A Hat Tip For Hands

Ken Butti, Director of Operations and Facility of LOTT Clean Water Alliance, shares all things wastewater treatment from the bowl to the sea. Ken gives an overview of how this happens, its implications on our environment, and a peek into one of this nation's best treatment facilities right here in the south Puget Sound. Ken's competence, kindness, and care, will have everyone thinking about what happens after the next flush!

Danielle Gonzalez, a behavioral analyst, talks about her work bridging the gap between those with autism and others. She shares her work with Behavior Bridges, finding ways to help those with autism connect, interpret, understand, and develop life skills to better function in their daily lives. We explore the secret society of having family members with special needs, and the impact her brother, Brandon, has had on her. We talk babies, mixed race family, and about getting it right, rather than being right.

Dr. Eliseo Gonzalez, chiropractor, joins us to talk about becoming a provider, about our parallel universes as colleagues and having brother's with special needs and Down's Syndrome, and shared roots in Yakima, WA. We explore cultural and racial identity and the notion of asking others about their identity preferences. Dr. Eli, as he's known in our office, shares his experience as a Texano, Yakamanian, Mexican American, Latino, Hispanic, bi-racial, one-quarter French, fellow human.

Three generations of Irey's, Bill, 84, Tim, 53, and Grant, 18, share their tradition of beach clean up on remote stretches of the Olympic National Park, coastal trail, in Washington State. We talk (coastal) trash, the outdoors, family, and stewardship. Their infectious outlook on taking care of our world will have you carrying a grabber and a box of trash bags everywhere you go!

Toni Ransom, shares her perspectives as a nurse over her career and this past year as we commemorate International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, designated by The World Health Organization for 2020. In addition, Toni shares her experience as an immigrant from South Korea, and her life as an Asian American. We talk about the experience of finding a better life, racism, and the challenges of finding a sense of place in the face of attitudes of difference.

Allie Russell, age 9 1/2, and Peyton Russell, age 12, share their journeys of advocating for the environment. Allie tells us about hosting a Driveway Sale, where she shares a presentation of the Congo, and puts her artistic and baking talents to work to raise resources for the Rainforest Action Network, while her brother, Peyton, puts on a clinic about climate change through his involvement with Earth Club, Stream Team, and Wonder Week projects. These remarkable young leaders' advice to adults will have you on your toes ready to jump into action! Spectacular!

Mary Rose, shares her story of moving to a new state at the beginning of the pandemic to retire. She talks about finding community with neighbors and with volunteers baking bread for the food bank. We discuss the power of the collective, finding new friends, making the world "breader," and solving hunger one loaf at a time.

Steve Tanasse, my oldest brother and a bus driver, tells stories of driving his routes for Seattle Metro and Community Transit in Everett WA. He shares his experiences of working with the public, and the process of losing the work he loves, forced to retire early. We talk about life's transitions, bringing purpose to our work, and beyond the void that shows up when we no longer work, but still want to.

Joe Burr, English Professor at Centralia College, shows us a day in the life of class at Green Hill School, a juvenile rehabilitation facility. He helps us see a spirit of hope, help, and healing within its confines, and shares stories, insights, and experience as a visiting faculty teaching college level writing to students ready to learn. Go Joe, and go Green Hill!

Frances Tanasse, my 17 year-old daughter, shares her experience and perspectives as a senior in high school during a pandemic. She tells us about growing up before you're ready, about FOMO (fear of missing out), about going PRO, and about problem solving during a year of challenges.