The Spreading Happiness Podcast

Stakeholder Capitalism, Advocacy and Dancing in DC

Another week, another adventure. Today's episode focuses on John and Mark's trip to Washington, DC to meet with Congress. There were so many exciting happenings and so much good work that John did that we can't begin to get into it in the show notes. Take a listen to Mark and the Chief Happiness Officer, John, as they have a nice father-son conversation about the week. One thing's for sure, we GUARANTEE a smile or two during this episode. 
Business to highlight:
Rosemary Sparkle Design by Britni Allen
Make custom t-shirts, bags and other items. Sell them locally. It is Britni and her mom, Keri Allen. Beautiful items. All handmade in Brooklyn. No website yet.
Spent time with them in DC on Advocacy Day 
Finding John’s Crazy Socks: https://johnscrazysocks.com/ 
Hosted by John & Mark Cronin, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks. Visit John's Crazy Socks here: https://johnscrazysocks.com
Follow @johnscrazysocks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
The Spreading Happiness Podcast is produced by Launchpad 516 Studios.
For show ideas, guest inquiries, general feedback, sponsorships and media inquiries, drop an email: thespreadinghapinesspodcast@lp516.com
Information about Speaking Engagements with John and Mark: https://johnscrazysocks.com/pages/speaking-engagements-1 
Subscribe to The Spreading Happiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts and get notified of new episodes, every Tuesday! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spreading-happiness-podcast/id1611218712 

Road Trips, Elected Officials and Getting in Shape

It's another week and another episode from the happiness spreaders that you know and love! John and Mark are back with episode 3 of season 2 and they have some good chats while they are road trippin' around the USA, specifically to Washington DC. They guys talk about all kinds of things that came up since you last listened, PLUS the old standbys like John's love life, weight loss journeys and more! Buckle up, folks. This is a good one.
Business to highlight:
Jacob Greene - jacobgreeneart.com 
Jacob had our Differing Abilities design internship with us in 2021. He just published his third book -Grumpy Shark – and we went to hear him read at Barnes and Noble on Saturday.
I am a young man on the Autism Spectrum who recently graduated from New York Tech in the school of Architecture and Design. My passion is Digital Art. I enjoy using Adobe Suite to draw and create illustrations for children’s books, 2D animations and animations for video games. I have a very creative imagination and I don’t have trouble coming up with ideas.
Finding John’s Crazy Socks: https://johnscrazysocks.com/ 
Hosted by John & Mark Cronin, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks. Visit John's Crazy Socks here: https://johnscrazysocks.com
Follow @johnscrazysocks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
The Spreading Happiness Podcast is produced by Launchpad 516 Studios.
For show ideas, guest inquiries, general feedback, sponsorships and media inquiries, drop an email: thespreadinghapinesspodcast@lp516.com
Information about Speaking Engagements with John and Mark: https://johnscrazysocks.com/pages/speaking-engagements-1 
Subscribe to The Spreading Happiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts and get notified of new episodes, every Tuesday! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spreading-happiness-podcast/id1611218712 

Casino Stories, Grandbaby Fever and North Shore Animal League

Mark calls John a cranky old man and we lose control from there on the newest episode of The Spreading Happiness Podcast! The boys are back with some great stories ranging from their talks at Special Education PTAs (SEPTA) all the way through Mark and his wife (John's mom) wanting grandkids. It may be season 2 but one thing has definitely not changed...your smile throughout listening to this show. Enjoy, folks!
Business to highlight:
Madam Clutterbuckets Neurodiverse Universe
https://www.madamclutterbuckets.com/ 
Amazing store in Ashville, North Carolina 
A unique downtown Asheville gift shop with extraordinary employees that carries vintage & new laugh-out-loud, eccentric & altogether rock n’ roll merchandise. From freaky antiques to hilarious accessories, Madam Clutterbucket's stands out as a must-see downtown experience!
We are a family-owned business that believes that neurodiversity makes our communities stronger and abilities always outweigh disabilities. 
We are driven by personal experience to spread awareness of the abilities of disabled adults and help decrease the workplace limitation stigma by creating employment opportunities that are built for success. We provide on site work support including job coaching and community building so our employees abilities, rather than disabilities, are recognized.
We have created employment opportunities for neurodiverse adults and we are working to demonstrate that businesses can accommodate all types of workers. Diverse workplaces are not only possible, but easy to create when workplaces are made accessible!
John got a t-shirt from Madam Clutterbuckets and loved it. And we got a bunch of stickers.
Finding John’s Crazy Socks: https://johnscrazysocks.com/ 
Hosted by John & Mark Cronin, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks. Visit John's Crazy Socks here: https://johnscrazysocks.com
Follow @johnscrazysocks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
The Spreading Happiness Podcast is produced by Launchpad 516 Studios.
For show ideas, guest inquiries, general feedback, sponsorships and media inquiries, drop an email: thespreadinghapinesspodcast@lp516.com
Information about Speaking Engagements with John and Mark: https://johnscrazysocks.com/pages/speaking-engagements-1 
Subscribe to The Spreading Happiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts and get notified of new episodes, every Tuesday! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spreading-happiness-podcast/id1611218712 

The Season 2 Premiere!

We're back for Season 2 of The Spreading Happiness Podcast with John Cronin and Mark Cronin, the father-son duo and masterminds behind John's Crazy Socks! The format is changing a little because you spoke and we listened. We won't waste time talking about the changes on the show notes...listen for yourself and let us know how you feel about the show! The boys have spent their month off traveling around and spreading happiness, as usual, including a visit to the United Nations and so much more. Enjoy, folks!
Business to highlight:
Smile Farms - https://smilefarms.org/
Jim McCann and the McCann family established Smile Farms to provide developmentally disabled adults with meaningful work opportunities at farms, urban gardens, greenhouses and farm stands where they can grow and sell flowers, plants and produce in their local communities. They did it to honor their brother Kevin and to provide meaningful work for Kevin.
Each Smile Farms campus is a revenue-generating business that can use the funds earned to support its participants’ employment and its mission. Smile Farms works closely with its partners to devise site-specific farming and marketing plans that maximize profitability. It helps fund start-up costs and provides ongoing financial support to the campus based on the number of people employed.
Smile Farms plants, flowers and fresh produce are sold in a variety of venues in the communities where campuses are located; are used in partner organizations’ kitchens; and are donated to local nonprofits serving people who are in need.
Finding John’s Crazy Socks: https://johnscrazysocks.com/ 
Hosted by John & Mark Cronin, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks. Visit John's Crazy Socks here: https://johnscrazysocks.com
Follow @johnscrazysocks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
The Spreading Happiness Podcast is produced by Launchpad 516 Studios.
For show ideas, guest inquiries, general feedback, sponsorships and media inquiries, drop an email: thespreadinghapinesspodcast@lp516.com
Information about Speaking Engagements with John and Mark: https://johnscrazysocks.com/pages/speaking-engagements-1 
Subscribe to The Spreading Happiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts and get notified of new episodes, every Tuesday! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spreading-happiness-podcast/id1611218712 

Syracuse Baby! Vegas Baby! Podcast Baby!

What a week its' been! It started off with the boys being interviewed on News12 about John's Crazy Socks and then? It was on to the New York State Special Olympic Games in Syracuse, NY! Tune in to find out how it went. After Syracuse, it was on to...VEGAS BABY for the ASD Trade Show. John talks about the adventures in Vegas, which is where the boys recorded this episode from. Even though we're switching time zones like they were socks (see what we did there), the guys still had time for the usual segments like good news, bad jokes, getting in shape, John's love life and more! Stick around folks, it's gonna be a good one!
Business to highlight:
Joyful Café
Wooster Ohio
https://www.joyfulcafe.org/ 
A coffee shop employing people with differing abilities. They just celebrated their four year anniversary. Great photos on Facebook 
Here is what they say:
Joyful Cafe is about joy, about accepting others as they are.  It's about connecting you with a great cup of coffee and connecting our employees with a fulfilling Job.  Most of our employees have disabilities.  But that doesn't stop them from loving what they do.  And it certainly doesn't stop them from brightening your day!
Here is their story:
Joyful Cafe started when 2 moms of young adults with significant disabilities  began to think, "What will my kids do, once they "age out" of the special education system?" Many other families wonder the same thing, as there are limited employment opportunities for people who have disabilities and need a little extra support in the workplace. A mutual friend put the 2 families together, and magic began to happen!
​Healthpoint, a health club and rehabilitiation center run by Wooster Community Hospital, was interested in having a retail coffee shop located within their space.  When they heard our dream, they thought their space might be the perfect place for a coffee shop that employed young adults with significant disabilities.  We agreed!
​Joyful enterprises, a 501c-3 non-profit organization, was set up to help fund the coffee shop.  Local teachers, whose student with special needs operate coffee shops within their schools, offered their knowledge and skills.
They now have a second location inside the Western Reserve Group office building. 
They created the 52 Club where supporters can donate $52 per year to keep the café going. 
Finding John’s Crazy Socks: https://johnscrazysocks.com/ 
Hosted by John & Mark Cronin, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks. Visit John's Crazy Socks here: https://johnscrazysocks.com
Follow @johnscrazysocks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
The Spreading Happiness Podcast is produced by Launchpad 516 Studios.
For show ideas, guest inquiries, general feedback, sponsorships and media inquiries, drop an email: thespreadinghapinesspodcast@lp516.com
Information about Speaking Engagements with John and Mark: https://johnscrazysocks.com/pages/speaking-engagements-1 
Subscribe to The Spreading Happiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts and get notified of new episodes, every Tuesday! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spreading-happiness-podcast/id1611218712 

1800Flowers.com, Special Olympics Snowshoe and Mark’s Friend Gathering

Welcome back, folks! John and Mark started the week off with a visit to College Hunks Hauling Junk. On Tuesday, the boys spent most of the day with the McCann brothers at 1800Flowers.com talking about all kinds of things including Smile Farms (listen to the episode to find out more and to hear the exciting things that John's Crazy Socks is doing with 1800Flowers.com). Plus hear about the rest of John and Mark's week including Knock, Knock, Give a Sock, JCS Champions, USO, Snowshoe, dinner gathering and more. Of course the old standbys are here like John's love life, the guys' health journey, good news and bad jokes. Thanks for stopping by!
Business to highlight:
321 Coffee
https://321coffee.com/
321 Coffee is a coffee shop and roaster built on inclusion. Based in Raleigh, NC, 321 currently employs over 50 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). They are the ones roasting the coffee, taking the orders, and making the lattes. We are demonstrating the value of an inclusive business model. 
The company was founded in 2017 by Lindsay Wrege and Michael Evans. The two met during their freshman year as Park Scholars at NC State University. They had the vision to build a company founded on inclusion.
The team began in 2017 by setting up on folding tables with a home coffee brewer and brought this setup anywhere that would welcome them. These events helped to develop a presence in the community. Raleigh rallied behind the mission and helped 321 grow beyond folding tables.
Today, 321 Coffee operates multiple coffee shops in the Raleigh area and is actively finding new opportunities to expand our impact. We roast our own coffee, offer a full-scale espresso menu, and partner with over 100 different companies to provide them with coffee. Together, we are building a company that stands for inclusion and doing business the right way.
Three shops: two in Raleigh, North Carolina  One in Durham, North Carlina
You can buy online: coffee, t-shirts, even socks. 
Finding John’s Crazy Socks: https://johnscrazysocks.com/ 
Hosted by John & Mark Cronin, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks. Visit John's Crazy Socks here: https://johnscrazysocks.com
Follow @johnscrazysocks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
The Spreading Happiness Podcast is produced by Launchpad 516 Studios.
For show ideas, guest inquiries, general feedback, sponsorships and media inquiries, drop an email: thespreadinghapinesspodcast@lp516.com
Information about Speaking Engagements with John and Mark: https://johnscrazysocks.com/pages/speaking-engagements-1 
Subscribe to The Spreading Happiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts and get notified of new episodes, every Tuesday! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spreading-happiness-podcast/id1611218712 

Night To Shine Prom, John’s Birthday and the Super Bowl

Well the boys had another busy week kicking it off with a Chamber of Commerce breakfast followed by a visit to the North Shore Animal League, a trip to South Carolina for the Night to Shine Prom and SO much more. Plus, you all know it's John's birthday MONTH but this past week John celebrated his actual birthday! Hear all about that plus the Super Bowl and all of the usual haunts like good news, bad jokes and more.
Business to highlight:
Seanesehttps://seanese.com/
Sean McElwee (Friend of John)
Appeared on the TV Show Born this Way
Finding John’s Crazy Socks: https://johnscrazysocks.com/ 
Hosted by John & Mark Cronin, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks. Visit John's Crazy Socks here: https://johnscrazysocks.com
Follow @johnscrazysocks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
The Spreading Happiness Podcast is produced by Launchpad 516 Studios.
For show ideas, guest inquiries, general feedback, sponsorships and media inquiries, drop an email: thespreadinghapinesspodcast@lp516.com
Information about Speaking Engagements with John and Mark: https://johnscrazysocks.com/pages/speaking-engagements-1 
Subscribe to The Spreading Happiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts and get notified of new episodes, every Tuesday! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spreading-happiness-podcast/id1611218712 

Too Cold to Go Outside, Book Launches and 80 for Brady

Baby it's COLD outside...or at least it was for a few days. The boys eventually warmed up and went out for another busy week. John and Mark attended the book launch for Steve Distante’s Pitchology. Plus they had a chances to catch a few movies, including 80 for Brady! In the big news of the week, it's been just about a year for the podcast and we're happy to continue spreading happiness to all of our followers. Did you know that most podcasts don't make it past 6 episodes? Not us! Plus some of the usual segments like good news, bad jokes and more!
Business to highlight:
Ky’s Kards
https://kyskards.com/
(Hanover, MN) – Sept 10th, 2022 – If there was ever a day that was built for a greeting card, it’s this Monday September 12th .   Monday is the National Day of Encouragement.
A mother and son duo from Hanover, MN have built a business helping to encourage others.    Penny and Kyle Kauffman started EnKourage Kards.   This Twin Cities based family business started both out of necessity and opportunity.   You see Kyle has down Syndrome.   His Mom, Penny, wanted to encourage him and provide gainful employment.   This is not an easy thing.
Our family started Ky's Kards (formerly Enkourage Kards) - with a vision to provide a meaningful employment opportunity for Kyle (who has Down Syndrome) and others with different abilities, and to inspire others to spread encouragement and kindness, one card at a time.
All of our greeting cards are thoughtfully designed by Kyle's graphic designer sisters, Lindsey and Carly.  Each unique design is inspired by Down Syndrome - Trisomy 21.  For example, some feature 21 flowers, the 21st chromosome, and even Kyle's unique fingerprint.  
Ky's Kards is active in the community.  A portion of the proceeds from each card sold is donated to the Down Syndrome Association of MN and Special Olympics of MN - two organizations that have had a positive impact on Kyle's life.
You can get cards, card packs They are beautiful
Finding John’s Crazy Socks: https://johnscrazysocks.com/ 
Hosted by John & Mark Cronin, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks. Visit John's Crazy Socks here: https://johnscrazysocks.com
Follow @johnscrazysocks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
The Spreading Happiness Podcast is produced by Launchpad 516 Studios.
For show ideas, guest inquiries, general feedback, sponsorships and media inquiries, drop an email: thespreadinghapinesspodcast@lp516.com
Information about Speaking Engagements with John and Mark: https://johnscrazysocks.com/pages/speaking-engagements-1 
Subscribe to The Spreading Happiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts and get notified of new episodes, every Tuesday! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spreading-happiness-podcast/id1611218712 

Lea Michele, Funny Girl and The Fablemans

There's no easy way to say this...we're ONLY focusing on John's mission to meet Lea Michele, star of Broadway's Funny Girl, this week. Okay, okay, that's not our ONLY focus, but you won't want to miss how this turned out! Plus the old standbys like John's love life, good news, bad jokes and more. Tune in as we continue spreading happiness, folks!
Business to highlight:
SOUL CAFÉ (and Friendship Circle/Farber Center/Art Studio)5586 Drake Rd. West Bloomfield Township, MI 48322248-788-7400http://www.friendshipcircle.org/soul/cafe/info@fcsoulcafe.comDirectors/founders: Rabbi Levi and Bassie Shemtov
“A Café serving breakfast and lunch (and Sunday dinner) with a training program in food services for people with disabilities. Job training areas include “front of house” work (barista and bussing) and kitchen work). Also, art studio where artists with disabilities create and sell art. Established in April, 2016, 24 trainees to date have come through program. Up to 7 people with disabilities work in café on a given day, 12 are currently in the training program, and four to date have been hired by Epicurean, the parent food service company
The Soul Café provides a mouthwatering kosher menu featuring gourmet soups, salads, sandwiches pizzas, pastas and more in a warm and relaxed environment.
Complete with a community table, fireplace and outdoor dining the Soul Cafe provides an excellent opportunity to meet friends, get some work done or grab a quick bite.
The cafe is part of Friendship Circle's Soul Projects, which focuses on providing vocational opportunities to adults with special needs. The cafe teaches adults with special needs the skills of food prep, cooking, hosting and serving.
Catering is provided by a Kosher Division called Epic Kosher Catering/Milk & Honey under which auspices Soul Cafe reside.
Finding John’s Crazy Socks: https://johnscrazysocks.com/ 
Hosted by John & Mark Cronin, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks. Visit John's Crazy Socks here: https://johnscrazysocks.com
Follow @johnscrazysocks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
The Spreading Happiness Podcast is produced by Launchpad 516 Studios.
For show ideas, guest inquiries, general feedback, sponsorships and media inquiries, drop an email: thespreadinghapinesspodcast@lp516.com
Information about Speaking Engagements with John and Mark: https://johnscrazysocks.com/pages/speaking-engagements-1 
Subscribe to The Spreading Happiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts and get notified of new episodes, every Tuesday! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spreading-happiness-podcast/id1611218712 

No Snow, The End of Football and The Viscardi Award

The sock boys are running headfirst into the New Year, spreading happiness and LOVING it. John's not a fan of the lack of snow in New York (what do you expect from a Special Olympics Snow Shoe athlete??). Mark waxes poetic on the state of professional football in New York where John briefly stepped into the dark side and supported the NY Giants for a week until the Eagles doused their playoff hopes. Pro tip: DO NOT mention football to John this week. Tours are starting to really open up again at John's Crazy Socks, both in-person and virtual, as the world continues opening it's doors post-pandemic. The guys are doing some more traveling for speaking engagements. PLUS, Mark brags about his son John winning The Henry Viscardi Award! We've also got the usual segments like good news, bad jokes, health updates and more! Stick around, this is a good one.
Business to highlight:
Da Bomb: https://dabombsbymorgantibbens.com/
Created by Morgan Tibbens who is a young woman with Down syndrome who is active in the Special Olympics, Best Buddies and opened Da Bomb to sell bath tub fragrances.
Morgan is a 22 year old with down syndrome but that hasn't stopped her from achieving her dreams. Her next dream is to open a store front and hire some of her friends with special needs and pay them minimum wage.
Da Bom carries all sorts of products for the bath: Bath Bombs, Sugar Scrubs, Soaps, Foot scrubs, even candles.
Finding John’s Crazy Socks: https://johnscrazysocks.com/ 
Hosted by John & Mark Cronin, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks. Visit John's Crazy Socks here: https://johnscrazysocks.com
Follow @johnscrazysocks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
The Spreading Happiness Podcast is produced by Launchpad 516 Studios.
For show ideas, guest inquiries, general feedback, sponsorships and media inquiries, drop an email: thespreadinghapinesspodcast@lp516.com
Information about Speaking Engagements with John and Mark: https://johnscrazysocks.com/pages/speaking-engagements-1 
Subscribe to The Spreading Happiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts and get notified of new episodes, every Tuesday! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spreading-happiness-podcast/id1611218712