I am joined by repeat guest, Drew Vernon, Marketing Director for the toy company, Tonies. The Toniebox is a child-friendly speaker that comes with Tonies that are placed on the top of the speaker to play songs and tell stories. Many of your favorite characters are available, including Disney. Drew gives us an update about the company's first year launching in the US as well as collaborations with some well-known celebrities. Visit https://tonies.com and use code TONIEPODCAST to receive 15% off. ...
Oct 11, 2021•29 min•Ep. 83
My guest is Kelsey Komorowski, founder of Komo. Komo is a consulting company that works with students and parents to build students' learning and critical thinking skills. We chat about what is good and bad about the "traditional" school model and how it can be improved. We focus on the skills to be developed that make a better learner, both in school and in a career. Finally, we end with a fun conversation about travel and how it helps broaden your world view. Visit https://komoconsulting.com t...
Aug 02, 2021•47 min•Ep. 82
In this week's episode I highlight the greatest lesson and habit I gained from the pandemic. Work from home flexibility allowed for more time spent with family and less reliant on child care. Quality time spent with kids in the form of picking them up from the bus or coaching their sports team is the best reward from a flexible schedule. I also encourage listeners to consider "interactive entertainment" such as playing sports or being creative with the people around you, rather than simply watch...
May 18, 2021•43 min•Ep. 81
My guest is Eric Geier, President of Puresurance. We talk about the good and bad of the "typical" American health insurance policy and why people can get confused and frustrated with their policies. Eric walks through how his company offers an alternative model that starts with underwritten policies that require health screenings, much like life insurances policies. We trade stories and tactics to keep costs low, no matter what kind of policy you have. Eric, then, gives options on the life insur...
May 04, 2021•48 min•Ep. 80
In this episode, I talk about how my family pivoted our travel plans during COVID and focused more on domestic travel. Specifically, we were able to enjoy Yellowstone National Park, the Smokey Mountains and Maui, HI in place of cruises and international destinations. We were so happy with all of these trips and absolutely encourage folks to consider these destinations in your travel plans, especially while restrictions are still in place. Visit Suburban Folk for more content like this. Hosted on...
Apr 20, 2021•42 min•Ep. 79
My guest is Brian Haney, Founder and VP of The Haney Company. We talk about the current state of the stock market and other investments that are at record highs while facing the uncertain times during the pandemic. We highlight the fact that there are more options for how to invest than ever before and the importance of diversification. Brian emphasizes the importance of investment vehicles that are tax advantaged. We end with thoughts about how government intervention may play out and the need ...
Apr 13, 2021•55 min•Ep. 78
In this solo episode, Greg gives his best tips for DIYing a kitchen remodel. He starts by talking about what to consider for both base cabinets and wall cabinets. He recommends the discount cabinet company Cabinets To Go to save money on well-constructed cabinets. He shares lessons learned in hanging wall cabinets and the frustrations of putting up crown molding. He ends with ideas for flooring and backsplashes while recommending a contractor for countertops other than Formica. Visit Suburban Fo...
Mar 23, 2021•58 min•Ep. 77
My guest is Natalie Garramone, owner and principal consultant at ONE EIGHTY, a firm focusing on conflict resolution and mediation. We discuss the reasons for conflict arising at work and how we can be best positioned to productively resolve issues. She stresses the importance of listening and striving to understand others' points of view. We, then pivot to dealing with conflict at home with friends and family. She emphasizes similar rules in understanding while also understanding queues (especia...
Mar 15, 2021•51 min•Ep. 76
In this solo episode, I talk about the parts of a bathroom remodel to consider doing yourself without a contractor. I walk through the process of replacing a toilet, sink, and installing a tile floor. I also talk about some of the specific instances where it might be best to hire a plumber. The episode is not intended to cover all steps, but to show that with a little confidence, a homeowner can tackle many projects without hiring a professional. For more content like this, visit Suburban Folk ....
Mar 02, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 75
My guest is Chris Habig, co-founder of Freedom Healthworks. We talk about the concept of direct care in which patients subscribe directly to a doctor and pay directly for services without the need for a third party insurance. Our discussion covers some of the history of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its intent, challenges in achieving transparent billing, and other frustrations patients and providers face in the US Healthcare system. To find out more about Freedom Healthworks, visit: https:/...
Feb 23, 2021•48 min•Ep. 74
My guest is Renee Exelbert, Psychologist and Trainer. Renee returns to the show to talk about ways that people can look after themselves and others while surviving through the pandemic. We talk about diet, exercise and mental health. For each area, a consistent theme of giving yourself slack while avoiding doing too much at once. We also discuss ways that you can modify your old routine that has been disrupted with some new suggestions and also, don't be surprised if some routines are forever al...
Feb 16, 2021•40 min•Ep. 73
My guest is Larry Jorgensen, author of the new book Return to the Coca-Cola Trail . Be sure to check out Larry's first appearance on the show discussing the first book in this series. In the newest installment, he highlights additional towns with notable Coca-Cola history, where to find collectibles and murals and signage featuring the company. We also talk about the connection Coca-Cola has made with Christmas as well as some festivals throughout the country specifically dedicated to Coca-Cola ...
Jan 26, 2021•46 min•Ep. 72
My Guest is Amy Mahjoory, real estate investor, author and coach. She walks through her journey from 9 - 5 job to real estate investing. She emphasizes the importance of having the right systems and teams in place to be successful. She describes how she accomplished this through using coaches to help her learn more quickly and through networking. We also discuss how networking is key to raising capital. Finally, she talks about her reasons for writing her book, Networking with a Purpose , and ho...
Jan 18, 2021•39 min•Ep. 71
My guest is Paul Fagan, host of the Financial Dads Podcast. We talk about the different options for college and what we have considered so far to help guide our children towards the best choice. We also give our perspectives about why college is so expensive. Then we highlight some savings strategies as well as using the 529 plan to help save for your child's college if you intend to do so. The primary lesson is that there is no right or wrong or one-size-fits-all path, but making a plan for aff...
Jan 11, 2021•54 min•Ep. 70
My guest is Drew Vernon, Marketing Director for Tonies. Tonies features the Toniebox, which is an audio player that pairs with Tonies that play children's songs and stories. There are also Creative Tonies that allow kids and their parents to record their own ideas, load them to the Tonie, and play it back on the device. Drew talks about the advantages of technology without a screen allowing kids to use their imaginations more for the stories and is a break from other screen-based technology. The...
Jan 04, 2021•30 min•Ep. 69
My guest is Wayne Veldsman, president of Vel.Consulting and host of the Journey to Legacy Podcast. Wayne talks about his journey as a business owner and what skills it takes to become an entrepreneur. We talk about the importance of networking, communication, and problem-solving. He points out that nearly all information needed to solve a problem is available online, but encourages considering coaches or experts to decrease the learning curve. We end with the importance of family and mindfulness...
Dec 21, 2020•50 min•Ep. 68
My guest Sonni Abatta. She is the host of We've Gotta Talk with Sonni , a podcast, talk show and blog. We talk about her transition from a television news personality to her current career. The primary factors for her decision center around family and health considerations. We discuss how corporations can help accommodate new mothers and how people can stay aware of their relationships and health to know when change is needed. We end with thoughts on screen time and how to handle family with dif...
Dec 14, 2020•51 min•Ep. 67
My guest is Dan Cuprill, CFP. He is a Certified Financial Planner, author, and podcaster. We talk about what to look for when choosing a financial advisor as well as whether or not a person actually needs an advisor. For those that are already advisors or thinking about becoming one, Dan talks about some of the pitfalls that can harm an advisor business - taking on the wrong clients, focusing on product pushing, and ignoring the needs of your clients. We finish up by talking about alternative in...
Dec 08, 2020•58 min•Ep. 66
My guest is Sean O'Toole, founder of Property Radar . The site provides public data for real estate investors to contact owners of potential off-market deals. We talk about the basics of real estate investing and some of the pitfalls that new investors fall into. Sean also compares real estate investing to stock market investing and what he views as risk in each. Overall, the mission of Property Radar is to level the playing field for smaller investors and companies against larger competition. T...
Dec 01, 2020•50 min•Ep. 65
My guest is Cinnia Curran Finfer, author of Confession of a Helmet-Free Childhood: True-ish Tales of an Analog Upbringing . In the book, Cinnia recounts 13 stories from her childhood that both convey the sign of the times and also parallel experiences that many of us have had as children. We focus in on what life was like growing up in the late 60s and early 70s and how it compares to today's environment. We point out some of the similarities and differences while identifying ways that parents c...
Nov 23, 2020•58 min•Ep. 64
My guest is Myles Wakeham who runs the website beunconstrained.com and is the host of the "Unconstrained Podcast". Myles describes the moments in his life where everything seemed to be going his way when unforeseen tragedies struck. He's gone from a millionaire in his 30s to nearly broke and back again. He's learned the importance of relying on himself, rather than corporations to reach his goals as well as focusing on learning new things to get ahead. He also shares his experiences with the US,...
Nov 16, 2020•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 63
My guest is Jeff Bermant, founder of Cocoon My Data Rewards. Jeff created a browser and mobile app that allow users to take control of their data and make some money selling it to other companies. We talk about how this happens to all of us online anyway and we don't see any of the money that companies are making off of our online activity. We discuss what kind of data gets transacted, how it is collected, and how privacy plays a role. To give Coccoon a try, visit https://trycocoon.com Visit Sub...
Nov 09, 2020•53 min•Ep. 62
My guest is Rick Gordon who has over 12 years of experience in Medicare programs. We take a deep dive into what Medicare is, who is eligible, and the many programs and benefits that are available. Right now is Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), so it is important for all Medicare beneficiaries to be aware of their options and understand how to sign up. We walk through Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D as well as supplemental plans. This episode is for anyone eligible for Medicare or someone ...
Nov 02, 2020•57 min•Ep. 61
My guest is Aditya Nagrath, founder and CEO of Elephant Learning. He describes the idea for the application and how he and the company strive to help students build a solid foundation in math. He talks about a correlation in math development with overall future academic performance. We also discuss how lower income children are significantly more prone to getting behind as a primary reason for the software to be priced affordably. To learn more visit the Elephant Learning website: https://www.el...
Oct 26, 2020•48 min•Ep. 60
My guest is Amy Goober. She is a certified health coach and business coach. We talk about ways to improve health and drive your career. We point to the many parallels in both worlds - defining goals, taking steps to achieve them, and appreciating the journey. We end by emphasizing the power of networking. To reach Amy, search for her on all social media platforms or visit: https://www.driveyourlife.me/ . To join the facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/driveyourlife Visit Suburban Fol...
Oct 19, 2020•57 min•Ep. 59
My guest is Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling, author of the new book A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear . The story features the town of Grafton, NH and what happens when a libertarian group descends upon the town to make it their own utopia and a burgeoning bear problem. We talk about the uniqueness of the town and its people as well as lessons to be learned about community and health. To purchase the book: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781541788510 https://amzn.to/3iQYYmk To contact Matt: matt.honghet...
Oct 12, 2020•54 min•Ep. 58
My guest is Joyce Kristiansson, author of The Last Straw . Joyce walks us through her books steps to improve your life and build towards goals and purpose. We talk about the parallels between these steps and ways of helping the environment. We also relate how striving towards personal goals can else relate to career aspirations. Purchase The Last Straw To contact Joyce: https://thelaststrawbook.com/ https://www.facebook.com/thelaststrawbook For more information, visit Suburban Folk . Hosted on A...
Oct 06, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 57
My guest is Ellie Sarmadi, owner of UBQFIT. The company provides a platform for personal trainers, nutritionists and other health experts to offer their services online through the site. Users of the site benefit from a wide variety of exercise options and teachers, most of the time at rates much lower than their traditional gym. We talk about the typical excuses people have for not working out, the importance of community, and cost advantages of connecting trainers directly to consumers. You ca...
Sep 28, 2020•51 min•Ep. 56
My guest is Ben Reeder, host of the FI After 40 blog and podcast. We discuss what it means to be financially independent and how best to get there. Ben also shares insight into his divorce as well as tips for parenting with an ex. We end with his recommendations for places to visit and sites to see when traveling to New England. To listen to his podcast or contact Ben: https://fiafter40.com/ fiafter40@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/fiafter40/ https://twitter.com/home Visit Suburban Folk for...
Sep 22, 2020•52 min•Ep. 55
My guest is Rebecca Holmes, CEO of the Colorado Education Initiative. We discuss the challenges facing schools this year during the lockdown, enhancements to the education system, and ways in which parents, teachers and administrators can collaborate together for more effective education. We work through the logistic challenges for working parents, changing the expectations and goals for teachers in the classroom and encourage problem-solving and collaboration by students. For more information a...
Sep 14, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 54
