Creating the Future of Live Theater—Together: Inside the iStage Movement
The Debbie Nigro Show
Live Theater Is Having a Wonderful Resurgence - Wait Till You Hear About Its Next Act! On a recent episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, I caught up with longtime pal, producer and innovator Paul Lambert about an exciting new chapter in entertainment: iStage. What makes iStage so unique? It’s the first community-first approach to building musicals—blending digital engagement with the magic of live performance. Instead of starting with a script and hoping people show up, iStage builds a community around a topic first, then creates a...
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“The Future of Entrepreneurship Is Female, 50+, and AI-Powered”
The Debbie Nigro Show
Kathy McShane is Empowering Women Entrepreneurs 50+ to Embrace the Future On a recent episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, I was thrilled to welcome back longtime friend and unstoppable force in women’s entrepreneurship, Kathy McShane. Kathy is the founder of Ladies Launch with AI, a three-time business founder, and the former head of the U.S. SBA Office of Women’s Business Ownership. These days, she’s on a mission to help women—especially over 50—leverage AI to start and scale businesses faster, smarter, and with more confidence. “AI doesn’t have emotions,” Kathy...
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Ever heard of Shareapy? It's like therapy but with people going through the same thing
The Debbie Nigro Show
As heard on The Debbie Nigro Show Sometimes it really helps to just talk to other caring people about whatever you’re going through. Now there’s a place where you can. I had a talk with Scott Kelsey, the incredibly resilient Founder & CEO of Shareapy—about his groundbreaking wellness platform born from personal tragedy and built to foster connection, healing, and personal growth. After a life-altering fall down a staircase left him with a traumatic brain injury, Scott found himself forced to hit pause—and reflect. "I had to isolate, be in a dark room, and let my brain...
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TREND ALERT: The Rise of the “Halfbacks”
The Debbie Nigro Show
As heard on The Debbie Nigro Show There's a hot new real estate migration trend picking up steam among Northeasterners and former Floridians: they’re becoming “Halfbacks”—people who moved to Florida, found it a little too much (too hot, too humid, too everything), and are now settling halfway back up the East Coast. Their happy medium? Coastal North Carolina. On The Debbie Nigro Show, I got the inside scoop from Jason Faulkner, General Manager of Kingfish Bay Development in Calabash, NC—one of the fastest-growing destinations for these lifestyle-minded movers that's just minutes...
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From Paralyzed Performer to Superhuman CEO: Meet Global Wellness Pioneer Dan Metcalf
The Debbie Nigro Show
This story of mind-blowing resilience is a wake-up call for anyone feeling stuck, sidelined, or afraid to bounce back. On a recent episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, I had the joy of speaking with global wellness pioneer Dan Metcalf—international performer turned brain-injury survivor, Olympic coach, and now CEO of Total Balance Company and Born Superhuman. Hard to believe this superhuman got in touch with me to see if I was interested in uncovering how we could inspire listeners together. Here’s what I read when I opened his blind email to me. Hey Debbie. “I've...
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Lobster Rolls, Lobster Pajamas & Lobster Pop-Ups: Andrea Anthony Is the Queen of Crustacean Cool
The Debbie Nigro Show
If you thought lobster rolls were just food, think again. They're fashion now, too! On The Debbie Nigro Show, Debbie caught up with her “sister from another mother,” Andrea Anthony — the iconic entrepreneur behind Lunch Lobster Roll in Amagansett and Southampton — to talk lobster love, restaurant buzz, and lobster pajamas (yes, really). I try and track the latest trends and surprisingly discovered ‘Lobster Fashion’ was trending? Wow, I was seriously behind the lobster claw curve on this one! Then I searched online to see what I could find out and came upon endless items of...
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Stephen Caldwell Reinvented the Tater Tot – And Fed the Homeless Doing It. A Great Risk It! or Regret It! Comeback Story.
The Debbie Nigro Show
As heard on The Debbie Nigro Show – Wellness Wednesday Edition Move over French fries, there's a new crispy craving in town — and it’s doing more than just satisfying your snack attack. It’s feeding schoolkids, shaking up convenience stores, and making waves nationwide. Meet Stephen Caldwell, founder of , the world’s first patented stuffed shredded potato bite. These aren’t your average tots. Think crispy outside, gooey inside — filled with real Wisconsin cheese, veggies, or meats — all under 60 calories, gluten-free, non-GMO, and made with just five clean ingredients. ...
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Getting Back in the Game! Preventing Pain, Healing Injuries & Staying Active Without Surgery
The Debbie Nigro Show
From The Debbie Nigro Show Podcast Let’s face it—we all want to keep doing the things we love. But one unexpected twist, fall, or awkward step (looking at you, pickleball!) and suddenly we’re dealing with pain that lingers longer than our last relationship. On this episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, Dr. Alan Siegel, co-founder of ProClinix, brings 30+ years of insight on how to recover from injuries, manage chronic pain, and keep your body moving—without relying on surgery or medications. Here are the key takeaways anyone—anywhere—can benefit from: Injury Prevention...
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Shoppers Are Elevating 'Secondhand' Into 1st Position
The Debbie Nigro Show
Thrift Shops & Online Hustles Are Booming On this week’s Trending Tuesday on The Debbie Nigro Show, we talked tariffs, thrift shops, and thriving through turbulence. Whether you’re bargain hunting or business-minded, there’s never been a better time to think secondhand—or second income! According to the 2024 Thrift Industry Report by Savers Value Village 16-18% of Americans shop at thrift stores each year: 12 to 15% shop at consignment or resale stores. Nearly 90% of consumers have shopped or donated at a Thrift Store up from 83% in 2022. It’s The Ultimate...
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Out of Fame and Pain Came Purpose and a Book: A Believer's Perspective
The Debbie Nigro Show
From the Stage to the Soul: Robin Lloyd’s A Believer’s Perspective on Life, Legacy & Faith On the latest episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, I had the real honor of talking with Robin Lloyd—a man whose life journey reads like a Hollywood script… but with a whole lot more heart. Robin started his career as a singer, sharing stages with Marvin Gaye, Tina Turner, James Brown, The Supremes, and more. He was part of the legendary Dick Clark Caravan of Stars, toured with iconic names, and was even managed by Shelly Berger (yep, the longtime manager of The Temptations). But...
info_outlineHave you heard about The Key to The Castle workshops for writers? The next one is taking place in Torre di Cittara, Italy from October 19th to 26th this year.
Kathy Curto, Patricia Dunn, William Papaleo and Angela Derecas Taylor are behind this. It's their signature workshop on the Amalfi Coast but they offer workshops for writers, artists and yoga enthusiasts both online, locally in the NY area and in other cool places abroad.
I found about this when ran into Angela at a writer’s event. I’d known her from her days working in the mayor’s office in my city. When she retired 2 years ago - she started this cool company.
So who is the ideal participant for a writers trip to Italy?
Someone who is open to adventure and discovery as a community of artists.
One benefit of working as an artist in community with others is the gaining of new insight, particularly when it comes to ways of seeing and valuing their own work. This applies on the page, the mat, out in the natural world and on the canvas.
An ideal student also recognizes the importance of getting away from their own day to day life to experience the illuminating effects of travel and the sharing of culture—in all ways.
Many students attend their workshops to collect fresh understandings of their own promise as artists and to gain the variety of perspectives that come from being in a new place.
Kathy and Patricia joined me in the studio to tell us all about it.
Kathy says, “The Key To the Castle is sort of our signature program and that is in October for, and as Pat said, writers really of all levels. We do writing and painting primarily and some meditation and yoga and lots of eating and sort of collaborating with one another. It's really community driven.
We've been doing it for several years now in Cittara. We have a great relationship with the community, with the merchants there, with the people who help us actually organize the housing and the trips.
You actually stay in this beautiful fishing town right the Amalfi coast and everybody gets apartments like the person that arranges you it's like condos Everybody gets their condos and then we actually do the writing right in the castle.”
Seems many great writers just don't really ‘get it’ until they are with other people who bring it out in them and see it.
Pat said, “You can write alone, and you might get to certain things in your work, but until you share it with people you trust, in a safe environment, you're not going to get the kind of feedback that you need to move on to the next step unless you want to wait 25, 30 years.”
Wow. Who the heck has that kind of time to waste? LOL
If this sounds like something you’d like to know more about check out KeysToTheCastleWorkshop.com.
Meanwhile enjoy this podcast of our live conversation on the Debbie Nigro Show.