He's Holy & I'm Knott

As we break through 50 Episodes we are surrounded by Angels as we bring forward Baltimore's Police Commissioner - Richard Worley, Nancy Hines - the Executive Director of the Signal 13 Foundation, Barb Clapp - the President of the Board of the Signal 13 Foundation and Jerry Heid -  our liaison to the Police Department.  Jerry Heid is the second longest serving officer in the history of the BCPD.  This Commissioner comes to the job with an unprecedented level of experience.  During his 30 plus years at the BCPD he has performed just about every job you can imagine.  We haven't had one of our own at the job for this long in decades.  The result is a department that has someone that has walked in their shoes, leading the way.  As Jerry Heid agrees, this simple cultural improvement is being felt in all 9 Districts and has lead to major reductions in crime. We dive into his ascent to the top and learn what makes this incredible man tick.  Next we turn to the Frank J. Battaglia Signal 13 Foundation which provides hardship support for the men and woman of the Baltimore Police Department.  They also provide scholarships for the children of these brave men and women.   The Signal 13 Foundation stands as a beacon of support, providing essential resources for police officers and their families in times of need.  We get an update on our Capital campaign which is going along great and will provide for more opportunities for scholarships for more kids. The Commissioners Office and the Signal 13 Foundation work tirelessly to uphold law enforcement excellence and foster positive relationships with residents. Here's to their unwavering dedication to serving and protecting the vibrant city of Baltimore! Thank you Richard, Nancy, Barb, and Jerry! Angel's at work!  

Rev. Al and I are set to finish the Vegas Series this week and today we have a Superstar sitting poolside with us, the great Aaron Tomarchio.  He's making a huge impact on our City and County by leading the redevelopment of the former Bethlehem Steel site, aka Sparrows Point, now Tradepoint Atlantic. I met Aaron when he was working in Harford County during the O'Malley days, he was always ready to get things done, not much has changed. At Tradepoint his responsibilities include overseeing government and regulatory affairs, public and community relations, and corporate marketing efforts. He has an extremely strong team around him but let's reflect on this place, it's got rail, it's got 50' Berths, and it's got tons of land.  It's an understatement that this is a complex site, Aaron is handling it with grace and class.  Before joining Tradepoint Atlantic, Tomarchio had an extensive career in public administration, serving in various executive roles in Maryland's state and local government, including nine years as Chief of Staff to the Harford County Executive, David Craig. He also held positions with the Maryland Department of Planning and worked in corporate affairs at Erickson Living. At Tradepoint Atlantic, Aaron has been instrumental in engaging with the community, ensuring transparency in the site's redevelopment process, and securing critical federal and state support for infrastructure development. Under his leadership, they are transforming the 3,300-acre site into a key economic driver for the region, with projections of creating over 10,000 jobs and generating $2.9 billion in annual economic impact.  Tradepoint has played a major role in the aftermath of the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse and we get into the details of Tradepoint's immediate and long term plans resulting from that tragedy. Come along with us as you roll down the road to a Thanksgiving Dinner and learn about this guy, he's a superstar, and definitely Holy along with the Rev, and I'm Knott... Happy Thanksgiving....

Rev. and I are so excited to continue the Vegas series.  This one features a good friend in Johnny Olszewski Jr. Johnny O, as he is often referred to, is the current Baltimore County Executive, a position he has held since December 2018. Born and raised in Dundalk, Maryland, Olszewski is deeply connected to the Baltimore County community. He attended Sparrows Point High School before earning his bachelor's degree from Goucher College and later a master's degree in political science from The George Washington University. He also holds a doctorate in public policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).  Before becoming County Executive, Olszewski served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 2006 to 2014, representing District 6. During his time in the General Assembly, he was known for his focus on education, economic development, and environmental issues. His leadership in Baltimore County has been marked by efforts to increase government transparency, improve public education, and address issues of equality and inclusion within the county.  Johnny O is the Democratic nominee for Congress in the 2nd District.  His roots are deep when it comes to our Government, both local and at the state level.  He grew up in a family that elevated service, was elected to the legislature when he was 23....now 41 and working hard on his Congressional Race.  Johnny shines a light on his education and all that it brought to his life. We talk about the Bridge and the positive light it has shined on our City and the effort at all levels of Government to bring the relief to that community.  It's Johnny O, a kid that grew up in Dundalk, a hard working patriotic community. Next stop, Congress. We love ya Johnny!   

Dr. Calvin Ball has been around and both the Rev and I have known him for a long time. He's been patient and focused on making Howard County the best it could be his entire career.  He served as a Member of the County Council, which he lead for at least two cycles and now as the County Executive he's leaving his mark on a County that doesn't come to decisions easily. We were so happy to catch up with him poolside, one thing Calvin Ball knows is where business get's done and that's in person face to face at the ISSC Maryland Party.  Calvin has been friendly to the development community and continues to work together wth them as Howard County continues to expand. Calvin is well known for his focus on education, public safety, and environmental sustainability. During his time as County Executive, he has been a strong advocate for improving public schools, expanding affordable housing, and fostering economic development in the region. His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic was marked by efforts to ensure public health while supporting local businesses and communities through various challenges. Calvin Ball's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity has also been a hallmark of his administration, as he continues to work towards creating a more inclusive and prosperous Howard County for all its residents. Let's hear from our friend as we dive into what makes this leader tick... Thanks Calvin for all you do!  As we top off our Vegas series conversations with County Executives this is another great one and we want to thank all of them for joining us... Two more great poolside conversations coming and we're outta Vegas... Enjoy!  

Rev. and I are thrilled to be warming everyone up with a series of interviews we conducted in Las Vegas at the ICSC this past Spring....here comes the Vegas Series... A full cast of amazing Marylanders including Howard Perlow, Johnny O, Steuart Pittman, Calvin Ball, Aaron Tomachio and Nestor Aparicio.  We were thrilled to welcome them Poolside at our Moblile Podcast Center for chats about everything politics, Baltimore Sports, the work that's being done at TradePoint Mid Atlantic and so much more... Let's get it started with our first guest of the day Nestor Aparicio where we talk sports and crabcakes two of his favorite subjects. Nestor Aparicio began his career in 1984 chronicling sports for The News American and The Baltimore Sun before hosting sports radio in 1992. In 1998, he purchased WNST-AM 1570 and retired in 2006 after hosting 14 years of daily sports radio - including three as a nationally-syndicated host on Sporting News Radio - assuming a full-time role as C.E.O. of WNST.net where "We Never Stop Talking" Baltimore sports has extended to the mobile web with the area's largest social media footprint and around the clock conversation, news and views. He loves the Ravens, Orioles and all the local teams. If you didn't know it he has written three books including "Purple Reign 2: Faith, Family & Football - A Baltimore Story" & "Purple Reign: Diary of a Raven Maniac." He doesn't hold back as usual and this turned out to be a great conversation......Vegas Series...we have acheived lift off..... Enjoy!      

Reverand Al and I can't wait to dive into the life of this Anne Arundel County Farmer turned County Executive.  I first met Steuart in my office, Laura Neuman, the former Ane Arundel County Executive, who has a good eye, wanted me to meet him.  I was immediately impressed and optimistic that a real person with real concerns for the community, starting with our precious land was interested in making a run.  I also sensed he had the energy to win an election.. Well, it happened Steuart Pittman, Jr. was elected Anne Arundel County Executive after his first campaign for public office in 2018 and he was re-elected in 2022. Born and raised on his family farm in Davidsonville, Steuart graduated from the University of Chicago and then went on to work as a community organizer in Chicago and Des Moines, Iowa. In that role, he built neighborhood organizations, confronted environmental hazards, and attracted private investment to blighted communities. Steuart's philosophy of government is both conservative and progressive. As a farmer, he worked hard against onerous regulations that had no public benefit and promoted policies to make the industry commercially viable. As a Director of the Anne Arundel County Soil Conservation District, he pushed for compliance with erosion and sediment control standards to protect local waterways, important work.  As County Executive, Steuart has pledged to make Anne Arundel County “The Best Place - For All,” by “Putting Communities First.”  We catch him poolside, our second in a long day of recordings. He's fired up to be with the development community and he knows that the phenomenon of putting everyone in the same place at the same time is electric. This is a great conversation with a great guy.  Thanks Steuart!   

Rev. Al and I are so excited to welcome Johnathan Davis the CEO of Baltimore Crisis Response Inc.  This amazing non profit, which is lead by my friend Jennifer Curran.  Jenn is an amazing woman who married into two amazing Baltimore Families the Currans and the O'Malley's.  Under Jenn's leadership along with an incredible board this non profit not only serves the Baltimore but stretches west to Oakland, Maryland and East to Dundalk.  All of these centers deliver with compassion and expertise, ensuring individuals in crisis receive the support they need. As CEO, Jonathan is dedicated to providing prompt and effective assistance, guiding the organization's mission to serve Baltimore's community members during challenging times. With his leadership, Baltimore Crisis Response continues to be a beacon of hope and help for those facing mental health emergencies.  988 is the number to call in times of crisis, especially mental issues, 988, not hard to remember, we even came up with a jingle...This sometimes life saving number is available on any phone at any time connecting individuals with trained professionals ready to assist in a crisis situation.  Here's to Johnathan Davis, a native of Georgia and a lover of the gym....his muscles are as big as his heart and he get's real close to being declared Holy... Thanks Jonathan for joining us and to his team for their commitment to caring for others!

Dr. Kevin Slayton is a multifaceted individual making waves in public affairs, ministry, and literature. As a public affairs professional, he navigates the complexities of policy and communication with finesse. He has been and continues to be a key advisor for many of Baltimore City's elected officials, simultaneously, as an ordained minister, he offers guidance and compassion to those seeking spiritual solace. Born in Courtland, Alabama and raised in Chattanooga, Tennesee, when he got to Baltimore he started his journey at the Associated Black Charities where he was introduced to some of Baltimore's best men and women.  He loves himself some Baltimore and he's a fan of the culture of crabs where people gather, crack crabs and talk.  Being one of the first in his family to attend college Dr. Slayton received his BS in Finance and Economics from Alabama A&M University.  He went on to aquire a Master's in Divinity from Howard University in DC, and a Doctorate from the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester NY.  He's an accomplished author and his book 'Politically Preaching" is a great dive into the relationships betweens Baltimore's Political Leaders and Baltimore's incredible African American churches.  Here's to Kevin Slayton, a true Renaissance man, making a difference on multiple fronts!  We broke the record on this one, our longest Podcast yet with two Holy's and one Knott.  Enjoy!    

Meet Dr. Shanaysha Sauls, the brilliant CEO of the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) - a true trailblazer in the realm of philanthropy and community empowerment!  Dr. Sauls embodies the essence of compassionate leadership, dedicating her career to driving positive change and fostering inclusive growth throughout Baltimore and beyond.  Her journey in Baltimore started her community organizing efforts as one of the founders of the Patterson Park Public Charter School.  Lessons learned in East Baltimore embody her work as the CEO of BCF, she spearheads initiatives that address pressing social issues, uplift marginalized voices, and catalyze transformational impact. Her visionary leadership has redefined philanthropy at BCF, making it more accessible, responsive, and impactful for non profit organizations in need. Dr. Sauls' commitment to equity and justice serves as a guiding force, ensuring that BCF's resources are leveraged to tackle systemic challenges and build a brighter, more equitable future for all. Beyond her role at BCF, Dr. Sauls is a tireless advocate for social justice, education, and economic empowerment. Her dedication to fostering collaboration and amplifying community voices has earned her widespread respect and admiration. Join Rev. Al and I and lets celebrate Dr. Shanaysha Sauls and her extraordinary contributions to Baltimore and beyond.  Thank you, Dr. Sauls, for your visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to creating a better world for everyone!

Rev Al and I are so pleased to bring this conversation forward....I thought we had lost the recording but recently ressurected it from an obcure folder and we could be more pleased... This wide ranging conversation was recorded not too long after the recent conflict in Israel began, the timelessness of Howards emotions and feelings about this conflict makes this just a relevant now as it was when we recorded it.  Rev Al and I love Howard, he's a good friend and Howard and I have worked closely because of the time he spent at KO Publics Affairs. He was the expert as I watched he Steve and Damian Phoenix that effort and I learned alot about news stories and news cycles. While co-creating Center Maryland and we spent many mornings organizing the days stories well before the sun came up.... Howards successful journey should be of no surprise to anyone who knows him, he's a super human workhorse and he reaches the Top of whatever mountain he decides to climb howard holds the record as the youngest Editor in the Sun Papers history, he now he's the driving force behind the Baltimore Jewish Council. As Executive Director, Howard leads initiatives fostering unity, advocating for social justice, and promoting dialogue within and beyond Baltimore's Jewish community. Baltimore's Jewish Community is ne of the largest in the United states. His dedication to inclusivity and collaboration sets the tone for impactful change. Kudos to Howard for his leadership and commitment to making a difference! We can all be thankful for Howard, a great father and husband to Jodie and two great kids..If your looking for him go to Oriole Park, he loves taking in a baseball game with the Family, you might see him.  Howard, thanks for taking the time, Rev Al and I are thrilled to bring this one to our listeners.  Peace Brother!  

Rev. Al and I are thrilled to shine the He's Holy I'm Knott spotlight on Joe DeMattos, the dynamic President & CEO of the Health Facilities Association of Maryland (HFAM)!  Joe's unwavering commitment to healthcare excellence and advocacy started in Hawaii where he played a crucial role advising the Governor on Healthcare policy in the early 90's. His work in Maryland has been nothing short of extraordinary. With his visionary leadership, HFAM has been at the forefront of championing quality care and innovative solutions within Maryland's healthcare landscape. Under Joe's guidance, HFAM has become a beacon of empowerment for healthcare providers, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to deliver exceptional care to their communities. His dedication to advancing the interests of healthcare facilities and the individuals they serve has made a profound impact, elevating standards and promoting collaboration across the industry. Joe's passion for healthcare extends beyond his professional endeavors. He is deeply involved in various initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare policies, improving patient outcomes, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and this year he has turned his focus on the Leukemia and Lymphona Society and the fight to cure blood cancers.  As we celebrate Joe DeMattos and his remarkable contributions to Maryland's healthcare sector, let's take a moment to applaud his vision, leadership, and unwavering dedication to making a positive difference in the lives of countless individuals. Thank you, Joe, thanks for coming in to see us, what a great talk....

Rev. Al and I are back with a whole series of weekly podcasts to take us through the Summer, perfect for a ride to the beach or better yet sitting on the beach.  We begin by welcoming the one and only  James Williams. James Williams is a dedicated leader who is making a difference in the fight against cancer as the Director of the American Cancer Society CAN (Cancer Action Network). With his passion, expertise, and strategic vision, he is driving positive change and improving outcomes for cancer patients and survivors nationwide. James' commitment to advocacy and his unwavering determination serves as inspiration to all those working towards a world without cancer. James holds a bachelor's degree in public health policy and a master's degree in healthcare administration. He began his career working in government relations for a prominent healthcare organization, where he advocated for policies aimed at improving access to care for underserved communities. His experience in navigating complex legislative environments and building relationships with key stakeholders laid the foundation for his current role at the American Cancer Society CAN. We couldnt be more proud, this one hits home for survivors like me and I was so excited to meet James and learn about the work James is doing in the Community.  Thanks for sharing your unique story and thanks for the profound effect you are having on patients and families.  Keep rolling and we appreciate you coming in.  

So excited to bring our audience another great interview with a man we both have tremendous respect for the great Pat Moran. As we roll towards the end of the 2024 legislative session one thing we know for sure is that there will be winners and losers. Once again Pat Moran is a Winner, but the real winners are the people he represents that work for our State. Patrick has been fighting for working people in their struggle for dignity and respect on the job for nearly 30 years across the United States, Canada, and Europe. He has been recognized twice by the Daily Records' Power 100, an annual list of the one hundred most powerful people in Annapolis, Maryland's state capitol. Moran's journey to leadership within AFSCME is marked by years of dedication and service to the labor movement. He rose through the ranks of AFSCME, starting his career as a union organizer before holding various leadership positions within the organization. His grassroots background and deep understanding of the challenges facing working families have undoubtedly shaped his approach to leadership. In this episode we talk about his career, how he got started, how he stays motivated, and most importantly we get a closer look at what shapes this man and his actions. Both the Rev and I have known Pat for decades and we watch in awe as he navigates the tough waters of Annapolis, through good Administrations and the bad ones. Thanks, Pat, for coming in and spending time with us, and thanks for the positive impact you have had on all the families that have members that work for our State Government…. Enjoy!

I think it's safe to say that the Rev and I love Keiffer Mitchell.  Imagine being him, growing up in Baltimore, in the Mitchell family, one of the Baltimore's most prominant families, the expectations that they all always live up to. Public service is how they do it...for Keiffer it started with 12 years in the City Council, 1995 throught 2007 and then served in our legilature and went on to serve as a close advisor to former Governor Larry Hogan.  What was it like to grow up in the Mitchell Family, come along for the ride and learn what it was like to grow up as Keiffer Mitchell, a Boy's Latin Laker Alumni, a former History teacher at that great institution. Keiffer lays it all out there, he's a Baltimore treasure, from the days at the Farmers Market hand sqeezing Oranges to the days of running for Mayor, and finally as Chief of Staff basically running the State..Keiffer is one of Baltimore's best Ambassadors and this conversation is cool and refreshing... In 1999 and in 2005, he was voted Baltimore's "Best Politician" by Baltimore City Paper. Among his community activities are membership on the Echo Hill Outdoor School Board, the Family Tree Board, the Habitat for Humanity Board, and the Board of Trustees of the Boys' Latin School. A lifelong parishioner at Sharp Street United Methodist Church, he lives in Baltimore's historic Bolton Hill, where he serves on the board of his neighborhood association. Keiffer Mitchell, living the life of a Mitchell in our great city.  Thanks Keiffer, for all you have done for Baltimore,keep rolling.. Friends, this is a great conversation.... Enjoy!      

We are back and we have 4 shows lined up for the opening of Season 4. We have some amazing guests coming out over the next four weeks and we are very excited for Season 4.  Following todays post with Rebecca Hoffberger we have three more great Marylanders, Keiffer Mitchell, Pat Moran and James Williams of the Amerrican Cancer Society.  Stay tuned for these Tuesday  releases over the next few weeks as we get in the studio with some great new guests. It's so great to Welcome the great Rebecca Hoffberger.  A visionary for the Visionaries, Visionary Artists that is, she's established one of the most unique treasured Museums in the Country. Rebecca is someone that Rev. Al and I have both known for a long time. She was married to an incredible man who also had vision the late Leroy Hoffberger, father to one of my best friends Doug Hoffberger... Smaltimore... Rebecca has done an incredible job with the American Visionary Arts Museum, how about this fact, AVAM is second to the BMA when it comes to visitors and that's saying something given the incredible Museums we have in Baltimore.  Rebecca is gifted and she has the most beautiful soul, she's traveled the world and worked with some incredible minds.   A life-long devotee of the power of intuition and fresh thought, Hoffberger was accepted into college at age 15 though chose instead the personal invitation of internationally renowned mime Marcel Marceau, to become his first American apprentice in Paris. By 19, Rebecca had co-founded her own ballet company and by 21, was a sought-after consultant to a broad spectrum of nonprofits, including research and development scientific companies. At 25, she was awarded the title of “Dame” for her work to establish medical field hospitals in Nigeria. She studied alternative and folk medicine in Mexico. Returning to the States, Hoffberger served on the Board of the Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Center in Virginia and worked as Development Director at the Sinai Hospital's Department of Psychiatry for People Encouraging People, where she first conceived her unique national visionary museum/education center. In recognition of this distinguished achievement in the museum field, Hoffberger was awarded the 2011 Katherine Coffey Award by the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums. Hoffberger has received Honorary Doctorates from the Maryland Institute College of Art, Stevenson University, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, and McDaniel College, as well as awarded Loyola College's Andrew White Award—the school's highest civic honor—the College of Notre Dame Sarah's Circle Award, and was selected as Franklin & Marshall College's Conrad Nelson Lecturer. She is an inductee into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame, a winner of the Urban Land Institute's National Award for Excellence, Israel Bonds' Golda Meir Award, and the first recipient of the Sir Arthur C. Clarke Vision and Imagination Award. Any questions, we get into lots of things, there's so much to talk about, both Rev. Al and I are thrilled to know and call Rebecca a good friend.  Thanks Rebecca! You're gonna love this one! Enjoy!    

One of things we love about this experience is the opportunity to bring to light organizations that are doing amazing work throughout the City, this episode we have Bernand Foster who is the Executive Director of the Tuerk House and he has overseen and been a part of tremendous growth since he came on board in 2011.  Founded in 1970, the concept of drug and alcohol treatment was forever changed with the founding of this dynamic organization.   Dr. Isadore Tuerk, then the commissioner of Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene—knew there was a more collaborative, compassionate way to help people find lifelong healing and recovery. From their vision, Tuerk House was born. Today, our non-profit drug and alcohol treatment system serves nearly 300 patients a day, regardless of their ability to pay, through an innovative, integrated model of care that encompasses all aspects of recovery. 300 patients a day that's alot of people they are serving with four centers open, the biggest and most active in the City. All of this is made possible by the incredible leadership team and all of the dedicated workers that are providing hope for these patients in neeed.  Wait until you learn about their leader, Bernard Foster, who believe's God sent him here to do this work, and one thing I can tell you is Thank God for Bernard Foster, who opens up and brings along on his journey to do Gods work.  Thanks to Bernard Foster and his team, doing God's work!  Enjoy!    

Wow, every once and a while we bring forward these great organizations from the heart our our community and they are doing amazing work, right in our backyard.  Walter Billips and Earl El Amin are doing the work that's helping turn peoples lives in the right direction.  NCIA, The program runs five traning courses for incredible jobs that can provide for a great living and everyone of them allows the skills possesor to do what they do nearly anywhere in the world.  Let's take note, HVAC/R, Automobile Repair. Drones, Commercial Drivers Training, CDL, and Culinary Arts.  They have a great group of choices for those that enter the program do the hard work, and end up in jobs in our community.  They enjoy great relationships with other non profits in the City such as DCREP, District Court Re-Entry Program, and they are super focused on members of the population that are returning citizens with a real focus on Veterns returning to the workforce. Nothing comes for free, these programs give people an opoortunity, skills are where its at. What a joy it was to welcome these guys, we are both interested in the programs we would love to help hire people from this program and our next talk is going to be there when the Rev and I pay them a visit. I am excited to see this exciting program in action.  Rev. and Earl are familiar faces in the community and Walters doing the lords work out there. Tune in for a great discussion that's shines the light on NCIA and the incredible people that work there and the work they are doing.  Gentlemen, thanks for catching up and thanks for giving men and women a second chance and a fresh start. 

Reverand Al and I have been busy, AIR LLC and Beloved Community Services are about as busy as they have ever been and before we get even busier.  So its time to get busy with a series of new Podcasts to be released over the next two months. We've been back in the Advanced Indoor Resources Poast Studio with a bunch of exciting new guests.  So get ready for weekly Posts as the next two months are filled with amazing guests just like Samantha Musgrove and Devin Weaver.  These two young hungry individuals are making Waves bringing free internet to parts of Baltimore that could easily be considered Internet Deserts.  More than 96,000 homes in Baltimore City lack internet home service.  This has broad implications for these residents who lack this service.  How about this fact, at the start of the pandemic more than 24,000 students couldn't get online to continue their educations while they spent much of the Spring at home. That statistic in and of itself is why we are promoting this work.  You might well imagine where we do and don't have service throughtout the City, and if you guessed the same neighborhoods that were redlined over 100 years ago you guessed right. Project Waves was founded in 2018 and through the design and creation of the Waves Point to Multipoint wireless network, their team has connected over 300 households to free high speed internet service.  Baltimore City residents face one of the highest rates of Digital Disconnectivity in the United States.  As you might imagine a lack of access, affordability and digital literacy exacerbate disparities in Education, healthcare access, stable housing and more. Unlike traditional Internet Servcie Providers Project Waves is a non profit who's priority is ensuring members of their network have relaible high speed internet service regardless of socioeconomic status.  Samantha and Devin bring so much energy and knowledge to this effort and they are a dynamic duo that are getitng the job done despite a lack of help and urgency from the City, who ultimately controls their destiny.  Listen in to this Podcast, there's so much to learn and understand about the heavy lifting that the people at Project Waves have undertaken.  Thanks to Sam and Devin your energy and enthusiam for providing what the UN has declared a human right, Internet service for all.  Thanks for all you are doing to close the gap. 

Here we go wiith another great interview in Las Vegas at the ICSC Maryland Pool Party.  We start off with Bill Henry, our Comptroller for the City of Baltimore, a Baltimore native and a man who has served our City for many years.  Bill gradualted HS class of 86' at Loyola Blakefield.  He served three terms as Baltimore's City Councilman representing the 4th District.  He loves revitalizing neighborhoods not only in his district but around the City.  He comes to the world of politics naturally because his father spent a life time running campaigns.  A mentor to Rev. Al, Bill's father sincerely beleived that you could make difference.  This trait passed along to Bill and he has run with it.  The man is totally prepared for the work he has taken on, Hopkins undergrad for Urban Studies and Loyola MBA with a concentration in Finance.  He's passionate about his job and he is working to bring the Comptrollers office into the 21st century. This incredible conversation exposes the love he has for our City, we are lucky to have him.  It's not long before we are joined by Councilman Eric Costello, in his third term representing the mighty 11th District which consists of 24 individual neighborhoods and stretches from Fort McHenry all the way to Mt Vernon with alot going on.  Councilman Costello has established himself as the model Councilman, his sense of urgency is awesome and he always comes through for his constituents. Two men, one from Baltimore and one from NY, both passionate workers for the betterment of our City. Thanks to both of them for taking time to speak with us during this incredible busy day for Elected officials in Las Vegas.   

So we are out in Las Vegas with all of the Developers in Maryland and as it turns out many Maryland born developers have also started developing in Virginia and who do we find at the Maryland Pool my friend, Levar Stoney..the Mayor of Richmond. He grew up in Hampton Roads, went to James Madison and his next stop was Richmond. He fell in love with it and so why not become the Mayor.  The people of Richmond love him and he's done a great job as Mayor since being elected in 2016.  It's a two term limit in Virginia for Mayor and one term for the Governor, the Mayors success has many people in Virginia talking about a run for Governor in his future.  This conversation spans 40 minutes but starts with Rev Al and the Mayor exchanging historical facts and family ties as the Rev has family from Richmond and knows his stuff, the ensuing discussion is enlightening and fun.  The City of Richmond is a place where Levar Stoney is making a huge differance. He is the 80th Mayor elected in Richmond history, and prior to that he was the Secretary of State for Governor Terri McCaliffe's where he was the youngest member of that Administration.  Levar Stoney is a winner, he knows how to build community, he knows how to lead and as a result the numbers across the board in Richmond are getting better. He's investing in Parks and infrastructure to support a City on the rise.   If you like Food Richmond is a new hot spot for foodies... Jump in and learn about what makes this guy tick, Rev Al and I are so grateful for his time in between meetings and looking at deals for the City of Richmond.  We were lucky to have him come by.  Thanks Levar, we appreciate you, your love for our neighbors to the south and your open mind about Government and how it can be better for the people... we can't wait to see what you do next.           

People come to Baltimore and fall in love with it and dedicate their lives to making it better,  Rev. Al and I couldn't be more excited to welcome Farmer Chippy a man who John Brothers couldn't stop talking about, so we had to bring him on and we quickly came to the conclusion he's a bigtime diamond in the rough. Farmer Chippy, he's a farmer, he's community organizer, the father of two children and a difference maker in a Community that has been challenged for a too long.  He started coming to Baltimore as a child to visit his grandfather from his home in Trinidad Tabago, he fell in love with the place and laid down his roots coinciding the birth of his first son... If he's not working with kids that don't trust many other than him, he is buildng a reputation as someone that gets things done.  The largest Urban Farm in one of the state's most challenged neighborhood.  Bringing trust, growing a little food and providing "food for the mind" he's created a large following and he's leading his fellow citizens to the light.  Community organizing is his strength and he recently pulled together the Carribean Community, which is prevelant and proud in Park Heights for a celebration of "Carnival" in Druid Hill Park, one of our favorite places.  We got an hour with him, it's a great talk and we quickly realized that this guy is Holy, his work is Holy, and we are lucky to have him as a full fledged advocate for our City...This is what Baltimore does to  people...Rev and I feel the same way as you do Farmer Chippy, Baltimore, "The Greatest City in America" Thanks for joining us and all you are doing for Baltimore. Up Up and away we go...    

So if you're looking for a conversation about development you might want to find yourself by the Pool at the Maryland Party at the ICSC Conference in Las Vegas Nevada. Rev. Al and I couldn't be more pleased to have the opportunity to catch up with Mark Renbaum, a friend, and a man on a mission to bring a Transit Oriented Development to Lutherville, Maryland.  Mark's firm owns the old Caldor site and is looking to redevelop that site as a transit oriented residential and commercial developement. He's also developing in the City with David Bramble at Northwood Plaza adjacent to Morgan plus he's involved in the redevelopment of Madison Park at the 800 Block of North Ave, a place that hasn't been invested in for too long.  Mark takes the community approach, he understands that the community needs to be involved and he is working with them on prioritizing green space in Lutherville and delivering the ammenities that support a strong community.  Look at the transformation of Northwood by two of Baltimore's best  developers, a once blighted property now thriving with great retailers and a new grocery store for the community and it has all the amenties that the Morgan students want. Lutherville is next and the investment in that property is going take the value from 9 million to over 200 million dollars.  The taxpayers paid for the light rail a long time ago, we should be maximizing it's use, this development improves the ROI for taxpayers and we all agree that we should be maximizing transit oriented development where ever we can.  This is Holy work and Rev Al says Mark is a Holy man!  Come along for this lesson in development, he really is one of Baltimore's best.  Thanks Mark for coming on to talk about your work and this incredible development in Lutherville, we can wait to see it when it's done!  

This is the first of a bunch of new releases that were recorded while we attended the ICSC Convention. It is Maryland's Real Estate Extravaganza held anually at the Wynn in May.  You can hear the crowd in the background around the pool,  a huge thanks and shout out to Howard Perlow and the Wynn for the set up and space to conduct these interviews.. Brooke grew up in politics, that's what happens when your fathers Terry Lierman, she represented the 43rd District in Baltimore City and did a fantastic job, always looking out for her constituants she built a strong following which allowed her to take her service to another level and run a successful Statewide campaign  to become the first Woman Comptroller in Maryland History. We get the whole journey from the begining, Brooke is determined and she is a hard a working elected offical.  She also likes to have fun, and she's an amazing mother whose passionate about her children. Get a read on what's happening in Las Vegas that's attracting Marylands top officals from the Governor to the Comptroller, County Executives and many others.  We capture Brooke's thoughts coming off her first Legislative session and the first 6 months in office.  She's also got great idea's about how to make the Comptrollers office an office for the people and a modernized office for 2023. This is a great one and we have our first Angel....what more could we ask for in Vegas.. Thanks Brooke!   

When you grow up in the Embry Family you are well versed in what it means to be a part of a Community.  You watch your parents lead in the areas of Art's, Philanthropy and Community building,....and next thing you know you end up becoming Elizabeth Embry. City College> Yale > Columbia Law School...its all impressive, but when you start off with City College you know you're gonna end up Holy... Rev Al and I both know Elizabeth well and it was such a pleasure to see the world through the eyes of this incredible woman who is so well respected in our Community.  Elizabeth gives us a glimpse of the Journey over the past 10 years from a Prosecuter, to a Mayoral Candidate and a Candadite for Lt Governor now in the Legislature representing the 43rd District and coming behind the great Del. Maggie McIntosh who served that district for decades.  Make no mistake Elizabeth will leave her mark. Learn what she's learning from her constituents and hows she's putting that into action on the legislative front.  We talk about the Bills she succesffuly navigated in her first session and what it WAS like to be a freshman in the Legislature.so much fun! Craig Thompson, > Elizabeth Embry, we're off to a great start...thanks Delegate for coming in and sharing your time with us and thanks for all you are doing for the City we love so much!  

How about this guy, super lawyer, author of several childrens books, educated in Maryland's Public School system, he's a Terp for Life!  He serves on multiple Boards at the University of Maryland, he Chaired Gov. Wes Moore's campaign and is now the Board Chair of the Maryland Stadium Authority.  Ladies and Gentlemen, Rev Al and I are thrilled to open up Season #3 with Craig Thompson. We talk about everything, and it was a true pleasure to get to know this incredible man.  He wanted to teach his young daughter about diversity and there wasn't enough material focused on diversity so a simple concept of ABC's resulted in the publishing of two childrens books focused on the ABC's of African American Inventors and Afrtican American History.  He also wrote a chapter in a book called the Life and Death of Tupac Shakur, how's that for cool. He sees problems and he fixes them, he sees challenges and he overcomes them, he sees holes he fills them.  Born to a single working mother, whom he talks about with such reverance it's no wonder he's been able to achieve all that he has acheived.  He's keeping it simple, be a great son, be a great father and be a great husband.  What's going on with Craig Thompson?  Come along for a ride and get to know this incredible Baltimoreon as he embarks on a new journey at the Maryland Stadium Authority, an organization that's got a lot of balls in the air.  His collective experience will be great for the citizens of our great state.  Amazing organizations need amazing leaders, MSA just landed Craig Thompson, what a catch! Thanks Craig, for all you do for our Community.  The Rev and I can't think of a better way to kick off our latest Season with great conversations like this one to take us through the New Year!   Here we go.....10...9...8...7...6.......      

We hit a high point for Holiness on this day when we welcomed Dr. Frank Lance, the President and CEO of the venerable Parks and People Foundation and Sr. Pastor at Mount Lebanon Baptist Church. We talk about everything Parks and People and the amazing work that this tranformative organization is doing all over Baltimore City.  There's not a neighborhood out there that hasn't been improved by this organization.  Serving thousands of residents and hundreds of kids it is the Parks and People Foundation that is holding our cities Park system together and adding green space for residents all over the city.  Workforce development and training on how to maintain landscapes, Summer camps for hundreds of kids, keeping a sharp focus on improving our City's park system, one of the largest in the country. Frank, the Pastor of the Church right across the street from the new Parks and People HQ at Druid Hill Park had made his way onto the Board and then Board Chair Matt Kostmayer saw the light and approached Frank about filling the open position for CEO.  Matt says its the "Smartest move ever" and the Board agreed and its been 4 great years since he took over.  With a steady hand at the till the Foundation continues it's growth making Baltimore a healthier and greener place for all residents. Frank understood the energy of the Founder the great Sally Michel who was the force behind making this organization happen when Mayor Schaefer challenged a group of supporters to rally around our Parks.  Tune into this great conversation, it's Spring and our People are returning to our Parks, all made better by the great work of this incredible institution. Thanks Frank Lance for stepping up and thanks for all you and your staff are doing to make our Park System the best it can be.   

Reverand Al and I are especially pleased to Welcome the curators of Charm City Blue Grass. Two great entertainment guys, Adam Kirr and Phil Chorney.  Fells Point Festival, check, great success this past fall and now we are in the Spring and that means Charm City Bluegrass and it's 10th Anniversary.. A bunch of musical fanatics we venture into the minds and backgrounds of these two guys and we also entertain the spirtiual aspect of the music in Bluegrass and each of our lives. We bring forward an amazing Bluegrass fact...Baltimore was the first place to mass produce Banjo's and we talk about the banjo and it's journey from Africa to the Appalacian Mountains.  Full of fun conversations we also focus on this great event coming up with weekend at Union Craft Brewery starting Friday and ending after a maraton 12 hour day on Saturday Headlined by the Infamous Stringdusters it's going to be hopping. So many great acts...Twisted Pine, The Honey Dew drops, Grateful dub, Magic Beans...and many more... I have many great memories of the first few Charm City Blue Grass Events at the old Union, off of Union and this Festival keeps growing and growing.  We've been to Druid Hill Park but now back at the Union Collective with a great inside and outside venue. Tons of food trucks this looks to be a real good smash up of Bluegrass fans from all over celebrating this great art and doing it in Union with nature, food, drink and fun times.  It's heavenly work and these guys have it down, there's lots to learn here and Rev and I think you are really going to like it. Thanks to Adam and Phil, always good to have you in, thanks for all of the hard work and the passion for Bluegrass.     

Rev. Al and I so excited about this episode, the Mayor and Rev. go back a long ways, both graduates of City Collge High School, and both leaders in this community since their High Schools Days.  An amazing athlete Kurt Schmoke lead the City Knights to Championships two years while he was in High School, Junior and Senior year.  One of his mentors was George Young, a man who went on to run the New York Giants, he helped Kurt set his sights high and was pivitol in his journey to Yale. Kurt remembers wanting to be Mayor back to his early days in High School inspired by then Mayor Tommy Dellasandro during a speech at school.  A graduate of Yale undergrad and Harvard Law School and as a Rhodes Scholar he landed himself in Oxford for two years.  In High School he was a member of the famed Boys Club the Lancers.  As a Lancer he traveled the world and it opened his eyes to cultures all over the world.  He didn't get smaller he got bigger, and before you know it he was Baltimore's States Attorney and eventually its Mayor, where he served three terms  While Mayor he focused on making Baltimore "The City that Reads" and he tore down and rebuilt every multi-story public housing project in Baltimore.  As the President of UB he lends his experience and his vision for a new Station North which is underway with UB playing a real role in the redevelopement and repositioning land in the immediate area as construction begins on Baltimore's New state of the art Train Station along with UB's redevelopment of the US Post Office site adjacent to the campus.  A man raised in the public schools here in Baltimore he shows us what's possible with good parents and good mentors in life. Thanks Mayor Schmoke, for all you have done over the years, thanks for what you are doing now, this was a great conversation, we thank you for your time!      

As we enter into Passover and the Easter Weekend there's a ton of "Holiness" going around especially in this episode as we welcome Kennedy Krieger's President and CEO Brad Schlaggar, MD PhD. to the fold.  I've had the pleasure of getting to know Brad over the past year and what a great steal from the City of St. Louis.  His journey is a great one as he walks us through his career and the steps it took to get to the top of the mountain as Kennedy Krieger's President and CEO. He has published over 150 research papers and he's a highly sought after lecturer, people want to hear from this guy. When you spend your life persuing knowledge in the world of neurology and pediatrics and you get the call to come to Kennedy Krieger, you pick up your life and make the move.  So with his wife, Hristina who loves to laugh and also has a PhD in Neuroscience and their two kids they made the move to Baltimore.  Like everyone else that comes from other places they quickly settlled into our little Bohemian City and are loving life! At Kennedy Krieger Brad leads a team of over 2800 people providing services focused on improving the lives of children, adolocents, and young adults with disorders and injuries of the brain, spinal cord and musculoskeletal systems.  Kennedy Krieger is the second largest research Hospital in Baltimore's East Side and dominates the planet in the areas of it's focus.  I remember sitting in the lobby of the original building over 40 years ago when they were at the forefront of trying to understand ADHD and how to help wild type's like me.  The work is ongoing and the progress has been tremendous. There's so much more to this institution than most people in Baltimore know and Brad opens the curtain and unviels what's new across a broad spectrum of reasearch topics and some of the Institutions most exciting work.  When not working Brad loves music and in particular the Grateful Dead, so we get along just exactly perfectly.   Let's get into this one, a great talk with a newly declared Holy Man just in time for the Holiest time of the year.  Rev. and I are so pleased to present this one and give everyone a look behind the curtain at this incrediblely important institution.  Brad, thanks for coming to Baltimore and thanks for your leadership at one our State's most valuable healthcare assets. Happy Passover and Easter to All...      

The Rev and I are huge fans of Howard Perlow, I knew him as the king of Real Estate Title work and the host of the Maryland Party at the Annual ICSC Convention in Las Vegas, but through this Podcast Rev. and we learned so much more about him and you will too.  To say Howard loves Baltimore is a huge understatement, he's dedicated his life to making Baltimore a better place.  As a young man he was part of the Lancers Boys Club, with the likes of Kurt Schmoke and William Donald Schaeffer. Howard is a leader in Baltimore's Jewish Community having served on Boards of the JCC and many other Jewsih institutions now he spends his time as the Chair of the Board of Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center, located just west of the LifeBridge Campus.  As mentioned above Howard is the host of the Maryland Party, his brainchild.  This event which takes place in May is the largest gathering of real estate professionals from Maryland and the Mid Atlantic area, if your in the real estate world this is where you go to shoot fish in a barrel.  No other state in the country has more real estate professionals come together than Maryland does, deals are happening every couple minutes.  If you are a County Executive, Governor, Mayor or in the Economic Developement world  this is where you go to get more done in 4 days that you could get done in a months work. Invitations have been sent out and if you haven't signed up you should do it quickly at www.themarylandparty.com  This year the Rev and I are going to be broadcasting from Vegas, talking to the biggest Real Estate professionals and Government officials bringing our audience up to speed on the latests deals.  Listen to this one and learn about a great Baltimorean and the Inventor of the Biggest Party in Maryland Real Estate History.  Thanks Howard for a life dedicated to making our City and State a better place. 

Rev. Al and I are back, and we start the 2023 year with a guy who made more news happen in 2022 than anyone we know.... Stewart Bainum, the uber successful CEO of Choice Hotels International, made lots of news by getting himself in the news business as the lead investor in The Baltimore Banner.  Local news across the country was disintegrating our own Baltimore Sun was under seige by it's latest owner, investment in local news was down... In Baltimore, a movement led by my friend Ted Venetoulis was under foot to do something different, and Stewart the ultimate entreprenuer saw the opportunity to fund a non profit entity and bring forward Baltimore's newest source of local news The Baltimore Banner... Stewart walks us through it all, his amazing career, as a businessman, a politian, and as a family man.  How lucky are we as Baltimorean's that Stewart beleived in Ted's vision and he put his money on the table and said let's do it...The Baltimore Banner is off to an incredible start, great hires at CEO, and Editor in Chief and many of the story tellers are familiar to us.  This one was recorded last Summer, we've been saving it to kick off the year and our next run of Podcasts.  Thanks for your time Stewart, things are on the rise at the Baltimore Banner, thanks for single handedly saving local news. Oh say does that star spangled Banner yet wave O're the land of the free and the home of the brave!

This one is pure education...two experts in Real Estate one from a global level and one from an Interior perspective.  Note to self before listening, we live indoors over 90% of our lives. Our guests are fantastic, Brendan Gill, President of the MacKenzie Companies, a Full Service Real Estate company located in Lutherville with roots all over the Baltimore Metropolitan area, his Uncle Mike Gill our Commerce Secretary was with us just a few weeks back, part of a great Baltimore family.  Kelly Ennis of the Verve Partnership is in my opinion is amongst the best of a new class of Interior Designers, not just looking at space but looking at space and how it impacts humans while we are inside it.  You'll learn that there is healthy space, and there's every other space.  Major companies are looking at recreating space in a post Pandemic world and these two are right in the middle of it. We discuss a wide range of topics including workforce, and the need for a focus on creating more jobs for the Built Environment and we talk about the future of buildings and what it's gonna take to get employee's back to these workplaces left abandoned by the pandemic. So much learning.. People are the reason buildings exist...our two great guests, both delcared Holy by the Rev give us hope for a healthier future indoors.... Thanks Brendan and Kelly for an awesome enlightning conversation...    

Reverand Al  and I have been waiting to get this one out there for this special occasion as this program celebrates it's 8th Graduation this Wednesday November 30th at 11:30. The District Court Re-Entry Project provides options to Baltimore City District Court Judges to select to send someone to one of 17 training programs across a multitude of industries.  The intended outcome is providing defendants with skills that lead to a job in Baltimore's workforce.  With over 165 men and women as graduates and a very small rate of recitivism, this program has captured the attention of our elected officals in Annapolis, especially Senator Cory McCray who knows a "Fire Starter" when he see's one. He and Judge Pastore teamed up, got legislation crafted and passed so that this program could hone it's work and become a model across the state.  I have known Judge Pastore for over 30 years and I met Cory about 6 years ago, you've got two people here that love themsleves some Baltimore, born and raised here they both call it home. Both have run for political office, Nicki was spared buy a small amount of votes, the Universe had bigger idea's for her energy.  This is her baby and it arrose because defendants were complaining about the lack of jobs. Nicki, the consumate fixer thought of giving them skills and sparing the State the cost of incarceration.  It's a labor of love for the Judge and I know alot of hard work has gone into making the program a reality.  No one works harder on these graduations..  It's working, and this Wednesday in Partnership with the Baltimore Ravens, Jermaine Lewis will be there to inspire the graduates on their new journey and turn this Court Appearance into one that is positive, lifts people and provides pride and dignity for those getting their graduation certificate. Listen in and learn.  Thanks to Senator McCray and Judge Pastore for coming in to spread the good news, it's Holy work!       

We couldn't be more pleased than to welcome the great Mike Gill.  He loves Maryland and he loves Baltimore City...born and raised here Mike talks about his current role as Secretary of Commerce and he takes us back through the early days of his career where he was on the front of the wave for the Cellular revolution.  I met Mike when he was working for Americom and I was tasked with installing a new diffuser because he was a bit too hot.....making people comfortable is a good way to connect and I have had the privaledge of knowing Mike and watching him in his career.  He comes from a great Baltimore family, he's a Calvert Hall guy and he and his family have all left their mark on the industries they have touched. As Mike gets ready to hand off the batan to someone new it's great to hear the excitement he brings to his job, every day. All Marylander's should be grateful that Mike lent us his precious time and I know that our state is better off for having him in there.... Rev. Al and I are so pleased to get things rolling again with this awesome conversation...stay tuned the next one is right around the corner....    

Rev. Al and I couldn't be more pleased than to welcome the amazing Rachel Monroe. Knott only is she Holy, she's a superstar, and to have her in the Advanced Indoor Resources Podcast Center was a real Mitzvah for both of us.  This weekend and for the next week Rachel will lead a group of some of Maryland's best to Israel for an experience that is second to none. I have been, and it's an incredible journey to an incredible place with incredible people... lead by an incredible woman and the great people at the Weinberg Foundation. As a leader of one of the largest Jewish Foundations on the planet Rachel leads over 60 people in offices in Baltimore, and Honolulu.  The Foundation provides annual grants in excess 150 million across the country with a high concentration in Baltimore, Honolulu and Israel.  We talk Foundation stuff but we also got a chance to get to know Rachel an incredible wife and mother of three, who got her start as an organizer at the PTA.  (Great Story) Rachel and her family like to work hard but they also like to play hard....and have fun... Proud of her team at the Foundation, she's talks about what changed and what didn't during the COVID time and how  her incredible team leveled up and did even more.  The Foundation stays focused on alieviating poverty by providing grants in five area's inlcuding housing, health, jobs, education, and community services. Guided by the words of Harry Weinberg..... "While others are solving the ills of the world someone will be hungry someone will be sick someone will be cold, that is our job" Thanks Rachel, for being you, for all of your hard work.  We join you in being thankful for your Board and your teams hard work as the Harry and Jeanette Foundation continues to invest in our local non profits making Baltimore a better place every day.....  

Rev Al and I get finally get to talk healthcare.  We couldn't be more pleased to have Ed Lovern, the CEO of Ascension St. Agnus join us for a a great talk that hits wide range of topics. We started things off with a quick lesson on how to say his name...say Govern, now replace the G with an L and you've got it down.  Ed's not from Baltimore, but he has quickly made his mark as the CEO of Ascensions only asset in this market.  Ascension is an amazing company, in fact they are the largest Catholic Healthcare system in the Country with over 151 Hospitals.  Despite the largess of the Mother ship, Ed's leadership style has kept the Community based culture that St. Agnus was always associated with in tact  Right in the heart of Southwest Baltimore St. Agnus is in a growth mode as the city and county's around it continue to grow. Ed's a peoples leader, he leads by example and places himself on the ground with his employee's on a weekly basis.  Working through workforce challenges and maintaining some of Baltimore best Doctors is a formula that keeps people from the sourounding communities walking through he door. Ed Lovern, thanks for coming in and thanks so much for embracing our community and our Beloved Baltimore! You are offically Holy!

Rev Al and I are so excited to open up Season 2 of He's Holy I'm Knott with a Preview of this weekends Fells Point Fun Festival.  We were visited by a talented and passionate group of Baltimorean's that are the minds behind this great event.. This years event will start this Friday and end on Sunday, This Fun Festival has some great acts coming into town including War and Treaty, Brett Dennan, Amy Helm, The Rebirth Brass Band and so many more.  Listen in and learn about the Festival, it's orgins, and it's purpose, which is to raise money to protect some of Fells Points oldest buildings and to help maintain the character of the 18th and 19th century homes that line it's streets.  Food Trucks, Music, Community, Baltimore's Best Neighborhood Festival is coming our way, starting tomorrow, a huge thanks to Adam, Jeff and Adam for all of the hard work that goes into making this happen. Kicking off Season 2 with a Fun Festival is exactly where we want to be, back on track!  Amazing episodes coming in Season 2, get ready for new fun Podcasts with some of Maryland best minds as we go back to weekly broadcasting... Be Festive and have Fun at the Fells Point Fun Fest...    

Rev Al and I couldn't be more pleased than to have Gina Stewart the Executive Director and Ronny Nadiv Director of Stragetic Intitiavies for the ever growing BWI Partnership.  From the times of Friendship Airport to the BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport they talk about the roles this incredible organization plays amongst a wide variety of focuses, from transportation, in and around the airpoirt to workforce development the BWI Partnership getting involved with all of the companies that are in and around our bustling airport. But not only are they touching seemingly everything around the airport their reach goes into the City through a great Partnership with the Department of Recreation and Parks, where they bring city kids to the airport to learn about all the jobs around an airport. These two are rockstars, we get to know them a little bit and we get some insight into this awesome organization...an important player in business, transportation and workforce developement, you do those things and your organaization is Important.... The skies are the limits with this group, take off with us and learn about the BWI Partnership.    

Wow.....Rev. Al and I couldn't be more excited to welcome the teacher, Rabbi Andrew Busch, the leader of Baltimore's Oldest Jewish Congregation, the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. A cool conversation, we talk about the great history of his Synogogue from its origin in Baltimore City to its current home on the City/ County Line. The discussion flows beautifully as these amazing men educate us on the roles that the Jewish and African American Communitties in Baltimore played in the civil rights movement, bringing together the interfaith community together here in Baltimore, and so much more....there's a tightness between those communites that you get a sense of and it's really powerful. Current President of the Baltimore Jewish Council Rabbi Busch speaks to the power of building relationships in the community.  "Breaking out of our own walls" is something that he suggests as he speaks about the program developed by the late Honorable Elijah Cummings taking Balimore City youth to Israel to build on the African American and Jewish relationship. Come along and learn from these two teachers. I was surrounded by Holiness, this one was definately a Mitzvah for me!  Thanks Rabbi Busch, for coming in! Baltimore is lucky to have you!  

Rev Al Hathaway and I are so excited about this one.  "Set the gear shift to the high gear of your soul" and learn about Ian Kennedy, a man who was recently in his glory as he watched his favorite band Phish play in the new Merriweather Post Pavillion too a crazed crowd of music lovers.  A lover of all things arts and culture as the Director of the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commision he gets to play a lot of roles as he leads the team charged with more Arts and Culture for all Marylanders. Ian walks us through the process of getting the improvements to Merriweather approved and funded, not as easy as you might think given the fact that nearly everyone that goes to Merriweather comes out with a smile on their face.  I know last week at the Phish concerts that was certainly the case. Let's pile on the glory for a man who has fought hard for the Arts, Culture and Musical enrichment for Marylanders that come from all over for the opportunity to enjoy the amazing amenities that Downtown Columbia has to offer. Thanks Ian for all you are doing, your work is so important...Let it shine let it shine!    

Rev. Al and I are so pleased to bring the amazing story of Bloomberg Distinguished Professor Dr. Lawrence Jackson to our ever growing audience.  This guy is cool, I mean real cool, he's an expert on the History of Baltimore and he has rewriten the experience of African Americans and their contributions to the history and culture of our beloved city.  This is a lesson Podcast, learn about the music scene in Baltimore, especially the early Jazz scene here in Baltimore, learn about how Baltimore was also one the the places where Civil Rights legilation was written by Baltimore's own the Hon. Senator Clarence Mitchell. He has launched the Billy Holiday Center for Liberation Arts, he's way into Jazz and makes it real clear that Jazz came from Baltimore, as much as it came from NOLA.  He's written biographies on Ralph Ellison and Chester B. Hines, he's a Baltimore native, loves the place and is bent on seeing a brighter future for all Baltimorean's.  There is a deep rich History in the African American community here in Baltimore, and there's no better man to speak to it than Dr. Larry Jackson.  Come along for this one and learn about this incredible mans journey and have a look into the mind of a scholar who loves his city. Here we go! Thanks Dr. Jackson for joining us and shining your light.    

Rev. Al and I are so pleased to welcome Van Brooks, founder of the Safe Alternative Foundation for Education.  Van is a survivor and inspiration to everyone he meets, he tells his story of perserverance in the face of the prospect that he night never walk again.  As a decorated high school athlete at Loyola Blakfield in a moment his world changed as a result of a broken neck during a routine tackle playing football.  An inspired Van Brooks tells his story of triumph, the low points and the high points, of a journey that will lift up anyones spirits and give you a glimpse of a man who won't give up until he walks freely again.  Completely able to get around on his own he showed up at the Advanced Indoor Resources Podcast Studio in a sweet wheelchair. A self sufficient man on a mission to change the lives of young men and women by providing afternoon, weekend and summer learning programs that teach skills to that have real world application.  Van Brooks is truely impressive and never gave up, his story is amazing, dive in and learn about this incredible young mans journey. Thanks Van, for inspiring us and taking the time to tell your story.  

Rev Al Hathaway and I are so excited to uncover the life of an incredible man from the town of Federalsburg, Maryland, a town of 1900..the great Jim Shaw.  I have had the pleasure of getting to know Jim well over the past 6 years, his life is facinating and he's a real hero not only to me but many others. A father of two he's a family man recently celebrating his 62nd anniversary. Jim walks us through his journey from the small Eastern Shore town of Federalsburg where he graduated high school with 36 others and went on to ROTC at the University of Maryland.  He joined the Air Force and was trained on the first class of Jet's, the F86 Shooting Star, the first operational jet fighter used by the US Air Force.  He's flown a bunch of jets including a Hurricane Hunter out of Bermuda...flying into the eye of many Hurricane's... Jim walks us through the skills needed to keep your cool when things are getting rough in the air, "Attitude" being number 1... He was asked to start the Alumni Association for the University of Maryland and he did, what a great story that is, always on the cutting edge Jim's next stop after the Air Force was IBM and from there it was off to Memorex, where he started their business on the Eastern part of the country.  He built a Clipper Ship, called Clipper City...186 feet long.. We could go on and on about this incredible journey, touching so many people Jim's life of purpose and driven by a system that he created which he explains in detail... Here the week of the 4th we celebrate this incredible man's journey serving his country and his state.  Thanks Jim for joining us and thanks for all you do for our community.  

Rev Al and I couldn't be more pleased than to welcome the infamous Sloane Brown, if you know the name well then you are typically hanging out somewhere where lots of people are gathering for something big, and you can be sure Sloane is there to capture the fun...Her career in Broadcasting is prolific, starting as a disc jockey, she was one of the original woman Weather forecasters, a TV reporter, Anchor, Video Producer and Radio News director and an art and music critic.  Sloane has done it all in an industry that was male dominated for far to long....she fought through all of it an came out on top, for the last 15 years she has been the Society Reporter for the Baltimore Sun, currently assisting with the Daily Record she has also founded a new start up called Snap, where she continues to post pictures of Baltimore's best dressed as they celebrate something good that's hapening in our city....This is a great conversation a "Special Angel", and promoting a woman pioneer and her career seems like the right place to be on the heals the Roe v Wade disaster.   Jump in and learn about this incredible woman and her amazing career...thanks Sloane for spending time with us, we are looking forward to seeing you at the next big thing happening in our great City!

Rev Al and I are so excited to release this great conversation with Nina Noble. She's an Emmy Winning Executive Producer.  She is the Executive Producer of the new hit series on HBO, We Own this City.  As a Baltimore resident this isn't her first time around the block in Baltimore, Nina also played a huge role in two HBO Series, The Corner, and The Wire. Nina takes us through her journey from a Grip on the set to Executive Producer.  We also get into the the details of the impact that her film making has had on the Baltimore landscape, from caterer's to extra's and helping hands and even some new actors coming from the streets of Baltimore.  Learn about film making and it's impact on local economies a huge take away from this talk.  We learn that as Baltimorean's we may not like how some of these shows depict our city, but there are many benefits that come along with filmaking and we delve into all of them.  She's an incredible woman who wants to do good and is all about doing good.  She doing it and gets the Halo nearly right out of the gate, this was a great conversation that took place just after the series premier of We Own This City!  There's a take away from that title for all of us, We as Baltimoreans and taxpayers OWN this city, every inch of it, and if we really own all of it, it will be much easier to work together to make it all the best it can be for everyone!  Thanks Nina, this was a great chat!

Rev. Al and I are so pleased to welcome Arsh Mirmiran of Caves Valley Partners...a client, a collabotator and a friend Arsh takes us on his journey and walks us through all of the exciting projects that CVP is working on throughout the city, from Cross Keys, which is experienceing a huge revival to the nearly completed renovation of the venerable Cross Street Market.  Arsh explains the importance of listening to the neighborhoods you step into as a developer and the lessons learned in several projects.  This one went over an hour but goes by real quick. A great conversation with 3 friends.... Thanks Arsh for making time for us and for all that you and your partners at CVP are doing by investing so heavily in Baltimore.

Rev Al and I couldn't be more excited to welcome this inspirational leader to the Advanced Indoor Resources, Podcast center.  James Bond and the Living Classrooms Foundation are an important  part of the fabric of the local non profit community.  He is one of the founders of this great organization that teaches by allowing people to learn through hands on experiences.  Learning by doing...Learning by doing, Learning by doing... James takes us back pre Living Classrooms and talks about his journey all over the world and how that shaped him for this position. James has a vision for a better BALTIMORE and he fills us in on all that going on at LCF including  workforce, re-entry, housing, poverty, schools and how assembling a team around him to ensure the trains are running on time is some of his finest works.  Another great talk with a man on a mission..James Piper Bond.... Listen in.....Everbody's Dancing....

Terry Hasseltine has been a fixture in Maryland Sports for over 15 years...He literally sells us to the world.  He's been in Sports marketing for nearly an entire career, dating back to the early days in Kentucky. He takes us through his journey and we talk about FIFA, School Construction, local rec and parks, the redevelopement of Pimlico and Laurel Race Tracks.. and more as we cover alot of ground. The Rev and I couldn't think of a better day than Preakness Saturday to lauch this exploration of the great things going on in the World of Sports Entertainment in our great State. Happy Preakness Day and thank you Terri Hasseltine for joining us for another great discussion. 

What as journey this one was....The Chamber of Commerce is playing a critical role in supporting Marylands business community.  Kristi Simon, it's CEO walks us through the Chambers actvities and how they have changed over the pandemic with more support needed than ever.  New needs such as PPP Loan applications and everything you can imagine COVID.  Well versed in Chamber activities Kristi talks about her transition from the Howard County Chamber where business is always booming to the Central Maryland Chamber and the challenges and leasons learned working through the pandemic. From main street to the NSA our Central Maryland Chamber is touching business's from the biggest to the smallest.  Have a listen with us and learn and appreciate our Chamber's all around the state for all the work they do to support Marylands economy...  

Rev. Al and I are so excited about this Episode, coming to the World on this celebratory day May 1, 2022.  It's Ralley Day which is the SquashWise signature fundraiser can't think of a better day to push this one out. SquashWise is a local non profit that teaches the game of Squash to inner city kids that would otherwise more than likely never see a Squash Court. SquashWise Partners with children and families to advance equity in Squash, education and personal opportunities. We are joined by our biggest group yet, Sage Platt, Chair of the Board, Co-Founder and Executive Director Abby Marcoe, Chair of the Capital Campaign, Doug Hoffberger and the ever impressive Abisola an 11th grader at Poly who has been a part of SquashWise for several years.  Abisola speaks to the lessons and opportunities that have come her way since becoming a part of the SquashWise Family.  It's another great episode where we learn about this incredible program, Abosola teaches Rev Al the finer points of the game of Squash, we get an update on their recent purchase of the Greyhound Building, our former bus terminal, and their plans to turn it into a permanent home for their program and also open its doors to the Greater Baltimore Community to bring Squash to anyone that has an interest....Thanks to everyone for an awesome talk about this incredible program, Abisola you are an amazing young woman, thank you for all of your words about SquashWise.  I am so proud of so many of my friends especialy those here with us today for all of their hard work to make this real and change peoples lives. Peace!

Rev. Al and I are so excited to welcome Isabel Cummings, Baltimore's Inspector General. The office was created by Martin O'Malley in 2005 with the idea of creating an independant internal watch dog to investigate City Operations.  Isabel works for every City resident to ensure our tax dollars are being spent properly.  "Nobody is off Limits" and that has been the case as Isabel directs her office to root out fraud where ever it may be. Seems like a never ending job in a City like Baltimore.  Isabel get's her inspiration from the Sun each day with a picture she post's on her social media.  She's the proud mother Joey Jett a budding entreprenuer and of one of the best Skate boarder's on the planet, when she's not busting criminals you can find her at the Skate Park cheering on her son. Isabel walks us through her world, she's a fierce defender of Baltimore City and the taxpayer's.  Enjoy an hour or so discussion about her passion for rooting out fraud and holding our elected officials and city workers accountable. Thanks Isabel for all of yourt hard work! Keep rolling!