The Backpack Show

Kerry's back so we're doing an episode just to welcome her back. It turns into something SUPER fun. :)

SAMUEL J. LEWIS, II is an accidental puppeteer who now tries to create intentional work. He has worked for over a decade with a vintage Black Americana marionette, he reimagined as, “Jus Hambone.” Currently, he’s building new puppets for the first time, with the generous help of Grace Needlman of Wonder Wagon, for a long-form piece he’s creating based on newly discovered family history, tentatively titled, Everybody Knew Their Place. Sam' was referred by Tim Kitzrow! https://sites.google.com/view/samuellewis/home is his site. Featured in this article if you want to learn more.

Uh, nothing to report here. We're fine. How-how are you? Just me. Chris Brogan. That guy from the Streamyard ads.

KT Falls has a popular YouTube channel where she reviews young adult fiction books and whatever else she finds wonderful and worthy. I've been a subscriber since her first month on the air, and loving watching her channel evolve. She's also daughter of our friend, Jason Falls.

Liz Larsen comes to us by way of Tim Kitzrow! Most recently, Liz finished her six-year run (from start to finish!) as Carole King’s mother, Genie, in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Prior to that, Liz was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance as Cleo in Most Happy Fella. She also won a Helen Hayes Award for her performance as Dot in Sunday in the Park with George, and was nominated for the same award for Baby. Liz also appeared on Broadway in Hairspray, The Rocky Horror Show, Damn Yankees, Starmites, and Fiddler on the Roof.

Liz Lathan & Nicole Osibodu, the creative powerhouse duo behind Haute Dokimazo, have been hard at work reimagining the concept of "experiential". They created the "Secret Family Reunion" (aka the world's 1st secret business trip), and then managed to transform Zoom fatigue into virtual anticipation with their deep dive into immersive online adventures when in-person meetings got sidelined last year.

This year, Haute Dokimazo, a company dedicated to facilitating virtual and in-person events that foster connection and creativity, is driving their clients to even greater success through CONVO 2021—a four-quarter research and development program for C-Suite and VP-level B2B and B2C marketing executives and their sales executive counterparts from Fortune 1000 and similar companies. CONVO 2021 has been designed to enhance participants’ relationships, creating authentic, profitable customer connections that will ultimately define a new industry metric — ROE (Return on Emotion).

 

The first CONVO 2021 session, held in February, focused on data collection, incorporating a live virtual adventure that featured shark tagging off the coast of Mexico. In their second session, to be held April 27, 2021, participants will explore the world’s oldest profession—sales! —via a virtual visit to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar and conversations with stall keepers who have maintained client relationships over multiple generations.

M. Valentina Escobar Gonzalez is a social media wizard. She's run a consulting firm since 2012 and continues to grow the space. - http://beyond-engagement.com/

Kathleen Gage does marketing and other services for plant-based and vegan businesses and nonprofits. If you've got a green cause, she wants to amp it up. - https://powerupforprofits.com

Catherine Curzon is a historian of the 18th century. She writes for Orion as Ellie Curzon, with Eleanor Harkstead.

Catherine’s work has been featured online by BBC News, BBC History Extra and The Daily Express, and in publications including All About History, Who Do You Think You Are?, and Jane Austen’s Regency World. Further afield, her expertise has been featured by The Washington Post, Town & Country, Elle Australia, Der Bund, La Vanguardia and Metrópoles, among others.

Yolonda Johnson-Young created Finding Elijah. The film follows a young man’s journey from home; into mental illness, to homelessness, and ultimately to suicide. It explores how a search for answers leads a mother to action. Yolanda is that mother.

Kyle Hjelmeseth (“YELM-SETH”) is the Founder and CEO of top-tier talent management agency G&B -- https://gb-dm.com/, which houses both the College of Influence and the Normalize Equality initiative. A self-made minority business owner, Hjelmeseth brings the full extent of his experience living as a half black, half white male to his work building media momentum around messages of diversity and inclusivity with his trademark solutions-driven attitude.

Graci Harkema was born amidst civil unrest, in a mud hut in the Congo to a young mother, who she believed was dead for a long part of her life. This is some of what fueled her interest in helping others with her business, Graci, LLC -

Graci LLC is a diversity & inclusion consulting and public speaking firm where she partners with organizations through diversity trainings, talent management and help organizations build more inclusive and equitable work environments.

Autumn Brands (https://autumnbrands.com/ ) is a licensed California cannabis cultivator dedicated to the synergy of health and wellness. The Autumn Brands’ family farm started in Holland more than a century ago, and today, sixth-generation farmers apply the same expertise garnered in growing the world’s finest tulips to producing pure and potent strains of cannabis in sunny, coastal Santa Barbara County. Autumn Brands is proud to be 50 percent woman-owned, united by the vision of two families, free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals.

California native Andréa Bernholtz is the serial mom-preneur and fashion powerhouse behind the eco-conscious SWIMINISTA brand: https://www.swiminista.com/. Known for co-founding the luxury denim line Rock & Republic in 2002, she helped to transform the company into a celebrity favorite and globally recognized name offering cosmetics, accessories, and clothing. In 2015, she became the CEO of Titan Industries, adding high-fashion footwear to her resume. Her latest venture features chic swimwear that combines her love of fashion, swimming, and the environment. The SWIMINISTA online boutique also makes the shopping experience a breeze. A personalized sizing guide helps customers easily find the right suit for their unique body. SWIMINISTA’s convenient “Try At Home” solution eliminates the soul-destroying try-on process. Customers can choose a selection of suits to test in the comfort and privacy of home, and - true to the company’s environmental values - all orders arrive in earth-friendly recycled, compostable packaging.

On this episode of The Backpack Show with Chris Brogan and Kerry O'Shea Gorgone, we talk with Carol Christensen. Carol started a farm-to-table philanthropy in 2009 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Stephanie started volunteering there. It was her side hustle between her brand manager or innovation roles at cheese and sausage brands. She left her Innovation Director role at Sartori cheese in late 2019, and last year during the pandemic, she started her social-good business called Bunch Bars. We'll talk with Carol about starting a new career after she became an empty nester! https://bunchbars.com/

We'll also talk with the founder of Good Dee's. Created and founded by first-generation Middle Eastern immigrant Deana Karim, Good Dee’s proves that health-conscious living and decadent indulgence really can mix. Give in to cravings guilt-free with Good Dee’s complete collection of baking mixes designed for low-carb, restricted, and special diets. Don’t we have good taste in guests? (Sorry.) https://gooddees.com/