The Conversation Hub

Through conversation, knowledge is shared ...  Our conversation this week is all about gaining new knowledge, at least it was for me.  For the better part of the summer, I've joined together with several other people in my community for a weekly community run.  At the start of the summer, our guest Noureen Sajid, was a regular at our Wednesday night gatherings. At one point in late July/early August, I noticed she wasn't coming anymore.  It was brought to my attention that she was observing the holy month of Ramadan and running late in the evening was a little bit of a challenge.  I knew of the month of Ramadan, but lacked any understanding of this great tradition of the Islam faith. I was delighted when Noureen accepted my invitation to join me for a caffeinated conversation. Enjoy the conversation!  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

Excited to share this conversation with you this week. Nathan Tasker has an amazing story — it's chalk full of peaks and some pretty low valleys — and I'm delighted he made some time to be in conversation with us. He and his publicist were kind enough to make available six (6) copies of his latest CD for us to give away!  Two of them are autographed! Get a FREE copy of Nathan's latest CD - here's how!  1. Listen to the episode (click here to get it from iTunes); 2. Leave a comment: on this page (scroll to the bottom); or on our Facebook Page (you'll need to "Like" us to do that!) 3. Share the episode on Twitter or on Facebook using the sharing icons on this page! About Nathan Tasker Nathan Tasker is a prominent Christian singer/songwriter from Australia. He was named 2006 "Artist of the Year" and awarded "Song of The Year" by the Australian Christian Music Charts. He has written, recorded and produced several gospel albums. His song "Like You Love Me" reached #1 on the TRAA weekly Contemporary Top 30. He has also been named "Artist of the Year" for 2011 by the TRAA, with his singles claiming 5th and 6th top songs of the year chart. Nathan made his first public performance in 1993, and has since been involved in Christian Ministry through writing, singing and speaking. Over this period he has completed approximately 1200 performances. His work is wide-reaching, and incorporates visits to schools, churches, conventions, prisons and the media. Previously working from a Sydney base, he would annually visit the United States, Western Europe, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Nathan currently lives in Nashville with his wife Cassie. You can follow Nathan online by visiting his blog or following his musings on Twitter at @nathantasker and on Facebook!  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

We're please to present the August episode of No Passport Required: Discover the World Around You featuring Birmingham, Alabama! No Passport Required: Discover the World Around You is our new monthly segment here at The Conversation Hub podcast. For our second monthly segment, we head to the Magic City, Birmingham, AL. To help us learn more about this community, we are joined by two Birmingham residents: André Natta is a freelance writer, urbanist, and digital communications geek from The Bronx living in Birmingham, AL. He's maintained an online community hub about Birmingham since 2007. He also serves on the organizing team of several area projects; and serves on several boards in the community. You can follow him online on the following social networks: Twitter: @acnatta About.Me: André Natta   Tanya Ott is WBHM's News Director (National Public Radio affiliate). She's been hunting down good public radio stories for more than two decades. She is the mother of three daughters, a wife and blogger at http://www.publicmediajournalism.blogspot.com/ and family food blogger at http://www.necessarypleasures.blogspot.com. You can follow her online on the following social networks: Twitter: @tanyaott1 LinkedIn: Tanya Ott   You can also get more information on Birmingham by visiting Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau. We hope you enjoy this new segment! Look for our next No Passport Required episode on Tuesday, September 4, 2012! You can follow No Passport Required: Discover The World Around You on Facebook and get links to the locations and establishments shared by our guest!!!    The Conversation Hub podcast and the No Passport Required segments are produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

I'm delighted to welcome Andrew Goffman to the conversation this week. Based out of New York City, Andrew stars in a one-man show called The Accidental Pervert. Don't get hung up on the title of his show ...  as you'll quickly find out, there is more to Andrew than the story behind the show. Enjoy the conversation, I know I did! About Andrew Goffman Andrew Goffman began his theatrical training in the Off-Broadway show Grandma Sylvia's Funeral, which he believes prepared him for the challenges he would face later on in stand-up comedy. In a March 2000 interview with TheaterMania.com, Goffman said, "Getting up on stage in front of a packed house of 200 people was valuable for me; it gave me confidence on stage that I wouldn't get by going up in front of ten people at an open mike night." In 1997, following a year-long stint with Grandma Sylvia's Funeral, he began concentrating primarily on stand-up comedy, appearing at such venues as Caroline's, Catch A Rising Star, The Comic Strip, Rascals and at Canada's Yuk Yuks. As an actor, Goffman has appeared in such films as "The First Wives Club", and "The Stand-In" with Kelly Ripa. You can learn more about Andrew's one-man show by visiting website at www.andrewgoffman.com. You can also follow news about his show on Facebook (link to fan page).  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

The Extreme Leadership Summit promises to be an event like no other! Over two years in the planning, the Summit is not a pitch fest or a series of commercials. Neither is it a parade of talking heads, to mix a metaphor, where you passively sit, watch the show, take notes, go home — and forget. Using proven techniques and a time-tested process, the Extreme Leadership Summit is an interactive experience that will help you uncover and better understand your strengths and opportunities as a leader. Think of it as a dynamic workout where you’ll have the opportunity to practice and apply everything you learn to your current work and personal life challenges.  All with the help of phenomenal speakers and thought-leaders. THE EXTREME LEADERSHIP SUMMIT AUGUST 17-19, 2012 — SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA About Steve Farber Steve Farber, the creator of the Summit, is a subject-matter expert in business leadership. Farber has devoted his professional life to the field of leadership development. His books The Radical Leap: A Personal Lesson in Extreme Leadership (affiliate link); The Radical Edge: Stoke Your Business, Amp Your Life, and Change the World (affiliate link) and Greater Than Yourself: The Ultimate Lesson of True Leadership (affiliate link) have inspired leaders all over the world! His newest edition, The Radical Leap Re-Energized: Doing What You Love in the Service of People Who Love What You Do (affiliate link), is in bookstores now. You can follow him on Twitter at @SteveFarber.    The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

I am intrigued and inspired by people who follow their dream and monetize their passion. Stevie Ray, our guest this week, did just that.  From his first "show" at the age of 9 he knew what he wanted to do when he grew up!  He's turned his passion for laughter and improv into a successful business. Enjoy the conversation! PS - If you enjoy our podcast and liked this episode, visit us on iTunes (link to iTunes) and rate/review our show. Thanks! About Stevie Ray Stevie Ray is the founder and co-director of Stevie Ray's Improv Company, an organization that has provided training and entertainment nationwide since 1989. With over 15 years professional experience and over 600 corporate clients, he brings a dynamic and interactive presentation to any event. Stevie is a nationally touring speaker and performer, getting audiences on their feet (and learning to think on them). As a trainer, he has helped tens of thousands to handle tough, on-the-spot situations with ease. Teams and working groups also learn what it takes to stay vital and productive. Stevie is the author of "What We Laugh At, and Why," (affiliate link) a book that explains the nature of humor and how to use it to your advantage. He is also a columnist for the Business Journal newspaper of the Twin Cities. When it comes to content, Stevie is not just talk. He is the owner of multiple businesses and a consultant for Fortune 50 companies and start-ups alike. You can follow Stevie Ray online on Twitter (@StevieRayCo) and on Facebook (Stevie Ray's Improv Company).  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

At my home church, summertime means youth mission trip time. Like many churches across this country, mission work is an important part of the work the church does. For this week's conversation, I connected with Pastor Paul Knudson who recently returned from a mission trip to Ethiopia. We talked about his journey as a pastor, the state of the church in the western world and a few other things. I home you enjoy the conversation. PS - If you enjoy our podcast and liked this episode, visit us on iTunes (link to iTunes) and rate/review our show. Thanks! About Pastor Paul Knudson Pastor Paul Knudson is a Lutheran Pastor who has served parishes in Oil City, PA; Chicago, IL; Volga, SD, and Watertown, SD. A graduate of Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD; and Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. He and his wife, Roberta, reside in Hutchinson, MN. He enjoys reading books about contemporary trends in today’s culture and just about any theological issues; and cooking and baking. You can read some of Pastor Paul's writings on the Faith Lutheran Church website. You can also learn more about the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) by visiting this link.    The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

Welcome to the inaugural episode of No Passport Required: Discover the World Around You, a new monthly segment here on The Conversation Hub podcast. For our first segment, we head to the city of roses, Portland, Oregon. To help us learn more about this community we are joined by two Portland residents: Robert Caruso is the founder and CEO of BundlePost. He's also a father, friend, self-described geek and an avid coffee drinker.  You can follow him online on the following social networks: Twitter: @fondalo LinkedIn: Robert M. Caruso On Facebook: BundlePost   Elizabeth Traub is the designer for Hung Out To Buy.  She’s chatty, loves coffee and has been a Professional Design Consultant for over 20 years. You can follow him online on the following social networks: Twitter: @elizonthego LinkedIn: Elizabeth Traub On Facebook: Hung Out To Buy   You can also get more information on Portland by visiting Travel Portland on Facebook. We hope you enjoy this new segment! Look for our next No Passport Required episode on Tuesday, August 7, 2012! You can follow No Passport Required: Discover The World Around You on Facebook and get links to the locations and establishments shared by our guest!!!    The Conversation Hub podcast and the No Passport Required segments are produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

Genuine and authentic. Two words that describe my guest this week. Guy Raz was on my bucket list of people I wanted to interview.  I was so excited when he responded to my request on Twitter and took time from his busy schedule to join me in conversation! If you haven't listen to his show, I highly recommend you tune to NPR on Saturday and Sunday at 5pm (or 4pm depending on your market) - it's an hour you'll be glad you spent in his company. PS - If you enjoy our podcast and liked this episode, visit us on iTunes (link to iTunes) and rate/review our show. Thanks! About Guy Raz Guy Raz is the host of NPR's weekend afternoon news program Weekend All Things Considered, having assumed the job in 2009. Before hosting WATC, he was the youngest overseas-based bureau chief for NPR, first in Berlin, then London and the Pentagon. He also served as CNN's correspondent in Jerusalem from 2004-2006. He has received several awards for his reporting including the Edward R. Murrow Award and the Daniel Schorr Prize. Raz is a graduate of Brandeis University. He received his masters degree in history from Cambridge University in the UK. Raz covered the conflicts in Kosovo, Macedonia, Afghanistan and Iraq. He has reported from more than 50 countries. Raz is also the creator of NPR’s popular segment “Three Minute Fiction.” You can follow Guy on Twitter at @nprguyraz and Weekends on All Things Considered at @nprwatc.  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

I am so grateful for the amazing people I've been in conversation with on this podcast.  This week is no different. Jenna Edwards is an amazing woman.  She survived a tragic, freak accident in July 2003 and could have let that event dictate the rest of her life. During her recovery she realized that scrapbooking was the key to "living the life of her dreams." Enjoy the conversation! About Jenna Edwards Jenna Edwards is originally from a small town in Minnesota and now makes her home in the greater Los Angeles area.  On July 16th, 2003 her life changed. She was buying oranges at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market when she was struck in the now infamous “Farmer’s Market Crash” which left 10 people dead and 64 others with serious injuries, both physical and mental. Jenna survived the horrible accident but has never quite been the same. She struggled with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and experienced daily flashbacks that caused me to pass out. She didn’t sleep for eight months and ended up in a hospital psychiatric ward.  She couldn’t read; she struggled to remember common words and stuttered when she talked.  Her  joy was gone and she thought my life was over. While in the hospital she made a collage that would help me heal, regain my joy and take me on a path that she never even imagined.  It brought her to scrapbooking and through scrapbooking she's been able to heal and plan the life of her dreams. Jenna is the principal voice of www.scrapbookrehab.com a website dedicate to helping people "scrapbook the life of your dreams" by using scrapbooking as a tool to create visual reminders of what your goals and dreams are. You can follow Jenna online on Facebook (link to Scrapbook Rehab page); on Twitter (@ScrapbookRehab); or on Pinterest (link to Jenna's boards).  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

For as long as I can remember, I've always had an interest in current events. We all know that the past few years have been extremely challenging on the economic front. More recently, the focus has moved to Europe.  Leading the charge for what has been labeled "austerity measures" is Germany.  I wanted to get a german perspective on this. I was delighted when my friend Matthias Bollmus, an instructor ast Carroll University and a West German national, agreed to join me in conversation. I hope you enjoy the conversation!  I found my time with Matthias to be extremely educational. About Matthias Bollmus Matthias Bollmus is a West German national. He emigrated to the United States in 1994 and has been here ever since. He traveled for several years, both as a student and staff member, with the international group Up with People. He holds three undergrad degrees from Carroll University, an MBA with finance emphasis from UW Milwaukee.  He is currently writing doctoral dissertation in strategic management and finance at UW Milwaukee, with research interests in: Strategic alliances, Expatriates, and Financial Flexibility. He currently serves as Instructor of Business Management at Carroll University.  He is also the owner of Napkin Innovations, a design house for innovative, fun consumer products. Matthias, his wife Kay and their three children live in the Greater Milwaukee Area. You can learn more about Matthias on LinkedIn. Resources Suggested by Matthias Spiegel Online - International Edition:  http://www.spiegel.de/international/ The BBC News Network: http://www.bbc.com/news/ The Khan Academy: http://www.khanacademy.org/new-and-noteworthy/v/greek-debt-recession-and-austerity--part-1    The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

I'm delighted to share another great conversation with you! Our guest, Rick Kupchella, has been a broadcast journalist for more than 30 years.  Three years ago, he left his role to launch BringMeTheNews.com. BringMeTheNews delivers the most relevant stories around the state of Minnesota. They filter through hundreds of news stories every day and link to some of the best non-traditional sources available — like social media, industry reports, and blogs. Enjoy the conversation! About Rick Kupchella Rick Kupchella has worked as an investigative reporter and television news anchor in Minneapolis and St. Paul for more than 20 years. He worked eight years before that – in New York, Washington, D.C., Michigan and Kentucky. Winner of more than a dozen Emmys, he’s also been recognized repeatedly by the New York International Film Festival, the “Best of Gannett,” the Edward R. Murrow Awards and the Eric Sevareid Awards (presented by the Minnesota Broadcasters Association). Rick has also served as president of the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and worked on campaigns to advance journalism at the state capital and Supreme Court. At BringMeTheNews, he continues to produce news stories of his own and works to advance journalism by helping the public find the best news stories in the state – every day. You can stay connected with the best news stories in Minnesota by visit Rick Kupchella's Bring Me The News.com You can also follow Rick on Twitter at @rickkupchella or @bringmn. Get all the news from Bring Me The News on Facebook by visiting BMTN's Facebook page.  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

I am delighted to bring you another great conversation - this time with author Paige Stirling Fox. Paige and I were colleagues some 20+ years ago when we traveled with Up with People. I had no idea at the time that being a published author was a dream of hers.  It was great to reconnect with her! :: SPECIAL OFFER :: Take a few moments to leave a comment below and your name will be entered in a drawing to win a signed copy of Paige's book "The Flowering House". About Paige Stirling Fox Paige Stirling Fox is a life coach and facilitator of numerous personal growth and spiritual programs and workshops. She believes in the power of circles of women, and has created and led many programs including Women Circling the Earth, a year-long retreat and coaching program, and Breathing Space, circles for women who have survived cancer. Paige earned an honours degree in psychology, a certificate in adult education and completed coach training with Coach U. She is a reiki master and a certified labyrinth facilitator. Paige currently works as an early literacy specialist. She lives with her husband and two children in Ontario, Canada. The Flowering House is Paige's first book and is available online at Balboa Press or on Amazon (affiliate link). You can connect with Paige directly through the following social networks: On Twitter: @floweringhouse On Facebook: The Flowering House Through her website: www.thefloweringhouse.com    The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

Episode #100 has been 2 years in the making. I am so excited to have Chris Guillebeau as my guest for this milestone episode. This project started as a small idea, a way for me to explore the possibilities, to see what else was out there, to pursue a passion. What better way to mark this special moment than to be in conversation with the author who invites people to "reinvent the way they make a living, do what they love and create a new future." Enjoy the conversation and thanks for being a part of this journey! About Chris Guillebeau Chris Guillebeau is a writer, world traveler, entrepreneur, and lifelong learner. He is the founder of the Art Of Non Conformity website. The mission of AONC is to help people live unconventional lives, make their own choices, and change the world.  The writing you’ll find here offers unconventional ideas for remarkable people. He writes through personal experience, including both failures and successes. Among other projects, he is on a five-year personal quest to visit every country in the world. He is also the author of two great books.  His first, The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World (affiliate link) is one that I highly recommend! His latest offering (released on May 8, 2012) is called The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future (affiliate link). As mentioned in the podcast, Chris was kind enough to share an advance copy with me and trust me, you'll want to read this book! You can follow Chris on the following social networks: On Facebook: Art of Non-Conformity Page On Twitter: @chrisguillebeau Online Blog: www.chrisguillebeau.com    The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

We all have the power and opportunity to make a difference! This week, we're in conversation with Erica Hanna. I was inspired by her story and I know you will be too! Enjoy the conversation. About Erica Hanna Erica Hanna believes in making a difference. Inspired by her grandmother's suggestion that everyone in the family donate to a chosen charity instead of giving gifts, she has made giving back a priority over the past few years. For her 29th birthday, she wanted to do something different. After a Google search and some research, Erica chose charity: water and launched a "Birthday Campaign." That campaign - done exclusively through social media and the charity: water platform raised more than $11,000. When she's not raising money and awareness, Erica serves a Promotions Producer/Director/Editor at WCCO-TV, Minnesota's CBS affiliate. She is also an establish photographer and videographer and the owner of Puke Rainbows Photo/Video. You can follow Erica online on the following network: Facebook: Puke Rainbows Photo/Video Twitter:  @meeterica I encourage you to visit and support Erica's latest fundraising project at charity: water by visiting this link. The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions. Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt