A Hunger To Change The Conversation About Health

Growing up, Carly Pollack struggled with a buffet of issues: anxiety, autoimmune disorder, a never-ending battle with her weight. As Pollack puts it, “I was the queen of impeccable weekday eating and the impressive weekend binge.”

So, it’s only natural then, that she’d go on to earn a Master’s Degree in Holistic Nutrition and be voted ‘Best Nutritionist’ in Austin for four years running.

Right?

Well, that’s not exactly the most obvious line of logic but Carly believes, “we often teach what we need to learn most.” That mantra bleeds through to every corner of her work.

Pollack caries an impressive resume, having lectured all over the country for incredible companies like: Facebook, Whole Foods, Lulu Lemon and the Livestrong Foundation. And yet, she’s equally at home giving a small talk at the Sustainable Food Center or mentoring an aspiring entrepreneur at the Young Women’s Alliance.

Her No-BS approach to creating lasting change is both uncommon and refreshing. You are in for a real treat with this interview.

In this episode of Voices of Impact, Carly and I discuss the importance of asking high-quality questions. We talk about celebrating ‘small wins,’ as a means to combat ‘next-level syndrome.’ We tackle the subjects of behavior modification, emotional eating and spirituality. And Carly shares why traditional diets have such a high failure rate and what she and her team are doing to coach their clients back to health and happiness.

Serving Pints With A Purpose

Ryan Anglen says he originally started home brewing as a way to keep his mind off of work — a welcomed distraction from the daily “corporate grind.” Years later though, when it got to the point where his wife, Danielle, could no longer park her car in the garage, it was clear that his passion for craft beer had become more than just a “hobby.”

With encouragement from friends and family, the Anglen family began scouting locations. Four years ago, they landed in Cedar Park, Texas where they opened up Whitestone Brewery — the area’s first self-distributing brewpub.

While Whitestone is well known for its tasty brew, to end the story there would do a grave disservice to Anglen’s primary purpose behind becoming a business owner in the first place.

As a two-time cancer survivor, there is a lot more behind Ryan’s business plan than just achieving a healthy bottom line. He and his team regularly open their doors to help fundraise for Austin area organizations like Texas Humane Heroes, Tatum’s Love Foundation and Heroes Night Out.

“I started the brewery because of my passion for craft beer. I love the feel of craft beer and the people around it,” Anglen said. “But more than that, I started the business because I wanted to get into a relationship with my community and to really have an impact with the causes that are most important to me.”

In this episode of Voices of Impact, we discuss the importance of surrounding yourself with good people — knowing which voices to listen to and which to tune out. We talk about the challenges of building a profitable business in a heavily-regulated industry. And Ryan shares how, as a business owner, he’s able to use his business as a teaching ground to provide valuable life lessons and principles for his two young daughters.

Crafting A Voice That Carries Positive Influence

You could make an argument that Rachel Holtin is one of Austin’s original social media influencers. Her Instagram account, AustinFoodstagram, and her blog by the same name have attracted a cult-like following.

Then again, Rachel is quick to point out that the good old-fashioned game of influence has been played since the beginning of time. It’s just the platforms that have changed, in today’s digital age.

“The term ‘influencer’ has existed for a long time.” she said. “People have always taken advice from friends, family, even celebrities. Now, with social media, you have online friends, people you relate to, whose opinions you trust for purchasing decisions or events to attend.”

As a pioneering voice in the local social media scene, Holtin has turned what was once a hobby, into a full-fledged business. From networking and business planning to storytelling and content strategy planned months in advance, it’s safe to say that Rachel has earned every one of her 76K+ followers.

And now, with the advent of Verb.me, she and her co-founders are helping others do the same. Verb is a marketplace that pairs brands with local influencers inside of a platform that Holtin says, “eliminates a lot of the unnecessary friction in the outreach process.”

In this episode of Voices of Impact, we get into all of that and we explore Rachel’s brand new project, Showcase. We talk about courage, creativity and paying attention to life’s subtle cues. And Rachel shares how she’s using her voice and her platform to effect positive influence in the local community.

Helping Recommission The Lost Art Of Appreciation

Nikki Moore’s business was born out of necessity. Literally, days after giving birth to her first child, she scoured the internet in search of a “done-for-you” personalized client gift.

What she found, frustrated her. “It was all perishable items or things I had to order like 30 days in advance, just to be personalized,” Moore explained.

Not having that kind of time, Nikki did what she’s done her entire life. She got resourceful. An appreciation gift, skillfully assembled at the last minute was the “hey wait a minute” moment that sparked Happily Ever Baskets.

It’s a business that has afforded her the opportunity to stay home with her son, Nixon, all the while making the outward contribution she desperately desired. It’s a business Moore has bootstrapped as a card-carrying member of the “mompreneur” movement and one that has become the local solution to providing appreciation gifts that recipients actually rave about.

In this episode, we discuss traditional gift-giving blunders. We talk about the lost art of appreciation and the importance of running toward what lights you up. And Nikki shares why she’s so passionate about her volunteer efforts with Dress For Success — a local organization that gives women of all backgrounds the tools they need to “get back in the game.”

Grab the audio, links and show notes for Nikki’s interview at: http://www.VoicesOfImpact.com/Nikki-Moore

Rebranding The Importance Of Authentic Storytelling

Chad Wright says he believes so deeply in the impact of his team’s work, that he has no qualms about passing away in the middle of a “client pitch” someday. Sounds extreme, I know. Then again, you’d expect nothing less from a guy who stumbled upon his “life’s work” as a teenager.

Wright literally grew up in the design business — working for a local newspaper at the age of fourteen and managing one by twenty.

“Looking back on it, I don’t know what in the world they were thinking, giving me that kind of responsibility so young,” he confessed. “But you know, I think they saw that I was capable of building something and leading a team.”

Decades later, it’s that same type of leadership that local churches, businesses and non-profits look for Wright and his team to provide — in an effort to help them tell their story. Storytelling, as we discuss in this interview, is a specialized skill that is too often overlooked in the “traditional approach” to personal and professional marketing.

In this episode, we dive into leadership, team building and making impact. We talk emotional connection, work-life-balance and the beauty of making mistakes. And Chad explains why, in his eyes, patience is the most underrated skill that anyone can acquire in their lifetime.

A Purpose Greater Than A Paycheck

Mason Ayer says his first memory at Kerbey Lane Cafe was that of scraping gum off the bottom of tables in his parent’s restaurant. When he was five years old, his reward was a nickel for every crusty piece collected.

More than three decades later, the stakes have radically changed. But the one thing that has remained constant is Mason’s commitment to the family business.

It’s no secret that the large majority of family businesses decline — if not disappear — as the torch is passed from one generation to the next. Fortunately for Austinites, Kerbey Lane has bucked that trend. With Ayer at the helm, the iconic Cafe will expand to its eighth and ninth locations in the coming year.

But that’s not all . . .

As you will hear in this interview, the brain trust at Kerbey Lane has been working behind the scenes on a new “fast casual” concept that Mason says he’s extremely excited about — the name of which was announced for the first time, on Voices of Impact.

In this episode, we dive into core values, open book management and the importance of surrounding yourself with good people. We talk expansion, fresh food and ‘parachute moments.” And Mason explains why realizing he was illiterate in the fourth grade ended up being the turning point in his life.

Grab the audio, links and show notes for Mason’s interview at: http://www.VoicesOfImpact.com/Mason-Ayer

The Four Pillars Of A Sharing Economy

Liza Wilson claims that she was the last person on earth to envision running her own business. “I was stubbornly against it,” she told us. “I thought it would be boring and my brain just didn’t work that way.”

Luckily for the Austin community, local teachers and stay-at-home moms, Wilson changed her mind. Radically and instantly. In fact, she went from “not wanting to run a business” to running out to purchase $3000 worth of toys, to stock what eventually became Toybrary Austin.

To understand Wilson’s about-face, you first have to appreciate two things.

First, Liza boasts an impressive resume in early childhood education — spending 20 years in public schools, Montessori and the French education system.

Second, she grew up in a home environment where her parents and grandparents modeled a certain fearlessness.

They coached her to believe in possibility and not to be intimidated by big ideas. She could figure out anything, if she stuck with it long enough.

Fortunately, Liza heeded that advice.

With Toybrary, Wilson has identified a solution to the issue that has plagued parents for generations — what the heck do I do with all of this stuff my kids no longer play with?

In this episode of Voices of Impact, we discuss the four pillars of “The Sharing Economy.” We dive into Wilson’s desire to use the Toybrary model to give back to her fellow “educators.” And Liza shares why she is so impassioned about running a ‘zero waste’ business.

Grab the audio, links and show notes for Liza’s interview at: http://www.VoicesOfImpact.com/Liza-Wilson

Striking a Balance Between Business and Creativity

It’s pretty safe to say that one thing Danielle Benson does not lack, is drive. Beginning her career as a professional stylist, over ten years ago, Benson put herself through cosmetology school — while working full time.  

As a locally renowned stylist, her work has been on display at numerous fashion shows. She been named a “Best Stylist” in the Beauty Issue of Austin Monthly and a finalist for Austin 40 Under 40.

And … It wasn’t quickly after having her first child that she recognized her life lacked a measure of balance.

So, what did she do?

Well, she bought her own salon, of course. Danielle negotiated a deal for the rights to the Downtown location of Wild Orchid Salon. That one location quickly blossomed into two salons and then three.

Has Benson achieved work-life balance? You’ll have to listen to this interview to find out. But one thing is certain, Danielle is committed to blazing her own path.

In this episode of Voices of Impact, we discuss the idea of living your dreams out loud. We talk about the importance of creating an environment of acceptance and growth. And Danielle shares why she is so passionate about supporting local organizations like Lifeworks and Dell Children’s Blood and Cancer Center.

Grab the audio, links and show notes for Danielle’s interview at: http://www.VoicesOfImpact.com/Danielle-Benson

How to Act Like an Engineer and Think Like a Creative

The first time I sat down with Mark Heaps, he mentioned to me that "People tell me all the time, 'Dude, your story is insane." He wasn't lying. From opulent wealth as a young child, to living with family on a small English island from graduating college at the age of 18, to essentially hitchhiking his way to Silicon Valley. Mark's story is one of patience, persistence, and most importantly, self-awareness.

In this episode of Voices of Impact, Mark and I dive into the deep connection that comes by way of sharing your authentic story, what I would call the importance of "standing in your brand." And Mark shares with us why, despite decades of accolades and personal achievement, he actually derives more satisfaction and fulfillment by renting out his little photo studio in Southeast Austin, to up-and-coming creatives.

Get access to full show notes by visiting: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/mark-heaps/

A Story NOT Being Told About Financial Literacy

In the past year and a half, Kara Perez founded her own company [Bravely] and has been featured in magazines like Glamour, Forbes and Austin Woman. She’s established herself as a paid contributor to numerous websites in the ‘financial blogosphere’ and recently started her own podcast, The Fairer Cents, where she and her co-host Tanja, untack sticky financial conversations.

And to truly comprehend how impressive all of that is, you first have to understand that just three short years ago, on the regular, Perez confesses to having spent an unhealthy amount of time openly sobbing in her car.

In her own words: “I like to refer to summer 2014 as ‘crying-in-cars-2014,’ because I did, indeed, spend June through August of that year crying almost every time I got into my car. Once I was tucked into my little sedan, all my anxiety and stress bubbled to the surface. I was making $900 a month, carrying $18,000 in debt, and had no idea how to break the cycle. I felt trapped by my low income, and was scared witless that this would be the rest of my life.”

You see, like many, Kara graduated college in the middle of the recession, with limited job prospects and mounds of student loan debt.

“Back in 2011, no one was hiring and certainly no one wanted me, with my English degree,” she explained in our interview. “So I picked up a job catering and another gig as a part time receptionist, making $9 per hour … At this point I’m three years out of college and I’m freaked out … I’m doing everything I can to kind of exist. But I’m not thriving and I’m not growing.”

So, what transpired next would likely baffle even the boldest of optimists. Somewhere deep inside, Perez found the courage to change her story. When the pain of a future of financial mediocrity became too much to bear, she cinched up her big girl pants, put her head down and went to work. Literally. 

By the time she came up for air, she’d eliminated a 10-year debt in just 10 months. And get this … In 2015 alone, Kara managed to sock away $23,000 on an income of 32 grand. Let that sink in for a moment.

Kara’s story highlights the freedom that can only come by way of tapping into the twin super-powers of discipline and grit. Today, as the leader of the Bravely community, her’s is a fresh voice in a somewhat stale world of personal finance conversations. Her’s is a mission to help her generation and the next establish a healthier relationship to money.

In this episode of Voices of Impact, Kara and I discuss the importance of having healthy conversations of money. We identify the lessons that are not being taught at home about financial literacy. And we talk about how her company, Bravely, provides a supportive environment for women to tackle their biggest financial challenges.

Interview Post & Transcript: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/kara-perez