The Debbie Nigro Show

Debbie was the winner of the prestigious ‘Best Nationally Syndicated Talk Show of The Year’ – three years in a row, from American Women in Radio & Television. Nobody sees the glass of Cabernet half full like Debbie. She is fresh air with a magnetic flare.

Haven’t Seen a Fazzino? You Should - Makes People Happy 04/12/2024

Haven’t Seen a Fazzino? You Should - Makes People Happy I’ve been focusing on people who make the world a more beautiful place this week. People who through their work, their ethics, their integrity, their talent, their genius just makes it happier for the rest of us. Charles Fazzino has been called one of the most famous pop artists in the world. I've been a huge fan of his style of pop art since the minute I first saw it in a window decades ago in New York City. I would stand there and stare in the window amazed at every little intricate pop-up thing he thought of to make a piece come to life. Often because I was in NYC it would be NYC buildings and street scenes. But Charles does that for many cities around the world. Charles likes to be called a pop culture historian. And I know he's got a bit of a sense of humor because of the way he does the layering of the pieces in his 3D art where he shows the best of pop culture and the best of people's lives in places and events around the world. And I do mean around the world. He’s become internationally renowned. He gets commissioned to do pieces for the Grammys and The Olympics and The Super Bowl every year. When I saw his Super Bowl piece this year I was sparked to take a shot at seeing if he was around to join me on my show. We live in the same city but have never met. I figured he’d say yes because I know he has a warm heart. He donates a lot of his pieces of art to help good causes raise money, one of which I personally helped auction off years ago at a charity function. For those who still have never seen an unmistakable Fazzino work of art, I asked Charles to explain it to somebody in words? “Yes, easy. I always tell people, if you're not looking at my artwork, or you're just seeing it online, or looking at it in a book or a magazine or whatever, it's hard to see the three dimensions. So, I describe it that it's kind of like a pop-out book, even a pop-out children's book, even though they're not, you know, children's artwork." "When I was a kid, my mother was from Finland and she always collected these European pop-out books, and she had them all around the house. My brother's sister and I were always enthralled with these cool pop-out books from Europe that were handmade, and she had hundreds of them. So, when I went to school, I kind of, you know, I wanted to make a pop-out book and that's kind of like how it all started.” Most of the time Charles is sitting at his desk and drawing artwork that touches many people young and old. The intricacy, the colors and the designs make people happy. I asked him one of my signature questions. How does your head work inside? Meaning what is going on in his head all day long to be able to produce these kinds of unique pieces of work? “Well, I think it's a lot of my if I was just an artist sitting in my studio drawing, I don't know if I'd have so many ideas as I do. And I can't even implement the idea. I get it, you know, it's just very, there's so many things I want to draw and so many things that I want to show through my artwork, but not enough time and not enough hours in the day to do it. So I think the travel, when I travel to certain places, it really gives me and opens up my eyes to a lot of the world. I always come back with new ideas. I always carry a little sketchbook. I have my phone at the ready whenever I'm traveling, taking pictures, and it helps and reminds me of what I saw and always gives me these new ideas. People always ask me, where do you come up with all these ideas? I say, well, a lot of it has to do with places that I go.” One of his latest pieces pays homage to our oceans to bring awareness. It’s a departure for Charles artistically, because instead of drawing buildings he’s drawing sea life, and coral, and all the things that are under the sea. “When you look at the piece, he says, “three quarters of it is ocean, but above the ocean, you'll look, and you can see cities from around the world and all of those cities that are impactful in our environment." What about those helmets he does for the NFL? “So many years ago, it was in 2001, when the NFL licensing committee asked if I was interested in commemorating Super Bowl because they saw what I was doing for Major League Baseball. And I was like, sure. They said, we'd like you to be our official artist. And I was like, sign me up. Sounds good to me. And I've been doing that now for 23 years.” "They just continue to, you know, let me know where the venue is going to be and, you know, what I should draw and then, you know, how it should be depicted and so forth. And then I make their official poster every year. So many years ago, when I first started that, they sent me helmets in the mail and they said, see what you can do with these helmets and used equipment. And I received this huge, huge box. And it took me a few years to figure out how to make the three-dimensional drawings tick off and stick onto the helmets and make them look beautiful." "So, I've been doing those for many years and we sell them and show them every year at whatever Super Bowl, wherever the city is that the Super Bowl is being hosted in. And we set up a whole collection of my helmets and so forth. And we do the same thing for Major League Baseball. I paint on baseballs and bats and batting helmets." I love to be challenged and paint people's wishes. Enjoy meeting Charles Fazzino in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/30799738

Alvin Clayton Paints Humanity Colorfully to Take Color Out of The Picture 04/12/2024

Alvin Clayton Paints Humanity Colorfully to Take Color Out of The Picture I can’t get enough of my friend Alvin Clayton. He is bursting with talent and great energy, and I think he makes the world a more beautiful place through all he does and especially through his art through which he tries to speak to people’s humanity. Recently I felt compelled to introduce Alvin to as many people as possible who may not know about him just to be able to see the amazing art he creates. Famous people collect his stuff. People like Robert De Niro and Denzel Washington and Halle Berry just to name a few. Alvin has a fabulous restaurant in New Rochelle, NY called Alvin & Friends which has won many awards. The food is contemporary Caribbean with a Black American South influence, that caters to a discerning customers, and the vibe is always cool with live music often. A self -taught artist inspired by Matisse, Alvin's extraordinarily colorful art literally blasts from the walls of his restaurant. My boyfriend Dave and I often pop in to Alvin’s for a drink and we love when Alvin comes over for a hug and hello and pulls out his phone to show us photos of the latest, greatest pieces of art he has created. Every single time I think to myself, my God this guy is ridiculously talented! “Well, I think what I try to do with my art is it speaks to people's humanity. And I think our humanity is very much connected and is a common ground. And I think if you reach to humanity, color becomes out of the picture. You get yourself into that situation. So, what I try to do with my art is to bring the viewer into that moment or that situation and say, wow, you know what, I've experienced that with my friend. And it's not about color because we all experience it.” I don’t know how Alvin Clayton does it all. He’s married 30 years to a brilliant beautiful woman, has three children, runs a bustling restaurant that is usually packed with interesting people from all walks of life, then goes home and stays up all night painting. He’s a good-looking son-of-a-gun too and must not eat all that fabulous food he makes because he’s been a professional model for 25 years. Alvin was the first African American to have eight full pages in GQ magazine. He’s worked for every catalog you could think of, and done major campaigns for Banana Republic, and has shot for Ralph Lauren. Maybe it’s all that worrying he does that keeps him thin. LOL “There could be 99 people in my restaurant having an amazing time and possibly one person that did not have the perfect experience and that would wake me out of my sleep. I mean, I’ve gotten a bit better on it, but that still bothers me. I'm genuinely people-oriented, and so my whole thing is to seeing people being in a good space and I think that's what I do with my art too. Alvin Try’s To Paint Solutions To The Issues Bothering Us “I mean I paint what some of the issues are that are bothering us and dividing us or whatever, but while I'm painting that I'm also thinking okay we know what the bad things are, what are the solutions, right? And so that's always the final chapter of whatever I do, it's solution.” Alvin believes, “We have more in common than we do that separates us”. About His Painting of a Woman with Alzheimer’s He Just Showed Me “Yes, so I was sitting next to this woman in the Dr’s office, her daughter brought her in actually, she had Alzheimer's and the daughter had to go in for her appointment. She asked me if I could keep an eye on her mom while she was in. I said, of course. And so while she was there, I was looking at her. She was dressed really lovely. You could tell she had style and grace. And there was something about her aura that just seemed to be, you could tell she was a beautiful person even though a lot was missing right now. And she was going into her pocketbook and somehow this image came out that she's searching for a pocketbook of lost memories. And so I took her picture and did this painting with my colors and everything else, I researched what the symbol was for Alzheimer's and so on the pocketbook that she had, instead of having a Saint Laurent or one of the trademarks, I had this insignia for the Alzheimer's Association. Even though the disease is devastating I felt she looked angelic”. My Gift Is Not Art But Rather The Art Of Seeing Opportunities Others Don’t After seeing this work of art, Alvin created, it sparked my art of seeing opportunities between people and then bringing them together to make something actually happen instead of just thinking about it or talking about doing it ‘someday’. It’s what I really get a kick out of doing for people. My media world is filled with innovative people from many worlds, and I get to know and understand people on a deeper level than most through what I do. These conversations and relationships stick inside my head like Velcro. (I’m always ripping off two separate pieces of Velcro from inside my brain and sticking them together for match lol. Funny I never explained it like that before but makes sense to me.) I’d just done an interview with the Chairmen of an upcoming Alzheimer's Association Gala fundraiser so I introduced the idea of a collaboration where Alvin’s Alzheimer’s painting could somehow be used to help raise funds for the organization. It’s in motion! Enjoy this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. In case you haven’t noticed ‘Someday’ has arrived and when it comes to trying out new ideas you know what I always say … “Risk It or Regret It”! Get in touch if you need to brainstorm who’s inside my head that could be a match for whatever you’re passionate about. [email protected] Follow @AlvinClaytonArtists on Instagram. While you’re at it you can follow me too @therealdebbienigro /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/30797053

We’re at The Beginning of The Next American Business Revolution 04/11/2024

We’re at The Beginning of The Next American Business Revolution I'm All About Innovation and Innovators So I Love This Story. In his new book “Clean Economy Now: Stories from the Front Lines of an American Business Revolution" Bob Keefe the Executive Director of E2 a national nonpartisan business group of 10,000 business leaders which has been around for 25 years, describes his recent travels across the country. He wanted to witness first-hand all the clean energy projects in motion because of the significant private sector investment and job creation that’s happened incredibly fast over the past 20 months since The Inflation Reduction Act. Bob checked in on my show live from the Annual Society of Environmental Journalists, at the University of Pennsylvania co-hosted by the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media, in collaboration with the Annenberg Public Policy Center. . He joined me live just minutes after the recent earthquake we had in the northeast rattled my radio studio in Greenwich CT. Though the quake did hit parts of PA, and Bob and I had some fun talking about earthquakes in general since Bob is from L.A., Bob said he didn’t really feel it, but what he mentioned he was feeling is an economic earthquake. It's an economic revolution like we haven't seen says Bob. And he’s making sure we are all paying attention. “I truly believe that we are at the advent of an American economic revolution, the likes of which we have not seen in this country in generations, maybe if ever. And let me tell you why I say that. “Right now, my organization is tracking clean energy job projects around the, or clean energy projects around the country since the passage of the landmark IRA, the Inflation Reduction Act and some other policies 20 months ago. And what we know is this, there are more than 300 major factories and other projects, clean energy projects, coming out of the ground across America right now. $118 billion worth of private sector investment. That's companies that are putting money into these projects. “ “These aren't government grants or loans. These are companies investing in America. A hundred thousand jobs have been already announced just in those past 20 months. When in this country have we ever seen 300 factories and other major projects coming out of the ground? When have we seen this kind of investment?” “We have foreign companies that are investing in the United States and creating jobs here now versus taking American jobs and doing stuff overseas. And it's not just creating all this economic growth, it's putting America on competitive again with the rest of the world.” “We understand that we can't have a good economy without a good environment, and we can't have a good environment without a good economy. “ Bob points out that In New York alone there have been about a dozen major projects that E2 has tracked. $800 million worth of private sector investment in New York from companies, 3,000 plus jobs created. Bob and I talked about the offshore wind farm, the nation's first commercial offshore wind farm that just opened off Montauk, New York. Twelve turbines are going to provide enough juice for about 70,000 homes said Bob. And Bob mentioned there's another company that's building a converter station to essentially take offshore wind energy and convert it and get it onto the grid into people’s homes. Bob and I discussed many specific projects, besides the offshore wind farms including solar panel factories, battery technology and the potential of hydrogen as a clean fuel. I was captivated by what’s happening and I think you will be too. There’s company called Air Products is now going to clean hydrogen and they’re building one of the first factories in Messina, New York. In Connecticut, there's a company called Mott Corporation that's building filtration systems for use in things like this hydrogen. And mentioned there's another company called NEL, N-E-L, that relocated here from the Netherlands who are building something called electrolyzers that are going to be used by hydrogen plants like the one being built in Messina to produce hydrogen. Right now he said, there are something like 30 or 40, battery factories being built in America and about 60 solar factories popping up all around the country. And l this is happening in places that Bob points out, you would not expect it to happen. “As part of the book, I started off in a place called Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Well, Kings Mountain is home to an old lithium mine that was first established in the 1950s. At one time, it supplied lithium for the Manhattan Project, right? We all know what that is. Well, we have a company now that's restarting that mine because to supply batteries to manufacturers throughout the Southeast and other places. “ Drive down the street to Dalton, Georgia. And Dalton, Georgia used to be the carpet capital of the world, maybe it still is. Well right now a company called Q-Cells is building what will be the biggest, one of the biggest solar panel factories in the Western Hemisphere. Wow. In little old Dalton, Georgia. You know go a little further down the street in Georgia to Savannah and Kia and Hyundai are building one of the biggest electric vehicle factories on the planet. This is incredible stuff happening. “ I learned that Georgia is the number one state for clean energy projects right now. And that North Carolina has more investments in clean energy projects than any state. But big things are also happening in Alabama, Louisiana, New York, and I Connecticut.” Arnold Schwarzenegger did the foreword to Bobs book. “When I think about how far America has come in building a cleaner economy, I can't help but smile. It's hard to imagine we can fail, but make no mistake, we can If we do, it won't be a failure of innovation, of business. It will be a failure by us to come together to keep this great progress going. It will be a failure by us, collective us, to put aside our ideologies and political divisions and our complacency. It will be a failure for us too.” “If we do fail, it won't be a failure of innovation, or of business. It will be a failure by us to come together to keep this great progress going. It will be a failure by us, the collective us, to put aside our ideologies and political divisions and our complacency. “ Enjoy this fascinating interview about the current American Economic revolution in this podcast of my live conversation with Bob Keefe, Executive Director of E2, a national nonpartisan business group of 10,000 business leaders, on The Debbie Nigro Show. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/30783823

I’m Stuck on Following Stephanie Stuckey’s Comeback Road Trip 04/04/2024

I’m Stuck on Following Stephanie Stuckey’s Comeback Road Trip Stephanie Stuckey a lawyer by trade, who spent 14 years in the Georgia House of Representatives and was also appointed along the way by the mayor of Atlanta as Atlanta’s 'Chief Resilience Officer', is sure showing how resilient she is. And how resilient her family business is! Stephanie is now on the road herself promoting Stuckey’s Corporation - the iconic roadside stops famous for its pecan candies and souvenirs that her grandfather founded in 1937. She bought the company in 2019 for $500,000 and has been spearheading the brands big return. It’s a big year for brand comebacks as evidenced by news that other companies like Crocs and Claire’s have made significant comebacks in recent years after hitting a low point financially and culturally in the late 2010s . According to Retail Brew the top executives of both those companies pointed to strategic shifts that emphasized allowing customer feedback to guide decisions.” Stephanie Stuckey, the 3rd generation CEO of the family business, is creating a great business comeback story too. She’s making Stuckey’s both profitable and a household name again! And doing a great grassroots job of it. When Stephanie bought Stuckey's, the company was operating at a deficit and had only 13 original free-standing stores in 10 states that still had the signature original teal roofs in addition to around 65 licensed Stuckey's Express store-within- a -store locations. In 6 months, she restored Stuckey's to profitability, by shifting the focus from licensed Stuckey's store locations to the company's classic line of candies. She also expanded the brand back into manufacturing when she bought a pecan shelling and candy plant in Wrens, Georgia in 2021. Candy and nut sales have since increased to almost 50% of the company’s revenue as the brand expands to more national retail locations. Stephanie is now taking road trips to promote pecans and the "great American road trip' both a big part of Stuckey's Corporation growth. “I'm all over the country and here's why I'm traveling. I am giving speeches, and I am attending trade shows. So, it's not checking on stores per se because we don't own or operate the original Stuckey’s that were still standing. We have the rights to those stores and to our name so they can they pay us a licensing fee, but we don't own those stores. So really my trips are about I give speeches and I love talking to groups and sharing the Stuckey’s story. So, I speak at a lot of conferences, mostly corporate and associations and then I attend trade shows to get more retailers to sell our product and then wherever I go, part of the deal is usually my travels covered by the host of the event. My travel includes that I get a rental car so I will carve out an extra day. I'll ask for that's where I take a lot of road trips." "And then I'll pull over and I'll find out from our team where is there a store in the area that carries Stuckey's products. So, there could be a little local ice cream shop that sells our candy, or we could reach off the chain so we're in Hobby Lobby and at home. So I like to also stop at retailers that don't carry our product and take photos and I evaluate what their back set looks like and then I'll reach out to them and say I love your store by the way I was here here's a photo of me at your store I would love to see you carry our product that's what's missing on your shelf and I've picked out a lot of accounts that way." "I'm road tripping, but I'm also hustling. We're always hustling if we're entrepreneurs.” Stephanie Stuckey hopes to eventually own a handful of Stuckey’s interstate stores to revive the original premise behind the company as a “roadside oasis” while continuing to build up the pecan side of the business to secure its future for another 85 years. Speaking of pecans Stephanie shared a little a secret her grandfather taught her about how to open pecans. “You get two pecans in your hand, and you squeeze them together and it will crack them.” I’m really enjoying watching this female entrepreneur bring her family brand back to life from the days when her grandpa started this as a roadside stand. Stephanie has a new book out called “UNSTUCK” which is available on her website as well as Amazon for the same price, but if you buy it on the Stuckey’s website it’s autographed. “The entrepreneurial journey is so much more fun if you bring others along for the ride” she said. I'm along for her ride! And she did invite me along for the ride because I too am a lover of road trips. Told her you bring the pecans, and I’ll bring some meatballs. Makes sense I think for a Georgia gal traveling with a NY gal. LOL Speaking of NY, Stephanie hasn’t been here in 4 years and would love to do some ‘speaking and Stuckey’s business’ in NY. I love her story and her entrepreneurial spirit. Meet Stephanie Stuckey in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. The Debbie Nigro Show on WGCH Radio. If you want to catch the show it airs Weekdays 11-12noon ET in the NY/CT area on 1490 on the dial. But you can listen from anywhere, just hit the ‘Listen Live’ button on WGCH.com. You can find podcasts of feature interviews on DebbieNigro.com. Sign up for the free 'Risk It or Regret It" newsletter too. It's fun, relevant and motivating. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/30680743

7M People in U.S. Living with Alzheimer’s 2X As Many Family & Friends Are Providing Care But There's' Hope 04/04/2024

7M People in U.S. Living with Alzheimer’s 2X As Many Family & Friends Are Providing Care But There's' Hope Seven Million People Are Living with Alzheimer’s Disease in the US. 80,000 in CT alone & twice as many unpaid family members and friends are providing their care. But the money being raised is making a difference. Nobody signs up for a brain disorder that gets worse over time. Alzheimer’s is a gradual decline in memory, thinking, behavior and social skills. These changes completely affect somebody's ability to function. The bad news is the number of people with Alzheimer’s is increasing, but the good news is there are real advancements in treatment. These advancements are being made possible by the continued donations to this cause. There’s a big gala benefit coming up in April in Greenwich CT (where I do my live show from) that hopes to help families in this dementia journey. I invited Tim & Kelly Helstein the Chairs of The Alzheimer’s Association upcoming ‘Celebrating Hope Gala’ being held April 26th at the Delamar Greenwich Harbor in in Greenwich CT, to explain where the money raised goes to. They’ve been caregivers and know how hard it is. Tim whose mom passed from Alzheimer’s shared; “My mother's life ended way too soon and no sot only is it something that Kelly and I are doing to honor my mother through this but also to help educate and care and prevent the future generations from having to go through what my family, what my father, what Kelly and I have had to go through. You know, we spend our days telling stories to our kids who love it. In the morning, they always say, you know, tell us a new story about Nanny. Tell us a story that was really funny.” “It's because she can't share it herself. So really what Celebrating Hope is about is not only bringing awareness and celebrating all those who have moved on because of Alzheimer’s, but also celebrating the hope that we can change this, that tomorrow is a new day, that tomorrow the sun rises and there will be what we call a white flower, the first person who has overcome and has been cured from Alzheimer's. And science has been doing so much and the doctors and the FDA, and so we're excited to see what tomorrow does hold but it's going to be a gathering for all of us to really celebrate that hope.” Kelly Helstein, Tim’s wife shared; “Like Tim said you know we have three young kids and they are missing their grandmother so much and that’s a good background story about why we're involved, but also I want to point out that it's just a great way to honor those who are struggling with the disease. You know, that's the first reason we stepped into this role, but also it's giving us a platform to raise awareness and funds to support research and almost just empower others who are going through the same experience just to link arm in arm and say, us too, and just share our story with them and they share it with others and just create awareness all around.” The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Kristen Cusato, the Director of Communication for the Alzheimer's Association Connecticut Chapter & New England Research Champion also joined the show. She discussed the risk factors associated with Alzheimer's disease and emphasized the importance of lifestyle interventions to reduce the risk. Kristin also shared there are real advancements in treatment and that the availability of these treatments can change the course of the disease. The powerful CT chapter offers 24/7 support for the public, healthcare professionals and caregivers. This chapter has influenced public policy changes and provided support to Alzheimer’s and dementia research in the hope of finding a cure. There are many fundraising events held around the country to support Alzheimer's research and awareness. And the money is really making a difference. I encourage you to participate and support Alzheimer's research and awareness efforts. The 11th Annual ‘Celebrating Hope Gala’ is being held in Greenwich, CT April 26th. Enjoy this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. The Debbie Nigro Show on WGCH Radio. If you want to catch the show it airs Weekdays 11-12noon ET in the NY/CT area on 1490 on the dial. But you can listen from anywhere, just hit the ‘Listen Live’ button on WGCH.com. Catch the podcasts of interviews after on DebbieNigro.com /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/30680623

At Prospector Movie Theater: Employees with Disabilities Sparkle & Transform Passions into Professions 03/29/2024

How To Stand Out By Going All In? Just Ask Tiffany McQuaid 03/29/2024

How To Stand Out By Going All In? Just Ask Tiffany McQuaid There are surely a lot of real estate people in the country, but Tiffany McQuaid figured out a way to really stand out. Her real estate agency in Jupiter Florida has been called the most innovative agency in the country. What makes her stand out above all others in the space? She said all her efforts have ‘caring at the core'. Tiffany does ‘little things’ in her business that bring people joy. It’s something she’s been doing since she was a little girl. She decided to write a book about what works so well for her, to share with others Her book just out is called “The Nth Degree” How To Stand Out By Going All In” by Tiffany McQuaid with Bruce Littlefield. In our live radio conversation Tiffany shared the difficult story about how she came to realize how much ‘little' things matter to people. On Christmas Day when Tiffany was 10, her Dad took his life leaving her Mom alone to raise her and her sister. Her Mom was obviously struggling badly, but Tiffany would try and do little things to make her smile. She noticed those little things mattered a lot. When Tiffany speaks of her success and how all her efforts have ‘caring at the core', it’s those little things she does for others and clients that she is referring to. She says it’s the key to what unlocked her real estate success and what will unlock your success. “Well, I think without a doubt, I would say like this little creative flair that allows you the opportunity to not just be a black and white broker, just looking at things as they're presented, but instead kind of pulling back and looking at ways to fill voids and be different and unique and create what I'd like to call delightful or surprise and delight. I love to do that, which ultimately creates memorable experiences. And in doing that, it's just not status quo. I think so many people, and whether it's companies or individuals, we tend to go through life sometimes just maintaining, you know, we're just maintaining our day, we're staying in our comfort zone, we're, you know, doing what's expected of us and not really pushing ourselves sometimes to really find a way to be different and get out of that comfort zone and be uncomfortable. What’s the significance of 'INth' in the INth Degree? And what do they have to do with showing people how to recognize opportunities for themselves? Tiffany says “The book breaks down into seven keys and all of the keys start with the word "IN'. So everything from INtrepidness, which kind of goes through all of my life bumps and failures and bruises, you know that I think everyone can relate to those stories and kind of guide you through some opportunities and there's even what's kind of cool and what I felt was so important when we were putting this together was INteractiveness." “Throughout the book there's what we call INquiries. So you know as I'm talking about different things that I've gone through an INquiry will pop up to kind of get you thinking. So from INtrepidness to INvigoration, and INtention, INspiration, INgenuity, INcentive, INfluence, every single one of those all touch base and you will walk away with something I am confident. You will walk away with something from at the very least each key, if not multiples from each key. They're very easy to employ into your life and they all work for me.” Enjoy this podcast of my live conversation with Tiffany McQuaid on The Debbie Nigro Show. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/30593903

Pinky Cole aka “Slutty Vegan” is a Class Act Her Celeb Backed Restaurant Chain Has a BIG Mission 03/20/2024

Pinky Cole aka “Slutty Vegan” is a Class Act Her Celeb Backed Restaurant Chain Has a BIG Mission Pinky Cole aka Slutty Vegan is WOW. There are a thousand reasons why. She’s a very innovative gal, entrepreneur, and really good human. Pinky Cole owns and operates the celebrity backed restaurant chain ‘Slutty Vegan’ with 11 locations and counting including Atlanta, Birmingham, Baltimore, Dallas, and NY. She’s opening a new location in NYC this weekend on Bleecker Street making that 3 spots now in NY with the others in Harlem and Brooklyn. “When you walk into Slutty Vegan, you will see yourself “, said Pinky. “It doesn't matter if you are white, black, blue, yellow, gay, straight, you belong here, and this is a safe space for you and I want my business to continue to speak for that. So Bleeker will speak to all those things and I'm excited about it and I'm excited about our expansion. “ “You know, and this is my first time announcing this, Bleeker Street is an ode to the LGBTQ community and the movement, right, and LGBTQ rights. So, a lot of the decor and the aesthetics will speak to that. And I'm very intentional on my approach and how I decorate my stores because I want everybody to see themselves, right?” Last year Time Magazine named Pink Cole to their ‘100 Next List” Pinky Cole has also won the ‘Compassionate Chef Award’, has her own foundation to empower generations of color to break the cycle of poverty, and a new book “I Hope You Fail” to show by example how failures and setbacks are steppingstones in disguise. Famed restauranteur Danny Meyer, wrote that her fans adore her sassy, sexy attitude and that she not only reinvented the way people think about a vegan restaurant, but she’s also turned classic roadside burger fair into a rollicking party. It’s worth mentioning that according to the latest statistics only like 5% of Americans identify as vegan or vegetarian, but most people want to eat healthier these days and so many who don't call themselves vegans or vegetarians are drawn to the food Pinky makes and creates because Pinky makes it fun. Pinky Cole’s Mission is Powerful Pinky Cole does everything with intention. She wanted to create food that was accessible to people who are in underserved communities and residents of food deserts that was healthy and comforting and fun, and boy did she nail it. Aisha Pinky Cole, American restaurateur, operator, and owner of Slutty Vegan, was born and raised in Baltimore. Her parents were Jamaican immigrants and Rastafarians, and her mother was a musician in a reggae group, I probably would have partied with. I love reggae music. Pinky grew up following a traditional Rastafarian vegetarian diet, eating rice and peas and legumes and beans which is how it all began. The SLUTTY VEGAN Name After reading all about her I thought I love this girl. But am I really gonna promote a slutty vegan on my show? LOL. Well, everybody else did so sure! Nobody knows better than me that in order to get attention in this world, the words you choose matter. But Pinky knew that. “That name helped me to build a $100 million brand. All righty, all righty, all righty. OK, so I'll start there. Was it easy? Yes and no. The yes part of it being easy was the fact that I'm trained as a television producer, so I know what's going to make people pay attention. I know what's going to make them say, oh, damn, I've got to pay attention to this, right? But then on the flip side, there are a lot of people, conservative people who live in our country, right, who haven't adapted to the idea that you can re-engineer words, right? You can put your own meaning to words. And that's exactly what I did. When I came up with slutty vegan, I knew that I had to be in your face, racy and raunchy in order for you to think about vegan food, because if I would have named it Pinky's Vegan, you wouldn't come to get it. You wouldn't want to eat it. “ The Pinky Cole Foundation is like Urgent Care Pinky started a foundation to formalize a way to give her money to people who need help because she just loves helping people. “I found that there’s a generational wealth gap, a big one”, she said. “And I wanted to help bridge that generational wealth gap by providing opportunities for entrepreneurs and creatives. “ “So my foundation is not like the average foundation. You know how some foundations have all these thrusts and all of these programmatic things? This ain't that.” “What this is, we are like urgent care. If there is an immediate need, we solve an immediate problem. So we paid the rents for local businesses. We provided fruits and vegetables for people in the community. I've given out 800 LLCs to a graduating class of seniors so that they could be able to jumpstart their pathway to entrepreneurship. We've partnered with the Department of Juvenile Justice to provide second chance opportunities to ex-offenders. We've paid for lights. We provide life insurance in partnership with Prudential to black men who make $30,000 or less in Atlanta.” “So, when you talk about doing the work, I've been doing the work for a long time, and yes, business is good. Like burgers, pies, and fries, and helping people to reimagine food is the name of the game. But what we do with the resources and that platform is help people and build a sense of community and collaboration and showing people that we can be a resource to you to be able to follow all your wildest dreams. I believe that that truly is my life's mission.” Pretty Amazing Stuff eh? I told you she was a WOW! Then There’s Her Book: “I Hope You Fail” Pinky shows by example I her book how failures and setbacks are stepping stones in disguise. “You know, it's funny, she said. “I did a commencement speech at my alma mater. I was the youngest commencement speaker. The theme was, I hope you fail, and that was the inspiration for the book. I talked about how when I was in college, I was everything. I had every title. I was the head of the sorority. I was all tof he things. I was the queen of the school. Then when I graduated, I couldn't find a job. Nobody would hire me. As I maneuvered through life, I realized that life is going to life. Things are going to happen whether we'd like to believe it or not but it's about how you re-engineer when bad things happen. For me losing my restaurant in Harlem and having a grease fire and my car getting repoed and me losing my apartment, to my wages getting garnished, to getting sued and slutty vegan, a lot of things have happened to me but all of those things that happened did one thing and you know, just the education of it all allowed me to be better when it happened all over again.” So this book is for the person who's trying to figure it out that has had things happen to them and don't know how to get out of that crunch. Like, we've all been at the bottom at some point. But if you re-engineer your mind to think optimistically about when bad things happen, you will be alright. And that's exactly what this book does. You're talking to the choir here. Amen. Her Message To MOMPRENEURS “And I just want to say this, I don't know if you know this, I had a baby in 21, I had another baby in 22 and I had another baby in 23. So not only am I building an empire, I'm a mompreneur. So for all of the women that are listening to this program, I want to encourage you that like nothing is impossible and don't let anything stop you. You can literally achieve your dreams. I'm doing it in real time. Is it hard? Absolutely, but I make it work and I make it great, and I get to do what I love and be a mom which is what I love as well and do it with a smile. Sometimes a headache but I can do it with a smile.” You’ll really enjoy meeting Pinky Cole aka Slutty Vegan in this podcast of our live conversation on the Debbie Nigro Show. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/30457088

When a Psychic Is Thinking of You & Calls Out of The Blue 03/15/2024

When a Psychic Is Thinking of You & Calls Out of The Blue I’ve had some very interesting experiences with psychics and psychic mediums throughout my life. I’m always open-minded and do believe that some on this planet can see farther than the eye can see. On more than one occasion, I’ve had a psychic contact me out of the blue for one reason or another. (vs me asking them to contact someone. LOL) I probably haven’t seen Francine Tesler in over 20 years. She’s a psychic medium and medical intuitive, best known as the psychic, for people who don't usually go to psychics. She’s been making psychic predictions since she was 6 years old. She would see those that had passed on and shock everyone with her accuracy. Something recently came into her head to call ME. So naturally she got in touch. I was happy to hear from her as I remember having great affection for her. I Invited her to stop by the radio show to speak to a story I just read on Medium.com (which is not a site for Mediums rather a medium for writers to share their work with 100 million readers). The story “Predictions for 2024 By Celebrity Psychics” said…” The year 2024 will be a time of awakening and alignment as more people will tune into their intuition and follow their soul’s purpose. This will create a positive ripple effect in the world, as people will be more authentic, compassionate, and creative.” I’m all for anything positive on this planet and I have in fact noticed more people lately trying to find their true purpose. So Francine came to the studio and I asked her one of my signature questions I often ask guests on my show. “How Does Your Head Work Inside?”. Francine said, “I'm originally an artist by trade and I get images that like a slideshow and fragments and I hear things in my head. Yeah, but this week, my hair stands up on my arms. And it was like, you have to call Debbie. And I'm like, you know, reach out to her and I didn't have your number. And that's why I sent you the email and blah, blah, blah.” "Why do you think you thought of me?", I asked her. “I think we're meant to be connected again”. I myself have been noticing a trend picking up since Covid, where people are now wanting to reconnect more. Are you seeing a trend in that I asked her? “Yes. More happening with each month that passes this year”. “More spirituality. People are starting to listen. I'm teaching. When I do my readings or when I do my message circles or my open galleries, I do teach and explain to people that they have to listen to their voice because everyone is psychic to some point.” Being a psychic ain’t easy... “You know I actually didn't know I was a medium until I had already been doing this probably for at least 10 years because I didn't know the word for it all those years ago. I've been doing this now full-time 40 years. When I first started, it wasn't acceptable and people used to call me Madame Zaza or Grandma Strega, you know, Grandma Witch, and it was a really difficult time.” “But you know what? I'm an artist. I found my own thing and I knew that I was getting these images and hearing things and seeing things and there was a reason. So I always gave people the messages. Now as I'm older, I deliver them a little bit more tactfully and make them more edible because I have a good sense of humor.” “Everyone calls it the psychic Tourette's. I go into the grocery store and I will walk over to people and say, look, I don't want to bother you. I'm a psychic medium, blah, blah, blah. I got an impression. I'm told to tell you this. And then they look around for cameras. But I try to help people and give a message.” I've always noticed people are a little weird when they're around psychics. All they want to know is, what a psychic knows about them? They always want to talk about it. But most people don’t want to hear any bad stuff. I wondered how that has affected Francine’s personal life. “Do you have a personal life?”, I asked her. “Not really. As far as my personal life goes, most guys are scared of it. They don't even want to shake my hands believe it or not and you know either they come in and they try to challenge me to see what I know. You know I'm saying. but it's hard when it comes to yourself. It's hard to be objective. You know you know it is what it is.” BUT, professionally men aren’t scared of Francine at all. She has a lot of male clients that come to her for business consultations. Mostly by phone and Zoom. “Are you a business psychic?” I asked her, because I often joke that I'm a business psychic. LOL. I'm just highly intuitive when it comes to business. I know where the matches are. I know what people should do. I'm like, what do you mean you haven't thought of that? I see opportunities for people, and I have some fun with that skill as a consultant. Yes, Francine does help many businesses with her skills as a psychic. She’s also a medium, and a medical intuitive. She’s currently re-branding herself and her website. It’s probably why she thought of me. She knows I love helping people re-think new opportunities for themselves. Call Francine if you need her. Or who knows, she might call you. LOL Meet Francine here on the podcast of our live conversation from The Debbie Nigro Show. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/30387253

Kindness IS Trending Thank Saratoga NY and THIS Guy! I need to shine a light on Saratoga NY one of the kindest places in America. That’s where the idea for a viral event that took place across the country this year called “Leap of Kindness Day’ emanated from. It was held on …you guessed it…Leap Day! I love Saratoga. Been there enough times to know I could live there. I invited Todd Shimkus the President of The Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, and originator of the kindness idea, to join me on The Debbie Nigro Show to talk about ‘The Kindness Movement’ they started in 2016. Leap of Kindness was such a great idea, that 250 other Chambers of Commerce in the US and Canada joined in the movement this year to encourage the spread of meaningful kindness vibes and deeds. It’s always worth my time to showcase people on this planet doing beautiful things because most people are good, and I know we sometimes forget that because the world we live in is tough. Speaking of good things, Todd shared all the cool stuff coming up in Saratoga, NY this year. “Oh my God, we have so much going on in our community, especially as we head into this summer. You know, the New York City Ballet is coming back to SPAC, the Philadelphia Orchestra, we are their summer home. They've got some extraordinary performances there. We've got the Universal Preservation Hall, which is new coming out of COVID. It's a fully restored church that was acoustically designed to allow people to perform and the sound to be just amazing for musical events. Cafe Lina, which is one of the oldest venues you'll find for music as well is here. And then of course the Saratoga Racecourse, and our casino. We are hosting the Belmont Stakes Saratoga on June 8th for the first time ever. And it's sold out for Saturday, June 8th.“50,000 people will be at the racecourse that day. There's still tickets available for Thursday and Friday and Sunday around that. And we expect a week-long celebration of that just amazing event, especially if there's a Triple Crown potential for one of the horses.” That Saratoga Racecourse is special. Sports Illustrated named it one of the world’s greatest sporting venues. As I kid I remember that every Summer for years and years, my parents and all my aunts, uncles and their friends would go to Saratoga in August and always stayed at place called The Gideon Putnam, and always left all us kids home. It was decades later that I finally went there myself and got to see what all the fuss was about. It’s an incredible place. I was so annoyed they never took us kids all those years! LOL Saratoga Racecourse is a Thoroughbred horse racing opened in 1863 and is considered to be the oldest major sporting venue of any kind in the country but is actually the fourth oldest racetrack in the U.S. according to Wikipedia. You will feel the nostalgia there and you get to see all the beautiful horses up close. There’s a lot more too in Saratoga that captured my soul and I’ve gone back a few times to enjoy the food, the music, and the beauty of this charming place. And Saratoga has active mineral springs. I just learned there are currently 21 public mineral springs in various locations throughout Saratoga. Most of the springs are naturally carbonated and no two springs taste exactly alike. That’s because each spring has its own distinct mineral makeup and flavor profile. There are supposed health benefits from clearing skin, to helping digestion, and even strengthening blood! You can even Design Your Own Mineral Springs Private Tasting Tour. I should also mention it’s supposedly the home of the original potato chip. That alone is worth a tasting trip to see about that! Enjoy this podcast of my live conversation with Todd Shimkus the President of The Saratoga Chamber of Commerce on The Debbie Nigro Show. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/30289448

How To 'Respectfully' Disagree With People 03/08/2024

How To 'Respectfully' Disagree With People When it comes to politics these days you can be sure there are LOTS of divisive conversations going on. It’s not expected that we’ll all agree on the important topics, but come on everybody - can’t we at least learn how to respectfully disagree? Before you argue with, block, curse out or cut off individuals due to their political views, learn how to respectfully disagree and build bridges instead of barriers. We need to challenge our own perspective because we all think that we're right, I guess, until we realize maybe we're not 100%, right. That’s the message Justin Jones-Fosu is shouting from the rooftops in his upcoming book “I Respectfully Disagree: How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World”. Justin is international speaker and the founder of Work. Meaningful. He shares some great advice on how to handle extreme political conversations. We had a much-needed conversation about this topic live on my radio show and Justin pointed out, “It's been bad for a long time, but it's with the rise of media and everybody having a voice and platform that It's gotten really bad. Even in workplaces, three out of four people say that their management can handle, should handle conflict better.” “But just think about anecdotally, as we see online, as people talk to each other, there's these two things that are happening.” “One of, we see a respectful disagreement, disrespectful disagreement. But Debbie, there's also an interesting phenomenon we found in our studies, is this other thing called ‘disrespectful agreement’. “And I see it in a lot of the audiences and corporations I go in, is that people are in front of your face, they're like, oh Debbie, I think that music was amazing. And then behind the scenes, they're talking to the producer, like, why would you even play that?”” “And that's one of the things that's also causing disrespectful discriminates as well, is because people are passively, or what the new generation is calling gaslighting others.” I couldn’t agree more with Justin that people need to try harder to build bridges to people rather than barriers from them. He shares some good suggestions about how we all can start to go about doing that better. “I think the foundation for us lies in the statement I've been making for about the last decade is that we can vehemently disagree with someone's ideology and yet still passionately pursue their humanity. That's the starting point. Because oftentimes we consistently attach ideology with identity. And so I'll start with challenging perspective because I think that speaks to what we do. I mean, it starts before any disagreement happens. It's the posture, the position that we put ourselves in. “ Justin Shared a Practical Example: “One of the things I started to challenge myself to do is this thing called Circles of Grace, where it's the thing that my mom taught me. My mom took us to events that we didn't know a lot about and that we also disagreed with. And so when you constantly are putting yourself in positions of learning and hearing other people's perspectives, so every six months I go to events, experiences, or I engage with people that I either don't know a lot about or that I disagree with. And that's helped me to consistently challenge my perspective and learn.” I’m glad I took the time to chat with Justin. Besides being an author Justin Jones- Fosu is also a full-time dad-e, and social entrepreneur. He speaks 50-60 times a year for professionals, corporations, organizations, and associations. His clients include some of the biggest names in The Fortune 500 to the best spelled names in Fourth Grades across the country he says. LOL I also really like that he’s fun. Like me, he often uses humor to get a serious message across. I think it would be meaningful for you to take a few minutes to listen to this podcast of our live conversation from The Debbie Nigro Show. Might save some of your relationships! /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/30288688

Juan Vides Will Get You On the 1st Page of Google! 03/06/2024

‘Random Run In’ with NASA Space Flight photographer Max Evans 02/29/2024

‘Random Run In’ with NASA Space Flight photographer Max Evans ‘Random Run In’ with NASA photographer Max Evans on the Port Canaveral Pier the day #odysseus was supposed to go to the moon. My significant other ‘Dave’ and I went to visit his son Keith who moved from NY to Fla. near Cape Canaveral. We were jazzed we’d accidentally be on time to see the launch of the first craft to the moon in 50 years! “Odysseus” was launched by a private company named “Intuitive Machines”. As we all now know, the spacecraft did make it to the moon and even though it landed on it’s side was still able to send information back to earth. The mission was in fact a SUCCESS! As luck would have it the big launch set for the last night we’d be there, was delayed till the next day and we missed it. Total Bummer. Thankfully guys like Max Evans, who I ran into, are around to capture moments like this for the rest of us. Max Evans, a NASA Space Flight photographer was on that fishing pier across from the launch pad that day. He was observing hardware movement at Launch Complex 36 in anticipation of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket launch. Max has been shooting for nasaspaceflight.com for almost 12 months and has spent 4 years telling the story of modern spaceflight. He feels fortunate to be a part of the space industry. His job is to capture moments of space missions for those of us who cannot see them in person. He feels fulfilled being part of something larger than himself, contributing to space exploration efforts like SpaceX’s goal of making life interplanetary. Given the chance Max said he’d ‘absolutely’ be willing to travel to space himself. (Sadly I won't be traveling with him beacuse I'm claustrophobic) Oh, and wanted to mention Max gave me a cool NASA Space Flight Patch. I’ll let you know where I decide to put it. LOL Of course, I invited him to join me on The Debbie Nigro Show to talk about his cool job as NASA’s Space photographer. I love ‘Random Run Ins’ They’re some of my most fun interviews. Tune in Live weekdays from anywhere to hear The Debbie Nigro Show on . /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/30169853

FUNNY WOMEN ALERT! GOLD COMEDY is your talent/content/power pipeline 02/26/2024

FUNNY WOMEN ALERT! GOLD COMEDY is your talent/content/power pipeline All Women Who Like To Make People Laugh Should Check out GOLD Comedy! You may just find your people. GOLD COMEDY is a comedy school, professional community, and content studio where women + non-binary folks grow their comedy careers and creative side hustles, build powerful networks, and make funny stuff. I’m personally all about using humor to address serious matters. Humor gets people to pay attention. That I know. So naturally I was drawn to Lynn Harris, the CEO and founder of GOLD Comedy when I came across her profile on LinkedIn which read: Founder | brand-builder | writer | producer | podcaster | multi-hyphenate using the power of comedy and humor to connect, humanize, and transform. Lynn’s done stand-up comedy in Boston and New York and has had many comedy adjacent roles, including using comedy to make tough issues more accessible while working for a human rights organization. One past success includes her infamous internet co-creation called ‘Breakup Girl’. GOLD Comedy offers classes, celebrity speaker series, digital shorts teams, mics, shows, and more to help build expertise, careers, and resumes for women and other “others” who are chasing showbiz dreams or all the other opportunities and outlets that comedy provides. Lynn shared that GOLD Comedy even creates opportunities for women to ‘collaborate’ on comedy content, including forming teams to produce digital sketches. These teams retain ownership of their content, with GOLD Comedy even subsidizing some expenses. Why GOLD? Dudes still dominate the comedy world and access to it. Twice as many ads feature men being funny versus women. Standup lineups are still up to 70% men. Amy Schumer is STILL the only woman ever to make the Forbes 100 list of top-earning comedians. Even though women are more and more visible in comedy, men still control and define it. Women have more challenges in the comedy industry, including the perception of women comedians and the male-dominated landscape of late-night TV and stand-up comedy. And let’s face it, comedy is mostly a late-night activity, which can be challenging for women, especially those with families. GOLD Comedy is here for the gals. Rachel Dratch is an advisor, and their guests + mentors have included Margaret Cho, Paula Pell, Judy Gold, Rachel Bloom, Ashley Nicole Black, Patti Harrison, Paula Pell, Bridget Everett, and staffers from The Daily Show, SNL, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Broad City, Search Party, Inside Amy Schumer, and more. You must check out a fabulous GOLD Comedy bit on You Tube called ‘Spanx for Nex’! It’s a riot. Tune in to this fun podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/30111528

Hollywood’s ‘Go To’ Ghostwriter Can Also Write YOUR Memoir 02/22/2024

Hollywood’s ‘Go To’ Ghostwriter Can Also Write YOUR Memoir Loren Stephens found her way to LA from NY in a career and life transition. While there away from her Mom, she convinced her mother, ‘a grand dame’ to let her write her write her memoir. In doing so, she was sparked to launch a business writing other people’s memoirs. Loren who is now “Hollywood’s Go-To Ghostwriter” founded two companies. ‘Bright Star Memoirs’ geared toward helping entertainment and sports figures tell their life stories. And ‘Write Wisdom’, to provide support and guidance for ‘anyone’ interested in writing their life story. Every life is unique, but not everyone has the self-confidence or skill to tell their story without help. Not even celebrities. Her latest celeb book out is a dazzling Hollywood memoir with Jeff Margolis who produced television’s most memorable variety series and specials over the past fifty years—from iconic variety shows of the 1970s to 8 Oscars! “We’re Live in 5”, is the ultimate behind-the-scenes tour says Loren, with a foreword by Billy Crystal. It’s a tell-it-as-it-is with all the glamour you expect, along with a deeply revealing human portrait of working with larger-than-life personalities at television’s most dizzying and demanding heights. It’s also a great insider education for anyone aspiring to be an entertianment producer. Loren Stephens own personal essays and short stories have been published in numerous literary journals and newspapers including the Los Angeles Times; the Chicago Tribune and more. A New York native, Loren’s love for the theater, film and writing is what really led her to Los Angeles. As an executive producer, she received an Emmy nomination for the PBS documentary, Legacy of the Hollywood Blacklist, narrated by Burt Lancaster. Her debut historical novel, ‘All Sorrows Can Be Borne’, was originally published in 2021 by Rarebird. Loren is a member of Greenlight Women, a dynamic and diverse community of women over forty in media and entertainment. She also serves as a National Commissioner of the Anti-Defamation League. Enjoy this podcast of our warm insightful conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/30067273

Let’s Stop Our Negative Self-Talk 02/22/2024

Let’s Stop Our Negative Self-Talk Misty LaBoy Knows a Thing or Two About Negative Self-Talk. A health and beauty industry leader for over 20 years (in the top 2% of multiple billion-dollar health and beauty organizations) her career success did nothing for a long while to offset her personal struggle with weight and self-image. Even after successfully losing 60 pounds, she had to work on her internal feelings to maintain her weight loss. She believes lifestyle changes, including mindset changes, are more effective than diets. Misty believes it so much she made a business out of it! Misty Laboy who has produced countless live events and trainings brings a wealth of knowledge to help people dealing with rejection, doubt, people pleasing, etc. by teaching them how transform to think look and feel their best. She joined me on my radio show to some tips to help you get rid of your own negative self-talk. Misty emphasizes that negative self-talk is a significant challenge for many people and that individuals have the power to be either their own critic or cheerleader. It’s a matter of choosing to think differently since negative thoughts are typically not beneficial. I personally always like to talk about what I call our “higher brain" vs our "lower brain". Our lower brain seems to be a troublemaker, even when our higher brain knows better. LOL Misty suggests that self-awareness is crucial in recognizing and changing automatic negative thoughts. She recommends reframing negative thoughts to combat them. For example, changing "I hate my fat stomach" to "I'm working on leaning out my stomach" can make a significant difference. Social media, says Misty, often has a negative impact on self-image, especially among women, especially when they start comparing themselves to the unrealistic highlight reels of others online. But Misty does loves social media that sends the right messaging. She’s an avid podcast listener and liked my upbeat messaging so much when she found me on Spotify that she reached out to be on my show and share her knowledge. I’m glad she did. Misty’s Course and Coaching: Misty offers a 12-week course focused on self-love and self-worth, addressing core issues and including one-on-one sessions tailored to individual needs. Misty feels comfortable discussing a wide range of subjects from self-love to alternative lifestyles and has diverse expertise and interests. For example, she mentioned she is in a polyamorous relationship, and has both a husband and a boyfriend, and they are teaching a seminar on the topic. That will have to be a whole other show! Enjoy the podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show on WGCH Radio. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/30064178

Terry Torok Works With Influencers & A List Artists Who Have 'Causes' 02/09/2024

Terry Torok Works With Influencers & A List Artists Who Have 'Causes' Once a week I cover trends and trending topics on my radio show. On this show I cover "fluting" as a hot 2024 design trend and "grounding shoes," as a current meta trend. Oh and how 98% of influencers are making less than 100K not millions as you might have been led to believe. Yet these days everybody and their mother and grandmother too, wants to be an influencer, which would be fine if everybody had a good cause they were trying to influence. Terry Torok who joined me in the studio this week has a company called 'Creative Intelligence Agency' and represents rising Influencers & A-List Artists with Causes. People like George Clooney, Elton John, Alicia Keys, Jamie Fox, Kevin Bacon, and Deepak Chopra. His focus is on creating films and projects of positive impact. Terry has worked in Entertainment Media for 30 years, including brand sponsorships for the Super Bowl 1/2-time show, 4 Olympics and 3 World Cups. He was also one of the original pioneers of Esports, creating the first world competitions, tours, TV series and the first Esports arenas in Times Square. Terry is also the Executive Producer at Live from Earth Entertainment. Terry and Deepak Chopra just collaborated on a new game called 'Graticube'. They’ve gamified a way to more meaningful conversations for people interested in connecting deeper with others. Graticube is a game that aligns with my own personal mission to inspire more authentic connections and conversation between perfect strangers, best friends, family, and co-workers. It's the same reason I wrote a book called "How To Talk To Strangers Advice from a Professional Stranger Talker" that just debuted on Amazon. The Graticube game involves dice and cards that prompt players to share stories and foster deeper connections during gameplay. Terry and I discussed the importance of establishing trust for meaningful interactions and we talked about how social media platforms like LinkedIn often lack genuine conversation, even though you’d assume a platform for connecting in business would see a higher rate of returned messages after you’ve reached out to someone. Fortunately, Terry and I are the kind of people who respond! LOL We originally met on LinkedIn, and established the trust and connection which led to this warm and wonderful in-person catch up. Enjoy this podcast of our live inspiring conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show . /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/29878268

Let's Get You Self Published! If I Did It So Can You! 02/07/2024

Let's Get You Self Published! If I Did It So Can You! I wrote a ‘little’ book and just recently got it up for sale on Amazon. I even recorded it myself as an audio book for Audible which syncs the book on Amazon. It's called: "How To Talk To Strangers Advice from a Professional Stranger Talker" (And I'm a roll with 5 star reviews! Good reviews mean everything to an author) I could not have done it without the help of Donna Kozik, a book coach gal pal out in San Diego,CA who I've been featuring for years on my radio show because I love her style and how she shows people how to get a book done. Meanwhile even though it sounded doable, and even though I do know how to write - Donna knows that I tried for a few years but kept not getting it done. I kept backing off. Why? I don't know. I didn't think what I wrote was good enough. I didn't think it was compelling enough. I had imposter syndrome. Then came the pandemic and the totally wrong timing for the topic. And of course, then there were the never ending barrage of life distractions. Finally, with Donna's help and unwavering encouragement, I did it! Whew! Feels Good! I knew nothing about the process of publishing an ebook or soft cover book, but Donna helped me get it into the right format, helped me with the proofreading, helped me get the cover art done, educated me about Kindle and how to upload it on Amazon and was always available for my zillion email questions. I had no idea how to set the right price (learned an eBook sweet spot price is $2.99), or the importance of getting reviews, or how to navigate Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing system for the first time. I’m just deciding how I am going to market the book now that the audio I recorded separately with fabulous Al Hemberger at The Loft Recording Studios in Bronxville, N.Y., was approved by Audible. (Who knew they reserve the right to set the price based on the length of the audio?) That was another thing that took way longer than I had anticipated but, finally got that done too! Whew! Personal accomplishment! I’m hoping my new ‘little’ book will be as Donna calls it "My Big Business Card". Utilizing a Book as a Business Tool Donna Kozik book coach extraordinaire, says, a book IS a "Big Business Card" and there are various ways to leverage it for building credibility, obtaining speaking engagements, and promoting one's expertise. 'Short books' she says are the way to go, especially in today's information-saturated world. A short book can be easily read and can still carry a powerful message, making it a good option for authors and readers alike. My book, "How To Talk To Strangers Advice from a Professional Stranger Talker" is 62 pages, and the audio book is 47 minutes. It’s a little book with a big message. You’ll get my point, get some laughs and get some tips in under an hour. I'd love my book to lead to some speaking engagements about teaching people how to connect and communicate better in person. I really do think I have some sage knowledge to share in a fun way. I will now be looking to share it with some event planners, etc. who might be looking for someone like me to speak about this. Encouragement for Aspiring Authors I invited Donna Kozik back to join me on my radio show so we could discuss the self-publishing process now that I’ve been through it, so we could share information with those of you who might have a book in you too! Donna says many potential authors face the same challenges as I mentioned I had above, and that procrastination or life events should not discourage them. She said, once a book is published, people do not focus on how long it took. (Did I mention I started this book idea 5 years ago? LOL) Besides her great advice for listeners who may want to write a book, Donna offers a step-by-step approach to getting started, including making the decision, taking action, creating a structure. Her program "Write a Book in a Weekend," her group coaching, and her Business Authors Association, offer support and promotion for new authors. She suggests aspiring writers start with her FreeBookPlanner.com. Oh and she made a big point about avoiding talking about the book you haven't finished writing yet too much, to prevent creating an emotional payoff for yourself without making any progress. (Oh boy, I did this 1000X.) Enjoy this podcast of our live conversation about how to really get a book done on The Debbie Nigro Show. Tune in to The Debbie Nigro Show 11-12 EST weekdays in the NY/CT area on 1490 WGCH or Listen from Anywhere on WGCH.com Just hit the 'listen live' button. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/29846313

"EvolveMe" : Helps Gals In Midlife Frustrated Trying To Figure Out Their Next Career Chapter 02/02/2024

"EvolveMe" : Helps Gals In Midlife Frustrated Trying To Figure Out Their Next Career Chapter Women in midlife who still need or want to work often find themsleves stuck in limbo and confusion trying to figure our their next career move. Enter ..."EvolveMe". A fabulous options to help you relaunch, pivot or level up your career whether you're in your 40s. 50s, 60s or beyond. Founders Judy Schoenberg and Linda Lautenberg have been there, done that, and realized through their own experiences that many others in the same boat must need help. They created the community, structure, and tools to help you make whatever is next for you ... happen! They can help with professional resumes and LinkedIn profiles, and even teach you transferable skills. These gals are the real deal. They help make midlife career reinvention fun enjoyable and REWARDING. They and others involved with EvolveMe provide a much-needed resource to women in midlife, who are underrepresented in leadership roles in the workforce and often face barriers due to ageism, gender discrimination, racism, pay inequity and as mothers and caregivers. Linda who re-invented her career after 3 kids and a 16 year break and knows how isolating reviving your professional career can feel. Before founding EvolveMe, she was the Director of Outreach at Inspiring Capital, supporting women transitioning back to the workforce. She's a founding member and Regional Facilitator Lead for Harvard Business School Alumni Circles and a leader of Impact 100 Jersey Coast, a women’s philanthropic investment nonprofit. Before that she had a successful finance career at the Prudential Investment Corporation and Nomura Securities. She's a Chartered Financial Analyst and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. Judy Schoenberg has another big Harvard brain. She left her role as Chief Research Executive at Girl Scouts of the USA after a fifteen-year tenure to pivot and start her own next chapter. She honed her skills at national organizations like Girl Scouts of the USA and the Ms. Foundation for Women as well as at Pace University’s women’s leadership initiative and community-based and start-up ventures. Her work has been featured at the White House, MAKERS, npr.com, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune and The Washington Post. She holds leadership roles at several nonprofit educational institutions and a Master of Education in human development and psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Both Judy and Linda emphasize the importance of helping women regain confidence, reassess their skills, and understand their value in the marketplace. The impact of the pandemic on women was loud, with many leaving the workforce, and how their company coincided with this time, offering support for women returning to work. EvolveMe also work with companies invested in attracting and retaining top female talent. At the heart of EvolveMe is a belief that when companies understand women’s needs, they’re better able to attract and retain them. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/29771158

Shopping with AI: IBM Survey Says Consumers Love It But Don't Love How Companies Use Their Data 02/02/2024

Shopping with AI: IBM Survey Says Consumers Love It But Don't Love How Companies Use Their Data Consumers Crave AI with Shopping But Want More Control Over How Companies Use Their Data! The IBM Institute for Business Value, decided to survey 20,000 consumers across 26 countries on their digital habits, their use of AI and generative AI, and their expectations for brands. So what were the results of the survey? I invited the big IBM retail guy, Joe Dittmar, to join me to share what they found out. Let's just say, most consumers want to receive information, advertisements, and offerings from stores that are relevant to their specific interests, but a whole bunch say they really really want more control over how companies use their data. Joe Dittmar leads IBM’s Retail Industry across the company’s portfolio which includes Grocery, Department, Warehouse, Specialty, Discount, Convenience, Restaurants, and Online Retailers. He shared that consumers are unsatisfied with both in-store (9% satisfaction) and online (14% satisfaction) experiences. As a consumer I’m obviously not alone being uncomfortable with a 100 follow up marketing emails from a company I’ve bought just one pair of pants from and had to return because they didn’t fit right. Joe said, AI’s making an effort to tailor communication more effectively to individual preferences. He also explained that retailers are currently managing inventory conservatively, leading to less variety in stores—a strategy resulting from the need to reduce inventory post-COVID. The opportunity for retailers he said, is to improve customer experience by integrating online options when in-store selections are limited. IBM has been a longstanding participant in the retail industry, inventing the cash register and credit card in case you didn’t know that. Now they are helping iconic brands leverage AI to improve operational efficiencies. The survey showed that consumers are more open to adopting AI than expected, including interacting with virtual agents that can fast-track customers to human agents based on their tone and urgency. ( Wow, now I don’t feel so bad about occasionally losing it and yelling… ‘Give Me a Human!’ LOL) Good insight by Joe and IBM! Aspiring retail talent can learn from their expertise. About Joe Dittmar: Joe is known for helping retail and consumer product clients worldwide to transform their business models and consumer-facing activities. He is a leader in implementing complex business and technology solutions that drive improved performance.In 2022, Joe was honored with IBM’s highest industry designation, Distinguished Industry Leader, for his contributions to innovation in the industry and impact on IBM’s clients throughout his career. Joe serves on various industry advisory boards including the National Retail Federation Board of Directors. He actively mentors aspiring retail talent around the world. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/29768323

Snoopy’s HOT! Got the Scoop Why from Melissa Menta Sr. VP of Mkt & Comm. at Peanuts Worldwide. 01/17/2024

Snoopy’s HOT! Got the Scoop Why from Melissa Menta Sr. VP of Mkt & Comm. at Peanuts Worldwide. Social Media has created a SNOOPY craze. GenZ is obsessed with him and Snoopy merchandise is selling out. I read about the latest Snoopy obsession in article on on NPR. He’s so hot, people have given blood just to get a Snoopy T-shirt. (The Red Cross gave out 400,000 shirts in 3 weeks) The Charles Schultz Museum has just had its highest attendance in 21 years and the official Snoopy Tik Tok account just garnered 198,000 new followers. Snoopy is 350 years old in dog years but he’s apparently timeless (like me) and timely. He communicates only in gestures and thought bubbles, shares his emotions easily, and is trying to live his best life! Gotta love him. I’m fascinated but why the surge in interest again now? I invited Melissa Menta, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications Peanuts Worldwide to join me live on The Debbie Nigro Show to get the scoop about out what’s going on. Melissa said, the universal and timeless appeal of Snoopy is attributed to the character's relatability and expression of human emotions. Snoopy, she said, has been incredibly popular across all generations. Snoopy who is a book lover and writer, has always had an unstoppable imagination. As the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Peanuts Worldwide, Melissa handles global marketing which includes handling the brands social media, and creative aspects. She travels the world to promote the brand. And the world can’t seem to get enough of Snoopy these days. It was amazing enough that the late Charles Schulz who created the Peanuts comic strip, did it uninterrupted (except for one vacation for his 75th birthday) for 50 years! He created nearly 18,000 comic strips. But just as amazing, is how his work continues to resonate today due to its simplicity and again, it’s focus on ‘human emotions’. The four-panel comic strips are particularly well-suited to the format of modern social media which of course did not exist back when the comic strips were published the old-fashioned way, in newspapers. Social media has everything to do with Snoopy reaching a global audience of new fans and the new demand for Snoopy merchandise. The Current Snoopy Merchandise Craze Melissa says Snoopy merchandise is currently available across a broad range of retailers, from Pottery Barn to Uniqlo and H&M. There have also been high-end collaborations with designers like Gucci and Marc Jacobs. Not only with Snoopy, but also other characters too like Woodstock, Charlie Brown, and Franklin who are also popular. Peanuts Worldwide receives numerous partnership requests involving Snoopy and the Peanuts characters. Snoopy is a global icon with a particularly strong following in places like Japan, said Melissa. There’s also the 'Take Care with Peanuts' campaign, which promotes taking care of oneself, others, and the Earth, with partnerships like the Arbor Day Foundation for planting trees, and the installation of Peanuts murals in hospitals globally. Melissa says the brand’s even working with NASA. Snoopy was used as a zero-gravity indicator on Artemis 1! She also shared how the brand is creating new content for platforms like Apple TV+. The Peanuts marketing team, led by Melissa, continually seeks new ways to keep the brand relevant and engaged with current issues and audiences, reflecting the brand's adaptability and enduring appeal. Peanuts Worldwide is passionate about maintaining the brand's legacy while simultaneously innovating and connecting with new audiences. I think you’ll enjoy the terrific insight about why Snoopy so hot right now in this podcast of a warm conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show with Melissa Menta, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Peanuts Worldwide. PS: Bet you didn’t know I owned a Snoopy watch. Had it since I was a kid. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/29527573

Ex NFL Linebacker/ Ivy League Professor Behind Athletes.org / A Players Assoc. For College Athletes 01/04/2024

Ex NFL Linebacker/ Ivy League Professor Behind Athletes.org / A Players Assoc. For College Athletes Brandon Copeland is on a mission to educate and protect the futures of the next generation of sports stars. This Ex. NFL linebacker and Ivy League Professor, is also the Executive Director and Co-Founder of an organization called Athletes.org.,a Players Assoc. For College Athletes. Brandon who played pro football or the Baltimore Ravens, and New York Jets, among others also got a terrific education at Wharton and is in his sixth year an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He's passionate about creating a legacy beyond his football career is is dedicating his time and knowledge to help others unlock their potential. Brandon is fully dedicated to helping the next generation of athletes and children in need. His non-profit Athletes.org, focuses on providing financial literacy to college athletes, helping them handle their finances as they potentially deal with lucrative deals. College athletics have changed, and college athletes are essentially going pro earlier due to TV deals and other revenue streams. The NCAA has recently been discussing proposals about compensating those athletes. But Brandon knows too well how unprepared most young athletes when interest and money comes their way. Athletes.org, essentially acts as a players association for college athletes, providing services such as legal and mental health support, sometimes pro bono. Financial literacy for athletes is what Brandon Copeland thinks is critical. He’s well aware just how many athletes have gone broke and spent all their money without consideration for their futures, Which is why, he and athletes.org aim to provide solutions so that doesn’t happen. But that’s not all Brandon Copeland is working on. Did you know he and a slew of other NFL Players bought Christmas presents for hundreds of unsuspecting children in need this year? (The kids thought they were showing up for community service. ) Beyond the Basics, Inc., is Brandon Copeland’s family foundation he started with his wife. The foundation began by holding football camps and then organized "A December to Remember," where NFL players provide Christmas shopping sprees for children. Future Goals? Copeland hopes to expand the holiday initiative nationwide and encourage community involvement in every state, regardless of the presence of an NFL team. What a wonderful conversation we had on The Debbie Nigro Show. It was myto showcase Brandon Copeland's commitment to using his platform and experiences to positively impact the lives of young athletes and children, with a strong focus on financial education and community service. BTW: He credits his grandfather, Roy Hilton, who played in the NFL for 11 years, for his inspiration and for giving him perspective on life after football. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/29339803

Tis’ the Season Seniors Trip & Kids Swallow Batteries 12/22/2023

Tis’ the Season Seniors Trip & Kids Swallow Batteries It’s the most dangerous time of the year for some people. Yes, it is. And though we love to laugh at the song ‘Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer’ it wouldn’t be so funny if it was your own Grandma who got run over on Christmas Eve now would it? (Spiked egg nog and some medications don’t mix well) Just making you all aware of a couple of serious things that land people in the emergency rooms this time of year. Adults 65 and older who are already at risk of falls, have an increased chance of falling and hurting themselves during the holiday season because there are more obstacles to navigate. People unexpectedly stumble over wrapping paper, decorations, light cords, and toys etc., both in their own homes and in homes they visit. Trust me I know. I bought my little granddaughter a blue bouncing ball for Christmas year before last. It was Christmas morning at my house, and ripped up wrapping paper from all the toys was everywhere. I turned around and boom tripped over the ball that wasn’t there a second ago, and fell straight down on my face. Thought I killed myself. Good thing Grandma didn't die on Christmas Day. It would have ruined everything. I seriously was afraid to move. I thought I broke my neck. I did manage to get up, but wow that was a shocker. Ended up with three months of a sprained neck that still aggravates me years later. It’s the ‘unexpected things’ that trip people up this time of year says, Dr. Imran Ali who adds many of the emergency room visits and accidents seem to happen to older adults. Dr. Imran Ali is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC. He is a Board-Certified Medicine/Internal Medicine Supportive Care specializing in Geriatric Oncology Rehabilitation at The New Jewish Home. He is a regular contributor to several TV stations. “A lot of my patients who I take care of, they have their own routine, they're in their homes, they can navigate their way around their home because they know the layout. They have poor vision or they're using a walker or a cane. I mean, they know their layout in their home, but when they go to another home, another person's house, if there's a loose rug or there's something in the way they're not expecting, those can cause significant trips. And toys, you know a lot of these toys have parts that come flying off that you don't see.” Dr. Imran Ali says there are other reasons too seniors may unexpectedly land in the emergency room this time of year. Drinking alcohol may interact with some drugs they might be taking. “Drinking too much alcohol, alcohol acts like a diuretic, it makes your blood pressure go lower. So, when your blood pressure goes lower, you get dizzy and you can fall, you can pass out, you can get what we call orthostatic hypotension and that can be really dangerous for somebody who's on a blood thinners. “ And let’s not forget to discuss that unfortunate champagne cork in the eyeball thing. Yes, getting hit by a champagne cork lands many people in the emergency room, say Dr Ali. “Believe it or not, a flying champagne cork can travel up to 50 miles per hour as it leaves the bottle fast enough to shatter glass. And that's according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. If this hits somebody in the eye, you can get corneal abrasions and serious eye injury. So, the best thing to do is to point the bottle away from other people, of course, place a napkin or towel over the top, firmly hold the cork while gently twisting the base of the bottle.” Another big thing to watch out for? People who get hurt and don't want to destroy the family get-together and decide they’ll go to the emergency department tomorrow or the day after. Dr Ali says, “People can fall and get what we call an epidural hematoma. I don't know if you remember Bob Saget, who fell in his hotel room. He had a period of where he was fine and okay. Then later on he had the injury. So the epidural hematoma is when you hit your head and you affect one of the arteries and for a moment people can get up, walk around and everything's fine and then later they have the actual big bleed. People shouldn't delay evaluation if they're on a blood thinner especially if they did fall they hit their head you know don't just poo-poo it till afterwards because it could get worse later.” “I think people just need to be reminded that you can't be lax. If you're walking around somebody else's house, take your time. If you're having people over who are older and there's a lot of kids running around or animals, you know, just beware animals. Excited dogs and cats. I mean a lot of people, you know fall because of that.” One last mention about what else Dr. Ali has seen in emergency rooms. Sadly, little kids who swallowed batteries. “I think about young kids swallowing the batteries. Super, super important. These lithium coin batteries, they're small, they're shiny, they look nice. I mean now the newer ones have some kind of covering so it tastes bitter. But you know I have a young one at home and I just I think I think that scares me because once these batteries go into your system the lithium especially it can cause a lot of havoc. It can be really scary. “ Sharing serious information does not have to be dull as you’ll hear in this upbeat informative podcast with Dr. Imran Ali from our live chat on The Debbie Nigro Show. We just want you all to have a safe and warm holiday. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/29202903

Former CEO 7-Eleven & Blockbuster Was Poor Kid Who Rose Up: "Education Is Freedom" 12/12/2023

Former CEO 7-Eleven & Blockbuster Was Poor Kid Who Rose Up: "Education Is Freedom" James (Jim) Keyes, former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster has written a book titled "Education is Freedom." Jim passionately believes in the transformative power of education and its role in overcoming adversity and achieving success and candidly shares his own story about how education helped him rise out of poverty. It’s a powerful book about why you need to learn as much as you can on this planet because nobody can take away what you learn, and what you understand. Jim says, in many respects, knowledge is the only true wealth that we all have while on this earth. You can turn that knowledge into material benefits and enjoy a life of however you want it to go or help others however you want to help them. But the choice is yours. The simple truth is that education provides more options. Everybody should have access to those choices and to the freedom that comes with it. No matter what stage of life you’re at, everybody has a chance to change it up and still get whatever is in their heart, with the right knowledge. Jim's life journey was surely not simple. As a kid he grew up poor in a factory town with no running water. His mom left his dad when he was five lured by another man who lived large in a trailer park. His dad who he adored, passed when he was 12 and he had to go live with his mom and her abusive boyfriend, who he literally feared would kill him when he was sleeping. It was a faraway visit one day to his uncle’s house that changed things for Jim. There he spotted what looked like a huge library of books that excited him. It was only a couple of shelves. But his uncle, a teacher, with running water who took trips to see the world, seemed to have it all - and those books symbolized success and sparked Jim’s lifelong love for learning. Jim shared, “Literally, we grew up with no running water, right? And a pump outside the house and an outhouse and the whole thing. Kids have a hard time relating to that kind of poverty today. It's very different and very challenging, but the common theme is that adversity of any type, whatever you grow up with, it's a challenge. You can grow up in a very wealthy family with a totally dysfunctional environment and that adversity can actually make you stronger if you look at it that way and give you an advantage and cause you to turn to things like education as a way to escape your reality, whatever it is, poverty or abuse or whatever. Education can be that path to a better life.” I was always amused that I had a friendship with a globally powerful guy like Jim Keyes that just kind of stuck all these years. I realized after reading his book, it was because of a crazy book thing I did myself. I held my ‘Working Mom on the Run’ book tour back a thousand years ago at 7-Elevens. Totally crazy idea I had that hey went for. I had important knowledge I wanted to share with the moms of America and I chose 7 Eleven as my vehicle. 7 Eleven was then pitching fresh food to busy Moms on the go for the very first time and I knew I’d find an audience for my book of busy moms running in and out of their stores. I was right. I got a kick out of the fact that Jim thought the book tour was a riot and was honored he personally congratulated me on its huge success. I guess I thought I must have just stuck out in his head for being out of the box. Over the years I’d occasionally reach out to say hello and he was always quick to connect back. I never realized until I read his book, that Jim was such a passionate education guy, was so much about knowledge, so much about books, so much about curiosity and taking shots. Obviously, I resonated with him because of that. And now I am thrilled to be able to help him promote his book, "Education Is Freedom". Getting people's attention for an important subject, to educate them about anything is really Jim’s thing, and he’s taken great pains to share his story and I think his message is very loud. The more you learn, the more you can do at pretty much every stage in life. Whatever your journey is, there's more to it, as long as you keep feeding your mind and understanding that you can control the next act. He said it so well in his book. ‘I’ll quote Jefferson in saying that the fundamental basis of a working democracy is an educated populace. It's a critical time right now, and my message to the world, to individuals first, is education is important. It's your lifeblood. And to society, we've got to focus on education collectively and to help everyone succeed to make this world a better place. “I've wanted to write this book forever. But right now, it's so critically important. We're hearing every time you turn on the news you hear you know teachers being you know challenged for what they're teaching, and universities are under sort of attack right now. They're right in the crosshairs of a lot of cultural war issues and for a whole host of reasons the concern with The United States is falling behind the rest of the world in college graduations. Our individuals in school are falling behind and not even graduating from high school. A shocking number of students don't even graduate from high school. And where does that leave us if you dial forward 20 or 30 years? Where does that leave us individually if we're one of those kids, or where does it leave society if we have so many people that are not equipped to go forward? Jim thinks a big part of the answer is going to be technology. The ability to harness AI and be able to modify the way we teach to the way people learn. Today there's really no excuse not to find a way to learn with the technology that's available. And he wants corporations to step up. Jim said, “My challenge to my peers in the corporate world is step up especially with the availability of technology to invest in the technologies that can be then brought to the education process and allow everyone to benefit from it. The ultimate beneficiary being the corporation with an educated workforce coming up. Their investment isn't a gift, it's not charity. I think they can look at it as a return on investment which is what I'm encouraging.” Enjoy the podcast of this live warm conversation with Jim Keyes author of ‘Education is Freedom’ on The Debbie Nigro Show. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/29039068

Golf 101: Learn to Play or Play Better with PXG Golf 12/04/2023

Golf 101: Learn to Play or Play Better with PXG Golf I’ve been seriously thinking about taking up golf. I’ve played a little and whacked a few balls pretty far at the driving range but I’m not what you would call a golfer. Probably because it usually takes 4 hours to play, and I usually don’t have an extra 4 hours. But I’m rethinking the whole idea. Why don’t I have 4 hours to do something I might like? I waste just as much time walking around my house. LOL No doubt the sport of golf is growing and certainly there are many like me who have the desire, but not the knowledge or the time or the outfits, but there are some good pretty good reasons to rethink it. My recent introduction to PXG (Parsons Xtreme Golf), founded by GoDaddy's Bob Parsons, has piqued my interest. PXG is known known for its innovative approach to golf and its support for veterans' causes. They have 22 locations nationwide, where you can buy clubs and apparel and get a golf club fitting, and they even offer a mobile golf club fitting service for country clubs. Their newest location and first in the Northeast, their PXG Superstore just opened in New Rochelle, NY. Not far from where I live. So, I went to go see it. It’s a wow. When I met Jason Tomlinson who runs the new PXG location, I invited him to come talk about the company, the store, the game and what they’re doing to encourage new players. We both agreed: · Golf's has a positive impact on fitness. · Golf has a challenging mental aspect to the game. · Golf allows you to enjoy nature which is therapeutic. · Golf is a networking tool: a wonderful way for businesspeople to create relationships and the growing inclusion of women in the sport is refreshing. Jason and PXG want to help you all learn to play golf without feeling awkward. One upcoming event at their N.Y. location on December 9th in partnership with Westfair Communications is called "Demystifying Golf - Learn to Swing and Network”. It’s from 10am -12:30 at PXG Golf, 100 Nardozzi Place New Rochelle, NY. LPGA Pro Anya Alverez will lead the clinic. The event is free but space is limited and reservations must be made in advance. Sounds like a fun way to learn about golf and network with other enthusiasts. They'll also be having a series of ongoing free clinics over the next few weeks. At PXG's huge new Rochelle facility, Jason says one of the unique things they offer are personalized golf club fittings using Trackman technology. He really emphasized the importance of a proper club fitting for improving one's golf game and said investing in quality golf clubs is an investment in one's golfing future. I think a ‘Golf Club Fitting’ is a perfect gift idea for any golf enthusiast or anyone starting out. And from what I saw of the incredibly stylish PXG golf apparel around the store, anyone wearing that stuff could look like a pro whether they play the game or not. LOL But if you know you me you know I prefer ‘authentic’, which is why I really like the PXG company values a lot. They’re commited to supporting veterans and supporting the professional players on tour who have values that resonate. PXG's Heroes program, also offers discounts to the military and first responders. Bob Parsons and his wife have generously given away nearly $300 million to charities since 2012. Enjoy this lighthearted and informative podcast of the live radio conversation with Jason Tomlinson of PXG Golf on The Debbie Nigro Show. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/28911453

Tis’ the Season for Re-Connecting with People Who Matter 12/01/2023

Tis’ the Season for Re-Connecting with People Who Matter The holiday season is a wonderful time to reconnect with important people in our lives we don't see often. It’s always fun when you’ve been thinking about one of those people, and they connect with you first. One of those people in my life is ‘Monty’ Delaney and I kept writing his name down on my things to do list to call him. “Monty’ (short for Montgomery) is an all-around great guy with a heart as big as his 6 ’6’ frame. Besides being a warm wonderful person I've known for many years, he was also once an attorney who never failed to show up on the dime whenever I needed him. Often to help me handle my former ongoing ‘parking ticket problem’. The ‘problem’ was, I’d forget to pay the damn tickets and they’d add up and then I’d land in ‘negotiations'. Oh and he'd also show up for that speeding ticket problem. LOL. Happy to report I’ve learned my lesson and now I don’t get parking tickets anymore and I drive like an old lady… but I still love seeing Monty. Just not in court. Last I saw him actually, I had some fun on his radio show. He’s got a lot to talk about. Monty served as a police officer in the South Bronx for nearly nine years until a back injury led to his retirement from the police force. He spent a significant amount of time in traction and swimming pools for rehabilitation. During this time, he was also in law school, which he had to pause and later return to. he did, and after years of practicing law, a heart issue arose and Monty decided it was time to close his practice and focus on his more creative endeavors. Monty is a talented singer-songwriter. He became involved in the music scene, playing at coffee houses back when, and has made some great albums. His 1996 album "Walking in the Light" was inspired by various societal and personal reflections and continues to be played across the country and he takes pride in its lasting appeal. It was produced by Rex Fowler of Aztec Two-Step, which was oddly the first musical group I saw perform in person when I arrived as a freshman at Ithaca College. Monty had given me one of those CD’s and somehow it landed lodged inside the back sleeve of my cars front seat. No clue why. I accidentally found it last week when I went to the car wash and was cleaning out my car. I don’t have a CD player in my car, so I just put it on my front seat to remind me to call Monty. Then after the car wash, I made a cemetery stop to get out of the car to say a holiday hello to my immediate family in the family plot. (It's what Italian girls do.) What are the chances that when I got back in the car, there on my phone sitting on the car seat next to the “Walking In The Light” CD was a text from… MONTY! Really? What are the chances? Naturally I called him immediately to report the serendipity, and we had some laughs as his lovely wife listened in, and we caught up about lots of things and he told me about his new book of poetry out now called "A Musings”. It’s a collection of poems he wrote over the years while waiting in courtrooms. I invited Monty to stop by the radio studio this week to bring his new book and bring his lovely wife Connie, but sadly he woke up sick the day we planned it and so he called in to the show instead. I think you’ll enjoy the podcast of our live lighthearted and authentic conversation of two friends catching up on The Debbie Nigro Show. The show is filled with laughter, personal anecdotes, and our shared history that underscores my point about of the importance of connections and the value of personal relationships. We will get together 'in person' when he feels better. I hope I’ve sparked you to reconnect with someone important to you, that you haven’t seen or spoken to in awhile this holiday season. Let me know. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/28886693

An 88-year-old Guy Is My Version of "American Idol" 12/01/2023

An 88-year-old Guy Is My Version of "American Idol" 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. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/28884198

Why Put Your Money In The Red Salvation Army Kettle? 11/24/2023

Why Put Your Money In The Red Salvation Army Kettle? Thanksgiving kicks off the annual bell ringing next to all those red Salvation Army donation kettles. This year's message. They need you more than ever. The Salvation Army is going to be serving the needs this year of close to 24 million people here in the United States. In case you didn’t know it, the donations that you give in your area, stay in your area, to help the local people that really need help. Kenneth Hodder, the National Commander of the Salvation Army, a dynamic guy with a Harvard education and a great personality, stopped by my radio show to bring us all up to speed on his organization, which is the largest social services organization in the United States. Roughly 5,000 Salvation Army officers, about 60,000 employees, and about 3 million volunteers are continuously working to help meet the needs of those in difficult situations. “The economic impact of the pandemic continues to be a key issue to which the Salvation Army is addressing itself”, say Kenneth. “Right now, about 92 million Americans have had difficulty paying their most basic household expenses in the past week. Homelessness has grown by double digits. The coming freezing weather of winter threatens all sorts of people on the street, and there are those that might lose their homes as a result of evictions or loss of utilities. So there are a lot of reasons to become involved in meeting the needs of your neighbors. Money put in the kettle is going to stay in that community. People should know that they are helping the people in need, in their area, whenever they give to the Salvation Army.” If you or someone you know needs help and you see someone who's in a Salvation Army uniform, just tell them what you need! They’ll call the local Salvation Army who will do whatever they can to assist you. They’re always ready to help. “We're seeing an increasing number of volunteers, says Commander Kenneth Hodder, “and I’m inviting all your listeners to volunteer this year for a kettle. Donating a couple of hours of your time, can buy several nights of shelter for someone. It can provide several dozen meals for a family. You can make a huge difference having a lot of fun standing out on the street corner ringing a bell, bring your spouse, bring your pet, bring your children, join your corporate group. It's a great thing to do in the holiday season. It will make you feel good, and you'll make a real difference.” You can check out the volunteering options at SalvationArmyUSA.org, which are generally done in about two-hour segments. 82 cents of every dollar donated goes directly toward funding Salvation Army initiatives and it stays within the community in which it was given. My personal suggestion to Kenneth, was that he hurry up and figure out how someone could just walk up to those red kettles and swipe a credit card across, because as we all know, people hardly carry cash anymore. He said he would get right ‘on it’! Meanwhile you can donate in several ways online as well. If you want more information, again, it's SalvationArmyUSA.org /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/28782928

American Christmas: Bringing Holiday Magic to Life 365 Days of the Year 11/07/2023

American Christmas: Bringing Holiday Magic to Life 365 Days of the Year We’re already into Christmas? Didn’t I just take off my Halloween Costume? If like me, you’ve been feeling that the holiday season has been arriving earlier and earlier each year, it’s not your imagination. It has in fact been speeding up, because the businesses and destinations that invest in holiday displays invest a lot, says Dan Casterella, the Chief Executive Officer of American Christmas, and they want to capitalize on their investments. American Christmas is the company behind the scenes creating the breathtaking holiday displays in 6 states including the iconic locations in NYC, like Saks Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Macy's, and Radio City Music Hall. I invited CEO Dan Casterella to stop by my radio show for a warm chat to give us all a peek behind the curtains in the world of American Christmas. The Business of Christmas: Located in Mount Vernon, New York, (my hometown) American Christmas is the company responsible for decorating some of the most famous holiday locations in the United States. But they're not just about tinsel and lights; they create immersive holiday experiences that enchant visitors and spread festive cheer. The feel-good power they have created there is undeniable. Anyone of any age who could use a lift should stop by. From School to Christmas Wonderland: Chief Executive Officer, Dan Castarella, has been part of this magical world for over two decades. His journey into the Christmas business began when he started decorating homes in high school and, after a short stint in college, decided to leave college and join American Christmas. His parents were honestly not thrilled with his choice, but his passion and talent for bringing the holiday spirit to life have paid off. (And now they get free Christmas Decorations) Creating the Magic: American Christmas isn't just about decking the halls; it's a year-round operation. With a 15-month planning cycle for some clients, and two weeks for others depending on the type and scale of the job, the process is both meticulous and expansive. It takes hundreds of employees working across multiple states, including New York, Texas, California, Florida, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., to make these holiday displays a reality. The end goal is to help clients create a holiday brand identity and gift a spectacular experience to their communities. Dan said, “For us, it’s Christmas 365. The day our takedown season is done, we start again refurbishing for the following year. Everyone thinks we see Santa Claus all year long, and it's anything but that. It’s mostly spreadsheets and a lot of marketing conversations.” Bringing the Holiday To You: For the second year in a row, American Christmas is offering the public a chance to experience their holiday magic with an event called "Holiday Lane." Located at 30 Warren Place in Mount Vernon, it's an immersive holiday experience that allows visitors to walk through a magical Christmas experience, pick up festive decorations, and even meet Santa Claus. It's open Wednesday to Sunday, making it accessible for families and anyone in need of a dose of holiday spirit. Santa will be there every Wednesday and Friday night at Holiday Lane from 6 to roughly 8pm. Dan says, “We have a showroom for our commercial clients that’s about 4,000 square feet and we open that up to the general public. You can buy tickets online to come and experience what we do at American Christmas. The tickets are inexpensive, because we’re trying to be family friendly and we’re donating 100% of the proceeds to three nonprofit charities in Mount Vernon, New York. The Mount Vernon Boys & Girls Club, Northeast STEM Starter Academy of Mt. Vernon, and Youth Community Outreach Program of Mount Vernon. Year-Round Christmas: The holiday season lasts for just a few weeks, but the work at American Christmas is a year-round endeavor. Planning, designing, and building take months, ensuring that the magic happens on time. Then it all boils down to a very hectic nine-week season when everything comes to life. Color Trends and Decorating Styles: Each year, American Christmas helps its clients embrace various color themes and decorating styles. This year pink has been a popular choice, inspired by the Barbie. Trend. But natural woodlands themes, traditional reds, and golds, and even New Orleans-style Mardi Gras displays have their place in the holiday lineup. Their Christmas store on premise is just fabulous and you’ll wish you knew about it sooner if you didn’t know about it already . There’s Some New Christmas Technology: “The new thing”, says Dan, “is RGB technology where we can control the lights and build a show around the Christmas Lights. It’s not that popular in New York because New Yorkers like to keep Christmas traditional with ribbons, bows, and ornaments but it’s popular for us around the country. This year for example we have a 50-foot tree at the Tanger Outlet in Tennessee that’s an RGB show with programmable alights and we run a three-minute loop with a show on the tree.” Holding the Holiday Line: American Christmas does end for most of their clients by January 15th when the company finalizes their ‘take down’ portion of process for all the decorations they’ve put up. However, we all have seen some outdoor trees stay wrapped with white lights throughout the winter, bringing much needed warmth and joy to the dark months which is fine by me. A Business That Spreads Joy: The holiday season may start earlier each year, but the goal is to spread joy and create memorable experiences. Something we could all use a little more of these days for sure. The work of American Christmas brings a touch of magic to all of our lives. American Christmas is more than just a company; it's a team of dedicated professionals who spend all year working to make the holiday season unforgettable. From design to installation and takedown, their business keeps the magic of Christmas alive year after year. If you find yourself in Mount Vernon, N.Y., don't miss the chance to visit Holiday Lane and experience the enchantment for yourself. I hope you enjoy this podcast of my live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show with Dan Casterella, the Chief Executive Officer of American Christmas. It's uplifting! /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/28543892

Kailen Rosenberg Might Be Your Answer To Finding Real Love 11/02/2023

Kailen Rosenberg Might Be Your Answer To Finding Real Love Kailen Rosenberg known to millions as Oprah’s love ambassador on the award-winning series (OWN and BBC Worldwide) joined me on Halloween to talk about finding real love. So happens just before she joined me on the radio, I had read a story in the NY Post about the number of people who were wearing 'sexy' Halloween Costumes in the hope of getting lucky with a sweet treat of the human kind by nights end. The results of a survey taken by a sex positive dating app named 'Pure' said 72 % women and 43% of men would be wearing 'sexy' Halloween costumes this year. I’m sure for some that was fun, but most people are out there searching for a real connection, not a one night ‘boo’, and it takes more than a sexy costume to find real love. If you are looking for real love, Kailen Rosenberg might be your answer. What makes her such a love guru? Well, Kailen's been in the love, dating, and relationships industry for almost 30 years. She’s also had to follow her own advice and shares her own journey to finding love. Kailen’s the author of the best-selling Simon & Schuster book "Real Love, Right Now: A Celebrity Love Architect's Thirty-Day Blueprint for Finding Your Soul Mate - and So Much More!” . The book is a guide for anyone seeking an authentic and meaningful connection in a world often characterized by superficiality and false closeness. Honestly, ‘30 Days to Real Love’ sounded to me a little like a pitch to go on some kind of diet. We all do know, if you actually follow a diet for 30 days, results actually happen. I was wondering, is Kailen’s 30-day love strategy one that actually works, like a diet, if you follow it? “It's pretty identical”, she said. “I mean, it really, really is. It's about honing in on what you really want instead of just thinking about it and dreaming about it all the time and then looking at the reality of what has been blocking it”. She went on to say, “And we know if we sit and we're silent enough for even a moment to get really raw and honest and real with ourselves, to look at how and where we are blocking love, whether it's from fear, from the past, past relationships, childhood, whatever, it is that has basically shown us or told us that love really isn't real. Or it can't happen. Or if it does it's only painful and it's only going to end in demise, which you know sadly too many people really end up believing that to a certain extent. Then we end up blocking it energetically and so we get in our own way and we end up through the way we dress, the faces that we have, the way we speak to others. “ “And so we're constantly out there either attracting love or repelling love, she said. “And so, in 30 days, it's really about getting centered, getting present, learning to really love yourself, to really understand and know your true value, to honor that. And then energetically, you're putting out a totally different vibe, and the next thing you know, people from all directions are seeing you differently and they're attracted to you, and you’re now also attracted to yourself in a very different way. So, it's a cool experience. It really is and yeah, it does work.” Kailen is also the founder and CEO of the world's first holistic wellness, love, and social club platform for extraordinary singles: My LOVE DESIGN®. There, Kailen provides exclusive invitations to expert-led events, covering a wide range of topics such as love, beauty, home design, spirituality, finances, and more. Her first of its kind, invite only, luxury dating, wellness experience is an in-person event with Modern Luxury magazine happening in Houston on November 14th, 2023. All singles attending have been vetted. Next stop for a Kailen Rosenberg event, will be New York City and then more events across the country. Kailen’s really excited about it all because she says, “it's just time for a change. Dating and friends are just exhausting.” As for age? Kailen says that becomes far more irrelevant and so her focus isn't on younger, older, or same age, it's just on finding the right one. Finally, I did have to ask …how many people did this smarty pants love guru help find Real Love? Kailen said, she stopped counting after 500 marriages. Feel free to share this podcast of my warm live radio conversation with Kailen Rosenberg about what she’s doing to help singles find genuine love. It might be of real interest to someone you know who is looking for real love. /episode/index/show/thedebbienigroshow/id/28496024

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