Citizen44 with Mark Arinsberg

Sarah Burns is a self taught painter who later in life found her passion and took to it like a fish in water,A now very successful artist living in Southern Oregon, Sarah enjoys her family life and operating a small studio and gallery on Talent, Oregon. Her painting style is distinct and is mainly images of Southern Oregon and the surrounding areas. She teaches classes at Ashland's Art Center and makes no bones about doing things her own way. She's painted tow portraits of me which was an incredible opportunity to spend a lot of time together and enjoy each others company. I'm happy to know Sarah and be a part of her painting experience.

Andy Baxter is one of the nicest people I know in Ashland, Oregon. A man of many talents, Andy is a fitness expert with his roots firmly planted in his experiences an athlete. He chronicles the journey of training for the Olympic Trials in his eBook racing Yesterday where he prepares compete in pair with Stephen Kiesling, a 50-year-old 1980 Olympian, former Yale oarsman, author of The Shell Game and current magazine editor. Andy Baxter, youthful at 41 and lacking the Ivy League and Olympic rowing resume, provides a unique perspective on training for the ultimate challenge in United States rowing as a business owner and parent of two children. Andy owns and operates Baxter Fitness Solutions in Ashland, Oregon in his mission to get folks in shape who are over fifty, We talk to my mom about her health on the show as well.

Dear friend and beloved Ashland musician, Gene Burnett shares how one can better serve themselves through the necessary practices of balance and applied pressure. Not growing up with a strong male role model, Gene slowly discovered that having no pressure in his life left him fighting against the natural laws of nature only to find out later in life that having the right amount of pressure exposed his weaknesses thus allowing him to become stronger. Gene's Tai Chi practice and teachings have allowed others to find the necessary balance needed in life for a healthy mind body and spirit. Gene has prolifically and generously produced a lot of original music for the taking which can be found at geneburnett.com.

Coming from a seemingly unrelated background of dance performance in LA and New York, Grant Williams finds himself with an inheritance that allows hime to give back in indescribable ways through the creation of non-profit who would go to schools in the Southern, Oregon area and put on free workshops that helped students close the divide between them and silently expose those at risk which sadly and consistently turned out to be a majority and not a minority. I was honored to be a part of that work being done.

Coming from the streets of Oakland, California in the 50s, Allen Hicks did not understand why his African American friend would have to move away. He didn't see the racial bias nor understand as most children innocently and authentically bond with each other without seeing the things that begin to divide us later in life. Allen and his first wife in Copenhagen would adopt an African American girl who would successfully navigate a predominantly Caucasian culture and rise to the top of her game as she follows her passion for theater arts. Allen is a writer, photographer, painter and concerned citizen.

When I think of old school drummers with big smiles and feeling the jazz in their pores, I think of Tom Stamper. Always a kind word to say and a groove in his soul. One of the hardest working musicians I know, Tom has been playing with several people around the Rogue Valley . Coming from the Bay Area Tome tells stories of growing up and learning from legends that would imprint on his playing today. Tom also teaches drums. That's good for those who want to learn and become top flight.

Dan Elster is this very down-to-earth guy who comes from working in a food warehouse with his father on the mean streets of Chicago to the tranquil mountain ranges of Southern, Oregon to feed his passion for capturing his unique connection to wild animals through photography. Thanks to a gift of a camera from his wife, Dan has not stopped getting closer and closer to this subjects who seem to understand what he's doing and accommodate him more often than not. His work speaks for itself. http://www.elsterphotography.com/

Robbie Lindauer is the guy who I can count on to take our wild conversations in all kinds of insane directions with precise historic information, I would otherwise never hear or know about (not that I remember any of it). Not only is he a theology and philosophy major as well as one of the sharpest minds I know. he also kills it on the guitar with his voice and the writing of songs. I've been fortunate enough to have been in a band with him called The Stamps in a variety of configurations. We recorded a cool CD and I'm happy to be a part of his family. If you feel a need to debate somebody, look Robbie up.

Rich Rees. This guy. A very close friend and the guy who convinced me to go back to being a vegan, thankfully. Rich has been in the music business for over two decades. As a young man he sat behind the drums in a few projects playing here and there and living in Redondo Beach, CA. Now living in Ashland, Oregon Rich manages some top touring music acts and enjoys the life of creating peace and harmony in his life and spreading that to others. Rich is the producer of this show. Because of his long standing in the music biz, we are fortunate enough to get some celebrity action. Check out Rich's vegan cooking show The Vegan Shaman at https://youtu.be/7OvHzq_VXAM

Mandy Valencia is a dear friend and local resident of Southern Oregon who has put her nose to the grindstone as a hard-woking journalist and uncovered some of the most important stories of the day. She's interviewed local officials and some more recognizable names like Weird Al Yankovic who was performing locally. A strong woman who stands up for the rights of herself, her tribe and all people affected by the ills of society. Honored to be her friend. She have been known to watch a lot of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm together. Mandy.