Pork Pond Gazette

Send us Fan MailI can't believe it's been nearly 25 years. 7,000 people step off diverted planes into a town they’ve never heard of, carrying fear, exhaustion, and the sickening uncertainty of 9/11. Gander, Newfoundland a place of moose, cold weather, and a quiet airport suddenly becomes the safest spot in the world, not because it has more resources, but because it chooses to treat strangers like neighbors.We walk through how 38 flights end up on this tiny corner of North America, what it feels like to sit on a plane for hours without answers, and why the mix of passengers matters. Families, solo travelers, newly adoptive parents, and people from at least 95 countries are all stranded together, including Muslim passengers who have reason to fear being targeted. What follows is a breathtaking example of community kindness: shelters opened in schools and arenas, prescriptions filled for free, public phones set up as lifelines, and private homes offered for showers, beds, and meals.Then we zoom in on the small moments that define the larger story: kids helping clean bathrooms for strangers, a local “screech-in” ceremony that says “you belong here,” and a town that offers welcome without keeping score. We also track the long tail of generosity, from returning visits to a scholarship fund that grows past $1 million, and we ask the question that won’t let go: what if we didn’t wait for disaster to let goodness rise?If you want a story about empathy, humanitarian response, and what real belonging looks like, press play, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it.This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.comYou can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.comSupport the show

Send us Fan MailA kid isn’t “being difficult” in a vacuum. Most of the time, they’re broadcasting a need they don’t have words for, and the adults around them are deciding what that behavior means. I sit down with Bobbi Chegwyn, an Australian-born life coach turned children’s author, to talk about the hidden power of everyday language, and why the way we speak to kids becomes the way they eventually speak to themselves.Bobbi shares what changed for her when she moved to the United States and chose an unexpected job to learn her new community: driving a school bus. She created the “kind bus,” tied rules to kindness, and noticed something important about the kids labeled “challenging.” When we separate the child from the behavior and look for the belief underneath, we can turn conflict into connection. Her “railroad monitor” story is a simple, memorable example of strengths-based parenting and classroom management that actually protects dignity while improving safety.We also dig into what blocks healthy communication: assumptions, urgency, shame, fear of being wrong, and the “filters” built from culture and upbringing. We talk about how tone, timing, and body language carry meaning, why texts get misread (yes, even a period can sound angry), and how parents and teachers can use open-ended questions to help children name emotions instead of acting them out.Finally, Bobbi walks us through her Radical Ray children’s book series and how bibliotherapy can help kids explore empathy, inclusion, trust, identity, and grief through story, without forcing vulnerability too fast. If you care about emotional intelligence for kids, kinder communication at home and school, and practical tools that work in real life, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.comYou can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com Support the show

Send us Fan MailYou can feel it before you can explain it: you show up, you speak, and it’s like the decision was made before you walked in. Now zoom that feeling out from a meeting to an entire neighborhood and you start to see what civic alienation and political powerlessness do to real human lives. I wanted a quiet, solo conversation about what happens to a community when large groups of people stop believing their voice matters, and what kindness looks like when the stakes are high.We dig into what social science says about civic exclusion and community health. When people experience learned helplessness in civic life, the ripple effects can be brutal: trust in neighbors drops, volunteerism declines, and mental health suffers. I talk through research on social capital and why participation is not just a “politics” issue, but a community stability issue. I also lean on ideas from Robert Putnam and Robert Sampson to make sense of what strengthens communities, especially the concept of collective efficacy, that shared belief that we can act together and make things better.Then we ground it in stories: the Mothers of East Los Angeles organizing with dignity and persistence, civil rights era organizing in Lowndes County built on mutual care, and modern examples like mutual aid networks, community land trusts, and participatory budgeting. Finally, I share practical ways to respond with courage: listen to understand, show up in local rooms, learn your community’s history, connect across difference, and remember that kindness is not neutral when someone is being excluded.If this lands with you, subscribe, share it with someone who feels unheard, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations.This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.comYou can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.comSupport the show

Send us Fan MailA lot of people say they want to support veterans. Jon King is building systems that actually do it, one mentor match and one shared meal at a time. John spent over 20 years in the Air Force and Army, flew medevac missions, and lived the kind of pressure most of us can’t fully picture. After leaving the service and navigating disability, career shifts, and a major layoff, he put his energy into work that feels real, local, and human.We talk about Bootleg Barbecue and why feeding people is more than a side hustle. John explains how a room full of disagreement can go quiet over good food, and how that one shared “yes” becomes a bridge to everything else. From there, we dig into Veteran Reach Back Group and the Eagle Rising Foundation, including a mentorship model that removes cost barriers for mentors and mentees, and a smart way to partner with small businesses so the program can sustain itself.Jon also lays out a bigger vision: mentorship at every level, entrepreneurial support for transitioning service members, and even VR-based skill transfer that lets experienced vets coach the next generation from anywhere. If you care about veteran transition, mentorship, PTSD recovery paths, community events, and veteran entrepreneurship, this conversation delivers practical ideas and a lot of hope. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re going to use.This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.comYou can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.“Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com”Support the show

Send us Fan MailHuman trafficking can feel like a distant headline until someone explains what it really is and how it actually works. We talk with Stephanie Page, co-founder and executive director of Stories Foundation, to break down the definition in plain language: trafficking is driven by force, fraud, or coercion, and it includes both sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Stephanie explains why labor trafficking is often the bigger global problem, and why awareness matters most when it changes how we see everyday vulnerability and control.We also dig into what prevention looks like on the ground. Instead of only focusing on worst-case scenarios, Stephanie shares how Stories Foundation teaches teens, kids, and families to spot manipulation and unhealthy relationship patterns before they become gateways to exploitation. That conversation gets real fast, because manipulation is everywhere, and normalization is exactly what traffickers rely on. If you care about human trafficking prevention, healthy relationships, and practical education that communities can use, this part is for you.Then we get into survivor support and the power of community storytelling. Stephanie walks through wraparound services, from practical needs like housing help and car repairs to a therapist-led support group. We also explore the social enterprise model behind Storyteller Cafe and how a mission-driven restaurant can fund nonprofit work, provide opportunity, and serve as a daily reminder that culture change is built from small actions done together.Listen, share it with someone who needs a clearer picture of modern human trafficking, and subscribe so you do not miss the next conversation. If the show helps you, leave a review and tell us what takeaway you want to act on this week.This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.comYou can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.comSupport the show

Send us Fan MailA sober living home can be more than a roof. It can be a turning point. We sit down with Amber Miller, the founder of Angels House of Healing, to hear how she turned grief, addiction recovery, and a promise to break a generational cycle into a real transitional living community for women. Her story starts with losing her mother to alcoholism at 44, and the clarity that the deeper wound was unhealed trauma. From there, Amber shares what it took to get sober, face shame, and rebuild an identity rooted in values and integrity.We also get practical about what makes women’s sober living work day to day: creating safety and trust for residents arriving from treatment, incarceration, or unsafe housing, setting clear standards, and building a culture where kindness includes boundaries and accountability. Amber explains who Angels House of Healing is for, why the program expects readiness and inner work, and how community can help someone stop living in survival mode.A standout takeaway is the focus on independence. Amber wants women leaving with two essentials: knowing their worth and gaining financial education. We talk about financial literacy, budgeting, and even using AI tools to help residents learn money skills that many of us were never taught. We also touch on the ripple effect of healing through kids, families, friendships, and the broader community, plus Amber’s upcoming non-alcoholic one-year celebration and fundraiser, Raising Spirits, in La Crosse, Wisconsin.If this conversation hits home, subscribe to Kindness Matters, share the episode with someone in recovery, and leave a quick review so more people can find these stories. What part of Amber’s approach to healing do you want to try first?This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.comYou can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com”Support the show

Send us Fan Mail *This episode includes open and honest discussion about suicide, suicide loss, and mental health struggles. We talk about lived experiences, prevention myths, language that reduces stigma, and ways to seek help when safety is at risk. If these topics are difficult or activating for you, please listen with care. You may want to pause, step away, or skip this episode entirely if it feels overwhelming. Your wellbeing matters, and it’s okay to take the space you need. *Silence can feel polite, but around suicide it can be deadly. I sit down with Kelly Poelker, the heart behind Glow for Hope, to talk about what happens when we stop whispering about mental health and start building real community around it. Kelly shares how personal loss shaped her mission, and why creating spaces where people feel safe enough to speak can be the first step toward saving a life. We dig into what Glow for Hope actually does, from glow-in-the-dark events like Spike Out Suicide to community tables where a single brochure and a simple question can lead to a breakthrough conversation. Kelly explains the organization’s pillars, how fun and connection can coexist with grief, and why lived experience matters alongside clinical expertise. We also tackle common suicide prevention myths, including the fear that asking about suicide “puts the idea” in someone’s head, and why the words we choose like “died by suicide” can reduce stigma and make room for healing. If you’re a parent, we talk about modelling emotional regulation, starting coping skills early, and learning to listen without rushing to fix. If you’re struggling yourself, we name clear starting points for help, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text), trusted people in your life, and emergency options when safety is at risk. Subscribe, share this with someone you care about, and leave a review so more listeners can find these conversations that can truly change outcomes.Support the show

Send us Fan MailOne bad stretch can make you believe you’re stuck as the worst thing that happened to you, and that’s exactly what we push back on with Jesse Lewis. Jesse is a professional stage hypnotist whose live shows vanished during Canada’s COVID shutdowns, and the fallout hit fast: lost income, a divorce, and a season of life where he lived in the cab of his truck on the side of a mountain in British Columbia.We talk through what survival actually looks like when there’s no clean “turning point.” Jesse shares the unglamorous details: limited service, a snowbank as a fridge, reading to stay mentally sharp, and calling his kids as often as possible. He explains why the comeback wasn’t a dramatic breakthrough, but a thousand quiet choices like showing up to a job he didn’t want, refusing to miss child support, and rebuilding self-respect one decision at a time.From there, we get practical. Jesse tells the story of building a hot dog cart from salvaged parts during the shutdown, turning it into a licensed operation, and eventually using that momentum to return to corporate events and stage performance. We also dig into the deeper theme of the Kindness Matters podcast: why kindness isn’t weakness. Jesse frames kindness as honor, truth told with care, and boundaries that keep you from giving yourself away. If you’re navigating burnout, divorce recovery, financial stress, or a total reset after the pandemic, this conversation offers real resilience tools and a reminder that you can keep moving forward.Subscribe for more stories that bring us closer together, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show.Support the show

Send us Fan MailA car overheats on a scorching Sunday in 1969. No phones, no call boxes, no easy way out. What happens next is the kind of true story that quietly rewires your brain: a young cowboy pulls over, tows a stranded father and son into town, recruits a mechanic after church, and turns a miserable breakdown into one of the best days of their lives. That’s the heart of my conversation with Neal Foard, one of the most trusted modern voices in heartfelt storytelling. We get into why this message hits so hard right now, when social media and the news can make it feel like everyone is angry and nothing is safe. Neil shares practical ways to curate your algorithm, avoid rage bait, and treat your information diet like your food diet. We also talk about the strange backlash hopeful stories can trigger and why some people use them to argue for nostalgia instead of empathy. Then we zoom out into the craft and power of storytelling itself: how stories teach us what a good life looks like, how tiny gestures like a simple compliment can have an outsized impact, and why sincerity cuts through the noise. Neal also explains Story Fire, his approach to using storytelling and clear communication as a real career skill, from running tighter meetings to earning trust in high-stakes rooms. Make sure to follow Neal on his social media platforms Instagram, Tik Tok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.If you finish this conversation feeling more hopeful, help us spread that ripple: subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review or comment so more people can find Kindness Matters.You can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.“Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRXqkYVarGA  | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com”Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe moment you realize “the system” can’t carry this for you is the moment you become your child’s advocate. I sit down with Ashlyn Thompson, co-founder and executive hope director of Parent Empowerment Network, to unpack the kind of courage that gets built in hospital rooms at 2 a.m. Ashlyn shares the story of her daughter Emery’s rare congenital condition, bladder exstrophy, and what it’s like to hold joy and grief at the same time on the day your child is born. We talk through the realities of complex pediatric surgery, extended hospital stays, and the terrifying medical crises that forced Ashlyn to trade blind trust for informed partnership. She explains why parent advocacy is not about fighting doctors, it’s about collaboration, clear communication, and treating a caregiver’s observations as meaningful data for care decisions like pain management and medication changes. If you’ve ever felt the pressure of making a choice that could shape a child’s entire future, you’ll recognize the weight she names so honestly. Then the story takes a turn that will stick with you: a single comment in an online parent support group leads Ashlyn to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and a bladder neck reconstruction option not available to her in the United States. We dig into research, intuition, second opinions, and what “solution seeking” looks like when the stakes are lifelong. Ashlyn also shares how connection counters isolation, and why Empowered by Hope and Parent Empowerment Network exist to move parents from emotional crisis to advocacy readiness across any diagnosis. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a caregiver who needs hope, and leave a review so more families can find it. What part of Ashlyn’s journey hit closest to home?You can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.“Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com”Support the show

Send us Fan MailA lot of us know the feeling: you’re doing your best, your kid needs you, and inside your own head the weather turns. I sit down with Kendall Consini Moore, the writer behind Cloudy Day Chronicles and the author of Mom’s Cloud and the Beach Adventure, to talk about a simple idea that can change family communication: giving big feelings a name kids can actually use.We get specific about how her “cloud” metaphor was born from a bedtime story and a real parenting worry, and how the beach became the perfect setting to explain difference without blame. We also unpack what kindness looks like when you’re not okay, including the self-kindness move that helps parents stop turning one rough moment into the whole story of the day. Kendall shares practical, at-home language tips inspired by Montessori-style narration, plus a refreshing stance on praise: make it real so it stays meaningful.We also talk about mental health boundaries and miscommunication, especially how “I have a cloud” can work as shorthand with a partner or friend when you don’t have the emotional capacity for a long explanation. The conversation goes beyond parenting into anxiety, support groups, chronic illness flare-ups, and the surprising way hard seasons can grow our capacity for kindness, both toward ourselves and others.If you care about mental health, emotional intelligence for kids, and practical kindness you can use on your worst days, hit play. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a little sunlight, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.You can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.comSupport the show

Send us Fan MailSilence can feel like a conversation killer, but what if it’s the fastest path to trust? We sit down with John Nepper, a speaker, educator, and leadership trainer with 35+ years of experience, to unpack a practical approach to kindness and leadership that works in real workplaces, not just on posters.We talk about why storytelling in leadership matters, how small talk becomes meaningful when you’re intentional, and what John calls the Story Formula for Extraordinary Retention. The big idea is deceptively simple: everyone’s story matters. When leaders learn to listen without hijacking the moment, they build psychological safety, reduce the “us versus them” vibe, and keep great people from walking out the door because they don’t feel heard.John also challenges the habits that derail difficult conversations: “I don’t know what to say,” “It’s not my job,” and the urge to fix. We get concrete about the power of waiting, how silence gives people room to choose their words, and why trust grows when we make the conversation about the other person. From quick three-minute check-ins to rebuilding broken trust, this is empathy at work with clear next steps.We close with John’s “Be Someone For Someone” initiative, a movement-level mindset that starts with one decision each morning: show up for someone on purpose. If this sparked something in you, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find this kindness-first leadership work.You can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.“Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com Support the show

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I wanted to highlight a few local creators as gift ideas for Christmas this year.  First up is Cory with CT's Revival BBQ Sauce.  You can find his products (which are amazing) from rubs to an astounding array of sauces on his Facebook Page.Also in this episode is Virginia Louden from Ginny Bites.  Virginia is a creative food designer and whether you need a Hostess gift or a stocking stuffer or just want to give the gift of sweetness, her food is the perfect idea.  You can find Ginny Bites products at her Facebook page, as well.  But if you're into food porn, check out her Instagram, too.

As a coach and successful business woman, Debra May has some serious insights as to how gratitude plays a role in healing and moving on to create the life you wanted, even if you didn't know you wanted it at the time.  Join us for this conversation which, I hope, will help you top see more to be grateful for in life and open whole new doors to you.Debra's links:WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagram

In this episode I speak with an extraordinary guy; Chris DT Gordon.  Chris had every reason to be mad at the world, but instead of becoming bitter, he chose gratitude.  Hear his amazing story and wonder to yourself, "how could my life be better by choosing gratitude?"Chris' links.WebsiteTAG One SheetInstagramScar Bearers Podcast

What good is it to claim that you are the Halloween Capital of the World if you don't have the spooky stuff to back it up?   Anoka has the spooky stuff, folks.  This week we will look at two of the most haunted places in Anoka; Colonial Hall (now known as The Big White House) and the Jackson Hotel (now known as Billy's Bar and Grill).Sources. https://www.northstarpress.com/store/p56/_History_and_Hauntings_of_the_Halloween_Capital.htmlAs always many, many thanks to Rebecca Desens and the staff at the Anoka County Historical Society for their assistance with this project.

In this episode I take a look at how Anoka, Minnesota became the Halloween Capital of the World.  From the very beginning as a way to keep Children from tipping over outhouses to today, 101 years later, this is the premier event of the Autumn for people everywhere. Most of the information for this episode was taken from the book "History and Hauntings of the Halloween Capital of the World" by local write Roxy Orcutt.  

My first episode back after a brief mental health break.  No more talking about idiots that oppose mask mandates and those who spew garbage information about the number of deaths from the COVID vaccine.  No more talking about Christians who cry about being oppressed but have never once had to secretly attend a service in someone's basement because to do so in public would have gotten them arrested and jailed.  No more.  Not here.Instead I am going to be doing episodes that are fun; hopefully uplifting, perhaps inspirational, quite possibly just plain silly.This week I begin a series about Anoka, Minnesota.  Today we talk about it's founding and growth throughout the 19th Century from a log cabin built as a trading post on the banks of the Rum River to it's established reputation as a city of commerce and importance in Minnesota.In following episodes we will talk about how Anoka became the Halloween Capital of The World, and just how haunted this amazing city is.  I hope you enjoy the change and, if you are a subscriber, continue to listen, and if you are new here, become a subscriber.  Sources:https://www.anokaminnesota.com/352/Historyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoka,_Minnesotahttps://anokacountyhistory.org/anokahttps://books.google.com/books/about/History_and_Hauntings_of_the_Halloween_C.html?id=11_-ngEACAAJhttps://www.discoveranoka.com/about-us/about-anoka/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rum_Riverhttps://www.nps.gov/miss/riverfacts.htm

In this episode I talk about why I am stepping away temporarily.  I like politics.  I like discussing it.  I like arguing about it.  But if you are going to do those things, you need to have a common truth to start from and we lack that these days.  This has made it difficult for me and has become a hazard to my mental health.  To quote the Terminator, "Ah'll be bach."  I need to find a theme, or subject that will allow me to  continue to bring you stories and conversations without the need for me to research by watching the news, or social media to gather facts.  Above all of that, I need to deal with the issues that brought me to this point.  I thank you all for the time you've spent listening to me and to all the folks I have had on as guests.  I will be back and better than ever.  XOXO Mike.Sources:Texas COVID and Kids.MisinformationRep. ClydeVancouver School LockdownSchool Board Threats

A few different events got me to thinking lately. The first was a school board meeting in Tennessee that had medical professionals attend, invited, to explain the need for masks as the schools go back to school safely for the staff and children.  As the meeting broke up and the professionals headed for their cars, they were surrounded by angry parents, yelling obscenities and "we'll not comply".  Some parents got into the faces of the doctors and nurses and told them, "We know who you are."The second event was my daily copy of "Letters from an American."It is written by Heather Cox Richardson is an American Historian and Boston College professor of history.       Letters from an American is a daily newsletter with a rundown of the last day's news, primarily political news, she will discuss it and compare it to other parts of history in the U.S.In this particular issue she is talking about fascism and how politicians use the "street brawlers" (like the anti-Catholic thugs in the 1830's, the KKK in the 1860's and the Union busters of the 1880's).My research was interesting (spoiler alert; did you know there was a plot to overthrow Franklin Roosevelt in 1933??).  I hope you enjoy this episode and it sparks a conversation.  Please be kind and if you know someone who has been talking about having their home or office windows cleaned, have them see my friend Andy at Kahuna Window Cleaning. Sources; The Fascist GameTrump's Homegrown FascismLetters from an AmericanWikipedia  Fascism in North AmericaWikipedia  The Wall Street (Business Plot)  Great Courses Daily 

We all do it.  from the moment we are born, each one of us is moving towards a point in our lives that looks very much like the point we started at.  Unable to care for ourselves and dependent on others to help us.  My guest on this episode, Julio Briones, has spent much of his adult life in the senior care industry; from recruiting employees for his Mothers' senior care facility at fifteen, to running a consulting group helping other entrepreneurs start and succeed in the senior care industry, his insight and understanding are invaluable.  

In this episode I once again tackle the news.  From the January 6th Select Committee, to COVID anti vaxxers, to Minnesota State Representative John Thompson.  A couple updates from this episode that had not played out at the time of recording.Woman Drives Across Capitol LawnJohn Thompson press conference.Sartell-St. Stephens superintendent responds to accusations about equity survey.  This episode is sponsored by Kahuna Window Cleaning.  Local and veteran owned make them you go-to for all your home maintenance needs, from window and gutter cleaning to pressure washing and holiday lights instillation. 

In this episode I pretend to be a journalist.  The key word is pretend.  I simply cannot deliver the news without comment.  I've tried.  Trust me when I tell you it is impossible.  We talk about some items making the news a the beginning of the week.   Talks on President Joe Biden's infrastructure bill in the Senate have come to a stand still after a bi-partisan group (11 Republicans and 11 Democrats) attempted to pay for a portion of the bill through enforcement or tax laws.  Anti Tax Republicans (is that redundant?) said NOPE. In June, eight students sued Indiana University over its' policy mandating anyone planning on attending the Fall 2021 semester in person must be vaccinated or apply for and receive a waiver on ethical, religious or medical grounds.  The mandate applies to students, faculty and staff.  If a waiver is approved, the student must wear a mask and submit to more frequent testing and must either quarantine or head home in the case of an outbreak.  A federal judge has denied the students motion for a preliminary injunction.Also don't forget to let our friends at Kahuna Window Cleaning know you heard their ad on today's show.  

In this episode I speak with Eric Ebner.  Eric is a Veteran who started Protocol 46, a cyber security firm in St. Paul, MN.   Eric and his team of mostly Vets keep their clients' systems safe from hacker and ransom ware attacks.We talk about his motivation for starting this company his deep and abiding love for his country and his sense of honor and duty.  It was a great conversation and I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed speaking with him.