Be Significant

Michelle Calcagni was the Head of Communications for Honeywell Aerospace and US Foods for the better part of 15 years before putting on her consulting hat and founding the PhoneBox Group where she works with global firms helping them engage a larger audience while driving business results. As amazing of an international career she has had, we simply found her joyfully inspiring and motivating. She has lived the life we could all dream of building and developing teams in in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India helping develop multi-billion dollar industries creating strategies for her clients in the areas of analytics, crisis response, marketing and operations excellence...just to name a few. We found her ideas on "intelligent risk taking" and "adaptability" while giving her teams and clients a "permission to fail" profoundly insightful. Her ability to consistently put herself in uncomfortable positions to be a constant change agent is truly awe-inspiring. Whether you are a corporate leader, a blue-collar worker or a parent, you will walk away from our talk with a plethora of nuggets of gold. We guarantee you that the conversation will leave you asking, "Is your mindset that of abundance or scarcity?" Let us know how you wrapped your brain around that question. We are still talking about it days later! Enjoy! Learn more about Michelle Calcagni here: ⁠ The PhoneBox Group: https://phoneboxgroup.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleacalcagni/ Thank you for supporting the Be Significant Podcast. We encourage you to Subscribe and Like us on Apple and/or Spotify. Please forward any questions or comments to Beth and Matt at ⁠besignificant4U@gmail.com⁠.

Amanda Rogers is the Director of the Caritas Clemency Clinic at Villanova University in the Charles Widger School of Law. As a veteran public defender, Amanda has become a sought after professor after graduating from the University of California Berkeley Law School. She has been teaching and guest lecturing at some of the top law schools in the country including Villanova, Georgetown, and Harvard. As the Director of the Caritas Clemency Clinic, Amanda and her students take on real cases of incarcerated individuals who cannot afford even the basic legal support and direction. In our conversation, Amanda opened our eyes to the injustices that have become an epidemic in our country. We are so thankful to learn that Amanda and her students are fighting for those who need it and deserve it most. It was a fascinating and profound conversation that we will not soon forget. We hope our discussion motivates you as much as it inspired us! Learn more about Amanda Rogers here: https://www1.villanova.edu/university/law/faculty-scholarship/faculty-directory/profiles/AmandaRogers.html Thank you for supporting the Be Significant Podcast. We encourage you to Subscribe and Like us on Apple and/or Spotify. Please forward any questions or comments to Beth and Matt at besignificant4U@gmail.com.

This week on Be Significant, we have a very special guest: Craig Robinson, the Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for NBCUniversal. Join us as we delve into Craig's leadership in Comcast's $100 million commitment to fight against injustice and inequality. We'll explore his efforts to drive meaningful change, his passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how he's expanding the culture within his organization. But that's not all – we also dive into Craig's personal journey and the impactful advice he's received and shares with others. It's an episode packed with inspiration and actionable insights. Want to learn more about Craig Robinson and his incredible work, you can find it here: https://www.nbcuniversal.com/leadership/craig-robinson. Don't miss this insightful conversation with a leader dedicated to making a difference. Tune in to Be Significant on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and be sure to share your thoughts with us at BeSignificant4U@gmail.com. You won't want to miss it!

Coming up on this week's episode of Be Significant, we have a remarkable guest joining us: Caryn Bird, the founder of Win With Hypnosis clinic in Burlington, Wisconsin. Caryn is not only a leading Peak Performance Mindset Coach in the Chicago Tri-state area, but also an international hypnosis speaker and trainer. From a young age, Caryn had a passion for mental health and inspiring others to discover their true, authentic selves. Along her journey, she earned a Psychology degree and established Win With Hypnosis, where she has successfully treated over 2,000 athletes and high performers. Known as the 'Game Changer Trainer', Caryn has the unique ability to cultivate high performers with a mental edge. Join us as we delve into her meaningful story, filled with heartache and joy. To learn more about Caryn and her incredible work, visit https://winwithhypnosis.com/. Don't miss this inspiring conversation. Tune in to Be Significant on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and be sure to share your thoughts with us at BeSignificant4U@gmail.com.

We loved the idea of a Paradigm Twist that Kate McCaffrey brought to this week's podcast. The idea of looking at the status quo and saying "how can we do this differently?" is the founding principle of Kate's consulting and 30 years of leadership. Kate is the Principal and Founder at Paradigm Twist Coaching and Consulting where she provides executive coaching and organizational consulting in the areas of personal and management leadership development, change management, change readiness, strategic planning, program launch and implementation. She is a certified executive coach, change leader, and DiSC practitioner. With 3 decades of leadership at the college and university levels, Kate now helps educational and corporate leaders and teams achieve their best skills, create healthy and innovative cultures, and navigate change with confidence and clarity. You can learn more about Kate and Paradigm Twist here: https://twistyourparadigm.com/ Tune in to the Be Significant Podcast on Apple and Spotify, and hit that subscribe or follow button today to stay inspired and motivated. Don't forget to send your questions and comments to besignificant4U@gmail.com. Your voice matters!

Happy New Year! In our first episode of the year, Matt and Beth wanted to take a look back and reflect on the great guests they had and what they both learned along the way. What an amazing ride. We hope you enjoy our favorite moments! Tune in to the Be Significant Podcast on Apple and Spotify, and hit that subscribe or follow button today to stay inspired and motivated. Don't forget to send your questions and comments to besignificant4U@gmail.com. Your voice matters!

Step into a musical time machine with Matt and Beth on this week's episode of the Be Significant Podcast. Get ready to be transported back in time as they dive into their favorite songs, artists, and albums over the years. Join them as they not only discuss the songs they love, but also the emotions they evoke and the meaningful moments associated with them. But that's not all! In a previous episode, they had a blast breaking down their favorite films, and now they want to hear from you. Did they miss any movies? Did they get it wrong? Your feedback is crucial! Tune in to the Be Significant Podcast on Apple and Spotify, and hit that subscribe or follow button today to stay inspired and motivated. Don't forget to send your questions and comments to besignificant4U@gmail.com. Your voice matters!

We love movies at the Be Significant Podcast, so what a great way to wrap up the year with an episode filled with Beth and Matt's favorite movies. Yes, we are talking holiday movies, but also we shared our all-time favorites and some movies we think should be classics that most people don't know about. We had a blast breaking down our favorite films. We'd love to hear your feedback on the movies we missed or where we went wrong! We want your feedback!!! Tune in to the Be Significant Podcast on Apple and Spotify and subscribe or follow today to stay inspired and motivated. Please send any questions or comments to besignificant4U@gmail.com.

Matt Rogers is not only an amazing friend and co-host on Be Significant, but he's also an amazing coach. Matt has helped guide over 4000 families through the college recruiting process by teaching student-athletes become the CEO of their journey. In this week's episode, Beth puts Matt on the hot seat! If you're interested, in learning more about Matt and how he can support you go to (https://www.significantcoaching.net/). You can also buy his new book "Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes" here: https://bit.ly/Matt-Rogers-Significant-Recruiting-Amazon As always, we thank you for listening. Please continue to provide us feedback and ideas by emailing us at BeSignificant4U@gmail.com. Don't forget to follow or subscribe to Be Significant on Apple or Spotify.

As a part of our Be Significant Podcast Holiday Episodes, Matt interviewed his favorite co-host, Beth Cook, and we had a lot of fun. Beth is an accomplished and results-oriented leader with an impressive career spanning over 25 years. She has garnered extensive experience working with domestic and global organizations, encompassing both private and public sectors, across diverse industries including private equity-backed ventures. Beth specializes in collaborating with CEOs and their C-Suite teams as a Fractional Chief People Officer, delivering impactful solutions. Beth has worked across industry lines for industry giants in the marketplace such as Mayer Brown LLP, BP, and Honeywell.  She's also supported smaller, investment backed, organizations at the cusp of meeting their next event / business objective on their growth journey. As an ADEPT certified executive coach, Beth excels in supporting the development of executive teams, individuals, and people leaders at all organizational levels. Her expertise lies in cultivating high-performing cultures worldwide, having worked in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Beth is recognized for her ability to leverage progressive human resources practices to enhance talent attraction, employee engagement and retention, talent development, leadership effectiveness, and performance management within organizations. Furthermore, Beth has made significant contributions in fostering inclusive environments and championing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives in corporate settings. She has designed and facilitated leadership programs targeted at underrepresented talent, ensuring robust and diverse succession plans while advancing these valuable individuals within the organization. As a result, her efforts have led to improved retention rates, enhanced diversity metrics, and a focus on cultivating diverse leadership teams at the highest levels. Beth's strategic acumen extends to organizational design, change management, and guiding M&A efforts, while focusing on culture integration post due diligence. With a continuous improvement and data-driven mindset, she identifies opportunities for organizational growth and optimization, enabling companies to thrive in both stable and challenging economic cycles. Beth's educational background includes receiving her Bachelors degree at Coe College with a double major in Business and Psychology and has obtained both her PHR and SHRM-CP.  She was born in Denver, CO and now currently resides in Chicago, IL. Outside of her professional endeavors, Beth indulges in her passion for skiing, hiking, and traveling, relishing the opportunity to meet new people and enjoy enriching experiences along her journeys. Tune in to the Be Significant Podcast on Apple and Spotify and subscribe or follow today to stay inspired and motivated. Please send any questions or comments to besignificant4U@gmail.com.

In this week's Be Significant Podcast, we had the pleasure of talking to Davin Youngs. Davin is a true musical innovator. He believes wholeheartedly in the transformational power of singing, voice and sound. (https://www.davinyoungs.com/about) Davin has dedicated his life's work to using his voice to help others step into the power of their own. He is the creator of The RESET, an immersive sound experience where he relies heavily on his improvisational singing, looping and sound healing instruments to create a sonic container for restoration, discovery and healing. He has brought The RESET to iconic spaces like Chicago's famed Orchestra Hall, the roof at the Ace Hotel and Arcosanti in the Arizona desert.  Enjoy! Tune in to the Be Significant Podcast on Apple and Spotify and subscribe or follow today to stay inspired and motivated. Please send any questions or comments to besignificant4U@gmail.com.

How many of us have had a nagging shoulder, back or knee pain that just never seemed to go away? Maybe you are that person that spends 8 hours per day, 5 days per week typing or using the same muscles over and over again, and you deal with the same soreness day-in and day-out with medication and an ever-growing pain tolerance. Dr. Delaine Fowler, a 20+ year career Physical Therapist and a recognized expert in the Work Health Connection, sat down with us this week to explain how most of these problems can be corrected with proper care and a simple re-evaluation of the cause of the problem. Physical Therapy? Acupuncture? Dry-needling? Cupping? Dr. Fowler addressed them all with us and talked us through the practical approach to a healthier and pain-free lifestyle. Enjoy! Learn more about Dr. Fowler at https://accelerate-pt.com/. Tune in to the Be Significant Podcast on Apple and Spotify and subscribe or follow today to stay inspired and motivated. Please send any questions or comments to besignificant4U@gmail.com.

If we all were a little bit more like Jessica Housley, we are confident the world would be a happier and healthier place for all. Jessica's big heart and generosity led her to begin leaving bouquets of flowers all over Chicago during the Covid epidemic with a note of kindness for anyone who happened upon them. This compassionate gesture quickly became a viral sensation across the country. We were thrilled to hear her story and share it all with you! To learn more about Jessica, you can find her on Instagram: @withlove_chicago or at her websites: www.withlovechicago.org AND www.bloomjoyorganizing.com Tune in to the Be Significant Podcast on Apple and Spotify and subscribe or follow today to stay inspired and motivated. We value your feedback at besignificant4U@gmail.com—your support means the world to us!

We feel the same way about our “Be Significant” guests as parents do when someone asks if they have a favorite child.  We love them all equally and are thankful for their contribution to their respective communities and thankful for their time and conversation.  This week’s guest is no different in terms of how we feel about her, but we just can’t imagine having more fun talking to someone than the joy we took from learning, debating and laughing with Ms. Silvia Li.  When you find out that this native of Hong Kong has a research-driven degree from Johns Hopkins and her company BrainSells focuses on neuro-leadership and business sales, you may think this conversation would be a snooze-fest.  You would be terribly wrong. Silvia is the type of person you want to get stuck in a corner with at a party you don’t want to be at.  She will keep you laughing, thinking and loving every second you're together, and the time will fly by so fast that you will wish you could just keep going until the morning light.   This is the episode that you will want to hop on that treadmill or turn up the volume in your car and enjoy! Tune in to the Be Significant Podcast on Apple and Spotify and subscribe or follow today to stay inspired and motivated. We value your feedback at besignificant4U@gmail.com—your support means the world to us!

Do you ever feel like you're just going through the motions, and you are unsure how to step off the never-ending merry-go-round of life? In this week's podcast of Be Significant, we had the pleasure of talking to Jason Ballard, CEO of Primetime Elevation, about his passion for helping others get past their personal obstacles and rejuvenate their lives and careers. After getting the opportunity to speak in front of a room of hungry Wall Street execs looking for keys to the next big idea, Jason realized his passion for coaching and motivating others to be better. He soon left Wall Street to build his own company, Primetime Elevation. He now spends his days transforming lives and organizations into becoming the best versions of themselves.  He specializes in helping people, teams, and companies separate themselves by how empowering them to be more efficient and productive. In his ground-breaking new book, GAME PLAN - Conquer The 24, he shares his experience as a successful former NCAA Division I student-athlete who graduated Cum Laude from the University of Miami and then became a Wall Street superstar with a remarkable track record of turning a failing broker-dealer firm into a billion-dollar powerhouse in just 10 years. From his unique experiences, Ballard has developed a formula that empowers you to create a more harmonious work-life balance while achieving sustainable peak performance. We know you will enjoy learning about and from Jason as much as we did! You can learn more about Jason and Primetime Elevation here: https://primetimeelevation.com/ Tune in to the Be Significant Podcast on Apple and Spotify and subscribe or follow today to stay inspired and motivated. We value your feedback at besignificant4U@gmail.com—your support means the world to us!

It is often the case on the Be Significant Podcast that we talk to individuals who have found their passion later in life. Join us this week as we explore the inspiring journey of Nicki Monson, a woman who discovered her love for running later in life and went on to conquer the renowned Chicago and Boston marathons. With the guidance of a personal running coach, Nicki was motivated to share her inspiration with others along the way. Her story is truly captivating. Nicki, having always been a champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion and ensuring she is balancing work and family, remains focused on advocating for flexibility and work-life balance. As a passionate coach, she empowers women through running, helping them find their voice, build confidence, and achieve the ultimate balance. As the VP of Finance for Stenograph and the founder of her own coaching business, Nicki's inclusive leadership style shines both professionally and as a coach. Don't miss out on this incredible journey of self-discovery, female empowerment, and personal growth. Tune in to the Be Significant Podcast on Apple and Spotify and subscribe or follow today to stay inspired and motivated. We value your feedback at besignificant4U@gmail.com—your support means the world to us!

The courage of Bill Schalk was evident even at the ripe age of 18. In 1962, Bill and group of 11 classmates from Coe College saw the horrific news of hate-filled segregation and racism in the South, and they decided they were not going to sit on their hands and do nothing. They hopped in cars and drove to Mississippi to spend two weeks demonstrating to the black and white community that not all white faces agreed with the ugly nature of human bigotry and oppression. They lived on Tougaloo Southern Christian College campus, a historically black college, where they worked and learned from students as well as civil rights leaders about the true challenges that faced integration and equal rights. Bill and seven of his classmates who were a part of this experience wrote the book "Even Our Friendship Was Illegal" to share with the world what they experienced and learned from their journey. In this week's episode, we interview Bill Schalk about this experience. Bill Schalk, a Chicago native, earned his bachelor’s degree from Coe in 1965, majoring in political science. After graduation, Bill joined the U.S. Navy and went to flight school in Pensacola, Florida. He was a naval flight officer who made seven aircraft carrier deployments, including two combat deployments to Vietnam, and one as an exchange officer with the Royal Navy in Scotland. He was a career naval officer, retiring in 1986 with the rank of commander. Bill then attended Marquette University Law School where he graduated in 1989. He served Racine County as an assistant district attorney until his retirement in 1997. During this period, Bill prosecuted several thousand cases and took several hundred to trial. After retiring, Bill was elected to the Racine Unified School District Board of Education in Racine, Wisconsin. During his nine years on the Board, he served as president, vice president and treasurer helping to fight for underprivileged kids and working to create an equitable education for all students and families. Bill has truly lived a significant life, and we were honored to hear his stories and advice for future generations. Enjoy! As always, please keep your ideas and feedback coming by writing us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠besignificant4U@gmail.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠  Don't forget to subscribe or follow "Be Significant" on Apple or Spotify platforms and if you enjoy it please give us a positive rating.

Christine Hawkinson is the author of the book, 50 Year in the Bleachers:  What Modern Sports Parents Can Learn from a Title IX Pioneer. She was one of the first females to play sports at her high school in Lena, Il after the passing of Title IX. Her father, a high school basketball coach and school principal, was instrumental in teaching that girls and boys deserved equal opportunity. After sitting on the sidelines for the last 40 years as a Head High School Coach's wife and raising her own children, she decided to put all of her observations and the lessons she learned into a book directed at youth parents and coaches. Christine gave us great advice on what parents and youth coaches should be considering to keep their children and athletes from losing the joy for playing their respective sports and staying healthy through their athletic journey. She also gave us a glimpse into what youth sports could and should look like into the future...ideas all school and sports administrators need to hear. Enjoy! She is presently a Senior Communications Writer for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her blog at ChristineHawkinson.com is a must read for parents, coaches, officials and school administrators. Please keep your ideas and feedback coming by writing us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠besignificant4U@gmail.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Don't forget to subscribe to Be Significant on Apple or Spotify platforms.

As the founder and CEO of Untapped Learning, Brandon Slade is on a mission to help students with executive function challenges such as ADHD and dyslexia achieve their academic and personal goals. He has over 10 years of experience as a special education teacher and a school psychologist, and is passionate about the power of mentoring to foster confidence, resilience, and independence in learners. In this week's podcast, Brandon's talked us through his passion for working with parents, teachers, high school and college students, student-athletes and corporate business leaders to help them achieve the highest level of confidence, efficiency and effectiveness in all they do. If you are a parent of a high school or college student or work in the educational system, you won't want to miss our talk with Brandon Slade. Please keep your ideas and feedback coming by writing us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠besignificant4U@gmail.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Don't forget to subscribe to "Be Significant" on Apple or Spotify platforms.

Jerry Petitgoue is “far more than a living legend in Wisconsin high school basketball,” according to the Wisconsin State Assembly when they honored Coach Petitgoue this past June with the Hometown Hero Award after 54 years coaching, teaching, and changing countless young lives for the better at Cuba City High School. After 60+ years on the bench, 1000+ Wins, and 3 State Championships, Coach retired this past year as the winningest coach in Wisconsin State history and one of the winningest basketball coaches in the history of the game. In 2020, at the age of 80, he was still at his best when he was named the Wisconsin Coach of the Year and the National High School Basketball Coach of the Year. He continues to be the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association where he has been changing lives through scholarship for the past 5 decades while helping young people throughout the state get a jump start on their futures. He is a true American icon. He is an amazing husband, father, grandfather, coach, ambassador for the game of basketball and a true hero for those who know him. We were so grateful to have Coach on the podcast this week. His life lessons truly belong in a book for every young coach or parent to read. Enjoy! Please keep your ideas and feedback coming by writing us at ⁠⁠besignificant4U@gmail.com.⁠⁠ We're looking forward to hearing and learning from you along the way. Don't forget to subscribe to "Be Significant" on Apple or Spotify platforms.