Lives Radio Show With Stuart Chittenden

Poet and teacher Sarah McKinstry-Brown discusses the role of poetry and poets in this fragile time, as well as discussing themes explored in her poetry book, This Bright Darkness, related to mother-daughter relationships and the difficulties faced by women throughout time. McKinstry-Brown also talks about her poetic craft and the privilege and pleasure of teaching.

Reverend Dr. Eric Elnes, currently senior Minister for Countryside Community Church in Omaha, NE talks about his faith journey, his “Asphalt Jesus” walk as an affirmation of his beliefs, the intersections of social justice and theology, innovations in worship, and his new calling as he prepares to depart the Midwest for a new position at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Portland, OR, returning to his native Pacific Northwest.

Ilana Shapiro Yahdav shares her personal story of grief and her motivation to becoming an advanced certified https://www.yahdavhanlon.com/ (grief recovery specialist). Ilana describes what grief is, its non-linear nature, and its impacts upon us, as well as how we might work through our experiences with grief, especially during the pandemic.

Greg Ptacek is the President of Johnnie Byrd Brewing Company in Wayne, NE – Nebraska’s first benefit corporation brewery – before which he was Director of Economic Development for the City of Neligh, NE. We talk about his rural small town upbringing, his commitment to rural development, and the inspiration behind his founding Johnnie Byrd Brewery.

Sarah Rowe is a mixed media and performance artist and co-founder of Sweatshop Gallery in Omaha, NE. Rowe is of Lakota and Ponca descent and talks with me about how her work confronts issues of self-identity and exploitation and re-imagines traditional Native American symbology to fit the narrative of today’s cultural landscape. Rowe shares her life's artistic trajectory, influences, and aspirations.

Edison Red Nest III is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. After pivotal experiences in his life, culminating in serving a prison term, Edison learned a growing appreciation for his rich cultural heritage and traditions, which led to him founding Native Futures in 2013. Native Futures is a for-profit entity dedicated to supporting the flourishing of Native peoples and is the only native-owned and operated business in Nebraska’s Panhandle. As well as being an entrepreneur, Edison is a keen lacrosse player and owner of a drive-in movie theater!

Senator Adam Morfeld is the http://news.legislature.ne.gov/dist46/ (Nebraska State Senator for District 46) in Lincoln and Executive Director of https://www.civicnebraska.org/ (Civic Nebraska), which he founded in 2008 while an undergraduate. Senator Morfeld talks with me about formative influences in his life, including being raised in a single parent household with his working mom occasionally using government subsidies and food support when times were tough. Senator Morfeld also discusses avoiding the corruption of power, how legislation gets made, working with elected officials across the aisle, and his aspirations for Civic Nebraska's efforts.

Mary Fraser Meints, currently Executive Director of Youth Emergency Services (YES) in Omaha, has spent her life advocating for at-risk youth. Meints has spent thirty-five years in the world of child welfare and juvenile justice including leadership roles with Uta Halee Girls Village and The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. In our conversation, Meints shares the work of YES and some of the powerful stories of the youth served, as well as her own life andmotivations.

Pole vaulter Jenny Green was predicted by Team USA’s trainers at https://trainatchulavista.com/ (Chula Vista), CA to be a potential Olympic Record breaker. Jenny was number two in the world in her age group, but that dream came crashing down at the Junior World Championships, where she had a fall, landing on concrete from 14 feet in the air, breaking her back. Yet this traumatic event opened up other opportunities to excel. Now a wellness expert working with https://www.welcoa.org/ (WELCOA), Jenny shares the empowering story of her athletic, professional, and personal rise, fall, and rise again.

Award winning author and poet http://www.rebeccarotert.com/ (Rebecca Rotert) joins me in conversation for this week’s show. Recorded via Zoom, we talk about her novel http://www.rebeccarotert.com/aboutnovel (Last Night at the Blue Angel) and its themes of motherhood and ambition, relationships, love and sacrifice, and masculinity. Rebecca also offers some advice for aspiring writers, reads from her epic poem Understory, and shares some of her own personal history and understory.

As co-founder and co-owner of http://verdisgroup.com/ (Verdis Group), a sustainability consulting firm, Craig Moody shares an evolving definition of sustainability and how Verdis Group’s work is increasingly guided by broader parameters. including issues of justice and race equity. Craig also speaks to the reaction of corporate America to issues of sustainability after the 2016 Presidential election, the opportunities inherent in the current pandemic crisis, as well as the entrepreneurial lessons he has learned over the last decade. In 2016, Craig was elected to the https://www.oppd.com/ (Omaha Public Power District) board of directors and currently serves as the chair of the board. We speak about the rigors of campaigning and of fulfilling the obligations of public service. Craig also shares the personal story behind his becoming an organ donor to his brother and one or two other surprising moments.

Artist Watie White helps us celebrate the 150th episode of Lives Radio Show & Podcast returning after having been the show's first guest in January 2017! This show is part two of our conversation in which Watie talks about the impact on his life and artistic practice of Rembrandt's The Omval and shares the surprising father and son coming of age story behind his forthcoming major exhibition at The KANEKO.

Artist Watie White helps us celebrate the 150th episode of Lives Radio Show & Podcast returning after having been the show's first guest in January 2017! This show is part one of our conversation in which Watie talks about his public art projects “Paying Attention is a Form of Prayer” at Fontenelle Forest and “100 People” all around Omaha, as well as how collaboration and co-creation appear in his artistic practice. Part two of our conversation airs next week.

Micah Yost is a serial entrepreneur. Over the past 10 years, he has started a handful of companies - some successful and some not – and consulted on $1 billion worth of fundraising deals for area companies. Micah talks about the attributes of entrepreneurship and his observations on Omaha's entrepreneurial ecosystem, as well as sharing his own personal story and motivation.

Community leader Topher Hansen has been involved in the substance use and mental health field since 1975. Since 2000, Topher has been the CEO of CenterPointe, a behavioral health organization that provides crisis response, treatment, rehabilitation and housing services for persons with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. We talk about the origins of CenterPointe, the social stigma around substance use and mental health issues, the needs in the community, and some of the personal stories that illustrate these issues.

David Scott was born and raised in Sydney, Australia, before journeying via Greece, Bali, and other destinations to settle in America's Midwest where he currently works for The Peregrine Hotel, a new boutique hotel in downtown Omaha opening later this year. An award winning hotel management and hospitality industry professional, David talks with me about the appeal of hospitality and the impact of the pandemic, his efforts towards diversity and inclusion in the industry, and more broadly about his life.

Warning Note: This show references sexual abuse. When not reading books or writing about reading at the Rose City Reader, or adventuring into book discussions online, Gilion Dumas practices law representing adults who were sexually abused or exploited as kids by trusted adults, usually church, school, or Boy Scout leaders. We speak about her work and its impact, as well as her love for books and reading.

Justin Fennert has a passion for building communities and telling stories. His days are split between Hi Omaha, a local print and digital publication, and District Studio, a brand consultancy specializing in marketing and content strategy. In our conversation he shared his vision to contribute to a better Omaha, in the process revealing his own humanity and the rich potential he sees within all of us.

Amid the mayhem and the violence inflicted upon our minority communities, this week’s show looks back to conversations with previous guests as they not only speak out against inequity and oppression, but also celebrate the magic, their artistry, and the possibility of peaceful community and communion. Guests include Brigitte McQueen Shew, ED of The Union for Contemporary Art, Merica Whitehall, ED of Fontenelle Forest, Dawaune Hayes of NOISE Omaha, Othello Meadows, CEO of 75 North, the artist Barber, and photographer Zora J. Murff.

Jason Lauritsen is an employee engagement and performance management expert who passionately believes that work can and should be a fulfilling experience for every employee. In our conversation he shares his views on how the current pandemic has revealed the massive lack of trust in our workplaces and how broken those places are for many people. Jason talks about work as a relationship, how we might go about making workplaces better, and what the future might bring. Jason also shares why he cares about these issues and talks about his early life and career influences.