The James Protin Podcast

In Episode 91 of the podcast, we meet Jenna Bosi is a dedicated child welfare social worker and mother with a deep passion for advocating for children and families. 

In 2021 she took the leap and founded '412 Foster Project,' a nonprofit aimed at making a positive difference in the lives of children who have experienced childhood trauma. 

Her commitment to the well-being of children led her to recently step into realm of children's literature, where she published "My Great Big Emotional Super Powers". Jenna firmly believes in the power of storytelling to create a safe space for children to explore their feelings. 

As a doctoral candidate in the field of social work, Jenna will remain fiercely dedicated to a career that amplifies the voices of those who often go unheard and ensuring that children and families receive the support they deserve."

As always, the visually inclined can catch it on YouTube, or listen in on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform.

Our guest for Episode 90 is Jordan Bellotti. Jordan is a headshot photographer based in Pittsburgh, PA. That’s not news…the Pittsburgh region has hundreds of amazing photographers capable of creating stunning images. Many of them also do headshots. 

But there’s more to it than taking a pretty picture. There’s more than creating a personal brand. There’s pulling the very essence out of your subject. Look in the eyes of the subject in any of his photos, and it’s there. 

Not many others do it quite like he does…

Here’s the best part, just a few short years ago, Jordan picked up a camera for the first time…as a hobby. Of course, he ended up falling in love with photography.

Jordan’s story illustrates how following your heart’s passion can turn a hobby into a successful career. 

Jordan’s dad is an artist and his influence guaranteed that he has always filled his spare time with artistic exploits. I really enjoy the challenge of thinking about what I want to achieve with an image, and then figuring out how to execute it successfully.  

Jordan throws myself into creative work and believes that creativity, coupled with the motivation to develop the necessary technical skills, results in creating striking images.  In the end, what you get is an image that stands out among a crowd and delivers a powerful message. 

As always, the visually inclined can catch it on YouTube, or listen in on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. 

For nearly 20 years, Katie Stern has helped construction firms grow through marketing and rebranding strategies. Then, in 2016 the unthinkable happene…she lost her son Toby, at 12 weeks old, two sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 

Struggling to find resources to process their own grief, Katie and her husband, Dan, started The Little Fox – Toby’s Foundation with a mission of providing resources and support to parents experiencing grief from the death of a child, while educating on the importance of safe sleep practices for infants and bringing awareness to sudden infant death syndrome. 

The 501(c)3 is currently raising money to build a grief retreat center in Western Pennsylvania to serve bereaved families across the U.S.

As a grieving mother, Katie is passionate about helping others with grief and infant loss and finds comfort in being able to offer insight and guidance to those struggling with how to best comfort someone coping with a major loss. 

Her impactful speaking style makes her message around ‘growing through grief’ empowering and transformative. Her mission is to bring mothers, fathers, siblings, and extended family members hope in the midst of heartbreak and grief while providing the tools and resources to help grievers experience joy in their lives once again. 

This episode is one of the most powerful we’ve done to date.  

As always, the visually inclined can catch it on YouTube, or listen in on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. 

#JamesProtinPodcast #LittleFox #grief #sids #TobysFoundation #legacy #LiveLoveLearnPrayInspire

Albert Einstein once said, “Never stop learning, for when you stop learning, you stop growing.”

Our guest for Episode 88 of the podcast, Meghan Greenwood, epitomizes Einstein’s concept. 

Meghan is a medical writer by day, creative by night, and all things mom to her 2 young boys. She received her PhD in Immunology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012, where she conducted research on autoimmune diseases. She transitioned to medical writing full-time almost 10 years ago and currently works in pharma. 

During her graduate training, she was eager for a creative, physical outlet and returned to her love of dance, founding BaM Choreography LLC with her sister Brianna Pato. 

This ongoing operation led to many other entrepreneurial ventures, including authoring the My Little Dreamer Book Series and starting Pgh Dreamer Productions LLC, which provides virtual accountability buddy services, resume editing, and hosting of the Pgh Dreamer's Pod - which showcases Pittsburgh's creative, business-owning women. 

She is also an active board member of The Peters Township Library Foundation and enjoys activities such as aerial silks, yoga, and daily reading. 

As always, the visually inclined can catch it on YouTube, or listen in on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform.

Our guest for Episode 87 is David Callahan, President of the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC), a leading trade association focused on unconventional shale development from the Marcellus and Utica plays. 

David wasn’t imported by the industry from somewhere else to lead. He is one of us…a native Pennsylvanian. 

Mr. Callahan leads the organization, founded in 2008, representing members engaged in all aspects of natural gas development, including exploration and production, midstream gathering, processing and transportation, as well as the suppliers and contractors who work with the industry.

On behalf of the organization’s membership, Mr. Callahan engages with elected officials, regulators, civic leaders, allied business interests and the media to advance responsible shale development, enhance the industry’s social license to operate, strengthen our economy and better our shared environment.

David has more than 30 years of experience in the energy sector, in which he has represented companies and organizations across the energy value chain. Previously, he held leadership positions with JKLM Energy and MPLX, as well as with organizations including API of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Callahan earned a B.A. from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. He and his wife, Wendy, have one son and live in central Pennsylvania.

As always, the visually inclined can catch it on YouTube, or listen in on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform.

Our guest for Episode 86 is originally from England…born in Hereford, and has been a Pittsburgher for the past three decades. I must admit..her British Yinzer sccent is very cool. 

Tanya Bashor is a Trauma Informed Somatic Coach based in Pittsburgh. She specializes in helping high-achieving women heal from trauma, enabling them to succeed in both their businesses and personal lives. 

With nearly three years of experience, she's skilled in trauma recovery, specialising in narcissistic, emotional and financial  abuse, she uses positive psychology, hypnosis and brainspotting in a holistic body-mind approach. Tanya also hosts empowering women's retreats that have received praise for transforming lives.

As always, the visually inclined can catch it on YouTube, or listen in on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform.

Our guest for Episode 85, Benny Fisher wears many hats. He’s a visionary. He’s an entrepreneur…the founder of The Big Fish Contracting Company. Benny has a knack for networking among business owners, and capturing stories of business, entrepreneurial journeys, and overcoming adversity.

Benny’s mission is to connect business owners to the right ideas, concepts, and partners in order to help them grow.

Benny Fisher is the embodiment of customer service & building connections. He founded The Big Fish Contracting Company 2015, earning a reputation for unmatched professionalism and outstanding customer satisfaction

Early on in his career he found that the key to success was through delivering superb customer service no matter the task in front of him. In addition to his philosophical focus on service, Benny also saw the importance for building deep and lasting connections with anyone that crosses his path.

As always, the visually inclined can catch it on YouTube, or listen in on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform.

Episode 84 of the podcast is destined to be a classic. 

David Finoli and Chris Fletcher have been talking sports—particularly Pittsburgh sports—since they met in college when they both had hair. The two have a popular weekly podcast on Facebook called “The 412.” 

Their approach? 

Picture two old friends talking about sports and popular culture and how the two intersect. And tangents. Lots of tangents. You never know where the conversation is going—and that’s half the fun.

The two have combined to write 9 books, including their latest, "Pittsburgh Sports in the 1970s: Tragedies, Triumphs and Championships"

David is that guy…the one that brings the credibility. Chris is the one that brings the beer…he’s a legend. 

David is an author and sports historian who has written numerous titles on the history of sports in Western Pennsylvania. He has written numerous titles for Arcadia Publishing and The History Press, including Pittsburgh's Greatest Teams and Unlucky 21: The Saddest Stories and Games in Pittsburgh Sports History.

Every successful partnership requires balance. David is also cohost (the one who makes it legit) at The 412. His insights and expertise in all things Pittsburgh sports keeps the show afloat. 

Chris is the Organizational Advancement Manager for the Ryan Shazier Spinal Rehabilitation Institute. Impressive…right? Well, Chris is also serves as the chief marketing officer for RC21X. Wow! But there’s more…he is also the cohost and Beer Consultant at The 412. 

As always, the visually inclined can catch it on YouTube, or listen in on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform.

“Two Monessen Players Arrested”

That was the headline in the local newspaper Saturday, Oct. 30, 2004. Our guest for Episode 83 has seen the dark side of life. Shawn Martin didn’t choose that life…it chose him. 

So…just who is Shawn Martin? 

The answer is surprisingly simple. He’s a provider, a husband, a father, a brother, and a friend. Shawn is a man who owns the mistakes of the past, and has carries their harsh lessons with him. 

He’s a change maker in his family…a young man who has changed the trajectory of his life, setting an example for the young men in his family to follow. 

He’s a change maker in his community…serving in a leadership role with the NAACP Pennsylvania State Conference, setting an example for young men of color in his community to follow. 

In Episode 82 we asked our guest Eric Chandler…What does leadership mean to you?

Eric is a leader in Canonsburg, the community where he grew up. He serves as the President of Canonsburg Borough Council. He also leads the Redevelopment Committee in the Borough. 

He is a leader in Washington County, serving on various boards throughout County, including Leadership Washington County (LWC). 

He also serves on the coaching staff of the Canon McMillan High School Football Team as the leadership/team development and running backs coach. 

Eric is retired after a long career as a Business Analyst for Del Monte Foods, Inc., and is pursuing a new project on Transformational Leadership.

Eric and his wife Julie, enjoy pursuing their passion of coaching, mentoring and parenting girls, boys, women, and men in living out their full potential in life.  

As always, the visually inclined can catch it on YouTube, or listen in on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform.