{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"My \u201cSecret\u201d Project Revealed: How a Random LinkedIn Connection Led Me to Alert Pop\u2122 (And Why I\u2019m So Excited About It!)","description":" Okay\u2026 BIG moment. I'm finally shared something I\u2019ve been working on behind the scenes for almost a year\u2014and let me tell you\u2026 it\u2019s one of those \u201chow did this even happen?!\u201d stories that I LOVE. It all started with a random LinkedIn connection. You know how sometimes you just click with someone instantly? That\u2019s exactly what happened when  Stephen Caldwell connected with me\u2014serial entrepreneur, big thinker, and now\u2026 my partner-in-good-commotion. What started as a simple connection turned into a wildly exciting collaboration built on mutual respect, shared energy, and what I like to call a perfect \u201cbalance of talents.\u201d Let\u2019s just say I think Stephen Caldwell is a genius inventor! And I aint so bad myself when it comes to helping take a great idea to the moon. (Well not the actual moon however come to think of it - since we did go to the moon again this week for the first time in a long while - maybe I should think about getting this product on the next moon trip? Hmm. I'll tuck that away for now, but that's kinda how I think . Hello NASA? Hi It's Debbie Nigro. LOL)  And now\u2026 I can finally introduce you to what we\u2019ve been working on. Meet Alert Pop\u2122 (Yes\u2026 It\u2019s Exactly What You Might Think It Is) Alert Pop\u2122 is a sugar-free caffeinated lollipop made with organic green tea caffeine designed to help combat drowsy driving. Yep. A lollipop\u2014with a purpose. But it\u2019s quickly becoming so much more than that. It\u2019s a better-for-you energy option for anyone who needs a little lift without the jitters, crash, or overload\u2014and honestly, the response so far has been incredible. I did not invent it. Stephen did! But wow I\u2019m proud to say I\u2019m a Founding Partner, from out of the gate (actually since the moment the idea came out of his mouth) Stephen has a background in creating and manufacturing food products, so he knew and I knew he could bring this product to life. And he did! And based on the level of interest we\u2019re seeing? This feels like it\u2019s going to be a BIG winner. Why This Little Pop Packs a Punch Here\u2019s what makes Alert Pop\u2122 so cool: Sugar-free (yes please ) Caffeine equals about \u00bd cup of coffee per pop Made with organic green tea caffeine We\u2019re adding L-theanine + B vitamins for focus No jitters. No crash. Flavors: Espresso \/ Blue Raspberry \/ Watermelon And\u2026 they actually taste GREAT. But here\u2019s the real kicker\u2026 It\u2019s not just about the caffeine\u2014it\u2019s about how your body absorbs it. Because it\u2019s a lollipop, the oral stimulation keeps your brain engaged while delivering energy more efficiently. Who knew?! (Apparently\u2026 Stephen did. )   My Real-Life \u201cAlert Pop Moment\u201d True story\u2026 I\u2019m sitting in my car in a dark supermarket parking lot around dinner time\u2014exhausted, answering texts and emails, trying to convince myself to get out of the car and go food shopping. All I could think was\u2026 I need coffee. Then I remembered\u2014I had Alert Pop\u2122 samples in the car. I literally laughed out loud as I opened the espresso flavor thinking, \u201cLet\u2019s see if this actually works\u2026\u201d It worked. Up. Moving. Shopping. Back in action. (And slightly amused that a lollipop just saved dinner LOL )   The Story Behind Alert Pop\u2122 (This One Matters) This isn\u2019t just a clever idea\u2014it\u2019s a meaningful one. Stephen is a family guy. Father of 5. Four are girls. He calls himself a Girl Dad. Married to Lory his partner in life and business forever. It was joyful meeting up with him and Lory and two of Stephens kids Lizzie and Alli Grace for the first time last September in Las Vegas. More good energy. When Stephen joined me here on The Debbie Nigro Show, he shared the moment that sparked everything\u2014and it will get your attention for sure. His daughter Alli Grace ( in the photo wearing white) told him about a close college friend who fell asleep at the wheel after working and studying all night nonstop. He totaled his car. Walked away\u2026 thankfully. But it could have been very different. And like all of us, Stephen had that immediate thought:  That could have been my daughter.  That could have been me.  That could have been anyone. That night, he woke up at 2AM and wrote down two words: Alert Pop\u2122 And just like that\u2026 the journey began.   Let This Sink In\u2026  1 in 25 drivers admits to falling asleep at the wheel. And those are just the ones who admit it. We\u2019ve ALL had those moments\u2026 \u201cWait\u2026 how did I just pass three exits?\u201d So yes\u2014this is a product. But it\u2019s also a purpose-driven solution to a very real problem.   Big News\u2026 and We\u2019re Just Getting Started Things are moving FAST: Named Top 5 Best New Product (out of thousands!) at a major upcoming national trade show Stephen gets to present on the main stage in Las Vegas direct to top retailers Launching in travel rest stops nationwide this summer Getting massive love from: Students Busy professionals Healthcare workers Moms-on-the-move And yes\u2026 my 82-year-old Aunt Linda in Florida. (Aunt Linda is literally handing them out to her friends so they can keep up with her\u2014iconic.)   And let me just say\u2026 The espresso flavor? People are OBSESSED. Like\u2026 hiding-it-from-your-friends obsessed.   Male Power & Female Power + Great Partnerships = Magic I have been very fortunate along the way to work with and still do - some incredibly brilliant men at the very top of their game. Men like Stephen Caldwell. Men who are \u2018best in class\u2019 at what they do and \u2018best in class\u2019 in how they treat the women in business who they work with - with total respect and appreciation. It matters. One of my favorite parts of this journey is the entire incredible team behind it\u2014which includes powerhouse men yes but also other totally amazing powerhouse women helping bring this to life. No ego. All energy. Total collaboration. (You KNOW I love that.)   And working with Stephen?  Like I said I call him a \u2018genius\u2019. He calls me an \u201cenergy bomb\u201d And together? Let\u2019s just say\u2014we\u2019re on a roll. The Bigger Picture This is about more than a product. It\u2019s about: Staying safe Making smarter choices Finding better-for-you energy alternatives And proving that great ideas often come from real-life problems that need solving In this case?  Drowsy driving was the problem.  Alert Pop\u2122 became the solution. Final Thought (Because You Know I Always Have One\u2026) If you\u2019ve still got a pulse\u2014you\u2019ve still got a shot. And maybe\u2026 just maybe\u2026 Now you\u2019ve got a better way to stay awake for it. Now THAT\u2019S what I call Keeping the \u201cLive\u201d in Alive!   Enjoy the podcast of my conversation with Alert Pop\u2122 inventor Stephen Caldwell on The Debbie Nigro Show! If you\u2019d rather read than listen, the full transcript is below. The Debbie Nigro Show airs on Wellness Wednesdays | 11\u201312 Noon Because it\u2019s all about Keeping the \u201cLIVE\u201d in Alive! (because the alternative isn\u2019t as festive ) ","author_name":"The Debbie Nigro Show","author_url":"http:\/\/www.debbienigro.com","html":"