C25-17. Nick Marshall “Try Again”

April 28, 2025April 28, 2025Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Choose Positive Living with Sara Troy and her guest Nick Marshall, on air from April 29th

Nick Marshall, New York City-based writer, actor, director, producer and author of the new book, Try Again: An Ex-Con’s Path from Prison to Prosperity. This is about the struggle, hope (both loss of and holding on to), grit and perseverance. It’s a story about working hard and trying again, even when we feel the odds are stacked against us — and about the desire to be a person of humility and integrity.

Nick’s journey back into society has been anything but easy. With a criminal record shadowing his every step, finding steady work and forming new relationships meant constantly confronting and disclosing his past. Despite these barriers, he poured himself into the hospitality industry, relentlessly climbing the ranks until he found himself at the center of New York City’s elite nightlife, working at iconic clubs like Avenue, The Darby, 1OAK, and Up&Down. But the path from suburban New Jersey kid to state prison inmate sentenced for armed robbery taught him hard, humbling lessons. Immersed in the glitz of A-list celebrity culture, Nick eventually lost himself in the illusion, costing him not only his career but his mental health and sense of stability. Through it all, his grounding force has always been storytelling, reading, and writing became his anchors, offering clarity amid chaos. Now pursuing his lifelong dream of being an artist, actor, director, and writer, Nick channels his pain into purpose. He co-founded The Collective NY, a not-for-profit theatre and film company dedicated to the authentic creative expression. His directorial debut, A Long Road, currently in pre-production, reflects his journey, a testament to the resilience, redemption, and the long path to healing. Nick continues to face challenges tied to PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and addiction, but through art, he finds strength, meaning, and a connection.

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Nick Marshall’s story is one of grit, reinvention, and the price of chasing dreams. At just 21, he walked out of prison after serving three years for armed robbery, carrying the weight of his past and the uncertainty of a future as an ex-con. Though he had a steady job, a roof over his head, and the basics for survival, something deeper called to him, his need to create, to express, to be more than his record.

Willing to risk stability for purpose, Nick started at the bottom of the hospitality industry, eventually climbing his way into New York City’s high-end nightlife. From bartending to brand ambassador, he moved through the velvet ropes of celebrity-studded clubs like Avenue, The Darby, 1OAK, and Up&Down. Surrounded by fame, luxury, and endless access, Nick looked like he had made it. But beneath the surface, the fast life took its toll on his mental health, his identity, and the very dream that started it all.

Try Again: An Ex-Con’s Path from Prison to Prosperity is Nick’s raw, inspiring account of rebuilding a life against the odds. It’s about losing everything, more than once, and still choosing to rise. Today, he’s a writer, actor, director, and co-founder of The Collective NY, a not-for-profit theater and film company where he brings stories to life—his own and others’. His journey isn’t just for those who’ve been incarcerated, it’s for anyone who’s ever had to start over, question their worth, or fight to become who they were always meant to be. He is currently in pre-production for his first directorial feature, A Long Road, based on his experience as an ex-convict trying to reintegrate into society, and a scripted series based on his experience in a New Jersey state prison. Try Again is his first book.

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-marshall

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https://vivaeditions.com/book

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Mikki Gaffen Stone.

April 28, 2025April 20, 2025Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

MIkki Gaffen Stone Became A Montessori Assistant Teacher In Belgium To Connect With Her Children’s Education. She Later Pursued Studies In The USA, Becoming A Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. This Ignited A Profound Understanding Of Human Potential, Leading Her To Doctoral Studies. With A Passion For Sharing Knowledge And Raising Her Two Sons As Global Citizens, She’s Dedicated To Sharing Her Insights From Both Life And Academics.

I have been a child advocate since I was a child myself, living in uncertain and frequently unsafe circumstances. I learned early on to gauge people’s moods and anticipate their behaviors in order to know when to hide and when to run to keep myself safe. As I grew older, my sense of justice and a need to protect others became quite fierce. Then I had children. We traveled the world encountering different cultures, learning the norms, rules and restrictions placed on the child and dictating the role of the parent. I intentionally parented my own children differently from my peers and have since made it my mission to help other parents learn ways to do better with their children than they received from their own parents. This is not about blaming anyone for what they cannot help, it’s about cycle breaking.

YOU CAN FIND THIS BOOK AND ALL OF MIKKIS’ INFO AND BOOKS HERE

SHOW ONE. Mikki Gaffen Stone & Science of Behavior Change.

SHOW 2. Mikki and Ehler’s-Danlos Syndrome.

SHOW 4. Aligned & Unapologetic: The Human Design Guidebook

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facebook.com/michaela.stone.

linkedin.com/in/mikki-gaffen-stone

inspiredchoicesnetwork.com/podcast

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TSM25-17. Chiara Barbera, Assaggio Traditions

April 28, 2025April 28, 2025Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Their Story Matters with Sara Troy and her guest Chaiara Barbera, on air from April 29th

The importance of maintaining traditions and celebrating the people who continue them, through recopies from the past.

Chiara Barbera is on a mission to continue Italian traditions. Assaggio is her heartfelt project dedicated to preserving Italian traditions by bringing the warmth, wisdom, and traditions of Italian grandparents (Nonni) to life through engaging online experiences. Born in Brisbane to four Italian grandparents, Chiara was raised on stories and the deep values that define Italian culture. Her grandparents’ courage to leave Italy for a better life laid the foundation for her own path—one that now brings her back to their homeland with a mission to give something meaningful in return. More recently, her work has extended to the motherland with Vera Italia, a platform that offers travellers the chance to engage with Italy’s living heritage through in-person encounters with artisans, farmers, and families. Together, these projects form a love letter to her roots—a calling she believes was guided by faith, and a legacy that she is determined to honour, preserve, and pass on.

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Chiara Barbera is the founder of Vera Italia, a mission-driven platform connecting travelers with the true spirit of Italy through cultural and culinary experiences. Born in Brisbane to four Italian grandparents, Chiara grew up surrounded by stories, recipes, and values deeply rooted in her heritage. Her grandparents’ courage to leave Italy in search of a better life laid the foundation for her own journey—a return to the homeland they once left, with the hope of giving something back.

Now dividing her time between Italy and Australia, Chiara begins this journey in Calabria, Italy’s hidden gem, to connect with the Culture Creators—artisans, farmers, cooks, and families—who keep the spirit of Italy alive. Through Vera Italia, she helps others discover the beauty of these traditions, not only to experience them but to ensure they continue for generations to come.

Her work is a love letter to her roots, a calling she believes was guided by faith, and a legacy that she is determined to honour, preserve, and pass on.

FIND CHIARA’S LAST SHOW ON THE ITALIAN EXPERIENCE HERE

https://experience-assaggio.com

www.veraitalia.it

benvenuto@veraitalia.it

www.facebook.com/VeraItaliaExperience

https://instagram.com/veraitalia

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25.17.The One Drop RIPPLES

April 28, 2025April 28, 2025Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Sara’s View of Life with Sara Troy, on air from April 29th

In a world constantly seeking the grand finale, the big bang, the dramatic pivot, the life-altering moment, we often miss the quiet miracles that live in the in-between. The truth is, it’s not always a thunderous event that changes everything. More often, it’s one small drop a single moment of insight, a gentle word, a quiet act of kindness—that sets a new path in motion. One drop becomes another, and then another, rippling out into something much larger than we could have ever predicted.

The ripple effect begins the moment we choose to be present. It could be a smile shared with a stranger, a pause before reacting harshly, or a thoughtful message to someone who’s hurting. These simple acts, small as they may seem, hold immense power. They shift energies, soften walls, and open doors to connection. They create a rhythm of change, one that moves through hearts, homes, and communities without needing applause.

We look to the world for transformation, hoping institutions, governments, or movements will change everything overnight. But real, sustainable change is personal first. It is born in the whisper of a thought, the weight of a feeling, and the intention behind our actions. Our thoughts are the first drops. Our words carry them outward. Our actions plant them into the soil of the world around us.

It is in the subtleties where the greatest impact lives. Like water shaping stone, consistency in small, mindful choices leaves a lasting mark. Speak to others in the tone you would want to receive. Let your words be an invitation to joy, comfort, or clarity. Think before you speak, not just to avoid harm, but to ensure your voice becomes a balm rather than a blow.

We are all seeking something: peace, meaning, a better way to live. But we don’t find it waiting for someone else to do the work. We find it by becoming the ripple. By embodying the change. We are at the beginning of the wave that can rise and carry others with us.

This is the heart of what I speak to on my shows: the magic of the everyday, the extraordinary within the ordinary. Through the stories of others and reflections of self, we explore how each of us can create meaningful change, not by waiting for the world to shift, but by choosing to drop love, kindness, and purpose into the waters of life.

Join me. Let’s ripple together.

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All of our shows/interviews are done by donation; if you enjoyed this show, please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support. Thank you. Please support Our Forgotten Seniors anthology and help to bring this book to awareness.

C25-17. Ivana Chubbuck. “Power of the Actor”.

April 28, 2025April 28, 2025Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Choose Positive Living with Sara Troy and her guest Ivana Chubbuck, on air from April 29th

Renowned acting teacher and bestselling author Ivana Chubbuck. The updated edition of her book, THE POWER OF THE ACTOR(Avery/Penguin Random House), was published on April 29th. Ivana speaks to anyone who is serious about overcoming hurdles, hardships, and inner demons to achieve their goals. Ivana will share with your listeners tools and exercises to turn conflicts, traumas, insecurities, fears and shame into positive forces to fuel achievement, with a focus on winning.

What do Halle Berry, Beyoncé, Gal Gadot, Charlize Theron, Brad Pitt, Sylvester Stallone, Eva Mendes and Shia LaBeouf have in common besides fame and fortune? They can all credit a significant part of their skills to acting teacher Ivana Chubbuck.

THE POWER OF THE ACTOR is a revolutionary guide that unlocks the secrets of her transformative Chubbuck Technique. In addition to star-studded stories, The Power of the Actor offers a panoramic map for anyone serious about professional transformation. Her dynamic 12-step approach shows, actors, writers and directors how to unlock emotional depth and create performances that ring with authenticity. It’s also for anyone who is serious about overcoming hurdles, hardships, and inner demons to achieve their goals.

Drawing on psychology, behavioural science, cultural anthropology and examples of real-life heroes, Ivana takes the search for rich inner emotional information to the next level by focusing on winning. Ivana teaches people how to access their emotions to not just feel them, but also use them with dimension and power.

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IVANA CHUBBUCK is the creator of the widely adopted Chubbuck Technique, an acting method taught in universities and in accredited studios all over the world. Her students — Halle Berry, Brad Pitt, Charlize Theron, Gal Gadot, Sylvester Stallone, Eva Mendes and Shia LaBeouf, among thousands, have gone on to win major awards, including Oscars, Emmys and Tonys. She lives in Los Angeles, where she runs the Ivana Chubbuck Studio. Her daughter, Claire Chubbuck, an award-winning filmmaker and Chubbuck teacher, is the legacy for furthering Ivana’s mission of empowerment through the arts.