Passion Stories with Free To Flourish

Massage Therapist: Stephen Conti

Stephen Conti is a massage therapist and has worked for many of the sports teams at University of Maryland. He also runs his own massage therapy business Tocar Spa. Stephen shares what initially sparked his interest in pursuing work in this industry and what originally made him want to start his own business. He also shares how his focus on learning and improving keeps him enjoying the growth process with his business. If you have a work idea or a business goal you want to get started on St...

Passion Stories featuring Massage Therapist, Stephen Conti

Stephen Conti is a massage therapist and has worked for many of the sports teams at University of Maryland. He also runs his own massage therapy business Tocar Spa. Stephen shares what initially sparked his interest in pursuing work in this industry and what originally made him want to start his own business. He also shares how his focus on learning and improving keeps him enjoying the growth process with his business. If you have a work idea or a business goal you want to get started on St...

Massage Therapist: Stephen Conti

Stephen Conti is a massage therapist and has worked for many of the sports teams at University of Maryland. He also runs his own massage therapy business Tocar Spa. Stephen shares what initially sparked his interest in pursuing work in this industry and what originally made him want to start his own business. He also shares how his focus on learning and improving keeps him enjoying the growth process with his business. If you have a work idea or a business goal you want to get started on St...

Passion Stories featuring Operatic Baritone, Alex Alburqueque

Alex is an Opera Singer in the Washington D.C. area. He is a freelance artist and splits his time as a performing artist and teacher. Alex talks about his journey of when he first discovered his passion for music and singing and when he realized he wanted to make this his life long career.   As an artist, Alex shares how his strengths of being positive and patient have served him in staying confident in this industry, especially with the obstacles presented by the pandemic this past year. He...

Operatic Baritone: Alex Alburqueque

Alex is an Opera Singer in the Washington D.C. area. He is a freelance artist and splits his time as a performing artist and teacher. Alex talks about his journey of when he first discovered his passion for music and singing and when he realized he wanted to make this his life long career.   As an artist, Alex shares how his strengths of being positive and patient have served him in staying confident in this industry, especially with the obstacles presented by the pandemic this past year. He...

Passion Stories featuring Ocean Plastic Consultant, Carolynn Box

Carolynn is an Ocean Conservation Consultant, Mentor, and Business Owner. Much of her work has been focused on ocean plastic pollution and activism. She spent years working for 5 Gyres where she led Ocean Expeditions and raised awareness for policy campaigns. She also co-runs Goods Holding Company, that uses new plastic free tools for grocery shopping to help limit the dependence on plastic. Now Carolynn is a consultant in the San Francisco Bay area where she develops workshops to address pl...

Ocean Plastic Consultant: Carolynn Box

Carolynn is an Ocean Conservation Consultant, Mentor, and Business Owner. Much of her work has been focused on ocean plastic pollution and activism. She spent years working for 5 Gyres where she led Ocean Expeditions and raised awareness for policy campaigns. She also co-runs Goods Holding Company, that uses new plastic free tools for grocery shopping to help limit the dependence on plastic. Now Carolynn is a consultant in the San Francisco Bay area where she develops workshops to address pl...

Ocean Plastic Consultant: Carolynn Box

Carolynn is an Ocean Conservation Consultant, Mentor, and Business Owner. Much of her work has been focused on ocean plastic pollution and activism. She spent years working for 5 Gyres where she led Ocean Expeditions and raised awareness for policy campaigns. She also co-runs Goods Holding Company, that uses new plastic free tools for grocery shopping to help limit the dependence on plastic. Now Carolynn is a consultant in the San Francisco Bay area where she develops workshops to address pl...

Passion Stories featuring Baltimore Chef, David Thomas

 My long time friend Chef David Thomas, and winner of the Food Network’s TV series, Chopped, shares his journey as a chef and entrepreneur and how he has found success and overcome obstacles with pursuing his passions. His work is centered on celebrating and reclaiming African American food culture. I originally chatted with David in this conversation over on his Modern Conversations where he talks to different black folks who are paving the way in the food industry. I love the work he does...

Baltimore Chef: David Thomas

 My long time friend Chef David Thomas, and winner of the Food Network’s TV series, Chopped, shares his journey as a chef and entrepreneur and how he has found success and overcome obstacles with pursuing his passions. His work is centered on celebrating and reclaiming African American food culture. I originally chatted with David in this conversation over on his Modern Conversations where he talks to different black folks who are paving the way in the food industry. I love the work he does...

Passion Stories featuring Online Business Manager, Tarena Muhammad

Tarena is a Management Consultant, Strategic Adviser, and Certified Online Business Coach. Tarena shares about her journey as an Air Force veteran and transitioning to being an entrepreneur.  She talks about the skills and resiliency she learned being in the military and how that translates to her work as a business owner. She also talks about how she utilizes her strengths in her business and how that’s been an important shift for her in knowing what she naturally does well.  Tarena touches...

Online Business Manager: Tarena Muhammad

Tarena is a Management Consultant, Strategic Adviser, and Certified Online Business Coach. Tarena shares about her journey as an Air Force veteran and transitioning to being an entrepreneur.  She talks about the skills and resiliency she learned being in the military and how that translates to her work as a business owner. She also talks about how she utilizes her strengths in her business and how that’s been an important shift for her in knowing what she naturally does well.  Tarena touches...

Passion Stories featuring Stylist, Gianna Nucci

Gianna, a personal stylist who runs her business, Gianna Nucci Style, chats with us about her journey with creating her personal styling business and how it has evolved from when she started it four years ago. Gianna talks about being fearless and open to try different things when you are first starting out. And not worrying too much about what others think! Because people are thinking a lot less about your product and service than you probably thing. She also talks about figuring out what ...

Stylist: Gianna Nucci

Gianna, a personal stylist who runs her business, Gianna Nucci Style, chats with us about her journey with creating her personal styling business and how it has evolved from when she started it four years ago. Gianna talks about being fearless and open to try different things when you are first starting out. And not worrying too much about what others think! Because people are thinking a lot less about your product and service than you probably thing. She also talks about figuring out what ...

Photographer: Laura Bell

I talked with @laurasfocusphotography about her journey building a photography business and what has helped with her successes over the last 16 years. Laura is a wedding and portrait photographer based in St. Michaels, MD. She also shoots internationally when she sails to The Bahamas in the winters with her family. Laura talks about how putting a lot of time into learning her craft and being in a community and network of other photographers has helped her grow her business. Laura has been ...

Photographer: Laura Bell

I talked with @laurasfocusphotography about her journey building a photography business and what has helped with her successes over the last 16 years. Laura is a wedding and portrait photographer based in St. Michaels, MD. She also shoots internationally when she sails to The Bahamas in the winters with her family. Laura talks about how putting a lot of time into learning her craft and being in a community and network of other photographers has helped her grow her business. Laura has been ...

Passion Stories featuring Photographer, Laura Bell

I talked with @laurasfocusphotography about her journey building a photography business and what has helped with her successes over the last 16 years. Laura is a wedding and portrait photographer based in St. Michaels, MD. She also shoots internationally when she sails to The Bahamas in the winters with her family. Laura talks about how putting a lot of time into learning her craft and being in a community and network of other photographers has helped her grow her business. Laura has been ...

Holistic Hormone Coach: Frida Ayala

Frida Ayala is a hormone health coach and shares her story on building a business that helps women’s health from a holistic approach.bFrida shares some of the risks she took with first starting her business, what’s helped her stay confident on her journey, and ultimately how she has been able to pursue work that she is passionate about. Consider checking out the Passion and Purpose program if you are looking to make a career transition into more purposeful work or have been sitting on a bus...

Passion Stories featuring Holistic Hormone Coach, Frida Ayala

Frida Ayala is a hormone health coach and shares her story on building a business that helps women’s health from a holistic approach.bFrida shares some of the risks she took with first starting her business, what’s helped her stay confident on her journey, and ultimately how she has been able to pursue work that she is passionate about. Consider checking out the Passion and Purpose program if you are looking to make a career transition into more purposeful work or have been sitting on a bus...

Somatic Coach: Gillian Hipp

Gillian Hipp, Somatic Coach and Dance Movement Therapist, shares her journey with pursuing her PhD and creating a business with her passion of movement therapy. Gillian helps creative women quiet their busy and grating minds and tackle overwhelm and procrastination. Through movement meditations she helps them connect with their bodies and enables them to find lasting strategies to be joyfully creative and productive. Consider checking out the Passion and Purpose program if you are looking t...

Passion Stories featuring Somatic Coach, Gillian Hipp

Gillian Hipp, Somatic Coach and Dance Movement Therapist, shares her journey with pursuing her PhD and creating a business with her passion of movement therapy. Gillian helps creative women quiet their busy and grating minds and tackle overwhelm and procrastination. Through movement meditations she helps them connect with their bodies and enables them to find lasting strategies to be joyfully creative and productive. If this episode and topic resonated with you and you are looking to transi...

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