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November 28, 2022

Chelsea LeSage, actor, model, director, producer

When you take the leap to New York City to make it in the acting and modeling world with no backup plan, it takes guts. It also takes an ability to adapt quickly and follow the opportunities and paths that one would never have imagined. For Chelsea LeSage it meant solidifying her position as the go-to Lady MacBeth for various production companies in the city, and then carving a undeniable niche in the horror genre. She is a demon slayer in the 21st Century Demon Hunter and also plays the role of an actual demon in the film Bishop’s Cove. Growing up, she never liked the idea of modeling, but that was another shift she made as she found her way. Teaming up with friends at We Speak Model Management, she’s a part of a movement putting realistic body image at the forefront by putting models first and holding open conversations with brands around authentic representation. Today, Chelsea is now in the process of taking greater control and has evolved into roles as director, producer and a small business owner – operating multiple production companies and “finding peace in the chaos.” We also cover: the “golden era of Taconic Theatre” with Jess Passetto, balancing the books and running a small business, falling into the horror genre, the mythos of demons, Shakespeare and Lady MacBeth, the NYC culture, gentrification, tearing her ACL during a modeling gig, the alternative version of John Wilkes Booth, growing a thick skin in the modeling world, the evolving and changing of the modeling industry, maintaining her Instagram account, Currency Coffee, Starbucks, Dunkin’, playing the clarinet, guitar, banjo, bassoon and other instruments.

I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with Chelsea LeSage.

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Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-krol/support

November 24, 2022

Jocelyn Moody, cannabis consultant, figure skater

It seems that the timing was perfect for the growth of the cannabis coinciding with the beginning of Jocelyn Moody’s professional career. Her willingness to jump in and learn every facet of the industry, from top to bottom, has opened up a world of possibilities as a marketer, and influencer in the industry. It hasn’t been without setbacks. Just when her Instagram following of her photography of cannabis plants was hitting new heights, the platform suspended her account due to community guidelines. Regardless, that experience has made her sharper, smarter and more creative in her approach, while she continues her work with many of the cannabis businesses in the Berkshires. It’s a great conversation providing an inside look into the cannabis industry in the Berkshires, and Jocelyn’s journey to this point. At 27, the journey has just begun. We also cover: constraints in marketing in the cannabis industry, budtending, pre-rolls, changing the way people think about cannabis, growing pains in the industry, jumping into a frozen lake dressed as cannabis, the vape ban, breaking the grass ceiling, listening to the people who work for you, customer service, cannabis industry program at Berkshire Community College, Jocelyn’s Front Porch Photography project, her long career in figure skating and how it has shaped her, mental tenacity, growing up in Dalton, SpongeBob, the power of kindness and more. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversations with Jocelyn Moody.

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Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-krol/support

Carol McGlinchey, past-life regression therapy

November 24, 2022

Carol McGlinchey, past-life regression therapist

Much like many therapists who found their way to specialize in past life regression therapy, Carol McGlinchey began on the more conventional path in modern psychology. But she soon realized that we, as humans, are much more complex, deeper and fundamentally spiritual than conventional wisdom gives us credit for. By guiding clients into Alpha or, deeper, Theta brain activity, Carol has overseen thousands of past life regressions, which she says provide deeper insight and even help clients recognize blocks that may be hindering growth in this lifetime and in their soul’s progression. While this concept is not necessarily accepted widely in our mainstream Western culture, there is a long spiritual tradition of the belief in reincarnation in the East and throughout the world. Further, Carol shares some historical evidence that may make skeptics think twice about the possibility of past lives. Regardless, Carol emphasizes that validating past lives is not the important part of her work, instead, she wants her clients to focus on how the work can improve themselves and live with greater spiritual integrity. We also cover: Akashic records, Christianity and reincarnation, Jenny Cockell, the mentorship of Dr. Brian Weiss and Dr. Michael Newton, unblocking fears, the lesson of love, overcoming beliefs or deprogramming, Carol’s evolution to do this work and her own past lives, choosing our lives, Karma, Carol’s pioneering in the natural organic food industry in the 1970s, her training under Swami Satchidananda, Earth as a training ground, looking for simple beauty and more. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with Carol McGlinchey. You can reach Carol at (413) 274-0286 for a free consultation.

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Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-krol/support

November 24, 2022

Erin Laundry, LEGO Master

It has been a beautiful, winding road for Erin Laundry on a path paved by unique talent and boundless creativity. From her earliest days as a gifted musician bound for the Berklee College of Music, quickly swapping classical piano for guitar, majoring in songwriting and eventually, effortlessly, teaching herself the bass guitar, while, at one point, playing in five different bands at once – Erin has shown an ability to master new challenges. So, it’s no surprise really that when she became a Mom and found a new family passion for LEGO, she would take it to new heights. Today, viewers around the world are following her as a top contestant on LEGO Masters, as she has successfully moved on to episode 5 of the Fox series. It’s a powerful validation for Erin who looks forward to reopening her business, Bottomless Bricks, in her hometown of Pittsfield. In our conversation we dive deep into the time and investment she has made in truly mastering many elements of the LEGO universe. In this episode we also cover: The very beginning of Erin’s LEGO fandom finding deals at tag sales and picking up LEGO bricks in bulk, LEGO’ers who follow the directions for new builds and those who build from scratch, LEGO sorting date nights, the evolution of the Bottomless Bricks business model from birthday parties to brick and mortar, the lingo of LEGO building and the names of pieces, it’s LEGO not “Legos,” minifigure trading, the Cloud City Boba Fett minifigure, why Erin named her son after a Star Wars character, “Brick and Brew” adult LEGO building events, succulent LEGO sets, the “Ladies LEGO Lounge” FB Group, gatekeeping and sometimes toxicity in traditional fan groups, the camaraderie among contestants on LEGO Masters, the grueling schedule of recorded episodes in March, Erin’s musical background including punk bands and meeting her future husband at the former Siberian Cafe in the Howard Building, scoping out a new location for Bottomless Bricks, the pandemic halting the business in 2020, brainstorming a LEGO public art project in downtown Pittsfield (LEGOtacular?), Pittsfield’s better than average connection to LEGO with Erin and Elizabeth Banks, voice of Wyldstyle in The LEGO Movie, LEGO knock-offs, the LEGO “system” and “clutch power,” the deer behind the fence near the old GE Plastic House, the LEGO House in Copenhagen, following PR protocols for media interviews and the NDA for LEGO Masters and much more. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with Erin Laundry.

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Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-krol/support

November 24, 2022

Jennifer Ward, RD, LDN, CLC

Believe it or not, Jennifer Ward was an artist before becoming perhaps one of the best-known and respected registered dietitians in the region. Just as her own philosophy on diet and nutrition has shifted and evolved based on experience continuing research, the entire industry has changed significantly over time. With that said, Jen says the food industry does not make it easy for people to eat healthy and that the prevalence of GMOs, particularly in wheat products, isn’t doing us any favors. However, there are a lot of ways to tweak and find what works for you in eating better, feeling better and having more energy. We cover a lot of ground in the episode including: the process to become an registered dietician whose work is covered by major insurers, the four quadrant diet guide and the pyramid diet guide from the 1990s that led millions astray (and we never received an apology for), how the gluten-free industry has exploded in part because of GMOs, a right way and wrong way to eat gluten-free, listening to your body on foods that work and don’t work for you, High Lawn Farm milk, the Paleo Project, oat milk, the grocery store sticker codes on produce, reading labels, common sense on portions, carb loading, changing habits, FODMAP diet, blood type diet, dinner for breakfast/breakfast for dinner concept, intermittent fasting, time-restricted eating, giving your pancreas a break, is breakfast the most important meal of the day (or is it just a marketing ploy by food companies), Fiona’s frameworthy VO2 Max, the perfect tapering of Coach Gary Curry, Brendan’s shoe-flipping enterprise, intent and the basal ganglia and more. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversion with Jennifer Ward.

November 24, 2022

Evan Valenti, podcaster, menswear pro

For Evan Valenti, working at Steven Valenti’s Menswear was at first a way to earn some extra money while following his dream of being a radio broadcaster. But, it wasn’t long until he discovered he had a great knack and, ultimately, a love for the all things menswear. However, this isn’t simply a case of following in his Father’s footsteps. Instead, Evan has brought a new angle to this legendary downtown business taking calculated risks on new trends, adapting to an ever-changing marketplace, and getting through to the other side of the monumental challenges presented by the pandemic. We cover a lot of ground quickly in this episode, including Evan’s decision to choose menswear as a career, his working relationship with his father Steven and a mutual respect that strengthens the business, surviving the pandemic restrictions and making it through to the other side, dress pants that feel like comfy sweatpants (I can vouch for how amazing they are), how the Amazonification of the world has actually strengthened Valenti’s niche in the marketplace, bike lanes, Evan’s work in radio, his brother Michael J. Valenti’s work with Sherman Baldwin on a remarkable time in Berkshire County radio, a great Gene Shalit anecdote when he appeared on the show, techniques of interviewing guests, what Star Wars trilogy to introduce first to kids, the entrepreneurial spirit of the Valenti family, including his mother Carolyn, and more. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with Evan Valenti!

August 21, 2022

Jenna Reid, psychic medium on The John Krol Podcast

She was three years old when she realized that she had a gift, and as she evolved in her own life, so did her realization that she was meant to provide support and guidance to others. Through work with clients, workshops at venues like Kripalu, and mentoring others who have their own gifts, Jenna Reid is dedicated to helping people find their truth using her remarkable psychic gifts. “Every time you don’t listen to your gut, it’s a problem,” says Jenna who decided to go all-in on her truth after going through a tumultuous time in her life. It was a lesson learned that not living your truth will likely lead to rough roads ahead. In this episode, we delve into her process and our energetic world, including trusting your intuition and validation, human connectedness and consciousness, finding peace, remote viewing, psychometry, stigmas surrounding psychic mediumship, growth through breakups and divorce, love and money, vibration, dealing with grief, grounding, staying in touch with nature, crystals, being a Mom of teenagers, protecting your energy, gratitude as the only path out of victim mode, karma, moving on, truth and authenticity and much more. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with Jenna Reid.

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Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-krol/support

Kyle Bean, Tableaux Wealth on The John Krol Podcast

August 21, 2022

Kyle Bean & Matt Chester, Tableaux Wealth

You want a financial advisor who is cool under pressure and able to take excess emotion out of things, while maintaining an ability to execute. So, what better background than being a Green Beret? Kyle Bean earned his way onto the elite US Army Special Forces and served his nation on many missions over several years. Now that his military career has come to a close he decided to locate to the Berkshires with his wife and specialize in a new profession: financial advising. In this episode we get to know Kyle better, and learn about his journey here. We also cover a lot of ground with Kyle and Matt Chester of Tableaux Wealth in regard to the current economic situation, how to plan and adapt to the record inflation, the changes on returns on bonds and the death of the so-called 60/40 rule, chasing investments by Nancy Pelosi’s husband and other “whales,” learning from curious investors, growing a small firm and beginning to tell their story and how to make financial planning interesting and evening exciting for clients. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with Kyle Bean and Matt Chester of Tableaux Wealth. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-krol/support

August 21, 2022

America Lopez, community advocate, health worker, Volunteers in Medicine

On the John Krol Podcast: With such a name, it may have seemed a self-fulfilling prophecy that America Lopez would ultimately find her way to the US from her native Mexico. Today, she is utilizing her experience as an immigrant to help others who are facing many of the same challenges she faced, as a community health worker for Volunteers in Medicine and as parent liaison for the Berkshire Hills Regional School District. And she’s making a measurable impact. Inspired by the Moth Radio Hour-style of storytelling, America started a Spanish-speaking podcast and radio program Nomadas Radio that has evolved with several of her close friends and colleagues, contributing on relevant conversations on personal growth and demystifying mental health. We also discuss: missing her family in Mexico and carrying on family traditions with her new family of friends in the Berkshires, advocating for herself and co-workers in her early days before mastering English, one of the English first words she learned was “fair,” working to change systems in schools to be more friendly for non-English speaking parents to help them be involved in their children’s education, how her daughter helped her come out of her shell and making new connections in the community, Olivia’s Outlook and enjoying trails and the outdoors in the Berkshires and more. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with America Lopez. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-krol/support

Brett Westbrook on The John Krol Podcast

August 10, 2022

Early Educator and Hero Brett Westbrook on the podcast

For Brett Westbrook, being named a 2022 Commonwealth Heroine is indicative that her organization’s work is making an impact. And it’s hard to think of more impactful work than caring and educating 3 to 5 year olds, and setting the foundation of success for young people and their families. For Brett, her inspiration came during her childhood in Pittsfield when her own values and tenacity were shaped by mentors and teachers within the community’s support system. Today, teaching resilience is a core piece of a holistic approach to education, which includes a healthy dose of play as learning and clinical social-emotional support. It’s quite a time for Brett with her recent “Heroine” recognition, and by the way, she’s also engaged to married and planning a wedding. Good times! Also, in our conversation, we cover: her early years in early childhood education as a 16 year old working at Girls Inc., early childhood educators not being paid what they’re worth, challenges including language barriers and transportation, how the pandemic led to some innovation like smaller student cohorts, collaboration with the Pittsfield Public Schools including the early education career program at Taconic High School, what it’s like planning a wedding, and more. I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with Brett Westbrook.