Inspire Saratoga

Welcome to Inspire Saratoga! Sarah Craig has been the Executive Director of Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs since 1995. Caffe Lena is one of the treasures of music and culture in this town, and with 30 years of experience leading from the front, I got to speak with Sarah about the evolution of the Caffe, the mission behind it, and the deep rooted arts of Saratoga. Check out more from Sarah at: http...

Welcome to Inspire Saratoga! Jon Dorflinger is the perfect example of learning and living through stories. Jon is the owner/founder of Light it Up Media, which is dedicated to helping non-profits and mission driven businesses amplify their impact through compelling video storytelling. With over 20 years of experience in Hollywood film production, media education, and digital marketing, Jon has wor...

Welcome to Inspire Saratoga! Those from Saratoga know the word SPAC as well as any other. SPAC, aka Saratoga Performing Arts Center is a staple organization and part of the community, and in this episode, I had the honor of sitting with Elizabeth Sobol, CEO of SPAC. Elizabeth has lived an incredible life in the arts, from her early days as an aspiring classical pianist, to learning from some of th...

Welcome to Inspire Saratoga! Jamie Mastroianni is the owner/founder of iRun Local, right in the heart of town on Broadway. Her story of running, connection, and creating a local brand for the health and wellness of the town is truly inspiring, and it was an absolute blast to hear about all she has done and continues to do for the community. Check out Jamie more at: https://shop.irunlocal.com/ IG:...

Welcome to Inspire Saratoga! What Meghan Connolly Haupt is doing, and the story she has is truly inspirational. Meghan is the Founder of Inclusive Saratoga, a non-profit organization focused on disability inclusivity, where they partner with non-profits and businesses to create public spaces and experiences that allow individuals with disabilities to fully participate. From her personal experience...

Welcome to Inspire Saratoga! In the first episode of Season 2, I sat down with Kay Margison, AKA The Sober Weightlifter, and founder of Athena Nutrition. Katy has been an athlete most of her adult life, competing in both CrossFit and Olympic Weightlifting, and over the past year and change, she made a life changing decision to overcome substance abuse addiction and live a sober life. In this episo...

Welcome to Inspire Saratoga! Leah is one of the most charismatic, positive, and insightful people I’ve spoken to. Leah is a certified mindfulness and yoga practitioner, and founder of Brave Lion Mind. She founded Brave Lion to offer neuroscience and nature based mindfulness to educators, students and families. She believes that establishing a customized mindfulness practice nurtures mental, emotio...

Welcome to Inspire Saratoga! One of the most genuine, caring, and insightful coaches I’ve ever encountered, Karen Carey joins me on the show. The founder of Ruby Red Road, Karen’s experience and insights as a Life Coach cut right to the heart, and in this episode, Karen dives into mindset, resilience, what self-worth really means, and practical solutions for maximizing your life. Check out Karen a...

Welcome to Inspire Saratoga! The best way I can describe Jeff Grogan is as a world class human. A father, husband, friend, kettlebell athlete, and a 3 decade veteran nurse and founder of the Saratoga Youth Mentor program. I first met Jeff 5 years ago when he began a new journey of strength for himself, and since that time, his evolution of life, and creating an impact for adolescents in this commu...

Welcome to Inspire Saratoga! Christine O’Donnell is an Emmy-Nominated TV Journalist &  Podcast Coach. She is the founder of Bright Sighted Pros, a community of bright, independent and professional podcasters who have a true vision for their podcast, brand and business.  Christine graciously allowed me to come to her own podcasting studio in Saratoga Springs, and dive into journalism, where pod...

Welcome to Inspire Saratoga! In this episode, I connect with one of my favorite people in the world to talk deeply about strength, mental health, and personal growth. Diane Webb is the founder and co-owner of Grace Mental Health Counseling, with offices in Saratoga Springs, Queensbury, and Clifton Park. I got to meet Diane years ago at our old Kettlebell studio, and since then, we have had some in...

Welcome to Inspire Saratoga! Spencer Sherry is a filmmaker, as well as the Grants and Community Outreach Coordinator at the Saratoga Arts Center. Spencer has been a 518 resident ever since he graduated from high school in Laurens, NY.  Always eager to experience new things (but never doing one thing for too long), he attended St. Rose for Music Industry, SUNY Oneonta for Criminal Justice, and UAlb...

Welcome to Inspire Saratoga! Cassandra Kubinski is an absolute gem of a person, as well as an incredible singer/songwriter in Saratoga Springs. Being a great artist has brought her all over the world, and has written, recorded and performed with luminaries like the Goo Goo Dolls, Chris Botti, 10,000 Maniacs, DJ Taz Rashid, Ryan Cabrera, and Billy Joel.  You might’ve heard her songs on TV, from Lif...

Welcome to Inspire Saratoga! In the 1st episode, I sat down with an incredibly inspiring woman, Ashley Campbell. Ashley is the founder of Coral and Blue Paper, a company that creates beautiful stationery for kids, bringing the power and joy of hand written notes back to popularity. There’s something so great about receiving a hand written note, especially in the times of text, email and social med...

Welcome to the Inspire Saratoga Podcast! I am Michael Kurkowski, physical and mental performance coach, and resident of Saratoga Springs. In this first introductory episode, I wanted to speak directly to you, the listener, on the who, what, where, when...but most importantly, the "why" behind Inspire Saratoga, and what to expect going forward with this show. Thank you so much for coming...