This week on the Dragon Tree Podcast we were treated to a delightful talk with actor Julane Havens, founder of the National Children's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Julane is a lifelong performer and educator who's making it her mission to prove that theater is more than an activity—it's a research-backed tool for building essential life skills. The conversation left us very inspired by her commitment to foster the next generation of creative and empathetic communicators.

Julane's passion for acting started at a young age, during her very first play as a child. Despite her fears and some wardrobe mishaps when she hit the stage, something clicked. "Nothing's wrong," she recounted. "I deliver my lines perfectly...there was something even there, about the show must go on." This early experience taught her the power of letting go to serve the greater good of storytelling.

That same philosophy now fuels her work at the National Children's Theatre, where she takes a unique, research-based approach to teaching. Her curriculum is built on the "eight acting habits of mind" which involve skills like body awareness, considering others, and being flexible. As she explained, "We let the students and the families know right at the get-go that that's the goal of the class." This approach ensures that students are learning skills they can apply to all facets of life, not just when reciting a page from Hamlet.

And although Shakespeare can be intimidating (even to adults), Julane's approach of focusing on characterization over memorizing lines makes the material less daunting for her students. When it comes to the Bard, she doesn't just read the lines; she makes it visceral. She teaches her students that Western literature's greatest playwright wrote in "the rhythm of a human heart." If you notice a line's rhythm is "a little off," she says, it's telling you something important about the character.

Her conviction is clear on introducing this material early: "We start Shakespeare too late in our schools. If you give it to (children) when they're younger, they don't know it's hard." She's determined to create a new generation of arts advocates, quoting the staggering statistic that "less than 4% of elementary schools in the country have a theater program." In a world full of screens and increasingly shorter attention spans, Julane believes theater is more vital than ever. She passionately argues that "artists are essential" because they bring joy and empathy to our lives. And despite the current climate of budget cuts, she still has a powerful message: "Everyone's saying now is not the time to have arts programs...I say, no, no, no. Now is the time."

Julane's entrepreneurial journey is an answer to that problem and is all about identifying a need and taking a "leap of faith." She has been building her company from the ground up to fill a gap in the D.C. community for childrens' theater, and to fill it with young, inspired performers. As she says, exceptional acting is about "truth-telling," and it involves your "whole self... your voice; it's your body, it's your heart, it's your imagination. It's all of it." Her work reminds us that the stage is a safe space to perform, fine tune and grow, and that these learned skills can help us all become vastly more confident and connected.

Want to learn more about Julane Havens and the Children's National Theater?

👉 Visit the National Children's Theatre website:https://www.nationalchildrenstheatre.org/

ICYMI: Our last episode featured Greg Lassiter of Champions Health and Fitness, who shared his incredible journey from being a struggling student to a successful small business owner to a community champion. You can listen to that episode here:https://youtu.be/JftoMsGutdE?feature=shared

We’re always on BlueSky, Threads (@dragontreecomms), Instagram (@dragontreecomms), and Twitter/X (@DragonTreeComms).

And remember: Any story that's told with heart will always captivate an audience! ✨🧚‍♀️

This week on the Dragon Tree Podcast we had the immense pleasure of speaking with Greg Lassiter, owner and president of Champions Health and Fitness Center in Greenville, North Carolina. Greg is a recognized small business owner who recently received the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce's 2024 Small Business Leader of the Year Award for his incredible efforts within his local community.

His extensive experience in the health and wellness field spans over three decades, helping clients achieve their life goals. Greg's own story is also a testament to the power of his great communication style, perseverance, passion, and a little bit of divine timing. Growing up in eastern NC, Greg's early years were marked by tenacity and hard work.

He earned his money through various jobs from the age of 13, while he also attended school. College wasn't on his radar, at first, while he began playing American Legion baseball. A guidance counselor even suggested he become a shoe salesman, instead of pursuing higher education, but luckily a fellow athlete's casual mention of a local college baseball program changed his career path.

After three years of juggling studies (and, ironically, selling shoes), he transferred to East Carolina University. There, on campus, Greg found his true calling within the field of community health education. A pivotal moment happened during an unpaid internship for the NC health department, while he was far from home. After taking a random turn, Greg came upon a brand new health spa by happenstance, during the era when health and wellness centers were becoming increasingly popular.

"I mean, I hadn't even prayed 40 minutes before then," he shared, describing it as a crucial point in his life when earning income due to his academic schedule was becoming increasingly difficult. After he spoke with the owner, he was immediately offered a position. "Gives me chills to think about it right now," he mused. "I was so thrilled to have a job because I needed to make money, but also it was in a field that I was very interested in pursuing."

This juncture gave Greg the extra push he needed to rent a small building and start Champions Health and Fitness Center from the ground up. He also taught and coached baseball and football for four years at the town's local middle school, to support his new venture.

Here's a quote from one of his former students:

"Whether it was on the field or in his classroom, Coach G always made sure you were seen and respected, whatever your background. He told us to stay positive about our dreams, encouraged us to respect ourselves and others, and always reach for the stars. In all my years, I've never met a teacher so kind, hilarious, and full of life. I'm convinced the answer to most of the world's problems can be found in his extraordinary wisdom and perspective!"

Greg's philosophy has always extended beyond just fitness. It's deeply rooted in the realm of human connection. He emphasizes that in order to succeed, "you can't do this business without having people in mind".

He asserts that this philosophy has essentially lead to his success in both his personal and professional life. In his spare time, he's also a stand up comic who has performed at many local venues. His comedy has often been inspired by his life and a unique and rich family history.

Greg continually touches on the enduring need for a warm and personable connection, especially within an increasingly high tech environment.

"I don't think that people in business, when it comes to doing what I do, will ever totally be able to get away from the (human) communication standpoint," he says. "We like to get to know the people."

🎧 Tune into our full conversation with Greg here: [link to podcast] 👉 Visit Champions Health and Fitness Center online: https://championsofgreenville.com

ICYMI: Our last episode featured Melvin Hines of Upward, who discussed his approach to helping people succeed in college through a mix of tech automation and the human element. You can listen to that episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkQ1uYITLhA

We’re always on BlueSky, Threads (@dragontreecomms), Instagram (@dragontreecomms), and Twitter/X (@DragonTreeComms).

And remember: Life’s a marathon, not a sprint, and with the right mindset (and maybe a good laugh!), you're always a champion! 🏋️‍♂️

This week on the Dragon Tree Podcast we spoke with Melvin Hines. As the co-founder and CEO of Upswing, Melvin has developed a platform to help students get the essential support they need as they enter the multifaceted world of higher education. His team's award-winning achievements in the education sphere have been featured in publications such as Fortune and Forbes. Melvin modeled Upswing on the sort of academic support he received as a small-town high school graduate making the transition to attending a major university.

His approach utilizes technology and a whole lot of humanity to help students succeed in higher ed and beyond. His story begins in Albany, Georgia, where fewer than 70 of the 250 students in his high school class graduated. “When I made it [to the University of Georgia], I kind of had an opportunity to see how the other half lives,” Melvin notes. “It felt like everyone was ready for college except for me.” That feeling led him to create what he wished he’d had much earlier: support systems that are easy to access, never judgmental, and available for students balancing far more than how to study for their next exam. Upswing now supports nearly a million students each year.

Their virtual assistant, Ana, proactively messages students about upcoming deadlines, support options, and wellness resources. While 70% of replies are handled by AI, the other 30% — the vulnerable, complex, deeply human messages — get routed to a real live support team member. “We’re trying to get students to open up, tell us what they're really struggling with, and instantly refer them to a resource that ideally is a live person they can speak to.” This “scalable compassion” includes round-the-clock access to counselors, peer support groups for student parents, and success coaches. According to Melvin, these tools have helped prevent more than 75,000 students from dropping out. But Upswing isn’t just about software.

“Our biggest key differentiator is actually not the technology, it is the support,” he says. Their “HERO” team (Higher Education Retention Officers) meets regularly with each school to review data, share benchmarks, and make personalized recommendations. When speaking about student feedback, Melvin states that “They always say, ‘I absolutely love my HERO.' And, you know, that to us is one of the biggest reasons why we have such loyalty amongst our current partners.”

Melvin also sets aside time to mentor others in the tech industry. “It’s really hard to pour from an empty cup,” he says, reflecting on his advice to founders for avoiding startup burnout.

“You really have to be diligent about how you're going to use your time that's actually beneficial for you. Because if you're not supporting yourself, you are not at all going to be beneficial to your organization.”

Want more from Melvin Hines and Upswing?

👉 Visit upswing.io

👉 Connect with Melvin on LinkedIn: / mhinesjr

👉 Or reach out to him at melvin@upswing.io

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ICYMI: Our last episode featured Natalie Moran of Comms Futurist, who walked us through personal branding and AI adoption in the communications space: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ-LGigyskc

We’re always on BlueSky, Threads (@dragontreecomms), Instagram (@dragontreecomms), and Twitter/X (@DragonTreeComms).

And remember: it’s not about doing everything at once. It’s about knowing when to rest, when to reach out, and when to build the future one supportive message at a time. Keep climbing!🪜✨