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We are thrilled to welcome Brittany, the newest coach to join our PD Team! Brittany's fitness journey began after having her daughter, when she found herself completely lost on where to start with health and movement. Determined to make a change, she dove headfirst into learning everything she could about fitness.In 2018, Brittany earned her ACSM certification and launched her coaching career at a gym in Greenville, SC, where she built a solid foundation in coaching and client relationships. Since then, she's expanded her expertise with a Precision Nutrition Level 1 certification and has taught at multiple specialty fitness studios including CycleBar, RowHouse, and currently — The Lagree Method in Dublin, OH.Brittany specializes in helping women find freedom with food, build sustainable lifestyles that support their goals, and rediscover comfort in their own skin. We're diving into her personal transformation, her background, and her heart in this episode. If you'd like Brittany to guide you on your fitness journey, click here!As always, it is our goal not only to supply you, the listener, with valuable insights on the topics or questions but also to plant some seeds for further research and thought. Be sure to like and subscribe and leave us a review if you loved this episode!Timestamps:(0:00) Introducing our newest coach: Brittany Brown!(1:48) How Brittany's personal journey with fitness began(6:50) When Brittany knew she wanted to become a coach(9:39) Getting to know Brittany outside of the gym (activities, music, books, & more)(17:09) Brittany's coaching philosophy & types of clients she feels most aligned with(20:35) The most important things Brittany teaches that go beyond just training/nutrition(24:40) Brittany's experience as a PD client & how it helped shape how she coaches now(27:41) What Brittany would say to someone who's on the fence about hiring a coach (& what she wishes someone would have told her)(32:40) What you could expect with Brittany as your coach(34:51) Quick hits(43:12) Wrap-up & how to work with BrittanyInquire to work with Coach Brittany here - https://physiquedevelopment.typeform.com/to/ToP9TYLEConnect with Coach Brittany on IG - https://www.instagram.com/britbrownnHave questions or comments for us? Submit them here - https://forms.gle/AEu5vMKNLDfmc24M7Check out our FREE 4-Week Glute Program - https://bit.ly/podcastglutesAnd keep the gains rolling with 12 MORE weeks of glute growth (use code POD at checkout for $25 off!) - https://train.physiquedevelopment.com/workout-plans/963551Follow us on Instagram:Coach Alex - https://www.instagram.com/alexbush__Coach Sue - https://www.instagram.com/suegainzPhysique Development - https://www.instagram.com/physiquedevelopment_Physique Development Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/physiquedevelopmentpodcastInquire to learn about nutrition-only coaching WITH exercise review - https://bit.ly/optimizeglutesInterested in the Physique Development Training Club App? Join here! - https://physiquedevelopment.appLooking to hire the last coach you'll ever need? Apply here - https://physiquedevelopment.typeform.com/to/ToP9TYLEInterested in competition prep? Apply here - https://physiquedevelopment.typeform.com/to/Ii2UNAFor more videos, articles, and information, head to - https://physiquedevelopment.comIf you would like to support Physique Development and this podcast, please head over to your favorite podcast app and leave us a rating and review! This goes a long way in supporting this podcast and helps us continue to bring high-quality, honest content to you in the form of a podcast. Thank you for listening and we will see you all next time!----Produced by: David Margittai | In Post MediaWebsite: https://www.inpostmedia.comEmail: david@inpostmedia.com© 2025, Physique Development LLC. All rights reserved.
In a new three-part series, host Christopher Naum dives deep into the critical insights surrounding rowhouse fire operations and firefighter safety. This podcast explores the inherent challenges of operating within these unique structures, which have been prevalent across urban areas in the United States for nearly two centuries. Examining the historical context, recent line-of-duty fatalities, and essential safety insights, Naum invites listeners to engage in a conversation surrounding building construction, risk assessment, and the imperative of adapting firefighting strategies to protect both lives and property. With a focus on the importance of situational awareness and critical thinking on the fireground, this episode lays the groundwork for understanding the nuances of rowhouse firefighting and the urgent need for ongoing education within the fire service.
Today, we're excited to welcome RJ Krone, President of Extraordinary Brands, to the show. RJ has an impressive background with nearly 20 years in franchising, including leading roles at Pvolve and others. Since joining the team, he's spearheaded the acquisition of three dynamic boutique fitness franchises: Eat the Frog, RowHouse, and Neighborhood Bar. In this episode, RJ shares his philosophy on criteria for awarding franchises, focusing on profitability, and the unique benefits of a diversified fitness portfolio. He also delves into the importance of maintaining the identity of each brand while ensuring seamless operational and marketing support. Krone's journey into the fitness industry began serendipitously in 2019 when Julie Cartwright from Pvolve introduced him to their innovative online and on-demand fitness modality. He saw potential in transforming this digital concept into a brick-and-mortar franchise and, after several in-depth conversations, Krone embraced the opportunity and officially joined Pvolve on April 13, 2020, amidst the early days of COVID. On bringing on new franchisees, Krone mentions, "I think it's all about identifying what the franchisee is looking for . . . aligning with their goals, and making sure they that makes sense. I think that comes across in what we do. So if they're wet behind the ears or whatever it might be, having these types of conversations shows the maturity of our system, as well as the team that we have." Key themes discussed Building community through classes. Prioritizing franchisee profitability first. Boutique fitness marketing strategy Passion drives fitness business success Franchisor cost management strategies People business needs personal touch Medication: A tool, not replacement A few key takeaways: 1. Strategic Growth through Acquisitions: Krone highlighted the acquisitions made by Extraordinary Brands, including Eat the Frog, RowHouse, and Neighborhood Bar, to diversify and create a well-rounded offering in the boutique fitness industry. This not only provides varied workout modalities, but also aligns with their commitment to making sure every franchisee remains profitable before expanding further. 2. Focus on Franchisee Profitability: A key point emphasized was ensuring the profitability of existing franchisees before awarding new ones. This dedication to operational support and franchisee success is a foundational aspect of their business model. Krone made it clear that building a strong support system for franchisees is essential to their overall strategy. 3. Inclusivity and Accessibility in Fitness: The brands under the Extraordinary Brands umbrella focus on inclusivity, serving a broad demographic range from younger individuals to seniors. Their emphasis on community and personalized coaching also illustrates their commitment to making fitness accessible and beneficial for everyone. 4. Value Engineering to Control Build-Out Costs: Controlling build-out costs is vital for maintaining sustainable unit economics. RJ mentioned specific strategies like reducing unnecessary tiling in bathrooms to save costs. This focus on cost-effective studio design ensures that franchisees can achieve a quicker return on investment. 5. Long-Term Vision and Support for Franchisees: Extraordinary Brands is dedicated to long-term success by providing continuous support and evolving their businesses. The mention of launching nutrition counseling and integrating wellness services shows their forward-thinking approach to adapting to market demands and enhancing the overall member experience. Click to download transcript. Resources: RJ Krone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjkrone Extraordinary Brands: https://www.extraordinarybrands.com Prospect Wizard: http://www.theprospectwizard.com Promotion Vault: http://www.promotionvault.com HigherDose: http://www.higherdose.com Connect With Us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehaloadvisors/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Integritysquare YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@halotalks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/integrity-square/ Website: https://www.halotalks.com
Dawn Weiss is Chief Marketing Officer of Mayweather Fitness Holdings, LLC and a seasoned franchise marketing expert with nearly two decades of experience propelling the growth of emerging brands to become sustainable, acclaimed brands within the consumer fitness, wellness, retail and beauty sectors. Prior to joining Mayweather, she dedicated two and a half years to Xponential Fitness, overseeing multiple brands simultaneously, such as CycleBar, Row House, and STRIDE, steering growth and top-tier marketing performance through a global pandemic and the organization's initial public offering. Ms. Weiss served as COO and CMO of Amazing Lash Studio, where she played a vital role during her tenure in aiding to stabilize and grow the franchise complicated management and ownership changes. Additionally, she served as a senior marketing executive at The Joint Chiropractic, where she was recognized as Top Female Executive by Phoenix Magazine during The Joint's most significant growth period and most notably, was part of the founding team responsible for establishing the marketing foundation and brand identity that continues to drive Massage Envy Spa's thriving franchise today.Dawn stands out as a well-rounded growth and marketing strategist, proficient in a variety of marketing mediums. Her focus and passion can be found in crafting marketing strategies that propel brands to attain industry-leading excellence. Follow her journey and learn more on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawneweiss
IIn today's episode, host Pete Moore sits down with Jeff Miller, the Chief Marketing Officer of RowHouse, a leading brand under the Xponential umbrella. Jeff's career is a journey through several industries and roles, reflecting his adaptability and passion for marketing and technology. He began in the education sector, creating websites for tech products before transitioning to the burgeoning world of e-commerce during the early days of the internet. His first significant marketing role was in the surf industry with Body Glove, where he helped launch their first direct-to-consumer website and pioneered their digital marketing efforts. He delves deep into the unique positioning of RowHouse, discussing how the brand aims to demystify rowing and make it appealing to a broader audience, including non-rowers. Jeff also touches on the importance of pre-sales, the evolving focus on strength training, community building, and marketing strategies to maximize the boutique fitness experience. Listen now to learn more about fitness marketing, the impact of cultural trends, and innovative ways to keep members engaged and motivated. On the revival around rowing, Jeff states, "There's definitely a renewed interest in rowing. We're looking at some of those Olympic athletes and some of these NIL deals with college rowing to cement that. That's still a pretty small niche, but it's a way to get in front and show that . . . there's these people who are in amazing shape, who live these healthy lives, and where rowing is a part of their core concept." Key themes discussed Navigated careers from education to digital marketing. Enhancing brand membership through effective marketing strategies. Comparison of instructor influence in fitness studios. Renewed interest in rowing across all populations. Efficient workout for Ozempic users: consider rowing. Developing fitness program and integrating pretax payments. Can SilverSneakers and Medicare fund boutique fitness? A few key takeaways: 1. Jeff's diverse career path led him from education, through the surf industry with Body Glove, to a significant role at YogaWorks where he discovered his passion for marketing in the fitness industry. This background has equipped him with extensive experience in both digital and traditional marketing strategies. 2. RowHouse is approaching its 10-year anniversary and aims to position itself as the go-to option for a full-body, low-impact workout. Despite the niche nature of rowing in boutique fitness, RowHouse plans to capitalize on the comprehensive benefits of rowing, including strength, cardio, and flexibility, to attract a broader audience beyond hardcore rowers. 3. The company emphasizes its community. However, RowHouse goes a step further by promoting a "crew" mentality to distinguish itself from other boutique brands. This sense of unity and collective effort is a core element in their classes, adding value beyond the physical workout. 4. Drawing from his experience at Orange Theory Fitness, Miller highlights the importance of strong presales and opening strategies to build a robust membership base from the get-go. This involves well-thought-out marketing tactics and a competitive spirit to set high benchmarks for membership growth and studio performance. 5. RowHouse is considering the growing trends in the fitness industry, such as the focus on strength training and the potential implications of new health and wellness trends like GLP-1 weight loss drugs. The brand is also exploring new ways to optimize studio time and introduce classes that cater to different demographics, ensuring maximum utilization and appeal. Click here to download transcript. Resources: Jeff Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffmillernz/ RowHouse: https://www.therowhouse.com Prospect Wizard: http://www.theprospectwizard.com Promotion Vault: http://www.promotionvault.com HigherDose: http://www.higherdose.com Connect With Us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehaloadvisors/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Integritysquare YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@halotalks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/integrity-square/ Website: https://www.halotalks.com Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: www.ratethispodcast.com/halotalks and don't forget to check out the HALO Academy for Executive Education opportunities.
In this bonus episode of the Passive House Podcast, co-host Ilka Cassidy is at the Sustainability Symposium hosted by Green Building United. Ilka talks with Paul Thompson of BluPath, Lauren Thomsen & Matt Gindlesparger of Lauren Thomsen Design, Justin Lovenitti & Norm Horn of New Ecology and David Gavin of Quinn Evans. Ilka talked to the presenters of a row house renovation in Baltimore and a new construction row house in Philadelphia.https://blupath.us/https://www.newecology.org/https://www.laurenthomsendesign.com/https://www.quinnevans.com/Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.
It's no secret that the publishing industry is riddled with inequity. Basically every stage is white: authors to staff at publishing houses to marketing campaigns targeting white readers, the system is not designed to amplify marginalized voices. That's why I'm grateful for this week's conversation with Rebekah Borucki, founder and president of Row House. Along with sharing her personal story, we discuss: The inequities in publishing How Row House is aiming to change the publishing landscape at scale Their innovative 40/40 model Some behind-the-scenes of their submissions process Along with being the founder and president of Row House, Rebekah is a mother to five, grandmother to one, self-help and children's author, and founder and president of Wheat Penny Press and the WPP Little Readers Big Change Initiative. She is driven by a commitment to make wellness, self-learning, and literacy tools available to all and to help others recover the freedoms stolen from them by white supremacy through activism centering on Black liberation and trans rights. Learn more about Rebekah: Website Rebekah Barucki LinkedIn Row House Publishing Instagram @rowhousepub Follow me on: Instagram @stacyennis Facebook @stacyenniscreative LinkedIn Youtube @stacyennisauthor To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Explore the groundbreaking work of Rebeka Borucki in making the publishing industry more inclusive and equitable. Through her founding of Row House Publishing, Rebeka provides a platform for marginalized voices, promoting diversity in children's literature. Brad and Lesley covers her dedication to social justice, the impact of her initiatives on communities, and her advocacy for a more inclusive literary world.If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.In this episode you will learn about:Impact to community when sharing and redistributing wealth.Rebeka's approach to empowering marginalized voices.The value of sharing and developing ideas openly.Rebeka's emphasis on the strength in collective actions.Episode References/Links:Rebeka BoruckiRow House PublishingStudio Growth AcceleratorOPC Summer CampOPC WorkshopsCambodia Early BirdLittle Readers Big Change If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. DEALS! Check out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox Be in the know with all the workshops at OPCBe It Till You See It Podcast SurveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates MentorshipFREE Ditching Busy Webinar Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!Lesley Logan websiteBe It Till You See It PodcastOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley LoganOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTubeProfitable Pilates Follow Us on Social Media:InstagramFacebookLinkedIn Episode Transcript:Lesley Logan 0:00 Your country cannot be wealthy if you do not take care of your poor. And the more impoverished people are, the less wealthy a country is. And until and this goes for every country, not just I mean, obviously we live here, but like how we take care of those who have less than us is how we take care of each other truly. Lesley Logan 0:19 Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 1:01 Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It interview recap where my co-host in life, Brad, and I are going to dig into the inclusionary combo I have with Rebekah Borucki in our last episode. If you haven't yet listened that episode, go back and listen to it because holy frickin moly.Brad Crowell 1:14 She is a powerhouse. Lesley Logan 1:15 She is a powerhouse. She's a badass, she's like, like just all things amazing. Just all things amazing. So you should just pause this, go listen to that and come back. Or you can listen to this first because you're here and maybe you're you know, got your hands wet. And then make sure your podcast plays right into the one from Tuesday. Before we get into Rebekah's amazing words, today is March 21st 2024 and it is both world Poetry Day and Companies That Care Day. So I couldn't pick because I like them both because one, poetry, Rebekah is a founder of a publishing house. So like and she's a writer, so that kind of made sense. And then companies that care. She is a company that cares. So I kind of liked they both landed on this day. World Poetry Day was actually invented by UNESCO in 1999. So it's all here to like protect poetry. And I'm not a good poetry writer. But shout out to Alison Whipple, who is one of our agency members who is like, very humble, but also a very, very published poet, and does some amazing work. And then companies that care, you know, what you tell us about your company that, you know, that cares. But basically what that is, is like, companies are supposed to start to recognize that it's their employees that are if their employees are happy, they're a better company, so they should give some it fucks about the people that they hire, period. End of story. Okay, so upcoming events and travel and such. I'm actually getting on a plane tomorrow to go to Dallas. Yeah. But when I get back, Brad has an amazing two-hour workshop for Pilates instructors and business owners. Brad Crowell 2:45 Yes, I do. It's called the Studio Growth Accelerator, and y'all should join me. So basically, we are going to be digging into our new Accel formula, A-C-C-E-L. It's going to be a deep dive into how we can create jumpstart, kickstart, actually generate the growth that your studio needs to have. So if you are feeling like you have been stuck, you're looking for clients, you make the same money you got last year, you just can't get the get the ball moving forward. This accelerator is for you. And you can join me by going to PRfit.biz/accelerator that's PRfit.biz/accelerator. It's gonna be a two-hour workshop. So, you know, our two-hour hangout we'll probably talk for about 90 minutes and then we'll do Q&A or something. So yeah, come join me.Lesley Logan 3:39 And then we have we're getting up we've been playing all day today that we're recording this summer camp. Oh my gosh, so last year at OPC, OnlinePilatesClasses.com we had our first ever summer camp there's six teachers was super super fun. This particular year I want to do it bigger and better and better and more think just like true summer camp vibes without the bunk beds without the without the bugs without the travel and there is access Brad Crowell 4:04 Without the terrible roommate.Lesley Logan 4:05 Yeah, you won't have a terrible roommate, you won't have like crappy food. Brad Crowell 4:08 Your parents won't be dropping you off.Lesley Logan 4:10 Like fake cheese you know like, no, no, no, it's gonna you'll be able to attend from the comfort of your own home with your camera off if you want to. And you'll have lifetime access to the replays which is super, super amazing. So you want to go to opc.me/workshops, opc.me/workshops, you want to be on the waitlist if you want to get the best. I'm actually you want to be an OPC member if you want to get the best OPC price (inaudible) they are and then people on the waitlist get the next hookup and then those who are neither of those get the next hookup which is not as good as the first hookup or the second one. So just so you know. And then finally as we're recording this we actually only have like how many spots left in Cambodia?Brad Crowell 4:50 Two, two spots left. Lesley Logan 4:52 And actually before this episode comes out, (inaudible) someone's already, somebody's already doing an email, a mass email to their people. So it's quite possible by the time you listen to this, it is actually sold out. Brad Crowell 5:06 However. Lesley Logan 5:07 However, we've already planned 2025. Brad Crowell 5:10 That's right. Lesley Logan 5:10 Yeah. So you actually can purchase your spot now for the February 2025 retreat.Brad Crowell 5:17 And I would recommend you do it because this one sold out real fast. Lesley Logan 5:21 It didn't even take two months. It's insane. And so we're super, super excited about this. It's our very special retreat. It's really magical. And we actually got to hang out with a couple of our Cambodia retreaters in real life here in Las Vegas. And they were talking about all the amazing stuff that they took away from it and like implemented right away. So I just love that. So anyways, crowsnestretreats.com. Crows (that's a plural) nestretreats.com. All right, before we get into Rebekah's amazingness. What is our audience question, Brad? Brad Crowell 5:54 Yeah, we had a great one from Angela today on Instagram. She's asking, Have you any experience with upholstery cracking on your reformers, the studio I work for has Merrithew reformers and it seems to be a recurring issue. I'm wondering if the cleaners they're using are too harsh. And the boss says it's just human skin oils. But I've not had this problem with mine at home, nor have I heard about it from other teachers who use other brands like Legacy or Balanced Body. Lesley Logan 6:22 Okay, Angela. So here's the deal. If it was body oil, it would not be cracking it, it would actually be like white moisturizing it or like oiling it like it's actually like oil is actually really great Brad Crowell 6:36 The oil isn't gonna dry it out. Lesley Logan 6:38 Now, I will say this, you didn't ask for this. But there are some manufacturers and I won't name names because I'm not interested in being yelled at. But where whatever they used to coat the wood of their, also, it was not, it doesn't happen on my Contrology but there are some wood push-through bars, and also wood reformers that whatever they use to like, shine up the wood, when you use cleaner on it the human sweat makes it sticky. So that is awful and gross. And like, I will never buy that brand of equipment because you can't unfix that. But as far as upholstery cracking it is 100% the material you're using, and or not material, like cleaning supplies. Yeah. Brad Crowell 7:24 Like if they're using Pine Sol on it. Lesley Logan 7:26 Well, yeah, you should not be using that. Also if you're using like a like, you want to make sure that any of those wipes you're using because now that we're in a post-COVID world, everybody wants to use these wipes. The thing about those is one, it's a lot more trash, two, it might not be allowed on your equipment. Just because it's allowed on gym equipment doesn't mean it's allowed on Pilates equipment. And so I like Balanced Body's cleaner, it's really easy, you get a big bottle, you take a cap full, you get some water and it's super, super easy to clean. A lot of people will use tea tree oil and I know I said oil and oil makes it oily but the truth is that there's something in the tea tree oil that actually will dry out equipment overtime and make a crack or upholstery overtime they can crack. So I don't have a ton of people coming to my equipment. So I do use a method spray on a towel because again, it's not it's happening like once a day if that on my equipment. In my old studio, I would use like a method soap if I ran out of the Balance Body and I put a few drops in water and that got really clean. But also, you will always need to use a little soft bristle toothbrush with a microfiber towel to get the skin out of your equipment because oh my gosh, there's little groups and like it's gross, it's so gross. And just because equipment is a darker color doesn't mean it's not happening it just means you're not seeing it. But 100% whatever you're using is too harsh for that upholstery and you may want to go to the manufacturers of that upholstery and find out what they recommend you clean it with because it's quite possible they're using different material than what you mentioned the other brands.Brad Crowell 9:01 It's also possible that maybe it's in direct sunlight.Lesley Logan 9:04 Oh that is also so what happens with direct sunlight is and that's why we put blankets on our equipment in the house because the sun here it actually so I don't it's like there's a sheenBrad Crowell 9:16 Because it's wrapped around a little bit around the edges and it can become brittle if the sun is baking baking and baking it and then the and then it will crack along the edges. Lesley Logan 9:26 And also it makes it really hard to spin around on so like I used to (inaudible) a ladder barrel that was in the wind in a window and you could never slide on the ladder barrel because it was like had just like dried it out. So yeah, you guys, this stuff is amazing. This equipment's amazing, will last you years if you take care of it, but if you're using the wrong cleaner, you'll have to re-upholster it. And that thing about upholstery is eventually, if you re-upholster, I bought extra shoulder blocks because you know, you hit it the wrong way it could definitely hit a tear so Brad Crowell 9:55 We dropped our reformer box and it split the corner unfortunately, you know, stuff happens. Lesley Logan 10:00 So yeah, if you have a question you would like us to answer, it can be anything doesn't have to be Pilates. Brad Crowell 10:07 It could be anything. Lesley Logan 10:08 It could be anything. We're happy to answer it and see that you send it to the Be It Pod.Brad Crowell 10:13 All right now let's talk about Rebekah Borucki. Rebekah is the author of children's books founder and president of Row House Publishing and has been transforming the literary world by fostering equitable practices for marginalized authors. With a background shaped by adversity and activism, she passionately redefines publishing norms, she ensures access to diverse books for children in underserved communities, embodying the change she seeks in the industry. Lesley Logan 10:39 Yeah, she's cool. Brad Crowell 10:41 This was a really inspiring interview. And I just really felt empowered by the decisions she made. The frustrations that she felt frustrated me too. And then hearing what she decided to do about it. was really cool to hear. I also was laughing because she was like, Yeah, I definitely, definitely didn't know what I was getting myself into when I was like, well, I'm gonna make my own publishing company.Lesley Logan 11:10 I know, I think it's probably better that she did it. Because you know what it's like, as you if you know too much, you it's like becomes overwhelming. So if you don't know (inaudible). But you guys, if you did not listen, you have to listen to this because Brad and I talked about values a lot, like what are our values and like, how we filter decisions through our values, and like, not everything's gonna go the way you want to. But like, she was sitting in a room realizing like this is, they're not doing right by, by people.Brad Crowell 11:38 She was signed to a publishing group, she had an agent, all the things going well, and they were dickheads.Lesley Logan 11:44 Yeah. And she did like, and this is like something like so because I mean, so many writers would be like, Oh, my God, I got a publisher, I got an agent, I got all the things. I made it, and she got published and she stuck with her values and she marched off and she created Row House publishing and I also it's another thing just to like another little highlight, you also picked up which is like niching, to a specific type of genre, which is you can write about any kind of genre, as long as it's in the lens of social justice.Brad Crowell 12:16 Yeah, I thought that was pretty cool. Because a lot of publishers will pick, like, we do fantasy, or we do science books or whatever, you know, but her her niche is, can cross multiple genres. Yeah. Because it's about a topic or standing for something. And I also thought she niched down even more, she said, you had to further a conversation in a way that hasn't been, you know, furthered yet. So it's not like she's intentionally trying to move the conversation forward with the books that the company's publishing, which I thought was pretty, pretty cool.Lesley Logan 12:53 I mean, so cool. Like, just I mean, I feel like I don't know, maybe she sat down one day, and was like, wouldn't it be cool if and then that's what she created, because it's freaking cool. And I actually reached out to Kelly (inaudible), who is a romance novel that we've had on and I was like, I don't know if you want to write a romance novel, in this lens. But I think you'll really love Rebecca. And I think you'd love Rojas publishing, so just saying. Anyways one of the things we talked about that I really liked it, she's, this is her words, so I'm gonna make sure you know that she's like, she's like, it is up to us to stand up and say something. And then also said, it's up to us to share and redistribute wealth. We had nothing and we were constantly giving, so I can't resonate with her life in that way, but I remember like, my family didn't have any money. And we were constantly taking people in and feeding people. And I'm like, we have no money, what are we doing, but my parents never let that stop, making sure people got taken care of. And it's really interesting. I think a lot of people don't realize how important that is. And they don't do it. And she, her family had nothing. And they were constantly giving. And she took that redistribution of wealth as part of like, how into her values and how she does what she does. And that's why her publishing company actually pays authors a wage that they can live off of, because like, I mean, that's the biggest thing we hear with all of our friends were authors and like, you sell a book, which you like, make nothing. Yeah, like you make speaking, you make money off of speaking later.Brad Crowell 14:20 Yeah, I mean, that's the big joke in the publishing industry, unless you're like, you have, you're on the news every day, you don't have enough reach to, to generate the demand, so that you can go to a publishing company and say pay me upfront, you know, X amount of dollars. So, you know, for this book, most publishing companies will be like, I'll give you, I'll pay you a little bit and it's not much, right? So, everybody that we talked to, in our circles says yeah, I use my book as my loss leader. I use my book as my lead magnet, you know, all this kind of stuff because they're, it's it seems dim You're gonna get something that's like, oh, legit. Lesley Logan 15:02 And you know, here's the thing, that whenever I hear that it kind of pisses me off a little bit. And publishing. Yeah, it just kind of pissed me off, because I'm like, it's kind of like when I started teaching Pilates and I was like, oh, no, you just charge less than that person, and they charge less than this person. And we all are just happy family of no one making any money and always, like, not having enough. And I kind of, I kind of love that she's bucking the system, stay true to our values. And then using the money, her company's making to redistribute wealth, to put it in hands of people who are furthering conversations, who are bringing things to light, who are getting things into becuase you know, here's the thing about books you guys. Like, there are things that happen in books have changed your perspective of how you think about something, how you see something, I'm listening to a book on Audible right now that I just, my mind is blown in every single chapter. I really just think it's cool how she's gotten to where she is, and she's just hitting the ground running and not stopping until she gets this message out there and changes the publishing world. Brad Crowell 16:05 I really loved when she was talking about the old guard versus the reality of life today. You know, for me, I struggle, I struggle with this a lot. As you know, Lesley and I follow a lot of politics. So I'm actually I stay aware of what's going on in the US Congress, in the Senate, in the house, in and then also internationally because we traveled so much to Cambodia. And it's really frustrating when someone who, you know, has like generational wealth, who's a billionaire, and has an opinion can just write a big fat check and then it like, throws a wrench into supporting people and that makes me angry. And (inaudible).Lesley Logan 16:56 It's so fucking frustrating. Since you brought it up. Here's what's frustrating. Because your country cannot be wealthy, if you do not take care of your poor. And the more poverished people are, the less wealthy a country is. And until and this goes for every country, not just I mean, obviously, we live here, but like, how we take care of those who have less than us is how we take care of each other truly. And it's really frustrating that like some of the things that change what happened, even the people we voted for, it's like, okay, so we're just gonna take this little morsel, because that's what we got from the old guard. You know what I mean? Like it changes so freaking slow pisses me off. Brad Crowell 16:56 Yeah. And that's where like taking a stand in her choice to work with a company that was literally the old guard. And, she said, five of their authors were the biggest disinformation books when it came to COVID. vaccines. Yeah. And she said, I had a problem with that. And you know, but the people in the room were like, yeah, but it makes us money. So we don't actually give a shit.Lesley Logan 18:02 And here's the thing, that's crazy. This is why I truly believe her publishing company is going to be doing amazing things because the way that the old publishing houses were doing it, and the way the old media outlets are doing it, they're all dying. They're not making money, because they were always trying to please the people at the top with the money. And they were not actually paying attention to the people who watch the programs, who read the programs. Brad Crowell 18:28 Yeah. And so you know, and, you know, what was crazy to me to hear at the end, like, so obviously, she started Row House Publishing with a mission and they're definitely, they're not I, she said, they're an activist, company, but they also, they've grown right? So they have had small donations to get the ball rolling, but they clearly had large donors, because one of the things that they decided to take a stand for the large donor decided to pull a half a million dollar contribution from from what they were trying to do. And that's fucking terrifying. But it's also insane. It's also crazy that, you know, someone has that kind of leverage that kind of power, and how dramatic that can affect a small company, and kudos for her for, you know, buckling down going back to what they do, which is reach out to their community and rally around each other and support each other. That is really inspiring. But, she said, ownership really needs to be in the hands of marginalized people, just because they know how to get things done, because they don't have the luxury of being like, well just reach into my empty $8 billion pocketbook thing. Lesley Logan 19:49 They've always had to like figure it out. And so they figure it like they can figure it out. And it's, they can figure it out in ways that can take big dollars and make them go further than people with the big dollars could ever have done.Brad Crowell 20:01 And honestly, not only that, I really think that when you go through, like the fire and come out the other side, and then can make money, raise money, have that influence, you will do different things with it. Yeah, you just appreciate it differently.Lesley Logan 20:19 Yeah. Well, also, I mean, like, you know how important even a little bit can impact someone's life. Like, Rebekah has the charity that brings books to children, right? And like, the power of reading at a young age and having access to books, it like though, these are big deal things. They're not small. And the things that get cut for places where there is not enough money, are the things that actually can change the world.Brad Crowell 20:50 I'll tell you like it blows my mind because, you know, many years ago, you'll hear me talking about Cambodia ad nauseam. But many years ago, a friend of mine moved to Cambodia. And he made it seem impossible for me to get there. And years after being there, he said, yeah, you know, every family that works for me, I require them to send their kids to school, and they have to check in. And the school tells me if the kids don't show up for school, he said, I, he said this is a country of extreme wealth and extreme poverty. And he said I believe wholeheartedly that education is going to be the factor that changes that. And unfortunately, it's just slow going, but that's what needs to happen. And as an American, I was like, well, we got that fucking box checked. What good kudos for us over the last, you know, eight years, really paying attention to politics and starting to learn more about the education in our country. I'm shocked at the the lack of consistency across the art, you know, we have 50 different states, and we have 8000 different, literally, 8000 different municipalities that have different laws and it's crazy, crazy to me. Lesley Logan 22:15 Yeah, it's really it is. And it's really sad, because the way that education is paid for is based off of property taxes which means if you live in a poor area, there are no property taxes, people are renters, which means the schools get the least amount of support are the ones that if you gave them the most, they would change the world. It'd be generational change. My mother is a teacher. I have a special place in my heart for teachers. You all do so much, you get paid so little. And now they don't teach cursive anymore?Brad Crowell 22:50 Yeah, no.Lesley Logan 22:51 I don't even understand like, why not? Why just anyways, we can go on and on. I fucking love her. And I do agree with her that when you give people who have been marginalized, when you give them ownership, they will make absolute amazing change. Brad Crowell 23:07 She said when that shifts for everyone, when there are more female leaders, black, brown, disabled queer leaders, she said when that shifts, everything is going to shift for everybody. Lesley Logan 23:17 For everybody. It will really, truly well. So I can't wait to see that happen. You know, maybe I'll pray.Brad Crowell 23:25 Okay, finally, let's talk about those Be It Action Items, what bold, executable intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your conversation with Rebekah Borucki? She said as soon as you have a dream or an idea, start talking about it. Talk about it, do not wait until you have the perfect presentation. Start ideating, dreaming, discussing, it will help you figure that out. It'll help it come to shape, come to life. When you have other people to help bounce ideas off of she said, enlisting, it will help effectively to enlist an accountability partner and she said, Rebekah did the same thing when she wrote her children's book, she said I'm gonna write a children's book by X date and then she called a friend and said here's what I want to do, hold me accountable. Right? And by talking about it, she was able to make it happen. I think the hard thing about this is the fear of failure. Right? You know, the fear that like this grandiose dream that you may have that honestly, maybe it's not even that grandiose, but this dream that you have, if it doesn't come together, you're gonna let yourself down, you're gonna let others down, you know, all those kinds of things. And I definitely, I definitely understand that. You know, I really wanted to go to music school and I was auditioning to get a scholarship and I was really afraid that I wasn't going to get into school. So I didn't really tell that many people that I literally was taking trombone lessons. After high school, I would go and take, like sessions with a professional player, you know, and I would go practice on my own. And people were like, where are you going? And I wouldn't tell them. Because if what if I, what if I auditioned and I failed? You know? You know, but imagine if I had instead shared and said, I'm gonna go do this because I want to go get the scholarship, the encouragement and support that would have helped me. Lesley Logan 25:29 Oh, my gosh, it's so true. It's so true. I loved when she talked about community, of course, I think that Be It Action Item is amazing. So she said be in community, on any level, with others in the practice of giving, but also, and this is the part I loved, receiving. Because I think a lot of people will like, oh, I'm doing this thing. And I'm doing this thing I'm giving, giving, giving, but you're never receiving. And it's really important to receive because you learn so much more about yourself and others. And then you have the ability to give when it's when you have the ability to give. She also said build those relationships, there are ones that will sustain you mentally. And then there are some that can sustain you financially if you need it. That puts you in the spirit of feeling that you're doing good. And then also she said this, also advocate and be an activist in your own way. And I think that's really cool. I think we sometimes we think of the word activist, and we think we have to like be out screaming with a poster somewhere. But you don't have to be that you can be an activist in your own family and making sure they vote, I can be an activist right now I'm gonna advocate for all of you, wherever you live, if you are allowed to vote. If you are actually allowed to vote where you live, you must do it, you owe it to yourself to do it. And for those you who live in the States, I'm gonna tell you right now, make sure you're registered. Double check, do all the things. Make sure your family is I don't care if you don't like all options. You have like, I vote in the advocacy of others, of always thinking of other people when I choose the person I'm voting for. And like that is my way of being an activist and advocate. And it's not big, it's not huge. And other ways you can be an activist or an advocate is like charitable work, like you can actually donate. Like, if you don't have the time, if you have some money, you can give it to them, right? Or you can connect people who might have the money that this charity needs. There's like so many ways you can act as an advocate. You can like so never ever think like, oh, I don't I'm not I'm not someone who can, who can stand up to a crowd and like tell people things, you can do it in your own way. And one of the things I'm excited to share is that after listening to Rebekah, I was so inspired. I was like, how do I talk to this woman all the time? And I still haven't figured that out. So but what I can tell you is she told me she told us about Little Readers Big Change, that organization. And I know the power of reading for me when I was a little kid, I know what it did for me and what it did for my creativity and my imagination and all that stuff. And so OPC's charity for this year is Little Readers Big Change. And I just found out from our team that we are making our first, our Q1 payment to that charity. So I can't tell you today how much it is because I wasn't told that yet. But I can tell you that we have them slotted I'm so excited. We will be donating each quarter to them. And I think that is a really cool way to give back. Brad Crowell 28:14 Yeah, every year we choose a new charity to support and so yeah, we're stoked to be effectively helping bring books to schools.Lesley Logan 28:25 Yeah. So thank you, Rebekah, for letting me know about this amazing charity it's so cool to learn about it and it's really cool that we can we can donate to that charity this year. I'm Lesley Logan. Lesley Logan 28:35 And I'm Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 28:36 Thank you so much for listening to this. Shout out to Roxy Menzies who was a guest who was the one who connected Rebekah. She knew I would love her. I do a lot and I'm really so excited to hear what your takeaways are, how are you going to use these tips in your life? Please let the Be It Pod know. Let Row House Publishing, let Rebekah know, like, tell her if any of these parts is really took because you know what, it's really hard to run a company and I bet you today she might just need to hear that like something she said just blew your mind, changed your life, inspired you to do something big. I'm sure it would make her feel incredibly amazing. So, go do that and until next time, Be It Till You See It. Brad Crowell 29:11 Bye for now. Lesley Logan 29:13 That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Lesley Logan 29:41 Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod. Brad Crowell 29:56 It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 30:00 It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co. Brad Crowell 30:05 Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi. Lesley Logan 30:12 Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals. Brad Crowell 30:15 Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Lesley explores Rebekah's journey from confronting the limitations of traditional publishing to establishing Row House Publishing. Discover how community support played a crucial role in her fundraising efforts, enabling the launch of initiatives like the Little Readers Big Change Initiative, which brings literacy resources to under-resourced schools. This episode highlights the importance of reciprocal relationships within the community, diversity, and the impact of equitable profit-sharing models in fostering a fair publishing environment.If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.In this episode you will learn about:Rebekah's decision to leave a traditional publishing house due to its lack of diversity.The role of community support and the power of small donations in achieving big dreams.The strategic decisions behind the equitable profit-sharing model at Row House Publishing designed to disrupt traditional publishing norms.The importance of being actively involved in your community and how collective efforts can fuel significant change.The significance of not just giving to but also receiving from your community.Episode References/Links:Rebekah Borucki WebsiteRow House PublishingRow House Publishing InstagramGuest Bio:Rebekah “Bex” Borucki (she/they) is a mixed-race neuro-riotous mother-to-five, grandmother-to-one, self-help and children's author, and the Founder and President of Row House, Wheat Penny Press, and the WPP Little Readers Big Change Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering literacy programming to K-12 students in underestimated school districts and grants to Black and Brown creatives and booksellers. Borucki is driven by a commitment to make wellness, self-learning, and literacy tools available to all and to help others recover the freedoms stolen from them by white supremacy through activism centering Black liberation and trans rights. Borucki lives with her family in her native state, New Jersey. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. DEALS! Check out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox Be in the know with all the workshops at OPCBe It Till You See It Podcast SurveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates MentorshipFREE Ditching Busy Webinar Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!Lesley Logan websiteBe It Till You See It PodcastOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley LoganOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTubeProfitable Pilates Follow Us on Social Media:InstagramFacebookLinkedIn Episode Transcript:Rebekah Borucki 0:00 I am a kid and I love writing for the little girl that was me that didn't have access to even hugs most days. So, you know, I'm sticking with this. If I could work in the children's space all the time, I love my authors. I love all of my authors at Hay House, but if I could just like hire another president and be in the children's space, I, 100% would.Lesley Logan 0:24 Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 1:06 Hi, Be It babe. Okay, get ready. Get ready. So our guest today is Rebekah Borucki. She is the founder of Row House Publishing. Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. What an incredible story. What an incredible journey. What an incredible life she is living. And I am so grateful Roxy, for you making this massive connection. I am in awe of what Rebekah is doing and also like her ability to share that and also give you options. So we're going to talk a little bit about activism here, we're going to talk about her being going growing up and then becoming an author, a published author, and then switching from a publishing (inaudible) into owning her own and starting your own and then really taking care of authors. And then also the work she's doing for her children, K through 12 for reading, and I'm just you're gonna be fired up, I'm fired up, there is information on how to support her publishing company, there's also a, I'm going to put some in the show notes and with the charities that like little readers that you can have, you can donate to, because it is called littlereadersbigchange.com. So we'll make sure that all those things are in there. If you're wondering like, a little bit why this matters, I can tell you right now that because my mom made sure that during my year of kindergarten, she read to me 500 books, that my ability to dream, be creative. kind of go outside with the world today and think of something that could possibly happen and then make that happen is because of books. And I took a lot of years off of reading. And then I recently started reading again, and not reading. I've read a lot of books or just mostly workbooks, but like reading some months, some fiction and like just some other stuff. And I'm a ferocious reader. I love it. And I think it is important for children of all ages everywhere to see themselves in books out there. And so Rebekah Borucki is making that happen. She's one of many people and I'm so honored to share her with you today. So take a listen. And if you can support her publishing company or Little Reader Big change in any way, please do and we're going to look at those Be It Action Items. They're brilliant, they're amazing, and they're going to support you. Here is Rebekah Borucki. Lesley Logan 3:20 All right, Be It babe. Welcome to the podcast. I'm so excited for today's guest she has a connection with a dear friend who's also been on the show Roxy Menzies and so we have Rebekah Borucki here today she is a self-published author which is just I think it's interesting we have to even identify between self-published and like published, republish because writing a book, and you're both. Okay, so she's hyphenated. She's a multifaceted author of children's books and I'm so excited to have you here, Rebekah, will you tell us who you are and what you rock at?Rebekah Borucki 3:49 Okay, well, I'm Rebekah, who introduced me and got my name, right. That's awesome. Pronouns are she/they. I am the president and founder of Row House Publishing, also, Wheat Penny Press, which preceded Row House, which was the children's publishing house. And then also the Little Readers Big Change Initiative, which is our nonprofit that provides literacy, or literacy resources and books and author visits to K-12 schools in under-resourced districts. And we also support black-owned indie bookstores and black and brown creators. So we do a lot. I do a lot. Lesley Logan 4:22 You do a lot. Rebekah Borucki 4:24 I have five kids, I can't forget them. That's my most important job and one grandbaby. So. Lesley Logan 4:29 Oh my God, you don't look old enough to have a grandbaby and also when you said five kids for a split second, I thought you were joking. Like just saying I do all this and I have five kids, but then it's like, no, no, she's really, it's five kids. Okay. I feel like we have to go back a little bit like was it always a dream of yours to be an author? Was this something you fell into? I also, you know, I think it's amazing what you're doing for readers of schools, like I grew up, my, thank goodness, my mom made sure I read I think it changed my life. You know, so can you tell me how this, where do we begin? Rebekah Borucki 5:02 So, my parents didn't make sure I read at all. I grew up in a lower middle class or not middle class, I'm sorry, lower middle, or working class, working class family, in a very small working class town, lived under the poverty line, my entire pre-adult life, really struggled with food insecurity, all that stuff. So it was really a matter of just survival. But I loved school. And I love to write, I absolutely did not dream of becoming a writer because I didn't think that was even something you could do for a living. And I had a teacher, Glenda Autry. She was my first black teacher in middle school, I'm mixed race. And so she kind of like took all like the black and brown girls under her wing. And there was one report card, she wrote a note home. And I still have the note, and said, Rebekah's writing is beautiful. I can't wait to read one of her books one day. And it was just like that glimmer of, oh, that's something that I can do. And people think I could do that set me not on a path to writing but set me on a path to explore my creativity. Even on the side, I was a teen mom, I had three kids before I was 25. So there were a lot of obstacles in me going my own way. But I'm also completely unemployable. I'm autistic, I hate being outside, I don't do well in front of crowds of people. So I had to kind of make up my own way. And I hustled and created a platform, a wellness platform, I was doing yoga and meditation for a really long time. I was published with Hay House, two books with Hay House. Long story short, they're super racist and exclusive over there. So I had to leave in 2020 and start my own publishing house, knowing nothing about publishing. Lesley Logan 6:46 And so that's what I'm looking in the back of your office Row House Publishing that's you. That's yeah, that's gosh, okay. So, um, wow, I, your teacher, like, I almost had tears in my eyes. But you're really, really like reliving that moment. So beautiful. It's amazing, I think, how like something that probably how could she know like, how impactful that could have been? I mean, maybe she did, but also like, you know, I think of like, maybe some of the teacher's notes I got home and very few of my kept like, that's kind of that's really powerful. I also think it's really difficult for someone to leave something that (in air quotes) "to secure" a publishing house like that. What was, do you mind sharing? Like, was it an easy decision? Did you have to, like, really think about it like, because I just wonder like, some people just like, I had to do it. And other people, I'm like, well, you know, like, especially my life I grew up with, I wasn't impoverished that much as like that as low as your situation was. But we were just above that, right? So we were just enough that we couldn't get any of the extra help. And so, for a long time, people know who was in the podcast, we don't, I don't answer my phone, because I think it's bill collector, like, I'm so conditioned to like, screening the call.Rebekah Borucki 7:56 Same. Every time I go to the grocery line, I have my debit card, I'm like, do I have enough in the bank, like I totally do, and it's gonna be scary for the rest of my life. Lesley Logan 8:03 Right. So I mean, like, people don't realize, like, I was a little girl, like at the age of 11, I can't believe the world let you do this. But at age 11, I would take a check and write it for more. That's what my parents taught me to write it for more, because then you'll get the cash and then fingers crossed. It's when there's money in the bank, and no one bounces a check at the grocery store, like, so I do understand that. So I guess like when I hear things like where you stand up for something that's so much you believe in but also is like a livelihood for you. I guess I just wonder what that decision felt like.Rebekah Borucki 8:36 I don't know if it's a cultural differences. But the way I was raised, my parents were activists in their own way they were pacifist, they were adamantly anti-war in any circumstance. So I grew up with this sense of it is up to us to stand up and say something. And also, it's up to us to share and redistribute wealth, we had nothing, and we were constantly giving. So that's just, I don't know if it was a cultural thing. It's definitely something that is in black and brown communities, all marginalized communities because there was no other way to survive than to help another. So when I saw that, you know, I'm the brownest person in the room. And I said that to the CEO. And his response is, well, you have to understand, Rebekah, that we cater to an affluent audience. I knew that not only did my people not belong there, but I didn't belong there. And it just became unacceptable for me, who already walked through the world with a lot of light-skinned privilege, you know, skin privilege, like all the things that I navigate white spaces really well, like, it just felt completely gross for me to continue to benefit from this system. And if I thought about it, I don't know if I would have made the decision so quickly. I didn't really think about it. It's kind of like, oh, that's your answer. You know, you're not gonna do anything. And it was in the middle of a meeting actually to discuss why they weren't addressing that five of the 12 disinformation dozen, the 12 people online that were responsible for most of the misinformation and disinformation around COVID. Five of those people were their authors. And it was in a meeting to discuss, like, why you're not saying anything? Or Why aren't you coming out with a stance? And why aren't you talking about the uprisings happening all over the United States and Black Lives Matter and whatever. And their resistance refusal to take accountability or to say that they have the power to do something was just like, I was like, I gotta go. My agent was sitting there like, I don't know what she did. She didn't know that was gonna happen. And she's this like, amazing white lady from New York powerhouse, beautiful literary agent, had no idea really what I was saying, but was there for me. Yeah, I just, I just left and I wasn't planning on starting my own publishing house, my former editor and then good friend, Kristen McGuiness texted me late I think it was a Monday night, and she said, you know, why don't you just start your own Hay House. And I, in my infinite wisdom and spunk said, "Sure. Why not? Let's call it Bay House." That was, that's how it happened. That was (inaudible) 2020. In November we had the name registered, in February, we launched online with a fundraiser and we started, we raised 10,000, or not 10,000. We raised $100,000, in the first 10 days. So people wanted it.Lesley Logan 11:32 Yeah. Okay. Can you tell okay, and maybe we can go on to other tangent to this note you want to talk about, but like, I guess, like starting a publishing house, that is not an easy thing to do. You do need money. That's how that's why publisher like publishers have the money (inaudible).Rebekah Borucki 11:49 We needed the money. And this was very interesting for me, because I was very familiar with fundraising in terms of mutual aid, where it's just like direct giving to people who need, it paying people's electric bills. That was my whole life. And it was definitely something that I was engaged in as an activist at that time. But you know, so going out and asking for money wasn't a hard thing for me. But the scale, like we needed to raise, we thought we needed to raise $800,000, we ended up blowing past that raising 1.2 million, and these were small money donations, like this was $5, $20, $100. Because that's how we do, right, in this community. And, you know, we hit that mark, I didn't realize I didn't know the historic value of this. Only 150 women to date, right now, 150 black women have raised more than a million dollars from venture capital. So it just doesn't happen at all. Don't raise as much money. And so going in blindly, kind of helped me I didn't know how hard it was going to be. I didn't know the obstacles that were ahead. But Rebekah Borucki 12:53 Which was probably better. (Inaudible)Rebekah Borucki 12:58 So one, one of my mentors, a black man, black executive in finance, he said, like, look, this isn't going to be a matter of you going into rooms and then saying, so how much money we're gonna make together. It's going to be people asking you how you're not going to lose my money, because of where you come from, because of who you are what you are. And that was demoralizing. That was hard. But yeah (inaudible).Lesley Logan 13:27 That stings. I think like I had, maybe a year ago, I had a woman on who was in tech and financing and she like, was one of the few women who's in the rooms like with where the money is raised. And her whole thing is like, there's not, there's not that many women in general getting money from venture capital. And then she's like, and then you go, and you break it out by color. And it's like, it's just not even close. There's there's not even like a way to go, how do we bridge this? Make it, like, it's not going to be fair.Rebekah Borucki 13:56 (Inaudible) Like on the graph, like you can't even see it? And yes, that's a problem. But what I know, as someone, you know, with, that's in the black community, there's a way so it was really just being completely transparent. This is what we need. This is what we plan to do. This is how we're different. This is how we're, it's for us and by us. And so we rally that ground support that there's a ground support from my community, my close community, but it was also 2021 when people really wanted to be good. And so there was a lot of, we capitalize a lot on that that week of 2020. You know, that was unfair, like horrible, horrific, but at least some black folks brown folks were able to kind of get a foothold start their careers and have their voices amplified. Lesley Logan 14:49 So your publishing house is it specifically for black and brown authors. Like what do you guys focus on? Is it for everyone is it for like?Rebekah Borucki 14:56 It's for everyone, all genres. We have five imprints now. So it's children's, it's romance, it's YA. So many beautiful, beautiful books, beautiful people. The requirements to get published with us are, one of our imprints, are one you're writing through the lens of social justice. And this can be done through fiction, anything. It's disability justice, it's black and brown civil rights, it's all of that. So you have to be writing through the lens of social justice, you have to either be starting a conversation or expanding on a conversation in a way that has not been heard yet. So that's kind of easy to do when you're going into the margins to find stories because these voices just aren't being honored. They're not being amplified. So we have these incredible books that are New York Times bestsellers, one hit number one on the New York Times children's list, which is impossible, beating up Eric Carle, it's bananas. These are black, brown, queer, disabled authors that were not being looked at by anybody. And it's like, where did they come from? It's like we've been here. (Inaudible)Lesley Logan 16:08 Okay. Like, because I've, I have a lot of, have interviewed a lot of people who are authors and I know what it's like. And then I have some friends who publish and the amount of effort they do to be a bestseller. It's insane. So just congratulations, and so much awe and so excited. You've mentioned children's books, and I have, like, I really love, I love that there are more children's books out there today than I felt like when I was a child that are a little bit that show off more things than everybody poops. And you know, like in the Velveteen Rabbit, what made you (inaudible) which is why is it a children's book, it's so sad. My mom is in tears reading it to me. And I'm like, why? Before we got to the sad part.Rebekah Borucki 16:52 Can I tell you something now? The Velveteen Rabbit is actually my favorite children's book, I have so many different editions of it. And I have the fairy tattooed on my back. Lesley Logan 17:00 Do you really?Rebekah Borucki 17:02 Which is an unfortunate residual thing from my teen years. However, though, I do. I do love that book so much but there are there are better books, there's books that are teaching our kids things to really prepare them for the world and prepare them to be really awesome people. So I'm really excited about the new wave in transliteracy literature.Lesley Logan 17:24 There's a really cool area in town where I love to shop, it's all small business owners, there's actually a, I want to say, a 14-year-old who owns a store there, I'll send you her stuff, you'll, you will love her store. And it's all about social activism for children. Like it's freakin cool. So but I buy children's books from all of these places, because they show off different types of people, different types of children, and I give to all my nieces and nephews. And I swear, my family thinks I'm like this, like, why don't you just get them a coloring book? And I'm like, no, I don't know what their school is like, I don't know what they're being exposed to. They need to be exposed to different people. And so I think it's really cool that these books exist in the first place. What made you want to write children's books over like, was that the first book you wrote? I don't, so sorry if I don't know the history of that. Rebekah Borucki 18:06 So no, that's fine. The first book I wrote was a book about accessible meditation called You Have Four Minutes To Change Your Life. I grew up without health care, I was going to a lot of state-run medical facilities. And it was just really hard for me to be able to access especially the mental health care I needed as a kid. So keeping that in mind, and then getting older and doing my yoga training and teaching yoga and teaching meditation in New York City and seeing who was in the room and seeing how much people were being charged. I'm like, first of all, meditation is like, it's free. Like you can do it anywhere. I had been practicing everyday since I was 15 years old. I knew what it had done for me. And I was like, so how do I get this to more people? How do I make this more accessible. And I was working on that on my platform with these little four minute meditation videos, I was getting messages from soldiers who had PTSD saying this is the first time I was able to sit still and close my eyes and feel safe. So that all kind of evolved into wanting to make things accessible for adults wanting to make things accessible for neurodivergent and disabled folks. And then oh, well, kids, and I have kids and I as an autistic person who struggles very much with reading long form books, even though I'm a publisher, I struggle with reading. I love picture books. So my first attempt, I went and took some classes at a local community college, and I wrote this really terrible story that had 2000 words. It was way too many I read it to my kids' second grade class and they were like we like it but they were falling asleep in the middle. I got their feedback, workshopped it with the seven-year-old and came up with Zara's Big Messy Day, which is a book about mental health, about anxiety, about self-regulation, about meditation and breathing and it can kind of just blew up. No publisher wanted it Hay House didn't want it. We shopped it around to five others same response. We don't want it. We don't want it. That was my intro to self-publishing. So it was after I already had two books published that I decided, okay, let me try this myself, super hard, learned a lot. The book hit. And now it's part of the second-grade curriculum of the largest online K-12 school in America. It is definitely the book that built Row House, made a lot of our bills in the beginning and there's three more, there's three more titles after that. I love kids. I am a kid. Lesley Logan 20:37 And I'm glad to hear you (inaudible) I'm just so glad you love them. Rebekah Borucki 20:40 Yeah, I love I love them. I have them. I love kids. I am a kid. And I love writing for the little girl that was me that didn't have access to even hugs most days. So you know, I'm sticking with this. If I can work in the children's space all the time. I love my authors. I love all of my authors at Hay House. But if I could just like hire another president and be in the children's space, I, 100% would (inaudible). Lesley Logan 21:06 Well, you know what? I think we can manifest that I think and we can make it reality. I think like there's it's a little bit more money. And you can because and I say it, I say that not as a joke. I say it with seriousness like I built my businesses and I hated being the CEO. Like I just wanted to be with my members. I just wanted to be in creation mode. And it was it's, it was actually in 2020 when I met this woman, she said, well, you and Brad like, let's just see what you guys, what your strengths are. And his strength is being the entrepreneur, it's being the CEO, it's being the person, he's literally in a meeting right now that he's like are you going to join us and I'm like in zero, no, I don't. Here are my thoughts, okay. And it was the hardest thing we ever did. Because obviously, that year, everything in our business changed like everyone else's lives. But I was able to rewrite a new job description for myself, my own company. And in this time, as we're talking right now, I'm working on a new job description, because I'm able to like even offload even more of those things. So I just say that, and I really want that for you. And I really believe it's possible that there could be a new president and you can be in charge of children's.Rebekah Borucki 22:18 It's 100% possible, it's in the plan, I think that that's where I thrive, it's where I need to be. It's where my advocacy feels best. I love going into schools, I do that very often, I'm reading to the kids. And I get to have that opportunity to look at this, you know, most of the schools, it's going to be predominantly black and brown, sometimes predominantly Spanish speaking, we go to Baltimore, North Jersey, Philly, Camden. And when I go into these schools, I know that they haven't seen someone that looks like them, that talks like them, that's from where they from, where they're from. And for me, I'll say this, for so many people that are going into these schools, it's about charity, it's about charity, and it's about feeling good about themselves. They love the kids, they want to help the kids totally, but it's different. It's a different energy. When you look at these kids like your family, like, these are my kids. These are my cousins. They're like my little nieces and nephews, they're from the hood just like me. And I don't need to teach them how to write. I don't need to tell them like the path to success. I just need to say like, this is possible, like my teacher did for me. And now all these kids, like, send me thank you notes or their little stories and tell me they want to be like authors. It's freaking rad. I love it so much.Lesley Logan 23:31 That's so cool. That's so cool that so many of them can think that that's a possibility. Like you said in your story.Rebekah Borucki 23:36 All it takes, it's all it takes really, for so many kids, it's just to say that it's possible. And I'll say that when we were starting Row House, and people that have become my good friends who were brought in to kind of mentor us or guide us very successful women in publishing. One said, like, look, I don't think that you girls are ambitious, necessarily. I think that what you're trying to do is impossible. Like it can't work. And my co-founder was a white woman from Northern California. Definitely had her own share of hardship in her life, but felt very defeated. After I called her she was like, oh my gosh, what are we gonna do? (Inaudible) Like, I'm a high school dropout. I'm a teen mom, I've hustled all my life. It's fine. It's fine. And it's really about, the people who think is impossible lack the imagination or the experience to understand what can be it's like they haven't seen it, so they don't think it can be done. Lesley Logan 24:40 Yeah. And I think like it's an interesting word, impossible, because I think for some people, like I think there's some parts of my life if someone told me this thing was impossible, I would like figure out a way to show them how it is like that. There was like some parts of that. And then there are some things that if I'd heard that word, it might have taken me a while to pick myself back up off the ground again. So I think it's such an interesting word, it can fire you up, and it can also defeat you. But I feel like I'm also the person like who has the right to tell you something's impossible but you like, that's like kind of, I don't know, maybe I don't know where I learned that. That's an interesting thing. But I think it's so cool that you and your business partner had each other like to kind of do this together because it's not doing anything like it's not easy. You need multiple people to support things, but also that she had you to be like, hey, like, I feel like Rebekah Borucki 25:29 We shook each other. That was (inaudible) here. And, and she really only came in as a co-founder for the beginning stages. She didn't even want to be part of the company. She's like, let me help you and then bounce. So she's no longer, she's still alive but she's no longer with Row House. I love her very much, went on to start her own project, Rise Books, and but yeah, we needed each other and that sisterhood, that community, that's everything that Row House is about, it's called Row House, because I grew up in a brick attached, two-bedroom, one-bathroom house with a big family with people coming in and out, you know, like picking up the street kid, and he's living with us for a while, who ended up being my brother in law, my sister and he had been married for (inaudible) years. So this is like just these are my people. This is where I come from. And I know that people who have not walked in my shoes can't understand my motivation, my drive, and they don't have my ancestors. Like, I'm always thinking about the ancestors. I'm thinking about both my parents who died seven months apart in 2013. And I saw them die with so many dreams unrealized. And you have to at some point, just be like, fuck it, like, if not me, who and also like, if I don't do this, for what, we all end up in the same place. I don't know when my time is coming. I'm just going to be bold.Lesley Logan 26:44 So okay, you mentioned at the beginning that you're doing this work to also make sure that there's like, books for children in K through 12 for there's not access? Can you talk to me about how like, is that from the publishing company is at a different organization where you are, like, helping get books in their hands? How long have you been doing that? And how did that start? Because that is why I'm asking this is like, I know a lot of our listeners have these big, bold dreams. And there's a lot of other things like paying their bills and putting food on the table and all that stuff. So that (inaudible) you know, so how did what was the timeline and how is that how did that start, because it's such an incredible dream to come to fruition. And it has an impact to so many. Rebekah Borucki 27:25 So, like I was saying before, no matter what I have, I'm sharing. That's just the, you know, the ethos that I live by, you must share, like, that's what we're supposed to do. And, you know, my parents taught me and believed quite literally, that every human being were siblings on this planet. So we have to be for the stranger as much as we are for the people that live in our house. So when I started fundraising for self-publishing Zara, it was how do I make this happen, but also benefit other people because I have this vehicle to be able to bring in this money. So we had people buying books for classrooms, we took a portion to make sure that people got kids, I think that first campaign, we were able to donate like 1000 books. Now, that was 2018 or '19, 2019. And since then, we've donated over 20,000 books to different organizations and schools. It's just a matter of when we get them, they also go out the door. And we have a nonprofit that allows us to do that more easily. The ease really comes from people wanting the tax write-off, so we're getting big donations, and they can benefit from that too. Lesley Logan 28:42 Oh, hey, you know what? These billionaires get tax write-offs, people take advantage of the tax write-offs and give it to places like your nonprofit, because it's gonna get better impact.Rebekah Borucki 28:54 I told my accountant every day, please give me the Jeff Bezo's plan. My people came over here enslaved and as indentured servants from Scotland. I don't (inaudible), I'm good. But it's kind so I'm not for anybody like wanting to save money. However, I will say that the majority of people who ask if there's a way that they can get a tax credit, are coming from millionaires and confirmed billionaires. It's not like the 20 here, the 100 here, some people send thousands of dollars. They're coming from single moms, people that are saying like, this is all I have, and I want you to have it. It's really beautiful to be reminded of who actually drives change, and is actually here, you know, for each other. Lesley Logan 29:43 I mean, it really is like, going back to impossible, like when you look when you think about different problems that are out there. And I also then look at the people who live in the communities that's the communities that really make the biggest impacts and change, you know? Okay, so I want to know what you're excited about right now? Like, what are you, what is your, what are your mission-driven? values like what's going on this year that we can put out into the world and our listeners can support you or can just cheer you on? Like, what can we, how can we make the world a better place because you're in it?Rebekah Borucki 30:15 So I want to tell you what we're doing with Row House specifically. Row House, what we do that's very different is that we are an equitable publishing model. So we're going into the margins, and we're lifting up these voices, but also we're paying them. So every Row House author has a $40,000 advance its standard, and then they get 40% net profit share, which is about four times industry average, we pay our authors, we pay our creators, it means that I make less and that is okay, right, I don't need to be making $3 million a year, not that I could pay myself that yet. So we have a lot of systems within the company that disallow for big gaps in wealth distribution, like everyone is making a fair wage, we even pay our interns we started $25 an hour, like that's what we do. So it's important work that we're doing to actually put money into the pockets of people that deserve it. And most recently, and this is what I'm fired up about, but not happy about most recently, because of our politics and our values, we had a major funder pull $500,000 out of the company. So as we speak right now, in this moment, I am emergency fundraising. And I've been in meetings all day. And I will continue for however long it takes to make up that gap. And I'm excited about it. Because what has happened over the past 24 hours that this all came to ahead, I have seen the most incredible amount of support come up from our community. I've seen black women who have never received a dime for reparations show up for me in a way, showcasing us, amplifying, spotlighting us on their platforms, and then also contributing from the pocketbooks. It's just a good reminder of who, who really matters in my life. And it's a reminder that community really works. So that's what's happening. I'm fired up about inequity, but we're taking care of it. Lesley Logan 32:16 Yeah. Thank you for sharing that. I think it's so I think it's important for people listening to know that like, even when you overcome what was considered the impossible, and you're doing all these things, that there's still massive obstacles. And yeah.Rebekah Borucki 32:31 It's scary. It's scary that the people in power, and you know, no matter how good you are, how smart you are, how, you know, smart and business savvy, and all those other good things that I, you know, I speak well, I can go into rooms, I can entertain, that there's still so many people in power, you know, holding the strings, and if they'll cut you off at any moment. So it's really super important for me to stress that more black women need to be in charge. Ownership needs to be put into the hands of marginalized people just because they know how to get things done. There's a level of empathy and compassion. There's just not enough leadership. There's not enough female leadership. There's not enough black and brown disabled queer leadership. And when that shifts, everything's gonna shift for everybody. Everybody. Lesley Logan 33:29 Well, I really like (inaudible) seriously, as we're like, recording this podcast, how much we've all had to like, listen to going on. I want that sooner than I would love to happen yesterday, you know, so will you do me a favor? Can you just tell us where our listeners if they wanted to support Row House, how they can do that? Is that a possibility? Is that an ongoing thing? Or is it just right now, because I would love to (inaudible). Rebekah Borucki 33:55 It's an ongoing thing. It's an ongoing, it's easy, it's supportrowhouse.com, supportrowhouse.com Those are our GoFundMe. If you go to rowhousepublishing.com, you can find opportunities to invest for as little as $300. You can buy our books, which is awesome, every day. So there's so many ways to support and I also say that, that sharing is also currency. So tell people about us tell people you know who you're talking to, or what they can do. So just keep spreading the word about our house and our authors. That's just, that's amazing, too. Lesley Logan 34:28 Thank you for bringing up all those different options. Because I do tell people like look, if you don't have any money to do things, like you can also just share you know, like if you for people who listen to podcast, writing a review is currency for podcast hosts, and for a publishing house buying their book that is asking for that book to be existing at the library. If it's not there, like those kinds of things can help because it's, there's always an option if we're supporting if whether wherever your resources are, and I think that's really important. So thank you for sharing that. You're incredible. You're just you're I could I want to, I'm so grateful that we get to highlight you and I also got to learn from you because what you are doing in this world is nothing short of amazing and it's wildly needed. In this moment. Rebekah Borucki 35:11 I've a lot of help from my friends, I have a lot of help. We don't do any (inaudible). Lesley Logan 35:16 And also, like, thank you for sharing that too, because it's not fun alone. It's so like, it's if you're gonna go through this life with ups and downs and obstacles, you've got to have people in it who are willing to like fight those fights with you. So thank you. Okay, we're gonna take a very brief break, and then we're gonna find out how people can find you follow you and we got the support already. We'll do that again. And then your Be It Action Items for our listeners. Lesley Logan 35:36 Okay, Rebekah, any other ways people can find you, follow you, connect with you, support you?Rebekah Borucki 35:42 We are @RowHousePub everywhere on social media. It's where we talk about not only our books, we talked about other authors' books, we talk about different missions and different causes that you can become involved in. We are an activist platform, we are an activist business that wears our politics and our values on our sleeve. We all don't agree on all the things but everyone at Row House is there with a huge heart and a spirit of community. So yeah, just find us online, we're there hanging out. Lesley Logan 36:10 Perfect. Okay, last thing, bold, executable, intrinsic targeted steps people can take to be it till they see it. What do you have for us?Rebekah Borucki 36:18 Be it till you see it. Well, first of all, I tell all of my authors, but this works with anything, as soon as you have a dream or an idea, start talking about it. Don't wait until it's good. Don't wait until you have like the perfect presentation. But seriously, the moment I thought about writing a children's book, I went online and said, I'm writing a children's book, it's gonna come out on this date. And then that was enlisting accountability partners. So that's something to definitely do. And then I don't know if this is a direct route to be it in theater (inaudible). But be in community, which means on any level, whether it's volunteering to be a Girl Scout leader, which I was, or being involved in your church, be in community with others be in the practice of giving, but also receiving, because that's what makes it community that back and forth, build those relationships, those are the ones that will sustain you mentally, they can sustain you financially if you need it. But always be in community. I think it's great for you know, all levels of health and well being definitely, definitely important. And it puts you in the spirit of feeling like you're doing good, even if you don't feel like you're doing enough, which is wrong. And then I'm always encouraging people to advocate and to be an activist in your own way. I believe. Just like there are as many ways to meditate as there are people on this planet. There's so many ways to be an activist, we have a children's book coming out called Stand Up. And it's about people who are disabled in wheelchairs and how they're activists and people who kneel to stand up in activism. And there are so many ways to do and be good in your community. And just identify that for yourself. Don't compare your activism or advocacy with anybody else. But just do something lovely for somebody else every single day, please. And yourself, someone else and yourself everyday. Lesley Logan 38:13 Beautiful. Rebekah Borucki 38:13 And I hope it was specific enough.Lesley Logan 38:16 It's specific, I'm in love. I'm so grateful this happened today. You are wonderful. I'm so grateful. All right, and thank you Roxy for allowing us to have a special moment we are so like, I'm just honored. Y'all, how are you going to use these tips in your life? Let us know. Tag Row House Publishing, tag the Be It Pod, share this podcast with a friend if you got a friend who wants to write a book, and it's going to fall in line with that Row House stuff you got to send them this so they can see that there's a place out there for them you know, I mean, I think it's incredible. So everyone have an amazing day until next time, Be It Till You See It. Lesley Logan 38:50 That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Lesley Logan 39:06 Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @Be It Pod. Brad Crowell 39:15 It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 39:18 It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co. Brad Crowell 39:20 Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist Gianfranco Cioffi. Lesley Logan 39:23 Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals. Brad Crowell 39:24 Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
The shift from side hustle to entrepreneur, ghostwriter to author is in many ways, a shift from self-imposed obscurity to visibility and standing in our own worth. Many of us are conditioned to promote others, be in the background, obligate and accommodate to a point where we end up not taking up the space we deserve. When we become the face of something, we're vulnerable to everything, and that's a scary step to take. Letting ourselves become visible is the act of self-realization that brings forth our true genius. It's easier said than done, but it is worth it. This week we explored the “how to” of stepping in with Kristen McGuiness, co-founder, Vice President, and Editor-at-Large of Row House, a disruptive publishing imprint at the intersection of wellness + social justice. How did Kristen go from ghostwriter in the background to stand in her own individual power? How is she balancing creativity with motherhood and entrepreneurship? In this episode, the founder of Storyboxing and bestselling author of 51/50, talks about her journey and how she was able to stand in what she's good at. I do believe that children are a great source of self-realization. I wanted them to see who I really am, I didn't want them to grow up with a version of me that wasn't my greatest potential. -Kristen McGuiness Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode -Children are a great source of self-realization How did motherhood push Kristen to start standing in her own individual power? -Rejection, revision, next step What is a kind and creative way to deal with obstacles? -Detach from approval How do we stop seeking validation from others and build our value so we can really rely on the attitude towards ourselves? Guest Bio Kristen McGuiness is the founder of Storyboxing, which provides content, coaching and courses for people looking to write the good fight. In addition, she is a co-founder, Vice President, and Editor-at-Large of Row House, a disruptive publishing imprint at the intersection of wellness + social justice, founded by best-selling author Rebekah Borucki. Kristen is also the bestselling author of 51/50: The Magical Adventures of a Single Life, which was optioned by Original Films/CBS Cable with Alison Brie attached to star. She has over twenty years' experience in book development, writing, and editorial, working with such authors as Dr. Phil McGraw, Dr. Stephen Covey, Chris Matthews, Leon Logothetis, Joe Gorga, Darren Prince, Rebekah Borucki, and more. She began her career working in publicity for St. Martin's Press before joining the editorial departments of Simon & Schuster, Free Press, and Judith Regan at Harper Collins. Since then, Kristen has also worked in non-profit fundraising as a strategic grants and marketing director, helping to raise millions for local and international non-profits. Kristen has appeared on the “TODAY Show,” in USA Today, and in Marie Claire, and has written for numerous publications, including Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, Psychology Today, Salon and The Fix. Kristen is currently finishing her debut novel Live Through This and has written and co-written multiple film and TV projects (and one very weird play). For more information, go to https://www.risewriters.com/rise-retreat-ojai, https://www.kristenmcguiness.com/, https://www.getairpizza.com/ and sorting the two files.
Debra Strougo Frohlich knew her idea would be a hit. But she didn't know how much it would change her life! Our brilliant friend Debra joins us today to talk about how to start a business you love and the importance of your core group of friends/colleagues/support.She also happens to be hilarious so you're going to love this one!
This week, Matt and Rachel are back, and talk with author and artist Ned Bustard about the true story of Saint Valentine and his new book Saint Valentine the Kindhearted. They discuss how our understanding of love changes, making stories accessible for children, and art of loving through our kindness.***You can learn more about Ned and check out his beautiful artwork on IG @NedBustard, and find his books on Amazon and wherever books are sold.Ned Bustard is a graphic designer, children's book illustrator, author, and printmaker. He is an elder at Wheatland Presbyterian Church, creative director Square Halo Books, Inc., curator of the Square Halo Gallery, and serves on the boards of the Association of Scholars of Christianity in the History of Art (ASCHA) and The Row House, Inc. His book "Saint Valentine the Kindhearted" is available now and retells the story of St. Valentine, a man whose kindness and love inspires us each year.Support the show******To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.comCheck out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show
We returned to The Boston Run Show expo for the second time! Just like last year, we are splitting all of our interviews into two episodes due to how much audio there is, and how much of a break we deserve for working this hard covering such a large and exciting event! In this part 2 we have every vendor and speaker who we interviewed on Sunday. These ranged from many small and big vendors and sponsors who were present as well as the head of the Badass Lady Gang Kelly Roberts, ChiRunning founder Danny Dryer, the guys behind Bad Boy Running Podcast, and ultra running athlete John Kelly! With over 30 interviews in part 2, check the time stamps below to better help you find a more specific interview. Also, go back and check out part 1 to hear our interviews from Saturday! Thank you to the many people who took the time for the interviews, and to Raccoon Media Group for putting together another excellent Boston Run Show! Looking forward to returning next year and hope to see more of you listeners there as well! 0:00 – 3:46 – Intro 3:46 – 7:19 – Quick News 7:19 – 8:35 – Content Preface 8:35 - 30:21 - Trail Animals Running Club, Soles 4 Souls, Caterpy Laces, Vinco Eyewear, Tedy's Team, Sugarloaf Mountain, American Cancer Society, and Organization for Autism Research 30:21 - 1:09:18 - Kelly Roberts, Marathon Printing, American Lung Association, Runur, None to Run, Active Odysseys, Outsider Endurance, Cardinal Cures, Row House, and USWE 1:09:18 - 1:41:38 - Ashworth Awards, Wahoo Fitness, GOFLUO, Greater Lowell Road Runners, Scimitar Sportswear, Barn to Run, Max Performance, Doug Flutie Foundation, Clarence DeMar Marathon, and Ruck 4 Hit 1:41:38 - 2:08:29 - Danny Dryer, Bad Boy Running, and John Kelly 2:08:29 - End – Outro Next episode is unsure at the moment but we will find someone fun to talk to! ____ News Stories: Buck Furpees: New England OCR Expo Fundraiser 2024 New England OCR Expo Ryan Kent's Dad Travis Kelce and Kodiak Donate 25,000 Meals Spartan Season Pass Shirts Printed Backwards Coree Woltering is Coaching OCRWC 10 Year Anniversary Deal Strong Flower Secret Link Pokemon Theme Secret Link Copyright Melody Secret Link Canadian Axe Secret Link Glizzy Gobbler Secret Link ____ Related Episodes: 318. The Run Show Boston with Interviews! (Part 1) (2023) 319. The Run Show Boston with Interviews! (Part 2) (2023) 369. The Boston Run Show Part 1 with Russel Hoyt, Pete Kostelnick, Coree Woltering, David Barclay, and More! ____ The OCR Report Patreon Supporters: Jason Dupree, Kim DeVoss, Samantha Thompson, Matt Puntin, Dave Claxton, Brad Kiehl, Charlotte Engelman, Erin Grindstaff, Hank Stefano, Arlene Stefano, Laura Ritter, Steven Ritter, Sofia Harnedy, Kenny West, Ryan Maisano, Cheryl Goodwin, Jessica Johnson, Scott "The Fayne" Knowles, Anna Landry, Christopher Hoover, Kevin Gregory Jr., Ryan Hart, Ashley Reis, Brent George, Justin Manning, Kevin Praytor, Wendell Lagosh, Brett "The T-Rex" Milks, Logan Nagle, Patrick Brown, Angela Bowers, Asa Coddington, Thomas Petersen, Seth Rinderknecht and Bonnie Wilson. Sponsored Athletes: Javier Escobar, Kelly Sullivan, Ryan Brizzolara, and Joshua Reid! Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and access to our Facebook group Check out our Threadless Shop Use coupon code "adventure" for 15% off MudGear products Use coupon code "ocrreport20" for 20% off Caterpy products Like us on Facebook: Obstacle Running Adventures Follow our podcast on Instagram: @ObstacleRunningAdventures Write us an email: obstaclerunningadventures@gmail.com Subscribe on Youtube: Obstacle Running Adventures Intro music - "Streaker" by: Straight Up Outro music - "Iron Paw" by: Dubbest
Today, I'm joined by Garrett Marshall, president of digital fitness platform Xponential+. Part of Xponential Fitness, Xponential+ hosts streaming classes from the company's portfolio of boutique studio brands — including Rumble Boxing, Club Pilates, and Row House. Reimagining at-home fitness, Xponential+ is also partnering with Meta to make VR workouts mainstream. In this episode, we discuss the challenge of repackaging physical classes in digital form. Plus, we talk VR technology, navigating industry hype cycles, and why in-person workouts remain the gold standard. In this episode, you'll learn: • What to expect from the company's Meta partnership • How Xponential+ supports the Xponential Fitness universe • Why personalization beats quantity when it comes to content Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider Xponential+ Website: https://www.xponential.plus/ Garrett's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettmarshall/ Garrett's Website: https://www.instagram.com/xponentialplus/ - The Fitt Insider podcast is brought to you by Jack Taylor, our exclusive PR partner. More than just PR, they're creative storytellers and brand builders who actually understand the health and wellness industry. Learn more and get in touch at https://fitt.co/jacktaylor Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:19) Background on Garrett and Xponential+ (08:23) Challenges and tradeoffs of the digital platform with their physical studio franchises (11:19) The role of in-person and digital fitness during and post COVID (14:36) Leveraging Xponential's brands and recreating the studio experience in the digital platform (18:02) The evolving landscape of digital fitness and the shift in competitive factors (22:34) The role of personalization in digital fitness (24:59) Challenges in getting people to work out at home and use the platform consistently (30:33) Partnership with Meta and the Future of VR Fitness (33:27) The role of AR and VR in the fitness industry (38:26) The potential of VR and AR technology in the mainstream (45:05) Will AR/VR replace in person fitness classes? (48:47) Conclusion
In this intimate episode, we delve into the intricate world of storytelling, guided by the insightful and multi-talented Kristen McGuiness. From her early days at Shakespeare & Co. in New York to becoming a revered author, editor, and publisher, Kristen's journey is a testament to the power of narrative in our lives.The Power of Story:Kristen shares her deep-seated passion for storytelling, tracing it back to her childhood love for books and the profound impact they've had on her life's trajectory. Her work at Storyboxing and Rise Books, providing content, coaching, and courses, reflects her commitment to nurturing and fostering the stories within each of us.A Journey Through Publishing:As a co-founder of Row House and founder of Rise Books, Kristen is at the helm of publishing imprints that merge wellness with social justice, offering a platform where stories ignite change. With over two decades of experience, she has collaborated with renowned authors and shaped compelling narratives, wielding her expertise in book development and editing. Rise Books is a boutique literary publisher, which curates the best of the Rise Writers community, publishing 6 to 10 books a year in the genres of cultural disruption, mysticism, ethical business, radical birthing, collective liberation, political fiction, literary memoir, motherhood, recovery, and other works that explore what it means to be radically inspired. Vulnerability and Real Connections:The interview takes a personal turn as Kristen candidly shares anecdotes about her relationship with her father, grief, and relief- that invite listeners into her world of "real life." The conversation resonates deeply as personal stories about fatherhood emerge, fostering a raw and genuine connection between Kristen and myself. I get very personal and share a story with Kristen- THAT I HAVE NEVER TOLD ANYONE!Navigating Life's Chapters:Kristen's openness extends beyond her professional journey, offering glimpses into her marriage, her current life situation, and the genesis of her upcoming works, THE RADICAL HOPE OF SPECTACULAR FAILURE. Her candor and warmth infuse the conversation with authenticity, creating a space for genuine moments and revelations.A Tapestry of Hope and Resilience:Throughout the interview, Kristen's warmth and wisdom shine, inspiring a narrative woven with hope, resilience, and the transformative power of vulnerability. As she highlights the back story behind her debut novel, Live Through This, and explores various film and TV projects, Kristen embodies the essence of storytelling as a vehicle for healing and understanding.Join us in this captivating episode, where Kristen McGuiness invites us into the profound world of storytelling and the remarkable journey of embracing vulnerability and authenticity in crafting life's narratives.FOLLOW KRISTEN MCGUINESS :https://www.risebooks.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenmcguiness/https://www.instagram.com/kristenmcguiness/
"Fitness isn't just changing; it's evolving." That's the mantra of Debra Strougo, the powerhouse behind Row House. This week we're rewinding back to Episode 546. Where we dove into the future of fitness with Debra. And trust me, it was an eye-opener. Her journey from marketing whiz to fitness icon? Absolutely inspiring. Quick Highlights: Debra's Odyssey: From marketing to fitness empire – what a ride! Clients Come First: It's all about understanding what they need. Row House Origins: How a simple idea became a fitness sensation. Branding Genius: Debra's top tips for a brand that resonates deep. Franchising? Yes, Please: Why this is her go-to strategy. This episode is a goldmine for anyone wanting to thrive in boutique fitness. And it's just as relevant today as it was then. And hey, don't miss out! Join us at Dare To Thrive, Feb 28th & March 1st in LA. It's your ticket to an incredible 2024 for your studio. Grab your spot here. With Grit and Gratitude, Lise PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who've decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe and join the party! LINKS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debrastrougo/ https://www.therowhouse.com/ https://connectedhealthandfitness.com/ https://www.instagram.com/studiogrowco https://studiogrow.co/
The Hollywood Theater in Dormont is back in business, temporarily. Developer Brian Mendelssohn is in the preview phase of a more than $1 million renovation of the oddly shaped, weirdly designed one-screen space, and he's just getting started. We joined him on Potomac Avenue to talk about what he learned from opening Row House in Lawrenceville, how the South Hills community has contributed to his dreams for the Hollywood, and all the fun treats he's got in mind for its basement, including private spaces for karaoke, gaming, smaller film screenings, and more. Plus, get a taste for the “punk art deco Metropolis” vibe he's cultivating ahead of its official construction phase in January. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Not a fan of social? Then leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome back to L.I.F.T.S, bringing you the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and stories hitting the headlines and stirring up some debate. This week's episode is jam-packed with news as hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of Sweatworks, together with special guest, Debra Strougo, fitness industry advisor and founder of Row House, dissect the headlines rocking the fitness world. Every week, our hosts discuss the breaking news, providing their own perspective on the headlines whilst provoking thoughts and conversations, all delivered in a quick-fix, 30-minute podcast. Today's discussion is driven by the following news agenda: The rebranding of Nautilus. Anytime Fitness' collaboration with Apple. HYROX and Centr's partnership. Lifetime Fitness' move to offer member injectable weight loss drug. ====================================================== Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it's published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue ====================================================== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Escapefitness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/escapefitness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/
*DISCUSSION TOPICS*- Tunde Oyeneyin is an Access Hollywood Correspondent!!- Jess Menardy is teaching strength at Row House!- Feel Good Fam 21 days of giving!- Alex Breanne Corporation update!- Peloton earnings call! My thoughts. Would love to hear yours!- New York city marathon! Who's running? Who's cheering?- Peloton On Tour London lineup announced! Who's going?- Yoga Flow with a DJ??? Who was there? How was it?- Lululemon rolls out Peloton classes! Anyone have a Mirror device? How are the classes?- Class Recommendations!
Welcome back to the second episode of L.I.F.T.S. bringing you the latest industry fitness trends and stories hitting the headlines and stirring up some debate. Building on the success of last week's launch, LIFTS is back to delve into this week's news and for this episode hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of Sweatworks, are joined by special guest Debra Strougo Frohlich, Founder of Row House. Every week, our intrepid hosts will discuss the breaking news, providing their own perspective on the headlines whilst provoking thoughts and conversations, all delivered in a quick-fix, sub 30-minute podcast. Nike have been making some big moves recently and play a big part in today's debate. Today we're discussing: Nike partners with Dimension 6 Fitness for launch of Nike Strength Nike unveil Nike Studios, a network of boutique fitness studios Barre3 acquires The Barre Code, hitting the 185-location mark Sports Illustrated Resorts to expand across US with active lifestyle at their core CorePower Yoga partners with Matthew & Camila McConaughey Foundation ====================================================== Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it's published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue ====================================================== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Escapefitness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/escapefitness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/
In this episode Hana O'Neill the Suburban Witch, chats with Rebekah Borucki of Row House Publishing (She/They) all about racism and white supremacy in spiritual publishing, and how they're paving the way for a new way forward. Rebekah shares how Row House Publishing came to be, and all the ways they're lifting up marginalised people. You can find Row House here https://www.rowhousepublishing.com/ Our "Hana Help Me" segment addresses fear of mediumship and spirits. Send your 'Hana Help Me' questions to suburbanwitchery@gmail.com Did you enjoy this podcast? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! You can purchase your Foxwand Apothecary bath salts here using code suburbanwitch for 10% off: https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/FoxwandApothecaryCo To book an astrology reading or tarot reading with Hana the Suburban Witch visit https://www.suburbanwitchery.com Try the psychic quiz here https://www.suburbanwitchery.com/quiz Follow along with our social media accounts too! https://www.instagram.com/suburban_witchery https://www.instagram.com/witchtalkspodcast https://www.facebook.com/suburbanwitchery https://www.youtube.com/suburbanwitchery https://www.tiktok.com/@suburbanwitchery You can also provide a one time donation directly via PayPal https://paypal.me/suburbanwitchery or you can send Hana a lovely gift here https://www.amazon.com.au/hz/wishlist/ls/2EOSTO589ZAZ5?ref_=wl_share
I was thrilled to get the opportunity to speak with Kristen McGuiness, 2x author and founder of both Rise Books and Ascent Publishing, in the latest episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast.Kristen shares the incredibly relatable rollercoaster of emotions and experiences that come with navigating the book publishing realm as well as the process of finding the right fit for your manuscript, whether it's a big-name, boutique publisher, or hybrid publisher. ABOUT KRISTENKristen McGuiness is the founder of Storyboxing, which provides content, coaching and courses for people looking to write the good fight. In addition, she is a co-founder, Vice President, and Editor-at-Large of Row House, a disruptive publishing imprint at the intersection of wellness + social justice, founded by best-selling author Rebekah Borucki.Kristen is also the bestselling author of 51/50: The Magical Adventures of a Single Life, which was optioned by Original Films/CBS Cable with Alison Brie attached to star. She has over twenty years' experience in book development, writing, and editorial, working with such authors as Dr. Phil McGraw, Dr. Stephen Covey, Chris Matthews, Leon Logothetis, Joe Gorga, Darren Prince, Rebekah Borucki, and more.She began her career working in publicity for St. Martin's Press before joining the editorial departments of Simon & Schuster, Free Press, and Judith Regan at Harper Collins. Since then, Kristen has also worked in non-profit fundraising as a strategic grants and marketing director, helping to raise millions for local and international non-profits.Kristen has appeared on the “TODAY Show,” in USA Today, and in Marie Claire, and has written for numerous publications, including Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, Psychology Today, Salon and The Fix. Kristen is currently finishing her debut novel, Live Through This, and has written and co-written multiple film and TV projects (and one very weird play). CONNECT WITH KRISTENWebsite: kristenmcguiness.comKristen's Instagram: instagram.com/kristenmcguinessRise Books: www.risebooks.comRise Writers: risewriters.comAscend Publishing: risebooks.com/ascend-publishingKristen's first book: 51/50: The Magical Adventures of a Single LifeKristen's newest book: Live Through This LET'S WORK TOGETHER ON YOUR BOOK!To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written, published, and launched, visit Thanks so much for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review!To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written, published, and launched, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth
*DISCUSSION TOPICS*- Jess Sims x Dunkin Donuts! Did you get your free coffee?- Is All-for-One basically PSNY Homecoming?- All-for-One panel with Monie Love and Jadakiss! Who's going?- Cody Rigsby auditioned for Ken in the Barbie movie?- Jess Sims returns to College GameDay!- Alex Breanne Corporation update!- My trip to London! I need recommendations!- Adrian Williams is an ambassador for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation!- What's up with Peloton stock?!?!- Meet & Greet with Leanne Hainsby and Hannah Frankson in Jersey! Who's going?- Ash Pryor row class with members! Who's going?- Jess Menardy is a Row House instructor!!!- HBO Max being beta tested on Peloton!- Team Wilpers new offering..."Peloton Technique Coaching."- Robin Arzon's Barnes & Noble book event! Who's going?- Class Recommendations!
We were very excited to check out The Run Show in Boston last weekend! This episode has additional interviews from Saturday and all interviews from Sunday. We were able to get a total of over 50 interviews with vendors, guest speakers, and the event director from Raccoon Events himself! We got so much content that it didn't make sense to cram it all in one episode so this is part two of two. Look below to see who is featured in this episode and go back to listen to part 1 from last week if you missed it! 0:00 – 3:02 – Intro 3:02 – 13:24 – Quick News 13:24 – 14:26 – Content Preface 14:26 - 57:12 - More Saturday Interviews (Tri-Maine, Hyperice, Os1st, Greater Lowell Runners, Cape Cod Marathon, YuKan Run, Doug Flutie Jr Foundation, Run for Autism, Sam Adams, Steve Fleck, and Mirna Valerio) 57:12 - 1:51:07 - Sunday Interviews (Jogon, Blueshift Nutrition, Hilma, Ragnar Relay, Nix Biosensors, HiDow, Row House, Conscious Gear, Henry Ward, Craig Hanratty (Event Director), Erin Azar, and Kelly Roberts) 1:51:07 - End – Outro Next episode will be on the New England OCR Expo with Steve “Bacon” Martin! ____ News Stories: New England OCR Expo: Website, Instagram, and Facebook (use code MSTEF5 for $5 off!) New Deka Strong Records 2023 Weekend Trifecta Medal Spartan US National Series Medals Spartan Jacksonville 3K Test Event is Free Tough Mudder Wedding Evan Perperis Back on American Ninja Warrior OCR Report Patreon Native X Podiums Epic Series Podiums Abominable Snow Race Podiums Hyrox Stuttgart Podiums Death Race Finishers Deka Fit Austin Podiums Hyrox "North American Championship" Podiums: Men and Women Fecal Secret Link Love Secret Link Paramount Secret Link Pumpkin Secret Link Painful Secret Link ____ Related Episodes: 164. 1st Annual New England OCR Expo Preview with Steve “Bacon” Martin! 165. New England OCR Expo and Party! 171. Caterpy with Executive Director Anthony Pong! 318. The Run Show Boston with Interviews! (Part 1) ____ The OCR Report Patreon Supporters: Matt B Davis, Shon Collins, Jason Dupree, Kim DeVoss, Samantha Thompson, Matt Puntin, Dave Claxton, Brad Kiehl, Charlotte Engelman, Erin Grindstaff, Hank Stefano, Arlene Stefano, Laura Ritter, Steven Ritter, Sofia Harnedy, Kenny West, Ryan Maisano, Cheryl Goodwin, Jessica Johnson, Scott "The Fayne" Knowles, Anna Landry, Christopher Hoover, Kevin Gregory Jr., Ryan Hart, Ashley Reis, Brent George, Justin Manning, Kevin Praytor, Wendell Lagosh, Brett "The T-Rex" Milks, and Logan Nagle. Sponsored Athletes: Javier Escobar, Kelly Sullivan, Ryan Brizzolara, and Joshua Reid! Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and access to our Facebook group Check out our Threadless Shop Use coupon code "adventure" for 10% off MudGear products Use coupon code "ocrreport20" for 20% off Caterpy products Like us on Facebook: Obstacle Running Adventures Follow our podcast on Instagram: @ObstacleRunningAdventures Write us an email: obstaclerunningadventures@gmail.com Subscribe on Youtube: MStefano Running Intro music - "Streaker" by: Straight Up Outro music - "Iron Paw" by: Dubbest
Here's what we're talking about in this episode: Debra's first steps into boutique fitness and how her passion for the industry started What happened when her passion evolved into her profession The lesson Debra learned on false starts for clients and the way that led to her launching Row House How to approach digging deep into your client avatar and setting the stage for a strong brand Some of the biggest things Debra has learned since she started her very first studio Why she chose franchising as the path for her business with so many different options available Deb's tips to help you get into the minds of your consumer Her thoughts on embracing all users or sub-avatars A prediction on what is to come for our industry in 2023 LINKS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debrastrougo/ https://www.therowhouse.com/ https://connectedhealthandfitness.com/
This week's episode focuses in on our favorite hard topic—inclusion in book publishing. But this conversation is not just a run-of-the-mill conversation about DEI, which we acknowledge can and has gotten a bit diluted in recent months. Instead it's a fresh and inspiring conversation about what inclusion really means in book publishing, and we interview an inspiring publisher, Rebekah “Bex” Borucki, who is doing the hard work of creating true change in publishing by creating a publishing company that is focused on inclusivity in all the parts of the business and the business model. Geek out on publishing with us this week, but also be prepared to learn and be inspired by what Row House publishing is doing, and the woman who's leading the charge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We welcome artist Ned Bustard to the podcast. He sits down with Upper House Associate Director Cam Anderson for an in-depth conversation. They discuss how they both grew up as artists in the church, and about their struggles to discover how their callings fit into their faith commitments and communities. Ned Bustard is a graphic designer, children's book illustrator, author, and printmaker. He is the creative director at Square Halo Books. He serves on the boards of the Association of Scholars of Christianity in the History of Art and The Row House, Inc. As always we invite you to leave us a rating on your favorite podcast app or send us a comment at podcast@slbrownfoundation.org. Credits: Music by Micah Behr, audio engineering by Jesse Koopman, graphic design by Madeline Ramsey.
Late on the evening of August 2, 2006, 32-year-old lawyer Robert Wone was finishing up work at his office at Radio Free Asia in Washington D.C. Instead of commuting back to his home in Oakton, Virginia, Robert decided to stay the night with a friend from college in the city. However, just two hours after arriving at this friend's house, Robert was dead, and the circumstances surrounding his death were baffling. SOURCEShttps://whomurderedrobertwone.wordpress.com/legal-documents/Klein, Allison; Cauvin, Henri E. (2006-08-16). "Police Say Crime Scene Was Altered in NW Killing" The Washington Post. http://whomurderedrobertwone.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/FINAL-ORDER-1a.pdf
Isn't it funny how many times we plan our future or think we have it all figured out when something happens and interrupts the way we thought things would go? I don't know about you, but there have been SO MANY times in my life where my plans didn't go as I thought they would have, but I've learned rather than throw in the towel or giving into a spirit of defeat if I would just readjust my exceptions and fully surrender the process to what God was doing, often times things would work out better than I had ever imagined. Married to her best friend with a beautiful toddler, Tanisha has been in the Fitness industry as an Instructor and Wellness Coach for 6 years. She's currently an instructor for RowHouse and loves any chance she has to be outdoors exploring. She's a Colorado Native, passionate about being a light and pointing others to Jesus. This fun loving amazing instructor, with a great taste in music, is full of insight and wisdom for anyone in transition and has such a deep dependency on God, its just evident through the joy that she exudes and the conversations she has how much she loves God. (Something I know we ALL can benefit from a friend like this
Today's Rock Star Panel is Kristen Pechacek, Chief Growth Officer of MassageLuxe, Robert Mitchell, Head of Franchise Development at Ultra Pool Care Squad, and Dawn Weiss, a CMO at Xponential Fitness for Rowhouse and STRIDE! They are taking some risks next year because that's how you win in franchising and marketing! And today they will share these big crazy ideas with you. We'll cover ideas you can use on CTV, Moment Blast, YouTube ads, YouTube Shorts, Reels, The Metaverse, BeReal, of course TikTok, and the potential return of a little social media channel called Twitter. And on these channels and technologies, how can we best work with micro-influencers, home-grown influencers, local news personalities, realtors, and local business owners? Thanks to Hughes, Northeast Color, and Serviceminder.
Row House is on a mission to reshape the book publishing world. And its founder, Rebekah Borucki, has made it her business to welcome new authors of various backgrounds into it. Today, she talks to Christopher Rivas about stealing a book that changed her life, and how she infiltrated a white industry with her progressive agenda. Plus, we hear the backstory of how that led her to Chris, who has a new book out October 11th called Brown Enough.
The indoor rowing machine - or erg - has been in use since the fourth century when an Athenian Admiral created a rudimentary version to train his army. And since, innovators from Concept2 helped to commercialize the indoor rowing machine and CrossFit got millions of people across the world onto the erg in their intense workouts.And this week on the podcast, I spoke with two innovators who helped take rowing from the corner of the gym floor to the center of a workout.Debra Strougo and Eric Von Frohlich, are the husband and wife team who created Row House in 2014. Their mission was to bring the sport of rowing to the masses and make it accessible. They saw the sport as accessible to all entry points into fitness, whether you're just starting out on a fitness journey or whether you're an olympic rower looking for somewhere to practice. And to hear them tell it, they crafted their own education to learn the ins and outs of studio fitness after writing down what would become the plan to build Row House on a napkin. They dug into studio management and operations in a way that they hadn't learned when they met working at Equinox in New York City.And this week on the podcast, they take us through that whole journey of ideating, building the brand in New York City, and inevitably selling their business to Xponential Fitness - the franchising brand that also owns Pure Barre, Rumble, Cycle Bar, AKT, Stretch Lab, Stride, Yoga six and Club Pilates. And, just for listening, you can get a free first class at your nearest Row House, simply download the Row House app and click try a class. Or visit this link.Resources:Take your First class at Row House for freeRead more about the Acquisition in 2018Invention of the Erg (rowing machine) Learn more about Concept2
In this episode, we welcome artist and author Ned Bustard to talk with Ty Fischer about why it's worth helping students to understand, seek, love, and appreciate true beauty. If classical Christian education is all about truth, beauty, and goodness, how does something like beauty - which can seem to some as superfluous and subjective - fit into a life well lived? About Our Guest: Ned Bustard is a graphic designer, children's book illustrator, author, and a printmaker. He has been involved with Veritas Academy for over 25 years, and has created lots of materials for the classical education movement including Squalls Before War: His Majesty's Schooner Sultana, The Chronicles of Narnia Comprehension Guide, Bede's History of ME, and History of Art: Creation to Contemporary. He is the creative director for World's End Images and Square Halo Books, Inc., curates the Square Halo Gallery, is an elder at Wheatland Presbyterian Church, and serves on the boards of the Association of Scholars of Christianity in the History of Art (ASCHA) and The Row House, Inc. A few of his recent books include Saint Nicholas the Giftgiver, Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups, The Lost Tales of Sir Galahad, and Every Moment Holy. Further Reading - Books Mentioned in This Episode: Father of Lights: A Theology of Beauty It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God Naming the Animals: An Invitation to Creativity David's Crown: Sounding the Psalms The Green Earth: Poems of Creation
Creating the 4%: Real Life Stories From The Fitness Industry's Top Instructors
Follow our podcast on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatingthe4pod/Please take a moment to RATE & REVIEW on SPOTIFY & APPLE PODCASTS!A Texas native, She began her fitness journey in New York City alongside her acting/singing career in 2011. Fitness was a perfect side gig while she pursued musical theatre and performed on Broadway. Caley Crawford has done everything from personal training, Dance, CrossFit to Rowing! She started with Row House at the original location in Manhattan. She was the Head of Programming & Fitness for the founding studios in Manhattan, then took a full time role in California as the Director of Education when Row House merged with Xponential. Alongside her role at the corporate office, she also coaches for local studios in the Orange County area as well as digital classes!From the retail floor at lululemon to Hamilton Themed Row Classes, Caley has a passion for innovation and developing client experiences. She is a NASM CPT & AFPA Pre and Post Natal Fitness Specialist, has competed in indoor rowing events and has been featured in Bustle, The Today Show, AM New York, Runners Connect and The Observer just to name a few.In 2021 she gave birth to her daughter Austin, a month before Xponential's big move to go public. Currently Row House has 96 studios open but if you are not near a studio you can access Xponential PLUS for digital classes across their various brands.It is an honor to welcome a woman who only needs the music and the mirror….. to the creating the 4% podcast: Caley Crawford!!Follow Caley on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caley_crawford/Learn more about Row House: https://www.therowhouse.com/the-workout
Row, Row Row Your Row House Gently Down the Street! Merrily the Inspection Goes! First let's define what a rowhouse is. Then let's talk about renovating them and inspecting them and all of the ins and outs. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/richard-mckenzie9/support
Eulerity Presents The Darwinian Times: Survival Of The Nimblest
Row House Co-Founder, Debra Strougo, spoke to us about her journey of taking her passion for healthy living and fitness and growing it into a boutique brand empire. From her time building the Row House brand to her next exciting endeavor: Fitizens Holdings, a business she's started with her husband that specializes in Health, Wellness, & Fitness Advisory Services to companies that are launching, scaling, and growing, Struogo brings immense talent, perspective, experience and dedication to every thing she does.
Mary Fashik is a Lebanese-born, Queer Disability Rights Activist, author, public speaker and workshop facilitator. In 2019, Mary founded Upgrade Accessibility, a movement designed to challenge today's accessibility standards. The movement has grown to include disability rights, intersectionality, disability justice, equity and unequivocally supports Black Lives Matter / Black Disabled Lives Matter. In the conversation today, Mary shares the backstory to Upgrade Accessibility and where and why the “Mary Mic Drops” have come from. We hear about why so many disabled people have neglected medical care during the pandemic as well as some personal experiences of Mary's during the last few years. Mary also tells us about a very exciting upcoming project with Row House and Wheat Penny Press, and why representation is so vital. -----LINKS:Mary on Instagram: @upgradeaccessibility | @maryfashik Shout Out: @catalina_blissRow House Publishing on Instagram: @rowhousepubWebsite: thesafehaven.coInstagram: @thesafehavenpodcastFacebook: The Safe HavenAll the good stuff: linktree/thesafehavenpodcastEmail: hello@thesafehaven.co
Mary Fashik is a Lebanese-born, Queer Disability Rights Activist, author, public speaker and workshop facilitator. In 2019, Mary founded Upgrade Accessibility, a movement designed to challenge today's accessibility standards. The movement has grown to include disability rights, intersectionality, disability justice, equity and unequivocally supports Black Lives Matter / Black Disabled Lives Matter. In the conversation today, Mary shares the backstory to Upgrade Accessibility and where and why the “Mary Mic Drops” have come from. We hear about why so many disabled people have neglected medical care during the pandemic as well as some personal experiences of Mary's during the last few years. Mary also tells us about a very exciting upcoming project with Row House and Wheat Penny Press, and why representation is so vital. -----Mary on Instagram: @upgradeaccessibility | @maryfashik Shout Out: @catalina_bliss Row House Publishing on Instagram: @rowhousepubPodcast Transcriptions Available: www.rowhousepublishing.com/podcast Learn more about Row House Publishing and our mission to Raise the Volume on Voices That Matter™: http://rowhousepublishing.com Original Book Stoop theme: anonymousCover art: Danielle Pioli (https://www.daniellepioli.com)
Kristen McGuiness is the Vice President of Row House. She's the founder of Storyboxing, providing content, coaching and courses for people looking to sell their book, launch their brand or grow their non-profit. She's also the bestselling author of 51/50: the Magical Adventures of a Single Life, and has recently finished her debut novel Live Through This. She has over twenty years' experience in book development, writing and editorial work. In the conversation today, you'll hear about so many things! - Including: the backstory to how a love of reading turned into a love of writing. This writing turned into editorial work, and eventually into mentorship and coaching in the book world. Kristen tells us how she hit her rock bottom and worked through some of life's biggest challenges while navigating her career. She shares her experience working on other stories while sitting on the biggest story yet - her Dad's story - and the visions behind Row House. -----Kristen on Instagram: @kristenmcguiness Shout Out: @landbackbaddie Row House Publishing on Instagram: @rowhousepubPodcast Transcriptions Available: www.rowhousepublishing.com/podcast Learn more about Row House Publishing and our mission to Raise the Volume on Voices That Matter™: http://rowhousepublishing.com Original Book Stoop theme: anonymousCover art: Danielle Pioli (https://www.daniellepioli.com)
Join us Thursday night March 3 for a Conversation on the Built-Environment and Today's Fireground Challenges with Host Christopher Naum and maybe some unplugged Special Guests dropping-in, on Buildingonfire's Taking it to the Streets podcast hosted on Fireengineering.com's Blogtalk Radio at 7:30 pm ET with a Live call-in. This will be an OPEN FORUM LIVE EPISODE, CALLER DRIVEN CONVERSATION. Some conversation on Rowhouse issues, Mega-Mansions, Main Street and other trending issues… Join in on the conversation with your Comments, Questions, and Respectful Perspectives… Grab a cup or your choice and Join us for what is expected to be a robust conversation. Sponsored by Tencate: https://us.tencatefabrics.com/
On today's episode of the Entrepreneur Evolution Podcast, we are joined by Carrie Siu Butt, CEO of SimpleHealth. Health care is anything but simple, but SimpleHealth is here to change that. SimpleHealth puts patients first in everything they do, designing products that fit into your life and save you time and money. Carrie was also recently featured on The Women Presidents' Organization (WPO) 2021 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned and -Led Companies. Carrie received her MBA from Stanford University and holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before becoming CEO, Carrie started her career on Wall Street and held various finance and strategy roles at Fortune 100 companies including Bear Stearns, American Express and MGM. She started her health and wellness career in strategy and finance at Equinox Fitness. Combining her passion for technology and wellness, she led the operations for LUMO Body Tech, a Palo Alto based wearable technology company and Row House, a Manhattan based boutique fitness studio chain. Most recently Carrie was in Toronto Canada working for Medcan (healthcare company) as VP, Health and Wellness overseeing the “Eat, Move, Think” portfolio before she joined the team at Simple Health. To learn more about SimpleHealth, visit https://www.simplehealth.com/ We would love to hear from you, and it would be awesome if you left us a 5-star review. Your feedback means the world to us, and we will be sure to send you a special thank you for your kind words. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” to automatically be notified when guest interviews and Express Tips drop every Tuesday and Friday. Interested in joining our monthly entrepreneur membership? Email Annette directly at yourock@ievolveconsulting.com to learn more. Ready to invest in yourself? Book your free session with Annette HERE. Keep evolving, entrepreneur. We are SO proud of you! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/annette-walter/support
Rebekah “Bex” Borucki is the Co-Founder and President of Row House Publishing, Wheat Penny Press (Row House's children's imprint), and the WPP Little Readers Big Change Initiative. In this episode, Bex shares the backstory to Row House and the way that Row House Publishing is breaking norms in the traditional publishing world. She talks about the business structure and the pillars of Row House's “CRED” commitment - Community, Responsibility, Equity, Disruption - and what each means to her.Bex also opens up about how Row House and the experiences over the last year have far exceeded anything she could have ever dreamed of, and elaborates on the investment opportunities available for supporting Row House. -----BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER: www.rowhousepublishing.com/books Row House Publishing on Instagram: @rowhousepubPodcast Transcriptions Available: www.rowhousepublishing.com/podcast Learn more about Row House Publishing and our mission to Raise the Volume on Voices That Matter™: http://rowhousepublishing.com Original Book Stoop theme: anonymousCover art: Danielle Pioli (https://www.daniellepioli.com)
Catch the latest episode of The Drift on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
The Franchise Insider's Inside Scoop
#FemmesAreAllowed to be neurodivergent. And like it. Join myself and my book mentor, Rebekah (Bex) Borucki, as we discuss the joy and relief of embracing our neurodivergence in adulthood, and how that enables us to show up authentically for community and ourselves in the fight for collective liberation. Rebekah is not only an established nonfiction & children's book author, but the founder of Row House Publishing and its children's book imprint, Wheat Penny Press. Join Bex and I for a winding conversation, whose highlights include social justice in book publishing, Boston vs. New Jersey accents, and a cameo from Bex's cute son, as well as Bex's reflections on parenting a trans kid. Follow Bex, Row House, and Wheat Penny Press on IG! Wanna get involved with A Stripper's Guide? Join my free newsletter, follow me on Instagram, and visit astrippersguide.com for resources & offerings.xo,Leilah/Penelope
On today's episode we delve into the chilling case of Robert Eric Wone. Robert Eric Wone was murdered in Washington, D.C., in August 2006 in the home of a college friend, Joe Price. Wone, who was 32 years old at the time, was a lawyer living in suburban Oakton, Virginia, but had been working as general counsel at Radio Free Asia in downtown Washington, D.C. He had stayed the night at the home of friends located about one mile from his office.
Debra Strougo is the founder of Row house, which she and her husband launched in 2014 with the intention of scaling. Today that dream has been realized with close to 100 Studios locations opened and about 300 Studios committed to after a bit over two years of franchising. This episode is brought to you by Vanessa Severiano, LLC specializing in business development for fitness & wellness brands. For more info on The Business Side of Fitness visit: www.vanessaseveriano.com/podcast Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessaseveriano/ Want to be a guest or have a question about your business? Drop us a line hello@vanessaseveriano.com
Tom Becker founded The Row House, Inc.—a forum for engaging current culture with ancient faith. Good Posture: Engaging Current Culture with Ancient Faith offers a modicum of uncommon sense on how to be a faithful presence in our communities —while also making an earnest proposal for embracing wonder in a cynical world. In this episode Tom and Leslie discuss the importance of civility. CLICK HERE to download a free excerpt from Good Posture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this week's episode of the Live & Love Local podcast, jgR agent Jay Mehra interviewed fellow jgR agents Carrie and Craig Foley who are co-owners of Naperville's newest fitness concept - Row House! Located at 1275 S Naper Blvd in Naperville, Row House offers a variety of classes for those of all fitness levels. Carrie and Craig spoke about what inspired them to enter the fitness industry and what makes Row House stand out among all the options for your fitness routine. To learn more, visit www.therowhouse.com/location/naperville or give them a call at 630-912-7ROW.