Contributors

Guests

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Andrew Schulman

Andrew Schulman is a versatile solo guitarist, bandleader, medical musician, author, lecturer, and consultant in the field of music and medicine. Mr. Schulman has appeared as soloist throughout the United States and Europe in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to Lincoln Center in New York City, to the Royal Albert Hall and the Chelsea Arts Club in London.

 

He founded the Abaca String Band, a string quintet, in 1991. They appeared on the Carnegie Hall Neighborhood Concert Series as well as The White House, Newport Music Festival, the Library of Congress, Chautauqua Institution, and Musikfest among others. 

 

In September 2017, he became the first musician to be accepted as a professional member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM). In April 2018 he co-founded the Medical Musician Initiative (MMI), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. 

https://andrewschulmanmusic.com

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Danny Shannon

Danny’s lived experience provides audiences with a chance to comprehend the gravity of addiction and the hope of recovery. His presentations and workshops are honest and open, allowing for a non-judgmental space where no question is off limits or inappropriate, but a chance to learn.

 

With over 13 years of recovery and many years of working in supported programs and services for people seeking recovery from addiction, Danny became an entrepreneur, developing the Encapsulator app. This app has been adapted for specific uses in the Out of Home Care and personal development sectors and is used as a journaling tool for those in therapeutic training or providing professional services.

https://dannyshannon.com.au

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Dr. David Weill

Dr. Weill is the former Director of the Center for Advanced Lung Diseases and the Lung and Heart-Lung Transplant Program at Stanford University Medical Center. He now provides assistance to transplant programs across the country that seek his advice about how to improve the delivery of transplant care.

 

In addition, he serves on a variety of non-profit boards, including the Board of Governors of Tulane Medical School, the Isidore Newman School, NextGen Personal Finance, Elevate USA, KatyCares, and the Rosemary Beach Property Owners Association.

 

Dr. Weill and his wife Jackie live in New Orleans with their two daughters, Hannah and Ava.

https://davidweill.com

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Jae Logan

I have been writing for decades. I love the feel of my pencil running across the paper. I have graduated to pens, but I still love the feel. At first I would attempt to draw and then I realized that drawing is not a talent I was given. Luckily, I did realize I was creative in my storytelling. I loved sitting with my notebook and writing some really funny, or scary or criminal mystery tales.

https://jaelogan.com
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Jeffrey Ashkin

After devoting 13 years of his early life to pursuing a career in entertainment in Los Angeles, Jeff is currently a special education teacher in the Los Angeles public school system. His first book, The Second Life of Jonathan Sendel, is a science fiction novel in which a cloned human tries to find out what happened to his murdered original person. 

Before settling into his role as teacher, father and author, Jeff appeared in a number of films and television shows as background player including Ironman and Grey's Anatomy. He is the producer and star of a number of independent films and welcomes any new roles that may come his way.  

https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.ashkin

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Joe Dinicola

Joe Dinicola, a native of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, is an accomplished author with a passion for storytelling. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Rider University. Joe is happily married to his wife Beth, and they have three boys, Russell, Joey, and Ray, along with their beloved dog, Jordan.


Specializing in children's books and science fiction, Joe has authored the children's book "Jordan and the Fosters" and co-wrote the acclaimed science fiction novel "Project Return Fire." His talent has been recognized in several screenwriting competitions, showcasing his ability to craft engaging and imaginative narratives.


When he's not writing, Joe applies his analytical skills in his role as a software testing manager in the software development industry.


https://joeschmoepublishing.com

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Marklyn "MrDirect" Johnson

Marklyn T. Johnson was born and raised in central New Jersey and is a graduate of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting, Marklyn has worked in the production industry for over twenty years speaking everywhere from schools, churches, and other live events.


Marklyn has seen kids who are down on themselves. He’s seen friends who are discouraged. While following his own dreams, Marklyn has encountered many people with the same dream, however, they don’t always understand the drive and passion it takes. Even in their deepest despair, Marklyn wants to motivate them and lift their spirits.


https://d2designdefined.com

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Risa August

From Risa’s website, risaaugust.com:

After a shocking diagnosis for a rare pituitary disease and with her eighteen-year marriage in shambles, Risa’s life has fallen far from picture-perfect. Recovering from brain surgery and desperate to get back to her former self, she signs up for the bike tour of a lifetime—six weeks from Canada to Mexico on the Pacific Coast Highway. The ride becomes a challenge unlike anything she’s ever faced. She wonders if the woman she once was will ever return or whether the new woman rising up in her place might just be the person she was meant to be all along.

Today, Risa is a Gestalt therapist and certified in Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). She is also an advocate of early detection of acromegaly, the disease she suffers from.

https://risaaugust.com

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Sudi "Rick" Karatas

Rick grew up in Syosset, New York but has been living in Southern California the last 20 years. As a Gemini, he goes by two names, his Turkish birth name Sudi (too common) and his American nickname Rick, one name for each personality.

Besides screenplays and books, he's also written many songs that are on Spotify and iTunes, 12 scripts and a couple of pilots written, one of them, a family inspirational film, Charlie's Dream with plans on shooting in Nashville in 2024.

 

Besides screenplays and books, he's also written many songs that are on Spotify and iTunes, 12 scripts and a couple of pilots written, one of them, a family inspirational film, Charlie's Dream with plans on shooting in Nashville in 2024.

https://www.sudirick.com

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Sue Steinhardt

I am Sue Steinhardt, a twenty-six-year veteran English teacher from New Jersey. I am a passionate advocate for unheard voices and believe that education is the most powerful tool I can help someone acquire. I sit on the Board of Trustees for the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center in the county where I live. I value the life-long relationships teachers form with their students and recognize how we influence one another.

https://imperfectphil.com

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Zach Tidwell

U.S. Marine veteran who survived a suicide attempt, alcoholism and total blindness. Despite all these obstacles, he learned how to code an iPhone app designed for vision-impaired users and he's writing a book about his experiences.

https://zachtidwell.net

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