Changing Lives Through Song
Theresa Smith-Levin of Central Florida Vocal Arts
Mitchell and Jeff are joined by Theresa Smith-Levin, Founder and Executive Director of Central Florida Vocal Arts, non-profit music advocacy organization dedicated to providing the high quality training and performance opportunities to young artists. The guys discuss Theresa’s experience at this years Victory Cup competition, the importance of singing and performance for self-expression and healing, the societal perception of vocal talent and how it affects people’s willingness to engage in singing or the arts, the future of the organization, and much more.
Learn More about Central Florida Vocal Arts: https://centralfloridavocalarts.org
Recent Episodes
Building Community Via Healthy Food
John Rivers
Recorded live at the brand new 4 Roots Education Center in Orlando, Florida – Mitchell and Jeff chat with John Rivers, CEO and founder of the legendary 4 Rivers Smokehouse and Founder/CEO of 4Roots, a non-profit focused on promoting health, sustainability, and combating food insecurity through education and sustainable farming. John describes the growth of …
Growing a Pediatrics Business in Orlando
Dr. Michael Middleton
Jeff chats with Dr. Michael Middleton, owner of Middleton Pediatrics, about why he chose to locate his practice in Orlando, the challenges in growing from a small practice to a medical office that facilitates over 25,000 visits a year, how the community helped him along the way, pushing through the challenges of Covid, his thoughts …
Bringing Michelin Star Sushi to Orlando
Chef Mike Collantes
Mitchell and Jeff chat with Chef Mike Collantes, owner of the legendary Soseki Modern Omakase restaurant, about his deep Orlando roots, his food journey starting as a cook at Sbarro all the way to creating a Michelin star-winning sushi experience, his thoughts on Orlando’s exploding food scene, the carefully selected team and design around his …
Changing Lives Through Song
Theresa Smith-Levin of Central Florida Vocal Arts
Mitchell and Jeff are joined by Theresa Smith-Levin, Founder and Executive Director of Central Florida Vocal Arts, non-profit music advocacy organization dedicated to providing the high quality training and performance opportunities to young artists. The guys discuss Theresa’s experience at this years Victory Cup competition, the importance of singing and performance for self-expression and healing, …
The Cost of Legal Aid For All
Jeff Harvey of Community Legal Services
Mitchell and Jeff are joined by Jeff Harvey, CEO of Community Legal Services, a non-profit that provides no-cost legal services to vulnerable low-income communities in Central Florida. The guys discuss Jeff’s military service, connecting with mentors and developing a passion for leadership and service, and how those life experiences have helped CLS grow significantly, becoming …
Leading A Team of Alphas
Brandon Siler of NetFlix's Swamp Kings
Mitchell and Jeff are joined by Brandon Siler, star of the NetFlix documentary Swamp Kings and University of Florida Football legend where he helped the Gators win the 2006 SEC Championship Game and the 2007 BCS National Championship Game before moving on to a 7-year career in the NFL. Brandon recalls the college recruiting process, …
The Power of Storytelling
Ashley Vann of Victory Cup Initiative
Mitchell and Jeff are joined by Ashley Vann, Founder of Victory Cup Initiative, a non-profit that hosts an annual competition to help local non-profits amplify their stories, raise funds, and build community. The discussion ranges from Ashley’s background as a Winter Park native, her roots and early success in wealth management, how the skills she …
The Power of Neighborhoods
Eddy Moratin of Lift Orlando
Mitchell and Jeff chat with Eddy Moratin, President of Lift Orlando, a non-profit dedicated to strengthening neighborhoods by building high quality, mixed-income housing and providing a cradle to career educational pipeline while improving community health and wellness. The conversation touches on topics such as the rich history of the black community in Orlando, how disinvestment …
Doing BBQ Different
Thomas Ward of Pig Floyd's & Pigzza
Mitchell and Jeff chat with Thomas Ward, entrepreneur and local restaurateur, about his history in the restaurant business and his latest dine-in sensation Pigzza – a fusion of smoked meats and Italian food. Thomas details his path from food trucks to award-winning dining establishments, his thoughts on Orlando as a food city, embracing criticism and …
Creating a Food Brand From Scratch
Wil Torres of Golden Dough Foods
Our guest this week is Wil Torres, founder of Golden Dough Foods and the manufacturer and product developer behind the number one extended shelf life yeast raised donut in the packaged sweet goods category. Wil and the guys discuss the story and rapid growth of Golden Dough, how a love of Shark Tank lead to …
Making Private Markets Accessible
Neil Menard & Tom Sittema of StepStone Group
Mitchell and Jeff chat with Neil Menard and Tom Sittema of StepStone Group, a global private markets firm that provides customized investment and advisory solutions to some of the most sophisticated investors in the world and with $602 billion of total capital responsibility, including $134 billion in assets under management. The guys discuss what it …
Helping Retailers and Restaurant Brands Grow Faster
Taj Adhav of Leasecake
Our guest this week is Taj Adhav, CEO of Leasecake, a service that makes managing a portfolio of leased properties easy and accessible for tenants and brokers. Taj discusses moving to Orlando from Canada when he was 17, how his time at Disney helped him realize he wasn’t a great CPA and also prepared him …
Creating Opportunity in Orlando
Rob Panepinto of GOVO Venture Partners
Our guest this week is Rob Panepinto, Managing Partner & CIO of GOVO Venture Partners, a firm that invests in entrepreneurs building companies for which doing business with the government or navigating government regulations can be an important success factor – offering them capital, a deep understanding of government, and operational expertise. Rob discusses why …
Recycling Soap and Saving Lives
Shawn Seipler of Clean the World
Our guest this week is Shawn Seipler, the founder and CEO of Clean the World, a social enterprise dedicated to the mission of saving millions of lives around the world while simultaneously diverting hotel waste. Shawn discusses the origins of Clean the World, what inspired him to start the soap recycling company, the positive effect …
High-Net-Worth Protection in the Digital Age
Dr. Chris Pierson of BlackCloak
Our guest this week is Dr. Chris Pierson, the founder and CEO of BlackCloak Cyber Security, a firm focused on digital protection for high-level executives and high-net-worth individuals. He has over 20 years of experience in the field of fighting cybercrime and has held various leadership roles in organizations such as the Royal Bank of …
Building Connections in Orlando
Jay Chaudhari of 1858 Capital Partners
Mitchell and Jeff chat with Jay Chaudhari, Executive Director at 1858 Capital Partners, on growing up in and doing business in Orlando. Watch this Podcast Learn More about 1858 This podcast is produced by Advus Financial Partners, a wealth management firm located in the Central Florida area, that focuses on wealth and investment management, and …