American Tributaries

Michael Gordon grew up and currently lives in Milwaukee, WI, where he practices orthopedic surgery and sports medicine and has been team orthopedic physician for Marquette University since 2005. He was also a team orthopedic physician for the Milwaukee Bucks, from 2005 to 2015. Along with being a proud booster of the Badger State, Michael is a proud stockholder of the publicly-owned Green Bay Packers. 

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*what exactly orthopedic surgery is as a specialty compared to other specialties
*the negative impact of single sport specialization in youth sports
*the benefits of running
*whether the Wisconsin Badgers or the Green Bay Packers are the state’s quintessential team
*industry, geography and recreation in Wisconsin
*cultural differences between the Midwest and coasts as well as rural and urban

Michael finds hope in the teamwork, resilience and determination of the many young athletes with whom he works. 

Michael Drewry lives in southeast Virginia, between Norfolk and Richmond and across the river from historic Jamestown. His local roots go back to the 1600s. Michael describes himself as a farmer with a law degree and divides time between operating his family’s property Drewry Farms (which includes lodging at the historic Palmyra Inn) and advising local governments on land use. He’s even pursued local elected office.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*the local peanut industry
*the different sizes of farms
*why adaptation in agriculture can be slow
*understanding rural and urban mindsets
*marriage and farming

Michael finds hope in efforts to understand and communicate across different cultures and communities, as in the podcast, and in his belief that most people are middle-of-the-road and good inside (but who need to be more vocal).

Kirk Benshoff lives in Brooklyn, NY, where he works in publishing and has been doing graphic design for more than twenty years. He is currently Associate Creative Director at First Second Books, a graphic novel publisher located in New York City. Kirk also designed the super-cool logo for the podcast's related project, American Tributaries Travel.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*his career path into graphic design and publishing
*nostalgic discussion about comic books
*graphic novels as compliments to prose novels
*recommendations for contemporary graphic novels
*the concept of superheroes

Kirk finds hope in his children and their friends and all that they’re able to perceive at their young ages.

John McCafferty lives in central Montana where he owns and operates his family’s large cattle ranch. His family first settled in Montana to raise cattle in the 1870s. John and host Michael Whidden were connected by Njekwa Beasnael, who is John’s son-in-law and who was a guest of the podcast on Episode 10.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*cattle herding
*the benefits of barbed wire
*beef production
*prices for bulls and cows
*his expectations for and reactions to New York City
*the positive impact technology has had on ranching

John finds hope in his grandchildren and in the good relationships he has with his neighbors.

Brian Abate lives in Brooklyn, NY, and is a journalist for local newspaper The Red Hook Star-Revue, which publishes each month 9,000 copies for the Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, the Columbia Waterfront District, and Gowanus neighborhoods. In a contemporary media landscape which neglects local coverage – to the detriment of our sense of community and the health of our democracy – Brian’s experience and insights are worth attention.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*how he got involved with local journalism
*why he enjoys local journalism
*the benefits of local journalism
*his sandwich shop article
*balancing negativity and positivity
*the process of story development, printing and distribution

Brian finds hope in meeting so many great people in the neighborhood dedicated to making the community a better place. 

A compilation of what gives American Tributaries podcast guests hope, from episodes 1 through 40.

Brandon Erny (“Erny”) lives in northeastern Vermont but spends the holiday season in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn selling Christmas trees for Windswept Farm of Barton, VT. Host Michael Whidden and his family purchased their tree from Erny for the current holiday season and it presented an opportunity to learn more about Christmas trees and, more importantly, the folks who ensure celebrants get their Christmas magic centerpiece each year.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*how many trees a location sells in a season
*Christmas tree cultivation
*what a work day selling Christmas trees is like
*life in northeastern Vermont
*adjusting to -- and perceptions of -- different communities
*the importance of watering your tree

Erny finds hope in the human connection that comes from selling Christmas trees, whether it’s seeing children’s smiles, talking with them or sharing what he thinks is wonderful.

Mónica Guzmán lives in Seattle, Washington, and wears many hats, including: as a career journalist; as the Director of Digital and Storytelling at Braver Angels (the largest cross-partisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to depolarizing America); and as the author of “I Never Thought of It That Way” (a definite handbook on civil, civic engagement).

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*her career journey into bridge-building
*expanding the notion of diversity
*why Americans have lost touch with curiosity
*the decimation of local news and its impact on American society
*media and its predilection to cover our fears and obsessions and psychoses

Mónica finds hope in how culture is more powerful than technology and will slowly have us adapt our behaviors to mitigate the frictions that currently affect us.

Ebenezer Akakpo lives in Maine, where he operates two businesses.  The first is Akakpo & Co., which designs uniquely attractive and captivating jewelry and housewares adorned with patterns based on traditional symbols – called Adinkra – from his native Ghana.  The second is Maine Culture which designs products which celebrate the natural beauty of Maine.  He pursues his craft on the side when he’s not engaged with his full-time job in information technology for the Maine Turnpike Authority.

Of special note, Ebenezer offers the “Emekor Collection”, comprised of colorful, polycarbonate earrings depicting Adinkra, from which 70% of the proceeds support water purification in Ghana.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*the influence of his upbringing at a vocational school in Ghana
*his education and training, which took an enviable detour to Italy
*what brought him to Maine
*the importance of technology to his work
*cultural background for Adinkra
*how lighthouses, moose and pine cones were instrumental to his use of Adinkra
*his belief in patience and fate

Ebenezer finds hope in how his customers find the importance in – and complete the story about – his creations.  Stated in another, beguiling way: he finds hope in his lack of power to define or limit the positive influence his creations can have. 

Sergeant Major Philson Tavernier lives in South Carolina and is currently Post Command Sergeant Major for the U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson in the state capitol of Columbia. PCSM Tavernier, who originally hails from New York City, has been serving for 27 years, which included a peacekeeping tour in Kosovo, two combat tours in Iraq and assignments in German and South Korea.  PCSM Tavernier and host Michael Whidden were connected by a mutual friend, Thomas Byrd, who is the Public Affairs Officer at Fort Jackson and who was a gust on the podcast in Episode 20.

Our discussion covers, among other things:
*the start of his journey, from Jamaica, Queens
*the unexpected peril of peacekeeping
*life as a soldier, both in training and in combat
*the different motivations that bring folks to serve
*the importance of knowing your “why”

PCSM Tavernier finds hope in the new generation of soldiers – how they are transformed through training and in confidence and respect they come to embody – which gives him comfort that our freedoms and liberties will continue to be protected.