What Makes You Happy

Christina Hidek is an organizational expert, and today she's going to talk us through some basics in spring cleaning. We all tend to coop ourselves up all winter, and come the sunny season, we just want to throw open our windows, let in the fresh air, and give ourselves a fresh start. Christina has some valuable tips and tricks for us to get started, as the task can seem at times to be entirely overwhelming.

Feedback: https://goo.gl/forms/qqH5WMOSKIFBeClA2

Table of Contents:

00:00 Intro

00:50 This week's guest - Christina Hidek, Organizational Expert

02:00 Icebreaker - What is something about you that someone would be surprised to know?

03:20 What makes you happy?

04:25 Have you always been tidy?

09:25 Why is tidiness important?

10:00 Spring cleaning as a global phenomenon.

13:35 Where does someone begin with spring cleaning?

20:45 What are messy people getting wrong?

25:40 How long does it take to become a tidy person?

33:30 Trello and organizational systems.

36:30 Lightning Round Questions

37:00 -Most important space to declutter.

37:45 -Least important space to declutter.

39:05 -One item you know you should throw away but can't.

40:45 -Most common complaint or excuse from people you help.

42:30 -Marie Kondo says to organize by category vs. space. What are your thoughts?

44:45 How to get in touch with Christina Hidek

45:25 Happiness Fact (1)

47:50 Inspirational Quote (2)

48:30 Weekly Challenge is going away! NEW SEGMENT: Something I'm curious about - Economics.

51:00 Closing Thoughts

Sources:

An article from Psychology Today in 2016 linked a bunch of studies showing the positive link between cleanliness and mental and physical health. A study at Indiana University showed that people with clean houses tend to be healthier than those with sloppy houses. The scientific journal “Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin” used linguistic analysis software to show that women who used words like “cluttered” or filled with “unfinished projects” were more likely to be depressed and fatigued than women who called their homes “restful” or “restorative.” There’s more in the article. (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-truisms-wellness/201607/the-powerful-psychology-behind-cleanliness)

“Coming home to a tidy, pulled together space will help everything in your life feel the same way.” -Bobby Berk of Netflix’s “Queer Eye.

For more What Makes You Happy?, read our blog, www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com/wmyh

What Makes You Happy? is a project by Cleveland Creative Outlet, a video production company. You can learn more and see their work at www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com. You can reach out to them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ClevelandCreativeOutlet

Guest: Christina Hidek [Em. [email protected], URL www.streamlinedlivingoh.com, Facebook Group]

Hosted By: Dovid E.Z. Stern [Ph. (216) 526-6641, Em. [email protected], URL www.clevelandcreativeoutlet.com]

Feedback: https://goo.gl/forms/qqH5WMOSKIFBeClA2

 

[L to R] Dovid E. Z. Stern and Christina Hidek, an organizational expert.

Bladesmithing is an ancient craft and its notoriously technical. For some, it may be a surprise that in today's age of mass produced cutlery and other metal objects, anyone would bother to hand forge these tools. Laevi Susman is here today to talk about the incredible art of blade smithing, and how you can get started as an amateur blacksmith.

Feedback: https://goo.gl/forms/qqH5WMOSKIFBeClA2

Table of Contents:

00:00 Intro

00:50 This week's guest - Laevi Susman, Artisan Bladesmith

02:13 Icebreaker - What is your favorite attraction or event at a county fair?

03:22 What Makes You Happy?

07:12 How did you get into smithing?

13:10 Technical jargon and whether it matters.

21:25 How does a hobbyist get into smithing?

26:19 What surprised you about smithing when you got into it? (answer at 37:35)

33:15 Lightning Round Questions

33:30 -What is your favorite step of smithing a blade?

34:35 -Practical or ornate. Which do you prefer?

37:30 -What is your favorite completed project?

43:10 -Favorite music to hammer to?

44:40 -BONUS: What do you think of my $7 knife from Amazon?

47:40 How to get in touch with Laevi Susman

48:50 Happiness Fact (1)

52:10 Inspirational Quote (2)

52:45 This Week's Challenge

53:45 Closing Thoughts

Sources:

The happiest state in the United States is Alaska, followed by Hawaii, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. The saddest states were West Virginia, followed by Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Mississippi. (Willett, Megan. “The 10 Happiest States in America.” Business Insider. February 19, 2015 https://www.businessinsider.com/gallup-healthways-well-being-index-2014-2015-2)

“Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder” - Henry David Thoreau

For more What Makes You Happy?, read our blog, www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com/wmyh

What Makes You Happy? is a project by Cleveland Creative Outlet, a video production company. You can learn more and see their work at www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com. You can reach out to them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ClevelandCreativeOutlet

Guest: Laevi Susman [URL www.Etsy.com/shop/metalsartisan, Instagram @metalsartisan, Facebook www.facebook.com/metalsartisan]

Hosted By: Dovid E.Z. Stern [Ph. (216) 526-6641, Em. [email protected], URL www.clevelandcreativeoutlet.com]

Feedback: https://goo.gl/forms/qqH5WMOSKIFBeClA2

[L to R] Dovid E. Z. Stern and Laevi Susman. Laevi is an artisan bladesmith.

Sender Radcliffe joins us today to talk about the exciting world of board games. We'll cover some of his top picks for new gamers, why it entertains him to this very day, and the elements of a good game. Sender is a wealth of information, and he's clearly thought about all of this for quite a while. We are honored to have him on the show today.

Feedback: https://goo.gl/forms/qqH5WMOSKIFBeClA2

Table of Contents:

00:00 Intro

00:50 This week's guest - Sender Radcliffe, Board Gamer

01:35 Icebreaker - Do you have a crazy roommate story?

03:40 What Makes You Happy?

05:35 What is the appeal of board games?

10:45 How does the cost of board games compare as a hobby?

13:15 How long does it take for you to burn through a game?

14:30 What are you playing right now?

16:20 Shout out to Dustin Carnish!

17:25 Misconceptions about board games

19:00 Games to play if you want to end friendships

19:45 Are the new games better?

22:15 Is it better to have one winner or one loser?

25:45 Who is the optimal audience for board games?

30:35 (off topic) Are there any open-world video games that you like?

32:50 Lightning Round Questions

33:10 -Favorite board game of all time?

33:35 -Most overplayed or overrated game of all time?

35:15 -Pet peeve of game design?

36:30 -Your 3 desert island board games?

37:50 -BONUS ROUND! What games should a new gamer start with?

38:45 How to get in touch with Sender Radcliffe

39:23 Happiness Fact (1)

42:15 Inspirational Quote (2)

45:45 Sender's spiel with Settlers of Catan

47:30 Last Week's Challenge

49:00 This Week's Challenge

50:20 Closing Thoughts

Sources:

Greater reward means less motivation not more, with poorer performance. In a study at Florida State University, a professor had students play video games. When the students were doing well, another student would enter and compliment the student who was playing the game. The student playing the game would immediately lose the game. From a Newsweek article. (http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/nurtureshock/archive/2009/12/21/shouldn-t-we-think-about-the-effect-of-praise-and-motivation-when-assessing-kids-too.aspx) and another article on Willpower and reward (https://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/07/willpower/)

“The game of basketball has been everything to me. My place of refuge, place I've always gone where I needed comfort and peace. It's been the site of intense pain and the most intense feelings of joy and satisfaction. It's a relationship that has evolved over time, given me the greatest respect and love for the game.” - Michael Jordan

Games Listed in this Episode:

(In order of appearance)

Italic titles are not strictly board games, but were mentioned in the episode.

Magic the Gathering (card game)

Pokemon (card game)

Yu-gi-oh! (card game)

My Little Pony (card game)

Codenames

Bloodrage

Risk

Hate

Stuffed Fables

Monopoly

Intrigue

Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game

Resistance: Avalon

Axis and Allies

Candyland

Blackjack (card game)

Poker (card game)

Las Vegas (dice game)

Baron Park

Blokus

Dixit (card game)

Chess

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D - Tabletop Roleplaying Game)

Pathfinder (Tabletop Roleplaying Game)

Legendary: Marvel (card game, has other themes including: Buffy, Big Trouble in Little China, and others)

Exploding Kittens (card game)

Terraforming Mars

Seven Wonders

Patchwork for Couples

Valeria Card Kingdoms (not to be confused with others in the series)

Scrabble

Settlers of Catan

For more What Makes You Happy?, read our blog, www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com/wmyh

What Makes You Happy? is a project by Cleveland Creative Outlet, a video production company. You can learn more and see their work at www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com. You can reach out to them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ClevelandCreativeOutlet

Guest: Sender Radcliffe [URL www.boardgameco.com]

Hosted By: Dovid E.Z. Stern [Ph.

In this episode of What Makes You Happy? we have the honor and pleasure of speaking with one Larry Josefovitz, a Jewish cantor and professor of classical music appreciation. Classical music is, generally speaking, understood to be more nuanced and pure than most other forms of music. It is something that really needs to be worked at to be truly appreciated. To get us started on the road to understanding, we asked Larry for some insight into classical music.

Feedback: https://goo.gl/forms/qqH5WMOSKIFBeClA2

Table of Contents:

00:00 Intro

00:50 This week's guest - Larry Josefovitz, Jewish cantor and professor of classical music appreciation

01:45 What Makes You Happy? (Larry goes into some background here, he answers the question at 04:15)

05:45 What was the first concert you ever went to?

08:30 What is it about classical music especially that is so powerful?

09:40 Which stereotypes about classical music are true?

11:30 Is there truth to the stereotype about classical music lovers being wealthy?

16:50 Is the world of classical music struggling to find new fans?

20:00 How do we get people back into classical music?

27:45 How do you get started appreciating classical music?

35:00 Lightning Round Questions

- 35:05 Favorite Piece

- 35:28 Most overrated piece

- 36:00 Personal orchestra pet peeve

- 37:05 Any composers you despise

- 38:55 One composer to start your appreciation journey

45:20 Happiness Fact (1)

49:50 Inspirational Quote (2)

50:15 Last Week's Challenge

51:05 This Week's Challenge (Bach, The Corrals for Keyboard "May the Sheep Safely Graze")

57:25 Closing Thoughts

Sources:

In a study performed on 94 students in their 20’s, 45 minutes of classical music before bed led to deeper, longer sleep. This was above and beyond the effects of mere spoken words, like an audiobook. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18426457)

“I know that the most joy in my life has come to me from my violin.” -Albert Einstein

For more What Makes You Happy?, read our blog, www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com/wmyh

What Makes You Happy? is a project by Cleveland Creative Outlet, a video production company. You can learn more and see their work at www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com. You can reach out to them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ClevelandCreativeOutlet

Guest: Larry Josefovitz

Hosted By: Dovid E.Z. Stern [Ph. (216) 526-6641, Em. [email protected], URL www.clevelandcreativeoutlet.com]

Feedback: https://goo.gl/forms/qqH5WMOSKIFBeClA2

[L to R] Dovid Stern and Larry Josefovitz, at the time of recording the episode for What Makes You Happy? on classical music appreciation.

In this week's episode, we explore my newest hobby, ham radio. Featuring interviews with ham operators, a prepper, and a podcaster fascinated by hobbies (not me), we will dive in the deep end to discover what ham radio is all about. It may seem like an outdated technology from a bygone era, and like stamp collecting or knitting sweaters, is a pastime that really serves no purpose today beyond some mental stimulation. While this couldn't be further from the truth, we will investigate these topics in depth.

Feedback: https://goo.gl/forms/qqH5WMOSKIFBeClA2

Table of Contents:

00:00 Intro

00:50 My New Hobby - Ham radio

01:15 What is ham radio?

01:30 How did I get into ham radio?

03:00 Unparalleled communication

03:15 Jeff Corbett, Prepper

09:45 Why is it fun?

14:00 Nets

14:45 On the air with the weekly CARS (Cuyahoga Amateur Radio Service) net

18:45 How to get started

20:00 Elmers

21:25 Radios

22:00 Listen a lot (www.webSDR.org)

23:25 Time for Your Hobby with Alex

27:30 ARRL

28:15 Contact Dovid with questions ([email protected])

28:45 Happiness Fact (1)

29:50 Inspirational Quote (2)

30:35 Last Week's Challenge

31:30 This Week's Challenge

32:10 Closing Thoughts

Sources:

The regret you feel for not taking an action often lasts longer than the regret you feel from taking action and failing. (Markman, Art. "When Do You Regret Actions and Inactions?" Psychology Today. December 30, 2016. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ulterior-motives/201612/when-do-you-regret-actions-and-inactions)

“Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt

Resources:

Listen for free - www.webSDR.org

Baofeng UV-5R - https://goo.gl/2xxjbM

Time for Your Hobby (podcast) - https://timeforyourhobby.wixsite.com/podcast

Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) - www.arrl.org

Amateur Radio Subreddit - www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/

For more What Makes You Happy?, read our blog, www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com/wmyh

What Makes You Happy? is a project by Cleveland Creative Outlet, a video production company. You can learn more and see their work at www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com. You can reach out to them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ClevelandCreativeOutlet

Hosted By: Dovid E.Z. Stern [Ph. (216) 526-6641, Em. [email protected], URL www.clevelandcreativeoutlet.com]

A wide array of equipment can be used for ham radio.

The infamous Baofeng UV-5R. Cheap beyond belief, but an inferior product.

My anniversary photo this year. On the left you can see my the transceiver my father loaned to me.

This week, I fell ill with a virus, and as I had planned on editing this week's episode during that time, I decided to record a short episode to deliver quickly rather than throw together a less than optimal product. The question arose in my mind, "Can illness actually make us happier?"

For more What Makes You Happy?, read our blog, www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com/wmyh

What Makes You Happy? is a project by Cleveland Creative Outlet, a video production company. You can learn more and see their work at www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com. You can reach out to them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ClevelandCreativeOutlet

Hosted By: Dovid E.Z. Stern [Ph. (216) 526-6641, Em. [email protected], URL www.clevelandcreativeoutlet.com]

This week we've got a special crossover episode, starring Alex of Time For Your Hobby, which is a podcast about peculiar hobbies and pastimes. Much like our own show, What Makes You Happy?, Alex finds friends, neighbors and acquaintances with unusual hobbies and asks them about the specifics of their chosen pursuit. Today he's with us to talk about his own chosen hobby, podcasts themselves. In this rather meta episode of What Makes You Happy?, prepare to learn a little bit about the world of podcasting.

Feedback: https://goo.gl/forms/qqH5WMOSKIFBeClA2

Table of Contents:

00:00 Intro

00:50 This week's guest - Alex, Podcaster, "Time For Your Hobby"

03:05 What Makes You Happy?

04:40 Are we oversaturated with podcasts?

08:00 Are we moving away from short form entertainment?

10:45 Who should not start a podcast?

13:45 Is there a celebrity you would like to interview?

17:00 Lightning Round Questions

21:00 How to get in touch with Alex

21:48 Happiness Fact (1)

25:50 Inspirational Quote (2)

27:44 Last Week's Challenge

29:43 This Week's Challenge

30:06 Closing Thoughts

Sources:

According to a study by Society for Personality and Social Psychology, valuing your time more than you value your money is correlated with greater happiness. They looked at six studies encompassing more than 4,600 participants, and found that there is an almost even split between people who place a higher premium on time, or a higher premium on money. So go ahead and spend time doing what you love, like listening to podcasts about doing what you love. (http://spsp.org/news-center/press-releases/valuing-your-time-more-than-money-linked-to-happiness?utm_source=SAGE_social&hootPostID=2cd8155f181030091e54784421fc199d)

“Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul.” -Democritus

For more What Makes You Happy?, read our blog, www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com/wmyh

What Makes You Happy? is a project by Cleveland Creative Outlet, a video production company. You can learn more and see their work at www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com. You can reach out to them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ClevelandCreativeOutlet

Guest: Alex [URL https://timeforyourhobby.wixsite.com/podcast]

Hosted By: Dovid E.Z. Stern [Ph. (216) 526-6641, Em. [email protected], URL www.clevelandcreativeoutlet.com]

Time for Your Hobby is a podcast about unusual or interesting hobbies pursued by ordinary people. It's hosted by Alex, the guest on our podcast this week.

We appreciate your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts using the feedback form.

We all know we need to move more, but not very many of us have explored the ins and outs of exercise and fitness. In particular, we want to answer the question, "How does exercise make us happier?" To help us answer this and other questions, Dustin Carnish of DC Strength Ohio and Ript Fitness joins us. Dustin is a wealth of information on all things fitness.

Table of Contents:

00:00 Intro

01:00 This week's guest - Dustin Carnish, Personal Trainer

02:10 What Makes You Happy?

05:45 Icebreaker - What's the crazies thing on your bucket list?

08:45 Have you always been fit?

11:35 What do people get wrong?

13:35 What should people do instead?

20:00 How does fitness fit into happiness?

24:20 Why don't people stick to their resolutions?

39:50 Lightning Round Questions

40:00 What's your favorite exercise?

40:30 What's a pet peeve at the gym?

41:20 Form vs. Intensity?

42:25 What are the most common excuses and their solutions?

52:00 How to get in touch with Dustin Carnish (contact info below)

53:50 Happiness Fact (1)

54:40 Inspirational Quote (2)

55:00 Last Week's Challenge

56:25 This Week's Challenge

57:10 Closing Thoughts

Sources:

Researchers have shown that just 20 minutes of aerobic exercise fights depression and boosts happiness long after the workout. During exercise, “happy” hormones, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine all increase. (Holmes, Lindsay. “27 Things You Need to Know About Happiness.” Huffington Post. March 20, 2014. Accessed: January 19, 2016)

“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” - Dalai Lama

For more What Makes You Happy?, read our blog, www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com/wmyh

What Makes You Happy? is a project by Cleveland Creative Outlet, a video production company. You can learn more and see their work at www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com. You can reach out to them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ClevelandCreativeOutlet

Guest: Dustin Carnish [Ph. (440)773-6498, Em. [email protected], URL www.dcstrengthohio.com and www.riptcleveland.com]

Hosted By: Dovid E.Z. Stern [Ph. (216) 526-6641, Em. [email protected], URL www.clevelandcreativeoutlet.com]

Feedback: https://goo.gl/forms/qqH5WMOSKIFBeClA2

[L to R] Dovid E. Z. Stern and Dustin Carnish.

We appreciate your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts using the feedback form.br /

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We all know we need to move more, but not very many of us have explored the ins and outs of exercise and fitness. In particular, we want to answer the question, How does exercise make us happier? To help us answer this and other questions, Dustin Carnish of DC Strength Ohio and Ript Fitness joins us. Dustin is a wealth of information on all things fitness.br /

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Table of Contents:br /

00:00 Introbr /

01:00 This week's guest - Dustin Carnish, Personal Trainerbr /

02:10 What Makes You Happy?br /

05:45 Icebreaker - What's the crazies thing on your bucket list?br /

08:45 Have you always been fit?br /

11:35 What do people get wrong?br /

13:35 What should people do instead?br /

20:00 How does fitness fit into happiness?br /

24:20 Why don't people stick to their resolutions?br /

39:50 Lightning Round Questionsbr /

40:00 What's your favorite exercise?br /

40:30 What's a pet peeve at the gym?br /

41:20 Form vs. Intensity?br /

42:25 What are the most common excuses and their solutions?br /

52:00 How to get in touch with Dustin Carnish (contact info below)br /

53:50 Happiness Fact (1)br /

54:40 Inspirational Quote (2)br /

55:00 Last Week's Challengebr /

56:25 This Week's Challengebr /

57:10 Closing Thoughtsbr /

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Sources:br /

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Researchers have shown that just 20 minutes of aerobic exercise fights depression and boosts happiness long after the workout. During exercise, “happy” hormones, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine all increase. (Holmes, Lindsay. “27 Things You Need to Know About Happiness.” Huffington Post. March 20, 2014. Accessed: January 19, 2016)br /

“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” - Dalai Lamabr /

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For more What Makes You Happy?, read our blog, www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com/wmyhbr /

What Makes You Happy? is a project by Cleveland Creative Outlet, a video production company. You can learn more and see their work at www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com. You can reach out to them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ClevelandCreativeOutletbr /

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Guest: Dustin Carnish [Ph. (440)773-6498, Em. [email protected], URL www.dcstrengthohio.com and www.riptcleveland.com]br /

Hosted By: Dovid E.Z. Stern [Ph. (216) 526-6641, Em. [email protected], URL www.clevelandcreativeoutlet.com]br /

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Feedback: https://goo.gl/forms/qqH5WMOSKIFBeClA2

Laura Freiman joins us today to help us get the most out of Valentine's Day this year. She has deep insights into strengthening relationships, romantic gestures, emotional language, and the mistakes we inevitably make. It's a short, informative episode. Don't forget to leave some feedback using the form from the link below. Thanks!

We'd love to hear what you think! Please tell us using the feedback form.

Table of Contents:

00:00 Intro

01:16 This week's guest - Laura Freiman, Relationship Therapist

01:55 What Makes You Happy?

02:39 Icebreaker - What is something you pretend to hate but secretly love?

03:20 What does a healthy relationship look like?

06:20 What is a common pitfall when trying to strengthen relationships?

10:44 What romantic gestures are people using that are not helpful?

13:45 How do couples continue having fun together?

14:45 Is one date idea intrinsically better than another?

16:07 Lightning Round Questions

16:21 Group vs. Solitary hobbies

18:25 What is a good group hobby?

19:00 Is Valentine's Day valuable?

20:10 One thing successful people do that we should all emulate.

20:53 How to get in touch with (contact info listed below)

21:37 Happiness Fact (1)

24:00 Inspirational Quote (2)

24:32 Last Week's Challenge

25:50 This Week's Challenge

26:45 Closing Thoughts

Sources:

Saying thank you has been shown to increase oxytocin levels in couples, further knitting their relationship to each other. This is above and beyond simply saying nice things to your partner. Fascinating article. (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/love_gratitude_oxytocin)

“The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” -Victor Hugo

For more What Makes You Happy?, read our blog, www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com/wmyh

What Makes You Happy? is a project by Cleveland Creative Outlet, a video production company. You can learn more and see their work at www.ClevelandCreativeOutlet.com. You can reach out to them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ClevelandCreativeOutlet

Guest: Laura Freiman [Ph. (917) 407-0057, Em. [email protected]]

Hosted By: Dovid E.Z. Stern [Ph. (216) 526-6641, Em. [email protected], URL www.clevelandcreativeoutlet.com]

We'd love to hear what you think! Please tell us using the feedback form.

[L to R] Dovid E. Z. Stern and Laura Freiman, who is a relationship expert