CY6 - Check Your Six

Episode 162 of the Check Your Six podcast brought another young lady into GRP Studios, Sarah Ricks, this time talking about human trafficking, modern day slavery and some of its many layers that are all happening right here, not just in some far away land. Sarah owns Fire Drive Films, which is her creative umbrella but also operates the non-profit I See Roses Movement which will be focused on instruction, education and exposing the evil that is human trafficking. We talked about her projects, her event coming in January, her feature film, her back story about what drew her into this area and how she plans to fight against it. We have had the pleasure of working with Sarah on a couple of project and I cannot wait to be a part of what she has coming up! You can find out more about the movement at https://iseerosemovement.org/ Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Episode 161 of the Check Your Six podcast brought a very special guest into the GRP Studios, Robin van Denderen, the founder a non profit called Stay With Me and works with freeing those that are caught in prostitution. She was special for one, she is Dutch and was born in Amsterdam, my wife is Dutch and born in Haarlem so I had fun trying to pronounce Dutch words. She shared her story about her introduction to those involved in prostitution in the red light district that very open and legal in Amsterdam, through something that her mother explained to her about those people. She knew at a very young age that helping those caught in this lifestyle and freeing them from this life. We talked about some of the myths about prostitution, some of the challenges in developing trust and overcoming the trauma that they have endured. Her non profit Stay With Me is based here in Central Florida but her vision is much bigger than that. You can find out more about her at her website...https://www.staywithme407.com/ Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Episode 160 brought Morris Hartley from H & H Products into the GRP Studios for his podcast which was totally sweet. We have had several podcast in a row that guests have called in so it was good to have someone in the studio!! H & H has been around since 1964 and has been through a recession(at least a couple), oil embargo, Y2K, 9-11, 2008 crash, Covid, tariffs but have weathered the storm and are growing by nearly doubling their staff in the past year. We talked about employee issues and challenges coming out of Covid, supplier challenges, trucking issues, pivoting around product shortages, the potential changes coming from the FDA on food products used in syrups and mixes. We also talked about the culture of H & H and how their faith has been the foundation on pretty much everything that they have built over the last 65 years!! You can find out more about what they do at https://hhproductscompany.com/ and if you are in need of what they provide, then give them a call. Email us at tim@grpstudios.com Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

The call came from across the pond into the GRP Studios for Episode 159 of the Check Your Six podcast. Katie Tamblin, author of The Lean-Agile Dilemma and mathematical guru called in from England to talk about her book and the problems that can come from companies that have become chunky, more than 10 years old, 500+ employees and investors own at least 51% of the shares. We talked about the importance of data from existing platforms, over the importance of simply adding new software to company operations. How AI, like so many businesses, may be impacting what they do and how they approach software upgrades for companies. We talked about kids and cell phones/social media and a book called the Anxious Generation that was influential in helping her husband start a non-profit called Klickster, https://klickster.org/ to help parents navigate the issues that are coming from children having access to technology. It was great having her on and you can find out more about her at her website..https://www.katietamblin.com/ Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Ken Coats phone in from South Florida for this episode of the Check Your Six podcast. Although Ken started on a path towards being a lawyer, life sometimes changes and his interest in IT before the whole Y2K boondoggle spawned what would be his later career as an IT specialist and currently the owner of Kenneth Consulting, Inc that has become the premier provider of background checks for companies looking to hire staff. His work and experience in Chicago growing up and where the company originated nearly 20 years ago, has given him a unique perspective on the industry. It has also fueled his passion for giving back and helping those in the inner city as a mentor with various organizations to help give them opportunities that they might not get. We talked about the younger generation being a part of the solution in regards to law enforcement and community issues instead of just complaining about it. How AI may or may not impact his business model and how it can be used to his advantage. You can find out more about him at https://www.ekentech.com/ Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Fantastic day today when my son, Austin stopped by the studio as a guest on the Check Your Six podcast. We talked about a few things, both of the podcasts that he generates, Frightmares and All Juice, No Gin as well as the short film that he and Gabby, his wife are in the process of creating. Frightmares is at about 311 episodes at the time of this recording and covers just about all things horror from movies to books to events and everything in between. Gave a shout out to Chris Bishop and his book The Scare Zone and to one of his favorite guest on the show, Eduardo Sanchez, director of The Blair Witch Project!!. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frightmares/id1452661594?i=1000704588564 We also talked about his latest podcast, All Juice No Gin and the journey that Austin and his buddy Cramer are on with sobriety.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-juice-no-gin/id1788489711?i=1000704908771 Talked about the short comedy horror film that is coming out in the summer called Dust Bunnies and the fun and challenges they were involved with putting that together. Also had to give a shout out to The Orlando Law Group after I talked about Austin working there...he doesn't, it is The Mortgage Firm but just because they are awesome I wanted to give them a shout out!! https://www.theorlandolawgroup.com/ All in all, a great morning sitting with my son and listening to what is going on in his life. Of course the best thing is the incredible granddaughter that we have been blessed with and get to see every day during the week, CJ...good day indeed Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

It was an absolute pleasure having Kijuan Amey as my guest on the Check Your Six Podcast today. Air Force veteran, business owner, author, speaker, musician and survivor of a horrific motorcycle accident back in 2017 that took his eyesight but did not take his vision. Kijuan or "Kiwi" as he likes to be addressed, called in and spent about an hour talking about his life that was on the fast track to excellence, suddenly derailed but the accident. We talked about his journey from waking up after the accident, the panic that sets in when you realize your life is forever changed. The support he received from his family, especially his Uncle Versal, the mindset that he needed to recognize the depression that was creeping in so that he would not be another veteran suicide statistic. "I am not here for you to look at me, I am here to connect with you" , "I lost my sight but I did not lose my vision", "music is me" are just some of his points that come from his book, "Don't Focus On Me- From Motorcycle Accident to Miracle". His story is amazing, his outlook is honest and refreshing and he was a blast to have on the show!! You can check out who his is on his website, https://ameymotivation.com/ Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Marine Veteran Patrick Trujillo, phoned in for Episode 155 of the Check Your Six podcast and talked about the Warrior Scholar Project and the impact it has made on his life. After Patrick left the Marines, he found himself, like many veterans, somewhat lost with little or no direction in his life and future. It took a kick in the backside from a former member of his squad that had gotten out of the Marine Corps and gone through the Warrior Scholar Project. Patrick talked about his reluctance in going back to school at his advanced age, at least in his mind, and the fear that he was just not college material. The Warrior Scholar Project is available to all veterans free of charge that are looking to decide if college is right for them. The only cost involved is getting yourself to one the participating schools, once you are there, it will remind you of book camp, without all of the DI or TI yelling!!! You can find out more about what they do at https://www.warrior-scholar.org/ so if you are a veteran and are looking to see if college might be an option for you, regardless of your age. check them out!! Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Episode 154 of the Check Your Six podcast brought a ground breaking, barrier breaking lady into the GRP Studios that was the first female TV anchor in Central Florida, Carol Nelson-Pond. Carol was the first woman in Central Florida that broke the barrier of women in TV and radio that could interview, host and anchor just like the men that were currently in power in the industry during the 70's. She had some great stories of how she was able to break through that barrier, just a few of the hundreds of interviews that she completed including Ronald Regan, Henry Kissinger, Tom Hanks and the barriers that she is now facing being an older individual in the American healthcare system. We did not even get to the good stuff about the events at the Circus Club, the other things that have happened during the time she has spent in Orlando but did reflect on her time spent with Rupert Holmes, you might know him as the writer/singer/composer of "Escape" better known as the "Pina Colada Song". Carol is truly groundbreaker and every single woman that sits at a news desk as a reporter or anchor can probably attribute their success in part to her. You can check out her book, No Women Allowed, Breaking Barriers at this Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08CZZDXST Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Episode 153 of the Check Your Six podcast brought Van Carlson via the remote connection from Idaho to talk about the 831b plan for businesses. The Boise State Bronco grad talked about a program for businesses that most of us small business owners know nothing about, the 831(b) plan. An often unused tax code from the 80's that a lot of CPA or accountants do not know about or understand but could be very important in helping to mitigate risk. SRA 831b Admin is really tailored to support small and medium-sized businesses, and their plans are designed to provide a comprehensive safety net for risks that are often overlooked by traditional insurance policies. Van and his team are not just checking boxes and signing up businesses, they are really more about education and information that allows businesses to make smart decisions. You can find our more about what they do at www.831b.com so reach out and see if this is something that you need to address. Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Texas sized marketing was the topic today on the 152 episode of the Check Your Six podcast. Amber Gaige, the 3rd generation entrepreneur from Texas called and talked about going beyond just marketing with her business, Far Beyond Marketing!! Besides being a best selling author, speaker, she is also laser focused on giving her clients the tools necessary for business owners to help create, maintain and showcase their brand. Her "4-C" approach to go far beyond marketing starts with Clear Copy, followed by Consistent Branding, Customer Demographics and finally Channel Management which are the 4 pillars she uses to help businesses grow and scale. Amber and her team at Far Beyond Marketing are all about you and what you want to see your business become. You can check out more about her on her website and you guessed it, https://farbeyondmarketing.com/ Check it out and see if she can do for you!! Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Episode 151 of the Check Your Six podcast had Chris Bell stop by the GRP Studios to talk about toxic living!! A drummer and graduate from Florida A&M talked about the path that he is on to create living spaces that are free of toxic air pollutants, so we can all breathe a little easier. We talked about the influences that have shaped his life including his parents and in-laws that have continued to support him to follow his passions. Talking about food toxins led us to the fact that we both agreed that we are fans of dark chocolate and peanut butter, even if dark chocolate is supposed to be bad for you, we're not sure if those studios are accurate. Also went down the rabbit hole of the toxicity of microwaves and what they are doing to our food. He did covered a lot of the benefits of the line of Pure Living products that include not using laundry soap and washing everything in cold water...still trying to figure that one out. Great time with Chris today, loved the shout out he gave to his wife Faith, his kids and his in-laws. You can find out more about what he does by going to www.pureliving03.com Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Episode 150 of the Check Your Six podcast talked about something pretty close to home for me, dealing with Alzheimers and dementia. My father was diagnosed back in the 70's with Alzheimers before it was as well known or researched as it has been over the last nearly 50 years. Denise Ward, the Florida Region Strategy and Program Development director for the national Alzheimer's Association, stopped by the studio to talk about the subject matter of Alzheimer's and dementia. We talked about some of the symptoms, what to look for in our own self analysis or in friends or family members when it comes to this affliction. She talked about the importance of sharing your stories and experiences, the willingness to open up about family members that are suffering with Alzheimer's and looking at clinical trials as a way to explore options for treatment. Also referenced studies that are looking at the potential for the connection with diabetes and perhaps identifying it as Diabetes 3 to help further understand how our diet may be impacting the condition as well. There are things that I can understand how to fight when it comes to conditions like cancer but Alzheimer's is different. Watching someone you have loved and admired for their strength and wisdom, be reduced to someone that is lost and perhaps angry because they can't understand what is happening is much harder. You can find out more about what the do at their website, https://www.alz.org/. There is hope, but it will take all of us to make it happen. You can also contact Denise at dlward@azl.org if you would like to contact her directly. Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Shalisa Griffin, the Director of Development for The Sharing Center in Longwood stopped by GRP Studios, also in Longwood, for her time on the Check Your Six podcast. We talked about Shakira's journey from going to school for an IT career that was "sidelined" by a high school basketball coach in NJ, David Bellani, that developed her love for sports management and planning. A change of majors, some time with the NCAA in Indianapolis, the DeVoss Sports Business Program along with some time at UCF, an intern job here in Orlando that turned into full time with the Orlando Sports Commission. She really thought that her path would continue with sports management but some time off and self reflection made her realize that while she was doing "good" in bringing in events to Central Florida, she was supposed to be doing something more. That, led her to working with The Sharing Center in Longwood in helping to reshape the community with the issues of poverty and homelessness. You can find out more about what they do at https://thesharingcenter.org/ and you can reach Shalisa at shalisa.griffin@thesharingcenter.org Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Had a great conversation with Chris Ham, the Executive Director for The Rescue Outreach Mission in Sanford today on the Check Your Six podcast. The last episode for 2024 was a great way to talk end the year and talk about the issues and challenges that our community has with homeless population here in Central Florida. As Seminole County's only homeless shelter, they have done a fantastic job over the past several years changing the view of homelessness and providing assistance through the partnerships they have in the business community and through our county officials. The Seminole County Commissioners, county and local police and fire departments are fantastic partners in helping to meet this crisis. Respect, compassion and dignity are the key phrases for the Rescue Outreach Mission and the nearly 100,000 meals they will serve and the individuals and families that they provide shelter for each year are examples of those pillars. The face of homeless has changed over the years, it is not what it used to be and I was thankful that Chris was able to sit down and talk about their role. You can contact them at www.romclf.org for more information. Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Wendy Cox Blair, the CEO for The Arbor School stopped by the GRP Studios for Episode 147 on the Check Your Six Podcast. The Arbor School is doing some FANTASTIC things here in Central Florida helping kids with developmental challenges such as ADD, ADHD, Autism and the like. We talked about how The Arbor School not only teaches them the basic school studies but also helps them develop their problem solving skills, creating schedules for single tasks that helps them focus on one thing at a time. We talked about bullying, what The Arbor School does in cases with students that continue that behavior. How they engage the students outside the school to give them a "normal' life experience. Talked about the running club, their first 5K, the golf club and the things that the students create and sell to help support the school. Shout out also to Tavo Mendez with Rock & Brews in Oviedo and the entire Rock & Brews corporate community that uses the name badges that The Arbor School creates in ALL of their locations. This really is a great place for kids facing those challenges. Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Episode 146 of the Check Your Six podcast brought Brian Nagel back into the GRP Studios to talk about stepping out on his own in creating his new LLC, Waverly Resources. We talked a lot of aspects of business on this episode, financing, how to save some money if you have a company that has more than 50 mobile devices, HR services, partnering with other companies that can help businesses become more cost effective among other topics. Brian has has 3 decades of helping businesses, especially in the healthcare field become more profitable, be able to scale and provide better service. You can find out more about he does at his website, https://www.waverlyresources.com/ or contact him at brian@waverlyresources.com Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Episode 145 brought Daniel Komforti into the GRP Studios for his time on the Check Your Six podcast. Daniel is a UCF grad that owns and operates New Horizons Physical Therapy and helps those in need of some excellent care during the rehab process from injuries or just every day wear and tear on our bodies. Daniel really a little bit different than the "PT Mills" that some many are used to going to, he is more concerned with educating his clients and helping them understand the process they are going through as opposed to just treating symptoms. When he says that rehab is not just a series of exercises on a table, he means it and really tries to give clients the tools they need to help improve their condition. You can find him at his website, https://newhorizonsrehabilitation.com/ and get more details on who he is and what he offers his clients! Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

Bethanne Weiss was in before Hurricane Milton blessed us with his presence and talked about having ""More Joy, Less OY" on the latest episode of the Check Your Six podcast. The self proclaimed Queen of More Joy and Less Oy talked about the struggles she faced in overcoming physical issues that led her down the path to better health and wellness. We covered some of the topics in her book, "Move Your Asset - From the Chair and Not The Bank", about her self described cross between Fran Drescher, a tame drill sergeant(never met one of those) and an entertaining circus clown, about putting the fun back in fitness and making "tiny tweaks" that can have big impact in your life. We also talked about her journey with both of her parents and a documentary that was done about her called Confessions of A Caregiver that aired on WESH-TV and her help in getting an Emmy for WFTV 9 in the series, Blindsided: The Reality of Caring for Aging Parents. You can check her out at here website...https://www.bethannewellness.com/ Email us at tim@grpstudios.com

I have been away for a bit over the past month so I am a little behind in getting episodes completed for the podcast but the Check Your Six podcast is "Back In The Saddle Again, thanks to Aerosmith, talking about BOI reporting. In case you are not aware of it as a business, especially a small business, you have until January 1, 2025 to file your BOI report on fincen.gov for your business. I covered this topic with Jennifer Englert with the The Orlando Law Group back in 12-25-2023 and today is a little bit more about the website, who needs to file, some questions from the website and some general concern about what this will mean for small business. To quote the website,"This law creates a new beneficial ownership information reporting requirement as part of the U.S. government’s efforts to make it harder for bad actors to hide or benefit from their ill-gotten gains through shell companies or other opaque ownership structures." The unspecified government agencies that will have access to this information and the unspecified groups or individuals that can request access to this information to me is a little concerning, but we will see!! There may be more to come on this topic. Email us at tim@grpstudios.com