Isn't It Lovely? Podcast

Make way for BIG Tracy and Rachel energy in this episode as they are completely honored and wildly enthused to be joined by Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum. Chief Thum brings his signature character and integrity to the conversation as he discusses a worldview and a law enforcement approach that is both empathetic and respectful and one that seeks to restore dignity of all parties involved. Along the way he emphasizes the importance of bridge-building among the city’s many communities, agencies, and leaders and commends Sioux Falls as being a leader in such collaboration. Tracy and Rachel learn that the road to becoming chief of police does not, in fact, involve the use of campaign yard signs, while Chief Thum reminds Rachel of their shared past in middle school youth ministry. While promoting Novem-burn, the city’s fundraiser and awareness campaign for Operation Hope, Chief Thum acknowledges the timeless fashion influence of Beverly Hills 90210 on his own personal look and reveals the fateful day his signature sideburns were bested by his grandmother and a pair of clippers. He also explains how a past stint as the University of Sioux Falls Choir Chaplain led to a devotional about which light to follow, an anecdote that points back to his own decision to change course from an early career in business to pursue a calling to a life of service. Lastly, Chief Thum and Tracy feel kinship over their shared love of Mexican food and Rachel and Tracy unabashedly and, of course, enthusiastically invite Chief Thum back to a be a regular guest.

Episode Mentions:

Novem-burn for Hope Fundraiser: https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2021/11/04/sioux-falls-police-chief-sideburns-fundraiser-novemburn-operation-hope-movember/6272739001/

Operation Hope: https://www.sfacf.org/news/operation-hope-fund-to-help-improve-continuum-of-care

The Link: https://www.linksf.org/

Sioux Falls Police Department: https://www.siouxfalls.org/police

Beverly Hills 90210 Sideburns: https://www.today.com/style/luke-perry-s-sideburns-are-part-what-made-him-star-t149807

Giliberto’s Mexican Taco Shop: https://gilibertos.com

Abelardo’s Mexican Fresh: http://www.abelardosmexicanfood.com

Azteca Family Restaurant: http://www.azteca-sd.com

Jacky’s Restaurant: http://www.jackysrestaurants.com

Inca Authentic Mexican Restaurant: http://www.incamexicanrestaurantsf.com

Morrie’s Steakhouse: https://www.morriessteakhouse.com

Chick-fil-A Sioux Falls: https://www.chick-fil-a.com/locations/sd/empire-place-sd

Tracy and Rachel are honored to sit down with Emmy Award-winning journalist and devoted mother Angela Kennecke for a deeply moving conversation about her beautiful daughter Emily and the extraordinary light she brought to the world. A radiant light with the tender heart and sensitive spirit of an artist, Emily embraced and celebrated each day, until her life was tragically cut short by fentanyl poisoning. Motivated by her unending love for her daughter, Angela founded the Emily’s Hope Foundation, whose mission is to remove the stigma of substance use disorder through awareness, education, and prevention; and removing financial barriers for treatment and recovery. In addition to pledging $100,000 for adolescent treatment scholarships and $250,000 for adult treatment scholarships at the Sioux Falls-based Avera Addiction Care Center (with 150 people having received those scholarships to date), Emily’s Hope is also pioneering an education initiative for a K-12 prevention curriculum that focuses on the whole child and includes lesson plans, literature, and an animated series. With grace and empathy, Angela discusses the choice to remain open-hearted after unimaginable loss, her passion to replace judgment with compassion, how her gift of storytelling is both therapeutic personally, while also enabling others to fully realize human connections, and how consistently love has shown up in her life as her community surrounded her to carry on Emily’s legacy.

Episode Mentions:

Emily’s Hope Foundation Website: https://www.emilyshope.foundation/

Emily’s Hope Foundation Instagram: @emilyshope_

Emily’s Hope Foundation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilyshopefoundation

Grieving Out Loud Podcast: https://www.emilyshope.foundation/grieving-out-loud

Angela’s Blog: https://www.emilyshope.foundation/angelas-blog

Emily’s Hope Art Show and Auction: https://www.emilyshope.foundation/new-events

Avera Addiction Care Center: https://www.avera.org/locations/profile/avera-addiction-care-center-sioux-falls/

KELO’s Gene Coyle Purple Heart News Story: https://www.keloland.com/news/gene-coyle-to-receive-purple-heart/

Rachel and Tracy catapult into Season 4 by welcoming Kerri Tietgen, CEO of EmBe (formerly Sioux Falls’ YWCA), to the podcast for a powerful conversation encompassing everything from being a “student of stories and people” to transforming a community. Kerri discusses growing up in a family that modeled identifying community needs and creating impactful solutions, and also shares the inspiration she derives simply by listening to and valuing people’s stories. Kerri and Tracy discuss growing up as Asian American women and what representation in media means to them and the unifying nature for everyone of being “an only”. Kerri passionately reveals EmBe’s newly revised and refocused vision and values, while inviting listeners to be agents of change in their communities. Tracy uses the term “beautiful” approximately 1,300 times. Rachel reflects on the 100-year history of EmBe and suggests closing out the episode with a Spice Girls song.

Episode Mentions:

EmBe’s Instagram: @embesf

EmBe’s Website: https://www.embe.org/

The Joy Luck Club

Crazy Rich Asians

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

Maid Netflix Miniseries

Jessica Shakir Website: https://www.thebeautifulmindacademy.com/

Jessica Shakir Instagram: @jessicashakirbeauty

Fallen Angel: The Victoria’s Secret Story Podcast

It’s three cheers for the red, white, and blue as Tracy and Rachel welcome favorite Patriot (and future President!) Luke Lindberg to the podcast for a conversation about public service, mentorship, and faith.

Christened by one of his own mentors as “driven, but not competitive”, Luke discusses the importance of partnering with and investing in others to achieve maximum positive impact and shares how having his own mission statement has guided him through countless personal and professional opportunities, including experiences traveling the world with the Export-Import Bank of the United States and serving in his current position as the Head of Global Strategy for Sanford Health. Tracy and Rachel consider a world in which Luke’s mascot could be an Eagle named Freedom, while all three enjoy a more serious deep dive in the What We’re Loving This Week portion of the podcast.

Episode Mentions:

Luke Lindberg’s Instagram: @lukejlindberg

The Abraham Accords https://www.state.gov/the-abraham-accords/

Necessary Endings by Henry Cloud

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

This Land Podcast Season 2

Grab a coffee or a glass of wine, your current Kindle read or favorite paperback, and pull up a chair - it’s time for Season 3’s BONUS episode: a book club party of four as Tracy and Rachel welcome real life book group soulmates and resident bibliophiles Ashley Holen and Alli Veldhouse to discuss their shared passion for all things literary, covering everything from reading as self-care (and how to carve out the time!) to books being used as catalysts for deeper connection, conversation, and education.

“We just commit to actually doing it and somehow a lot of these things have come to life.”

Two local masters of creativity, business owners, and fellow podcasters, Vaney Hariri and Alana Snyder join Rachel and Tracy for this uproarious episode that hits as somewhat of a whimsical love letter to South Dakota. Friends and co-hosts of the 605 Show, Alana and Vaney muse over how and when they became creative colleagues and how it happened so naturally, they might not even remember the actual story. Vaney discusses the idea that when you’re your best you, everyone benefits and Alana details her many travels across South Dakota in her car. Alana and Vaney describe a few of their many creative capers together and admonish all of us that we have an important role to play in our thriving community. Rachel wishes we could join podcast forces, dress in disguise and do an exposé on the Sioux City, Iowa road construction, Alana tells of her small brush with the law in relation to the Crazy Horse Monument, while all four agree it is no wonder everyone mispronounces the capital city of Pierre. And in true Isn’t it Lovely? podcast form, Rachel does not have a mic stand (Tracy misplaced it) so holds her mic freestyle à la Freddie Mercury the entirety of the episode.

Episode Mentions:

605 Summer Classic: https://605magazine.com/605-summer-classic/

The 605 Show: https://605magazine.com/the-605-show/

605’s We Are the World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3Gc6vpfxE0

Sioux City Ongoing Highway Construction: https://www.news.iowadot.gov/newsandinfo/district_3northwest/

Crazy Horse: https://crazyhorsememorial.org/

Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary: https://www.wildmustangs.com/

605 Magazine: https://605magazine.com/

605 Creative Co: https://605creativeco.com/

605 Cabin: https://www.blackhillsadventurelodging.com/vacation-rentals/605-cabin#.YT7CC9NKjOQ

Instagram: @itsyaboyv @think3dsolutions @605magazine @605creativeco

“I believe that life is full of hard stuff and you can either shy away from it…or you can lean into it.”

A few months ago, the Isn’t it Lovely? podcast put forth a call on Instagram asking for suggestions for future guests. Many wonderful nominations were submitted, but requests to hear from Sioux Falls-based award-winning teacher, mother, and friend Alison (Ali) Ter Horst won by a landslide. Coincidentally, years ago when Rachel and Tracy were dreaming up the Isn’t it Lovely? podcast, Ali also topped their wishlist of guests. Thus, Rachel and Tracy are humbled and honored to welcome Ali to their very first audience request episode for a conversation about the unexpected milestones in her life that include grief, loss, joy, surprise, and no small amount of wonder. Ali shares her story with an abundance of grace and hopeful wisdom that literally leaves Tracy and Rachel speechless before christening Ali a prophetess by the end of the episode.

Episode Mentions:

Ali Ter Horst’s Blog -http://ohmydearone.blogspot.com/

Ali Ter Horst’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliterhorst/

Milken Educator Awards - https://www.milkeneducatorawards.org/

Local news story on Ali winning Milken Educator Award: https://www.keloland.com/news/education/washingtons-alison-ter-horst-earns-25000-milken-educator-award/

“I realize that the more people that you can befriend that are going in the same direction as you … you move faster together.”

Respected and adored Sioux Falls-based photographer, business owner, and photography mentor/coach Ashley Buckley captivates Rachel and Tracy in this energetic episode with her inclusive and inspiring business (and life!) model. As an entrepreneur, wife, mother of four, and creative, Ashley talks about what “lights her up” and how she has learned that there is enough space for everyone to have success. Rachel asks Ashley how her past life as a celebrated college volleyball player and coach informs her “community over competition” mindset, while Tracy and Ashley discuss how it is possible to have many passions and gifts, and love our kids well all at the same time. And, of course, it wouldn’t be an episode of Isn’t it Lovely? without multiples references to the Enneagram.

Episode Mentions:

Ashley Buckley’s Instagram: @ashleybuckleyphotography

Ashley Buckley’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshleyBuckleyPhotography/

Ashley Buckley’s Website: http://ashleybuckley.com/

RHYS + CO. Creative Studio and Small Event Space Instagram: @rhyscompany.com

RHYS + CO. Creative Studio and Small Event Space Website: rhyscompany.as.me

Vacation Rental: Cedar Ridge Hideaway, Yankton, SD

The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile

Rupi Kaur: https://rupikaur.com/

Rupi Kaur Poem: women have been starved of space for so long/when one of us finally makes it into the arena/we get scared that another woman/will take our spot/but space doesn’t work like that/look at all the men in the arena getting stronger/as their numbers multiply/more women in the arena means/more room for all of us to rise

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV Version): Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Open Space Event Hall Website: https://www.openspaceforrent.com/

Open Space Event Hall Instagram: @openspacesiouxfalls

Following a years-long love affair with Look’s Marketplace, an iconic Sioux Falls institution, Rachel and Tracy are elated to welcome co-owner Nick Heineman to the podcast to discuss the history, values, and other behind the scenes tidbits of this beloved market. Nick shares how, together with his fellow owner (and cousin!) Beau Vondra, they assembled a talented team and expanded the business from 4,000 to 17,000 square feet to include a butchery, specialty grocery store, deli, restaurant, bakery, brewery, and creamery…a mere four months before a worldwide pandemic turned everything upside down. Nick talks about the resiliency and strength of his staff and the loyalty of customers, while Tracy celebrates Look’s Marketplace’s featured spot on The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Rachel confesses to almost crashing someone’s job interview to tell them how much they will love working at Look’s, before realizing that, despite her frequent visits, she is not, in fact, a Look’s employee.

Episode Mentions:

Look’s Marketplace Website: https://www.looksmarket.com/

Look’s Marketplace Instagram: @looksmarketsf

Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives episode "Savory Meat and Little Sweet" https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/episodes/savory-meat-and-a-little-sweet

Quote: “Help like you want to be helped.” - Basketball Announcing Team Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy

Marriott Bonvoy App

Open Space Event Hall Website: https://www.openspaceforrent.com/

Open Space Event Hall Instagram: @openspacesiouxfalls

Tracy and Rachel are thrilled to kick off Season 3 of the podcast by welcoming Kaylee Koch to the studio for a candid conversation about the life-changing power of a faith journey. Kaylee shares how a more personal relationship with God transformed the way she sees herself, her relationships, and her life. Through her story she encourages listeners that they can love themselves because they were created by a God who loves them and wants them to embrace and experience that love. The three women rhapsodize over Bible teacher and author Jennie Allen, as Rachel once again finds herself recording in a chair that slowly lowers itself to the ground of its own accord.

Episode Mentions:

Kaylee Koch’s Instagram: @kayleemaykoch

Theolaby Book Series

Talking with God: What to Say When You Don’t Know How to Pray by Adam Weber

Jennie Allen Instagram: @jenniesallen

Jennie Allen’s Made For This Podcast

So Long, Insecurity: You’ve Been a Bad Friend to Us by Beth Moore

Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer

Open Space Event Hall Website: https://www.openspaceforrent.com/

Open Space Event Hall Instagram: @openspacesiouxfalls