I am Consciously Curious

Our next guest has over 40 years of experience within Emergency Medicine. In a relatively young industry, she’s advocated for diversity, equity, and inclusion within it. Her love for Chicago and the fire service is palpable. We hope this episode provides some insight into a world that is a part of our core and has shaped a lot of our perspective. There is still a national shortage of EMTs, but we’re optimistic for the future of EMS. Please enjoy my conversation with Chief Deborah Sommer.

Email: [email protected]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-sommer-27713361/

Our next guest helps us explore role playing games (RPG). I’ve never personally played, but our guest makes it approachable and exciting. The first half of the episode explores his upbringing in Nebraska and some of his earliest memories of creating narratives through adventure. We transition into his time in Theater and some of the nuances that come with that industry. We end the episode exploring his current endeavor, Rough Magic Games. An organization that creates opportunities for friends and strangers to come together and dive into a RPG over good food and drinks. They collaborate with cafes, restaurants, and bars in the city. Please enjoy my conversation with Christian Stokes

https://roughmagicgames.com
https://instagram.com/rough.magic.rpg

Our next episode is literally a treat. They’ll be celebrating 30 years this year as a donut shop. This is an episode about the immigrant experience, finding your way, and cultivating community through the vessel of donuts. The shop experienced a tragic fire in the summer of 2014 and they overcame the obstacles through community support and winning a local donut competition with their ube donut. It catapulted the neighborhood hole in the wall to a household name in the midwest. If you find yourself in the midwest and have a sweet tooth, I would highly consider stopping by Gurnee Donuts. Please enjoy my conversation with Kevin Lee.

https://www.gurneedonuts.com/
https://www.instagram.com/gurneedonuts

Our next guest takes us on his journey of starting Club Doctor. His products clean and restore every part of a golf club. This episode is a great fit for anyone on the entrepreneurial journey. We go into leveraging his interests and identifying a potential demand all the way to scaling the brand through marketing and potentially wholesaling. I was surprised by how bold he was at establishing a proof of concept when he filled blank bottles with car tire polish and sold them on Amazon. He hopes to continue building the CPG community in Chicago through workshops and meetups with other like minded entrepreneurs. Please enjoy my conversation with Adam Riedel.

https://clubdoctorgolf.com
https://instagram.com/clubdoctorgolf
https://instagram.com/adamriedel

Our next guest is a full-time, board certified neurosurgeon and Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery at The Chicago Medical School. She is one of roughly 200 board-certified women neurosurgeons in the United States. Her journey is an example of purpose, discipline, and determination. She had an early interest in neuroscience but her initial interaction with a neurosurgeon through her mother’s aneurysm pulled her into the path of neurosurgery. She’s precise, philanthropic, and someone who appreciates a challenge. Please enjoy my conversation with Dr. Sheri Dewan

https://drsheridewan.com
https://instagram.com/drsheridewan

Our next guest shares his journey of becoming a physician. I met him at our recent EMT graduation party for our students. We briefly talked about his time as a Physician in Emergency Medicine but to my surprise, he’s board certified in Family Medicine. He previously pursued a path in journalism and pivoted a little later in life. This episode would provide a lot of value for those a little older and wanting to start a career in medicine. Please enjoy my conversation with Dr. Dan Bade.

Sponsors:
www.doughnatepizza.com
www.chicagoemttraining.com

instagram.com/chicagoemttraining
instagram.com/iamconsciouslycurious

Our next guest is a holistic healer. Built on a foundation of chiropractic medicine, his curiosity has led him to modalities like muscle testing and Neuro-Emotional Technique to name a few. He has a knack of helping you explore any blocks you may have within the physical, spiritual, or emotional realms. He can host individual sessions, group sessions, and even remote sessions. After a session with him, you’ll realize he’s a modern day wizard. Please enjoy my conversation with Dr. Jon Mackoff

https://www.drjonmackoff.com
https://instagram.com/drjonmackoff

Our next guest shares her journey of deprogramming from the beauty industry. We explore some of the exhausting standards that women have been raised to meet. She’s attentive, thoughtful, and resolute. She has a knack for stirring up discussions about self worth in relation to the beauty industry on her instagram page, notyourmanicpixiedreamcurl. I hope you listen to this with an open mind and reflect on how it makes you feel. More often than not, that feeling of being triggered is a reflection of inner dissonance. Please enjoy my conversation with Helen. 

https://instagram.com/notyourmanicpixiedreamcurl
https://youarefullyhuman.com
https://instagram.com/iamconsciouslycurious

Our next guest was introduced to me by Dr. Dave Nayak. He completed a timelessly realistic tattoo that lives on Dr. Dave's arm. After decades of producing tattoos for private clients, the next chapter seems to include being a part of something larger than himself. He is currently the Creative Director at the WNDR Museum. He's a creator, curator, and a deep empath. We navigated conversations about cultivating fulfillment, identity, and family dynamics. Our conversation was pure and it evoked a sense of community. Please enjoy my conversation with David Allen.

https://www.allentattoo.com/
https://instagram.com/davidallen
https://instagram.com/iamconsciouslycurious

Our next guest comes on to share their journey into the nonprofit space. They currently partner with over 50 pizzerias and provide some amazing pies to various shelters in the Chicagoland area. Looking back, it seems like it was meant to be since he grew up around pizza and til this day, can not get sick of it. He has an incredible ability to connect with friends and strangers alike. He's funny, charming, and present. Please enjoy my conversation with Angelo Corso.

https://doughnatepizza.com
https://instagram.com/doughnatepizza
https://instagram.com/iamconsciouslycurious