Gap to Great

Turning the One Man Variety Show Into a Modern Day Career

“Do it. If you’re thinking about it and you’ve probably taken some steps, then just jump in and do it. The first step is the hardest one but once you start, the momentum of starting is so powerful.” Chris Ruggiero hosts a one man variety show where he does things like circus tricks, juggling and magic, all set to modern pop music. Last year, his always-evolving show caught the eye of none other than Ellen Degeneres, who brought him on her show and deemed him “epic.” Chris is also the author of "Just Go", a motivational book that encourages people to stop thinking and just start. I talked to him about getting the call from Ellen, how he got into entertaining and his advice for anyone, in any industry, for taking that scary first step. Full show notes available: andreawien.com/chris [andreawien.com/chris]

Road Schooling, Medical Tourism and Nomadic Family Life

"I don't think the goal for us is to live an easy life.” A few years ago, Paul Kortman and his wife had a radical idea. What if they sold their house in Michigan, packed up their family and became nomadic? While a lot of people probably have this pipe dream, the Kortmans actually did it. In fact, they’ve been living on the road since 2014 and their first stops included SE Asia, South Africa and parts of Europe. Now, this family of six, plus a dog, are roadtripping their way through Mexico, Central America and Ecuador in an RV. On this show, I talk to Paul about how the kids make friends, the family’s view on school and how they’ve used medical tourism to their advantage. Full show notes available: andreawien.com/kortmans [andreawien.com/kortmans]

Chasing Adventure, The Barbecue Trail and Growing Up In The South with Author Rien Fertel

"There's a responsibility any historian has to history: you have to get it right.” Rien Fertel is a historian and author originally from Lafayette, LA. In 2012, he hit the road with photographer Denny Culbert to capture the essence of BBQ in the south . Now, he’s turned that research into a new book, recently released by Simon + Schuster, called  “The One True Barbecue: Fire, Smoke, and the Pitmasters Who Cook The WHole Hog.” Rien’s work has also been featured in Saveur Magazine, Southern Living and The Local Palate, among others. Our conversation kind of hops around, from Rien’s time growing up in the kitchens of Louisiana, to why he attended grad school and why an unlikely contender is his favorite food city. Full show notes available: andreawien.com/rien-fertel [andreawien.com/rien-fertel]

How Far Would You Go To Make Your Dreams Come True?

Abria Mattina and Dan Fachin live in Ottawa, Ontario, and for the last year, they’ve taken some great strides to make their dreams come true. After realizing that the schedule around their corporate jobs wasn’t going to allow them to write and publish a novel, they quit. But that’s not it. Soon after leaving corporate, they also went nocturnal — that is, sleeping while everyone else was awake, and working while everyone was fast asleep. Sometimes, it takes an inconvenient feat to accomplish your goals — but Dan and Abria show that it’s possible with enough dedication and hard work. Full show notes: andreawien.com/abria-dan [andreawien.com/abria-dan]

Changing the World, Bridge Years and Global Citizens with Abby Falik

Abby Falik is the founder of Global Citizen Year, a company with lofty goals to build the next generation of global leaders through their innovative bridge year program. Abby says she’s had the idea for Global Citizen Year since high school, but she’s still taken plenty of twists and turns in her journey.   Abby’s work with Global Citizen Year has also been featured in publications including Fast Company, NPR, Forbes and the NY Times.   In this chat, we talk about what success looks like for Global Citizen Year, how to implement the teachings of the program if you’re out of high school or college, and the future of education through Abby’s eyes.    Full show notes: andreawien.com/abby-falik [andreawien.com/abby-falik]