Frame of Reference - Profiles in Leadership: Recent Episodes

Rauel LaBreche

"Frame of Reference - Profiles in Leadership" and "Frame of Reference" - Coming together are conversational style shows with local, national, and global experts about issues that affect all of us in some way. I’m, at heart, a “theatre person”. I was drawn to theatre in Junior High School and studied it long enough to get a Master of Fine Arts in Stage Direction. It’s the one thing that I’m REALLY passionate about it because as Shakespeare noted, “all the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players”. Think about the universality of that line for just a moment. Think about the types of “theatre” that play out around us every day in today’s world. The dramatic, the comedic, the absurd, the existential, the gorilla theatre (it’s a thing, look it up) that is pumped into our Smart Phones, TV’s, Radios, and PC’s every minute of every day.

Think about the tremendous forces that “play” upon us - trying to first discover, then channel, feed, nurture, and finally harvest our will power and biases in order to move forward the agendas of leaders we will likely never meet. Think of all these forces (behind the scenes of course) and how they use the basic tools of theatre to work their “magic” on the course of humanity. Emotionally charged content matched to carefully measured and controlled presentations.

With that in mind (and to hopefully counter the more insidious agendas), I bring you the Frame of Reference "Family" of podcasts, where the voices of our local and global leadership can share their passion for why and how they are leaders in their community and in many cases, the world. Real players with real roles in a world of real problems. No special effects, no hidden agenda, just the facts and anecdotes that make a leader.

And at the risk of sounding trite, I sincerely thank my wife Ann and my two children Elisabeth and Josiah for continually teaching me what leadership SHOULD look like.

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As a sales professional, your numbers can look like a skill gap when the real problem is the story running in your head. I’m joined by Geoffrey Reid, whose career arc is almost unfair: public policy analyst, negotiation and conflict resolution educator, then a leap into sales with zero experience, followed by standout results and leadership at scale. That background sets up a candid talk about what actually drives performance when two people follow the same process and still get different outcomes.

We dig into Geoffrey’s TEDx ideas on the quantum power of belief, not as a magical shortcut, but as a framework for understanding how attention, emotion, and expectation shape behavior. We talk about the placebo effect, the cost of worry and scarcity thinking, and the practical difference between belief that inspires action and belief that becomes fantasy. Geoffrey breaks it down into principles you can practice: focus on possibilities, build presence, and take inspired action so your goals stop living only in the future.

From there, we go straight at a business-world contradiction: companies run on revenue, yet many business schools barely teach selling. Geoffrey explains why that gap persists and what he tries to fix in his national bestselling book, The Revenue Catalyst. We also explore his newer work on identity architecture and the “fifth pillar,” where sustainable change comes from who you become, not what you’re told to do. We even touch cultural polarization and how to reclaim your energy by focusing on what you can control and build.

If you lead a team, carry a quota, or feel stuck in a self-defeating loop, press play and take notes. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with someone who needs a mindset reset, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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A goofy Star Trek warm-up turns into something unexpectedly human when Scott Scoble opens up about the moments that shaped him. Scott runs Moo TV, a live concert video production company trusted on major tours, and he’s also the author of Tenacious. Behind the LED walls and camera rigs is a story about grief, pressure, and what it takes to keep showing up when you’re not okay.

We talk about the line between pain that teaches and pain that becomes baggage. Scott shares how survivor’s guilt hid in plain sight after the violent loss of a mentor and business partner, and how EMDR therapy helped him name it and finally let the guilt go without erasing the love. We also dig into PTSD, what it feels like in real life, and why “take your own medicine” can be the most honest kind of leadership advice.

The conversation goes further into meaning-making: near-death experiences, Eben Alexander’s Proof of Heaven, and Scott’s cautious but powerful experiences with psychedelic-assisted therapy, including a 5-MeO DMT story he describes as ego-death followed by overwhelming love. It’s not presented as a shortcut or a party trick, but as structured work with care, boundaries, and real reflection.

Finally, we zoom back out to the craft and the business: what it takes to build massive 4K touring video shows, why the crowd matters more than the money, how COVID nearly crushed live events, and what helped Moo TV stay connected to its people. If you’ve been stuck, scared to try, or tired of living by someone else’s script, Scott’s “live like you’re writing a book” mindset will hit hard. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs fuel, and leave a review with the one chapter you’re ready to write next.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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What happens when a dedicated Democratic warrior realizes her certainty was built on sand? We sit down with Lisa Ekman—former DC lobbyist, Senate staffer, and now author of Deprogramming Democrats—to unpack how a crisis of trust pushed her to question authority, confront cognitive dissonance, and reclaim the courage to ask uncomfortable questions. It’s a personal story with national stakes, because when institutions lose credibility, citizens need a roadmap back to truth, not new idols.

Lisa takes us inside the culture of expertise that shaped her worldview for decades and explains why the pandemic exposed deeper fractures: censorship dressed up as safety, scientism standing in for science, and incentives that reward the right outcome over an honest one. We pull apart how research can be captured by funding, why full trial transparency is essential, and how “appeal to authority” short-circuits the public’s ability to evaluate risk and evidence. The conversation doesn’t let any tribe off the hook; cult-like behavior thrives wherever questions are punished. So where do we go from here?

Together we explore practical paths forward: citizens learning to read results and weigh tradeoffs; AI helping map complex debates and surface uncertainties; and communities rebuilding trust with face-to-face work that humanizes disagreement. We talk about education that teaches how to think, not what to think; the exhausted majority stuck between loud extremes; and simple local actions that prioritize people over purity tests. If you’re tired of outrage and hungry for clarity, this episode offers a grounded, human route back to dialogue and discernment.

Subscribe, share this with someone who values honest conversation, and leave a review with the one belief you’ve recently reexamined—we’ll feature our favorites in a future episode.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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What if your software teams operated like a special operations unit—small, focused, and relentless about the mission? That’s the lens Ben Johnson brings to the table as a serial technical co‑founder and CEO of Particle 41, where he’s helped launch 94 products and build elite, outcome‑driven teams across software, data, and cloud.

We dive into the turning points that shaped his leadership: learning to lead people rather than tasks, aligning cross‑functional teams to a single business outcome, and using radical visibility to dissolve silos. Ben breaks down why maximum capacity beats minimum standards and how to set smart boundaries that prevent burnout while accelerating delivery. He shares a practical framework for managing resistance during automation and AI rollouts, using the seven primal questions to address fear and designing incentives around total output so experts become quality stewards, not casualties of change.

You’ll also hear how open source habits inside the enterprise—transparent architecture, discoverable repos, fast code reviews—unlock autonomy and speed to trust. We talk about decision paralysis in middle management, why “own the outcome” beats “own the function,” and the Be–Do–Have identity shift that turns elite performance into a habit. Along the way, Ben opens up about faith, purpose, and the kind of legacy that lasts: families that thrive, teams that grow, and systems that keep compounding long after handoff.

If you’re navigating AI, RPA, or just need a cleaner path from idea to impact, this conversation is a playbook. Subscribe for more candid, practical episodes, share this with a leader who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest bottleneck—we’ll tackle it on a future show.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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A massive heart attack at 2 a.m., a choice to stay, and a vow to be useful—John Stewart Hill turned a brush with death into a movement that protects homeowners and celebrates great tradespeople. I sat down with John, founder and chief ambassador of The Good Contractors List, to unpack how a third-party guarantee and serious vetting can transform an anxious, two-way agreement into a safer, more respectful partnership.

John walks us through the early days—selling coupons, carrying a yellow legal pad, and pitching a radical promise: we’ll separate the good from the bad, and if the job goes wrong, we’ll pay up to $25,000 to make it right. That pledge forced rigor: FBI-level background checks, pattern-spotting across business entities, and zero tolerance for rudeness or bait-and-switch tactics. We get real about why “buck in a truck” shops often lack resources to fix issues, how mega contractors can over-incentivize upsells, and why the competency-rich middle is where value, safety, and honesty meet.

What makes this model stick is community. Contractors refer fellow pros they trust, hold each other accountable, and create local “safe contractor communities” that homeowners return to for roofing, plumbing, HVAC, and beyond. The result is collective authority: a network built on behavior, not hype, where the guarantee and mediation keep projects on track when delays or surprises appear. In a post-COVID, AI-noise world, verifiable action beats loud claims—and this platform’s small out-of-pocket history across billions in backed work speaks for itself.

If you’re a homeowner who wants peace of mind or a contractor who runs on integrity, this conversation shows how to raise the bar and rebuild trust where it matters most: at home. Explore the network, refer a contractor, or join the community at thegoodcontractorslist.com. Enjoyed the story? Follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more people find trustworthy help.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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A rifle on a rooftop isn’t a movie moment—it’s a profound responsibility. We sit with retired Canadian Army sniper Barry Nisbet and author and former U.S. Army Ranger Mir Bahmanyar to unpack what snipers really do when deployed to places like Bosnia and Afghanistan and why their new book, Send It, pushes past the myths of their missions and duties. Barry brings the ground truth from five operational tours and a rare first for a Canadian corporal at U.S. Army Ranger School. Mir adds the historian’s eye and a Ranger’s respect for standards, sharing why he pulled real practitioners into the manuscript to keep the record straight.

We walk through the job as it is lived: building a sniper from disciplined infantry roots, the strict rules of engagement that govern every trigger press, and the invisible victories of overwatch that keep patrols alive. Barry breaks down night insertions, fragile hides, the exposure that comes with calling in artillery or air, and the nerve it takes to exfiltrate when the sun rises and the enemy knows you’re there. The conversation lingers where most war stories don’t—accepting risk without bravado, carrying loss without turning it into spectacle, and holding fast to the internal standards that separate professionals from pose.

Mir challenges the hype that flattens soldiers into slogans and war into entertainment. He argues for honest military history that preserves detail, context and consequence, and he credits Canadian sniper teams with a level of professionalism and restraint too often missing in popular narratives. Along the way we touch on leadership that actually protects people, the mental skills forged in stalking lanes and fieldcraft, and the quiet rituals—dogs, long walks, small places far from crowds—that help recalibrate after hard tours.

If you care about modern military history, leadership under pressure, or how precision and patience save lives, this one will stick with you. Listen, then pick up Send It for the full story told by the people who were there. If the conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who values honest storytelling, and leave a review so more listeners can find it.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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Outrage is easy. Unity is a choice—and a craft. I sat down with Adam Mizel, co-founder of Us United, to map out how everyday people can shift our culture from division to respect without waiting on politicians or viral headlines. Adam shares the origin story sparked by Sheriff Chris Swanson’s powerful decision during the George Floyd protests to remove his riot gear and walk with the crowd in Flint. That moment reframed what leadership can look like: disarm with respect, listen to lived experience, and turn down the temperature before it spikes.

We get practical about building unity as a brand and a habit. Adam breaks down why symbols matter—purple hats, a clear logo, visible rituals—because division already has its own marketing machine. He offers a field-tested playbook from a cross-country listening tour: trade arguments for personal stories, listen to understand, and step back when respect drops. We explore how sports, music, food, and even our dogs create instant common ground, and why a stadium of strangers can model the collaboration our politics often lacks.

The episode also introduces National Unity Day, recognized on the second Saturday in December, designed to make action simple and contagious: wear purple, take the Unity Pledge, post a positive story, or call the friend or relative you cut off over politics. These small weekly acts add up, especially when shared. Hope isn’t naïve here; it’s a system. By making unity visible and easy to join, we give the quiet majority tools to re-engage and reset the tone in their homes, workplaces, and feeds.

If you’re ready to stop doomscrolling and start doing, this conversation gives you a starting line and a community. Subscribe, share this with someone across your aisle, and leave a review telling us the one unity action you’ll take this week. Then grab something purple and tag us to keep the momentum going.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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What if the most important part of your financial plan isn’t your portfolio, but your people? We sit down with Ian Freeman—longtime wealth advisor known for leading with compassion—to explore why protection should come first, how listening outperforms pitching, and what it really means to say, “You’re going to be okay.” Ian shares the moment a 9/11 loss reshaped his mission, the philosophy that guides his work, and the unexpected role that gratitude and humility play in building a plan that holds on the worst day.

Across this conversation, we unpack the gap between information and knowledge—and why neither matters without connection. Ian explains his “protect first, then invest” sequence, covering life insurance, disability coverage, and long-term care before chasing returns, so families can invest for everything that goes right. We talk about technology’s double-edged sword, from deepfakes to financial noise, and walk through simple guardrails that protect attention, decisions, and households. And we go beyond numbers: the influence of Atlas Shrugged as a call to productivity and agency, the wisdom of The Natural, and the grit of grandparents who led with service.

If you’ve ever wondered how to choose a financial advisor you can trust, Ian’s criteria are refreshingly human: find the person you’d want sitting with your family when you can’t. Look for outward arrows—empathy, clarity, and genuine care—backed by a plan that answers your definition of “being okay.” Along the way, Ian opens up about mental health, resilience, and his forthcoming book, Life Beneath The Suit: Madness, Mayhem, and the Meaning I Found in the Mess, a narrative look at the stories behind the work.

Press play for a candid, practical, and heart-forward guide to money, meaning, and legacy. If this conversation helps you breathe easier about your future, share it with someone you love, subscribe for more, and leave a review with the one question you still want answered.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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What if the most faithful thing we can do is slow down, listen, and heal before we preach? That’s the challenge and invitation at the heart of our conversation with Cathy Lins, director of Gather My Lost Sheep, whose work equips parishes and dioceses to respond wisely to trauma and help priests flourish. We talk candidly about why people in crisis often come to the Church first, how well-meaning responses can backfire, and what it takes to become a reliable place of safety rather than another source of harm.

Cathy shares practical frameworks that shift ministry from theory to practice. We unpack the “eight critical shifts” for leading trauma-informed parishes, a Good Samaritan five-step response model, and a Flourishing Shepherds approach designed for clergy wellbeing. We also explore the mental health continuum—green to red—as a simple daily dashboard for sleep, diet, prayer, connection, and stress, helping leaders catch warning signs early. From supervision and debriefing to WRAP-style plans, we outline systems that normalize support, reduce burnout, and strengthen accountability without shame.

Along the way, we confront stigma, speak to the cost of silence, and acknowledge the reality of secondary trauma for anyone who carries others’ stories. The vision is both humbling and hopeful: laity and clergy as one body, tending each other; evangelization that moves at the speed of trust; and a Church that starts with presence, builds safety, and invites healing that turns wounds into witness. If you care about pastoral care, mental health first aid, safeguarding, or rebuilding credibility through transparency, this one matters.

If this resonates, share it with someone who serves, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review with one insight you’re taking back to your community.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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What if paying protesters made movements more honest instead of less? We sit down with Adam Swart, CEO of Crowds on Demand, to unpack how compensated advocacy actually works, why protests are context builders rather than public headcounts, and how to navigate a media ecosystem that rewards outrage over nuance. Adam pulls back the curtain on strategy: where you rally, what you say, and how you craft visuals—all to reach the second audience that never shows up in person but decides what trends tomorrow.

We trace the arc from personal discipline and leadership ideals to modern persuasion. Adam shares why he sees compensation as the backbone of professionalism, how underdogs can outmaneuver entrenched money with smarter tactics, and what it takes to ask questions that bridge divides instead of hardening them. We examine the algorithms that keep us scrolling, the sensationalism that books TV guests, and the practical habits that help anyone spot manipulation: contextualize numbers, interrogate claims, and talk with people who don’t vote like you.

Adam also breaks down one of his most visible projects—the Delete Facebook movement—and the ripple effects it helped catalyze, from brand repositioning to political ad shifts. Then we go bigger: a candid call to challenge Big Food’s engineered addictions and the unequal health burden they create. If you care about civic power, media literacy, and how ideas win attention in 2025, this conversation offers a blueprint you can use—whether you’re organizing a cause, leading a team, or just trying to think more clearly in a noisy world.

If this episode challenged you or gave you a new lens, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more curious listeners find us.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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What happens when you strip away ego and embrace humility as your guiding principle? David Price's extraordinary journey from twenty years of drug addiction to becoming a millionaire insurance entrepreneur provides a powerful answer.

David's story begins at rock bottom – homeless, broke, and battling an addiction that had consumed two decades of his life. After getting clean in 2013, he faced the daunting question that confronts many in recovery: what now? By 2018, he had obtained his insurance license and begun building what would become a thriving virtual business that employs hundreds of agents nationwide.

The turning point wasn't simply sobriety; it was a profound mindset shift. "If you're having issues with this guy and that guy, you're screwed because you can't change them. But if the issue is with you, then you have a chance," David explains, referencing wisdom gained in recovery. This principle of extreme ownership – taking complete responsibility for everything in your life – became his north star in business and personal development.

What makes David's approach unique is his emphasis on humility as a business strategy. "Pride is expensive and ego is even more expensive, but humility is profitable," he notes. This philosophy has allowed him to create a successful virtual insurance agency where agents receive inbound calls from interested prospects rather than cold-calling reluctant customers. His model has transformed the lives of countless agents, many of whom were servers, retail workers, or single parents struggling to make ends meet before joining his team.

Beyond business insights, David shares his journey with plant-based eating, his move to Puerto Rico, and his thoughts on creating a meaningful legacy. His story serves as a powerful reminder that our greatest failures can become the foundation for extraordinary success when paired with humility and ownership.

Ready to transform your approach to business and life? Follow David Price on social media or visit tpglife.com to learn more about embracing the power of humility in your own journey.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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When global tensions flare, it's often what's happening behind the scenes that matters most. In this thought-provoking episode, we dig into the complex relationship between domestic politics and international conflicts, focusing on the recent escalation between Israel and Iran.

We begin by examining the abandoned Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – the Iran Nuclear Deal that once provided structure and accountability in the region. The systematic dismantling of this diplomatic achievement wasn't because it failed, but seemingly because it succeeded under a previous administration. This shortsighted political revenge has created the very vacuum that breeds today's instability.

The timing of Israel's strikes against Iran raises serious questions. With both Netanyahu's government and Trump's administration facing significant domestic challenges and approval ratings in free fall, these military actions appear suspiciously convenient. Are we witnessing genuine security operations, or calculated distractions from internal political crises?

We don't shy away from uncomfortable truths: the celebratory declarations of "obliterating" targets lack credibility given the limitations of the weapons systems used and reports of material being removed before strikes. Meanwhile, the potential for wider conflict looms with Iran's BRICS alliance (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates) functioning as a NATO-like mutual defense pact.

Beyond geopolitics, we explore why reasoned discourse seems increasingly impossible in America. We suggest that appealing to rational arguments misses the point – we must address the emotional foundations driving political positions. Understanding fears, acknowledging concerns, and approaching dialogue with genuine empathy may be the only path forward in our divided nation.

Have you found yourself distracted by headline news while deeper issues go unaddressed? Listen now and join our community of critical thinkers who refuse to accept simple narratives about complex problems.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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"What's going on today in our world?" asks Rauel as he and Antowan dive deep into one of the most controversial pieces of legislation currently making waves across America – the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill."

This powerful conversation exposes the troubling psychology behind American politics today, where questioning has become threatening and dissent is immediately silenced. As Antowan points out, "The country has fallen under this dark psychology spell, man, and tactic after tactic are being used on us." The hosts unpack how this legislation effectively takes from the poorest 10% to give to the richest 10%, explaining the far-reaching implications for healthcare, education, and marginalized communities.

The discussion takes a fascinating turn when examining the phenomenon of Americans voting against their own interests – referencing Jonathan Metzl's book "Dying of Whiteness" – and how fear and manipulation drive political decision-making. "People will vote against their own best interest to keep their agenda intact," Antowan explains, highlighting the racial undertones that permeate these political dynamics. The conversation doesn't shy away from examining how privatizing healthcare will lead to more stringent eligibility requirements, higher premiums, and more Americans being denied coverage.

Perhaps most alarming is their analysis of recent constitutional challenges, including the Qatar jet gift and how it potentially violates the Emoluments Clause. "What happens when they start shooting federal judges?" Rauel asks, voicing concerns about the erosion of the rule of law. The hosts make a compelling case that focusing on upholding the rule of law could be a unifying principle for those concerned about America's direction.

Join us for this eye-opening discussion that challenges listeners to come out of their news bubbles and understand how these political decisions affect us all. Subscribe, share your thoughts, and continue the conversation as we work to protect the values that support all Americans.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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Jim Carlough, accomplished business strategist and author, shares his six pillars of effective leadership, emphasizing integrity as the foundation that makes all other leadership qualities possible. Through compelling stories from his 30-year career, he demonstrates how integrity combined with empathy creates environments where people thrive even through difficult transitions.

• Integrity means staying on the center line of your ethical code, never straying too far left or right
• The current social media environment encourages people to "throw grenades and hide" without accountability
• When leading a team through job eliminations, Jim made three promises that resulted in the highest employee satisfaction scores across a 20,000-person company
• Leadership requires consistently asking yourself if your actions benefit you at the expense of others
• True leadership is developed through experience and reflection, not something people are born with
• The foundation of leadership is making others better, which ultimately makes you better
• Empathy and integrity work together to create trust, without which a leader cannot succeed

Connect with Jim Carlough to learn more about the six pillars of leadership and how they can transform your organization and develop future leaders.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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What happens when Olympic-level athleticism meets theatrical creativity? Kerstin Schulze embodies this fascinating intersection, sharing her remarkable journey from winning a Junior Olympics silver medal in heptathlon at age 12 to her current role as a kung fu nanny on HBO's "The Righteous Gemstones."

The conversation reveals Kerstin's refreshing philosophy on balance—something she discovered after years of competitive bodybuilding taught her that stage-ready physiques often represent the "most unhealthy" version of ourselves. "Finding balance takes time," she explains, offering practical wisdom for anyone struggling with fitness goals or life direction. Her approach is disarmingly simple yet profound: five days of discipline allows for two days of enjoyment without sabotaging progress.

Particularly illuminating is Kerstin's method for creating lasting change. Rather than overwhelming yourself with ambitious goals, she recommends starting with just five minutes of daily movement. "Set your timer for five minutes in the morning and do something that helps your body get stronger," she advises. "When the five minutes are over, you have to stop." This counterintuitive approach—forcing yourself to stop rather than push through—helps reprogram your system to crave healthy habits.

The conversation delves into deeper territory as Kerstin reflects on how theater training develops empathy by requiring actors to understand perspectives vastly different from their own—a skill increasingly rare in our polarized world. She shares behind-the-scenes insights from working with Hollywood's elite while maintaining that success isn't about fame but about creating art that makes people feel something.

Whether you're struggling with fitness goals, creative pursuits, or simply seeking more balance in life, Kerstin's journey offers both inspiration and practical guidance. Her parting wisdom? "Listen to your intuition"—something she wishes her younger self had done more consistently. Discover more of Kerstin's approach to fitness and life at partyanddiet.com, where her book "The Balance" is available for free.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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Democracy stands at a pivotal crossroads with the introduction of the SAVE Act (Safeguard Americans Voter Eligibility Act), a deceptively named piece of legislation that threatens to fundamentally alter who can participate in our electoral process. Hosts Rauel LaBreche and Antowan Hallmon Sr. pull back the curtain on this dangerous federal bill, exposing how it would require documentary proof of citizenship that approximately 21 million Americans simply don't have access to.

The conversation goes beyond surface-level politics to reveal the profound human impact of requiring birth certificates, naturalization documents, or passports for voter registration. Through personal ministry experiences helping people obtain identification, Antoine shares heartbreaking stories of Americans whose birth records have been lost, destroyed, or never properly filed – particularly affecting those born in Southern states during an era of institutional discrimination. These aren't hypothetical scenarios but real barriers faced by real Americans whose right to vote hangs in the balance.

What makes this discussion particularly powerful is how the hosts connect the practical barriers – limited office hours at government facilities, costs associated with obtaining documents, transportation challenges – with the broader pattern of voter suppression targeting marginalized communities. They methodically dismantle claims of widespread voter fraud, walking listeners through the multiple verification steps already built into our voting systems that make such fraud virtually impossible.

This episode serves as both warning and call to action. Rather than merely reacting to each new assault on voting rights, Rauel and Antowan challenge listeners to develop proactive strategies to help vulnerable voters secure necessary documentation before it's too late. They invite people of faith to examine whether policies that exclude millions from the democratic process align with core Christian values of love, compassion, and inclusion.

Have thoughts on the SAVE Act or ideas for protecting voting rights? Join the conversation at www.forsauk.com and help develop solutions that ensure every eligible American can participate in our democracy.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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What happens when we allow catchy slogans and fear-based rhetoric to shape our understanding of diversity and inclusion? Rauel and Antowan tackle this question head-on as they dissect the troubling misconceptions surrounding DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies in America.

The duo doesn't shy away from uncomfortable truths, examining how phrases like "We Will Die by DEI" manipulate emotions and bypass critical thinking. They highlight alarming Federal data showing white men still earn 33% more than Black men performing identical jobs—a depressing level of improvement from the 47% gap in 1969, and stark evidence that systemic inequalities persist despite progress.

This conversation goes beyond political talking points to examine the spiritual and ethical dimensions of justice. Antowan powerfully notes that "unbalanced scales are an abomination to God," challenging listeners who claim religious values while opposing policies that help the vulnerable. Meanwhile, Rauel calls for Americans to "be a Daniel"—standing firmly for what's right even when facing tremendous opposition.

The hosts create a rare space where complex issues around race, economics, and faith intersect without descending into partisan bickering. They argue that the true division in America isn't between races or political parties but between the privileged and disadvantaged—a perspective that challenges listeners across the political spectrum.

Whether you're confused by DEI debates, concerned about America's future, or simply seeking thoughtful conversation in a polarized time, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and a challenge to examine both facts and values. Join the conversation at www.forsauk.com and become part of a community committed to honest dialogue about our shared future.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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The weaponization of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has become one of the most troubling developments in our current cultural and political landscape. We dive deep into how DEI—a framework designed to create more representative and equitable institutions—has been deliberately transformed into a divisive political issue through coordinated misinformation campaigns.

Our conversation reveals how conservative voices have successfully reframed DEI initiatives as threats to "traditional values" and "merit-based systems," positioning efforts to increase diversity as unfair advantages given to unqualified individuals. This framing intentionally disregards the historical context of exclusion that made these initiatives necessary in the first place.

More alarmingly, we examine how DEI has become a convenient scapegoat for various societal failures completely unrelated to diversity initiatives—from plane crashes to wildfires, economic downturns to military failures. This pattern represents a calculated attempt to redirect public outrage away from actual systemic issues toward marginalized communities simply seeking equal opportunity.

The psychological impact on professionals from underrepresented backgrounds cannot be understated. Many face the constant burden of defending their legitimacy and worth against assumptions that their achievements result from preferential treatment rather than merit—a burden their white counterparts simply don't carry.

What's truly at stake is the future of American democracy itself. By systematically dismantling DEI initiatives, we're undermining the foundational American ideal that our institutions should represent all citizens, not just those who have historically held power. Join us as we challenge the weaponization of DEI and explore how we can work together to create truly equitable opportunities for everyone.

Share your thoughts with us at www.forsauk.com and join the conversation with comments that foster meaningful discussion about these critical issues.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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Democratic Representative Al Green stood up during Trump's congressional address and declared "no mandate" when Trump claimed a mandate to cut Medicaid. For this truth-telling, Green was escorted out and later censured—with even ten Democrats joining the rebuke. This incident exposes a disturbing double standard: when Joe Wilson shouted "You lie!" at Obama, or when Marjorie Taylor Greene repeatedly interrupted Biden's addresses, they faced no similar consequences.

The contrast between Al Green and Marjorie Taylor Greene provides a stark illustration of this double standard. Al Green has dedicated his career to expanding social programs and advocating for stronger banking regulations, while Marjorie Taylor Greene has promoted conspiracy theories ranging from QAnon to anti-Semitic white supremacist views. Yet it was Al Green who faced formal censure.

This episode digs deeper into what this moment reveals about America's current political crisis. The hosts explore how the geographic and demographic differences between their districts reflect America's deepening divides, and how language around taxes and fairness is manipulated to serve power. When the ultra-wealthy complain about paying taxes while hiding assets offshore and fighting social programs, we see the real battle isn't just partisan—it's between the haves and have-nots.

What makes this moment particularly critical is how quickly decades of progress toward equity and inclusion are being dismantled. Drawing from "Man of La Mancha," the hosts call for Americans to "march into hell for a heavenly cause" and stop being moderate in the face of injustice. The question isn't whether we should speak up, but what line must be crossed before we will?

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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The recent neo-Nazi incident in Evaondale, Ohio, shocked many and has raised critical conversations about the current state of race relations in America. As a group of white supremacists displayed their flags strategically across a bridge leading into a primarily Black neighborhood, the community was left grappling with fear and outrage. This episode of our podcast unpacks the layers of this alarming event, observing the immediate impacts on families, especially the children who saw these symbols of hate.

We dive deep into the discussions surrounding the police response, examining whether their actions equated to a failure of duty when community trust is vital. Our conversation also touches on broader themes such as the concept of white fragility—how defensiveness among white individuals stifles conversations about racism and complicity. By not addressing these issues head-on, we miss opportunities for critical growth, empathy, and necessary advocacy.

Furthermore, we emphasize the significance of collective action. In times of visible hate, communities must rally together, fostering a united front against white supremacy while encouraging allyship and open conversations. This insightful episode challenges listeners to reflect on their roles in advocating for racial justice and supporting marginalized communities. Let’s engage authentically in discussions about race, recognizing the power of allyship and the strength of our voices when united against hate. Be part of the movement for change—subscribe, share, and join us in advocating for a just future.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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What can we learn from the bond between humans and dogs? Discover how the loving relationships we share with our pets can teach us about unity, cooperation, and understanding in our own communities. Join us as Rauel and Antowan lead a conversation on transcending unnecessary conflicts and tensions, focusing on the power of love and mutual support to achieve remarkable success. With Black History Month as a backdrop, we reflect on the pivotal lessons history imparts and how such insights can help us build a more harmonious future.

Unpacking the complexities of racial dynamics and job market inequalities, we challenge the myth that diversity initiatives result in job losses for white individuals. Our discussion underscores the crucial role of Black Americans throughout history, celebrating their contributions and recognizing the ongoing struggle against historical suppression. The painful legacy of slavery and its persistent impact on society is highlighted, along with the importance of education and awareness to foster a just and equitable world.

Reflecting on the harrowing story of Emmett Till, we confront the enduring issues of racism and historical injustices. Through examining events like the Emmett Till case and cultural pieces such as Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit," we delve into the roots of systemic racism and the need for society to acknowledge and learn from past atrocities. As we celebrate Black History Month, we urge listeners to engage in meaningful dialogue that honors the resilience and achievements of Black individuals, and to commit to creating a better future through understanding and empathy.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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Picture this: You're all set to record the perfect podcast episode, but just as the conversation gets going, you realize the camera isn't on. We kick things off with a light-hearted tale of our own technical challenges before diving into the serious issue of climate change, inspired by Wisconsin's unusually warm weather. This episode isn't just about environmental impacts; it's about understanding the human reluctance to face uncomfortable truths and the societal implications when we excuse inappropriate leadership behavior.

Have you ever wondered how political rhetoric shapes our values? We take you on a journey through the complexities of political discourse, with a spotlight on the controversial statements of the current president and the public's response. By examining relationships between divisive figures and their followers, we reveal how race, gender, and power dynamics intersect in today's political landscape. Our discussion is an invitation to critically assess these dynamics and understand the motivations behind aligning with such figures, even if it means challenging your own beliefs.

Lastly, join us as we explore the art of admitting faults, drawing from personal stories of marriage and humility. It's a conversation about the power of understanding different perspectives, whether in relationships or across generations. We discuss systemic political and economic issues like birthright citizenship and tariffs, emphasizing the importance of empathy and community engagement. This episode is a call to action, encouraging you to foster equality and justice in your own life, and reminding us all of the courage it takes to stand against oppression.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

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This episode delves into the complexities of 2025 and the interplay between personal struggles and societal change. Antowan and Rauel emphasize the importance of humility, open dialogue, and education as essential tools in overcoming division and fostering a compassionate society.

• Discussing feelings of anticipation and anxiety for 2025
• Reflecting on the importance of family and community
• Addressing personal losses and mental health concerns
• The role of honesty and vulnerability in fostering unity
• Exploring the critical need for education and awareness
• Sharing stories of resilience and hope for societal change
• Encouraging listeners to embrace their narratives for healing

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

What if the very beliefs you hold dear are rooted in deception? Join us as we unravel the complex web of lies and manipulation that shape our society. We start with a light-hearted look at the weather in Wisconsin, contrasting it with the timeless, uplifting truths of the gospel. Our discussion navigates through the slippery landscapes of political promises and misleading advertisements, exposing the tactics used to control and divide us. We emphasize the importance of following the lifestyle of a person — Christ — rather than the dogman of a religion, and reveal how personal anecdotes and societal examples demonstrate the pervasive nature of deceit.

In our exploration, we dissect the tension between belief, truth, and deception, especially within religious and political realms. We delve into the nature of human kind and the heart's deceitful nature and the challenge of aligning personal beliefs with divine truth. Through current events and historical examples, including the contentious support of Donald Trump by evangelicals, we stress the need for love, understanding, and unity in our fractured world. Our conversation highlights how entrenched prejudices can be confronted and transformed through a genuine commitment to truth and scriptural guidance.

Finally, we underscore the paramount importance of truth, justice, and fairness in both personal and societal spheres. Reflecting on historical injustices and modern legal complexities, we encourage listeners to engage in self-reflection and recognize their role in societal divisions. With a nod to a thought-provoking Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode, we highlight the ongoing struggle between just and unjust laws. Raul and Juan Haldeman Sr. wrap up with a heartfelt sign-off, reminding everyone to prioritize love, stay curious, and tune in for more enriching discussions. Don't miss this episode that challenges you to seek truth in an age of widespread deception!

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Have you ever been thrown a curveball in life and wondered how to knock it out of the park? Join me, Rauel Labrèche, as I engage in a heartwarming and enlightening conversation with Mike Coy, a man whose life epitomizes turning trials into triumphs. From swinging bats to shaping futures, Mike's journey from an aspiring baseball player to a financial planner with a zealous commitment to mentorship unfolds. You'll be let in on our personal banter during a rousing round of 'my favorite things,' bringing a touch of humor and relatability that invites you to see the person behind the achievements.

The winds of change often carry a mix of adversity and revelation, and I get candid about my personal battles during the COVID-19 pandemic and a grueling cancer diagnosis. This part of our dialogue is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, as I share what it means to embrace gratitude and purpose in trying times. We traverse the emotional landscapes of nostalgia, health scares, and the rebirth of one's zest for life, providing a sanctuary of solace and inspiration for anyone facing their own struggles.

As the final inning of our discussion arrives, we hone in on the profound effects of mentorship and leadership, drawing wisdom from none other than Abraham Lincoln. Through stories of coaching on the baseball field and mentoring in the prison ministry, we reflect on the pivotal role of choice and informed decision-making. Whether you're battling your own inner demons, inspiring others to reach their potential, or simply seeking a dose of encouragement, this episode is your playbook for navigating life's pitches with a winning mindset.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

When my brother Antowan Hallman Sr. and I began to peel back the layers of our faith, we encountered prayer in a way that was anything but expected. Join us as we navigate the profound shifts from our Catholic upbringing to an evangelical faith that thrums with the pulse of the Holy Spirit's work. This episode isn't just a conversation; it's an invitation to witness how prayer can dramatically shape one's personal journey and the world at large.

The fervor of our prayers often reveals the true state of our hearts, and in this discussion, we confront the realities of how our spiritual lives can intersect with the political landscape. Through a candid dialogue, we examine the need for repentance, the allure of deception, and the critical role of discernment in these turbulent times. As we sift through current events and our own experiences, we challenge you, our listeners, to consider whether your actions and petitions are truly rooted in God's will.

To cap off our exploration, we delve into discipleship's transformative power and the stark importance of grounding ourselves in biblical truth. Sharing personal stories of spiritual awakening, we highlight the enduring influence of mentors like Dawson Troutman and the necessity of generational guidance in the faith. As we pose the ultimate question of Jesus' identity, we invite you to ponder His place in your life with fresh eyes and a heart open to revelation. This isn't just another episode; it's a threshold where personal decisions can lead to eternal consequences.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

This week Antowan and I come together in a candid conversation, we tackle the pressing issue of our nation's division and the discomfort surrounding the name of Jesus Christ in today's culture. We feel the urgency to rekindle the inclusive and compassionate core of Christ's teachings, a topic that resonates deeply with those who yearn for unity amidst the fray. Our heartfelt discourse delves into the need for a collective embrace of these values, transcending political lines and societal boundaries.

This episode is not just a discussion; it's an introspective journey through personal failings, the church's stumbling blocks, and the intertwining of faith and politics. We share our vulnerabilities as we grapple with the complexities of scriptural interpretation and the guidance of spiritual leaders. With the rise of Christian nationalism and the historical schisms within the church, we highlight the essential call for love and equality as cornerstones of the Bible's message—principles that must guide us in navigating the murky waters of ideological distortions.

Our journey culminates in exploring discrimination and the profound impact of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, which compels us to confront the dark corners of inequality with the light of understanding and mutual respect. We urge our listeners to take personal responsibility in educating themselves about governance and societal coexistence, aiming for a world where love is the central message that connects us all. Join us in reflecting on the power of unity as we strive to live authentically in our faith, fostering a society where hearts are changed and lives are rescued by the simple, yet revolutionary act of love.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to outmaneuver a billion-dollar corporation on Google's battleground? This isn't just a pipe dream, but a reality for SEO maestro Damon Burton, who joins us to share the electrifying saga of his ascension from car enthusiast to digital marketing virtuoso. Buckle up as we unravel Damon's story, where the sheer tenacity of a man and the transformative power of SEO collide, leading to a thriving business that champions the underdog.

Turning points are the plot twists of our lives, and Damon's came with the shock of an office raid that left him at a career crossroads. Opting to bank on his own potential, he navigated through the worlds of web design and SEO, armed with wisdom from influential reads and a personal mantra courtesy of Grant Cardone. This episode isn't just about professional gambles; it's a candid exploration of the conditions that feed our decisions and the personal tribulations that shape our paths, including Damon's own health challenges and the guitars that stand as silent witnesses to unanticipated success.

As if peering into a crystal ball, we prognosticate the future of SEO in the age of AI, dissecting how Damon preserves the humanity of content in a digital age. Balancing family life with sharp SEO strategies, he exemplifies how altruism and acumen aren't mutually exclusive in business. Immerse yourself in a narrative that stitches together a tapestry of authenticity, strategy, and integrity, demonstrating that the heart of entrepreneurship beats strongest when it's synced to the rhythm of ethical practice.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Weathering the storms of Wisconsin's unpredictable climate, we find ourselves grappling with the headaches of allergies and the heat of a nation's fervent debate on voting rights. Within this episode, Antowan and I draw back the curtain on the tumultuous political theater where the cornerstone of democracy—our right to vote—is under siege. From the systemic barricades to fair access, to combating the hallucinogenic drug of voter fraud, we promise a journey through the complex labyrinth of laws and regulations shaping and destroying the very essence of our civil liberties.

This conversation isn't for the faint of heart as we tackle the stark realities facing marginalized communities, the disenfranchisement of felons, and the unnerving echoes of historical injustices that continue to reverberate through the halls of our legal systems. Antowan and I confront the contentious nature of voter ID restrictions and the integrity of elections, juxtaposing the American reality against the ideal of universal suffrage. We slice through the fog of misinformation with the sharp edge of knowledge, urging our listeners to arm themselves with the truth about their rights and the power of an informed vote.

As the episode unfolds, we weave a tapestry of empathy and understanding, drawing inspiration from biblical teachings that transcend the barriers of race and nation. We remind you that the fabric of society is not woven with threads of discord but with the yarn of unity and love. Tune in as we advocate for a world where political engagement is not a privilege but a right accessible to all, where empathy is not just a word but a practice, and where every voice can ring clear through the ballot box and beyond.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Embark on an enthralling voyage through the cosmos with Tom Paladino, a trailblazer in the field of scalar energy research. This episode promises to unravel the mysteries of a force that permeates our universe, offering insights into an energy form that powers life itself and connects cultures through concepts like chi, prana, and zero-point energy. As we explore these profound principles with Tom, prepare to be captivated by the poetic and artistic threads that unite celestial marvels, the harmonies of classical music, and the timeless verses of the Bible with the fabric of our daily lives.

Delicately woven into this cosmic tapestry is Nikola Tesla's electrifying legacy, his vision of energy transmission, and the technological marvels that sprouted from his genius. We pay homage to Tesla's AC triumph, reflect on his peculiar yet brilliant mind, and dream of a future where scalar energy's boundless potential reshapes our world. This is not just a history lesson; it's a glimpse into the possibilities lying dormant, awaiting rediscovery and application in a world thirsty for clean, infinite power sources.

The episode culminates with a provocative exploration of scalar energy as a universal intelligence, a concept meshing with both ancient wisdom and cutting-edge quantum physics. We challenge traditional scientific paradigms as Tom Paladino shares controversial yet fascinating ideas on scalar energy's ability to transcend the physical, nurturing our curiosity about teleportation and the transmission of nutrients. Our conversation is a clarion call for open minds and hearts to embrace a journey of discovery, where science meets spirituality, and the future is limited only by our imagination.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

When the echoes of our past threaten to silence our future, where do we turn for the volume knob? Join me as we unravel the threads of resilience with James and Bear, a couple whose narrative weaves a compelling tapestry of truth and transformation. Our exchange ventures through the poignant power of music, love's unexpected cadences, and the fortitude carved from childhood's harsh landscapes. A reflection on my own journey through the Iran-Iraq war lays bare the tenacity required to reclaim one's story from the shadows of trauma.

Amid the cacophony of today's societal discourse, where do we find the melody of authenticity? In conversation with James, a philosopher and bestselling author, and his partner Bear, we confront the specter of toxic masculinity and the generational chasms that challenge our collective integrity. From the tumultuous waves of personal redemption to the tranquil shores of responsible leadership, our guests share their insights on rewriting the script of one's life. We dissect the critical departures from societal values and the pressing need to redefine masculinity beyond its warped modern iterations, advocating for a return to humility and accountability.

As we navigate the complex symphony of leadership and personal growth, the contributions of both James and Bear resonate with profound clarity. Their partnership underscores the significance of a supportive foundation, a theme echoed in James's latest literary endeavor, "The Business of Redemption." Their stories serve not merely as a beacon for those adrift in the stormy seas of change but as a testament to the transformative power of embracing one's role at the helm. So, lend an ear and perhaps find the harmony in your own narrative, guided by the experiences and wisdom shared within these conversations.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Embark on a transformative journey with us, as Antowan Hallmon Sr. (the passionate senior pastor of FaithWorks Ministries) and I untangle the complex threads of race relations and anger in American society. We face the hard truths about systemic barriers, the deceptive power struggles, and how grassroots efforts can be a catalyst for understanding and love. From Elon Musk's recent DEI comments to the historical scars that shape our nation's fabric, our conversation is an urgent call to action—a plea for deeper empathy and collective commitment to combating divisive forces that threaten our democracy.

Together with Antowan, we probe the roots of societal anger, confronting the reality of fear-based reactions and the diminishing virtue of humility. As we navigate these treacherous waters, our dialogue illuminates the importance of programs like affirmative action, recognizing their role in striving towards equity. We also dissect how power and privilege taint perceptions, and why a true understanding of our shared history is vital in transcending the deceptive battles that pit us against one another. As Valentine's Day approaches, we preview the "Love Covers" series, showcasing love's capacity to bridge divides and foster unity.

Concluding this episode, we stress the crucial role of education in distinguishing truth from a sea of misinformation, enabling us to engage with politics more effectively. We highlight the transformative power of a simple pause—how taking a moment to breathe can help us manage our emotional responses to conflicts. This episode isn't just another dialogue; it's an invitation to reflect, to question, and to stand firm in faith and love, as we confront the challenges and embrace the triumphs of forging a more harmonious nation.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

When was the last time you paused to consider what makes a leader truly effective? Our latest episode features Trent Booth, CEO of Veritas Leadership Group, who shares his wisdom on the transformative impact of executive coaching. Together, we uncover the parallels between theater direction and coaching, highlighting the importance of pausing and reflecting to ensure that leaders make decisions that resonate with their core values and drive organizational growth. Trent's insights bring to light the nuanced art of leadership, where authenticity and alignment are not just buzzwords but the essence of inspiring change.

Wrapped in the melodies of "Fear is Not My Future", we wade into a heartfelt exploration of how our present choices define our identity. Trent and I share personal narratives about the figures who have molded us—from the resilient spirit of Winston Churchill to the tender moments with our own fathers. These stories stitch together a tapestry of our past, informing the leaders we aspire to become. We also delve into the culture of leadership today, recognizing the dire need for resilience and humility, and pondering how adversity shapes the backbone of a true leader.

As we close our conversation, there's a moment to reflect on the significant pauses—the kind that can transform a message or forge an intimate coaching connection. We grapple with the overwhelming waves of information in our modern world, emphasizing the urgency for critical thinking. The episode rounds off with a compelling dialogue on how Trent's unique approach to leadership and executive coaching at Veritas might just be the beacon you've been seeking. Join us for a journey through the landscape of leadership, where the power of self-reflection can create an indelible impact on the future.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

When Mahwish Syed, a beacon of resilience and creativity, graced our studio, she brought with her a tale of triumph that has the power to ignite a transformation within us all. As an award-winning designer and author, she recounts her confrontation with breast cancer and how it became the catalyst for her book "Purgatory to Paradise," a testament to her journey of creating a healing sanctuary at home. Our dialogue traverses beyond her story, extending to the profound impact of our mindset and surroundings on our health, guided by the principles of epigenetics. Mawish's design sensibilities, inspired by films like "A Room With A View" and the Pelican chair, also color our conversation revealing her unique approach to life and wellness.

Transformation is a dance with change, and as Mahwish shares her personal narratives of welcoming her son into the world prematurely and facing the trials of cancer, we uncover the strength that adversity can bestow upon us. The episode weaves through the symbolism of the snake and the myth of Persephone, drawing connections between spirituality and quantum physics, encouraging us to welcome change as a harbinger of growth. We dissect the importance of personal mythology, the acceptance of our darker facets, and the liberation found in weaving our passions into our work, nudging listeners towards a journey of self-discovery and authentic existence.

Our exploration culminates in a contemplation of the spaces we inhabit and how they can be transformed into sources of healing and rejuvenation. I share insights from my design background, challenging what's commonly accepted as 'healthy' and 'environmentally friendly,' and delve into the importance of making conscious lifestyle choices for our health. From the detrimental effects of blue light to the calming influence of our sensory experiences, we examine practical ways to mold our environments to foster well-being. This episode is an invitation to redefine the way we live, interact, and heal in our personal paradises, all while being serenaded by the inspiring journey of Mahwish Syed.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Have you ever stood at the intersection of admiration and discrimination, trying to reconcile the two as they clash in the realm of sports and beyond? Rauel and Antowan venture into this delicate balance, contemplating the curious mix of widespread celebration and entrenched prejudice that Black athletes like Jordan Love face. Through their stories, we tease out the nuances of racism, the fight for equality, and the possibilities of bridging the gaps that divide us, all while scrutinizing the complexities of race relations in America.

When considering diversity and unity, we uncover stark realities and the spiritual and moral battles that underpin them. Our conversation turns to the importance of speaking truth to power, reflecting on an incident where I was confronted with hostility during my community outreach. We dissect the concept of Christian masculinity, the test of maintaining integrity amidst adversity, and the challenges of educating on critical race theory. All throughout, we remain grounded in the pursuit of understanding, peace, and the Christian call to counter hate with love.

Closing this powerful dialogue, we bring in perspectives from across the globe, featuring insights from a guest hailing from Kiev, Ukraine, adding depth to our exploration of Christian values in fostering unity. As we navigate the often bewildering political and social narratives, we encourage our listeners not just to question the world around them, but also to introspect and embrace empathy. Let us guide you through this journey as we strive to spread a message of understanding and compassion in tumultuous times.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Have you ever met someone whose very presence seems to elevate the room? Join us as we sit down with Parker Purcell, a man whose mission in life is to enrich the lives of those around him. We embark on an exploration of leadership and personal philosophy, where Parker, a living example of diligence and heart, shares his insights on nurturing relationships, the joys of fatherhood, and his dedication to physical fitness. Our conversation illuminates the undeniable impact we have on each other and how thoughtfulness can transform interactions into lasting connections.

The tapestry of a person's character is often woven with the threads of their simplest pleasures. Parker gives us a peek into his life beyond the boardroom, revealing his favorites that range from the rich flavor of New York strip steaks to the soothing comfort of homemade chicken soup. His passion for country music, and particularly for the soulful tunes of Brett Eldridge, offers a harmonious glimpse into his personal world. It's a mix of culinary delights and melodic favorites that paints a vivid picture of the man behind the mission.

Strap in for a venture into the realm of financial wisdom, where Parker's tale of resilience comes to life. From grappling with unemployment to founding EQRP, his company that fosters financial independence through education, his narrative is nothing short of inspirational. We tackle the topic of stewardship, debunk the myth that wealth is a fix-all, and share our reflections on how to manage finances with conviction and purpose. Our discussion is a guidepost for anyone looking to navigate their own path to financial stewardship, emphasizing the importance of learning from risks and the value of experience as the ultimate teacher in the game of investment.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Embark on a journey with Dr. Heather Stone, as she champions a healthcare revolution that hears and heals. This episode peels back the layers of systemic oversight in women's health, particularly chronic conditions like fibromyalgia and thyroid disorders. With Dr. Stone's expertise in functional medicine, we confront the one-size-fits-all approach of traditional treatments and unravel the 'Root Cause Approach to Healing.' Discover how understanding the full narrative of a patient's health can be life-altering, and why a personalized, empathetic healthcare regime is the cornerstone of true well-being.

Amidst the serious discussion of healthcare, we interlace moments of levity and personal touchstones, from the culinary delights of Brussels sprouts to the heartwarming lure of romantic comedies. These snippets reveal the human side of healing—how the foods we love, the films that transport us, and the melodies that soothe us are integral to our health and happiness. As I unveil my preference for the wisdom found in self-help books and the comforting twang of country music, Dr. Stone emphasizes the importance of creating individual sanctuaries for relaxation and self-care.

We wrap up the conversation with actionable insights on the 'Seven Pillars of Functional Medicine' and dismantle the self-limiting beliefs that often hold women back from achieving their full health potential. By challenging the myths surrounding accessibility and affordability of alternative healthcare, we encourage listeners to prioritize their well-being and make informed, proactive choices. Join our vibrant community ‘Happy, Healthy, and Lean,’ where women support each other towards thyroid health and holistic wellness, and take a step towards a future where your health narrative is in your hands.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Every year, my wife and I huddle together for an intimate ritual that shapes our journey ahead; this time, we're embracing 'sustainable growth' as our beacon for 2024. Within this episode, I unwrap this personal tradition, illustrating how we translate lofty annual goals into daily strides, and I share a touching reflection brought forth by AJR's "Bang"—a song that tugs at the heartstrings with memories of my late sister Linnea. As we venture through a tapestry of topics, we warmly welcome back Justin Janowski, a beacon of integrity in sales, whose wisdom blends a Christian ethos with staunch leadership, exemplifying how character and reputation can create a passive prospecting environment ripe for success.

Have you ever considered how the art of pre-framing in sales could align with your personal values and not just your profit margins? Justin Janowski, a devoted family man and Christian, joins us again to dissect this nuanced approach, emphasizing the importance of character in carving out a referable and prosperous business niche. Together, we dissect the concept of preparation beyond mere skills—delving into the realm of character development—and how our shared dedication to faith shapes ethical business practices to care for all involved in a transaction.

The episode is a mosaic of life's aspirations and confrontations, from the thrills of starting a business to the relentless pursuit of personal growth across all spheres. We discuss the exhilaration of entrepreneurship, the humility in success, and the role of God as a steady compass in the tumultuous seas of business. In a world marred by polarization, we also explore the art of fostering understanding across divergent viewpoints through the power of emotional intelligence, effective communication, and authentic leadership. Join us on this journey, and you might just find the courage to transform fear into a catalyst for growth in every facet of your life.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Ever felt hemmed in by the rigid nine-to-five grind? My latest conversation with Bohdan Palladichuk, the mastermind behind an innovative Ukrainian design agency, might just be the breath of fresh air your workweek needs. We tackle the art of blending productivity with personal time, unlocking the cognitive secrets to boosting creative output. Bogdan's approach is not about clock-watching but about nurturing a team environment where flexibility leads to flourishing, both professionally and personally. Grab a coffee, and let's wade through the fertile fields of work-life balance, cognitive science, and ancient wisdom.

Curiosity didn't kill the cat; it launched a thousand ships in the world of innovation. I'm joined by Bohdan to dissect the curious mind's role in steering the ship of business, design, and tech towards uncharted waters. From guerrilla marketing mishaps to the transformative power of asking "why," we'll share war stories and wisdom gleaned from the front lines. And if you're in the mood for a tale of resilience, stick around for the pivot that turned a period of layoffs into the birth of a mental health startup. It's a rollercoaster ride through the highs and lows of entrepreneurial spirit and the creative drive that fuels real change.

Wrap up the session with us as we muse over the crossroads of culture and creativity, drawing parallels between the buzzing streets of Kiev and the serene vistas of Austria. Looking ahead, we speculate on the AI-infused future of music and website design, anticipating a human-centric approach amidst the tech boom. As we traverse from the creative sphere to the global stage, we grapple with the weighty issues of military funding and the moral compass guiding nations. It's a conversation that weaves through the rich tapestry of creativity under pressure, the entrepreneurial zeal that shapes our world, and the boundless potential of a curious mind.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Navigating the tumultuous waters of racial understanding is no simple task. This week, Antowan and I accept this challenge with open hearts in our latest Frame of Reference episode. We invite you to eavesdrop on a conversation that strips back the layers of the black experience in America, dissecting the past's shadows and today's complexities. From discussing the divisive narrative surrounding critical race theory to sharing personal confrontations that echo the 'crab in a barrel' mentality, our discourse is raw and real, intent on seeking truth amidst a society rife with ignorance and silence.

Our journey together wades through the murky misrepresentations of slavery, where we counter dangerous attempts to sanitize its brutal legacy. We unravel the often overlooked socio-economic barriers that continue to shackle aspirations, bringing to light the fallacies of meritocracy through stories of personal strife and systemic hurdles. This isn't just talk; it's a clarion call for awareness, understanding, and a collective movement towards growth and love.

Join us as we tackle these pressing issues head-on, seeking to break the barriers of division and foster inclusivity. The struggles and triumphs that shape the black experience are not just history lessons, but living realities that demand our attention and action. We don't just scratch the surface; we probe the depths of what it means to work towards a society where unity isn't just an ideal, but a tangible reality.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

When the painful reality of racial injustice collides with the power of faith and activism, conversations can ignite change. That's the essence of this week's episode where Antowan and I begin to traverse the landscape of black experiences in America, unearthing stories of resilience and examining the role of the church in racial justice. Antowan with his profound insights as a senior pastor and community leader, highlights the transformative impact of holiday outreach while reflecting on personal battles against medical bias and the pernicious myth of black pain tolerance.

The dialogue intensifies as we confront the hefty matters of institutional racism and the dire need for reparations. We don't just scratch the surface; we dig into the roots of historical revisionism and dissect the systemic barriers that perpetuate inequality. Antowan’s eloquent narrative intertwines with mine to shine a light on the daily trials faced by black communities in the United States. The church's dual role, both as a historical oppressor and a current vehicle for social justice, is dissected, revealing a tapestry of Christian nationalism that has seeped into political arenas.

Our journey concludes with a forward gaze at America's future amidst global political shifts and a reflection on the stagnated progress since the days of Martin Luther King Jr. The potency of our exchange lies in the blend of solemn contemplation and sparks of humor, as we toy with the notion of escape to extraterrestrial lands. Yet, the commitment to foster understanding through dialogue remains steadfast. As listeners, you're invited to absorb these narratives and join us in grappling with the pressing racial disparities that mark our nation's present.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Step into the clandestine world with former CIA case officer Brian Fairchild as he joins me on Frame of Reference to pull back the curtain on the life of espionage. We eschew the usual theatrics of spy cinema for Brian's riveting personal narratives that traverse testifying before Congress, training elite forces such as the FBI and CIA, and operating in the shadows where global security hangs in the balance. Prepare to be enthralled by the truth behind the intelligence game, offering a much-needed reality check against the backdrop of Hollywood's spy fantasies.

My conversation with Brian tackles head-on the strategic challenges the United States faces, unveiling the emergence of a new 'Axis of Evil' with China at the helm. The geopolitical landscape is shifting under our feet, and Brian expertly illuminates the covert operations and political machinations that define this new era. We dissect the implications of America's defense capabilities, the rise of China's military might, and the potential flashpoints that could reshape the world order. Furthermore, we take a moment to humanize the discourse, reminiscing over the simple comforts of life, from the perfect slice of pizza to the familiarity of a Starbucks coffee, that remind us of the shared human experiences beyond the world of intelligence.

As the conversation concludes, Brian leaves us with a compelling sense of urgency to refocus our attention on the global stage. He highlights the precarious nature of the geopolitical chessboard, from the strategic value of Taiwan to the ripple effects of shifting alliances. This episode is not just a fleeting chat; it's a portal to understanding the complex web of international security and the dedicated individuals who navigate it. Tune in to gain an unmatched perspective, and perhaps you'll come away with a heightened curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the intricacies of the world we live in.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Embark on a journey of self-discovery and financial savvy with the inimitable Anwal Singh as we kick off the new season with resolutions and revelations. Prepare to challenge your biases and fine-tune your investment strategies as we dissect the importance of data in guiding our decisions and the role of emotional self-awareness in managing portfolios. Anmol’s expertise shines as he shares his passion for Algorand's groundbreaking NFT applications, teasing the endless potential of this nascent technology.

As we wade through the frontiers of AI, from Virtu Financial's algorithmic triumphs to the quirky charm of ChatGPT, the conversation takes a personal turn, reminiscing about parrots and the unmatched solace of New York pizza paired with Tesla's own Cyber Beer. This spirited exchange bridges the gap between AI's capacity to shape our future and the simple pleasures that ground us. But we don't stop at leisurely chat; we probe deeper into the systematic "seven levels of why" philosophy to illuminate the core of our aspirations and behaviors.

Finally, we navigate the murky waters of market predictions, offering a beacon of strategy for investing during downturns, and juxtapose the eternal pursuit of wealth with the paramount necessity of health. As a parting gift, I'm thrilled to announce the availability of my latest work, "Prepping for Success," now adorning the shelves of your favorite retailers, promising to be an essential companion in your quest for triumph. Join us for an episode that's as much a guide for the mind as it is a feast for the soul.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Picture this - what would it be like sharing meals with strangers during the holiday season, exploring the essence of empathy and unity in our divided world. That's what I'm doing with Antowan Hallmon, Sr, the Senior Pastor of Faith Works Ministries. We are coming together, understanding each other's struggles regardless of our diverse urban and non-urban backgrounds, and learning from each other's experiences.

We're not afraid to tackle the difficult conversations about racial bias, the painful stereotypes and prejudices that black individuals face every day. How do these biases manifest in subtle ways, like the political weaponization of black-on-black crime? We reflect on the societal pressures that force black people to change in order to fit into a white-dominated society. We dive into hard-hitting discussions about race and its influence on our lives, the role of poverty and decision making, and the importance of exposure and opportunities in combating systemic racism.

We reflect on recent incidents of racial discrimination and how love can be a mighty tool against hate. Can you imagine the transformative power of love in our society? Join us as we draw from our personal experiences, explore these critical topics, and help shed light on ways in which we can foster understanding and acceptance, promote love over hate, and make a difference in our society. Listen in, get inspired, and let's start prioritizing energy towards the essential topics together during 2024.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

As I conducted this interview back in November of 2023 I imagined myself in a French cafe with the aroma of freshly baked croissants and the warmth of steeped tea filled the room, Simina Gentry, the spirited founder of Atlantic Children’s clothing company, joined me for a candid discussion that traversed the simple joys of life, the depths of art, and the intricate tapestry of culture. Our conversation danced through the comforting flavors of Samina's vegan chicken soup, to her reverence for George Washington, a fascination kindled by the book "The Man from Mount Vernon." Her insights remind us that the richness of history and the savoring of life's small delights are threads woven into the fabric of our individual worldviews.

Art, with its power to invoke a spectrum of emotions, often reflects the most authentic expressions of human experience — a theme we unraveled together. The works of romantic era composers served as a backdrop to our musings, illustrating how music can be a vessel for time travel, carrying us to moments steeped in nostalgia. We pondered the artist's intent behind evocative pieces that challenge the viewer, questioning if the discomfort stirred is a deliberate provocation or an unintentional consequence of truth in creation.

Beyond the palette of sensory and emotional reflections, Simina and I delved into her venture that intertwines commerce with cultural exchange. Her enthusiasm for education and connection shines as she discusses her European store, a gateway to transatlantic experiences. We unfurled the allure of European products, from their style to manufacturing standards, and the desire to enrich American lives with the essence of European tradition. As we wrapped up our exchange, the air was thick with gratitude—not just for the exchange of ideas, but for the promise of future dialogues that would continue to explore, enlighten, and connect.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Prepare to be enlightened by the inspiring Justin Janowski, a seasoned leader and coach. Justin, who was born and raised in Mukwonago, WI and has a fondness for the color blue, shares his journey of establishing the groundbreaking organization, Faith2Faith Influence, designed to empower “coaches” to build their dream businesses and amplify their impact.

As we stroll down the lanes of nostalgia, we explore the magic of childhood, the wonders of technology, and our shared passion for Elon Musk's Tesla. We then steer the conversation towards the essence of leadership, underscoring the role of humility and impact of words in shaping a leader's influence. Grappling with terms like "literally," we delve into the nuances of communication and how it can often be misinterpreted, while also emphasizing the importance of context in communication.

Switching gears, we examine the art of influence and sales, where Justin imparts wisdom on the fine line between teaching someone and aiding them. He shares his philosophies on sales, honed through countless conversations and mentorships, underscoring the importance of an authentic leadership voice. We wrap up our discussion by drawing an intriguing parallel between influence and manipulation in sales coaching, with Justin’s key takeaway being that success requires faith and persistence. Join us for this enlightening conversation, packed with invaluable insights and wisdom.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Have you ever stopped to ponder how your personal experiences, upbringing, and societal biases have shaped you? Join Antowan and I as we engage in a candid appraisal of these weighty topics from our diverse perspectives. Drawn from shared experiences such as communal meals and my upbringing on the South Side of Milwaukee (in the 60’s and 70’s) and Antowan’s on the South side of Chicago (in the 1980s), we unravel how societal narratives have both challenged and enriched us.

Our conversation ventures into the realm of racial bias, inequality, and political exploitation of crime, casting a light on the harmful effects of negative portrayals of black people in the media. Together with Antowan we confront the “elephant in the room” - issues like Christian nationalism, masculinity in the church, and systemic issues that have disproportionately affected black people. We question societal norms and invite our listeners to join us in this quest for truth.

Yet, our conversation is not just about dissecting problems. We propose solutions too. From breaking down social etiquette barriers to creating opportunities for disadvantaged youth, we explore practical ways to uplift communities. As we reflect on our own experiences and our journey, we underscore the importance of regular communication, hoping that our dialogue will inspire listeners to engage in deeper contemplation on these themes. Tune in to our spirited discussion, and join us in fostering empathy and unity through conversation.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Join us as we host Andy McNeill, the remarkable founder of AMI, a hospitality giant that takes corporate meetings beyond the conference room. His keen eye for detail and knack for relationship building has made him a sought-after figure among Fortune 500 companies. From his love for Asian wonton soup to his fondness for the band Queen, he pulls back the curtain to reveal the man behind the successful enterprise.

McNeil lets us in on his journey, explaining how his high school and college experiences laid the foundation for a career that's built on strong relationships and a cool head under pressure. He shares invaluable insights on identifying the right people for your team, creating a positive in-person culture, and managing the unique dynamics that come with in-person meetings. McNeill's tips on fostering real relationships and diffusing tense situations are gold nuggets you wouldn't want to miss. Discover how a passionate hospitality expert navigates the corporate world and builds bridges that stand the test of time. Prepare to be inspired!

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

What if you could unlock the secret to staying ahead in the fast-paced world of modern trends and branding? Join our engaging conversation with Bogdan Paladiichuk (pronounced Bogdan Paladeechuhk), the CEO and Creative Director of the Cream Design Agency in Ukraine, as he shares his expertise and insights on effective visual communication, and the importance of understanding the context of the message. We graze the surface of the intriguing concept of translating websites into different languages as a metric for gauging a website's design effectiveness.

Transitioning from design to the business world, Bohdan opens up about the unique challenges and advantages of starting a business in Ukraine. He gives us a rare peek behind the curtains of managing creative teams, emphasizing the need for a clear vision and fostering an environment that encourages discussion. Bohdan's insights on managing creative minds are a treasure trove for anyone in a leadership position or aspiring to one.

Finally, we dive into the nitty-gritty of starting a new brand. Bohdan emphasizes the need for emotional intelligence and persistence. He shares his personal experiences and valuable tips that he has gathered over the years, making this a must-listen for anyone planning to venture into the world of branding. He leaves us with a powerful note on the importance of investing in brands for exponential growth. So strap in, because we're about to embark on a journey across borders filled with passion, creativity, and resilience.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Ever wondered why Silicon Valley Bank took that risky decision or where the Peer-to-Peer model stumbled? Buckle in as we journey through an era of transformational changes in the banking sector with Emmanuel, the author of 'The Great Transition: Personalization of Finances Here'. We challenge the norms, revealing how digitizing the deposit business is reshaping wealth creation and confronting the evolution of familiar financial products.

Don't miss out on our intense discussion on the societal implications of the platform economy as we grapple with questions of artificial intelligence and ethics. We question the fabric of our rules and regulations, exploring their power to both enable and restrict our freedoms. From the role of influencers in the digital world to the impact of the metaverse, we leave no stone unturned.

Together with Emmanuel, we raise thought-provoking questions and seek answers, leading us to ponder the influence of icons in the network world and the transformative power of fiction in shaping new realities. By the end of this riveting discussion, you'll find yourself with more questions, a renewed curiosity, and an eagerness to continue exploring these modern-day finance conundrums. So, are you ready to challenge the status quo of the banking world?

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

What happens when the world of finance becomes more personalized? Get ready for a deep dive into the future of money with our insightful guest, Emmanuel Daniel. As a global thought leader, Emmanuel brings his fresh perspectives to this complex topic alongside my own reflections, and together, we untangle the intricate concept of personalizing finance and banking.

Our conversation isn't just about money, it's about how we shape society and the value we place on communities. We're peeling back layers of thought-leadership, touching on community currencies all the way to global tokenization, and how these elements are chipping away at the conventional concept of banking. As we navigate this journey, we analyze powerful leaders, their organizational skills, and their lasting influence. We delve into how technology and digitization are driving unconventional currencies, and the impact these changes have on the value of education and the overall societal fabric.

Join us for an enlightening conversation that will leave you questioning the status quo. Find out why Emmanuel holds a sentimental value for his bookshelves, learn about his perspectives on Bitcoin, and witness how his insights on personal finance and banking are challenging the norm. Tune in and witness how the future of money is being reimagined.Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

It's time to challenge the status quo and expose the realities that are eroding the core of our society. The horrifying sequel of events in Jacksonville, Florida, serves as a chilling reminder of how deeply white supremacy is entrenched in our nation. Three innocent lives were lost, a grim reflection of the persistent mindset that threatens to push our society to the brink. As we dissect this tragedy, we delve into the dangerous, growing culture of radicalization and stress the urgent need for unity if we are to survive.

Our discussion takes on the formidable power of censorship, scrutinizing Florida's recent decision to eliminate African American Studies as a college credit. This controversial move raises alarms about the risk of manipulating young minds and a potential shift in the perception of BIPOC communities. We also confront the prevalent culture of white supremacy, tracing its pervasive influence on aspects of our society from voter suppression to religion, and the critical need for education to counter it.

Our conversation touches upon Jesus' criticism of rule-makers, the necessity of understanding His teachings, and the relevance of Martin Luther King's dream in today's context. We navigate the murky waters of gerrymandering, oppression, and power dynamics, spotlighting the importance of adequate representation at all levels of influence. Finally, we flip the script to reflect on how we can foster a global dialogue and encourage a diversity of perspectives to effect positive, lasting change in our society. Tune in, join the conversation, and be part of the change.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. In these times of intense polarization we all need to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Ever questioned how invisible double standards within our culture could be affecting you? Brace yourself for a riveting conversation that exposes those subtle, yet powerful norms that often go unnoticed, but when spotted, can trigger feelings of frustration and unfairness. From our homes to our workplaces, and more surprisingly, within our legal system, these norms are deeply etched, waiting to be challenged.

What if we told you that these very double standards could be the barriers preventing unity and mutual respect? We journey through the complexities of differing perspectives, unfolding how being more understanding and kind can erode these divisions. You will begin to see the impact of these standards, how they shape our relationships and create an environment of unconscious bias. We uncover how even a seemingly harmless comment can perpetuate double standards, leading to feelings of disrespect and exclusion.

Finally, in an era where technology is ever-present, we dare to ask: could artificial intelligence be perpetuating bias and unfairness? We touch the surface of this critical issue, contemplating our own biases and the role of pride in maintaining our convictions, even when proven wrong. At the end of this compelling episode, we hope to inspire reflective conversations about these norms and the effects they have on our relationships and our culture. Join us, as we challenge these standards, and together, let's ignite a change.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Do you ever ponder the societal and cultural impacts of sex and sexuality? In this week's episode Rauel and Antowan tumble down that rabbit-hole together. They confront various beliefs and perceptions, specifically addressing the misconception of promiscuity within the African American community. In the process, we unravel the intertwined threads of primal instincts, societal assumptions, and personal responsibility regarding sex, even drawing parallels with a biblical tale of a temple brothel.

As we delve deeper, we explore the intricate relationship of sexuality with religion and the challenges posed by our lustful temptations. We reflect on the consequences of a disrupted family structure and how it fosters a lack of understanding and education. Turning our lens towards the church's role in society, we find a scenario worth contemplating; has it become a networking platform instead of a space for worship? While we delve into sensitive subjects like generational rape, we emphasize the importance of teaching the truth about Jesus and the potential it holds to bring about change.

Lastly, we discuss profound issues like poverty, inequality, and the need for compassion. We highlight the story of a single mother and the many hurdles she faces, underscoring that with the right resources, education, and much-needed compassion, the cycle of poverty and despair can be broken. Remember, these discussions are not about passing judgment but understanding the complexities of life. Join us on this journey of exploration and find a fresh perspective on these pressing issues.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

It's high time we pulled back the veil on the darkened narrative of racism and its impact on people of color. Today's episode is a deep-dive into how history has been manipulated, and the damaging half-truths that have resulted. We look at how these distortions have permeated our collective consciousness, and challenge you to explore deeply ingrained biases and insecurities.

As we expose the harsh realities of racism and the psychological effects it has, we also shine a light on the potential for change. This is not about being 'non-racist', but 'anti-racist', fully understanding and confronting white privilege and its implications. We examine the laws limiting the movements of people of color and the reaction of white nationalists in attempting to rewrite history - but we also invite you to be a part of the solution.

Finally, we encourage you to join us in the journey toward empathy and understanding. We discuss the power of confession, the importance of open dialogue, and the strength in recognizing our shared human experience. Together, we can challenge the narrative, expose lies, and shape a more nuanced understanding of our history. Tune in and let's move towards a brighter, more inclusive future.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

What if you could master the stock market from the comfort of your dorm room? Get ready to acquire life-changing insights from Anmol Singh, a seasoned trading expert whose journey began precisely in that way. Starting as an ambitious young trader in Delhi, India, Anmol fearlessly navigated the ever-changing world of the stock market to build the successful business he runs today at Live Traders.

As we explore Anmol's trading adventure, we'll also delve into his favorite things, offering an eclectic mix of insights ranging from his favorite song and Indian cuisine to his favorite piece of furniture. An interesting highlight is Anmol's application of the lessons from the childhood fable of the Tortoise and the Hare to investing in the stock market.

Finally, we'll discuss the role of statistics, personal trading strategies, and patterns in successful trading and investing. Anmol will share the importance of compiling data points from one's own trades to identify the most effective strategies for different market scenarios. We'll also talk about the different types of trading, the importance of integrity, and the crucial understanding of the market to make informed decisions. Whether you're a seasoned investor or a budding trader, this episode is packed with knowledge, insights, and intriguing stories that can guide you on your journey. Tune in now!

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Could the world of theater evolve in this digital age? Ponder this as award-winning American playwright Jack Canfora and I discuss the future of theater in a Netflix-dominated era. With Jack’s career highlights, favorite plays, and playwrights, this conversation unravels the magic of live theater like never before.

From Hamlet to modern plays by Arthur Miller, we cover a wide spectrum of theater's beautiful landscape, discussing the elements that truly make a play stand out. Tasting the richness of live theater, we delve into its power to form a sense of community, discussing how it surpasses the experience of merely reading plays in school. We also consider how the digital world has stirred up the ways we communicate and interact. In the midst of all this, we take some time to indulge in discussions about our favorite comfort foods and furniture, underscoring the simple pleasures of life.

As we navigate through the complexities of art funding, we examine the potential pitfalls of government sponsorship and the critical role of private organizations. We also mull over the challenges of sustaining a theatre season. Jack provides insights into the way New Normal Rep is incorporating fresh voices and stories reflective of the audience's life into their productions. And then, we touch upon the profound—exploring the impact of tragedy and human behavior on his playwriting, particularly his play inspired by the events of 9/11. Listen in as we explore the world of theater, its challenges and triumphs, and the incredible power of storytelling.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Ever wondered how the phrase 'Black Lives Matter' came to be one of the most potent rallying cries of the 21st century? This week Antowan and I dove into the convoluted labyrinth of racial injustice in America, from the tragic death of Trayvon Martin that fueled the birth of this movement, to the systemic and intentional targeting of black people. Engaging in this crucial conversation, we not only scrutinize the impact of state-sanctioned violence on black lives but also reflect on our personal experiences surrounding racial equality.

While we delve into the progression of the Black Lives Matter movement, we also underscore the importance of understanding its roots and response. It's not just a cry against police brutality, but it's also a demand for change, pushing for a society that values black lives equally. Strategies like political action, letter writing, campaigns, and nonviolent protests are paving the way, but it’s essential to consider the potential misconceptions of the movement's message and the challenges that come with accepting racial inequality.

Finally, we explore how the phrase 'Black Lives Matter' intertwines with the chess game of life and how the need to feel superior can lead to detriment. We revisit the example of Trayvon Martin and the Florida Stand Your Ground Law, demonstrating how laws have enabled state-sanctioned violence since the 1600s. The movement is not just about highlighting the systemic and intentional targeting of black people, but about dismantling these oppressive systems. Join us, as we unpack these complexities and strive to understand why it's more important now than ever to say, loud and clear, Black Lives Matter.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Are you ready to challenge your perspectives and biases? We promise you a journey of self-exploration as we dissect the differences in how crime is perceived among Black and white communities. This episode is an eye-opener, revealing how media can paint a skewed picture and how personal experiences can shape our understanding. It’s a candid conversation about the unique experiences that create our world view.

We then navigate the thorny world of crime and its root causes, pushing the boundaries of conventional thinking. Poverty, lack of structure, and power dynamics, it's all up for scrutiny. We also spotlight how political leaders and corporations may sometimes manipulate crime-related statistics for personal gain. Hence, we underscore the importance of ethical leadership and the implications of corporate decisions on workers and their families.

Finally, we dive headfirst into the heated immigration debate and its impact on everyday Americans. This isn't just about policy; it's about the real-world effects on farmers, workers, and families across the states. We discuss how decisions made by large companies affect the people on the ground and emphasize the importance of crafting narratives that benefit all. This episode is a thought-provoking challenge to question our biases and understand the root cause of many issues. So tune in for a fresh perspective - this is one conversation you won't want to miss.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

What does it take to command your personal brand and navigate the complex world of self-esteem, morality, and success? In today's episode, we're thrilled to have Jeremy Ryan Slate, founder and president of Command Your Brand, join us for an eye-opening discussion on his incredible journey and insights. From hosting the Create Your Own Life podcast with notable guests like four-star generals and CIA directors, to founding his company with his wife, Brielle, Jeremy has plenty to share about hard work, resilience, and the value of meaningful conversations.

We delve into the controversial topic of participation awards and the idea that self-esteem should be earned, not given. Jeremy reveals his thoughts on understanding why we fail in order to improve and the complexities of morality and spirituality in modern society. Together, we explore the state of education, the need for apprenticeship programs, and the challenges of politics and leadership today.

Don't miss this captivating conversation with Jeremy Ryan Slate, filled with valuable insights and thought-provoking discussions that will leave you questioning your own perspectives on success, self-esteem, and the power of dialogue. Tune in to learn how you too can command your brand and make your mark on the world.

Jeremy is the host of the Create Your Own Life Podcast, which studies the highest performers in the world. He studied literature at Oxford University, as well as holding a Master’s in Early Roman Empire Propaganda from Seton Hall University. His podcast was named the #1 Podcast to Listen To by INC Magazine in 2019, as well as Top 40 Under 40 by Podcast Magazine in 2022.

Jeremy and his wife, Brielle, co-founded Command Your Brand—a new media public relations agency designed to help entrepreneurs share their message by appearing as guests on podcasts. He resides in Stillwater, NJ where he raises chickens and is a former competitive powerlifter.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Can we truly revolutionize the water industry? Join us for a captivating discussion with Riggs Eckelberry, a nationally renowned entrepreneur with a mission to transform the way we manage, treat, and appreciate water. In this conversation, Riggs shares his journey from the high tech world to the water industry, revealing the challenges he faced and the importance of disrupting an industry unprepared for change.

Together, we explore the psychology and spirituality of water, its preciousness, and why we often take it for granted. We also dive into the topics of decentralized water systems, population growth, and deglobalization and how these factors impact water treatment infrastructure. Riggs shares his insights on how businesses and large water consumers are investing in their own water treatment solutions, as well as the potential of tokenizing payouts to create a water marketplace.

Finally, we debate the effectiveness of the Biden infrastructure bill in addressing water infrastructure issues and the reality of the allocated funding. We discuss alternative solutions, like unburdening infrastructure and taking the load off remotely, and how the Gates Foundation is helping to convert sewage and develop clean water supplies in third-world countries. Don't miss this fascinating conversation on the future of the water industry and the importance of investing in this indispensable resource.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

How can we approach difficult conversations about police and social issues with a desire for resolution? Join Antowan and I as we discuss the importance of humility in these discussions, and challenge ourselves to find new approaches to address these problems. Our goal is to use this podcast as a way to soften hearts and bring lasting change.

We also examine the concept of Lady Justice and her blindfold, representing the need for unbiased decisions in the court system. Together, we explore the systemic racism and inequality that exists in many courtrooms and how it affects people of color, such as Antowan's uncle. Discover the importance of being aware of local politics and the implications of electing judges, as our choices can directly affect the justice system.

Lastly, we discuss the experience of standing mute when faced with criminal charges and the implications of such a plea. We reflect on the misuse of authority, the importance of giving second chances, and the politics in judicial appointments. Listen in as we consider how our choices, especially when voting, can work towards a fairer society.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

When I was a kid there was an implicit understanding that Justice mean Justice for all people. The current landscape of our nation has brought greater variety and depth to the nature of this problem in our courts, than ever before. Beyond just the courts, however is the reliance that all of us have, which is that justice will be served.

So Antowan and I decided to have a discussion about the justice and the differences between how White justice vs Black Justice. So why is that? What does it say about us as a nation that we are willing and complacent about serving out Justice that is biased and corrupt. So many communities benefit from there being good, even and fair justice served. Others not so much. Join us as we try to unravel just a bit of the disruption caused by having two sets of rules.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

There have been many priceless moments during the years that I have been doing this podcast. I have talked with so many amazing people and learned so much from their journeys and studies and expertise. It is the wonder and beauty of being a life long learner that keeps me going in the face of the challenges we face in our modern world. My guest for this episode stands out as one of the most fascinating people I have ever talked with in my life. He is SO SMART and yet so willing to graciously share his knowledge that you never feel that he knows he is smart. Or worse that he is showing off so that you will see how smart he is. He is just full of excitement and wonder and passion for making the world a better place. Emmanuel Daniel is a global thought leader in the future of finance. He is an entrepreneur, writer, and listed as a top 10 global influencer in the "Fintech Power50" list for 2021 and 2022.

Much of Emmanuel's writing is based on his experience both founding and running platforms such as The Asian Banker and Wealth and Society, Emmanuel has had extensive contact with leaders in banking and finance around the world. He won the Citibank Excellence in Business Journalism for Asia in 1999 for his work on how the internet is changing the future of banking.

In his first book, "The Great Transition,” published in September 2022, Emmanuel outlines how the banking industry will evolve from being focused on platform technologies to a level of personalization never seen before. He describes the roles of cryptocurrencies, blockchain, gaming, and other technologies in this context. The book features forewords written by former congressman Barney Frank, the co-author of the Dodd-Frank Act set of legislations that regulate the financial services industry in the US today and Richard Sandor, an innovator widely regarded as the "father of financial futures".

Emmanuel travels widely and has visited more than 100 countries and is working on his next book tentatively and titled “The Winning Civilization.” He is particularly interested in Geo-political issues such as in the US, China and the rise of Asia.

As an entrepreneur, he was previously a member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), a prestigious grouping of young business owners worldwide. Emmanuel was trained as a lawyer, has degrees from the National University of Singapore and the University of London, and attended a course on economics at Columbia University in New York. He travels widely and divides his time between Singapore, Beijing and New York.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

So, there's an obvious problem when the people that lay their lives on the line to protect us, (and that we depend upon for that security) have image, procedural, and behavioral issues that we see exploited in the media and demonstrated on the streets regularly. We don't see, nor are we regularly reminded of all the work that most officers do to try and keep their community's and themselves safe. But man do we ever hear about the times when they fail. More importantly, we DON'T hear about all the times when Police make a bad call in a situation that antagonizes people. Especially those that are already "behind the 8 ball" due to their economic condition, situational circumstances, or the color of their skin. The fact is that there are systemic problems that need to be discussed that range from spending the time and money (pony up taxpayers) necessary to prepare and maintain our policemen and women, as well as the laws that often have more to do with oppression than they do with justice. (Probably made some enemies with that comment).

The reality is that being a police officer is a tough job, and it's one with horrible consequences when we get it wrong. So, let's get it right by figuring out the best tools for helping officers to keep themselves and us safe, while helping them to understand what happens when they allow their insecurities and biases (we ALL have those) to take over. Far too many people of color pay a huge price when that happens, and black people, have to stomach a LOT of anger and humiliation to avoid confrontations that can quickly result in incarceration, beatings or worse. That's not an indictment of Police, that's a condition that is perpetrated by ignorance.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Happy Memorial Day everyone - and to any Veterans out there that might listen - Thank you for your service. I keep bringing this episode back for two reasons:

1) We need to remember the profound significance of this day. This is one day where any other self label (Dem, Rep - whatever) must be placed in the backseat so that we all just call ourselves Americans with a shared debt to those we sent off to war. Back in 2019 I was asked to accompany a cohort of the Badger Honor Flight organization as a media Representative, and it was a transformational experience for me. It's one thing to celebrate Memorial Day as a respectful citizen, it's a profoundly different thing to get a glimpse of what it really means, through the eyes and recollections of those that fought for our country and lost comrades. These veterans are the first to tell you that they are not heroes. Their friends and comrades that paid the highest price for our freedoms ARE the REAL heroes. The stories I heard that day bear repeating over and over and over again. They make this holiday real. Not with pomp and circumstance and political posturing, but with the heart and soul of humanity. Their stories made me sad, made me laugh in some cases, but mostly made me appreciate the real people behind this holiday.

2) These are stories that need to heard and shared. It was and incredible honor to share in this day. I feel a responsibilty to continue to rebroadcast it as much as possible so that people hear and ponder the significance of these stories so that they can perhaps understand more about what it truely means to be a patriot. These are people that filmed scenes set in a war, these are the folks that were there, taking fire, and didn't run.

P.S. For the only time in my broadcasting career, I began the day feeling hoarse and by the end of the day completely lost my voice. At the time that seemed like a catastrophe, but as the day went on, I realized it just might be God's way of telling me "shut up and listen". I had no choice but to do so. Good choice.

P.P.S. At the end of this episode I tacked on a portion of Steven Curtis Chapman's song "We Remember". If you don't have a copy of it, GET ONE! It is by far one of the best songs ever written as an anthem of praise and thanks for our Veterans and all those who made sacrifices for our freedoms. Let's stop fighting with each other over who said what and who voted for whom and. . . just listen.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

This week after we started out meandering around the topic of how to manipulate the masses with numbers and the irresponsible use of statistics (one of MY favorite topics). Then, eventually, Antowan and I finally got around to talking about clothing, which is the topic of this podcast. Clothing choices we make can say a LOT about who we are and what we want our appearance to others to convey . What we wear says as much about us as it does about the people around us. Whether it's a certain type of hat, worn in a certain way, or a worn out flannel shirt that feels like an old friend, clothes say a lot about us. They help protect us from the elements and help us belong to the worlds around us. So we wanted to talk about it a bit, and I really wanted to get the scoop on Church Lady hats.

Hope you enjoy our light hearted and informative discussion about threads, styles, and how to be a fantastic fashionista like Antowan and I. And if you believe that, I have some swamp land in Missouri that I'd like to sell you. :)

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

It's not every day that you get to talk with someone that has been a Navy Seal. I've watched documentaries and mainstream movies that depict Seals and they are some of the most highly trained people in the world. Bonafide Bad A$$ Mother F*ers. Knowing just some of what they endure in training, it is hard to not think of them as Real Life Super Heroes. Then to get to talk with one in real life is pretty cool. But my guest in this episode is even more exceptional.

Christopher Maher is a former Navy SEAL who endured intense physical, mental, and emotional stress as a child. By combining a “seal mindset” with modern stress management strategies, Christopher taught himself to free his body and mind from pain by developing mental and physical tools for eliminating unresolved stress. Christopher studied Traditional Chinese Medical Practices at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and at Yo San University before continuing his studies at The Universal Healing Tao System. He is a student of Grand Master Mantak Chia at the Universal Tao Master School in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and is currently pursuing his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Traditional Chinese Medicine .

To Give you more of an idea about what Chris has found in his journey, here's an excerpt from his book Free for Life:

"The attitude of our society is work hard, achieve greatness, and don’t worry about tomorrow. Give it 100 percent all day, every day. Go all out. There is no need for balance, because the medal, the recognition, the signing bonus, is worth the pain.

Intensity at the expense of our health and wellness is encouraged. I certainly bought into this idea during my time in the Navy SEALS, and externally, I appeared to be fit, successful, and satisfied. But inside, I suffered from chronic, debilitating physical and emotional pain.

If this sounds like you, know that there’s a better way to live. You can determine what’s wrong in your life, turn your intensity into peace, and be happier and more successful than ever.

That's just a sampling of who he is and what he has found. Listen to find out more.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

In honor of Mother's Day, Antowan and I decided to just talk about moms. We share memories of them and how they impacted our lives (both our moms are gone now). More importantly we talked about the importance of mom's in every family and about how the absence of mom's in their son's lives is life altering. This is our heart-felt tribute to them and a testimony to how important our time with our mom's was as well as how important those memories have become with each passing year.

To every son and daughter listening, remember that eventually your mom will be gone and we are all left with only memories. Make them good ones.

So as we get closer to this "hallmark holiday," we hope you'll join us in our quiet celebration of the women that bring us allinto this world in great pain, and then seek to help us to cope with the pain and joy, that is life itself. Mom's have a tough job, no two ways about it. Even if your's wasn't the best at it, she's STILL your only mom.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Andre Lafond is a 20 year old Haitian-American Racing Driver currently competing in the U.K. He is the first Haitian American to win a Formula Ford series race in the U.K. As a child he overcame the challenges of ADHD by finding his place in the motorsports world that in turn instilled in him the characteristics of self-control, discipline, and focus that he needed to grow in life.

Starting in 2018, the New Jersey native has not slowed down. Lafond is an all around athlete active in martial arts, mountain biking, fitness & nutrition. His analytical approach to racing makes him a fierce and fair competitor, on and off the track.

Born five weeks early, Andre spent the first week of life in the ICU and was subsequently diagnosed with ADHD and severe fine motor control challenges. Despite many early childhood setbacks, Andre found his comfort zone amidst the speed and unpredictability of the track. His talent for racing shone through at a very early age - his first word was “wheels.”

At just 20-years-old, Andre has solidified his place in the global motorsports world which, in turn, instilled in him the life defining characteristics of self-control, discipline, and focus.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Is it just me, or does it strike anyone else how brutal and honestly shameful it is for us to look down on the poor. Many of us go to our preconceived biases like "why don't they work harder and get a job?" "Or why don't they just make better decisions?" or " They can't be THAT poor if they're spending money they don't have on booze, cigarettes or cell phones". Or perhaps the worst preconception of all "they're just free-loading and living off of MY taxes". Ever thought any of those things? Know anyone that has?

Consider the following:
1) Poor folks already have more than a couple of strikes against them - so why do we feel like it's ok to judge them (without knowing them) and dismiss them with disdain? What is it that keeps us from realizing it could just as easily be us on the receiving end?
2) If you come onto hard time, or are born into poverty, what are your options? All of us do what we need to do to survive so if you think people are responsible for their own poverty - think again. What would happen to YOU if you suddenly lost your job and couldn't find another that would even cover your mortgage. How long would it take for you to take whatever money the government gave you? If you were struggling to just keep your head above water, how much energy or time would you have to make things better?
3) Consider how the media and our culture even our own selfish biases define what we think of poor people - they're free loaders, Welfare Queens, Crackheads - all that makes it easier to not care about them. Makes it easier to not want to do anything to solve the problem of poverty.
4) In the great scheme of things, remember the top 1% in our country control more than 50% of the wealth so really . . . it's ALL of us that are poor, some of us just have enough to distract ourselves periodically.
5) How is it in this country where some individuals have 500 million dollar yachts while others don't have enough to eat?

This week Antowan and I talk about Poverty, what it's really like, what gets people stuck there, and how can any of us get out? Remember the differences in this world are not between Black and White folks, the Red colored folks and the Yellow colored ones, or the Pink Striped and the Purple Polka Dotted folks. The differences are between the haves and the have nots. Most of us are fighting in the wrong direction. Remember "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". It's much harder to judge and look down upon those that suffer from poverty - whatever the cause, when we're forced to reckon with our own spiritual poverty.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Frankly I don't get it. Why do we make it so hard to vote? Supposedly it's to prevent cheating but . . . has anyone out there ever talked with the folks that actually count the votes? The system is so well protected, that in order to succeed with any meaningful amount of cheating, It would require a LOT of money AND a lot of corruption. And if such corruption really does exist, if there are ways to flip votes and change the will of voters that are "asleep at the switch" then our process of voting is as pointless as Charlie Brown trying to kick that football, hoping that this time Lucy will let us.

Get ready to have divisive rhetoric like "Take back the greatest democracy in the world" or "stop the facists demogagues that want to steal your vote" thrown around like frisbees in 2024. Politicians will get us all hyped up to get up, go out and VOTE. And then, of course, somebody will win, but then again somebody will have to also lose and then all heck will break out because . . . people don't LIKE to lose. Everyone wants a participation award. Or they can't BELIEVE that people wouldn't vote for them so . . . it must be rigged!

Balogna. I call it balogna. Hundreds of thousands of people have given up their lives to fight for our freedoms and rights including the right to vote. Can we just stop this nonsense and honor their sacrifice? Instead of sullying it with petty loser-ship. So this week Antoine and I are talking about WHY it's so hard to vote and WHY it's so important that we all fight to make sure EVERYONE that can, actually does ... vote. It's critical that everyone in this country gets the chance to cast their vote and even more critical that we focus on the simple fact that everyone has a stake in it, and only one person can win. If it'not the person WE wanted, then try again. Calling foul, because you lost is NOT something that will make America great again. When I was a kid that was called being a sore loser and people were ashamed of behavior like that. What happened?

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Ever wonder why some words are "forbidden" while other words are magnificently grouped into phrases that make us sing with a loud voice. Words can be beautiful and inspiring, as well as painful, hurtful, mean, and full of hate or . . . love. We communicate through them, we weild them like swords, use them to build walls of exclusion, but in reality, the words themselves only communicate about 7% of what is really being said or is meant when we use words. Our non-verbal skills and intentions, our background and up bringing, our ATTITUDE and BELIEFS say so much more than the words ever will or, in fact, that . . . they . . . can.

In this episode of Frame of Reference - Coming Together, Antowan and I talk about words. Slang words, rich words, words of all shapes and colors all in our never ending desire to find ways for Black and White Americans to find and secure a place where words are used to unify and embolden those who seek truth and justice. Who wouldn't want to live in such a place instead of the one we have made today where our words are constantly being used to demean and divide. Come together with us as we start to unravel the wonder of words together.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

So last time Antoine and I had so much fun talking about all the types of music out there that Black and White folks enjoy. Strangely enough in our case, it ended up being the SAME music. Who'd a thunk it. So, we thought we should try to maintain the positive vibe from last week's grooviness, by cooking up a conversation about food. Like music, food brings us together to enjoy a meal, talk about things to come (thanks James Taylor for that lyric). As usual, we found that focusing on things that we have in common as well as those that are unique to our cultural and personal backgrounds, brought us closer together, and hopefully will help our listeners move in that same direction.

So pass the potatoes, or the collard greens, and especially the ribs, because there's lots of sitting down at the table together that needs to happen, Let there be lip smacking goodness that goes in and comes out of, our mouths!

Oh, and save some room for dessert. The pie is to die for.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

When I was a kid, I remember hearing the phrase "music hath charms to sooth the savage beast". It was used as a plot devise where a hero, in the midst of a dangerous situation, (usually involving their imminent death from becoming dinner for a lion) would magically produce a flute or some other instrument and put said lion to sleep on the spot. It was funny, but there is SOME truth in that concept. Music does calm us down, fire us up, inspire us and at its best, bring us together. In the midst of great music played by great musicians, those of us blessed by bearing witness to it, are joined together in ways that are deeply moving.

This week, Antoine and I talk about music in our lives. We explore the different styles of music that have been a part of our lives and probe the power and possibilities of using music to bring us together. Perhaps it can be a tool in breaking down prejudices and be a muse that moves us to listen to our better angels. And a one and a two, hit it maestro.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Years ago, when I first resigned myself to working in the "Real World" in order to support my family, I used to think that getting an MFA in Directing had been a waste of time and money on my part. Because after all, besides directing in High Schools, Middle Schools and Community Theatre groups, I wasn't realy doing what I was trained to do. And then as I got older, I kept thinking of Shakespeare's wonderful line "all the world's a stage and we are merely players in it" and that made me come to the conclusion, that it hadn't been a waste of time at all. It was really one of the best ways to prepare FOR life. Where else but in the theatre, the other Fine Arts, and Philosophy does one have the opportunity to explore the mysteries and tragedies of life, the human condition, and our existential battle to find meaning in the pain and suffering of this world as well as its joys and inspirations? Theatre reveals some of the "pathways" to that meaning and purpose. The drive that all of us pursue and long to find, except, perhaps, the most cynical and bitter (Which is in itself a tragedy that dramatic literature explores often). My long talk with Jack Canfora was such a "roadmap", and his plays are as well. (Read them - a couple are even available on Amazon) In short . . . it was a joy and personally, one of my favorite interviews to date. After listening to it, I hope this wrap up to that conversation will leave you wanting to hear more from him. I know I look forward to our next talk.

John Lawrence "Jack" Canfora is an Award-Winning American playwright, actor, musician and teacher. After receiving his dramatic training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he began his career as an actor in regional theater, working mostly in Shakespearean roles such as Mercutio and Macbeth. He’s been hailed by the Associated Press as “White-hot Entertainment” for his off-Broadway plays including Poetic License, Place Setting, and Jericho, a New York Times “Critics Pick.” He was nominated along with Edward Albee, Elaine May, and Teresa Rebeck for The Newark Star Ledger’s Best Play, 2007. Jack is the recipient of two Edgerton Playwriting Awards, for Jericho (2010) and The Source (2018). He won the 2016 Webby Award for Best Writing in a Web Series. Jack is also the Artistic Director of New Normal Rep.

To learn more about Jack and his plays and more importantly, how to get them, go to his website at: HOME | Jack Canfora (jackcanforawriter.com)

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

I'm a big fan of Star Trek and anyone that's a fan of that show knows that Matter / Anttimatter is at the heart of the Enterprise's warp engines. The energy released by the combining of those two elements provides the energy to drive starships to the ends of the galaxy and beyond. Here's the thing though. That process involves the obliteration and annihilation of both parts in a reaction that makes a thermo-nuclear bomb look like a pop-rock.

I use that as an analogy to what's going on with today's culture wars and the power brokers that seek to pit all of us against one another by urging us to "other-ize" each other into being either Woke or Anti-woke. There's no discussion, there's no listening, there's no thinking about what the other might be trying to defend or encourage or explain. There is only obliteration of the other. No control of the action and reaction, only annihilation. If only we could find a way to focus those two disparate entities (anybody got any dilithium laying around?) into a controlled reaction, we might actually be able to propel our entire nation forward. But first, I think, we need to understand the "physics" of what's going on in our engine. That's the foundation of this episode.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

If you listened to part one of this 3 part series you'll know that Jack and I had a bit of a good time talking with each other. Peas from the same pod (or podcast) as we used to say back when I was but a little pea-let. So I'm going to wax a bit goofy and play with the names of our 3 part series. So listen, if you dare, to part 2 of our sparkling repartee and witty witicisms. It was fun to do and I hope fun to listen to.

John Lawrence "Jack" Canfora is an Award-Winning American playwright, actor, musician and teacher. After receiving his dramatic training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he began his career as an actor in regional theater, working mostly in Shakespearean roles such as Mercutio and Macbeth. He’s been hailed by the Associated Press as “White-hot Entertainment” for his off-Broadway plays including Poetic License, Place Setting, and Jericho, a New York Times “Critics Pick.” He was nominated along with Edward Albee, Elaine May, and Teresa Rebeck for The Newark Star Ledger’s Best Play, 2007. Jack is the recipient of two Edgerton Playwriting Awards, for Jericho (2010) and The Source (2018). He won the 2016 Webby Award for Best Writing in a Web Series. Jack is also the Artistic Director of New Normal Rep.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

When I get to talk with someone like Jack Canfora, whom I've never met before, never known of before (sorry Jack), and come away from it feeling exhilerated, uplifted and anticipating this is (hopefully) just the first of many conversations, that is truly a special thing. From my perspective Jack and I "hit it off". Two theatre guys celebrating what the theatre does best. Exploring the mysteries of life, and the human condition through literature and storytelling. In short . . . it was a joy and personally, one of my favorite interviews to date. After listening to it, I hope it will be one of your as well.

John Lawrence "Jack" Canfora is an Award-Winning American playwright, actor, musician and teacher. After receiving his dramatic training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he began his career as an actor in regional theater, working mostly in Shakespearean roles such as Mercutio and Macbeth. He’s been hailed by the Associated Press as “White-hot Entertainment” for his off-Broadway plays including Poetic License, Place Setting, and Jericho, a New York Times “Critics Pick.” He was nominated along with Edward Albee, Elaine May, and Teresa Rebeck for The Newark Star Ledger’s Best Play, 2007. Jack is the recipient of two Edgerton Playwriting Awards, for Jericho (2010) and The Source (2018). He won the 2016 Webby Award for Best Writing in a Web Series. Jack is also the Artistic Director of New Normal Rep.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

In our inaugural episode of Frame of Reference - Coming together, Antowan and I talk about why . . . it's so hard to talk about race. How do we learn about things like Black Lives Matter and why that's so important in today's world, if we can't even talk about what Racism looks like, feels like, even smells like in America. Maybe part of why we as White folks don't talk or ask questions about it is because we are secretly afraid to broach the subject. Antowan and I talk about some of the barriers to having meaningful talks about racism and some of the strategies and mindsets needed in order to have them become catalysts for change and healing.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

After almost a year of planning and discussion, my friend Antowan Hallmon Sr and I are almost ready to make Podcast history with the release of our new groundbreaking show: Frame of Reference - Coming Together. Join us each week as we have candid discussions about the issues, questions, biases, prejudices, and just down right ignorance that White People and Black People struggle with as we ALL struggle to be "WE the People of the United States of America . . ." We'll be talking about everything from Collard Greens to George Floyd; Jazz to Razz ma tazz; and everything in between as we seek to find the common ground that will hopefully help in some small way to make racism (please God) a thing of the past.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Every once in a while you meet people that just make you sit back and say "wow". You know the type? Energetic to the point where you swear they could power a small country. Passionate enough about life that you're sure they will make the world a better place, and everyone better get out of their way. If there was such a thing as a human weather pattern they're an E4 whirlwind of ideas, zest for life and a desire to be the best they can be. Zack Schreirer is one of those folks.

Zack is a serial entrepreneur, who started his first business in high school. He then co-founded Quevos as a freshman in college with his life-long friend, Nick Hamburger (we're talking about since the 3rd grade type of friend). Quevos is a category-leading CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) company that pioneered the development of healthy chips made from egg whites. Zack appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank in 2021 and secured an investment from Daniel Lubetzky, the founder of Kind Bars.

His true passions are health and philosophy. As if co-founding ONE company just out of high school wasn't enough, Zack also co-founded Lifestacks to bring his vision for healthy, high-performance living to the market.

Find out more about Zack at: www.lifestacks.com

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Every once in a while you meet people that just make you sit back and say "wow". You know the type? Energetic to the point where you swear they could power a small country. Passionate enough about life that you're sure they will make the world a better place, and everyone better get out of their way. If there was such a thing as a human weather pattern they're an E4 whirlwind of ideas, zest for life and a desire to be the best they can be. Zack Schreirer is one of those folks.

Zack is a serial entrepreneur, who started his first business in high school. He then co-founded Quevos as a freshman in college with his life-long friend, Nick Hamburger (we're talking about since the 3rd grade type of friend). Quevos is a category-leading CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) company that pioneered the development of healthy chips made from egg whites. Zack appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank in 2021 and secured an investment from Daniel Lubetzky, the founder of Kind Bars.

His true passions are health and philosophy. As if co-founding ONE company just out of high school wasn't enough, Zack also co-founded Lifestacks to bring his vision for healthy, high-performance living to the market.

Find out more about Zack at: www.lifestacks.com

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Every once in a while you meet people that just make you sit back and say "wow". You know the type? Energetic to the point where you swear they could power a small country. Passionate enough about life that you're sure they will make the world a better place, and everyone better get out of their way. If there was such a thing as a human weather pattern they're an E4 whirlwind of ideas, zest for life and a desire to be the best they can be. Zack Schreirer is one of those folks.

Zack is a serial entrepreneur, who started his first business in high school. He then co-founded Quevos as a freshman in college with his life-long friend, Nick Hamburger (we're talking about since the 3rd grade type of friend). Quevos is a category-leading CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) company that pioneered the development of healthy chips made from egg whites. Zack appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank in 2021 and secured an investment from Daniel Lubetzky, the founder of Kind Bars.

His true passions are health and philosophy. As if co-founding ONE company just out of high school wasn't enough, Zack also co-founded Lifestacks to bring his vision for healthy, high-performance living to the market.

Find out more about Zack at: www.lifestacks.com

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

To start off the New Year, I had a fascinating discussion with Mr. Sahaj Sharda. Sahaj is an author that brings passion to his analysis of recent trends in higher education and encourages educators and institutions of higher learning to simply do better. Given the support schools receive from taxpayers and the need for the best education possible for graduates that enter into careers each year, the stakes in having that education be as good as possible, In his newest book, The College Cartel, Sahaj Sharda is starting an essential debate about the monopolistic greed of the Ivy League colleges and other elite schools. In recent years, elite colleges have been sued for price-fixing, sued for discrimination in admissions, and scandalized by Varsity Blues. Sahaj's book is both an exploration of these scandals and an analysis of the underlying force creating them: an artificial scarcity of elite seats.

A graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, America's
top-ranked high school, and Georgetown University, Sahaj noticed early on that plenty of intelligent students who can obviously handle the rigor at elite colleges are rejected every year. Having been an undergraduate student at Georgetown when the Varsity Blues scandal broke out, Sahaj further witnessed a fellow classmate's parents sentenced to jail. Seeing these things, Sahaj was forced to question why. His book is an attempt to answer the question and explore the reasons behind the answers with both objective data and personal anecdotes.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

To start off the New Year, I had a fascinating discussion with Mr. Sahaj Sharda. Sahaj is the author of an upcoming book entitled "The College Cartel". He brings surprising data and a keenly felt passion to his analysis of recent trends in higher education. The results are an indictment against elitism that challenges educators and institutions of higher learning to simply do better. Given the support schools receive from taxpayers and a growing need for quality education, in an increasingly complex world, Sahaj's work is a plea that we ALL do what we can to ensure that education is as good as possible,

In "The College Cartel", Sahaj Sharda is starting an essential debate about the monopolistic greed and irresponsible business practices of Ivy League colleges and other elite schools. It brings to light the practices of these institutions, that have led to elite colleges being sued for price-fixing and discrimination in admissions, as well as scandalized by debacles like "Varsity Blues". Sahaj's book is both an exploration of these scandals and an analysis of the underlying force creating them: an artificial
scarcity of elite seats.

A graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, America's
top-ranked high school, and Georgetown University, Sahaj noticed early on that plenty of intelligent students who can obviously handle the rigor at elite colleges are rejected every year. Having been an undergraduate student at Georgetown when the Varsity Blues scandal broke out, Sahaj further witnessed a fellow classmate's parents sentenced to jail. Seeing these things, Sahaj was forced to question why. His book is an attempt to answer the question and explore the reasons behind the answers with both objective data and personal anecdotes.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

In part 2 of my conversation with Jeff Wright, Superintendent of the Sauk Prairie School system we talk about the struggles that our local school system and those across the entire nation face in coping with the aftermath of the COVID epidemic. Growing up in today's world is so incredibly complex and the stress that it puts on our children is unbearable for many. The price it exacts from those of us that are most vulnerable is unacceptable. As such, one of the things today's educators have to monitor closely are the mental health indicators of their students. Increasingly they are reminded to remain alert to any warning signs or ongoing depression, anxiety disorders or worse. Jeff speaks candidly from his own experiences and from his profound compassion and empathy for any child and family struggling to cope with today's world.

Jeff and his family live on a farm near Plain where they enjoy raising chickens and being outdoors all year round. Before joining the team in Sauk Prairie in 2012, Jeff served as a high school principal in Chicago and was a Social Studies teacher in Rochester, Minnesota. Jeff grew up in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and has degrees from St. Olaf College and Harvard University.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

This is part one of a 4-part series with Jeff Wright, School Superintendent for the Sauk Prairie School district. In this part we talk about Jeff's background as well as delve into the topic of maintaining good mental health in schools and at home. Long gone (hopefully) are the stigmatizing days of looking at mental health issues as defects, but instead as challenges that can be healed with empathy and emotional intelligence. Jeff and I talk about strategies that his school district is using to make our schools safe places that promote learning the 3 R's as well as ways to cope with an ever more complicated world.

Jeff and his family live on a farm near Plain where they enjoy raising chickens and being outdoors all year round. Before joining the team in Sauk Prairie in 2012, Jeff served as a high school principal in Chicago and was a Social Studies teacher in Rochester, Minnesota. Jeff grew up in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and has degrees from St. Olaf College and Harvard University.

Thanks for listening. Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about. There's always time to expand your Frame of Reference.

This the last of a 4 part series of an interview with Tom Eggert. This is where we get to talk about an organization that is near and dear to his heart as it is one that he founded after having retired from his full time job as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Following the Haitian earthquake in January, 2010, Tom, with the help of his students at UW Madison, worked to raise money to help individuals in Haiti recover from the devastating impacts of the earthquake. Instead of donating the money to a non-profit, they formed Wisconsin Microfinance to explore the role that access to capital could play in improving the quality of life of desperately poor individuals. These small loans are managed by a partner in Haiti, with funding from the US. The program was designed using principles developed by Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank. The Haitian program has been immensely successful. Over 800 individuals are on the waiting list for future loans. The program has subsequently expanded into the Philippines after Typhoon Yolanda which destroyed large parts of the country. Lessons learned from Haiti were incorporated into program development in the Philippines.

This is the 3rd installment of a conversation with Tom Eggert that I had in which we focused on the reality of Climate Change and how we need to respond to it with a unified effort as individuals, as communities, and as a nation. We discuss it as a critical equation that must be solved but that requires businesses, and the general public to understand and embrace what's at stake. We also look at the nature of expertise and how the scientific community has in some ways "botched" the presentation of the facts. Part of this is how academia failed to clearly delineate the difference between science that is real and verifiable and that which is really only opinions and not backed with reliable evidence.

Tom has been at the forefront of business and sustainability for the last twenty-five years, both teaching classes in sustainability at the University of Wisconsin and founding and serving as the Executive Director of the WI Sustainable Business Council. Tom taught the first classes on campus in sustainability and later was a co-developer of the graduate certificate in Business, Environment and Social Responsibility (BESR) at the WI School of Business. He has written and spoken extensively on the changing role of business in society, corporate social responsibility, socially responsible investing, divestment, and on how the private sector can lead in responding to generational challenges such as climate change. Growing out of his interest in sustainability, Tom founded the non-profit “Wisconsin Microfinance”. Wisconsin Microfinance’s programs provide people living in areas where access to capital is severely limited ACCESS to financial and support services needed to lift their families out of poverty.

This is part 3 of a 3-part interview with Jay Salinas; Brenda Baker, as well as Jacque and Dan Enge. These guests bring robust backgrounds and life experiences to the various aspects of a unique Sauk County event: The Farm/Art D'Tour. This nationally renowned event gives visitors and residents an opportunity to tour Sauk County and the myriad of ways that (as Max Garland wrote) "Art amplifies what landscape quietly asserts". IF you choose to avail yourself of this exquisite journey you will find Art that is beautifully integrated into its surroundings in "Farm Forms" as well as "Pasture Performances" filled with music, merriment and mirth and (as if that wasn’t enough) fermented culinary treats at area "Food Chain" marketplaces filled with food, art and ideas.

Jay Salinas is the Director of Special Projects & Outreach at the Wormfarm Institute which coordinates the Farm/Art D'Tour. Jay is an artist, farmer and co-founder of Wormfarm. He coordinates the Artist Residency program, and leads food and agriculture outreach initiatives. He helped conceptualize the Farm/Art D'Tour and has served as juror, logistics and Food Chain coordinator from 2011-2020. Trained as a sculptor, Jay holds a BFA from University of IL Champaign and an MFA from University of Cincinnati. He has operated a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm since 1995. He has worked nationally for food justice and sustainability issues and was a director at Growing Power in Milwaukee from 2006-09.

Brenda Baker is an artist, writer, and museum curator, whose work intersects the fields of ecological restoration, sustainable design, cultural geography and site-specific sculpture. Brenda has an MFA from University of Wisconsin-Madison, a BA from DePauw University, and studied at both the Austro-American Institute in Vienna, Austria and Karl Marx University of Economics in Budapest, Hungary. Brenda is the Vice President of Exhibits, Facilities and Strategic Initiativesfor Madison Children’s Museum in Madison, WI, where she has worked for the past three decades, leading the museum’s nationally known exhibition and sustainability efforts. Her artwork is inspired by both children and the natural world, and has been shown throughout the world and held in collections in Europe, Canada, South America and the United States. She has participated in three previous Art Farm D’Tours, and is working on a piece for this year’s D’Tour called the CarbonEra Café with arist Beth Persche and the Wormfarm Institute.

She has been named a Noyce Fellow, a Badger Bioneer and Sustainabiltiy Visionary of the Year, and the children’s museum has received the highest honor for museums in the United States, the National Medal, for its national leadership in community engagement and sustainability.

Jacque & Dan Enge are co-founders of Veggie Emporium which is located in Sauk County, WI. Veggie Emporium started as a quaint roadside stand and has since expanded to sell at the Baraboo Farmers' Market. Their focus is providing nutrient rich produce to the community while promoting biodiversity and soil regeneration.

This is part 2 of a 3-part interview with Jay Salinas; Brenda Baker, as well as Jacque and Dan Enge. These guests bring robust backgrounds and life experiences to the various aspects of a unique Sauk County event: The Farm/Art D'Tour. This nationally renowned event gives visitors and residents an opportunity to tour Sauk County and the myriad of ways that (as Max Garland wrote) "Art amplifies what landscape quietly asserts". IF you choose to avail yourself of this exquisite journey you will find Art that is beautifully integrated into its surroundings in "Farm Forms" as well as "Pasture Performances" filled with music, merriment and mirth and (as if that wasn’t enough) fermented culinary treats at area "Food Chain" marketplaces filled with food, art and ideas.

Jay Salinas is the Director of Special Projects & Outreach at the Wormfarm Institute which coordinates the Farm/Art DTour. Jay is an artist, farmer and co-founder of Wormfarm. He coordinates the Artist Residency program, and leads food and agriculture outreach initiatives. He helped conceptualize the Farm/Art DTour and has served as juror, logistics and Food Chain coordinator from 2011-2020. Trained as a sculptor, Jay holds a BFA from University of IL Champaign and an MFA from University of Cincinnati. He has operated a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm since 1995. He has worked nationally for food justice and sustainability issues and was a director at Growing Power in Milwaukee from 2006-09.

Brenda Baker is an artist, writer, and museum curator, whose work intersects the fields of ecological restoration, sustainable design, cultural geography and site-specific sculpture. Brenda has an MFA from University of Wisconsin-Madison, a BA from DePauw University, and studied at both the Austro-American Institute in Vienna, Austria and Karl Marx University of Economics in Budapest, Hungary. Brenda is the Vice President of Exhibits, Facilities and Strategic Initiativesfor Madison Children’s Museum in Madison, WI, where she has worked for the past three decades, leading the museum’s nationally known exhibition and sustainability efforts. Her artwork is inspired by both children and the natural world, and has been shown throughout the world and held in collections in Europe, Canada, South America and the United States. She has participated in three previous Art Farm D’Tours, and is working on a piece for this year’s D’Tour called the CarbonEra Café with arist Beth Persche and the Wormfarm Institute.

She has been named a Noyce Fellow, a Badger Bioneer and Sustainabiltiy Visionary of the Year, and the children’s museum has received the highest honor for museums in the United States, the National Medal, for its national leadership in community engagement and sustainability.

Jacque & Dan Enge are co-founders of Veggie Emporium which is located in Sauk County, WI. Veggie Emporium started as a quaint roadside stand and has since expanded to sell at the Baraboo Farmers' Market. Their focus is providing nutrient rich produce to the community while promoting biodiversity and soil regeneration.

This is part 1 of a 3 part interview with Jay Salinas; Brenda Baker, as well as Jacque and Dan Enge. All of them bring a unique background to various aspects of a quintessetial Sauk County event. The Farm/Art D'Tour which is a provides visitors and residents a unique tour of Sauk County and the myriad of ways that (as Max Garland once wrote) "Art amplifies what landscape quietly asserts". IF you choose to avail yourself of this brief and exquisite journey you will find Art that is beautifully integrated into its surroundings in "Farm Forms" as well as "Pasture Performances" filled with music, merriment and mirth as well as plenty of fermented culinary treats at area "Food Chain" marketplaces filled with food, art and ideas.

Jay Salinas is the Director of Special Projects & Outreach at the Wormfarm Institute which coordinates the Farm/Art DTour. Jay is an artist, farmer and co-founder of Wormfarm. He coordinates the Artist Residency program, and leads food and agriculture outreach initiatives. He helped conceptualize the Farm/Art DTour and has served as juror, logistics and Food Chain coordinator from 2011-2020. Trained as a sculptor, Jay holds a BFA from University of IL Champaign and an MFA from University of Cincinnati. He has operated a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm since 1995. He has worked nationally for food justice and sustainability issues and was a director at Growing Power in Milwaukee from 2006-09.

Brenda Baker is an artist, writer, and museum curator, whose work intersects the fields of ecological restoration, sustainable design, cultural geography and site-specific sculpture. Brenda has an MFA from University of Wisconsin-Madison, a BA from DePauw University, and studied at both the Austro-American Institute in Vienna, Austria and Karl Marx University of Economics in Budapest, Hungary. Brenda is the Vice President of Exhibits, Facilities and Strategic Initiativesfor Madison Children’s Museum in Madison, WI, where she has worked for the past three decades, leading the museum’s nationally known exhibition and sustainability efforts. Her artwork is inspired by both children and the natural world, and has been shown throughout the world and held in collections in Europe, Canada, South America and the United States. She has participated in three previous Art Farm D’Tours, and is working on a piece for this year’s D’Tour called the CarbonEra Café with arist Beth Persche and the Wormfarm Institute.

She has been named a Noyce Fellow, a Badger Bioneer and Sustainabiltiy Visionary of the Year, and the children’s museum has received the highest honor for museums in the United States, the National Medal, for its national leadership in community engagement and sustainability.

Jacque & Dan Enge are co-founders of Veggie Emporium which is located in Sauk County, WI. Veggie Emporium started as a quaint roadside stand and has since expanded to sell at the Baraboo Farmers' Market. Their focus is providing nutrient rich produce to the community while promoting biodiversity and soil regeneration.

Tom Eggert is one of those individuals who's zest for life and blazing optimism infects those around him (like me) with a deep sense of hope. As George Bernard Shaw once wrote he "dreams dreams of things that never were, and asks why not?" His career has been one filled with some pretty major twists and turns, but in looking back, it always seemed like each step was the perfect preparation for the next one. He has been a proverbial Pooh Bear that has allowed the river to take him where it will. Now in retirement, he gives me the impression of a kid in a candy store that's been presented with so many great options, that it's really hard to make just one selection.

Tom has been at the forefront of business and sustainability for the last twenty-five years, both teaching classes in sustainability at the University of Wisconsin and founding and serving as the Executive Director of the WI Sustainable Business Council. Tom taught the first classes on campus in sustainability and later was a co-developer of the graduate certificate in Business, Environment and Social Responsibility (BESR) at the WI School of Business. He has written and spoken extensively on the changing role of business in society, corporate social responsibility, socially responsible investing, divestment, and on how the private sector can lead in responding to generational challenges such as climate change. Growing out of his interest in sustainability, Tom founded the non-profit “Wisconsin Microfinance”. Wisconsin Microfinance’s programs provide people living in areas where access to capital is severely limited ACCESS to financial and support services needed to lift their families out of poverty.

He's the guy I turn to when I'm trying to really understand the issues that Today's Teens face each and every day. Kyle Crosby returns to talk turkey and help me (and you) understand the pressures and problems of being a Teenager in today's world. He's a great resource for our community and the kind of person you want running programs for them. Hope you can listen in and gain a greater understanding of all those people facing adulthood in a compassionate frame of reference.

Kyle Crosby serves as the Director of Operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of West-Central Wisconsin; a group of small, rural clubs located in Baraboo, Reedsburg and Tomah. A Sauk Prairie native, Kyle graduated from UW-LaCrosse with a BS in Sports Management. After graduation, he Spent 3 years in Appleton, WI in the sports world before moving back closer to home to start a family with his wife, Sam.

As an advocate for youth already (with experience in coaching hockey and baseball) the opportunity to serve our central Wisconsin's youth at a larger level at the Boys & Girls Club fell into Kyle’s lap in 2014. He hasn’t looked back since and has grown into a leader within the organization and multiple communities.

If you want to get a super charge of hope and faith in something bigger than yourself, sit down and talk with Antowan Hallmon for an hour or so (Even just 20 minutes if you're rushed for time). He is sincerely one of the kindest and most gracious people I have ever met. He is also genuinely interested in knowing peplfinding ways to care for them and meeting their needs whenever possible. He also just happens to be a Christian Pastor of the Faithworks ministries in Baraboo Wisconsin. Faithworks is a 100% virtual, non-denominational church and if you listen to our conversation, you'll find out what that means and how a kid that grew up in taverns ended up becoming an on-fire minister. A minister that tries to just get people to focus on Jesus Christ and getting to know Him, then getting out of the way of Christ's work in those people. It's not about church, it's about a person and getting to know Him.

Antowan J. Hallmon Sr is the Founder and Senior Pastor of FaithWorks Ministries (FWM) in Baraboo, WI. Pastor Antowan was born in Chicago, IL. He grew up between Chicago, IL, Lakeland, FL, and Madison, WI. Pastor Antowan has 25+ years of restaurant/service industry experience and has managed restaurants across the country in Boston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Madison, WI.

In 2008 Pastor Antowan gave his life to Jesus Christ after a life changing accident, and in 2011 dedicated his life to ministry. He learned ministry and God granted him tremendous spiritual growth under the spiritual leadership of his spiritual father Pastor Matt Fearson at Hope Through Christ Ministries.

If you want to check out Pastor Hallmon's Sunday services you can find the live link for Sunday morning's at 10am here: Calendar - FaithWorks Ministries (fwministries.com)

If you want to get a super charge of hope and faith in something bigger than yourself, sit down and talk with Antowan Hallmon for an hour or so (Even just 20 minutes if you're rushed for time). He is sincerely one of the kindest and most gracious people I have ever met. He is also genuinely interested in knowing peplfinding ways to care for them and meeting their needs whenever possible. He also just happens to be a Christian Pastor of the Faithworks ministries in Baraboo Wisconsin. Faithworks is a 100% virtual, non-denominational church and if you listen to our conversation, you'll find out what that means and how a kid that grew up in taverns ended up becoming an on-fire minister. A minister that tries to just get people to focus on Jesus Christ and getting to know Him, then getting out of the way of Christ's work in those people. It's not about church, it's about a person and getting to know Him.

Antowan J. Hallmon Sr is the Founder and Senior Pastor of FaithWorks Ministries (FWM) in Baraboo, WI. Pastor Antowan was born in Chicago, IL. He grew up between Chicago, IL, Lakeland, FL, and Madison, WI. Pastor Antowan has 25+ years of restaurant/service industry experience and has managed restaurants across the country in Boston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Madison, WI.

In 2008 Pastor Antowan gave his life to Jesus Christ after a life changing accident, and in 2011 dedicated his life to ministry. He learned ministry and God granted him tremendous spiritual growth under the spiritual leadership of his spiritual father Pastor Matt Fearson at Hope Through Christ Ministries.

If you want to check out Pastor Hallmon's Sunday services you can find the live link for Sunday morning's at 10am here: Calendar - FaithWorks Ministries (fwministries.com)

Last week I finished up the podcast with a reference to Simon Sinek’s book “Leaders Eat Last”. This week I’m going back to Mr. Sinek again because Morgan’s philosophy about leadership training as well as his methods for teaching of it are very much in alignment with the teachings of Sinek.

One of Sinek’s earliest revelations in leadership training was to “start out with why”. He had observed in his research of organizations that everyone in an organization knows what it is that they do and some even know how to do it, but very few know WHY they do it. It’s not just “to make a profit” because that’s a result, and it will always be JUST a result of providing something of value. Why means: What’s your purpose? What’s your cause? Why does your organization exist? Why do you get out of the bed in the morning and why should anyone care? The fact that most of us don’t know our individual “Whys” may be the main reason for the “Great Resignation”. for many of us, the Pandemic forced a re-evaluation of that question and we came up lacking.

Sinek’s advice and in fact what makes the SCIL training so different (especially the way Morgan teaches it) is that it starts with the premise that EVERYONE can be a leader but they have to Establish clear personal, family, and health goals. These are your "WHY" goals. Why do you do what you do? If you don’t know . . it’s time to find out, don’t you think? And remember too that communication isn’t about speaking, it’s about listening. The rewards from getting that right, are exceptional.

Morgan McArthur’s career path has been winding, unconventional and rewarding. He has practiced as a large animal veterinarian in Idaho, mending cattle and horses for 15 years. Was Research & Development Manager at a New Zealand pharmaceutical company for a decade. As if that wasn't enough he has also given keynote/motivational speeches to audiences as small as three people to three thousand and has found a creative niche as a lettering/pinstriping artist. SCIL is one way in which he has enjoyed giving back to his home county as a UW-Madison Extension educator for five years.

Morgan is a co-facilitator in the Sauk County Institute of Leadership (SCIL) program, where participants learn more about themselves, learn a lot about the county and learn leadership skills. He’s also very involved with public art in his hometown of Baraboo. At this stage of his career Morgan knows it’s important to give back to the community and he brings enthusiasm to that mission.

There’s a book by the name of “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek that I need to finish. In it Mr. Sinek identifies some key principles that I think underscore what Morgan and I have been talking about this week, and will continue to probe next week. Leaders Eat Last makes the following assertion:

"The true price of leadership is the willingness to place the needs of others above your own"

According to many experts in the study of historical and modern day leadership personalities and styles, they have found that a great leader always tries to see things from other people’s perspective. They listen. They are compassionate and empathetic when appropriate, as well as directive and decisive as each situational AND INDIVIDUAL constellation of events unfolds. Leadership is not a “one size fits all”. It's more like the jacket the Michael J. Fox puts on in Back to the Future Part 2. Remember how he initially puts it on and it looks like he’s swimming in it? and then, it adjusts itself to his body measurements as he stands there. I think of leadership this way. You have to put it on and take the time to let the role “fit” you. It’s less about skills that are learned, and more about the character traits and emotional intelligence that each of us needs to develop through making mistakes, owning them and working to get better with each day. We’ve got to look under our “hoods” to understand how our engines work and where they NEED work.

Morgan McArthur’s career path has been winding, unconventional and rewarding. He has practiced as a large animal veterinarian in Idaho, mending cattle and horses for 15 years. Was Research & Development Manager at a New Zealand pharmaceutical company for a decade. As if that wasn't enough he has also given keynote/motivational speeches to audiences as small as three people to three thousand and has found a creative niche as a lettering/pinstriping artist. SCIL is one way in which he has enjoyed giving back to his home county as a UW-Madison Extension educator for five years.

Morgan is a co-facilitator in the Sauk County Institute of Leadership (SCIL) program, where participants learn more about themselves, learn a lot about the county and learn leadership skills. He’s also very involved with public art in his hometown of Baraboo. At this stage of his career Morgan knows it’s important to give back to the community and he brings enthusiasm to that mission.

There’s a line in Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Sunday in the Park with George” where two characters are critiquing a work of art and one sings “Work is what you do for other people, Art is what you do for yourself”. I USED to think that sounded very self absorbed and snooty, but I’ve come to realize in the past few years that it’s really not. It’s a comment about art’s ability to provide self protection, self regeneration, self preservation. From my perspective, as a LIFELONG advocate and practitioner of Arts, I have to ask what will it take for the majority of us to figure out how art can heal us?…

Haven’t we had our fill of ugly, angry hateful dialog between opposing political parties? Reprehensible violence in our schools and even now, Grocery stores. news casts and podcasts and social media posts that focus less on information and more on inflammation. our lack of common ground has us more polarized than we have been since the civil war. How long before we all insist that something needs to change in how we behave?

People use Europe and Canada as examples of places laws have curbed much of the violence that we regularly experience. BUT isn’t it interesting that in both Europe and Canada, they ALSO pay much more attention to the Arts in their schools and in their daily LIVES? They spend much more money, time, and energy on educating people’s HEARTS as well as their minds. They know that there is extensive therapeutic value in learning to appreciate and tap into our individual and collective creativity. They understand that like the words of the old hymn “Bless be the Ties that bind” art is one of those ties that bind us together. Arts bring people together. Like Lindsey's example of the Big Top Chautauqua. Republicans, Democrats, the old and the young all attending, responding and enjoying the same event. All together without fighting. Hmmmm, what if we had more of that in our lives?

Art – the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power. As I read that definition of today’s subject matter I am perplexed by two questions:

Given that Art allows us to express or apply something that is so uniquely human - why isn't everyone encouraged to explore their individual creativity? I mean, isn't that as important as 2 + 2?
Given that Art produces works of beauty and/or emotional power - shouldn't we be more careful about who uses it and for what purpose?

I look around at the myriad of Art mediums and the content expressed and at times I just feel overwhelmed. Mainly because I see so much irresponsibility in the way the "vocabulary" of Art is used by folks that use it to accomplish an agenda that pits us against one another instead of uniting us. But that's because I'm an idealist and want Art to be used for its higher purposes of liberation and inspiration of our souls instead of as a tool to manipulate and influence our base instincts.

Area residents may know Lindsey Giese as the Executive Director of River Arts Inc, a non-profit arts organization in Prairie du Sac, but prior to this role, she was the lead singer for Holland America and Celebrity Cruises.

She holds 2 Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Music Theatre and Arts Administration and currently tours the Midwest with The Dang-Its in a review show entitled “Sweet Dreams and Honky Tonks.”

She is also a board member for the Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce and Friends of the Great Sauk State Trail.

I think the thing I enjoy so much about my conversations with Cathy is her hopefulness. She is not one to talk about her own past traumas, but she has shared some of it with me over the years and I can assure you that her life story is one that would make most people very pessimistic and withdrawn. Instead, her faith and her compassion for others has led her out of a very dark place into one where helping others is not only possible, but in her mind critical to her own healing.

I think she’s doing something very simple and incredibly difficult at the same time. She’s living what she believes. Her faith that there is a reason for the traumas that she has endured and that God has used them to make her stronger and more able to help people that desperately need a life line. Her story is one of perseverance. her message is one of healing. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure today’s world could use a lot more Cathys.

Cathy Lins worked as a consultant for many years by assisting numerous not-for-profit organizations to raise money to do work in communities with desperate needs. She has also given speeches and conducted workshops around the country specializing in fundraising techniques as well as help trauma survivors recover. Her current full-time project is Gather My Lost Sheep, which focuses on helping trauma survivors return to Catholic parishes and to restore their faith in Christ. She did this as a result of realizing that Priests aren't always trained in this and aren't sure what to do. In addition, stigma keeps the laity from talking about mental health issues. This results in Impacted families feeling isolated. Cathy became convinced that this isn't who the Church is meant to be. Gather My Lost Sheep strives to teach people to ask "How do I accompany someone who is hurting? How can I be Christ to them?"

Over 70% of the population has experienced trauma. The events and isolation in 2020 have simply added to the strain on our mental health. Cathy decided to rethink evangelization and pastoral care when she saw the impact on people living with trauma and their mass exodus from the Church. As a national speaker working with US bishops and priests, she has talked about leadership in the Church at the parish and diocesan level. She brings technical knowledge and lived experience to this conversation.

Trauma is such an ugly word. it immediately conjures up thoughts horrible, life changing events. Catastrophes that fall upon us without warning. situations that are complex, emotional, and stressful. And then there’s all the recovery and healing that adds to the ongoing impact and difficulty. We endure the trauma and its aftermath and either grow bitter because it just doesn’t make sense to us or seems unjust, or we use it strengthen us in wisdom and compassion.

What I find fascinating about Cathy’s work, is that she finds as she conducts workshops that a rapidly increasing number of attendants report that they realize after Cathy’s workshops that they see evidence of trauma in their own lives. And they’re surprised by how it has been impacting them and their behavior without any awareness.

Cathy Lins worked as a consultant for many years by assisting numerous not-for-profit organizations to raise money to do work in communities with desperate needs. She has also given speeches and conducted workshops around the country specializing in fundraising techniques as well as help trauma survivors recover. Her current full-time project is Gather My Lost Sheep, which focuses on helping trauma survivors return to Catholic parishes and to restore their faith in Christ. She did this as a result of realizing that Priests aren't always trained in this and aren't sure what to do. In addition, stigma keeps the laity from talking about mental health issues. This results in Impacted families feeling isolated. Cathy became convinced that this isn't who the Church is meant to be. Gather My Lost Sheep strives to teach people to ask "How do I accompany someone who is hurting? How can I be Christ to them?"

Over 70% of the population has experienced trauma. The events and isolation in 2020 have simply added to the strain on our mental health. Cathy decided to rethink evangelization and pastoral care when she saw the impact on people living with trauma and their mass exodus from the Church. As a national speaker working with US bishops and priests, she has talked about leadership in the Church at the parish and diocesan level. She brings technical knowledge and lived experience to this conversation.

SEASON 4 IS COMING!

Sorry for the brief hiatus, but the gears are turning and the guests are lining up for our 4th Season of "Frame of Reference" which premieres Thursday, June 2nd! Get ready for more in depth discussions with local leaders that have Global messages. Their professional experience and proven excellence in leadership can benefit all of us as we navigate a world that seems to be spinning out of control.

Hang in there until next week, and PLEASE tell your friends and family about this podcast and send me your comments and input on our website at www. FORSAUK.COM

Thanks for listening!!

Part 2 of my interview with Jeff Wright

Jeff Wright is someone that I've known for almost 10 years and he happens to be one of those people that, as I've gotten to know him I've learned to not only like him more but also to respect him more. That respect is based in the job that he does and the way he does it. Being in the field of Education is no cake walk these days. Jeff though is able to not only deal with the logistics and political aspects of his job, but he also has never lost his core love and empathy for the families he serves. He instills HOPE in people who associate with him and his Why Not attitude is down right infectious. Listen to our conversation for yourself and see how it changes your Frame of Reference about the job today's educators have to do.

Jeff Wright is the superintendent of the Sauk Prairie School District. His family lives on a farm near Plain where they enjoy raising chickens and being outdoors all year round. Before joining the team in Sauk Prairie in 2012, Jeff served as a high school principal in Chicago and was a Social Studies teacher in Rochester, Minnesota. Jeff grew up in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and has degrees from St. Olaf College and Harvard University.

Jeff Wright is someone that I've known for almost 10 years and he happens to be one of those people that, as I've gotten to know him I've learned to not only like him more but also to respect him more. That respect is based in the job that he does and the way he does it. Being in the field of Education is no cake walk these days. Jeff though is able to not only deal with the logistics and political aspects of his job, but he also has never lost his core love and empathy for the families he serves. He instills HOPE in people who associate with him and his Why Not attitude is down right infectious. Listen to our conversation for yourself and see how it changes your Frame of Reference about the job today's educators have to do.

Jeff Wright is the superintendent of the Sauk Prairie School District. His family lives on a farm near Plain where they enjoy raising chickens and being outdoors all year round. Before joining the team in Sauk Prairie in 2012, Jeff served as a high school principal in Chicago and was a Social Studies teacher in Rochester, Minnesota. Jeff grew up in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and has degrees from St. Olaf College and Harvard University.

Part two of my interview with John Lehan, Community Education and Recreation Director for the Sauk Prairie Community Center. John returns to "Frame of Reference" to once again remind us of all the ways that we can pause and celebrate life by just relaxing and recreating. Recreation is one of those words that can seem super serious or somewhat frivolous depending upon your perspective. It comes from a late Middle English word which had the connotation of something that provided ‘mental or spiritual consolation’ which in turn came from an Old French word recreare meaning to ‘create again, renew'. Well given the current state of national and global affairs . . . who couldn't use some of that? But at the end of the day, recreation isn't so much about what we do, as it is about HOW we do it and WHY. So I caught up with an expert in our area that understands Recreation from just about every vantage point that exists.

John Lehan serves as the Community Education and Recreation Director for the Sauk Prairie Community Center. He has served the Sauk Prairie community since November of 2012. John, his wife Lisa and daughter Azilynn live in the Sauk Prairie community. Family hobbies include board games, visiting local and state parks, bowling, and Mickey Mouse. John also serves as Vice President with the Friends of Sauk Prairie Parks and Recreation group which is developing Culver Community Park.

John Lehan returns to "Frame of Reference" to once again remind us of all the ways that we can pause and celebrate life by just relaxing and recreating. Recreation is one of those words that can seem super serious or somewhat frivolous depending upon your perspective. It comes from a late Middle English word which had the connotation of something that provided ‘mental or spiritual consolation’ which in turn came from an Old French word recreare meaning to ‘create again, renew'. Well given the current state of national and global affairs . . . who couldn't use some of that? But at the end of the day, recreation isn't so much about what we do, as it is about HOW we do it and WHY. So I caught up with an expert in our area that understands Recreation from just about every vantage point that exists.

John Lehan serves as the Community Education and Recreation Director for the Sauk Prairie Community Center. He has served the Sauk Prairie community since November of 2012. John, his wife Lisa and daughter Azilynn live in the Sauk Prairie community. Family hobbies include board games, visiting local and state parks, bowling, and Mickey Mouse. John also serves as Vice President with the Friends of Sauk Prairie Parks and Recreation group which is developing Culver Community Park.

Ok, I admit that I'm being a bit more flamboyant with the name of this week's episode, but that's because my guest for this week and next really stirred in me a desire to wax poetic. Curt Meine and I have known each other for a long time but I don't think we've ever had an opportunity to have a conversation that was this long. Listen closely and you too will get to know him better in this second part of a two episode conversation with him. Hopefully you will see (or at least hear) how his deep love for humanity and our home drives him more and more to bend the ear of anyone that will listen to his warnings and pleas for more responsible behavior with regards to conservation and preservation. Don't write him off as a "tree hugger". He is a true scientist with the heart of a poet, and he "knows his stuff". He never demands that people agree with him, he only asks that you consider the data that is being collected all around the world. There is no agenda, just a desire to understand and make better decisions based upon our current understanding.

Curt Meine is a conservation biologist, environmental historian, and writer. He serves as Senior Fellow with the Aldo Leopold Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and with the Chicago-based Center for Humans and Nature. He is also a Research Associate with the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo and Associate Adjunct Professor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology.

Over the years Meine has worked with a wide array of non-profit organizations, agencies, universities, and businesses, including the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the U.S. Agency for International Development, the World Wildlife Fund, and the American Museum of Natural History. He has served on the Board of Governors of the Society of Conservation Biology and on the editorial boards of the journals Conservation Biology and Environmental Ethics. He also served as Director of Conservation Programs for the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. In this capacity Meine oversaw the Academy’s “Waters of Wisconsin” initiative, a comprehensive, state-wide review of the status and needs of Wisconsin’s aquatic ecosystems and resources.

In addition to his Leopold biography, Meine has written and edited a number of books on conservation and environmental history, including Wallace Stegner and the Continental Vision (1998), The Essential Aldo Leopold: Quotations and Commentaries (1999), Correction Lines: Essays on Land, Leopold, and Conservation (2004); the Library of America collection Aldo Leopold: A Sand County Almanac and Other Writings on Conservation and Ecology (2013); and the bioregional anthology The Driftless Reader (2017). Meine also served as narrator and on-screen guide for the Emmy Award-winning documentary film Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time (2011), which continues to be screened in venues around the country and has appeared more than 1,000 times on PBS stations.

Ok, I admit that I'm being a bit more artsy with this week's episode, but that's because my guest for this week and next really stirred in me a desire to wax poetic. Curt Meine and I have known each other for a long time but I don't think we've ever had a chance to have a conversation that was this long. You will get to know him better in the next two weeks and hopefully you will see how his deep love for humanity and our home drives him more and more to bend the ear of anyone that will listen to his warnings and pleas for more responsible behavior with regards to conservation and preservation. Don't write him off as a "tree hugger". He is a true scientist with the heart of a poet, and he "knows his stuff". He never demands that people agree with him, he only asks that you consider the data that is being collected all around the world. There is no agenda, just a desire to understand and make better decisions based upon our current understanding.

Curt Meine is a conservation biologist, environmental historian, and writer based in Sauk County, Wisconsin. He serves as Senior Fellow with the Aldo Leopold Foundation and Center for Humans and Nature; as Research Associate with the International Crane Foundation; and as Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Over the last three decades he has worked with a wide array of organizations at the intersection of biodiversity conservation, agriculture, water, climate change, environmental justice, and community resilience. Meine has authored and edited several books, including the award-winning biography Aldo Leopold: His Life and Work (1988/2010) and The Driftless Reader (2017). He served as on-screen guide in the Emmy Award-winning documentary film Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time (2011). In his home landscape, he is a founding member of the Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance.

Part 2 of my interview with Kory Hartman. See Part 1 notes for info about this episode's background.

Kory Hartman started storm chasing in 1997 and created SevereStudios in 2006. SevereStudios.com has become the leading storm chaser live streaming platform and online source for extreme weather news. Kory coordinates, dispatches, and represents a team of over 60 professional storm chasers who cover severe weather for local television stations and national networks such as The Weather Channel and CNN. Kory and his team chase and cover tornados, floods, blizzards, fires, and every kind of storm, but tornado chasing and forecasting is definitely their specialty. They do this year-round and there is never a dull day on the job.

Kory worked directly for The Weather Channel for almost 2 years before going back to his original love, radio, in 2017 when he purchased Baraboo Broadcasting Corp. BBC includes an AM/FM radio station ("99.7 MAX FM"), an online certificate store ("MAX FM Big Deals"), a low-power television station ("TV43"), two cable channels, a bi-monthly newspaper ("The Express"), and a digital marketing division. Baraboo Broadcasting promotes Wisconsin's vacationland of Wisconsin Dells, Baraboo, Reedsburg, Portage, and Sauk City. They bring awareness to the area's attractions, both natural and man-made, and support local businesses, non-profit organizations, and schools.

This is one of those interviews that I've been talking about doing for about 4 years now and just never have gotten around to it. Well the stars aligned just right and now it's in the can. When I met Kory over 5 years ago, I thought to myself "Now here's an interesting guy, can't wait to find out more about him". So why did it take me so long to get this interview done? Well for one thing I am a SERIOUS procrastinator. Just ask my wife and she will point to the five million, three hundred and six thousand, four hundred and twenty-eight projects that I've started and never finished if you want a better Frame of Reference. Suffice it to say that BOTH Kory and I are pretty busy doing urgent stuff so getting IMPORTANT stuff done is pretty hard. BUT here it is. In this interview, Kory and I go all the way back to his teen years in Iron River Michigan and trace his roots as a radio personality as well as his fascination with storms and a realization that modern technology could allow tracking of them to be done in a way that could and would save lives. It's a fascinating story filled with Kory's great sense of humor and inside the studio anecdotes.

Kory Hartman started storm chasing in 1997 and created SevereStudios in 2006. SevereStudios.com has become the leading storm chaser live streaming platform and online source for extreme weather news. Kory coordinates, dispatches, and represents a team of over 60 professional storm chasers who cover severe weather for local television stations and national networks such as The Weather Channel and CNN. Kory and his team chase and cover tornados, floods, blizzards, fires, and every kind of storm, but tornado chasing and forecasting is definitely their specialty. They do this year-round and there is never a dull day on the job.

Kory worked directly for The Weather Channel for almost 2 years before going back to his original love, radio, in 2017 when he purchased Baraboo Broadcasting Corp. BBC includes an AM/FM radio station ("99.7 MAX FM"), an online certificate store ("MAX FM Big Deals"), a low-power television station ("TV43"), two cable channels, a bi-monthly newspaper ("The Express"), and a digital marketing division. Baraboo Broadcasting promotes Wisconsin's vacationland of Wisconsin Dells, Baraboo, Reedsburg, Portage, and Sauk City. They bring awareness to the area's attractions, both natural and man-made, and support local businesses, non-profit organizations, and schools.

You know how you meet those people in your life when you're young, just out of school and feel like the world is your oyster, and you think "I wonder where they'll be in 40 years?" Well my guest for this episode, David Lippiatt, is a person that I met back in my oyster days and we were just sort of figuring out what to do with our lives. I had just married my wife Ann, and he was dating her sister. His relationship with her was not to be, but we never lost touch with each other and now FINALLY after all these years . . . we're getting caught up. And boy do we have a LOT of catching up to do. While I was out trudging through life and making a bunch of mistakes along the way, my friend Dave Lippiatt was out changing the world. He's a phenomenal example of what happens when you put your life in God's hands and say "do with me what you will."

David Lippiatt is the cofounder, President and CEO of WE International Inc. (Est. 2007). Additionally, he has been invited to speak at the United Nations on several occasions to advocate on behalf of the Sahrawi people. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee with degree in Philosophy and International Relations, and has a certificate in Foreign Policy from Oxford University, England. David is currently enrolled in the Notre Dame University Executive Leadership Certificate Program. His faith, heart of compassion and desire for justice is the driving force behind what causes him to respond to the overwhelming amount of global poverty and injustice issues affecting women, children and men in less developed countries.

You know how you meet those people in your life when you're young, just out of school and feel like the world is your oyster, and you think "I wonder where they'll be in 40 years?" Well my guest for this episode, David Lippiatt, is a person that I met back in my oyster days and we were just sort of figuring out what to do with our lives. I had just married my wife Ann, and he was dating her sister. His relationship with her was not to be, but we never lost touch with each other and now FINALLY after all these years . . . we're getting caught up. And boy do we have a LOT of catching up to do. While I was out trudging through life and making a bunch of mistakes along the way, my friend Dave Lippiatt was out changing the world. He's a phenomenal example of what happens when you put your life in God's hands and say "do with me what you will."

David Lippiatt is the cofounder, President and CEO of WE International Inc. (Est. 2007). Additionally, he has been invited to speak at the United Nations on several occasions to advocate on behalf of the Sahrawi people. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee with degree in Philosophy and International Relations, and has a certificate in Foreign Policy from Oxford University, England. David is currently enrolled in the Notre Dame University Executive Leadership Certificate Program. His faith, heart of compassion and desire for justice is the driving force behind what causes him to respond to the overwhelming amount of global poverty and injustice issues affecting women, children and men in less developed countries.

Part 2 of my extremely enjoyable and educational discussion with Jeff Jelinek. Jeff and I have "known of" each other via an organizations and friends that are near and dear to my heart. Everytime his name would come up people would speak VERY highly of him and his competence. So much so that i thought to myself "I wonder if he'd come and join me on this podcast". Well, lo and behold, he agreed to do so in a heartbeat! To meet Jeff in person though is to meet someone seasoned by trials and ready for whatever the future may hold. As Mark Twain once wrote "the weakest of all weak things is a virtue that has not been tested by fire". Jeff's virtues HAVE been tested, and they have come out on top. What is most amazing to me is that Jeff Jelinek, who you met in last week's podcasts, works in a field which is fraught with stress and yet he is one of the funnest people to talk with that I have ever met. He is a zen master in emergency management both personally and professionally. He prepares for emergencies and disasters and yet instead of being a nervous wreck (like I would be) he is straightforward and calm. Things that most of us want to pretend will never happen to us are part of Jeff's daily life and thinking almost continuously. In Jeff life, everytime there's a storm he's got to be on alert. Oh joy, oh rapture, oh bliss. But trust me, he's the type of guy you want at the helm when a mother nature or any other life threatening event occurs.

Jeff Jelinek has been the Emergency Management Director for Sauk County for the past 16 years. His responsibility is to prepare Sauk County for any and all possible emergency events with planning, training, and coordination between agencies. Prior to his current position, Jeff was the Bioterrorism Education and Training Officer with the State of Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. Jeff also spent 13 years working for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections in numerous positions. He has been involved in numerous emergency response operations giving him the knowledge and experience to train others on effective command and control.

Every time I meet someone new on this podcast, it's always a treat. Everyone has a story and I'm usually amazed at the experiences they've had. This week's guest is no exception. Especially when one considers the type of professional experiences this guest has had. What is most amazing to me is that Jeff Jelinek, who you'll meet in this week and next week's podcasts, works in a field which is fraught with stress. He prepares for emergencies and disasters. Things that most of us want to pretend will never happen to us. But in Jeff life, everytime there's a storm he's got to be on alert. Oh joy, what fun.

Jeff Jelinek has been the Emergency Management Director for Sauk County for the past 16 years. Jeff’s responsibility is to prepare Sauk County by planning, training, and coordination between agencies. Prior to his current position, Jeff was the Bioterrorism Education and Training Officer with the State of Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. Jeff also spent 13 years working for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections in numerous positions. He has been involved in numerous emergency response operations giving him the knowledge and experience to train others on effective command and control.

Part 2 of my interview with George done in the offices of the Wisconsin Arts Board in Madison WI. As I did last week, I apologize to him and to listeners for getting a bit too enthusiastic in our interview at times and overloading my mic. That buzz you'll hear occasionally is just me being a loud and unruly Frenchman.

The 2019 recipient of the Michael Newton award, George Tzougros, has been the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Arts Board since 1996. I have known him, and proudly held him as one of my most cherished friends since 1979. So we go . . . WAY back. It has been such a joy, as I've gotten older, to watch the careers of my closet friends from our Carroll College days, achieve high levels of success and prominence in their fields. George is one of those that I am particularly proud of, because he has attained a high level of success and retained his integrity, compassion and desire to continually learn through it all.

The Wisconsin Arts Board is the state agency which nurtures creativity, cultivates expression, promotes the arts and supports arts in education, stimulates community and economic development, and serves as a resource for people of every culture and heritage.

George works regularly with the Governor’s Office and WI legislature as well as the Cultural Coalition of Wisconsin, Governor’s Council on Tourism, Robert E. Gard Wisconsin Idea Foundation, Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education, and the Wisconsin Foundation for the Arts. He is also a co-founder of the National Creativity Network and has served as Board Chair since its inception in 2010. He earned a BA in theatre arts from Carroll University and an MA in arts administration from the University of Wisconsin at Madison School of Business where he also served as Director of Research for the Center for Arts Administration. He was a co-founder and former Managing Director of the Rankin Theatre Guild and is a seasoned choir director at a Greek Orthodox church.

I've interviewed a LOT of people for this podcast. Literally people from all over the world, but none have been as personally rewarding for me as this one, for one simple fact. The interviewee is someone I have known for so long, that he and I are family in the most profound ways. He is my dear dear friend for over 40 years, and we have gone through thick and thin together. Had I NOT met him all those years ago, my life would only be a shadow of what it is today. It is an honor, a privilege and just oodles and oodles of fun to have had this conversation with him and to now offer it to all of you. I also want to apologize to him and to listeners for getting a bit too enthusiastic in our interview at times and overloading my mic. That buzz you'll hear occasionally is just me being a loud and unruly Frenchman.

George Tzougros, the 2019 recipient of the Michael Newton award. has been the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Arts Board since 1996. We have been friends since 1979. So we go . . . Way WAY back Mr. Peabody. It has been such a joy, as I've gotten older, to watch the careers of my closet friends from our Carroll College days (yeah, I know, it’s a University now), achieve high levels of success and prominence in their fields. George is one that I am particularly proud of, because he has attained a high level of success and retained his integrity, compassion and desire to continually learn through it all.

The arts board is the state agency which nurtures creativity, cultivates expression, promotes the arts and supports arts in education, stimulates community and economic development, and serves as a resource for people of every culture and heritage.

He works regularly with the Governor’s Office and WI legislature as well as the Cultural Coalition of Wisconsin, Governor’s Council on Tourism, Robert E. Gard Wisconsin Idea Foundation, Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education, and the Wisconsin Foundation for the Arts. Tzougros is a co-founder of the National Creativity Network and has served as Board Chair since its inception in 2010. He earned a BA in theatre arts from Carroll University and an MA in arts administration from the University of Wisconsin at Madison School of Business where he also served as Director of Research for the Center for Arts Administration. He was a co-founder and former Managing Director of the Rankin Theatre Guild and is a seasoned choir director at a Greek Orthodox church.

I've had the pleasure of interviewing Cathy before and I always feel so inspired after talking with her. Not only is she passionate about the work she does but she's a walking, talking testimony to the power of faith in restoring the deepest wounds to our emotional, psychological and physical well being. She is a SURVIVOR in every sense of the word and she has not only survived her own trauma but now she works tirelessly to help others survive their own. Join Cathy and I as we explore the nature of trauma and the nature of the denial that is perpetrated by those responsible for causing trauma in others. Cathy is not only a wealth of knowledge but also a powerful advocate for victims of abuse and a persecutor of those who would prefer these sorts of problems stay buried instead of being brought out in the light.

Cathy worked as a consultant for many years by assisting numerous not-for-profit organizations to raise money to do work in communities that fills a desperate need. She has also given speeches and conducted workshops around the country specializing in fundraising techniques as well as help trauma survivors recover. Her current full-time project is Gather My Lost Sheep, which focuses on helping trauma survivors return to Catholic parishes and to restore their faith in Christ. She did this as a result of realizing that Priests aren't always trained in this and aren't sure what to do. In addition, stigma keeps the laity from talking about mental health issues. This results in Impacted families feeling isolated. Cathy became convinced that this isn't who the Church is meant to be. Gather My Lost Sheep strives to teach people to ask "How do I accompany someone who is hurting? How can I be Christ to them?"

Over 70% of the population has experienced trauma. The events and isolation in 2020 have simply added to the strain on our mental health. Cathy decided to rethink evangelization and pastoral care when she saw the impact on people living with trauma and their mass exodus from the Church. As a national speaker working with US bishops and priests, she has talked about leadership in the Church at the parish and diocesan level. She brings technical knowledge and lived experience to this conversation.

Oh and by the way, the icons for this week's and next week's shows are both pieces of Art that Cathy painted as part of her journey to health and well being. If you'd like to see more paintings from Cathy check out this link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0lvzlrbgo7ufzvg/AABDJucrJRBX4_csVOtuiQoua?dl=0

I've had the pleasure of interviewing Cathy before and I always feel so inspired after talking with her. Not only is she passionate about the work she does but she's a walking, talking testimony to the power of faith in restoring the deepest wounds to our emotional, psychological and physical well being. She is a SURVIVOR in every sense of the word and she has not only survived her own trauma but now she works tirelessly to help others survive their own. Join Cathy and I as we explore the nature of trauma and the nature of the denial that is perpetuated by those responsible for causing trauma in others. Cathy is not only a wealth of knowledge but also a powerful advocate for victims of abuse and a persecutor of those who would prefer these sorts of problems stay buried instead of being brought out in the light.

Cathy worked as a consultant for many years by assisting numerous not-for-profit organizations to raise money to do work in communities that fills a desperate need. She has also given speeches and conducted workshops around the country specializing in fundraising techniques as well as help trauma survivors recover. Her current full-time project is Gather My Lost Sheep, which focuses on helping trauma survivors return to Catholic parishes and to restore their faith in Christ. She did this as a result of realizing that Priests aren't always trained in this and aren't sure what to do. In addition, stigma keeps the laity from talking about mental health issues. This results in Impacted families feeling isolated. Cathy became convinced that this isn't who the Church is meant to be. Gather My Lost Sheep strives to teach people to ask "How do I accompany someone who is hurting? How can I be Christ to them?"

Over 70% of the population has experienced trauma. The events and isolation in 2020 have simply added to the strain on our mental health. Cathy decided to rethink evangelization and pastoral care when she saw the impact on people living with trauma and their mass exodus from the Church. As a national speaker working with US bishops and priests, she has talked about leadership in the Church at the parish and diocesan level. She brings technical knowledge and lived experience to this conversation.

Oh and by the way, the icons for this week's and next week's shows are both pieces of Art that Cathy painted as part of her journey to health and well being. If you'd like to see more paintings from Cathy check out this link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0lvzlrbgo7ufzvg/AABDJucrJRBX4_csVOtuiQoua?dl=0

Part 2 of my interview with Jamie Sathasivim and Alex Austin from Hope House of South Central Wisconsin. The first episodes in my series of "New Year's Resolution" Podcasts. I wanted to start 2022 with shows that focus on important issues that need to change in our communities, if we are going to be the best we can be. One of the goals of this effort is to elevate our awareness of the size and scope of problems like Domestic Abuse and to point out educational resources, and ways to be part of restorative support programs for victims in our area and, hopefully, WAY beyond.

The New Year is a time to reflect on the personal and communal things that we can do better, and to find ways to accomplish those things. My guests for this week's and next week's podcasts can help us all do better at helping those caught in a domestic abuse situation, by knowing what it looks like and helping victims to find a way out. One way out is through the services offered at Hope House of South Central Wisconsin.

Jaime Sathasivam is the Co-Executive Director for Hope House of South Central Wisconsin. Hope House serves survivors of intimate partner violence, child abuse and sexual violence in Sauk, Columbia, Juneau, Marquette and Adams Counties. Following graduate school Jaime worked with runaway and hopeless youth and found a desire to stay in trauma-based support work. Other professional experience includes working at the Director of Client Services at Rape Crisis Center in Madison for five years, and working at the State Department of Justice on the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) project for a year before coming to Hope House in late 2019. To decompress from work Jaime spends time with her children and enjoys traveling, and crafting.

Alex Austin has been an Outreach Advocate with Hope House of South-Central Wisconsin since November of 2020. Prior to that, Alex worked in a residential treatment center for kids and adolescents with significant mental health diagnoses. Alex has an undergraduate degree in Human Services and is currently working toward a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. In her free time, Alex enjoys spending time with her young daughter, reading and writing, spending time outside, and planning adventures.

If you want to learn more about Domestic Abuse check out these sites for more resources, information and educational opportunities:

www.theduluthmodel.org
www.endabusewi.org
www.nrcdv.org

This is the first in my series of "New Year's Resolution" episodes. I wanted to start 2022 with shows that focus on important issues that need to change in our communities, if we are going to be the best we can be. The topic for these first two episodes is Domestic Abuse. Not a "fun" topic in any way. The goal is to elevate our awareness of the size and scope of this blight on families. Also to point out educational resources, and possibilities for preventative action in our area and, hopefully, WAY beyond.

The New Year is a time to reflect on the personal and communal things that we can do better, and to find ways to accomplish those things. My guests for this week's and next week's podcasts can help us all do better at helping those caught in a domestic abuse situation, by knowing what it looks like and helping victims to find a way out. One way out is through the services offered at Hope House of South Central Wisconsin.

Jaime Sathasivam is the Co-Executive Director for Hope House of South Central Wisconsin. Hope House serves survivors of intimate partner violence, child abuse and sexual violence in Sauk, Columbia, Juneau, Marquette and Adams Counties. Following graduate school Jaime worked with runaway and hopeless youth and found a desire to stay in trauma-based support work. Other professional experience includes working at the Director of Client Services at Rape Crisis Center in Madison for five years, and working at the State Department of Justice on the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) project for a year before coming to Hope House in late 2019. To decompress from work Jaime spends time with her children and enjoys traveling, and crafting.

Alex Austin has been an Outreach Advocate with Hope House of South-Central Wisconsin since November of 2020. Prior to that, Alex worked in a residential treatment center for kids and adolescents with significant mental health diagnoses. Alex has an undergraduate degree in Human Services and is currently working toward a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. In her free time, Alex enjoys spending time with her young daughter, reading and writing, spending time outside, and planning adventures.

If you want to learn more about Domestic Abuse check out these sites for more resources, information and educational opportunities:

www.theduluthmodel.org
www.endabusewi.org
www.nrcdv.org

When you have a full-time job it can be really hard to find the energy to get involved as a volunteer for any type of organization, not to mention the energy. But thankfully some people do and in fact they make it possible for most organizations and events to continue. The Ferry Bluff Eagle Council in the Sauk Prairie area is one of those groups and their annual Eagle watching days is one of those events, now in its 35th year, and is coming back this year as both a live and virtual event. It's an opportunity to see up close the bird that has been on the emblems of our nation since its beginning and to understand what makes it so special.

Jennifer Lazendorf is a full-time supervisor in the Accounting department at Compeer Financial Services as well as the co-chair of the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council's Eagle Watching Days committee (Try saying that 10 times fast) and talks about her own passion for birding, the outdoors and helping to make important community events like this one happen.

Every once and a while you meet someone that just seems to "have it figured out". Bill Harris is one of those people to me. Every time I see him or talk to him and ask how he's doing he always responds the same way. "Best Day Ever!" HE MEANS IT TOO! It's even on the door leading into PHP World Headquarters in Baraboo Wisconsin. Bill has spent the Lion's share (Think Daniel) of his life helping others to have hope in their lives. Whether it's backpacks with School supplies, food for folks struggling, or assistance for families with dad or moms serving in the armed forces during the holidays, Bill's heart is wherever God tells him to go. In more recent years he has been working to help people that have been released from Jail, to develop job skills that can help them build a new life financially and relationally. For the past several years he has run a car detailing business that teaches skills that translate into real jobs after their training is complete. Now he's ready for the next step.

Join me as I talk with Bill and County Administrator Brent Miller about a new Career center that is being developed in Sauk County to help teach trade skills to people that have been incarcerated and need a second chance. The new program will offer labs for carpentry, HVAC, Electrical, and plumbing skills that can be learned and mastered so that participants can truly make a new life for themselves. It's a slam dunk win/win for them, Sauk County (decreased recidivism) and local contractors that face a shortage of workers.

Bill will inspire you and perhaps strike a bit of awe in you, because he is a walking talking man of God, and the fruits of that are all over the place in Baraboo and beyond.

A number of years ago, when I was doing a show called "Mornings at McFarlanes", I thought to myself "I wonder if there's versions of Christmas songs done by local artists that would put a different sound out there for the Holidays?" It was sort of a crazy idea but after all, how many times do you have to listen to the same versions of the same songs playing before you say "can we go back to regular music now?!?!?!"

But as my wife will tell you when I get an idea in my head, it's not in my foot (as the saying goes). So I reached out to a local musician I know, Beth Kille and asked her if she knew of any musicians out there that had covers or original Christmas music. Well Beth alone had two Christmas albums but then she reached out to her "peeps" and found a whole bunch more artists with songs that they were happy and some were even THRILLED that someone wanted to get their music out there. So you'll hear music from The Kerosene Kites (Beth and her collaborator Eric Kjelland), Smitty Kringle, Milkhouse Radio, Michael Bryant, Sunspot, Cory Mathew Hart, and Emily Mulo. You may not know them by name, but you should recognize several of the songs. But more importantly, will hopefully enjoy this special Christmas Present . . . Podcast. Be well - R

So technically this is Part 1 of our interview but . . . when Paul and I recorded this interview in Mid-November we had too much fun and ended up with 3 parts, but I realized later that the 3rd part had some more time sensitive info for our "local" listeners, so I decided to air it first. So if you listen to this episode and wonder why I left the end of the episode "hanging" that's why. So you'll have to go back in time and listen to last week's episode in order to hear the stuff that came after this, which was aired before this one. This is one of those temporal anomalies that Star Trek characters are always getting in trouble over. Actually it's an insidious plot to get you to listen to more of my podcasts. Heh Heh Heh (diabolical laugh)

Years ago I met Paul Wolter when we started a tradition of doing a radio interview around Christmas time in order to talk about an annual event at the Sauk County Historical Society. Each year the Van Orden Mansion, a local landmark, is decorated with all sorts of Christmas trees in a beautiful tribute to the holiday season. So this year, given my new podcast format, we decided it would be a good time to talk even more about the History of Sauk County with regards to Christmas traditions and so much more. We also again talked about the old Railroad Depot in Baraboo, which is being restored to it's original splendor by the Historical society, as well as the importance of getting history right. We also talked a lot about the importance of history and how we determine that something or some event has historical significance. We set the record straight on all of that.

Paul Wolter is a native of Reedsburg in Sauk County and now lives in Baraboo with his wife Anne. He holds an undergraduate degree in Fine Art from the UW- Madison. Paul is the Executive Director of the Sauk County Historical Society but has been with the organization since 1996 serving as president from 2000 until 2015. His hobbies are genealogy, cycling and travel.

On a side note, if you blow up this week's show icon, it's a scene from the Van Orden Mansion Christmas event. Beautiful place that REALLY gets one into the Christmas Spirit!

Just so you know . . . When Paul and I recorded this interview in Mid-November we had too much fun and ended up with 3 parts, but I realized later that the 3rd part had some more time sensitive info for our "local" listeners, so I decided to air it first. Consequently there's no "Favorite Things" opener for this episode. But HAVE NO FEAR, next week's show will have a favorite things portion.

Years ago I met Paul Wolter when we started a tradition of doing a radio interview around Christmas time in order to talk about an annual event at the Sauk County Historical Society. Each year the Van Orden Mansion, a local landmark, is decorated with all sorts of Christmas trees in a beautiful tribute to the holiday season. So this year, given my new podcast format, we decided it would be a good time to talk even more about the History of Sauk County with regards to Christmas traditions and so much more. We also again talked about the old Railroad Depot in Baraboo, which is being restored to it's original splendor by the Historical society, as well as the importance of getting history right. We also talked a lot about the importance of history and how we determine that something or some event has historical significance. We set the record straight on all of that.

Paul Wolter is a native of Reedsburg in Sauk County and now lives in Baraboo with his wife Anne. He holds an undergraduate degree in Fine Art from the UW- Madison. Paul is the Executive Director of the Sauk County Historical Society but has been with the organization since 1996 serving as president from 2000 until 2015. His hobbies are genealogy, cycling and travel

What's bright, energetic, passionate about healthcare and LOVES the water? Answer: Todd Wuerger. In part 2 of our interview, Todd and I dive into a discussion (did you catch that deep pun?) about Mental Health First Aid classes which is just another way that the Sauk Prairie Healthcare Foundation works to keep our community well. The lessons he has learned throughout his life, as well as the keys to staying healthy are shared abundantly throughout our conversation. He was truly a JOY to talk with, and a bright spot of hope in these dark Pandemic days.

Todd graduated from UW-Milwaukee’s business school in 1992 and in 1998 completed his master’s degree in business administration from the UW-Whitewater. He worked as a manager of physician engagement at the Wisconsin Medical Society before joining the Foundation in March 2018.

He remains active in the community by coaching the Sauk Prairie High School boys and girls swim teams where he has three times been awarded Division 1 Coach of the Year by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association.

Todd lives in Sauk City with his wife, Julie who is a Director of Large Group Retention at Quartz Benefits Solutions. They have three children, Donovan, Stella and Wilson.

We're used to seeing Hospitals as someplace we go to get care and help staying well. However, not many of us think too much about the help that Hospitals and their staff need in order to keep providing that care. Todd Wuerger is at the forefront of providing the help that our local healthcare facilities need and came to interview with me so that we could talk about the issues facing today's healthcare systems. He has what we French people would call "Joi de vivre" and he shares it freely in this conversation.

Todd graduated from UW-Milwaukee’s business school in 1992 and in 1998 completed his master’s degree in business administration from the UW-Whitewater. He worked as a manager of physician engagement at the Wisconsin Medical Society before joining the Foundation in March 2018.

He remains active in the community by coaching the Sauk Prairie High School boys and girls swim teams where he has three times been awarded Division 1 Coach of the Year by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association.

Todd lives in Sauk City with his wife, Julie who is a Director of Large Group Retention at Quartz Benefits Solutions. They have three children, Donovan, Stella and Wilson.

I welcome back Dr. McAuliffe to talk about his work within Sauk County and beyond to help people that have been caught in the dark web of opiate addiction. As a physician he is acutely aware of the toll addictions take on people's lives and how difficult it is to recover. We discuss in depth the nature of addictions and how to help pull someone you love and care for out of this condition. His insights and explanations of how we are "wired" and how addiction corrupts that wiring is both illuminating and challenging. At the core of it all is his compassion and kindness for those people that he treats in addiction recovery. He understands the devastation it causes and seeks to be a lifeline to those that will grab what he can offer.

When he was 11 years old, McAuliffe knew he wanted to be a doctor. He was always nurturing his many pets. Today, you can see his compassion in the empowering respect he has for patients. "The patient should be in control of his healthcare-not the physician," he says. As medical director of Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital, McAuliffe also helps with administrative concerns in healthcare, which impacts patients directly. "It has always been my passion to do everything I can to make a difference. I have no plans to retire; it's a privilege to help people," he says.

"It's not where you are in the process of change that matters. It's the direction that you're looking that counts. Take one step at a time, and recognize your small successes," says McAuliffe.

I welcome back Dr. McAuliffe to talk about his work within Sauk County and beyond to help people that have been caught in the dark web of opiate addiction. As a physician he is acutely aware of the toll addictions take on people's lives and how difficult it is to recover. We discuss in depth the nature of addictions and how to help pull someone you love and care for out of this condition. His insights and explanations of how we are "wired" and how addiction corrupts that wiring is both illuminating and challenging. At the core of it all is his compassion and kindness for those people that he treats in addiction recovery. He understands the devastation it causes and seeks to be a lifeline to those that will grab what he can offer.

When he was 11 years old, McAuliffe knew he wanted to be a doctor. He was always nurturing his many pets. Today, you can see his compassion in the empowering respect he has for patients. "The patient should be in control of his healthcare-not the physician," he says. As medical director of Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital, McAuliffe also helps with administrative concerns in healthcare, which impacts patients directly. "It has always been my passion to do everything I can to make a difference. I have no plans to retire; it's a privilege to help people," he says.

"It's not where you are in the process of change that matters. It's the direction that you're looking that counts. Take one step at a time, and recognize your small successes," says McAuliffe.

Here's Part 2 of our Season 3 premiere, a special Halloween interview with some local experts in the Paranormal activities that happen right here in Sauk County. Prepare to have your spine tingled and your teeth chattering as you hear just some of the stories in Shelley Mordini and Gwen Herrewig's new book "Haunted Baraboo".

Shelley Mordini is a high school special education teacher. She is also the owner of Baraboo Tours, a historic and haunted walking tour company in Baraboo. Shelley enjoys showing people the legacy that the Ringling brothers left behind and talking about the ghost that put the "boo" in Baraboo. Since purchasing a rickshaw to give tours, Shelley can often be seen whizzing around Baraboo, off to another adventure. Contact Shelley at barabootours@yahoo.com.

Gwen Herrewig has worn many hats while traveling around, from guiding tours of caves and glaciers to numerous office positions supporting our natural resources. She has recently conducted haunted walking tours of downtown Baraboo and interpretive paranormal experiences in haunted buildings.

For decades, ghosts have been known to inhabit some of Baraboo's most prized historic locations. Buildings and mansions built by the Ringling brothers at the height of their circus empire now harbor apparitions of unidentified children, horse trainers and other circus workers. Residents throughout the Downtown Baraboo Historic District describe disembodied voices, footsteps and items moving on their own. Even historic homes, new homes and roadways have ghosts--a family awakened to find their dining room table set for a party of ten, a little girl realized that her "friend" wasn't getting any older and a Highway 12 hitchhiker materialized despite the highway being rerouted. Founder of Baraboo Tours Shelley Mordini and tour guide Gwen Herewig share tales of Baraboo's more mysterious side.

Season 3 begins with a special Halloween interview with some local experts in the Paranormal activities that happen right here in Sauk County. Prepare to have your spine tingled and your teeth chattering as you hear just some of the stories in Shelley Mordini and Gwen Herewig's new book "Haunted Baraboo".

For decades, ghosts have been known to inhabit some of Baraboo's most prized historic locations. Buildings and mansions built by the Ringling brothers at the height of their circus empire now harbor apparitions of unidentified children, horse trainers and other circus workers. Residents throughout the Downtown Baraboo Historic District describe disembodied voices, footsteps and items moving on their own. Even historic homes, new homes and roadways have ghosts--a family awakened to find their dining room table set for a party of ten, a little girl realized that her "friend" wasn't getting any older and a Highway 12 hitchhiker materialized despite the highway being rerouted. Founder of Baraboo Tours Shelley Mordini and tour guide Gwen Herrewig share tales of Baraboo's more mysterious side.

Shelley Mordini is described as adventurous, joyful and generous in the Fabric of our Community mural in downtown Baraboo. Shelley normally works as a high school special education teacher. She is also the owner of Baraboo Tours, a historic and haunted walking tour company in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Shelley enjoys showing people the legacy the Ringling Brothers left behind and talking about the ghost that put the Boo in Baraboo. Since purchasing a rickshaw to give tours, Shelley can often be seen whizzing around Baraboo , off to another adventure. Gwen Herewig has joined her in these adventures by collecting anecdotes from dozens of local residents in their own words (no sensationalism needed). She has also helped Shelley tremendously in just "getting this book done". They make a great team as you will be able to tell from my interview with them.

It's coming - ready or not! Join us on Thursday, October 28th for the season 3 premiere of Frame of Reference. We're starting out with a very special Halloween Edition as we explore the Boos in Baraboo with the authors of a new book "Haunted Baraboo" Shelley Mordini and Gwen Herrewig. Tune in as we gear up for another season of great discussions as we probe the issues and problems facing us in Sauk County and WAY Beyond.

This is the final episode of a four part series that commemorates the 100th Anniversary of a company very dear to my heart, McFarlane Mfg Co. I have been a member of the team there since 2002 and when the 100th anniversary came around, I wanted to use my skills to do something special. So we interviewed special folks from around the area that did and reflected upon significant things in our area that affected the entire world. Plus, with the help of my good friend Paul Wolter at the Sauk County Historical Society, we were able to list off and discuss interesting events that happened during each period of 25 years.

What became evident to me was how many things happened during that 100 years that we take for granted today. Think about it for just a minute, today's episode follows the 25 year period that saw, The unraveling of the Human Genome, The development and spread of the internet, Smart Phones, Autonomous Cars, Digital Streaming, the first African American President. It's amazing. Hope you enjoy Part 4: 1993 - 2017.

Watch for Season 3 to premiere in Mid-Fall!

This is the third of a four part series that commemorates the 100th Anniversary of a company very dear to my heart, McFarlane Mfg Co. I have been a member of the team there since 2002 and when the 100th anniversary came around, I wanted to use my skills to do something special. So we interviewed special folks from around the area that did and reflected upon significant things in our area that affected the entire world. Plus, with the help of my good friend Paul Wolter at the Sauk County Historical Society, we were able to list off and discuss interesting events that happened during each period of 25 years.

What became evident to me was how many things happened during that 100 years that we take for granted today. Think about it for just a minute, today's episode follows the 25 year period that saw the assination of two major beacons of hope for our nation, numerous successful (and one near fatal) excursions to the Moon, Woodstock, the end of the Vietnam, Hair Bands. It's amazing. Hope you enjoy Part 2: 1968 - 1993.

Watch for Season 3 to premiere in Mid-Fall!

This is the second of a four part series that commemorates the 100th Anniversary of a company very dear to my heart, McFarlane Mfg Co. I have been a member of the team there since 2002 and when the 100th anniversary came around, I wanted to use my skills to do something special. So we interviewed special folks from around the area that did and reflected upon significant things in our area that affected the entire world. Plus, with the help of my good friend Paul Wolter at the Sauk County Historical Society, we were able to list off and discuss interesting events that happened during each period of 25 years.

What became evident to me was how many things happened during that 100 years that we take for granted today. Think about it for just a minute, today's episode follows the 25 year period that saw, the end of our second world war, the development and use of the Atomic Bomb, a cure for Polio, the discovery of DNA (and the Beatles), the Civil Rights movement, and the beginnings of our exploration of other worlds. It's amazing. Hope you enjoy Part 2: 1943 - 1967.

Watch for Season 3 to premiere in Mid-Fall!

This is the first of a four part series that commemorates the 100th Anniversary of a company very dear to my heart, McFarlane Mfg Co. I have been a member of the team there since 2002 and when the 100th anniversary came around, I wanted to use my skills to do something special. So we interviewed special folks from around the area that did and reflected upon significant things in our area that affected the entire world. Plus, with the help of my good friend Paul Wolter at the Sauk County Historical Society, we were able to list off and discuss interesting events that happened during each period of 25 years.

What became evident to me was how many things happened during that 100 years that we take for granted today. It's amazing. Hope you enjoy Part 1: 1917 - 1942.

Watch for Season 3 to premiere in Mid-Fall!

This week's podcast is special for two reasons. First because it is bonus content from the interview I did with Chris Barnardo back in Mid June. Chris and I did a test earlier that day to just shake down the equipment and make sure everything worked like it should. So what you'll hear here is our very first conversation with each other EVER. Chris is a fantastically interesting person to talk with and has amazing stories about his career and experiences that I'm sure anyone would find thought provoking and enjoyable to hear.

Second, after this episode premieres this week, I'll be going on hiatus to get my "batteries charged". But I didn't want to just leave you all high and dry, so look for four episodes of a previous series that I did on Mornings at McFarlanes". In 2017 we celebrated our 100th anniversary here at McFarlane Mfg in Sauk City Wisconsin. As part of that celebration I produced with help of the great team at 99.7 MaxFM a series called "Century of Change". Each of the four episodes covers a 25 year period of time and explores National, Regional, and local events that were significant during that period of time. You'll find out about all sorts of interesting and odd things like Charles Lindberg's visit to Sauk County and how he helped a local Doctor that needed to make a house call. We also did some really fun interviews with local celebrities like the founder, owner, and recording engineer of a private Record company in Sauk County called Cuca records.

Watch for Season 3 in the Fall!!!

The third episode in our series on Police work in the 21st century. Not the procedures but the people behind the badge. I continue my discussion with Travis Hilliard, 30 year veteran of law enforcement roles turned security and safety consultant in our hamlet just outside of Madison, WI. The word Police seems to elicit passionate support or passionate fear and sometimes contempt, but in all cases, we need to remember that we're talking about people. Travis does a fantastic job of articulating some of the factors that come into play and some of the issues and concerns that citizens and officers should consider as we work together to form in the words of Abraham Lincoln a "more perfect union".

Travis grew up in Briggsville Wisconsin, a small community in Marquette County. His parents owned the Pheasant Inn restaurant and resort, where along with his brother and sister, they spent most of their time working in every facet of the restaurant and resort business. When not working, he was either water skiing on Lake Mason, wading through Neenah Creek or in the winter months, ice skating or playing hockey on the lake.

He graduated from Wisconsin Dells High School in1988, and then went on to study Natural Resources and Environmental Law Enforcement at the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point where he graduated in 1993. While working on his degree he was hired by the DNR in 1990 and worked there until 2014 as a Deputy Conservation Warden. Then shortly after getting his degree In 1994, he was hired by the Sauk Prairie Police Department where he worked until 2021.

Travis is married, has 2 children and is owner and CEO of Sandhill Safety and Security Consultants. The business focuses on a multitude of safety related topics with people at the forefront. He also works for Madison College in the Law Enforcement Academy program and is employed by the Cooperative Educational Service Agency.

This is Part 2 of a three part interview with Safety and Security Consultant and former 30 year veteran of Law Enforcement agencies throughout the state, Travis Hilliard. If you were conducting any kind of "Good Cop / Bad Cop" interrogation, Travis would HAVE to play the good cop. He's just not a good enough actor to play the bad cop (sorry Travis). Travis Hilliard is one of those "man he just doesn't seem like a cop" officers. His ability and desire to connect with everyone he comes into contact with, regardless of the circumstances, makes him a formidable adversary and ally to even the most hardened members of our society. If there is some good in a person, he will find it, and bring it to the surface. If he were an astronaut, we would say simply that "He has the Right Stuff."

Travis grew up in Briggsville Wisconsin, a small community in Marquette County. His parents owned the Pheasant Inn restaurant and resort, where along with his brother and sister, they spent most of their time working in every facet of the restaurant and resort business. When not working, he was either water skiing on Lake Mason, wading through Neenah Creek or in the winter months, ice skating or playing hockey on the lake.

He graduated from Wisconsin Dells High School in1988, and then went on to study Natural Resources and Environmental Law Enforcement at the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point where he graduated in 1993. While working on his degree he was hired by the DNR in 1990 and worked there until 2014 as a Deputy Conservation Warden. Then shortly after getting his degree In 1994, he was hired by the Sauk Prairie Police Department where he worked until 2021.

Travis is married, has 2 children and is owner and CEO of Sandhill Safety and Security Consultants. The business focuses on a multitude of safety related topics with people at the forefront. He also works for Madison College in the Law Enforcement Academy program and is employed by the Cooperative Educational Service Agency.

There are people in this world, that simply because of their presence, they make you FEEL safe. Not becasue they carry a gun, but because they exude a sort of connection and cohesion with everything around you and them that is typical of people that are "in the moment" and can respond to whatever that moment calls for in terms of action and reaction. Travis Hilliard is one of those people. His heart is big and his intellect is always striving to learn more. If he were an astronaut, we would say simply that "He has the Right Stuff."

Travis grew up in Briggsville, a small community in Marquette County. His parents owned the Pheasant Inn restaurant and resort, where along with his brother and sister, they spent most of their time working in every facet of the restaurant and resort business. When not working, he was either water skiing on Lake Mason, wading through Neenah Creek or in the winter months, ice skating or playing hockey on the lake.

He graduated from Wisconsin Dells High School in1988, and then went on to study Natural Resources and Environmental Law Enforcement at the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point where he graduated in 1993. While working on his degree he was hired by the DNR in 1990 and worked there until 2014 as a Deputy Conservation Warden. Then shortly after getting his degree In 1994, he was hired by the Sauk Prairie Police Department where he worked until 2021.

Travis is married, has 2 children and is owner and CEO of Sandhill Safety and Security Consultants. The business focuses on a multitude of safety related topics with people at the forefront. He also works for Madison College in the Law Enforcement Academy program and is employed by the Cooperative Educational Service Agency.

In part 3 of our series, we talk about some positive steps that individuals can take to start the process of recovering from Abuse.

Cathy worked as a consultant for many years by assisting numerous not-for-profit organizations to raise money to do work in communities that fills a desperate need. She has also given speeches and conducted workshops around the country specializing in fundraising techniques as well as help trauma survivors recover. Her current full-time project is Gather My Lost Sheep, which focuses on helping trauma survivors return to Catholic parishes and to restore their faith in Christ. She did this as a result of realizing that Priests aren't always trained in this and aren't sure what to do. In addition, stigma keeps the laity from talking about mental health issues. This results in Impacted families feeling isolated. Cathy became convinced that this isn't who the Church is meant to be. Gather My Lost Sheep strives to teach people to ask "How do I accompany someone who is hurting? How can I be Christ to them?"

Over 70% of the population has experienced trauma. The events and isolation in 2020 have simply added to the strain on our mental health. Cathy decided to rethink evangelization and pastoral care when she saw the impact on people living with trauma and their mass exodus from the Church. As a national speaker working with US bishops and priests, she has talked about leadership in the Church at the parish and diocesan level. She brings the technical knowledge and lived experience to this conversation.

Cathy Lins is one of those people you meet and you instantly know there is a reason you were supposed to meet. Her positive personality inspires you, and her reflective and thoughtful ideas make you want grow. She is intelligent and knowledgeable, fun and engaging, flexible and adaptable, respectful and friendly, honest and trustworthy, and so much more.

Cathy worked as a consultant for many years by assisting numerous not-for-profit organizations to raise money to do work in communities that fills a desperate need. She has also given speeches and conducted workshops around the country specializing in fundraising techniques as well as help trauma survivors recover. Her current full-time project is Gather My Lost Sheep, which focuses on helping trauma survivors return to Catholic parishes and to restore their faith in Christ. She did this as a result of realizing that Priests aren't always trained in this and aren't sure what to do. In addition, stigma keeps the laity from talking about mental health issues. This results in Impacted families feeling isolated. Cathy became convinced that this isn't who the Church is meant to be. Gather My Lost Sheep strives to teach people to ask "How do I accompany someone who is hurting? How can I be Christ to them?"

Over 70% of the population has experienced trauma. The events and isolation in 2020 have simply added to the strain on our mental health. Cathy decided to rethink evangelization and pastoral care when she saw the impact on people living with trauma and their mass exodus from the Church. As a national speaker working with US bishops and priests, she has talked about leadership in the Church at the parish and diocesan level. She brings the technical knowledge and lived experience to this conversation.

Cathy Lins is one of those people you meet and you instantly know there is a reason you were supposed to meet. Her positive personality inspires you, and her reflective and thoughtful ideas make you want grow. She is intelligent and knowledgeable, fun and engaging, flexible and adaptable, respectful and friendly, honest and trustworthy, and so much more.

Cathy worked as a consultant for many years by assisting numerous not-for-profit organizations to raise money to do work in communities that fills a desperate need. She has also given speeches and conducted workshops around the country specializing in fundraising techniques as well as help trauma survivors recover. Her current full-time project is Gather My Lost Sheep, which focuses on helping trauma survivors return to Catholic parishes and to restore their faith in Christ. She did this as a result of realizing that Priests aren't always trained in this and aren't sure what to do. In addition, stigma keeps the laity from talking about mental health issues. This results in Impacted families feeling isolated. Cathy became convinced that this isn't who the Church is meant to be. Gather My Lost Sheep strives to teach people to ask "How do I accompany someone who is hurting? How can I be Christ to them?"

Over 70% of the population has experienced trauma. The events and isolation in 2020 have simply added to the strain on our mental health. Cathy decided to rethink evangelization and pastoral care when she saw the impact on people living with trauma and their mass exodus from the Church. As a national speaker working with US bishops and priests, she has talked about leadership in the Church at the parish and diocesan level. She brings the technical knowledge and lived experience to this conversation.

Part 2 of an Interview with CEO and Co-Founder of The Wand Company takes you to where no one has gone before in a podcast. Chris Barnardo is witty, fun to chat with and offers up fantastic insights into the modern world of specialized manufacturing. His career spans 3 and a half decades and is filled with stories that will amaze you and make you laugh at the same time. Join us as he shares his journeys through a myriad of challenges in the quest to make some of the finest prop replicas ever made for fans of Pokémon, Fallout, Harry Potter, Dr Who, and my personal favorite, Star Trek.

Chris started out as a designer, but went back to college in his thirties to gain an engineering degree. In 1994 he went to work at Cambridge Consultants where he became a named inventor on over 25 patents, and secured £4M in venture capital funding to commercialize his invention of a thick-film, flexible electroluminescent display.

In 2005 Chris launched the popular single parents’ website Dadcando.com which provided guidance and support to single dads (and mums). In 2008 he designed and created the Plop Trumps card game (Firebox.com’s number one selling product that Christmas), which has gone on to sell over half a million packs in the UK alone. In 2009 Chris founded The Wand Company (thewandcompany.com) with Richard Blakesley. The following year, the pair took The Wand Company into the British TV show Dragons’ Den (Shark Tank, US) where their pitch for the ‘Kymera Wand’ – the world’s first motion-sensitive, button-less, universal remote control, attracted record investment offers from all the Dragon Investors.

The Wand Company has since successfully launched, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctor Who universal remote control Sonic Screwdrivers, their iconic Star Trek The Original Series Phaser and Bluetooth Communicator, a range of Fallout replicas and has most recently been working with Pokémon to bring the first accurate, premium Poké Ball replicas to market for Pokémon’s 25th anniversary year which launched in February 2021.

Chris is the author of three books, Made With Dad, Dadcando and Dragonolia, lives in Essex and has four children.

Ever since I started doing this podcast, it has consistently proven to be one of the greatest joys in my life. I get to talk with intelligent, knowledgeable, and experienced folks about things that matter. And then, every once in awhile, I get to do an interview with someone who in addition to all of those things, is also just SO MUCH FUN. Kindred spirits that remind me I am not alone in this world.

This is my first episode in which I got to talk with someone on a different continent than my own. He dreams about iconic objects, works out the engineering obstacles associated with them, and then brings some of the coolest things in the world (in my admittedly biased opinion) to life. This two part interview with Chris Barnardo, is filled with background on him personally as well as his professional journey. It's also filled with wonderful tributes to all of us in "Geekdom" who look to the worlds of Star Trek, Fallout, and Harry Potter (among others) to help us cope with and make sense of the world around us.

Chris started out as a designer, but went back to college in his thirties to gain an engineering degree. In 1994 he went to work at Cambridge Consultants where he became a named inventor on over 25 patents, and secured £4M in venture capital funding to commercialize his invention of a thick-film, flexible electroluminescent display.

In 2005 Chris launched the popular single parents’ website Dadcando.com which provided guidance and support to single dads (and mums). In 2008 he designed and created the Plop Trumps card game (Firebox.com’s number one selling product that Christmas), which has gone on to sell over half a million packs in the UK alone. In 2009 Chris founded The Wand Company (thewandcompany.com) with Richard Blakesley. The following year, the pair took The Wand Company into the British TV show Dragons’ Den (Shark Tank, US) where their pitch for the ‘Kymera Wand’ – the world’s first motion-sensitive, button-less, universal remote control, attracted record investment offers from all the Dragon Investors.

The Wand Company has since successfully launched, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctor Who universal remote control Sonic Screwdrivers, their iconic Star Trek The Original Series Phaser and Bluetooth Communicator, a range of Fallout replicas and has most recently been working with Pokémon to bring the first accurate, premium Poké Ball replicas to market for Pokémon’s 25th anniversary year which launched in February 2021.

Chris is the author of three books, Made With Dad, Dadcando and Dragonolia, lives in Essex and has four children.

In part 2 of our interview, Lindsey and I delved (some might say foolishly) into some of the big questions about Art. What is (and ISN'T) Art? What is this thing called talent and how do you know if you have it? Is it about how good or bad people think you are, or is there something that goes beyond that? Who is to say what makes an artist good, better, or great? At the end of the day, what gives any of us the right to say what is good or bad Art? After all, many of today's greatest masterpieces were made by Artists that were thought to be talentless when they were alive. Tough nuts to crack, but we gave it a shot.

Area residents may know Lindsey Giese as the Executive Director of River Arts Inc, a non-profit arts organization in Prairie du Sac, but prior to this role, she was the lead singer for Holland America and Celebrity Cruises.

She holds 2 Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Music Theatre and Arts Administration and currently tours the Midwest with The Dang-Its in a review show entitled “Sweet Dreams and Honky Tonks.”

She is also a board member for the Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce and Friends of the Great Sauk State Trail.

If you want to get all ARTSY (and believe me there's no better way to be) Lindsey can help you find your groove. Her background, passion for the Arts, and her own personal set of skills and talents will help guide you to all forms of Art and then some. Join us as we pull back the curtain on things going on at RAI and larger issues that face the wide spectrum of Arts and Artists as we cope with COVID-19.

Area residents may know Lindsey Giese as the Executive Director of River Arts Inc, a non-profit arts organization in Prairie du Sac, but prior to this role, she was the lead singer for Holland America and Celebrity Cruises.

She holds 2 Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Music Theatre and Arts Administration and currently tours the Midwest with The Dang-Its in a review show entitled “Sweet Dreams and Honky Tonks.”

She is also a board member for the Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce and Friends of the Great Sauk State Trail.

Role Models help us determine the sort of person we would like to be when we grow up (some of us - like yours truly never do grow up, but that's a different story). We need someone to look up to that inspires to live a life that matters. Some of us, even at a young age, determine for ourselves that we want to just prove to ourselves and others that we deserve to be "counted". Well if you want a role model and someone that will help you to be a better leader, this podcast is for you. My guest Marietta Reuter is the sort of leader that everyone wants in their life. She demonstrates daily what it is to be a caring, compassionate and servant oriented leader every day as the President of a growing enterprise (and Accomplished Grandma - as you can see from her picture). Marietta has been a friend and colleague of mine for several years and she is a walking, talking exemplar of why there should be no such things as "glass ceilings" or any other sorts of discriminations against women and their abilities in the workplace. As a member of the Sauk Prairie community for her entire life, she has stood for the highest principles in leadership and inspires those around her to do their very best.

In March of 1995 she founded Tools of Marketing, Inc. a successful woman-owned promotional products and fulfillment company. Having grown up on a farm in the small town of Roxbury, WI, Marietta knew what hard work was and continues to work hard in the business and in the community. She is the 9th of 11 children and had more responsibilities than most kids. In between her chores, she was always trying to keep up with her 6 older brothers. Her philosophy was, anything they could do she could do. One of Marietta’s main goals when she started her business, was to be there when her kids got off the bus after school. She wanted to have a career but also felt it was important to be involved in her kid’s lives and didn’t want to fail as a mom.

Volunteering and giving time to others is very important to Marietta and her staff. Throughout the year they take time to volunteer at agencies like 6:8; the local food pantry; and send the entire staff to spend an afternoon packing food at the “Feed My Starving Children” food pack event. They also use their graphic design talents to create flyers/brochures/logos for nonprofit organizations and events. As if that's not enough, three staff members also volunteer for Friends of Sauk Prairie Parks and Recreation.

Marietta has served on the S.P. Area Chamber of Commerce ambassador committee for 20 years and served on their board several times as well as being their Chamber President a few years ago. She is on the Rec Commission, Food Pantry Board, and volunteers to assist with food distribution. She was a girl scout leader for her three daughters as they grew up and has been actively involved in her church helping with fish fry’s and other events as well as chairing their annual festival for the past 5 years. As you can tell, she is a true "Pillar" of community support and did not fail at being a mother.

Looking for a role model? Someone that not only will inspire you to be a better leader, but demonstrates daily what it is to be a caring, compassionate and servant oriented President of a growing enterprise (and Accomplished Grandma - as you can see from her picture)? Look no further. Marietta Reuter has been a friend and colleague of mine for several years and she is a walking, talking exemplar of why there should be no such things as "glass ceilings" or any other sorts of discriminations against women and their abilities in the workplace. As a member of the Sauk Prairie community for her entire life, she has stood for the highest principles in leadership and inspires those around her to do their very best.

In March of 1995 she founded Tools of Marketing, Inc. a successful woman-owned promotional products and fulfillment company. Having grown up on a farm in the small town of Roxbury, WI, Marietta knew what hard work was and continues to work hard in the business and in the community. She is the 9th of 11 children and had more responsibilities than most kids. In between her chores, she was always trying to keep up with her 6 older brothers. Her philosophy was, anything they could do she could do. One of Marietta’s main goals when she started her business, was to be there when her kids got off the bus after school. She wanted to have a career but also felt it was important to be involved in her kid’s lives and didn’t want to fail as a mom.

Volunteering and giving time to others is very important to Marietta and her staff. Throughout the year they take time to volunteer at agencies like 6:8; the local food pantry; and send the entire staff to spend an afternoon packing food at the “Feed My Starving Children” food pack event. They also use their graphic design talents to create flyers/brochures/logos for nonprofit organizations and events. As if that's not enough, three staff members also volunteer for Friends of Sauk Prairie Parks and Recreation.

Marietta has served on the S.P. Area Chamber of Commerce ambassador committee for 20 years and served on their board several times as well as being their Chamber President a few years ago. She is on the Rec Commission, Food Pantry Board, and volunteers to assist with food distribution. She was a girl scout leader for her three daughters as they grew up and has been actively involved in her church helping with fish fry’s and other events as well as chairing their annual festival for the past 5 years. As you can tell, she is a true "Pillar" of community support and did not fail at being a mother.

After helping another company to branch into the promotional products industry, Marietta decided it was time to go out on her own. On March 11, 1995, she opened Tools of Marketing and ran it out of an 8’ x 8’ bedroom of their 900 square foot home. In 2000, Marietta and her husband Marc built their dream home to include 1,100 sq. ft. of office space above the garages, and 1,200 sq. ft. of warehouse space in their basement for the growing business. In April 2018, Marietta and her growing staff, moved into a newly constructed 10,000 sq. ft. building which allows for more fulfillment programs and additional staff as needed. It will continue to be a family and women owned business, as it has recently added Amanda (niece) and her daughters Mariah, and Martina as generation two.

Let's talk about "investment Opportunities". if you're looking for a solid group of investors to help you develop as a caretaker of tomorrow, Kids Ranch is a valuable "portfolio" to pursue. Since 1998 KIDS RANCH has been connecting at-risk youth, ages 6-10, with caring community members. They build self-esteem and self-respect through educational and recreational programs. Staff provide free or reduced-rate early intervention and prevention programs within four Wisconsin school districts—Baraboo, Reedsburg, Wisconsin Dells, and Sauk Prairie helping to make a difference int the lives of over 160 children each year through its programs.

At the helm of this grassroots organization is Penny Johnson. Penny is a multi-talented and skilled leader with a vast amount of experience working with children and teens as a Youth Services Teen Specialist & Volunteer Coordinator with the Baraboo Public Library; a Volunteer in the Baraboo Public Schools; and as a Vice President, & President of the Baraboo School District Board of Education. She also has a BGS in Management, with an emphasis on Organizational Effectiveness from Brigham Young University.

She's one of those committed caretakers who has to slow down in order to work at a pace that most of us can only aspire towards reaching.

Let's talk about "investment Opportunities". if you're looking for a solid group of investors to help you develop as a caretaker of tomorrow, Kids Ranch is a valuable "portfolio" to pursue. Since 1998 KIDS RANCH has been connecting at-risk youth, ages 6-10, with caring community members. They build self-esteem and self-respect through educational and recreational programs. Staff provide free or reduced-rate early intervention and prevention programs within four Wisconsin school districts—Baraboo, Reedsburg, Wisconsin Dells, and Sauk Prairie helping to make a difference int the lives of over 160 children each year through its programs.

At the helm of this grassroots organization is Penny Johnson. Penny is a multi-talented and skilled leader with a vast amount of experience working with children and teens as a Youth Services Teen Specialist & Volunteer Coordinator with the Baraboo Public Library; a Volunteer in the Baraboo Public Schools; and as a Vice President, & President of the Baraboo School District Board of Education. She also has a BGS in Management, with an emphasis on Organizational Effectiveness from Brigham Young University.

She's one of those committed caretakers who has to slow down in order to work at a pace that most of us can only aspire towards reaching.

Buddy Huffaker is the sort of guy that I just wanted to have as a friend the moment I met him. Unassuming, self-deprecating in a humble and humorous way, and REALLY smart. I mean who wouldn't want to be friends with a guy like that? And then I got to talking with him on my previous show and realized there was so MUCH to talk about that we better get going, because we only have one lifetime. Buddy is the Executive Director of the Aldo Leopold Center and Foundation and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in teaching people the "how and why" of taking care of the land as well as be more responsible and ethical in how we use it.

Buddy joined the foundation over 20 years ago as an intern. His academic background is in landscape architecture and plant ecology, but he has also undertaken extensive professional development in fundraising, management, and finance. He is recognized as an Executive Scholar in Not‐for‐Profit Management by Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He also participated in the White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation, and was elected to represent the Northeast Region at the U.S. Forest Service’s Centennial Congress.

One of the most thrilling parts of his job is interacting with individuals and communities all over the country who are working not only to understand Leopold’s vision of a land ethic more fully, but more importantly, to implement it in their day-to-day lives.

Buddy Huffaker is the sort of guy that I just wanted to have as a friend the moment I met him. Unassuming, self-deprecating in a humble and humorous way, and REALLY smart. I mean who wouldn't want to be friends with a guy like that? And then I got to talking with him on my previous show and realized there was so MUCH to talk about that we better get going, because we only have one lifetime. He is the Executive Director of the Aldo Leopold Center and Foundation. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience in teaching people the "how and why" of taking care of the land as well as be more responsible and ethical in how we use it.

Buddy joined the foundation over 20 years ago as an intern. His academic background is in landscape architecture and plant ecology, but he has also undertaken extensive professional development in fundraising, management, and finance. He is recognized as an Executive Scholar in Not‐for‐Profit Management by Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He also participated in the White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation, and was elected to represent the Northeast Region at the U.S. Forest Service’s Centennial Congress.

One of the most thrilling parts of his job is interacting with individuals and communities all over the country who are working not only to understand Leopold’s vision of a land ethic more fully, but more importantly, to implement it in their day-to-day lives.

Jane Stevens, to me, is the epitome of what we refer to as a person with a "green thumb". In fact after having this two week discussion with her, I thought that perhaps, like the famed Vulcan "Mister Spock", she might also have Green Blood. Jane is an advocate, protector, and in some ways an evangelist of sorts for the beauty, wonder, and curative nature of all green things that grow all around us. As a trained horticulturist she knows not only the scientific facts about plant biology but also understands deeply, their importance to our health and well being. If you're an avid gardener, an outdoor enthusiast, or a seeker of information about the curative plants and spices that have been understood for untold years; these episodes are for you. And even if you're not one of those please give these episodes "a listen". Jane is also a charming and humble conservationist as well as an ardent conservationist with meaningful, helpful information for anyone that will listen.

Jane Hawley Stevens began specializing in herbs in 1981 after earning her Horticulture degree from U.W. Madison. Opportunities in herb garden design evolved into using herbs in cooking and home remedies. In 1987 she began Four Elements Organic Herbals, continuing to grow herbs used for wellbeing. Grown and harvested on her 130-acre farm in the Baraboo Bluff of Wisconsin, products are handmade by dedicated local women and sold throughout the country.

A pioneer in organic farming and the natural product industry, Jane has taken her love and reverence for nature to inspire others through her effective products and teaching at organic herb, garden and professional events. Her desire is to connect people consciously to that which sustains them.

Her art and science of herbal wellness has expanded to create Four Elements Herbals product line that sells across the country.

Jane Stevens, to me, is the epitome of what we refer to as a person with a "green thumb". In fact after having this two week discussion with her, I thought that perhaps, like the famed Vulcan "Mister Spock", she might also have Green Blood. Jane is an advocate, protector, and in some ways an evangelist of sorts for the beauty, wonder, and curative nature of all green things that grow all around us. As a trained horticulturist she knows not only the scientific facts about plant biology but also understands deeply, their importance to our health and well being. If you're an avid gardener, an outdoor enthusiast, or a seeker of information about the curative plants and spices that have been understood for untold years; these episodes are for you. And even if you're not one of those please give these episodes "a listen". Jane is also a charming and humble conservationist as well as an ardent conservationist with meaningful, helpful information for anyone that will listen.

Jane Hawley Stevens began specializing in herbs in 1981 after earning her Horticulture degree from U.W. Madison. Opportunities in herb garden design evolved into using herbs in cooking and home remedies. In 1987 she began Four Elements Organic Herbals, continuing to grow herbs used for wellbeing. Grown and harvested on her 130-acre farm in the Baraboo Bluff of Wisconsin, products are handmade by dedicated local women and sold throughout the country.

A pioneer in organic farming and the natural product industry, Jane has taken her love and reverence for nature to inspire others through her effective products and teaching at organic herb, garden and professional events. Her desire is to connect people consciously to that which sustains them.

Her art and science of herbal wellness has expanded to create Four Elements Herbals product line that sells across the country.

Carol and Steve Stevenson are the rarest of rare commodities these days. A happily married couple that are not only still "sweethearts" (after 30 + years), but after having very successful careers and retiring to rural Wisconsin, they managed to construct an awesome legacy for future generations. It's a different sort of nest egg built on memories of days gone by and treasures from times long since passed. They are the owners, operators, and town officials for the Town of Stevenson Museum just outside of Richland Center in the little hamlet of Boaz. They are a gold mine of stories and artifacts that are guaranteed to make you smile. I had the joy of sitting down and talking with them both back in March while Steve and I sipped Scotch, Carol sipped some NA Wine and we relived the past together in all its grandeur.

This unique museum is located on a 240 acre farm in the beautiful countryside of Richland County. Steve and Carol Stevenson have assembled a museum that houses items ranging from the late 1800's through the 1950's.
Museum highlights include:
A Military Display with uniforms going all the way back to the 19th Century
A Police Department complete with a jail (so watch it or you'll end up behind bars)
A Post Office, a Doctor's Office, a Room to Rent for 50 cents (I think that's in a song somewhere), a Fire Department with second-floor living quarters. a Barber Shop, General Store, a John Deere Dealership, a Ford Dealership, a Red Crown Gas Station (did you even know there ever was such a thing?), a Display Room with antique tools and toys, Santa's Toy Shop, a HUGE O-Gauge Train Display, a Radio Sales/Service Store, plus more Vintage Vehicle and Pedal Cars than you can shake a stick at. It's definitely worth the price of admission ($15) and well worth the drive.

Carol and Steve Stevenson are the rarest of rare commodities these days. A happily married couple that are still "Sweethearts" (after 30+ years of marriage), but after both having very successful careers, they retired; and instead of slowing down, they managed to construct an awesome legacy. It's a different sort of nest egg for future generations - built on memories of days gone by and treasures from times long since passed. They are the owners, operators, and town officials for the Town of Stevenson Museum just outside of Richland Center in the little hamlet of Boaz. They are a gold mine of stories and artifacts that are guaranteed to make you smile. I had the joy of sitting down and talking with them both back in March while Steve and I sipped Scotch, Carol sipped some NA Wine and we relived the past together in all its grandeur.

This unique museum is located on a 240 acre farm in the beautiful countryside of Richland County. Steve and Carol Stevenson have assembled a museum that houses items ranging from the late 1800's through the 1950's.
Museum highlights include:
A Military Display with uniforms going all the way back to the 19th Century
A Police Department complete with a jail (so watch it or you'll end up behind bars)
A Post Office, a Doctor's Office, a Room to Rent for 50 cents (I think that's in a song somewhere), a Fire Department with second-floor living quarters. a Barber Shop, General Store, a John Deere Dealership, a Ford Dealership, a Red Crown Gas Station (did you even know there ever was such a thing?), a Display Room with antique tools and toys, Santa's Toy Shop, a HUGE O-Gauge Train Display, a Radio Sales/Service Store, plus more Vintage Vehicle and Pedal Cars than you can shake a stick at. It's definitely worth the price of admission ($15) and well worth the drive.

So let's admit it. When many of us think of Teens, one of the first descriptive words that can come to mind is, unfortunately, "Difficult". We do so while conveniently forgetting that we were once thought of in the same light. So in the interest of "doing unto others..." this episode focuses on an organization that has been working diligently to provide opportunities for teens to learn valuable social, recreational, and even professional skills. While at the same time, providing a "safe haven" for those that need it the most. It is a place where transformations occur that inspire and challenge all of us. Inspire us with hope for the future, and challenge us to do what we can to help make that future HAPPEN.

Kyle Crosby serves as the Director of Operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of West-Central Wisconsin; a group of small, rural clubs located in Baraboo, Reedsburg and Tomah. A Sauk Prairie native, Kyle graduated from UW-LaCrosse with a BS in Sports Management. After graduation, he Spent 3 years in Appleton, WI in the sports world before moving back closer to home to start a family with his wife, Sam.

As an advocate for youth already (with experience in coaching hockey and baseball) the opportunity to serve community youth at a larger level at the Boys & Girls Club fell into Kyle’s lap in 2014. He hasn’t looked back since and has grown into a leader within the organization and multiple communities.

Recreation is one of those words that can seem super serious or somewhat frivolous depending upon your perspective. It comes from a late Middle English word which had the connotation of something that provided ‘mental or spiritual consolation’ which in turn came from an Old French word recreare meaning to ‘create again, renew'. Well given the current state of national and global affairs . . . who couldn't use some of that? But at the end of the day, recreation isn't so much about what we do, as it is about HOW we do it and WHY. So I caught up with an expert in our area that understands Recreation from just about every vantage point that exists.

John Lehan serves as the Community Education and Recreation Director for the Sauk Prairie Community Center. He has served the Sauk Prairie community since November of 2012. John, his wife Lisa and daughter Azilynn live in the Sauk Prairie community. Family hobbies include board games, visiting local and state parks, bowling, and Mickey Mouse. John also serves as Vice President with the Friends of Sauk Prairie Parks and Recreation group which is developing Culver Community Park.

The Physical and Mental well being of today's Ag producers is perhaps more critical today than ever before. As our nation has changed from a primarily Agronomic society and culture to an Industrial and now a Technological one, the toll of those changes has been heavily paid by Farmers. They have had to deal with some of the most difficult circumstances possible for any citizen of the United States. They are under pressure from every side possible. Whether it be financial, psychological or physical stress - they have it all and in abundance. Thankfully there are professionals like Alana Voss to help counter some of those Stressors.

Alana Voss is an Agriculture educator in Juneau and Sauk Counties. She provides resources and education to individuals involved in agriculture and to those wanting to learn more about agriculture in their communities. She has been working with state colleagues and local community members to provide education and resources on farm stress topics. She is currently assisting in advising the Farmer Angel Network in Sauk County as this community group works to provide education and resources to the agriculture community.

Prior to Alana's current role, she earned degrees in Bachelor of Applied Science, Agriculture Business – Marketing and Communications Emphasis, and Animal Science-Dairy Emphasis from UW-Platteville. Following graduation from UW-Platteville, she looked to come back to rural Wisconsin to work with agriculture community and provide support to this important industry. Before coming to Sauk County, she was the interim Agriculture educator in Adams and Juneau Counties. Additionally, she continues to work on her family's cash crop farm where they grow corn and soybeans.

If you want to have a discussion about Health care ( a topic that is intricately woven into the fabric of our families and communities) it helps to have someone available with a long tenure of caring FOR those families and their community. One would be hard pressed to find anyone with better credentials for this task in Sauk County than Dr. John McAuliffe. Our Season 2 opening episode begins a two part broadcast on the pandemic and the parts of it that we don't talk about as much as we should. Mainly the lack of trust and respect that this disease has fostered in our nation. We talk about the specifics of COVID as well as the impact that our culture war over it is having on us and some ways to counter that impact.

Born in Blair, Wisconsin, he earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin Madison, in Madison, Wisconsin. He continued on to earn his doctorate at the UW’s Medical School in 1973 and served 5 years in the Military in the Army Medical Core. Dr. McAuliffe has acted as the Medical Director and Chief of Staff of the Sauk Prairie Healthcare several times, which has been one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation for several years.

He lectures throughout the State of Wisconsin on the importance of wellness and physical fitness. He has been very involved in the care of those suffering addictions, in the local H.E.L.P (Health, Education, Law Enforcement, Psychosocial) program, the Tri-County MATRS (Medication Assisted Treatment Recovery) program, as well as leading Prairie Clinic’s Vivitrol/Suboxone program and has spoken to local TV news several times regarding his passion for this population.

If you want to have a discussion about Health care ( a topic that is intricately woven into the fabric of our families and communities) it helps to have someone available with a long tenure of caring FOR those families and their community. One would be hard pressed to find anyone with better credentials for this task in Sauk County than Dr. John McAuliffe. Our Season 2 opening episode begins a two part broadcast on the pandemic and the parts of it that we don't talk about as much as we should. Mainly the lack of trust and respect that this disease has fostered in our nation. We talk about the specifics of COVID as well as the impact that our culture war over it is having on us and some ways to counter that impact.

Born in Blair, Wisconsin, he earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin Madison, in Madison, Wisconsin. He continued on to earn his doctorate at the UW’s Medical School in 1973 and served 5 years in the Military in the Army Medical Core. Dr. McAuliffe has acted as the Medical Director and Chief of Staff of the Sauk Prairie Healthcare several times, which has been one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation for several years.

He lectures throughout the State of Wisconsin on the importance of wellness and physical fitness. He has been very involved in the care of those suffering addictions, in the local H.E.L.P (Health, Education, Law Enforcement, Psychosocial) program, the Tri-County MATRS (Medication Assisted Treatment Recovery) program, as well as leading Prairie Clinic’s Vivitrol/Suboxone program and has spoken to local TV news several times regarding his passion for this population.

On a chilly winter morning in 2012, Bill Harris, the founder of People Helping People, watched a group of homeless men leave the Baraboo Warming Center and walk down the street with nowhere to go and nothing to do. He envisioned creating an entry-level job-training program where they could learn a skill, get jobs and support themselves. PHP volunteers redoubled their fundraising efforts and were able to buy and renovate a modest headquarters building in downtown Baraboo in 2015 from which Bill and I were able to record this interview on Dec 28th of 2020.

If you want to have a “shot in the arm” that will dissipate any cloudy day blues, you need to sit down and talk with the Reverend Bill Harris for a couple minutes. If you do, it's almost impossible to NOT catch the "fire" that comes from being around a man that puts hands and feet to the Gospel of Christ with every moment of his life. As the CEO of People helping People in Baraboo, he was the PERFECT guest to wrap up my first season of Podcasts for “Frame of Reference”. Listen to find out more about all the fantastic work that is being done through their Adopt a Family, Adopt a Soldier, Stomp out Hunger, School Supply, and Work Ready Programs“. Plus hear the personal testimony of one of the recent graduates of the Work Ready Program, Nathan Tolliver, as he describes what the program has meant to him and his family. Join us, as we celebrate a successful year at PHP in spite of the chaos in our pandemic riddled world.

Normally at this time of year, I would've recorded a special show called "A Very Merry Sauk Prairie Christmas as I have for the past 5 years. But alas, that was not to be so this year. So not to be yet again thwarted by a virus, I reached into our archives and picked what I believe may have been the best of my interviews with the Legendary Wisconsin Author, Professor Jerry Apps.

Jerry Apps, born and raised on a Wisconsin farm, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the author of more than 35 books, many of them on rural history and country life. His nonfiction books include: Once a Professor, Living a Country Year, Every Farm Tells a Story, When Chores Were Done, Humor from the Country, Country Ways and Country Days, One-Room Schools, Cheese, Breweries of Wisconsin, Ringlingville USA (History of Ringling Brothers circus) and many others (more than 35 total remember?)

Jerry has won awards for his writing from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Library Association (the 2007 Notable Authors Award), American Library Association, Foreword Magazine, Midwest Independent Publishers Association, Robert E. Gard Foundation, The Wisconsin Council for Writers (the 2007 Major Achievement Award), Upper Midwest Booksellers, and Barnes and Noble Bookstores, among others.

He is a remarkable story teller, and as fine a man as you could ever hope to meet. I'm sure you'll agree after you listen to this remastering of our 2019 show that he can spin a yarn with the best of 'em.

Years ago I met Paul Wolter when we started a tradition of doing a radio interview around Christmas time in order to talk about an annual event at the Sauk County Historical Society. Each year the Van Orden Mansion, a local landmark, is decorated with all sorts of Christmas trees in a beautiful tribute to the holiday season. So this year, given my new podcast format, we decided it would be a good time to talk even more about the History of Sauk County with regards to Christmas traditions and so much more. We talked about the old Railroad Depot in Baraboo, which is being restored to it's original splendor by the Historical society, as well as the importance of getting history right. Our interview's audio quality isn't what we wanted it to be, but the gist of what we talked about is there, and that's the important thing.

Paul Wolter is a native of Sauk County and lives in Baraboo with his wife Ann. He holds an undergraduate degree in Fine Art from the UW- Madison. Paul is the Executive Director of the Sauk County Historical Society but has been with the organization since 1996 serving as president from 2000 until 2015. His hobbies are genealogy, cycling and travel

A few years back, I did (as far as I know) a very unique episode of "Mornings at McFarlanes'" in which I played noting but unique versions and original songs from musicians in and around Madison that celebrated the Holiday Season. I was amazed and the quality and diversity of our local music scene (we forget how blessed we are to live in this part of the country). One of the artists that I featured on that show is my guest in this episode. She represents to me the epitome of what an Indy recording artist is and should be. Proud, intelligent, sensitive, and driven by a love and a passion for her Art as well as developing that passion in others. In this episode, we share some of Beth Kille's Christmas tunes off of her Undercover Holidays CD (recorded with the Kerosene Kites), as well as talk about the stories behind these songs, her career in music, and the special work she does with younger artists through her Rock and Roll Camp.

Beth Kille (pronounced Kill-ee) is a 25-time Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) award winning artist from Madison, WI who has been cranking out Americana-Rock tunes since 2000. She was recognized in 2011 when she received Artist of the Year honors at the Madison Area Music Awards and was twice nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year in 2017 and 2018 by the Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI).

Back in 2014-15 I was lucky enough to become acquainted with a unique and wonderful experience available to Sauk County residents (and beyond) called SCIL. SCIL stands for Sauk County Institute of Leadership. Not only was it personally rewarding in so many ways,but it has brought me into close contact with my two guests on this program. For the last several years we have all worked together with the SCIL board to re-imagine SCIL's curriculum. Jenny and Morgan have carried the lion's share of that effort.

Jenny Erickson is a Professor and Community Development Educator with the UW Madison-Extension in Sauk County. She collaborates with community partners to identify educational needs, develop and implement research-based programs that address local issues. She works to build the capacity of individuals, and organizations to reach their goals by designing tailored processes that integrate education and facilitation. Her educational programming focuses organizational and leadership development. She earned her bachelor and master’s degrees in natural sciences from UW-Madison.

Morgan McArthur’s career path has been winding, unconventional and rewarding. He has practiced as a large animal veterinarian in Idaho, mending cattle and horses for 15 years. Was Research & Development Manager at a New Zealand pharmaceutical company for a decade. As if that wasn't enough he has also given keynote/motivational speeches to audiences as small as three people to three thousand and has found a creative niche as a lettering/pinstriping artist. SCIL is one way in which he has enjoyed giving back to his home county as a UW-Madison Extension educator for five years.

Morgan is a co-facilitator in the Sauk County Institute of Leadership (SCIL) program, where participants learn more about themselves, learn a lot about the county and learn leadership skills. He’s also very involved with public art in his hometown of Baraboo. At this stage of his career Morgan knows it’s important to give back to the community and he brings enthusiasm to that mission.

Back in 2019, I got the "crazy" idea of interviewing kids from one of our local schools and asking them about the things that they knew about Thanksgiving. Questions about why we celebrate it, what they're thankful for, their favorite thing to eat or do, and my personal favorite, what they are NOT thankful for. As you can imagine the answers were poignant, funny, and "unfiltered". This episode originally aired on 99.7 max FM on Thanksgiving day in 2019, but due to time constraints, we had to edit out a significant number of the responses. So we went back to the vault (well actually Mike Ganger did - for whom I am VERY Thankful) and collected ALL of the responses for all to hear. Hopefully you can listen and be prompted to spend some time thinking about the things for which YOU are thankful, as well as get a new Frame of Reference for this Quintessential American Holiday.

Merrimac Community School offers place-based education to enhance the learning experience. The education of students is integrated in home, neighborhood and community settings. A multi-age delivery encourages creativity, originality and natural development of leadership skills and is presented in a manner that best suits the abilities of each student.

Special thanks to Jenna McCann for helping to put this group of participants all together.

If you want to have a discussion about Health care ( a topic that is intricately woven into the fabric of our families and communities) it helps to have someone available with a long tenure of caring FOR those families and their community. One would be hard pressed to find anyone with better credentials for this task in Sauk County than Dr. John McAuliffe.

Born in Blair, Wisconsin, he earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin Madison, in Madison, Wisconsin. He continued on to earn his doctorate at the UW’s Medical School in 1973 and served 5 years in the Military in the Army Medical Core. Dr. McAuliffe has acted as the Medical Director and Chief of Staff of the Sauk Prairie Healthcare several times, which has been one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation for several years.

He lectures throughout the State of Wisconsin on the importance of wellness and physical fitness. He has been very involved in the care of those suffering addictions, in the local H.E.L.P (Health, Education, Law Enforcement, Psychosocial) program, the Tri-County MATRS (Medication Assisted Treatment Recovery) program, as well as leading Prairie Clinic’s Vivitrol/Suboxone program and has spoken to local TV news several times regarding his passion for this population.

If you have a soul that yearns to be outdoors, Charlie Luthin is someone that you want to talk with in depth. And if you don't, he will help you see the joy that is waiting for all of us outdoors.

With an undergraduate degree in Biology (Botany) and a MS degree in Zoology (Ornithology), Charlie Luthin has spent his career of 43 years working almost exclusively for conservation non-profit organizations. Charlie spent 13 years working for international organizations that focused on tropical forest, wetland and marine (sea turtle) conservation. For the past 20 years he served as director of various statewide or regional groups, including Aldo Leopold Foundation, Wisconsin Wetlands Association and Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin.

In the Fall of 2020, Charlie retired after a five-year tenure as director of Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance based in Sauk City, the group that envisioned and secured a green future for the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant. In his spare time he loves to birdwatch, garden, hike and explore natural areas.

Back in 2019, I was invited to attend a Badger Honor flight event as a media representative. Not only was I honored to accompany veterans on their whirlwind tour of Washington DC, but I felt compelled to find a fitting way to pay tribute to these men and women that had fought for our country in 3 wars. So I spent the day seeking out individuals to interview them and just gather some of the reactions to the day as well as recollections of their time spent in the service. Some of the stories were remarkable, some sad, some comical, but all of them shared in a common feeling of grief for their fallen friends and a great humility about having this opportunity. Any of these folks would tell you that the ones that didn't make it home and are memorialized in Washington are the REAL heroes.

Hope you enjoy this special edition of my previous show "Mornings at McFarlanes'". It was just too special to leave in the archives, and seeing as today is Veteran's day, it seemed like a perfect time to replay it here.

If you want to get all ARTSY (and believe me there's no better way to be) Lindsey can help you find your groove. Her background, passion for the Arts, and her own personal set of skills and talents will help guide you to all forms of Art and then some. Join us as we pull back the curtain on things going on at RAI and larger issues that face the wide spectrum of Arts and Artists as we cope with COVID-19.

Area residents may know Lindsey Giese as the Executive Director of River Arts Inc, a non-profit arts organization in Prairie du Sac, but prior to this role, she was the lead singer for Holland America and Celebrity Cruises.

She holds 2 Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Music Theatre and Arts Administration and currently tours the Midwest with The Dang-Its in a review show entitled “Sweet Dreams and Honky Tonks.”

She is also a board member for the Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce and Friends of the Great Sauk State Trail.

If you are ever feeling like you need a person in your life that will help you REACH for all that you can be . . . Cliff Thompson is someone you'll want to get to know. Join us for an inspirational discussion about the challenges that face today's professional educators and the lessons he has learned over his career that shaped how teaches, coaches and has led other educators.

Dr. Cliff Thompson’s career spans more than 40 years as an elementary and high school teacher in one of Milwaukee’s best Parochial schools as well as a Principal, Activities Director, and most recently the Superintendent of Sauk Prairie’s School District from 2012- to 2019. During his final year (before a well deserved commencement to the next chapter in his life) he served as the Senior Advisor to the Superintendent and School Board as he transitioned into retirement during the 2019-20 school year.

Cliff’s attitude and character is reflected in the comments he made at a local gathering that commemorated this year’s retiring staff members. “It has been an honor and privilege to lead, teach and serve in the Sauk Prairie School District and for Cindy and I to live and raise our family in the community.”

If you want to know what's the buzz in business for Sauk County, Ed White is who you want to talk with to find out. Join us as we get to know Ed, his background and the perspective he brings to Economic Development in Sauk County. Ed White serves as Executive Director of the Sauk County Development Corporation; SCDC is a Public-Private Partnership based in Baraboo.

Ed’s past experiences include Economic Development Program Manager for the Southwest Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and Executive Director of the Platteville Business Incubator, Inc. He is a certified Economic Development Finance Professional and Business Incubation Manager.

With more than 30 years of experience in building and financing community and economic development, Ed is prepared to guide Sauk County into the 21 st century. He came to SCDC with a broad range of experiences as a Past President of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association’s Board of Directors, Past President of the Wisconsin Business Innovation Association, and the former President of the Platteville City Council.