I loved talking to Andy despite his love of the Denver Broncos (if you don’t know I’m a Patriots fan), but I have to say even I was impressed with this performance in front of 75,000 people:

But that performance pales in comparison to this one…his most important performance ever:

To learn more about Andy visit his website at www.andykelso.com, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The post 64: The Andy Kelso Episode appeared first on The Mindsoak Project.

Kathy has done a little bit of everything in her life; journalist, humanitarian, speaker, Reiki instructor, certified coach, parent, author…you name it and Kathy has most likely done it.

That’s why it was interesting to hear her perspective on parenting, happiness, working through troubled times and keeping a positive mindset as we overcome our hurdles.

Kathy created Ground One Coaching after the events of 9/11 in her quest to “refreshen the world”. One of my favorite things I’ve heard Kathy say is the idea of giving our children “the gift of imperfection.” Allowing them to make mistakes, to learn from the mistakes and be unconditionally loved.

My second favorite “Kathy-ism” is how she wants parents to focus more on memories that GPA.

Oh how those words echo in my head.

A big thanks to Kathy for coming on the podcast and gracing me with her wisdom and thoughts on life. To learn more about Kathy please visit Ground One Coaching, learn more about her upcoming novel, “The Shores of Our Souls” or follow her on Twitter.

The post 63: The Kathryn Brown Ramsperger Episode appeared first on The Mindsoak Project.

Since we last talked to Paul on January 13, 2017 he’s taken a business idea from concept to raising venture capital to establishing a development team to prototyping the app to preparing for a beta launch next week. In just three months!

Seriously.

That all seems impossible. But that’s exactly what he did and now we get to hear from him about all the trials and tribulations of navigating the wonderful world of startups and beta apps.

I mention this in the podcast but it’s worth noting here as well, in talking to Paul so many times on the podcast it’s been a wonderful ride listening to him grow in confidence regarding this business idea. (That’s been the plan by the way…see…we aren’t THAT random at Mindsoak.)

We got to hear him initially talk about his “crazy” app idea and then he came on and we talked about how he is thinking about going to potential investors and then we heard from him in another episode about how he thought he most likely had an interested investor to this episode of the podcast where not only does he have investors he’s ready to launch his product.

You can hear his confidence in this idea grow through each episode and I couldn’t be happier for the guy.

His app, Hivecast, is putting broadcasting events into the hands of anyone who owns a phone. It’s such a simple, yet elegant premise. Say you’re at an event, it could be a concert, a political rally, a lecture at a college or your niece’s birthday party. One person, the producer can invite several other “camera operators” to the app and stream the event live. The producer can then choose which camera is being seen at any given time, much like a football game does on one of the major networks.

It’s brilliant!

If you’re interested in startups, technology, investors, creating a positive culture or a MVP (minimal viable product) this is the episode for you.

Or if you just love Paul. Then you should also listen to this episode.

If you’re interested in being a beta tester (or just want to be informed of updates for Hivecast) simply go to hivecast.co and sign up on their homepage. You can also check them out on all the social media sites; Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Thanks Paul! Good luck to you and your team next week!

Here’s a quick demo of some of the capabilities of Hivecast:

The post 62: The Paul Lemley Episode 005 appeared first on The Mindsoak Project.

Mike Filitti is the most sincere, upfront, and genuine man you could meet. I’ve always envied his ability to say exactly what’s on his mind, whether it’s an emotional eulogy or a rant about something that frustrates him.

We joke in the family that he needs to use the “filter” more when he’s frustrated, but when I really sit back and think about it, not having a filter is actually one of his best qualities. My dad wears his heart on his sleeve and you always know where you stand with him.

My mom and dad gave me the best childhood a guy could ask for. And I say that with no hyperbole. I always felt respected but also felt disciplined and they always had just the right amount of expectations for me.

As I’ve gotten older they went from being two parents who I deeply admired and respected to two friends  who I admire and respect even more. Everything about their parenting, their relationship to how they handle life is a guidepost for me and my family to follow.

Since the beginning of Mindsoak my dad has been patiently waiting to come on the podcast to talk about life. I wanted him on from day one too but we waited a bit so my listeners would know me better as a host. I think it will be more rewarding now, after getting to know me, to listen to my conversation with my own dad.

We talk about his recent retirement, his transition from being a father to being a grandfather, the legacy we leave behind as parents and grandparents and his greatest achievement in life…which was having me. (Kidding Lisa!)

We go through some of the Mike Filitti Legendary Sayings, like “Common sense isn’t all that common” or “As worthless as a screen door on a submarine” and “What’s time to a hog”. (He should write a book about all of them.)

I had each of my kids each ask him one question from a grandchild perspective. My daughter asked, “If you could go back in time would you do anything differently?” and my son asked “What is something from your childhood that today’s kids would appreciate having?” (Pretty deep questions right? Maybe they have a future in hosting Mindsoak someday.)

We also talk about how important extracurricular activities were to our lives when my sister and I were growing up. We have many fond memories and still cherish our wonderful friendships we created during those years.

And then, even though my dad claims he is not a “deep thinker”, we get pretty philosophical about life, cherishing family members who came before us and we discuss what he would say to my grandparents if he could have one more conversation with them.

Thanks for the deep conversation dad! Love you!

The post 61: The Mike Filitti Episode appeared first on The Mindsoak Project.

The fantabulous Dana Faletti told me I need to meet Melanie Salvatore August. That Melanie and I would connect instantly. That the work Melanie does is right up Mindsoak alley.

Since I always listen to Dana (seriously, ask her) I reached out to Melanie and, true to Dana’s word, we connected instantly. So effortlessly in fact, that if we go back in our Italian heritage I guarantee we find we are related. And if we aren’t, well, I think we may adopt each other as siblings.

First my love note to Melanie: Thank you, thank you, thank you. For the work you are putting out on into the world. For the delightful conversation we had and for being so open and honest during the podcast. Your take on life and life’s purpose is refreshing and reinforcing. I’m positively stoked to know you.

Melanie is the author of the recently released book, “Fierce Kindness: Be a Positive Force For Change” and the creator of Operation Fierce Kindness. She also wrote “Kitchen Yoga: Simple Home Practices to Transform Mind, Body, and Life” and does about a million other things aimed at helping people become more mindful and more kind.

We discuss her insights which lead to writing “Fierce Kindness” (and wow is it a beautifully written and designed book), her history of self exploration and her desire to live intentionally. We discuss insecurities and how we try to beat them back with a stick and we genuinely have a glorious and fun filled conversation about life and the version of ourselves we are aspiring to become.

The first thing about “Fierce Kindness” that caught my eye when I opened the book was the statement “Don’t believe everything you think.” I absolutely love that statement and Melanie effortlessly breaks down it’s meaning. And she does it in a way that will help you challenge some of your false beliefs you carry around for no apparent reason other than you’ve always carried them around.

As if we weren’t deep enough in conversation from the onset of the podcast, Melanie then allows me to ask her the deep questions she asks readers in “Fierce Kindness”. Notice when you listen how after I ask a question, Melanie always takes a deep, insightful pause as she gathers her thoughts. I absolutely love this about her. It’s so indicative of how she is present in the moment.

Again, thank you Melanie, I appreciated our conversation immensely and am looking forward to the many more to come.

Show Notes:

Learn more about Melanie:
http://www.melaniesalvatoreaugust.com
http://www.fiercekindness.org
Instagram
Facebook
Yellow Pear Press (I’m really excited to have learned of they publishing company…they are putting out some fantastic books!

Books discussed:

The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life
The Gift of Therapy: An Open Letter to a New Generation of Therapists and Their Patients

The post 60: The Melanie Salvatore-August Episode appeared first on The Mindsoak Project.

She does the music thing. She goes on tour. She releases albums. She makes music videos.

And she’s pretty damn brilliant at it if you ask me.

During the podcast we begin our conversation by walking through her life, from being conceived while her parents were running a music festival to finding her voice at a young age to packing up her belongings and moving to Nashville to continue her musical adventure.

Sarah and I walk through how her creativity blossomed, how she overcomes performance fear, how she overcame criticism and we breakdown how she creates and writes.

We also talk about creativity and how important it is in all of our lives.

We talk improv and “going with the flow” dancing.

We talk insecurities and how we can free ourselves.

We talk intentional living (which by now you know I am a huge proponent of so it was great to hear someone else talking about it).

We talk being the creator of our own life.

And while Sarah is a wonderful musician where she really shines is being human.

Sarah and I recorded the podcast several days ago, but as I write this I’m still being positively effected by the depth she was willing to take the conversation. I don’t even know if my words can do it justice. Sarah brought a level of understanding and vulnerability to the conversation that blew my mind.

I hope you are inspired by Sarah as much as I was. Just listening to her walk through her aspirations, her beliefs and her hurdles in life is a lesson to all of us to focus on the positive, chip away at our false beliefs and grab life by the horns.

To Sarah: Thank you. That was an incredible marathon podcast. It reshaped what Mindsoak can be. It was beautiful.

Oh, and thanks for hooking me up with your dad…that dude is awesome.

To everyone else, enjoy the podcast. It’s a long one so feel free to pause us, go about your life and then come back when you have more time.

Now go find out more about Sarah by visiting www.sarahaili.com and make sure to follow her on all her social media sites. Make sure grab her album on iTunes and you can also check out more of her songs at SoundCloud.

The post 59: The Sarah Aili Episode appeared first on The Mindsoak Project.

When I think of Dawn I see a “no-holds-barred, experience life to the fullest, find the sexy in everything and don’t ask for permission” maestro who revels in pushing the boundaries of her experiences.

Dawn and I discuss ways in which she’s creative, the courage it takes to be a public persona, her writing methods, how she almost worked as a make up artist on the set of Star Wars and how she doesn’t fear experiencing all the wonders our world has to offer.

I love how Dawn experiences lifestyles, food and culture. She just dives into new experiences and pulls her readers in with her. Her passion is vivacious and it shows in her writing and in the podcast.

I admire all these things about Dawn.

But what I absolutely love about Dawn is her genuineness. She’s all about exploring herself and the human condition. I ask some deep questions about her regrets and feelings of vulnerability. We explore letting go of false beliefs and what she admires about herself.

Dawn’s answers, and her ability to be 100% transparent and humble, take us down some interesting discussion threads on feeling alive, being courageous and silencing self doubt.

I also talk Dawn into coming to Dubuque for a Tri-State foodie and travel assignment! And I nudge my way on to the TV show she is developing.

You can find out more about Dawn at ATOD Magazine, dawngarcia.com and learn about her pop up dinner series, White Lies + Alibis.

You can also follow Dawn on all the social media outlets: Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

The post 58: The Dawn Garcia Episode appeared first on The Mindsoak Project.

He’s also the main reason I got off my ass and actually launched Mindsoak.

I love debating politics and world solutions with Brad. One, because we never get angry with one another even though we might be coming from opposite ends of the spectrum. And two, because he’s so thought out, well researched, reality based and confident in his perspective. Where I am shooting from the hip and flying by the seat of my pants.

Sidetone: Brad and I enjoy play online video games with each other and have been doing so for quite a while. In the games we play there are usually two major tactics. One is be methodical, take your time, wait for the right opportunity and stay hidden. The other is run in like a madman, try to react to whatever situation is thrown at you and create as much chaos as possible. In fact, there is a game in which one of the tools you can use is a “snakecam” which allows you to look under the door to see what awaits you on the other side. I’ve come to call Brad “Snakecam” for his calm, measured approach to breaching a room while I patiently wait beside him itching to bust into the room and cause as much mayhem as possible.

But guess what, when it comes to snakecam-ing life and solutions, Brad is brilliant at it.

That’s why he started The Realist Idealist. And that’s why we should all be reading his ideas for solutions to some of society’s greatest problems. The man thinks of all the ideas, weighs all the options and makes decisions based on facts.

I hope you enjoy our conversation as we discuss his ideas for The Realist Idealist and we meander through his history and what shaped his perspective on life.

Here are the links to some of the books and products we discuss on the podcast (clicking through to the links will take you to Amazon. If you decide to purchase the product through these links Mindsoak get’s a little kickback for sending you.):

• The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt
• The Round House: A Novel by Louse Erdrich
• America’s Bitter Pill: Money, Politics, Backroom Deals, and the Fight to Fix Our Broken Healthcare System by Steven Brill
• Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko and Larry McMurtry
• The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
• Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit by Daniel Quinn

Make sure you also follow Brad at www.therealistidealist.com, on Twitter and on Facebook. Brad also recently wrote an essay for titled “In The Box” Mindsoak.

The post 57: The Brad Cavanagh Episode appeared first on The Mindsoak Project.

Today we are also announcing Veronica’s brand new, glittery podcast; The New York Import! She’ll be interviewing people, like herself, who imported to New York and we’ll learn all about their trials, tribulations and experiences. Listen to the podcast to hear more about The New York Import podcast! So without further ado…here’s Veronica. Make sure to scroll to the bottom if you want to listen to her episode!

New Year’s Eve has always been my favorite day of the year, and the subsequent weeks always find me on a particularly nefarious high. I feel emboldened and exhilarated- in the way only true change can make you feel.

The turning of a new chapter is always something to be celebrated, and the dawn of a new year gives us the chance to do so right alongside our comrades in arms, accompanied by all the sparkle, glitter, and kisses we can find.

It’s because of such spirit and fanfare that I decided many years ago to forego the customary setting of a new year’s resolution. That’s right. I am resolute to the ride- the beautiful, intangible perfection of the journey. Yes, of course, I have daily goals that I am unwaveringly committed to. More so than that, though, I am committed and opened of mind to the expansion that comes which such a big turning point as a new year.

We are all riding high on such great, forward-thinking momentum, and I choose this time of year to listen to my heart and let myself be guided by the magic that surrounds this season of uplift and focus.

Speaking for myself, these days are a perfect time to acknowledge all of the change and evolution that has gone on over the previous months. New friends, new hobbies, new loves- all thanks to the ever-winding ride that is life. Reflecting back on any moments originally perceived as “missteps” that can now be seen clearly, and often celebrated for all of the wondrous- once unforeseen- greatness that has birthed from them.

I am thankful for loved ones and advocates for their continued support, because whether it’s the family we chose or the family we were born with, they have all come into our experience for a reason and have contributed more than we sometimes realize. And take the time to celebrate even the smallest of victories, for they all have such a profound place in the story of our lives.

I suppose if there is anything I can say in regards to the subject of resolutions, it would be this: please be kind to yourself, no matter what the outcome of your chosen resolution might be.

Because negative drive is incompatible with positive results, and too often people are excessively hard on themselves.

Yes, live a decisive life. Yes, by all means, honor thy commitments. You should also be gentle with yourself and allow for the passing of a new year to bring with it unanticipated growth and goals. Know that every moment in your life is a chance to reinvent yourself.

After all, we are always on our path- as my fairy godfather and dear Mindsoak colleague would say- and at any given moment it is your great privilege to deviate from the “plan” in favor of honoring a higher calling that may be beckoning from within.

Because what is the “plan” anyway, if not to follow your heart and live your fullest life? What is the point, if we cannot heed the call of our spirit and enjoy the deliciousness of disruption and reinvention? Trust yourself to go with your gut. Who knows…your inner voice/source/angel might just have a grander plan in store for you yet.

Either way, I’ll see you at spin class tomorrow. Because let’s face it- that leftover case of champagne isn’t going to drink itself. And we are all allowed to revel in being beautiful, evolving renegades- simultaneous masterpieces and works in progress.

The post Resolute to the Ride appeared first on The Mindsoak Project.

Adam Ivy is a man of many talents. As I learned more about Adam I needed to have him on to talk about productivity and entrepreneurship. Reading about Adam’s story intrigued me to no end. He relentlessly pursues creating genuine content and brands.

And I needed to know how he was able to remain at such a high level of productivity with the variety of roles he plays throughout the day.

On one hand Adam’s a music producer creating and selling music beats online. He’s an award winning creative marketing specialist. He’s launched an athletic apparel line and created a unique and distinct brand. He’s a YouTube personality. And he’s from Wisconsin.

And he’s a good dude.

We start the episode by talking about his entrepreneurial start at the age of 23. How he turned $800 into a six figure income by producing beats for other musicians to purchase online.

Adam is a big supporter of taking “calculated risks”. We discuss how he took a leap of faith and moved from Wisconsin to Florida to fulfill his dream and take the next step. How he believed in himself and knew he needed to continuously challenge his comfort level in order to take his businesses and life to the next level.

Adam discusses what it takes to have the courage to create, both audio and video, and the productivity skills necessary to keep driving towards your goals.

It was great to hear the story of how Adam created his apparel line Jusbi. Creating a clothing line is no simple task and getting to pull the curtain back on his productivity and the challenges he faced to launch a business in which he didn’t have any prior experience.

We also got into some of his suggestions about fitness and nutrition and how he keeps his productivity up in the gym and in the kitchen. I always love hearing about someone’s workout routine so it was a good time discussing all of this with Adam. I will keep true to my word to have him back on again to discuss more about nutrition and fitness.

You can find Adam on all the social media sites: YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and of course, AdamIvy.com.

The post Productivity, Entrepreneurship and Fitness – With Adam Ivy (Episode 55) appeared first on The Mindsoak Project.