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151 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: JOAN WALLACE-BENJAMIN, PhD

There is a Congolese saying that a single bracelet does not jingle. Everyone in your family are the bracelets that help you jingle. When you have that jingle, you are able to lead more fully because you have all of the people you love and care about, right there, on your arm. - Joan Wallace-Benjamin

 

Welcome to the story of a woman whose awards and accomplishments are simply too vast to list here. A self-described“mission girl” Joan Wallace-Benjamin has spent 37 years focused on creating better outcomes for underserved children and families.  A graduate of Wellesley College, she received her Ph.D from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University.  A native of New York City, Joan learned a lot about love of community and social responsibility from her loving parents.   With leadership roles at ABCD Head Start, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, as temporary Chief of Staff for former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and as the President and CEO of the Home For Little Wanderers, Joan is a role model for anyone who aspires to lead with purpose and passion. Her new book is called Leading A Life In Balance and includes her sage advice as a working mom. Says Joan:  I think leaders lead more fully when they take as their first priority their own children and families.  For the inspiring story of a stellar human being whose life has been well lived, just hit that download button.   #workingmom #leadership #storybehindhersuccess

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150 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: AMY GOOBER

Women, at some point along the way, forget or need to be reminded, that they are in control of their own lives. The philosophy is: put yourself on your to-do list. - Amy Goober

 

This is a story about reinvention. Amy Goober is living proof that we all have chapters in our lives and the treasure lies in what we learn from them.  In her first job, straight out of college, Amy worked for a major advertising agency in Boston where she got her foot in the door as a secretary, spending four years working her way up to Account Executive.  It was there that she shared her love of making cakes and was soon asked to make elaborate cakes for the agency’s high end clients.   Before you know it, Amy had a plan to own her own bakery called The Icing On The Cake in nearby Newton, MA. With no business experience, she launched her tiny hole in the wall shop and grew the bakery to legendary status with two parts grit and one part chutzpah.  Her decision to sell the bakery and stay home to raise her three children for the next twenty years is an ode to mother-love and her new chapters as a certified health coach, speaker, author and founder of Drive Your Life are proof that Amy is living her life to the fullest.  In this chapter of her ever-evolving life, Amy’s goal is to reach as many women as she can with the message that:  “the things we regret are the things we don’t do.  Perfect is the enemy of done.  Just get out there, and do it.”  #reinvention #driveyourlife #storybehindhersuccess

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149 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: STEPHANIE MONIUK

I have a vision of what I want my life to look like and I’m gonna keep working towards it til I get where I want to go. - Stephanie Moniuk

Imagine living in chronic back pain for 20 years and then, hearing your doctor tell you that surgery is not an option for your degenerative disc disease, herniations, spinal stenosis and arthritis. Welcome to the life of Stephanie Moniuk.  In this interview, the founder of Knockout Wellness describes how hearing that news forced her to do her own research into the science of pain and the power of the mind-body connection.  Turns out, the childhood trauma she had buried deep in her psyche was connected to her back pain and that in many cases, physical pain is a response to our unconscious emotions.   A lifelong fan of boxing, she took a leap of faith and stepped into a training gym.  Stephanie’s journey from pain and misery to winning the Master’s Boxing Division World Championship at 48 are chronicled in this interview.  Her decision to found Knockout Wellness was based on one desire:  “to be the person I wish I had when I was stuck in chronic pain.”  If you are stuck in pain, hit that download button because this episode is designed to give you hope and a giant dose of kickass inspiration. #chronicpain #inspiration #boxing

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148 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: KAREN STALEY

In 30+ years of writing songs, I’ve never had writer’s block. God gives me something every time. 

- Karen Staley

We’re on the road in Nashville, Tennessee for this edition of The Story Behind Her Success.  If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to be a hit songwriter in Guitar Town, hit that download button because Karen Staley’s story is filled with wisdom.  Born in Weirton, West Virginia and raised in rural Pennsylvania, Karen was focused on athletics when she was growing up until she injured her back in her senior year of high school.  It was a music teacher who gave her a guitar and taught Karen the chords to Annie’s Song by John Denver and Karen just couldn’t put that guitar down. Her steady rise in Nashville has included being a featured singer/songwriter at the famous Bluebird Cafe, touring and singing backup with Reba, Dolly and Faith Hill as well as writing about 1,000 songs, including mega-hits Take Me As I Am and Let’s Go To Vegas for Faith Hill and Keeper of the Stars for Tracy Byrd.   In this interview, Karen shares both the joys and frustrations of making a living as a songwriter, adding that her greatest hope is that in this life, she has used all of her God-given talents. 

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147 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: STEPH PALERMO

When you live in fear, you’re dying.  You are not living. You have to find a way to life your best life, every single day.  - Steph Palermo 

If you’ve been depressed about what’s going on in the world, or if you’ve ever felt alone and needed some encouragement, Steph Palermo is here to help.  www.juststeph.com. The proud mother of four sons, “Just Steph” is an intuitive coach, a healer, and the author of three books. Born with a rare disorder that left the right side of her body impaired, Steph struggled for decades with self-loathing.  But not anymore. Her workshops and retreats have one purpose:  to help and to heal. This is a woman who understands the value of community and relationships. Says Steph:  “you are not taking anything with you.  Not the cars.  Not the money.  Just the love. “  For a shot of inspiration, perseverance, and humor, hit that download button. 

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146 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: MICHELLE PALLADINI

We need to come together, in community.  This is the time.  - Michelle Palladini

Meet police officer Michelle Palladini.  The daughter of a state police officer, she remembers asking her father what he did when he went to work.  When he replied:  “I help people” she knew what she wanted to do with her life. Now a sergeant with the Norfolk, MA. police department, Michelle is breaking new ground with a community based, heart-centered program called L.E.A.P which stands for leadership, empowerment, awareness and protection.  Asked to pilot her program in her town’s middle school, the goal was to create trust and pathways toward success between children and the local police…and it’s working all across the country.  A graduate of Stonehill College with a degree in Criminal Justice, Michelle believes in finding the root cause of risky and criminal behavior.  This, she says is the only way a police officer can truly “protect & serve”. #communitypolicing

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145 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: KIM GEDNEY

This is what I’m here to do. Being spiritual, giving readings is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.  And that’s how I know it’s right. Everything else has been hard.  - Kim Gedney

Most psychics will tell you that they always had a 6th sense.  They just “knew” things.  But that was not always the case for Kim Gedney.  The daughter of a drug addict, she had no time to think about anything else but survival and at one point, decided she wanted to end her life. That’s when her phone began to ring and ring and ring.   When Kim finally answered the phone, the person on the other end changed her life forever with his message and that is where this story begins.  Now a wife and devoted mother of two sons, Kim is a medium, a psychic, a healer and a spiritual and intuitive life coach.    Her ability to tap into exactly what her clients need is what sets this exceptional woman apart.  We settled into our interview at a little bed & breakfast in Simsbury, CT called the 1820 House for an interview that focused on a three things Kim believes to her core:  1. Your gut is never wrong.  2. Your mind can mess you up every time. 3. Faith is the belief that there is something more.  Curious?  Hit that download button for some earthly and spiritual wisdom to kick off 2021  #psychic #storybehindhersuccess #medium #believe #spirit

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144 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: TERI ADLER

I learned to be a great storyteller on TV and when I’m selling a house, I’m telling you the story of that house.  Buyers want that emotion, that’s what sells.  - Teri Adler

This is a story about reinvention.  Meet Teri Adler, Principal of The Teri Adler Group and a Boston area residential real estate superstar.  For the past twelve years, she has been a top broker for Pinnacle Residential Properties, including Broker of the Year, but her career path began with a very successful run as a reporter and news anchor on stations from the Cape to New Hampshire, to Hartford and finally, in Boston at WHDH and WBZ.  Turns out, Teri has used her well-honed storytelling skills to sell houses and this interview reveals what it took to make the transition from one profession to the other.  The mother of three daughters, including a special needs child, Teri speaks candidly about a decision she and her husband made regarding how they were going to raise their firstborn child:  “Jeff and I decided we were not going to let Alexandra’s disability define her, our our family.”  Her advice about multiple careers and what really matters in life are insightful and well worth your download.  Says Teri:  “Life is going to take you to places you never imagined and you have to bend and grow with it.  There is no blueprint.”  #reinvention #storybehindhersuccess #womeninmedia #realestate

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143 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: ERICA HORAN

I felt like I had a higher calling. - Erica Horan

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a critical care nurse on a med-flight mission? Welcome to the story of Erica Horan: wife, mother of three, Air Force veteran and registered nurse for Boston MedFlight.  Recorded in a hanger at Mansfield Airport, Erica explains that the mission of the non-profit is to take care of very sick people as quickly as possible.  She comes to this work with a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment.  Her career path began at 18 when she earned her EMT certification,  to a degree in nursing, to becoming a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force as a critical care nurse, to serving on the front lines in Afghanistan, to landing her dream job at Boston MedFlight. Twelve hour shifts are seldom slow for any Boston MedFlight’s 4 critical care teams and in this interview, Erica explains that every day is different and you just never know what you are going to get. A black belt karate champion with enough trophies to fill another hanger, this black belt credits her grandmother with teaching her to rely on the strength of her faith, and her karate instructor for teaching her about positive mindset, self-reliance and humility.  “Get out of your comfort zone, says Erica.  You only have one life, so go for it.”  #bostonmedflight #storybehindhersuccess #nursing

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141 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: NAOMI JUDD

I’ve been through an alphabet of tragedies and trials and I’m still here. - Naomi Judd

Recorded on Naomi Judd’s 500 acre farm in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee, this interview takes you through Naomi’s life, including the birth of daughter Wynonna on her high school graduation night, a job as a receptionist for The Fifth Dimension in Los Angeles, and a mountaintop home in Kentucky where there was no heat, no phone and no TV.  While she studied to be a nurse, the family lived on welfare and Naomi traded her prized buck knife to buy Wynonna her first guitar. After receiving her nursing degree, Naomi moved the family to Nashville where she was the head nurse in an ICU.  When she learned that the father of one of her patients was in the record business, Naomi got up the courage to hand him a homemade cassette tape of she and Wynonna singing.  Brent Mayer was blown away by what he heard an arranged for an audition at RCA records. The Judds were signed to a record deal that would catapult them into country music history as the most commercially successful duo of the 1980’s with 25 singles, 14 number 1 songs, 8 CMA’s, 5 Grammy Awards, and 20 million + records sold.  From Naomi’s songwriting technique to her determination to beat Hepatitis C, this interview is an essay in perseverance.  For a deep dive into the soul of a country music icon, hit that download button and please, leave a review! #storybehindhersuccess 

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142 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: CARMEN FIELDS

Lord, you don’t have to move my mountains, just give me the strength to climb. - Carmen Fields

She may have grown up in a segregated community outside Tulsa, Oklahoma, but Carmen Fields was surrounded by love and encouragement.  The daughter of a teacher and a very well-known big band leader, she knew she wanted to write.  That love of writing led to a 40 year career as a print and broadcast journalist, a media relations pro and a college professor.  In this interview, Carmen and I settled in for a look back at a career that continues to inspire to this day.   It was her mother who encouraged Carmen to come to Boston from Oklahoma saying:  “You’ve never been East before, why don’t you go ahead to Boston, and just remember, you can always come home if it doesn’t work out.”  Well, it did work out and Carmen has both passion and perseverance to thank for her success.  As a black female reporter on the City Desk at the Boston Globe, there were neighborhoods she was afraid to go into during the Boston busing crisis.  Yet, as Carmen says: “those old men in the newsroom with their cigars and off color jokes took me under their wing” and she continued to grow as a print journalist.  Her career story includes her experience as a TV anchor, her stint as a press secretary to the Suffolk County District Attorney, her public relations roles at the United Way and National Grid her love of teaching at Boston University and her long running public affairs program on WHDH called Higher Ground. When it comes to the responsibilities of a journalist, Carmen Fields is clear:  “I still look at journalism as the first draft of history. And I still look at journalist’s role as a responsibility to give the facts and some of the context and background and yes, even get both sides of the story.”  For a look at a career worth emulating, hit that download button. #womeninmedia #storybehindhersuccess #journalism

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140 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: JO ANN SIMONS

In those first few days of his life, I realized that I wasn’t going to change anything about Jonathan, but I was going to change the world for him.  - Jo Ann Simons

She remembers everything getting really quiet in the delivery room just moments after her son Jonathan was born.  It was May, 1979 and Jo Ann Simons was 26 years old.  Her pregnancy had been textbook…no surprises, until this moment.  About 4 hours later, she and her husband heard the words:  “your baby has Down syndrome.”  At that time, services for families with disabled children were either minimal, or non-existent so Jo Ann Simons decided to change all that. Armed with a Masters in Social Work, she did not see a world that she wanted for her son, so she set out to build one for him and for others with developmental disabilities.  If you ask her, she’ll tell you:  “I didn’t choose this career, it chose me”.   Now the President & CEO of Northeast Arc, Jo Ann is considered both a trailblazer and a champion to the 15,000 people in 190 communities her organization serves.  Northeast Arc is leading the way in innovative ideas designed to help people with developmental disabilities become part of the communities where they live including the creation of a coffee shop called “Breaking Grounds” which serves as a training ground for people with disabilities who are interested in working in the food service industry.  A few years ago, Jo Ann launched “Arc Tank” with a 1 million dollar donation and in 2020, she spearheaded her largest project to date:  negotiating a lease for 26,000 square feet of highly visible space in the heart of the Liberty Tree Mall which will become the new home of The Linking Lives Center and Northeast Arc.  A member of the Massachusetts Governor’s Commission on People with Developmental & Intellectual Disabilities and the Autism Commission, Jo Ann lives by the credo:  “I want to leave this world a little better than I found it.”  Download this inspiring story for a gigantic dose of grit, gratitude and wisdom. #storybehindhersuccess #northeastarc #disabilities

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139 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: HOLLY PARKER

Dating is like real estate;  the longer you’re on the market, the more people are going to wonder what’s wrong with you!   - Holly Parker

Meet New York City real estate powerhouse Holly Parker.  One of Manhattan’s most successful and experienced brokers, Holly is with Douglas Elliman, NYC’s premiere luxury residential brokerage.  With nearly 8 billion in sales, this exceptional woman is a force to be reckoned with. Holly has been selling high-end properties for 20 years and along the way she has  figured out that real estate is a lot like life, and life is a lot like real estate.   In fact, there are a ton of similarities between an impulse buy of a house unseen and jumping into a marriage too quickly!  After 7 years of marriage, Holly found herself “falling out of contract” and dreaded being a newly divorced woman who was “back on the market”.  This experience inspired her to write her first book, aptly named:  back on the market:  A Realtor’s Guide to Love and Life.  In this interview, Holly shares the pain of her divorce, the triumph of her second marriage, and the secrets to being a real estate superstar.  Her story about welcoming twin sons into her life via surrogate is priceless, and her advice about how to overcome obstacles and what success means to her will inspire you.  After all these years of selling real estate, Holly Parker has come to a simple realization:  love is what makes a home. Get to know more about Holly and join me for an honest and entertaining 24 minutes by hitting that download button.   #storybehindhersuccess #realtor #thehollyparkerteam

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138 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: JODI HEMMER 

You are never too old.  Follow your dreams.  - Jodi Hemmer

Do you ever wonder if you’re too old to pursue your dreams?  Today’s guest believes that age is just a number.  Born and raised outside of Boston, Jodi had a real knack for acting as a child.  She recalls joining hundreds of young girls and boys auditioning for a role in a traveling production of the Broadway smash “The King & I” starring Yul Brynner.  Jodi was over the moon when she was offered a role and devastated when her parents told her that school must come first.   Years went by and she nurtured her love of acting by playing the piano and appearing in community theatre. Jodi married and had three sons. As a young mom, she decided that having a business of her own would not only be exciting, but financially rewarding so she founded Nobscot Supply Company in 1998 and became certified as a Women Business Enterprise and a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.  Now a well known and respected supplier of disposable safety and cleaning items, Nobscot Supply Company www.nobscotonline.com has taken on greater responsibility during the Covid-19 pandemic. But it was her decision to finally scratch that acting itch that brings new meaning to this interview. Jodi’s“ah-ha” moment came when she started filling in as a fitness instructor at Longfellow Health Club in Natick, MA. and the performer deep inside was on full display.  Jodi started taking courses at Boston Casting www.bostoncasting.com and began building up her acting portfolio.  Today, she has dozens of commercials and film credits to her name. And if you happen to see a woman in your social feed playing the piano as part of the Piano in a Flash worldwide promotion, that’s Jodi Hemmer!    She’s loving every minute of this new and exciting chapter in her life and has plenty of advice for anyone who wants to take a similar leap of faith. For an “I can do it” attitude adjustment, just hit that download button!   #storybehindhersuccess #16lifelessons #covid19 #reinvention 

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137 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: SHEILA DUNCAN 

I knew nothing about children’s books, or children’s characters, or the entertainment industry, or anything.  But I knew this was meant to be.  - Sheila Duncan

It all started one day in 2006 when Sheila was spending time with her twelve year old niece, Kendra who had experienced a series of losses.  First, her father passed away, then her grandmother “Nonnie” died of cancer, and finally, the family dog, Irish died as well.  Through her tears, Kendra looked up at the TV and saw a telethon about children with cancer.   She drew a picture of a small grey puppy and said:  “His name’s “Trouble” and he’s gonna help kids having trouble in their lives”.   Sheila remembers believing very deeply that something “divinely inspired” happened that day.  The story line and the concept for the popular “Trouble The Dog” children’s book series was hatched and Sheila became the force that carried her niece’s compassion forward to the world.  And it hasn’t been easy!  In this interview, Sheila talks about what it takes to breathe life into an idea.  With experience in the restaurant and the travel industries, she tapped into her inner-entrepreneur, figuring out how to break into the children’s book market with the first two books in the Trouble The Dog series, and then, how to manufacture a huggable plush toy by the same name, made in the USA. www.troublethedog.com. Throughout this interview, Sheila talks about the value of persistence, even when no one believes in your idea:  “I listened to my intuition and to what the kids were saying to me.  It was like there was a big foot in my back, propelling me forward. I just kept on going.”  Trouble The Dog has given comfort to children in foster care who receive him as part of their therapy.  He has traveled to Haiti after the earthquake, and to Newtown, Connecticut where he comforted children directly affected by the shootings at Sandy Hook.  And it’s not just children who feel his love.  Trouble has even helped wounded soldiers at Walter Reed cope with their injuries.  With the upcoming release of a third book in the Trouble The Dog series, Sheila and Kendra’s mission to bring Trouble’s message to the world keeps on going.   Says Sheila:  “There’s something enchanting about this pup called Trouble. He comforts kids. Our next step is to bring Trouble to life on your TV screen as a meaningful cartoon series!” #hope #troublethedog

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136 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: CRYSTAL GAYLE  

When I started out, I was very, very shy. I do not know how I even got on stage, because if I could have hidden behind the microphone stand, I would have.  - Crystal Gayle

In this episode, we’re on Music Row in Nashville to meet country music icon, Crystal Gayle.  As one of the first female singers to crossover from country music to pop, she is considered a trailblazer by many.  Born in Paintsville, Kentucky, Crystal is the youngest of 8 children and the sister of country legend Loretta Lynn. In this interview, she walks us through a career that is filled with equal parts luck and hard work.  While it was fortunate that Crystal had a sister who could open doors for her, she had to walk through them on her own, proving that she had her own unique style.  Signed to Decca Records at only 19, it wasn’t long before she scored her first hit in 1970 with a single called  “I’ve Cried the Blues Right Out of My Eyes.”  Six years later, she released “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” for United Artists and that song changed the trajectory of her career reaching #1 on the country charts and #2 on the pop charts. Later that year, the song would win Crystal the Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal and she would also become the first female country artist to go platinum.  From that moment on, this shy singer with black hair that nearly touched the floor, was a superstar. A wife and mother of two grown children, Crystal opens up about what it was like to win the Grammy, the stories behind her songs “Talking In Your Sleep” and her duet with tour partner Eddie Rabbit called “You and I.” But what comes across in this very personal interview are Crystal’s combination of drive and humility. Determined to forge her own path, she admits she was scared to death.  “If I could talk to my 19 year old self, I would tell her:  Lighten up. Don’t worry so much.  You don’t need to be perfect.“  For an honest look into the life of a country music legend, hit that download button. #countrymusic #inspiration #countrymusicsuccessstories

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135 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: KELLEY TUTHILL  

When something lousy happens, like a breast cancer diagnosis, what are you going to do about?  You can wallow, and that’s okay, but then you need to fight like hell.  - Kelley Tuthill

Meet Kelley Tuthill, an award-winning, well-known and respected journalist and former TV anchor with a girl next door charm.   Diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer at only 36, she admits that she did wallow for a few hours, maybe even days, but then she fought for herself, for her young family, and for others just like her.   14 years later, she’s thriving with three daughters and a new chapter in her ever-evolving life having segued from television news to academia as the VP of Marketing  & Communications at Regis College, a small Catholic college in Weston, MA. One of four girls, Kelley was raised in the seaside town of Hingham and recalls her father encouraging her to go all in for any dream she had.   A graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a Master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, Kelley spent 20 years loving the news business.  In this interview, she shares what it was like to be a young reporter in rural Pennsylvania, knowing no one,  as well as what it was like to work her way home to Boston as a part of the award-winning, legendary line up at WCVB, News Center 5.   A passionate advocate for women experiencing breast cancer, Kelley allowed cameras to follow her through her own diagnosis and treatment, co-authoring the book:  You Can Do This!  Surviving Breast Cancer Without Losing Your Sanity or Your Style.   Eager to experience and savor all that life has to offer, she recently earned her PhD in Leadership from Regis College.  As we kick off breast cancer awareness month, Kelley’s words of wisdom ring true:  “Hope is everything.” #inspiringstories #breastcancer

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134 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: SARAH RIPOLI 

Everything in life is about mindset and outlook. If you shift your mindset and rise above, no matter what circumstances you are born into or what has happened to you, ultimately you will create your own path and future.  - Sarah Ripoli

Imagine that you are six years old, and an only child.  You are sitting next to your sleeping grandfather on a couch in your basement while your mother is upstairs, packing up her things. Within minutes, she is dead, shot by your father and your whole world is changed forever. Welcome to the life of Sarah Ripoli.  Now a New York City based fashion blogger, thescoopbysarahrip.com,  Sarah is standing up and speaking her truth about domestic violence. Raised by her grandparents in her native New Jersey, she was surrounded by love and support. Sarah never wanted anyone to know what she had been through, so she kept her secret for 20 years. When she was 25,  Sarah realized that she had to examine her past in order to create her future. She is the Co-Founder of Angel Energy, www.shopangelenergy.com, an e-commerce based fashion brand and a philanthropic movement to stop domestic violence.  Sarah’s powerful message is filled with a belief that every person is put on earth for a purpose and her goal is to be a voice for children who have lost a parent to domestic violence.  The coronavirus quarantine locked us all down, but for abusive relationships, the lockdown resulted in a drastic increase in incidences of domestic violence.  The fact is: 1,000 women are killed every year by men they know. Angel Energy donates 25% of its proceeds to charities that serve as lifelines for women and families affected by domestic abuse.  For a glimpse into a life path paved by resilience, hit that download button! #inspiringstories #resilience

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133 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: JO JORGENSEN 

I would hope that the American people would look past my gender and just look at the ideas. I want to see freedom in my lifetime. I want to see people be able to make their own decisions.  - Jo Jorgensen

Meet Dr. Jo Jorgensen, Libertarian candidate for President of the United States.  In Boston as part of her whirlwind tour across America,  Jo agreed to an exclusive interview with me.  Born in Libertyville, Illinois, and raised in a nearby town with only one stop light, Jo had a libertarian mindset before she knew anything about the Libertarian Party.   A graduate of Baylor University, Jo went on to Southern Methodist University for her MBA and earned her PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Clemson University in 2002 where she is now a senior lecturer. The VP running mate for Harry Brown in the 1996 presidential campaign, Jo believes that “our government is too big, too bossy, too nosy and too intrusive.  It’s time to put the decision making power back into the hands of the people.”   In this interview, she explains what it means to be Libertarian, and answers my questions about key issues like:  how to heal unrest in our country, what she would have done if she were president during the Coronavirus outbreak,  her views on our criminal justice system, the police, her stance on decriminalizing drugs, healthcare, our military, prayer in schools, the IRS, the FDA, no-knock raids, and whether to send teachers and children back into the classroom.  But it is Jo’s heartfelt answers about gender, motherhood, how she gets around obstacles, and her view on what success really means that give the listener a clear view of the contents of her character.  With her supporters repurposing #imwithher Jo’s hope is that as a third party candidate, she will be able to debate President Trump and former Vice President Biden on a national stage so that voters can understand what she truly stands for.  #letherspeak #letherdebate #JoJorgensen2020

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132 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: CHERYL PILLAR  

Any ailment, pain or challenge your loved one experienced in life is gone.  They are at peace. They are happy.  It’s that simple.  - Cheryl Pillar

In this episode, we connect with Cheryl Pillar:  the dc medium.  www.dcmedium.com.  Her new book Here In Spirit is a quick and powerful read that answers the 7 most commonly asked questions about what happens to our loved ones after they die.  Truth be told, I met Cheryl a few years ago at a meeting in Virginia and watched her in action.  She is the real deal and that story is in this interview.   Born and raised in Indiana, Cheryl started recognizing her openness to Spirit when she was in a yoga class and her beloved Nana appeared to her at the moment she died. 

A consultant by day, Cheryl’s unique ability to tap into someone has also helped her untangle complicated business relationships.  The single mother of Collin and Emma, Cheryl completed her psychic mediumship training in 2014 after searching for someone who could be her mentor. SoulConX is her latest endeavor and the answer to that problem.  Cheryl’s new company will be a place where those who have the gift of psychic mediumship can receive further training to perfect their natural skills and techniques.   You learn a lot about life when you talk to the dead and Cheryl Pillar is proof of that.  If you are worried about someone you have lost, this interview will answer your questions and reassure you that our loved ones never real leave us. Most importantly, says Cheryl:  “all souls go to heaven. Even if a person has not lived a good life, we all get another shot; over and over again until we get it right.” #psychicmedium

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131 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: MIA HEWETT 

The emotional trauma that stopped us in childhood because we didn’t know how to process our feelings, is the same emotional trauma that stops us from being the most successful entrepreneur of our lives..  - Mia Hewett

Meet a woman who has co-owned and operated a seven-figure business, is an international speaker, a world-class business coach, and author of the new book “Meant For More.”  Believe it or not, there was a time when despite all of her successes, Mia Hewett wasn’t happy.  Most of all, she felt that she was not enough.  After years of reading self-help books and spending tons of money on coaching, Mia discovered the root of her self-doubt:  childhood emotional trauma.  The truth is, no one gets through childhood without scars.  Some of us suffer more than others, but emotional trauma, left unchecked, will handicap your success for the rest of your life.  Along the way, Mia crafted her unique approach called“Aligned Intelligence” which is a methodology that removes all blind spots, fear, anxiety and self-doubt.   In this episode, I admit my fear of failure, and Mia examines where that comes from.  She shares her own emotional trauma at the age of 4 and discusses how she finally got past the “huge confusion pattern” that trauma created until she finally understood how to untangle it.  Says Mia:  “when we don’t heal the emotional side of ourselves, we limit our intellect because we can’t think greater than how we feel.”  www.miahewett.com.  For 24 minutes of discussion that will open your own mind to what’s been holding you back from your greatest success story, hit that download button.

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130 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: DONNA HALPER : PART TWO

I’m a working class kid from a working class neighborhood who wasn’t expected to be anything in life and yet, I saw history being made and I was there.  - Donna Halper

Welcome to part 2 of the incredible life and career story of Donna Halper: author, media historian and trailblazer for women in radio.  After years of being told that she would never be on the air, she did just that…first in college radio back in 1968 and then behind the scenes at the legendary WABC, in New York City.  As the music director at WMMS in Cleveland, she received a homegrown album from an unknown rock trio from Canada called Rush and gave their song Working Man a shot in the air. She is credited with discovering the band and has remained friends with Rush for decades, joining them when they received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and cheering the band on when they were inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame.  Her road to success has been anything but easy and she has relied upon her Jewish faith and her own code of ethics to get to where she is today.  After having spent 28 years as a well respected radio broadcast consultant, she focused her attention on writing books and is widely known as a media historian.  An associate professor at Lesley University, she is determined to put a name and a face to the stories of women who also broke through barriers to make it in media.  Says Donna:  “I love finding women who have been forgotten and then writing them back into history.”   

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129 / IN THE SPOTLIGHT: DONNA HALPER : PART ONE

All I ever wanted was to be was a DJ.  In my freshman year at Northeastern University, I arrived at the campus radio station and said: “I want to be on the radio.”  The program director said:  “We don’t put girls on the radio.  They don’t sound good.”  So I asked him: “How many women have you had on the air here?”  And he said:  “None.” - Donna Halper

This is one of those episodes that serves as a reminder of how far we’ve come.  When Donna Halper was growing up in the 1950’s, girls had only a few choices.  They could marry and be a “housewife”, or they could be a teacher, a nurse or a bookkeeper.   Donna had other ideas. From the time she was a little girl, she wanted to have a career and the announcers on the radio sounded like they were having fun all the time.  Even though DJ’s couldn’t see their audience, they were somehow able to reach out and relate to the thousands of teens who listened to the radio. A Jewish girl who was often bullied for being different, Donna grew up loving rock ‘n roll, saying:  “it was the music of rebellion. The culture was changing and the music was a way to say things that you weren’t allowed to say in society.”  After being told for years that women didn’t sound good on the radio, Donna finally got on the air in college and after graduation, was recruited by the legendary Frank Kingston Smith to write features for his show on WABC in New York City.   But it was her stint as music director at WMMS in Cleveland, Ohio that put her name in the book of rock when she received an advance copy of a homegrown album by an unknown Canadian rock trio called RUSH.  Says Donna:  “I dropped the needle down on a song called “Working Man” and I knew immediately that this was a Cleveland record.” Since that day, RUSH has sold 40 million records, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. Donna’s career story continued to flourish,  but never without adversity and roadblocks.  Her message then and now is simple.  “Never,ever give up.”   For a birds eye view into the meaning of perseverance, hit that download button.  #cantstopwontstop

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