I tried the infrared.
I tried the cold plunge.
Now I need to try cryo. Yes.
Where's the cryo?
Across the street at restore.
All right, we're talking cryo.
Maybe we'll keep it running.
What do you say, Stephania?
Yeah. All right, all right.
This is episode 144 I'm with my good friend Christina.
How are you doing? Good. How are you. We were just chatting it up.
So many suggestions. I saw an ad today. Yes.
You had a suggestion.
Therapy? Cryotherapy?
Yes. Whole body cryotherapy. Feels great.
Makes. Gives you so much energy.
Decreases pain. I love it quick. And now.
Yeah.
So I've been doing I go to What is it.
Float 41 exhale in Cromwell. Nice.
They do a cold plunge sauna, coal plunge sauna.
Contrast therapy. I would love. To try that.
But I leave there like I want to run a marathon.
Yeah. It's amazing. Oh that's great.
The cold plunge makes my joints on my knees feel great.
And again, feeling great.
So I'm really looking forward to this cryo. Yeah, definitely.
Maybe they are they cool with the community. Cryo.
You talked with them. What's the name of it?
Restore hyper wellness.
Yeah.
Maybe we could do, a fundraiser or sponsor the golf tournament.
Oh, definitely.
Yeah.
It's all about working with new people in the community.
West Hartford has been so great.
And buying into our mission and goals of friends of Fini.
So, cryotherapy.
What is it again?
Whole body cryotherapy at restore.
Restore? Yes. All right.
We usually get to the recommendations spa at the end.
We got right into it, people. We did.
This is Feeney Talks with friends episode 144.
Like I was saying, my name is Eric Feeney, founder
and president of Friends of Feeney.
Our mission is to help
children and families that need assistance after heartbreak or tragedy.
And I use this podcast.
Feeney talks with friends, and I talked to one of the people
in the community that are doing great things.
And Christina, you're doing great things.
I love your initiative.
I love what you're doing.
We're here to talk about Sweet Bear Coffee.
I love the logo. Please talk.
What you've been up to.
So, sweet Bear Coffee Company is organic Fairtrade coffee company.
And it was inspired by my son.
So backstory is that in 2020, he was born
right in the middle of the pandemic, which was a whole ordeal in and of itself.
But as he started to grow
and get older and develop, I noticed something wasn't quite right.
So we had him evaluated and was determined.
He has a very rare genetic disorder.
Less than 100 people in the entire world have this disorder.
So this brought on a lot of testing and procedures and surgeries.
And in one of these extremely long appointments, over four hours long,
I was drinking coffee and looking at my sweet bear.
That's his nickname.
And I said, I can bring these two things together.
I can sell
great tasting, Fairtrade, organic coffee and support the disability community.
And that's how Sweet Bear was born.
I love it.
Yeah.
No, I printed out I was going to print out the the logo, but I have it on my phone.
Let's go to the photos.
I'm going to put it right here.
Let's go on on the photo app.
This course is not working anyway.
Sweet bear boom.
I love it as the, Are you the mama bear? Yes.
And I worked with an amazing graphic designer locally,
and we designed it together.
His name is Matt Wallace.
He's wonderful.
Oh, Matt Wallace, yes, there's mama bear. Yes.
Sweet bear, I love it.
And it says certified Fairtrade organic.
Yes. Now, that was important to you, right.
Super important to have it be organic and Fairtrade. Yes.
Can you tell our listeners? Oh, well, you know, I teach third grade.
Yes. Can you explain what Fairtrade means to a third grader?
Sure.
So organic, obviously not using chemicals and pesticides and the growing process
and Fairtrade, meaning that we're treating the farmers
and the harvesters well and that they're getting paid well for their time
and their money and not, you know, treating them unfairly.
Yeah. And there has to be a group of farmers.
Yes. Right.
I thought it was very interesting.
I actually looked it up.
So I did see
I didn't look into it because I was like, oh, I, you mentioned it on the news. Yes.
And it's important to you that it was Fairtrade.
So I had to learn about it.
And and I think that's a great thing to make sure that everyone's treated
fairly. Yes.
Because are
you saying that there are people that are not treated correct.
There are like, worst case scenario, what what is a farm?
What is someone that's not being fair trade.
What does that farm look like? Or what are those farm?
How are the people being treated?
Overwork, underpaid, and especially for their services and their time.
And they're not also treating the agricultural system properly either,
as far as the organic standpoint.
So that's why those things were important.
Yeah. Fair trade I love it.
Look at that.
Fair trade.
So and I noticed that you chemical's organic.
Yes. Your decaf.
Yes. The decaf. That's another thing.
So most people that produce coffee, they use a chemical process
to decaffeinated it.
And I didn't want to do that.
So this is a special certification that we received for our decaf.
It's water processed decaffeinated.
And so no chemicals are used.
And if you try it, which I know you're
a caffeine lover like me, you would not know.
Is decaf really most decaf coffee or like, I rather not.
Yeah. You would not know it was decaf. It's really.
No, I joke, I like decaf. What's the point?
But lots of people buy the decaf.
They love it. But because it tastes great. Okay, cool.
Now, you had a wonderful interview I watched with Scott Haney, and.
Yes, I was so kind.
Kerry's care is a good friend.
Dennis House has been a guest, on episode 25 and 50.
That's a he's a great guy. Scott.
And he's hilarious.
So funny. Good guy.
So it's important.
And she.
Kara mentioned she likes to decaf. Yes.
And she also was very happy that there were no chemicals, so.
Oh, that's true pleasing to a lot of people that it's organic.
I didn't notice that, too. Fruit.
Organic fruit obviously tastes a little better.
It's like a little more plump.
You see her? Yeah. So you would say coffee beans are better?
I think so I think you can. You can tell the difference. Nice.
Personally nice.
I drink a lot of coffee to, to decipher.
I know I and I, we were on, I go to door almost every day.
I'm off in the summer and I've been on an espresso kick. Yes.
Espressos are great. Great.
Do you have espresso?
Yes, we have espresso.
Light, medium dark decaf.
So we have five altogether.
Light, medium dark, decaf and espresso.
Medium dark decaf. Espresso.
Yeah. And then,
Oh. So what are the no surprises.
Dark roast?
Can you explain?
Because I'm not.
I'm a just new to the coffee game. Sure.
Dark roast is 1350. Decaf is more.
It's 15 bucks.
It's because of the the decaf.
Well, first off, well, since the fall,
my costs have gone up 40% because of the rising cost of coffee.
And then with this recent tariff, it just went up another 10%.
But I have not passed on the price increase to the consumer.
So it's been difficult to sort of maneuver, but for 40% since the fall.
So it's been 30%.
Yes. And and then there's going to be.
Great math says that's almost half. Yes.
And there's might be more tariffs coming up in August.
So it might go up again in August.
Might go up again.
Where do you get your coffee from?
Central and South America okay.
Wow. Central and South America, did you ever visit the farms.
And get to know? Okay. But I got to develop the blends.
That was a lot of fun. And you tasted. Them. Tasted them all. Created.
We created these. Blends. How many did you taste?
And what would you say this one needs a little more like.
What were you looking for? How do you. Are you.
You're that good? Like you're a,
Like wine has the person that.
Like a Somalian. No, I'm not a cook.
I just to my taste.
And then I sort of did
focus groups really with really family and friends and neighbors.
And I would bring them different things and see what they liked.
And it did they agree with me?
Did they not agree with me?
So it was a group effort to.
To defend a friend in the sense that farm crew that I may know.
Yes I know and do you know.
Oh yeah. Yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah. All right.
Good friends.
Yes. Good friend. John Drone. He's coming on. Grandpa.
He they're they're they're, Nola's. Dad.
Yeah. He's a wonderful man. He's so nice.
Oh, you met him? Yes.
I've known them since I was little.
Oh, really? Yes.
Are you from that?
Are you? Did you grow up in that neighborhood, too?
No. I went to school with her younger sister,
and then Nola and I have been great friends for years, too.
Okay. Yes. Very cool, I had both. It was awesome.
You did? Yeah.
I had John in on us.
So they're wonderful people.
Yeah, they really are. Them stews.
Hilarious. Great guy. I love him too. Yes.
He recently went to Guam
with a Friends of Fini shirt taking pictures at the bus stop.
Great.
My daughters did mock trial.
Oh. They did?
No. Nola stopped in Rome a nice no.
You, like? You did such a great job on this. Yeah.
Oh they're wonderful. Fam. Really? Yes.
We got sidetracked.
But good friends. Yes.
Our motto be a good friend. Yep.
Pick up trash. Good friend. Right.
Hold the door, give compliments.
And be charitable.
And to, you know, to have good friends, you got to be a good friend.
And those were good friends. Yes. So I'm glad you shouted them out.
And I'm glad they tasted you. Yes. Nolan. Stool.
Good. People love those guys.
All right, so back to, tasting and looking for
now, can you say, like, oh, that's good on the nose.
There's bitter, there's an aftertaste.
Like, are you pretty?
Yeah. I feel pretty confident saying that.
Yes. Nice. Okay. That's so cool.
What's your preference.
So I start the day with espresso for shots
like I get up very early.
So for shots.
I say a 430. I get two. Shots for 30.
Okay.
That makes sense. Now it's making. Yes.
And then probably around 730 I have another two shots
and then drink probably 16oz over the course of the day.
Wow, I love it I love it.
All right I see. I don't feel so bad.
I wanted to go to three shots this morning.
My wife's like, oh no.
You know, it's like you're not going to feel good.
I did too, you did too.
Yeah, I know, I just got a picture with my dog.
Oh, I should have show you.
I got the d'Oro cup.
No espresso.
So good.
I slept at my buddy's house.
I went to Boston, woke up in Natick.
Had two shots or four shots.
Actually, two and two of espresso.
There you go. Shout out to my buddy John script.
He made it.
He makes a good espresso and a sandwich. Perfect.
That's a great start to the day. Yeah, yeah.
So yeah.
No, it's awesome that, Oh back to Teddy. Yes.
Your sweet bear.
Cute kid. Love him. He's, he's adorable.
Thank you.
The rare disease starts with a w I couldn't.
Oh it's called wise Cruz syndrome.
Say it again Chris syndrome.
Weiss cruise. Scha.
Yes. Named after two of the researchers who discovered it many years ago
when they're working at the NIH. Yeah.
What are some, displays or behaviors or what?
What surgeries did he native.
Do you mind explaining what. Yeah.
That is it's a variable clinical presentation.
And since there's so few people, there's not a lot of literature
out there about it.
But it can vary.
Some people are missing
part of their brain to that extreme, to feeding difficulties,
to swallowing difficulties, respiratory issues, developmental issues.
It varies. Yeah.
Because it's so rare and like a spectrum, you know, a huge spectrum.
Yeah. Yeah. Exactly.
No express those. Amazing.
I love this, too.
Are you selling these on the website?
Not yet. I'm having them made right now.
I have one made for you, but I'm having this for me.
Yes, I love it.
Thank you.
I'm having to meet right now, so I hope to put them on the website soon.
Yeah.
And your website is Sweet Bear coffee.
Kokomo. Yes. Sweet beard coffee. Kokomo.
Cute picture of you walking with Teddy, holding Teddy.
It has your story, so I think that's great.
It has the flavors you can sign up to get it.
Like a regular.
Shipping.
Yes. Actually, no, I do, or on the on autoship.
Not a lot of my regulars do autoship.
That way they don't have to worry about it.
So they get it once a month or every two weeks.
Yeah. Two weeks. Nice. Nice.
And then 25% goes to people with disabilities.
Yes, it goes to charities.
So every year I'm going to rotate the charities. So
25% of my profits will go to organizations that help people with disabilities.
Nice. This year we've identified one.
And the next year I'll change. Nice.
Just to keep. Giving you share that.
Yes. Who is. Yep.
It's our crescent moon care foundation. Nice.
They're in canton.
They help, children and adults who need things like ramps for
wheelchairs, travel to medical procedures, stair lifts, things of that nature.
That's amazing. Yeah. They do.
Crescent moon care foundation, crescent moon.
Karen can. Yes.
My last guest, Sandy and Chloe.
Chloe has a job in canton. Yes, at Beans and Company.
So there's a connection.
I love it, and my wife works for, Oak Hill.
Oh, that's. She was a special
ed teacher for ten years, and now she's the senior director.
She's running a show over there.
Oh, I visited her today.
I want to share some stickers.
Can I share some stickers with you? These are for you. Yes.
Oh. Thank you. Oh.
All right. Spells neat.
Oh, that's so nice. Inclusion wins.
I love. That.
Be strong I whispered to my wifey.
Oh. Fidget spinner sticker.
Nice as I could see it on my fidget spinner.
A sticker on my water bottle.
Oh, that's so cool.
Speaking device.
Nice.
This is my joystick. Neat.
Unlike your potential. Neat.
We have the mack daddy of tech.
That's pretty. Cool. That's so great.
And there's a lot so you can pick and choose.
These are wonderful.
Thank you. Wicked smart home.
They have a smart home where it's like a mini house
where they can talk out loud and control the curtains.
Turn on the microwave.
So if someone has a disability where they cannot move.
Yes, that's.
Wow, your voice matters.
I love you with the sign language.
Oh my gosh. And neat. No great place. So,
yeah,
being a teacher for I'm going into my 22nd year
and I've seen a variety of abilities, you know, so,
like you said, the the spectrum of all varying disabilities,
you name it, you know, kids that were wheelchair bound, needing
speaking devices, down syndrome, autism, and everywhere in between.
So, it's truly amazing that you're giving back and very generous and thoughtful.
You're a good. Friend.
Thank you. As are you.
And I want to thank you, for being supportive and your continued support.
You supported friends A Feeney. You're a sponsor.
You sponsored our.
I want to share our Saint Patty's Day shirt.
Look at that shirt. Love that shirt.
Like it's cool you put it on you.
Yes, a leprechaun. Exactly.
And then on the back wall to that cool logo,
sweet bear coffee.
Cool, a little logo.
So thank you for doing that.
Of course. Our pleasure.
And you are already a sponsor for our golf tournament,
which is going to be on September 13th.
It's going to be a great day.
You have, t sign.
So please, you know, if you want to come or just hang out or maybe volunteer or.
But but but I want to
thank you, number one, for being a sponsor and having a t sign.
This is September 13th.
I have a meeting tonight after this.
Actually, a board meeting for golf.
It's getting down to the getting closer and closer.
You get breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Most golf tournaments don't do breakfast. Lunch and dinner.
Breakfast from Doro, lunch from Texas, dinner after party from Texas.
Longest drive contest holes.
We're going to have a maximum beverage.
Whiskey hole, a long drive hole a school of rock hole
where they're playing rock music in the middle of your swing.
Game day. Connor from the yard goats.
He's going to have a heck of a hole.
He heckles you while you're swinging.
Not your typical golf tournament.
It's the happy Gilmore golf. This is amazing.
So, you know, get there at eight, starts at nine,
lunch at 12, and the dinners will be at three.
My neighbor actually won it last year.
Anthony and his buddies.
Game day. Connor again.
Great guy from the yard goats.
We have a yard goats game August 15th.
So it's a Friday.
It's our fourth annual Friends of Nicholas game for Nicholas Parente.
Rob and Margot are our West Hartford teachers.
Yes, they lost their son, Nick.
Like two weeks after his eighth birthday.
So we've been honoring him every, every year with a game.
So we'll do some Friends of Nicholas game.
This year. We're making t shirts, he wrote.
Be a good friend on an S. I just sketch.
So we're going to put that out and put it on the shirt.
What a great. So yeah, we're excited too.
So those are two again,
skipping around upcoming events where you're supposed to be at the end.
It doesn't matter.
Recommendations.
We're supposed to be at the end. But
cool.
That's great.
Now. So thank you for your, being generous.
And thank you for sharing with, Crescent moon and can. Yes.
Did you talk with someone? Did you know them? Did someone partner?
Did you do research? Yes, I did a lot of research on them.
And I've seen the good work that they have done.
And I know I got to know the owner personally. Nice.
I'm blown away by what they've done and helped so many people.
That's amazing.
What would he be a good podcast guest.
Crescent moon. She would talk them up.
Yeah, send them over. I actually already told her to.
I told her really quick because I saw her and I said,
I think I have another podcast for you to go on. And I already told her.
Cool. Yes.
Oh, has she been on one before? Yes. Which one had she been?
I don't remember the names.
Yes, I know I I'm already going to reach out to.
I think it's Ali
and Katie.
Maybe from Beans and Company. Okay.
So I want to do I either want to do a fundraiser there or a podcast there.
So I think they're doing amazing.
Well, they hire people with intellectual needs and. Yes.
Varying abilities. So it's amazing.
That would be great.
I love inclusive, you know, inclusion wins here.
I'm 100%, one.
Hundred percent all about it.
So it's cool.
Let me drink some water. Had a rough day?
Sauna, swim?
Yes, I swam a half a mile today.
That's impressive.
Oh, yeah.
Speaking of which.
Yeah. Here's a swam at the J.
This is a week pass family.
Oh my gosh. Check it out. Oh my kids love it
AJ. I've actually always wanted to go there with them.
Check it out.
They have oh they have.
It I tried to get into their cafe.
Oh because they have they.
Yeah. They employ people with disabilities.
Yeah.
They're j they also have food like how you can order and pick up on Fridays.
Nice pretzels, amazing pretzels.
Like, oh from the crowd as it from the crowd, I wonder from.
The crowd I think so, no, I think it's like a couple.
Oh, like a kid. Oh, that's awesome. It was speaking.
I look at my crowd, speaking of the crowd.
There you go.
You know my guys over here, they're coming on the pod soon.
Connor is going to get them on. That's great.
Bouncing around.
Christina. It's okay. I blame it on me.
I know you drink coffee.
Do you drink whiskey?
I don't drink whiskey.
All right, well, anyway,
terrible segue, but maximum beverage.
Will be having their 12th annual whiskey Fest friends at Fini.
It will be the beneficiary for the fourth, maybe fifth year in a row.
So they're having it here?
They're having it at
tumble Brook Country Club last year.
I was in Farmington the year before I was in Hartford,
but this year's going to be in tumble Brook in Bloomfield.
630 to 930. Check it out.
We're here at Maximum Beverage.
Oh, speaking of which, sponsors, I'd like to thank my podcast sponsors.
Number one, this would not be possible without Direct Line Media.
Thank you, Stephanie and Dave.
Amazing people.
Dave is a great friend.
I recently partied with him.
I he's like, hey Feeney, come to a party with me.
I'm like, oh man, I really can't this week.
I'm going, no Mohegan.
He goes, well, the party's in, Uncle Phil.
Oh my gosh.
And it's all of a sudden it's like, it's the Def Leppard
crew or
I don't know, it's the guys that set up the mics and.
Like the road. Crew. The road crew.
Yeah, I party with the road crew
that have been touring with Def Leppard for 20 years, and I'm like, I go to a guy.
I'm like, hey, do you ever get on stage?
He's like, all the time, like, no biggie.
Deal.
I'm like, he's like, you been on stage?
He's like, yeah, I got to plug in the guitar.
So I'm like, oh, wow, how was it to be on stage?
I was like, it was nothing.
I'm like.
I was like, sorry, guy. I teach third grade.
I'm like very exciting.
Like, like, all right, moving on, I get.
But it was great. Talked with a lot of other people.
It was a fun, fun little party.
I'm glad I went. It was cool. Then I'm like, hey,
citizens, hear this?
I'm like, hey, give this to Def Leppard.
Have them put it on his guitar.
Hey, it's worth it, right?
I'm glad you. He goes. You shoot your shot.
He goes, I will.
I'll tell you right now he is not putting that sticker on his guitar.
He goes, they have their guitar.
It's like $1 million guitar.
Whatever. Very expensive guitars. And here I am.
He goes, maybe we'll put it on the box.
Come on. The key. Something.
Then I'm like, here's maybe a shirt.
We'll cut the sleeves off, friends.
The Feeney shirt.
Nothing but no. Dave's a great friend.
So it started off behind the brand.
He does a podcast.
I went on it and, leaving, I go, hey, Dave, what do you think?
If I ask the questions
and he volunteering his time and supporting us for 104 episodes.
So Dave is a good friend.
He invites me to parties now, so he's a good dude.
Thank you. Stephanie is great.
She puts up the pictures.
Boom, boom, I do that.
She's like, just adds a picture.
So I want to thank maximum beverage hair.
They host us all the time. And wonderful place.
Golf lore grooves.
Very supportive. Keating agency insurance.
Parkville management.
Sally and Bob's amazing place.
Parkville management.
Keating people's bank.
We just podcast their episode 141 with Ryan and Theresa.
Great people at people's Bank.
They have a coffee machine.
You should get in with them. Okay.
It's like NASA, this is all in.
And you press buttons.
You can get a French vanilla, you can get an espresso.
Oh my goodness.
So yeah that's a good connection okay.
Well how do people's bank coffee.
Tell them what you tell them what you're doing.
They'll they're great people. They'll have you do it.
People's banks.
Great.
Parkville management float 41.
We mentioned about the contrast therapy and the fix.
If you ever get a fix like.
And the IVF have it like.
No. That's down across from Luna Pete.
Oh nice. Yeah.
And Luna pizza.
Luna pizza. So and then
New England
dawn security was once West Hartford Lock.
But they have grown so much that they are now exclusive.
They are now New England.
Dawn security.
So with that being said, what are three keys for you?
So what I did there.
Thank you, new England dawn security.
What are three keys that make you very great at running Sweet bear coffee.
What are the three keys? The three keys. Let's see.
Has to be delicious.
Great organic coffee.
That's one for sure.
Getting my message out. My mission.
Because that's the whole purpose is to help people with disabilities. Yep.
And three, turning pain into purpose and potential.
Oh, I like it.
Pain in the purpose and potential.
I love it.
All right, those three keys. You killed it.
Very nice.
And then Luna Pizza.
Favorite restaurant?
Do you have a favorite restaurant?
This is sponsored by Luna Pizza.
You could pick anywhere in the world.
Okay. Doesn't have to be West Hartford.
Okay, let's think.
About pick a few spots because there's a follow up question.
Okay.
How a question?
Well, I'm partial to a certain franchisees.
Oh that's right.
But that being said, my favorite is arugula.
I love really interesting.
Yeah yeah I like the chef there.
Christiane.
Not a big guy.
Oh. But I go to Disney.
And they're always back and forth.
Yes. To oh, run over there. Right.
The guy runs over and they vent to each other.
Just a great place.
And, the food's great. Small setting. Yes.
I love a great spot. All right. Interesting.
That's been a popular choice here.
And on a few Feeney Talks With Friends podcast that's come up a few times.
So you're at a regular,
and you can eat with for dinner guests.
Okay.
Dead or alive, anywhere in the world.
Any time. Who you eating with at a regular?
That's a great, great question.
Let's think
I would say
maybe my grandparents and my husband, because my husband never got to meet.
So my grandparents, just as a sentimental.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, they're wonderful people.
And he only got to meet one of them, so. I love it.
Yep. Family comes up a lot too. Yes.
Especially grandparents like to meet their child or their loved one.
Yeah. So yeah. Back to Robert.
So how's Robert doing? He's good.
He's great guy.
Very supportive as well with the seven brands.
They sponsored before Sweet Bear.
Yes, they did, but in my defense, I wasn't around.
True, true.
They've been they've been there since day one. Yes.
I'm kidding, but no, very generous and thoughtful as well.
Seven brands, thank you so much.
And the seven brands umbrella.
What falls under the seven brands umbrella?
Wings over.
So he's a franchisee of Wings over and Moe's.
Okay.
And then also Fuel America, which is a coffee shop in Massachusetts.
Oh, nice. Wearing masks.
He's got a couple of different locations in mask.
Cool. Worcester would be the closest one.
Probably. Nice.
On my way to my buddy's last weekend, I picked up another buddy in Worcester.
His son was playing, baseball.
We're going to Natick.
And then we went to TD Bank, went to the Wu-Tang clan concert.
Great.
And that's why I slept Natick.
It had the espressos in the morning.
Yeah. So but I picked up Jimmy in Worcester.
He was at his son's baseball tournament, so should have stopped and got a coffee.
Darn it. Next time. Next time.
And then wings over on Park Road. Yeah.
Wings over in West Hartford would be the closest one to us.
Yeah.
Shout out to Park Road.
A lot of things happening on Park Road.
There's Playhouse on Park.
Great place.
I've had my 50th podcast there and hundredth podcast
live studio audience with Javier Colon and Frank Whaley.
He's amazing. He's awesome.
Oh my gosh, great sound, incredible performer.
Yeah, beautiful voice. Yes.
We're golfing together.
So, actually, in a couple weeks,
next to that AC Petersons.
Love them too.
Currently and to the end of August.
Fries of Fini.
15% of those sales go to ASP.
Go to Playhouse on Park. Great.
I'm actually making a video tomorrow with LaTanya Farrell.
She's, the singing principal.
So we're going to make a. Dummy like.
Oh, fries a fini. Are you?
Get a milkshake and fries and you dip the fries in the milkshake.
Perfect. Out of track.
I'll bring the kids there, please. Yes.
As a phoenix, I love that.
Then cricket press.
Not amazing.
That's where I get the stickers and the business card.
Shout out to Cricket press.
And then fresh ink
happening on park. It's great.
I figured you can get everything you want record.
It's being a fresh ink. I want to give you a shirt.
Thank you.
This is a. I love it for us. I love it.
Friends are us.
Maybe this one. This one's for Robert. Okay.
Maybe.
Robert, do you know where this is from?
Robert. Putting you on the spot.
F o f back in 1998.
Bash of the beach, Hulk Hogan.
All right, that's your hint.
But heel of that.
Hulk Hogan went bad.
Enjoying the NWA.
Thank you.
Hulk Hogan.
Now you said you see.
Well, he know Hulk Hogan. Yes, for sure.
He loves Hulk Hogan. Probably doesn't.
I mean.
He's a real.
He loved Hulk Hogan growing up.
He had all the sets, he said.
And then we went to Florida and in Clearwater Beach, Hulk has a store
and he was working there, had all of his, like,
paraphernalia on the store, memorabilia.
Yeah, he was selling stuff and he was in the corner.
Robert's like, you got to get a picture of me with him.
Like, oh, but we did it. And he was so happy.
Robert. Like teeny tiny next to him. Yeah.
And you know, Robert's not a TV guy,
but next to Hulk, I think pretty much everybody looks like small.
No, I remember you'd. Be good at bar trivia.
Oh. Useless trivia.
I'm amazed as I'm talking more to you.
I feel like you would nail it. Oh, yeah. Okay. Useless.
No. Not useless. I guess that's true,
but, Hulk is great.
Well,
you know, great.
Oh, and see my stickers? Yes.
You know where I got these today?
Where did you get them from? Remember I told you?
Okay, okay.
Yes. There's my wife right here. Hi, Nicole.
I thought you were asking.
No, no, I was listening, I paid attention.
How you doing?
Thanks for stopping in. No, it's my wife.
You were subjugation teacher, and you worked it out here.
That's amazing.
Oh, my gosh, I never knew that.
You missed the part. We already did the stickers.
We talked about how.
We talked about all the stickers. This one was our favorite.
Yeah. Inclusion wins I love that.
Yeah. That's so nice. Did you design them?
I don't mind me here.
You're like, leave this.
No. Come on.
This set. Yeah.
That's my wife Nicole Feeney.
Future podcast guest.
Yeah.
You need to be on the podcast.
So so back off.
Sandy and Chloe you talked about 140.
Yes. People's Bank 141 elbow bump kid.
They help kids with type one diabetes.
That's 142 jumps by Chee.
How high can you jump.
I don't know, maybe three feet.
Maybe. Nice.
Maybe. Do you do box jumps and stuff or.
No. Yeah, yeah.
He he taught me.
He's really important that you want to go so powerful with your hands.
Really? He like he just the hands alone.
If you do the hands fast enough and powerful enough,
you can feel your feet start to come off the ground without even jumping.
Okay, that was important.
So when I was dunking at my sister's house in her pool basketball hoop,
I was focusing on the hands.
Anyway.
Jumps by Kai. Great podcast.
Next week we have Heather Culp and Culp construction and services.
She taught. She worked in Japan.
Now she's in Glastonbury.
Great friend sponsors the podcast.
And then we're going to Insight Technology in Bristol.
So those are coming up. Great stuff. Coming up.
Do you have oh speaking of, we did
favorite restaurant.
You were really family oriented.
I think that's awesome and special.
Sponsor to work.
Oh in your favorite teacher being a teacher. Yeah.
So I taught nine years in Waterbury.
I'm going into my 13th year in West Hartford,
and that's how we know each other.
So let's talk about Wolcott School and, yes,
your daughter's favorite third grade teacher is you. Yes.
She always says her favorite teacher ever.
Really? Yes.
Okay, I appreciate Lennox. You made my day.
She was an amazing, amazing kid.
The motto, be a good friend.
She is a good friend, classmate, student.
She cares for others because in a room of 22 kids, again with the varying,
abilities, she was just so thoughtful and, amazing kid.
So congratulations.
I'm super proud of Lennox.
I wish I had 22.
Lennox is.
Even when she was in fourth grade,
she would come in with another buddy, read.
Yeah, she loved doing that.
But I always come home and tell me when she got to do that. Great kid.
Amazing, amazing kid.
So thank you. And I hope I have Teddy. Me too.
And do you have a third?
Yeah. Is now is Monroe older or younger than younger?
She's the youngest. She okay.
So she'll be in kindergarten in two years.
Gotcha. So Teddy's middle guy. Yeah. Gotcha.
And then Lennox, I want to share a picture.
Field day.
It was super cool. I just got this new job.
I left High Meadow after ten years,
and I'm working at two for one.
And here's Lennox on field day with her.
Two for one. She's so. Cute. I was like, I got to get a picture.
Two for one.
That's great. So, Lennox, amazing kid.
There's my guy Lennox with Keith.
Visited the class from channels.
Fox 61.
Was a special. Day.
Keith McGilvery, game day. Connor.
Huge congratulations to him.
He does the voice of UConn basketball and football and the yard goats.
Now he's New England Patriots. Wow.
You got called up to the NFL.
That's amazing. Couple.
Oh then we saw each other on church Saint Patrick's Day.
We got the shamrock pants.
Now Lennox is great.
And there's our good friend Howard.
Oh yeah.
That was that was crazy. And
unlike crazier,
thinking of Howard all the time, I saw pictures up in my room.
I have.
I didn't move his mailbox, Howard or his.
His coat hanger is still will always be untouched.
Yeah. So I think you gave us a picture.
That picture because she has it in her room.
Really? Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
That shows the thoughtfulness of of Lennox.
So think.
So with all the teacher talk, did you have a favorite teacher growing up?
Let's see.
And so you're West Hartford, right? Yes. Born and raised.
Born and raised actually.
Well, there's a lot of favorite teachers, but probably you probably know her.
Do you know Barbara Carpenter?
The name is familiar.
He was my kindergarten teacher. Yeah.
And she made a huge impact on me. Yeah.
And then in high school, I went back and did an internship with her.
And I got to really see.
Just like the magic that poured out of her.
Is her brother, the coach at Hall?
I think so, yeah.
Yeah, that guy. Steve, I think so.
If I saw him, I would, I would know.
Yeah, I think I think.
Her daughters are teachers too.
Yes, yes, yes. She's wonderful.
And you still currently teaching she.
The last time I had seen her, she's good friends with my mom.
So the last time I'd seen her, she was working at Saint Thomas.
Not full time as a kindergarten teacher, but working at Saint Thomas, I think.
Maybe doing some reading specialist work. But she's an incredible.
Still around? Yeah.
Oh, we got to center.
What minute is this?
Barbara Carpenter, minute 38.
Favorite teacher in kindergarten.
So, you know, you've lived a very happy, healthy life.
I'm not exactly sure how old you are.
We don't need to talk about that. That's. We don't do that.
That's not being a good friend.
We don't ask people's age.
But that's amazing that you remember your kindergarten teacher, Barbara Carpenter.
Shout out to Barbara. That's amazing.
So hopefully we'll share this with her. Yes.
But what stood out in kindergarten, she just.
She was. Just.
What school was that? A Braeburn? Okay. Wow.
Full of determination and joy and empathy.
And you can do it. Attitude.
And she still like that? You'll see her around town.
She she's just wonderful and walks with a mission.
And she's got purpose in everything that she does.
I love it.
Yeah. She's a wonderful lady.
Barbara Carpenter, favorite teacher.
I hadn't had that one.
I had a couple of Connor teachers.
So did you go to Braeburn?
Cedric. Cedric. Connor.
I went to Miss Porter's. Miss Porter's?
Oh, nice. Yes. Yeah.
Beautiful school my first week, a two for one.
Was that Miss Port? Oh. Was it? Yeah.
Which I have magnets for.
Lennox, this is Maggie.
Oh, that says thank you.
Some stickers.
Thank you. For one. But, Miss Porter's great there.
Cafeteria alone.
The food. Amazing.
They like it's Taco Tuesday.
There was a fresh salad bar.
I don't know, was it the same thing? No. Probably not.
They did have a salad bar when I was there, but.
Okay. Yeah.
Like fresh sandwiches.
They did. It was amazing. The food was. Great.
And what else?
The gym was great.
AstroTurf was great.
No, I think it's a wonderful school.
Yeah. So did you play sports there? Yes. What sport?
I played softball, and I played ice hockey.
Oh, nice.
Yeah.
Miss Porter's great school. Yes.
Yeah. My first week at two for one.
I just did a week at
Miss Porter's and Kingswood Oxford.
So two amazing schools.
And then my third week's going to be at Saint Joseph's College.
Oh that's wonderful.
It's going to be August 11th to the 18th or somewhere around there.
16th August
11th to the 15th.
Sign up. Lennox. Hopefully your foot's better by now.
I know a broken foot, but we had to derail our sports camps
for the first couple weeks.
I know, I saw that I was like, come on.
Nurse Tracy called me and I've.
Lennox has never gone to the nurse.
In four years of being at walk, it was like,
you know, unless we can handle it at home, leave Nurse Tracy. Hello.
And she's got enough to handle.
Yeah.
So she calls me, I'm like, oh, no.
It's like Lennox is okay.
She doesn't want to go home or ankle's really swollen.
So I'm like, okay.
I see her getting off the bus on our doorbell camera and she's crawling
down the driveway like, oh, this is bad, this is bad.
So Friday at Urgent Care, broken foot.
She didn't want to go home.
No, she did want to go home. Do you know what?
A kid has a great heart, and she's tough as nails.
I'm so proud of Lennox.
The legend continues.
Lennox the legend.
She crawled with a broken.
Ball down the driveway.
I was like, oh my gosh.
Wow. Yeah.
Poor thing.
I, that's crazy.
Did she get a field day or when?
No, the last day of school, they had extra recess
and she was playing volleyball and rolled her ankle.
Tore the bone right off. Yeah.
I Stowers ankles are the worst.
I sprained my ankle all the time.
Playing basketball is just not fun.
No, and it just affects your whole everything.
Yeah.
I'm so sorry.
She's on the road to recovery, though.
Good, good.
All right.
So. And did you have another favorite teacher
that you wanted to mention after Barbara Carpenter?
Probably my one of my college professors, my, physiology professor.
He was wonderful.
He was in his late 70s, still teaching.
Came to school every day with a vest, blazer, no matter the weather.
And he would go online, as he called it, every night at 9:00.
And you, if you had questions about your reading
or homework, you could message him, which I thought was great, remarkable.
And his whole thing was, I don't want you to memorize it,
which in science, it's a lot of memorization.
Yeah, I was a biology major. It's just memorization. Memorization.
He wanted you to understand it, which I thought was really cool, and it made it.
So you did understand it.
And he did remember it. So he was special.
What was his name?
Doctor Ross.
Nice. And what school? Fairfield. You? Nice?
Yeah. My girls are looking at schools now. My.
I have twin girls.
They, you know, you see, but they're going to senior year.
Oh, my God, they're looking at Fordham right now as we speak. So.
Yeah.
Exciting. So, Fairfield. Wait. Fairfield.
No, no, no. Yeah. If you're hot. Yeah.
They were maybe hitting that on the way home.
Oh, good. Sacred heart feel for you?
I went to University of Bridgeport.
Nice. Yeah. Right. So right close by.
I said you go, you get a b, you b.
You b right.
Got that B I got went to you b
anything did I how are we doing with the, sweet bear?
Did you bring anything else is, I mean, as being a teacher? Yes.
You know, I love Sean. Yes.
We have some dark roast and medium roast for you to try.
I think it's show and tell time.
Coffee sauce from Central America.
Oh, I already this is my.
I bought a bag once already, and I told my wife, remember?
What'd you think, Nicole?
Did you like it?
Yeah, I brought it to my sisters. Oh, good.
And we all tried it in Boulder. How it was.
You got to. Try the espresso now.
I know, I told her.
It's it's so I don't
I drink nothing in any of it, but the espresso is it's not bitter.
It's really, really good.
Well, I had my espresso.
Remember how many days in a row now?
Tell her what?
Tell her what size you get.
I have four shots a day.
Four shots a day. Do you.
Are these labeled or mixed?
So, medium dark D.
All right, start with the dark.
You want to try some to quarter.
So yeah.
Dark roast.
Did you make this at home? Yes.
We'll do a little sip because I'm going to only have one cup.
Dark roast
on a smell.
It first smells dark.
Good, good.
Looks dark.
Still warm.
Oh, yeah.
That's I mean,
it's doing the job.
Dark.
Now dark.
How many?
If you were to, like, tear them.
How close to an espresso is dark?
So pretty.
Pretty close. Yeah.
Right. Yeah.
This is giving me some. Yeah. Some really.
I mean, I've only been drinking espresso, but this is, has that
I want to see kick or like,
full bodied.
There you go. Yeah.
I did, podcast with the two guys on a lot of wine
and they're like, all right, taste it.
And you'd say whatever you want, right?
And they're all like cherry strawberries.
And I swear I don't know why and how I tasted bananas.
You did. So I said bananas.
And I thought the record was like,
like me looking at me like, what did you just say?
You said anything?
I mean, I just say, like, sneakers, right?
Racers like it tasted like bananas.
Could be worse.
It just does not.
Tastes like bananas.
Oh, good. Good.
I'm glad this is dark.
This is great. You want to try?
Come take a sip.
You got to be on camera.
Sorry.
It's okay.
Wife of finished trying it.
Called.
Nicole.
Wife. Afeni. What do you think?
Dark.
Right? Delicious.
She loves the cinnamon. Yes.
That's nice.
It's whipped cream and cinnamon is her move.
What's your take on putting whipped cream and cinnamon?
You do whatever makes you happy.
But I think whatever. Floats your boat.
Maybe the way Robert makes coffee, I'm like, is it a milkshake or is it a coffee?
At this point, really? What you do.
Like, like half and half or cream and sugar fat?
A long talk about decreasing the sugar.
He's like us, and not everyone's like, you're just down the hatch.
But you know, whatever.
Other it's like six creamers in it.
And like sort of like.
At that point, what is it?
What are you drinking right now? Yeah.
Like that's a stomach ache in a cavity.
Yes. All that is. Yep. Exactly.
Yeah. Whatever works for you. Everyone likes
likes their coffee.
Different like this.
Dark.
And I'm going to see the difference here okay.
So I'm going to you had to finish it first.
Me all hopped up.
I have to run home.
That was the dark. Yes.
What bag is this? What do we have.
On the bottom?
Oh, medium ground coffee.
Now, do you ground? Do you always ground or do you have beans?
You could do a whole bean or ground. Okay.
And so when it's, if you order, ground and they,
my roaster will grind it like upon order and then send it out
which most people get their orders in 3 to 4 days, depending on where you live.
What's what seems to be the most popular choice, ground or not ground,
or being or ground.
Is this pretty split? Really? Yeah.
Some people are very.
No, no, I have to grind it at home
and other people are just like, I just want to make my coffee.
It's pretty split.
Now. This might be like a rookie question does when someone grinds it,
that's a separate machine. Yes.
So you got your grinder, then you got your coffee machine. Yes.
And you can also grind it various like how fine you want it.
Right. Yeah.
What are the levels of ground like how would I say it.
The you said thick ground thing.
What say it would just say you would just choose ground okay. No.
Do you know the types of ground like, paper thin or.
I don't, you know, great question that I don't know.
I actually
on the way over, I was like, oh, I got a ketchup.
I wrote, like, coffee explained video there like an Americano is.
Yeah, all the different type.
Oh yes. The large Americano is shot. Yes, yes.
Microphone level of foam served on a plate.
Would play with a serving teaspoon.
I was like, all right, maybe it's not the video, but.
It's very specific. Okay.
All right.
Little already a little lighter and not as strong on the nose.
Still as dark, I think.
Color wise.
Yeah, that makes sense. Right?
No bananas.
Every is.
Oh, okay.
There is a it's lighter like,
Yeah.
There's a different flavor to it.
Like to I think.
What what do you taste.
I want to say it's like jet
gentle or on my tongue and mouth.
Okay.
Not as much kick okay.
The dark but like a good flavor. Like a good
I don't know
coffee ice cream flavor I don't know it's it's like it's.
I like it okay.
It's not it's not too light because sometimes it's watered down.
Yeah. And. Right.
You want to try.
Nicole trying the medium roast.
Yeah.
That's delicious.
You know, a medium girl? So, They're both.
Thank you.
Oh, you know what we were going to do?
Maybe next time we were going to make espresso martinis.
But maybe now we can make an Irish coffee.
Ooh. Go tell Connor that we need some Baileys. Yes.
Other way out. No. Right now,
that means I could drink for free to.
Forgot to use the pie.
Or we could.
Some people do the Irish coffee.
Baileys and a whiskey.
Oh. Do you drink espresso martini?
Yeah.
Okay. But you don't drink whiskey. Correct.
Amazing.
Now, how fast can I have the espresso mark?
The espresso grounds sent to us?
Because we're ordering that from work.
Maybe right now.
Where you live. I guess it'll be here in two days.
All right.
Espresso espressos.
Because they're now.
I mean, they're only like 315, $3.50, I think at.
But they get how many you can make with a whole bag.
How many can you make in a bag?
I don't I've ever tested it, but, I mean.
You used guesstimate.
My guess you could probably make 30.
For 15 bucks.
You make 30? Yeah.
Or by yes, I mean, that's third grade math.
Yeah, that's what I teach the at there.
Yeah, I open up lessons going kids.
I'm going to teach you math so you don't get ripped off.
Yes. That's well that's that's smart math. Yep.
Real world mean I'll get back to you.
Yeah. Count.
Because I do double shots each time.
So now how do you know it's double.
Do you just fill it to the top?
Yeah. There's two different like reservoirs for the sky.
So when you fill it in the container.
So and I just go right to the devil.
Nice. Get her done.
Get up to the point.
She gets up at 430.
That's when you get things done though.
Yeah. Where are you? To me.
I was up at 430
watching Tiny Desk
and then.
Yeah, I was up.
So not having not having a I'm so used to going to work.
Right.
So having time off and the girls are away.
So I was like, what are we going to do I don't know.
So I get up early.
Do I sleep in? I got up before there you go.
Then around like after lunch that I brought to my wife at work.
I got to full, so I went to the Jane, took a nap.
I don't maybe I shouldn't say this, but I slept, took a nap at the JC
not was not ashamed to say it.
When you try the J.
You know they don't let new members nap.
But I've been. There while they're existing.
They're like, it's funny. When I'm sleep.
They're like, oh, there's
Feeney now.
Did I miss anything?
Is there anything you'd like to share about Sweet Bear Coffee again?
I'm honored talking with you. Thank you for taking the time.
Thank you for your generous,
and continued support of supporting Friends of Feeney.
Of course, the world.
You you will see the sweet bear logo at our golf tournament.
You will see it on our parade shirts.
So, I want to thank you.
Thank you, and thank you for, helping the Crescent moon,
company up in canton. Yes.
Amazing place there.
Have you heard of the crescent moon?
Crescent moon care?
Yeah. Yep.
It's right near one of the barber shops.
Oh, right across Bavaro. Yeah. That's where.
That's where Sandy. Works. Yeah. Episode 140.
All my podcasts are connecting this is amazing.
144 connects with 140 of.
All right, so now, she has the Everyone Belongs t shirt.
That was,
famous, made famous at Beans and Company.
All right.
So now it's great.
So, as you can see, Sweet Bear Coffee company.com,
they have the dark roast for 1350 espresso
1350 medium roast 1350 light Rosa's more
so it cause it takes more time to light roast it.
It's depending on the variability of the farms and the farmers.
But from, you know, what we're able to get from suppliers.
But I have not raised my price at all, despite the cost increase.
So I hope it's not the.
The tariffs and.
And just the all time high of coffee costs.
In the fall, coffee costs are at an all time high.
And then the 10% tariff, our costs are up 40%.
40% cost cost increase.
I cut you off.
Were that was there something you'd like to share?
I mean, you opened up on the intro.
I love the story on the back.
And 2021, your one year old son
was diagnosed with an incredibly rare genetic disorder.
Who's challenging next three years?
I'm going to paraphrase, but his condition.
That's funny.
You were sitting there, you're like, I got my coffee.
Got my sweet bear. Yes.
I could put these two together. Yes. And here we are.
Here we are. This is amazing.
This is great.
And it's very important to you that it's Fairtrade certified as organic.
And the water process, the carbonation too.
Yeah, that's another thing.
They are, they don't waste water,
you know, they're more resourceful because they're Fairtrade too.
I learned that,
and you're on Instagram. Yes.
And Facebook. Yes. And you have the sweet beer.
Coffee?
Kokum. Yes.
Did I miss anything?
No. It's great.
We had some recommendations or review or recommendations.
Do you have anything else?
Do you want to recommend TV shows, restaurant podcasts?
I don't know, what was the Cairo place again?
Oh, research for wellness.
You got to go, Nick.
We got to try restore hyper wellness right around the corner.
You're going to a crowd tank. That's like.
Like a. Room.
Like you're going into, like a closet. Kind of like it.
But it's big.
You don't feel claustrophobic.
Okay, get me out of here.
Can you go with a yes? You can at a time. So.
But you can set it.
I, I do double crisis. Mike.
Let's get back to back to backs.
Minutes or.
So. You go in for three minutes and 15 seconds.
You can put up the number of fans.
So I do max fans.
And then you can go say I'm with one person or with five.
If you say you're with five, you get colder.
So I go in, do max settings back to back.
It feels so good.
No, we do the cold plunge.
You could do. It if you do the. Cold. We're down Friday.
You get to go together.
You can commiserate together.
Yeah. You got to wear hats. Yeah.
Gloves and socks. Yeah. It's a whole.
Oh I am going to try I'm trying to get into retail.
So TBD.
Yeah I know I was like I got to get some swag.
You know I love to tease. Yes I have. Stickers.
Cricket. Yeah. Cricket for. The stickers.
Refreshing for the tease. Perfect.
Tell me I sent you.
Yes I well they'll. Love it.
But hopefully we'll be selling sweet beer in stores locally soon.
Oh. Oh, in stores too.
I thought you meant, like, more merch. Oh, yeah.
Okay. But yet again, retail.
Where are you connecting with?
Do you have any exclusives?
Do you have anybody that's on board yet?
One who's almost completely signed.
I applied for Whole Foods to apply for Trader Joe's, but those are,
you know, that takes a while to get back from.
And then, another restaurant, I'm sorry, a grocery store.
Hopefully I'll be hearing back from them soon.
So nice.
All right. Coming to your shelves
close to you soon.
And again.
Most importantly, it's delicious.
But most importantly, that 25% goes to companies
and organizations that are helping people with disabilities.
That's truly amazing.
You are a good friend for doing that.
Again, our motto is, pick up trash,
hold the door, give compliments, and just be thoughtful of others.
If everyone drove like a friend
or just was a friend, the world to be a better place 100%.
So you're doing great things and thank you for your support.
Any closing remarks?
You want to sing a song?
I did not thank you for having me and try sweet beer.
Coffee. It's amazing. And it supports wonderful cause.
Yes. Check it out.
And on three will say, be a good friend.
Okay. One, two, three. Be good friends.