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The Little Things That Matter Most
As I sit down to write this month's letter, I'm reminded that some of life's greatest gifts come in the smallest packages.
As a mother of three, I'm becoming increasingly aware of just how quickly childhood passes. One day you're rocking a baby to sleep, and before you know it, you're cheering from the sidelines, helping with homework, and watching your children become who they're meant to be. Along the way, many of us are lucky enough to share those years with pets who become cherished members of the family.
This issue feels especially personal because it's one of the reasons I'm building a home in Montana. People often ask why, and the answer is simple: I want my children to have a childhood they'll remember. I want them climbing trees, riding horses, exploring trails, catching fish, and learning to appreciate the beauty of the world around them. I want more moments spent together and fewer distractions pulling us apart. Most of all, I want them to remember that the best parts of life aren't things—they're experiences.
Growing up, many of us didn't realize we were making memories while we were living them. Looking back, it was often the simplest moments that mattered most—adventures outside, family dinners, neighborhood friends, and the comfort of a beloved pet waiting at the door. Those are the moments I hope my children carry with them long after they've grown.
In this month's Kids & Pets issue, we're celebrating the people and organizations that help local families thrive. You'll meet healthcare providers, educators, nonprofits, and pet-focused businesses that are making a meaningful impact throughout our community. One story that particularly inspired me is that of Gianna Demino, whose Brush Buddies Foundation is helping provide oral hygiene products to families across Sarasota and Manatee counties. Her dedication proves that leadership isn't defined by age but by the willingness to serve others.
At the heart of this issue is a simple reminder: our children and pets teach us to slow down, be present, and appreciate what matters most. As summer winds down and a new school year approaches, I hope this issue inspires you to embrace the bedtime stories, family walks, soccer games, puppy cuddles, and everyday moments that often become the memories we treasure most.
Thank you for inviting Lakewood Ranch City Lifestyle into your home each month. It is a privilege to share the stories of this incredible community with you.
August 2026
PUBLISHER
Jessi Neitzel | jessi.neitzel@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Michelle Numann | michelle.numann@citylifestyle.com
SALES DIRECTOR
Sean Averso | sean.averso@citylifestyle.com
SALES SUPPORT
Carley Ridley | carley.ridley@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Michelle Numann
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Photo Guru SRQ, Sherri Krams / Moments Unleashed, Roni Padua Photography, A Simple Dreamer Co.
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kirstan Lanier
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas Learn
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city scene
1-7: The WillPowered Autism First Annual Charity Fashion Show. $50,000 raised for scholarships for nonspeaking autistic individuals. Guests enjoyed cocktail hour with a silent auction, shopping, drinks and food followed by a fashion show featuring looks from Monkees of Lakewood Ranch followed by dancing and DJ Tim from TLS Entertainment. 1: Holly and Ashley Pascarella 2: Jade and Gabe Altospeech 3: Lindsey Stevens 4: Allison Thomas, Maureen Rabus and Debbie Katzbeck 5: Nancy Meredith 6: Kort and Stephanie McCulley 7: Joe and Vera Seidensticker Photography by Luis Cruz
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business monthly
A ROUNDUP OF NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES
Game Changer for Growing Families
A proposed $80 million indoor sports multiplex at the Premier Sports Campus near North Rye Road and Uihlein Road is poised to become a major asset for East Manatee families. Designed to host hockey, figure skating, curling, basketball, volleyball, cheer, dance, tournaments, community events, and consumer shows, the facility would expand year-round opportunities for children to stay active. The project represents another investment in making Lakewood Ranch a premier destination for youth sports and recreation.
Designed for Real Life
A beautiful home should be able to keep up with real life—sticky fingers, muddy paws, family gatherings, and everything in between. That's why so many Sarasota families turn to Fine Countertops of Sarasota for surfaces that combine style with durability. Specializing in premium quartz, granite, quartzite, and marble, the company helps homeowners create kitchens and living spaces that are both elegant and practical. Whether it's a busy family kitchen, a pet-friendly home, or a dream renovation, Fine Countertops of Sarasota delivers expert craftsmanship and timeless designs built to be enjoyed for years to come.
Personalized speech and occupational therapy designed to help children communicate, regulate, and thrive with confidence, whether that’s at home, in a daycare or in our office.
GROWING UP WELL
DR. MELINDA HIERHOLZER ON RAISING HEALTHY CHILDREN IN A COMPLICATED WORLD
ARTICLE BY JESSI NEITZEL
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHOTO GURU SRQ
Parenting has never been easy, but it certainly feels more complicated than ever before. Every day, parents are bombarded with advice about what their children should eat, how much they should sleep, which activities they should participate in, and how much screen time is too much. Social media has created a world where parenting is constantly on display, often leaving families wondering whether they are doing enough or doing it right.
During my conversation with Dr. Melinda Hierholzer of Whole Health Pediatrics, I was struck by how different her perspective felt from much of the advice circulating online. There was no discussion of perfection, no emphasis on trendy solutions, and no promise of a magic formula for raising healthy children. Instead, her message centered on something far more reassuring: children thrive when families focus on the fundamentals and give themselves permission to stop chasing perfection.
As both a pediatrician and a mother of four, Dr. Hierholzer understands firsthand that every child is unique. What works beautifully for one child may not work at all for another. That reality often gets lost in today's culture of quick fixes and one-size-fits-all solutions. Families frequently arrive at her office overwhelmed by conflicting information and uncertain about which voices they should trust. Her approach begins by helping parents tune out the noise and return to the basics that have always mattered.
Those basics may sound surprisingly simple. Quality sleep, nutritious food, daily movement, and meaningful connection continue to be some of the most powerful predictors of long-term health. While those habits rarely make headlines, Dr. Hierholzer believes they have a far greater impact on a child's future than any supplement, trend, or viral parenting strategy.
Sleep, in particular, has become one of the most overlooked aspects of childhood health. In a world filled with busy schedules, extracurricular activities, homework, and screens, rest is often treated as optional when it should be considered essential. Children who consistently get adequate sleep are better equipped to regulate their emotions, focus in school, support their immune systems, and navigate everyday challenges. When sleep suffers, many other areas of health begin to suffer alongside it.
Nutrition is another area where Dr. Hierholzer encourages families to take a practical and sustainable approach. Rather than focusing on strict rules or dramatic lifestyle overhauls, she advocates for small changes that can be maintained over time. Helping children develop a healthy relationship with food begins with simple habits such as introducing more whole foods, preparing meals together, and teaching children to
understand what they are putting into their bodies. Those lessons extend far beyond childhood and often shape the choices they make throughout adulthood.
The conversation naturally turned toward movement, a topic that has become increasingly important as childhood becomes more screen-centered. Dr. Hierholzer believes some of the healthiest forms of exercise are also the simplest. A child racing across a backyard, riding a bicycle through the neighborhood, climbing a tree, or playing with friends is doing far more than burning energy. Those experiences build confidence, creativity, coordination, and a lifelong appreciation for being active.
One of the most compelling parts of our discussion focused on anxiety, which Dr. Hierholzer is seeing with increasing frequency among children of all ages. Many parents expect anxiety to present as worry or nervousness, but it often appears in less obvious ways. Headaches, stomachaches, sleep disturbances, irritability, and behavioral changes can all be signs that a child is struggling. Modern childhood moves at a relentless pace, and many young people have little opportunity to slow down and simply exist without expectations or obligations. CONTINUED
Dr. Hierholzer believes unstructured time plays an important role in healthy development. Children need opportunities to be bored, to use their imagination, and to learn how to entertain themselves. Those quiet moments are often where creativity develops and resilience is strengthened. Childhood does not need to be filled every hour of every day in order to be meaningful.
That philosophy extends to technology as well. Screens are now part of everyday life, and few families are interested in eliminating them entirely. The greater challenge is teaching children how to develop a healthy relationship with technology while protecting the experiences that matter most. Family meals, outdoor play, conversations, reading, and quality time together continue to provide benefits that no device can replicate.
For our Kids & Pets issue, I was especially interested in Dr. Hierholzer's thoughts on the connection between children and animals. Pets provide much more than companionship. They help children learn responsibility, empathy, patience, and compassion. Caring for another living being teaches lessons that are difficult to recreate elsewhere. The bond between a child and a pet often becomes one of the most memorable and meaningful relationships of childhood.
Perhaps what stood out most throughout our conversation was Dr. Hierholzer's belief that prevention begins long before illness appears. True pediatric care involves understanding how a child sleeps, eats, moves, manages stress, and connects with the people around them. Those daily habits create the foundation upon which lifelong health is built.
As parents, it is easy to feel pressure to do more. More activities. More enrichment. More opportunities. Dr. Hierholzer offers a different perspective. Healthy childhoods are rarely built through grand gestures. More often, they are shaped by the small, consistent moments that happen every day—family dinners, bedtime routines, conversations in the car, walks around the neighborhood, and the simple act of being present.
That philosophy is what sets Whole Health Pediatrics apart. Dr. Hierholzer has created a practice that blends evidence-based pediatric medicine with a whole-child approach, giving families something that has become increasingly difficult to find in modern healthcare: time, accessibility, and a true partnership. Through her concierge-style model, she provides personalized care, longer appointments, direct access to her office, and a focus on prevention, lifestyle, and the overall well-being of every child she serves. Rather than simply treating symptoms, she works alongside families to understand the bigger picture and create a foundation for lifelong health.
For families searching for a pediatrician who values relationships as much as results, Dr. Hierholzer offers a refreshing alternative to the traditional healthcare experience. Her goal is simple: to help children thrive physically, emotionally, and developmentally while giving parents the confidence that comes from having a trusted expert in their corner. As she puts it, every family deserves a pediatrician who knows their child's name, understands their story, and is invested in their future.
To learn more about Dr. Melinda Hierholzer and Whole Health Pediatrics, visit Whole Health Pediatrics or call (941) 352-5437 to schedule a consultation.
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A BRIGHTER PATH
HOW JILLIAN PENDERGAST AND EDGE THERAPIES ARE HELPING CHILDREN THRIVE THROUGH EARLY INTERVENTION, PLAY-BASED CARE, AND INNOVATIVE THERAPY SOLUTIONS
ARTICLE BY MICHELLE NUMANN PHOTOGRAPHY BY RONI PADUA PHOTOGRAPHY
Every parent remembers the moment they first felt something wasn't quite right.
Maybe it was a missed milestone, a communication struggle, or a behavior that seemed different from that of other children. Often, parents are told to wait and see. For Jillian Pendergast, founder of Edge Therapies, that advice can delay valuable support for children who need it most.
"I would say the wait-and-see is the most harmful approach for any parent," Pendergast says. Instead, she encourages families to seek guidance from specialists who understand the specific challenges they're facing. "If they need an answer, go to that specific expert."
Jillian using medical-grade red and nearinfrared light therapy, the program is designed to support cellular function and help improve communication pathways.
“Our whole mission for the kids is to be able to provide an elevated level of service that is neurodiversity affirming, child-led, and play-based.”
Pendergast's journey into pediatric therapy began in the school system, where she spent years helping children develop communication and life skills. While she loved working with students, she found herself increasingly frustrated by the amount of paperwork and red tape that often stood between therapists and the children they were trying to help. During the pandemic, she saw those challenges grow and felt called to create something different.
What started as a small private practice quickly expanded through word-of-mouth referrals from parents, schools, and
daycare centers. Today, Edge Therapies employs more than 20 therapists across Florida, providing speech, occupational, and developmental therapy services in clinics, homes, and schools.
At the center of everything is a childfirst approach. "Our whole mission for the kids is to be able to provide an elevated level of service that is neurodiversity affirming, child-led, and play-based," Pendergast says.
Rather than expecting children to fit into a traditional therapy model, her team meets them where they are. Therapy often
looks like play, movement, and meaningful interaction because that is where many children feel most comfortable and make the greatest progress.
For parents, one of the hardest parts of the journey is recognizing progress when it doesn't come in the form of major milestones. Pendergast often reminds families that growth isn't always obvious.
"We may not necessarily see the progress, but it is happening," she says.
Those small victories can be anything from increased eye contact and improved focus to fewer emotional outbursts or
Edge Therapies Team
“We may not necessarily see the progress, but it is happening.”
greater participation in everyday activities. Over time, those seemingly minor changes can lead to significant breakthroughs.
That belief led Pendergast to introduce the Neuro Edge PBMT Intensive Program, which combines traditional speech and occupational therapy with Photobiomodulation Therapy, or PBMT. Using medical-grade red and near-infrared light therapy, the program is designed to support cellular function and help improve communication pathways within the brain.
After nearly a decade as a therapist, Pendergast says the results have been unlike anything she has experienced before.
"I have never seen progress happen so fast in my entire career," she says.
The intensive program takes place over one or two weeks and combines therapy with PBMT in a child-led environment. Families have reported improvements in communication, emotional regulation, focus, and independence.
One child who primarily communicated through an AAC device spoke the word "Mama" for the first time after participating in the program. Another child who struggled with bath time became
increasingly independent until he could complete the routine on his own.
For Pendergast, these stories are exactly why she continues searching for innovative ways to help children succeed.
"I just felt like I wanted to help them and create a bigger impact," she says. After researching PBMT and speaking with clinics around the country, she became convinced it could offer families another valuable tool. "When I heard all the really amazing things, it's like we have to do this because this can really not only change the child's life but the family's life."
As Edge Therapies continues to grow, including a recent expansion into adult services, Pendergast remains focused on the families who inspired her journey in the first place.
Her message to parents is simple: "Trust your gut. You know your child best."
It's advice she has seen validated time and time again. Parents are often the first to recognize when their child needs support, and those instincts can be the first step toward meaningful progress.
To learn more about the Neuro Edge PBMT Intensive Program or Edge Therapies' full range of services, visit edgetherapiesfl.com.
Brittany Bieber - Occupational Therapist
HOW ONE LOCAL TEEN IS CHANGING SMILES ACROSS SARASOTA AND MANATEE COUNTIES
BRUSHING UP ON KINDNESS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY A SIMPLE DREAMER CO.
ARTICLE BY JESSI NEITZEL
Gianna Demino-Founder of Brush Buddies Foundation
“EVERYONE DESERVES ACCESS TO THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND SMILE WITH CONFIDENCE.”
— Gianna Demino, Founder, Brush Buddies Foundation
At an age when most teenagers are focused on classes, extracurricular activities, and preparing for college, Gianna Demino, an upcoming senior at Riverview High School, is leading a mission that is improving the health and confidence of children and families throughout our community.
As the founder of Brush Buddies Foundation, Gianna has transformed a simple idea into a growing nonprofit organization dedicated to making oral hygiene accessible to everyone. Through the collection and distribution of essential dental care products—including toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash—Brush Buddies serves families throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties who may not otherwise have access to these basic necessities.
The inspiration behind the organization came from recognizing a need that is often overlooked. While food, clothing, and shelter are frequently at the forefront of charitable efforts, oral health is equally important and directly connected to overall wellness, self-confidence, academic success, and long-term health outcomes. Yet for many families, oral care products can become an added expense that is difficult to prioritize.
“MEANINGFUL CHANGE DOESN’T ALWAYS START WITH A GRAND GESTURE. SOMETIMES IT STARTS WITH A TOOTHBRUSH, A CARING VOLUNTEER, AND A DESIRE TO HELP OTHERS.”
— Gianna Demino
"Something as simple as a toothbrush can make a meaningful difference in a child's life," says Gianna. "Everyone deserves access to the tools they need to care for themselves and feel confident."
What makes Brush Buddies especially unique is that it is entirely student-led. Beyond providing oral care supplies, the organization encourages young people to become active participants in community service and philanthropy. Through volunteer opportunities, donation drives, educational outreach, and local partnerships, students are learning that they have the power to create meaningful change right where they live.
The foundation has already partnered with schools, dental practices, and community organizations across the region, helping expand access to oral health resources while raising awareness about the importance of preventative dental care. These collaborations have allowed Brush Buddies to reach more families while building a network of support that continues to grow each year.
For parents, oral health is one of the most important habits children can develop early in life. Good dental hygiene not only protects teeth and gums but also contributes to overall physical health, self-esteem, speech development, and confidence. By providing families with the supplies they need, Brush Buddies is helping remove barriers that can stand in the way of those healthy habits.
Perhaps most impressive is the example Gianna is setting for other young people. Her leadership demonstrates that age is not a limitation when it comes to making a difference. Through passion, dedication, and a commitment to serving others, she is showing that meaningful impact often begins with identifying a need and taking action.
In a world often focused on large-scale solutions, Gianna's work is a reminder that meaningful change can begin with something small: a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, a caring volunteer, or a student who decided to turn compassion into action.
As Brush Buddies continues to grow, so does its mission: ensuring that every child has the opportunity to smile with confidence while inspiring the next generation of community leaders along the way.
To learn more, support the mission, or get involved, visit brushbuddies.org.
BRUSH BUDDIES FOUNDATION
Founded by Riverview High School student Gianna Demino, Brush Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving access to oral hygiene supplies for families in Sarasota and Manatee counties while empowering students through community service, leadership, and philanthropy.
HOW ONE PHOTOGRAPHER IS PRESERVING THE LOVE, LEGACY, AND LIFE-CHANGING CONNECTIONS WE SHARE WITH OUR PETS
PAWS, PORTRAITS & PRECIOUS MEMORIES
BY SHERRI
The hardest part of loving a pet is knowing the time will never be long enough. One day they're greeting you at the door, curled up beside you on the couch, or making you laugh with their quirks. Then suddenly, those everyday moments become memories. For Sherri Krams, Founder and Photographer of Moments Unleashed, preserving those memories isn't just a profession. It's a mission.
Sherri Krams, Founder and Photographer of Moments Unleashed
Krams' journey into photography began with her father, a photographer in the Army who shared his love of the craft with her. After his passing, she inherited one of his cameras and began teaching herself photography. She spent hours practicing with her dogs, refining her skills and developing the style that would eventually become Moments Unleashed. That passion led her to volunteer with the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch, where she started photographing adoptable pets in hopes of helping them find homes.
As she spent more time photographing shelter animals, she began hearing from adopters who made the trip specifically because of the photographs they had seen online. The images helped potential adopters connect with animals before ever meeting them in person. It was proof that photography could do more than capture a moment.
"My mission is to have everybody who loves an animal to have that one picture that's going to bring them back to that day," shared Krams. That mission is deeply personal. She believes too many meaningful memories are trapped on phones, buried beneath thousands of digital images that may never be revisited. A printed photograph, however, becomes part of daily life. It hangs on a wall, sits on
“I HAVE THE ABILITY TO CAPTURE MOMENTS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL SOMETHING.”
a desk, or waits in a photo album to be rediscovered years later.
One story still stays with her. A couple reached out about scheduling a session for their seriously ill dog. Rather than wait several more days, Krams trusted her instincts and offered to photograph them that very evening. The next morning, she was informed the dog had passed. When she delivered the finished album, the family shared that they never realized just how meaningful the photos would become and how much they would ease the heartache.
"I have the ability to capture moments that make you feel something," she shared. That ability extends beyond her clients and into the shelter community she cares so deeply about. For years, Krams has volunteered her time photographing rescue animals, helping shelters improve adoption visibility and creating fundraising initiatives that have raised nearly $50,000 for the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch. One of her most successful projects is an annual photo contest that celebrates local pets while generating much-needed support for shelter operations.
Her passion for rescue work remains just as strong as her passion for photography. While she photographs cherished family pets, she also dreams of helping more shelter animals find loving homes through the power of a single image.
Looking ahead, Krams is extending an open offer to adoptable pets in foster care throughout the Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota area. Through Moments Unleashed, she is willing to photograph adoptable pets to increase their visibility and help more animals find forever families.
Whether she is photographing the final chapter of a beloved companion's life or helping a shelter pet find a forever family, she understands something many people learn too late. The moments that matter most rarely announce themselves in advance. They happen quietly during ordinary days, shared between people and the animals they love.
To learn more about Moments Unleashed, schedule a session or connect with Sherri about shelter photography opportunities at momentsunleashed.com
A BETTER LIFE
together
Why Dog Training Is Really About Building Stronger Families
ARTICLE BY JESSI NEITZEL | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
If you've ever owned a dog, you know they quickly become much more than a pet. They become part of the family. They greet us at the door after a long day, sit beside us during life's ups and downs, and somehow find a way to leave paw prints on our hearts forever.
But as much as we love our dogs, living harmoniously together doesn't always come naturally. That's why training is one of the greatest gifts we can give both our dogs and ourselves.
At East Coast K9, the focus isn't simply teaching a dog to sit, stay, or come when called. It's about helping families create a stronger relationship with their four-legged family members through trust, communication, and consistency.
For families with children, that foundation is especially important. A well-trained dog creates a safer, calmer environment where both kids and pets can thrive. Whether it's learning proper manners around visitors, walking confidently on a leash, or understanding boundaries within the home, training helps set everyone up for success.
One thing I love about East Coast K9's philosophy is that they understand every dog is different. Just like children have unique personalities, so do dogs. What motivates one dog may not motivate another, which is why a personalized approach often produces the best results.
Training also goes far beyond obedience. It builds confidence. It reduces anxiety. It helps dogs understand what's expected of them, allowing them to navigate the world with greater ease. And when dogs are more confident, families are able to enjoy more experiences together—from trips to the park and outdoor dining to vacations and neighborhood gatherings.
As a parent, I know how valuable it is for children to grow up with animals. Pets teach responsibility, compassion, patience, and unconditional love. Some of our most cherished family memories are often created with a dog running alongside us.
CONTINUED >
East Coast K9 OwnerGabrielle Brown LaFrance
The team at East Coast K9 understands that their work impacts more than just the dog sitting in front of them. It impacts the entire family. Their goal is to provide owners with the tools and knowledge they need to continue building that relationship long after the training sessions have ended.
In a world where life often feels rushed and chaotic, there's something incredibly special about the bond between a family and their dog. It's built on trust, loyalty, and companionship. Training simply helps strengthen that bond. Because at the end of the day, a well-trained dog isn't the ultimate goal. A happy family is. And when families and dogs learn to communicate with one another, everyone wins.
Whether you're welcoming a new puppy, struggling with behavioral challenges, or simply looking to strengthen the bond with your dog, professional training can make all the difference. East Coast K9 is dedicated to helping dogs and their families build lasting relationships rooted in trust, confidence, and communication.
To learn more about their training programs or schedule a consultation, visit EastCoastK9FL.com or contact their team today. Your best life together starts with a strong foundation.
WHY TRAINING MATTERS
Dog training isn’t just about obedience—it’s about communication. A well-trained dog is more confident, safer, and better equipped to be a true member of the family. Training helps reduce stress, strengthen bonds, and create a happier home for both pets and their owners.
Where Moments Become Heirlooms
Making moments turn into lifelong memories
Kristen Miller | Your photographer. Wife, mom, outdoor lover & Disney fan. Candid, timeless moments you’ll always feel.
Capturing what you didn’t even realize was happening.
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realty report
A SAMPLE OF RECENTLY SOLD PROPERTIES IN LAKEWOOD
This data is a sampling of sold properties from June 2026. Source: IRES MLS system.
TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
ON MARRIAGE, KIDS, AND THE COMEDY OF REAL LIFE
Trey Kennedy makes a living finding comedy in regular life. Marriage. Toddlers. Yoga pants. The Thursday-night scramble between school dropoffs, soccer practice, and whatever has to be done by morning. Twelve years in, it shows: millions of followers across every platform, three stand-up specials, a sold-out Relatable Tour, and a style of humor fans send each other captioned, “Are you watching me?” He delivers the kind of comedy that travels because everyone’s living some version of it.
Katie, his wife of six years, is a former biomedical engineer who also built a modeling career. She’s now raising their kids and co-hosting Correct Opinions alongside Trey — the show where the two of them swap takes on marriage, parenting, and whatever came up that week.
Trey has been at this longer than people realize. An Edmond, Oklahoma kid who grew up playing basketball described himself as a “shy kid who never thought he’d be an entertainer.” He started making videos while attending Oklahoma State University. After building millions of followers on Vine before the platform shut down, he gave himself six months on Instagram and Facebook to see whether he could rebuild from zero. He did. Stand-up soon followed. His first special, Are You For Real?, streams on YouTube; the second, Grow Up, on Amazon Prime; the third, built around the Relatable Tour, wrapped earlier this year. “I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now,” he says. A slow climb, made one bit at a time.
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
JANIE
“I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now.”
Most of what Trey writes lately starts in his own kitchen. Thomas is three and a half, and he is, in his father’s words, “a movie.” He narrates his own life from the moment his eyes open and mispronounces words in ways his parents now repeat to each other because no one else would believe them. His younger sister, Eva, is what Katie calls “the calm one.” With a third now in the mix, the Kennedys are officially outnumbered.
After six years of marriage, Trey and Katie have learned that the partnership runs best when it gets its own time on the calendar. So once a week, they leave the kids with a sitter and go out for coffee. “You need a system,” Katie says. “It’s about taking time to look each other in the eye. Not the kids. Not the cameras. Just each other.”
The same instinct shapes the work. Most of Trey’s trial and error happens onstage or on Instagram, but the first read is always Katie’s. “There’s only been one time ever I’ve had to be like, ‘you’re not doing that,’” she says. The rest of the time, she just laughs first.
FEATURING TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
Trey and Katie talk about marriage, parenting, and the moments that don’t make the Instagram feed.
Watch or listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
JONES HAIR & MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
Getting Older Is Inevitable. Getting Weaker Is Not.
Doug and Julie Norman are living proof. Both are regulars at Strengthening the Suncoast, a medically based strength-training program that helps them build strength, stamina – and more –with just one 20-minute session a week.
Strengthening the Suncoast is different from traditional gyms. Here, you’ll build strength using controlled, ultraslow movements on equipment specially designed for our slow-cadence training methods. A nationally certified fitness coach remains at your side the entire time, calibrating each machine to your fitness level and encouraging you as you approach muscle peak performance.
It doesn’t take long! You’ll spend only two to three minutes on each machine. Slow-cadence training isn’t just fast, it’s also safe, reducing strain on joints and lowering the risk of injury.
SLOW AND STEADY BUILDS REAL RESULTS
Doug first discovered Strengthening the Suncoast in 2009 when he was 51. “I liked the efficiency of the workout as well as the results it delivered,” he says.
After moving from Florida in 2011, Doug struggled to find a similar training regime. But when he returned to Florida a decade later, he picked up right where he left off at Strengthening the Suncoast. A year or so later, his wife, Julie, joined him – and they haven’t looked back.
One of the first places Doug noticed a difference was in his golf game. “My brother-in-law pointed out that I’m hitting the ball farther than before. I credit my weight training,” he says.
Julie, meanwhile, has built muscle tone, dropped a clothing size and gained stamina. “Between helping care for my aging mom and keeping up with our kids, I need all the energy I can get,” she says.
MAKING EVERY MINUTE COUNT
The program’s convenience is a major draw. “It’s sustainable,” Julie adds. “Twenty minutes once a week—anyone can fit that in.”
Doug, now 67, and Julie, 64, have always led busy lives. Finding time for fitness is not easy. “It’s amazing what one 20-minute workout a week can do,” Doug says. “I just love that you don’t have to work out five days a week to get that.”
“While aging is unavoidable, declining muscle mass and strength don’t have to be,” explains Angela Begin, owner of Strengthening the Suncoast. “This method helps build muscle, which can help keep your body functioning at a level that feels younger than your years.”
Research supports the program’s benefits, which include increased bone density, improved balance, better energy levels and reduced joint pain. “Some clients even delay or avoid surgery by strengthening the muscles around their joints,” Begin says.
TRY IT FOR FREE
Strengthening the Suncoast welcomes clients of all ages and fitness levels. For more information or to schedule a FREE consultation and workout, visit StrengtheningtheSuncoast.com or call 941-309-8989
Doug and Julie Norman with their trainers Micah and Amber.
