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An 88-year-old Guy Is My Version of "American Idol"

The Debbie Nigro Show

Release Date: 12/01/2023

The Moke —The Coolest Ride You Didn’t Know You Needed! show art The Moke —The Coolest Ride You Didn’t Know You Needed!

The Debbie Nigro Show

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....

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'Coquito' Magic from the $10M Cocktail Creator! show art 'Coquito' Magic from the $10M Cocktail Creator!

The Debbie Nigro Show

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...

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Behind the Magic of Drone Light Shows: With Pixis Drones’ Pres. Bernard Ozarowski show art Behind the Magic of Drone Light Shows: With Pixis Drones’ Pres. Bernard Ozarowski

The Debbie Nigro Show

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...

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Step Right Up! A Story of Circus Legends, Resilience, and Six Minutes of Perfection show art Step Right Up! A Story of Circus Legends, Resilience, and Six Minutes of Perfection

The Debbie Nigro Show

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...

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Amazon E-Commerce Secrets with Neil Twa: How to Make Passive Income Online show art Amazon E-Commerce Secrets with Neil Twa: How to Make Passive Income Online

The Debbie Nigro Show

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...

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Unlike 'Billions' Brian Rathjen's Veteran Run Wall Street Firm 'Gives' vs 'Takes' show art Unlike 'Billions' Brian Rathjen's Veteran Run Wall Street Firm 'Gives' vs 'Takes'

The Debbie Nigro Show

 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...

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Meet Destiny Bella Kinsey: The 10-Year-Old Filmmaker Making Waves Against Bullying! show art Meet Destiny Bella Kinsey: The 10-Year-Old Filmmaker Making Waves Against Bullying!

The Debbie Nigro Show

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...

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What To Do When Your 'Birds of a Feather' Crew Have Different Political Views show art What To Do When Your 'Birds of a Feather' Crew Have Different Political Views

The Debbie Nigro Show

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...

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Is TGI Fridays Running Out of Fridays? The Scoop on Their Surprising Chapter 11 Filing show art Is TGI Fridays Running Out of Fridays? The Scoop on Their Surprising Chapter 11 Filing

The Debbie Nigro Show

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...

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Help! I’m Drowning in Photos: How Visual Story Media Rescues Your Memories (and Sanity) show art Help! I’m Drowning in Photos: How Visual Story Media Rescues Your Memories (and Sanity)

The Debbie Nigro Show

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...

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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.