The Debbie Nigro Show Debbie Nigro

I love gritty and gutsy women who make it in business against all odds. I am one, and so I am always drawn to the same. 
 
We all have stuff. We all have crap. We all have horrific things that happen to us emotionally and financially that make us think, how the hell am I ever getting out of this? Often you don't even know where to begin.
 
Sometimes just listening to someone else’s story lends a clue. Especially when it’s a real-life lesson in resilience and survival. This story I’m about to share is very powerful. Because it’s about the power of believing in yourself.
 
Today you're going to hear the extraordinary story of Marcy Manfredonia. This now successful entrepreneur rose from extreme emotional and financial hardship. You will be inspired. She turned nothing and I do mean NOTHING, into something else!  
Three Successful businesses now and counting. National Maintenance, Custom Candle Co. and CBD Live Natural, with plans for plans for more entrepreneurial ventures in the hopper. She’s Unstoppable. 
Most amazing is that she never even learned how to read or write as she had to drop out of school young to take a job to help support her family.
 
This is one of the most authentic interviews I have ever done with one of the most authentic people I have ever met. If you’re not a Marcie fan after listening or reading, I’ll eat my hat.  
I do think you should listen to this one vs read about it. Why? Well, let’s just say Marcie’s story told in her deep voiced Bronx Italian accent might just remind you to never judge a book by its cover. I’ll take the liberty to say that because I’m also Italian (American), have been judged wrong along the way by many, and also have a pretty deep voice for a female. I often talk a little too NY fast for some, but if you want to hear two gritty and gutsy female entrepreneurs talkin’ no BS about how to push through when life gets tough - you should listen.
Also, in the spirit of May being Mental Health Awareness Month and knowing full well how many people struggle with emotional, financial and relationship challenges – I felt showcasing Marcie’s story would encourage a whole lot of people - to never stop believing in themselves!
I had met Marcie some years ago at an event held at her cool store in Bedford Hills, NY. She held a sort of networking party and I was invited by a lovely friend so I went. I was in awe of her beautifully designed store filled with magical candles and gifts on one side (Custom Cando Co.) and on the other an entire classy line of CBD and related products (CBD Live Natural) The party was set up father back in the store where there was a bar set up and beautiful appetizers and art.
Then there was Marcie. To say Marcie has a presence that stands out would be an understatement. She’s tall and attractive, always dressed a little sparkly, and has a unique deep voice with a Bronx Italian accent. She bubbles with enthusiasm, confidence, and compassion.
That day I overheard her telling another guest about her years of suffering from fibromyalgia and anxiety and trying every possible way to get out of pain to no avail - until her son suggested she try CBD which she didn’t understand and was afraid of but tried out of desperation. It worked and changed her whole life. Thus, her decision to start her CBD Live Natural store to try and help others get out of pain. Marcie spends a lot of time trying to help others.
In fact, I learned it was at a American Cancer Society fundraiser that she threw to raise them some money, that a women from Whole Foods flipped out over her table decorations. Marcie made impressive centerpieces filled with candles flowers and candy out of recycled pink bottles that her son found in NYC which she cut and polished. When that someone said wow you should make this into a business - Marcie did. Her company Custom Candle Co. will take any bottle of wine or champagne that represents a memora

A stolen password can be all it takes for hackers to disrupt a life, a business, or the world. 
 
The safeguarding of our identity has never been more critical. Constantly evolving AI-enabled DEEPFAKES are now creating enormous security and safety challenges.
 
Enter iVALT, a revolutionary game-changer in cyber security.
 
iVALT Founder & CEO Baldev Krishan Ph.D. joined me to talk about their groundbreaking solution. He is a 2X Nominated “Entrepreneur of the Year” in Silicon Valley with 20 patents.
 
Fixing the Weakest Link.
 
Over $170B was spent last year in cybersecurity, yet some of the biggest failures came from the “weakest link in cybersecurity” – a simple phone call by a hacker.
 
Before iVALT, there was no way to decisively identify the person at the other end of a phone call. Caller ID is easily spoofed, SIM swaps are common, KYC can be compromised, and hackers are highly skilled in just using psychological manipulation to get what they want.
 
The iVALT mobile app empowers individuals and customer facing workers to demand clear identity on any call (including biometrics) in 1-click.
Most social engineering attacks could be stopped by iVALT before any real damage can be done.
 
Baldev and I talked about the alarming reality of identity theft, highlighting how even seemingly secure methods like multi-factor authentication fall short in the face of sophisticated hackers.
 
I myself just went through 'cyber hell' when a hacker stole my password from my web hosting site and started buying domains around the world with my credit card. To prove my own identity and get my own website back and functioning, took me one month of pure aggravation! It was honestly outrageous!
 
Baldev revealed the flaws in current authentication systems and the urgent need for a more robust solution.
 
What Is The Solution? 
 
“iVALT”, said Baldev, “is a game-changing technology offering five plus factors of authentication." “Our platform leverages biometric data and other variables to create a virtually impenetrable authentication process.”
 
It seems that with a simple app installation and one-time setup, users can bid farewell to the hassle of passwords and embrace seamless, secure authentication.
 
With five patents granted and ten pending, iVALT is uniquely positioned to provide the strongest level of identity verification and access management at scale. something no one else in the $30 billion identity market can currently provide he said.
 
Thought more people should know more about this innovation. iVALT is emerging as a pioneer in shaping the future of identity protection.
 
Enjoy being one of the first to know about this game changer and meet Founder/CEO Baldev Krishan in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

Fire Chief Rebecca Strobl Turned Her Knowledge of Life-Saving Skills into a Business to Train Others How To React In Emergencies.
 
I don’t know about you, but I could use a refresher course in how to do CPR, and what exactly to do first when someone’s bleeding badly, even what to do if someone is in shock.
 
In a recent episode of the Debbie Nigro Show, I decided to shine a spotlight on Rebecca and her company New Day Education and Motivation located in Waleska, Georgia because I thought the work she was doing was critical and felt every community should have a Rebecca. 
 
Rebecca Strobl has inspired me to go get a hands on refresher course in how to react in emergencies. Apparently I don't own the market on being a nervous reactor when something insane happens as most people without the right skills do panic.
 
By leveraging her expertise and passion, Rebecca Strobl is making a difference one life-saving skill at a time, inspiring others to join her in creating safer and more prepared communities.
 
 
 With a background as a retired volunteer fire chief and extensive experience in the security industry, Rebecca saw a need for widespread training in emergency response. 
 
Starting as a lieutenant in the fire department, she saw a gap in knowledge and took it upon herself to provide comprehensive training not only to firefighters but also to individuals in various industries.
 
One of the key takeaways from my conversation with Rebecca was the importance of hands-on training in emergency situations vs watching a video.
 
Rebecca is adamant that of in-person courses matter, because participants can practice CPR, use AEDs, apply tourniquets, and learn to manage shock effectively.
 
She highlighted the difference between simply knowing what to do and having the confidence to act decisively in critical moments especially the average person who does not have a background in using these skills on a regular basis.
 
Rebecca stressed the significance of being prepared for emergencies by having essential supplies on hand. She recommends items like CPR masks, tourniquets, dressings, bandages, and emergency blankets for addressing the three primary killers: lack of breathing, severe bleeding, and shock.
 
Rebecca's passion is to empower individuals to with the knowledge to be able to save lives. Her dedication to teaching life-saving skills extends beyond traditional training methods, as she utilizes engaging and interactive techniques to ensure participants feel confident and prepared to respond in emergencies.
 
She is doing remarkable work and I encourage listeners to explore opportunities for training with New Day Education and Motivation if you are in the Georgia area.  I encourage other communities to follow her lead in offering training for these lifesaving skills.
 
Rebecca's mission to equip communities with life-saving skills is a true testament to the impact that individuals can have when they are empowered with knowledge and training.
 
To learn more about Rebecca Strobl and New Day Education and Motivation, visit their website at newdayeducationandmotivation.com.
 
You’ll get a good life saving education in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

 TJ Hills, the renowned author of "Sex, Drugs, Babies and Breast Cancer’.  joined me in the studio for a lively and very enlightening conversation to delve into the pivotal topic of estrogen, genetic testing, and its profound impact on women's health.
 
She’s passionate about educating women about estrogen exposures and genetic nutritional tools in cancer prevention. Her message is universal as cancer touches the lives of many.
 
Sharing Wisdom from Her Own Personal Experiences
 
TJ shared her journey from a bustling Wall Street career to confronting breast cancer, highlighting the tendency to prioritize everything over personal health. Something we both know women in general typically do.
 
But TJ stressed the need for women to cut the nonsense and prioritize their own health over ‘other things to do first’, as neglecting it can have profound consequences.
 
Her Insights on Estrogen and Genetic Testing
 
TJ has become consumed with her mission to share her knowledge about the significance of understanding estrogen metabolism genes and their impact on women’s health decisions.
 
She explained the essence of genetic testing, which focuses on how the body processes estrogen rather than simply measuring estrogen levels.
 
Having this knowledge she says, has everything to do with very practical scenarios, like decisions women make about birth control pills or bioidentical hormones which are influenced by genetic predispositions.
 
Founder, Better Estrogen Health Foundation
 
TJ's Foundation offers free estrogen nutrition toolkits and nutritional consultations, aiming at empowering women to make informed decisions about their health.
 
With advancements in technology and artificial intelligence, access to genetic information for disease prevention is becoming more feasible.
 
TJ is urging women to take proactive measures and so they can make informed choices.
 
Through education, awareness, and accessible resources, she says, the journey towards healthier living becomes not only feasible but imperative.
 
Meet TJ Hills and get educated in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.
 
 
 
T.J. Hills is a Founding Board Member of the Better Estrogen Foundation whose mission is to save lives by educating women about estrogen exposures and how genetic nutritional tools may prevent cancer.  In breast cancer remission since 2009,T.J. Is the Former CEO and Board Member of the Estrogen Gene Test Co and Hormonal Cancer Foundation.  She spent 35 years on Wall Street advising Institutional Investors about research and data. She is a powerful speaker who has appeared on National TV, radio and print outlets across the country and spoken at major medical and corporate conferences as well as large and small women’s groups inspiring women and their physicians to take control of their health starting with a simple estrogen gene test.

I’ve been focusing on people who make the world a more beautiful place this week. People who through their work, their ethics, their integrity, their talent, their genius just makes it happier for the rest of us.
 
Charles Fazzino has been called one of the most famous pop artists in the world.
 
I've been a huge fan of his style of pop art since the minute I first saw it in a window decades ago in New York City. I would stand there and stare in the window amazed at every little intricate pop-up thing he thought of to make a piece come to life. Often because I was in NYC it would be NYC buildings and street scenes. But Charles does that for many cities around the world.
 
Charles likes to be called a pop culture historian. And I know he's got a bit of a sense of humor because of the way he does the layering of the pieces in his 3D art where he shows the best of pop culture and the best of people's lives in places and events around the world. And I do mean around the world. He’s become internationally renowned.
 
He gets commissioned to do pieces for the Grammys and The Olympics and The Super Bowl every year. When I saw his Super Bowl piece this year I was sparked to take a shot at seeing if he was around to join me on my show. We live in the same city but have never met.
 
I figured he’d say yes because I know he has a warm heart. He donates a lot of his pieces of art to help good causes raise money, one of which I personally helped auction off years ago at a charity function.
 
For those who still have never seen an unmistakable Fazzino work of art, I asked Charles to explain it to somebody in words?

“Yes, easy. I always tell people, if you're not looking at my artwork, or you're just seeing it online, or looking at it in a book or a magazine or whatever, it's hard to see the three dimensions. So, I describe it that it's kind of like a pop-out book, even a pop-out children's book, even though they're not, you know, children's artwork."
 
"When I was a kid, my mother was from Finland and she always collected these European pop-out books, and she had them all around the house.  My brother's sister and I were always enthralled with these cool pop-out books from Europe that were handmade, and she had hundreds of them.  So, when I went to school, I kind of, you know, I wanted to make a pop-out book and that's kind of like how it all started.”
 
Most of the time Charles is sitting at his desk and drawing artwork that touches many people young and old. The intricacy, the colors and the designs make people happy.
 
I asked him one of my signature questions.
How does your head work inside?
 
Meaning what is going on in his head all day long to be able to produce these kinds of unique pieces of work?
 
“Well, I think it's a lot of my if I was just an artist sitting in my studio drawing, I don't know if I'd have so many ideas as I do. And I can't even implement the idea. I get it, you know, it's just very, there's so many things I want to draw and so many things that I want to show through my artwork, but not enough time and not enough hours in the day to do it. So I think the travel, when I travel to certain places, it really gives me and opens up my eyes to a lot of the world. I always come back with new ideas. I always carry a little sketchbook. I have my phone at the ready whenever I'm traveling, taking pictures, and it helps and reminds me of what I saw and always gives me these new ideas. People always ask me, where do you come up with all these ideas? I say, well, a lot of it has to do with places that I go.”
 
One of his latest pieces pays homage to our oceans to bring awareness. It’s a departure for Charles artistically, because instead of drawing buildings he’s drawing sea life, and coral, and all the things that are under the sea.
“When you look at the piece, he says, “three quarters of it is ocean, but above the ocean, you'll look, and you can see cities fro

I can’t get enough of my friend Alvin Clayton. He is bursting with talent and great energy, and I think he makes the world a more beautiful place through all he does and especially through his art through which he tries to speak to people’s humanity. 
Recently I felt compelled to introduce Alvin to as many people as possible who may not know about him just to be able to see the amazing art he creates. Famous people collect his stuff. People like Robert De Niro and Denzel Washington and Halle Berry just to name a few.
Alvin has a fabulous restaurant in New Rochelle, NY called Alvin & Friends which has won many awards. The food is contemporary Caribbean with a Black American South influence, that caters to a discerning customers, and the vibe is always cool with live music often. 
A self -taught artist inspired by Matisse, Alvin's extraordinarily colorful art literally blasts from the walls of his restaurant.
My boyfriend Dave and I often pop in to Alvin’s for a drink and we love when Alvin comes over for a hug and hello and pulls out his phone to show us photos of the latest, greatest pieces of art he has created.  
 
Every single time I think to myself, my God this guy is ridiculously talented!
 
“Well, I think what I try to do with my art is it speaks to people's humanity. And I think our humanity is very much connected and is a common ground. And I think if you reach to humanity, color becomes out of the picture. You get yourself into that situation. So, what I try to do with my art is to bring the viewer into that moment or that situation and say, wow, you know what, I've experienced that with my friend. And it's not about color because we all experience it.” 
 
I don’t know how Alvin Clayton does it all. He’s married 30 years to a  brilliant beautiful woman, has three children, runs a bustling restaurant that is usually packed with interesting people from all walks of life, then goes home and stays up all night painting.
He’s a good-looking son-of-a-gun too and must not eat all that fabulous food he makes because he’s been a professional model for 25 years. Alvin was the first African American to have eight full pages in GQ magazine. He’s worked for every catalog you could think of, and done major campaigns for Banana Republic, and has shot for Ralph Lauren.
 
Maybe it’s all that worrying he does that keeps him thin. LOL 
“There could be 99 people in my restaurant having an amazing time and possibly one person that did not have the perfect experience and that would wake me out of my sleep. I mean, I’ve gotten a bit better on it, but that still bothers me. I'm genuinely people-oriented, and so my whole thing is to seeing people being in a good space and I think that's what I do with my art too.
 
Alvin Try’s To Paint Solutions To The Issues Bothering Us  
“I mean I paint what some of the issues are that are bothering us and dividing us or whatever, but while I'm painting that I'm also thinking okay we know what the bad things are, what are the solutions, right? And so that's always the final chapter of whatever I do, it's solution.”
Alvin believes, “We have more in common than we do that separates us”.
 
About His Painting of a Woman with Alzheimer’s He Just Showed Me

“Yes, so I was sitting next to this woman in the Dr’s office, her daughter brought her in actually, she had Alzheimer's and the daughter had to go in for her appointment. She asked me if I could keep an eye on her mom while she was in. I said, of course. And so while she was there, I was looking at her. She was dressed really lovely. You could tell she had style and grace. And there was something about her aura that just seemed to be, you could tell she was a beautiful person even though a lot was missing right now. And she was going into her pocketbook and somehow this image came out that she's searching for a pocketbook of lost memories. And so I took her picture and did th