RockneCAST

Incredibly grateful that Lynn Begay took time to join me for an interview about his inspiring life story.   In the late 1980s, Lynn and his family met a dynamic teacher named Ozzie Winger while Ozzie was coaching on a Navajo reservation in northwest New Mexico. Ozzie was an inspiring coach, cheerleader, learner and mentor to so many Navajo Youth.  As he reached retirement age, Ozzie invited Lynn and his siblings to spend some summers in his and my hometown of Decorah, IA.  Lynn accepted that invitation and so began the incredible story of growing up Navajo in Decorah, Iowa.  Lynn was a star athlete, friend, and inspired so many with his positive example.  Ozzie died in 2007.  We celebrate Ozzie's life and the impact that he made upon Lynn and his family.  Ozzie was a fierce defender of not only Lynn, but also Navajo culture and peoples.  

We discussed Navajo language, culture, code talkers, and what it was like to grow up as a proud member of the Navajo Nation in Decorah, Iowa.

We also discussed book and movie recommendations for people interested in Native culture. You can find the links at rocknecole.com.

If you're ever in Crete, Nebraska, check out Lynn's sport bar, Elle's on Main, one of the top sport's bars in Eastern Nebraska.  

Lynn is a good vibe person.   You will love this interview!

In this episode, I interview my brother in law Cory Grimm about his year of transformation in Haiti.  We discuss the sun, the sounds, water, Haitian recipes, books, and music from this inspiring culture.  

Finally, we feature a new release from Cory Grimm!

Check out books and music at rocknecole.com.

In this episode, I interview my friends Stacy and Kevin Billingslea about their transition from Missoula, Montana to international education in Guadalajara, Mexico, Bangladesh, and most recently Singapore.  They explore their decision making process in deciding to make the leap from Missoula, their challenges once they made the leap and their reflections on living abroad for almost 8 years.  They also describe a trip that made with Bedouins on the Arabian Peninsula.  We even discussed the great stoics Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus.  Finally, we discussed the power of the liberal arts in shaping their professional lives.  

This one was a lot of fun to do!!

I had a ton of fun on this episode.  I interviewed award winning playwright Levy Lee Simon.  Currently, an actor and playwright in Los Angeles, California, Simon received his MFA from the University of Iowa Theater Program in the late 90's.  During that time, he finished a play on the great Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture, who led the only successful slave revolt in the Western Hemisphere.  We also discuss how he became interested in Toussaint Louverture and the other Big Three of the Haitian Revolution, Jean Dessalines and Henry Christophe.

I also was intrigued by Defile (Marie Sainte Dédé Bazile), one of the key women warriors of the Haitian Revolution.  Her story will make you wanting to learn more.  

I am absolutely fascinated Haiti and this interview made me even more interested in traveling to Haiti someday.  I learned so much about Haiti, Louverture, and why this revolution resonates so strongly even 230 years later.  

In this episode, I interview Jason Zabokrtsky, a friend of mine as well as a fellow Luther College and University of Iowa College of Law graduate.   

In 2004, Jason was living a fairly conventional life as a lawyer in a small boutique law firm in Cedar Rapids, IA, but his heart wasn't in it.   The Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota beckoned.  Jason listened to his heart and headed North, giving up the practice and finding his true calling in the North Woods.  He now owns and operates, Ely Outfitting Company, a very successful outfitting business in Ely, MN.  

We cover life, liberals arts, books, dog sledding, finding a calling, and most importantly, his transition from Cedar Rapids lawyer to North Woods entrepreneur. 

Jason, you are an inspiration!!

In this cast, I discuss a touching moment of support between William T. Sherman and Ulysses Grant that ultimately saved the Union.  It occurred in May of 1862 after the First Battle of Corinth in Northern Mississippi.   I am fascinated by both men, not because of their success or greatness, but because of their intense flaws that they both overcame to save the Union.  I'll take you behind the scenes to a moment of vulnerability for Grant that nearly cost the United States the War.   Sherman's friendship restored Grant's confidence and ultimately, helped win the Civil War.  

For an awesome biography on Grant, read Grant by Jean Edward Smith.  

Here, I talk about a seemingly boring topic, converting a one way street to a two way street.  The Iowa City staff recently pulled a capital improvement project converting Jefferson and Market Streets without consulting Council, a very troubling decision that I am hopeful that Council will reverse.  Ultimately, decision must be made by Council and not staff.   One way streets are a relic of 1960's carbon soaked, automobile centric planning.

I will talk about the importance of two ways to produce safe streets, promote low carbon modes of transportations, and also, most importantly to reduce unnecessary law enforcement contacts, a key commitment that the City made last summer to the Iowa City Freedom Riders.  

This podcast is focused on Iowa City, but people outside of Iowa City may find it useful to see how a city can reduce the need for law enforcement for traffic enforcement through modern street design and principles.  I am very hopeful that Council will align itself with 21st century design principles rather than 60's era carbon soaked design standards.

One of saddest moments of American History is the Hayes-Tilden Compromise of 1877.  In that Compromise, Southern Democrats agreed to accept Rutherford Hayes as President in exchange for Republicans agreeing to withdraw troops from the South.  US Grant historian, Jean Edward Smith described the Compromise this way: "The rights of African Americans were sacrificed at the altar of national reconciliation."  We are still reaping the bitter fruit from that backroom deal.  In this Episode, I explore the events leading up to that Compromise, why it happened, and why we still feel its effects even today.  I also discuss some possible solutions to finally address the failures of Reconstruction: reparations and reconciliation.   

My thoughts on using Stoicism to get through these turbulent times.  

In this episode, I am discussing two great habit books Atomic Habits by James Clear, and The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg.    

Resolutions are hard to  keep.  Clear is probably the best habit author that I have read in terms of actually implementing powerful life changing behaviors.  He actually shows you how.  Duhigg shows us why habits are so important and introduced the world to keystone habits, those habits that affect so many different domains.  I am combining the two and calling them Micro-Keystone Habits.  

We will also discuss Chris Rock's habits for prepping for comedy tours as well as discussing one Anti-Keystone habit in my life.

These are powerful life changing books that you all should be reading.  I provide links to both at: https://rocknecole.com/2021/01/03/in-2021-consider-micro-keystone-habits-instead-of-resolutions.