Category Archives: Episodes

Linda Driscoll -055

February 5, 2019EpisodesDan Thibeault

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Meet a woman who has made it her life’s work to give. Linda Driscoll has spent her career in leadership roles for organizations like the American Red Cross, Women’s Sports Foundation, the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation, and the Special Olympics. She has also served as Past President of the Board of Directors for the New England Women’s Fund and on the NCAA Boston organizing committee for the Women’s Final Four. And if you see a pattern here, you are correct. Playing sports shaped Linda’s life and she wants to make sure that every girl gets the chance to play sports, too…even if her family can’t afford it. She is the Founder, President & CEO of Dream BIG! a non-profit that provides equipment, athletic footwear, uniforms, program fees, training expenses, and leadership training to girls and young women in low-income situations who want to play sports. Since 2010, Dream BIG! has directly impacted 35,000 girls. Linda’s idea for a non-profit, originally written on a napkin during a conversation in a restaurant is now an example to the world. @LindaDriscoll @Dreambigld #storybehindhersuccess #16LifeLessons #mydoveproductions

Julie Freeman -054

January 28, 2019EpisodesDan Thibeault

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Meet a woman who believes that during the toughest times in our lives, there is learning, there is growth and there is always hope. I have known Julie Freeman for nearly 20 years and although I heard bits and pieces of her story, I never really knew the extent of it until we sat down for this interview in Palm Springs, California: 3000 miles away from where we first met in Wellesley, Massachusetts. A gifted singer at St. John’s Church, Julie sang like an angel, yet something told me that she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. And she did. Her book Sunflowers, Sapphires & Seraphim: A Story of Healing & Transformation chronicles a life that has been both devastating and triumphant. From an abusive first marriage to the tragic loss of her second husband to a brain injury to single motherhood, a cancer diagnosis and a nervous breakdown for one of her daughters, Julie Freeman is a survivor in the truest sense of the word. Her transformative work as a registered dietician with a focus on eating clean and organic, combined with an understanding of the mind/body connection has fueled another exciting new chapter in her life. Julie is blazing a new trail by blending her nutrition knowledge with the idea of reducing toxin exposure so that we can lower cancer rates and live healthier lives. For this exceptional woman, the road less traveled has led her to exactly where she knows she belongs. juliefreeman.net @feelgreatlookgreatnutrition #storybehindhersuccess #16LifeLessons #mydoveproductions

Amanda Carr -053

January 21, 2019EpisodesDan Thibeault

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When I sing, I am in pure bliss and joy.

These are the words of singer, songwriter, musician, and philanthropist Amanda Carr. Described by the Wall Street Journal as “a true jazz singer in a time of wannabes”, Amanda’s path from the little seaside town of Hingham, MA to stages around the world has not been easy. Her passion to create a life that has always been about and for the music is an inspiration to everyone who knows her. The daughter of a Big Band musician and singer, Amanda can’t remember a time when music wasn’t a part of her life. In this interview, she shares stories of her childhood, remembering a time when she carried her keyboard to the local restaurant and nailed her first gig at 14. As the founder of the American Big Band Preservation Society, Amanda’s mission has been to preserve this art form. Shortly after the Boston Marathon Bombings in 2013, Amanda captured the unbreakable spirit of the city when she wrote The Boston Anthem, tapping Boston rocker Charlie Farren to perform the song. Now the Executive Director of WICN radio, the NPR affiliate in Worcester, MA, Amanda is using her love music and her unique brand of leadership to energize the legendary station. For this exceptional woman, it’s the lessons we take with us that make us who we are. amandacarr.com @amandacarrlife @AmandaCarrMusic @AmandaCarrMusic FB #storybehindhersuccess #16LifeLessons #mydoveproductions

Elise Bates -052

January 15, 2019EpisodesDan Thibeault

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Are you the mother of a child with a food allergy? If you are, this episode is for you. The statistics are astounding but true: 1 in 12 children in the United States has a severe food allergy. What was once rare is now commonplace, yet the constant worry food allergy parents endure can be overwhelming, because when their children are out of their sight, they are vulnerable to foods that can kill them. So, what’s a mother to do? Meet Elise Bates, President & Co-Founder of Ending Allergies Together, aka EAT. Her non-profit has raised 1.7 million dollars to find out why food allergies are on the rise and what we can do to stop the epidemic. Hear Elise’s story and be informed AND inspired. #storybehindhersuccess #16LifeLessons #mydoveproductions @endallergiestogether @EndAllergies @EndAllergiesTogether

Kerry Brett -051

January 7, 2019EpisodesDan Thibeault

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Do you like having your picture taken? If the answer is no, you are not alone. Enter award-winning portrait photographer Kerry Brett. When she takes your picture, her goal is simple: to make you feel so comfortable, you forget that there is a camera in your face! The daughter of legendary Boston Globe photographer Bill Brett, Kerry grew up watching her father tell stories with his camera. A single mom with a work ethic that mirrors her father’s, Kerry has worked tirelessly to establish her own style and a client list that includes superstar athletes, A-listers and everyday people. Her keen eye, creative spark and open heart are what truly set her apart. A Master Photographer and staff photographer for The Improper Bostonian, Kerry’s distinctive portraits have graced countless magazine covers. It is fair to say that Kerry Brett aims for your face and captures your soul. #storybehindhersuccess #16LifeLessons #mydoveproductions @candyoterry @kerrybrettlifestyleportraits @kerry_brett

Dawn Schottlandt -050

December 30, 2018EpisodesDan Thibeault

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If you want to kick off 2019 with a dose of inspiration, take a listen to this episode, featuring marathoner and MS survivor Dawn Schottlandt. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1999 at only 23, the New Year marks this exceptional woman’s 20th anniversary as a survivor. Dawn fell in love with running because it empowered her to keep on going, even though she was confused, angry and scared. Doctors warned her about all the things she shouldn’t do, and Dawn made it her mission to do the things that brought her joy and running was at the top of her list. So far, she has run 15 marathons, including the World Majors, dozens of half marathons and lots of local 5ks. When her MS progressed in 2015, Dawn experienced something called “drop foot” and had to teach herself how to run all over again through the use of a carbon fiber AFO. This year, she will return to Ireland to run the Dublin Marathon again and her secret wish is to see another rainbow at the end of the finish line, just like she did in 2005. We all experience roadblocks in our lives, but it is how you deal with them that matters. Dawn’s words of wisdom can be found on her popular blog: www.inmyrunningshoes.com where she says: Be active, fear nothing, and turn obstacles into opportunities. #storybehindhersuccess #16LifeLessons #mydoveproductions @candyoterry #ICanIWill #ICouldIDid #OutRunMS.

Alyssa Nelson-Kamalu -049

December 18, 2018EpisodesDan Thibeault

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When we share our stories, we pass along something that is so precious its value cannot be measured. Do you know what that is? Wisdom. When Alyssa Nelson-Kamalu heard the words “you have breast cancer” she was far from being wise. After all, she had only been on this earth for 28 years. Married to her college sweetheart, the mother of a toddler, a victim advocate for the state of Massachusetts, and a brand new homeowner, Alyssa’s life came to a screeching halt. She was terrified. Alyssa wasn’t thinking about herself, she was thinking about her baby girl growing up without a mother. One year later, Alyssa shares what her journey was like as well as what advice she might give to a young woman faced with a similar diagnosis. This is a story about fear and courage, dread and hope, perseverance and success. Alyssa has made it through surgery, chemo, and radiation. This wise young woman’s views on life, love, parenting, and what really matters will inspire you. #storybehindhersuccess #16LifeLessons #mydoveproductions @candyoterry

Leslie Musser -048

December 10, 2018EpisodesDan Thibeault

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When Leslie Musser gave birth to her son, Colton, she thought about his soft, newborn skin, and decided she would do everything she could to keep that skin away from fabrics that had been treated with pesticides. That’s when she discovered how hard affordable, organic children’s clothing was to find. Once a PR and events pro, Leslie had an idea: to create her own children’s clothing line, made from cotton grown in the United States, without the use of pesticides. Enter: KinderCapsule.com: a line of children’s organic clothing that grows with your child. At the heart of KinderCapsule is a passion to put an end to child sex trafficking by donating a portion of the proceeds from every sale to Operation Underground Railroad which rescues innocent children sold into slavery worldwide. Because you are a loyal listener to this podcast series, take advantage of Leslie’s special discount on her clothing line. Just use promo code CANDYO. @kindercapsule #kinderkids @OURrescue #storybehindhersuccess #16LifeLessons #mydoveproductions

Kate Genovese -047

December 4, 2018EpisodesDan Thibeault

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:05 — 19.8MB) | Embed

The opioid crisis in the United States is shattering the lives of addicts and breaking the hearts of families every day. In this episode of The Story Behind Her Success, we meet Kate Genovese, the mother of a son she called her “golden boy” Christopher “Geno” Genovese. A gifted all-star athlete, Geno experienced 6 serious injuries on the ice as a hockey player and on the football field. These high school and college sports injuries lead to Geno’s addiction to painkillers, fentanyl and finally, heroin. Geno died of an overdose at only 30 and Kate’s journey, as his mother and a lifelong registered nurse, brings light and honesty to an epidemic that knows no bounds. Her book, Hat Tricks From Heaven follows the Genovese family through moments of hope to final heartache. Kate’s loss is eased only by her need to educate other parents by telling her story and finally, to fund a half-way house with proceeds from the sale of this inspiring book. #storybehindhersuccess #16LifeLessons #mydoveproductions

Maria Salomão-Schmidt -046

November 26, 2018EpisodesDan Thibeault

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:04 — 19.8MB) | Embed

We all have stories to tell and that’s what The Story Behind Her Success podcast series is all about. Life has not always been kind to this week’s guest. In fact, she has known the deep grief of losing her baby girl Sophia when she was only 13 months old. This experience “broke her wide open” and that’s where the story begins. Welcome to the reimagined life of Maria Salomão-Schmidt. She is a wife, mother of 5, a Reiki Master, an expert in NLP, EFT, Chakra Balancing and Full Spectrum Healing. A former guest on The Oprah Show, this exceptional woman is the author of the best selling book: Finally Full of Yourself: Unlocking Your Spiritual DNA. But here is my favorite part: for all the pain and loss she has experienced, Maria is a passionate tsunami of love. @coachmemaria #storybehindhersuccess #16LifeLessons #mydoveproductions

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