Turmeric and Tequila‪™‬ KO Alliance, LLC

“Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.”
 – Sherry Anderson
 In this inspiring episode of Turmeric & Tequila Podcast, host Kristen Olson sits down with Aaron Varcasio, the passionate chapter captain of Team Red, White and Blue (RWB) in Denver. They dive deep into the significance of community involvement, particularly in supporting veterans' mental health and well-being. Aaron shares his journey from New York to Colorado, highlighting his transition from aspiring to serve in the navy, to becoming a pivotal figure in fitness and volunteerism. We learn about Team RWB's mission to provide physical, social, and mental support through various inclusive activities, welcoming everyone from age 16 to 99, regardless of their fitness levels. The organization boasts over 250,000 members and orchestrates 19,500 annual events. Aaron underlines the organization's focus on health, wellness, and social engagement, which touches on his personal drive influenced by his Eagle Scout background. The episode captures the heart of volunteering, with Aaron emphasizing the profound satisfaction of going to bed with a full heart after a day spent giving back. He also highlights upcoming events, like the one in May, and the need partnership support to boost attendance and membership. The call to action is clear — support servicemen and women by participating in community events and enrich your own life through the act of giving!
 Related Articles:
Blog — Team Red, White & Blue
Team RWB Denver
Team Red, White & Blue: a community-based model for ...
 Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introduction to 'Turmeric and Tequila' with Host Kristen Olson
01:25 - Welcoming Aaron Varkasio, Chapter Captain at Team RWB
03:40 -Personal Journey: From New York to Colorado for Fitness and Service
06:13 - Team RWB Denver: Big, Bold Beautiful
07:54 - The Mission of Team RWB, who are we?
09:30 - The Role of CrossFit in Community and Veteran Support
12:20 - Who can attend events? Everyone!
15:45 - What do RWD funds support?
16:30- Who is an ideal partner for RWB?
19:06- The Impact of Volunteering on Mental and Physical Health
20:55 - Have Fun.
21:15 - The Eagle call
22:02- The importance of giving back, mental health for all.
23:41- What is success to you?
24:23- Eagle scout for life
 
Aaron Varcasio
Moved to Colorado from Upstate NY 13 years ago. Currently live in Littleton with my wife Jenny and 4 Animals (2 Dogs and 2 Cats)
Full Time job: Grocery/Bulk Manager at Natural Grocers. Volunteer job: Chapter Captain for Team RWB Denver
Free Time: Train at the gym 5-6 days a week. Run about 2 -3 days a week.
@aaronvarcasio
 
Team RWB:
MISSION: ENRICHING VETERANS’ LIVES
VISION: FORGING AMERICA’s LEADING HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMUNITY FOR VETERANS
www.teamrwb.org
#teamrwb #teamrwbdenver  #fitness #veteran
@teamrwbdenver
@teamrwb
 
Connect with T&T:
IG: @TurmericTequila
Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila
Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com
Host: Kristen Olson
IG: @Madonnashero
Tik Tok: @Madonnashero 
Website: www.KOAlliance.com
 

“A lot of people notice when you succeed, but they don't see what it takes to get there.’
-Dawn Staley
 As a female athlete I could not be more excited AND impressed by what the women of the NCAAW basketball have done (are doing) and how they showed everyone- basketball fan or not- that you should be watching some of the biggest rising stars in our sports world compete… and dominate. Join me on this solo cast as we dive into the electrifying world of women's college basketball spotlighting the remarkable journeys of Caitlin Clark, Angle Reese, and Juju Watkins (just to name a few) and the unforgettable moments from the NCAA 2024 Tournament that drew in the numbers- views and dollars. Numbers don’t lie! I will breakdown why the women’s game has taken off and how it is different than the men’s (on and off the court). I’ll break down the numbers from viewership to sponsorship and who is cashing out by staying in college vs going pro and what the long-term impact is of these big changes. Let’s get into the fierce athleticism, strategic brilliance, and inspirational stories that captivated audiences nationwide that defined this historic season- these aren’t just great athletes, these are great business women.
Related Articles: The Morning Star: Numbers Don’t Lie
Time Stamps:
00:39- Intro to the extraordinary 2024 NCAAW season
2:09- Young millionaires
3:06- Life skills through sports, not men vs. women
3:35- Viewership by the numbers
4:52- Women’s basketball beating the NBA
5:56- Main channels vs. cable (impact on viewership)
6:28- Women’s basketball has star power
7:45- Women staying in college and making more $
9:33- How much are the top men’s and women’s players making?
10:24- Marketing to heads of the household financially, women
11:10- College vs. The WNBA
11:49- Women supporting women, Dawn Staley thanks Catlin Clark
12:31- Women’s basketball converting non-basketball fans
13:40- Great athletes, great business women
14:27- “I have people for that.”
15:30- Go check it out!
16:01- Standing on the shoulders of all the female athletes before us
17:39- Inspired, let’s go!
 
Connect with T&T:
IG: @TurmericTequila
Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila
Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com 
Host: Kristen Olson
IG: @Madonnashero
Tik Tok: @Madonnashero
Website: www.KOAlliance.com

I am so excited for this conversation and to welcome back, THE Rosa Jad and THE Clare Sobon! This is an absolutely fun and informative conversation between three real friends sharing their real journeys in entrepreneurship. We are different ages, races, born in different countries, and have all started different businesses- different ways. Rosa is show-host rock star, forging an intentional global production, The Rotation Show, and Clare is the who-you-need-to-know human (+model) establishing the mission driven WYN boutique public relations agency. And of course, I share my journeys competing in business, fitness, and beyond- CRS LAX, KO ALLIANCE, and T&T! The success, failures, and pro tips from the three of us are all tales to learn from… and enjoy. Seriously, the laughs alone are worth the listen (you’re welcome). Most importantly- whatever path you choose, there is one main take away here: keep your girls close, you’re going to need them. XO FAM.
Time Stamps: HERE
Rosa Jad 
Born in the Middle East and immigrating to the United States in 2000. Starting a radio career in one of America's top media markets at just the young age of 17, being a pioneer is in Rosa's nature.  As well as dominating the airwaves and ratings for 10 years on multiple top heritage stations she’s also the Founder & CEO of RoRos Global Enterprises Inc. A new media content development and distribution company whose mission is to connect global communities and nurture positive safe spaces through original content, entertainment, and education. Specifically catering to underrepresented women in Arab cultures around the world. Rosa the example of Trailblazing Women in Entrepreneurship!
www.rorosglobal.com
@rosajad
@therotationshow
 
Clare Sobon
Clare Sobon serves as the Owner and Lead Publicist at WYN Public Relations. In 2020 she set her sights on creating a boutique PR agency in Denver, Colorado, that focused on servicing novice business owners who looked to shape their public narrative while continually scaling their business. Two years later, WYN PR has intentionally become a word-of-mouth agency strategically anchored in creating public relations and social strategy solutions for businesses that are looking to get the job done. Her East-Coast approach to targeted PR strategy and project management has enabled WYN PR to become an affiliate business model that seeks to source and collaborate with small and black-owned businesses. She is thrilled to be engulfed in what she coins to be the “social renaissance” of Denver! Clare is the example of Trailblazing Women in Entrepreneurship!
Hometown: Somerset (Franklin), New Jersey // Place of Origin, Gabon, Africa
www.WYNPublicRelations.com
@finn_bclare
Connect with T&T:
IG: @TurmericTequila
Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila
Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com
 
Host: Kristen Olson
IG: @Madonnashero
Tik Tok: @Madonnashero
Website: www.KOAlliance.com
 
 

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”
~William A. Foster
 Let’s get informed on our food and why quality AND morality matter in the farming world! I am excited to welcome Larry Lempka, local owner of Los Rios Farms! Los Rios is a regenerative farm that has been in Larry’s family for over 60 years. As times as moved, Larry has worked to evolve as well and stay on the trend setting tip of farming, but also maintain quality and intentionality. We unpack a lot in this conversation from big food/big pharma, the Dust Bowl, why we need to stop plowing, how we did it wrong from the beginning by disrupting the Indigenous people who had so right, and so much more. Larry gives some great insight on what you can do now from making better choices and shopping local, to checking out certainly documentaries and leaders in the community. This convo is a great intro into questioning a better way on how you fuel- yourself, your family, and your soul.
Enter to win $75 worth of met from Los Rios Farm HERE !!
Related Articles:
Regenerative Agriculture – An Evolving Concept
Regenerative agriculture: merging farming and natural ..
Big food companies commit to 'regenerative agriculture' but ...
 Time Stamps HERE
 Larry Lempka :
Larry is a CSU Alumni, with a degree in Agricultural Business, and a minor in Agronomy.  He was a member of FarmHouse Fraternity and was a member of the National Champion Meat Judging Team at CSU. He is a Proud member of the Future Farmers of America, where he held the position of State Reporter in 1979-80 and created the first year of the ongoing Colorado FFA Magazine.  He holds the FFA American Farmer Degree. He is currently President of the Little Thompson Watershed Coalition which was established after the 2013 Flood and was a member of the Larimer County Agricultural Advisory Board to the County Commissioners.  He is a member of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Colorado Coalition to Enhance Working Lands, Citizen Science Soil Health Project, and several other soil improvement and livestock associations. He has been awarded the 2022 Environmental Stewardship Award from Larimer County and recently been selected to participate in the Saving Tomorrow's Agricultural Resources Plus Program to work to promote and improve agricultural lands where he was established a 4 out of 5-star rating in the initial year of the program.
 Los Rios Farm, LLC
Berthoud, CO  80513
@losriosfarm
https://www.losriosfarm.com/
Enter to win $75 worth of met from Los Rios Farm HERE  or here https://www.losriosfarm.co/giveaway-with-t-t 
 
Connect with T&T:
IG: @TurmericTequila
Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila
Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com
 Host: Kristen Olson
IG: @Madonnashero
Tik Tok: @Madonnashero
Website: www.KOAlliance.com
 
 

 
“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.”
-George Addair
 
I am excited to welcome fellow entrepreneur, podcaster, and CrossFitter, Tamara Ghandour, to the T&T mic! As a business and fitness standout, Tamara shares her journey of personal and professional evolution with success, failure, and a huge passion for humans being humans. Tamara has a wealth of experience in the entrepreneurial and corporate worlds and leading both in humanizing innovation- guiding us to those desired solutions all while understating ourselves and one another just a little bit more. From her failed first small business idea in NYC to working with every major brand you can think of, Tamara proves she can question a better way and lead us to it. This is an awesome conversation for leaders of any kind or anyone looking to fully unleash their human potential for themselves and others. Tamara leads with empathy, knowledge, experience, confidence, and most importantly- heart… understand the individual and see what the team can do!
 
Highlights:
Unleashing human potential. Doing things your way. Why humans do the things they do. Failure, success, and evolution. Leadership, fitness, and equalizers. Self-belief, mental health, and CrossFit. Innovation. Seeking and finding purpose. Loving people and reaching goals. Individuals and teams.
 
Related Articles:
Launch Street In The News
Work Fails with Founder of Launch Street, Tamara Ghandour
 Tamara Ghandour
 
Tamara Ghandour:
At the forefront of human-centered innovation, the impact of Tamara Ghandour’s groundbreaking work can be seen in individuals and teams across the globe. Bringing together over two decades of business experience, neuroscience, behavioral psychology and change principles, Tamara created the first tools to truly make innovation tangible and accessible to all of us. Through her proprietary assessment, the Innovation Quotient Edge™ (IQE), her book Innovation is Everybody’s Business, and online tools and training, Tamara helps leaders and teams discover the keys to unlocking their innovative minds to get into a state of flow, create meaningful breakthroughs, have stronger, more valued voices and build high-performing, high-value teams that innovate and win, together. #humanpotential
https://www.gotolaunchstreet.com/
@originaltamara
 
Time Stamps:
0:45- Tamara Intro
1:47- Young Tamara, on the move
3:01- Fascinated by people
3:40- Saturday School, fighting the power
5:00- What made you comfortable not following the rules?
7:58- Tell me why?
9:49- Moving so much was a blessing
10:28- Finding my way in college
11:45- Subsidized lunches, motivated by feeling shame
13:15- Letting kids fail
15:39- Seeking comfort, unfortunately
18:40- The BEST thing you can do
19:30- Diversity is the answer
22:20- Balance of certainty and uncertainty
24:20- Change is personal
26:41- Self awareness, human potential
28:31- The positives of covid
32:20- Heartfelt leaderships
35:40- From the outside looking in
37:17- Entrance into entrepreneurship
40:58- Accepting failure
43:43- Innovation in baby care
45:54- Shifting into the human vs the idea
48:54- Hired to solve problems, understanding humans
52:13- The biggest mistake I’ve ever made
58:45- Be ready to change the plan
1:02:20- Loving all the moments
1:05:45- Real Confidence
1:07:46- It’s all temporary
1:10:44- Tamara’s assessment
1:19:20- Friction from conformity
1:22:22- Think about the back half of challenge
 
Connect with T&T:
IG: @TurmericTequila
Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila
Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com
 
Host: Kristen Olson
IG: @Madonnashero
Tik Tok: @Madonnashero
Website: www.KOAlliance.com

"At The End, It's Not About What You Have Or Even What You've Accomplished. It's About Who You've Lifted Up, Who You've Made Better. It's About What You've Given Back."
— Denzel Washington
 I am extra excited about this conversation as a lifelong Colorado athlete! Today we welcome hometown hero, Jake Plummer, to the T&T mic. Jake is a football great, as second-round pick in 1997 he then spent 10 years in the NFL playing for the Arizona Cardinals and then the here, with our Denver Broncos. In addition to being an athlete, Jake is a family man, businessman, and passionate about living on purpose and helping people however he can. Jake shares the journey thus far with success and failures as well as new ventures he is deeply passionate about and currently launching from Colorado. Jake owns a mushroom farm, Mycolove Farm, and is the Co- Founder (with Rashad Evans and Del Jolly) of Get Umbo, a thriving functional mushroom company, making big moves in the athletic and lifestyle spaces, “We believe that functional mushrooms are an untapped and powerful force for good”. This is an awesome conversation of purpose with a balance of science, intuition, and positive energy. Enjoy!
 Highlights:
Playing collegiate and professional football. Physical, mental, and brain health. Changes in the health and fitness industry over the years. Power to the people and asking questions. Life lessons through sports. Predictions on the Broncos future. Playing for the team. Science, intuition, and the balance in between. Living on purpose and serving a mission larger than yourself.
 Related Articles:
Jake Plummer's journey with mushrooms leads to healing ...
Jake Plummer went from NFL QB to mushroom farmer?
Jake Plummer's new life as a mushroom farmer - Denver
Jake "The Snake" Plummer:
Pro-Bowl NFL Quarterback. Ten years in the NFL, playing for the Arizona Cardinals and the Denver Broncos, earned Jake a reputation as a natural leader, inspiring his teammates to believe in themselves and each other — personal excellence for the sake of the team. Drawn to natural medicine, he is eager to learn how mushrooms can help us individually, and our collective power can make a better world.
@snakeplummer
 Meet Umbo:
Umbo was founded by two former professional athletes, each of whom spent long and successful careers that were filled with fierce combat and other-worldly levels of stress. We believe that functional mushrooms are an untapped and powerful force for good. Our food and supplements were created and tested by our founders (and their close circle of trainers, nutritionists, and other elite pro athletes), to give athletes of all levels an edge on performance and recovery.
@getumbo
 
Connect with T&T:
IG: @TurmericTequila
Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila
Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com 
Host: Kristen Olson
IG: @Madonnashero
Tik Tok: @Madonnashero
Website: www.KOAlliance.com