Extraordinary America

In today’s episode, Catherine Kontos, founder of RetreatBoss, shares her journey of founding and growing her renowned retreat planning company. From her early motivations to her greatest lessons learned, Catherine offers valuable insights into the transformative power of retreats. She delves into her own experiences and offers advice for those seeking more confidence and battling pessimistic mindsets. Throughout the conversation, Catherine's passion for helping others create unforgettable and life-changing experiences shines through, showcasing RetreatBoss as a beacon of excellence in the retreat industry.

Highlights:

{03:20} Catherine’s journey

{09:00} Catherin’s motivation

{13:00} Greatest lessons learned.

{15:30} Advice for people who need more confidence.

{22:00} The pessimist mindset

{34:45} The battle of the mind

Catherine Kontos bio:

Catherine Kontos is the founder of RetreatBoss, a renowned retreat planning company. With a steadfast belief in the transformative power of retreats, Catherine launched RetreatBoss in 2012 with the vision of guiding clients through unforgettable and life-changing experiences. Over the past decade, RetreatBoss has facilitated thousands of guests on memorable and transformative journeys. Today, Catherine's company is recognized as an award-winning leader in the retreat industry, serving as a go-to reference for the retreat community.

Connect with Catherine:

Website: https://retreatboss.com https://catherinekontos.com 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-kontos-60955662 

In today’s episode, Catherine Kontos, founder of RetreatBoss, shares her journey of founding and growing her renowned retreat planning company. From her early motivations to her greatest lessons learned, Catherine offers valuable insights into the transformative power of retreats. She delves into her own experiences and offers advice for those seeking more confidence and battling pessimistic mindsets. Throughout the conversation, Catherine's passion for helping others create unforgettable and life-changing experiences shines through, showcasing RetreatBoss as a beacon of excellence in the retreat industry.

{You can hear the full episode on Thursday, April 4th}

Amanda Johnson joins us for this captivating podcast episode. As the CEO and founder of True to Intention and the visionary behind Saved by Story Publishing, Amanda draws on her 20 years of experience to explore the profound impact of storytelling on trauma resolution and human connection.

Amanda shares insights on leveraging stories for maximum impact, unraveling the power of narrative medicine. Delve into the compelling narrative of the American Dream as Amanda, also known as the story alchemist, empowers a generation to challenge disempowerment with curiosity and love. With a unique blend of facilitation, storytelling, and strategic guidance, Amanda partners with emerging leaders to become unwavering change agents in their families, communities, and industries.

Highlights:

{02:45} Amanda’s journey

{11:45} We use stories to resolve our trauma and connect with people.

{20:30} How to make your story have maximum impact.

{26:45} The Story of the American Dream

Amanda Johnson bio:

Amanda is the CEO and founder of True to Intention, and Co. is the founder of Saved by Story Publishing. After 20 years of facilitating transformative experiences through story and literacy writing and narrative medicine, Amanda Johnson, a.k.a. the story article, is determined to empower a generation that challenges disempowerment with curiosity and love. as a speaker.

She is a facilitator, storyteller, strategist, guide, and Ally. She partners with emerging leaders to become uncompromising agents of change—their families, communities, and industries. Through her two businesses, true to intention and say by the story, she midwives, paradigm, changing brands, content, and more thought leaders and storytellers into the world with story, healing quests, and message manifesting retreats from inspiration to impact.

She and her team helped inspire souls, dissolve lives, and reorganize their sacred material. True to the intention with every piece of content they craft.

Connect with Amanda:

Website: https://savedbystory.house https://truetointention.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandajohnson4

Amanda Johnson joins us for this captivating podcast episode. As the CEO and founder of True to Intention and the visionary behind Saved by Story Publishing, Amanda draws on her 20 years of experience to explore the profound impact of storytelling on trauma resolution and human connection.

Amanda shares insights on leveraging stories for maximum impact, unraveling the power of narrative medicine. Delve into the compelling narrative of the American Dream as Amanda, also known as the story alchemist, empowers a generation to challenge disempowerment with curiosity and love. With a unique blend of facilitation, storytelling, and strategic guidance, Amanda partners with emerging leaders to become unwavering change agents in their families, communities, and industries. 

{You can hear the full episode Thursday March 28th}

Dive into the world of sales and entrepreneurship with Brian McDonald in this engaging podcast episode. With over 23 years of experience in new revenue growth, Brian shares insights from his journey, emphasizing the importance of a client-centric sales strategy. Join the conversation as Brian dispels misconceptions about sales, stressing the need to understand customers' wants for effective business growth. 

Brian, a partner at Purpose Growth, a coaching and consulting firm, specializes in helping entrepreneurs build sales systems that predictably boost revenue. Uncover the secrets to success as Brian discusses the right mindset and addresses the fear of success. 

Highlights:

{03:10} Brian's journey

{06:15} Misconceptions about sales

{11:30} You need to know what your customers want.

{16:00} Increasing revenue.

{19:00} Marketing vs. making a better product.

[29:30} Getting the right mindset.

{32:30} The fear of success

Bryan McDonald bio:

Brian has spent his 23-plus-year career in new revenue growth and focused on a client-centric sales strategy that created a track record for success by serving instead of selling people, graduating from Penn State University in 2001.

Brian went into sales in a corporate position and quickly realized that the roles he could be entrepreneurial in were the ones he wanted and built. He's a partner at Purpose Growth, a coaching and consulting firm that serves entrepreneurs with ambitious yearly or multi-year revenue goals.

He helps entrepreneurs build sales systems that predictably grow revenue, as well as communication practices and strategies that are superior to traditional sales tactics or practices. He has served entrepreneurs by helping them go from as little as AS75K in revenue to $1,000,000 plus in 6 to 18 months, using the strategies, tactics, mindsets, and frameworks he and his partners have put together. 

Brian also helps run an economic development nonprofit called the Fox Valley Entrepreneurship Center. As the board president, the FVC serves business owners in the Fox Valley region of Chicago that are past. Startup base and need to accelerate.

They're focused on growing the revenue of businesses and adding jobs and opportunities in the communities that businesses are in.

Connect with Brian:

Website: https://www.onpurposegrowth.com 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcdonaldbryan 

Dive into the world of sales and entrepreneurship with Brian McDonald in this engaging podcast episode. With over 23 years of experience in new revenue growth, Brian shares insights from his journey, emphasizing the importance of a client-centric sales strategy. Join the conversation as Brian dispels misconceptions about sales, stressing the need to understand customers' wants for effective business growth. 

Brian, a partner at Purpose Growth, a coaching and consulting firm, specializes in helping entrepreneurs build sales systems that predictably boost revenue. Uncover the secrets to success as Brian discusses the right mindset and addresses the fear of success. 

{You can hear the full Episode on Thursday, March 21st}

Haseena, a seasoned author, trainer, speaker, and certified coach, shares her remarkable 30-year journey in leadership and management. Discover the driving forces behind Haseena's motivation and her profound insights into finding one's purpose. 

With Faith, Hope, and Spirit LLC, her business dedicated to helping others turn dreams into reality, Haseena provides valuable advice for those seeking their purpose. She emphasizes the impact of faith on one's inner voice. Haseena delves into her most significant life lessons and offers heartfelt advice to her younger self. 

As the founder and executive director of Ava's Pathways, a nonprofit supporting women facing life's adversities, Haseena's wisdom shines through in her commitment to empowering others. Tune in for a soul-nourishing conversation on growth, development, communication, leadership, and the pursuit of happiness.

Highlights:

{03:00} Haseena’s Journey

{06:00} What motivates Haseena?

{08:15} Advice for others who want to find their purpose.

{20:00} How faith influences your inner voice.

{24:45} Biggest lesson learned.

{31:30} Advice for your younger self

{38:15} Pursuing Happiness

Haseena Shaheed-Jackson bio:

Haseena is an author, trainer, speaker, and certified coach. She has spent 30 years in positions of leadership and management, where she developed the skill of helping others make the invisible visible and turn their dreams into real-world possibilities through her business—Faith, Hope, and Spirit LLC. 

Haseena offers training, coaching, and speaking in growth, development, communication, and leadership. She's also the founder and executive director of Ava's Pathways, which is a nonprofit organization for women supporting women who face traumas and adversities of life. She also authored three books: Created to Soar, Messages from the Spirit, and Reflections. She says we should not allow anyone or anything to place us in a corner to be forgotten and cause us to believe we are insignificant.

Connect with Haseena:

Website: https://hsjackson.com 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haseena-shaheed-jackson-273b9325/overlay/contact-info 

Haseena, a seasoned author, trainer, speaker, and certified coach, shares her remarkable 30-year journey in leadership and management. Discover the driving forces behind Haseena's motivation and her profound insights into finding one's purpose. 

With Faith, Hope, and Spirit LLC, her business dedicated to helping others turn dreams into reality, Haseena provides valuable advice for those seeking their purpose. She emphasizes the impact of faith on one's inner voice. Haseena delves into her most significant life lessons and offers heartfelt advice to her younger self. 

As the founder and executive director of Ava's Pathways, a nonprofit supporting women facing life's adversities, Haseena's wisdom shines through in her commitment to empowering others. Tune in for a soul-nourishing conversation on growth, development, communication, leadership, and the pursuit of happiness.

{You can hear the full episode on March 14th}

Kim Stuck, the founder and CEO of ALLAY Consulting, joins us for a riveting exploration of the cannabis industry and the American Dream in this eye-opening podcast episode. 

Kim takes listeners through her experiences, drawing on her role as the nation's first cannabis and hemp specialist for a major metropolitan public health authority in Denver. Dispelling myths and revealing truths about the cannabis industry, she shares invaluable lessons learned from the green rush in Colorado. She delves into the intricate business dynamics of the cannabis world. 

As a compliance strategy expert, Kim addresses the challenges businesses face in navigating evolving regulations and safety mandates. The episode unfolds with Kim offering insightful advice for those venturing into the cannabis realm. 

With her unique background, including certifications as a Quality Auditor and Professional in Food Safety and active involvement in industry advisory boards, Kim brings a wealth of expertise to this illuminating conversation about the intersection of cannabis, compliance, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

Highlights:

{03:15} Kim’s journey

{06:30} Myths and truths about the Cannabis industry

{10:30} Lessons learned from the green rush of Colorado

{14:00} The Business of Cannabis

{20:45} The biggest challenge

{22:30} Advice for people entering the Cannabis world

{29:30} The American Dream and the Green Rush

Kim Stuck bio:

Kim is the founder and CEO of ALLAY Consulting, a compliance strategy and services provider serving the hemp, cannabis, and psychedelic industries nationwide. 

She brings a regulator's keen eye and wide-reaching knowledge of evolving compliance and safety mandates to support tightly regulated businesses. Kim Stuck previously held a pioneering role as the nation's first cannabis and hemp specialist for a major metropolitan public health authority during her tenure with the City of Denver, home to hundreds of cannabis businesses. 

She worked as an investigator, covering cultivation, manufacturing, and retail. Their duties included facility inspections, conducting investigations into improper pesticide use and worker safety, trading regulations, instituting recalls, and public outreach. 

She holds numerous certifications, such as Certified Quality Auditor and Certified Professional in Food Safety. In addition to serving on several industry advisory boards, she's a TEDx speaker and a South by Southwest Speaker, and she has been a member of ASTM International's Cannabis Standards Committee since its 2017 inception. And she's also the vice chair of the GMP Standards Subcommittee. 

Connect with Kim:

Website: https://allayconsulting.com 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-stuck-cp-fs-cqa-420a257a

Kim Stuck, the founder and CEO of ALLAY Consulting, joins us for a riveting exploration of the cannabis industry and the American Dream in this eye-opening podcast episode. 

Kim takes listeners through her experiences, drawing on her role as the nation's first cannabis and hemp specialist for a major metropolitan public health authority in Denver. Dispelling myths and revealing truths about the cannabis industry, she shares invaluable lessons learned from the green rush in Colorado. She delves into the intricate business dynamics of the cannabis world. 

As a compliance strategy expert, Kim addresses the challenges businesses face in navigating evolving regulations and safety mandates. The episode unfolds with Kim offering insightful advice for those venturing into the cannabis realm. 

With her unique background, including certifications as a Quality Auditor and Professional in Food Safety and active involvement in industry advisory boards, Kim brings a wealth of expertise to this illuminating conversation about the intersection of cannabis, compliance, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

{You can hear the full episode on Thursday, March 7th}