Any Hello

From my voicemail: "Hey Jim, this is Paul Russell. I want to introduce you to Andrew White in Houston, Texas. ... Here's a guy who's a husband a father of three. He's a successful entrepreneur an investor. He jumped into the mix and took had his own boat to help rescue people from the flood waters of Hurricane Harvey and then he ran for governor. Do you think you could give him a call and ask him a few questions."

Taylor Dungjen is a rookie police officer in Toledo, Ohio. She'd been working as a newspaper writer on the crime beat -- then, wanting to put down roots in a community she loved and deeply desired to help, she moved with her son into the city and joined the city's police force.

Roshawn Jones is co-owner of Soul City Boxing in Toledo, Ohio. It's an inner city program that helps kids get off the streets—and our conversation is part of the Interstate 75 Series with folks from Michigan down to Florida.

The DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville, Illinois believes children learn best through play. I find out why the approach is so important to the organization during a tour of the facility with four of the museum's executives: Elaine Drikakis, Thomas Sullivan, Kimberly Stull, and Alix Tonsgard.

Robert Stanzler created the now-famous logo "Made in Detroit." It was an effort to take back the city from some of its negative—and, he says, unfair—stereotypes about crime, poverty, and economic stagnation.

Amy Worthing sits on Flint, Michigan's City Council. Despite the ups and downs of public service, she's still committed to fighting for her residents—and juggling her two children.

Matt Bouvy helps run the Abele Greenhouse and Garden Center in Saginaw, Michigan. He comes from a long line of farmers—and raised his kids between the aisles of geraniums and hydrangeas.

Craig Wilson lives in Mackinaw City, Michigan where he is curator for several state historic parks. Mackinaw City is close to the northern terminus of Interstate 75. We'll be talking to strangers down that highway over the next few weeks.

Vera Stewart has greeted shoppers at the Southside Mall in Oneanta, New York for more than 20 years. She'll be retiring (as Mrs. Claus ringing a red bell) after this holiday season.

Trucker Dusty Carty has travelled millions of miles with a clean safety record—and has been recognized for pulling over near an overturned car to help rescue passengers.

Frank Moe is a veteran musher whose love for sled dogging—and the dogs—has him competing against mushers sometimes half his age.

Charles Deveaux works the afternoon shift in a northern Virginia roadside tree stand during the holidays. As he works to make ends meet, he says he wants to be "the greatest artist of my generation."

James Turnes is a volunteer who leads evacuee care at an RV campground near Corning, California. He says the community has rallied around those who have lost everything.

Khristi Adams has followed a student ministry career to a chaplaincy at a boarding school in Pennsylvania. The pace is frenetic—and, she says, it's an opportunity to focus on learning something every day.

Kim Ostermyer can trace his family tree back to the Mayflower. He says it's a long lineage full of people with stories that never make the history books.

Phyllis Fleming grew up around the Woodstock, VA Volunteer Fire Department—and eventually decided to join the force herself. At 67, she's still responding to emergencies and says about her many, many hours on the job: "I wouldn't have missed it for the world."

Ross Armstrong oversees up an "agritainment" fun zone on weekends at a 600-acre farm in Markham, Virginia. The full-time assistant high school principal compares his joy at seeing former students graduate ... with families enjoying a farm for the first time.

John Tierney taught for decades in an Elko, Nevada middle school and won Teacher of the Year in 2016. As Democrats and Republicans cris-cross his state—and nation—John talks about the roots of how he taught the craft of useful discourse to children.

At 91, Maria Abbott reflects on the people she's influenced ... and wishes for "good surprises" in her 92nd year.

Marty Fleming was visiting Washington, DC with friends and family when I introduced myself. Turns out, he won a Bronze Star in Vietnam and spent 36 years in the press room at the Charlotte Observer.

Bonnie Hill married a cowboy in rural Maryland, raised a family, and stumbled into a passion for theater when she took a chance and went back to school. Four decades later, she's holding auditions for a new production for the umpteenth time.

Alderwoman Jameesha Harris says New Bern, North Carolina has been devastated by Hurricane Florence—and united like never before.

Jeff Holzhausen has been a season ticket holder at the University of Michigan's "Big House" since 1991. We checked in with him at halftime against SMU.

Paul Sharpe spends part of his year on a tiny island in southeastern Alaska—with whales and sea lions and eagles as neighbors.

A man escapes civil war in west Africa—and, while in the U.S.—spends his time giving of himself and the fruits of his labor to most anyone who needs it.

Bryan Parsons offered my family a ride when we were lost during a hike in Tennessee—then became the next podcast guest to share his story.

A mystery that besets a zoo's black rhino stretches Mike Adkeson's skills as lead vet—a career that began as a boy volunteer at his local zoo.

Brad Newton talks to us from the Texas-Mexico border as the sun goes down—from one of the darkest places on earth to see the stars.

Betty Darst plays the part of important but often obscure figures in history—often for an audience of one.

Shella Condino has an unquenchable desire to soar among the stars—and an uncanny ability to convince others to bring others along for the ride.