In this episode of Ready: Leaders to Know, we’ll meet Willie Pearl Evans. In our conversation, Willie Pearl shares her journey from her childhood in the Robert Taylor housing projects in Chicago, through addiction and recovery, to passing key legislation on the opioid epidemic in Minnesota. She shares how her mother’s commitment to civic engagement through voter registration, voter education, and community organizing taught her the skills and strength to lead. Willie Pearl’s journey is a powerful example of the leadership of lived experience. I hope you’ll enjoy the conversation.

In this episode, Bill talks with Eric Meyer, Falcon Heights City Council Member and Founder and Director of Generation Atomic, a nuclear power advocacy and awareness organization. In this conversation, Eric shares how activism turned into leadership as he realized the potential for nuclear energy to impact climate change and how he went from singing opera about advanced nuclear energy to founding Generation Atomic to organize globally.

In Episode 7 of ‘Ready: Leaders to Know’ Bill talks with Ray Camper. Ray is an advocate for social services, a veteran, a poet, and Educational Leadership PhD candidate. Ray grew up in a large family whose nomadic lifestyle led to a homeschool education. As the eldest of 10 siblings, he carried responsibility from a young age. Ray was deployed to active military duty, serving in Iraq for 16 months and processes his experiences in his book of poetry, Shadowland America. As a trauma survivor, he believes change is possible and that holistic education is key to creating a better world. Don’t miss this compelling journey to leadership.

Lisa Norton stepped into local leadership first on the Lent Township Board and then to serve as Mayor of Eagle Lake, Minnesota. In this conversation with Bill Graves, Lisa shares her journey from growing up on a farm in greater Minnesota to activism and politics. She has relied on mentorship and learned by doing while supporting Mark Koran’s state senate campaign. From Mark, she learned values like transparency and fighting to provide access to resources for all who need them. She’s an advocate for practical, solution-oriented leadership and for leaders who listen and work for all constituents.

Since 2017, Jim Paine has served as mayor of Superior Wisconsin. Before becoming mayor, he was the vice chair of the Douglas County Board. Jim talks about the importance and meaning that comes from his deep connection to Superior. He sees leadership as showing up, whether it be washing the dishes at the church fundraiser or leading Superior’s dragon boat festival.

In Episode 4, Bill talks with Bob Blake, founder of Solar Bear, a solar energy company that advocates for tribal renewable energy. Bob grew up in St. Paul and is a member of the Red Lake Nation. Bob’s family has led in Minnesota’s Native American community since his grandmother, Nelly Spears, founded the St. Paul American Indian Club in 1960. From leadership lessons gained as bodyguard to Minnesota music legend Prince to charting his own path through environmental advocacy, Bob’s journey is totally unique. Don’t miss this one!

In this episode, Bill talks with Lisa Thompson. Lisa was appointed by Governor Walz and serves as the Ombudsperson for childcare providers in Minnesota. She shares her path to leadership, from growing up in a family who knew the importance of workers and learning the power of organizing from her grandmother, a restaurant server who independently organized an emergency fund for servers, to becoming a home childcare provider and following in family footsteps to found and lead a union of her peers.

Lisa reminds us that leading begins with showing up and speaking out whether it’s in the church basement or the capitol rotunda. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or on the link in our bio!

In Episode 2 of ‘Ready: Leaders to Know’ Bill speaks with Kirsten Kennedy. Kirsten served two terms as Mayor of North Branch, MN, was a Democratic nominee for Congress in 2018, and currently leads the Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership as its executive director. 

Kirsten describes how her Father’s experiences as a young child in Nazi occupied Norway as well as his service in the Norwegian military prepared her to take risks for things she believes in. A single mother of five, Kirsten discusses balancing the demands of leadership and parenthood.

In this episode, Bill talks with Jake Spano. Jake is the outgoing mayor of Saint Louis Park and founder of Spano Group Advisors. Bill and Jake discuss Jake’s wide breadth of experience in Minnesota politics, from keeping up with Senator Klobuchar to learning how to take responsibility from Mayor Chris Coleman, to what’s happening right now as he closes out his final mayoral term.

Ready: Leaders to Know is a leadership podcast hosted by Bill Graves, featuring Minnesota, community leaders who lead with courage, care, and conviction. Each episode goes deep on what shaped these leaders — the moments, mentors, and challenges that forged their values. Whether you work in public service, nonprofits, advocacy, or education, you'll find honest conversations about what it really takes to lead today. Follow on Spotify and Instagram

@readyleaderstoknow.