It Just Takes One

The Halfling l Callista Eckert, #73

Callista Eckert is an incredibly unique person. Not only is she the recent Amazon best-selling author of a book titled, The Halfling, but she is also currently in medical school and was a former Division 1 soccer player! I always enjoy meeting with people who have a combination of skills, and we talk quite a bit about that in this episode. 

If you like a good story, listen in.

If you enjoy reading fantasy novels, listen in.

If you would like to learn more about the writing process, listen in.

And if you want to learn more about the book, check out this summary and then go and get your copy!

Darkness rises, and the halfling girl Aisling may be the key to the survival of the world itself. Raised as an assassin, death and torment molded her into the monster she has become. Secrets claw their way up from her past, mixing with the secrets and betrayals of her companions, as she is forced to journey into the elven lands. To find the peace she has been searching for, Aisling must first make sense of the powers running through her blood before her world is burned to the ground. Or she may be the one that burns it to ash.

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Callista Eckert is a future doctor, fantasy fiction writer, and lover of all things dogs and hiking. Her obsession with books began at a young age, staying up past her bedtime to finish just one more chapter. The Halfling began as an idea when she was a teenager and grew until she couldn’t help but to write it down. 

Not willing to pick only one career path, Callista played Division 1 soccer in college while earning an English degree and taking all her pre-med requirements. She is currently finishing up her last year of medical school while traveling across the country with her dog, Anubis. 

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You can purchase Callista's book on Amazon.

 

 

Thrive l George Peterson, #72

Today's episode is a profound conversation with George Peterson, bestselling author of Thrive: How to Use Meditation to Overcome the Things that are Holding You Back. George is a meditation expert and addiction specialist who has created a framework for meditation called M.E.D.I. (Meditation, Effortlessly, Expect Your Mind to Wander, Detach, Integrate). In our conversation you will learn more about his meditation technique. And you will also find out how his incredible story brought him the opportunity to serve as he now teaches meditation, hosts retreats and presents all over the world. 

I know you're going to enjoy George's story and you will learn from his teaching as welI. So, I invite you to sit back and enjoy our conversation.

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George S. Peterson has over a decade of experience teaching meditation and working in the addiction recovery field. He is also the co-founder of Nourish Mindful Events, a company that hosts retreats and pop-ups, providing a space for people to nourish their mind, body, and soul. George travels the world with Nourish, giving talks on meditation, spirituality, and sobriety and hosting Meditation and Breathwork retreats. George writes two daily email newsletters, The Daily Medi Newsletter and The "Good News" Letter. Today, he has shared his knowledge of meditation and inspiration with tens of thousands of people worldwide.

 

You can follow George at georgespeterson.com.

 

You can purchase his book, Thrive: How to Use Meditation to Overcome the Things that are Holding You Back, on Amazon here.

 

Scars l Troy Fontana, #71

Are the ghosts of your past haunting your future?

Today's episode is an intriguing conversation with Amazon bestselling author, Troy Fontana, and he provides some insight into  what to do if the answer to that question is "yes"!

After surviving a harrowing near-death experience, a painful divorce, and the collapse of a thriving business, Troy unearthed life-altering insights. Today, as a celebrated speaker and coach, he empowers people across the globe with these battle-tested strategies.

I know you will enjoy Troy's magnetic energy and his belief that the scars you bear are not just reminders of the past, but beacons leading you to your greatest strength.

Enjoy this episode as Troy shares his story, and the methods he has created to challenge the status quo and encourages all of us to live fearlessly.

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Known for his gritty, no-holds-barred style, Troy believes the scars you bear are not just reminders of the past, but beacons leading you to your greatest strengths. Through his explosive keynotes, inspiring workshops, and transformative coaching sessions, he creates a radical space where individuals can embrace healing, growth, and unlock their raw personal potential. Troy's methods challenge the status quo and encourage everyone to step into their power and live fearlessly. He blends tough-lived experiences with over two decades of delivering shocking results. Additionally, Troy holds a master's degree from the University of Nevada, Reno and is a seasoned entrepreneur.

 

You can follow Troy at:

Website: troyfontana.co

IG: @troy.fontana

FB: @troyfontana

 

You can purchase his book, Scars: Secrets to Master Your Mind and Turn Your Pain, Trauma and Loss into a Superpower on Amazon by clicking here.

 

Booze, Blow, and Pancakes l Yvette Salva, #70

Yvette Salva is one of the kindest and most courageous women I know, and it was a pleasure to work on her book with her. She has an incredible story, not just because of all the experiences she had, but because of her strength, resilience, and compassion.

In her memoir, Booze, Blow, and Pancake, she boldly confronts the stigma surrounding addiction. From the depths of homelessness to the heights of entrepreneurship, Yvette’s life journey is a testament to her resilience and determination. In these pages, she shares openly and honestly about her experiences and the hard-earned lessons she learned along the way. Her authenticity and vulnerability light the way for others to break free from the shackles of addiction as well. Ultimately, her story serves as a powerful reminder that no matter how dire the circumstances may seem, there is always hope.

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Yvette Salva is the owner of Yvette Salva Fitness, a personal training studio for women in New Jersey. She is also a certified Todd Durkin IMPACT Life-Coach who empowers women in midlife to get "unstuck" and reclaim their awesomeness.

Her biggest achievement of all is raising her two children, Mary Rose and Stephen.

Follow Yvette:

FB: @YvetteSalvaFitness

IG: @YvetteSalvaFitness

And CLICK HERE to purchase her book in Amazon.

Next Time Leave Me on the Floor l Sara Doell, #69

In this episode, I dive into a very personal and enlightening conversation with Sara Doell, recent bestselling author of Next Time Leave Me on the Floor: My Journey from Drunk AF to Sober AF. Being tired of waking up with hangovers, regret, shame and fuzzy memories of being mean to her wife, she decided to give up alcohol for one year and see what would happen. At the time, it felt like an insurmountable feat yet she woke up on January 1st, 2022 and committed to 365 days of not drinking alcohol. It took a few short months for her to walk away from that goal. Instead she decided to change her path and remove alcohol from her life for good.

In her book, Sara reflects on how alcohol became her kryptonite, why she decided to quit drinking and then travels a winding road through her first two years of sobriety. And in this episode, we discuss all of that...and then some! This conversation is a thought-provoking discussion that I think you will enjoy!

 

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Sara Doell is a CLCC-certified Life Coach, Division I collegiate golf coach, lifetime member of the LPGA, and an Amazon best-selling author of Your Future Self Will Thank You. She grew up in Rochester, New York, attended Penn State University, and played on scholarship for the golf team. After stints in Charlotte, North Carolina and Brooklyn, New York, she found her way to the West Coast. She lives in San Francisco with her wife, Caitlin, and their mini dachshund, Mr. Harvey Milk. This is her second book.

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Click this link to purchase the book on Amazon.

 

 

Gone for 60 Minutes l Anna Meredith, #68 Part 2

This is Part 2 of a 2-part interview I did with Anna Meredith. Her husband, Adam, checked into the hospital on September 5^th, 2023 for routine procedures. Just two days later she received a call that she never expected. 

“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Meredith…it appears your husband has had a stroke, and he has passed away.” 

In this true story of Adam’s call to Heaven and back, he and Anna recall their experiences from opposite sides of eternity.

As Anna processes the biggest heartbreak in her life, Adam wrestles with his greatest questions about his faith and trust in God. In sixty unresponsive minutes, Adam finds his belief and faith have turned to knowledge, and he will never be the same again.

There is a profound message in this conversation, and I know you'll enjoy it. So sit back and listen in as Anna Meredith shares her story!

 

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Adam Provost Meredith was a devout man of faith, dedicated family man, brilliant entrepreneur, and loyal friend. He had an endless vault of talents and passions which he selflessly shared, particularly in his leadership role at Celebrate Recovery ministry. 

Adam began his education at the University of Colorado, earning his undergrad in Political Science and Economics. In 1999, after earning his MBA/MSF in International Business from Boston College, Adam began his banking career at Eastern Bank. Soon after, his passion for cars inspired him to co-found the automotive distributor TJM Motorsport in Concord, NH. He also held a passion for flying which landed him a job as a senior lender at  Santander's Aircraft Lending Group in Manchester, NH. He was then recruited by Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association in 2013 to form a new member services group as President of AOPA Finance, where he helped it grow to the largest aircraft financing broker in the nation. He proudly represented AOPA as a board member of National Aircraft Finance Association for two terms from 2015 -2021.

Adam was a man dedicated to his family, including his wife, Anna Irena Meredith, and his sons, Donald Provost (15), and Karl Herbst (14). He was a beacon of faith, family, ambition, courage, love, and resilience, and his gentle personality continues to resonate within the hearts of everyone he encountered. 

On December 11, 2023, he peacefully returned to his Maker after a fierce three-year battle with cancer.

Love God, live in the moment, have no regrets, and do not be afraid to follow your dreams.  

This is the legacy Adam Provost Meredith is forever leaving behind.

 

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Gone for 60 Minutes: How My Near Death Experience Took Me From Believing to Knowing is available now on Amazon.

 

Gone for 60 Minutes l Anna Meredith, #68, Part 1

Without a doubt, this is one of the most emotional interviews we've ever done on this podcast. In fact, it is such a powerful episode that we decided to break it into 2 Parts so that you can let the story and the message really sink in.

In this episode -- Part 1 -- you start to hear the story of Adam Meredith. You will learn about the beautiful life he created with his wife, Anna, and his two sons, and the deep love and connection they all had. You are gong to hear about his passions and hobbies in life, and how he was a man of faith. You will also learn how the family handled the news when he was diagnosed with cancer. 

This episode sets the stage for the Part 2 where you will hear about Adam's near death experience and the message he was told to come back and share. 

Listen to this one first so you get to know the Adam and learn about his family and his life. It will make you even more interested to listen to Part 2 which is coming soon.

 

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Adam Provost Meredith was a devout man of faith, dedicated family man, brilliant entrepreneur, and loyal friend. He had an endless vault of talents and passions which he selflessly shared, particularly in his leadership role at Celebrate Recovery ministry. 

Adam began his education at the University of Colorado, earning his undergrad in Political Science and Economics. In 1999, after earning his MBA/MSF in International Business from Boston College, Adam began his banking career at Eastern Bank. Soon after, his passion for cars inspired him to co-found the automotive distributor TJM Motorsport in Concord, NH. He also held a passion for flying which landed him a job as a senior lender at  Santander's Aircraft Lending Group in Manchester, NH. He was then recruited by Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association in 2013 to form a new member services group as President of AOPA Finance, where he helped it grow to the largest aircraft financing broker in the nation. He proudly represented AOPA as a board member of National Aircraft Finance Association for two terms from 2015 -2021.

Adam was a man dedicated to his family, including his wife, Anna Irena Meredith, and his sons, Donald Provost (15), and Karl Herbst (14). He was a beacon of faith, family, ambition, courage, love, and resilience, and his gentle personality continues to resonate within the hearts of everyone he encountered. 

On December 11, 2023, he peacefully returned to his Maker after a fierce three-year battle with cancer.

Love God, live in the moment, have no regrets, and do not be afraid to follow your dreams.  

This is the legacy Adam Provost Meredith is forever leaving behind.

 

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Click here to order the book, Gone for 60 Minutes.

 

 

 

Your True North l Anne Kenny, #67

One of the most challenging diagnoses to receive is "dementia." When we hear that word, it brings up uncertainty, fear, anger, and so many other emotions. My guest today is going to speak about those emotions and what to do if you, or someone you love, is experiencing cognitive loss. Anne Kenny, MD, is a geriatric and palliative care physician as well as the bestselling author of True North: A Guided Journal for Those Living with Cognitive Loss or Dementia about Legacy, Love and Wishes for the End of a Life Well-lived. Not only has Anne worked with this population in her profession, but she also became the caregiver to her mother who lived well with, and died peacefully from, dementia. She co-wrote the book with Teresa Webb, RN, a woman living with Frontotemporal Dementia and advocate and spokesperson  for individuals living with dementia, combine their voices to offer a guide for persons experiencing cognitive loss to begin to explore their thoughts and wishes about their life and to prepare for the changes that dementia will bring. The book guides the reader, using the voices of others who live or have lived with dementia and stories of many others who have faced dementia, to see and plan for the deeper and more valued connections and discussions. It is full of advice, key learning and action plans to assist in providing tangible steps that can be taken to value life and plan for the life changes.  

I know you will enjoy this conversation, so sit back and listen in as Dr. Anne Kenny shares her story.

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Anne Kenny, MD is a geriatric and palliative care physician, author of Making Tough Decisions about End-of-Life Care in Dementia, and Founder of Together in Dementia, a blog and educational and coaching/consulting resource to support individuals living with dementia and their families to modify their approach to dementia care so that they can find joy, connection and calm in this difficult, but often beautiful, journey.  Her 35 years of experience as a physician and added experience as a daughter caregiver to her mother who lived well with and died peacefully from dementia provide a unique approach to care in dementia.

 

 

Leadership Over Loneliness l Ethan Spelman, #66

On today's episode, we feature our most recent best-selling author, Ethan Spelman. His book, Leadership Over Loneliness, is an inspiring true story that blends life, leadership, and lessons learned.

​​Throughout most of his life, Ethan Spelman felt like he was never good enough. Despite his friendly demeanor and perceived success, he was haunted by his past, controlled by his fears, and consumed by emptiness and loneliness. But destiny – disguised as an ill-timed business trip – ultimately changed the trajectory of his life, and led him to discover and then champion the life-changing power of leadership done right.

By immersing himself in leadership principles and practices and infusing them into his own life story, Ethan discovers that leadership can transcend lives – especially his own. As he works to incorporate leadership into all aspects of his life, he unleashes the leader within – and finds the courage and strength to come to terms with his past, overcome his fears, leave the loneliness behind, and move forward with confidence, hope, and conviction.

If you believe that real leadership is much greater than the titles we hold, seek to find the light in your own darkness, or long to discover the leader within, you’ll be inspired by this candid true story interwoven with powerful leadership lessons that have helped the author transform his life – and may help unleash the leader in you.

I know you will enjoy this conversation!

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Forever a work in progress, Ethan Spelman is the president of ETS Coaching and Development, LLC – his own coaching and leadership business that helps others maximize their potential in their personal and/or professional life. He has been a leader and coach in the financial services industry for more than 25 years.

Visit www.ethanspelman.com to learn more.

You can purchase his book here.

 

 

Shorten the Learning Curve l Dave Carlson, #65

On today's episode, I have a conversation with Dave Carlson, the recent bestselling author of Shorten the Learning Curve: Using Light Bulb Moments. As a former math teacher, Dave's unique perspective shows how important it is to never stop learning because life never stops teaching. 

Listen in as we discuss what lightbulb moments are and why it's so important to capture them in order to minimize your learning curve. Dave is also an avid sports fan and world traveler, and all of those topics come up as he describes his experiences and his passion for life.

All of his information is in the show notes below as well. Enjoy this episode of It Just Takes One.

 

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Dave Carlson started his career as a high school math teacher. Then he switched to real estate where he sold/developed property, managed offices, and finally, went to the corporate side of the business. He has coached hundreds of managers and owners, as well as thousands of sales associates. The attendees overwhelmingly found his coaching and insights invaluable; the teacher also learned from his participants. Dave is a storyteller extraordinaire, always using stories as a springboard to Shorten the Learning Curve. 

 

You can purchase his book on Amazon.