The Place: Fado The Cup: Strongbow Cider for me and Stella Artois for Doug. The Background: One of the perks of this project is that it provides the best cover for my curiosity. If there is someone I want to meet, I add them to my wish list. Eventually, someone comes along and makes an introduction. Or, […]
Author: Melissa
"You will be the same person in five years as you are today, except for the books you read and the people you meet." Charlie "Tremendous" Jones said that and I have taken it to heart.
In an attempt to not just be different, but to be better in five years, I learn life lessons from strangers by interviewing them over coffee. Once a week, I sit down with a total stranger to hear their story. I hope you enjoy reading about it as much as enjoy talking to these incredible people.
Everyone has a story! Talk to strangers and your life will never be the same.
Where Are They Wednesday – Brad Closson
Every Wednesday we check in on a former “stranger” to see what they’ve been up to since they had Coffee With a Stranger. Today, let’s catch up with: Cup 59: Brad Closson – Author, tree planter and business success guru. What was the biggest surprise or aha that came from being a part of […]
Cup 88: Jim Harper – Kale eater, caregiver and kindness spreader.
Click Here For Audio Version of Cup 88, Jim Harper The Place: Russell’s Bakery The Cup: Iced tea for Jim, and Hibiscus iced tea for me. The Background: Here’s a first – Jim is the father of a former stranger. Interesting, right?!? Early on in the project, I had the great fortune to be introduced to Cup […]
Where Are They Wednesday – Stephanie Hackney
Every Wednesday we check in on a former “stranger” to see what they’ve been up to since they had Coffee With a Stranger. Today, let’s catch up with: Cup 36: Stephanie Hackney – Paper crafter extraordinaire, overlander expert and world traveler What was the biggest surprise or aha that came from being a part of […]
Cup 87: Tom Rhodes – Benevolent CEO, life designer and fan of quinoa.
The Place: Trianon The Cup: A cup of coffee for me and Tom enjoyed a cup of hot tea. The Background: Former stranger, turned friend, Cup 53, Cole Harmonson and I had our quarterly catch-up coffee the other day at Thunderbird Coffee. Cole is one of the most genuine, positive and passionate people I know. I leave every […]
Cup 86: Ray Bard – Accomplished publisher, solo traveler and curious observer.
The Place: Lola Savannah The Cup: A cappuccino for me, and Ray had a cup of coffee. The Background: I believe it was Gary Hoover who first mentioned Ray Bard to me, during an Entrepreneurship class I took upon moving to Austin. This conversation is what landed Ray on my interview wish list. Next, I heard his […]
Cup 85: Christine Celis – Brewmaster’s daughter, businesswoman and balance seeker.
The Place: Uno’s The Cup: A cappuccino for me, and Christine had the CinnaMocha – which sounded so yummy, I almost changed my order. Cinnamon, mocha and espresso. Mmm! The Background: My friend Chris told me about Christine last fall, and suggested I make her one of my strangers. He didn’t tell me much, just that […]
Cup 84: Tom Brosseau – Fashionable folk singer, walking wanderer and North Dakota native.
The Place: After a failed attempt at The Hideout (which had been taken over for a SXSW event) we scooted up the street to Royal Blue Grocery, where we found some available outdoor seating. The Cup: Coffee and Topo Chico for both of us. The Background: Without question, this is the wackiest “background” on a stranger meeting […]
Cup 83: Michelle Ewalt – Change pioneer, lightning rod and transition coach.
The Place: Panera The Cup: Coffee for me and iced tea for Michelle. The Background: One of my favorite and unexpected treats that this project provides are the emails and calls I get from friends, new and old, who have thought of someone they think will be perfect for the project, and they want to make an […]
Cup 82: Blythe Jewell – Magnificent momma, awesome artist and potty-mouthed poet.
The Place: Starbucks The Cup: Coffee The Background: My buddy, and Cup 17, Thom Singer Tweeted a note about an Austin poet, Blythe who was doing a Kickstarter and who’d just been written about in the Austin Statesman. I missed the Tweet, but another buddy Lance caught it and sent me a note adding that he knew Blythe […]