American Tributaries

Mike Myers lives in West Lafayette, Indiana and is a lifelong Hoosier.  He is currently a high school social studies teacher and previously worked in middle schools as a teacher and administrator. Mike and host Michael Whidden were connected by Dustin McKinney, the guest from podcast episode 51.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*the reasons he enjoys teaching
*how history may not repeat itself, but it rhymes
*balancing, in a democracy, patience vs flexibility and loud voices vs quiet voices
*following the Indy 500...on the radio
*sugar cream pie and fried pork tenderloin (yum and yum)
*notable destinations in the Hoosier State

Mike finds hope in the younger generation, observing that they are more empathetic, kind, outspoken and believing in justice.

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 school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Claire Bishop lives in the Kansas City, Missouri area and is the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of American Public Square, a nonpartisan not-for-profit seeking to change the tone and quality of public discourse in our country.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*Kansas City’s many attractions, including its arts and culinary scenes
*the difference between Kansas City, in the west of Missouri, and St. Louis, in the east
*contempt, curiosity and connection
*American Public Square’s founding and programming to promote respectful, fact-based conversations about some of America’s most divisive issues
*local journalism and local politics

Claire finds hope in the many national and local movements to build better bridges in our society, including authors who have written insightful and encouraging books about America. We are humbly grateful that she included the American Tributaries podcast among these signs of hope.

You can learn more about Claire’s work by visiting www.americanpublicsquare.org and checking out the local area’s initiative to increase trust in local journalism: www.kcmediacollective.org.

For quick reference, she mentioned the following books, which provide insight into rebuilding our nation’s civic connections: (a) American Nations by Colin Woodward, (b) 50 States of Mind by Ryan Bernsten, (c) Love Your Enemies by Arthur Brooks, (d) Quiet by Susan Cain and (e) The Upswing by Robert Putnam with Shaylyn Romney Garrett.

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 school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Maryellen Feerhery Hank lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has been an attorney for almost twenty-five years, with a specialty in patent law.  She and host Michael Whidden know each other from when they were classmates at the University of Pennsylvania in the early 1990s.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*how a trip to Russia in 1992 impacted her perspective on the United States
*rewards, incentives and innovation and how they benefit society
*the importance of learning alternative points-of-view
*sense of identity in America, whether it’s by political party, economic theory or ethnicity or as an American
*the term “Pennsyltucky”

Maryellen finds hope in her Catholic faith, which guides her to work hard, do what you can with the abilities given to you and trust in a greater, divine plan.

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 high school students, practicing the core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com.

Matt Smith lives in southern New Jersey, where he retired as a Commander after 22 years of service in the U.S. Coast Guard.  While continuing work with the USCG as a civilian he has also been pursuing flight training and recently earned his Private Pilot certificate to fly under Visual Flight Rules.  Matt and host Michael Whidden know each other from when they attended high school together on Long Island.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*his Coast Guard experiences, ranging from Alaska to Michigan to Florida to Connecticut to Rhode Island to Indiana to Wisconsin and to New Jersey
*ice-breaking on the Great Lakes
*the history of the Coast Guard...and knowing Hamilton was cool before Hamilton was cool
*how high, how fast and how far he can fly with his license
*appreciating the agricultural character of New Jersey from the air

Matt finds hope in the good quality of the many people he has met in the last 35 years (many with whom he probably does not share the same political views) and in the fact that we don’t hear about the good people because they’re not loud (rather they’re doing the good things they need to be doing).

Zedora Teton Enos is an elder of the Eastern Shoshone people and lives on the Wind River Indian Reservation in west-central Wyoming.  She is currently Director of the Eastern Shoshone Cultural Center, which champions Shoshone culture, language revitalization and preservation of traditions. She is the great-granddaughter of the legendary Chief Washakie, who lived across almost the entire 19th century and is renowned for his prowess in both diplomacy and combat. Zedora was connected to the podcast by episode 8 guest, Kyle Pasewark.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*the reason education is so important
*memories of her grandmother, the post and the river
*listening and learning when it comes to politics and religion
*elders and their essential roles as messengers of wisdom
*the Shoshone relationship with both Rev. John Roberts and Brigham Young
*the continuing, tragic disappearance of indigenous people from around her area

Zedora finds hope in serving as an elder and being a conduit for The Creator.

Melaine Oster lives in New Jersey and is a registered nurse working in interventional cardiology at a hospital in New York City.  She was inspired to leave her job in copywriting and become a nurse in the wake of the tragedies of 9/11.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*her education and career path
*the difference between a bedside nurse and a procedural nurse
*the reason we should all be more patient when our doctors are backed-up and appointments are delayed
*why romance is unlikely to happen in the hospital, despite what “Grey’s Anatomy” and “ER” depict
*some of her first emergencies as a nurse...which happened on her honeymoon
*shortcomings she sees in the healthcare system

Melaine finds hope in the decency of her coworkers and the many positive qualities of the younger generation. 

One last note...the episode was recorded during nurse appreciation week (5/6/23 to 5/12/23), but please be kind to, patient with, grateful for and supportive of nurses and all healthcare providers whenever you interact with them.  All.  The.  Time.  While they also deserve better pay, more support for their own well-being, less BS and more public acclaim, it’s the least we can each do at an individual level.

Jessica Lauren Walton lives in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC and recently completed a memoir about her years overseas when she sought admission to the highest echelons of the Israeli intelligence community.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*how a Mormon friend sparked her curiosity about her Judaic roots
*the Torah and secular knowledge as dual sources of wisdom which are not mutually exclusive
*her journey from Montgomery County police internship to Bar-Ilan University outside Tel Aviv
*the indelible impact of her friend Roman, an elite Israeli commando originally from Siberia
*Judaic origins of some fundamental U.S political principles
*observations about the U.S. after she returned from Israel in 2017

Jessica finds hope in the power of storytelling and its ability to allow us to step into someone else’s shoes.

You can learn more about Jessica at www.jessicawaltonwriter.com.

Jeremy Parzen lives in Houston TX with his wife and two children. His life started in Chicago, but he grew up in La Jolla CA. He then attended UCLA and worked in New York City before moving to H-Town approximately fifteen years ago.  With a PhD in Italian literature, Jeremy has spent significant time in Italy and is a widely-respected expert in Italian wine, but his appearance on the podcast is not necessarily related to wine but to his life as a Texan.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*his observation that Texas of the 2020’s is akin to California of the 1970’s
*the geographic prejudgment he frequently encounters from people outside Texas
*Houston’s rich racial diversity compared to other places he’s lived...and the city’s own past
*heartening experiences with political diversity, whether family, neighbors or strangers
*our obligation to treat all people like human beings, including giving space to evolve

Jeremy finds hope in his belief that the United States is finally starting to have serious discussions about how to become a real democracy.

You can learn more about Jeremy on his website www.dobianchi.com. And if you’d like to visit Texas and connect with him, please contact podcast host Michael Whidden at [email protected].

John Ceriello lives in Brooklyn NY and is the Captain of the FDNY’s Rescue Company 1 – which is the department’s “rolling tool” kit, equipped with equipment necessary for “technical rescue” that might require getting through walls, lifting things and extractions – in Manhattan. He grew up on Long Island, where his father owned a service station, and became a FDNY firefighter in February 1988.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*a routine day for his company, which includes a lot more than simply emergency responses
*hydrants and parking in NYC
*fire safety now compared to the late 1980s
*the kitchen as the #1 spot for fires and how to respond to grease fires: use baking soda or a dry fire extinguisher or the pot lid
*driving in NYC traffic during an emergency call
*the importance – for civilians – of closing doors to help limit fires

John finds hope in believing that the vast majority of people are good, even if there are bad times, there are good times on the other side and that struggle is part of life.

Mary Slone lives in Doty Creek, Kentucky, in the eastern portion of the state, and is a veteran educator at Floyd Central High School who loves and lives the power of storytelling.  In 2021, Mary received a “High School Teacher Achievement Award” from the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*the power of story exchange and the program of Narrative4
*how a slice of pizza formed the bridge between eastern Kentucky and Bronx students
*the Slone family’s “Squirrel Festival” 
*Mary’s inestimable Mamaw, Normy Lou Turner
*so many vivid phrases like “wears me slap out”, “all that and a bag of chips”, “they don’t care if it snows oats” and “this side of glory”
*and the correct pronunciation of “Appalachia” is finally settled for this long-ignorant New Yorker

Mary finds hope in her Christian faith...in knowing people are always more than their worst and and not as good as their best...in the many people trying to reach out and build connections in our world...in a good book...in a good book...in our ability to choose to “err on the side of beauty”.