Steve Dunn Podcast

Rocky Cabagnot, Rick McDermott, and Danny Lyon join me to discuss our experiences growing up in the Catholic church.

Nute Thompson has followed a well-trodden path in his legal career, from law firm litigator to in-house general counsel. On thing sets him apart: Nute is 28 years old. I was pleased to speak with Nute about his accelerated career trajectory as well as the generational differences we observe in our profession. It was fun to reminisce about my own start as a young lawyer and hear Nute's insightful observations about the practice today.

I set out to talk to Rocky Cabagnot about his love of professional wrestling and fighting sports. He's a great follow on social media, keeping his network updated not just on the latest feuds in the WWE, but also in-depth analysis of the Charlotte Hornets and Carolina Panthers. However, as we started talking, we got sidetracked into a discussion of the Charlotte School of Law, the once-proud institution where he taught as a full-time professor and I did a stint as an adjunct. I am using a new program to edit the podcast these days and I still have not mastered it. It was useful in taking out a lot of the "umms" and "uhhs" but the result can sound a bit choppy at times. Please bear with me as I continue to learn to use new tools.

James Young is a fully bilingual (English-Spanish) mediator and arbitrator in Charlotte. His broad range of experience includes breach of contract, defamation, personal injury, workers compensation, and estate matters. He is a Certified Superior Court Mediator and has experience mediating a range of cases including guardianships and Medicaid planning, special needs estate planning, breach of contract, defamation, personal injury, workers compensation, and estate matters. He also has extensive arbitration experience in the areas of personal injury, landlord/tenant issues, and contractual disputes.

The one and only Greg Parent joins me once again to discuss the practice of mediation. In this conversation, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of working with lawyers and parties from all around the country and all around the world.

Just a quick hello directly from me to you to let you know what's going on with the podcast. Subjects include:Frequency of future episodesBitcoin, streaming money, and the Fountain appPersonal reflections upon turning 50

https://www.ncemploymentattorneys.com/josh-van-kampen/ (Josh Van Kampen) represents individuals in disputes with their employers and former employers. As one of the best known and most successful employee representatives in North Carolina, Josh is the perfect guest to talk about mediation from the perspective of a plaintiff's employment lawyer. Josh has developed an approach to mediation based on humanizing himself and his clients with the adverse party and attorney. We discussed how to prepare for mediation, deliver an effective opening statement, and work through the range of emotions experienced in mediation.

Greg Parent is one of the most sought-after mediators in Atlanta. His https://milesmediation.com/neutrals/gregory-j-parent-esq/ (calendar) is booked months in advance. This is due in part to Greg's personality, skill, and professional experience. He is one of the few mediators who has worked as an insurance adjuster in addition to representing both plaintiffs and defendants. But Greg's success did not happen overnight, and it did not happen by accident. He is a tireless networker who takes a genuine interest in everyone he meets and makes a point of fostering those connections over time. Growing a mediation practice is hard. Few of us have the capacity to network the way Greg does, but we can all learn from his experience. And the basic concept that efforts generates results applies in every field of business.

https://jwardpoetry.com/home (Jay Ward) is a poet and spoken artist https://www.wfae.org/arts-culture/2022-04-20/charlotte-names-its-first-poet-laureate-jay-ward (currently serving) as the Poet Laureate of the City of Charlotte. He is the 2019 Individual World Poetry Slam Champion and the author of two volumes of poetry, Sing Me A Lesser Wound and Composition. Jay is part of a thriving and supportive spoken word scene in Charlotte comprising nationally recognized poets, including his co-hosts and guests on the https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/poet-up/id1505222998 (Poet Up podcast).

Psst... don't tell anyone, but some lawyers do not particularly enjoy their jobs. As an insurance defense attorney experiencing the "Sunday saddies" as each new workweek, rolled around, John Miles decided to make a change into the then-burgeoning field of mediation. In those days, the typical mediator was an older, white, male, former judge. Under John's leadership, https://milesmediation.com/ (Miles Mediation & Arbitration) has grown from a one-man shop to the largest dispute resolution firm in the southeast, with a diverse panel of neutrals reflecting the clients they serve. We talk about the business of mediation, what makes a good mediator, and how it has changed since John pioneered new ways of thinking about dispute resolution.

When my daughter, Clara, was four years old, we decided we would visit the top of the Eiffel Tower when she was 16. This year for spring break, we made it happen. I took an audio recorder along with us. Each night, we sat down together and went over the day's events. This was an experiment in a different form of podcasting, as well as a document of our long-planned trip.

https://www.stephaniehaynes.net/ (Stephanie Haynes) works with students and parents to evaluate all the options after high school. While college is the right choice for some, she has found that many individuals can better reach their goals through apprenticeship, the military, community college, or a gap season. Haynes discusses these options and how to choose among them in https://www.amazon.com/College-Not-Mandatory-Navigating-Available/dp/1947303112#:~:text=College%20is%20Not%20Mandatory%3A%20A,9781947303119%3A%20Amazon.com%3A%20Books (her book), College Is Not Mandatory: A Parents Guide to Navigating All the Options Available to Our Kids After High School.

College basketball is almost a religion in North Carolina, so it is not unusual to run into passionate fans of UNC, Wake Forest, Duke, or NC State. It is rare, however, to come across someone who regularly travels from Taiwan to watch his favorite team, or who is on a first name basis with the school's coaches and former players. Randy Chen is such a fan. Randy and I met in 1991 in our freshman dorm at Duke. He is from Taipei and I am from Charlotte, but despite our different backgrounds, we quickly bonded as fellow trumpet players in the http://www.dukeband.org/ (Marching & Pep Band). We have been friends ever since. And while many consider me a huge Duke fan, Randy's devotion to the Blue Devils is unparalleled. He has been a basketball season ticket holder for many years, traveling all the way from Taipei every year for the Carolina game and the ACC Tournament. Whenever Duke makes it to the Final Four, Randy will be there. For more than ten years, Randy has attended https://kacademy.com/ (K Academy), a fantasy basketball camp and family reunion of Duke supporters, coaches, and former players. While the campers themselves are past their athletic prime, make no mistake: everyone takes it very seriously and the competition is intense. Randy and I talked about Duke Basketball, but our conversation is about community, commitment, and the lifelong memories we make with lifelong friends.

https://landiswade.com/ (Landis Wade) describes himself as a "recovering trial lawyer" who, after a distinguished career in law, has thrown himself into podcasting and writing. As host of the https://charlottereaderspodcast.com/ (Charlotte Readers Podcast), Landis speaks with authors about their works and process. His new novel, https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Declarations-Indie-Retirement-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09KYB5FT5 (Deadly Declarations), is a legal thriller in which attorney Craig Travail finds himself reluctantly dragged into controversy and intrigue surrounding the real-life mystery of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Set in a retirement community, Deadly Declarations touches on themes of aging and vitality as its colorful characters are swept up in a historical adventure.

Krystle Baller is the Creative Director of https://www.werockclt.org/ (We Rock Charlotte), a nonprofit that provides music education and programming for kids and adults. They are also the bassist and singer of https://www.heyrichardclt.com/ (Hey RICHARD), a feminist punk band voted "Best New Band" of 2021 in Queen City Nerve's https://qcnerve.com/best-in-the-nest-2021/ (Best in the Nest). Krystle is inspiring a generation of young musicians through their music lessons, https://www.ted.com/talks/krystle_baller_women_turn_up_the_volume (TED Talk), and setting an example of success in the male dominated world of rock and roll. Krystle's life experience informs their work, having grown up as a kid from West Virginia whose only knowledge of the term "lesbian" is that it was a dangerous thing to be. We all hope to leave the world better than we found it. Krystle truly is walking the walk, making a positive difference in Charlotte and the world.

Molly Ruggere is a Certified Life Coach, Alcohol Freedom Coach and Founder of Counterculture Club, a global alcohol-free community based in Charlotte, NC that offers private and group coaching, monthly membership and virtual and in-person events for individuals who want to build authentic relationships, socialize without drinking and counter the mainstream idea that we need alcohol to have fun, fulfilling lives.  Molly gave up drinking when she realized alcohol was holding her back from living her life to the fullest. She experienced incredible personal transformation, and in 2019 she decided she wanted to find a community of like-minded individuals interested in growing and exploring new experiences without alcohol together. As someone who once thought alcohol was a requirement for socializing and fun, Molly's mission is to show others that removing alcohol from your life is the opposite of boring—it opens up doors and possibilities, allowing you to embrace opportunities with clarity. Molly firmly believes that giving up alcohol was the single best decision she's ever made in her life, and is committed to showing others how much fun and freedom can be had once you embrace the idea that you don't need booze to be your best self. In addition to working as an entrepreneur and coach, Molly is also a writer who regularly contributes stories to local and national publications about how to live an alcohol-free lifestyle. You can read some of her stories on her website here: https://www.mollyruggere.com/ (https://www.mollyruggere.com/) When she's not coaching, growing Counterculture Club or writing, Molly enjoys reading, going to concerts, hitting yoga classes, trying new restaurants, traveling and spending time with her friends, family and teacup poodle Ziggy. Follow Molly on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mollyruggere/ (@mollyruggere) and Counterculture Club https://www.instagram.com/counterculture_club/?hl=en (@countercultureclub )

Matt Cosper is the Artistic Director of http://www.xoxoperformance.org/ (XOXO), a theatre collective a collective of artists/creators who develop original performance in and around Charlotte, NC. XOXO has spent the last decade developing a practice based in generosity, play and deep listening to the natural world. Matt has been making theatre in Charlotte for over 20 years, always exploring the boundaries of setting, subject matter, and the roles of actor and audience. He achieved https://www.charlottemagazine.com/review-bohemian-grove-a-triumph-in-experimental-theatre-and-making-you-feel-weird/ (critical acclaim) for http://www.xoxoperformance.org/bohemian-grove.html (Bohemian Grove), a play that began with the audience aboard a 15-passenger van and left https://clclt.com/charlotte/xoxo-steps-beyond-the-threshold-of-freaky-theater/Content?oid=4723810 (everyone) who experienced it permanently changed. I caught Matt at a moment of ambivalence about theatre. We discussed more enduring forms such as film, Matt's reluctant embrace of leadership, and the burden of expectation.

In Charlotte's non-profit sector, Josh Jacobson needs no introduction. Since arriving in 2008, Josh has worked with non-profits large and small to help them get better at everything they do. I have had the pleasure of working with Josh as a board member of two organizations, and I have always been impressed not only by his knowledge and ability to communicate, but also his genuine passion for the organizations he serves. As CEO of https://www.nextstage-consulting.com/ (Next Stage), Josh has been thinking and writing about the social impact of community based organizations and how to ensure their viability in a fundraising environment that is no longer "one size fits all." This includes the changing times in which social media and crowd funding exist alongside the traditional "charity gala" model. It also includes consideration of the unique attributes of Charlotte, a new-money town with few multi-generational family foundations and a changing of the guard away from dominant corporate CEOs. In this episode of the Steve Dunn Podcast, we talk about Josh's crash course in non-profit fundraising, his move to Charlotte in 2008, and his thoughts about the future including mutually beneficial partnerships between for-profit corporations and community based organizations.

My brother Ryan and I were heavy drinkers for many years and now we have both quit. Ryan's struggle was dramatic at times, including an intervention, two stints in residential rehab, and consistent participation in Alcoholics Anonymous. My drinking seemed more normal and socially acceptable, but after seeing what Ryan had gone through, I knew where I was headed if I did not make a change. In this conversation, we talk about our drinking histories, the ups and downs of quitting, and our hopes for the future. We are not professionals and we do not offer advice. We offer only our experience and encouragement. If you are considering quitting and want to talk about it, please feel free to contact us. We are happy to talk. https://www.aa.org/ (Alcoholics Anonymous) https://www.reddit.com/r/stopdrinking/ (/r/stopdrinking) https://iamsober.com/ (I Am Sober for Android and iOS)

You probably have heard of https://phish.com/ (Phish) and maybe you have a friend or family member who seems strangely fascinated with the band. I fill the role of "obsessive Phish fan" in my social circle, so I thought it would be fun to do a podcast episode discussing the band's music and its dedicated fanbase. In addition to being a gifted and successful attorney, https://emplawfirm.com/our-team/r-michael-elliot/ (Michael Elliot) is a bona fide expert in the world of Phish. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the band's music, earned over many years of seeing them perform live. There are Phish fans, and then there are "sold grilled cheese on the lot while doing an entire tour" fans, and Michael falls into the latter category. Some of the music we discuss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj4jJ6MLtD4 (The Tahoe Tweezer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0Sf8lOdGRw (The Holy Ghost) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWfbtGBG8gE (The Went Gin)

Salim Uqdah is the owner of https://www.uroborosmediations.com/ (Uroboros Mediations), a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise which strives to make divorce easy through mediation and coaching. We talk about the business and practice of mediation, including: The purposes of mediation The unique challenges of mediating in a family context Building a practice in gay divorce while gay marriage is still relatively new How growing up as a caregiver in an intergenerational household prepared Salim for a career in mediation

Amanda is a professional artist whose work is featured in the https://bombshelves.com/the-one-you-love-is-not-far-away (American Express Centurion Lounge) at the Charlotte airport, and on the Design Network show, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7n3VOkqzB8 (Commissioned). I get to enjoy her painting, https://bombshelves.com/#/broken-wing/ (broken wing) every day, hanging behind the reception desk at Miles Mediation & Arbitration. To see more of Amanda's work, commission your own original artwork, or peruse her line of textiles and wallpaper, check out https://bombshelves.com/ (bombshelves).

There are many lawyers in the world, but only a few regularly take cases to trial. Fewer still think deeply about the art and practice of litigation. And it's a rare individual indeed who writes prolifically about courtroom advocacy. Dave Redding is all that and much more. Dave is a seeker of truth who values diverse viewpoints because he recognizes his own biases. He is guided by core principles derived from a hard-earned faith. Along with Tim Whitmire, Dave founded F3, a fast-growing organization of men pursuing fitness, fellowship and faith. As a leader, Dave is modest to a fault, uncomfortable with the accolades that inevitably accompany the positive impact he has had on so many lives. Having observed first-hand Dave's work as a lawyer, this conversation went exactly as I expected: candid, thoughtful, and wide ranging. TLG Law: https://www.tlg-law.com/ Dave's bio: https://www.tlg-law.com/david-redding F3: https://f3nation.com/ The Collision Learner: https://www.collisionlearner.com/

Charles Thomas is the Charlotte Program Director for the Knight Foundation, whose mission is to promote democracy in America by fostering informed, engaged, and equitable communities. We talk about the Foundation's support of Charlotte's Historic West End Neighborhood and explore the concept of community as it has evolved in context of the digital age and the Covid pandemic. https://knightfoundation.org/employee/charles-thomas/ (Charles' bio) https://westendclt.com/ (Historic West End)

Here we are at the first episode of the Steve Dunn Podcast. Bear with me as I figure out how to do this, including now, as I type this, as you read this, my first show notes. https://charlotteledger.substack.com/p/why-i-started-the-ledger (Tony Mecia) is an old friend and the founder of https://charlotteledger.substack.com/ (The Charlotte Ledger), an essential email newsletter bringing you information you don't already know about local news, business, and the personalities that define our city. I asked him to be my first guest on this podcast because I genuinely admire the work he does. I also figured since we know each other, and our wives know each other, he would have to say yes. And he did! Like any new venture, The Charlotte Ledger is a work in progress. Tony and https://charlotteledger.substack.com/p/why-i-joined-the-ledger (Cristina Bolling), the Ledger's Managing Editor, are constantly working to improve their product and try new things. It is no surprise they are enjoying success, growing a substantial subscriber base in just a couple years. Tony and I talk about his career in journalism, his founding of The Ledger, and we dig deep into the choices he and Cristina have made in producing a newsletter that is timely and relevant, yet refreshingly free of clickbait, sensationalism, and political pandering characterizing so much of the ad-driven digital media landscape. Subscribe to The Charlotte Ledger https://charlotteledger.substack.com/ (here). It's free! If you enjoy it as much as I do, you will find the paid subscription options offer additional quality content at a reasonable price.

Steve Dunn interviews Charlotte leaders, innovators, and creators about their work and what motivates them as people. Tune in for conversations that dig beneath the surface and explore the human side of business, community, and art.