Mav’s Coffee Clarity with Denise DiGrigoli

Laurence Caso: The Art of Staying Creative Across Decades | EP 231

This week on Mav’s Coffee Clarity, Denise DiGrigoli sits down with Laurence Caso, a true maverick of television and the arts. He began his career as the company manager of the Berkshire Theatre Festival. Laurence spent decades in television, holding positions such as the Executive Producer for As the World Turns, Vice President of Daytime Programs at CBS, and the first Vice President of Programs for the Disney Channel. He also owns his own Production company, Shoot the Catfish Productions, LLC, and is working on a documentary titled "The Other Side of War.” In 2014 Laurence began serving as Executive Director of the Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport, Connecticut, one of only seven theaters of its kind left in the state. He was responsible for the rediscovery and restoration of the lectern used by Martin Luther King Jr. during his 1964 visit to the Klein. It is now a prominent historical artifact at the venue. Laurence continues to champion creativity, mentorship, and community arts. In this engaging conversation, he shares lessons on perseverance, the power of showing what you can do, and how he’s revitalizing The Klein, now celebrating its 85th year, into a thriving hub for performance, education, and inspiration. This is an extra special episode you won’t want to miss!
========="Show them what you can do" - Laurence Caso
Key Beans:
Passion is preparation.
Development is about people.
Lead with heart, manage with vision.
 
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Welcome if it’s your first time, and welcome back if you’re a regular. 
It's good fuel. One cup, one conversation. WIT. WISDOM. CLARITY. Let's keep the good energy circulating. Please LIKE, SHARE, & SUBSCRIBE!  
 
Here I serve up real conversations—unedited, authentic, like coffee with your sharpest friend. Entrepreneurs, creatives, performers, athletes—forward-thinkers who’ve found the silver lining in life’s challenges and can laugh through it.  Fresh ideas to inspire you and help you #MoveForward.
 
Follow DD:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@MavsCoffeeClarity
👉 https://www.instagram.com/mavscoffeeclarity/ & https://www.instagram.com/denise_digrigoli/
👉 https://www.facebook.com/MavsCoffeeClairtywitDenise/ & https://www.facebook.com/denise.digrigoli/
 
At Drive Media and Consulting,  I work with entrepreneurs, founders, and creatives to launch, lead,  land their businesses, vision, and best outcomes. www.DeniseDiGrigoli.com

Gary Noesner: How to De-Escalate Conflict Like an FBI Negotiator | EP 230

This week MAV is joined by a very special guest on Mav's Coffee Clarity, Denise DiGrigoli sits down with Gary Noesner. Gary retired from the FBI in 2003 after a 30-year career as an investigator, instructor, and hostage negotiator. He served 23 years as an FBI negotiator and was the first Chief of the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Unit, leading responses to high-stakes incidents including terrorist hijackings, prison riots, militia standoffs, and overseas kidnappings involving American citizens. After retiring, Gary became Senior Vice President at Control Risks, an international risk consultancy, where he helped clients manage kidnapping crises worldwide. He is the author of Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator, a bestselling memoir, and frequently appears in media as a negotiation expert. I loved having him on my show, and I think you’ll love it too! 
========="Listening is the cheapest concession we can make. It cost you nothing" - Gary Noesner
Key Beans:
Leadership is showing up authentically.  
Emotional control is power. 
Appreciation and recognition retains talent.  
 
=========
Welcome if it’s your first time, and welcome back if you’re a regular. 
It's good fuel. One cup, one conversation. WIT. WISDOM. CLARITY. Let's keep the good energy circulating. Please LIKE, SHARE, & SUBSCRIBE!  
 
Here I serve up real conversations—unedited, authentic, like coffee with your sharpest friend. Entrepreneurs, creatives, performers, athletes—forward-thinkers who’ve found the silver lining in life’s challenges and can laugh through it.  Fresh ideas to inspire you and help you #MoveForward.
 
Follow DD:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@MavsCoffeeClarity
👉 https://www.instagram.com/mavscoffeeclarity/ & https://www.instagram.com/denise_digrigoli/
👉 https://www.facebook.com/MavsCoffeeClairtywitDenise/ & https://www.facebook.com/denise.digrigoli/
 
At Drive Media and Consulting,  I work with entrepreneurs, founders, and creatives to launch, lead,  land their businesses, vision, and best outcomes. www.DeniseDiGrigoli.com

Donna Fenn: Lessons From America's Youngest Business Leaders | EP 229

In this week's episode of Mav's Coffee Clarity, Denise DiGrigoli is joined by Donna Fenn. Donna is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Edible Berkshires, the only magazine in The Berkshires that focuses exclusively on discovering and celebrating local food culture. She is also an expert on entrepreneurship and small business trends, which she has been writing about for more than forty years. Her two books, Upstarts! How GenY Entrepreneurs Are Rocking the World of Business (McGraw-Hill, 2009), and Alpha Dogs: How Your Small Business Can Become a Leader of the Pack (Collins, 2005), have been translated into several languages, and her work has appeared in many magazines. Donna is also a public speaker and have given keynote presentations at several national and international business conferences in the U.S., Canada, South America, and Europe.
========="If you want things really badly, you figure out ways to get them." - Donna Fenn
Key Beans:
Progress lives outside your comfort zone.
Do what makes you glow. 
See each opportunity as an adventure.  
=========
Welcome if it’s your first time, and welcome back if you’re a regular.
Liked today’s MAVerick brew? Here we serve up real conversations—unedited, authentic, like coffee with a friend. Entrepreneurs, creatives, performers, athletes—forward-thinkers who’ve found the silver lining in life’s challenges and can laugh with it. Fresh ideas to inspire you and help you #MoveForward.
👉 Subscribe to MAV’s Coffee Clarity for wit, wisdom, and fresh takes.👉 Connect with me at DeniseDiGrigoli.com for consulting, speaking, and event partnerships.👉 Follow on Instagram & TikTok @mavscoffeeclarity.
Because clarity is fuel—and I help leaders, founders, and creatives Launch. Lead. Land.
 

Alex Katz: Turning Wellness Into Connection | EP 228

In this episode of Mav's Coffee Clarity, Denise DiGrigoli is joined by Alex Katz. Alex is a holistic health, life and behavior change coach who has spent over a decade helping others level up their lives through a strengths-based, process-focused and trauma-informed approach to wellness and behavior change. Alex combines her passions into her role as the Director of Neighborhood Ninjas - a 501c3 nonprofit organization of Ninja athletes, coaches, social workers, educators, and more, using the sports of Ninja Warrior and Obstacle Racing as a vehicle to help youth and young adults develop growth mindset, improve physical and mental health, build community and create connection through our scholarship, mentorship, community, and NinjaFit playground building programs.
========="Make everything play." - Alex Katz
Key Beans:
Embrace failure as part of growth. 
Shift your focus from the outcome to the process. 
Make challenges playful.  
=========If you just found me, welcome! And if you're a regular listener, welcome back!This is where I interview some fascinating people from all walks, from well-known to not-so-known, entrepreneurs to creatives, performers, and athletes—forward-thinking individuals, people who found the silver lining in their fiascos and life's challenges, and can laugh with it!It’s business & life hacks, the real beans! Fresh ideas to inspire you and help you #move forward.
We’re real! Unedited. Authentic. Like coffee with a friend, conversations, stories you can trust, infused with humor! We tape live in short formats, 18, 27 or 36 minutes max because we have stuff to do!
Thanks for listening, liking, subscribing, and sharing!To find out more about me and the creative services I offer, visit www.DeniseDiGrigoli.com after the show!
Stay connected with me:Visit www.DeniseDiGrigoli.com to learn more about Denise and my consulting services
Engage with Mav’s Coffee Clarity with Denise on Instagram Here: www.instagram.com/mavscoffeeclarity/
Connect with Denise on TikTok Here: www.tiktok.com/@mavscoffeeclaritySubscribe to Denise’s Biweekly Brew newsletter at www.DeniseDiGrigoli.comDon't miss out on these customized resources and opportunities to connect more!#thankyou #podcast #mavcoffeeclaritywithdenise #moveforward #businessintelligence #lifehacks #goodstories

Rewriting Your Purpose | EP 227

In this week’s solo shot of MAV’s Coffee Clarity, MAV gets real about something many of us are quietly wrestling with: a shaken or missing sense of purpose. Whether it’s sparked by a major life change like divorce, job loss, selling a business, or simply hitting Q4 and feeling off-course, this episode is a call to pause, reflect, and recalibrate.
MAV shares insights from her own life, her clients, and her years of coaching creative thinkers and changemakers. She unpacks how purpose isn’t a one-time purchase, it’s something we edit, evolve, and redefine as we go. And when things feel uncertain, it’s often a sign to check your compass, not throw it out.
========="Sense of purpose is like your compass, your North Star, your intention, and sometimes when the weather gets funky, you got to change course." - Denise DiGrigoli
Key Beans:
Feeling off course is a signal, not a failure. 
Purpose is not permanent, it is meant to evolve. 
You’re allowed to rewrite the story. 
=========If you just found me, welcome! And if you're a regular listener, welcome back!This is where I interview some fascinating people from all walks, from well-known to not-so-known, entrepreneurs to creatives, performers, and athletes—forward-thinking individuals, people who found the silver lining in their fiascos and life's challenges, and can laugh with it!It’s business & life hacks, the real beans! Fresh ideas to inspire you and help you #move forward.
We’re real! Unedited. Authentic. Like coffee with a friend, conversations, stories you can trust, infused with humor! We tape live in short formats, 18, 27 or 36 minutes max because we have stuff to do!
Thanks for listening, liking, subscribing, and sharing!
STAY CONNECTED!
To find out more about me and the creative and consulting services I offer, visit www.DeniseDiGrigoli.com after the show! We have workshops, events and more! 
-Engage with Mav’s Coffee Clarity with Denise on Instagram Here: www.instagram.com/mavscoffeeclarity/
-Connect with Denise on TikTok Here: www.tiktok.com/@mavscoffeeclarity-Subscribe to Denise’s Clarity  Brew newsletter at www.DeniseDiGrigoli.com#thankyou #denisedigrigoli  #podcast #mavcoffeeclaritywithdenise #moveforward #businessintelligence #lifehacks #goodstories

What Level Are You Playing At? | EP 226

In this week's solo episode of MAV’s Coffee Clarity, MAV dives into a familiar frustration: “No one’s calling me back.” From job seekers firing off endless applications to seasoned pros navigating silent pitches, it’s a common complaint — but is it really just about the other person? Broadcasting live from Western Mass, MAV breaks down how intention, energy, and timing all play a role in meaningful connection — and how every stage of life (or level, as she puts it) offers a different kind of perspective.
Through stories from coaching clients and business-building moments, MAV explores the importance of follow-up, listening well, and showing up with purpose — no matter your generation or career stage. If you're feeling stuck, ghosted, or just trying to make something real happen, this episode is for you.
========="Whether you’re at level 2, 3, 4 or 5, you have a perspective, and you allow things in as you grow." - Denise DiGrigoli
Key Beans:
Every level brings its own kind of clarity.
Growth is not linear.
Being available when it matters is the opportunity. 
=========If you just found me, welcome! And if you're a regular listener, welcome back!This is where I interview some fascinating people from all walks, from well-known to not-so-known, entrepreneurs to creatives, performers, and athletes—forward-thinking individuals, people who found the silver lining in their fiascos and life's challenges, and can laugh with it!It’s business & life hacks, the real beans! Fresh ideas to inspire you and help you #move forward.
We’re real! Unedited. Authentic. Like coffee with a friend, conversations, stories you can trust, infused with humor! We tape live in short formats, 18, 27 or 36 minutes max because we have stuff to do!
Thanks for listening, liking, subscribing, and sharing!To find out more about me and the creative services I offer, visit www.DeniseDiGrigoli.com after the show!
Stay connected with me:Visit www.DeniseDiGrigoli.com to learn more about Denise and my consulting services
Engage with Mav’s Coffee Clarity with Denise on Instagram Here: www.instagram.com/mavscoffeeclarity/
Connect with Denise on TikTok Here: www.tiktok.com/@mavscoffeeclaritySubscribe to Denise’s Biweekly Brew newsletter at www.DeniseDiGrigoli.comDon't miss out on these customized resources and opportunities to connect more!#thankyou #podcast #mavcoffeeclaritywithdenise #moveforward #businessintelligence #lifehacks #goodstories

Workaholic Not | EP 225

On this sun-soaked edition of MAV’s Coffee Clarity, MAV gets real about the word that hit like a gut punch: “workaholic.” Broadcasting from a peaceful corner of Western Mass, MAV unpacks what it really means to be labeled — and why words like “workaholic” miss the nuance of passion, purpose, and lifelong learning.From generational shifts in technology to the pitfalls of buyer personas in marketing, this solo short explores the fine line between hustle and heart, and how we can better communicate across divides — in business, family, and self. So whether you're redefining your work-life balance, questioning old-school marketing tactics, or just craving clarity on a creative path, pour your coffee and pull up a chair. It’s not about the labels — it’s about the learning.
========="It really is about learning, growing, sharing, and trying to figure it out." - Denise DiGrigoli
Key Beans:
Being present starts with understanding, not judgement. 
Passion isn’t a problem to fix. 
Don’t label, ask questions. 
=========If you just found me, welcome! And if you're a regular listener, welcome back!This is where I interview some fascinating people from all walks, from well-known to not-so-known, entrepreneurs to creatives, performers, and athletes—forward-thinking individuals, people who found the silver lining in their fiascos and life's challenges, and can laugh with it!It’s business & life hacks, the real beans! Fresh ideas to inspire you and help you #move forward.
We’re real! Unedited. Authentic. Like coffee with a friend, conversations, stories you can trust, infused with humor! We tape live in short formats, 18, 27 or 36 minutes max because we have stuff to do!
Thanks for listening, liking, subscribing, and sharing!To find out more about me and the creative services I offer, visit www.DeniseDiGrigoli.com after the show!
Stay connected with me:Visit www.DeniseDiGrigoli.com to learn more about Denise and my consulting services
Engage with Mav’s Coffee Clarity with Denise on Instagram Here: www.instagram.com/mavscoffeeclarity/
Connect with Denise on TikTok Here: www.tiktok.com/@mavscoffeeclaritySubscribe to Denise’s Biweekly Brew newsletter at www.DeniseDiGrigoli.comDon't miss out on these customized resources and opportunities to connect more!#thankyou #podcast #mavcoffeeclaritywithdenise #moveforward #businessintelligence #lifehacks #goodstories

Signed, MAV | EP 224

In this soulful solo shot of MAV’s Coffee Clarity, MAV takes us deep into her creative core—where gratitude meets grit and color fuels clarity. What starts with a thank-you note turns into a masterclass on mindfulness, memory, and MAV’s signature style of analog wisdom in a digital world. From writing with colored pens to mailing cards with intention, she breaks down why the handwritten word still matters, and how it keeps her centered in a fast-paced media world. You’ll hear stories from her Western Mass roots, her grandmother’s legacy, and why she’ll never give up the power of pen to paper.
========="Creative muscle doesn’t go away. The more you use it, the more it grows." - Denise DiGrigoli
Key Beans:
Your story is your strategy.
Challenge is a choice, not a crisis.
Make room for what refuels you. 
=========If you just found me, welcome! And if you're a regular listener, welcome back!This is where I interview some fascinating people from all walks, from well-known to not-so-known, entrepreneurs to creatives, performers, and athletes—forward-thinking individuals, people who found the silver lining in their fiascos and life's challenges, and can laugh with it!It’s business & life hacks, the real beans! Fresh ideas to inspire you and help you #move forward.
We’re real! Unedited. Authentic. Like coffee with a friend, conversations, stories you can trust, infused with humor! We tape live in short formats, 18, 27 or 36 minutes max because we have stuff to do!
Thanks for listening, liking, subscribing, and sharing!To find out more about me and the creative services I offer, visit www.DeniseDiGrigoli.com after the show!
Stay connected with me:Visit www.DeniseDiGrigoli.com to learn more about Denise and my consulting services
Engage with Mav’s Coffee Clarity with Denise on Instagram Here: www.instagram.com/mavscoffeeclarity/
Connect with Denise on TikTok Here: www.tiktok.com/@mavscoffeeclaritySubscribe to Denise’s Biweekly Brew newsletter at www.DeniseDiGrigoli.comDon't miss out on these customized resources and opportunities to connect more!#thankyou #podcast #mavcoffeeclaritywithdenise #moveforward #businessintelligence #lifehacks #goodstories