A culture & community podcast created by Aaron Dante to record the fascinating life stories of his friends, family and people that have stories that need to be told! Come along on this journey with Human Interest Stories
Episodes
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
Aaron interviewed Pamela Wood Maryland Political reporter from the Baltimore Banner. We discussed The Baltimore Banner state of news coverage in Baltimore and Annapolis. We learned about how she always wanted to write for the newspaper. Today is the first day of 2024 Maryland General Assembly session we discussed what will be on the docket.
Pamela Wood covers Maryland politics and government, focusing on how powerful people make decisions that affect daily life for people living and working in and around Baltimore. She previously reported for The Baltimore Sun, The Capital and other Maryland newspapers on topics as varied as politics, local government, the environment, healthcare and breaking news. Though not a Maryland native, she's spent most of her life here, graduating from Howard High School and earning a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park. She now calls Anne Arundal County home.
https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/author/pamela-wood
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Monday Jan 08, 2024
With over 30 years of experience, founder and managing partner Lorenzo Bellamy has built a track record of running successful issue advocacy and budget campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels. Lorenzo has advocated for the passage of common sense gun safety legislation, including the ban on ghost guns, strengthening wear and carry permitting of firearms, and advocating for criminal justice reform.
Before founding the Bellamy Genn Group, Lorenzo was Director and Legislative Counsel at a well-known legislative practice of a Maryland law firm. While there, Lorenzo secured several millions of dollars in bond financing for clients in Baltimore and throughout Maryland. Throughout Lorenzo’s career, he has advocated for the passage of legislation benefiting clients in the energy, environment, health, housing, non-profit, manufacturing, and transportation industries.
A veteran in the Annapolis lobbying world, Lorenzo has built a team with the vision to identify the path to victory for clients and build the toolbox needed to turn conversations into concrete wins for their clients. To learn more about the Bellamy Genn Group, LLC, go to
www.BellamyGennGroup.com
Friday Dec 29, 2023
Friday Dec 29, 2023
Join me for the last episode of the 2023 interview series where I sat down with Chris Simon, Founder and CEO of BTST and Co-Owner of Blk Swan. We discuss his journey as an entrepreneur, his love for golf, and the importance of going to grad school for his development as a leader. Don't miss out on this insightful conversation.
In 2008 Chris Simon started BTST Mentoring Services. His enthusiasm for service was palpable. It was not long before he was awarded his first contract with a level 5 school, Florence Bertell, now known as New Visions Academy. BTST continued to grow beyond Baltimore City and began providing services to several counties throughout the state of Maryland. Now called BTST Services, the company has expanded to include 5 facilities in several different counties in Maryland including Baltimore City, PG County, Frederick County, Washington County, and Cecil County providing services such as outpatient mental health clinics, psychiatric rehabilitation programs, and substance abuse.
In recent years, Chris has continued to grow as an entrepreneur. Presently, Chris Simon is CEO of Simon Enterprises, which encompasses several companies such as Xtra-Ordinary Creative Consulting Company, Simon Development, Cornerstone Health Management, and Lorraine’s Cleaning. He has received numerous awards such as the Small Business Administration Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and KEYS Development Award for being a leader in the field of mental health and most notably was recently awarded and recognized at the Light Health and Wellness Gala alongside Congressman Elijah Cummings and Dr. Galo who invented the term and treatment for HIV. Chris has been featured in the Baltimore Sun, Afro Newspaper, as well as the Black Business Review and is a Mental Health Contributor for local radio shows, news networks, and vlogs. He continues to support and give back to his alma mater Morgan State University where he is the President of the National Alumni Association of the School of Social Work at Morgan State University. Continuing his philanthropic pursuits, he launched a non-profit organization, BTST Cares that has helped the community by sponsoring yearly back-to-school book bag giveaways, turkey drives, Christmas big giveback, as well as help for Haiti, and providing clean water for Flint Michigan.
Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
Chef Carlos Raba was born and raised in the Mexican state of Sinaloa by his mother and her four sisters. He learned to make tortillas by hand in his uncle’s restaurant and picked up classic Mexican recipes like cochinita pibil and lengua from his aunts and grandmother. Raba’s mother was a journalist who was critical of Mexican politicians, so fearing for their lives, she sought asylum and moved the family to the suburbs of Washington, D.C. when Raba was 17.
After he graduated from high school, Raba attended business school for a year and then began working in grocery stores. He started at the Whole Foods in Kentlands, Maryland, trying his hand at different roles—butcher, fishmonger, cheesemonger, and eventually store manager. He. then moved to Giant Foods and worked at various locations for five years. Tiring of the corporate life, his business partner Lane Harlan convinced him to use his creativity and family recipes to open Clavel in Baltimore in 2015. In a Converted American grill, Raba serves the same shrimp ceviche recipe that his familky taught him when he was 6 years old, along withother Sinaloan specialties in a relaxed, communal setting. In 2017, Raba was named “Best Chef. in Baltimore” by City Paper, in 2018 Carlos Raba was name also name “Rising star chef” by Star chef publications and on 2022 Carlos Raba was a “James Beard” semifinalist.
Carlos Raba also a practitioner of Brazilian jiujitsu, hold a black belt first degree under Vicente Jr team and his passion for jiujitsu lead him to Co-found Guardian Baltimore a 501(c)3 nonprofit martial arts gym in Remington, Baltimore that offer classes in Brazilian jiu jitsu. The gym is free for kids ages 6 – 18, and offers affordable sliding-scale memberships for adults. the space was founded on the belief that almost everyone wants to be a part of a tribe, and they work daily to serve as a vital space for their community.
Thursday Dec 14, 2023
Thursday Dec 14, 2023
Aaron interviewed artist Emma Childs one of the upcoming artists on the scene. Emma discusses her childhood and how she always loved art. She talked about how in college she overheard a conversation among her professors saying she will be a great artistans has that it factor. She sells her art all across the world and if you work at the new Amazon Headquarters in Virginia her work will be on the walls.
Emma Childs is an American-born painter. The Baltimore native uses eloquent shapes and thoughtful pops of color to create objects that physically interact with their environment Through her minimalist approach, Childs transforms experiences and emotions into simplified forms, color, and geometric edges. The results are eye-catching compositions, which tell complicated and interconnected narratives in an accessible way. Childs’s paintings are layered depictions of existence in the worlds we build around ourselves.
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
aron interviewed Matthew Lengel Chair of the Pratt Contemporaries and Chris Lewis Individual and Corporate Giving Manager of the Enoch Pratt library. The Pratt Contemporaries are a diverse group of cosmopolitans who seek to raise awareness of the Enoch Pratt Free Library as a vital part of Baltimore’s identity. Matthew, Chris and I talked about one of their premier events that the Pratt Contemporaries have ever year and it’s called the Black & White Party. The Black & White Party is January 27th at the Central Library . The Pratt Contemporaries announced this year's theme is New Orleans, Mon Amour.
The money raised all goes to Children and Teen programming at the Pratt Library. This helps with literacy with Baltimore youth. Listen in on how you can join the Pratt Contemporaries and why joining has so many amazing benefits.
Some key dates for the Black & White Party. December 3rd for certain membership levels tickets are available now. On January 8th, all Pratt Contemporaries members can purchase their tickets during the presale. The general public sale will be January 11th. https://www.prattlibrary.org/support-... https://www.instagram.com/prattcontem...
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
Joining the 'NoPixAfterDark' podcast is a mastermind in the digital marketing arena, a 15-year military veteran and former strategic intelligence officer with deep-seated expertise in cyber and tech. Katheryne Womack is the Principal Consultant for WSI, one of the oldest and largest digital marketing companies in the world. There is more to the world of digital marketing than social media and advertising. Through data-driven and comprehensive strategies, she creates a level playing field for local businesses, ensuring they are discovered by the people who need them. As a consultant, she guides business owners and marketing execs alike through the complex web of digital marketing. Renowned for her strategic mindset, Katheryne excels at pinpointing growth opportunities and leveraging data to sculpt marketing strategies that deliver measurable results. Beyond her professional prowess, she also brings a few fun facts: she speaks Korean fluently and has successfully negotiated and orchestrated a 5 jet flyover for a NASCAR race, a testament to her dynamic background and ability to deliver the extraordinary. Katheryne can be found everywhere- but be sure to connect with her on Instagram @WSIWorld_DMV
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Aaron interviewed Lauren from Harry Homeowner Instagram Page. Lauren and her mom were Real Estate agents and they wanted help teach new homeowners how to take care of their homes after the purchase on IG. The IG page shifted into DIY projects building bars and other things around the house. The audience grew and Lauren started sharing personal style and everyday items that people might need and more for the home. Thank you Lauren for being a guest.
Bio
Hi! I’m Lauren aka Harryhomeowner. I’m a Baltimore native, busy mom of 3, and lover of DIY projects and home design. After having my first child I left my 12 year career in teaching to be a stay at home mom. I quickly learned that I needed creative fulfillment outside of motherhood and slowly began teaching myself DIY projects to update our home. I realized that if I could transform a space, anyone could, and I began sharing my projects with others. My instagram page, @harryhomeowner is devoted to giving you the confidence and inspiration to create a functional and beautiful home on a budget! Simple woodwork, peel and stick wallpaper, and a LOT of paint have helped me to transform my 1960s house into a relaxing and beautiful home for our family.
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
Aaron interviewed Kelly Schuit Owner, Managing Partner and Associate Broker The W Home Group of Next Step Realty in this episode. We spoke about how she got into the real estate game. She talked about how she learned marketing, advertising & sales strategies while working for a media company. She transferred those skills into the Real Estate game. You can see her companies signage in gyms, highways and all over social media. The W Group is one of the top producers in the state of Maryland. Kelly drops and lot of jewels and gems in this interview.
Kelly prides herself on not only being an active agent in the Maryland real estate market, but also on being able to share her insights, experience, and advice with agents looking to grow their own real estate careers With years of experience in Maryland's dynamic real estate industry, Kelly has built a reputation for putting her client's needs first, which she believes is at the heart of her success. As a native Marylander, she knows the ins and outs of the many unique neighborhoods and cities Maryland has to offer and is adept at navigating her clients to the ideal neighborhood and home for their family.
Kelly has a reputation for putting her client’s needs first, which she believes is at the heart of her success. As a native Marylander, she has experience in many unique neighborhoods and cities Maryland offers. She is adept at navigating her clients to the ideal neighborhood and home for their family. Kelly’s strong background in advertising translates to solid negotiation abilities, attention to detail, and marketing expertise. Kelly prides herself on her responsiveness, exceptional customer service, and follow-through.
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
Aaron interviewed Sonja Thorsvik, CEO and Host of Gigging for Gold. Sonja Thorsvik, is an entrepreneur and podcast host with a dynamic blend of expertise as a marketer, writer, and seasoned traveler. We discussed her journey as entrepenuer and working all across the world. Gigging For Gold podcast is crafted with a singular vision: to provide actionable insights, real-world wisdom, and practical strategies
At Gigging For Gold, our mission transcends the typical business advisory platform. We are dedicated to being the catalyst that propels self-employed entrepreneurs not just to meet but to exceed their aspirations, specifically in achieving that coveted first six-figure year. Our approach is holistic, understanding that success in the freelance world is not just about hard skills, but also about the nuanced interplay of finance, innovative tools, and, crucially, the right mindset
Ultimately, Gigging For Gold isn't just a podcast; it's a community and a movement. We are committed to empowering self-employed entrepreneurs, helping them unlock their full potential, and guiding them towards a future where financial independence isn't just a dream, but a well-earned reality. Sonja Thorsvik stands at the forefront of innovative marketing and entrepreneurial coaching. With her dynamic blend of expertise as a marketer, podcast host, writer, and seasoned traveler, Sonja is a true purveyor of fabulous lives. Her professional journey is marked by a dedication to excellence and a passion for empowering others to achieve their full potential.
As the visionary founder of Monkey Fist Co., Sonja has established herself as a leading figure in the marketing world, particularly in the luxury sector. Beyond her marketing prowess, she is the spirited host of Gigging For Gold, a podcast that has become a beacon of inspiration and practical guidance for self-employed entrepreneurs. Drawing from her impressive 11-year journey of working remotely, she offers invaluable insights into scaling income and achieving financial independence. Her podcast and articles go beyond mere tips, providing a holistic view of entrepreneurship that encompasses finance, the right tools, and a mindset geared towards growth and abundance.
Sonja’s ability to connect her experiences as a world traveler with her professional endeavors by bringing global insights and diverse perspectives to her work makes her a relatable and inspiring figure for her audience and clients.
WSI Marylandhttps://www.wsiworld.com/katheryne-womack?utm_campaign=gmb
Baltimore Peninsula
https://baltimorepeninsula.com/
Transcript
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
Aaron Dante interviewed Angela Schaffer - Executive Director, The Fund for Education Abroad. We discussed how she went abroad during High School and college (she was the first person from her family to travel overseas). Going on those trips shaped who she is now and as the Executive Director, The Fund for Education Abroad she helps raise funds for college kids to see the world.
Angela (Angie) Schaffer is an international educator, grants professional, and entrepreneur. Angie grew up in Baltimore City and was a first-generation college graduate. At Goucher College, where Angie earned a B.A. in International Relations, she served as Director of Sponsored Research and Corporate & Foundation Relations and Assistant Director of International Studies. Between her positions with Goucher, Angie served as Senior Director of Program Development at Cultural Vistas. Angie also served as ARO and Program Officer with TPG Cultural Exchange, a J-1 Teacher Visitor sponsor. She started her career in education abroad at the University of Maryland, and holds a Master of Arts degree in International Education Policy.
Throughout her studies and career, Angela has focused on underrepresented students and issues that affect people in or from primarily urban areas. She has convinced many friends and colleagues to support efforts to establish scholarships and funding for young people to study abroad. She has written several articles about the value of experiential learning and exchange, and has led education abroad programs and workshops in Japan, India, and South Africa. In Summer 2019, Angie co-led a Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad for Baltimore-area educators to Rwanda and Mauritius. Bio from website Fund for Education Abroad