Brad Alaniz lives in Middletown, Rhode Island. Since retiring from the US Navy as a Commander, he has been a Military Professor at the US Naval War College in Newport, RI, and is currently an Operations Research Analyst exploring new underwater technologies in New London, Connecticut. Brad and host Michael Whidden were shipmates on USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) from 1995 until 1997, when it was homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. Our discussion covers, among other things: *some history about Newport and Rh...
Nov 18, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Sally Curci lives in New Jersey and is co-founder with her husband Mike of Shining Stars Network , a not-for-profit dedicated to providing a platform for folks in the special needs community to showcase their performing arts talent in an inclusive environment. Sally and host Michael Whidden were connected by a mutual friend, Frank Vito, who was also a guest of the podcast on episode 3 . Our discussion covers, among other things: *how the show got started and has grown *the beneficial impact of t...
Nov 10, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 33
David Sorich lives on the northern coast of Maine (aka the “Down East”) and for the last 3+ years has been a professor in the International Business and Logistics Programs at Maine Maritime Academy . He has had a vast array of experiences, including growing up in Utah, attending college in Philadelphia; and being stationed in Athens, GA, Charleston, SC, Pearl Harbor, HI, and London, England. David and host Michael Whidden have known each other since they were fellow students and Navy ROTC midshi...
Nov 04, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Jonathan Lopes lives in San Diego, CA where he is an artist who uses LEGO as his medium. In 2019, his first book, “ New York City Brick by Brick ,” was published, depicting the cityscape of his former hometown. Among other things, he is an artist-in-residence for Brick Universe , a LEGO fan convention which tours the United States. Jonathan and host Michael Whidden were connected by a mutual friend who thought that travel and Michael’s interest in learning more about the country dovetailed. Our ...
Oct 27, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Manu Meel lives in San Francisco, CA where he is the Chief Executive Officer of BridgeUSA , a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates spaces on high school and college campuses for open discussion between students about political issues. They’re currently on 74 campuses, with 500 students passing through their programming every two weeks. Manu and host Michael Whidden connected through their mutual interest in promoting respectful engagement across our many differences. Our discu...
Oct 21, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Carolyn Gartner lives in Brooklyn, NY and has had her own private therapy practice since 2019. Before then, she had been a home hospice social worker for eight years, a powerful experience which became the basis for her book “Death, Brooklyn and the Gritty Side of Grace”. The book is now also available as an audio book from Audible . Carolyn and host Michael Whidden have known each other since their children first went to school together. Our discussion includes, among other things: *her respons...
Oct 14, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 29
The tables are turned on Michael Whidden , the usual podcast host for American Tributaries. He himself is interviewed by guest host Erin Lovett about American Tributaries Travel , the company he created in 2022 to give U.S high schoolers opportunities to travel within the United States, as an alternative to the overseas trips that are far more widely available. The trips are intended to empower students to find their own understanding of the country via uniquely-curated, people-focused trips to ...
Oct 10, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Irakli Gabriel lives in Nashville, TN where he partners with his wife Anana Kaye to produce music videos through their company Duende Vision and collaborate as a performing and songwriting duo under her name “ Anana Kaye ”. Mundane Magazine more succinctly calls them a “ Nashville Alt-Americana power couple ”. Their music is unshakably mesmerizing; some examples include “ My Last Dream of You ”, “ Foolish Pride ” and “ Blueberry Fireworks ”. Irakli’s life started in the Soviet Republic of Georgi...
Oct 07, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Laura Süpper has lived in New York City almost her entire life and, after a career in wine and hospitality which included co-ownership of an influential boutique Italian wine importer, recently embarked on a new act in her life: a career in nursing. Laura and host Michael Whidden worked together at that wine importer, Acid Inc., from 2012 to 2015, becoming good friends. Our discussion includes, among other things: *her path into nursing, initiated by pandemic-related work at Jones Beach and the ...
Sep 30, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Martin Johnson has lived in New York City since arriving in 1978 to study at Columbia University. He is currently a freelance journalist who has had his work published in The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Vogue, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Jazz Times and other publications. He has also been a longtime cheesemonger and is currently Shop Manager at 67 Gourmet, a new cheese and charcuterie outlet on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Martin and host Michael Whidden go back as frie...
Sep 23, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Nic Adams lives in Virginia and works on Capitol Hill as a Professional Staff Member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Intelligence , where he has been since February 2021. Before then, he served as an advisor on national security for Representative Brad Wenstrup of Ohio, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa and Senator John Cornyn of Texas. Nic and host Michael Whidden connected over the respective prior military service and their mutual concerns for the promotion of civil engagement. The discussion inclu...
Sep 16, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Wilk Wilkinson lives in central Minnesota and started a podcast in reaction to the increasing incivility of our nation’s civic discourse, “ Derate The Hate ”, which has over 120 compelling episodes (as of August 2022). Wilk and host Michael Whidden are each members of Braver Angels , a group building bridges across the political spectrum; but they had never spoken before this episode. While Wilk and Michael live in vastly different settings and certainly have different viewpoints, their conversa...
Sep 09, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Shantana Simmon lives in the central Michigan town of Eaton Rapids, where she and her husband run a 30-acre family farm, Tilted Barn , when they’re not working on their other full-time jobs. Shantana and host Michael Whidden met through a program sponsored by Braver Angels , 1:1 Conversations , which allows members to have talks with people who live in communities different than their own. Shantana talks about, among other things: *the challenges of farming *their reasons for getting into farmin...
Sep 01, 2022•56 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Kara Van de Kieft is a doctor of radiology who lives in San Antonio, TX, and recently retired from the U.S. Air Force after 21 years of service. Host Michael Whidden connected with Kara through her husband Mike, who grew up with Michael. Kara talks about, among other things: *how to become a physician in the military *her deployment to Qatar *comparing civilian life and military life as a physician *what it means to be a radiologist *demystifying the Texas monolith *the many similarities between...
Aug 19, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 22
John Dennis is a singer/songwriter of folk music, who lives in Nashville, TN, and grew up in rural southern Illinois outside St. Louis. He has published three albums ( “Mortal Flames” in 2020; “Second Wind” in 2017; and “Eternity’s Tree” in 2014) and is currently working on his fourth. John and host Michael Whidden connected over his beautiful and aching yet hopeful ballad “Bird O’ Freedom” which he wrote in 2020 for a song-writing contest and to help find his place in the contentious climate of...
Aug 12, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Thomas Byrd has been the civilian public affairs officer for four years at Fort Jackson , which is the primary facility for Basic Combat Training of our nation’s Army soldiers, located in Columbia, SC. Tom also served as an enlisted soldier, non-commissioned officer and commissioned officer during 28+ years of active military service, from 1986 until 2015. Tom talks about, among other things: -the Army’s rank structure -how the Army forges a sense of unity among its disparate recruits -his servi...
Jul 21, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 20
John Jastremski (“JJ”) has been a sportscaster in New York for more than a decade and currently hosts two of his own podcasts – “ New York, New York ” and “ The Ringer Gambling Show ” – on The Ringer network and is a daily contributor on regional sports television network SNY . JJ grew up in Staten Island and studied broadcast journalism at Syracuse University, so it is fascinating to learn about his journey. JJ talks about, among other things: *how he prepares for his various appearances *his j...
Jul 15, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Darla Burton has been a resident of the Greenville, SC area for almost twenty years after moving there for college after growing up in a small northern Minnesota town. Host Michael Whidden met Darla in April 2022 during a vacation in the Greenville area when he and his family ventured for their first-ever meal at Cracker Barrel, where she worked and took such gracious and friendly care of them. Darla shares the fascinating story of her life, including: *fond insights into Cracker Barrel *how 0°F...
Jul 08, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 18
On the 246th birthday of our great and unavoidably imperfect nation, American Tributaries host Michael Whidden shares some thoughts about choosing to love our country and the reasons for hope that abound. Happy Independence Day! And let's get to work.
Jul 02, 2022•10 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Sophie Barrett recently returned to her home state of North Carolina after spending a decade in New York City. A member of the wine trade since 2005, Sophie is currently the general manager of Haw River Wine Man , which is a wine distributor in the Carolinas. Sophie shares thoughts about many matters, including: *her wine career path from retail to distribution, with a number of enviable stopovers *what irresistibly drew her back home *a breakdown of North Carolina’s geography *what Wegman’s tel...
Jul 01, 2022•57 min
Kathy Buccio has built a multi-pronged career as a tv show host, lifestyle expert and show producer, primarily, in New York City. Her path drew inspiration from the sportscasting career of her grandfather, Manolo Alvarez, in Cuba and Miami and from the work ethic and drive to succeed of the rest of her Cuban exile parents and grandparents. You may have encountered Kathy on The Today Show, PIX11 of New York, South Florida PBS, Telemundo, Univision and many other television channels. Kathy elabora...
Jun 23, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Taryn Williams has been a teacher in the Alutiiq village of Perryville (population, 88 ), located 500 miles southwest of Anchorage on the Alaska Peninsula, since autumn 2021. It’s a remote land of distinct immensity and beauty (even for Alaska) defined by tundra, coastline and nearby mountains crowned by an active volcano, Mt Veniaminof . Taryn talks about many fascinating, unique topics, including: *how the Alaskan “bush” is connected to the state’s more populous areas *their subsistence diet o...
Jun 10, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Ben Bohen has been a small business owner in Brooklyn, NY since 2011 when he opened his boutique wine shop Waterfront Wines & Spirits in Brooklyn Bridge Park near Pier 5. Host Michael Whidden worked with Ben as his wine sales representative during most of that time and was always impressed with his abilities as an entrepreneur and manager. Ben shares a variety of insights, including *the path to opening his own business *how a crisis for his grand opening became a non-event *his secret for s...
Jun 03, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Leslie Phillips has been a psychoanalyst in the New York metropolitan area for more than twenty years and currently has her own practice in Westchester County. Leslie and host Michael Whidden have been good friends since their high school days when, even back then, it was readily apparent she had a unique aptitude for the subject matter. Leslie covers a broad array of topics relating to her field (as well as her one detour living abroad), including.... *the various types of professionals who tre...
May 26, 2022•56 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Eric Foret recently became the corporate wine director of Vin Sur Vingt , a 7-unit French wine bar group based in New York City, after two decades in the wholesale wine trade. He grew up in Lyon, France, and moved to the United States in 2000, obtaining citizenship in 2016. Eric shares various observations about life in the United States and working in the wine industry and restaurant world, including... *his reasons for moving away from home and becoming an American citizen *the optimism and en...
May 19, 2022•56 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Dr Jacqueline Subka has her own dentistry practice in the city of Thousand Oaks , located between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. For recreation, she and her daughter care for their horse Rollo and compete in equestrian competitions. Jacqueline explains her path and attraction to becoming a dentist after pivoting from her original aspiration to become an airline pilot. Among other things, you’ll also hear about... *her thoughts on nail-biting *what’s perhaps the worst habit for your teeth *dental...
May 12, 2022•1 hr 8 min
Learn about how Njekwa Beasnael successfully and joyfully straddles a wide variety of different worlds. He spent his early years in Chad and Ghana before moving with his family to the Dallas area. He then attended Texas A&M, where his passion for wine and food took hold, and moved to New York City to pursue his passions professionally and where he ultimately met his wife who hails from Montana. Njekwa recently joined Cru Luv Selections , an NYC-based wine branding and marketing firm dedicate...
May 06, 2022•50 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Learn about the inner workings of local government in the Sunshine State (at least in one locale) and the mindset of someone pursuing public service after a long, accomplished career of naval service. Jake Johansson was born and raised in western New York before embarking on a 35-year career in the U.S. Navy, which included positions as commander of an air squadron, commander of Virginia area naval bases and naval aid to the Vice President of the United States. After retirement, Jake continued w...
Apr 28, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Kyle Pasewark is a Wyoming native, raised in Laramie in the southeast, and began his studies at the University of Wyoming before his interest took him towards studying theology and, ultimately, practicing law in New York City for more than fifteen years. A few years ago, he moved back to Wyoming, settling in the state’s northwest corner near Yellowstone National Park. Kyle and host Michael Whidden met as fellow corporate attorneys at the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton in New York City. Lea...
Apr 13, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Devin Davis lives and works in Manhattan, New York City, going between his home in Harlem and the wine shops he has worked in downtown. Devin and host Michael Whidden have known each other for approximately six years, going back to when Michael started working with one of Devin's shops. Learn about one of NYC’s essential workers who...from receiving, storing and stocking to greeting, advising and processing...made sure that everyone got their bottles of wine during the pandemic. He’s happy to ha...
Apr 07, 2022•55 min•Season 1Ep. 7
