Hello! And Good News! Another long break between episodes brings us together once again. This month’s good news guest is Casey Margaret Craig. Casey is a very funny lady who works in film and television here in Los Angeles on shows you probably know like Workaholics, Silicon Valley and Ghosted. Casey and I sit together on the true blue couch and talk about:

       3D printed houses! ICON has developed a method for printing a single-story 650-square-foot house out of cement in only 12 to 24 hours. If all goes according to plan, a community made up of about 100 homes will be constructed for residents in El Salvador next year       

       Parley, a global cleanup organization that works internationally to develop solutions to current and future pollution problems within our oceans. Parley is currently partnering with Adidas by releasing shoes made from Parley Ocean Plastic™ - materials created from upcycled plastic waste intercepted on Maldivian beaches and in coastal communities before it reaches the ocean. Parley also has many other creative collaborations in the works to prevent ocean pollutants and cut down on plastic manufacturing that Hannah attempts to tell Casey about.

       A new documentary, Even When I Fall, brings awareness to human trafficking in Nepal by following the story of Circus Kathmandu, a troupe founded and comprised of trafficking survivors. As children they were kidnapped and sold into a travelling circus, and now they use their unique skills as an educational artform to share their own story.

In animal corner we talk about the city of Toronto and how it has changed it’s architecture to become “bird friendly”.

    Casey is from Sayre Pennsylvania and we talk about her hometown and the nearby Wounded Warriors, a bereavement group in Horsehead that holds support meetings. counseling, and family support for those experiencing death or a life-threatening illness.

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Hello! And Good News! This weeks good news guest is Peter Banifaz. Peter is an an actor and an improviser. So insanely funny and wonderful. If you live in Los Angeles you can see Peter on Harold Night at the UCB Theater with the team Queen George. They knock it out of the park on a regular basis. You can also catch him on Season 8 of Shameless. I have a new couch, and it’s blue, but Peter and I hang out on it and talk about:

       Jahmal Cole, who started the non-profit My Block, My Hood, My City which works to provide underprivileged youth in the Chicago area with opportunities and education beyond their neighborhoods.

       Worth-Pays-Homeless-People-to-Pick-Up-Trash-470183833.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_CTBrand">Clean Slate a program in the Presbyterian Night Shelter in Fort Worth Texas that provides the homeless with the opportunity for paying work through the shelter and eventually successful job placement.  

       Salvador Gomez Colon- a fifteen year old who is delivering 100’s of solar lamps to those in Puerto Rico who are still without power.

       Peter was originally born in Tehran, Iran. We talk about some of the protests currently going on there against the current regime specifically the women who have been standing up and are currently known as The Girls of Revolution Street.

       Peter’s own story is amazing and we wrap up the episode talking about finding the light despite living through negative experiences.

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Hello! And Good News! This week I have on guest Nina Concepción. Nina is an actress, writer and comedian. She is so hilarious. If you live in Los Angeles you can see her on Harold Night at UCB Theater with the team Crush. Join Nina and I as we sit on the big red couch and discuss:

• A young boy on Halloween who filled up an empty candy bowl left on a porch with his best loot for other children after him to find.
• 200 Universities just released 600 free online courses.
• An online magazine, Foreigner, is redefining the stigma associated with being a “foreigner” by highlighting stories of entrepreneurship and challenges, inspiration and creativity, alternative takes and cultural diversity, to give an honest representation of what being a foreigner is really about.
• Fire Department Coffee, a coffee company that donates a portion of its sales to support firefighter and military charities is currently putting all of their charitable funds towards helping the firefighters of Northern California who lost their homes in the recent blazes.
• The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is installing "colorblind-less" viewfinders at scenic overlooks in the state. People affected by red-green color deficiencies may now see the fall foliage for what may be their very first time.
• Thomas Panek is blind-runner-and-his-guide-dog.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FAnimals&action=click&contentCollection=science®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=4&pgtype=collection">training guide dogs to guide visually impaired runners so that they may independently be able to participate in road races.
• Nina is from Philadelphia where they recently unveiled a statue of black civil rights activist Octavias Catto.

We wrap up the episode talking about establishing healthy habits and self care and the work and time that it takes to have a good relationship with food, exercise, and mental health.

Check out Nina’s Collection of Essays The Good-ish Girl on amazon!

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Hello! And Good News! This week I have on guest PJ McCormick. PJ is an improviser (and former Pro Wrestler!) in Los Angeles. He was most recently on the UCB Mess Hall team Bomb Pop. PJ is one of my favorite performers here in LA, and I have never had a dull conversation with him. This week we discuss the light and the dark side of life, both in the stories we touch on and PJ’s own life experience, and how ultimately empathy and appreciation for living in the moment are lessons that lot of us humans learn the hard way. Don’t worry we also talk about J. Lo and the timeline of her career. So join us as we sit on the big red couch and discuss:

• A grandfather in New Jersey who forgot he bought a lottery ticket and then a year later realized he had the winning numbers!
• The world’s first negative emissions plant that is turning Carbon Dioxide into stone instead of emissions.
• A who-found-missing-minnesota-girl-gives-7g-reward-to-her.html">man who found a missing teenage girl, who had been kidnapped from her house, and gave the reward offered to him back to her.
• Positive News put out a great article on the idea of ageing and some of the people defying it’s stereotypes.  
• A young man from PJ’s hometown is setting out on a worldwide motorcylcle journey following the death of his close friend, while raising money and awareness from Crohn’s Disease in honor of her.

PJ and I wrap up the episode talking about his own story and how tragedy can also lead you to empathy and gratefulness. We talk, as I do every week, about living in the now.

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Hello! And Good News! This week I have on guest Joseph Kibler who is an actor, producer and improviser. Joseph also has a feature length documentary entitled Walk On, which follows Joseph's own story having been born disabled and HIV positive. He was told he would never walk or live past four years old and Walk On follows him training, at age 21, to walk 6.2 miles in the LA AIDS Walk. Joseph is an incredible person and performer we sat on his big red couch and talked all about:  

• Julio Canales, a Delta pilot who is using his own plane to fly to Puerto Rico and deliver care packages and aid as well as medical evacuation flights for those affected by Hurricane Maria.
• The city of San Diego just reached it’s goal of me-homeless-veterans-20171006-story.html">housing 1,000 homeless veterans. They are now focussing on finding long term housing for another 1,000 homeless in the next 15 months.
• Restoration Station, is more than just an upcycled furniture store. It a non-profit social enterprise run by an addiction recovery charity that helps those recovering learn new skills, establish a routine and have a creative outlet. They are showcasing furniture designed by recovering addicts at The London Design Festival this month.
• Animal Corner features a giant puppy mill rescue! 117 animals were rescued from a puppy mill warehouse that was shut down in Dallas.
• Joseph is from Brooklyn, NY and his hometown was the first home base of Fighting Pretty, a non-profit started by cancer survivor Kara Skaflestad. Kara puts together inspiring care packages and sends them cost free to women who are currently fighting cancer.

Joseph and I wrap up the episode talking about his own very inspiring story from his childhood, to making the documentary, to present day living. We also talk about overcoming obstacles and living in the now. Two of my favorite themes on the podcast.  You can find Josephs documentary on Amazon Prime or itunes. Also, look out for him on an upcoming episode of Criminal Minds!

Follow Joseph on instagram @jkibler17

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Hello! And Good News! This week I have Charlie Mihelich back on the ‘ol pod to talk good news. Charlie is an improvisor, writer, and actor. Charlie and I get back on the big red couch and talk all about:

• Montana Brown a childhood cancer survivor who now works as a nurse at the center she was once a patient at.
• We touch on some celebrities who have donated to disaster relief in Puerto Rico. Which leads us into talking about doomsday prepper, Joseph Badame, who after learning his house would be foreclosed, donated everything (40 years worth of survival prep)  to hurricane relief.
• Animal corner features Frida, a 7 year old search-and-rescue labrador who has helped find 52 people in her career. Frida is currently in Mexico aiding the Mexican Navy as they search for earthquake survivors. This leads us into a discussion about emotional intelligence in animals and whether it is instinctual or a learned trait.
• Charlie is from Riverside, and Riverside County is home to one of the largest solar farms in the country. California is working towards becoming 100% renewable energy based in the next 30 years and Riverside County is one of the biggest providers of solar and wind power in the state.
• We wrap up the episode talking about Charlie’s good news, living in the moment, enjoying the people you are with, and saying yes to things when you have an opportunity!

If you live in Los Angeles you can see Charlie performing around town! His upcoming shows in October are:

Catharsis: Dramatic Improv - UCB Sunset 7pm, 10/23

Purgatory -

Every 2nd and 4th Monday on The Clubhouse Mainstage 8:30pm

Every 3rd Wednesday at The UCB I.S. Stage 7pm

Follow Charlie on instagram @mihelicopter

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It’s Hello! And Good News’ 50th Episode! This week's episode features Veronica Gruba! Check out her blog at veronicagruba.com, and if you live in Los Angeles you can see her around town performing at The Clubhouse and other indie shows with her team Rebel Without Applause, Totally Heather, and Tyrant.

Hannah and Veronica hang out on the big red couch and talk about:

• The Flying Seagull Project, a group of performers, musicians, and artists who travel around the world to refugee camps, hospitals, shanty towns and classrooms to bring entertainment and happiness to children undergoing difficult times.  Check out this video featuring them on BBC, it might make you cry.
• The Shoe That Grows, an organization that provides shoes to children in need. One thing that makes this shoe special is that it is adjustable and can grow up to five sizes and lasts for several years.
• Aeric McCoy, a heroin addict who was living on the streets of Baltimore who found a woman’s purse and wanted to return it. He travelled all the way across the city on foot to bring it to her and, when he did, Kaitlyn Smith rewarded him with some new clothes, a sleeping bag, and a ride home. During the car ride he told her his story, and she vowed to help him get to a recovery center in Florida. She paid for his plane ticket and now he is celebrating over 100 days sober. Kaitlyn also put together a gofundme to help Aeric get re-started on his landscaping business once he has successfully finished his outpatient program.  
• Animal corner features a horse in a hospital! North Devon Hospice Center, brought in a horse as a surprise for one of their patients in his final days at their center.
• Veronica is from Enumclaw, WA and this summer the school district provided free lunches to children who needed them even when school was not in session.

Follow Veronica on instagram @vtown

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This week's episode features another favorite recurring guest, Matt Apodaca! Matt is an improvisor and comedian here in Los Angeles. You can see him on Harold Night at the UCB Theater and around town doing other sketch and improv shows. Matt and Hannah will both be performing in the Seattle Sketch Fest on September 23rd. If you live in Seattle, get tickets to Totally Real Friends!

Hannah and Matt hang out on the big red couch and talk about nonesense, Apple products and really good news:

• The cruise ships are killing it again this week in terms of good samaritanism. pledges-up-to-10-million-in-irma-relief.html">Carnival Cruise Lines gave 2 Million Dollars to support Hurricane Harvey recovery and just pledged another 10 million to support Hurricane Irma victims.
• Humble Bundle, a game content provider, donates part of its proceeds to charities. The cool part is that it lets the consumer decide how much of their money goes to the content creators, host site, or charity. The second cool thing is that they just reached a benchmark of 100 million dollars donated to charities, a number they said they hope in the future will seem small.
• An orthodontist in Vermont is giving away free braces to children who show involvement in their community and schools.
• Animal Corner starts with the news that the Snow Leopard has been taken off of the endangered species list and moved to vulnerable. We also talk about kitty-surprises-his-humans-when-they-find-out-hes-been-snatching-money-from-passersby-2485743521.html">Cashnip Cat, an office cat who snatches dollar bills from behind a glass doors. The office than donates the money to the Tulsa Center For The Homeless.
• Matt is from Downey, CA where the organization Drumming For Your Life was created. This organization uses drumming, music and rhythm as a new approach for teaching children to read. It boosts self esteem and  focus by teaching them to trust in their creativity and natural abilities.

Follow Matt on instagram @mattapodaca

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Episode Title: 47. Hurricane Help, Solar Power, And Reincarnation with Charles Mockler

This week's episode features one of Hannah’s all time favorite recurring guests, Charles Mockler!

Hannah and Charles hang out on their big red couch and talk about:

• The hurricanes. Ways people can help, how cruise lines are sending ships to help assist/evacuate victims in the caribbean islands, and a touching story of people coming together to luttrell-texas-residents-helping-world-war-ii-vet-rebuild-home-hit-by-harvey-for-100th-birthday.html">rebuild a texas man’s home for his 100th birthday.
• The UK will be providing free solar power to 800,000 low-income homes in the next five years.
• me-ln-indigenous-peoples-day-20170829-story.html">Los Angeles has renounced Columbus Day and replaced it with Indigenous Peoples Day
• Animal Corner features a dog that rescues earthworms!

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This week's episode is a palette cleanser solo episode. Hannah has been traveling and so this episode slows things down with a few short good news blips to get you through the week, some interviews about staying grateful and positive, as well as where to donate toharvey-charities-scams.html?mcubz=1"> Hurricane Harvey Relief and Montana Fire Relief. Good News Later!

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