Mushroom Coffee? Tried it Yet? Wild Ancient Remedies Are Turning Into Modern Rituals
The Debbie Nigro Show
My best gal pal tried to get me to try mushroom coffee over a year ago. I still haven’t tried it. Recently more friends started mentioning they were drinking it. I thought OK well maybe I should look into it. I’m not the biggest mushroom fan, though I do like them sauteed in olive oil well done and I'm always interested in a good marsala dish! But you’ll never get me to eat a really wild mushroom that my other half (a former chef ) might pick up excitedly while foraging through the woods. No matter how hard he tries to convince me that wild mushrooms are a delicacy, I...
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World-Class Sleep Pioneer Says What You Eat Determines How You Sleep
The Debbie Nigro Show
Sleep issues are a BIG deal—just ask someone who’s been up all night involuntarily. More than half of all Americans have difficulty falling or staying asleep. Good sleep is critical for "Keeping the 'Live' in 'Alive'! I had a ‘Random Run In’ with Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD, a nutrition scientist and a pioneer in the field of sleep health. I was on an Amtrak to Boston, and I happened to choose the seat next to her. She was working diligently on her computer. I kept sneaking peaks at the bright fun patterned shirt she was wearing that I finally figured out reminded...
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The Longevity Trend: Adding More LIFE to Your Years!
The Debbie Nigro Show
Keeping the “Live” in Alive! – This Week’s Wellness Wednesday Recap of the upbeat show and podcast. By Debbie Nigro There’s a massive global shift happening—and it’s all about longevity. Not just living longer… Living BETTER, longer. We’re talking: Adding life to your years Not accepting “my best days are behind me” A whole new chapter mindset Your BEST chapter might be coming… but only if you act like it matters. “Longevity isn’t about adding years to your life—it’s about adding more LIFE to your years.” That’s the whole...
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My “Secret” Project Revealed: How a Random LinkedIn Connection Led Me to Alert Pop™ (And Why I’m So Excited About It!)
The Debbie Nigro Show
Okay… BIG moment. I'm finally shared something I’ve been working on behind the scenes for almost a year—and let me tell you… it’s one of those “how did this even happen?!” stories that I LOVE. It all started with a random LinkedIn connection. You know how sometimes you just click with someone instantly? That’s exactly what happened when Stephen Caldwell connected with me—serial entrepreneur, big thinker, and now… my partner-in-good-commotion. What started as a simple connection turned into a wildly exciting collaboration built on mutual respect, shared...
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Keeping the “Live” in Alive! From Laughter Science to Caffeinated Lollipops! Let's Roll
The Debbie Nigro Show
Some days on the show just feel good from the first minute… and this was one of them. I kicked off rocking my “Attitude is Everything” mug, reminding myself—and all of you—that good energy is a choice! And on Wellness Wednesday, I’m all about finding ways for us all to feel more alive, more connected, and honestly… more joyful. And guess what? Science says I’m onto something. The Science of Laughter (Yes, It’s a Real Thing!) Came upon a story about—the science behind why we laugh. Turns out… laughter isn’t just about something being funny....
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Who is "The Most Interesting WOMAN in the World"? (Surprise! She’s Over 50 and Still in the Game!)
The Debbie Nigro Show
Some people do their best thinking on a walk. Me? I do my best thinking in the shower. So I was thinking in the shower about how “The Most Interesting Man in the World” is back — yes, that guy, Jonathan Goldsmith, returning as the Dos Equis spokesperson after a ten-year hiatus, now with a funny “amnesia” twist and a whole lot of nostalgia. And while I do appreciate a sexy, wise older gentleman with an open collar and a “stay thirsty, my friends” vibe, my shower thoughts flowed to this thought: “Okay… but where is the campaign for “The Most Interesting WOMAN...
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When Travel, Humor & Human Connection Collide
The Debbie Nigro Show
When Travel, Humor & Human Connection Collide: A Joyful Conversation with Melissa Rodway Some of the best stories on The Debbie Nigro Show start with a “premonition.” You know… that little voice that says to someone, “I should reach out to Debbie.” And when that voice belongs to someone with great energy, curiosity, and a whole lotta heart? I listen. That’s exactly how I connected with Melissa Rodway—Toronto-based travel storyteller, longtime host of Fly Travel Radio, part-time adventurer, occasional stand-up comic, and author of the five-star Amazon hit The People You...
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More Parts Than a Chicken Nugget—and Still Rocking Life
The Debbie Nigro Show
Some conversations stop you in your tracks—in the very best way. This Wellness Wednesday on The Debbie Nigro Show, I met a man whose story is the definition of still in the game. Meet B.J. Odom—radio veteran, comedian, podcaster, author, and a living, breathing miracle. B.J. has survived two transplants (a heart and a kidney), multiple surgeries, radiation treatments, and a lifetime of medical curveballs that started before he was even two years old. Doctors once told his parents he likely wouldn’t live past his teens. He’s now 70 years young… and funnier than ever. His...
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“Leave It to Norwegians in Florida to Convince Me Cold Weather Is Good for Me”
The Debbie Nigro Show
Some of the best radio & podcast conversations start exactly where you don’t expect them to…like poolside in Florida—in bathing suits, no makeup, and not a business card in sight. That’s how I met Kari Berit—in what I call a “Random Run-In.” Kari and her hubby were on two lounge chairs in the sun at a hotel pool in Florida. The only other slice of sun not being blocked by our mutual hotel building was hitting a lounge chair right next to them. This cold, pale New Yorker wanted that only other sunny spot, but I didn’t want to be a too-close lounger (kinda the same as a...
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Time to Spread Joy (and Maybe Some Deductible Dollars): Who You Givin’ To?
The Debbie Nigro Show
Year-End Giving Reminder: The last few weeks of the year are when most charitable giving happens — people feel more generous, tax benefits kick in for those who itemize, and many folks use year-end bonuses or appreciated stock to support causes they believe in. It’s the perfect moment to make a meaningful impact, especially with an organization that stretches every donor dollar farther than you ever could on your own. Why United Way Might Be One of the Smartest Ways to Give Back To Business Monday You know how I like to start a Monday: a little caffeine, a little...
info_outlineWhen Travel, Humor & Human Connection Collide: A Joyful Conversation with Melissa Rodway
Some of the best stories on The Debbie Nigro Show start with a “premonition.” You know… that little voice that says to someone, “I should reach out to Debbie.” And when that voice belongs to someone with great energy, curiosity, and a whole lotta heart? I listen.
That’s exactly how I connected with Melissa Rodway—Toronto-based travel storyteller, longtime host of Fly Travel Radio, part-time adventurer, occasional stand-up comic, and author of the five-star Amazon hit The People You Meet.
And let me tell you… this conversation was pure joy.
From Airport Observations to Life Adventures
Melissa’s book was born from heartfelt emails she sent home while traveling through Southeast Asia and China—emails so good, friends begged for more. Sixteen years later, she finally turned them into a book. (Proof that timing is everything, people!)
Right out of the gate, she hooks you with humor—like watching President Obama on TV in an airport while wondering why the woman next to her didn’t care… “Maybe she already has dental.” 😂
That’s Melissa. Observant. Funny. Relatable.
Travel, Romance & Letting Your Guard Down
We talked about how travel changes you—how being on the road makes you more open, more authentic, and more willing to connect.
That’s how she met “the guy.”
Yes, that guy.
A fellow cyclist. Same passions. Same energy. A long-distance love story born on a trip.
And as Melissa so beautifully put it: sometimes travel romances stay where they began… and sometimes you bring them home and say, “Oh boy… now I have to fit this human into my life.”
(Relatable?)
The Magic of Noticing the Little Things
One of my favorite parts of her book? The tiny moments.
Like discovering a self-sanitizing toilet seat cover in a public bathroom for the first time—and wishing her grandmother could’ve seen it. If you’ve ever heard a grandma yell, “Put paper on the seat!” from another stall, you felt that one.
Melissa gets it: the little things are what connect us.
Leeches, Luxury & Life Lessons
We also dove into her wild jungle hike in Laos—three days, brutal heat, not enough water, and… leeches. Everywhere.
On the flip side? Traveling with a luxury trip designer boyfriend meant fancy hotels, endless pools, and the pressure to “do it all” in 24 hours.
Her takeaway?
The best stories don’t always come from luxury. They come from real life.
Amen to that.
Strangers Who Don’t Stay Strangers
At the heart of Melissa’s book is this beautiful idea: the people you meet while traveling often leave lasting marks on your life.
Like the fearless, wildly eccentric 70-year-old woman who wandered through Asia like she owned the place. Brilliant one moment. Totally unpredictable the next. A reminder that courage has no age limit.
Some connections last. Some don’t.
But all of them matter.
Why This Conversation Mattered
What I loved most about Melissa is her honesty. She’s not a “perfect Instagram traveler.” She’s real. Curious. Thoughtful. Sometimes uncomfortable. Always growing.
Her stories remind us that:
- You don’t have to be fearless to be adventurous
- You don’t have to be perfect to be inspiring
- And you never know which stranger will change you
That’s life. That’s travel. That’s storytelling.
Final Thought
If you love travel stories, human connection, honest conversations, and a good laugh (and you know I do!), The People You Meet is for you.
And if you missed our chat, don’t worry—here’s the podcast of our conversation so you can come along for the ride.
Because in a world that moves fast, stories like this remind us why slowing down, paying attention, and connecting still matters.
Onward!
Debbie