The James Protin Podcast

One-Year Anniversary 

Hard to believe…but it happened. The Podcast is one-year old. Time to celebrate and glance in the rear view so we can catapult into our second year on a high note. 

And so, we give you…The Best of the James Protin Podcast. 

We’ve pulled together a heartfelt thank you all our guests and included excerpts from some of our  favorite conversations over the last 12 months. it’s all in there.

Compiling this first yearbook of the podcast has been both a joy and a challenge. I truly have love for all our guests, and we took great care to ensure we didn’t leave anyone out.

Thank you to our team. Thank you to my amazingly talented partner Nick Altland, who is responsible for the professional production you see each week…not to mention making us look good. 

It’s been an honor to share this podcast journey with my friends and co-hosts Jack Cadwallader and Melissa Migliaro. 

We’re beyond grateful for all of you who have watched/listened, and subscribed. We’re grateful for your support and we are committed to continuing to bring you inspiring stories. Year 2 is coming’ atcha next week, and we have some awesome guests in the queue.

Episode #51 of the podcast is a special one for me. Our guests this week are Ashley Reed and Tyler Watts, two amazing young women. Both Ashley and Tyler are engineers with GPI. 

Ashley Reed is a Cleveland native with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Akron. Upon graduation, she relocated to West Virginia to work as an engineering consultant helping communities maintain safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater systems. 

Ashley is a Registered Licensed Professional Engineer. With her role at GPI growing more forward facing, client focused, she had to step outside her comfort zone and accept more leadership responsibility. 

Tyler Watts is a Project Manager in the water resources group at GPI.  After 6 years in the water resources industry, she has collected significant experience in construction management for water and wastewater infrastructure.  

Born and raised in the northside of Pittsburgh, PA, Tyler grew up around the construction business. Her family encouraged creativity and sketching became one of her first loves. 

Tyler played varsity basketball while attending Perry Traditional Academy and went on to complete a B.S. in Civil Engineering at the University of Toledo.  As a queer black woman, she is committed to representing and elevating minorities in her industry.

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice. 

For Episode #50 of the podcast, we’re joined by the delightful Katie Unger-Chipps, Executive Director of Leadership Washington County (LWC), the leading resource for leadership identification, connection, and development in Washington County. 

Under Katie’s leadership, LWC has received local and national recognition for governance and innovation. But don’t think Katie merely steers the ship. Her dynamic personality and ability to build key relationships and trust within the community are a shining example for the LWC participants. 

Katie is an LWC alumni who came back to give back. With her entrepreneurial mindset, Katie has rebranded the organization, expanded its programs, recruited a refocused Board of Directors and led LWC to financial solvency. 

Katie’s leadership and commitment to our community were recognized in 2021 when she was awarded the Washington County Athena Award. Her smile and positive attitude are contagious, and I guarantee our conversation will make you smile.

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice.

Nick and I took the podcast on the road to Pittsburgh’s Southside for Episode #49. We sat down with my amazing friend ⭐Kelly Frost⭐  for her second appearance on the show and then we were joined by my friend, the amazingly talented Dominique Murray for a great conversation. 

Kelly updated us on the very successful launch of PEEL (Pittsburgh’s Elevated & Emerging Leaders), while Dom provided some fascinating insights into the Pittsburgh creative scene. 

Kelly and Dom are leaders in every sense of that word. They work hard in their passion for their respective careers and enjoy the journey…giving back at every step along the way. 

PEEL creatively supports the many nonprofit organizations in our region by partnering with a nonprofit each quarter throughput the year. The organizations first quarterly charity partner for 2023 is 412Thrive. 

This show exceeded our expectations thanks to these two dynamic and engaging women. 

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice.

Episode #48 is a special one for the podcast. We sat down with Lisa Aprea, one of the owners, along with Nancy Ogburn and Jim Martin, of Chicco Baccello, a small coffee house, bakery and deli located in the heart of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. 

Of course, Chicco’s Canonsburg, PA location is home base for the show. 

Lisa and her team are the most gracious hosts…the coffee is may be the best in the region. And literally everything on the menu is delicious. Lisa tells her personal story as a wife, mother, grandmother and successful entrepreneur. 

Chicco’s successful entrepreneur journey began in Washington in 2014 and led them to the perfect second location…the Canonsburg headquarters of Arc Human Services, a Washington County-based nonprofit. 

Canonsburg is thriving and the people there love their growing community. Chicco Baccello is a perfect fit on Pike Street, and the podcast is excited to be a part of that.

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice.

As our Podcast approaches its One-Year Anniversary, we decided to do something a little different. I sat down with the newest member of our team, Melissa Migliaro for Episode #47.

We’re calling this show “The Way We See It”

In this episode we touch on a wide variety of topics…and of course we have some fun with our in-house “Creative Genius” Nick who doesn’t like the spotlight but without him none of this happens.  

One thing we can all agree on is the world for sure needs more love, inspiration and togetherness. And that’s what we try to bring to all topics. There’s not doubt we need more dialogue between each other on important topics. Less scrolling and more talking. 

Because at the end of the day, we are better together and it’s so important to come together in life, even between our differences. We must learn from each other and be okay to step outside our comfort zone at times.

As Ram Dass said, “We’re all just walking each other home.” Because everyone’s journey is unique…we invite people from all walks of life to share their stories from the way they see it so we call become better together. 

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice.

Our guest for Episode #46 is Ron Mozer, Mayor of the City of Monessen, Pennsylvania. Unlike his predecessors, Mayor Mozer arrived in Monessen from Alamogordo, New Mexico by way of Pueblo, Colorado. 

But don’t let the fact that Ron is a transplanted Monessen Greyhound fool you. Like his predecessors, he loves this small city straddling the Monongahela River. 

 Mayor Mozer’s belief that if you always keep a positive attitude, hold God in front of you and do what you know is right has been proven by his ability to unite a city council that had been fractured and chaotic at best. In this Mayors Monessen, there is nothing that can’t be accomplished together. 
 
 Since 1981, Ron Mozer has been President of Crystalline Technology, a manufacturer of devices that provide satellite communications to remote facilities in the oil and gas industry. In this role, Ron has been involved in all aspects of the business including operations, development, management, equipment manufacture, sales and service. 

For the first time in recent memory, Monessen is a city that is working together in unison with council towards the goal of “Equality and Prosperity for all”. Mayor Mozer maintains a strong belief in the community and work closely with all community leaders and residents in addressing many of the issues facing this proud city. 

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice.

For Episode #45, Nick and I found our way to Sharpsburg, specifically, the 1028 Podcast Studio. Our guest is Corey Ochai, Producer/Host of the The 1028 Podcast. 

Corey is a Braddock-born painter and a longtime resident of Sharpsburg, where he has served as Curator of Atithi Studios. Atithi is bigger than just creating art, it's about creating relationships and developing skills to help community members in achieving their dreams, whether that’s becoming a full-time artist or continuing to hone their craft in a safe and supportive environment. 

Corey has a beautiful life journey. His is an inspiring story of growth and transformation. As a young man he looked death squarely in the eye and not only survived…he has thrived. You don’t want to miss this episode. I highly recommend you start following the 1028 Podcast and visit Atithi Studios as soon as possible. 

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice. 

#podcast #LiveLoveLearnPrayInspire #1028podcast #growth #entrepreneur #transformation #love

Joining us for Episode #44 are our special guests, Officer Joe Risher, Trooper Melinda Bondarenk, and Deputy Chief Shawn Hudinzski, from Allegheny County Communities & Police Together. 

Once again, our Melissa Migliaro was in the co-host chair for this episode. 

Officer Joe is an Army veteran and a member of the Allegheny County Police Department, Trooper Melinda from Troop B of the Pennsylvania State Police, and Chief Shawn from the Port Authority of Allegheny County Police. 

ACCAPT is a collaborative effort among more than two dozen communities in the region. The officers were able to share so much about ACCAPT, including upcoming events like Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League's Stuff A Store, and great information on community relations. 

Special thanks to Carnegie Coffee Company for hosting us. 

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice. 

Our guest for Episode #43 is Maria Allshouse. Not many people have the courage to make a major life transformation at age 43. But then again, not many people are Maria Allshouse. Maria speaks from her heart with passion and enthusiasm. 

Maria’s story of overcoming a lifetime struggle of disordered eating and releasing 130 pounds is inspiring and engaging. Her journey from someone who was barely surviving to a completely revitalized individual thriving as an accomplished Olympic triathlete, half marathoner and award-winning fitness competitor is remarkable. 

Maria is a Certified Lifestyle Weight Management Coach, Nutritionist and Keynote Speaker. She holds certifications from the ISSA, NESTA and Precision Nutrition in Fitness Training, Sports Nutrition and Lifestyle Weight Management. In addition, she is a licensed Facilitator and Master Trainer for the University of Pittsburgh Diabetes Prevention Lifestyle Balance Program and a member of the Women’s Speakers Association.

Maria has more than 10 years of health and wellness experience along with her 23 years of corporate marketing and leadership experience. She is also a co-creator and Brand Partner of Savvi, an international athleisure line whose purpose is to inspire and support people to unite, grow, celebrate one another, and move forward together.

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice.