 Get your Masters in meteorology and then go to Broadway. Maybe not the most common path, but when you have multiple passions, work hard, and take leaps of faith, the most wonderful things can happen. Today’s guest, Alvin Hough Jr., graduated grad school, then through an inspiring chain of events, is now associate music director at Tina: The Tina Turner Musical on Broadway, as well as a husband and father of two. Additionally, he is one of the founding members of MUSE: Musicians United for Social Equity. An organization in its infancy already helping others and affecting change in the musical theater community and beyond, “MUSE is committed to creating diversity within the music departments of the theatre industry by providing access, internships, mentorships, and support to historically marginalized people of color.” (from their website, link below). Alvin has a contagious enthusiasm for making the theater a more inclusive place and extending opportunities to those with limited resources. His resume is filled, and it got that way because of his dedication and hard work to his craft, as well as always showing respect to those around him. He emphasizes always doing your best--you never know who is watching. And that very thing led to him getting the call to be music director of Once on This Island on Broadway. Alvin’s chat is quotable, inspiring, and invigorating. Such a story of following your passions, embracing the adventure of the journey, and looking beyond yourself to help others. Alvin mentions multiple times the importance of sharing your knowledge and story-- being open-minded, connecting, and lifting up others. I am so excited for you to hear from Alvin. Afterward, be sure to check out MUSE and the strides they are making already-- from workshops to networking events to an online directory of artists and more. Thank you for what you do to bring goodness to the world, Alvin! Follow Alvin: alvinhoughjr.com @alivinhoughpiano MUSE: museonline.org @museonline_org We need all the good news we can get. This brings me to Some (More) Good News, featuring mini interviews with people following their passions, even if that means leaving behind a potentially more comfortable career path, and making people feel better along the way. S(M)GN episodes released each Friday. Follow @positively_kate for more. And please share if you enjoyed this episode! Have stories of good news you know should be shared? Send me a message!
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 Warmer weather usually means more travel...even with covid hovering around us still, we have been finding ways to safely find adventures. Jeff and I are in Cape May right now. Thankfully both fully vaccinated, we have been able to stay away from crowds by being here in April, avoiding indoor restaurants, and finding a great Airbnb all to ourselves. Very grateful for the city escape! I hear from a lot of people that they lose out on keeping up their fitness while traveling due to “not having my gym there” or “not having enough time”. How about we fix that? Travel = relaxing. I hope, at least! But things that sometimes cast an unfortunate shadow over traveling: tummy troubles, feeling anxious, guilt over lack of exercise-- don’t have to be the case. Tips for keeping the health goals and ‘happy feels’ going while having a great trip: -Find accommodation within walking distance to various places. -Pack healthy snacks and/or i.d. grocery stores/markets nearby (+ save money!) You can find some of my go-tos here. -Google terms like ‘healthy restaurants’ or ‘local cafes’ and see what you may find off the beaten path with healthier and/or unique offerings. -Always have a bag/backpack big enough for a water bottle (or two) and a snack. Dehydration = cranky, low energy, and overall not-so-good. Additionally, salty restaurant foods and alcohol are dehydrators. Drink your water as often as possible. This is a huge helper while traveling (and every other day!). -Additionally, I find Nuun tablets to be life savers when out and about for long periods of time. Electrolyte tabs that you put in your water that help with energy levels and that ‘hangry’ feeling. -Make a treat out of your morning coffee or smoothie by walking to a small business (when plausible). We love doing this. An inexpensive way to change up the morning, explore, and shop local. -10 minutes first thing goes a long way: Don’t have time for a big workout? Do 10 minutes of something-- a yoga flow, some Pilates, jumping up and down, running around the block, anything! I recommend doing this first thing as the rest of the day can certainly end up going in any which way when on vacation. -If you could use a break from the rest of your travel companions (hey, it happens), check out local active options. Beach yoga, walking tours, hikes, a bootcamp class in a studio you can’t find near your home, etc. -Get your partner in on it. Who is traveling with you? Encourage each other to go for a long walk to explore, a run through the place you are visiting, or packing a soccer ball and kicking it around in a nearby park. Our favorite way to explore new places is on foot-- walk, run, or even bike! What tips do you have for staying well while traveling? Let me know by tagging me on Instagram @be.bykate I look forward to hearing about your adventures! Kate   Devoting one’s life to helping others is a most incredible feat. And it takes on a different level when the root of this decision comes from a personal tragedy. Today’s guest, Terrie Magro, had two healthy sons, both of whom were diagnosed with different cancers during childhood, one passing away just eight weeks after being diagnosed. Terrie and her husband Paul chose to honor their son’s legacy, creating the Michael Magro Foundation, to help other families going through similar experiences. I am absolutely honored she agreed to chat with me, and what her family has created is truly astounding. The Magro family is an incredible example of living the idea that anyone can make a difference if they try--and they go above and beyond. Listen to fill your heart, to find new ways to help your community, and to be inspired by this remarkable family. The Mission of the Michael Magro Foundation, from their website: - Better the lives of children with cancer, pediatric cancer survivors, and their families as well as other chronic pediatric illnesses by helping these families meet the complex issues of care. - Touch thousands of lives by educating patients, families, teachers, physicians, and communities about the intricacies of pediatric cancer care and long-term treatment effects - Enhance the health and well being of our pediatric patients through a family-centered approach. - Bring people together to raise funds and awareness for children with cancer and other chronic illnesses. You can find out more as well as donate to the Michael Magro Foundation here: michaelmagrofoundation.com Instagram: @michaelmagrofoundation We need all the good news we can get. This brings me to Some (More) Good News, featuring mini interviews with people following passions, even if that means leaving behind a potentially more comfortable career path, and helping others along the way. (Shout-out to #JohnKrasinski for inspiring this whole thing in the first place!) S(M)GN episodes released each Friday. Follow @positively_kate for more. Have stories of #goodnews you know should be shared? Send me a message!
There is so much to write about today’s guest that I have restarted this intro many times. You really just need to listen and hear and feel all the positive vibes yourself! Since first walking into his classroom at Broadway Dance Center here in NYC, I knew I would be a fan of Jim Cooney. He has an energy that is a rare mix of welcoming and energizing but also grounded and professional-- all of that at once. Beyond learning steps, he delves deep into your why, showing up for yourself, centering yourself, and so much more, while challenging his students with such a variety of styles of dance. While he is an incredible (and award-winning) choreographer and director, he goes further, with a strong business mindset and belief in the abilities of all those he encounters. He took these skills, as well as a clear passion for helping people strive toward their greatest potential, beyond the physical classroom/stage, creating Amplified Artists, a platform for artists with a mission to create abundance and a bountiful life. Jim tells me so much more about this platform, actionable tips regarding being clear on who you are, what you are presenting, the importance of keeping it simple, and that yes, we all absolutely should be embracing our unique, varied backgrounds. Jim Cooney: www.jimcooney.me/blog Instagram & Twitter: @jimcooneynyc “Amplified Artists is a membership community for those working in the performing arts. The mission is to create abundance in the type of art you make, but more importantly, to build a bountiful life. We do this by integrating our artistry with our money and health, which streamlines our efforts and creates a bigger, more fulfilling impact.” Find out more at www.AmplifiedArtists.life Jim's photos from his website, by @jjignotzphotography We need all the good news we can get. This brings me to Some (More) Good News, featuring mini interviews with people following their passions, even if that means leaving behind a potentially more comfortable career path, and making people feel better along the way. (Shout-out to John Krasinski for inspiring this whole thing in the first place!) S(M)GN episodes released each Friday. Follow @positively_kate for more. Have stories of good news you know should be shared? Send me a message!  Wanted to write to you tonight after a day that...just didn’t feel super. Was it good? Definitely. The sun was shining, the weather was in the 60s, I was able to check items off the to-do list, etc. I am healthy and safe. But there were also elements overshadowing the good and trying to take the day in a downward spiral. Nothing life-altering, I just mean that kind of day where you wake up extra tired, you feel scattered, I ate poorly and constantly snacked, didn’t get the planned workout in, procrastinated… Ever have a day like that? But I am not writing to highlight this so much as to mention what I showed the world: If you are reading this right away, check my Instagram story. Daffodils, my smiling face (well smiling eyes and a mask), and a budding tree along the Hudson River. The excess snacking? No photos of food. The tired eyes? Nope. Social media is curated. Sure, some people like to show all sorts of aspects of their lives. We are all different people, and we all have varying thoughts on what to share. Some don’t share anything at all! Each individual gets to create his/her own public/friend-facing world. But it is hard to remember sometimes that that photo you see of the family in a ‘perfect’ setting with a ‘perfect’ pose is a moment that has been planned and directed. The flawless makeup-ed woman overlooking the beach isn’t telling you about the hours it took to make that look, nor what she sacrificed to get to that moment. The announcement of a friend’s huge business deal didn't just happen overnight, but what months or years of sweat and tears are we not seeing? It is important for our mental health to remember that social media is a way to share our lives, but it is thought out, filtered, captioned, planned, you can continue the list however you’d like. It is too easy to fall into the “her life looks so much better” trap, isn’t it? Just a reminder. We can all use those sometimes, right? Not a single human on this earth is perfect, or anywhere near. Technology is a blessing in many ways but also a detriment. The more we use those critical thinking skills we learned back in high school (well, at least the Phillipsburg High School English department loved to emphasize these skills that I did not realize would become such a part of my life…anyone else?), the more we are prepared for the deluge of content facing us everyday. One more tie-in to today: Since finding myself getting in my head with things this evening, I made the choice for the rest of the night to feel better than the earlier part of the day. We have a choice, and mindset is a powerful tool. I took a way-too-hot shower, did a face mask, put on my cutest and coziest pj pants, lit the lavender candle, and am writing to you :) Simple things-- but aren’t those the ones that make such a difference day-to-day? So if anyone is finding your day spiraling, I hope that you take a moment and see what the rest of the day could look like. Some changes are much easier than others, and some situations are indeed out of our control. But when you can change the outlook, do. It doesn’t have to be major. Cheers to candles and cozy pants with big band jazz playing along… Kate Annie Trinkle is the Founder and Executive Director of Animal Alliance . She took the risk in following her passion to help animals, leaving her corporate job in NYC, and ended up forming one of the largest private animal shelters in the state of New Jersey. She has an incredible team with her helping thousands of animals each year and says she has “the best job in the world”. I love her comments on creating a structure using your business sense, but then using your heart to lead you. And I was shocked to learn that she was once scared of dogs-- Talk about a turn of events! I was blessed to meet Annie through adopting Lucy back in 2002, then Linus a few years later. The two rescue dogs brought so much happiness to my family. We need all the good news we can get. In trying to do my part in keeping spirits inspired, S(M)GN is back. This time, with mini interviews about people following their passions, even if that means leaving behind a potentially more comfortable career path, and making people feel better along the way. (Shout-out to John Krasinski for inspiring this whole thing in the first place!) S(M)GN episodes released each Friday. Have stories of good news you know should be shared? Send me a message! @positively_kate |
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