Real magic exists! Hocus Pocus star Vinessa Shaw shares Buddhist mindfulness, Disney set secrets & a 7-day vegan challenge that’ll change your life.

Stanley Kubrick’s pep talk, four-hug mornings, and more—this interview is pure enchantment.

Highlights:

• Opening: “Do you believe in magic?”
• Chanting at 12: Buddhism as a stress-buster
• Landing Hocus Pocus at 16 & working with Disney icons
• Four-hug ritual for daily mental health
• Back-stage memories with Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy & SJP
• Kubrick’s life-changing advice on Eyes Wide Shut
• Listener challenge: go vegan for one week
• Rapid-fire fan Q&A & sign-off

Links:

Vinessa Shaw IMDb – imdb.com/VinessaShaw
Vinessa Shaw Instagram – instagram.com/vinessaofficial
Savanna Smith Linktree – linktr.ee/savanna.com
Lillianna Dow Instagram – instagram.com/lildow04
Watch on YouTube – youtube.com/channel

To learn more, visit:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-shaft

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/david-shaft

Cosplay tips, DIY costume ideas, and GalaxyCon judge secrets—AstraVoid reveals the self-taught path that took her from biology classes to the spotlight at GalaxyCon’s Nightmare Weekend Chicago.

After mastering sewing, foam-smithing, wigs, LEDs (and winning major awards) Astra landed a guest contract at 21 and now mentors the next wave of creators. If you’ve ever dreamed of turning fandom into a full-time career, this episode of Conversations That Count is your roadmap.

• 00:48 From forensics major to foam & fabric: the origin story
• 04:22 “We’d like to offer you a contract”—GalaxyCon moment 👀
• 08:35 Beating age stigma: let the work speak 💥
• 13:18 Inside a 100-hour Hunger Games build (hand-painted corset)
• 17:50 Judging philosophy: fairness, advocacy, zero con politics
• 22:40 Streaming setup, PewDiePie chair & upcoming tutorials
• 27:15 Creator safety 101: stalkers, the “lag rule” for posts
• 30:30 Weekly challenge: spark one genuine 2-minute chat with a stranger

Love practical creativity and real-talk inspiration? Follow, rate, and review—the support helps us bring on even bigger guests.

Links:

linktr.ee/AstraVoidCosplay
galaxycon.com ← GalaxyCon main site
galaxycon.com/pages/nightmare-weekend-chicago ← Nightmare Weekend Chicago
www.youtube.com/channel

To learn more, visit:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-shaft

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/david-shaft

Recorded on the show floor at AutoTech 2025, engineer-turned-entrepreneur Patrice Banks shares how a single bad repair experience inspired her to build Girls Auto Clinic—an all-women garage (with a built-in nail salon!) and a fast-growing media brand that demystifies car care for everyone who’s ever felt talked down to at the shop.

Patrice’s story is proof that when you combine data, empathy, and grit, you can flip a century-old industry on its head. Tune in to hear her framework for education, advocacy, and community that’s turning first-time oil-changers into confident SheCANics.

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🔑 WHAT YOU’LL HEAR

• The moment Patrice walked away from a six-figure engineering job at DuPont

• Why women control 95 % of car-buying decisions—yet still feel underserved

• “Primary Care Technician” vs. random “shop-hopping”: the trust model every driver needs

• How interactive workshops (13 yrs running) let guests pop their own hood, change a filter, and leave with mani-fresh nails

• The Facebook tribe of 20 000 women who swap memes, victories, and repair receipts

• Car chemistry decoded with emojis, kitchen metaphors… and a fearless vagina analogy

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🔗 LINKS

Book – Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide: amazon.com/Girls-Auto-Clinic-Glove-Guide

Workshops & services: girlsautoclinic.com

Instagram: instagram.com/girlsautoclinic

YouTube: youtube.com/@GirlsAutoClinic

SheCANic FB group (women only): facebook.com/groups/SheCANic

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🏆 CHOW (Challenge of the Week)

Still quoting “3k or 5k miles” for an oil change? Both are relics.

👉 ACTION: Look up the factory-recommended oil-change interval for your exact make + model, then post it with #SheCANicChallenge.

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🎧 Love this convo? Hit Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and drop a review—every star helps us keep amplifying voices that drive change.

To learn more, visit:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-shaft

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:

https://missionmatters.com/author/david-shaft

What if your RV could think for itself, protect your pets, and keep you connected — even off the grid? In this exclusive Conversations That Count episode, recorded live at AutoTech 2025, I sit down with two of the visionaries behind Winnebago Connect™ — a groundbreaking smart RV platform changing the way we travel:

🚀 Marc Fecker, Co-Founder & CEO of Robo

📡 Steve Loving, Director of Business Development at KORE Wireless

Alongside partners Winnebago and Ericsson, their teams created the most intelligent, user-friendly RV system on the market — blending real-time diagnostics, remote access, smart automation, and customer-first design.

We dive into:

• How Winnebago Connect powers real-time alerts, pet protection, and true off-grid freedom
• Why collaboration beats ego — and how aligned partnerships can change entire industries
• How listening deeply to customers creates tech that actually improves lives
• Real stories from RV owners who fixed their vehicles remotely, saved money, and stayed connected

🎯 Challenge of the Week: Set aside 3 focused hours. Visualize your ideal customer. Map their day, their struggles, and the outcomes they want most — then redesign your product, pitch, or process with that person in mind.

—

🎧 Listen on all platforms: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

🔗 Connect with today’s guests and companies:

Marc Fecker – LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/in/marcfecker

Robo
www.robotechnology.com

Steve Loving – LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/in/steveloving

KORE Wireless
www.korewireless.com

Winnebago
www.winnebago.com

Ericsson
www.ericsson.com

🐾 Bonus: Hear the real-life story of how a digital nomad cut $450/month in Wi-Fi costs and kept her pets safe — all thanks to this system.

To learn more, visit:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-shaft

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/david-shaft

“Original Halloween scream-queen Sandy Johnson—aka Judith Myers—isn’t just a horror legend. She’s a working indie actor, lifelong mentor, and unapologetic Texas gunslinger with a heart for rescue animals. In this candid sit-down she reveals the career comeback that’s keeping her busier than ever—and the life lessons that make every line worth the wait.”

What You’ll Hear

• From Icon to Indie Powerhouse – How late-career roles in Paradolía, The Executioner, Black Sheep, and the upcoming Halloween Shark reignited Sandy’s acting fire.
• The Mentor’s Mindset – Why even “legends” hire coaches, plus Sandy’s method for spotting mentors who change your life.
• Real-World Horror – Surviving a stalker break-in, the freezer-shoe scare, and her blunt advice on self-defense for women.
• Fan-First Philosophy – Behind the autograph table: why convention off-seasons feel empty and the one thing she wishes every fan knew.
• Weekly Challenge – Got room for one more heart-beat at home? Sandy dares you to rescue an animal this week.

Whether you’re a filmmaker, horror buff, or growth-minded creative, you’ll leave fired up to find mentors, protect your peace, and maybe adopt a furry sidekick. 🎃🐾

Connect with Sandy Johnson
• Instagram: @unicornsandyj
• Official Site: unicornsandyj.com

Watch the Full Video:
See Sandy’s unfiltered reactions on YouTube:
youtube.com/channel/UCpFyIA757M_vORVHeM1276g

Loved the conversation?

🔔 Follow Conversations That Count on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
⭐️ Drop a 5-star rating to help more Halloween fans and indie creators discover the show
📲 Share this episode with a friend who needs a mentor—or a good scare!

🎧 Subscribe to Conversations That Count
Apple: [Search “Conversations That Count”]
Spotify: [Search “Conversations That Count”]

📩 Contact: [email protected]

To learn more, visit:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-shaft

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/david-shaft

What if the version of you that felt the most free was still inside you—waiting to be seen again?

In this raw and inspiring episode of Conversations That Count, host David Shaft sits down with Ashton Blaise, a cosplayer, pinup model, and former political media figure who walked away from public influence to rediscover joy in the things she once loved—horror, cosplay, anime, and being fully herself.

Recorded live at Nightmare Weekend Chicago, Ashton opens up about:

• Leaving a career in political media to live authentically
• Why joy isn’t childish—it’s directional
• How horror fandom and D&D helped her reconnect with her purpose
• A challenge that could help you remember who you were before the world told you who to be
• If you’ve ever felt like you’re just “playing the role” of who you should be… this episode might be the permission you didn’t know you needed.

Follow Ashton Blaise:

Instagram: instagram.com/theashtonblaise
YouTube: youtube.com/@ashtonblaise
Twitter/X: x.com/theashtonblaise
OnlyFans: onlyfans.com/ashtonbirdie

🎧 Subscribe to Conversations That Count
Apple: [Search “Conversations That Count”]
Spotify: [Search “Conversations That Count”]
📩 Contact: [email protected]

To learn more, visit:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-shaft

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/david-shaft

From Fashion School to Full-Time Cosplay: Ashlynne Dae on Choosing Passion Over Stability (Recorded at Nightmare Weekend Chicago)

In this episode of Conversations That Count, host David Shaft interviews cosplay icon Ashlynne Dae, live from Nightmare Weekend Chicago by GalaxyCon. Ashlynne shares how she went from graduating at the top of her fashion class to leaving the traditional industry behind — to pursue cosplay full-time.

🎭 What You’ll Hear:

• Ashlynne’s leap from fashion to full-time cosplay
• The early days of making costumes without knowing what cosplay was
• How to push forward when family and friends don’t understand your path
• The power of finding a supportive community through conventions
• How dressing like your favorite character can unlock real confidence
• Ashlynne’s Challenge to You:
• Attend a con that excites you. Talk to five new people. And see what happens when you follow your curiosity instead of your comfort zone.

This episode is packed with heart, humor, and a reminder that you’re allowed to rewrite the rules.

🎧 Listen now — and take your first step toward something that actually feels like you.

To learn more, visit:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-shaft

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/david-shaft

In this episode we talk with Corey and Katie about everything from stable business partnerships to holding ourselves accountable. These are both legends in the cosmetology industry.

To learn more about Corey and Katie, please visit: 

www.instagram.com/hairdustry
msha.ke/hairdustryhost
www.gofundme.com/f/empowering-change-in-cambodia-help-me-make-it-happen
www.presleypoeandfriends.com

To learn more, visit:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-shaft

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/david-shaft

In this episode we talk about the value of networking and how to do it while properly building long term connections. Cathey does a great job outlining the way to grow your network while sustaining it. THIS IS ALSO THE RETURN OF CATHEY who is a STAPLE in our show!

To learn more, visit:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-shaft

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/david-shaft

In this episode we talk about finding our passion and not just a hobby. Oftentimes we never fully commit to anything because we are so afraid of failing that we never truly go all in. Candy has a superpower where when she does something she always commits to it fully.

To learn more about Candy, please visit:
@thebalaylama
https://sunlightspro.com
https://www.jamisonshaw.com

To learn more, visit:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-shaft

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/david-shaft