Our next guest hosts the Chicago exploration page, Chicago Food Guide. He also operates a social media agency and teaches to ESL students at a local high school. We explore his humble beginnings in the south suburbs living on link all the way to navigating client deals. He’s collaborated with local comedians and athletes while showcasing some great spots around Chicago. He’s leveraged the network he’s cultivated and created opportunities for people around him through his media agency. Please enj...
May 15, 2024•1 hr 53 min
Our next guests are shedding light on the short and long term effects of Concussions. Leading from personal experiences, Dr. Chris Nowinski who is a former Ivy League Football Player, a former professional wrestler [lookup Chris Harvard], author, and neuroscientist who co-founded the Concussion Legacy Foundation. An organization that performs research on brains that experienced concussions as well as being a resource for anyone experiencing post concussion syndrome (PCS) or Chronic Traumatic Enc...
May 08, 2024•59 min
Our next guest is a young man who’s evoking compassion and fostering community in Chicago. You might have seen some of his videos of charitable acts at a grocery store or a gas station helping people pay for their bills. My favorites are the follow ups with certain individuals like Marcus who was battling homelessness. These videos are just one aspect of his organization, Immeasurable Impact. He has so many lofty goals, and we really get to hear him string his thoughts together in real time. Ple...
Apr 18, 2024•1 hr 35 min
Our next guest is a creator in every sense of the word. They and their partner Stephen are the humans behind Edgewater Candles and they’re going into their 8th year this year. We journey through their many iterations. From discovering a love of scents, getting their first sale, moving to Evanston, and eventually coming home to Edgewater, you get a feel for how much work and love go into a small business. You can find their goodies at various shops around the city, but I encourage you to pop into...
Apr 10, 2024•1 hr 35 min
Our next guest is a Certified Sake Sommelier. He was recently nominated for Sommelier of the Year by The Jean Banchet Awards. He’s currently a manager for Sushi San and The Omakase Room at Sushi San. His love for hospitality and knowledge of sake are palpable. We go into his personal journey with sake as well as explain where one would begin when trying sake. Please enjoy my conversation with Daniel Bennett. Justine and I recently had the pleasure of dining at The Omakase Room, and we had a blas...
Apr 03, 2024•1 hr 24 min
Our next guest is the current Medical Director for the local animal rescue, One Tail at a Time. She shares some of her experiences that led her to pursue Veterinary Medicine and specifically shelter medicine. We even explore some conversations around adoption and what pet owners can do to keep their fur babies healthy. Please enjoy my conversation with Dr. Rachael Wooten. https://www.onetail.org https://instagram.com/dr.raywooschen...
Mar 27, 2024•1 hr 36 min
Our next guest is the fourth generation owner of J.P. Graziano Grocery Company. They were voted the Best Sandwich Shop by Chicago Reader in 2023. The shop is an icon of nostalgia in the West Loop neighborhood that instantly transports you to the 1930’s. We talk a lot about family and legacy. From his relationship with his father to carrying the torch of the family business. He’s strong-willed and authentic. If you’re in the area, stop in for a sandwich at 901 W Randolph St. Please enjoy my conve...
Mar 20, 2024•2 hr
Our next guest is a travel influencer and content creator. While feeling unfulfilled in his corporate role, he began to dabble in creating content and found some success. With the encouragement of his inner circle, he decided to go all in on the content creator journey this year. He highlights underrated bites and places local to Chicago as well as around the world. Like many of us, he looks up to the late Anthony Bourdain and strives to encourage people to cultivate empathy and compassion throu...
Mar 14, 2024•1 hr 30 min
Our next guest helps us explore role playing games (RPG). I’ve never personally played, but our guest makes it approachable and exciting. The first half of the episode explores his upbringing in Nebraska and some of his earliest memories of creating narratives through adventure. We transition into his time in Theater and some of the nuances that come with that industry. We end the episode exploring his current endeavor, Rough Magic Games. An organization that creates opportunities for friends an...
Feb 21, 2024•1 hr 52 min
Our next episode is literally a treat. They’ll be celebrating 30 years this year as a donut shop. This is an episode about the immigrant experience, finding your way, and cultivating community through the vessel of donuts. The shop experienced a tragic fire in the summer of 2014 and they overcame the obstacles through community support and winning a local donut competition with their ube donut. It catapulted the neighborhood hole in the wall to a household name in the midwest. If you find yourse...
Feb 13, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Our next guest takes us on his journey of starting Club Doctor. His products clean and restore every part of a golf club. This episode is a great fit for anyone on the entrepreneurial journey. We go into leveraging his interests and identifying a potential demand all the way to scaling the brand through marketing and potentially wholesaling. I was surprised by how bold he was at establishing a proof of concept when he filled blank bottles with car tire polish and sold them on Amazon. He hopes to...
Feb 07, 2024•1 hr 25 min
Our next guest is a full-time, board certified neurosurgeon and Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery at The Chicago Medical School. She is one of roughly 200 board-certified women neurosurgeons in the United States. Her journey is an example of purpose, discipline, and determination. She had an early interest in neuroscience but her initial interaction with a neurosurgeon through her mother’s aneurysm pulled her into the path of neurosurgery. She’s precise, philanthropic, and someone who appreciat...
Jan 30, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Our next guest shares his journey of becoming a physician. I met him at our recent EMT graduation party for our students. We briefly talked about his time as a Physician in Emergency Medicine but to my surprise, he’s board certified in Family Medicine. He previously pursued a path in journalism and pivoted a little later in life. This episode would provide a lot of value for those a little older and wanting to start a career in medicine. Please enjoy my conversation with Dr. Dan Bade. Sponsors: ...
Jan 24, 2024•1 hr 18 min
Our next guest is a holistic healer. Built on a foundation of chiropractic medicine, his curiosity has led him to modalities like muscle testing and Neuro-Emotional Technique to name a few. He has a knack of helping you explore any blocks you may have within the physical, spiritual, or emotional realms. He can host individual sessions, group sessions, and even remote sessions. After a session with him, you’ll realize he’s a modern day wizard. Please enjoy my conversation with Dr. Jon Mackoff htt...
Jan 15, 2024•2 hr 8 min
Our next guest shares her journey of deprogramming from the beauty industry. We explore some of the exhausting standards that women have been raised to meet. She’s attentive, thoughtful, and resolute. She has a knack for stirring up discussions about self worth in relation to the beauty industry on her instagram page, notyourmanicpixiedreamcurl. I hope you listen to this with an open mind and reflect on how it makes you feel. More often than not, that feeling of being triggered is a reflection o...
Jan 11, 2024•2 hr 12 min
Our next guest was introduced to me by Dr. Dave Nayak. He completed a timelessly realistic tattoo that lives on Dr. Dave's arm. After decades of producing tattoos for private clients, the next chapter seems to include being a part of something larger than himself. He is currently the Creative Director at the WNDR Museum. He's a creator, curator, and a deep empath. We navigated conversations about cultivating fulfillment, identity, and family dynamics. Our conversation was pure and it evoked a se...
Jan 02, 2024•1 hr 43 min
Our next guest comes on to share their journey into the nonprofit space. They currently partner with over 50 pizzerias and provide some amazing pies to various shelters in the Chicagoland area. Looking back, it seems like it was meant to be since he grew up around pizza and til this day, can not get sick of it. He has an incredible ability to connect with friends and strangers alike. He's funny, charming, and present. Please enjoy my conversation with Angelo Corso. https://doughnatepizza.com htt...
Dec 27, 2023•1 hr 38 min
Our next guest is a journalist turned multi-hyphenate. She has experience within tech, media, and entrepreneurship. She’s worked with the New York Times, Business Insider, and CNBC. She’s currently a Program Manager at Google and a Finance Contributor at Forbes. She’s passionate about exploring the Latino influence in the world of business. She shares some of these stories on her newsletter and podcast, Moneda Moves. As children of immigrants, we explore identity and family dynamics. I admire he...
Dec 20, 2023•1 hr 15 min
Our next guest is the principal architect of Robbins Architecture. Her firm has designed elegant and functional dream homes in Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, and Wyoming. Their homes bring out a sense of harmony, elegance, and livability. Our guest shares some of her earliest memories of design and entrepreneurship. Becoming an architect seemed like fulfilling a destiny. I walked away inspired by how to design and live in my own spaces. Please enjoy my conversation with Celeste Robbins. You can f...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 31 min
Our next guest is coincidentally Justine's cousin, but we met prior to me meeting Justine. When Justine introduced me to the cousins, Josh accurately guessed what I drove. He's taken care of me on several occasions when I would bring the car in for service. Just another example of how small the world can feel sometimes. Josh recently popped up at Side Practice Coffee to showcase his sneaker restoration and alteration company, JoshGotKustoms. Through music, car culture, and sneakers, he shares hi...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr 46 min
Our next guest shares how she forged her identity and purpose as a creator. She’s the definition of “leaving no stone unturned.” She’s authored a cookbook, been a finalist on Food Network’s Supermarket Stakeout, and is currently releasing her dumpling-making kit. She’s been trying to recreate experiences where people come together over good food and good conversation. Every one of her previous experiences have led to forming Thirsty Dumpling. She’s tenacious, her ambition is palpable, and Chicag...
Nov 28, 2023•2 hr 7 min
Our next guest is a physician, deacon, family man, farmer, and he’s currently running for Senate in Illinois. He’s created a 100% free allergy and asthma clinic through his foundation, Strength to Love. He has a knack for identifying root causes of an issue, coming up with a potential solution, and scaling these methods to reach a larger group of people. Two issues that he’s been successful with recently are gun violence and food insecurity. He’s battling gun violence by implementing a bill that...
Nov 06, 2023•2 hr 30 min
Our next guest stops by all the way from Canada. She's cultivated a passion for writing and has recently stepped away from being a course editor for a university to freelance full time. She also shares a bit about what life was like living with a parent who was dealing with mental health issues. She's the host of the Finding Fifty Podcast and reflects on the life lessons and experiences up until this point. Please enjoy my conversation with Carolyn Hawes. https://carolynhawescreative.com https:/...
Oct 30, 2023•1 hr 35 min
Tom returns to share what's been going on in his life one year after our last recording. We touch on his transition from property management to risk response at a restoration company and finally striking a work life balance. We revisit his journey of loss with his dad and the importance of family. And we explore what goes into preparing to be the band at our wedding. This episode was filmed two months prior to our wedding. Releasing this episode one month after our wedding brought back all the f...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr 44 min
Our next guest has become one of Chicago’s favorite urban historians. This man is a walking encyclopedia. He shares how he expanded his curiosity of the city through his time as a lifeguard for the Chicago beaches as well as being a meter maid for ComEd. We also discuss some possible solutions to the uptick in crimes committed by our youth as well as some possible solutions to the issues around the police department. Despite the negativity that the media shares about Chicago, Shermann continues ...
Oct 06, 2023•1 hr 15 min
Our next guest shares his passion for creating an inclusive space for people with disabilities. He wants to show that, when given an opportunity, people with disabilities can do anything. Growing up with Auditory Processing disorder and ADHD, he cultivated a passion for this niche. He works with Keshet as a Recreation Program Manager, a group that provides support and encouragement at after school programs and day camps. He's also the Founder of Creative Souls, a company that provides an opportu...
Oct 03, 2023•1 hr 30 min
Our next guest shares his journey of pursuing his dream of baking pastries. From his first time in a commercial kitchen in high school with After School Matters to sharpening his skills at Lost Larson to even running his own pastry program at Big Jones. He now shares his pastries through his bakery Del Sur Bakery and you can find them at Side Practice Coffee [5139 N Damen ave]. It was truly a pleasure to hear his immigrant story and I related to his struggle of having deeper conversation with im...
Sep 28, 2023•1 hr 33 min
Our next guest is a best-selling author, TedX speaker, and strategic consultant to corporate executives, business students, and entrepreneurial leaders. Anyone that’s spent time with her can tell that she’s figured something out and her gift is sharing it with others. Her presence is palpable through the level of attention she gives you through each interaction. What I took away from our conversation is that the best version of you is already within you. Please enjoy my conversation with Cortney...
Sep 01, 2023•1 hr 42 min
Our next guest is the creator of the intimate dining experience, family meal. Cambodian culture and cuisine were decimated during the Khmer Rouge. Ethan is on a journey to share Cambodian cuisine with Chicago and explore what it could have looked like had the genocide didn’t happen. Although his path isn’t a linear one, it seems like his curiosity never led him astray in and out of the hospitality industry. Please enjoy my conversation with Ethan Lim. Oh and if you haven’t tried his Cambodian fr...
Aug 16, 2023•1 hr 31 min
Our next guests joined forces during the pandemic and started a virtual restaurant delivering elevated midwestern comfort food to peoples' doorsteps. Eve Studnička was curating an underground dinner series in her apartment called "dinner at the grotto" and Alexis Thomas-Rice had a catering company called Black Cat Kitchen. Together, they're striving to cultivate a relaxed ethos where everyone from any background can find solace over a great meal. They've recently been featured in Chicago Magazin...
Aug 02, 2023•1 hr 36 min
