanding of the mental load that accompanies the tasks needed for a home to run, which is why I wrote this extensive post.”

Marriage is a partnership built on trust, love, and mutual respect.

Brian says he’s trying to show couples how to navigate life as a couple better.

I personally thought Brian’s ‘mental load’ list was LOUD and worth sharing for any stay-at-home parent who’s been frustrated trying to explain to their spouse what the heck they’ve been doing all day ‘at home’!

Find it on his website: ModernHusbands.com

BTW: Brian who spent 15 years as a personal finance and economics educator was recognized as a National Educator of the Year by the Milken Foundation and Ohio Department of Education. He was a CNN Money Hero, a CEE Forbes Award winner, and a former Working Group Member of the U.S. President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability.

He says, life and family change, and his priorities now are to support his wife's career ambitions and his children's needs

Enjoy meeting this modern husband Brian Page in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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It really made me smile to see Nick Mautone from the old Mt. Vernon, N.Y. neighborhood all over the news during the U.S. Open.

Not for playing tennis.

Nick invented that now infamous signature U.S. Open "Honey Deuce" cocktail that took the media by storm this year. At $23 a drink, it generated about 10M dollars at The U.S. Open this year alone!

Nick Mautone invented the drink back in 2007 when Grey Goose hired him as a consultant to create a signature cocktail for the event. Talk about a never-ending drink! Even Nick couldn’t believe the cocktail commotion he's caused. (Do people get royalties from inventing drinks?)

I thought it would be fun to contact Nick and invite him on my show to take another bow, and give him some old-time love and find out!

Nick said,

“Because I was a brand ambassador and a hospitality consultant to Great Goose Vodka, which I started with in 2005. As a consultant, it was the single best consistent gig I ever had in my life. I loved it and without going into details, they paid me well. I had a great expense account. They flew me all over the world to talk about Grey Goose, train teams, distributors, do great events like the US Open, and I played golf with celebrities!”

Nick’s a warm and wonderful guy and he's written all kinds of books to teach people how to be great mixologists. Books that both professionals and those interested in being great mixologists at home will benefit from.

Nicks a dad, a futurist, and the brother of one of my best childhood pals Carol Mautone. The Mautone house was chock full of kids (seven I think? LOL) and commotion and their house always smelled like great Italian food! Their Dad had a specialty food business, and their sweet mom Adele was constantly shopping and making food. Never knew how she kept up with them all, but she always had a smile and always welcomed me and others into her home with open arms. It’s probably where her kids learned about the true meaning of ‘hospitality’.

Carol became a chef and moved to Italy but now teaches English to foreigners and I’ve been threatening for years to fly over and visit her. Soon! Meanwhile, I stay in touch with her lightly on Facebook and I’ve connected with lovely Nick too a few times over the years.

Nick and his family moved out to Washington State, to Mercer Island, near Seattle. I followed Nicks career in the restaurant industry. He started out bussing tables, backing bars, and then he and his brothers and sisters opened a place called American Pie on the Upper West Side of New York.

Nick Mautone now has 40 years of hospitality industry experience. He believes in the power of mentorship, leadership, collaboration, and possibility. Nick is the architect of an inventive process called “Hospitality Sabermetrics” — think Moneyball for Hospitality he says, and has a sixth sense when it comes to foreseeing trends.

He is known for nurturing sustained success, streamlining operations, and aligning core values in every sort of hospitality business.

Since his start, Nick has worked with some of the most iconic and influential restaurants in the world including Gotham Bar & Grill, Hudson River Club, and most notably, Gramercy Tavern where he was managing partner alongside Danny Meyer and Tom Colicchio for seven years, and helped define and nurture a fledgling idea Danny and the group coined called “Enlightened Hospitality.”

So, what is Enlightened Hospitality?

Nick explained,

“Enlightened Hospitality’ is the core values of how you operate your business, and you hear that term a lot in business leadership programs where a company will say these are our core values and these are the way we want to operate our business, and these are the non-negotiables that we will not forsake any amount of money.

And so, they are the guiding principles, if you will, that you want to live by, that we wanted our business to operate by, and we wanted, as people, to live by.”

And I think it really made sense. I think that's why I enjoyed it, that's why I took the job. Danny had core values; Tom Colicchio had core values. At some point during the first few years that I was there, we actually took those core values and encapsulated them into our manuals and then we used them as part of our review process.

And it really became a great way to manage people, and everyone knew their expectations.

Everyone screws up, bear that in mind, but if you screw up and you forsake one of those core values, we’d sit you down and say, hey, you know, it just didn't work for us the way you handled this particular situation. Look at how we want to operate. Here's the way and the waterfall of progression of how you should handle these situations.

And people get it. And then, you know, nine out of 10 times, they understand what they did wrong, they correct the problem, and they move forward.

If not, they understand and they choose to move on because they can't live in those core values, and both are acceptable outcomes.”

Nick's spent a lifetime trying to keep integrity in all he does.

I wanted to know his thoughts about the current state of the restaurant business.

So many restaurants have struggled after COVID. Some reopened, some did not reopen. Getting and retaining good help is the #1 problem I hear from most in the restaurant business I've spoken to.

Nick said,

“So, the pandemic forced this change to happen five or 10 years earlier than it needed to.” One, people need to get paid appropriately, plain and simple. Tips notwithstanding, yes, tips count for your income, but you need to be paid appropriately.

Most importantly, people need to be treated appropriately. And what I found, you know, in my career, and I don't speak for Danny Meyer, but I will say in our organization during that time, and I know it carries to today, our number one goal was to treat our employees well and take care of them to the best of our ability. And if we do that, then we can honestly live with honor and hold ourselves to a high standard as being good about the business.

A lot of people didn't operate that way, so the pandemic forced that change. And now you see this, people leaving the industry, going on to do other endeavors. It will come back because everyone needs to eat and everyone needs human companionship and the connectivity that comes with sitting in a restaurant or a bar or a movie theater or whatever it is and seeing other people. So, I think it'll come back. It's just going to take a little time.”

Nick is the founder of Mautone Enterprises. Whether you’re a first time first-time restaurateur, or turning around a big ship on the wrong course, Nick’s your guy to help guide you and your staff to profitable collaboration. Here’s his website: nickmautone.com

Enjoy this podcast my warm conversation with Nick Mautone on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Has Matty Schirle Really Created Self Esteem In a Bottle?

If you read the reviews of Matty Schirles’ SkinKick line of skincare you might think they actually have created self esteem in a bottle.

And You Likely Be Intrigued by an accidental finding in in Amazon by a scientist who went there for another reason

People are amazed at how quickly these Skinkick products clear their skin problems. We’re talking blemishes, acne, acne scars and rosacea. Pretty much any skin condition that might make a person not feel so thrilled about their looks.

Matty Schirle said,

“When we got into the acne or the blemish category, the very first 14-year-old woman who used it stood up and said, we changed her life and she said you need to call it self-esteem in a bottle. That's basically because we deliver clear, healthy, glowing skin and the confidence that comes with that. And the beautiful thing is because we're natural, we can do that for problem skin and aging skin at the same time. “

Matty who is the Founder and CEO of SkinKick was a former Chemical Engineer. He and his SkinKick Chief Science Officer Dr. Bill Provance developed effective, simple and safe, Naturally Smart(R) formulas that are cruelty free and dermatologist approved clean and natural ingredients, from the nutrient rich Amazon Rainforest!

It's an Incredible story of SKIN CARE discovery

FINDING BEAUTY IN THE BEAST

The Amazon is beautiful, but it’s also dangerous. When SkinKick Chief Science Officer Dr. Bill Provance traveled to Brazil, he learned about a growing epidemic of parasitic diseases that plagued the native people. Not only did these parasites make people sick, but they also aggravated and inflamed the skin.

Armed with years of studying skin cell biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dr. Provance began searching for a way to create a natural “second skin” that would prevent rainforest parasites from penetrating the skin and entering the body.

THE A-HA MOMENT

Dr. Provance carefully tested a variety of botanicals on the skin of Brazil’s native people. What he didn’t expect to find was that all of the formulations he tested had a common result: overall improvement and appearance of the skin. He soon discovered that these formulations were leaving the skin smooth, hydrated, and clear. That’s when Dr. Provance had an ah-ha moment. If this “second skin” could clear and beautify the skin of native Brazilians, perhaps it could do the same for others?

That got Matty Shirle’s attention, and he then applied his knowledge and know-how to the findings from his 20+ years in the high technology semiconductor industry (computer chips). His mission was to figure out how to eliminate man-made chemicals including harsh acids that destroy the natural skin microbiome.

Dr. Provance and the SkinKick team began working on developing a skincare line that used the same natural ingredients to clear blemishes and renew the skin And SkinKick was born.

Matty said,

"Well Dr. Bill studied at UT Southwest Med Center here in Dallas and he took a job at the Viacruz Institute which is like the Harvard of Brazil. And so he, even though I'm a chemical engineer, you can move his IQs a few decimal points over from mine. He's just absolutely brilliant."

"They had an issue with parasites entering the skin. And the fundamental start of this is when they thought he was going to come up with a vaccine. And what he did is identified a botanical that if you rub it on your arm, it keeps the parasites, like a mosquito or whatever it is, you know, small things from entering your skin."

"Well, he flew back to Dallas and told the story of how he blocked the parasites, but he said, oh, by the way, that film that I rubbed on, you know, on your skin, it holds moisture under it."

And right off the bat, the lights go off, because the number one issue with aging, regardless of what you've been told, is that the skin cell can no longer hold as much moisture as it did when you were younger. And therefore, less moisture, once it goes down, then the collagen protein has a hard time surviving and it snaps and breaks and it loses its rigidity which is holding the cell up and that's what starts aging. We started as an anti-aging company but it's a skin renewal company and now we have clinical trials with all our key ingredients right out of the Amazon rainforest.”

"These natural nutrients somehow clear, renew and protect the skin at the same time! “

Matty says Skinkick’s naturally smart formulas are designed for all ages, genders and skin types even those with sensitive skin so everyone can have clear healthy and glowing skin. Their high-performance skincare clears, renews, and protects your skin without the use of harsh man-made chemicals typically found in popular brands. The secret is in their exclusive patent-protected technologies made with blends of supercharged botanicals.

SkinKick even offers a ‘Happiness Guarantee’ so that if you don’t love your SkinKick order it’s on them!

So why aren’t they everywhere?

They started to be, but Covid slammed them because Matty will admit he initially spent most of the money getting the brand into retail vs digital. A decision that’s held them up.

All entrepreneurial stories have their ups and downs…

“I'm the chemical engineer that I can understand what Dr. Bill creates. But I'm not the creator I'm the guy that wrapped a P&L around this technology and brought it to market.”

“We had an issue with driving the customer into the store. Well, didn't a lot of people have that issue during COVID? Yes. But anyhow, I take full responsibility with the digital marketing issue. Yep. I did not have the money to turn on both digital and retail. I focused on retail because Target Corporation incubated us right out of the gate in the Target takeoff incubator.”

The brand landed on the shelves in Target and in CVS and Ulta beauty but without the marketing dollars nobody knew 'why' they should buy SkinKick among the giant number of skincare offerings.

Everybody Loves a Comeback Story

“We had some snafu's and we're actually back in the gate getting funding. COVID literally knocked our wind out of us and almost knocked us over and almost killed us. But we're back, we're going to get funded and we're teed up ready to go."

Matty gets amazing testimonials every day in his email. He’s driven to give everyone he can…self-esteem in a bottle of his SkinKick. I WAS DRIVEN to tell his story.

Thought some of you would like to know more about Matty Schirle and his SkinKick brand so I invited him to join The Debbie Nigro Show. Enjoy this podcast of our live conversation. PS I just ordered some to see for myself.

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LinkedIn® is the only professional social media platform and the largest professional networking platform in the world. They have over 1 billion members many of whom are decision makers. Most of their users are in North America, followed by Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

I love it!

I connect with so many interesting people there like Debbie Saviano who’s a LinkedIn® pro.

I want to learn how to maximize my LinkedIn® potential and thought some of you might want to as well. I’m always better at telling other people’s stories than my own. Maybe you feel the same?

I’m convinced Debbie Saviano’s valuable knowledge of social media can help many professionals, especially those who over 50, who want to learn how to best showcase their value and experience as they pursue their second and third acts.

Debbie calls LinkedIn a ‘Virtual Golden Rolodex’.

And She Says…Your Headline is like Gold!

“LinkedIn gives you 220 characters to do a headline. That headline should speak to who it is you want to talk to. Is it someone to hire you?"

"Is it someone to buy a product? Are you for a service? Who are you speaking to? That's what that headline should say. And this is probably the goal to the whole thing I'm sharing. When you comment, engage on someone's page on their feed, the first line of your headline shows up."

"And I will tell you, probably 70% of my employment, if you will, comes from people reaching out because they saw me somewhere. Because what you want to do is you want people to come to you. They see you comment, they see your picture, they see the first part of your headline, and mine is about LinkedIn, and it says that you want them to click back on your profile. From there, that's where you can sell them. That's why you're the best person for them."

"So that headline is like gold. It's gold.”

As soon as Debbie Saviano and I spoke on the phone I could feel her similar upbeat good energy (and loved her similar name LOL) I invited her to come join my radio show and share some knowledge.

Debbie feels strongly that each person has unique abilities and in today's disruptive environment the playing field has expanded - affording countless opportunities for the assertive professional AND that there are a multitude of avenues on how to accomplish this.

She is a seasoned wordsmith and content strategist who can help you clearly show WHY YOU! Especially if you believe that what you do can truly help others, but you are stuck on how best to do that.

Her background is in Education, with a minor in Psychology and along with a deep understanding of the digital landscape she offers a unique perspective.

HER SPECIALITIES ARE:

• Digital Space • LinkedIn • Books In Bites Newsletter (LinkedIn) • LinkedIn LIVE • Let's Talk • Course Creation • Leadership • Entrepreneurship • E-Commerce • Mentor • Business • TV - Media • Education • Career Professionals • Entrepreneurs • Product Development • Communities • Non-Profits

You’ll get some good professional social media advice in this podcast of my live conversation with Debbie Saviano on The Debbie Nigro Show.

The Debbie Nigro Show airs 11-12noon EST on WGCH. Tune in live from anywhere on WGCH.com. If you’re in the NY/CT area turn the dial to AM1490. Podcasts after on DebbieNigro.com

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On August 17th, new rules rolled out that overhaul the way Realtors get paid to help people buy and sell their homes.

The changes are part of a $418 million settlement announced in March by the National Association of Realtors.

The changes end the ‘informal’ rules of a typical agent commission payout.

Now real estate agents across the country must sign upfront with prospective homebuyers what they’re willing to pay.

Historically the ‘sellers’ paid commission fees for both their own agent and the home ‘buyer’s’ agent. The typical commission has been 5 to 6 percent split between the two brokers.

That structure was pretty much enforced by The National Association of Realtors which has roughly 1.5 million members who pay dues. If a seller didn’t agree to those terms their listing wasn’t shown ion the multiple listing services that drive most home sales.

This latest decision basically makes commission sharing optional so that sellers’ agents who don’t want to pay buyers’ fees can still list on databases.

Real Estate agents across the country have been attending trainings and learning the details of new contracts they must sign with prospective homebuyers.

Gideon Fountain is one of those agents and he’s also one of the owners of WGCH Radio in Greenwich, CT where I broadcast my weekday radio show. He grew up in Greenwich and has been selling real estate in the Greenwich CT area since 1986. He’s now an agent for Houlihan Lawrence.

I asked Gideon Fountain to join me in the studio to give me his take on the new real estate broker commission laws that just went into effect. He said;

“With these new rules if you’re a Real Estate Broker or Agent you have to tell your home buyers ‘up front’ that that they have to decide on the amount they're going to pay in commission whether you bring on somebody else to help you or not."

"There are two places on this new contract, and it says, here's our service fee. And we might say our service fee is 2.5%. Let's just say we write that. Two and a half percent. Then we also have another paragraph that says, you authorize us to accept compensation from the seller."

"If a buyer wants to look at a property and the seller is offering nothing, and that would be a very foolish move by the seller, I would say, then yes, you would say to the buyer, look, I'm happy to help you with this transaction, but I got to make money. I'm not, this is not charity. So here's my contract."

"Pay me two and a half percent. For some buyers, that's entirely possible. They might think, well, what do I need you for? You know, I don't, but they have no idea."

"But the buyer agent, it's amazing. You should hear the conversations between the soliciting agent and the buyer agent when the listing agent says my client won't go down one more penny. Can you make your guys go up a little bit and the buyer broker says? All right, I'll try whatever we're at a million five. What's it? What's your guy want? He wants a million 550 not a penny less So then the buyer broker goes back to the buyer says come on you guys are gonna lose this I mean we have there's very few choices right now You really believe you've lost out on six bidding words. You really want to hold out for $50,000, and the buyer says yes. So, then you go back to the listing agent. Sorry, they're not budging either. And then, you know, everybody sits still for a while. But this is the kind of give and take that exists and should not be interfered with by government action."

"It's negotiation. “

Gideon believes real estate agents have remained viable because they accumulate an array of local market knowledge that is hard to duplicate.

“Going out each day and seeing properties noting their eventual selling prices and hearing customer reactions to those properties is an invaluable experience that a Zillow search will never match.”

For Home Buyers and Home Sellers there’s good recap of these new rules and what it means for them on Bankrate.com in an article called;

“Realtors commissions changes are here: What they mean for homebuyers and sellers.”

Meanwhile enjoy this podcast of the rest of my live conversation with long time realtor Gideon Fountain on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Everybody Knows My Show Theme is "Risk It or Regret It!" Whatever IT is for YOU! So, I thought it would be fun to share how I risked getting my first paying radio job after college.

It’s a memorable story of driving in a thunderstorm at 11 o’clock at night after working all day at another job, to a radio station in an old house in Briarcliff Manor, NY where Howard Stern had worked, to audition for an immediate opening for a news reporter.

I invited the guy who called me the next morning to tell me I got the job as the news reporter for WRNW Radio, to come join me in the studio to co-host a show.

Ol' pal Gary Axelbank was the then Program Director of WRNW Radio. He's now the host of BronxTalk and Bronx Buzz on BronxNet and he also hosts The Bronx Music Podcast -with Gary Axelbank.

He got in touch with me recently, sparked by the theme of my new book out to say he was totally on board with the point of "How to Talk to Strangers Advice From A Professional Stranger Talker".

I wrote it to try and spark people to try to have more meaningful conversations 'in person' versus the virtual conversations we've become accustomed to having by texting and email. Even making an actual phone call is becoming a lost art. (These days when I make a phone call and a human answers, I actually get excited!)

Gary said,

“You know among many reasons that I responded to the point of your book is that I'm a communications professional like you are, and communication is so important, yet people don't talk to each other.

I talk to people who I work with and I'm like, you know, we've got to get this guest booked or whatever. I'll tell them, do me a favor, just pick up the phone and find out if they can do it or they can't do it. They say OK I'll send them an email. Send an email? If you send them an email we're going to wait forever. Then you get an email chain where there's a whole discussion about, well, I can't do 12.30, I'll do 1.30 and I've lost track of what's going on. If we picked up the phone, we could get to somebody.”

Gary and I are alike in that we intentionally put good energy into engaging people to converse ‘in person’ pretty much every day. We both feel it matters a lot, wanted to talk more about why it matters.

So we did… in this podcast of my entire show which airs weekdays 11-12noon EST on WGCH Radio in the NY/CT area and airs live globally on the digital livestream on WGCH.com

I rarely post a whole show but decided to post this one because we both tell some good stories…. like the day I arrived to work at my usual 5:30am and found a drunk guy sitting on my typewriter. LOL And the day Famous Amos of Famous Amos cookies just walked in to introduce himself with a big box of his ‘new’ cookies he was trying to promote.

Gary tells a story about when Howard Stern worked there and what happened when he tried to kill a bee in the studio. Ha.

We also talked about all the famous people who came from the Bronx. People like Jennifer Lopez (who has my same birthday) and Chazz Palminteri who’s stopped by the show in the past and told me I reminded him of his mother Ha!

Gary also teaches a course in TV performance and teaches his students that to conduct a great interview they need to ‘listen’.

“Well, this is a cool thing that I do. One of the things that we talk about is like when you do an interview, how do you get good depth? You get good depth because you ask a question based on what I say. And then I demonstrate to them, and I do it with them. I ask, you know, where were you born? What are your parents like? To do this, you must be a good listener. I could walk into the pharmacy and talk to the pharmacist, and I could do a half hour right on the spot with that. And why? Because when I ask well, what medication do you sell a lot of? They’ll say, we sell diabetes meds. And I'll say, oh, what are the options? And then he'll say, well, these are the options. Why would somebody choose one, and why would somebody choose the other? And I could stand there forever. And it doesn't matter.”

We both could talk forever but that’s what we do professionally. We both ust want to encourage the rest to you to talk a little more, listen a little more, and make a little more an effort to engage your fellow humans in authentic conversations.

Enjoy this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. If you’d rather read than listen the audio transcript is below.

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Janet Heller made that now infamous GOAT necklace for Superstar Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles and the whole world went GOAT Crazy!

This year’s global commercial for a single piece of jewelry may in itself be the GOAT! The Greatest Of All Time!

I got caught up in GOAT fever myself, and after watching the intricate making of Simone Biles 3D Diamond Goat Necklace on Janet Heller Fine Jewelry's Instagram, I took a shot and sent a warm private Instagram invite to Janet Heller to join me on The Debbie Nigro Show.

It made me smile and shake my head in a good way, that the whole world was now paying attention to this talented female entrepreneur. Wow. Talk about a public relations opportunity! LOL

I somehow just felt compelled (woman to woman) to congratulate her and tell her how happy I was for her for this stupendous attention for her and her company because first she deserved the recognition for her talent and integrity, and second because I know how much harder it is, for women entrepreneurs who are also mothers, to succeed in business.

And in my usual spirit of “Risk it! or Regret it! I invited Janet to come take a bow on my show even though I was sure there were much bigger networks who’d be clamoring for her attention.

I was pleasantly surprised when she messaged me back and took me up on the offer.

Told her was I was very proud to have her on my show and that somehow, she must have trusted me to tell her story.

(Like her I try to bring peoples stories to life in a unique and meaningful way.)

Janet said,

“Thank you so much Debbie. I really am so excited to be on your show today.

Yes, that's right. I mean, we've got thousands and thousands of requests.

It's overwhelming. I cannot even keep up with it.

My social media team can't keep up with it. But for some reason, I just, I don't know, I was drawn to you and your message and here we are.”

Every hard-working entrepreneur knows getting good PR for their business is incredibly valuable and rewarding. But the Global free PR Janet got in the 2024 Olympics is the most extraordinary free PR I’ve ever seen.

Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles commissioned her exquisite GOAT piece she showed off during the 2024 Olympics, from Janet Heller Fine Jewelry in Calabasas, CA. to commemorate her remarkable achievements and undeniable legacy. She sure does have a legacy as the GOAT, and Janet said she was a joy to work with.

NBC reported, “Simone Biles says she knew people would ‘go crazy’ over her Goat Necklace.”

Janet’s legacy is that she and her company, Janet Heller Fine Jewelry have been crafting exquisite, personalized pieces for discerning clients for 15 years.They’re a premier custom jeweler in Calabasas, renowned for their meticulous attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to quality. Janet Heller has become the go-to choice for those seeking unique, meaningful jewelry.

BTW: That stunning 3D GOAT necklace (Greatest Of All Time) has 546 diamonds! Also, no small feat! How did she do that?

Janet said,

“Well, so a lot of jewelry can be made where when you make the wax of the piece, once you've done the CAD image and you've done the rendering and then you go and you make the wax, a lot of times you can have the little holes for the diamonds in the wax. So when you print the wax, it already has a hole for the diamond.

But I don't like to do that. I like to have my diamond setters drill each and every hole by hand. Just, you know, these are master artisans, master craftsmen, and that will enable the necklace to last so much longer. I mean, we want it to last forever, basically. And it's just an incredible art that they do. They have to wear those, you know, almost binocular glasses type things. They do it by hand. It takes a very long time and we pick the diamonds out beforehand so we have them all laid out. We know the size and then you have to look at each stone, drill each hole so that it fits that stone and it's just the craftsmanship and the quality is just unmatched in my humble I think that's the most important thing.”

Janet has come a long way over her 15 years in business and I wondered now that she was having this amazing global moment of acknowledgement, what she remembered from when she first started out?

"When I first started out, my first necklace that I feel about jewelry and about selling jewelry. I want to share the love. I love jewelry. I want to bring the love to everybody. I want to make it accessible to everybody. I started with one piece, a love necklace. Somebody bought that from me and then somebody else thought on them. They asked where she got it from and then in turn came to me. Really, that's how my business has grown, very organically and mostly word of mouth, which to me is the biggest compliment any jeweler or artist or entrepreneur can have."

Word of mouth is sure very loud right now for Janet Heller Fine Jewelry and that 3D Diamond GOAT necklace, and people have been asking her to make one for them. Will she?

“I'm not gonna replicate that particular iteration of the goat necklace that is exclusively for Simone. It's so representative of her accomplishments, her achievements, and so I do not want to replicate that because I feel that Simone is one of a kind and I want that necklace to be one of a kind as well."

"So I will not be making any other piece of jewelry that is an exact replica of that goat And I feel that if somebody wants something custom, that we should make it about them, about their story, their milestones and not about somebody else's. Although I'm so flattered that people would want me to replicate it, but I feel like it's such a personal representation of somebody's story."

Janet also was commissioned to create the Olympic rings necklace, symbolizing Simone Biles’ journey through multiple Olympic Games. Jordan Chiles, another gymnastic powerhouse wears several Janet Heller pieces that celebrate both her athletic achievements and personal milestones. Her collection includes a 14KT Gold & Diamond Olympic Rings Necklace, a custom diamond tennis bracelet and a diamond necklace bearing her nickname “Baby Jo,”

Janet said,

“Yes, and it all started with Tara Davis Woodhall, who is an Olympic long jumper. And Tara went to school with my daughter. They went to middle school and high school together. Wow. And Tara reached out right before the Tokyo Olympics for us to make her an Olympic diamond rings necklace and Simone saw the necklace on Tara and Jordan child thought on Tara as well, and they both reached out to me to make them a diamond Olympic rings necklace as well. “

Janet Heller’s company originally was called The Foundry and only recently changed it’s name to Janet Heller Fine Jewelry.

“Yes, it was named something else and we felt that it just wasn't personal enough and my daughter actually encouraged me to change the name of the company to my name, and honestly, I think it's crazy how we changed our name and then all of this happened. I feel like we were manifesting when we did that”.

Janet grew up in South Africa and I wondered when she was a little girl did she want jewelry instead of dolls?

“Funny thing is I played with dolls a lot, Barbie dolls, until I was a much older age than most other girls and I kind of used to play with one of my best girlfriends and we used to kind of hide the fact that we played with dolls.

But my mom is an incredible artist too. She's a knitter and a crocheter and she used to make us these most incredible outfits for the dolls and then we would also make like with beads, we would make jewelry. I always wanted them to be adorned with jewelry. My mom loved jewelry too, albeit costume jewelry and my grandmother too, but I just always had beads on and necklaces and bracelets and just always wanted to make something and create something out of beads to make jewelry. So ever since I can remember, that's been my passion.”

Janet is a mom of 4 who for 10 years was a full time Mom. She shared how she started out in the jewelry business.

“I have I have three sons and one daughter. I started working in the California Mart when I was about 20 No actually when I was about 19 and I worked there for five years I worked in an accessory showroom, and we would have we would represent jewelers and other entrepreneurs who made accessories and stores would come to the showroom to buy them. I just remember being so involved mostly with the jewelry companies, helping them with their designs and trends and just being so invested into the jewelry part of it. So even then I was doing that. And then I kind of wanted to start my own jewelry company at that point, but I met and married my husband and we had four kids so for the first I would say maybe ten years I was just a full-time mom and then I just couldn't stay away and got back into it. “

I feel Janet’s story sends a loud message out there to a lot of mothers out there in the world, who while raising children might be feeling like they're missing out on their business or entrepreneurial dreams, because they just can't do both things right now. Point is, maybe ‘right now’ is just not the right time to do both.

The message is to them from Janet?

“There’s a season for everyone”.

This is surely Janet Hellers season and I’m happy for her.

You can see the fascinating making of the symbolic GOAT necklace on their Instagram account.

And you can see all the other beautiful Janet Heller Creations on their website.

And you can meet the lovely and talented Janet Heller here in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. If you’d rather read than listen the transcript of the audio is included.

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I was curious where OpenlyGray.com was going when I saw a social media post about it from a business gal pal.

Was it a site for older people with Gray Hair?

Nope!

I ‘got it’ and smiled.

It’s way cooler than that!

It’s a movement.

It’s an attitude adjustment about aging!

Lord knows we need one.

Thanks to the longevity revolution we are in a unique time and place in history. Until now many in their 50's 60's, 70’s, and beyond believed it was time to stop.

That isn’t the thinking of older adults today at all!

I Invited Lee St. James and gal pal Brooke Stachyra of Openly Gray, to join my show to share their purpose with Openly Gray and their big disruptive plan!

Lee St. James is the Co-Founder /Creative Director of Openly Gray

Lee is a Cannes award-winning, multidisciplinary CD who has led major brand content development for over 20 years. From strategy to conception through execution Lee believes in partnering cross-functionally to build consensus and ensure projects meet all milestones, deadlines, budget, and business results requirements. Accustomed to fast-paced and start-up environments. He is constantly onboarding new technologies and innovative processes while ensuring compliance with corporate and client standards.

Brooke Stachyra handles Partner/Client Success for Openly Gray

Brooke is a social media consumer specialist. Proud former NBC Page, longtime (recovering) journalist-writer, and storyteller with a million tales! NBC News, Time Inc/People Magazine veteran. Former content creator for Church and Dwight brands Arm & Hammer, OxiClean, and Trojan. Social media contributor for the American Cancer Society and CUNY. Grown X woman, lover of all things 80s. Name that tune champion! Foodie and travel enthusiast, bougie barganista, and expert in anything about Bravo's Real Housewives.

They are on a Mission to Loudly Call Attention To These Facts:

The Gray Market has $8,000,000,000,000 (that's trillion) waiting to be seen

For the next 30 years, 10,000+ people will turn 65. Every. Single. Day.

In our conversation Lee said,

“When you turn 50, this is something that we observed years ago. We being the royal we, we observed years ago that you turn 50 and all of a sudden you become invisible. You become invisible to the opposite sex. You become invisible to your friends, sometimes even your family, but definitely to the marketing world. Marketers are taught from day one that you go after the 17 to, say, 45. Sometimes people switch it to 17- to 54-year-old market, but then after that, you stop. “

“Well, times have changed, and as you mentioned, there's $8 trillion in assets at play that are controlled by what we call the gray market, which is 50-plus. To put that in context, we saw a great little snippet about if you put this in context, this would be if the gray market in the U.S. was a country. It would be the third largest GDP in the world.”

“There's so much more to this audience and that's why we are Openly Gray. And there are two sides of the organization. One is called OpenlyGray.com. We are marketers. That's our goal. We want to get clients to start recognizing this audience and not leave all that money on the table.”

“On the other side of the coin though, we're advocates. So openlygrey.org is an advocacy organization, anti-ageism, pro-helping people grow older and grow into the next phases of life. And even there's an offshoot called Cozy Homes Community where we're trying to help build communities for 50 plus folks.”

It’s a big mission for Openly Gray who feels their biggest hurdle is to get relatively young brand managers and clients who are still in their 30s and maybe 45 to recognize that this is an audience that they are missing out on.

Brooke said,

“It's unfortunate, but what Lee is saying is absolutely true, that you have the people that are in the power that are making the decisions that are creating the content aren't seeing us. We are invisible and we have to make them see the dollar sign. There is expendable income. There's money.”

I'm personally passionate about encouraging people to transform how they think, feel and act, to embrace and enjoy and celebrate whatever stage of life they're at.

And like the folks at Openly Gray says, it doesn't matter how much hair you have on your head or what color it is or whether you have any of it all, it's the mindset and the attitude!

Enjoy learning more about Openly Gray and their growing movement that’s not stopping anytime soon in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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People from all over the world with different chronic illnesses seek out Dr. Roni DeLuz, RN, ND, PhD.

Dr. Roni founded the Martha’s Vineyard Holistic Retreat in 1997 to help others discover the path to wellness that she herself achieved after years of debilitating chronic illness. You may know her from her NY Times Best-Selling book 21 lbs. in 21 days.

Here’s how I got to know her and now share her story with you.

My buddy Tim and I were talking on the phone while I was driving when he asked, “So what are you doing today?”

I told him I was heading to the radio station to do my Wellness Wednesday show. He asked, “Who's your guest today?” I said, “I don't have a guest today, did my homework and I’m just gonna talk myself which I often do”.

He said, “No, no, no, you gotta have Dr. Roni” and he patched her into our call while I was driving before we even had a chance to discuss it.

I remembered Tim saying, “There's a woman, she saved my life, you don't understand, I lost 80 pounds, she moved in, she's a healer, she's like Mother Teresa, I never met a woman like her, it's not just me, she's done it for many people.”

So lucky me and lucky you, because of that random phone introduction, we now get to spend time with the amazing Dr. Roni, healer to the masses and to many lucky people who will forever be grateful that she’s kept them alive.

Dr. Roni is a Naturopathic Doctor, has a PhD in Natural Health, is a Registered Nurse, a Certified Colon Therapist and is a certified Hypnotherapist who’s been practicing in all these areas for over 40 years.

She is the founder of The Martha’s Vineyard Holistic Retreat and is the New York Times Bestselling Author of “21 Pounds in 21 Days: The Martha’s Vineyard Diet Detox” and “1 Pound a Day”.

People fly into Martha's Vineyard, take a boat or do whatever they have to do to get there, in order to get to her to get her help. How did this all happen?

Dr. Roni said,

“Well, it sort of grew into this. I have this very large house on Martha's Vineyard and I built it because people would come and stay with me and wouldn't leave. So, I kept building sections on and sections on. It finally opened up. I'm not kidding you, they’d come from California, my friends when I lived out there, they would come like, you know, for like a weekend or something or a week, and then I started doing treatments on them, then they wouldn't leave.“

“Then one day I met a man named James Tester and he said, well, can you help me? He said, I hire chefs and cooks all the time, and I still can't lose this weight. I gained it all back. And he told me this large story about him and I just looked at him and I go, that's so easy. And you're going to lose 21 pounds in 21 days. “

“He said, lady, he’d just met me. He said, if I lose 21 pounds in 21 days, the world will know about you. He said, I'm not kidding you. And he was absolutely right!”

“I had no idea that that he was important because remember all I cared about was healing people. All I cared about was these chronic illnesses. That was my background. But when I did these 21 pounds in 21 days book that this publisher and James talked me into, they were right. “

“Now people come to me from all over the world, and all over the country for different chronic illnesses. And I have a protocol for each and every one of them, but it's always going to start with who you are. See, it's customized. It's integrated. It's for who you are.”

Dr. Roni believes she was born to heal people.

“Well, you know, I've been doing this for over 40 years. I literally believe I was born healing people. That's why my father told me to go into nursing. I mean, he knew this. He saw it in me. So all my life, I've been a healer. “

“And half of my life, I just went to school, getting certifications and certification. I started as a nurse and I became a naturopath and now I became a healer to the stars and politicians and now I live on this island called Martha's Vineyard. I love it. People fly in to see me privately most of the time.”

I wondered if this now ‘healer to the stars’, who says she was born a healer ever tried to heal anyone as a kid? Animals? Her dolls?

Dr. Roni said,

“I mean, when the little babies would cry, I was just a little girl. And I would just go over to them and for some reason, my energy, I would rock them and I would rub their foreheads. And I was so passionate. And so people saw that in me. I just did what my father told me to do, you know, become a healer, become a nurse. That’s just who I am. That's who I'll always be.”

The quote on Dr. Roni’s website sums it all up.

“IF YOU GIVE YOUR BODY WHAT IT NEEDS IT WILL WORK MIRACLES FOR YOU”

-Rr. Roni

Based on somebody's condition, whether it's cancer or weight loss, Dr. Roni knows exactly what their body needs.

But how does she figure that out?

“We live in a world of plenty, but we're starving. I learned that from my grandmother, because my grandmother wouldn't open up a can, a bag, or a bottle. She wouldn't own a can opener. Everything came from nature.

“Everything was pure. Everything was basically if you couldn't grow it yourself, you shouldn't eat it. You can't open up a can of preservatives and dyes, you know, red dye, yellow dye, all kinds of stuff that you get when you eat your food. And you want to repair your cellular space. You want to repair your body, your organs. It just doesn't happen like that.”

“We kill our own bodies by doing processed food. Now it's ultra processed food. So, we're not getting better, we're getting worse.”

People in the know with the means, go to see Dr. Roni when something goes wrong with their body. But she cares deeply about the average person who cannot get to her, which is why she shared her knowledge in a book that was a New York Times bestseller, 21 Pounds in 21 Days,

Now she’s got a new book coming called ‘High Five’ and it's about the five things that kill 80% of men over 50.

“I've watched people die from things that are unnecessary. The high fives are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high sugar, high weight and high stress and we see it every day.”

“But when you teach people from nature on how to eat the right things and how to eat according to not just their body type, but what their blood level says, who they are, then you can cure these things, right? And I think a lot of people don't understand that. I mean, they hear me say that, but they don't understand the process. And I talk about going back to nature and living a cleaner life, but they don't know what that means anymore.”

How does Dr. Roni handle the emotions of all these people needing her help?

“Oh, oh my goodness, Debbie, I'm not just a healer, I'm an empath and this is so hard for me.”

“I told my friend the other day, and she was there, she said, you're going to have to calm down, because I run up and down the stairs and I've got all this energy. I said, listen, if you ever see me just sitting down doing nothing for more than 10 minutes call 9-1-1.”

What a fabulous woman!

Please listen to the amazing wisdom of Dr. Roni in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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I’ve always admired hydrangea flowers but this year I was obsessed!

I was slamming on my brakes and jumping out of my car just to take pictures of ‘other people’s hydrangeas’!

It’s not like I'd never seen hydrangeas before. It’s just that this year for some reason they just seemed more beautiful than I ever remember.

I wanted to share in the hydrangea joy, so I went and bought a pretty blue hydrangea plant at Home Depot. I think it died in the car on the way home. I planted other pretty flowers that actually lived, but sadly not that one. I was bummed.

Apparently my dead hydrangea sparked my very severe case of “hydrangea envy’.

Every time I’d spot a house with gorgeous hydrangeas I’d somehow on foot or by car, get up close or back up close, and whip out my phone to take a picture.

I now have a ridiuculous number of ‘other people’s hydrangeas’ photos in my phone.

I thought it was just me until I had lunch with a business pal and mentioned my 'Hydrangea Envy Problem’ and he whipped out his phone with the same number of Hydrangea photos! That was a really good belly laugh.

We both really wanted to know ‘why’ suddenly, this year, were these plants so much more amazing?

We decided we needed to find a ‘hydrangea expert’! So, I went and found ‘the best’ and invited her to join my radio show. Her name is Lorraine Ballato, and she’s truly ‘The Queen of Hydrangeas’.

Lorraine is an award-winning writer, speaker, horticulturist, photographer and confirmed plantaholic. She’s written a book called “Success with Hydrangeas’ A Gardeners Guide.

She has tips for knowledgeable and novice gardeners alike on how to grow this favorite garden shrub.

Success with Hydrangeas in an international best seller. It’s packed with valuable information like; when and how to prune; when and how to fertilize; when to transplant; how to propagate; and when to water -- or not.

I knew Lorraine would have the answer to 'WHY' the Hydrangeas were so extra gorgeous this year. Was it all the wild weather?

Lorraine said,

“Well, not this year. Wild weather from one year to the next could be the culprit, but we didn't have any wild weather. The temperatures were fairly even over the course of the spring. We had a nice, kind of mild winter. We had good rain both in the fall and the winter and the spring, and that's a trifecta to create exactly what we're all enjoying."

“I can tell you from a very weakened memory bank that this is the best year I've ever seen in over 20.”

“Even if you get mild winters and even if you get a decent amount of rain, we invariably have those crazy spring temperature swings, you know? And we get those freezes in May or we get a freak late season snowstorm. And so even if you make it through with all the other factors, one of those, all you need is a couple days like that and your buds are gone, absolutely gone.”

“So to have all three happen in the same growing year is rare to say the least.”

Enjoy learning more about the 'Diva' hydrangeas and enjoy meeting Lorraine Ballato in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

Meanwhile, there’s no need for you to zone out and become envious of ‘other peoples plants’ like I did. You can have your own fabulous plants if you just look into what plant hardiness zone you’re in. Just type your zip code into the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

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Kathleen Masciana is my summer college intern. She’s a sweet and smart college gal with an impressive list of credits.

She insists on calling me Miss Nigro. I keep telling her to call me Debbie.

Kathleen who is blind, aspires to be a radio and podcast talk show host. She posted her first attempt at hosting a talk show on YouTube on ‘BTGS Radio’ on Stationhead.com. 'BTGS Radio' stands for Blind Techie Geek Speaks.

Kathleen’s a self-proclaimed technology geek. That’s what she loves reading about, thinking about, learning about.

So I gave Kathleen an important job to fulfill her internship. I told her to go do research and contribute each week live on my ‘Trending Tuesday’ show, a report on the trending technologies that are helping make life easier and more interesting for those with disabilities.

This way I help her get real time experience on the air and she helps me stay informed and educates my listeners.

Kathleen is also a beta tester for Apple, and she tests pre-release software to see if there are bugs or issues before a software debuts.

“So, what I do for Apple, I test pre-release software before it's out in the public. And I want to make sure all the bugs are out of it. So, the software's untested. And I have to check everything, like what new features are in it. Like, for example, in iOS 17, there was a feature called Personal Voice. There was a feature called Personal Voice that was released back with iOS 17. And now with iOS 18, there's a twist. This feature is now integrated with voiceover and spoken content. Really? Yes. Mainly, Personal Voice is designed for people that are at risk of losing their ability to speak.

For example, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. He had to use a synthesized voice from a computer program. But if this feature was released in his time, he could have created a voice that sounds like him with 15 minutes of training, and you have to read 150 phrases to complete the process. And it takes about one night for everything to process, all the voice recordings that you make.”

Fascinating!

Kathleen uses a Braille computer, an iPhone, an iPad and other devices with voiceover.

She and I communicate by texts which on her end are read out loud to her through a voice over screen reader.

As for her live debut, she did great, however I did tell her I wanted her to sound a little ‘peppier’ when she talks on the air because good energy attracts other good energy!

Her second report on my show was on the latest ‘apps for the deaf’. Because Kathleen videos our audio interviews on ‘her end’ you can hear her doing my show on her own You Tube station.

Hope you feel the good energy of this collaboration in reading this post.

Here’s the podcast of Kathleen Masciana's first live segment reporting in on The Debbie Nigro Show.

The Debbie Nigro Show Airs Weekdays 11-12 Noon EST in the NY/CT area on 1490 WGCH Radio. You can ‘Listen Live’ from anywhere in the world on WGCH.com

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Talk About Risk It! Or Regret It!...

After reading one of my email newsletters (they’re free btw at DebbieNigro.com) where my headline was my question “What are you going to do with TODAY?”

James (Jim) Flaherty a subscriber replied to my email:

“About to leave (Mon Morning) for a 19 day 11-flight trip, visiting Flagstaff, AZ; Las Cruces, NM; and Houston and San Antonio before landing in the Baja of Mexico to teach a Modern Elder Workshop on THE BLUE ZONES, where there are more centenarians than anywhere else in the world. Trust you are well. Good column today. xo Jim

Jim Flaherty is a former ad agency guy, entrepreneur and writer. I made friends with Jim after randomly featuring his book on my show, which I randomly found on an old table, in a random old general store, in an old section of an old town in upstate NY. The only thing I won’t call old is Jim - even though he’s 89. This guy’s ageless!

And talk about Risk it or Regret It! I was exhausted just reading about the trip he had planned. I asked Jim to call into my show from the airport while waiting for his first flight. I wanted to know how the hell an 89-year-old was gonna do all that airport walking? I couldn’t! LOL

Jim said: “The only part of me that really doesn't function as well as I expect it to, because I always expect everything to work perfectly, are my legs. I can walk around the house, I can walk around an office, I can walk onto a stage and give a speech but I've had three surgeries starting with one bad surgery in Mexico years ago on my right le,g and now my left leg is just being 89 years old and tired. So I find when I get to an airport, and it's a mile or a half a mile between one thing to another, I have to have a wheelchair. And of course, it really, basically, it pisses me off because I never did.”

I was wondering how this 89-year-old was going to handle all those flights?

“I don't mind the fact that I'm going to have 11, I'm going to have 11 flights in the next 19 days. That doesn't bother me. I'm fine on a plane.”

Was this 89-year young guy going to rent a car and drive himself around the country in between flights?

“Yeah, I drive fine. I'm a good driver. I'm okay behind the wheel.”

I wanted to know more about that ‘Modern Elder Academy’ I’d read about, and Jim’s workshop he was giving on the Blue Zones.

Jim said:

“The founder, Chip Conley, is a wonderful, wonderful human being. Chip, who was going through his own kind of midlife crisis in his 50s and saw so many of his friends just at the end of their rope, decided, God, there's nothing for people going through what he called the messy middle. And they put a long age range on it, ranging from 35 to 75. People are going through the messy middle with one transition or another at all of those ages. So he put together this academy.

“And the reason it ended up with the name Modern Elder Academy is that the Airbnb boys who were all, you know, well, they weren't 12 years old, but they might have been, they were 20, 22, 23 years old, you know, when they started Airbnb, they didn't know their ass from their elbow, but they had a wonderful idea. And they, they asked Chip to come aboard, to tell them about hospitality, because he had owned a chain of hotels out in San Francisco. And, yeah, and one of them one day said, gosh, Chip, you're our modern elder. Because he was at that point like 52. And he thought, That's an interesting point of view of modern elders.”

Jim wants everybody in the world to look up modernelderacademy.com and put their name on the free mailing list. He said you get a free daily blog that is worth its weight in gold. And he said they have free monthly webinars that are just terrific. The workshops are too, adding that the workshops aren't for free, but he said he read the blog for two years before he signed up for one.

Jim said:

"Fell madly head over heels in love with the whole concept, went back eight months later for my second workshop and now they've invited me to help facilitate workshops.”

From what I’ve learned now about those Modern Elder Workshops … they seem to get people unstuck and give them clarity for their what’s next. Might interest some of you or someone you know.

Meanwhile goodness knows what’s next for 89-year dynamo Jim Flaherty. Senior Ninja Warrior Games? LOL Not sure but Jim wrote me a follow up note, “I’m wild (again) trying to triple my output so I can keep up with myself”!

Enjoy listening to this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Was missing my ol’ belly laugh pal TV Producer Adrienne Lopez. She used to live close by me but moved, and moved on to traveling for work. Hadn’t seen her in person since before Covid. Happened to a lot of friendships.

Can’t remember exactly how we originally became friends, but I think it started way back when 5000 years ago when she once booked me on a TV show. Adrienne’s been in the tv & film business a long time.

She’s a veteran television producer and talent executive. She’s been a casting director/producer in all tv genres including, reality tv, docu-series, and competition shows as well as scripted programming. She is a very successful celebrity talent booker and is currently The Senior Talent Producer on The Tamron Hall Show in NYC.

Adrienne said, “We usually tape a live show at ABC on 67th and Columbus, but the news is we're moving. All of ABC Disney is moving down way downtown to Tribeca. I just found out today that we're moving in December. Everybody else is moving right after the election”.

Adrienne is used to being on the move. Both Adrienne and I were independent female entrepreneurs and single moms along the way of life. Always hustling because single moms always have to hustle, but also always laughing – even when things weren’t exactly going our way.

We'd stop and have a glass of wine together and commiserate. Once we were so broke, we had to share a glass of wine…at happy hour. LOL We still laugh like hell about that one.

Though we haven’t seen in each in person in a while, I’d kept up with Adrienne online, knew she became the Sr. Talent Producer at The Tamron Hall Show, always joked she had fancier friends than me when I’d see her post about her celebrity pals, and found out when the great Willie Mays passed, she actually was his neighbor for a while growing up near ‘Shea Stadium’. Yes Willie Mays was her neighbor for while on the street she grew up on in East Elmhurst, Queens.

Told Adrienne it was time for her to come visit me and have a few of those same ol’ belly laughs we always like to have. I thought it would be fun to catch up with her in the studio live on the air with me, so she could talk about all those things that she does and knows that might interest you guys too. (Like what goes on behind the scenes on a live TV show and how to get booked as a guest on one!)

Adrienne has been at The Tamron Hall Show five seasons now and is very proud she’s been nominated for an Emmy twice. She didn’t win, but oh well, she says she’ll get ‘em next time! The new season starts September 3rd.

Meet Adrienne Lopez and find out how getting booked a TV show works and more, in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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“Super Nanny’ Shannon Albrecht is the creator and President of President/Nanny-Land®️, LLC, the world’s only company specializing in Nannies at Disney!

Located at most Disney locations worldwide, and available on Disney cruise Lines they provide you with a Magical Nanny for your Family Adventures!

Shannon joined The Debbie Nigro Show to share that most of her clients are simply families who could use an extra set of hands when they take a Disney Adventure.

Typical families who book with her might have 3 or 4 kids, a child with special needs, or kids with a large age gap. Single parents find this service invaluable as do parents with disabilities.

Shannon knows firsthand how helpful her service is because she herself uses a wheelchair and has a son with autism spectrum disorder.

Shannon says, “A lot of parents will ask, what’s the difference between your Disney nannies and me just bringing my nanny from home. Of course, your nanny from home knows you and they know your children personally, but they may also not really know the Disney parks. They also probably do not have, especially if you're traveling from out of state, a Disney annual pass, so therefore you have to buy their tickets in the park every day. Our nannies that help in parks are called our golden crown nannies. They're local to Disney. They visit Disney multiple times a week, some of them every single day. They have Disney annual passes so they're not only childcare professionals, they're also Disney masters and Disney experts.”

“I should also throw in there that most families that come to us have never even been to Disney. It's usually their once-in-a-lifetime trip or their first trip I'd say as high as 70 or 80 percent of families. We do get reoccurring families but a lot of them are new to Disney and when they arrive, parents especially have no idea how exhausting it is and so providing them with a nanny for Disney helps them navigate the parks, it helps keep an eye on the best of both worlds. The family fun time and just adult assistance or adult downtime. I think most parents don't take that into consideration how physically and emotionally exhausting it is.”

Nanny-Land offers lots of ways to make the trip more fun for everybody traveling, including Nannies for date nights and Nannies to grab the kids early mornings so adults can get a little more sleep. (Which if you’ve ever been on a vacation with kids, you know is desperately needed.)

Shannon says, “That's a very popular service we call a sleepy session and that's from our silver crown nannies which are the nannies that help with the resorts and the hotels. Because we operate around the clock we never close so we work any hours and and not for an extra price. We'll work really early really late throughout the night. A sleepy session is when a silver crown nanny comes to the resort or hotel as early as you want 3 a.m. 4 a.m. 5 a.m. to wake up with the kids, get them ready for the day, have breakfast with them, and start the morning so that mom and dad can sleep in. And this is really popular after a date night, the night before. That's huge. Huge. And or after a big park day, the day before, so they can recharge, so they can be there at the parks for their children.”

All Nanny-Land Nannies are CPR certified and background checked, and all Nannies are Disney annual theme park pass holders and locals familiar with the parks. They make great stroller pushers and family photographers too. All Nannies and families are paired before the trip.

Enjoy meeting Founder Shannon Albrecht / President/Nanny-Land®️, LLC in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show!

And check out Nanny-Land.com. Feel free to email them with any questions at Smile@Nanny-Land.com

The Debbie Nigro Show airs 11-12 Noon EST on #WGCH Radio. Tune in live from anywhere on WGCH.com.

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Have you heard about The Key to The Castle workshops for writers? The next one is taking place in Torre di Cittara, Italy from October 19th to 26th this year.

Kathy Curto, Patricia Dunn, William Papaleo and Angela Derecas Taylor are behind this. It's their signature workshop on the Amalfi Coast but they offer workshops for writers, artists and yoga enthusiasts both online, locally in the NY area and in other cool places abroad.

I found about this when ran into Angela at a writer’s event. I’d known her from her days working in the mayor’s office in my city. When she retired 2 years ago - she started this cool company.

So who is the ideal participant for a writers trip to Italy?

Someone who is open to adventure and discovery as a community of artists.

One benefit of working as an artist in community with others is the gaining of new insight, particularly when it comes to ways of seeing and valuing their own work. This applies on the page, the mat, out in the natural world and on the canvas.

An ideal student also recognizes the importance of getting away from their own day to day life to experience the illuminating effects of travel and the sharing of culture—in all ways.

Many students attend their workshops to collect fresh understandings of their own promise as artists and to gain the variety of perspectives that come from being in a new place.

Kathy and Patricia joined me in the studio to tell us all about it.

Kathy says, “The Key To the Castle is sort of our signature program and that is in October for, and as Pat said, writers really of all levels. We do writing and painting primarily and some meditation and yoga and lots of eating and sort of collaborating with one another. It's really community driven.

We've been doing it for several years now in Cittara. We have a great relationship with the community, with the merchants there, with the people who help us actually organize the housing and the trips.

You actually stay in this beautiful fishing town right the Amalfi coast and everybody gets apartments like the person that arranges you it's like condos Everybody gets their condos and then we actually do the writing right in the castle.”

Seems many great writers just don't really ‘get it’ until they are with other people who bring it out in them and see it.

Pat said, “You can write alone, and you might get to certain things in your work, but until you share it with people you trust, in a safe environment, you're not going to get the kind of feedback that you need to move on to the next step unless you want to wait 25, 30 years.”

Wow. Who the heck has that kind of time to waste? LOL

If this sounds like something you’d like to know more about check out KeysToTheCastleWorkshop.com.

Meanwhile enjoy this podcast of our live conversation on the Debbie Nigro Show.

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Let’s just say if I was building or renovating a pool I’d call Vinnie Groppa. And for the record yes, stars do call him, but so do very regular people who still get the same star treatment!

Humble guy that Vinnie. Great sense of humor. Really nice human and super creative pool and backyard design visionary.

I wanted to give Vinnie his own star treatment, so I invited him into the studio to tell the great entrepreneurial story of his family’s 50-year-old pool business Gunite Pools of Westchester. It’s a good one. And a story that's entering a new chapter... 'expansion'.

Vinnie Groppa grew up in the family pool business, learned about the business from a very young age, and eventually took over the company. He now proudly employs his own son to help him run the day-to-day pool operations which every year involves a ridiculously busy scenario opening hundreds and hundreds of pools for the season to be ready to roll by Memorial Day weekend.

“Gunite Pools in Westchester was started a long time ago by my father, who was a builder at the time. He and my uncle started the company. And Gunite Pools became renowned and very well-known in Westchester County in NY. I started my own little pool company, V Groppa pools, when I was like 15 years old. They were building pools but there was no service division. So at 15 I bought a car, the old Buick Skylark, I put a vacuum hose in a pole. I had this beautiful car, I could put my tools in, I had a pole hanging out the window, and I was on my way. The first year I had four customers. And then from there it just snowballed, and I got a great reputation. Eventually my dad retired, so I took on his company and now without giving that name up, I just incorporated the two together and now we have a beautiful service division.”

While the demand for pool service is high, demand for new pools has slowed a little bit since the pandemic. However, the desire for well-designed, safe, and functional pools remains very strong.

Vinnie’s passionate about great pool service but his real passion lies in designing those gorgeous pools and transforming backyards into beautiful spaces. It’s what turns him on and what he’s looking forward to doing more of!

People Fly Vinnie In To Design Pools? Yes! He’s That Good! Lol

V. Groppa Pools & Gunite Pools of Westchester have always been known for a high level of integrity and excellence. They’re now expanding into Greenwich CT Fairfield County CT, the Hamptons (where Vinnie has already designed quite a few pools) and other upscale locales where people have actually flown Vinnie in. Vinnie gets a real kick out of doing that.

“It makes me smile because I really love that part of the business, I love being creative and seeing something through till the end and stepping back and saying hey, you know what? Look what I did. Yeah, look what I built, look what I created. You can leave something behind, and people enjoy it and to see the smiles on their faces is just invaluable to me.”

Adding a Pool These Days increases the Value of Your Home.

Realtors and Builders always reach out to Vinnie when they’re trying to increase the value of a home sale. Either by adding a pool or renovating one, making a pool safer, or adding a hot tub, a waterfall, lighting etc. So, if anybody’s out there interested in knowing more about this, Vinnie is the guy who can educate you on how to enhance the value of your home.

Let’s Talk About Pool Safety!

There's nothing like enjoying a pool and nothing worse than having something go wrong at a pool. Especially when it’s yours and it could have been prevented. One of the most effective ways to prevent accidents is to make sure the pool is securely fenced with a self-locking gate.

Vinnie says, “So the code is you have to have a self-locking gate with a lock on top so you can actually lock the gate. And if, God forbid, you forget to close the gate, it automatically closes behind you.

Another code is that every door leading to the backyard within the fenced-in area must have some type of alarm on it. So, if the mother of the house is upstairs and she's getting dressed, and the child's on the first floor and decides he/she is going to go for a walk out the back, the mother is alerted to that when the child opens the door.”

What else does Vinnie see trending in pool safety?

“The most effective thing right now in nine out of ten pools I'm building is that they are equipped with an automatic cover. So, it's almost like peace of mind where you close that cover. It’s like locking your door to your house. You know this is something that every parent with a small child should have but the only thing with that is your pool must be a rectangle. “

When Somethings Wrong with Your Pool Make It Right - Right Away.

“95-98% of our pools, we do weekly service. So my guys are my eyes and if there's anything that's wrong, they'll shoot me a picture right away and we reach out to the client and we tell them, safety's first. This is dangerous and we want to repair it, we want to take care of it. Give us the okay and we'll take care of it right away’

Does everybody want a rectangle pool?

“I go in a backyard and immediately I'll tell you what the backyard dictates. It's like a palette and you can see what type of backyard people have, what type of house they have. Is it modern? Is it colonial, does it warrant a free form pool? If it’s very natural in the back, I'd love to put something with a waterfall. “

It’s instinct after all these years with Vinnie Groppa. He just knows what would work and what would flow.

If you’ve got or want a pool, you need a Vinnie! LOL

Gunite Pools of Westchester (and beyond now) has a stellar reputation founded on integrity, loyalty and availability.

V Groppa Pools and Gunite Pools of Westchester.

Get in touch Vinnie Groppa at VGroppa Pools or Gunite Pools of Westchester at 914-769-3513 or at gunitepoolsofwestchester.com

Meanwhile enjoy meeting the ‘pool artist to stars’ Vinnie Groppa in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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We have an ongoing national lifeguard shortage.

This is not good.

This poses a significant risk to water safety in communities for the 3rd year.

American Lifeguard Association (ALA) has launched a crucial initiative.

and Wyatt Werneth their spokesperson, who’s like the Jame Bond of Lifeguards, is making headlines highlighting a crucial reality:

"Professional lifeguards, the dedicated guardians of our waterways, are deserving of both acknowledgment and compensation that mirror the critical nature of their work.”

The ALA is calling on employers to enhance their Lifeguard incentive offerings, including bonuses, reimbursement of training expenses, and competitive wages.

It’s a strategic effort designed to not only draw a wider range of qualified lifeguard candidates but also to elevate the profession of lifeguarding to a highly esteemed and rewarding career choice.

I’ve always wanted to be a lifeguard I wonder if it’s too late? LOL I’m half kidding of course, because I’d feel self-conscious walking around in a bathing suit as my work outfit but hey all day but never underestimate the life saving power of a Grandma!

They do think it’s time to widen the net of appeal to lifeguarding which includes encouraging older people as well.

Wyatt joined me on The Debbie Nigro Show to share what we all need to do to solve the lifeguard shortage for the safety of all.

Wyatt is a great choice as the Official Spokesperson of the American Lifeguard Association. He’s a highly skilled waterman with core training in rescue swimming and public safety diving, and he also holds several world records.

He served as the head of the Cocoa Beach Fla. patrol and has over 20 years of experience in various military and contractor roles worldwide. His expertise extends to MAROP (Marine Operations) in marine environments, working with the USCG as an Officer in tactical/security and medical fields, and collaborating with the US and UK Special Operations Forces.

He’s also a really cool stuntman who's done outrageous stunts in a multitude of movies you've likely seen. But his World Record is one of the things he’s most proud of.

“I have a Guinness World Record. It is in paddle boarding, 345 miles, and I'll tell you a story about that. I was the lifeguard chief of an area that has 72 miles of ocean front, and at that time, we only had 13 lifeguard stations available for 210 beach accesses for 110 days out of the year.

We ended up having a tremendous amount of drownings. And at that time, in 2007, we'd already had 10 drownings. So what I did, in fact, on the actual anniversary. 17 years ago, I did the paddleboard journey.

And what it was, I considered it dragging a cross for the souls that we lost.

You know, I pulled each of these people out of the water, I met their families, grieved with them. And the only way I could deal with it was I was like, well, you know what, I'm going to drag her across.

So I put myself on a paddle board in the open ocean and I paddle boarded night and day for 10 days. And just to remember every soul, to bring awareness to the drownings, to these people's lives, to the lack of lifeguards, beach safety, it was during beach safety week. And yeah, I'm very proud of that. I think that, of all the things I've done, is a major accomplishment and a signature of what I do.”

The Drown Zero Foundation.

.

Wyatt Werneth’s passionate about the Drown Zero Foundation - making beaches safer one beach at a time.

Drown Zero which started as a Cocoa Beach Rotary Club project has successfully implemented sixty-two (62) Drown Zero flotation device stations along Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral.

These “Throw – Don’t Go!” stations provide beaches without lifeguards (unguarded or off duty) a means to assist a s distressed swimmer. As in throw the orange floatation ring into the water don’t try and save someone yourself. Call 9-1-1 and keep your eyes on the swimmer until first responders arrive.

These stations are available for adoption, which helps make the Drown Zero Project possible. The Drown Zero project has been made possible by the Surfing’s Evolution and Preservation Foundation, Cocoa Beach Rotary Club in conjunction with the Cities of Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral.

'Drown Zero International' now has the ability with support from the Surfing’s Evolution and Preservation Foundations as well as donations to help bring this life saving project to your community. Please feel free to contact them for more information.

drownzeroint@gmail.com

321-704-0151

Meanwhile back to the Lifeguard Shortage…It’s time we take our Lifeguards seriously so enjoy this podcast of my live conversation with Wyatt Werneth on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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There's nuttin' like a blast of hot ‘clothes shedding weather’ to make some people realize they wish they were in better shape. LOL

If you’re a woman in your HOT phase of life this seaons hot weather shock can be even more uncomfortable.

However, you can turn things around in just 30 days and feel a whole lot better if you listen to my Nutritionist pal Jacqui Justice.

Jacqui is one passionate nutritionist! She’s the OG of ‘Talkin’ Menopause’ and was talking about it when nobody else was. She’s been a pioneer in the space trying to help her fellow females with solutions. Even if she won the lottery, she says she’d still spend her days trying to help others feel better.

Jacqui is a Functional Nutritionist and author. In addition to helping all kinds of individuals, she excels at helping peri- through post-menopausal women shed belly fat, reverse their symptoms, and finally feel like themselves again.

Jacqui Justice joined The Debbie Nigro Show to talk about her SHED IT! DIY Plan. It’s a 30-day hormone balancing 'Belly Shedding Cleanse'. That should perk up some ears! LOL

Every woman going through this phase of life should listen to what she has to say in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Needless to say Aimee Hofmann is an INSPIRATION to many!

At 30, she suffered from the neurological condition, Transverse Myelitis, an inflammation in the spinal cord that caused complete paralysis from level T10 of the spine. After learning she would never walk again, art gave her peace during the difficult stages of loss, grief, self-reflection, and re-discovery. Art helped her emotionally heal, as well as find joy again.

Throughout the years that followed, while facing a new life with a disability, Aimee created a number of collections. Her works featured landscapes, abstract florals and swirl patterns, which have continued to evolve into deeper abstract work.

Her unique abstract art has inspired many with its vibrancy and depth, symbolizing the resilience and strength found in the journey of recovery.

Aimee is being honored on June 6th by Burke Rehabilitation Hospital with the Burke Award, their highest honor. This year’s theme is the "Healing Power of the Arts," which highlights the transformative impact of the arts in rehabilitation and recovery. Burke is a nationally renowned rehabilitation hospital located in White Plains NY and Aimee’s impactful artwork adorns the walls throughout Burke Rehabilitation’s buildings.

Aimee joined me to share her pride in how her unexpected journey brought her to this moment and how art contributes to the rehabilitation and recovery process for patients.

I asked Aimee to talk about what she does every day and how she does it.

Her most recent collections she said, express a newfound freedom that embraces the beauty of imperfections, renewal/rebirth and nostalgia and the symbolism of one's unique life journey.

“After I became paralyzed throughout the years that followed, I learned so many life lessons. I did a lot of self-reflection and self-rediscovery work. One of the things was that I learned to let go of perfectionism, and it's something that I struggled with throughout my whole life. And so, my latest work features, for example, paint in diverse textures and various consistencies, which I liberally pour and splatter all over the canvas. And this kind of embracing the beauty of imperfections, allowing the paint organically to react instead of focusing on being perfect and that is a complete reflection of my personal journey. "

"And so, acquiring a disability has also helped me discover this newfound courage that was born from the realization that there is nothing to fear because I realized that the future will always be uncertain for everybody no matter what. So, this epiphany has allowed me to relinquish control over outcomes, allowing my intuition to guide the creative process instead of focusing so much on the final results, if that makes sense.”

Everything Aimee creates makes total sense.

In addition to individual collectors and Burke Rehabilitation, Aimee Hofmann’s work is part of corporate collections at Amazon, JPMorgan Chase & Co., HSBC, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Intuit, State Street Bank, Ipsen, Brown Advisory and Vigil Neuroscience. She has also shown at local and regional arts centers and has been a guest speaker at the Harvard Business School.

Aimee Hofmann lives with her husband and two children in Westchester County NY. She is a two-time hand-cyclist marathoner, avid swimmer, fundraiser, and guest speaker. As disabilities advocate her goal is to continue to create awareness about inclusion and fair representation for people with disabilities.

About 'The Burke Award': Given by Burke Rehabilitation, it is conferred upon an individual or group who has made significant contributions to the field of rehabilitation, either through personal achievements, the development of research or the establishment of programs and facilities to assist individuals with disabilities. It recognizes strength and courage in overcoming the challenge of a disability or a significant contribution to the understanding of physical disability. It remains the highest honor bestowed by the Board of Trustees of Burke Rehabilitation Hospital.

The Burke Award Dinner is Burke’s premier fundraiser, with proceeds supporting Burke’s outstanding rehabilitative care services and the Healing Power of the Arts fund.

Your generous support of the 2024 Burke Award being held on June 6th will make a difference in the lives of the thousands of patients Burke serves each year.

Enjoy being inspired to learn how art heals by the fabulous Aimee Hofmann in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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If You Don't Know About Eugene Ruffolo I'm Hoping You Willl Now.

He's not just any talent. Eugene is a prolific and deeply personal songwriter.

The world could use more of him. His music calms people down.

A mutual friend who went to school with him in NY back when, had no clue about his talent until a zoom decades later during Covid. He then became addicted to his music and kept insisting I needed to listen.

So, I did. I swear I could feel his music in my veins. I was taken aback by the beauty of his vocal gift and the genius of his songwriting. As good as any famous musical artist I’ve ever enjoyed. I honestly was shocked I had not heard about him. Apparently even Kenny Loggins was shocked he didn’t know about him after both collaborated on a segment of someone else’s record.

In addition to his own songwriting, Eugene has shared studios and stages with many famous artists, drawn to his unique vocal talents. People like Garth Brooks and Tony Bennett and Kenny Loggins, Run-DMC, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Livingston Taylor, Spyro Gyra, just to name a few.

He covers themes like forgiveness, the precious bonds of friendship, the search for existential truth. Among his many worldwide accolades his music has been referred to as “the jewel of folk pop’ .You’ll hear for yourself if you take a few minutes to listen to this podcast of our live in-studio bonding session.

Eugene even took a little musical departure recently to write and record a collection of Italian songs celebrating his Italian heritage and his love of Mediterranean and pop music, folk music. And he wrote a classy little book to along with it, on food, music, and Italian culture, which I thought was very cool.

Eugene Ruffolo also has a great sense of humor as evidenced by how he handled my ridiculous opening of my live show. En route to the studio, I reached in blindly to my purse while driving and accidentally sprayed ‘Band Aid Antiseptic Cleansing to Go Spray’ in my mouth instead of the ‘Listerine Cool Mint’ which comes in the exact same pump packaging. Needless to say I was an idiot.

Panicking that I might have poisoned myself but knowing that Eugene was coming into the radio studio, I decided to risk not going to the emergency room and instead spent a few hyper minutes on the phone minutes before the show started with the nurse from Band Aids 800 # who sweetly read off the chemical ingredients I sprayed on my tongue and suggested I contact poison control. Had no time for that.

Instead I played a few of Eugene’s songs to calm myself down LOL and give my audience a taste of his extraordinary talent including new songs he’s just released.

In order we sampled:

Late Bloomer (My personal favorite as the words were just so good!)

Bella Maria

Closer To You

Poor Lonesome Me

Like many who were just about to launch 'something' right when the pandemic hit, Eugene's best laid plans got put on hold.

“Embarrassed to say it was actually because that little pandemic that pesky little pandemic got in the way because I finished the record in 2019 and I was just about to go on a tour to Europe, literally in April 1st of 2020, and then you know what happened there. So yeah, and I was about to release the record and then that happened and then I sort of just sat down."

"It felt like a strange time to do it and I couldn't figure out what the right time was and all this time went by and then I thought, well, I need to get this, I need to get this record out. I have more music to make.”

As far as Eugene Ruffalo's Italian songs go…his are quite beautiful. His Italian album is called ‘Canto per Mangiare’.

“I’ve always embraced my Italian heritage, and I always had a sort of love of Italian music, because I started going to Italy when I was a child, and I went a lot during my twenties. I spent a lot of time there during my 20s. I had all these friends, and I didn't speak any Italian when I first started going. One of the ways that I learned how to speak Italian was through the music. I listened to a lot of music, and I would ask my friends, what does this mean and what does that mean.”

Eugene wanted to get to the roots of real Italian music not the stereotypical Italian songs.

“That's one of the impetuses behind this record was the fact that I think in America, people only know Italian music in two ways. They know it as classical, right? Let's just use Pavarotti. Bocelli is more of a pop guy, but he has sort of a classical, he has a classical aesthetic right? Or the Italian American Dean Martin singing Volare and that kind of thing. So, I wanted to get to more because there are a lot of other aspects of Italian music. So, my record really has a few elements to it. One of them is traditional Neapolitan folk music, which is really beautiful. And then the other is just singer-songwriters from the 70s, like the equivalents of the James Taylor, Cat Stevens that we have here, but that existed in the 70s in Italy. So, I covered some of their songs, and then I wrote a bunch of tunes myself.”

Eugene’s about to take his first trip in 4 years to perform. He's going overseas to Ireland. He's never been there. Then on to the Netherlands.

But I told him he had to come do my show first because I needed to know more about him and wanted more people to hear him so they wouldn’t have to say… How come I don’t know you?

You'll thank me for introducing you to Eugene Ruffolo on this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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I love gritty and gutsy women who make it in business against all odds. I am one, and so I am always drawn to the same.

We all have stuff. We all have crap. We all have horrific things that happen to us emotionally and financially that make us think, how the hell am I ever getting out of this? Often you don't even know where to begin.

Sometimes just listening to someone else’s story lends a clue. Especially when it’s a real-life lesson in resilience and survival. This story I’m about to share is very powerful. Because it’s about the power of believing in yourself.

Today you're going to hear the extraordinary story of Marcy Manfredonia. This now successful entrepreneur rose from extreme emotional and financial hardship. You will be inspired. She turned nothing and I do mean NOTHING, into something else!

Three Successful businesses now and counting. National Maintenance, Custom Candle Co. and CBD Live Natural, with plans for plans for more entrepreneurial ventures in the hopper. She’s Unstoppable.

Most amazing is that she never even learned how to read or write as she had to drop out of school young to take a job to help support her family.

This is one of the most authentic interviews I have ever done with one of the most authentic people I have ever met. If you’re not a Marcie fan after listening or reading, I’ll eat my hat.

I do think you should listen to this one vs read about it. Why? Well, let’s just say Marcie’s story told in her deep voiced Bronx Italian accent might just remind you to never judge a book by its cover. I’ll take the liberty to say that because I’m also Italian (American), have been judged wrong along the way by many, and also have a pretty deep voice for a female. I often talk a little too NY fast for some, but if you want to hear two gritty and gutsy female entrepreneurs talkin’ no BS about how to push through when life gets tough - you should listen.

Also, in the spirit of May being Mental Health Awareness Month and knowing full well how many people struggle with emotional, financial and relationship challenges – I felt showcasing Marcie’s story would encourage a whole lot of people - to never stop believing in themselves!

I had met Marcie some years ago at an event held at her cool store in Bedford Hills, NY. She held a sort of networking party and I was invited by a lovely friend so I went. I was in awe of her beautifully designed store filled with magical candles and gifts on one side (Custom Cando Co.) and on the other an entire classy line of CBD and related products (CBD Live Natural) The party was set up father back in the store where there was a bar set up and beautiful appetizers and art.

Then there was Marcie. To say Marcie has a presence that stands out would be an understatement. She’s tall and attractive, always dressed a little sparkly, and has a unique deep voice with a Bronx Italian accent. She bubbles with enthusiasm, confidence, and compassion.

That day I overheard her telling another guest about her years of suffering from fibromyalgia and anxiety and trying every possible way to get out of pain to no avail - until her son suggested she try CBD which she didn’t understand and was afraid of but tried out of desperation. It worked and changed her whole life. Thus, her decision to start her CBD Live Natural store to try and help others get out of pain. Marcie spends a lot of time trying to help others.

In fact, I learned it was at a American Cancer Society fundraiser that she threw to raise them some money, that a women from Whole Foods flipped out over her table decorations. Marcie made impressive centerpieces filled with candles flowers and candy out of recycled pink bottles that her son found in NYC which she cut and polished. When that someone said wow you should make this into a business - Marcie did. Her company Custom Candle Co. will take any bottle of wine or champagne that represents a memorable occasion to you (wedding anniversary, birth) and cut it and polish it and fill it with any one of her long-lasting great smelling candles in any scent you want. Marcie’s candle business has sustainability at the core and all her candles are made from soy and recyclables - often bottles donated from restaurants so they don’t go to the landfill.

Marcie and I only spoke briefly that day at her party, but we had one of those good energy connections and both agreed we should stay in touch.

But years went by, until last month in a clothing store in Scarsdale, NY. I heard her voice. Blocked by racks of clothes that kept me from seeing her, I thought, hey that's Marcie from the party that I met, and I loved. So, I went over to her, and she was like “Debbie what happened to you?” “I always thought we should connect it again”. “I even asked my friend who invited you what ever happened to that woman?”

So, we start talking, and I asked her to share a highlight of what’s going on with her, and she mentioned she’d just won a bid for a job she was excited about. Who knew she owned a big construction company too?

Wow I’m thinking there’s a lot more to this woman than Candles and CBD. So, I’m telling her a little about my ventures and of course my show where I always feature innovators and she said, “I'll be a sponsor”. And I realized at that moment we were a perfect business match.

She is the epitome of gritty and I'm the epitome of gutsy and we both always come from the heart. Together businesswise I thought, wow we could be dangerous. (Dangerously fun too.)

I understood Marcie’s businesses, but I wanted to understand Marcie better, so I invited her to sit in the studio with me. I always try and go above and beyond to help people who support me and often end up making exciting strategic business matches for them they didn’t see coming. But I like to understand the person I’m dealing with first, not just the business.

Like me, Marcie lost her dad when she was young. Never easy. I was 23 but she was only 16 when her dad passed.

“What happened was I didn't really go to school. I had to help my mom take care of my dad. So, growing up it wasn't easy because I had to go get a job. I worked at Woolworths, McDonald's whatever I could do.

When my dad passed away, I felt like, now what am I going to do? I met my first husband and we got married at 18 because I thought I needed somebody to take care of me. And I always felt stupid because I didn't go to school. I couldn't spell or read. And then I got into that relationship. I stood 18 years, but it wasn't a good relationship. ‘

“And I always heard, you're no good, you can't do nothing. “

“You go through the battering. And you stay, and I stood just to raise my children.”

Marcie one of 4 girls herself, had four boys. Her mother was a widow and was a stay-at-home mom, Italian, typical, back in the day, whose official job was housewife and who did her best at that job, but then her mother got breast cancer.

“I think I was thirty-three. And I juggled and took care of her, going back and forth to chemo. I hate to get emotional. I'm sorry. I think it's okay. I would have my four little boys; one I would have on the backpack of me. I would walk, go there, take care of her, get my kids to school, and it was a lot. It was a lot. And I just stood until the day she passed. That was the day I knew I was able to have the strength to leave my ex-husband. “

About to be a single mom, scared to death but knew she had to leave the abusive relationship. Like many women in abusive relationships, it’s hard to explain it to anybody. Which is why I’m talking about this loud on the radio during this conversation during Mental Health Awareness Month. Thank God the world is talking about these kinds of crazy awful situations now and encouraging people to talk about these situations and get some help because they are not alone. There was no help back in the day.

“You buried this stuff, and if you talked about it , what happens is people think you're crazy, or you have those older people, your family would say, you know, just take it, where else are you going to go, you have a house, you have a roof over your head, and that's what they would always say, and then you would think to yourself, maybe I should be a little nicer, maybe I do deserve it, and you start thinking that, but when you try to get away, it's even harder. I always found myself going back. You know you don't want to go to shelters and sleep on the floor and so you always find yourself going back. And I was so I was at the breaking point, and I had to get out even though I realized I have no backup plan. But I knew if I was gonna get out of it and get my kids out of it, I had to do it.”

Talk About A Risk It or Regret It! Moment.

Marcie went and got financial assistance. She wanted to get a small little apartment. She was on public assistance for six months. But she said she felt belittled.

“I hated going down there. I had to go down to 61st Street. The kids would sit on the floor while we waited to get a check. The only reason why I did that because my boys had asthma and I needed the health insurance. One day I went back down and said, listen, I don't want to be on this because if I stay on public assistance, I'm going to be like everybody else. Could I just have the health insurance? The guy said it’s all or nothing. And I don't know where the guts came, but I said, then it's nothing.”

And just like that with four little kids with no money, Marcie borrowed money from a Shylock to get though. She juggled and paid it back.

Marcie told me she called a job ad for a power washing company she saw in the paper and when the guy answered the phone she said,

“I'll never forget this in my life, if you give me this job, I really need it because I want my son to go to St. Teresa's to be able to go to a public or Catholic school and I need some extra money. I promise you, three weeks I'll work for you for free. Just give me the opportunity. I don't really spell it or write well, but I can sell anything if I believe in it. I made more money in those three weeks for him than he had with eight girls in the office.”

But the guy kept not paying her commissions, so after a year Marcie proposed they go partners and she buy into his company. He laughed at her. So, she quit and opened her own power washing company. Cleaning and Power Washing. Her first company!

“I bought a broken-down truck and a power washer, and my son Santino left school he was gonna go be an accountant, but he had to come out of school at 16 to help me. I had like one of those little Jeeps, because I had to make the kids go to school in the morning. The only way I was able to do the estimates was to drive around Manhattan at night and look at the awnings and write down the prices. And the boys were asleep, so I'd go home in the morning, dress them, and bring them to school. After getting the jobs my son would go out and clean awnings. And we did that for a year and we started making good money. But then, winter came...

Then the truck she owned was in a bad accident and she lost everything.

So, Marcie went to a Shylock again and borrowed money. And off she went again to figure out how to survive. With her never wavering belief in herself, and with powerful passion to create a better life for herself and her kids, Marcie Manfredonia figured out how to do way more than power washing.

“So, then I said oh my god what am I gonna do? So, I started doing painting and my first contract was Rite Aid and I worked with them for 10 years. I did all their painting, I did all their plumbing, I did their emergency services, I did all their work. I was their GC. They came to me for everything, which was great. That's how I started building up my company. Then I went to work with the USPS, postal service also. That's how I met my second husband, because I hired him to work for me.”

“I used to hire painters to watch them paint, sit outside and watch them figure out their man hours. Because see, when you don't spell and read really well, you're very visual. I could look at something, tell you how long it takes, and I would just watch them, see what they use, then I would watch somebody else. Then when we got the concrete, I would go out there, watch them flow concrete. I just learned just by watching.”

Marcie Manfredonia learned a LOT about construction and maintenance and business in general. She’s very visual so she learned by watching others do. And she hired people to do the things she needed help with, like read and type for her.

Now 25 years later, Marcie’s company Nationwide Maintenance is a huge success, and she employs a whole lot of people.

Her company does design and remodeling, custom woodwork, floor tile installation, flood and fire damage, window replacement, general repairs, painting, plumbing, electrical construction, cleanups, demo.

Her company also does exterior services; asphalt and blacktop, concrete, driveway, masonry, stonework, fence installation, painting, retaining walls, retaining walls alone, please, tree removal and pruning, drainage systems, roofing, trash removal, demo, power washing and landscape design.

Her newest additional service is rodent prevention. Helping restaurants stay compliant. They seal things up vs having ongoing pest control.

Marcie is also an award-winning female entrepreneur constantly being honored for her business success and her integrity in business.

I’d never bet against her.

“When you can talk from your heart to sell something, and you have passion that’s what matters, she said. I never was one of those people that could go to the door and sell a vacuum if I didn't believe in the vacuum.”

And if you know me, I won’t take a sponsor on my media platform that I don't believe in.

I not only believe in Marcie Manfredonia I am more than proud to represent her and her companies. She’s still the first one on a job and the last one to leave with all her endeavors.

A triple threat entrepreneur with three companies you might want to check out.

Nationwide Maintenance, fix something anywhere in NY NJ or CT, I'm calling her first. nationwidemaintenance.com.

Nationwide Maintenance - Nationwide Maintenance is a full-service Facility Maintenance and Construction Company that helps manage and maintain the day to day operations of your business. Their WBE, WBNEC & School Certified Construction staff is fully licensed and insured and ready to serve you in your maintenance and construction needs. Conveniently located in Bedford Hills in Westchester County NY and accessible to the NY CT NJ Tri-State area.

Custom Candle Co. – On Site and online

CBD Live Natural - On Site and online

All her companies and her offices are on North Bedford Road in Bedford Hills, NY. Her custom candle company shops nationwide. If she’s there when you stop in, she’ll come out to help you herself to help you.

This woman is a true testament to what I’ve always know about people. I truly believe each of us is born with an innate gift. Something that comes naturally to you that you take for granted.

For Marcie it’s that she’ sees’ things and then just ‘acts’!

Recently deeply saddened and pained by the end of her second marriage which lasted 18 years, Marcie admitted to days ‘you had to drag me off the floor’ but I knew that tomorrow was going to be a better day. And you don't know what tomorrow's going to bring. “

A good example is that surprise phone call Marcie got one day to be on Bravos ‘Below Deck’ TV Show. LOL Talk about a divorce distraction! You can catch her in the last episode of the season.

Marcie’s doing really good again these days. Actually, better than good. She’s doing great and she’s full of self-love.

“I finally found out who I am. I'm in control of my own life. Nobody can tell me what to do and make decisions. I feel peaceful. I love that I can do what I do best, my businesses.”

Her advice to others who may be struggling with a life circumstance?

“All I want to do is help people know that there is tomorrow. Whatever you got to do today to get through it, like I said I had days you had to drag me off the floor, but I knew that tomorrow was going to be a better day. Just never stop believing.”

“Never be afraid to try new things or be afraid to fail, because with faith, hard work, and dedication, you can accomplish anything.”

-Marcie Manfredonia.

Enjoy this full show podcast of my live conversation with Marcie Manfredonia on The Debbie Nigro Show. It’s about as good a story as you could hear about making it against all odds.

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A stolen password can be all it takes for hackers to disrupt a life, a business, or the world.

The safeguarding of our identity has never been more critical. Constantly evolving AI-enabled DEEPFAKES are now creating enormous security and safety challenges.

Enter iVALT, a revolutionary game-changer in cyber security.

iVALT Founder & CEO Baldev Krishan Ph.D. joined me to talk about their groundbreaking solution. He is a 2X Nominated “Entrepreneur of the Year” in Silicon Valley with 20 patents.

Fixing the Weakest Link.

Over $170B was spent last year in cybersecurity, yet some of the biggest failures came from the “weakest link in cybersecurity” – a simple phone call by a hacker.

Before iVALT, there was no way to decisively identify the person at the other end of a phone call. Caller ID is easily spoofed, SIM swaps are common, KYC can be compromised, and hackers are highly skilled in just using psychological manipulation to get what they want.

The iVALT mobile app empowers individuals and customer facing workers to demand clear identity on any call (including biometrics) in 1-click.

Most social engineering attacks could be stopped by iVALT before any real damage can be done.

Baldev and I talked about the alarming reality of identity theft, highlighting how even seemingly secure methods like multi-factor authentication fall short in the face of sophisticated hackers.

I myself just went through 'cyber hell' when a hacker stole my password from my web hosting site and started buying domains around the world with my credit card. To prove my own identity and get my own website back and functioning, took me one month of pure aggravation! It was honestly outrageous!

Baldev revealed the flaws in current authentication systems and the urgent need for a more robust solution.

What Is The Solution?

“iVALT”, said Baldev, “is a game-changing technology offering five plus factors of authentication." “Our platform leverages biometric data and other variables to create a virtually impenetrable authentication process.”

It seems that with a simple app installation and one-time setup, users can bid farewell to the hassle of passwords and embrace seamless, secure authentication.

With five patents granted and ten pending, iVALT is uniquely positioned to provide the strongest level of identity verification and access management at scale. something no one else in the $30 billion identity market can currently provide he said.

Thought more people should know more about this innovation. iVALT is emerging as a pioneer in shaping the future of identity protection.

Enjoy being one of the first to know about this game changer and meet Founder/CEO Baldev Krishan in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Fire Chief Rebecca Strobl Turned Her Knowledge of Life-Saving Skills into a Business to Train Others How To React In Emergencies.

I don’t know about you, but I could use a refresher course in how to do CPR, and what exactly to do first when someone’s bleeding badly, even what to do if someone is in shock.

In a recent episode of the Debbie Nigro Show, I decided to shine a spotlight on Rebecca and her company New Day Education and Motivation located in Waleska, Georgia because I thought the work she was doing was critical and felt every community should have a Rebecca.

Rebecca Strobl has inspired me to go get a hands on refresher course in how to react in emergencies. Apparently I don't own the market on being a nervous reactor when something insane happens as most people without the right skills do panic.

By leveraging her expertise and passion, Rebecca Strobl is making a difference one life-saving skill at a time, inspiring others to join her in creating safer and more prepared communities.

With a background as a retired volunteer fire chief and extensive experience in the security industry, Rebecca saw a need for widespread training in emergency response.

Starting as a lieutenant in the fire department, she saw a gap in knowledge and took it upon herself to provide comprehensive training not only to firefighters but also to individuals in various industries.

One of the key takeaways from my conversation with Rebecca was the importance of hands-on training in emergency situations vs watching a video.

Rebecca is adamant that of in-person courses matter, because participants can practice CPR, use AEDs, apply tourniquets, and learn to manage shock effectively.

She highlighted the difference between simply knowing what to do and having the confidence to act decisively in critical moments especially the average person who does not have a background in using these skills on a regular basis.

Rebecca stressed the significance of being prepared for emergencies by having essential supplies on hand. She recommends items like CPR masks, tourniquets, dressings, bandages, and emergency blankets for addressing the three primary killers: lack of breathing, severe bleeding, and shock.

Rebecca's passion is to empower individuals to with the knowledge to be able to save lives. Her dedication to teaching life-saving skills extends beyond traditional training methods, as she utilizes engaging and interactive techniques to ensure participants feel confident and prepared to respond in emergencies.

She is doing remarkable work and I encourage listeners to explore opportunities for training with New Day Education and Motivation if you are in the Georgia area. I encourage other communities to follow her lead in offering training for these lifesaving skills.

Rebecca's mission to equip communities with life-saving skills is a true testament to the impact that individuals can have when they are empowered with knowledge and training.

To learn more about Rebecca Strobl and New Day Education and Motivation, visit their website at newdayeducationandmotivation.com.

You’ll get a good life saving education in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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TJ Hills, the renowned author of "Sex, Drugs, Babies and Breast Cancer’. joined me in the studio for a lively and very enlightening conversation to delve into the pivotal topic of estrogen, genetic testing, and its profound impact on women's health.

She’s passionate about educating women about estrogen exposures and genetic nutritional tools in cancer prevention. Her message is universal as cancer touches the lives of many.

Sharing Wisdom from Her Own Personal Experiences

TJ shared her journey from a bustling Wall Street career to confronting breast cancer, highlighting the tendency to prioritize everything over personal health. Something we both know women in general typically do.

But TJ stressed the need for women to cut the nonsense and prioritize their own health over ‘other things to do first’, as neglecting it can have profound consequences.

Her Insights on Estrogen and Genetic Testing

TJ has become consumed with her mission to share her knowledge about the significance of understanding estrogen metabolism genes and their impact on women’s health decisions.

She explained the essence of genetic testing, which focuses on how the body processes estrogen rather than simply measuring estrogen levels.

Having this knowledge she says, has everything to do with very practical scenarios, like decisions women make about birth control pills or bioidentical hormones which are influenced by genetic predispositions.

Founder, Better Estrogen Health Foundation

TJ's Foundation offers free estrogen nutrition toolkits and nutritional consultations, aiming at empowering women to make informed decisions about their health.

With advancements in technology and artificial intelligence, access to genetic information for disease prevention is becoming more feasible.

TJ is urging women to take proactive measures and so they can make informed choices.

Through education, awareness, and accessible resources, she says, the journey towards healthier living becomes not only feasible but imperative.

Meet TJ Hills and get educated in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

T.J. Hills is a Founding Board Member of the Better Estrogen Foundation whose mission is to save lives by educating women about estrogen exposures and how genetic nutritional tools may prevent cancer. In breast cancer remission since 2009,T.J. Is the Former CEO and Board Member of the Estrogen Gene Test Co and Hormonal Cancer Foundation. She spent 35 years on Wall Street advising Institutional Investors about research and data. She is a powerful speaker who has appeared on National TV, radio and print outlets across the country and spoken at major medical and corporate conferences as well as large and small women’s groups inspiring women and their physicians to take control of their health starting with a simple estrogen gene test.

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I’ve been focusing on people who make the world a more beautiful place this week. People who through their work, their ethics, their integrity, their talent, their genius just makes it happier for the rest of us.

Charles Fazzino has been called one of the most famous pop artists in the world.

I've been a huge fan of his style of pop art since the minute I first saw it in a window decades ago in New York City. I would stand there and stare in the window amazed at every little intricate pop-up thing he thought of to make a piece come to life. Often because I was in NYC it would be NYC buildings and street scenes. But Charles does that for many cities around the world.

Charles likes to be called a pop culture historian. And I know he's got a bit of a sense of humor because of the way he does the layering of the pieces in his 3D art where he shows the best of pop culture and the best of people's lives in places and events around the world. And I do mean around the world. He’s become internationally renowned.

He gets commissioned to do pieces for the Grammys and The Olympics and The Super Bowl every year. When I saw his Super Bowl piece this year I was sparked to take a shot at seeing if he was around to join me on my show. We live in the same city but have never met.

I figured he’d say yes because I know he has a warm heart. He donates a lot of his pieces of art to help good causes raise money, one of which I personally helped auction off years ago at a charity function.

For those who still have never seen an unmistakable Fazzino work of art, I asked Charles to explain it to somebody in words?

“Yes, easy. I always tell people, if you're not looking at my artwork, or you're just seeing it online, or looking at it in a book or a magazine or whatever, it's hard to see the three dimensions. So, I describe it that it's kind of like a pop-out book, even a pop-out children's book, even though they're not, you know, children's artwork."

"When I was a kid, my mother was from Finland and she always collected these European pop-out books, and she had them all around the house. My brother's sister and I were always enthralled with these cool pop-out books from Europe that were handmade, and she had hundreds of them. So, when I went to school, I kind of, you know, I wanted to make a pop-out book and that's kind of like how it all started.”

Most of the time Charles is sitting at his desk and drawing artwork that touches many people young and old. The intricacy, the colors and the designs make people happy.

I asked him one of my signature questions.

How does your head work inside?

Meaning what is going on in his head all day long to be able to produce these kinds of unique pieces of work?

“Well, I think it's a lot of my if I was just an artist sitting in my studio drawing, I don't know if I'd have so many ideas as I do. And I can't even implement the idea. I get it, you know, it's just very, there's so many things I want to draw and so many things that I want to show through my artwork, but not enough time and not enough hours in the day to do it. So I think the travel, when I travel to certain places, it really gives me and opens up my eyes to a lot of the world. I always come back with new ideas. I always carry a little sketchbook. I have my phone at the ready whenever I'm traveling, taking pictures, and it helps and reminds me of what I saw and always gives me these new ideas. People always ask me, where do you come up with all these ideas? I say, well, a lot of it has to do with places that I go.”

One of his latest pieces pays homage to our oceans to bring awareness. It’s a departure for Charles artistically, because instead of drawing buildings he’s drawing sea life, and coral, and all the things that are under the sea.

“When you look at the piece, he says, “three quarters of it is ocean, but above the ocean, you'll look, and you can see cities from around the world and all of those cities that are impactful in our environment."

What about those helmets he does for the NFL?

“So many years ago, it was in 2001, when the NFL licensing committee asked if I was interested in commemorating Super Bowl because they saw what I was doing for Major League Baseball. And I was like, sure. They said, we'd like you to be our official artist. And I was like, sign me up. Sounds good to me. And I've been doing that now for 23 years.”

"They just continue to, you know, let me know where the venue is going to be and, you know, what I should draw and then, you know, how it should be depicted and so forth. And then I make their official poster every year. So many years ago, when I first started that, they sent me helmets in the mail and they said, see what you can do with these helmets and used equipment. And I received this huge, huge box. And it took me a few years to figure out how to make the three-dimensional drawings tick off and stick onto the helmets and make them look beautiful."

"So, I've been doing those for many years and we sell them and show them every year at whatever Super Bowl, wherever the city is that the Super Bowl is being hosted in. And we set up a whole collection of my helmets and so forth. And we do the same thing for Major League Baseball. I paint on baseballs and bats and batting helmets."

I love to be challenged and paint people's wishes.

Enjoy meeting Charles Fazzino in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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I can’t get enough of my friend Alvin Clayton. He is bursting with talent and great energy, and I think he makes the world a more beautiful place through all he does and especially through his art through which he tries to speak to people’s humanity.

Recently I felt compelled to introduce Alvin to as many people as possible who may not know about him just to be able to see the amazing art he creates. Famous people collect his stuff. People like Robert De Niro and Denzel Washington and Halle Berry just to name a few.

Alvin has a fabulous restaurant in New Rochelle, NY called Alvin & Friends which has won many awards. The food is contemporary Caribbean with a Black American South influence, that caters to a discerning customers, and the vibe is always cool with live music often.

A self -taught artist inspired by Matisse, Alvin's extraordinarily colorful art literally blasts from the walls of his restaurant.

My boyfriend Dave and I often pop in to Alvin’s for a drink and we love when Alvin comes over for a hug and hello and pulls out his phone to show us photos of the latest, greatest pieces of art he has created.

Every single time I think to myself, my God this guy is ridiculously talented!

“Well, I think what I try to do with my art is it speaks to people's humanity. And I think our humanity is very much connected and is a common ground. And I think if you reach to humanity, color becomes out of the picture. You get yourself into that situation. So, what I try to do with my art is to bring the viewer into that moment or that situation and say, wow, you know what, I've experienced that with my friend. And it's not about color because we all experience it.”

I don’t know how Alvin Clayton does it all. He’s married 30 years to a brilliant beautiful woman, has three children, runs a bustling restaurant that is usually packed with interesting people from all walks of life, then goes home and stays up all night painting.

He’s a good-looking son-of-a-gun too and must not eat all that fabulous food he makes because he’s been a professional model for 25 years. Alvin was the first African American to have eight full pages in GQ magazine. He’s worked for every catalog you could think of, and done major campaigns for Banana Republic, and has shot for Ralph Lauren.

Maybe it’s all that worrying he does that keeps him thin. LOL

“There could be 99 people in my restaurant having an amazing time and possibly one person that did not have the perfect experience and that would wake me out of my sleep. I mean, I’ve gotten a bit better on it, but that still bothers me. I'm genuinely people-oriented, and so my whole thing is to seeing people being in a good space and I think that's what I do with my art too.

Alvin Try’s To Paint Solutions To The Issues Bothering Us

“I mean I paint what some of the issues are that are bothering us and dividing us or whatever, but while I'm painting that I'm also thinking okay we know what the bad things are, what are the solutions, right? And so that's always the final chapter of whatever I do, it's solution.”

Alvin believes, “We have more in common than we do that separates us”.

About His Painting of a Woman with Alzheimer’s He Just Showed Me “Yes, so I was sitting next to this woman in the Dr’s office, her daughter brought her in actually, she had Alzheimer's and the daughter had to go in for her appointment. She asked me if I could keep an eye on her mom while she was in. I said, of course. And so while she was there, I was looking at her. She was dressed really lovely. You could tell she had style and grace. And there was something about her aura that just seemed to be, you could tell she was a beautiful person even though a lot was missing right now. And she was going into her pocketbook and somehow this image came out that she's searching for a pocketbook of lost memories. And so I took her picture and did this painting with my colors and everything else, I researched what the symbol was for Alzheimer's and so on the pocketbook that she had, instead of having a Saint Laurent or one of the trademarks, I had this insignia for the Alzheimer's Association. Even though the disease is devastating I felt she looked angelic”.

My Gift Is Not Art But Rather The Art Of Seeing Opportunities Others Don’t

After seeing this work of art, Alvin created, it sparked my art of seeing opportunities between people and then bringing them together to make something actually happen instead of just thinking about it or talking about doing it ‘someday’. It’s what I really get a kick out of doing for people.

My media world is filled with innovative people from many worlds, and I get to know and understand people on a deeper level than most through what I do. These conversations and relationships stick inside my head like Velcro. (I’m always ripping off two separate pieces of Velcro from inside my brain and sticking them together for match lol. Funny I never explained it like that before but makes sense to me.)

I’d just done an interview with the Chairmen of an upcoming Alzheimer's Association Gala fundraiser so I introduced the idea of a collaboration where Alvin’s Alzheimer’s painting could somehow be used to help raise funds for the organization. It’s in motion!

Enjoy this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

In case you haven’t noticed ‘Someday’ has arrived and when it comes to trying out new ideas you know what I always say … “Risk It or Regret It”!

Get in touch if you need to brainstorm who’s inside my head that could be a match for whatever you’re passionate about. Debbie@DebbieNigro.com

Follow @AlvinClaytonArtists on Instagram.

While you’re at it you can follow me too @therealdebbienigro

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I'm All About Innovation and Innovators So I Love This Story.

In his new book “Clean Economy Now: Stories from the Front Lines of an American Business Revolution" Bob Keefe the Executive Director of E2 a national nonpartisan business group of 10,000 business leaders which has been around for 25 years, describes his recent travels across the country.

He wanted to witness first-hand all the clean energy projects in motion because of the significant private sector investment and job creation that’s happened incredibly fast over the past 20 months since The Inflation Reduction Act.

Bob checked in on my show live from the Annual Society of Environmental Journalists, at the University of Pennsylvania co-hosted by the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media, in collaboration with the Annenberg Public Policy Center.

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He joined me live just minutes after the recent earthquake we had in the northeast rattled my radio studio in Greenwich CT.

Though the quake did hit parts of PA, and Bob and I had some fun talking about earthquakes in general since Bob is from L.A., Bob said he didn’t really feel it, but what he mentioned he was feeling is an economic earthquake.

It's an economic revolution like we haven't seen says Bob. And he’s making sure we are all paying attention.

“I truly believe that we are at the advent of an American economic revolution, the likes of which we have not seen in this country in generations, maybe if ever. And let me tell you why I say that.

“Right now, my organization is tracking clean energy job projects around the, or clean energy projects around the country since the passage of the landmark IRA, the Inflation Reduction Act and some other policies 20 months ago. And what we know is this, there are more than 300 major factories and other projects, clean energy projects, coming out of the ground across America right now. $118 billion worth of private sector investment. That's companies that are putting money into these projects. “

“These aren't government grants or loans. These are companies investing in America. A hundred thousand jobs have been already announced just in those past 20 months. When in this country have we ever seen 300 factories and other major projects coming out of the ground? When have we seen this kind of investment?”

“We have foreign companies that are investing in the United States and creating jobs here now versus taking American jobs and doing stuff overseas. And it's not just creating all this economic growth, it's putting America on competitive again with the rest of the world.”

“We understand that we can't have a good economy without a good environment, and we can't have a good environment without a good economy. “

Bob points out that In New York alone there have been about a dozen major projects that E2 has tracked. $800 million worth of private sector investment in New York from companies, 3,000 plus jobs created.

Bob and I talked about the offshore wind farm, the nation's first commercial offshore wind farm that just opened off Montauk, New York. Twelve turbines are going to provide enough juice for about 70,000 homes said Bob. And Bob mentioned there's another company that's building a converter station to essentially take offshore wind energy and convert it and get it onto the grid into people’s homes.

Bob and I discussed many specific projects, besides the offshore wind farms including solar panel factories, battery technology and the potential of hydrogen as a clean fuel. I was captivated by what’s happening and I think you will be too.

There’s company called Air Products is now going to clean hydrogen and they’re building one of the first factories in Messina, New York. In Connecticut, there's a company called Mott Corporation that's building filtration systems for use in things like this hydrogen. And mentioned there's another company called NEL, N-E-L, that relocated here from the Netherlands who are building something called electrolyzers that are going to be used by hydrogen plants like the one being built in Messina to produce hydrogen. Right now he said, there are something like 30 or 40, battery factories being built in America and about 60 solar factories popping up all around the country.

And l this is happening in places that Bob points out, you would not expect it to happen.

“As part of the book, I started off in a place called Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Well, Kings Mountain is home to an old lithium mine that was first established in the 1950s. At one time, it supplied lithium for the Manhattan Project, right? We all know what that is. Well, we have a company now that's restarting that mine because to supply batteries to manufacturers throughout the Southeast and other places. “

Drive down the street to Dalton, Georgia. And Dalton, Georgia used to be the carpet capital of the world, maybe it still is. Well right now a company called Q-Cells is building what will be the biggest, one of the biggest solar panel factories in the Western Hemisphere. Wow. In little old Dalton, Georgia. You know go a little further down the street in Georgia to Savannah and Kia and Hyundai are building one of the biggest electric vehicle factories on the planet. This is incredible stuff happening. “

I learned that Georgia is the number one state for clean energy projects right now. And that North Carolina has more investments in clean energy projects than any state. But big things are also happening in Alabama, Louisiana, New York, and I Connecticut.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger did the foreword to Bobs book.

“When I think about how far America has come in building a cleaner economy, I can't help but smile. It's hard to imagine we can fail, but make no mistake, we can If we do, it won't be a failure of innovation, of business. It will be a failure by us to come together to keep this great progress going. It will be a failure by us, collective us, to put aside our ideologies and political divisions and our complacency. It will be a failure for us too.”

“If we do fail, it won't be a failure of innovation, or of business. It will be a failure by us to come together to keep this great progress going. It will be a failure by us, the collective us, to put aside our ideologies and political divisions and our complacency. “

Enjoy this fascinating interview about the current American Economic revolution in this podcast of my live conversation with Bob Keefe, Executive Director of E2, a national nonpartisan business group of 10,000 business leaders, on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Stephanie Stuckey a lawyer by trade, who spent 14 years in the Georgia House of Representatives and was also appointed along the way by the mayor of Atlanta as Atlanta’s 'Chief Resilience Officer', is sure showing how resilient she is. And how resilient her family business is!

Stephanie is now on the road herself promoting Stuckey’s Corporation - the iconic roadside stops famous for its pecan candies and souvenirs that her grandfather founded in 1937. She bought the company in 2019 for $500,000 and has been spearheading the brands big return.

It’s a big year for brand comebacks as evidenced by news that other companies like Crocs and Claire’s have made significant comebacks in recent years after hitting a low point financially and culturally in the late 2010s . According to Retail Brew the top executives of both those companies pointed to strategic shifts that emphasized allowing customer feedback to guide decisions.”

Stephanie Stuckey, the 3rd generation CEO of the family business, is creating a great business comeback story too. She’s making Stuckey’s both profitable and a household name again! And doing a great grassroots job of it.

When Stephanie bought Stuckey's, the company was operating at a deficit and had only 13 original free-standing stores in 10 states that still had the signature original teal roofs in addition to around 65 licensed Stuckey's Express store-within- a -store locations.

In 6 months, she restored Stuckey's to profitability, by shifting the focus from licensed Stuckey's store locations to the company's classic line of candies. She also expanded the brand back into manufacturing when she bought a pecan shelling and candy plant in Wrens, Georgia in 2021. Candy and nut sales have since increased to almost 50% of the company’s revenue as the brand expands to more national retail locations.

Stephanie is now taking road trips to promote pecans and the "great American road trip' both a big part of Stuckey's Corporation growth.

“I'm all over the country and here's why I'm traveling. I am giving speeches, and I am attending trade shows. So, it's not checking on stores per se because we don't own or operate the original Stuckey’s that were still standing. We have the rights to those stores and to our name so they can they pay us a licensing fee, but we don't own those stores. So really my trips are about I give speeches and I love talking to groups and sharing the Stuckey’s story. So, I speak at a lot of conferences, mostly corporate and associations and then I attend trade shows to get more retailers to sell our product and then wherever I go, part of the deal is usually my travels covered by the host of the event. My travel includes that I get a rental car so I will carve out an extra day. I'll ask for that's where I take a lot of road trips."

"And then I'll pull over and I'll find out from our team where is there a store in the area that carries Stuckey's products. So, there could be a little local ice cream shop that sells our candy, or we could reach off the chain so we're in Hobby Lobby and at home. So I like to also stop at retailers that don't carry our product and take photos and I evaluate what their back set looks like and then I'll reach out to them and say I love your store by the way I was here here's a photo of me at your store I would love to see you carry our product that's what's missing on your shelf and I've picked out a lot of accounts that way."

"I'm road tripping, but I'm also hustling. We're always hustling if we're entrepreneurs.”

Stephanie Stuckey hopes to eventually own a handful of Stuckey’s interstate stores to revive the original premise behind the company as a “roadside oasis” while continuing to build up the pecan side of the business to secure its future for another 85 years.

Speaking of pecans Stephanie shared a little a secret her grandfather taught her about how to open pecans.

“You get two pecans in your hand, and you squeeze them together and it will crack them.”

I’m really enjoying watching this female entrepreneur bring her family brand back to life from the days when her grandpa started this as a roadside stand.

Stephanie has a new book out called “UNSTUCK” which is available on her website as well as Amazon for the same price, but if you buy it on the Stuckey’s website it’s autographed.

“The entrepreneurial journey is so much more fun if you bring others along for the ride” she said.

I'm along for her ride! And she did invite me along for the ride because I too am a lover of road trips. Told her you bring the pecans, and I’ll bring some meatballs. Makes sense I think for a Georgia gal traveling with a NY gal. LOL

Speaking of NY, Stephanie hasn’t been here in 4 years and would love to do some ‘speaking and Stuckey’s business’ in NY.

I love her story and her entrepreneurial spirit. Meet Stephanie Stuckey in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

The Debbie Nigro Show on WGCH Radio. If you want to catch the show it airs Weekdays 11-12noon ET in the NY/CT area on 1490 on the dial. But you can listen from anywhere, just hit the ‘Listen Live’ button on WGCH.com. You can find podcasts of feature interviews on DebbieNigro.com. Sign up for the free 'Risk It or Regret It" newsletter too. It's fun, relevant and motivating.

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Seven Million People Are Living with Alzheimer’s Disease in the US. 80,000 in CT alone & twice as many unpaid family members and friends are providing their care. But the money being raised is making a difference.

Nobody signs up for a brain disorder that gets worse over time. Alzheimer’s is a gradual decline in memory, thinking, behavior and social skills. These changes completely affect somebody's ability to function.

The bad news is the number of people with Alzheimer’s is increasing, but the good news is there are real advancements in treatment. These advancements are being made possible by the continued donations to this cause.

There’s a big gala benefit coming up in April in Greenwich CT (where I do my live show from) that hopes to help families in this dementia journey.

I invited Tim & Kelly Helstein the Chairs of The Alzheimer’s Association upcoming ‘Celebrating Hope Gala’ being held April 26th at the Delamar Greenwich Harbor in in Greenwich CT, to explain where the money raised goes to. They’ve been caregivers and know how hard it is.

Tim whose mom passed from Alzheimer’s shared; “My mother's life ended way too soon and no sot only is it something that Kelly and I are doing to honor my mother through this but also to help educate and care and prevent the future generations from having to go through what my family, what my father, what Kelly and I have had to go through. You know, we spend our days telling stories to our kids who love it. In the morning, they always say, you know, tell us a new story about Nanny. Tell us a story that was really funny.”

“It's because she can't share it herself. So really what Celebrating Hope is about is not only bringing awareness and celebrating all those who have moved on because of Alzheimer’s, but also celebrating the hope that we can change this, that tomorrow is a new day, that tomorrow the sun rises and there will be what we call a white flower, the first person who has overcome and has been cured from Alzheimer's. And science has been doing so much and the doctors and the FDA, and so we're excited to see what tomorrow does hold but it's going to be a gathering for all of us to really celebrate that hope.”

Kelly Helstein, Tim’s wife shared; “Like Tim said you know we have three young kids and they are missing their grandmother so much and that’s a good background story about why we're involved, but also I want to point out that it's just a great way to honor those who are struggling with the disease. You know, that's the first reason we stepped into this role, but also it's giving us a platform to raise awareness and funds to support research and almost just empower others who are going through the same experience just to link arm in arm and say, us too, and just share our story with them and they share it with others and just create awareness all around.”

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

Kristen Cusato, the Director of Communication for the Alzheimer's Association Connecticut Chapter & New England Research Champion also joined the show. She discussed the risk factors associated with Alzheimer's disease and emphasized the importance of lifestyle interventions to reduce the risk.

Kristin also shared there are real advancements in treatment and that the availability of these treatments can change the course of the disease.

The powerful CT chapter offers 24/7 support for the public, healthcare professionals and caregivers. This chapter has influenced public policy changes and provided support to Alzheimer’s and dementia research in the hope of finding a cure.

There are many fundraising events held around the country to support Alzheimer's research and awareness. And the money is really making a difference. I encourage you to participate and support Alzheimer's research and awareness efforts.

The 11th Annual ‘Celebrating Hope Gala’ is being held in Greenwich, CT April 26th.

Enjoy this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

The Debbie Nigro Show on WGCH Radio. If you want to catch the show it airs Weekdays 11-12noon ET in the NY/CT area on 1490 on the dial. But you can listen from anywhere, just hit the ‘Listen Live’ button on WGCH.com. Catch the podcasts of interviews after on DebbieNigro.com

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Have you heard about the AMAZING Prospector Theater in Ridgefield CT?

The Prospector Theater is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to providing competitive and inclusive employment to people with disabilities through the operation of a premium, first-run movie theater.

Employees of the Prospector, referred to as Prospects, are encouraged to sparkle, shine, and transform their passions into professions.

The Prospect Productions team creates high quality digital content for the Prospector Theater. Prospects working on the Production team learn in-demand trade skills such as storyboarding, filming, editing, sound & lighting design, post-production, audio engineering, photography, graphic design, animation, visual effects, and much more!

Video productions are used for pre-show content, educational experiences, PSAs, operating procedures, and entertainment!

Over the last four years, Prospects have created over 1060 videos, garnering more than 17,000,000 views worldwide.

The Prospector Theater was founded by Valerie Jensen whose lifelong work started when her sister, Hope, was born in 1979 with Down syndrome.

Valerie Jensen and ‘Prospect’ Gabe Kavookijan joined me on the air to celebrated World Down Syndrome Day (March 21st).

Meet them both on this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show and hear all about the cool things they’re doing at The Prospector Theater in Ridgefield CT and …hear all about their new 'Down To Sparkle' Flavor of Popcorn!

They have many flavors and buying popcorn

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There are surely a lot of real estate people in the country, but Tiffany McQuaid figured out a way to really stand out.

Her real estate agency in Jupiter Florida has been called the most innovative agency in the country.

What makes her stand out above all others in the space?

She said all her efforts have ‘caring at the core'.

Tiffany does ‘little things’ in her business that bring people joy. It’s something she’s been doing since she was a little girl.

She decided to write a book about what works so well for her, to share with others

Her book just out is called “The Nth Degree” How To Stand Out By Going All In” by Tiffany McQuaid with Bruce Littlefield.

In our live radio conversation Tiffany shared the difficult story about how she came to realize how much ‘little' things matter to people. On Christmas Day when Tiffany was 10, her Dad took his life leaving her Mom alone to raise her and her sister. Her Mom was obviously struggling badly, but Tiffany would try and do little things to make her smile. She noticed those little things mattered a lot.

When Tiffany speaks of her success and how all her efforts have ‘caring at the core', it’s those little things she does for others and clients that she is referring to.

She says it’s the key to what unlocked her real estate success and what will unlock your success.

“Well, I think without a doubt, I would say like this little creative flair that allows you the opportunity to not just be a black and white broker, just looking at things as they're presented, but instead kind of pulling back and looking at ways to fill voids and be different and unique and create what I'd like to call delightful or surprise and delight. I love to do that, which ultimately creates memorable experiences. And in doing that, it's just not status quo. I think so many people, and whether it's companies or individuals, we tend to go through life sometimes just maintaining, you know, we're just maintaining our day, we're staying in our comfort zone, we're, you know, doing what's expected of us and not really pushing ourselves sometimes to really find a way to be different and get out of that comfort zone and be uncomfortable.

What’s the significance of 'INth' in the INth Degree? And what do they have to do with showing people how to recognize opportunities for themselves?

Tiffany says “The book breaks down into seven keys and all of the keys start with the word "IN'. So everything from INtrepidness, which kind of goes through all of my life bumps and failures and bruises, you know that I think everyone can relate to those stories and kind of guide you through some opportunities and there's even what's kind of cool and what I felt was so important when we were putting this together was INteractiveness."

“Throughout the book there's what we call INquiries. So you know as I'm talking about different things that I've gone through an INquiry will pop up to kind of get you thinking. So from INtrepidness to INvigoration, and INtention, INspiration, INgenuity, INcentive, INfluence, every single one of those all touch base and you will walk away with something I am confident. You will walk away with something from at the very least each key, if not multiples from each key. They're very easy to employ into your life and they all work for me.”

Enjoy this podcast of my live conversation with Tiffany McQuaid on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Pinky Cole aka Slutty Vegan is WOW. There are a thousand reasons why. She’s a very innovative gal, entrepreneur, and really good human.

Pinky Cole owns and operates the celebrity backed restaurant chain ‘Slutty Vegan’ with 11 locations and counting including Atlanta, Birmingham, Baltimore, Dallas, and NY. She’s opening a new location in NYC this weekend on Bleecker Street making that 3 spots now in NY with the others in Harlem and Brooklyn.

“When you walk into Slutty Vegan, you will see yourself “, said Pinky. “It doesn't matter if you are white, black, blue, yellow, gay, straight, you belong here, and this is a safe space for you and I want my business to continue to speak for that. So Bleeker will speak to all those things and I'm excited about it and I'm excited about our expansion. “

“You know, and this is my first time announcing this, Bleeker Street is an ode to the LGBTQ community and the movement, right, and LGBTQ rights. So, a lot of the decor and the aesthetics will speak to that. And I'm very intentional on my approach and how I decorate my stores because I want everybody to see themselves, right?”

Last year Time Magazine named Pink Cole to their ‘100 Next List”

Pinky Cole has also won the ‘Compassionate Chef Award’, has her own foundation to empower generations of color to break the cycle of poverty, and a new book “I Hope You Fail” to show by example how failures and setbacks are steppingstones in disguise.

Famed restauranteur Danny Meyer, wrote that her fans adore her sassy, sexy attitude and that she not only reinvented the way people think about a vegan restaurant, but she’s also turned classic roadside burger fair into a rollicking party.

It’s worth mentioning that according to the latest statistics only like 5% of Americans identify as vegan or vegetarian, but most people want to eat healthier these days and so many who don't call themselves vegans or vegetarians are drawn to the food Pinky makes and creates because Pinky makes it fun.

Pinky Cole’s Mission is Powerful

Pinky Cole does everything with intention. She wanted to create food that was accessible to people who are in underserved communities and residents of food deserts that was healthy and comforting and fun, and boy did she nail it.

Aisha Pinky Cole, American restaurateur, operator, and owner of Slutty Vegan, was born and raised in Baltimore. Her parents were Jamaican immigrants and Rastafarians, and her mother was a musician in a reggae group, I probably would have partied with. I love reggae music.

Pinky grew up following a traditional Rastafarian vegetarian diet, eating rice and peas and legumes and beans which is how it all began.

The SLUTTY VEGAN Name

After reading all about her I thought I love this girl. But am I really gonna promote a slutty vegan on my show? LOL. Well, everybody else did so sure!

Nobody knows better than me that in order to get attention in this world, the words you choose matter. But Pinky knew that.

“That name helped me to build a $100 million brand. All righty, all righty, all righty. OK, so I'll start there. Was it easy? Yes and no. The yes part of it being easy was the fact that I'm trained as a television producer, so I know what's going to make people pay attention. I know what's going to make them say, oh, damn, I've got to pay attention to this, right? But then on the flip side, there are a lot of people, conservative people who live in our country, right, who haven't adapted to the idea that you can re-engineer words, right? You can put your own meaning to words. And that's exactly what I did. When I came up with slutty vegan, I knew that I had to be in your face, racy and raunchy in order for you to think about vegan food, because if I would have named it Pinky's Vegan, you wouldn't come to get it. You wouldn't want to eat it. “

The Pinky Cole Foundation is like Urgent Care

Pinky started a foundation to formalize a way to give her money to people who need help because she just loves helping people.

“I found that there’s a generational wealth gap, a big one”, she said. “And I wanted to help bridge that generational wealth gap by providing opportunities for entrepreneurs and creatives. “

“So my foundation is not like the average foundation. You know how some foundations have all these thrusts and all of these programmatic things? This ain't that.”

“What this is, we are like urgent care. If there is an immediate need, we solve an immediate problem. So we paid the rents for local businesses. We provided fruits and vegetables for people in the community. I've given out 800 LLCs to a graduating class of seniors so that they could be able to jumpstart their pathway to entrepreneurship. We've partnered with the Department of Juvenile Justice to provide second chance opportunities to ex-offenders. We've paid for lights. We provide life insurance in partnership with Prudential to black men who make $30,000 or less in Atlanta.”

“So, when you talk about doing the work, I've been doing the work for a long time, and yes, business is good. Like burgers, pies, and fries, and helping people to reimagine food is the name of the game. But what we do with the resources and that platform is help people and build a sense of community and collaboration and showing people that we can be a resource to you to be able to follow all your wildest dreams. I believe that that truly is my life's mission.”

Pretty Amazing Stuff eh? I told you she was a WOW!

Then There’s Her Book: “I Hope You Fail”

Pinky shows by example I her book how failures and setbacks are stepping stones in disguise.

“You know, it's funny, she said. “I did a commencement speech at my alma mater. I was the youngest commencement speaker. The theme was, I hope you fail, and that was the inspiration for the book. I talked about how when I was in college, I was everything. I had every title. I was the head of the sorority. I was all tof he things. I was the queen of the school. Then when I graduated, I couldn't find a job. Nobody would hire me.

As I maneuvered through life, I realized that life is going to life. Things are going to happen whether we'd like to believe it or not but it's about how you re-engineer when bad things happen. For me losing my restaurant in Harlem and having a grease fire and my car getting repoed and me losing my apartment, to my wages getting garnished, to getting sued and slutty vegan, a lot of things have happened to me but all of those things that happened did one thing and you know, just the education of it all allowed me to be better when it happened all over again.”

So this book is for the person who's trying to figure it out that has had things happen to them and don't know how to get out of that crunch.

Like, we've all been at the bottom at some point. But if you re-engineer your mind to think optimistically about when bad things happen, you will be alright. And that's exactly what this book does.

You're talking to the choir here. Amen.

Her Message To MOMPRENEURS

“And I just want to say this, I don't know if you know this, I had a baby in 21, I had another baby in 22 and I had another baby in 23. So not only am I building an empire, I'm a mompreneur. So for all of the women that are listening to this program, I want to encourage you that like nothing is impossible and don't let anything stop you. You can literally achieve your dreams. I'm doing it in real time. Is it hard? Absolutely, but I make it work and I make it great, and I get to do what I love and be a mom which is what I love as well and do it with a smile. Sometimes a headache but I can do it with a smile.”

You’ll really enjoy meeting Pinky Cole aka Slutty Vegan in this podcast of our live conversation on the Debbie Nigro Show.

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I’ve had some very interesting experiences with psychics and psychic mediums throughout my life.

I’m always open-minded and do believe that some on this planet can see farther than the eye can see.

On more than one occasion, I’ve had a psychic contact me out of the blue for one reason or another. (vs me asking them to contact someone. LOL)

I probably haven’t seen Francine Tesler in over 20 years.

She’s a psychic medium and medical intuitive, best known as the psychic, for people who don't usually go to psychics. She’s been making psychic predictions since she was 6 years old. She would see those that had passed on and shock everyone with her accuracy.

Something recently came into her head to call ME. So naturally she got in touch.

I was happy to hear from her as I remember having great affection for her. I Invited her to stop by the radio show to speak to a story I just read on Medium.com (which is not a site for Mediums rather a medium for writers to share their work with 100 million readers).

The story “Predictions for 2024 By Celebrity Psychics” said…” The year 2024 will be a time of awakening and alignment as more people will tune into their intuition and follow their soul’s purpose. This will create a positive ripple effect in the world, as people will be more authentic, compassionate, and creative.”

I’m all for anything positive on this planet and I have in fact noticed more people lately trying to find their true purpose.

So Francine came to the studio and I asked her one of my signature questions I often ask guests on my show.

“How Does Your Head Work Inside?”.

Francine said, “I'm originally an artist by trade and I get images that like a slideshow and fragments and I hear things in my head. Yeah, but this week, my hair stands up on my arms. And it was like, you have to call Debbie. And I'm like, you know, reach out to her and I didn't have your number. And that's why I sent you the email and blah, blah, blah.”

"Why do you think you thought of me?", I asked her.

“I think we're meant to be connected again”.

I myself have been noticing a trend picking up since Covid, where people are now wanting to reconnect more. Are you seeing a trend in that I asked her?

“Yes. More happening with each month that passes this year”.

“More spirituality. People are starting to listen. I'm teaching. When I do my readings or when I do my message circles or my open galleries, I do teach and explain to people that they have to listen to their voice because everyone is psychic to some point.”

Being a psychic ain’t easy...

“You know I actually didn't know I was a medium until I had already been doing this probably for at least 10 years because I didn't know the word for it all those years ago. I've been doing this now full-time 40 years. When I first started, it wasn't acceptable and people used to call me Madame Zaza or Grandma Strega, you know, Grandma Witch, and it was a really difficult time.”

“But you know what? I'm an artist. I found my own thing and I knew that I was getting these images and hearing things and seeing things and there was a reason. So I always gave people the messages. Now as I'm older, I deliver them a little bit more tactfully and make them more edible because I have a good sense of humor.”

“Everyone calls it the psychic Tourette's. I go into the grocery store and I will walk over to people and say, look, I don't want to bother you. I'm a psychic medium, blah, blah, blah. I got an impression. I'm told to tell you this. And then they look around for cameras. But I try to help people and give a message.”

I've always noticed people are a little weird when they're around psychics. All they want to know is, what a psychic knows about them? They always want to talk about it. But most people don’t want to hear any bad stuff. I wondered how that has affected Francine’s personal life.

“Do you have a personal life?”, I asked her.

“Not really. As far as my personal life goes, most guys are scared of it. They don't even want to shake my hands believe it or not and you know either they come in and they try to challenge me to see what I know. You know I'm saying. but it's hard when it comes to yourself. It's hard to be objective. You know you know it is what it is.”

BUT, professionally men aren’t scared of Francine at all. She has a lot of male clients that come to her for business consultations. Mostly by phone and Zoom.

“Are you a business psychic?” I asked her, because I often joke that I'm a business psychic. LOL. I'm just highly intuitive when it comes to business. I know where the matches are. I know what people should do. I'm like, what do you mean you haven't thought of that? I see opportunities for people, and I have some fun with that skill as a consultant.

Yes, Francine does help many businesses with her skills as a psychic. She’s also a medium, and a medical intuitive. She’s currently re-branding herself and her website.

It’s probably why she thought of me. She knows I love helping people re-think new opportunities for themselves.

Call Francine if you need her. Or who knows, she might call you. LOL

Meet Francine here on the podcast of our live conversation from The Debbie Nigro Show.

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I need to shine a light on Saratoga NY one of the kindest places in America.

That’s where the idea for a viral event that took place across the country this year called “Leap of Kindness Day’ emanated from. It was held on …you guessed it…Leap Day!

I love Saratoga. Been there enough times to know I could live there.

I invited Todd Shimkus the President of The Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, and originator of the kindness idea, to join me on The Debbie Nigro Show to talk about ‘The Kindness Movement’ they started in 2016.

Leap of Kindness was such a great idea, that 250 other Chambers of Commerce in the US and Canada joined in the movement this year to encourage the spread of meaningful kindness vibes and deeds.

It’s always worth my time to showcase people on this planet doing beautiful things because most people are good, and I know we sometimes forget that because the world we live in is tough.

Speaking of good things, Todd shared all the cool stuff coming up in Saratoga, NY this year.

“Oh my God, we have so much going on in our community, especially as we head into this summer. You know, the New York City Ballet is coming back to SPAC, the Philadelphia Orchestra, we are their summer home. They've got some extraordinary performances there. We've got the Universal Preservation Hall, which is new coming out of COVID. It's a fully restored church that was acoustically designed to allow people to perform and the sound to be just amazing for musical events. Cafe Lina, which is one of the oldest venues you'll find for music as well is here. And then of course the Saratoga Racecourse, and our casino. We are hosting the Belmont Stakes Saratoga on June 8th for the first time ever. And it's sold out for Saturday, June 8th.“50,000 people will be at the racecourse that day. There's still tickets available for Thursday and Friday and Sunday around that. And we expect a week-long celebration of that just amazing event, especially if there's a Triple Crown potential for one of the horses.”

That Saratoga Racecourse is special. Sports Illustrated named it one of the world’s greatest sporting venues. As I kid I remember that every Summer for years and years, my parents and all my aunts, uncles and their friends would go to Saratoga in August and always stayed at place called The Gideon Putnam, and always left all us kids home.

It was decades later that I finally went there myself and got to see what all the fuss was about. It’s an incredible place. I was so annoyed they never took us kids all those years! LOL

Saratoga Racecourse is a Thoroughbred horse racing opened in 1863 and is considered to be the oldest major sporting venue of any kind in the country but is actually the fourth oldest racetrack in the U.S. according to Wikipedia. You will feel the nostalgia there and you get to see all the beautiful horses up close. There’s a lot more too in Saratoga that captured my soul and I’ve gone back a few times to enjoy the food, the music, and the beauty of this charming place.

And Saratoga has active mineral springs. I just learned there are currently 21 public mineral springs in various locations throughout Saratoga. Most of the springs are naturally carbonated and no two springs taste exactly alike. That’s because each spring has its own distinct mineral makeup and flavor profile. There are supposed health benefits from clearing skin, to helping digestion, and even strengthening blood! You can even Design Your Own Mineral Springs Private Tasting Tour.

I should also mention it’s supposedly the home of the original potato chip. That alone is worth a tasting trip to see about that!

Enjoy this podcast of my live conversation with Todd Shimkus the President of The Saratoga Chamber of Commerce on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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When it comes to politics these days you can be sure there are LOTS of divisive conversations going on.

It’s not expected that we’ll all agree on the important topics, but come on everybody - can’t we at least learn how to respectfully disagree?

Before you argue with, block, curse out or cut off individuals due to their political views, learn how to respectfully disagree and build bridges instead of barriers. We need to challenge our own perspective because we all think that we're right, I guess, until we realize maybe we're not 100%, right.

That’s the message Justin Jones-Fosu is shouting from the rooftops in his upcoming book “I Respectfully Disagree: How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World”.

Justin is international speaker and the founder of Work. Meaningful. He shares some great advice on how to handle extreme political conversations. We had a much-needed conversation about this topic live on my radio show and Justin pointed out, “It's been bad for a long time, but it's with the rise of media and everybody having a voice and platform that It's gotten really bad. Even in workplaces, three out of four people say that their management can handle, should handle conflict better.”

“But just think about anecdotally, as we see online, as people talk to each other, there's these two things that are happening.”

“One of, we see a respectful disagreement, disrespectful disagreement. But Debbie, there's also an interesting phenomenon we found in our studies, is this other thing called ‘disrespectful agreement’.

“And I see it in a lot of the audiences and corporations I go in, is that people are in front of your face, they're like, oh Debbie, I think that music was amazing. And then behind the scenes, they're talking to the producer, like, why would you even play that?””

“And that's one of the things that's also causing disrespectful discriminates as well, is because people are passively, or what the new generation is calling gaslighting others.”

I couldn’t agree more with Justin that people need to try harder to build bridges to people rather than barriers from them.

He shares some good suggestions about how we all can start to go about doing that better.

“I think the foundation for us lies in the statement I've been making for about the last decade is that we can vehemently disagree with someone's ideology and yet still passionately pursue their humanity. That's the starting point. Because oftentimes we consistently attach ideology with identity.

And so I'll start with challenging perspective because I think that speaks to what we do. I mean, it starts before any disagreement happens. It's the posture, the position that we put ourselves in. “

Justin Shared a Practical Example:

“One of the things I started to challenge myself to do is this thing called Circles of Grace, where it's the thing that my mom taught me. My mom took us to events that we didn't know a lot about and that we also disagreed with. And so when you constantly are putting yourself in positions of learning and hearing other people's perspectives, so every six months I go to events, experiences, or I engage with people that I either don't know a lot about or that I disagree with. And that's helped me to consistently challenge my perspective and learn.”

I’m glad I took the time to chat with Justin. Besides being an author Justin Jones- Fosu is also a full-time dad-e, and social entrepreneur. He speaks 50-60 times a year for professionals, corporations, organizations, and associations. His clients include some of the biggest names in The Fortune 500 to the best spelled names in Fourth Grades across the country he says. LOL

I also really like that he’s fun. Like me, he often uses humor to get a serious message across.

I think it would be meaningful for you to take a few minutes to listen to this podcast of our live conversation from The Debbie Nigro Show. Might save some of your relationships!

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Juan Vides is the CEO & Founder of TechAcs Corp. His love for tinkering with computers as a kid, led to his now 25 years of experience in the digital marketing industry.

He Can Get You On the 1st Page of Google!

Attorneys especially seek out his services.

Juan Vides is a WOW. A class act who counts his blessings every day.

At four years old he fled civil war in El Salvador with his family and through hard work & education became an American citizen and created a very successful life and business on Long Island.

Besides building 1000’s of websites, and perfecting SEO & social media marketing for clients. Juan really knows how to network. He understands as I do, that people do business with people they know, like, and trust.

Juan created a formalized platform for entrepreneurs all over the globe to network that zooms every week called ‘Winning On Wednesdays’. Between 60-90 people join the zoom at 11am and share their professions and passions.They break out into individual groups and get to know each other and share what they need and know to create relationships for the future to help one another.

Yes WOW.

Juan serves on various Boards both for-profit and non-profit and has been featured on Fox News in an episode of The American Dream.

He’s the real deal. And charming too!

Enjoy meeting Juan in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show on WGCH Radio.

The Debbie Nigro show airs live 11-12 noon in the NY/CT area on 1490 WGCH and around the world on the digital live stream at WGCH,com.

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‘Random Run In’ with NASA photographer Max Evans on the Port Canaveral Pier the day #odysseus was supposed to go to the moon.

My significant other ‘Dave’ and I went to visit his son Keith who moved from NY to Fla. near Cape Canaveral. We were jazzed we’d accidentally be on time to see the launch of the first craft to the moon in 50 years!

“Odysseus” was launched by a private company named “Intuitive Machines”. As we all now know, the spacecraft did make it to the moon and even though it landed on it’s side was still able to send information back to earth. The mission was in fact a SUCCESS!

As luck would have it the big launch set for the last night we’d be there, was delayed till the next day and we missed it. Total Bummer.

Thankfully guys like Max Evans, who I ran into, are around to capture moments like this for the rest of us.

Max Evans, a NASA Space Flight photographer was on that fishing pier across from the launch pad that day. He was observing hardware movement at Launch Complex 36 in anticipation of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket launch.

Max has been shooting for nasaspaceflight.com for almost 12 months and has spent 4 years telling the story of modern spaceflight. He feels fortunate to be a part of the space industry.

His job is to capture moments of space missions for those of us who cannot see them in person. He feels fulfilled being part of something larger than himself, contributing to space exploration efforts like SpaceX’s goal of making life interplanetary.

Given the chance Max said he’d ‘absolutely’ be willing to travel to space himself. (Sadly I won't be traveling with him beacuse I'm claustrophobic)

Oh, and wanted to mention Max gave me a cool NASA Space Flight Patch. I’ll let you know where I decide to put it. LOL

Of course, I invited him to join me on The Debbie Nigro Show to talk about his cool job as NASA’s Space photographer. I love ‘Random Run Ins’ They’re some of my most fun interviews.

Tune in Live weekdays from anywhere to hear The Debbie Nigro Show on WGCH.com .

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All Women Who Like To Make People Laugh Should Check out GOLD Comedy! You may just find your people.

GOLD COMEDY is a comedy school, professional community, and content studio where women + non-binary folks grow their comedy careers and creative side hustles, build powerful networks, and make funny stuff.

I’m personally all about using humor to address serious matters. Humor gets people to pay attention. That I know. So naturally I was drawn to Lynn Harris, the CEO and founder of GOLD Comedy when I came across her profile on LinkedIn which read:

Founder | brand-builder | writer | producer | podcaster | multi-hyphenate using the power of comedy and humor to connect, humanize, and transform.

Lynn’s done stand-up comedy in Boston and New York and has had many comedy adjacent roles, including using comedy to make tough issues more accessible while working for a human rights organization. One past success includes her infamous internet co-creation called ‘Breakup Girl’.

GOLD Comedy offers classes, celebrity speaker series, digital shorts teams, mics, shows, and more to help build expertise, careers, and resumes for women and other “others” who are chasing showbiz dreams or all the other opportunities and outlets that comedy provides.

Lynn shared that GOLD Comedy even creates opportunities for women to ‘collaborate’ on comedy content, including forming teams to produce digital sketches. These teams retain ownership of their content, with GOLD Comedy even subsidizing some expenses.

Why GOLD? Dudes still dominate the comedy world and access to it. Twice as many ads feature men being funny versus women. Standup lineups are still up to 70% men. Amy Schumer is STILL the only woman ever to make the Forbes 100 list of top-earning comedians.

Even though women are more and more visible in comedy, men still control and define it. Women have more challenges in the comedy industry, including the perception of women comedians and the male-dominated landscape of late-night TV and stand-up comedy. And let’s face it, comedy is mostly a late-night activity, which can be challenging for women, especially those with families.

GOLD Comedy is here for the gals.

Rachel Dratch is an advisor, and their guests + mentors have included Margaret Cho, Paula Pell, Judy Gold, Rachel Bloom, Ashley Nicole Black, Patti Harrison, Paula Pell, Bridget Everett, and staffers from The Daily Show, SNL, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Broad City, Search Party, Inside Amy Schumer, and more.

You must check out a fabulous GOLD Comedy bit on You Tube called ‘Spanx for Nex’! It’s a riot.

Tune in to this fun podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Loren Stephens found her way to LA from NY in a career and life transition. While there away from her Mom, she convinced her mother, ‘a grand dame’ to let her write her write her memoir. In doing so, she was sparked to launch a business writing other people’s memoirs.

Loren who is now “Hollywood’s Go-To Ghostwriter” founded two companies. ‘Bright Star Memoirs’ geared toward helping entertainment and sports figures tell their life stories.

And ‘Write Wisdom’, to provide support and guidance for ‘anyone’ interested in writing their life story.

Every life is unique, but not everyone has the self-confidence or skill to tell their story without help. Not even celebrities.

Her latest celeb book out is a dazzling Hollywood memoir with Jeff Margolis who produced television’s most memorable variety series and specials over the past fifty years—from iconic variety shows of the 1970s to 8 Oscars!

“We’re Live in 5”, is the ultimate behind-the-scenes tour says Loren, with a foreword by Billy Crystal. It’s a tell-it-as-it-is with all the glamour you expect, along with a deeply revealing human portrait of working with larger-than-life personalities at television’s most dizzying and demanding heights. It’s also a great insider education for anyone aspiring to be an entertianment producer.

Loren Stephens own personal essays and short stories have been published in numerous literary journals and newspapers including the Los Angeles Times; the Chicago Tribune and more.

A New York native, Loren’s love for the theater, film and writing is what really led her to Los Angeles. As an executive producer, she received an Emmy nomination for the PBS documentary, Legacy of the Hollywood Blacklist, narrated by Burt Lancaster. Her debut historical novel, ‘All Sorrows Can Be Borne’, was originally published in 2021 by Rarebird.

Loren is a member of Greenlight Women, a dynamic and diverse community of women over forty in media and entertainment. She also serves as a National Commissioner of the Anti-Defamation League.

Enjoy this podcast of our warm insightful conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Misty LaBoy Knows a Thing or Two About Negative Self-Talk.

A health and beauty industry leader for over 20 years (in the top 2% of multiple billion-dollar health and beauty organizations) her career success did nothing for a long while to offset her personal struggle with weight and self-image.

Even after successfully losing 60 pounds, she had to work on her internal feelings to maintain her weight loss. She believes lifestyle changes, including mindset changes, are more effective than diets.

Misty believes it so much she made a business out of it!

Misty Laboy who has produced countless live events and trainings brings a wealth of knowledge to help people dealing with rejection, doubt, people pleasing, etc. by teaching them how transform to think look and feel their best. She joined me on my radio show to some tips to help you get rid of your own negative self-talk.

Misty emphasizes that negative self-talk is a significant challenge for many people and that individuals have the power to be either their own critic or cheerleader. It’s a matter of choosing to think differently since negative thoughts are typically not beneficial.

I personally always like to talk about what I call our “higher brain" vs our "lower brain". Our lower brain seems to be a troublemaker, even when our higher brain knows better. LOL

Misty suggests that self-awareness is crucial in recognizing and changing automatic negative thoughts. She recommends reframing negative thoughts to combat them. For example, changing "I hate my fat stomach" to "I'm working on leaning out my stomach" can make a significant difference.

Social media, says Misty, often has a negative impact on self-image, especially among women, especially when they start comparing themselves to the unrealistic highlight reels of others online.

But Misty does loves social media that sends the right messaging. She’s an avid podcast listener and liked my upbeat messaging so much when she found me on Spotify that she reached out to be on my show and share her knowledge. I’m glad she did.

Misty’s Course and Coaching:

Misty offers a 12-week course focused on self-love and self-worth, addressing core issues and including one-on-one sessions tailored to individual needs. Misty feels comfortable discussing a wide range of subjects from self-love to alternative lifestyles and has diverse expertise and interests.

For example, she mentioned she is in a polyamorous relationship, and has both a husband and a boyfriend, and they are teaching a seminar on the topic. That will have to be a whole other show!

Enjoy the podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show on WGCH Radio.

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Once a week I cover trends and trending topics on my radio show. On this show I cover "fluting" as a hot 2024 design trend and "grounding shoes," as a current meta trend. Oh and how 98% of influencers are making less than 100K not millions as you might have been led to believe.

Yet these days everybody and their mother and grandmother too, wants to be an influencer, which would be fine if everybody had a good cause they were trying to influence.

Terry Torok who joined me in the studio this week has a company called 'Creative Intelligence Agency' and represents rising Influencers & A-List Artists with Causes. People like George Clooney, Elton John, Alicia Keys, Jamie Fox, Kevin Bacon, and Deepak Chopra. His focus is on creating films and projects of positive impact.

Terry has worked in Entertainment Media for 30 years, including brand sponsorships for the Super Bowl 1/2-time show, 4 Olympics and 3 World Cups. He was also one of the original pioneers of Esports, creating the first world competitions, tours, TV series and the first Esports arenas in Times Square. Terry is also the Executive Producer at Live from Earth Entertainment.

Terry and Deepak Chopra just collaborated on a new game called 'Graticube'. They’ve gamified a way to more meaningful conversations for people interested in connecting deeper with others.

Graticube is a game that aligns with my own personal mission to inspire more authentic connections and conversation between perfect strangers, best friends, family, and co-workers. It's the same reason I wrote a book called "How To Talk To Strangers Advice from a Professional Stranger Talker" that just debuted on Amazon.

The Graticube game involves dice and cards that prompt players to share stories and foster deeper connections during gameplay.

Terry and I discussed the importance of establishing trust for meaningful interactions and we talked about how social media platforms like LinkedIn often lack genuine conversation, even though you’d assume a platform for connecting in business would see a higher rate of returned messages after you’ve reached out to someone.

Fortunately, Terry and I are the kind of people who respond! LOL We originally met on LinkedIn, and established the trust and connection which led to this warm and wonderful in-person catch up.

Enjoy this podcast of our live inspiring conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show .

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I wrote a ‘little’ book and just recently got it up for sale on Amazon. I even recorded it myself as an audio book for Audible which syncs the book on Amazon.

It's called:

"How To Talk To Strangers Advice from a Professional Stranger Talker"

(And I'm a roll with 5 star reviews! Good reviews mean everything to an author)

I could not have done it without the help of Donna Kozik, a book coach gal pal out in San Diego,CA who I've been featuring for years on my radio show because I love her style and how she shows people how to get a book done.

Meanwhile even though it sounded doable, and even though I do know how to write - Donna knows that I tried for a few years but kept not getting it done. I kept backing off. Why? I don't know. I didn't think what I wrote was good enough. I didn't think it was compelling enough. I had imposter syndrome. Then came the pandemic and the totally wrong timing for the topic. And of course, then there were the never ending barrage of life distractions. Finally, with Donna's help and unwavering encouragement, I did it! Whew! Feels Good!

I knew nothing about the process of publishing an ebook or soft cover book, but Donna helped me get it into the right format, helped me with the proofreading, helped me get the cover art done, educated me about Kindle and how to upload it on Amazon and was always available for my zillion email questions.

I had no idea how to set the right price (learned an eBook sweet spot price is $2.99), or the importance of getting reviews, or how to navigate Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing system for the first time.

I’m just deciding how I am going to market the book now that the audio I recorded separately with fabulous Al Hemberger at The Loft Recording Studios in Bronxville, N.Y., was approved by Audible. (Who knew they reserve the right to set the price based on the length of the audio?) That was another thing that took way longer than I had anticipated but, finally got that done too! Whew! Personal accomplishment!

I’m hoping my new ‘little’ book will be as Donna calls it "My Big Business Card".

Utilizing a Book as a Business Tool

Donna Kozik book coach extraordinaire, says, a book IS a "Big Business Card" and there are various ways to leverage it for building credibility, obtaining speaking engagements, and promoting one's expertise.

'Short books' she says are the way to go, especially in today's information-saturated world. A short book can be easily read and can still carry a powerful message, making it a good option for authors and readers alike.

My book, "How To Talk To Strangers Advice from a Professional Stranger Talker" is 62 pages, and the audio book is 47 minutes. It’s a little book with a big message. You’ll get my point, get some laughs and get some tips in under an hour.

I'd love my book to lead to some speaking engagements about teaching people how to connect and communicate better in person. I really do think I have some sage knowledge to share in a fun way. I will now be looking to share it with some event planners, etc. who might be looking for someone like me to speak about this.

Encouragement for Aspiring Authors

I invited Donna Kozik back to join me on my radio show so we could discuss the self-publishing process now that I’ve been through it, so we could share information with those of you who might have a book in you too!

Donna says many potential authors face the same challenges as I mentioned I had above, and that procrastination or life events should not discourage them. She said, once a book is published, people do not focus on how long it took. (Did I mention I started this book idea 5 years ago? LOL)

Besides her great advice for listeners who may want to write a book, Donna offers a step-by-step approach to getting started, including making the decision, taking action, creating a structure. Her program "Write a Book in a Weekend," her group coaching, and her Business Authors Association, offer support and promotion for new authors. She suggests aspiring writers start with her FreeBookPlanner.com.

Oh and she made a big point about avoiding talking about the book you haven't finished writing yet too much, to prevent creating an emotional payoff for yourself without making any progress. (Oh boy, I did this 1000X.)

Enjoy this podcast of our live conversation about how to really get a book done on The Debbie Nigro Show.

Tune in to The Debbie Nigro Show 11-12 EST weekdays in the NY/CT area on 1490 WGCH or Listen from Anywhere on WGCH.com Just hit the 'listen live' button.

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Women in midlife who still need or want to work often find themsleves stuck in limbo and confusion trying to figure our their next career move.

Enter ..."EvolveMe". A fabulous options to help you relaunch, pivot or level up your career whether you're in your 40s. 50s, 60s or beyond.

Founders Judy Schoenberg and Linda Lautenberg have been there, done that, and realized through their own experiences that many others in the same boat must need help. They created the community, structure, and tools to help you make whatever is next for you ... happen!

They can help with professional resumes and LinkedIn profiles, and even teach you transferable skills.

These gals are the real deal. They help make midlife career reinvention fun enjoyable and REWARDING.

They and others involved with EvolveMe provide a much-needed resource to women in midlife, who are underrepresented in leadership roles in the workforce and often face barriers due to ageism, gender discrimination, racism, pay inequity and as mothers and caregivers.

Linda who re-invented her career after 3 kids and a 16 year break and knows how isolating reviving your professional career can feel. Before founding EvolveMe, she was the Director of Outreach at Inspiring Capital, supporting women transitioning back to the workforce. She's a founding member and Regional Facilitator Lead for Harvard Business School Alumni Circles and a leader of Impact 100 Jersey Coast, a women’s philanthropic investment nonprofit. Before that she had a successful finance career at the Prudential Investment Corporation and Nomura Securities. She's a Chartered Financial Analyst and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Judy Schoenberg has another big Harvard brain. She left her role as Chief Research Executive at Girl Scouts of the USA after a fifteen-year tenure to pivot and start her own next chapter. She honed her skills at national organizations like Girl Scouts of the USA and the Ms. Foundation for Women as well as at Pace University’s women’s leadership initiative and community-based and start-up ventures. Her work has been featured at the White House, MAKERS, npr.com, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune and The Washington Post. She holds leadership roles at several nonprofit educational institutions and a Master of Education in human development and psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Both Judy and Linda emphasize the importance of helping women regain confidence, reassess their skills, and understand their value in the marketplace. The impact of the pandemic on women was loud, with many leaving the workforce, and how their company coincided with this time, offering support for women returning to work.

EvolveMe also work with companies invested in attracting and retaining top female talent. At the heart of EvolveMe is a belief that when companies understand women’s needs, they’re better able to attract and retain them.

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Consumers Crave AI with Shopping But Want More Control Over How Companies Use Their Data!

The IBM Institute for Business Value, decided to survey 20,000 consumers across 26 countries on their digital habits, their use of AI and generative AI, and their expectations for brands. So what were the results of the survey?

I invited the big IBM retail guy, Joe Dittmar, to join me to share what they found out.

Let's just say, most consumers want to receive information, advertisements, and offerings from stores that are relevant to their specific interests, but a whole bunch say they really really want more control over how companies use their data.

Joe Dittmar leads IBM’s Retail Industry across the company’s portfolio which includes Grocery, Department, Warehouse, Specialty, Discount, Convenience, Restaurants, and Online Retailers.

He shared that consumers are unsatisfied with both in-store (9% satisfaction) and online (14% satisfaction) experiences.

As a consumer I’m obviously not alone being uncomfortable with a 100 follow up marketing emails from a company I’ve bought just one pair of pants from and had to return because they didn’t fit right.

Joe said, AI’s making an effort to tailor communication more effectively to individual preferences. He also explained that retailers are currently managing inventory conservatively, leading to less variety in stores—a strategy resulting from the need to reduce inventory post-COVID.

The opportunity for retailers he said, is to improve customer experience by integrating online options when in-store selections are limited.

IBM has been a longstanding participant in the retail industry, inventing the cash register and credit card in case you didn’t know that. Now they are helping iconic brands leverage AI to improve operational efficiencies.

The survey showed that consumers are more open to adopting AI than expected, including interacting with virtual agents that can fast-track customers to human agents based on their tone and urgency. ( Wow, now I don’t feel so bad about occasionally losing it and yelling… ‘Give Me a Human!’ LOL)

Good insight by Joe and IBM! Aspiring retail talent can learn from their expertise.

About Joe Dittmar: Joe is known for helping retail and consumer product clients worldwide to transform their business models and consumer-facing activities. He is a leader in implementing complex business and technology solutions that drive improved performance.In 2022, Joe was honored with IBM’s highest industry designation, Distinguished Industry Leader, for his contributions to innovation in the industry and impact on IBM’s clients throughout his career. Joe serves on various industry advisory boards including the National Retail Federation Board of Directors. He actively mentors aspiring retail talent around the world.

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Social Media has created a SNOOPY craze.

GenZ is obsessed with him and Snoopy merchandise is selling out.

I read about the latest Snoopy obsession in article on on NPR. He’s so hot, people have given blood just to get a Snoopy T-shirt. (The Red Cross gave out 400,000 shirts in 3 weeks) The Charles Schultz Museum has just had its highest attendance in 21 years and the official Snoopy Tik Tok account just garnered 198,000 new followers.

Snoopy is 350 years old in dog years but he’s apparently timeless (like me) and timely. He communicates only in gestures and thought bubbles, shares his emotions easily, and is trying to live his best life! Gotta love him. I’m fascinated but why the surge in interest again now?

I invited Melissa Menta, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications Peanuts Worldwide to join me live on The Debbie Nigro Show to get the scoop about out what’s going on.

Melissa said, the universal and timeless appeal of Snoopy is attributed to the character's relatability and expression of human emotions. Snoopy, she said, has been incredibly popular across all generations. Snoopy who is a book lover and writer, has always had an unstoppable imagination.

As the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Peanuts Worldwide, Melissa handles global marketing which includes handling the brands social media, and creative aspects. She travels the world to promote the brand. And the world can’t seem to get enough of Snoopy these days.

It was amazing enough that the late Charles Schulz who created the Peanuts comic strip, did it uninterrupted (except for one vacation for his 75th birthday) for 50 years! He created nearly 18,000 comic strips. But just as amazing, is how his work continues to resonate today due to its simplicity and again, it’s focus on ‘human emotions’.

The four-panel comic strips are particularly well-suited to the format of modern social media which of course did not exist back when the comic strips were published the old-fashioned way, in newspapers. Social media has everything to do with Snoopy reaching a global audience of new fans and the new demand for Snoopy merchandise.

The Current Snoopy Merchandise Craze

Melissa says Snoopy merchandise is currently available across a broad range of retailers, from Pottery Barn to Uniqlo and H&M. There have also been high-end collaborations with designers like Gucci and Marc Jacobs. Not only with Snoopy, but also other characters too like Woodstock, Charlie Brown, and Franklin who are also popular.

Peanuts Worldwide receives numerous partnership requests involving Snoopy and the Peanuts characters. Snoopy is a global icon with a particularly strong following in places like Japan, said Melissa.

There’s also the 'Take Care with Peanuts' campaign, which promotes taking care of oneself, others, and the Earth, with partnerships like the Arbor Day Foundation for planting trees, and the installation of Peanuts murals in hospitals globally.

Melissa says the brand’s even working with NASA. Snoopy was used as a zero-gravity indicator on Artemis 1! She also shared how the brand is creating new content for platforms like Apple TV+.

The Peanuts marketing team, led by Melissa, continually seeks new ways to keep the brand relevant and engaged with current issues and audiences, reflecting the brand's adaptability and enduring appeal.

Peanuts Worldwide is passionate about maintaining the brand's legacy while simultaneously innovating and connecting with new audiences.

I think you’ll enjoy the terrific insight about why Snoopy so hot right now in this podcast of a warm conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show with Melissa Menta, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Peanuts Worldwide.

PS: Bet you didn’t know I owned a Snoopy watch. Had it since I was a kid.

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Brandon Copeland is on a mission to educate and protect the futures of the next generation of sports stars.

This Ex. NFL linebacker and Ivy League Professor, is also the Executive Director and Co-Founder of an organization called Athletes.org.,a Players Assoc. For College Athletes.

Brandon who played pro football or the Baltimore Ravens, and New York Jets, among others also got a terrific education at Wharton and is in his sixth year an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

He's passionate about creating a legacy beyond his football career is is dedicating his time and knowledge to help others unlock their potential. Brandon is fully dedicated to helping the next generation of athletes and children in need.

His non-profit Athletes.org, focuses on providing financial literacy to college athletes, helping them handle their finances as they potentially deal with lucrative deals. College athletics have changed, and college athletes are essentially going pro earlier due to TV deals and other revenue streams. The NCAA has recently been discussing proposals about compensating those athletes. But Brandon knows too well how unprepared most young athletes when interest and money comes their way. Athletes.org, essentially acts as a players association for college athletes, providing services such as legal and mental health support, sometimes pro bono.

Financial literacy for athletes is what Brandon Copeland thinks is critical. He’s well aware just how many athletes have gone broke and spent all their money without consideration for their futures, Which is why, he and athletes.org aim to provide solutions so that doesn’t happen.

But that’s not all Brandon Copeland is working on. Did you know he and a slew of other NFL Players bought Christmas presents for hundreds of unsuspecting children in need this year? (The kids thought they were showing up for community service. )

Beyond the Basics, Inc., is Brandon Copeland’s family foundation he started with his wife. The foundation began by holding football camps and then organized "A December to Remember," where NFL players provide Christmas shopping sprees for children.

Future Goals? Copeland hopes to expand the holiday initiative nationwide and encourage community involvement in every state, regardless of the presence of an NFL team.

What a wonderful conversation we had on The Debbie Nigro Show. It was myto showcase Brandon Copeland's commitment to using his platform and experiences to positively impact the lives of young athletes and children, with a strong focus on financial education and community service.

BTW: He credits his grandfather, Roy Hilton, who played in the NFL for 11 years, for his inspiration and for giving him perspective on life after football.

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It’s the most dangerous time of the year for some people. Yes, it is. And though we love to laugh at the song ‘Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer’ it wouldn’t be so funny if it was your own Grandma who got run over on Christmas Eve now would it? (Spiked egg nog and some medications don’t mix well)

Just making you all aware of a couple of serious things that land people in the emergency rooms this time of year.

Adults 65 and older who are already at risk of falls, have an increased chance of falling and hurting themselves during the holiday season because there are more obstacles to navigate. People unexpectedly stumble over wrapping paper, decorations, light cords, and toys etc., both in their own homes and in homes they visit.

Trust me I know. I bought my little granddaughter a blue bouncing ball for Christmas year before last. It was Christmas morning at my house, and ripped up wrapping paper from all the toys was everywhere. I turned around and boom tripped over the ball that wasn’t there a second ago, and fell straight down on my face. Thought I killed myself. Good thing Grandma didn't die on Christmas Day. It would have ruined everything. I seriously was afraid to move. I thought I broke my neck. I did manage to get up, but wow that was a shocker. Ended up with three months of a sprained neck that still aggravates me years later.

It’s the ‘unexpected things’ that trip people up this time of year says, Dr. Imran Ali who adds many of the emergency room visits and accidents seem to happen to older adults.

Dr. Imran Ali is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC. He is a Board-Certified Medicine/Internal Medicine Supportive Care specializing in Geriatric Oncology Rehabilitation at The New Jewish Home. He is a regular contributor to several TV stations.

“A lot of my patients who I take care of, they have their own routine, they're in their homes, they can navigate their way around their home because they know the layout. They have poor vision or they're using a walker or a cane. I mean, they know their layout in their home, but when they go to another home, another person's house, if there's a loose rug or there's something in the way they're not expecting, those can cause significant trips. And toys, you know a lot of these toys have parts that come flying off that you don't see.”

Dr. Imran Ali says there are other reasons too seniors may unexpectedly land in the emergency room this time of year. Drinking alcohol may interact with some drugs they might be taking.

“Drinking too much alcohol, alcohol acts like a diuretic, it makes your blood pressure go lower. So, when your blood pressure goes lower, you get dizzy and you can fall, you can pass out, you can get what we call orthostatic hypotension and that can be really dangerous for somebody who's on a blood thinners. “

And let’s not forget to discuss that unfortunate champagne cork in the eyeball thing.

Yes, getting hit by a champagne cork lands many people in the emergency room, say Dr Ali. “Believe it or not, a flying champagne cork can travel up to 50 miles per hour as it leaves the bottle fast enough to shatter glass. And that's according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. If this hits somebody in the eye, you can get corneal abrasions and serious eye injury. So, the best thing to do is to point the bottle away from other people, of course, place a napkin or towel over the top, firmly hold the cork while gently twisting the base of the bottle.”

Another big thing to watch out for? People who get hurt and don't want to destroy the family get-together and decide they’ll go to the emergency department tomorrow or the day after.

Dr Ali says, “People can fall and get what we call an epidural hematoma. I don't know if you remember Bob Saget, who fell in his hotel room. He had a period of where he was fine and okay. Then later on he had the injury. So the epidural hematoma is when you hit your head and you affect one of the arteries and for a moment people can get up, walk around and everything's fine and then later they have the actual big bleed. People shouldn't delay evaluation if they're on a blood thinner especially if they did fall they hit their head you know don't just poo-poo it till afterwards because it could get worse later.”

“I think people just need to be reminded that you can't be lax. If you're walking around somebody else's house, take your time. If you're having people over who are older and there's a lot of kids running around or animals, you know, just beware animals. Excited dogs and cats. I mean a lot of people, you know fall because of that.”

One last mention about what else Dr. Ali has seen in emergency rooms. Sadly, little kids who swallowed batteries.

“I think about young kids swallowing the batteries. Super, super important. These lithium coin batteries, they're small, they're shiny, they look nice. I mean now the newer ones have some kind of covering so it tastes bitter. But you know I have a young one at home and I just I think I think that scares me because once these batteries go into your system the lithium especially it can cause a lot of havoc. It can be really scary. “

Sharing serious information does not have to be dull as you’ll hear in this upbeat informative podcast with Dr. Imran Ali from our live chat on The Debbie Nigro Show. We just want you all to have a safe and warm holiday.

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James (Jim) Keyes, former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster has written a book titled "Education is Freedom."

Jim passionately believes in the transformative power of education and its role in overcoming adversity and achieving success and candidly shares his own story about how education helped him rise out of poverty.

It’s a powerful book about why you need to learn as much as you can on this planet because nobody can take away what you learn, and what you understand.

Jim says, in many respects, knowledge is the only true wealth that we all have while on this earth. You can turn that knowledge into material benefits and enjoy a life of however you want it to go or help others however you want to help them. But the choice is yours. The simple truth is that education provides more options. Everybody should have access to those choices and to the freedom that comes with it. No matter what stage of life you’re at, everybody has a chance to change it up and still get whatever is in their heart, with the right knowledge.

Jim's life journey was surely not simple. As a kid he grew up poor in a factory town with no running water. His mom left his dad when he was five lured by another man who lived large in a trailer park. His dad who he adored, passed when he was 12 and he had to go live with his mom and her abusive boyfriend, who he literally feared would kill him when he was sleeping.

It was a faraway visit one day to his uncle’s house that changed things for Jim. There he spotted what looked like a huge library of books that excited him. It was only a couple of shelves. But his uncle, a teacher, with running water who took trips to see the world, seemed to have it all - and those books symbolized success and sparked Jim’s lifelong love for learning.

Jim shared, “Literally, we grew up with no running water, right? And a pump outside the house and an outhouse and the whole thing. Kids have a hard time relating to that kind of poverty today. It's very different and very challenging, but the common theme is that adversity of any type, whatever you grow up with, it's a challenge. You can grow up in a very wealthy family with a totally dysfunctional environment and that adversity can actually make you stronger if you look at it that way and give you an advantage and cause you to turn to things like education as a way to escape your reality, whatever it is, poverty or abuse or whatever. Education can be that path to a better life.”

I was always amused that I had a friendship with a globally powerful guy like Jim Keyes that just kind of stuck all these years. I realized after reading his book, it was because of a crazy book thing I did myself. I held my ‘Working Mom on the Run’ book tour back a thousand years ago at 7-Elevens. Totally crazy idea I had that hey went for. I had important knowledge I wanted to share with the moms of America and I chose 7 Eleven as my vehicle.

7 Eleven was then pitching fresh food to busy Moms on the go for the very first time and I knew I’d find an audience for my book of busy moms running in and out of their stores. I was right. I got a kick out of the fact that Jim thought the book tour was a riot and was honored he personally congratulated me on its huge success. I guess I thought I must have just stuck out in his head for being out of the box. Over the years I’d occasionally reach out to say hello and he was always quick to connect back. I never realized until I read his book, that Jim was such a passionate education guy, was so much about knowledge, so much about books, so much about curiosity and taking shots. Obviously, I resonated with him because of that. And now I am thrilled to be able to help him promote his book, "Education Is Freedom".

Getting people's attention for an important subject, to educate them about anything is really Jim’s thing, and he’s taken great pains to share his story and I think his message is very loud.

The more you learn, the more you can do at pretty much every stage in life. Whatever your journey is, there's more to it, as long as you keep feeding your mind and understanding that you can control the next act.

He said it so well in his book.

‘I’ll quote Jefferson in saying that the fundamental basis of a working democracy is an educated populace. It's a critical time right now, and my message to the world, to individuals first, is education is important. It's your lifeblood. And to society, we've got to focus on education collectively and to help everyone succeed to make this world a better place.

“I've wanted to write this book forever. But right now, it's so critically important. We're hearing every time you turn on the news you hear you know teachers being you know challenged for what they're teaching, and universities are under sort of attack right now. They're right in the crosshairs of a lot of cultural war issues and for a whole host of reasons the concern with The United States is falling behind the rest of the world in college graduations. Our individuals in school are falling behind and not even graduating from high school. A shocking number of students don't even graduate from high school. And where does that leave us if you dial forward 20 or 30 years? Where does that leave us individually if we're one of those kids, or where does it leave society if we have so many people that are not equipped to go forward?

Jim thinks a big part of the answer is going to be technology. The ability to harness AI and be able to modify the way we teach to the way people learn. Today there's really no excuse not to find a way to learn with the technology that's available. And he wants corporations to step up.

Jim said, “My challenge to my peers in the corporate world is step up especially with the availability of technology to invest in the technologies that can be then brought to the education process and allow everyone to benefit from it. The ultimate beneficiary being the corporation with an educated workforce coming up. Their investment isn't a gift, it's not charity. I think they can look at it as a return on investment which is what I'm encouraging.”

Enjoy the podcast of this live warm conversation with Jim Keyes author of ‘Education is Freedom’ on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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I’ve been seriously thinking about taking up golf. I’ve played a little and whacked a few balls pretty far at the driving range but I’m not what you would call a golfer. Probably because it usually takes 4 hours to play, and I usually don’t have an extra 4 hours. But I’m rethinking the whole idea. Why don’t I have 4 hours to do something I might like? I waste just as much time walking around my house. LOL

No doubt the sport of golf is growing and certainly there are many like me who have the desire, but not the knowledge or the time or the outfits, but there are some good pretty good reasons to rethink it.

My recent introduction to PXG (Parsons Xtreme Golf), founded by GoDaddy's Bob Parsons, has piqued my interest. PXG is known known for its innovative approach to golf and its support for veterans' causes. They have 22 locations nationwide, where you can buy clubs and apparel and get a golf club fitting, and they even offer a mobile golf club fitting service for country clubs.

Their newest location and first in the Northeast, their PXG Superstore just opened in New Rochelle, NY. Not far from where I live. So, I went to go see it. It’s a wow.

When I met Jason Tomlinson who runs the new PXG location, I invited him to come talk about the company, the store, the game and what they’re doing to encourage new players.

We both agreed:

· Golf's has a positive impact on fitness.

· Golf has a challenging mental aspect to the game.

· Golf allows you to enjoy nature which is therapeutic.

· Golf is a networking tool: a wonderful way for businesspeople to create relationships and the growing inclusion of women in the sport is refreshing.

Jason and PXG want to help you all learn to play golf without feeling awkward. One upcoming event at their N.Y. location on December 9th in partnership with Westfair Communications is called "Demystifying Golf - Learn to Swing and Network”. It’s from 10am -12:30 at PXG Golf, 100 Nardozzi Place New Rochelle, NY. LPGA Pro Anya Alverez will lead the clinic. The event is free but space is limited and reservations must be made in advance.

Sounds like a fun way to learn about golf and network with other enthusiasts. They'll also be having a series of ongoing free clinics over the next few weeks.

At PXG's huge new Rochelle facility, Jason says one of the unique things they offer are personalized golf club fittings using Trackman technology. He really emphasized the importance of a proper club fitting for improving one's golf game and said investing in quality golf clubs is an investment in one's golfing future.

I think a ‘Golf Club Fitting’ is a perfect gift idea for any golf enthusiast or anyone starting out. And from what I saw of the incredibly stylish PXG golf apparel around the store, anyone wearing that stuff could look like a pro whether they play the game or not. LOL

But if you know you me you know I prefer ‘authentic’, which is why I really like the PXG company values a lot. They’re commited to supporting veterans and supporting the professional players on tour who have values that resonate. PXG's Heroes program, also offers discounts to the military and first responders. Bob Parsons and his wife have generously given away nearly $300 million to charities since 2012.

Enjoy this lighthearted and informative podcast of the live radio conversation with Jason Tomlinson of PXG Golf on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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The holiday season is a wonderful time to reconnect with important people in our lives we don't see often. It’s always fun when you’ve been thinking about one of those people, and they connect with you first.

One of those people in my life is ‘Monty’ Delaney and I kept writing his name down on my things to do list to call him. “Monty’ (short for Montgomery) is an all-around great guy with a heart as big as his 6 ’6’ frame. Besides being a warm wonderful person I've known for many years, he was also once an attorney who never failed to show up on the dime whenever I needed him. Often to help me handle my former ongoing ‘parking ticket problem’. The ‘problem’ was, I’d forget to pay the damn tickets and they’d add up and then I’d land in ‘negotiations'. Oh and he'd also show up for that speeding ticket problem. LOL. Happy to report I’ve learned my lesson and now I don’t get parking tickets anymore and I drive like an old lady… but I still love seeing Monty. Just not in court.

Last I saw him actually, I had some fun on his radio show. He’s got a lot to talk about. Monty served as a police officer in the South Bronx for nearly nine years until a back injury led to his retirement from the police force. He spent a significant amount of time in traction and swimming pools for rehabilitation. During this time, he was also in law school, which he had to pause and later return to. he did, and after years of practicing law, a heart issue arose and Monty decided it was time to close his practice and focus on his more creative endeavors.

Monty is a talented singer-songwriter. He became involved in the music scene, playing at coffee houses back when, and has made some great albums. His 1996 album "Walking in the Light" was inspired by various societal and personal reflections and continues to be played across the country and he takes pride in its lasting appeal. It was produced by Rex Fowler of Aztec Two-Step, which was oddly the first musical group I saw perform in person when I arrived as a freshman at Ithaca College.

Monty had given me one of those CD’s and somehow it landed lodged inside the back sleeve of my cars front seat. No clue why. I accidentally found it last week when I went to the car wash and was cleaning out my car. I don’t have a CD player in my car, so I just put it on my front seat to remind me to call Monty. Then after the car wash, I made a cemetery stop to get out of the car to say a holiday hello to my immediate family in the family plot. (It's what Italian girls do.)

What are the chances that when I got back in the car, there on my phone sitting on the car seat next to the “Walking In The Light” CD was a text from… MONTY! Really? What are the chances?

Naturally I called him immediately to report the serendipity, and we had some laughs as his lovely wife listened in, and we caught up about lots of things and he told me about his new book of poetry out now called "A Musings”. It’s a collection of poems he wrote over the years while waiting in courtrooms.

I invited Monty to stop by the radio studio this week to bring his new book and bring his lovely wife Connie, but sadly he woke up sick the day we planned it and so he called in to the show instead.

I think you’ll enjoy the podcast of our live lighthearted and authentic conversation of two friends catching up on The Debbie Nigro Show. The show is filled with laughter, personal anecdotes, and our shared history that underscores my point about of the importance of connections and the value of personal relationships. We will get together 'in person' when he feels better.

I hope I’ve sparked you to reconnect with someone important to you, that you haven’t seen or spoken to in awhile this holiday season. Let me know.

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If you want to meet a guy with an inspiring life and attitude, meet James Flaherty.

'Jim’ who’s 88, gets my weekly newsletter which happened to land in his email while he was sitting in the airport in Cabo San Lucas. He wrote me back while waiting for a plane back home to N.Y. and told me he'd just spent a week at the 'Modern Elder Academy'.

Sounded interesting so I wrote him back I wanted him to come on my show and report on what went on there.

I had featured Jim Flaherty on my show earlier in the year after chancing upon a book he wrote that I spotted on an old wooden table in an old wooden General Store in Amenia, N.Y.

I was sparked that day by the cover of “Dear Old Friends” but what really cracked me up and made me buy the book, is that while quickly scanning it I read he had started writing it in his 40s and finally finished it in his 80s. My kinda procrastinator!

Jim has a big fun brain. Before becoming a writer, he worked in advertising, and his life, he says, was just like to the TV series "Mad Men”. Jim also built and ran a successful country inn and conference center called Troutbeck in Amenia NY for 30 years. It’s spectacular in case you’re ever headed in that direction.

Why is Jim my ‘America idol’? Because at 88 he’s vibrant and positive, with no regrets and a belief that every day is a miracle. And because he wrote to me while I was sitting home pathetically with a heating pad on my lower back, while his spunky 88 year old self flew his butt to Baja, Mexico to attend a curious midlife wisdom school. I seriously need to learn from whatever he's doing.

Jim's second book out now, "Embrace Your Age," is getting attention for its empowering message too, especially the importance of waking up with ‘purpose’. Jim wakes up every day doing some deep breathing exercises and thinking of ways to help others.

So what was Jim’s ‘Modern Elder Academy Experience’ all about? He describes it as a place for navigating transitions and cultivating purpose in midlife and beyond. The age range of attendees at the Academy varied he said, with most being in their 60s and some in their 50s and 70s. Jim says midlife crises can occur between ages 40 and 70 and pointed out being 88, that he was the oldest person there that week. The highlight he said, was the comradery and the sense of community and connection formed there. He felt he left with having formed a whole new group of friends.

Jim says, it's a place for navigating transitions and cultivating purpose in midlife and beyond. By the way, Forbes did a story on the Modern Elder Academy a few years ago and called it ‘The Cool School For Midlifers’. I read that it's the world’s first midlife wisdom school where you can unlock old hopes and discover new dreams in person beachside in Baja or in the creative corridor Santa Fe, or online from home in your pajamas. Sounds cool to me.

Ya gotta love Jim Flaherty's energy and spirit. As for his future at 88? Well, he may teach a workshop at the Modern Elder Academy, but he’s also looking for an agent to sell his TV series, screenplay, and two novels.

Oh, and he wants me to come visit him back up in Amenia and take a swim in his indoor swimming pool. LOL .OK fine, fine, Jim, whatever youre doing I want to do too.

Enjoy this podcast of our live radio conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. It’s truly an uplifting and motivational discussion on aging gracefully, finding purpose, and staying active and engaged in life's later years. It's about the cool way to get old.

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Thanksgiving kicks off the annual bell ringing next to all those red Salvation Army donation kettles.

This year's message. They need you more than ever.

The Salvation Army is going to be serving the needs this year of close to 24 million people here in the United States. In case you didn’t know it, the donations that you give in your area, stay in your area, to help the local people that really need help.

Kenneth Hodder, the National Commander of the Salvation Army, a dynamic guy with a Harvard education and a great personality, stopped by my radio show to bring us all up to speed on his organization, which is the largest social services organization in the United States. Roughly 5,000 Salvation Army officers, about 60,000 employees, and about 3 million volunteers are continuously working to help meet the needs of those in difficult situations.

“The economic impact of the pandemic continues to be a key issue to which the Salvation Army is addressing itself”, say Kenneth. “Right now, about 92 million Americans have had difficulty paying their most basic household expenses in the past week. Homelessness has grown by double digits. The coming freezing weather of winter threatens all sorts of people on the street, and there are those that might lose their homes as a result of evictions or loss of utilities. So there are a lot of reasons to become involved in meeting the needs of your neighbors. Money put in the kettle is going to stay in that community. People should know that they are helping the people in need, in their area, whenever they give to the Salvation Army.”

If you or someone you know needs help and you see someone who's in a Salvation Army uniform, just tell them what you need! They’ll call the local Salvation Army who will do whatever they can to assist you. They’re always ready to help.

“We're seeing an increasing number of volunteers, says Commander Kenneth Hodder, “and I’m inviting all your listeners to volunteer this year for a kettle. Donating a couple of hours of your time, can buy several nights of shelter for someone. It can provide several dozen meals for a family. You can make a huge difference having a lot of fun standing out on the street corner ringing a bell, bring your spouse, bring your pet, bring your children, join your corporate group. It's a great thing to do in the holiday season. It will make you feel good, and you'll make a real difference.”

You can check out the volunteering options at SalvationArmyUSA.org, which are generally done in about two-hour segments.

82 cents of every dollar donated goes directly toward funding Salvation Army initiatives and it stays within the community in which it was given.

My personal suggestion to Kenneth, was that he hurry up and figure out how someone could just walk up to those red kettles and swipe a credit card across, because as we all know, people hardly carry cash anymore. He said he would get right ‘on it’!

Meanwhile you can donate in several ways online as well.

If you want more information, again, it's SalvationArmyUSA.org

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We’re already into Christmas? Didn’t I just take off my Halloween Costume?

If like me, you’ve been feeling that the holiday season has been arriving earlier and earlier each year, it’s not your imagination. It has in fact been speeding up, because the businesses and destinations that invest in holiday displays invest a lot, says Dan Casterella, the Chief Executive Officer of American Christmas, and they want to capitalize on their investments.

American Christmas is the company behind the scenes creating the breathtaking holiday displays in 6 states including the iconic locations in NYC, like Saks Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Macy's, and Radio City Music Hall.

I invited CEO Dan Casterella to stop by my radio show for a warm chat to give us all a peek behind the curtains in the world of American Christmas.

The Business of Christmas:

Located in Mount Vernon, New York, (my hometown) American Christmas is the company responsible for decorating some of the most famous holiday locations in the United States. But they're not just about tinsel and lights; they create immersive holiday experiences that enchant visitors and spread festive cheer. The feel-good power they have created there is undeniable. Anyone of any age who could use a lift should stop by.

From School to Christmas Wonderland:

Chief Executive Officer, Dan Castarella, has been part of this magical world for over two decades. His journey into the Christmas business began when he started decorating homes in high school and, after a short stint in college, decided to leave college and join American Christmas. His parents were honestly not thrilled with his choice, but his passion and talent for bringing the holiday spirit to life have paid off. (And now they get free Christmas Decorations)

Creating the Magic:

American Christmas isn't just about decking the halls; it's a year-round operation. With a 15-month planning cycle for some clients, and two weeks for others depending on the type and scale of the job, the process is both meticulous and expansive. It takes hundreds of employees working across multiple states, including New York, Texas, California, Florida, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., to make these holiday displays a reality. The end goal is to help clients create a holiday brand identity and gift a spectacular experience to their communities.

Dan said, “For us, it’s Christmas 365. The day our takedown season is done, we start again refurbishing for the following year. Everyone thinks we see Santa Claus all year long, and it's anything but that. It’s mostly spreadsheets and a lot of marketing conversations.”

Bringing the Holiday To You:

For the second year in a row, American Christmas is offering the public a chance to experience their holiday magic with an event called "Holiday Lane." Located at 30 Warren Place in Mount Vernon, it's an immersive holiday experience that allows visitors to walk through a magical Christmas experience, pick up festive decorations, and even meet Santa Claus. It's open Wednesday to Sunday, making it accessible for families and anyone in need of a dose of holiday spirit. Santa will be there every Wednesday and Friday night at Holiday Lane from 6 to roughly 8pm.

Dan says, “We have a showroom for our commercial clients that’s about 4,000 square feet and we open that up to the general public. You can buy tickets online to come and experience what we do at American Christmas. The tickets are inexpensive, because we’re trying to be family friendly and we’re donating 100% of the proceeds to three nonprofit charities in Mount Vernon, New York. The Mount Vernon Boys & Girls Club, Northeast STEM Starter Academy of Mt. Vernon, and Youth Community Outreach Program of Mount Vernon.

Year-Round Christmas:

The holiday season lasts for just a few weeks, but the work at American Christmas is a year-round endeavor. Planning, designing, and building take months, ensuring that the magic happens on time. Then it all boils down to a very hectic nine-week season when everything comes to life.

Color Trends and Decorating Styles:

Each year, American Christmas helps its clients embrace various color themes and decorating styles. This year pink has been a popular choice, inspired by the Barbie. Trend. But natural woodlands themes, traditional reds, and golds, and even New Orleans-style Mardi Gras displays have their place in the holiday lineup. Their Christmas store on premise is just fabulous and you’ll wish you knew about it sooner if you didn’t know about it already .

There’s Some New Christmas Technology:

“The new thing”, says Dan, “is RGB technology where we can control the lights and build a show around the Christmas Lights. It’s not that popular in New York because New Yorkers like to keep Christmas traditional with ribbons, bows, and ornaments but it’s popular for us around the country. This year for example we have a 50-foot tree at the Tanger Outlet in Tennessee that’s an RGB show with programmable alights and we run a three-minute loop with a show on the tree.”

Holding the Holiday Line:

American Christmas does end for most of their clients by January 15th when the company finalizes their ‘take down’ portion of process for all the decorations they’ve put up. However, we all have seen some outdoor trees stay wrapped with white lights throughout the winter, bringing much needed warmth and joy to the dark months which is fine by me.

A Business That Spreads Joy:

The holiday season may start earlier each year, but the goal is to spread joy and create memorable experiences. Something we could all use a little more of these days for sure. The work of American Christmas brings a touch of magic to all of our lives.

American Christmas is more than just a company; it's a team of dedicated professionals who spend all year working to make the holiday season unforgettable. From design to installation and takedown, their business keeps the magic of Christmas alive year after year.

If you find yourself in Mount Vernon, N.Y., don't miss the chance to visit Holiday Lane and experience the enchantment for yourself.

I hope you enjoy this podcast of my live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show with Dan Casterella, the Chief Executive Officer of American Christmas. It's uplifting!

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Kailen Rosenberg known to millions as Oprah’s love ambassador on the award-winning series Lovetown, USA (OWN and BBC Worldwide) joined me on Halloween to talk about finding real love.

So happens just before she joined me on the radio, I had read a story in the NY Post about the number of people who were wearing 'sexy' Halloween Costumes in the hope of getting lucky with a sweet treat of the human kind by nights end.

The results of a survey taken by a sex positive dating app named 'Pure' said 72 % women and 43% of men would be wearing 'sexy' Halloween costumes this year.

I’m sure for some that was fun, but most people are out there searching for a real connection, not a one night ‘boo’, and it takes more than a sexy costume to find real love.

If you are looking for real love, Kailen Rosenberg might be your answer.

What makes her such a love guru? Well, Kailen's been in the love, dating, and relationships industry for almost 30 years. She’s also had to follow her own advice and shares her own journey to finding love.

Kailen’s the author of the best-selling Simon & Schuster book "Real Love, Right Now: A Celebrity Love Architect's Thirty-Day Blueprint for Finding Your Soul Mate - and So Much More!” . The book is a guide for anyone seeking an authentic and meaningful connection in a world often characterized by superficiality and false closeness.

Honestly, ‘30 Days to Real Love’ sounded to me a little like a pitch to go on some kind of diet. We all do know, if you actually follow a diet for 30 days, results actually happen. I was wondering, is Kailen’s 30-day love strategy one that actually works, like a diet, if you follow it?

“It's pretty identical”, she said. “I mean, it really, really is. It's about honing in on what you really want instead of just thinking about it and dreaming about it all the time and then looking at the reality of what has been blocking it”.

She went on to say, “And we know if we sit and we're silent enough for even a moment to get really raw and honest and real with ourselves, to look at how and where we are blocking love, whether it's from fear, from the past, past relationships, childhood, whatever, it is that has basically shown us or told us that love really isn't real. Or it can't happen. Or if it does it's only painful and it's only going to end in demise, which you know sadly too many people really end up believing that to a certain extent. Then we end up blocking it energetically and so we get in our own way and we end up through the way we dress, the faces that we have, the way we speak to others. “

“And so we're constantly out there either attracting love or repelling love, she said. “And so, in 30 days, it's really about getting centered, getting present, learning to really love yourself, to really understand and know your true value, to honor that. And then energetically, you're putting out a totally different vibe, and the next thing you know, people from all directions are seeing you differently and they're attracted to you, and you’re now also attracted to yourself in a very different way. So, it's a cool experience. It really is and yeah, it does work.”

Kailen is also the founder and CEO of the world's first holistic wellness, love, and social club platform for extraordinary singles: My LOVE DESIGN®. There, Kailen provides exclusive invitations to expert-led events, covering a wide range of topics such as love, beauty, home design, spirituality, finances, and more.

Her first of its kind, invite only, luxury dating, wellness experience is an in-person event with Modern Luxury magazine happening in Houston on November 14th, 2023. All singles attending have been vetted. Next stop for a Kailen Rosenberg event, will be New York City and then more events across the country.

Kailen’s really excited about it all because she says, “it's just time for a change. Dating and friends are just exhausting.”

As for age? Kailen says that becomes far more irrelevant and so her focus isn't on younger, older, or same age, it's just on finding the right one.

Finally, I did have to ask …how many people did this smarty pants love guru help find Real Love? Kailen said, she stopped counting after 500 marriages.

Feel free to share this podcast of my warm live radio conversation with Kailen Rosenberg about what she’s doing to help singles find genuine love. It might be of real interest to someone you know who is looking for real love.

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Will pets be able to tell you what their bodies need? What kind of toys they want? In a human voice? Soon apparently, if Founder Andy Gibbs vision for the very first company to bring ‘Generative AI’ to life in the $120B pet industry comes to fruition.

It all started the day Andy’s’ wife noticed his dog Roland’s water bowl was empty and hollered to him “Can’t you make a smart water bowl that tells me when it’s empty and needs to be refilled?”

Andy was sparked and started researching why dogs need water and decided he needed to track their water intake. He found out there’s water in canned food, but there's no water in kibble. Then that train of thought took him into food, and then from there he learned of the global problem involving the number of pets who are overweight. Then he moved fast.

In 7 weeks, he had filed the first 10 patents. (Andy knows a thing or two about patents as that was his business for years and he already owns about 4 or 5 dozen patents but none till now in the pet industry.)

The Fidotek Founder is obviously excited about his current venture.

Andy says, “There's no single company in the pet industry that is taking the Apple approach to delivering the pet version of the Apple Watch, the iTunes, the software. So, in the same way Apple has created an entire new ecosystem around watch, or as they did around the iPhone, we're taking the same approach. It's a very holistic hardware, software, and content approach to the entire pet industry. So we're not selling a pet service, we're not selling software, we're selling the experience of a pet parent to know everything about their dog and give the dog the power to become a participating member of the family.”

You may have read that the world’s oldest dog passed away this week in Portugal at the age of 31. A Guinness Book Record age for a dog. His long life was attributed to fresh air, fresh food, and a calm environment. Could AI figure out how all dogs can live that long?

Fidotek Corp the Generative AI bioscience company focused on 120 million US pets will likely be figuring out how all pets can live longer and stay healthy and much more.

Andy said, “We are taking a scientific approach to that and helping dogs live happier, healthier and hopefully longer. When we look at the 59% that are obese, if we can bring those dogs down to healthy weight, they're going to live at least three years longer than their overweight peers. So, we're giving them three years and that's real debilitating conditions as they get older, diabetes, organ failure and so forth. Our artificial intelligence can identify the earliest onset from diabetes even before symptoms start to appear. So, if we can get that pet into the vet months or a year earlier for treatment, it might be as simple as changing their food. “

Its Next-Gen AI platform is poised to be the single-most consequential ecosystem digitally transforming multiple verticals in the burgeoning pet industry.

Fidotek is planning things like; Personalized Web3 Retail, Pet Diagnostics, Pet Health Insurance, Advanced Telemedicine, and Drug Development. His planned pet veterinary ca re insurance he says, is going to change the entire pet industry as we know it.And as an industry patent leader, no single company currently offers a comparable solution. None, says Andy Gibbs, Founder & CEO who joined me from Arizona to share his excitement about what’s coming with Fidotek.

Enjoy this lively podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

You can listen to show weekdays 11-12noon ET in the NY/CT area at 1490 WGCH or just go to WGCH.com and hit ‘listen live’ from anywhere. No Poltics, Always Relevant ...smart, warm and fun.

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Halloween is the big showcase moment for the candy and confection industry. Kind of like their Super Bowl. The industry generates $42 billion in retail sales every year and employs 58,000 people working in 1600 manufacturing facilities across all 50 states, with another 635,000 jobs in related fields. Sweet!

I invited Carly Schildhaus from the National Confectioners Association, to join me for a conversation about some sweet insights from a survey they just took about all things Halloween, including the list of the top three candies this year, and how much candy you’re supposed to give out to each kid who stops by trick or treating.

Carly said, “It’s special for the confectionery industry to see what an important part chocolate and candy play in this holiday season for generations and generations.”

The National Confectioners Association (NCA) conducted a survey to get a better understanding of current consumer attitudes and behaviors related to Halloween around the country.

Here’s what they found:

*60% of Parents Steal Halloween Candy from Their Kids Stash!

I thought the # would be higher myself. Lol

*98 % of Americans will welcome trick-or-treaters with chocolate and candy this year.

*2/3 of people give out 2 or 3 pieces of candy to each trick or treater.

*The Top Three Most Popular Candies this year are:

1) Chocolate

2) Gummy’s

3) Candy Corn

The NCA encourages parents and caretakers to check the candy before any kids eat any they’ve brought home. They have a page about safety all parents and caretakers should review.

Good insights in this fun podcast of the live conversation with Carly Schildhaus of the NCA on The Debbie Nigro Show.

PS: I personally think the National Confectioners Association should talk with the United States School System to make the day after Halloween a day off. I'll vote for that idea!

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Music Industry Executive Grace Harry wants to show you how to break through whatever creative or emotional rut is keeping you from tapping into your ability to feel true joy in your life.

She knows how to guide creative people because that’s what she did for 30 years while guiding musicians and artists at Island Def Jam and Jive Records.

Now Grace Harry is “The Joy Strategist’ - sharing her authentic self and what she learned to help you get you to where she had to get herself… back to center, dismantling your ego and culturally conditioned limiting beliefs.

Grace said,

“I realized I had to get off the ride. And it wasn't the ride to penalize anyone else, it was more where I wasn't taking full responsibility for my own, you know, being the chief energy officer of my own life. And so if I have gotten this place in life where I've achieved all these things from other people's version of success, why did I feel so joyless? And what kind of strategy could I put in place to change that? Because I believe very clearly that your children do as you do, not as you say, and I would never want them to have even more crap in their family karma backpack than I'd already given them.”

I thought Grace’s comment about ‘family crap in the backpack ‘ was a loud one. Giving yourself permission to see yourself in a new way is what Grace is trying to get at. I think we all have struggled with this at some point, We have preconceived notions of who our parents want us to grow up to be, our friends expect us to be, and who we expect ourselves to be. When in fact it may not be who we are supposed to be, and at what point do you realize you have permission to change…and can you? Because there are always relationships involved, finances involved, other people involved that your choices will affect. Which is exactly why I don't own a Tiki Bar on some island!...Yet. LOL

Good thought provoking book and conversation you might want to explore.

Meet Grace Harry in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show on WGCH Radio. If you want to catch the show it airs Weekdays 11-12noon ET in the NY/CT area on 1490 on the dial. But you can listen from anywhere, just hit the ‘Listen Live’ button on WGCH.com

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Liver cancer cases are rising dramatically across the United States.

It's more important than ever to raise awareness about the potentially deadly disease and encourage screening. But seems you have to ASK your Dr. for a liver cancer screening test. Especially if youre at risk.

Dr. Nadine Abi-Jaoudeh, Chief of Interventional Radiology and Director of Clinical Research at the University of California, Irvine, is spreading the word about the importance of understanding your liver cancer risk and asking your doctor about screening.

Please listen to this important information in this podcast interview that she shared when she joined me Live on "The Debbie Nigro Show.

Visit Against LiverCancer.com to learn more.

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Hearing Negative Information About Someone You Thought Was Cool Is Always a Bummer.

Changes how you feel about them for sure.

Which is why I needed to talk about Christopher Columbus.

I've always celebrated my Italian American Heritage on Columbus Day. That one day a year, to have fun with and honor all my fellow Italian Americans here in the U.S. and honor all the Italian Immigrants who came over and worked so hard with their hands to help build this country.

I'm aware Italian immigrants were persecuted badly, but I'm not sure everybody knows just how bad. Bad.

Growing up people took the liberty of making fun of my being 'Italian" more times than I can count. And there were many oportunities closed off to me along the way, because of my ethicity that I just came to accept.

But I am proud of my heritage, as we all should be proud of our heritage, and I loved the whole big Italian family thing growing up and all the big Italian food. Italians by the way think food is love, so there was hummungous love which led to bigger sized clothes, but oh well.

Anyway recently I felt needed a better education about Christopher Columbus. I was thinking if he was that bad a guy, I want nothing to do with him. I was also thinking OK, maybe we just change the name of Columbus Day to 'Italian Heritage Day' and not 'Indigenous Peoples Day' because even though I love Indigenous people and didnt want to hurt their feelings, I found out Indigenous People already have a day, so I figured ... we could just work it out and call it a day.

Not that simple.

I decided I'd better educate myself more on all fronts. Good thing I did!

I had a fabulous conversation with Andre D'Amino, a successful business leader from N.J. and President of The Italian American One Voice Coalition (IAOVC), the largest independent Italian American anti-bias educational organization.

He's not in favor of changing 'Columbus Day' to anything else and he shared some FACTS why we shoudn't. He was clear many of the negative things people have heard recently about Christopher Columbus are not true.

He said one of the the most important reasons we should keep Columbus Day as is, is because Columbus was the one who opened up the connection between the western world and this part of the world, uniting it all together. That was big.

Enjoy this podcast of our interesting Live conversaton on 'The Debbie Nigro Show'. I think you'll enjoy learning some things I learned.

If you'd rather listen to the transcript it is below.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

0:00:00 And now, back to the Debbie Nigro Show!

0:00:32 Rock and roll back to the Debbie Nigro show Hi guys, how are you doing today? Happy Columbus Day… Although I used to be happier on Columbus Day before all the conversation about… like Okay, this wasn't the best guy in the world… And maybe we should topple over statues of him… But we're still gonna have a parade. I'm a proud Italian American girl, daughter, family girl. Italians have always been about family. And I’m just really am confused. So I want to understand more. And there's this amazing organization called the Italian American One Voice Coalition, the only national organization solely dedicated to defending Italian-American heritage and culture through education. And there's a terrific guy who is their president who's come from a unique family of inventors, Italian American inventors, and just very interesting. Andre D'Amino is joining me. Hey, Andre, how are you?

1 0:01:29 Hi, Debbie. Good to be with you today.

2 0:01:31 You know, I was wavering on whether I wanted to get into a discussion about Columbus on my radio show because I don't do politics, I don't do controversy, but I am wanting to understand more about what's going on. And I know this is what you do all day long in terms of defending the heritage and I'm such a proud Italian American girl, but when did this start going wrong about Columbus? Can you just tell me that? When was he

1 0:01:57 no longer cool?

Well yeah, in fact I can tell you there was a very big uh... real start to this was when as a guy by the name of Howard is in who's a self-declared marxist an anarchist they wanted to destroy America and he did it by fabricating facts about our history and his history book which believe it or not is still being used in schools starts with Columbus where he made up false accusations and incorrect information and editor all kinds of things and he's been totally debunked by scholars and primary sources. But you know you want to attack America and you know he started with Columbus and now of course they're going after Jefferson Washington and others, but it did all start with Columbus amendment and unfortunately, it's been indoctrinated now in the past generation, because that book came out in nineteen early nineteen eighties and uh...

there's even a Howards in the kit education project which continues the work of Howards and be against our country.

So listen, Columbus Day in Columbus is an important, iconic symbol to Italian-Americans, which has a great history, not only for Italian-Americans, but actually the world, because of what he accomplished by uniting the continents and bringing the world together. So, I do really wish you a happy Columbus Day. That's what today is.

2 0:03:09 I'm like, well, he did it for Spain. Didn't Spain say, okay, go here, here's the money and go. And I'm joking to myself driving up, of course they'd ask an Italian to get it done. But yeah, so he didn't really come to the United States. You're a fact guy. You're here to give us facts today, right? He went, where did he go, to the Bahamas?

1 0:03:33 Well, he went to an island called Hispaniola, which is actually where the Dominican Republic is in Haiti okay that's really that he never landed in what we call the United States now or even in uh... you know the middle part of uh... the the the continent it was down that area in the islands uh... he made a total of four voyages there and what was important I know they say well Leif Erikson and others were here before but the most important thing was that after Columbus arrived he opened up the connection between the western world in this part of the world. And that's why he's, it's really a seminal act of our world, uniting it all together, bringing Western culture to this part of the world.

2 0:04:10 Okay, cool. So, now we have this controversy where people are knocking over statues, and there's a lot of statues that have been knocked over around the world, not just Columbus. So, we're smart, you and I, we're smart people, we appreciate education, and so we know a decent person will know that he did some indecent things, but so did many people in history and at what point do you say, okay, now we don't like him anymore, we're smarter, this never would work in our day and age we have to knock over that statue, I mean, to what do you say about that?

1 0:04:42 Well, first off, let's talk about that era this was no Garden of Eden when Columbus got to this part of the world there was slavery child mutilations sacrifices cannibalism uh... and you know of course Columbus was a man of his times. You know we can't put five hundred years ago to today's standards we can't do it to the indigenous people and we can't do it to columbus but the things are saying about Columbus are just not true i'll give you a great example okay they claim that he attacked the tiny no tribes totally false as a matter of fact he protected the tiny milk tribe who was being hunted down by the carib tribe were cannibals and to prove that point is actually an indigenous person by the name of rafael ortiz who traces his lineage back to the tiny no tribe and he wrote four books defending columbus to correct that falsehood that howard's input out there and there's many other things like that you know for example he brought slavery to this part of the world. Totally not true. The indigenous people had plenty of slavery before he got here. Another one was that he brought disease and pestilence. He brought germs over. They didn't know what germs were back 500 years ago. So that's totally not true. And we could go fact for fact for fact of the things they're claiming Columbus did that he just did not do.

2 0:06:00 It's so exhausting trying to control the information that flows that's not correct in the world. Correct. Right. And it happens in multiple areas every day these days and it's exacerbated by the internet and the ability for information to flow so quickly. But I want to just take a minute on the indigenous people. I was here talking earlier in the show before you got on. I love the indigenous people. I want to celebrate them. I feel so bad about everything that happened to them that was wrong. And I'm an empath. I feel bad about things that happen bad to anybody, right? But why do you think they, or whoever they is, decided to take Columbus Day and say, okay, forget that. It's going to be Indigenous Peoples Day. Why couldn't they just say, fine, we'll have Italian Heritage Day, and then we'll also have Indigenous Peoples Day. What was the smasharoo?

1 0:06:49 Well, first off, let me tell you that i agree with you about celebrating indigenous people i i want to be right along with them celebrating but did you know Debbie that they've already got August ninth it is International uh... Indigenous Peoples day declared by United Nations great the day of the Thanksgiving which is called Native American Day and the whole month of November is for Native Americans right and I can tell you that since it's International Indigenous Peoples day on August ninth why take away a celebration for Italian Americans for indigenous people. Let's celebrate separately don't pick right against the other right and that's a little like a good mother an example that just occurred in a pop cup Florida they were considering eliminating Columbus Day they make an Indigenous Peoples Day and just like you're doing they listen to me I wrote to all the county commissioners are wrote to the to come to the uh... council people and explain to them that there is an international indigenous people's day on August 9th. And two weeks ago, that town did the right thing and preserved Columbus Day and declared August 9th as Indigenous Peoples Day. And that's the way we can join together. And don't forget also, Debbie, don't forget, Columbus Day is still a federal holiday. Indigenous Peoples Day is not. But we've got nothing against indigenous people, but don't pit one group against the other.

2 0:08:00 I agree, I agree, I agree. I want to point out that Columbus Day was dedicated by President Benjamin Harrison in 1892 and that was following the lynching in New Orleans of 11 Italian Americans. They were accused of a crime they did not commit and the day was made a federally recognized holiday by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1937 to honor the contributions of Italian Americans

It’s incredible how persecuted Italian-Americans were. And it was really a tough time when they came here for a better life, like most people do, and they're still doing, hoping for a better chance. And you know, it always breaks your heart wondering how brave people had to be to leave their country, to go to another country to try and find a new life. That's, you know, amazing. But yeah, the Italians were not treated very well. I read the story of the Kensico Dam. You know, Italians built dams. They came here because they were industrious and they were masons and they could build but they were the like the low low low on the totem pole yes low low low like there was no lower than Italians and they were paid I remember this reading the story I have one guy conned them all to come and he said they were gonna pay him $25 a week or whatever and then he took the money back and they were like just trying to like figure it out you know. So here we are Columbus all right you know I wouldn't hang around with him now knowing he had some faults. Let's face it, you're telling me the facts of the... he didn't do bad things, but he didn't sound like the guy I wanted to invite to my dinner party. But anyway, why can't we change Columbus Day to Italian Heritage Day, or is that off the

5 0:09:26 table?

1 0:09:27 No, we totally disagree with that, Debbie. I have to tell you candidly, is that Columbus really is someone that did something that no one else really did. He united the world together and of course let's look specifically at columbus day specifically in the united states you said in eighteen ninety two president harrison declared the first quorum to stand before him to anniversary columbus arrival in this part of world but he did that to quell the problems that were occurring because italian americans were treated so poorly in fact it was almost going to be a war between italy in the united states because of all the lynchings of italian americans around the country and that's why this side of tab columbus day look at you know my own family my grandfather who had owned fishing boats when he was in sicily we keep a cold in the streets were paid with gold in the united states he came here in the early nineteen hundreds we got here he couldn't get any work ended up working on the docks of new york and he was paid less than the chinese less than the african-americans and he he told me that you know he used to be spit upon by the others, but when Columbus Day rolled around, he felt that that was a very proud day for Italian-Americans. Our ancestors, our heritage is there with Columbus Day. We shouldn't capitulate and give in just because there's this false stuff going up about Columbus Day.

2 0:10:40 We shouldn't do it. Okay, okay, that's why you're here. I needed some education. I was reading about the documentary, which I have not seen, The Italian-Americans, that was on PBS, and it was 150 years of history and what they mentioned as I was doing my kind of background homework this morning is something that happened in my life I don't know about yours we didn't speak Italian it was sort of like no no no you got to blend in that is not cool and I was very annoyed and I'm more annoyed now that I'm older that I don't have a second language because it was like keep that quiet how about your family well actually I'm actually a

1 0:11:12 combination of both because what I was born in Brooklyn and not only was everybody in my area from Sicily But they wrote from Argento the same place where parents came from so I actually didn't speak English as a kid Really folks Sicily Sicily. It's my first language However, just like you when my parents moved into New Jersey and when I was about six years old They wanted to assimilate and be American My father was so proud to be an American citizen and that's why they told me don't speak Italian out of the house So I thought it was something wrong about being Italian later on I realized it was just them wanting to be put me to be part of American society And I got my patriotism from my father, but I still do speak Italian. Oh you do. I'm a little jealous

2 0:11:52 I speak Italian food like I can speak a lot you know which nobody knows what I'm saying unless they go what I go calamari Italians um Italian American have their own language when it comes to food, right? What do you call it? Ricotta or ricotta?

1 0:12:06 It's ricotta if you say it properly in Italian, but I know a lot of people say ricotta.

2 0:12:10 Ricotta, right. And the calamar, you say that? Calamard, yep. It's good to laugh. You know, Italians can make fun of themselves, you know that, right? Sure.

6 0:12:20 But nobody else can make fun of us.

1 0:12:21 Well, you know, unfortunately, like our organization, the Italian American One Voice Coalition, we have to really do stand up against the stereotyping that's up there because unfortunately italian-americans are the last ethnicity that it's okay to bash you know we see so much stereotyping that still occurs every time you see an italian-american on a movie or tv show he's either a mobster, a mafioso, or a bimbo, or a buffoon and you know i challenge you debbie and your audience to come up with a positive portrayal of an italian-american in a popular tv show or movie you just can't do it I know.

2 0:12:50 I need a new show.

5 0:12:51 I was just invited.

1 0:12:52 I'm very proud to share this with you and also my audience.

2 0:12:53 I just got an invitation from the Italian consulate in New York City to come be a speaker

4 0:12:54 in November of Italian American Women's Success Stories.

2 0:12:55 I was really, really flattered. I'm like, how did you find me? I want to do my part to keep the heritage and culture going, as we all do from time to time. I'm going to be a speaker in November of Italian American Women's Success Stories Women's Success Stories.

I want to do my part to keep the heritage and culture going, as we all do from wherever we have come. Right? I mean, we all have our family pride. But yeah, the whole Godfather story, it always blows my head that that's what keeps being shown. And you know who loves it more than anything else? The Italians, even though they know that's not how they want to be perceived.

1 0:13:39 Well of course the Godfather movies, you know, great cinema, we can't take away the fact of what they are as cinema, but it did really start in 1972, start this kind of craze about Italian American mobsters and mafiosi. You know, one thing, that was back in history, the one that actually hurts us more is The Sopranos because it took, it takes that and puts it in modern day suburbia. And that's what's really unfortunate. And you know, when they look at Italian Americans, they look at those shows and there's so much more accomplishment by Italian Americans.

2 0:14:06 Yeah, I gotta just continue this conversation some other time with you. But boy, oh boy, did you come at the right time to this show today. I can't thank you enough, Andre. Domino, I'm saying your name correctly, right? The president of the Italian American One Voice Coalition. Really nice to meet you. I'd like to have you back another time to talk about your family's company and all the inventions along the way that we've run out of time for now. But continued great success to you and have a great Columbus Day.

1 0:14:32 Thank you, Debbie. Happy Columbus Day.

2 0:14:34 Pleasure. Nice to meet you. All right, when we come back here on the show, I think we should talk about more of what Italians have invented. I got you through the Castro convertible sofa, Mr. Coffee in the Jacuzzi. Can you imagine what I'm going to tell you about next. Oh, you have to come back and that'll be in just a moment here on the Debbie Nigro show.

Transcribed with Cockatoo

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Repurposing Sterile IVF Needles is how now Mom of twins, Jamie Kushner Blicher coped with her infertility journey.

Jamie an artist, who was emotionally struggling with what seemed like a never-ending process, took those one of those damn IVF needles one day, pumped it full of ink, and pushed out all her emotions onto a canvas! She then shared her art on social media without explaining. And that was how her company 'Glitter Enthusiast' was born. When she did share the heavy secret backstory of her art, a large and incredibly encouraging community cheered her on.

Today, Jamie is proud to report that she is a mother of two incredible twin boys. This Glitter Enthusiast’s mission is to educate, support, and empower all women, but especially the 1 in 4 who are going through their own infertility journey.

A portion of every sale of Jamie's art which is INCREDIBLE, is donated to RESOLVE, a national non-profit organization providing free/low-cost support and educational programs to meet the needs of women and men diagnosed with infertility.

A self-taught artist, Jamie is using IVF tools to make art and conversation. Since 2016, she's been using her art to help bring calm and happiness to others who have gone through or are still going through their infertility journeys. In 2017, her work was exhibited in Washington, D.C. through The ART of Infertility, a non-profit group striving to break the silence around the experience of infertility through art and storytelling.

Jamie also has made several prints available exclusively to lifestyle brand Oliver Gal. You can purchase these prints through various major retailers from Amazon to Neiman Marcus or directly through Oliver Gal. Or you can commission her to make something special for you. Many Fertility Clinics are commissioning her work!

Jamie lives with her husband, her twin boys, and their labradoodle named Gem in their very noisy house in Rockville, Maryland.

Meet Jamie Kushner Blicher in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show

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Did You Catch National Lobster Day? The people at GOLDBELLY reminded me in an email. GOLDBELLY ships Americas Most Iconic Foods Nationwide.

When I saw my friend Andrea Anthony's Restaurant pop up in the email, the famous LUNCH Lobster Roll, in the Hamptons, I was curious to know how her new expansion into shipping Lobster Roll's to people all over the country through GOLDBELLY was going.

She'll tell you herself in this fun podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

Andrea is the most hands on businesswoman I've ever met. Refreshing to know in this day and age of virtual communication, where messages and emails often go unanswered for a while if not forever.

If you try and get in touch directly with Andrea with a question or a problem, she's going to get back to you asap.

Someone even left a review about just that point about her on GOLDBELLY. These kind of reviews matter to a company’s success.

"Everything about it was excellent. I had a question about freezing the lobster and I left a message and Andrea called me back, which is unbelievable these days. I would definitely do business with this company again.

Margaret P.

from Tarpon Springs, FL12/26/22

Verified Purchase

Andrea Anthony is all about sincerity and quality in all she does. She’s sets a fabulous example for how business owners and brands should be communicating with customers.

Terrific woman. And her Lobster Rolls are... 'to die for'.

BTW LUNCH Lobster Roll restaurant was the first to introduce the lobster roll to Long Island and the New York City Area. Over the years, The Lobster Roll and its neon sign (which proudly proclaims “LUNCH”) became Amagansett landmarks, and regulars began affectionately referring to it as simply Lunch. They now have a second location in Southampton, NY.

Though you may have missed National Lobster Day it’s still a fun idea to order a Lobster Roll Kit through GOLDBELLY for yourself or as a gift for someone you want to make smile.

Meet Andrea Anthony in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Got a good idea for a product that arose from a need you had?

That's how Andrew Darlow invented the "GalleryPouch™ "

Andrew, is a New Jersey-based photographer, author and inventor. He came up with the idea for the GalleryPouch™ custom bubble bag, after some of his artwork was damaged after a solo gallery show.

Andrew invented the GalleryPouch™ and developed it with Mark Rogers, the Founder and President of Dallas, Texas based 'Frame Destination'.

Created specifically for photographers and artists, it meets their unique needs of storing or transporting art. It's also perfect for mirrors, collectibles, camera equipment or gear, rolled canvas, music cases, electronics, household items, and more.

Andrew chose to license his product and has some good insight for any of you who might want to know more about licensing a product idea you have. He shared, "The process of negotiating the licensing agreement for the GalleryPouch™ was very helpful for my book contracts, and I believe it will also be very useful if some of my other inventions are licensed in the future."

Andrew Darlow is quick to share how others can identify ways to solve problems and bring their ideas to companies like he did.

If you're into photography, Andrew’s photography, tips and reviews have appeared in numerous publications and other media, including People Magazine, Animal Planet, Reader’s Digest and Woman's World Magazine.

Andrew is the author of four award-winning books, all related to photography as well. His website is AndrewDarlow.com

Meet lovely Andrew Darlow on this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show and learn about how you might license a product of your own.

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I love to talk to strangers and wanted to know how to better communicate with those with disabilities.

What's the proper etiquette for communicating with others in wheelchairs, those with speech difficulties or cognitive impairments, or people with hearing or vision loss?

The Disability Rights and Resource Center has some thoughtful tips, like when speaking to a person in wheelchair, if the conversation lasts more than a few minutes, sit down or kneel to get yourself on the same level as the person in the wheelchair. When speaking to a person who has a speech difficulty, if you don’t understand them don’t pretend to. Repeat as much as you do understand, the persons reaction will guide and clue you in. When communicating with someone with a cognitive impairment one suggestion is to use a calm voice and be re-assuring, use short sentences and simple concrete words. If you’re with someone who has hearing loss, look directly at the person and speak slowly and expressively. If they wear a hearing aid keep in mind hearing aids increase volume not clarity of words. Use sign language if you and the person are familiar with it. You’ can find more ‘Disability Etiquette Tips’ on drrcva.org.

Meanwhile, I had been thinking about this subject on the very night I happened to catch Tom Willis, born without arms, throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium with his feet, marking the 29th MLB ballpark in which he’s thrown a first pitch.

Tom learned to use his ABILITIES to offset his disability. Tom is the President and Founder of the Pitch for Awareness National Tour. He’s pitching his message of the awareness of the abilities of persons with disabilities. He’s a powerful keynote motivational speaker who says … ‘No Hands - No Arms- No Problem” . Tom meets with people who want to turn Obstacles into Opportunities, Challenges into Championships, and make the Impossible … Possible! He says Impossible = I aM POSSIBLE!

I was so inspired and touched by this man and could think of no message more important to post. GO TOM!

While thinking about the subject of how to better communicate with those with disabilities, I also wanted to shine a light on a wonderful organization called ‘Positive Exposure’ which is building a more equitable, compassionate world for individuals and communities at risk of stigma and exclusion.

I invited ‘Positive Exposure’ Founder an award-winning photographer, Rick Guidotti to join me on The Debbie Nigro Show today to get his take on how best to communicate with those with disabilities.

Rick said,” We all share the same need: The need to be seen. The need to be heard. The need to belong”.

I hope you take a few minutes to listen to Rick Guidotti on this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. It’s meaningful.

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LifeVac Founder Arthur Lih Is Donating One Of His Life Saving Choking Rescue Devices to EVERY School in the US.

THAT'S AMAZING so I'm helping share this news to make sure every school takes advantage of this generous gift.

LifeVac Helps Prevent Senseless Choking Deaths. And Arthur Lih who invented the life saving device thinks every school in the US should have one on hand…in case. ‘School budgets’ or lack of budgets, were holding up progress on implementing the idea, so passionate Arthur Lih got frustrated and said, never mind, I’ll do it myself and donate one to every school in the U.S. I don’t care what it costs.

It's gonna cost him millions, but Arthur Lih doesn’t care. He’s obsessed with making sure as many people as possible have access one of these life-saving devices that could mean the difference between life and death, in minutes, for anyone at any age.

Arthur set out on the Life Vac mission some years ago when he was nearby a woman in a hospital weeping following the death of her young son. A grape had become lodged in the child’s windpipe and the Heimlich Maneuver did not work.

Arthur, the father of a similar aged child at the time, was deeply pained and deeply affected by the tragedy that he felt could have been avoided. So, he set out to do something! Arthur, who had a little bit of a background in making things, invented a simple apparatus that could clear an airway in basically a single suction pull, in the hopes that no child would ever die a senseless choking death again.

Arthur’s goal and LifeVacs' goal, is to save as many lives as possible throughout the world. They’re doing a great job. So far 1290 lives have been saved by having a LifeVac on hand!

At LifeVac, research and development headquarters in Springfield Gardens, NY, there is actually a “Wall of Saves” featuring people of all ages who lives were saved thanks to LifeVac. Those lives include, among others, a 3 yr old little girl who choked on a peanut, a 90 yr old woman in a Senior Living Facility who choked on a food, an 82 yr old man who choked on a carrot, a 2 1/2 yr old girl who choked on a grape, a 7 yr old girl who choked on bacon, and a 1 yr old girl who choked on a hot dog. The list of ‘saves’ continues to grow. Just recently LifeVac Europe reported that a 70-year-old man at a private hospital in the North East of England choked on a piece of chicken, causing a complete airway obstruction. On the 2nd application LifeVac successfully dislodged the obstruction saving his life.

Arthur Lih says, “We have now touched the lives of almost 1300 individuals and their families. Together we are making a difference one life at a time.” Incredible rescues around the world thanks to LifeVac’s upper airway clearing device which is they say, the safest, simplest method to save an aspirating person.

Again, Arthur Lih is DONATING A LIFEVAC TO EVERY SCHOOL IN THE US.

Please make sure someone from your school, your child’s school or a school near you gets in touch with LifeVac to get their free LifeVac Choking Rescue Device Kit.

LifeVac.net

admin@lifevac.net

1 516-962-2554

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Harvard MBA and Financial Wellness Expert Manisha Thakor is an awesome financial advisor. I met her years ago and never forgot how genuine and passionate she was about helping people understand their finances.

She was compelled to figure out how to help people unlock the secret to finding their ‘enough’ with respect to money, and she candidly shares her own journey out of the Cult of Never Enough. A painful mindset she explains, that tells you the money you earn, the accomplishments you achieve, and praise you receive is always insufficient.

Her new book is called “MoneyZen - The Secret to Finding Your Enough”, written with investigative journalist Lisa Sweetingham, sets out to understand ‘why’ so many of us develop toxic relationships around work, money and success at the expense of our emotional well-being and crucially, how to flip the mental script.

There’s a money-happiness paradox. Yes, making more money can lead to greater life satisfaction, but it only works if you already possess emotional well-being she says.

Manisha wrote MoneyZen to share the powerful blueprint she developed on that journey one that can be used by anyone of any age income or profession, to stop surviving as a human doing and start thriving as a human being.

There are lots of inspiring stories in the book from people who share their experiences escaping the Cult of Never Enough. And women should especially benefit from reading the book as Manisha has always had a sweet spot for helping women and she knows how to make understanding investing simple!

MoneyZen is for anyone who needs to let go of their self-sabotaging behaviors preventing them from living the life that makes their heart sing.

Meet Manisha Thakor in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. BTW: you can listen to the show live form anywhere 11-12noon ET at WGCH.com

More about Manisha’s background at moneyzen.com

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I was taking a walk at the Kensico Dam in Valhalla, NY when I spotted a woman working out swinging ‘sumthin' in the distance.

I was curious what the heck she was doing and wanted to ask her. So, I walked over and saw she was swinging a contraption around her waist and hips, similar to what we used to do as kids with that old Skip-It toy you’d swing around your ankle and jump over with your other leg. 'Weighted Hula Hoops' she said are a Tik Tok Trend. Who Knew? I instantly felt I might need one too! LOL

I got to talking with Dr. Karen Blacks, who said according to her app, her 20 minutes of 'hula hooping' was the same as walking 2 miles, plus it tightens your core, she said.

A few laughs later, I find out like me, Dr. Blacks enjoys talking to strangers, so I told her about my upcoming little book, “How To Talk To Strangers, Advice From A Professional Stranger Talker.” Then she told me she wrote a book called 'Experiencing God in The Ordinary'. Then she mentioned she was excited she was being ordained at a Baptist Minister that weekend, then… I invited her on my show to share the big hula hoop discovery and celebrate her accomplishment!

Meanwhile, next day Amazon delivered my own 'weighted hula hoop’. I chose blue. It was pretty easy to figure out how to size it to my waist and attach the weighted thingy. What was challenging was figuring ‘where’ to hula. I tried it inside my house and almost cleared all the glasses off my bar. I was too embarrassed to let my neighbors see me hula swinging outside my house, so I waited till almost dark and tried it out for like 2 minutes. Then I put it in my car and figured I’d just keep it there for when I went walking and do it in a random park. But every time I was about to take it out and swing it around, I thought I’d look stupid, so I didn’t.

One day just as I walked into a CVS drugstore, my phone rang, and it was my bestie Mo calling from the parking lot telling me that I’d just parked next to her and walked past her car without noticing. I knew she was in a funky mood, so I thought I’d cheer her up on the way back out, and make her laugh by showing off my moves with my new hula hoop in the parking lot while she watched from inside her car. That was a good laugh.

Anyway, I finally found the perfect spot to do my hula exercise, a hideaway grassy area in my local park. The other day after walking I put it on, and got my weighted hula hooping swinging up to 5 minutes and found myself sweating. Even crazier, I checked my ‘steps’ on my iPhone and sure enough it was like I had walked another half mile. I’m getting the hang of it now.

Last night after walking, right around dusk when I got back to my car in a mostly empty parking lot, I figured no one would notice me hula swinging. So I put it on, and hula hooped with my phone in my hand to just again see if it counted as ‘steps’.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw random woman walking in the distance toward her parked car but paid her no mind, until she turned and started walking toward me and I knew why. In her Norwegian accent she said,… ‘What’ is that thing you’re doing?”

I was laughing while still hooping as I told her, I had done the same exact thing when I saw the random Baptist Minister swinging her weighted hula hoop. Now the Norwegian lady wanted to get one too. So, while still swinging away, I gave her the name of it to look it up on Amazon.

Anyway, I decided some of you after reading this story, might get a kick out of the idea and want to try a weighted hula hoop too. I got my 'Dumoyi Smart Weighted Fit Hoop on Amazon'.

Let me know if you get one. LOL

Meanwhile listen in and have some laughs and meet my latest 'Random Run In' Dr. Karen Blacks in this podcast of our live conversation from The Debbie Nigro Show.

When she's not 'hula hooping' at the dam, Dr. Karen Blacks serves as the Associate Minister, and Minister of Women's Initiatives at Antioch Baptist Church in Bedford Hills, New York. Dr. Blacks is also the founder of Women of God in the World, a welcoming community of over 10,000 women from 30+ countries. Dr. Blacks holds a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from New York Theological Seminary and a Certificate of Specialization in Leadership and Management from Harvard Business School Online. She also has a heart for volunteering and can be found distributing food to those in need in the White Plains community. She serves on the Town of Bedford Prison Relations Advisory Committee, is a member of the Westchester NY Black Women's Political Caucus and is on the board of the Women's Empowerment Forum located in Liberia, Africa.

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Frank Chindano is the Founder & CEO of LaughMD, sure knows a thing or two about comedy and the power of humor.

Frank’s comedy career resume is a riot. He’s been a writer for SNL, worked on Ghostbusters, and has garnered some 30+ awards for writing and producing comedy videos for HBO, Showtime, CBS, PBS, Comedy Central and more. In addition, he’s a certified humor professional as part of the Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor,

Frank launched LaughMD, the worlds’ first mobile comedy channel and it’s a huge hit with patients and health care workers in hospitals and health facilities around the country. LaughMD iPads are a digital therapeutic healing tool.

LaughMD Has PROOF They’re The Best Medicine!

SERIOUSLY.

500 scientific studies show positive health benefits of humor and laughter. If you saw the movie Patch Adam’s with Robin Williams, you’ll understand why the real Patch Adam’s is on Franks’ LaughMD advisory board. Dr. Patch Adam’s is a medical doctor and a clown who has devoted over 40 years of his life to changing Americas healthcare system and has traveled the world sharing his message that laughter, joy and creativity are an integral part of the healing process.

Health care providers and patients are raving how the LaughMD content is lowering their stress and pain. No joke!

Franks says, when you laugh your breathing gets better, your heart rate slows, your blood pressure goes down, all kinds of things happen to you when you laugh, all kinds of good things! Your endorphins, your serotonin, your dopamine go up, your cortisol and your adrenaline go down. So, you feel less pain and you are in a better mood and so that promotes healing. You heal more quickly, literally.

Frank also says, the nurses love it too, because their job is so incredibly stressful that according to National Public Radio about half of them are going to be planning on leaving the profession in the next two years because there's so much stress.

They don’t have to convince me. I’m positive my sense of humor is what got me through my own 2 bouts of cancer. My favorite line I used every time I arrived for chemo treatment wearing a wig was, “Hi I’m here for the modeling assignment.”

I ‘get’ and wholeheartedly support Frank Chindano and LaughMD.

Frank says, “Ask your doctors, ask your health officials, ask your hospitals to please subscribe because we don't sell to the public, we sell to the institutions, health care institutions, dialysis, cancer clinics, drug and alcohol recovery, that sort of thing. Those are our customers. So if you work there, please, my phone number is on the website and if you're a customer there, even better.:”

Right now LaughMD is an app but they’re raising funding so that they can do it in virtual reality, and hook up with medical devices so people can see their biometrics change in real time.

Tune in to this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show and meet Frank Chindano and help spread the word to other healthcare facilities about the healing power of LaughMD.

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Michael Swanson Sr. VP Production NBC Universal Studio Group, was just featured in the Forbes Magazine article called, ‘How To Build Your Network” by Maya Richard-Craven.

Michael who’s a giver by nature, was called on for his expert advice. He shared that ‘helping other people is a great way to form long- term relationships”.

When it comes to creating professional relationships, Michael says, “Go out of your way to be of service with a genuine motive and an earnest heart”. “Then over time, someone may ask if there is anything you need."

Since 85% of jobs are filled through networking rather than traditional hiring, (yes, it’s true), then Michael’s advice should help lead you in the right direction to build your career.

Michael’s own professional journey has been one of working his way up through hard work, and is filled with many accomplishments. Being of service to many along his jounrey has surely led to the many professional relationships he has come to enjoy.

Besides being an Emmy Award winner, and a Hollywood TV studio executive, film producer and theatre producer, Michael is also a visionary entrepreneur and President and CEO of the entertainment company, Faith Filmworks.

At NBC Universal, he’s the studio executive responsible for the production of Universal Television's Parks and Recreation, Hacks, The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Good Girls, Never Have I Ever, Community and Master of None.

And throughout his distinguished career in entertainment, Michael has produced movies to critical and audience acclaim including All About You, All About Us, For the Love of Ruth, To Hell and Back, Andraé Crouch: Making The Journey, Two Seasons, Notre Dame First Time Fans: Legacy, The Wayman Tisdale Story and Fannie.

He's a guy many in the professional entertinament business aspire to meet, but if you do meet him, please don't ask if he has a card! Or a QR Code! LOL

Michael said, " I find that a little off-putting. I think it's more important to really engage a person and get to know him or her, ask questions, but in a very genuine and authentic way as opposed to kind of bouncing around collecting information and calculating in your head what's the best way he or she can help boost my career or advance my career so I can climb the ladder. Frankly in my opinion it's just the opposite. How can we be of service to others? I find that when you are in service to others in a genuine way, with an authentic heart and no ulterior motives, but really just want to help and learn, then I think there comes an opportunity where that executive or that person can eventually reach back out to you and say, you know what, you're doing such a great job. Is there anything I can do for you? How can I help? And then it becomes a more authentic relationship and it can even perhaps turn into a long-term mentoring relationship. And I think that's the best way to navigate a career because it's a little bit more personal. It's not about just taking from someone but learning how to be of service to others."

I’m personally aware that networking is challenging for people who don’t have ‘connections or ‘experience’ in their fields yet, but I always champion the idea of finding ways to meet the people you want to meet, especially in your desired industry, ‘in person’. I think ‘in person’ matters for connecting genuinely with people. For getting them to ‘see’ who you really are.

How do you think I got Michael Swanson on my show today right after Forbes got him?

I had the good fortune to meet Michael ‘in person’ when he was in NY from LA when The Temptations and The Four Tops performed at the Westbury Music Fair in Long Island NY. Michael, is involved with the Tony Award Winning Broadway smash hit musical ‘Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations’ and is also co-producing the upcoming Four Tops Musical, ‘I’ll Be There’ with my buddy Paul Lambert and Duke Fakir. Duke is the only surviving member of the group.

Michael is a beautiful human with a beautiful family. He serves on the board of directors for Wedgwood Circle, Notre Dame’s Performing Arts Advisory Council, Success Through Education Program, FEAST and is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. A South Side of Chicago native, Michael resides in Los Angeles with his wife of 29 years, filmmaker and screenwriter Christine Swanson, and their four children.

Michael Swanson joined me live from LA on The Debbie Nigro Show to share much more of his warm advice about how to build your professional ‘relationships’.

Enjoy the podcast of our conversation.

If you prefer to read, the Audio Transcript is below.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

0:00:00
And now, back to the Debbie Nigro Show!

2
0:00:24
Okay, life is all about relationships. Let me explain, okay? Actually, I'll let somebody else explain. Hi everybody, I'm Debbie Nigro. I am so excited to introduce you to my next guest. You know, I always say meeting people in person matters, right? I really do think it totally matters, especially in this virtual world we live in. I met Michael the night I went to see The Four Tops and also the Temptations at Westbury Music Fair in Long Island back when. It was a wildly fabulous night. I met Michael and met his lovely son. What a gentleman. There was something very special about him and there's something very special about him that you guys are going to sense and find out about right now. Michael is a giver by nature. He's not only some big wig Hollywood TV studio executive and film producer and theater producer, which he is all those things, but he is a guy who's created relationships over time that have been really heartfelt and he's spending some time right now educating others on how to do it. Forbes just did a story on how to build a network of professional relationships. He was their first person. They went to interview him as an expert. What Michael said that really just needs to be shared because he's a giver by nature, I mentioned that, is that helping other people is a great way to form long-term relationships. So more about that, but first, welcome Michael and thanks for helping me out by coming on my show today.

1
0:02:10
Good morning, Debbie. It's so wonderful to be with you. Thanks for having me.

2
0:02:13
You're welcome. So you, being the first guy that Forbes called about relationships, probably took a moment, sat back and thought, wow, all my life's work has mattered because I know this matters to you. You have incredibly important advice to people about giving before taking.

1
0:02:31
Yes, yes. I think we are all called to be of service. One thing about networking and mentoring which Forbes wanted to focus on is how do you do it? What's the best way for someone who has had a long career and they wanted me to give advice and some tips. My whole thing is not about going to networking events and some of the less savvy networkers may their first question may become, �Do you have a card?

2
0:03:01
Does anybody have a card anymore?

1
0:03:04
Yeah, I know, right? QR codes. Can I scan your QR codes? I found that a little off-putting. I think it's more important to really engage a person and get to know him or her, ask questions, but in a very genuine and authentic way as opposed to kind of bouncing around collecting information and calculating in your head what's the best way he or she can help boost my career or advance my career so I can climb the ladder. Frankly in my opinion it's just the opposite. How can we be of service to others? I find that when you are in service to others in a genuine way, with an authentic heart and no ulterior motives, but really just want to help and learn, then I think there comes an opportunity where that executive or that person can eventually reach back out to you and say, you know what, you're doing such a great job. Is there anything I can do for you? How can I help? And then it becomes a more authentic relationship and it can even perhaps turn into a long-term mentoring relationship. And I think that's the best way to navigate a career because it's a little bit more personal. It's not about just taking from someone but learning how to be of service to others.

2
0:04:23
If somebody didn't know you and know that you are this heartfelt guy that you are and just saw your title, Hollywood TV studio executive, film producer, theater producer, and they were a young person trying to get into the business. They might be very intimidated by approaching a gentleman like yourself. You're giving some good advice, but how would you like someone to approach you if they were trying to get to know you?

1
0:04:48
My advice would be to simply be yourself. When I meet with a lot of especially recent college graduates or young professionals, that's my advice. There is only one you in this entire world who God has created. So be yourself because no one can be better at you being yourself than you. And then I find that you will relax, you will get centered, you can be yourself and communicate without trying to morph into someone else who you think you're supposed to be to move ahead.

2
0:05:21
Has anybody ever tried to impress you by doing something really out of the box to get your

6
0:05:26
attention?

4
0:05:29
Probably Debbie. But I don't know.

1
0:05:33
I can't think of anything right now.

2
0:05:36
I guess I'm thinking of something funny and I'll share it with you because you did you know one of the key points that was Made in the article and that you know I made Promoting your being on the show today It says that 85% of jobs are filled through networking rather than traditional hiring which is very loud It's a big number and what came to mind is you know a father Always tries to help a daughter or a son and my father God rest his soul He's dead 40 years now once went and repaved some guy's driveway and put in all new shrubs for a guy who wasn't in the TV business because he wanted to make sure he knew who I was by the time I called him. The guy woke up like, what? He didn't even know who I was. So I'm just saying that's funny but people do crazy things to try and get attention to create a relationship and that's the only reason I brought it up. But if in fact 85% right of all the jobs are filled through networking rather than traditional hiring. Like why do people even bother with these, you know, sending resumes into a virtual, you know, hole, a black hole?

1
0:06:36
Yeah, it can become very, rejection is hard for any of us, right? And so when you apply for a job, and even repeatedly sometimes, and you get that rejection or that disappointment, it can be deflating, it can be discouraging, it can even sometimes become depressing because it's like, I've done everything, what can I do? But I have hope in that 15%. You didn't say 100%, you said 85%. So stay positive, is my advice. Stay encouraged and keep submitting. Also, this is one thing that I like to say, which has been true in my life, God will take you to where He needs you to be when He needs you to be there. Sometimes we get rejections or we don't get that job or we don't get that meeting or we don't get that promotion. Sometimes perhaps it's for our own protection. We just may not know that. I'm a big believer, believe it or not, in failure. I think failure is your friend. The key is to learn from your failures, learn from your mistakes, learn from the setbacks, because all of those things are equipping you and preparing you for where you ultimately will end up. So it's not always a bad thing. You know, it's like adding tools to your toolbox that informs how you proceed. So life is hard, right? There are challenges, there are ups and downs, but stay encouraged is the advice that I always get. And importantly, you have to know that things take time. Things take time. Hang in there. Don't get discouraged. Most overnight successes are about ten years. It takes about ten years.

2
0:08:25
At least. Right?

9
0:08:27
I think I'm just peaking, Michael.

4
0:08:28
I love that.

8
0:08:29
That's okay because you know what, Debbie?

2
0:08:30
All of the experience and all of the knowledge and all of the things that you've learned

4
0:08:31
and now you've continued to hone your craft all of these years, it just makes you even

5
0:08:32
more prepared for where you are now.

7
0:08:33
Yes.

1
0:08:34
And have an even bigger platform. So I'm okay with that. I think we live in a microwave society now. Yep. And I think we live in a microwave society now. And I think we live in a microwave society now. And I think we live in a microwave society now. And I think we live in a microwave society now. And I think we live in a microwave society now. And I think we live in a microwave society now. And I think we live in a microwave society now. And I think we live in a microwave society now.

5
0:08:46
And I think we live in a microwave society now.

1
0:08:47
And I think we live in a microwave society now. And I think we live in a microwave society now. And I think we live in a microwave society now. And I think we live in a microwave society now. And I think we live in a microwave society now. And I think we live in a microwave society now. It's okay to put things in the crockpot. Let things simmer. I like that. Let things simmer.

6
0:08:59
Let things simmer.

2
0:09:00
I like that. Let things simmer. Let things simmer. Let things simmer. Let things simmer. Let things simmer. Let things simmer. Let things simmer. Let things simmer. Let things simmer. Let things simmer. Let things simmer. Let things simmer. Let things simmer. Let things simmer. Let things simmer. Let things simmer. works, your celebrated entertainment production company. But you're also the production executive on so many shows that we all love and know, Parks and Recreation, The Good Plays, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Master of None, Good Girls, Never Have I Ever, you've been out there in the movie world, Oh My Gosh, All About You, All About Us, For the Love of Ruth, it goes on, Broadway, Ain't Too Proud, The Life and Times of the Temptations, and then of course the upcoming Four Tops musical with Duke Fakir, the only living member producer and your co-producer. I'm excited to know you. I have to think that as you look back at your life and you are having this conversation with me about how important relationships are to going forward in a career, who is loud in your head right now that helped you along the way? Somebody that did something nice for you in your business?

1
0:10:02
Oh yeah, well you know so many people, Jerry D'Acanio, Clay Mattel, Adrian Backus, there are so many people who have impacted my life, my career. Mentors who I've had, Erwin McManus, pastors along the way like Charles Stanley. You don't always have to know. I know all those folks or know of them, but most of them I've had personal relationships with. But I also want to share, you don't have to know them personally. You can have a mentor or someone who can be very influential in your life or your career by reading his or her book, by listening to their podcast, their interviews, by kind of studying their business decisions, if they are entrepreneurs, kind of seeing what pivots they made when the landscape was changing. So you can learn from everyone, even if you've never met him or her along the way. Excellent. That has really impacted my career and my life as a husband, father, friend, executive and entrepreneur.

2
0:11:12
Excellent advice. And we do live in a world where there is an exorbitant amount of information for everybody to tap into free of charge if they have the energy and the desire, right? Absolutely. Let's talk about your family real quick. I know you have a beautiful wife you married to a long time who's also a great talent, Christine Swanson, and then you have four kids. This is a beautiful life you're living. And I've met one of your sons who was adorable. Which one was that?

1
0:11:35
That was Cole. That was our oldest son, Cole Swanson, who recently graduated from college and now he is doing his thing. He is also in the entertainment industry. He graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Art and focused on directing. So we have another filmmaker in the family.

2
0:11:50
Awesome. And the other kids, are they in the business? Are they coming up behind you?

1
0:11:55
I think they are, Debbie. You know, I have a rising sophomore at Stanford University who will probably major in filmmaking and business. I think he has a great producer's mind. My third son, Luke, that was Kenji who is at Stanford, my third son Luke recently completed the acting and theater workshop this summer at USC. Although he is a rising senior in high school, he wants to study acting and he would say be an on-screen actor to make it clear. I said, well you have to start in theater, that's where you really get your training. And then my daughter Julia is entering high school and she is just as smart as anyone. I think it would be great to have an entertainment attorney in the family, so who knows what her career path would be. But Christine, my wife, and I are blessed to have wonderful children. We've been married 29 years, about a week ago. I'm really grateful and just trying to raise some grounded children in Hollywood.

2
0:12:52
Wow, that is a huge accomplishment. So Michael Swanson, you're doing great. Thank you so much for being my guest today. I remembered your good energy when I met you in person. I knew that you would be accommodating and love to share your information about what you said in Forbes, which is how to build a network of professional relationships. Remember, helping other people is a great way to form long-term relationships. Go out of your way to be of service with a genuine motive and an earnest heart. Michael Swanson, NBCUniversal Senior VP of Production, you have a terrific day. Thank you, Debbie.

1
0:13:24
You too. Thanks for having me.

6
0:13:26
See you again soon, I hope.

2
0:13:27
Okay, real soon.

1
0:13:28
Bye-bye.

5
0:13:29
Bye-bye. Bye-bye.

View Details

Melissa Stevens Dad finally agreed to go fishing with her so she could finally show him what she does for a living. Her Dad happened to show me some photos when he returned, and I was blown away.

OMG! I’ve never seen any woman reel in fish this big! I had to meet her.

Melissa will tell you herself she’s not the only woman out there fishing at this level, she's just the only one I know about. I am aware that more women than ever are taking up fishing and that's a good thing. Research shows women who fish are happier and healthier. If that’s the case Melissa must be freakin ecstatic.

The fish she caught when her Dad went along was a Swordfish weighing about 90 to 110 pounds and was about 6 ½ feet tall from the tip of his tail to the end of the bill.

Yes, this woman catches fish much bigger than she is. The fish in the shot of her leaning back on the boat, the photo with blood all over the bottom of the boat (gag me) is a large tuna.

Then there’s that a 302-pound swordfish she’s posed with.

And a shot with her posing with what looks to me like a giant goldfish. Those are American Red Snappers.

Melissa said the biggest fish she ever caught on a rod and reel personally, was roughly a 900 pound bluefin tuna out of a fishery in Nova Scotia where they were not permitted to remove them from.

And the largest fish she ever caught commercial fishing, working on a commercial boat, was... a 940 pound swordfish!

I asked her. “How the heck do you even pull these fish with your arms? "I mean, what kind of unusual strength do you have?”

“Most of my strength” , said Melisa, “comes from pure stubbornness.”

I'm was left speechless seeing what Melissa has been doing for a living for the past 14 years, and I had to wonder, what would inspire a young woman to go in this direction?

Melissa said, “Mom and I grew up watching a lot of this sport fishing on television, most specifically a show called Walker's Kay Chronicles. It's the show that really started off sport fishing in the public eye. And I always wanted to be on the boat my whole life and instead of taking the traditional route after high school, I dug my heels in and I went fishing.”

So yes, Melissa’s gone fishing and living her dream!

I too loved watching sport fishing shows as little girl, and I too am living my dream, telling other peoples fish tales. LOL

Oh and Melissa's 'quite the catch herself', but dating her means you'll have to understand she smells like a fish a lot. LOL We laughed about that.

Melissa is from CT, lives in Fla. and fishes often in Venice, Louisiana.

If you want to go fishing with her, which many people do, you can book a fishing trip with her at Southern Catch Outfitters in Venice, Louisiana.

Melissa says, "People come from all over the world come to fish in Venice." Most of their customer basis is from the Gulf Coast area, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Northern Florida, just because it is a very easy drive. But she said, they’re only an hour and 15 minutes from New Orleans airport and there is a direct flight from LaGuardia Airport in NY right there. So they do have quite a few customers from the tri-state area that join them.

Enjoy this podcast of our live radio conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

If you'd rather read than listen - the audio treanscript is below.

In case you want to know more about Melissa Stevens check out:

https://www.southerncatchoutfitters.com/

Melissa Stevens Facebook Page: Southbound Tackle

https://www.facebook.com/southboundtackle/

I like to follow her 'catches' on Instagram: @SouthboundTackle

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT:

0:00:00
It's time for the Debbie Nigro Show with Debbie Nigro, who says she's still a babe, or at least she thinks she still is. That's right, attitude is everything, and Debbie's delusionally young. No one sees the glass of Cabernet half full like Debbie. She's fresh air with a magnetic flair, but some day has arrived, and as far as she's It's time to roll.

4
0:00:24
They say when you cast off, you never know what you'll reel in. Research shows the real catch isn't something you can hold or see, but something you can feel. Yes, it's about happiness and grit and learning patience and it's very good for your health.

1
0:00:48
Fishing it is, and women who fish have all these things going on. They're being encouraged to get out there, fish more. I don't know if you guys know any women who fish. I don't know many. I love the idea of it. I don't bait and I don't like getting in the way of a big fish coming on board. But, you know, I like the idea of it. I saw a photo of a girl. I'll call her a woman because she is a young beautiful woman, that blew my head. I was like, what am I looking at here? She was holding a catch of a day that was bigger than any fish I've ever seen. I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. And then it just kept going on, picture after picture after picture of this woman, young woman, catching gigundo fish. Like she is the girl that all the guys want to fish with. And I happened to see the picture because I know her dad. And he had just returned from the first time he ever went fishing with her. He said, she said, Dad, why don't you come fishing? So Melissa Stevens is supposed to be joining me today. I don't know if she's still in the water, on the sea, wherever she is. She's definitely checking in. Bob, you stay alert. Hopefully she's supposed to be on the air. Staying alert. Okay. I mean, you just don't mess with a girl who can lift a fish this big. If you want to go on my social media and see what I'm talking about, I highly encourage you to go over to the Debbie Nigro Show Facebook page and you can go over to my Instagram at The Real Debbie Nigro and you will just not believe your eyes. I just can't believe your eyes. I used to watch Wide World of Fishing when I was a young girl. It was on Sunday mornings after like, I don't know, there was nothing on Sunday mornings. It was just like a wide world of fishing. It was always that opened up with an icon and a brand image of a giant swordfish. A big swordfish. I thought that I should do that. I thought I should catch a giant swordfish. Maybe it was a marlin. I don't know. It looked the same to me. I know they're not the same, but that's what I started my day with on Sunday, as a little chubby little girl, like, oh, this is cool. And I imagined myself sitting there trying to do it. One time I did get a chance to go on a boat in Florida and sit in what they call kind of like a, almost like a shark catching sulky, if you will. You know, a big fish sulky that's on the back of a boat and facing out, you get strapped in.

3
0:03:29
It's like, wow!

1
0:03:30
Caught nothing, but I felt like it. Like I felt I had the experience. But what this woman does is beyond. So hopefully she'll be coming up shortly. It led me to do some homework really about fishing and the psychology of it and in particular the research has shown that women should really look into this. It has a very profound impact on a woman's life, fishing and boating. The senior director of marketing for an organization that I just found out about today is really out there. It's called Take Me Fishing. What they're trying to do is confront the barriers and inspire women everywhere to challenge themselves, to try something new, to help them find their best self while supporting a more inclusive fishing and boating environment. Despite record levels of female participation in fishing, almost half of the female anglers do not feel respected by the broader angling community, with more than one in three feeling stereotyped, right?

9
0:04:28
Hey, Deb, how about we let Melissa tell us about it herself?

1
0:04:32
She's right here now. Oh, thank. She got off the boat to call me? Thank goodness. Melissa Stevens, you, you, you unbelievable girl, you. I am like bowing down. Hi, welcome. Hello, thank you. Thank you for having me on. I appreciate it. Honestly, I've been a champion of women doing everything since I was born. I was always like, what can't we do? Why can't we do it? But I was just starting to talk about how there's a campaign to get more women fishing and that there's sort of been a stereotype, I guess, about women not having the presence in the fishing industry. So when I saw this picture that your father showed me, he goes, I just got back from seeing my daughter. We went out fishing. I was like, what am I looking at? And there you were with a giant how big was that swordfish? The one we caught the other day with my dad was about a between we never weighted it but about 90 to 110 pounds. And how tall was it you know I saw it over your head over your father's head. Yeah. How high did it get?

2
0:05:34
Probably about 6 1⁄2 foot on that fish. I couldn't believe it.

1
0:05:40
That's from the tip of his tail to the end of the bill. Melissa, you brave girl. The second picture I put up is you leaning back on the boat with a fish bigger than you, kind of blood all over the bottom of the boat. I'm assuming it's that large. What kind of fish?

2
0:05:53
I haven't looked at it, but I'm assuming it's that large tuna.

1
0:05:56
Yeah, that looks like a large tuna. And then you sent me a picture, you told me I had permission to use, of another fish that, I don't know, I never saw anything this big, is that another swordfish?

2
0:06:08
Oh, that's a 302-pound swordfish.

1
0:06:13
And then those big, looks like giant goldfish, what are those?

2
0:06:17
Those are American red snappers.

1
0:06:21
It's just, I'm speechless seeing what you do. Is this what you do for a living every day It's been about 14 years of me doing this is my daily job What would inspire a young woman like yourself to go in this direction? What was it in your life that led you to doing this very fortunately I live my childhood dream.

2
0:06:40
Mom I grew up watching a lot of this sport fishing on television most specifically a show called Walker's Kay Chronicles. It's really, it was the show that really started off sport fishing in the public eye. Wow. And I always wanted to be on the boat my whole life and instead of taking the traditional route after high school, I dug my heels in and I went fishing. I just think it's incredible. You missed the park.

1
0:07:15
Yeah, I used to watch fishing shows too. That's why I really was attracted to what you're doing. I mean, I used to fantasize about doing what you're doing. I don't know where that came from. It was the only show on Sunday morning, Wild World of Fishing. But you're doing it. Are you one of the few women catching fish this big? At this point in my career, I am not.

2
0:07:37
In the beginning, there was probably about overall four of us in the entire community that were fishing at this level. In the last five years, it has really become more available for women. Yeah, maybe more, more than a month. I've never really, I've never been in it to be a martyr for women. I've never been in it to pound the way and pave the road. So, there's always been space for women in this career if you've been willing to put your head down and work hard. That is really the only way to get, the only way to get far in this career is to dedicate your life to it and show everybody around you how good you are.

1
0:08:30
Unbelievable.

2
0:08:31
There's no... no pictures do the justice. The people need to see the hard work.

1
0:08:37
Yeah. I'm just jealous you get all that fresh air every day. Now I know you're from Greenwich but you moved to Florida but you fished a lot in Venice, Louisiana. Is that where the big action is?

2
0:08:47
My current home port of fishing is Venice. I have been very fortunate that my career has taken me around most of the globe and I have done some of the best fishing on earth. But as far as consistency and truly just incredible nature, Venice, Louisiana is one of the most impressive fishing destinations that I have ever been to in my life. Which is why I chose to stay there for a while.

1
0:09:20
And the water is of the Gulf of Mexico. I can see that just from the way you're catching, who would even know that it existed? Is there something you want to... you came in a little late on the segment. Do you have any more time to hang out and talk a little bit more or you got to go?

2
0:09:33
I have plenty of time, absolutely.

1
0:09:35
Okay, cool. We have to take a little break and when you guys come back I'm talking to Melissa Stevens she is a world-class fisher woman am I saying it right angler what do you what do you an angler I am a fisherman much like a fireman a postman a mailman I'm a fisherman it is a the ocean doesn't know if you're a man or a woman it just wants to work hard that's great so stay with me because I have a lot more that I want to share about you to the audience where they can find you and follow you because it just made my day to see what you're doing. Okay, everybody, you're listening to the Debbie Nigro Show and I guess Melissa Stevens and we'll be back in just a moment.

3
0:10:25
And now, back to the Debbie Nigro Show.

1
0:10:32
Hi guys, I'm Debbie Nigro. You know, I love fascinating personalities, right? People who are unique, doing unique things. And I happen to come across a photo of this guest right now that I'm enjoying meeting, Melissa Stevens, when her dad showed me a picture of him going fishing with her for the first time. And she's like next to these gigantic, like world record size fish. And I wanted to invite her on the show, introduce her to you guys, tell you where you can find her because they, she and her cohorts actually take people out on charters to go fish with them in Venice, Louisiana. You're going to want to know about this if you're into this sort of thing. So, Melissa, are you breaking world records with what I'm seeing you catch this year?

2
0:11:23
Oh man, Debbie, I wish that I was, but I am not. I am not. The hope is that we can get close and try to push the limits of what we can catch where we are, but that's the cool thing about being on the water it could happen anywhere at any time so every day we're hunting for them but I have yet to put a legitimate world record. I mean what what's the heaviest fish you ever pulled up? The heaviest fish that I've ever caught on a rod and reel personally myself is about a 900 pound bluefin tuna out of a fishery in Nova Scotia where we were not permitted to remove them from

8
0:12:06
the water.

2
0:12:07
So that's an approximation of about 900 pounds. And the largest fish I've ever caught commercial fishing, working on a commercial boat, was a 940 pound swordfish. How do you even pull this with your arms? I mean, what kind of strength do you have? Most of my strength comes from pure stubbornness.

1
0:12:35
Wow, you are stubborn!

4
0:12:37
Yes.

1
0:12:39
Incredible, incredible, incredible. I was reading this morning that...

2
0:12:43
Handling fish of that size is heavily technique-driven, not so much a strength thing as far as it is understanding how to handle it.

1
0:12:53
Yeah, so say you catch a 900 pound fish, how many people do you need on the boat with you to help you pull it up into the boat?

2
0:13:02
With the right equipment it could be two of us, but if we don't have that it could take quite a few, five, six people.

1
0:13:09
Wow. And then you know, tuna is in high demand obviously as is swordfish and when you catch giant tuna and we'll talk about tuna let's stick with that what is the market for that like are people

2
0:13:22
clamoring to get their hands on it? So as of right now my current job is solely charter fishing the fish that we catch during the day goes home with the

1
0:13:31
customer and usually they slide a piece of the water. I've never tasted anything. Swordfish, you know, that's not on as many menus as it used to be.

2
0:13:46
What's going on with the swordfish out there? The sword fishery is as good as it's ever been. There has been a lot of restrictions placed on some of the commercial boats, specifically the longliners, on where they can fish. So the frequency in which they've been sword fishing and catching them for the commercial longline boats because of where they're allowed to fish has kind of hampered the amount of swordfish that they've been catching. But also, swordfish do contain a very high level of mercury. And that will scare some people away. But that 90 to 120 pound range fish that my father and I caught, you could eat that all

1
0:14:35
day with not the worry of the mercury. So interesting. What about seasickness? What you guys do all day long? How do you do that? I fortunately in the last almost 15 years have never been seasick.

7
0:14:52
Good.

2
0:14:53
But I have been graced with the opportunity to watch thousands of people to get seasick.

1
0:14:59
Gosh, that's the worst.

2
0:15:02
Depending on the customer, we don't really, there's nothing you can really do. Seasickness, you can kind of tell usually before we leave the dock even who's going

6
0:15:12
to get seasick.

2
0:15:13
It's very mentally driven. Now there are a group of people who just cannot handle any kind of motion. My brother is one of those people specifically where we could be in the car and the car could swerve funny and he could get sick. But most people the seasickness comes from hyping it up in their head that they're going to get seasick. Wow. Okay. There is some things you can do in order to, you know, stave it off, but once it happens, it's very hard to shake it until we get to

1
0:15:48
land. Okay, let's not talk about that anymore, because even the thought of people getting nauseous makes me nauseous, Melissa. I can't even talk about it. Yes, but that, but I'm

2
0:15:57
trying to say is that that thought in your mind is what will drive it in the first place.

1
0:16:03
Okay, we're done with that topic. Let's talk about the blood that comes out of the fish. I can't look at blood. How do you look at all that blood?

2
0:16:09
Oh, I tell our customers that my Captain John has a duty to fulfill my daily bloodlust and that we gotta go catch some fish. So for me, it is a byproduct of the joy of fishing and I could not possibly care less about it.

1
0:16:26
How many days a week do you eat fish after doing all this fishing? I eat little fish pieces with tuna blood every day. Oh gosh. Did you hear what my question? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cut you off. How many days do you eat fish after all this fishing? How many days a week do I eat fish?

2
0:16:39
Yeah. Oh, probably one or two days because you have to mix it up a little bit. It would be too much if I ate fish every single day.

1
0:16:50
Right. But there's people who do that. And I know that it's obviously one of the healthier things to do.

2
0:16:55
My captain's mother is a pescatarian. All she eats is fish. So every few months we ship her a box. Pescatarian.

1
0:17:03
Nice and new where we brought into this century. I don't think they had pescatarians. Maybe they did. They just didn't call it that. So who's coming to rent these charters? Where are people coming from?

2
0:17:18
If you have any knowledge of great fishing and you know Venice, we have people coming from all over the world. Most of our customer basis is from the Gulf Coast area, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Northern Florida, just because it is a very easy drive. But that being said we are only an hour and 15 minutes from New Orleans airport and there is a direct flight from LaGuardia right there. So we do have quite a few customers from the tri-state area that join us.

1
0:17:51
Wow, you have full day offshore fishing and overnights that I guess you start out and you're there surprising the fish when they wake up?

2
0:18:00
We leave the dock about noon, we get back about noon the next day.

1
0:18:04
Yeah. Are there some fish that are easier to catch at night?

2
0:18:11
Not particularly, but sometimes the bite at night can get really fired up. And a lot of people like the overnight experience. We bring the grill, you know, we make burgers on the boat.

1
0:18:27
It's really more of an experience than specifically for the fishing. Yes. I have friends and people I know who are avid fisher people and travel all over the world. They seek out the next great fishing adventure. So when I saw what you were catching, I was like, wow, if anybody sees what I'm going to post who likes this, they're going to be calling you ASAP. So I wanted to just promote who you are associated with because it's called Southern Catch Outfitters and they're in Venice, Louisiana. And I never heard of Venice, Louisiana as the fishing location, but after seeing what you caught, I'm like, okay, obviously this is the place, right? And of course-

2
0:19:07
It is truly remarkable. Not a very beautiful place to stay in actual Venice. That is for sure. A lot of oil industry, very commercialized, not a lot of people. No supermarket. There's one dollar general and that's about it. But we can help people find places to stay. There's houseboats. We pick you right up in the marina from the deck of the houseboat. And we have two boats, 40 foot center console catamaran style boats that can hold up to six passengers each and It's about a 10 to 12 hour day and in total But the great part about Venice as opposed to fishing in other places in the Gulf Coast is that it's a peninsula And you're already 60 miles in the correct direction

1
0:19:54
Awesome, so Melissa a couple last questions. When somebody comes in with a giant tuna, 600 pounds, 700 pounds, whatever, do you cut it up right there on the boat? Do you fillet it?

2
0:20:09
We take care of all of the processing up to the point of we don't vacuum seal it or we'll put it in ziplocks, but we take care of all that breaking down of the fish for you. We do it in the marina. We have to bring the fish in whole. If unfortunately we got pulled over by wildlife on the way in, you have to have the fish in one piece in order for them to measure them. So once we get in, we load it up in a cart, bring it down to the cleaning station, we cut the fillets off, we chunk it up and send you home with it in a cooler.

1
0:20:47
You are the coolest girl I've met, I swear, in a long time. What about that swordfish-like sword beak? What's that used for? So, while the fish is alive or after the fact? I don't know, I'm just scared of it. What do you do with it? You should be scared of it.

2
0:21:03
That's why it's called the swordfish because they are sharp on the side and they use that and when the swordfish is at the bottom, it lives in the bottom in the dark. They use that bill to basically kill their prey and then come back up to it and then eat it. So they whack at the fish, they can even cut one up, they can cut up a fish with their bill. Now after this is back once we've taken the fish apart, um, I do a process of cleaning the bill where macerate it, get all the meat and fat out of it and then cleanse it and whiten it and I hang them on the wall.

1
0:21:45
Why did I know you were going to say something creative like that? I kind of knew that was coming. And by the way, I can't believe I called it a beak. It's a bill. No, it's a bill or a beak. It's a bill. It's a bill. You know a little bit more than me. I think the last thing I want to ask you, or one of the last things is do you always smell like fish? If you're working around fish this much? I would say from about 4.30 in the morning to about 8 o'clock at night, yes. I smell like fish. And I tend to go like that on a date if I go on a first date because you either take

2
0:22:22
it or leave it that way.

1
0:22:25
You know, I didn't want to get personal, but since you volunteered, that is pretty darn funny that you said that. Are people intimidated who, you know, you're interested in maybe dating, that this is what you do, that you can catch 900 pound fish on a regular basis?

2
0:22:43
They think it's cool until I spend my time offshore with another man, and then they wonder

1
0:22:48
what I'm doing. You've got a whole other set of things going on down there. This is quite priceless

2
0:22:52
You know what the fish don't care whether I'm single dating smell like fish smell like roses That's um I've dedicated my life to it, and if somebody wants to join the ride go right ahead But I'm not going to stop doing it for anything Okay, what is the one thing that a woman?

1
0:23:08
Fishing big big fish like this has to be careful of versus guys. Is there anything?

2
0:23:17
I will just put it this way. I traveled the world with a 95-pound woman. She's in her early 60s. I saw her catch more large fish than most men. The only thing that she had was the willpower to do it and nobody could tell her nothing. So this is a mental fortitude game, not a strength game.

1
0:23:41
You have to be... Interesting, yeah. Interesting, interesting, because I was reading about...

2
0:23:45
People ask me, I have 300 pound, 6 foot 10 grown men on the boat who give up, and then I step in and they are just like, how do you do that? It's because you dig your heels in and you get it done.

5
0:24:01
That's how.

1
0:24:02
Wow. I wouldn't mess with you.

2
0:24:04
That is my advice to women is to don't take no for an answer and you don't need to tell them what you can do you need to show them what you can do.

1
0:24:16
It's so interesting that you're saying these exact words because from what I read about the research done on women who fish and a study they did actually, the folks who researched this at the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, they said among women who fish, they have greater perseverance and they're more likely to say that setbacks do not discourage them. They learn patience, they develop confidence, higher self-esteem, clear mind, and they say it improves their mood and they're quite happy. It took me years to get paid to have enough of a space in my career to get paid real money. And now I get paid just as much as the guys who have been doing it as long as I have to. You go girl, Melissa Stevens. And by the way, you're not the only woman who took years to ask for what she's worth. So, good for you. SouthernCatchOutfitters.com is where you're going to find more information and book a charter to fish with Melissa and her crew or anybody else you want to hook up with in Venice, Louisiana. Check out my social media photos of her that she was kind enough to share on the Debbie Check out my social media photos of her that she was kind enough to share on the Debbie Nigro Show Facebook page and at The Real Debbie Nigro on Instagram.

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A.I. In America, Everything from Celebrity Likenesses to Officiating Over Weddings & More is happening very quickly.

You have seen references to A.I Technology in the media almost every day. Most recently with regard to the announcement of actor, Bruce Willis, allowing his A.I. likeness to be used by Deepfake in a commercial venture and potential films.

And, also recently the ruling in Denver, Colorado that couples can use an artificial intelligence bot as their officiant, while other countries have banned the idea.

“The Roaring New Twenties” - ‘Prosper in Volatile Times’, is an insightful guide to surviving and prospering in The New Roaring Twenties.

Written by Paul Zane Pilzer, author of 13 New York Times best-selling book in 25 languages, and Stephen P. Jarchow, who has been involved in the production and distribution of over 250 films and TV series, resulting in two Academy Awards and five Emmy nominations, they have come together to shine a light on one of the hottest topics today in the news and affecting the world today – A.I. Technology.

As exciting and futuristic as this all sounds, authors Pilzer and Jarchow contend that our civilization faces a very real danger from “zero-day” cyber-attacks and manipulative algorithms.

What should the public know?

Stephen P. Jarchow dropped by The Debbie Nigro Show to tell you what he knows about that you should know about in this podcast of our live radio conversation.

If you’d rather read about what Stephen had to say the audio transcript of our conversation is below.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Paul Zane Pilzer is an economist, social entrepreneur, and the New York Times best-selling author of 13 books published in 25 languages. He graduated from Lehigh University in three years and received his MBA from the Wharton School in 15 months. He became Citibank’s youngest office at age 22 and its youngest vice president at 25 and became an adjunct professor at New York University at age 24 where he was voted “best teacher” five times. Pilzer served as an appointed economic advisor in two White House administrations and has started and/or taken public six companies. His career has been featured in more than 100 publications, including on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, once said that he was “amazed at Pilzer’s business capacity and his ability to put it into laymen’s terms.”

Stephen P. Jarchow received his BBA, MS and JD from the University of Wisconsin. He has been involved in the production and/or distribution of over 250 motion pictures and television series. Jarchow’s films have won two Academy Awards. He has been nominated for five Emmy Awards, winning in 2021 for “Girls Voices Now.” Jarchow has been a principal in more than 100 real estate ventures and is the author of five books on real estate finance.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

0:00:00
And now, back to the Debbie Nigro Show!

3
0:00:03
Hi guys, welcome back to the Debbie Nigro Show Really a pleasure always to be with you guys As all you're over there and I'm over here all the time, you know Pretty soon we're gonna, I don't know, artificial intelligence Will somehow get you involved with things you never got involved with…

1
0:00:30
Or get other people involved. And I I don't like the idea of cloning myself into an artificial intelligence version or making a version of me They're doing that you know. Taking people's voices like my own and saying okay. We'll make you do commercials We'll just give us your voice, and we'll do what we want with it. I don't like it But lots of likenesses are being used in commercial ventures one of which I put brought up earlier in the show, Bruce Willis, allowing his artificial intelligence likeness to be used in a commercial venture and potential films. My gosh, right? There are a lot of celebrity likeness stories. I even put up an artificial intelligence wedding ceremony. I was like, what? Yeah, there's a bot, you know, B-O-T, officiating a wedding, and it's in a little video, I think the first one I've ever seen, that I put up on my Debbie Nigro Show Facebook page. Anyway, you're hearing a lot about artificial intelligence technology in the media, you're hearing every day. So yeah, there's a book out, it's called The Roaring New 20s, okay, The New Roaring 20s, The New Roaring 20s. It's a guide that we might all benefit from reading. It's all about surviving and prospering during these crazy times. And it was written by Paul Zane Pilsner, author of 13 New York Times bestselling books in 29 languages. I don't know how people do this. And Stephen Jarchow, who's been involved in the production and distribution of over 250 films and television shows and series. He's had a couple of Academy Awards, five Emmy nominations. So together they sat and they said, okay, we have to talk about this. It's one of the hottest topics today in the news. It's affecting the world. And yes, it sounds exciting. Yes, it sounds futuristic. But they are a little worried that we face as a civilization a pretty big danger from some things we haven't even thought about yet. Cyberattacks, manipulative algorithms. I mean, you know, it's crazy, right? So what should we as the public know? And I've invited Stephen to join me on the show today. We have Stephen Bobby on the line.

5
0:02:57
Yes, we do.

1
0:02:58
Hello, Stephen.

4
0:02:59
Hello.

2
0:03:00
How are you doing?

1
0:03:02
Very nice to meet you. How are you?

2
0:03:04
I'm fine. Just so you know, the title is The New Roaring Twenties. You had it right the first time.

1
0:03:11
Yes, I'm The New Roaring Twenties. Prosper in volatile times, technology driven wealth. It's fantastic and I'm very happy to have you. You spent a lot of time talking about this and writing this together, which must have been an intense time for you. You maybe want to talk about actually writing something like this.

2
0:03:32
Well, Paul and I have known each other for 40 years, since 1982, and we've been good friends and we've participated together in investments in this country and overseas, particularly in Russia in the 1990s, and really know each other pretty well and exchange ideas and enjoy each other's company. Paul had decided to write this book when his children, he has four, decided to ask questions about what the future, the next ten years will hold, particularly with respect to technology and artificial intelligence. Paul was ill last year and he and his wife called me and asked me if I would finish the book for him, which I worked on for about three or four months pretty intensively. The work you have in front of you is the result. It was a labor of love because Paul has been my great friend and also it was an opportunity to communicate some thoughts on subjects that are going to impact all of us over the next decade.

1
0:04:58
First of all, I'm very sorry that he was not well and my thoughts and prayers to him. You as a good friend and obviously a confidant of his, amazing that you jumped in on this, but it's always really fabulous when you have somebody you can talk to about big ideas and not everybody has that. So you are bringing a perspective to people who don't have somebody like you or Paul to talk to about this. If you had to throw out one key thought that comes to mind in the beginning of questions that have been posed or the public might want to know, what do you want the public to know? What's the first thing you want the public to know about what is going on that you guys know?

2
0:05:41
Well, if I may, let me suggest two things that seem to be top line stories. The first is that technology, particularly technology with artificial intelligence, is going to change pretty much everything we do and the way we live our lives. It's going to create great wealth. It's also going to create a stratification where people who have trained themselves and have experience with technology and artificial intelligence will benefit more than those who do not. The related point is that artificial intelligence is something that has been around since the 1950s, and it's a part of our everyday life already in that we use every day a number of AI applications, web search engines like Google search, recommendation systems for YouTube, Amazon, Netflix. We use AI to understand human speech with Siri and Alexa. We have self-driving cars to a certain extent. And then, most recently, chat to GPT and its ability to begin to create content. And this is what is called generative AI, which uses large language models, that is access to hundreds of millions or even more data points in order to actually create content and relay that content in text, code, and images. So this is a dramatic step forward and it's going to accelerate the rate of change significantly so that things that typically took five to ten years will now probably take less than a year.

1
0:07:50
Wow. I would like to ask you a question. I want to jump in on this because of your background.

2
0:07:55
Please jump in.

1
0:07:56
Yes, because of your background, I don't know many people who have made as many films as you have made, or TV series, 250. When I brought up Bruce Willis, allowing his artificial intelligence likeness to be used in a commercial venture, maybe some films, he's probably not the only person who has been approached for this. What is your feeling about this concept?

2
0:08:23
It's going to be a fascinating area. The law at this point is somewhat ambiguous. There is a right of publicity to your image, which has value and so can be licensed, much as Bruce's family has done. That's going to be of value where it becomes a little more ambiguous is what about lesser-known actors or extras, you know, can their images be used using AI to, you know, create a crowd scene, create a situation, and what about an actor who performs in and AI is used to manipulate what they say or what they do. How is that dealt with and what are the legal implications? And the honest answer to your question is no one knows really at this point. We do know that there's a right of publicity, there's a right of privacy and there is law related to that, but these are areas that are ambiguous and kind of a gray space. So we're going to see a lot of litigation related to this, a lot of conversations. Screen Actors Guild in particular view this as a priority and they are working to establish their own guidelines for their personnel. And this is one of the areas that's being discussed and negotiated in the current labor strife that exists where the radio guild and the screen actors guilds are both on strike.

1
0:10:24
go up in strike. Yeah, they have to get ahead of this. It's absolutely necessary based on how fast things are moving that there have to be some rules put in place in advance or this whole thing is just going to go haywire and you know as it is it's a tough industry for people to break into and get a chance in films and television series and if there's artificial intelligence replacing the few jobs that get you know at any given time that is very uncool so I think I think that's great news. Talk about the yeah there's an upside there's a downside hopefully technology with artificial intelligence is changing our time on this planet as humans for the better but there are some dark possibilities okay that pose extreme risks and you even point out that artificial intelligence has the potential to be deadly. I really don't want to hear that, but go ahead.

2
0:11:16
It is depressing to hear. You know, we live in a world where there's all sorts of things going on that are a little anxiety provoking and this just adds to it and perhaps is the seminal worry of the next decade. On the positive side, briefly, artificial intelligence is going to speed up and replace a lot of repetitive work. There's going to be tremendous applications from a medical standpoint. It's going to assist us in protecting our infrastructure, the power grid, and air traffic controllers. It will help with simulations, models, drugs, molecular combinations, forecasting, all sorts of things that are going to be positive. But on the other hand, it's a dual-purpose technology, which is true of a lot of things. We humans are sort of dual-purpose. We can do good or bad. fire, atomic energy, all of these things are dual purpose. Algorithms make mistakes, and we've already seen the issues related to social media and the corrosive effect that that has had on our democracy and our ability to understand understand what is really going on in the world and social media is sort of an early and kind of unsophisticated form of artificial intelligence. Right now, our military and the military of most other countries is weaponizing artificial working around the clock, very aggressively, to create autonomous weapons systems, whereby the decision to fire, kill someone, is going to be, or to drop a bomb, is going to be determined by an algorithm.

1
0:13:31
Unfortunately, boy, Stephen, I want to read your book and I will read it all the way through. I hope everybody listening will read it as well. It's really kind of fascinating. The New Roaring Twenties, well thought out. Prosper and Volatile Times, it sounds like the upside is to read the book. Technology Driven Wealth, Paul Zane Pilsner and Stephen P. Jartow. Thank you so much, Stephen. I really wish we had more time together, but you can come back any time. I really wish we had more time together, but you can come back any time. My pleasure.

#newroaring20s #ai #artificialintelligence #stephenpjarchow #technology #prosper #volatiletimes #2023

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Donna Kozik my book coach takes Mounjaro the diabetes drug that the U.S. FDA will likely approve for weight loss later this year.

Mounjaro is supposedly the most powerful of all the buzzy weight loss drugs you’ve been hearing about like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus that have the ability to both control blood sugar and cause weight loss.

Made by Eli Lilly, studies have shown this diabetes drug can lower body mass at its highest dose by up to 15%. According to the American Diabetes Association, sometimes losing just 5% -7% of your body weight is enough to imporove diabetes control. For someone who weighs 200 poinds this is a weight loss of just 10-15 pounds.

Donna is an open book about taking Mounjaro and is excited to share her A1C dropped nearly 5 points to put her in the diabetes under control range.

Part of her story is also that she hasn’t lost any weight yet.

Enjoy the podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show about Donna’s experience with Mounjaro. For those of you who would rather read about it the audio transcript is below

BTW: Donna’s been helping me get my new book done and out there ‘any minute’ lol. She's had extreme patience with me. She’s the best! Four out of five people want to write a book . The ones who decide to get it done, like me, need a ‘Donna’.

Tell her I sent you at doneforyoupublishing.com

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT:

0:00:00
And now, back to the Debbie Nigro Show.

0:00:18
I listen the more I learn, and then I share with you guys, and then I ask you to listen some more, because then we learn together. Hey, everybody, I'm Debbie Nigro. Wellness is my topic of the day today. I do a whole show once a week on wellness stuff. And of course, there's a lot of buzz continuing about all these drugs out there for weight loss. You've heard the buzz, right, about Ozempic, Lugovy, Riebelsis, but it seems the most powerful of all these buzzy weight loss drugs is called Mounjaro. It's made by Eli Lilly and it's a diabetes drug that can lower your body mass and it's pretty darn effective. So much so that I got a gal pal I want to introduce to you who loves talking about this because it really helped her a lot. This is Donna Kozik you're about to meet. We're going out west to the other part of the United States. She's a very special person in my life who I've never met. Can you imagine? Book coach helping me. We're about to nail that book together finally after five years, but right now she's alive and well and doing so great because she takes Manjaro and she's going to share the excitement about that. Hey Donna, how are you buddy? Hey Debbie. What's going on over there?

2
0:01:35
Oh, it's a sunny day here in San Diego. Can you believe that?

1
0:01:39
No, I can't. We've had a lot of challenges with weather. How's the weather out there? We're struggling over here on the East Coast. Lots of rain and clouds and smoke from wildfires in Canada. What's going on overall in San Diego? Where I supposedly think there's supposed to be sunshine 364 days a year.

2
0:01:56
Yeah, but you know we're coming off of a really cloudy spring. In fact, one of my clients told me that San Diego was the most cloudy city in the United States outside of one in Alaska during April and May. So go figure.

6
0:02:11
Really?

1
0:02:12
Because that's really a bad sign. I always thought San Diego was the place if I was going to move, I would move there because of how much sunshine they had.

2
0:02:20
Yeah, well, it's sunny now, but we had a cloudy spring just to throw everybody off a little bit.

1
0:02:27
Yeah, you want to keep people away just for a little bit. Donna, I loved communicating with you and thanks so much. I told everybody the latest statistics that four and five people want to write a book, only one out of five ever gets it done. I told them that if they're the one who really wants to get it done, they should call you. They need a Donna. And I thank you for standing by me and helping me forward. And we'll talk about that in another show, but part of my excitement of knowing you is seeing you get well. I didn't know you weren't well, but you seem to be getting weller since I've met you and this manjaro is part of the reason?

2
0:03:02
Yeah, you know, like a lot of people, I've struggled with my weight actually my entire life. I was thinking about our conversation this morning. I went on my first diet when I was five years old when some teachers told my parents that I was overweight and also 12 teenage years, it's just my entire life and I've tried all the programs, Weight Watchers and just all kinds of them and just have never been able to find a solution that not only helps me with weight loss but now helps me with controlling my A1C with diabetes. More importantly, Debbie, what I have found in Manjaro has really helped me physically not crave food. And this is something brand new that no other program has ever helped me with.

1
0:03:55
Really? That's kind of what I'm getting at, that people don't desire to eat because eating for many people like you and me, Donna, is emotional. It's like, you know, you're not hungry, but you love the food, so you just, for whatever reason, you're happy, you're sad, you're celebrating, you're miserable. There's always a reason to eat if you're an emotional eater. And I, too, struggled with my weight since I was a little girl. You know, my mother used to try and make melba toast and, you know, try and get me to lose weight at like eight years old. It's just a psycho existence. It's frustrating, right? So this is exciting. You did say to me that yes, your A1C went down and for people who don't know, that's a way of measuring blood sugar, right? And that's most people have type 2 diabetes. The A1C test measures your average blood sugar level over the past couple of months, the higher your level, the higher your risk of developing diabetes-related problems. And people who have been taking Manjaro, correct me if I'm wrong, it's helping their A1C levels go down to where it's not dangerous. Are you out of danger?

2
0:04:59
Yes, I'm out of danger. On three months of Manjaro, my A1C dropped almost five points and went into what's considered

5
0:05:11
controllable levels.

2
0:05:12
Yeah. Yeah, just a huge relief with that.

1
0:05:17
Wow. But you did say, and this is crazy because I assumed you'd be losing weight as well, that you didn't lose any weight, which I found a little surprising since this is supposed to do that too. Talk to that.

2
0:05:29
Yeah, so it is a little surprising, but there's one thing I want to mention first, and I talked about all those different programs and you mentioned about emotional eating which I totally understand and you know kind of growing up with when things are feeling bad or sad or whatever you go make a sandwich like it was just the answer to everything. But for the first time, Manjaro, what it has helped me with is actually feeling normal and this is something that I have talked to coaches and counselors and nutritionist about for years. It's like, why can't I eat, or it seems like I eat like a normal person, but normal people can have cookies in the house and not eat them, or they can leave a plate with food still on it. And there was a part of me that I just could never understand that and I could never do it until I started this drug, where it fills up my stomach and I feel differently about food. I think differently about food and that to me is the real power of these types of weight loss drugs.

1
0:06:37
Amazing. Oh, it's terrible. The FDA, and you're probably aware of this too, is about to approve this particular drug from Eli Lilly, which they're calling the most powerful of them all in the category that is the same as Ozempic and Wachovian rebelsis because they've really seen the ability for it to both control blood sugar and cause weight loss. They said at the highest dose, and I want to ask you about your dose, that people who have taken this have shown to lower their body mass by up to 15 percent. What dose

2
0:07:15
are you taking? Yes, so you start off at 2.5 and it goes up to 15 and I'm currently on 10. Some doctors, frankly I've been educating my doctor a little bit about it because she can't know everything about everything in some regards and also we're so well educated because of commercials and articles that we can read ourselves that the weight loss generally comes later as you increase your dose. So that's one thing that's giving me a little bit of hope. Also that but some doctors will say, well your A1C is down so let's not increase the dose. But from what I understand the power of the drug is that when it comes to that weight loss is as you grow the dosage because what it does is it works with the hormones in your stomach to make you feel full and it kind of mimics sleep

1
0:08:32
surgery with the idea that the food leaves your stomach at a slower rate and so then

2
0:08:39
that's part of what helps you eat less. that effect can lessen unless you increase the drug to the 15, the dose of 15.

4
0:08:52
Yeah, wow.

2
0:08:53
Have you been on other diabetes medications before Mount Jaro? I'm just curious.

1
0:08:58
Yes, I actually tried Ozempic. I was on Ozempic and it was effective for a little bit of time, but then that effectiveness

2
0:08:54
wonders for her so she encouraged me to ask my doctor about it. Okay, very cool

1
0:09:00
and then you know you're watching, you've heard that if people go off this then they seem to gain weight back or I don't think that once you're on a diabetes drug you can just go off it you have to have a replacement for the drug so you feel like this is your answer and you're going to continue on. There are other drugs obviously.

2
0:09:18
Right. Everybody's like, you know, concerned. Like, well, do you have to be on this drug forever? I'm like, I don't care if I do, if it works. Now, I do take other medications for my diabetes and when my A1C dropped, I was able to eliminate one of them and I believe when I lose weight I'll be able to eliminate others and then we'll see about this one but you know I'm going to worry about today today and think about tomorrow tomorrow.

1
0:09:48
Very interesting because people who do lower their A1C and bring it down like you're doing and you know start losing the weight then their diabetes sometimes just goes away. I mean it's just incredible. So this is a very interesting time in the world. We have a major problem in this country and my own dad, and I've mentioned it on the show before, Don, passed away at the age of 55 from complications of diabetes. So I watched a man suffer that nobody wants to see suffer when it doesn't go right. You know, it was just terrible. And it's just, you know, staying in the lane for the new science, right? And then being able to get the drug. Had you had any problems getting Mount Jara because there was as I understand it a supply chain backlog that was keeping people who needed it for diabetes from getting it because everybody was racing to get it for weight loss. What was your experience with that?

2
0:10:39
Yes, that is true and that there was a or there is a run on these drugs and I'll kind of leave that kind of talk, it's just like well you want to get it to the people who need it primarily and focus on that. I wasn't able to fulfill my prescription from through one store so

1
0:11:26
myself and a couple of friends, we called all the pharmacies in the San Diego

2
0:11:17
This is when I needed the 7.5 and I was able to find a pharmacy that has it and they seem to continue to have it.

1
0:11:25
Oh, that's incredible and yes, I appreciate your story. I was actually reading today how to get Monjaro in 2023, which, you know, it's a brand name for what a drug called, am I saying this right, terzepatide? I don't know if I'm saying it right. Anyway, they said a lot of it you can get online. I was like, what? And yeah, telehealth can prescribe this. I didn't know. I didn't know this at all. Did you?

2
0:11:53
No. You know, people are kind of trying different things. And you know, actually, Debbie, I think it's good that patients and people in general can be more educated now and Actually ask doctors about it and things like that. This is the Wild West When it comes to weight loss drugs and I'm certain we'll find our way eventually But I think it's a good thing that we are we can we can ask about these things. I Do too. I really do I think

1
0:12:19
Diabetes and obesity and just people who struggle with their weight their entire lives is like it just keeps them from living the life they really should be living on this planet. If we were able to help crack this incredible challenging code here, boy, a lot of people would have better lives and better times and experiences and less illness and less mental illness because it's a lot combined in there. It really is. It's about self-esteem and confidence and everything, right? Everything. It's just a meaningful time.

2
0:12:53
We could talk for a few hours plus probably about this. Yep. There's just one thing I just want to encourage people who are listening to this and that is if you are feeling frustrated with your way to, of course, diabetic care to seek out answers and solutions and this could be one of them for you. And I think just as a society, we have been just saying for years calories in, calories out but it doesn't work that way and every individual could be different. And so find the solutions that work for you not only with medicine but also emotional emotional help, nutritional help, physical kind of things, it's all combined. And keep seeking those answers because I believe they're out there for you.

1
0:13:48
Yeah, great point Donna. Last question for you dear. Nobody likes to talk about the downside of things they are hopeful about, but did you have any side effects from Mount Jaro that you didn't see coming or you knew were possible?

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0:14:01
Yeah, a little bit of digestive issues, but those went away after I was on it for about

1
0:14:08
60 days. All right, awesome. Donna Kozik, tell everybody what the name of your company is in case they need your help because I'm so glad I have you in my life. Anybody who wants to write a book and wants to actually get it done, she's an amazing buddy to have, book writing and publishing coach for her company. It's doneforyoupublishing.com, am I right?

2
0:14:28
we're calling it now? Yes, done for you publishing.com you can pick up your own publishing checklist there. Debbie I'm so excited about publishing your book I can't wait to talk to you about that next time. I can't believe we're not

1
0:14:41
getting it done it's called how to talk to strangers advice from a professional stranger talker and we had a lot of laughs about it hopefully we'll have more Don I love you wish you continued great health and thanks for taking the time on the show today.

2
0:14:52
Love you too, Debbie, anytime. Love you too, Debbie, anytime.

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Rio’s Road Sign called us and Russell the owner captivated us. 

A stand out random run-in on our return road trip from Prince Edward island Canada traveling through Maine .

Rio’s is a wow and deliciously different if youre ever in the area on your own road trip through Maine. Best chicken dinner ever and the cavatelli with kale etc. had me licking my plate.

Our unplanned random road trip stop at RIO's included live music, incredible ambiance inside and meeting a dynamic guy named Russell Manton.

He’s the 'R' in RIO. The "I" is for his beaituful daughter Illinca and the 'O' for his brilliant wife from Romania ( 2 masters!) Oana. We met all 3.

Russell does some awesome things besides own and run RIO with his wife, that fabulous restaurant located at 357 W. Main Street in Searsport, Maine. He owns one of only six companies in the U.S. that makes the electronic room key door locks for hotels! 

For the record those hotel room key cards do not contain your personal information as many of us including me always thought they did.

You're gonna love meeting Russell Manton who checks in live from Nantucket where he's installing more of his electronic hotel room locks, in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. His Scotish accent is just fabulous. So's his personality.

As new strangers go - He’s a keeper!

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Random Run In:

I met Margie McCartney in the pedicure chair next to me an hour before leaving on my road trip to Canada last week.

She was ‘back home’ in Pelham, NY visiting her sweet elderly mom and cracked me up with her story of how her mom had no full-length mirror to be able to check out her outfit, so she climbed up on ‘something’ in the bathroom to see if she looked OK…and then couldn’t get down. Lol. My kind of boomer humor! Anyway, I showed her all my bandaged boo boos, and we laughed about not getting younger, as we must try to, because as we all know if we don’t laugh about it, it’s not gonna to be that funny.

Meanwhile, I told Margie I was excited about going to Canada, and then she told me she just returned from an exciting Scavenger Hunt around the world and named all the countries. I was like wow OK, that sounds cooler.

I told her she’s a perfect example of why I love talking to strangers and told her about my new upcoming book “How To Talk To Strangers: Advice From A Professional Stranger Talker”.

Then she told me about HER book “And Then…Networking Lessons from an Extraordinary Life Still In Progress” and her upcoming Ted Talk about "Bursting Your Own Bubble' and including more people in your life by expanding your connections.

Seriously? What are the chances she’s got a similar themed book too? Kindred Spirits for sure.

Then I invited her on my show so you could meet my new stranger friend Margie McCartney from Chicago, and hear her stories, and so we could both share the encouragement for you to try and step up your conversations with 'new people' so you can learn new things and add more enjoyment to your life.

BTW: Margie McCartney is an accomplished Sales Executive & Director Of Global Sales with over 20 years of experience delivering a proven best-in-class track record of driving record setting results for travel, hospitality and events. She’s looking for her next adventure.

Enjoy this fun podcast of our live radio interview on The Debbie Nigro Show airing live weekdays in the NY/CT area 11-12 noon ET on WGCH Radio or listen live from anywhere on WGCH.com. Live Radio Interviews Become Podcast Interviews and appear after here.

If you’d rather read than listen, below is the audio transcript.

Transcript

0:00:00
And now, back to the Debbie Nigro Show.

1
0:00:03
Hey guys, I'm Debbie Nigro. Great to be back in town with you guys. I went on a big road trip to Canada and right before I left, I happened to be getting a pedicure manicure. You know a girl's got to get that done before the trip, right? And I meet this girl, Margie McCartney. She's in the pedicure chair next to me. I could tell she's talkative. I think she was talking more than me. Anyway, she's back home visiting her mom who lived in Pelham, New York where she grew up. Margie's from Chicago and she starts to tell me some crazy story about how she's gotta get dressed, but her mother doesn't have a full-length mirror, so to check out her outfit, somehow, she climbed up on something in the bathroom to see if she looked good, right, and then she couldn't get down, so I'm dying. I'm like, oh my God, this is my kind of humor, sounds like me. Anyway, I laughed a little bit about not getting younger. I told her I was excited to go to Canada, then she trumps me and tells me she just comes back from an exciting scavenger hunt around the world. I'm like, wow. Then I tell her she's a perfect example of why I love talking to strangers. And I tell her about my new book, “How to Talk to Strangers, Advice From a Professional Stranger Talker”. Then she tries to beat me again. She says, oh, I got a book called, and then, Networking Lessons from an Extraordinary Life Still in Progress. And I'm like, all right, look, look, look. There's kindred stuff going on here. You got to be on my show. So here she is, live from Chicago, Margie McCartney.

Hi, Debbie. Thanks for the warm introduction.

Margie, what's going on?

Well, I think I told you I spent about six and a half hours at LaGuardia yesterday trying to get back to Chicago, but I am here and excited to be on your show today. You didn't know. That was some wild weather. We had a lot of flooding here.

Was it just as bad in Chicago?

Well, I was on Long Island for the 4th of July and it was supposed to be kind of rainy but it actually turned out to be really nice. Yeah, it was just the flights when everybody was trying to get out of town.

I'm glad you got out but you look like you're having fun at LaGuardia. You sent me a picture with a bunch of people laughing.

Well you got to make a mistake in every situation as we know.

Yeah Margie were they all strangers those people in the picture from LaGuardia with you drinking the rosé?

Yes. I love you. Two were from Austin and two were from Los Angeles and they had their kids with them and yeah we just started chatting and one thing led to another. It was like let's do a Facebook picture and so we all took a picture and I had to share it with everybody. But hey we made it home and my husband picked me up and we grabbed a late dinner and got up early today and excited about having the chance to do a conversation with you and whoever is out there listening. Yeah,

Margie, I really wanted to invite you because I know that you know what I am passionate about and you are the same, which is communicating with people along life's path that you never would have met before, who you learn something from or spark something to and increase your connections in life, which is the meaning of a full life. So I know that you get that. I know that's what your book is about. I did read a little bit of it. I didn't have time to read the whole book, but somebody had said, Margie, you collect people like some people collect china, and I really understand that. So your book is meaningful to me, and I'm going to finish reading it, and hopefully you'll read mine. But let's talk about how that plays into your travels around the world and weigh in on why people should do more of what you and I do.

Well, I just think and the whole reason I wrote the book was because my friends kept telling me my whole life, you've got to write a book, you've got to write a book. And one of my best friends from Bethany College, Alan Tate said, when you write that book Margie and this is like over 30 years ago, he said, you got to call it and then because when you tell a story, it's never just how you jumped in a taxi. It's always how you jumped in a taxi and then and when you think about it, the end then is really the meat of any story.

You're making me laugh with that one. It's really funny because that's actually amongst my college girlfriends. That's a really loud two words because I told them the story about romance a million years ago with this one particular guy I was crazy about and then I started to tell him the story I go and then we left …and they're like well where was the rest of the story? So yeah you're out in Chicago smart girl I am sales executive director I'm sorry I'm talking over your excuse me I'm just giving you a professional introduction now for what you really do to earn a living which is Margie is an amazing sales executive, director of global sales, 20 years of experience, best in class track record, record setting results for the travel hospitality and event business but kind of looking for the next adventure.

2
0:05:05
Do you want to speak to that?

1
0:05:06
Well, just the lead into that with the writing of the book, I was with the same firm, a destination management company, for 15 years, and then like so many other people, lost my job during COVID, and that's when I pivoted and wrote the book. And then right now I think I mentioned to you that I am in a thought leadership program and working on a TEDx speech about bursting your own bubble, which means going out there and meeting new people and making your circle bigger and that's what I really love about anything in life with jobs. I mean when you're in sales in the hospitality industry to make your client shine in front of their boss is always a gift. I love that in hotels when a client would come up at the end of a program and say, hey you know my boss just came up to me and said that everything was perfect. That's our reward in our industry. It's just making people happy and that's why I think I always knew that the hospitality industry was made for me because I always like bringing people together. I've planned lots of trips both personally and professionally all over the world and some of the people that I've met in my life have become family to me in random places like I've got a Ethiopian cab driver who basically saved my life coming home from O'Hare in 2017 whose kids now call me Aunt Margie. I mean you just you just never know where that next great connection is gonna come from sort of Like, you know meeting you Yeah, and meeting you I should do a segment on my show. I do it on occasion it's called random run-ins and people love it and they love the the stories that come from you know, Accidental or maybe who knows meant to be connections. I loved your story about the scavenger hunt I'm not sure I understand exactly what it was. I know you traveled around the world on a scavenger hunt What was that about? Yeah about ten years ago, I got an email from the founder of the global scavenger hunt and Inviting me to participate in this event and it was three weeks so I had to figure out how to get three weeks off of work and it wasn't cheap, but it was worth every penny and And it started in San Francisco in April and we got back to Montreal after going to 15 countries in three weeks and averaging 25,000 steps a day. Plus, I tore the ligaments in my foot. And we ended up winning the bronze medal, which was a huge, huge thrill for all of us. And we had no idea where we were going and, in each destination, we'd get a book and it would say, you know, you can take a train two hours to such and such a place, and they would give you activities to do there, but you're only in this city for two days. So, you have to, it was very strategic about where you were gonna go, what you were gonna do, how many points everything was worth. So, in Istanbul, I jumped into the Black Sea at 5.30 in the morning for 250 team points. And that was our last destination before we got back to North America. I was very proud of that.

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0:08:01
I had to go on.

1
0:08:02
Yeah, my teammate was Kathleen Wood who's my old boss from the National Restaurant Association back in the 90s. We've been friends ever since. You know and the same thing about bursting your own bubble and reaching out to people that are different ages than you. There was a young waiter at a restaurant in Tbilisi, Georgia which was my favorite city, that and Istanbul, who once we found somebody who spoke English we're like, okay, we need to find this, we need to find this, we need to find this, we need to find this, and he was like, okay, you need to go to this park for that, you need to go there, so he was really, really helpful. And I'll never forget, Kathleen gave this 20-year-old kid a crisp 100 US dollar bill as a gratuity at the end, and he's like, I think you've made a mistake, and she's like, no, I didn't, and he cried. It was something. And then so the opposite side. Sorry, go ahead.

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0:09:09
Amazing, you know, currency, of course,

1
0:09:11
American currency has much bigger value in places. I mean, I just went to Canada and obviously the dollar is worth like 25% more there, which is, you know, I don't know the Russian or the Georgian value, but I get the meaning of an American dollar in some places. But you know, language and documenting, I mean, what you just did is out of control, fabulous. Do you speak any other languages?

That's about it. That's all I got. But a big smile and a firm handshake goes a long way. I learned that very early on in my life from my father. And I listened to some of your shows last week, and I noticed that you are a big fan of your Dad too. Aren't we lucky?

Yeah, we were very, very lucky. It's funny, along my travels to Canada I met three young girls, lovely, two of whom were foster kids and who grew up, their friendship started when they went back later in life to volunteer at a foster home so the kids would know that their lives were going to turn out okay. They didn't have proper fathers to guide them. You just never know what someone's experience is going to be but what comes of the experience they do have; you learn a little something at each juncture. I'm sure you learned a lot from traveling around the world. Was there one general theme from traveling so much around the world about connecting with new people that you picked up on?

I would say from this most recent trip when we were in Uzbekistan, there were women my age and older, though kind of hard to tell over there, and they found out we were Americans and they were running over to get their picture taken with us, like the Americans, the Americans. And then when Kathleen and I were leaving a tower in Istanbul, this fourth-grade school bus was there and they heard us speaking, they were like Americans, Americans, and they were literally running after us like we were Elvis to get selfies taken with me in the cab window. It was insane. I wish I had thought to take a picture of them, but I was so sort of taken back, but it was really like, you know, the Americans, the Americans, and not everybody feels that way, I know, but it was pretty cool to have those two experiences back-to-back while I was on the global scavenger hunt. That's crazy. I'm really enlightening.

Was there any place around the world where you felt uncomfortable being American?

Well, I, my girlfriend Susan Keary, who I actually met in a taxi in New York in 1984, she and I went to the Olympics in Sydney, Australia and we were the minority and I always wanted to go to the Olympics, but I wanted to go somewhere where we were not the majority of the people. And so we went to Sydney, Australia, which I love Australia, they love Americans, they speak English, and they like to have a good time. That's like the trifecta for me. And anyway, we got these great seats through a client of Susan's. We were like in the second row of the opening ceremonies, and we were wrapped in our American flags. And Susan went to get us a couple beers and when she came back, I could tell she was upset. I said, Susan, what happened? She goes, the guy at the end of the row told me to take my flag off. And I was like, I got really upset. And we were sort of like halfway between going to the right or the left so instead of going to the right by the jerk I decided to go to the left but I went to the ladies room and while I was in the ladies room I'm thinking to myself who does that guy think he is like this is the Olympics so I very deliberately on my way back made sure I went past this guy who was sitting with his eight-year- old son I think and I said excuse me sir could you move your feet so I can get to my chair and he said only if you take your flag off, which I was expecting. So, I went into my little speech, and I said, I just want you to know that my father fought with Patton against Hitler so that I had the honor of wearing this flag and I have flown halfway around the world for this international celebration of humanity. So, with no disrespect intended, please move your feet so I can get to my chair. I got a standing ovation, but my favorite part was his eight-year-old son looked at him like, you're such a loser dad.

Oh no, not... that was bad for the kid and the father to have to have that moment. Anyway, great story. I'm sure you're full of stories. In this book that I'm holding here that you've written, “Networking Lessons from Extraordinary Life Still in Progress”, and good for you, the still in progress part, me too. It's good to get up in the morning, right, and get another shot.

Yep. Yep.

Margie McCartney, in this book, what is somebody going to get out of it when they read it? Because I'm happy to promote it for you.

Oh, you're so kind. I've had several people come up to me and tell me, like, I carry a book around me, I've referred to it, it's really helped me in many ways, which if everybody else comes up and says, we hated your book, like, that was enough to make me feel great. A couple of people have told me that they've read it twice. At the end of each chapter, there's a little sort of questionnaire about like if there's a story at the end of the story like what can you do in your life to to change things around and make them better based on the story that was in that chapter. There's a variety of chapters everything from it starts off 10803 which is Pelham zip code, golf and the people you meet on the course of life, all sorts of examples of reaching out to strangers and how that's blessed me tenfold across my life.

Unbelievable connection you and I had in that pedicure chair side by side.

8
0:14:08
I know.

1
0:14:08
Now you're on the show and yeah, happy to be a new stranger friend to you and vice versa. Grateful to have met you.

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0:14:15
Yeah, me too.

1
0:14:16
Thank you so much Margie.

6
0:14:17
We're out of time.

2
0:14:18
You did good though.

1
0:14:18
You talked just as much as me. Margie McCartney wrote the book “And Then, Networking Lessons from an Extraordinary Life Still in Progress. She's a superstar, a global sales superstar in the travel and hospitality industry. On to her next adventure. You might want to check in with her if there's something that she can help you with at mccartneypartners at gmail.com. You have a stellar day, Margie.

Thanks, dear. You too.

5
0:14:43
Bye bye.

4
0:14:43
Bye bye.

3
0:14:43
That was fun.

1
0:14:44
OK, guys, come on back. We'll talk about why you should get your passport sooner than later if you're going to travel.

2
0:14:53
There's a backup. A huge, huge backup.

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So many kids are in front of so many screens filling their heads with so much content. Are you watching ‘what’ they’re watching? It matters.

We're living in a world where it's very hard to control what our kids are watching on screens. Moms and Grandmas and baby-sitters have all been guilty at times of plopping children in front of a screen to ‘buy time’, rather than really sit there and monitor exactly what they're watching.

If you’re a parent or caretaker of children you need to be aware of ‘what’ they’re watching because it totally influences how young children think, behave and feel. Both good and bad.

I'm a PBS fan. They're the number one children's education media brand and Sarah DeWitt is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of PBS KIDS. She's responsible for the strategic direction of the very dynamic PBS KIDS media service that supports kids 2 to 8, their parents, teachers, caregivers, grandparents, and all the local communities. I invited her to join me to talk about the latest greatest at PBS KIDS and what they know and are utilizing from all the behavioral research time they've invested, in creating 'good for the brain' content.

Sarah says, “We know that when kids are watching shows that are really thoughtful and created so that they are learning from them, that it really can model good behavior. It can get kids more interested in learning. It can help them actually learn some really important skills."

"Summertime is a time where often kids kind of have some learning loss between the school years, but media can be a great way to help reinforce some of those things that kids learn in school, or if your kid hasn't started school yet, say a four-year-old getting ready to go to preschool, media can really help with school readiness and get kids kind of in that mindset if you make some good choices and kind of really pay attention to what kids are watching.“

Sarah says, for example for a four-year-old, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood is really a great show. It's based on Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and all of that research that he did on that show where we know kids really can learn from the media. Daniel Tiger is helping kids recognize how they fit into the world, how they manage their own emotions, but it also gives kids great songs, give parents great songs that can reinforce those lessons at home.

(Sarahs kids, 8 and 11, grew up watching Daniel Tiger and just last night at dinner, she said, one of them sang, you gotta try new foods cause they might taste good. LOL Good job PBS!)

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Sesame Street, address pre-school confusions between friends and miscommunications.

For kids who are a little older, shows like ‘Arthur ‘do a great job addressing things like bullying and being scared or needing to talk to a grown-up.

Sarah says, a really important media habit that they want people to set up that they try to model in their shows, is that when kids watch something or play something or listen to something, they should talk about it with their family, positive or negative.

Even if adults haven’t watched the shows their kids watched themselves, they should get in the habit of asking questions about those shows and get their kids to talk about what they’re watching.

How kids show up to other kids is a very big thing. And again, a lot of parents don't realize, I'm sure, that some of the stuff their kids are watching on other networks, on their screens, by accident, on YouTube, whatever that platform is, that parents have no clue about, might be creating negative behavior.

PBS KIDS works with child development experts and also subject matter experts so that every one of their shows is based on a curriculum and based on learning frameworks.

Curious George for example, is based on an engineering curriculum. George is really curious, he takes things apart and puts them back together.

“When you talk about child development and identity”, says Sarah, “there are a couple of shows that I think are doing this really well right now. We have a show called Alma's Way. It's created by Sonia Manzano, who was Maria on Sesame Street. This is all about thinking through problems. Alma is playing with other kids, working with other kids. She lives in the Bronx. She's Puerto Rican. And sometimes she messes up. And she has to stop and really think through that problem in order to decide what she's going to do next. “

“Another one that I think is really great is called Rosie's Rules. This one is based on a social studies curriculum. So when you're talking about young kids, that is about who am I in relationship to the members of my family? So like, what does it mean that I am a sister? And how am I a good sister? And how am I a sister to my older step-sister and a sister to my younger brother? But then also getting to the next level of like, what does it mean that I'm in a community? How do I get mail? Who take the garbage out? So it gets into those things as well. “

PBS KIDS work with experts to help them think about the best, most age-appropriate way to introduce some of these ideas and to give kids a foundation that they can then build on as they grow up.

As new technology such as AI is being introduced, Sara DeWitt says, "now is the time to have a deeper, more open dialogue about positive digital media experiences for young children, and how we can use these tools to form good media habits that can address topics like children’s mental health, school readiness, critical thinking, and ultimately, the importance of human connection."

PBS KIDS is making their good-for-the-brain content available to all kids, regardless of access to internet, age of devices, differing learning styles and abilities, and more.

If you have or care for young children, I encourage you to take a listen to this short podcast of my warm live conversation with Sarah Dewitt EVP & GM PBS KIDS on The Debbie Nigro Show. Adults need to educate themsleves about how best to educate their children.

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Yes News Hit This Week Ryan Seacrest Will Be The New Host of Wheel Of Fortune But Did You Know He Builds Broadcast Media Centers named ‘Seacrest Studios’ in Pediatric Hospitals To Provide A Positive Distraction To Hospitalized Kids?

Yes he does! And Genna Rosenberg, an impact-driven toy and licensing industry leader saw a partnership opportunity for her client ‘Singing Machine Company’, the world leader in karaoke products to collaborate with him on something meaningful.

Now the new CARE-eoke By Singing Machine initiative and the Ryan Seacrest Foundation are on a joint mission to bring the joy of music to children’s hospitals nationwide.

Genna checked in on the show live from Italy where she and her husband are both celebrating 'big' birthdays with their kids. We planned on doing this show before word spread just before we went live about Ryan Seacrest taking over Wheel of Fortune from Pat Sajak, who's retiring after the shows 41st season launches in September. The timeliness of the news that put his name out there everywhere and made us both smile, as timing is everything when you want to get peoples attention for sharing important information. Oddly the name Ryan was everywhere that day as Genna menrtioned she and her hubby were just about to board Ryanair! LOL

The Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to inspiring today’s youth through entertainment and education-focused initiatives. RSF’s primary initiative is to build broadcast media centers — Seacrest Studios — within pediatric hospitals for patients to explore the creative realms of radio, television and new media.

Currently there are Seacrest Studios at hospitals in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Orange County, Philadelphia and Washington D.C, Nashville, Orlando and Memphis. Two new studios are scheduled to open this year in Queens, NY at Cohen Children’s Medical Center and Salt Lake City, UT at Primary Children’s Hospital. For more information, visit ryanseacrestfoundation.org

Genna Rosenberg’s’ PR and marketing agency is called GennComm and her Licensing ThinkTank GennComm ImaGENNation has created an entire division around social innovation this year, called GoodWorks X GennComm, to serve the industry she's loved for 30 years

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Overcoming Impossible.

"For anyone who ever loooked up at the stars in the night sky, thought of the thing they wanted most, and whispered "Someday..."

Chef Robert Irvine (Food Network Star Restaurant: Impossible) shares his hindsight to give you foresight in his latest book ‘Overcoming Impossible’ .

People all over the world always ask this world class chef, entrepreneur, and passionate supporter of our nation’s military, the same two questions.

They want to know how he made it. And …They want his advice on how they can make it too!

Chef Irvine’s story is not impossible to tell, but as he puts it in the book, his entire back story is not entirely relevant right now as times have changed a lot since he launched his career. He went from cooking in a ship’s galley in the British Royal Navy to working in a big fancy restaurant, to his TV stardom in shows like 'Dinner: Impossible 'and 'Restaurant: Impossible' and then parlayed it all into a family of brands and companies.

Truth is, he admits, he’s been kicked around a lot. And his path has taught him a lot about things like evergreen obstacles, the types of people you’ll meet along the way, the ones you need to surround yourself with and the ones to avoid. He learned about the cyclical nature of marketplaces, how to manage egos, how to pitch & sell, and most importantly…how to deal with failure! And he felt compelled to share what he learned with you.

There’s no better teacher than failure, he said.

Enjoy Chef Robert Irvine in this podcast conversation of our live chat on The Debbie Nigro Show or if you'd rather read the transcript it's posted below.

His new book ‘Overcoming Impossible’ is available on Amazon.

TRANSCRIPT Of The Podcast

0:00:00
It's time for the Debbie Nigro Show with Debbie Nigro, who says she's still a babe, or at least she thinks she still is. That's right, attitude is everything, and Debbie's delusionally young. No one sees the glass of Cabernet half full like Debbie. She's fresh air with a magnetic flair. Some day has arrived, and as far as she's concerned, it's time to roll.

6
0:00:25
Hey, I am here to share today and you guys hopefully will enjoy listening.

4
0:00:28
Hi everybody. I'm Debbie Nigro. I am very very excited about my next guest coming up.

6
0:00:32
He's got a new book out called overcoming impossible, which is what

2
0:00:36
most of us do every day. We try to do he's done it and he's got some really good advice. You've probably seen him more than once on the Food Network. He's the star, Chef Robert Irvine. And he shares his hindsight to give you foresight about things that people keep asking him about. The people always ask him the same question. They want to know how he made it and they want his advice on how they can make it too. And just before I bring him on, I want to just quote what I saw on the top of his book. A quote was there and it made me smile. It said, For anyone who ever looked up at the stars in the night sky, thought of the thing they always wanted most and whispered, Someday, what do I always say? Someday has arrived. Hello, Robert Irvine. Chef, welcome to my show.

5
0:01:34
Oh, thank you.

1
0:01:35
Listen, the glass is never half full or half empty with you.

2
0:01:40
It's so fun that you said yes to come back on the show. I was very honored to have you the first time around when I included you in the story about what an incredible Wall Street company is doing called Robert Ryan to give back to veterans with a percentage of their profit to my friend Brian Rathjen introduced me to you because he donates to your passionate cause which is veterans and I know that's what you live for. So thank you for coming back, but I really love this book, Overcoming Impossible. I really think you've got something to say. And those who don't know Robert's background, he basically says, don't worry about that. That's old news. You know, the world has changed. Yeah, I was a chef in the British Royal Navy. Yeah, I worked at fancy restaurants. Yes, I'm a TV star. Yes, I parlayed the whole thing into a whole bunch of brands and companies, but honestly, what taught me the most was, failing and I have some things I want to share. So I just, I'm so happy you are here and talking about this. Thank you.

1
0:02:36
You're welcome and thanks for having me back and you're right, Ryan and Robert's great supporters of my foundation, Robert Irvine Foundation. So they are great men. Yeah, the book was really, because I was getting 2,000 emails and opportunities to fix restaurants a week, failing restaurants, and we can only do one. You know, Food Network would pick five, then eventually pick one, and I would go and do it. But in my real world, I also work with big companies that have the same issues as small mom-and-pop businesses, just on a larger scale. So I wrote the book, it took me a year, and Matt Tuthill is my co-writer who writes my magazine, these are my full-time staff. But it's really about the four things that make you successful that I failed at, and I write down a lot of failures, or L's as I call them, and W's, but the first thing is empathetic leadership. You know, what does that actually mean? Know your people. Does one of your people's mom have cancer or is their son autistic? What are they going through on a daily basis before they come to work?

2
0:03:51
It's so important because you need the people to appreciate that you appreciate them and they'll work so much harder for you.

1
0:03:59
Absolutely, and you'll get it. But not many people do get it, which is unfortunate. But it's a big part of success. So that's the first part of the book. And then I go into egos and how egos get in the way. And I can tell you from a standpoint of my own, when I started, I thought I was the best chef, the best this, the best this. And in fact, I was nothing close to the best.

2
0:04:24
That's okay, I'm delusional too, it's alright.

1
0:04:28
Yeah, but we all are at some point, and that got in the way of me. It took me to get married, and then my wife to kick me about a little bit, and realize that it's not about me, it's about other people. And losing the egos of not only yourself, but also the people that work with you. One of the things that I talk about, and I talk about a lot, especially in the military space, is we hire people that are smarter than us. Why do we do that? Well, because they can lead us and teach us. You know, if I'm an A personality, I want a double A alongside me. And those that are insecure, A's hire B's because they don't want to be made look a fool of or they don't want to listen or, that's a big mistake. I see it in big companies.

2
0:05:14
You know, you really, one of the loudest things you said was ego. I'm an entrepreneur and I've been through a lot of rounds of good, bad and ugly. I love that you are talking a little bit about how you got kicked around because people always assume if somebody has made it that somehow they missed that whole phase of getting kicked around, but you did. You talk about the ego getting in the way of success for many people. I've seen it a million times, especially with entrepreneurs who are so passionate about what they think they know that they don't want to give it up or listen to anybody else. What advice do you have to people who work with, let's say, egomaniacs? How do you break through to somebody whose ego is too big?

1
0:05:54
There's one word, listen. I was one of those people, so I can attest to getting kicked around and beaten up and thrown out and spat out on many occasions and the companies that I started and failed. I think you have to listen to the people around you. I'm not saying take everything to heart because some people want you to fail. But listen and at least be open-minded enough to listen to a different scenario or objective to what you have or thought process. I think that's the biggest thing and it's really interesting when you do fail a couple of times and it's okay to fail. You just can't fail at the same thing twice.

2
0:06:38
Ah, gotcha. You know, I noticed that you took this time in your life to write a book, a whole year, to talk to aspiring entrepreneurs, would-be restauranteurs, you know, all kinds of business people and people who are stuck somewhere in the corporate world that they don't want to be, and a lot of those come up and tell you they want something else, they want something more, and they don't just want more money. So what do you say to them?

1
0:07:00
I say you have to follow your passion. I have a lot of friends who are doctors, that are scientists, that are intel guys, that are just fed up. It's not about money, it's about finding a job. And I say job because I don't have a job, I have a passion, but finding something that you are passionate about, that you, you love getting up for every day and going to do it. Right. And I think that we all need money, regardless of whatever, whatever, what's enough money and wants enough happiness, right? Because there's not money.

2
0:07:38
The happiest people I've ever seen along the way have the least, I swear to you. It's simplicity and I think money complicates things, but we need it to do for ourselves and for people we love, right? I was getting a kick out of reading your lifestyle. Obviously, you've got a million things going on, so you stopped to write a book, but you never really are in one place. You're always in hotel rooms and I'm so excited about that.

1
0:08:01
I want to live in a hotel. Do you like that life? Well I travel 345 days a year. Wow. 150 of them just with the military. I just come back from Scotland with a thousand, literally two days ago. I didn't even come home. I came from Scotland with a thousand coalition wounded marching 54 miles across the Scottish Highlands for brother and sisterhood, you know, injured and ill, wounded from not only 150 from the States, but from all our coalition partners. And I have to tell you something, yes. Everybody should do it regardless of the mileage. Every couple of miles, you know, we have the Ukrainians, we have the Poles, we have the Germans, we have all of been in Afghanistan, Iraq, and wars and all those kind of things. And just to listen to the similarities, stories, and life hardships, and stop every two miles, dry a leg off, put it back on. I gotta tell you, it's life-altering. So I came back from there, went straight to a hospital, funnily enough, in Virginia, then to Orlando, and I actually came home late last night and I'll leave again in the morning. I like the lifestyle. I like to be on the go. My life purpose has changed. It's not about me, whereas I told you that ego was all about me with the car and the house and early on in my career. That went about 10 years ago and I really threw myself into helping others, not only on Restaurant Impossible and kids with cancer and military and all those kind of things. So my life mission has kind of changed.

2
0:09:44
Okay, I have to stop you. Most of that. You said you don't have any more time and our segment is up. I could talk to you all day for the whole hour, but I'm going to let you go because I know you're tired. This was more than I could, I'd hoped you would just get up and be on my show. So everybody who is paying attention, please check out Chef Robert Irvine's new book, Overcoming Impossible. So everybody who is paying attention, please check out Chef Robert Irvine's new book, Overcoming Impossible. He's very, very inspirational and worth your time.

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VERY SMART!

SMARTfit, a gamified system that simultaneously strengthens the brain and body is one of a kind. Why is it so groundbreaking? It's dual-tasking neuro-rehabilitation & fitness technology which 'rapidly' enhances cognitive function & physical mobility by training the brain & body to work more efficiently together.

The technology is cutting edge. It's attracting huge interest from those in the areas of physical & occupational therapy, long-term care, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing facilities. Also wellness facilities, those in pediatrics who help kids with sensory processing disorders, and therpaists who focus on 'return to play' sports rehabilitation.

Courtney Robert’s, one of those tireless and brave nurses who stayed on the Covid front lines, is now on team SMARTfit. SMARTfit created the technology now being sold nationally through NEUROfitUSA in Long Beach, NY.

Courtney is passionate SMARTFit is a game changer and she joined me live on The Debbie Nigro Show to share why those in the healthcare field and in the school systems should pay attention to this groundbreaking technology. Enjoy the podcast of our conversation above but if you'd rather read the story the transcript of our live conversation is below.

TRANSCRIPT Of Audio Interview

0:00:00
And now, back to the Debbie Nigro Show.

0:00:03
Oh my gosh, I'm in the house. Hi everybody, I'm Debbie Nigro.

0:00:27
Good to be with you guys this morning. You know, I love smart stuff. And I read about something very smart as a result of being turned on to it by the gal who's in studio with me right now, Courtney Roberts. Hi, Courtney.

1
0:01:00
Hey, how you doing?

2
0:01:01
Boy, you're cute and so nursey. I love your nursey outfit. I feel safe because I'm neurotic and I always like being next to a nurse. Thank you for doing what you've been doing for everybody in life and through the pandemic. You know, I talked to your mom is how I met you and she said you were in there with the, you know, on the front lines of COVID. I go, what a girl, man. What a girl. Thank you. You're welcome. From all of us who needed you all. OK, so we're here because you found something that really intrigued you. Yeah, that was that you're passionate about now. It's a new technology called Smart Fit. And from what I understand, and I did my homework, which is, you know, good because I like to know what I'm talking about. It's a gamified system that simultaneously strengthens the brain and the body. Yes. And it's one-of-a-kind and it's for neuro rehabilitation and fitness and what it does for you know for lots of different applications is rapidly and that's the word enhance cognitive function and physical mobility by training the brain and the body to work more efficiently together. So I'm looking at all the pictures I put up and guys you might want to check this out at at the real Debbie Nigro on Instagram and also on my Facebook page the Debbie Nigro show to see the technology visually it's um how to describe it

1
0:02:13
because you'll better describe it than me. You know what it really depends on what generation you are but if you're a millennial I like to say do you remember Dance Dance Revolution if you're a Gen Xer I like to say, do you remember Whack-A-Mole?

2
0:02:28
That's a really great, awesome explanation. I'm a boomer.

9
0:02:34
What are you?

1
0:02:34
I'm a millennial.

4
0:02:36
Oh, good.

2
0:02:37
But I like the generational interaction and explanation. I think it's important to share how important this is across generations who struggle with different things, even children who have issues with sensory issues and people who are going through sports rehab and seniors who are trying to keep their balance and assisted living facilities who are trying to make sure that their residents stay healthy and function. And what this is doing is revolutionary from what you've educated me about.

1
0:03:11
Correct. I really love this technology and it's incredibly versatile. So you can have everything from early intervention, children, kids love it, to adult professional athletes and then of course, you know, your senior, your sophisticated populations as I like to say, where you're working on dementia, you're working on Parkinson's, you can work on MS, you can work on different aspects. It's fantastic for learning differences. Kids with autism, adults with autism, anybody with autism really responds to

2
0:03:46
this technology. So what people get would buy one of these machines or rent one of the machines or go to a place that has one of these machines and sign up for specific classes or you're looking for therapists to get this and bring it on board or schools or what are you looking and hoping to be the outcome of this conversation?

1
0:04:05
I mean all the things and again that goes into the absolute versatility of this machine. So yes, it can be used for personal use. Therapists can use it. You can use it just for fitness and wellness classes. We also have a franchise model that we're launching as well. It's great in schools. It's great in children's daycares, adult daycares, medical settings, physical therapy offices. I mean it's great for everyone and it's great for every setting. If you've got a body and you got

2
0:04:34
a brain, it's for you. I got a body and a brain. I don't know if they don't always work together anymore as evidenced by the big boo-boos I keep getting. I guess I'm a candidate. Yeah, we'll get you on Smart Fit. It really did intrigue me because you know I'm an athlete by by nature. Certainly. But as time is going on I'm not spending as much time doing that athlete stuff and I find myself being a little concerned about being one of those people. Like, oh look at her, she should have taken better care of herself. And it's just about balance and coordination and strength. Who has taken this already? Who has it in place and is using

1
0:05:06
it? Actually, the school districts in New Rochelle has it. In my hometown? Yeah, right down the street from us. So they have it. They have I think some older models We also have a great physical therapy office Hands of Hope that has it in Brooklyn. Shout to them. They're great. Yeah

2
0:05:23
But this is a national launch. Yes, and you guys as I understand it under the umbrella of Neurofit, yes, which is a national distribution arm of Smart Fit. You guys are handling that out of Long Beach, New York. That's correct.

1
0:05:40
Okay, so what's going on in Long Beach, New York? So we have a beautiful multifunctional office where we have all the different Smart Fit models. There's about three different types, four different types, and we're using it for wellness classes. So you can drop in, take a class, you can come in and do physical therapy. You can also come in and if you're an organization that's interested in seeing

6
0:06:05
this

1
0:06:06
you can come in and we can tour you, show you and demonstrate the machinery and then also we do Zoom demos, so if you can't make it you can always do a Zoom.

2
0:06:16
What kind of companies have been responding to this? Are you getting the reaction from the long-term health care facilities, from the rehab locations? Because this is fascinating to me.

8
0:06:28
Correct.

2
0:06:29
Yeah. It's just about educating people. Yeah. And getting the word out about it, which I'm helping you do right now, because I said, wow, I never heard of this.

1
0:06:35
Yeah, it's relatively new, and that's one of the things that we're trying to do, is we're trying to get this concept of dual tasking that promotes neuroplasticity and helps build more, better, stronger neural pathways in conjunction with the physical movement.

2
0:06:50
So you're saying that by using the brain and the body together, which this machine forces you to do in a really fun way, your body responds in a very different way than just doing physical exercise or just doing a mental exercise. Correct.

1
0:07:02
So, you know, when having this really fun, novel experience, you get these, like, endorphins going, right? I know about endorphins and fun and novel. So, you know, your dopamine, your serotonin, and your adrenaline, epinephrine, so all these chemicals come together and they start working on your brain and they do these neurochemical changes in your brain and you start getting more and different pathways. So the way that I like to think about it is...

2
0:07:29
In the hippocampus, by the way.

1
0:07:32
Everywhere.

7
0:07:33
Wait a minute, stop there.

1
0:07:34
Even if executive functioning in the front of the brain.

2
0:07:35
Really? Because I always thought, I know it was a big no-it-all about the brain, Bob's helping, you know, we can take a different road to work and let's create a new pathway in your hippocampus, you know. It's like walking on the same rug all the time. Let's take a new rug, you know, and you wear out a rug from doing the same thing over and over. You're just saying that it affects all the different pathways of the brain?

6
0:07:54
Yes.

1
0:07:55
So, it's, because it's a game, it's got visual effects, it's got sound effects, you've got that tactile response. So you're working on, executive functioning is made up of seven or eight different type of categories. And so not only are you working on learning different things and if you're a kid you can go in and learn your colors on it, learn your multiplication, learn your ABCs, right?

2
0:08:20
That would be so fun for kids.

1
0:08:21
Right, I mean you can go up to square roots. But you're also exercising your eyes and tracking and using sports vision. You're also doing organization, cognitive flexibility, impulse control, great for kids with ADD that have to do impulse control. So you're working on executive functioning as well. So it's using a lot of different portions of your brain. Also using right and left, using both your hands, you're using your feet, you're moving on three different planes of motion. So it's a really dynamic machine. So you're using multiple parts of your brain, which lies the challenge. And I go on and I go on this stability machine called a Cortex and I call it the flying saucer. It's on these ball bearings and it goes in 360 directions and it mimics the feeling of surfing. And so here I am trying to do this whack-a-mole game. And, um...

2
0:09:18
While you're surfing.

1
0:09:19
While I'm surfing.

2
0:09:20
My kind of girl.

1
0:09:21
And trying to use, and listening to the sounds and the cues and here I am, you know, back and forth, wobbling all over the place. I'm trying to balance my body, but use my brain. And it's, and you're, once you get a hold of your balance, then you gotta use your brain and you're trying to use all these things all at once. And you're just straight cheesing on the thing. You know, you're just smiling all the time.

2
0:09:39
That's great.

1
0:09:40
And it's just, it's so much fun.

2
0:09:41
So there are three size machines I happen to see. Is anybody promoting it to be in anybody's home?

1
0:09:47
Could someone own one of these things?

5
0:09:49
Yeah, absolutely.

2
0:09:50
If I had a kid who had some issues, I'd want to have one of these in my house. Yes. Okay, that's number one. Yeah. Are you promoting it to, again, does it fit everywhere? And like, is it an assistant living facility or? Yes. Yeah, they fit everywhere. Yes.

1
0:10:04
And they don't look too big. No, they're not They're not terribly big. They're adjustable. You can adjust the height So if you have a decent wall space, I'd say like a 6x6 wall space you can do that Our most most portable model is the strike pods. That's great for schools. It's Pretty affordable. It's an investment, but it's pretty affordable when it comes to equipment, you can move it around, you can use those pods and put it against, or around rather, our larger models and get a 360 type of setup.

2
0:10:36
Yeah, the schools should really look into this. This is big time game changer for a lot of the kids who would find this fascinating and also, you know, just enjoyable while they're getting, you know, increasing their ability to do all things better, I would imagine, right?

1
0:10:50
You can take them outside, they run on battery. So you just plug them into the wall, and a USB charger, you take them out, you can play them on the beach, you can play them in the parks, great for parks and recreation.

2
0:11:00
Oh, that's very cool.

1
0:11:01
Yeah, get the kids up and do it in a relay, it's fantastic for individuals, and it's great for groups.

2
0:11:07
I read that it was invented by a woman.

1
0:11:09
Yes, Kathy.

2
0:11:10
Yeah, I want to give a shout out to her. Oh yeah. Obviously, her idea wasn't just an idea, she took it to this whole level. Yeah. And where is home base for this company?

1
0:11:18
I'm California. Ventura. Very cool. So she's out. She's out my old place where I did all my COVID work. Where is that? California. Yeah. So I came back from California to New York. Well, I mean, I lived I lived right down the street from you. And then I went out. They were looking for nurses. And that's right. Yeah. And I got in with a traveling first response like crisis nursing agency.

2
0:11:43
Do you have PTSD from that experience?

1
0:11:46
No I miss it.

2
0:11:47
Really? I miss it. What kind of woman are you? Holy cow.

1
0:11:51
Crazy woman.

4
0:11:52
That's why I got into nursing.

2
0:11:53
I mean I would have been a great nurse because I have the heart for it. Yeah.

1
0:11:57
I just don't have the guts for it.

2
0:11:58
Yeah. And you must have giant guts.

1
0:12:00
You know what, I worked with a really fantastic group of people, a fantastic doctor, Dr. Ryan, who's no longer with us unfortunately. He suffered an incident over in Africa. But we were all in it together and there was this fantastic camaraderie. And I was working alongside the military and it was just such a new experience and it really brought back my confidence. As a nurse I had worked in the hospital scene and gotten really ground down with that. And so to get out and really do something where it mattered in a big way. Yeah, it really mattered and we were really we were truly rescuing people. We were going in when everybody was running out because I was so scared. I know, I got chills thinking about

2
0:12:44
back to it. It's almost like what was that as we all try and act normal again, when it was hardly normal. Yeah. And it's hard to recover from what we just have all been through. Yeah. I think what you're working on now is very meaningful. Yeah. And for you to take a pivot, if you will. Yeah. And go from that feeling of, wow, what you did and thinking this is something. Yeah. I could tell you have a high integrity. This is this is you got my attention.

1
0:13:11
I think this is going to get out of get us out of the issues that came with lockdown and kovat Especially with the kiddos being isolated for so long. Let me tell you something

2
0:13:20
I am concerned about the kids because they missed a natural evolution Yeah in their timeline. Yeah of growth personally in and in connection with other children, I mean they've missed this opportunity to to figure out how it goes and it's going to carry on. So you think this is helpful?

1
0:13:40
Yeah, I mean, so we've got to catch the kids up, okay, in terms of their physical, their emotional, their intellectual abilities and being able to, I mean, there's just something, there's like a je ne sais quoi talking to the teachers. We have so many teachers in our neighborhood. So I think it's really going to help the kids progress and get them back where they need to be after COVID.

2
0:14:06
Wow. Nobody has said a louder statement to me this week, and I'm very concerned about it. Thank you so much for getting in touch.

3
0:14:13
Yeah.

2
0:14:14
Thank you to your mom. Just give her a shout out. Yeah, Mom. Thanks, Mom. Hey, Sandy. Pennsylvania. It was odd how she and I just met and we had a nice glass of wine and we fell in love and became friends. So congratulations to you. Where can everybody find out more about Smart Fit and reach you? Go ahead.

1
0:14:30
Yeah, so they can give us a call at 888-445-7666. You can give us a call there. You can also reach out at support at neurofitusa.com. You can also reach us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube underneath neurofitusa.

2
0:14:51
Wonderful spokesperson for your company. Thank you. So nice having you and thank you so much for the education. I'll be sharing this with So nice having you and thank you so much for the education. I'll be sharing this with other people who could use it.

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This headline in the Atlantic about Ozempic really caught my attention.

Did Scientists Accidentally Invent an Anti-addiction Drug?

I'm well aware there's a dieting frenzy going on in the world right now with everyone and their mother talking about,and many taking 'Ozempic'. What I was recently made aware of, is the potential for this drug to benefit those with addictive personalities and to help so many people struggling with addictions of all types. Could this drug be a major game changer?

Ozempic, also known as semiglutide, is a drug meant for adults with type 2 diabetes used to improve blood sugar, along with diet and exercise, and reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease. BUT....and its' a really big BUT....it seems this drug is doing things no one saw coming. So I asked my friend David Gerber, who has worked for decades in the addiction industry to join me on my radio show to talk about it and find out what if anthing he's seeing or hearing about this.

Are people who've been taking Ozempic or Wegovy really stopping drinking? smoking? shopping? gambling? picking their skin?

David is the Founder of Sober At Home, which provides confidential substance abuse & addiction group counseling services online. People can get help from their licensed addictions counselors & specialists at a reasonable price from the priovacy of their own home. No insurance required.

If this subject is of interest to you or someone you know, please take a few minutes to listen to this podcast of my live interview with David Gerber on The Debbie Nigro Show airing weekdays on 1490 WGCH and 'live' on the digital livestream on WGCH. com. Interviews show up as podcasts here after.

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Trending: The American Ultimate Disc League and team New York Empire !

That’s right ‘Professional Frisbee’ is a big thing and getting bigger.

Matthew Stevens, a professional ultimate disc player, for the New York Empire wanted to help his team better reach their potential, so in 2018 he asked his business savvy parents Barbara and Paul Stevens, to come help run his team. They didn't see that coming but they did! Because who says no to their kid?

Paul owns a busy real estate construction company in N.Y. and Barbara worked her way up to become the President of a prominant Insurance company with four locations in CT. Paul funds the team and Barbara runs it. (She yells from the stands on game days kinda like Rebecca the team owner in Ted Lasso)

The two of them must know what they’re doing because the New York Empire won the championship in 2019 and 2022 and are currently one game out of 1st place this year. Even sister Melissa has joined the operation. The team is 53 and 6. They've won two AUDL Championships and have had two 15-0 perfect seasons. Right now they're the number one team in the AUDL.

The AUDL is the 'American Ultimate Disc League ' which has 24 teams in US & Canada. Think fast paced football, soccer and ballet combined.

More like football in that to score, you have to get the disc to someone in the end zone except a player can’t run with the disc, he must pass it. (Impressive to me as the last frisbee I threw is still in someone’s bushes.)

They travel the country competing, and thousands show up for a fun night out. There are 30 players on the roster and four quarters in the game, 12 minutes each. The team also engages the fans who show up with music and what they call ‘activations’.

An activation, said Barbara, is when you bring the crowd onto the field to do somehting, either throw a fisbeee or chase a frisbee, any kind for fun for the kids who attend. They even do things like ball hop games, so if you'relooking for someplace to go to entertain your kids this might be it! Depending on their age they even use some kids as disc runners, letting them run up and down the field getting the discs that go out of bounds and throwing them back to the ref. (Too bad my mother didn't know about this when I was a chubby little kid she might have opted for me to chase frisbees vs sending me to dancing school.)

The New York Empire games are very much a fun family atmosphere.

The team has even done exibitions at half time for The NY Giants and Minnesota Vikings.

Paul and Barbara Stevens would love more people to come out to their home games. Home base is the Joseph F. Fosina Field in New Rochelle, NY. and games take place on Satrurday evenings at 7pm.

Captain Lawrence Brewing is their main sponsor and they have a food truck and snacks and a DJ to keep the crowd engaged. Kids under 12 are always free- Adult tickets are $12.

Check out their website at theaudl.com/empire to find out more. You can also check out the sport on Audl.TV.

Enjoy the fun podcast of my live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show with Paul & Barbara Stevens owners of New York Empire.

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PART TWO OF A TWO PART SPONSORED FEATURE PROMOTIONAL INTERVIEW

E2: Environmental Entrepreneurs

Sandra Purohit, E2’s Director of Federal Advocacy

I love innovators especially when they’re working on things that benefit everybody.

I’m shining a light on E2, a National ‘Non- Partisan’ Group of Business Leaders, Investors, and others who advocate for policies that are ‘ good for the economy and good for the environment’. They’re passionate that those policies and projects already committed to continue on… because… hello - it’s working.

Sharing an education on 'the big picture’ regarding what’s going on here in the U.S. as a result of the federal investments in climate mitigation and clean energy.

Sandra Purohit is E2’s Director of Federal Advocacy. Sandra's background is interesting as she started her career working in the environmental claims division of an insurance giant. Sandra like all E2 members, is passionate that what they’re doing is good for everybody.

Sandra joined me to help shout out the same message that E2 Executive Director Bob Keefe did in the Feature Interview segment before her, that there is great concern that the thousands of just announced clean energy and infrastructure jobs and billions in new federal investments for similar meaningful projects are suddenly in jeopardy.

Since its inception, E2 has been recognized as a leader in advocation for policies that protect the environment while building economic prosperity. Their members use their collective voice to make the business and industry case for strong state and federal policies that address pressing environmental problems.

Again, one very successful example they’re pointing to is in the area near where I live in the Hudson Valley in NY. A company called Zinc8, which has developed innovative battery technology that uses zinc and air as fuel and is redefining long duration energy storage. They’re now an anchor tenant in a 3 decades long empty IBM site creating 500 new jobs.

They want you all to pay attention and understand what’s going on. So I'm helping to deliver their message.

If you know me I don’t talk politics but …I do always try to talk ‘relevant.’

Meet Sandra Purohit, E2’s Director of Federal Advocacy in this warm and enlightening podcast of the live conversation we had on The Debbie Nigro Show..

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PART ONE OF A TWO PART SPONSORED FEATURE PROMOTIONAL INTERVIEW I love innovators especially when they’re working on things that benefit everybody.

I’m shining a light on E2, a National ‘Non- Partisan’ Group of Business Leaders, Investors, and others who advocate for policies that are ‘ good for the economy and good for the environment’. They’re passionate that those policies and projects already committed to continue on… because… hello - they're working.

I'm sharing an education on 'the big picture’ regarding what’s going on here in the U.S. as a result of the federal investments in climate mitigation and clean energy.

First up to join me is Bob Keefe, Executive Director of E2. Bob explains how that funding and those policies are creating 1000’s of new jobs, driving economic growth and rebounding our economy. Bob also wrote the book ‘Climatenomics’, and speaks regularly about the economic benefits of smart environmental policies.

Next I hosted Sandra Purohit, E2’s Director of Federal Advocacy (in the next separate podcast segment that follows this one.)

One successful example that both E2 members point to, happens to be in the area near where I live in the Hudson Valley in NY. A company called Zinc8 has developed innovative battery technology that uses zinc and air as fuel and is redefining long duration energy storage. They’re now an anchor tenant in a 3 decades long empty IBM site in upstate NY, creating 500 new jobs as well.

E2 members are passionate that what they’re doing us good for everybody. They’re concerned that thousands of just announced clean energy and infrastructure jobs and billions in new federal investments for similar meaningful projects are suddenly in jeopardy.

They want you all to pay attention and understand what’s going on. So they stopped by and asked me to share their message. Which I was happy to do.

If you know me I don’t talk politics but …I do talk ‘relevant.’

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Dear pal Lucia Kaiser received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, at Ellis Island this past weekend.

Yes that’s "Ray Donovan" / Liev Schreiber of Showtime fame standing with her, as got one of those medals too!

The Ellis Island Medals of Honor have been presented since 1986 and is one of our nation’s most prestigious awards. Each year its recipients are read into the Congressional Record.

The Medal celebrates inspiring Americans who are selflessly working for the betterment of our country and its citizens. Many distinguished and diverse diverse Americans have received the award including Presidents Ronald Reagan and Joe Biden, as well as six other Presidents of the United States.

Lucia’s family immigrated from Italy and she went on to become an achiever, breaking ground for women in the entertainment industry, and has been involved in promoting youth incentive programs and speaking out against human trafficking.

Lucia is a two-time Emmy Award-winning Producer whose years of experience scaling the heights of the entertainment industry has won her the respect, accolades, and camaraderie of socialites, business moguls, and celebrities who share her passion for affecting positive change around the country and around the world. You should check out some of her photos from her lifes travels on her website here. You'd never ever call Lucia dull.

I thought Lucia should join my show today to take a curtsy for her fabulous self. Yes she's fabulous and she sure can drop some celebrity names as being her friends, but she's also as down to earth and selfless as anyone I know. She's also always the first one to laugh at herself and since I too am quick to make fun of myself, together we often share bust a gut belly laughs about ourselves. We've also shared lots of great business talks, as Lucia and I both love putting all the pieces and people together to make interesting new business deals come to fruition.

Lucia's also had her fair share of life's diificult life moments which she candidly shares in this chat, like losing her husband, the love of her life, to suicide.

Lucia one of my most trusted lifetime Girlfriends In Business and life. Proud to know her. Enjoy this podcast chat of ou live consversation on The Debbie Nigro Show, as Lucia Kaiser recaps her big Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award moment, which includes some candid stories that should make laugh about what went on behind the scenes.

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On a random drive to upstate NY in a random General Store I found James B. Flahertys’ book ‘Dear Old Friends’ - A Loving Reminder the Band Won’t Stop Playing Till You Stop Dancing.’

The cover of the new book sitting on the very old wooden table pulled me in and I quickly read the first few pages. Jim’s words leaped out and hit me in the eye like a bigga pizza pie!

I especially loved catching quickly he wrote the book when he was 42 and it took him 45 years to publish it! (My kinda procrastinator!)

Talk about SPIRIT! I wanted to be friends with this guy!

"Jim" is now 87 1/2 years young, and I could sense from his writing he’s an endless fountain of energy, wisdom and fun! I bought the book from Sharon the General Store owner in Wassaic, N.Y. who knew Jim and suggested my boyfriend Dave and I take a little drive up the mountain and go see the Inn Jim built back when.

Sharon said it was a beautiful drive to 'Troutbeck'. Which we had never heard of and of course which I was quickly googling soon as we got back in the car to put the address in my Waze.

OMG. We pulled up to paradise, parked and walked up to the Inn passing people in hammocks resting in the breeze. Saw the smoke of an outdoor fire pit calling and found our way inside to have a glass of wine in the classiest calmest most incredibly designed venue. (Although my personal calm was soon interrupted when my always calm boyfriend accidentally spilled red wine all over my new favorite light pink jacket and destroyed it. I yelled at it to shout it out to no avail. Sooo typical, as was my spending 20 minutes in their lovely lobby bathroom after discovering my tiny vial of hair smoothing oil opened inside my weekend purse and coated everything. Smooth, eh?)

Anyway … I read Jim’s book in one day, loved his good energy that exploded through his writing and wanted to know more about him. I wrote him (he asks people to do that in his book if they want to) and asked him for ‘the next dance’ I invited him to join me on The Debbie Nigro Show...to talk.

I was talking about great ‘spirits’ on my show all this week and well, he just fit in!

As Jim wrote on his website:

"Dear Old Friends will remind you that you don't stop playing because you got old--you got old because you stopped playing. Besides a Happy Memoir from an author who wrote this book at age 44 and 85--yes, that's correct--it's full of loving advice for aging magnificently. You'll want to read it and want all your Dear Old Friends--not just your parents, to read and laugh and learn and think about how satisfying it is to be someone's Dear Old Friend. XO, Jim

I think we all come to know at a certain point in life where we realize that 'Dear Old Friends' are golden and truly the meaning of life.

Wisdom only comes with age and time and that wisdom is to be shared. So, here's some more of Jim's wisdom.

"You want to hear pure truth? You’re only as old as you think. I know what I’m talking about. I’m 87 this year—going on 60. Life is full of promise. Every day is a miracle. Join me."

"Having a purpose is fundamental to health, happiness & longevity. A brilliant scholar named Richard Leider, said, “Purpose is an active expression of our values and our compassion for others—it makes us want to get up in the morning and add value to the world.”

Jim’s Background: Besides an award-winning career as an advertising writer/creative director in NYC and Buenos Aires with clients like FORD, Pan Am, Kodak, Lever Brother and more, Jim built 'Troutbeck' from a pile of stones and then spent decades as Owner & Innkeeper of this multi-star country inn/conference center which was taken over by new owners only a few years ago.

Jim also published two novels and now happily lives in an art-filled converted barn nearby with an interior pool and two adoring pooches. Father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he’s a popular mentor and storyteller, and believes Work is much more fun than fun. He’s 86! He sings in his church choir.

Jim’s a writer who knows how to make money writing and he’s hoping some big kahuna will partner with him to help turn his novels to a film for the big screen or into a winning streaming series. You can read more about Jim at jamesbflaherty.com. Or say hello to him like I did at talktome@jamesbflaherty.com.

I hope you enjoy the podcast of my live conversation with 87 ½ years young James. B. Flaherty on The Debbie Nigro Show as much as I did. Should make you realize... the band won't stop playing till you stop dancing.

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That's The Spirit! See a Gap in the Market and Go For It!

‘Faire La Fete’ is the fastest growing French Sparkling Wine in the U.S. I found out about it and met dynamic and sophisticated Co-Founder Charlotte Holl at a ‘Woman Owned’ event in Greenwich, CT I was invited to last month.

I picked up Charlottes’ smart vibe quickly and wanted to know more about her sparkly new venture, one, because I'm a start up junkie, and two, because knowing I know how hard it is to launch any new venture never mind a new sparkling wine. Does the world really need more bubbles? Apparently yes.

Charlottes' brilliant business Dad Edward Holl saw the opportunity and decided to go for it and lured Charlotte away from her fashion world to come work the new venture together under the umbella of First Growth Brands. They hired best in class 'spirits industry' pros, and the best in class creative agency (Miramar.)

They make their French bubbly in Limoux France, famous for actually having invented the process for making sparkling wine. Their sparkling wine has half the sugar of prosecco, is being sold at a third of the price of champagne but has all the quality of both. They priced it right to make women smile and now have big orders from big chains across the country.

Sure, looks like ‘Faire la Fete’ has a sparkling future ahead if things keep going the way they’re going.

BTW, Faire La Fete translates to…’To Party’!

Gotta love the French easy way of partying. (Especially since they somehow don’t get fat doing it)

Meet First Growth Brands Co-Founder Charlotte Holl and hear all about Faire La Fete the fastest growing French Bubbly in the U.S. in this podcast of our live interview on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Ted Dumbauld, Founder of SoNo 1420, the Double Gold award-winning distillery in historic So. Norwalk, CT was the first guy and his was the first distillery to incorporate hemp seed into whiskey! Talk about taking a shot!

His latest innovation is a line of ready -to-mix cocktails he calls ‘threesomes’. (Think 3 little airline bottles wrapped together that you pour in unison for a flawless cocktail.) His ‘threesomes’ choices include a Margarita, a Cosmopolitan, and an Espresso Martini.

Ted Dumbauld is sumthin'! He's a former navy submarine officer, who got an MBA from MIT, then spent two decades on Wall Street, then launched his own Hedge Fund and money management business, which led to the medical cannabis business as an investor and operator, which led him to create America's first distillaery to incorporate hemp seed, which led to the innovative 'threesomes' ready-to-mix cocktails and his appearance on my show. Whew! And the guy didn't even know how to make whiskey! He bought a still and had it installed in his basement and taught himself!

Enjoy meeting Ted Dumbauld Founder of SoNo 1420 Double Award Winning Distillery Norwalk, CT., in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

The show airs weekdays on WGCH Radio 11-12noon ET. If you can’t get the 1490 signal in the NY/CT area you can listen live from anywhere by going to WGCH.com and hitting the 'listen live' button. Follow me on Facebook at "The Debbie Nigro Show", on Instagram @therealdebbienigro, and on LinkedIn at Debbie Nigro. Get in touch if you or your company are doing something innovative that I could help you shine a light on. I have a very engaged and enthusiastic audience.

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Wellness Wednesday.

One day a week on my one hour weekday radio show, I cover all things health and wellness related. Things I find important or interesting that I like to share with others who might benefit. If even one nugget of new knowledge helps one of you listening or reading here, my time has been well spent.

This Wellness Wednesday show podcast is just me talking. No guests. Just Me. (and occasionally my engineer Bob)

There was big news this week that we have a crisis of loneliness going on here in the U.S. Half of the U.S. Adults are feeling lonely every day? How horrible is that?

The U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory on Tuesday calling attention to the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in the United States.

Everyone should read the story from ABC News called ‘US Surgeon General calls for action regarding the ongoing 'epidemic of loneliness and isolation', by Emma Egan.

The report highlights that a lack of social connection can present significant health risks, as loneliness can increase risk of premature death by 26% and social isolation by 29%.

On the flip side…U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy was quoted as saying, "Social connection can reduce the health risks associated with isolation and loneliness.” “By taking small steps every day to strengthen our relationships, we can rise to meet this moment together… And we can ensure our country and the world are better posed than ever to take on the challenges that lay ahead.”

I’m personally suggesting that everybody put a little more effort into stepping up your social connections for your own sake and for the good of us all. And check in with a friend, a family member or someone who you think might need a dose of caring…just because.

Hey if parrots can do it we can do it. What? You missed the story about the parrots being taught to call each other to become less lonely? It’s True. U.S. scientists got owners to train their pet parrots to contact other birds using a touchscreen tablet. Read the story in The Guardian Here.

Other Topics I covered this episode include;

Why are Teen Girls Suffering from Record Levels of Sadness and Suicidality? A very disturbing report from Amen CLINICS. Parents and caretakers of teenage girls really need to read this.

World Password Day. Celebrated the first Thursday of May exists to raise awareness about the importance of password security. I say create passwords that makes you smile each time you type one in!

What Does a Kids Healthy Eating Plate Look Like? Just because I always have a stash of emergency lollipops and gummies in my car, doesn’t mean I don’t ‘try’ and teach my little granddaughter about healthy eating. The Kid’s Healthy Eating Plate featured on Harvard.edu is a visual guide to help educate and encourage children to eat well and keep moving.

Everyone and their mother is playing Pickleball. What’s the draw — and is it really a workout? Found some good answers in this NY Times story here;

I only tried Pickleball once but so far I don’t think like the Pickleball ‘ball’. As a tennis player I’m not sure I can get used to what feels like a WIFFLE BALL.

While we’re on the subject of Wiffle Balls (we weren’t but who cares) did you know where the Wiffle Ball came from? It was Summer 1953, and a Dad was watching his kids play a game in their backyard in Fairfield Ct. using a perforated plastic gold ball and a broomstick handle. The rest of the story and family legacy is here on Wiffle.com

Ever get an allergic reaction and freak out? Me too. That’s relaxing, eh? It’s why I always carry Benadryl with me especially when traveling. ‘Allergies in the sky: Airlines are pressed to treat severe reactions', was a report this week from NBC. The FAA is considering updates to their emergency kits including Epi Pens, pediatric doses of antihistamines and meds to reverse opioid overdoses.

BTW: AN EpiPen® is an auto-injector that contains epinephrine, a medication that can help decrease your body’s allergic reaction by:

• Relaxing the muscles in your airways to make breathing easier
• Helping to reverse the rapid and dangerous decrease in blood pressure
• Relaxing the muscles in the stomach, intestines, and bladder

EpiPen® is for emergency treatment only and does not replace seeing a healthcare provider or going to the hospital.

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Carmines Deli in Elmsford, NY risked a big idea and won. Besides serving up terrific food they also decided to serve up fabulous live music on the weekends. Despite your original confusion in your head trying to imagine it, let me just tell you it’s very cool. In fact, it’s my bet that that Carmines Deli going to become a N.Y. area destination night out to hear live music.

There's something special about going out to hear live music. Just lifts you up, right? So, here’s how I found out about it.

One recent Friday afternoon my sista buddy “Mo’ who lives nearby texted me this message. “Let's go see some music up at Carmine's Deli”. I was like, what the hell are you talking about? You want me to go see music tonight at a deli? “Yes”, she said, “It’s great Johnny Feds and the Blues Boys are playing. Foods great too.” While trying to imagine in my head what kind of deli would all of a sudden become a live music venue that would feel normal, I start to google Carmine's Deli and music and pulled up an article that was written by my friend a local food reporter Jeanne Muchnick on LoHud.com. After reading all about it, I decided it sounded fun.

My boyfriend Dave loves music. He's a passionate aficionado and he's kind of a snob about it too. He likes musicians and people who love the art of it. I figured he’d love it too since I read this place is all about the music, and they just happen to have a deli that serves great food too. I read these were passionate music guys who are creating a community hub for live music that’s not only bringing in big names, but also encouraging some of the up-and-coming artists.

What could be wrong with this idea? NOTHING. It’s a hit.

Boy, was I surprised when we walked into a packed house where everyone was partying, eating and drinking and fully enjoying the kick ass band jamming on stage. Yes, Carmines Deli has their own music stage, cool lighting and drums.

Owner Robert Venuti who makes all the delicious food plays sax and harmonica and sings and dances when he performs with his band The Surf. He joined me in the radio studio along with his partner in crime on this big idea, Joe Palumbo. Joe who’s the Music Director and heads up Marketing, spent years in the music business. He’s tapping into his network of well-known musicians to come play. Guys like Milo Z whose high energy NYC Funk Band is known for tight grooves and funky dance moves. And guys like guitarist Alex Skolnick. They also just featured a special group of Women Who Rock. We were totally in awe the night we went of the sheer level of talent of Johnny Feds and Da Bluez Boys.

I always like to know how a new idea is born. So, who came up with the idea to turn the deli into a music club at night?

Robert says it wasn't just a meeting where they sat down and came up with the idea. “I always loved music; I like to play music. Yes, I’m a sax player and a harmonica player but mainly I’m a singer and dancer. I love the James Brown stuff. I'm at that deli 98 hours a week anyway. It's a big spot. So, my friends would come down on Friday nights, and just play like Neil Young songs." And of course, the guys would get hungry, and Rob would cook up some great food.

“And then it just evolved, evolved, evolved up and down”, said Rob. “And then Joe comes in on a recommendation from the bass player in my band, The Surf. And we got to know each other. They wanted me to hire a guy, and two weeks later he wants to be my partner.”

Joe Palumbo too at first thought music in a deli was kind of kooky idea.

“When my friend Rich, who's the bass player in Robert’s band The Surf said, come let's go hear some music in a deli. I had the same reaction you had. Rich had been trying to get me to come down. Rich had worked with me when I had a company called Rock House, and that's where I was in the music business, and we used to throw big parties in LA with a lot of famous musicians, and they used to come as friends. Rich would come in and help me out, make sure people didn't steal other people's gear. I said Rich, I can't, like, you know, it's a deli. I couldn't get my head around it. “

“So, the first time I went there, I pulled up and I was like, maybe they're in the back in a garage, you know, and then II walked in and I was like, wow, this is kind of cool. I could bring a date here. I went to two nights, and I think Rich said, you gotta meet Rob and I think he told Rob, Joe's the guy. Together you guys can make this take off. “

Joe met Rob and instantly loved him.

"I really didn't want anything. I was thinking, hey, I'll come out a couple nights a week, I'll get out of the house. Now I think it's just really taken off. I think Rob and I have built a solid, not just business relationship, but really a personal relationship. Rob has created a family there, and that's what I was all about.”

Rob says, “We're a place that does music and has food, not a food place that has music”.

“The deli is basically a mirror of what it was for me growing up and that was six kids, mother, father and Italian grandmother who lived with us, and we never went out to dinner. Went out once somewhere in Scarsdale and my grandmother was so mad. I know every curse word in Italian because I was called it. She had five boys and she also she lived with her youngest son which was my father and we had always had 12-13 people every single night. Homemade meals and there was a lot of music in my family. My uncle Joe played violin at Carnegie Hall, and he knew every instrument and he knew and hung out with Cab Calloway who lived right up the street. Every night there was singing and there was eating. Music is in my veins.”

Rob always opens the music night on the deli stage with a little speech.

“I always say, you know it's not about you, it's not about me, it's about us. It brings everybody together from the beginning of the show. It's a beautiful gift to be able to share it. And we want to embrace that it is a deli. I tell everybody yes; it is a real deli. There's a deli counter and everything you’d expect in a deli. But everybody sits at a table, and everybody sits together.”

Joe said a big part of the music plan is to provide opportunity. For example, Carmines Deli is working with guys Dennis Polanco at the White Plains High School Songwriters Club. Dennis teaches about 70 kids, some of them at-risk kids, and he’s teaching them how to write their own music. Carmines Deli invites them to try out their craft in real time and they get exposure to professional music industry talent.

Joe says, “Once a kid gets up on that stage and is playing in front of people, the next week their confidence is up 100%.”

Carmines has also established relationships with The Hudson Valley Blues Society, The Westchester Bluegrass Society and The White Plains School of Rock. Their upcoming Big O Series features four nights, eight bands, all their own original music.

If you go to Carmines Deli to hear some great music, you’re going to get a great dinner meal, not a deli sandwich. It's a cafe menu with very reasonable prices. The main act is the eggplant rollatini. They make two, three cases a week. The marinara sauce is the marinara sauce Rob grew up on as is his Chicken Scarpariello. You could do a night there for under a hundred bucks with four people. Yes, wine and beer are on the menu. I had red wine and an awesome eggplant mozzarella & roasted peppers wrap and rocked out with an amazing band. I left full and with a smile. You should go.

Carmines Deli 7 Old Road Elmsford, NY. Find them on FB or Instagram Music@TheDeli

Robert Venuti and Joe Palumbo brought some good energy to the radio studio and I hope you enjoy listening to this podcast of our live radio conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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I come from a road building background. Part of the joy of my life was growing up in my father's business Nigro Bros. Construction. I worked in his office starting when I was 9. I loved going to work there. I knew everything about the road building business, and I would have probably still been in the business if I wasn't a girl at the wrong time. Was not an option for a woman back then to rise to a formidable job in the construction business, thus my choice to go into into the communications industry. Timing is everything and I’m so glad women now have more opportunities to rise in all industries.

Anyway, moving forward as we always do in life and there are always new opportunities, innovations, and of course we're following artificial intelligence in a big way as we all try and figure out what the heck to do with this new ability.

When it comes to AI and roads, I happened to read about a company called Rekor I wanted to know more about. They're out there using artificial intelligence to keep tabs on the movement of traffic and roadway data, and they're going to keep roads and construction workers and truckers and law enforcement officials and drivers safer, as they identify trends using their analytics capability.

David Desharnes, Chief Operating Officer of Rekor, joined me to share a little education for us all. It’s obvious a lot is going on the roads these days. Where I come from up here in the New York, Connecticut the Tri-state area everybody is sick of the traffic. What are we doing about all this traffic?

David said yes, "There’s a load more traffic everywhere in the last decade, plus the additional movement of people into urban centers. New York, obviously being a major urban center, if not the granddaddy of all."

“We went from 10 mega cities, which, equates to about 10 million population or above, to 30 now, mega cities. So, the idea that more people are getting crunched into tighter and tighter confines trying to get from point A to point B has never been more of a problem.”

David has had a lot of interesting jobs and in most positions, he’s been responsible for global strategy and engineering and teams a management and data and analytics. He was even the general manager of worldwide industries for Amazon Web Services. He obviously knows a lot about things moving around.

So how is Artificial intelligence being applied to all that?

“Well you know artificial intelligence is a sometimes a scary term for people, but effectively, the simple way to think about it is that it's really helping people do more of what they're good at. It’s helping law enforcement, traffic management centers, road crews and maintenance, to stay ahead of what's happening on the roads. Artificial intelligence really adds arms and legs and the ability to consume information and help those fine folks make better, faster decisions. They're informed with information that is accurate and real-time and, in many cases, even predictive."

David gets excited about AI's potential to allow us to adapt to a more vibrant and very complex environment, that becomes overwhelming for us to be able to handle on a day-to-day basis.

Rekor located in Columbia, Maryland figured out how to utilize AI for something that was needed that didn’t exist. Road congestion is one of the major issues that not only cities face, but any major metropolitan area. Sadly, and tragically nearly 44,000 people a year are killed on roadways, and that's not even talking about bicycles and pedestrians. And the problems to fix are just mounting. David said, "About 125 people a day are being impacted on the roadways through fatalities, which if that was any other condition or any other news story, that would get a lot of attention. But it's kind of just, become part of the hum."

So, congestion is an issue, roadway fatalities are an issue, and even more so things like greenhouse gas emissions, the number one polluter of greenhouse gas or emissions, are vehicles and transportation.

"All of these things are really conflating to create a very difficult challenge for road workers, for traffic management centers, for governments, local governments that are trying to keep people safe and healthy. All of those things are challenged by the sheer volume of vehicles that are on roadways. And it's not just your granddad's vehicle it’s also fancy cars like connected vehicles electric vehicles and all kinds of different modalities. You've seen scooters, you've seen all kinds of things on the roadway. How do you keep that all straight? How do you keep that all humming and congestion free? It's very, very difficult to do."

"And that's the challenge that our road workers and departments of transportation are facing. Artificial intelligence helping with flow for these who need this knowledge, identifying whatever is moving on a roadway."

Another practical example said David, would be an incident. Could be anything from a debris on the highway or a dead deer on the highway to a 12-car pileup.

"Once an incident happens, and this is mind-boggling to me, said David for every one minute of an incident on a highway that can be minor to major, every one minute of the lake creates a four to nine minute backup of traffic. The ability to respond to it, get out of the way, get it out of the way, so that traffic can keep flowing is really a difficult task. Rekor enables that by being able to give real-time predictive analytics. Imagine somebody sitting in a in a traffic management center looking at a wall of screens trying to visually see what's going on and that could be overwhelming. But if you can bring automation to say, here's what matters, here's where it matters, here's options to go resolve it, they can just get it out of the roadway more quicker, and I'm just using one example."

Rekor deasl with about 20 trillion, different signals coming in. Waze is one of them, but also are things like connected vehicle data. Any car that was built after 2016, is going to be a connected vehicle. And this is rolling data information. It's like a mobile phone times a thousand said David.

"Rekor is using AI to provide real time intelligence to the world and also predictiveness. Like for example, if you look at what's the weather conditions outside? Now you can look outside and say, oh, it's raining. But what impact does that have on the roadways in particular? Is it windy? Is it rainy? Are people over-speeding? And in these conditions, what's the probability that something will happen in this area of interest. Maybe it's a wise decision for me to put an officer out there or somebody in the highway patrol to just even park a dummy car out there because I don't know about you but when I see a license, when I see an officer's car I tend to slow right down. So those kinds of things that can be done that are very simple but they're predictive. If you could predict where something may happen, you could actually get ahead of it and maybe save lives and remove congestion ahead of time."

Rekor has been at this since 2018 and they service about 60% of the US states and 90 countries around the world today with what they do. They’re bringing intelligence to the roadway or roadway intelligence through AI and smart sensors and connected vehicles. They’re inside of things like traffic management centers and inside of departments of transportation operations who are planning to build new roads.

According to the US government studies, one semi-truck inflicts as much wear and tear on roads as 9,600 cars, and it's tearing up the roadway. Being able to know what's moving on a particular roadway is important when you're thinking about what material to use to build the next road.

Was good to better understand how artificial intelligence is playing into all of this. We need to stay educated. David Desharnas and Rekor are behind the scenes working to make the roadways a safer place for all. Enjoy the podcast of our live radio conversation from The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Elisa Brown, 65, is risking you’ll love her one woman show ‘Hoodwinked From Heaven’.

You know I'm always a champion for anyone risking a new idea.

Elisa Brown is a classically trained vocalist who thrilled audiences around the world for decades with her wide range of vocal styles before returning home to care for her Dad Bill, who had Alzheimer’s.

"Daddy", Elisa explained in her Texas twang, was always a little bummed that his daughter was turned on by Mozart and Classical Music, because he really really liked Country Music.

Elisa’s Dad knew Alzheimers would eventually take his memory but he also knew, as did Elisa, that music memories often remain in the brains of Alzheimer patients even as language and other memories disappear. So he asked Elisa to write him some Country and Americana songs that he could listen to every day so as not to forget her. And he made her promise to do something with them.

So Elisa Brown wrote her Daddy six songs and sonofagun, he never forgot her.

And sonofagun,now she's doing something with those songs as promised with, as she put it, her father directing from Heaven! Funny.

In her Dad's honor after he passed, Elisa made the crazy bold decision to take those darn country songs powered by her late fathers joy of hearing them, and turn them into a one woman show."Hoodwinked from Heaven". It's a show that’s been described as heart-warming and knee slapping fun. A show completely different that anything Elisa's ever done in her life. Even she can't belive she's doing this. LOL

And as her lyrics in one song go, "Hoodwinked From Heaven" ...'a delightfully devine con.'

Should be a riot to see Elisa kick up her cowboy boot heels and spin some tall Texas tales (many of them true and outlandish family stories) in her show that celebrates the deeply American music that kept her family alive with hope and laughter.

I mean ya gotta love the song about her Grandmother who was married like 9 times. Ha. 'Too Many Yeses Not Enough Nos'. "Expect men to have problems said Grandma one day. Lovers are like chips you just can't have one. I took that to heart and thought I'd have fun'.

And then there's the song 'Pizza and Beer' about Elisa's bad marital decision. "We met in a bar, I was naive he was a star. He was smooth, I was dumb and hot to trot. Didn't know at the time, he was slime. Married on the spot, and he took all I got. I was hitched to a sack of manure."

Honestly Elisa Brown really got my attention with her funny Texas stories, witty songwriting and talented composing. She's a force for sure and she's decided to have some fun doing something completely different than she's ever done before. Never too late to try something new!

Enjoy this podcast of the live studio interview with Elisa Brown who joined me on The Debbie Nigro Show. She's terrific. She tells some wildly fun Texas family stories, and you'll also hear some snippets of the songs she wrote for her Dad that inspired ‘Hoodwinked from Heaven’ making it's NYC debut at Symphony Space in NYC on Sunday, May 7, 2023 @ 3:00 PM.

Address: 250 W 95th St. @ Broadway, New York, NY 10025

Lyrics, Music, and Story Written and Performed by Elisa Brown-

For Tickets ($45) and more info: ElisaBrownMusic.com

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Julie Rogers Pomilia is the granddaughter of one of the most famous couples in Western film & TV history, the legendary Western Movie & TV Stars Roy Rogers & Dale Evans .

They were the Brad & Angelina of the 50’s having adopted 5 out of their 9 children who were often photographed all lined up in little matching western outfits. (OMG I used to dress up just like that when I was a little kid.)

Julie is the youngest daughter of Dale Evans’ only biological son. She first realized her grandparents were famous when Grandpas’ photo was on the cover of Weekly Scholastic in 2nd grade. LOL

Julie was in her dorm room in college when she first heard the infamous song ‘Happy Trails’ on the radio and heard the announcer say Dale Evan’s wrote the song . She had no clue. She called up her Grandma and and said, “Really Grandma? You wrote that song? No one in this family tells me anything” Lol Some good inspiartional lyrics in the song Happy Trails.

"Some trails are happy ones, Others are blue. It's the way you ride the trail that counts!"

Famous as the couple was, Julie remembers family was everything to them and though they could be sleeping over at the White House one weekend they’d be on the floor playing Old Maid with the kids the next . But Julie shared, there was as much tragedy in the family as there was joy, as the couple lost three children along the way.

Roy Rogers & Dale Evans were second only to Walt Disney in their merchandising in the late 40’s and 50’s with over 400 items with their names and likeness. They actually didn’t not make a lot of money from their movies back then because that’s just how it was, so they had to make their money through products.

As for ‘Trigger’ Roy’s’ famous horse, he lived to be 30 years old and yes it’s true after he passed he was stuffed and mounted at the Roy Rogers and Dale Evan’s Museum. His hide was stitched over a foam mold and he was placed in his signature rearing move.

Meet the lovely Julie Rogers Pomilia on this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. Her new book “Your Heroes, My Grandparents” is just out.

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We Need a New Dynamic Word for Women Over 50! I know this because I’m one. The existing words suck. 'Woman of a certain age ?' 'Past my prime?' Who the hell says so? I’m ready for my next act and I’ll never be out of next acts! Did you know there are 999 adjectives on Google to describe an older woman and they’re all rotten. Words like old bag, granny, biddy, and that line I remember hearing a young idiot guy say behind my back once- “she’s got a few miles on her.’ I shoulda kicked his puny ass right then. Lol . Point is...we seriously need a new upbeat word to describe all the dynamic women making their individual ways through the latter phases of life reinventing, taking chances, having new adventures, and savoring their time invested in ‘life’. We especially need to let the younger women coming up behind us know, it’s never over as long as you say so. Lesley Jane Seymour former Editor-in Chief of More Magazine and current Founder of Covey Club, a National and international group of women interested in personal and business growth, was just quoted in a story about women and ageism. She joined me today on my radio show to talk about that piece in The Hill titled “2023 is shaping up to be the Year of the 50+ Woman.” 60 year old Oscar winner Michelle Yeohs acceptance comment was loud. “Ladies, do not let anyone ever tell you you are past your prime”. Ok damnit we won’t! Most wise women know the problem is our society that values youth and beauty. That and obnoxious men who don’t have mirrors ( sorry to the respectful guys) . I'm talking about the guys who are quick to joke about older women being past their sexual prime. (Sidebar: One peek through the blinds at a woman over 50 having a hot romance night would cure them of that thought but hey that’s another story. ) Men who age are celebrated with cool words like ‘silver fox ‘ and ‘dignified older gentleman ‘. There are no positive words for women who age. We need a new word! Women collectively need to put our heads together. How ‘bout WNDY? (Woman Not Done Yet!) Enjoy Lesley Jane Seymour and I gettin' real about all the fabulous 'Women Not Done Yet' on this podcast of our live interview on my radio show. And check out Lesley's Covey Club - you might just want to join. ABOUT MY RADIO SHOW THE DEBBIE NIGRO SHOW 11-12 noon EST WGCH Radio1490 or hit Listen LIVE at WGCH.com Show Interview Podcasts Posted After Here on DebbieNigro.com No Politics - Always Relevant...Always Hopeful...and Always A Little Humor...In Spite Of It All! If You Appreciate The Spirit Of My Show I’d Appreciate A ‘High Five “to my social media pages. Thank You! Follow me on Facebook : The Debbie Nigro Show Follow me on Instagram: @therealdebbienigro Follow Me on Twitter: Debbie Nigro Connect on LinkedIn: Debbie Nigro Sign up for my "Risk It or Regret It!" newsletter here at: DebbieNigro.com

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Meet the chef of the moment. Chef Adrien Bleck. He's the guy making kitchen magic at Orienta Restaurant in Greenwich, Ct. He just competed against Bobby Flay on the Food Network in that Beat Bobby Flay show and he beat him!

Chef Adrien joined me in the studio today to share the behind the scenes of the unique experience and the recipes that made him a Food Network Winner.

By the way If you haven’t seen the TV show it features various chefs competing against Bobby Flay and the show is taped in front of a live audience.

Was it nerve-wracking, I asked?

“Well, yeah, said Chef Adrien. “I think it was in the beginning. Yeah, definitely. Mostly the build-up, you know, because they reach out to you, then it's like, okay, do you want to do it? And then there are three or four months of lead-up and interviews. It's a major process to get called on to the show. “

Do they notify you you’ve made the show cut like you're getting a college acceptance letter? By Email? By Phone?

“You get an email and when you get the news you’re accepted and they give you a filming date and tell you you’re filming on this day against Bobby Flay at this time. “

On the day he got the exciting green light email, I wondered who did Adrien call first?

“I think my wife and then my parents. I think we were at the restaurant. So I think I passed around the email once I got it."

Adrien is French American. “I wondered are French people as excitable as Italians when something big happens? Like screaming out loud excited?”

“Yes. I can tell you the most excited people were my High School football coaches from Rye Neck High School in Mamaroneck, NY. There's a video of them absolutely going crazy watching the show. It was really, sweet to watch.”

Ever wonder what happens when a contestant first shows up ready to film at the Food Network studio? Nothing. At least for awhile. Chef Adrien had about a three-hour wait time with the other contestant.

“We were just talking, so it's just us two in a room and she tells me all about herself and she's a James Beard finalist and they flew her out from Oakland and they put her up in a Manhattan hotel.”

I’m thinking she was trying to intimidate him.

“That was intimidating” (See I told you) “I don't have any of those accolades. And I just drove down from Greenwich to Queens. So right after that I was nervous. “But she was sweet.”

Chef Adrien said he was very comfortable in just doing his best because it was such an anticipation getting there. He had good advice for himself and for anyone who likes to cook.

“Just do what you can in the moment and cook how you cook. “

Yes Just ...“Cook How You Cook.”!

When the show finally kicked in and filming started they do as they always do. They give contestants a mystery ingredient they have to work with.

What was the ingredient they gave Adrien? Escarole.

“I like escarole. Kind of like a bitter green. Love it. Kind of a lettuce. And you could do many things with it, and I used to work in California, and I'd have to go to the Santa Monica farmer's market three times a week, or twice a week, or whatever it is, to get our stuff, but it was always new and always different. Whatever you get at the farmers market, that's what's going to be your special of the day. So, when I see escarole, I immediately thought of my time in California and what is like the newer California type cuisine. That was a good thought. So, I just went with it. I grilled it and I made like a spicy honey vinaigrette with some bacon and It turned out to be quite good.”

The judge, Scott Conant, said it was one of the best things he's tasted on the show.

Everybody's going to want to come taste this at his restaurant now. But Is it on the menu? Nope not yet. He still hasn’t made it again, but he promises he will.

I told him to put it on the menu and call it The Chef Bobby Flay Beater Special.

“That's a great idea Debbie you know I think I'm going to do it.”

That's what I do here on this show, I give ideas to people. ( it's gonna cost him a spring roll.)

Alright so the other winning savory crepe dish, where'd that come in?

“So that came in as my specialty dish that I went in to kind of take Bobby by surprise because I'm pretty sure he's got my number on that.

Chef Adrien’s winning dish was his Vietnamese Savory Crepe. What’s in it?

“It’s a turmeric-based coconut and rice flour, so it's crispy, a little sweet and subtle on the outside, mix of chicken, shrimp, pickled onions, and a lot of fresh herbs mint, cilantro, Thai basil comes with a nice salad on the side and a numoc cham dipping sauce which is a traditional Vietnamese sauce. “

I hope Chef Adrien puts a big sign on his restaurant window that says Food Network Winner and I Beat Bobby Flay. He said he’ll ask his wife Kate to take care of that. She’s great at marketing. Cooking’s not her thing but word is she makes terrific food for their one and a half year old baby. “He seems to enjoy it my wife's cooking a lot more than mine.”

You're a great chef, and an amazing restaurateur. Tell us what are you terrible at?

“I think I'm terrible at like soccer.” Okay we won't call on you for that.

“What goes on in this chefs head all day long? Is he making stuff in his head? Does he have recipes in his head? What’s he you doing in there?”

“Well, normally when I come in after my day's off, my sous chef will order me the fish for the special for the day. It comes from Bonton Fish Market right down the street. Another local shout out. And I don't know necessarily know what he's going to order me unless I have something already specific in mind. So, I come in and it's sort of a surprise. And I got to go from there. And I start pulling ideas. I got a lot of cookbooks. I could take a little something from here, a little something from there. And I kind of turn it into my own thing. Since I wasn't classically trained in Asian food. There's a lot of reading and a lot of cookbooks. So, I just pull little bits from everywhere and then make it to what I think is good. I cook like I cook. “

Love his passion. It all started with Chef Adriens parents and growing up the restaurant business. His Mom was a great cook and he learned much from her gift for seasoning and using different ingredients and really making complete dishes. She's American. His grandmother was a talented cook too. So it runs through the women of his family. His Dad has always been a restaurateur, so Adrien would always see him in the restaurants and be eating in restaurants since he was very young. I guess you could say Chef Adrien grew up with the cooking gene.

For Chef Adrien his restaurant reviews are very important. “I like to take the feedback from our guests and people that I don't know, and I use it a lot. If you see trends and some stuff’s not working, then you know obviously it's our job to fix that and rectify it somebody has a bad time. You know I want to do everything I can so that they come back. We try, and really make it nice and make sure that they're all having a great experience. “

Sounds really nice to me. During the week Orienta Restaurant has sip and shop events , where local vendors come by and highlight their products and it encourages people to support local businesses and support the restaurant and network with each other.

They also have happy hour on the weekends which is unique.

If you’re in the area check out Orienta Restaurant on Lewis Street in Greenwich, Connecticut.

OrientaRestaurant.com.

About Orienta Restaurant

Antoine Blech originally opened Orienta restaurant on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in 1995. Over two decades later Blech and his wife Suzanne reopened the iconic French and Asian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich with a menu that is highlighted by Vietnamese flavors. Today, this restaurant is truly a family affair, their son, Chef Adrien Blech joined their team as Executive Chef with his impressive resume of over 13 years working at world-renowned establishments such as Le Bernardin, Soho House LA, Le Royal Monceau, Guy Savoy, in addition to sister restaurants, Le Penguin, and Le Fat Poodle. Chef Blech’s multi-talented wife, Kate is maître d' and mother to their 1-year-old daughter who Antoine and Suzanne hope will be leading the team one day in the future.

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While there are a ton of chocolate bunnies lining up on the runway this week there were also a bunch of chocolate stories in the news.

Like is chocolate good for you? The FDA said KINDA. Kinda? You can decide for yourself how many bunnies you'll eat this week after you read the story from NPR, "Is chocolate good for your heart? Finally the FDA has an answer - kind of"

Also in chocolate news this week was a this story from Harvard Health, "Heavy metals found in popular brands of dark chocolate. ". Wasn't dark chocolate supposed to be good for your heart?

But there was one great happy and healthy chocolate story this week and it involves my really great friend Chef Steve Amaral and his partner Ann Corley of The North Fork Chocolate Company with 2 new locations in Mattituck and Riverhead Long Island.

They are awesome people and make really healthy and delicious chocolate from scratch. Yes by hand one by one. You can even go there and see how they make the chocolate in person. They welcome you.

The North Fork Chocolate Company is committed to using local ingredients to enhance everything they make. They’ve been making some of the best chocolate bunnies anywhere and more choclate treats for weeks now.

News 12 Long Island thought theirs was a worthy story too. When I caught the News 12 story,I invited Alanah Ivans, North Forks Chocolate Company's 'Chief Chocolatier' to join me to give them all a big chocolate shout out.

When my pal Steve Amaral told me back in 2012 after being a top chef in the Hamptons with a top catering company - that he was gonna make chocolate - I thought he was nuts. Now I’m so proud of him and his team.

Stop by and say hello if youre out that way in Long Island. Feel free to mention his buddy Debbie Nigro sent you. He'll smile. You can also order choclate online for any occasion. Check out The North Fork Chcolate Company they're unique.

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Plants Scream Like Us When Under Stress? Geez Who Knew?

Now that I know I’ll try and be more sensitive, but truthfully, thank God I can’t hear them or I’d be drinking a lot more lol.

Pal Jill Brooke Editor In Chief of Flower Power Daily got my attention with a piece she posted on the subject by Rebecca Ann Hughs titled 'Plants "Scream" When Under Stress - Just Like Us'

Jill joined me to talk about the latest research on this phenomenon right on time for plant season.

It's true. Although they might not be audible to human ears, plants do make noises.

"Researchers in Israel found that plants make a high-frequency clicking sound when placed under stress. Their findings were published this week in the peer-reviewed journal Cell Press."

Those researchers spent 6 years listening to plants like tomatoes, grapevines, tobacco and wheat. The plants made noises when they were cut or when they were thirsty and appranelty the sound is like a pop of popcorn or bubble wrap.

Also just because we can’t hear plants, it doesn’t mean that they are silent to other forms of life. Insects like moths, or mammals such as mice bats, can hear plants. Who Knew?

Whats interesting about these findings is that scientists now want to apply this knowledge to agriculture and farming to better care for crops. Think 'sensors' that tell growers when plants need watering.

According to the study, “more precise irrigation can save up to 50% of the water expenditure and increase the yield.” Wow it does pay to listen!

Enjoy this friendly screaming plant update podcast with Jill Brooke Editor In Chief of Flower Power Daily from out fun live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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I’m a champion of people getting back out in the world and connecting ‘in person’. It matters. That's how relationships get made, right? Life is easier with people you trust. The more you know about somebody authentically, the more apt you are to trust them. And you never know who knows who.

We all lost a lot in the category of relationships as a result of the pandemic induced virtual world, we now live in. To change it back up for myself, I’m now on a personal mission to reconnect with people I like ‘in person’. I’m known to be fun, and I like to make my interviews fun. People share more when they’re comfortable and having a good time.

I have the pleasure of broadcasting my live radio show from the studios of WGCH radio in Greenwich Ct., a town known worldwide for its beauty, location, amenities and well-run government. Founded in 1640, it’s one of the oldest towns in the United States, home to many multigenerational families and has been a worldwide destination for over a century.

I’ve known my engineer Bob for decades and we work well together and produce high level content that gets heard around town, around the country through the digital livestream and around the world through podcasting.

During the pandemic, I started to work from home and do my radio show remotely. I got used to broadcasting from my house sometimes in my pajamas and got a little lazy about returning to the studio. But there’s nothing like ‘live’ in-studio energy, and so I’m back and trying some new ‘in studio’ things.

Fred Camillo, who's the First Selectman of Greenwich (their version of a mayor) also has a show on this radio station. I’d always enjoy running into him except he’d bring his big dog who would scare the hell out of me because I’m scared of big dogs so our conversations would always get cut short by me hiding behind a desk.

Fred and I didn't see each other for a while so I decided to invite him to sit in and do my show live without his dog (big dog lovers please forgive me).

I always thought Fred was sweet, but I don’t talk politics on my show and didn’t know much about him personally. I thought this would be a nice opportunity to have an authentic conversation that others could enjoy too.

I wanted to know about Fred Camillo the guy. A lot of people have said some beautiful things about him as they’ve have watched him grow up in the area and are proud that he became the guy who's running the show in this very interesting place in the world.

Did Fred want to grow up to be the First Selectman (mayor)?

Nope, found out he wanted to play center field for the Yankees. Sadly, that didn't work out. He also wanted to be Joe Frazier but he was only a lightweight so that didn’t work out either.

Fred does works out a lot and he’s in great shape. Every morning early, he’s out walking his two dogs and he walks to the gym.

Instead of a baseball uniform or boxing shorts Fred’s daily uniform is now a suit. How many suits does the First Selectman of Greenwich own? Four. Mostly he wears the dark blue ones (Yankee blue), but he also has a light gray and a dark gray. When he was young, he had a beige one for the summer.

I wondered does Fred ever do like I do, change clothes like Superman did in a phone booth to get from one occasion to the next dressed appropriately?

“Rarely but It’s happened”.

Does Fred wear cologne? Nope. How about jewelry? Only watches. And a Fitbit to count his steps. (Roughly 20,000 steps a day!) BTW, he wears them both on the same wrist and people always ask why he has two watches.

As a result of his job as First Selectman of Greenwich, CT some weeks Fred’s out every single night. But he’s really a homebody and loves to hang home and watch sports. Who's his team this year? “I'm still a Yankee fan but I even root for the Mets. The Cohens are great people. They're living in Greenwich.” Great! I’m a big Met fan lets get him in for an interview.

What about hockey? “I grew up a Ranger fan, but the owners of the Islanders are here in Greenwich, and they are terrific people. Jon Ledecky actually worked here at WGCH in the 70s. He brags about working here. Great! Let's get him in sometime for an interview.

Do you like tennis? “I don't play tennis, but I will watch it once in a while. I grew up watching Jimmy Connors and Chrissy Everett. But I will watch a good match”. What about Pickleball? “We’re going to get hopefully four new courts.”

So Fred I asked, “If you're going to the electric chair, what would be your last meal? You get one call, and you can have anything you want” Fred’s last meal is going to be a big one. Lots of pasta, probably a couple slices of pizza, Italian cheesecake, gorgonzola salad and a bottle of wine. (Good to know Fred and I could have a lot of fun eating together)

Fred Camillo’s father was a marine drill sergeant. The rules in his house growing up included that you had to work so Fred worked every day when he was a kid. For a couple weeks back when he was 8 or 9, he even used to have a little shoeshine box and shined shoes outside a local store. Fred said his drill sergeant father was funny funny guy with a great voice. A crooner, just like Frank Sinatra and for fun Fred and his siblings used to tape him. “But he had a temper”, Fred said, so you had to be careful. Adding, “But it was funny. It was in an era, you know, that things were different. And I kind of miss those days.”

Does Fred remember people's birthdays? Yes. Does he remember people's phone numbers? Yes. He knows at least 25 or 30 peoples phone numbers by heart. Does Fred still have dead people in his phone like I do? Yup, He said, “I think it’s about holding on to a memory and it's something that's personal and to erase it, would mean kind of, it's that finality. It’s silly, but it's just something that we do.”

I asked Fred another one of my signature questions? What's your genius?” That thing that comes naturally to you that you take for granted.

“Nothing, that's gonna make me any money”, said Fred laughing. “I can tell you the starting line up with the 1978 Yankees. I can tell you who the third string catcher was on the 1961 world champion Yankees. As my father used to say back when soda was cheap, that and 50 cents will get you a soda. I can easily recall Baseball trivia mostly but also a lot of historical stuff. I taught history in high school a long time ago, so I remember dates and numbers.”

Has Fred been on every single block in Greenwich, CT? Probably. Greenwich is the second biggest landmass in the state of Connecticut and yes Fred’s been on every street around the 67 square miles, 48 of which are land.

What hasn’t Fred Gotten around to doing yet that’s still on his bucket list?

He hasn’t been to Italy.

Fred’s currently involved with ‘Paws for A Cause’, a leukemia fundraiser in honor of his sister Donna Marie who died from leukemia at the age of 11. Sadly, Fred’s mother also passed away just six months after his sister at the age of 34. “Unfortunately, said Fred, back in 1968 medicine and science weren’t where they are today.”

How many people ask Fred for favors in the course of the day as a First Selectman. A lot. “When you say favor you mean help, aid, attention to their cause, whatever. And you do what you can do, if it's legal and you're not doing anything that's, you know, against the law or out of order”.

During Fred’s day is he more likely to be texting, emailing, or calling somebody? “I'd rather talk to somebody.”

Here’s another ‘signature’ Debbie Nigro question because I’m aware that everybody has something going on in their head all day long. “How Does Your Head Work Inside? How's it working in there I always wonder?

“Well, a lot of people will tell you there's nothing going on”, said Fred.

I guess, music. I'll walk out of the gym in the morning, and what was playing usually what I hear in the morning, it stays in my head.”

Finally, I wondered does Fred worry about a lot of things? “Oh, yeah, big worrier said FRED. So how does Fred relax?

“Red wine, but I don't have it every night and watching sports. I'm not a big TV person, but I just started watching the old Sopranos. I wanted to go through the whole thing. So, I'm almost on season five now and that's kind of relaxing. It makes me laugh.

Enjoy this full show podcast of my live 'in person' conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show with Fred Camillo the man, who also happens to be The First Selectman of Greenwich Ct.It was really fun to get to know him authentically.

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Sara Smida’s post on linked in caught my attention. I extended an invitation to share her message to a wider audience on my NY/CT based radio show.

Sara’s a talented content pro and mom of now 15-month-old baby girl twins living in Saratoga NY. She had a high-risk pregnancy during the pandemic and started working remotely from home. She and her husband tried valiantly before their twins were born to find trustworthy and affordable childcare. That did not work out, so they both worked from home.

Sara has been working remotely from home ever since. Recently her company announced a hybrid work policy which would require her to go back into the office a few days a week. For Sara that’s a deal breaker.

Sara’s reality reflects the monumental childcare challenge all the fabulous working moms in America still struggle with in 2023 but should not have to. This is a MAJOR issue and a major problem I started speaking about years ago that has yet to get fitting attention.

Working moms know some days are harder than others and most struggle with the balance of being home enough to raise their beloved children and leaving them behind with a qualified caregiver for their own important occupational needs.

Knowing there’s no solution to this gigantic problem today the least we women can do for one another is if it’s in our power – is extend a hand when we hear another woman in need. So, Sara needs a new remote job, so that she can work from home while caring for her 15-month-old twins. I’m sharing her message in the hope someone knows someone who has a job opportunity for her.

Sara has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communication rhetoric and public relations. She started off working at agencies, and now she does account management, social media management, writing posts, publishing posts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, you name it. She also writes tailored pieces of content for brands that will resonate with their audience.

If you ask me, she’s a HOT commodity. Take a listen to this podcast of our live radio conversation and get to know her for yourself. If you can use her skills here’s her email. sara.smida85@gmail.com

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Yes Prince Edward island is famous for those PEI Mussels sought out on every US restaurant menu, but there’s a whole lot more to lure you to this all season vacation destination.

It's an Outdoor Adventure Lovers Paradise, and It's really calling my name this year.

Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada has endless opportunities for outdoor adventure, hands on experience, or just a peaceful walk on the beach.

With over 45 harbors scattered throughout the 700 miles of jagged coastline, colorful fishing villages, lighthouses, antique shops, and restaurants serving up the freshest Island cuisine, there’s always a reason to stop and explore.

I love road tripping along coastal roads and exploring small towns and Laura Lund, travel expert and Prince Edward Island enthusiast says, you can easily hop from small town to small town.

Laura's lived there all her life and joined me on The Debbie Nigro Show to share her favorite PEI destinations and why they should be on your trip itinerary. She's known as the 'itinerary queen' when it comes to discovering the island and the hidden gems you should visit. She was born and raised on the island and went off to the University of Prince Edward Island to get her degree in applied tourism and hospitality. It's no surprise Laura was selected to become the Media Realtions Officer for Tourism PEI.

If you've always wanted to go to Prince Edward Island be sure to listen to Laura Lunds' insider tips during our fun podcast conversation.

By the way Laura has also assured me there are still places to stay on PEI where I can take a bath! Great news for bath lovers like myself who've been getting really annoyed at how many hotels have been killin' off bathtubs to make room for more rooms. Someone should really take a stand against hotels with standing room only showers. No fair. LOL

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We've all been a little weirded out by the recent news of odd stuff flying in the sky getting shot down. What the heck is going on up there? And who knows what else is in the sky?

I don't know. But Rob Reis does. He's the CEO and founder of Higher Ground the inventors of SatPaq, which is one of those compact devices that you always wish you had on you while you’re walking in the woods and can’t get any signal on your cell phone. It’s a very compact device that enables a smart phone to send and receive messages over a geo-stationary satellite, they're known as GEO satellites and they’re 23,000 miles above earth.

Higher Ground is expanding this technology initially created for consumers, with NASA now and the Department of Homeland Security.

I was reading a LinkedIn post by my gal pal, Lois Whitman, who is very close to Rob and she was writing about his knowledge of what goes on above us in the sky every day. More important, his knowledge of maybe why these latest sky balloons in the news, these shapes, these sizes were up there and what they were doing. I found that that very interesting and I find Rob very interesting, so I invited him to be my guest on this show.

First about SatPaq, I wondered how Rob got that idea. I asked him, “Are you a technology guy?” “Are you a guy who got lost in the woods with no cell?” LOL

Both he said. Rob who lives in Silicon Valley has done four startup companies. An inventor at heart he also does a fair amount of hiking and backpacking. And he reiterated that, anytime you go hiking, fishing, just exploring, you're commonly out of cell phone coverage. Ten years ago, he started working on the SatPaq because people just want to have connectivity wherever they are.

Tell me about it. I can’t count how many times I've been walking behind my crazy old hippie boyfriend in the woods thinking, no one's going to find us if something happens. I bring it up every time and he always says I’m neurotic. Nope. I just want to stay alive and not not be found if I need to be found! It’s very disconcerting to not be connected considering how much we rely on being connected every day. Even when I sometimes go to a certain area of people's neighborhoods that are more rural, where I have friends or I do business, and have no cell service I can't take it. So, I know Rob's SatPaq is something that the world welcomed.

But Rob pointed out that the consumer market was not as interested in this as the NASA folks and the Homeland Security folks were, so he’s doing a lot of business with them now.

Rob said, “We introduced the SatPaq into the consumer market about four years ago and we had some reasonable response. I would say we have a couple of thousand SatPaqs in consumer hands. But it really was the special forces who found us about three years ago and basically said, we need that kind of capability. What we're providing is really a pocket-sized device for the soldier that he/she can operate anywhere. And what makes it special is that it's so stealthy. So that's different than a consumer need, and the military needs it so nobody can intercept the signal.”

I asked Rob who spends a lot of time in his head 23,000 feet in the air, to speak to all these crazy balloons in the sky that were just shot down. Was he shocked, surprised, not surprised?

"Not that surprised", he said. “I used to be involved in the intelligence industry 25, 30 years ago. We've got a lot of different assets up there at different altitudes. There's Leo satellites, which are low earth orbit and the Geos, are about 23,000 miles, so they're 50 times further and we have airplanes. I was a little surprised by a balloon, but a balloon basically makes sense in terms of some kind of interception gear.”

Frankly he said, you can put a much larger antenna on a balloon. “A typical satellite is like a meter across the ones that go up at 500 miles above the earth. And you really want to have a much bigger antenna. If you need a big antenna, you can't put it on a small satellite and a balloon makes a lot more sense.”

Rob said there are probably 50,000 satellites in the sky right now. Imagine?

Are they color coded I asked? How does everybody know who satellite is whose?

“Well, the good news said Rob, is that space really is big and in general, there's good focus on where every company positions their satellite to make sure it's not going to interfere with some other satellite, both physically and radio wise. So, there's good control. But it's changing. There are concerns about, you know, space debris. Sometimes when satellites fall apart or they reenter the atmosphere, or sometimes when other governments destroy them, you end up with all these little particles that don't come down. The issue of space debris is becoming of concern, and it should be. So right now, we're okay, but the future we must be more careful. “

While talking to Rob I was trying to wrap my mortal head around what’s going on up in the sky on any given day. On any given day here are like 7,000 planes and 60,000 satellites in the sky and now we know we have these giant balloons flying around. How high are these giant balloons able to fly I wondered?

Rob said, the one that was brought down was at 60,000 feet and most commercial aircraft fly between15,000 and 35,000 feet. So, it was above the flight paths of typical commercial airplanes, but he added, it’s a space that typically only military equipment go to 60,000 feet which is quite a way up.

In terms of kind of going from ground up, the commercial aircrafts are at about 30,000 to 35,000 feet, which is five, six miles. That big balloon that was brought down was at 60,000 feet which is about 12 miles up. Satellites start at 100 miles up.

In following the bouncing balloon here, I was wondering why such a big balloon was in the sky that far up? And what was it supposed to provide? Obiously some intelligence that somebody couldn't get by looking at a Google Earth map.

“The first question maybe a couple of weeks ago was, you know, what kind of intelligence are they likely to be getting? And you first start thinking about photo intelligence pictures because pictures do tell you a lot about what's happening below. And maybe 30, 40 years ago, getting photos from space with something that only governments could do. But in the last maybe 15 years, a whole bunch of companies. have put up their own small satellites with cameras. And people are now comfortably going to Google Earth and really, you're getting pictures from commercial satellites.”

So, the question is, if you can get the photos from the internet, why put up a balloon?

"Right",said Rob. “What you see on Google Earth and others is impressive in terms of resolution. It has been confirmed, because people have picked up or the military government has picked up the remains of what was found in the waters off South Carolina, and they've shown that what it really was is an antenna.”

“You know, we're not talking photo information. We're talking signal intelligence. So that means you're not really looking at a picture of what's on the ground. You want to see what kind of radios are being used because that also tells you a lot about what happens below. And to get radio signals, it really comes down to something called aperture, which is how big is the array and the larger the array, the more sensitive it can be, and the better you can figure out where the signals are coming from. When they started showing photos and you saw a 200 put balloon and you saw a big girder structure, which appears to be maybe 150 feet. Something that big must be picking up signal information. And that's the hypothesis now confirmed that it's an antenna. “

I read is that a helium balloon 200 feet in diameter can lift 250,000 pounds. That would be the equivalent to carrying 60 cars in the sky?

"Yes", said Rob. “It just shows that when you have a really big balloon, you can carry a whole bunch at 200 feet. It's like two thirds of a football field so these are enormous balloons. But when you look at the photos, you're not seeing that big of a structure below. So, this was not about weight. This was about kind of girth or width. And when you start thinking about what needs width, that’s really an antenna array. I'm going to guess that what's being carried below is 5,000 pounds,10,000 pounds When you look at the photos of the 200-foot balloon, you see these big guy wires. And it's meant to keep the antenna array relatively stable. It all makes sense when you see the photo and you understand kind of the physics behind it.”

I did ask Rob my signature Debbie question, “What goes on in your head all day long?”

“I do startups. What we're building with the SatPaq is on the other side of this equation, which is if you're building something for the military, how do you make sure that the adversary can't pick it up? So, we're now talking about a balloon and what they're trying to pick up. And we’re thinking what do we do to make sure that our military has very, very stealthy equipment. In the professional world, that's what I'm spending my time thinking about. We've come up with a bunch of clever things. And obviously I can't talk about how we're doing it, but that's what the SatPaq does is provide virtually undetectable communications from the ground for our military. And frankly, as an engineer, it’s really fun to be building something that special, which is that important to our troops.”

What an amazing way for a man to be spending his day for the good of us all.

Enjoy this fascinating podcast conversation with Rob Reis, CEO and Founder of Higher Ground and inventor of the SatPaq from our live conversation The Debbie Nigro Show.

The world has to be grateful for brains like that of Rob Reis.

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According to Flower Power Daily red roses are getting some competition.

Toffee Roses are VERY HOT right now and florists everywhere are clamoring to get their hands on them.

In the past year rose farms have quadrupled their ‘toffee rose’ production and there’s even a toffee rose black market since only a handful of farms have the exclusive rights to this new rose color tone. Even the toffee colored rose names like Frappachino, Caramel, and Golden Mustard are protected by a licensing rights.

Jill Brooke, Founder and editorial director of Flower Power Daily says, “We have anointed the toffee rose to symbolize “open-minded, open-hearted and blended.” This rose does speak to 2023 and is a fitting addition to our changing social landscape, which embraces all the colors of love.”

FPD reports that according to the Pew Research Center, 17% of all marriages in 2022 were of mixed races and ethnicities. The toffee/taupe roses are a perfect choice to represent that cultural shift. It’s no longer just white roses at the wedding or for the wedding bouquet.

Jill says the unsung heroes of the flower industry are all the breeders and scientists who work diligently to develop new rose colors every year in the hope that something new catches on. To their delight, toffee roses caught on big time.

FPD wrote that Joey Azout, president of Alexandra Farms, which produces David Austin roses among other brands, says “sales of sand, toffee, and nude color roses now make up 30% of the color assortment.”

And FPD shared that in anticipation of the growing popularity of this color wave, Rosaprima Roses also introduced RP Moab last year. The company said it planted 20,000 plants and now will increase that production to 150,000 because of demand.

Ryan Black, of Miami-based Jet Fresh Flowers, told FPD, a “black market” for the flowers is emerging since only a handful of farms have the exclusive rights to this color tone and are trying to grow them illegally without breeder permission. Black, who is the fourth generation of his family in the flower business, says the company’s Ecuador farm grows varieties including Symbol and Quicksand which are selling as briskly as real estate in Florida.

Jill says in the U.S. California is the major rose growing epicenter but in South America, Columbia and Ecuador are really big flower generating locations.

Theres some really good news in all this toffee rose hoopla for small business. Local Florists who have been finding it harder and harder to compete with the supermarkets selling flowers, are the only ones who can get and sell these rare toffee roses.

Interesting fact about Supermarkets said Jill. They’ve recognized that people buy more in their stores when they see flowers because seeing flowers makes them feel happier. When people feel good they spend more. Supermarkets who can sell flowers cheaper than local florists because they buy in bulk, have set up their flower stations at the front of their stores so people see them when they first walk in.

In addition to talking toffee, Jill and took a few minutes on Valentines Day to review the meanings of the different colors of roses.

Red = passion

White = purity and innocence

Pink = elegance and charm appreciative love

Yellow = friendship and courage

Peach = enthusiasm mischief and fun

Jill who is passionate about all things floral said,

“Flowers convey a dictionary of feelings without saying a word”.

How true.

Listen in as Jill Brooke and I discuss all the toffee rose hoopla in this podcast of our live girlfriends in business conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show

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One things for sure, when someone needs blood they need it asap!

Personally I get nervous around too much blood but surely if I was in need, I’d hope there was enough blood available to help me. I’m sure you feel the same.

Hospitals need blood every day, so they need people to donate every day.

The nation's blood supply is at it’s lowest level in a year and for the O blood type which is especially needed, that's at it’s lowest level in 3 years.

Cliff Numark Sr. VP of Vitalant, the nation’s largest nonprofit independent blood services provider, says blood donations are really critical right now.

(I did not know there was an independent blood service but now I do!)

Vitalent is the nations largest independent blood service and second largest overall to the Red Cross. They have 120 donation centers in 28 states serving about 900 Hospitals. They’re exclusively focused on providing comprehensive transfusion medicine services for their hospitals and their patients.

They need about 5,000 blood and platelet donations per day.

Like Cliff said, “It’s something when you need it you need it, it’s like oxygen, you don’t really appreciate it until it’s not there and that’s what we’re trying to fight against.”

While some aspects of life have returned to normal since the height of COVID-19, the blood donation rate has not, leading to more frequent supply shortages.

Vitalant’s blood donor base has dropped by about 20% since 2019 and the nonprofit organization has also experienced a severe drop in blood donations from business blood drives as many people now work remotely.

These worrisome trends – coupled with severe winter weather forcing blood drives to cancel and historic flu levels keeping many donors at home – can lead to blood shortages that could threaten patient care.

Anyone worried about giving blood as to how it will affect them should be reminded that our bodies are amazing in their ability to make more. Giving a pint won’t affect you. But you can only give one pint at a time.

Cliff says, “Were like human biological factories. When you donate a pint of blood, you have to wait 56 days and that allows your body time to regenerate and produce more red blood cells and plasma and you can give blood again then.”

Cliff Newmark knows a whole lot about blood. Prior to joining Vitalant, he led blood operations for more than 16 years at the American Red Cross. In his current role at Vitalant, his job is to oversee the organization’s marketing, communications and outreach to blood and platelet donors, to ensure hospitals have the blood products they need to help patients.

Happy to help him get the bloody word out in this upbeat podcast conversation from The Debbie Nigro Show. (Just please don't make me look at blood)

For more information please visit Vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL or download the Vitalant app.

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"Don't Be Afraid To Talk About Your Problems". Those were the words of the late Jack Nathan pictured here. A vital young man who wrestled with anxiety and depression who passionately championed talking about mental illness to let others know they were not alone.

His parents David and Bradi Nathan and his sister Drew are keeping his mission alive.

David and Bradi joined me live on The Debbie Nigro Show said, "Jack left us suddenly and accidentally on 7/3/20 at the age of 19, due to fentanyl poisoning. He was a survivor of mental illness- not a victim."

Before passing, Jack had created “HappyJacksWorld” to raise awareness and fund access to mental health resources.

Happy Jack IS Jack Nathan.

In his honor, his family is continuing his mission to continue supporting those who struggle with mental health. On Happy Jacks World website you'll find merchandise with the signature Happy Jack Logo you can purchase to show your support. 15% of each HJ sale is donated.

Jack's parents want to be sure you know we can all make life better for kids like Jack and ask that we all help keep Jack’s legacy and mission alive. I welcome the opportunity to help and share Jacks' message.

I always welcome the opportunity to talk about mental health, a topic that was insanely taboo and 'hush hush' in the years I was growing up watching so many struggle.

To be human is to struggle but some struggle more than others. Thankfully we continue to become educated about the brain and how it works so we can undertstand how to better help others we care about and give them more hope and inspiration.

Happy Jack Donations have been made to the following Foundations in Jack's memory and in their commitment to help all:

Active Minds, Child Mind Institute, Born this Way Foundation, Runway of Dreams, Riley's Dance, JaneStrong, Lean on Me, Denver University, American Cancer Society and Release Recovery Foundation.

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Book Vending Machines! Every School Should Get One!

“Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine” was created by Global Vending Group for Book Vending.com. The machines incentivize students to read in a fun way.

I saw one in a local school when I went to vote last year and was blown away. The teacher I spoke to said it’s a huge success.

Golden Inchy tokens are given to children as rewards for positive actions. Every kid during the year eventually earns one to pick a book from the vending machine they get to keep. The kids love it!

Global Vending Founder & CEO Jason (Jay) Blumberg joined me on The Debbie Nigro Show to share the backstory of how these machines came to be, how he figured out how to engineer a vending machine to vend books, and how since 2018 they’re successfully addressing the literacy challenges in schools across the country.

Jay says the experience of being at the ribbon cutton ceremony's around the country seeing the unveiling and the pure joy from the kids and teachers takes his breath away. An avid reader himself and the son of eduvcators, it's now become his passion project.

Jay's spoken to over 1000 educators and seen the hardships and and the love the teachers have for their kids and and everything his do is helping the educators communicate and bond with the kids.

The book vending machines are now in 4000 schools, in every state, and also all over Canada. The demand is increasing. They're making reading a reward rather than an assignment.

One by one schools are signing up to get their own Inchy Bookworm Vending Machine - some even custom designed in their school logos and colors to highlight school pride.

Great story and great opportuntity for every school dsitrict in the country to jump in on as there are many ways the funds can be accessed to get these book vending machines in schools.

PTA and PTO Presidents are rallying around this project, there are Title 1 Grants, and teachers are having great success getting the funding from Donor Chose.org. Schools can fundraise and crowd fund raise. The United Way has an Education Foundation Fund, the Boys and Girls Club, Kiwanis Club, Wealth investors are all finding the funds and even Elon Musk bought one.

Bookvending.com features all the various funding options.

Enjoy this inspiring conversation about ther power of “Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine" and the entrepreneur who brought it to life. Meet ”Global Vending Founder & CEO Jason (Jay) Blumberg who joined me live on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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It's always great when you get a heads up that something bad's gonna happen and you can cut it off at the pass.

This artificial intelligence ability that we're privy to in this time of our existence on the planet is nothing short of amazing. Amazing, what goes on every day behind the scenes that we only hear about after for years and years of research.

Now artificial intelligence is helping cardiologists like Dr. Faraz Amad catch the problem of heart failure early. That is incredible.

Cardiologist Dr. Faraz Amad MD, MS, is also the Associate Director of Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute’s Center for Artificial Intelligence.

Dr. Amad said, “We’ve seen artificial intelligence affect our lives in so many ways outside of healthcare for the last several years and now in healthcare, we're trying to figure out ways we can use this technology to improve the quality of care and the lives of our patients.”

“Heart failure is a very common condition, it affects over six million adults currently. And so here in Northwestern, we wanted to leverage all the data we have across our health system to try to find a subset of these patients who develop what we call advanced heart failure. Patients with heart failure with severe symptoms that are persistent despite being on medical therapy. So with computers and these algorithms, we can search our databases and try to find these patients and we develop a whole system in which we can bring these patients into our heart failure specialty clinic in our very vast and expeditious way."

If somebody is that far down the road really struggling, where medications aren't working anymore, and you find through artificial intelligence that yes, they're probably going to go in that direction where it's going to be over and out. What can you do to stop that?

Dr. Amad, said, Right, it's a great question. It's why finding them early is so important because there are a lot of options for them. So we bring them into clinic and we talk to them about their history, how they're feeling, and their goals and preferences. And then for some patients, we can make medication adjustments that can make them help them feel better. Other patients sometimes need a minor procedure for the heart valve. Devices like pacemakers can really help some. But for a subset of patients, they may benefit from what we call advanced therapies. Things like heart pumps or heart transplants that can really help them live a long life and feel much better than they're currently feeling for a long time. So it's very important to find these patients early, which is why it's important to develop and test the technology.

Finding a heart to transplant is not the simplest thing from what little I know.

"No It's not", said Dr. Amad. "It's why we and other centers have a highly specialized team that does this. We evaluate patients, we discuss with them and their families and select and talk to patients. Patients who go for it with heart transplantation are the ones who will derive the most benefit. But it’s a process, like you said, and it involves a wait list. For some patients, things like heart pumps are really good options. It’s why we keep this team approach to figuring out what's the best way to help patients feel better for a long time."

As I’m talking with Dr. Amad, I'm thinking of a friend of mine who's waiting for a heart for a heart transplant. He's a very big guy and they have to find the right size heart. So that's one thing that's was in my head. The other thing that’s in my head is my dad died of heart failure. He was only 55 years old and it was 40 years ago. I wondered, would he still be alive if this information existed 40 years ago?

Dr. Amad said, “I think as a community, we have a lot more treatments and options to take care of patients to find them earlier and keep them living longer and healthier. I think with the whole portfolio of treatments we have, we can keep patients feeling well for really a long time.”

My father had Diabetes and I know it was big part of what led to his heart failure. Do a lot of diabetes patients find themselves moving into the direction of heart failure? Is there a correlation?

"There is", said Dr Amad. “Yes, having diabetes, especially as diabetes not well controlled, can lead to heart problems in a few ways. It can infect the muscle directly. I can also lead to blockages in the heart that can lead to heart attacks and also affect the heart muscle. So patients with diabetes are certainly at higher risk for developing heart failure.” “The good news is that there are medications that help patients with diabetes prevent the development of heart failure. Or if they develop heart failure, it helps make them feel better and reduce hospitalizations. And so there are really good treatments out there for patients with diabetes. “

I mentioned to Dr. Amad, that a friends’ husband just went into the hospital and had a not one, not two, not three, but a 'five' bypass surgery. How many bypasses can you do at one time in this day and age?

Dr. Amad said, “I think when a surgeon performs by a heart bypass surgery, the goal is to give as much blood as many parts of the heart as they can safely do. So I don't know if there's a set number and it really depends on the vessels where the blockages are and how many of the patient needs. And they really just try to give the optimal number of bypasses.”

Doing the job of a Cardiologist job day in and day out can’t be simple, so I asked the good Dr. my signature question, “How does your head work inside?” What are you thinking about all day long?

Dr. Faraz Amad said, “I'm thinking about how can I help my patients feel better and live longer healthier lives and where are the tools I have? Are they getting those right tools and do they align with the patient's goals and preferences? When I'm in clinic on the hospital, you know, the tools I have are the medications and the advice at which times to offer them. I'm sitting with my data science team or trying to think about what tools we can deploy at the health system level to find these patients, bring them in, give them the right treatments, the right time. So I would say I'm generally thinking about how we make care better in America for either all patients in our system or the patient ran in front of me.”

“At Northwestern Medicine Bloom Cardiovascular Institute this approach of developing and testing AI enabled algorithms for different use cases, including heart failure is new. We’re figuring out how to develop and then improve these algorithms and take the information and get the patient in front of us and take care of them. I think a lot of places are trying to figure this out and we're excited to be part of the leadership in this space. “

Are there any companies in the pharmaceutical world paying attention to what you're doing, to able to create new medications in tandem with your new discoveries?

“In heart failure” he said, “we've been lucky that there have been a lot of new medications for lots of different types of heart failure. They can really improve the quality of life and survival for our patients and we’re really excited for all that innovation. Now we're trying to figure out how to get patients, those innovative drugs.”

“And I think in the data science AI space, there are a lot of companies, health tech companies, interested in these technologies and we partner with a lot of them, to try to develop and test these technologies. I just want to underscore the ‘testing’ part is really important. We need to make sure these technologies work. We monitor them and that they are improving care for patients. “

So Dr. Amad, when you said you're trying to get patients these new medications, is that because they're not on the market yet?

“They're just coming on the market. They're in demand. There's not enough supply. Well, some of them have been on the market for a few years. But we know that in healthcare in general, there's often a gap between a new drug or an innovation or a guideline and the actual implementation of that guideline. And a lot of us are really interested in figuring out how do we close that gap?” “So right now, this program we have is focused on advanced heart failure. Our next step is moving upstream and trying to make sure all our patients with heart failure, including the ones who aren't advanced are on the right medications for them. I think like a really good thing to focus on. It's really exciting and can hopefully really move the needle on heart failure.

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A Financial Sociopath/Serial Killer is how Jim Campbell, author of “Madoff Talks” described Bernie Madoff.

Netflix acquired rights to Jim’s book and Jim served as an Executive Producer on the docuseries ‘Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street which debuted Jan. 4th. I watched it last night.

It’s a 4 part series about the unimaginable corruption and fraudulent schemes committed by the globally infamous former chairman of NASDAQ and American financier Bernie Madoff who orchestrated the largest Ponzi scheme in world history fleecing thousands of investors out of $65 billion. It’s also about ‘the willfully blind financial system that allowed it to flourish for decades’ said the Netflix trailer.

Jim Campbell, who joined me on The Debbie Nigro Show, was able to get the most comprehensive insider account of how this could happen, through his exclusive interviews with all the players including Madoff himself through personal communications with him while he was in prison.

It’s an incredible and outrageous story that Jim personally got the last word on. And honestly, the last word from Bernie Madoff from prison.

Jim felt lucky that Joe Berlinger, the top Netflix true crime documentary director was behind it. He's the guy who did the Jeffrey Epstein, Elaine Maxwell, Ted Bundy, and Whitey Bulger documentaries too.

Jim said, Joe actually took the story from the book and adhered to it, and to him, that was a great honor.

“It's a very complex story, said Jim. And he told it basically like I did. He let me basically be able to do that. It's his thing. It's his show. He's done everything in it. The way he put it together, the recreations that are so creative, the two sets of the 19th, 17th floors that reflected Madoff's brain split between one totally legitimate, and one totally criminal enterprise. Berlinger did that. So it's been a big thrill for me. By the way, the co-executive producer credit, my contract said producer. So they promoted me without even telling me I didn't see it till I saw it on the screen. “

Jim Campbell wrote the book “Madoff Talks” and then Netflix optioned the rights for their docuseries, ‘Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street. ‘Optioning the Rights’, means Netflix purchased exclusive access to his book for three years. Jim also had turned over 40,000 documents to them as well.

So how long did it take for Jim to write the book ‘Madoff Talks’?

“If you include the fact that I started talking to Bernie Madoff back in like 2011 it took about 10 years”.

I wondered what it felt like for Jim the first time he spoke directly to Bernie Madoff?

Jim said, ““Yeah, you know he just destroyed so many people's lives. And remember back at that time, he was like the biggest villain on the planet. And yet he was very charismatic, brilliant, had total recall. And you could see that his ego was so strong.

What Madoff said to Jim was, “I had a legitimate business. I'm brilliant. My strategy, the fake one called split strike conversion actually worked except Jim, I know I wasn't doing real trading”.

Jim in his conversations with Madoff described him as sort of delusional. “You know, justifying that it worked, but then he was not really doing it for real. He had an unfathomable brain that he could compartmentalize it the way he did. Madoff built the business from scratch, and was doing the number three volume on the New York Stock Exchange. And you think, well, then something must have happened over here. he must have lost some money and like a gambler, he made the classic mistake. He's told me that story. “

Recalling the conversation with Madoff, Jim says it was like, “Yeah, I was going to do a Ponzi scheme under the table. It was a mistake. I'd get the money back and no one would ever notice.”

Jim shared that Madoff was building the legitimate business and the Ponzi business at the exact same time. Intentionally, intentionally. And at the same time.

“It wasn't intentionally in terms of I'm a crook and I'm trying to steal your money, said Jim. It was he couldn't psychologically accept losses. The legitimate business is trading. You're making commissions markets up markets down. He suddenly saw he could lose money on trades and he could not deal with that. And that's what the genesis of it. But to do them at the same time, you have to have one screwed up mind.”

I found it crazy that so many really smart people just kept handing Madoff money especially as the documentary pointed out, that there was no official letterheadon nice paper on the statements from the bogus company that was sent to customers. They were more like graph sheets from a laser printer and I found it t absurd no one ever questioned that? No one?

Jim said, “No one. No. I never found anybody that understood what his strategy was, which was very simple conceptually and should have mirrored the stock market, which obviously it didn't because it always went up.” “They both bought this veneer of trust that it worked.”

It’s my experience that most people buy the person behind the brand in most categories in life. So here you have this monster who was once revered, who I guess people assumed could not do anything wrong, and he creates a bond scheme and ends up 65 billion dollars get lost and a zillion people's lives get wrecked. One poor guy featured in the Netflix series lost not only his money, but his house. It was hard to watch him speak through his tears. I’m aware some of Madoff’s victims got recourse and retribution. In this podcast Jim speaks to where that money came from and admits its a sore subject for him because usually nobody gets money back in a ponzi scheme.

Jim Campbell thought the documentary was really well done and enjoyed working with everyone involved out at a big studio in New Jersey where they built the sets.

“I got to meet everybody out there and the interesting thing was, none of these guys came out of a serial killer documentary world. None of them knew a thing about finance. So they actually let me teach them for about five months before they start filming. Then they filmed for four or five months. And then Netflix took it to get it ready for the other countries for three or four months. And thats was the process. I do not know the Netflix people very well. But they, they treated me incredibly well. Radical Media is the name of the production company, and Joe Burland was the director. I met all their folks and all the other producers and other fabulous contributors. “

I brought up to Jim that the opening part of the first segment or the first portion of the documentary, the scene where a grown son and his mother who was invested with Bernie Madoff ran into him in Palm Beach at the golf course. The son says hey, you just ran into Bernie Madoff! And the mother responds, yes but did you notice he never looks directly at you?” I thought that was a very loud. I asked Jim if anybody else had said that along the way?

“I haven't heard that, but what he did have was a series of ticks, that made him look real strange, like there was something that was in his brain that he was trying to keep down.”

He went on to say about Madoff, “He didn't like to meet with any of the people in the dirty business, he loved to meet with the Presidents of the brokerage firms, for what his real legitimate business did which was trade for customers of Schwab and folks like that. And so he did all the execution for them. So yes, he was a strange guy. “

So did his family members know what was going on?

“I did that in chapter 8 of my book, you know, I started my book with the Justice Department, the trustee, the media and the people all thinking that Mark, Andrew, and Ruth had to know or were involved. I did my own investigation. It literally came right down to the end because one of the things is Bernie took 800 million of customers money and stuck it into the back door of the legitimate business, when it had problems through the trading desk, calling them trading losses and covering up, etc. Well, who ran the trading desk, Mark and Andrew? So that didn't look good, but I did figure it out and I contrary to what all these other folks say they did not know about it. They were not involved. Does that mean they're they shouldn't have known about it? Well, shouldn't the SEC have known about it? “

“Now, the real story is the government failed, Wall Street failed, all these firms were shipping money, right? And Bernie gave them the fees back, which they explained as their job is only due diligence. Someone has money and they’re is looking for these kinds of things, say, very conservative. And say Bob is a money manager and it’s his job is to see that the other person is real, that he's doing what you say and puts the money with the person that matches. Bernie wouldn't allow any due diligence. So they took fees they would never get in order not to ask questions. Oh, that's called willful blindness. That's really loud. Some made over a billion dollars in fees.”

Jim Campbell says Bernie Madoff had no empathy. Bernie Madoff would tell me, “Jim, my lawyers tell me I'm supposed to show empathy. I don't believe these people are living in dumpsters now like everybody is saying and they don't have and by the way, I don't see it happening it.” The other thing Jim said Bernie Madoff suffered from was narcissism.” “Always the victim and pathological lying and control and the ego just dominates you and both of those things were true in his life. “

“But I gotta tell you”, said Jim, “he came across very low key, charismatic, trusting. He ran his firm, particularly the legitimate side as a family. He paid for people's honeymoon. He paid for sudden emergencies. And this is before he stole the money to pay for it. So there were people that I know that stayed in that firm because he treated them well.”

What has changed in terms of regulations in the financial industry since this story?

Now, if you take Bernie's instance, they can catch the Ponzi scheme now, the SEC. They did five investigations back then and never saw it. They know how to look for Ponzi scheme. now except maybe if it's offshore, where a lot of the stuff is. But the SEC is not a cop, which is what people believe it is and what they try to tell you it is. They're not equipped to find these things upfront. And the crypto thing has been unregulated now for several years.

Aware that Bernie Madoff died in prison I was curious where Bernie Madoff might be buried? Jim said nobody had ever asked that question.

“Okay, if you know Jewish custom, you are supposed to be in the ground within 24 hours. His remains are cremated, which is also not in the Jewish faith or custom. His remains are in a jar in his lawyer's office because the family wouldn't take them.”

This is the podcast of the insightful conversation I had with Jim Campbell on the Debbie Nigro show about the man behind the biggest Ponzi scam in history.

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Scented markers, crayons, stationery and toys are on store shelves everywhere and Alita Friedman of Alita’s Brand Bar is totally ‘in’ on all the delicious smelly action.

Alita is an expert in the toy business and toy licensing business. She's your gal if you need 'toy' industry advice. She’s a business gal pal and was one of my very early ‘on air’ champions for my ‘style’ of broadcasting.

Alita Friedman initially developed her own toy brand and turned it into a TV show. Then she started working on other brands to make them bigger and working with manufacturers of great products to add their brands to licensing deals, and bring them to life in the toy industry, in the gift industry, in the art industry, music industry, you name it.

Now Alita’s Brand Bar is working with Kangaru Toys, who Alita says, is really the only toy company out there that has the ‘secret sauce’ for putting scent into toys and other things, everything from stuffed animals to markers to stationery.

On behalf of Kangaru, Alita decided it would be cool to start getting them ‘smelling licenses’. Over the last two years, actually since COVID started, they’ve been securing licenses from brands like Hershey's, Jolly Rancher, Peeps, and Mentos.

“We’re able to make stationery markers, toys, and all these things that smell really good. And they're actually marketed not really to kids, but they're really marketed more towards adults, like cool stationery for your desk, and marketed to college students, for back to college type of things”, said Alita. She added, “The idea has been very successful and you can find the products on the shelves of stores like Five Below and Walmart and online at Amazon and the Kangaru Toys website.

The ‘smell licensing’ partners (actually brand licensing but smell licensing sounds more fun) are very happy because their brands get expanded into a whole new direction they had not explored before - through stationery and toys.

Personally speaking, when I first saw scented markers and products in the stores I stopped in my tracks amused and confused. I thought about buying them for some kids, but then I thought, I cannot buy these for kids, what if they think it’s food and eat it?

When I told that to Alita her response was, “In a certain way, you know, you're not going to find them in the little kids section. You might find them where you're buying other stationery items. They become collectibles for adults. And it kind of goes back to that whole, whole adult toy buying trend right now.”

It's very obvious to me that, in terms of genius marketing, if I've got a pack of markers in front of me that smell like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups I'm going to want to run out and buy Reeses Peanut Butter Cups! So it makes perfect sense that food brands would find this ‘smell licensing’ space with toys and gifts appealing.

I was trying to imagine how ‘smell’ might physically be added to markers and toys. Do they spray it on? Dip it in it? Alita said theres’s something called ‘micro-encapsulation’ which is a process the factories use. She was clear, if you sell anything in the toy industry, it has to be tested to the highest consumer product safety standards, and there are all kinds of toy industry laws.”

Adults buying toys for themselves came out as big trend this past year. ‘Kidult’ is the term the toy industry has given to adult toy buyers who are buying toys for themselves. Call it nostalgia or call it fun but whatever you call it the trend is now responsible for 1/4 of all toy sales annually and set to grow bigger. Adults are buying superheroes and collectibles that remind them of of their childhood. I myself might be inclined to fork over a few bucks for a new Easy Bake Oven . Lol What about you?

And so what does Alita see ‘trending’ in toys next?

“When COVID happened, going back to basics and playing games became huge. So you're starting to see licenses now on games. Think of a game that you grew up playing, now, you'll see a lot of versions of it that might have a license on it. You're also seeing a ton of collectible toys. So if you think of all the comic cons and all the comic books and video games that come out, it's adults and their kids enjoying them together. And there are plenty of people collecting toys many of which are sitting on adults desks and home or in the office. desks or the offices of Some take them out of the box to play with them. And some just keep them in the box as a valuable collection. There's always some kind of a great stuffed animal or squishy type of toy that becomes really popular. And outside things like, you know, the scooters and bikes.

If this topic smells good to you please enjoy this fun interview conversation with Alita Freidman recorded live on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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Lifes Interruptions.

There's a lot of conversation going on in the world about learning how to harness our own minds. I swear to you, if it's not one person it's another who mentions they've been trying to figure out what the heck we learned last year that we can do different in 2023.

Seems Everybody's Wrestling With Themselves.

I was having this conversation with my buddy Paul Lambert. He's a Broadway Musical Producer living out in California. He's a guy who I've been talking to on the phone for 20 years. We talk about a lot of things that you wouldnt necessarily hear talked about on the radio. We talk business, life, whatever. He brought up this topic on the phone. "What the heck have we learned this past year?"

I thought it was a good topic to bring to the radio, I invited him to talk about that on my live radio show and talk as if we're on the phone and nobody else was listening.

Paul is working on some great upcoming musicals. In addition to the Four Tops Musical, the latest one is called, "Can You Hear Me? I know from talking often to Paul this show is fantastic and it's a very special thing in his life. I knew that recently related to it, somethin' just didn't quite go as expected that he had high hopes for. I figured he'd be totally bummed. But he wasn't.

I think a lot of people can relate to having expectations that fall through and getting bummed out when what they hoped might happen doesn't happen. How you deal with those moments is what Paul I and talk about because we are wiser having been there multiple times.

Rather than falling down and getting all disgusted and depressed when things that you hoped would work out don't...Paul shares some good ideas about how we're not going to do that anymore. He makes his point by sharing an homest and personal story.

Paul Lambert spent weeks and weeks and weeks preparing for what the theater industry calls 'an investor showcase' for a musical called "Can You Hear Me". Word is it's a fabulous hit in the making, upcoming musical and thousands of dollars have already been put into it. Some of the best performers in the world were asked to do a favor and invest three or four days of their time for this showcase. The most brilliant creative team was assembled, including their conductor whos done over 20 Broadway shows. Their music arranger has done 8 Broadway shows and the Kennedy Center, the White House, etc. Paul was in his glory about all the work and the who's who's that were coming to this big presentation being held at J Lo's former nightclub in LA. One of the greatest days of his career he'll tell you. This is also the day if a show presenation goes as planned and the show is great enough, people write the checks necessary to help produce it.

However, on the morning of this big day, the most important people that Paul wanted there who write big checks, and have big influence in the industry were calling one by one to say, "I can't come today". Four or five people he was really excited were coming, cancelled that morning.

One key person Paul was hoping to talk to was a board member from the La Jolla Playhouse, one of the best 'Pre Broadway' playhouses in America. They've sent many shows to Broadway, including Jersey Boys which started right there. Paul got a message at 7 a.m. that day saying, 'Paul best of luck to you. I'm sorry I'm going to New York tomorrow and I have to prepare for my trip so I cannot make your presentation.' Paul called that moment, 'the gut punch'.

Nobody owns the market on having things they hoped and wished for and kind of counted on, fall through. Learning how to deal with those moments mentally and emotionally is what is important.

To the point of dealing with emotional 'gut punches' Paul said, "Well, I think what's important is you take a deep breath because these things are going to happen. And whether you're producing musicals or producing your daily life or anything else, the I hope, I hope, I hope, is going to get derailed by something you had not expected. What I learned this year more than ever, is to get past it and get to what I call 'a pivot' as fast as possible. It isn't going to change. It isn't going to go away. It's all about the pivot. I say to myself, Paul, pivot don't dwell. Don't get resentful. Don't get down into the briar patch. And it's so important because everybody has those emotional blows that are unexpected disruptions that happen in their lives, across the board, guaranteed there are going to be unexpected disruptions."

"I say Okay, breathe. You don't want to dwell too long on these kind of moments. Let's get to the next possible positive thing as fast as possible. When you pivot emotionally and every other way that you have to, you realize, hey, what I just heard is simply information. It's not going to change the world. It's not going to stop any thing. It's just information. I'll take that information and move forward."

It all turned around for Paul that day by the way, but out of another left field direction. That's often what goes on. One door closes, one door opens or one door closes and the whole corridor opens.

"Okay, Paul said, so I looked out in the crowd that day and I said to myself someone here is meant for this day that I don't know about, and something very good is going to happen. I can't foresee what is already in the universe going on that is perfect for what is supposed to happen next."

So two things happen. All of the Four Tops creative teams, the big Motown musical people and more luminaries are in the audience. Aretha Franklin's music director is sitting in the audience. Eddie Holland, and Brian Holland who wrote all the songs with the Supremes are there and so is Mickey Stevenson of Motown. This amazing crowd and all their friends are there to see this presentation. There was excitement and people loved it.

Sure enough! Someone who came with someone, thought of someone ,who would just love the show and thought he'd call that someone to set up a meeting with Paul to talk about investing in this.

Paul says, "I have to tell you within two days I'm back in LA. I'm being picked up in a Ferrari. and we're driving around. He pulls up to his big beautiful house in a Ferrari and on the other side of the garage is a Porsche. And of course, when I got out, I said, well, for heaven's sake, we've got to be successful because I hope you can afford a car big enough that I can get in and out of in the future." (Paul's very tall these fancy cars are very low. lol )

And the other thing good that happened? That Board member from the La Jolla Playhouse who had to cancel and go to N.Y. called Paul from N.Y. to say, that while she was there she met with the former managing director of La Jolla who has a very big position now in N.Y. at the New York City Theatre and told him all about the musical and told Paul should call him on Monday to tell him everything that's going on.

Opportunities are going to find you and the right people are going to show up.

Paul and I talk all the time about unexpected disruptions. These things are going to happen anyway so how fast you get past them or learn to get past them is really important. Surprises come from different directions you have to be open for those and dismiss the dark stuff mentally before resentment sets in and you get stuck. You just got to keep moving where your gut is telling you, and don't don't talk yourself out of what's meant for you.

You're going to fit in where you're needed and appreciated and your struggle is not where your story ends what stopped you in the past will not stop you in 2023.

Lets Roll!

Enjoy the whole podcast conversation including more fun honesty of what would typically be a phone conversation between Paul Lambert and myself about ..Life's Interruptions. Goodness Knows More Are Coming.

Recorded Live :The Debbie Nigro Show 11-12 noon ET WGCH & WGCH.com anywhere

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I Love To Support Great Talent!

Some years ago I heard from one of my long time favorite pals Jerrey Stanley in New Jersey, that his daughter was a superstar singing talent and would I consider having her on my show. Of course. I've always loved to help shine a deserving light on someone when I'm able to with my show.

Surprise surprise this was no favor. Meeting Brynn Stanley back then and giving the world a chance to listen to her voice and talent was a treat!

I knew the kid had star power. I like to joke that I was the first to discover her.

(Actually I am a kind of lucky charm for people who've never done media before, as those who have come on my show as their very first media debut, often go on to bigger and more fabulous things.)

And I was right. I know how to pick em! Lol Get a load of Brynn Stanley now. Her original Christmas Song 'Selfie With Santa' is a WINNER! As is Brynn.

Brynn Stanley has been charming audiences on both coasts, from New Jersey to Los Angeles. She has one of those really smooth, silky voices.

"Audiences and critics have raved about her voice, a unique blend of classic vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee with modern stars like Norah Jones and Diana Krall. Her style has been described as “warm, classic, timeless, inspiring and sincere”.

Brynn's been performing in and around New York and Los Angeles with her jazz trio at the famous Chateau Marmot in Hollywood, CA, Vitello’s Jazz and Supper Club, Herb Albert’s Vibrato’s and Shanghai Jazz (voted “one of the top 100 great jazz clubs in the world”).

While developing a reputation as a soulful jazz singer with an enthusiasm to please audiences of any age, Brynn continues to garner strong reviews from press, band mates, bandleaders and concert promoters.

Enjoy meeting Brynn Stanley in this warm podcast conversation from The Debbie Nigro show and listen to her 'Selfie With Santa'.

I sense you'll soon be a fan.

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There are a ton of great original Christmas and Holiday Songs that have not hit the mainstream 'Yet'! (Like My Mrs.Claus Song LOL!)

One of those songs is written by Toby Soriero and it's called "Sleigh Bell Blues". It's Rosedale Junction's Delta blues inspired acoustic number of one man’s dark sad rambling ode of what Christmas now represents.

We need to remember that the holidays with all the focus on merriment, is not all that merry for many.

Toby's lyrics in "Sleigh Bell, Blues' speak to one mans' sad lonely emotions about how long it's been since he's heard sleigh bells ring. Poor guy sings that Santa doesnt come around where he is but he wishes he would. Seems Christmas in his town is all about “partying in the barn”, then going home and passing out. Still he's hopeful things might change for him.

Written by Toby Soriero (Guitar, resonator, bass, drums, washboard and sleigh bells), Sleigh Bell Blues features vocals by Dgiovahni Denizevahni (Solo artist), piano by Roger Smith (Tower of Power) and harmonica by Trent Williamson (Solo artist).

Toby Soriero began playing guitar at the age of nine, having studied under Connecticut-based jazz guitarist, Ron Stebbins. He's had a love for the blues and a passion for simple soulful music ever since.

Toby grew up in the golden era of album rock, enamored with a generation of awesome guitar players. The most influential on his playing were Eric Clapton and the Three Kings (B.B., Albert and Freddie). In 2019, as a member of the acoustic blues duo, the Screwtop Sommeliers, Toby made it to the semi-finals of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.

In 2020 Toby said goodbye to Corporate America to focus on making music full time.

We wish him well on his fun next act in life. I know a whole lot fo people who'd love to leave their jobs and just make music. I hope they get their chance. Lifes about taking risks to make yourself as happy as possible while youre here and still can.

"Risk It or Regret It"! is what I always say.

Enjoy my conversation with Toby Soriero on The Debbie Nigro Show and enjoy listening to his original "Sleigh Bell Blues".

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"A New 200-Year Cycle That Will Rapidly Shift Life As We Know It! "

Susan Miller is one of the most influential and respected astrologers known around the world. She’s also warm and fun and still gets excited after doing what she does better than most for 27 years. She’s considered an authority in the field of Western astrology, and till this day writes every word in her engaging optimistic style. Her website AstrologyZone.com is read by 11-1/2 million unique readers a year.

Every year right about this time she joins me on "The Debbie Nigro Show" to talk about what she sees coming for the year ahead (2023) and runs through what’s coming for all 12 Astrological signs. (FYI: Cancer has the best career year ahead)

This year Susan sounded more excitable than usual. According to her we’re in … “A New 200-Year Cycle That Will Rapidly Shift Life As We Know It!”

What I love about Susan is how she shares her information and research. She’s a highly respected Astrological 'thinker' and is recognized world-wide for her astrological writings 'outside the box' into areas of business, technology, lifestyle, culture & the economy.

Plus she’s fun and we have fun doing this annual show together.

Susan Miller says…

"We are entering a brave new world that will be fascinating and stimulating. It will be a privilege to be alive at this point in time. Few people get to experience 'two epochs', moving from 200 years of earth to the next 200 years of emphasis on air. The Aquarian Age gets set now. Imagine that suddenly -everything speeds up and changes come at lightening speed. This promises to be the most dramatic and exciting point of our lives.”

Seems this new 200 year cycle actually started in December of 2020 but as Susan shared, it takes a little while for everything in the universe to start sinking in. She’s calling this new phase ’earth shattering’.

Susan talks about how over the past 200 years every time Jupiter met with Saturn ( and they only meet every 20 years for dinner once LOL ) they’ve met in ‘Taurus Virgo Capricorn’. Over the last 200 years! Except for one time, this has happened.” The sign they meet in and the element they meet in - water fire air - “That Matters”, she says. (Who knew?)

“For 200 years, every 20 years this happened! And what did we did we do during the past 200 years as a society? All 3 are earth signs and we developed roads, bridges, and tunnels, cathedrals and skyscrapers, but we also developed the industrial revolution and the assembly line and this country is only 246 years old.”

Post pandemic things have changed. Most of us are clearly aware of that now. But where is this all going? What does all this mean?

Heres the Astrological Explanation:

The Grand Conjunction

This change is due to the event that astrologers call The Grand Conjunction, which is a rare meeting of Saturn and Jupiter. Astrologers know that a conjunction (an alignment of two or more planets) is the strongest of all astrological aspects because two planets coming together sets off a new cycle, opening a fresh portal of energy. Usually, the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn would set off a 20-year cycle (because they only meet every 20 years), but this conjunction would be unique and historic, for it would trigger a new 200-year cycle.

Heres Susan’s Post Pandemic Explanation:

“I feel the pandemic prepared us for this major shift that is coming in society for astrology recognizes cycles that exist within cycles. The universe knows we are creatures of habit, so if it brought a virus that only lasted a month or two, we would simply go back to our old ways and continue as we had been doing before. Nothing would have changed. But that short lived pandemic was not what happened, as we are witnessing. By sheltering within, we broke the chain of everyday life. Whenever any unexpected event arrives, it marks a time of reflection, growth, and enlightenment. The pandemic speeded us forward—with all the tools we needed."

Here’s Susan’s Overall Take On The Whole Thing:

"We are entering a brave new world that will be fascinating and stimulating. It will be a privilege to be alive at this point in time. Few people get to experience 'two epochs', moving from 200 years of earth to the next 200 years of emphasis on air. The Aquarian Age gets set now. Imagine that suddenly - everything speeds up and changes come at lightening speed. This promises to be the most dramatic and exciting point of our lives."

In this podcast epsiode, besides talking about what the world can expect in 2023 Susan runs through what those born under each Astrology sign can expect in 2023 . Make sure you listen to hear your own upcoming ‘sparkling’ forecast. There’s some great stuff ahead for everybody!

I'm posting this 'full show' on ‘The Year Ahead’ that Susan Miller and I did together on "The Debbie Nigro Show" as a podcast for all those curious about what Susan sees coming for 2023. Enjoy! I'm peronally wishing everybody the best of everything.

“If you don’t know what you want the universe can’t give it to you.” - Susan Miller

BTW: Susan has released her new legendary The Year Ahead 2023 Astrology Calendar which you can get through her website AstrologyZone.com. You can also check there at the beginning of every month to get a free outlook in great detail for each sign. You can also check out her app, “Daily Horoscope Astrology Zone + More by Susan Miller®” on Apple App Store and Google Play. She’s also the author of 12 astrology books, and writes monthly columns for six international fashion magazines.

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This is the time of year you think about getting someone special something special. I was reading about this guy Michael Santoro who I didn’t know about who makes the most beautiful things I ever saw. I’m smitten with his talent and his ethics.

A MacCase by the guy who designed inside the Gulfstream jet? Who wouldn’t want that gift?

Michael Santoro is a multi award winning automotive designer artist and entrepreneur. Besides designing for Chrysler and Vector the man actually designed the interior of the Gulfstream Jets! Now with his own company ‘MacCase’ Michael has designed gorgeous leather travel bags briefcases and accessories for Apple Products. Class act creations.

You’ll enjoy hearing his story on this podcast after you hear me ‘stall’ a little as I wait for him to show up. He apologized of course. Luckily I stall good. LOL I talk about how on any given day something is going on behind the scenes with everybody it’s just a matter of ‘what’ it is right? And you just try and dance in between those crazy moments.

Dancing back to my guest, Michael Santoro. Michael spent 6 years as an automotive designer at Chrysler. They recognized his gift of design early and brought him on board to help design some notable cars. The ground breaking, cab-forward exterior design for the 1995 Car of the Year, a first generation Chrysler Cirrus and the Dodge Stratus. Also Michaels designs helped return the 1996-2006 Jeep Wrangler, back to its iconic roots. As a consulting designer for Walter Dorwin Teague in NYC, America's oldest design consultancy, Michael worked for 2 years on design interiors for Boeing Aerospace and the production interior for the Gulfstream G5 aircraft. Michael was a design consultant on the Vector M12 production supercar and Vector M12 "American Anthem" North American International Auto Show show car. Additional projects included the Lamborghini Jota.

When he left corporate America to start his own design company his father didn’t think it was a smart thing. He thought his son was crazy to leave Chrysler and go to on his own with zero experience. Michael said, “He kept reminding me that I went to art school not business school and that I knew nothing about running a company. Here I am 25 years later and things are still going ok.”

Most of us know from experience that when parents make a doubtful or negative comment about your life choices, they can really get under your skin. Should you still listen to their advice? Tough call.

Michael said, “I think that its been my experience that whatever my parents tell me to do if I do the opposite I’m doing really well. I’m moving in the right direction in my life. Parents want the best for they kids so they tend to be protective I totally understand that. I know that I’m moving in the right direction if my parents are feeling fearful about a decision I’m trying to make, and then I know I need to go in that direction. (Sounds exactly how my daughter and son-in-law deal with me these days LOL)

Michael knew he had to…Risk It or Regret It!

“Once the company got up and running and My Dad saw the freedom it brought me and how I could go from concept to production in a matter of weeks he saw the freedom it brought me. He totally understood and he was on board.”

“Freedom and Creativity” are two values high on both my own and Michaels’ list. Like many creatives, Michaels ideas arrive in the shower, at night in dreams and on napkins at lunch. His dreams are about design and he gives a lot of credit to his training at Pratt in Brooklyn. “They have a very systematic way about thinking about design” said Michael. ( Nice plug for Pratt)

Now to the beautiful things he makes with ethically sourced leather from India where cows are beautiful animals treated with love and their body parts only become useful after they pass naturally.

It all started In 1999, when Michael Santoro created the Apple-specific case market with the launch of his company, MacCase.

I wondered did Michael make a strategic partnership with Apple? Otherwise how could he legally use the word Mac for anything without them?

"The company was a few months old when we went to the MacWorld show in San Francisco for the first time. We had one product in the line. We had no idea how the Apple community was going to react to this strange design for Mac iBook case. Luckily, the response was overwhelmingly positive. It was the right product at the right time, a true blue ocean strategies moment. When we got back from the show on Monday morning the phone rang. It was Apple's legal department.

"We saw your products at the MacWorld show", the voice said flatly. "I just wanted to congratulate you. You're the first person to figure out how to use the Apple logo without getting sued. Best of luck to you."

"It was at the moment I realized we might be on to something." - Michael Santoro, President / Chief Creative Officer

Enjoy this great podcast conversation of the live interview with Michael Santoro on The Debbie Nigro Show.

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"Sober at Home” For The Holidays. Try something new. Get different results.

“Sober at Home” is an online alternative to formal addiction treatment with experienced professionals like Founder & CEO David Gerber who have amazing track records of success . David has been in the field of addictions for 30 years. He’s helped thousands of men and women addicted to alcohol and drugs find their way to sobriety.

"Sober at Home” offers a discreet affordable opportunity to try a new way to get sober. No insurance required. They also offer much needed knowledge and information for family members looking to help loved ones get and stay sober. Family members of addicts and alcoholics surely struggle too.

David pointed out that 'one in ten people' have suffered with a substance abuse problem in their lifetime, and holidays are especially tough for people both 'using' and in recovery. Family get-togethers he says, see drinking and drug use and family dysfunction rise. And now he adds, with so many of the drugs on the street these days laced with Fentanyl the situation has gotten very serious and often deadly.

I dont know how David does what he does everyday with such intensity and passion, but helping people is what he's been doing since 6th grade. David shared with a giggle that as soon as he realized he wasn't going to be a profesional athlete, he found that helping people with their problems felt like the next best thing.

Having worked for decades in the addiction industry, and seeing what has worked and what hasn't, he made the decision to start "Sober at Home" to help as many people as he can across the country.

So much of what were doing today isn’t working, says David. Why? The first obstacle for many people is walking into outpatient treatment program where there may be other people that are drinking, drugging, and even selling drugs. There's a stigma of walking into these places. "Sober at Home" removes that stigma and gives people an opportunity to get the help they need privately, discreetly and affordably.

I was a little shocked that people at drug treatment centers are doing drugs. Then I spotted a New York Post headline this past week which read..."What Are they Smoking? NYC nonprofits will sell weed-while they treat drug addicts."

Isn't there something wrong with this I asked David? To which he replied I think that’s unconscionable.

He did explain that of many sober and licensed treatment programs offer 'medications' as part of admission.

"Sober At Home" is designed with a schedule that works around your life if you need help. Groups start at 6am and go till midnite 7 days a week.

Lot of people are functioning alcoholics and functioning drug addicts and this is an opportunity for them to get well without interupting a job scedule. Companies too will encourage good employees who all of a sudden have a substance abuse to utilize the help that Sober at Home offers woth their full support.

Telehealth addiction therapy exists but it's mostly one on one. At "Sober at Home" says David Gerber, we understand that groups are what help individuals get connected and bonded to a sober lifestyle. "

"I like to describe the the progression of addiction as the ever increasingly shrinking world of addiction. It takes people, to a very selfish and lonely and isolated place. The process of recovery that we're implementing helps expand peoples worlds back, so they become connected at "Sober At Home". Our goal is that people restore meaningful and purposeful sober lives."

As far as privacy goes, David shares that many people worry about going to a local treatment center because of who might know them there. "Sober At Home" is a national platform so there are people from all across the country who particpate at the same time. Chances are these folks do not know each other from anywhere. There's a much less likelihood of people finding out. It's a discreet and private program.

David Gerber has helped thousands of men and women recover from addiction. His past 'success rates' have been double the national average on programs he’s worked on. Hes had an 80% succèss rate with 'interventions' in the past getting people connected to treatment.

David Gerber brings 30 years of experience to founding "Sober At Home" along with members of his immediate family including his wife, brother in law, and his son. They're all on board and committed to spending their time getting people sober and back to living great lives.

Enjoy this 'double segment' podcast conversation with David Gerber CEO Founder "Sober at Home" from his live appearance on The Debbie Nigro Show. And please share this information with anyone who might benefit.

Check out SoberAtHomeInc.com

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Candles Calm Me Down. I miss the scent of this LEO candle. It’s amazing how much scent can change a home and affect your mood.

This LEO candle was a gift from a gal I knew back when she was managing and booking recording artists like Jose Feliciano. We reconnected on LinkedIn last year and I found out about her new candle company PhyllisKNewYork. Naturally I thought of her on the subject of ‘The Power of Candles To Calm You Down’. We could all use a truckload. As we move into the chilly season and spend more time inside I thought a refresher course on candle therapy would be timely.

Phyllis Keitlen is a world class entrepreneur. Her company The PhyllisKCollection Inc. is one of the fastest growing female owned candle and diffuser companies in the US. Founded by Phyllis Keitlen in 2020 it’s more than just a Candle and Diffuser company…it’s truly making a difference. The company partners with local and national non-profits to make an impact. Phyllis and the company are about bringing hope for the future.

“As the only human sense directly linked to emotions and memories, scent is perhaps the most important facet of a home’s aesthetic and start of recovery." Tranquil aromas in a home set a peaceful environment and help you relax, energize or escape the day to day.

Yes your mood can be altered by simply lighting a candle.

In fact the folks at candle.org put together a chart as a guide for selecting the right scent candle for the right mood. The list includes scents to ease anxiety, disappointment, fear, grief, impatience, loneliness, emotional and mental fatigue, stress and tension.

“Scents can have positive effects on mood, stress, reduction, sleep enhancement, self-confidence, and physical and cognitive performance,” says Theresa Molnar, executive director of the Sense of Smell Institute, the research and educational arm of the perfume industry’s Fragrance Foundation. Fragrances inhaled go to the brain where the neurological effect can alter mood. They trigger areas in the brain that relate to emotions.

https://candles.org/scents-can-have-a-positive-effect-on-your-mood/

Phyllis Keitlen encourages her customers to “shop by mood” and has a whole bunch of scented-themed candles and diffuser fragrances, compatible with personal emotions that feed the soul. She even created uplifting affirmation candles like “I am Grateful”, “I am Worthy”, “I Am Prosperous” “I am Confident” to name a few.

“Since I began my journey of meditation and affirmations, wonderful things are transpiring into my life.” Said Phyllis.

Her Zodiac candles like my Leo or this Sagittarius for example pair zodiac personality traits with scents that would resonate with each.There are even candle scents to put you in the perfect mood for holidays and this seasons PhyllisKNewYork line features 8 Days Of Hanukkah, 25th Day Christmas Soy Candle, and even a ‘Hippee Xmas’ candle. LOL. That should put you in a fun mood. And they truly make a great earth friendly gift.

"It has always been extremely important for me to source products with ingredients that are natural and in some cases, organic. You will never find phthalates, parabens, or sulfates in my products, which are also made in the United States. As I continue to expand my line, I will continue to source innovative products that are earth friendly and help improve one's lifestyle"- Phyllis Keitlen

Speaking of gifts, it was truly a gift to get to talk with Phyllis Keitlen. Wow is she interesting! Beyond Candles...

Phyllis was an innovative knitwear designer for the last 25 years, Her cool t-shirts and separates were often featured in the windows of Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. She was acclaimed by Vogue as having made “The Italian Truck Driver’s t-Shirt” into fashion chic. That made her a truckload of money. Totally burnt out after that huge success she took a year off to sleep. LOL

Somewhere along her career path she came to manage the famous musician, singer and composer Jose Feliciano. Jose has had many international hits including his version of the Doors “Light My Fire” and the Christmas single everybody loves “Felix Navidad’.

The back story is just incredible.

It was Phyllis’ mother Tomi Keitlen who inspired Jose Feliciano and gave him the confidence to risk becoming the star he was born to be in spite of the fact he was born blind. Congenital glaucoma left Jose blind at birth. Phyllis Keitlins’ mother Tomi sadly went blind at 33 from the same affliction. But she he was a fighter and was determined to not let her blindness affect her life and what she wanted to do. She got a guide dog, learned how to live on her own, ski, mountain climb, and wrote a book about it all called “Farewell To Fear” that gave a lot of encouragement and hope to people with any kind of handicap. She showed them, “There are ways to work around and through things people say you cant do, you just have to be willing to try and work at it.”

Jose Feliciano read that book and asked to meet Tomi Keitlen in person. Phyllis was in High School at the time and went home from boarding school on weekends to her Moms' house in Stockbridge MA. It was there one weekend, she watched Jose Feliciano play guitar and sing for her mother. He was sitting and playing and singing in front of the giant fireplace Phyliss says, when she flipped out and jumped up and said "Mom you’ve got to manage him!" Her Mom did not. But Jose and Tomi Keitlen became lifelong friends and every weekend Phyllis drove to NY to pick up Jose and bring him up to her Mom’s house in MA where he would play for her and she would give him confidence.

Fast forward many years, when Phyllis knew her Mom was about to pass, she called Jose Feliciano to ask him to come sing to her Mom one last time. He did. She also asked if he would come some weeks later with his wife and 3 children to her home in Hamptons, to be part of her moms' life celebration. He did. There would be 40 people there and she only wanted him to play one song. He did. It was that day that Joses' wife asked Phyllis if she would manage Jose. Phyllis said I don’t know anything about that business. Joses' wife said, but you’re a good businesswoman you’ll figure it out. And she did .

And that's how Phyllis Keitlen became Jose Felicianos' Manager and traveled the world with him.

But then Phyllis had to overcome her own challenge. She burnt her arm so badly in a cooking acciddent she had to spend 4 months in a NY hospital and a whole year recovering with skin grafts etc.

But Phyllis is back in action because she always gets back in action. Her mother taught her well. Risk It or Regret It!

She’s creating new candle scents which she does personally with her personal candle scent creator until the scents are perfected.

PhyllisKNewYork Candles aren’t just any candles. They’re awesome.

Phyliss Keitlen isn’t just any woman. She’s awesome.

I hope you enjoy listening to this podcast Interview with her from The Debbie Nigro Show as much as I loved talking to Phyllis.

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It is SO impressive what The Boulder Crest Foundation and The Boulder Crest Institute are doing for our Combat Veterans to help them heal from traumas. Their work is groundbreaking and it’s working! The focus is on the teachings of posttraumatic growth.

Ken Falke, Founder & Chairman of Boulder Crest, is a 21-year combat veteran of the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community and retired Master Chief Petty Officer. He believes there’s no greater mission than helping Veterans, first responders, and their families rediscover hope, purpose, and a future that is truly worth living. It’s his passion. He spends the majority of his time educating the public and private sectors on the issues surrounding the long-term care of our returning military personnel and their families from the last 20 years of war.

Ken is excited about the breakthrough success he's seeing at Boulder Crest, and says this is the coolest thing he’s ever worked on and he’s worked on some pretty cool things. Ken is highly respected around the world as an innovative and forward-thinking leader on the subjects of wounded warrior care, military and veteran transition, counterterrorism, military training, and innovative technology development.

I’m so honored to be able to shine a light on Ken Falke and Boulder Crest this Veterans Day and every day.

To help transform 'struggle to strength’, Boulder Crest offers 2 peaceful locations for struggling veterans to come spend a week, spend quality time, be embraced, understood and heal. One location is in Bluemont, VA and the other in Sonoita, Arizona. Plus they offer many other programs across the country where those who are struggling can get the quality help they need to find the path to a life worth living. Their efforts are working.

The Boulder Crest locations feature things like ADA-accessible cabins with plenty of amenities for comfort and for families to join in. Therapeutic and recreational activities like equine, archery, art, music, labyrinth walks, and fishing. And optional organized group activities, like barbecues and bonfires, which create opportunities for guests to connect with, and draw strength from, one another in what they've coined as a 'warrior’s paradise'.

The Boulder Crest Institute, located in Bluemont VA, serves as the hub for the development, delivery, study, and scaling of their groundbreaking, Posttraumatic Growth-based programs. The Institute led the development of the Warrior PATHH curriculum, which is now delivered in nine locations across the country: Boulder Crest Virginia, Boulder Crest Arizona, Boulder Crest’s Mobile Training Team, and through partnerships in Florida (GratitudeAmerica), Georgia (Camp Southern Ground), South Carolina (Big Red Barn Retreat), Maine (Travis Mills Foundation), Arkansas (Sheep Dog Impact Assistance), and Washington State (Permission to Start Dreaming Foundation).

The Institute is also currently leading programs in Miami, Florida and Tucson, Arizona, to integrate Struggle Well Training and Posttraumatic Growth into their police departments. This project is made possible by the support of the FirstNet by AT&T, the Gary Sinise Foundation, and the Community-Police Relations Foundation.

Since the Institute’s opening in January 2018, Boeing has been an invaluable strategic partner and supporter, enabling them to develop and deliver training on Posttraumatic Growth for the mental health community.

Ken Falke and Boulder Crest Institute Co-Founder & Exec. Dir. Josh Goldberg, also co-authored a book that's taken the mental health world by storm. It's called "Struggle Well: Thriving in the Aftermath of Trauma." It's changing the lives of Veterans, First Responders and anyone who's been worn down by 'struggling'.

"Struggle" the authors say, "is the story of every great leader, every great man, and every great woman. Through encountering obstacles, heroes are tested and forged into becoming the great, authentic human beings they are destined to be."

I love this quote on their website:

" It's time to learn how to struggle well. Because struggle is a terrible thing to waste."

Ken Falke and Josh Goldberg, the authors of Struggle Well, have trained more than 40,000 people in the principles and practices of how to Struggle Well.

Boulder Crest Foundation is doing amazing work and would love your support. Here's where you can find out more about them and donate.

And if you want to meet a real hero please take a few minutes to meet Ken Falke, Founder & Chairman Boulder Crest Foundation, in this warm podcast conversation from The Debbie Nigro Show.

The world is a better place because of people like Ken Falke.

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A New Way To HANDL Your Selfies! Meet the HANDL-O!

Invented by fine artist Allen Hirsch (creator of the original HANDL)

It’s the perfect extension of your hand to your phone because of it’s patented elastic and brace system that allows you to hang your cell phone anywhere to take the shot. You can hang your cell phone on a broom stick, golf club, tree branch, car mirror, laptop, umbrella, wine bottle wherever.

HANDL-O's come in so many cool versions. I love the ‘Wild’ collection myself - sparkles in black, in rose gold, silver, pearl and more and then there’s red snake and white ostrich, gold gator and cheetah to name a few. His ‘fun’ collection of graphics are endless, ranging from lips, to Van Gogh, to 'Blessed and Grateful' and on and on.

HANDL New York Phone Grips, Stands and Cases were ‘a natural extension’ for New York City artist Allen Hirsch, who’s had a fascination with the power of screens since his late teens and has documented our interconnectedness with screens in his art.

I love how the idea for HANDL came to him.

Seem’s one day he was painting a picture while texting using a new large screen phone with the other hand. (What fine artist texts and paints at the same time you wonder? Well what person on this planet doesn’t text while doing something else at the same time?) Allen was immediately struck by the similarities of both actions. He said, “In one hand, I was projecting my thoughts and feelings effortlessly on canvas with the brush and with the other, I was also projecting my thoughts and feelings into this little metal box- although with none of the flow and efficiency of the paint brush. I immediately felt this was a problem for me to solve.”

Allen Hirsch then spent the next 8 months (obsessed with the idea) attaching all sorts of homemade constructions on his phone until one day, with a bunch of popsicle sticks held together with thumbtacks, tape and a rubber band, he had an epiphany and HANDL was born.

“With HANDL, we replace that stressful grip on our devices with a feeling that our phones are an organic extension of our hands and fingers.”

PS Allen Hirsch painted the photo here on string. It looks like the paint is on the canvas. It’s not. Allen has a collection of string paintings. He also thousands of other fine art paintings that will amaze you. You should definitely check out his work at . For goodness sakes the man even painted a President!

Oh and about that monkey he lived with for years. There was a 2018 Emmy-winning documentary on his life and art with Benjamin the monkey by Jimm Lasser and Biff Butler. It premiered in the New York and Amsterdam film festivals in 2016 and is available as a New York Times Op-Docs series.

Allen’s a serious painter and serious inventor with serious talent but we had some good giggles too in this podcast of his feature Interview on The Debbie Nigro Show. Enjoy.

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Julie Boardman and Diane Nicoletti Founded The Museum of Broadway. Julie is an entrepreneur and Tony Award-winning producer. Diane is a creative director, producer and entrepreneur. Both have unique credentials. Together they made magic. Julie joined me to share the excitement of the opening of their ‘baby’ in NYC.

Broadway is the #2 reason tourists come to NYC (after shopping). It is an international brand, and a tentpole of American culture, yet there has never been a museum or place to honor it properly...till now.

Julie joined me to share the excitement and backstory about the opening of The Museum of Broadway. She shared that It's a wonderful interactive experience that highlights groundbreaking moments in Broadways history. It’s about the game changers and there's lots of ‘behind the scenes’ stuff.

Internationally renowned artists, designers, and theatre historians helped create this memorable destination, where you’ll be treated to the Broadway moments that pushed creative boundaries, challenged social norms ad paved the way for those who would follow. There’s lots of education there too for anyone interested in getting into the business of Broadway in just about any capacity whether in front of or behind the curtain.

Regarding choosing the location for the Museum, Julie says “How could you not have the Museum of Broadway in Times Square? We looked at 4 spaces and were very fortunate during Covid to come across this space.” The Broadway Museum is located at 145 West 45th Street in NYC.

After the historic imtermission of the pandemic they're excited to have you come enjoy their showworthy destination..

Tickets are on sale now.

HOURS OF OPERATION

They're open 7 days a week 10am - 10pm. You can buy timed tickets for entry to the museum every fifteen minutes or opt for a Flex ticket, which gives you more options for when you arrive.

HOW MUCH WILL TICKETS BE? Timed tickets are $39 and Flexible tickets are $49. A portion of each ticket will be donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Group and Student Rates are available.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO VISIT? Most people will spend between 60 minutes to 120 minutes exploring the museum depending on how long they spend in each exhibit. Please plan accordingly.

For more information check out their website.

For a wonderful warm first welcome enjoy the feature interview with Julie Boardman on The Debbie Nigro Show.

******************

JULIE BOARDMAN Co-Founder

Julie is an entrepreneur and Tony Award-winning producer. She recently conceived and produced I'm Still Here, a 90th anniversary celebration for the Billy Rose Theatre Division at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, featuring archival materials from the Theatre on Film and Tape archive, interviews with Broadway legends and emerging creatives and reimagined musical numbers with a cast of over 100 artists. In fall 2020 she produced In Our America: A Concert for the Soul of the Nation and Artists for Change. She is currently a co-producer on the Broadway revival of Funny Girl and has many other Broadway credits.Through her company Boardman Productions she has worked with some of the worlds leading brands.

DIANE NICOLETTI Co-Founder

Diane is a creative director, producer and entrepreneur. For two decades she has produced some of the biggest events and fan experiences including The Game of Thrones Fan Experience, Gretzky’s Retirement Gala, and brand activations at Super Bowl, Comic-Con, CES and SXSW. She’s the founder of the award-winning experiential marketing agency Rubik Marketing.

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A Front Page Wall Street Journal Article This Week About Photo Booths had Allen Weisberg’s phone ringing off the hook. Allen is the Founder & CEO Of Apple Industries, The World's Largest Photo Booth Manufacturer who’s been in the business 50 years. He was thrilled that photo booths landed on the WSJ front page. “To get some recognition on just how successful photo booths are and how much people love them is just great.” said, Allen.

I adore Allen, and have come to love the photo booth business. He’s an awesome entrepreneur and icon in the amusements industry. I started working with him to stir up and tee up new photo booth location opportunities. (Like these cool Motown Museum Photo Booths that debuted outdoors in Detroit this Summer)

So I was bummed WSJ writer Hannah Miao had not called Allen Weisberg to comment in the article, "Vintage Photo Booths Are Back, and Baffling Newbies. ‘It’s Not an iPad.’

Allen’s spent decades modernizing the photo booth while successfully keeping the tradition of them in tact. He and his company Apple Industries are experts are bringing new technology together with old technology and making it work.

I called Allen in his car live from the show so he could share why the Photo Booth phenomena still going strong in 2022.

Though you might find it incredible in this age of selfies and cell phone cameras that anybody would want to go into a photo booth and take a picture…They do. The experience is just as important as the actual photo strip

The Experience.

Allen points out, “You can do stuff in a photo booth that is fun that wouldn’t do if people were watching you. Have a little fun, kiss your boyfriend or girlfriend, make silly faces. When people close the curtain in a photo booth people they don’t feel uncomfortable doing something goofy. And sooo many people get engaged in photo booths. The first shot a smile the second a kiss, the 3rd “Will You Marry Me?, the 4th shot the ring and the big smile ear to ear.”

He added, “Just like the Photo booths from the 1930’s you can still get black & white photo strips, but now you can also have them I color. And true to keeping up with the times, we’ve added video so people can see what they look like in video and upload their video right there to ‘Tik Tok’ and they’re a star and maybe their video will go viral.”

Photo booths, Allen points out, are as old as American pie. They’re part of our culture from when great grandparents brought their kids into photo booths, they their kids brought their kids, and the tradition got passed on and on.

But now? “Photo booth are drawing young generations that didn’t grow up with the machine. the young digitally exposed generation not grow up with these booths so they don’t know how they work.”

Here’s an Interesting fact Allen shared. If you’re 30 years old or younger you do not remember taking a 35mm camera to the drug store and to have your pictures developed so it’s almost magic that you go into a photo booth and your face is now printed on a piece of paper.

The photo booth is an experience and a lot more fun than having a photo is stuck in your phone. It’s a great souvenir. In fact in many places, it’s the least expensive souvenir with the most lasting impact as photo strips stay around for years.

Case in point. This one on my refrigerator from ten years ago captured the annual gal pal trip to the Jersey Shore. Makes me smile.

Photo booths make everybody smile, especially companies who are smart enough to brand them. The ‘no out of pocket’ revenue share is very appealing and besides being cash cows, the brands name lives on with the memory and the memorable experience that brought a smile. Its’ a win / win for everyone.

Tens of thousand of photo booths are out there in the US in all kinds of shapes and sizes, many with accessibility for the disabled, and with all kinds of custom branding.

Allen’s clients are Disney, Marvel, Regal Theaters, MLB, restaurant chains, hotels, airports, museums, malls, restaurants, bars and more. He just opened an office in London and said photo booths are exploding there too. They love them as much as we do. At one recent trade show they made deals to place over 200 photo booths in the UK.

Made In America too! Apple Industries manufactures their photo booths in Upstate New York.

Allen’s talented and creative employees will custom design a photo booth theme for any venue interested in jumping on board this nostalgia trend.

It’s a fabulous no-out-of-pocket-revenue share opportunity and a brilliant souvenir.

I’d love to personally introduce you to Allen and Apple Industries if you’d like to explore this photo booth idea for your location. Message me here or email me.

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Mike Orlando has lots of people betting on his 'Bet Booth'.

Bet Booth looks like an ATM machine where you can make a bet and acts like an ATM machine in that you can get immediate gratification if you win. Yes once you sign up privately, you just you use your fingerprint and voila the winning cash comes spitting out! It’s revolutionary patent pending technology.

Mike Orlando is a distinguished Former NYPD Police Officer. He also spent 17 years running his own ATM Network, one of the largest ATM Networks in North America. Mike sketched out the idea for ‘Bet Booth 5 years ago on the back of a napkin. (Aren’t great ideas always starting out on the back of a napkin?)

You may ask, with all the betting apps out there why would somebody need this or want to physically deal with cash?

Mike says, his kiosks are for ‘casual’ gamblers. Men and women who are out enjoying themselves in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys and other high traffic areas. “Gamblers” he adds, “are very private people”. “They like to tell you when they win but not when they lose. (So true) Also regarding ‘privacy’, Bet Booth winnings aren’t sent to a bank account. Some gamblers also like instant gratification. At the Bet Booth you use your finger print…and instantly get your winnings. “

Bet Booth, a really a software and technology company transforming the betting experience. The one time sign up is easy and very secure as it’s based off biometrics and facial recognition.

As a software and technology company, Bet Booth is agnostic, meaning the company can partner with any interested sports book in any markets where sports wagering is legal.

Will be fun to see which sports books align with Mike and Bet Booth since all the sports books threw him out of their offices back in the beginning.

Gambling laws are not the same in every state. Every state has their own gaming commission. There are 18 states where betting is legal and where there’s an option to place kiosks. New York is legal and it’s likely that Florida, Texas, and California will soon soon follow says Mike who adds that New York is the biggest sports gambling market in the world.

Mike and Bet Booth waited a long time to hear the BIG news they got last week. An article published on Yahoo Business announced, “Bet Booth, a unique sports wagering platform and self service kiosk earned GLI- 20 and GLI-33 certification, signaling compliance with the $203 billion dollar sports betting industry standards.”

Legal compliance across the board and across the states in every facet of this company, is paramount says Mike. “ I’m not the smartest man in the world so I surrounded myself with really great people. My CFO, my CTO, really good lawyers and a really great board. I’m really excited about it. There’s nothing on this kiosk you can’t do exactly the same as if you were wagering in Las Vegas. “

There’s lots of fun frenzy when people see the Bet Booth for the first time. Now some people are going to get a chance to try it out.

Bet Booth is launching their pilot test at sea. They’re partnering with a Margaritaville Cruise out of West Palm Beach, Fla. to the Bahamas and back. What’s exciting about this says Mike, is it’s considered a ‘gambling cruise’ so perfect for a pilot test. A few more pilot tests are planned he says, then hopefully all systems go.

If you love innovators I’m betting you’ll enjoy this conversation ‘live’ from Las Vegas with Mike Orlando Founder of Bet Booth on The Debbie Nigro Show.

If you'd like to be introduced to Mike personally to know more please let me know at debbie@debbienigro.com

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It's increasingly important for women to be aware of their breast health.  Understanding breast density and what it might mean for you is really important.

Mammograms miss up to 40% of cancers in women with dense breasts because dense breast tissue can hide or “mask” potential tumors. This can lead to missed or under-diagnosed cancers, which contribute to breast cancer mortality.

Therefore, many breast specialists recommend supplemental breast screenings along with mammography for certain women with dense breasts.

Dr. David Schacht from Northwestern’s Lynne Sage Breast Centers shares important information on breast health, breast cancer risk and prevention.

His focus is on breast density and providing tips for speaking to healthcare providers about breast screening needs so women can feel empowered, confident and move forward with their healthcare provider as an informed team.

Very informative heads from Dr. David Schact in this short podcast interview up on The Debbie Nigro Show. Share it with women you care about who might need to know.

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It's increasingly important for women to be aware of their breast health.  Understanding breast density and what it might mean for you is really important.

Mammograms miss up to 40% of cancers in women with dense breasts because dense breast tissue can hide or “mask” potential tumors. This can lead to missed or under-diagnosed cancers, which contribute to breast cancer mortality.

Therefore, many breast specialists recommend supplemental breast screenings along with mammography for certain women with dense breasts.

Dr. David Schacht from Northwestern’s Lynne Sage Breast Centers shares important information on breast health, breast cancer risk and prevention.

His focus is on breast density and providing tips for speaking to healthcare providers about breast screening needs so women can feel empowered, confident and move forward with their healthcare provider as an informed team.

Very informative heads from Dr. David Schact in this short podcast interview up on The Debbie Nigro Show. Share it with women you care about who might need to know.

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As a Breast Cancer Survivor I can tell you a lot about the power of humor and it's power to help us through dark stuff. Kindred spirit and fellow breast cancer survivor Olivia Clarke took that knowledge and ran with it.

This is the 5th Anniversary Celebration of 'Humor Beats Cancer", a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that tries to bring joy and humor to cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers -- with a particular focus on those in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

They do this through their blog where people share humorous stories from their cancer journeys; on social media posts; and with the free care packages they send to those going through cancer treatment.

They also host virtual and in-person open mics where people share their funny cancer stories and they distribute two $1,000 one-time grants annually to help young adults pay their cancer bills.

I wanted to help promote their 5h Anniversary event 7-9 p.m. CT, Thursday, Nov. 3. It will include comedians (Lindsley, Joey, Cyrus seen here) ,funny cancer stories and giveaways.

All money raised goes toward their grant program and their care packages. Your $20 will make a cancer patient smile.

Tickets are $20 each and include one giveaway ticket for a chance to win something cool. And you can purchase additional giveaway tickets. Help them celebrate five years by joining for the event.

“Looking for the bright side during such a dark time can make the experience of battling cancer a little easier. We often want to believe that life will equal itself out and nothing else will go wrong while we have cancer. But truthfully life still finds ways to keep us humble and there is nothing you can do but laugh sometimes.”

Sharing stories and support with each other spreads that feeling of empathy and makes us feel less alone. - Olivia Clarke Founder

PS Olivia surprised and saddened me when she announced during this live interview that her cancer has returned and she’s going though it all again. She’s handling it with as much grace and humor as possible. Those of us who’ve had return bouts of cancer know after giving in to the natural initial heartbreak of the news, the only way to deal with it is to rally the way we did the first time around, with humor and grit. Olivia and I both agree one silver lining of being a bald woman is you can shower and get out of the house a whole helluva lot faster :-)

Enjoy The Debbie Nigro Show Feature Interview Podcast.

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As a Breast Cancer Survivor I can tell you a lot about the power of humor and it's power to help us through dark stuff. Kindred spirit and fellow breast cancer survivor Olivia Clarke took that knowledge and ran with it.

This is the 5th Anniversary Celebration of 'Humor Beats Cancer", a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that tries to bring joy and humor to cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers -- with a particular focus on those in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

They do this through their blog where people share humorous stories from their cancer journeys; on social media posts; and with the free care packages they send to those going through cancer treatment.

They also host virtual and in-person open mics where people share their funny cancer stories and they distribute two $1,000 one-time grants annually to help young adults pay their cancer bills.

I wanted to help promote their 5h Anniversary event 7-9 p.m. CT, Thursday, Nov. 3. It will include comedians (Lindsley, Joey, Cyrus seen here) ,funny cancer stories and giveaways.

All money raised goes toward their grant program and their care packages. Your $20 will make a cancer patient smile.

Tickets are $20 each and include one giveaway ticket for a chance to win something cool. And you can purchase additional giveaway tickets. Help them celebrate five years by joining for the event.

“Looking for the bright side during such a dark time can make the experience of battling cancer a little easier. We often want to believe that life will equal itself out and nothing else will go wrong while we have cancer. But truthfully life still finds ways to keep us humble and there is nothing you can do but laugh sometimes.”

Sharing stories and support with each other spreads that feeling of empathy and makes us feel less alone. - Olivia Clarke Founder

PS Olivia surprised and saddened me when she announced during this live interview that her cancer has returned and she’s going though it all again. She’s handling it with as much grace and humor as possible. Those of us who’ve had return bouts of cancer know after giving in to the natural initial heartbreak of the news, the only way to deal with it is to rally the way we did the first time around, with humor and grit. Olivia and I both agree one silver lining of being a bald woman is you can shower and get out of the house a whole helluva lot faster :-)

Enjoy The Debbie Nigro Show Feature Interview Podcast.

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That Rascal Felix Cavaliere is Still ‘Groovin’.

The Legendary singer songwriter, has been making people feel good with his music for over 50 years. So why stop now? He’s not! The Rascals are on the move!

He and fellow Rascal Gene Cornish are hitting the road to share some more ‘Good Lovin’ on 'The Rascals Time Peace Tour 2022'. Gene fell ill during past concert and has since had a pacemaker put in, but he's good to go.

Felix Cavaliere calls Nashville home now, but people in my ‘hood’ near Pelham, NY have always loved to claim him as their hometown rock n’ roll hero. In fact, he just wrote a book about it all. “Felix Cavaliere Memoir of a Rascal From Pelham, NY To The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame”.

Do people recognize him? Felix says sometimes, but because the Rascals were around before MTV they didn't have the kind of visual exposure that helped promote so many other groups to make them recognizable beyod their music.

Speaking of being recognized or not, Felix chuckles while telling the story about his dear friend Billy Joel who he was with at his concert in Nashville. When Billy Joel looked up at himself on the giant TV monitors on the wall, he turned to Felix and said, "Whos That?" "My Father?" Felix laughs when he shares that story as he make the point, "Sometimes I too don't recognize myself".

I asked Felix if the songs we know so well and still enjoy today are kinda like his children? Yes he said, they are.

Songs like Good Lovin', Groovin', It's A Beautiul Morning, I've Been Lonely Too Long, How Can I Be Sure, A Girl Like You, and People Got To Be Free.

The Rascals are considered the best 'blue-eyed soul' group to come out of the 60's, as well as one of the groups with the most record sales. Their message has always been to stand for Peace, Love and Happiness. Felix says, as a musician, when people hear your music and it brings them joy, that joy translates back to you. Especially live on stage.

The Rascals Featuring Felix Cavaliere & Gene Cornish Time Peace Tour.

November 11 | St. George Theatre | Staten Island, N.Y.

November 12 | College Street Music Hall | New Haven, Conn.

November 13 | NYCB Theatre at Westbury | Westbury, N.Y.

November 16 | Mayo Performing Arts Center | Morristown, N.J.

November 18 | Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino | Atlantic City, N.J.

More dates being announced soon.

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That Rascal Felix Cavaliere is Still ‘Groovin’.

The Legendary singer songwriter, has been making people feel good with his music for over 50 years. So why stop now? He’s not! The Rascals are on the move!

He and fellow Rascal Gene Cornish are hitting the road to share some more ‘Good Lovin’ on 'The Rascals Time Peace Tour 2022'. Gene fell ill during past concert and has since had a pacemaker put in, but he's good to go.

Felix Cavaliere calls Nashville home now, but people in my ‘hood’ near Pelham, NY have always loved to claim him as their hometown rock n’ roll hero. In fact, he just wrote a book about it all. “Felix Cavaliere Memoir of a Rascal From Pelham, NY To The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame”.

Do people recognize him? Felix says sometimes, but because the Rascals were around before MTV they didn't have the kind of visual exposure that helped promote so many other groups to make them recognizable beyod their music.

Speaking of being recognized or not, Felix chuckles while telling the story about his dear friend Billy Joel who he was with at his concert in Nashville. When Billy Joel looked up at himself on the giant TV monitors on the wall, he turned to Felix and said, "Whos That?" "My Father?" Felix laughs when he shares that story as he make the point, "Sometimes I too don't recognize myself".

I asked Felix if the songs we know so well and still enjoy today are kinda like his children? Yes he said, they are.

Songs like Good Lovin', Groovin', It's A Beautiul Morning, I've Been Lonely Too Long, How Can I Be Sure, A Girl Like You, and People Got To Be Free.

The Rascals are considered the best 'blue-eyed soul' group to come out of the 60's, as well as one of the groups with the most record sales. Their message has always been to stand for Peace, Love and Happiness. Felix says, as a musician, when people hear your music and it brings them joy, that joy translates back to you. Especially live on stage.

The Rascals Featuring Felix Cavaliere & Gene Cornish Time Peace Tour.

November 11 | St. George Theatre | Staten Island, N.Y.

November 12 | College Street Music Hall | New Haven, Conn.

November 13 | NYCB Theatre at Westbury | Westbury, N.Y.

November 16 | Mayo Performing Arts Center | Morristown, N.J.

November 18 | Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino | Atlantic City, N.J.

More dates being announced soon.

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The next big social movement in this country? People in the second half of life taking life by the horns and not settling for the way their parents aged.

Here's a loud statistic. If you're healthy at 50 there's a good chance you'll live to see at least 90. What the heck are you going to do with all that precious time?

Michael Clinton wants to show you how to 'ROAR' forward no matter how old you are. He gives you a 'how to' roadmap in new book, 'ROAR Into the Second Half of Your Life'.

Michael's inspiration to write the book was was born out of his complete frustration with seeing books about slowing down, aging, and making life smaller. That's not what the over 50 crowd wants to do anymore.

Michael reminds us that 35% of the populaton is 50 and over. Every day 10,000 people turn 65. And 1 in 5 people will be 65 and over in 2030.

Michael says, "There's a huge group of people all living very different kinds of lives than their parents lived. They want to be active. They want to go back to school. They want to start new careers. They want to be the pioneeers and we call them in the book The Re-Imagineers'. People really re-defining the seconf half of life."

Yes the old script of aging is blowing up and Michael Clinton is passionate life’s second half is whatever you want it to be for yourself. Wanna be a world traveler? Try a completely different career? Hone a new skill ? It's time to ROAR.

Here's what ROAR stands for by the way/

R - Re-imagine yourself

O - Own Who You Are

A - Act On Whats' Next

R - Reassess Your Relationships

PS Michael and I passionately agree the world of advertising needs to wake up and pay attention to this hugely underserved demographic.

Get inspired by listening to this 15 minute Feature Interview Podcast of Michael Clinton joining me LIVE on The Debbie Nigro Show. Should totally get you ROAR-ing!

Michael Clinton grew up in a housing project in Pittsburg and went on to become the President and Publishing Director of Hearst Magazines,overseeing Esquire, House Beautiful, Food Network Magazine, Oprah and many more. Now at 68, he's a special advisor to the CEO of Heart Corporationa, a writer, photographer, global marathon runner and pilot. He sits on many boards, gives back through philanthropy, and travels the world. Obviously he's ROAR-ing!

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This month marks the 25th Anniversary of the plane crash that killed musical great John Denver.

Lowell Norman (pictured here left of John) started working with John Denver when he was 23, with a one time assignment in Ohio that turned into a 25 year adventure around the world.

Lowell initially just started creating visual content for John's concerts, which then led to him designing John's album covers, which led to him producing and directing John's music videos and documentary films for John Denver’s non-profit Windstar Foundation.

All along the way Lowell Norman took pictures, many of which have not been published…till now.

Lowell’s new book is called ‘Rocky Mountain Highway: Stories, Photos, and Other Memories of My 25 Years Traveling With John Denver.’ ( His real name by the way was Henry John Deutschendorf Jr.)

Lowell Norman joined me on The Debbie Nigro Show to talk about it all, and tell some good stories. Together we honored John Denver's legacy, and the musical soundtrack of a generation lucky enough to have been here when he was.

“Thankfully, the musical greats never die. Hearing their music transports us back to our youth, their songs stir the same emotions, strike the same chords. And if a tear comes, it's rarely for them, instead it comes as a sweet memory of a time, a place, or perhaps a love that we still hold precious. Twenty-five years ago we lost a musical great in the person of John Denver. There will never be another. - Lowell Norman

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Burnout is Real and Janice Litvin is on a Mission to Banish It.

Janice Litvin is traveling the country as a workplace wellness speaker talking to business leaders and teams to show them how to banish burnout in their organizations, so their employees can come to work healthy, happy, and ready to work.

Replacing employees is much more expensive and time-consuming than helping them be well, especially post-Covid, says Janice.

Her unique wellness strategies, keynotes, workshops, and master mind groups offer simple, easy-to-implement techniques to help leaders and teams manage stress to prevent burnout, engage in wellness, and fall in love with fitness. The result: lasting behavior change.

Happy employees make a healthy company.

Janice Litvin has written “The Banish Burnout Toolkit”. She’s passionate her business background plays perfectly into her ability to really make a difference. She has 20 years of technology recruiting experience, 10 years of IT experience, has studied psychology, and she has the experience of changing her own behavior.

Janice is also President of The National Speakers Association of Northern California.

Luckily she wasn’t burnt out herself and joined The Debbie Nigro Show to explain what ‘burnt out’ people should do to stop the madness and get back to a saner life.

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444 Interviews In 111 Cities Is What You'll Hear On "The Jar" Podcast 

Ken Stearns is driving his van solo to 111 cities across the U.S. to interview 444 people from all walks of life to find out about their lives. The idea spawned out of his own self reflection and the loud questions he was asking his now 60 year old self.

Armed with real jars full of questions, every episode features a new guest whose life story unfolds as they randomly pull questions out of the jar.

Ken left his corporate job at the end of 2021 to embark on this most important chapter of his life. He sent me a random message on LinkedIn after he came across my profile, saying he would love to sit down and have coffee with me.

Always curious about those who risk their dreams of course I said yes. I never met a stranger I couldn’t talk to.

Ken and sat with coffee in the radio studio and I answered random questions from ‘The Jar’ with my random guest live on the air.

The questions were interesting as was being on the other side of an interview.

Here's the Full Show Podcast Of "The Debbie Nigro Show" 

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The CEO of DRY SODA, Sharelle Klaus is risking a huge new life. She moved out of her home, gave away most of her stuff, built out an SUV into a camper, and is running her company from the road.

As Sharelle says herself, "Clearly this is not in the CEO handbook of “How to Run a Company”, but I am going to write my own handbook."

Sharelle believes "Freedom Is On the Other Side of Fear".

Wow what a gritty move for this mother of 4 who after 17 years of running her company, with kids now grown, decided her life was not working for her anymore and decided to risk her own dream. Go Sharelle!

Her company DRY SODA evolved from her passion for the culinary world and celebrating each part of a meal - including the beverages. While going through her multiple back to back pregnancies, Sharelle couldn't drink wine or alcohol with her meals so she invented her own non alcoholic spirits, to keep her own party going. She recognized the need for a refreshing clean non-alcoholic beverage option in the market that was worthy of pairing with a meal.

DRY SODA started with her making botanical bubbly beverages for social drinking anytime in her kitchen. Now DRY SODA is available at a location near you. Check the website for where. Besides ordering on Amazon, near me I can pick some up at CVS or Walmart.

As for Sharelle she's now available from her SUV wherever she happens to be. She happens to be in LA for this conversation when she checked in from the road on The Debbie Nigro Show.

Now this is what I call a real time ...."Risk It Or Regret It!"

Caution: Listening to this podcast interview may cause you to give away all your stuff and hit the road. :-)

Sharelle Klaus brings nearly three decades of entrepreneurial, financial, and technology industry experience to her role as CEO at DRY. As an advocate for advancing the sober curious movement, she also spearheaded DRY’s investment stake in Austin-based sober bar, Sans Bar, and co-authored The Guide To Zero Proof Cocktails.

Prior to founding DRY, she worked as a consultant for Infrastructure Management Group and Price Waterhouse. She also served as president of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, where she drove strategic development of programs, events and fundraising for the organization’s 250+ Seattle-area members. Klaus has been featured in numerous publications including Huffpost, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Bon Appetit, and Imbibe, as well as has spoken at various beverage industry events, including BevNET Live and Lo and No Beverage Summit. She was also honored by Seattle Business Magazine as one of its 2018 CEOs of the year.

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Alaina Schwartz Will Take You To 7 Figure Success.

I was drawn to her profile on LinkedIn which read, Alaina Schwartz , JD - Elite Performance Coach. “Purpose Driven Multi 6-7 Figure Founders & CEOs: It’s Time To Play Bigger” etc. However she really got my attention with this line she wrote. “Create Unf*ckwithable Confidence”.

Yeah baby ! Now that’s a gal I wanted to connect with. So I did and she’s my guest today here on The Debbie Nigro Show Interview Podcast Series.

Alaina Schwartz is the creator of the 6 into 7 Figures Method. She helps high performance individuals work 30 hours less a week, 3X their income, and make the epic impact they’re here to make all by tapping into their inner genius.

Alaina is no stranger to having it all, losing it all, and getting it back and more. She’s gone from being a lawyer & high salaried exec in the music industry, making mid 6 figures, to major personal life crisis involving her marriage, her health, her kid and finances. From a sizeable nest egg to almost $100G in debt.

Convinced she’d climb out she found teachers and coaches that taught her what got her forward. They showed her how to tap into her inner 'genius'. That’s how she mastered ‘The Invincible Playbook’ that she now uses to help others.

Caution: This is a high energy conversation that might cause you to risk something extraordinary.

Risk It! or Regret it! That's what I always say.

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FULL SHOW EPISODE PODCAST / The Debbie Nigro Show

I Love When Someone Risks A New Idea! 

I met Jonathan Scott in Las Vegas right before the pandemic. A fellow broadcaster known for reporting on everything going on in Las Vegas for years, and a friend of awesome friends out there, we met socially. I told him he should be on my show and I'd be in touch when I got back home. Then the pandemic hit and everything changed. 

Jonathan got an idea right about then to help connect and educate kids virtually with what he could teach. Initially it was broadcasting related, because that's what he knows, but then Jonathan knows a lot of people in Vegas who do different things in entertainment and he got them involved too.

Now in it's 3rd year, the series Jonathan produces is called "On Air Education" - Where Entertainment Meets Education. It airs on Saturdays on the CW Network.

A very unique way to educate kids about careers that might intrigue them by getting the people who have succeeded to show up and share their stories about what they did to get there. Now that's an education!

Jonathan's most recent interview for kids interested in the culinary arts features non other than Guy Fieri of Diners Drive Ins and Dives.

Jonathan Scott finally made it on my show live from Las Vegas BTW Everything that happens there ... he knows about. LOL

Enjoy our chat.

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School Expenses Add Up So Parents Should Maximize How They Get 'Rewarded' Back For Spending Money.

Families should start having discussions about how to successfully manage their money now that kids are back in school, including ways to get rewarded for school expenses, earn cash back on gas from say taking your high schooler to and from after-school activities, or save on home renovations for first-time empty nesters.

That's the insider advice from Chris Curtin, Social Media & Rewards Executive at Bank of America. He has some 'tips’ on taking advantage of rewards when spending during the school year to discover ways to ensure the future is full of rewarding financial experiences. Like utilizing rewards for larger expenses like a home renovation or a fall break getaway.

Chris shares what to look for when youre searching for the right financial institution to consolidate your banking activity and earn rewards.

Enjoy this easy=peasy 'learn and earn' podcast segment from our Live radio discussion on The Debbie Nigro Show .

*Chris Curtin is the Social Media and Rewards Executive at Bank of America where he is responsible for enterprise social media strategy, Preferred Rewards and client loyalty strategies, and cross-segment execution. With more than 20 years of experience in marketing strategy, innovation, and operations, Chris has deep expertise across disciplines. He is a unique executive who has successfully led transformative initiatives on behalf of three category-leading companies: Visa, Hewlett-Packard and The Walt Disney Company.

Chris is also featured speaker and thought leader on marketing, digital transformation, and high-impact leadership, having guest lectured at Stanford, Duke, and Georgetown. He is part of the investor group behind NWSL team The Washington Spirit. He is a member of the Spotify Board of Advisors, Georgetown University’s Law Center Board of Advisors, and a board member of the Washington Institute.

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I'm an Expert at Showing 'Experts' How To Shine In The Media; On The Radio, In Podcasts, via Social Media and in Business In General. I'm great at 'creative content that breaks you through the clutter' and 'strategic match introductions' that take you and your business further.

When it comes to becoming an 'Expert' on TV however, Frank Cipolla's your guy!

Frank Cipolla Gets ‘Experts’ On TV (and Radio). He’ll Train You Too.

You might be the best attorney in town, the best physician, the best of anything but if you don’t know how to convey that to the viewing audience all is lost.

Being on TV is a ‘performance’. How you sit. How you stand. What you do with your hands and face, even the colors your wear make a difference. Ever watch a TV commercial, YouTube video or anyone on camera and ask, ‘what the heck was he or she thinking’?

Here’s a fun fact. The Average American has an attention span of 20 seconds. Something to keep in mind when you’re trying to share your message in any media format.

Frank Cipolla knows all the moves and all the right people in the media busiess. He’s been a Radio & TV Reporter around NY & NJ for years. His company ‘Contacts Media’ creates ‘Guest Placement’ opportunities for all kinds of people around the country whose expert insights are always in demand from the networks. People like lawyers, doctors, financial experts, real estate experts, cyber security experts, education experts, medical experts, credit experts, you name it!

People who are great at what they do go to Frank who’s great at what he does. Getting people on the air! I know Frank a long time. I’ve booked his clients and sent him clients that I thought he could help better than I could in some ways.

Check out the podcast of our live conversation and feel free to give Frank a shout out if you want to get booked as the guest “Expert” in your field on TV when the media needs you.

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Tom Nardone built multiple million dollar online companies for people who don’t want to be embarrassed buying embarrassing things online.

His company PriveCo, through his multiple online shops sells everything embarrassing - from drugstore items, to romantic items and more.

PriveCo is unique as it specializes in online privacy. They have over 500,000 customers that trust them with their most personal products, ailments, and purchases.

They became leaders in their industry by having the discipline to ensure their process is as private as possible. 

Your secrets are safe with PriveCo.

Listen in to our short conversation about it all.

We wont tell anybody you listened. :-)

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70% of people with trouble sleeping are desperate to improve their sleep and daytime. 'The Hidden Toll Of Insomnia' is what Dr. Charlene Gamaldo, Professor of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University is joining me to talk about today.

Insomnia she says, is a medical condition.

To understand the hidden toll of insomnia, The Alliance for Sleep and Idorsia Pharmaceuticals, U.S. Inc. conducted one of the largest U.S. surveys of people with trouble sleeping and physicians to highlight the real impact of insomnia on the nights and days of people struggling with sleep.

The Wake Up America Survey reveals that insomnia not only keeps people awake at night, but also impacts their days in various ways – including at work, in relationships and more.

More than half of people with trouble sleeping (PWTS) feel frustrated with current treatment options and 70% of them reported that they are desperate to find a solution that helps them get quality sleep and fully function the next day.

This desperation is underscored by people with insomnia cumulatively spending approximately $7.125 billion dollars annually on products or sleep aids to improve their sleep, including blackout curtains, white noise machines, and eye masks.

Collectively, the survey’s findings point to a clear need for change in how Americans with trouble sleeping and healthcare professionals are managing sleeplessness.

For more information: Check out the "Wake Up America" website.

Dr. Charlene Gamaldo is a board-certified sleep specialist who also has a board certification in neurology. Dr. Gamaldo is the medical director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep at Howard County General Hospital, a professor in the Department of Neurology and vice-Chair of faculty development of Neurology at Johns Hopkins Medicine. She is also a Provost’s Fellow at Johns Hopkins University and serves on the editorial board of Neurology Today and on the board of directors for the American Academy of Neurology. She is a member of the Alliance for Sleep, a multidisciplinary committee built to promote education, awareness and research on sleep and sleep disorders.

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My Taxx Guy's upset that people are nervous armed IRS agents are going to come to their homes. No, that's not going to happen he says, but he did say there will be increased tax collection activity.

Taxx Guy, Mark Glazewski likes to take the stress out of tax problems.

He's a tax resolution specialist and one of those guys who always tells it like it is. Besides tax preparartion, planning and accounting, he often deals directly with the IRS on behalf of his clients. He's comforting to people in tax distress. 

Mark joined me to educate us all about what exactly is in the new tax law, and to help people understand what's going on with the IRS.  Mark also explains the anti-inflation act.

A Good Short Real Conversation About The IRS and YOU. 

Well worth a few minutes  of your time to hear from Mark Glazewski aka Taxx Guy. (I always got a guy wink )

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"Life Hacks" provide not only a path to better health and well-being, but ways of saving time, making life easier, and even impressing your friends. The world’s most successful people have mastered the art of taking control of their lives. Wouldn’t you like to know how to take control of yours? Today we visit "Our Best Life Hacks:From Friends, Family & Complete Strangers by my book guru buddy Donna Kozik (Kindle Edition) Benjamin Franklin, being far-sighted, invented bifocals to help him read. He also, being the diplomat he was, laid out a list of 13 virtues for dealing with others. Both of these can be considered life hacks. In 1812, Tabitha Babbitt, watching two men struggle with a timber saw, attached a circular blade to a spinning wheel and the rest was history. Elon Musk, when his schedule demanded almost 100 hours per week of him, found ways of managing his work and sleep hours, including some well-placed sofas in his factories. Judith Edwards, who experienced some rather personal problems during her seven pregnancies, combined the advice of both her doctor and her entrepreneurial son and is now worth $150 million based on her life hack: the Squatty Potty. Inside Donna's book you’ll find useful life hacks to help you conquer fears, calm your mind and spirit, fight off depression, improve your self-esteem, achieve your goals, and appreciate the world around you. Donna Kozik is a USA Today & Wall Street Journal best-selling author with a passion for getting people published. She’s most known as the creator of the original “Write a Book in a Weekend” virtual event and its sister publishing program, Done for You Publishing. She works with people to get their books written and in print, on Kindle or both. In addition to “Write a Book in a Weekend” she is the creator and lead editor of The Community Book Project, which gets people published 200 words at a time. “Our Best Life Hacks” was written in a weekend.

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“From Couch Potato to Weekend Warrior – how to avoid injuries when resuming an active routine”!

That's the title of an article that Lize Lubbe wrote that we talk about in this conversation.

Lize has her own physical therapy company and shares advice on other subjects like “Conditioning for an injury-free golf season” and “Minimizing tennis injuries”.

She' a hand on therapist and with some sage tips to keep you off the injured reserve list when doing things you love to do.

Plus it's good to know there's help out there if youre struggling with one or more of the consitions below.

Good warm chat that might help a lot of you listening to this.

• Musculoskeletal and Orthopedic Conditions
• Pre/Post Surgical Rehabilitation
• Sports Injury Rehabilitation
• Arthritis Pain Management
• Spinal Rehabilitation
• Osteoporosis Management
• Postural Alignment
• Ergonomic Training
• Neurological Rehabilitation
• Migraines, Headaches from cervical tightness or postural dysfunction
• Balance Training
• Pre/Post Partum Low Back Pain Therapy
• Core Strengthening and Stabilization
• Patient Education for Management of Condition
• Low back, mid-back, neck and Sacro Iliac Pain
• Tendonitis and Bursitis- including Shoulder/Hip Bursitis, Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
• Ligament Sprains
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Bell's Palsy
• Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
• Scoliosis Management
• Balance and Fall Prevention/Maintenance Program
• Multiple sclerosis

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This Episode Is Sponsored By BetterHelp.com. I love sharing their message because I'm all about making sure everybody’s brains are healthy and attitudes are good. When you need to talk to somebody but not just anybody, there are trained therapists at betterhelp.com to help.

We all Have Things We Do Besides The Things We Do

Doing a little something different today on this show/podcast.

Sharing a few more laughs with long time buddy and laugh partner Charlie Ponger who I invited in to the studio to share some excerpts of what we work on outside this show.

Charlie had a fun idea for a podcast and busted my chops to come do it with him.

It’s called ‘The Official Seenagers’. Dedicated to the over 50 crowd who ain’t goin’ down any time soon, and dedicated to all those coming up behind us to let them know they’ll still be having fun long into the future with the right attitude.

We produce this podcast in a bunker location called the ‘Pongerosa’. We’re speaking to a demo we feel is under-served. Those who've been around awhile but have so much more ahead. We remind everybody, anything's still possible, and that it's never too late for anything.

Today you'll hear excerpts from 'The Official Seenagers' podcast shows that make us laugh.

Launched Nov 2021, without a clue as to what it would become, we've done over 50 shows of what we call 'comedy improv'. We’re figuring it out along the way. A work in progress and we think less is more so most episodes are short like 15 -20 minutes. Followed my own advice, "Risk It or Regret It".

Today we’re sharing tidbits of what we’ve been doing.

Did you know we have ‘Seenager Correspondents’ around the country? Today you’ll hear from LuLu weighing in from San Raphael, CA

We also have “Write INS”. Todays clip ? You Know You're A ‘Seenager’ When... (Senior Teenager)

Lots of laughing at ourselves that's for sure. If we don’t laugh this is not going to be funny. About things like falling over putting on our underwear, etc.

Oh wait until you hear what's going on with 'Seenagers' In Florida. Our Canadian Correspondent reported in. The colored loofahs mean what?

Then there's The Funnies Report: As in ... Who’s On Injured Reserve This Week? Seenagers have ridiculous accidents.

We through in some relevant news: GEN X Fears Supporting Boomer Parents. 50% of gen X not financially prepared to look after parents if they had to.

Talk some Grandparent stuff: My 3 year old Granddaughter packed up all her clothes in a suitcase and told her parents she was leaving them to come live with me. She thinks I'm more fun. Ha.

Speaking of fun, did you know 'Seenagers' are trying to have as much fun as humanly possible but have no patience when they blow a body part in the process? Example: I did a backward lunge. Then a Dr. gave me a 'boot' for my sprained foot ligament. Looked like it would be hot. Decided I'd rather limp than wear it. So I limped. Should have paid more attention to the health update from from CNN, on how to avoid soft tissue injury.

Finally 'Seenagers' still have great love affiars going on, although a 'touch' different then when we were teenagers. So I re-wrote the words to Dion's 1959 hit song 'Teenager In Love'. My version is called 'Seenager In Love" which you'll get to hear on this episode even though I can't sing. Who cares, we're having fun.

Hope you'll catch the fun vibe too. Enjoy this podcast

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I Do A Full LIVE Radio Show Every Day.

Some days I dont book show guests and 'I just talk' about 'whatever' is going on in the world or my world. No Politics.

This show is sponsored by BetterHelp Online Therapy. Start Today and get matched with just the right therapist for you. Fantastic! Affordable Private Therapy, Anywhere, Anytime.

In this show, I reviewed the latest ridiculous work perks people are on peoples wish lists. Asking for these with a serious face migth be a challenge. 'Hangover Time Off' and 'Houseplant Bereavement Time Off'? 

I also just finally watched the movie 'No Time To Die' and wached Daniel Craig play James Bond for the last time. He sure was awesome! Who's next I wonder? And I also wondered 'who' owns the James Bond Franchise? Think Broccoli.

Then there's mention of my being in 'Grandma recovery', even though the olympic sport of grandparenting is total joy.

And then there was the Dr. I finally went to see about my foot injury,  who while holding my foot, mentioned he's not a foot guy. I tell ya these medical referrals are gettin sloppy. LOL

And goodness knows what else I threw in there.

Just changing it up and posting some full shows since I never do.

xo

Debbie

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I Do A Full LIVE Radio Show Every Day.

Some days I dont book show guests and 'I just talk' about 'whatever' is going on in the world or my world. No Politics.

This show is sponsored by BetterHelp Online Therapy. Start Today and get matched with just the right therapist for you. Fantastic! Affordable Private Therapy, Anywhere, Anytime.

In this show, I reviewed the latest ridiculous work perks people are on peoples wish lists. Asking for these with a serious face migth be a challenge. 'Hangover Time Off' and 'Houseplant Bereavement Time Off'? 

I also just finally watched the movie 'No Time To Die' and wached Daniel Craig play James Bond for the last time. He sure was awesome! Who's next I wonder? And I also wondered 'who' owns the James Bond Franchise? Think Broccoli.

Then there's mention of my being in 'Grandma recovery', even though the olympic sport of grandparenting is total joy.

And then there was the Dr. I finally went to see about my foot injury,  who while holding my foot, mentioned he's not a foot guy. I tell ya these medical referrals are gettin sloppy. LOL

And goodness knows what else I threw in there.

Just changing it up and posting some full shows since I never do.

xo

Debbie

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For A Better Time On This Planet Your Body Has To Keep Moving!

Personal Trainer Donna Deraffele was a young Mom exercising in her Aunts basement when she first started watching other exercise intructors on TV and thought to herself...I can do that! So she risked it. Donna went and got certified and now decades later women of all ages are still lining up for her exercise classes at HealthyFit the the women’s gym in Mamaroneck, NY.

Lots of young dynamos and plenty of 50+ women will be living longer and healthier because of Donna who says you've got to keep your body moving in order to stay healthy and avoid unnecessary injuries.

Donna agrees girls who become women need to ‘adjust’ their exercise moves not to get hurt doing the same exercises they’ve done all their lives.

(No kidding. I sprained a ligament on a backward lunge and haven't been able to workout for  a month and a half? Ridiculous ! )

Good stuff today featured on my Welleness Wednesday  radio broadcast turned podcast for those who missed it. The wellness information and nuggets of knowledge shared on the show are always timely and useful. Enjoy or conversation.

Wellness Wednesday on The Debbie Nigro Show is sponsored by HealthyFit a full service health club serving women in Westchester County NY and Southern CT. 

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Everybody Needs Somebody To Talk To. But In Case You Haven’t Caught On Not Everybody You Talk To Actually Listens or Cares.

Whenever there is anything that interferes with your happiness or prevents you from achieving your goals, it's important to talk about it. Even better if you can talk about it to someone who can actually give you sage advice.

Yesterday I was standing in line behind a man sharing his problems with a woman behind the cash register at the gas station. I couldn’t believe how much crazy personal stuff he was telling her. She gave him change but no advice. I honestly felt bad for the guy. He'd left before I paid or I probably would have gntly mentioned BetterHelp.com the world largest therapy platform.

I discovered BetterHelp while researching the top podcast advertisers. I was blown away they were #1 and I had never heard of them? So I researched the company more. They’re making professional therapy affordable, and convenient so anyone who struggles with life’s challenges can get help, anytime and anywhere. Online therapy was growing even before the world went haywire now it's really growing full speed.

I'm a huge proponent of talking about mental health. Thank goodness it's no longer a taboo subject. There's so much more knowledge now than there was before. I watched so many people suffer that didn’t have to Including myself along life's twisting paths and It bums me out a little that the world took this long to make mental wellness a priority. But we can only look forward, so I contacted BetterHelp to introduce myself. I told them I'd love to share their message and asked if they would sponsor my show and good work. And they did! Very cool. I'm proud to support them as well, because I know people need help and need to know where to find it.

Joining me today to help you better understand how BetterHelp Online therapy works is Haesue Jo, their Clinical Support Lead. She's also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with years of experience providing individual and family therapy in community mental health, school settings, and day treatment facilities working at BetterHelp. Her current clinical focus includes working with individuals with a variety of presenting problems, including anxiety, relationship and family issues, trauma, community violence, gender identity, and depression.

One of the first questtions I asked Haesue was "Is Anybody Normal?" Tune into this 2 part podcast conversation where we discuss: How "Being Normal Is Overrated" LOL; how to get started with online therapy and get matched with the right therapist; and how BetterHelp is very affordable.

'Very Affordable 'agrees Haesue Jo, is a key deciding factor for a lot of people when they're deciding what's worth they investment.

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’Bridal Boot Camp'. Yes there is such a thing. Conceptually it's been going on without a formal title for decades. It's when a woman says 'yes' then hustles to fit in the dress. LOL

Half kidding here. Women know this drill. Important occasions like weddings for example, for the average woman, typically require some 'lead time' self care investment in order to show up at your best. Exercise, better eating habits, etc. 

And we're not just talking Brides here if a wedding is involved. Everybody involved tries to get in better shape for the big day!  Don't even get me started with how serious a game this is for the MOBs (Mothers Of The Brides) LOL. Then there's the Mother of The Groom (or of the other Bride), the  Grandmas, Sisters, Aunts, and Friends... especially those IN the wedding party.  

So how much lead time does a woman need to get in shape for her big day? The answer is revealed in this podcast conversation with wweet smart and fit Vanessa Laise, the new 'Fitness Manager' at my favorite women's gym Healthy Fit For Women in Mamroneck NY.

Vaneesa joined me to talk 'Bridal Boot Camp' and more.

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'Charge' YOUR Cells Like A Cell Phone?

Our cells are like batteries and honestly who knew they could lose their charge? I just got a PEMF education and now I will educate you.

PEMF stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields. Must be something to that ol' saying "Gotta re-charge my batteries eh? Seems disease injury, fatigue, and depression, just to name a few are marked by a lowering of our voltage.

David Block brought the technology to my attention. David was an attorney for 35 years (as well as having gotten his securities licenses). He had an accident and was in constant pain having tried everything to get better. PEMF technology saved him from pain when nothing else worked and after his first few sessions using PEMF he was pain free. He became so passionate about what PEMF had done for him, he quit practicing law and switched his career to work the company PULSE PEMF. He joins me in a conversation here to share how PEMF technology changed his life and how it might change yours.

Is PEMF The Fountain Of Youth?

David explains that virtually everything in the body responds to the infusion of electromagnetic energy and it is a fountain of youth and then some. ( If you saw David in person you'd think he had 'work done' because he looks way younger than 65 - but nope he says its just PEMF)

David says PEMF is used by the well, unwell and the high performer, biohackers....anyone seeking to boost the body's natural healing and recovery systems. The machine is available for sale to wellness practictioners, for sale to teh consumer for home use, or you can pay for individual sessions with a PEMF practitioner like with David who's located in Stamford, CT.

A PEMF machine looks like a big computer tower that is connected to a full body bed or a chair pad on which you lie or sit to charge the human body's 75 trillion cells with electromagnetic energy. You keep your clothes on.

Our bodies need extra energy for repair which is where David says PEMF comes in. He calls it the modern day outgrowth of the pioneering work over one hundred years ago by Nikola Tesla.

So, if you're fighting a disease or injury, fatigue, or depression this may be of interest. David also mentions that the 'technology' has been recognized by the FDA for wound healing, bone density issues and depression and 'may' help other conditions. But he says, thethinking is that if this energy can address those unrelated issues, doesn't it makes sense that it may be successful in addressing myriad other issues as well?

Food for thought especially for those who've been struggling and thought they'd tried everything to help them heal and feel better. If you want to know more contact David Block. Heres his website.

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The ‘Business’ Of Off Broadway Is Back ON Fire. So is Cody Lassen. His Cody Lassen & Associates has grossed over $786M with a recoupment rate of 46.7%, which is more than 2X the industry average.

If you know anything about theater you know that's HOT. So is Cody’s production Company with 20 Tony Awards, 3 Olivier Awards, 15 Outer Critics Circle Awards, 9 NY Times Critics Picks, 14 Drama Desk Awards, and 2 Grammy Awards.

Cody who’s known for his innovation and instincts, joined me to talk about his hilarious new show ‘Hyprov’ and how it came about.

Sounds Too Funny! ‘Comedy Improv Under Hypnosis’. Starring 'World Famous Hypnotist' Asad Mecci who approached Cody Lassen with the idea, and comedy improv legend Colin Mochrie (Whose Line Is It Anyway). Also Starring (DRUMROLL PLEASE) Hypnotized Audience Members! Ta Da!

It’s apparently now a proven recipe for belly laughs as evidenced by the successful one night shows held all around the country before deciding to give it a longer run in NYC.

HYPROV opens at The Daryl Roth Theater in NYC for a limited 12 week run beginning August 11th.

I can’t wait to see it. Who doesn’t need more belly laughs?

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My shark guy Dr. Gregory Skomal (left) is as famous as the Great White Sharks he tags for The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

I call him 'my shark guy' because for years he's made sure to be on my radio show every year during 'Shark Week' to share his latest shark science findings, and because we always have a lot of fun on the air together.

Dr. Gregory Skomal's the star of many Shark Week shows, and you’ve also probably seen him all over the news recently reporting on the increase of shark sightings and shark attacks near the shores on the East Coast. (Relaxing eh?)

So happens the day Good Morning America jumped on board a boat with him for a shark story live from Ryders Cove, on the Cape of Massachusetts - my CBD guy was right there. Yes I have a "CBD guy" too. LOL.

Primabee CBD Founder Paul Borde (right). I'm helping him expand his best in class CBD products into unique locations. Paul happens to live right where this news story was being shot so he ended up going down and speaking with both Dr. Greg Skomal and the ABC News Meteoroligust Ginger Zee. They were preparing to go out on Greg's boat.

Paul knows Gregs's 'my shark guy' so he mentioned to Greg they had me in common. Greg thanked Paul for brinigng up my name and reminding him to give me a call and let my audience know what's really going on with the sharks out there.

So he called and it was a very enlightening conversation about the reasons behnd the increase in shark activity. Enjoy the podcast of our chat with the latest inside Shark Scoop.

BTW: regarding the awesome GMA video segment they shot that day, all i want to say is that ABC Ginger Zee is a better woman than me for going shark tagging.

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Andrea Anthony, President Of Lobster Roll Enterprises, is a warm fun talented unpretentious mover groover.

She was a memorable guest on my show a few years ago so when I caught “The Lobster Roll Queen Of The Hamptons” feature written by Todd Shapiro in this weeks Dans Papers, I had to invite her back.

Since last we spoke, Andrea and her team made it through the pandemic, are still running strong with the original iconic LUNCH AKA Lobster Roll in Amagansett NY and have opened a second LUNCH AKA Lobster Roll in Southampton NY.

Andrea and The Lobster Roll crew are also rolling out Lobster Roll Kits so you can enjoy a taste of Summer all year long in your own kitchen. Watch for their upcoming launch on Goldbelly too. Andrea Anthony, an accomplished restaurateur, is as big on hospitality as she is on great food and is also very clear ‘you’re only as successful as the team you surround yourself with”. She gives a load of credit to many others involved for making LUNCH / The Lobster Roll an unforgettable Hamptons Long Island, NY experience since 1965. And she's thrilled about her new expansion partner, Irwin D. Simon, who she says is not only brilliant but 'a great guy' and... 'good people'. By the way The Lobster Roll Restaurants are hiring in case you or anyone you know are interested. It's a year round operation. I found what Andrea said in the article about hiring people really interesting. “It is easier to train nice people than it is to train people to be nice... It’s all about hospitality at The Lobster Roll and that is why my love for hospitality is my driving force,” she continues. “This is a feeling that we try to emanate to our staff .”

The Lobster Roll is also a Brand:

“We are a lifestyle brand,” Anthony adds. “When we train our employees here, we explain to our staff that when people come in, they are taking a break from reality. The people that come to our establishment come for great food, good times, and an escape for a bit. We all associate summer time with vacation and with fun, so it’s a great brand to embrace.”

    I’d work for Andrea Anthony in a second. She’s ...good people.   Enjoy our conversation but beware, this conversation may cause a craving for a Lobster Roll. LOL.

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The Biggest Social Media Phenomenon in History: The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Pat Quinn was diagnosed with ALS one month after his 30th birthday in 2013. He passed on Nov 2020. He was an inspiration to millions of people around the world for his bravery to raise awareness about a disease that he knew he would not survive. Pat Quinn and fellow ALS sufferer Pete Frates inspired by another ALS sufferer Anthony Senerchia, have all since passed. They spearheaded a movement that went on to raise $155 million for the ALS Association and over $220 million around the world for ALS research. In 2014 more than 17Million people around the world took the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise the much needed funds to try and find a cure for this disgusting disease. However as a direct result of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge HUGE Progress has been made! Pats father Patrick Quinn Sr is carrying on his sons legacy. This years Ice Bucket Challenge resumes at Empire City Casino in Yonkers, NY. on Sunday July 31st Trackside at 1pm. Pat Sr. hopes you'll join in. Patrick Quinn Sr. joins me today.

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Rich ‘Big Daddy’ Salgado is a BIG deal. You can’t believe how beloved this man is for all that he does to raise money and help people.

This week is the 5th Big Daddy Celebrity Golf Classic being held at the spectacular Oheaka Castle on Long Island. Just as spectacular is the guest list. Take a look at the list of the string of celebrities and movers and shakers planning to turn out and support this big hearted mans mission.

Also for the second year proudly included in this big event is the SHER Women’s VIP Luncheon. The SHER organization founded by Anhelika Steen-Olsen is a sisterhood of the resilience of extraordinary women.

As a SHER ambassador Rich “Big Daddy” Salgado supports the group as a committed partner to the United Nations’ #HeforShe initiative; a solidarity group within an international platform that engages men as allies supporting the work of the women’s movement and helps accelerate progress toward gender equality. Michael Strahan, Tracey Morgan, Victor Cruz, Justin Tuck and Jeff Hoffman are just a few of the great men who support the journey and help carry their voices.

The beneficiaries of this year’s events are:

Pop Earth - a non -profit focused on providing holistic health services and options for those with special needs, including Autism and other developmental disorders.

Kids Need More Organization - creating opportunities where children, families and young adults coping with cancer and illnesses can celebrate life in a safe and positive environment.

This year they are proudly supporting the children in need and the Long Island community and concurrently working with displaced children of Ukraine.

Rich “Big Daddy” is involved with all the major sports leagues and most TV networks. In addition to being a Super Bowl commentator, he founded an insurance company called Coastal Advisors to build insurance plans to protect athletes, entertainers, and business professionals.

"Big Daddy" is personally well aware how life can throw a curveball. He’s survived a brain aneurism. (And recently COVID.) When his life was saved first tiem around he decided he would do his best to save others lives. Thus the continuing legacy of his golf outings and his continued legacy as well.

Enjoy meeting this 6 foot 4 big guy in this podcast interview who's heart is just as big.

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Yellowstone's Open! The WEST won. The floods were tough yes, but Montana folk are tougher.

I honestly can't wait to return to Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa in Pray Montana! I’d kept owner Colin Kurth Davis’ card that I took off the counter when we checked out back in August 2019.

I always meant to call or write him about the magic of his place. I decided to give him a call this week to ask how things were going out there and if the resort was affected by the floods and could I help in any way.

Boy was he thrilled I called, because yes the floods happened and they had a really tough couple of days because nobody knew what the outcome of the damage would be, but people really need to know they're back in action.

Luckily said Colin, "It was a 'wrinkle in time". It left as fast as it came. It was truly amazing how fast everyone in Montana rallied to clean up.

But he and many others in Montana are left with a really frustrating situation. Colin says, "All that people are left thinking about was the visual of that house breaking away from the banks of the Yellowstone River and floating away. The press played it over and over again. Where was the press showing all the neighbors putting their political and personal differences aside to help each other secure and piece evryhting back? Where has the press been to let everyone know just about everything's open, and Paradise Valley is ..well Paradise. People who rely on tourism here are hurting because nobody's sharing the current situation. There are people out there happily rafting the Yellowstone river as we speak."

Colin said, as expected his resort had to deal with many cancellations after that natural disaster, but for every cancellation another phone rang with a ‘local' looking to book. Locals were like 'wow you have openings'? Montana locals even started a new hashtag #SummerLikeALocal LOL.

And speaking of locals, the negative press was so overdone that ‘local’ singer songwriter John Mayer, a regular you might mingle with at the saloon at Chico and other venues in Montana, was one of the first to be proactive helping get the word out. He used his social media to tell those who had planned to vacation in Montana to come out. He's even planning a few concerts in the Summer in The Valley and in Gardiner Montana which was hit hardest because they're a little landlocked. His mission is to drive some revenue for those who depend on tourist dollars to stay in business.

Yes, the north entrance to Yellowstone Park is still closed, but everywhere else is the area is like a giant playground says Colin.

So I’m doing my part here on the East Coast to share that Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa is open and as great as ever and so is Montana.

If you never swam in an all natural unchlorinated hot springs pool you’re missing an incredible experience. The pool at Chico Hot Springs is filled with 80,000 gallons of water that gets drained every night so they can clean the pool, and the water pours back in so quickly it fills right back up every day, 365 days a year. The water temperature is 103 degrees but dips to 98 degrees in the more open area that gets surface cooled.

Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa has been going strong for 120 years. Guests range from Grandpas and Grandmas to Young Kids and everyone in between. Theres something for everybody. Music, fishing, hiking , biking, world class barbecues, a family restaurant off the pool where you can eat in your bathing suit, cowboy suites, honeymoon cottages, a spa, saloon, all the nature adventures you can dream up and the best breakfast in the west. The food is a BIG draw too. The main dining room serves up outrageously delicious food made by their 3 time finalist James Beard Award Winning Chef.

And the hospitality is enchanting. Colin Kurth Davis worked at Chico Hot Springs long before he became proprietor. He continued to work over the years and built up equity and as the owners aged out he said, took over the resort with his wife Seabring starting 8 years ago. They’re great partners in life and business and run the resort together. Seabring's got a special talent for journalism and is behind many of the amazing Montana cookbooks.

Boyfriend Dave and I must have been very fun guests there because after dinner our last night there, we were given a cookbook as a gift signed by everyone on staff. We were so surprised and flattered we couldn’t imagine what we did to earn such a beautiful gift. I only found out during this conversation with Colin that the staff has the power to make the gift to patrons they deem worthy. Worthy as in having the 'right spirit’. Colin said, it's a honor bestowed on those they deem ‘one of us’. Sweet eh?

Chico Hot Springs Resort & Spa in Pray Montana is a perfect runaway to do everything or nothing.

Funny though that Colin's idea of a runaway is reverse to NYC to the Beacon theater to hear live music. LOL

Enjoy the conversation and if you decide to go tell them Debbie sent you. If they think youre one of 'us' might get you your own cookbook.

Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa is in the heart of Paradise Valley. Surrounded by mountains, a stone’s throw from the Yellowstone River and a short, scenic drive into Yellowstone National Park, this historic hotel and restaurant offers guests a wide range of experiences, from boutique hotel to luxury cabins, rustic lodging to spa retreats and an unforgettable hot springs pool. Ideally situated between Livingston, Montana and Yellowstone National Park, Chico is the perfect home base for exploring the wonders of the region. Whether it’s a day trip into Bozeman for shopping or a shorter trip to the private day spa, this historic lodge offers year-round access to an authentic western experience.

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Could a personal trainer be the difference between life and death?

Well If you read the recent study results which said being able to stand on one leg for 10 seconds is tied to whether you’ll live another decade - then possibly yes.

Here’s my opinion after exploring one session with kickass superstar HEALTHYFIT personal trainer Cristina Telese. We humans need other humans to push us to accomplish things we can’t seem to on our own. It’s easy to ‘go exercise’ it’s harder to spend that same time really maximizing the effort to get better results out of why the heck we’re there in the first place. Plus now it’s personal. We all have to be able stand on one foot for 10 seconds or drop dead soon.

The results of a study published in The British Journal of Sports Medicine said for people over 50 ‘not being able to stand on one foot for 10 seconds was associated with a higher risk of death from all causes within the next decade’. Now there’s a wake up call to make sure you’re fit and can balance!

It’s been one week since I spent one session with Cristina and I can still feel the effects on some body parts I obviously wasn’t getting to the correct way on my own. Triceps / thighs / core. I was a lifelong workout babe until the last few years and she opened my eyes to some new ways of doing things that I knew nothing about. Made me realize I’m half kidding myself in my approach to exercise these days, and that I could get twice as much done in the same time with a little guidance. So I’ll book Cristina again this week. She’s incredibly energetic, very thoughtful in her approach and great at what she does. Plus she walks the walk and I look up to her. What a strong presence. She’s a super fit 5’11’.

Maybe you should try a session with a trainer, her or someone near you, and see if you feel the difference. Meet Christina Telese today and learn what I learned.

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If you like TV Chef Robert Irvine you’ll really love him for what he’s doing for Veterans as a tireless philanthropic supporter - in tandem with an AMAZING firm on Wall Street called Roberts & Ryan which is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Broker Dealer that donates 7-10% of their revenue to Veteran Focused non-profits!

One incredible thing they are doing is raising money to be able to give as many wheelchair bound disabled veterans as possible an IBOT. The IBOT is a Personal Mobility device that combines balance and motion to provide a unique eye level experience in mobility. Giving wheelchair bound veterans the ability to climb stairs, reach to the top of kitchen cabinets and much more! This powered wheelchair was developed by Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway, in a partnership between DEKA and Johnson & Johnson Technology Division.

Roberts & Ryan President Brian Rathgen and Robert Irvine both joined me to share how they’re both putting their money where their mouth is.

In Honor of July 4th and in support of all the men and women who have 'served' our country so the rest of us can live free - I'm posting the entire show today as a podcast. Both guests today are amazing humans. What they are doing for our disabled Veterans is nothing short of incredible. You need to know about them and help in any way youre able to. Even if its just spreading the word.

Roberts & Ryan: A top-tier institutional broker dealer founded by Dan Roberts, a US Marine Corps Vietnam War combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient. Roberts & Ryan, America’s 1st broker-dealer of its kind, attained the minority designation – Service-Disabled Veteran Owned (SDVO) – once it was codified into law.

In 2017, a group of like-minded Veterans and Citizen Patriots – all experienced Wall Street professionals – bought Roberts & Ryan with the dual mission of doing well – providing great service to their clients, while doing good –supporting our nations Veterans and adult youth in mental health, wellness, and career transition through charitable donations and volunteerism.

Roberts & Ryan now provides agency equity and debt services, distribution of equity and debt capital transactions as co-managers, as well as delivering corporate access events and desk research to our institutional asset managers, banks, family offices, and corporate treasuries. The more bsuiness they do the more revenue they give to the Veterans.

Robert Irvine: Yes he is a world-class chef and entrepreneur, but he’ll tell you his true passion is helping veterans and he is a tireless philanthropic supporter of our nation’s military. The host of Food Network’s hit show Restaurant: Impossible, he has given struggling restaurateurs a second chance to turn their lives and businesses around in over 200 episodes and counting.

The Robert Irvine Foundation’s primary focus is giving back and supporting our service members, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need through resiliency, health, and wellness programs, in addition to the financial support of top-rated military and first responder organizations.

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'Wellness Wednesday' Sponsor Member Spotlight! Cathy Armentano Official Court Reporter For The NYS Unified Court System! (Don't you always wonder how the heck those court reporters get every word in court on that little machine?)   I asked Cathy who's an ol' fun pal to join me on my show after I heard she joined 'Healthy Fit' The Health Club for Women' after hearing me talk about it on the air. I was thrilled when she contacted me to tell me 'it saved her' and that her daughter even joined too.   I love when I inspire people to do better for themselves with the information I share. I'm a passionate supporter of the idea of 'women only gyms' in general and thought more women should consider the option.   Like many of you I try and keep up with exercising and it's easier with some camaraderie and moral support. I need motivation myself to keep it all going. LOL   Meet Cathy and listen in on an authentic girlfriend conversation about the power of word of mouth between women.     

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Common Sense Crypto? Is there such a thing? You've seen the headlines about 'Bitcoin I'm sure. This was the one from the NY Times the other day. "Bitcoin Plummets Below $20,000 For First Time Since Late 2020". Some will say I told you so! Others like Rubicon CEO Greg Johnson will say it's 'early' and still a huge opportunity. I went to hear him talk. He has some impressive food for thought on the subject. Listen in to hear what I heard when Greg joins me for this conversation then you decide. Rubicon Crypto features two portfolios consisting only of crypto coins and tokens that are professionally managed in a similar fashion as a stock portfolio the industry refers to them as Separately Managed Accounts or SMA. For more than two decades Greg has been a CEO and senior executive at Fortune 500 and start-up enterprises in the financial services, insurance and wellness industries including American Express, Ameriprise Financial, Crawford and Pulse Centers. After becoming one of the youngest Certified Financial Planners in the nation, Greg would then go on to assume a progression of financial planning, wealth management and insurance leadership roles that included serving on the board of directors for RiverSource Life of New York. A sought-after speaker, he has been featured at dozens of conferences in North America and Europe on topics ranging from strategy evolution, technology innovation and leadership development. He earned his undergraduate degree from The American University and an MBA from Emory University Goizueta Business School where he is a frequent panelist and guest lecturer. Greg is a serial mentor and advises multiple startup ventures, remains and active member of the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center and was recently appointed to the prestigious Bretton Woods Committee in Washington, D.C.

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What’s it like to host a vacation rental ? Hilarious according to Jan Mcinnis. So she wrote a one woman show about it. Its' called SUPERHOSTESS and Jan's performing it out in LA.

But thats not her only gig!

Jan’s always wanted to be a comedian.When she was about 10 years old, she told her parents that once she turned 16, she was going to “buy a motorcycle, ride cross-country to Los Angeles, and become a comedian.”

Her parents didn’t agree with that idea, so she ended up graduating from Virginia Tech and having a marketing career for over a decade before getting on stage.

Today, over 25 years into her comedy and keynote-speaking career, she’s presented her humor keynotes and comedy shows to thousands of groups, and is a top convention comedian whose act is clean.

She’s sold clean comedy material to just about everyone on the planet—from late-night TV shows, to hundreds of radio stations, CEOs, and even guests on The Jerry Springer Show (her parents are proud!).

Her latest podcast? “Comedian Stories: Tales from the Road in Under 5 Minutes.” Short stories about her 20+ years in comedy – the good and the bad.

Oh, btw, Jan did finally make it cross-country to Los Angeles, where she currently resides, AND she just bought a motorcycle!

She joined me for some laughs about it all. Go Jan!

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Police Officer Ami Postiglione Has To Stay Healthy & Fit and she has a special place in her heart for the women’s gym HealthyFit in Mamaroneck NY.

This Harrison, N.Y. police officer joins me on this Wellness Wednesday show today for a @healthyfitny member spotlight.

I would imagine her job ias a police officer is stressful these days and that she needs to be extra fit for it.

When I asked how Ami how she would describe her occupation, she said, “well it’s not ordinary”! In spite of the challenges in the world Ami loves her job and feels lucky working for such a great community.

Being strong and fit is critical to her daily work as a law enforcment officer and throw in being an Italian who likes to eat she said, ( Me too Ami!) and that makes it all the more important for her to keep working out. She shares some good running tips for the treadmill and gives a high five to doing boxing workouts.

"Showing up’ and 'doing the time' in a welcoming womens gym has motivated Ami to keep increasing her strength and mental well-being.

Ami also credits the encouragement of the trainers and other women at Healthy Fit for keeping her motivated throughout her ups and downs.

I myself am a huge fan of women’s gyms for all the reasons above and more ( like showing up in last nights makeup and not caring) I’m really annoyed at myself that I just missed 2 weeks due to ‘circumstances’. I was just starting to feel great and more flexible again after a couple of months of going and today I decided I cannot let outside ‘circumstances’ get in my personal way. I feel it physically very fast when I’m not exercising enough. Plus my mood’s better when I work out and exercise. Finding this fabulous women's gym after the pandemic was critical to my sanity.

I turned myself in to Officer Ami in this conversation for being MIA. Lol She motivated me to 'get back in there'.! Dont we all need a little encouragement?

If you’re a woman trying to get back into better physical shape or know one who is, encourage them to join a womens gym. If you happen to be in the Mamaroneck, NY area I encourage you to look into HealthyFit On the Boston Post Road. Just walk and in and check it out you can even workout for free to get the feel.

Enjoy my converssation with Harrison, N.Y. Police Officer Ami Postiglione.

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MORE THAN 80% OF CONSUMERS ARE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY INFLATION.

BUY NOW PAY LATER?

LAURA ADAMS, Author and Host of “The Money Girl” Podcast joined me to talk about how inflation is a growing worry for Americans across the country. And it's not just the high gas prices.

Many people are putting off expenses like going to the doctor, dental work, home repairs, car repairs, etc. because of financial concerns.

In fact, according to a new Harris Poll, more than two-thirds of US consumers (67%) have delayed necessary services/purchases due to inflation.

Laura says, If you have a neceesary purchase that should not be put off, using a 'buy now pay later option' might be a better than using a high interest credit card. She had some good suggestions.

Listen in to this short and informative podcast conversation with "The Money Girl" Laura Adams

Laura Adams is one of the nation’s leading finance, insurance, and small business authorities. As an award-winning author, spokesperson, and host of the top-rated Money Girl podcast since 2008, millions of readers, listeners, and loyal fans benefit from her practical advice. Her mission is to empower consumers to live healthy and rich lives by making the most of what they have, planning for the future, and making smart money decisions every day.

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New York is projected to become the nation's second largest legal cannabis market after California with an estimated $4.2 billion market within 5 years. BUT as of now there are still a LOT of of very 'gray' legal areas being worked on.

You can legally possess up to 3oz. of cannabis in NY and you can legally consume it and legally gift it, but you cannot legally sell it for adult use ...yet.

So when will NY see it's first dispensaries open? Most likely October according to New Yorks Most Sought After Cannabis Lawyers who are rampng up for what's to come.

'Prince Lobel' the nations most trailblazing cannabis law firm, is expanding its offices to New York City and White Plains, NY. They've tapped New York's most 'in demand' cannabis lawyers to join forces with them.

Cannabis law superstars James (Jim) K. Landau, Douglas S. Trokie, and David C. Holland ae now working together. They took time out of their crazy busy scedules to join me to share what's going on behind the scenes in the NY cannabis industry right now.

All three have been working, studying, learning and speaking and basically ramping up for when licensing is up and running. They're very busy writing the rules and regulations for what the marektplace will look like.

If you want to know what's going on, tune in to this podcast interview and hear all three top cannabis lawyers tell you what's happening and what to expect in real time.

For one thing the 148 pre-existing hemp farmers in NY were just given the green light to put the first THC crop in the ground which should be ready this October. And NY State is going to build out storefronts for the first 150 dispenasry card licensees to help them avoid high start up costs to get going.

We talk about everyhting from social justice issues to how soon the banking industry is going to do something about all that dispensary cash being driven around.

Enlightening for sure. Enjoy!

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Wanted: 'Role Models' in The Following Categories To Walk The Runway With Children Fighting Pediatric Cancer.

'Fashion Funds The Cure' Returns to ‘The Westchester’ in White Plains, NY on Saturday June 4th.

One Of the highlights of this amazing event fundraiser for The #NationalPediatricCancerFoundation is when the kids fighting cancer get to walk the runway with a role model of their dream job of what they want to be when they grow up.

If you fit one of the categories below and would feel great about walking the runaway with one of the kids and making their day let us know.

Dawn Talbot Zachman, Chief Programs and Operations Officer of the NPCF, says the kids and The National Pediatric Foundation need you. Dawn's direct email is below.

The kids role model for what they want to be when they grow up include:

Princess

Pianist

Disney Belle

Veterinarian

Race Car Driver

Sports Manager or Sports Lawyer

Entrepreneur

Wonder Woman

Chef

Great upbeat podcast converation with Dawn who I always stop and help when she asks - about helping raise funds to develop drugs like chemotherapy for 'kids bodies'. Right now most kids with pediatreic cancer are getting drugs created for adults for their small bodies and most have problems later in life as a result of that soon to be avoidable set of circimstances.

If you can't particpate please stop by or donate online donate. npcf.org

DZachman@nationalpcf.org

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Becky Shambaugfh knows a thing or two about helping women rise to the top. She's the President of SHAMBAUGH LEADERSHIP and Founder of Women in Leadership and Learning. She asks ...Have you ever felt "stuck" in your career- thought you'd hit the "glass ceiling?"

Rebecca Shambaugh knows what really stops women - not the glass ceilings, rather  it's "the sticky floors."

Rebecca has great insight into how to change your beliefs, assumptions and behaviors that aren't working for you anymore...so you can  achieve your wildest dreams! 

Rebecca Shambaugh is a Leadership Expert, Internationally Recognized Keynote Speaker. She also hosts her own 'Women Rise' podcast, which features exclusive interviews with some of the world’s most inspiring business leaders who share and discuss how women professionals can reimagine their greatness, especially during these challenging times when a renewal of leadership skills is critical.

WE had a good talk about all this 'stuck stuff' in this short but informative podcast interview.

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Did you know nearly half of all women aged 40+ who have mammograms are told they have dense breasts? What's a gal supposed to do with that information? Pay more attention to her breast health for one.

Many women have no clue that having dense breasts can increase their risk of breast cancer.

Dense breasts can also make cancer more difficult to detect on a mammogram, leading to missed or underdiagnosed cancers, which can contribute to breast cancer mortality.

Bayer Radiology released new survey results that uncovered gaps in knowledge among women with dense breasts, pointing to a greater need for education on this important women’s health topic.

Joining me in this short but important podcast to help educate you are Dr. Pamela Habib; Head of US Medical Affairs, Bayer Radiology and Dr. David Schacht; Breast Radiologist at Northwestern’s Lynne Sage Breast Center at Prentice Women's Hospital.

This is important information for women over 40. Please share it.

PERSONAL NOTE: I'm a Breast Cancer survivor who had dense breasts. I felt a lump and my first stop in my long journey was a radiologist who found the cancer. I'm grateful to still be here so I can educate others.

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Sculptor Vinnie Bagwell Is A Winner and a BIG deal.

The City of Niagara Falls just chose to commission her vision of Harriet Tubman, to be installed in front of the Underground Railroad Museum in Niagara Falls, NY. Public artworks of Harriet Tubman traditionally portray her as an old woman, but she was only 29 when she escaped from slavery and returned to Maryland as an Underground Railroad “conductor" and Vinnie chose to portray her young. Below is a photo of the small version of “Harriet Tubman on the Road to Freedom!” but Vinnie can't wait to make her BIG! Because BIG is what Vinnie does.

Vinnie Bagwell has one of those amazing talents that make your jaw drop. Can you believe she's an untutored artist? She's a Who's Who in America 2022-inductee for sculpting.

Vinnie started sculpting in 1993, and was commissioned to create her first public artwork in 1995. Her portraits display immense spirit and verisimilitude, and have souls which speak to their viewers.

This Spring Vinnie will permanently install “The Enslaved Africans’ Rain Garden”–an urban-heritage public-art project to commemorate the legacy of the first enslaved Africans to be manumitted by law in the United States, 64 years before the Emancipation Proclamation in Yonkers, NY.

She's also rehabilitating the second-largest African burial ground in New York: The Sacred Place of Her Ancestors. The National Endowment for the Arts is the first major funder for this still developing project.

I asked Vinnie to join me because I wanted to know more about how she does that big stuff she does and thought you might too. Enjoy our podcast conversation.

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Former Rock N Roll Publicist Carol Klenfner ( Rolling Stones, Elton John, The Who, and more) is a table tennis champion now rocking the table tennis circuit. She's got stories up the wazoo about all 50+ great rock n roll acts she traveled with and repped back when, but her own latest act is a pretty darn good story too. Carol was a gritty NY gal who worked her way up through the Rock N Roll PR world and worked as a top executive for 4 decades at a prestigious firm in NYC. She married, had two daughters, and a solid career. But in 2009, when she was 64, her life started to fall apart. Right after recuperating from back surgery, Carol lost her husband. Then the recession hit and she was shockingly laid off from her job. At her age, she knew finding a comparable position would be difficult if not impossible. She had to move to find a more affordable place to live and admits it was a horrible time of grief and what felt like solitary confinement, while trying to launch her own PR business from her dining room table. She was struggling and knew she had to get out of the house and do something for her sanity. "Depression is not my thing, but I did feel terribly lonely and isolated. It was like solitary confinement. I wasn’t sure what was ahead for me, but I knew I needed to get out of the house."

Carol happened to catch a documentary on PBS that profiled seniors in a table tennis tournament, and it sparked old memories of having fun playing ping pong as a kid.

She grabbed her friend Stephanie Palewski-Brumbach, who she grew up with and they went to check out Spin, the ping pong club and restaurant owned by Susan Sarandon. They liked it, thought they were good enough to try out for the women’s league and thrilled they were accepted.

Carol who got tired of losing, hired a coach and worked her way up into league play and went on to compete and rock the national tournaments!

Del Moon Dir. of Communications & Media for The National Senior Games did a feature story on Carol. "She wonders if table tennis saved her life in a way, and she feels like a rock star among her age peers who marvel at her renewed passion for life and dedication to pursue a sport." Carol is a great inspiration for staying in the game! Any game! At any age! She's passionate others should find their own way to “move a muscle, change a mood.”

Carol's really bummed she'll miss the National Championship of Table Tennis in Las Vegas and The National Senior Games this year because she hurt her hand, but she's learning how to play the game with her other hand.

Luckily she wasnt too bummed to come have some fun talking with me. Carol found her Personal Best, and hopes she is an inspiration for others to pursue theirs.

Go Carol!

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The Over 50 Crowd is bringing the ACTION to Ft. Lauderdale next week!

14,000 are set to compete in every sport you can imagine in the 2022 National Senior Games presented by Humana. It's all happening May 10-23rd in and arounf Ft. Lauderdale Fla.

Del Moon, The Director of Communications & Media for NSGA is excited the games are returning after 2 years off due to the pandemic.

He's got a good story about how an 85 year old participant scared the heck out of him into participating himself. LOL.

Check out some of the photos from prior years and you will see 'age has no limit' when it comes to staying in the game!

Many who participate now in these games were never even athletes before getting involved. These games are motivating people to get involved and get into better physical condition.

Plus everybody's who''s participating is having fun, traveling, meeting new people, and creating new passions.

Check out whats happening with The National Senior Games and find out how you can get involved locally in your state at NSGA.org.

Makes me want to go try throwing a javelin!

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Coffee entrepreneur Travis 'The Coffee Man’ Estes, wants his fellow coffee loving entrepreneurs to have their own digital barista in their home.

Travis, is the Founder of REVIVE Coffee. He’s an expert in beans, machines and coffee recipes. He and his team designed and manufactured the 'Dolce Vita’ digital barista coffee machine and created an exclusive coffee subscription club as an answer to his commercial coffee company going silent for awhile during the pandemic.

Travis started a company in 2014 called Busy Bean which manufactures and supplies specialty coffee and coffee machines to the food industry. He’s one of the largest wholesalers and providers of specialty coffee equipment to large hotels and restaurants. In 2020 he was at the NYC food show when the pandemic hit. Soon after all the food service locations closed. Things were VERY quiet he said, for about 6 weeks. But then, out of nowhere his phone started ringing off the hook with customers and friends of customers working from home, asking him how to get his coffee.

Travis knew he had to create a professional grade digital coffee system for the home, which he said was not easy to do. The home version had to be just as good but under 18 inches high, easy to use, and self cleaning. Within 9 months he and his team had it figured out.

“What’s beautiful about this machine says Travis, is it’s really a digital barista that sits in your house. Push a button it grinds the beans, then presses the beans, then shoots high pressure water through it, and boom perfect cup of coffee every time!"

So does his ‘Dolce Vita’ coffee machine make all those coffee options someone would be able to pick out on the coffee menu boards say at a Starbucks?

The ‘Dolce Vita’ is pre-programed with 20 different coffee drinks but Travis wants you to learn how to program even more and he’ll teach you how once you join his exclusive entrepreneurs coffee club.

"It’s a true espresso machine", he said. "Makes a one shot espresso, or a double, or plain black coffee, or a latte, or a cappuccino - you name it! You can even program seasonal favorites like pumpkin spice latte etc."

The best part about his machine says Travis, is the consistency of quality. Every day he says will be like waking up in the Four Seasons.

Travis is obviously passionate about coffee and passionate that entrepreneurs now working from home, never have to leave their house to have a total sensory coffee experience. Plus he’s saving die-hard coffee lovers who drive to a store to order their favorite latte ‘schmatte’ or whatever, about 70% off a cup of coffee. ( Have you ever done the math on how much you spend buying cups of coffee every year?)

By the way, coffee is 8X more complex than wine, says Travis. Which is why in addition to manufacturing their own equipment and roasting their own beans (yes they do) Travis and REVIVE brought in a 5 star Executive Chef to come up with new coffee flavor combinations. Believe it or not, the aroma of coffee is a lot more sensory than just the caffeine boost.

It’s a good next act for Travis “The Coffee Man” Estes whose earliest memory as a child was waking up to the smell of coffee. His parents would set up their coffee maker the night before, and that smell he woke up to every day was anchored in his brain. When he had a chance to get into the coffee business he jumped at it, and he’s been making waves in the business ever since.

REVIVE’s Exclusive Coffee Club For Entrepreneurs includes the purchase of the ‘Dolce Vita’ digital barista machine, a $99 monthly coffee subscription, and a lifetime guarantee. Membership is currently limited to 50 new members a month because the machines are meticulously manufactured in-house at their main location in Charleston, SC. where Travis lives.

Membership is also limited because Travis personally devotes a good amount of time educating his customer members about how to get the best results from his products.

Travis did mention though living in SC now, he’s a NY guy by way of Brooklyn and Long Island. Funny how many cool entrepreneurs are by way of Brooklyn and Long Island. Maybe it’s in the water.

Travis and I had a good time talking coffee innovation in our podcast conversation here. Enjoy. And find out more about REVIVE’s Exclusive Coffee Club For Entrepreneurs at BizCoffeeClub.com

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Dieticians on Tik Tok Are Begging People To Stop Dieting. According to CNN health, the anti-diet dieticians want to steer people away from what they call "diet culture," which they say prioritizes smaller sizes over health and drastic restriction over lifestyle changes.

Which brings me to todays' podcast segment about healthy food swaps.

Simple ways you can swap some snacks and drinks and nut butters you may be having regulalrly, for some other versions that are healthier and less processed.

I asked Jess Caruso, Personal Trainer & Instructor at HealthyFit for Women in Mamaroneck, NY to come up with some simple food swaps to do quickly for a healthier diet. I love her list.

Jess, is a Nutrition Health Coach, Mindfulness Educator and Mentor and has over 20 years of experience in the career field of wellness. She's worked in many different settings, and has experience with people of all ages and clients with many different goals. She's taught in schools, and even provided yoga and meditation at the Westchester County NY Correctional facility.

Her philosophy with regard to wellness? Keep the body moving with variety and enjoyment!

Her primary health coaching focus? Helping clients with clean eating, lifestyle changes and choosing more of a natural approach to improve their overall health.

Jess Caruso shares some good tips on this Wellness Wednesday conversation podcast.

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Know Anybody Who Doesn't Want To Get Paid Fairly For Their Work? Me Neither.

According to 322 employers who responded to XpertHR’s 2022 Survey on Pay Equity, senior management is one root cause of the existence of pay inequities at companies. But now theres a new platform that companies can use that provides data analytics to take the complexity out of pay equity and wage gaps.

It’s called Gapsquare and their CEO/Co-Founder Zara Nanu joined me to talk about the survey results and how Gapsquare helps companies build fair pay infrastructure through analytics and expertise.

Dr. Zara Nanu is a powerful advocate for workplace gender equality and wider fair pay. She started her career combatting human trafficking and campaigning on women’s rights issues. She is now at the forefront of the push for technology to build more inclusive workplaces.

Dr. Nanu says, 93% of companies want to use analytics internally to create pay parity but only 38% of companies do it because it’s complicated. She's sharing the news that her company, Gapsquare is happy to lend a hand with their new analytics platform that makes it easy.

Enjoy this enlightening podcast conversation.

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This Podcast Was Produced In Support of Happiness!

Jeffrey Gurian is fascinated by people who don't let things get the best of them! A former Cosmetic Dentist and Clinical Professor at NYU, he's one of the few doctors with a long-standing career in comedy. He's a comedy writer, performer, director, author, producer, motivational speaker, and radio personality with 8 books under his belt.

The first book in what he refers to as the "The Happiness Series" was written during the Covid lockdown and is called "Healing Your Heart, By Changing Your Mind – A Spiritual and Humorous Approach To Achieving Happiness". The next one in the series is "Facing Adversity Stories Of Courage And Inspiration" and the third in the series is called "Fight The Fear-Overcoming Obstacles That Stand In Your Way".

Jeffrey knows courage. In 2021, he found himself at the height of the panemic in the hospital with Covid Double Pneumonia. Very luckily he recovered, but spent months home alone in NYC afraid to go outside. That's when he got the idea for the happiness books.

In a folder filled with articles and news clippings Jeffrey had kept over a period of 20 years, were a collection of true stories about very courageous people who managed to overcome unbelievable difficulties to lead happy, meaningful lives. Jeffrey decided during his own struggles during Covid lockdown, to write about those triumphs as a way to help restore hope and inspiration for everyone affected by what's happened over the last two years.

His book, "Fight The Fear -Overcoming Obstacles That Stand In Your Way”, is about learning to change your own negative thoughts that hold you back. You really can. Jeffrey tells the story of following his own principles, to cure himself of a severe stuttering problem, which plagued him through his 20's and beyond. He now works with stutterers all over the world to teach them how NOT to stutter.

"If you allow yourself to think differently you can achieve happiness. It's a way of processing information in a way you haven't done in the past."

Jeffrey has so many words on inspiration and so many great comedy stories too. He's worked with some of the worlds best comedians. He was a comedy writer for Joan Rivers, Rodney Dangerfield, lead writer for The Friars Club Roasts and many more. He also performs at Comedy Clubs in NYC.

Some great stories are shared in our fun podcast conversation. Enjoy.

To see and hear more about Jeffrey Gurian check out ComedyMattersTV.com

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This one's for the girls!

Theres one thing I know for sure. As soon as warm weather hits the parts of the country where womens bodies long hidden under winter clothes will soon be exposed again, a LOT of women try and hustle to tone themselves up! Admittedly, I am one of those women.

I hate being hot and love going sleeveless and surely feel better about myself when my upper arms are stronger and in better shape. Loose upper arms do not make women happy.

(Guys have no clue what a pain in the ass they are or what it feels like to try and find a dress that hide your arms. As for the women who do not have this problem - we amire you but we are jealous.)

I asked the gals at HEALTHYFITNY the all womens gym that I joined and I'm lovin', to create a one minute video showing a few simple excercies for upper body strength and tone that work quickly.  i thought some women might appreciate it.

Fitness Director Jamie LeVine nailed it with 3 exercises that even I can figure out how to get moving on today! 

This post is about women getting the upper hand on those upper arms! It was created with love for women by women.

Be cool to know if this helped anyone out there. Let me know.  Best! Debbie

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Matt Vossler Co-Founder 'Swim Across America' joins me to celebrate 35 years of making waves fighting cancer. And we're talkin big kahuna waves!

This year there will be 24 events across the country expected to raise 10M which will bring the total dollars raised by this charity for cancer research rockstars close to 120M! Matt says, it's been incredibly impactful and effective fund raising.

Swim Across America is a national organization with 24 open water swims from Boston Harbor to under the Golden Gate Bridge, and more than 100 pool swim fundraisers across the country. It's roots are firmly anchored in Connecticut and along the shores of Long Island Sound. The 16th annual Swim Across America Fairfield County open water swim is scheduled for Saturday, June 25, 2022.

Matt Vossler is from Darien, CT. and he and his lifelong friend and college roommate Jeff Keith, who lost part of his leg to bone cancer as a teen, founded Swim Across America in 1987.

These two guys along with their other buddy Hugh Curran, graduated college, put their careers on hold, and physically 'ran' clear across the country fundraising for cancer. The 'swim' version of their efforts was only sparked when they got to the California Coast and ran out of 'land' Matt said.

'Swim Across America' didn't exactly start out as smooth sailing. Matt shared that at their very first event in 1987 on the Long Island Sound in NY during a fundraising swim from Port Jefferson to Fairfeld Beach, their boat actually sank. OMG. If that didnt stop them...it didn't.

Swim Across America is built on a fundamental value that money raised in a community, stays in that community. This value creates a grassroots community feel for each of our charity swims,” said Matt Vossler. “Each charity swim is partnered with an academic or research hospital within the community that serves as the beneficiary.

Stamford-based Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy is the local beneficiary in Fairfield County, CT.

What isn’t limited to geography is the innovation and collaboration to fighting cancer.

Swim Across America has already granted $100M and been a major funder in the advancement of immunotherapy, personalized medicine, gene sequencing, detection and patient programs such as adolescent and youth survivorship.”

On Saturday, April 23rd, Elizabeth Beisel, a four-time Olympic gold and bronze medalist, 2016 Team USA captain, and world record holder for the first woman to successfully swim from mainland Rhode Island to Block Island, along with Craig Beardsley, a world record holder in the 200-meter butterfly and a former member of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team, will be visiting the Darien, CT YMCA. They will hold a swim clinic with the Darien Y’s Piranha swim team from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and then participate in a Meet-and-Greet with the public from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Meet-and-Greet is free and open to the public.

Something tells me after you listen to this podcast conversation with Swim Across America Co-Founder Matt Vossler, you'll want to jump in and help. Incredibly inspiring.

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It's A Pretty Big Deal When Walmart Says "Yes, We'll Carry YOUR New Product"! Entrepreneurs Abby Wallach & Caroline Fabrigas couldn't be more excited. Their idea to risk disrupting the fragrance category worked! Walmart is putting their new perfume brand 'Sparti Scents' into almost 1800 Walmart stores nationwide. As part of Walmart's fragrance innovation strategy, 'Sparti Scents' is filling the beauty aisles with it's new mini-stick powered by Scentinvent Technologies, LLC. It's portable, clean, playful, accessibly priced, alcohol free and fun to show off. The brand is powering up social media feeds with joyful content built around community.

The 'Sparti' Founders say they're really excited that after 8 years from inception, their GIRL ON THE GO campaign is going live with The NEW Cool Way to Wear Fragrance and words of empowerment.

Girls nationwide are sharing how Sparti fragrances make them not only smell great, but give them a boost of confidence throughout the day.

Dance Sparti is a Sexy Musk (purple)

Love Sparti is a Fruity Floral (orange)Â

Spring Sparti is a Citrus Blend. (Green)

Abby Wallach & Caroline Fabrigas, beauty industry veterans, join me to share the exciting news of their big launch and also share the back story of just what it takes to bring a new perfume concept to life.

They also share how the 'Sparti' brand got its name. Let's just say somebody's' son is really smart. Wink.

If you like entrepreneur stories you'll enjoy this fun and informative podcast interview.

These 2 gals are perfect examples of following the advice I always give here:

"Risk It Or Regret It!

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Right about this time every year, people who make it through cold winters start to shed clothing. This can feel good or bad depending how you feel about your body. Let’s face it. The pandemic made most people a little ‘softer’ than usual. But that can be changed pretty quickly if you follow the ‘Spring Shape Up Checklist’ items posted here that I asked HEALTHYFIT to put together for us.

If you’re like me, the first warm Spring day is a loud wake up call to try to speed things up a a little (understatement) to get into better physical shape as fast as reasonably possible.

(I'm not sure ordering from the Venus Swimwear catalog right this moment is reasonable)

But noticeable progress can be made pretty quick! According to Fitness Director Jamie Levine at HealthyFit, if you just start ‘moving’ you’ll move in the right direction and everything will start to tighten up and things will start to snowball in a really good way!”

I want to share that every timeI show up at this women’s gym I joined not to long ago, I feel better about myself. I want to encourage others who are trying to get back in shape after this ‘twilight zone’ last few years to just GET MOVING. It matters. Whether you’re struggling with body image, mental strength, a little depression or just the desire to feel more alive again it’s time to make some moves. I believe! All of a sudden I’m bending to pick up stuff without grunting! Call Page Six in The POST.

So here’s The Spring Shape Up Checklist. Follow it and share it with somebody who could use a boost.

HEALTHYFIT Fitness babe Jamie Levine says, ‘ideally’ we should follow this all year long. (And all I’m saying here is let’s just reboot)

Water! Water! Water! Thats a big mention here because dehydration zaps your energy. Water flushes out fat, and it’s great for metabolism. I have trouble drinking enough water but I’m trying harder. Jamie says, says people who don’t drink enough water are usually drinking something else and if you replace all your other liquids with water for ‘awhile’ it’ll show in your face and skin. A nicer face is. good incentive. (Why the hell wine goes down so easy I'll never know.)

Your diet does play into how fast you get into shape. James says, if your diet is crap it’s going to be a huge obstacle to your progress.

“Theres a saying in the gym…. You can’t out exercise a bad diet”!

And about those 10,000 steps a day? Honestly for most mortals I know hitting this number is nearly impossible. When I try and can’t live up to that number, I do end up feeling a little frustrated and occasionally also end up in a pizzeria. But I’ll try harder.

Jamie points out, the fittest people in the world are people who walk everywhere. She also mentioned she actually knows people who get off off their couches at night and go out and walk the last couple thousand steps to make the 10,000. (Must be their couches.)

Anyway …cheers to Spring. And to this Spring Shape Up Checklist.

This fitness shape up information is ‘gender friendly’

However If you’re woman looking to check out an all women’s gym and happen to live in the Mamaroneck, N.Y. area, I highly encourage you to just show up and walk in to HEALTHYFIT on The Boston Post Road and look around and try it out for free. No Drama. No Pass Necessary. Jamie says any gym that doesn’t let you try it first is not worth it.

Hoping to motivate some new people with our straight up shape up podcast conversation.

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It's A Pretty Big Deal When Walmart Says "Yes, We'll Carry your New Product".

Entrepreneurs Abby Wallach & Caroline Fabrigas couldn't be more excited. Their idea to risk disrupting the fragrance category worked! Walmart is putting their new perfume brand 'Sparti Scents' into almost 1800 Walmart stores nationwide.

As part of Walmart’s fragrance innovation strategy, Sparti is filling the beauty aisles with it’s new mini-stick powered by Scentinvent Technologies, LLC. It's portable, clean, playful, accessibly priced, alcohol free and fun to show off. The brand is powering up social media feeds with joyful content built around community.

The 'Sparti' Founders say they're really excited that after 8 years from inception, their GIRL ON THE GO campaign is going live with The NEW Cool Way to Wear Fragrance and words of empowerment.

Girls nationwide are sharing how Sparti fragrances make them not only smell great but give them a boost of confidence throughout the day.

Abby Wallach & Caroline Fabrigas, beauty industry veterans, joined me to share the news of their big launch and also share the back story of just what it takes to bring a new perfume concept to life.

They also share how the 'Sparti' brand got its name. Let's just say somebodys' son is really smart. Wink. If you like entrepreneur stories you'll enjoy this fun and informative interview.

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In front of the NYSE in NYC is a 4 foot high bronze 'Fearless Girl' Statue that has become a major tourist attraction. The statue symbolizes female empowerment, and the higher representation of women on corporate boards.

NYC decided her time was up. I has no idea why the heck they thought thought she should go, until I caught the story in a post on LInkedIn by Michelle Tran on the day there was to be a public hearing in NYC about all of this.

Michelle, a Top 100 Women in Fintech Founder and Leader, was passionate the 'Fearless Girl' statue should not be moved.

"The 'Fearless Girl' is a symbolic reminder that women deserve a seat at the table. I teared up in December when I walked up to her, thinking I'm just about to walk into NYSE to celebrate how far NYC Fintech Women have come. She is me. She is us."

Michelle continued, "She represents every single woman in NYC, and in particular, women in financial services and tech who have fought for her place at the table. Her current location in front of NYSE is symbolic, inspiring, and important, especially because of how hard women have had to fight for careers."

When I read in Michelles' post that NYC Fintech Women had written a letter of support to the Design Commission at NYC City Hall and that Michelle was asking others to write letters or attend the public hearing that morning, I threw my hat in the ring. I wrote her on LinkedIn and threw out a last minute invite for her to join my show to get the word out. She caught my message minutes before my show went live so we just went with it.

The collective efforts must have worked beacuse 'Fearless Girl' gets to stay! (For awhile anyway).

An article in the NY POST after the hearing reported the decision. “We today, the Public Design Commission, cannot make this a permanent piece of art,” commission president Signe Nielsen said. “We can urge that steps be taken to enable this work to be considered for the public collection.”

She gets to stay in front of the NYSE for 11 more months. Other smart people in NYC are already scrambling to claim her and take ownership. Whoever or wherever that is will surely win with women everywhere. Hmmmm where might that be?

For the recordd, the 'Fearless Girl' statue was put at the NYSE 'temporarily' back in 2017. It was commissioned by State Street Global Advisors, an asset management firm out of Boston. There's been a load of controversy involving this statue since then, and seems even the amazing artist Kristen Visbal, is somehow in some kind of litigation with that company.

This conversation with Michelle Tran took place on the morning of the hearing. She's great. Enjoy!

Go #FearlessGirls Everywhere!

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Womens Gyms Are Trending! Not a new idea but one that’s noticeably picking up speed in 2022. I'm pickin' up speed too ever since I joined one and out of nowhere I'm dancing like JLo in a halftime show, at 8am in the morning.

I joined a womens' gym called HealthyFit after all the pandemic isolation made me soft and agitated. I'm so happy with the experience of exercising at an all women's gym, I'm telling other women about it.

During the pandemic I tried to walk whenever I could, weather permitting. Being in NY I often settled for power walking in Stop & Shop. Seriously, I would GO to Stop & Shop or Costco just to MOVE. (Need to know which aisle for gluten free crispy onions? Just call me.)

While out and about one day I ran into a gal who I used to take a great morning weight class with years ago. She was gushing about a women’s gym she joined called HealthyFit in Mamaroneck, NY. Our random run in was right after ‘pandemic laws’ allowed gyms to open again, and I was so fed up with walking supermarket aisles, I went to just ‘see’.

All I could muster up initially was walking on the treadmill with a mask on. A little uncomfortable with the mask but I felt comfortable at the place. It was just what I needed. No drama. No hoopla. Easy parking. Very clean. Covid protocols in place. Nice dressing room. Nice gals. Zero pressure to do anything I didn’t want to do. I went there ‘ugly’ without one thought about it. That’s comfortable.

I joined. I started walking more intensely, added in lifting a few light weights, and started feeling more and more like my lively old self. Up to this point I hadn’t even spoken to another woman there. (I know hard to believe me not talking right?) I was just doing my thing whatever that is these days.

Soon I decided to try a few group classes. Yoga. Loved it. Weight class. Loved it. Zumba. OMG LOVE it! (If you ran into the women in this class in the supermarket you’d never ever suspect how sexy they can dance. Ha! )

Women of all ages and sizes are very comfortable in this setting. I think more women should consider women’s gyms right now.

I invited HealthyFitNY Fitness Director Jamie Levine to join me today to talk about the trend of women’s gyms. (Jamie’s an aerobic teacher, turned school teacher, turned mom, turned lawyer, turned back into Fitness Expert)

Jamie says, people are kind of shy to get started exercising again and they remember the big gyms with the big scenes and don’t want people watching them. A women's gym is a safe comfortable space with no judgement. The comfort level and community encourages women to do more and push themsleves more. It boosts everybodys energy. The moms, aunts, grandmas, and even the High School girls who come.

Jamie Levine and I have a warm chat talking about the rise of Womens' Gyms in this podcast.

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Lavender has had a rebirth says Cynthia Sutphin founder of the famous Cape Cod Lavender Farm in Harwich, Massachusetts.

Besides being beautiful to look at, Lavender has amazing wellness benefits, one of which is calming people down. Yes, Lavender is a natural remedy for anxiety, insomnia, headaches, bug bites, and burns. Bug Bites? Who knew? If you get a bug bite of any kind, Cynthia says just rub a little lavender oil on it or the ZEN Lavender Oil Hemp roll on product Cynthia just launched in a collaboration with Primabee CBD - and youre good to go!

Cynthia Sutphin founded the famous Cape Cod Lavender Farm 27 years ago so that she could stay at home and work while she raised her kids.

She was initially discouraged because Lavender is a Mediterranean plant and and the soil where she's located in MA was acidic. But she figured out how to fix that by adding some lime to the soil and that combined with the mild winters and good soil drainage (the other components of a successful lavender plant) she made the farm a success.

Cynthia started with 400 plants and as they bloomed and were harvested, she would drive back and forth to the fresh flower market in Boston. Well that was exhausting, so she decided to open her farm to the public instead, and let people come there to buy it.

Now 27 years later Cynthia has thousands of Lavender plants she sells fresh to some 10,000 visitors a year. People go there to buy her lavender bunches hanging from ceiling. Each day what she doesn't sell, she distills to create lavendar oil and lavender water and makes all kinds of cool lavender gifts like candles and lavender infused edible treats.

Located at the heart of 11 secluded acres, The Cape Cod Lavender Farm property is surrounded by 75 acres of conservation land with woodland walking trails. The farm is free to visit and open March-December.

The lavender harvest occurs in a 3 week window between late June to mid-July (peak bloom). But people still go right up to Columbus Day.

Cynthia just collaborated with Primabee CBD and owner Paul Borde to create an amazing new little Zen Lavender Oil / Hemp roll on product that seems to be calming everybody down! Their coming together was serendipity as Cynthia says. The two had an immediate connection and the product combination of the hemp and the Lavender was 'a natural' to her.

Timing is good for this little ZEN roll on you can keep in your pocket, purse or next to your bed to help relax you into sleep because people are coming out of an intense experience from Covid and everythings changing. Anxiety and fear are high and the search is on for more self care. Hey even Pantones Clor of the Year is based on the color Lavender but thye made up a color name. It's Very Peri! Pantone says 'Very Peri' places the future ahead in a new light.

One upside of the Covid experience is that people are now stopping to think about and enjoy things they might not have otherwise known about. Different things in nature. For exmaple, natural remedies.

The Cleveland Clinic: LAVENDER

Supports sleep; Reduces pain and inflammation; Helps with mood, anxiety and depression: “Lavender is known for its ability to calm the nervous system. Relieves menstrual pain; Kills harmful viruses and bacteria, Reduces colic symptoms.

Lovely conversation here with Cynthia Sutphin Owner of The Cap Cod Lavender Farm if you have a few minutes to listen to the podcast.

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Robotic Pets Are Doing Wonders For Dementia Patients, Veterans, Pediatric Patients and Now Even the Children of Ukraine Who've Had to Leave Their Pets Behind.

Capital Caring Health, one of the nation’s oldest non-profit advanced illness care and hospice providers, has begun to incorporate Robotic Companion Pets into their care plans in a partnership with Ageless Innovation and their 'JOY FOR ALL' robotic pets. This company was Co-Founded by former Hasbro Executive Ted Fischer who is now the CEO.

These pets have proven in numerous clinic studies to provide joy, comfort, and interactive companionship to patients and peace of mind to their families and caregivers.

In the cases of devastating dementia, among the benefits are reduction in agitation, prevention of depression, and often a reduction in medications being administered.”

Steve Cone, Chief of Philanthropy at Capital Caring says, “The robotic pets are quite remarkable and interactively react to human touch, movement, and voice—like real pets. As we like to say no need to feed or walk or clean up after them—just enjoy their LOVE.”

Capital Caring aims to make these robotic pets available free of charge to anyone around the country.

Capital Caring Health (CCH) efforts to provide Ukrainian Children who fled their homes and left their real pets behind with a companion robotic dog or cat, has the blessing of the Polish Government, and the robotic pets will be flown to Poland for distribution to refugee children.

You can support this effort by donating directly on CCH’s website capitalcaring.org and by clicking the green donate button in the top right of their homepage, and selecting the ‘Patient Pet Services and Robotic Companion Pets’ program option. Then indicate donation is in honor of the children of the Ukraine.

Both Steve Cone Chief Of Philanthropy at Capital Caring Health and Ted Fischer Co_Founder and CEO of Ageless Innovation join me to talk about this remarkable partnership.

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Adventures await You In New Brunswick 

American travelers in search of outdoor adventures should take a look at a thrilling getaway in New Brunswick, Canada. There are some very cool things going on there and some very cool places to stay. Add in a fabulous collection of road trip routes and the current exchange rate, and New Brunswick Canada is an affordable option for Americans to travel internationally. 

If you like sea kayaking, hiking, cycling, camping, glamping, fishing, hunting and tours to get up close with nature by watching whales, seals, puffins and hundreds of species of birds - this might be for you. 

Neil Hodge, Travel Media Representative for Tourism New Brunswick got in touch to chat about it all.

BTW: New Brunswick has an eclectic history, from the music, food, festivals and joie de vivre of French culture to Indigenous tourism experiences. French and Indigenous cultures are strong in this province and visitors can experience both.

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Candace Mayeron was kind of like a Den Mother to the Chippendales, even though she wasn’t much older than them at the time. Here she is below in the middle of a gaggle of them.

And here I am below, a young Debbie Nigro with dark hair, posing with a handful of ‘Chips’ in comparison.

We both have a Chippendales story. Mine is light and funny and happened in one night long ago. Candace Mayerons’ story is way more interesting, way longer and sadly way more tragic. It involves the murder of her close friend and boss, Chippendales Producer & Choreographer Nick de Noia, sitting with Candace celebrating in probably the last photo of him alive.

Candace Mayeron was the Associate Producer of the Chippendales show and basically the Den Mother to the Chippendale men up until 1987. I would never have known this information or anything at all about Candace had I not been sparked by reading that A&E was launching a limited series called "Secrets of The Chippendales Murders."

I thought I’d heard something about that crazy story before, so I googled and sure enough "Curse Of The Chippendales" came up as Discovery+ docuseries.

a stunt in LA in the 1980s. The show then became involved in a slew of scandals, including the 1987 assassination of Chippendales choreographer Nick de Noia and two other planned hits on a dancer and producer, all orchestrated by Chippendales Founder Steve Banerjee.

Then I came across an article in which Candace told her Chippendales story originally to Elle Magazine then through Hollywood411 called, "Sex, Money, and Murder. My Life as The Chippendales Den Mother".

I have to admit when Candace’s photo came up and I saw she outnumbered me in ‘chips’ I was impressed enough to track her down and invite her on my show to talk ‘girlfriend to girlfriend’ about her experience which you'll hear here in tis podcast clip.

For a lot of women who would never dare have that kind of scandalous fun before, Chippendales provided a revolutionary form of entertainment that Candace will surely tell you, was more about the women who attended the shows than the men who performed.

The brief version of my Chippendales story? I was live on the air as a radio DJ, and had just mentioned Chippendales was opening in NYC, and as a joke I said anybody want to come with me? The phones started ringing off the hook! A few promotional ‘bus loads’ of women later we arrived -and all of them bought me drinks of appreciation for my good thinking. This photo of me above with The Chippendales was taken before I LOST 35 women who I was responsible for bringing home with me. Completely psycho story for another time.

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Do You Snore? Are You Sleeping With A Snorer? According to the research peeps OnePoll, 51% of Americans snore.

A new little product may just mute the snoring! It's called MUTE! (Sounds like a realtionship saver!)

Michael J. Breus, Ph.D. “The Sleep Doctor” joined me to talk snoring. He’s the Clinical Psychologist for Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He explained, many people breathe through their mouth, which causes a vibration in the back of the throat that can result in snoring.

Mute, he said, is an FDA-approved nasal dilator that sits inside the nose to increase airflow, improve nose breathing, and reduce snoring. (Looks do-able not that I snore or anything.)

Funn thing about snoring you got to admit it's kinda funny , but in truth it's no joke. 39% of Americans who snore or live with someone who snores say their sleep is disrupted between one and three times each week. And it’s leaving them so tired that 34% are oversleeping, and 24% have fallen asleep at work.

Severe snoring, where the snorer stops breathing between inhalations, may be a sign of sleep apnea and should be checked by a sleep specialist. I our podcast chat Dr. Breus explains what happens to your heart if you ignore severe snoring. Let's just say it ain't pretty.

So What About This New Little Thing Mute?

• In product trials, 78% of Mute users could breathe better and 75% snored less.
• 59% of snorers are ages 45-54, 56% are ages 35-44 and 54% are ages 55-64.
• 51% of U.S. adults who snore are men and 57% of men admitted to being a snorer.
• More than any other region, 53% of residents in New York, Washington, Connecticut and the surrounding states keep their partners or housemates awake from snoring.

(I'll report back once I do a trial run, not that I snore or anything)

Michael J. Breus is a double board-certified Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Sleep Specialist. He is one of only 168 psychologists in the world to have taken and passed the Sleep Medicine Boards without going to Medical School. He's the author of four books with the newest book (2021) Energize! Go from dragging Ass to kicking it in 30 days, adds the concepts of Movement (not exercise), and Intermittent-Fasting to his already famous Sleep Chronotypes. And it was recently named one of the top books of 2021 by The Today Show. In his 3rd book (2017) 'The Power of When' which is a ground breaking bio-hacking book proving that there is a perfect time to do everything, based on your biological chronotype (early bird or night owl). Dr. Breus gives the reader the exact time to have sex, run, a mile, eat a cheeseburger, buy, sell, ask your boss for a raise and much more based on over 200 research studies. He is an expert resource for most major publications doing more than 400 interviews per year (Oprah, Dr. Oz, The Doctors, NY Times, Wall Street Journal etc.-list available). Dr. Breus has been in private practice for 23 years and recently relocated to and was named the Top Sleep Doctor of Los Angles, By Readers Digest.

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I love Dive Bars. Go figure I met ‘my guy’ in a dive bar. There are great dive bars in every state but I bought my local lohud newspaper last Sunday just to read reporter Jeanne Muchnick’s story about the local dive joints. She found a great bunch of 'under the radar' dive bars to showcase in the Westchester and Rockland N.Y. areas but there are great local dives bars all over the country. Many were challenged during the pandemic, but many prevailed and now serve up just the right nostalgic vibe people are craving. A fun read is the Best 33 Dive Bars in America from Thrillist.com. TimeOut.com just published the 18 Best Dive Bars in NYC.

I've become an online information junkie, but feeling nostalgic I bought an actual ‘physical’ newspaper when the dive bar story caught my eye. I thought it might be fun to keep handy and figure out how my boyfriend Dave and I could have some fun trying to hit all those dive bars at some point.

Why are dive bars called dive bars? According to Wikipedia, the term ‘dive’ was first used in the press in the U.S. in the 1880’s to describe disreputable places that were often in basements into which one ’dives below’. Once considered a derogatory term, dive bar is now a coveted badge of honor bestowed by aficionados looking for authenticity in such establishments. “

Jeanne Muchnick, the fun and fabulous food and dining reporter for lohud.com/The Journal says, these days we’re all craving ’nostalgia’, so these neighborhood stalwarts have become more popular than ever.

Jeanne describes the modern day dive bar as, “Humble decor (most often highlighted by a dart board and/or pool table or both) cheap beers, a long history and dedicated regulars.”

Dive bars are places where all kinds of people from all walks of life drop by to feel ‘community’. And everyone has a favorite.

Jeanne featured fan favorite dive bars in the NY area. 24 are listed in her article from the Sunday Life Section of The Journal News called "UNDER-THE-RADAR 24 dive bars beloved By Rockland Westchester fans."

A few NY area highlghts are mentioned below but read her article for the entire list and pick a few to stop by and hey maybe I'll see you there. And please enjoy our fun dive bar conversation.

Peppermill South, Congers

Plan B Suffern

Sportsview Stony Point

The Pearl River Hotel Pearl River

AJ’s Bar & Grill Yorktown

Cellar Bar Larchmont

Duck Inn Bar & Grill Mamaroneck

Foleys Club Lounge Plesantville

Set Back Inn Tarrytown

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Been Thinking About Writing A Book 'Someday'? Well This Might Actually Be The Day!

Many ‘would be’ authors procrastinate because they have no clue how to get a book published. I hear the topic of 'writing a book' come up often. Things I always hear people say? "I should really write a book”. "I've been meaning to write a book”. "I've been working on a book for years that I really need to finish”. "I need to find someone to help me write my book.” “I’ve written a book but I have no idea how to get it published”. “My book is done but I have no idea how to market it.”

I thought maybe Cheryl Benton could help some of you. I've been a fan and supporter of Cheryl for years. A former English teacher, PR guru, and ad agency whiz, Cheryl has always been a prolific writer and avid reader. She combined all her skills when she founded 'The Three Tomatoes' lifestyle guide for 'women who aren't kids'.

A couple of years ago Cheryl decided to write her first book. She managed her way through the entire self publishing book process herself with her first novel, "Can You See Us Now"? The book was a hit! Six months after that, she created another book with her daughter Roni Jenkins, called 'Martini Wisdom'. Another hit! That one quickly became #1 on Amazon’s hot new releases. Both books were published under 'The Three Tomatoes Publishing' imprint.

Cheryl got so many requests for information about how they did it, she decided to expand their book platform to provide services to help other authors realize their dreams. And now ‘Three Tomatoes Publishing' is doing just that. They’re on a roll and picking up speed and bringing all kinds of books to life. Maybe yours is next?

For the record there are various publishing models. The traditional publishing model usually requires an agent, can take up to two years, and offers fairly low royalties. There are hybrid publishing models where you pay and then share in royalties. There’s the self-published model, where you do everything, including all your marketing. (Cheryl points out that marketing is the most critical factor after a good book and one that is often left to the author, even with traditional publishers).

In our conversation here Cheryl sparks all the ‘would be’ authors out there to come on and get it done! 'Three Tomatoes Publishing' she says can help you get your book published, your audiobook produced, create a book marketing program and if need be even help write the darn book for you. There's also the option for authors to choose to cherry pick some of their services. Three Tomatoes Publishing is particularly interested in books by women for women over forty that can be marketed via The Three Tomatoes media platform to their audience of women over 40. But they do accept male authors as well.

BTW: The Three Tomatoes started as a just for the fun of it newsletter which Cheryl originally sent to 60 friends. They now have several newsletters a week, a major website, a weekly podcast and events. With 15,000 subscribers and over 40,000 visitors each month to the web site, theirs is an excellent vehicle for promoting books.

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Everyone’s buzzing about the The Netflix Film ‘Tinder Swindler’ which is a loud reminder there are always creeps who try and take advantage of vulnerable people especially when it comes to matters of the heart.

If you haven’t seen it, the ‘Tinder Swindler’ is a true story and features a group of women who were the victims of a swindler on a dating app whose name I won’t give any more press. The women join together to hunt him down and recover the millions of dollars that were stolen from them.

You’re probably thinking that anyone who would let this happen to them must be an idiot. Cyber Dating Expert Julie Spira says, “Sometimes they are the smartest women. The smartest women have the access to the funds. The smarter the woman, the easier the con.”

Julie Spira, who makes her living as an online dating expert, wants to make sure people on dating apps are safe. She’s put together a list of 'Red Flags' to watch for that might indicate you’re dealing with someone other than you think. Not everyone on a dating app is who you think they are.

Some of Julie Spira’s Red Flags?

Be suspicious if someone tries to quickly move you off the dating app to another place to communicate like What’s App. A lot of the creeps tend to be people out of the country.

Watch for people who are trying to overly impress you on a dating app with fancy cars and expensive homes.

Stay away from anyone with a blurry photo.

Watch out for someone who says I love you very quickly.

Be wary if the person is too busy to get together or they make plans and cancel and do that over and over. They never have any intention of getting together because they are not who you think they are.

And... NEVER give anyone you meet on a dating app money!” NEVER!

What can you do to be more comfortable the other person on a dating app is who they say they are?

Go on a video date says Julie. That’s a great way to vet a potential mate.

Also, she says Google search the person and check out their social media and see if you have friends in common.

If someone is sincere, she says they’re likely going to volunteer as much imformation they can to give you comfort and also be happy to go at your romance pace.

A valuable and enlightening podcast listen if you are out there in the dating world.

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LOOK What's Back! Going TO The Movies! And 'LOOK Dine-In-Cinema' Movie Theaters are making it an extraordinary experience.

Really have to hand to Founder Brian Schultz & Chief Marketing Officer James Meredith from Dallas who I met last night at the Grand Opening of their 8th 'LOOK Dine-In Cinema' location in Dobbs Ferry NY. An 8-auditorium, full-service, technology-first movie theater.

LOOK is the Luxury movie theater model, not your average dine-in experience. We're talkin' state-of-the-art theater, surround sound technology, upscale cuisine and exceptional service. Terrific viewing experience with food and cocktails in an immersive environment.

When I walked into LOOK in Dobbs Ferry, Ny last night it felt like an upscale boutique hotel that's somehow also family friendly. Big bar entertainment area to the right and another lovely small bar area as you pass through to the theaters.

Super duper comfortable electric reclining seats, and great large sliding table to hold your food . I had a perfect cup holder for my glass of red wine I enjoyed while watching 'Death On the Nile'. I was so comfortable I'm surprised they didn't find me there this morning for the sequel 'Snoring in the Aisle'. LOL Oh and the ladies room was a wow. Thank you LOOK for installing great HOOKS! (The girls will get what I mean.)

I invited LOOK's Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer James Meredith to join me to take a bow. Looks like LOOK is on a roll having opened their first location in Dallas in June, then Arizona, Florida, and four in California. Dobbs Ferry, NY is the latest location lighting up the big screen and creating hundreds of jobs too. LOOK also offers private reservations for gatherings and screenings tailored to whatever you want.

They are now open to the public

LOOK Dine-In Cinemas: 1 Hamilton Street Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

SPECIAL OPENING PROMOTIONS: On Tuesdays, moviegoers can enjoy the discounted ticket price of $5, all day. The first show of the day, all week, tickets will be available for the discounted price of $5.

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Work Place Bullies. What They Do To People Is Horrible.

It's crappy that bullying people at work is not illegal. What's more insane is that companies often 'let it go' because the bully is making them money. Instead company's scramble to find ways to deal with the 'situation'.

Bullies make their targets feel emotionally and physically sick and often they are the ones who leave their jobs.

Dr. Laura Persky, MBA & Ed. D. and high level Education Consultant, extensively researched this topic for her dissertation.

Her research showed when company's get rid of the bullies instead of protecting them, overall productivity and revenue for the company goes up. Laura co-wrote an article based on her research which was a 'Top Ten download' for the Global Journal of Business Research. It's called The Effect Of High Performing Bullying Behavior On Organizational Performance. A Bullying Management Dilemma.

Dr. Laura Perksy joins me today in studio to share what else she found out about Workplace Bullies and what companies need to start doing about them for everybody's sake including their own.

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Casting Call! Ever wonder who does the casting for all those TV shows on those gazillion channels we've been glued to? Have you heard of Twins Talent Inc.? They're one of the leading Casting, Development, Content & Storytelling companies and they might just be looking for you!

Lisa & Debbie Ganz are the fun twin owners of Twins Talent casting . We're talking about what kind of shows are trending and who they're looking for!

Besides being a full service casting company for unscripted, reality, documentary & original programming, Twins Talent has also become recognized as a premiere development company, both creating and selling their own programming, as well as support development for production companies nationwide.

AND ...in addition to casting , Twins Talent has a specialized talent division which supplies twins, triples and quadruplets for scripted film, print and commercial. They have access to hundreds of thousands of multiples worldwide. 

I will warn you...Debbie Ganz talks as fast as me. LOL She's a riot!  LOL These girls are the real deal. 

Oh and if YOU have a TV development idea, theres a really big tip inside this conversation that might help get you serious attention. 

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Has having Covid left you with a lingering feeling of depression or malaise? You're not alone. It's a real thing.

Dr. Arthur Bregman, MD, a Psychiatry Specialist in Coral Gables, FL, with over 47 years of expertise treating illnesses including ADHD, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and various other problems reports...

“Nine out of ten Covid patients who see me on a telemedicine call report a lingering sense of what I like to call ‘Covid dysphoria."

He went on to explain, “After a bout with coronavirus a lot of my patients are not just suffering mild depressive symptoms - they have a more complete personality change. They don’t lose memories and become completely different people, but they say things like ‘My friends tell me I’m not like myself’ or ‘I’m usually such a cheerful person! What happened?’

Whatever happened won't last forever thank goodness! Luckily for sufferers of 'Covid dysphoria', there are a few pointers that Dr. Bregman can share to help folks feel less hopeless and more confident that they’ll overcome this bump in the psychological road. It does tend to go away on its own and with relaxation techniques and a bit of talk therapy people can usually get on the other side of it quicker.

Enjoyed talking with Dr. Bregman and I've posted our conversation as a podcast here. If this is something youre struggling with it's highly likley that you would benefit from a personal 'talk therapy' session.

Teletherapy in general is one of the really positive things that came out of the pandemic and it's likely covered by your insurance.

Bregman Medical Group is a team of mental health care professionals with years of experience treating disorders such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse disorder, and many other issues.

Based out of Coral Gables, Bregman Medical Group is currently expanding their online psychiatry services across the nation.

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Women 'Who Put The Work In' Are Making Major Strides Getting Hired In The NFL.

There's a very cool five part series documentary just out about powerful women in the NFL. It's called 'EARNIN' IT. You can find it on the Peacock Channel and NBC aired some of it on game day.

It's all about 'firsts' but thanks to some strong smart capable women who earned the right to be hired - it sure won't be about lasts. This is a good story about the beginning of change in NFL hiring practices.

Why shouldn't women who love the game be able to earn a living in the sport? Women like the first female NFL Referee and two female football coaches who took teams to the Superbowl, and wait till you see the female Tom Brady throw a spiral! Did you even know there was a women's s Pro Football League?

Now you will, thanks to Co-Executive Producers Teri Wagner Fynn and Jane Skinner Goodell. Teri who you'll meet in this podcast of our radio conversation, is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of 'Good Story Content'.

Teri Wagner Flynn loves to tell a good story. She oversees the development slate, sales and creative execution and deals with athletes writers and ‘on camera’ talent. She's had a 'wow' career path as paths go. Founder of Newsweek Films, Chief Content Officer of Apex Entertainment , Independent Producer for Netflix and Pop. Consulting producer on multiple NFL related TV specials. Before that she was 'THE" gal in TV Sports SVP of Programming & Content Development at ABC Sports/ESPN steering and negotiating deals with the NFL, College Football, the PGA, NBA, the British Open, US Figure Skating and on and on. Teri is also a regular guest speaker at the NFL Owners meetings and has been honored by many.

So happy to support her work and happy to champion the ongoing breakthrough of women getting hired in traditionally male roles because hellooooo ...They EARNED IT!

Enjoy our chat and Tune in to all 5 parts of EARNIN’ IT On The Peacock Channel and watch the beginning of big change.

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For the first time in decades employees have the upper hand.

"If you are working, now is the time to politely up your game and make reasonable demands that will provide you a better quality of life. Chances are your company will give in," says Carl Gould business management expert and President of business management firm '7 Stage Advisors'.

People risking asking for the fringe benefits they REALLY want out of their jobs is a huge trend right now, says Carl. Pre-pandemic what you would have heard he said, was that people simply wanted to be heard, wanted meaningful work, and they wanted a stimulating work environment. It was more about the overall work experience.

NOW...employees have the leverage to ask for some of the monetary and non-monetary things they always wanted pre-pandemic, that they never had the guts to ask for.

Because everyone learned over the last year how to work from home and they like it, if they’re not getting that, they’re leaving and saying oh well come and get me, says Carl.

So what are some of the most mentioned perks that people now want? Number ONE by a long stretch and there's no close second said Carl, is flexibility in schedule. Things like, "Can I work from home a couple days a week?" "Can I come in a little bit later so I can drop the kids off at the bus?"

The generation dominating the work space right now want the whole package. It's a work to live mentality, not live to work.

Carl adds, but don't think this generation is lazy. When you hear about this great resignation, a big reason people are leaving jobs is that they don’t want to give up their gig projects which they can’t do if they’re commuting and/or working in an office every day.

What we see says Carl, is people cancelling and leaving their jobs because they don’t want to give up their side hustle. Instead they're looking for a primary job that gives them their flexibility to do their side hustle and make more money That’s the new form of workaholic. In fact, 58 Million people last year said that they did a part time project as a side hustle.

So how are the 'employers' reacting to the requests for "I want!" "I need!" "I must have!" ?

Carl says, the 'employer' has always been open to flexibility which is the part the employee doesn’t understand. Employees are quitting rather than ‘asking’. They need to ask for the fringe benefits they desire.

Employers are impressed says Carl, when somebody comes to them and says I really like your company, here’s what I can contribute and also here are some of the constraints I have in my life . For example; "Because of the pandemic I am taking care of a loved one at home" or "I don’t have a car right now" or, "We have young kids at home."

Carl suggests employees try asking things like "Could I come early these days ?" "Can I work from home on certain days?" "Could tuition reimbursement be built into to my package?"

Employers are much more flexible than people realize and timing is great right now for people who are working or looking for new work to politely up their game and make reasonable demands for quality of life.

Do you do this in writing ? In person?

A little bit of both says Carl. Write down all things you want to bring up so you don't forget in the moment, and first have a conversation with the employer.

Some suggested language from Carl? "I really love what your company is doing and I’d love to come on board but there are a few situations in my life that I’m managing so is there any way I can manage both?

Lay out your thoughts as questions. Can we work this out? Would you consider ? etc etc.

Carl Gould, 7 Stage Advisors, has helped over 5000 growth minded companies who were ready for the white knuckle ride. They offer a full on 2 hour no fee consultation and present 5 ways to grow your company. No obligation. Carl says, we sell nothing until people insist on paying.

Enjoy this insightful chat that hopefully will inspire you to risk asking for the job perks that you really would love, that you never spoke up about before.

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Can CBD Help Calm Hyper or Anxious Dogs? Yessiree says dog lover and CBD entrepreneur Paul Borde' Founder of Primabee CBD, and he says the dogs love it.

Paul's done a lot of research into how CBD affects pets as well as humans. To be clear CBD does not make a dog or a human high . CBD is a non-psychoactive hemp-derived compound, that's safe to consume.

I decided to do a story on CBD for dogs because its the holiday season and there are people I want to visit whose dogs make me nervous LOL. Now that I'm more educated about CBD I figured I'd bring 'them' along a little gift of CBD so we can both relax. Many dogs get a little hyper when company visits. Some dogs get a lot hyper and not just when people visit . Some like humans, have anxiety all the time and CBD has been found to be incredibly helpful to calm them. CBD might be helpful for keeping your dog calm on a plane while traveling or when traveling long distance by car.

Paul says, almost all the articles about CBD on the internet talk about the 'human endocannabinoid system' and how it plays a role in many bodily functions. Dogs have it too and CBD will similarly affect your dogs as it affects you – by binding to endocannabinoid receptors in their body. The deficiencies we all have its kind of filling that void. The only difference is the 'dosing' and that depends on the size of the dog.

In short, here are a few symptoms that point to your dog's anxiety and hyper activeness:

• Aggressive behavior
• Lack of energy or too much energy
• Inability to relax
• Depression
• Lack of Interest in their favorite activities
• Not responding to their name
• Abnormal behavior such as running around the room or spinning in circles
• Panting
• Excessive barking
• Urinating or defecating in the house

Paul's two Jack Russell Terriers weigh about 15 pounds. He says his wife cuts a CBD treat in half and gives it to them at bedtime. Paul gives them a touch more when friends are coming over to visit, adding that the CBD dog Chews are 100% safe and a dog can’t overdose.

CBD is a big term, says Paul, and the market is crowded with lots of products out there not up to par on standards. Getting a high-quality product requires more effort than one can imagine. Although CBD is safe for your dog, a mislabeled CBD product can do more harm than good.

When shopping for for your pets CBD always make sure you buy top-quality hemp-derived CBD from a reputable brand that proves the quality through third-party labs test results like Primabee. Look for the 'certificate of analysis' on the CBD website you're purchasing from. Its critical and says that the products have been independently tested that what you’re being sold is absolutely what you’re getting.

Paul Borde' and Primabee CBD love their four-legged family members, so they've invested a ton of energy and time into learning how the famous hemp-derived compound can affect dogs. Everything you need to know is on their website here.

Enjoy the great educational conversation about CBD and how it might help your dog.

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Love Innovation and Love People Who Risk Change. The Historic Otesaga Resort In Cooperstown N.Y. going strong now for 112 years, decided to try something new this year! Winter!

Located in what’s been called "Americas Most Perfect Village", the historic Otesaga known for summer fun is now staying open for the Winter. The place shouts 'winter wonderland' with its picturesque twinkling holiday lights, festive decor and often a blanket of snow during the winter months. A nice idea to consider for the most wonderful time of the year without breaking the bank since their winter rates are 40% off.

Do you know they have an outside ‘Fire Bar'? It's been the screen shot on my iPhone since the last time my boyfriend Dave and I were there. (See the screenshot I just snapped while typing this.)

I fell in love with the Otesaga in Cooperstown when we went to The Baseball Hall of Fame a few years ago. I always wanted to go back and stay there so this week we did. I was craving a safe cozy short road trip and this sure did the trick.

Cooperstown is like a snow globe town, and while there this week I saw my first snow of the season. The Otesaga which has typically known for its warm weather outdoor activities, fabulous grounds, outdoor pool and magical golf course on the lake is now also a great cozy place to check in and chill out this time of year. Think cozy lobby fireplace; beautiful rooms with a Keurig machine; warm bubble baths in a big clean tub (I took 4); massages in the Hawkeye Spa, and a crazy delicious gigantic breakfast buffet. (Why I feel compelled to try every single thing at a buffet I'll never know.)

Friendly cocktails, bartenders and friendly people in the Hawkeye Bar & Restaurant and delicious dining. (Loved that the chef indulged my ridiculous request for two different sauces because I couldn't decide) The place is perfect for any reason, business or pleasure and especially a romantic getaway.

We arrived at night so I didn't see the view from our room till I opened my eyes in the morning and saw the beauty of Otsego Lake out my room window. Wow.

I invited Tjibbe Lambers (pronounced Chib-Ba) originally from the Netherlands, now a Cooperstown resident and also the Dir. of Mkt for The Otesaga to join me. He shares some of the ‘firsts’ they're offering this winter like ‘The Home For The Holidays Special’ and ‘The Holiday Lantern Tour’ & their 'Arthur Family Getaway' Package ( think beloved series of children's books). He also talks about all the great Baseball legends The Otesaga has hosted over the years and the incredible display of wine glasses engraved with the name of each Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee showcased in their hallways. The ones with the white roses I observed were to honor those who had passed. The Otesaga also honors the Cooperstown areas' Indian Heritage and Farmers Museum.

The town of Cooperstown is a little quiet in Winter but there are always interesting people who are drawn there all year long. We met a great fun gal who stays there regularly for business in the Hawkeye Bar. Gina from Texas! You'll meet her in the podcast. A fun working mom of 15 year old triplets (imagine?) She's a riot and a top level consultant in the healthcare industry. I chose her to be my featured ‘Random Run In’ of the trip”.

I love Random Runs and talking to interesting strangers. That's a favorite sport of mine that had to be tabled due to the pandemic. Now that I’m 'triple vaxed' as I like to say - I’m feeling more confident about getting back to doing it. I'm on a 'stranger talking' comeback tour now .

In Cooperstown I chatted with Gina mentioned above as well as her smart gal pal boss who sadly lost a child and wrote a book in his honor who I'll invite on a future show. I enjoyed a chat with a famous Rabbi & his wife, a cool guy with a pony tail working to bring technology to rural communities, and a terrific fun younger couple Dave and I met at Cooley’s Stone House Tavern in town. While there, the young fella loved Dave’s music choices on the jukebox so much he sent us over a drink for his good taste! LOL. We joined them and connected over music and his gal pals love of talk radio. I also loved talking to all the different people who live and work in Cooperstown year round. Interesting to note there are many happy 'couples' who live there and work together at The Otesaga all year.

Cooperstown if you've never been there is located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains and is a convenient drive from several Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern cities including Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, New York, and Boston.

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Real Estate Mogul Sam Liebman Does Not Want To Be The Richest Guy In The Cemetery. The pandemic made him 're-assess' his purpose going forward and he decided to shift his attention to teaching others how to be successful in real estate... in a very unconventional way. The street way. The same way he went from being a street kid to a real estate mogul.

The pandemic led Sam back to finishing the book he’s been wanting to finish for a long time. He was able to finish it during all that time spent at home, using all the notes he’d written down on little pieces of paper over the years.

His upcoming book HARVARD CAN’T TEACH WHAT YOU LEARN FROM THE STREETS is no ordinary real estate investment guide. It's a 'no holds barred deep dive' into becoming a real estate mogul yourself. The kind of MBA that no school teaches. A fast track guide for anyone serious about pursuing commercial real estate success. Sam truly is paving the way for new investors to transform their lives through the power of multifamily real estate.

His raw experience of his climb from nothing to notoriety is worth the listen for anyone who wants the down and dirty inside scoop on how to create 'lasting wealth' through real estate.

Let's just say if you listen to what he's telling you even the greenest investor can become a seasoned pro. Flipping houses, holding a real estate license or owning a home says Sam, is only the beginning of what could be a long and transformative journey to your own wealth through real estate.

Sam Liebman's Background? He's a real estate investment icon with over 35 years of experience in finance, property management, acquisition, and development. For the past 12 years, he's been the Fund Manager for the Rolling Cash Opportunity Fund LLC. Under Sam’s leadership, this fund alone owns substantial interests in twenty properties with an aggregate market value that has grown to over $120,000,000 after starting with only $9,000,000 in capital.

Sam has owned substantial interests over the years in over 70 properties throughout the Tri-State area of New York and also in Texas. He is the founder and chief executive officer of WealthWay Equity Group LLC a privately held real estate investment company focused on creating and managing his large real estate portfolio.

The book comes out January 11, 2022.

You can pre-order HARVARD CAN’T TEACH WHAT YOU LEARN FROM THE STREETS on Amazon.

Enjoy our conversation.

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Joy is coming for everybody in 2022 if Susan Miller is right!

A World Famous Astrologer, Susan Miller was clear she wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true. Her legendary "Year Ahead 2022" Calendar is out! And we did a quick run through of what 2022 looks like for each of you on the air, and I've summed up her predictions for by 'sign' below.

After the last 2 years I'm sure you're thinking who could possibly know what's coming next? But Susan says she Loves 2022! She did not even bother writing the year ahead for 2021 because she knew it would be the twin of 2020.

2022 she says is just so nice for everybody because April 12th Jupiter and Neptune are meeting in Pisces which happens every 13 years. Seems when those 2 big planets meet in conjunction it signals the beginning of a cycle. Not just for a day... it's a portal that opens. (Sounds Intense eh?)

Expect an outpouring of joy and celebration from all the artists all over the world she said, and that includes chefs, fashion, literature, and music. (I’m feeling a fringe outfit coming on)

We’re going to have a new template for a new decade ahead! Expect an uplifting influence! Sudden good news! And a sudden aspect of hope and joy. A sudden break! The first part of the year will be the most glorious.

I've always loved Susan. I've followed her forever and we've had some warm on air chats before about how the heck she's managed to keep pouring out her AstrologyZone®, monthly forecasts for 26 years!

Astrology Zone is the most visited astrology/ horoscope site globally and Susan continues to write every word one of those 40,000 words a month to this day in her warm, engaging, and optimistic style. To date, there are 11 million unique visitors yearly to the site with 120 million page views a year. Twitter @astrologyzone has 432,000 followers.

An amazing feat for a gal who started it all when she was young because she was bed ridden with a birth defect. Thankfully she's doing great these days in spite of a few medical challenges here and there.

Her Secret Sauce? She doesn’t sleep a lot.

Susan Miller shared ‘mini’ summaries of The Year Ahead 2022 For all 12 signs. GOODIES FOR EVERYONE at different times of the year! Much more in her Legendary ‘Year Ahead’ on her site.

ARIES: You are going to have the best year of your life. Beginning in mid May all the way to October and then again in 2023 January all thru Mid May again. Get your wish list ready. You’re going to have lucky breaks. This is fabulous for meeting the one to fall in love with. If your single that person is likely to come into your life after around Mothers Day Halloween

TAURUS: You had a big career year this year. Next year it's about making new friends and expanding your circle around you . People love you and you’re going to meet a lot of new people and they will be big big supporters. If you're on social media you’ll see your followers tick up up up.

GEMINI: You have won the career jackpot. This will be one of the most important landmark years of your life for getting ahead in your career. You need to be ready by the end of December 2021 and hit the ground running. March will be the month you’re likely to hit something very big. A big assignment, a job promotion or a new job. Do not settle for anything less than the best.

CANCER: Luck from foreign people foreign places. You may take an overseas trip. Aware you’ve been wary of traveling from the pandemic, but this year you’ll be able to go somewhere where you’ll need a passport and yes Canada and Mexico do qualify. You may go back to graduate school. Or if you love writing or broadcasting you get your break. This is a very special year when you see things in their totality rather than narrowly. You see possibilities you never saw before so its a very exciting year.

LEO: You are going to make money on your investments FINALLY they’re going to pay off. If you don’t have a financial advisor you should find one. Pick some stocks invest in blue chips. This is the year when you’re really going to make money. Also commissions if you’re in sales, or you may get royalties from books or licensing fees. You’re going to need a truck to load up all the money.

VIRGO: Marriage is your lucky area ! If you’ve been dating forever and he never asks or she never asks or says she doesn’t want o get married - suddenly that changes. This also refers to business partnerships and doing collaborating, especially a physical business partnership. Joining forces is excellent for you.

LIBRA: You had a romantic fun year and this coming year is going to be about getting lots and lots of assignments. If you’re self employed customers will be beating their way to your door and your phone will be ringing off the hook. If you work for others it means that you get the plum assignments in your department and you’re working on new material . Things that you like and that you can contribute some of your own creativity to .And you’ll be needed which means you’ll probably make good money .

SCORPIO: You won the love aspects. This is the year to fall in love. You’re one of the real outstanding signs for romance. If you’re having trouble having a baby go see a fertility specialist . You could have real help with that and have the baby you want if thats been on your list. It looks like parents will help too as they want a Grandchild.

SAGITTARIUS: Real estate excellence ! If you need to move, or fix up your kitchen, or buy some new furniture all the luck flows through your home. You should have a nice little home office even if it’s in the corner of another room because the money flows through home. Do some entertaining at home. Have the boss over for dinner if you’re a good cook. Everything stems from home and real estate. You’re going to be very lucky with huge family support. Your family loves you and will help you with your goals maybe to buy your first apartment or house.

CAPRICORN: You made money 2021 next year is all about learning to communicate in sophisticated ways .Maybe you want to start a podcast or a website or maybe write an app with a team. You can find teams to help you. This is the year that communication is key. If you have book in you or a screen play, get serious about it. Start writing, go to a creative writing class. This is a good year to start writing or speaking. You have some kind of expertise in you share it with the world.

AQUARIUS: You have the same aspects as Leo only your money comes in a different form. You’ll get the big money leap in salary vs Leo in commissions investments or venture capital. You make it by earning it the old fashioned way but get paid sooo well. Pay attention as last year you planted the seeds and you and now all those seeds come up in your garden and you’re going to have a big harvest.

PISCES: What a great year ahead for you! Especially from January to Mid May then again at end of the year from November and December. Anything you didn’t get at the front part of the year you’ll get at the end of the year!

Enjoy our lively conversation.

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I love a woman who's a force to be reckoned with!

Dr. Marian Gryzlo is one of those women. Always a force for children in need, she's currently on the Board of Grace Children’s Foundation currently scaling its model of connecting injured and critically ill children to pro bono medical care and donated non-clinical services around the world. They're working with partners to build an AI-enabled technology solution that will instantly match a child in medical emergency to a database of participating medical providers, speciality hospitals, medical transportation and temporary housing, GCF is accelerating access and saving children's lives.

Marian chairs the foundations' Strategic Partnerships Committee. Its mission is to accelerate access to pediatric healthcare resources for children in need globally. In her role there Marian works with thought leaders across the healthcare and technology industries, including those from Microsoft, WebMD and NYC Health Hospitals.

Marian Gryzlo's more than 30 years’ experience includes advising executive leaders, nonprofit board members and business owners in industries ranging from consumer products to cancer research. In her many roles, she has developed business, nonprofit and educational alliances, launched foundations, advised on granting millions to causes, and helped nonprofits raise substantial resources to achieve long-term goals.

One LinkedIn recommendation of Marian Gryzlo read: “She has a heart so big, a knowledge so vast, a personality so endearing and creativity so encompassing that she is a force to be reckoned with".

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It’s Been Said You Don't Know Until You Know. 

We all have different experiences in life and we all learn lessons along the way. It's our duty to pass along those lessons to others.

In an ongoing series, Paraco Gas Corporation CEO Joe Armentano  a second generation family business owner, is sharing some sage l lessons in business and life he's learned over the last 40 years after taking over the family business from his Dad.

In his upcoming book ‘A Helluva Ride’, which was 14 years in the making, Joe talks about his fathers entrepreneurial journey, what he learned from him, and what he's learned since taking over the reins of the family business which he’s helped grow to over 400 employees and over 150 Million in annual sales.

Joe Armentanos' Top Ten Life Lessons are in his upcoming book but we do a quick sneak peak run through the whole list in our warm conversation here. 

Which of the Top Ten is THE most valuable lesson Joe has learned about life along his journey?

"Time Is The Most Important Asset We Have And Once Gone You Cannot Get It Back” - Joe Armentano

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If you became a Mom for the first time after 35, or again after age 35, there are likely some 'Mommy' dynamics going on that are a little 'different'. There are situations that are unique to those who became mothers later in life, like how the heck do you 'blend in' at school with the younger Moms without feeling awkward? Just ask Robin Gorman Newman. She needed those answers when she became a mother in her 40’s to two adopted sons and as a result became the Founder of MotherhoodLater.com, now an International Organization. Robin shared that though she was never hung up on age, she did suddenly feel different when she became a late in life mother. Mostly because she didn't have peers. Even though late in life motherhood is common these days, Robin says, you still don't seem to stumble upon fellow older moms at the playground. Older moms are also often more conscious of being 'the older Mom' at school events etc. she says, and though older Moms are much more common, she adds they still have to deal with judgement from others. "What the heck do you say to a person who has the nerve to ask you if you're the Mom or the Grandmom?" Robin created MotherhoodLater.com so that older Moms could make connections with each other, feel good about themselves and their age, and know they're not alone. The site also features articles about inspiring later in life Moms. Robin Gorman Newman is a powerhouse force in life, in love and on Broadway. She's a Tony Nominated Producer (The Great Comet) plus a Strategic Marketer/Connector/Love Coach/Author. Listen To Our Warm Fun Chat.

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Hair Ye! Hair Ye! Paul Mitchell Hair Schools Are A Winner When It Comes To Training and FUN-Raising! Giving them a huge shout out! Joining me for a fun conversation is Winn Claybaugh, the Dean & Co-Founder of Paul Mitchell Schools & the author of "Be Nice or Else". Check out the number on the check below from their recent celebrity supported event. Talk about nice! Winn ironically has no hair and was never a hairdresser, did not go to college and barely finished high school. His passion drove him to the top and he's extremely proud of his schools and students and passionate too about giving back and making a difference. Every year students and staff from 100+ Paul Mitchell Hair & Cosmetology schools around the country raise money and awareness for selected charities. Raising $5-$10 dollars at a time from cut-a-thons, hair shows and car washes they've raised over $23 Million over the years! What an accomplishment! Coming from a long line of hairdressers - I’m always interested in the hair industry. My Grandma, Aunts, Mom, were all in it and my sister in law, and daughter are in it now. (How lucky am I to have 'in-house' beauty whisperers?) Besides always being a fan of Paul Mitchell hair products - I’m so impressed with what I’ve been seeing them do with Paul Mitchell Schools for the greater good. School enrollment is up too because many decided as a result of the pandemic, to pursue their untapped passion in this area. That's great news for salons everywhere who like many other businesses post-pandemic, are understaffed. In addition to the above, in honor of National Ovarian and Breast Cancer Awareness month, Paul Mitchell & the nationwide network of Paul Mitchell Schools once again partnered with Bright Pink a non-profit that focuses on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancers in women. I cannot tell you how important this is! I should know! I am only here typing this because of early detection of both. I am a very grateful ovarian and breast cancer survivor. And though I enjoyed the unique freedom of having no hair for awhile like Winn ...I'm grateful to have my hair back these days to style with Paul Mitchell products.

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I started following a fabulous non-profit called “Humor Beats Cancer” on Instagram. I had a sense from what I was reading there that the Editor, Olivia from Chicago and I were of the same ‘spirit”. I was right.

Olivia and I are a few decades apart but exactly on the same page when it comes to understanding how important humor and attitude are to getting through cancer.

To be able tot look on the bright side during dark times makes a difference in the experience of battling cancer a little easier.

Olivia and I are both breast cancer survivors. I love that she’s made it her mission to bring joy and humor to cancer patients, survivors and caregivers around the world. It sure helps everyone feel less alone.

I decided I had to connect with her and invited her to join me on my radio show in the NY Tri-State area to talk about the power of this.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Olivia and I are both well aware of the importance of finding breast cancer early! Both grateful survivors, we each found our own ‘lumps’. It’s SO important to check your breasts regularly and have regular mammograms! Olivia found her breast cancer at age 36.

Nothing funny about that. Nor is there anything funny about the challenging cancer treatments regardless of the kind of cancer. But take it from two gals and many others who know…humor has an amazing effect on your immune system.

Olivia started noticing dark humor things happening when she was going through her treatments. She wondered if she was the only one, until others also began sharing their funny stories from all over the world.

Using humor as a coping tool takes your mind off some things and connects you with others who are maybe crying and laughing at same time. In this case 'you wouldn't know until you know' and may you never have to – but if you find yourself going through it or know someone who is…be sure to connect with Humor Beats Cancer.

It’s more about the ridiculous and awkward moments and situations that provide some good belly laughs. Those belly laughs stoke the immune system and help get cancer patients and their caregivers through. It’s very therapeutic.

Check out Humor Beats Cancer. They can send care packages and there's even a grant program to help pay medical bills for cancer treatments. Fabulous!

Thank you Olivia for doing this! You Rock!

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There are 5.5 Million 'Family Businesses' in America That Employ About 98 Million People.

Family Business is a very tricky dynamic says Joe Armentano, CEO of Paraco Gas Corporation, one of the most highly recognizable brands in the propane industry. Joe is about to release his first book, detailing the incredible entrepreneurial journey of Paraco Gas that started with his Dad Pat back in 1968 in Mt Vernon, N.Y.

“A Helluva Ride" includes the inside stories of his family-owned and operated company which he has overseen over the last 40 years and shares some important lessons learned in business and in life.

With more than 425 employees, 28 locations, and $150 million in annual revenue, Paraco is the largest independent propane marketer in the Northeast. Over the last 40 years, Joe has overseen Paraco’s tremendous growth, acquiring 53 companies primarily independent propane companies and family businesses. Today, Paraco services over 110,000 residential and commercial customers. Through its barbecue exchange program, Paraco’s cylinders are found in the homes of over one million consumers.

In our candid and warm conversation Joe Armentano and I discuss growing up in family business, passing the torch to the next generation and about employees who work for family businesses. We also discuss candidly the often painful internal struggles of family business dynamics, like the hard decision about 'who' of the family members should be next in charge to run with that business.

In this podcast of our entire live radio show we hit on topics like 'are you born an entrepreneur or do you become one?' (hmmm), and we run through Joe's 'Top Ten Family Business Lessons'. A very 'real' been there, done that, list - that will surely benefit anyone involved in a 'Family Business.'

By the way, Joe Armentano doesn’t consider himself an entrepreneur because he didn’t start the business from scratch, his father did. More of a Professional CEO/ Manager than entrepreneur, Joe admits he didn't originally intend to go into the family business. He'd made a commitment to self development and went off to NY's Fordham University (with the intent to be a lawyer) then to NY's Iona College for an MBA in Finance when he was 30.

Joe feels it's critical for family business members to get work experience outside the company.

His own job is to make himself 'replaceable' knowing if something should happen to him the business could and would carry on.

Enjoy our conversation.

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It's An Official Dating Trend: More Older Women Are Dating Younger Men

Julie Spira America’s Top Online Dating Expert & Digital Matchmaker says yes it's a trend and it's because women have more independence and economic stability these days and because younger men like an older woman's confidence. 'Confidence' Julie says, is sexy at any age.

I love Julie Spira who I met back in college. When I saw she joined the TODAY show on this subject the other day I invited her to join me to talk more about what's going on in the 2021 dating world.

Julie was involved in the TODAY show segment with special anchor Maria Shriver and three couples with different age gaps talking about inter-age relationships. Julie knows this stuff better than anyone. She's an award-winning dating coach, internationally-known bestselling author and the go-to person in the media for online dating and mobile dating advice. Based in LA she has clients from NY to San Francisco and from London to Sydney. With over two decades of experience, she coaches singles from college-age to the large population of baby-boomers who are looking for a first or second chance at love. Many celebrities too!

Through a combination of online dating profiles, mobile dating apps, email etiquette, and social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, Julie helps singles shorten their search to find their dream dates.

Oh and Julie said, "October is 'cuffing season"! (Who knew?) A time when even the most commitment phobic men decide they want to be in a committed relationship. She added, this seasons 'cuffing season' is gonna be off the charts because people are looking for meaningful connections after Covid to combat the loneliness they've all felt.

During Covid, online dating habits changed and the zip code and age range restrictions got tossed out the window, and she says there will be more of that moving forward. "People are working from home and people will move for love", and Julie knows a lot of guys who have moved across the world and across the country for women they love. She says, if you’re online dating don't get hung up on someone having to live in the same county or the right side of the freeway.

86% of singles Julie polled during Covid said ‘finding a meaningful connection’ was the most important thing, as compared to let's get back to hooking up like we used which only accounted for 3% of respondents.

Julie shared that the majority of people are really longing for that meaningful connection and a committed relationship and with the holidays around the corner you’re gonna see a lot of activity during 'cuffing season'.

Her advice for people getting back in the dating game right now?

-Cast a much wider net. If somebody writes to you and they’re far, so what, nobody stays in the same home forever

-Write a new profile whatever you wrote before is old news. Start from scratch get great new photos and post 6-8 photos. You’re only as good as your worst photo she says and don’t over filter them.

-Keep your profile short and brief. And no more playing the waiting game! If someone writes you write back same day, within the same hour or within the next 4 hour window.

-If you like someone when you meet them and it's mutual make a next date right then and there before you leave.

-Don’t think when you meet it's a 'connection'? Don't initiate a next message because you don’t want to send a rejection letter. But if the other person connects you should politely respond that you didn't feel the connection needed for the long term relationship you're seeking.

-And always remember… Hearts are fragile.

If you're in the dating pool or involved in online dating you'll enjoy listening to what Julie Spira has to say about it all in our warm conversation here.

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Getting Through Profound Loss Is Not Simple As Many Of You Reading This Likely Know.

Susan Sall Warner's son died by suicide 3 years ago and her husband unexpectedly died from cancer 6 months later. (Correction from the '3' months mentioned in the podcast conversation) Very tough losses to move on from.

Susan graciously agreed to talk with me about the often taboo subject of suicide, about what one is supposed to say to a mother who's endured such a tragedy, about how she endured the double whammy of the unexpected loss of her husband soon after, and how a 'widow -woman- human' who's suffering such pain moves on.

Susan says she lives her life by 'going forward, but not moving beyond'.

Susan started writing about it all and talking about it. About the depth of loneliness, the horrible pain, the empty heart and then the mindset to move forward and rediscover, reinvent and enjoy life to the fullest.

Her message began to resonate with others who had also suffered the loss of a spouse, a child, a parent, a sibling and she felt she was really making an impact and helping others heal with her message... "That with loss - life doesn’t have to end, and it does not need to DEFINE them."

Susan is now helping others who've suffered profound loss move forward and has become both a motivational speaker and writer on the subject. She's also continuing to do her work as independent College Counselor.

Susan joined me for a heartfelt conversation on suicide, loss, a mothers pain, a widows pain and more as we closed out September which is Suicide Prevention Month.

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What Age is Old? Hmmm I'm 'Delusionally Young' So I Don't Really Know How To Answer. What I do know, is people nowadays don’t want to age the way their parents or grandparents did. For the 70 Million Baby Boomers 55+ in U.S. 'old age' always seems to start 'tomorrow.'

Award Winning NY Times Contributor Steven Petrow agrees this generation does not want to age the way previous generations did and neither does he, so he wrote a whole new blueprint.

To find out if you're old (lol) and get some great inspiration for your own 'new old age' you should check out Steven's terrific new book called  'Stupid Things I Won't Do When I Get Old' inspired by watching his own parents getting older.

Getting older is a privilege Steven reminds us, and he reveals how to do it with grace, wisdom, humor and hope. 

PS On the subject of age...make a note. If you call me 'Miss' vs M'aam you'll always get a bigger tip. Wink.

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Janeshia Adams-Ginyard is very cool and very talented. A 'stunt woman extraordinaire' you've probably seen her perform her incredible stunt work in movies like Avengers, Black Panther, True Blood and her recent Emmy nominated work in Lovecraft Country!

Janeshia's currently working on the set of her latest project, a new untitled Marvel Production, but she stopped by to chat right before the Emmy Awards. This year for the very first time the Academy created an Emmy Award for OUTSTANDING STUNT PERFORMANCE. And although there were other women nominated as part of a stunt team, Janeshia Adams-Ginyard was the only woman to receive an EMMY nomination as an individual, in a field that has been traditionally dominated by men. Go Janeshia!

Janeshia's wardrobe closet sure must have a load of range. I doubt you'd suspect what she did for a living if you ran into her wearing the outfit in the first photo which looks like she just came from Church. No doubt you'd have a better clue if you ran into her in the supermarket wearing that warrior outfit which quite frankly I wish I could borrow for the weekend. Would sure take my 'weekend sporty' look to a whole new level.

Speaking of sporty, Janeshia said all she wanted to do was sports since she was 9 year old, and shared as life went on it was 'sports' that got her through everything. Her stunt work is an amazing extension of her love of sport and surely a unique way to utilize her athletic abilities.

Is Janeshia Adams-Ginyard fearless? "I'm a trained a professional not a daredevil" she said. Adding that if she feels any fear or resistance she will just say no to a stunt.

What's the craziest thing she's done as a stunt woman? Well she's been set on fire three times. And then there was that 'falling over the railing backwards down the stairs' fall that was pretty scary she said.

Wow scary stuff for sure falling over a railing backwards down the stairs. Actually sounded to me as she was saying it like a potential senior citizen injury. So I was thinking...wouldn't Janeshia be the perfect gal to teach seniors how to fall properly? She sure would be! She actually loved the idea and agreed seniors could prevent a lot of broken bones by learning how to fall the right way.

I assume she'll get right on that idea after her next Marvel Movie. LOL

Great gal. You'll enjoy our conversation.

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My gal pal Lisa who lives far from me had missed me during Covid. She texted me to come join her for some networking fun at a place called Pinstripes in Norwalk, CT. Her gal pal Sherry who I love, had taken over the Director Of Sales position there.

I'd never heard of Pinstripes. Sounded to me like it might be a baseball joint or sports venue. I love my pal Lisa and she told me to bring my other half Dave, and Dave and I said what the heck and went for a change of pace. I'm so glad we did. We had so much fun and were so impressed with the place (not a baseball joint) I thought some of you might want to check it out.

'Pinstripes' Bocce Bowling and Bistro entertainment venues started in Chicago and they're expanding around the country. They're all about best in class food and experiential entertainment. Norwalk, CT is their 13th location. 5 more locations are opening in N.J. and Florida. Founder and CEO Dale Schwartz was just quoted in Forbes as saying the plan is open 100 more over the next 10-15 years.

The Pinstripes we went to was up on the rooftop of the brand new Norwalk, CT mall I'd heard so much about but never seen. Needless to say Malls are now betting on 'experiences' more than shows to draw a crowd.

Whoever decorated Pinstripes needs to come to my house and decorate for me. Such a cool vibe. 'Pinstripes' in this case refers to the kind you might see in 'classy Italian suits'. So it's no surprise the place is classy and the Italian American food is made from scratch. Great food and wine and drinks, but family friendly too. Love the choice of high and low tables and comfortable bars to dine at. You can also be served at the bowling lanes while sitting in comfortable leather couches. And there are 3 cool Bocce courts inside and one outside and the outdoor area also has a fire pit.

Let's talk about Bowling.

I love it. I was once a kick ass bowler but it's been 8 years since I bowled, mostly because the last time I did I snapped a body part. My then date (Dave) had to lend me his late mothers cane still in his trunk to get me out of the alley. I miss bowling and heard my own advice in my head, “Risk It or Regret It!" so I stirred up some good commotion by being first to say let's bowl! Before you knew it everybody had bowling shoes on whether they were good or not, and we all had a ball. Bowling is great for camaraderie. Pinstripes encourages local businesses to use the place for that purpose. The Norwalk location has 23 luxury lanes with full service so that's a nice way to business bond.

Now let's talk Bocce.

Did you know Bocce is the 3rd most participated sport in the world? Way back my typically low key Italian Grandma Garfield surprised everybody when she made the local newspapers as a contender for the Annual Sambuca Romana Bocce Tournament. I found the ripped clipping. (1981I think) Grandma didn't play any sports so we had no idea she was a Bocce babe. That's the thing about Bocce. Anybody of any age or ability can play it, and anybody can be good at it. It’s a marquee sport in the Special Olympics. Bocce as a Special Olympics sport provides social contact.

Don't’ know how to play bocce? No problem. Pinstripes puts out instructions and the staff will also explain how to play. The balls by the way are light, not heavy like bowling balls.

Pinstripes In Norwalk, CT is a 27,000 square foot full service Italian American bistro restaurant with lots of space for the current #1 participation sport in the world …social distancing.

They do weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, bar mitvahs and catering and they have a roof top patio. The bowling lanes can be semi private or private for any occasion including corporate team building.

You'd think from this conversation with Pinstripes Sherry Wyatt that I hadn't been anywhere exciting in a year. I loved the fun of re-connecting with my friend and loved the whole fun experience and wanted to share it.

“People are missing not just dining but reconnecting with friends and family,” Dale Schwartz Founder and CEO of Pinstripes (FORBES)

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Soon You'll See This Billboard In New Jersey. They're About To Re-Name Their Garden State Parkway Rest Stops After Home Town Celebs!

You're encouraged to stop by and besides reaching for a cool drink, maybe pick up some life inspiration shared by these Jersey icons as to how to reach for your own stars.

Steve Edwards is President of The New Jersey Hall of Fame which is overseeing the project. He joins me for a fun conversation to share the back story, talk about the home town celebs getting the honor and share all the cool things each rest stop will soon feature. Also how and when they're going to roll out this re-name change game.

Millions travel the Garden State Parkway including me, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who won't miss pulling into a rest stop called 'Cheesequake' which is truly a brain stinging taste bud confusing name. Calling it the 'Jon Bon Jovi' service area will leave no doubt.

All nine celebs being honored with their own service areas in NJ are members of the New Jersey Hall of Fame! Here's a list of the rest stops and the names they're about to be changed to.

• Montvale: James Gandolfini Service Area
• Brookdale North: Larry Doby Service Area
• Brookdale South: Connie Chung Service Area
• Vauxhall: Whitney Houston Service Area
• Cheesequake: Jon Bon Jovi Service Area
• Monmouth: Judy Blume Service Area
• Forked River: Celia Cruz Service Area
• Atlantic: Frank Sinatra Service Area
• Ocean View: Toni Morrison Service Area

I love upbeat fun stories like this. And I like the point of it.

“We encourage patrons in each service area to identify with one of our inductees and take to heart the advice our inductees provide on how to reach the pinnacle of their respective professions,” said Steve Edwards, President of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. “ The rest is up to you!”

BTW: The New Jersey Turnpike Authority Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on renaming the nine service areas in honor of notable New Jerseyans.

(Unanimous anything in 2021 is like wow impressive)

PS: There will be no change to the following names of the service areas on the NJ Turnpike. Grover Cleveland, Thomas Edison, Alexander Hamilton, Vince Lombardi, Molly Pitcher, Richard Stockton, Walt Whitman.

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Barbie Dolls Are Now Honoring Front Line Workers!

Mattel, Inc. just announced that Barbie® will donate $5 for the sale of every eligible Barbie doctor, nurse and paramedic doll sold at Target during August to the First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF), benefiting the children of first responders.

These special Barbie dolls give children the opportunity to role-play with everyday heroes who show up for us in emergencies 365 days a year.

LOVE THIS! Go Barbie

Jillian Crane, President of First Responders Children's foundation joined me for a great conversation that makes me love Barbie more now than I did as a kid.

As a kid I liked her hair, her playhouse and Ken better than her, because quite frankly her swanky lanky physique just made my chubby one feel inept. But times have changed and so has Barbie. With over 200 careers, Barbie continues to celebrate role models, as every child imagines that they can be anything, but actually seeing that they can, and hearing the stories of others, makes all the difference.

Jillian Crane said , “Mattel and Barbie showed up for First Responders Children's Foundation at the beginning of the pandemic. With their generous donations, we gave some joy to children across the country during a very difficult and scary time. With Mattel's financial support, we bought thousands of hotel room nights with food stipends for first responders on the frontlines." Very Cool.

Jillian added, "This exciting new partnership with Mattel, Barbie and Target will support our Power of Play Program which focuses on the social, emotional and behavioral well-being of children.

BTW: This is a continuation of Mattel’s #ThankYouHeroes signature program, launched last year as part of the company’s broader “Play it Forward” platform, focused on leveraging Mattel’s iconic brands to give back to communities in times of need.

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Would You Go On a Spaceflight? Could Your Body Take It?