The Story Behind Her Success

There are no bad experiences, just the ones you don’t learn from. If you don’t learn from bad experiences, you will make the same mistakes over and over and over again. -Gwen Borden & Amy Goober This week’s story features a mother and daughter who have written a love story, filled with priceless advice for us all. The book, entitled My Mother Always Says: 25 Lessons for Finding the Silver Lining, explores the life and times of 94-year-old Gwen Borden, who was born during the Great Depression. Teaming up with her daughter, Amy Goober, a dynamic women’s life coach and fearless entrepreneur, was kismet. Inspired to share their hard-earned wisdom, the idea for the book was hatched. Says Gwen: “ I gave birth to Amy, and she gave birth to the book. Amy did all the editing. All I had to do was tell my story, like I was talking to you in my living room. “ Packed with advice delivered with wit and humor, this book provides a mirror to the relationship between mother and daughter. Says Amy: “We were always close, but you don’t appreciate your mother until you are a mother. I thought I knew her life, and then we started writing this book, and the stories she told really complete the message of the 25 life lessons in our book. For 21 minutes of mother/daughter wisdom, like “the things we regret in life are the things we don’t do” and “Trust your gut, not your head” go ahead and hit that download button. You’re welcome! #mothers #daughters #wisdom #advice #resilience #trustyourgut co-authors, My Mother Always Says

People will tell you everything you need to know. You just need to LISTEN to what they are saying. -Karen Marinella Hall Out of the blue, I got an email from a fan of the show about this week’s guest…and I cannot wait for you to meet her. Many news anchors are beautiful. They can walk the walk and talk the talk, but there’s something missing behind the smile. That’s not the case for Karen Marinella Hall. During her tenure at WB 56 in Boston, she set herself apart from the rest with a genuine warmth and friendliness, coupled with a curiosity to get to the root of any story. In this interview, Karen shares the details of her career trajectory, which began in radio at a small, family-owned station called WPLM in her hometown of historic Plymouth, Massachusetts. When she applied for acceptance to Katherine Gibbs secretarial school, it was a high school teacher who recognized her talents as a communicator, urging Karen to fill out an application to Emerson College. As the first person in her family to attend college, Karen understood that her parents could not pay for such a prestigious college, making the decision to attend Emerson step one in a career marked by determination, curiosity, and resiliency. The wife of Boston news legend Jonathan Hall, Karen, is the proud mother of three sons and grew up in a close-knit Italian/Portuguese neighborhood where family, food, and hard work went hand-in-hand. When her station, WB56 was sold, she took a bold chance and set out on her own, founding Marinella Hall Associates, www.marinellahall.com, where she shares her well-honed communications skills with C-suite executives. Reflecting on the lessons of her career, Karen says: “I wish I wasn’t so insecure in my 20s and 30s. I don’t think I grew out of that until I was in my 40s. God, I would have had so much more fun!” For 24 minutes of expert storytelling, inspiration, and new chapters, just hit that download button. #corporatecommunications #news #television Former news anchor & Principal, Marinella Hall Associates marinellahall.com

When something bad happens to you, how do you grieve it without getting stuck in suffering? -Halley Elwell Imagine being 11 years old when your face suddenly begins to change. Tumors form on your jaw, and the diagnosis is an incurable condition called Neurofibromatosis. This is the story of singer/songwriter Halley Elwell www.halswellmusic.com. Raised off the grid in Maine by an artist mom, she was told to ignore what was happening to her face and to live her life. She runs free in the woods around her neighborhood, learns to sing old Irish songs, plays piano, and dives into community theatre. In this episode of The Story Behind Her Success, we learn how Halley held onto her light, despite adversity, to become an accomplished singer, songwriter, and advocate for those with facial differences. The secret ingredient? Creativity. Describing her voice, a Maine music critic said: “Imagine Rickie Lee Jones recording with Norah Jones and Natalie Merchant and you’ll have an idea of how Elwell’s music sounds.” Her latest album and podcast series have the same name: Spontaneous Mutation. Both artistic efforts explore the narratives around facial differences. In science, a spontaneous mutation is a genetic change with no known cause. Halley takes this concept one step further with words, voice, and heart: “When you have an incurable condition, you can’t be fixed. But there are different lenses to look through, and that has freed me.” For 25 minutes of inspiration (and the chance to hear Halley’s gorgeous voice), just hit that download button. Check out her podcast series here: spontaneousmutation.podbean.com.

It’s very easy to focus on fixing your failures. But how do you take what is successful and keep building on that? The answer is: focus on what you do well and make it even better. -Zenobia Moochhala Meet entrepreneurial superstar Zenobia Moochalla. Born in Mumbai, India, Zenobia came to the United States at 20 to attend Brandeis University and is one of the original co-founders of www.care.com, the world’s largest and most successful online platform for childcare, elder care, and pet care. Recorded in my living room, this upclose and personal interview takes you into the early days of Care.com, where the team, led by Sheila Lirio Marcelo, examined pain points for working parents and discovered that childcare was their number 1 concern. Says Zenobia: “And it wasn’t just childcare: it was care for everyone you love. That’s how the idea of care.com was born.” In the beginning, she was the only member of the co-founding team who didn’t have children, so she became the person who spearheaded research into what people needed. Now the mother of two, Zenobia learned early on how working women were struggling to balance lives. To keep things safe for caregivers and families, Care.com quickly built in checks and balances, including background checks. With each member of the Care.com founders tasked with projects aligned to their specialties, Zenobia is proud to have been a part of a team that took Care.com from a start-up to $200 million in revenue. The daughter of a child psychologist mother and an entrepreneur father, Zenobia points to her two older sisters as her“superpowers”. Although she was raised in India for the first 20 years of her life, Zenobia says “there was lots of dinner time conversation in our house and our Indian value system was mixed with American optimism. I grew up knowing that I could do anything I put my mind to.” As an entrepreneur, she believes in the role mission plays in achieving success. “Mission is that moment when you wake up and say I am really excited about what I’m going to do today because I’m always in pursuit of something that matters. Success is this elusive thing that you have to recognize when it happens, enjoy it while it’s happening, and then let it go, because it will come around again.” For 23 minutes filled with wisdom, purpose, and passion, just hit that download button.

Every week, I have access to astronauts, researchers, and scientists as a NASA Solar System Ambassador, and it’s beyond a dream come true. -Pat Monteith Pat Monteith remembers hearing John F. Kennedy tell the nation that we would send a man to the moon by the end of the 1960s. On that day, the president’s words shaped her lifelong fascination with space. Decades and many different careers later, Pat is a NASA Solar System Ambassador, STEM advocate, and community leader with a passion for helping students achieve their dreams, particularly by helping them with award-winning science fair entries. Raised by a single mom and a Lithuanian grandmother who spoke 7 languages, Pat grew up in Watertown, Massachusetts, where her mother worked for the Hood Rubber company. From the time she was 10 years old, Pat took on the responsibility of caring for their small apartment, including all the cooking and cleaning. She recalls her mother’s long hours and learned the value of a strong work ethic early in her life. Always a wiz at math, she earned her undergraduate degree in Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts Boston and her Master's in Communication from Emerson College. In this interview, we learn that Pat’s success story really did come in chapters. She’s a Renaissance woman who has experienced success across multiple careers, including as founder and manager of WUMB, Founder & Director of the Boston Folk Festival, Executive Director of the syndicated radio program Commonwealth Journal, the weekly feature NASA Space Notes, and a science fiction novel for kids called The Secret Case of the Space Station Stowaways. Recently, Pat was speaking at a local elementary school about her work as a NASA Ambassador, and a third-grade student approached her asking, “MissPat, are there children at the International Space Station?” When Pat replied “no”, the girl said: Well, I’m gonna be the first one.” For 22 minutes of intergalactic wisdom and inspiration, just hit that download button. #NASA #STEM #science #solarsystem #sciencefair

I was in my 20s when I read the book: Breaking the Glass Ceiling, and I remember saying to myself: I’m gonna do that. -Carol Conway Bulman Carol Conway Bulman is the proud daughter of real estate legend Jack Conway, but becoming CEO and Chairman of his real estate empire wasn’t handed to her. In this up-close and personal interview, Carol shares her father’s success story as well as her own rise to the top with this life lesson: “Don’t wait for someone to put an opportunity out on a silver platter for you, because they’re not going to do it. I adored my dad, but he didn’t give me this opportunity. I needed to earn it.” Today, Carol is at the helm of a real estate firm whose signature bright red for-sale signs are in front of houses from the South Shore to the tip of Cape Cod, across the state to the North Shore and over the border into New Hampshire and Rhode Island, with 700 agents and 20 offices throughout the region. Innovation has been her middle name with the creation of a one-stop shopping experience for their clients. Carol and her team have created Conway Country Insurance, Columbia Title Company, and Conway Staging. Their newly renovated headquarters in Hanover also includes relocation experts and a learning space for continued education. The icing on the cake? Some of Carol’s children are also involved in the business! When I asked what Jack Conway would think, Carol says: “He’d be tickled pink to see his grandchildren working in this organization and loving real estate the way he always did.” For 23 minutes of wisdom from a 30+ year real estate maven, plus tons of #wisdom you can use, just hit that download button. #realestate #leadership #women #empowerment

When we first moved to Nashville, we lived in a pitiful apartment, and Wynonna, Ashley, and I slept in one bed. All we had to eat was bologna and crackers. -Naomi Judd The story you are about to hear is a piece of country music history because it is the final full-length interview featuring country music superstar Naomi Judd. Sadly, Naomi took her own life on April 30, 2022, after a long history of mental illness, but her legacy as a brilliant songwriter, captivating live performer, and country music icon remains. This interview was originally part of the Nashville-based series called Country Music Success Stories. For two years, my talented friend Jacy Dawn Valeras and I co-hosted the show, and thanks to the powerful network Jacy built in Music City, famous artists like Naomi agreed to be on the show. Recorded at Naomi’s 500-acre compound in Leipers Fork, Tennessee, in a barn next to her house, this interview is full of stories that will blow your mind and touch your heart. Naomi raised the girls on a mountaintop in Kentucky with only a coal stove for heat. She got the money to buy Wynonna her first guitar by selling her hunting knife and put herself through nursing school to become an ER nurse. From the moment Naomi walked into the room, I knew that I was in the presence of a superstar. Naomi and her daughter, Wynonna, were billed as The Judds, and throughout the '80s and into the '90s, they cemented their standing as country music’s most successful duo of all time with 25 top-ten singles, 14 #1 songs, and 5 Grammies. Naomi’s younger daughter, Ashley, crafted her own success story as an actress and a passionate activist. The road to stardom was long and hard, but in this interview, we learn just what Naomi Judd is made of. Like the little engine that could, she kept telling herself: I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. #countrymusic

There are no shortcuts in life. It is going to take time to find success. Do it anyway. -Christy Cashman Welcome to the story of Christy Cashman, a listener favorite on The Story Behind Her Success. This interview launched about two years ago, and when I lost my voice due to acute laryngitis, I had to put recording new shows on hold and went to my library to find the most popular shows to listen to. Christy Cashman is an actress who has appeared in over 20 movies, including the blockbuster film American Hustle. Born in Ohio, she was raised on a poultry farm and is one of nine children. When the family moved to North Carolina, Christy fell in love with horses. These days, she’s a wife and mother of two boys. She and her husband, Boston developer Jay Cashman, even own a castle in Ireland! In this interview, Christy talks about her first novel, The Truth About Horses. Chock-full of interesting characters, the book delves into the human experience through the eyes of 14-year-old Reese, whose love of horses sustains her during the toughest of times. Says Christy: “In this story, Reese learns that to move on, you have to let go. Loss is just as much a part of life as new beginnings.” Open, honest, and with a great sense of humor, Christy shares details about her childhood, including when the family TV broke, and it was never replaced. She recalls the magic of hearing her father recite poetry and the sound of her mother’s voice as she read the children before bedtime. Christy is the founder of YouthINK, a teenage mentorship program. A gifted artist, Christy says she’s learned some life lessons the hard way. “There are no shortcuts in life. It’s going to take time to find success. My advice? Do it anyway.” For 24 minutes of entertainment and inspiration, just hit that download button. #horses #writer #actress #Ireland

When I was serving in Afghanistan, it was always mission first. You have to get the “scared” out of your mind. I told myself that God put me here for a reason. -Erica Horan By popular demand, we’re reissuing a handful of our most popular interviews. Meet Boston Medflight www.bostonmedflight.org nurse and US Air Force veteran, Erica Horan. Recorded 5 years ago in a hangar at a municipal airport just outside of Boston, this interview tells the story of a former black belt champion driven to serve and succeed. A veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, Erica became a commissioned officer in the Air Force as a critical care nurse shortly after earning her nursing degree. She saw every kind of injury on the front lines in Afghanistan, and speaks candidly about her own struggles with depression and the need for mental health support for our troops. Says Erica: “I counted the days until I got home, but when I got here, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I wanted to go back. I didn’t receive mental health support, and had a hard time adjusting.” Born to care for others, Erica has been a key player on Boston Medflight’s four medical teams for 7 years now and is incredibly proud of the people she works with. “We take care of very sick people as quickly as possible. Every day is different, and we work 12-hour shifts. You don’t know what you’re gonna get. We all have to keep learning at this job because medicine is changing every day.” Married to a surgeon who commutes from a military hospital in California back to his family in the Boston area every week, the couple has 3 children they are devoted to. Says Erica: “If I can raise three good human beings who are respectful, inclusive, and God-fearing, then I’ve made it. That’s success to me. “ From war stories to love stories, patriotism and purpose, this interview has it all. Go ahead and hit that download button. #nurse #medicine #criticalcare #bostonmedflight #afghanistan #USAF #faith

We all have “favorite places”, and for this week’s guest, it is the island of Nantucket. Julie Gerstenblatt has been spending her summers there since she was just a child. Accessible by air or by ferry, Nantucket is located 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod. Steeped in history, Nantucket was once the whaling capital of the world, and even today, it seems frozen in time. Rooted in the story of the Great Fire of 1846, Julie’s historical novel required years of research. Focused on three complex, strong, and determined female characters, Daughters of Nantucket explores the lonely lives of whaling wives, the secrecy of sexuality, and race relations on an island influenced by Quaker values. A lifelong writer and the proud mother of two grown children, Julie holds a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Teachers College, Columbia University. In this interview, she shares the struggles writers often experience. Says Julie: “You write in silence and in secrecy, but you have to share it at some point with people, and you hope it does well, but there is so much rejection.” Always inspired to write books that teach AND entertain, Julie has another historical novel scheduled for release in 2026. She’s also ready to share her wisdom about what success really means. “Success is balance and fulfillment on a deeper level. It’s not about the material things and the “having,” it’s about being content in the “being.” Ready for a little inspiration? Go ahead and hit that download button. #nantucket #writer #historicalnovel

Success isn’t grades, money, or status. It’s fulfillment, joy, and kindness that come together to allow you to live your best life. - Colleen Esposito Welcome back to part 2 of my interview with my daughter, Colleen Esposito, co-author of Nelson’s Garden and our follow-up children’s book, Nelson’s Garden & the Free Little Flower Stand. It’s been a joy to ask my daughter the same kinds of questions I ask every woman who is a guest on the show and to hear her wise, thoughtful, and sometimes sassy answers. After all, Colleen is the “Queen of Sass”, a nickname given to her decades ago by her Godmother, who recognized her chutzpah early on. Colleen is the kind of person who figures out how to make the best of any situation, evidenced by her determination to become the family cook at 10 when she made her first Thanksgiving meal. In this interview, we extend our gratitude to the village that raised Colleen and her brother, Christopher, as well as her grandfather, fondly known as “Bapa,” who stepped in to take care of them every day after school. In this interview, Colleen shares what happened to her at 20 when she fell asleep at the wheel and almost died. “I had a moment of being unsure if I was dead or alive, or in this weird in-between place where I could see myself, I could see the car, but I was away from it, watching it all.” From stories about what it was like to sleep on the newsroom floor when I started my career in major market radio, to finding true love and becoming the mother of two precious daughters herself, this interview is a tribute to the enduring power of the mother-daughter connection. #daughter #family #childrensbookauthor #gardening

Getting a book published is not for the faint of heart. It’s kind of heartbreaking because you have this book you’ve poured your heart and soul into, and you’re hoping readers will love it, too. -Colleen Esposito I’ve wanted to introduce my daughter, Colleen, to you for the longest time, and here she is! Recorded from the window seat in her home just outside of Boston, part 1 of this interview focuses on the process of writing our illustrated children’s book series, Nelson’s Garden www.nelsonsgarden.com. Colleen and I met Nelson McNutt when she was growing up. He lived in a falling-down farmhouse in Weston, Massachusetts, and we’d see him working in his garden every morning on our way to summer camp. One morning, Colleen asked if we could pull over and say hello. Nelson tipped his hat and said, “Top of the morning to you.” Colleen recalls, “You and I had this telepathy idea swap and said to ourselves: That sounds like a storybook character!” Years passed, and we filed this experience away, only to recall it decades later. Co-authoring a series about a garden has inspired Colleen to become a gardener herself. This year, she and her husband Ben have expanded their backyard garden to include 10 raised beds, a fence to keep the critters out, and veggies and flowers in every color of the rainbow. Quite an accomplishment for a girl who had no interest in this kind of “get your hands dirty” work when she was growing up! These days, she’s surrounding herself with research that shows flowers make you feel good, and the microbes in the soil keep your body healthy. Fascinating, right? The journey toward motherhood was not without its challenges, and in this interview, Colleen speaks candidly about the two-year road toward conceiving her first child, Elizabeth Ray, whose nickname is Belle. A PR pro at a top 5 advertising agency in Boston, Colleen is a lifelong reader with a unique writing style of her own. “I write how I talk, says Colleen, and I didn’t realize until I was in college that my style was okay. One of my college professors told me it’s very honest, refreshing, and easy to understand. When you are given permission from someone you respect, it’s very freeing.” In this interview, she shares the joy the series brings to Belle and Rosie, who join Nelson as the stars of our series. “Lastsummer, we were drowning in flowers, and the girls and I started snipping them and putting them in jars by the side of the road.” This act of kindness inspired book two in our series: Nelson’s Garden & the Free Little Flower Stand, scheduled for release in September 2025. Says Colleen: “This idea of giving away something that makes people happy is a real cool gift.” #writer #childrensbooks #kindness #flowers #veggies

They always say, you can’t choose your sister, but I would choose mine. - Linda Wong Chu If you are ever visiting the Boston area and you need a hot tip for the best Chinese food around, the family-owned Kowloon is the place to go! We’re on the road to Saugus, Massachusetts, for this episode, and you better believe there will be a takeout bag of Kowloon delishiousness beside me in the passenger seat! Purchased by William & Madeline Wong in 1958, the Kowloon was first named the Mandarin and was owned by Madeline’s parents. The restaurant was small with seating for about 40 customers, but the Wongs had big ideas and their vision would catapult the Kowloon to legendary status with 1200 seats, five themed rooms, and the distinction of being one of the premier multi-concept dining establishments in the United States. What’s it like to grow up in the hard-working Wong family? Former school teacher Linda Wong is the eldest of the six children, and in this interview, she and her little sister Lisa who manages the Maui Restaurant in Brockton, Massachusetts sit down in the restaurant that shaped them to share not only the success story of their grandparents and parents, but the ingredients that make up the perfect formula for achievement: Says Lisa: “I used to believe that success meant work, work, work, work, work. Now, I know that you have to have a really happy family life to be successful.“ #chineserestaurant #entrepreneur #sisters #asianculture #family

A good outfit can make you feel confident. Uncommon Threads is a non-profit that boosts the self-esteem of low-income women through the power of clothes. We focus on dignity and respect. -Susan Kanoff Meet Susan Kanoff, style blogger, influencer, and Founder of uncommonthreads.org. A life-long fashionista with a heart of gold, she has spent her career helping women feel better about themselves with an innovative “outside-in, inside-out” approach. For 25 years, Susan ran a self-sufficiency program funded by HUD and designed to move people out of poverty. Along the way, she started blogging about her passion for clothes and became the style editor for a magazine, gathering high-profile women in media who sought her styling advice. Many of her clients had high-end clothes to donate, and it wasn’t long before Susan’s office started looking like a boutique. In 2016, Uncommon Threads was born, and low-income, single moms became the grateful beneficiaries of beautiful clothing that, in turn, boosted their self-esteem. The mission of Uncommon Threads is simple: to boost women’s self-esteem through the power of clothes. Originally housed in a 400-square-foot room at an old mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the non-profit has spread its wings in the same mill, helping 15,000 women so far. Women ages 18- 65+ receive an appointment and are treated to their own personal wardrobe stylist. Susan has also created Uncommon Closet, a social enterprise where donated designer clothing is sold to benefit Uncommon Threads. It’s a “shop to give” philosophy that’s win-win for everyone. Says Susan: “There’s something very special about women helping women. We have a sisterhood, a connection. Watching a client transform, right there in the mirror, is magical!” For 23 minutes of shop ‘til you drop inspiration, just hit that download button! @TheMidlifeFashionista

My daughter Dalia taught me about courage, sweetness, patience, and love. I am who I am because of her. We were meant to be together. -Jessica Fein Welcome to part two of my interview with Jessica Fein, author of Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams and Broken Genes. Jess and her husband, Rob, adopted three children from Guatemala. When their daughter, Dalia, began exhibiting balance issues and speech delays, genetic testing revealed a devastating diagnosis of MERRF Syndrome, a degenerative disease that affects the mitochondria and has no cure. In this interview, Jess shares what life was like for her family, and the story is equal parts love and fear of the future. From age 9 to her death at 17, Dalia was an “eyes on patient,” which meant that either a parent or a specially trained medical professional had to have eyes on her 24/7. Dalia couldn’t swallow and required a tracheotomy, which meant she was also on a ventilator. She could not speak and was fed through a tube. Dalia couldn’t walk and required a wheelchair. As she got older and was completely bedridden, she lost her ability to move and couldn't communicate at all, including pointing, nodding, or even mouthing words. At the core of this interview is Jessica’s powerful life philosophy that “joy and sorrow can hold hands.” Says Jess: “Dalia showed me that we can be going through what feels like a horror movie and laugh and create meaning and joy. We tried to have fun in any way we could, and she was leading that charge. She wanted to be a kid, and we were going to give that to her. We all learned that it’s okay to laugh, to smile, and to be happy. The joy we created became even more powerful because of the sorrow we had.” Hit that download button as fast as you can. Jessica’s story is overflowing with the power of love. www.jessicafeinstories.com #motherhood #rarediseases #resiliency #family.

We spent five years trying to have a baby and then decided to make the switch from baby making to family making - Jessica Fein We’re back in my cozy living room for this episode of The Story Behind Her Success. I’m learning that when you're sitting on a comfy couch with the fire going, the time you spend together feels more like a chat between friends and less like a formal interview. An author, marketing executive, and former opinion columnist for the Boston Globe, Jessica Fein’s book, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams and Broken Genes, will give you new reasons to believe in the resiliency of the human spirit. In Part One of this interview, Jessica tells the story of how she and her husband, Rob, spent five years trying to have a baby. When nothing worked, they turned to adoption, and were so overjoyed with their decision, they wondered why they hadn’t made it sooner. Over the next few years, the couple welcomed three beautiful babies into their home, all of whom were from Guatemala. It was baby heaven with Jonah, Dalia, and Theo for a while, until the little voice inside Jessica’s head got louder and louder. Call it a hunch, or mother’s intuition, but Jessica knew that something just wasn’t right with Dalia. As a toddler, she fell down a lot, and her speech was delayed. Repeated tests by early intervention experts showed that Dalia was on the lower end of normal, but as time went by, Jessica persisted. Finally, Dalia’s hearing was tested and showed moderate hearing loss. Now in kindergarten, Dalia had hearing aids, but continued falling down. Since she was adopted, doctors suggested that Dalia undergo genetic testing, and the result was devastating. Five-year-old Dalia was diagnosed with a degenerative, rare disease with no cure called MERFF, which impacts the ability of the body’s organs to function. MERFF is degenerative and has no cure. 2 children in 1 million will get this disease, and Dalia had yet another layer of the disease, making her 1 of only six known cases in the world. With this news, Jessica and her family began a journey filled with overwhelming fear, sorrow, and a belief that in life, we must find reasons to laugh in order to capture joy wherever we can. For a 21-minute story that will leave you breathless, just hit that download button. #rarediseases #motherhood #storytelling #adoption

There were two flashes of white light at my feet, like quick fireworks, and then everything went black. My brain knew that my right leg was beyond repair. -Roseann Sdoia Materia April 15, 2013: That’s the day the bombs went off at the Boston Marathon finish line. This is the story of an innocent bystander who lost her right leg when the second bomb went off in front of the Forum Restaurant. Roseann Sdoia Materia’s life would be saved that day by three people who stepped into the smoke and mayhem to save her life: college student Shores Salter, Boston police officer Shana Cottone, and Boston firefighter Mike Matteria risked their lives to help her, and their story is told in Roseann’s memoir: Perfect Strangers: Friendship, Strength and Recovery After Boston’s Worst Day. Originally released as part of this series in 2018, the interview brings the listener into the events of that day, when brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev unleashed a terror attack using homemade pressure cooker bombs planted near the Boston Marathon finish line, killing three people and injuring 264. Days later, the brothers would also kill MIT police officer Sean Collier. Treated by trauma surgeon Daniel King, MD at Mass General, Roseann explains how fortunate she was to have a doctor who had experienced treating soldiers wounded by IEDs during his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Beyond the details of what happened on that fateful day, Roseann’s story is a profile in courage as she struggled to accept the loss of her leg and a new reality as an amputee. Says Roseann, “Courage is getting up every day and facing the world. Some days you have it and some days, you don’t. “ The founder of robostrong.com, she is an in-demand public speaker, an advocate for amputees everywhere, and a supporter of the many charities that have been born out of the bombings. The friendships Roseann forged with those who rescued her remain strong. In fact, Roseann married firefighter Mike Materia! For 23 minutes of strength, courage, community, and the resiliency of the human spirit, just hit that download button. #bostonmarathonbombings #bostonmarathon #bostonstrong #massgeneralhospital#spauldingrehab

We are on a mission to inspire and empower children and families to discover, imagine, and grow together. -ErinGallagher The living room edition of the series continues with an interview with Erin Gallagher, a young mother of three who teamed up with a friend and neighbor to create the Children’s Museum of Franklin. www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org. What started as a dream in the summer of 2023 has become a reality, with the grand opening scheduled for the summer of 2025. Consider this proof positive that if you want to get something done, give it to two busy moms! Housed in a former AGWAY home and garden space, the state-of-the-art children’s museum will be overflowing with exhibits to engage and inspire children of all ages. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Erin says she found her confidence and purpose rowing crew on the river near her childhood home and later as a member of the crew team at Boston College. A dedicated community leader, marketing and communications professional, and passionate advocate for children and families, Erin has combined her desire to create an inspiring space for children with her experiences in multiple industries, with the hope of connecting families throughout the region. In this interview, Erin shares her belief that having a vision is everything: “Your creativity and your ability to envision what something could be like can be so powerful, and it can take you so far.” For 23 minutes of empowerment, just hit that download button. #childrensmuseum #education #community

Being a scientist is a way of looking at the world, and asking the question 'why' without your own pre-conceived notions. I’ve learned that it’s also a great way of doing business. -Julia Wrin Piper How do you go from scientist to CEO? Meet Julia Wrin Piper. She’s got degrees in Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, and Evolutionary Biology from UC/Berkeley, the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, and Harvard University, and she’s using years of scientific training to forward the mission of Clover, a Boston-area fast casual chain specializing in local, seasonal sandwiches and bowls. www.cloverfoodlab.com. Clover's mission is to significantly reduce carbon emissions through the creation of delicious, sustainably-sourced, plant-based fast food. Says Julia: “We take beautiful food that people are familiar with, and reinvent it with 100% locally sourced vegetarian ingredients. We want you to love your veggies so much, you dream about them.” Clover’s Cambridge-based culinary experts work directly with farmers in the region. Born and raised in California’s Bay Area, Julia’s mom is a virologist who was at the forefront of HIV research and continued to offer her scientific expertise during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her father was a stay-at-home dad for many years before taking a job as an educator. Now a mother herself, Julia deeply appreciates the home she grew up in: “It was like no other. My mom was my role model, and having my father at home gave us a wonderful and very different perspective. What does the future look like for Clover under Julia’s leadership? Chances are, there will be a Clover near you as the company eyes expansion beyond Massachusetts. “Being a scientist is a way of looking at the world, asking the question 'why' without your own pre-conceived notions. I’ve learned that it’s also a great way of doing business. For 23 minutes with a woman who makes science yummy and fun, just hit that download button. #scientist #veggies #climatechange #STEM #local #carbonfootprint

The Amalfi Coast is a dream place, and when I saw it for the first time, something shifted in me. I knew I had to live there. -Lauren Birmingham Born into an Italian-American family of great chefs, Lauren Birmingham has an innate love of food and family. As a child growing up in Cranston, Rhode Island, she spent hours swinging in a hammock under a cherry tree, reading the classics. This fascination with reading, combined with her passion for travel, inspired Lauren to explore Europe as an adult. On a trip to Italy’s Amalfi Coast, she came around a corner in her Fiat 500 and couldn’t believe her eyes. “Thecolor of the houses built into the mountains was like confetti. They were the prettiest pink, blue, and yellow, and the color of the Tyrrhenian Sea was an unmatchable shade of blue. It’s a magical place, unlike any I’d ever seen in my life.” From that moment, Lauren came back to Positano as often as she could, running her PR business from a rented studio while developing her Cooking Vacations Italy culinary tour company. cooking-vacations.com. Along the way, she met and married an Italian race car driver named Rino Piscitelli. At the top of her career, she decided to write a cookbook that would include the recipes of 5-star Michelin Chef Andrea Migliaccio and become a 360-page labor of love. Says Lauren: “ It took years to travel around the Amalfi Coast and Capri, interviewing in Italian and then translating into English, plus the recipes had to be translated from metric to imperial.” Aptly named It’s A Dream Place: Stories & Recipes of Food, Love & the Amalfi Coast, this interview with Lauren will set your compass toward the next flight to Italy! #amalficoast #italy #food #michelinchef