Bucket List Careers

Dr. Carl Allamby is an Emergency Medicine Resident Physician at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. He specializes in life saving techniques and the prevention of illness and injury progression. However, this was not always his job. He used to own his own auto repair shop and was a professional automotive technician for 25 years. What does it take for a father of 4 to give up a stable career to pursue...

Louisa Serene Schneider is the founder and CEO of Rowan, a business idea that came to her when taking her teen nieces to get their ears pierced at the mall. She found the experience lacking in safety and celebration. And from there the idea of Rowan was born - a safe piercing experience celebrated as a life milestone, done only by nursing professionals, drawing from a network of 150+ nurses in 14...

All-Pro NFL linebacker, two-time Super Bowl Champ, and Michigan State Hall of Famer, Carl Banks is a multi-faceted entrepreneur who parlayed his extraordinary talent on the gridiron into a successful business conglomerate. Carl had a ‘second act’ concept early on and in this episode he shares how he laid the groundwork for his pivot to the fashion industry even while playing with the NY Giants at...

Host and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning television series “ Restaurant Hunter ”​ for nine years, Rob Petrone recently had a brush with death after suffering a heart attack at age 41. In an article he wrote for the Washington Post, he said “food was my life - until it almost killed me”. In this episode Rob takes us through his journey in TV journalism that led to what he thought to be...

Jeff Hammer knows how to identify a niche, build a brand and own the space. After leaving school to enlist in the navy, he excelled in his military career and business ventures spanning 36 years, especially as the Founder & CEO of GayRealEstate.com, the nation’s oldest and largest real estate and relocation brokerage with over 1,500 LGBTQ / LGBTQ-friendly real estate agents throughout the US and C...

Corey Cook started her dream job just as the pandemic brought tourism to a standstill but that didn’t stop her in her tracks. Intent on finding a career that satisfied her life-long wanderlust along with a love for writing and photography, she left the art world and a prestigious job at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan to become a writer and blogger. Corey then founded Fifiandhop.com , an onl...

A 4th generation funeral home director, lawyer, founder of a keepsake jewelry collection, talk show host and publisher of ‘Coming of Age’ magazine - Jennifer Graziano’s story is not one you hear everyday. She’s had a lifelong passion to help, guide and support those who grieve. In this episode, learn how Jennifer pivoted to jewelry design, forming her company Wearable Memories featuring her unique...

Are leaders born or are they made? Pilot and entrepreneur Nick Tarascio never thought he was CEO material but he’s also never been one to run from a challenge. Originally a musician and songwriter, Nick pivoted to become CEO of the successful private charter flight company Ventura Air Services in Farmingdale, NY in 2007. And in the pandemic, his fearless leadership style allowed Ventura Air to soa...

Host, equality advocate and educator Miles Johnson shares his voice and perspective in a special Black History Month edition of Bucket List Careers. After 15 years in the Broadway community and several career pivots, Miles found his calling as an educator for diversity and inclusion in corporate settings, running unique educational forums based on allyship. He opens up about the struggles he’s fac...

How can you identify the unique role you're meant to play and make it a reality? Bevin Prince has had many roles as an actress and is best known for her character on the hit TV show One Tree Hill. But she eventually recognized her true purpose was connecting with people through fitness. A motivational speaker, LuluLemon ambassador and host of the podcast Be My Neighbor , she recently opened her ow...

How did Vanessa and Tory Ridder take the leap from more traditional business careers to running a profitable School of Rock together? Musicians that met in college, they always planned to shake up music education for their two young boys. But the Ridders took it to the next level by opening a unique music school in Mamaroneck, NY for kids and adults with live performance at the core of the curricu...

When Jacob Zemer stopped chasing money, he started making it. His bucket list career launched after a few pivots. Jake planned for law school, then shifted his focus to finance, becoming a Wall Street broker. When he finally acknowledged that he was pursuing a career for the wrong reasons, everything changed. Jake is currently a highly sought after east coast personal trainer, quickly becoming a n...

How did multimedia lifestyle contributor, Justine Santaniello brand her way to becoming a top authority for providing engaging content? She recently landed her dream job, hosting her own CBS show, Lifestyle Today after making thousands of network TV appearances and sharing her tips and top product suggestions – otherwise known as her ‘Just Haves’ – regularly on Access Hollywood Live, The Wendy Wil...

Ben Sosenko always aimed for unconventional gigs throughout his career. He went from various TV sports anchor and breaking news reporter jobs to being press secretary for the mayor of Sacramento and former NBA star Kevin Johnson. Ben eventually landed his dream job in NY running communications for Relevent Sports Group, a Stephen Ross company that operates soccer tournaments worldwide and produces...

Going for a mid-career change is one thing, but enrolling in DJ school in your early 40’s, with two kids, after a cancer battle leaves you with one lung - that is another “level of badassery”. Learn how DJ April Larken drew from a fashion design background and a life-long obsession with clubs and music to achieve her dream job of scratching vinyl in and around New York City for A-lister events. Ap...

With over 12 million people unemployed in the new normal, many of us are open to change. If you are interested in a new career and/or entertained by the ins and outs of Bucket List Careers, this podcast is for you. Christa Lauri knows firsthand what it's like to have cool jobs; she's been a television host, news anchor and live reporter. She knows how to tell a compelling story while also explorin...