Community & Philanthropy

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• Connection Over Correction in the Sandwich Generation with Christy Byrne Yates

  In this conversation, Christy Byrne Yates explores the realities of the sandwich generation, where adults are balancing work, parenting, and the care of aging parents. She shares practical guidance on starting difficult conversations early, planning for legal and financial needs, and approaching dem

• Flash Event - Brew Moon 2026

  In this Flash Event, Phil Fornaro talks with Steve Palmer about Brew Moon’s 15th year and its new Falltoberfest format at The Max in McCook on October 17, 2026. The conversation highlights the event’s community focus, with proceeds supporting local nonprofits including Helping Hand and Community Ass

• LBM Flash Moments: Personal Growth Isn’t a Straight Line

  In this Flash Moment, Phil Fornaro reflects on how personal growth rarely moves in a straight line, using his five-year memory book to notice both progress and recurring struggles. He shares how writing daily helped him track shifts in time management, self-awareness, family connection, and his evol

• Why Curiosity Is the Most Powerful Connection Tool with Brenda Exline

  In this conversation, Brenda Exline shares how a career in communication, PR, and branding led her into the family office space and inspired her to launch the Gstaad Global Gathering in Switzerland. She and Phil explore how curiosity, deeper conversation, and natural connection can turn business net

• LBM Flash Event: Burger Bash 2026

  In this Flash Moments episode, Phil Fornaro talks with Jason Cornick, Tim Griffin, and Nick Spurgash about Burger Bash 2026, a community fundraiser for Special Olympics at Post 1931 in La Grange Park. The conversation covers how the event began, the burger competition between officers, and the growi

• Bringing Play, Joy, and Ice Cream to Serious Social Change

  Kristine Michie shares how a lifelong optimism, recovery, and a career in service shaped her work with nonprofit leaders and philanthropists at ImpactFULL. She and Phil explore the realities of fundraising, donor-advised funds, nonprofit overhead, and why play, imagination, and joy can help people t

• Regret-Proofing Your Life with Light Bulb Decisions

  In this Flash Moment, Phil Fornaro reflects on how regret can be a powerful motivator for doing things the right way instead of cutting corners. Using a home flooring project that led to unexpected organization, he shows how self-awareness can turn inconvenience into a better outcome. He also connec

• When Digressions Spark Your Biggest Insights

  In this Flash Moment, Phil Fornaro reflects on how listener sparkline messages can turn a conversation into a source of new insight. A note from Bill Carney prompts him to distinguish digressions from tangents and to consider how side paths in a discussion can reveal the most meaningful ideas. He al

• Building Trust, Not Just Traffic, in the Age of AI with Rafi Yitzhaki

  In this conversation, Rafi Yitzhaki shares how Trust Media was built around a simple idea: marketing works best when it starts with listening, empathy, and trust. He reflects on his path from Israel to Chicago, the unexpected opportunities that shaped his entrepreneurial journey, and the lessons he

• Episode 153: LBM Bonus Episode: “The Light Bulb Moment Thinking” Framework

  In this bonus episode, Phil Fornaro reflects on how Light Bulb Moments has evolved and introduces what he calls the “LBM thinking” framework. He describes a repeatable way to handle problems and opportunities: see them clearly, simplify them, use the right tools, add new tools along the way, and mak

• Episode 150: LBM Flash Event: 2025 Waiola Tree Charity Event

  In this holiday flash episode, Phil Fornaro shares a community giving tradition built around the Waiola tree sponsorship and the LaGrange Business Association’s local gift cards. He explains how decorating a tree with eclectic ornaments can trigger donations that support charities like CARS, Pillars

• Episode 85: Lead with Value, Learn with Purpose with Kevin Cawley

  In this Flash Moment, Phil Frenaro reflects on the value of staying open-minded, asking questions, and avoiding conversations that turn into mandates. He shares how admitting mistakes and finding common ground can build stronger rapport, even when opinions differ. The episode also previews the podca