Pam Dent is adamant: life is too short to be anything but sweet! Enjoy the ice cream, that gorgeous slice of cake. The bright, vibrant colors and wild, lavish brush strokes in her paintings entice us to enjoy life's simple pleasures and to unleash our creativity within! Chatting with her inspires joy; and, before you know it, she'll have us painting!

Catching up with Mindy, BASH Class of '98--one of those students a teacher never forgets--I found her on a course to a new career as elementary school teacher. Learning the personal and family challenges she's met and managed, undaunted, since high school--especially those parenting challenges as a single mom of a neurodiverse son--I learned the core belief that has made her an uncommon mom and will make her a super educator.

Speech and language therapist Kristin Park brings The Magic Speech Bus wherever children need her services. Kristin’s goal of establishing a private practice as speech therapist has found its home in her Magic Speech bus that is cheerfully and whimsically decorated in primary colors, featuring rainbows and stars. The beauty of her mobile office is not just in its looks, however. A sign inside the bus lists the ways Kristin’s services promise to enhance the lives of her clients by building confidence through education and practice to give them the power to speak for themselves, to advocate for themselves—to assure them that what they have to say matters. 

Amy Muzopappa and Judy Wetzel bring a global project that exists in over 70 countries in over 30 language as part of Studio B's "Legacy: Remembrance Matters" art exhibit and anthology of poetry, prose, and art. In this episode, Amy shares her thoughts about the project and what it means to her and what she hopes it brings to the community.

ICYMI--Encore Presentation: Originally dropped as a mid-week special, this episode spotlights the "Before I Die" mural wall that was dedicated recently.

We Are (again...part of) the World! Again! Boyertown, PA, joins the "Before I Die" global project of over 5,000 walls in over 70 countries, in over 30 languages. Amy Muzopappa introduced the project from Alaska while on vacation and knew it had to come to Boyertown. It was a perfect fit for Studio B's "Legacy: Remembrance Matters" exhibit featuring visual and literary art and the many efforts of Building a Better Boyertown.

John Martignetti constructed the wall; Andrew Garcia added the chalkboard paint. Amy applied the stencils by Thursday, June 15 at 5:00 pm. and by Friday morning, June 16, 10 a.m. the wall featured its first responses.

A ribbon cutting was held on Wednesday, June 21, 5:30 pm. So exciting to be part of this international project begun over 10 years ago!! The mission: finding common ground, creating community cohesiveness--the mission of so many projects featured in this special kind of place: Boyertown, PA. As our beloved former mayor, the late Marianne Deery insisted: none of us is a stranger--just a friend we have not yet met.

 "Nevertheless, she persisted" is Gigi Malinchak's motto, one that she has had tattooed on her arm to remind her and inspire others following her stroke and subsequent surgery to remove the injured part of her brain. Yet, it was no surprise to me that this positive, spirited, dynamic pet care professional was determined to return to health and share the challenges she continues to face along with the changes and conditions she's learned to accept.

Ellen Finks spent her career as a classical performing flutist--one that required the utmost precision. No mistakes allowed! In retirement, she took up painting to try something new but not unfamiliar: her mother was an artist. Ellen tried watercolor first but has taken workshops and courses in multiple mediums--"finding her voice," she says. A workshop in "Intuitive Expression" a.k.a. abstract painting --a style she was eager to "understand" --resulted in a painting that won a prize award and gave her affirmation that inspired her to create and exhibit over a dozen works in the abstract style that she finds liberating and joyful--a definitive change in mind from her days of performing classical music. There are no mistakes and no explaining: She just paints over what doesn't work in free-flowing brush strokes of juicy colors inspired by a decade living in Mexico.

Eric Armusik breaks the stereotype often found among artists in his entrepreneurial ability to make a living doing what he loves: making art. Chatting with him briefly before inviting him to record a "B Inspired" episode, I was inspired by the many revenue streams he's created for himself and other emerging artists and by his savvy promotional efforts using social media today that he claims are 50% of the business of art. He teaches painting techniques. He paints on commissioned pieces. He runs an academy with painting apprentices--just like the Old Masters did. And his own current project, creating large-scale paintings illustrating Danté's Inferno, he plans as a legacy endeavor. In asking him to share what he does, what he's learned, and how he has managed to achieve success, I hoped other artists would benefit.

Katarina Illona knows who she is and is not only content but willing to share her experiences in order to provide acknowledgement, encouragement, support, and validation to her children and adult readers. Her book of poetry—entitled Anxious Thoughts from an Awkward Mind—pretty much says it all. Katarina, self-described as OCD, has found writing her reflections about herself in free verse a liberating experience. In understanding herself better, she came to feel good about herself, and is eager to share her experiences in order to provide acknowledgement, encouragement, support, and validation to her readers. Katarina’s children’s book Bedtime Tails: A New Adventure includes a coloring book with her black and white illustrations from the book which follow the adventures of two cats—Daisy and Perkins.

Gilbertsville entrepreneur Jeff Peiffer and his daughter Rachel Trettin turn unexpected encounters into opportunities for uncommon and successful enterprises. The future didn't look bright to the shy young boy from a dysfunctional family unit who hasn't graduated from high school or even thought about attending college. But Jeff's openness to the opportunities presented to him have led to uncommon success which happens to be the title of the reality show he and Rachel are currently marketing to networks and production companies. 

Jeff has owned assorted businesses throughout his life; he owns three currently with his daughter: The Gilbertsville Farm--featuring a high-tech corn maze; North Wynd Stable, a horse boarding facility; and Heat4Less, a national infrared space heater company. Motivated by his Christian faith, his faith in himself and the uncommon ways he to uses uncommon situations leads to his uncommon success and is inspiring.