Episode #125: Feeney Talks with Greg Hammond & Chelsea Dropik

Show Notes

#BeAGoodFriend and check out episode #125 of #FeeneyTalksWithFriends featuring Greg Hammond and Chelsea Dropik. 

It was great to talk with my #friends, Greg & Chelsea! 

Greg is a financial coach for HammondIles Wealth Advisors and Chelse is a Campaign Development Director for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. They collaborated on the Connecticut Beer Tour for a Cancer-Free Future. 

We talked about:

Greg earned Visionary of the Year (minute 2)

Lindsay David (minute 3)

Greg’s dad, Ken (minute 5)

Greg is a Financial Coach (minute 6.30)

Chelsea is a Campaign Development Director (minute 9.40)

Podcast sponsors (minute 12)

Greg’s 3 Keys (sponsored by West Hartford Lock) to being a Financial Coach (minute 13)

Chelsea’s 3 Keys (sponsored by West Hartford Lock) to being a Campaign Development  Director (minute 14)

Laura Moran is a good #friend! (minute 15)

Greg wrote a book called, You could do MORE that matters (minute 17.30)

CT Beer Tour (minute 19.40)

Rule of 3 Brewing (minute 20.20)

Back East Brewing (minute 22)

Luppoleto Brewing Co. (minute 23)

Elicit Brewing Co. (minute 24)

Powder Hollow Brewery (minute 26)

WeHa Brewing and Roasting Company (minute 28)

New Park Brewery  (minute 31)

Coastline Brewing Company (minute 32)

New Cambridge Brewing (minute 34)

Problem Solved Brewing Company (minute 35)

Concentric Brewing Company (minute 37)

Shoutout to Rachel Diamond (minute 39)

Chelsea & Greg’s favorite restaurants (minute 40)

Greg & Chelsea’s favorite moment with friends (minute 45)

The new, improved Friends of Feeney website (minute 50)

Where will Friends of Feeney be in 5 years? (minute 52)

Closing remarks (minute 56)

6, 12, 18, 24 Game (minute 58)

The CT Beer Tour Schedule (minute 1.01)

 

Podcast Sponsors: 

The Fix IV - www.thefixivtherapy.com

West Hartford Lock - www.westhartfordlock.com

Keating Agency Insurance - www.keatingagency.com

Goff Law Group - www.gofflawgroup.net

Parkville Management - www.parkvillemanagement.com

Luna Pizza - www.lunapizzawh.com/lunas-menu

PeoplesBank - www.bankatpeoples.com

Float 41 - www.float41.com

Maximum Beverage - www.maximumbev.com

Creators and Guests

Host

Eric Feeney

After teaching for nearly a decade at his alma mater in Waterbury, in 2014, Eric Feeney began teaching at Wolcott Elementary in West Hartford. Shortly following, Sam Sohn, the father of one of his students, passed away suddenly from a heart attack. He left behind four beautiful children and a loving wife, Nancy Wallace-Sohn. Eric saw first-hand the toll this took on the family as they navigated their way through this unthinkable tragedy. The following year, Rashad Collier Sr., another father of a student in Eric’s class, passed away in Hartford as a result of gun violence. Rashad left behind two fantastic children and a loving wife, Denise Villegas. The impact of these tragedies weighed on Eric and motivated him to build an organization that could provide assistance for similar situations. With that, Friends of Feeney was born. In 2019, Friends of Feeney Inc. became an official 501©(3) nonprofit organization, allowing more funds to be raised and expanding the range of services provided to children and families in need. Today, over a decade since Eric’s idea to build a community organization dedicated to supporting our friends in need, Friends of Feeney has burgeoned into a reputable and recognized organization capable of providing financial and resource support to numerous families and individuals across greater Hartford and beyond. Through this work, an incredible community of children and families has been recognized, who care for and appreciate each other’s kindness.

Producer

David Chmielewski

David started his video career in the early 1990s working on video crews as an independent contractor for such companies as Martha Stewart Living, IBM and Xerox. After graduating Southern Connecticut State University with the degree in Corporate Communications, David continued his video production career and accepted a position at WFSB in Hartford, CT. Within a few years the news and production studios became his charge and David designed, installed and maintained the televisions sets for the various programs at the station. At the end of 2013 David founded DirectLine Media, a video production company that specializes in creating memorable and compelling video content for businesses.

Editor

Stefania Sassano

Stefania's acting journey began as early as the fourth grade, where she took on the role of Scarlett O'Hara in a stage production of Gone With the Wind. This early experience sparked a lifelong passion for the arts. With a background in musical theater fueled by her love of music and singing, Stefania stepped into larger roles, such as Fraulein Kost in Cabaret during her sophomore year at the University of New Haven. This performance earned her a nomination for the prestigious Irene Ryan Acting Award at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival—an honor she would receive again in her junior year.

What is Feeney Talks With Friends?

Eric Feeney talks with #friends! Eric is the founder of the nonprofit organization Friends of Feeney. Their mission is to help children and families who need assistance after heartbreak and tragedy. www.friendsoffeeney.com

All right, all right.

Feeney Talks with friends. Episode 125.

We're here at.

We have Roasting and Brewing
with some very, very cool guests today.

How are you doing, Chelsea? Good. Thanks.

How are you doing, Greg?

I'm doing well.

It's good to be here. Great.

This is 125.

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 talk to wonderful people

that are doing great things.

And Greg and Chelsea,
you have a you're doing great things.

Multiple things.

And we're going to get into
what's coming up in your upcoming events

that that have a wonderful, outcome.

So how are you feeling?

I'm feeling good. I'm feeling excited.
Yeah.

Just, a few couple weeks away
from our new, beer tour coming up.

Yeah, he said it. Beer tour.

The Connecticut beer tour.
This is the second one.

This is the second one.

Last year,
I participated in the visionaries

of the year campaign for the Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society and decided

if I'm going to raise money for ten weeks,
why not have some fun doing it?

So I came up with the idea
of putting together a beer tour and,

I thought maybe I'd get 510 breweries
to opt in.

Well, no, I had 23 that
that jumped in on the bandwagon.

And so I went to 23 breweries over
ten weeks.

So, bless my wife.

Every Friday and Saturday night,
we were hanging out at a brewery

and some Wednesdays and Thursdays
to get them all in,

to raise money for the Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society.

As a result of that,
we we raised a lot of money to

to make a real impact
in the battle against blood cancers.

Yeah.

Got it down here.

Almost $120,000. Correct?

Yes. Yep. Very cool.

And lymphoma and leukemia society.

That's where Chelsea comes in. Yep.

The Keenan lymphoma society.

I'm the market
director here in Connecticut.

We have three fundraising campaigns.

Visionaries of the year is the campaign
that Greg was mentioning.

So we've got a team
of five of us here locally.

Been here for.

We're kind of a newer market, actually.

We just set up a board in the past
couple of years.

Have a couple committees
working and a lot of good.

A lot of good work.

Group 44% year over year.

Nice numbers, nerd,
but not as good as this numbers nerd.

So what is the visionary of the year?

Now, is that something that.

Can you get that again this year or.

No. So it's a one shot deal. Gotcha.

So every spring,
the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, sponsors

these campaigns across the country
and in local cities,

and they nominate individuals to lead

teams to do a fundraising campaign.

And you have ten weeks
to raise as much money as you can.

And the team that raises the most money
is crowned the visionary of the year.

Very nice.

And so I was one of six candidates
last year.

And we raised over $329,000

as a group, to benefit the Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society.

Well, congratulations. That that's a job
well done.

Very good. And thank you.

I wasn't kidding when we talked to people
that do great things.

So I'm so honored to talk with you,
Greg and Chelsea.

Great team.

How did you guys meet?
Where did this start?

That's funny.

Shout out to Lindsay over here.

That's how I met you through Lindsay.

For years, Lindsay had worked with you
through your work with TMC,

and she worked with us for a while.
She's a board member for a while.

Lindsay. David. Her son's survivor.

Gavin. In the community.

And love that family.

And she had her eye on Greg
when we started visionary.

So this spring will be our fourth
visionaries of the year campaign

because again, like I mentioned,
we're a little bit newer here.

Like just not new with us,
but new new here locally.

And she was like, you've got to get Greg.

Greg is your man.

So he kept saying, no,
but not for the wrong reasons.

He was saying no because it just wasn't
the right exact moment.

And I think he was plotting
and planning to make the biggest impact.

Good. Speak for yourself.

But that's
how I met Greg is through Lindsay.

Yes, I've been doing a lot of,
fundraising and friend

raising for the Connecticut Children's
Medical Center for many years.

And, got to know Lindsay David
through that connection.

And she introduced me to Leukemia
Lymphoma Society.

Unfortunately for me,

my dad passed away back in 2015
from multiple myeloma.

So it's always been a cause
that's dear to my heart to make an impact

for other families,
not to have to deal with the same type of,

diagnosis and hopefully at some point

have a cancer free future.

And I saw Ken. Right.

Ken was your dad. That's correct.

And he was a mayor.

He was all sorts of things.

He definitely is my role model.

Talk about making an impact.

I like to say that I learned to play golf
at the age of eight,

and by my teenage years,
I played with the mayor of my town,

the town councilman, the president of the
rotary Club, the treasurer of my church,

or the vice president
of a metal manufacturing company.

But all of them were my dad and,

grew up, helping him

have a political campaign as well as just
making an impact in the community.

And so although we never really had
a conversation about it, I just learned

from his example that I wanted
to give back to the community.

And so I've tried to follow
in his footsteps.

That's amazing.

Well, I'm sure he's proud of you.

So keep up the good work.

Where was he?

A mayor in Cimarron, New York.

Okay.

Which, you talk about
trivia is the birthplace of Lucille Ball.

So if you watch that episode,
they'll talk about.

So around New York, outside of Jamestown,
New York. And,

there's actually the international comedy
Hall of Fame in Jamestown, New York.

Interesting.
So fun fact. Learned something new.

I didn't know that.

And you are a wealth advisor.

Right?

I am, or I like to refer to myself
as a financial coach.

Because a lot of times it's
not necessarily getting advice,

but having somebody coach you
to get through the tough times

of the financial markets
as well as coach you up into leading

a life of higher potential than you think
you might be able to achieve.

And you had a podcast,
so you're on our podcast,

but you also have like your Money
Your Purpose podcast.

Tell us about that. Sure.

So over the years,
we've had two radio shows.

Our latest was Your Money, Your purpose.

And, we did that for three years,
and had a half hour radio show

that then converted
into a podcast as well.

So trying to get the some good
financial information out to everybody.

Yeah. You offer podcasts,
you offer classes.

You're so you're big in education.

I'm a third grade teacher.

So teaching people is what I do.

And that's what you seem to be doing too.

But for financial literacy. Correct.

We believe our our best client
is a well-educated, client.

And so we spend a lot of time
and effort on education, not only through,

monthly education workshops
that we call our Financial Power hour.

But also I release every Friday
a 62nd YouTube short

and a financial tip for the week,

that goes out through YouTube
in our social media channels.

Nice.

How does that
how do views on your 60 minute,

weekly thing?

How would your average view,

if you don't mind me asking,
just from a podcast perspective?

And social media.

Our our views right now, they've been
creeping up as we get more subscribers.

You know, it's always interesting, a topic
that I think that is going to rocket,

doesn't do so well, you know,
and then that was that.

I'm thinking now,
I don't know if this is going

to go anywhere it
all of a sudden takes off. Yep.

So on average,
probably a couple hundred to 500 views.

Nice.

I've noticed that too,
with our social media piece

with podcasts or a real or a video like,

you know, just me talking informal,

you know, shoot from the hip talk
like, does very well.

But if you plan and prep
and do all this stuff, you never know.

You never know.

So I was just interested.

But videos are the way to go.
We're not doing too many.

Still shot photos with a lot of words
anymore.

Like kids want the reels and the videos
in 60s because of attention span is.

I guessing that's why you do it that way?
That's exactly it.

So one of the primary focuses
of our financial advisory

firm is working with families
across multiple generations.

So our goal is to work with families
across three generations.

So we're working with the grandparents
and the kids and the grandkids.

Our youngest client is ten years old,
and we go all the way up to over 100.

So we cover the wide spectrum.

But yes, as we try
to reach those younger generations,

they're not going to watch a 45 minute
workshop.

So we wanted a way for them
to get some good information,

in short, nuggets
that they be able to absorb.

Very interesting.

All right.

We're going to come back to you
with the three keys that make your job.

What what what's very good.

The three keys that will, you know, help
you do your job.

So think about that,
and then we're gonna go to Chelsea.

Chelsea is our campaign
development director.

How's that going?

So you've been doing it for four years?

I've been with at least
for seven years. Seven.

But I actually was in Ohio before
and moved here.

So like in.

New York, Connecticut
and Eastern New York, Albany area.

We're in the Connecticut,
Albany, eastern New York area.

And I run the market of Connecticut. Nice.

And what's your daily, job
look like for marketing?

For for marketing? Yes.

You know, it's interesting.

I feel like I had this

this kind of feels like that coffee chat
we had when I was like, my job is shifted.

I just had this conversation with him
and was like, I need some help.

It has shifted.

So it is a lot more on my plate
around marketing and getting the word out.

And it used to be very much like,
this is our fundraising campaign.

We're going to raise these dollars.
Let's talk to the people that we know.

And now shifting into like a geography
versus like a campaign revenue stream.

Yeah.

My job is a lot more about working
with our volunteers and who they know.

So I'm sitting down at a lot of coffees.

I'm sitting down at a lot of lunches.

I'm sitting down for a beer
with a lot of people right now.

Just getting to know people,
getting to know what makes them tick,

getting to know their stories.
Do they have a cancer connection?

Do they have time in their schedule
or interest

to commit to something philanthropically?

Totally different than what
I've been doing for years, you know,

so it is it's been a real shift,
but I'm loving it.

And what was that prior to.

It was really just, you know,
I still have the revenue, right?

Like that's going to be the focus
because we know that

dollars are what's going to cure this long
term.

But, and just help people along the way.

But just more focused now broadly for less
bringing people

into the LLS family and introducing them
to what we're doing here.

And then finding the right home
instead of, hey,

this is what we have to do right now
and kind of fitting people in very nice.

Yeah.

And I saw that you're a Georgia
bulldog. Huge.

How did you know that?

But yeah. Yeah, I do my research.
Good. Research huge. Yes.

And it's

been a really rough year in our household
because my husband's a Penn State fan.

So like, we lost and then they lost
and we were like, all right, fine.

So we were pulling for Ohio State
last night

because we moved here from Ohio.

And we feel a little bit okay, okay.

In case anyone's wondering or cares,
we're big college football fans.

Something nice.

I'm going to swing it back to you
for your three keys.

Oh, boy. I'd have to, Greg.

Three keys
or let me go into some sponsors,

of the Fannie Talks of Friends podcast.

We're here at Lehigh
Roasting and Brewing, 311 Shield Street.

Thank you Cody.

Great place also on the beer tour list.

That's why we're here. What day?

The day we coming here for the beer tour.

Do you know.

It's Valentine's Day, February 14th.

So come show some love.

For those by making a stop by,
we are brewing.

Bring your sweetheart to Shield Street.

This is great, Cody.

He's on, my podcast.

I forgot the number.

I usually have them all off top hand,
but he was early.

Top 20, top 30 podcast.

Go back and check it out.

I want to also thank Direct Line Media.

There's Dave and Stephania
Stephanie is great.

She's our production associate but
she was also a podcast guest last podcast.

123 so this is 125.

Go back and check Stephanie out.

We have people's Bank, Keating Agency

insurance, Brooke Golf Law,

Luna Pizza,
Parkville, Martinez, Parkville management.

Luna pizza I said that one.

And West Hartford Lock,
which is right over here

right around the corner West
Hartford lock.

What are three keys?

See what I got to swing that
in. How to swing that in?

Three keys
that make you great at your job.

Sponsored by West Hartford Lock.

Three keys that make me great at
my job is take the time to listen, okay?

That, we want to make sure that whatever
we accomplish, it's what you want to.

It's not just, giving blank advice.

Second is the education component of it.

I wholeheartedly believe in education.

And then the third is
we really care about families.

So similar to friends of Feeney.

We care about children.

And getting them started early on the path
to to financial freedom and.

Great listen education.

Children love it.

It's all about the kids.

Absolutely.

Three keys Chelsea.

Chelsea Dropkick two, by the way.

Thank you.

Know actually it's drop drop pick
but it's quick as a

future wrestling podcast
coming to you guys.

We're going to talk wrestling
so we're. Here for. It.

Good segue here. Segue.

But it's drop it. So go ahead Chelsea.

No you're good.

He sold my first one
which I think is for most jobs. Right.

And that's listening. Right.

So I think listening
definitely is the most useful.

Second I would say remembering your why
and everyone's why, right.

Like it is a job for me,
but it is like a horrible reality.

Cancer is for so many people
and so destructive on families and just,

just because really, really deep.

So if I remember my why, it's
so much more than a job for me.

So I think remembering my
why and everybody else's

why while we're doing that

and then empathy I'm definitely,
you know, have a team that I manage now.

So I would say empathy for my volunteers
but also our team.

Right. Like we're all human.

We're doing our best
like no one wants to fail.

So like just empathy, like what
we're dealing with everybody knowing.

We're all doing our best.

Listening. Yeah,
I hear that one a lot. Listening.

Empathy, all that empathy all the time.

But listening, networking,
being personable.

But yeah, you got a tough position,
but you're doing a good thing

for a good cause,
so keep doing what you're doing.

Also, let's talk about a common friend
that we all have that brought you here.

Laura moran. Do you guys know Laura?

Oh, yeah.

Laura.

So, what's Laura's position?

She has a position now with you.

So she doesn't anymore by her own choice.

Let me make that super. Clear
after the game.

Oh, right.

I know she she's, I think, hooked us up
in the very beginning.

And then she was really excited.

She was actually a temp for us.

She was helping us out loud.

We had a guy out on a paternity leave and,
she was tremendous

and we would have kept her on,
but she had something that came up

that was a perfect, perfect place
for her to go next.

So we're excited for her.
No, she's an amazing person.

He is, Johnny's job.

If you don't know. Laura moran.

Episode 42.

I know for a fact she's episode 42.

Right here. Same seats.

Laura and Kelly, great podcast.

Go back and check out episode 42.

I don't know who wants to take this
question, but our motto be a good friend.

You know, hold the door, pick up trash,
be charitable, give compliments.

What makes Laura moran a good friend?

She is.

I mean, I don't know if you have one,
but I def she's definitely a good friend.

She's such a sweet, sweet person.

I think that kind of
with that empathy thing.

Like she wants to succeed not for herself,
but for, you know, the greater good.

And she wants to be a part
of making great things happen.

And she's doing that with Johnny's
dog. Like, it's incredible.

And I know
she's doing that in her new role,

and she definitely did that with us.

So, I mean,

maybe not like opening the door,
although she would open the door, I don't

I don't know
if I would take it back to that

because I don't know
if I know her on that level.

But, you know, just a great human
being that really wants to be

a part of the

solution for good, whatever that is
that she's pouring yourself.

I agree.

Well, and I would point that
she's always looking

to make introductions and connections
for people. So,

through her position,
Johnny's dog, as well as just her actions

and activities in the community,
she has a lot of friends

and individuals, so she's making
connections and introducing people.

Yeah, to make a wider impact.

She's always suggesting podcast guests,
and I'm so happy that she suggested

you guys. So we're here today.

125 we're going to talk about
the Connecticut Beer Torso.

Thank you. Laura, you are a good friend.

Chelsea and Greg said so too.

So it's confirmed.

So Hellman.

Well, Hammond wealth
and also your author podcast.

What what does this guy not do?

I have not yet.

Can you say.

Can you sing?

I can sing.
I did play a musical instrument.

I did back in high school and college.

We will find something.

Can you dunk?

No, I cannot, I cannot. Dunk.

Okay. You got me there, author.

You can do more that matters.

If you knew you could, what? Wouldn't you?

This is amazing.

So this is a gift from Greg to me today
before the podcast.

You should have gave it to me.
You should have waited,

you know, make a big, big reveal,
and I got you something.

But no, this is amazing.
I'm going to read this.

And I say, hey, there's another thing,
Greg.

I'm like, hey,
it would be really cool if you signed it.

I already had it signed.

Take time to think, dream
and plan to do more.

That matters best with wishes. Greg.

I really appreciate that.

Discover how to live more and give more.

What inspired you to write this?

So I've done,

a lot of presentations
on behalf of nonprofit organizations.

So not only do I work on educating,

development professionals as well
as making organizations more effective

in their plan giving, but also making
presentations on their behalf.

So through that, I decided
I can only do so many presentations.

So why not take that presentation
and put it in the form of a book

that then can be used, and it was written
in a way that can not only be,

read by the end user
and hopefully someone to use it

to motivate their own making a difference.

But also for professionals
like myself to utilize it

to start the philanthropy conversation
as well as nonprofit organizations

to do the same. Okay.

Well, I have a nonprofit,
so I'm going to find it.

And if anybody you know
they love podcasts, you'll love that.

There's also the audio book recorded,
and you'll find that on Audible.com.

Who's the voice? That's me.
Come on me and.

Go out there. Yes, indeed. This guy is.

If diculous.

When I grow up, I want to be.
Like Greg. Right.

And don't we all.

This is great.

All right, we're excited.

Let's go. We got the the beer tour.

Where's our first stop on the beer tour?

Greg.

Our first stop is rule of three
brewing down at East Hampton.

And, they were our biggest fundraiser
last year for our 2024.

So we're very grateful
and excited to have them back.

Do you know the the three rules?

The three rules.

So I know they have a beer
for each of the three rules.

But, I don't know the three rules off
top of my head.

A list of rules of three beers.

Maybe I'm messing up, but I see that it's.

I could be wrong.

Now, these few simple rules.

Simplicity is king.

Fun is a must.

And and no hoity toity has plays
here, plays here.

I like that like these guys. Yeah.

Do you know Scott Cross or John?

I know both of them might be fun.

Guys,
we were actually just there last Thursday.

For, my firm does a quarterly happy hour
for our clients

and friends,
and we are at rule three brewing.

Rule of three.

All right, so that's East Hampton,
Scott and John, you got three rules.

Can you name a couple beers?

What's your favorite beer there?

Well, the one that I had,
was, Heckles Revenge, which was,

marshmallow chocolate
stout that I had last week.

And it was delicious. Wow.

It's like
the doctor heckle and Cock and Clyde.

Or heckles revenge. Heckles revenge? Yeah.

What's the date of that?

Oh, yeah. What's the date of the.

It's going to be February 1st.

That they'll be.
They're kicking us off. Kicking us off?

If you're doing dry January,
here's the time to take a break

and come back and join us for a craft beer
at rule of Three.

Rule of three.

All right. Kicks off in East Hampton.

All right.

How about now. We're going to do trivia.

Now which which breweries name means

hop farm or hop yard in Italian.

That's Lupo home there East Windsor yes.

Good job. Alito. He passed.

We're we might be going out of order,
but actually no that's next.

Next. Oh nope. Nope. No latter.

There is one before their third.

Before we go to loop the latter,
we're going to take a stop

at to back East
Brewing and Bloomfield. Yep.

What's there.

What's your favorite beer at back East.

See if we agree.

Well there's a lot of good beers
at back east.

But you know Ice Cream Man is fantastic.

And I love the.

And Jay special
where they put a little bit of the,

BlackBerry Berliner
Rice on top as a topper on the ice cream.

Man we I need that.

I'm so. Yeah.

So that's an exclusive, everyone.

How do we do this? What do we do again?

It's it's on their list.

You don't even have to go in and give them
a super handshake or anything like that.

It's, I believe it's the Jane Jay special.

This BlackBerry Berliner Weiss 3.5.

Correct. And you just pour how much?

So they basically give you
a full pint of ice cream, man.

And then they put a little topper
of the BlackBerry on top.

All right I got I go
yeah February 7th everyone.

And what's it called.

The Jane Jay special.

What's that stand for?

I believe it's,
two of the employees at Back East.

Well done. Back east. Yeah. Ice cream man.

This says right here
the top five on the draft's magazine list.

Top 50 IPAs.

I know they sell it at, the yard Goats
games.

So back east, keep up the good work
with the ice cream man.

And they just added a new kitchen
last year.

So delicious food there as well.

And that's going to be Friday
February 7th correct.

Yeah. We're going to clip
these up and can make reels

back east

back east Jay and Jay special loop gelato.

Did I say that correctly.

Yes Jen and James are the owners.

They do a great job, brewing beer there.

And our,

very, fervent supporters of,

blood cancer research.

That's going to be Saturday.

So you're back to back your Friday at

back east Saturday at Loop Gelato.

Weiss loves you.

Correct?

Yeah. We'll be there
all afternoon at Loop Gelato.

They have a great game inventory.

So if you're a big board game fan,
they do a great job.

You can hang out there,
have a few beers, play a board game, too.

And they also uniquely play bocce
in their taproom.

So if you're interested in indoor bocce,
you can get there, bocce league.

So they're really Italian

bocce.

I wrote that down. Bocce.

That's awesome. Man.

You took away my trivia question.

What, what brewery allows bocce?

All right, where are we off to next?

So after Luke Miletto,
we're going to elicit

on a Monday night the following Monday.

So we'll be there.

And also a shout out to Illicit brewing,
because not only are they doing this,

one night, fundraising for us,
but also they will be doing rounding up

through the entire month of February
to benefit the Leukemia Lymphoma Society

in both their Manchester
and Fairfield locations.

Man, you got me again.

Look at that
round up through February with a stuff.

That is too funny.

Monday the 10th.

They've been really generous
for the breweries. Who?

The owners. The breweries work there.

You got me there.

So I found it very interesting.

Emily and Amanda, two females.

Truffle that was on the website.

I could be wrong,

but no round up through February.

I think that's amazing.

Cool names. Helicopter dad.

Carousel incident, coconut incident.

Incident.

Marriage counseling

I mean friends with benefits.

Mandatory hibernation.

Maple mean crazy.

I like the

extra points for the creative
names, right?

Creative names go away in my eyes anyway.

But yeah, that's great.

February 10th on a Monday.

On a Monday. Yeah.

The they have a jazz orchestra
that'll be there on that Monday night.

And you come in. Are you making notes.

Treat them to our donation. Read my notes.

And, it'll get you drink specials
all night long.

I was going to say,
hey, is there a conflict?

Because I noticed the website
also had Harford Jazz Orchestra.

But it's meant to be. Meant to be. Greg.

That's why I chose that date to.

Be amazing, a. Nice.

Group of people. There's not a conflict.

It's meant to be people. Be there.

February 10th.

Which one
are you going to attend? Chelsea.

So I was just put them all on my calendar
last night, actually,

in case you're wondering.

So my entire calendar

has blocked everywhere,
which means I might make it to a couple.

Got two small children.

But whenever I'm ready to escape them, I'm
hoping to do well.

I'll be at New Park
Brewing on the 27th. Okay.

But also, I think I'm going to try to do
problem solved on the 22nd.

So. But hopefully I could do more,

but I'm committing.

I made it here last year.
Do we have an issue?

Yeah, yeah.

We're going on the border
just to trick you up here.

So, Yeah.

Don't let him see her.

He has a setback. League.

They're having bonsai bar.

They do brews and book swap.

They are the first brewery

ever in Enfield, Connecticut.

They started in 2014.

They are

what Enfield would be.

Powder hollow.

Correct. This guy's good.

Yeah.

We don't have an official date
for them yet, but they have, committed.

And, so it's to be decided.

So you gotta tune in and go to the website
at KT Beer Tours, talk to,

stay in touch.

I also have a phone number

and you have an email.

Can we share that?

Oh yeah. So the website.

City Beer tours at gmail.com.

And if you go to the website there is a
way to sign up for our email list.

And so you'll get updates for me
on, on the upcoming dates and any changes

as we add new breweries.

It's it's great. Now.

So you'll be at everyone.

Not everyone.

Okay,
I will be out of town for one weekend.

So, and Chelsea's,

colleague Josh is going to fill in for me.

Now, do you call everyone's attention
to give a little 32nd

talk, or do you

at these at the event, do you say, hey,

thank you for so much for coming
KT Beer Tours.

You're all your donations
are going to last, right?

You do all that.

Correct.

We'll have a table set up
so people can come in.

We'll make it as easy as possible
to learn more about,

the mission of AOS
and the impact that they have

in the community and supporting families
as well as research.

And then also, we're there
to collect, donations directly.

And that can be cash, Venmo, credit card,
as well as, most of the breweries

are donating either a dollar per beer
or 10% of the sales that night.

So just by showing up
and having a beverage,

you get us one step closer
to a cancer free future.

I love it,

I'll be there.

All right.

Next one.

It's tricky here.

All right.

This one hosted
my dad's 70th birthday party.

You know. I don't know that one.

I wasn't invited.

It's happening on Valentine's Day.

We also have this Friday the big sing.

Do you know Walter? Walter, shoot.

What's his name?

That's my best guy in the world. Walter.

Walter is going to kill me.

It's not Walter McCarty.

He played for the Celtics.

Walter.

Sorry, I gotta look. No.

Oh, boy.

Embarrassing.

Anyway, live music will be here.

Big sing through Mark's Christmas trees,

and we're asking a donation.

The Big Sing is where everyone gets,
sheet of lyrics.

And Walter will be singing and will shout.

What song do you want to play?

We'll sing number one. It's New York,
New York.

Everyone has the list.

We sing along and we collect donations
and it's a great event.

It started in Halifax, Canada.

Marks Christmas trees.

I don't know
if you get your Christmas trees over here.

Yes, that's Mark.

The Christmas trees are from Halifax.

Mark's from Halifax.

And that we sing.

It's called the Big Sing.

And this is our fourth or fifth event
this Friday.

This won't come out in time,
but we'll be singing with Walter.

Walter at so terrible.

This is I don't I'm having a moment.

It's a carousel.

And it all come around.

You don't come. Around, Walter.

Walter Jacobson.

But Cody's great grace.

I know Grace, she's the events manager.

And then.

But, yeah, we're here now, so come back
if you can't come this Friday.

Come on Valentine's day.

Valentine's day. Show the love.

Yep. Will you be here for.

I will be here.
I will be. Here for this. One.

I probably go
I mean, are you bring the kids.

Where do you guys live?

West Hartford, right. Here in West
Hartford. Okay. All right.

The special guest.

My sister's flying in from Ohio
that weekend, so she'll be here, too.

So you get to meet her.

Your family's from Ohio?

My sister's. In Ohio. I don't,

all right,

this one.

I like this spot, too.

Friends. I've done a couple events there.

We've done, a fundraiser for a kid
who was born with that,

to get a tumor in his brain.

And they helped him.

We they got it removed,
so we helped the family.

Levi. We had a Levi fundraiser there.

We did a comedy show there.

They do live music in the green room
and the barrel room.

Yes. The owners are John, Alex and Tom.

Where are we?

You're at New Park Brewing,
and you partnered,

again.

Laura moran was kind of the connection
there that,

that got us, to have the event at New Park
Brewing.

Nice. Great people. Great place.

Where are you?

In the barrel room or the green room?

So it's going to be a both.

Oh, nice. Well, it's,

in the

private room that night
actually marks a special occasion.

So the 2025 visionaries of the year
campaign kicks off.

That night.

So, we'll be there as part of the campaign
to kick off the new candidates

that will be raising money this year
for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society,

as well as a beer stop.

So it'll also be part of the beer tour.

So a portion of the proceeds
by being in the tap room also benefit.

That was so nice.

It's going to be one big party.

So great to be there.

Great spot.

And they have an Elmwood Cider
named after Elmwood section.

I live in Elmwood.

Cloud scape is my favorite there.

Do you have a favorite?

I would agree cloud Scape is really good.

Yeah, cloud scapes
grew and Cloud Scape is 6.5.

It's an IPA

fluffy wheat

finish notes of grapefruit and melon.

Reading from the list here.

It's great,
but the new Park brewery great spot,

great people.

All right. How many we got?

Four left.

Let's see.

Do you know?

Oh, right here.

This place has a First mates club.

100 members get a designated mug.

Discounts, larger paws. Swag.

They have stormed the beach shore.

Shore. Unsure.

Man. Moza boat.

Loeb.

It's a very, nautical themed brewery.

Coastline brewing down in West Westbrook.

Westbrook.

Very good. Great place.
They have a pizza oven.

They're a great pizza.

Great group of guys that own it.

And although they're not hosting an event

during February, they made the call.

They said, hey, February is a little dead
here on the shoreline.

Why don't we wait until the summertime
when it's really rocking?

So we're going back.

We're extending the tour.

And we'll be going back to coastline
sometime this summer.

Very nice. And that's rich, Phil and Jay.

I've never been.

I'm interested to go West Brook.
Very cool.

Then we have one in Bristol.

What's the brewery in Bristol?

That's the new Cambridge project.

Unique brewery, because it's actually
three breweries and one,

so the Cambridge project is in the taproom

that used to be Firefly
Hollow, in Bristol.

And they acquired the recipes
so they still brew Firefly Hollow beers.

And they also, brew, beers by boondoggle,

which is another, brewery
in as well as their own.

I have yet
to be there as new Cambridge project.

So I'm excited
to, to get there, and try them all out.

Yeah.

It says right here it's town
139 Center Street.

It was the
I was the iconic Firefly Bristol.

That's February.

Oh, yeah. February 21st.

Correct. Friday. It's a Friday.

And you need to put on your calendar.

They have one of the best pumpkin beers,

that I have there.

They're pumpkin spice creamer from Firefly
Hollow is one of my favorites.

Do they put, cinnamon
on the rim of the glass if.

You go to the taproom? Yes. They do.

That's my wife's favorite.

All right.

We have to wait. For that one.

So this one has infinite rotations.

Berries brittle, roasted or

roasted root ground for six sides.

It's happening on February 22nd.

It's a Saturday. It's in East Windsor.

That would be problem solved.

Brewing.

You got it. You're good.
You're pretty good.

And yeah, that's a connection.

Through Laura Ray Anderson,
who's our on our leadership team

and in helping to one of the co-leaders
of the visionary of the year campaign.

And she's leading up
that and has, knows the owners quite well.

So we're looking forward to being there.

Very nice. Which ones have you

were on the list last year
and which ones are new this year?

So rule of

three back East loop gelato illicit.

We have brewing

concentric

and coast
line are all returnees from last year.

And then we're getting to visit
a new Cambridge project.

Problem solved.

Brewing and Powder hollow.

New this year as well as New park.

Very cool.

So a combination of new
and an old favorites.

This one looks like they have dark Darth
Maul Wookie cookie.

That's Star Wars
monster mash double stuff fins up.

But the Dolphins fans maybe

concentric.

Concentric brewing in Portland.

Just after you go over the Aragonese
Bridge from Middletown,

you just swing around to the right
and it's down on your right.

Yeah.

One of the reasons why their line up
right now looks a little dark, in beer,

is that they do a fantastic event

in December on the winter solstice.

So on the darkest night,
they do all dark beers.

So they bring in not only their own, but,

some guest brews from breweries
around Connecticut.

So it's a great event.

They do another one on
light beers in June as well.

That's funny.

Very nice. It's Brian Drew and Dave.

Oh man I forgot
one of these guys was a retired cop.

I forgot which one that was. Had a. Nope.

Not very cool.

So all right last year's tour.

What was the first

brewery.

The last brewery.

The best brewery and the worst brewery.

Oh tough.

I mean least favorite.

Something went wrong or missing
I don't know, we will modify it.

Of course.

Trying to think of who kicked it off
last year.

I know the end one was Urban Launch,

in Manchester and,

it's hard to say best.

Oh, there's so,

I think so.

Like a. Solicit. Yes.

Solicit. Went for something.

Can we have the kickoff party at elicit?

And then we came back the next night
for the first kickoff, actual memory.

So, yes, we were at elicit for the kickoff
and urban largest

a wrap up.

Best breweries.

Well, I certainly shout
out to rule of three for,

being a top fundraiser.

Back east and Willimantic were both right

there at the top as well for fundraising.

I'm also a big fan of Elf Cream
and their beer.

So we had

by including 23 breweries,
we pretty much covered most of the state.

Yeah.

And, so I put some mileage on my car.

That was the reason I was 11 this year
and 23 last year.

Well, last year I was part
of the visionary of the year campaign.

So this year I've just been asked
to be part of the leadership team.

And so one of the things that happens
throughout the campaign,

that makes a lot of fun

as part of the fundraising, are
there are different challenges,

for example, raise
a donation from all 50 states.

So you got a challenge,
and there are kind of award dollars

that you could win for your campaign
if you're the first team to get there.

But it's on the shoulders
of the leadership team

to help raise some money
to fund those challenges.

And so as we were talking about that,

and I could explain to my wife that I
didn't have to be at all of the breweries,

we started
up to decide to have another one.

So we're going to have it

during the month of February
to kind of get everybody energized,

leading up to the candidates starting off
their campaign at the end of February.

Very cool.

Man. This is great.

Again,
excited to hear drinking with a course.

Right.

What's better than that? Correct.

And I want to do a shout out
just to thank, Rachel Diamond,

who is, at Broken Symmetry out in Bethel,
but she is the director

of the Connecticut Brewers Guild,
and she was extremely supportive,

in getting my beer to her
launch last year, as well as,

I had a table at the Connecticut
Beer Fest, which is every April,

at the convention center. So, Nice.

One of the reasons
why I know a lot about these breweries is,

I'm also an associate member
of the Connecticut Brewers Guild.

So I get to go to their meetings

every quarter
and get to have an opportunity to

to meet the Brewers and learn a little bit
more about each brewery.

Very cool.

You're in it.

That's great.

Now, this is gonna be a question
for both of you.

We'll let you go. Chelsea
first favorite restaurant.

In West Hartford.
Or anywhere in the world.

Favorite restaurant.

And then there's a follow up question.

I don't like that's like the hardest.

I take food extremely seriously,
a place where, like, I cannot do that.

Like, I will be honest with you

very hard and I'm like,
oh, come on, you're ridiculous.

Oh, man.

Okay, so I really enjoyed there's
this very I think I told you about this,

I repeat myself often anyways, but there's
this little restaurant in Cornwall.

Is that where the Little Bridges
in Litchfield?

Is that sound? Right. Okay.

Called RSVP
and you have to call and leave a message

and hope that they call you back,

which they'll call you
back, and Charles will call you.

And, if he does, then he can.

I can tells you
sort of the date that you could coming.

You tell him
sort of the date you could come

and you hopefully agree on something.

And it's like a very tiny dinner party.

And I went with my husband
and it was so great.

French food.

It's to two men that run it and that's it.

That's that's the whole thing.

But it's this amazing French dinner.
You bring your own wine.

It was so fun, so. RSVP, I yeah, do that.

I try all these. Yeah.

You heard this one. It's a good one.

You definitely cannot, like,
plan the date.

They really, you know, the date plans you.

But it's good.
It's a really it's an experience.

What's the
average play and how much does it cost.

Oh so that's the thing.
It's a one price thing.

They tell you the price
and you have to pay in cash.

And you just leave it on the way out
like I didn't know what to do,

but there's just like a table and
you just set it there and you walk away

and I forget what the price is.

Now it's big.

You have to call Charles.

I don't know, it's telling you
it's not advertised. There's no website.

You can't. You have the number.

So if you just Google RCP, Connecticut
restaurant or Cornwall or something later,

he'll probably be mad at me
for putting this on a podcast.

Like, I mean, sorry,

the New York Times is going to be so upset
that I got your first.

And he made sure. To make my reservation
before the.

Yeah, they call that.

Oh that's great.

Yeah.

Yeah, I've tried so many different
restaurants based on this question.

So all right.

Thank you.

Yeah. All right.

And now you're eating at RSVP.

Yeah.

For dinner guests dead or alive and with.

Oh, okay. Dolly Parton definitely

all time favorite human.

Just.

This is so cool.

Jesus.

Like, I don't mean that in, like, like,
not cool way.

Like. Or a cool way.

I just think it'd be really interesting.

Popular response.

Yeah, I would assume. Okay. For, for for.

Let's see.

I mean, I probably bring my husband
because he's pretty great.

Good. So. All right. How about others?

Okay. So that was three.

And then the fourth,
I mean oh goodness gracious me.

It's got to be like a world leader.

But that's like a lot to unpack.

I mean, I'll go with Jimmy Carter
because he just passed.

He's from Georgia.

I did meet him at Church in Plains
because I'm from Georgia originally.

I coughed on him.

I felt really bad. He came to check on me.

I was like a kid, and I was like, oh, no.

He was already old then.

I was very concerned for his health.

He survived, obviously.

But that's my, like, presidential story.

But I would bring him because I didn't
really get to chat with him.

Do you apologize for coughing
on. I did okay.

I would apologize for it
if I could talk to you.

Yeah. No,
I don't know. He's going to be like that.

Gone with me forever.

Cough. Donald. Ma'am.

Terrible was terrible. Coughing fit.

For dinner.

Guest RSVP with Jesus, Dolly Parton,
Jimmy Carter and the hubby.

Yeah, Greg, that would be an interesting.

Yeah, sure. Would.

Do you have a favorite restaurant, Greg?

Well, one of my favorites
is Jake Gilbertson in Glastonbury.

Just, quality food and service,
always top notch.

So go back there frequently.

Agreed.

We go there for special occasions.

Now you're for dinner.

Guests arrive for dinner.

Guests.

I'd probably have my dad back.

I'd love that for dinner.

And I guess you have to have my mom
who's still with us.

So, but then, we gotta spice up
the conversation a little bit.

I love your guests.

Jimmy Carter, Dolly Parton does a lot.

Trying to think of

a philanthropist
that I would probably, maybe Bill gates.

Oh, yeah.

It would be a great conversation.

So I, I admire him
for how he kind of dedicates

time every year to reading books
and staying on top of things.

So yeah, it'll be an interesting
conversation.

So mom, dad, Bill gates
and do we have a fourth.

Oh I don't count is the fourth.

I come up with,

Carrot.

Well, yeah, it's probably my wife, but I
didn't want to use them all up for family.

But, yeah, maybe Warren Buffett as well.

Oh, that's the great.

Money, guys.

Money guys as well as philanthropy. Yeah.

Although, yeah, he's really kind of follow
Bill gates lead on that, but

definitely has
his heart in the right place.

It's great.

Great. It sounds like a wonderful dinner.

Now, how about, a special moment
with a friend?

Our podcast is Feeney Talks with Friends.

Do you have a special one with a friend
you like to share

special moment.

With a friend? Well, you know, one of the.

I'll tell you, one of the favorite days
that I have each year

is I have a client through planning
that we did for him

after his wife
passed away from lung cancer.

That he makes a gift every year

to thoracic cancer research,

down in New Haven.

And so, at smile, we go down at once

a year to, to make that donation check.

So I drive him down and walk him in and,
and make that donation to the,

the doctor that does the primary research,
in that thoracic cancer.

And that, to me is, is a day
I always look forward to.

That's really sweet. That's awesome. Love.

That is a loaded question, too,
because I have a lot of friends.

Like which one are you going
to highlight again, this is really. Off.

But I got like, your favorite kid.

Your next question.

Your favorite. Kid.

Do not do that to me. No.

I don't know whether or not to go,
like, dark or, like, happy, right?

Like, they're like,
they're both good, though.

I think I go dark on this one.

You've kind of went a little dark, too.

So, I think we both kind of, like, think
about really meaningful interactions.

And this is maybe not the happiest
interaction, but it was really special.

My one of my very, very best friends,
she was my college roommate.

She is a Bosnian immigrant
that came over, with the help

from the Presbyterian Church to South
Carolina as a war refugee from Germany.

She escaped Bosnia with her family.

All of the men in her family were murdered
during that war, including her father,

and we were both studying abroad
in college at the same time.

She was in Germany
and I was in Spain, and we met up

and they found her father's body
and or the remains of her body

and his body,
and returned his belongings to her.

And we flew back to the US
and sat in our dorm room

and just like sat there
with his belongings and,

and these are like, you know,
we're like 20, 21, like we're 20.

It was so deep.

And so I remember crying, but also
being happy and like all the emotions.

And I'm just,

you know, a kid from Georgia, like,
I've had this really great life

and just to know someone

that has had this depth of experience
that has always affected me

and she's like such a

important part of my kids lives now
because she lives in New York

and I live here in Connecticut,
and we just entwined her experience

with our family.
And I think it's really special.

So deep and dark, but like, really, really
cool to be able to do that with her.

That's great to great experiences.

That's awesome.

And based on our last podcast

Stefania is into Marvel and
and superheroes.

So do you have a favorite superhero
or superpower?

So shout out to episode 123.

Wow. Having two daughters.

I never really saw
a lot of superhero movies,

but you know, say yes to the dress
or anything like that, you know, HTV,

I'm I'm right on it.

But, Wow.

I'm with you.

I have two daughters.

So. Yeah, that that's a hard one.

Superpower.

Do you have one in mind?

I mean, I have two boys, one of which
has very strong opinions on superheroes.

I mean, I really do not like.

I'm not into that at all.

Like, I feel like I don't I've got a
I've got to figure it out.

I mean guys,

this is hard.

Really hard for me.

I mean maybe Spiderman,
but I feel like he's like losing

James is falling right now.

So like, I might have to switch gears
to like a new one, but maybe Spider-Man.

But I really don't have strong opinions
on it.

Super power.

I mean, this is probably not real.

But like,
maybe just like tuning it all out

when the chaos is around you
with a one, and a four year old like that

would be a great, a great superpower
if they want to come up with that one.

To get one.

So yeah.

Focus.

Hulk.

Thor.

Well,

I mean, I like the idea of Superman,
because then you can just kind of

take off. You don't need a vehicle,
you don't need anything.

You can just,
you know, shoot up and take off.

So that probably flying
would be a nice superpower.

Superman.

So I'd go for Superman. That's great.

It's a
the Christopher Reeve Specials on Prime.

I haven't checked that out yet,
but I'm going to.

I grew up watching Superman with my uncle,
so that one's a good one.

Superman.

So we at the friends favorite restaurant?

Superheroes. Any questions for me?

Anything that you think I've missed
or that you want to share?

I don't think that's anything.

I think you did a great job.

I think what you do is really, really
interesting and I love your website.

I like the bottom,
the like how the the sticker moves.

Yeah.

You guys can't stop looking at it.

I was like playing with that was it.

Can I make it move? I can't
I think you can.

I think the mouse makes it move.

It did, it did.

But I couldn't, like, move it somewhere
else.

Like, I was like literally like on there
trying to it.

It's very cool.
I really appreciate what you do.

When I first moved here in 2020, again,
kind of tasked with building this market

from the ground up, not having board
or relationships really prior,

I look to see what local non-profits
were around, and you and Chinese Jock

were the two that I was like, oh my gosh,
they've got the market cornered.

And like the fundraising, not I mean,
I mean that with all the love, right?

Like there's enough for
everyone says your book too, right? Yes.

But I definitely really
looked up to you all

and to Lara with Johnny's dog
to just see what you guys were doing.

This community loves what you're doing,
so it's like an honor to meet

you, honestly. Thank you so much.
I really appreciate that. Yeah.

Johnny Dog has been like our big brother.

So our role model, they're wonderful.

We were the Clover Club charity of choice.

So honored for that donation
and that sponsorship or that,

grant that they gave us. So, yeah.

Great people.

And we're just just a third grade teacher,

from a divorced family,
knew how it was not to see my dad.

Every once in a while,
I had a student lose their dad.

The family

had twins, I had twins,
I had to do something.

And since then, we've helped over
90 families and raised over $225,000.

So, so cool. And we're continuing to grow.
I got a wonderful board.

That's Matt on the board of directors.

He was instrumental on that website.

So thank you. Great job.

You heard that compliment.
That was a great job.

We're going to have,

a press release on our website through
we had.com,

and the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce
are going to do a press press release.

I did not know websites were press
new websites were press release worthy.

But, Kate from the, chamber said,
that's a wonderful idea.

And it's really a really looks nice.

So it's well done. And I'm very happy
and excited to share it.

So we're coming out with a press release.

We had.com coming soon.

Congratulations. Thank you so much.

That's great.

So my question for you is where do you see
friends of Fenian 510 years.

You now good question I hear that a lot.

Everyone's like oh when are you going to
stop teaching and just do this full time?

And I don't know, will,

my kids again are going to college.

I love my job
as I'm in my 21st year teaching,

nine years in Waterbury, Connecticut,
where I went to school, same school

that I went to as a kid.

I taught, and then I'm in my 12 year
at Wolcott, where my daughters went.

So both schools really meant a lot.

I had my administration degree
so I could be a vice principal.

Or do I go full time
with the friends of Feeney?

So I have a lot of decisions to make.

Wonderful question.

I'm hearing a lot.

But in five years I hope to helped.

What are we at now?

We're at, 90, so I hope to have

helped maybe 250 families

and raised over.

Be great to be at $1 million. Yeah.

In five years you can do it.

Of help and donations
and support to families in need.

So that's our goal.

$1 million distributed to families.

And in five years,
which is a lot of money.

Where a quarter of the way there.

You can do it.

It's a mighty goal.

But you never know
until you got to set a goal to reach it.

Right. Correct. Smart goal. Is it like.

It's specific measurable attainable.

Exactly. Timely.

Yeah. Five years for a mill
is pretty good.

That's timely.

Good question.

So do you find that
there's a bigger need than you can fulfill

or are you finding that
you're fundraising.

You're able to kind of keep we.

Just got one today. I was like, hey, my,

brother lost everything in the in
his and his house.

You know, we heard from you from a friend.

Someone had a house fire.

They went to Human resources
and Terry ville,

someone in the department
refer them to friends of Feeney.

Anyone in school?

There's, like, a a West Hartford family.

Like the all the social workers know
in the school system.

They reach out to friends of Feeney.

So our name is getting out there.

We're just continuing to help people.

We really have never said no.

But if it's out of our local area,
like the California fires or the Florida

hurricanes, like, we would love to help,
but we're trying to keep it.

Connecticut.

You know, West Hartford to Waterbury, to

Hartford area.

Just so please.

Yeah, we have a whole donation

request form
now where families can fill it out, put,

you know,
their name, email, how we can help.

What donation would be suffice?

What is their circumstance?

So we'll have that out.

Their website is giving
a lot more information.

So go to friends of Phoenix. Com.

And while you're at it
like and share this podcast.

Great great people
Chelsea and Greg doing great things.

Subscribe and like for our podcast too.

We're trying to get our views up
and our subscribers up.

We're up to 350 now. Fantastic.

So we're at 250 a year ago.

Slow, slow and steady.

It's a grind.

Yes it is, yes it is.

So yeah, thank you for coming on.

Any closing remarks
or final things that you'd like to share?

Well, first, I just want to thank you
for the invitation

of being here and having the opportunity
to, to share kind of what I'm up to,

with the Connecticut Beer
tour for a cancer free future. And,

hope that

everybody listening or watching can,

take some time out of their busy schedule
to come and raise a pint,

to make a difference in families
dealing with blood cancer.

With our missions aligned,
because that is heartbreak and tragedy.

So I would love to come to I'm
going to try to make the West

Hartford ones for sure,
and then maybe try that JJ special at.

At, back east.

That sounds exciting. Very tasty.

No, I echo what he said
and thanks, Greg, to like,

thank you so much for everything
you've done for this organization.

And thank you for giving us this platform.

Because really, that's what it's about
is getting the word out. Yeah.

And you know, like you with having money
to give to the community.

We also have that here at all of us.

So, you know,
we should really talk offline

and figure out how to refer better and,
and yeah, I think that'd be really cool.

So. Yeah.

Happy to partner.

I find strength power in numbers
and collaboration is very, very important.

Partnerships are important.

We team up with Johnny's Jog,
we do their photo booth.

We've teamed up with,

a couple other.

We we had a booth at the pride event.

We do a booth at,

the summer, what's up?

Summer fair thing with.

The carnival in first?

Yes, it was our first

taste of West Hartford or West Hartford.

Something western for days. Yeah.

Yes. Good friend.

Linda Geisler runs that. That nice?

Yeah. Nice.

So, yeah.

It was a honor to talk with you.

Oh, I I've seen this.

I have to do it. This maybe fits in.

So we're going to play a quick game
before we go.

Okay. It's 612 1824.

You got to do

you got to do six of one, 12 of one,
18 of one.

So he's either eat donuts,

take the paper cuts,

run the miles or drink the beers

six, 12, 18 or 24.

What I do not even so you say so.

Say you like eat six donuts.

That means you got to take 12 paper cuts
and then are you going to drink 18 beers?

Are you going to run 18 miles?

Well, I would do six paper cut.

Yeah okay.

I can do 12 miles.

Okay. Sure.

18 donuts would be a tall ask,
but I could probably do it.

Especially if they're Krispy Kreme that,
you know, not overly filling.

So nice. Nice. And then 24 beers. Hello.

You have to know there's no time
limit on that, right?

No, no, not 24 and 24 minutes.

But, I think I deeply agree with your path
on that, to be honest with you.

Like, I mean,

as long as there's no time limit,
to be honest with you, I could even do

like the longer run if it were like
this really long, long journey.

Like,
I could take breaks, like naps in between.

I'll do 24.

It would be great for just 120, 24.

You can have a beer, great.

Plan, a little bit of running
and then yeah.

You set up a beer and donut each.

So in here I will get to all of them.

We can do that motive.

But yeah, definitely
with you on the papercuts like hardcore.

Yes. Six.

Why would you do that?

Oh, I saw this.

So I was like, I gotta ask, put it down.

Has anyone ever wanted more than six? No.

That's the first time I've ever podcast
I've seen it on another clip.

All right.

But the bears thing,
I was like, all right it fits. Yeah.

But bears on paper cuts are definitely.

So the two challenging ones
and to kind of easier ones.

You don't want to do you want to do beer
and donuts on the same day.

Because that's a lot. No.

But there are some good pastry stouts
that kind of go well with donuts.

And there is something called a beer mile.

You run a lap of a track, you have to chug
a beer, you run a it's a world record.

In the Guinness
Book of World Records, you run chug.

Also, there's a donut mile.

Fleet feet does something.
I feel like I could get on board, but.

Are there any runs on Wednesday night?

Yes, they do a donut run.

You run three miles and eat a donut
after every mile.

I. I can try that. I could do that.

Yeah.

And you don't feel guilty because you're
running it off while you're running,

and then you're training for Johnny's jog.

Are you getting ready for.

Getting ready

again?

We're here
with Greg Hammond and Chelsea Tropic.

It was wonderful chatting with you.

You're amazing people
doing great things in the community.

This was episode
125 of Feeney Talks with friends.

I cannot thank you enough.

Keep up the great work and we hope to
see you on this beer tour starts off.

It kicks off February 1st
at rule of three Brewery in East Hampton,

then to back east on February 7th.

Loop Bilodeau
Brewery in Windsor Locks on February 8th.

Illicit.

Monday, February 10th Valentine's
Day here at.

We have brewing and roasting

the 21st of February is the new Cambridge
project in Bristol.

There's three breweries in there
that's pretty cool.

February 22nd to Saturday.

Problems all brewing in East Windsor.

The 27th is a Thursday
new Park brewery over on New Park Avenue,

and then concentric can't consent trick.

Oh darn it for I teach. I teach reading

concentric brewery I'm Portland to beat

TBD, powder hollow tea TBD

and coastline in the summer.

For more information,
go to Cty Beer tours.org.

And Greg
won the 2024 visionary of the year.

Congratulations. Thank you.

Great job
and wonderful meeting you Chelsea.

Thank you so much.

I want to give you guys each a magnet
and a sticker.

Good friends rule and be a good friend.

I feel like I've made it.

Now you're in you're in.

You're part of the team.

And on three will say be a good friend.

1 to 3 be a good friend.