The Passionistas Project Podcast

Inspiring Success for Revolutionary Creatives with Coco Madari

Coco Madari is a BIPOC, queer, multi-talented, creative being who helps HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) creatives manage their projects and endeavors without overwhelm. They are also a music producer, singer/songwriter, visual artist, poet and DJ, living on the unsurrendered land of the Tsunemu First Nation (Colonial name: Nanaimo).

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The Power of Education with Jen Rafferty

Jen Rafferty is an educator, author and founder of Empowered Educator. Since its inception, the Empowered Educator has reached teachers and school leaders all over the world. Jen has been featured in Authority Magazine, Medium, Thrive Global, Voyage MIA and was on the TEDx stage with her talk Generational Change Begins with Empowered Teachers. She's also the host of the podcast, Take Notes with Jen Rafferty, which is rated in the top 3% of podcasts globally.

 

Learn more about Jen Rafferty.

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Savoring the Melting Pot: Unearthing the Delicious Tapestry of Jewish-Italian Cuisine

Benedetta Jasmine Guetta, an Italian food writer and photographer. She was born in Milan, but she lives in Santa Monica, California. In 2009, she cofounded a website called Labna, the only Jewish/Kosher cooking blog in Italy, specializing in Italian and Jewish cuisine.

Since then, she has been spreading the word about the marvels of Italian Jewish food in Italy and abroad, teaching the recipes of the cuisine to a growing number of people in cooking schools, synagogues, and community centers, among other institutions. Her work has been featured in numerous news outlets in Italy and abroad, including the Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Elle à Table, Saveur, and Tablet.

Benedetta has previously coauthored two cookbooks in Italian, and Cooking alla Giudia is her first English-language cookbook. Benedetta also owns a small coffee shop in Santa Monica, called Café Lovi, specializing in sandwiches made with challah bread. 

Learn more about Benedetta.

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The Power of Vino with Joanna Barbolla

Joanna Barbolla has always been pulled into the exciting world of international wines and abstract art. After a three-decade career in New York City's corporate America, and several years in the wine business, Joanna started a second career in teaching after relocating to Florida. While both rewarding and challenging, Joanna never gave up on her first love, wine and art, and created DIVULGE D'VINO, a beautiful collaboration of one-of-a-kind, abstract art, international wine reviews and gourmet food pairings.

Buy DIVULGE D'VINO.

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The Power of DNA with the DNA Mavens — India Henry, Cindy Cale and Marisil Wright-Pennant

India Henry, Cindy Cale and Marisil Wright-Pennant had the brilliant idea of forming a forensic DNA laboratory to provide quality and accurate science together. The DNA Mavens have over 40 years of experience in forensic evidence processing, and interpretation and testimony. They provide consultation, research and laboratory services as well as education and training programs,

 

Learn more about DNA Mavens here.

 

Learn more about The Passionistas Project here.

 

Read the full transcript here.

 

Power of Design with Jen Dallas

Jen Dallas is the founder of Jen Dallas, Inc. Jen melds sophistication and history in creating the design of each house project. Well versed in many periods and styles, she has a true appreciation for the old meets the new. She strives to add character throughout her well-chosen design details. In addition to site visits and client meetings, her studio has its own line of textiles and matching ceramic tiles. She also recently launched her own collection of lighting and is working on her own line of rugs and furniture debuting in 2024.

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The Power of Hypnotherapy with Lauren Best

Lauren Best is a certified hypnotherapist and Provoker of Possibility. She supports Conscious Companies, Creative Leaders and Entrepreneurs, and Curious Individuals to unlock potential, envision new possibilities for their work and life, connect to their intuition, understand their unique abilities, and strengthen their mind-intuition-body connection to take authentic action.

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Blow Up Your Biz Like the Bad B__ch You Are with Melanie Childers.

Melanie Childers is a business master coach for values led coaches, course creators, and CEOs . She helps you grow and scale to multiple six to seven figures with her simple evergreen process. She disrupts internalized patriarchy and hustle culture so you can build a successful business that supports you and your community. Without burning out, so please welcome Melanie Childers.

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TPP Breaking Boundaries and Defying Age — The Inspiring Journey of Cuban-American Actress Marlene Forte

Marlene Forte, a Cuban American actress born just outside of Havana, Cuba, and raised in North Jersey. Marlene has shaken the Hollywood stereotypes and broken the glass ceiling many times as a woman, a Latina, a mother and an “older” actress. At sixty-something year old, Forte seems to have defied the rules of aging showing that age is nothing but a number. The mum-of-one proves you can have a hugely successful career, raise a family, and look amazing while doing it!

You've seen her in everything from the Golden Globe Best Picture nominated film, "Knives Out," JJ Abrams' "Star Trek" reboot; "Real Women Have Curves"; "Our Song" opposite Kerry Washington, Marlon Wayans’ “A Haunted House”, and Tyler Perry’s “A Single Mom’s Club” on the big screen, to Netflix’s “Altered Carbon”, TNT “Dallas”, "The Mentalist", "Law & Order", “24”, “Community”, “The Secret Life of The American Teenager”, “The Fosters” and AMC “Fear of The Walking Dead” (among many others) on the little screen. She has experienced motherhood, owned a video store, and lived a full life before moving to Los Angeles and becoming a prolific actress. Her story is truly inspiring.

Learn more about Marlene.

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Empowering Artists and Shaping Careers with Michelle Danner

Michelle Danner is a film and stage director, author, world renowned acting coach and founder of the Creative Center for the Arts. She has taught acting for the last 27 years and has worked with many A-list actors, privately and on set, including Zooey Deschanel, Penelope Cruz, Andy Garcia, Selma Hayek, Michelle Rodriguez, Donald Sutherland, and many others. She was brought in for her expert coaching on the WB Show, "The Starlet," and was featured with Andy Richter on "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien." Michelle has directed and acted in over 30 plays in musicals in New York and Los Angeles. She is also well established as a successful film director. Her current release "The Runner," is an action thriller and true life coming of age story about a troubled teenager who was forced to go undercover to expose a drug kingpin.

Learn more about Michelle.

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NOTE: This episode was recorded prior to the Writers Guild and Actors Guild Strike

The Power of Teaching with Luz Nazario

Luz Nazario is the creator and founder of NEDA's Coquito, and a veteran educator with more than 25 years of experience preparing and educating the future game changers. More than five years ago, Luz decided to make some game-changing moves for herself that Christmas as funds ran low. She needed to do something quick to tie the family over until she returned to work, using the ingredients already at home, not ordinary, and not from Abuela. Luz knew how to make Coquito but wanted something different. After playing around with and tweaking the recipe, she arrived at NEDA's Coquito.

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Mastering Conscious Connections — Unleashing the Power of Mindful Dating with Lauren Smith

Lauren Smith is an author, speaker and host of the Date in Peace podcast. She combines her own personal success story with her professional mindfulness training. Lauren empowers singles to ditch the dating struggle and claim the loving relationship they so deeply deserve. She is also the author of "The Mindful Dating Journal: Find a Healthy Love that Lasts" and creator of the Metta Date Journal mobile app. Lauren is a certified mindfulness & meditation teacher with additional certifications in Emotional Intelligence and EFT Tapping. 

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From NBC Page to Media Maven: Successfully Fulfilling a Pop Culture Dream with Louise Palanker

Louise Palanker co-hosts “The Media Path Podcast” with legendary Los Angeles weatherman Fritz Coleman. Together, they explore your creative obsessions, from books to movies and everything in between. Louise has a prolific career in the entertainment world herself. She's a co-founder of “Premiere Radio Networks,” which is now a division of iHeartRadio. Her documentary “Family Banned the Cowsills Story” appeared on Showtime for two years and is now available on Amazon Prime. Plus, she writes a weekly advice column for NewsHawk.com and founded the Advice app for teens, “Ask Weezy.” Louise has been podcasting since 2005 and hosted the “Things I Found Online” podcast before setting out to co-host “Media Path” with Fritz.

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See the show notes for this episode.

 

Empowering Trauma Survivors: A Journey of Healing and Artistic Expression with Marissa Alma Nick

Marissa Alma Nick is a choreographer and author who just released her first novel called Rebel in Venus. Although labeled a novel, the book is a semi-autobiographical, powerful, and honest story of redemption and an intimate portrait of friendship, the impact of trauma, the power of first love and loss.

Marissa illuminates queer experiences with an authentic perspective on emerging concerns, including trauma, mental health, sexual assault, abuse, culture, and gaslighting. More than anything, it's a book about empowerment, self-realization, self-acceptance, and self-love.

Find the show notes here.

This episode contains conversations about situations that might trigger PTSD and emotional trauma or cause discomfort to some listeners, please consider your own sensitivity before listening.

Igniting the Flame: Unveiling the Extraordinary World of Stunt Performers with Michelle C. Smith

Michelle C. Smith is the go-to expert on sets for some of today's leading actors, holding the title of Queen of the Lightsabers, having been featured in Vogue for her work with Grimes on her music video player of games, as well as catching the eye and praise of Daisy Ridley.

Michelle is best known for her viral content on her social media platforms and YouTube channel. Michelle has amassed nearly 3 million followers across all social media and well over a hundred million views on her current content. As both an actress and a stunt performer, Michelle has the rare ability to cut out the middleman while on set saving production's valuable time and money.

She continues to be a strong advocate for highlighting the stunt community in recognition for their dangerous and breathtaking work.

 

Learn more about Michelle.

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Note: This episode was recorded prior to the Writer's Guild and Screen Actor's Guild strikes.

Power of Flowers with Holly Berry

Holly Berry is the founder of aNatural Design, where she connects people to nature through the language of flowers. She shares the gifts of the Zen feelings that come from a Pacific Northwest hike and walking in an arboretum to help melt away the concern and worry in your day.

Learn more about Holly.

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See the show notes and full transcript.

Power of Wisdom with Dali Rivera

Dali Rivera is an anti-bullying and diversity educator and the creator of the “Diversity and Anti-Bullying Academy.” Through DABA, she helps parents and educators learn how and what to teach children to prevent bullying and stop bullying through interactive workshops, books, workbooks, webinars, and live online classes.

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Read the full transcript and show notes.

 

Power of Trailblazing with Gwen Manto

Gwen Manto is the owner of mixallogy, a collection of certified organic, low calorie cocktail mixers. Gwen's business history can best be encapsulated by her favorite drink and one of mixallogy’s premier offerings: the Cosmopolitan. A working woman's cocktail of liberation and independence, always an advocate of great ideas and a great team. Gwen's keen consumer insight and business acumen led her from VP of Macy's department stores to stints as Chief Merchandising Officer for several national chains. In 2017, she launched her passion project, mixallogy. Born of the desire to create all-time favorite cocktails with organic ingredients that taste amazing, are affordable, and easy to prepare, mixallogy proved to be the perfect combination of Gwen's interests and insights.

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Power of Awakening with Cathy Gasper

Cathy Gasper is the owner and holistic practitioner at HOPE, an acronym for “Hold On, Pain Ends.” Cathy specializes in pain, trauma and anxiety, utilizing modalities including ear reflexology, auricular chromotherapy, pranic healing and Reiki. She analyzes and addresses patient concerns through active listening and advising on appropriate treatments, and seeks continuous learning in each specialty practice, ensuring accurate diagnosis and treatments. So please welcome Cathy Gasper.

Learn more about Cathy.

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The Power of Alchemy with Christina Lopes

Christina Lopes spent a decade working as a neuropediatric clinician before becoming a life coach, spiritual teacher, author and entrepreneur in 2013. Today, she seamlessly bridges science and spirituality to help others heal from significant trauma, open their hearts, and live fulfilling lives. Christina's unique coaching style includes a focus on the heart as the primary driver of healing and transformation. Instead of mind. She holds a doctorate degree in physical therapy from New York University and a master's degree in public health from John Hopkins University.

Learn more about Christina.

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See complete show notes.