Tell us about yourself:
My name is Fran Capo. Some people think my last name has been shortened when my family came over from Italy on the boat, but it hasn’t. Capo means “head” like in Boss…like in Capo di tutti of the mob. But no fears I’m not related to them. Although one of the books I’ve written is called, “Almost a Wise Guy”, at the request of my late dad…but I’m getting ahead of myself. So the quick version of who I am and what I do is this. I’m a stand-up comic, motivational speaker, 18 time author, spokesperson, TV host, comedy producer and 6 time world record holder most known as the Guinness Book of World Records fastest talking female clocked at 603.32wpm. (Just ask my 2 Ex-husband’s or present fiancee who is deaf…just kidding, he only pretends to be). I’m also an adventurer who has bungee jumped, scuba dived with sharks, eaten fire, crawled in a polar bear den, driven race cars, and done a book signing both on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and then one down by the wreck site of the Titanic. I’m also an ordained minister (Yes, I pray that I come out of all my adventures alive!).
I’ve been featured on over 4500 radio shows, and 350 television shows including Entertainment Tonight, Fox & Friends, Martha Stewart Show, CNN, The Late Show & Good Morning America. I’ve performed on every continent (even Antarctica - the penguins were dressed very nicely.) I was cast in a reality show in February 2013 on Comcast called, "Ladies of the Pulpit". My latest of my 18 books, "Hopeville: the City of Light" went to #11 on Amazon on July 28, 2013, and is being made into an audio book to be released by Christmas. My crazy adventures are blogged on travelingmom.com under my nickname, Travel Adventure Mom. I do movie reviews for New Media Stew with Fitness Celebrity John Basedow. In 2012, I was voted "Most Memorable Characters" by the Journal News and was given a proclamation by the City of New York for being a “Renaissance Woman” and have been told I am a modern day, Nellie Bly.
You can catch my motivational humorous vlogs, called Cuppa Capo on one of my channels: Youtube.com/cuppacapo. If you like upbeat motivational music you can check out my theme song, “Adventure Girl” or see my latest TV clips, where I am going to be appearing and all the crazy things I do by going to www.francapo.com. (This would have gone a lot faster if I were reading this to you folks
[Smiling face (black and white)] )
How did you get to be where you are today?
The simple answer would be the two philosophies my parents instilled in me. My mom, Rose, told me to never give up and my dad, Frank, told me to always look for the humor in life. That together added with my determination or as my fiancée, Steve says, “You are relentlessly relentless”. But why stop at simple answer if I can give you a detailed one.
The step-by-step way I got to where I am today was I was attending Queens College as an accounting and philosophy major. In my junior year I switched to media and with the persuasion of my friend, Shelly, who pushed me to go after my talent (plus a few signs from God) I became a stand up comic. From that, my good friend, Alan Chan and I got the mayor to proclaim comedy day in New York City and that led to us working at WBLS-FM radio as a comedy writing team which led me to becoming a weather & traffic girl, but since I did it as a character, June East (Mae Wests long lost sister), it caught the attention of the media. Which led me to a record deal with a rap song, “Rappin Mae” which led me to a tour with rappers like LL Cool J, across the east coast. Then one day while I was doing the weather report, a reporter named Diana Prince from the Daily News called and said she was doing a
story on weather and traffic people. She asked me what I was planning on doing next in my career. But since I didn’t have an immediate next, on a lark I told her I was planning on breaking a world record for fast-talking. She printed that in the paper and the next day the Larry King Live people told me to go on his show and attempt the record there. (After I made sure that his cable show was not some kind of porn channel, I agreed.) I broke my first world record on his show for fast-talking doing 585 wpm. I then re-broke it in Vegas doing 603.32wpm. That led to me writing 18 books, doing commercials, motivational speaking around the world (Yes even in Antarctica) and doing crazy adventures and ultimately winding up with total of 6 world records. (You can check out my website to see samples of each.)
How do you help others be their best?
One of the things I love to do is humorous motivational talks (Dare to Do it, Creativity in Marketing, Humor in Business Speaking and Everyday life or the Winning Reboot I do with Emmy award winner, Janette Barber). When I do these talks I believe I can only inspire people by being a living example of what I am telling them to do or what they can achieve. I cannot tell someone that nothing is impossible if I don’t get out there and live my philosophy because then I’d be a hypocrite. So when I tell someone they can climb a mountain I’ve done it. When I tell them they can leave a bad marriage, I’ve done it. When I tell them you can be best friends and still a stern parent with your kid, I’ve done it. When I tell someone to fight in what they believe in and win, I’ve done it. (I’ve fought many law cases pro se and won, because I believe the truth is a complete defense. I believe you have to speak from your heart, live with passion, practice what you preach and teach people to be their own best cheer leaders yet have a circle of small close friends whom you can bounce ideas off of. I believe at the end of the day you have to be able to look yourself in the mirror and be proud of the reflection you see back. The best way to always keep yourself on the right path is to ask yourself this simple question, “Would I want this to be in the headlines of a newspaper.” If the answer is yes, then do it. If you would never want it to appear, then you shouldn’t be doing it.
How do you help yourself be the best you can be?
I do several things:
One, I practice daily gratitude of all the things I have.
Two, I break things down that seem overwhelming into bite size bits and I simply say to myself, “All I have to do today to be a success is….” Then I do it until it’s done.
Three, I keep a journal to view my progress.
Four, I’m not scared to ask for advise from someone who has already accomplished what I want to do.
Five, I find different ways to get to my path. I never give up, and if it gets hard I try to find the humor in it.
Six, I make daily lists of what I need to accomplish and don’t go to bed until all things are crossed off the list.
Tell us about someone special in your life?
My son, Spencer who I am so proud of. He is smart, good looking, funny, adventurous, street savvy, kind, thoughtful, loyal, moral and has a good heart. He runs my comedy clubs: Piazza Roma in Westchester and Rocco’s in Ct, when I’m out of town, and also has created an app
called: Cellversion that converts your website into a mobile app at a ridiculously low cost.
And, my fiancée, Steve who has stood by me through everything. He is one of the smartest most stable guys I know with a heart of gold. He is generous, loyal, moral, logical and built like a Titan.
I love those two with all my heart. (Okay not all my heart because I love my stepdaughter, Jamie and all my dear fantastic friends with the rest of my heart as well.)
What’s new in your life?
Over the past few months I’ve:
Scaled a castle wall in Austria - May
Worked in Pompeii recording data for history- June
Took Gladiator training in Rome- July
Slept with Wolves- July
Had my 37th birthday (again) invited 40 friends, 3 llamas, 2 owls and had spoon bending and a 150-foot water slide in backyard
Jumped out a 3 story building with Hollywood Stunt School – August
And am going Whale Shark diving next weekend.
Have you ever been fired?
Yes once. I got hired to do a voiceover. I did it. They asked if I could sing, I said, “Yes but not well.” They hired me for the job. Once I started singing, they realized I wasn’t kidding; my singing was for the birds. They politely let me go.
What are your real passions?
Making people laugh, writing books, motivating people, doing crazy
adventures with friends and spending time with my son and boyfriend.
If you won the lotto what would you do?
Well I’m assuming I’m be winning more than a dollar :)
So if I won millions I would (besides all the normal stuff of paying off bills etc., I would:
-Go down to the hydrothermal vents
-Open up an animal shelter where I’d educate people on animals, and let the animals have a free roam atmosphere, give them holistic food, and
play peaceful music for them.
-Invent various things to make life easier (I’m working on some ideas now)
-Make my two books, “Hopeville, the City of Light” and “Almost a Wise
Guy” into a movie and fund it myself. (working on that now)
-Travel around the world even more than I do now and blog about all
unique things.
-Implement a “self-esteem” program for kids at the age of 5 in schools so they can have enough self-respect not to allow bullying. (On the board of an organization called “Iam4kids” that is trying to do that now.
On a side note: I have already have a billion dollars worth of friends :)
What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
Spread the message that Hopeville has to give to the world. More adventures, more books, more speaking engagements. I can’t tell you how much I love to motivate people and make them laugh. I’d love to be speaking to companies of all sizes 4 days a week. Everything I’m doing now but on a larger scale.
What do you like to do in your personal life?
I love walking each morning in the woods and listening to nature. I love reading outside, and paddle boating on our lake. I love cuddling with my cats, Zeus and Rosio. I love finding unique things to decorate my house with. I love play wrestling with my boyfriend and catching up with my son on his day. And since I love my career, a lot of that flows into my
personal life.
Please give us one or two shameless plugs:
Hopeville: The City of Light
Here’s the story in a nutshell (and since the book is a mere 50 pages it could fit in a nutshell.)
Hopeville: The City of light about 4 people; an uneducated widowed mother who is working to make ends meet, a little boy who is getting bullied every day, an old man who feels no one respects him and is tired of life, and a good hearted successful business man who has given up everything to succeed and has no one to leave his business to. All of them are having a tough time in their lives at the moment and that same night they pray for guidance. An angel of light appears to them each with the same message, and they are asked to carry out a task. Each of them thinks they are not capable of such a big task but in the end they all do it in their own way. The effort of each person (no matter how small it may seem at the time) transforms the energy of the whole small town they live in.
It’s a story of hope, love, inspiration, never giving up, following your dreams and living life to the fullest, no matter what obstacles may seem in your way. It shows how what one person does has a ripple effect on a whole community and can make people come together to
re-evaluate and realize the important things in life that truly lead to happiness.
On the night of July 26, 2013 at 11:30 P.M. the E-Book was ranked #129,851 on Amazon.
I asked everyone on my Facebook and twitter list to buy a copy on July 27th, the day of my birthday celebration, I was trying to make the book and message go viral. At Midnight of July 27th the book hit #11!My goal is to make the book go to #1 and have everyone benefit form the message. But I need your help.
The book is available as an e-book on amazon.
Link to buy Hopeville the City of Light on Amazon
http://amzn.to/137D0hD
Llink to get free kindle app..
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771
(Note: The book will be coming out in audio and hard copy form for the Christmas Holiday season, you can autographed copies only through my website francapo.com release date is December 1.)
Plug #2-
Speaking Engagements and Comedy Shows:
I’m available to produce a comedy show for you, or perform at your next event either as a stand up comic, motivational speaker or adventurer telling tales of excitement and humor.
Check out www.francapo.com for all details.
Please give us one plug for someone else or your favorite cause or charity.
www. Comedycures.org is run by Saranne Rothberg a 4th stage breast
cancer survivor who has helped thousands. She brings laughter and joy
to cancer patients and their caretakers.
What is your favorite book to recommend to someone else to read:
Hopeville: The City of Light
What are some of your favorites? (books, websites, etc..)
The Alchemist,
Almost a Wise Guy,
Way of the Peaceful Warrior,
Adrenaline Adventures
Websites: Cellversion.com, comedycures.com, newmediastew.com
Bermanarts.com.
Share a secret ;)
Here are two:
1 -When I want to lose weight, I go on the master cleanse, and then I eliminate the four whites from my diet: Salt, Sugar, flour and dairy.
2- I pray to Mother Mary and my mom, Rose, when I need guidance. They always answer with a clear sign. (Those signs will be revealed in my
next book: “Give me a Sign.”)
If people are upset about something what can you say simply to help them get through it?
Two things:
1- Things come to pass, not to stay. Whatever horrible thing you are going through now is only temporary, you will get through it. Try as hard as it may be to find laughter each day to help you get through.
2- There is always light at the end of the tunnel…but I say to hell
with that, bring your own flashlight!
Do you do consultation and if so on what subjects?
Yes, I consult on career guidance, how to accomplish your dreams, creativity in marketing, how to become a writer, how to break into voiceovers, how to get publicity, how to become a stand up comic, and many more topics.
What is the best way for people to get in touch with you, know where you are performing or see a sample of your work?
Through my website, www.francapo.com
They can also contact me direct via email: Fran@franCapo.com If I don’t answer within 3 days email me again.
Do you have a way people can follow all the things you are doing?
Yes, they can join my Capo update newsletter by filling out the form on my website, or they can follow me on twitter (www.twitter.com/francapo or Facebook.com/francapo)
What is your philosophy on life? Live everyday as if it’s your last, and one day you’ll be right. And on that last day you don’t want to be doing the laundry.
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