The Good Eye Podcast

Jonah Holland was struck and killed by a drunk driver last Saturday, August 13 while cycling along Osbourne Turnpike near Richmond.  She was cycling with Natalie Rainer who was also struck and remains hospitalized.  Jonah was an avid cyclist and swimmer and a member of numerous community organizations as is Natalie.   At the time of release of this podcast there are several ways to help.  A "Take...

Henry Katinda is a Ugandan Educator, Tourism Entrepreneur and Humanitarian.  He is the Founder of Empathy Children Initiative, Uganda.  It's a charitable nonprofit helping vulnerable children in Uganda access education and other basic needs.  He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Henjo African Safaris, a Safari company that organizes Adventures, Vacations, Study excursions and Safaris to Uganda and Rwan...

Rick Plautz is a Motion Graphics Designer, a Professor of Experience Design and Art Direction students at Virginia Commonwealth University's Brand Center and a sound bath meditation leader.  And he's got his eye and mind on the future.  In this conversation we talk about Web 3, the next generation of the internet.  We also touch on blockchain, crypto currency, NFTs, decentralization of the interne...

Your definition of a "proper walk" is likely very different from Michael Farley's.   BIO: Michael Farley is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, a retired nonprofit CEO, and an adventurer.  He was the leader of Elk Hill , a human services organization based in Goochland VA, for 21 years.  Michael has also led adventure trips in the United States and Kenya for the past forty years.  Through both a glo...

Andrey Karpov is Director of Operations for IT4Causes.  They provide IT solutions for nonprofit clients.  He also has a burgeoning life coaching business in TrueAgility RVA.  We get into the weeds and talk about the path that brought him to America from St. Petersburg Russia, early influences, favorite books, wellness practices and his plans to grow TruAgility across the country.   Books reference...

Tom Dorney is a Navy vet who served aboard the USS Enterprise and is the current National Director of Resources and Partnerships for ReGroup Foundation.  His mission is to advocate for Veterans and First Responders effectively and provide them with the programs and resources they need.  Tom also serves as President of the Board of Directors of Adam's House, a Peer to Peer and Educational support p...

Dan Wright, a.k.a. "Gravelthroat", is a working voice actor and one-time vocalist for hardcore and metal bands.  His raspy, gravelly vocal tones can be heard on national commercials for ACE Hardware and hockey broadcasts and promos on ESPN as well as other places in the media and internet universe.  We talk shop about all things VO including breaking down copy, finding the sweet spot in your reads...

Robin's Hope is a Trauma Recovery Center where people healing from emotional trauma can find support, activities, and group discussions focused on developing resilience skills.  Jennifer Kell is a licensed clinical social worker and Heather Pate brings expertise through lived experience.   The discussion moves through past experience, inspiration of the name Robin's Hope and even significance of t...

Jason Wells' nonprofit organization Mechanics of Faith works to help folks facing transportation challenges.  Mechanics of Faith provides automotive work free of charge to people who qualify.  They also provide training, hold pop-up events and partner with businesses and other nonprofits in serving their community. For more info on getting involved, how you can help, donate and to find out more ab...

Today's guest is Andrea Starr, Director of the Forward Foundation, a nonprofit that assists single parents in financial crisis.  The discussion focuses on the 2021 Go Forward Team Ride cycling event on September 18.  The ride starts at Dorey Park in Henrico County outside of Richmond and features three levels of cycling: the 50 Mile Team Ride, the 10 Mile Everyman Ride and the 1 Mile Kids' Ride in...

Event: https://event.auctria.com/91e1b98e-d20d-41c4-a850-a9df06178c19/aa6cd270-8751-11e9-a741-3fcfcb35cbb0 Thursday Oct 14 12pm start Hunting Hawk Golf Club in Glen Allen Benefitting: Beacon Tree Foundation Walk To End Alzheimer's Soles4Souls Better2Gether Sponsors (as of recording time): EventFull Steve Peterson and Associates Padgett Properties Talking Monkey Media Old Dominion Asset Management...

Pete Cann the Laughter man is many things including a laughter yoga facilitator, a motivational speaker, an award-winning business owner and podcaster.  He works with individuals, groups, organizations and businesses to guide people through the process of practicing laughter to foster positivity, lower stress and improve focus, productivity and feelings of well-being.   www.petecann.com www.goodey...

Lisa Smith knows a lot about helping people with their obstacles.  Whether she approaches helping her clients via a number of methods including hypnotherapy, EFT, spiritual healing, mind training and neurolinguistic programming.  In her own words, "almost always the roots of a given problem are a set of beliefs formed early in life. This process literally un-wires these beliefs for good." www.hypn...

In this episode, Jay talks with insurance and financial services advisor Robby Williams about financial planning with purpose.  The conversation touches on subjects such as tax implications and clears up some confusion surrounding equity market versus fixed-income investment, diversification, what to keep in mind when making a long-term plan, and viewing financial planning with a purpose based on...

Elizabeth Tollis is a business coach, entrepreneur and podcaster.  As a business coach she helps entrepreneurs build the mission-based business of their dreams.   On her podcast "Full Focus Entrepreneur" she talks to other entrepreneurs and mission-minded people about what makes them go.  Some of the topics in this episode include guesting on podcasts as a means of promotion and networking, simpli...

This episode of the Good Eye Podcast is a joint episode with the Synapse Hubcast .  It features Jay speaking with representatives for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Renee Fairchild of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude, and John Tyndall of the St. Jude Young Professionals of Richmond which unites with local leaders of tomorrow to help advance cures for pediatric...

In this conversation, Jay Smack speaks with Jane M Powers about their Podcast Speaks event on April 29 and 30.  They discuss Jane M Powers' CORE Sales Program involving personality types and methods of communication, the need for what Jane calls your INTROmercial, the importance of listening, interview techniques, podcasting as a lead generation tool, podcasting as a means of deep-diving into what...

James Burk is a the IT Director for and a member of The Mars Society .  The website states: "The Mars Society is the world's largest and most influential space advocacy organization dedicated to the human exploration and settlement of the planet Mars. Established by Dr. Robert Zubrin and others in 1998, the group works to educate the public, the media and the government on the benefits of explorin...

Laurie Hedges is a filmmaker, photographer, conservationist and biologist.  He produces films for wildlife and environmental conservation causes, working with NGO's, organizations, companies and practitioners across the globe.  We talk about his travels, production gear and some of the causes, indigenous peoples and animals he works to defend. Laurie Hedges' website Laurie on Instagram Good Eye Po...

Ryan Kent is a published poet, writer and former vocalist for the band Gritter.  His poetry collections include "Hit Me When I'm Pretty", "This Is Why I Am Insane" and "Poems For Dead People" and "Tomorrow Ruined Today" - a collaboration with his Dead Books Publishing co-owner Brett Lloyd.  Gritter releases on which he is lead vocalist include "Welcome To The Sinkhole", "Nobody Cares"  and a self-...

Shannon Ross is the president of The Community, which he started as a personal development newsletter to provide information to the incarcerated community in 2014 while serving a seventeen year prison sentence in Wisconsin. He was released in September, when he began (the first day out) a graduate degree program at UW-Milwaukee for which he had been offered a scholarship. He is also a community fe...

Soles4Souls turns unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunity, by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good use – providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty.  Stephanie Hathaway is Operations Director in the Richmond, Va location of Souls4Soles. Soles4Souls Good Eye Podcast

Tom Leahy started the Beacon Tree Foundation as a result of his own family's challenges presented by mental illness in the form of clinical depression. Beacon Tree's mission is to be an advocate for families who have children struggling with mental illness by focusing on education, access to services, and the ability to pay for those services. The 9th Annual Trees of Hope event is Beacon Tree Foun...

Sara Daves, Intuitive Purpose Coach, has put together a virtual event that features speakers talking about how after a (to say the least) tumultuous 2020 we can begin to "shift our focus toward healing the relationships with ourselves and others, and with our planet. We can act from a place of belonging, connection and hope."  Sara talks about the summit, the featured speakers and their messages. ...

Rik Surly is industrious, entrepreneurial, metal and has a green thumb.  After spending years in the restaurant industry and years playing and touring in bands.  Then he created a musical entity he could drive himself: Thunderchief.  He has also created some of the best hot sauce you've ever experienced: the Thunderchief Sauce of Doom.  It's all natural, uses no vinegar and he grows all the chilis...