Your Message Received!

Host John Duffin welcomes Josh Klaris, Executive Director of North 10 Philadelphia, to discuss leadership, nonprofit strategy, and place-based community revitalization in Hunting Park/East Tioga (often a neglected neighborhood in Philadelphia).

I've personally attended several North 10 Philadelphia events and have seen firsthand the critical work being done. While I interviewed Josh, you'll hear the passion, mission, and purpose in Josh's voice. You'll also hear just how difficult (and gratifying) it is to wear ALL of the hats of the Executive Director.

Klaris traces his path from volunteer mentoring in rural St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, where teaching kindergarten to Vietnamese refugee children shaped his worldview and led him to earn a master’s in teaching English as a second language. He later helped build Dream Charter School in Harlem with a holistic, co-teaching model and learned the operational realities of hiring, metrics, and sustainability. In Philadelphia, the opportunity arose to implement a neighborhood-improvement blueprint inspired by Purpose-Built Communities and Harlem Children’s Zone, emphasizing disciplined strategic planning, saying no, surrounding yourself with the right people, and building trust-based collaborations. Place Matters.

The conversation highlights North 10’s fight and the ongoing need for sustainable funding and collective action- especially in neglected neighborhoods. To learn more about Josh Klaris, the critical work being done by North 10 Philadelphia, or to lend a hand, check out the links below.

https://north10phl.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jklaris/

00:00 Intro- Welcome, Josh Klaris

00:46 Podcast Welcome And Guest Intro

03:53 Why Education Chose Him

06:40 Teach For America in Louisiana

09:59 Back To New York And Training

11:55 Work Ethic From Family And Mentors

15:23 Music Lessons And Team Culture

16:32 Dream Charter School Leadership

20:31 Nonprofit Sales And Fundraising

25:00 Moving To Philadelphia

26:45 Leaving Schools For Place-Based Work

27:58 North 10 Origin Story

29:27 Why Place Matters

31:41 Strategic Plan Discipline

33:27 Design Principles Culture

37:49 Dumping Fight Strategy

40:47 Funding Collaboration Challenge

44:53 Pushing Back With Trust

47:16 Sustainability And Health Gaps

52:55 How To Get Involved

54:06 Closing

Host John Duffin interviews Ivan Radovic, president and CEO of Novaces and author of Trust 360, about how trust enables teams to tackle major challenges across corporate, military, healthcare, disaster recovery, and federal work.

Ivan shares how growing up amid the Yugoslav conflicts shaped his view that distrust is a root cause of conflict, and how he built trust after immigrating to the U.S.

They discuss resilience after Hurricane Katrina, reframing adversity as opportunity, and “opening new doors” by pursuing work beyond a devastated local market.

Ivan describes early career mentorship that launched him into consulting, lessons from large-scale projects, including an oil-spill response with 420,000 task lines, and the importance of process, accountability, clear deadlines, reciprocal mentoring across generations, and using AI to speed work without changing character or authenticity.

To learn more about Ivan and his company, check out the links below.

https://www.novaces.com/00:00 Trust Starts the Process

01:34 Podcast Intro and Guest Welcome

03:51 From Yugoslavia to America

06:43 Building Trust Across Cultures

10:37 Katrina and Rebuilding Resilience

16:45 Opening New Doors After Disaster

19:28 First Consulting Breakthrough

23:07 Military Business Trust Transfer

24:46 Facing the Biggest Projects

26:28 Trust Unlocks Talent

27:28 Military Rigor Wins

28:51 Scaling Big Projects

29:39 Trust 360 Steps

34:27 Deadlines Build Trust

36:44 Reciprocal Mentoring

41:18 Leaders Using AI

44:39 Vulnerability First

46:05 Where To Connect

46:50 Final Thanks Outro

Are you in need of building a resilient business? Do you ignore cash flow warning signs, risk mitigation, or the urgency of systems strategy? Then today's episode with Sonya Corkery is for you.

Business consultant Sonya Corkery discusses building resilient businesses through strong financial foundations, systems, and risk mitigation. Sonya shares how early work in her family’s struggling service-station businesses taught her resilience, customer service skills, and a disciplined approach to money, then traces her rapid rise in banking, from bank manager at 23 to financial planning during the GFC, where she refused to push unsuitable products. She explains how her family’s electrical contracting business nearly collapsed when three builders liquidated, leaving almost $1M unpaid and only five days of operating capital, but they recovered within 12 months through strategy and support from suppliers and advisors.

Sonya clearly defines her consulting approach: entity setup and asset protection, cash-flow forecasting, break-even clarity, streamlined SOPs, fractional teams, diversification, and AI, and planning to build your business as if it were being sold tomorrow.

To learn more about Sonya Corkery, check out the links below.

 https://clearplanconsulting.com.au/https://

www.linkedin.com/in/sonya-corkery-a326238b/

https://www.instagram.com/clearplanconsulting/

00:00 Business on the Brink

01:11 Podcast Welcome and Setup

04:42 Sonya’s Early Work Lessons

08:29 Family Crisis and Survival

10:52 Resilience and Money Mindset

12:41 Banking Career Rise

16:39 Ethics Under Pressure

19:14 Joining the Family Business

21:48 Builders Collapse Fallout

25:34 Turning Advice Into Consulting

27:26 Service Offerings Breakdown

28:26 When To Get Help

28:55 Cashflow And Forecasting Basics

31:28 Asset Protection Foundations

34:27 Implementation And Risk Planning

36:31 Growth Trends And AI

39:14 Industries And Diversification

41:12 Speaking With Shock And Awe

44:12 Fractional Teams And Board

46:01 Where To Find Sonya Corkery

47:30 Final Sign Off

On the Your Message Received podcast, host John Duffin interviews multiple-published author and former active-duty/National Guard officer Richard Spegal about authenticity in storytelling and his path from military service to writing.

Spegal explains how reading Anne Rice led him to write adult vampire/paranormal fiction and why he prioritizes realism—characters should act like real people and never pander to the audience—letting them drive the plot. He discusses writing mostly by typing due to nerve damage, deploying to Iraq and Egypt (including the MFO Sinai mission with multinational forces), and medically retiring after serving about a decade and a half in the Guard.

Spegal describes publishing Redemption after a 10-year gap, reader reactions to Origins and its mental-health themes, and upcoming relaunches through a new publisher, including Broken Angel and future science-fiction entries in the Eternal Knights series, plus where to find him online.

00:00 Immersion Over Pandering

00:55 Podcast Welcome and Guest Intro

02:35 Origins of Dark Fantasy Writing

03:32 Writing Habits and Process

04:43 Military Path and National Guard

07:59 Deployments Iraq and Egypt

09:28 Inside the MFO Sinai Mission

10:05 Multinational Ops and Communication

14:03 Going Full Time as an Author

15:17 Realistic Characters Drive Plot

19:04 Building a Series and New Genres

21:00 Avoiding Mouthpiece Characters

22:03 Living in the Story World

23:28 Publishing After A Decade

24:48 Favorite Scene In Redemption

26:27 Writing Dark Mature Themes

28:27 Military Realism In Fiction

30:22 Reader Email That Hit Hard

33:46 Mental Health On The Page

36:16 Writing Changes The Writer

38:23 Relaunch And New Publisher

39:22 Hardest Book Broken Angel

40:58 Climbing Out Of The Darkness

44:08 Where To Find The Author

45:42 Final Thanks And Sign Off

Overcoming Adversity: From War Zones to Wings 4 Heroes—Featuring Lyubim KoganIn this impactful episode of 'Your Message Received,' host John Duffin sits down with Lyubim Kogan, founder of 'Wings4 Heroes.' They dive deep into Lyubim's incredible journey, from surviving 9/11 to competing as an Olympian, and his profound mission to support veterans affected by war.

The conversation covers how Lyubim navigated the annexation of Crimea, dealt with immense pressures in Ukraine, and ultimately dedicated his life to veterans' rehabilitation. Recorded on Veterans Day, this episode is an inspiring look at resolve, humanitarian effort, and the drive to make a meaningful difference.

This episode also references the influence of historical figures such as Mother Cabrini, founder of Cabrini College, and Henry Dumont, founder of the American Red Cross, in shaping Kogan's mission. Highlighted media moments include a recent Facebook post celebrating the courage of a veteran returning to life with dignity, thanks to community support and paragliding adventures that foster healing and resilience.

For me, learning about extremely difficult human conditions was tough for me to comprehend at first. Lyubim's dignity, grace, resilience, and impact really moved me. To learn more about Wings 4 Heroes- and to lend a hand- check out the links below.

Wings4Heroes.org

https://wings4heroes.org/shop/

00:00 Introduction and Context

01:29 Welcome to Your Message Received Podcast

02:20 Introducing Lyubim Kogan and Wings for Heroes

03:56 The Inspiration Behind Wings for Heroes

05:00 Historical Figures and Their Impact

10:04 Challenges Faced by Ukrainian Civilians and Soldiers

14:41 Personal Stories of Resilience

16:30 The Emotional and Physical Toll of War

19:07 Lyubim Kogan's Personal Journey

27:23 Reviving a Failing Infrastructure Company

33:03 Facing Life's Greatest Challenge

33:40 The Struggles of Isolation

34:37 Overcoming Obstacles and Stress

35:59 The Importance of Taking Action

36:34 Breaking the Autopilot Cycle

41:40 The Power of Decision and Small Steps

47:00 Rebuilding After Devastation

52:36 Supporting Veterans Through Wings 4 Heroes

01:01:40 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

In this episode of Your Message Received, hosted by John Duffin, we are joined by Kelly Schuknecht, Chief Elevation Officer of Two Mile High Marketing.

Kelly has had documented, transformational success in converting business vision into impact. Kelly shares her journey from losing her job after her company was acquired to starting her own successful marketing firm.

With over 17 years of experience, Kelly delves into the importance of thought leadership, personal branding, and the tactical steps involved in effective marketing. Learn about Kelly's concept of the 'Authority X Factor,' tips for developing your thought leadership platform, and the significance of taking quick, decisive actions in business. Also, Kelly's new book is coming soon!

Speaking of writing, at the end of the episode, Kelly discusses "Flow", her first writing retreat for women. Look out for the second retreat tentatively scheduled for Fall 2026. For anyone looking to scale their business, publish a book, or hone their authentic voice, this episode provides invaluable insights and practical advice. To learn more about Kelly, check out these links.

https://kellyschuknecht.com/

https://www.youtube.com/kellyschuknecht

00:00 Facing Job Uncertainty

00:35 Welcome to Your Message Received

01:14 Introducing Kelly Schuknecht

03:24 Kelly's Journey in Publishing and Marketing

04:43 The Birth of Two Mile High Marketing

05:20 Defining the Authority X Factor

09:21 Marketing Strategies and Tactics

13:31 Transitioning to Entrepreneurship

15:13 Navigating Job Loss and Starting Anew

23:42 Decisiveness and Decision-Making Skills

24:40 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Encouraging Decisiveness

25:43 Helping Clients with Speaking Events and Clarity

26:35 Popular Topics in Business Speaking

27:53 The Rise of Thought Leadership and Personal Branding

28:39 Defining Thought Leadership

32:32 Launching a Podcast to Elevate Thought Leadership

34:07 Challenges and Learnings from Podcasting

35:24 Diverse Topics and Personal Development Books

39:29 Emotional Magnetism and Personal Insights

46:05 Promoting a Writing Retreat for Women

47:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Living the Expat Dream Life: Transitioning to a New Life Overseas.

Have you ever dreamed of living abroad? Sounds incredible and may feel daunting, too. In this episode of 'Your Message Received', host John Duffin speaks with Guillermo Salas, a successful real estate agent who shares his journey of moving his family from Philadelphia to Spain.

Despite initial resistance and challenges, Guillermo discusses the benefits of pursuing one's dream, the process of adjusting to a new culture, and building a successful business remotely.

Guillermo also provides insights into his exclusive Expat Livin' program, curated by Guillermo and his wife Danielle. This turnkey program is designed to help others transition to living abroad. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on overcoming obstacles, finding new opportunities, and living a life true to your passions and goals.

My dream (my vision, intention) is to implement a mobile, fluid life. Guillermo and Danielle's invaluable experience has already put me several steps closer to resuming my personal journey.

When you're ready to consider your own global options, check out the links below.

https://www.youtube.com/@ExpatLivin

https://expatlivin.com/expatmastery

https://expatlivin.com/

https://www.instagram.com/expat_livin/

00:00 Facing Skepticism and Following Your Path

01:08 Welcome to Your Message Received Podcast

01:59 Introducing Guillermo and His Journey

04:18 The Big Move to Spain

06:49 Overcoming Initial Challenges

08:09 Adapting to a New Life Abroad

11:05 Navigating Family and Business from Afar

13:29 The Importance of Following Your Dreams

15:53 Logistics of Running a Business Remotely

20:05 Challenges and Triumphs of Expat Life

28:40 Overcoming Initial Doubts and Challenges

29:00 Finding Supportive People

29:26 Maintaining Business Success Abroad

30:55 Adapting to a New Lifestyle

37:43 Navigating Bureaucracy and Logistics

44:04 Building a Community

50:35 Financial and Career Opportunities

54:12 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

In this episode of Your Message Received, host John Duffin welcomes Dennis McCurdy, a financial advisor, entrepreneur, multiple-time author, Air Force veteran, and Vietnam Vet. Dennis shares insights on overcoming challenges and achieving success by discussing his book, 'Suck It Up, Cupcake!,' his journey of personal and professional growth, and the value of persistence and accountability. I personally love the title of this book!

Dennis delves into his experiences from a tough upbringing (finished 8th from the bottom of his high-school class) to building successful businesses. He emphasizes the importance of starting small, being consistent, and the importance of finding the right support system. If you're looking for no-fluff suggestions on how to take your message to the finish line, you've found the right podcast. Enjoy!

To learn more about Dennis McCurdy, check out the link below.

https://dennismccurdy.com/

00:00 The Death of Dreams: Overcoming Inaction

00:45 Welcome to Your Message Received

01:37 Introducing Dennis McCurdy: A Journey of Resilience

02:43 Early Life and Work Ethic

10:06 Military Service and Lessons Learned

14:56 Rebooting a Career: From Real Estate to Financial Planning

20:51 The Power of Starting: Insights from 'Suck it up, Cupcake'

22:23 The Importance of Starting

23:39 The Two-Minute Rule

26:33 Consistency and Accountability

29:24 Forming a Mastermind Group

38:16 Sustainable Systems and Habits

42:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mastering Golf with Systems: Bob Labbe's Pioneering Approach

In this episode of 'Your Message Received', host John Duffin speaks with engineer and author Bob Labbe about his innovative system for improving long-distance putting in golf. Labbe, who enjoyed a successful career in air pollution control, applies his engineering background to the game of golf, developing a unique method called 'Individual Power Factor' (IPF) to enhance performance on the course.

As a non-golfer, I am really pleasantly surprised by how easily I understood Bob's specific approach. When Bob says to use a little math, science, patience, and practice, it all made perfect sense to me. I am now excited that I can at least attempt to play this game. Don't forget about the fun factor too!

The conversation delves into the practical applications of this system, its ease of adoption for beginners and seasoned players alike, and its broader implications for confidence and integrity in both sports and business. Whether you're looking to up your golf game or seeking inspiration from a man who has combined passion, science, and sports, this episode offers valuable insights for everyone.

If you'd like to learn more about IPF and Bob Labbe, click the link below.

boblabbe.com

00:00 Introduction to Individual Power Factor in Golf

01:12 Welcome to Your Message Received Podcast

02:17 Meet Bob Labbe: Engineer and Author

03:11 The Journey into Engineering

05:45 Air Pollution Control: A Career Path

07:46 The Evolution of Air Pollution Control

11:59 Golf: A Personal and Professional Journey

18:30 The Importance of Putting in Golf

22:23 Developing a System for Better Putting

27:33 Understanding Individual Power Factors in Golf

29:31 Measuring and Applying Your Power Factor

31:07 Building Confidence in Long Distance Putting

32:08 Helping Others Improve Their Game

41:08 The Importance of Integrity in Golf

44:07 Practical Tips for Beginner Golfers

49:25 The Simplicity and Effectiveness of the Method

50:15 Conclusion and Encouragement

In this episode of Your Message Received, host John Duffin sits down with Russell Van Brocklen, known as the "Dyslexia Professor," to discuss his revolutionary methods for helping individuals with dyslexia improve their reading and writing skills.

Russell shares his personal journey of overcoming dyslexia, his experiences in law school, and his groundbreaking research, which was funded by the New York State Education Department. By the way, if you're a football historian or a Philadelphia Eagles fan (Go Birds), you may recognize Russell's last name-there is a connection.

Parents will find valuable insights on identifying early signs of dyslexia and effective techniques to support their children's literacy. Tune in to hear how Russell's strategies have transformed the lives of many dyslexic students, making advanced reading and writing skills achievable.

I've always viewed dyslexia as a puzzle (here's a heads-up that I am not very good at solving puzzles.) I especially loved learning some of Russell's systems, which take the mystery out of it. I am excited to get to share this episode.

To learn more about Russell Van Brocklen, check out the links below.

https://dyslexiaclasses.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-van-brocklen-2007ab87/

00:00 Introduction to the Guest's Background

00:54 Welcome to Your Message Received Podcast

01:58 Meet Russell Van Brocklen: The Dyslexia Professor

03:21 Overcoming Discrimination and Academic Challenges

06:18 Law School: A Turning Point

07:51 Developing Dyslexia Solutions

09:23 Success Stories and Results

15:45 Understanding Dyslexia and Effective Teaching Methods

30:17 Understanding Dyslexia and Grammar

30:53 The Cost of Specialized Education

31:34 Simplifying Complex Learning Methods

33:30 Addressing Spelling and Grammar Mistakes

35:48 Emotional and Social Dynamics of Dyslexia

37:51 Bullying and Legal Measures

44:04 Success Stories and Parental Involvement

51:56 Identifying Early Signs of Dyslexia

55:58 Resources and Final Thoughts