Embark

In this week's episode, Liz Solar speaks with opera singer Maren Montalbano about creativity, myths around opera, performing during covid, and the 'bodices' that constrain us all.

Maren Montalbano is an opera singer, business coach, and writer, whose voice can be heard on three GRAMMY Award-winning albums. When live performances disappeared during the pandemic, she turned her focus to the online world: writing, producing, and premiering a one-woman show called The Bodice Ripper Project as an interactive digital performance at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. That show, along with the accompanying podcast of the same name, became an exploration of sexuality, feminism, and the journey to self-empowerment through the lens of romance novels. A graduate of Tufts University and New England Conservatory of Music, Maren has sung at Carnegie Hall in NYC, Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA, multiple theaters in Europe, and even performed on stage with the Rolling Stones. She is passionate about uplifting and amplifying new and diverse voices in classical music, which has fueled her work as a business coach for musicians.

You can read more about Maren’s brilliant career in opera, romance novel writing and The Bodice Ripper podcast at marenmontalbano.com.

"Life is what happens while you're making other plans." How many times has the universe interrupted or curtailed those dreams we set up for ourselves? In Gabriela Perreira's case, a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder and the medications involved in treating it, led her to a life-altering choice. She'll talk about the journey from early diagnosis to acceptance to sharing her diagnosis to help other people, and assure them, they are not alone..

We are not our disorders or disease. In the best case scenarios, we are able to come to terms with what life throws us and find grace and discover other ways to live life as richly as  we imagined.

Gabriela Pereira is the founder of DIYMFA.com, the do-it-yourself alternative to a Masters degree in writing. She is also a speaker, podcast host for DIY MFA Radio, and author of the book DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community.

Marshall McLuhan famously said. "The medium is the message." Okay, but it's the message -what you say, the way you say it and how you present that to the world - that really counts. Whether you’re talking with your partner, your children, or your colleagues – good communication is essential. It can also be difficult to get right.  It's true with the words we speak, and the written messages we send out into social media and on our websites.

The ability to convey your message can positively impact many areas of your life for the better,  but it takes practice. And the right elements to tell a powerful and unique story to draw people to you and your brand. We brought in an expert to guide you to tell an effective, and affecting, message.

With an extensive creative background — writing, editing, acting, photography, yoga, and graphic and web design — Deb brings a unique, intuitive, and story-telling perspective to branding, messaging, and content strategy and creation. With 20 years of marketing and communication experience behind her, she currently runs her own branding and marketing company serving entrepreneurs, small- and mid-sized businesses, and nonprofits to provide stellar branding and compelling print and digital content. 

Learn more at messageartist.com

Suicide is a leading cause of death in US elementary school–aged children, and the suicide rate in black school-aged children has increased in recent years. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control show a dramatic rise  for young children and adolescents since the epidemic started.  From March through October, 2020  mental health-related emergency department visits rose  24% for children ages 5 to 11 and 31% among adolescents ages 12 to 17 when compared with the same period in 2019

Disruptive routines, fear of sickness or family loss,  economic and housing mobility  have proved to be significant stressors for adults as well as children.  Social isolation caused by  being quarantined and widespread social inequities may prove the heaviest burdens for adolescents and young children  who go through an an even more intense period of growth and social learning,

Although little is known about the factors precipitating suicide among young children, Jon Mattleman offers some insight on Embark. Jon's life work as a counselor is to help parents better understand their children, and encourage children and adolescents to make meaningful change, as well as good decisions.   QPR Suicide Prevention is Jon's enlightening and empowering training  on the myths around suicide  and  how to effectively identify and support loved ones who may be suffering.  More at jonmattleman.com

Global problems have been amplified during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some are readily solvable, some will take time. Others have no immediate or foreseeable solution.  There is one issue that can be solved right now: Hunger. A widespread disease that’s easily treatable, and totally curable.

Embark speaks with Catherine Drennan Lynn, Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs at the Greater Boston Food Bank, which works with Feeding America.  Their mission is to end hunger through public policy and awareness.  GBFB works with state and federal government, and 600 partners to find ways to safely reach and feed our most vulnerable.

Catherine most recently led a successful state legislative campaign on school breakfast and built a statewide coalition to support this effort called Rise and Shine Massachusetts. The Breakfast After the Bell bill, which will expand access to school breakfast for more than 150,000 low-income students in Massachusetts.  At the federal level, she is actively engaged in the national dialogue on the COVID-19 response, Child Nutrition Reauthorization, healthcare and tax reform and the recent 2018 Farm Bill. Her work advances the mission to end hunger in eastern Massachusetts and position GBFB as a national thought leader on hunger and poverty.

We can all help end this epidemic. Donate your time, write a check, call your legislators. It will take all of us to end this widespread public health issue. Find resources on my most recent blog at lizsolar.com.

The global human trafficking  industry brings in over one hundred and fifty billion dollars annually.  More than 25 million people -- many the most vulnerable among us, including children -- are victims coerced, tricked or forced into indentured servitude.  Sex trafficking is an ever-growing business. During the time of COVID,  business is booming,  but it has become more difficult to uncover trafficking rings. Our isolation has kept us from seeing who might be a victim, or where they are located.

Despite films like Pretty Woman  that would persuade us the sex trade can result in a fairy tale ending,  it is a life filled with hopelessness and despair, a life  our guest  Stacy Reed has experienced. Stacy is  a survivor, author, poet, and motivational speaker. She has traveled  internationally to educate and advocate for victims,  and  for 20 years has worked with people who experience alcoholism, substance use disorders, prostitution, sex exploitation, domestic violence, mental health, and HIV/AIDS. She has a masters in social work and is currently a PsyD student enrolled at William James College in Newton, MA. She's also Supervisor of Peer Mentorship at RIA House, a non profit  on a mission to help end human trafficking and sex exploitation. She believes  "No one should be bought or sold for the sexual gratification of another person."

We welcome Stacy, and thank her for generously sharing her story during January,  National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

If you are or know someone who is being sexually exploited,  call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

Change. It happens. Do you find yourself mid-career and just not feeling what you do anymore? What now?  Whether you've identified your next step, or need need some direction, Kristen Tagliamonte can help steer you into life's next adventure.

Kirsten is  a certified career transitions and leadership coach focused on empowering others to make choices to make change!  As the founder and owner of Empowered Results with KAT, she comes prepared with a background of 30 years of corporate experience in Human Resources. A lifelong learner, she encourages her clients to always be open and curious about their options, and life.

Fun fact: Kristen is a devotee of the ocean. See how waves figure into her story.  empoweredresultswithkat.com

Forget Match! Jenny is a PhD biologist set out to inject science into human connections and how we network. After multiple careers which include working with wild birds as a field biologist, as a  PhD at University of Michigan and post doc training at Harvard studying why we age and why cancer causes organ wasting syndrome, Jenny completely turned herself around and became a full-time entrepreneur commercializing her own invention and building a software company called Curious Reactor that helps you network better in a professional world. Outside of that, she consults biotech companies on sourcing new and innovative technologies and coaches TEDx speakers storytelling. Read more of Jenny's story at curiousreactor.com

You work hard, but still, not enough clients. First, they have to know how and where to find you. Then they have to know, trust and like you.  Know, like and trust is Robin Samora's specialty.

Robin Samora helps small and mid-size businesses increase sales, connect with customers, and gain visibility. Whether it’s writing customized marketing plans for clients or working 1-2-1 to meet their goals, her focus is clear – to get results.  Using a variety of marketing strategies, Robin advises business owners on how to stand out, gain credibility, and bring in the business they deserve. She also writes a top 40 small business marketing blog, Robin’s Rainmakers and hosts a weekly podcast, the Fast Marketing Minute. 

Money is a funny thing. We like to have it and yet we’re often ambivalent about how to spend it, and not always educated about how to maximize our wealth. Seventy-five percent of us wing it in terms of our finances, and don’t ask for help, often to our own detriment.  

So, how can we get more financially savvy?  How do we manage wealth when we don’t feel like we have much wealth at all? We’re going to ask Alex Weiss for some guidance.  

Alex is a certified financial planner who helps individuals, families, and businesses develop and execute wealth management strategies. He also works with clients throughout the planning process, and implements tailored strategies based on the client’s needs. He coordinates the services of other professionals and subject matter experts who support his clients’ financial needs. Alex takes great pride in helping his clients by providing real clarity about every financial decision, and by coordinating the fractured advice clients receive from multiple sources. After four years with Merrill Lynch, he now shares his considerable financial acumen with clients at US Wealth Management. Alex holds a degree in Actuarial Mathematics with a concentration in Finance from Bryant University, and lives in the  Boston area with his wife and adorable toddler.