Conversations with Mr. A.

In this episode, Mr A. talks with the excecutive director of Scarlet Road, Rosie Garbe. Specifically, Scarlet Road is an organization that helps out those who are victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking. If you are a victim or going through that please check out their website at scarletroad.org or email them at [email protected]

Mr A. interviews a longtime friend Chelsea Pyper, who has spent the last 10 years as a substitute teacher in a variety of districts. Chelsea shares a lot of insightful and fun stories from her experiences in various districts.

In this episode, Mr. A. interviews his old student Tommy Chilson. Tommy was in 8th grade when Mr A. was his school counselor, now, Tommy will be a Senior die the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. Tommy has ALWAYS loved cars back then and still does!

In this episode, Mr A. interviews K.J. McLean from MC Junk Removal, which is a local junk pickup service in Kitsap County Washington. K.J. shares his passion of wanting to help the community and maintaining a reputation of integrity.

Mr. A. recently attended an excellent two dayconference in Tacoma, WA called “Character Strong” which is an SEL (Social Emotional Learning) curriculum that is being used by Elementary and Secondary School Districts around the nation. Mr. A. was fortunate enough to meet one of the co founders of Character Strong and get his story of how Character Strong came to be and his philosophy on students, school staff, and schools! What came about was a fun conversation which I (Mr.A.) felt like I learned a lot!!

Welcome to Season 5! Been a long time since I’ve done an interview! Since November 2024! For this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Chelsea Hagerman who is a barber at a local place in Bremerton called Plaza Barber Shop. In this interview, Chelsea describes her life as a barber and the hard work that she does working and being a single mother.

In this fourth and final part of this 4 part series “Honoring Veterans”, Mr A. interviews Chimicum alumni Adrian Garcia whom Mr A. interviewed back in episode 10! Since the May 2023 interview from Episode 10, Adrian joined up with the Marines and shares his experience from High School to boot camp!

In this third part of this 4 part series for Veteran’s Day 2024, Mr A. interviews Joe Garasso who gives insight of how the military life was from years gone by.

In the second part of this 4 part series for Veteran’s Day 2024, Mr. A. does a phone interview with Angel Bellido who lives in Virginia. Angel had a 35 year career in the Navy and continues to do work for the government to this day!

In this year’s Veteran’s Day 2024, Mr. A. will be interviewing those who have served in the military or are currently serving in the military. There will be 4 people he will be interviewing today. The first one is Brandt Sword who currently resides in South Carolina. Brandt has worked in the Navy and submarines with some amazing stories and experiences!

In this episode, Mr. A. interviews Lindsey Phillips who shares her perspectives being in the social work field and how she now mentors those who aspire to join the field.

After a brief hiatus, Mr. Abastilla returns with another podcast episode! In this episode, Mr. A. interviews soccer coach Elyssa Quinones, getting her insight of what a soccer coach does.

In this episode, Mr A. interviews his old mentor and friend, Mark Williams who has been a pastor and is currently a financial advisor. There is SO MUCH DEPTH though that Mark covers!

In this season 4 premiere, Mr A. interviews Steve Wood the day before he retires from the Washington Youth Academy. He was there from 2013-2024. Before that, he was in the Navy since 1989. Steve shares his perspectives from the Navy and the WYA.

Been a little while since I’ve done an episode!! Gonna close out this season 3 with a few minutes of thoughts but don’t worry! Gonna upload the season premier of Season 4 within this hour! :)

In this episode, Mr. A. interviews Dr. Krissy Bellido Zakel who works at a top administrative position for Progressive Insurance. Krissy talks about her journey working for Progressive and offers a lot of encouragement for today’s youth!

Back in episode 29, Mr A had interviewed Pastor Jeff Adams who was a prison chaplain. This is a brand new episode with Jeff. Now in episode 42 he works as the transportation director for the Yelm School District. Jeff talks about his dealings with families and students in this episode.

In this interview, Mr. A. interviews Jewel Sheperdson from the Kitsap Black Student Union to ask about Black History Month, what the KBSU does, and other racial issues.

In this episode, Mr. A. interviews Michael Sanchez, principal at EB Walker High School in Puyallap Washington. Mike shares his perspectives of the school and his passion for students. This is actually one of two interviews as the other interview will be available soon at the other podcast channel called WSCA: Inside The School Counselor’s World!

In this telephone interview, Mr. A. interviews Phillip Johnson from the Hyatt Hotels where he works in the Boston, MA branch. Phillip talks about the hotel management industry and his philosophies on working with people.

In this episode, Mr. A. interviews professional wrestler JD Mason who runs an independent pro wrestling organization called Northwest Pro Wrestling. JD talks about how he became a pro wrestler, running NWP, and what it takes to be a pro wrestler.

In this episode, Mr. Abastilla interviews the Tacoma Washington Commissioner for Refugees and Immigrants, Maricres Valdez Castro who was also the 2021 Miss Washington International as well! Maricres talks about her passions in advocating not only for Filipinos but for immigrants and people as well!

Mr. Abastilla interviews 8th grade student Evie Barnes and 9th grade student Emma Webb from the South Kitsap/Peninsula School Districts as they share their perspectives on teenage life.

In this episode, Mr. A. does a phone interview with Moses Lake High School Senior student, April Seiler asking about her experiences doing Running Start.

In this episode, Mr. A. interviews entrepreneur Noel Mendoza to get an insight of what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and how to get connected to businesses.

In this episode, Mr. A. goes to Plaza Barber Shop in Bremerton, Washington and interviews the owner and head barber, Karley Watson to get her perspective of being a barber and managing the shop.

In this very first phone interview that Mr. Abastilla interview has done for this podcast, he interviews an old friend that he used to work with at Moses Lake Washington back in 2018; Sandy Horney. In this interview, Sandy talks about how he went from teaching back from 1976-1980, then worked as an Airplane Traffic Controller for more than 20 years, then returned back to teaching which he still does today!

In the season 3 Premiere, Mr A. interviews two of his best friends, Dustin Johnson and Chris Barnes whom he has known for more than 30 years. Together they discuss what has kept their friendships alive after all these years.

In this season 2 Finale, Mr. Abastilla interviews child and teen therapist Rebecca Shear who’s had various adverse experiences.

In this episode, Mr. Abastilla interviews Pastor Jeff Adams who works in a prison as a chaplain. Jeff explains from a first person perspective the realities of dealing with incarcerated individuals along with the rewards and challenges that go with it.

In this episode, Mr. A. travels to Bend, Oregon where this is ONE MORE existing Blockbuster video rental store in the entire world!! No joke! There is literally ONLY ONE last Blockbuster video store that exists! Mr. Abastilla interviews Sandi Harding who is the general manager of the store, and shares her perspectives and stories of how Blockbuster is STILL kept alive to this day!

Mr. Abastilla interviews Bill and Tami Mead, who both work for the Yakima School District as Band, Orchestra, and Choir teachers for the Elementary and Middle School levels. Tami and Bill share their perspectives of being band teachers and the effects it has on their students.

In this episode, Mr. Abastilla interviews his best friend Dustin Johnson. This interviews focuses on his side gig of being a DJ to dances, parties, weddings, etc. On a side note for updates, subscribe to Mr A’s Instagram channel @conversationswithmra

In this episode, Mr. Abastilla interviews Commadant Chris Acuna from the Washington Youth Challenge Academy. Mr. Acuna talks about what the Washington Youth Challenge Academy is all about, his passion for working for the kids, and how it has impacted so many kids across Washington State! Also, for a cross reference, Episode 17 features graduated Senior student from Chimacum, Gerald Lindsey who just finished the residential phase this last June! Highly recommended to listen to this episode with Commandant Acuna, then go back to Episode 17!

In this episode, Mr. A. stops by Evergreen State College (the Tacoma branch) and interviews Emory Otso, Karen Varges, and Ajahnee Hudson from the Living Life Leadership organization which supports and builds communities for students and people of color. One of the biggest topics discussed in the episode is the issue of racism and their experiences with it.

Mr. Abastilla interviews Dr. Rupert Tomada who currently works at Silverdale Kaiser Permanente in Kitsap County Wa. Dr. Tomada explains his journey to becoming a doctor and gives advice to those who want to be in the medical field.

In this episode, Mr. A. interviews his friend Chris Barnes who currently works as truck driver delivering oxygen tanks to various businesses around the Puget Sound area. Chris goes into detail the life and the process of what a truck driver does.

Mr. Abastilla interviews the founder and director of Alta Vista Life Integrated Services Ashley Ruiz who talks about her upbringing, issues with mental health with youth, and how she founded Alta Vista

In this unique interview edition, Mr. Abastilla actually interviews his wife, Yolanda Abastilla asking her about life as a mother raising our two kids who are 8 and 10 years old respectively.

Well! I’m back! Didn’t think I’d be back but consider the last episode merely a SEASON finale! It’s time to begin season 2!! This is just a short episode introducing things! Let’s see how this episode plays out!!

In this season finale episode of Conversations With Mr. A., Mr. Abastilla shares his experiences and thoughts about Chimacum as he will be leaving the district. Whether or not this is a season finale or series finale will be determined later.

Mr. Abastilla interviews Gerald Lindsey on the last day of school after he finished the residential phase of the Washington Youth Academy. This was minutes after Mr. A. surprised him with his High School Diploma.

Mr. Abastilla interviews the Class of 2023 Salutatorian for Chimacum, Madison Burgess, and the Co Validictorian for Chimacum, Maria Powell and Connor Paterson

In this episode, Mr. Abastilla interviews Junior student, Julia Breitweg to gain her perspective on school life and share how she’s overcome struggles

In this interview, Mr. Abastilla interviews the four Junior students to get their perspectives on Chimacum life.

Mr. Abastilla interviews Senior students and leaders Alyssa Vandenberg and AJ Stevenson having them talk about their leadership philosophies.

In this episode, Mr. Abastilla interviews 8th grade student, Emma Joy and gains her perspective as a Junior High/Middle School student as she gets ready for High School for the upcoming 2023-2024 year.

In this episode Mr. A. interviews Junior student, Adrian Garcia and gets his perspective moving to Chimacum from different places as well as discussing his love for cars.

Mr. Abastilla interviews Junior student, Jade Senter. In this episode, Mr. A. gains perspective of why and how Jade connects with other students in Chimacum.

Mr. Abastilla interviews Senior student, Daniel Johnson who talks about his experiences moving to Chimacum from other states and other counties. Daniel also talks about having perspectives despite having family financial struggles.