DJ Barry is an entrepreneur, artist and changemaker with a vision to bring the world a little closer together through random acts of kindness. Listen to this interview with DJ to learn how we're "all spots on the same cow" and what DJ is doing to spread that mission around Vermont, the US and now the world! Check out DJ's mission and gallery at https://www.worldcow.earth.
Rachel Vandenberg grew up in her family's hotel business in Stowe, Vermont then traveled the world and worked in several industries before returning to Vermont to co-own and operate the Sun & Ski Inn and Suites with her husband, Mark. In this episode, she shares their Vermont origin story and discusses her latest industry endeavors. With her expertise in leadership and organizational development, Rachel founded The Travel Leader to coach established leaders in travel and hospitality and prov...
Emiliano Void is the Founder and CEO of nuwave Equity Corporation. He is responsible for the development and implementation of systemic solutions centered around the dismantlement of anti-Black and systemic racism through profitable and innovative approaches. Emiliano grew up in Montreal, Canada and has spent the last decade living and working in the Burlington, Vermont area and serving in several positions for both Dealer.com and Cox Automotive. He visits Learning Life to discuss the challenges...
Born and raised in Vermont, Ashley Reynolds is the President and Co-Founder of Elmore Mountain Therapeutics. Ashley and her husband Colin founded EMT 2017 after Ashley’s personal struggle with postpartum anxiety. Finding relief through the use of CBD, Ashley saw a need for cannabis advocation to all. With a deep understanding of the science behind it, she dispels misconceptions and educates others on the use of CBD for promoting moisture, reducing wrinkles, and brightening dark spots. Ashley bel...
This week, Jon speaks with C.J. Knudsen, Senior Vice President for the Vermont Lake Monsters. C.J. graduated from Rice Memorial High School in 1992 and served as the Lake Monsters Assistant General Manager from 1997-1999 and the team's General Manager from 2000-2009. C.J. returned to the Lake Monsters in 2021 as Senior Vice President and has helped the team navigate the transition from MLB's minor league system to the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. By all accounts, it's going well. In 2021,...
In the previous episode, we delved into the fascinating world of Synchronicity with Dr. Tom Myers and Dr. Rob Williams. Now, in Part 2 of our series, we invite you to embark on a transformative journey through a profound meditation session led by Rob himself, the co-founder of Peak Flow. Prepare yourself by finding a peaceful spot, turning off your devices, and allowing Dr. Rob to guide you into an awakened state, enabling you to discover the magic of Synchronicity in your life today. To learn m...
Dr. Tom Myers is a Synchronicity Researcher, Educator, and Coach, dedicated to helping individuals and businesses discover the power of Synchronicity and implement it in their lives. Having had a distinguished career as a professor and faculty chair at Champlain College, Tom now focuses on assisting people in understanding the concept of Synchronicity, recognizing its occurrences, and learning how to activate and operate in synchronistic harmony with those around them. In this episode, we dive d...
Doug Lewis is a 2-time Olympian, 8-year member of the US Ski Team, and in 1985 won the first ever World Championship medal for an American in downhill. And he grew up right here in the Green Mountains, cutting his teeth at Middlebury's Snow Bowl, then honing his skills at the GMVS Ski Academy at Sugarbush. After a great run on the US Ski Team, Doug returned to Vermont to attend UVM and to later co-found ELITEAM, a sports camp hosted at Killington Mountain School, that helps young athletes reach ...
In this episode, Jon sits down with Alex Hernandez, President of Champlain College, who was recently inaugurated as just the 10th President in Champlain's long history. Alex's vision for the college is centered on a theme of “readiness,” as he outlines plans to build a better future for students, the college, and Vermont. Jon talks with Alex about how education creates opportunity and what he thinks our institutions must do to get students ready for their future. Learn more about Champlain Colle...
In this episode, Jon sits down with Jason Lorber, the Founder and President of Aplomb Consulting, where they help people facilitate change in their lives and businesses. Based in Burlington, VT, Jason is also a standup comedian who served four terms in the Vermont state legislature. We talk about change, how comedy can help through the process, and why everyday citizens should get involved in politics now. Learn more about Jason and Aplomb at http://aplomb.com/...
In this episode, Jon sits down with Bridget Conry, founder of High Fidelity and host of the new High Fidelity podcast show. Bridget is an herbal practitioner and cannabis industry educator, advocate and entrepreneur based in Burlington, VT. High Fidelity intends to explore the intersection of cannabis, wellness, culture and the arts through insightful conversations with industry experts and thought leaders from all disciplines. Learn more at http://hifivt.com We discuss the history of cannabis i...
This week, Jon sits down with Beth Hill. Beth is the President and CEO of Fort Ticonderoga, the historic 2,000 acre destination overlooking Lake Champlain and educating visitors since 1909. Beth has a passion for history and a long career in the development and management of historical sites. In this episode, we discuss the importance of learning from our history, why sense of place matters today and how legendary historical sites like Fort Ticonderoga can scale into the digital age. There’s so ...
This week, Jon sits down with Will Raap. Will is a pioneer in sustainable, regenerative farming in Vermont and the entrepreneur who founded Gardener’s Supply Company, spearheaded the start of the Intervale Center and, most recently, is transforming the Nordic Farm in Charlotte into Earthkeep Farmcommon. In this week’s episode, we discuss Will’s entrepreneurial journey as well as his latest innovation in agriculture, Earthkeep Farmcommon — a regenerative agricultural ecosystem that is organic, ca...
This week, Jon sits down with Sarah DeGray, founder of REV Indoor Cycling. REV is a place of community and wellness, and is a no-judgment zone that helps you achieve your fitness goals through supportive coaching and an uplifting environment. Sarah founded REV Indoor Cycling 10 years ago in Burlington, Vermont, and has some excellent advice to offer entrepreneurs. In this week’s episode, Sarah discusses her experience with indoor cycling, and how her passion for music, as well as being an athlet...
This week, Jon sits down with Kimberly DuBrul, a certified business, life and mindset coach who has been coaching for almost 20 years. Kimberly is a Founding Member of the world wide John Maxwell Team of coaches, speakers and trainers and was one of 12 people chosen to make up the very first President's Advisory Council (PAC). She has also received the PCC title through the International Coach Federation (ICF), which is one of the top credentials available in the world of life coaching. In this ...
This week, Jon sits down with Cassie Polhemus, CEO of the Vermont Economic Development Authority. VEDA helps provide financing solutions to Vermont businesses in order to keep companies running and growing, and support the vitality of Vermont’s economy. In this week’s episode, Cassie talks about her journey to Vermont, how VEDA works daily to help Vermont businesses reach their goals and the unique challenges and advantages to being a Vermont entrepreneur. You can learn more about VEDA at veda.o...
In this week's episode, we have Vermont serial entrepreneur, Professor, and friend of the show Dr. Rob Williams. Whether you know him from the Yak it to Me Burger stand, teaching at University of Vermont and Champlain College, or as a major voice on Vermont Independent Radio, Dr. Rob always shares something new and interesting. Rob sits down with Jon to discuss Peak Flow, a course to teach the Wim Hof Method, a breathing, cold exposure, and focus technique designed to help you live a better life...
This week Jon sits down with Adam Hergenrother to discuss how business can be a conduit for personal growth. Adam is the founder and CEO of Adam Hergenrother Companies, which became a $1 billion organization in 2019 and has been a five-time winner of the Vermont Best Places to Work. In this episode, Adam shares his journey to acquire the skills that have made him a great leader and offers advice for young entrepreneurs. Listen in to learn how health, wealth, spirituality, and leadership can be u...
This week, Jon sits down with Jenna Sereni, a pioneer in influencer marketing as the VP of Marketing and Creative Services at WHOSAY, the first ever influencer marketing agency. Today, Jenna is the visionary co-founder and CEO of HandsDown, the social commerce platform that allows users to share what they “hands down” can’t live without and discover what they’ve been missing, from the people they trust most — their inner circle. After WHOSAY was acquired in 2018, Jenna continued to work for her ...
This week, Jon sits down with Jeff Weaber, founder and CEO of the famed Kombucha brewery Aqua ViTea, based in Middlebury Vermont. Jeff started as a brewer at Lucky Labrador in Portland Oregon, before discovering the health benefits of Kombucha. He moved to Salisbury VT in 2005 with the goal of helping people sustain a healthy lifestyle. AquaViTea began in a farmhouse in 2007 and is one of the first kombucha brewers in the nation, and the largest on the east coast. The AquaViTea team was the firs...
This week, Jon sits down with Duane Peterson, Co-Founder and Co-President of SunCommon, a benefit corporation powering Vermont and Hudson Valley homes, schools, and businesses with solar. Duane is also a member of the board for both VBSR and VPIRG, organizations pushing for social responsibility and environmental protection across the green mountain state. Duane began his career in politics in California, before moving to Vermont where he spent 12 years as "Chief of Stuff" at Ben and Jerry's, hi...
This week on Learning Life, Jon talked with Kai Cook about Deep End Fitness. Kai Cook is a lifelong swimmer and when she discovered Deep End fitness in California, she felt it was important enough to bring back to Vermont and became one of the founders of the Vermont branch. Deep End fitness was originally developed by Don Tran and Prime Hall after they started water survival training for marine raiders. Join in and listen to Kai explain how this military survival training, has become a fun but ...
This week Jon sits down with Riley Seith, co-founder of the Laces App, and student entrepreneur. Laces is a platform for runners to find and share safe running routes when traveling or moving to a new city. After you’re done running, you can report incidents or obstacles. Think Waze for runners. Riley and her co-founder Makenzie started their business from Champlain college. The idea started as a way to help women identifying people, particularly in college, to find a more safe way to run. As th...
This week Jon sits down with Lousia Schibli, co-founder of the Northern New England Women's Investor network, and co-founder and CEO of Milk Money Vermont. Milk Money is a platform for Vermonters to discover local investment opportunities, get tips on how to evaluate those opportunities, and then make an investment. Louisa has also recently joined RuralWorks Partners as Chief Engagement Officer. RuralWorks Partners is an impact investment firm that supports growth stage and transitioning rural b...
Matty Benedetto solves problems that don’t really exist by creating products that no one is asking for. Benedetto is the inventor, serial entrepreneur and evil genius behind the wildly popular Unnecessary Inventions based right here in Burlington, Vermont. Matty grew up outside New York City, got his marketing degree at St. Michael’s then settled here in the Green Mountains funneling his passions into product development and startup businesses along the way. Now with over 6 million followers acr...
This week Jon sits down with Will Read, CEO and founder of CannaPlanners, a marketing agency that helps cannabis retailers with their branding, identity, and digital presence. After graduating college, Will moved to Burlington with his band as a musician before moving down to New York City to work for sales at Apple. As many Vermonters will understand, he felt the Green Mountain State calling him back and he returned a few years later to work in digital marketing. With Vermont legalizing adult-u...
This week Jon sits down with Cairn Cross, co-founder of FreshTracks Capital in Shelburne VT. FreshTracks is a venture capital and private equity firm focused on investments in Vermont-based growth companies. Cross sits on the board of multiple Vermont companies including Native Energy, Faraday, and Vermont Teddy Bear, as well as Mamava (previously on Learning Life,) and a board observer for ThinkMD. Cross is also a lecturer at UVM, teaching at the cutting-edge Sustainable Innovation MBA program....
This week we're excited to have Lindsay DesLauriers, the co-owner and President of Bolton Valley Resort. A mountain legacy, Lindsay's father Ralph founded Bolton Valley back in 1966 and developed it into an iconic indie ski mountain in the Northeast. In 1997, her family had to sell the resort, but recently bought it back in 2017 with a group of local investors to restore and modernize Bolton Valley while maintaining its nostalgic charm. With its broad terrain, back country connection, night skii...
Our guest this week is Kevin Pellon, the founder and CEO of raisedVT, live in our studio! Listen in as Kevin Pellon explains what it means to him to be raisedVT and what it means to be a proud Vermonter, even if you weren't born in the Green Mountain State. This retail clothing brand focuses on what makes Vermont, Vermont, with unique imagery from ski to farm culture, and from the Champlain valley to the top of Mount Mansfield. Listen to learn about a great local entrepreneur building a brand fo...
Our guest this week is Byron Batres, a wealth management advisor and financial planner in the Burlington area who is the founder and CEO of EZ-Probate. After realizing the trials and tribulations of dealing with the court system for the probate process of wills and estates for families, he set out to build a turbo-tax like system to avoid the hassle during an already emotional time. Now EZ-Probate helps families prepare legal documents themselves and get through the process quicker. Listen to le...
