PODCAST · society
Be The Connection
by Andy Harris
A deep dive into why connections matter for all of us, told through the inspiring, engaging and thought-provoking stories of guests ranging from community organizers to coaches to former inmates to authors to photographers and more. Their journeys and insights highlight the awesome impact of meaningful connections, barriers we face in developing community and what happens we do – and don’t – have it in our lives. Settle in, think, laugh and listen as we help you be the connection for your world.
Episodes
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Be The Connection: Researcher Andrew Smith (Episode 65)
In the second half of our closer look at a key study on loneliness and the internet, researcher Andrew Smith shares more on the value of social networks vs. social media and how cultural differences play into the way people view isolation and being distant from one another. Check it out!
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Be The Connection: Researcher Hessah Al-Heneidi (Episode 64)
We kick off our series on loneliness and isolation with a researcher who co-authored an impactful study on internet and social media usage and the effect it has on real, tangible connections in times of challenges and stress. Hessah Al-Heneidi has some amazing insights sure to shift your...
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Be The Connection: Addiction counselor Dan Page (Episode 64)
Dan Page's journey from battling addiction starting at the age of 12 to derailing his life as an adult on to becoming a counselor and building community for those walking the same path he's walked has developed an immense appreciation for the value of community and its absolute necessity for…
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Be The Connection: Jim Maloney & Frannie Hohman, San Quentin Prison Restorative Justice Program (Episode 63)
Jim, one of our first guests, is back with Frannie Hohman and together, they lead a two-year restorative justice program for inmates at San Quentin State Prison. Hear the amazing community that develops and helps bring healing in a space for inmates and even their victims after all the pain and...
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Be The Connection: Exploring Isolation and Solitude (Episode 62)
Connection and community are vital, but where do solitude and isolation fit in the mix for a healthy life and mindset? Our new series will explore that question and we set up the awesome conversations ahead with this kickoff episode.
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Be The Connection: Radio/TV personality Sarah White (Episode 61)
From a small town to being on the air covering a range of communities around her native Northeast Ohio, Sarah White has learned what community means in a range of ways and she brings that perspective and insights to a conversation about the people and components that make a community tick. Sarah…
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Be The Connection: Community builder Chris Catania (Episode 60)
Chris has been vital to building communities in the music world and now helps businesses make community the center of their internal operations and their relationship with those outside their walls. He joins to share valuable insights on all of the above and talk about his new book, due out this...
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Be The Connection: Longtime coach and cancer survivor Ed Egan (Episode 59)
Ed has spent nearly three decades rooted in the high school sports community and as a cancer survivor, he's a part of that special community as well. He's dishing out valuable lessons learned and shining a light on how to move your community forward.
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Be The Connection: Keith Stahl, Community Support Services (Episode 58)
Homelessness is a bigger issue in the U.S. with each passing day, but what does community look like for individuals facing being homeless, not just living on the street, but when they have a chance to find housing and move forward? CSS Residential Services Director Keith Stahl shines a light on…
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Be The Connection: Steve McCurrach, The Bateleurs (Episode 57)
The Bateleurs are a fantastic community of 200 diverse pilots who donate their aviation services to conservation and environmental groups in their native South Africa and neighboring areas. Leader Steve McCurrach shares what it's like inside this caring community that in turn helps so many other...
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Be The Connection: Pause and Refresh #6 (Episode 56)
Revisiting the wise words of our past eight guests so we don't lose their insights on community and connection by zooming on to the next piece of content. This time around, we go back to the thoughts of: Ep. 36 - Claire Bishop Ep. 46 -Kathryn Lloyd, Tenement Immigration Museum (N.Y.) Ep. 48 -...
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Be The Connection: Olympic lifter Norm Carreiro (Episode 55)
Season 2 launches with the story of a guy who went from 400-plus pounds and on the verge of dangerous health issues to someone who's found fitness, community and a new direction for his life thanks to his own drive and those who have poured into his journey. Norm Carreiro's tale is one worth...
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Be The Connection: Season 1 in review (Episode 54)
What lasting lessons on connection, community and relationships has our first season taught us? We look back on a year of BTC and also look ahead to see what's next as we keep chasing better connections and community that truly changes us.
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Be The Connection: Freedom BLOC Executive Director Rev. Raymond Greene (Episode 53)
Raymond Green's story is one of working to empower those who feel excluded in their communities and his passion for community stems from the hard lessons learned from his time in prison and reintegrating into society afterward. He provides plenty to ponder in the latest in our series on…
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Be The Connection: Bridge the Village Director DeJuana Waters-Herald (Episode 52)
Bridge the Village is all about uniting those who build communities and removing divisions to create room for growth and unity. Executive director DeJuana Waters-Herald leads this bold effort and shares what truly drives healthy communities. Bridge the Village website:...
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Be The Connection: Dr. Steven Hyatt (Episode 51)
A veteran teacher, professor and leader of a new school where he's part of creating a thriving educational community, Dr. Steven Hyatt is an expert on culture and its importance within all types of communities. He shares insights and compelling thoughts on why many of us are slow to step into...
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Be The Connection: Akron Sneaker Academy founder Dominique Waters (Episode 50)
With a nonprofit built on sneaker culture and focused on building community, connecting with the community at large and showing students a brighter future where they're the creators of amazing designs and products, Akron Sneaker Academy is a perfect fit for the latest episode in our Community...
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Be The Connection: Journalism expert/retired professor Dr. Therese Lueck (Episode 49)
Dr. Therese Lueck speaks powerfully on how to find great community in a transient setting like a college campus, the power journalism still has to create community and how an invitation to appear on this podcast sent her on a journey to improve the state of connections in her life. Buckle in a…
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Be The Connection: Jillian Racoosin, Foundation for Social Connection (Episode 48)
How do we build, sustain and grow the type of communities that help us thrive and live all-around healthier lives? Jillian Racoosin goes in-depth to answer that question and to explain how stronger communities depend on the power of storytelling. https://www.social-connection.org/ F4SC on IG:...
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Be The Connection: Pause and Refresh #5 (Episode 47)
Let's circle back to the powerful words and wisdom our guests shared in Ep. 36-44 so we can keep those in mind, apply them to our lives and live them out. It's time to Pause and Refresh on one central piece of wisdom from each of these eight awesome guests! Ep. 36 - Claire Bishop Ep. 37 -Drew…
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Be The Connection: Kathryn Lloyd, Tenement Immigration Museum (N.Y.) (Episode 46)
Immigrants have always been a vital part of the United States and The Tenement Museum tells the stories of 11 families across decades in New York City as they came to start a new life, build community and chase new dreams. Kathryn Lloyd leads the museum's educational programming, making her a…
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Be The Connection: Veteran journalist Brad Bournival, Akron Beacon Journal (Episode 45)
With 20-plus years covering high school sports and entrenched in the communities that support them, Brad Bournival brings an amazing, thoughtful perspective on what makes communities strong, successful and special (hint: it has a lot to do with the people). It's our second episode of our new...
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Be The Connection: Olympian Deena Kastor, Mammoth Track Club (Episode 44)
Deena Kastor is a distance running legend, a former American marathon record holder and Olympic bronze medalist who's helped create an amazing community for everyday and elite runners in the mountains of California. She kicks off our Community series by sharing what's made MTC an amazing place to...
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Be The Connection: Kate Carney, More in Common (Episode 43)
More in Common works to help groups, organizations and communities better understand what unites (and divides us), how to promote community and cohesion and ways we can make the communities we belong to better. Kate Carney is the organization's U.S. chief of staff and checks in for a conversation...
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Be The Connection: Dr. Alia Whitman, The Physician Within (Episode 42)
Alia Whitman decided to pivot from life as an emergency room doctor to one where she works as a partner with her patients to address their entire health picture, connecting with them to promote their overall well-being. Hear how this collaborative approach to medicine helps her patients be...
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Be The Connection: Exploring Community (Episode 41)
We're starting a new year with a purpose - focusing upcoming episodes on defining, understanding and building better communities in our lives in all the places and forms they exist. This is our kickoff for the series as we tackle a key part of understanding and establishing better connections in...
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Be The Connection: Smokejumper Kurt Rohrbach (Episode 40)
The iconic Smokejumpers parachute into dangerous fires to battle blazes consuming tens or hundred of acres, relying on their team connections, support and brotherhood as they risk their lives to save land and property. Active third-generation Smokejumper Kurt Rohrbach jumps into talk about the...
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Be The Connection: Farm State of Mind Director Jessica Cabrera (Episode 39)
The Farm State of Mind campaign helps farmers battling anxiety, challenges on their farms and the stress that comes with their demanding lifestyle by building connections and linking them to community and to resources to help keep them – and their farms – healthy. Director Jessica Cabrera joins…
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Be The Connection: Pause and Refresh #4 (Episode 38)
Refreshing our memories on the insights and impactful stories of our guests from the last eight episodes so we don't forget their life-changing thoughts and can better apply them to our day-to-day. We want to internalize that wisdom and live it out, so let's dive into episodes 27-35!
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Be The Connection: Team Rubicon member Drew Hanna (Episode 37)
Team Rubicon connects veterans with those in need as they help with recovery and rebuilding efforts in communities devastated by disaster. Drew Hanna served in the 82nd Airborne and now applies those skills to assist victims of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and more. He joins us to share…
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Be The Connection: American Public Square Director Claire Bishop (Episode 36)
American Public Square works to create civil, impactful conversations around issues where we find ourselves disagreeing and even fighting – and tries to empower progress and growth. Executive Director Claire Bishop joins us for a conversation about that work and how we can apply those same ideas…
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Be The Connection: U.S. Rugby star Carlin Isles (Episode 35)
Carlin Isles started life in foster care and facing challenges, but has authored an amazing story as he's become a U.S. Rugby star, NFL player, mentor and community leader for kids in his hometown. Hear how he's using his story as a way to help troubled kids look beyond their present hardships,...
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Be The Connection: Author/Activist Reenita Hora (Episode 34)
Reenita has seen families and relationships torn apart in her home country of India based simply on who a person chooses to love and has turned those realities into a novel that's part historical, part personal. She joins us to talk about all of it, along with her support of women entrepreneurs…
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Be The Connection: Akron RubberDucks GM Jim Pfander (Episode 33)
Connections are the lifeblood of minor league baseball – and in ways you might not even realize. Akron RubberDucks general manager Jim Pfander checks in to talk about the community aspect of MiLB, the bonds between team and community and how players can make a lasting impact with fans both on and...
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Be The Connection: American Addiction Recovery Association founder Jeff Breedlove (Episode 32)
Once a high-powered political official and power player, addiction derailed Jeff Breedlove's life – but connecting with a famous college football coach in the same situation has renewed his sense of purpose and given him a new mission in life. Hear his story and how connections and community have...
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Be The Connection: Pause and Refresh #3 (Episode 31)
Refreshing our memories on the wisdom and amazing stories of our awesome guests from the last eight episodes so we don't forget their life-changing thoughts. We want to internalize that goodness to help us apply it better, so let's dive into episodes 18-26!
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Be The Connection: Running 2B Well founder Keith Johnston (Episode 30)
Mental health and addiction issues impact us all, inspiring Running 2B well to bring people together in a community that moves, connects, supports and lifts one another up. Founder Keith Johnston dives into how the group began, the effect giving a pair of shoes to someone can have and how...
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Be The Connection: Retired professor Doug Hausknecht (Episode 29)
With 35 years spent mentoring, investing in and connecting with students during their college careers and in life past graduation, professor Doug Hausknecht has an amazing perspective to share. He dishes on life-changing stories with students he mentored, those who invested in him and how those...
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Be The Connection: New York Times best-selling author Scott Ellsworth (Episode 28)
Scott has told epic true stories of heroes in the battle for racial equality in sports, the Tulsa Race Riots, the Civl War and more and he checks in with us to discuss how those stories can connect us and what we can learn about times of great division that can help in today's fractured America....
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Be The Connection: Jenny Young, Meals on Wheels America (Episode 27)
More than a meal. Meals on Wheels America provides not just regular meals for seniors in need, but a wealth of support and connection that benefits these older Americans in life-changing ways for both them and the volunteers who serve them. Chief of Staff Jenny Young joins us to share in-depth...
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Be The Connection: Longtime college basketball coach Keith Dambrot (Episode 26)
Keith Dambrot coached LeBron James, won more than 600 games across 40 years in coaching and recently retired after leading Duquesne to a massive NCAA Tournament upset. He digs into the lessons he's learned about relationships, togetherness and lasting connections with players and coaches across…
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Be The Connection: Play Zone founder Michael Allison (Episode 25)
Polyvagal Theory looks to promote for health and wellness by providing training, supporting community and powering better communication - something Play Zone founder Michael Allison knows well. He's worked with the Polyvagal Institute since 2020 and sits down to discuss how our bodies and brains...
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Be The Connection: Social justice expert Anthony Finnell (Episode 24)
Social justice is a topic that affects us all, but we don't all understand it well or engage in it effectively. Anthony Finnell, a 20-year veteran in the social justice, law enforcement and security arenas, sits down to break down what social justice means, why it's important, barriers to...
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Be The Connection: Carey Kepler & Jeremy Thiel, CrossFit Central (Episode 23)
Check your CrossFit "cult" stereotypes at the door. Chalk up and hear how CF is a place that supports and loves people in and out of the gym, cheers them on through doing hard things and build bonds that fuel success in life beyond barbells and pull-up bars. CrossFit Central (Austin, Tex.) owners...
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Be The Connection: Pause and Refresh #2 (Episode 22)
A powerful revisiting of the great insights, impactful stories and influential notes of our awesome guests from the last eight episodes so we don't forget the life-changing wisdom they've shared. Our goal is serving up content that makes a difference and helping you retain wisdom that will…
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Be The Connection: Akron Promise founder Tom Ghinder (Episode 21)
Akron Promise works to connect students throughout the city to educational, career and workforce growth tools and resources that help them achieve their personal and work goals. Tom Ghinder, its founder, joins BTC to share how the organization uses mentorship, running events, group meals and more...
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Be The Connection: Dr. Ron Jones (Episode 20)
We trust doctors with our health and lives - but don't often stop to ask if they're mentally and emotionally well, healthy and avoiding burnout. Dr. Ron Jones recently retired after 40-plus years as an internal medicine doctor and now works to help doctors and future doctors learn how to stay...
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Be The Connection: Connecting Through Art Director Naomi McLeod (Episode 19)
Connecting Through Art empowers those diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and their care partners to find community with others fighting the same battles, bonding through the beauty of art and connection. Hear the impactful stories of lives changed and support provided by a program that helps…
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Be The Connection: Adventurer Hazen Audel (Episode 18)
Lifelong adventurer Hazen Audel has braved the rapids of the mighty Mekong River, traversed Africa's Rift Valley to witness the Great Migration and trekked across the unforgiving Andes in South America and he joins us to share lessons learned from connecting with the people who live in these…
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Be The Connection: Air Force Lt. Dr. Mark Cucuzzella (Episode 16)
With 29 years in the Air Force, decades as a runner and coach and a long tenure as a primary care doctor helping post-9/11 veterans, Dr. Mark Cucuzzella has helped build communities and connections throughout the U.S. He delves into the special bonds of the military community, how running draws...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A deep dive into why connections matter for all of us, told through the inspiring, engaging and thought-provoking stories of guests ranging from community organizers to coaches to former inmates to authors to photographers and more. Their journeys and insights highlight the awesome impact of meaningful connections, barriers we face in developing community and what happens we do – and don’t – have it in our lives. Settle in, think, laugh and listen as we help you be the connection for your world.
HOSTED BY
Andy Harris
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Be The Connection have?
Be The Connection currently has 66 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Be The Connection about?
A deep dive into why connections matter for all of us, told through the inspiring, engaging and thought-provoking stories of guests ranging from community organizers to coaches to former inmates to authors to photographers and more. Their journeys and insights highlight the awesome impact of...
How often does Be The Connection release new episodes?
Be The Connection has 66 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Be The Connection?
You can listen to Be The Connection on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Be The Connection?
Be The Connection is created and hosted by Andy Harris.
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