“Now, my disability isn’t a hindrance. It’s a celebration of what I can do.”
-Sara R. Vogler
Art is life. Life is Art. So says Sara’s email signature- heart AND soul. If Sara’s journey thus far was a painting, there would be no painting more beautiful and inspiring than her true story work of art. Sara was born in Krakow, Poland with a severe form of a rare genetic disorder called TARSA syndrome. The condition means she was born without a radius bone in either forearm, causing her mobility in her hands and arms to be severely impaired. Sara and her family eventually moved to the US where she underwent 17 different surgeries, but Sara and her family we mission driven from the start with an underlying motto of “be the best you can be- no matter what”. Sara is an operation professional with over 10 year of success in all spheres of the government, has 2 degrees, is a Reiki Master, artist, poet, and now, a CrossFit competitor. Her family is creative to the core, encouraging Sara and her creative pursuits in art and poetry and even created a documentary sharing Sara’s journey and mission thus far (a must see). This is an incredible story of a champion’s mindset, true resilience, and a no excuse- SUPER humble varsity human, absolutely living as the best version on themselves on the daily. Sara is a leader (and influencer:), inspiring us all to do really hard things. All the fist bumps to Sara- we can’t wait to see what you do next.
This one is a video, so be sure to check us out on You Tube!
Highlights:
Over coming adversity. Creativity and healing. The importance of community and family support. Fitness, wellness, and fun. Competing on and off the field. Trailblazers in the disability rights movement. CrossFit. Facing challenges and believing in something bigger. Youth programs and impact.
175. Master of Possibility Mindset, Sara R. Vogler
Sara R. Vogler is a strong and energetic program operation professional with a demonstrated history of over 10 years working in all spheres of government. Vogler has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations/Political Science from California State University, Sacramento as well as graduating from College of the Canyons with an Associate of Arts degree.
In her personal time, Vogler is an artist, a poet, a Reiki Master, and an avid CrossFit athlete where Vogler competed in the first ever Women’s Upper Extremity division for the 2021 CrossFit Open ranking 35th out of 50th competitors.
“Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.”
–Les Brown
I am excited to welcome fellow creative and fellow podcaster, Mirlam Schulman, to the T&T mic today! Miriam Schulman is a deeply successful artist, author, podcaster, and coach- and she encourages you to embrace your inner weirdo to go from passion to profit! Miriam has helped thousands of artists and creatives around the world develop their skill sets and create more time and freedom to do what they love- and live happier, more purposeful lives. Miriam shares her own journey in this conversation and how she has overcome the hardest of trials and tribulations with faith and radical acceptance. After Miriam completed a portrait of her son in a Batman suit, the path to a new world emerged and the request for more art didn’t stop- and neither did the financial opportunity. This is a great convo for anyone seeking passion, freedom, and space to follow your heart… you just might need to get out a paint brush or pen and start creating to see how you can actually get paid to do what you love!
This one is a video, so be sure to check us out on You Tube!
Highlights:
Passion. Freedom. Creativity. Success. Radicle acceptance and faith. Deep loss to identity emergence. God, Universe, Madonna. Loss and identity. Believing in something bigger and knowing there is a path for you if you can listen to the inner voice.
174. Profit From Your Passion with Miriam Schulman
Miriam Schulman is an artist and founder of The Inspiration Place, where she helps other artists learn how to profit from their passion or become better artists. She’s helped thousands of artists around the world develop their skill sets and create more time and freedom to do what they love. Her art and story have been featured in major publications including Forbes, The New York Times, Art of Man, Art Journaling magazine, What Women Create as well as featured on NBC’s “Parenthood” and the Amazon series “Hunters” with Al Pacino. Schulman’s forthcoming book with HarperCollins Leadership Artpreneur is scheduled to be released on January 31, 2023. The Inspiration Place podcast is in the top 1% of all podcasts and is listened to in over 100 countries.
“It’s okay to love something bigger than yourself without fearing it. Anything worth loving is bigger than we are anyway.”
–Percival Everett
I am so excited as always, to welcome #FITFAM to the T&T mic, Tamara Taylor, aka TT! Today we get into all the goods around perspective and answering the call! TT is a longtime athlete and current semi pro full tackle football player- headed to compete internationally. TT has had nothing short of a resilient path thus far, fueled by self-belief and the understanding that she is serving a mission bigger than her. We discuss opportunity, the important of representation, diversity and inclusion… and straight up how incredibly strong she is (on and off the field). This is a great convo for anyone needing encouragement to stay the course and keep the faith- so all of us:) Enjoy this inspiration and tune into TT’s games on the socials!
This one is a video, so be sure to check us out on You Tube!
Highlights:
Keeping the faith. Showing up in service. Commitment, sacrifice, and self-belief. Questioning the systems and self advocation. Perspective and life skills through sports. Family, friends, and community support. Working to be better a little each day.
What’s up y’all it’s ya girl TT2STRONG! My name is Tamara Taylor. I’m from Aurora Illinois, but current I live in Denver! I am #39 on the Mile High Blaze, which is a women’s full tackle football team! I am a child of Christ! I am a lover of CrossFit, and love pushing my mind, body, and soul to limits I didn’t know were possible! I hope and pray that my journey through life in trying to find the best me can help inspire someone else to find who they truly are and can be!
“Leadership is not about titles, positions, or work hours. It’s about relationships.”
– Jim Kouzes
I am excited about this one- it’s just you and I and we are diving into the essentials of leadership! These are 10 fundamental starting points to being a successful leader that are simple, straight forward, and applicable to ANY leadership role: business, family, sports, mentorships, etc. Good leaders are needed more than ever, on every level. Let’s join together, take some personal responsibility and level up (as a human and a leader). Believe it or not, everyone is an influencer aka leader and someone, somewhere is looking up to you and is inspired by your decisions. The more we can authentically connect, create, and lead, the more positive impact we’ll have collectively- moving this world forward in the right direction!
This one is a video, so be sure to check us out on You Tube!
Highlights:
Leadership. Communication, connection, impact. Trust, honesty, encouragement, and accountability. Giving and receiving feedback for continuous improvement. Working as a successful induvial to build a better team. Humanizing leadership and a new approach to heartfelt camaraderie. How you do something is how you do everything. Life skills for the future, for all.
SEASONED MARKETING MANAGEMENT & BRAND DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL CULTURE MARKETING | STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP | STRATEGIC PLANNING Highly skilled and passion-driven professional with demonstrated success and progressive growth in leading fundraising efforts, organizing and managing large-scale events, as well as acquiring artists while scaling large and small events. Champion at human relations, fashion & creative, organization management, and relationship management. Instrumental in managing strategic partnerships, marketing, and branding efforts, identifying culture marketing opportunities, developing potential culture activations, and leading activation strategy. Success in designing and launching marketing campaigns leading to increased audience growth rate by 15%. Excel at identifying regional artists and opinion leaders to boost culture plans, executing culture marketing business plans, managing event ticketing plans, achieving media outcomes and building high-performing teams.
Former D1 athlete, CrossFit Games Athlete, and current podcaster, Turmeric & Tequila™.
“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
-Eleanor Roosevelt
We can plan all we want, but the reality is that we have very little control over what happens in our lives. You need to show up in life with intention and be willing to roll with the waves as the path lays itself out for us and do want you can to keep your feet on the ground, steady and ready. It doesn’t always make sense until time passes and we can reflect, but this ultimately teaches us to trust the process. Tough Stuff! I am excited to welcome a process trusting pro, Meagan O’Nan, to the T&T mic! Meagan is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, and vulnerable storytelling expert… because she has lived it! Meagan shares her journey of breakdown, breakthrough, and how it’s all adding up right on time to what she is leaning into now, impact. This is an awesome convo for anyone who is in the thick of it and wondering how it all adds up. Meagan’s resilience is powerful inspiration that began in youth sports. It’s funny how we get the life skills we need for the journey along the way… get motivated by Megan’s story and be ready for your next big move!
This one is a video, so be sure to check us out on You Tube!
Highlights:
Hanging on and letting go. Showing up with intention and then just trusting the process. Resilience, life skills from youth and collegiate sports. People who come in our lives for a reason, season, or lifetime. Team work on and off the field. Core values and doing you. Spirit, energy, and the company you keep. Humanizing the brand, leadership, and authentically connecting at all levels.
171. When The Struggle Paves The Path Forward
Meagan O’Nan:
Meagan O’Nan is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, and vulnerable storytelling expert. She is the author of the award-winning book, “Creating Your Heaven on Earth,” and “Courage: Agreeing to Disagree Is Not Enough.” Meagan has spoken to thousands of people at live events since 2008. Meagan is passionate about creating deeper connections through speaking, workshops, and through her executive speaker coaching. Her approach is unique in that she uses storytelling as a way to overcome differences and generate healing. For the last decade, she has been a significant voice for the LGBTQ community in Mississippi.
“We are all human beings and deserve to be treated as such. No matter who you are or where you come from, we can get on board and help each other rise together.”
-Ean Thomas Tafoya
Denver is moving and shaking in several arenas and the upcoming mayoral election is no exception! We have 17 candidates, the largest field in over 40 years, covering a wide range of issues and missions, thus I am excited to welcome one of the standouts, Ean Thomas Tafoya, to the T&T mic. Tafoya is one of the younger options, but has been in the public service game for over 20 years and is a born and raised Denverite. He has a people-powered campaign, as a Fair Elections Candidate. “I’ve worked for three branches of local government. I’ve worked at all three levels of American government. I brought people together to pass more than a dozen laws that have impacted the people of Denver when our leaders have failed. I believe that we do need to call everyone together.” Tafoya stated at recent debate at Regis University.
Tafoya is an educator, nonprofit leader, and deeply passionate about the environment. In this convo, we get to know Ean the human as he shares his mission and passion points as well as the struggles and challenges with the process as a whole. The transparency is refreshing and so is his personal connection to this earth and the importance he puts on his family and heritage. With the April 4th election nearing- get to know the mayoral candidates, as politicians AND people… our future depends on it! Best of luck, Ean!
This one is a video, so be sure to check us out on You Tube!
Highlights:
The environment. The unhoused. Coming together and reconnecting with this earth. Self-care and personal responsibility. The business, fundraising, and fair election candidates. Community issues and local impact. Following your heart to your true calling. Family, fashion, creativity, and gracefully disrupting traditional systems and expectations.
170. Denver Mayoral Candidate: Ean Thomas Tafoya
Ean Thomas Tafoya:
Ean Thomas Tafoya, educator, nonprofit leader, and promoter of the arts, is a fourth-generation Denverite who has spent his life in public service. Throughout his career, he has worked for three branches of local government, served on dozens of community boards, and led many successful ballot initiatives. He is a proud civil rights and environmental justice leader and is currently serving as Co-chair of the Colorado Environmental Justice Action Task Force. Tafoya’s career as a public servant honors his heritage of preserving and caring for the land and the people.
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
– Mother Teresa
I am excited to welcome #FITFAM to the T&T mic, Aaron Brill and Manny Menendez. I have trained for years with Aaron and was excited to learn that he was bringing CrossFit in a unique way to his then day job, as a police officer. Arron was inspired by an experience through a friend that experienced deep changes because of the fitness modality- so he decided to introduce CrossFit and its principles to the other “insiders” and Lions’ Pride Fitness was born. Lions’ Pride Fitness is a CrossFit Community for those in or returning from incarceration. With over 5 years of experience in building CrossFit programs inside prison, they wanted to continue that community success outside. Arron was lucky enough to cross paths with Army Combat Veteran, Manny Menendez, who he brought on board to help guide the Lions’ Pride Fitness process. Arron and Manny share their passion for fitness, community, and questioning a better way regarding re-entrance into mainstream society- regardless of where you are coming from. We all know antiquated systems need change, but what a refreshing approach to take things into your own hands and contribute where you can. This is a great convo about shifting perspectives and providing space for growth and change. What a world we would have if we all could do more of that!
This one is a video, so be sure to check us out on You Tube!
Highlights:
CrossFit and incarceration. Community, commitment, and working towards something larger. Perspective and opportunity. Systems and approach. Mindset of what we CAN do. Viewing people up close to lose your own bias. Humanizing leadership and meeting people where they are at. Taking existing skills and applying them to a legal game. Opportunity, hope, and evolution.
169. Incarceration To CrossFit
Aaron Brill
Aaron is 25-year veteran of law enforcement (retired Feb ’21), with the last 22 on Denver PD. Aaron spent 12 years as a patrol cop, and 8 as an Academy Instructor where he found and fell in love with CrossFit, and 5 years as a patrol sergeant. He is a Co-founder of two non-profits aimed at bringing the whole person wellness of CrossFit to the justice system involved population. He is a proud husband of an amazing woman and Dad of two littles (6 year old daughter and 4 year old son).
Manny Menendez
SSG, USA(Ret.) B.A.S. CF-L1
Lead Program Coordinator
Veterans Healing Veterans from The Inside Out
My name is Manny Menendez I am a US Army Combat Veteran. After multiple deployments and injuries, I was medically retired from the service in 2013. I went on to earn my bachelor’s degree after the service. Shortly thereafter I found myself incarcerated at Sterling Correctional Facility; this is where I found CrossFit. Aaron at the time was the president of the CrossFit program inside the prison and we helped establish/build the program at sterling. To this day I’m thankful for the work Aaron has done behind the wall and paving the way for CrossFit to be a part of that unique environment. Thanks to his work I was able to earn my CF-L1 behind bars. CrossFit has helped me make some foundational changes in my life and given me that structure, discipline, Comradery that I fell far away from during my transition out of the service. Now I am very passionate about helping those in prison and reentering the community through CrossFit and working out. I currently work as the lead program coordinator for veterans healing veterans, we are the largest organization advocating for the almost 200,000 justice involved veterans. We run a curriculum, which is based on narration therapy where we go in and help our nations forgot about hero’s process some of their trauma so they are not finding themselves in these same positions. I have a very unique journey, but am truly blessed to have gone through it all, because now I have found my purpose/life’s work and that is invaluable to me. Thank you for your time. I look forward to the future and continuing this amazing work we are doing, truly impacting lives and making better human beings.
Lions’ Pride Fitness:
Mission: We exist to bring the full person wellness of CrossFit combined with peer and community mentorship to the Justice System Involved (JSI) population.
Vision: We see a world where the community supports people in the ‘justice system involved’ population and offer their time, talents and treasures in the success of those people.
Training Expertise: With years of success and experience in this field, we can help bring the components of a successful program to your area. We have refined the process through in person application and have seen first-hand what works and what doesn’t.
Where we apply CrossFit: We see 3 areas in the justice system to apply CrossFit to help break the cycle: Courts, Corrections, Reintegration including probation/parole. We apply what we’ve seen work into the unique needs of each.
· Courts: Diversion into CrossFit Community Centers and Affiliates as part of a comprehensive alternative to jail/prison
· Corrections: We have a proven model for peer lead, Staff and community supported CrossFit Behind Bar(bell)s
· Reintegration: Access to a global network of CrossFit Affiliates and a developing mentor support system
Excited to announce that Turmeric & Tequila will be focusing on all things leadership- for leaders, by leaders. We have and will continue to bring out the trail blazing graceful disruptors and will be adding as many leadership lessons, tips, tricks, teachings, and more to the mix. Why? Because there is absolutely one thing we need in this new year and moving forward- STRONG LEADERS. Leaderships is about personal responsibility, so let’s level up together! Change yourself, change the world.
Today we will be kicking this focus off with an article by The Harvard Review, “Anyone Can Learn To Be A Better Leader” where we will breakdown new age, practical leadership skills and situations. Then we will close out with “8 Ways To Become A Better Leader” by Ottawa University. Leaderships is not just for the professional world, you can lead your family, friends, church, siblings, and most importantly, yourself. Leadership is power and it requires constant improvement and responsibility. Influencers are a real thing (as you know we talk about this on T&T all the time), so let’s work to understand our own influence (the responsibility part) in this world and how we can level up to better inspire those around us. Young or old, big or small, whatever the case may be, you lead at some point in the day whether you know it or not- let’s get conscious and make positive change… personally and professionally.
This one is a video, so be sure to check us out on You Tube!
Highlights:
Leadership. Personal responsibility. Leveling up. New age leadership and taking on a human based approached. Collaboration over coercion. Humans over machines. Listening, feeling, and believing. Team building, buying in, and enjoying the process. Becoming a better leader, becoming a better person.
SEASONED MARKETING MANAGEMENT & BRAND DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL CULTURE MARKETING | STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP | STRATEGIC PLANNING Highly skilled and passion-driven professional with demonstrated success and progressive growth in leading fundraising efforts, organizing and managing large-scale events, as well as acquiring artists while scaling large and small events. Champion at human relations, fashion & creative, organization management, and relationship management. Instrumental in managing strategic partnerships, marketing, and branding efforts, identifying culture marketing opportunities, developing potential culture activations, and leading activation strategy. Success in designing and launching marketing campaigns leading to increased audience growth rate by 15%. Excel at identifying regional artists and opinion leaders to boost culture plans, executing culture marketing business plans, managing event ticketing plans, achieving media outcomes and building high-performing teams.
Former D1 athlete, CrossFit Games Athlete, and current podcaster, Turmeric & Tequila™.
“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”
– Albert Einstein
Let’s get wild and creative! I am excited to welcome Susie deVille, author, entrepreneur, and coach, to the T&T mic! Susie is the Founder and CEO of The Innovation & Creativity Institute and maintains a wealth of knowledge, experience, and education in the entrepreneurial, innovative, and creative spaces. Susie shares her journey going from what she calls her “nuclear winter” (in debt, unhealthy, and unhappy) to wildly successful, creative, and thriving. We talk about the importance of making space for positive daily practices including being creative… yes, it’s time to draw, paint, sculpt, or whatever your heart feels called to do. You might be skeptical about doodling saving your life, but we both encourage you to just try and see what happens. Susie lays out awesome tips and tricks to get you started on the right path to successful freedom- personally and professionally. It’s a new year and a great time to try something new with intention, it could be the best move (or creation) you’ve ever made!
This one is a video, so be sure to check us out on You Tube!
Highlights:
Innovation, Creativity, and Wild Ideas- Saving Lives. Breakdowns and breakthroughs. Dreaming, believing, and achieving. The 5 M’s or 6:). Tacking a chance and a new approach. Getting back to our roots, young selves, and internal drivers. Having FUN- it matters. Support in your wild season of becoming.
167. Becoming Wildly Successful, Creative, and Free! with Susie deVille
Susie deVille is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build wildly successful businesses by rediscovering their creativity and leveraging the power of their true nature. An author, coach, and entrepreneur who built and sold a highly profitable real estate firm, she has been researching innovation and creativity since 2005. She is the founder and CEO of the Innovation & Creativity Institute and trained as a coach with Dr. Martha Beck.
Susie holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a master’s degree in entrepreneurship, and continues to invest in her education and personal development, learning from some of the most preeminent experts in their respective fields around the globe. She founded the Innovation & Creativity Institute in 2006 and began leaning into art making as the perfect partner to entrepreneurship, capturing this idea in her signature methodology, the Creative Rebel’s Voyage™.
Today, Susie uses her insights from 15 years of research on entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity to empower entrepreneurs in accessing their creative back channels and build the businesses of their dreams.Her first book, Buoyant: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Becoming Wildly Successful, Creative, and Free, will be published on September 6, 2022
Ok, I am not really one that keeps up with what is going on over the pond in regards to the Royal Family, but I am one for disruption, even if lacking grace. SO, I had to check out the most recent Royal Netflix doc, Harry & Meghan, to see what all the hype what about. I wasn’t so much interested in the gossip as I was the history- and the doc did not disappoint in that aspect, in my opinion! I of course had to get T&T pseudo co-host and fellow pop culture enthusiasts, The Ashley Simone Knight, to come on and give her take as well. This is a fun one that breaks down the documentary and English tradition from our perceptive. You do not need to have seen the doc to enjoy this convo, in fact, this might just be the cliff notes to save you some time if you haven’t seen it. Our main question in this convo- when does tradition no longer become the excuse for what is now considered bad behavior? Progress has happened even if hard to see sometimes, but are some holding us back? We don’t have hard answers, but we do have some hot takes. Conversation, awareness, and perspective are always keys to moving this world in a more unified, equal direction- regardless of what side of the fence you are on- so at minimum, it’s nice to hear H&M’s take and gain some history in the meantime… so the rest of us can choose what we do and don’t buy into. One thing is true, the power is in the people… even if it takes time to make it right. Keep faith in the larger audience at hand.
This one is a video, so be sure to check us out on You Tube!
Highlights:
Harry. Meghan. England and the Commonwealth. Conversation, awareness, and perspective. Racism, tradition, and bad behavior. Progress, evolution, and the ones standing up for change… and the ones holding us back. Applied meaning and realization. Changing the narrative and blazing trail. Agreeing, disagreeing, and the power of the next generation.
Experienced and innovative marketing and branding professional with 20+ years’ experience in brand development and management and particular expertise with integrated marketing strategies, strategic territory management and relationship building. Broad based background encompasses strong work ethic and commitment to organizational objectives within highly competitive athletic apparel/CPG/Lifestyle markets. Coach, tactical planner and team builder with ability to attract key players and develop lasting business relationships. Recognized for decisive leadership and proven ability to execute sound decisions while directing product development and launches. Former D1 athlete, CrossFit Games Athlete, and current podcaster, Turmeric & Tequila.
Ashley Simone Knight is an Esthetician, Model, and Colorado native. She started modeling when she was 20 and gained her experience in the growing Colorado market. She has been an Esthetician for the past 6 years and has recently evolved from working at various spas and salons to starting her own business. Ashley loves balance: Caring for others as a Skin Care Therapist, imparting all of the lessons she’s learned to others who are navigating life in her industries, as well as dancing and singing karaoke
