Grace in 30

A few months back, an Arlington county student told his teacher that his family had been evicted from their home and that they desperately needed financial help or would find themselves on the street. The teacher notified her church, who immediately contacted an Arlington non-profit that specializes in addressing urgent needs, and within 24 hours the family had a down payment for a new rental property. When I heard about this I thought, wow, what great story about people working together to swiftly and effectively address a critical need in their community. Tonight, we’re joined by Anna Maia, the Director of Compassion and Justice Initiatives at Grace Community Church in Arlington, VA and one of the people involved in helping this family. Anna works with local and global partners to create unusual opportunities for church members to serve people in Arlington and around the world. She’s going to tell us about some of these efforts and how listeners can get involved.

In the 10 months since I first interviewed tonight’s guest, our country has been rocked by COVID-19, racial unrest, economic collapse, an assault on truth, and the attack on Congress. It would seem obvious to conclude that these things added to the already considerable gaps that separate Americans. Andrew Hanauer is the President and CEO of One America Movement, an organization founded after the 2016 election to fight polarization. Among other things, One America brings people together across political, racial and religious divides to work on issues that matter to both sides – like poverty and the opioid epidemic. Andy joins us to talk about the effectiveness of One America’s programs and to share, I hope, a glimmer of hope.

“There wasn’t a day in my childhood that I can remember that I wasn’t abused.” This is the opening line of a book written by tonight’s guest about being sexually abused by his father for 12 years. Dr. Gregory Williams is on the administrative leadership team at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He’s also the author of Shattered by the Darkness: Putting the Pieces Back Together After Child Abuse, and he hosts the Breaking the Silence video podcast. Greg joins us to share his experiences, talk about his decision to forgive his father, and offer advice for people suffering from abuse.

Last month, I was interviewed by Greg Williams on his Breaking the Silence video podcast. Among other things, we discussed the realness, super-power, and practicality of God’s grace; the importance of self-reflection; and the need for each of us to be a grace lobbyist. This is the audio portion of the second half of the video interview.

Last month, Ed was interviewed by Dr. Gregory Williams on his Breaking the Silence video podcast. Among other things, he discussed the realness, super-power, and practicality of God’s grace; the importance of self-reflection; and the need for each of us to be a grace lobbyist. This is the audio portion of the first half of the video interview.

Tonight’s program is all Christmas music. I’ll be playing a number of songs from one of my all-time favorite albums, Christmas with the Canadian Brass and the Great Organ of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. I’ll also sprinkle in some of my favorite Christmas choral music from the New York Choral Artists and the Westminster Cathedral Choir. Enjoy, and have a wonderful Christmas.

Tonight’s guest is a gifted storyteller, as evidenced by the 15 Emmys he’s won. Nick Nanton has interviewed, produced documentaries about, and worked on other projects with notable people like Sir Richard Branson, Steve Forbes, Larry King, and will.i.am. He’s the co-founder of DNA, a full-service media, marketing and PR agency, and the largest personal branding agency in the world – representing more than 3000 clients in 60 countries. Nick joins us tonight to share his story along with insights into how to succeed in a media-saturated world.

Christian politics minus the Gospel equals 2020 America. These are the words of Justin Giboney, an attorney, political activist, and co-founder of the AND Campaign, an organization working to get Christians to do politics more faithfully. Justin joins us to talk about his work, the upcoming election, and his book Compassion (&) Conviction: The AND Campaign's Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement.

Tonight’s guest learned firsthand about the transformational power of relationships after a chance meeting super-charged his career. He later decided to develop an approach to creating powerful relationships on demand. James Carbary is the founder of Sweet Fish Media and the author of Content-Based Networking: How to Instantly Connect with Anyone You Want to Know. He’s also the Executive Producer and Co-Host of the B2B Growth Show podcast. James joins us to share the story of that chance meeting as well as what he’s learned about readily connecting with people you want to build relationships with.

Tonight’s interview is the second half of last week’s chat with Rob Schenck, a former radical anti-abortion activist who now works to liberate the Evangelical community from the grips of extreme politics, urging Washington conservatives to move beyond tribalism and the politics of hate, fear, and violence.

Tonight’s guest has experienced three significant conversions in his life: from Jewish roots to Christianity; from a pure faith to a highly political one; and from the religious right to the simplicity of the Gospel. Once a radical anti-abortion activist, today he works to liberate the evangelical community from the grips of extreme politics and urges Washington conservatives to move beyond tribalism and the politics of hate, fear, and violence. Rob Schenck describes himself as a recovering member of the religious right, and his most recent book, Costly Grace, describes how he broke free from his descent into radical politics through humility, self-reflection, and a return to the essence of the Gospel.

We are a little over two months away from the presidential election and our country seems to have lost its mind. The unity displayed in the early stages of the pandemic has given way to an absurd level of tribalism and irrational behavior. People with automatic weapons are protesting the “tyranny” of wearing a facemask, new Karen videos seem to surface every day, social unrest seems ever present, and some of our leaders are even promoting a culture of racism, fear and violence in the society they are sworn to protect and serve. What’s a follower of Christ to do? We’ll be discussing this tonight with Jonathan Leeman, the editorial director at 9Marks – an organization that equips church leaders with resources for building healthy churches – and the author of How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics for a Divided Age.

Christian music has come a long way in terms of its musicality and appeal. Some people love that, and others not so much. My daughter (Shannon) and I have always been a bit picky about the music we listen to in this genre and I thought it would be fun to play a few of my favorite songs for her and get her reaction. So, feel free to grab a headset or connect to a stereo and enjoy the music. Hang on beyond the 28 minute mark for bonus discussion. SONGS: 40 by U2, recorded live in Chicago in 2005 (Intro); Black and White by Erskin Anavitarte; Psalm 119 by Reston Bible Church; 40 by U2; Magnificent by U2 (program close).

For as long as I can remember, my daughter and I have really enjoyed the worship music at church services, usually sitting in the front row of the sanctuary so we can jam out every week. We have not, though, enjoyed the studio versions of the same songs we hear and sing at church as much. Outside of church, we often listen to less overtly Christian artists and search for meaning and theology in their music. Tonight, we’re going to focus on one of our favorite performers. Matisyahu is a former Hasidic Jew, reggae musician, composer, and beat boxer. We’re going to play a few of his songs and chat about what they have meant to us. Songs: Surrender, live on Jimmy Kimmel (program intro); Jerusalem (Out of Darkness Comes Light); I Will Be Light, live at Stubbs; One Day, live on David Letterman.

Tonight’s guest and his family have suffered through a world of hurt at the hands of other people through things like murder, molestation, and assault. After describing what they had been through to someone on a well-known pastor support hotline, the counselor paused and said, “That’s the worst story I’ve ever heard. Why are you still doing ministry?”Bruce Hebel is the co-author of Forgiving Forward: Unleashing the Forgiveness Revolution and the co-founder of the Forgiving Forward ministry. He joins us to talk about the hurtful things he and others have experienced and a revolutionary way to free ourselves from the torment that comes with unforgiveness.

Back when my daughter was in high school, I began surrendering my car stereo to her and her iPod. Whenever we hopped in my car, she would seize the audio cable and start cranking her favorite songs. As I listened to her stream of consciousness pouring out of my car speakers, I started developing a list of favorite songs that I would ask her to play. I also began watching K-POP music video reviews with her on Sunday mornings while eating breakfast together. I thought it would be nice to break from all of the craziness around us these days and host her on the program, chat about her passion for K-POP, and play a few of our favorite songs. Playlist: From Yesterday by Ugly Pumpkin (beginning and end of the program); Bad Boy by Big Bang; Special Girl by Infinite H; A by Got7.

Is it possible to infuse design with grace? Can you design products, services, businesses, entertainment, graphics or anything else in a way that reveals and expresses God’s grace? Tonight, I’m joined by my good friend Erwin Godoy, a local innovation executive and Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves who’s been working in the design/innovation space for a number of years. Erwin joins me to talk about what design is, what great designers do, and seeing God as the ultimate designer.

There’s been a significant increase in mental health issues among our children due to COVID isolation, social unrest, and the economic challenges many of their parents are suddenly facing. These include things like anxiety, rebellion, and even suicidal thoughts. Add these to environments with a greater frequency of violence, drug use, and gang activity, and the challenge of treating these conditions becomes even greater. Tonight, we’re talking to Dr. Robert Wingfield, the Chief Psychologist at the Boys Town Behavioral Health Clinic in Washington, D.C. Robert joins us to talk about the issues he most frequently encounters and to offer advice on how to help our children handle these unusual times. EMERGENCY HOTLINE NUMBER: 800-448-3000 or text VOICE to 20121

In May 2015, a group of 25 people gathered to clear growth, fallen logs, branches, and old fencing that had slowly overtaken the Sam Moore Slave Cemetery in Quicksburg, VA. Towards the end of the day, as the team reflected on their work, a thick, old tree stump in the center of the clearing suddenly popped into flames. It was like something was being released from the ground.On a later visit to the graveyard, about 15 people felt compelled to launch an effort known as the Repentance Project, which encourages racial healing through the acknowledgement and communication of the enduring legacies of slavery as well as through repentance and relationship building. Tonight, we’ll hear from two of their leaders – Reverend Bill Haley and Max Finberg.

In the midst of a global pandemic, economic disruption, and racial upheaval, it’s easy to become overly focused on the negative. As a result, we’ll be playing a little more music on Grace in 30 with the hope of providing listeners with shots of inspiration. Tonight, I’m chatting with the former Worship Pastor from Grace Community Church in Arlington, VA who now serves in a similar role at a church in Oklahoma. Christian Nuckels is a songwriter and producer who has been busy on a number of musical fronts. Join us as we talk about some of the music he recently created and racial tensions in America.

In late summer 2016, my ex-wife, Diane, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The following November, after an aggressive but failed regimen of chemotherapy, she was told that she likely had three months to live – and possibly less. Not long after, we began planning one of those once-in-a-lifetime trips you hear about people taking when facing death. After much discussion, Diane, me and our college-age daughter headed to South Beach in Miami, Florida on New Year’s Day to stay at a fabulous new hotel. One of the things that made the trip special, oddly enough, was the music playing in the pool area which almost always seemed to be within earshot. Tonight, I’m going to play some of that music and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Back in 2016, tonight’s guest wrote, “I know I’m a train wreck in a dumpster fire. But I also know that God loves me 100% as is, right now, in the midst of the burning carnage that is often my life.” Benjamin Sledge is combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He’s the recipient of the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and two Army Commendation Medals. Unfortunately, though, his experiences led to struggles with depression, drunkenness, and violence. Today, Ben travels around the country educating businesses, nonprofits, and churches about mental health issues, life in the military, and following Jesus Christ. He’s an author, graphic designer, metalhead, and licensed minister – a bit of a renaissance man. He joins us today to talk about how things turned around for him and to offer true hope to others.

Tonight’s guest was raised in a secular Jewish home in the San Francisco Bay area and wound up marrying a woman from rural Arkansas. He recently told me, if you’re ripping someone from any number of groups – Jews, Muslims, Evangelicals, Southerners – chances are it’s a group that includes someone he loves.Following the 2016 Presidential election, Andrew Hanauer felt like he no longer belonged to any traditional political party and that he wanted to be part of something different – something Gospel driven and inclusive. He decided to focus on efforts that combine this desire with his passion for politics and his relationships with a variety of religious leaders. He’s currently the President and CEO of One America Movement, an organization founded by faith and community leaders to tackle the division in our society. Andrew joins us to talk about our culture of political contempt and what One America is doing to address it.

In 1982, tonight’s guest moved to China and watched religious practices grow despite the government’s efforts to stamp them out. In 1989, as he was flying through Berlin on the way to the Soviet Union, a friend grabbed him and took him to join the first crowds tearing down the Berlin Wall. And in 2001, he was teaching in a Middle East town with 20,000 Taliban when the Twin Towers and Pentagon were struck. Two decades as an international educator sparked a desire in Brian Grim to understand religious oppression and the benefits of religious freedom. He went on to serve in various related positions, including eight years working as the Director of Pew Research Center’s Religion and Public Life studies. Brian is currently the President of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation and is one of the world’s leading experts on religious demographics and impact. He joins us today to chat about his experiences overseas, the surprising benefits of religious freedom, and the positive impact of letting people freely bring their faith identities to work.

Back in 2015, a liberal graduate of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY became friends with a republican who emigrated from El Salvador as a teen. While they had very different political views, they shared a common belief that Christians were engaging in the American political realm in a decidedly un-Christlike way. That friendship blossomed into the Center for Christian Civics (CXC), a non-profit dedicated to helping Christians be better disciples of Jesus Christ while engaging in politics. Today, we’re joined by their liberal co-founder, Rick Barry, to talk about our polarized culture, how it’s affecting the church, and what CXC is doing to address this.

According to a recent survey, 99% of Progressive Activists in America feel that immigration is good for America while 98% of Devoted Conservatives think it’s bad. 97% of the activists think the police treat African Americans more violently than others while 93% of the conservatives think police are mostly fair to all races. And 99% of the activists disapprove of Donald Trump while 98% of the conservatives approve of him.While these numbers reveal polarization in the extreme, there’s good news. It turns out that these two groups don’t represent the majority of Americans – a majority that is sick and tired of this divide and thinks we have more in common than not.Tonight, we’re joined by Dan Vallone from More In Common, an organization that has been studying our growing political divide. Dan joins us to talk about the results of their 2018 polarization survey and the work they’re doing to bridge the divide. He’ll also fill us in on the results of a study they just released called Polarization and the Pandemic: How COVID-19 is Changing Us.

Ask yourself the following questions: Do you talk about welfare reform while also giving to the needy in your church?Do you proclaim that all lives matter and also have friends who look very different than you?Do you speak against abortion and also embrace and assist the single mothers in your church?Do you share your political opinions on social media while also joyfully sharing the Lord’s supper with church members who disagree with you?Do you call for immigration reform while warmly welcoming foreign visitors to your church?Today’s guest posed these questions at a conference earlier this month focusing on the relationship between Christians and politics. Jonathan Leeman is the editorial director at 9Marks, an organization that equips church leaders with resources for building healthy churches. He’s also an elder at Cheverly Baptist Church in suburban Washington, D.C. and the author of How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics for a Divided Age. He joins us today to talk about Christianity and politics.

Last week on Saint Patrick’s Day, my daughter and I drove from Vienna, VA to Reston, VA to pick up some carry-out dinner from one of the many restaurants that had closed its doors to diners. When we returned to our condo building, we entered the elevator lobby on the garage level and I noticed a handwritten note on the announcements board. The note read:“If anyone needs groceries, supplies, or other essentials and are afraid of getting exposed to the coronavirus, I can run errands for you.” The author included her phone number and e-mail address, and she signed the note, “Lindsay, your neighbor on the 3rd floor.” I was thrilled to see this simple yet powerful expression of grace in the face of the emerging coronavirus threat. I had to call her and do an interview. Today I’m joined by Lindsay O’Conner, who lives with her new husband and their dog on the 3rd floor of my building. She joins me to talk about what compelled her to reach out to her neighbors; what she’s hearing from healthcare workers on the front lines; and to offer suggestions for how listeners might fill some critical voids in the healthcare system (see links below). **************************************************************************************************************************************Please note that this was my first attempt at an over-the-Internet interview following the temporary closing of our radio station due to the coronavirus. Things did not turn out so well, especially on my (Ed’s) side of the connection. I intentionally left my volume throttled back versus my guest in an attempt to attenuate interference. I also could not correct various distortions on my side. I apologize for any offense to listener’s ears.**************************************************************************************************************************************

A perfect blend of politics and religion. Is there such a thing? Tonight, we’re joined by John Slye, the lead pastor at Grace Community Church in Arlington and Falls Church, Virginia – a church for people who don’t go to church. We’ll be talking about politics and other issues with John, including the Christian response to the coronavirus.

Robert Doar assumed the leadership role at the American Enterprise Institute in 2019. A leading conservative poverty scholar who has demonstrated a knack for working with Republican and Democrat administrations in New York, he joins us to talk about our contentious political environment, the importance of respecting the will of the people, and his belief that AEI’s guiding principles benefit the people who struggle the most in our society.

At age 25, Steve Park started tutoring kids in his parent’s Taekwondo studio in a low-income D.C. neighborhood. Twenty-five years later, that humble enterprise has grown into Little Lights, a non-profit serving the youth and families in the Potomac Gardens, Hopkins, and Benning Terrace public housing complexes of Southeast D.C., where families of four struggle to survive on annual incomes that average $12,000-to-$14,000. When I spoke to Steve back in 2016, Little Lights employed 13 full-time and 40 part-time staff, many of whom live in the communities they serve; utilized 120 volunteers; and was the number one job provider in the low-income D.C. housing community. Steve updates us on their work and, more importantly, shares the joy that comes from empowering under-served youth and families through practical assistance, racial reconciliation, and the love of Jesus Christ.

There are neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. that present substantial challenges to schools working to provide local children with the best education possible. Tonight’s guest is an award-winning principal who recently left a school in the D.C. suburbs to serve children in such neighborhoods. Vincent Spadoni is the President of the Consortium of Catholic Academies, a collection of four Catholic schools working to provide safe havens for children living in difficult neighborhoods and economic situations. Vince joins us to talk about the characteristics of schools that make a truly significant impact in challenging settings.

At age 12, Barbara Amaya ran away from her Fairfax, Virginia home to escape abuse. A woman in Washington, D.C. offered her a place to stay and turned out to be a sex trafficking recruiter. Barbara was eventually sold on the streets of D.C. to a trafficker from New York City and she spent the next 10 years being victimized by him, his enablers, and their “customers.” Barbara joins us tonight to share her story and to discuss how pervasive trafficking is and simple ways you can help combat it.

An attendee of October’s Trumpstock gathering in Phoenix Arizona was quoted as saying that, if Trump is not re-elected, “Nothing less than a civil war would happen.” “I don’t believe in violence,” he said, “but I’ll do what I got to do.”[1] Also recently, a caller into a radio program suggested we shun conservatives. He said he no longer talks to his brother because of his political views and spoke about dividing up our country.[2] On and on it goes in the media as we approach the 2020 election. If you’ve grown tired of the political division and contempt that’s so commonplace, we’ve got a tonic for you tonight. We’re joined by April Lawson, the Director of Debates at Better Angels – an organization committed to bridging the growing divide between Republicans and Democrats in our country. Following their first gathering of Trump and Clinton supporters back in December 2016, Better Angels launched numerous initiatives across the U.S. in an effort to tear down the walls that divide us. April joins us to share some insights and stories about their work that you definitely want to hear. FOOTNOTES[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/28/us/politics/trump-2020-trumpstock.html. [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN4Uo7StOb4.

It’s the new year, we’re about 10 months away from the 2020 election, and things are tense. It seems that many people believe that the political climate in America is about as bad as it’s ever been. Here are some statistics: A February 2017 poll showed that one in six Americans had stopped talking to a family member or friend because of the 2016 election.[1]At the end of that year, another poll indicated that 71% of Americans believed that American political division had reached a “dangerous low point.”[2] The year before, work by political scientists indicated that political polarization was at its worst level since the Civil War.[3] Despite these statistics, 93% of Americans say they’re tired of how divided we’ve become – and 71% of us make this statement strongly.[4] So, how can so many people be so tired of this and yet things seem to be continually getting worse?Frankly, we don’t need surveys to realize how mutually contemptuous and judgmental our culture has become. We see it all around us.Instead of a guest tonight, Sal and Ed talk about politics in America – perhaps the hottest issue of 2020 given the upcoming election – and invite listeners to join the conversation and our efforts over the next year to improve the situation.

There are a lot of things we take for granted – like being able to walk out the door of our home whenever we want, hop in a car and drive to work or the grocery store, or get a job that allows us to make a living. For some people, though, these basic things are extremely difficult to do, at best. In particular, such things pose an enormous challenge to people with intellectual and physical disabilities. Today we’re talking to Arthur Ginsberg, the CEO and President of CRi – a 45-year-old Arlington organization that last year provided care to over 1,000 individuals with mental health needs & developmental disabilities. Arthur joins us to talk about how, through CRi’s programs, disabled individuals can exert greater control over important decisions in their lives, gain respect in their communities, and achieve a level of independence that years ago would have been unimaginable.

A church for people who don’t go to church. Is there such a thing and, if so, what does it look like? Today, we’re joined by John Slye, the Lead Pastor at Arlington’s Grace Community Church whose tagline is, in fact, just that. John joins us to discuss how he felt drawn to create a place where people who have been burned or bored by church, or simply have never been to church, can come and hear about Jesus and the Gospel. We’ll also talk about a couple of topics that have recently been near and dear to John including the power of our words and the practicality of Jesus.

Tonight’s guest first learned about Dr. Paul Brand when his wife stumbled upon an article Dr. Brand had written entitled The Gift of Pain. While most people desperately want to be free from pain, Dr. Brand spent much of his career trying to create a pain system for his patients. Dr. Brand studied medicine in London during some of the darkest days of World War II, when German bombers pounded the city – sometimes for weeks on end. He returned to India, where he grew up, in 1946 and began working with leprosy patients – people considered the lowest of the low in Indian society. He would go on to achieve world renown for his treatment of the disease. Tonight, we’re joined by Philip Yancey, the author of 25 books including Disappointment with God and What’s So Amazing About Grace? Philip co-authored several books with Dr. Brand and became very close to him, often calling him the father he never had. Philip recently combined and updated two of these books for release this past August under the title, Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing God’s Image. Philip joins us to share some of his memories of Paul, and some of Paul’s many insights into the workings of the human body and the lessons they teach in today’s deeply divided world.

When tonight’s guest got engaged, his wife gave him a rather unusual gift. She gave him a paid trip to Deep Creek to be alone for two nights – including away from her. Many of their friends thought this was strange given the fact that they just got engaged. Wouldn’t they want to spend every moment together at a time like this? John McGowan is the Lead Pastor of Restoration City Church in Arlington. He joins us to talk about how spiritual practices like solitude, silence, and a weekly day of rest can go a long way towards addressing the chronic stress and burnout that characterize life in the D.C. Metro area.

Tonight’s guest lost her ten-year-old daughter in a drowning accident. Amazingly, this led her to a deeper, more thankful relationship with God. Julie Mad-Bondo joins us to talk about the biggest turning point in her life as well as her work as the founder of Julie’s Heart Cry, an organization that helps parents who are grieving the loss of a child as well as at-risk pregnant women around the world.

Mike Minter was the son of a Navy admiral when he flunked out of the Naval Academy in the 1960s. He was left standing on the corner, so to speak, wondering what he would do next. After returning to school and getting a degree in Political Science from Old Dominion University, and a Bible degree from Florida Bible College, Mike and his new wife made their way to Reston, Virginia in 1974 with $600 in their pockets – and the goal of planting a church. Mike got a job at a local golf course shining shoes and handing out towels, and he started a Bible study in the home of a Reston resident. That Bible study grew into what is now Reston Bible Church based in Sterling, Virginia. Mike has been the lead pastor at RBC for 45 years and is still going strong. He joins us to talk about some memorable moments in his life along with some of the most important things he’s learned shepherding thousands of people over the past four-and-a-half decades.

It’s not uncommon these days to hear American Christians say things like, “Let’s take back America for God” or “America needs to return to its Christian roots.” There are others, though, who wonder, Just when was America a Christian nation? They wonder if it was when we were killing millions of Indians in our conquest of North America? Or maybe when we were kidnapping and enslaving millions of Africans. Or maybe we’ve accomplished that today just as the ugliness and depth of our nation’s divisions and bigotry are on increasing display? Tonight, I’m joined by Greg Boyd, Senior Pastor at Woodland Hills Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the author of several books including The Myth of a Christian Nation and The Myth of a Christian Religion. We’ll be discussing the relationship between the Christian church and our government, and our call to provide a foretaste of the perfectly just, peaceful and loving government to come.

We’re living in a time of division, hate, ignorance and untruth. No group is unaffected, including the Christian church where there are more denominations than you can shake a stick at, and numerous divisions within each of these groups. Tonight, we’ll be focusing on relations between Jewish, Arab and Western Christians. We’re joined by Eric Teitelman, a Messianic Jew, and Jed Robyn, a Gentile Christian who will talk about how they’re working together to promote unity among these groups as well as a recent gathering of Christians they attended in Israel.

A few weeks ago, Mariam Gennari and I (Ed) were chatting outside the entrance to WERA’s building while a lone Styrofoam cup swirled around in a gentle breeze on the ground next to us. It was a symbolic moment. Mariam, also known as Styrofoam Mom, has been on a crusade to address the staggering problem of Styrofoam waste. She’s the Executive Producer of the 2018 documentary Styrofoam Mom – The Movie, the host of the Sustainable Scoop on AIM’s Arlington Weekly News, and a determined environmental activist. Mariam joins us to talk about how she became Styrofoam Mom, the problems our excessive use of Styrofoam present, and what regular folks can do to address the issue.

Back in 2007, Ryan Haley was an overachiever and helicopter pilot in the U.S. Navy who was living the good life in beautiful San Diego, California. That all changed following a helicopter crash on July 31st that year, about a month before he was scheduled for his first deployment. Following the accident, Ryan began to reconsider his views of success and how we earn it as well as the faith he had largely walked away from and misunderstood. Ryan joins us to talk about the lessons he has learned over the past ten years, and to discuss his podcast and upcoming book – both aptly named A Better Way.