When a friend recommended that Laurie should do a podcast, a new dream emerged. A podcast with Laurie and one guest simply telling life stories of thriving, not just surviving...this sounds delightful!
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Episode 8- “Doubt” feat. Rita Russo
In this week’s episode, Laurie’s guest is Rita Russo, whose career has taken her behind the scenes of some of the world’s most recognized entertainment properties, where she has built marketing, publicity and partnership strategies for the Original Immersive Van Gogh, Prince, Janet Jackson, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance and David Copperfield, among many others. Over the years, that professional relationship became a friendship that has carried them through plenty of laughter, entertainment industry highs and lows, and a few tears through real trials of life. Plus, Rita turns the table and asks Laurie a few questions: Do you think doubt and faith can exist at the same time? What was your faith like as a child? What star left you starstruck? And what have you stopped trying to prove?
Previous Episodes
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Judy Schenk has been a friend of Laurie’s for close to three decades, and has helped guide her professionally and personally (master’s Degree in Organizational Management, Certified Professional Coach) as an architect of change, leading in the direction of positive and lasting change. Ten years ago, after a strategic session, Laurie walked away with this personal mandate: Reveal the real. Embrace the possible. Find the humor. A lot has changed over the past ten years, but that remains true. Laurie calls this episode a prologue because Judy helps her look at where she’s been, where she is and where she’s going. Join Laurie as she discovers a new way of looking at all three.
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Terey Summers has been Laurie’s friend for over twenty years. She is an actress for the stage, and has credits in film, television, voiceovers and commercial work. Her work has been recognized by entertainment figures such as Oprah Winfrey and Mark Burnett, who selected her from 20,000 contestants to star in Your OWN Show, one of Oprah’s “chosen ones”. Listen as Terey flips the table and she becomes the host to launch the first taping that took place in a studio in Phoenix in May where Laurie let the pro show her how it’s done!
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Deborah has been Laurie's “bestie” friend since her breast cancer clinical trial in 2002. Deborah is a kick butt pastry chef and Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professional (CDM,CFPP) who prides herself (and wows Laurie) on in-depth knowledge of medical facts, scriptures and how to be a home restoration contractor…and who has the patience of a saint as witnessed by committing to be by Laurie's side the entire year of Laurie's clinical trial and the person who can get Laurie giggling until her sides hurt.
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Todd is an award winning creative director, producer, composer, pianist and music director, celebrated for his artistry and leadership in crafting world-class live performances worldwide. Beyond the stage, Todd is a passionate philanthropist in the medical and arts community. Todd and his writing partner, Kevin Fisher, are the composer-lyricist duo for Laurie's show, Queen of the Trial:The Musical, creating a score that is musically brilliant and emotionally impactful. And he is Laurie's favorite piano player of all time.
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My sister Debbie is eight years older than me and always has a few funny and endearing stories about little Laurie. Saying she loves children hardly captures the depth of her devotion. For 49 years, she has nurtured and championed young people as a daycare provider and the owner of Debbie's Day Care, while also dedicating 42 years of service to the Girl Scouts. Debbie's generosity extends throughout our hometown of Mansfield, Pennsylvania, where she has long been an active and compassionate community leader. In 2021, her extraordinary service was recognized when she received the Max Colegrove Citizen of the Year Award. Giving her time, energy, and heart to others seems woven into Debbie's DNA. She also serves on the board of Hamilton-Gibson Productions, a community theater in nearby Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, which produced Unbeatable, the musical inspired by Laurie's story.
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Rod Kaats is a New York-based theatre producer, director and writer. An Air Force brat, he was born on Guam and moved 17 times before he was 11, including places as diverse as Colorado, Mississippi, Texas and a year in Bangkok Thailand where he attended Catholic school. (No, he’s not, but he never told the nuns). Rod and Laurie worked together at the beginning of their careers at what became the live entertainment juggernaut Broadway Across America. Rod is currently on the nominating committee for the Tony Awards, and his producing credits include the Tony nominated production of Girl from the North Country on Broadway, Mamma Mia! the Party in the Netherlands and Becoming Marilyn Monroe, a multi-media show in Zurich, Switzerland. He produced the pre-Broadway production of Six as the Producing Artistic Director of Broadway @ the Ordway in St. Paul, MN, where he spent a whole day arm-in-arm with Dolly Parton when he produced the world premiere of her musical Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol.
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Laurie’s guest is Dave Buehring who serves as the founder and president of Lionshare Leadership Group (www.Lionshare.org). Dave and his wife Cheryl have been friends and spiritual mentors to Laurie for over 30 years as they have made a lifetime commitment to making disciple makers as they walk alongside societal leaders who want to go deeper in character, wisdom or relationships. If you wonder how Laurie can thrive and not just survive, this episode will give you a great inside look. Plus, you’ll hear the back story of being at a discipleship event where Laurie tells the audience that she may “just want to punch them in the face”. Enjoy!
Why a Podcast?
Laurie is a storyteller – her life experiences have captivated people in her autobiographical musical, book, and everyday conversations for decades because she is relatable. Plus, she has been described as having the best smile and an infectious laugh. Her perspective is fresh and uplifting, yet realistically truthful. And faith is the foundation of her entire life, integrated throughout every day. So, when a friend recommends that she do a podcast, a new dream emerges.
Laurie’s first experience writing a book required her to sequester herself in a hotel room to relive all the tough times so the emotion of the experience and words on the page were in sync. It was mostly a singular journey. But the trials covered in the second book will be different. These were years of a journey filled with people who had shared experiences, a common bond, and a mutual respect and understanding. Sharing the podcast microphone with others is purposeful. Hearing the laughs, likely shedding some tears, and just talking about memories will allow Laurie to then write chapters for book #2 after the podcast episodes air. The listening audience will already be on the journey with her, catching glimpses of what's to come.