Be The Good with Kate

Following your passions – & building a community that uplifts everyone around you.

In this season finale of Be The Good with Kate, Broadway producer, director, playwright, and true “theater architect” Nick Flatto joins Kate for a heart-filled conversation on how creativity, community, and authenticity can be catalysts for positive change.

From high school theater days (with Kate!) to Tony nominations, Nick shares his journey of how every swerve and turn kept him moving forward – and how he always stayed rooted in his mission to build spaces for connection and joy.

💡 In This Episode:

📣The power of following your authentic path, even when it’s unconventional.

📣Why community building is at the core of Nick’s work as a producer and creator.

📣Nick’s new original musical: a love story between two men that’s as universal as it is personal.

📣Velvet Stage Productions, and what they are doing to get needed stories told

📣Using life’s challenges (from family divorce to coming out to career detours) as fuel for goodness.

📣What constitutes ‘art’, and how we are all artists everyday.

📣How artists – and everyone – can build their own “sacred spaces” for positive impact.

🎶 Whether you’re an artist at heart, a theater lover, or just in need of an uplifting reminder that “love wins”, this conversation will leave you inspired to create, connect, and, of course, be the good.

Thanks for listening this season, and while the show will take a break for a bit, all the episodes may always be found on podcast platforms everywhere under: ‘Be The Good with Kate’ 🫶

🌟 From Nick: “When we're talking about community, there is no clear path to any career, but specifically the arts… My advice is, find your people, find your community…Go be creative, because that's what brought you here.”

Connect with Nick:

@nickflatto

@velvetstageproductions

velvetstageproductions.com

A powerful reminder of the impact authentic representation can make on this week’s episode of Be The Good with Kate:

Host Kate Cherichello Tente sits down with award-winning filmmaker, writer, producer, and disability inclusion advocate Anna Pakman for a powerful, eye-opening conversation.

From navigating the entertainment industry to making space for new voices, Anna shares her personal journey, her artistic mission, and how her latest short film Emergency Plan is changing the conversation around disability and disaster preparedness.

In this episode, you'll hear:

🌟 Why disability representation in media matters—and what’s still missing

🎥 The behind-the-scenes journey of creating Emergency Plan, a short thriller made in just five days

💡 How entertainment can shape public perception, empathy, and policy

🎭 Broadway milestones in authentic casting—from Wicked to Oklahoma!

🔥 The real-life events that inspired Emergency Plan—and why it hits so hard

🤝 What it means to be an ally to the disability community

📣 One powerful action you can take today to make a difference

Anna shares how her lived experience with cerebral palsy fuels her drive to change the narrative in media, both in front of and behind the camera. From comedy beginnings to creating deeply emotional, suspenseful drama, Anna’s range and purpose shine through every project she touches.

🎬 Emergency Plan isn’t just a film, it’s a call to action. Anna walks us through the making of this impactful short and its companion resources that help individuals with disabilities plan for emergencies.

Whether you're a creator, an ally, or someone looking to better understand the world around you, this episode is filled with passion, purpose, and practical insight.

Resources & Links:

🔗 Watch & Learn More: emergencyplanfilm.com

📲 Follow Anna: @annotated on Instagram

📞 Action Step: Contact your representatives about protecting Medicaid

🎧 Subscribe to Be The Good with Kate on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help more good stories get heard.

💬 Found this episode powerful? Share your thoughts on Instagram @positively_kate or YouTube

📢 Don’t forget to share with a friend—you never know who needs a little good today.

What if joy wasn’t just something that happened to you—but something you practiced?

This week on Be The Good with Kate, we’re joined by Dan Burnett, Director of Talent Development at QPS Employment Group, internal communication consultant, and passionate teacher-at-heart. Dan brings a refreshing and actionable perspective on living a purpose-driven life, drawing from years of experience in leadership development and communication.

This episode takes a bit of a twist from our usual format, being a bit less interview, a bit more teaching ‘style’, if you will. Dan focuses on giving you, listener, real, tangible steps toward a more joyful, intentional life.

Dan shares his inspiring thoughts on: “Practice Makes Purpose: 5 Daily Practices to Fill Your Life with Joy.” From fueling your soul each morning to finding your personal version of “the skip,” these five practices are about being intentional with your mindset, your time, and the energy you bring to others.

We discuss:

-The power of starting your day with positivity

-Why using your unique talents is a form of joy-sharing

-How making someone’s day can make your day too

-The importance of gratitude and self-reflection

-What it means to “find your skip”—and how it can change your life

Dan also opens up about his own journey, the lessons behind his book "I Am CXO, Now What?", and why he believes we’re all a work in progress.

🎧 Tune in now and take that first skip toward a more joyful you!

- Episode on all podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate. 

- To be notified of new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

I love hearing from you -- Reach out anytime. 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get.

What does it take for a person with disabilities to find meaningful work? It's more than just landing a job—it’s a journey of training, support, opportunity, and hope.

In this episode of Be The Good with Kate, I sit down with Angela Calzone, President and CEO of Inroads to Opportunities, a nonprofit transforming lives through employment training and placement for individuals with disabilities.

Angela shares what that journey truly looks like – from skills development to navigating systems and resources – and how Inroads is breaking down barriers every day.

Deeper still, Angela shares how she is a former corporate leader who never expected to fall so fully in love with nonprofit work.Her mission has become both professional and personal.

🎧 Listen now to be inspired, informed, and reminded of the power of purpose. Episode on all podcast platforms.

- Connect with Angela: inroadsto org

- To be notified of new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out anytime. 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get.

Can Rock Climbing Help Fight Parkinson’s? Molly Cupka Says Yes—And She Has the Proof.

What if scaling a rock wall could help someone with Parkinson’s move better, feel stronger, and even slow the progression of their disease?

In this powerful episode, Be The Good with Kate welcomes Molly Cupka, founder of UpENDing Parkinson’s, to talk about how rock climbing is changing lives for people living with Parkinson’s. From former athletes to those who struggle to walk across a room, Molly has witnessed transformations that defy expectations.

A lifelong athlete, certified trainer, and advocate for movement as medicine, Molly shares:

• Why rock climbing works so uniquely well for people with Parkinson’s
• How her own love for the sport turned into a mission
• The everyday adaptations that empower patients to keep moving
• And moments like watching someone who can barely walk climb to the top of a wall

Whether you know someone with Parkinson’s, want to learn how movement can change the brain, or just love stories of human resilience—you need to hear this one.

Connect with Molly & UpENDing Parkinson’s:  upendingparkinsons.org

** Thanks for listening!

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or leave a review on Apple or Spotify. 

- To be notified of new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out anytime. 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

How you show up matters. And showing up as your whole self? That changes everything.

This week on Be The Good with Kate, we’re joined by the powerhouse Dr. Lynette M. Fraga: leadership coach, strategic consultant, speaker, and founder of Fiercely Forward, LLC. With over 30 years of experience in mission-driven work spanning nonprofits, education, federal programs, and even a tech startup, Lynette brings heart and deep insight into what it means to lead with authenticity and impact.

From her beginnings in early childhood classrooms to becoming the CEO of Child Care Aware of America, Dr. Fraga’s journey is a testament to the evolving nature of careers -- and the power of aligning your work with your values.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why a career doesn’t have to be just one thing
• How digging deep into yourself can unlock meaningful impact (a recurring theme around here, anyone?!)
• The power of curiosity in leadership and connection
• Why putting people at the center is the key to real, sustainable progress
• What it means to embrace “the art of the possible” in your life and work

If you've ever felt boxed in by titles, expectations, or the “shoulds” of a traditional path, this conversation will open your eyes to what’s possible when you lead with intention and heart.

Lynette reminds us that we each have a role to play in creating positive change—and it starts with showing up fully, for ourselves and others.

-------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to Be The Good with Kate. I’m your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, and I’m on a mission to amplify the stories of people doing good in the world. Thanks for listening!   

Enjoying the show? Share it with a friend or leave a review on Apple or Spotify—it's an easy way to help this message of good reach more people.

I’d love to hear from you, too. Reach out anytime.

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. 

- To be notified of new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood
- Instagram @positively_kate
- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente
- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Welcome to a brand new season of Be The Good with Kate—the show that sparks inspiration, ignites passion, and celebrates the everyday changemakers making a real difference. After 140 episodes, I'm still blown away by the incredible stories our guests have shared. No matter their background, age, location, or resources, each one reminds us that we all have the power to make the world a little better.

What a way to begin the season with this week’s guest!  Zach Mercurio is an author and researcher who’s devoted his work to helping people understand a powerful truth: you matter.

The way Zach speaks about purpose, meaning, and impact is both grounding and uplifting—you’ll feel seen, inspired, and ready to show up in the world a little differently.

Have a notepad nearby—his words stay with you.

I’m your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, and I am on a mission to share as many stories of people doing good as I can. We each have the power to make a difference, and I hope you find a way to do so while following what lights you up as well. 

“Zach Mercurio is an author, researcher, and leadership 

development facilitator specializing in purposeful leadership,

mattering, and meaningful work. He advises leaders in

organizations worldwide on practices for building cultures that

promote well-being, motivation, and performance.

Zach holds a Ph.D. in organizational learning, performance, and

change and serves as one of Simon Sinek’s Optimist Instructors,

teaching a top-rated course on creating mattering at work. His

new book is The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a

Culture of Significance. His previous book is The Invisible

Leader: Transform Your Life, Work, and Organization with The

Power of Authentic Purpose.

He’s been featured in The Harvard Business Review, Forbes,

Psychology Today, The Denver Post, and on ABCNews.”

Connect with Zach: zachmercurio.com 

** Thanks for listening!

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or leave a review on Apple or Spotify. 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:

- To be notified of new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

This is a short rebroadcast because I love any chance to bring up the greatness that is Ted Lasso.

Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the podcast that shows or reminds us how we each have the power to make a difference, all while finding and following what lights us up. 

Right now, we are on a season break from our full episodes, but I wanted to share a mini episode of something that makes me smile…

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening!

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify. 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:

• - Instagram @positively_kate 
• - LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente
• - To be notified of new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood
• - Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

#TedLasso #Inspiration #BeAGoldfish #Kindness #Thoughtfulness #Humor

Nope, it’s not perfect, but it’s better than it was. 

Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the podcast that shows or reminds us how we each have the power to make a difference, all while finding and following what lights us up. 

Right now, we are on a season break from our full episodes, but I wanted to share today a mini episode of something that has been on my mind…

So here are four minutes about painting a bathroom, and why that is of note in regards to making a difference.

Here’s to making things better than they have been. 

Every bit counts.

If you’re new to Be The Good with Kate, comment or email me with a subject/topic/idea you are interested in, and I can suggest a starting episode for you.

NB: if you want to see the bathroom go ahead over to insta, fb, or linkedin for photo evidence. :) 

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening!

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify. 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- To be notified of new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

#everybitcounts #makeadifference #bethegood #makeachange #passions #starfishstory

The minute I connected with Katrina McGhee and her book, Taking a Career Break for Dummies, I knew this episode needed to be our season finale… 

Yes, THAT Dummies series– the bright yellow in the bookstore? You know it!

If you have been considering a change in course, a pause, or a ‘I don’t know, but something needs to change’, this refreshing and empowering episode is for you.

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. **

Going through the work and reward of searching for, discovering, and following our passions– while making the world a bit better along the way– is the crux of what this show is all about. 

And what Katrina helps people do each day.

“Katrina McGhee is a career break coach, author, and co-founder of BreakSpace, the launchpad for life-changing breaks. 

She helps mid-career professionals design transformative life breaks that lead to happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.

Katrina developed the Break Blueprint©️, a guiding framework she's used to help over 100 clients rejuvenate their lives by taking a break to travel the world, launch a business, write a novel, change careers, and more.

Katrina's work was inspired by her own 20-month career break where she saved $40,000 in just 18 months to quit her corporate job to travel the world. As an avid world traveler and digital nomad, her expertise on career breaks and travel has been featured in prestigious outlets such as NBC, Forbes, Fast Company, Smarter Travel, and Thrive Global.”

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening.

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify. 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- To be notified for new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

A children’s book author who happens to be dyslexic, Abigail Griebelbauer has channeled these challenges into the work she does now: Creating books that highlight how children are not alone in their differences. 

With her Empower Empathy Early series, and titles such as ‘D is for Darcy not Dyslexia’ and ‘A is for Anthony not ADHD’, Abigail reaches children of many abilities and adds to representation. She appreciates how these books also open conversations about these topics early in life. 

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. **

Connect with Abigail and The Passage Press:

• https://thepassagepress.com

Two other recent episodes that bring up dyslexia:

• Juliet Hahn, Your Next Stop, Ep. 84
• Danielle Fette, Regenerative Medicine, Ep. 126

Both incredible, vibrant women!

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening!

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify. 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:

• - Instagram @positively_kate 
• - LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente
• - To be notified of new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood
• - Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

Revisiting an episode of Be The Good with Kate with a message to love all, and in particular here, to love and help children who don't have a family of their own.

Guest Dr. John DeGarmo has a path that took an unexpected turn over the years: John is the director of The Foster Care Institute and has now been a foster parent to over 60 children over the years. His passion for helping children and foster care outcomes is so apparent, and I am happy to share our chat with you today.

65% of children end up homeless after going through the foster care system, and John is a warrior for changing this outcome.

John is the recipient of the Good Morning America Ultimate Hero Award, the Heroes of the Homeless Award, and several other honors. He has appeared on ABC, NBC, FOX, PBS, and more. John is the author of ‘The Little Book of Foster Care Wisdom: 365 Days of Inspiration and Encouragement for Foster Care Families’, the best selling book ‘Faith and Foster Care’, and foster care children's book ‘A Different Home: A New Foster Child's Story’. He is the director of The Foster Care Institute, and acts as a consultant to foster care agencies as well as an expert witness to legal agencies across the USA and globe. John is a High Content Speaker and informative trainer on the foster care system, and travels extensively across the globe, meeting with foster parents, child welfare workers, churches, schools, and organizations.

• Drjohndegarmofostercare.com
• Facebook: Dr. John DeGarmo, Foster Care Expert

**If you enjoyed this episode, please do subscribe and share on social, YouTube, and your favorite podcast platform. A share and a review go a long way in reaching more people with good news.

On Friday, you'll hear from Abigail Griebelbauer , dyslexic children's author seeking to help children see they are not alone.**

• Website: katecherichello.com/bethegood
• Podcasts platforms: Be The Good with Kate Cherichello

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get.

Revisiting a beautiful episode focusing on the search for your passions while also working through mental health challenges. Today's guest is not a mental health practitioner, but rather someone who is going to therapy, working through each day, and sharing her struggles and triumphs with others along the way. It takes a lot of strength to do that, and she is helping others by finding ways to incorporate this information and encouragement into her life, in addition to finishing grad school and exploring what's next...

JJ Kells comes to us today from Chicago, and while most of us get anxious about not knowing what's next, JJ adds a unique perspective: "I actually don't mind not knowing what's next." She calls herself a "wanderer", and indeed has already had such an interesting, varied life despite a young age.

JJ has obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD, and she has worked so hard to ensure SHE runs her life, not it. "It's a part of my experience all day everyday," but listen to how JJ explains her journey discovering so much about herself,  therapy, tactics to cope with the stressors, and more.

This month, we've been rebroadcasting episodes each Monday, while releasing new episodes on Fridays. Today's episode is a rebroadcast from June 2022. On Friday, you'll hear from Harry Duran of Podcast Junkies and overall fascinating human.

--

**If you enjoyed this episode, please do subscribe and share on social, YouTube, and your favorite podcast platform. A share and a review go a long way in reaching more people with good news.**

• Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate Cherichello
• Website: katecherichello.com/bethegood

It is rare for me to hop on the microphone without a guest, but when I feel pulled with something to share with you, I have to do it! So welcome back to Be The Good with Kate, today a short episode with what I hope is a message that sticks with you. 

I may be preaching to the choir as they say, so if you, listener, are saying Yes! That’s correct! I know this already! Then perhaps forward to someone who might be able to use this as well, and let’s continue to work towards bringing the value of the arts to the forefront…

Did you grow up belting every word of the Annie, Sound of Music, and Beauty and the Beast soundtracks? 

Did you spend weekends memorizing dances and lines?

Did you bond with amazing friends and families in the halls surrounding the auditorium?

Are you still waiting for your chance to play Maria in Sound of Music somewhere, anywhere?? 

(That last one might just be me?)

I hope you enjoy this brief episode but are also inspired by what it contains. The reminder, or perhaps realization, of all that the arts offer. It doesn’t mean we have to become professional actors (heck no!). It could mean becoming a successful mathematician. A chemist creating a new medicine. A teacher finding new ways to engage with students. A parent connecting with their child.

Listen and let me know your thoughts. Thanks to all who find ways to support the arts and recognize the way it affects our lives.

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening!

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify. 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- To be notified of new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

A life-altering event ends a dream career... But leads to such a special journey:

Tony Vlahovic reached the pinnacle of baseball: playing for the Boston Red Sox, but when an injury threw him a true curveball, he had to change direction. Using his passion for baseball, Tony found himself in the nonprofit space, channeling his passions to working with the Special Olympics and eventually creating his own non-profit as well, BaseABLE.

A beautiful episode to revisit that was originally published in August 2023.

I love our chat and the opportunity to hone in on the beauty of working with people with special needs, bringing the sport of baseball to this population, embracing a changing career path, and the power of never ceasing to grow and learn each day in what we do.

• Follow Tony: Instagram: @tonyvlahovic, LinkedIN: Tony Vlahovic
• Book: Just Need An Opportunity: Let's Play Ball
• Baseable.org

“Tony Vlahovic, MA. MPM, CSCS is a former professional athlete and experienced entrepreneur in the fields of sports mental conditioning and post rehabilitation therapy.  He is the Chairman of Special Olympics Baseball Development for North America. Tony was inducted into the Wilkes University Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.

Mr. Vlahovic started his professional baseball career in Italy where he was named his team’s Rookie of the Year.  Upon returning to the United States he signed with the Boston Red Sox where he played as a left-handed pitcher.  His career prematurely ended due to an auto accident, but he has dedicated his life to teaching, coaching and leading his athletes on and off the field. His efforts were rewarded by receiving Coach of the Year honors five times and was nominated as North American Coach of the Year in 2014.  He  has been honored at the Baseball Hall of Fall in Cooperstown, NY for his dedication to individuals with disabilities playing baseball where his game-worn hat from the Gold medal winning team in 2014 is on display. 

Special Olympics New Jersey set an unprecedented standard in the initiation of baseball and Vlahovic was the man for the job.  His technical knowledge and passion for the sport of baseball makes him a natural leader, but his real motivation was to offer the opportunity for individuals with disabilities to play baseball.”

~~Join me each week, as I ask an individual five questions about the good they are doing in the world via following their passions. Be inspired by their example and advice on how each of us has the ability to make a difference.~~

Huge way you can help this podcast reach more people?! Listen and share with a friend or on your social. Thank you in advance!

• Website: katecherichello.com/bethegood
• Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get.

Something I really appreciate about this episode is the deep dive into how we show up every day—for ourselves and others—and how we can embrace the inner work that artists experience. Jennifer Apple, an NYC-based actor, coach, and more, joins me today on Be The Good with Kate.

Let’s explore…

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. **

We talk:

-being a multi-hyphenate (that word returns again!)

-the realization of ‘the more I know the less I know’

-seeking to understand

-the artist’s mentality and how we can all embrace that in our interactions

-empathy, and how much we all need it

-how Jennifer helps actors, and what we all can learn from the acting world

Jennifer Apple has performed across the country in a variety of productions including the lead in "The Band's Visit" First National Tour as well as television and film. She has an MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater with a Certificate in Citizen Artistry,.

“Jennifer’s mission is to empower others to embody their truest selves, so they can confidently and authentically express themselves with integrity in everything they do…

Jennifer is the founder and executive director of the Empowered Artist Collective, a community for women and non-binary artists to help foster sustainable and thriving careers in the arts. She hosts The Empowered Artist Collective Podcast, sharing valuable insights and advice for artists at all stages of their journeys.”

Follow Jennifer:

• www.JenniferApple.net 
• www.EmpoweredArtistCollective.com 
• Instagram at @JenniferApple_

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening!

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify. 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:

• Instagram @positively_kate 
• LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente
• To be notified of new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood
• Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

Who feels like they need to be more organized?

And who feels so much better mentally when they are in an organized space?

Why? Why are we trying to be more organized? Yes today’s guest covers the how…But diving into the ‘why’ of it all really draws me in listening to Laurie Palau, Founder of Simply B Organized and host of This Organized Life.

This is a rebroadcast episode that was too good not to share again!

I could have talked to Laurie all day. In fact, we ‘swapped podcasts’, so to speak, and you can look for an episode of her show, SImply B Organized, featuring yours truly in the upcoming weeks. She is someone who feels like a friend right away.

From her website: "I’ve always said that disorganization goes deeper than piles of paper on the counter, dishes in the sink, or an overflowing closet. Clutter is merely a symptom of a bigger issue — resulting in feelings of shame, anxiety, stress, and an overall lack of control."

Follow Laurie: simplyborganized.com

"Joy in the journey." 

Today on Be The Good with Kate:

• If you lead teams, this episode is filled with great advice and insight for you. 

• If you are scared to speak up with your ideas, this episode is filled with advice and insight for you. 

• If you feel a pull to create something, this episode is filled with advice and insight for you! 

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. **

We talk:

-Intrapreneuship: what that means, how Elizabeth made it happen.

-Asking ourselves WHY we are doing what we are doing.

-All the hats, including Mom as well.

-The importance of asking questions to fuel change.

-We need change.

-Creating roles for herself by questioning the current state, then igniting positive change.

-As a leader, creating an environment that is safe and encouraging to ask questions and to not know all the answers.

-The power of breathing. Yes, breathing.

Guest Elizabeth Bieniek has been “named one of the most influential ‘Female Pioneers in Technology’. [She] is an author, founder, and Fortune 100 leadership veteran focused on ‘good peopling’ as the secret to exceptional execution…Elizabeth now helps leaders tap into the individual genius within their teams to unlock unrivaled innovation and uncover joy in the journey.” 

Connect with Elizabeth:  elizabethbieniek.com 

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening!

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify. 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- To be notified of new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

Is it possible to live a more sustainable life in the midst of our fast-paced world?

Answering that question and more today on Be The Good with Kate with the founder of No Trace Shop, Liz McDade. 

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. **

Some of what we talk about on this episode:

-Decreasing the overwhelm in making sustainable choices.

-How, despite being a busy mom who works multiple jobs, Liz has found many ways to make sustainability a part of her, and her family’s, lifestyle – & how you can, too.

-Awareness: There are probably more opportunities around you than you realize to make sustainable choices.

-The array of free resources Liz provides online for people from creating their own bags, to mending their clothes, & more

From the bio:

“Liz McDade is a creative who teaches others how to craft a zero waste life with sewing & mending projects & zero waste lifestyle tips. She’s been featured in the San Jose Mercury News, and several podcasts including Hippie Haven; Sustainably Now; Etsy Conversations; Grounded in Maine, & Measure Twice, Cut Once. Learn more about her current work at NoTraceShop.com”

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening!

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify. 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:

- Instagram @positively_kate

 - LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- To be notified for new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

This is one of those “my mind is blown” episodes.

Today on Be The Good with Kate, Danielle Fette shares about FetTech, a company that is healing patients through regenerative medicine.

I learned so much listening to Danielle in this jam-packed episode, and while I continue to be frustrated by our medical system, it is people like Danielle and her husband who give me hope in solutions from medical advancements– red tape be damned.  

We talk:

-What is regenerative medicine & why is it so important? 

-Powder to heal wounds, inhale a product to heal lung disease, & more

-How to get these solutions from creation to patient 

-Taking control of your own health: how, why

-How medical costs work in- and out-patient

-Insights into the variables that go into our health

-Consistency, not quick fixes, for better health

-It can be a lot, keep overwhelm at bay with small steps

-Growing an entire severed finger back on a child & more stories of healing

-Working through dyslexia 

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. **

“Danielle is a pioneering leader in regenerative medicine with over 25 years of experience in the medical device industry. With a solid background in Nursing, Biology, and Chemistry, she co-founded FetTech to accelerate the development of advanced FDA-cleared medical devices that transform healing for patients facing trauma, aesthetic needs, and some of the world’s most challenging health conditions.”

Follow Danielle: Insta @danielle.fette LinkedIn Danielle Fette 

FetTech.com

**It's your host, Kate Cherichello Tente, here -- Thanks for listening!

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify. 

I love hearing from you -- Reach out via the following:

- Instagram @positively_kate 

- LinkedIn at Kate Cherichello Tente

- To be notified for new episodes, sign up at: katecherichello.com/bethegood

- Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get. **

Today’s guest looks beyond physical health in his practice as a doctor of physical therapy and board-certified orthopedic specialist working each day to get active adults back to doing the things they love to do without pain meds, injections, or surgery; even if they've tried PT before. 

Dr. Paul Kochoa says, “My mission is to change how people think about physical therapy - that it's more than the traditional medical model.  We can create change with proper treatment and correction, assessing the whole body and working to 100% of a person's goals, and not just be pain-free.”

We talk:

• -Getting to the root of pain
• -Finding ways to excel in #physicalhealth without pain meds or surgery
• -Niches like #pickleball
• -A path that started nowhere near #physicaltherapy & how you needn’t stress about being in your ‘long-term’ career by college graduation! Paul went back for his doctorate many years later… 

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. Here we talk to individuals who are doing just that, individuals from all walks of life and industries. 

Something I love about human connection and inspiration is how you needn’t be from the same place or a similar background to get so much out of hearing from a person – In fact, I think it is better that way– We notice how we as humans are so similar in so many ways, and how EACH of us has so much power to make a difference in our own lives and the lives of others. 

I hope you are inspired here to start, restart, or continue your journey of finding your passions and helping others along the way.**

How appropriate that October is #NationalPhysicalTherapyMonth!

Follow Paul: @Par5PT

Thanks for listening to Be The Good with Kate. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to be notified when new episodes are released.

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people?! 

Share with a friend or leave a review. Thank you for helping to inspire others!

Now it's on you to determine The Why :)

A mini episode of Be The Good with Kate diving into the benefits of giving back: for those you help AND for yourself.

Check out all the episodes wherever you listen to podcasts.

Follow your passions. Help others along the way.

Today let’s look at how doctors and patients interact– and further, how we interact with all those we encounter. 

Dr. Nidal Humoee is a pediatric hospitalist at Hunterdon Medical Center, as well as an author, focusing on relationships and attitude. He explains: “A relationship is a two-way interaction. Each party bears responsibility for his own intention and attitude.” Originally born in Syria, Dr. Humoee now is a long-time resident of Hunterdon County, New Jersey with his family. 

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. Here we talk to individuals who are doing just that, individuals from all walks of life and industries. 

Something I love about human connection and inspiration is how you needn’t be from the same place or a similar background to get so much out of hearing from a person – In fact, I think it is better that way– We notice how we as humans are so similar in so many ways, and how EACH of us has so much power to make a difference in our own lives and the lives of others. 

I hope you are inspired here to start, restart, or continue your journey of finding your passions and helping others along the way.**

Dr. Humoee recently released his first book, Re-relate Through Relational Lenses, where he examines the importance of attitude in intimacy, listening, and settling differences. Dr. Humoee incorporates his Christian faith as well as experiences in life both personally and professionally to bring together a focus on relational lenses. 

Yes, despite being a busy doctor, husband, and father, he decided to write a book – because he saw a need, saw something that was lacking in human connection, and wanted to find a way to make a difference even further than his own hospital interactions. We talk about how doctors can better be present in patient interactions, and how these tactics and this awareness is crucial in all of our relationships.

Find Dr. Humoee’s book, Re-relate Through Relational Lenses, on Amazon and in select Hunterdon County businesses. 

Thanks for listening!

Sign up to be notified when new episodes are released at katecherichello.com/bethegood

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or leave a review. Thank you for helping to inspire others!

Today’s guest is a registered dietician who is passionate about helping women, particularly moms, heal disordered eating and nourish their bodies and their families so they can lead more fulfilling lives.

**Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. Here we talk to individuals who are doing just that, individuals from all walks of life and industries. 

Something I love about human connection and inspiration is how you needn’t be from the same place or a similar background to get so much out of hearing from a person – In fact, I think it is better that way– We notice how we as humans are so similar in so many ways, and how EACH of us has so much power to make a difference in our own lives and the lives of others. 

I hope you are inspired here to start, restart, or continue your journey of finding your passions and helping others along the way.**

Alexandra Paetow, RD, has a virtual private practice in New Jersey and lives in South Orange with her husband and three young children.

She explains: “So much of the current information we hear about nutrition is from a lens of restriction instead of nourishment; and the narrative around bodies is that smaller is better and you should change your body to achieve health and happiness. For new moms that narrative is quite loud. Parents also are overwhelmed with trying to achieve the "perfect" nutrition for their kids, feeling like they can never measure up. My work is in trying to combat these messages to prioritize nourishment in an attainable way and healing your relationship with food and your body so you can live your life without the burden of that negative diet/body shaming noise running the show and give the same to your kids.”

More about Alexandra: linktr.ee/postpartumnutritionist  

Thanks for listening to Be The Good with Kate! Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to be notified when new episodes are released.

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people?

Share with a friend or leave a review. Thank you for helping to inspire others!

Welcome to Be The Good with Kate, the show where guests leave you inspired to uncover your passions, and discover tangible ways to make a difference along the way. Here we talk to individuals who are doing just that, individuals from all walks of life and industries. While we have featured guests from Bali to Utah, Florida to Japan, and just about everywhere in between, this season we are going uber-local with my new/old state of New Jersey. New Jersey? But why? And why should I care? 

Because your host, that’s me, Kate Cherichello Tente, is a New Jersey native but long-time Manhattan resident– that is until just a few months ago. As I rediscover my home state, I wanted to bring on some guests doing good here. But just like in prior seasons, something I love about human connection and inspiration is how you certainly don’t need to be from the same place or a similar background to get so much out of hearing from a person – In fact, I think it is better that way– We notice how we as humans are so similar in so many ways, and how EACH of us has so much power to make a difference in our own lives and the lives of others. And I hope you are inspired here to start, restart, or continue your journey of finding your passions and helping others along the way.

Today, meet Lynne Azarchi, Director of Empathy for Children's Home Society/Kidsbridge.

What you’ll hear more about today:

-The immense need for teaching kindness, respect, and empathy as early as possible

-Bystanders, Targets, Bullying, Upstanders

-Resources for both adults and children in teaching empathy

-Bullying– the action of the person, not the person, they are being mean-spirited and need help realizing what they are doing- teaching them empathy 

-What the Children’s Home Society / Kidsbridge partnership is doing to help reshape how children–and adults– treat one another

-Being an ‘upstander’ instead of a bystander

-How a passion for something can end up as a career, a one-time volunteer event, or many things in-between

-The severe increase in cyber-bullying 

-How to get started in being a changemaker

What is Children’s Home Society:

“...founded in 1894 and our mission was to find loving families for children, to protect children from harm, and to help parents find better ways to be parents so they can keep their children. It is our vision that all children have secure, caring families, good health, and function well cognitively, emotionally and behaviorally.”

What is Kidsbridge Youth Center:

As they are now under the umbrella of CHS, they help CHS with social emotional skills and bullying prevention.

Follow Lynne: empathyadvantagebook.com

Thanks for listening to Be The Good with Kate. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to be notified when new episodes are released.

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people?! 

Share with a friend or leave a review. Thank you for helping to inspire others!

Connecting cultures through the universal language of dance with Mickela, and Finding your passion of sharing a laugh in your 60s with Shelley... Today's rebroadcast pair on Be The Good with Kate!

I’ve been feeling out of touch with a lot of the ‘arts scene’ these past months, so I thought I’d rebroadcast a few of Be The Good with Kate’s arts-focused episodes in case any of you are craving an extra dose of arts-based inspo, too :)

What is Be The Good With Kate??

Need a reminder of the good in the world?

In search of some inspiration as to how you, too, can make a difference doing what you love?

Then you’re in the right place. Here, we highlight individuals who have found their passions AND utilize them to help others along the way.

We ALL have the power to make a difference.

Once we take those first steps, we amaze ourselves with what we are capable of and how WE can make the world a better place.

Mickela Mallozzi, Episode 111:

Mickela is the four-time Emmy® Award-winning Host, Executive Producer, Creator, and namesake of "Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi", a PBS travel series following Mickela’s adventures as she experiences the world one DANCE at a time.

Mickela completely embodies the main idea of Be The Good with Kate: Seeking out that which lights you up, your passion, and along the way making the world a better place. Mickela likes to say she “makes new friends by dancing with strangers,” using the universal language of dance and music to connect with the world.

She has been featured in The New York Times, O Magazine, The Washington Post, AFAR, Dance Magazine, Forbes, National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler, Hemispheres Magazine, and more, and she has performed on various television shows including Sesame Street. Season 6 of Bare Feet is out now on your local PBS member station.

Shelley Smartly, Episode 62:

Yes and!

If you know improv, you know that statement. This 73-year-old widow who became a comedian at the age of 69, shows us how saying ‘yes and’ throughout life will keep you facing your fears, growing, and living your best life. She will have you smiling and laughing before this episode is done.

Shelley Smartly was told she would have 3-5 years to live. That was in the 1990s. As Shelley explains, she initially began preparing for the outcome: she planned her own funeral. Then she decided to take a different course: Shelley dove into learning as much as she could about her diagnosis of scleroderma, created an entire non-profit, and the years went by as she continued to live her life through the autoimmune diagnoses.

Fast forward, Shelley finally has the opportunity for treatment, but her husband passes away.

“My life had been very serious for several decades... And what I felt when he passed away was I knew I could survive it but only if I could laugh again. I had to be able to laugh."

So while receiving 7 hours a day, 5 days a week of transfusions, she spent her evenings ‘recovering’ from that at comedy shows because she knew how much she needed the uplift. Shelley explains that after prior experiences with depression, she knew she had to make herself get out the door. And what a result.

She next started to write during her infusion time and then, once she felt strong enough, she enrolled in a stand-up comedy course. Shelley continued on to become a stand-up comedian– performing "In real shows that people paid money for!".

If all of that weren’t enough, Shelley wanted to continue spreading laughter to more. She developed the now award-winning comedy series, THE SMARTLYS.

Find this episode and all the others wherever you listen to podcasts and at katecherichello.com/bethegood. Thank you for listening!

Something I love about interviewing guests for Be The Good with Kate: the different ways guests describe concepts. Sophie Jacobs tackles the internal vs external factors that impact us each day, with a focus on INTUITION. And how NOT following our intuition can present itself in our bodies. 

Sophie quit a high-profile startup job to live at a Buddhist monastery, was ordained as a Buddhist Nun, then disrobed and went on to write a book about how to trust your inner knowing through a series of personal elemental essays. She now facilitates programs and coaches individuals on these topics.

Presence

Peace

Perspective

Purpose

Passion

All the ‘P’s’ today!

• Career Change episode referenced:  Ep. 95 
• Follow Sophie: Flow-intuit com 

Thank you for listening to Be The Good with Kate, where it is my honor to share with you each week guests who inspire us to find and follow our passions at any age– but not only that, to do this while making the world a better place along the way. 

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people? Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify. Thank you in advance!

• Sign up to be notified for new episodes: katecherichello com/bethegood

• Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get.

Antonio Garrido speaks to me from France about leadership and so much more on today’s episode of Be The Good with Kate. He is the author of My Daily Leadership: A Powerful Roadmap for Leadership Success, and Founder & President of My Daily Leadership, a leadership development organization with a mission to inspire one million of the world’s best leaders to reach their full potential.

One of Antonio’s favorite quotes is “People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.” (F. M. Alexander). Antonio explains, “Every attitude, belief, and habit is entirely learned behavior, therefore, it can be altered and modified to become the world’s most high-performing leaders. However, without intentional self-reflection, regular self-analysis, and increased self-awareness, there’s no tension, no change, and no growth. We could be too busy mopping the floor to turn off the faucet.”

To listen for in the episode:

-perspective in 'success'

-hindsight through journaling, giving yourself ‘report cards’, leads to insight

-insight as a quality to standout in a competitive workforce

-fascinating story of his father being a shepherd in poverty in Spain

-do you want to be the tail of a lion or the head of a mouse?

-the long game in finding the heart of your passions

-ask for critiques to grow

-confirmation bias

31 Days of Leadership Journal Prompts - Complimentary Download for Listeners: mydailyleadership com/leadership-journal-prompts

Thank you for listening to Be The Good with Kate, where it is my honor to share with you each week guests who inspire us to find and follow our passions at any age– but not only that, to do this while making the world a better place along the way.

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people?! Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify– Thank you in advance!

Would love to hear what resonated with you. Please do reach out to me @positively_kate or share your favorite moment and tag me.

Sign up to be notified for new episodes: katecherichello com/bethegood
Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get.

Looking at someone who appears confident and successful, we often have no idea of the stories behind them. Or the horrors they may have endured to get to where they are today. Jennifer Ramirez has gone through things no one should ever have to encounter, yet how she moved through her past to build the work she does today is incredible. Not only has she created a nonprofit to help others, but she created one to help others going through similar traumas to her own, forcing her to revisit her past daily in order to help others move beyond theirs.

Jennifer Ramirez is the Founder of the nonprofit organization, &Rise, whose mission is to empower women to be the ultimate versions of themselves no matter their adversities.  Jennifer has years of experience working with survivors and provides trauma-informed care to those she works with. She is passionate about helping women live their best lives after trauma and abuse. 

Jennifer was recommended to me by episode 52 guest, JJ Kells, another beautiful episode to listen to.

Follow Jennifer and &Rise: womenrisechicago. org

Mentioned in the episode: bebykate.com/The101Series  

   Take out the intimidation of working out, breaking down the form & safety of HIIT, Pilates, & Barre.

**Thank you for listening to Be The Good with Kate, where it is my honor to share with you each week guests who inspire us to find and follow our passions at any age– but not only that, to do this while making the world a better place along the way. 

Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people?! Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify. Thank you in advance!

Would love to hear what resonated with you. Please do reach out to me @positively_kate or share your favorite moment and tag me. 

Sign up to be notified for new episodes: katecherichello.com/bethegood

Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate 

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get.

Things I love about this week’s episode of Be The Good with Kate:
-Guest Patti Meyer’s realization that what she thought was a calling to be a psychologist was actually melding her passions for business and helping others that brought her to owning her own business
-Surrounding yourself with people who know more than you do. Accepting one another’s strengths. Saying you don’t know when you don’t know.
-Patti’s beautiful vulnerability in sharing with us her journey of self acceptance, and the courage to take professional photos
-Building a community in a remote work environment.

-Patti’s enthusiasm in how she is an entrepreneur who specializes in helping others create exciting and authentic businesses and getting back into their zones of genius.
Patti Meyer is the CEO and Founder of BizMagic Virtual Business Management Solutions, where she and her team support female and gender-expansive entrepreneurs doing good in the world who feel overwhelmed by the back-end tech of their business and need help making it all hum. BizMagic creates, implements, and teaches the tweaks that help its clients make a bigger impact with less stress.
Follow Patti: @bizmagicco
**Thank you for listening to Be The Good with Kate, where it is my honor to share with you each week guests who inspire us to find and follow our passions at any age– but not only that, to do this while making the world a better place along the way.
Easy and impactful way you can help this podcast reach more people?! Share with a friend or review on Apple or Spotify! Thank you in advance!
Would love to hear what resonated with you. Please do reach out to me @positively_kate or share your favorite moment and tag me. 
Sign up to be notified for new episodes: katecherichello.com/bethegood
Podcast platforms: Be The Good with Kate
**Mentioned in the episode: bebykate.com/The101Series  ~ Take out the intimidation of working out, breaking down the form & safety of HIIT, Pilates, & Barre.

Because we need all the #goodnews we can get.