Susan Mara Bregman lives in Boston, Massachusetts, where she is a professional photographer and founded Red Nickel Studio. Susan is the author of three books – “New England Neon” (2018), “New England Candlepin Bowling” (2020), and “Along Route 1: Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts” (2023) – and plans to release a fourth book “New England Sweets” in 2025. Susan finds hope in the desire people have to learn more about New England. You can learn more about Susan’s work at www.rednickel.com . A...
Oct 11, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 93
Walter Stein lives in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, where he is a paleontologist and owner of Paleo Adventures, which leads clients on dinosaur fossil digs. Walter likes to consider himself a “giant kid in a big sandbox.” Walter finds hope in the vast majority of reasonable, good people that inhabit the middle ground on many contemporary issues. You can learn more about Walter’s work at www.PaleoAdventures.com . American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3...
Oct 10, 2024•1 hr 24 min
Robin Mazor lives on the Hawaiian island of Kuai, where she has lived for decades and is Executive Director of the nonprofit Reef Guardians, which is dedicated to raising awareness of the marine environment, monitoring its health and educating the next generation of ocean advocates. Robin finds hope in the kids. You can learn more about Robin’s work at www.reefguardians.org and more about local marine life by downloading the organization’s app “Hawaii SeaLife”. American Tributaries is a podcast ...
Oct 04, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 91
Paul Reeve lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he is both a Professor and Chair for History and Mormon Studies at the University of Utah. Paul was connected to the podcast by Michael Green from episode 88. Paul finds hope in the figures throughout U.S. history who have acted with integrity for the good of the whole rather than for individual needs; e.g., George Washington, John Adams and Frederick Douglass. American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) n...
Sep 26, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 90
Michael Gulotta lives in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was born and raised and where he is currently chef partner of a group of inventive, acclaimed restaurants: MoPho , Maypop and Tana . Michael finds hope in seeing the self-correction and the moderation of society against over-stimulation from social media and anxiety about the nation’s identity. American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to prom...
Sep 14, 2024•52 min•Season 3Ep. 89
Michael Green lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he is a professor and department chair for the history department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He specializes in Nevada and Las Vegas history as well as 19th Century American history. Michael is the rare local Vegas resident who actually grew up there. Michael finds hope in his students and in the seeming inevitability of progress. American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based...
Sep 05, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 88
Lori Seibel lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she is the President at Community Health Endowment. She grew up about 75 miles away in a small Nebraska town of approximately 200 people. Lori finds hope in how people are so willing to help others. American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high ...
Aug 22, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 87
Scott Leonard lives in north-central Connecticut where he retired after working as a State Trooper for approximately twenty years and currently works as an athletic trainer. Scott finds hope in people’s resilience, today’s youth and conversations like this podcast. American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic ...
Jun 28, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 3Ep. 86
Andy Ezard grew up – and still lives – in Jacksonville, Illinois, where he has served as Mayor since 2009. His prior career included working for Governor Jim Edgar, at the state Board of Natural Resources and as Jacksonville City Clerk. Andy finds hope in the younger generation. You can learn more about Jacksonville, Illinois at www.jacksonvilleil.org . American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to pr...
Jun 14, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 85
Pat Keane has spent much of his life in Connecticut, growing up in Waterford and now residing in Suffield. After serving in the U.S. Navy and having a career in real estate, Pat retired to run with his wife Susi the Rukwa Foundation , which does development work in Tanzania. Pat finds hope in the next generation rising through the college ranks. You can find more about Pat’s foundation at www.rukwafoundation.com. American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)...
May 31, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 84
Dr. William Richter lives in Manhattan, Kansas, where is a Professor Emeritus at Kansas State University. He had previously served as, among other things, an Assistant Provost and Head of the Political Science department. Bill finds hope in the interesting and inspiring people he continues to meet. You can find more about Kansas Dialogue at www.kansasdialogue.com and Kansas State University’s Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy at www.k-state.edu/media-communication/about/icdd/ . America...
May 17, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 83
Dr. Douglass Teschner lives in the area of West Lebanon, New Hampshire. He is an active member of Braver Angels, founded his own consultancy called Growing Leadership, was involved with the Peace Corps for more than a decade and was a legislator in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1988 to 2002. Doug and host Michael Whidden were connected by prior podcast guest Gabbit Timmis from episode 64. Doug finds hope in the power of optimism and listening. You can learn more about Doug at h...
May 05, 2024•47 min•Season 3Ep. 82
Dr. Seth D. Kaplan lives in the Baltimore / Washington DC area and is a leading expert on fragile states, lectures at Johns Hopkins University and consults for organizations such as the World Bank and U.S. State Department. In October 2023, he published an amazingly insightful book, “Fragile Neighborhoods”, about how we can repair American society one ZIP code at a time. Seth finds hope in all the people he meets that want to step up and do more for their communities and the empowerment that com...
Apr 19, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 81
Greg Gerloff lives in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he raised his family and pursued a career in healthcare, which concluded with him serving as chief executive officer of Altru Health Systems. Greg and host Michael Whidden were connected by Greg’s nephew Adam, who was an elementary school teacher for two of Michael’s children. Greg finds hope in his granddaughter...in his belief that people are basically good people...in the core values of America...and in the centrists that he still sees in...
Apr 05, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 80
Aviva Sussman lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she was a scientist for Los Alamos National Laboratories and Sandia National Laboratories involved with, among things, implementation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and recently started studies of a new, very different topic: the Torah. Aviva finds hope in stillness and in our common struggles across the broad breadth of time. American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit base...
Mar 24, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 79
Sara Stahl lives in Port Clinton, Ohio, on the southwest shore of Lake Erie, where she is a social worker in the education system. Sara grew up in Port Clinton and attended The Ohio State University. Sara finds hope in her work and the youth and what they can offer the country. American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and thro...
Mar 12, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 78
Vishwesh Bhatt lives in Oxford, Mississippi , where he is executive chef for the city’s acclaimed Snackbar , a Southern brasserie and oyster bar and was recognized, in 2019, as the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef in the South . In 2022, he published a book of recipes and stories called “I Am From Here” which was designated as one of NPR’s “Books we Love” for 2022 and one of Garden & Gun’s Best Southern Books of 2022 and received a James Beard U.S. Foodways Cookbook award for 2023. Vishwes...
Feb 24, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 77
Reverend Mark Genszler lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he is the rector for Christ Church Cobble Hill , an Episcopal parish first organized in 1835. Rev. Genszler and host Michael Whidden met this past December at the holiday party of mutual friends. Mark finds hope in the rising generation’s awareness of the world, in the quiet and stillness of nature and in the enduring power of life on Earth. American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-pro...
Jan 12, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Season 3Ep. 76
Dr. Ed Tomlinson lives in Morgantown, West Virginia, where he is a Professor of Management at the Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in negotiation and compensation and a Ph.D. seminar on groups and teams. Dr. Tomlinson is also active with Braver Angels, serving, among other things, as red co-chair of the organization’s West Virginia alliance. Our discussion covers, among other things: *the classic notion of liberal...
Nov 25, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 75
Tami Van lives in New York, New York, where she is the Chief Financial Officer of one of New York City’s premier HVAC contractors. Our discussion covers, among other things: *her path from Brooklyn Tech High School and New York University into the construction industry *thoughts on union work *how she has developed the skills to meticulously manage projects *the importance of trade work *shortcomings of a college education *dining as the best way to explore New York City Tami finds hope in her a...
Nov 03, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 74
Max Miller lives in Des Moines, Iowa, where he works for the Federal Trade Commission as an attorney advisor on competition to Commissioner Alvaro M. Bedoya. Max has experienced living in a variety of different settings, growing up in Des Moines, attending the University of Florida, attending Columbia Law School and working/living in Chicago, London, Geneva and Paris. But his affection for Iowa has only grown, which is the reason he ultimately returned. Our discussion covers, among other things:...
Oct 20, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 73
Wanda Battle lives in Montgomery, Alabama, where she owns and operates her Legendary Tours company, which teaches about the Civil Rights Era but has a far grander ambition: “to engage in life-changing conversations” that will inspire guests to become their “greatest” selves and be “committed to love, respect, care for all mankind”. Our discussion covers, among other things: *her family’s involvement with the Montgomery bus boycott *Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s teachings of unconditional non-viol...
Oct 13, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 72
Ron Heller is a practicing attorney and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who has lived in Oklahoma City since 1974. Ron and host Michael Whidden were connected by Ron’s son Eric, who worked with Michael in the early 2000s. Our discussion covers, among other things: *his early days: from the ashes of World War II to the life of an "Army brat" to service in Vietnam *basketball, taxes and urban revitalization in Oklahoma City *tornados *must-do’s for OKC visitors *what it means to be a “conserv...
Oct 06, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 71
Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she is the Chair of the Department of Applied Communication at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Our discussion covers, among other things: *the negative stereotypes her own family had about Arkansas *wealth disparity *her friendship across political lines with a feminist scholar that changed both of them *working through the “chaos zone” to achieve convergence of mindset and solutions *her perfect day at home, exploring ...
Sep 08, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 70
Brady Busby lives in Young, Arizona, where he operates his not-for-profit Ash’s Grove and is running as an Independent for the state’s 2nd Congressional District. Brady served in the U.S. Army, specializing in special operations intelligence, and concluding his service as a Chief Warrant Officer. Our discussion covers, among other things: *his seven combat tours in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan *post-traumatic-stress disorder and therapies for healing *medicinal cannabis and its transformative im...
Aug 18, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 69
Jenae Moxie lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area, where she works as a corporate attorney for a venerable global law firm. She has lived in various parts of the nation including California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York but would contend that her current home is the very best. Our discussion covers, among other things: *her path to becoming a proud Bulldog *the growing appeal of the siren song of the South *life in New York City compared to life in Atlanta *the pleasure of picn...
Aug 11, 2023•51 min•Season 2Ep. 68
Tamer Kassis lives in Nassau County, New York. He owns and manages, with his mother Fera, a neighborhood delicatessen and café, Bonafide, in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn. The deli was started by his father Kameel twenty-five years ago. Our discussion covers, among other things: *how their business persevered through the pandemic *the difference between a bodega and a deli *their most popular sandwiches and drinks *which egg sandwich is best (with bacon, ham or sausage?) *the common Americ...
Aug 04, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 67
Laura Sibony lives in Portland, Oregon and is pursuing her doctorate in nursing anesthesia at Oregon Health & Science University. She has been a U.S. Army reservist for the last seven years, since graduating from the University of Vermont. Our discussion covers, among other things: *her path to becoming commissioned as an officer in the Army *deployments to Madagascar and Niger *technology, social media and artificial intelligence *the broad responsibilities of a Nurse Anesthetist *the post-...
Jul 28, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 66
Connor Rickett is based in Phoenix, Arizona but, with the remote character of his employment, travels extensively around the United States (especially in the West). In those travels, he studies and photographs wildlife and their surroundings and, perhaps more importantly, has gained optimistic insight into Americans and human beings in general. This podcast is the result of a chance meeting between Connor and host Michael Whidden at a coffee joint in Jackson, Wyoming in August 2022 (thank you, S...
Jul 20, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 65
Gabriella Timmis lives in New York, New York and is Director of Social Media for Braver Angels , one of the country’s leading organizations seeking to rebuild bridges across the political spectrum. She grew up outside Detroit, Michigan, graduated from Michigan State University and worked at NBC News. Our discussion covers, among other things: *her path from news media to bridging media via the 2020 presidential campaign *media and its polarizing effect *how we must allow people to be complex and...
Jul 06, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 64
