Marco Santi’s always dreamt of opening a restaurant. Strong Italian roots on his dad’s side combined with his mom’s Louisiana touch, cooking and food played an important role. Marco's life has evolved through different careers and passions, but that restaurant always remained in the back of his mind. One day, he seized an opportunity to work and receive training at Gibson’s and finally opened up ‘Marco’s Northside Grill’ in Highwood almost 4 years ago. Listen and learn more about Marco’s family history in this town, the inspiration for his menu and how he remained dedicated to his lifelong goals and what it took to realize them!  Marco’s Northside Grill is powering through the Covid-19 pandemic with modified hours, delivery and curbside options. They also feature some awesome specials on the weekends. Learn more at www.marcosnorthsidegrill.com and follow them on IG @_marcosnorthsidegrill_. They are located at 329 Waukegan Ave, Highwood!

Who better than two best friends and writers to share their list of great reads, especially during a pandemic??!! This was a special episode as one of the guests was my boyfriend, Jay Ferrari, and his best bud, John McGreevy, who I was able to meet for the first time virtually. Such a fun time with these guys! They both have a wonderful gift of describing each book so eloquently and why they love it...plus there’s some pretty great banter between the two of them. Seems like the perfect time to fill your mind with some captivating stories and dive into a healthy escape that’s good for the brain. Show these guys some love on IG @letterten & @jbmcgreevy_atlarge. They tend to share some pretty good book and music selections...just sayin! 

When you hear the Bertucci family name, you can’t help but think of Highwood. Establishments like Boomers, Rainbows and Bertucci’s to name a few...So who better than Bruce Bertucci to share some history on the good ole days of Highwood? Bruce, like his late father, Bruno Bertucci, who was a staple in the community, can recall stories and memories like it was yesterday. One thing remains the same, Highwood has always been a destination for great restaurants and bars, and the people that make up the beloved community are one of a kind. 

Elliott Serrano, “King of Geeks” joins me to share his top movie picks to watch during isolation. Turning to some entertainment classics is perfect with a little extra time on our hands and serves as a fun distraction. Elliott dives into an array of movie picks, why he loves them and a little background on each film. As a comic book author, freelance writer, famous internet Cat dad and expert on all things in the ‘Geek Realm’, Elliott does not disappoint! Follow him on FB @ https://www.facebook.com/Elliott.Serrano! 

Amy Landolt, owner of “Northshore Acupuncture Center”, returns to share awesome tips you can utilize right away to help boost your Immune System, especially in this time of COVID-19. She talks about immune health from the perspective of Chinese medicine and helps us understand why Chinese medicine (like Western medicine) encourages lifestyle habits like good sleep, movement, nutrition and stress management for a healthy Immune System. These are habits that are so important to always practice! You do not want to miss out on Amy’s tips! She is so knowledgeable and shares great insight. Learn more about her services at www.northshoreacupuncturecenter.com.  

Well, it sure has been an interesting start to 2020 to say the least. I had the pleasure of connecting with Soul Guide, Kerri Hummingbird, to get her perspective on the current situation of the world and what Mother Nature may be trying to tell us and what we can do to cope. Kerri Hummingbird, inspires people to lead their lives wide awake with an authenticity, passion and purpose that positively impacts others. She is the international best-selling author of "The Second Wave: Transcending the Human Drama" and the award-winning best-selling book "Awakening To Me: One Woman’s Journey To Self Love" which describes the early years of her spiritual awakening. She has served as a social activist, leader, and philanthropist for over three decades. She is the Founder of the Skills Not Pills Movement and Host of Soul Nectar Show. Learn more at https://kerrihummingbird.com.  

Why do we have such a fear of the dentist? So many people avoid going, but it is absolutely necessary to your health! I spoke with my Dentist, Dr. Tom Fiocchi, to understand the importance and benefits of Dental care, preventative care, what to avoid & servicing the community for so many years! His father Dr. Raymond Fiocchi, Sr. started his practice in Highland Park (next door to Highwood) in 1956. Dr. Tom and his brother, Dr. Ray Fiocchi, Jr., ran the business for years together. After his brother retired, Dr. Tom partnered with Dr. Mark Zieba, Dr. Anthony Ponzio & Mr. Jon Gregoire to form “North Suburban Dental of Highland Park”. And of course they have two wonderful female dentists on the team, Dr. Sabrina Cinqui Zieba and Dr. Arielle Wulfsohn. Learn more about this crew with over 100 years combined experience & expertise at www.nsdentist.com/highland-park!

Dear friend and fellow jiu-jitsu junkie, Dr. Joe Alleva, returns to my podcast for some real talk about COVID-19 and the CoronaVirus. Dr. Joe has been a doctor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation for over 23 years, working for NorthShore University Health System. He breaks it down so we can all understand what we are dealing with and calms some of the fears. Dr. Joe gives some insight on how to stay up to date, guidance on how to stay safe and of course I asked when he thinks we can get back on the mats for those of us in the jiu-jitsu world lol. Dr. Joe is always so fun to talk to, very informative and honest! You can schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph Alleva through the NorthShore Health System at www.northshore.org or email him with questions at [email protected]. 

Tatiana Galli joins me live on the phone lines from Florence, Italy. Tatiana is the daughter of Pat Galli, owner of Pastificio in Highwood. A lot of us from Highwood have family in the Northern Region of Italy, so I thought it would help to get a firsthand account of what it’s like to be there with the rapid spread of COVID-19, in quarantine and gain a better understanding of what is to come for us and how we can learn some valuable lessons. Tatiana shares some great perspective, positivity and peace of mind. Along with some great ways we can utilize this extra time at home. She has been blogging about each day in quarantine and continues to offer recipes and videos on the Pastificio site, www.pastificiohighwood.com. Show them some love on  IG @pastificiohighwood. 

Beth Heller, co-founder of “Pulling Down the Moon”, shares her emotional journey with fertility and how it prompted the inspiring creation of “The Moon” with destined business partner, Tamara Quinn, in 2002. Beth has her Masters in Nutrition and became a Yoga Teacher after falling in love with the practice and realizing the positive benefits it had with her fertility. This motivated her to share, support and help others going through a similar journey.  Pulling Down The Moon is located in Highland Park, River North and Buffalo Grove. They offer Acupuncture, Massage, Nutritional Counseling, Yoga and are partnered with Cocoon Care. Check out their website www.pullingdownthemoon.com for more info, events, classes and education. Also, show them some love on IG @pullingdownthemoon!