The John Krol Podcast / The Blend
By John Krol
Podcast art photo by Eric Korenman
The John Krol Podcast / The BlendMay 02, 2023
THE BLEND - Andrew DeGiacomo, nurse, fmr. MTV director, music lover joins Cara & John Krol
This episode ranges the full blend, dating, the challenge of aging parents and grandparents, the loneliness of caregivers, getting the heave-ho from your friend group once you have kids, the revival of live music in venues throughout the region, Andrew's dream job at MTV back in the late eighties and early nineties working with Kurt Loder, and the likes of the Backstreet Boys, the Real World and more. Andrew is a lover of life and we love him!
Cara Krol is the author of Fairy Slippers and Molly Saves the Bees: https://www.fairyslippers.info/booksIn addition to being an author, Cara is an energy healer and intuitive coach. Her website for her business Balance & Bliss Wellness is https://balanceandblisswellness.comJohn Krol is the owner of One Eighty Media marketing agency: https://oneeightymedia.com/a longtime radio/television and podcast host and producer. John and Cara are raising a family of five kiddos between the ages of 8 and 15, making it all work!
THE BLEND - Mike Daly, It's Pittsfield Tonight with Cara & John Krol
Everything from the media landscape in a small New England county, death by chocolate specialty bread to thinking more broadly as to who is a leader. Here is the audio-only version of a wide ranging conversation generated from the original live show. If you know anything about shocking a river or a lake to manage fish, don't touch that water while it's happening - Mike learned that lesson at a very young age. His days beside his father in the wilderness set the stage for a successful wildlife photography side gig that has gotten him published countless times. His show has been a catalyst for raising awareness and pushing change in the community - badly needed in a day when traditional media have consolidated so severely and the tolerance for opposing opinions and views has become virtually non-existent. Always fun to catch up with Mike!
Cara Krol is the author of Fairy Slippers and Molly Saves the Bees: https://www.fairyslippers.info/books In addition to being an author, Cara is an energy healer and intuitive coach. Her website for her business Balance & Bliss Wellness is https://balanceandblisswellness.com John Krol is the owner of One Eighty Media marketing agency: https://oneeightymedia.com/ a longtime radio/television and podcast host and producer. John and Cara are raising a family of five kiddos between the ages of 8 and 15, making it all work!
THE BLEND - Andrew & Rachael Switz, Ropana Wellness with Cara and John Krol
Support The Blend Podcast with Buy Me a Coffee.
Andrew & Rachael founded RopaNa Wellness seven years ago driven by Rachael's health issues that traditional Western medicine, one pharmaceutical after another, could not address. In fact, she worked at a hospital and, suffered from severe pain, insomnia and other symptoms that made life almost unbearable. Hemp was the solution that changed her life, and their journey began to help countless others find similar, life-changing, results. RopaNa comes from the ancient Sanskrit language meaning “to heal oneself”. Our philosophy is built on the need for knowledge, quality and transparency in the CBD Hemp Industry. We are here to bring you the absolute finest Vermont CBD products at compassionate prices including THC- Free and Full Spectrum options. We care about the environment as much as we do our wellness because the environment is responsible for the wellness of everyone. Our business practices reflect this by minimizing packaging and utilizing solar power. We make the commitment to use recycled, biodegradable or re-useable materials and use all natural, non toxic cleaning products in our facility.
THE BLEND - Marc Wrzesinski, photographer on weddings, boudoir, commercial and entrepreneurial spirit
Cara and John go back on their original messages on Facebook when their relationship began in the middle of the COVID lockdown, Tinder is still the "gold standard" of dating apps - says Marc - even if no one wants to admit it, Cara shares a date gone all wrong in her short stint in adventures of online dating. Marc shares anecdotes on a boudoir shoot that has still never happened after five years, his work in editorial including a shoot being picked up by Playboy.com. We also learn about how you always need someone to be ready to deliver the "emergency" call if the first date from an online dating app becomes a train wreck!
#96 - Leslie Gabriel, Water Activist, And So It Flows podcast
Water is everything. It touches every bit of our lives and our communities, in our physical and mental health, recreation and our economy. Leslie Gabriel's connection with water became clear at a very young age and then evolved over time, ever reimagining the relationship at every turn. His professional life led him to water, creating a successful business with water testing and filtration systems. Today, he wants our region to celebrate and maximize the potential of water as an asset for residents and tourists, alike. The concept of "blue spaces" which has been successfully implemented in many other communities across the country, has immense potential for health benefits, recreational opportunities, tourist attractions. In this episode we also cover the healing properties of water, Leslie's work in the water industry, why the bottled water industry is a bit of a "scam," the hospitality industry's push for toxic-free waterways, Leslie's podcast And So It Flows, and much more.
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Leslie is an H2O activist, author, content producer, event producer, podcaster, water enthusiast, marketing maven, ambassador for water and public speaker about the pressing need of water sustainability and the need to transform our relationship to water to a state of love and respect. After beating lifelong chronic skin rashes and other ailments, by simply using pure water to detox my body and mind, I am a passionate believer in the power of water. A majority of my time is spent on what he considers the most important movement of modern times, The Water Sustainability Movement. Leslie Gabriel is also proud father of, who he calls, his "Not So Little People" - Kyla Elianna Gabriel (29) and Jeremiah Noah Gabriel (25). I am also a distance runner, hiker, skier, kayaker, camper, traveler and dancer.
THE BLEND - Cara and John roll-out their digital sales program and more!
Cara and John roll-out their online sales training program and philosophy behind it, what happens with the diamond engagement ring when a married couple splits (they have experience), ways that small businesses can expand their markets by using online tools. John and Cara have a solution for that, and we look forward to demystifying it and helping people begin an exciting new journey in online sales. Cara Krol is the author of Fairy Slippers and Molly Saves the Bees: https://www.fairyslippers.info/books In addition to being an author, Cara is an energy healer and intuitive coach. Her website for her business Balance & Bliss Wellness is https://balanceandblisswellness.com John Krol is a consultant, digital marketing expert and the owner of One Eighty Media marketing agency: https://oneeightymedia.com/ a longtime radio/television and podcast host and producer.
John and Cara are raising a family of five kiddos between the ages of 8 and 15, making it all work!
THE BLEND - Jess Rufo & Auron Stark of Dorothy's Estaminet joins Cara & John Krol
Dorothy's Estaminet is the new hotspot in the downtown, drawing off the tradition of the former Mission Bar & Tapas and the living room of the region, Dottie's Coffee Lounge. Jess Rufo explains the concept of the "estaminet" which is a place for adult beverages but has a bit of a "shabby" fun vibe. That's perfect, and it's already become a hub for incredible live music, residencies with the likes of Gina Coleman and Misty Blues. Jess covers her own growth and change since the early days of starting Dottie's, and how that has impacted her management style. It's an open, honest, authentic conversation about family, life and running a business based on your passion. Cara Krol is the wonderful author of the book, Fairy Slippers and the sequel, Molly Saves the Bees: https://www.fairyslippers.info/books In addition to being an author, Cara is an energy healer and intuitive coach, and owner of Balance & Bliss Wellness, located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. Her website for her business Balance & Bliss Wellness is https://balanceandblisswellness.com John Krol is the owner of One Eighty Media marketing agency, with expertise in building websites with top-notch SEO, digital marketing and online sales, branding, design and strategic marketing consulting. https://oneeightymedia.com/ a longtime radio/television and podcast host and producer. John and Cara are raising a family of five kiddos between the ages of 8 and 15, making it all work!
#95 - Lauren Ballinger, DDS, Good To Grow Airway Pediatric Dental
It's a seismic shift that has the potential to fundamentally change the way we approach not only pediatric dental care, but total health for our children. Airway-centric dentistry focuses on the root causes and can address the underlying issues that lead to sleep apnea, snoring, sleep deprivation, and yes, cavities and tooth decay. Driven first by her intuition as a mother to children with chronic health issues, Dr. Lauren Ballinger, who is a board-certified pediatric dentist, was not satisfied by the traditional Western medicine options of addressing the symptoms. She knew there was a better way, and there was no going back. Dr. Lauren experienced what she describes as her "breakthrough," leaving her family's practice to take a great leap on a new venture: Good To Grow Airway Pediatric Dentistry. The approach is leading to excellent health outcomes for patients and she hopes the health and dental establishment will take the steps to support the growth of airway-centric dentistry within the dental community. In this episode we also cover: the fundamentals of the airway approach compared to the a symptom-based (tooth-focused) approach, the importance of breathing through the nose rather than the mouth, the importance for deep sleep for children and brain growth, the concept of increasing the boney border of an airway, the American Dental Association (ADA) gradually warming up to airway-centered dentistry, Dr. Lauren essentially reinventing her career at a time when many are considering their path to retirement, relearning from Native American traditions from the 18th century to improve airway health for children, and following her mission to truly help people the best way she knows how. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Lauren Ballinger, DDS, CSOM (certified specialist in orafacial myology).
Book references in this interview:
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
Shut Your Mouth and Save Your Life by George Catlin
Dr. Lauren Ballinger is a Board Certified pediatric dentist who, after 15 years at her family’s traditional pediatric dental practice, left to open her own practice to help prevent children's suffering - before it happens. Good to Grow Airway Centric Pediatric Dentistry and Frenectomy Center is a sanctuary for families everywhere. Good to Grow is completely devoted to proper airway and dental wellness, the prevention of disease, and true collaborative care amongst the childrens’ doctors and family.
THE BLEND #5 - George Shoemaker, Currency Coffee with Cara and John Krol
It's simply harder and more expensive to do business in Massachusetts, and that's one of the main reasons George Shoemaker is now moving his entire operation to Sarasota, Florida. Currency Coffee originated in Dalton Massachusetts with the nod to town's Crane Paper currency-making fame. In spite of success in distributing to a wide array of businesses and restaurants, and more recently, a hugely success cafe in the lower level of the Allendale Shopping Center - George has decided to leave for sunnier skies. We unpack the decision and the future of his business. We also answer a viewer question about the challenge of co-parenting when one parent refuses to contribute to activities for the kiddos, as well as some remarkable co-parents who get along remarkably well (rare)! Also, while everyone is talking about Taylor Swift and the Super Bowl, there is a second tier celebrity couple for the big game with a local connection: Former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo (of the Pittsfield Culpo family) is engaged to SF 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. We'll assume Olivia will be at the big game on the other side of the Swifties. Cara Krol is the author of Fairy Slippers and Molly Saves the Bees: https://www.fairyslippers.info/books In addition to being an author, Cara is an energy healer and intuitive coach. Her website for her business Balance & Bliss Wellness is https://balanceandblisswellness.com John Krol is the owner of One Eighty Media marketing agency: https://oneeightymedia.com/ a longtime radio/television and podcast host and producer. John and Cara are raising a family of five kiddos between the ages of 8 and 15, making it all work!
#94 - Larry Kratka, legendary radio pro
It's been 63 years since Larry Kratka first spoke into a live mic at a radio station, and he's still going strong today. Larry's love of radio took him well beyond his day job as a newsman and anchor with WUPE-FM and the Berkshire News Network, among other stations, as he was the driving force in saving community radio in Pittsfield. His initiative to revitalize WTBR saved the station from an imminent departure from the community, and galvanized a new generation of students to discover the magic of radio. In this episode we talk about the accessibility and style of various elected officials, a press conference with Governor Cellucci at the Highland Restaurant, and how that's the kind of authenticity we could use today between public officials and reporters. Larry is a treasure and has contributed to this community immensely through his passion for radio and more. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Larry Kratka.
John Krol is the owner of One Eighty Media marketing agency, which provides top-tier digital marketing services, web development, branding, PR, communications and more.
THE BLEND #4 - Eryca Nolan, Comedian and Entrepreneur
A Divorced Mom turned Standup Comedian, Eryca Nolan considers herself Funny As A Mother.
See her entertain audiences with her wit and unfiltered honesty as she shares her tales of Motherhood, Love and most importantly Wine.
She’s also the proud producer of a Standup Comedy Show, Project HERlarious, a Mostly Female, All Hilarious Comedy Show filled with Female Comedians from across the United States.
“I want to focus a majority of time working with and learning from like minded, supportive women. What better way of accomplishing this than by creating a platform of my own. “
Cara, John and Eryca cover a lot of ground, including Cara's newly minted "Old Money Brunette" look - although it's actually her natural hair color, the backlash to the backlash of the Taylor Swiftiness Super Bowl-bound KC Chiefs, Eryca's blended family, wine, the HERlarious Project supporting women in comedy, her on-stage style, her BBQ business that is crushing it in the Berkshires of Western Mass. and a whole lot more.
Cara Krol is the author of Fairy Slippers and Molly Saves the Bees: https://www.fairyslippers.info/books
In addition to being an author, Cara is an energy healer and intuitive coach. Her website for her business Balance & Bliss Wellness is https://balanceandblisswellness.com
John Krol is the owner of One Eighty Media marketing agency: https://oneeightymedia.com/ a longtime radio/television and podcast host and producer.
John and Cara are raising a family of five kiddos between the ages of 8 and 15, making it all work!
THE BLEND #3 - Chantell McFarland, superstar singer and International Blues Challenge standout
Cara and John catch up with Chantell McFarland who recently returned from a hugely successful run at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis with Diego Mongue and his band. Chantell has something in common with John and Cara as a stepmom making it work in the blended family. We cover almost scripted Taylor Swift, KC Chiefs, NFL season, Cara's purchasing Halara overalls for comfort and to relive her college days, Chantell talks about her wedding dress video that went viral and got over a million views on Facebook, the experience in Memphis where the band had seven performances including at a radio station there, her inspiration to get back into performing music after a longtime away and more! Songstress, Chantell, is a classically trained artist from Chicago, not residing in the idyllic hills of Berkshire County. In her early career, Chantell performed on studio albums for PBS Kids and Sesame Street. In 2021, Chantell performed in a concert of encouragement and hope for essential workers featuring Cellist, Yo-yo Ma and The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s maestro, Manny Ax. In 2023, Chantell joined the Diego Mongue Band and was a semi finalist in the International Blues Challenge. She was also accepted into the Recording Academy. Chantell’s love for music and people are intrinsic within her melodious vocal arrangements and soulful songwriting. Cara Krol is the author of Fairy Slippers and Molly Saves the Bees: https://www.fairyslippers.info/books In addition to being an author, Cara is an energy healer and intuitive coach. Her website for her business Balance & Bliss Wellness is https://balanceandblisswellness.com John Krol is the owner of One Eighty Media marketing agency: https://oneeightymedia.com/ a longtime radio/television and podcast host and producer. John and Cara are raising a family of five kiddos between the ages of 8 and 15, making it all work!
THE BLEND #2 - Soma Dinicola, Soma's Aromas
THE BLEND #1 - Cara & John Krol
The opener for a podcast about life after divorce, dating, finding love again, blending a family and making it all work! John and Cara talk about how they got together after divorce and difficult times, including how he "rolled" into her DMs, figuring out how to date in the teeth of COVID and figuring out how to just get a cup of coffee when everything was closed! John and Cara also cover the craze over the Valentine-themed Stanley Cup Quencher, the history of the Stanley Cup coming from Great Barrington and how that town could capitalize on the history (Stanley-fest? Quench-tacular?). Cara Krol is the author of Fairy Slippers and Molly Saves the Bees: https://www.fairyslippers.info/books In addition to being an author, Cara is an energy healer and intuitive coach. Her website for her business Balance & Bliss Wellness is https://balanceandblisswellness.com John Krol is the owner of One Eighty Media marketing agency: https://oneeightymedia.com/ a longtime radio/television and podcast host and producer. John and Cara are raising a family of five kiddos between the ages of 8 and 15, making it all work! #stanleycupquencher #williamstanley #family #theblend #blendingfamily #theblender #raisingoursons #dad #mom #greatbarrington #stanleyquencher
John Krol speaks to Len Bean of WBRK
John shares his vision for Pittsfield and differentiates from the status quo in making change in the city - including putting families first, curbing skyrocketing taxes, creating desperately needed financial transparency in the city with an independent internal auditor, revitalizing the downtown, having a clear vision with downtown police foot patrol and a sense of urgency to position Pittsfield as the culturally rich hub of the Berkshires, improving city services, having a respectful, professional leader as mayor to work at elevating city staff and more!
#93 - Kristina Cardot, RE-FORMation Academy, The Funky Phoenix
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Kristina Cardot.
#92 - Elizabeth Heller, mindfulness and journaling expert, Kids Super Journal
It was the power of journaling, allowing a very young Elizabeth Heller to write about the "big feelings," that she says saved her own life. As a victim of trauma and abuse at the age of four, she found that the journaling allowed her to step outside and look at her emotions and find a level of peace - and it's a bit of magic that she is dedicating herself to sharing with the world. This is the case, particularly for kids, as she has developed the concept into a journal that offers a fun and guided path for children to begin their own journey of mindfulness. Elizabeth's own journey has brought to her to the Berkshires after decades in Boston. Like many others, the pandemic led to a pretty dramatic shift in her life, and has now become an active member of the community, hosting workshops in schools and more. Also in this episode we cover: the power of mindfulness, meditation, her young days as a ballerina, her 4 a.m. moment that led to a book proposal, starting her own business, EforAll, the rewards and challenges of being an entrepreneur, breathing, absorbing joy, the stress for kids in schools with high stakes testing and less and less recess time, gratitude, the Kids Super Journal Podcast, journaling in the morning and enjoying your personal time in the early hours. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Elizabeth Heller.
#91 - Melissa Helm, NAMI Berkshire County
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Melissa Helm.
#90 - Randy Kinnas, Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Randy Kinnas.
#89 - Leah Reed, Women of Color Giving Circle, Best Mom 2023 Albany Tulip Festival
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Leah Reed.
#88 - Marge Cohan, Berkshire Bike Path Council
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Marge Cohan.
#87 - Gina Coleman, Misty Blues Band
It's a passion project that has been brewing since the mid-1990s for Gina Coleman, whose encounter with the legendary Odetta left a powerful impression. The moment when Gina and Odetta connected, sang side-by-side and locked together in harmony was a seminal moment in her career. This inspiration will come full circle in the form of a live album to be recorded May 12th and 13th in Studio 9 at the Porches Inn. The switch to acoustic and performing folk standards will be a switch for the Misty Blues. But pushing to the edges of the blues genre is nothing new for the band. And anyway, as Gina explains in this episode, African-American folk music is most certainly blues in her book. This performance and upcoming album comes on the heels of Misty Blues' most recent album "Outside the Lines," which includes a rich array of familiar voices and performers from the Berkshires and beyond. Gina and her band have not skipped a beat, not even during the pandemic, when they remarkably released three albums with the band members recording virtually. The beat goes on for Gina, and as someone who admits she basically doesn't sleep, there is surely more to come. We love it! Also in this episode we cover: the story of meeting Odetta at the Bottomline club in New York City as a guest of Arlo Guthrie, the decision to make this tribute a live album, growing up on the Bronx as hip hop and rap came on the scene, musical influences, including Motown and salsa, the earlier band Cole Connection and their acoustic funk style, a part in a Williamstown Theatre Festival production as a gospel singer that led to a transformative transition to blues, the rich variety of blues music, Gina's songwriting process and how much of it comes while she is driving, why she once utilized answering machines in her songwriting process, her son Diego choosing music as a major at Williams College, the evolution of Misty Blues from a blues tribute band to producing original music, the story of Charles Neville performing on an album, Gina's 27 years coaching rugby at Williams College and why the sport inspires her, performing at Firefly in Lenox and more.
I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Gina Coleman.
#85 - Dashine Moore, youth advocate, Beat the Streets basketball program, business owner
When he saw too many kids without a focus and without something to do, especially as opportunities were fewer and farther between amid the pandemic, Dashine Moore took the steps to establish the Beat the Streets basketball program. Now in its third year, Dashine sees the value of the evolving program continue with the cost of traditional summer camps continuing to rise out of the reach of many young people and their families. Galvanizing the support of various nonprofits to make it all come together, Dashine has a particular drive to give back to the community as his own path has been a long and winding. This included five and a half years of incarceration. That experience is a lesson he shares with young people in the program to urge them to make better choices. His time away from his sons in prison also makes it all that sweeter to see the success of his boys, one in prep school and one who just won a state championship as a member of the Taconic High School basketball team. Dashine has a powerful story and I appreciate having the opportunity to share it in this episode. Also, we cover: Kicks for Kids and the support of Barrington Stage Company, the power of role models, legendary youth advocates Manny Slaughter, Shirley Edgerton and Valerie Hamilton, a community center, mentorship programs, financial literacy, his experience at Norfolk prison in Boston, his business Mr. Feets, the economics of sneakers, flipping sneakers, selling paintings, bringing back the Gather-In and more.
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dashine Moore.
#86 - Melissa Fawcett, Ready Set Play & Ready Set Learn
Families with kids simply want more fun things to do in the Berkshires. Melissa and Ken Fawcett have shown that filling a part of this niche can be hugely successful, as the indoor playground, Ready Set Play, has been just about fully-booked for weekend parties from the very beginning when they opened in October 2022. Responding to the clear demand for working families seems to be a great business model for the couple, as their first venture Ready Set Learn was immediately successful. The demand was so high for their pre-K education and play center, they opened a second location. Interestingly, Melissa's jump into private business came when she ran into a bit of a roadblock as a teacher in the public schools. Hoping to move from teaching fourth grade to kindergarten or first grade, the transfer never happened. The rest is history, as Read Set Learn was born - first on Virginia Avenue, and then to a converted church at the corner of Dalton Ave. and Benedict Road. The second location on Wendell Avenue came next. We love Melissa and Ken's entrepreneurial spirit and her ability to turn their passion into new offerings, and in the case of Read Set Play, a new attraction to the Berkshires. In this episode we also cover: preparing children for the rigor in kindergarten and infusing more play, play is learning, remodeling a 100-year old church, the demand for quality pre-K education in the region, the reduction of recess time in public schools, the demand for more fun things to do for families in the Berkshires, the process of finding commercial real estate in the Berkshires, trampoline parks, laser tag, go-carts, the logistics of setting up Ready Set Play - the delivery, unloading and construction of the indoor playground (like a massive IKEA furniture build), booking 21 parties every weekend, the possibilities for the former Bed, Bath & Beyond space, living a dream as entrepreneurs and modeling that for their kids, taking calculated risks, the support of Nancy Shulman (formerly) of the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network and more.
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Melissa Fawcett.
#84 - Christine Bump and Bill Heaton, Big Elm Brewery and Taprooms
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Christine Bump and Bill Heaton of Big Elm Brewery.
#83 - Natalie Neubert, Karen Cellini, Joe Corcoran, Berkshire Music School
I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Natalie, Karen and Joe.
#82 - Luke Fitzgerald, The Love of T Foundation
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Luke Fitzgerald.
#81 - Tim Dupree, "DJ Pup Daddy"
It was deeply ingrained into his soul as a child as he listened to the jukebox at his Uncle John's, and with early vinyl records in the 1970s. That sound mesmerized young Tim Dupree and his early fascination with 50s and 60s rock n' roll, then soul and Motown music, never ceased. What also never left him was the love of the sound of vinyl, and over the years he has accumulated over 20,000 records and LPs. Today, as the warmer sound and tactile aspect has popularized vinyl again, DJ Pup Daddy (Tim's stage name) has carved a strong niche in the market with his use of those old (and sometimes new) records. And, by the way, that old jukebox was handed down to him and it remains proudly in Tim's home, along with a number of the vintage turntables and other equipment he has restored. I love this conversation with Tim, as he has truly followed his passion to make it a career. Also, in this episode, we cover the longevity (or lack thereof) of vinyl, CDs, 8-Tracks, cassettes, Tim's process of DJ'ing a party and "it's always spontaneous," growing up using walkie-talkies with his brother playing the role of DJ, back playing and "cue burn" on the turntable, direct drive vs. belt-driven turntables, why Tim shies away from working first weddings, scanning the dump and Goodwill for equipment, tube amplifiers, challenges and opportunities for downtown Pittsfield, dog sitting on the side and more.
I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Tim Dupree (aka DJ Pup Daddy).
#80 - Pascal Renders, transpersonal psychotherapist, United Inner States of Freedom
No matter how large or small the company, the characteristics, emotional intelligence, and general mood of the leader inevitably impacts the entire operation. In fact, that correlation between the mood of the leader (CEO, president, owner, etc.) and the bottomline performance of the company has been proven in several studies. Pascal Renders has been at the forefront of this type of work, as a consultant for large corporations, particularly in his years in Belgium, where he garnered a reputation for getting deep and personal with business leaders to address areas of struggle. A transpersonal psychotherapist, Pascal believes in a holistic view of addressing systemic problems within organizations and that if you do not deal with the deep underlying issues, behavioral patterns of company leaders will continue no matter how an organization may shake up personnel or its structure. This is one of the most interesting conversations I have had in regard to leadership, which is a topic we often delve into on the podcast. It's definitely worth the listen! Also in this episode, we cover: "bad bosses," the ineffectiveness of typical corporate approaches to instilling values and company culture, compartmentalizing and the pitfalls of it, catastrophic team-building sessions, respect for employees, challenging his future wife, Alexandra, to align her company with her own values, discovering a new modality to address trauma, Pascal's work with individuals and couples, the mind vs. the brain, family constellations, generational trauma, emotional intelligence, HeartMath, his organization United Inner States of Freedom, bringing the best out of people and much more.I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Pascal Renders.
Pascal's bio:
A native of Belgium, Pascal is a dynamic, multi-lingual professional well versed in a wide variety of business functions. For the past 12 years, as Founder and CEO of Quantumize, Pascal has provided executive and life coaching to a broad range of companies and individuals throughout Europe and the US. His clients are family offices, and companies in the banking, insurance, and investment management industries. He has also worked with companies in the retail, food, luxury goods, leisure, and cosmetics industries. Earlier, Pascal was an Operations and General Manager for companies in the food and leisure, and HR and consulting industries. He began his professional life as a Start-Up and Business Development Manager for a Brussels-based family owned business invested in the leisure industry.
Pascal completed training in Systematic Coaching, Destination Coaching Methodology, Transpersonal Psychotherapy, Systemic Constellation Work, Body-Oriented Trauma Resolution, and is an accredited practitioner of HeartMath, Insights Discovery, Emotional and Social Competence Indicator, and the Birth into Being Method.
After graduating from St Jan Berchmans, a renowned Jesuit High School in Brussels, Pascal also earned a combined BA/MA in English-Spanish Translation from the University of Brussels and holds an Executive MBA from Antwerp Management School (AMS).
#79 - Shiobbean Lemme, Berkshire Running Foundation and Jonathan Denmark, MountainOne
#78 - Carrie Wright, artist, realtor, non-profit advocate
Sure, Carrie Wright appeared on the podcast to plug the Berkshire Art Center (formerly IS183) annual Gala, Metallic Couture Disco, Saturday April 1st, but we certainly had to cover more ground than that. We started from the beginning when Carrie "grew up" on Bousquet Mountain, then went on Colorado State, and continued her journey on various ski mountains with a core group of friends, including her future husband, Bill. An artist herself, Carrie has been one of the most visible organizers and advocates in the Berkshire arts scene, including her work in the 10x10 festivals and, of course, her work supporting IS183. After the pandemic disruption, she reinvented herself and became a licensed realtor. At first, she feared that her new role would diminish her ability to give back to the community, as she did when she worked in the non-profit world. Turns out that this was not the case, and Carrie feels like she's able to do more than ever to support others. Also in this episode we cover: Carrie's sing-talking with her kids and a demonstration in the episode, the photo and video events before the event to promote past IS183 galas, DJ Ryan Brown, the different ways to pronounce Palmer's variety store on Elm St., Bill and son Pilot's Instagram reviews of tin fish and more.
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Carrie Wright.
#77 - Steve Kotski, coach/president, Pittsfield Little League National Division
For the love of the game. Steve Kotski has dedicated himself, not only as a Dad and coach, but as the president of the National League division of Pittsfield Little League. For him, his passion was solidified back when he was a kid as a baseball and hockey player rising through the ranks and forging lasting friendships and a solid work ethic. Today, he works to instill those values in the players on his team and in the 9-12 year olds throughout the league. And at the same time, in a day in age when Little League has become quite competitive, it's important to make sure the kids have fun! In this episode, we cover: the specialization of youth sports vs. playing multiple sports throughout the year, the different characteristics of the American and National divisions in Pittsfield Little League, maintaining fields and the volunteers and coaches who do it (including Steve), tryouts for Little League (they're coming up this weekend!), the culture of travel teams, all-star teams, the Jimmy Fund tournament, 1791 and Pittsfield as the home of baseball, teaching resilience in kids and getting back up and swinging again after striking out, advice for parents and coaches, drills for parents to help kids with mechanics, Steve's wife Amy's role in supporting the team and league, and her amazing business Designer Consigner at the Allendale Underground, the return of Legion ball, Lou Orazio and the success of the Berkshire Adult Baseball League, and much more!
I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Steve Kotski.
#76 - Sally Tiska Rice, artist, Clocktower Artists
#75 - Jeff & Heather King, Shire Donuts
It was a concept that brought so much joy to their own family on vacations in the past, Heather and Jeff King knew that it was a business ripe for success in the Berkshires. After nearly three years open, a second location and further expansion into other locations, Shire Donuts just continues to put smiles on the faces of happy customers. And why not? Who doesn't love a great donut? It's just one of the recent ventures that Heather and Jeff have taken together after decades of working the traditional salaried 40-hour per week jobs. The other, being real estate, came when they were nudged along by their friends and colleagues Jay and Jennifer Nocher. True to form, Heather and Jeff work as a team leading with their own particular strengths as they focus on building long-term relationships for buyers and sellers. As they look to expand Shire into other retail locations, they are also considering the move into south county, and Great Barrington, in particular. We also cover in this episode: managing customer service with, often, long lines of customers (especially when the shops first opened), quality control "Heather-approved" donuts and training their workers ("donut artists), the product marketing and selling itself through social media and world-of-mouth, Heather and Jeff's first date at Ye Olde Forge, the dynamics of the current real estate market, tricks to keep donuts fresh after purchase (hint: it includes a container and a piece of bread), the value proposition of being open just three days per week, Dunkin' and Donut Man, expanding offerings of coffee with their partner Currency Coffee, working with their daughters Lauren and Chloe and more.
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Jeff and Heather King.
#74 - Alexandra Dest Renders, Willow Investments for Loving Change
Merging the mission of her company into full alignment with her authentic true self took a powerful leap of faith. This was a particularly bold move in the no-nonsense profit-driven industry of financial advising. But, for Alexandra Dest Renders, "it was time to get real." Those were the words of her husband, and business coach, Pascal Renders, who threw down the gauntlet and challenged her. In spite of more than three decades of great success in her industry, Alexandra was still "fragmented" and her business didn't truly reflect herself as an individual who is "deeply sentient, highly intuitive, and very sensitive to other humans." Today, her firm Willow Investments for Loving Change stands on her core values. She believes that "capitalism is not only ripe for a change but it is necessary for the well-being of humanity." That's a far cry from the classic Gordon Gekko "greed is good" philosophy, which we discuss in this episode. We also cover: the masks that are often worn in the corporate and business world, particularly on Wall Street, being vulnerable, following your inner compass, Alexandra's early professional successes and being a "closet" intuitive, quietly combining her analytical and psychic abilities, the launching on her new newsletter the "Economic Intuitive," the continuing weakening of the dollar (petro dollar), the emerging importance of local community sustainability, the ongoing challenges in the housing market amid the high cost of building materials, the spiritual experience in Grand Central Station that led her to the Berkshires, her journey from a diagnosis of MS to full health utilizing natural healing, taking the leap into starting her own business years ago, her vision for leadership and the partnership with her husband, Pascal, helping develop more leaders, and much more. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Alexandra Dest Renders.
#73 - Karen Kaveney-Murray, community advocate, mother, translator
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Karen Murray.
#72 - Kaitlyn Pierce, Pierce Social
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Kaitlyn Pierce.
#71 - Casey Pease, fmr. political campaign manager, business owner
I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Casey Pease.
#70 - Jerrid Burdick, owner, Tux Express (Part 2)
I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Jerrid Burdick.
#70 - Jerrid Burdick, owner, Tux Express (Part 1)
I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Jerrid Burdick.
#69 - Aimee Marshall, MS, BS, NASM, Berkshire Fitness and Wellness Center
Five years ago, Aimee Marshall signed and lease on a single space in Crawford Square and remarkably opened for business three days later. True to form, she's continued the brisk pace and grown to now four spaces where she and her team teach 54 classes per week. Part of her secret sauce is staying ahead of the curve to benefit her clientele. This is particularly important in the world of health and fitness where people are often looking to switch it up and try a new discipline or new program. From RUMBLE to Kick Zumba, Yogalates, FUSION, R.I.P.P.E.D. and more, Aimee is gaining new certifications as quickly as new programs are rolled out. The business is so busy that Aimee's husband, Tim, has taken on a role also teaching early morning classes before going to work. And every bit helps, as Berkshire Fitness and Wellness Center runs classes from 5:30a until after 6p. It's a labor of love and business success story in downtown Pittsfield. We also cover: the desire to stay healthy throughout the holiday season and not waiting until New Year's, the healing arts, reiki, infusing energy work and rest into a weekly regimen, dietary constitution, lobbying the governor to open fitness centers during the lockdown, the value of working out in groups, doing business in downtown, Aimee's early athletic life and success in cross country running and her entry into the work of fitness in college.
I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Aimee Marshall.
#68 - Chelsea LeSage, actor, producer, model
When you take the leap to New York City to make it in the acting and modeling world with no backup plan, it takes guts. It also takes an ability to adapt quickly and follow the opportunities and paths that one would never have imagined. For Chelsea LeSage it meant solidifying her position as the go-to Lady MacBeth for various production companies in the city, and then carving a undeniable niche in the horror genre. She is a demon slayer in the 21st Century Demon Hunter and also plays the role of an actual demon in the film Bishop's Cove. Growing up, she never liked the idea of modeling, but that was another shift she made as she found her way. Teaming up with friends at We Speak Model Management, she's a part of a movement putting realistic body image at the forefront by putting models first and holding open conversations with brands around authentic representation. Today, Chelsea is now in the process of taking greater control and has evolved into roles as director, producer and a small business owner - operating multiple production companies and "finding peace in the chaos." We also cover: the "golden era of Taconic Theatre" with Jess Passetto, balancing the books and running a small business, falling into the horror genre, the mythos of demons, Shakespeare and Lady MacBeth, the NYC culture, gentrification, tearing her ACL during a modeling gig, the alternative version of John Wilkes Booth, growing a thick skin in the modeling world, the evolving and changing of the modeling industry, maintaining her Instagram account, Currency Coffee, Starbucks, Dunkin', playing the clarinet, guitar, banjo, bassoon and other instruments. I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Chelsea LeSage.
#67 - Kathi Riley - LMT, Acupressure Energy Medicine Body, Mind & Spirit Empowerment Coach
I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Kathi.
#66 - Brian Berkel, Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention, Detective Lieutenant Massachusetts State Trooper (retired)
I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Brian Berkel.
#65 - Jocelyn Moody, cannabis photographer, figure skater
I hope you'll enjoy my conversations with Jocelyn Moody.
#64 - Carol McGlinchey, CRT, past life regression therapist
I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Carol McGlinchey. You can reach Carol at (413) 274-0286 for a free consultation.
#63 - Erin Laundry, LEGO Master, owner of Bottomless Bricks
I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Erin Laundry.
#62 - Jennifer Ward, RD, LDN, CLC, CPT, CHWC, Cigna nutrition specialist
I hope you'll enjoy my conversion with Jennifer Ward.
#61 - Mark Tomasi & MaryBeth Eldridge, Berkshire Art Association
I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with MaryBeth and Mark.
#60 - Evan Valenti, Steven Valenti's Menswear, podcaster
For Evan Valenti, working at Steven Valenti's Menswear was at first a way to earn some extra money while following his dream of being a radio broadcaster. But, it wasn't long until he discovered he had a great knack and, ultimately, a love for the all things menswear. However, this isn't simply a case of following in his Father's footsteps. Instead, Evan has brought a new angle to this legendary downtown business taking calculated risks on new trends, adapting to an ever-changing marketplace, and getting through to the other side of the monumental challenges presented by the pandemic. We cover a lot of ground quickly in this episode, including Evan's decision to choose menswear as a career, his working relationship with his father Steven and a mutual respect that strengthens the business, surviving the pandemic restrictions and making it through to the other side, dress pants that feel like comfy sweatpants (I can vouch for how amazing they are), how the Amazonification of the world has actually strengthened Valenti's niche in the marketplace, bike lanes, Evan's work in radio, his brother Michael J. Valenti's work with Sherman Baldwin on a remarkable time in Berkshire County radio, a great Gene Shalit anecdote when he appeared on the show, techniques of interviewing guests, what Star Wars trilogy to introduce first to kids, the entrepreneurial spirit of the Valenti family, including his mother Carolyn, and more.
I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Evan Valenti!