Voices That Inspire Extended Interview: Recent Episodes
WFSU Public Media
WFSU's Director of Content and Community Partnerships, Kim Kelling, interviews movers and shakers — the people who make up our local Big Bend communities. Kim's guests are asked to share thoughts on their own sources of inspiration with our listening audience. By listening to this podcast you will discover that inventiveness, creativity, innovation, and inspiration can be realized in many ways.
Being able to spread awareness and make my grandparents proud is a huge motivation for me.
Ideally, the classroom should be a model for society, where we can work through our differences.
Audubon Focuses On Using Science To Drive Good Common Sense Policy Solutions To Environmental Challenges
Linda Hall is a visual artist. Ms. Hall is a storyteller at heart, a calling that can oftentimes be difficult while living with Attention Deficit Disorder. She discovered that she can effectively communicate through art. Hall’s community inspires her and her art.
John Nogowski is a language arts and journalism teacher at Gadsden County High School. He cares about his students and hopes that he can broaden their horizons. This dedicated teacher is thinking outside the box, engaging his students, and causing “trouble” daily in room 416.
Neil Rambana is an immigration lawyer. His mother’s hard work and dedication as a legal secretary served as a driving force in his choice to become a lawyer. Inspired by his upbringing, he sees his role as father as being the most important role he has taken on to date.
Isabel Canella is on the cusp of starting her senior year at Lawton Chiles High School. She started this year in Digital Academy, but she felt isolated. So, she switched to in-person school during the second quarter. She relished the ability to connect and interact with her friends and teachers.
Adam Kaye is the co-owner and developer of Railroad Square Art District. He and his sister inherited the property, and it has been with his family for three generations. He hopes to continue to provide artists pathways toward financial stability.
Tiyah Isom-Morris is a Vista Leader with Americorps Florida Vista Network. Vista is a program created to alleviate poverty. A life filled with serving her community has prepared Ms. Isom-Morris for her current role. She’s inspired by the thought that she’s sharing her light and love to make a positive impact.
Ron Sachs founded Sachs Media, an integrated marketing communications firm. He believes the turmoil of the last year has helped bring perspective to three simple and important aspects of life, family, faith and friends. Sachs feels that we should nurture a more civil tone during these divisive times.
Antonio Jefferson is the president and CEO of The Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce. His organization focuses on helping female and minority-owned businesses. Jefferson states that nationally about 41% of Black-owned businesses have had to close their doors for good. He’s inspired by how the Big Bend has stuck together and helped each other during the tumultuous COVID-19 era.
Peter Kleinhenz works for Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy as the Aucilla River Watershed Coalition Coordinator. He’s loved the outdoors for as long as he can remember. Listen to his story on how he strives to get as much land conserved as possible in our region.
Lilly Anderson-Messec is the Director of North Florida Programs for the Florida Native Plant Society. While dealing with family tragedy in a dark part of her life, she found light in the wonders of nature.
Lane Green is a conservationist. He lives on land that his family has owned since the 1830s. Green takes pride in being a steward of his surrounding environment. For 25 years, he worked with Tall Timbers an organization dedicated to fostering exemplary land stewardship through research, conservation, and education.
L.Michelle Salvant is CEO of LMichelleMedia and a ministry leader with Higher Dimension Church Tallahassee. As a digital life coach, she uses media to empower the youth in her community.
Author Susan Cerulean is an advocate for the Earth, and close to home, the Apalachicola. She is looking for a sense of interdependence among us. She believes it is a novel time for humans because of the events our world is experiencing. Love will fuel us in finding our opportunity for survival.
FSU Student Body President Jonathan Levin shares his journey from being denied entry into the United States Air Force Academy through his tenure in student leadership at Florida State. He couldn't see his alternate future but only had a hope things would work out. After finding his way through plan B at FSU, Jonathan shares his biggest takeaway from student leadership is taking time to build relationships.
Cat dad, artist, and IT consultant, Dan Taylor has experienced artistic expression since childhood. The way he works with art has changed since the pandemic began. He finds inspiration in what is going on around him, while trying to express his feelings through what goes on the canvas. He hopes that his art can inspire people to be a part of bigger conversations happening around them.
Tracy Andrews, Chipley’s mayor, shares her story about overcoming fear about who she was and who she wanted to become. She encourages you not to let fear impede one’s opportunity to excel or take that next step in life. She feels that anyone can have an impact on their community.
Billy Francis is the Director of Florida State University’s Student Veterans Center. He speaks on the importance of hope. Billy also discusses the power of embracing adversity. He feels that the way we handle adversity and setbacks can shape a person’s outlook on life and ability to succeed.
Civic activist and educator, Byron Greene, lives in Tallahassee, Florida. Byron grew up in Tallahassee, believes in the city, has seen it grow, and considers it a good place. He shares info about the Tallahassee Community Remembrance Project, created to honor people and families, and helping to fill in the blanks of the city's history. Byron is inspired by hope in our community.
As Executive Director of Ladies Learning to Lead, Samantha Vance is an eager and inspired community advocate. The organization is a non-profit that serves over 3000 young women and promotes mentorship relationships. She believes that great mentors have great mentors and feels blessed to have so many great mentors herself.
Niki Kelly is Executive Director for Girls Inc. of Bay County. She stays inspired by the girls her organization works with as well as the young women who work within the organization. For her, it's a real source of hope for our collective future. They focus on "She Votes," a program where they teach about the importance of voting and the role of women in elected office.