A life-altering event ends a dream career... But leads to such a special journey:

Tony Vlahovic reached the pinnacle of baseball: playing for the Boston Red Sox, but when an injury threw him a true curveball, he had to change direction. Using his passion for baseball, Tony found himself in the nonprofit space, channeling his passions to working with the Special Olympics and eventually creating his own non-profit as well, BaseABLE.

A beautiful episode to revisit that was originally published in August 2023.

I love our chat and the opportunity to hone in on the beauty of working with people with special needs, bringing the sport of baseball to this population, embracing a changing career path, and the power of never ceasing to grow and learn each day in what we do.

“Tony Vlahovic, MA. MPM, CSCS is a former professional athlete and experienced entrepreneur in the fields of sports mental conditioning and post rehabilitation therapy.  He is the Chairman of Special Olympics Baseball Development for North America. Tony was inducted into the Wilkes University Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.

Mr. Vlahovic started his professional baseball career in Italy where he was named his team’s Rookie of the Year.  Upon returning to the United States he signed with the Boston Red Sox where he played as a left-handed pitcher.  His career prematurely ended due to an auto accident, but he has dedicated his life to teaching, coaching and leading his athletes on and off the field. His efforts were rewarded by receiving Coach of the Year honors five times and was nominated as North American Coach of the Year in 2014.  He  has been honored at the Baseball Hall of Fall in Cooperstown, NY for his dedication to individuals with disabilities playing baseball where his game-worn hat from the Gold medal winning team in 2014 is on display. 

Special Olympics New Jersey set an unprecedented standard in the initiation of baseball and Vlahovic was the man for the job.  His technical knowledge and passion for the sport of baseball makes him a natural leader, but his real motivation was to offer the opportunity for individuals with disabilities to play baseball.”

~~Join me each week, as I ask an individual five questions about the good they are doing in the world via following their passions. Be inspired by their example and advice on how each of us has the ability to make a difference.~~

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Because we need all the #goodnews we can get.

Something I really appreciate about this episode is the deep dive into how we show up every day—for ourselves and others—and how we can embrace the inner work that artists experience. Jennifer Apple, an NYC-based actor, coach, and more, joins me today on Be The Good with Kate.

Let’s explore…

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. **

We talk:

-being a multi-hyphenate (that word returns again!)

-the realization of ‘the more I know the less I know’

-seeking to understand

-the artist’s mentality and how we can all embrace that in our interactions

-empathy, and how much we all need it

-how Jennifer helps actors, and what we all can learn from the acting world

Jennifer Apple has performed across the country in a variety of productions including the lead in "The Band's Visit" First National Tour as well as television and film. She has an MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater with a Certificate in Citizen Artistry,.

“Jennifer’s mission is to empower others to embody their truest selves, so they can confidently and authentically express themselves with integrity in everything they do…

Jennifer is the founder and executive director of the Empowered Artist Collective, a community for women and non-binary artists to help foster sustainable and thriving careers in the arts. She hosts The Empowered Artist Collective Podcast, sharing valuable insights and advice for artists at all stages of their journeys.”

Follow Jennifer:

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening!

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Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

Who feels like they need to be more organized?

And who feels so much better mentally when they are in an organized space?

Why? Why are we trying to be more organized? Yes today’s guest covers the how…But diving into the ‘why’ of it all really draws me in listening to Laurie Palau, Founder of Simply B Organized and host of This Organized Life.

This is a rebroadcast episode that was too good not to share again!

I could have talked to Laurie all day. In fact, we ‘swapped podcasts’, so to speak, and you can look for an episode of her show, SImply B Organized, featuring yours truly in the upcoming weeks. She is someone who feels like a friend right away.

From her website: "I’ve always said that disorganization goes deeper than piles of paper on the counter, dishes in the sink, or an overflowing closet. Clutter is merely a symptom of a bigger issue — resulting in feelings of shame, anxiety, stress, and an overall lack of control."

Follow Laurie: simplyborganized.com

"Joy in the journey." 

Today on Be The Good with Kate:

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. **

We talk:

-Intrapreneuship: what that means, how Elizabeth made it happen.

-Asking ourselves WHY we are doing what we are doing.

-All the hats, including Mom as well.

-The importance of asking questions to fuel change.

-We need change.

-Creating roles for herself by questioning the current state, then igniting positive change.

-As a leader, creating an environment that is safe and encouraging to ask questions and to not know all the answers.

-The power of breathing. Yes, breathing.

Guest Elizabeth Bieniek has been “named one of the most influential ‘Female Pioneers in Technology’. [She] is an author, founder, and Fortune 100 leadership veteran focused on ‘good peopling’ as the secret to exceptional execution…Elizabeth now helps leaders tap into the individual genius within their teams to unlock unrivaled innovation and uncover joy in the journey.” 

Connect with Elizabeth:  elizabethbieniek.com 

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening!

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify. 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- To be notified of new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

Stained glass artist Margaret Malishchak proves new chapters don’t have to mean leaving other passions behind for good.

After loving creating stained glass as a young adult, Margaret then shifted her focus to her growing family and other aspects of life, her art supplies packed away in her Madison, NJ basement. But this was a ‘see you later’ not a ‘goodbye’-- a great reminder to all of us that we can step away from one passion to focus on another, and it does not have to mean we are leaving it forever.

Fast forward more than 25 years, Margaret’s daughter asked about the boxes in the basement. They took out the supplies, and Margaret began again– with a twist. With all the pieces she was creating, she realized she had a way of giving back, and began donating 100% of the sales of ALL her works to charities.

Four years later, this continues, and she has donated $15,700 thus far (perhaps even more since this writing!).

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. **

Additionally, we chat about:

-Looking to ways we can utilize our skills to give back
-Silent auctions, creating, & community involvement
-Stories of Madison, NJ and people she has met through this work
-How Margaret chooses the organizations to which she donates
-How a hobby can be such a source ‘for good’

Connect with Margaret:
Instagram @glass4good2020
tinyurl.com/glass4good2020

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening!
Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify.

I absolutely love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:
- Instagram @positively_kate
- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente
- To be notified for new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood
- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

“Everyone has a life story that needs to be told. And in a person's last season of life, they need someone to come alongside them and help them through it.” -Chaplain John Wenderlein, today’s guest.

If you are looking for an 'excuse' (read: purpose) to travel, this is the episode for you.

Angela Gillmeister once lived FOR her next vacation. Now she is a custom vacation designer, but specifically, she is here for women who want to find their 'whys' and the purpose in their travels. Angela focuses on “travel play[ing] a role in enhancing happiness rather than being put on a pedestal as the bringer of happiness.”
She also offers a fabulous podcast, Happy Women Travel More, talking about all aspects of travel: from logistics to safety to what to see.

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. **

From the bio:
“Angela Gillmeister is a custom vacation designer and the founder of Wild Hair Travels, where she brings a breath of fresh air to vacation planning, offering high-touch and highly personalized services designed especially for busy professional women.
Having spent 12 years as a geographer in the corporate world, Angela intimately understands the struggles of women who often push their travel dreams aside for years because of the juggle between career, family, and life. That is what fuels her brand, which is an anthem to "listening to your wild hair" and finding a way to travel more, despite our busy lives.”

Follow Angela: wildhairtravels.com

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening!
Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify.

I love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:
- Instagram @positively_kate
- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente
- To be notified for new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood
- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

Is it possible to live a more sustainable life in the midst of our fast-paced world?

Answering that question and more today on Be The Good with Kate with the founder of No Trace Shop, Liz McDade. 

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. **

Some of what we talk about on this episode:

-Decreasing the overwhelm in making sustainable choices.

-How, despite being a busy mom who works multiple jobs, Liz has found many ways to make sustainability a part of her, and her family’s, lifestyle – & how you can, too.

-Awareness: There are probably more opportunities around you than you realize to make sustainable choices.

-The array of free resources Liz provides online for people from creating their own bags, to mending their clothes, & more

From the bio:

“Liz McDade is a creative who teaches others how to craft a zero waste life with sewing & mending projects & zero waste lifestyle tips. She’s been featured in the San Jose Mercury News, and several podcasts including Hippie Haven; Sustainably Now; Etsy Conversations; Grounded in Maine, & Measure Twice, Cut Once. Learn more about her current work at NoTraceShop.com”

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening!

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify. 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:

- Instagram @positively_kate

 - LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- To be notified for new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

This is one of those “my mind is blown” episodes.

Today on Be The Good with Kate, Danielle Fette shares about FetTech, a company that is healing patients through regenerative medicine.

I learned so much listening to Danielle in this jam-packed episode, and while I continue to be frustrated by our medical system, it is people like Danielle and her husband who give me hope in solutions from medical advancements– red tape be damned.  

We talk:

-What is regenerative medicine & why is it so important? 

-Powder to heal wounds, inhale a product to heal lung disease, & more

-How to get these solutions from creation to patient 

-Taking control of your own health: how, why

-How medical costs work in- and out-patient

-Insights into the variables that go into our health

-Consistency, not quick fixes, for better health

-It can be a lot, keep overwhelm at bay with small steps

-Growing an entire severed finger back on a child & more stories of healing

-Working through dyslexia 

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. **

“Danielle is a pioneering leader in regenerative medicine with over 25 years of experience in the medical device industry. With a solid background in Nursing, Biology, and Chemistry, she co-founded FetTech to accelerate the development of advanced FDA-cleared medical devices that transform healing for patients facing trauma, aesthetic needs, and some of the world’s most challenging health conditions.”

Follow Danielle: Insta @danielle.fette LinkedIn Danielle Fette 

FetTech.com

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening!

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify. 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- To be notified for new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

A therapeutic horse riding center. Simply visualizing this place makes me feel more peaceful.

Today’s guest on Be The Good with Kate, Kathryn Yuma, works with Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center in Loveland, CO.

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. **

We talk:

From the bio:

Kathryn Yuma is the Development & Communications Director for Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center in Loveland, CO. She helps ensure Hearts & Horses’ fundraising efforts by connecting with current and potential supporters through storytelling, tours and special events. Her love for animals might only be surpassed by her desire to help others. When she’s not out making a new friend, Kathryn is exploring Colorado with her husband and two dogs or making a home cooked meal for her family.

heartsandhorses.org

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening!

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify. 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Be The Good with Kate.

- To be notified for new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **