Revel Revel

Interview with Laura Murvartian.

Wonderful discussion with Laura Murvartian* about community, contradictions, how no one is a stranger but talking to "strangers" can be the most freeing for her, honesty, and the rules of life. Recorded during corona and sequestering location caused some very lovely but noisy birds!

Laura has been called a "corporate woman with an activist heart". She's a professional negotiator by career, world traveler, and, in her local community of Atlanta, she has been selected as one of the 50 most influential Latinos in GA. She is just too accomplished to list everything here.

And please consider supporting her non-profit: Fiesta de Libros

Books mentioned on the pod and/or recommended by Laura, all available at https://bookshop.org/

The Submission by Amy Waldman  https://bookshop.org/a/8901/9781250007575
Just Kids by Patti Smith  https://bookshop.org/a/8901/9780060936228
Catfish and Mandala by Andrew X. Pham  https://bookshop.org/a/8901/9780312267179

*You'll hear me say Laura Murvartian-Rhim a couple of times. This is purely my stupid mistake. The error is mine and I'm so sorry the audio is incorrect.

My very first guest is Merrill Overson.
I know him from going to high school together at Mt. Carmel, in San Diego in the 80s. I didn't really know him that well prior to this and did not realize that he's force that cannot be contained or edited. However, I should have known from a typical MCHS reunion that our talk will not be short.

Talking to Merrill about his life, the circle of life, team building, the wild ride of a restauranteur, moving past adversity, being a father, how to mark your life by the people you know and using everything as a springboard to what's next.

Merrill Overson currently lives on a working franch (farm/ranch) with cows, sheep, chickens, turkeys, ducks, pigs, cats, dogs, ferrets and crazy kids! They grow a ton of things including oranges, lemons, grapefruit, pomegranate, olives and all kinds of veggies and herbs.

He is also stay at home francher/dad while also consulting for restaurants.

Warnings!  Merrill talks with this hands and it sounds "interesting" on a podcast. But seriously, there are details about substance and child abuse thoroughout the episode. This may be too much for some. If you want to hear the pod but skip the abuse parts, just email me and I'll give you the time markers to avoid.

Books mentioned in pod, available at https://bookshop.org/

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand  https://bookshop.org/a/8901/9780451191144

212 Degrees by Sam Parker https://bookshop.org/a/8901/9781492675433

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki  https://bookshop.org/a/8901/9781612680194

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain  https://bookshop.org/a/8901/9780060899226

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline  3

the Magician Series by Raymond Feist http://www.crydee.com/raymond-feist/book-series

Introducing the new podcast Revel Revel by Lauren Drabble