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Strengthening the Community, One Child at a Time with Michelle Kapreilian (Ep.17)



By training and by trade, Luhrsen Goldberg is part of a helping profession, and one of the ways that they absolutely love to give back is by being good citizens within their community, and by helping and supporting local nonprofit organizations.

In this episode, Julie and Christina welcome Michelle Kapreilian, CEO of Forty Carrots Family Center to discuss how this charitable organization is dedicated to making an impact through child development, parenting education, and mental health services.

Join Michelle as she discusses: 

  • The type of resources available to families in Sarasota and Manatee counties 
  • How businesses have the potential to make an impact within their community
  • The importance of coaching the entire family dynamic to help resolve family conflict
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Julie and Christina:

Connect with Michelle Kapreilian:

About our Guest:

Michelle brought years of first-hand involvement with Forty Carrots Family Center along with two decades of business leadership experience to the position of Executive Director in June 2013. Her Forty Carrots knowledge includes extensive volunteer efforts as a parent in the Parenting Program and Preschool; several key leadership positions as a four-year trustee, board officer and chairwoman of the Governance Committee. Michelle’s professional background includes leading a multimillion-dollar international import business and co-owner/ CEO of several local businesses.


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Selling Cookies and Building Dreams with the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida (Ep. 16)



Everyone loves Girl Scout Cookies! Do you have a favorite? 

In this episode, Christina and Julie speak with four members of the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida (GSGCF); Ashley Gill, Kelly McGraw, Allyson and Adelyanna.

Listen in as they discuss what goes into selling the famous cookies, the different badges, rewards and adventures the girls can earn, and how you can donate to charities through their program initiatives. 

Go behind the scenes as the Girl Scouts discuss: 

  • The various programs available to assist with raising funds
  • How troops set sales goals and how they are rewarded when they achieve them
  • How they’ve updated their payment methods through credit and online orders
  • Why giving back to the community is so important
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Julie and Christina:

Connect with Ashley Gill and Kelly McGraw:

About Our Guests: 

Growing up, Ashley Gill was first a Brownie and then a Junior Girl Scout.  After getting her daughter, Allyson involved in the Girl Scouts, she decided to return herself…this time as a volunteer troop leader. 

As a girl, Kelly McGraw spent eight years as a Girl Scout where she enjoyed camping and the trips and adventures.  After a stint with working with the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore, she made the move to Florida and ended up joining the Girl Scouts yet again. This time with the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida as its Director of Member Experience. 


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Diamonds and Disasters, Celebrating Valentine’s Day (Ep. 15)



Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love, romance, and intimacy…unless you’re from Luhrsen Goldberg, then you make it about the legalities of love!

Join Julie and Christina for this special Valentine’s Day episode where they give real-life examples, share some fun facts, and break down this love-filled holiday from a lawyer’s perspective. 

Laugh along as they discuss:

  • Who gets to keep the ring when an engagement is broken off
  • The four C’s to choosing the perfect diamond
  • Some Do’s and Don’ts of creating a prenup
  • The meaning of different colored roses
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Julie and Christina:


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The Top 23 Ways To Protect Yourself In 2023 (Ep.14)



Let’s make 2023 a positive year to remember!

In this episode, Christina Goldberg and Julie Luhrsen list 23 suggestions on how you can protect yourself when it comes to accidents, insurance companies, medical care and when choosing your attorney.

Julie and Christina discuss: 

  • What you can do to stay safe on the road
  • How important it is that you seek medical help if you’ve been in an accident
  • Why your insurance company isn’t always your friend
  • How you can pick an attorney that best suits your needs
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Julie and Christina:


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Be Your Own Brand with Mary Schrank (Ep.13)



Happy New Year!

This year we want to continue to bring you episodes that not only educate and inform, but also make you laugh, inspire you, and maybe even help you look within yourself to make a change.

Just like today’s guest! 

Mary Schrank was sick of yo-yo dieting and knew she wasn’t living her best life. With determination and daily commitment, she reinvented herself and now is someone that others look up to! 

Join Julie and Christina as they chat with Mary about her journey of leaving corporate America to become a Health and Wellness Coach.

Mary discusses: 

  • How she promotes her brand and how she’s gained a community of 450k people
  • Marketing strategies that helped her go from amateur to influencer 
  • Why wellness mentorship is more personalized now than in the past
  • How to deal with negative people that try to dampen your spirits
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Julie and Christina:

Connect with Mary Schrank:

About our Guest: 

Mary Schrank is a health and wellness coach as well as a business mentor. Mary spent 23 years as a corporate executive climbing the corporate ladder, went to college at Towson University and got a degree in health service management. Mary has spent most of her adult life in healthcare and has now chosen to work in the wellness industry by sharing her expertise with people one-on-one and on social media!


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Family Law with Lora Howell (Ep. 12)



Meeting the right people at the right time is such an amazing feeling, especially when it comes to finding the perfect colleagues!

In this episode, Christina Goldberg and Julie Luhrsen invite the newest member of Luhrsen Goldberg on the podcast, Lora Howell! 

Lora is here to discuss why she is so passionate about family law, why she decided to go to law school at 36, and even some of the pettiest things couples have fought about during a divorce.

Tune in as Lora discusses: 

  • Some of the lesser known facts about family law
  • A few real-life divorce stories
  • The stigma behind prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Julie and Christina:

Connect with Lora Howell:

About our Guest: 

Lora L. Howell has been a member of the Florida Bar since 2007 and has focused her practice in the areas of Family Law, Foreclosure Litigation, and Civil Litigation.

Lora was born and raised in Mooresville, Indiana. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Indiana University in 1994. She graduated on the Dean’s List and was a member of the Political Science Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha. She was the recipient of a Rotary Foundation Scholarship where she studied abroad at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador en la facultad de Jurisprudencia. She earned her Juris Doctor Degree from Florida State University College of Law where she was a member of the Jessup Moot Court Team and the Women’s Law Symposium President.

Lora is currently active in several professional organizations as well as community groups.


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Lyrics and Laws: Breaking Down 8 Popular Holiday Songs (Ep. 11)



Happy holidays! 

There’s nothing like celebrating the festive season with some favorite holiday songs! But, did you know that some of them have hidden meanings?

In this episode, Christina Goldberg and Julie Luhrsen enlighten us with their top eight holiday songs and highlight their ‘true meaning’ as they pertain to Florida laws. 

Grab some eggnog and join Christina and Julie as they discuss: 

  • Why homeowners insurance companies are leaving the state of Florida
  • How property damage claims are literally hitting the roof
  • Why according to local burn laws it’s okay to roast chestnuts
  • The dangers of DUI, and their shocking statistics 
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Julie and Christina:

 


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Navigating The Feelings of Grief and Isolation with Melissa Wandall (Ep. 10)



Losing a loved one is never going to be easy. The only thing you can do is learn to build yourself back up and find strength.

What can you do to better manage these isolating emotions?

In this episode, we invite Melissa Wandall, President of the National Coalition for Safer Roads, to discuss how she overcame the devastating event of losing her husband while 9 months pregnant with their daughter.

Melissa discusses: 

  • Her inspirational story of becoming the President of the National Coalition for Safer Roads
  • Her experience with healing, gaining strength, and persistence after losing her husband in a car accident
  • Resiliency and how to “not let the sword touch you”
  • The program she is affiliated with that supports children who have lost their parents and its impact on the community
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Julie and Christina:

Connect with Melissa Wandall:

About our Guest: 

Melissa Wandall’s story is one of tragedy and hope, one of inspiration and faith.  Melissa was widowed at nine months pregnant – 19 years ago.  Mother to the most beautiful Madisyn Grace, Melissa swore to her husband that she would raise a happy baby, one born into love, not loss.  And she has done exactly that – We can attest to the courage and kind hearts of both Melissa and Madisyn.  Melissa aims to equip, uplift, and resource individuals and organizations. Melissa is the President of the National Coalition for Safer Roads, Founder and President of the Mark Wandall Foundation, a spokesperson and campaign ambassador for Alert Today Florida, and an independent Advocacy Consultant.


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Estate Planning: From The Ultra-Wealthy To The Working Class With Neil Lyons (Ep.9)



Law Powered By Women does not mean that men are not allowed to be part of what we do here at Luhrsen Goldberg!

Because in this episode, Christina Goldberg and Julie Luhrsen invite Neil Lyons, fellow associate attorney at Luhrsen Goldberg, onto the show to discuss some must-know estate planning tips! He also shares some professional stories about helping people create an estate plan when their family dynamic is far from normal.

Neil discusses: 

  • How his role as an estate planner at Luhrsen Goldberg enriches their services
  • How he handles uncomfortable family dynamics when formulating an estate plan
  • His opinion on the Britney Spears conservatorship case
  • What it’s like working in an office as the only man
  • And more

Connect with Julie and Christina:

Connect with Neil Lyons:

About our Guest: 

Neil Lyons is a fellow associate attorney at Luhrsen Goldberg and is here to share his expertise about estate planning. He attended the University of South Florida for his undergraduate and then Stetson University College of Law for law school. Additionally, Neil is the only man that works at Luhrsen Goldberg!

 


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From Military to Mentorship with Maria Chapa Lopez (Ep. 8)



Everyone has a story about the path that led them to where they are, and in this episode, we hear from Julie’s former JAG Corps friend and colleague, Maria Chapa Lopez. 

Join the ladies as they reminisce about their Army days and relive the stories of how Maria’s path from Army officer to federal prosecutor to the US Attorney for the Middle District of Florida to now her work as a Legal Consultant for the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. 

Listen as Maria shares:

  • How mentorship is important and can formulate ever-lasting relationships
  • The moment she knew she was destined for a career in law
  • How her Dad gave her the courage to follow her dreams
  • Stories of her time in the military with Julie 
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Julie and Christina:

Connect with Maria Chapa Lopez:

About our Guest: 

During her legal career, she has been privileged to serve her country and community in various capacities. She has served as a United States Army JAG Officer, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel; as an Assistant United States Attorney dismantling transnational drug trafficking organizations; and as a Deputy Attaché in Mexico. During her tenure in Mexico, she worked closely with our Mexican Justice and Law Enforcement counterparts, as well as with other international stakeholders to disrupt cross-border criminal activity. As the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, she continued to serve her country as the top law enforcement officer for one of the largest districts in the country.  Today, she continues her work helping combat the drug war by working as a legal consultant to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime