PODCAST · science
Getting to Third Space with Lamar and Tom
by From Klaus Haus Productions, featuring Tom Klaus and Lamar Roth
A "3rd Space" is a space where two or more people with differing viewpoints, ideologies, and worldviews can come together to hear, listen, share, and connect with one another. In this podcast two lifelong friends, Lamar Roth & Tom Klaus, carve out a Third Space where everything can be on the table for open, straightforward, honest, and, yet kind and respectful inquiry. Getting to Third Space with Lamar & Tom features an exploration of how to talk with one another about significant, even controversial, issues with grace and humor. Occasionally Lamar & Tom will welcome guests to the show.
Episodes
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S4E21 - A conversation with David Bentler, author of Brotherhood in War & Peace
Where were you when the U.S. was at war, whether it was Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and, now, Iran? More importantly, how did you feel about where you were? Lamar and Tom welcome David Bentler to the table for a conversation on his new book, Brotherhood in War & Peace: A Historical Fiction of…
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S4E20 - Violence in the WNBA. What's going on?
A new version of an old Rodney Dangerfield joke: “I went to a women’s boxing match and a WNBA game broke out.” In the 30th season of the WNBA this seems to have been more true than not. Or was it? It’s the WNBA playoffs! This week Lamar and Tom explore the evolution of women's basketball, the...
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S4E19 - The Role of Humor in Conflict and Controversy - A Table Talk
Uh oh. The guys are back from their August break and they are ready to talk! Today Lamar and Tom respond to a listener’s question about the use of humor in conflict and controversy. The listener asked: “Doesn’t the use of in a challenging conversation where conflict and controversy is possible...
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S4E18 - A Conversation with Walt Michael of Common Ground on the Hill
Do you know how to combine music, traditional arts, and conversation to create a space where diverse groups of people come together to learn and share with one another? We don’t. But Walt does. Walt Michael is the Artist in Residence at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland and the founder…
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S4E17 Encore of But What Can I Do? (S4E5)
"But what can I do?” This is a question we are getting with greater frequency from our followers, listeners, and viewers. We’re going to try to answer that question…with a little help. Learn More In this episode of Getting to 3rd Space, we are going to try to answer a question we are getting more...
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S4E16 Encore of A Table Talk on Democracy with Historian Joel Kauffman
What is the state of our democracy in the U.S. today? What does it mean to be a democracy? Lamar and Tom check in with historian Joel Kauffman on these and other questions. Joel Kauffman is a professor, coach, reader, and world citizen. His interest in the world in which we live has led him to...
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S4E15 - A Conversation on Practical Kindness with Erica Marks
What’s the difference between being “kind” and “nice?” Are they mutually exclusive? Can you be both at the same time? Join us for a conversation with #BeHumankind practitioner Erica Marks to learn more. Erica Marks is a #BeHumankind practitioner. She has integrated principles of #BeHumankind into...
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S4E14 - Lamar & Tom Talk Fine Art Photography
What is the difference between “fine art photography” and “taking pictures”? Nope, not your usual topic for our podcast. Plus, we’ve got pictures to share with you! Lamar Roth, co-host of Getting to 3rd Space with Lamar & Tom, is a fine art photographer. He currently has a show going on in…
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S4E13 - Happy 250th Birthday, USA!?!?
July 4, 2026 is the 250th Birthday of the United States of America. How are you planning to acknowledge this experiment in democracy that has lasted a quarter of a millennium? In this Table Talk podcast Lamar and Tom talk about the 250th Birthday of the United States of America. To be honest,...
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S4E12 A Conversation with The Iowa Investigator
The Iowa Investigator tells 3-minute stories about his home state of Iowa. He has at least 85 thousand followers on TikTok and 31 thousand followers on Facebook and Instagram. Including us. Today we meet The Iowa Investigator. The Iowa Investigator is J.T. Vonderhaar, an Iowa native who decided…
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S4E11 - What's With Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is this week and today’s podcast features a Table Talk between Lamar and Tom about the meaning of Memorial Day and its origins. You may be surprised by what you didn’t know about Memorial Day. Join us! Learn More The Wounded Warrior Project From History Facts Memorial Day was...
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S4E10 - A Table Talk on School Choice with Educator LaMonte Rothrock
Starting In 2027 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed in 2025) enables scholarships for private school tuition, tutoring, and transportation for families with incomes up to 300% of the area median income. Is this really a good idea? In today’s podcast, Lamar and Tom talk with LaMonte Rothrock…
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S4E9 - Are We Making a Difference?
You know about earworms, right? It’s a piece of music that gets stuck in your brain and won’t leave you alone. (“Baaabeee shark…”) Sorry about that. There are questions that are like earworms, too. In our last podcast our guest, Joel Kauffman, asked us if we are making a difference with Getting…
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S4E8 - A Table Talk on Democracy with Historian Joel Kauffman
What is the state of our democracy in the U.S. today? What does it mean to be a democracy? Lamar and Tom check in with historian Joel Kauffman on these and other questions. Joel Kauffman is a professor, coach, reader, and world citizen. His interest in the world in which we live has led him to...
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S4E7 - 2nd Annual Oddly True for April Fools' Day
It’s Lamar & Tom’s Second Annual Oddly True for April Fools’ Day podcast! Here’s how it works. Each tells the other three stories ripped from the headlines that are odd but true. However, the story teller changes a single detail in one of the stories making it only mostly true. The other has to...
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S4E6 - Rumors of War
Have you ever felt disconnected from the decisions that shape our world? Today Lamar and Tom are discussing the tragic loss of six Iowa National Guard members in Kuwait. Their sacrifice reminds us of the heavy toll of conflict and the often confusing nature of war. As they reflect on this, they...
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S4E5 - But What Can I Do?
In this episode of Getting to 3rd Space, we are going to try and answer a question we are getting more frequently from friends, followers, listeners, and viewers: “But what can I do about the situation in our country?” Frankly, we were a bit stuck. So we went to Perplexity...
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S4E4 - A Conversation with Liz Weaver
Liz Weaver joins Lamar and Tom in this episode of Getting to 3rd Space to talk about collaboration, trust, and transitions. Liz retired recently from her role as Co-CEO of Tamarack Institute in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Tamarack is known for its work in catalyzing collective action with diverse...
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S4E3 - Snoping Around
When you are wondering about rumors, conspiracy theories, folklore, fake news, and urban legends, who ya gonna call? Not us…but how about Snopes.com? Today Lamar and Tom start by talking about the upcoming season of the Frederick Flying Cows basketball team and a new photo project that Lamar is...
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S4E2 - A Table Talk on Truth, Gaslighting, and the Death of Renee Good
An American citizen was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minnesota. The video of the incident was clearly viewed by millions. The truth of what happened is not so clear, especially when the gaslighting starts. In this conversation, Lamar and Tom discuss the recent shooting of Renee Nicole…
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S4E1 - A Table Talk on School Choice with Sen. Stephen Owens
Stephen Owens was Lamar & Tom’s first guest on Getting to 3rd Space in the first season of the podcast. This week he is our first ever Table Talk guest on the podcast and we talk about school choice. During the first season of our podcast Stephen Owens was representing the 74th District in the...
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S3E25 A Holiday Table Talk and Season 3 Wrap Up
About this Episode In this holiday-themed episode, Tom and Lamar reflect on their experiences and traditions surrounding December holidays. They share personal stories about their favorite holiday memories, gift-giving practices, and the role of pets in their lives. The conversation also…
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S3E24 - A Conversation with Michael Gaskins
About this Episode Michael Gaskins is a Philadelphian by birth and heart. In fact, he’ll take a soft, chewy Philly pretzel anytime over cookies. He began his career in television production with CBS, NBC, and CNN affiliates but has found himself drawn to work with incarcerated young men to help...
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S3E23 - A Table Talk on Acts of Kindness and Thanksgiving
This week is Thanksgiving in the United States and Lamar & Tom take time to celebrate by sharing acts of kindness submitted by listeners and viewers over the last two months. Since August 2025, Lamar & Tom have been collecting responses to two questions about acts of kindness. The first is, “What...
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S3E22 - Part 2 - A Conversation with Christie Vilsack
This episode of Getting to 3rd Space is Part 2 of our conversation with Christie Vilsack, writer, teacher, Former First Lady of Iowa, and sponsor of the Navy’s U.S.S. Iowa, a nuclear submarine. Our conversation continues with a focus on literacy, acts of kindness, and the benefits of growing up…
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S3E21 - Part 1 of A Conversation with Christie Vilsack
Today’s guest on Getting to 3rd Space is Christie Vilsack. She describes herself as a "Teacher, writer, wife, mom and gramma. Proud Iowa first lady, congressional candidate, and USAID education advisor. A world traveler but an Iowan by birth and choice. I write about people living close to the...
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S3E20 Too Much Culture War, Not Enough Kitchen Table
Lamar and Tom talk with Senator Ethan Corson about his decision to run for Governor the State of Kansas. Ethan emphasizes the importance of bipartisan leadership and staying focused on the everyday issues that matter to families. He shares insights on maintaining civility in political campaigns,...
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S3E19 Live on Tape from Frederick, MD
About this Episode What happens when two Hawkeyes get together in person? Well, there are some are stupid jokes as well as good conversation. Join Lamar & Tom for a Getting to 3rd Space episode from Tom's home studio. Lamar Roth and Tom Klaus recorded this episode in person in Tom’s Frederick,...
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S3E18 - A Conversation with Stan "The Man" Martin
What is the power in a name? How do you have challenging conversations about difficult to break personal habits, even addiction? These are just a couple of things discussed in today’s Getting to 3rd Space with Lamar & Tom. In this conversation, Stan “The Man” Martin discusses his extensive work…
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S3E17 - A Labor Day Table Talk and Three Things We Think You Should Know
It’s Labor Day! But how much do you really know about it? Take Tom’s Labor Day quiz with Lamar and learn three other things they think you need to know. In this engaging Table Talk, Tom Klaus and Lamar Roth explore the significance of Labor Day, the challenges facing the agricultural sector as...
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S3E16 - A Conversation with Joolz Casey
What if…the world were a kinder place? What would it look like? What would it feel like? How would a kinder world begin? Lamar and Tom talk with Joolz Casey, the founder of #behumankind about these and other questions. In this episode Joolz Casey introduces the #behumankind movement, which…
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S3E15 - Promises, Promises, and More Promises
In this engaging conversation, Tom Klaus and Lamar Roth share their weekend experiences, discuss the art of civil discourse, and delve into various topics including sports, technology, and political promises. They explore the nuances of disagreement, particularly around golf as a sport, the Apple...
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S3E14.5 - It's a Throwback Episode!
This throwback episode takes us back to Episode 7 in Season 3, when, on April Fools’ Day eve, Lamar and Tom had a bit of fun with some of the odd but true stories in the news. Hey, it’s still a heavy world right now and we still need an occasional break. We chose this as a throwback episode…
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S3E14 - Table Talk on What it Means to be Patriotic
If you are a listener from the United States, how patriotic do you feel at this time? Did you celebrate the 4th of July with enthusiasm and gusto or with an eye roll and a mumbled “Meh!”? In this conversation, we reflect on the significance of the 4th of July and explore the concept of…
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S3E13 A Table Talk on How NOT to Have a Civil Dialogue
In just a few weeks, we’ll celebrate the two year anniversary of the start of this podcast and we’ll be approaching our 50th episode. It seems like a good time for us to take a step back and remember why we are doing this podcast and what we hope to accomplish with it. In this episode, Lamar...
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S3E12 A View from the Farm with Allen Schrag
Lamar and Tom welcome Allen Schrag, an innovative Kansas farmer and business person with a lifetime of experience in farming. In this conversation, they discuss the current state of agriculture, comparing it to the 1980s farm crisis, and explore the risks and challenges faced by farmers today....
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S3E11 - Navigating Politics When in a Significant Minority Position with Senator Ethan Corson
In this conversation, District 7 Kansas State Senator Ethan Corson discusses his background, career, and the importance of civil dialogue in politics. He shares insights on navigating a Republican supermajority in the Senate, the differences between federal and state politics, and the…
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S3E10 States Rights vs Federal Rights
The Constitution has been the guiding document for the United State of America for nearly 250 years. The documents cover a wide range of issues which make it possible for people in a large, diverse country to live peacefully and harmoniously, most of the time. One of the important topics it...
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S3E9 - What Does it Mean to "Buy American"?
Do you “buy American?” If so, what does that mean? Does it mean you “buy American” all of the time? Does it mean you purchase only those items that are both sourced and manufactured in the United States? Or, does it mean you purchase items that are “made in the USA” but with materials that come...
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S2E8 - Truth, Truthiness, and Not So Truthy Conversations
Civil conversations and dialogue are made more difficult when participants are not speaking honestly, are simply parroting the ideas of others, or are unwilling to consider being changed through dialogue. In this episode, Lamar and Tom talk about conversations in which truth is illusive, and...
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S3E7 - Oddly True for April Fools' Day
On this April Fools’ Day eve Lamar and Tom have a bit of fun with some of the odd but true stories in the news. Hey, we all need a break when things have been pretty heavy in the world, right? Thankfully we have April Fools’ Day to help us out. Learn more: News stories that inspired today’s show:...
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S3E6 - A Table Talk on Crime-Punishment-and-Pardons
President Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of nearly 1,600 people who committed “certain offenses” at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. As these folks return to their homes, how do their communities respond to them? Inspired by a story of one such J6 defendant in the New York...
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S3E5 A Table Talk on the Early Days of the New Administration
What is new was old. What is old is new again. This is true of many things, including politics. On January 20th Donald J. Trump became President of the United States again for the second time. It has been a fast-paced and interesting (some would say “frightening”) few weeks. In this podcast Lamar...
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S3E4 - Heidi & Guy Burgess - Part 2
Part 2 of 2. Lamar and Tom talk with Heidi and Guy Burgess who have been life and professional partners for more than 50 years. They received their PhDs in sociology in the same year from the University of Colorado. In the late 1980s they received a grant from the Hewlett Foundation to start a...
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SE3E3 - Guy & Heidi Burgess - Part 1
Part 1 of 2. Lamar and Tom talk with Heidi and Guy Burgess who have been life and professional partners for more than 50 years. They received their PhDs in sociology in the same year from the University of Colorado. In the late 1980s they received a grant from the Hewlett Foundation to start a...
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S3E2 - More Conversation on The Social Dilemma - Part 2
What is your relationship with social media? Do you love it? Do you hate it? Do you avoid it? What if there are good reasons to love it, hate it, and avoid it - all at once? In this podcast Lamar and Tom are joined by their friend, colleague, and charity culture catalyst Ed Shrager from London....
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S3E1 - Conversation on The Social Dilemma - Part 1
What is your relationship with social media? Do you love it? Do you hate it? Do you avoid it? What if there are good reasons to love it, hate it, and avoid it - all at once? In this podcast Lamar and Tom are joined by their friend, colleague, and charity culture catalyst Ed Shrager from London....
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S2E21 - It's a Wrap! 2024 and Season 2
About this Episode It’s a wrap on Season 2 of Getting to 3rd Space with Lamar and Tom and on 2024. In this episode Lamar and Tom talk about holiday traditions and foods and they discuss their favorite Christmas movies. They take a few minutes to reflect on what they’ve learned doing the podcast…
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S2E20 - Journalist Alex Bhattacharji
Today Lamar and Tom welcome award winning journalist Alex Battacharji to Getting to 3rd Space. Alex is the author of ‘We Didn’t Know What Was Next. Nobody Tells You.’ on Inc.com published on December 2,2024. The article is about the mass shooting at Excel Industries eight years later. Excel is...
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S2E19 - Donald Trump's Cabinet Picks and Our Thanksgiving Special
During this past couple of weeks President-elect Donald Trump has been making nominations for his cabinet. In today’s podcast Lamar and Tom talk about a few of his nominations. Please note, though, that politics and news changes quickly and so did at least one of his nominees discussed in this...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A "3rd Space" is a space where two or more people with differing viewpoints, ideologies, and worldviews can come together to hear, listen, share, and connect with one another. In this podcast two lifelong friends, Lamar Roth & Tom Klaus, carve out a Third Space where everything can be on the table for open, straightforward, honest, and, yet kind and respectful inquiry. Getting to Third Space with Lamar & Tom features an exploration of how to talk with one another about significant, even controversial, issues with grace and humor. Occasionally Lamar & Tom will welcome guests to the show.
HOSTED BY
From Klaus Haus Productions, featuring Tom Klaus and Lamar Roth
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Getting to Third Space with Lamar and Tom have?
Getting to Third Space with Lamar and Tom currently has 75 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Getting to Third Space with Lamar and Tom about?
A "3rd Space" is a space where two or more people with differing viewpoints, ideologies, and worldviews can come together to hear, listen, share, and connect with one another. In this podcast two lifelong friends, Lamar Roth & Tom Klaus, carve out a Third Space where everything can be on the table...
How often does Getting to Third Space with Lamar and Tom release new episodes?
Getting to Third Space with Lamar and Tom has 75 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Getting to Third Space with Lamar and Tom?
You can listen to Getting to Third Space with Lamar and Tom 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 Getting to Third Space with Lamar and Tom?
Getting to Third Space with Lamar and Tom is created and hosted by From Klaus Haus Productions, featuring Tom Klaus and Lamar Roth.
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