Connect the dots nine dots

In this episode, we talk with Cory Pesaturo (“C Pez”) who is revolutionizing the Accordion.  Cory is the only person to ever win the trio of World Championships on Acoustic, Digital & Jazz Accordion, and the only Accordion graduate of the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.
Cory has given 2 TED Talks, 2 Google Talks, an EG Talk, and spoken at various other conferences on the accordion.
Pesaturo's extensive resumé includes appearances at the White House, TV appearances on The Tonight Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Let’s Make a Deal with Wayne Brady.
In this episode Cory expresses his desire to change the stereotypes of people play the accordion as only being 75 year old men playing the polka.  Cory shares his philosophy about being the best musician you can be – regardless of the instrument you play. Cory believes in putting in the hard work to learn music theory while always striving to play with people better than yourself.
This episode also features a few snippets of tunes that Cory plays flawlessly, illustrating that Cory is not your average accordian player – in fact he shows his mastery of both his instrument and of music.
Connect with Cory:
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In this episode we hear from the amazing Kate Scott, - the television voice of the Philadelphia 76ers – who continues to break barriers as a leader in sports broadcasting.
Among her many accomplishments, Kate was the first woman to call an NFL & NBA game on the radio, men’s basketball at the Olympics, Copa América and Gold Cup soccer for Fox and an NHL game in the United States.
Kate shares her story of being the little girl who loves sports. Kate almost became a teacher until one of her teachers identified Kate’s interest in sports and journalism. Having watching Sports Center since she was in kindergarten, Kate feels lucky to be able to get paid for her passion and she likens sports broadcasting to a ballet. Kate feels extremely lucky and grateful and is keen to see how her success can impact others. Her philosophy is simple: Work Hard. Be Kind.
Connect with Kate:
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In this episode we chat with New Zealander Mahé Drysdale a two-time Olympic champion and a five-time world champion in the single sculls. He is a seven-time New Zealand national champion and five-time recipient of New Zealand Sportsman of the Year.
Mahé shares what it takes to be a champion including often times brutal training. While Mahé was more interested in drinking that training when he first began, once he committed to the goal of competing at the Olympics, his hard work and dedication were unwavering.  
Mahé shares that success is all about giving your best and your all, as you need to be satisfied with the result. He expresses the need to have passion to endure the hard work.  In the end, he appreciated doing something he loved and focuses now on the welfare and wellbeing of athletes.
Connect with Mahé:
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In this episode we are invited into the world of Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine, author of the book Build For Tomorrow, a startup advisor, and host of the podcasts Build For Tomorrow (yes, same name as the book) and Problem Solvers.
Jason shares how he started writing with comic strips in elementary school and then short stories and really terrible poetry. Eventually writing for a local music magazine led to having powerful chats with bands he loved, that invited him into their world.   
Today, Jason is very grateful for the opportunity to have fascinating conversations with people he finds very interesting – which he believe is a rare gift.  
As an editor who writes, he believes when you edit other people you become a much better writer yourself. He encourages those who want to write to worry less about who you are writing for and worry a lot more about gaining the opportunity to write.
Jason likens being a professional writer to winning the lottery.  The way to win the lottery is to buy as many lottery tickets as you can – through hard, grinding work. As Jason shares, every great thing has a price of admission.
Connect with Jason:
Social:
Twitter: @heyfeifer
Instagram: @heyfeifer
Facebook: @heyfeifer
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasonfeifer
Website: jasonfeifer.com
Newsletter: jasonfeifer.bulletin.com
Book: Build for Tomorrow
 
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In this episode we step into the wonderful world of Shantell Martin, with her  unique style and voice in the contemporary art world. Her mastery of the spontaneous hand drawn line has captivated an audience of international patrons, admirers and collectors alike.
Grandmother taught her to strives for creative independence.  Even within her working class environment, Shantell has always felt like the “other,” though found that by using hope and imagination she could be herself.
As pens and pencils were generally available it had a way to level the playing field and opened up the power of drawing. Shantell believes we all have a natural gift in the path from the head to the heart to the hand as an outlet to express.
While Shantell sees a canvas as a way to explore, she is partial to pens and markers – as you can’t erase yourself – it enables you to live with your mistakes and be confident in your expression.
Feeling that you can be very honest with the pen as you create in the moment.  This has been particularly true as she has done live drawings often to music, serving as a visual jockey or improvisational artist.
Shantell continues to pursue her freedom to create what she wants, where she wants in a safe creator space. All this to learn to be yourself while making and sharing the expression of self.
 
Connect with Shantell:
Website: shantellmartin.art
Instagram: @shantell_martin
Twitter: @shantell_martin
Youtube: @shantellmartin
Facebook: @shantellmartinartist
Connect with nine dots:
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In this episode I had the pleasure to chat with someone I have admired for years, Jake Shimabukuro. Saying Jake is an incredible ukulele performer is quite an understatement. Jake is a true ukulele virtuoso and composer.
Jake’s talent is equaled by his pure spirit and desire to connect with the people he plays with and for. Jake approaches playing music as a creative problem solver and finds both satisfaction and occasional frustration using creativity with limitations.
His perspective on success is to be a good person first, then a good musician.
Jake always aims to create impact by connecting with his audience so he can  bring joy to the community with the hope to inspire them with something unexpected.
Connect with Jake:
Website: jakeshimabukuro.com
Instagram: @jakeshimabukuro
Youtube: @jakeshimabukuro
Facebook: @jakeshimabukuromusic
Connect with Geoffrey/nine dots:
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