Kristi Nelson, Executive Director of A Network for Grateful Living, is also the author of Wake Up Grateful: The Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted. Her life’s work in the non-profit sector has focused on leading, inspiring, and strengthening organizations committed to progressive social and spiritual change. Being a long-time stage IV cancer survivor moves her every day to support others in living and loving with great fullness of heart.

-- What is the Network for Grateful Living. 

--How the path to happiness and joy is being grateful for what is available to us at this moment.

-- Having gratitude is a practice. 

-- Focusing on the basics.  Getting to the root of things we take for granted.

-- How to talk to kids and adults about Gratitude.

-- How to change our mindset from one of having to;  I get to!  Everyday things are privileges that will not always be available to us.

-- How can we focus and enjoy and love the journey not just the finish line.

--What is my insecurity trying to teach me, how can I befriend it, befriend the doubt, the fear to get us on the path to reach our goals, launch our project, grow!

-- Stop, look & Go as a practice.

-- Recognizing when you are not being present is the way to get back to the present. 

-- What pulled her through stage 4 cancer. 

-- What she sees as the Potential for the human race- 




To find out more about Kristi and her work, go to:
https://kristinelson.net/
For more info about  the work of A The Network for Grateful Living:
https://gratefulness.org/


Click here to listen to all the episodes:
Own Every Moment Podcast

A jolt of inspiration to start the week! 

Are you spending hours and hours in the car with your kids, letting them DJ, and listening to the same songs over and over? Wait a minute; there are some powerful, timeless, and positive messages to mine in there! What happens when we stop judging and start paying attention! 

Songs: 
  No Time for Toxic People:   Imagine Dragons
  Pull the Cord:  The Score 
 #1: Imagine Dragons

Have Fun!! 

Alex Crothers is the founder of independent music venue Higher Ground in Burlington, VT, as well as co-owner of State Theatre and Thompson's Point in Portland, ME. He books and produces six artist-curated music festivals in the US and Mexico.   He has 25+ years in the live events side of the music business and currently produces ~600 events annually (pre-Covid). He's also a board member of the Independent Promoter Alliance, the executive producer of a VT PBS music series, and loves snowboarding. 

--Dealing with the current challenges of Covid 19. And how we change the dynamic. 

--Opening the Higher Ground at 22 years old and learning on the fly. 

--Why Music? 

--His early work on the Phish management team. 

-- What keeps him inspired after 25 years. "Always about tomorrow's show"  "Never a boring day in the office."

--The excitement of discovering and developing new bands! 

-- What makes him happy "when the local artist he works with succeeds." 

-- How to get started following your dream. 

-- The importance of creating partnerships. 

-- What pulled him through the covid. 

-- The importance of having big dreams

-- His hope for the future of the live music industry. 

-- His Legacy....... 

To find out more about Alex and his work, go to:
https://highergroundmusic.com/ and  https://statetheatreportland.com/

LES BROWN- 

As one of the world’s most renowned motivational speakers, Les Brown is a dynamic personality and highly-sought-after resource in business and professional circles for Fortune 500 CEOs, small business owners, non-profit and community leaders from all sectors of society looking to expand opportunity

Kelsey Flynn is an improviser, and stand-up comic who's performed all over from Seattle to San Francisco, New York to Boston  Caroline's on Broadway, and many an American Legion in between. Kelsey teaches stand-up/storytelling at Happier Valley Comedy and is truly a guiding light in her community! She lives with her wife and two kids in Northampton.

We talked about:

- When she knew she could make people laugh 

 - Becoming a Minister or a Comedian and how they intersect 

- Finding Home 

-  The Business is real in the show 

- Laughter is really at the heart of the relationship 

-You are a white guy who has feelings, great go volunteer!

- Finding humor in tough times, absurdity in a pandemic 

- Stop the striving 

- "Loving people except when I hate them" 

- God 

- Finding purpose 

- Belief vs. Fact and how to overcome fear and shame 

- No One is talking about you. No one cares. They are too busy talking about themselves 

- Just Being Helpful!  

 To learn more about Kelsey Flynn
visit his website at: https://www.kelseyflynn.com/ 

For as long as he can remember, Ryan Montbleau’s been a seeker. From the jungles of Peru to the volcanoes of Hawaii, from the beaches of Costa Rica to the streets of Brooklyn, from the backseat of a 16-passenger van to backstage at Carnegie Hall, the acclaimed singer/songwriter has spent much of his life crisscrossing the globe on a perpetual search for meaning, purpose, and understanding. It’s a quest that’s guided him both personally and professionally over the years, one that’s come to define not only his music but his very sense of self. And yet, listening to Montbleau’s ambitious new multi-part album, Wood, Fire, Water, and Air, there is a profound sense of satisfaction in sitting still, a recognition that perhaps all those spiritual treasures he’s been chasing for so long were closer than he thought. 

We talked about:

- Blind Ambition vs. Setting Goals. 

- The Beginning of his Musical Path

- How the Rain can you help you out when you're in the moment 

-  Why Everyone deserves your best how to deliver it

- Sting, The Black Crowes, Todd Snider, wanting to fill a stadium but the importance of affecting the people where you're with who you truly are. 

- Knowing you can Own that room and not take it for granted. 

- Your Productive Brain and your Receptive Brain 

- The concept of God - coming back to  spirit 

- How he delivers his message solo or with a full band.   

- His favorite album and the new music he is releasing, Fire, Water, Air, Wood. 

-  Who is Ryan is listening to, inspired by including Leonard Cohen

- Protection and Connection for a touring artist in these times

- The Role of the Musician

- What he wants his legacy to be! 

 To learn more about Ryan Montbleau
visit his website at: www.ryanmontbleau.com

Seeing growth in the craft beer industry and recognizing the absence of local beer in Springfield, MA, Raymond Berry Jr. founded The White Lion Brewing Company with the community in mind in 2014.  After 6 years of hard work, statewide self-distribution, and loyal customers they opened the White Lion Brewpub at 1500 Main Street Springfield! 

We talked about:

- Why Beer

- The brand of the White Lion 

- Why he believes The Renaissance is the Achievement 

-  His relationship and mentorship with Jim Koch from Sam Adams Brewing

- How to create Unity

- Being a man of color in a white-dominated industry 

- Why it's important to get off the sidelines and speak up
 
-How to keep going when times are tough. (Own Every Moment) 

-What's Next for White Lion, the goals. 

- What White Lion and Springfield will look like in 50 years!

I found Fabalish as part of a plant-based investor group I'm part of.  I was inspired by their story, vision, and products!   

Fabalish creates plant-based, allergen-friendly, organic, and clean-label foods from chickpeas and its byproduct aquafaba (chickpea water). Their award-winning dips (such as tzatziki, ranch, and queso), are replacing egg/dairy-based counterparts thanks to the versatility of aquafaba. And from the upcycled chickpeas, they've created the first baked and organic falafel on the market - a healthy, tasty, and clean protein alternative to animal products and engineered/highly-processed alt-proteins.

Sustainable & Fabulous

Jessica Gebel and Paul Majcherczyk, co-founders of Fabalish, are on a mission to eat sustainably, purposefully, and fabulously. As a Natural Foods Chef, Jess has always enjoyed the challenge of creating clean and healthy foods that are deliciously satisfying. With Jess front and center as the heart of the brand, Paul is the muscle behind the scenes. Having graduated as an engineer, worked in financial services for nearly a decade, and then led the operational efforts of a tech startup, Paul brings a wealth of business management and problem-solving experience.  

We talked about:

- Why the chick-pea 

-How Jess used her own health problems to become a private natural food chef. 

- As a chef, she discovers the magic of Aquafaba (chickpea water) to create savory sauces. 

-Their beginnings at the farmers market in 2018.  Selling sauces and playing the ukelele. 

- Their goal is to be part of the solution in changing our food system to be healthier and more sustainable. 

- Why and how Paul leaves corporate America to help run Fabalish. 

- Aquafaba - Liquid Goal! 

-How they have raised 800K from friends, family, vegan investing groups, and angels! 

- The goal is to help people educate people on plant-based eating and how that can support our planet and our bodies.  
 
-How to keep going when times are tough. 
(Own Every Moment) 

-Their thoughts and hope for the plant-based industry. 

- Getting dropped off at supermarkets to sell! 

-What's Next for Fabalish, the goals. 

- A legacy worth working for.  

A new Segment!
I will release every Monday A jolt of inspiration to kick off the week. The segment will be  Focused on a quote, a speech, inspiration from a person!   A way to start our week with a positive, inspiring message! 

Week 1:  Denzel Washington - Fall Forward. It's about the power of failure.  
As he says, "if you are not failing, you're not trying."  

Denzel needs no introduction!