Podcasts about Kats

Finance doesn't have to be scary. In this episode of VRTAC-QM's Manager Minute, Kat Martin, Finance Director at the Oregon Commission for the Blind, joins Carol Pankow to break down the complexities of government finance in vocational rehabilitation. Kat shares her journey from the private sector into VR, the lessons she's learned managing federal and state dollars, and the difference between budget authority and actual revenue (spoiler: it's not as simple as it sounds). From making reports accessible for blind colleagues to explaining why finance people should bepartners—not compliance enforcers—Kat offers practical advice, thoughtful insights, and a healthy dose of humor. Whether you're new to VR, leading a program, or just finance-curious, this episode delivers the wisdom you didn't know you needed—plus a little reality check on what it takes to manage complex funding with heart and clarity.   Listen Here   Full Transcript:   {Music}   Kat: It took me a bit to wrap my head around was the difference between budget and revenue. I like the way my executive director describes it to other directors. You have to be paying attention to what's going on with your budget, not because that's the amount of money you have to spend, particularly with federal funding. That is what you have authority to spend. That doesn't mean you have that revenue to spend. If somebody has helped you out, pay it forward, help the next new person out that got their eyes crossed and looking overwhelmed when they're trying to figure out what in the world is re allotment, let alone carryover and maintenance of effort.   Carol: Oh my gosh.   Intro Voice: Manager Minute brought to you by the VRTAC for Quality Management, Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time, one minute at a time. Here is your host Carol Pankow.   Carol: Well, welcome to the manager minute. Joining me in the studio today is Kat Martin, finance director at the Oregon Commission for the Blind. So, Kat, how are things going in Oregon?   Kat: They're going well. We're getting started on a lovely summer and a new biennium and trying to close out the old ones. So, you know, busy is always in the finance department.   Carol: Yeah, all the things. Nothing like getting the finance director like turnover of a state year and all that. I know you got a lot of things going on. So as the QM grant is winding down, I thought it would be great to hear from a respected VR finance director, someone who's walk the walk. Kat has been a standout voice in her fiscal management community of practice, sharing advice that's grounded, real, and incredibly helpful. So, Kat, let's dig in. So, Kat, can you tell our listeners a bit about your career journey and how did you land in your current role?   Kat: Sure. Thanks, Carol. I worked in the private sector for the first decade or so of my life and realized after about a decade of that that I really needed work that spoke to my heart. And coming from a family of educators, I was a little too late to go back to school and get my teaching credentials at that point in time. But I decided to pursue mission focused organizations that were helping others. So I worked for about six years for a law firm that represented the disabled and injured individuals before the Social Security Administration and the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. And then I went into public education for about 15 years. About five years ago, I left public education and came to work for the Oregon Commission for the blind. And it was my first role in the world of vocational rehabilitation. So it was a new experience for me. I love a good challenge and it's been that for five years.   Carol: That sounds amazing. I always love to hear how people kind of make their long and winding road into VR, because none of us ever usually get here very directly. So I know when you and I chatted before, you have just some great perspective on any role you take. How do you go about building that solid foundation when you start a new role?   Kat:, You know, I came up through the accounting departments, specifically accounts receivable. So I was working with invoicing and collecting bills, and I experienced a lot of success in those jobs, so much so that I was moved into first supervisory and then management positions and eventually the C-suite role. And when I moved into my first CFO position, I worked with an amazing campus president who talked with me about the fact that my focus up to that point in time as the director of accounting for the organization and my prior professional experience, had been very much compliance focused. And that as her new director of finance, she needed me to be more of a fiscal partner to not only herself, but my peers on the leadership team. So, you know, that took me a little bit to figure out, because when you've been doing it for decades, it's easy to be a compliance goon. It's a little more difficult to figure out what being a finance partner looks like. I recognized that particularly when I was starting a new role like the one I did in VR five years ago. It was really important for me to understand who I needed to form relationships with, what the systems were that I was going to be utilizing to complete my work and to manage those that were completing the day in and day out of the accounting work that we were doing. And then also what were the policies, procedures and standards? So when I start a new job, I like lay out my first 100 days and I create myself a little Venn diagram that is all about those three things where at the intersection of that right in the middle, that's the work that I'm going to be doing for the organization planning, organizing, directing and monitoring their finances and the fiscal health of the organization.   Carol: I love that you have that people, systems and processes. I mean, I think that sweet spot in the middle where all of that intersects is really wonderful. You've talked to me before about this whole compliance goon fiscal partner, and I do like that approach. Can you talk a little more about what that really means to you and kind of how that's played out?   Kat: Yeah, it's really about people and about relationships in a vocational rehabilitation agency. We are helper humans and even fiscal employees, accountants, your travel coordinator, your payroll specialist. They need to be helper humans as well, because it's easy to get all wrapped up in the way we have to transact these certain things or the deadlines that the state lays down. If it's an enterprise wide system that you're using and sometimes lose sight of the fact that the people we are serving are actually the employees who are providing the direct service to the blind Oregonians that we serve at the Oregon Commission for the blind. So I have worked very hard to develop that in myself. And the way I've accomplished that is beginning first with the people I'm going to be serving and whether that's my boss, my peers, my employees, that to report directly to me, my employees that report indirectly to me or those other individuals in the larger organization, like the state's chief financial officer and the state's legislative fiscal office, and maybe the procurement office and the Payroll Services Office to make sure that I know what our place is, but also how we can provide the best possible services within that matrix that we operate in to those eventual end users that we're there to serve so that they don't ever have to worry about, am I going to get paid on time? Is my computer going to be working? Those kind of things I tell my staff when we're doing our jobs exceptionally well, nobody knows what we're doing. And then that allows them to focus on the work that they're doing with our clients.   Carol: How long do you think it takes, really, to get settled, especially coming into VR for a finance person? How long do you feel like you know what, I got this, I feel proficient what I'm doing because I think people have this idea that can come in. I was an accountant here or a CPA, or I've done something else. But you come into this program. How long do you feel it takes you to really get a handle on what's going on.   Kat: A full fiscal cycle in the state of Oregon, we operate on a biennium, so that's a full 24 months. I had been with the agency for two years before. I really felt like, oh, now I'm repeating things and there's a lot of repetition in a finance role, regardless of what role it is, there's a lot of repetition. But what makes it complicated in the VR world, in my state, for instance, is we have state fiscal years that end on June 30th, and then you have your federal fiscal year that ends on September 30th. So right there, those two things are out of sync. And then the VR awards in particular, are the most complicated revenue stream I've ever worked with. Braid those in with the general fund that you have to be on top of, which is truly available to you, and you can sometimes lobby for more. But there's a lot of politics and personalities that you have to deal with when you're trying to obtain more general fund for your agency, and then the limited amount of other funding. So I have been working as a finance director since 2009, and I would have to say that these last five years, it has been the most complicated fiscal management for an organization that I've ever touched upon in my career up to this point in time, because of those complexities between the state and the feds in fiscal years that don't align. And we're on a biennium where, you know, the federal awards are one year, and maybe you can get carryover if you do all the things you got to do to meet the requirements around March to get there.   Carol: And you're confirming what the feds say, because David Steele, who's the unit chief for the fiscal unit at RSA, he often says this is the most federally complex grant. And I remember hearing him a long time ago thinking, is it really? But yeah, it really it really is. Proof is in the pudding when you're actually doing that work. So given all of that complexity, how do you implement like strategies or things that you do to help your leadership, like literally be able to interpret and understand because it is like talking to different languages. And how do you get your whole executive team kind of on board with what's happening because you have these realizations and insights. But that isn't always apparent in the VR world, because a lot of people are not they're not math people. They're people people. They're social services people. They don't know about reading a spreadsheet. You just show them these numbers, and their eyes kind of glaze over and they hear you talking, but they don't know what you're saying.   Kat: Yeah. I think the first thing I try to do is keep it short and simple. And that's not to say that these individuals are not intelligent. They are highly intelligent, and they have skills and expertise that I'm incredibly impressed by. But I have different skills and expertise. And if I'm going to provide the information to them that allows them to make informed decisions about not only what we're doing in the present, but for the duration of whatever the fiscal period is that we're in and for the long term. Then I need to present the information in such a way that it's digestible. Now I work for a blind agency, so that means it needs to be accessible. I see a lot of spreadsheets that folks like myself love to create. You know, it's fun to get in there and do the color coding and the formatting and have multiple tabs that support your summary. Conclusions and charts are then the next best thing in the world, right? You can spend a lot of time on that. And yet my director of rehabilitation services can't see any of it, can't read any of it. So what I need to create for her and for the other 20% of the employees at my agency that is usable and digestible is very straightforward spreadsheets that are readable by the assistive technology they use in order to do their jobs. The other thing that I do to try and help the leadership team, and my executive director in particular is I insist upon regular report outs. It's really easy to be just like, yeah, yeah, Kats got it. Budget to actuals are going to be fine. She knows we don't want to leave any general fund on the table at the end of the biennium. She'll let us know how we're doing with match, but she'll take care of all of it. And what I let them know is I report on the money, but I don't decide how it's spent. I know what's in the purse, but the executive director is holding the purse strings and you all are influencing that spend. So by insisting upon regular report outs, I review budget to actual data summary grant reporting, cash reporting on at least a weekly basis. Right now I'm reviewing that more like 2 to 3 times a week, because it's the end of the biennium and startup of a new one, but the management team gets finalized reporting once a month that is based on the accounting close. And not only do we distribute that to them with the highlights, we want to pinpoint in written format, but then I also present on that every month at the leadership team meeting, when we're reviewing other results for the month and other measures that matter to us.   Carol: I think that's really super good advice for our listeners. I've seen it all across the country. I mean, I've seen where sometimes fiscal people, they are calling all the shots. They aren't that partner. They're like, hey, I'm the one that knows you all can't do math. I'm deciding. I'm doing. People are signing for the director. You know, they're sending stuff in. Directors get it? Zero clue. And while that can be a way to operate. Boy, highly not advisable. Because at the end of the day, the director is the one holding the bag. You know, the buck stops with them. If something goes wrong, something happened. They're the one. And those are the ones that end up getting fired or whatever it may be. So I'm always on the new director end of things. Encouraging people to learn as much as they can. And it's just like learning anything. You take one step at a time, one item at a time, one cell on the spreadsheet to gain understanding. You're not going to be instantly an accountant, but you can get to a level understanding where you hear what's happening. So I appreciate that you've had that experience, because I think you always bring so much to any conversation. Having worked in a blind agency, when you're thinking about how am I going to convey information in a way people can read it for one with assistive technology, not make it so fancy that you kind of lose sight really, of what is trying to be conveyed. So I think you really have great advice there and that you're the partner. I mean, you're advising and then the director's deciding. I think that's a really lovely partnership. What have been your biggest surprises and lessons learned in this role?   Kat: Well, first and foremost, it is more complicated than budgets, significantly larger than what I'm dealing with now because of the interplay of federal and state. Some of the surprises that came to me early on were around the timelines and how important it is to create a calendar of key events that not only takes everything going on with your state into consideration, but all those federal timelines, particularly the federal reporting timelines. We now, after five years, talk about the months between October 1st and the end of January as federal reporting season, because between the support we provide to program with some of their program reports that have fiscal elements in them, and then all of the federal financial reports that have to be submitted during that period of time. There's 18 different reports that my grant accountant and I prepare, review, discuss, and then, of course, go over with the program directors before they are ever submitted to our federal funding partners.   Carol: I'm a huge fan of the calendar. I just have to say, I literally we get calls. I had one of the finance directors from one state. He will remain unnamed, but he calls me on April 30th and he's like, please don't tell me a report is due today, and I'm like, uh, yeah, this is gonna be a really bad day. He said, I gotta go, and he, like, hangs up the phone. I'm like, calendar this stuff. You need the calendar. Oh my gosh. Drives me crazy.   Kat: It's important. And I mean, one of the surprises that came to me is I started with the commission in August of 2020, and a couple of days after I arrived, my senior accountant and we have a small shop. At that time I only had one accountant and two accounting technicians. My senior accountant went out on a family leave of absence about two weeks early. So here I was, no VR experience trying to figure out what the heck I'm doing. I don't even have access to most of the systems. And as it turns out, as the agency security officer, I give everybody else access. But nobody knew how to give me access. So that was an interesting start. And when she came back from her leave, she said to me, so how did that SF 425 report submission going? I'm like, what? SF 425 report submission. So I missed I started my career with the Commission for the blind by missing a federal Financial Report submission.   Carol: Oh my gosh.   Kat: I'm still here. So I guess it wasn't the end of the world that we were late with one report.   Carol: How do you find it so different between like government accounting compared to the other accounting work you've done? I always hear from people that go, government accounting is like nothing else I've ever been exposed to.   Kat: Yeah, it is very different in that having worked in the private sector and the for profit sector for a number of decades, obviously you're looking for efficiencies and effective ways of doing business that drive your bottom line. The profit imperative is just that don't be fooled by what the for profit organizations say they're really about. Making money is what it's all about in the end. But in the public sector and definitely for the government, one of the things that it took me a bit to wrap my head around was the difference between budget and revenue, and I like the way my executive director describes it to other directors that you have to be paying attention to what's going on with your budget, not because that means that's the amount of money you have to spend is because, particularly with federal funding, that is what you have authority to spend. That doesn't mean you have that revenue to spend. So figuring out how to keep track of where am I at, actually, with my approved budget and my limitations on the federal fund and other fund that I operate with? And where am I actually at with cash available to me through my federal grants, was something else that was very new to me, because every place I'd been before budget was budget. You had that to spend, even in higher education, in the public sector. It was like I had that budget to work with for the entire fiscal cycle. Not true here. So you really have to be paying attention to that difference between budget and revenue. I started to say my executive director describes this to other directors. She tries to put it as think about budget as being the line of credit. If you had a credit card in your wallet. Think about it as the line of credit that you could spend up to, but your revenue is actually how much money you actually get paid. So if you have a $50,000 line of credit, but your income for the year is only going to be $25,000, you're going to have a problem when you spend up to that line of credit.   Carol: That is such an awesome point. We have seen lately. There's been some really interesting things with the budget Authority, and this has to do with kind of the reverse, where for whatever reason, you have a federal grant say you get $100 million. But the legislature has said we are only going to give you $90 million of budget authority. And that's cropped up more and more. And so people forget because you've got program income coming in and you've got other kind of sources of these revenues. And the legislature has set this limit. And so you're bumping on it, but your eye is over here. You're looking at well, yeah, but I've got I can match and I can draw these funds. But for whatever reason the legislature hasn't given you enough authority to actually maximize and utilize everything available to you. That is super concerning for folks. And the thing they weren't watching. Really?   Kat: Yeah. And we all know of a state recently that got into difficulties with that. The thing to keep in mind with that too. And we were in a spot where we had to go back to the legislature and ask for an increase in our spending authority, which is even more complicated than going to just the legislative body, because we have a governing board of commissioners. So first we have to go to the commissioners and get approval to take this before the legislature. And there is a lot of months of lead time in order to accomplish those things in the correct order. We needed to do it because we were fortunate enough to receive an additional sum in the Re allotment process last summer, so we were going to be okay with the amount of revenue we were expecting with the existing authority we had to spend. My concern, of course, was we don't got enough money to get through the end of the state fiscal year, let alone the federal fiscal year. So we went after re allotment. Then I didn't have enough authority on the federal side, so we had to get permission from our board of commissioners. Then of course, go through the legislative process to increase our federal fund limitation.   Carol: Well, and that's a whole other probably lesson learned is the whole legislative process and those cycles for the legislature and all of that. That is no small feat to understand. I'm sure your calendaring all of those dates as well.   Kat: I am. Our agency is small enough that not only am I the finance director, I'm also the budget coordinator, so it's helpful to me at the same time. My office is situated a couple hours away from the state capitol where the legislature meets. So for a hearing before Joint Ways and Means, for instance, that maybe is going to last five minutes. It's a four hour round trip, but I go down there for those meetings and I'm ready to answer any questions should they come.   Carol: That's excellent. That's excellent. Now, I know you have been, are particularly like vocal finance director and participate in things. You've done a great job with networking, and I understand you have a bit of a fan club at CSAVR. So what happened there? What's going on with that?   Kat: You know, one of our asks of all of our staff is that they be on camera when we're in virtual meetings, and it's in part because as a blind agency, we are trying to help our clients be prepared for virtual meeting environments as we're helping them launch into the working world. So we need to model those behaviors, right? So I just developed the habit of whenever I'm speaking, even in large group meetings, like the community of practice that you and your team run is that I'll not only come off of mute, but I'll come off of having my camera shuttered so that people can see me talking. I don't know why, but it's become muscle memory, right? Well, as a result of that, because I have a lot to share at times and I want to help others the way I was helped when I first started by fiscal directors with more experience that had been, you know, around the block a couple of times. I like to try and offer up my contact information as well, so people can feel free to reach out and get in touch with me. So when we were at CSAVR the last session, kind of surprisingly, my director and I were walking around and there was a couple of folks that, as we passed, were like, your Kat, right? Your Kat from Oregon blind. And I'm like, I am. And they said, you know how helpful it was. Some of the things that I had berbled out in one of the community of practice meetings and that it had really helped them wrap their head around the topic or the concept or whatever it may be, and also then have conversations with their leadership team and their executive directors, which I was kind of blushing, but I appreciated hearing that what I had done was helpful to others.   Carol: Oh, 100%. We hear it all the time. Whenever you come on and you give some advice and people be like, that really helped me. You know, we've had folks come back the next month and they're like, that really helped me. I was able to talk to our finance people and whatever, you know, any of the things. They were so excited. You've been an immense help. So let me spin that a little different way. Maybe you can help some of our directors. So fiscal folks are coming and going just as quickly as directors and executive leadership. What suggestions would you have for those VR leaders that are hiring fiscal staff? Because sometimes people think they're bringing in somebody and it's going to be the best thing since sliced bread. And then they're like, this didn't work out at all.   Kat: Yeah.   Carol: So I think folks, especially when you're talking to non-math people and such, they don't tend to know. What should they ask?   Kat: Yeah that's a tough one because on paper it is really hard to assess somebody's education and their stated experience in the positions that they've had before. If you're not a finance person and even understanding the difference between accounting and finance, I have to explain to people again that are really intelligent individuals. I mean, they have their master's degree in counseling and rehabilitation. And yet explaining the difference between accounting and finance is something that I do pretty regularly. My first suggestion to directors would be, if you are at all uncomfortable with accessing the written materials that you're receiving in terms of resumes and a well-written cover letter, find somebody in your state that knows a little bit about fiscal and accounting, or rely upon a recruiter. If you're using the state's chief human resource office to help you assess not only the minimum qualifications that you should be asking for when you're going to turn over millions of dollars to an individual who is going to be responsible for planning, organizing, directing, monitoring and reporting on that money, but also in your preferred qualifications. Look for things like foundational knowledge of appropriations and grants. I don't put that as a minimum qualification because I didn't come in with foundational knowledge around appropriations and grants, but I'm eminently teachable. So that's another thing to look for, is, is this somebody that's a lifelong learner? Do they like a good challenge? Are they good with change and do they know how to lead change? I've experienced this quite a bit in the state of Oregon. We have, since I've arrived, adopted two different enterprise wide solutions for payroll and time tracking, contract management and procurement that we didn't really have a choice to adopt these, but the implementations were intended for very large agencies, and we're an agency of 67 employees. So figuring out how to do these things that you're required to use by the larger organization, that you are a part of being the state at your agency to complete the work that you're going to do is somebody that really needs to be a quick learner that's adaptable, and that can lead change because technology is influencing all of our lives and with what's coming with AI, it's going to continue. And these are good things, but it can be tiring if you think you're going to get in the door as a finance director, and it's all going to be business as usual after you've completed that first fiscal cycle. The other things executive directors could look for are somebody that is curious. I think I mentioned flexibility, but adaptability is very important. When I was interviewing for my role, our VR director, who is fully blind, said to me, how are you going to present materials to me so that I am able to access them and read them? And for me, that was like a oh, how exciting, a new opportunity to take my knowledge and present it in such a way that somebody that I've never worked with before, having a visual impairment or blindness, can also use it. So what do I need to do differently to meet their needs? Not expecting them to accept whatever it is I'm pushing out their way and be just like here it is. If you don't get it, well, that's too bad. The last thing I would mention, and this is just because your fiscal director does have a great deal of access, it's important to remain diligent in managing that employee, just like you would any of your other direct reports. I am fully aware of the responsibility that I have for these millions of dollars that our taxpayers dollars, when all is said and done. So you know you don't want to be so trusting of the person that's managing your finances, that you set yourself up for any kind of a situation where maybe a good person does something not so good because they're in a very difficult spot. So that's where even if you don't know, finance, finding somebody in your own professional network that maybe knows a little bit more about this, that even if you ever have a slight inkling, you can say, hey, you know, my finance director told me this. Can we noodle that around just a little bit? Because I want to make sure that it's all okay. Based on your years of experience doing this and your relationship with your finance director.   Carol: That's good advice.   Kat: Yeah. I don't mean to be skeptical. I think it's just realistic to know that when you have access to and the ability to move around millions of dollars, you should be diligent in managing them just like you would anybody else.   Carol: And things have happened across the country in years past, and people have lost jobs and all kinds of things. So it is no joke. That is excellent advice. Do you have any final kind of words of wisdom for our listeners?   Kat: Don't be afraid to admit what you don't know. I mean, early on in my career, as I was being promoted into management positions, I was like, fake it till you make it right and we can all do that. But the further I've progressed and the older I've gotten, I've developed some of that crone wisdom that comes at this decade of your life, which is, boy, there's a whole lot I don't know. And there are people out there that have been doing this for a while. So who do I need to meet? Who do I need to form a relationship with? Who can be my buddy? And then how can I pay that forward? And that would be the other advice is if somebody has helped you out, pay it forward, help the next new person out that got their eyes crossed and looking overwhelmed when they're trying to figure out what in the world is re allotment, let alone carryover and maintenance of effort.   Carol: Oh my gosh. Well Kat, I really appreciate your wisdom and your honesty. You are so direct. I love it for our listeners. If you're a  leader or fiscal staff or share this episode with somebody new in the role, they do not have to do this alone. Thanks so much for joining me today, Kat.   Kat: Thank you Carol.   {Music} Outro Voice: Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time, one minute at a time, brought to you by the VR TAC for Quality Management. Catch all of our podcast episodes by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening!

"Top Gun: Maverick wasn't much of a reach. He was playing a jerk." The host of our brand new football show, 'Football America!', Dave Dameshek, is in the studio today and explains why Jon Hamm once kicked him out of a fantasy football league. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of Bounced From The Roadhouse:Special Guests in 4B:RallyOzzy and BieberOverrated Food CultureEmma's Driving TestPayphoneFlashback Friday: How You Spent Summer Break as a KidDoctor's Notes No Longer an ExcuseKAT Out of the BagZac's Friday Confessional - Have You Ever Been Fired from a Job? Why?Dumby of the Day - Tanning BedThat's a Great QuestionBS BuzzwordsThis WeekendQuestions? Comments? Leave us a message! 605-343-6161Don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review and some stars Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new hosts for Season 3 of Kats Eye are announced as Maddie moves into the producer role. 

Danny Evans talks MLB and Open Phones

Jaylen Phillips says goodbye to the Kats Eye podcast, hosting his final show after two years. Jaylen and Maddie will also introduce one of the new co-hosts for season 3.

In the first hour, Chase & Big Joe discuss Arena Football's Nashville Kats and the Nashville sports market with Greg Pogue. They also give their thoughts on the Preds Nicolas Hague Trade. Dolphins trade Ramsey to Steelers.

In the first hour of the Chase & Big Joe Show, AF1 Commissioner Jeff fisher joined the show and shared his thoughts on the AF1 Championship with the Kats and Firebirds! Later in the hour, Big Joe shared his countdown for the college football season. To end the hour, John McClain joined the show to talk all things NFL and some offseason conversations. Listen to hear more.

The AF1 Crown is around the corner, the UFL College Draft was postponed until September, Join The UFL Podcast as they dive into all of that and moreSummerStock: https://youtu.be/GUKnWRbCwBoSummerStock Shirt: https://bit.ly/3YKHUqaDiscord: https://discord.gg/QjewyBVVintage Varsity: vintagevarsity901.comUSFL Merch: https://bit.ly/3OsOLwhUFL Podcast Merch: https://usfl-podcast.creator-spring.com/#UFL #USFL #XFL

In the first hour of the Chase & Big Joe Show, AF1 Commissioner Jeff Fisher joined the show in preparation for the Nashville Kats playoff game coming up. Later in the hour, Jeff went down memory lane with the guys discussing the Music City Miracle. To end the hour, Jeff discussed the upcoming playoff game for the Nashville Kats. Can the Kats win it all?

We announce the Kats' Men's and Women's Athletes of the Year before discussing the baseball and softball signees, followed by the beginning of our summer football position preview series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben provides the nominees for Men's and Women's Athletes of the Year, and Cory gives his Top 5 reasons the Kats should keep Jay Sirianni. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former men's basketball player and co-host Lewis Rowe returns to the BSN Studios to talk about what he's been up to lately. 

Cory discusses how his Kats' hate went to another level before Ben updates the men's basketball roster, and baseball and softball success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Organ talks Nashville sport, Nashville Kats CEO Bobby DeVoursney joins the show, and open phones!

Jaylen and Maddie are join by Jace Martinez from baseball. 

In this solo pod, Kat answers questions you all submitted. We cover everything from her gut health updates to things she's personally leaving behind this spring, fixing sibling dynamics, the mother wound/becoming a mother and everything in between. Throughout this podcast we take a deeper look at the lessons Kat's personally learned in hopes that you also give yourself grace, and feel empowered in your own journey. Whether you're navigating chronic health issues, complex family relationships, or your own journey of self-worth, this episode offers insight, comfort, and a path forward.Time Stamps: 00:00 – Introduction15:30 – An update on Kats gut health journey, and Exploring how emotional trauma manifests physically27:00 – Seasonal intentions inspired by Ahimsa (non-violence), and how honoring emotional needs opens the door to self-growth.36:47 – The Power of Being Misunderstood and learning how choosing peace over validation45:01 – Unpacking the emotional patterns often seen in sibling relationships, particularly the "fixer" dynamic, and how it mirrors inner wounds.56:34 – How healing the mother wound can begin through conscious parenting, self-awareness, and radical grace.

On today's episode of the Kats Eye, Jaylen and Maddie are joined by Senior Associate AD Chris Thompson

Brodie Quinlan from the softball team joins the show to talk with Jaylen and Maddie about her time at Sam Houston.

Welcome to the KC CHIROpulse Podcast.  This week's topic:  Chiropractic Practice Coaching and Transformational SuccessThe KC CHIROpulse Podcast is designed for Chiropractic professionals ready to elevate their practice to new heights, and is hosted by Kats Consultants coaches Dr Michael Perusich, Marisa Mateja, Dr Troy Fox and Dr Alex Kallio.  The Kats coaches are all seasoned experts in Chiropractic business development.  This podcast provides invaluable insights and actionable strategies to help you create a flourishing and sustainable Chiropractic business.In this episode, we discuss:Why practice coaching is imperative to your successWhat does a practice coach do for you behind the scenesHow the oversight provided by consulting is invaluable to running your practiceHow a business coach can help you steer through the myriad of potential issues that can arise in practice management…and so much more…In each episode of KC CHIROpulse, we delve into crucial aspects of building a successful Chiropractic practice, covering topics such as establishing a strong foundation, adopting a patient-centric approach, mastering marketing techniques, achieving financial fitness, fostering effective team building and leadership, integrating technology and innovation, and navigating common challenges in the field.Whether you're a seasoned chiropractor or just starting your practice, the KC CHIROpulse Podcast offers a wealth of knowledge and personalized practical advice to help you navigate the intricate world of Chiropractic business. Join us on this journey as we explore proven strategies, share success stories, and connect with industry experts to empower you in your pursuit of building a thriving Chiropractic practice.Don't miss out on the latest insights and expert guidance. Subscribe now and unlock the secrets to taking your Chiropractic practice to the next level. Your success is our priority at Kats Chiropractic Business Advisors.DISCLAIMER:  The information presented in this broadcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to offer legal, investment, accounting, or medical advice, and represents the opinions of the speakers.  Seek the consultation of a professional for advice in those areas. And remember…your results using this information may be different than described.Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the Kats Consultants CHIROPulse Podcast When you are ready we can help. Free Resource: Download What's Your Practice Worth? Let's Chat -30-minute chat about your practice Attend a Virtual Seminar Join the new subscription program Path to Prosper KC CHIROpulse Podcast. Helping Chiropractors keep their pulse on success. Thanks for listening.

32.023 All them KATS are boppin' the blues: that's what's going on! Celebrating the  93rd birthday of the legendary 'KING of Rockabilly' Carl Perkins tonight on DJ Del's "Go Kat, GO!" Mr. "Blue Suede Shoes," Carl gets a loving tribute with a healthy retrospective of his rockin' Flip, Sun and Columbia recordings PLUS we track down some incredible modern era covers & tributes to share in tonight's 3 hour platter party! NEW music to enjoy from The Vibro Kings, Untamed Youth, Hayden Thompson, The Bop Kings, Pat Winn & The Losers, The Sirocco Bros. Ali Jack & The Hilljack Stompers, The B-Shakers, Tornado Beat, Kitten & The Tonics (Happy birthday, Kitten!), Rob Heron & The Teapad Orchestra, Johnny Knife & His Rippers, The Shakers & even MORE! Oh my! For the very finest in old school 50's rockin' roots sounds, it's gotta be that Aztec Werewolf, DJ Del Villarreal and his "Go Kat, GO! The Rock-A-Billy Show!" -good to the last bop!™Please follow on FaceBook, Instagram & Twitter!

Jaylen and Maddie are joined by Chelsea Butler from the volleyball team. 

What happens when God orchestrates seemingly unrelated events into a beautiful tapestry of purpose? Joy Kotz  unexpectedly became her father's primary caregiver, especially given their emotionally distant relationship and his age. Yet in this powerful conversation, she reveals how three months of caregiving during her father's final days transformed both her heart and their relationship.Joy shares the remarkable story of how she felt called to donate a kidney to a church member, only to discover she wasn't a match—a disappointment that turned into divine protection. Had she undergone surgery, she wouldn't have been able to care for her father when he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure just months later. Through intimate moments like washing her father's feet and celebrating family milestones together, Joy found herself treasuring a season she initially resented.The story doesn't end there. After her father's passing, another kidney donation need arose, and this time Joy was a perfect match. Looking back, she sees God's hand guiding each step, preparing her through caregiving for this gift she would later give. Her journey reveals profound spiritual lessons about timing, purpose, and finding meaning in difficult seasons.For anyone in the midst of caregiving challenges, Joy offers wisdom from her experience: "Remember that it's a season. Keep your eyes on Jesus. If He's called you into this, there's reason and purpose in it." Her commitment to living without regrets and being faithful to what God places before her each day provides inspiration for anyone walking through their own season of caring.Subscribe to A Season of Caring podcast for more stories that will help you live content, love well, and care without regrets—finding God's presence even in life's most demanding seasons.

Mark Griffin talks Sweet 16, Jeff Fisher talks Nashville Kats, and Larry Schmittou takes on George in a Battle of the Bets.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the transition to FBS and Conference USA, the expectations for the Kats' athletic programs have changed. Ben and Cory establish new standards for success and discuss whether SHSU should host a spring football game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breaking down the Kats 2025 CUSA football schedule, recapping the baseball team's game against Rice as it happens, and reliving a week of fantastic individual performances on the hardwood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jaylen Phillips and Maddie Wilson talk about the big week for Bearkat basketball and the opening of the baseball season. The guest this week is Benjamin Carlile from men's track and field.

Food News - Cotton Candy Kit Kats & Egg PricesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

32.011 OK, Kats, here we go! Rockin' on a Wednesday night, it's DJ Del Villarreal and "Go Kat, GO! The Rock-A-Billy Show!" Celebrating Rockabilly Hall of Famer Art Adams 90th birthday with a rollickin' retrospective of his Cherry Records singles from the late 50's and many of his modern recordings to enjoy. NEW tunes to enjoy from Los Rebeldes, Wild May West, Dylan Kirk, Tornado Beat, The Bullets, Brandon Wayne & His Lonesome Drifters, La Perra Blanco, Hayden Thompson and more! We're feeling the love in the air and dedicate a big part of our show to Valentine's Day recordings, sure to put some 'rockin' back in your romantic life! Join us as we send some love down to Austin, TX this weekend for modern favorite Marti Brom as she performs her 2005 Heartaches Numbers LP in its entirety at The Continental Club. Over three hours of true blue rockin' billy tunage sure to thrill, tantalize and excite your ears! It's just gotta be the Aztec Werewolf™ and his "Go Kat, GO!" -good to the last bop!™Please follow on FaceBook, Instagram & Twitter!

Jaylen and Maddie welcome Tyler Bailey from football to the studio.

Food News - New MTN Dew Flavors & Good Bye Vegan Kit KatsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kats Eye is back for the spring semester with new co-host Maddie Wilson joining Jaylen Phillips. 

It's National Signing Day for Kats football, and that's a fraction of the football news we share. We preview the softball team as they prepare to begin the season in the Bearkat Classic, and men's and women's basketball updates and previews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

32.007 Play it KOOL, Kats! Time for that wild, shaggy n' sassy Aztec Werewolf™ DJ Del Villarreal and his terrific Tuesday radio program, "Go Kat, GO! The Rock-A_Billy Show!" LIVE from the world-famous Motorbilly Studios! It's a truly wondrous time to enjoy killer vintage and phenomenal modern roots-rockin' sounds -honoring the memory and music of the late Billy Fury this evening with a liberal mix of his classic proto-British-billy music all throughout the program. Listen in good to hear NEW music from hot new acts The Bad Bone Stompers, Zachariah Malachi and more!  Good to the last bop!Please follow on FaceBook, Instagram & Twitter!

This is the episode where Jay and Jacob eat more Kit Kats. But this time, they're Japanese!  Not only are the bars from Japan, and the flavors most definitely local to Japan, the wrappers are also mostly written in Japanese.  So despite all the help from Google Translate, they are only about 85% sure about what they are eating.  But that doesn't curb their enthusiasm in this in person recorded taste test, and the history of how Japanese Kit Kats became a juggernaut of candy bars.  Order a sample box for yourself and taste along!

The You Tried Dat?? crew discusses the return of a certain wild lady to a certain coffee shop.  What did she say this time?  After that, they taste Harry Potter Chocolate Frogs, Reese's Sugar Cookie Miniature Peanut Butter Cups, and Nestle Kit Kat Salted Caramel Bars.  Finally, they close out January with a Mt. Snackmore ranking of New Year's Eve. Follow us on Instagram to see pictures of the snacks @youtrieddat.

Join Nat and new co-host Miss Cadabra of the hemp and mycology focused podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Smoke to Smoke⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our newest season! Have you ever wondered about the complex relationship between cannabis, dreams, and sleep disorders? Learn how cannabis affects our sleep patterns and dream recall, through both the science and the personal experiences surrounding these phenomena while we decode some sativa slumber dreams from stonerlites. If you like tangents, plus thoughtful ramblings, the coveted title of 'Munchie of The Week' (MoTW) and of course, a lot of laughs, then listen here. --- Miss Cadabera's podcast - ⁠⁠⁠⁠Smoke to Smoke⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dream Dictionary online - www.dreamdictionary.org

Relive the Kats New Orleans Bowl victory, look at early CUSA results for men's and women's basketball, and look ahead to the 2025 football season with staff and recruiting updates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast, Danger Slater talks about the structure of Starlet, Kit Kats, the Danger Slater origin story, and much more. About Danger Slater Danger Slater is the world's most flammable writer! He is the Wonderland Award-winning author of a variety of books including Starlet, House of Rot, I Will Rot Without You, Puppet Skin, and He Digs A … Continue reading

On this episode of Bounced From The Roadhouse:Special Guests in 4B:Fake NewsBald Eagle as our National BirdPassive Agressive GifteeChristmas MemoriesTree ToppersMega MillionsKAT Out of the BagWalmart Body CamsCarolingQuestions? Comments? Leave us a message! 605-343-6161Don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review and some stars Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a Christmas spectacular! The Kats have a new head football coach. We have instant reaction to Phil Long's first press conference, dive into the search, and preview the Kats bowl game against Georgia Southern. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Bounced From The Roadhouse:Special Guests in 4B:Shopping StyleDr BJSquare DancingFake NewsTraffic ChopperNew CoatBrown FridayNative American Heritage DayKats Out of the BagJim AbrahmsMongolian GrillMegaphoneQuestions? Comments? Leave us a message! 605-343-6161Don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review and some stars Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We recap the Kats Gravy Bowl loss to Jax State, check in on a women's basketball team putting up some of the best numbers in the country, preview the men's basketball tournament this week, and preview the Kats game against Liberty on Friday afternoon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Food News - Mac Hacks, Santa Kit Kats & Grinch DonutsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We recap the Kats overtime victory over Kennesaw State, touch on men's basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball news, and preview the Gravy Bowl against Jacksonville State. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

K.C. Keeler provides injury updates and thoughts on what happened at Kennesaw State. Updates on both basketball teams and predictions ahead of the Kats game against Kennesaw State on Saturday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We preview the Kats men's and women's basketball prospects this season, football gained a big commitment, soccer preps for CUSA tournament, and updates on bowling and volleyball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Cory recap the Kats 9-3 victory over La Tech before discussing the game's biggest moments with comments from the listeners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the past few years, self-care and mental health have become a big focal point of discussion. We've become so comfortable discussing personal things going on and also stressing the importance of taking care of your mental health. And especially on social media there are many corners of the internet where you can find influencers that discuss those very topics. One of those people was a 30-year-old named Kat Torres. Kat started out speaking on mental health and self-care until later, her beliefs started to become a bit twisted. She claimed to have a gift she called “the voice,” which was an all-knowing voice that could predict the future that only she could hear. This attracted many people, including many women coming from broken situations, and many years into Kats practice, she would actually ask her top followers to come out to the States and live with her. But what these women didn't know is that they wouldn't be walking into a self-improvement retreat but instead a human trafficking ring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices