Good People, Cool Things

Back before the days of the Internet, there was a role perhaps more valuable than just about any other: that of the corporate spy. Most people could barely stomach it for an hour, let alone a day. Yet through immense curiosity, concentration, and a "gift of gab," Robert Kerbeck became the world's top corporate spy, extracting information worth hundreds of millions of dollars for global companies. His entire story is fascinating, and he's chronicled it in RUSE: Lying the American Dream from Hollywood to Wall Street. We're getting a sneak peek of it today. We're also talking about why short stories are so valuable for writing, his most unusual audition as an actor, and the greatest working experiences he's had with celebrities. Learn more about Robert and buy a copy of his book at robertkerbeck.com. Support Good People, Cool Things by sharing this episode, picking up some merch at the shop or buying my book: Kind, But Kind of Weird: Short Stories on Life's Relationships. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to episode #100! What a big freaking deal and a nice round number! I love it and I love you for supporting me the whole way. And now onto the episode! Joe McNally has been writing his new book for the last two years, but he’s been living it for the past 40 as an internationally acclaimed photographer with award-winning work in prestigious publications like National Geographic, Time, LIFE, and Sports Illustrated. In The Real Deal: Field Notes from the Life of a Working Photographer, Joe shares lessons and insights he’s learned throughout his career, starting as a copyboy and working his way to the renowned photographer he is today. We’re chatting about some of his top assignments, occasional mistakes, and why Michelle Pfeiffer knew he was the perfect photographer for a profile. Visit Joe at his website joemcnally.com. Follow Joe on Instagram @joemcnallyphoto. If you’re a fan of Good People, Cool Things, I would love your support. Feel free to follow on Spotify orApple Podcasts, and leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts. That helps even more people discover these wonderful guests. You can also support the show by checking out the Good People, Cool Things merch store. Thanks for visiting! And I wrote a book! Grab your copy of Kind, But Kind of Weird: Short Stories on Life’s Relationships from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Bookshop.

Fifth & Cherry owner and Marine Corps veteran Tim Reazor knows the most precious commodity we have is time — and the memories we can create with that time. Leaving a lasting legacy is super important to him, and his cutting boards are meant to be passed down from generation to generation. Tim received a cutting board when he was in college. Now, 20 years later, he still has it. That’s an impressive legacy, and there’s plenty more where that came from at Fifth & Cherry. We’re chatting all about Tim’s passion for tangibility, the keys to creating memorable experiences for customers, and we’re even briefly greeted by a baby pterodactyl. Wins all around! Visit the website (and especially the About Us page!) at fifthandcherry.com. Follow Tim on Twitter at @tjreazor. Follow Good People, Cool Things on Spotify orApple Podcasts, and leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts. That helps even more people discover these wonderful guests. You can also support the show by checking out the Good People, Cool Things merch store. And I wrote a book! Grab your copy of Kind, But Kind of Weird: Short Stories on Life’s Relationships from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Bookshop.

For years, Amy Neswald worked as a wigmaster on the Broadway production of Jersey Boys, as well as several other players. She was among the last people the actors would see before they stepped on the stage, and she has so many cool stories from her time in that world. Part of that experience led to the creation of I Know You Love Me, Too, a collection of linked stories that’s already won the New American Fiction Prize despite being released less than two months ago. And because Amy likes to keep herself busy, she’s also a screenwriter and teaches creative writing at the University of Maine in Farmington.

We’re kicking off a new season of Good People, Cool Things with someone who’s traveled all across the world. One of the greatest elements of hip-hop is the storytelling, and a combination of seeing different cultures and meeting new people can lead to some fantastic results. Mic Nickels is a New York-based rapper who just dropped his new album Bars for Days. And not only is this new album full of music—including multiple Grammy-winning artists and a collaboration with Method Man of the Wu-Tang Clan—it also serves as an autobiography. Mic shares the process of creating both an album and book at the same time, some of the most interesting people he’s worked with, and offers a few must-see sights of the world.

It's the last episode of the year! See you in mid-January when we'll be back and cooler than ever. We're ending in style, too. Donna Loughlin has been around the world and back in search of the most fascinating stories. She's stepped foot in more than 80 countries and had numerous jobs in journalism in PR. Now, she's back in Silicon Valley working with some of the brightest minds in tech through her PR firm LMGPR, helping startups with storytelling and media relations. Inspired by the forward-thinkers she works with, Donna has a deep fascination with advancements in AI, automotive, consumer electronics, and more. And she knows everyone's got a story a tell—it's just a matter of helping them tell it. Through both LMGPR and her podcast, Before IT Happened, Donna is exploring the human side of technology and how it’s enhancing our society. We're talking all about creating moments that matter, cool advanced in artificial intelligence, making paper planes, and Donna's extensive childhood rock collection.

We've all been there—you send a text message or email to someone, and it just sits there. They don't answer, even after following up. Our heart starts racing, beads of sweat form on our foreheads, and we may even start shaking with rage. Don't they LIKE us?! In his latest book, I'll Get Back to You, Sam George explore s why this drives us so crazy—and what we can do about it. Sam also has an extensive background in spotting trends before they're widely popular and bringing them to the mainstream. He put together the strategy that ultimately succeeded in legalizing cannabis in 18 states. He's also worked with Nancy Pelosi, George Soros, and the University of Phoenix and is an expert in communication and how we can better interact with each other in this wacky digital world.

Perhaps this is no surprise to you, but the music industry is COMPLEX. There's a lot that goes into things behind the scenes, beyond just a catchy hook (though that part is kind of important, too). What does it take to be a successful musician? Jenny Powers is the founder of Blue Avenue Music Group, an artist, management, marketing, and label services provider. She created her company after seeing the challenges artists face within the wildly confusing business parts of the music industry—and now she's helping these artists get the money they deserve. We're talking all about these elements to a successful music career, from the boring unsexy stuff like setting up your performing rights organization (PRO) info to cool merch ideas. All of it ties back to Blue Avenue Music's principle: Be Creative, Be Artistic, and Be Valued as a human and artist. Now let's get to that success!

Dr. Pam Gurley grew up as a military child and even served in the Army herself. So, how the heck did she end up an author of more than a dozen books, including the children's book series Brown Girl and Brown Boy? We're diving into all of that in this episode. We're talking about her writing process and everything that goes into designing a book. Side note: Pam finished one book in TWO WEEKS—if that's not a kick in the pants, I don't know what is. And since we're both avid travelers, there's plenty of discussion around some of our favorite spots and a few sites still on our list. Dr. Gurley also offers tips for bookshelf and closet organization, and drops some knowledge about cooking (and why it's okay to improvise in the kitchen). Let's hop to it!

Allyson Chapa, author of The Marching Ant, gives us a real efficient how-to of putting a book out into the world. We're starting with writing it, telling stories, and exploring cover design, marketing and editing resources, and what all comes next now that the book is here. Plus, we dive into delicious quarantine hobbies, why the writing community is so wonderful, and drop effective tips for staying organized. Ain't nothing better than that!

It’s a podcast with podcasters! Madeleine Cheyette and Catherine Wang of the Dished podcast join the show to talk all things food. We’re diving into how cooking is an homage to both culture and creativity, what it takes to start a podcast, and some of the favorite guests Dished has had on the show—plus a scoop on a few episodes to come. This episode also might have the most wholesome moment in the entire show, when Madeleine and Catherine share what they like best about each other. It’s a segment that will most certainly make you say “awww,” and I encourage you to reach out to someone you care about and tell them something nice. We’re making people’s days today!

Small businesses face their own unique challenges and opportunities, and sometimes a little push in the right direction can help re-energize both the business and all the people involved. That’s the goal of Small Business Revolution, an Emmy-nominated show that has traveled all across the United States to work with small business owners. The show features business, marketing, operational, technical, and sometimes financial guidance to take companies to new heights. In Season 6 (available on Hulu and smallbusinessrevolution.org), the show is headed to si x Black-owned small businesses in neighborhoods around Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. As always, Amanda Brinkman serves as the show creator and host, and she’s welcoming former NBA All-Star and entrepreneur Baron Davis as her season six cohost. Baron has been involved with all kinds of successful businesses, including Vitamin Water and Thrive Global, so he fits perfectly into the spirit of the show. The duo shares a sneak peek of the upcoming season, why the show is so good at building community, and they’re dropping all kinds of advice. I hope you’ve got your notepad ready. Also, I wrote a book! Grab your copy from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Bookshop.

Calling herself “a gateway drug to classical music,” Jeeyoon Kim has been playing piano for about 90% of her life. She’s certainly learned a few things along the way, from discipline and routine to overcoming nerves—fighting monsters inside of us—to the ways music can open up new adventures for people. When she’s not tickling the ivories, Jeeyoon also has her own YouTube channel and podcast, where she offers an inside look at making music and the art of creativity. On top of all that, Jeeyon is also the author of the new book, Whenever You’re Ready: How to Compose the Life of Your Dreams, which is structured like one of her musical performances. We’re covering it all in this episode. Grab a seat in the front—it’s going to be a great show.

It's nearly Halloween and the thought of seeing even a single piece of candy corn is freaking me out, so why not channel that spooky energy into the podcast? This episode features several scary stories from musicians, models, and authors. You'll hear all about the worst gigs for rapper David Shibani, country musician Kimberly Dawn, model Ekin Ozlen, jazz lounge singer Nancy Stohlman, and producer Akeel Henry talks about a frightening experience while making music in the middle of the woods. Plus, Marc Hartzman and Susan McCauley share their fascination with ghosts and how you too can experience the thrill of the supernatural. No tricks here–it truly is a treat!

I’m probably not the first person to tell you this, but the past two years have been ROUGH. Remember when we all thought quarantine life would be, like, two weeks of hanging out at home and conserving toilet paper? Those were the days. This episode’s guest is all too familiar with tough times and tragedy — and she’s finding joy through laughter. Kelsey Chittick is a writer, comedian, and podcast host whose husband—NFL Super Bowl champion Nate Hobgood-Chittick—died suddenly in front of their kids in a way that was, in Kelsey’s own words, “ridiculous.” She’s channeling her story of endings and beginnings into Second Half: Surviving Loss and Finding Magic in the Missing, a story that shows how change can break and heal your heart all at once.

I’ve always been fascinated by the oddities in life. Heck, it’s probably why my book has “weird” in the title—life’s just a bit more fun when there’s some strangeness involved. That’s probably why I’m so excited to chat with Marc Hartzman, a person ABCNews.com called “one of America’s leading connoisseurs of the bizarre.” Marc has deeply researched all kinds of entertaining topics, from the disembodied head of Oliver Cromwell to the tallest folks to ever live. He’s focusing on the supernatural in his latest book: Chasing Ghosts: A Tour of Our Fascination with Spirits and the Supernatural. You’ll learn all about paranormal investigators like Ed and Lorraine Warren (who inspired The Conjuring franchise), famous ghosts like the Bell Witch of Tennessee and the Greenbrier Ghost of West Virginia, haunted sites like the Stanley Hotel and the Winchester Mystery House, plus a whole lot of other spooky subjects. We’ve got plenty to talk about in this eerily enjoyable episode (look at that alliteration!) so grab a seat and some Halloween candy and dive in.

When Michael Phillips was 18 years old, he found himself standing in front of a judge after a run-in with the law. The judge gave him a choice: Spend 30 years in prison or go to college. Michael immediately shouted out, “college” and his education changed his life — and now he wants to transform education. To do so, he’s trying to encourage people to look beyond children as statistics and to acknowledge challenges and trauma through a lens of equity and a heart of empathy. When that happens, we can make some pretty impressive changes. Michael is also the author of the upcoming book Wrong Lanes Have Right Turns. We’re chatting all about his background, his writing, and why focusing on marginalized kids is so important in building empathy and overcoming challenges.

Have you ever thought like a typical corporate job wasn’t for you? Or maybe the COVID-19 pandemic has had you rethinking what you want out of your career. The remote work lifestyle is attractive to a lot of people, and it’s led to the rise of the digital nomad — someone who’s still getting plenty done, but also is able to travel, see the world, and have adventures. Tayler Gill is a Work From Anywhere Lifestyle Coach, and she helps people see the highs, lows, and everything in between of the digital nomad, work from anywhere experience. Yes, it’s not all selfie sticks and waterfalls; you’ll have some tough times along the way. But as Tayler tells it, it’s incredibly rewarding, and if you go in with a sound strategy, you’ll do just fine. We’re talking about how to make that initial leap into digital nomad life, travel tips and digital tools to be more efficient, and explore some of the more unusual side hustles and travel experiences we’ve encountered.

Ekin Ozlen may not have figured out how to do everything at once, but she’s come pretty darn close. She turned a successful modeling career into her own business and is now the founder of KERACELL, the hair and skincare brand beloved by all kinds of celebrity clients. Ekin has also released several music videos (including last fall’s “Where You At”) that highlight her brand. Oh, and on top of all of that, she’s currently pregnant. No matter what life throws her way, Ekin has taken it in stride — and in many cases, used it as an opportunity to grow. We’re talking all about her business, why she insists on a personal touch, and some of her favorite (read: most magnificently horrifying) modeling gigs.

Do you ever meet someone and walk away feeling motivated, like you can accomplish anything in the world? After listening to today’s guest, you just might be ready to run through a brick wall (though you don’t actually have to do that). Martin Rooney is the founder of Training for Warriors, turning a modest idea into a massive business. He’s continued growing both his business and his network, navigating a successful speaking career among everything else he’s doing. I’ve met a lot of people in my life, and few are as fired up as Martin is about what they do. And lucky for us, he’s sharing some of the mistakes he’s made along the way and what he’s learned from them. Martin is also the author of a dozen books, most recently Coach to Coach: An Empowering Story About How to Be a Great Leader and High Ten: An Inspiring Story About Building Great Team Culture. The books are great stories but also drop plenty of knowledge around leadership and building strong cultures within organizations, whether you’re a company of two or two million.

Chelsea Montgomery-Duban Waechter, otherwise known as Chelsea Austin, is a writer, speaker, and self-worth advocate with just the most cheerful personality I think I’ve ever seen. But perhaps that’s no surprise — Chelsea has been sharing a message of love and tolerance ever since she was in high school. Growing up with two gay fathers — who are both biologically related to her — Chelsea has been a huge advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. She talks about her experiences on her blog, The Girl with Five Names, and speaks with other inspirational folks on her podcast, Worthiness Warriors. She’s also JUST sent in the final draft of her upcoming book, Inexplicably Me, which is due out in May 2022. That’s a long time to wait for a book to drop, but luckily Chelsea can participate in great conversations like this one to help alleviate some of that nervous waiting energy. We’re talking all about her book, what it was like growing up with two gay dads in a time when that wasn’t as common, and talk about a bucket list item revolving around cars and music.

Anthony Ianni was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder, a form of autism, as a toddler. And this was back in the early 90s, when autism wasn’t really a thing anyone knew anything about. As a result, Anthony was told he wasn’t going to succeed in school or sports, but he said “nah, I’m not gonna listen to that.” Instead, when he was eight years old, Anthony told coach Tom Izzo he was going to play for the Michigan State Spartans. A decade later, he was suiting up and winning all the accolades that come from playing at a prestigious school. Since graduating, Anthony has become an award-winning speaker, traveling all over the place (but the fun kind, not the illegal basketball kind) to share his story and inspire others. He’s also channeled that story into Centered: Autism, Basketball, and One Athlete's Dreams, his new book (releasing September 7). Some have called the book a modern-day Rudy, but let’s be real: Anthony is impressive enough on his own.

David Shabani started writing raps when he was ten years old, and his experiences have only made him more well-versed since then. He was born to Congolese parents in France and has made his way from Paris to Montreal to Dallas and now Austin. David was listening to rap before he could speak English and now performs with an all-Black band. His latest EP Shabani’s Smooth Sounds of the Summer came out on August 6 and is full of songs that’ll get your head nodding. With a mix of English, French, and Lingala, it truly is an international record. David talks about his early days of writing, the worst gig he ever had (and how The Fast and the Furious was involved), dives into his favorite movies, and shares his experience with multiple organizations working to improve the lives of others.

For 25 years, Eugenia Zukerman served as the CBS Sunday Morning arts correspondent — and she’s been playing her flute around the world for far longer than that. Eugenia has also been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, but despite her “death sentence,” she remains incredibly positive and calm. And she’s spreading that positivity to others as she’s teaching folks how to face their own adversities. Eugenia is also the author of several books, most recently Like Falling Through a Cloud, a collection of poems about her experience with Alzheimer’s. These poems are a testament to the creative spirit and how starting anything difficult starts with having the right mindset.

Bob Makela, who, quite frankly, puts the Most Interesting Man in the World to shame, shares his wild world experiences in this classic vault episode from 2015. Bob has driven cabs, began a very cool event known as Barstool Poetry, has started an indie press and even has a few podcasts of his own (but please finish this one first). Listen along, won't you?

It seemed like it might never happen, but travel is slowly inching its way back into our lives. However, trying to fit in a trip into a busy career and with plenty of responsibility at home can seem like a daunting task. Can it possibly be done? Of course it can — that would be a pretty boring podcast episode if I said it couldn’t. Karen Gershowitz is the author of Travel Mania: Stories of Wanderlust and she’s sharing the travel tips and tricks that have gotten her to 90 countries across the world, all while balancing a busy career. In fact, she even got promoted after taking a month off to go to Alaska. Now that’s a fabulous perk.

Bruce McCandless III has never been to space, but you’ve certainly seen his dad gazing at the earth before. Bruce McCandless II began his career with NASA in 1966 and he was Houston’s capsule communicator (CAPCOM) speaking directly with astronauts during the first moonwalk on Apollo 11. And in 1984, McCandless II soared into history during the Challenger mission, becoming the first astronaut to make an untethered free flight. And yes, you’ve certainly seen the picture of this moment. That picture is also the cover of Bruce McCandless III’s new book, Wonders All Around: The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II and the First Untethered Flight in Space. As the title suggests, it’s an intimate look at not just his dad’s story but the growth of the space industry itself. It’s a delightfully fascinating read, but it’s hardly Bruce’s first foray into writing. And lucky for us, he’s giving an inside look into his other books, from his inspiration to how he was able to write them despite having a full-time job as a lawyer — you know, a really simple profession that doesn’t take up several hours of your day. It’s truly remarkable.

You may not recognize Brian Hersch’s name, but you’ve most certainly played one (or several) of his board games. He’s the mind behind gems like Taboo, Outburst, and Super Scattergories and has provided countless hours of entertainment for millions of people across the world. Brian’s latest game, Boom Again, targets a totally underserved market: Boomers, or people born between 1946 and 1964. Yet, much like Brian’s other games, Boom Again focuses on building up a “social lubricant” for players — in other words, even if you don’t know the answer, you’re still having a fun time participating and interacting with your friends, family, or random strangers you like to play board games with.

Check this out: 75 percent of people think they're not living up to their creative potential, and we’re a whopping 96% less creative than we were as children. Luckily, this episode’s guest is sharing tons of good stuff on being more creative and finding big ideas. Samuel Sanders is an award-winning entrepreneur who has seen innovation, creativity, problem-solving, and ideation in action at many different levels, from a Fortune 500 company to an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company to incubators. He also co-founded the company Wundershirt, which did plenty of cool things, including selling athletic training clothing to Olympic athletes preparing for the 2016 Olympics. Today, Samuel runs Heard, LLC, a software application helping governments and large companies get targeted and reviewed feedback from their citizens and employees to improve their decision-making. Now it’s your turn. Samuel’s debut book, Your Next Big Idea: Improve Your Creativity and Problem-Solving, provides tools for you to amp up your creativity, solve problems, and figure out ideation so you can turn those seedlings of ideas into real, tangible things.

Perhaps the most obvious statement ever: the past year and a half has been rough. Between a global pandemic, social unrest, political chaos, and the fact that a lot of us handled it all on our own, there’s been plenty of chances for life to take its toll on our well-being. This week’s guest, Kimberly Dawn, is a big advocate of mental health. Kimberly just dropped her new single “The Bottle,” has a strong message about the importance of checking in with yourself, courage, and connection to community. Kimberly participated in the “You Are Not Alone” campaign with the National Alliance on Mental Illness. We're talking all about her songwriting process, the power of storytelling, her tips for connecting with your community, and what it's like being a mother of four children.

When Akeel Henry was five years old, he was already playing piano and drums for his father’s church. And he’s continued that musical prowess into an impressive music career that’s continuing to grow. Akeel is a US Gold-Certified and Juno Award-nominated music producer, audio engineer, and musical wizard. He’s worked alongside artists like the Grammy-nominated Desiigner, Shawn Mendes, Ty Dolla $ign, Jeremih, Trey Songz, Toni Braxton, Swae Lee, and Daniel Caesar. He trained under Noah ’40’ Shebib of OVO Sound, the record label co-owned by Drake, and is currently signed to R&B singer Babyface’s record label Laface. Most recently, he's produced the album Soft Thing by LOONY, which just dropped this week.

At some point in your life, you’ve likely considered starting a side hustle. Perhaps you’ve thought of an idea that would benefit people, or maybe you’re interested in turning a passion project into something more. But starting a side hustle can be a daunting task—and before you know it, you’ve grown frustrated and put the side hustle on the back burner while life takes over. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. This episode’s guests are Craig Clickner and Carrie Bohlig, the husband and wife duo behind Tandem Consulting and authors of the book So You Want to Start a Side Hustle: Build a Business that Empowers You to Live Your Life, Your Way. Carrie and Craig wanted to leverage entrepreneurship as a way to enrich their quality of life by giving them freedom and time. They’ve developed several streams of passive and progressive passive income and want to help entrepreneurs like you do the same.

Linsey Knerl is a mom of six who has been homeschooling since 2004. Her interest in small business and entrepreneurship kicked off a freelance writing career that has led to stories in SO MANY publications, including Time, Shape, Better Homes & Gardens, Reader's Digest, Family Circle, All You, and Woman's World.

Some people just have great stories. For Texas Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Freddy Powers, he could barely go a day without something memorable happening. Alongside his widow Catherine Powers and music biographer Jake Brown, the late musician is the driving force behind the new book, The Spree of 83: The Life and Times of Freddy Powers. This episode gives us a glimpse inside that book—and then some. From Freddy’s legendary comedic personality to his penchant for writing hit songs, Catherine and Jake go back and forth sharing stories. We’re covering topics like headlining casinos, building an airplane to hunt for fish and sunbathing women with Merle Haggard, living on Willie Nelson’s golf course, the funeral that turned into a roast, and so much more. Whether you’re a country music fan or not, this is a terrific one.

Dr. Steven Eisenberg is not your average oncologist. After all, how many doctors can say they’ve written hundreds of songs with their patients, written a book, and appeared on America’s Got Talent? Yet Dr. Steven has done it all. And in his new book, LOVE IS THE STRONGEST MEDICINE: Notes from a Cancer Doctor on Connection, Creativity, and Compassion, he’s sharing how the relationships in our lives play such an important role. We’re also talking about guitars, the power of having hope, and how to blog every single day for nearly five years. And, yes, Steven shares his experience on America’s Got Talent, even if it didn’t quite end the way he hoped. But from that experience, something even better was born.

Stacey Aaronson is an established writer, ghostwriter, editor, book designer, and publishing partner who has been involved in the full or partial production of over 200 books. She works with authors across genres through her business, The Book Doctor Is In, and as a layout artist for She Writes Press. In other words, she knows how to get things DONE. Now, Stacey is tackling her own book. Raising, and Losing, My Remarkable Teenage Mother is her first solo publication, but my goodness, is it enjoyable. Stacey’s enthusiasm leaps off the page, and it’s seeping into this episode, too. There are so many goodies in here—let’s hop to it!

Tim Krauss remembers his first ice cream memory from when he was four years old. But after being diagnosed with Type One Diabetes, Tim suddenly was taking extreme risks anytime he scooped a treat. So what did he do? Start a business with his wife and children to make a delicious ice cream that could fit his now necessary low-carb, low-sugar, and high-fat diet. Soon, Mammoth Creameries—a keto-friendly, diabetic-conscious frozen custard made with real, natural ingredients like grass-fed butter and high-quality heavy cream—was born. Once again, Tim can go back to enjoying tasty ice cream without putting his health at risk.

Sara Dykman is the founder of beyondabook.org, creating and encouraging lifelong learners and curious people. She's had tons of cool adventures, like walking from Mexico to Canada, canoeing the Missouri River from source to sea, and cycling over 80,000 miles across North and South America. Put simply, Sara likes to dream big—and encourages other people to do the same. After listening to this episode, you'll want to take on the world and see all it has to offer!

Do you feel yourself getting the creepy crawlies whenever you think about bugs? Or do you find them fascinating and get excited whenever one sneaks its way into your home? Today’s guest definitely falls into that second group. Ali Beckman is the brains behind SoFlyTaxidermy and JUST launched her book (like, for real, it came out yesterday), Bee a Good Human: A Pollinator’s Guide to a Better Life. Ali uses creatures that are donated, purchased, or found dead to create amusing cartoons and highlight the key roles insects play in our environment. Pollinators come in all shapes and sizes — for example, a tiny midge pollinates chocolate while beetles can pollinate certain flowers — and Ali showcases them with her work and shares how they keep our ecosystem thriving. Her art also highlights the importance of loving yourself and finding confidence to say that, yes, you can do anything you put your mind to. That’s a pretty cool thing. We’re also talking about our pups and how you can become Instafamous…or at least what Ali has done to grow her account.

Adam Kol helps couples make sure the money conversation doesn’t get in the way, leading to more financial security, clarity, and peace of mind. And as you may have noticed, this past year has been rough on just about everyone, so some peace of mind sounds great to me. We’re chatting through all kinds of financial goodness here so you can tackle them with the kind of gusto they deserve. Adam’s also a musician who creates financial parodies — give me EDUCATION with my toe-tapping tunes, please. We’re also both big ol’ dorks, so there’s a part on Miami Hurricanes football and basketball and speed running through video games. No regrets.

Matt Bennett founded his craft salsa company, DREAMS AREN’T THIS GOOD, on five simple values: trust, transparency, trial and error, tenacity, and a belief that the team is in this together. The end result? A company that not only produces some darn good salsa, but does good for the world and has a blast doing it. Each jar of DATG salsa is named after a song, paying homage to artists that are all about making us smile. Each flavor pairing also has a local partner that receives a portion of sales from every jar and bag of chips. Pretty spectacular. Matt and I are chatting about how he got started in the salsa world, some of his more experimental flavors, the songs he has to sing along to whenever they come on, and much more.

After navigating the twists and turns of life, including selling drugs and multiple trips to rehab, 57-year-old Noa Shaw discovered his purpose of helping and being of service to others, using what he calls “selfless help.” He channeled his top lessons and advice into his debut book, Stop Thinking Thoughts That Scare You: A Selfless Help Guide of Practical Tools to Eliminate Fear and Anxiety and Live a Life of Abundance. We’re diving headfirst into the book, Noa’s life journey — which he dubbed a trip “to hell and back” — and ways we can be kind and selfless to others in our daily lives. Noa’s got plenty of fascinating stories to share, too, like how he owns a piece of Sixth Street in Austin and how his dogs literally saved his life. Adopt, don’t shop!

No matter where you’ve come from or what you’ve done, you’ve experienced things no one else has. And those stories are worth telling. Luckily, today’s guest gets to hear from all different kinds of people in his role as the owner of a funeral home. Chris Meyer channeled what he’s learned from those folks into his book Life in 20 Lessons: What a Funeral Guy Discovered About Life, from Death. Prior to his experience with funeral homes, Chris spent more than a decade in Hollywood as a screenwriter. And he discovered a fun secret about the town that he channeled into another work, The 'Wood. We’re also getting the scoop on Chris’s latest business venture, funandmoving.com. We’re covering it all!

How many times have you used the excuse of “I don’t have time” to avoid getting things done? I know I’ve done it regularly — sometimes I’m procrastinating on something incredibly minor, like cooking dinner or even walking to the mailbox. Because I’m just TOO BUSY, you know? Well, this episode’s guest is having none of that. Chris Coppel has authored ten novels since the fall of 2019, and he is dropping all kinds of knowledge on how to write efficiently and in volume. Chris is an accomplished drummer and guitarist, too, so we’re talking some tunes — and the worst gig he’s ever played. Plus, the number one tip Chris has for writing, and why you should always take the scenic route anytime you travel.

Very few people have written stories about ghost hunters, sent a poem to a NASA astronaut, AND performed scenes with Jeff Goldblum. In fact, I’d argue no one has done all three of those things — except for today’s guest, Susan McCauley. Susan is a writer and producer of paranormal, fantasy, and horror films and fiction for adults, young adults, and middle grade audiences and readers. She also studied acting at Playhouse West with Robert Carnegie and Jeff Goldblum in Los Angeles. But most important of all, she has a great knack for storytelling. We’re diving into how that skill can help anyone, whether you’re a writer or not. Plus, a foray into Shakespeare, Susan’s newest book, Ghost Hunters: Pirates’ Curse - A Ghost Hunting Adventure, and some of her spookiest encounters.

It’s March Madness, so we’re hopping right into it! After all, there’s no time to waste when it comes to filling out your brackets. Friend of the podcast Chris Hayes joins to chat some hoops, and because we go way back, there are plenty of fun tangents along the way. We talk some of the best rides and variants of Disney World, a little college football, that Matt and Kim song from the Buick commercials, and then hop into the part you’re all here for: two mildly informed fellas offer their bracket tips, including things to watch out for, such as schools named after toothpaste or what happens if a team has to bow out due to coronavirus concerns. Also note that we recorded this right after the Selection Sunday show, so if something has changed by now, we’re not liable for wildly inaccurate information.

It’s a spirited Chicago episode from the vault, y’all! I’m joined by Jin Laqui, a blogger, social media maven, digital marketing expert, and all-around badass who, like me, grew up in the Windy City. And we’re recording while the 2019 Thursday Night Football game between our beloved Chicago Bears and the visiting Dallas Cowboys plays in the background. Luckily, you don’t have to be from Chicago to enjoy this podcast. Jin shares how she got into writing and food photography. And as we’re both fans of puns, it seems like a great time to jump into the magic that is the O. Henry Pun Off. I have a cartwheeling story, too! Neither one of us is great at cartwheels, either – but hey, they’re still therapeutic to do. Plus, remember playing calculator games in school? We’re covering so much stuff in this episode!

Craig Leener is the author of three books, This Was Never About Basketball, All Roads Lead to Lawrence, and This Was Always About Basketball. We go all the way back to his first book, so we’ve got plenty in store for the trilogy. We’re chatting hoops, of course, but we’re also getting into Craig’s writing process and his inspiration for his series. We talk about a few quarantine hobbies and share our favorite beers. No matter your taste, there’s plenty to enjoy. And yes, Craig is still an 87% free throw shooter, though that stat is 100% unverifiable.

Welcome to quarantine hobby life, y’all. We’re all trying to learn some new things as we continue to practice social distancing in our homes. But even with some extra time at home, we don’t always want to actually spend a lot of hours investing in something that may just turn out to be a passing fancy. Luckily, writer, teacher, and performer Nancy Stohlman is here to help — in the briefest way possible. Nancy is the author of Going Short: An Invitation to Flash Fiction, an inspiration to flash fiction, showing that less is more to lovers of the craft and a valuable asset to those teaching it. This book is super helpful and is also presented in flash fiction format. It shows veteran and newbie writers alike how to create, sculpt, revise, and collect stories, and is both delightful and super helpful. And guess what — you don’t need to know the first thing about flash fiction, or even be a flash fiction writer, to get a lot out of Going Short. Nancy also teaches workshops and hosts retreats and knows her stuff, so if you’d like to become a better writer (as we all should aspire to be), then you’ll definitely want to listen to this conversation.

Ray Simone is a photographer and lifelong New Yorker, and he learned pretty early on the power of being curious and exploring your surroundings. In the 1970s and 80s, Ray often found himself at flea markets, garage sales, street fairs, and more all across New York City, buying all the negatives he could find. Now, he's painstakingly digitizing these photos, retouching them pixel by pixel. The end result is a modern look at some classic images from the past 100 years (and sometimes even further back!). You can also support the show by checking out the new Good People, Cool Things merch store. All February long, everything is 20 percent off (discount applied at checkout). Go get you something cool, and thanks for listening!