Martens Minute

Nikki Campos joins me to talk about her journey through childhood trauma and the suicide of Victor, the love of her life. She shares how God placed another heavy calling in her path—caring for her grandmother as she lived with Alzheimer’s—and how that season helped her work through both the trauma and the loss as she rebuilt her life.

Rising from the ashes of everything she had lost, Nikki found God. He turned her pain into purpose by revealing her passion for helping people, including children, work through their own trauma. In honor of Victor, she founded Apex Minds Foundation. Their mission is to help children and families navigate mental health challenges, grief, emotional wellness, and life transitions.

To summarize, I’ll let Nikki describe her story in her own words:

“I lost the life I thought I was going to have, but through grief, faith, and purpose, God showed me how to build a life worth living—and now I’m determined to help someone else believe they can do the same.”

Follow Nikki on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/nikkicee__?stkn=bXRjZnd5d2V5dzd4

Email the show:

[email protected]

For my political interviews, or Nate and Chuck's daily dives into libertarian politics, check out the Good Morning Liberty podcast:

https://www.goodmorningliberty.us

Joe Bashta returns to share how he and Susan navigated the financial hurdles of their global quest to give their son a voice. He recounts the extreme difficulties they faced at every turn—and the unexpected opportunities God continually opened for their family.

Even when their prospects dried up, their finances ran dry, and they didn’t know where to turn, God always provided. Support came through friends and family back home, and through the kindness of others here in the States. Time and again, He met their needs.

After a long season of waiting in that financial desert—trusting God’s plans and God’s timing—God brought both financial relief and the gift of direct communication with their son.

One thing remains clear to Joe and Susan: because of their faith and their willingness to wait on God’s timing, His provision and blessing will continue far into the future.

Email the show:

[email protected]

For my political interviews, or Nate and Chuck's daily dives into libertarian politics, check out the Good Morning Liberty podcast:

https://www.goodmorningliberty.us

On this episode of the Martens Minute, Susan and Joe Bashta join me to share the incredible global journey they undertook to help their son find his voice.

Susan and Joe’s son has autism and is nonverbal. Facing the reality of how profoundly limiting a life without communication would be, they began researching every possible way to open up channels for their son to express himself. Unfortunately, none of the methods available in their home country of Australia, were working. The one approach that showed real promise was literally on the other side of the world.

Staring down this daunting challenge, Susan and Joe decided to take action. They packed their bags and set off into the unknown on a global quest to find their son’s voice

Email the show:

[email protected]

For my political interviews, or Nate and Chuck's daily dives into libertarian politics, check out the Good Morning Liberty podcast:

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Tom Olson joins me to share his sobriety journey. Tom, a successful businessman from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, found himself drinking every night to cope with the high pressures of his life. He continued this way for many years until his drinking began to disrupt his cherished family time. It was then, with the help of his family, that he realized functioning isn’t the same as thriving—and that he needed to make a change.

That decision marked the beginning of his road to sobriety and a new path filled with healthy habits and clarity. For the first time, he clearly saw how his drinking had been affecting his family and how he had been placing alcohol above his most important relationships. Once he gained that clarity, he knew he could never go back.

Email the show:

[email protected]

For my political interviews, or Nate and Chuck's daily dives into libertarian politics, check out the Good Morning Liberty podcast:

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Pastor Jerry Bader returns to the show to talk about “Warming in the Heart.”

When Jerry was on the show back in 2024, we discussed how he felt called to help the unhoused in his hometown of Green Bay, Wisconsin. He was planning a new program called “Warming in the Heart,” which would open churches once a week—during hours when local shelters were closed—to provide a warm, safe place for the unhoused to stay.

Now, as they wrap up their second winter season, Jerry returns to give us an update on how the program is going, the impact it’s having on the lives of the unhoused, and how it’s affecting his congregation and the broader Green Bay community.

Contact Jerry at:

[email protected]

Email the show:

[email protected]

For my political interviews, or Nate and Chuck's daily dives into libertarian politics, check out the Good Morning Liberty podcast:

GML | Good Morning Liberty | Libertarian Podcast

Martens Minute is back! Sorry for the long hiatus—I’ve had a very busy six months—but we’re finally returning!

In this episode of Martens Minute, I sit down with Dr. James Harrigan to discuss our first two core principles:

•  Every person has freedom and self-ownership. It is their human birthright.

•  Every person has equal and immeasurable human value.

We explore why these principles are so incredibly important. They form the foundation of a truly moral society, and fully understanding them is critical if we ever want to live in a society that is not controlled and dominated by envy, racism, sexism, tribalism, and tyranny. In other words, if we hope to build a kind, free, loving, and tolerant society that respects all people, it can only be built on these two key principles. That’s why it’s imperative that everyone understands them.

Follow James’s at Polyhymnia and on X:

Polyhymnia – A space for the Beautiful.

https://x.com/jamesrharrigan?s=21&t=S8JoQpY3m4n6bFrTo8tLrg

Check out James on the Words & Numbers podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/words-numbers/id1237781005

https://open.spotify.com/show/5MUcXpKrH4QzFisyy8Ucll?si=owCMeXoQTKSFQjfKSXP0Lw

Email the show:

[email protected]

For my political interviews, or Nate and Chuck's daily dives into libertarian politics, check out the Good Morning Liberty podcast:

GML | Good Morning Liberty | Libertarian Podcast

Nate Thurston, co-host of the Good Morning Liberty podcast and former guitarist for the band Darling Parade, joins me to share his powerful journey through alcoholism and recovery. He opens up about his struggles with alcohol and addiction as a touring musician, and how his alcoholism spiraled out of control as his music career came to an end, nearly costing him his life. With the support of his wife, Nate confronted his addiction, quit drinking, and rebuilt his life. Now seven years sober, he enjoys a happy marriage, hosts a successful podcast, and is a respected figure in the liberty community. His advice to those struggling with addiction: You don’t have to commit to quitting forever today—that can feel overwhelming. Instead, choose each morning to stay sober for that day. Find meaning in your life, channel it into a passion, and pursue it with purpose.

Check out Nate’s podcast Good Morning Liberty:

GML | Good Morning Liberty | Libertarian Podcast

Follow Nate on X:

https://x.com/goodamliberty?s=21&t=S8JoQpY3m4n6bFrTo8tLrg

Keisha Wheeler returns to share, with me, the incredible man her husband was and the foundation she created in his name.  He was an incredible servant of God and a servant leader of his community.  He spent his life giving to others and putting them first in every situation.  After his tragic passing, God opened Keisha's eyes to a need for grief counseling in her area.  So, she created the Patrick Wesley Wheeler Foundation in her late husband's name.  The foundation provides grief counseling to children and adults struggling with the loss of a loved one.  Even through unimaginable life struggles, God is using Keisha to impact the lives of her children, her community and everyone who is blessed to know her.

Check out Keisha's story and the Patrick Wesley Wheeler Foundation:

https://servingwithseven.com/

Get Patrick's book Good Morning Men of God on Amazon:

https://a.co/d/hfE5nda

Email the show:

[email protected]

For my political interviews, or Nate and Chuck's daily dives into libertarian politics, check out the Good Morning Liberty podcast:

GML | Good Morning Liberty | Libertarian Podcast

Keisha Wheeler joined me to discuss her homeschooling journey with her seven children.  Even through some of the most difficult valleys in life, she has navigated through with God as her guide and her community at her side.  She prepares her children for life by using every situation as a potential life lesson.  She also took her homeschooling knowledge and used it to create Life School Counseling to help families utilize all the resources that they have to create an outstanding educational plan for their children.  Her story is one of selfless giving and unwavering faith through the greatest struggles of life. 

Check out Keisha's story:

Serving With Seven

Check out Life School Counseling on Facebook and Instagram:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BNzTscVMH/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.instagram.com/servingwith7?igsh=MWY1NTgyZTAyNTEwOA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Email the Show:

[email protected]

For my political interviews, or Nate and Chuck's daily dives into libertarian politics, check out the Good Morning Liberty podcast:

GML | Good Morning Liberty | Libertarian Podcast

Liza Howard, from Band of Runners, joined me to discuss her organization and how it is helping veteran and gold star families.  Band of Runners brings veterans and gold star families to trail camp and teaches them all about trail running.  They introduce them to the trail running community, all the therapeutic properties that running through nature can provide, and the fundamentals of the sport so they can safely explore this wonderful sport in their community.

Check out the Band of Runners:

https://www.bandofrunners.org/

You can donate to Band of Runners through the Kwik Trip 50K. All proceeds go directly to Band of Runners:

https://donorbox.org/2025-kwik-trip-50k-fun-run

Email the Show:

[email protected]

For my political interviews, or Nate and Chuck's daily dives into libertarian politics, check out the Good Morning Liberty podcast:

GML | Good Morning Liberty | Libertarian Podcast