Bridging Chicago

Season 7 kicks off with an exciting guest who's name you may already know, Walter Mendenhall! Walter is a Chicago product, growing up in and around the city and taking his football talents to UIUC. It's what Walter has accomplished more recently, however that brings him to Bridging Chicago, and we're so happy he stopped by. This will be a two-part episode, and in part one, you can learn more about Walter's background and how he was able to balance being a student athlete. You'll also learn some of the life lessons he obtained from his time at U of I, as well as the big things to come in the future. Be sure to tune in next week for part two.

Cheryl Hamilton-Hill is the CEO of Lincoln Park Community Services, an organization that understands that doing good things for good people is important, but doing it in a way that sets them up to allow themselves and their families succeed is better. LPCS does not look at a moment in someones life and identify them by that moment, but they understand that moments aren't forever, and given the chance, people can lift themselves out of any moment. Her teams desire to walk alongside the people they serve and provide resources that can change lives is truly inspiring. Cheryl shares about the difference housing and education makes for people and what they are doing to tackle these specific needs. Cheryl not only provides insight, but also hope for a better future for our city.

Little Village is a vibrant, dynamic neighborhood in Chicago that is very important to Chicago's cultural and economic impact on the country. Kim Close, Executive Director of Foundation of Little Village joins the podcast to share about why the neighborhood means so much to her and what prompted her to start the organization. Foundation of Little Village is dedicated to ensuring that the people of the neighborhood and its entrepreneurs can continue to start and grow their businesses and reinvest in the neighborhood. Don't miss this episode to close out National Hispanic Heritage Month with us!

As the cooler weather sets into our city and people begin to head back inside, PJ Weiland, business coach with Business Profit and author, joins us to introduce a sport that certainly is not new but is definitely exploding all over Chicago and the country. PJ shares with us about the sport of Pickleball and how being a part of a team and playing sports can teach you lessons in life and business. She wrote Dinking Thru Life: Lessons From the Pickleball Court to challenge herself to share the parallels between how she plays and how she does life, and you'll hear how her life in Chicago is certainly full and fun! The episode is a lesson in leadership, health and wellness, and staying active to enjoy life.

Chicago Cares is an organization that is close to the heart of the Bridging Chicago podcast! This episode features Rosie Drumgoole, now their Chief Executive Officer, who shares not only her story, but how that connects to Chicago and the mission of Chicago Cares. Rosie also shares about how the moments of chemistry with the neighborhoods and people of the city fuel her passion and remind the entire team of what is most important: relationships and resources. Chicago Cares newest program, the Power of Service Training Program, is a program developed out of what the organization has learned with their community partners and neighborhoods. The program, available to everyone, is designed to help change the narrative of volunteerism from transactional to connectivity. Be sure to listen to this episode to learn more about the program and Chicago Cares, you'll definitely be glad that you did!

We know how much Chicagoans love a good festival, and the Printers Row Lit Fest is a 38 year old tradition taking place in the heart of the city. Amy Danzer, their Director of Programming, join us to share about the importance of literacy, all the activities at the fest, and what they hope to accomplish in Chicago to help shape its future. Coming on September 9th and 10th, the festival is highlighted by dozens of vendors and events that all readers can participate in and enjoy. Be sure to check out their website at printersrowlitfest.org to see all the ways to attend and get involved.

Bridging Chicago is on location for this episode with En Masse Architecture and Design to record in their thoughtfully created design space. Nathan is joined by members of the En Masse team, Mike Shively, Lucas Goldbach, and Ross Renjilian to hear about how the space was curated, how work/life spaces have changed, and their love of their neighborhood. The lessons Founding Director Mike Shively learned early in the process prove to be invaluable, regardless of your role or industry, and we're so excited to share those with you now. Thank you to the En Masse team for allowing us to visit and for sharing your vision with us!

Joe Amari returns to host Michael Odongo, founder and CEO of the Angaza Center, which aims to provide resources to children in Africa, to equip them to get the education they need to change their futures. Growing up in Kenya, Michael came to the U.S. to continue his education, doing his post-grad work in IT and began working in the field. Now, as a resident of the Chicago area, Michael has continued his passion for education and ensuring that he helped to provide a ladder for others to climb as well. Though the challenges are real, and sometimes loom large, Michael knew that providing more technical literacy to more people can open a new world of opportunity for every person. Michael and the Angaza Center continue to do their work, impacting lives both in here and abroad.

As the founder of The Laughing Academy, Kim Greene Hiller has quite the pedigree when it comes to improv comedy, and her roots run deep in Chicago. Sharing a stage with some of Chicago's most well known actors, Kim knew early on that her path would look different than that of those who's names you see on marquees in New York or Los Angeles. Her desire to either be an actress or a teacher has come full-circle, and brought her to The Laughing Academy, where she is teaching people of all ages more lessons than just how to act on a stage. The lessons learned have helped with youth dealing with bullying and adults who need to become more comfortable with public speaking. The benefits of improv run deep, and after hearing this episode, you may even want to try out your acting chops!

Dr. Gordon Siegel is an accomplished ENT doctor who, like many of us, saw the way that the Covid-19 pandemic was changing the world and saw an opportunity to help others make a shift. Gordy, as he's known by his friends, then took a leap and started SpaceShifts a company dedicated to helping people and businesses find open office space that they can use. With many companies downsizing the number of employees using the office spaces, sharing these spaces allows those who are not ready to rent out a full office have a space to do business. While Dr. Siegel is still practicing medicine, SpaceShifts is something that he feels can help Chicago continue to be the center of business and innovation.

HR Expert and Author Myriam Del Angel joins the podcast to share what she has learned about people and the places they work. During her time, Myriam has stressed the importance of self-care and self-awareness, so that employees can be more of who they are at work while also adding benefits to the business. Myriam is also helping to shine a spotlight on Latinas who are shaping the future and providing leadership guidance that we all can use. Her book, Latina's in Corporate, is her first solo writing project, though she has co-authored previous books as well. Be sure to buy her book on Amazon, you won't want to miss out on her amazing insight.

If you've been looking for a podcast that shares the fundamentals of starting and growing a business, creating a network of leaders, and authoring a book with twenty-two of your best friends, look no further than this episode! Martha Razo and Gabriela Gomez, two of the authors of Business Diva join us to share all of this and more. While they have two different stories, they have a shared passion of leadership and sharing what they've learned with as many people as possible to help them reach their highest potential. Do yourself a favor and don't miss this amazing episode! *Note: This was intended to be a two-part episode, however the footage for part one was damaged and will not be made available. Please check out their websites to find out more information about each of them.

Patricia Mota is a powerful leader who's experience and desire to lead by experience makes her story more than compelling. She now serves as the Chief Executive Officer of HACE, the Hispanic Alliance of Career Enhancement, which is seeking to cultivate the pipeline of Latinx/a/o talent, especially in Chicago. The changing landscape in the country has stretched her, but does not change her fixation on member needs and growth. Patricia leads her team, which has turned to a remote-only workplace, and has created Cafecito, a remote learning environment providing leadership guidance and networking. Be sure to check out Patricia's amazing story today!

Sandra Aguirre was born in Mexico and moved to Chicago at a young age, and has lived here ever since. She loved growing up in the city and the opportunities that provided her to keep growing and reaching for new heights! She is a former teacher who still substitutes from time to time, but started her natural journey 10 years ago. Since then, she has been passionate about helping people see the benefits of a natural life and trying to improve the lives of those in her community. Listen as Sandra shares what she has learned from the world and what it can provide when we care for it well.

Our series with Imelda Rodriguez wraps up with her sharing about her book, Latinas in Finances. From just wanting to be a part of a project like this, to being the author and lead, Imelda has taken what she's learned in her career and growing up and found ways to share them with us. The co-authors that Imelda has brought together for this book are truly incredible leaders and genuinely want to prepare people to retire on their terms. Be sure to listen to part 1 and then part 2 to hear all of Imelda's story and get all of the leadership nuggets you can!

To try and list all of the things Imelda Rodriguez does is an impossible task! An author, coach and CEO, Imelda has taken the lessons learned growing up and built the Personal Development Institute "Coaching Vida." In this first part of a two-part series, Imelda shares how her experiences in Chicago, including working at McDonald's near Chicago's business loop, framed her leadership experience and why she chose to study business. She also shares about what providing this resource to the Latino/a community can do for families and communities and what working alongside her mom has meant to her. Be sure to come back and listen to part-two the following week.

Dion Dawson is a motivational leader who is a man of action and purpose. A veteran and native of the Englewood community in Chicago, Dion has made it his life's work to help bridge the need gap in his community in whatever way he is able. Dion shares with us about what he loves about his neighborhood, and about the reality of food insecurity in Chicago. This episode is honest, real, and motivating and you simply won't want to miss it. Photo Credit: Amber Green Photography

In this episode we continue our conversation with Olga Camargo and Juan Carlos Avila from Shenix, who share what their web-based app is and how it is helping people find their way to financial health and future planning. As you'll hear in the episode, when you empower people, and especially women, to take hold of their financial health, the ceiling is huge on what they can accomplish. They also share about the ins and outs of what to consider when it comes to finances and why starting early is always better. If you've been wondering what resources are out there to help you learn and grow, this is a can't miss episode!

Today Olga Camargo and Juan Carlos Avila from Shenix join us to share about their path to Chicago, how their families shaped their work, and why it's so important to them to educate the Latinx community about financial literacy and building goals. Planning for your future comes with so many questions, and though the answers are not always very clear, learning to ask the right questions is very important. This episode shines a light on how lifting up one community can definitely lift up all communities, people and future generations. The first part of a two-part series, this episode is honest, vulnerable and thought provoking and we hope that it inspires you to be a leader in your financial future.

Feeling the winter blues? Why not put on your dancing shoes! If you need some inspiration, no doubt this episode with Chelsea Hoy and Mark Howard of the Trinity Irish Dance Company will get you ready to move. Chelsea and Mark join us to share how they helped put Chicago on the map for Irish dance and what they're doing that is truly special. Their journey in dance and teaching is one of hard work, determination and celebration that is bringing our city closer together and making dance accessible for everyone.

What a better way to show the love than with chocolate? How about the premiere of season 6 of the podcast? Well today we doubled to love and are kicking off our new season welcoming back the AIDS Foundation Chicago to share about their annual event, the World of Chocolate, back in person for the first time in a long time! This fundraiser is the perfect mix of fun, friends and chocolatey goodness in all its forms. Our guest, Madeline Miley joins us to share about the event, the foundation, and the amazing work they continue to do in our city. Share this episode with the people you love and get excited about this one-of-a-kind event!

Need to warm up on a cold day? Grab a coffee or tea and take a listen to our Giving Tuesday special with Serving People With A Mission. Co-Founders Jacque Stefanic and Carlos Martinez share their heart and the heart of their organization, which is encouraging young people to be a mentor to younger people in their communities. SPWAM believes that there is nothing that precludes people from serving their communities, and is putting the mission of the organization first. Jacque and Carlos are the definition of servant leaders and we hope you are inspired and motivated by their story. Be sure to join us in supporting Serving People With A Mission this season.

Let's check in with The Firehouse Dream, an organization dedicated to providing safe spaces for BIPOC creatives. Their work in Chicago is empowering, resourcing and encouraging youth to put who they are into their work. Be sure to check out their full episode from earlier this season to hear more about the work they do and join us in supporting them this Giving Tuesday season!

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses the topic of sexual assault healing and health. In this Giving Tuesday Special, we're checking in with Greenlight Family Service, whose mission has continued to grow since our last conversation with them. Greenlight is making a difference for families in Illinois through their adoption services, and now they are also focusing on helping students in college who are victims of sexual assault get the counseling they need. People have always been at the heart of Greenlight, and allowing people to take control of their story and achieve their dreams fuels their staff to keep reaching higher. Bridging Chicago team members John Campbell and Nathan Ciulla are proud board members of the Greenlight board and know firsthand the impact the organization is making.

Molly Matelski is a veteran of the Chicago food service industry, so she knows what it means to give people a food and beverage experience that impacts more than just that moment. When she and her partner decided to make their dream of curating wines that every person can enjoy a reality, they knew that it had to be a wine that was accessible, genuine and one that you could just enjoy. Now their wines can be found throughout the city and suburbs, and growth is certainly in their future. In this episode, Molly shares how Chicago helped to shape MMMM…Just Enjoy, the role her family played in starting her own business and why they made the choice to highlight Chicago non-profits and the arts in their company.

Our coffee shop series finale comes courtesy of Back of the Yards Coffeehouse, a single shop local business that is all about Chicago and its people. Small but mighty, the shop, located in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood, brings something familiar in a new way. Their goal to serve the best cup of coffee is coupled with their desire to lift others as they climb. Jesse Iniguez also shares how they participated in the most recent cohort of the FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab to grow their way so that the entire community is better together. Be sure to listen to all our coffee-centric episodes from these small, local businesses.

In this second episode in our “coffee-centric” series, we sit down with Dan Weiss, owner and CEO of Dollop Coffee Company—a local's go-to brand on the Chicago coffee scene. Dan shares with us the lessons he learned in becoming a manager of a growing local business and how mental health and community are some of the bedrock principles of his organization. Tune in to hear how Dan has mastered just the right “blend” in beans and business!

On this episode we welcome our guests, Dashawn and Kendall from Checago Coffee—a mobile application born and bred to offer Chicagoans the best cups of joe the city has to offer. Dashawn and Kendall join us to discuss how their app has curated each Chicago neighborhood's java watering holes and give users the opportunity to order ahead of time for expedited pick up. You won't want to miss our kickoff episode in our “coffee-centric” series here at Bridging Chicago!

This week we are sharing part two of our series interview with Chicago Cares and the Northwest Side Community Development Center. The Northwest Side CDC is an organization whose goals is development without displacement, working with those in the neighborhood to drive local businesses and find innovative ways to help Belmont Cragin thrive. In this episode, Patricia Islas shares why the partnership of Chicago Cares and the Northwest Side CDC matters and Fabian Cisneros shares what they hope to do in the future. One thing is clear, the future is bright for this amazing Chicago neighborhood! Be sure to go back and listen to part one if you missed it to get their full story.

Our series with Chicago Cares rolls on and this week we are joined by the Northwest Side Community Development Corporation. The Northwest Side CDC is an organization whose goals is development without displacement, meaning that they desire to work with the Belmont Cragin neighborhood, its people and businesses to not only help them thrive, but to assist others who are hoping to build a business there get a start that will set them up for success. A vibrant neighborhood deserves unique solutions to barriers, and the Northwest Side CDC is definitely looking at creating these with their neighbors there. The Northwest Side CDC is dedicated to growth, to people and to investing in the future of their corner of Chicago.

Dave Thomas, the Director of the Flexible Housing Pool, a program of the AIDS Foundation Chicago, joins the podcast to share about the big things FHP is doing to help the chronically un-housed people of the City of Chicago. FHP is looking to break the cycle of homelessness, while reducing costs to the public systems, creating a program that will be better for our city and its citizens. Dave shares why housing people can make a lasting impact beyond the obvious and what they hope to do in the future. While housing Chicago can seem like a bog job, Dave and his team are showing that it is one that has a ripple effect that is beneficial for the city and its culture, stability, and success. Take a listen to hear how FHP is engaging directly with its clients, landlord, NGO's and the city itself to make this work happen!

Maria Castro answered a call from a friend who knew a woman who was in need of some essentials and immediately wanted to come to the rescue. Little did she know that this one act of kindness would turn into an organization that is providing thousands of purses filled with essentials and notes of love to women who are in the most need in our communities. Filled with thankfulness for her Angel Ambassadors and others who have partnered with her, #LovePurse will be hosting their first gala on October 6, 2022 to celebrate what people have accomplished and equip #LovePurse to continue its work. Maria's bravery in starting the nonprofit in inspiring and is driving her to continue to take #LovePurse to bigger places. Tickets to their exciting gala are on sale now.

Jeffery Leving is a Chicago-based attorney who truly knows the heartbeat of the city. Born on the southeast side, Jeffery spent his childhood in the neighborhoods before heading south to attend college. Coming back to the city, he knew that he wanted to make a difference for the people of Chicago and its future. After working to defend those who needed someone in their corner, Jeffery saw the need for someone to represent dads who were trying exercise their right to spend time with their children. Years later, Jeffery has written multiple books (two of which have been recognized by former president Barack Obama) to share what he's learned and make sure this important work will continue. *Trigger warning: this podcasts discusses issues of sexual assault and suicide

100 years ago, Shriners Children's Chicago started as an organization with the hope of standing in the health care gap for children who had been previously overlooked. The doors to the first Shriners Hospital opened its doors on September 16, 1922 and has been providing care to these children all over the country since. In these 100 years, they have helped over 1.5 million children with various needs become healthy, happy children. Today, the entire organization is full of people who continue this care and the mission to provide care for any child, regardless of their guardian's ability to pay. As they continue their groundbreaking work, the research and care that Shriners is providing is helping to make the future of medicine better and more accessible. Celebrate 100 years of Shriners Children's with us!

At 210 Design House, design is about much more than simply creating spaces. Rama Dandamudi and his team know that they are designing the spaces that families will call home, spaces where self-expression and love meet comfort and beauty. While they are careful about the products they choose to put in people's homes, they are also leading the way in innovation and design and their team has years of experience creating amazing vibes. Take a look inside their space and hear about the heartbeat of what makes 210 a special place and how they carry out their social responsibility.

Our series with Chicago Cares continues, we highlight their partnerships with organizations doing work throughout the Chicago neighborhoods. Leona Kuhar sat down with Rob Pabon of Chicago Cares and Joel Rodriguez of Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) to share about how their partnership is helping our city thrive! SWOP's mission is to build a collective of multi-faith organization on the southwest side to ensure people in the communities can grow success in their own lives and the lives of their families. Their dedication to leadership development and collective action leads the charge for what they do and the people they surround themselves with. We're so excited for you to hear about their work and their hope for the future of our city.

Sam Simon and Natsutsa Mabwa have always been people who love to help other people. After they met working as social workers here in Chicago, they realized they both were very interested in work that would help other people. An opportunity with Servicemaster became the perfect chance to help others who were dealing with difficult times, and now, as business owners, they continue to help others, especially through the pandemic. They wrote their book, Restore, to help others protect their greatest assets and to be your go-to guide for fire and water damage restoration. Sam and Natsutsa are literally helping others stay prepared and pick up the pieces so that they can thrive again! Visit bridgingchicago.com to learn more!

If you can listen to this episode with Jacqueline Ruiz and not get inspired, then it's definitely time to check your pulse! Jackie is a 29x author, entrepreneur and pilot who does not believe there is anything she cannot do. Raised in Mexico City, Jackie and her family moved to the US at 14 and she used every possible resource available to conquer her dreams. In the challenging moments, Jackie turns to gratitude to get her through, and is thankful for the people who have been placed in her life. She believes that sharing our stories is powerful and necessary and we are certainly glad she shared hers with us. Jackie will be an interviewer at the World Leaders Forum, hosted by Judson University, which you can attend on August 22, 2022 to hear more from Jackie.

In this episode, host Joe Amari welcomes Jennifer Prell, the Founder and CEO of Elderwerks, an organization dedicated to helping people age well. Jennifer shares about the challenges seniors and their families face when they are making a plan to ensure that everyone can thrive in the next phase of life. She also shares about the value of spending time with seniors and what helps them stay young. Jennifer and her team are also preparing for the Aging Better Expo, a free and fun event that will include expert education, tips on aging topics, local resources, and prizes for registrants and attendees. This is a must listen episode for people of all ages!

Amy Wilhelmi is a true rock star who has learned the value of balance in her life. She is a licensed therapist, athlete, author and so much more and brings that life experience with her in her work. In this episode, Amy shares what she has learned along the way, and helps us get inside the mind of competitive athletes and the impact of mental health on competition. Amy also authored her short book, Make Mental Gains, a great book that shares how your growth trajectory is always moving and why wellness is not optional. Be sure to watch for the longer version of the book out on Amazon this fall.

Liz Herrera, a university career advisor, private career coach, and fellow podcast creator joins Bridging Chicago to describe her path to become a career counselor and how she coaches her students and clients to “find their truth” when evaluating opportunities. Originally hailing from Pilsen, Liz is a born and bred Chicago native with deep roots in the city and connections to one of Chicago's main metropolitan universities—UIC—where she attended undergraduate studies and now serves as a Director of Career Development. These days, Liz also wears the entrepreneur hat—she started her own career coaching business, offering values-based and strengths-based coaching for clients looking to launch their career or those in the market for a career change. No formal interview questions here; Liz candidly discusses with our host Nathan her approach to being a job search ally. Don't let this opportunity pass you by.

This episode features Chicago native Torriente Toliver, owner of Mind Body Defense, which is much more than a kickboxing studio. Torriente has been involved in the martial arts practically his whole life, after discovering at a young age that he had a natural skill in it. After getting encouragement from his now wife, he decided to open his own studio to help people learn skills that would help them become better, more balanced people. Torriente has an amazing mix of confidence and respect for the art that makes him an amazing teacher and a motivating force. After hearing Torriente's story, you will truly believe that your dream is achievable too!

On this Part 2 of our discussion with Jim and Tinamarie from Diveheart, we take a deep dive into the history and mission behind Diveheart's initiative to help individuals “imagine the possibilities.” The idea to form Diveheart rose to the surface over time. Founder Jim took scuba diving in college on a whim, and his dives gave him what he now calls the “astronaut moment”—teaching him that when you remove external triggers and enter exploration in weightlessness, scuba diving provides the tools to pursue and tackle other challenges in life. Jim and Tinamarie discuss how Diveheart's programs show disabled peoples or participants recovering from injury how broad the horizon really is by focusing on each participant's abilities and creating connections through the diving support network. Years later, today Diveheart is at the forefront of providing safe scuba opportunities for disabled and injured peoples, and breathing life into new opportunities for the greater Chicagoland community.

Tinamarie Hernandez and Jim Elliott join Bridging Chicago in this two-part series to discuss Diveheart, a volunteer-driven organization providing individuals with disabilities the space and training to realize their ability to scuba dive and other related water activities. At Diveheart, the organization's leaders and instructors all live by the same mentality—that underwater, everyone is equal. In this Part 1, we float questions to Tinamarie, the Executive Director, and Jim, the Founder and President, so that we can better understand their journey to become advocates for disabled peoples and their ties to the greater Chicagoland area. Tinamarie and Jim each spent their youth years exploring the Chicagoland area (while making it home by the time the lights came on—at least most times!). They share how these initial escapades lead to even greater expeditions, including careers that started in different states and different industries and eventually culminating with bringing Diveheart to life. Don't hold your breath; take the plunge with us on Part 1 with Diveheart!

Today for our “on the road” series, we get fiscal with Bernadette Joy, CEO and founder of Crush Your Money Goals, an academy she started to coach individuals at all stages of life how to become future millionaires. Bernadette crunched the numbers, crushed her own debt, and found the recipe for financial independence—we're willing to wage a bet you haven't heard some of these tips before! On this episode, Bernadette discusses her unique approach to achieving financial literacy (hint: you don't need to be the richest or smartest person in the room to retire before age 65). To Bernadette, the equation can be simplified and personalized, as she shares how she made cents (pun intended) from the lessons she learned along her own journey to financial success. This is one episode you cannot risk missing!

Class is in session for this episode and Seth Hanford, Head of School of Elgin Academy in Illinois, joins the podcast to show and tell listeners about his experience as a leader of an independent school. Seth highlights the importance of being administrators responsive to student, family, and community needs, embracing inclusivity, and acting as facilitators for authentic relationship building. Don't miss this grade A conversation!

To try and introduce Lou Sandoval is quite a task, given his wealth of experience and skill in many different areas. Lou is a fascinating personality and native of Chicago's south-east side, who over time has been a professional in pharmaceuticals, an entrepreneur, a diversity coach and now an author! In this episode of the podcast, Lou shares about what it was like growing up in Chicago, being educated here, and what was most important to him as he started life as an adult in the city. An entrepreneur by nature, Lou gives some great thoughts for young entrepreneurs and how he was able to stick it out and create something that had value. Lou collected these thoughts and pieces of advice into his new book, Tenacity for Life: Lessons in Life, Business and the World. Lou's experience (and failures) is absolutely a valuable resource for everyone, regardless of where you are at in life and your career.

Reading in Motion is a nonprofit organization that is leveling up reading in Chicago by creating exciting, creative methods to help students read at their level or a level higher! They know that students who are unable to read by third grade are unlikely to catch up, so they come alongside teachers to stand in the gap and enjoy reading on their own! Working in small groups to coach these kids drives the arts-infused mission of Reading in Motion to meet the kids where they're at and how they learn. Thank you to Lauren, Avo and Brenda for joining us to share all about how Reading in Motion is acting as a partner in education to make reading fun!

Today Dr. Jordan Carqueville, President of the Chicago Dermatological Society joins the podcast to share about her work with the association and important health concerns for everyone as we dive into summer! Dr. Carqueville also shares about how she created the upcoming Art of Skin Gala and why it's helping spread the word about skin cancer. She notes that under the surface our skin is more similar than we realize and those similarities speak volumes to how we see each other and care for our skin.

Tomy Sanchez is a long-time veteran of Chicago personal care services. After gaining experience at a prominent salon on Michigan Avenue, Tomy struck out on her own with the goal of creating an unparalleled salon experience on Chicago's south west side. These days, Tomy operates her nail salon, Simone's Nail Lounge, and she runs it her way. With her deep Chicago roots, Tomy believes in supporting her community by offering other small businesses' products in her Lounge and serving as a resource for other women business owners. Tune in to this episode to hear about Tomy's entrepreneurial journey!

As a self-proclaimed “refugee” of the corporate world, Robert Finkel brings to the table decades of experience working in venture capitalism and private investment for his most recent undertaking—brew pubs. What started as a personal passion shared with colleagues to give them a taste of the craft beer experience, Robert has constructed into a successful grouping of botanical brew pubs, known as Forbidden Root, in which Robert's team of alchemists join classic ingredients to create innovative flavors. Quench your thirst for imaginative entrepreneurism on this episode!