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George Ceballos grew up hustling — first weed, then coke, then heroin. What started as a way to be self-sufficient turned into addiction, incarceration, and years of cycling through state prisons, rehabs, and parole violations. Six prisons. Nearly a decade lost.

Then a counselor at a rehab facility did something nobody had done before — he sat down, found the resources, and built a plan. A welding program. A real shot. And George took it.

This is an honest conversation about the street life nobody glorifies honestly, what addiction really costs, and what it looks like to claw your way back from less than zero. George is now nearly three years clean, working a career in welding, and present for his kids for the first time.

A conversation about wasted potential, dark money, and what it means to finally become a square — and be proud of it.

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Hilary Momberger Powers was the voice of Sally Brown on Peanuts at just five years old. But early success became her prison—and rock bottom became her liberation. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Hilary shares how hitting her lowest point forced her to rebuild from scratch, and why she now helps others find their worth through spiritual awakening and radical authenticity. If you've ever felt like you had to perform to survive, this one's for you.

Find Hilary: hillarymomburgerpowers.com

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Who Told You What a Man Should Be?

Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst spent 50 years working with boys and men. Her question: Who decided what a man should be in the first place?

From preschool to adulthood, we're training boys to isolate, shut down, and never ask for what they need. In this conversation, we explore how culture shapes masculinity, what isolation actually costs men, and what happens when we finally let men be human.

This one's for anyone questioning the script they were given about what it means to be a man—or raising someone who is.

Dr. Vanderhorst's books: www.drvanderhorst.com

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Chip Scholz is an executive coach, author, and woodturner who gets at the real stuff. We talk about his journey from sales to authorship, why he put a manuscript in a drawer for five years, and what Father's Day gift sparked his comeback story.

But mostly, we talk about failure, curiosity, and becoming yourself. Chip's philosophy is simple: failure is something we do, not something we are. Judgment closes doors. Curiosity opens them. And the moments that matter aren't about being indispensable—they're about being real.

This is a conversation for anyone writing a book, leading people, or trying to figure out what comes next.

Key Takeaways:

• Failure is a verb, not a noun
• Be curious, not judgmental
• Your pocket knife: the tools you carry in life
• Why authenticity beats performance
• Publishing insights for aspiring authors

Find Chip: scholzandassociates.com

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Most parents in Blair County, Pennsylvania have never heard of CareerLink — and that's exactly the problem Malissa Fry is trying to fix.

Malissa is a Youth Career Facilitator at PA CareerLink Blair County, and in this conversation she walks us through everything they offer for young people ages 14 to 24. We're talking about a paid summer work program where kids can earn up to $3,600, resume help, mock interviews, financial literacy, and even cursive writing — all free, all designed to give young people a real head start before they enter the workforce.

We also cover what employers are actually looking for, why your resume might be getting filtered out before a human ever reads it, how AI tools are changing the application process, and what's available for adults who need help getting back on their feet or leveling up their career.

If you're a parent of a teenager or young adult in Blair County, this one's for you.

Find CareerLink Blair County: Second Floor, Altoona Public Library — 1600 Fifth Avenue
📞 814-502-3346
🌐 https://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov/jponline
📘 https://www.facebook.com/pacareerlinkblaircounty/

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In this episode of The James Finochio Show, James sits down with author, healer, and educator Heather Ann Ferri for a wide-ranging conversation about healing from the inside out. Heather shares her personal journey from childhood trauma and silence to becoming a wellness advocate, and breaks down two topics most people have never thought about together: generational trauma and toxic water.

You'll learn what ancestral trauma actually is, how it lives in your nervous system and affects your daily life, and what practical steps you can take — from somatic movement to upgrading your water — to start reclaiming your health. Heather also discusses glyphosate and forever chemicals in the U.S. water supply, the difference between clean water and medical-grade water, and why the foundation always has to come before the fix.

📘 Heather's Book — Transcending Victim to Goddess Includes a retreat, music, and 3 meditations with Amazon purchase. Email [email protected] to claim. 👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1DFP49G

💧 Free Water eBook — "Water Matters" 👉 https://www.heatherannferri.com

💧 Get 5% off your first Multipure water system Use code 436409 — cleaner water starts with the foundation.

Connect with Heather: 🌐 https://www.heatherannferri.com ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@heatherannferri 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherannferri/ 📘 https://www.facebook.com/heatherannferri/ 📧 [email protected]

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What do you do when you've tried everything — faith, service, love, religion — and you still feel empty? Gina Economopoulos spent decades finding out. What she discovered on the other side of the worst years of her life will stay with you.

Gina has been a bartender, a Franciscan nun, a caregiver, a woman in love, and a recovering alcoholic — sometimes all at once. She watched her mother die of bone cancer at 23. She watched the man she planned to marry drink himself to death in a state she'd moved to for him. And then one day she walked into an AA meeting just to prove it didn't work.

Eleven years sober tomorrow.

In this episode Gina and James dig into grief, forgiveness, the real cost of letting go, and the surprising connection between fear and control. Her book is Shake the Dust Off Your Feet and Walk — and this conversation is the story behind it.

Resources mentioned: 

📖 Gina's Book — https://a.co/d/0hRL5L8F 

🌐 Gina's Website — https://ginaecon.com 

🔵 Alcoholics Anonymous — https://www.aa.org

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In this episode of Across The Table, James Finochio sits down with Safra Turner, founder of iHolistica, for a wide-ranging conversation on geopolitics, consciousness, and personal sovereignty.

Safra shares how her background in international relations and global affairs shaped her perspective on current world events, and how that perspective evolved into a deeper exploration of spiritual awakening and the nature of reality.

They discuss the illusion of separation, the systems that influence society, and what it means to reclaim personal power in a world that often feels uncertain and divided.

This conversation moves between the physical and the philosophical — from global conflict and media narratives to inner awareness, resilience, and the path toward collective awakening.

If you’ve ever felt like there’s more beneath the surface of what we’re told, this episode invites you to explore that question more deeply.

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The Truth About Cannabis Prohibition (They Don’t Want You to Know This)

What if everything you’ve been told about cannabis… was built on lies?

In this episode of Across The Table, James Finochio sits down with Danny and Veronica Rivera — owners of True Healing Concepts and founders of Altoona’s Canna-Toona Festival — to break down the real history of cannabis prohibition, the legal confusion around hemp, and why the system still hasn’t changed.

This isn’t just a conversation about weed.

It’s about power, policy, money… and who actually benefits from keeping things the way they are.

From the origins of prohibition to modern-day crackdowns on hemp, this episode exposes how legislation, media narratives, and enforcement have shaped public perception — and why small businesses and everyday people are the ones caught in the middle.

They also share their personal story of building a cannabis business from the ground up, navigating legal battles, and creating a local movement that’s bringing people together instead of dividing them.

If you think this is just about getting high… you’re missing the bigger picture.

In this episode:

🔥 The real origins of cannabis prohibition (and why they still matter today)
⚖️ Hemp vs marijuana — what the law actually says vs what people believe
🚨 How enforcement, loopholes, and “gray areas” impact real people
💰 Why cannabis is still a “pay-to-play” industry
🏛 Who benefits from keeping cannabis restricted
🌿 The fight to keep hemp alive in Pennsylvania
🤝 Building a community-driven business in a controversial industry
🎉 How the Canna-Toona Festival is changing the narrative locally

👤 Guest Info — Danny & Veronica Rivera

🌿 True Healing Concepts
https://www.facebook.com/share/1EaxQp4qmH/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🎉 Canna-Toona Festival
https://www.facebook.com/share/19yHBdc1x6/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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EPISODE 27 — John David on Writing Thrillers, Media Narratives, and AI
In this episode of Across The Table, James Finochio sits down with author John David to talk about his transition from public relations into novel writing, and the real-world inspiration behind his thriller The Bystander.
John shares how a combination of personal experiences, conversations around gun rights, and a real-life incident helped shape the foundation of his story.
The conversation goes beyond writing and into bigger topics — including media narratives, the role of AI in modern work, and how storytelling is influenced by real events, bias, and perspective.


They talk about:
🏛 transitioning from a career in PR to writing fiction

📖 the inspiration and themes behind The Bystander

✍️ how novels are structured, written, and edited

🎭 building realistic characters with flaws and depth

📰 media influence and how narratives are shaped

🤖 the benefits and risks of using AI in writing and research

📚 the challenges of publishing and promoting a book today

🎯 why real-life experiences often shape the best stories


John also shares insights into the publishing world, the importance of having a strong editor, and what it actually takes to go from an idea to a finished novel.
If you're interested in writing, media, storytelling, or how real-world events influence fiction, this is a conversation worth listening to.


👤 Guest Info — John David
🌐 Explore John’s work, books, and updates
⁠https://byjohndavid.substack.com/⁠


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If you enjoyed this conversation, consider following the podcast, sharing it, or sending it to someone who’s interested in writing, media, or storytelling.

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