Naomi
Random tidbits:
It's basically just seeds that we're grinding up. The Wheat Berry is a little kernel of wheat and when you grind it up, there are three parts. There's the germ, which is the fatty part. It's very nutrient dense; there's a wheat germ oil. There's the bran, which is the outer coating, also very nutrient dense and has a lot of vitamins and most of the fiber. And then the endosperm is the starch, like a pure white flour. When you eat white flour, you're only getting one part and you're missing out on the other nutrients. But, when you are fresh milling, you're getting all three parts in the flour, so you get the full nutrients.
Jose
Random tidbits:
My paintings are a buildup of materials, gestures and mishaps, shaped by the tension between the formality of drawing and structure and the freedom with which I apply the pigments.
Ben
Random tidbits:
I like the notion that you can make big, meaningful changes in people's lives. There are currently a half million active medical marijuana patients in the State of Florida. A few years ago there was zero. There are people having a better quality of life because of something that I helped achieve. And, in a bigger way is our success on minimum wage. People think that people in politics are cynical. Some people are, but it's tough to do this for a living and be cynical. You have to give a shit about this. The rewarding part is giving a shit.
Thaddeus
Random tidbits:
I think one of the primary issues when people are facing a challenge, whether it's a potentially positive challenge - like paddling across the Florida Strait, or something difficult - like a home situation or substance abuse - whatever it might be, you're not alone and there are other people who have similar experiences or desires and thoughts. If somebody is considering a challenge, no matter what it might be, talk about it and find people who share the enthusiasm and with that, by definition, it becomes bigger than an individual. To me that is spirituality and in that comes strength and the momentum to make things happen. It's beautiful.
Linda
Random tidbits:
My new book is about making food. It’s called The12 Week Diabetes Cookbook and the subtitle is - Your super simple plan for organizing budgeting and cooking amazing dinners. It’s 12 weeks of recipes. My theory is that, if you have the food in the house - you are more likely to cook a heathier meal. At the beginning of each week, I give you a shopping list for the entire week and recipes based on that list. Also, it’s a book for a budget. The average meal is about $5 per person per meal. All of the recipes have been vetted by the American Diabetes Association.
Aymee
Random tidbits:
Basically, anyone who could build a homemade device that could float in the water could escape. My uncles, cousins and other relatives built a raft and 27 of us took the risk. It was 24 hours at the sea and it was nine children, nine women, and nine men. One was a pregnant woman. She was my inspiration because I was so scared. We were rescued by the US Coast Guard and transferred to Guantanamo. I was there for nine months.
Dina
Random tidbits:
Yes. A fun fact about my family, I grew up in a family restaurant called People's Barbecue - located in Overtown. The restaurant is currently undergoing renovations. My Miami is growing up in that culturally rich community, and also in a family business. It's a lot of hard work, a lot of long hours, helping grandma stock shelves in the back with spices and sauces. I used to wash dishes in the back. I used to answer phone calls. When I would come home for college in between breaks, I would help with catering orders. I liked getting to meet a lot of different people. I love our customers and their loyalty. It's fun to see them come in and they're like, 'I remember when you were three years old and you could barely say welcome.'
Alina
Random tidbits:
What’s it like being on QVC? It’s my happy place. I go to Philadelphia every two weeks for between two and five days. It’s a group of like minded souls. They are very appreciative and provide endless opportunities. I have two roles there, as a designer and as on-screen talent. When I go as a designer, I get to work with a team of 24 people that are experts and can bring my designs to life. When on screen, I get to emotionally connect with my audience.
Anthony
Random tidbits:
My dad is a great story about coming here and having to make it without his parents - definitely in the same camp as a lot of Cubans. He didn't complain, he sold shoes, and went through school. He really is like a patriarch of big accounting here in South Florida. He is one of the first Hispanics to get recognition for his field. I'm very grateful to be the son of an accountant. It gives you a very good business acumen because you're sitting in a restaurant and he's talking to you about their PNL and how things are going in the books. It gives you an education beyond the face value of things. It's really paid off for me and my brothers. He is one of those great boy-dads who really set up his kids to carry the torch.
Mitch (round 2)
Random tidbits:
It is called the RX of Dr. Z. It's unlike my other writing. I had a friend a few years ago who was going for STEM cell transplant and had to be 40 days in isolation. His wife asked us to keep him entertained during his isolation. I invented a fictional person who was worse off than he was. This fictional person was keeping a 40 day journal at the suggestion of his psychiatrist. Each day I would write about a thousand words and send it to my friend. It was a wonderful experience because we had this fictional person between us, to talk about. At the end of 40 days, he recovered and I had 40,000 words.