The Debbie Nigro Show

This is the time of year you think about getting someone special something special. I was reading about this guy Michael Santoro who I didn’t know about who makes the most beautiful things I ever saw. I’m smitten with his talent and his ethics.

A MacCase by the guy who designed inside the Gulfstream jet? Who wouldn’t want that gift?

Michael Santoro is a multi award winning automotive designer artist and entrepreneur. Besides designing for Chrysler and Vector the man actually designed the interior of the Gulfstream Jets! Now with his own company ‘MacCase’ Michael has designed  gorgeous leather travel bags briefcases and accessories for Apple Products. Class act creations.

You’ll enjoy hearing his story on this podcast after you hear me ‘stall’ a little as I wait for him to show up. He apologized of course. Luckily I stall good. LOL I talk about how on any given day something is going on behind the scenes with everybody it’s just a matter of ‘what’ it is right? And you just try and dance in between those crazy moments. 

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Dancing back to my guest, Michael Santoro. Michael spent 6 years as an automotive designer at Chrysler. They recognized his gift of design early and brought him on board to help design some notable cars.  The ground breaking, cab-forward exterior design for the 1995 Car of the Year, a first generation Chrysler Cirrus and the Dodge Stratus. Also Michaels designs helped return the 1996-2006 Jeep Wrangler, back to its iconic roots. As a consulting designer for Walter Dorwin Teague in NYC, America's oldest design consultancy, Michael worked for 2 years on design interiors for Boeing Aerospace and the production interior for the Gulfstream G5 aircraft. Michael was a design consultant on the Vector M12  production supercar and Vector M12 "American Anthem" North American International Auto Show show car. Additional projects included the  Lamborghini Jota.

When he left corporate America to start his own design company his father didn’t think it was a smart thing. He thought his son was crazy to leave Chrysler and go to on his own with zero experience. Michael said, “He kept reminding me that I went to art school not business school and that I knew nothing about running a company. Here I am 25 years later and things are still going ok.”

Most of us know from experience that when parents make a doubtful or negative comment about your life choices, they can really get under your skin. Should you still listen to their advice? Tough call.

Michael said, “I think that its  been my experience that whatever my parents tell me to do if I do the opposite I’m doing really well. I’m moving in the right direction in my life. Parents want the best for they kids so they tend to be protective I totally understand that. I know that I’m moving in the right direction if my parents are feeling fearful about a decision I’m trying to make, and then I know I need to go in that direction. (Sounds exactly how my daughter and son-in-law deal with me these days LOL) 

Michael knew he had to…Risk It or Regret It!

“Once the company got up and running and My Dad saw the freedom it brought me and how I could go from concept to production in a matter of weeks he saw the freedom it brought me. He totally understood and he was on board.”

“Freedom and Creativity” are two values high on both my own and Michaels’ list. Like many creatives, Michaels ideas arrive in the shower, at night in dreams and on napkins at lunch. His dreams are about design and he gives a lot of  credit to his training at Pratt in Brooklyn. “They have a very systematic way about thinking about design” said Michael. ( Nice plug for Pratt)

Now to the beautiful things he makes with ethically sourced leather from India where cows are beautiful animals treated with love and their body parts only become useful after they pass naturally.

It all started In 1999, when Michael  Santoro created the Apple-specific case market with the launch of his company, MacCase.

I wondered did Michael make a strategic partnership with Apple? Otherwise how could he legally use the word Mac for anything without them? 

"The company was a few months old when we went to the MacWorld show in San Francisco for the first time. We had one product in the line. We had no idea how the Apple community was going to react to this strange design for Mac iBook case. Luckily, the response was overwhelmingly positive. It was the right product at the right time, a true blue ocean strategies moment. When we got back from the show on Monday morning the phone rang. It was Apple's legal department.”

"We saw your products at the MacWorld show", the voice said flatly. "I just wanted to congratulate you. You're the first person to figure out how to use the Apple logo without getting sued. Best of luck to you."

"It was at the moment I realized we might be on to something." - Michael Santoro, President / Chief Creative Officer

Enjoy this great podcast conversation of the live interview with Michael Santoro on The Debbie Nigro Show.

"Sober at Home” For The Holidays. Try something new. Get different results.

“Sober at Home” is an online alternative to formal addiction treatment with experienced professionals like Founder & CEO David Gerber who have amazing track records of success . David has been in the field of addictions for 30 years. He’s helped thousands of men and women addicted to alcohol and drugs find their way to sobriety.

"Sober at Home” offers a discreet affordable opportunity to try a new way to get sober. No insurance required. They also offer much needed knowledge and information for family members looking to help loved ones get and stay sober. Family members of addicts and alcoholics surely struggle too.

David pointed out that 'one in ten people' have suffered with a substance abuse problem in their lifetime, and holidays are especially tough for people both 'using' and in recovery. Family get-togethers he says, see drinking and drug use and family dysfunction rise. And now he adds, with so many of the drugs on the street these days laced with Fentanyl the situation has gotten very serious and often deadly.

I dont know how David does what he does everyday with such intensity and passion, but helping people is what he's been doing since 6th grade. David shared with a giggle that as soon as he realized he wasn't going to be a profesional athlete,  he found that helping people with their problems felt like the next best thing. 

Having worked for decades in the addiction industry, and seeing what has worked and what hasn't, he made the decision to start "Sober at Home" to help as many people as he can across the country.

So much of what were doing today isn’t working, says David. Why? The first obstacle for many people is walking into outpatient treatment program where there may be other people that are drinking, drugging, and even selling drugs. There's a stigma of walking into these places. "Sober at Home" removes that stigma and gives people an opportunity to get the help they need privately, discreetly and affordably.

I was a little shocked that people at drug treatment centers are doing drugs. Then I spotted a New York Post headline this past week which read..."What Are they Smoking? NYC nonprofits will sell weed-while they treat drug addicts."

Isn't there something wrong with this I asked David?  To which he replied I think that’s unconscionable.

He did explain that of many sober and licensed treatment programs offer 'medications' as part of admission.

"Sober At Home" is designed with a schedule that works around your life if you need help. Groups start at 6am and go till midnite 7 days a week.

Lot of people are functioning alcoholics and functioning drug addicts and this is an opportunity for them to get well without interupting a job scedule. Companies too will encourage good employees who all of a sudden have a substance abuse to utilize the help that Sober at Home offers woth their full support.

Telehealth addiction therapy exists but it's mostly one on one. At "Sober at Home" says David Gerber, we understand that groups are what help individuals get connected and bonded to a sober lifestyle. "

"I like to describe the the progression of addiction as the ever increasingly shrinking world of addiction. It takes people, to a very selfish and lonely and isolated place. The process of recovery that we're implementing helps expand peoples worlds back, so they become connected at "Sober At Home". Our goal is that people restore meaningful and purposeful sober lives." 

As far as privacy goes, David shares that many people worry about going to a local treatment center because of who might know them there. "Sober At Home" is a national platform so there are people from all across the country who particpate at the same time. Chances are these folks do not know each other from anywhere. There's a much less likelihood of people finding out. It's a discreet and private program.

David Gerber has helped thousands of men and women recover from addiction. His past 'success rates' have been double the national average on programs he’s worked on. Hes had an 80% succèss rate with 'interventions' in the past getting people connected to treatment.

David Gerber brings 30 years of experience to founding "Sober At Home" along with members of his immediate family including his wife, brother in law, and his son. They're all on board and committed to spending their time getting people sober and back to living great lives. 

Enjoy this 'double segment' podcast conversation with David Gerber CEO Founder "Sober at Home" from his live appearance on The Debbie Nigro Show. And please share this information with anyone who might benefit.

Check out SoberAtHomeInc.com 

Candles Calm Me Down. I miss the scent of this LEO candle. It’s amazing how much scent can change a home and affect your mood.

This LEO candle was a gift from a gal I knew back when she was managing and booking recording artists like Jose Feliciano. We reconnected on LinkedIn last year and I found out about her new candle company PhyllisKNewYork. Naturally I thought of her on the subject of ‘The Power of Candles To Calm You Down’. We could all use a truckload. As we move into the chilly season and spend more time inside I thought a refresher course on candle therapy would be timely.

Phyllis Keitlen is a world class entrepreneur. Her company The PhyllisKCollection Inc. is one of the fastest growing female owned candle and diffuser companies in the US. Founded by Phyllis Keitlen in 2020 it’s more than just a Candle and Diffuser company…it’s truly making a difference. The company partners with local and national non-profits to make an impact. Phyllis and the company are about bringing hope for the future.

“As the only human sense directly linked to emotions and memories, scent is perhaps the most important facet of a home’s aesthetic and start of recovery." Tranquil aromas in a home set a peaceful environment and help you relax, energize or escape the day to day. 

Yes your mood can be altered by simply lighting a candle.

In fact the folks at candle.org put together a chart as a guide for selecting the right scent candle for the right mood. The list includes scents to ease anxiety, disappointment, fear, grief, impatience, loneliness, emotional and mental fatigue, stress and tension.

“Scents can have positive effects on mood, stress, reduction, sleep enhancement, self-confidence, and physical and cognitive performance,” says Theresa Molnar, executive director of the Sense of Smell Institute, the research and educational arm of the perfume industry’s Fragrance Foundation. Fragrances inhaled go to the brain where the neurological effect can alter mood. They trigger areas in the brain that relate to emotions.

https://candles.org/scents-can-have-a-positive-effect-on-your-mood/

Phyllis Keitlen encourages her customers to “shop by mood” and has a whole bunch of scented-themed candles and diffuser fragrances, compatible with personal emotions that feed the soul. She even created uplifting affirmation candles like “I am Grateful”, “I am Worthy”, “I Am Prosperous” “I am Confident” to name a few.

“Since I began my journey of meditation and affirmations, wonderful things are transpiring into my life.”  Said Phyllis.

Her Zodiac candles like my Leo or this Sagittarius for example pair zodiac personality traits with scents that would resonate with each.There are even candle scents to put you in the perfect mood for holidays and this seasons PhyllisKNewYork line features 8 Days Of Hanukkah, 25th Day Christmas Soy Candle, and even a ‘Hippee Xmas’ candle. LOL. That should put you in a fun mood. And they truly make a great earth friendly gift.

"It has always been extremely important for me to source products with ingredients that are natural and in some cases, organic. You will never find phthalates, parabens, or sulfates in my products, which are also made in the United States. As I continue to expand my line, I will continue to source innovative products that are earth friendly and help improve one's lifestyle"- Phyllis Keitlen

Speaking of gifts, it was truly a gift to get to talk with Phyllis Keitlen. Wow is she interesting! Beyond Candles...

Phyllis was an innovative knitwear designer for the last 25 years,  Her cool t-shirts and separates were often featured in the windows of Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. She was acclaimed by Vogue as having made “The Italian Truck Driver’s t-Shirt” into fashion chic. That made her a truckload of money. Totally burnt out after that huge success she took a year off to sleep. LOL 

Somewhere along her career path she came to manage the famous  musician, singer and composer Jose Feliciano. Jose has had many international hits including his version of the Doors “Light My Fire” and the Christmas single  everybody loves “Felix Navidad’.

The back story is just incredible.

It was Phyllis’ mother Tomi Keitlen who inspired Jose Feliciano and gave him the confidence to risk becoming the star he was born to be in spite of the fact he was born blind. Congenital glaucoma left Jose blind at birth. Phyllis Keitlins’ mother Tomi sadly went blind at 33 from the same affliction. But she he was a fighter and was determined to not let her blindness affect her life and what she wanted to do. She got a guide dog, learned how to live on her own, ski, mountain climb, and wrote a book about it all called “Farewell To Fear” that gave a lot of encouragement and hope to people with any kind of handicap. She showed them, “There are ways to work around and through things people say you cant do, you just have to be willing to try and work at it.”

Jose Feliciano read that book and asked to meet Tomi Keitlen in person. Phyllis was in High School at the time and went home from boarding school on weekends to her Moms' house in Stockbridge MA. It was there one weekend, she watched Jose Feliciano play guitar and sing for her mother. He was sitting and playing and singing in front of the giant fireplace Phyliss says, when she flipped out and jumped up and said "Mom you’ve got to manage him!" Her Mom did not. But Jose and Tomi Keitlen became lifelong friends and every weekend Phyllis drove to NY to pick up Jose and bring him up to her Mom’s house in MA where he would play for her and she would give him confidence.

Fast forward many years, when Phyllis knew her Mom was about to pass, she called Jose Feliciano to ask him to come sing to her Mom one last time. He did. She also asked if he would come some weeks later with his wife and 3 children to her home in Hamptons, to be part of her moms' life celebration. He did. There would be 40 people there and she only wanted him to play one song. He did. It was that day that Joses' wife asked Phyllis if she would manage Jose. Phyllis said I don’t know anything about that business. Joses' wife said, but you’re a good businesswoman you’ll figure it out. And she did .

And that's how Phyllis Keitlen became Jose Felicianos' Manager and traveled the world with him.

But then Phyllis had to overcome her own challenge. She burnt her arm so badly in a cooking acciddent she had to spend 4 months in a NY hospital and a whole year recovering with skin grafts etc.

But Phyllis is back in action because she always gets back in action. Her mother taught her well. Risk It or Regret It!

She’s creating new candle scents which she does personally with her personal candle scent creator until the scents are perfected.

PhyllisKNewYork Candles aren’t just any candles. They’re awesome.

Phyliss Keitlen isn’t just any woman. She’s awesome.

I hope you enjoy listening to this podcast Interview with her from The Debbie Nigro Show as much as I loved talking to Phyllis.

It is SO impressive what The Boulder Crest Foundation and The Boulder Crest Institute are doing for our Combat Veterans to help them heal from traumas. Their work is groundbreaking and it’s working! The focus is on the teachings of posttraumatic growth.

Ken Falke, Founder & Chairman of Boulder Crest, is a 21-year combat veteran of the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community and retired Master Chief Petty Officer. He believes there’s no greater mission than helping Veterans, first responders, and their families rediscover hope, purpose, and a future that is truly worth living. It’s his passion. He spends the majority of his time educating the public and private sectors on the issues surrounding the long-term care of our returning military personnel and their families from the last 20 years of war.

Ken is excited about the breakthrough success he's seeing at Boulder Crest, and says this is the coolest thing he’s ever worked on and he’s worked on some pretty cool things. Ken is highly respected around the world as an innovative and forward-thinking leader on the subjects of wounded warrior care, military and veteran transition, counterterrorism, military training, and innovative technology development.

I’m so honored to be able to shine a light on Ken Falke and Boulder Crest this Veterans Day and every day.

To help transform 'struggle to strength’, Boulder Crest offers 2 peaceful locations for struggling veterans to come spend a week, spend quality time, be embraced, understood and heal. One location is in Bluemont, VA and the other in Sonoita, Arizona. Plus they offer many other programs across the country where those who are struggling can get the quality help they need to find the path to a life worth living. Their efforts are working.

The Boulder Crest locations feature things like ADA-accessible cabins with plenty of amenities for comfort and for families to join in. Therapeutic and recreational activities like equine, archery, art, music, labyrinth walks, and fishing. And optional organized group activities, like barbecues and bonfires, which create opportunities for guests to connect with, and draw strength from, one another in what they've coined as a 'warrior’s paradise'.

The Boulder Crest Institute, located in Bluemont VA,  serves as the hub for the development, delivery, study, and scaling of their groundbreaking, Posttraumatic Growth-based programs. The Institute led the development of the Warrior PATHH curriculum, which is now delivered in nine locations across the country: Boulder Crest Virginia, Boulder Crest Arizona, Boulder Crest’s Mobile Training Team, and through partnerships in Florida (GratitudeAmerica), Georgia (Camp Southern Ground), South Carolina (Big Red Barn Retreat), Maine (Travis Mills Foundation), Arkansas (Sheep Dog Impact Assistance), and Washington State (Permission to Start Dreaming Foundation).

The Institute is also currently leading programs in Miami, Florida and Tucson, Arizona, to integrate Struggle Well Training and Posttraumatic Growth into their police departments. This project is made possible by the support of the FirstNet by AT&T, the Gary Sinise Foundation, and the Community-Police Relations Foundation.

Since the Institute’s opening in January 2018, Boeing has been an invaluable strategic partner and supporter, enabling them to develop and deliver training on Posttraumatic Growth for the mental health community.

Ken Falke and Boulder Crest Institute Co-Founder & Exec. Dir. Josh Goldberg, also co-authored a book that's taken the mental health world by storm. It's called "Struggle Well: Thriving in the Aftermath of Trauma."  It's changing the lives of Veterans, First Responders and anyone who's been worn down by 'struggling'. 

"Struggle" the authors say, "is the story of every great leader, every great man, and every great woman. Through encountering obstacles, heroes are tested and forged into becoming the great, authentic human beings they are destined to be."

I love this quote on their website: 

" It's time to learn how to struggle well. Because struggle is a terrible thing to waste."

Ken Falke and Josh Goldberg, the authors of Struggle Well, have trained more than 40,000 people in the principles and practices of how to Struggle Well.

Boulder Crest Foundation is doing amazing work and would love your support. Here's where you can find out more about them and donate.

And if you want to meet a real hero please take a few minutes to meet Ken Falke, Founder & Chairman Boulder Crest Foundation, in this warm podcast conversation from The Debbie Nigro Show. 

The world is a better place because of people like Ken Falke. 

A New Way To HANDL Your Selfies! Meet the HANDL-O!

Invented by fine artist Allen Hirsch (creator of the original HANDL)

It’s the perfect extension of your hand to your phone because of it’s patented elastic and brace system that allows you to hang your cell phone anywhere to take the shot. You can hang your cell phone on a broom stick, golf club, tree branch, car mirror, laptop, umbrella, wine bottle wherever.

HANDL-O's come in so many cool versions. I love the ‘Wild’ collection myself - sparkles in black, in rose gold, silver, pearl and more and then there’s red snake and white ostrich, gold gator and cheetah to name a few. His ‘fun’ collection of graphics are endless, ranging from lips, to Van Gogh, to 'Blessed and Grateful' and on and on.

HANDL New York Phone Grips, Stands and Cases were ‘a natural extension’ for New York City artist Allen Hirsch, who’s had a fascination with the power of screens since his late teens and has documented our interconnectedness with screens in his art.

I love how the idea for HANDL came to him.

Seem’s one day he was painting a picture while texting using a new large screen phone with the other hand. (What fine artist texts and paints at the same time you wonder? Well what person on this planet doesn’t text while doing something else at the same time?) Allen was immediately struck by the similarities of both actions. He said,  “In one hand, I was projecting my thoughts and feelings effortlessly on canvas with the brush and with the other, I was also projecting my thoughts and feelings into this little metal box- although with none of the flow and efficiency of the paint brush. I immediately felt this was a problem for me to solve.” 

Allen Hirsch then spent the next 8 months (obsessed with the idea) attaching all sorts of homemade constructions on his phone until one day, with a bunch of popsicle sticks held together with thumbtacks, tape and a rubber band, he had an epiphany and HANDL was born.

“With HANDL, we replace that stressful grip on our devices with a feeling that our phones are an organic extension of our hands and fingers.”

PS Allen Hirsch painted the photo here on string. It looks like the paint is on the canvas. It’s not. Allen has a collection of string paintings. He also thousands of other fine art paintings that will amaze you. You should definitely check out his work at . For goodness sakes the man even painted a President!

Oh and about that monkey he lived with for years. There was a 2018 Emmy-winning documentary on his life and art with Benjamin the monkey by Jimm Lasser and Biff Butler. It premiered in the New York and Amsterdam film festivals in 2016 and is available as a New York Times Op-Docs series.

Allen’s a serious painter and serious inventor with serious talent but we had some good giggles too in this podcast of his feature Interview on The Debbie Nigro Show. Enjoy.

Boulder Crest Helps Struggling Veterans Transform Struggle To Strength.

Founder & Chairman Ken Falke believes there’s no greater mission than helping Veterans, first responders, and their families rediscover hope, purpose, and a future that is truly worth living. I'm so honored to be able to shine a light on him and Boulder Crest this Veterans Day.

SO impressive what the Boulder Crest Foundation and The Boulder Crest Institute are doing for our Combat Veterans to help them heal from traumas. Traumas that affect combat veterans and first responders, touch everyone: families, friends, neighbors, and the community.

To help transform 'struggle to strength', Boulder Crest offers 2 peaceful locations for struggling veterans to come, sepnd quality time, be embraced and understood. One loaction is  in Bluemont, VA and the other in Sonoita, Arizona. Plus they offer many other programs across the country where those who are struggling get the quality help they need to find the path to a life worth living. The locations feature things like ADA-accessible cabins with plenty of amenties for comfort and for families to join in. There are also therapeutic and recreational activities like equine, archery, art, music, labyrinth walks, and fishing. There are also optional organized group activities, like barbecues and bonfires, which create opportunities for guests to connect with, and draw strength from, one another in what they've coined as a 'warrior’s paradise'.

The Boulder Crest Institute, located in Bluemont VA,  serves as the hub for the development, delivery, study, and scaling of their groundbreaking, Posttraumatic Growth-based programs. The Institute led the development of the Warrior PATHH curriculum, which is now delivered in nine locations across the country: Boulder Crest Virginia, Boulder Crest Arizona, Boulder Crest’s Mobile Training Team, and through partnerships in Florida (GratitudeAmerica), Georgia (Camp Southern Ground), South Carolina (Big Red Barn Retreat), Maine (Travis Mills Foundation), Arkansas (Sheep Dog Impact Assistance), and Washington State (Permission to Start Dreaming Foundation).

The Institute is currently leading programs in Miami, Florida and Tucson, Arizona, to integrate Struggle Well Training and Posttraumatic Growth into their police departments. This project is made possible by the support of the FirstNet by AT&T, the Gary Sinise Foundation, and the Community-Police Relations Foundation.

Since the Institute’s opening in January 2018, Boeing has been an invaluable strategic partner and supporter, enabling us to develop and deliver training on Posttraumatic Growth for the mental health community.

Founder & Chairman Ken Falke is a 21-year combat veteran of the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community and retired Master Chief Petty Officer. (Wow You think he's brave enough?) Ken is highly respected around the world as an innovative and forward-thinking leader on the subjects of wounded warrior care, military and veteran transition, counterterrorism, military training, and innovative technology development.

Ken’s passion is taking care of his fellow combat veterans and their family members, and he is chairman and founder of Boulder Crest, an organization focused on the teachings of posttraumatic growth. Ken spends the majority of his time educating the public and private sectors on the issues surrounding the long-term care of our returning military personnel and their families from the last 20 years of war.

As part of this effort, Ken and Boulder Crest Institute Co-Founder & Exec. Dir. Josh Goldberg,co-authored a book that's taken the mental health world by storm. It's called "Struggle Well: Thriving in the Aftermath of Trauma."  It's changing the lives of Veterans, First Resposnders and anyone who's been worn down by 'struggling'. 

"Struggle" the authors say, "is the story of every great leader, every great man, and every great woman. Through encountering obstacles, heroes are tested and forged into becoming the great, authentic human beings they are destined to be."

I love this quote on their website: " It's time to learn how to struggle well . Because struggle is a terrible thing to waste."

Boulder Crest Foundation would love your support. Here's where you can find out more about them and donate.

And if you want to meet a real hero please take a few minutes to meet Ken Falke,  Founder & Chairman Boulder Crest Foundation in this warm podcast conversation from The Debbie Nigro Show.  The world is a better place because of people like Ken Falke. 

Julie Boardman and Diane Nicoletti Founded The Museum of Broadway.  Julie is an entrepreneur and Tony Award-winning producer. Diane is a creative director, producer and entrepreneur.  Both have unique credentials. Together they made magic. Julie joined me  to share the excitement of the opening of their ‘baby’ in NYC.

Broadway is the #2 reason tourists come to NYC (after shopping). It is an international brand, and a tentpole of American culture, yet there has never been a museum or place to honor it properly...till now.

Julie joined me to share the excitement and backstory about the opening of The Museum of Broadway. She shared that It's a wonderful  interactive experience that highlights groundbreaking moments in Broadways history. It’s about the game changers and there's  lots of ‘behind the scenes’ stuff.

Internationally renowned artists, designers, and theatre historians helped create this memorable destination, where you’ll be treated to the Broadway moments that pushed creative boundaries, challenged social norms ad paved the way for those who would follow. There’s lots of education there too for anyone interested in getting into the business of Broadway in just about any capacity whether in front of or behind the curtain.

Regarding choosing the location for the Museum, Julie says “How could you not have the Museum of Broadway in Times Square? We looked at 4 spaces and were very fortunate during Covid to come across this space.” The Broadway Museum is located at 145 West 45th Street in NYC.

After the historic imtermission of the pandemic they're excited to have you come enjoy their showworthy destination..

Tickets are on sale now.

HOURS OF OPERATION

They're  open 7 days a week 10am - 10pm. You can buy timed tickets for entry to the museum every fifteen minutes or opt for a Flex ticket, which gives you more options for when you arrive.

Timed tickets are $39 and Flexible tickets are $49. A portion of each ticket will be donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Group and Student Rates are available.

Most people will spend between 60 minutes to 120 minutes exploring the museum depending on how long they spend in each exhibit. Please plan accordingly.

For more information check out their website.

For a wonderful warm first welcome enjoy the feature interview with Julie Boardman on The Debbie Nigro Show.

******************

JULIE BOARDMAN Co-Founder

Julie is an entrepreneur and Tony Award-winning producer. She recently conceived and produced I'm Still Here, a 90th anniversary celebration for the Billy Rose Theatre Division at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, featuring archival materials from the Theatre on Film and Tape archive, interviews with Broadway legends and emerging creatives and reimagined musical numbers with a cast of over 100 artists. In fall 2020 she produced In Our America: A Concert for the Soul of the Nation and Artists for Change. She is currently a co-producer on the Broadway revival of Funny Girl and has many other Broadway credits.Through her company Boardman Productions she has worked with some of the worlds leading brands.

 DIANE NICOLETTI Co-Founder

Diane is a creative director, producer and entrepreneur.  For two decades she has produced some of the biggest events and fan experiences including The Game of Thrones Fan Experience, Gretzky’s Retirement Gala, and brand activations at Super Bowl, Comic-Con, CES and SXSW.  She’s the founder of the award-winning experiential marketing agency Rubik Marketing.

A Front Page Wall Street Journal Article This Week About Photo Booths had Allen Weisberg’s phone ringing off the hook. Allen is the Founder & CEO Of Apple Industries, The World's Largest Photo Booth Manufacturer who’s been in the business 50 years. He was thrilled that photo booths landed on the WSJ front page. “To get some recognition on just how successful photo booths  are and how much people love them is just great.” said, Allen. 

I adore Allen, and have come to love the photo booth business. He’s an awesome entrepreneur and icon in the amusements industry. I started working with him to stir up and tee up new photo booth location opportunities. (Like these cool Motown Museum Photo Booths that debuted outdoors in Detroit this Summer)

So I was bummed WSJ writer Hannah Miao had not called Allen Weisberg to comment in the article, "Vintage Photo Booths Are Back, and Baffling Newbies. ‘It’s Not an iPad.’

Allen’s spent decades modernizing the photo booth while successfully keeping the tradition of them in tact. He and his company Apple Industries are experts are bringing new technology together with old technology and making it work.

I called Allen in his car live from the show so he could share why the Photo Booth phenomena still going strong in 2022.

Though you might find it incredible in this age of selfies and cell phone cameras that anybody would want to go into a photo booth and take a picture…They do. The experience is just as important as the actual photo strip

The Experience.

Allen points out, “You can do stuff in a photo booth that is fun that wouldn’t do if people were watching you. Have a little fun, kiss your boyfriend or girlfriend, make silly faces. When people close the curtain in a photo booth people they don’t feel uncomfortable doing something goofy. And sooo many people get engaged in photo booths. The first shot a smile the second a kiss, the 3rd “Will You Marry Me?, the 4th shot the ring and the big smile ear to ear.”

He added, “Just like the Photo booths from the 1930’s you can still get black & white photo strips, but now you can also have them I color. And true to keeping up with the times, we’ve added video so people can see what they look like in video and upload their video right there to ‘Tik Tok’ and they’re a star and maybe their video will go viral.”

Photo booths, Allen points out, are as old as American pie. They’re part of our culture from when great grandparents brought their kids into photo booths, they their kids brought their kids, and the tradition got passed on and on.

But now?  “Photo booth are drawing young generations that didn’t grow up with the machine. the young digitally exposed generation  not grow up with these booths so they don’t know how they work.”

Here’s an Interesting fact Allen shared. If you’re 30 years old or younger you do not remember taking a 35mm camera to the drug store and to have your pictures developed so it’s almost magic that you go into a photo booth and your face is now printed on a piece of paper.

The photo booth is an experience and a lot more fun than having a photo is stuck in your phone. It’s a great souvenir. In fact in many places, it’s the least expensive souvenir with the most lasting impact as photo strips stay around for years.

Case in point. This one on my refrigerator from ten years ago captured the annual gal pal trip to the Jersey Shore. Makes me smile.

Photo booths make everybody smile, especially companies who are smart enough to brand them. The ‘no out of pocket’ revenue share is very appealing and besides being cash cows, the brands name lives on with the memory and the memorable experience that brought a smile. Its’ a win / win for everyone.

Tens of thousand of photo booths are out there in the US in all kinds of shapes and sizes, many with accessibility for the disabled, and with all kinds of custom branding.

Allen’s clients are Disney, Marvel, Regal Theaters, MLB, restaurant chains, hotels, airports, museums, malls, restaurants, bars and more. He just opened an office in London and said photo booths are exploding there too. They love them as much as we do. At one recent trade show they made deals to place over 200 photo booths in the UK.

Made In America too! Apple Industries manufactures their photo booths in Upstate New York.

Allen’s talented and creative employees will custom design a photo booth theme for any venue interested in jumping on board this nostalgia trend.

It’s a fabulous no-out-of-pocket-revenue share opportunity and a brilliant souvenir.

I’d love to personally introduce you to Allen and Apple Industries if you’d like to explore this photo booth idea for your location. Message me here or email me.

Mike Orlando has lots of people betting on his 'Bet Booth'.

Bet Booth looks like an ATM machine where you can make a bet and acts like an ATM machine in that you can get immediate gratification if you win. Yes once you sign up privately, you just you use your fingerprint and voila the winning cash comes spitting out! It’s revolutionary patent pending technology.

Mike Orlando is a distinguished Former NYPD Police Officer. He also spent 17 years running his own ATM Network, one of the largest ATM Networks in North America. Mike sketched out the idea for ‘Bet Booth 5 years ago on the back of a napkin. (Aren’t great ideas always starting out on the back of a napkin?)

You may ask, with all the betting apps out there why would somebody need this or want to physically deal with cash? 

Mike  says, his kiosks are for ‘casual’ gamblers. Men and women who are out enjoying themselves in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys and other high traffic areas.  “Gamblers” he adds, “are very private people”. “They like to tell you when they win but not when they lose. (So true) Also regarding ‘privacy’, Bet Booth winnings aren’t sent  to a bank account. Some gamblers also like instant gratification. At the Bet Booth you use your finger print…and instantly get your winnings. “ 

Bet Booth, a really a software and technology company transforming the betting experience. The one time sign up is easy and very secure as it’s based off biometrics and facial recognition. 

As a software and technology company, Bet Booth is agnostic, meaning the company can partner with any interested sports book in any markets where sports wagering is legal. 

Will be fun to see which sports books align with Mike and Bet Booth since all the sports books threw him out of their offices back in the beginning.

Gambling laws are not the same in every state. Every state has their own gaming commission. There are 18 states where betting is legal and where there’s an option to place kiosks. New York is legal and it’s likely that Florida, Texas, and California will soon soon follow says Mike who adds that New York is the biggest sports gambling market in the world.

Mike and Bet Booth waited a long time to hear the BIG news they got last week. An article published on Yahoo Business announced, “Bet Booth, a unique sports wagering platform and self service kiosk earned GLI- 20 and GLI-33 certification, signaling compliance with the $203 billion dollar sports betting industry standards.”

Legal compliance across the board and across the states in every facet of this company, is paramount says Mike. “ I’m not the smartest man in the world so I surrounded myself with really great people. My CFO, my CTO, really good lawyers and a really great board. I’m really excited about it. There’s nothing on this kiosk you can’t do exactly the same as if you were wagering in Las Vegas. “

There’s lots of fun frenzy when people see the Bet Booth for the first time. Now some people are going to get a chance to try it out.

Bet Booth is  launching their pilot test at sea. They’re partnering with a Margaritaville Cruise out of West Palm Beach, Fla. to the Bahamas and back. What’s exciting about this says Mike, is it’s  considered a ‘gambling cruise’ so perfect for a pilot test. A few more pilot tests are planned he says, then hopefully all systems go.

If you love innovators I’m betting you’ll enjoy this conversation ‘live’ from Las Vegas with Mike Orlando Founder of Bet Booth on The Debbie Nigro Show.

If you'd like to be introduced to Mike personally to know more please let me know at [email protected]

It's increasingly important for women to be aware of their breast health.  Understanding breast density and what it might mean for you is really important.

Mammograms miss up to 40% of cancers in women with dense breasts because dense breast tissue can hide or “mask” potential tumors. This can lead to missed or under-diagnosed cancers, which contribute to breast cancer mortality.

Therefore, many breast specialists recommend supplemental breast screenings along with mammography for certain women with dense breasts.

Dr. David Schacht from Northwestern’s Lynne Sage Breast Centers shares important information on breast health, breast cancer risk and prevention.

His focus is on breast density and providing tips for speaking to healthcare providers about breast screening needs so women can feel empowered, confident and move forward with their healthcare provider as an informed team.

Very informative heads from Dr. David Schact in this short podcast interview up on The Debbie Nigro Show. Share it with women you care about who might need to know.