The Debbie Nigro Show

Everyone’s buzzing about the The Netflix Film ‘Tinder Swindler’ which is a loud reminder there are always creeps who try and take advantage of vulnerable people especially when it comes to matters of the heart.

If you haven’t seen it, the ‘Tinder Swindler’ is a true story and features a group of women who were the victims of a swindler on a dating app whose name I won’t give any more press. The women join together to hunt him down and recover the millions of dollars that were stolen from them.

You’re probably thinking that anyone who would let this happen to them must be an idiot. Cyber Dating Expert Julie Spira says, “Sometimes they are the smartest women. The smartest women have the access to the funds. The smarter the woman, the easier the con.”

Julie Spira, who makes her living as an online dating expert, wants to make sure people on dating apps are safe. She’s put together a list of 'Red Flags' to watch for that might indicate you’re dealing with someone other than you think. Not everyone on a dating app is who you think they are.

Some of Julie Spira’s Red Flags?

Be suspicious if someone tries to quickly move you off the dating app to another place to communicate like What’s App. A lot of the creeps tend to be people out of the country.

Watch for people who are trying to overly impress you on a dating app with fancy cars and expensive homes.

Stay away from anyone with a blurry photo. 

Watch out for someone who says I love you very quickly.

Be wary if the person is too busy to get together or they make plans and cancel and do that over and over. They never have any intention of getting together because they are not who you think they are. 

And... NEVER give anyone you meet on a dating app money!” NEVER!

What can you do to be more comfortable the other person on a dating app is who they say they are?

Go on a video date says Julie. That’s a great way to vet a potential mate.

Also, she says Google search the person and check out their social media and see if you have friends in common. 

If someone is sincere, she says they’re likely going to volunteer as much imformation they can to give you comfort and also be happy to go at your romance pace.

A valuable and enlightening podcast listen  if you are out there in the dating world. 

LOOK What's Back! Going TO The Movies! And 'LOOK Dine-In-Cinema'  Movie Theaters are making it an extraordinary experience.

Really have to hand to Founder Brian Schultz & Chief Marketing Officer James Meredith from Dallas who I met last night at the Grand Opening of their 8th 'LOOK Dine-In Cinema' location in Dobbs Ferry NY.  An 8-auditorium, full-service, technology-first movie theater.

LOOK is the Luxury movie theater model, not your average dine-in experience. We're talkin' state-of-the-art theater, surround sound technology, upscale cuisine and exceptional service. Terrific viewing experience with food and cocktails in an immersive environment.

When I walked into LOOK in Dobbs Ferry, Ny last night it felt like an upscale boutique hotel that's somehow also family friendly. Big bar entertainment area to the right and another lovely small bar area as you pass through to the theaters.

Super duper comfortable electric reclining seats, and great large sliding table to hold your food . I had a perfect cup holder for my glass of red wine I enjoyed while watching 'Death On the Nile'. I was so comfortable I'm surprised they didn't find me there this morning for the sequel 'Snoring in the Aisle'.  LOL Oh and the ladies room was a wow. Thank you LOOK for installing great HOOKS! (The girls  will get what I mean.)

I invited LOOK's Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer James Meredith to join me to take a bow. Looks like LOOK is on a roll having opened their first location in Dallas in June, then Arizona, Florida, and four in California. Dobbs Ferry, NY is the latest location lighting up the big screen and creating hundreds of jobs too. LOOK also offers private reservations for gatherings and screenings tailored to whatever you want.

They are now open to the public

LOOK Dine-In Cinemas: 1 Hamilton Street Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

SPECIAL OPENING PROMOTIONS: On Tuesdays, moviegoers can enjoy the discounted ticket price of $5, all day. The first show of the day, all week, tickets will be available for the discounted price of $5.

Work Place Bullies. What They Do To People Is Horrible.

It's crappy that bullying people at work is not illegal. What's more insane is that companies often 'let it go' because the bully is making them money. Instead company's scramble to find ways to deal with the 'situation'.

Bullies make their targets feel emotionally and physically sick and often they are the ones who  leave their jobs. 

Dr. Laura Persky, MBA & Ed. D. and high level  Education Consultant, extensively researched this topic for her dissertation.

Her research showed when company's get rid of the bullies instead of protecting them, overall productivity and revenue for the company goes up.  Laura co-wrote an article based on her research which was a 'Top Ten  download' for the Global Journal of Business Research. It's called The Effect Of High Performing Bullying Behavior On Organizational Performance. A Bullying Management Dilemma.

Dr. Laura Perksy joins me today in studio to share what else she found out about Workplace Bullies and what companies need to start doing about them for everybody's sake including their own.

Casting Call! Ever wonder who does the casting for all those TV shows on those gazillion channels we've been glued to? Have you heard of Twins Talent Inc.? They're one of the leading Casting, Development, Content & Storytelling companies and they might just be looking for you!

Lisa & Debbie Ganz are the fun twin owners of Twins Talent casting . We're talking about what kind of shows are trending and who they're looking for!

Besides being a full service casting company for unscripted, reality, documentary & original programming, Twins Talent has also become recognized as a premiere development company, both creating and selling their own programming, as well as support development for production companies nationwide.

AND ...in addition to casting , Twins Talent has a specialized talent division which supplies twins, triples and quadruplets for scripted film, print and commercial. They have access to hundreds of thousands of multiples worldwide. 

I will warn you...Debbie Ganz talks as fast as me. LOL She's a riot!  LOL These girls are the real deal. 

Oh and if YOU have a TV development idea, theres a really big tip inside this conversation that might help get you serious attention. 

Has having Covid left you with a lingering feeling of depression or malaise? You're not alone. It's a real thing.

Dr. Arthur Bregman, MD, a Psychiatry Specialist in Coral Gables, FL, with over 47 years of expertise treating illnesses including ADHD, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and various other problems reports...

“Nine out of ten Covid patients who see me on a telemedicine call report a lingering sense of what I like to call ‘Covid dysphoria."

He went on to explain, “After a bout with coronavirus a lot of my patients are not just suffering mild depressive symptoms - they have a more complete personality change. They don’t lose memories and become completely different people, but they say things like ‘My friends tell me I’m not like myself’ or ‘I’m usually such a cheerful person! What happened?’

Whatever happened won't last forever thank goodness! Luckily for sufferers of 'Covid dysphoria', there are a few pointers that Dr. Bregman can share to help folks feel less hopeless and more confident that they’ll overcome this bump in the psychological road. It does tend to go away on its own and with relaxation techniques and a bit of talk therapy people can usually get on the other side of it quicker.

Enjoyed talking with Dr. Bregman and I've posted our conversation as a podcast here. If this is something youre struggling with it's highly likley that you would benefit from a personal 'talk therapy' session.

Teletherapy in general is one of the really positive things that came out of the pandemic and it's likely covered by your insurance. 

Bregman Medical Group is a team of mental health care professionals with years of experience treating disorders such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse disorder, and many other issues. 

Based out of Coral Gables, Bregman Medical Group is currently expanding their online psychiatry services across the nation.

Women 'Who Put The Work In' Are Making Major Strides Getting Hired In The NFL.

There's a very cool five part series documentary just out about powerful women in the NFL. It's  called 'EARNIN' IT. You can find it on the Peacock Channel and  NBC aired some of it on game day.

It's all about 'firsts' but thanks to some strong smart capable women who earned the right to be hired - it sure won't be about lasts. This is a good story about the beginning of change in NFL hiring practices.

Why shouldn't women who love the game be able to earn a living in the sport? Women like the first female NFL Referee and two female football coaches who took teams to the Superbowl, and wait till you see the female Tom Brady throw a spiral!  Did you even know there was a women's s Pro Football League?

Now you will, thanks to Co-Executive Producers Teri Wagner Fynn and Jane Skinner Goodell. Teri who you'll meet in this podcast of our radio conversation, is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of 'Good Story Content'.

Teri Wagner Flynn loves to tell a good story. She oversees the development slate, sales and creative execution and deals with athletes writers and ‘on camera’ talent. She's had a 'wow' career path as paths go. Founder of Newsweek Films, Chief Content Officer of Apex Entertainment , Independent Producer for Netflix and Pop. Consulting producer on multiple NFL related TV specials. Before that she was 'THE" gal in TV Sports SVP of Programming & Content Development at ABC Sports/ESPN steering and negotiating deals with the NFL, College Football, the PGA, NBA, the British Open, US Figure Skating and on and on. Teri is also a regular guest speaker at the NFL Owners meetings and has been honored by many.

So happy to support her work and happy to champion the ongoing breakthrough of women getting hired in traditionally male roles because  hellooooo ...They EARNED IT!

Enjoy our chat and Tune in to all 5 parts of EARNIN’ IT On The Peacock Channel and watch the beginning of big change.

For the first time in decades employees have the upper hand. 

"If you are working, now is the time to politely up your game and make reasonable demands that will provide you a better quality of life. Chances are your company will give in," says Carl Gould business management expert and President of business management firm '7 Stage Advisors'.

People risking asking for the fringe benefits they REALLY want out of their jobs is a huge trend right now, says Carl. Pre-pandemic what you would have heard he said, was that people simply wanted to be heard, wanted meaningful work, and they wanted a stimulating work environment. It was more about the overall work experience. 

NOW...employees have the leverage to ask for some of the monetary and non-monetary things they always wanted pre-pandemic,  that they never had the guts to ask for. 

Because everyone learned over the last year how to work from home and they like it, if they’re not getting that, they’re leaving and saying oh well come and get me, says Carl.

So what are some of the most mentioned perks that people now want? Number ONE by a long stretch and there's no close second said Carl, is flexibility in schedule. Things like, "Can I work from home a couple days a week?" "Can I come in a little bit later so I can drop the kids off at the bus?"

The generation dominating the work space right now want the whole package.  It's a work to live mentality, not live to work.

Carl adds, but don't think this generation is lazy. When you hear about this great resignation, a big reason people are leaving jobs is that they don’t want to give up their gig projects which they can’t do if they’re commuting and/or working in an office every day. 

What we see says Carl, is people cancelling and leaving their jobs because they don’t want to give up their side hustle. Instead they're looking for a primary job that gives them their flexibility to  do their side hustle and make more money That’s the new form of workaholic. In fact, 58 Million people last year said that they did a part time project as a side hustle.

So how are the 'employers' reacting  to the requests for  "I want!" "I need!" "I must have!" ?

Carl says, the 'employer' has always been open to flexibility which is the part the employee doesn’t understand. Employees are quitting rather than ‘asking’. They need to ask for the fringe benefits they desire. 

Employers are impressed says Carl, when somebody comes to them and says I really like your company, here’s what I can contribute and also here are some of the constraints I have in my life . For example; "Because of the pandemic I am taking care of a loved one at home" or "I don’t have a car right now" or, "We have young kids at home."

Carl suggests employees try asking  things like "Could I come early these days ?" "Can I work from home on certain days?" "Could tuition reimbursement be built into to my package?"

Employers are much more flexible than people realize and timing is great right now for people who are working or looking for new work to politely up their game and make reasonable demands for quality of life.

Do you do this in writing ? In person? 

A little bit of both says Carl. Write down all things you want to bring up so you don't forget in the moment, and first have a conversation with the employer.

Some suggested language from Carl? "I really love what your company is doing and I’d love to come on board but there are a few situations in my life that I’m managing so is there any way I can manage both?  

Lay out your thoughts as questions. Can we work this out? Would you consider ? etc etc.

Carl Gould, 7 Stage Advisors, has helped over 5000 growth minded companies who were ready for the white knuckle ride. They offer a full on 2 hour no fee consultation and present 5 ways to grow your company. No obligation. Carl says, we sell nothing until people insist on paying. 

Enjoy this insightful chat that hopefully will inspire you to risk asking for the job perks that you really would love, that you never spoke up about before. 

Can CBD Help Calm Hyper or Anxious Dogs? Yessiree says dog lover and CBD entrepreneur Paul Borde' Founder of Primabee CBD, and he says the dogs love it. 

Paul's done a lot of research into how CBD affects pets as well as humans. To be clear CBD  does not make a dog or a human high . CBD is a non-psychoactive hemp-derived compound, that's safe  to consume.

I decided to do a story on CBD for dogs because its the holiday season and there are people I want to visit whose dogs make me nervous LOL. Now that I'm more educated about CBD I figured I'd bring 'them' along a little gift of CBD so we can both relax.  Many dogs get a little hyper when company visits. Some dogs get a lot hyper and not just when people visit . Some like humans, have anxiety all the time and CBD has been found to be incredibly  helpful to calm them. CBD might be helpful for keeping your dog calm on a plane while traveling or when traveling long distance by car.

Paul says, almost all the articles about CBD on the internet talk about the 'human endocannabinoid system' and how it plays a role in many bodily functions. Dogs have it too and CBD will similarly affect your dogs as it affects you – by binding to endocannabinoid receptors in their body. The deficiencies we all have its kind of filling that void. The only difference is the 'dosing' and that depends on the size of the dog. 

In short, here are a few symptoms that point to your dog's anxiety and hyper activeness:

• Aggressive behavior
• Lack of energy or too much energy
• Inability to relax
• Depression
• Lack of Interest in their favorite activities
• Not responding to their name
• Abnormal behavior such as running around the room or spinning in circles 
• Panting
• Excessive barking
• Urinating or defecating in the house

Paul's two Jack Russell Terriers  weigh about 15 pounds. He says his wife cuts a CBD treat in half and gives it to them at bedtime. Paul gives them a touch more when friends are coming over to visit, adding that the CBD dog Chews are 100% safe and a dog can’t overdose. 

CBD is a big term, says Paul, and the market is crowded with lots of products out there not up to par on standards. Getting a high-quality product requires more effort than one can imagine. Although CBD is safe for your dog, a mislabeled CBD product can do more harm than good.

When shopping for for your pets CBD always make sure you buy top-quality hemp-derived CBD from a reputable brand that proves the quality through third-party labs test results like Primabee. Look for the 'certificate of analysis' on the CBD website you're purchasing from. Its critical and says that the products have been  independently tested that what you’re being sold  is absolutely what you’re getting.

Paul Borde' and Primabee CBD love their four-legged family members, so they've invested a ton of energy and time into learning how the famous hemp-derived compound can affect dogs. Everything you need to know is on their website here.

Enjoy the great educational conversation about CBD and how it might help your dog. 

Love Innovation and Love People Who Risk Change. The Historic Otesaga Resort In Cooperstown N.Y. going strong now for 112 years, decided to try something new this year! Winter!

Located in what’s been called "Americas Most Perfect Village", the historic Otesaga known for summer fun is now staying open for the Winter. The place shouts 'winter wonderland' with its picturesque twinkling holiday lights, festive decor and often a blanket of snow during the winter months. A nice idea to consider for the most wonderful time of the year without breaking the bank since their winter rates are 40% off.

Do you know they have an outside  ‘Fire Bar'? It's been the screen shot on my iPhone since the last time my boyfriend Dave and I were there. (See the screenshot I just snapped while typing this.)

I fell in love with the Otesaga in Cooperstown when we went to The Baseball Hall of Fame a few years ago. I always wanted to go back and stay there so this week we did. I was craving a safe cozy short road trip and this sure did the trick. 

Cooperstown is like a snow globe town, and while there this week I saw my first snow of the season. The Otesaga which has typically known for its warm weather outdoor activities, fabulous grounds, outdoor pool and magical golf course on the lake is now also a great cozy place to check in and chill out this time of year. Think cozy lobby fireplace; beautiful rooms with a Keurig machine; warm bubble baths in a big clean tub (I took 4); massages in the Hawkeye Spa, and a crazy delicious gigantic breakfast buffet. (Why I feel compelled to try every single thing at a buffet I'll never know.)

Friendly cocktails, bartenders and friendly people in the Hawkeye Bar & Restaurant and delicious dining. (Loved that the chef indulged my ridiculous request for two different sauces because I couldn't decide) The place is perfect for any reason, business or pleasure and especially a romantic getaway.

We arrived at night so I didn't see the view from our room till I opened my eyes in the morning and saw the beauty of Otsego Lake out my room window. Wow.

I invited Tjibbe Lambers (pronounced Chib-Ba) originally from the Netherlands, now a Cooperstown resident and also the  Dir. of Mkt for The Otesaga to join me. He  shares some of the ‘firsts’ they're offering this winter like ‘The Home For The Holidays Special’ and ‘The Holiday Lantern Tour’ & their 'Arthur Family Getaway' Package ( think beloved series of children's books). He also talks about all the great Baseball legends The Otesaga has hosted over the years and the incredible display of wine glasses engraved with the name of each Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee showcased in their hallways. The ones with the white roses I observed were to honor those who had passed. The Otesaga also honors the Cooperstown areas' Indian Heritage and Farmers Museum.   

The town of Cooperstown is a little quiet in Winter but there are always interesting people who are drawn there all year long.  We met a great fun gal who stays there regularly for business in the Hawkeye Bar. Gina from Texas! You'll meet her in the podcast. A fun working mom of 15 year old triplets (imagine?) She's a riot and a top level consultant in the healthcare industry. I chose her to be my featured ‘Random Run In’ of the trip”.

I love Random Runs and talking to interesting strangers. That's a favorite sport of mine that had to be tabled due to the pandemic. Now that I’m 'triple vaxed' as I like to say - I’m feeling more confident about getting back to doing it. I'm on a 'stranger talking' comeback tour now .

In Cooperstown I chatted with Gina mentioned above as well as her smart gal pal boss who sadly lost a child and wrote a book in his honor who I'll invite on a future show. I enjoyed a chat with a famous Rabbi & his wife, a cool guy with a pony tail working to bring technology to rural communities, and a terrific fun younger couple Dave and I met at Cooley’s Stone House Tavern in town. While there, the young fella loved Dave’s music choices on the jukebox so much he sent us over a drink for his good taste!  LOL. We joined them and connected over music and his gal pals love of talk radio. I also loved talking to all the different people who live and work in Cooperstown year round. Interesting to note there are many happy 'couples' who live there and work together at The Otesaga all year.

Cooperstown if you've never been there is located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains and is a convenient drive from several Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern cities including Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, New York, and Boston. 

Real Estate Mogul Sam Liebman Does Not Want To Be The Richest Guy In The Cemetery. The pandemic made him 're-assess' his purpose going forward and he decided to shift his attention to teaching others how to be successful in real estate... in a very unconventional way. The street way. The same way he went from being a street kid to a real estate mogul.

The pandemic led Sam back to finishing the book he’s been wanting to finish for a long time. He was able to finish it during all that time spent at home, using all the notes he’d written down on little pieces of paper over the years.

His upcoming book HARVARD CAN’T TEACH WHAT YOU LEARN FROM THE STREETS is no ordinary real estate investment guide. It's a 'no holds barred deep dive' into becoming a real estate mogul yourself. The kind of MBA that no school teaches. A fast track guide for anyone serious about pursuing commercial real estate success. Sam truly is paving the way for new investors to transform their lives through the power of multifamily real estate.

His raw experience of his climb from nothing to notoriety is worth the listen for anyone who wants the down and dirty inside scoop on how to create 'lasting wealth' through real estate.

Let's just say if you listen to what he's telling you even the greenest investor can become a seasoned pro. Flipping houses, holding a real estate license or owning a home says Sam, is only the beginning of what could be a long and transformative journey to your own wealth through real estate.

Sam Liebman's Background?  He's a real estate investment icon with over 35 years of experience in finance, property management, acquisition, and development. For the past 12 years, he's been the Fund Manager for the Rolling Cash Opportunity Fund LLC. Under Sam’s leadership, this fund alone owns substantial interests in twenty properties with an aggregate market value that has grown to over $120,000,000 after starting with only $9,000,000 in capital.

Sam has owned substantial interests over the years in over 70 properties throughout the Tri-State area of New York and also in Texas. He is the founder and chief executive officer of WealthWay Equity Group LLC a privately held real estate investment company focused on creating and managing his large real estate portfolio.

The book comes out January 11, 2022.

You can pre-order HARVARD CAN’T TEACH WHAT YOU LEARN FROM THE STREETS on Amazon. 

Enjoy our conversation.