It started with a stamp from the Belgian Congo and took Professor Ed Williams around the world—along with hundreds of students, older adults, and college deans. “It” is the retired professor’s passion for travel, and not just any travel. Learning Vacations. Ed shares his journey with host Lisa Champeau on how he made a career of travel education with a focus on China, the “sleeping giant” who sleeps no more.   

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Author Amy Ferris has just published a new memoir that lives up to its title-- Mighty Gorgeous, a Little Book About Messy Love.”   From her home in northeastern Pennsylvania, Amy chats with Harmony TALK host Lisa Champeau about everything from dropping out of high school at age 15 to being nominated for a big award in Hollywood.  But most significantly, Amy talks from the heart about how important it is to embrace who you are and how you got there. 

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Peter Bohlin, the architect behind many iconic structures, including the Apple store on 5th Avenue in New York, the Barn at Fallingwater and Bill Gates’ Seattle-area mansion, talks to host Lisa Champeau about creating works that are not only sustainable but “humane.” Find out how Peter Bohlin followed his calling.

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Growing up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Glynis Johns dreamed of one day moving to New York City to explore the arts, fashion and to further her education.  While attending St. John’s University and establishing herself as a Brooklynite, Glynis found her calling and her passion.  In this episode, Glynis speaks with Greg Frigoletto about her fascinating journey from dreaming to doing, becoming the founder and CEO of the Black Scranton Project, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, local heritage initiative, and public history venture dedicated to archiving and celebrating the Black history of Scranton and Northeastern Pennsylvania.

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Lisa Champeau interviews Dreamer, Entrepreneur and Choreographer Rebecca Davis. Learn how she turned her passion for dance into  a globe-spanning tool for social change.

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A medical visionary with the soul of an artist, Dr. Melvyn Wolk has made his mark on humanity.  In this episode he talks with Todd Stephens about his lifelong desire to make going to the doctor more “fun” for kids.  He also shares how working in a junk yard as a young boy may have inspired his fascination with “found object” art and ignited his love of photography.  Gifted with a passion for dreaming and doing, Dr. Wolk introduces his latest project, an interactive children’s book called “The Illphabet”, which helps kids learn and understand the alphabet and their health. 

Listen here or watch this episode on streaming video at: https://youtu.be/ogMVAzKUZpY?si=LweJ-kIWkL-7W2s0

 To see Dr. Wolk’s artistic work visit  melwolkstudio.com. 

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Congratulations to Celeste Mergens, founder of the global nonprofit Days for Girls International, on the publication of her new book, The Power of Days. Mergens’ programs to fight menstrual stigma can now be found in 140+ countries. She spoke with Harmony TALK host Lisa Champeau in 2022 about her own journey from an impoverished youth to crusader for women’s rights. Her new book, released October 3, 2023, has many poignant—sometimes painful but always moving—stories of struggle and resilience. Celeste and Lisa are joined by Olivia Scartelli, a post-graduate student at the time, who works today for the U.S. Agency for International Development. She helps customize financing solutions for projects in developing countries – including improving women’s access to finance. For more info on Days for Girls, visit www.daysforgirls.org.

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After a concussion in training camp ended his dreams of playing for the New York Jets, Russ Cooke found himself pumping gas in his home town. In this episode he talks with Todd Stephens about his unlikely transition from the locker room to the board room. Today he’s focused on the mental health and wellbeing of student athletes who face increasing rates of anxiety and depression, through his work with NDUR for Athletes.

https://ndurforathletes.health
https://www.linkedin.com/in/russ-cooke-0883b014/
Instagram: @russellcooke73

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He's a businessman and a grandfather, she's a spirited young artist and mother. Different, yes, but with a shared passion.  Henry Skier and Jill Carletti chat with Harmony TALK host Lisa Champeau about how they came together to grow Harmony Presents from a small performance space in an old silk mill to a successful, sophisticated yet rustic outdoor performance venue in Hawley, Pennsylvania, called Harmony in the Woods.

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Brian Balthazar is a TV personality and executive producer who has built a career creating, producing, and appearing on some of the country’s most popular networks and programs.

Brian has amassed more than 300 appearances as a television host, journalist, and pop culture guest on a variety of shows including The TODAY show, The Talk, Good Morning America, and more. This is a great peek behind the curtain from an entertainment professional who took a dream and made it into a successful career in television!

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