{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Never Underestimate the Lasting Power of \u201cGood Energy\u201d","description":" Good energy is like a secret superpower. You can\u2019t see it\u2014but you feel it. It uplifts, comforts, and lingers long after the moment has passed. I\u2019ve been told I carry that kind of energy\u2014and if you do too, you know it\u2019s not something you turn on, it\u2019s just who you are. But here\u2019s the best part: when two people with good energy meet along life\u2019s path, something special happens. It\u2019s like the universe nods and says\u2026 'Yep, this connection matters.' That\u2019s the vibe of today\u2019s post and podcast. I\u2019d like you to meet Marcus John. He is \u2018good energy\u2019. He and I go way back to when he was a young doorman in a building I lived in in Westchester, NY. There was just something special about him from the minute I met him and I loved talking to him and loved that I could always make him laugh. When life threw me an ovarian cancer curveball back then, I chose Marcus to be my trusted driver to and from my chemo journey in NYC. I knew that he had just the right kind of good energy to help keep my spirits up as I tried to plow through the challenge of staying alive. We talked a lot about \u2018a lot\u2019 on those rides. And he saw me at my worst. The rides started with my own hair attached to my head, then morphed into 'bald me' wearing wigs with names we\u2019d joke about, and culminated with 'swollen me' just trying to hang in and push through. Lucky for me I did. Marcus was a light during my darkest time. Marcus and I both moved on from that building but stayed in touch over the years. Last week he sent me a birthday text reminding me how much I adored him and his beautiful energy. I quickly threw out a lunch invite and we both immediately made it happen. Why? Because our connection matters and because it\u2019s important that we all try harder to see people \u2018in person\u2019 that matter to us. We sure had some great laughs at lunch at the Cheesecake Factory which I chose because Marcus is now a \u2018vegan\u2019 and the Cheesecake Factory offers spectacular vegan options. Turns out Marcus is now a wildly creative vegan chef with a heart (and menu) full of love. From artichoke croquettes to his walnut meat chopped cheese sliders. and his signature \u2018Rasta Pasta\u2019, Marcus is on a mission to turn soul food into food for your soul. His company Beyond Bussin is redefining what vegan food can be\u2014and where it can go next (yes, a food truck is in the works!) By the way\u2026 I learned something new. When the kids say something is \u201cbussin\u2019,\u201d they mean it\u2019s really, really good\u2014especially when it comes to food. So when Chef Marcus John named his vegan company \u201cBeyond Bussin,\u201d he was saying: This food goes beyond delicious. It\u2019s next level. \u201cVegan food can be delicious, nutritious, and comforting\u2014like your favorite comfort food. You shouldn\u2019t have to sacrifice joy to eat well.\u201d \u2013 Marcus And Marcus and I both agree:   "Good energy can\u2019t die. You are the good energy that changes what\u2019s around you."   Where to Find Marcus: Sundays: Riverdale Craft Market (260th & Riverdale Ave, Bronx) On a Restaurant Menu: \u2018Off The Hook\u2019, Yonkers (Rasta Pasta & Artichoke Croquettes) IG: @BeyondBussin Catering: Available for vegan-friendly events and celebrations   Enjoy this heartwarming and hilarious Wellness Wednesday episode of The Debbie Nigro Show, featuring special guest and star vegan chef Marcus John, founder of Beyond Bussin. ","author_name":"The Debbie Nigro Show","author_url":"http:\/\/www.debbienigro.com","html":"