ChockaLife

How do you survive as a creative in a world seemingly stacked against it? I had the chance to talk to Cary Tennis, author and columnist, about finding your way in life as a creative. I first met Cary via Salon.com. As an advice columnist, he spent 12 years advising millions of readers on love and life - thoughtfully, and through the lens of a creative. As writers, performers, musicians and creatives - or those who want to forge their own path through life and not follow the crowd, we often seek reassurance that we're on the right path. In Cary's advice column, he always responded in a wise, considered and writerly way about the problems we all face.

Marc and Julie Bennett decided their life needed a change - a big one. So they sold their home, bought an RV and now live life full time on the road. They like to say they moved into an RV to travel, work and live a more meaningful life – rich with experiences instead of things. After a little over a year, they have no regrets. They've weathered the ups and downs and settled in as location independent professionals. Their mission is to travel, love and be happy. They believe there is always a way to create the life you truly want. Their motto - sometimes it just takes an open mind, creative thinking, some hard work (or not), a spot of planning, patience, a good dose of courage, and of course – the willingness to face your fears, take a risk and just GO FOR IT! I talk to Julie about how they got to this place - individually, and as a couple - to do something most people only dream about.

Find work you love -  everyone wants it. But how do you figure out who you are, what you love and how to make your dreams reality?Roadtrip Nation started in 2001 when three friends fresh out of college weren’t sure what to do with their lives. Their solution? To road-trip around the country and ask people who do what they love how they got to where they are today.

Breckenridge, Colorado - at 9,603 feet above sea level, this town's majestic skyline includes several fourteeners. Miner's came to seek their fortunes about 150 years ago and evidence of those days still line Main Street. You won't find cookie cutter faux anything here - where even the Starbucks serves up drinks in an old yellow cottage. This small town aims to keep its own special friendly vibe by preserving its historic architecture and keeping the locals nearby with a hopping downtown full of restaurants, bars and shopping - and even an art's district - the kind where real people go and the rest try to blend in as locals. Worthy McCormick and Bond Camp decided to make this place home after spending college and a few years beyond on the Front Range of Colorado - where the biggest cities straddle the edge of the Rockies and the Great Plains. Breckenridge was an easy choice for them to start a business called The Bivvi, a hostel designed to create community and spread friendship far and wide, if only for a night or a few weeks stay. I got a chance to talk to them about what makes both Breckenridge and their hostel so special and how they're making a go of it up in the mountains.

Why not design your own career? The sky's the limit! Dream big and aim high. Tori Hogan did just that - talking her way into numerous adventures around the world - leaving herself open to opportunity as well as seeking it out with fierce determination. Tori has spent the past decade circumnavigating the globe in search of insights and what she likes to call, travel with purpose. Over the years, Tori has immersed herself in the developing world as an aid worker, volunteer, researcher, filmmaker, and specialist on the topic of aid effectiveness. As an avid traveler, Tori’s endless curiosity about the world has taken her to every continent and more than seventy-five countries. In addition to her work and travels in the developing world, Tori has also spent time as a polar photographer on numerous expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctica. But what most intrigued me about Tori is that she combined a restless spirit with some brash confidence and a dash of serendipity to craft her destiny. I talk to Tori about what it takes to create opportunity and how the a motto of, fake it till you make it, led to her adventurous life.

Who starts a foundation in the middle of the Ecuadorean Amazon? Proving that life can always provide serendipity; Douglas McMeekin found himself bankrupt in his forties but with an opportunity to move to Ecuador. Originally from the US, Douglas worked for six years in the Amazon as an environmental and cultural consultant for eight different oil companies.  This experience provided the catalyst he needed to begin Yachana Foundation and a way to give sustainable help to the Amazonian people.In 1992 he began by building six schools and training teachers in 27 communities. Within a couple years he started buying rainforest to preserve. Then, he started Yachana Lodge, a world-class eco-tourism lodge on the banks of the Napo River, in order to generate funds to support the foundation.  Since then, in true entrepreneur spirit, he has built upon the foundation, starting a fair trade organization, medical clinics, more schools, community pharmacies, and a first of its kind Amazonian boarding school - and he’s not finished yet. The impact of one man’s vision has reverberated throughout the Ecuadorian Amazon, providing opportunities and education for those at the bottom of the economic pyramid.YACHANA is a Kichwa indigenous word that means “a place for learning." Its mission is to provide community-based solutions to poverty and environmental conservation in the rainforest. Training programs create opportunities of employment, health and entrepreneurism with a focus on social, economic and environmental sustainability. Yachana has been internationally recognized for sustainable ecotourism by National Geographic – Ashoka Changemakers, Conde Nást Traveller, Skål International, Rainforest Concern, Smart Voyager and Rainforest Alliance.I visited Yachana lodge and foundation and left with the inspiration to share his story. Douglas and I talk about the how and why of his foundation.Yachana Lodge Information  

Can you bottle confidence? Michelle Roark thinks so. While training for the 2006 Olympics, she sought a fragrance that would help invoke the "zone." Michelle spent sixteen years on the US Freestyle Ski Team, competed in two Olympics, and won many World Cup ski events. During her incredible time as an athlete, she persevered through seven knee surgeries and faced many hardships raising funds to keep her athletic dreams alive. Most importantly, Michelle’s attitude in life is to live, love, be phenomenal, and to surround herself with people who believe in the same. I talk with Michelle about her inspirational journey from Olympian, to chemical engineer to perfume entrepreneur. Here's what it took and how she did it.

Ever wanted to live in Spain but didn’t know how to realize your dream?Spanish culture is widely known for Flamenco music and dance, bullfights, fantastic beaches and lots of sunshine, not to mention an incredible artistic heritage; El Greco, Dali, Picasso, just to name a few. They also happen to have a great desire to learn English and right now, the government is recruiting native English speakers from 18-35 to live and teach in this amazing country. Picture yourself living there, enjoying siestas and tapas with new international friends and making enough to live on...Lester Herrera did just that and now he lives and works in Madrid teaching English, doing what he likes to call, "his first retirement." 

Looking to move to a small mountain resort off the beaten path that attracts a pinch of celebrity, yet still maintains its rugged charm? Telluride just might be for you. Backed up against a box canyon, the historic mining town of Telluride was established by gold miners seeking their fortune. The jagged peaks of the rugged San Juan Mountains still bear the scars of old mine sites and ghost towns haunt the area with echoes of the past. And while you may see celebrities here, they aren’t the main attraction.  Locals pride themselves on keeping it real, and the hometown artists are just as famous in town as any name brand film star. Why come here? Epic chutes. No lift lines.  No freeways - the nearest stoplight is 45 miles away. Dictated by nature, Telluride will never become a big city with large bedroom communities of workers commuting along a busy highway. It can’t.  It’s at the end of the road. And I mean that in a great way. World-class ski mountaineer, Hilaree O’Neill, has chased adventure on the world’s biggest mountains. Originally from Washington, she carved her first turns at 3.  Seeking bigger challenges after Colorado College, she moved to Chamonix, France and discovered the world of big mountain skiing and climbing. A passion for big descents led her to ski volcanoes in Russia and mountains in Mongolia, Pakistan, Lebanon, Cho Oyu in Tibet and Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic. Outside Magazine named Hilaree one of the most adventurous women in the world of sports:  A well-earned title. By becoming the first woman, and only the fourth human ever to climb Everest and Lhotse in a continuous push, Hilaree entered the record books for high-altitude innovation and prowess. Hilaree continues to travel the globe as an adventurer for The North Face, always ready for new challenges. But her true compass always points home to Telluride where she lives with her husband and two boys. Hilaree tells me what it’s like to live and ski this mountain town.

If you're looking for a resort lifestyle that includes the rich and famous along with a mountain big enough to satisfy even when the lift lines are long, Vail might be the place for you.  Though small, Vail Village resort offers bars, boutiques and restaurants high end enough to compete with the biggest wallets.  While the glamor factor is high, it’s still laid back enough and less pretentious than Colorado’s other glitzy resort, Aspen. Vail Mountain also might just have the best terrain in the state. Wide open and immense, the back bowls are legend, especially on a powder day.  Vail Valley stretches along the I-70 corridor offering an easy escape to parts beyond to explore.  A popular spot to see and be seen – Vail can sometimes be awash in tourists.  However, the long valley gives you options to get away from it all. Working for Vail resorts also gives you entre to a variety of resorts;  Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, Canyons in Park City, Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan.   Tracey Flower happened upon Vail via serendipity in 2005 and has made it her home since.  Through hard work and determination, she has created all the elements required to craft a lifestyle affording a rewarding work life balance in the mountains.  Tracey and I talk about what makes Vail her ideal home.

You often hear that everyone's got a script in development in Hollywood, but how do you actually get from script to screen for real?  Joelle tells us what it's like to be a writer in Hollywood and how she got from dream to reality.  

Thinking of living in a mountain ski resort? Each has their own distinct personality and way of life. Which one is right for you? Crested Butte began as a coal mining town, not a manufactured ski mountain: a real community where crowds are few and the locals are the heart and soul of the town. Located smack dab in the middle of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, big city distractions are well away. A true mountain adventurer will find all they need. No busy interstates bring hordes of day trippers. Crested Butte locals work and live in town full time, making for true community events.Crested Butte has everything a ski town offers. A full roster of summer and winter activities and a mountain that will test your skills and satisfy your need for adventure.  While the mountain is known for some of Colorado's best in-bounds extreme terrain, there is something for everyone. This town also has the oldest mountain biking group in the world and the tracks to prove it.A bona fide local, Wendy reveals the things that make Crested Butte special and why you just might want to live there too. Wendy strapped on her first sticks at 2. She honed her skills at Burke Mountain Ski Academy in Vermont, trading western powder for ice. As part of the ’92 Winter Olympic team, she qualified for the DH/SL combined and GS, and continued to ski with the national team through the mid-1990s.Next, Wendy conquered the big-leagues of extreme skiing, winning two World Extreme Skiing Championships and the 1998 pro tour title and competing in the first X-Games women’s skiercross. You’ve probably seen Wendy, holding her own with the guys, skiing big air and big mountains in the films of Matchstick Productions, Warren Miller and Powder Magazine.  Recently, she proved she's still got it (did anyone really think she didn't?), filming Switchback Productions, Super Mom for Salomonfreeskitv.comWendy is the mother of two boys, but her devotion to snow sports and community continues. She is currently the Crested Butte Mountain Resort's Ambassador and teaches private ski lessons and finds the time to be the Executive Director of the Crested Butte Snowsports Foundation. I got the chance to speak with Wendy Fisher, long-time local, Olympian, extreme skier and proud mom, about what it’s like to live and ski this mountain town.Follow Wendy on Twitter and her Website

Lainie in the Field - Africa I've always been interested in and fascinated by those who choose to work in parts of the world where either disaster, war, famine or poor governance has created a dire medical situation.  These heroes are a special breed of humanitarian. Most of what they do is never celebrated or publicized to match the degree of their sacrifice and hardships in war zones and disaster areas.  While we always think of the doctors and nurses first in these organizations, there is an entire administrative team behind the lines working to get the medical staff what they need in order to do their work.  Lainie's path to working for a medical humanitarian organization began after her first volunteer job in Cambodia with an Australian Government program similar to the Peace Corps.  In the past five years, she's found her calling in this organization working as an administrator in the field with medical teams - making a difference doing useful work serving people in great need. Her original area of study was communications followed by work as an administrator in small businesses, while volunteering her spare time for community organizations. Since her initial assignment in Cambodia - she has worked in Kenya, South Sudan, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar, and is presently in a position in Geneva headquarters. I spoke with her about how she got involved with this organization, what it's like to be out in the field and what it takes to endure the challenges as well as the unique rewards of helping those in need. 

Many of us are passionate about a cause that tugs at our heart but we often feel limited in our ability to become involved either by lack of time, money or the idea that we're not qualified. Rarely, are any of these things true. Volunteering for a nonprofit of your choice is always an option - but starting one - now that takes moxie.Kimba likes to refer to herself as an “accidental abolitionist.”  An Emmy-award winning producer and 20-year veteran of the television and video production industry, Kimba has always had a passion for storytelling.  Just two short years ago, though, the story of modern day slavery and sex trafficking wasn’t even on her radar.  When her friend David approached her as a partner for a new organization he wanted to form to empower survivors of sex trafficking, she was intrigued.  Little did she know how the issue would grab her heart and never let go.Free The Girls is a nonprofit organization that works to provide jobs to women rescued from sex trafficking in developing countries by helping them set up micro enterprises selling bras. Through the collection of bras in Western countries, they strive to educate people and organizations about the scourge of human trafficking worldwide.Kimba heads the Free The Girls U.S. office and is responsible for day-to- day domestic operations of the organization, which includes speaking to women’s groups on the subject of human trafficking, igniting fires in new abolitionists, raising funds for the cause, and packing and shipping thousands of bras.  Kimba hopes she serves as an example that global change requires people from all types of backgrounds to step up and offer what they can where they are.

The Peace Corps is a life-defining leadership experience that you will draw on the rest of your life - so says the introduction on its website - and for every returned volunteer that I've met, it's certainly been true. The main mission has been to promote world peace and friendship, one volunteer at a time. Kelly recently returned from serving in Tanzania and we talk about her experience as a Peace Corps volunteer.

Scott Einziger is an Emmy award-winning producer of groundbreaking reality shows like The Howard Stern Show, The Amazing Race, and Big Brother.  Now he's set his sites on independent film, forming his own production company, Unguarded Content and developing stories into film, scripted, and reality television based on real people and real stories. He tells us about his start in the business and continuing creative journey in a new role.  

Travel, learn another language, play with kids...and get paid!  Learn how Michelle found a great host family in France, what it takes and what you need to be an au pair abroad.

For all of you with dreams of living abroad and who hold a teaching certification – there are many incredible opportunities to take that experience all around the world, live a life less ordinary, and have a satisfying and rewarding career in education.  Listen to James as he gives you tips and insider info on how he did it.

Bill Pruitt, nominated three times by the Producers Guild of America as “Non-Fiction Producer of the Year” and Emmy award winning producer of shows The Amazing Race, The Apprentice and Deadliest Catch, talks about his creative journey to becoming a hit reality TV producer. He has produced television all around the world for CBS, NBC, MTV, National Geographic, History and Discovery - filming on nearly every continent on the planet. His adventures as a producer have included; following contestants racing around the world, candidates vying for a job working for Donald Trump, truckers in the High Himalayas, perpetrators of the Rwanda Genocide in France, crab fishermen on the Bering Sea, alleged terrorists in the Congo, pot growers in the Emerald Triangle, gator hunters in the Louisiana swamp and commercial spear fishermen diving deep into the Gulf of Mexico.