Assorted Conversations

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What if a simple puzzle could rewire your routines, deepen your relationships, and introduce you to a global community? That’s the spark behind our conversation with Monica Marlat, known online as “Puzzled About Everything,” who transformed a quiet hobby into creative storytelling, brand partnerships, and puzzle-filled cruises that bring strangers together.

We trace Monica’s arc fr...

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What if a 40-seat room could feel as big as an arena? We sit down with Jeff Ravilla to unpack his “infinite seat theater” concept—a creator-first model that blends the electricity of a live audience with the reach of a global stream. Jeff’s journey runs from a teenage skateboarding obsession and a basement skate shop to leading digital marketing by day and building a hybrid podcast venue by...

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A shaving-cream beard in Vietnam. A department store gig that turned into a calling. A lifetime spent turning belief into service. Meet National Santa, Timothy Conahan, the storyteller and mentor who has trained thousands of Santas and Mrs. Clauses to keep the magic alive long after the tree comes down. We go behind the red suit to unpack the craft: how to read a room in seconds, create pho...

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What if a theme park could change the way you lead your life? We sit down with Dr. Jeffrey Barnes—Dr. Disneyland—to explore how Walt Disney transformed setbacks into a story-driven blueprint for vision, risk, and relentless execution. From a disappointing first visit to a deep dive into Walt’s life, Jeffrey traces the moment he realized Disneyland isn’t just rides—it’s a living narrative th...

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A snowstorm at Springer Mountain. Two brothers in their seventies, both Vietnam veterans, staring down 2,190 miles of Appalachian Trail and a tangle of pain that maps can’t solve. That’s where our conversation with Rand Timmerman begins—raw, funny, and unexpectedly tender—as we unpack the hike that stretched into a three‑year passage through grief, addiction, and the kind of honesty only a ...

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We talk with author and sailor Alison Geischen about leaving corporate life to circumnavigate the globe, the brutal realities that tested her resolve, and the moments of wonder that made it all worth it. From heavy‑weather training to hand‑steering 650 miles, the story blends grit, humor, and hard‑won wisdom.

• deciding to sell up and go in their fifties
• training for storms a...

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A house can change your mind—or demand that you finally trust it. We sit down with paranormal investigator and tour manager Christy Parrish to trace her path from a silenced childhood sensitive to the steward of one of Massachusetts’ most active and historic homes: the Oliver House in Middleboro.

Christy recounts the Tennessee years that forced her to take her abilities seriously: ...

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We sit down with award-winning indie filmmaker Jason Morris to map the real path from micro-budget ideas to memorable horror-comedy and lasting rights. He shares hard-won lessons on distribution, festivals, team culture, and why owning your work changes everything.

• leaving film school to learn the business
• first feature Hellhouse and distributor pitfalls
• why owning ri...

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Imagine taking everything you need for a multi-day backpacking trip in a pack weighing less than 10 pounds. That's ultralight backpacking, and our guest, adventurer Jerry Dugan, is here to share his passion and expertise in this unique outdoor pursuit. With a rich history tracing back to George Sears in the late 1800s and Grandma Gatewood in 1955, ultralight backpacking offers a minima...

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Can you imagine a 17-year-old helping his peers navigate the complex world of mental health? Join us as we sit down with the inspiring Filimon Meaza, the creator of The Brief Dive podcast. Filimon shares his personal journey of self-reflection, emotional resilience, and positive self-talk, showing us how he transformed his own mental health and now empowers other teenagers on their journey ...

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Discover the fascinating world of search and rescue missions in our captivating conversation with Dan Patterson, a founding member of the Mountaineer Area Rescue Group. With over 26 years of experience and participation in more than 300 missions, Dan shares invaluable insights into the immense planning, coordination, and dedication required to save lives in the great outdoors. You won'...

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We were saddened to learn about the passing of a former guest, Jaimie Sherling.  In tribute to the beautiful soul she was, here is her original conversation from April of 2022.

We were deeply honored to have had a conversation with the inspiring Jaimie Sherling before discovering she had passed away from cancer in April of 2023.  This is a remastered version of Jaimie's origin...

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Have you ever dreamt of turning your hobby into a full-time passion and experiencing the thrill of personal fulfillment? 

Join me, your host Helen, as we explore the challenges and triumphs of these brave individuals, from conquering stage fright to expanding a small hobby into something much more significant.

Starting this August, tune in every other Wednesday for inspir...

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How do you react when someone pushes your buttons?  This week’s guest, author and coach, Mary Elizabeth Murphy, shares her Reset Your Buttons model to help us identify what is happening and how to respond appropriately in the moment.  

Mary Elizabeth discusses each piece of the RESET model, helps us understand our personal triggers, how we can apply the RESET model and why her mission i...

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This week’s guest, Brian Anderson, is the only full-time Tick and Lyme Disease Specialist in the US.  After seeing the devastating effects of Lyme disease, Brian has devoted several years to educating outdoor enthusiasts and outdoor workers on how to protect themselves from these little blood-sucking critters.

Brian shares with us how and why he took this path, the life cycle of ticks and wh...

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Have you ever wanted to just pack your bags and go wander around the globe?  This week’s guest, New York Times Best Selling Author and professional traveler, Heather Markel, left the safety and security of her corporate gig and did just that!  

Heather shares how she prepared herself, financially and emotionally, to make the leap into exploring the unknown; what she’s learned about herself a...

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Adversity can make you bitter or you can choose to let it make you better.  This week’s guest, Jaimie Shearling, has chosen to make lemonade out of the lemons life has given and she’s added a splash of vodka!

She’s a cancer warrior-turned-entrepreneur helping her sister-breast cancer survivors, she has found acceptance and emotional support through her friends in the Madison Wisconsin drag c...

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Bonnie Jean Kuras, has always had a passion for helping children.  Throughout her career she’s been an educator and school administrator, seeing and experiencing more than what goes on in the classroom and on the playground.  

The behind-the-scenes stressors began to affect her and those around her yet, thanks to a fateful conversation and a hard truth shared by her husband, Bonnie found a p...

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Home Baker, Christine Crisatelli, has been at her passion and side hustle for 29 years!  Although she had a dream to own her own bakery, she is no less satisfied with continuing to pursue her baking passion from the comfort of her own kitchen.  Her love of baking and the challenges of learning new decorating techniques to keep up with current baking trends are what have kept her motivated a...