Following your passions – & building a community that uplifts everyone around you.

In this season finale of Be The Good with Kate, Broadway producer, director, playwright, and true “theater architect” Nick Flatto joins Kate for a heart-filled conversation on how creativity, community, and authenticity can be catalysts for positive change.

From high school theater days (with Kate!) to Tony nominations, Nick shares his journey of how every swerve and turn kept him moving forward – and how he always stayed rooted in his mission to build spaces for connection and joy.

💡 In This Episode:

📣The power of following your authentic path, even when it’s unconventional.

📣Why community building is at the core of Nick’s work as a producer and creator.

📣Nick’s new original musical: a love story between two men that’s as universal as it is personal.

📣Velvet Stage Productions, and what they are doing to get needed stories told

📣Using life’s challenges (from family divorce to coming out to career detours) as fuel for goodness.

📣What constitutes ‘art’, and how we are all artists everyday.

📣How artists – and everyone – can build their own “sacred spaces” for positive impact.

🎶 Whether you’re an artist at heart, a theater lover, or just in need of an uplifting reminder that “love wins”, this conversation will leave you inspired to create, connect, and, of course, be the good.

Thanks for listening this season, and while the show will take a break for a bit, all the episodes may always be found on podcast platforms everywhere under: ‘Be The Good with Kate’ 🫶

🌟 From Nick: “When we're talking about community, there is no clear path to any career, but specifically the arts… My advice is, find your people, find your community…Go be creative, because that's what brought you here.”

Connect with Nick:

@nickflatto

@velvetstageproductions

velvetstageproductions.com

A powerful reminder of the impact authentic representation can make on this week’s episode of Be The Good with Kate:

Host Kate Cherichello Tente sits down with award-winning filmmaker, writer, producer, and disability inclusion advocate Anna Pakman for a powerful, eye-opening conversation.

From navigating the entertainment industry to making space for new voices, Anna shares her personal journey, her artistic mission, and how her latest short film Emergency Plan is changing the conversation around disability and disaster preparedness.

In this episode, you'll hear:

🌟 Why disability representation in media matters—and what’s still missing

🎥 The behind-the-scenes journey of creating Emergency Plan, a short thriller made in just five days

💡 How entertainment can shape public perception, empathy, and policy

🎭 Broadway milestones in authentic casting—from Wicked to Oklahoma!

🔥 The real-life events that inspired Emergency Plan—and why it hits so hard

🤝 What it means to be an ally to the disability community

📣 One powerful action you can take today to make a difference

Anna shares how her lived experience with cerebral palsy fuels her drive to change the narrative in media, both in front of and behind the camera. From comedy beginnings to creating deeply emotional, suspenseful drama, Anna’s range and purpose shine through every project she touches.

🎬 Emergency Plan isn’t just a film, it’s a call to action. Anna walks us through the making of this impactful short and its companion resources that help individuals with disabilities plan for emergencies.

Whether you're a creator, an ally, or someone looking to better understand the world around you, this episode is filled with passion, purpose, and practical insight.

Resources & Links:

🔗 Watch & Learn More: emergencyplanfilm.com

📲 Follow Anna: @annotated on Instagram

📞 Action Step: Contact your representatives about protecting Medicaid

🎧 Subscribe to Be The Good with Kate on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help more good stories get heard.

💬 Found this episode powerful? Share your thoughts on Instagram @positively_kate or YouTube

📢 Don’t forget to share with a friend—you never know who needs a little good today.

🎉 Be The Good with Kate’s 150th episode! 🎉

What if kindness could be measured? Studied? Amplified?

This week’s guest is doing just that.

Dr. Chloe San Miguel is the Research Manager at the KindLab at kindness.org, where she leads projects that uncover the causes and consequences of kindness using science, psychology, and data. With a PhD in Experimental Psychology and a deep passion for making the world a better place, Chloe shares the inspiring journey that led her to this unique and impactful work.

In this episode:

💡 The origin story of kindness.org - and why it’s more relevant than ever

🧠 What is a “KQ”? (Think “IQ… but kinder”)

✨ How kindness has shaped Chloe’s life personally and professionally

📊 The fascinating research coming out of the KindLab

🚧 What might be holding us back from being a kinder society

💼 Chloe’s tips for finding a meaningful and one-of-a-kind career

❤️ What she finds most rewarding in her role

🎉 Also, an extra special mention: this is our 150th episode!

If you happen to watch the video version of the podcast, you’ll see that Chloe wears a smile the entire conversation! I loved chatting with her. Whether you're curious about the science behind human behavior, looking to infuse more kindness into your own life, or exploring ways to build a more compassionate world, this episode is for you.

🎧Episode on all podcast platforms and YouTube: ‘Be The Good with Kate’

Connect:

kindness.org

[email protected]

katecherichello.com/bethegood 

Bonus for Listeners:

➡️ Take the kindness quiz at kindness.org to learn your own KQ!

Turning Towns into Movie Sets with Tanya Lashley of 'Meet Me in New Jersey'

What if your neighborhood could become a movie set, your local business a star, and your neighbors the cast? In this episode, Kate sits down with Tanya Lashley – creator and executive producer of Meet Me in New Jersey, a unique series that fuses storytelling and advertising to uplift local communities.

Tanya shares how she left corporate America, taught herself video production, and built a movement that brings residents and businesses together, all while spreading joy, connection, and visibility across neighborhoods.

From her first “fun and fabulous” shoot in Millburn to her plans for national expansion, Tanya gets real about what it takes to bet on yourself, dream big, and create something that truly brings people together. If you need a dose of inspiration, joy, or a push to start your own project — this one's for you.

In the episode:

-How Meet Me in New Jersey blends film and advertising with heart

-Why Tanya believes community is key to successful storytelling

-The importance of being uncomfortable when chasing your dream

-How leaving corporate life led Tanya to discover her true purpose

-What it takes to build something big from scratch

-And go ahead and smile at your neighbors

Connect with Tanya & Meet Me in New Jersey:

Instagram: @meetmeinnjYouTube:  ⁨@meetmeinnewjersey⁩ 

Episode on all podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate.

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

Instagram: @positively_kate

LinkedIn: Kate Cherichello Tente

If this episode brought a smile to your face or a spark to your soul, share it with a friend and leave us a review — it helps more good get out into the world. 💛

What if joy wasn’t just something that happened to you—but something you practiced?

This week on Be The Good with Kate, we’re joined by Dan Burnett, Director of Talent Development at QPS Employment Group, internal communication consultant, and passionate teacher-at-heart. Dan brings a refreshing and actionable perspective on living a purpose-driven life, drawing from years of experience in leadership development and communication.

This episode takes a bit of a twist from our usual format, being a bit less interview, a bit more teaching ‘style’, if you will. Dan focuses on giving you, listener, real, tangible steps toward a more joyful, intentional life.

Dan shares his inspiring thoughts on: “Practice Makes Purpose: 5 Daily Practices to Fill Your Life with Joy.” From fueling your soul each morning to finding your personal version of “the skip,” these five practices are about being intentional with your mindset, your time, and the energy you bring to others.

We discuss:

-The power of starting your day with positivity

-Why using your unique talents is a form of joy-sharing

-How making someone’s day can make your day too

-The importance of gratitude and self-reflection

-What it means to “find your skip”—and how it can change your life

Dan also opens up about his own journey, the lessons behind his book "I Am CXO, Now What?", and why he believes we’re all a work in progress.

🎧 Tune in now and take that first skip toward a more joyful you!

- Episode on all podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate. 

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

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

I love hearing from you -- Reach out anytime. 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get.

What does it take for a person with disabilities to find meaningful work? It's more than just landing a job—it’s a journey of training, support, opportunity, and hope.

In this episode of Be The Good with Kate, I sit down with Angela Calzone, President and CEO of Inroads to Opportunities, a nonprofit transforming lives through employment training and placement for individuals with disabilities.

Angela shares what that journey truly looks like – from skills development to navigating systems and resources – and how Inroads is breaking down barriers every day.

Deeper still, Angela shares how she is a former corporate leader who never expected to fall so fully in love with nonprofit work.Her mission has become both professional and personal.

🎧 Listen now to be inspired, informed, and reminded of the power of purpose. Episode on all podcast platforms.

- Connect with Angela: inroadsto org

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

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out anytime. 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get.

Can Rock Climbing Help Fight Parkinson’s? Molly Cupka Says Yes—And She Has the Proof.

What if scaling a rock wall could help someone with Parkinson’s move better, feel stronger, and even slow the progression of their disease?

In this powerful episode, Be The Good with Kate welcomes Molly Cupka, founder of UpENDing Parkinson’s, to talk about how rock climbing is changing lives for people living with Parkinson’s. From former athletes to those who struggle to walk across a room, Molly has witnessed transformations that defy expectations.

A lifelong athlete, certified trainer, and advocate for movement as medicine, Molly shares:

• Why rock climbing works so uniquely well for people with Parkinson’s
• How her own love for the sport turned into a mission
• The everyday adaptations that empower patients to keep moving
• And moments like watching someone who can barely walk climb to the top of a wall

Whether you know someone with Parkinson’s, want to learn how movement can change the brain, or just love stories of human resilience—you need to hear this one.

Connect with Molly & UpENDing Parkinson’s:  upendingparkinsons.org

** Thanks for listening!

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

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

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out anytime. 

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

Where do you go when you don’t know how to start on your volunteer journey? Try Jersey Cares, or one of its similar counterparts in your state, which connects volunteers with nonprofits everyday. Additionally, the organization leads trainings, offers guidance, and oversees volunteer projects. A nonprofit’s nonprofit. 

Today on Be The Good with Kate, it is my honor to speak with Brian Dean, the President & CEO of Jersey Cares. Having joined the organization in 2006 as its only employee overseeing a budget of $100,000, he has overseen the organization’s growth to a $3MM budget and engagement of close to 30,000 volunteers annually. 

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate. I’m your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, and I am on a mission to share as many stories of people doing good as I can. We each have the power to make a difference, and I hope you find a way to do so while following what lights you up as well.** 

Some great moments in this episode:

-Learning how you can reach out to Jersey Cares with no idea how you want to give back, & they will help get you set up with one or many projects until you find what clicks for you.

-The idea of ‘giving back’, & how to reframe to make the intention about wanting to be of service.

-From Brian being the only employee to growing the organization to the size it is today.

-Speaking with children about volunteering, & seeing it through their eyes.

Connect with Brian & Jersey Cares on all socials under ‘Jersey Cares’ & at jerseycares.org

** Thanks for listening!

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

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

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out anytime. 

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

How you show up matters. And showing up as your whole self? That changes everything.

This week on Be The Good with Kate, we’re joined by the powerhouse Dr. Lynette M. Fraga: leadership coach, strategic consultant, speaker, and founder of Fiercely Forward, LLC. With over 30 years of experience in mission-driven work spanning nonprofits, education, federal programs, and even a tech startup, Lynette brings heart and deep insight into what it means to lead with authenticity and impact.

From her beginnings in early childhood classrooms to becoming the CEO of Child Care Aware of America, Dr. Fraga’s journey is a testament to the evolving nature of careers -- and the power of aligning your work with your values.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why a career doesn’t have to be just one thing
• How digging deep into yourself can unlock meaningful impact (a recurring theme around here, anyone?!)
• The power of curiosity in leadership and connection
• Why putting people at the center is the key to real, sustainable progress
• What it means to embrace “the art of the possible” in your life and work

If you've ever felt boxed in by titles, expectations, or the “shoulds” of a traditional path, this conversation will open your eyes to what’s possible when you lead with intention and heart.

Lynette reminds us that we each have a role to play in creating positive change—and it starts with showing up fully, for ourselves and others.

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Welcome to Be The Good with Kate. I’m your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, and I’m on a mission to amplify the stories of people doing good in the world. Thanks for listening!   

Enjoying the show? Share it with a friend or leave a review on Apple or Spotify—it's an easy way to help this message of good reach more people.

I’d love to hear from you, too. Reach out anytime.

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. 

- To be notified of new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood
- Instagram @positively_kate
- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente
- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Welcome to a brand new season of Be The Good with Kate—the show that sparks inspiration, ignites passion, and celebrates the everyday changemakers making a real difference. After 140 episodes, I'm still blown away by the incredible stories our guests have shared. No matter their background, age, location, or resources, each one reminds us that we all have the power to make the world a little better.

What a way to begin the season with this week’s guest!  Zach Mercurio is an author and researcher who’s devoted his work to helping people understand a powerful truth: you matter.

The way Zach speaks about purpose, meaning, and impact is both grounding and uplifting—you’ll feel seen, inspired, and ready to show up in the world a little differently.

Have a notepad nearby—his words stay with you.

I’m your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, and I am on a mission to share as many stories of people doing good as I can. We each have the power to make a difference, and I hope you find a way to do so while following what lights you up as well. 

“Zach Mercurio is an author, researcher, and leadership 

development facilitator specializing in purposeful leadership,

mattering, and meaningful work. He advises leaders in

organizations worldwide on practices for building cultures that

promote well-being, motivation, and performance.

Zach holds a Ph.D. in organizational learning, performance, and

change and serves as one of Simon Sinek’s Optimist Instructors,

teaching a top-rated course on creating mattering at work. His

new book is The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a

Culture of Significance. His previous book is The Invisible

Leader: Transform Your Life, Work, and Organization with The

Power of Authentic Purpose.

He’s been featured in The Harvard Business Review, Forbes,

Psychology Today, The Denver Post, and on ABCNews.”

Connect with Zach: zachmercurio.com 

** Thanks for listening!

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

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

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

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

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