Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things

In episode 55 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Brittany Jean Valint .  She grew up with a love for music while singing with her sisters.  Learn how her passion for singing and songwriting helped her gain the opportunity to open for 90s Pop sensation Hanson and how it helped her career take off.  Brittany also talks about the importance of defining your music career for you, why having the right band mate makes a difference and how to be a wife and mom while doing what you love by listening to this episode.

In episode 54 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Jørgen Andreassen .  Originally from Norway, he had a motorcycle accident at age 18 and he was told he was paralyzed from the waist down and wouldn't be able to walk again. Learn how he mentally overcame such a horrible incident and then continued pushing himself physically to walk and move forward in life.  Hear how Jørgen has and continues to immerse himself in finding optimal health for himself and others through exercise and health coaching by listening to this episode.

In episode 53 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Brandon Branscum.  Growing up in Montana, he found his love for acting at a young age.  Although he first wanted to pursue football in college, he realized half way through his love for the theatre and began to focus on it more seriously.  Learn how he used the negative comments from others as fuel to go after what he wanted even more and how he’s made working in the arts a full time career he loves by putting in the hard work by listening to this episode.

In episode 52 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Shelley Taniguchi.  She grew up on the beautiful islands of Hawaii and truly enjoyed being a kid who loved the outdoors.  Learn how she evokes feelings and action in her career but also lives her life to the fullest and filled with adventure too.  Shelley competes in racing Hawaiian outrigger canoes and loves the teamwork it brings.  Hear more about how she is aligning her life with her values and her suggestions on how you can too by listening to this episode.

In episode 51 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Nanna Vahl.  After high school, she decided she wanted to leave Denmark and explore the US by becoming an Au Pair.  What seemed like a fun and interesting way to explore the US, Nanna soon learned would be more about becoming an adult and maturing at an early age.  Learn how at 22 years old she has learned not only how to live on her own, but what she wants and doesn't want to do in her life based on her experiences.  Listen to how Nanna suggests that life is about trusting yourself and having confidence by listening to this episode. 

In episode 50 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Ed Wischer.  He was always a happy person until his life changed to where his unhappy days outnumbered those where he felt good.  In search of happiness again, Ed started interviewing friends about what made them happy and soon it became a moving purpose project called The Human Happiness Project.  Learn how Ed is discovering his purpose by helping others express their personal stories about happiness, well being, passion, purpose and meaning by listening on iTunes and below. Listen and Subscribe on iTunes.  

In episode 49 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Fatema Girnary.  For years, Fatema was starting to feel comfortable in her life, almost too comfortable.  She was craving adventure, curiosity and needed to be out of her comfort zone.  Learn how she decided to leave everything behind and travel across the country to start a new life.  You’ll hear how Fatema found a way to blend her love for meditation and yoga with teaching preschool kids and how she’s challenging herself to do things that scare, but excite her every day by listening to this episode. 

In episode 48 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Chris Bruno.  He grew up playing baseball as a kid and later found a passion for helping revitalizing cities after Hurricane Sandy hit the North East Region of the US.  Chris brings a young, fresh perspective to revitalizing towns that separates him from others and knows that being an entrepreneur or business owner is a challenging task. But did you know that your local town or city could be a huge help?  Learn how Chris is helping entrepreneurs receive guidance, help, and even potential grants from the local government to help grow his city by listening to this episode. 

In episode 47 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Jon Green.  After being abused as a young child, Jon lead a life filled with addictions and internal pain.  But a moment of clarity struck where he realized he had three options – to commit suicide, die soon with the life he was living or choose to change and live.  Learn about his journey, how he came to this moment of clarity and how music has and continues to play a big part in his life of enjoyment by listening to this episode. 

In episode 46 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Grant Kenny.  As a kid, Grant loved watching cartoons and animation.  As he grew older he learned about voice acting and knew it was exactly what he wanted to do.  Learn how Grant met some of the top voice actors in the industry, his journey of getting into the field of what he loves while working in marketing and about the voice acting convention he helps with each year by listening to this episode. 

In episode 45 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Elin Kanchev.  Raised in Bulgaria, Elin was sick a lot as a child.  He was encouraged to start swimming to improve his health and never looked back after that.  Now an advocate for overall wellness, Elin lives by practicing what he preaches.  Hear about his path from Bulgaria to the US, how he stays humble while still constantly growing himself, and how he's turned his love for fitness into a life of helping others by listening to this episode.

In episode 44 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Leslie Trieu.  Leslie always wanted to be a mom.  After having her first child, her and her husband decided they wanted to have more.  Almost eight years ago, Leslie gave birth to beautiful twins, a boy and a girl.  But three months after their birth, one of the twins passed away suddenly.  Parenthood is a challenging and rewarding task, but when tragedy comes, it takes courage and patience to find the rainbow that’s hidden in the storm.   Learn what happened, how Leslie has and continues to find a sense of normalcy in her life while keeping the spirit of her beautiful girl alive and how her and her husband were later blessed with a rainbow baby by listening to this episode.

In episode 43 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Jane Schapiro. In 1976, she decided college wasn't for her and she wanted to explore the world.  So her and her sister started a bike trip across the US.  Forty years late, Jane tells the story through a beautiful creative non-fiction poetry book filled with photos from the trip.  Learn why she took the trip, what she learned and why she's talking about it 40 years later by listening on iTunes and below. 

In episode 42 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Ciara Neill. She was bullied as a middle school kid and at age 16 decided she wanted to make a difference in the lives of young girls.  She started teaching young girls about self-esteem and body image and ways to feel better about themselves.  What started as one program in her school has now grown into a non-profit that over the past 5 years has reached four different states and is growing.  Learn how Ciara found the courage to start this program, what her company teaches young girls and how you can get involved by listening to this episode.

In episode 41 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Edward Daniels. He always had a love for music and theater and at age 16 he was given the opportunity to be a radio announcer.  From there he went on to college, but realized his true love for the arts.  He has now been a creative entrepreneur for over 12 years and has built his company to embody being incredible DJs, MCs and artists.  Learn how Edward is making a living doing what he loves and how he encourages you to thrive by listening to the episode.

In episode 40 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Shirley T. Burke. At a young age she was always feeling a sense of connection with others.  As she got older, she found that the more people spoke with her, they found their lives changing.  Shirley T is the President Elect for the National Speaker’s Association (NSA) of Virginia, President Elect for River City Express Network, former-president of the Network of Enterprising Women (N.E.W.) and forever an “apprentice of life”. Her passion is observing, listening, tuning-in and following-through on all that life offers. Learn how Shirley reminds people they matter and hear her story of her own growth and helping others by listening below.

In episode 39 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Nick Yacoub. At the age of 21, Nick found himself arrested.  It would be the first step in helping him change his life for the better.  Nick is in recovery from substance use disorder and helps many others get on the road to recovery too.  Nick has found and continues to find ways to stay healthy and successful.  His words span beyond the recovery world and will resonate with many of you in how to get closer to the life you want.   Learn about his journey and hear how he continues to grow into a better version of himself every day by listening below.

In episode 38 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Tina Bangel.  She always enjoyed karaoke as a child and didn't start taking singing seriously until age 19.  When she realized she had a true talent for singing, Tina started performing professionally.  By envisioning what she wanted for her career, Tina created and found opportunities to sing with celebrities, win contests, open a music studio and now also offers online music courses.  Learn how she's done it and how she can help you improve your singing ability by listening below.

In episode 37 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Kyla Cone.   She is a mom of three who found that happiness was more than just losing weight.  Kyla began to understand the true reason as to why she was turning to food for comfort and now has found the tools to help her on the path to happiness.  Learn how she’s overcome emotional eating and how she’s helping other women fill their soul with love.

In episode 36 of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, I chat with Lilly Grossman.   She has made the choice to embrace life’s beautiful things no matter how small they are.  Her love for the simple things in life has lead her to create beautiful and meaningful photography that has touched the lives of quite a few on social media.  Learn more about how Lilly’s easy going, calm attitude in the every day helps her live an enjoyable life.