A Fresh Story

A Fresh Story, season 3, episode 10

How does major trauma in our childhood change the course of our life? We chatted with friend of the podcast, Matt Gilhooly about his major life shifts, including losing his mother in a tragedy at a young age. Matt has since turned his grief into the award-winning podcast The Life Shift Podcast, where he talks to people about their own personal life shift moments. (Catch Jenny and Olivia on The Life Shift Podcast!) We talked to Matt about the major shift in his life with the passing of his mother, and how her death influenced and informed his life; we chatted about relationships with grandmothers, music, grief, podcasting, and so much more.

Matt Gilhooly is a creator - podcaster, communicator, and educator. He is the creator, producer, editor, and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Spurred by his own life-altering experiences, Matt helps others share the stories of pivotal moments in their lives that changed everything forever. He also enjoys designing content, such as communication materials, coloring books, digital art, pitch decks, and other forms of media. Matt has self-published over ten coloring books on Amazon and released a children's book that celebrates individuality and confidence, "I Can Be Anyone: A Soul's Journey," in June 2021.

Matt earned his master’s in mass communications from the University of Florida in 2022 and an MBA from the University of Central Florida in 2004. He believes that we must take time to support the people around us to achieve success.

Check out more from Matt on his website, Instagram, and Twitter. Listen to The Life Shift Podcast HERE!

A Fresh Story, season 3, episode 9

We had the best time talking to award-winning luthier Jayne Henderson about her fresh start into the world of building instruments. We chatted about her relationship with her father, her major career pivot into the world of luthiers, being a female founder and working mother in a predominantly male industry, and how becoming a mother changed her outlook on life. It is an honest, funny, raw, and authentic look at how life takes us places we aren’t expecting, but end up being exactly for us in the long run.

Jayne Henderson is an acoustic instrument maker specializing in small body guitars and ukuleles who took a major jump from nonprofit environmental law into the mostly male dominated field of instrument making. She learned the trade from her father, Wayne Henderson, after he helped her build a guitar to pay her law school loans and it turns out guitars are way more fun than writing grants.

Jayne Henderson is the founder of EJ Henderson Guitars and Ukuleles, a renowned luthier known for crafting exquisite stringed instruments. Her meticulous craftsmanship and dedication to creating instruments that resonate with unparalleled sound have earned her a prominent place in the world of lutherie. EJ's innovative designs and commitment to quality and sustainability have made her guitars and ukuleles cherished by musicians and collectors alike.

Check out more from EJ Henderson on her website, Facebook, and Instagram.

A Fresh Story, season 3, episode 8

We had the best time talking to award-winning writer and community builder, Rachel Sobel. Rachel is authentic, raw, honest, and hilarious as she shares about her divorce experience, meeting her second (and final) husband, having daughters, building community, and how to support people going through a divorce. Rachel is so loving, gracious, and supportive, and we were honored to have the time to chat with her!

Rachel Sobel is an award-winning writer, author, speaker, do-over wife, mom to two girls, short-order cook, laundress, lunch packer, boo boo kisser and chauffeur, She was awarded Romper's 2020 People's Choice Award at Mom 2.0 and is a two-time finalist for Parenting Blogger of the Year in the South Florida Blogger Awards. She’s the creator and cohost of the lifestyle podcast, Friends Without Benefits with co-host Dale McLean, the in-arena host of the Miami Heat and host of their 2023 All Star Game. She has work published in two anthologies, including Jen Mann’s New York Times Best Seller, I Just Want to Hang Out With You. Rachel has written for HuffPost, Romper, Today Show Parents, PopSugar, ScaryMommy, Filter Free Parents, MommyNearest and more. She has appeared on NPR, The Doctors, The Tamron Hall Show and The Kelly Clarkson Show (she is still not fully recovered from Kelly calling her hilarious on national television). Rachel lives in South Florida with her second (and final) husband, her two feisty daughters and two dogs that make her lose her mind regularly.

Check out more from Rachel on her website, her Instagram, and Twitter.

A Fresh Story, season 3, episode 7

We were honored to talk to one half of the Grammy-award winning duo The Okee Dokee Brothers, Joe Mailander, about his fresh starts in life, including sobriety, their journey in music, and how they compose songs to address real life issues for little ears. We chatted about why music is so important for families, their goal to get families outside, and how we can have big conversations with our children starting from an early age.

As childhood friends growing up in Denver, Colorado, Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing were always exploring the outdoors. Whether it was rafting down their neighborhood creek or discovering hiking trails through the Rocky Mountains, Joe and Justin were born adventurers. Now, as the GRAMMY® Award-winning Okee Dokee Brothers, they have put this passion for the outdoors at the heart of their Americana Folk music.

Joe and Justin record and perform family music with a goal to inspire children and their parents to step outside and get creative. They believe this can motivate kids to gain a greater respect for the natural world, their communities, and themselves.

The five-time Parents’ Choice Award winners have garnered praise from the likes of NPR’s All Things Considered and USA Today, and have been called “two of family music’s best songwriters.”

BUY Brambletown HERE!

Check out more from The Okee Dokee Brothers at their website, Instagram, Facebook, and Spotify.

A Fresh Story, season 3, episode 6

We chatted with author, blogger, lifestyle expert, mom, and innovator, Jordan Reid, founder of Ramshackle Glam. We’ve known Jordan for years, and we were honored to have the time to sit down with her and chat all things influencer world, what happens after you stop influencing, all of her fresh starts in life, a fresh start into parenthood, mental health, divorce and dating, and major (MAJOR) career fresh starts. As she calls it, “a chaotic constant reinvention,” for the better part of her life - and how she has since learned to slow down, stay present, and find joy.

As the creator of Ramshackle Glam, Jordan has become a driving force in the world of lifestyle media, captivating audiences with her refreshingly honest approach to motherhood, relationships, and mental health. Her engaging content transcends traditional norms, challenging societal expectations and encouraging individuals to embrace their unique journeys wholeheartedly.

You can find Jordan at Ramshackle Glam, Instagram, and her books here!

A Fresh Story, season 3, episode 5

A very special guest on this mini-bonus episode: Wyatt, Olivia's son! Wyatt leaves us with a few wise words and makes us laugh. A career in podcasting? Unclear, but this is a start!

A Fresh Story, season 3, episode 4

We chatted with marketing expert and mom Megan Miller about the experience of her young son being diagnosed with cancer, and their journey together, as well as her background in entertainment, opera, and experiential marketing. We talked about how life and parenting is all about creating experiences for people, and what that means when life gets tough. It’s a beautiful episode about joy, hope, and the ways we can support each other during hard times in life.

Recently listed as Disruptor Magazine’s Top 30 Female Entrepreneurs to look out for in 2022, Megan Miller is the owner of Megan Miller Marketing, LLC, and co-host of the popular podcast XM Divas.

Megan is recognized in the non-profit and for-profit worlds for her creativity, drive, and leadership; she brings enthusiasm for new challenges and creating integration strategies, particularly those that expand a company’s reach.  Prior to joining Opera Carolina, she was Product Owner of all .com businesses for Harris Teeter Corporate HQ. Her most recent project for Opera Carolina was founding Opera Recycles, an environmental sustainability program that turns old print collateral into Couture Fashions. Launched in 2015, it debuted in New York City at New York Fashion Week in October 2016. She returned in 2017, producing her own fashion week show with 13 new Opera Recycles Fashions. This program will continue to inspire those around the world with its first international appearance next March during Paris Fashion Week. Megan began her experience in fashion marketing, runway production, & pageant coordination with MISS USA & MISS TEEN USA STATE PAGEANTS in early 2011.

In addition to her role with Opera Carolina, Megan is sought after as a consultant and guest speaker for Opera America. She serves as a member of the Opera America Strategic Committee and is a member of the Board of Advisors for the UNC-Charlotte Enactus business team, providing insight and mentorship for students. She has also served as a volunteer for the American Heart Association, and The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for which she currently leads communications committee for Brewer’s Ball and was a CLASS of 2018 STANDOUT Honoree. In addition to her professional credentials in the field of marketing, Megan Miller is still currently a performing artist, singing with Opera Carolina as a member of the resident company.

You can find Megan on her website, Instagram and Twitter.

A Fresh Story, season 3, episode 3

Friend of the podcast, Rob Abney is back! And this time, to talk about relationships. We dive into what it means to be a partner in a relationship, how you know you’ve become a “we,” and what that means for our personal and shared identities.

Rob is a marketing executive with over 15 years of experience helping small businesses, startups and large household brands market their products and services to the masses. Most recently as the head of marketing and partnerships for a tech startup called ShearShare where he helped triple their active user as well as their annual revenue. In addition to navigating a successful marketing career, Rob has spent the same number of years building award-winning teams across a number of industries from banking and financial services to franchised restaurants. Rob enjoys coaching talent and helping individuals develop goals to achieve their own personal success in business and in life.

You can find Rob on LinkedIn, and check out his delicious food account No One Asked Eats!

A Fresh Story, season 3, episode 2

Originally from Louisiana, Emily Clancy LoPorto has lived mainly in NY for almost 20 years. Emily is a highly accomplished marketing and real estate professional with 15 years of experience in construction management, business development, and landscape design. She is an intuitive communicator with a gift for problem-solving, and she has the grit, determination, and attention to detail to manage intricate processes and ensure they run smoothly. She possesses a wealth of firsthand knowledge about the local market and can advise on school districts, neighborhood lifestyles, and more. She’s also one of our beloved Fresh Starts Experts! Emily is a mother of four children (including a brand new baby girl!), as well.

We chatted with Emily about the journey she took out of her marriage, and the aftermath of the divorce. We were moved by her vulnerability and honesty in telling her story, and know that her honest account of her path to freedom will motivate, inspire, and guide many others.

You can learn more about Emily on her website, and follow her on Instagram.

A Fresh Story, season 3, episode 1

Chelsea Long is a freelance writer and content manager by day and moonlights as a meditation teacher interested in helping people connect with healthy spirituality. She's currently writing her first memoir on finding her voice through the challenges of motherhood. She lives in San Diego with her husband and 3 children.

We chatted with Chelsea about deconstructing her religion, how to find your faith after deconstruction, spirituality as an individual journey, as well as within your relationships, parenthood, and how we can step into our own meditations in life.

You can learn more about Chelsea on her website, and follow her on Instagram.