Season 2, Episode 93

Join your hosts Carmen and Sophia Micsa to learn from our guest Tony Schmaltz how to be schmaltzy.

Tony Schmaltz is a husband, father, author, speaker, trainer, coach, fisherman, and all around Schmaltzy guy. He puts his family first and has for the more than 21 years that he and his wife Anika have been together. His friends and colleagues know him as "Schmaltzy", a nickname he first attained on a trip to Germany at 17. The German definition of the word schmaltzy means "to be overly sappy or cheesy", like a joke is cheesy. Tony brings an energy and level of humor that makes his Schmaltzy nickname very fitting.

Tony is passionate about helping people upgrade their lives in any area possible. Specializing in mindset, wealth creation, manifesting, relationships, and happiness, he will help you live the life of your dreams. Tony has shared live or virtual stages with Les Brown, Tom Ziglar, Steve Chandler, Waldo Waldman, Tana Goertz, Kevin Sorbo, and many more.

On this Seeds of Sunshine episode:

• Schmaltz believes in leading people and not managing them.
• Our guest said that in his coaching career, he discovered how to be schmaltzy, which means overly sappy and cheesy in German. Furthermore, he emphasizes that being our true selves is what truly matters.
• The worst phrase anybody can ever use is I give up.
• Being a people pleaser is one of the biggest challenges that most people in the world today face, and even more so in the United States and Schmaltz has a few solutions.

To connect with Tony Schmaltz:

https://www.tonyschmaltz.com/

(7) Facebook

Tony Schmaltz (@tony.schmaltz) • Instagram photos and videos

Tony Schmaltz - YouTube

Support the Show.

Full editing credit & art design to my daughter Sophia Micsa.
There are three ways to support our podcast:
1. You can become a monthly subscriber to our podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1999885/support to help us continue our journey of sprinkling as many seeds of sunshine your way. When you become a subscriber, we will also give you a shout-out on our next episode and promote your business! No strings attached and you can cancel at any time.
2. Please donate any amount at https://ko-fi.com/carmenmicsa.
3. To follow me on social media, buy my books, or contact me about real estate, please visit https://linktr.ee/carmenmicsa, or email me at carmenmicsa@yahoo.com

Season 2, Episode 92

Join your hosts Carmen and Sophia Micsa to learn more about Iraq and the Arabic culture from our guest Zaid Brifkani and his wonderful novel Waters Under Baghdad part of our book club conversation.

Dr. Zaid Brifkani is an American physician of Iraqi Kurdish descent. He specializes in dialysis and kidney transplantation with a lifelong passion for writing. His debut novel "The Mountains We Carry" was released in November 2021. He lives in Nashville with his wife and three children.

Growing up in Iraq, Brifkani witnessed many traumatic experiences of war, migration, and political turmoil, which have highlighted his dedication to writing about the negative impact of wars and political struggles.

“The Tigris River flowed through Baghdad, watering the seeds planted by all who claimed that Iraq belonged to them. But Iraq does not belong to anyone. They belong to Iraq.” – Dr. Zaid Brifkani, Waters Under Baghdad

On this Seeds of Sunshine episode:

• Dr. Brifkani discusses the political environment in Iraq and how Saddam Hussein was addicted to power.
• His novel looks at history through the lens of power and us vs. them. Learning about the correct history helps us empathize and be kinder to others.
• Being open-minded is also what helps us appreciate the beauty of other cultures.
• Dr. Brifkani emphasizes that we are human beings before we are Americans or Iraqis.
• Religion was unfortunately being used to justify the greed for power.

To buy his books, go to:

Amazon.com: Zaid Brifkani: books, biography, latest update

To connect with Dr. Zaid Brifkani:

Zaid Brifkani, MD د. زيد بريفكاني (@zaidbrifkani) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook

Support the Show.

Full editing credit & art design to my daughter Sophia Micsa.
There are three ways to support our podcast:
1. You can become a monthly subscriber to our podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1999885/support to help us continue our journey of sprinkling as many seeds of sunshine your way. When you become a subscriber, we will also give you a shout-out on our next episode and promote your business! No strings attached and you can cancel at any time.
2. Please donate any amount at https://ko-fi.com/carmenmicsa.
3. To follow me on social media, buy my books, or contact me about real estate, please visit https://linktr.ee/carmenmicsa, or email me at carmenmicsa@yahoo.com

Season 2, Episode 91

Join your hosts Carmen and Sophia Micsa to learn from our guest Shanti Hershenson what it means to be passionate about life, writing, and achieving goals.

Ever since Shanti Hershenson could hold a pencil, marker, or crayon, she created stories. Shanti’s first two novellas were published when she was in the sixth grade.

Shanti lives in California with her parents, sister, and furry friends. Besides writing, she enjoys skateboarding, Beyblading, free-running, falconry, and, of course, reading.

Shanti writes in a variety of genres, including Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction, although she mostly sticks to Sci-Fi. She advocates for anti-bullying, and you may find her at open mic nights, performing her spoken word poem Needles & Thorns, which is about the struggle of bullying in middle schools.

On this Seeds of Sunshine episode:

• Our 16-year-old author Shanti recounts how much she loved to read from a young age, which is why she wished to become an author herself to create books and stories.
• Shanti shares her greatest tip for becoming a prolific author, which is to write every single day 1000 words no matter what. Shanti writes whether she has something going on that day or not feeling well.
• Shanti published her first book when she was 12! It was a novella that she had written with a friend of hers.
• Shanti discusses the pros and cons of traditional vs. self-publishing. She prefers self-publishing because it’s a great way to get into the business and learn how everything works.
• Writing has made Shanti a much more confident person and a better speaker.
• Shanti has written stories about bullies and has empowered others.
• Shanti shares a few of her favorite books for teenagers, such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

To buy Shanti’s books, go to her website:

Author | Shanti Hershenson

To connect with Shanti:

Shanti Hershenson (@shantihershenson) • Instagram photos and videos

Shanti Hershenson (@shantiwhowrites) | TikTok

Shanti Hershenson (shantihershenson) - Profile | Pinterest

Support the Show.

Full editing credit & art design to my daughter Sophia Micsa.
There are three ways to support our podcast:
1. You can become a monthly subscriber to our podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1999885/support to help us continue our journey of sprinkling as many seeds of sunshine your way. When you become a subscriber, we will also give you a shout-out on our next episode and promote your business! No strings attached and you can cancel at any time.
2. Please donate any amount at https://ko-fi.com/carmenmicsa.
3. To follow me on social media, buy my books, or contact me about real estate, please visit https://linktr.ee/carmenmicsa, or email me at carmenmicsa@yahoo.com

Season 2, Episode 90

Join your hosts Carmen and Sophia Micsa to learn from our guest Dr. Mort Orman what it takes to eliminate anger and stress from your lives.

Dr. Mort Orman, M.D. is an internal medicine physician and a 40-year anger elimination and stress elimination expert.

He has written 23 books on how to eliminate anger and stress without using drugs, relaxation exercises, or other traditional management techniques. He is the creator of the 10-session Angry No More anger elimination program and The Ultimate Stress Relief System and training program.

Dr. Orman has led more than 100 anger and stress elimination workshops for doctors, nurses, lawyers, business owners, entrepreneurs, other professionals, the clergy, and even the F.B.I.

His newest book Dr. Orman’s Life-Changing Anger Cure was released in March 2024.

On this Seeds of Sunshine episode:

• Dr. Orman loves to help people understand how to stop getting angry, which he calls anger elimination.
• After going through the 10-session coaching program, Dr. Orman’s clients can eliminate their anger.
• Dr. Orman believes that it is the filters that cause the anger not the external situations that happen.
• A big myth is believing that you have a lot of anger and there's not much you can do about it.

To receive a free anger elimination guide, go to:

List Building Template Maria Gudelis (clickfunnels.com)

To help spread the word about Dr. Orman’s Life-Changing Anger Curego to:

HOME (docorman.lpages.co)

To connect with Dr. Orman:

(2) Facebook

(30) Mort Orman, MD--Anger Elimination | LinkedIn

I Can't Believe I'm Not Angry Anymore - YouTube

Support the Show.

Full editing credit & art design to my daughter Sophia Micsa.
There are three ways to support our podcast:
1. You can become a monthly subscriber to our podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1999885/support to help us continue our journey of sprinkling as many seeds of sunshine your way. When you become a subscriber, we will also give you a shout-out on our next episode and promote your business! No strings attached and you can cancel at any time.
2. Please donate any amount at https://ko-fi.com/carmenmicsa.
3. To follow me on social media, buy my books, or contact me about real estate, please visit https://linktr.ee/carmenmicsa, or email me at carmenmicsa@yahoo.com

Season 2, Episode 89

Join your hosts Carmen and Sophia Micsa to learn from our guest Dr. John De Oca how to become a relationship expert.

Dr. John De Oca is a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Coach residing in New Jersey. He offers more than 15 years of experience in the healthcare industry with his ultimate passion being in relationships.

John strongly believes in personal insight and development to help his clients achieve their outcomes with a mind, body, and soul approach. John has worked with and studied with some of the most innovative coaches and therapists in the country.

Clinically practicing aesthetic medicine allows John to work prudently and meticulously at his craft and passions. Importantly, like everyone else, John is a human being experiencing many of the things his clients are in his own life. He conscientiously works on his own development to achieve the best outcomes for himself and is passionate about doing the same for those working with him.

On this Seeds of Sunshine episode:

• Most of Dr. De Oca's clients are single, and trying to get into a relationship.
• It is important to manage expectations and have a good level of insight and awareness to know what works for you and what doesn't, as well as what your wishes are in a relationship versus those around you.
• Dr. De Oca explains the pros and cons of meeting someone in person vs. online.
• Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge are some of the dating apps that Dr. De Oca helps his clients get on.
• Chemistry versus connection.
• Chemistry is that instantaneous spark. Connection is what we're building towards.
• His advice for teenagers when it comes to friendships and relationships is to take timeout from social media.

To connect with John De Oca:
HOME | The Relationship Pre (therelationshipprescriber.com)
https://www.instagram.com/therelationshipprescriber

Support the Show.

Full editing credit & art design to my daughter Sophia Micsa.
There are three ways to support our podcast:
1. You can become a monthly subscriber to our podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1999885/support to help us continue our journey of sprinkling as many seeds of sunshine your way. When you become a subscriber, we will also give you a shout-out on our next episode and promote your business! No strings attached and you can cancel at any time.
2. Please donate any amount at https://ko-fi.com/carmenmicsa.
3. To follow me on social media, buy my books, or contact me about real estate, please visit https://linktr.ee/carmenmicsa, or email me at carmenmicsa@yahoo.com

Season 2, Episode 88

Join your hosts Carmen and Sophia Micsa to learn from our guest Gloria Galloway why she wrote a YA novel about neuroblastoma cancer and why it’s important to strongly advocate for finding a cure for childhood cancer.

Gloria Galloway is an author and a member of the Authors Guild and the Sacramento chapter of the California Writer’s Club. Gloria grew up in Sacramento within driving distance of the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains. A strong advocate for finding a cure for childhood cancer, Gloria wrote Amber’s Way, a triumphant YA novel about love, courage, and hope in the face of impossible odds. A percentage of the proceeds from Amber’s Way will be donated to the Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation, Bloomingdale, Illinois.

On this Seeds of Sunshine episode:

• Gloria recalls that she started writing when she was about six - it was all in her head first.
• Gloria did copious research for her novel.
• Gloria shares her serendipitous story about a deer and how Amber, the heroine in her novel Amber’s Way, becomes friends with the deer.
• By writing Amber’s Way, Gloria learned so much about neuroblastoma, a devastating form of cancer.
• Gloria also made many connections with people who handled neuroblastoma and cancer itself, but also with search and rescue, and different hospitals with psychologists.
• Gloria talks and is a big believer in serendipity and writing Amber’s Way felt like magic.
• Gloria also believes that we can all overcome the imposter syndrome by believing fiercely in ourselves. In her case, she considers herself an ordinary woman who wants to write a good story.
• Through her YA novel and by living a life full of serendipity, Gloria’s goal is to help people understand neuroblastoma and bring attention to it.

If this story has moved you, feel free to donate to the Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation in Bloomingdale, Illinois.

To connect with Gloria Galloway:

Gloria Galloway - Books (gloriagallowayauthor.com)

Gloria Galloway (@author_ambersway) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook

Support the Show.

Full editing credit & art design to my daughter Sophia Micsa.
There are three ways to support our podcast:
1. You can become a monthly subscriber to our podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1999885/support to help us continue our journey of sprinkling as many seeds of sunshine your way. When you become a subscriber, we will also give you a shout-out on our next episode and promote your business! No strings attached and you can cancel at any time.
2. Please donate any amount at https://ko-fi.com/carmenmicsa.
3. To follow me on social media, buy my books, or contact me about real estate, please visit https://linktr.ee/carmenmicsa, or email me at carmenmicsa@yahoo.com

Season 2, Episode 87

Join your hosts Carmen and Sophia Micsa to learn from our guest Leigh Woolard why progress is better than perfection and how we can reprogram our minds toward success.

Leigh Woolard lives in the UK and has been a business owner since 2006 working with global brands, entrepreneurs, and business owners to help them transform their businesses online and themselves as individuals. His personal journey fuels his passion for helping entrepreneurs and business owners. Overcoming bone cancer taught Leigh the power of what his thoughts were creating in the outside world. Leigh is on a mission to guide and support fellow business owners and entrepreneurs globally in creating a compelling vision for a business and life they would love and taking purposeful action to make it their reality.

On this Seeds of Sunshine episode:

• Suppressing feelings does not serve us. Leigh learned how to express these things.
• Leigh thinks that perfection isn't actually real and this flawed belief may be holding us back.
• Perfection versus progress.
• Give that gift to somebody else and the space to make a mistake.
• Each one of us is capable of reprogramming our minds toward success.
• Leigh thinks that our thoughts create our feelings, our feelings create our actions, and our actions create our results.

To connect with Leigh Woolard:

Leigh Woolard - Transformational Leader

Leigh Woolard (@leighwoolard) • Instagram photos and videos

(20) Leigh Woolard | LinkedIn

Leigh Woolard - YouTube

Support the Show.

Full editing credit & art design to my daughter Sophia Micsa.
There are three ways to support our podcast:
1. You can become a monthly subscriber to our podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1999885/support to help us continue our journey of sprinkling as many seeds of sunshine your way. When you become a subscriber, we will also give you a shout-out on our next episode and promote your business! No strings attached and you can cancel at any time.
2. Please donate any amount at https://ko-fi.com/carmenmicsa.
3. To follow me on social media, buy my books, or contact me about real estate, please visit https://linktr.ee/carmenmicsa, or email me at carmenmicsa@yahoo.com

Season 2, Episode 86

Join your hosts Carmen and Sophia Micsa to learn from our guest Lizbeth Meredith how to use the power of stories to affect change.

Lizbeth Meredith is an award-winning author, speaker, and online teacher and coach living in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her memoir, Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a Lifetime television movie, Stolen By Their Father.

Lizbeth provides coaching for those grounded in grit, ready to turn their past challenges into their superpowers rather than merely “get through them.” She proudly served crime victims and offenders for 30 years in Alaska. In her off-time, she enjoys movies at the theater, talking with podcast guests at Persistence U with Lizbeth, and Facetime chats with her adult daughters and grand-pets.

On this Seeds of Sunshine episode:

• Lizbeth used to live in Alaska for 50 years and she recently moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Lizbeth worked in the criminal justice system, as well as with trauma-informed care, and feels that life sort of chose her work.
• And sometimes all patients need is someone to believe in them to help turn things around. Working with survivors of trauma helped Lizbeth get continuing education. She became a trauma-informed care trainer.
• Lizbeth is a firm believer that sharing our stories when the situation and the time is right is critical to healing, which is why she writes and does her podcast.
• In her new book Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers, Lizbeth talks about turning our challenges into superpowers.

To connect with Lizbeth Meredith:

(1) Facebook

(9) Lizbeth Meredith | LinkedIn

Lizbeth Meredith - YouTube

Support the Show.

Full editing credit & art design to my daughter Sophia Micsa.
There are three ways to support our podcast:
1. You can become a monthly subscriber to our podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1999885/support to help us continue our journey of sprinkling as many seeds of sunshine your way. When you become a subscriber, we will also give you a shout-out on our next episode and promote your business! No strings attached and you can cancel at any time.
2. Please donate any amount at https://ko-fi.com/carmenmicsa.
3. To follow me on social media, buy my books, or contact me about real estate, please visit https://linktr.ee/carmenmicsa, or email me at carmenmicsa@yahoo.com