Lives Radio Show With Stuart Chittenden

John Jeanetta is the president and CEO of https://www.heartlandfamilyservice.org/ (Heartland Family Service). In this show, John talks about the history and purpose of the agency in tackling social challenges and inequities, as well as his own life experiences and calling. As well as leading Heartland Family Service’s remarkable growth over the last decade, John serves on several nonprofit and community boards, including the Leadership Council for HueSpring, a leadership development program tailored to LGBTQIA+ early career professionals, and the U.S. - Ukraine Foundation Board of Advisors. Under John’s leadership, the 146-year-old Heartland Family Service agency has grown tremendously, with operating revenue up by 140 percent, program growth of 77 percent and several large capital projects recently completed, including the $32 million North Omaha Intergenerational Campus, a collaborative effort of Heartland Family Service and Holy Name Housing Corporation. This growth has enabled Heartland Family Service to

https://www.israelgreene.com/ (Israel Greene) is a highly sought after speaker, trainer, and coach with a focus on DEI and belonging. A wonderful human being who has lived a rich, unexpected life, we talk about his work helping to transform corporate cultures and communities. We also talk about his life story, including the recent discovery that he was adopted, which prompted a search for connection with his biological family. Listen as Israel shares his experiences, disappointments, and hopes, and much more. Passionate about helping leaders transform their company culture, Israel Greene has been listed as one of the “Top Ten Trending DE&I Training Experts” by All American Entertainment. In addition to being the founder of Greene Consulting Group, he is also a Senior Consultant with Envisioning Equity and a contributing member to “A World Without Suicide.”

Esther Mejia is the President and CCO of https://ecreativeinc.com/ (E Creative), a brand strategy and communications firm she founded in 2011. In our conversation, we talk about her upbringing in rural Nebraska, her early exploration in fine art and design, and the leap of faith she made in starting her own business, including lessons learned and challenges overcome along the way. Esther was born into a large, close-knit family, to parents who emigrated to Nebraska from Mexico. She has served on several boards to fulfill her commitment to her community and to honor her family’s tradition of service. After ten years as an entrepreneur, Esther remains focused on her passion – helping community-driven organizations to connect with their clients. Esther’s leadership efforts focus on organizations that serve immigrants, women, girls and LGBTQIA+ as communities she identifies with most, serving where she knows she can represent others like her and ensure that the voices of diverse populations are heard. 

Sara Martin is CEO of the https://www.welcoa.org/ (Wellness Council of America) (WELCOA). In our conversation, she talks about intentions for well-being in 2022, WELCOA's efforts during the pandemic and its efforts for the year ahead. Sara observes how the last two years have provided space for "more beautiful questions" about the wellness industry and how we might embrace a fresh, more honest approach to well-being. Sara also talks about her own family story and how that motivated her lifelong focus on well-being and the workplace.

David Leibowitz talks about the music scene, his favorite bands and albums of 2021, and some amusing anecdotes of encounters with Saint Vincent, Carrie Brownstein, and Paul Westerberg, to name a few. Dave is a life-long music fan, record collector, and music business professional. He first entered the music business as a teenager in the 1980s, when he published his own fanzine dedicated to the band KISS. In the 90s, he formed his own independent record label, Mafia Money Records, where he produced and released records from artists around the country. For the last 17 years, he has hosted the weekly radio show, http://www.newdayrisingshow.com/ (New Day Rising), which introduces listeners to new, independent artists. In addition to the radio show, he also hosts the Youtube channel and podcast, https://www.youtube.com/c/thedarkstuff (The Dark Stuff), which focuses on record collecting, interviews, and live music concerts.

Jeff Spiehs is the Senior Planner at https://lamprynearson.com/ (Lamp Rynearson) and works with a team of landscape architects and civic engineers to leave a legacy of lasting impact and creating more equitable communities. He is often thinking about how people desire to interact with spaces and about his role in helping to create that lived experience in the places we inhabit. We talk about how we live and could live in our urban environments, bringing community values and voices into the planning process, what for him characterizes a utopia and a dystopia, and how he came into this vocation.

Nebraska State Senator John McCollister has a history of taking a principled stand for decency and integrity in public office, working with others to achieve beneficial policy progress rather than ratcheting up violent, acrimonious rhetoric. In our conversation, Senator McCollister talks about Republican values, his denouncement of white supremacy within parts of the GOP, the nastiness of the current political landscape - especially the toxicity of Donald Trump and his lackeys - and his own efforts to legislate positive social change in criminal justice, nutrition support, climate change, and more. We also talk about Senator McCollister’s long, successful business life, his upbringing, and more besides.

Nathan Preheim is a serial entrepreneur in every way and can’t help but concept new companies. With Erica Wassinger, he cofounded Proven Ventures, which offers a fresh approach to venture capital and invests in Nebraska startups that wish to start, grow, and stay in Nebraska. In this show, Nathan talks about how Proven Ventures has crafted a uniquely Midwestern approach to startup investing, focused on building and growing. He also shares his views on entrepreneurs and the Nebraskan entrepreneur ecosystem, as well some of his own history and motivation. Prior to Proven Ventures, Nathan’s many endeavors included cofounding MindMixer, a civic engagement startup that quickly scaled from 0 customers to nearly 1,000 in just two years, eventually employing more than 75 employees across the midwest. With Erica Wassinger, a prior guest on this show (see podcast from March 13, 2019), Nathan also cofounded The Startup Collaborative, an entrepreneurship catalyst. A San Francisco expat, Creighton University and Universit

Sharon Robino-West was featured in the Nebraska Public Media segment “The Warrior’s Pen” in 2015 discussing the importance of writing and the Veteran experience. In our conversation Sharon talks about issues of sexual assault in the military, PTSD, and the exploration of these and other life experiences through the medium of writing. We also talk about her memoir and much more besides. Sharon has published work in “As You Were: Volume II, a publication of Military Experience and the Arts” and another of her works, “Into the Unknown,” was read in performance by Alfre Woodard at the 2016 Gala for the Writers Guild Initiative of America East in New York City. Her most recent work was published in “From Warriors to Warrior Writers” in 2020. Sharon will be wrapping up her memoir at the Key West Literary Seminar with the assistance of Bich Minh Nguyen in January 2022.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/245882/timothy-schaffert/ (Timothy Schaffert) grew up on a farm in Nebraska and now lives in Omaha. He is the author of the just released novel https://theperfumethief.com/ (“The Perfume Thief,” )as well as five previous critically acclaimed novels. In our conversation, we explore some of the themes of his new novel, including Schaffert's poetic use of the senses, shapeshifting and cultural norms, romance and the melancholy. We also talk about the craft of writing, Schaffert's research into his new book., and more.

Dr. Ali S. Khan is a former Assistant Surgeon General and current Dean of the https://www.unmc.edu/publichealth/ (College of Public Health) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Dr. Khan shares his family's journey from the Himalayan foothills in Kashmir to Brooklyn, NY and the beginnings of his passion for medicine and infectious diseases. We talk about bioterrorism, our failed response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the role for politicians and public health officials, and why Omaha and UNMC are the place to be! Dr. Khan’s professional career has focused on health security, global health, and emerging infectious diseases. He was a disease detective at https://www.cdc.gov/ (CDC) – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – and one of the main architects of CDC’s public health bioterrorism preparedness program. As Dean of the UNMC College of Public Health, his focus is on health system and community based health transformations. In 2015 he supported response activities for the West A

Naomi Hattaway is passionate about community building and empowering others to thrive, not just survive, in the places they call home. In this show, we talk about identifying as bi-racial, homeschooling, housing access and poverty, being a teenage mom, living in the third world, and being inspired to serve the community's betterment. Born and raised in a small town in rural Nebraska, Naomi moved with family to Omaha and since then has taken her own family to live in places like India and Singapore. Her life experiences have catalyzed Naomi's passion about community building and empowering others to thrive, not just survive, in the places they call home. She ran recently for City Council in Omaha, with a bid to represent District 6, the central section of West Omaha. Her next venture continues her work in affordable housing, this time on a larger scale, that will impact all of Greater Omaha with development, policy and advocacy, and a strong focus on ending homelessness.

Patricia Kearns is the President & CEO of https://qliomaha.com/ (QLI), a nationally recognized post-hospital rehabilitation center for individuals with brain and spinal cord injuries. Patricia, a physical therapist by training, joined the clinical team at QLI in 2001, becoming President & CEO in 2011. In the show, Kearns discusses the extensive rehabilitation of the whole person QLI works with and the unique feeling of community the QLI campus provides. Kearns also talks about the culture at QLI and her own journey and experiences as a leader. Kearns oversees a continuum of services that includes 215 private rooms across five levels of care, 400 employees, and $100 million worth of facilities on a 65-acre campus in Omaha, NE. She and QLI’s talented team have re-created the way rehabilitation is delivered to individuals with neurologic injury. Additionally, QLI has been recognized as a Best Place to Work in Omaha seven times, and the Best Place to Work for the Advancement of Women.   Avid lis

Emily McElroy is the inaugural dean of the https://www.unmc.edu/library/ (McGoogan Health Sciences Library) at the https://www.unmc.edu/ (University of Nebraska Medical Cente)r. In this show she talks about the brand new https://www.unmc.edu/wigton/ (Wigton Heritage Center) and its many fascinating exhibits, including that of Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, America’s first Native American physician in traditional western medicine. We also talk about the role of the health science library and how it engages researchers, doctors, medical students and faculty, and Nebraska residents. McElroy is committed to the library’s mission of connecting the past, informing the present, and building the future. McElroy also talks about her personal experiences with depression and suicidal ideation and how that has informed and influenced her life and work.

A believer in “Black Girl Magic” Ashlei Spivey celebrates black talent, entrepreneurship, community advocacy, and social justice. In this show, Ashlei talks about black women being a moral center and catalyst for society, women and influence, public policy, entrepreneurship, the transformative impact of spending months living and studying in Spain, and more. Ashlei works professionally and personally to create just and equitable communities as a community organizer, philanthropist, and activist. Her current philanthropy professional role is as a program officer with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (noting that the views in this show are Ashlei Spivey's and not the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation). Ashlei is also the cofounder of a high-quality fast food outlet, https://www.facebook.com/bestburgeromaha/ (Best Burger), and the founder of the supportive community endeavor, https://www.ibeblackgirl.com/ (I Be Black Girl) and https://www.ybiomaha.com/ (Young Black & Influential). Noting her efforts, Ashl

As executive director of the Women’s Fund of Omaha, Jo leads a thirteen-member team to address gender-based inequities in the Omaha community. In our conversation, we talk about the work of the https://www.omahawomensfund.org/ (Women’s Fund of Omaha), including the need for responsible, appropriate, and necessary education about sexual and reproductive health literacy, workplace and economic equity, freedom from violence, and women in leadership. Jo also shares her experience in the electoral race for the District 7 seat on the Douglas County Commissioners board and Jo discusses a new statewide, independent digital news outlet called, https://flatwaterfreepress.org/ (Flatwater Free Press). Before joining The Women’s Fund of Omaha, Jo worked with the Coalition for a Strong Nebraska (CSN) helping citizens participate more fully in the public policy advocacy process. She is also an award-winning media relations professional and journalist with experience at the agency Emspace+Lovgren, the University of Nebraska

Nebraska State Senator Jen Day was sworn into office in 2021 and represents District 49 and the area of west Sarpy County. Born and raised in her home district, she has spent her lifetime building community and advocating for social justice issues. As a business owner, activist, and mother of 2 boys, she initially sought a legislative seat to address the needs of her community, specifically working-class families. She shares with me some of her experiences on the campaign trail and during her first session in Nebraska’s legislative body, as well as her aspirations for a new brand of politics in a polarized time.

She started her writing career writing sexy romances, but in 2008 https://rachellechase.com/ (Rachelle Chase) discovered Buxton, Iowa thanks to her former romance writing instructor and friend, Leigh Michaels. By January 2017 she’d written, sold, and released her first nonfiction book, “Lost Buxton” and, in 2019, her second one, “Creating the Black Utopia of Buxton, Iowa.” In this show we talk about her writing, a life of adventure that includes quitting her job to move to South America, joining a motorcycle club, and completing Emerge Iowa (Class of 2020) – an exciting program for women who plan to run for public office – and launching in her first nonprofit, Uniting Through History. Rachelle has given more than 80 presentations about the amazing town of Buxton and has now turned her attention to sharing with corporations the lessons that we can learn today from Buxton. Rachelle recently launched a nonprofit, Uniting Through History, to promote unity by furthering knowledge of and ac

A conversation with architects Emily Andersen and Geoff DeOld, cofounders of https://d-aarch.com/ (DeOld Andersen Architecture). We talk about the purpose and possibility of architecture to enable human activity, strengthen neighborhoods, and activate public spaces, as well as how architecture can enable spaces to be both functional and beautiful. We also share a little of their own personal journeys and being a husband and wife creative business team. Emily Andersen is a co-founding principal of DeOld Andersen Architecture, an architecture and design partnership based in Omaha, Nebraska. Emily is also a guest lecturer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she has taught both fundamentals courses as well as upper-level undergraduate studios for the last nine years. Emily grew up in Nebraska but her practice has been informed by experience gained while working in New York City as an Associate Architect at Slade Architecture. Geoff DeOld is a co-founding principal of DeOld Andersen Architecture, and

https://www.jodywoodart.com/ (Jody Wood) is a New York-based artist using video, installation, performance, and community organization to engage with socially informed content. Jody is intrigued by interpersonal relationships – how they form, how they dissolve, and their delicate underpinnings. She approaches her artwork as an opportunity to explore this fascination and consequently has moved increasingly toward working directly with members of the public. In our conversation, we talk about her social practice art projects and about social issues of identity, behavior, and human connection and dignity, and how they are shaped by institutionally oppressive systems and social stigma. Her project https://www.beautyintransition.org/about/ (Beauty in Transition) partnered with 18 transitional housing agencies in New York, Colorado, and Pennsylvania to establish a hair salon on wheels serving homeless populations. Elements of this project currently form part of the exhibition “All Together, Amongst M