January 30, 2025 • 62 mins
#BeAGoodFriend and check out episode #125 of #FeeneyTalksWithFriends featuring Greg Hammond and Chelsea Dropik.
It was great to talk with my #friends, Greg & Chelsea!
Greg is a financial coach for HammondIles Wealth Advisors and Chelse is a Campaign Development Director for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. They collaborated on the Connecticut Beer Tour for a Cancer-Free Future.
We talked about:
Greg earned Visionary of the Year (minute 2)
Lindsay David (minute 3)
Greg’s dad, Ken (minute 5)
Greg is a Financial Coach (minute 6.30)
Chelsea is a Campaign Development Director (minute 9.40)
Podcast sponsors (minute 12)
Greg’s 3 Keys (sponsored by West Hartford Lock) to being a Financial Coach (minute 13)
Chelsea’s 3 Keys (sponsored by West Hartford Lock) to being a Campaign Development Director (minute 14)
Laura Moran is a good #friend! (minute 15)
Greg wrote a book called, You could do MORE that matters (minute 17.30)
CT Beer Tour (minute 19.40)
Rule of 3 Brewing (minute 20.20)
Back East Brewing (minute 22)
Luppoleto Brewing Co. (minute 23)
Elicit Brewing Co. (minute 24)
Powder Hollow Brewery (minute 26)
WeHa Brewing and Roasting Company (minute 28)
New Park Brewery (minute 31)
Coastline Brewing Company (minute 32)
New Cambridge Brewing (minute 34)
Problem Solved Brewing Company (minute 35)
Concentric Brewing Company (minute 37)
Shoutout to Rachel Diamond (minute 39)
Chelsea & Greg’s favorite restaurants (minute 40)
Greg & Chelsea’s favorite moment with friends (minute 45)
The new, improved Friends of Feeney website (minute 50)
Where will Friends of Feeney be in 5 years? (minute 52)
Closing remarks (minute 56)
6, 12, 18, 24 Game (minute 58)
The CT Beer Tour Schedule (minute 1.01)
Podcast Sponsors:
The Fix IV - www.thefixivtherapy.com
West Hartford Lock - www.westhartfordlock.com
Keating Agency Insurance - www.keatingagency.com
Goff Law Group - www.gofflawgroup.net
Parkville Management - www.parkvillemanagement.com
Luna Pizza - www.lunapizzawh.com/lunas-menu
PeoplesBank - www.bankatpeoples.com
Float 41 - www.float41.com
Maximum Beverage - www.maximumbev.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
All right, all right.
Feeney Talks with friends. Episode 125.
We're here at.
We have Roasting and Brewingwith some very, very cool guests today.
How are you doing, Chelsea? Good. Thanks.
How are you doing, Greg?
I'm doing well.
It's good to be here. Great.
This is 125.
My name is Eric Feeney, founderand president of Friends of Feeney.
Our mission is to help
(00:20):
children and families that need assistanceafter heartbreak or tragedy.
And I use this podcast.
Feeney talks with friends,and I talk to wonderful people
that are doing great things.
And Greg and Chelsea,you have a you're doing great things.
Multiple things.
And we're going to get intowhat's coming up in your upcoming events
that that have a wonderful, outcome.
(00:43):
So how are you feeling?
I'm feeling good. I'm feeling excited.Yeah.
Just, a few couple weeks awayfrom our new, beer tour coming up.
Yeah, he said it. Beer tour.
The Connecticut beer tour.This is the second one.
This is the second one.
Last year,I participated in the visionaries
of the year campaign for the Leukemiaand Lymphoma Society and decided
(01:04):
if I'm going to raise money for ten weeks,why not have some fun doing it?
So I came up with the ideaof putting together a beer tour and,
I thought maybe I'd get 510 breweriesto opt in.
Well, no, I had 23 thatthat jumped in on the bandwagon.
And so I went to 23 breweries overten weeks.
(01:25):
So, bless my wife.
Every Friday and Saturday night,we were hanging out at a brewery
and some Wednesdays and Thursdaysto get them all in,
to raise money for the Leukemiaand Lymphoma Society.
As a result of that,we we raised a lot of money to
to make a real impactin the battle against blood cancers.
Yeah.
Got it down here.
Almost $120,000. Correct?
(01:48):
Yes. Yep. Very cool.
And lymphoma and leukemia society.
That's where Chelsea comes in. Yep.
The Keenan lymphoma society.
I'm the marketdirector here in Connecticut.
We have three fundraising campaigns.
Visionaries of the year is the campaignthat Greg was mentioning.
So we've got a teamof five of us here locally.
Been here for.
(02:08):
We're kind of a newer market, actually.
We just set up a board in the pastcouple of years.
Have a couple committeesworking and a lot of good.
A lot of good work.
Group 44% year over year.
Nice numbers, nerd,but not as good as this numbers nerd.
So what is the visionary of the year?
Now, is that something that.
Can you get that again this year or.
(02:28):
No. So it's a one shot deal. Gotcha.
So every spring,the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, sponsors
these campaigns across the countryand in local cities,
and they nominate individuals to lead
teams to do a fundraising campaign.
And you have ten weeksto raise as much money as you can.
And the team that raises the most moneyis crowned the visionary of the year.
(02:52):
Very nice.
And so I was one of six candidateslast year.
And we raised over $329,000
as a group, to benefit the Leukemiaand Lymphoma Society.
Well, congratulations. That that's a jobwell done.
Very good. And thank you.
I wasn't kidding when we talked to peoplethat do great things.
So I'm so honored to talk with you,Greg and Chelsea.
(03:15):
Great team.
How did you guys meet?Where did this start?
That's funny.
Shout out to Lindsay over here.
That's how I met you through Lindsay.
For years, Lindsay had worked with youthrough your work with TMC,
and she worked with us for a while.She's a board member for a while.
Lindsay. David. Her son's survivor.
Gavin. In the community.
And love that family.
(03:37):
And she had her eye on Gregwhen we started visionary.
So this spring will be our fourthvisionaries of the year campaign
because again, like I mentioned,we're a little bit newer here.
Like just not new with us,but new new here locally.
And she was like, you've got to get Greg.
Greg is your man.
So he kept saying, no,but not for the wrong reasons.
(03:58):
He was saying no because it just wasn'tthe right exact moment.
And I think he was plottingand planning to make the biggest impact.
Good. Speak for yourself.
But that'show I met Greg is through Lindsay.
Yes, I've been doing a lot of,fundraising and friend
raising for the Connecticut Children'sMedical Center for many years.
And, got to know Lindsay Davidthrough that connection.
(04:20):
And she introduced me to LeukemiaLymphoma Society.
Unfortunately for me,
my dad passed away back in 2015from multiple myeloma.
So it's always been a causethat's dear to my heart to make an impact
for other families,not to have to deal with the same type of,
diagnosis and hopefully at some point
(04:42):
have a cancer free future.
And I saw Ken. Right.
Ken was your dad. That's correct.
And he was a mayor.
He was all sorts of things.
He definitely is my role model.
Talk about making an impact.
I like to say that I learned to play golfat the age of eight,
and by my teenage years,I played with the mayor of my town,
(05:07):
the town councilman, the president of therotary Club, the treasurer of my church,
or the vice presidentof a metal manufacturing company.
But all of them were my dad and,
grew up, helping him
have a political campaign as well as justmaking an impact in the community.
And so although we never really hada conversation about it, I just learned
(05:30):
from his example that I wantedto give back to the community.
And so I've tried to followin his footsteps.
That's amazing.
Well, I'm sure he's proud of you.
So keep up the good work.
Where was he?
A mayor in Cimarron, New York.
Okay.
Which, you talk abouttrivia is the birthplace of Lucille Ball.
(05:52):
So if you watch that episode,they'll talk about.
So around New York, outside of Jamestown,New York. And,
there's actually the international comedyHall of Fame in Jamestown, New York.
Interesting.So fun fact. Learned something new.
I didn't know that.
And you are a wealth advisor.
Right?
I am, or I like to refer to myselfas a financial coach.
(06:16):
Because a lot of times it'snot necessarily getting advice,
but having somebody coach youto get through the tough times
of the financial marketsas well as coach you up into leading
a life of higher potential than you thinkyou might be able to achieve.
And you had a podcast,so you're on our podcast,
but you also have like your MoneyYour Purpose podcast.
(06:37):
Tell us about that. Sure.
So over the years,we've had two radio shows.
Our latest was Your Money, Your purpose.
And, we did that for three years,and had a half hour radio show
that then convertedinto a podcast as well.
So trying to get the some goodfinancial information out to everybody.
Yeah. You offer podcasts,you offer classes.
(06:59):
You're so you're big in education.
I'm a third grade teacher.
So teaching people is what I do.
And that's what you seem to be doing too.
But for financial literacy. Correct.
We believe our our best clientis a well-educated, client.
And so we spend a lot of timeand effort on education, not only through,
monthly education workshopsthat we call our Financial Power hour.
(07:21):
But also I release every Fridaya 62nd YouTube short
and a financial tip for the week,
that goes out through YouTubein our social media channels.
Nice.
How does thathow do views on your 60 minute,
weekly thing?
How would your average view,
if you don't mind me asking,just from a podcast perspective?
And social media.
(07:41):
Our our views right now, they've beencreeping up as we get more subscribers.
You know, it's always interesting, a topicthat I think that is going to rocket,
doesn't do so well, you know,and then that was that.
I'm thinking now,I don't know if this is going
to go anywhere itall of a sudden takes off. Yep.
So on average,probably a couple hundred to 500 views.
(08:04):
Nice.
I've noticed that too,with our social media piece
with podcasts or a real or a video like,
you know, just me talking informal,
you know, shoot from the hip talklike, does very well.
But if you plan and prepand do all this stuff, you never know.
You never know.
(08:24):
So I was just interested.
But videos are the way to go.We're not doing too many.
Still shot photos with a lot of wordsanymore.
Like kids want the reels and the videosin 60s because of attention span is.
I guessing that's why you do it that way?That's exactly it.
So one of the primary focusesof our financial advisory
firm is working with familiesacross multiple generations.
(08:46):
So our goal is to work with familiesacross three generations.
So we're working with the grandparentsand the kids and the grandkids.
Our youngest client is ten years old,and we go all the way up to over 100.
So we cover the wide spectrum.
But yes, as we tryto reach those younger generations,
they're not going to watch a 45 minuteworkshop.
(09:06):
So we wanted a way for themto get some good information,
in short, nuggetsthat they be able to absorb.
Very interesting.
All right.
We're going to come back to youwith the three keys that make your job.
What what what's very good.
The three keys that will, you know, helpyou do your job.
So think about that,and then we're gonna go to Chelsea.
Chelsea is our campaigndevelopment director.
(09:30):
How's that going?
So you've been doing it for four years?
I've been with at leastfor seven years. Seven.
But I actually was in Ohio beforeand moved here.
So like in.
New York, Connecticutand Eastern New York, Albany area.
We're in the Connecticut,Albany, eastern New York area.
And I run the market of Connecticut. Nice.
And what's your daily, joblook like for marketing?
For for marketing? Yes.
(09:50):
You know, it's interesting.
I feel like I had this
this kind of feels like that coffee chatwe had when I was like, my job is shifted.
I just had this conversation with himand was like, I need some help.
It has shifted.
So it is a lot more on my platearound marketing and getting the word out.
And it used to be very much like,this is our fundraising campaign.
We're going to raise these dollars.Let's talk to the people that we know.
And now shifting into like a geographyversus like a campaign revenue stream.
(10:16):
Yeah.
My job is a lot more about workingwith our volunteers and who they know.
So I'm sitting down at a lot of coffees.
I'm sitting down at a lot of lunches.
I'm sitting down for a beerwith a lot of people right now.
Just getting to know people,getting to know what makes them tick,
getting to know their stories.Do they have a cancer connection?
Do they have time in their scheduleor interest
(10:36):
to commit to something philanthropically?
Totally different than whatI've been doing for years, you know,
so it is it's been a real shift,but I'm loving it.
And what was that prior to.
It was really just, you know,I still have the revenue, right?
Like that's going to be the focusbecause we know that
dollars are what's going to cure this longterm.
But, and just help people along the way.
But just more focused now broadly for lessbringing people
(10:59):
into the LLS family and introducing themto what we're doing here.
And then finding the right homeinstead of, hey,
this is what we have to do right nowand kind of fitting people in very nice.
Yeah.
And I saw that you're a Georgiabulldog. Huge.
How did you know that?
But yeah. Yeah, I do my research.Good. Research huge. Yes.
And it's
been a really rough year in our householdbecause my husband's a Penn State fan.
(11:20):
So like, we lost and then they lostand we were like, all right, fine.
So we were pulling for Ohio Statelast night
because we moved here from Ohio.
And we feel a little bit okay, okay.
In case anyone's wondering or cares,we're big college football fans.
Something nice.
I'm going to swing it back to youfor your three keys.
Oh, boy. I'd have to, Greg.
Three keysor let me go into some sponsors,
(11:41):
of the Fannie Talks of Friends podcast.
We're here at LehighRoasting and Brewing, 311 Shield Street.
Thank you Cody.
Great place also on the beer tour list.
That's why we're here. What day?
The day we coming here for the beer tour.
Do you know.
It's Valentine's Day, February 14th.
So come show some love.
For those by making a stop by,we are brewing.
(12:02):
Bring your sweetheart to Shield Street.
This is great, Cody.
He's on, my podcast.
I forgot the number.
I usually have them all off top hand,but he was early.
Top 20, top 30 podcast.
Go back and check it out.
I want to also thank Direct Line Media.
There's Dave and StephaniaStephanie is great.
She's our production associate butshe was also a podcast guest last podcast.
(12:26):
123 so this is 125.
Go back and check Stephanie out.
We have people's Bank, Keating Agency
insurance, Brooke Golf Law,
Luna Pizza,Parkville, Martinez, Parkville management.
Luna pizza I said that one.
And West Hartford Lock,which is right over here
(12:50):
right around the corner WestHartford lock.
What are three keys?
See what I got to swing thatin. How to swing that in?
Three keysthat make you great at your job.
Sponsored by West Hartford Lock.
Three keys that make me great atmy job is take the time to listen, okay?
That, we want to make sure that whateverwe accomplish, it's what you want to.
It's not just, giving blank advice.
(13:13):
Second is the education component of it.
I wholeheartedly believe in education.
And then the third iswe really care about families.
So similar to friends of Feeney.
We care about children.
And getting them started early on the pathto to financial freedom and.
Great listen education.
Children love it.
(13:34):
It's all about the kids.
Absolutely.
Three keys Chelsea.
Chelsea Dropkick two, by the way.
Thank you.
Know actually it's drop drop pickbut it's quick as a
future wrestling podcastcoming to you guys.
We're going to talk wrestlingso we're. Here for. It.
Good segue here. Segue.
But it's drop it. So go ahead Chelsea.
(13:55):
No you're good.
He sold my first onewhich I think is for most jobs. Right.
And that's listening. Right.
So I think listeningdefinitely is the most useful.
Second I would say remembering your whyand everyone's why, right.
Like it is a job for me,but it is like a horrible reality.
Cancer is for so many peopleand so destructive on families and just,
(14:16):
just because really, really deep.
So if I remember my why, it'sso much more than a job for me.
So I think remembering mywhy and everybody else's
why while we're doing that
and then empathy I'm definitely,you know, have a team that I manage now.
So I would say empathy for my volunteersbut also our team.
Right. Like we're all human.
We're doing our bestlike no one wants to fail.
So like just empathy, like whatwe're dealing with everybody knowing.
(14:38):
We're all doing our best.
Listening. Yeah,I hear that one a lot. Listening.
Empathy, all that empathy all the time.
But listening, networking,being personable.
But yeah, you got a tough position,but you're doing a good thing
for a good cause,so keep doing what you're doing.
Also, let's talk about a common friendthat we all have that brought you here.
(15:01):
Laura moran. Do you guys know Laura?
Oh, yeah.
Laura.
So, what's Laura's position?
She has a position now with you.
So she doesn't anymore by her own choice.
Let me make that super. Clearafter the game.
Oh, right.
I know she she's, I think, hooked us upin the very beginning.
And then she was really excited.
She was actually a temp for us.
(15:21):
She was helping us out loud.
We had a guy out on a paternity leave and,she was tremendous
and we would have kept her on,but she had something that came up
that was a perfect, perfect placefor her to go next.
So we're excited for her.No, she's an amazing person.
He is, Johnny's job.
If you don't know. Laura moran.
Episode 42.
I know for a fact she's episode 42.
Right here. Same seats.
(15:43):
Laura and Kelly, great podcast.
Go back and check out episode 42.
I don't know who wants to take thisquestion, but our motto be a good friend.
You know, hold the door, pick up trash,be charitable, give compliments.
What makes Laura moran a good friend?
She is.
I mean, I don't know if you have one,but I def she's definitely a good friend.
(16:05):
She's such a sweet, sweet person.
I think that kind ofwith that empathy thing.
Like she wants to succeed not for herself,but for, you know, the greater good.
And she wants to be a partof making great things happen.
And she's doing that with Johnny'sdog. Like, it's incredible.
And I knowshe's doing that in her new role,
and she definitely did that with us.
So, I mean,
(16:25):
maybe not like opening the door,although she would open the door, I don't
I don't knowif I would take it back to that
because I don't knowif I know her on that level.
But, you know, just a great humanbeing that really wants to be
a part of the
solution for good, whatever that isthat she's pouring yourself.
I agree.
Well, and I would point thatshe's always looking
(16:45):
to make introductions and connectionsfor people. So,
through her position,Johnny's dog, as well as just her actions
and activities in the community,she has a lot of friends
and individuals, so she's makingconnections and introducing people.
Yeah, to make a wider impact.
She's always suggesting podcast guests,and I'm so happy that she suggested
(17:06):
you guys. So we're here today.
125 we're going to talk aboutthe Connecticut Beer Torso.
Thank you. Laura, you are a good friend.
Chelsea and Greg said so too.
So it's confirmed.
So Hellman.
Well, Hammond wealthand also your author podcast.
What what does this guy not do?
I have not yet.
Can you say.
Can you sing?
(17:27):
I can sing.I did play a musical instrument.
I did back in high school and college.
We will find something.
Can you dunk?
No, I cannot, I cannot. Dunk.
Okay. You got me there, author.
You can do more that matters.
If you knew you could, what? Wouldn't you?
This is amazing.
So this is a gift from Greg to me todaybefore the podcast.
(17:50):
You should have gave it to me.You should have waited,
you know, make a big, big reveal,and I got you something.
But no, this is amazing.I'm going to read this.
And I say, hey, there's another thing,Greg.
I'm like, hey,it would be really cool if you signed it.
I already had it signed.
Take time to think, dreamand plan to do more.
That matters best with wishes. Greg.
I really appreciate that.
(18:10):
Discover how to live more and give more.
What inspired you to write this?
So I've done,
a lot of presentationson behalf of nonprofit organizations.
So not only do I work on educating,
development professionals as wellas making organizations more effective
in their plan giving, but also makingpresentations on their behalf.
(18:33):
So through that, I decidedI can only do so many presentations.
So why not take that presentationand put it in the form of a book
that then can be used, and it was writtenin a way that can not only be,
read by the end userand hopefully someone to use it
to motivate their own making a difference.
(18:55):
But also for professionalslike myself to utilize it
to start the philanthropy conversationas well as nonprofit organizations
to do the same. Okay.
Well, I have a nonprofit,so I'm going to find it.
And if anybody you knowthey love podcasts, you'll love that.
There's also the audio book recorded,and you'll find that on Audible.com.
Who's the voice? That's me.Come on me and.
(19:16):
Go out there. Yes, indeed. This guy is.
If diculous.
When I grow up, I want to be.Like Greg. Right.
And don't we all.
This is great.
All right, we're excited.
Let's go. We got the the beer tour.
Where's our first stop on the beer tour?
Greg.
Our first stop is rule of threebrewing down at East Hampton.
And, they were our biggest fundraiserlast year for our 2024.
(19:41):
So we're very gratefuland excited to have them back.
Do you know the the three rules?
The three rules.
So I know they have a beerfor each of the three rules.
But, I don't know the three rules offtop of my head.
A list of rules of three beers.
Maybe I'm messing up, but I see that it's.
I could be wrong.
Now, these few simple rules.
Simplicity is king.
(20:02):
Fun is a must.
And and no hoity toity has playshere, plays here.
I like that like these guys. Yeah.
Do you know Scott Cross or John?
I know both of them might be fun.
Guys,we were actually just there last Thursday.
For, my firm does a quarterly happy hourfor our clients
and friends,and we are at rule three brewing.
(20:24):
Rule of three.
All right, so that's East Hampton,Scott and John, you got three rules.
Can you name a couple beers?
What's your favorite beer there?
Well, the one that I had,was, Heckles Revenge, which was,
marshmallow chocolatestout that I had last week.
And it was delicious. Wow.
It's likethe doctor heckle and Cock and Clyde.
(20:46):
Or heckles revenge. Heckles revenge? Yeah.
What's the date of that?
Oh, yeah. What's the date of the.
It's going to be February 1st.
That they'll be.They're kicking us off. Kicking us off?
If you're doing dry January,here's the time to take a break
and come back and join us for a craft beerat rule of Three.
Rule of three.
All right. Kicks off in East Hampton.
(21:09):
All right.
How about now. We're going to do trivia.
Now which which breweries name means
hop farm or hop yard in Italian.
That's Lupo home there East Windsor yes.
Good job. Alito. He passed.
We're we might be going out of order,but actually no that's next.
Next. Oh nope. Nope. No latter.
(21:29):
There is one before their third.
Before we go to loop the latter,we're going to take a stop
at to back EastBrewing and Bloomfield. Yep.
What's there.
What's your favorite beer at back East.
See if we agree.
Well there's a lot of good beersat back east.
But you know Ice Cream Man is fantastic.
And I love the.
(21:49):
And Jay specialwhere they put a little bit of the,
BlackBerry BerlinerRice on top as a topper on the ice cream.
Man we I need that.
I'm so. Yeah.
So that's an exclusive, everyone.
How do we do this? What do we do again?
It's it's on their list.
You don't even have to go in and give thema super handshake or anything like that.
It's, I believe it's the Jane Jay special.
(22:11):
This BlackBerry Berliner Weiss 3.5.
Correct. And you just pour how much?
So they basically give youa full pint of ice cream, man.
And then they put a little topperof the BlackBerry on top.
All right I got I goyeah February 7th everyone.
And what's it called.
The Jane Jay special.
What's that stand for?
I believe it's,two of the employees at Back East.
(22:35):
Well done. Back east. Yeah. Ice cream man.
This says right herethe top five on the draft's magazine list.
Top 50 IPAs.
I know they sell it at, the yard Goatsgames.
So back east, keep up the good workwith the ice cream man.
And they just added a new kitchenlast year.
So delicious food there as well.
(22:56):
And that's going to be FridayFebruary 7th correct.
Yeah. We're going to clipthese up and can make reels
back east
back east Jay and Jay special loop gelato.
Did I say that correctly.
Yes Jen and James are the owners.
They do a great job, brewing beer there.
And our,
very, fervent supporters of,
(23:18):
blood cancer research.
That's going to be Saturday.
So you're back to back your Friday at
back east Saturday at Loop Gelato.
Weiss loves you.
Correct?
Yeah. We'll be thereall afternoon at Loop Gelato.
They have a great game inventory.
So if you're a big board game fan,they do a great job.
(23:40):
You can hang out there,have a few beers, play a board game, too.
And they also uniquely play boccein their taproom.
So if you're interested in indoor bocce,you can get there, bocce league.
So they're really Italian
bocce.
I wrote that down. Bocce.
That's awesome. Man.
You took away my trivia question.
(24:00):
What, what brewery allows bocce?
All right, where are we off to next?
So after Luke Miletto,we're going to elicit
on a Monday night the following Monday.
So we'll be there.
And also a shout out to Illicit brewing,because not only are they doing this,
one night, fundraising for us,but also they will be doing rounding up
(24:23):
through the entire month of Februaryto benefit the Leukemia Lymphoma Society
in both their Manchesterand Fairfield locations.
Man, you got me again.
Look at thatround up through February with a stuff.
That is too funny.
Monday the 10th.
They've been really generousfor the breweries. Who?
The owners. The breweries work there.
(24:44):
You got me there.
So I found it very interesting.
Emily and Amanda, two females.
Truffle that was on the website.
I could be wrong,
but no round up through February.
I think that's amazing.
Cool names. Helicopter dad.
Carousel incident, coconut incident.
Incident.
Marriage counseling
(25:06):
I mean friends with benefits.
Mandatory hibernation.
Maple mean crazy.
I like the
extra points for the creativenames, right?
Creative names go away in my eyes anyway.
But yeah, that's great.
February 10th on a Monday.
On a Monday. Yeah.
The they have a jazz orchestrathat'll be there on that Monday night.
(25:27):
And you come in. Are you making notes.
Treat them to our donation. Read my notes.
And, it'll get you drink specialsall night long.
I was going to say,hey, is there a conflict?
Because I noticed the websitealso had Harford Jazz Orchestra.
But it's meant to be. Meant to be. Greg.
That's why I chose that date to.
Be amazing, a. Nice.
(25:47):
Group of people. There's not a conflict.
It's meant to be people. Be there.
February 10th.
Which oneare you going to attend? Chelsea.
So I was just put them all on my calendarlast night, actually,
in case you're wondering.
So my entire calendar
has blocked everywhere,which means I might make it to a couple.
Got two small children.
But whenever I'm ready to escape them, I'mhoping to do well.
(26:08):
I'll be at New ParkBrewing on the 27th. Okay.
But also, I think I'm going to try to doproblem solved on the 22nd.
So. But hopefully I could do more,
but I'm committing.
I made it here last year.Do we have an issue?
Yeah, yeah.
We're going on the borderjust to trick you up here.
So, Yeah.
(26:28):
Don't let him see her.
He has a setback. League.
They're having bonsai bar.
They do brews and book swap.
They are the first brewery
ever in Enfield, Connecticut.
They started in 2014.
They are
what Enfield would be.
Powder hollow.
(26:49):
Correct. This guy's good.
Yeah.
We don't have an official datefor them yet, but they have, committed.
And, so it's to be decided.
So you gotta tune in and go to the websiteat KT Beer Tours, talk to,
stay in touch.
I also have a phone number
and you have an email.
Can we share that?
Oh yeah. So the website.
(27:10):
City Beer tours at gmail.com.
And if you go to the website there is away to sign up for our email list.
And so you'll get updates for meon, on the upcoming dates and any changes
as we add new breweries.
It's it's great. Now.
So you'll be at everyone.
Not everyone.
Okay,I will be out of town for one weekend.
(27:32):
So, and Chelsea's,
colleague Josh is going to fill in for me.
Now, do you call everyone's attentionto give a little 32nd
talk, or do you
at these at the event, do you say, hey,
thank you for so much for comingKT Beer Tours.
(27:52):
You're all your donationsare going to last, right?
You do all that.
Correct.
We'll have a table set upso people can come in.
We'll make it as easy as possibleto learn more about,
the mission of AOSand the impact that they have
in the community and supporting familiesas well as research.
And then also, we're thereto collect, donations directly.
(28:14):
And that can be cash, Venmo, credit card,as well as, most of the breweries
are donating either a dollar per beeror 10% of the sales that night.
So just by showing upand having a beverage,
you get us one step closerto a cancer free future.
I love it,
I'll be there.
All right.
(28:34):
Next one.
It's tricky here.
All right.
This one hostedmy dad's 70th birthday party.
You know. I don't know that one.
I wasn't invited.
It's happening on Valentine's Day.
(28:55):
We also have this Friday the big sing.
Do you know Walter? Walter, shoot.
What's his name?
That's my best guy in the world. Walter.
Walter is going to kill me.
It's not Walter McCarty.
He played for the Celtics.
Walter.
Sorry, I gotta look. No.
Oh, boy.
Embarrassing.
(29:16):
Anyway, live music will be here.
Big sing through Mark's Christmas trees,
and we're asking a donation.
The Big Sing is where everyone gets,sheet of lyrics.
And Walter will be singing and will shout.
What song do you want to play?
We'll sing number one. It's New York,New York.
Everyone has the list.
We sing along and we collect donationsand it's a great event.
(29:36):
It started in Halifax, Canada.
Marks Christmas trees.
I don't knowif you get your Christmas trees over here.
Yes, that's Mark.
The Christmas trees are from Halifax.
Mark's from Halifax.
And that we sing.
It's called the Big Sing.
And this is our fourth or fifth eventthis Friday.
This won't come out in time,but we'll be singing with Walter.
(29:57):
Walter at so terrible.
This is I don't I'm having a moment.
It's a carousel.
And it all come around.
You don't come. Around, Walter.
Walter Jacobson.
But Cody's great grace.
I know Grace, she's the events manager.
And then.
But, yeah, we're here now, so come backif you can't come this Friday.
(30:21):
Come on Valentine's day.
Valentine's day. Show the love.
Yep. Will you be here for.
I will be here.I will be. Here for this. One.
I probably goI mean, are you bring the kids.
Where do you guys live?
West Hartford, right. Here in WestHartford. Okay. All right.
The special guest.
My sister's flying in from Ohiothat weekend, so she'll be here, too.
So you get to meet her.
Your family's from Ohio?
(30:42):
My sister's. In Ohio. I don't,
all right,
this one.
I like this spot, too.
Friends. I've done a couple events there.
We've done, a fundraiser for a kidwho was born with that,
to get a tumor in his brain.
(31:02):
And they helped him.
We they got it removed,so we helped the family.
Levi. We had a Levi fundraiser there.
We did a comedy show there.
They do live music in the green roomand the barrel room.
Yes. The owners are John, Alex and Tom.
Where are we?
You're at New Park Brewing,and you partnered,
again.
Laura moran was kind of the connectionthere that,
(31:26):
that got us, to have the event at New ParkBrewing.
Nice. Great people. Great place.
Where are you?
In the barrel room or the green room?
So it's going to be a both.
Oh, nice. Well, it's,
in the
private room that nightactually marks a special occasion.
So the 2025 visionaries of the yearcampaign kicks off.
(31:47):
That night.
So, we'll be there as part of the campaignto kick off the new candidates
that will be raising money this yearfor the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society,
as well as a beer stop.
So it'll also be part of the beer tour.
So a portion of the proceedsby being in the tap room also benefit.
That was so nice.
It's going to be one big party.
(32:07):
So great to be there.
Great spot.
And they have an Elmwood Cidernamed after Elmwood section.
I live in Elmwood.
Cloud scape is my favorite there.
Do you have a favorite?
I would agree cloud Scape is really good.
Yeah, cloud scapesgrew and Cloud Scape is 6.5.
It's an IPA
fluffy wheat
finish notes of grapefruit and melon.
(32:30):
Reading from the list here.
It's great,but the new Park brewery great spot,
great people.
All right. How many we got?
Four left.
Let's see.
Do you know?
Oh, right here.
This place has a First mates club.
100 members get a designated mug.
(32:50):
Discounts, larger paws. Swag.
They have stormed the beach shore.
Shore. Unsure.
Man. Moza boat.
Loeb.
It's a very, nautical themed brewery.
Coastline brewing down in West Westbrook.
Westbrook.
Very good. Great place.They have a pizza oven.
They're a great pizza.
(33:11):
Great group of guys that own it.
And although they're not hosting an event
during February, they made the call.
They said, hey, February is a little deadhere on the shoreline.
Why don't we wait until the summertimewhen it's really rocking?
So we're going back.
We're extending the tour.
And we'll be going back to coastlinesometime this summer.
(33:32):
Very nice. And that's rich, Phil and Jay.
I've never been.
I'm interested to go West Brook.Very cool.
Then we have one in Bristol.
What's the brewery in Bristol?
That's the new Cambridge project.
Unique brewery, because it's actuallythree breweries and one,
so the Cambridge project is in the taproom
(33:54):
that used to be FireflyHollow, in Bristol.
And they acquired the recipesso they still brew Firefly Hollow beers.
And they also, brew, beers by boondoggle,
which is another, breweryin as well as their own.
I have yetto be there as new Cambridge project.
(34:15):
So I'm excitedto, to get there, and try them all out.
Yeah.
It says right here it's town139 Center Street.
It was theI was the iconic Firefly Bristol.
That's February.
Oh, yeah. February 21st.
Correct. Friday. It's a Friday.
And you need to put on your calendar.
They have one of the best pumpkin beers,
(34:39):
that I have there.
They're pumpkin spice creamer from FireflyHollow is one of my favorites.
Do they put, cinnamonon the rim of the glass if.
You go to the taproom? Yes. They do.
That's my wife's favorite.
All right.
We have to wait. For that one.
So this one has infinite rotations.
Berries brittle, roasted or
(35:00):
roasted root ground for six sides.
It's happening on February 22nd.
It's a Saturday. It's in East Windsor.
That would be problem solved.
Brewing.
You got it. You're good.You're pretty good.
And yeah, that's a connection.
Through Laura Ray Anderson,who's our on our leadership team
(35:21):
and in helping to one of the co-leadersof the visionary of the year campaign.
And she's leading upthat and has, knows the owners quite well.
So we're looking forward to being there.
Very nice. Which ones have you
were on the list last yearand which ones are new this year?
So rule of
three back East loop gelato illicit.
(35:44):
We have brewing
concentric
and coastline are all returnees from last year.
And then we're getting to visita new Cambridge project.
Problem solved.
Brewing and Powder hollow.
New this year as well as New park.
Very cool.
So a combination of newand an old favorites.
(36:07):
This one looks like they have dark DarthMaul Wookie cookie.
That's Star Warsmonster mash double stuff fins up.
But the Dolphins fans maybe
concentric.
Concentric brewing in Portland.
Just after you go over the AragoneseBridge from Middletown,
(36:27):
you just swing around to the rightand it's down on your right.
Yeah.
One of the reasons why their line upright now looks a little dark, in beer,
is that they do a fantastic event
in December on the winter solstice.
So on the darkest night,they do all dark beers.
(36:47):
So they bring in not only their own, but,
some guest brews from breweriesaround Connecticut.
So it's a great event.
They do another one onlight beers in June as well.
That's funny.
Very nice. It's Brian Drew and Dave.
Oh man I forgotone of these guys was a retired cop.
I forgot which one that was. Had a. Nope.
(37:08):
Not very cool.
So all right last year's tour.
What was the first
brewery.
The last brewery.
The best brewery and the worst brewery.
Oh tough.
I mean least favorite.
Something went wrong or missingI don't know, we will modify it.
Of course.
Trying to think of who kicked it offlast year.
(37:30):
I know the end one was Urban Launch,
in Manchester and,
it's hard to say best.
Oh, there's so,
I think so.
Like a. Solicit. Yes.
Solicit. Went for something.
Can we have the kickoff party at elicit?
And then we came back the next nightfor the first kickoff, actual memory.
(37:53):
So, yes, we were at elicit for the kickoffand urban largest
a wrap up.
Best breweries.
Well, I certainly shoutout to rule of three for,
being a top fundraiser.
Back east and Willimantic were both right
there at the top as well for fundraising.
(38:13):
I'm also a big fan of Elf Creamand their beer.
So we had
by including 23 breweries,we pretty much covered most of the state.
Yeah.
And, so I put some mileage on my car.
That was the reason I was 11 this yearand 23 last year.
Well, last year I was partof the visionary of the year campaign.
(38:35):
So this year I've just been askedto be part of the leadership team.
And so one of the things that happensthroughout the campaign,
that makes a lot of fun
as part of the fundraising, arethere are different challenges,
for example, raisea donation from all 50 states.
So you got a challenge,and there are kind of award dollars
(38:58):
that you could win for your campaignif you're the first team to get there.
But it's on the shouldersof the leadership team
to help raise some moneyto fund those challenges.
And so as we were talking about that,
and I could explain to my wife that Ididn't have to be at all of the breweries,
we startedup to decide to have another one.
(39:19):
So we're going to have it
during the month of Februaryto kind of get everybody energized,
leading up to the candidates starting offtheir campaign at the end of February.
Very cool.
Man. This is great.
Again,excited to hear drinking with a course.
Right.
What's better than that? Correct.
And I want to do a shout outjust to thank, Rachel Diamond,
(39:42):
who is, at Broken Symmetry out in Bethel,but she is the director
of the Connecticut Brewers Guild,and she was extremely supportive,
in getting my beer to herlaunch last year, as well as,
I had a table at the ConnecticutBeer Fest, which is every April,
at the convention center. So, Nice.
(40:04):
One of the reasonswhy I know a lot about these breweries is,
I'm also an associate memberof the Connecticut Brewers Guild.
So I get to go to their meetings
every quarterand get to have an opportunity to
to meet the Brewers and learn a little bitmore about each brewery.
Very cool.
You're in it.
That's great.
Now, this is gonna be a questionfor both of you.
(40:25):
We'll let you go. Chelseafirst favorite restaurant.
In West Hartford.Or anywhere in the world.
Favorite restaurant.
And then there's a follow up question.
I don't like that's like the hardest.
I take food extremely seriously,a place where, like, I cannot do that.
Like, I will be honest with you
very hard and I'm like,oh, come on, you're ridiculous.
(40:48):
Oh, man.
Okay, so I really enjoyed there'sthis very I think I told you about this,
I repeat myself often anyways, but there'sthis little restaurant in Cornwall.
Is that where the Little Bridgesin Litchfield?
Is that sound? Right. Okay.
Called RSVPand you have to call and leave a message
and hope that they call you back,
which they'll call youback, and Charles will call you.
(41:10):
And, if he does, then he can.
I can tells yousort of the date that you could coming.
You tell himsort of the date you could come
and you hopefully agree on something.
And it's like a very tiny dinner party.
And I went with my husbandand it was so great.
French food.
It's to two men that run it and that's it.
That's that's the whole thing.
But it's this amazing French dinner.You bring your own wine.
(41:32):
It was so fun, so. RSVP, I yeah, do that.
I try all these. Yeah.
You heard this one. It's a good one.
You definitely cannot, like,plan the date.
They really, you know, the date plans you.
But it's good.It's a really it's an experience.
What's theaverage play and how much does it cost.
Oh so that's the thing.It's a one price thing.
They tell you the priceand you have to pay in cash.
(41:52):
And you just leave it on the way outlike I didn't know what to do,
but there's just like a table andyou just set it there and you walk away
and I forget what the price is.
Now it's big.
You have to call Charles.
I don't know, it's telling youit's not advertised. There's no website.
You can't. You have the number.
So if you just Google RCP, Connecticutrestaurant or Cornwall or something later,
(42:13):
he'll probably be mad at mefor putting this on a podcast.
Like, I mean, sorry,
the New York Times is going to be so upsetthat I got your first.
And he made sure. To make my reservationbefore the.
Yeah, they call that.
Oh that's great.
Yeah.
Yeah, I've tried so many differentrestaurants based on this question.
So all right.
Thank you.
Yeah. All right.
(42:33):
And now you're eating at RSVP.
Yeah.
For dinner guests dead or alive and with.
Oh, okay. Dolly Parton definitely
all time favorite human.
Just.
This is so cool.
Jesus.
Like, I don't mean that in, like, like,not cool way.
Like. Or a cool way.
I just think it'd be really interesting.
(42:55):
Popular response.
Yeah, I would assume. Okay. For, for for.
Let's see.
I mean, I probably bring my husbandbecause he's pretty great.
Good. So. All right. How about others?
Okay. So that was three.
And then the fourth,I mean oh goodness gracious me.
It's got to be like a world leader.
But that's like a lot to unpack.
(43:17):
I mean, I'll go with Jimmy Carterbecause he just passed.
He's from Georgia.
I did meet him at Church in Plainsbecause I'm from Georgia originally.
I coughed on him.
I felt really bad. He came to check on me.
I was like a kid, and I was like, oh, no.
He was already old then.
I was very concerned for his health.
He survived, obviously.
But that's my, like, presidential story.
But I would bring him because I didn'treally get to chat with him.
(43:40):
Do you apologize for coughingon. I did okay.
I would apologize for itif I could talk to you.
Yeah. No,I don't know. He's going to be like that.
Gone with me forever.
Cough. Donald. Ma'am.
Terrible was terrible. Coughing fit.
For dinner.
Guest RSVP with Jesus, Dolly Parton,Jimmy Carter and the hubby.
(44:00):
Yeah, Greg, that would be an interesting.
Yeah, sure. Would.
Do you have a favorite restaurant, Greg?
Well, one of my favoritesis Jake Gilbertson in Glastonbury.
Just, quality food and service,always top notch.
So go back there frequently.
Agreed.
We go there for special occasions.
(44:21):
Now you're for dinner.
Guests arrive for dinner.
Guests.
I'd probably have my dad back.
I'd love that for dinner.
And I guess you have to have my momwho's still with us.
(44:43):
So, but then, we gotta spice upthe conversation a little bit.
I love your guests.
Jimmy Carter, Dolly Parton does a lot.
Trying to think of
a philanthropistthat I would probably, maybe Bill gates.
Oh, yeah.
It would be a great conversation.
(45:04):
So I, I admire himfor how he kind of dedicates
time every year to reading booksand staying on top of things.
So yeah, it'll be an interestingconversation.
So mom, dad, Bill gatesand do we have a fourth.
Oh I don't count is the fourth.
I come up with,
Carrot.
Well, yeah, it's probably my wife, but Ididn't want to use them all up for family.
(45:27):
But, yeah, maybe Warren Buffett as well.
Oh, that's the great.
Money, guys.
Money guys as well as philanthropy. Yeah.
Although, yeah, he's really kind of followBill gates lead on that, but
definitely hashis heart in the right place.
It's great.
Great. It sounds like a wonderful dinner.
Now, how about, a special momentwith a friend?
(45:48):
Our podcast is Feeney Talks with Friends.
Do you have a special one with a friendyou like to share
special moment.
With a friend? Well, you know, one of the.
I'll tell you, one of the favorite daysthat I have each year
is I have a client through planningthat we did for him
after his wifepassed away from lung cancer.
(46:11):
That he makes a gift every year
to thoracic cancer research,
down in New Haven.
And so, at smile, we go down at once
a year to, to make that donation check.
So I drive him down and walk him in and,and make that donation to the,
the doctor that does the primary research,in that thoracic cancer.
(46:35):
And that, to me is, is a dayI always look forward to.
That's really sweet. That's awesome. Love.
That is a loaded question, too,because I have a lot of friends.
Like which one are you goingto highlight again, this is really. Off.
But I got like, your favorite kid.
Your next question.
Your favorite. Kid.
Do not do that to me. No.
(46:57):
I don't know whether or not to go,like, dark or, like, happy, right?
Like, they're like,they're both good, though.
I think I go dark on this one.
You've kind of went a little dark, too.
So, I think we both kind of, like, thinkabout really meaningful interactions.
And this is maybe not the happiestinteraction, but it was really special.
My one of my very, very best friends,she was my college roommate.
She is a Bosnian immigrantthat came over, with the help
(47:19):
from the Presbyterian Church to SouthCarolina as a war refugee from Germany.
She escaped Bosnia with her family.
All of the men in her family were murderedduring that war, including her father,
and we were both studying abroadin college at the same time.
She was in Germanyand I was in Spain, and we met up
and they found her father's bodyand or the remains of her body
(47:41):
and his body,and returned his belongings to her.
And we flew back to the USand sat in our dorm room
and just like sat therewith his belongings and,
and these are like, you know,we're like 20, 21, like we're 20.
It was so deep.
And so I remember crying, but alsobeing happy and like all the emotions.
And I'm just,
(48:01):
you know, a kid from Georgia, like,I've had this really great life
and just to know someone
that has had this depth of experiencethat has always affected me
and she's like such a
important part of my kids lives nowbecause she lives in New York
and I live here in Connecticut,and we just entwined her experience
with our family.And I think it's really special.
So deep and dark, but like, really, reallycool to be able to do that with her.
(48:22):
That's great to great experiences.
That's awesome.
And based on our last podcast
Stefania is into Marvel andand superheroes.
So do you have a favorite superheroor superpower?
So shout out to episode 123.
(48:42):
Wow. Having two daughters.
I never really sawa lot of superhero movies,
but you know, say yes to the dressor anything like that, you know, HTV,
I'm I'm right on it.
But, Wow.
I'm with you.
I have two daughters.
So. Yeah, that that's a hard one.
Superpower.
(49:03):
Do you have one in mind?
I mean, I have two boys, one of whichhas very strong opinions on superheroes.
I mean, I really do not like.
I'm not into that at all.
Like, I feel like I don't I've got aI've got to figure it out.
I mean guys,
this is hard.
Really hard for me.
I mean maybe Spiderman,but I feel like he's like losing
(49:26):
James is falling right now.
So like, I might have to switch gearsto like a new one, but maybe Spider-Man.
But I really don't have strong opinionson it.
Super power.
I mean, this is probably not real.
But like,maybe just like tuning it all out
when the chaos is around youwith a one, and a four year old like that
would be a great, a great superpowerif they want to come up with that one.
(49:47):
To get one.
So yeah.
Focus.
Hulk.
Thor.
Well,
I mean, I like the idea of Superman,because then you can just kind of
take off. You don't need a vehicle,you don't need anything.
You can just,you know, shoot up and take off.
So that probably flyingwould be a nice superpower.
(50:10):
Superman.
So I'd go for Superman. That's great.
It's athe Christopher Reeve Specials on Prime.
I haven't checked that out yet,but I'm going to.
I grew up watching Superman with my uncle,so that one's a good one.
Superman.
So we at the friends favorite restaurant?
Superheroes. Any questions for me?
(50:30):
Anything that you think I've missedor that you want to share?
I don't think that's anything.
I think you did a great job.
I think what you do is really, reallyinteresting and I love your website.
I like the bottom,the like how the the sticker moves.
Yeah.
You guys can't stop looking at it.
I was like playing with that was it.
Can I make it move? I can'tI think you can.
(50:52):
I think the mouse makes it move.
It did, it did.
But I couldn't, like, move it somewhereelse.
Like, I was like literally like on theretrying to it.
It's very cool.I really appreciate what you do.
When I first moved here in 2020, again,kind of tasked with building this market
from the ground up, not having boardor relationships really prior,
I look to see what local non-profitswere around, and you and Chinese Jock
(51:15):
were the two that I was like, oh my gosh,they've got the market cornered.
And like the fundraising, not I mean,I mean that with all the love, right?
Like there's enough foreveryone says your book too, right? Yes.
But I definitely reallylooked up to you all
and to Lara with Johnny's dogto just see what you guys were doing.
This community loves what you're doing,so it's like an honor to meet
(51:36):
you, honestly. Thank you so much.I really appreciate that. Yeah.
Johnny Dog has been like our big brother.
So our role model, they're wonderful.
We were the Clover Club charity of choice.
So honored for that donationand that sponsorship or that,
grant that they gave us. So, yeah.
Great people.
And we're just just a third grade teacher,
(51:57):
from a divorced family,knew how it was not to see my dad.
Every once in a while,I had a student lose their dad.
The family
had twins, I had twins,I had to do something.
And since then, we've helped over90 families and raised over $225,000.
So, so cool. And we're continuing to grow.I got a wonderful board.
That's Matt on the board of directors.
(52:18):
He was instrumental on that website.
So thank you. Great job.
You heard that compliment.That was a great job.
We're going to have,
a press release on our website throughwe had.com,
and the West Hartford Chamber of Commerceare going to do a press press release.
I did not know websites were pressnew websites were press release worthy.
But, Kate from the, chamber said,that's a wonderful idea.
(52:41):
And it's really a really looks nice.
So it's well done. And I'm very happyand excited to share it.
So we're coming out with a press release.
We had.com coming soon.
Congratulations. Thank you so much.
That's great.
So my question for you is where do you seefriends of Fenian 510 years.
You now good question I hear that a lot.
Everyone's like oh when are you going tostop teaching and just do this full time?
(53:04):
And I don't know, will,
my kids again are going to college.
I love my jobas I'm in my 21st year teaching,
nine years in Waterbury, Connecticut,where I went to school, same school
that I went to as a kid.
I taught, and then I'm in my 12 yearat Wolcott, where my daughters went.
So both schools really meant a lot.
(53:25):
I had my administration degreeso I could be a vice principal.
Or do I go full timewith the friends of Feeney?
So I have a lot of decisions to make.
Wonderful question.
I'm hearing a lot.
But in five years I hope to helped.
What are we at now?
We're at, 90, so I hope to have
helped maybe 250 families
(53:49):
and raised over.
Be great to be at $1 million. Yeah.
In five years you can do it.
Of help and donationsand support to families in need.
So that's our goal.
$1 million distributed to families.
And in five years,which is a lot of money.
Where a quarter of the way there.
You can do it.
(54:10):
It's a mighty goal.
But you never knowuntil you got to set a goal to reach it.
Right. Correct. Smart goal. Is it like.
It's specific measurable attainable.
Exactly. Timely.
Yeah. Five years for a millis pretty good.
That's timely.
Good question.
So do you find thatthere's a bigger need than you can fulfill
(54:32):
or are you finding thatyou're fundraising.
You're able to kind of keep we.
Just got one today. I was like, hey, my,
brother lost everything in the inhis and his house.
You know, we heard from you from a friend.
Someone had a house fire.
They went to Human resourcesand Terry ville,
someone in the departmentrefer them to friends of Feeney.
(54:55):
Anyone in school?
There's, like, a a West Hartford family.
Like the all the social workers knowin the school system.
They reach out to friends of Feeney.
So our name is getting out there.
We're just continuing to help people.
We really have never said no.
But if it's out of our local area,like the California fires or the Florida
(55:18):
hurricanes, like, we would love to help,but we're trying to keep it.
Connecticut.
You know, West Hartford to Waterbury, to
Hartford area.
Just so please.
Yeah, we have a whole donation
request formnow where families can fill it out, put,
(55:38):
you know,their name, email, how we can help.
What donation would be suffice?
What is their circumstance?
So we'll have that out.
Their website is givinga lot more information.
So go to friends of Phoenix. Com.
And while you're at itlike and share this podcast.
Great great peopleChelsea and Greg doing great things.
(55:59):
Subscribe and like for our podcast too.
We're trying to get our views upand our subscribers up.
We're up to 350 now. Fantastic.
So we're at 250 a year ago.
Slow, slow and steady.
It's a grind.
Yes it is, yes it is.
So yeah, thank you for coming on.
Any closing remarksor final things that you'd like to share?
(56:23):
Well, first, I just want to thank youfor the invitation
of being here and having the opportunityto, to share kind of what I'm up to,
with the Connecticut Beertour for a cancer free future. And,
hope that
everybody listening or watching can,
take some time out of their busy scheduleto come and raise a pint,
to make a difference in familiesdealing with blood cancer.
(56:47):
With our missions aligned,because that is heartbreak and tragedy.
So I would love to come to I'mgoing to try to make the West
Hartford ones for sure,and then maybe try that JJ special at.
At, back east.
That sounds exciting. Very tasty.
No, I echo what he saidand thanks, Greg, to like,
thank you so much for everythingyou've done for this organization.
(57:10):
And thank you for giving us this platform.
Because really, that's what it's aboutis getting the word out. Yeah.
And you know, like you with having moneyto give to the community.
We also have that here at all of us.
So, you know,we should really talk offline
and figure out how to refer better and,and yeah, I think that'd be really cool.
So. Yeah.
Happy to partner.
I find strength power in numbersand collaboration is very, very important.
(57:33):
Partnerships are important.
We team up with Johnny's Jog,we do their photo booth.
We've teamed up with,
a couple other.
We we had a booth at the pride event.
We do a booth at,
the summer, what's up?
Summer fair thing with.
The carnival in first?
(57:54):
Yes, it was our first
taste of West Hartford or West Hartford.
Something western for days. Yeah.
Yes. Good friend.
Linda Geisler runs that. That nice?
Yeah. Nice.
So, yeah.
It was a honor to talk with you.
Oh, I I've seen this.
I have to do it. This maybe fits in.
So we're going to play a quick gamebefore we go.
Okay. It's 612 1824.
(58:17):
You got to do
you got to do six of one, 12 of one,18 of one.
So he's either eat donuts,
take the paper cuts,
run the miles or drink the beers
six, 12, 18 or 24.
What I do not even so you say so.
Say you like eat six donuts.
(58:39):
That means you got to take 12 paper cutsand then are you going to drink 18 beers?
Are you going to run 18 miles?
Well, I would do six paper cut.
Yeah okay.
I can do 12 miles.
Okay. Sure.
18 donuts would be a tall ask,but I could probably do it.
(59:02):
Especially if they're Krispy Kreme that,you know, not overly filling.
So nice. Nice. And then 24 beers. Hello.
You have to know there's no timelimit on that, right?
No, no, not 24 and 24 minutes.
But, I think I deeply agree with your pathon that, to be honest with you.
Like, I mean,
as long as there's no time limit,to be honest with you, I could even do
like the longer run if it were likethis really long, long journey.
(59:26):
Like,I could take breaks, like naps in between.
I'll do 24.
It would be great for just 120, 24.
You can have a beer, great.
Plan, a little bit of runningand then yeah.
You set up a beer and donut each.
So in here I will get to all of them.
We can do that motive.
But yeah, definitelywith you on the papercuts like hardcore.
Yes. Six.
Why would you do that?
(59:46):
Oh, I saw this.
So I was like, I gotta ask, put it down.
Has anyone ever wanted more than six? No.
That's the first time I've ever podcastI've seen it on another clip.
All right.
But the bears thing,I was like, all right it fits. Yeah.
But bears on paper cuts are definitely.
So the two challenging onesand to kind of easier ones.
(01:00:07):
You don't want to do you want to do beerand donuts on the same day.
Because that's a lot. No.
But there are some good pastry stoutsthat kind of go well with donuts.
And there is something called a beer mile.
You run a lap of a track, you have to chuga beer, you run a it's a world record.
In the GuinnessBook of World Records, you run chug.
Also, there's a donut mile.
(01:00:29):
Fleet feet does something.I feel like I could get on board, but.
Are there any runs on Wednesday night?
Yes, they do a donut run.
You run three miles and eat a donutafter every mile.
I. I can try that. I could do that.
Yeah.
And you don't feel guilty because you'rerunning it off while you're running,
and then you're training for Johnny's jog.
Are you getting ready for.
(01:00:49):
Getting ready
again?
We're herewith Greg Hammond and Chelsea Tropic.
It was wonderful chatting with you.
You're amazing peopledoing great things in the community.
This was episode125 of Feeney Talks with friends.
I cannot thank you enough.
Keep up the great work and we hope tosee you on this beer tour starts off.
It kicks off February 1stat rule of three Brewery in East Hampton,
(01:01:11):
then to back east on February 7th.
Loop BilodeauBrewery in Windsor Locks on February 8th.
Illicit.
Monday, February 10th Valentine'sDay here at.
We have brewing and roasting
the 21st of February is the new Cambridgeproject in Bristol.
There's three breweries in therethat's pretty cool.
(01:01:33):
February 22nd to Saturday.
Problems all brewing in East Windsor.
The 27th is a Thursdaynew Park brewery over on New Park Avenue,
and then concentric can't consent trick.
Oh darn it for I teach. I teach reading
concentric brewery I'm Portland to beat
(01:01:53):
TBD, powder hollow tea TBD
and coastline in the summer.
For more information,go to Cty Beer tours.org.
And Gregwon the 2024 visionary of the year.
Congratulations. Thank you.
Great joband wonderful meeting you Chelsea.
Thank you so much.
I want to give you guys each a magnetand a sticker.
(01:02:14):
Good friends rule and be a good friend.
I feel like I've made it.
Now you're in you're in.
You're part of the team.
And on three will say be a good friend.
1 to 3 be a good friend.
All right, all right.
Feeney Talks with friends. Episode 125.
We're here at.
We have Roasting and Brewingwith some very, very cool guests today.
How are you doing, Chelsea? Good. Thanks.
How are you doing, Greg?
I'm doing well.
It's good to be here. Great.
This is 125.
My name is Eric Feeney, founderand president of Friends of Feeney.
Our mission is to help
(00:20):
children and families that need assistanceafter heartbreak or tragedy.
And I use this podcast.
Feeney talks with friends,and I talk to wonderful people
that are doing great things.
And Greg and Chelsea,you have a you're doing great things.
Multiple things.
And we're going to get intowhat's coming up in your upcoming events
that that have a wonderful, outcome.
(00:43):
So how are you feeling?
I'm feeling good. I'm feeling excited.Yeah.
Just, a few couple weeks awayfrom our new, beer tour coming up.
Yeah, he said it. Beer tour.
The Connecticut beer tour.This is the second one.
This is the second one.
Last year,I participated in the visionaries
of the year campaign for the Leukemiaand Lymphoma Society and decided
(01:04):
if I'm going to raise money for ten weeks,why not have some fun doing it?
So I came up with the ideaof putting together a beer tour and,
I thought maybe I'd get 510 breweriesto opt in.
Well, no, I had 23 thatthat jumped in on the bandwagon.
And so I went to 23 breweries overten weeks.
(01:25):
So, bless my wife.
Every Friday and Saturday night,we were hanging out at a brewery
and some Wednesdays and Thursdaysto get them all in,
to raise money for the Leukemiaand Lymphoma Society.
As a result of that,we we raised a lot of money to
to make a real impactin the battle against blood cancers.
Yeah.
Got it down here.
Almost $120,000. Correct?
(01:48):
Yes. Yep. Very cool.
And lymphoma and leukemia society.
That's where Chelsea comes in. Yep.
The Keenan lymphoma society.
I'm the marketdirector here in Connecticut.
We have three fundraising campaigns.
Visionaries of the year is the campaignthat Greg was mentioning.
So we've got a teamof five of us here locally.
Been here for.
(02:08):
We're kind of a newer market, actually.
We just set up a board in the pastcouple of years.
Have a couple committeesworking and a lot of good.
A lot of good work.
Group 44% year over year.
Nice numbers, nerd,but not as good as this numbers nerd.
So what is the visionary of the year?
Now, is that something that.
Can you get that again this year or.
(02:28):
No. So it's a one shot deal. Gotcha.
So every spring,the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, sponsors
these campaigns across the countryand in local cities,
and they nominate individuals to lead
teams to do a fundraising campaign.
And you have ten weeksto raise as much money as you can.
And the team that raises the most moneyis crowned the visionary of the year.
(02:52):
Very nice.
And so I was one of six candidateslast year.
And we raised over $329,000
as a group, to benefit the Leukemiaand Lymphoma Society.
Well, congratulations. That that's a jobwell done.
Very good. And thank you.
I wasn't kidding when we talked to peoplethat do great things.
So I'm so honored to talk with you,Greg and Chelsea.
(03:15):
Great team.
How did you guys meet?Where did this start?
That's funny.
Shout out to Lindsay over here.
That's how I met you through Lindsay.
For years, Lindsay had worked with youthrough your work with TMC,
and she worked with us for a while.She's a board member for a while.
Lindsay. David. Her son's survivor.
Gavin. In the community.
And love that family.
(03:37):
And she had her eye on Gregwhen we started visionary.
So this spring will be our fourthvisionaries of the year campaign
because again, like I mentioned,we're a little bit newer here.
Like just not new with us,but new new here locally.
And she was like, you've got to get Greg.
Greg is your man.
So he kept saying, no,but not for the wrong reasons.
(03:58):
He was saying no because it just wasn'tthe right exact moment.
And I think he was plottingand planning to make the biggest impact.
Good. Speak for yourself.
But that'show I met Greg is through Lindsay.
Yes, I've been doing a lot of,fundraising and friend
raising for the Connecticut Children'sMedical Center for many years.
And, got to know Lindsay Davidthrough that connection.
(04:20):
And she introduced me to LeukemiaLymphoma Society.
Unfortunately for me,
my dad passed away back in 2015from multiple myeloma.
So it's always been a causethat's dear to my heart to make an impact
for other families,not to have to deal with the same type of,
diagnosis and hopefully at some point
(04:42):
have a cancer free future.
And I saw Ken. Right.
Ken was your dad. That's correct.
And he was a mayor.
He was all sorts of things.
He definitely is my role model.
Talk about making an impact.
I like to say that I learned to play golfat the age of eight,
and by my teenage years,I played with the mayor of my town,
(05:07):
the town councilman, the president of therotary Club, the treasurer of my church,
or the vice presidentof a metal manufacturing company.
But all of them were my dad and,
grew up, helping him
have a political campaign as well as justmaking an impact in the community.
And so although we never really hada conversation about it, I just learned
(05:30):
from his example that I wantedto give back to the community.
And so I've tried to followin his footsteps.
That's amazing.
Well, I'm sure he's proud of you.
So keep up the good work.
Where was he?
A mayor in Cimarron, New York.
Okay.
Which, you talk abouttrivia is the birthplace of Lucille Ball.
(05:52):
So if you watch that episode,they'll talk about.
So around New York, outside of Jamestown,New York. And,
there's actually the international comedyHall of Fame in Jamestown, New York.
Interesting.So fun fact. Learned something new.
I didn't know that.
And you are a wealth advisor.
Right?
I am, or I like to refer to myselfas a financial coach.
(06:16):
Because a lot of times it'snot necessarily getting advice,
but having somebody coach youto get through the tough times
of the financial marketsas well as coach you up into leading
a life of higher potential than you thinkyou might be able to achieve.
And you had a podcast,so you're on our podcast,
but you also have like your MoneyYour Purpose podcast.
(06:37):
Tell us about that. Sure.
So over the years,we've had two radio shows.
Our latest was Your Money, Your purpose.
And, we did that for three years,and had a half hour radio show
that then convertedinto a podcast as well.
So trying to get the some goodfinancial information out to everybody.
Yeah. You offer podcasts,you offer classes.
(06:59):
You're so you're big in education.
I'm a third grade teacher.
So teaching people is what I do.
And that's what you seem to be doing too.
But for financial literacy. Correct.
We believe our our best clientis a well-educated, client.
And so we spend a lot of timeand effort on education, not only through,
monthly education workshopsthat we call our Financial Power hour.
(07:21):
But also I release every Fridaya 62nd YouTube short
and a financial tip for the week,
that goes out through YouTubein our social media channels.
Nice.
How does thathow do views on your 60 minute,
weekly thing?
How would your average view,
if you don't mind me asking,just from a podcast perspective?
And social media.
(07:41):
Our our views right now, they've beencreeping up as we get more subscribers.
You know, it's always interesting, a topicthat I think that is going to rocket,
doesn't do so well, you know,and then that was that.
I'm thinking now,I don't know if this is going
to go anywhere itall of a sudden takes off. Yep.
So on average,probably a couple hundred to 500 views.
(08:04):
Nice.
I've noticed that too,with our social media piece
with podcasts or a real or a video like,
you know, just me talking informal,
you know, shoot from the hip talklike, does very well.
But if you plan and prepand do all this stuff, you never know.
You never know.
(08:24):
So I was just interested.
But videos are the way to go.We're not doing too many.
Still shot photos with a lot of wordsanymore.
Like kids want the reels and the videosin 60s because of attention span is.
I guessing that's why you do it that way?That's exactly it.
So one of the primary focusesof our financial advisory
firm is working with familiesacross multiple generations.
(08:46):
So our goal is to work with familiesacross three generations.
So we're working with the grandparentsand the kids and the grandkids.
Our youngest client is ten years old,and we go all the way up to over 100.
So we cover the wide spectrum.
But yes, as we tryto reach those younger generations,
they're not going to watch a 45 minuteworkshop.
(09:06):
So we wanted a way for themto get some good information,
in short, nuggetsthat they be able to absorb.
Very interesting.
All right.
We're going to come back to youwith the three keys that make your job.
What what what's very good.
The three keys that will, you know, helpyou do your job.
So think about that,and then we're gonna go to Chelsea.
Chelsea is our campaigndevelopment director.
(09:30):
How's that going?
So you've been doing it for four years?
I've been with at leastfor seven years. Seven.
But I actually was in Ohio beforeand moved here.
So like in.
New York, Connecticutand Eastern New York, Albany area.
We're in the Connecticut,Albany, eastern New York area.
And I run the market of Connecticut. Nice.
And what's your daily, joblook like for marketing?
For for marketing? Yes.
(09:50):
You know, it's interesting.
I feel like I had this
this kind of feels like that coffee chatwe had when I was like, my job is shifted.
I just had this conversation with himand was like, I need some help.
It has shifted.
So it is a lot more on my platearound marketing and getting the word out.
And it used to be very much like,this is our fundraising campaign.
We're going to raise these dollars.Let's talk to the people that we know.
And now shifting into like a geographyversus like a campaign revenue stream.
(10:16):
Yeah.
My job is a lot more about workingwith our volunteers and who they know.
So I'm sitting down at a lot of coffees.
I'm sitting down at a lot of lunches.
I'm sitting down for a beerwith a lot of people right now.
Just getting to know people,getting to know what makes them tick,
getting to know their stories.Do they have a cancer connection?
Do they have time in their scheduleor interest
(10:36):
to commit to something philanthropically?
Totally different than whatI've been doing for years, you know,
so it is it's been a real shift,but I'm loving it.
And what was that prior to.
It was really just, you know,I still have the revenue, right?
Like that's going to be the focusbecause we know that
dollars are what's going to cure this longterm.
But, and just help people along the way.
But just more focused now broadly for lessbringing people
(10:59):
into the LLS family and introducing themto what we're doing here.
And then finding the right homeinstead of, hey,
this is what we have to do right nowand kind of fitting people in very nice.
Yeah.
And I saw that you're a Georgiabulldog. Huge.
How did you know that?
But yeah. Yeah, I do my research.Good. Research huge. Yes.
And it's
been a really rough year in our householdbecause my husband's a Penn State fan.
(11:20):
So like, we lost and then they lostand we were like, all right, fine.
So we were pulling for Ohio Statelast night
because we moved here from Ohio.
And we feel a little bit okay, okay.
In case anyone's wondering or cares,we're big college football fans.
Something nice.
I'm going to swing it back to youfor your three keys.
Oh, boy. I'd have to, Greg.
Three keysor let me go into some sponsors,
(11:41):
of the Fannie Talks of Friends podcast.
We're here at LehighRoasting and Brewing, 311 Shield Street.
Thank you Cody.
Great place also on the beer tour list.
That's why we're here. What day?
The day we coming here for the beer tour.
Do you know.
It's Valentine's Day, February 14th.
So come show some love.
For those by making a stop by,we are brewing.
(12:02):
Bring your sweetheart to Shield Street.
This is great, Cody.
He's on, my podcast.
I forgot the number.
I usually have them all off top hand,but he was early.
Top 20, top 30 podcast.
Go back and check it out.
I want to also thank Direct Line Media.
There's Dave and StephaniaStephanie is great.
She's our production associate butshe was also a podcast guest last podcast.
(12:26):
123 so this is 125.
Go back and check Stephanie out.
We have people's Bank, Keating Agency
insurance, Brooke Golf Law,
Luna Pizza,Parkville, Martinez, Parkville management.
Luna pizza I said that one.
And West Hartford Lock,which is right over here
(12:50):
right around the corner WestHartford lock.
What are three keys?
See what I got to swing thatin. How to swing that in?
Three keysthat make you great at your job.
Sponsored by West Hartford Lock.
Three keys that make me great atmy job is take the time to listen, okay?
That, we want to make sure that whateverwe accomplish, it's what you want to.
It's not just, giving blank advice.
(13:13):
Second is the education component of it.
I wholeheartedly believe in education.
And then the third iswe really care about families.
So similar to friends of Feeney.
We care about children.
And getting them started early on the pathto to financial freedom and.
Great listen education.
Children love it.
(13:34):
It's all about the kids.
Absolutely.
Three keys Chelsea.
Chelsea Dropkick two, by the way.
Thank you.
Know actually it's drop drop pickbut it's quick as a
future wrestling podcastcoming to you guys.
We're going to talk wrestlingso we're. Here for. It.
Good segue here. Segue.
But it's drop it. So go ahead Chelsea.
(13:55):
No you're good.
He sold my first onewhich I think is for most jobs. Right.
And that's listening. Right.
So I think listeningdefinitely is the most useful.
Second I would say remembering your whyand everyone's why, right.
Like it is a job for me,but it is like a horrible reality.
Cancer is for so many peopleand so destructive on families and just,
(14:16):
just because really, really deep.
So if I remember my why, it'sso much more than a job for me.
So I think remembering mywhy and everybody else's
why while we're doing that
and then empathy I'm definitely,you know, have a team that I manage now.
So I would say empathy for my volunteersbut also our team.
Right. Like we're all human.
We're doing our bestlike no one wants to fail.
So like just empathy, like whatwe're dealing with everybody knowing.
(14:38):
We're all doing our best.
Listening. Yeah,I hear that one a lot. Listening.
Empathy, all that empathy all the time.
But listening, networking,being personable.
But yeah, you got a tough position,but you're doing a good thing
for a good cause,so keep doing what you're doing.
Also, let's talk about a common friendthat we all have that brought you here.
(15:01):
Laura moran. Do you guys know Laura?
Oh, yeah.
Laura.
So, what's Laura's position?
She has a position now with you.
So she doesn't anymore by her own choice.
Let me make that super. Clearafter the game.
Oh, right.
I know she she's, I think, hooked us upin the very beginning.
And then she was really excited.
She was actually a temp for us.
(15:21):
She was helping us out loud.
We had a guy out on a paternity leave and,she was tremendous
and we would have kept her on,but she had something that came up
that was a perfect, perfect placefor her to go next.
So we're excited for her.No, she's an amazing person.
He is, Johnny's job.
If you don't know. Laura moran.
Episode 42.
I know for a fact she's episode 42.
Right here. Same seats.
(15:43):
Laura and Kelly, great podcast.
Go back and check out episode 42.
I don't know who wants to take thisquestion, but our motto be a good friend.
You know, hold the door, pick up trash,be charitable, give compliments.
What makes Laura moran a good friend?
She is.
I mean, I don't know if you have one,but I def she's definitely a good friend.
(16:05):
She's such a sweet, sweet person.
I think that kind ofwith that empathy thing.
Like she wants to succeed not for herself,but for, you know, the greater good.
And she wants to be a partof making great things happen.
And she's doing that with Johnny'sdog. Like, it's incredible.
And I knowshe's doing that in her new role,
and she definitely did that with us.
So, I mean,
(16:25):
maybe not like opening the door,although she would open the door, I don't
I don't knowif I would take it back to that
because I don't knowif I know her on that level.
But, you know, just a great humanbeing that really wants to be
a part of the
solution for good, whatever that isthat she's pouring yourself.
I agree.
Well, and I would point thatshe's always looking
(16:45):
to make introductions and connectionsfor people. So,
through her position,Johnny's dog, as well as just her actions
and activities in the community,she has a lot of friends
and individuals, so she's makingconnections and introducing people.
Yeah, to make a wider impact.
She's always suggesting podcast guests,and I'm so happy that she suggested
(17:06):
you guys. So we're here today.
125 we're going to talk aboutthe Connecticut Beer Torso.
Thank you. Laura, you are a good friend.
Chelsea and Greg said so too.
So it's confirmed.
So Hellman.
Well, Hammond wealthand also your author podcast.
What what does this guy not do?
I have not yet.
Can you say.
Can you sing?
(17:27):
I can sing.I did play a musical instrument.
I did back in high school and college.
We will find something.
Can you dunk?
No, I cannot, I cannot. Dunk.
Okay. You got me there, author.
You can do more that matters.
If you knew you could, what? Wouldn't you?
This is amazing.
So this is a gift from Greg to me todaybefore the podcast.
(17:50):
You should have gave it to me.You should have waited,
you know, make a big, big reveal,and I got you something.
But no, this is amazing.I'm going to read this.
And I say, hey, there's another thing,Greg.
I'm like, hey,it would be really cool if you signed it.
I already had it signed.
Take time to think, dreamand plan to do more.
That matters best with wishes. Greg.
I really appreciate that.
(18:10):
Discover how to live more and give more.
What inspired you to write this?
So I've done,
a lot of presentationson behalf of nonprofit organizations.
So not only do I work on educating,
development professionals as wellas making organizations more effective
in their plan giving, but also makingpresentations on their behalf.
(18:33):
So through that, I decidedI can only do so many presentations.
So why not take that presentationand put it in the form of a book
that then can be used, and it was writtenin a way that can not only be,
read by the end userand hopefully someone to use it
to motivate their own making a difference.
(18:55):
But also for professionalslike myself to utilize it
to start the philanthropy conversationas well as nonprofit organizations
to do the same. Okay.
Well, I have a nonprofit,so I'm going to find it.
And if anybody you knowthey love podcasts, you'll love that.
There's also the audio book recorded,and you'll find that on Audible.com.
Who's the voice? That's me.Come on me and.
(19:16):
Go out there. Yes, indeed. This guy is.
If diculous.
When I grow up, I want to be.Like Greg. Right.
And don't we all.
This is great.
All right, we're excited.
Let's go. We got the the beer tour.
Where's our first stop on the beer tour?
Greg.
Our first stop is rule of threebrewing down at East Hampton.
And, they were our biggest fundraiserlast year for our 2024.
(19:41):
So we're very gratefuland excited to have them back.
Do you know the the three rules?
The three rules.
So I know they have a beerfor each of the three rules.
But, I don't know the three rules offtop of my head.
A list of rules of three beers.
Maybe I'm messing up, but I see that it's.
I could be wrong.
Now, these few simple rules.
Simplicity is king.
(20:02):
Fun is a must.
And and no hoity toity has playshere, plays here.
I like that like these guys. Yeah.
Do you know Scott Cross or John?
I know both of them might be fun.
Guys,we were actually just there last Thursday.
For, my firm does a quarterly happy hourfor our clients
and friends,and we are at rule three brewing.
(20:24):
Rule of three.
All right, so that's East Hampton,Scott and John, you got three rules.
Can you name a couple beers?
What's your favorite beer there?
Well, the one that I had,was, Heckles Revenge, which was,
marshmallow chocolatestout that I had last week.
And it was delicious. Wow.
It's likethe doctor heckle and Cock and Clyde.
(20:46):
Or heckles revenge. Heckles revenge? Yeah.
What's the date of that?
Oh, yeah. What's the date of the.
It's going to be February 1st.
That they'll be.They're kicking us off. Kicking us off?
If you're doing dry January,here's the time to take a break
and come back and join us for a craft beerat rule of Three.
Rule of three.
All right. Kicks off in East Hampton.
(21:09):
All right.
How about now. We're going to do trivia.
Now which which breweries name means
hop farm or hop yard in Italian.
That's Lupo home there East Windsor yes.
Good job. Alito. He passed.
We're we might be going out of order,but actually no that's next.
Next. Oh nope. Nope. No latter.
(21:29):
There is one before their third.
Before we go to loop the latter,we're going to take a stop
at to back EastBrewing and Bloomfield. Yep.
What's there.
What's your favorite beer at back East.
See if we agree.
Well there's a lot of good beersat back east.
But you know Ice Cream Man is fantastic.
And I love the.
(21:49):
And Jay specialwhere they put a little bit of the,
BlackBerry BerlinerRice on top as a topper on the ice cream.
Man we I need that.
I'm so. Yeah.
So that's an exclusive, everyone.
How do we do this? What do we do again?
It's it's on their list.
You don't even have to go in and give thema super handshake or anything like that.
It's, I believe it's the Jane Jay special.
(22:11):
This BlackBerry Berliner Weiss 3.5.
Correct. And you just pour how much?
So they basically give youa full pint of ice cream, man.
And then they put a little topperof the BlackBerry on top.
All right I got I goyeah February 7th everyone.
And what's it called.
The Jane Jay special.
What's that stand for?
I believe it's,two of the employees at Back East.
(22:35):
Well done. Back east. Yeah. Ice cream man.
This says right herethe top five on the draft's magazine list.
Top 50 IPAs.
I know they sell it at, the yard Goatsgames.
So back east, keep up the good workwith the ice cream man.
And they just added a new kitchenlast year.
So delicious food there as well.
(22:56):
And that's going to be FridayFebruary 7th correct.
Yeah. We're going to clipthese up and can make reels
back east
back east Jay and Jay special loop gelato.
Did I say that correctly.
Yes Jen and James are the owners.
They do a great job, brewing beer there.
And our,
very, fervent supporters of,
(23:18):
blood cancer research.
That's going to be Saturday.
So you're back to back your Friday at
back east Saturday at Loop Gelato.
Weiss loves you.
Correct?
Yeah. We'll be thereall afternoon at Loop Gelato.
They have a great game inventory.
So if you're a big board game fan,they do a great job.
(23:40):
You can hang out there,have a few beers, play a board game, too.
And they also uniquely play boccein their taproom.
So if you're interested in indoor bocce,you can get there, bocce league.
So they're really Italian
bocce.
I wrote that down. Bocce.
That's awesome. Man.
You took away my trivia question.
(24:00):
What, what brewery allows bocce?
All right, where are we off to next?
So after Luke Miletto,we're going to elicit
on a Monday night the following Monday.
So we'll be there.
And also a shout out to Illicit brewing,because not only are they doing this,
one night, fundraising for us,but also they will be doing rounding up
(24:23):
through the entire month of Februaryto benefit the Leukemia Lymphoma Society
in both their Manchesterand Fairfield locations.
Man, you got me again.
Look at thatround up through February with a stuff.
That is too funny.
Monday the 10th.
They've been really generousfor the breweries. Who?
The owners. The breweries work there.
(24:44):
You got me there.
So I found it very interesting.
Emily and Amanda, two females.
Truffle that was on the website.
I could be wrong,
but no round up through February.
I think that's amazing.
Cool names. Helicopter dad.
Carousel incident, coconut incident.
Incident.
Marriage counseling
(25:06):
I mean friends with benefits.
Mandatory hibernation.
Maple mean crazy.
I like the
extra points for the creativenames, right?
Creative names go away in my eyes anyway.
But yeah, that's great.
February 10th on a Monday.
On a Monday. Yeah.
The they have a jazz orchestrathat'll be there on that Monday night.
(25:27):
And you come in. Are you making notes.
Treat them to our donation. Read my notes.
And, it'll get you drink specialsall night long.
I was going to say,hey, is there a conflict?
Because I noticed the websitealso had Harford Jazz Orchestra.
But it's meant to be. Meant to be. Greg.
That's why I chose that date to.
Be amazing, a. Nice.
(25:47):
Group of people. There's not a conflict.
It's meant to be people. Be there.
February 10th.
Which oneare you going to attend? Chelsea.
So I was just put them all on my calendarlast night, actually,
in case you're wondering.
So my entire calendar
has blocked everywhere,which means I might make it to a couple.
Got two small children.
But whenever I'm ready to escape them, I'mhoping to do well.
(26:08):
I'll be at New ParkBrewing on the 27th. Okay.
But also, I think I'm going to try to doproblem solved on the 22nd.
So. But hopefully I could do more,
but I'm committing.
I made it here last year.Do we have an issue?
Yeah, yeah.
We're going on the borderjust to trick you up here.
So, Yeah.
(26:28):
Don't let him see her.
He has a setback. League.
They're having bonsai bar.
They do brews and book swap.
They are the first brewery
ever in Enfield, Connecticut.
They started in 2014.
They are
what Enfield would be.
Powder hollow.
(26:49):
Correct. This guy's good.
Yeah.
We don't have an official datefor them yet, but they have, committed.
And, so it's to be decided.
So you gotta tune in and go to the websiteat KT Beer Tours, talk to,
stay in touch.
I also have a phone number
and you have an email.
Can we share that?
Oh yeah. So the website.
(27:10):
City Beer tours at gmail.com.
And if you go to the website there is away to sign up for our email list.
And so you'll get updates for meon, on the upcoming dates and any changes
as we add new breweries.
It's it's great. Now.
So you'll be at everyone.
Not everyone.
Okay,I will be out of town for one weekend.
(27:32):
So, and Chelsea's,
colleague Josh is going to fill in for me.
Now, do you call everyone's attentionto give a little 32nd
talk, or do you
at these at the event, do you say, hey,
thank you for so much for comingKT Beer Tours.
(27:52):
You're all your donationsare going to last, right?
You do all that.
Correct.
We'll have a table set upso people can come in.
We'll make it as easy as possibleto learn more about,
the mission of AOSand the impact that they have
in the community and supporting familiesas well as research.
And then also, we're thereto collect, donations directly.
(28:14):
And that can be cash, Venmo, credit card,as well as, most of the breweries
are donating either a dollar per beeror 10% of the sales that night.
So just by showing upand having a beverage,
you get us one step closerto a cancer free future.
I love it,
I'll be there.
All right.
(28:34):
Next one.
It's tricky here.
All right.
This one hostedmy dad's 70th birthday party.
You know. I don't know that one.
I wasn't invited.
It's happening on Valentine's Day.
(28:55):
We also have this Friday the big sing.
Do you know Walter? Walter, shoot.
What's his name?
That's my best guy in the world. Walter.
Walter is going to kill me.
It's not Walter McCarty.
He played for the Celtics.
Walter.
Sorry, I gotta look. No.
Oh, boy.
Embarrassing.
(29:16):
Anyway, live music will be here.
Big sing through Mark's Christmas trees,
and we're asking a donation.
The Big Sing is where everyone gets,sheet of lyrics.
And Walter will be singing and will shout.
What song do you want to play?
We'll sing number one. It's New York,New York.
Everyone has the list.
We sing along and we collect donationsand it's a great event.
(29:36):
It started in Halifax, Canada.
Marks Christmas trees.
I don't knowif you get your Christmas trees over here.
Yes, that's Mark.
The Christmas trees are from Halifax.
Mark's from Halifax.
And that we sing.
It's called the Big Sing.
And this is our fourth or fifth eventthis Friday.
This won't come out in time,but we'll be singing with Walter.
(29:57):
Walter at so terrible.
This is I don't I'm having a moment.
It's a carousel.
And it all come around.
You don't come. Around, Walter.
Walter Jacobson.
But Cody's great grace.
I know Grace, she's the events manager.
And then.
But, yeah, we're here now, so come backif you can't come this Friday.
(30:21):
Come on Valentine's day.
Valentine's day. Show the love.
Yep. Will you be here for.
I will be here.I will be. Here for this. One.
I probably goI mean, are you bring the kids.
Where do you guys live?
West Hartford, right. Here in WestHartford. Okay. All right.
The special guest.
My sister's flying in from Ohiothat weekend, so she'll be here, too.
So you get to meet her.
Your family's from Ohio?
(30:42):
My sister's. In Ohio. I don't,
all right,
this one.
I like this spot, too.
Friends. I've done a couple events there.
We've done, a fundraiser for a kidwho was born with that,
to get a tumor in his brain.
(31:02):
And they helped him.
We they got it removed,so we helped the family.
Levi. We had a Levi fundraiser there.
We did a comedy show there.
They do live music in the green roomand the barrel room.
Yes. The owners are John, Alex and Tom.
Where are we?
You're at New Park Brewing,and you partnered,
again.
Laura moran was kind of the connectionthere that,
(31:26):
that got us, to have the event at New ParkBrewing.
Nice. Great people. Great place.
Where are you?
In the barrel room or the green room?
So it's going to be a both.
Oh, nice. Well, it's,
in the
private room that nightactually marks a special occasion.
So the 2025 visionaries of the yearcampaign kicks off.
(31:47):
That night.
So, we'll be there as part of the campaignto kick off the new candidates
that will be raising money this yearfor the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society,
as well as a beer stop.
So it'll also be part of the beer tour.
So a portion of the proceedsby being in the tap room also benefit.
That was so nice.
It's going to be one big party.
(32:07):
So great to be there.
Great spot.
And they have an Elmwood Cidernamed after Elmwood section.
I live in Elmwood.
Cloud scape is my favorite there.
Do you have a favorite?
I would agree cloud Scape is really good.
Yeah, cloud scapesgrew and Cloud Scape is 6.5.
It's an IPA
fluffy wheat
finish notes of grapefruit and melon.
(32:30):
Reading from the list here.
It's great,but the new Park brewery great spot,
great people.
All right. How many we got?
Four left.
Let's see.
Do you know?
Oh, right here.
This place has a First mates club.
100 members get a designated mug.
(32:50):
Discounts, larger paws. Swag.
They have stormed the beach shore.
Shore. Unsure.
Man. Moza boat.
Loeb.
It's a very, nautical themed brewery.
Coastline brewing down in West Westbrook.
Westbrook.
Very good. Great place.They have a pizza oven.
They're a great pizza.
(33:11):
Great group of guys that own it.
And although they're not hosting an event
during February, they made the call.
They said, hey, February is a little deadhere on the shoreline.
Why don't we wait until the summertimewhen it's really rocking?
So we're going back.
We're extending the tour.
And we'll be going back to coastlinesometime this summer.
(33:32):
Very nice. And that's rich, Phil and Jay.
I've never been.
I'm interested to go West Brook.Very cool.
Then we have one in Bristol.
What's the brewery in Bristol?
That's the new Cambridge project.
Unique brewery, because it's actuallythree breweries and one,
so the Cambridge project is in the taproom
(33:54):
that used to be FireflyHollow, in Bristol.
And they acquired the recipesso they still brew Firefly Hollow beers.
And they also, brew, beers by boondoggle,
which is another, breweryin as well as their own.
I have yetto be there as new Cambridge project.
(34:15):
So I'm excitedto, to get there, and try them all out.
Yeah.
It says right here it's town139 Center Street.
It was theI was the iconic Firefly Bristol.
That's February.
Oh, yeah. February 21st.
Correct. Friday. It's a Friday.
And you need to put on your calendar.
They have one of the best pumpkin beers,
(34:39):
that I have there.
They're pumpkin spice creamer from FireflyHollow is one of my favorites.
Do they put, cinnamonon the rim of the glass if.
You go to the taproom? Yes. They do.
That's my wife's favorite.
All right.
We have to wait. For that one.
So this one has infinite rotations.
Berries brittle, roasted or
(35:00):
roasted root ground for six sides.
It's happening on February 22nd.
It's a Saturday. It's in East Windsor.
That would be problem solved.
Brewing.
You got it. You're good.You're pretty good.
And yeah, that's a connection.
Through Laura Ray Anderson,who's our on our leadership team
(35:21):
and in helping to one of the co-leadersof the visionary of the year campaign.
And she's leading upthat and has, knows the owners quite well.
So we're looking forward to being there.
Very nice. Which ones have you
were on the list last yearand which ones are new this year?
So rule of
three back East loop gelato illicit.
(35:44):
We have brewing
concentric
and coastline are all returnees from last year.
And then we're getting to visita new Cambridge project.
Problem solved.
Brewing and Powder hollow.
New this year as well as New park.
Very cool.
So a combination of newand an old favorites.
(36:07):
This one looks like they have dark DarthMaul Wookie cookie.
That's Star Warsmonster mash double stuff fins up.
But the Dolphins fans maybe
concentric.
Concentric brewing in Portland.
Just after you go over the AragoneseBridge from Middletown,
(36:27):
you just swing around to the rightand it's down on your right.
Yeah.
One of the reasons why their line upright now looks a little dark, in beer,
is that they do a fantastic event
in December on the winter solstice.
So on the darkest night,they do all dark beers.
(36:47):
So they bring in not only their own, but,
some guest brews from breweriesaround Connecticut.
So it's a great event.
They do another one onlight beers in June as well.
That's funny.
Very nice. It's Brian Drew and Dave.
Oh man I forgotone of these guys was a retired cop.
I forgot which one that was. Had a. Nope.
(37:08):
Not very cool.
So all right last year's tour.
What was the first
brewery.
The last brewery.
The best brewery and the worst brewery.
Oh tough.
I mean least favorite.
Something went wrong or missingI don't know, we will modify it.
Of course.
Trying to think of who kicked it offlast year.
(37:30):
I know the end one was Urban Launch,
in Manchester and,
it's hard to say best.
Oh, there's so,
I think so.
Like a. Solicit. Yes.
Solicit. Went for something.
Can we have the kickoff party at elicit?
And then we came back the next nightfor the first kickoff, actual memory.
(37:53):
So, yes, we were at elicit for the kickoffand urban largest
a wrap up.
Best breweries.
Well, I certainly shoutout to rule of three for,
being a top fundraiser.
Back east and Willimantic were both right
there at the top as well for fundraising.
(38:13):
I'm also a big fan of Elf Creamand their beer.
So we had
by including 23 breweries,we pretty much covered most of the state.
Yeah.
And, so I put some mileage on my car.
That was the reason I was 11 this yearand 23 last year.
Well, last year I was partof the visionary of the year campaign.
(38:35):
So this year I've just been askedto be part of the leadership team.
And so one of the things that happensthroughout the campaign,
that makes a lot of fun
as part of the fundraising, arethere are different challenges,
for example, raisea donation from all 50 states.
So you got a challenge,and there are kind of award dollars
(38:58):
that you could win for your campaignif you're the first team to get there.
But it's on the shouldersof the leadership team
to help raise some moneyto fund those challenges.
And so as we were talking about that,
and I could explain to my wife that Ididn't have to be at all of the breweries,
we startedup to decide to have another one.
(39:19):
So we're going to have it
during the month of Februaryto kind of get everybody energized,
leading up to the candidates starting offtheir campaign at the end of February.
Very cool.
Man. This is great.
Again,excited to hear drinking with a course.
Right.
What's better than that? Correct.
And I want to do a shout outjust to thank, Rachel Diamond,
(39:42):
who is, at Broken Symmetry out in Bethel,but she is the director
of the Connecticut Brewers Guild,and she was extremely supportive,
in getting my beer to herlaunch last year, as well as,
I had a table at the ConnecticutBeer Fest, which is every April,
at the convention center. So, Nice.
(40:04):
One of the reasonswhy I know a lot about these breweries is,
I'm also an associate memberof the Connecticut Brewers Guild.
So I get to go to their meetings
every quarterand get to have an opportunity to
to meet the Brewers and learn a little bitmore about each brewery.
Very cool.
You're in it.
That's great.
Now, this is gonna be a questionfor both of you.
(40:25):
We'll let you go. Chelseafirst favorite restaurant.
In West Hartford.Or anywhere in the world.
Favorite restaurant.
And then there's a follow up question.
I don't like that's like the hardest.
I take food extremely seriously,a place where, like, I cannot do that.
Like, I will be honest with you
very hard and I'm like,oh, come on, you're ridiculous.
(40:48):
Oh, man.
Okay, so I really enjoyed there'sthis very I think I told you about this,
I repeat myself often anyways, but there'sthis little restaurant in Cornwall.
Is that where the Little Bridgesin Litchfield?
Is that sound? Right. Okay.
Called RSVPand you have to call and leave a message
and hope that they call you back,
which they'll call youback, and Charles will call you.
(41:10):
And, if he does, then he can.
I can tells yousort of the date that you could coming.
You tell himsort of the date you could come
and you hopefully agree on something.
And it's like a very tiny dinner party.
And I went with my husbandand it was so great.
French food.
It's to two men that run it and that's it.
That's that's the whole thing.
But it's this amazing French dinner.You bring your own wine.
(41:32):
It was so fun, so. RSVP, I yeah, do that.
I try all these. Yeah.
You heard this one. It's a good one.
You definitely cannot, like,plan the date.
They really, you know, the date plans you.
But it's good.It's a really it's an experience.
What's theaverage play and how much does it cost.
Oh so that's the thing.It's a one price thing.
They tell you the priceand you have to pay in cash.
(41:52):
And you just leave it on the way outlike I didn't know what to do,
but there's just like a table andyou just set it there and you walk away
and I forget what the price is.
Now it's big.
You have to call Charles.
I don't know, it's telling youit's not advertised. There's no website.
You can't. You have the number.
So if you just Google RCP, Connecticutrestaurant or Cornwall or something later,
(42:13):
he'll probably be mad at mefor putting this on a podcast.
Like, I mean, sorry,
the New York Times is going to be so upsetthat I got your first.
And he made sure. To make my reservationbefore the.
Yeah, they call that.
Oh that's great.
Yeah.
Yeah, I've tried so many differentrestaurants based on this question.
So all right.
Thank you.
Yeah. All right.
(42:33):
And now you're eating at RSVP.
Yeah.
For dinner guests dead or alive and with.
Oh, okay. Dolly Parton definitely
all time favorite human.
Just.
This is so cool.
Jesus.
Like, I don't mean that in, like, like,not cool way.
Like. Or a cool way.
I just think it'd be really interesting.
(42:55):
Popular response.
Yeah, I would assume. Okay. For, for for.
Let's see.
I mean, I probably bring my husbandbecause he's pretty great.
Good. So. All right. How about others?
Okay. So that was three.
And then the fourth,I mean oh goodness gracious me.
It's got to be like a world leader.
But that's like a lot to unpack.
(43:17):
I mean, I'll go with Jimmy Carterbecause he just passed.
He's from Georgia.
I did meet him at Church in Plainsbecause I'm from Georgia originally.
I coughed on him.
I felt really bad. He came to check on me.
I was like a kid, and I was like, oh, no.
He was already old then.
I was very concerned for his health.
He survived, obviously.
But that's my, like, presidential story.
But I would bring him because I didn'treally get to chat with him.
(43:40):
Do you apologize for coughingon. I did okay.
I would apologize for itif I could talk to you.
Yeah. No,I don't know. He's going to be like that.
Gone with me forever.
Cough. Donald. Ma'am.
Terrible was terrible. Coughing fit.
For dinner.
Guest RSVP with Jesus, Dolly Parton,Jimmy Carter and the hubby.
(44:00):
Yeah, Greg, that would be an interesting.
Yeah, sure. Would.
Do you have a favorite restaurant, Greg?
Well, one of my favoritesis Jake Gilbertson in Glastonbury.
Just, quality food and service,always top notch.
So go back there frequently.
Agreed.
We go there for special occasions.
(44:21):
Now you're for dinner.
Guests arrive for dinner.
Guests.
I'd probably have my dad back.
I'd love that for dinner.
And I guess you have to have my momwho's still with us.
(44:43):
So, but then, we gotta spice upthe conversation a little bit.
I love your guests.
Jimmy Carter, Dolly Parton does a lot.
Trying to think of
a philanthropistthat I would probably, maybe Bill gates.
Oh, yeah.
It would be a great conversation.
(45:04):
So I, I admire himfor how he kind of dedicates
time every year to reading booksand staying on top of things.
So yeah, it'll be an interestingconversation.
So mom, dad, Bill gatesand do we have a fourth.
Oh I don't count is the fourth.
I come up with,
Carrot.
Well, yeah, it's probably my wife, but Ididn't want to use them all up for family.
(45:27):
But, yeah, maybe Warren Buffett as well.
Oh, that's the great.
Money, guys.
Money guys as well as philanthropy. Yeah.
Although, yeah, he's really kind of followBill gates lead on that, but
definitely hashis heart in the right place.
It's great.
Great. It sounds like a wonderful dinner.
Now, how about, a special momentwith a friend?
(45:48):
Our podcast is Feeney Talks with Friends.
Do you have a special one with a friendyou like to share
special moment.
With a friend? Well, you know, one of the.
I'll tell you, one of the favorite daysthat I have each year
is I have a client through planningthat we did for him
after his wifepassed away from lung cancer.
(46:11):
That he makes a gift every year
to thoracic cancer research,
down in New Haven.
And so, at smile, we go down at once
a year to, to make that donation check.
So I drive him down and walk him in and,and make that donation to the,
the doctor that does the primary research,in that thoracic cancer.
(46:35):
And that, to me is, is a dayI always look forward to.
That's really sweet. That's awesome. Love.
That is a loaded question, too,because I have a lot of friends.
Like which one are you goingto highlight again, this is really. Off.
But I got like, your favorite kid.
Your next question.
Your favorite. Kid.
Do not do that to me. No.
(46:57):
I don't know whether or not to go,like, dark or, like, happy, right?
Like, they're like,they're both good, though.
I think I go dark on this one.
You've kind of went a little dark, too.
So, I think we both kind of, like, thinkabout really meaningful interactions.
And this is maybe not the happiestinteraction, but it was really special.
My one of my very, very best friends,she was my college roommate.
She is a Bosnian immigrantthat came over, with the help
(47:19):
from the Presbyterian Church to SouthCarolina as a war refugee from Germany.
She escaped Bosnia with her family.
All of the men in her family were murderedduring that war, including her father,
and we were both studying abroadin college at the same time.
She was in Germanyand I was in Spain, and we met up
and they found her father's bodyand or the remains of her body
(47:41):
and his body,and returned his belongings to her.
And we flew back to the USand sat in our dorm room
and just like sat therewith his belongings and,
and these are like, you know,we're like 20, 21, like we're 20.
It was so deep.
And so I remember crying, but alsobeing happy and like all the emotions.
And I'm just,
(48:01):
you know, a kid from Georgia, like,I've had this really great life
and just to know someone
that has had this depth of experiencethat has always affected me
and she's like such a
important part of my kids lives nowbecause she lives in New York
and I live here in Connecticut,and we just entwined her experience
with our family.And I think it's really special.
So deep and dark, but like, really, reallycool to be able to do that with her.
(48:22):
That's great to great experiences.
That's awesome.
And based on our last podcast
Stefania is into Marvel andand superheroes.
So do you have a favorite superheroor superpower?
So shout out to episode 123.
(48:42):
Wow. Having two daughters.
I never really sawa lot of superhero movies,
but you know, say yes to the dressor anything like that, you know, HTV,
I'm I'm right on it.
But, Wow.
I'm with you.
I have two daughters.
So. Yeah, that that's a hard one.
Superpower.
(49:03):
Do you have one in mind?
I mean, I have two boys, one of whichhas very strong opinions on superheroes.
I mean, I really do not like.
I'm not into that at all.
Like, I feel like I don't I've got aI've got to figure it out.
I mean guys,
this is hard.
Really hard for me.
I mean maybe Spiderman,but I feel like he's like losing
(49:26):
James is falling right now.
So like, I might have to switch gearsto like a new one, but maybe Spider-Man.
But I really don't have strong opinionson it.
Super power.
I mean, this is probably not real.
But like,maybe just like tuning it all out
when the chaos is around youwith a one, and a four year old like that
would be a great, a great superpowerif they want to come up with that one.
(49:47):
To get one.
So yeah.
Focus.
Hulk.
Thor.
Well,
I mean, I like the idea of Superman,because then you can just kind of
take off. You don't need a vehicle,you don't need anything.
You can just,you know, shoot up and take off.
So that probably flyingwould be a nice superpower.
(50:10):
Superman.
So I'd go for Superman. That's great.
It's athe Christopher Reeve Specials on Prime.
I haven't checked that out yet,but I'm going to.
I grew up watching Superman with my uncle,so that one's a good one.
Superman.
So we at the friends favorite restaurant?
Superheroes. Any questions for me?
(50:30):
Anything that you think I've missedor that you want to share?
I don't think that's anything.
I think you did a great job.
I think what you do is really, reallyinteresting and I love your website.
I like the bottom,the like how the the sticker moves.
Yeah.
You guys can't stop looking at it.
I was like playing with that was it.
Can I make it move? I can'tI think you can.
(50:52):
I think the mouse makes it move.
It did, it did.
But I couldn't, like, move it somewhereelse.
Like, I was like literally like on theretrying to it.
It's very cool.I really appreciate what you do.
When I first moved here in 2020, again,kind of tasked with building this market
from the ground up, not having boardor relationships really prior,
I look to see what local non-profitswere around, and you and Chinese Jock
(51:15):
were the two that I was like, oh my gosh,they've got the market cornered.
And like the fundraising, not I mean,I mean that with all the love, right?
Like there's enough foreveryone says your book too, right? Yes.
But I definitely reallylooked up to you all
and to Lara with Johnny's dogto just see what you guys were doing.
This community loves what you're doing,so it's like an honor to meet
(51:36):
you, honestly. Thank you so much.I really appreciate that. Yeah.
Johnny Dog has been like our big brother.
So our role model, they're wonderful.
We were the Clover Club charity of choice.
So honored for that donationand that sponsorship or that,
grant that they gave us. So, yeah.
Great people.
And we're just just a third grade teacher,
(51:57):
from a divorced family,knew how it was not to see my dad.
Every once in a while,I had a student lose their dad.
The family
had twins, I had twins,I had to do something.
And since then, we've helped over90 families and raised over $225,000.
So, so cool. And we're continuing to grow.I got a wonderful board.
That's Matt on the board of directors.
(52:18):
He was instrumental on that website.
So thank you. Great job.
You heard that compliment.That was a great job.
We're going to have,
a press release on our website throughwe had.com,
and the West Hartford Chamber of Commerceare going to do a press press release.
I did not know websites were pressnew websites were press release worthy.
But, Kate from the, chamber said,that's a wonderful idea.
(52:41):
And it's really a really looks nice.
So it's well done. And I'm very happyand excited to share it.
So we're coming out with a press release.
We had.com coming soon.
Congratulations. Thank you so much.
That's great.
So my question for you is where do you seefriends of Fenian 510 years.
You now good question I hear that a lot.
Everyone's like oh when are you going tostop teaching and just do this full time?
(53:04):
And I don't know, will,
my kids again are going to college.
I love my jobas I'm in my 21st year teaching,
nine years in Waterbury, Connecticut,where I went to school, same school
that I went to as a kid.
I taught, and then I'm in my 12 yearat Wolcott, where my daughters went.
So both schools really meant a lot.
(53:25):
I had my administration degreeso I could be a vice principal.
Or do I go full timewith the friends of Feeney?
So I have a lot of decisions to make.
Wonderful question.
I'm hearing a lot.
But in five years I hope to helped.
What are we at now?
We're at, 90, so I hope to have
helped maybe 250 families
(53:49):
and raised over.
Be great to be at $1 million. Yeah.
In five years you can do it.
Of help and donationsand support to families in need.
So that's our goal.
$1 million distributed to families.
And in five years,which is a lot of money.
Where a quarter of the way there.
You can do it.
(54:10):
It's a mighty goal.
But you never knowuntil you got to set a goal to reach it.
Right. Correct. Smart goal. Is it like.
It's specific measurable attainable.
Exactly. Timely.
Yeah. Five years for a millis pretty good.
That's timely.
Good question.
So do you find thatthere's a bigger need than you can fulfill
(54:32):
or are you finding thatyou're fundraising.
You're able to kind of keep we.
Just got one today. I was like, hey, my,
brother lost everything in the inhis and his house.
You know, we heard from you from a friend.
Someone had a house fire.
They went to Human resourcesand Terry ville,
someone in the departmentrefer them to friends of Feeney.
(54:55):
Anyone in school?
There's, like, a a West Hartford family.
Like the all the social workers knowin the school system.
They reach out to friends of Feeney.
So our name is getting out there.
We're just continuing to help people.
We really have never said no.
But if it's out of our local area,like the California fires or the Florida
(55:18):
hurricanes, like, we would love to help,but we're trying to keep it.
Connecticut.
You know, West Hartford to Waterbury, to
Hartford area.
Just so please.
Yeah, we have a whole donation
request formnow where families can fill it out, put,
(55:38):
you know,their name, email, how we can help.
What donation would be suffice?
What is their circumstance?
So we'll have that out.
Their website is givinga lot more information.
So go to friends of Phoenix. Com.
And while you're at itlike and share this podcast.
Great great peopleChelsea and Greg doing great things.
(55:59):
Subscribe and like for our podcast too.
We're trying to get our views upand our subscribers up.
We're up to 350 now. Fantastic.
So we're at 250 a year ago.
Slow, slow and steady.
It's a grind.
Yes it is, yes it is.
So yeah, thank you for coming on.
Any closing remarksor final things that you'd like to share?
(56:23):
Well, first, I just want to thank youfor the invitation
of being here and having the opportunityto, to share kind of what I'm up to,
with the Connecticut Beertour for a cancer free future. And,
hope that
everybody listening or watching can,
take some time out of their busy scheduleto come and raise a pint,
to make a difference in familiesdealing with blood cancer.
(56:47):
With our missions aligned,because that is heartbreak and tragedy.
So I would love to come to I'mgoing to try to make the West
Hartford ones for sure,and then maybe try that JJ special at.
At, back east.
That sounds exciting. Very tasty.
No, I echo what he saidand thanks, Greg, to like,
thank you so much for everythingyou've done for this organization.
(57:10):
And thank you for giving us this platform.
Because really, that's what it's aboutis getting the word out. Yeah.
And you know, like you with having moneyto give to the community.
We also have that here at all of us.
So, you know,we should really talk offline
and figure out how to refer better and,and yeah, I think that'd be really cool.
So. Yeah.
Happy to partner.
I find strength power in numbersand collaboration is very, very important.
(57:33):
Partnerships are important.
We team up with Johnny's Jog,we do their photo booth.
We've teamed up with,
a couple other.
We we had a booth at the pride event.
We do a booth at,
the summer, what's up?
Summer fair thing with.
The carnival in first?
(57:54):
Yes, it was our first
taste of West Hartford or West Hartford.
Something western for days. Yeah.
Yes. Good friend.
Linda Geisler runs that. That nice?
Yeah. Nice.
So, yeah.
It was a honor to talk with you.
Oh, I I've seen this.
I have to do it. This maybe fits in.
So we're going to play a quick gamebefore we go.
Okay. It's 612 1824.
(58:17):
You got to do
you got to do six of one, 12 of one,18 of one.
So he's either eat donuts,
take the paper cuts,
run the miles or drink the beers
six, 12, 18 or 24.
What I do not even so you say so.
Say you like eat six donuts.
(58:39):
That means you got to take 12 paper cutsand then are you going to drink 18 beers?
Are you going to run 18 miles?
Well, I would do six paper cut.
Yeah okay.
I can do 12 miles.
Okay. Sure.
18 donuts would be a tall ask,but I could probably do it.
(59:02):
Especially if they're Krispy Kreme that,you know, not overly filling.
So nice. Nice. And then 24 beers. Hello.
You have to know there's no timelimit on that, right?
No, no, not 24 and 24 minutes.
But, I think I deeply agree with your pathon that, to be honest with you.
Like, I mean,
as long as there's no time limit,to be honest with you, I could even do
like the longer run if it were likethis really long, long journey.
(59:26):
Like,I could take breaks, like naps in between.
I'll do 24.
It would be great for just 120, 24.
You can have a beer, great.
Plan, a little bit of runningand then yeah.
You set up a beer and donut each.
So in here I will get to all of them.
We can do that motive.
But yeah, definitelywith you on the papercuts like hardcore.
Yes. Six.
Why would you do that?
(59:46):
Oh, I saw this.
So I was like, I gotta ask, put it down.
Has anyone ever wanted more than six? No.
That's the first time I've ever podcastI've seen it on another clip.
All right.
But the bears thing,I was like, all right it fits. Yeah.
But bears on paper cuts are definitely.
So the two challenging onesand to kind of easier ones.
(01:00:07):
You don't want to do you want to do beerand donuts on the same day.
Because that's a lot. No.
But there are some good pastry stoutsthat kind of go well with donuts.
And there is something called a beer mile.
You run a lap of a track, you have to chuga beer, you run a it's a world record.
In the GuinnessBook of World Records, you run chug.
Also, there's a donut mile.
(01:00:29):
Fleet feet does something.I feel like I could get on board, but.
Are there any runs on Wednesday night?
Yes, they do a donut run.
You run three miles and eat a donutafter every mile.
I. I can try that. I could do that.
Yeah.
And you don't feel guilty because you'rerunning it off while you're running,
and then you're training for Johnny's jog.
Are you getting ready for.
(01:00:49):
Getting ready
again?
We're herewith Greg Hammond and Chelsea Tropic.
It was wonderful chatting with you.
You're amazing peopledoing great things in the community.
This was episode125 of Feeney Talks with friends.
I cannot thank you enough.
Keep up the great work and we hope tosee you on this beer tour starts off.
It kicks off February 1stat rule of three Brewery in East Hampton,
(01:01:11):
then to back east on February 7th.
Loop BilodeauBrewery in Windsor Locks on February 8th.
Illicit.
Monday, February 10th Valentine'sDay here at.
We have brewing and roasting
the 21st of February is the new Cambridgeproject in Bristol.
There's three breweries in therethat's pretty cool.
(01:01:33):
February 22nd to Saturday.
Problems all brewing in East Windsor.
The 27th is a Thursdaynew Park brewery over on New Park Avenue,
and then concentric can't consent trick.
Oh darn it for I teach. I teach reading
concentric brewery I'm Portland to beat
(01:01:53):
TBD, powder hollow tea TBD
and coastline in the summer.
For more information,go to Cty Beer tours.org.
And Gregwon the 2024 visionary of the year.
Congratulations. Thank you.
Great joband wonderful meeting you Chelsea.
Thank you so much.
I want to give you guys each a magnetand a sticker.
(01:02:14):
Good friends rule and be a good friend.
I feel like I've made it.
Now you're in you're in.
You're part of the team.
And on three will say be a good friend.
1 to 3 be a good friend.
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