Grade A Nation

Ruth Rogers is the owner and operator of The Canvas, a dining and creative space in the United Kingdom. The Canvas provides meals to those in need, as well as serving as a meeting place for events like art shows and group networking. It is clear The Canvas performs a lot of good for the community, but it is also clear that the pandemic has put The Canvas in tough economic circumstances. Hear how Ruth adopted a crowfunding campaign in an attempt to maintain her establishment into the future, as well as her valuable advice for anyone that aspires to open or already runs a small business. Ruth is a wonderful person doing vital work. Grade A Update (November 2022): The crowdfunding campaign was successful, but an unfortunate sequence of events with the landlord of The Canvas has caused a suspension in services for now. Wish Ruth and her team the best in getting the Canvas back open somewhere.

On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with Marlene Flowers, a fitness guru that recently started participating in competitive bodybuilding at age 65. Marlene (also known as "Granny Guns" to those who follow her on social media) has experienced a life full of ups and downs. Hear how fitness has rejuvenated her physically and emotionally to focus on the bright and fulfilling side of life! A solid listen for people of all ages interested in starting a fitness and nutrition regimen; Marlene shows it is never too late to start. To learn more about Marlene a.k.a. “Granny Guns,” check out her TikTok today: https://www.tiktok.com/@65_strong

Nadia Turner offers revealing and in-depth details about the many hats she has worn over the years. From being a Miami Dolphins cheerleader, singing at the G8 World Summit in front of Bill Clinton and Vladimir Putin, being a Top 8 finalist on American Idol’s fourth season, to recording an album featuring music legends like Chester Thompson, it is safe to say Nadia has had some incredible experiences throughout her life. We are fortunate that she is willing to talk about all of these experiences and more with the Grade A Nation! To learn more about Nadia’s latest projects, check out https://www.nadiaturner.com/

Chef Dennis Littley talks about the ingredients of a great chef, memorable moments in his career, his thoughts on fast food, how the pandemic has impacted the hospitality industry, and why he transitioned to being a blogger. His tips on being a successful blogger will be helpful to anyone interested in doing this kind of work, even if your focus is not on food and/or travel!  Check out Ask Chef Dennis at https://www.askchefdennis.com/

Chris Thomas and special guest co-host Kevin Slaughter interview the Ukranian pop-punk band Cardinal Birds about how they formed, their musical influences, the art of constructing a song, their thoughts on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, how they feel about Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, what Ukrainian groupies look like, and all the other pressing questions of the day. Lots of ambient noise here, but listen in and enjoy the wild ride! Check out the music of Cardinal Birds on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0DPsCiaIwjENusaI2nplsK

Chris Thomas talks with Kristine Grant, a ghostwriter that has assisted many people in crafting messages. From love letters, eulogies, dating profiles, and everything in between, Kristine discusses how she maintains an authentic voice for each client. The importance of self-confidence in making interpersonal connections is a key theme. To learn more about Kristine's work, visit http://inspiredheartletters.com/

A practitioner of sports medicine makes some tasteless remarks about the middle schooler that fell out of the drop tower ride in Orlando. The video is haunting, as are the comments of a so-called Doctor!

A substitute teacher returns to Grade A Nation to talk about how an acting class reenacting the Will Smith and Chris Rock slapping encounter at the Oscars ceremony did not go according to plan....if there even was a plan to begin with.

Hala Abdul is a licensed psychotherapist in Canada working with clients in the financial technology domain. Hala shares with Grade A Nation the most common psychological concerns expressed by those working in FinTech, tips on how to find a psychotherapist with knowledge about new and emerging technologies, and thoughts on whether the rapidly evolving nature of digital innovations exacerbates mental health concerns. It is a thought-provoking interview that should be engaging for anyone interested in the future of mental health! To learn more about Hala Abdul's work, visit https://www.halatherapy.com/

Chris Thomas chats with Jeremiah Stemple, a developer of comic book projects for chronic patients and the charities that serve them. Hear how Jeremiah and his friends are trying to put a smile on the face of those who need it most! Learn more about Jeremiah's work at https://heroesforcauses.com/