Moral Money Podcast

This is our first-ever Bonus Episode - a true milestone in the infancy of this podcast. Go us!

In episode 5, I was joined by one of my closest friends, Wade Vitalis. Before you listen to this Bonus Episode, I suggest you catch Episode 5. But it's still a free world - it's your choice, of course!

As happens all the time in Minnesota - we kept talking after we wrapped up the content we wanted to cover in Episode 5. Realizing that we were on to something big again, I pulled out my iPhone and hit record. The sound isn't bad - after I cleaned it up in postproduction.

Interestingly, the more we spoke about deep spirituality and Christianity's roots, the more freely we spoke - so there's several four-letter words dropped in this bonus episode. Another milestone - Moral Money Podcast's first language warning!

Episode 5 features an intense discussion with Wade Vitalis - longtime owner of the Drive-In Restaurant in Taylors Falls MN. Wade and I have been friends for 22 years, and through his example I’ve learned a great deal about being a good man, a good husband, a good father and a moral businessman.

We recorded our discussion of root beer, hand-packed burgers - and life after losing a child - at the kitchen table of Wade’s home that he shares with his awesome wife, Carol. Their homestead along the St. Croix River has been in the Vitalis family for several generations - and it’s where they raised their three children Alex, Gwen and Peter.

Wade shares the full experience of deep pain, of a marriage strengthened by the sudden loss of their son Alex at age 20, and about running a seasonal restaurant whose employees are nearly all teenagers, including all three of the Vitalis offspring. Wade also talks about his need to redefine Christianity, including the wilderness church he has started hosting, on his family land along the St. Croix River.

After you listen to this episode, I encourage you to hear what happened when we put away the recording equipment.... In typical Minnesota fashion, we keep talking, and I quickly realized that we were on to something big again. So with my iPhone on the table, I recorded Moral Money's first ever “bonus episode,” posted as Episode 6...

If you’re looking to learn more about the Drive-In Restaurant, one of my favorite episodes of the “Goin’ To The Lake” series with WCCO TV’s Jason DeRusha and Matt Brickman features Wade and the full Drive-In atmosphere. Check it out!

In Episode 4, I join a dear friend, Trista Matascastillo, at her campaign office on busy Rice Street in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Trista's running for County Commissioner in Ramsey County - the second most populous County in the State of Minnesota. Trista's district includes much of St. Paul, the Capitol City. Learn more about Trista's campaign at VoteTrista.org.

Stay tuned for Trista’s answer to my closing question of “What’s in your wallet?” It’s definitely the most interesting answer I’ve heard, yet!

A heads-up: During the second half of the episode, Trista shares her experience as a sexual assault survivor, and we talk at length the moment we are in as a country, about what she hopes for from male allies, and how we think about raising children today.

Trista has frequently spoken about her experience as a women who’s been a soldier, a sailor, and a marine - and about being a survivor of sexual assault. Some of those include:

• “It’s a Woman’s World” - Women Veterans Initiative

• “Story Corps - Trista and Hector Matascastillo” - NPR’s Story Corps

• “Veterans, Pentagon contend with sexual assault in military” - Minnesota Public Radio

In Episode 3, I am joined by two leaders at Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis: Judy Halper, CEO and Dana Rubin, Development Director.

I asked Dana and Judy to appear together because they are partners in donor engagement. They speak in moral terms about giving and about justice.

JFCS operates 30 or so programs JFCS operates for clients in need across Hennepin County - the largest County in the State of Minnesota. Judy and Dana talk about why JFCS serves all people in need, not just the Jewish community. Learn more: JFCS of Minneapolis .

One note about sound quality, this episode is one where I still was getting the hang of the recording equipment. You can hear Judy and Dana very well - thank goodness, since they are absolutely on point throughout the discussion - but you might have a harder time hearing my questions. I've done my best to boost the sound sufficiently, but it's still not great; thanks for bearing with me, and I promise that the sound quality gets better on future episodes.

Find Pastor Paul Baudhuin at https://belgianfriar.com and on Twitter at @BelgianFriar and check out Aldersgate at http://www.aldersgatemn.com/.

Find Rabbi Shawn Zevit at http://rabbizevit.com.