Grade A Nation

Grade A Nation is joined by content creator Adelia Acker, who has an OnlyFans account with hundreds of thousands of followers as well as a podcast called That's OFfensive about working on the platform. Adelia has experienced a lot, including: -being kidnapped to go to rehab for smoking weed by her parents -growing up in a controlling and conservative Christian household with a dismissive father -feeling a lack of confidence about herself that led to body image concerns and an eating disorder -having fun times every weekend at the University of Arizona, but still feeling like she wasn't good enough -setting boundaries with her parents, her brother, and friends for her own wellbeing -having disturbing and dark dreams -getting nauseous while around little kids -making a ton of dough on OnlyFans -having mold poisoning for several years -being celibate for a year by choice -- a volcel if you will And that is just a small sample of her experiences and thoughts covered in our talk. Adelia is super honest and engaging. The original chat was about a half hour longer, but Adelia was cursing like a sailor. We'll likely see the unedited chat be available someplace in the future! To check out the latest on Adelia Acker, go to https://www.itsdeelz.com/

Best Kept by Kat McCoy is a jewelry consultation and sourcing company that tries to take the anxiety out of the jewelry purchasing process. Chris Thomas talks with Kat about how Best Kept was created and how it operates as a concierge service.  Areas covered include: -why her experience growing up in wealthy Greenwich, CT doesn't mean she unable to connect with a diverse collection of people -how she developed an interest in jewelry from her grandma and her grandma’s sense of style -what it was like working at Ernst & Young immediately out of college -moving on to SocialCode creating partnerships with other technology companies -whether the influence of growing up in a family of entrepreneurs made her comfortable transitioning to starting a business as a solopreneur -working with the startup accelerator Tacklebox to get her jewelry business idea fully idealized through mentorship and group feedback, and what people on a budget can do to execute a business idea -the sometimes isolating nature of solopreneur work -how she acquired an in-depth knowledge about jewelry over time to help people find a gift for someone else or to build up their own jewelry collection -how she reacts when receiving a six-figure jewelry order…hint: it involves a lot of breakdancing (okay, maybe breakdancing is exaggerating a bit) -building a reputation where people trust you when doing business -why buying jewelry is often seen as so stressful and how her concierge service can help people from all sorts of backgrounds find a meaningful piece of jewelry -whether there is ever a truly “perfect” piece of jewelry and how jewelry can be seen as an investment -being a hands-on parent while simultaneously being a hands-on business person Interested in starting a business? Interested in learning about jewelry? Interested in addressing the work-life balance challenge? If the answer to all of these is no, get your head examined, because these are all Grade A topics! To learn more about Best Kept by Kat McCoy, visit https://www.bestkept.com/

In this fun-filled installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with adult content creator Serenity Cox, who has just exploded on the amateur scene through posting on Pornhub, earning over 200 million views and over 200,000 subscribers to her channel in short time. Serenity was awarded “Favorite Newcomer” at the 2022 Pornhub awards, as well as Pornhub Model of the Month for April 2022. She is a rising star, but you wouldn’t guess it with her down-to-earth and personable approach. We discuss: -Serenity attending Catholic school and how that might have sparked interest in the naughty side of life -Working at a cigarette booth in a supermarket while attending college -How her adult content was discovered by her colleagues at her full-time work, and how she responded to the gossiping hens chattering about her -Why both her and her husband have an exhibitionist side to them -Her love of threesomes, and some reflection on whether her love of threesomes is tied to not getting enough attention from others growing up -How she lives a hot wife lifestyle and what that lifestyle entails -Why her husband is not a cuckold -Whether or not she would spend sexy time with Justin Trudeau if he were to ask -Her mad accordion playing skills And a whole lot more. This is Serenity’s first ever podcast interview, so it is a big privilege to take her podcast virginity! To see more of Serenity (and you would be foolish not to want to), check out her OnlyFans page: https://onlyfans.com/serenitycox

During this sometimes combustible chat on Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with Matthew Karchner, a man who founded the non-profit ministry known as Castaway Ministries. Matthew operates the ministry out of Cambodia. Raised in the United States, Matthew has struggled for many years with his sexual identity, and also experienced drug dependency for many years. He now identifies as "ex-gay" and works with the youth in Cambodia discussing what he views as the risks tied to LGBTQ life and the value of the Bible. Whether or not you initially agree with Matthew's work or his point of view, listen to the episode with an open mind and come to your own conclusions. During the interview Matthew discusses: -growing up in a religious family -his perspective on gender roles -initial relationships with other men -being dishonest at work while masking drug addictions -why he feels his work is of value and has a purpose -falling romantically for a woman and marrying her -marital and community strife while in Cambodia By the way, the number "69" being featured in the number of the episode is purely coincidental!

On this installment of Grade A Nation, Dr. Soumyadip Rakshit (not pronounced how you think, get your mind out of the gutter) joins the program. Dr. Soum is the co-founder and CEO of sexual health company Mystery Vibe. He discusses the science behind where sexual health issues often stem from and how vibrating devices can improve not just sexual pleasure but also reduce physical pain. We discuss: -earning a PhD in biometrics and doing research using technology combating against terrorism -moving from the management consulting world of a firm like Deloitte into the realm of sexual health devices -if friends and family were supportive in his efforts to get Mystery Vibe started -the importance of blood flow in the body -what the research and development process is like when developing sexual health devices -thoughts on why some parts of the world still view talking about sexual health as taboo -the value of sexual health products winning mainstream awards in areas like design -the challenges of trying to keep sexual health accessible regardless of economic status -whether men are embarrassed buying vibrating devices -why Oprah Winfrey or Kim Kardashian promoting Mystery Vibe might not be as valuable as words of recommendation from respected doctors A stimulating conversation to say the least! To learn more about Mystery Vibe products, go to https://mysteryvibe.com/

On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn, authors of the book, “Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise.” The book approaches noise and silence in a sophisticated manner that should get people thinking about how the extent of noise and silence in one’s life can play a role in personal well-being and work performance, among other aspects of life. We talk about: -where the book fits within studies of human psychology -the concept of justice including a democratization of silence -whether there is a danger in certain cultures embracing silence to an extreme extent -how people selectively tuning out others that think differently can be a potentially counterproductive type of silence -the value in removing the stigma tied to hyperacusis and autism where individuals have noise sensitivity -how shared communal experiences, even at a noisy rock concert, can potentially allow people to tap into a valuable form of internal quiet And lots more on this fun-filled discussion of complex subject matter. Every Grade A Nation interview is a winner in some way, but this one stands out! To learn more about Leigh and Justin’s book, check out: https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Power-Silence-World-Noise/dp/0063027607/

On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas talks with Yasmeen Hassan, former local TV news anchor and recent co-founder of communications consulting firm H CUE. Areas covered include: -moving around quite a bit as a child and how that prepared Yasmeen for her work in television -starting work in broadcasting behind the scenes as a producer, and what are the aspects people may not appreciate about what goes into getting a news broadcast together -her vivid memories of the first time doing a field report -managing both work as an anchor and a producer while trying to avoid burnout -why trust in the media has declined in recent years -comparing work in media markets like Phoenix, Chicago, and Las Vegas -what it was like covering the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, and the troubling lack of information about the motive of Stephen Paddock -making the transition from television news to consulting organizations and working professionals on how to craft effective messages -how Winston the dog became a TV news celebrity The chat gives a great glimpse into all the sacrifices and hard work that go into a career in broadcasting!  To learn more about Yasmeen's consulting firm H CUE, go to https://hcue-llc.com

On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas talks with Steve Maher from the band Night Routine. We discuss a lot, including: -big city life in Boston, Chicago, New York, and Denver and living internationally in Uruguay -what it was like working for a roommate matching service -transitioning to pursuing music and how to make a viable living as a musician -operating frugally when touring by sleeping in housing provided by fans that hopefully won’t hold you captive against your will -dream gigs and the nightmare shows from hell -maintaining friendships with bandmates -the evolution of Night Routine musically -how people have received the band: the good, the bad, and the indifferent -the importance of trust when doing business  -side work in podcasting and how the podcast industry is like the music industry We clearly run the gamut of topics, so this show is a must listen! You know what else is a must listen? Night Routine’s music…they have a real cool vibe that fuses together pop, soul, and rock that is worth getting better acquainted with. To learn more about Steve Maher and Night Routine, check out: https://linktr.ee/nightroutine

OnlyFans content creator Sarah Juree describes the scary experience of a blogger targeting her in an effort to get her fired from her work as a 5th grade STEM teacher. We discuss what it is like to be at the center of mass media attention, including all the cyberbullying she has experienced. Sarah talks about her challenging upbringing and hardships of being a single parent looking for a new partner. Despite the dark periods, Sarah approaches things with a cheery outlook and this interview is sure to brighten your day! To learn more about Sarah's work, check out https://onlyfans.com/love_misssarah_unlocked

Chris Thomas talks with Mr. Slade, a recording artist based in Canada. We cover his rough childhood where he experienced bullying, how his time at a school for the arts allowed him to blossom creatively and personally, as well as his musical roots in glam rock, 80s hair metal, and 90s alternative.  Mr. Slade shares how intoxicating an energy-filled live crowd can be, career goals and worries, and why he hopes his creative work can change stereotypes people might possess. The mutual love Chris Thomas and Mr. Slade have for Duran Duran is addressed in detail! To learn more about Mr. Slade's work, go to https://open.spotify.com/artist/2TqQ9VJggVOUwAGXYt19QL?si=7tIfRh5DQjOlYQ3MW2jZ1Q