Tom Sloan was in the Kansas House for 24 years and was chief of staff to the Senate President at one point as well.

Sloan describes growing up on a dairy farm in Central New York and how that ended up shaping his life to get into public service after graduating from Syracuse and Michigan State with a political science degree.

Tom describes that although being a Kansas legislator was a part-time job, he cared so much about the issues for the people of Kansas that he made it a full-time job while his wife supported them.

Sloan shares that some of the legislators were retired, and some of them were just glad to be there; some of them were yes-men and did as they were told by their parties and didn't research issues or talk to Kansans.

He shares the issues he cared about the most and how long laws and bills can take to pass, if they do.

Sloan also shares that he was able to meet people from all over Kansas and traveled a lot as well to different states and Canada to bring things back that could improve Kansas.

Executive Produced By: Open Floor Media &  ⁨@SaulOrtizShow⁩ 

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Chris Miller grew up in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, as the youngest of 4 kids. He grew up in a stable home, helping his father paint houses in his free time.

Chris remembers his father always nagging about not getting paid enough, although he set his own prices for his painting business. Growing up, Chris knew he didn't want to end up like that, and through classmates and professors found that he could study communication and make it work for his own benefit.

Miller went to study kinesiology because of his fandom for Derrick Rose and for getting injured athletes back to their potential, but found that he enjoyed communicating and everything behind it. He graduated from Central Oklahoma University and went to get his master's at Wake Forest after a professor pushed him to because he saw the potential in him.

It was the first time that Chris was far from his home and family, and there he learned how communicating better can lead to great outcomes and a bigger wallet. Chris goes on to talk about setbacks, feeling lonely in jobs he didn't enjoy, and finally starting something of his own and finding success, but feeling that loss of community again.

He shares the frameworks he uses in communication, such as S.A.M., T.L.C and L.E.A.D, to help create trust and help him prepare himself and others for big pitches, secure funding, and provide executive communication coaching.

If you've ever felt like you need to communicate better and are just starting out in your career, this episode is for you.

Check out Chris Miller's channel on YouTube:  @talktochrismiller 

Executive Produced by: Open Floor Media & Saul Ortiz.

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Diana Carlin has spent more than 40 years researching and educating about First Ladies and their role in U.S. history.

Diana has found that they have played a crucial part in making history, whether by influencing laws that ultimately ended up passing, encouraging the president's campaign, or even going on to pass legislation on their own merit.

Carlin also discovers through primary research that many of the First Ladies knew their role was to be a hostess, but many wanted to leave their own stamp on history because of their position to influence and create positive change.

Carlin also talks about having tea with both Hillary Clinton and Lady "Bird" Johnson and talking about the impact First Ladies have had in history, as well as having a foreword and interview from Jill Biden in 2024.

Check out Diana Carlin's book, "Remember the First Ladies" belowhttps://www.amazon.com/Remember-First-Ladies-Legacies-History-Making/dp/B0CMZM1KHF

Episode Executive Produced By: Open Floor Media & Saul Ortiz

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Oz Dayo grew up in an entrepreneurial family in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where building something of your own wasn't a dream; it was the family language.

At 15, Oz moved across the globe to a small town in Kansas called Newton, trading everything familiar for a place he'd never seen. The American way of life hit him like cold air: the culture shock was total, and he had to learn an entire country from scratch.

But one thing carried over from home: growing up, Dayo already knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur too. After graduating from the University of Kansas in 1996, Dayo ran into a wall. The job offers didn't come.

What did come was clarity: business and economics were the work he wanted his life to be about. So he took the road in front of him. Dayo joined the U.S. Army and was assigned to an artillery unit, serving tours in Iraq, Kuwait, and other countries across the Middle East throughout the war on terror after 9/11.

Eventually, he made it to the position he'd wanted all along: U.S. Army finance officer, where he managed more than a $2 billion budget for the Army.

After 23 years of service, Dayo retired and finally built the thing the 15-year-old in Newton had promised himself: his own business, NSE Financial.

Today, Dayo has a passion for educating people — especially the younger generation — on financial education, saving, and investing their hard-earned money before spending it on wants.

Follow Oz Work on Instagram: nsefinancialgroupnsefinancialgroup.com Financial Strategist

Executive produced by Openfloormedia & Saul Ortiz.

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Marvin Brady Hoff had to grow up quickly after he lost his father as a freshman in college while en route to visiting him.

Hoff shares that all he knew growing up was working hard and pushing forward to help provide for himself and his family.

Hoff talks about signing up for the Army reserves before having his name called in the Vietnam War number draws.

As well as going through basic training and came back to get his degree as a pharmacist and open his own business.

Executive Produced by: Open Floor Media & Saul Ortiz

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Barbara Crider was a young girl when the German "Blitz" took over London in the 1940s.

Barbara remembers having to take gas masks to school and going into the bomb shelters when the Luftwaffe was heard in the skies.

Crider details the buildings and the roads in London being damaged heavily during this time, and having unexploded bombs land in her backyard.

Barbara also shares moving to America to seek better opportunities, and having to adjust to how people live and the culture here in the U.S.

Executive produced by: Open Floor Media & Saul Ortiz

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Louise describes what farm life was like back in the 40's and how her secondary education was cut short because of an incident that altered her life drastically.

Louise describes going through multiple jobs and partners until she met her long-time husband, and her life became much more stable and rewarding.

She shares the ups and downs throughout her 89 years and the need to continue pushing forward and fighting for what one believes in.

Louise's story is one of resilience and continued perseverance, no matter the setbacks shes faced in life.

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Kevin Barnes is the last person to see a crime scene before making it feel and look brand new. Kevin talks about the crimes he has seen over the 17 years he's been in the cleaning business. From homicides, suicides, and unattended deaths, Barnes has seen it all.Barnes describes the mental toll that this job can take on police officers and firefighters he has worked alongside, and some who have taken their lives after seeing these accidents monthly.TikTok: saulortiz_5Instagram:saulortiz5Spotify: TheSaulOrtizShow

Jerry Smith is a retired Kansas State Trooper who spent more than 30 years in law enforcement. From working in construction to joining the Army and being stationed in Germany, Smith has done it all.

Smith talks about his early upbringing working on his grandparents' farm, and how those early days helped shape the man he has become.

Smith, at 86 years old, still keeps himself busy with friends and fishing. Smith enjoys traveling and continuing to learn more about the world around him.

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John Musgrave was 18 years old when he was sent off to Vietnam in a war that would change his whole life mentally and physically. Musgrave shares his experience in the "bush" and the many near-death encounters he experienced while only being there for 11 months.Musgrave recounts the Marine brothers he lost and the hard choices he had to make to make it out alive against both the VietCong and the North Vietnamese Army. John Musgrave shares his story in his published book:The Education of Corporal John Musgrave.Notes to The Man Who Shot Me: Vietnam War Poems.Social media Channels:Instagram - saulortiz5_TikTok - saulortiz_5