Nice To Meet You | Behind The Scene Stories of Busy Professionals

Nicholai Allen Fled a Wildfire Then Became a Firefighter and Invented This

Nicholai Allen shares his journey from suburban dad to certified wildland firefighter and entrepreneur. After experiencing the 2018 Woolsey Fire firsthand, he developed Safe Soss—an affordable wildfire prevention system now available at Lowe's. This conversation explores the science behind fire-resistant coatings, the reality of fighting wildfires, and how homeowners can protect their property without massive renovation costs.Key TopicsThe 2018 Woolsey Fire evacuation experience that sparked Safe Soss's creation. Why existing wildfire protection products didn't exist for homeowners. Becoming a certified wildland firefighter to understand the problem firsthand. The chemistry challenge: removing toxic fluorine and creating non-toxic fire retardant formulas. Windborne embers as the leading cause of home loss during wildfires. The Safe Soss product suite: spray coating, ember screens, and radiant heat shields. Making wildfire protection accessible for under $500 instead of $80,000+ in home renovations. Getting into Lowe's and scaling distribution nationwide. Lessons on entrepreneurship, perseverance, and creating opportunity for others.About Safe SossSafe Soss (S.O.S.S. - Scientifically achieved fire elimination by science of safety systems) offers affordable wildfire protection tools for homeowners in fire-prone areas. The products create a base layer of defense through fire-resistant coatings, ember protection, and radiant heat shields.Where to FindWebsite: https://safesoss.comAvailable at Lowe's nationwideGuest BackgroundNicholai Allen is a certified wildland firefighter and entrepreneur focused on innovative fire safety technology. He also represents Maus, a Swedish fire suppression technology for lithium-ion battery fires, also available at Lowe's.

Tim Milazzo Shares How He Turned Down an 8-Figure Offer, Then Lost Everything.

Guest: Tim Milazzo - Founder, Salt and Wisdom ConsultingTim Milazzo shares his 8-year startup journey from Inc 5000 (#777) to losing everything. He raised $3.5M, grew revenue from $1M to $7M, turned down an 8-figure acquisition offer, and ultimately exited for nothing. Now he's writing "How Not to Founder" and sharing hard-won lessons about entrepreneurship, faith, and family.Key Takeaways:Sell your idea before you build it - customer validation beats product developmentRevenue ≠ profit - cash flow management is criticalVCs want traction, not ideas (unless you're a proven founder)Identity in Christ > identity in successThe grind isn't worth sacrificing familyNever slow down a solid acquisition offer to "shop around"Build an advisory squad - balance visionaries with executorsConnect with Tim:Website: saltandwisdom.comEmail: tim@saltandwisdom.comLinkedIn: Active

Kimber Hardick Talks From Going Invisible to Invincible And Rewriting Your Story

In this episode, host Rob Pene sits down with Kimber Hardick to discuss the powerful journey of "unraveling" societal constructs to find one's true identity. After navigating a divorce in her 50s and battling a Lupus diagnosis, Kimber shares how she moved from a life of performance and people-pleasing to one of embodiment and empowerment. They discuss the role of plant medicine in her healing, the importance of rewriting old victim narratives, and how she is redefining what it means to age by learning to surf and moving to Panama.Key Takeaways & HighlightsThe "Unraveling" of Identity: Kimber describes her last year as a "continuing unraveling of remembering who I am and forgetting who I learned to be". She discusses the difference between "mind-knowing" and "body-knowing".Breaking the Drama Triangle: Kimber explains the "Drama Triangle" (Victim, Hero/Helper, Villain) and how we often ping between these roles in relationships. She shares how she used ChatGPT to help rewrite her personal stories from a place of empowerment rather than victimhood.Healing Lupus & The Role of Emotion: Diagnosed with Lupus three years ago, Kimber was told by a doctor that the emotion behind the disease was guilt. Through emotional work and plant medicine (specifically Iboga and Ayahuasca), she reports no longer having Lupus markers or needing medication.Redefining Aging: Now living in a surf community in Panama, Kimber challenges the stigmas of aging. She emphasizes that getting older doesn't mean fading away, evidenced by her learning to surf in her 60s.The Mirror of Judgment: A profound realization Kimber shares is that self-judgment is often a reflection of our external judgment of others.Featured Resources & LinksBook: An Invitation to Shine: From Invisible to Invincible (Target Release: Jan 1, 2026).Book Website: AnInvitationToShine.com (Includes access to a school group for unreleased chapters).Personal Website: KimberHardick.com.Social Media: Follow Kimber on Instagram and Facebook at @kimberlivinglife.

Katie Vander Meade on The Grounding Mat That Cures Inflammation While You Sleep (Science-Backed)

In this episode, Rob Pene sits down with Katie Vander Meade, founder of The Healthy Living Lady, to explore how living a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to break the bank. Katie shares her journey from a thrifty mom looking to improve her family's health to creating a business around affordable, natural wellness solutions.Katie Vander Meade is a civil engineer by day and passionate health advocate by night. As the founder of The Healthy Living Lady, she helps people discover simple, affordable alternatives to expensive health products and pharmaceuticals. Katie specializes in DIY natural remedies, grounding techniques, and mineral-rich nutrition solutions.Episode HighlightsNatural Home Remedies (DIY Recipes)Homemade Toothpaste: Made with crushed eggshells (for calcium), bentonite clay, coconut oil, and trace minerals - takes less than 10 minutes to makeFlu Bombs: Turmeric, honey, and ginger combinations for immune supportCough Medicine: Cuban oregano, ginger, and garlic boiled into a teaSore Throat Remedy: Ceylon cinnamon mixed with honeyLaundry Detergent: Homemade alternative to chemical-laden commercial productsNatural Deodorant: Coconut oil-based with tea tree oil or essential oilsGrounding & EarthingThe science of discharging inflammation through earth connectionBenefits: Better sleep, reduced inflammation, increased red/white blood cellsGrounding mats: 100% organic cotton with carbon fiber mesh ($169, lasts 5-10 years)Simple practice: 20 minutes barefoot outdoors dailyTree hugging actually works - pulling energy through water and earth connectionSea Moss BenefitsProvides 92 of 102 essential minerals your body needsMost diseases stem from dehydration and mineral deficiencyCan be made into a gel and added to foods (eggs, yogurt, smoothies)Available as sun-dried (for making your own) or pre-made gelWater Quality & FiltrationStandard filters only remove chlorine, not pharmaceuticals or "forever chemicals"Alcaviva hydrogen ionizer: Removes 249 harmful chemicalsLevel 5 setting removes pesticides from produceTap water contains everyone's pharmaceutical residues from birth control to heart medicationKey TakeawaysHealthy living doesn't have to be expensive - many remedies can be made from affordable ingredients or things you can grow yourselfDo something rather than nothing - even if you can't afford the "perfect" ingredients, start where you areInflammation is the root cause of most chronic diseases - address it through grounding, hydration, and mineralizationOur environment is depleting us - from water quality to soil depletion, we need to supplement what we're missingSmall, sustainable changes win - don't try to overhaul your entire life at onceResources & Products MentionedGrounding mats: 100% organic cotton with carbon fiber meshAlcaviva hydrogen water ionizer: Whole home filtration systemSea moss: From Jamaica, available as gel or sun-driedCeylon cinnamon: Healthier alternative to regular cinnamonDiatomaceous earth (food grade): Available on Amazon, 10 lb bag ~$30Digital recipe guide: $7 on website with DIY recipes and informationWhere to Find KatieWebsite: TheHealthyLivingLady.comInstagram: @TheHealthyLivingLadyUSKatie welcomes DMs with questions about natural health and remedies

Janel Louise Ohletz is the PhD who Warns Your 'Organic' Food is Destroying Your Gut

🌱 The ONE Thing You Need to KnowShop the OUTSIDE aisles of the grocery store. Real food is on the perimeter - produce, meat, dairy. Middle aisles = processed junk your body doesn't recognize. Small steps > perfection.Guest: Dr. Janel Louise OhletzPhD in Soil Science | Professional Chef | Author of "Between Farm and Fork" | Grew up on organic farm | Survived heart attack | Director of Sustainable Agriculture💣 Mind-Blowing FactsYour "organic" food might be destroying soil health (tillage kills microbes)Modern vegetables have 50% less nutrients than 50 years agoRicotta cheese is now mostly GUM, not dairyYour gut microbiome IS your immune systemEndocrine disruptors in cleaning products make you fatMethane from food waste = 27x worse than CO2🔥 Best Quotes"Organic is just a sticker if the soil isn't healthy""You feed the microbes, the microbes feed the plant - same with your gut""If it doesn't grow out of the ground or wasn't once grazing, don't eat it""Sugar should NOT be the 2nd ingredient in pasta sauce""Your body stores chemicals in fat because it doesn't know what to do with them""The French don't have cup holders - they SIT with their coffee"🛒 Shopping RulesShop the OUTSIDE aisles only (except pasta aisle)Read labels: Can't pronounce it? Don't buy itIngredients should be canned (less salt)🇫🇷 European MindsetThey buy food DAILY from local marketsFamily comes before work (bosses send you home at 4:30pm Friday)No to-go coffee culture (sit and enjoy)Slow food movement: local, seasonal, intentionalThey're MORE productive working LESS hours🧠 Health ConnectionsSoil health = Human healthGut microbiome needs microbes from soilDepleted soil = depleted nutrients in foodEndocrine disruptors plug hormone receptors (metabolism chaos)Fast food = convenience trap stealing your healthTV/doom scrolling = time thieves📚 Key ConceptsRegenerative agriculture > organic certificationA2 milk = better for gut than A1 milkTillage = killing soil microbes (bad)Cover crops = feeding soil without chemicalsSilage tarps = natural weed controlVote with your dollars = change the food systemAction StepsShop outside aisles ONLY this weekRead ONE food label before buyingMake yogurt at home (see her Instagram)Ditch ONE convenience foodInvolve kids in cooking (quality time + life skills)Give yourself GRACE - small steps countConnect🌐 Website: OhletzGrow.com (FREE recipes, no ads!) 📱 Instagram: @OhletzGrow 🧵 Threads: @OhletzGrow 💼 LinkedIn: Janel Louise Ohletz 📖 Book: "Between Farm and Fork" (memoir + recipes)Final Message"Don't seek perfection. Every small step toward real food is progress. One Bojangles run doesn't negate everything. Give yourself grace and keep moving forward."