Conversation Mill

Bob Moog was a pioneer in synthesis. Creator of the Moog Synthesizer that would be adopted by some of the biggest names in music. Sadly, Bob passed away in 2005, but his daughter Michelle Moog-Koussa, preserves his legacy and promotes creativity in music through the Bob Moog Foundation a 501 (c) (3) located in Asheville, NC.

The mecca for synthesizer musicians and fans is the Moogseum. Here Michelle and the team have created a timeline of the history of synthesis and hands-on experiences.  An immersive experience for guests, visitors can engage in learning how electricity becomes sound and so much more. 

Join us in conversation and when you are in Asheville be sure to visit Moogseum!

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Don't forget to become a subscriber on Substack for more content from each episode: Conversationmill.substack.com

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Elizabeth Williams, Executive Director of Mountain Care, joins me in conversation to share the joy and sadness that comes with serving aging adults. 

Mountain Care first opened its doors in 1986 as "Mountain Geri-Care". Over the years the name, location, and capacity have changed, but their goal has remained the same: to provide high-quality, community-based care for older adults and their caregivers.  

Mountain Care is a nonprofit, located in Buncombe and Henderson county in North Carolina. But the topic of caring for aging adults is one that will continue to impact us all, and as Elizabeth explains in this episode there is not enough support to meet demand. 

Consider supporting Mountain Care with a donation or by volunteering: Learn More Here

Continue the conversation with me on Substack, where this week I write about the importance of hearing the stories of our elders and specifically the stories of our families. 

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Malapropism: the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with an amusing effect

Gretchen Horn, the current owner of Malaprop's Bookstore in Asheville, North Carolina sits down with us to talk about what makes Malaprop's a lasting fixture in Asheville's downtown. 

Western North Carolina is the home to many contemporary authors, alongside some of the most notable names in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. But even those writers whose names you may not know have a home at Malaprop's. They continue to support local authors, taking local writers on consignment. 

The next time you are in Asheville, Malaprop's must be a stop on your list! Check out their extensive poetry and regional author selection. 

Malaprop's Website

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And follow their dogs of Malaprop's at Malapups

Shelia Merck did not know what to expect when she joined the SC Venue Crisis fight and started raising awareness with citizens and legislators about the skyrocketing liability insurance costs, forcing small business owners to make very tough decisions about their businesses. But she quickly learned that her passion for these businesses, honky tonks, and other venues was shared by so many, not to mention the business owners themselves that have poured their dreams into these businesses. 

Now Shelia and the SC Venue Crisis team are holding town halls, organizing events, and being boots on the ground in the campaign to get South Carolina legislators to change the liability laws.  You can sign the petition HERE. 

"In 2017, South Carolina introduced a law, that drastically changed the minimum insurance coverage requirements for establishments that sell and serve alcohol. Bill 116 requires a one-million-dollar yearly policy. This rate increase is excessively high for an across-the-board requirement.

As a result, in 2021, insurance companies began to pull out of South Carolina. The number of available carriers has dropped so severely that we can count the remaining options on one hand. The inability to shop for insurance coverage caused the average insurance prices for bars and venues to rise in 2021. When 2022 hit, we were shocked to see the price quoted, which we had no choice but to pay. What was a $5,000 - $6,000 policy skyrocketed to upwards of $20,000- $25,000." -SC Venue Crisis Petition 

I can not stress how important conversations like this are, if you want things to change you have to let your voice be heard. As you will hear us discuss, the downstream effects of knee-jerk legislation can often have dire consequences on hard-working Americans.

But let’s jump into this conversation and if there is something similar happening in your state, please email me at [email protected]; so we can talk more about grassroots movements happening at the local and state level.

SC Venue Crisis Instagram

SC Venue Crisis Facebook

Hear more from our conversation at Substack. 

Heidi Henry of Harvest Kitchen, located in Greer, SC joins the podcast in conversation about all things gluten-free. But we cover even more than that, digging into strategies for running a health-based restaurant, collaboration, food systems in America, and more!

Harvest Kitchen serves up allergy-friendly food in a 100% gluten-free environment. If you are vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, keto, or a carnivore trying to eat healthier there is a fresh, delicious option for you at Harvest Kitchen.

Take a peek at what they serve up on their website or follow them on Instagram (but I do warn you, you will get hungry!)

We continue the conversation on Substack and I write about the history of celiac and its causes. Become a subscriber today and get all the extras from each episode sent right to your inbox every Monday!

In this episode, I take you along to a Robert F. Kennedy Jr. campaign stop and how I got the opportunity to steal a few minutes with him. 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the son of former US Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy. His father was US Attorney General under John F. Kennedy and was assassinated while running for president in 1968. Robert Kennedy Jr. was raised steeped in the history of America.

Mr. Kennedy has a doctorate in law from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in environmental law from Pace University. He served as the assistant district attorney of New York in 1983. He helped found Waterkeeper Alliance a global group that supports local environmental groups to protect their waters. In 2010 he was named “Hero of the Planet” by Time magazine for his work with Riverkeeper in the Hudson River.  He has fought against polluting giants and the likes of Monsanto, helping to win a $289 million judgment against them. He joined protestors and the Sioux Nation at Standing Rock to protest the Dakota Access pipeline and continues to be an advocate for clean water and protecting communal lands.

To see videos, pictures, and a transcript from the interview visit: 

conversationmill.substack.com

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To learn more about the Kennedy campaign and his priorities visit:

https://www.kennedy24.com/

Alex and Laura of Sawyer Naturals bring their contagious energy to this conversation. We start talking about the business they have built with their skincare line and pivot into their social media series 'Marriage Mondays'. 

Sawyer Naturals offers all-natural (truly all-natural) products: Face Moisturizer, Beard Oil, Soaps, Face scrubs and their newest and highly sought after Tallow Eye Cream. Having researched the number of chemicals being applied to their skin every time they used a traditional store-bought skin care product they set out to create something for themselves, that grew into providing healthy skin care options for all of us. 

You can shop their online store, where they ship to all 50 states! 

Visit conversationmill.substack.com where you can hear more of our conversation.

sawyernaturals.com

In the wake of the devastation caused by brush fires stoked by the winds of departing storm Dora, that decimated Lāhainā  Town on the island of Maui, Hawaii; I wanted to take this week's podcast episode to share some history of this place that was the first capital of the kingdom of Hawaii. I hope to honor this historic place, celebrate the people who are Lāhainā , and bring attention to what will be a long and difficult recovery. 

But I hope this episode inspires you to go and read and listen to the stories of the people of Maui that have lost generations of family history, that have seen the land of their ancestors (kapuna) destroyed. 

I will be linking to some of these stories on Substack where you can find a transcript of this episode and pictures of the Lāhainā that impacted many of us.

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conversationmill.substack.com

https://www.mauihumanesociety.org/

https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/

CocoNoni is an organic healing product, created by Bonnie Blackmore from the Noni leaf. Bonnie discovered for herself the healing power of Noni and during a time of change started to formulate the best way to offer this healing plant to others. 

In this conversation, Bonnie shares her intention behind the salves and oils she makes and the many ways they heal the skin and more. 

Noni trees were one of the canoe plants that the Polynesians brought with them to Hawaii. Noni was a herbal medicine used in Hawaiian healing. Additionally, it holds a spiritual significance, as Noni leaves were told to be what brought the demigod Maui back to life.  

This week on Substack I share my personal stories of what Bonnie's CocoNoni Salve has healed for me and the many things I now use it for. You can also catch additional content from our conversation. 

Learn more: https://www.cocononi.com/

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Zeb Parsons is the Creator & Operator of Bricolage Dynamics, an innovative company focused on glass recycling solutions. In this episode, he walks us through Bricolage's process and how they are addressing the collection end of recycling and the 'reuse' function by turning the glass into sand.

Recycling is in need of innovation and renewed interest, as Zeb explains in the episode- much of what we think is getting recycled ends up in landfills because of contamination.

Zeb grew up in Pickens, South Carolina, his love for nature and seeing a landfill grow firsthand inspired him to explore out-of-the-box ideas when it comes to recycling. Join us in conversation as we talk recycling education, plastics, sand uses (I don't think about sand often, but it is a much-used commodity), and more.

Are you interested in learning more about the dangers/reality of plastic recycling? Read my companion essay to this episode at Conversationmill.substack.com.

Become a member of Conversation Mill on Substack and receive all companion content weekly right in your inbox.

Visit https://www.bricdynamics.com/ to inquire about sand orders or learn more about Bricolage's impact.

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