City in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States
POPULARITY
Categories
Mike Kelly, columnist for The Bergen Record / NorthJersey.com and author of After Ground Zero: Everyday Americans and the Unhealed Scars of 9/11 (Bloomsbury, 2026), tells the stories of ordinary Americans, including many from New Jersey, who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks, and talks about his related reporting at home and abroad over the past 25 years.Photo: The Tribute in Light installation is tested over lower Manhattan in New York City on September 9, 2026, as seen from the "Empty Sky" 9/11 memorial in Jersey City, New Jersey. The twin beams shine from dusk on September 11 until dawn on September 12 every year. (Jeremy Weine/Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Keeping chickens in city backyards is becoming more popular. WNYC's Morning Edition producer Verónica Del Valle visits a Jersey City backyard farm to see what urban chicken keeping actually looks like and the rules to know before starting a flock of your own. Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org.Photo cred: Verónica Del Valle/WNYCMayor Mamdani releases 170K documents related to post-9/11 air quality New renderings of the MTA's IBX project serving Brooklyn, Queens are out Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Tonight, we get the latest on the reported internal investigation into Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell amid allegations of inappropriate behavior. Plus, the state of the Empty Sky 9/11 memorial in Jersey City and what is being done to maintain and repair the site ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks. And, hear from one Rutgers astrophysicist about a new project that may change our understanding of the universe.
Guest: Chris Burns (@phatcarriebradshaw)Topics: Chris is at the Northern Lights, Ramona's house and on a tiny plane to St. Barths, the Mayor of Jersey City's kids are named after VPR cast mates, Tay was invited to a high school reunion she didn't go to. Leah Remini joins RHOBH, the biggest divas in HollywoodSponsorsPolymarket: If on an iPhone, download the Polymarket app and use code TAYLOR for a special sign up bonus.Boll & Branch: Get 15% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping and returns at BollAndBranch.com/TAYLOR.Revolve: Go to REVOLVE.com/TAYLOR to shop our faves and use code TAYLOR for 15% off your first order.Wacoal: Visit WACOAL.com and use code TAYLOR at checkout for 10% off your first purchase. Offer valid for new customers only. Limit one code per customer.Cash App: For a limited time, new Cash App customers who are parents can use our exclusive referral code FAMILY10 to earn $10. Download Cash App, enter the referral code in your profile, send $5 to a friend within 14 days, and you will receive $10. Terms apply.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Effy is out and about.Petár is about and out.---See Effy9/13 - Produce Volume 4 - White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ9/18-19 - C4 Wrestling - Toronto, Ontario 10/2 - Freelance Wrestling - Logan Square Emporium Arcade Bar, Chicago, IL10/9 - Lucha Libre Laughs - Denver, CO10/10 - Razor Pro - Springdale, AR10/12 - ????10/18-19 - Metal Mania - Portland, OR10/25 - Fest '26 - Gainesville, FL 10/22 - ????11/6 - ????12/28 - ????---Get early episodes, bonus minisodes, merch discounts, Effy video blogs, puppy content and weather reports in the Pleasure Zone.Sponsor the podcast: weekendateffys@gmail.comSEND EFFY:650 Ponce De Leon Ave Ste. 300# 2936Atlanta, GA 30308Book EFFYWEAR EFFY-----Petár makes stuff too@lowskydance on insta and blueskyetsy shop - hand-painted analog projection art AI Slop Awareness Stickers
As WQXR morning host Jeff Spurgeon retires after a 50-year radio career, we sit down with him to reflect on his path from a Nebraska farm to three decades on New York's airwaves, and talk about classical music's surprising resurgence among Gen Z and Millennial listeners.Photo: WQXRGot any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org.NYPD data shows decline in summer crime, as perceptions of safety shift'I want to die': NYPD says it shot, killed knife-wielding man on Brooklyn Bridge cablesBask in the sunshine of NYC's mild and sunny Labor Day weekend weather Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Can a simple deck of cards reveal the secrets of creativity and human psychology?On this episode of the Tom Bentey Media Podcast, Tom sits down with professional magician Lucas Beaudoin - Director of Magic at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City - to explore MAGIC AND CREATIVITY. From getting a dollar-store magic kit in 3rd grade to quitting his job as a PGA Golf Pro to become a full-time magician, Lucas shares how deception, creativity, and human nature collide in every trick.We dive into how magicians actually learn magic (hint: it's not YouTube), why we are all so easy to fool, the endless creativity of card tricks, and Lucas even performs a LIVE mind-blowing card trick over Zoom!If you're fascinated by magic, creativity, psychology, filmmaking, or what it takes to turn a childhood passion into a career, this interview is for you.IN THIS EPISODE:How Lucas got into magic at 8 years oldFrom Ferris State PGM Golf Pro to Director of MagicHow to build a full-time career as a magician in NYCWhat magic teaches us about human beings & deceptionWhy a deck of cards is the most creative tool in magicCreating your own original magic tricksStories about Penn & Teller, David Copperfield & Lennart GreenLIVE Zoom magic trick - you have to see it to believe it.CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro: Welcome to Tom Bentey Media Podcast00:42 - Meet Lucas Beaudoin, Magician02:10 - A Magic Kit at 8 Years Old Changed Everything03:50 - Going to College for Golf & Becoming a PGA Pro06:15 - Becoming Director of Magic at Liberty National08:35 - How Magicians REALLY Learn Magic (Books vs YouTube)10:15 - What Magic Teaches Us About Human Nature12:35 - Creativity & The Endless Possibilities of a Deck of Cards14:10 - Wildest Audience Reactions to Magic Tricks15:25 - How to Create Your Own Original Tricks16:40 - Is Lucas the Only In-House Golf Club Magician?17:25 - Favorite Magicians: Penn & Teller, Copperfield & Lennart Green18:30 - LIVE Magic Trick Over Zoom19:20 - How to Book Lucas For Your EventCONNECT WITH LUCAS BEAUDOIN:Website: lucasbeaudoin.com (mentioned in episode)Instagram: @lucas_magic_manCONNECT WITH TOM BENTEY MEDIA:Subscribe for conversations on communication, filmmaking, acting & the outdoors.YouTube: @TomBenteyMediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombenteymedia/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombentey?lang=en X: https://x.com/tombenteyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-bentey-5b066762/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tombentey/www.TomBentey.com www.TomBenteyMediaPodcast.comwww.SuburbaniteProductions.com Podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube#Podcast #MagicAndCreativityLET'S TALK:What card would YOU have named in the trick? Comment below and tell us what topics are impacting you - we want to create together! Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE and hit the bell
Gäst Roger Nilsson Sommarturnén, scenkaoset och maskineriet som inte gick att stoppa Välkomna tillbaka till Let Me Know-poddens stora årskrönika! Vi har nått fram till det kokheta tredje kvartalet – juli till september 1976 – tre månader då KISS storhetsvansinne slog ut i full blom och rockvärlden aldrig mer blev sig lik. Nu rullar den massiva sommarturnén över USA med en ambulerande monstershow. Det är blixtmaskiner från Frankenstein, flyghangar-repetitioner, gigantiska arenor som Anaheim Stadium – och en scenografi så bisarr att den till och med rymmer scenbyggda ruiner och plastträd! Samtidigt vänder radiovågorna upp och ner på allt: B-sidan ”Beth” exploderar och blir en oväntad monsterhit, samlingsboxen The Originals prånglas ut till fansen och bandet kliver direkt från turnébussen rakt in i studion för att spela in Rock and Roll Over. Dag för dag med Roger Nilsson Scenbygget & Kaoset: Varför surrade P.A.-systemet av blixtarna, hur höga var egentligen lavatrapporna och vad gjorde det där trädet på scenen? Turnésommaren: Från halvtomma sydstatshallar och Bob Seger som förband, till publikhav på tiotusentals fans i Anaheim och Jersey City. Hit-explosionen & Studion: Det mystiska singelsläppet av ”Beth” i -England, Billboard-klättringen och de legendariska truminspelningarna i ett badrum i New York. Spänn fast er och gör er redo för KISS-historia. Nu kliver vi in i sommaren 1976 – det här är Let Me Know!
"It's okay to be small and grassroots." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and The Community Cat Clinic. Robyn Alcock and Jen Scott joined host Stacy LeBaron to talk about Feral Fixers TNR Club, the Jersey City nonprofit they co-founded in 2024 alongside Kathryn Parker after years of trapping independently. In just two years, the all-volunteer group — who all keep full-time jobs — has helped more than 375 cats through TNR, rescue, and medical care. Much of the conversation centered on the realities of running a small "operational board" nonprofit: the governance lessons that shaped their early structure, why they held off on setting formal growth metrics in year one, and how nearly half of the cats they trap turn out to be friendly, adoptable animals rather than TNR candidates — a shift driven largely by the lack of low-cost spay/neuter access in Jersey City. Stacy, Robyn, and Jen also dug into practical solutions: MASH-style pop-up clinic models from groups like Animal Balance and Slomba Shelter Solutions as ways to bring high-volume spay/neuter directly into underserved neighborhoods, and the fundraising path that took Feral Fixers from small individual donors to their first Mission Meow grant and a matching grant from United Spay Alliance's Community Cats Grants program at their two-year mark. It's a useful blueprint for any small, grassroots group trying to prove — as Robyn puts it — that it's okay to be small. Press Play Now For: How a pandemic-era trapping experience and a childhood spent bottle-feeding strays led Robyn and Jen to co-found a Jersey City nonprofit Practical governance lessons for small, "operational board" nonprofits — board size, conflicts of interest, and keeping personal and organizational finances separate Why nearly half of Feral Fixers' TNR trapping efforts turn into friendly-cat rescues, and how that's reshaping their workload The transportation and appointment-access barriers keeping Jersey City residents from affordable spay/neuter MASH-style clinic models, including Animal Balance, as an option for bringing spay/neuter directly into underserved communities How Feral Fixers built its funding base through small donors, a Mission Meow grant, and a United Spay Alliance matching grant Stacy's framework for identifying and cultivating leadership-level donors as an organization grows Why "altered at intake" numbers matter for understanding a community's real spay/neuter gap Resources & Links Feral Fixers TNR Club: https://feralfixersclub.org/ Feral Fixers TNR Club on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feralfixersclub/ United Spay Alliance Community Cats Grants: https://www.unitedspayalliance.org/community-cats-grants/ Animal Balance: https://www.animalbalance.org/ Slomba Shelter Solutions: https://slombasheltersolutions.com/
Effy sits down with pro wrestler and BGB veteran, Saraya Saber. Follow Saraya:InstagramTwitter---See Effy8/21 - Lucha Libre Laughs - Denver, CO8/22 - NWA Shockwave - WEDU Studios - Tampa, FL8/28 - KFW NWA - Tennessee 9/4 - Freelance Wrestling - Logan Square Emporium Arcade Bar, Chicago, IL9/5 - Enjoy Wrestling - Pittsburgh, PA9/13 - Produce Volume 4 - White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ9/18-19 - C4 Wrestling - Toronto, Ontario 10/2 - Freelance Wrestling - Logan Square Emporium Arcade Bar, Chicago, IL10/9 - Lucha Libre Laughs - Denver, CO10/10 - Razor Pro - Springdale, AR10/12 - ????10/18-19 - Metal Mania - Portland, OR10/25 - Fest '26 - Gainesville, FL 10/22 - ????11/6 - ????12/28 - ????---Get early episodes, bonus minisodes, merch discounts, Effy video blogs, puppy content and weather reports in the Pleasure Zone.Sponsor the podcast: weekendateffys@gmail.comSEND EFFY:650 Ponce De Leon Ave Ste. 300# 2936Atlanta, GA 30308Book EFFYWEAR EFFY-----Petár makes stuff too@lowskydance on insta and blueskyetsy shop - hand-painted analog projection art AI Slop Awareness Stickers
Chef and Drew Barrymore contributor Sunny Anderson is on the final segment of the show to discuss her killer Oktoberfest dinner she's cooking at Chef Marc Murphy's pop-up restaurant. Also, Sergio Moutela talks to me about his new venture, Tapville Social in Jersey City. Skinny Flowers guided brewery tour. Oktoberfest celebrations at Von Trapp Brewing and Barrier Brewing. Landmark Beers from the American Craft Beer Hall of Fame. Changes happening at my local favorite Paragon. The winners of the first ever Brewers Cup of NJ. Gary Monterosso of Beverage Chronicles with his weekly beer segment too. #sunnyanderson #drewbarrymore #foodnetwork #beer #tapvillesocialSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hello everyone! We're going into #TheUpdate vault to play one of our many episodes throughout our many years of the show. For today's episode, we're doing something a little bit different- a compilation of the best of Year 3 of the show. 2019 going into 2020 (before Corona) might have been the best year of the show at WKRB. It meant the graduation of Cris (boo), but it also meant several big stories. Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman being found on 10 counts including engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, Jefferey Epstein being found dead in his jail cell, and two shooters attack a Kosher market in Jersey City, New Jersey, leaving three dead inside the store, are just some of the things we talked about this year.
5 Feet — that’s the altitude Roadrunner held on a self-appointed decoy mission in Vietnam, and it’s the heart of Episode 227. It’s also the reason he walked away with a Bronze Star. This week, RePete and Fig welcome Chuck Howard, callsign Roadrunner. He flew with the 175th Assault Helicopter Company, earning two Bronze Stars and 25 Air Medals for valor. Roadrunner’s path started on a Jersey City hammock, watching jets land at Newark. Actually, he almost became a commercial artist before the Army got him first. He walks us through flight school and a co-pilot who froze on short final. Then there’s the Cessna climb to twelve thousand feet that ate an entire afternoon. Consequently, we get one of the funniest bike-to-the-airport stories in show history. [Set the following as an actual Heading 2 block, not bold text:] I Never Exceeded 5 Feet: The Decoy Mission The Bronze Star story is the centerpiece. Roadrunner grew tired of rules of engagement that only let him fire after getting shot at first. So he built his own workaround. He stripped down a demilitarized Huey and lit it up like a Christmas tree. Then he flew it straight at the tree line at night. He hovered along the perimeter at an altitude he never exceeded, five feet, daring Charlie to take the bait. However, the story doesn’t stop there. Roadrunner later flew Port Authority helicopters and was first on scene for Sully’s Hudson River landing. He also worked the water recovery after TWA 800, marking wreckage while FBI agents jumped aboard his aircraft mid-hover. Furthermore, he shares two separate tail rotor failures. In one, he saved a multi-million dollar helicopter by nursing it into a drainage ditch. His book, Tales from the Cockpit, covers even more of this. This episode is also brought to you by DC Artworks. The veteran-owned laser-cut steel shop is keeping gift-buyers out of the doghouse this season. Vinh Long Airfield Huey Gunship in the River Huey Gunship in the River Spraying Agent Orange Link Flight Trainer Chuck Howard in Vietnam Newark Airport Stay Connected Got a So There I Was story of your own? We want to hear it. Follow the show, leave a review, and tell your hangar buddies. … #SoThereIWas #AviationPodcast #VietnamVeteran #HueyPilot #BronzeStar #AirMedal #USArmyAviation #PortAuthority #SullyHudsonLanding #TWA800 #TailRotorFailure #WarStories #MilitaryAviation #HelicopterPilot #VeteranStories
https://media.blubrry.com/thesuccessfulmindpodcast/media.blubrry.com/thesuccessfulmindpodcast/ins.blubrry.com/thesuccessfulmindpodcast/TSM741_RobertNunez.mp3 Who you need to become matters more than any number you think you’re chasing. That’s the real lesson from this week’s episode with Robert Nunez, a member of our Elite Mind program and the owner of a thriving construction company based in Philadelphia. Robert set out to find five million dollars in business opportunity every single day for a month — and what he actually found was something bigger. Who You Need to Become Before the Number Shows UpThe challenge started with a text he sent me on June 30th. He’d committed to seeking five million dollars in opportunity every day through July, and he wrote that the number wasn’t actually the target. The target was who he had to become to even see it. I’ve told our group for years: you have to raise yourself enough for success to see you, long before you ever hit the number. Robert lived that out. By the time August arrived, he and his team had surfaced two hundred forty-three million dollars in opportunity — federal contracts, affordable-housing projects, one deal worth fifty million dollars on its own. But the number was never the point. The becoming was. Breaking the Cycle He Was HandedRobert calls himself a first-generation cycle breaker, and he means it literally. Growing up between Newark and Jersey City, he absorbed a quiet rule: don’t change too much, don’t forget where you came from, stay inside the lines everyone else drew. Building a construction company that now serves government and affordable-housing clients from New York to Maryland required him to set that story down. He told me the hardest part wasn’t the strategy — it was grieving an identity he’d outgrown, and accepting that some relationships and habits simply couldn’t come with him. That’s the cost nobody warns you about, and it’s the same cost every one of my Elite Mind members eventually pays. Who You Need to Become When the Old Habits Fight BackChasing five million dollars a day forced Robert to change where he spent his time, his energy, and his attention. He stopped treating small tasks as productive and started showing up at the conferences and conversations where real opportunity actually lives. His discipline, his network, and the way he evaluated what was worth his focus all shifted with it. Emails he would have scrolled past a month earlier — a thirty-million-dollar housing project, a federal opportunity most companies never see — started landing in his inbox, because he’d already become someone who belonged in that room. Robert’s story is proof that the goal you’re setting is rarely the real assignment. The real assignment is who you need to become along the way — more disciplined, more visible, more willing to let go of the version of yourself that got you this far. If you’re circling a goal that hasn’t moved yet, ask what kind of person would already have it. Episode 577 – The Difference Between Intuition and Ego Episode 538 – Winning Through Intimidation Episode 510 – Age is Just a Number YOU'VE LEARNED THE STRATEGIES… SO WHY DOES YOUR REVENUE STILL CONTINUE TO PLATEAU?Here’s what I know about most business owners: They’re working hard, doing the right things, and still hitting the same income ceiling year after year. That ceiling has a name — it’s your Financial Set Point. It’s the unconscious limit you’ve placed on what you believe you can earn, and until you see it clearly, it runs the show no matter what strategies you put in place.That’s what we work on at my upcoming Business Intensive in November. Over two days, I'll help you identify your financial set point, understand why it’s there, and break through it so you can finally earn what you want without the constant struggle and hustle that’s been getting you nowhere.If that sounds like exactly what’s been missing, you don’t want to sit this one out. Apply here to join us. If you like the show, would you be so kind as to leave us a short review on Apple Podcasts? It takes less than a minute and really makes a difference in helping me spread the Successful Mind message around the globe. LEAVE A REVIEW Check out David's book! Get Your Copy Today! Miss anything? Don't forget to subscribe to the show to keep up with your own successful mindset. We're available wherever you listen to podcasts: Apple Podcasts Spotify Pandora iHeartRadio Amazon Music Life is Now wants you to get SOCIAL! You can find us on the following platforms: Facebook X-twitter Instagram Linkedin Youtube The post Who You Need to Become with Robert Nunez appeared first on The Successful Mind Podcast.
Effy sits down with his friend and professional wrestler, CPA.Follow CPA:INSTATWITTERFACEBOOK---See Effy8/21 - Lucha Libre Laughs - Denver, CO8/22 - NWA Shockwave - WEDU Studios - Tampa, FL8/28 - KFW NWA - Tennessee 9/4 - Freelance Wrestling - Logan Square Emporium Arcade Bar, Chicago, IL9/5 - Enjoy Wrestling - Pittsburgh, PA9/13 - Produce Volume 4 - White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ9/18-19 - C4 Wrestling - Toronto, Ontario 10/2 - Freelance Wrestling - Logan Square Emporium Arcade Bar, Chicago, IL10/9 - Lucha Libre Laughs - Denver, CO10/10 - Razor Pro - Springdale, AR10/12 - ????10/18-19 - Metal Mania - Portland, OR10/25 - Fest '26 - Gainesville, FL 10/22 - ????11/6 - ????12/28 - ????---Get early episodes, bonus minisodes, merch discounts, Effy video blogs, puppy content and weather reports in the Pleasure Zone.Sponsor the podcast: weekendateffys@gmail.comSEND EFFY:650 Ponce De Leon Ave Ste. 300# 2936Atlanta, GA 30308Book EFFYWEAR EFFY-----Petár makes stuff too@lowskydance on insta and blueskyetsy shop - hand-painted analog projection art AI Slop Awareness Stickers
What does it actually take to build a thriving pelvic health physical therapy practice from the ground up — and keep growing it with an abundance mindset instead of a scarcity one?In this episode of the DPT to CEO Therapy Entrepreneurs interview series, I sit down with Dr. Melanie Llanes, founder of Best Self Wellness in Jersey City, New Jersey. Melanie serves women at every stage of motherhood through concierge prenatal and postpartum physical therapy, pelvic health PT, restorative yoga, and strength and conditioning. Her mission is simple: help moms train for labor like athletes and recover like pros.Melanie built Best Self Wellness after seeing how many women in her community were entering birth and postpartum without the tools, support, or confidence they deserved. What started as one clinician with a clear vision has grown into a practice built on genuine care, exceptional client experience, and a mindset that believes there is enough for everyone.In this conversation we get into what it actually looked like to start a cash based practice while juggling motherhood and a clinical career, the abundance mindset shift that changed how she thinks about competition and growth, what the hiring process taught her about leadership and showing up for a team, how she sells her services without it ever feeling salesy, and the advice she wishes someone had given her when she was just getting started.If you've been thinking about niching into pelvic health or women's wellness and wondering whether a concierge cash based model is actually viable, this conversation will show you exactly what's possible.Connect with Dr. Melanie Llanes:Website | Instagram--- Morgan Meese, the founder of a successful out-of-network physical therapy practice, has transformed her expertise into a role as a dedicated business and marketing coach. Specializing in cash pay physical therapy, Morgan owns a digital business where she collaborates with fellow clinicians, guiding them in launching and expanding their own cash-based solo practices. Her coaching extends to helping new business owners navigate the complexities of owning a physical therapy practice, incorporating elements like mobile physical therapy and telehealth. Morgan's unique approach incorporates niche marketing strategies, addressing the specific needs of clinicians and entrepreneurs. As a woman in business with ADHD herself, she also offers insights on time management for business owners, emphasizing the importance of digital marketing to attract more clients. Join Morgan on her journey of empowering women entrepreneurs, physical therapists and healthcare providers, combating burnout, and building a thriving business so you never have to go back to the clinic again.Find me on IG: DPT to CEO and Dr. Morgan Meese---To learn more, visit our website.Free eBook “So You Want To Start a Solo Practice” DPT to CEO: YoutubeApply for the DPT to CEO 1:1 Coaching Program with Morgan.Just getting started? The Therapy Business Basics Mini Course is the place to start!Buy me coffee
Vice President of Marketing at HEI Hotels & Resorts, Emma Shaybani, joins the Suite Spot to discuss the upcoming 2026 Digital Travel Summit taking place in Orlando, Florida on September 28-29 and how the HEI brand is leveraging social media, artificial intelligence, technology, and online guest feedback to better shape and optimize the traveler journey. Tune in now and the Suite Spot looks forward to seeing you at the conference next month! Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in and we check out what’s trending in hotel marketing. I’m your host, Ryan Embree. Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. This is your host, as always, Ryan Embree. Very excited for our next guest in an edition of our TMG Hospitality Trailbazer series to set the table. This is that series again with conversations with people, organizations, and companies within the hospitality industry that are paving a path forward. I’m so excited for our next guest. And it also really seconds as a preview for the Digital Travel Summit happening in Orlando in September. My guest, this will be the first of a few times that we’re gonna be together. Emma Shaybani, VP of Marketing at HEI Hotels and Resorts. Emma, thank you so much for joining me on The Suite Spot. Emma Shaybani: Thank you for having me. Ryan Embree: Yeah, we’re excited. So we’re gonna talk about that Digital Travel Summit event. We were talking off camera. It’s a powerhouse event. Can’t wait. Some big players within the travel industry gonna be there. But before we do that, we’d love to introduce you to our Suite Spot audience. Maybe love learning about everybody’s kinda hospitality journey that led you to your role over there at HEI Hotel and Resorts. Emma Shaybani: Yeah, it’s a bit of an unconventional journey, I suppose. So, I moved from England, and I moved from England to Connecticut, and I was really looking for my next opportunity. I’d not worked in hospitality before. I’d worked actually for CBS back in London. I had a couple of my own businesses, so hotels weren’t necessarily part of my original plan. But I, I joined HEI actually in a reputation management role. And I think at the time, they just knew that they needed somebody to look after reputation management, but they weren’t exactly sure what I would be doing. So it started off really as me in a room responding to guest reviews. So it, it didn’t take too long for us to all realize that probably wasn’t the best use of my time. So I kinda went to my boss at the time, Brian, with a plan and I was like, “Hey, you know, it’s hard for me to, to respond to these reviews when I’m not at the property. I don’t know what’s happened. You know, really, we should empower the teams at the hotels to be responding to these reviews. And, you know, really, I can be there as kind of a, you know, backup support and making sure that we are responding.” Because, you know, the hotel teams know the guest experience the best. And I was really focusing then on monitoring the trends, opportunities, and that’s when I noticed that the same thing was kind of happening with social media. We had all these accounts. They weren’t necessarily active. So we took this kind of a similar approach with social media. And then from there, the role just kind of kept evolving. So every time we kind of solved one challenge, we’d notice something else that we could then tackle. Back then, we had 20-27 hotels, I think it was. And now today we’ve grown the team. There’s quite a few of us now, over 100 hotels, multiple brands. So it’s been pretty incredible, honestly, to, to grow alongside the company. And I remember back in the day, my biggest concern was trying to memorize these 27 hotels, and now somehow I seem to manage with a hundred and something. Ryan Embree: We love the unconventional journey in hospitality and kinda falling into it. But also, a lot of people we find fall in love with hospitality. And that’s why you hear about people maybe starting kind of in, you know, I was a bellman when I first started at a hotel and front desk agents, F&B, and then all of a sudden, here they are 30 years later into a career that they absolutely love. And your foundation actually mirrors a lot of what the Suite Spot is. We started as a digital marketing podcast preaching to hoteliers about the importance of things like managing your reputation, social media strategy, which we’re gonna get into in this conversation a little bit, because it is a constantly evolving and so ever important because those are places that can be touched prior to a guest arrival and have a real impact on bookings and the guest experience. But before we get into that, I want, I do wanna start about talking about that event, the Digital Travel Summit that both of you will have the pleasure of attending down there in Orlando at September 28th and 29th. Personally, could not be more excited for this event, bringing some of the travel industry’s biggest and brightest together in a very intimate setting, very excited about it. What are you most looking forward to about this event? And maybe what caught your eye and it drew you initially to this Digital travel Summit? Emma Shaybani: I think what immediately caught my attention was that it was an event that was dedicated solely to digital marketing as a whole. I think, while, while AI is, is transforming things pretty rapidly, and I think this was nice because it was a conference that recognizes digital marketing is so much broader than just AI. And we still have to think about search, paid media, websites, all of these things and how those pieces work together to essentially drive demand. So I saw that and then also I’m looking forward to seeing some of our friends that are there, some of the industry leaders that are talking. I think there was one of the sessions, a keynote that’s on event-driven travel, which is something that we’re investing heavily in at HEI, you know, things like concerts, festivals, major conventions. A lot of my team’s focus at the moment is setting up things like landing pages, targeted offers to really kind of take advantage of those experiences. ‘Cause we all saw what happened, with the Taylor Swift effect a few months ago. Ryan Embree: 100%. Emma Shaybani: Exactly. So I think that’s a really, a lot of the topics throughout the event are really on trend and really useful. So I think it’s, it’ll be good to bring everybody together. We’re all solving similar challenges, so that hopefully, you know, we can come away with some practical ideas that myself and the team can implement when we’re back in the office. Ryan Embree: Yeah, 100%. And to piggyback on that Taylor Swift effect, you got the World Cup that just happened this summer. You got the Olympics in LA in a couple more years. So no shortage of events coming to domestic US. Concerts are gonna continue to pop up. Sporting events across generations, younger travelers, but across generations still prioritizing those experiences at the forefront. And I think you’re absolutely right, Emma. It’s a very comprehensive event. It’s funny, back in the day when we started first talking about, you know, this to hoteliers with, with digital marketing, sometimes social media review responses, you, like you talked about in your story, it fell on the youngest person at the hotel, right? So who’s the youngest, uh, front desk agent? They probably know the best about social media. Now as digital marketers, we kinda cringe thinking about that. We put our whole stake of reputation on someone that we really didn’t train a hotel’s voice or anything like that. So it really has evolved. And I love your perspective on where we are with AI because you think about this emerging technology. Well, social media a couple decades ago was right there in that spot, and now it’s created roles within social media. So it’ll be interesting to get everybody in like you said, that room to, with the same challenges, trends, what are you seeing? And speaking of panels, I’ll have the privilege and pleasure of moderating a powerhouse keynote panel with you involved, Emma, called Building AI-Ready Marketing Teams: Knowing When to Automate and When to Go Human. For our Suite Spot audience, give us maybe a little bit of sneak peek of a preview on your thoughts on that topic. Emma Shaybani: I think, you know, I always encourage the team to really ask themselves kind of simple questions, right, when it comes to our use of AI, is if, like, if this task disappeared tomorrow, would anyone notice, right? And if the answer is no, then we can probably find a way to automate that, you know? And I also think there’s a question of, is there value in the thinking or is there value in the typing? Because we do spend a lot of our time producing reports, producing presentations. And really, the value of having humans is the strategy, the judgment, the relationship building, and also the creativity. So we wanna make sure that, you know, humans are also, we’re remaining in charge of the decisions, but can we become more efficient by our use of AI? And we kind of split. We do something called the rule of 80/20, which is AI can get us about 80% of the way there to the finish line, right? It can gather data. It can generate drafts, mock-ups, website copy, summarize reports, but then it’s really like that final 20%, which is gonna create the real value. Human judgment, as I said, creativity, empathy. That’s where we need the human, human touch. And I think that’s really important when it comes to just overall guest experience as well, because while we’re using AI to get in front of guests, we’re trying to be the most visible or the top on Google or, you know, any of, any of. We really want maximum visibility, right, across all these channels. But when we get, when people get to the property, they want a human experience. I think people still very much want a human experience. So we have to make sure that what we’re portraying online is an extension of this experience that happens on property. So I think it’s a mix. I really do. Ryan Embree: It gets a little bit more complicated within hospitality. Other industries, it might be easier to automate all the way through, where in hospitality, there does need to be that human touch because of what, exactly what you just said, Emma, right? Like, people want that connection. They want that exper – That’s why we travel, right? It’s not that there might, might be some places where you can completely disconnect from people, but most of the time, they wanna experience. That’s why they’re getting out. That’s why they’re going to new places and having new opportunities to explore cities and locations that they haven’t before, and they wanna, they wanna feel that. So it is interesting to see that. You know, I’ve, I’ve said it on this podcast and we’ll probably say it again. The GM of the next few years might look a lot closer to what it did 20 or 30 years ago before all of those tasks were put on their plate and all of a sudden they had to sit behind a computer for 80% of their time and do spreadsheets and other things that required our time. Now they can maybe get back to the heart, which will be very interesting to see that shift in hospitality. Excited to explore it in that keynote panel that, again, is gonna feature some major brands alongside, travel industry brands alongside Emma here. So hope our Suite Spot listeners will look into that event, the Digital Travel Summit, and join us. I wanna shift back to, well, actually, I wanna talk about AI and, and the guest experience a little bit more. A few years back, you were a featured columnist in Hotel News Now, where you wrote that managing the guest experience in hotels begins earlier than ever. Now, this was a couple years ago. We’re getting news almost on a weekly basis with, with the cadence of AI and technology. Talk to us a little bit about your thoughts on how, if at all, that’s changed with the emergence of AI traveler search. Emma Shaybani: Yeah, I actually think the, the idea is probably more relevant today than it was when I wrote that article a couple years ago. I think the guest experience no longer begins when someone walks through the hotel doors, right? It starts the moment they have that idea and start dreaming of a trip or a destination. I think today, obviously, a lot of travelers are using AI and Googles to really help them to decide where to stay, where to go, what to do. It’s great. I use it myself, right? You can go through so much more data, so many more options, and it just kind of speeds up the entire trip planning process. But what it means is that our digital presence really is, more importantly than ever, an extension of the actual guest experience itself when they get to the property. You know, AI kind of just, just changed how guests discover us, but what really isn’t changing, as I kind of said before, is, is what they expect when they arrive. I think it’s actually raising the bar in many instances, because we’re getting the information to the traveler through AI or through Google, and we’re actually, we’re creating more personalized recommendations. We’re getting them more information than ever, and we’re setting these kind of real clear expectations of this is what you can expect when you arrive. So we have to make sure that the in-guest experience really, like, delivers on that promise when, when they get there. But for me, I think that’s where hospitality really still wins, because technology can, we can inspire people to travel, to book a stay, but people create memories, they wanna create memories on property that they’ll take home. And if we’ve promised a really great experience online, you know, the front desk, the food and beverage, housekeeping, every interaction throughout that stay is really gonna, like, enforce that expectation that we’ve set. So I think it, you know, AI is a tool to enhance hospitality. I think it replaces it. And I think it’s just kind of, trying to really seamlessly marry those two things together, so that we’re setting expectations correctly, but then we’re also delivering on real, incredible real life experiences. Ryan Embree: 100%. Yeah, personalization, a goal and objective that hospitality has been in after, I mean, for a decade now. We are closer than ever with as much data as we have right now, and that’s why I think a lot of hoteliers, brands, management companies are really going after that data and really trying to figure out a way, how can AI help me? All this data that I’m collecting from this guest make a more personalized experience and enhance, like you said, Emma, the guest experience. But at the core of it, I remember. I mean, I remember when you go to a TripAdvisor for a hotel and you keep, you scroll through the reviews and you see someone’s name mentioned at the front desk over and over again, “Emma at the front desk was amazing. Emma did this. Emma did that.” And then you come in and you’re greeted by Emma and you’re like, “I, it’s like I know you already, right? Like, it, that is such a cool experience and it elevates that. And I think that is in practice what I think these LLMs hopefully will have for a guest on the horizon. I think it does raise the bar, what you’re saying, Emma, because we want our guests to walk through those doors and know us as intimately as the front desk agent that they’ve maybe read three or four reviews about. So really exciting to kind of see and have certainly seen it implemented that elevation of guest service through HEI and resorts. It’s award season and obviously the accolades keep rolling in for your portfolio. Recognition from Conde Nast, Cvent, Travel and Leisure. Congratulations first off to you and your team. But from a reputation management, I mean, that’s your origin story, right, with HEI and Hotel and Resorts. How do you leverage these to kind of win more business? And how critical is it in today’s landscape to have a defined reputation management strategy more than kind of where you started maybe just responding to the reviews? Emma Shaybani: Thank you. Yeah, the awards like this are really meaningful, I think, to everybody because they’re really a reflection of the teams that are delivering those exceptional guest experiences every single day. I think behind these recognitions is the front desk associates, the housekeepers, engineers, servers, people who are creating these memories and these memorable stays. So I think it’s really important to celebrate that, which is why we really put an emphasis on promoting when we do win these awards. I think from a marketing perspective, these awards really serve as kind of a very powerful third-party validation. We spend a lot of time, telling guests what they can expect from our hotels, through our websites, our social media, photography. But these awards from Conde Nast or Travel and Leisure really, like, reinforce essentially that that promise that we’re making is real and help really allow us to build trust with a guest before they’ve not before they’ve even booked. And I definitely think it can be the deciding factor, right? If someone’s, you know, looking in the several hotels in the same market that they’re considering, it does help kind of validate that our hotels are a top choice in the market. I think on the reputation management side, it’s funny because back then it really was a case of, okay, we’ve just got to respond to these reviews. The brands are telling us, we’ve got to respond to anything under a three-star, and we have to do it within 48 hours. And I think it’s become so much more than that, and it’s, it’s so much more critical now because it’s no longer just about having a high rating on the different review sites. Guest reviews, I think, are really influencing how AI-powered search tools and large language models understand and recommend hotels. There’s been studies on it, we’re seeing it ourselves. Every review essentially creates this kind of digital story of the property, and then that story gets shared, right, from whether it’s on ChatGPT, whether it’s on Google, iit’s obviously very visible. I also think reviews are really, like, one of the few opportunities that we have to publicly demonstrate how we respond to feedback. You know, whether it’s thanking someone that they’ve had, you know, for a great stay or we’re addressing concerns. These responses, I think, allow us to show that we’re, you know, we’re open to feedback. We care and that we’re committed to kind of continuously improving, um, the guest experience. But I think all these things, ultimately, awards, reputation management, they’re all working hand in hand at the moment to ensure, again, we’re, people are getting credible information, and then also that they’re making informed decisions when they book. Ryan Embree: Yeah, what an opportunity to showcase the level of service that you’re gonna experience at a hotel than to publicly kinda display that through reviews and review response, right? You know, as it’s really human nature sometimes, I think unfortunately, that will go. Travel is stressful, right? Things happen in travel. We talked that there were a couple missed flights when we were trying to plan this out, right? How stressful is that? Like, so if you see that, sometimes a guest is a traveler, you sometimes have to put yourself in that, “Well, what is the worst case scenario?” So you try to look maybe for that one-star review. And if you see that empathetic voice on the other side of someone that genuinely has an authentic feeling of service-oriented response, man, the impact on that can really, really make the difference, and be maybe that final little push that has that comfort level, that trust that you talked about. I think that’s a great word right now, is we’re just looking that I trust that this hotel’s gonna take care of me, my family, if I’m traveling, my family, to make this experience the best it can. So 100% agree with you. That is something we preach all the time on this podcast. Social media, on the other end, plays a huge role in reputation management, and very comprehensive. What are your thoughts on what hoteliers should be prioritizing in the social media space right now, which is ever-evolving? Emma Shaybani: Yeah. I think the biggest thing is the shift we’ve seen, especially with platforms like Instagram and TikTok, is the priority is now content, and kind of not over-complicating social media as a whole. I think we talk a lot of time, talking about algorithms and platforms, but at the end of the day, if we don’t have compelling content, our strategy isn’t gonna get us very far. I think what I’ve seen a lot is that hotels will invest heavily in the social media management, but they’re not investing as heavily into the content itself. And we’ve spoken to a number of agencies and worked with different ones over the years, and a lot of them have fairly significant price tags to manage social media accounts, which I understand, right? Platforms like TikTok take a ton of time to create and produce. But these agencies, they’re, you know, they’re typically posting content, they’re doing community management, but they’re not necessarily creating the photography, the video, the reels, and influencer partnerships that are really the things that are gonna fuel engagement. So I think what we’ve seen is that without a strong pipeline of content, we’re just repurposing the same assets over and over again. So we’ve shifted a lot and it’s really about finding the right balance. So having a reliable content partner that can help create some consistency, and then filling in the gaps with influencers and creators, that can help, capture authentic moments and, and produce those reels. Doing those two things together work really well, but I really do think it’s now it’s time to start and really investing into content. Just be – everyone gets so fatigued, right? You just scrolling all the time. And then when people have seen that picture, they’re like, “Okay, I’m gonna scroll to, scroll to the next one.” And a lot of the time, we’re not just producing. I think everybody really used to think of it as, like, okay, we produce content for the website and the brand websites, and then we have content for social media, which is different. And it doesn’t actually have to be different anymore. You know, great content really powers everything. We can use that same photography or same social content to really strengthen our website. It really helps improve paid advertising performance. So, we can use it in our email campaigns, even on our OTA listings as well. So it’s kind of trying to get everyone to understand that that one investment can really help us deliver value across our entire marketing ecosystem. And it’s funny because it’s always the thing that everyone tries to cut from the budget is the photography aspect. We haven’t been renovated. We don’t need a photo shoot. There’s still things we can do, right? There’s still, there’s still new content to be, to be taken. So I think that’s where we’re focusing a lot of our time is content over the management piece. Ryan Embree: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, quality of content, I mean, the landscape has changed as far as the competitive forces, right? Now, back in the day when, when social media first, it was only anyone that you followed, right? You were only competing against those pages that that particular user was following. Now, a majority of time spent for a social media user is in explore pages, and a lot of accounts that they’re in. It’s more interest-based than follow base. You rarely see the things that you follow unless you’re engaging with it frequently. So the competitive nature of that, and you think how quickly. I mean, next time you’re in front of your phone, any of our listeners, how quickly your thumb is swiping, it’s a lot quicker than it was a decade ago, and how much your brain is actually giving that attention, that attention span has been shrinking. So quality of content, it has to be at a high level. And, and you’re absolutely right, Emma. We’ve seen a lot of hoteliers maybe not give the necessary time attention, whether it be time investment or capital investment into that. And it’s not enough just to be there anymore. I think that’s where we were maybe a decade ago. If you’re in the arena, you’ve got a shot. Now the bar is being raised, in that regard. So marketing, what a fun position. Always something going on, right? Something to celebrate. You got projects that you’re working on, announcements, try to make as much noise as possible. Any particular projects right now, Emma, that you’re particularly fired up about that you’re working, you and your team are working on? Emma Shaybani: Yeah. I think there’s a few things, because everything’s just changing so rapidly at the moment. So it’s actually like a fun, I think it’s a fun time. It’s stressful, but it’s a fun time to be a marketer. But I think the first thing is websites, because I think things have, like, especially where we’re able, we have obviously independent hotels, and we also have some branded assets that have vanity websites. And I think how that trend is also shifting, because for years, the trend was to have, like, these minimal content websites. You didn’t have a lot of copy, massive imagery. But now, obviously, with the shift in AI search, the websites have to be kind of richer, more informative, and actually have some genuinely helpful content. Things like destination guides, and FAQs, and all these different things, which is now kind of shaping a lot of our future designs on what these websites look like. So it’s kind of like we’ve kind of gone back a little bit. And so I think that’s kind of, it’s exciting to test a lot of that and really start to kind of just a lot of it’s testing, just really kind of getting in the weeds and just trying different things. I think another thing that we’re excited about, and we’ve got a lot of projects on the go is video. Again, I think video always used to be one of these nice-to-have pieces, but now it’s becoming a must-have because people want, you know, again, people are used to video content, short-form video content. So we’re implementing that on websites and in emails. But we’re also starting to have a lot more fun with our creative. I think a great example is we have an asset in Nashville called Waymore’s, and it’s a fun hotel. It’s in East Nashville, and we just produced this video that really is probably a little bit out of the box, but it really leans into the personality of the hotel and kind of the spirit of Nashville. And it’s definitely catches people’s eyes. We’re, we’re running it on social, we’re running it on emails, and we’ve seen a real uptick in people engaging with it. So I think it’s fun to kind of work on these more exciting videos, exciting content. And then my other big project right now is building what we’ve launched earlier this year called LoyalKey, which is our independent loyalty program for our HEI independent hotels. We haven’t done that before. It was something new that we wanted to try. And it’s an opportunity that really allows us to kind of bring together our. We have some really one of a kind independent assets. And we wanted to create kind of like a shared loyalty experience while still, like, maintaining what kind of keeps each hotel special. And it really gives us the ability to leverage the guests at each of those hotels and connect them to, if you’re interested in one independent asset, you might be interested in another one. So it’s giving these hotels real opportunity to kind of co-market, and at the same time, build this loyalty brand. So it’s been, it’s been a learning experience, to kind of build that from the ground up. But it’s fun. Ryan Embree: What a project. An opportunity, again, for personalization. You get some more of that guest data within loyalty programs, and all of a sudden, personalization starts to really blossom there, especially in the independent hotel space where you can do some really, really cool things. So, and just to piggyback on your video comment, if you don’t believe, Emma, as far as how important video is, go through, again, your social media feed. See how long you’re scrolling on each one, but also see how many times you’re seeing a still image now. I mean, it is surprising now when I go through my feed that I rarely come across just a still image. Most of them are going to be, whether it’s a GIF or some sort of, uh, short form video, most of the content that we are consuming now is not going to be a still image. So just going where the trends are, and yeah, it’s funny you mentioned that about that East Nashville property. You know, we work with hotels in their social media. And one of the videos that went viral on this particular hotel partner’s account was that they filmed High School Musical Two at the property, right? And it was kind of like this produced Zac Efron in there, and it exploded. And it was, like, probably something that we didn’t think was gonna get that much traction, but it was fun. People engaged with it. People loved it, especially those, millennials that grew up with that. And it became kind of a staple of that property and just a way to share the story of that property. So really cool examples there. And that creative side that’s the fun part of social media. So you mentioned 100 plus properties, so this might be a little bit tough for you, but I’m gonna put you on the spot here, Emma. I’m gonna do some rapid fire questions to get to know you and the HEI Hotel and Resorts portfolio a little better. So what is one of your favorite views at a property, HEI Hotel and Resort property? Emma Shaybani: I would say probably Hyatt Regency, Jersey City. So I had actually never been to Jersey City, but I was astounded by the, when I went, the views of Manhattan. ‘Cause it’s great, you know, when you’re in Manhattan, you’re like, “Oh, this is amazing.” Like – Yeah. But when you’re actually looking at it from across the water, it’s incredible. So probably that one. And we also have another, actually, another Times Square view. We have Renaissance Times Square that has this really cool bar that overlooks, like, the whole of Times Square. And it’s just like, incredible. I could sit there and watch that for hours. So it’s, it’s probably the New York views for me. Ryan Embree: Yeah. And those are hard to beat. Being in New York a couple months, same place up on a rooftop. I mean there’s not a lot that beats that. So what about a favorite fun fact about one of your properties? Emma Shaybani: Oh, I really like, it’s my favorite thing to do is always research or ask the team, like, what’s the craziest story about this hotel when I go? I love all, like, the historical facts, like, the ghost stories. So probably the Liberty in Boston, it used to be the Charles Street Jail. And today, I just love that, like, you’re sitting in there having a cocktail and there’s still, like, the, the doors and the window bars. And it just, that’s really fun. We also have The Cavalier, which has hosted, like, 10 presidents, Frank Sinatra. There’s definitely some secrets in that hotel. And I love that they play into it. They have a lot of, like, historical facts on the wall. So it kind of becomes, like, I don’t know, it’s like a fact-finding mission when you’re there. Ryan Embree: Yeah. I love that. It’s funny. You think about in maybe 100 or 200 years, which of those structures might be hotels in the future, right? Think that there’s a jail there. I’ve heard stories about, yeah, this used to be a bank and everything. Thing and now it’s a hotel. Like that’s the best part about hospitality, right? We can turn almost anything into a hotel. So, what about favorite signature dish at one of your properties, Emma? Emma Shaybani: I really like the steak tartar at the J in San Francisco. Served at the third floor and it’s just one of those, it’s just one of those dishes that I have to have, like I can not be hungry and I’ll still order it because I need to have it. Cause I don’t know when the next time I’m going back, but no, it’s kind of got like, it’s got like a Japanese twist on steak tartar, which is, it’s delicious. Ryan Embree: Very nice. Coast to coast, Emma, I like it. This really shows the breadth of the portfolio you’re working with over there. Last ones, either favorite piece of art at one of your properties or a favorite amenity at one of your properties? We can do both. Emma Shaybani: Well, we have a very, I think a pretty unique portfolio with every hotel kind of has a unique amenity. But I think the Live at the Sunrose, which is at our Sunrose property in West Hollywood, has this really cool intimate live music venue inside the hotel. And like you, just because it’s in West Hollywood, you just don’t know who’s gonna turn up, start singing. I think, like, J-Lo was there. It’s just, like – Oh, wow. It’s just fun. Like she’ll just get up and start singing. So I feel like that’s like a really cool little just addition, right? Like if a guest is staying and that’s all happening, it just really brings a lot of, a lot of energy to the, to the hotel. Ryan Embree: Well, and some great opportunity for content. You wanna talk about the perfect social media video? Emma Shaybani: I have no problems. Ryan Embree: Jennifer Lopez, right, singing at one of your hotels. Awesome. Well, you know, it’s always. I’ve done almost, well, over 200 episodes. I always feel like it’s my duty to my Suite Spot listeners when we have incredible industry influencers and leaders. And Emma, you were just recently named a top 100 marketer as part of the 2026 On Conferences Icon Awards. I always feel like I try to just get as much knowledge and tips and best practices from my guests as I can in the time that I have you here. So, what would be one piece of advice that you might share with hospitality marketers in our Suite Spot audience right now? Emma Shaybani: Yeah, I think the biggest thing is, and I tell my team this a lot, is don’t be afraid to test. I think one of the realities is that there’s a lot of pressure to kind of always deliver positive results to owners, asset managers, and leadership teams really naturally want kind of every campaign to be successful. But the reality is, if every campaign that we do succeeds, we’re probably not pushing the boundaries or trying enough things. You know, I think with any of, with any of the, the campaigns that we run, I think the best marketers aren’t really the ones that never fail. It’s the ones that learn the fastest. So I think it’s completely okay that every campaign or every test that we do isn’t always going to work. And that’s totally fine. I think it’s important to then explain, why we’re making a recommendation, why it worked, and the adjustments that we made when it didn’t work or if it did work. So I think it’s really just owning the, not being afraid to really own the outcome, good or bad, but really just, just test as many things as you can. I think it’s funny. One of the things I always think about is, it was like with email marketing, everyone said you had to send it at, like, 11:00 AM on a Tuesday or a Thursday. And everyone’s just taken that as gospel for so many years. And the other week, I think one of my team was like, “Oh, I made a mistake and sent it on a Sunday.” And I was like, “What, like, what happened?” And he’s like, “Well, I got the highest open rates that we’ve ever had.” And I was like, “Well, there you go. You’ve got to try these things. Don’t just keep doing the same thing. It’s not a big deal. If we send an email campaign on a Sunday, okay, we get a lower click rate. Oh, you know, it doesn’t matter. We can go back. The next one, we do something different.” But it worked. So you never really know what’s gonna work until you try. Ryan Embree: Yeah, bit of an unintentional test there, but turned out the right way. And as you mentioned, Emma, some of the biggest learning lessons can come out of those failures. And we’ve certainly heard some examples and stories on this podcast of industry leaders and professionals that some of their greatest success kind of started at maybe a moment of failure for them personally. So I think awesome advice. I appreciate that. Again, congratulations, on that recognition there. As we wrap up, Emma, we always like to end our episodes kinda looking ahead, right? We’re looking forward to the Digital Travel Summit, like I said, in September. But from a marketing perspective, Emma, what’s your vision for the future of HEI Hotel and Resorts? Emma Shaybani: Yeah, I’m really excited where we’re heading. I think over the last few years, we’ve seen some incredible growth, especially to kind of our lifestyle and independent hotel portfolio. And I think that is rewarding for the team because there’s so much freedom on the marketing side that comes with that. I think I’m just overall excited to, with the continued evolution of marketing within hospitality. As I said, it’s a stressful time, but it’s kind of a fun time. Because there’s a lot of things to try and work with. When I started my career, marketing was really viewed as a support function and today it feels a lot more integrated. And it is a driver of revenue and business performance, whether it’s AI, digital distribution, loyalty, reputation management. Marketing’s kind of influencing now every stage of the guest journey. And it’s nice to have a seat at the table, kind of alongside sales and revenue management and really be part of the bigger conversations that I think historically marketing was kind of seen as secondary to. So I think for us, looking ahead, we’re just gonna keep pushing, pushing, trying to push boundaries, try a lot of new technology, especially where it’s gonna add value. And as I mentioned, continue investing in things like creativity and content. And at the same time, try and not lose sight of what makes hospitality special, which is the people. Ryan Embree: Certainly a great opportunity to practice your advice, Emma. Use the testing waters and sandbox as much as you can. Exciting to see, because again, it’s evolving so quickly. It feels like almost every single day we’re getting some news out there. So we will continue to look to you and other industry leaders for what’s next in hospitality marketing. Emma, thank you so much. It was a super comprehensive episode. Any final thoughts today? Emma Shaybani: No, thank you so much for having me. It’s been a pleasure, and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in Orlando at the conference. Ryan Embree: Yeah, excited as well. Thank you so much, Emma, for your time. We will let you get back to it, all the exciting things you have over there at HEI Hotels and Resorts. And thank you, the Suite Spot listener for joining us today. We will talk to you next time on The Suite Spot. To join our loyalty program, be sure to subscribe and give us a five-star rating on iTunes. Suite Spot is produced by Travel Media Group. Our editor is Brandon Bell with cover art by Bary Gordon. I’m your host, Ryan Embree, and we hope you enjoyed your stay.
You are listening to an extended preview clip of our We ❤️ Movies episode on Pulp Fiction— to access the full show, click through here to sign up for our Patreon!“I saw [this movie] at 11 years old, opening weekend” - EricOn this edition of We ❤️ Movies, we're chatting about one of the landscape-shifting indie films of the 1990's, Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction! How incredible is this soundtrack? Have Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta had better chemistry with any other actors? Did a Jersey City realtor actually give QT the idea for the foot fetish discussion? And Lord Almighty, this movie did not need that director's cameo! PLUS: What were they thinking with that Seinfeld/Pulp Fiction promo? Pulp Fiction stars Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer, Bruce Willis, Christopher Walken, Harvey Keitel, Phil LaMarr, Frank Whaley, Paul Calderon, Rosanna Arquette, Eric Stoltz, Steve Buscemi, Kathy Griffin, Peter Greene, Alexis Arquette, Julia Sweeney, and Ving Rhames Marsellus Wallace; directed by Quentin Tarantino.Come hang out in Vegas with us THIS WEEKEND (August 6-8) as we do a three-night stand at ST:LV to celebrate 60 years of Star Trek and 10 years of The Nexus! We'll be at the convention Thursday, Friday and Saturday night doing three Nexus shows on Wrath of Kahn, Generations, and First Contact! Best part is, you don't need to have a convention pass to attend, each show is ticketed separately. Click through to snag your tix now!Be sure to visit the WHM Merch shop over on Dashery and check out all the latest show-related designs you can slap on t-shirts, hats, coffee mugs, stickers, whatever! Make your friends jealous by flaunting some WHM merch today!Original cover art by Felipe Sobreiro.
In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Bony Ramirez!About Bony Ramirez: Dominican-born artist based out of Jersey City, New Jersey, working across painting, sculpture, and installation to create a vivid celebration and exploration of Dominican life and Caribbean culture. Blending European painting traditions — Renaissance and Mannerist influences drawn from church art — with distinctly Caribbean imagery, symbolism, and materials, Ramirez has built a visual language entirely his own. His elongated, exaggerated figures function almost like landscapes, each one deliberately distinct, never referencing real people but instead pulling from memory and imagination.In our conversation, Ramirez talks through moving to the United States at 13 years old and how that transition shaped both his identity and his relationship to the culture he left behind. He reflects on how being physically close to New York City's art scene, including a stretch living in Harlem, became an essential part of his growth as an artist. Ramirez discusses his responsibility to tell Caribbean stories that are still underrepresented in contemporary art, noting how many people don't even know where his island is.He gets into how his figures evolved — starting from self-taught limitations that became a stylistic signature — and why he keeps cultural markers like plantains, machetes, and crabs, along with bilingual English and Spanish titles, at the forefront of his work, refusing to let that world fade into the background.Be sure to follow Bony Ramirez on Instagram at @bonyramirezz to keep up with his work and future projects.Photo courtesy of subject. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★
VIncent Pastore who played Big Pussy on the Sopranos passed away this week. In his honor we are replaying out show with playwright/actor Brad Forenza who worked with him on his award winning podcast Around the SunMark and Nicole welcomed Brad Forenza, the creator of the award winning radio play Around The Sun to the lighter side of the dark side for a wonderful conversation.Brad talked about how growing up in Jersey City has made him identify as a New Yorker, even though he is in a different state. He was able to turn his short plays to a serious of audio plays called Around the Sun which features such acting luminaries as Vincent Pastore, Robert Funaro and Maureen Van Zant from the Sopranos, Marsha Mason (the Goodbye Girl), Austin Pendleton (My Cousin Vinny), Sally Struthers (All In The Family), BD Wong (Father of the Bride), Piper Laurie (Carrie), Richard Kind (Mad About You), Richard Kline (3s Company), Mindy Cohn (The Facts of Life), Bruce Villanch (Hollywood Squares) who apparently has a crush on Brad's stepfather and many many more. Brad details how he was able to work with such illustrious actors, discuss his writing process, what it is like to win podcast awards (Mark is so jealous) and what is in store for Season 3 which takes a departure from previous seasons and features 95 year old legend Estelle Parsons (Bonnie and Clyde) Francois Clemens (Mr. Rogers Neighborhood), comedian Judy Gold and another all star cast.Get some Dark Mark Show gear Go to www.teepublic.com/user/dms1 for shirts, mugs, phone/laptop covers, masks and more!This show is sponsored by:Eddie by GiddyFDA Class II medical device built to treat erectile dysfunction and performance unpredictability. Eddie is specifically engineered to promote firmer and longer-lasting erections by working with the body's physiology.Get rock hard erections the natural way again.Using promo code DARKMARK20, you can save 20% on your Eddie purchase, and you and your partner will be chanting incantations of ecstasy together faster than you can say “REDRUM.”Go to buyeddie.com/DarkMark for 20% off your purchase using code DARKMARK20 today.Raze Energy DrinksGo to https://bit.ly/2VMoqkk and put in the coupon code DMS for 15% off the best energy drinks. Zero calories. Zero carbs. Zero crashRenagade CBDGo to renagadecbd.com for all of your CBD needsTactical SoapSmell Great with Pheromone infused products and drive women wild with desire!Go to https://grondyke-soap-company.myshopify.com/?rfsn=7187911.8cecdba
On this episode, Steven Sullivan joins us to talk about Yes - Live at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ (6/17/76)! (Or however you want to title it. Haha!) Yes fans may know Steven Sullivan for his Yes Gigs site, as well as his ongoing involvement over at Forgotten Yesterdays. He was also at this particular Roosevelt Stadium gig! He will share memories as well as his knowledge regarding the various shared recordings of this concert and what he figures that says about what makes up this new live album release of the concert. Sit back and get ready to be educated on some more Yes history!
Host Marina Franklin chats with Emmy-nominated composer Kathryn Bostic & filmmaker Sharaé Nikai. Dive into their stories, career wisdom, and the power of community and vote for Kathryn for the World Soundtrack Awards. Kathryn Bostic - Award winning, Emmy nominated (The Supremes at Earl's All You Can Eat; Amy Tan-Unintended Memoir; Toni Morrison-The Pieces I Am) composer and singer-songwriter Kathryn Bostic is known for her original work on film,TV, Broadway and symphonic music. On Broadway, Bostic worked with iconic playwright August Wilson, creating the score for "Gem of the Ocean." She also created the score for the Broadway production "Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo" featuring world renowned actor and comedian Robin Williams. She is a recipient of many awards and fellowships including the prestigious BMI "Streaming Media Award"; Hollywood Music in Media Award for "Best Score TV Streamed Movie"; Society of Composers and Lyricists "Outstanding Music for Independent Feature Film"; African American Film Critics Award for "Best Music in Film"; Sundance Time Warner Fellowship; Sundance Fellowship for Feature Film Scoring; and Sundance Documentary Film Scoring. Bostic served as Vice President for the Alliance of Women Film Composers. She is a member of Television Academy of Arts and Sciences, The Recording Academy, and Bostic is the first African American female composer in the Academy for Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Her end title song "High Above the Water" for the award winning film "Toni Morrison- The Pieces I Am" was Oscar shortlisted. Her work on Sarah's Oil: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is up for the world sound track public choice award. You can vote for Kathryn at worldsoundtrackaward.com . Sharaé Nikai - Against industry odds, Jersey City native Sharaé Nikai wrote, produced, co-directed and starred in her very first feature film, "The Other, Gold." It is a heartfelt dramedy that follows a TV writer living in Little Tokyo as she navigates grief, isolation and the rekindling of a former BFF-ship. Out of 13,016 submissions, TOG was invited to world premiere as one of only 10 films in Tribeca's US Narrative Competition. This acclaim led to Nikai being in consideration for the 2025 Oscars, Spirit Awards and Emmys in the Outstanding Television Movie, Directing & Lead Actress categories. It also makes her the first Black female quadruple threat (sole writer/producer, director & star) to qualify for the Academy Awards with no studio or major production company backing. As a producer, Sharaé secured an exclusive Mental Health Awareness partnership for "The Other, Gold" at FOX-owned Tubi and sponsorship for its launch by Women in Film (WIF) and The Entertainment Community Fund. In March 2026, "The Other, Gold" was released worldwide in celebration of Women's History Month exclusively on Apple TV. In addition to TOG, Nikai appears in numerous ad campaigns, films and TV series including Grey's Anatomy and opposite Alison Brie in Sundance's "Horse Girl" (The DuPlass Bros/Netflix). Currently, she is the 2026 international voice of Nordstrom Rack all while developing her dramedy driven TV/film slate. In her spare time, Sharaé takes serious pride in the accent mark over her "e" and is the reigning (read: self-proclaimed) trap karaoke queen. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's 'Divorce' and the new Tracy Morgan show on Paramount Plus: 'Crutch
Miss Heard celebrates Season 7, Episode 361, where we unpack a listener's comical misinterpretation of Kool & the Gang's immortal anthem "Celebration", swapping "celebrate your party" for "celebrate your potty." We then explore the incredible true story behind the 1980 smash hit, tracing its origins from Jersey City funk and Quran inspiration on a tour bus to chart-topping global dominance and Hall of Fame honors. Discover how a simple feel-good track became the universal soundtrack for historic national moments, sports championships, and wedding dance floors worldwide. You can listen to all our episodes at our website at: https://pod.co/miss-heard-song-lyrics Or iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and many more platforms under Podcast name “Miss Heard Song Lyrics” Please consider supporting our little podcast via Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/MissHeardSongLyrics or via PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/MissHeardSongLyrics #missheardsonglyrics #missheardsongs #missheardlyrics misheardsonglyrics podcastinavan vanpodcast #Celebration #Kool&theGang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebration_(Kool_%26_the_Gang_song) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kool_&_the_Gang https://www.songfacts.com/facts/kool-the-gang/celebration https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_%22J.T.%22_Taylor
Send us Fan MailOn this week's episode, I'm talking to the fabulous Désirée Cyganek, a single and childfree photographer and former dancer, the daughter of a French father and an African mother who was born in the Ivory Coast and raised in France. Having moved to Florida when she met the man she subsequently married, Désirée now lives in Jersey City — just across the water from Manhattan — with her two beloved bengal cats which we obviously talk about. In this conversation, Désirée tells me about her former career as a dancer, the love story that took her to the US but ultimately ended in divorce, and how she subsequently became a photographer. We talk all about her single life and how she feels about it, we talk about why people get so triggered by single women without kids, she tells me about the differences between dating American guys and European guys, and she also gives me possibly the best description I've ever heard about what it actually means to love yourself. Désirée really is a force, I thought she was absolutely fabulous, and I can't wait for you to hear this. Follow Désirée on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anothereraclub/Check out her photography website: https://daisyrey.com/Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
Another splendiferous family episode this week as Dave and Derek talk Love Island betting odds to Waymo snitching on passengers! We also get into Jay-Z's concert security breach, Meg Thee Stallion, viral Waymo videos, and the meltdown in our comment section over some cowboy boots. Then, we talk why sports betting has officially taken over EVERYTHING, Love Island strategy, Waymo recording passengers... even during awkward moments, World Cup butter chicken wings in Jersey City, why Lizzo's new album is bad and where her career should go next. Plus: E-40 at SeaWorld, Uber loopholes, weird TikTok trends, and a bison launching a tourist into the air.DON'T FORGET TO LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE Watch “Gone in 60 Steps"! https://www.youtube.com/@GoneIn60Steps MERCH https://nnfa.creator-spring.com/ BONUS CONTENT https://www.patreon.com/c/ImDaveTemple?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink -----------------Follow host Derek GainesIG https://www.instagram.com/thegreatboy/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEQDlfXd3hPcpTkU8xHYBTg Follow host Dave TempleIG https://www.instagram.com/imdavetemple/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@DAT46Follow No Need for ApologiesIG https://www.instagram.com/nnfapodcast/ TT https://www.tiktok.com/@noneedforapologies FB https://www.facebook.com/noneedforapologies/Produced by Teona SashaIG https://www.instagram.com/teonasasha/TT https://www.tiktok.com/@teonasasha -----------------To advertise your product on our podcasts please email jimmy@gasdigitalmarketing.com with a brief description about your product and any shows you may be interested in advertising on.SEND US MAIL:GaS Digital StudiosAttn: NNFA151 1st Ave # 311New York, NY 10003"No Need for Apologies" - NEW Episodes every Saturday at 3PM/ET on YouTube-----------------⏱️CHAPTERS00:00 Intro00:45 Welcome to the Show06:33 Watching Argentina With TJ Miller12:22 Love Island Is Now a Gambling Sport15:03 Derek Finally Arrives24:06 Dave's Apology of the Week: Starting a Comment Race War29:11 Hanging With Indian Bros in Jersey City33:20 Derek's Apology to Himself35:54 Jay-Z Concert Security Disaster45:50 Waymo Snitches on Everyone49:24 E-40 Performs at SeaWorld56:00 Stud Strippers & Women-Only Uber Drivers01:01:00 The Nose Trumpet 01:02:58 Wide Pants Are Injuring People01:08:40 Lizzo's New Album Review01:16:30 Rap Inside Church01:28:00 Bison Launch01:30:00 OutroSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Send us Fan MailNick Fierro is a ridiculously funny comedian in Jersey City, N.J. He grew up watching In Living Color and George Carlin with his parents and is a major comedy nerd. This October, he'll be at The Fest in Gainesville, Fla., with a loaded lineup of comedians and punk rock bands. Nick is a great story-teller and he's lived an extremely interesting life. He's been featured in Hard Times, Weird NJ, Inked Magazine and is the co-author of Checkers on the Beach, a graphic novel about two seagulls.Follow Nick Fierro: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schtickfierro/Website: https://www.nickfierro.com/Support the show
Ahead of their next huge show, Produce Volume 2: TAIGASTYLE in Jersey City, New Jersey, our own Ben F. Silverio sat down with Adam Abdalla, the Founder of Produce Wrestling to talk all things Produce and more!Follow Produce Wrestling:https://www.producewrestling.comhttps://www.instagram.com/producewrestlinghttps://x.com/PRODUCENYChttps://www.youtube.com/@producewrestlingnetwork
What do the Boston Marathon, a haunted New England classic, Detroit riverfront miles, Grandma's Marathon, a Harley-themed half, Yellowstone racecation dreams, Las Vegas chaos, and a Judy Blume coming-of-age classic have in common?They are all part of Episode 3 of Running, Reading, and Racing in the USA, Extraordinary Strides' five-part summer series exploring all 50 states through books, races, local running gems, and the stories that make each place unforgettable.This week, we travel from Massachusetts through New Jersey, with book pairings, racecation ideas, state trivia, and plenty of “wait, should I add that to my someday list?” energy.Featured states: Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.On the bookish side, we are talking The Scarlet Letter, Mystic River, North Woods, Middlesex, The Virgin Suicides, Firekeeper's Daughter, The Lager Queen of Minnesota, Ordinary Grace, The Latehomecomer, The Help, A Time to Kill, Mudbound, James, Gone Girl, Stoner, A River Runs Through It, Montana 1948, My Ántonia, Eleanor & Park, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, One for the Money, and Americanah.On the racecation side, we are covering Falmouth Road Race, Boston Marathon, Boston 10K for Women, Baystate Marathon, Detroit Free Press Marathon, Grand Rapids Marathon, Traverse City Bayshore Marathon, Grandma's Marathon, Twin Cities Marathon, Mankato Marathon, Hattiesburg Half Marathon, Harley Half Marathon, Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon, Bass Pro Conservation Marathon, Kansas City Marathon, Run Liberty Half, Missoula Marathon, Bozeman Marathon, Yellowstone Half, Glacier Half, Good Life Halfsy, Lincoln Marathon, Nebraska State Fair Marathon, Rock Tahoe Half Marathon, Red Rock Canyon, Rock ‘n' Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon, Clarence DeMar Marathon, Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon, Covered Bridges Half Marathon, New Hampshire 10 Miler, OCNJ Half Marathon, Run the Vineyards, Statue of Liberty 5K, and Jersey City race ideas.Choose one book. Add one race to your someday list. Then tell us which state you would most love to read, run, or explore next.Read. Run. Explore. Connect.Have questions or want to chat? Send a voicemail!Support the showJoin the newsletter list for updates, special offers, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.Join fellow pod and running enthusiasts at The Stride Collective community on Facebook or follow us on Instagram.
Rob Hart is the author of The Medusa Protocol, Assassins Anonymous, The Paradox Hotel, The Warehouse, and the Ash McKenna crime series, and the co-author of Scott Free with James Patterson. He's worked as a book publisher, a reporter, a political communications director, and a commissioner for the city of New York. Hart lives in Jersey City. Visit his website at https://robwhart.com/ Spies, Lies and Private Eyes is copyrighted by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #authorsofinstagram #authorinterview #writingcommunity #authorsontheair#suspensebooks#authorssupportingauthors #thrillerbooks #suspense #wip#writers#writersinspiration #books#bookrecommendations #bookaddict #bookaddicted#bookaddiction #bibliophile #read#amreading #lovetoread #terrencemccauley#terrencemccauleybooks #bookouture #thrillers #thetwilighttown #RobHart #ThreeHitmenandaBaby
When postpartum depression left Jersey City runner Michelle Perez feeling completely isolated, a close friend gave her a simple piece of advice: find time to breathe and enjoy the fresh air. What started as a local 3-mile walk quickly snowballed into a life-altering journey that has now spanned 20 marathons and raised over $14,000 for Team for Kids. Michelle's story is a beautiful testament to what happens when we stop staring at the clock and start running with gratitude. Dive into our latest segment of Your Story, Your Why to hear how Michelle found her true purpose, her upcoming redemption race at the Berlin Marathon, and why she's stepping out of her comfort zone to tackle a HYROX competition for lifelong longevity.Connect with Us:Our website: https://www.marathonjournal.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/runningpodcastYouTube: https://youtube.com/@marathonjournalFollow us on Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/30798607
On this week's episode of The RV Atlas Podcast, we had the opportunity to experience something completely different from a typical campground review or RV walkthrough. As travel evaluators for […] The post We Spent a Night in the All-Electric Lightship AE.1 RV (at Liberty Harbor in Jersey City) appeared first on The RV Atlas.
Tonight on NJ Spotlight News, we get the latest from Washington from Rep. Tom Kean Jr. to birthright citizenship. Plus, Jersey City got a last-minute bailout in the state budget, but some council members are calling for an audit of their books. And, speaking of the state budget, we talk with Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin about the state's record-level spending plan.
On today’s episode of the podcast, retired detective Sean O’Leary shares the wildest murder investigations of his career, from gang violence to high-profile massacres. He breaks down the most dangerous neighborhoods, unforgettable cases, and what it was really like working homicide in New Jersey.Subscribe for more.Timecodes (Episode #174):0:00 - Intro8:38 - Soho Lofts Shoot Out16:31 - Most Dangerous City in Hudson County46:20 - His First Big Homicide Case57:01 - Who Are the Most Dangerous Murderers?1:03:55 - Most Dangerous City in Newark1:08:29 - Jersey City's Deadly December1:13:28 - His Emotional Case1:29:59 - Jewish Daycare MassacreFollow The John Rondi ShowTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnrondipodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnrondipodcast/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xuYMlfFAXUfReoHKGHjb6?si=e13220a9830e4463Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-john-rondi-show/id1670365515Follow John RondiInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnrondiTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnnyrondi#podcast #johnrondi
Send us Fan MailIn this exclusive interview, The Mox and Mike from The Barn Media chat with legendary comedian, actor, businessman, and podcast host T.K. Kirkland ahead of his highly anticipated run at Helium Comedy Club in St. Louis from July 3–5.Known as the “Gangsta of Comedy,” TK Kirkland has built a legendary career spanning over 40 years. Born in Jersey City and raised in Compton, TK first gained major exposure touring with N.W.A and has since shared stages with icons like Eminem, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and Keyshia Cole. He's appeared in classic music videos including Express Yourself, It's Funky Enough, and Window Shopper, while also dominating comedy with projects like Are There Any Questions, Who Raised You?, and Gangsta Conversation.In this conversation, TK opens up about:
Ah, there is nothing quite like being out on the water—especially on our beloved Hudson River!
Asma Khalid, co-host of the BBC's The Global Story, former NPR White House correspondent, talks about their new series looking at the way the US has shaped the world over its 250 years, plus being Muslim in America and the state of the American Dream. Photo: JERSEY CITY, NJ - JUNE 28: The Strawberry Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty as the sun sets in New York City on June 28, 2026, as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Host Dr Russell Thackeray interviews Jersey City-based meditation teacher, yoga teacher, and licensed massage therapist Oneika Mays, discussing her love of reading and music, the value of stories, and how technology, social media, and AI affect attention and thinking. Mays describes being introduced to meditation over 15 years ago and teaching for about 10, explaining that an injury and over-reliance on yoga classes led her to deeper meditation and mindfulness, which helped her feel okay even when she didn't feel okay. She emphasises practicing with compassion, distinguishing Buddhist “kindness” as ease and spaciousness from “tenderness” as self-love, and notes how her experiences as a Black queer woman inform her teaching around feeling “othered.” She recommends Jon Kabat-Zinn and Sharon Salzberg, and explains her book, “Sit With Me: A Non-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation,” combining memoir, metta practice, and her work launching a wellness program at Rikers Island's women's jail.00:00 Welcome and Introductions00:19 Life in Jersey City01:23 Oneika Beyond Work02:37 Love of Reading04:55 Teachers and Names06:47 Books Versus Screens08:33 Meditation Origin Story10:18 Kindness and Tenderness13:02 Othering and Belonging15:56 Nuance in a Divided World19:57 AI and Attention Spans21:13 Books for Meditation22:15 Why She Wrote Sit With Me24:41 Rikers and the Program26:15 Metta Loving Kindness28:05 Final TakeawayYou can contact us at info@qedod.comResources can be found online or link to our website https://resilienceunravelled.com
On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, I sit down with legendary UConn basketball coach Dan Hurley for an honest and energizing conversation about building a championship culture, relentless leadership, and the transformative power of purpose-driven coaching. From his early days learning from a Hall of Fame father, to guiding players through the rigors of college basketball's toughest moments, Dan opens up about the realities of forming a great team in the era of the transfer portal, NIL, and social media. He shares the values at the core of the UConn program—relentless competitive effort, mindful communication, a dedication to the "pack," and the consistent pursuit of growth—explaining how accountability and care come together in an environment that pushes players past their limits and deepens their belief in themselves. Throughout this conversation, Dan reflects on the importance of love-tough coaching, the urgency of making an impact on young lives, and the crucial role that faith and self-development play in his own journey. Whether he's describing his mindful approach to team-building, the vulnerability he shares with his athletes, or the discipline and devotion it takes to chase excellence, Dan's story is both inspiring and down-to-earth. About Dan: Dan Hurley is one of the most accomplished coaches in modern college basketball, leading the University of Connecticut back to national prominence since becoming the program's 19th head coach in 2018. In eight seasons at UConn, Hurley has compiled a 199-75 record, guided the Huskies to six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, three Final Fours in four seasons, back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2023 and 2024, and a national runner-up finish in 2026. His teams won 13 consecutive NCAA Tournament games from 2023-25, with all 12 victories during the championship runs coming by double digits—an NCAA record. Since 2022-23, UConn has posted a 126-28 record, the most successful four-year stretch in program history. Hurley was named the 2024 Naismith College Coach of the Year and BIG EAST Coach of the Year after leading UConn to a school-record 37 wins, BIG EAST regular season and tournament championships, and the program's sixth national title. He owns the highest winning percentage in BIG EAST history (minimum 100 conference games) and has developed 12 NBA players, including four lottery selections, during his tenure. Prior to Connecticut, Hurley transformed programs at Rhode Island and Wagner, leading Rhode Island to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and Atlantic 10 regular-season and tournament championships. Across 16 collegiate seasons, he has amassed a 350-180 career record. A Jersey City native, Hurley was raised in one of basketball's most accomplished families. His father, Hall of Famer Bob Hurley Sr., built the legendary St. Anthony High School program, while his brother Bobby won two NCAA championships at Duke. Before entering the college ranks as a head coach, Hurley compiled a 223-21 record in nine seasons at St. Benedict's Prep, developing multiple future NBA players. Known for his relentless competitiveness, player development, and elite two-way teams, Hurley has become one of the defining figures in college basketball. In 2025, he became a New York Times bestselling author with his memoir, Never Stop: Life, Leadership and What It Takes to Be Great. Additional Resources: Do you feel called to share your story with the world? Check Out Gordon Publishing Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11 Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It's advice for your life, work, and team. You can sign up here and catch up on past newsletters. Ready to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose? The Certified Positive Leader Program is for anyone who wants to grow as a leader from the inside out. It's a self-paced experience built around my most impactful leadership principles with tools you can apply right away to improve your mindset, relationships, and results. You'll discover what it really means to lead with positivity—and how to do it every day. Learn More About the Certified Positive Leader Program Want to impact more people? Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach, and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks, principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, and healthcare.
Cancer Caused by His Volunteer Work at a New York Attack: A 9/11 Volunteer's Fight Against Lung Cancer, Trauma, and Finding Hope. Those words summarize a journey that began with selfless service and evolved into a decades-long battle for survival. Twenty-five years after volunteering at Ground Zero following the September 11 terrorist attacks, Craig Sotkovsky continues fighting a different enemy, an aggressive form of lung cancer linked to toxic exposure at the World Trade Center. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms. His remarkable story is featured on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and shared across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and other major News and podcast platforms. The episode is available to listen to Free. The Podcast is available for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, iHeartradio and most major podcast platforms. #LawEnforcementTalk #Free #Podcast #Radio One Decision Changed Everything On September 11, 2001, Craig Sotkovsky watched history unfold from his home in Jersey City, New Jersey. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin. Like millions of Americans, he watched in disbelief as the Twin Towers collapsed after terrorists hijacked commercial airliners and carried out one of the deadliest attacks in U.S. history. But unlike most Americans, Craig didn't remain a spectator. A skilled carpenter and mason, he volunteered to help. He joined the bucket brigade at Ground Zero and spent two of the first five days working in the debris field following the collapse of the World Trade Center. Cancer Caused by His Volunteer Work at a New York Attack: A 9/11 Volunteer's Fight Against Lung Cancer, Trauma, and Finding Hope. The episode is available across major platforms including their website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, with highlights shared across their Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn profiles. At the time, he believed he was simply helping his country. He had no idea the toxic dust surrounding him would follow him for the rest of his life. "Twenty-five years ago, I answered a call for help." The Hidden Cost of Being a Volunteer Ground Zero contained a dangerous mixture of pulverized concrete, asbestos, glass fibers, lead, fuel residue, and countless other hazardous materials released when the towers collapsed. Available for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and most major Podcast networks. Years later, Craig received devastating news. He had developed a rare and aggressive lung cancer connected to his exposure at the World Trade Center. The diagnosis transformed every part of his life. He underwent multiple cancer surgeries. He endured physical pain, emotional trauma, and overwhelming financial hardship. The illness eventually cost him nearly everything. "Cancer changed everything." More Than a Medical Battle Craig explains that surviving cancer became more than simply recovering from surgery. It became a complete rebuilding of his identity. He describes losing financial security, emotional stability, and the life he once knew. The Podcast is available for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, iHeartradio and most major podcast platforms. Yet amid tremendous hardship, he discovered something unexpected. Purpose. "Growth can come from pain." That philosophy became the foundation for what Craig now calls "Gro-Win Through Pain," a message encouraging others to find strength through life's darkest moments. Cancer Caused by His Volunteer Work at a New York Attack: A 9/11 Volunteer's Fight Against Lung Cancer, Trauma, and Finding Hope. Trauma Doesn't Always End When the Crisis Is Over Many people associate September 11 with the horrific events of that single morning. Craig reminds listeners that for thousands of responders, recovery workers, and volunteers, the disaster never truly ended. For many, the effects emerged years later through chronic illness, cancer, respiratory disease, and lasting emotional trauma. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast continues bringing listeners real conversations from the front lines of crime, policing, trauma, survival, and healing. His story highlights the reality that some of the greatest wounds are invisible for years. Research Continues to Show Elevated Cancer Risks Craig's experience reflects what researchers have documented for years. Studies examining World Trade Center responders have found elevated rates of several cancers among those exposed to Ground Zero dust. One study published in JAMA followed more than 12,000 World Trade Center responders. Researchers found that participants reporting heavier exposure experienced nearly three times the incidence of lung cancer compared with responders reporting minimal exposure, even after accounting for smoking history and other demographic factors. Cancer Caused by His Volunteer Work at a New York Attack: A 9/11 Volunteer's Fight Against Lung Cancer, Trauma, and Finding Hope. The complete interview is available as a Free Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, LinkedIn, and major podcast platforms. While every individual's medical history is unique, Craig's diagnosis illustrates the very real health consequences many volunteers and first responders continue to face decades later. A Mission Across America As the 25th anniversary of September 11 approaches, Craig is preparing for another mission. He plans to travel across America in an RV to honor those who lost their lives, recognize responders and volunteers still living with the consequences of that day, and share stories of resilience, perseverance, and hope. His journey is no longer defined by cancer. It is defined by purpose. An Inspiring Conversation On the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, Craig Sotkovsky shares the emotional details of witnessing the attacks, volunteering at Ground Zero, developing lung cancer, enduring repeated surgeries, and learning how to move forward despite overwhelming adversity. Cancer Caused by His Volunteer Work at a New York Attack: A 9/11 Volunteer's Fight Against Lung Cancer, Trauma, and Finding Hope. Listeners can hear the complete interview on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and other major Podcast, Radio, News, and Media platforms. His story serves as a reminder that true courage often continues long after the cameras disappear. Sometimes the greatest heroes are those who quietly keep fighting years after the world has moved on. Listen Free Today Hear Craig Sotkovsky's incredible story on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast. The episode is available Free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and is promoted across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and other major podcast and News platforms. Cancer Caused by His Volunteer Work at a New York Attack: A 9/11 Volunteer's Fight Against Lung Cancer, Trauma, and Finding Hope. This powerful conversation explores sacrifice, resilience, recovery, and the lasting impact of trauma from one of America's darkest days. The podcast is available on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, LinkedIn, and other major podcast platforms. If Craig's story inspires you, please share this article so more people understand the sacrifices made not only on September 11, but for decades afterward. Listen to the full story on the Free Podcast, available on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast Website, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and more. Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news. Learn and get access to money saving tips and how to increase your net worth at www.LetSavings.com Listen to this powerful #Free Podcast episode featuring Marci Hopkins on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and major Podcast platforms nationwide. Download the Free Ebook about ways and tips to improve your health. You can get the ebook for free at www.LetHealthy.com Get the Free Clubhouse App, it is Drop In Social Audio. Think of it as your own talk radio show on your phone, and best of all it is free. Be sure to look for me and follow me, that's John J Wiley or @letradioshow you can do all that here. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms. You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website . Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo. Be sure to check out our website . Cancer Caused by His Volunteer Work at a New York Attack: A 9/11 Volunteer's Fight Against Lung Cancer, Trauma, and Finding Hope. Attributions Craig Sotovsky JAMA Wikipedia Facebook Facebook Group Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
-Episode 147- This week talks about travelling to Jersey City, The Knicks, and going out to wait in lines.
On this episode, Barna Donovan, Ph.D. joins us to discuss “UFOs, Psyops, and Persuasion”. UFOs, Barna is a professor of communication and media studies at Saint Peter's University in Jersey City, New Jersey. He teaches a course on the history of the intersection between conspiracy theories and popular culture, especially the long connection between Hollywood […] The post 437: UFOs, Psyops, and Persuasion – Interview with Barna Donovan, Ph.D. first appeared on Persuasion by the Pint.
Affordable Interior Design presents Big Design, Small Budget
In this episode of the Uploft Interior Design, I shared how exhausted I was after a long day of client consultations, including redesigning a small living room and bedroom in Jersey City and helping a client with a tiny balcony on the Upper West Side. I reflected on a design mistake I made by offering unsolicited advice, which reminded me of an important lesson: if people don't ask for your opinion, don't give it. I then answered a listener question from Lynn about flooring options, recommending tile in her kitchen and luxury vinyl plank in her family room to balance the existing wood elements in her home. After encouraging listeners to submit more design questions and check out my viral TikTok video, I shifted gears and shared my enthusiasm for Netflix's America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. I discussed some of my favorite cast members, critiqued what I see as toxic leadership within the organization, and reflected on the challenges dancers face in such a competitive environment. I wrapped up by urging listeners to send in tougher design questions and teasing more design advice and pop culture commentary in future episodes. Timestamps: 00:00 – Client Design Updates 03:45 – Unsolicited Advice Gone Wrong 08:20 – Lynn's Flooring Question 13:15 – Tile vs. Luxury Vinyl Plank 17:10 – Viral TikTok Moment 19:00 – Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Review Don't forget to subscribe for more design tips and inspiration! Links: Uploft.com AffordableInteriorDesign.com Submit your design questions to be featured on the show Become a Premium Member and access the bonus episodes Click here to become an interior designer with Uploft's Interior Design Academy. Get Betsy's book: betsyhelmuth.com/book For more about our residential interior design services, visit ModernInteriorDesign.com For our commercial interior design services, visit OfficeInteriorDesign.com Follow Us: Instagram: @uploftinteriordesign Facebook: facebook.com/UploftIntDes TikTok: tiktok.com/@uploftinteriordesign LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/uploft-interior-design If you enjoy the show, please spread the word and leave a review on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Peter from Jersey City, NJ, called in to express his view that President Trump should focus on ending the war decisively, rather than pursuing a deal or settlement. Jim from New Jersey discussed Stephen A. Smith's remarks, noting that Smith attributed the Knicks' loss in Game 3 of the NBA Finals to President Trump's attendance at the game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Peter from Jersey City, NJ, called in to express his view that President Trump should focus on ending the war decisively, rather than pursuing a deal or settlement. Jim from New Jersey discussed Stephen A. Smith's remarks, noting that Smith attributed the Knicks' loss in Game 3 of the NBA Finals to President Trump's attendance at the game.
Axel sits down with Pat Carino — a multifamily developer, acquisitions professional at NRP Group, and co-founder of DealNav — for a wide-ranging conversation that spans institutional development, deal sourcing at the highest level, and the origin story of a software tool that Aligned Real Estate Partners actually uses in their own business.Pat breaks down the three-bucket deal sourcing framework he uses at the institutional level — brokers, referral network (architects, engineers, attorneys), and true off-market sourcing. The second half of the conversation dives into DealNav — what it is, why Pat built it, and why a purpose-built deal tracking CRM with a map beats bloated all-in-one platforms for acquisitions-focused operators. This episode is essential listening for any investor who wants to understand how deal sourcing is done at the institutional level — and how the same principles apply whether you're buying a 10-unit or a 300-unit ground-up development.Join us as we dive into:The three-phase development contract lifecycle: due diligence, entitlement approvals (6 months to 1+ year), and closing — and how it differs from a traditional value-add acquisitionThe three-bucket deal sourcing framework: broker deals, referral network (architects, engineers, land use attorneys, economic development offices), and true off-market direct-to-ownerThe story of a vacant 30,000 sq ft retail building: a two-year follow-up campaign, tracking down the decision-maker through her daughter's Instagram DM, and closing the deal after years of patient persistenceWhy having a CRM with clean notes, timestamped follow-up reminders, and a linked map is the only way to manage a multi-year, multi-contact off-market pipeline at scaleThe origin story of DealNav: from colored pins on a Jersey City poster board to an Excel/Google My Maps hybrid to a purpose-built SaaS product — and why 15 demos of competing CRMs came up shortThe three boxes DealNav was built to check: simplicity (prospecting only, no bloat), a map-first interface, and single-user affordable pricingHow DealNav became a deal source for Pat's institutional acquisitions work — and why building a real estate community and a real estate software company often leads to the same peopleWhat makes a good development site: rent comps that justify new construction, favorable taxes (or abatements), manageable affordability requirements, and the right construction typeSign up for the DealNav CRM HEREConnect with Pat Carino:Follow him on Twitter/XConnect with him on LinkedinLearn more about DealNavAre you looking to invest in real estate, but don't want to deal with the hassle of finding great deals, signing on debt, and managing tenants? Aligned Real Estate Partners provides investment opportunities to passive investors looking for the returns, stability, and tax benefits multifamily real estate offers, but without the work - join our investor club to be notified of future investment opportunities.Connect with Axel:Follow him on InstagramConnect with him on LinkedinSubscribe to our YouTube channelLearn more about Aligned Real Estate Partners
Christina Norman, chief creative officer at The Moth, and Juan Rodriguez, senior manager, community engagement at The Moth, talk about their new workshop for potential storytellers, related to their new project with the National September Memorial and Museum for the 25th anniversary of the attacks. The Moth & The 9/11 Memorial & Museum Information Session, virtual, June 10 at 7pm. Photo: The Corn Moon rises behind the skyline of lower Manhattan as the Tribute in Light is tested ahead of the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York City on September 8, 2025, as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn via Getty) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
This year is the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in 2001. A new documentary, "IX XI," revisits the tragedy by hearing the stories and reflections of 12 people who experienced the attacks from different perspectives. "IX XI" is screening as part of Tribeca Festival on June 14th at 3pm at the Village East by Angelika. Director Sean Wilsey discusses the film, alongside one of its subjects Stefan Springman, who was at ground zero as a cameraman. Photo by Gary Hershorn via Getty: The Corn Moon rises behind the skyline of lower Manhattan as the Tribute in Light is tested ahead of the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York City on September 8, 2025, as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A dive into the world of friendship with our latest "Friends Like Us" podcast episode! Marina Franklin host special guests Sharaé Nikai and David Lassiter as they talk about their incredible journey creating "The Other Gold" — a film about friendships' complexities. Watch it now on Apple TV and Tubi! Sharaé Nikai - Against industry odds, Jersey City native Sharaé Nikai wrote, produced, co-directed and starred in her very first feature film, "The Other, Gold." It is a heartfelt dramedy that follows a TV writer living in Little Tokyo as she navigates grief, isolation and the rekindling of a former BFF-ship. Out of 13,016 submissions, TOG was invited to world premiere as one of only 10 films in Tribeca's US Narrative Competition. This acclaim led to Nikai being in consideration for the 2025 Oscars, Spirit Awards and Emmys in the Outstanding Television Movie, Directing & Lead Actress categories. It also makes her the first Black female quadruple threat (sole writer/producer, director & star) to qualify for the Academy Awards with no studio or major production company backing. As a producer, Sharaé secured an exclusive Mental Health Awareness partnership for "The Other, Gold" at FOX-owned Tubi and sponsorship for its launch by Women in Film (WIF) and The Entertainment Community Fund. In March 2026, "The Other, Gold" was released worldwide in celebration of Women's History Month exclusively on Apple TV. In addition to TOG, Nikai appears in numerous ad campaigns, films and TV series including Grey's Anatomy and opposite Alison Brie in Sundance's "Horse Girl" (The DuPlass Bros/Netflix). Currently, she is the 2026 international voice of Nordstrom Rack all while developing her dramedy driven TV/film slate. In her spare time, Sharaé takes serious pride in the accent mark over her "e" and is the reigning (read: self-proclaimed) trap karaoke queen. David Lassiter is an American filmmaker, actor, writer, and musician from Jersey City, New Jersey. He co-directed and appeared in the feature film The Other, Gold (2024), which premiered at the Tribeca Festival before streaming on Apple TV+ and Tubi. Before transitioning into filmmaking, Lassiter worked as a fashion model and was signed to Wilhelmina Models, appearing in campaigns and editorial work for brands and publications including Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Vogue, GQ, Banana Republic, Swatch, and Levi's. He later studied acting in New York at HB Studio, Susan Batson Studio, and WB Workshops while appearing in national campaigns for Verizon, Macy's, and American Eagle. Lassiter also collaborated with Viacom on street-interview segments featured on MTV and MTV2. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's 'Divorce' and the new Tracy Morgan show on Paramount Plus: 'Crutch
Runners of NYC is relaunching. We're changing up the format — fewer studio sit-downs, more conversations out in the wild across the five boroughs — and we're thrilled to welcome Patryk Odedina as our new co-host. Same mission of surfacing the untold stories behind NYC's running culture, with a fresh approach to how we tell them. More soon.First...Meet Patryk.------"I was at the gym one day, doing the typical dude thing — asking my neighbor Kenny what he was working on. Chest? Back? Arms? He just looked at me, straight-faced, and said: 'Five or six miles on the treadmill.' I swear, I had never heard someone say something like that in my life. And Kenny's not some lean guy — he's a husky dude. So I'm standing there like, what is he talking about? Then he tells me he's training for the New York City Marathon. That's all I needed. I thought, if Kenny can do it, I can do it."Patryk Odedina is a Bronx-based runner who picked up the sport at 29 after a gym conversation with his neighbor Kenny, and has since completed all six World Marathon Majors while chipping nearly 90 minutes off his debut time.Background:– Born in Poland, raised in the Bronx from age 3. Polish mother, Nigerian father.– Played basketball at Lincoln High School (the one in Yonkers) and Lehman College. No running background.– Spent six-plus years in tech salesThe origin story: Late 2018, lifting weights in a Harlem gym, his neighbor Kenny mentioned he was training for the NYC Marathon. Patryk had never heard anyone say something like that out loud. He signed up for the 2020 race through Team for Kids before knowing what a 5K was.Marathon résumé:– 2020 NYC (virtual): 4:40. Ran the actual route solo in the rain; mom as support crew.– 2021 NYC: ~4:57. The 50th anniversary edition.– 2023 London: 3:58. Finally cracked sub-4 on his fourth attempt.– Six Stars: NYC → London → Berlin → Tokyo → Boston → Chicago. Wore a Yankees singlet in Boston.– 2026 Jersey City: 3:09. Now chasing sub-3.Beyond the race: Associate board member of the Bronx Burners, a 501(c)3 that has distributed $100K+ in college scholarships to Bronx youth. Creator of the Run Clubs of NYC video series — 49 NYC clubs and counting.This is Runners of NYC. A podcast from CITIUS MAG. You can catch the latest episode of the podcast on iTunes so subscribe and leave a five-star review. We are also on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter | @RunnersOfNYCEmail any comments, feedback or possible sponsorship ideas to runnersofnyc@gmail.com