CrackerJacks

Angie is driven. She has earned a doctorate, supports her surgeon husband, and raises two great kids. She also is on the city council. Although her neuroscience is on the back burner - we as a community continuously benefit from her passion and optimism to bring this little community together. From either through bocce ball or board games, Angie works hard to first listen to the citizens and then make the best decisions to ensure we maintain the integrity of this little bubble. Angie spends about 30 minutes with me and you’ll soon see how it takes people like Angie to keep the village strong!

These next guests have spent their adult lives building and challenging each other to reach top degree black belt levels in various martial arts including Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Scott and Jason discuss what it takes to achieve these levels but also how their unique teaching styles in their respected schools have helped men and women in this community become more confident and skilled. They live on the edge of their abilities and outside comfort zones to stay life long learners but quick to teach each other and others who are willing to walk the road to mastery.

My favorite neighbor has agreed to be the second CrackerJacks guest. You might recognize him as the vagabond outside the local grocery store chatting on his phone. While he definitely looks like “that guy” he is probably giving hope to the hopeless or encouraging or listening to a soul who is struggling with life-shattering addiction. He has dedicated almost the last decade of his life to good people and their families who want to recover from addiction.

Kirk spends about 20 minutes with me explaining the importance of fellowship and vulnerability as the keys of active personal recovery. Recorded on July 4th, Independence Day, this is Kirk.

Episode 1 - John Jouriles, WWII Combat Veteran, Blackhawk Division

What an honor! We recorded this episode on June 6, 2019, the 75th anniversary of D-Day. This day in 1944 represented the arrival of hope for western Europe and the world on the shore of Normandy, France.

U.S. Army Private 1st class John Jouriles headed to France as a teenager shortly after Operation Overlord to continue the fight. John shares his experience about growing up in 1930s during the Great Depression, hearing about the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, fighting in Europe in 1945, and settling back in Ohio.

The 20th century and WWII marked a pivot point in today’s world and a member of the greatest generation sat 5 feet away from me for about 90 minutes.

I hope you enjoy listening to his story.