EXTRAordinary PEOPLE

EXTRAordinary PEOPLE

Author: Shirley Wachtel Language: English Episodes: 44
You might pass them on the street or sit next to them in a cafe, never knowing the depth of their journey. EXTRAordinary PEOPLE is built on a simple, powerful idea: remarkable stories are held by everyday individuals. Host Shirley Wachtel sits down with people from all walks of life-entrepreneurs, artists, community organizers, teachers, and quiet heroes-who have chosen to leverage their unique talents to impact the world around them. This isn't about celebrity; it's about the substance of lived experience. In each conversation, guests share their narratives in their own words, detailing the specific hardships and obstacles they faced and, more importantly, the resilience and choices that allowed them to rise and create change. Listening to this podcast feels like being part of an intimate, revealing dialogue where vulnerability meets triumph. Shirley guides these discussions with empathy, drawing out the nuanced lessons within each story. The result is a collection of authentic accounts that collectively explore themes of perseverance, innovation, and human connection across society, business, and personal growth. Tune in not just for inspiration, but for a genuine sense of what it means to contribute something meaningful, and how ordinary moments can build an extraordinary life.
Episodes
Mayor Brad Cohen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:45
Mayor Brad Cohen was elected to the office in November 2016. The Mayor began his public career in 2010 when he was elected to the East Brunswick Board of Education. Working with a dedicated group of Board members, he hel…
Rabbi Larry Brandspiegel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:57
Larry I. Brandspiegel joined the East Brunswick Jewish Center in August 2018 as Cantor and Director of Education before being ordained as a rabbi. Affectionately known as Rabbi/Cantor Larry, the spiritual leader now serv…
Kate Lancaster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:50
Kate Lancaster is in her ninth year working as a middle school teacher at Jamesburg Public Schools. She is also a certified Reading Specialist and was recognized as an Exemplary Educator for the 2023-2024 school year for…
Aparna Parthasarathy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:25
Aparna Parthasarathy is a high school senior passionate about remedying structural inequalities, closing educational gaps and representing Generation Z’s values to shape legislation with elected officials. Aparna is a li…
Marc Korpus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:13
Marc Korpus, having had a fascination with maps since youth, took up the creation of of them as an occupation at age 42. He found that mapmaking is now one facet of the discipline of "geographic information systems" (GIS…
Rosa Lowinger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:59
Rosa Lowinger is a Cuban-born American writer and art conservator. The author of Tropicana Nights: The Life and Times of the Legendary Cuban Nightclub (Harcourt, 2005) and Promising Paradise: Cuban Allure American Seduct…
Neil Lawner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:41
Neil O. Lawner’s interest in photography began when he served in the Air Force on Guam from 1966-1968. During that time, Japanese cameras such as Nikon and Pentax were being manufactured and were available at the Base Ex…
Shirley Wachtel talks about her novel, A CASTLE IN BROOKYN [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:46
SHIRLEY RUSSAK WACHTEL is an author, college professor, and host of the podcast, EXTRAordinary People. In December, just before the launch of her successful novel, A Castle in Brooklyn (Little A), she appeared on the pod…
Steve Cohen - The Rising Sport of Rugby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:16
Steve Cohen has over 50 years of involvement in rugby. He has been the catalyst in developing player safety, refereeing, and promoting the game at the grassroots level. USA Rugby Eagle, Steve Hiatt, has said that “No con…
Corey Caplan - Talking About Cryptocurrency [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:23
Corey Caplan is the co-founder of Dolomite, a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange (DEX for short). Prior to co-founding Dolomite, Corey graduated from Lehigh University with a degree in Computer Science and Business. C…