In this episode, Kelly is joined by Zombie Papas Jorge and Todd, the organizers of Thriller NYC!

Join them as they introduce themselves. Jorge tells us how he came to New York, and what it was like moving here. Todd on the otherhand, talks about being third generation from Brooklyn. They tell us about how they met, as well as their costume wedding. They talk about how they found Thriller NYC and how long they've been involved with it.

Jorge talks about the founding of thriller in the west village Halloween parade. He talks about the first time it was done and what it was like when it first started. He talks about how he initially joined another thriller group because Thriller NYC was full. Todd talks about how Jorge invited him to join thriller one year, but not in the way that he had wanted to.

Kelly asks about the process of putting together something so massive. Todd talks about the process of how people get tickets and join the group. He goes over what the rehearsals look like as well as what the time table is like to put on something like that. They both talk about what people are getting out of their ticket. They talk about how it is important for them to form a safe community, and they emphasise moving your body in community, and the healing power that it can have.

Jorge and Todd thank Kelly for his viral video of the performance, and they talk about how that helped them get put back on the map and continue post Covid. They also talk about what it feels like to put together this massive project every year, and the cultural impact that it has on the world. They talk about their trip to South Africa and how Thriller even has an impact there.

Finally, Kelly asks them some quick fire questions about the dance, the halloween parade, the costumes, and where to eat after.

But, above all else; Jorge and Todd are New Yorkers.

Kelly's Social Media

@NewYorkCityKopp

Join Thriller NYC!

https://www.thrillernyc.com/

@Thrillernyc

Donate to the village Halloween parade!

https://halloween-nyc.com/donate/

Jae's Social Media

@Studiojae170

• (00:00:00) - New Yorkers Podcast
• (00:01:57) - This New York Couple Had A 'Thriller' Wedding
• (00:05:18) - The Halloween Parade With Thriller
• (00:05:49) - The Thriller Dance in the NYC Parade
• (00:09:08) - How To Participate in the Parade Thriller Dance
• (00:11:52) - The West Village Thriller Parade
• (00:14:27) - The Memphis Thriller Parade
• (00:18:47) - The New York Thriller Dance
• (00:23:18) - Mets Mascots at the Parade
• (00:25:32) - The Cast of Thriller
• (00:28:33) - Thriller's Spring Parade
• (00:30:55) - What Makes The Thriller Dance So New York?
• (00:34:12) - Dancing To Michael Jackson's Thriller in Mozambique
• (00:36:21) - The New York City Zombie Parade
• (00:38:14) - How the Village Halloween Parade Works
• (00:41:02) - Thriller's NYC Parade
• (00:41:29) - Village Halloween Parade
• (00:43:12) - The Halloween Parade in New York
• (00:43:59) - What It Means to Be A New Yorker
• (00:46:02) - New Yorkers: Thank You!

In this episode, Kelly is joined by author Andy Fisher! He is the retired founding executive director of the Lavelle Fund for the Blind. He has 35 years of experience in New York City charitable foundations, and is a winner of the Helen Keller International’s Humanitarian Award. Inspired by the humanitarian efforts of the past, he has written his first book about an unsung New Yorker: Nathan Straus.

Kelly asks Andy about his growing up, and work. Andy tells Kelly what lead him to New York and to what his passion ended up becoming. Andy talks about retirement and how he was inspired to write a book about Nathan Straus.

Andy talks about the writing process. He thanks the publishers, and the fellow scholars that helped him finish the book. He talked about how he came upon Straus, and why he thought it was important to tell his story.

Kelly asks Andy about Nathan Straus: Where he was born, what his family life was like, when he moved to New York, and how he made his fortune. Andy talks about how he immegrated from Europe in the early 1800s and what that was like. He told Kelly about how the Civil War ruined his family's buisness. He talks about how his family moved to New York and was able to secure some retail spacy in the well known Macy's!

Kelly asks Andy about his humanitarian efforts. Andy tells Kelly about how he was a champion of milk pasteurization at a time when the whole world was against it. Andy explained how Straus saved countless lives by ensuring that everyone had access to the information about pasteurization and pasteurized milk to drink.

Andy then talks about his efforts to help people abroad, and talks about his humanitarian efforts in the middle east, as well as how he helped Jewish people, as well as Palestinians.

Kelly asks Andy about Nathan's Brother and the Titanic: he tells the story of the families fatefull travel.

Finally Kelly asks Andy about how Nathan had said that he wanated to give away all of his money. Andy talks about Nathan's father's philosophy growing up and how that effected him. He talks about the different ways in which he helped the homeless, and helped the community during financial hardships and how even in his most succesfull moment in life, he was humble and knew his limits.

But above all else; Nathan Straus and Andy Fisher are New yorkers!

Kelly's Social Media

@NewYorkCityKopp

Buy Andy's Book!

https://andrewfisherwriter.com/

Or anywhere you buy books.

Jae's Social Media

@Studiojae170

• (00:00:00) - Meet The New Yorkers
• (00:01:39) - Philanthropist Andrew Levalle
• (00:11:53) - Bookmark: The Life of Philip Strauss
• (00:14:36) - How long did it take to write the book?
• (00:17:58) - A Jewish Philanthropist: Nathan Strauss
• (00:24:25) - The Life of Philip and Isidore Macy
• (00:30:43) - Andy Strauss Once Said He Hoped to Give Away His Entire
• (00:32:46) - Nathan Strauss and the Birth of Zionism
• (00:46:11) - The story of Isidore and Ida Strauss
• (00:46:26) - Tim Ferriss on Richard Strauss
• (00:49:42) - What Moment in Richard Strauss' Life Stuck With You Most?
• (00:55:11) - Andrew Fisher on Being a New Yorker
• (00:57:03) - The New Yorkers: Farewell Train

In this week's episode, Kelly is joined by community builder Maryam Banikarim! She was the former Chief Marketing Officer of many global organizations, She is the Co-Founder of Longest Table, and Host of the podcast “The Messy Parts”.

Kelly asks Maryam about coming to The United States from Iran. Maryam talks about her experience living in Iran and in California. She talks about her first trip to the East Coast and how she got into Barnard off the wait list.

Maryam talks about life in NYC in the 80s. She tells us about a fateful encounter she had on the subway, fast talking her way into night clubs, and joining Chippendales!

Kelly asks her about her experience doing a TedTalk. Maryam tells us how she got the opportunity to do the talk, what her process was in coming up with topics for it, and how she was able to practice and perfect her performance.

Maryam then talks about putting together The Longest Table. She discusses challenges that she faced when putting on the first event. She talks about how the obstacles become obstacle courses in how she navigates regection and keeps it from letting it affect her.

She then talks about New York Next and how during covid, she and a group of concerned New Yorkers got together to put together an incredible video to help support artists during that dark time.

Kelly asks Maryam about the formation of "The Messy Parts". The two talk about their experience being podcast hosts, and the unique challenges that face them. They discuss the creation of Maryam's show: From inspiration to early planning and to how it is now.

Finally, Maryam tells the audience about her wedding anniversary, as it is the same day that they recorded the podcast. Maryam met her husband on the Subway! And she recounts her classic New York Story for us.

But above all else; Maryam Banikarim is a New Yorker.

Kelly's Social Media

@NewYorkCityKopp

Maryam's Social Media

@mbanikarim

@LongestTableCommunity

@TheMessyPartsPodcast

Jae's Social Media

@Studiojae170

• (00:00:00) - New Yorkers
• (00:00:59) - Meet New Yorker Miriam Banakaram
• (00:01:39) - Winter in New York
• (00:02:22) - How To Ride the Subway As A Woman
• (00:03:05) - I Was Invited To Iftars By A Muslim Influencer
• (00:07:25) - In the Elevator With My Parents in Iran
• (00:08:54) - Coming to Barnard College at 16
• (00:12:51) - "I Tried Chippendales"
• (00:13:28) - You Had To Give a TED Talk
• (00:16:53) - Covid: The Long Table
• (00:21:48) - Neighbors' meals for the homeless
• (00:25:58) - The Longest Table in New York
• (00:27:49) - A Taste of the Longest Table
• (00:30:15) - The We Love New York City Campaign
• (00:34:31) - I Love NY: The Campaign
• (00:38:14) - The New Yorkers Sing During the Great Recession
• (00:39:09) - The Messy Parts: Miriam on Her Podcast
• (00:43:35) - Jay Leno on Being On The Podcast
• (00:47:11) - The Bar Manager Has a Message For Regulars
• (00:49:03) - I Met My Husband On The Subway
• (00:50:02) - How We Met : On The Subway
• (00:52:14) - What Keeps You Inspired In NYC?
• (00:54:06) - The New Yorkers of We Love NYC
• (00:56:25) - Meet New Yorker Miriam Banakaram
• (00:57:31) - New Yorkers Podcast: The New Yorkers