Meet Kristi McAllister, Blogger at Truly Madly Sassy

Kristi McAllister recently started the blog, Truly Madly Sassy, which she describes as a personal blog about grief, hope, loss, love, transition, and the perils of everyday life. She lives in North Carolina, where she enjoys such hobbies as baking cupcakes and indulging in Starbucks beverages. The best way to learn about what's important to Kristi is to read her blog!

1. What inspired you to start blogging?

For years, I've had friends tell me that I had a great way with words, but I never really thought about it, to be honest. Then, back in the fall semester of 2016, one of my favorite professors, Wayne Loving, had asked our Economics class to post something on the discussion board about why we chose our particular major (mine is social work), so I posted about a friend who had committed suicide the year prior. Mr. Loving publicly commented on that post about how well I articulated things and from that day forward, he continued to prod me to start a blog so that I could help others. I completely give him all the accolades for what has become Truly Madly Sassy because his encouragement alone is what led me to start it. Even today, he occasionally sends me an email cheering me on so that I keep things going! Professors like him are hard to come by, and I feel so fortunate to have had him because he truly cares about his students and wants all of us to succeed at whatever we're good at.

2. How do you choose the topics to cover in your posts?

Interestingly enough, most of the things I cover in my blog posts are directly related to my own life experiences. I've often found that living transparently and authentically means being open and honest about all of our wounds because in talking about those things, we not only heal ourselves but others as well. At other times, I'll just get a hint of inspiration and wonder about things like what people might regret in their lives. My friends are my biggest fans and they’re always willing to take part in informal Facebook polls by baring their souls to me so that I can build a blog around their answers. Honestly, it's all rather spontaneous and rarely planned. I have to chew on things a long time before I can sit down and put something together that's coherent!

3. Do you have any special goals you hope to achieve through your website?

It might sound cliché, but I didn't start the blog to make money, although I would welcome it if that ever came about! But my biggest goal is to help others who might be enduring circumstances that seem unbearable. Many of us have crawled through hopelessness and sometimes, we feel insignificant because of that. If I can reach one person who might be struggling with a relationship, a loss, or someone who is seeking hope in a dismal moment, I feel that I've done my part in bettering humanity by letting them know that there’s always a little light somewhere if we just grab onto it.

4. What are some other websites that inspire you?

Iyanla Vanzant's website is always one that I frequently look at because in so many ways, I relate to her life experiences. Not only that, I love her books. I rarely keep a book that I've read, but I keep all of hers! Elizabeth Gilbert's website is equally awesome because she always has some sort of interesting podcast that I can find hope in. And last but certainly not least, Brene Brown is my hero and her website is the bomb diggity! I absolutely adore her work, especially where courage and vulnerability is concerned. That woman inspires me every day to be real!

5. Do you have a particular idea of your reader(s) in mind as you write, and what would you most like potential visitors to your blog to know about you?

I think Truly Madly Sassy has something for everybody, honestly. Most subjects revolve around love and relationships of all sorts, and who hasn't had ups and downs with both of those?! I'd say most of my readers are women, but I have had comments from men here and there on particular posts. I don't really sit down and say "Okay, I need to target this audience today"--I just write!

I think as writers, being raw and real with our own scars allow the readers who follow us to relate not only to our stories, but to theirs as well. It's always comforting to me when I go through hard times to hear another person say "Me too!". I suppose if I wanted potential visitors to know anything about me, it would be this: I am far from perfect and fight the daily battle of feeling "good enough" in a big world of edits; however, my life experiences have made me the woman I am today and continue to shape me into the person I ultimately want to become. We all have room for improvement; not only that, we are all capable of being better people day in and day out if we just work at it. That's a long explanation, so the short version is this: I'm just a real person with real wounds who inspires to help others grow as I gain personal growth myself. It's all about transparency!

Thanks, Kristi!

Meet Kiran Karidi, Founder of iKare Cafe

iKare Cafe is a new social networking site which encourages positivity and happiness. Users are encouraged to post about happy moments in their lives and to make a difference by sharing positive feelings and experiences with others. The site also donates 60% of their ad revenue to charity. Learn more about iKare Cafe in the video below.

1. What inspired you to start iKare Cafe?

Social networking sites are very powerful tools and if properly utilized, can do wonders for the world. But the current social networking sites are more used for entertainment and information sharing. These sites have mixed content, both positive and negative. I see that negative content spreads more rapidly than positive content. I always wondered why we couldn't have a dedicated social networking site just for positivity and happiness. I am happy it became a reality now with iKare Cafe.

2. How is iKare Cafe similar to other social networking sites--and how is it different?

The core functionality of iKare Café is similar to other popular social networking sites, but the motive behind it is very different. Other social networking sites make the founders rich, but my site brings invaluable hope into the lives of numerous people around the world, and the best thing is that the members of my site are making this happen. Also, the positive content will bring a positive outlook towards life to many people.

3. Could you give us some examples of the types of positive content that you encourage people to publish on the site?

We encourage posting any content big or small which can induce positive vibes, make someone smile, spread happiness, and share happy moments of life. We enjoy it when people take time to thank someone for doing charity work, challenge someone to surpass past contributions, and share content which can provide inspiration and encourage a pay-it-forward mindset. We want a balance of entertainment and inspiration for our users.

4. How do you see the site evolving over the next year or so?

Nowadays, I see lot of people who aren't happy with the current generation of social networking sites because there's too much information, and it is very hard to separate which information is good or bad for oneself and others. We have already been seeing a lot of positive response from the community, and I see it could give tough competition to other sites over the next couple of years. But we are not competing with anyone as our only motive is paying back to the community, and our site is just a medium for that. We have lots of features on our site already like posting photos, videos, polls, blogs, forums, etc. Over the next year we will release a lot of updates for our community to realize our dream through our members' eyes.

5. Do you think that changing our mindset to focus more on the positive can change our own lives?

Yes, having a positive attitude can really change the world, and it is a proven fact around the world that positive thinking and actions can lead to important changes. A ripple effect can be generated with positivity, and we can make the world a happy and better place to live.

Thanks, Kiran!

Meet King, Lead Vocalist and Guitarist of Happiness to Life

King is the lead vocalist and guitarist with Happiness to Life, a Florida-based band which has just completed its first indie pop/rock studio album. King grew up in New York and moved to Lakeland, Florida in 2000, where he studied to become a nationally certified massage therapist. Look for Happiness to Life's album on Amazon and Google Play in October!

1. Would you tell us a little bit about your new band, Happiness to Life?

I just finished our first studio album. I am grateful to have formed my new band, and at this point in time, the band consists of: myself as lead vocalist and lead guitar, a bass player, a drummer, a keyboardist, and a rhythm guitar player. All the musicians in the band are hired members at this moment. We are rehearsing the songs a couple times weekly in preparation before we hit the road.

2. How did the band form?

Originally the band was formed with one person: me. Gradually I started to hire the band members.

3. When it comes to writing songs, what's your process like?

For me, there is no exact formula. A lyric or a melody might pop into my head, and I can use that as a starting point for a song, or I can sit down and concentrate only on writing lyrics or writing the musical structure.

4. How do you balance your music career with your work as a massage therapist?

I took a long break from music. I dedicated a lot of time to my therapy work, and I achieved my objectives. Now my main focus is strictly on my music. On my days off, every now and then, I can do a little therapy work.

5. Why do you feel that you are drawn to creating music with positive, uplifting messages?

As I enter into a higher state of consciousness, I begin to realize that my word is my life, and my feeling is my life because I choose to create them. I can send my word or my feeling to any part of the universe. It will travel, and it will stretch out, and then my word or my feeling will come back to me. Why? Because I am the creator, and this is a very simple universal law whether we are conscious or ignorant of it. So therefore, I decide if I have to say something, I would rather say something that is constructive, positive, and uplifting .

Thanks, King!

Meet Lyndol Keith Woodruff, Chief Connection Officer with EyeLevel Entertainment

Lyndol Keith Woodruff is an actor, comedian, and entertainment entrepreneur. Originally from Dallas, he moved to Hollywood in 2003. He is a skilled communicator and networker--and a student of personal growth who has a vision of putting the heart back into entertainment, which he calls his "Mission with NO Intermission!"

Lyndol is currently working to raise money to produce an online TV show with positive content. EyeLevelTV will bring new music artists to the world as well as top motivational experts and business owners with amazing success stories. For more about EyeLevelTV, check out their campaign on Indiegogo.

1. How would you describe your role as Chief Connection Officer with EyeLevel Entertainment?

I love this role! It is simple and fun. My job is to connect with people. Find out what is important to them, what moves them, what excites them. It is important for me to understand other people's desires and vision so I can figure out a way to connect it to what we are doing if it makes sense, that simultaneously moves our vision and their vision forward effectively, collaboratively.

2. In your career, how have you combined entertainment with entrepreneurship?

At the heart of being an entertainer, I am here to connect people to inspiration, new ideas, concepts... and I realize more and more that it's almost the exact same thing that I do as an entrepreneur. I connect people to opportunities, to possibilites, so I find it intriguing that being an entrepreneur and an entertainer, these things go hand in hand. They both rise out of my desire to connect with people and have fun!

3. What drew you toward working on an online TV show?

Awesome how this happened. I was representing Hunter as a singer/songwriter and brought Kent Jacobs to the house to see him perform a single we were working on. Little did I know, Kent had just partnered with YouTube and Machinima and he told Hunter and I we should have our own webseries on his new network, NOW TV Live. We had all kinds of ideas, so Kent urged us to start our own network focusing on transformation, so we partnered with him, and here we are.

4. How have you utilized your experience with networking to find collaborators for Eye Level TV?

My brain has this special function of taking a look at what people naturally do well, and figuring out how to implement their skills and resources into what I am doing to help us both move forward. I have a unique way of understanding two visions and how to connect them.

5. What does it mean to you to bring a sense of heart and mission to entertainment?

Bringing a sense of heart and mission to entertainment is to own your greatness, own who you are, authentically... 100%, caring for others, cooperate, collaborate for the greater good. Empowering people, by highlighting how powerful our choices are.

Thanks, Lyndol!

Meet Hunter Wade, Chief Inspiration Officer with EyeLevel Entertainment

Hunter Wade is a musician, speaker, writer, and actor on a mission of inspiring the world to a higher potential. He has formally studied Music Therapy as well as Sound Engineering, been featured on ABC's Lost, played Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, and released two independent albums.

Hunter is currently working to raise money to produce an online TV show with positive content. EyeLevelTV will bring new music artists to the world as well as top motivational experts and business owners with amazing success stories. For more about EyeLevelTV, check out their campaign on Indiegogo.

1. How would you describe your role as Chief Inspiration Officer with EyeLevel Entertainment?

As the Chief Inspiration Officer, it's my job to hold the subjective vision. I am forever keeping my sights on the BIG WHY behind all we are doing and inspiring others back to that regularly. It is also my duty to stay fresh, keep current, and to continue to challenge myself to grow personally as well as professionally. I stand as an example of what is possible when we choose to believe!

2. What are some qualities you're looking for in choosing artists to feature on your online TV show?

When I am scouting talent, the first thing I notice is rather subtle to most people. I am getting a sense of a person's "come from" or their underlying intention. I am less interested in the packaging or look than I am in the heart of the artist. Transparency, authenticity, confidence, and creativity come together in an intriguing way to create something tangible--yet, I am more interested in the subtle energy I feel in a person's presence. You could say, I like to feel their "vibe" but that's fairly hokey. ;)

3. When did you first start thinking about starting an online TV show, and could you talk a little bit about your process of bringing this idea to fruition?

I actually decided to launch a network that focuses on responsible media long before I ever imagined any specific show concepts. The idea initially emerged when I was 18 and really solidified in conversation with my best friend Jason when he and I had an auto-glass company in AZ about 14 years ago. My path from AZ to launching this network certainly wasn't direct. Without going into too much detail, I'd say the process of bringing this to fruition has involved a LOT of surrender, an immense amount of persistence, and an intense willingness to be uncomfortable!

4. Why did you decide to reach out for funding through Indiegogo, and what are some other opportunities you see for other people to collaborate with you on this project?

I decided to use the Indiegogo campaign platform as a way of reaching a larger audience with our mission. This is totally about YOU! So I wanted to attract people who share the "Giver's Gain" philosophy and give them a platform to share their message with the world. There are so many opportunities to get involved with us. We work with a "Find a Need and Fill it" philosophy. So basically:

Get out there and make a difference with your talents.
Share about EyeLevel and KNOW that you are an important leader of this movement.
Employ the philosophy, "It's easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission!"

When we see you taking the ball and running with it, we are likely to offer you a formal position with the company. In fact, two others have jumped in, found a gap in what we are doing, and filled it in with their skills--and now they hold equity in our company. That's Giver's Gain philosophy in action!

5. What are some of your personal goals in terms of expressing your own sense of purpose through music, performance, and other forms of art?

I want to be in musicals, sing at Red Rocks and the Hollywood Bowl, get a Grammy or 5, be the voice of a cartoon character, and remake Mary Poppins as Burt the Chimney Sweep. I want to share and be known for developing a new vocal style that incorporates chanting--I have been perfecting this style for 15 years. People who have heard it become entranced and freak out a little because it is very powerful and unlike anything we are accustomed to hearing. I believe with all of my heart that I have been given a very powerful gift that can be used for global transformation, so my deepest aspiration is to listen with an open mind and heart for the call of inspiration to lead me into the highest and best use of these gifts. I am ridiculously grateful to be living this adventure in this time with all of you!

Thanks, Hunter!