Working Towards Our Purpose

My brother Michael just came back from a month long trip to Nepal and shares what he learned.

In this episode I sat down with my twin brother Michael to discuss his recent trip to a small remote village in Nepal. Michael shares some of the lessons he learned and shares his insight into the village's way of life. While he was there he helped rebuild homes that were damaged from an earthquake. We discussed his approach to photographing the people and the warm reception from the village community. Michael talks about the village's close-knit and self-reliant community and how different their way of life is from ours. Through Michael's reflections, the conversation explores cultural differences, the power of human connection, and the rewards of stepping out of comfort zones.

Bio: Michael Cordone III is a dedicated and passionate photographer who has spent the last year immersing himself in the world of photography. After quitting his corporate engineering job 1 year ago, and has since explored many different aspects of the craft and is learning as much as possible. He also just got back from a month long service trip to Nepal, helping a small village rebuild after earthquake damage.

Topics in this episode:

• 1 year since leaving corporate
• Ups and downs of the first year of a full time photographer
• Traveling to Nepal for a service trip
• What it's like in the city of Katmandu
• Helping a small village rebuild houses after an earthquake
• A community of self-sufficiency in food, housing, and living
• The significance of meditation and spending time alone
• Pushing through your fears
• Valuing experiencing both the highs and lows in life

Connect with Michael:

• Follow MC3 on IG
• Follow MC3 on Substack
• Buy a print from Michael

Connect with me:

• Follow me on IG
• pleasantpodcasts.com
• If you would like to start your own podcast you can download my free Podcast Launch Roadmap to help you get started

Steve Roberts the program coordinator at Artspace New Haven and is the founder of Push to Start which is a program that uses skateboarding and art to encourage self-confidence, build transferable skills and inspire civic engagement in youth of New Haven, CT.

Connect with me:

• Subscribe to my Substack
• Follow me on IG
• pleasantpodcasts.com

Today I sat down with Michael Shawn Carbaugh, who is a dedicated pastor, talented musician, and successful entrepreneur who understands the power of Community. He graduated with a degree in music and a minor in bible study. Michael embarked on a unique journey that combined his passions for music, ministry, and community building. As a pastor at Pond Hill Baptist Church, he takes on various roles, including leading music programs and working with young adults. Michael's entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found Unison Games Cafe located in Hamden, CT, a welcoming space where people come together to enjoy games, coffee, and community.

We also talked about his new multi-use studio space in the works, that is going to include podcast, music, and lessons studio spaces! We covered so many topics from the importance of time management in entrepreneurship, to getting a deal on your rent, to some advice on what it takes to have a business partner.

Some topics we covered:

• Going to music school
• Building community
• Starting a brick and mortar business
• Finding a deal on a lease
• Faith
• Time management
• Having a business partner
• What purpose means to Michael Shawn

Connect with Michael:

• Unison Games Café
• Unison Studios
• Unison Church
• Pond Hill Church

Connect with me:

• Subscribe to my Substack
• Follow me on IG
• pleasantpodcasts.com
• If you would like to start your own podcast you can download my free Podcast Launch Roadmap to help you get started

In this episode I talked with Trevor Huffard co-founder of the startup Boxx, a company that builds work from home office pods designed to be put in your backyard. We talked about being in startup culture, the many pivots in his career, and the future for his newest venture Boxx.

Connect with Trevor:

• Visit Boxx Website
• Follow Boxx on IG

Connect with me:

• Subscribe to my Substack
• Follow me on IG
• pleasantpodcasts.com
• If you would like to start your own podcast you can download my free Podcast Launch Roadmap to help you get started

"I want to use music and the arts to really bring people out of the shadow, celebrate diversity, and bring them into community. To be able to give back, and recognize that everybody has value." -Adam

I had the pleasure of speaking with Adam Christoferson, the founder of Musical Intervention in this episode of Working Towards Our Purpose. Adam shares his powerful vision of creating opportunities for individuals who have been marginalized by society to be celebrated through their creative expressions. We delve deep into the transformative impact music and creative activities have on mental health, community building, and empowerment. Adam shares his personal experiences, challenges, and triumphs in establishing a space where he uses music as a tool for healing and purpose for those who struggle.

Bio: Adam Christoferson's passion for music started at a young age when his uncle had a big hit on the radio the year he was born. After attending some of his concerts at a young age and experiencing the power of music, his father bought him a drum set at the age of 8 and he fell in love with playing. Music became a safe place for him to communicate and connect with others, spending hours jamming with friends during his adolescents. After writing and playing his own songs, he became an advocate for using music as a tool for healing and connection. He got a degree in recreational therapy from Southern Connecticut University and then started working with elderly in the hospitals and the homeless at shelters to write songs together and hold open mic nights. Adam took him ability to create music with others to the community giving people a space to feel like they have purpose no matter their history or situation.

Topics in this episode:

• The impact of music on mental health
• Community songwriting
• Music as a safe place for expression
• Recreational therapy
• Empowering the disenfranchised by not defining by their diagnosis
• Creatives not fitting into the existing social system
• The importance of giving people their identity back with music
• Impact of purpose on neglected communities
• The transformative power of music
• Collaboration with Yale University to show the impact music has on individuals with auditory hallucinations
• Solidifying identity and providing a sense of being valued, seen, and heard

Connect with Adam:

• Musical Intervention Website
• Musical Intervention IG
• Watch the FB Live open mic
• Visit Musical Intervention

Connect with me:

• Buy some WTOP SWAG
• Workingtowardsourpurpose.com
• Follow me on IG
• If you would like to start your own podcast you can find some help at pleasantpodcasts.com