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ISO The Good Life Show - Food, Wine, Travel & Lifestyle

Bio: Mike Wreyford, AKA Mike the Wine Guy, is a wine educator, writer, radio show host, and lifestyle expert. Mike is the host & producer of “The Good Life” Show, a popular radio talk show, on air since 2011. As one of the most “casually authentic” wine experts in the industry, Mike Wreyford, AKA “Mike the Wine Guy,” has blazed his own trails and made it his life’s passion to educate, inform and entertain his audience with his extensive knowledge and passion for wine, and the lifestyle that goes with it. His weekly radio program and podcast, “ISO the Good Life” has become a must-listen for travel conscious wine enthusiasts and curious foodies alike. With countless hours of Live Radio, and 1,000+ interviews, Mike’s show has earned a reputation for being informative, entertaining, and uniquely original. As a native Californian, Mike’s adventurous lifestyle and world travels have undoubtedly influenced his approach to wine and food. His dedication to bringing an “all of us” approach to his topics has earned him a loyal following of listeners who appreciate his ability to make even the most complex subjects accessible. In addition to his radio program, Mike is known for his involvement in charitable events and fundraisers, including the highly successful “World of Wine” tasting events which he has been instrumental in developing and hosting since 2011. Mike’s talent for uncovering the stories behind the wine and food he covers is unmatched. His loose yet thoroughly prepared style of interviewing guests allows him to dig deep and discover the true passion and journey of each guest. With his extensive network of contacts throughout California, the West Coast, and beyond, Mike is able to develop unique story ideas that captivate and inspire his audience. As a dedicated professional and wine expert, Mike Wreyford is undoubtedly a name to watch in the industry, and his commitment to bringing the best of wine and food to his audience is unwavering.
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Now displaying: Category: Lifestyle
Feb 21, 2022
My name is Eric Kenyon. I am the owner and founder of Form is Function. We serve men and women all over the English speaking world, who want to heal injuries and/or their ongoing pain, so that they can move with confidence, exercise and be physically active, and do all the things they want to do, pain free.
I’ve been a health and exercise coach for 23 years, and a competitive athlete for over 50 years. We have trained people from professional athletes and Olympic medalists all the way to severely injured people who could barely move or even speak. We help people clarify their goals and needs, then we guide them to achieving those goals and beyond.
At Form is Function we specialise in serving people who the mainstream fitness culture has left behind; people who hate exercise, or have “tried everything” with only mediocre results, are too weak or injured to exercise, too busy to attend to self care, or who demand results that are not available on the mainstream fitness landscape.
Jul 6, 2019

Kevin Evans is President of WEB Media Group, a niche media company specializing in the relocation / newcomer and lifestyle market.  Currently, WEB Media Group produces 17 titles and 11 websites across 6 states, with three new branches in 2017.  In 2002 he started with a single employee, single market concept that has grown to a national company employing 20 people. 

Evans caught the publishing bug early in college, he served as Editor-in-Chief of his college newspaper, then worked for Auto Trader, traveling the country fixing problem publications and establishing new markets.  After leaving Auto Trader, he served as Vice-President of New Business Development with the Los Angeles Times before moving to Austin and launching the Austin Relocation Guide.  He has over 30 years of publishing experience. 

The newest venture for Evans has been the Napa Valley Life Magazine.  Kevin began managing the magazine and website two years ago and today is the President of Napa Valley Life Magazine.  

A luxury lifestyle magazine aimed at the people who live, work and play in the Napa.

For over 17 years, Napa Valley Life has been the premier lifestyle magazine dedicated to living and visiting the Napa Valley. We are dedicated in providing locals and visitors a magazine that captures the essence of living in the Napa Valley.

Published six times a year, Napa Valley Life defines and celebrates this special place we call home through sophisticated and informative feature and department articles solely dedicated on the Napa Valley. Within in each issue, we cover the Napa Valley lifestyle; from food and wine; homes and decor, entertaining, dining, gardening, health, events, insider information and destination guide information including a detailed winery map as well as local town maps.

The Napa Valley is noted as one of the most beautiful regions of California, rich in heritage and tradition.  Known for its world-renowned fine wines, epicurean experiences, luxurious accommodations and breath taking vistas, the Valley shines as a premiere destination to live the good life.  Napa Valley offers a variety of entertainment including fine art, theater, music and outdoor activities. Stay abreast and let NVL be your comprehensive guide to Napa Valley Events and things to do as well as learn about the people behind what makes this community so amazing.

Sep 30, 2018

Diane Lang has dedicated her career to helping people turn their lives around and is now on a mission to help them develop a  sustainable positive attitude that can actually turn one into an optimist, literally. A therapist and educator/coach of Positive Psychology, she has seen that it can provide a strong foundation for finding great happiness and is gratified that it is becoming a mainstream method of treatment.


A parent herself, Lang has taught Positive Parenting to parents and written extensively on the benefits of using it with even the youngest children. She has also spoken or conducted seminars on postpartum depression, striving for balance versus having it all and practical tips on interviewing, networking and dressing for success and is the author of “Baby Steps: the Path from Motherhood to Career.”


Diane is a Therapist and Life coach in NJ. Her clinical experience includes treating patients with different forms of mental illness, physical and emotional abuse and relationship issues. Lang is also an Adjunct in Psychology at Montclair State University, her college work includes mentoring students for individual career counseling and personal issue advisement.


As an expert in her fields of therapy, Lang has been featured in the Daily Record, Family Circle, Family Magazine, Working Mother Magazine and Cookie Magazine, seen on NJ 12 TV, Good day CT, CBS TV, Style CT, The Veira network and the national television program “Fox & Friends”. She has also participated in a reality based Internet show, ourprisoner.com, hosted Generation X-tinet and appeared in various educational videos including Columbia books.


Lang has an M.A. in Counseling and a B.A. in Liberal Arts from the New York Institute of Technology. Diane has her Positive Psychology coaching certificate from Wholebeing Institute. Diane’s latest book is: Creating balance & finding happiness.

Jul 30, 2018

Chris Specialises in FAST THERAPY a unique blend of therapy for Phobia Removal, Decreasing Fear and Anxiety and Boosting Self Esteem and Confidence. 

Over the past 10 years, Chris has built up a reputation as a highly motivational coach, helping clients to overcome their fears and to achieve their goals. Chris creates individual client focus sessions and works with clients from all walks of life from Company Directors to Parents and Teenagers.

Chris created Fast Therapy. He have took the best from a range of therapy disciplines including NLP, Hypnotherapy, Solution Focus, Positive Psychology and Life Coaching and made it relevant  to overcoming Phobias and Fears, Increasing Confidence and Reducing Anxiety.

The days of having hundreds of hours of therapy to overcome one issues are gone. Behavioral Neuroscience Studies and advancements in therapy disciplines have empowered Fast Therapy Therapist, to get quick long-lasting results.

Are you ready to overcome your issue? How does your current situation make you feel? What part of your life is really frustrating you? Are you determined to make a change?

If yes, then Fast Therapy is for you.

Jul 30, 2018

Ron Williams, a veteran of the Walla Walla tourism, arts, and wine industries, has been hired as the new Executive Director of Visit Walla Walla. “Ron’s broad-based experience with the key industries that drive tourism in Walla Walla made him a natural fit to take the reigns of Visit Walla Walla.

Since 2013, he has served as the Executive Director of Shakespeare Walla Walla. As Executive Director, he helped create the successful Dia de Los Muertos street festival, forged partnerships with a wide range of local and regional arts organizations, and oversaw explosive growth in the performing arts organization. Williams has also acted as the Managing Director of the Gesa Power House Theatre in Walla Walla, which hosts theater, music, dance, public and private events, meetings, parties, weddings, and festivals.

A proven collaborator, Williams has been involved in various projects with the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation, and throughout the education community.

“Walla Walla has done an extraordinary job in building its brand and growing into a world-class travel destination, and I believe my background will help build on that momentum,” Williams said. “I am thrilled to take this next step, and I look forward to continuing the great work Visit Walla Walla has done in promoting this region.”

A Theater Arts graduate of Occidental College in Los Angeles, Williams started his career in the film industry as a project manager and executive producer. Williams replaces Ron Peck, who served as Executive Director for Visit Walla Walla for more than three years.

Jul 1, 2018

Our “little” company was incorporated under the laws of the State of California on October 15, 1991 by its principal founder Troy Paski. Having gained experience in satellite operations, and software debugging/development, the company was originally conceived with the intent of providing engineering services to the defense industry.

Troy Paski and the longest-tenured craft brewery owner in the Sacramento area, if he comes off as a little jaded when you ask him about hot new brewery in town or the latest double IPA with mango, grapefruit and pineapple.

However, as an avid home brewer since receiving a brewing “kit” for Christmas in 1991, and having a passion for truly great beer, Troy soon realized a much more lucrative growth opportunity emerging in the craft-brewing industry, and helped pursued the company to pursue that avenue for growth instead.On a cold wintry evening while sampling a very nice blueberry ale from Marin Brewing Company in November 1993, it was officially decided to focus the company’s energy on commercially marketing our company’s new flagship product, which up until then had been T.ROY’s (nickname for Troy) home-brew specialty.

It took us six months of intensive labor finding the right investors, suppliers, and everything else, before we were able to get our flagship product on the market.In an attempt to carve out a niche in the growing microbrewery market, we decided to distinguish ourselves from the competition by providing the consumer with an easily identifiable package that was unlike anything previously seen in the industry (e.g., product separation…), along with a traditional style of beer (India Pale Ale – IPA) that had not been readily available to consumers for quite some time. We believe this style of beer tends to attract those consumers who are currently drinking hand-crafted pale ales, and who are looking for a more fuller-bodied “more mouth feel” type of beer to drink. This train of thought has proven to be an asset to our company, and has been clearly evident from the enthusiasm generated by consumers over our company’s flagship product!!!

Jun 24, 2018

I was studying abroad, seated at a tiny café in Puebla, Mexico, when a cup of coffee changed my life. Time briefly slowed as I took in the richly layered taste of that cup, observing the energy, community and vivid conversation, all centered around a common love of coffee. At that moment, I realized that in some way, coffee would be an important part of my future.

From here, I journeyed to the plazas of southern Spain, where I became a student of café culture, in preparation for bringing the authentic experience to America. By 1997 I was the owner of a café in the U.S. The coffee I was sourcing from a regional roaster was the best to be found, but I knew I could do better. By the following year, I had purchased a coffee roaster and my first bag of unroasted green coffee beans, embarking on a lifelong quest. In the 17 years since, I have traveled across countries and continents in search of the most extraordinary coffees, innovative producers and complex flavors.

What began as an attempt to satisfy my own desire for superior coffee, soon became a mission to share the ultimate coffee experience, as I realized other sophisticated coffee lovers were seeking the same qualities I had discovered. With Demours, I am exploring cultures and expanding palates, focusing all my efforts on delivering to every person who tastes a cup of Café Privé Sélect their own life-changing coffee moment.

Jennifer A. Stone, founder of Demours Café Privé Sélect, is a Licensed Quality Grader by the Coffee Quality Institute as well as an internationally recognized coffee cupper and judge for the Cup of Excellence.

Jun 10, 2018

Hiya! I’m Heidi Siefkas (pronounced Seef-kas). Although I’m originally from small-town Wisconsin (you betcha), I hang my hat in South Florida. However, as an adventurer, I’m rarely home for long. In fact, you’re best bet is to find me in Cuba. Also I’m a speaker, the creator of the mantra Look Up, and author of three inspirational, non-fiction books When All Balls Drop, With New Eyes, and Cubicle to Cuba.

Heidi Siefkas was a happily married, globetrotting professional who seemingly had it all—until a tree limb in New York's Hudson River Valley struck her down, breaking her neck and leaving her unconscious. Suddenly, life as she knew it stopped. She lost her independence. She lost her career. She watched her marriage disintegrate as she confronted a trail of devastating lies about her husband's double life. She had lost all that mattered, but she was a survivor. She fought to restore her health, repair her broken heart, and rebuild herself. Along the way, she gained clarity about her core values, ultimately coming to a deeper understanding of what it means to have it all. Through down-to-earth, short vignettes, When All Balls Drop shows us how it's possible to look up in spite of pain, deceit, and loss. Heidi's memoir—rich with hope and humor—inspires anyone who's had to confront tragedy and reassess their life in the wake of life-altering events.

Heidi Siefkas lost her health, her career, and her marriage after she was struck by a one-thousand-pound tree branch. While she made great strides in her physical and emotional recovery in the months that followed—an arduous process that she chronicled in When All Balls Drop—Heidi wasn't content to merely survive her setbacks. The time was right to build a new life. One she could live on her own terms. But what would a redesigned life look like? In her quest for answers, Heidi returned to her childhood home in Wisconsin, dove into the South Florida dating scene, revisited old flames in New England, sold her first home, jumped out of a plane, and traveled alone to South America. Every leg of her journey provided a healthy dose of perspective. With New Eyes is full of mishaps and bold decisions, all seasoned with sassy humor. Through her signature down-to-earth vignettes, Heidi inspires you to conquer your fears, head for adventure, and become the captain of your own ship.

 

May 20, 2018

Bryan Doreian is the President and founder of Wysebridge Patent Bar Review, an inventive startup designed to help individuals pass the Patent Bar Exam efficiently. This is achieved by providing online resources and materials in a way that anyone can understand, and the means to quickly and efficiently develop the skills to pass.

Bryan Doreian has a background in many areas of research including Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biophysics. He has not only developed analytical skills allowing him to process and summarize information and data, but also how to quickly and efficiently find solutions to problems.

Bryan Doreian's experience in multiple sectors is diverse, providing him with a unique perspective into the field of patents and intellectual property. He has been involved in drug development, process design and control for a major manufacturer, biomedical academic research, and is working on quantitative reforms for the healthcare industry.

May 20, 2018

Ellen is a grammar freak, a former freelance writer, and a founder and principal of Syntaxis, a communication skills training firm based in New York City. She has a B.A. in German from Harvard and an M.A. in comparative literature from UCLA. Ellen lives with her husband, Brandt Johnson, in a wildly polylingual apartment building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and can often be found walking or running around the city listening to language lessons.

I had studied German, Spanish, and French in school, but I wanted to go more global this time and add other language families. The initial plan of a year soon became two years, which eventually became three years, then four, then five, and which now stands at nearly eight years. The schedule has so far included 21 different languages involving a total of nine different alphabets and writing systems. No end in sight.

Through my blog here, I have chronicled linguistic adventures, some misadventures, and the mental and physical fallout of spending a lot of time outside one’s own alphabet and grammar. In 2013, I added a directory of learning-resource reviews for other people seeking to learn a new language or reinforce old skills. I continue to add to that.

Mostly now I wish to pay tribute to the joys of language learning, and to the extraordinary linguistic riches of my beloved adopted city and makeshift language-learning lab: New York.

I am often asked how I remember all these languages. I don’t! I forget tons. I study, forget, restudy, relearn, reforget, and so on. Doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t do this if it weren’t fun for me: I am a language hedonist! With each new language, my sense of the world, linguistic and otherwise, feels, well, larger. I treasure that.

I would love to see more Americans in particular, but also people around the world, enjoy the study of languages they did not grow up speaking.

A new language is a hand held out to one’s neighbor, an opener of doors, a new way to see, a mental tickle, a road to unmediated communication with strangers in other lands, access to the world’s news, a gesture of peace — really, language study can be anything you want to make of it.

Apr 6, 2018

Bryan Doreian is the President and founder of Wysebridge Patent Bar Review, an inventive startup designed to help individuals pass the Patent Bar Exam efficiently. This is achieved by providing online resources and materials in a way that anyone can understand, and the means to quickly and efficiently develop the skills to pass.

Bryan Doreian has a background in many areas of research including Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biophysics. He has not only developed analytical skills allowing him to process and summarize information and data, but also how to quickly and efficiently find solutions to problems.

Bryan Doreian's experience in multiple sectors is diverse, providing him with a unique perspective into the field of patents and intellectual property. He has been involved in drug development, process design and control for a major manufacturer, biomedical academic research, and is working on quantitative reforms for the healthcare industry.

Nov 25, 2017

Claudia Vecchio has assumed the position of CEO of Sonoma County Tourism.

Vecchio has many years of experience in the industry, including multiple leadership roles in tourism organisations, serving as the State Tourism director at the Ohio Department of Development, Division of Travel and Tourism, and senior vice president overseeing the tourism group at Edelman PR in Chicago.

In her new role, Vecchio will try to drive Sonoma County Tourism into record-breaking years, with out-of-the-box ideas and by sharing the message that wine country is open for business and ready to deliver the world-class experience that is expected.

She replaces Ken Fischang, who stepped down in May. Interim Sonoma County Tourism CEO Tim Zahner told the Las Vegas Review Journal that, after the fires, Vecchio will have plenty on her plate when she arrives.

“Claudia is stepping into a situation where the community of Sonoma County and the board and staff of Sonoma County Tourism have come together to not only support one another in our time of need, but also to rally around and get the word out that we are open for business and ready to welcome visitors to the Northern California they love,” Zahner said. 

Vecchio leaves her position as the first director of the state Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, which consists of the Commission on Tourism, Division of Museums and History, Nevada Arts Council and the Nevada Indian Commission.

“In addition to its extraordinary natural beauty, Sonoma County exudes an incredible spirit of independent thinking, creativity and fortitude that truly sets it apart from any other destination,” Vecchio said in a statement. “The truest sense of this spirit has been on full display during the recent fires. It’s a privilege to join a team and represent a countywide tourism industry that can come together through challenging times to not only support one another, but also to rally around and get the word out that we are open for business and ready to welcome visitors to Northern California.”

Vecchio said it should be a fairly easy transition on the marketing side, as Sonoma County has a few things in common with Nevada, like its independent, creative, maverick spirit.

“It’s wineries versus casinos,” she said. “They are important drivers, but I see so much more to talk about.” 

Vecchio long has been a fan of and visitor to Sonoma County, having family in Bodega Bay. Upon moving to Sonoma County, she had planned to rent, but after the destructive fires and the even tighter rental market, she is in the process of buying a home.

Vecchio is a former president of Destination Integration in Dallas and head of Ohio’s tourism office. She began working in Nevada in November 2011.

She also has managed national brand launch campaigns for Taco Bell, Frito-Lay and Norwegian Cruise Lines and was on the promotion team that launched the Fox Broadcasting Network’s television programming. She also was a tour manager for the international education and entertainment organization, Up With People.

Nov 25, 2017

BRIDGE COFFEE CO. is an artisan, craft coffee roaster. We source premium, specialty-grade coffee from around the world. These carefully selected green coffees are profiled, cupped, and roasted in small batches.

We are, "the bridge from the crop to the cup." Timothy Styczynski - owner

As roasters, we feel that we are the bridge between the wonderful coffee producers that spend all year cultivating their wonderful crop to the consumer who enjoys their delicious cup. Our goal is to connect the producers and farmers who spend months at harvest to grow an amazing crop to those that love a truly remarkable cup of coffee. In less than 15 minutes, we are responsible to bring out and highlight all the natural character trapped in the bean for your roasted coffee.

Bridge Coffee Co. sources its green coffee with the assistance of respected and trusted individuals in the coffee industry. We all work together to maintain integrity, responsibility and sustainability.

With over 20 years of roasting experience, the aid of modern technology and utilizing the finest coffee roasting equipment made, you can be sure your coffee is roasted with care and precision, and consistently delicious. Those early days were an interesting start. "I started home roasting back in 1997. Trying to burn a coffee bean anyway I could get my hands on. Oven, stove-top, wok, popcorn poppers, barbecue, I tried so many!", Tim - Owner

Small batch roasting is an artisan craft. It is our joy and honor to provide you with a wonderful cup of coffee.

All coffee is roasted to order and date stamped. We offer free delivery to your home or office in the local Marysville/Yuba City area!

Nov 25, 2017

Diane Lang has dedicated her career to helping people turn their lives around and is now on a mission to help them develop a  sustainable positive attitude that can actually turn one into an optimist, literally. A therapist and educator/coach of Positive Psychology, she has seen that it can provide a strong foundation for finding great happiness and is gratified that it is becoming a mainstream method of treatment.


A parent herself, Lang has taught Positive Parenting to parents and written extensively on the benefits of using it with even the youngest children. She has also spoken or conducted seminars on postpartum depression, striving for balance versus having it all and practical tips on interviewing, networking and dressing for success and is the author of “Baby Steps: the Path from Motherhood to Career.”


Diane is a Therapist and Life coach in NJ. Her clinical experience includes treating patients with different forms of mental illness, physical and emotional abuse and relationship issues. Lang is also an Adjunct in Psychology at Montclair State University, her college work includes mentoring students for individual career counseling and personal issue advisement.


As an expert in her fields of therapy, Lang has been featured in the Daily Record, Family Circle, Family Magazine, Working Mother Magazine and Cookie Magazine, seen on NJ 12 TV, Good day CT, CBS TV, Style CT, The Veira network and the national television program “Fox & Friends”. She has also participated in a reality based Internet show, ourprisoner.com, hosted Generation X-tinet and appeared in various educational videos including Columbia books.


Lang has an M.A. in Counseling and a B.A. in Liberal Arts from the New York Institute of Technology. Diane has her Positive Psychology coaching certificate from Wholebeing Institute. Diane’s latest book is: Creating balance & finding happiness.

Sep 26, 2017


If travel experiences and looking for deals on cool places to stay is in your future, you’ll want to check out this interview with
Nick Winikoff, the co-founder of Vuepeer.

Vuepeer.com is one of the largest search engines for vacation rentals on the web. It’s a new vacation rental search engine that deals exclusively with peer to peer owned properties and experiences. Think of it like Kayak for all the Airbnb type companies.

Nick co-founder of Vuepeer. Traveling is one of my passions and I hope to keep growing my destination list. He thinks P2P travel is the future as the possibilities are endless. He really enjoy meeting new people and find the hosts I’ve stayed with to be fascinating.

At Vuepeer Nick has too have many roles including acquisition, business development and making sure our service has as much user input as possible. He vision for the future of Vuepeer is a tool that is designed to be easy to use and one that focuses on bringing true value to travelers.

They compare over 2,500,000 listings from a multitude online marketplaces, and by combining results from multiple marketplaces, they can save you time and money on travel.

Vuepeer’s mission is to make searching and finding travel rentals easy and fun. By travel rentals, we are referring to peer-to-peer (P2P) lodging, car, boat, experience, bike, etc. rentals. Anything specific, rare or different.

“A while back we noticed that there were hundreds of special, really quite good, websites with P2P rentals on-line. We gathered that people had an interest in using these websites, but had no interest to find, or personally discover each one. This is the seed that grew into Vuepeer. We are on a mission to create a tool you can use to discover great rentals from all over the Internet and the world.”

Aside from their search, (which is awesome) they want to create and curate content that you the consumer and traveler find entertaining and helpful. They talk about P2P travel rentals and try to make it relevant to you. To achieve this goal they include interviews, stories, advice, comparisons, top lists and opinion pieces on their blog. They’re actively searching for new writers, travelers and hosts to contribute in anyway to add to the community. So help yourself out, help others out, give them some honest feedback so they can provide you and the community with valuable content  every day.

Sep 26, 2017

Michelle Khouri is a natural-born storyteller with a keen eye and inquisitive spirit. A lengthy career in communications gifted her with a mind for strategy and project management. Michelle is a PR veteran and magazine editor whose multidisciplinary communications experience includes planning complex, large-scale events, art directing photo shoots, hosting travel videos, leading media outreach campaigns, and creating thousands of pieces of content. A longtime writer, Michelle is passionate about uncovering hidden stories about the arts, culture and society.

She believes in the power of skilled storytelling. Think of her as a Renaissance woman of modern communication.


Michelle serves as the Atlanta editor and Nashville editor for Where. She has been to 22 countries throughout the Western Hemisphere, and says her next goal is to explore the Eastern Hemisphere. "My parents and grandparents are from a total of five different countries, and I credit my mom for making travel the highest priority in our household." Follow her on Twitter as @michellekhouri and on Instagram as @michellekhouri. She also tweets for @whereatlanta and updates Where's Atlanta Facebook page with awesome content.

Michelle's Take on Atlanta: Atlanta is full of juxtaposition—it is at once rich with Civil War history and bubbling with an innovative population of artists and entrepreneurs. Atlanta both embraces its Southern heritage and strives to pave new roads in almost every industry. I’m dazzled by this city every day.

Michelle's Take on Nashville: Nashville is often pigeonholed as a music city—and in many ways it is. But when you dig deeper into Nashville, you find one of the largest and most collaborative communities of artists in the nation. What I love most about these people is that they aren’t just talented leatherworkers, clothing designers, jewelers or sculptors—they’re brilliant entrepreneurs.

Most memorable travel experience: My mom, sister and I backpacked through Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, and we stopped in Salzburg for a day. I have yet to see a city as small as Salzburg packed so full of history and beauty. After walking through the cobblestone streets and visiting Mozart’s birth home, we sat on the grassy banks of the Salzach river and fell asleep. We napped there for about an hour, bathed in sunshine and enveloped in the city’s floral aroma. It was heavenly!

Last notable trip: London. I created the day’s itinerary each morning, choosing my stops based on the weather and my mood. I also got a tattoo and spent tons of quality time with good friends while I was there. It was heaven!

Place you always return to visit: Colombia. My family is Colombian and I grew up entrenched in the culture. Colombia is a breathtaking, geographically diverse country with some of the kindest and happiest people I’ve ever known.

Sep 16, 2017

Andy is the owner of CrossFit LA (CFLA), one of the most successful CrossFit training centers in the world. Established in 2004, CFLA was the ninth licensed CrossFit affiliate in the world (out of 10,000+), and the first to be featured in national media. A former professional adventure racer, extreme athlete, and master white-water kayaker and mountaineer, Andy has completed three Eco-Challenges, one Raid Gauloises, and the La Ruta de los Conquistadores (a three-day mountain bike race known as the world’s hardest). A classically-trained trumpet player (Eastman School of Music) and a Marine Gulf War veteran, Andy was the oldest participant, at 43, to qualify for the 2009 CrossFit Games.

Andy has been a CrossFit trainer for over 11 years and hold CrossFit sports-specific certifications in Olympic weightlifting, gymnastics, powerlifting, the Pose Method of Running, endurance, and nutrition. Andy is a VIVOBAREFOOT running coach and a CHEK level 2 corrective high-performance exercise kinesiologist and nutrition and lifestyle coach. With an undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester and a master’s degree in spiritual psychology from the University of Santa Monica, Andy lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Julia, and their son, Dashel.

While the workouts might seem random, there is actually a system to Andy’s method of training general physical preparedness. Andy does not write his workouts for a specialized athlete, but rather for a student looking to get better at a lot of things. “I’ll sit down to write a three week cycle and I’ll try to make that be a complete balanced program in three weeks. I look at the whole picture and think, if this were a complete cycle someone was going through, do they hit as many of the ten fundamental skills and does it give balance in all the metabolic pathways? And then, is it fun, and are the lengths of the workouts variable? I look for balance in that three week cycle.”

Sep 16, 2017

Greg Schwem’s comedic take on the 21st century workplace and work/life balance has landed him on SIRIUS RadioFOX News, Comedy Central and the pages of Parents Magazine. More than just a business humorist, Greg is also an author, nationally syndicated humor columnist, award-winning greeting card writer and creator of funnydadinc, voted one of the top Dad humor sites of 2016.  He has shared the concert stage with the likes of Celine Dion and Jay Leno.

A graduate of Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism, Greg never envisioned a career in laughter. Instead, he settled in Florida, becoming an award-winning reporter for NBC-owned WPTV in West Palm Beach. But the comedy bug bit Greg hard and he returned to his hometown of Chicago, where he honed his standup act in nightclubs. When he began inserting material about business and technology into his act, audience members approached him and said, “You really should come down to my office and tell those jokes.” Behold! A new approach to comedy was born.

Greg’s show provides a hilarious look at today’s corporate environment and the latest tools used to conduct business. Indeed, Greg’s client list includes such corporate heavyweights as McDonald’s, Microsoft, General Motors, IBM, Hyatt Hotels, United Airlines and Cisco Systems. What sets Greg apart from other corporate entertainers is his ability—and willingness—to customize material for his audience while working within the parameters of the corporate environment. That means no profanity or politically incorrect material. “That’s never been a part of my show anyway,” Greg recently told a reporter.

When Greg hits the stage he already has perused the company’s Internet site, combed the internal message boards and even sifted through numerous PowerPoint presentations. “There is no such thing as too much information,” Greg says. “I know corporate audiences like to laugh at themselves so the more ammunition I get, the funnier it will be. Just don’t give me a 10-K report. There is NOTHING funny about that.”

Greg’s preparation always includes a conference call with company executives and, in some cases, an onsite visit.

Besides customized material, Greg entertains audiences with stories about tedious business meetings, SmartPhone addiction, “frequently” asked questions and his fascination with the American Girl Doll company. In addition to his hefty speaking schedule, Greg  writes a weekly humor column nationally distributed by Tribune Media Services. He also is the author of Text Me If You’re Breathing: Observations, Frustrations and Life Lessons From a Low-Tech Dad and The Road to Success Goes Through the Salad Bar:  A Pile of BS (Business Stories) From a Corporate Comedian.

Sep 15, 2017

Megan Peterson (Executive Director) has been involved in features, television, and documentary film-making for more than 15 years, and is passionate about all things film and story. She has produced, directed and written more than 150 hours of on-air programming for a wide range of cable networks, along with multiple distributed independent features, industrials and music videos. Recently, Ms. Peterson made her feature film directorial debut with the critically acclaimed feature Heathens & Thieves, starring Don Swayze and Gwendoline Yeo, and is currently in development on her second feature.  In her spare time, she has served as a juror for such prestigious festivals as the Los Angeles Film Festival, the Milledgeville Film Festival, Sundance Writing Labs, and the International Documentary Awards, and was a founding member of the United Nations Association Film Festival.

Having recently relocated to Scott Valley, Ms. Peterson continues to write and produce cable programming in addition to her work with the Scott Valley Film Coalition. She received her MFA from the University of Southern California under the mentorship of Robert Zemeckis, and is a graduate of Stanford University, magna cum laude.

Sep 15, 2017

Christina Julian writes snarky rom-coms that celebrate the underdog and live to make people laugh. She adores dysfunctional leading ladies and the tangled twisty lives they lead. She adamantly believes there is nothing in life that can’t be conquered with a bodacious wine, strong cup of coffee, or a generously iced cupcake. When she is not tapping out her next novel or wrangling her 3-year-old twins, she can be found swilling and swirling in the name of research as a wine and food columnist in Napa Valley. She strives always to live her life to the extreme.

Her debut novel, THE DATING BENDER, is a hysterical dramedy about a woman unhinged and at a crossroad. The book explores dysfunctional family relationships, women who love the wrong men, and one epic hunt for happiness.

Prior to fleeing to the Wine Country Christina worked in technology and publishing before, during and after the dot.com bubble burst, which was glamorous during the heyday but not so much once those days ended. That’s when wine came in handy. But there were a few more pit stops before the real dream took root. There were the days in Manhattan as a food and nightlife critic, followed by film development and slinging ads in Los Angeles, the latter, which came just a little too close to actualizing the “Mad Men” fantasy, minus one smoking hot Jon Hamm.

LA gridlock and the allure of a wineward way of life drove her up the coast to Napa Valley. After working and writing about a grape soaked season during harvest, her professional wine swilling career took root. As a columnist for NorthBay Biz magazine, the wine country her beat, Christina combs the valley in search of the never-ending scoop and the perfect glass of wine to go with it.

Her work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Wine Enthusiast, California Home + Design, 7×7, Napa Valley Register, Napa Valley Life, Bohemian, Weekly Calistogan and beyond.

Sep 15, 2017

Danny Zoucha, a.k.a. The Well-Ordered Husband, is just a guy who loves a girl and thinks the rest of the world should have a life as good as he does.

From growing up, literally, in the middle of a cornfield in a trailer home to living beachside in one of the most desirable places on Earth with the love of his life, and a child who adores him, Danny has developed a unique ability to carve out the life of many people's dreams. He originally thought his calling was in business. As a result, he attempted several and saw success, but ultimately found himself uninspired. He looked inside and discovered that what he's actually mastered as a result of his passion for it is being a husband to his wife, and a father to his son. Knowing what his true purpose in life is has allowed him to touch people all over the world, and inspire them to personal greatness in what he feels is the single most important part of life: family.

Aug 20, 2017

Todd Mitchem is a leader, entrepreneur, son, father, and devoted husband who cares deeply about America and like you has grown tired of the destruction going on in Washington. It's Time for this to change and Todd Mitchem is the person to make it happen!

A LEGACY OF SERVICE AND STRENGTH

Born in the small, rural, mining town of Bluefield, West Virginia, Todd came from humble beginnings. He grew up observing the power of hard work from his WWII veteran and blue collar, coal mining grandfather, Roby, who taught him that you never give up on this country or yourself.  Todd, also learn valuable lessons from his father, also a military veteran, who worked for nearly four decades at the same company starting as a meter-reader and retiring as a senior executive leader. 

THE WILL TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE

Todd Mitchem learned his survival instincts from the powerful women in his life, like his mother, a two-time cancer survivor, who never quit in the face of certain death. After receiving a diagnosis of only six months to live, Todd's mother not only decided to fight cancer, she decided to win. She taught him the power of perseverance and taking risks to beat any obstacle. The health care system failed her during her second cancer by telling her to "give up," and then sending her massive bills that were not covered by insurance. But being a fighter, Todd's mom turned to cannabis and is still alive today. It is her drive "to never give up" which Todd has adopted into his own life and business ventures.

A LEADER IS MADE NOT BORN!

Todd Mitchem knows how to get things done in the face of incredible odds and knows how to turn talk into action that gets results. 

For ten years, Todd worked as a leadership developer and business development expert.  During that time, he built learning as well as management change initiatives for companies all over the world. As a senior leader for one of the world's top change management companies, Eagle's Flight, Mitchem helped to create powerful and efficient solutions for some of the toughest leadership and organizational challenges in many of the world's fortune 500 companies.

TAKING ON HUGE CHALLENGES

After his mother's incredible survival miracle from cancer, Todd became more interested in the fast-growing marijuana industry.  So, in 2013 he joined the emerging cannabis industry to help build companies, educate leaders, and raise standards. Never one to back down from a challenge, Todd quickly developed huge success in spite of incredible odds.  He helped develop the largest brand in the space, O.penVAPE with over 1,600% growth in 12 months. Todd built the world’s first global social network unique to the cannabis consumer called High There! which grew from zero users to over 300K in less than a year. After marijuana legalization, he also developed the world’s first marijuana job fair called, CannaSearch which saw over 3400 job hopefuls, who ended up filling over 1000 new jobs in Colorado alone.  Todd Mitchem also leads the industry as the first person to speak to Attorneys General on the need for standards in marijuana tracking, youth prevention, production, and business leadership.  

Currently, Mitchem and his wife, Diana run a successful government affairs and community outreach company, TMC Partners, which develops initiatives in the cannabis space for businesses, including the state's number one company, The Green Solution. For his expertize and ability to get things done, Todd was asked to speak to countless conventions, youth prevention summits, and government town hall debates. Todd Mitchem is seen as "The smart level-headed problem solver" by municipalities in which he drives fundamental changes. He has spent the last four years working to protect consumers and workers while building a robust job creating industry, which now employees over 25,000 people in Colorado alone.

PASSIONATE AND POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS

Todd is a loving husband to his wife Diana, who herself is an immigrant to this country. Diana Mitchem immigrated to the United States from war torn Lithuania at the age of twelve after not seeing her mother for seven years. She taught herself English by the age of fourteen, graduated high school early and went on to get two degrees from CU Boulder. Diana and Todd live in district two just up the hill from Golden, and work each day to make this world better than they found it. Diana and Todd work together, parent three amazing kids, and they never give up on each other or this country they love!

You can learn more about Todd Mitchem, his strategies for work and life, as well as his powerful philosophy for how to build collaborative environments in Washington from his book, YOU, DISRUPTED.

IT'S TIME FOR A NEW KIND OF LEADER, in his own words.

"I decided it was time to serve my country as my father and grandfather did before me, by entering the race for Congress.  Like millions of Americans, I have felt the sting of rising taxes making it hard to thrive.  Also like many people, I have felt first hand the blunt force hit of a broken health care system, which nearly destroyed my family financially. Like you, I am tired of the talk in Washington, the fighting, and the massive levels of government waste that pushes each citizen into deeper despair. From college students to our seniors and retirees, countless people have been left behind culturally and economically. It's time to stop the pointless talk and finally take action toward tangible solutions. We are all in this together, and it is together that we will show the world It's Time for action."

- Todd Mitchem

Aug 12, 2017

Peter is a New York-based wine journalist and best-selling author. His writing has appeared in Wine Spectator, The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, New York Times, New York Sunand others. Books include bestselling Chief!: Classic Cases from the Files of the Chief of Detectives and When Courage Was Stronger than Fear. Magazine journalism highlights include the first major profile in the American press (New York Times) of Serge and Beate Klarsfeld and their search for justice for Nazi victims in France; and the real estate cloak-and-dagger story of the Manhattan assemblage of the Citicorp Center (New York Magazine). Peter started writing about Rudy Kurniawan in 2008 and has covered the story ever since. He has two adult children and lives with his wife, Susan, in New York City.

Aug 12, 2017

She also is the author of the best selling title, The Harried Housewife’s Cookbook: 125 Most Requested Recipes!, and is the creator of The Harried Housewife’s RECIPE BOX television segments, magazine articles, and online posts.

A veteran newspaper columnist and TV cook; she enjoys developing seasonal recipes and providing imaginative home-inspired DIY ideas for time-crunched, budget-conscious folks to ensure memorable occasions throughout the year.

The Harried Housewife's Cookbook is filled with the top 125 most-popular recipes from veteran newspaper columnist, food writer, and media personality, Cynthia O'Connor O'Hara, also known as The Harried Housewife. This is the one cookbook you can grab at the last minute to whip up something delicious with on-hand ingredients. Every recipe has been streamlined to cut preparation time without compromising flavor.

Filled with old-fashioned recipes modified to fit the busy person's lifestyle, it also includes easy and elegant dishes that are perfect for entertaining. Each recipe has the benefit of having been prepared many times over by countless readers and viewers. It's these readers and viewers who have given their ultimate seal of approval. Her work can be found in supermarkets, Web sites, and publications around the world.

The Harried Housewife lives with her family in upstate New York. Culinary instructor Board of Cooperative Educational Services, New Hartford, since 1996. Newspaper columnist Observer-Dispatch (Gannett News Service), Utica, New York, since 1997. Television personality numerous television stations, since 1997.

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