S4E4 IFYS: MICHAEL A. BLUM

UNEDITED RAW VERSION

In this deeply personal episode of Inspiration for Your Soul, Cali Rossen honors the life and legacy of her dear friend, Michael A. Blum, who passed away in July 2026.

Michael was an award-winning executive producer, writer, and storyteller whose remarkable career included work with BET, A&E, HBO, USA, E!, PBS, AEG, Bunim-Murray, Bon Jovi, and many others. His credits included 50 Central and serving as executive producer, showrunner, and writer on the first three seasons of Criss Angel Mindfreak.

But beyond the accomplishments was the person Cali knew and loved as a friend: creative, curious, funny, insightful, and full of unforgettable stories.

This special episode preserves Michael’s voice, wisdom, and perspective on creativity, following your instincts, embracing an unconventional path, and trusting where life leads you.

For those who knew Michael, may this conversation bring back a memory and a smile. For those meeting him for the first time, may you feel a little of the joy, inspiration, and spirit that made him so special.

Michael, this one is for you.

Inspiration for Your Soul – S4E3
GUEST: ROGER NYGARD - Filmmaker, Director & Bestselling Author

Cali Rossen sits down with multi-award-winning filmmaker Roger Nygard, the creative mind behind Trekkies, The Nature of Existence, The Comedy Store, and more. Roger has directed The Office and The Bernie Mac Show, edited Emmy-nominated episodes of VEEP and Curb Your Enthusiasm, and authored Cut to the Monkey and The Documentarian.

This episode blends humor, insight, and big questions about creativity, meaning, and storytelling — with the added bonus that Roger has never been indicted or convicted. Goals matter.

🎧 Listen in for a thoughtful, hilarious, and unexpectedly soulful conversation.

#InspirationForYourSoul#RogerNygard#PodcastEpisode#Season4#Filmmaking#DocumentaryFilm#ComedyEditing#Storytelling#CreativeProcess#TheOffice#CurbYourEnthusiasm#VEEP#TheComedyStore#Trekkies#CutToTheMonkey#TheDocumentarian#BestsellingAuthor#CreativeMind#FindingMeaning#HumorAndHumanity

A Heartfelt Mission – Ava Kaufman’s Journey from Survival to Service

Twelve years ago, Ava Kaufman was fighting for her life. A former professional dancer and black belt in taekwondo, Ava's world turned upside down when an undiagnosed autoimmune disease led to organ failure. With a donor heart and a promise to give back, she has transformed her second chance into a life of service.

In this powerful episode of Inspiration for Your Soul, Ava shares her extraordinary journey from near death to founding Ava’s Heart, a nonprofit providing essential resources for transplant patients and donor families. Her mission? To ensure that financial barriers don’t stand in the way of lifesaving transplants and to honor the true heroes—organ donors and their families.

Join us as we explore Ava’s incredible story of resilience, hope, and purpose. Be prepared to be moved and inspired by a woman who turned her adversity into an unstoppable force for good.

🎧 Listen now on Inspiration for Your Soul!

IFYS S4E1: DEREK McLANE: Multi-Award Winning Scenic Designer, Author of DESIGNING BROADWAY

Welcome back to Season 4 of Inspiration for Your Soul! This is our first episode of the season and we are thrilled to introduce our special guest, multi-award winning scenic designer, Derek McLane. He's world renowned for his indelible mark on Broadway & beyond!

Derek's work is celebrated for it's creativity, ingenuity, and emotional depth, bringing stories to life on stage with breath taking visuals.

In this episode you'll discover the driving forces behind Derek's extraordinary career. We'll delve into the moments that have shaped him, including a poignant story where a teachers harsh words could have derailed his dreams but instead fueled his determination to succeed. He also shares what he thinks every person needs to thrive and what keeps him inspired in the ever evolving world of scenic design.

You can discover even more about him at www.DerekMcLane.com

This episode brought to you by SacredFrequencies.org - Go Within & Go Beyond

Jody Ebling is a seasoned and versatile vocalist who has worked all over the world. She has the gift of a fluid vocal instrument that allows her to easily belt out a Broadway show tune, sing an Italian aria, rattle off the many lyrics of an intricate comedy song, or gently interpret a tune from the Great American Popular Songbook.

Jody has worked in all of the top clubs in Boston and New York City, including the famed Blue Note. She performed regularly at the famous Friends Restaurant, owned by Elton John,  in London.

She also has toured Florida and New England extensively with her one-woman show, “Broadway Baby.” She has had the pleasure of working with many wonderful entertainers, including Steve Solomon and Freddie Roman. She was a guest soloist with both the Coral Springs Pops Orchestra and the Hollywood Beach Pops Orchestra under the direction of Peter Fuchs.

She has toured with the Cab Calloway big band led by Calloway Brooks; appeared as a featured vocalist at the Festival Lyrique  on the island Belle Ille in France and performed as the featured soloist with the White Heat Swing Orchestra in the Boston Harbor Hotel guest artist series. Jody has also had the honor of doing concerts with virtuoso jazz violinist Aaron Weinstein, legendary jazz guitarist Al Caiola and legendary jazz pianist Mike Renzi.

Jody is a member of the SAG-AFTRA. Jody has provided narration for museum displays and meditation tapes as well as voice-overs for many television and radio commercials. Jody also has appeared in several independent films. In addition to recording jazz standards and her own compositions, Jody has recorded songs written by Tootsie Roll Chairman and CEO Mel Gordon, Robert Hitz and Dennis Livingston.

Jody is also a composer and performer of sacred music. She has been a guest soloist for countless church services. She has opened events for Gary Renard, David Hoffmeister, Edwene Gaines, Ernest Chu, Cynthia Segal , Nouck Sanchez and Tomas Vieira.  She has led choirs for retreats with The Foundation For Open Hearts. She was a guest artist for the Strawberry Fields Festival held in the high desert of Utah by the Living Miracles Monastery. Jody was a  guest soloist for the recent A Course In Miracles conferences in Chicago, New York City and Boston.

John Lim is a Poshmark seller, TEDx speaker,

TRAILER for S3E8 IFYS with John Lim - Author, 5-Figure Poshmark Seller, TEDx Speaker, and so much more!

He shares the 3 Most Important things he must answer YES to before he embraces any project. He has had many experiences where he

had to cut loose, cut losses and move on, and wants our audiences to take away these 3 important yes's. Stay tuned!

 Becki Dennis, a multi-talented guest is Award Winning Actress.

A gifted writer chosen as a finalist in the Moving Picture Institute's film program.  Founder of Inspire Works, and a proud Member of the Television Academy. 

A handful of Becki's credits include JANE THE VIRGIN, TED 2, AMERICAN HUSTLE, THIS IS US, and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM.

Listen to find out how becoming a successful business owner derailed her acting career for a while, and how she got herself back on track.  She also shares about the time she booked Curb Your Enthusiasm, and how the news came out of the blue when she was at a low point having thoughts of quitting acting.

Discover even more about Becki, at her website- BeckiDennis.com

This episode is brought to you by SacredFrequencies.org Renewing Through Resonance

S3E7 Inspiration For Your Soul Podcast with Cali Rossen

Just a few of her most recent works are JANE THE VIRGIN, TED 2, AMERICAN HUSTLE, THIS IS US, and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM.

Listen to find out how becoming a successful business owner derailed her acting career for a while, and how she got herself back on track.  She also shares about the time she booked a show she'd dreamed of working on for years, and how the news came out of the blue when she was at a low point and having thoughts of quitting acting.

This episode is brought to you by SacredFrequencies.org Renewing Through Resonance

Marc Cashman, Voted 'Best Voices of the Year" 3X by AudioFile Magazine, known as the Voice Cat, is a Multi-Award Veteran Voice Over Actor, Director, Producer, Event Speaker and 5 Star Author of the book V, OH, avail on Amazon.