Words With Wags

On this week's episode, Wags is joined by Zac Brady. Zac has amassed more than 60,000 followers on TikTok in less than a year by sharing his journey of living with a disability. Using sarcasm and self-deprecating humor, he gives glimpses into his life and how he's a normal person just like everyone else. Zac shares what it's been like to build the following he has on social media, the social and physical challenges of his disability, the importance of staying active, having a great sense of humor, and his message to those who are living with a disability as well as a message for those who aren't. Check out Zac's videos and give him a follow on TikTok here: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZM8kdjaAf/ Time Stamps 03:20 - TikTok famous 05:18 - Living with a disability 11:15 - Playing sports and staying active 13:35 - Boston sports fandom and favorite athletes 21:50 - The social challenges of living with a disability 24:40 - The importance of humor 28:00 - Being called an inspiration 32:15 - His message to those who are living with a disability 33:45 - His advice on how to treat and interact with those who have a disability

On this week's episode, Wags is joined by Ray and Maria Sorensen - the couple behind The Freedom Rock in Iowa. The Freedom Rock is a mural painted on large rocks and boulders across the state of Iowa, honoring and paying tribute to our nation's veterans. They share how the idea of The Freedom Rock originated and how it turned into a state-wide tour. We also chat about growing up in a small Midwest town, Greek heritage, getting into state politics, and teaching their kids about America in today's culture. Time Stamps 3:50 - Growing up in Iowa and what makes the Midwest special 5:15 - Greek heritage and appreciation of American opportunity 9:30 - The beginning of The Freedom Rock 16:10 - The Freedom Rock tour 26:25 - Next up: taking The Freedom Rock national 28:35 - Getting into politics 32:30 - The pros and cons of being involved in politics 38:05 - Raising a family in current culture 40:50 - American Exceptionalism Visit The Freedom Rock's website: https://www.thefreedomrock.com/

Rising country music artist Jess Antonette joins the podcast with Wags to chat about her journey from New York to Nashville and everything that happened along the way. She shares what she learned from her experience singing background vocals on tours with some pretty well-known artists and why she decided to set out on her own solo artistry career. More than just an artist, Jess runs her own events company and recently started a non-profit shortly after arriving in Nashville. 01:35 - Growing up and loving music 07:05 - Getting started singing background vocals with some legendary acts 12:00 - Launching her solo artist career and getting to Nashville 19:10 - Native Manor and Bundle Up Nash 26:35 - New music and what's coming next

The phrases "climate" and "climate change" tend to get people fired up, as one side of the political spectrum dominates the conversation - but that narrative is changing. Chris Barnard, Policy Director of American Conservation Coalition (ACC) joins Wags to talk about what talking heads get so wrong, dispelling the myths, highlighting the things to actually be concerned about, and what free-market climate action looks like. 02:50 - What is ACC? 06:00 - Defining what climate change actually is 12:10 - What is renewable energy 14:55 - The 3 biggest problems facing our climate 17:20 - Farming, urbanization, and technology 22:00 - Persuading the left and the right 26:30 - Tension between government and the free market 30:10 - Upcoming ACC initiatives

In the debut episode, Wags is joined by hit country music songwriter Jordan Walker. The songwriter of Luke Combs' smash hit "When It Rains It Pours" and former member of the fan-favorite duo Walker McGuire, Jordan talks about growing up in Texas as a Packers fan, his start in music as a kid in the school choir, making the move to Nashville, touring as a duo, writing hit songs with some of the most talented people in Nashville, and life as a new dad. 00:02:25 - Packers slow start to the season and Aaron Rodgers 00:20:40 - The joy of no longer playing fantasy football 00:25:00 - Growing up as a Packers fan in Texas 00:29:20 - Getting started in music as a kid 00:43:25 - Arriving in Nashville and the Walker McGuire days 01:19:00 - The Luke Combs song that changed it all 01:33:28 - Life as a new dad

Each week, Words With Wags will bring you a completely new conversation with someone from a different background who has an interesting story or perspective to share. Hosted by Aaron Wagner - or Wags as people have been calling him since he was a kid - Words With Wags will feature interesting people from various backgrounds in sports, music, marketing, politics, religion, pop culture, technology, as well as people who are doing great things, overcoming challenges, or just making the world a better place. There are stories that haven't been told and are just out there waiting to be discovered. Those stories now have a home on Words With Wags.