Chris Brogan is flying solo today on The Backpack Show! Join him to talk about the future of work. And bring your thoughts, questions and comments.

Diving headfirst into your dreams is the order of the day on this episode of The Backpack Show with Chris Brogan and Kerry O'Shea Gorgone!

Fashion entrepreneur and educator Leekie Tang is based in Paris, France. We'll talk with her about helping other entrepreneurs grow their business while contributing to the development of a more sustainable and inclusive society. This little 2 minute trailer will give you a glimpse of who she is and what she is about. https://mindful-business-founder.simplecast.com/

Melanie Curtis went from investment banking to professional skydiving to life coaching! We'll get the scoop from Melanie about her new book, "How to Fly: Life Lessons from a Professional Skydiver," and talk about making the leap from a traditional career (even when it's a bit scary).

With more than 11,000 jumps and 25 years experience in the sport of skydiving, Melanie is the co-founder of Highlight Pro Skydiving Team and the Executive Director of the Women's Skydiving Network nonprofit. She co-creates the podcast, "Trust the Journey." http://melaniecurtis.com/

Since 2008, Mike Sorgatz has been profiling the work and biographies of Brooklyn's visual artists in his two blogs, Art in Brooklyn and Art in New York City. At the beginning of the pandemic, Mike started a weekly Zoom call for his artist buddies. Janice McDonell and Elizabeth Meggs helped make it happen.

On this episode of The Backpack Show with Chris Brogan and Kerry O'Shea Gorgone, we'll talk with Mike, Janice, and Elizabeth about creating a lifeline for artists during the pandemic, and how it grew well beyond a simple weekly call.

They put together both a book, show, and artists' talk about their work. Join us as we take a deep dive into community-building amongst artists. https://artinbrooklyn.com/2021/06/twenty-twenty-twenty-one-a-group-show-of-artists-coming-together-during-covid/

Who wouldn't want adorable puppies at their party? David Dietz, owner of PuppyParty.com, can make it happen!

On this episode of The Backpack Show with Chris Brogan and Kerry O'Shea Gorgone, we'll talk about how David built a business out of bringing a small pack of puppies to people's parties. (Say THAT five times fast!) https://puppyparty.com/

Come learn about Habitat for Humanity on this episode of The Backpack Show with Chris Brogan and Kerry O'Shea Gorgone! We'll talk with Director of Marketing & Media Dusty Parsons​ and Chief Development Officer Tina Burgoz about their work at Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona. https://habitatcaz.org/

Andrea Jones-Rooy, Ph.D. is "a social scientist specializing in complexity." She's written a book and several research papers on complex systems, and regularly contributes articles to media outlets on complexity, as well as data science, international relations, diversity, and uncertainty.

She's also a standup comedian and circus performer! Come meet Andrea on this episode of The Backpack Show with Chris Brogan and Kerry O'Shea Gorgone! http://www.jonesrooy.com/

Join Chris and Kerry in the studio for this episode of The Backpack Show. We'll catch up, have some fun, and maybe even play a game, so get camera ready and pop into the studio with us! cbrogan.me/joinus

Into VR and video games? Or ballet? Either way, come and meet VRTO 2021 communications director and co-producer Stephanie Greenall on this episode of The Backpack Show with Chris Brogan and Kerry O'Shea Gorgone! We'll talk with Stephanie about running Canada's first (and largest) V/AR Stories Festival, as well as her former life as a ballerina and her current love of poutine! GTAconference.virtualreality.to

Fitness influencer, advocate, and business owner Hannah Setzer was born with cystic hygroma, a condition that left her with hundreds of cysts growing in her head and neck. But during an operation to remove the cysts shortly after her birth, some crucial facial nerves were removed, leaving her face unable to function as normal.

On this episode of The Backpack Show with Chris Brogan and Kerry O'Shea Gorgone, we'll talk with Hannah about her blog, Feeding Tube Fitness. We'll also learn about her business selling elderberry products, and the work she's doing to create a community where people with disabilities, no visible disabilities, and no disabilities at all can come together. https://linktr.ee/feedingtube.fitness

In the meantime, check out Hannah's Book, "30 Days of Movement: At Home, No Equipment Needed Workouts for All Levels and Abilities!" https://www.amazon.com/30-Days-Movement-Equipment-Abilities-ebook/dp/B08R98JSL4/

Kerry's been working on this one for a while! Westerlay Orchids is a third generation family business and taps Dutch roots to grow the finest flowers on the Pacific Coast. Director Jeff Karpman and e-commerce specialist Grace Hannah join us on The Backpack Show with Chris Brogan and Kerry O'Shea Gorgone to share what it's like running Southern California’s largest commercial grower of Phalaenopsis and Cymbidium orchids. (The company distributes more than 3 million orchids a year!)

We'll talk about the company's innovative environmental and sustainability practices, as well as how they support local schools, nonprofit organizations, and their community. http://westerlayorchids.com/