Interesting Ish

Charlotte Gatlin seems to me ... to be a survivor. She has a great story, family, father and support system and people around her that don't see the world or speak of the world in a way that is as "stripped" or raw as she does. They haven't had her walk. This is all of us. We have that challenge of understanding one another. The following is a conversation about the challenges of mental health on a marriage. Mental Health affects us all, and, as it turns out, if you didn't know ... all of us struggle with it. All of us are in community and have to choose BOTH love and boundaries within this conversation. Only a handful of you will read this intro and description, but when you do ... consider what it looks like to send your mom some love, send your father some grace, choose some space from a toxic relationship, and wonder what the next step is towards a healthier and more peaceful life. Charlotte did and I hope you do too. I hope you enjoy. 2:00 - Intro - REAL: A mom's journey from expectation to reality 3:25 - Publishing Process 4:50 - The Pivot - making the call 6:40 - Memoirs to Pages 7:00 - Early years of marriage 9:25 - Minimizing Mom 12:00 - Honoring mothering :) 13:55 - Turning Points 14:00 - Physical, emotional, verbal and financial abuse 17:50 - Losing your father and your marriage 21:00 - Supervised Visitation 22:20 - "Enough" becoming resiliency and compassion 24:32 - No matter the outcome - there is HOPE 27:18 - 3 Questions 27:30 - Being Grateful as a mindset

I've always liked Andy Soper from afar. We know all the same people, but didn't know each other. I liked him even better when we got to sit down together. The dude knows what he wants and goes for it. He's been at it his whole life, but for the better part of a decade, he has been collaborating on creating spaces and organizations to combat the problem of Human Trafficking. After diving into some wild n out run-ins he's had with some bats - one of which that left him in his birthday suit on the porch :), we dive into his propensity to build organizations, and what he is up to lately. Find out how we all can take a note from Target or K-Mart on collecting data, and find a way to use it for creating a better world. Enjoy! 04:16 - eBook - 7 Legitimate Reasons why I am Afraid of Bats 17:36 - Transitioning out of Residential Care 18:16 - You can't take people where you haven't gone 20:36 - Lisa Gungor - The Most Beautiful Thing I've Seen 21:06 - The system isn't broken, it was built this way 22:16 - The Manasseh Project - www.manassehproject.org 23:56 - Helping starts with learning 27:46 - Youth Homelessness 30:16 - HQ Drop-In Center - www.hqgr.org 31:06 - Mission including a sense of Belonging and Safety 34:16 - Rick stumbling over words and can't think of the word "dignity" :) 36:16 - Both Continue to be dope ! 36:36 - Measurable Change - www.measurablechange.org 40:16 - Professor Bridgette Carr - Human Trafficking Law Clinic 42:05 - 3 Factors of Trafficking - Force, Fraud and Coercion 42:16 - Training phases 45:36 - Moving from Babel to Pentecost 49:35 - It's not hidden in plain sight, it's just in plain sight 49:46 - 3 Questions

I met Julie Lankes this past year through a Grand Rapids Chamber based program called "Leadership Grand Rapids". Julie and I hit it off early on as we talked a bit about working at Camps growing up. We're both fascinated with personality assessments and knowing ourselves well. Julie has had a successful career as a business owner as the founder of BoxBoom Creative, and has since opened up the doors to new fields of work to continue to satisfy her undying curiosity. If you're an achiever, a business owner, a brander or a business based creative ... this is a conversation for you. If you're like the rest of us and just like to listen in, there's some great content as well. Enjoy this Interesting Ish folks! 2:30 - Intro - Extreme Extrovert - ENFP - Meyers Briggs 4:52 - Knowing yourself in the formative years 5:57 - not every co-worker is like me 7:03 - not every camper is like me 8:20 - Chicago life meets MRSA 9:30 - What am I doing? 10:28 - BoxBoom Creative 12:30 - Standing out in a saturated market 13:30 - The minimization of the creative 15:30 - Don't be afraid to blow up your life 16:30 - getting to the top of the mountain, now what? 19:30 - Business architecture 21:00 - "Do you need a me?" 23:41 - The courageous pivot 25:57 - Keeping an undying curiosity 27:30 - Bringing great truths to the surface 27:56 - Enneagram 3 - The achiever 29:15 - 3 Questions

Hey everyone. It was a long winter. It was a long, brutal winter here in Michigan and it's great to be back to producing Interesting Ish, even in the midst of a busy summer season. In this episode, I sit down with Shandy Longcore who is beginning an initiative and message around the topic of "Embracing Imperfection". Shandy's story is a brave and beautiful one that we just scratch the surface of. As a head's up, part of her her story does involve a suicide attempt and I want to be mindful if that is a triggering and sensitive topic for you. We also provide several touch points for reaching out if you are feeling suicidal. I am thankful for Shandy's time and her message and I hope it touches your heart as well. NOTES - 0:15 - Suicide prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255 4:21 - What is interesting about you? 7:08 - Fitness Industry 7:38 - My own family history with depression and mental health 9:40 - A really bad day amidst a joyous childhood 13:07 - We're so thankful you're here 13:23 - Hiding behind "the accident" 15:21 - Opening up 16:03 - Leaders Conference - John O'Leary 17:51 - Go ahead and shut up that inner critic of yours 19:21 - Embracing Imperfection 21:19 - Use your voice - "Amen to reaching out" 24:13 - The dropped stigma of "the therapist" 25:55 - Reframing is important 26:45 - Outlets to connect 27:15 - In a CRISIS moment CALL 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or TEXT "HOME" to 741741 29:35 - Proactive approaches to help with anxiety or depression 32:41 - 3 Questions: 32:46 - What's good? Positivity breeds positivity 36:24 - What needs to be mended? 37:21 - What's next? CONTACT Shandy at shandy_longcore@yahoo.com

Brad Nelson wants to teach you something, but only by sharing his experience as the student. From once taking a gig in the Mail Room at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, MI, to figuring out how to "create" community with 10,000 church goers, to curating a brilliant speakers lineup, to putting in the hours to becoming one himself - Brad is a man that wants to take you there, remembering that it is not about the destination, but how we make the journey, together. Come join me as we listen in on his journey ... thus far :) 5:00 - Brick City Church 7:17 - A sense of "placeness" 8:22 - Finding Home 10:49 - A Career pivot 12:29 - I went to college to play soccer 14:04 - The Divine Conspiracy - Dallas Willard 14:39 - What would it look like to tell an amazing story? 16:16 - Janitor life 17:00 - Pastor life 19:37 - Connected and alone 20:34 - Organizing around mission vs. sameness 21:57 - Church as a cruise ship 26:53 - Skye Jethani - The Divine Commodity 28:31 - Practicing your voice in The Lab 33:44 - "You only find your voice by using it" 38:30 - I'm not the teacher, I'm the primary learner 39:49 - 3 Questions: 40:29 - What's Good? ... Everything! 42:00 - Living with a gratitude lens 48:00 - Both / And 51:40 - He goes where the pain is 52:40 - "Don't follow your passion, follow your curiosity" - Elizabeth Gilbert 55:02 - Community as social enterprize 57:27 - Lennyisms :)

Jonah Berger is the man, the myth, the legend. I had a skype call with Jonah in the winter of 2014 to discern whether this well-seasoned former Camp Director and I were going to work together for the summer. What I didn't know is that I would gain a lifetime friend. I'd bet my bottom dollar on it. Jonah has spent the better part of the last 20 years advocating for individuals with disabilities in Denver, CO and across the nation. He is more than a program guide, camp director, or mentor figure ... Jonah is as close to the real deal as they come and mostly because he is willing to admit all the ways he is not the real deal. Take a peak into his life and way and let me know what you think about the man we call "Joneeezy". Thanks for listening! SHOW NOTES: 2:45 - reach me at bluewoodfire@hotmail.com 6:45 - Camp Life 7:33 - The Empathy Mentor 11:25 - Growing Up - Rockville, MA 12:58 - 80's hip hop was about positivity 15:48 - Connecting with The Song 17:08 - The Colorado Dream 18:18 - The Rhythm Within 20:32 - Legacy - Grandpa - Dad - Jonah - Being a man of the people 23:56 - Dave Matthews and Frodo 25:06 - WYCE - The best little radio station in the world 26:56 - "So what's up with the legs?" 28:58 - CMT - Charcot-Marie-Tooth 30:20 - Camp Footprint 32:54 - 3 Questions 36:48 - What's Good Denver? 44:05 - Braveheart - "I luvya ... I always have" - "Your heart is free, have the courage to follow it." Find Jonah on Facebook or at www.therhythmwithin.com

Mark Dykema is passionate about and succeeds at many things. From playing Dave Matthews instrumentals in my wedding ceremony to quoting any episode of The Office, to managing 60 employees, to bee keeping, to being a good father ... I mistook him for an Achiever :). We talk Enneagram 101 and why Mark is a #7 Enthusiast. To be clear, we are not the foremost experts on the topic, but boy do we have fun pretending to be. The other thing I got wrong is that in the British version of The Office, Jim and Pam are not Jim and Pam ... they're Dawn and Tim! Yeah Tim is played by the brilliant Martin Freeman and Ricky Gervias is off the charts funny, but Tim and Dawn? Just doesn't have that ring ... Either way - FAIL by me. The following are a few notes to guide you along through the conversation: 4:19 - The Office - British and American humor 10:33 - Armchair Enneagram Experts 15:16 - #7 - The Enthusiast 16:13 - Career story - "Success does not equal calling" 18:36 - Diff. b/w a #7 Enthusiast and a #3 Achiever 20:31 - The drag of a #7 in insurance 21:05 - Bag Boys - the corn hole side hustle 26:13 - Take-aways from working the side hustle 28:26 - "Do not despise small beginnings" 29:19 - BUSINESS OWNERSHIP 32:09 - The Value of the Harlem Shake - employee culture 33:31 - "Every customer must leave in a better mood than when they arrived" 33:35 - "Recognize every customer as an individual" 35:07 - replicating yourself 36:47 - BE REAL 42:01 - Legacy metrics - weddings 44:00 - 3 questions: 44:03 - 1. What's good? 46:46 - 2. What could be better? 52:29 - 3. What's next? 53:19 - A #7 begins a podcast :) 58:19 - Enough to be Dangerous

I sit down with Jill Tanis, co-founder of The Nourish to Flourish Society. Jill began this organization with her co-founder Angelle Theisen Batten about 3 years ago. Together, they long to provide a platform where women fall in love with nourishing mind, body and spirit with simple soulful self care practices, delicious food and a supportive community. I had a fascinating conversation with Jill, and I really hope you check out their 14 day RESET. Registration is open NOW for the January 2019 RESET and it is something that has greatly impacted my household and I think it will for you too! Check it out at: https://www.nourishtoflourishsociety.com/14-day-reset/ In this episode, we cover the following: 2:05 - When our stories impact each each other 7:14 - The origins of Nourish to Flourish 11:00 - The 14 day - RESET: 1. Food that is delicious 2. Easy to prepare 3. Something the whole family will love - Primary and secondary foods - Are our relationships and commitments flourishing? - Why movement is important 15:00 - Everything is spiritual - including food 16:15 - Mind shift from DIET mentality to whole self 20:30 - Don't compartmentalize yourself 20:50 - The definition of metabolism 21:20 - "What you FOCUS on GROWS" 22:02 - "Add in to Crowd out" 25:00 - Don't touch my Diet Coke! 27:10 - WATER 28:15 - 3 Questions 32:49 - Savoring vs consuming 35:00 What is my "come from"? 37:25 - What's next? - 14 day RESET info. !!! 39:28 - My RESET Testimony 42:00 - SAVOR SAVOR SAVOR

In this full episode with Behavioral Health consultant - Travis Atkinson, we explore the path towards systems thinking with Mental Health, and the harmony that music adds to the conversation. What a wealth of knowledge !!! Some show notes at approximate times are the following: - 4:00 - Early musical influence - 10:00 - psychology vs. psychiatry - 20:00 - playing some Beatles covers at the Day Center - 27:00 - Behavioral Health with a Systems lens - 32:00 The Chick-fil-A of crisis service - 43:00 - Deep Greens and Blues - 56:00 - Rob Bell - Sex God - 58:30 - "Roll On" + 3 Questions

In this Interesting Ish Extra, we hear a portion of my sit down with Travis Atkinson. He is a consultant in Mental Health and Crisis Prevention, a father and husband, and plays with a smooth West Michigan band, "Deep Greens and Blues" At the end of our hour long conversation, this bit picks up where Travis shares a song coming out in the coming months by Deep Greens and Blues called "Roll On" and he answers ... 3 Questions. Enjoy.

In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Vanden Huevel who likes to casually mention that he's discovered both an asteroid and another planet in his early scientific career. And yet, he lives in good ol' West Michigan, where he finds harmony in juggling the day-to-day of being a husband and father while pursuing career. We explore his journey, the nature of our work, refining vs. new endeavors, and what to do when your stomach says, "no more." Lastly, the Wheel of Fortune bit at the end of the 3 questions ... pure gold. I hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think. Thank you for listening! The link to Andrew's work is http://www.agl-initiatives.org/

In this very first episode of Interesting Ish, I sit down with longtime friend, Billy Lanford, to discuss our beginnings in residential social work, growth in worldview, and steps towards personal growth through choosing discipline when you find yourself in a "desert". Also - wellness, health, movement, reading, coaching. Such great Interesting Ish here :). I hope you enjoy!