Off The Beaten Podcast

Hello Friends!  This week I had the pleasure to sit and chat with Maria Degillo.  Maria and I met through our 9-5's, and I shortly after one of our first real conversations, I was certain I had to have her on the podcast.  She is an amazingly dynamic and colorful personality, much like myself, and I knew we would have some great conversation.

Here is a link to the playlist on Spotify: Maria’s Divorce Playlist 

After listening, be sure to subscribe, rate and review on your podcast app of choice! 

SIGN UP for the Off The Beaten Podcast newsletter: Sign Up Here!

Also, I have an exclusive offer for OTBP listeners! Visit reppinpins.com and get 20% off your entire order with discount code OTBP20.  You won't find this deal anywhere else!  

Follow OTBP on IG: instagram.com/offthebeatenpodcast

Send Dion A Tweet: twitter.com/Dionsmusica

Got something to say?

Calling all musicians!!!  Would you like your music featured on an episode of OTBP? E-mail us a streaming link: [email protected] 

Music licensed from Purple Planet Music & Epidemic Sound

Podcast Artwork courtesy of Heather Calvert (@HCAL23)

Happy New Year Everyone!!!  This episode I decided to take some to address how I developed a love for podcasts, and what has led me to this in my pod creation journey.  After noticing that many of my listeners are novices, I thought the top of the year is a great time to talk about why you should be listening to podcasts!  Additionally, after being inspired by some of my fellow podcasters, I decided to take  some time to offer some ideas on what you can do to support OTBP.  

After listening, be sure to subscribe, rate and review on your podcast app of choice! 

SIGN UP for the Off The Beaten Podcast newsletter: Sign Up Here!

Also, I have an exclusive offer for OTBP listeners! Visit reppinpins.com and get 20% off your entire order with discount code OTBP20.  You won't find this deal anywhere else!  

Follow OTBP on IG: instagram.com/offthebeatenpodcast

Send Dion A Tweet: twitter.com/Dionsmusica

Got something to say?

Calling all musicians!!!  Would you like your music featured on an episode of OTBP? E-mail us a streaming link: [email protected] 

Acknowledgements:

This show was recorded on:

• Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Audio Interface

Intro music courtesy of: https://www.purple-planet.com. The place for royalty free music.  

Podcast Artwork courtesy of Heather Calvert (@HCAL23)

This episode Dion (@Dionsmusica) talks with music aficionado, roller derby girl, and mom Amy "Fun Fetti" Litviak (@kupkake_Amy)  In addition to staying active as a "band mom," working full-time, and helping take care of her family, Amy is a member of the Vindicated Vixens Roller Derby Team.  

Dion and Amy met years ago while enjoying bands in the local Chicago rock music scene, so that's where the conversation begins.  From there, Dion aims to learn more about roller derby.  Finally Dion and Amy talk being parents of teenagers, and what it's like being so busy and maintaining a happy and fruitful relationship.    

Also, there was so much talk about music, we went ahead and asked Amy to create a playlist of some of her favorite songs.  Go on over to Spotify for the OTBP Episode 14 Funfetti Playlist

After listening, be sure to subscribe, rate and review on your podcast app of choice! 

SIGN UP for the Off The Beaten Podcast newsletter: Sign Up Here!

Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/

Also, we have an exclusive offer for OTBP listeners! Visit reppinpins.com and get 20% off your entire order with discount code OTBP20.  You won't find this deal anywhere else!  

Tweet Amy:Twitter.com/kupkake_Amy

Check out the Vindicated Vixens: vindicatedvixens.com

Follow OTBP on IG: instagram.com/offthebeatenpodcast

Send Dion A Tweet: twitter.com/Dionsmusica

Got something to say?

Calling all musicians!!!  Would you like your music featured on an episode of OTBP? E-mail us a streaming link: [email protected] 

Acknowledgements:

This show was recorded on:

• Blue Yeti Microphone

Intro music courtesy of: https://www.purple-planet.com. The place for royalty free music.  

Podcast Artwork courtesy of HEATHER CALVERT (@HCAL23)

This episode Dion (@Dionsmusica) talks with Off The Beaten Podcast Graphic Artist Heather Calvert (@HCAL23). Dion and Heather got together recently for the 1st Annual OTBP Podcast Retreat, in the fun and fabulous Quad Cities. 

When Dion needed a logo for his soon to be released podcast, and was stressing over the price for a good logo, Heather offered to create it for free.  Since then, she has supplied all graphic design needs for OTBP, and has asked for nothing in return.  After 4 days of brainstorming, and doing a lot of behind the scenes work, we thought it was a great time to finally get Heather behind the microphone so that you all could get to know the face behind the artwork.  

After listening, be sure to subscribe, rate and review on your podcast app of choice! 

Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/

Also, we have an exclusive offer for OTBP listeners! Visit reppinpins.com and get 20% off your entire order with discount code OTBP20.  You won't find this deal anywhere else!  

Visit Reppin Pins website: reppinpins.com

Tweet Heather: Twitter.com/HCAL23

Follow OTBP on IG: instagram.com/offthebeatenpodcast

Send Dion A Tweet: twitter.com/Dionsmusica

SIGN UP for the Off The Beaten Podcast newsletter: Sign Up Here!

Got something to say?

Calling all musicians!!!  Would you like your music featured on an episode of OTBP? E-mail us a streaming link: [email protected] 

Acknowledgements:

This show was recorded on:

Intro music courtesy of: https://www.purple-planet.com. The place for royalty free music.  

Podcast Artwork courtesy of HEATHER CALVERT (@HCAL23)

This episode Dion (@Dionsmusica) talks about a plethora of revelations and thoughts he had while laid up over the weekend with a horrible bout of food poisoning!  It was really bad!  

Dion discusses not only being sick and his subsequent recovery, but also dating and cuffing season.  He also shouts out podcasts that he's been listening to over the past two weeks, and a few other topics to boot! 

Be sure to subscribe.  We'd also love it if you took a minute to rate and review on your podcast listening app of choice! 

Exclusive offer for OTBP listeners! Visit reppinpins.com and get 20% off your entire order with code OTBP20.  You won't find this deal anywhere else!  We're a huge fan of Reppin...check them out today! 

Follow OTBP on IG: instagram.com/offthebeatenpodcast

Send Dion A Tweet: twitter.com/Dionsmusica

SIGN UP for the Off The Beaten Podcast newsletter: Sign Up Here!

Got something to say?

Calling all musicians!!!  Would you like your music featured on an episode of OTBP? E-mail us a streaming link: [email protected] 

Acknowledgements:

This show was recorded on:

• Focusrite Scarlett CM25 Mkii Microphone. 

Intro music courtesy of: https://www.purple-planet.com. The place for royalty free music.  

Podcast Artwork courtesy of HEATHER CALVERT (@HCAL23)

This episode Dion (@Dionsmusica) talks to Sarah Chung (@jdognasian).  Sarah is a Paralympian Judoka, having competed in the 2016 Rio Paralympic games, as well as a musician, and recent Adler University graduate. 

Sarah and Dion met this summer while both marching in the Lakeside Pride Marching Band.  Dion said the minute he learned that Sarah was a Paralympian, a fact which she was reticent to divulge, we had to have her on the show.  The conversation covers everything from Sarah's self-proclaimed embarrassing moment with Barack Obama, to the faux pas' that people make in every day life when interacting with the visually impaired. Sarah was extremely open, and the conversation was surprisingly candid and intimate.  Not to be missed. 

Be sure to subscribe, rate and review!

Exclusive offer for OTBP listeners! Visit reppinpins.com and get 20% off your entire order with code OTBP20.  You won't find this deal anywhere else!  

Visit Reppin Pins website: reppinpins.com

Tweet Sarah: Twitter.com/jdognasian

Follow OTBP on IG: instagram.com/offthebeatenpodcast

Send Dion A Tweet: twitter.com/Dionsmusica

SIGN UP for the Off The Beaten Podcast newsletter: Sign Up Here!

Got something to say?

Calling all musicians!!!  Would you like your music featured on an episode of OTBP? E-mail us a streaming link: [email protected] 

Acknowledgements:

This show was recorded on:

• Blue Yeti microphone

Intro music courtesy of: https://www.purple-planet.com. The place for royalty free music.  

Podcast Artwork courtesy of HEATHER CALVERT (@HCAL23)

This episode Dion (@Dionsmusica) spends some time reflecting on his thoughts on Veteran's Day, and takes some time to recount his time in the Illinois Army National Guard and his 2008 deployment to Afghanistan. If you are a veteran, or have veterans in your life, this is one not to be missed.  

Be sure to subscribe, rate and review!

Although not mentioned during this episode due to the subject matter:

Follow Reppin Pins on Twitter: @ReppinPins

Follow OTBP on IG: instagram.com/offthebeatenpodcast

Send Dion A Tweet: twitter.com/Dionsmusica

SIGN UP for the Off The Beaten Podcast newsletter: Sign Up Here!

Got something to say?

Calling all musicians!!!  Would you like your music featured on an episode of OTBP? E-mail us a streaming link: [email protected] 

Acknowledgements:

This show was recorded on:

• Blue Yeti microphone

Intro music courtesy of: https://www.purple-planet.com. The place for royalty free music.  

Podcast Artwork courtesy of HEATHER CALVERT (@HCAL23)

Once you're done listening to this episode, please rate, comment, and subscribe. The more ratings and comments we have, the more people who will be exposed to the podcast. 

This episode Dion (@Dionsmusica) talks to Francis Almeda (@almedagrill), founder of Reppin Pins. Reppin makes pins that represent what you love, and does it in amazingly stylish fashion! 

After a few weeks of back and forth emails, we were able to finally pin Francis down (get it?) and talk all things pins.  We've been a fan of Reppin for a few years now, so we were super excited to talk about the business, how it started, and what the future may hold for the Chicago based company. Francis and Dion also talk Jiu Jitsu, which is how they met, and additionally, as per usual, Dion digs in for tips on successful relationships from Francis, who is a married man.  Knowledge is Power! 

Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Exclusive offer for OTBP listeners! Visit reppinpins.com and get 20% off your entire order with code OTBP20.  You won't find this deal anywhere else!  

Follow Reppin Pins on Twitter: @ReppinPins

Follow Francis on IG: @francis.almeda

Follow OTBP on IG: instagram.com/offthebeatenpodcast

Send Dion A Tweet: twitter.com/Dionsmusica

SIGN UP for the Off The Beaten Podcast newsletter: Sign Up Here!

Got something to say?

Calling all musicians!!!  Would you like your music featured on an episode of OTBP? E-mail us a streaming link: [email protected] 

Acknowledgements:

This show was recorded on:

• Blue Yeti microphone

Intro music courtesy of: https://www.purple-planet.com. The place for royalty free music.  

Podcast Artwork courtesy of HEATHER CALVERT (@HCAL23)

This week Dion (@Dionsmusica) offers up an important public service announcement.  But first, he quickly talks about the ongoing Chicago Teachers Strike, and some frustrations he's faced dealing with criticisms of Chicago and CPS.  Be sure to check it all out! 

Follow OTBP on IG: instagram.com/offthebeatenpodcast

Send Dion A Tweet: twitter.com/Dionsmusica

SIGN UP for the Off The Beaten Podcast newsletter: Sign Up Here!

Got something to say?

Calling all musicians!!!  Would you like your music featured on an episode of OTBP? E-mail us a streaming link: [email protected] 

Acknowledgements:

This show was recorded on:

• Blue Yeti microphone

Intro music courtesy of: https://www.purple-planet.com. The place for royalty free music.  

Podcast Artwork courtesy of HEATHER CALVERT (@HCAL23)

Once you're done listening to this episode, please rate, comment, and subscribe. The more ratings and comments we have, the more people who will be exposed to the podcast. 

This week Dion (@Dionsmusica) talks about the upcoming Chicago Teachers Strike.  Dion is a former educator, a former Chicago Public Schools teacher, and a former Chicago Teachers Union member, having taught 4 years in a public school setting, 2 of those in Chicago. 

We didn't think it was fair to ask a teacher or a parent to put themselves in a compromising position, so Dion felt comfortable talking the strike, interspersing his own personal knowledge, being a part of the 2012 Chicago Public Schools strike.  

In his own special way, Dion weaves his way through a variety of stories about his education experience, as well as talking about the importance of the sticking points of the CTU demands list.  Definitely check out this unique perspective on Chicago schools and education. 

They come up in the conversation, so be sure to check out The Civic Lab. 

Be sure to RATE and REVIEW after listening.

Also, big shout out to Jessica Lipon, from Episode 3, who reached out to let us know she went and ordered some Mad Unicorn Eats.  You should do the same. Go order some Mad Unicorn Eats, and let them know OTBP sent you! 

Visit the Mad Unicorn website: MadUnicornEats.com

Follow OTBP on IG: instagram.com/offthebeatenpodcast

Send Dion A Tweet: twitter.com/Dionsmusica

SIGN UP for the Off The Beaten Podcast newsletter: Sign Up Here!

Got something to say?

Calling all musicians!!!  Would you like your music featured on an episode of OTBP? E-mail us a streaming link: [email protected] 

Acknowledgements:

This show was recorded on:

• Blue Yeti microphone

Intro music courtesy of: https://www.purple-planet.com. The place for royalty free music.  

Podcast Artwork courtesy of HEATHER CALVERT (@HCAL23)