In Part 2 of our conversation with 19-year-old singer-songwriter Taylor Mackenzie Mieszkuc, Jessica Curtis and Rob Sermerano go deeper into the story behind the songs — and the lessons Taylor has learned along the way.

Taylor opens up about the hardest chapter of her musical journey so far: a senior year of high school marked by a friendship that unraveled, targeted mind games, and the panic attacks that came with it. She shares how that experience triggered her anxiety disorder, how she worked through it with the help of family, and how it ultimately led her to the best friend she still talks to almost every day — plus the song "Glimmering Gold," which she recorded as part of her current release.

Rob offers a ballplayer's take on being targeted ("the louder you get booed on the road, the more of a threat you are"), Jessica reflects on her own journey of shedding other people's perceptions, and Taylor talks about finally finding her people in college — five roommates who show up to every open mic, know the words to songs that haven't even come out yet, and post her music on TikTok.

For anyone sitting on a creative project they're afraid isn't "perfect" enough to share, Taylor has simple advice: just do it. (Yes, even if the cover art came from ChatGPT in the car with your mom.) She also gives us a peek at what's next, including a song called "Calendar Years" built around her college friends' birthdays.

Whether you're a young artist hesitant to hit publish, someone working through anxiety, or anyone who's ever felt targeted for simply being on your own path — this one's for you.

🎵 Find Taylor on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music as Taylor Mackenzie Mieszkuc (M-I-E-S-Z-K-U-C) 📱 Instagram: @taymackenziemieszkuc | TikTok: @taylormackenziemieszkuc

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At 19, Taylor Mackenzie Mieszkuc is already a decade into her musical journey — and in Part 1 of this conversation, Jessica Curtis and Rob Sermerano dig into how it all began.

Taylor takes us back to a third-grade production of Peter Pan that lit the spark, the sixth-grade ukulele that turned her into a songwriter, and the Teen Beach Movie moment that led to her very first song, "Miss Invisible" — written from the perspective of a quiet friend overshadowed by outgoing siblings. Pretty introspective stuff for a 12-year-old.

We also hear the story behind her newly released single "Matches," written at 14 during the height of COVID lockdown and inspired by the cinematic music video for Aria's "Mulholland Drive." Taylor shares what it was like walking into Black Sheep Studios and hearing a full band play her song "Boy at the Beach" back to her for the first time (spoiler: she may or may not have had a minor meltdown on camera), plus a preview of her upcoming song "Glimmering Gold," a deeply personal track about the search for lasting friendship.

Along the way, Taylor opens up about her influences — from Taylor Swift (the "blueprint") to Conan Gray, Sabrina Carpenter, Mimi Webb, and country artists like Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson — and who she hopes to inspire with her own music: the girls, guys, theys, and everyone in between who just need a safe space to feel seen.

Currently studying music education at Bloomsburg University, Taylor is learning everything from piano to percussion to violin, and it's clear this is only the beginning. Stick around for Part 2, where we go even deeper into her story.

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In part two of their conversation with male breast cancer advocate Jake Messier, Rob and Jessica dig into the naming debate — should breast cancer even be called breast cancer if the word itself keeps men from getting checked? Jake pushes back on the idea of rebranding, arguing that softening the language only deepens the stigma, while making the case that a simple line in sixth grade health class could eventually save thousands of lives. From self-exam reality checks to the story of a doctor who refused to screen a man for breast cancer in 2024, this episode is a candid look at how far awareness still has to go.

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Former Marine and marketing executive Jake Messier was 52 years old when he discovered a lump and waited months before getting checked — because, like most men, it never crossed his mind that breast cancer was something he needed to worry about. Now a stage four patient and one of the most visible advocates for male breast cancer awareness, Jake opens up about the isolation, stigma, and systemic blind spots that make this diagnosis uniquely devastating for men. From being turned away from support groups to becoming the first male patient featured in a Susan G. Komen national campaign, his story is a master class in turning personal crisis into a movement.

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In part two of our conversation with Kevin McNee, the story gets personal. From pitching at Georgetown and Brookdale to blowing out his arm on a pro day with 30 MLB scouts watching, Kevin's baseball journey was defined as much by setbacks as by talent. Add two more Tommy John surgeries, a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis on the eve of a Red Sox workout, and a torn Achilles while training with his own kid — and you've got a masterclass in refusing to quit.

But Kevin didn't just survive the grind. He took it to Austria, coaching and playing baseball in a cornfield on the side of an Alpine mountain, where he also met his wife. He parlayed that experience into a career in finance, landing one of 30 spots at a European investment bank out of 10,000 applicants — and eventually channeling everything he'd learned into co-building Guest Player Connect.

Rob and Jessica dig into what actually keeps you moving forward when life isn't giving you a Rudy moment, and Kevin shares where Guest Player Connect is headed next — from six states to Florida, Cooperstown, Puerto Rico, and beyond.

To learn more or sign up for an event, visit guestplayerconnect.com.

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What if travel baseball didn't have to mean long-term contracts, uneven playing time, and a win-at-all-costs mentality? Rob Semerano and Jessica Curtis sit down with Kevin McNee, former Division I baseball player and partner at Guest Player Connect, to explore a fresh approach to youth travel sports. Kevin shares how the platform — founded by Eric Johnson in 2024 — is giving kids the freedom to play when and where they want, while addressing the biggest pain points families face in the travel ball world.

From elite coaches fresh out of professional organizations to teams made entirely of guest players, Guest Player Connect is building something different. But the conversation goes beyond baseball. Rob, Jessica, and Kevin dig into why developing life skills, handling adversity, and learning to thrive in unfamiliar environments matters far more than any championship hoodie — and why those lessons will follow kids long after they leave the diamond.

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For 25 years, Kurt Decker worked behind the camera at NBC, helping produce some of television’s most iconic late-night moments. In this episode of The Progress Report, Kurt joins Jessica Curtis and Rob Semerano to share how a lifetime around performers—and one unexpected opportunity—led him to the stage performing the timeless music of Frank Sinatra in New York City. It’s a conversation about reinvention, creative courage, and the surprising paths that can lead to a second act.

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Kurt Decker spent 25 years behind the camera at NBC capturing some of television’s most iconic moments—but one spontaneous performance of “That’s Life” changed everything. In this episode of The Progress Report, Kurt shares how a dare at a New York bar led to a Las Vegas performance and eventually a thriving second career performing the music of Frank Sinatra in Times Square. It’s a story about reinvention, creative risk, and discovering that sometimes the spotlight is exactly where you’re meant to be.

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