Podcasts about larimer county

A man leads a Larimer County, CO officer on a high speed chase only to be stopped by a Park Ranger inside Rocky Mountain National Park.For bonus content join our Patreon!patreon.com/CrimeOfftheGridFor a one time donation:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cotgFor more information about the podcast, check outhttps://crimeoffthegrid.com/Check out our Merch!!  https://in-wild-places.square.site/s/shopFollow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/crimeoffthegridpodcast/ and  (1) FacebookSources:U.S. District Court - District of ColoradoDistrict of Colorado (Denver)CRIMINAL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 1:22-cr-00006-RM-1https://www.justice.gov/usao-co/pr/aurora-man-sentenced-235-years-federal-prison-shooting-rocky-mountain-national-park

Patrick and Chris sit down with long time city council member from District 5, Kelly Ohlson.Kelly Ohlson is a long-serving Fort Collins, Colorado, City Council member representing District 5, which covers the west-central part of the city. A resident since 1973, when he moved to attend graduate school at Colorado State University, Ohlson has deep roots in the community. He holds a degree in Wildlife Biology from Iowa State University and a master's in education from CSU. Over his career, he's been a public school teacher, historic building renovator, and a three-term Larimer County Public Trustee appointed by the governor. Ohlson's political tenure includes serving as Fort Collins mayor in the mid-1980s, mayor pro tem for four terms, and council member across multiple stints (1983-1987, 2005-2013, and elected again in 2021). Renowned for his conservation efforts, he's led eight campaigns to protect over 75,000 acres of open space and natural areas in Fort Collins and Larimer County, earning him the inaugural Kelly Ohlson Natural Areas Conservation Award in 2022. Married to Linda Stanley, a CSU senior research scientist, Ohlson is known for his pragmatic, compassionate leadership and commitment to public service, though he announced in November 2024 that he won't seek reelection when his current term ends in 2025.

Patrick and Chris sit down with long time city council member from District 5, Kelly Ohlson.Kelly Ohlson is a long-serving Fort Collins, Colorado, City Council member representing District 5, which covers the west-central part of the city. A resident since 1973, when he moved to attend graduate school at Colorado State University, Ohlson has deep roots in the community. He holds a degree in Wildlife Biology from Iowa State University and a master's in education from CSU. Over his career, he's been a public school teacher, historic building renovator, and a three-term Larimer County Public Trustee appointed by the governor. Ohlson's political tenure includes serving as Fort Collins mayor in the mid-1980s, mayor pro tem for four terms, and council member across multiple stints (1983-1987, 2005-2013, and elected again in 2021). Renowned for his conservation efforts, he's led eight campaigns to protect over 75,000 acres of open space and natural areas in Fort Collins and Larimer County, earning him the inaugural Kelly Ohlson Natural Areas Conservation Award in 2022. Married to Linda Stanley, a CSU senior research scientist, Ohlson is known for his pragmatic, compassionate leadership and commitment to public service, though he announced in November 2024 that he won't seek reelection when his current term ends in 2025.

In the first hour of Terry Wickstrom Outdoors, terry is joined by Steve Pennaz from Lake Commandos Television, Cindy Clagget with Larimer County, and Brad Peterson from Brad Peerson Outdoors.  They get into walleye span, forward facing sonar, Boat ramp openings and fishing at Horsetooth and Carter Lake, and open water fishing.

Patrick sits down with Lorenda Volker, County Manager for Larimer County. As of February 2025, Lorenda Volker serves as the County Manager for Larimer County, Colorado, a position she has held since July 2022. Prior to this role, she dedicated 14 years to the county, beginning in 2008 as the Director of Human Resources before advancing to Assistant County Manager. In these capacities, Lorenda led various departments, including Internal Services, Human Services, and Economic Development, and played a pivotal role in initiatives such as behavioral health and rural broadband expansion. Before her tenure in Colorado, Lorenda amassed 15 years of experience in Florida, overseeing human resources, collective bargaining, and public works for two municipalities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Florida State University and a Master of Public Administration from Nova Southeastern University. Known for her compassionate leadership and collaborative approach, Lorenda has cultivated strong relationships with local municipalities and community organizations. Her commitment to innovation and efficiency continues to drive Larimer County's mission to serve its residents effectively.

Patrick sits down with Lorenda Volker, County Manager for Larimer County. As of February 2025, Lorenda Volker serves as the County Manager for Larimer County, Colorado, a position she has held since July 2022. Prior to this role, she dedicated 14 years to the county, beginning in 2008 as the Director of Human Resources before advancing to Assistant County Manager. In these capacities, Lorenda led various departments, including Internal Services, Human Services, and Economic Development, and played a pivotal role in initiatives such as behavioral health and rural broadband expansion. Before her tenure in Colorado, Lorenda amassed 15 years of experience in Florida, overseeing human resources, collective bargaining, and public works for two municipalities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Florida State University and a Master of Public Administration from Nova Southeastern University. Known for her compassionate leadership and collaborative approach, Lorenda has cultivated strong relationships with local municipalities and community organizations. Her commitment to innovation and efficiency continues to drive Larimer County's mission to serve its residents effectively.

In episode 63 of the Fort Collins Fellas podcast, Patrick and Chris sit down with John Kefalas, Larimer County Commissioner for District 1. They dive into key topics impacting Fort Collins and the broader Larimer County community, including insights from the November election ballot. John shares his vision for addressing critical issues such as affordable housing, the rising cost of childcare, and transportation infrastructure. This engaging conversation is perfect for listeners looking to deepen their understanding of the local political landscape and the efforts shaping the future of Fort Collins.

In episode 63 of the Fort Collins Fellas podcast, Patrick and Chris sit down with John Kefalas, Larimer County Commissioner for District 1. They dive into key topics impacting Fort Collins and the broader Larimer County community, including insights from the November election ballot. John shares his vision for addressing critical issues such as affordable housing, the rising cost of childcare, and transportation infrastructure. This engaging conversation is perfect for listeners looking to deepen their understanding of the local political landscape and the efforts shaping the future of Fort Collins.

Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-linksBoost the signal with a $5 monthly donation! Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content! #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices --------------Thinking ahead, talking through difficult situations, understanding you don't have all the answers, and working well with those who do, are all attributes of high-functioning emergency managers and response professionals.As a former paramedic, and current Director of Emergency Management in Larimer County, Colorado, Lori Hodges knows this well.In this episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast, Lori talks about her experience dealing with cascading impacts, transitioning between crisis mode and routine mode, and consequence management.  Lori is also an author whose book, Shaking In The Forest: Finding Light in the Darkness, explains how to deal with the trauma that is certain to come when dealing with major emergencies.Buy her book here: https://www.amazon.com/Shaking-Forest-Finding-Light-Darkness/dp/B0D2M115FX--------------*Major Endorsements:L3Harris's BeOn PPT App.Learn more about this amazing product here: https://www.l3harris.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by Professionals for Professionals: https://www.dobermanemg.com/impulseEmergency Management for Dynamic Populations (DyPop):Hot Mess Express: An emergency management leadership course focusing on response tactics during terrorist attacks. Hot Mess Express includes an immersive exercise during an intentional train derailment scenario. Register for DyPop here:https://www.thereadinesslab.com/shop/p/dynamicDoberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com

For today's episode of the Rocky Mountain Review learn about new tools being created at Colorado State University to help promote sustainability for students at the university and beyond with Audrey Donow in campus news. Then students may face displacement concerns with the closure of Prospect Plaza apartments in Fort Collins for remodeling. Find out how students may be impacted by the apartments closing for the summer. Then for local news, Tyler Weatherwax goes over a wildfire that burnt North West of Fort Collins just near Ted's Gas Station. Then Fort Collins Police Services are asking the community to help in the investigation of an assault that occurred in May that still has questions. To wrap up local news before a quick break, the Food Bank for Larimer County is asking for donations to help the community.After the break, Donow goes over events for the weekend with performances of indie pop, country, and folk music at the Aggie Theater. Then the annual Fall Dance Concert will take place on campus by students plus a student-led acapella group at the Lyric. Music Directors Mia Templien and Ria Janapat deliver music news taking a look at this year's Grammy nominations. After the Break Weatherwax starts national news with an explosion out of Kentucky leaving two people dead and a neighborhood experiencing the impacts as well. Then tropical storm Sara ramps up as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico out of the Caribbean, find out what impacts it will have in Central America and potential impacts in Florida. Finally, President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump met at the Whitehouse on Wednesday.Donow returns from the break with the CSU sports report learn about how CSU Women's and Men's basketball have been performing so far, a look at the upcoming volleyball matches and the weekend's football game with the Border Wars at Canvas Stadium versus Wyoming. To end off the show get your Fort Collins weather report from Weatherwax learn about the sunny conditions expected for the weekend and the potential for snow on Monday.About the Rocky Mountain Review: KCSU's News Directors bring you news coverage. Coverage includes northern Colorado and national news, straight from the KCSU Fort Collins news desk. Topics range from crime to cryptocurrency to local art galleries. KCSU news is also on Spotify (and most podcast streaming platforms), and listeners can find it by clicking here or searching KCSU News.

Ben Aste is a conservationist, first and foremost, also an Eagle Scout and the son of a Swiss immigrant.  Ben started Uncle Benny's Building Supplies from a small rented shed, because he couldn't stand to see the waste in the lumber supply industry in which he'd been working for some years.  Uncle Benny's grew quickly, and is growing still, despite an interruption in retail operations you'll hear about in the business journey segment.  And - Uncle Benny's will soon reopen bigger and better than ever, and fully under 2nd generation management, with Ben's son Ben taking the reins.  Because…Ben the senior expects to be busy.  My guest today is CEO of Uncle Benny's, but also running for Larimer County Commissioner for District 3, a seat he ran for and narrowly lost (to the current occupant) last time around.  With many of the same philosophies as his building supply company, Ben is running on a platform of Reasonable, Affordable, and Sustainable, and you can learn more on his campaign page at Vote4Aste.com.  I like Ben a lot, enough that I put a “Uncle Benny for Larimer County” sign up in my yard, and I even gave him a little chip-in on his campaign.  He's a win-win-win-win kind of guy, and his combination of business sensibilities and conservationist principles should be (and is) appealing to voters of all stripes and flavors.  And - when I learned in this conversation how much Larimer County Commissioners make I wondered aloud - maybe I should be a Larimer County Commissioner!  Stay tuned on that topic! - and please enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Ben Aste.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

In today's episode of the Rocky Mountain Review brought to you by KCSU's news team, learn about changes coming to public transportation from Audrey Donow in campus news. Then learn about how members of the Colorado State University community can come together to share conversations on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Then Tyler Weatherwax delivers local news with broadband internet services being installed in the nearby town of Timnath. Then find out how local authorities teamed up to tackle a common issue on the road that put drivers in danger. Finally, learn more about the Larimer County Sheriff's Office's newest four-legged employee. Then Donow returns for life and events covering an event at the Avenir Museum helping those looking for help with sewing projects. Then learn about some live music coming up this weekend in Fort Collins with several genres playing including rock, disco, and more.For today's feature story, KCSU's news team went out to CSU's historic oval for the Fall Address. The event featured the CSU marching band, free food and much more. The highlight for the day was CSU president Amy Parsons who delivered a speech to the students, staff, and community of CSU covering topics of the university's highlights over the past year, the student experience, diversity within the CSU community, and much more which is covered in today's story. Hear from Parsons herself and many more including Associated Students of Colorado State University President Nick Desalvo, ASCSU Public Relations Director Joeseph Godshall and students in attendance.Then Weatherwax delivers national news with coverage of the increasing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah. Then learn about how cybersecurity officials within the United States are preparing for this year's election. Then finally learn about a buried World War Two bomb that was dropped by the U.S. that exploded yesterday at an airport in Japan. Then get your CSU sports report from Donow followed by an interview with KCSU sports director Austin Martin who sat down with star CSU volleyball player Naeemah Weathers. Then finally for today's show get your Fort Collins weather report for the upcoming weekend.About the Rocky Mountain Review: KCSU's News Directors bring you news coverage. Coverage includes northern Colorado and national news, straight from the KCSU Fort Collins news desk. Topics range from crime to cryptocurrency to local art galleries. KCSU news is also on Spotify (and most podcast streaming platforms), and listeners can find it by clicking here or searching KCSU News.Original air date: October 3, 2024

In this episode of the Rocky Mountain Review learn about the renovations Colorado State University's Clark building has received and what its future will look like. Plus learn about new research at CSU on freezing plasma and foliage of aspen leaves this fall. Then in local news, two school bus drivers were honored for their efforts in preventing a man from boarding a school bus full of children. Mountain avenue's trolley tracks will be receiving some renovations but impacting traffic. Finally, for local news learn about how Larimer County earned awards for sustainability. Then in life and events learn more about a book signing this week and live music at the Aggie Theater and The Coast. Then for national news multiple state election officials received suspicious envelopes which are now being investigated by the FBI. Then Harris leads the polls in the race to the White House this year find out how much she leads by. Then California's governor Gavin Newsom signed laws that put restrictions on artificial intelligence during election season. CSU soccer lost against Denver University learn about how the team is using the loss to prepare for the rest of the season. More in sports learn about how the Rams can get a second chance to beat Boulder in some upcoming volleyball games. Finally, for today's show learn about the weather for this weekend and the incoming rain Fort Collins residents can expect to see. About the Rocky Mountain Review: KCSU's News Directors bring you news coverage. Coverage includes northern Colorado and national news, straight from the KCSU Fort Collins news desk. Topics range from crime to cryptocurrency to local art galleries. KCSU news is also on Spotify (and most podcast streaming platforms), and listeners can find it by clicking here or searching KCSU News.Original air date: September 19, 2024

On today's episode, we begin a four-part series on election safety and security with guests Tina Barton and Sheriff Justin Smith. Tina is a senior elections expert with The Elections Group and is the former senior program advisor to the executive director of the at the US Election Assistance Commission. Justin Smith is a retired sheriff from Larimer County, Colorado and has over 35 years of law enforcement experience. He served as president of the Colorado Sheriffs' Association and is a former member of the executive committee of the National Sheriffs' Association. They are both members of the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections, an organization that features cross-partisan experts in election administration and law enforcement who aim to support policies and practices that protect election workers and voters. Today, they discuss the components of election safety and the societal aspects that influence elections in the United States. They talk about their involvement in the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections, the process for preparing local officials and law enforcement for safeguarding elections, threats faced by local election officials, the history of election interference and questions about election security, and more.

In this episode of the Rocky Mountain Review, Gus Arnold goes over some key renovations happening on campus that students should be aware of in campus news. Then in local news, Tyler Weatherwax covers two key updates involving shootings with police in Larimer County. Arnold continues the show with coverage of life and events in Fort Collins including a summary of a recent bike event and live music coming up in the city. Weatherwax continues coverage with national news covering a man in Colorado charged with making online threats toward election officials in both Colorado and Arizona. KCSU Sports Director Austin Martin gives a look at the upcoming sports to start this fall at Colorado State University including football and volleyball. And to wrap the show up Weatherwax goes over a strange weather phenomenon in Colorado and the forecast for Fort Collins.  

It's a presidential election year in the United States, with politics dominating the headlines from now until November. For many older people living in communal care settings, the ability to vote isn't always guaranteed, even though it's a baseline right that citizens do not lose as they age. Kate Poppenhagen, formerly the long-term care ombudsman for Larimer County, Colo. and currently a Ph.D student in social gerontology, joins the podcast to discuss a new effort to ensure all elders can vote this November, regardless of where they call home — and regardless of the candidates they support. Explore elder voting resources: https://theconsumervoice.org/issues/other-issues-and-resources/voting-rights https://www.eac.gov/voters/register-and-vote-in-your-state Use the following hashtags to share voting resources specific to your state: #LTCvotes, #LTCRightToVote, #RightsRestored Attend our conference in November: https://thegreenhouseproject.org/2024-conference/

Don't judge her for it, but Kelly Evans is and will forever be a Jayhawk.  Born and raised in and around Lawrence, Kansas, Kelly got her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Kansas and soon after began a front-line role with a local non-profit.  Two-and-a-half years in, the board made the decision to depart the Executive Director, and asked Kelly if she would take the job!  Kelly is a natural leader, and a lover of nature, and her dreams of moving their family near their favorite vacation spot in Colorado (Poudre Canyon) came true when she and her family moved to Fort Collins in 2012.Kelly came to town for a big job - to turn around longtime housing focused non-profit organization Neighbor to Neighbor, which had grown out of a grassroots movement in the 1970's but had suffered through the real estate doldrums of the Great Recession.  She did just that, growing to a sustainable revenue model and a staff of nearly 20 before the Covid pandemic response flooded the organization with resources - with expiration dates! - and they grew to over 60 employees by 2022 - and then had to shrink back down to a stable(ish) staff of 30.  How does a compassionate leader downsize with prudence and justice and empathy? - just ask Kelly - as I did.  N2N is in a great place and still offers a dozen programs ranging from home buyer preparedness training to rent assistance to homeshare programs and much more.  Kelly is cheerful and open and kind, and one of the most empathetic and intelligent people I've ever met.  And - she's a freethinker and a person I can cheerfully disagree with and challenge without risking a friendship!  So please enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Kelly Evans.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Creativity through the lens of the Owner of Los Rios Farm"Creativity = Problem Solving"Farm Bio:  Although not being born on a farm, yet living on one most of his life, Larry Lempka is the originator of Los Rios Farm, the farm that has been in the family for over 60 years influenced by growing up on the Little Thompson River south of Berthoud Colorado.  He has an extensive agricultural heritage for many generations going back to Poland and Russia.  His first solo experience on a tractor started at age 6, with his first animal being a grafted bull calf that started a small herd at age 10.  His first leased farm was acquired as a Junior in High School his first crops were snap beans grown for Kuner Empson Company, and grass hay.  He has commercially grown vegetables consisting of snap beans, peas, onions, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes and pickles,(yes pickles, well ok cucumbers for pickles).  Conventional crops include alfalfa and grass hay, wheat, corn, triticale, brewing barley, cranbe, buckwheat, pinto beans, and sunflowers.  He presently has a herd of cattle raising grass-fed beef, has been raising pasture pork and a few pasture ornaments including a horse or two and goats.  Also, free range chickens for entertainment.  Using regenerative farming practices, Larry is working to improve the soil for healthy plants, healthy animals and thus healthy food.Personal Bio:  CSU Alumni, with a degree in Agricultural Business, and a minor in Agronomy.  Member of FarmHouse Fraternity.  Was a member of the National Champion Meat Judging Team at CSU. Proud member of the Future Farmers of America, where he held the position of State Reporter in 1979-80 and created the first year of the ongoing Colorado FFA Magazine.  He holds the FFA American Farmer Degree. He is currently President of the Little Thompson Watershed Coalition which was established after the 2013 Flood.  Was a member of the Larimer County Agricultural Advisory Board to the County Commissioners.  Is a  member of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Colorado Coalition to Enhance Working Lands, Citizen Science Soil Health Project, and several other soil improvement and livestock associations He has  been awarded the 2022 Environmental Stewardship Award from Larimer County and recently been selected to participate in the Saving Tomorrow's Agricultural Resources Plus Program to work to promote and improve agricultural lands where he established a 4 out of 5 star rating in the initial year of the program.http://www.losriosfarm.comInsta: https://www.instagram.com/losriosfarmarmFB  https://www.facebook.com/LosRiosFarm

In hour one Terry is joined by Steve Pennaz, Pat Dorsey, Steve Gibson, and Dan Gates. They discuss current trends with fishing lures and electronics, fly fishing updates, updates at Larimer County regarding the fire restrictions, and mountain lion hunting and Outdoorsman day! 

If you've voted in an election, applied for a marriage license, or registered a vehicle in Larimer County, you've interacted with the Clerk and Recorder's office. Tina Harris, our very own Larimer County Clerk and Recorder, joins us to talk about her job and all the things her office does in and for the community.

In this electrifying episode of Fort Collins Fellas, Patrick and Chris sit down with Chad Crager, the Broadband Executive Director for Fort Collins Connection, the community-owned broadband service. Who would have thought talking about internet infrastructure could be so thrilling? The fellas dive deep into the current progress of the Fort Collins Connection build-out, exploring just how far along the project is and what milestones have been reached. They discuss how residents of Fort Collins can easily access this new high-speed internet service and the steps involved in getting connected. Chad shares insightful details about Fort Collins Connection's initiatives to support public schools and local businesses, highlighting the significant positive impact the service is having on these critical areas. Additionally, the episode delves into the ambitious growth plans for expanding high-speed internet access into the rest of Larimer County, aiming to bring the benefits of Fort Collins Connection to an even broader community. Tune in to discover the exciting developments and future plans for Fort Collins' very own broadband network and learn how this initiative is shaping the digital landscape of the region.

In this electrifying episode of Fort Collins Fellas, Patrick and Chris sit down with Chad Crager, the Broadband Executive Director for Fort Collins Connection, the community-owned broadband service. Who would have thought talking about internet infrastructure could be so thrilling? The fellas dive deep into the current progress of the Fort Collins Connection build-out, exploring just how far along the project is and what milestones have been reached. They discuss how residents of Fort Collins can easily access this new high-speed internet service and the steps involved in getting connected. Chad shares insightful details about Fort Collins Connection's initiatives to support public schools and local businesses, highlighting the significant positive impact the service is having on these critical areas. Additionally, the episode delves into the ambitious growth plans for expanding high-speed internet access into the rest of Larimer County, aiming to bring the benefits of Fort Collins Connection to an even broader community. Tune in to discover the exciting developments and future plans for Fort Collins' very own broadband network and learn how this initiative is shaping the digital landscape of the region.

rWotD Episode 2595: Arrowhead Lodge Welcome to random Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a random Wikipedia page every day.The random article for Tuesday, 11 June 2024 is Arrowhead Lodge.The Arrowhead Lodge, at 34500 Poudre Canyon Hwy., Roosevelt National Forest, in Larimer County, Colorado, served by the post office in unincorporated Bellvue, Colorado, was a resort camp which was built in 1931. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.The listed area includes 27 buildings, 22 of them being contributing buildings, a contributing object (a sign), and various noncontributing structures and objects, on 3 acres (1.2 ha).Its main lodge is currently a United States Forest Service visitor's center. Other buildings include 13 historic, Rustic-style cabins.It is at elevation 7,410 feet (2,260 m), about 32 miles (51 km) up Cache la Poudre Canyon. It is reached by Colorado State Highway 14, which runs west off U. S. Highway 287, about 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado.It is located in Roosevelt National Forest "in the rugged lower montane climax region typical of Colorado's Rocky Mountain eastern slope," on the north bank of the Cache la Poudre River.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:27 UTC on Tuesday, 11 June 2024.For the full current version of the article, see Arrowhead Lodge on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm Ayanda Neural.

In hour one Terry is joined by Steve Pennaz, Monica White, and Steve Gibson to discuss little details and techniques to become better fishers, tick awareness, and updates at Horsetooth and Larimer County activities. 

KCSU's news team brings you coverage on how CSU is helping PSD teens' mental health amid a therapist shortage, the first confirmed case in 2024 of animal rabies found in a bat in Larimer County, and a deep dive into Monday's student-led protest on the Lory Student Center Plaza. This episode was produced by Akoda Harrop, and written by Lee Zimpel and Tyler Weatherwax.About the Rocky Mountain Review: KCSU's News Directors bring you news coverage. Coverage includes northern Colorado and national news, straight from the KCSU Fort Collins news desk. Topics range from crime to cryptocurrency to local art galleries. Listeners can also find the show by clicking here or searching KCSU News.Original air date: April 30, 2024 

KCSU's news team brings you coverage on legal challenges over CSU's handling of an animal mistreatment investigation, how Larimer County's beer culture landed it on a new list, and an uptick of reported crime across US colleges and universities. This episode was produced by Akoda Harrop, and written by Lee Zimpel and Tyler Weatherwax.About the Rocky Mountain Review: KCSU's News Directors bring you news coverage. Coverage includes northern Colorado and national news, straight from the KCSU Fort Collins news desk. Topics range from crime to cryptocurrency to local art galleries. Listeners can also find the show by clicking here or searching KCSU News.Original air date: April 16, 2024

KCSU's news team brings you coverage on CSU researchers predicting a busier-than-usual Atlantic storm season, a wind storm that cut power for thousands in Larimer County, and a look back at the return of KCSU's punk rock festival featuring interviews with the people who made the music possible. This episode was produced by Akoda Harrop, and written by Lee Zimpel and Tyler Weatherwax. Special thanks to Nick Salis for additional coverage.About the Rocky Mountain Review: KCSU's News Directors bring you news coverage. Coverage includes northern Colorado and national news, straight from the KCSU Fort Collins news desk. Topics range from crime to cryptocurrency to local art galleries. Listeners can also find the show by clicking here or searching KCSU News.Original air date: April 9, 2024

KCSU's news team brings you coverage on the reopening of an LSC restaurant, wildfire risk reduction efforts in Larimer County, and humanitarian aid groups questioning worker safety in Gaza after a strike kills seven World Central Kitchen Workers. This episode was produced by Akoda Harrop, and written by Lee Zimpel and Tyler Weatherwax. About the Rocky Mountain Review: KCSU's News Directors bring you news coverage. Coverage includes northern Colorado and national news, straight from the KCSU Fort Collins news desk. Topics range from crime to cryptocurrency to local art galleries. Listeners can also find the show by clicking here or searching KCSU News.Original air date: April 2, 2024

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” ~William A. Foster  Let's get informed on our food and why quality AND morality matter in the farming world! I am excited to welcome Larry Lempka, local owner of Los Rios Farms! Los Rios is a regenerative farm that has been in Larry's family for over 60 years. As times as moved, Larry has worked to evolve as well and stay on the trend setting tip of farming, but also maintain quality and intentionality. We unpack a lot in this conversation from big food/big pharma, the Dust Bowl, why we need to stop plowing, how we did it wrong from the beginning by disrupting the Indigenous people who had so right, and so much more. Larry gives some great insight on what you can do now from making better choices and shopping local, to checking out certainly documentaries and leaders in the community. This convo is a great intro into questioning a better way on how you fuel- yourself, your family, and your soul. Enter to win $75 worth of met from Los Rios Farm HERE !!   Related Articles: Regenerative Agriculture – An Evolving Concept Regenerative agriculture: merging farming and natural .. Big food companies commit to 'regenerative agriculture' but ...   Time Stamps: 1:15- Larry's Bio 3:28- Growing up to play in the dirt 8:57- The great land rush 14:11- Too big, too fast 18:10- We have weeds… and immunity 22:24- Avoiding the mono-culture 25:23- Cheap at what cost 27:29- Fueling for performance 29:54- Los Rios Crops and practices – do more with less 34:33- Go to a farm, see it for yourself 38:23- Slowing down- how was the food? 45:12- Using food scraps 46:47- Why farmers are afraid to share the story 49:35- So many hats to wear in farming 52:55- What's one thing we can do? 53:47- Agritourism 55:44- An award-winning burger is crap 1:00:25- Regenerative farming out of dire necessity 1:02:11- What can we do to help 1:05:47- Lots of ideas, call Larry!   Larry Lempka : Larry is a CSU Alumni, with a degree in Agricultural Business, and a minor in Agronomy.  He was a member of FarmHouse Fraternity and was a member of the National Champion Meat Judging Team at CSU. He is a Proud member of the Future Farmers of America, where he held the position of State Reporter in 1979-80 and created the first year of the ongoing Colorado FFA Magazine.  He holds the FFA American Farmer Degree. He is currently President of the Little Thompson Watershed Coalition which was established after the 2013 Flood and was a member of the Larimer County Agricultural Advisory Board to the County Commissioners.  He is a member of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Colorado Coalition to Enhance Working Lands, Citizen Science Soil Health Project, and several other soil improvement and livestock associations. He has been awarded the 2022 Environmental Stewardship Award from Larimer County and recently been selected to participate in the Saving Tomorrow's Agricultural Resources Plus Program to work to promote and improve agricultural lands where he was established a 4 out of 5-star rating in the initial year of the program.  Los Rios Farm, LLC Berthoud, CO  80513 @losriosfarm https://www.losriosfarm.com/ Enter to win $75 worth of met from Los Rios Farm HERE  or here https://www.losriosfarm.co/giveaway-with-t-t    Connect with T&T: IG: @TurmericTequila Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com  Host: Kristen Olson IG: @Madonnashero Tik Tok: @Madonnashero Website: www.KOAlliance.com    

I met Mike O'Connell in the fall of 2013, early into his final career stop, when he became Director of the Larimer Small Business Development Center in Fort Collins - and soon before I left my banking career!  The organization had struggled for all the years of my volunteer involvement going back to 2008, and Mike was the 3rd or maybe 4th Director to serve.  From July 2013 through December of 2021, Mike engineered a great transformation of the organization, built many partnerships and coalitions, and became arguably the highest-performing SBDC office in the State of Colorado by the end of his tenure.  LoCo Think Tank was just getting started in those years, and Mike saw the value of peer collaboration and partnership from the beginning.  The SBDC Mike I know well, but his business and personal journey toward the role, and what he's been up to since retirement were lesser known.  Mike had a high achieving career in sales and then in management, and eventually purchased a business - Mountain Woods Furniture in Laramie, WY.  Mike shares many lessons learned from his journey into, and then out of, a small business enterprise, and also shares his love for music, his disdain for Donald Trump, and his passion to bring to light the “squeeze on the average American”.  He's a good friend and a great conversationalist, and I'm pleased to share my conversation with Mike O'Connell.  Episode Sponsor: InMotion, providing next-day delivery for local businesses. Contact InMotion at inmotionnoco@gmail.com

Introduction Lori Hodges has over twenty-five years of experience at both the state and local levels in the emergency services and emergency management fields. She currently works as the Director of Emergency Management for Larimer County, Colorado. Lori is a Certified Emergency Manager through the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) and the State of Colorado. She is also a graduate of the Executive Leaders Program and the master's program through the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School. Additional education includes a master's degree in Political Science and Public Policy and a bachelor's degree in Emergency Management and Planning. She received the Emergency Manager of the Year Award from the Colorado Emergency Management Association (CEMA) in 2008 and 2013 and received the CEMA President's Award in 2020. Contact Information https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-hodges-ma-ccp-pmp-319b2a18/

Just after midnight, Kimberlee Singler, 35, calls 911 to report a home break-in. She tells police that her two of her children have been murdered.  The police response report says Officers found "an adult female and an 11-year-old female who had sustained injuries," as well as a 9-year-old girl and 7-year-old boy who were "deceased at the scene." Singler's third child, the 11-year-old daughter was transported to a local hospital for treatment.  She is hospitalized for a few days and then released. Singler is also treated for minor injuries.   As police investigate the reported burglary, Singler works with officers, giving statements about what happened.  Then police determined the burglary report is unfounded, and present evidence to obtain a warrant for Singler's arrest, but the mom is nowhere to be found. Since she was not a suspect, Singler was not under surveillance and by the time she needed to be, she was gone. Police uncover an ongoing legal battle between the mom and her ex-husband Kevin Wentz.  Wentz's attorneys say their contentious divorce and custody dispute has been going on for over five years.  Just three months ago, Kimberlee Singler filed a request for a temporary protection order in El Paso County. She claims Kevin Wentz waved a knife at her. Wentz denies the allegations. Two months later,  in a different jurisdiction, a Larimer County court held a hearing on Singler's emergency motion to restrict parenting time over the same allegations about the knife. The court rescinded the order finding there was no imminent threat from Wentz. The court ordered that the children have additional time with their father, Kevin Wentz, around Thanksgiving and again December 16 through December 31.   It was arranged for the child exchanges to take place at a police station in Colorado Springs and the Greely Police Station.  When Singler failed to show up with the children, Wentz's attorney filed an emergency motion to law enforcement for assistance to enforce parenting time. The Court granted the motion. Wentz was awarded custody.    The Colorado Springs police investigation led to the charges against Kimberlee Singler. On December 26th, investigators established probable cause and obtained an arrest warrant for Kimberlee Singler on the multiple charges, including 2 counts – Murder in the First Degree, Class One Felony ,  1 count – Criminal Attempt – Murder in the First Degree Child Abuse, and Assault in the First Degree.  Details of the arrest warrant are currently sealed under court order and are expected to be unsealed at a later time. Singler was arrested in London and is fighting her extradition.  Joining Nancy Grace Today: Eric Faddis  - Partner of Varner Faddis Elite Legal, former felony prosecutor and current criminal defense and civil litigation attorney,  www.varnerfaddis.com, Instagram: @e_fad @varnerfaddis; TikTok: @varnerfaddis  Dr. Angela Arnold - Psychiatrist, , AngelaArnoldMD.com, Expert in the Treatment of Pregnant/Postpartum Women, Former Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology: Emory University, Former Medical Director of The Psychiatric Ob-Gyn Clinic at Grady Memorial Hospital, Voted My Buckhead's Best Psychiatric Practice of 2023  Irv Brandt -  Senior Inspector, US Marshals Service International Investigations Branch, Chief Inspector, DOJ Office of International Affairs; Author: “SOLO SHOT: CURSE OF THE BLUE STONE” available on Amazon, Also "FLYING SOLO: Top of the World" Twitter: @JackSoloAuthor   Dr. Eric Eason  - Board Certified Forensic Pathologist, consultant, Instagram: @eric_a_eason, Facebook: Eric August Eason, LinkedIn: Eric Eason, MD   Heather Skold - KRDO13 Anchor and Reporter, www.krdo.com , FB: HeatherSkoldNC13, IG: Heatherskoldkrdo, X: @HeatherSkold13/@Krdo_13   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode from November 28, Tyler Weatherwax reports campus news with information on a shooting that happened near CSU's Oval. Lee Zimpel covers local news on two Larimer County men arrested during a child predator sting operation. Then, Zimpel goes over national news with tips for owners during the recent uptick in dog respiratory sickness.

In this episode from November 9, Tyler Weatherwax reports campus news on the CSU Health Network hosting stress management workshops. Lee Zimpel covers local news on some Larimer County election results. Then, Zimpel goes over national news on the official end of the Hollywood strikes.

The Fort Collins real estate market has been on a ride in 2023. Scott and Ryan sit down and share stories from the trenches. This pod accompanies the release of our most recent market report, you can read it below The real estate market continues to adjust to the new normal of painfully high rates. The 30 year rate is now just under 8%. I remember a year ago I was dumbfounded to learn that rates had eclipsed the 7% mark.  That number felt impossible at the time. I remember thinking it must be a fluke. But here we are a year later and 7% seems like a bargain. The only thing more surprising than the sharp increase in rates is how stubborn the market has been to give up the massive price gains that occurred during the pandemic.   Some people say the lack of price correction is due to low inventory caused by the golden handcuffs, the phenomenon where people won't list their homes because they don't want to lose their low interest rate. But that is misleading.  While the golden handcuffs are keeping the number of sales that occur about 20% below normal, the number of homes that buyers have to choose from is back up to pre-pandemic levels. These levels have been relatively consistent over the last decade. And coupled with low interest rates, they have been producing an average annual price growth rate of 9.2% per year through 2022.  Obviously that kind of appreciation won't be sustained with current borrowing costs. And now that we've seen a full year of rates in the 6.5% to 8% range, we have a better feel for how the market will perform in this environment. Overall it appears that we will end the year with prices about 2% higher in Larimer County and 1% higher in Weld County. The simple fact is that there are many people who can still afford this market.  The buying power of the dual income household  should not be underestimated. Particularly when they are sitting on $250,000 in equity should they sell their current home. The average homeowner in the US has $275k in equity and 25% of homes are owned free and clear.  When people need or want to move and the new house payment will not dramatically impact their day to day life, they will usually make the move.  Buyers are also enjoying the lack of bidding wars, they are able to shop more leisurely, take their time making decisions, negotiate concessions and buy below list price. This is making their high payment a little easier to swallow. The economy continues to show remarkable resilience in the face of the rate hikes. Low unemployment and robust consumer spending are keeping the fed from feeling good about the softening inflation. Expect rates to stay higher for longer than people expect. But also be wary of anyone, including me, projecting where interest rates will be in the next few years. If and when rates do come down into the 6% range again, expect a lot of pent up buyer demand to be unleashed into the market. This should bring more inventory online but will also increase the number of buyers, so the market is unlikely to soften with this new inventory. When this happens, expect any price corrections that occurred during the rate surge to be quickly erased.  Someone asked me the other day, “Who are the people buying and selling right now?” In the last month we have sold homes for people leaving town due to job transfers, people coming to town to be close to their kids, people selling investment property, people buying investment property with cash, people buying vacation property with loans, people buying a larger home and turning their current home into a rental, and even some first time home buyers. It's a similar mix of people as we have seen in years past, but there's fewer of them.  We have been sharing these market reports for over a decade now and each time we do it is with some sadness as we see affordability in Northern Colorado continue to erode away. I am ever mindful of our sister city Boulder, its similarities to Fort Collins, and its median price of $1.2M.

In this episode from October 31, Tyler Weatherwax reports campus news on a new LSC waste bin system brought by the student-run Zero Waste Team. Lee Zimpel covers local news on hotspots for seeing wildlife on the road in Larimer County. Then, Zimpel goes over national news on a heavily armed man found dead inside a Colorado adventure park.

Seth Gruber is speaking at Larimer County Republican Gala alongside Seth Dillon (CEO of The Babylon Bee). Gruber dives into where the GOP is going and what is happening in the conservative movement post roe. He demonstrates how abortion is the lynch pin to the fall of our woke culture. Don't miss Gruber on fire in this episode!     Shop EveryLife, the ONLY diaper company rooted in pro-life values! Use code “Seth10” to get 10% off. https://everylife.com/discount/SETH10   To help Seth educate and expose culture to the evil of abortion so that every person has a right to be born, become an ALLY of The White Rose Resistance at https://thewhiterose.life    For more exclusive pro-life content, interviews, and tools to engage the culture for LIFE, SUBSCRIBE to UnAborted with Seth Gruber TODAY! https://tinyurl.com/niroit8b

The people who work in state long-term care ombudsman's offices are unsung heroes for residents of nursing homes, assisted living communities, and other communal care settings, helping to amplify their voices when they aren't being heard. This week on “Elevate Eldercare,” we dive into the present and future of the ombudsman role on both the macro and micro levels. First, former ombudsman Penny Cook – who recently departed from the Center for Innovation, where she served as chief culture officer – takes a global view of the position, probing the ways that states can expand the role to achieve the twin goals of better care and overall resident satisfaction. Then Kate Poppenhagen, the current long-term care ombudsman for Larimer County, Colorado and a fierce advocate for elders, sits down with Alex Spanko to talk about the day-to-day life of an LTC ombudsman – as well as the particular need to support LGBTQ elders at this particular moment in U.S. history. Learn more about the ombudsman role from our friends at the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care: https://ltcombudsman.org/about/about-ombudsman Explore cultural transformation services from The Green House Project and Pioneer Network: https://thegreenhouseproject.org/cultural-transformation/

On today's episode, we begin a four-part series on election safety and security with guests Tina Barton and Sheriff Justin Smith. Tina is a senior elections expert with The Elections Group and is the former senior program advisor to the executive director of the at the US Election Assistance Commission. Justin Smith is a retired sheriff from Larimer County, Colorado and has over 35 years of law enforcement experience. He served as president of the Colorado Sheriffs' Association and is a former member of the executive committee of the National Sheriffs' Association. They are both members of the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections, an organization that features cross-partisan experts in election administration and law enforcement who aim to support policies and practices that protect election workers and voters. Today, they discuss the components of election safety and the societal aspects that influence elections in the United States. They talk about their involvement in the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections, the process for preparing local officials and law enforcement for safeguarding elections, threats faced by local election officials, the history of election interference and questions about election security, and more. The second episode in this series will air on Tuesday, September 5th

What's the deal with the town suddenly scrapping the Fish Hatchery work Force Housing project plans in Estes Park? An interview with assistant town administrator Jason Damweber We also go over the now ‘justified' killing of a young man in the middle of I-25 by a Larimer County Sheriff Deputy and the newest congressional hearings on UFOs and the disclosures made. In today's interview, we have a conversation with Estes Park's Assistant Town Administrator Jason Damweber regarding the sudden and unexpected scrapping of the much-touted Fish Hatchery workforce housing project. It hasn't been scrapped but needs to reset due to differences between the town's goals and their chosen development partners. Listen to the interview as we break down what has happened in everyday language. Most of us can understand this critical issue for the Estes Valley Community. WARNING THE FOLLOWING VIDEO IS GRAPHIC AND DISTURBING. IT SHOW'S THE DEATH OF A YOUNG MAN IN NORTHERN COLORADO AT THE HANDS OF THE LARIMER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. The Larimer County Sheriff's Office has released a video summary of the critical incident that occurred on the February 18, 2023, CIRT case. The video includes remarks from Sheriff John Feyen and body-worn camera footage. Viewer discretion is advised. The video is available at .After reviewing the investigation conducted by the 8th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team, the District Attorney determined the deputy's actions were justified. The D.A.'s full conclusion letter with case details is available at https://www.larimer.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/2023/brent_thompson_0.pdf.Statement from Sheriff John FeyenWe train our deputies to keep the community safe by taking decisive action with the information they have available in the moment. However, this profession doesn't have the comfortable luxury of hindsight, and the tough reality is that unintended consequences can occur.On February 18 at 9:15 p.m., deputies stopped a vehicle with expired registration. The vehicle was traveling northbound on Interstate 25 and pulled off at the Mountain Vista exit. After a brief contact, deputies determined the adult male suspect had provided a fictitious name and asked him to step out of the vehicle. The suspect, identified as Brent Thompson, then ran from deputies toward the interstate. A Taser was deployed in an effort to stop him from endangering innocent motorists; unfortunately, Mr. Thompson was struck by a passing vehicle. Despite lifesaving efforts by deputies and EMS personnel, he was pronounced deceased at the hospital.  The 8th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team was activated to investigate. They subjected this incident to the highest level of scrutiny, spent two months dissecting every detail, and presented the District Attorney with a lengthy evidence-based report. This included an extensive crash reconstruction, Taser data analysis, and Force Science research. It also provided details about a firearm and drug paraphernalia recovered from Mr. Thompson's vehicle, as well as the Coroner's findings and a third-party toxicology report which showed fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other illegal narcotics in his system at the time of his death. The D.A. recently ruled that the deputy was legally justified in his attempt to protect the motoring public.As first responders dedicated to helping others, we grieve the loss of life in any situation. This incident is no exception, and multiple lives have been changed forever. Nobody wanted this outcome. I've met with the Thompson family and their representatives. Losing a loved one is heartbreaking, and I'm truly saddened by the loss they're experiencing.Every incident provides an opportunity to reflect and grow as an agency, and this incident is no exception. The deputy was forced to make a choice with no easy answer: act and try to stop the suspect… or stand by passively and simply hope no innocent people got hurt. We will continue to discuss this challenging case in training and internal conversations about dynamic decision-making, safety priorities, and the consequences of action or inaction.I also want to draw attention to the silent but destructive player in this and so many other cases: Fentanyl. This drug is devastating lives and families every day, and our community must continue the conversation to stop the devastating effects of illicit drugs in Larimer County.https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/ufo-whistleblower-claims-massive-coverup-retribution-in-sworn-testimonyhttps://www.c-span.org/video/?529499-1/hearing-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.coloradoswitchblade.com/subscribe

This episode offers us the opportunity to meet a fascinating and thought-provoking person, Jessey Manison. Jessey has been an accomplished rider from the time she was five. Along the way she worked as an assistant therapeutic instructor and still, as she begins a new part of her career, has as much love of horses as ever. We talk this week a lot about horses, people, and all in between. It is quite interesting to hear Jessey discuss horse behavior and how we can best interact with horses. She owns her own horse, Mustard, and will be taking him with her when, later this year, she relocates from Fort Collins Colorado to Joplin Missouri where she will be entering medical school this fall. Jessey comes by her interest in and advocacy for persons with disabilities naturally since, as a teenager, her older brother became paralyzed from the waist down. This episode, like so many, is truly inspirational. I hope you enjoy listening to it. I think we all will learn from Jessey and I believe her stories and lessons will stick with us for quite sometime. About the Guest: Jessey grew up in a small grape farming town in Northwestern Pennsylvania where she discovered a love of horses at an early age. Her passion for working with individuals with disabilities started when she became a therapeutic riding assistant instructor, where she could share her love of horses with everyone. Jessey attended Colorado State University where she studied equine science and biomedical sciences before pursuing a master's degree in medical science at the University of Kentucky. Through her college years she became the Vice President of Best Buddies International, CSU chapter, where she was responsible for planning events and creating connections between students and individuals living with IDD in the community. Both as an undergraduate and postgraduate, Jessey has worked as a study group leader, and development manager designing tutoring programs and helping tutors become the best educators they can be. Transitioning from tutoring, Jessey worked as an Allergy Technician until putting her advocacy passion to work as a youth advocate for The Arc of Larimer County. Jessey's journey in advocacy started at a young age when her brother suffered a spinal cord injury. In her free time, Jessey enjoys, swimming, fishing, skiing, spending time with her horse, exploring new places, and dreaming about Disney World. Ways to connect with Jessey: The Arc of Larimer County www.arclc.org About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i  capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:20 Well, Greetings once again. I am Mike Hingson, your host for unstoppable mindset. Today, Jessey is our guest. And I want to tell you that she's a very interesting person, I'm going to really let her introduce herself. But she's a very interesting person in a lot of ways. She loves horses, she became a therapeutic riding instructor and all sorts of things. And it all eventually led to doing more to understand and work with the whole concept of diversity and especially inclusion. So Jessey, welcome to unstoppable mindset. How are you?   Jessey Manison ** 01:59 Thank you. Thank you for having me. I am doing great. I really appreciate the opportunity to come on in and chat with you. And I love that you mentioned that I'm a horse person, because that's the hallmark of my personality. But yeah, I'm really excited to be here. So thanks for having me.   Michael Hingson ** 02:15 Well, thank you for definitely being here. And let's start a little bit by you maybe telling us a little bit about you growing up and just sort of the beginnings of Jesse.   Jessey Manison ** 02:27 Yes, absolutely. So I was born in a tiny town called Northeast Pennsylvania. It's in the northwestern part of the state. So that makes a lot of sense. Yes.   Michael Hingson ** 02:39 And you mentioned it's a great farming town.   Jessey Manison ** 02:42 It is it is a great farming town. So I grew up on a great farm. If any of your listeners are you are familiar with Welch's. So our region is one of the number one producers for Welch's grape. So the Welch's plant in my hometown, and a lot of my family friends great farming is their life. I started working on the great farm at about five to build that real life work ethic. Thank you, Mom and Dad. But yeah, so I grew up with graves. That's always been a big part of of my upbringing, and then decided to move to Colorado for undergrad, a little bit of a change, and kind of have been Colorado, Kentucky back to Colorado. And I actually have another move coming up soon. So that's sort of the the beginnings of where Jesse came from.   Michael Hingson ** 03:29 So you're in Colorado today.   Jessey Manison ** 03:32 Yes, yes. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado as of right now. Ah, and moving. Yes. So I actually just got accepted to medical school. So I'm going to be moving to Joplin, Missouri this summer.   Michael Hingson ** 03:46 Wow. That's a big change.   Jessey Manison ** 03:49 It is a big change. I don't actually know anyone there. I have no family there. It'll be a very big adjustment. But I'm excited to kind of try a new place because I, I like to explore. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 04:00 Well, tell us tell our listeners and I'm curious about this whole idea now of going to medical school. So you grew up. You were in Colorado, what did you get your degree in?   Jessey Manison ** 04:11 So my undergrad was in equine science. So study of horses and biomedical sciences. So when I it's a long story, Michael, but when I when I started college, I knew that I always had loved horses. Like you said, I've been involved in horses for my whole life. And I loved animals. And I didn't really know what I wanted to do beyond that. So I started at CSU Colorado State University, they've got a really awesome equine program, and thought I was going to do a double major with wildlife biology and I was going to save the animals and all that. Turned out I was not as interested in that as I thought and kind of along the way I discovered physiology and neuroscience and I really love that so I started to think more along the lines of like Research and I think the brain is super cool. And I'll just kind of casually throw in, though. So my brother had a spinal cord injury when he was a teenager. So that kind of medicine had always been sort of, you know, close to home, but I hadn't really given much thought to pursuing anything related to that as a career. And so I got to my senior year of college and thought, I'm going to do research, I want to do neuroscience research. I want to solve all the world's mysteries and have the answers and so I went to University of Kentucky to do a PhD in neuroscience. And about four months in as I'm like sitting in the lab, crying sectioning rat spinal cords, I was like, this is not I can't do this. This is not what I want to do. This is not the play out. So had a nice little, you know, quarter life crisis and ended up doing a master's instead in medical science. And one thing led to another and I realized that I kind of wanted to be more on the healthcare side of things. And along the way, I, I now I'm just giving you my whole life story. I hope that's okay. It is. Along the way, I discovered that I really like working with people. And I'm really passionate about advocacy and working with individuals that have disabilities. And so I started working at the arc of Larimer County, which is an organization that promotes the civil rights of people that have IDD intellectual and developmental disabilities. And then realized I love the advocacy. I love teaching. I love working with people, but I think I want to be a doctor. So I'm going to now be starting that transition and hopefully be able to use some of the advocacy skills I learned along the way to help people in medicine.   Michael Hingson ** 06:39 What are you going to do if they ask you to go off and dissect a rat again, because I'm sure you're gonna have to do some biology. They're   Jessey Manison ** 06:45 gonna be like, Oh, my gosh, I thought I got away from this. I really did. One or two is okay. I just can't do it for a lifetime.   Michael Hingson ** 06:53 Yeah. So you want to go back to people? Well, even so you have a great level of horses? How did that really start? And how has that impacted you? And what do you intend to do with all of that?   Jessey Manison ** 07:06 Great question. Horses is like the start of my life, I would say, and it's also the end goal of my life. So I started writing at the age of five, I went to a friend's birthday party, and she had a barn and we got to do horse rides. And I came home and I was like, Mom, Dad, I want to ride horses. And they're like, why should you want to do what they say it's the best and worst thing they ever did was getting me involved kept me out of trouble. But man, it comes with a price tag for sure. So I started writing. And then the barn where I rode, also did therapeutic riding lessons. And so I got to start out as just a side Walker and helping at the barn cleaning, you know, doing doing barn chores, and really, really loved it, and ended up just kind of working my way up to be an insist unassisted therapeutic riding instructor there. And I started to realize the power the animals have on everyone, not only people that have disabilities, but all of us. And I really felt very passionate about that. And so I kind of set this long, long term goal, I want to open up a horse rescue. And eventually I want to do work with people that have different neurological disorders and do therapeutic writing long term. And so I think it'd be awesome to kind of use some of the horses from the horse rescue, retrain, and maybe have a program for at risk youth and people that have gone through trauma, because they can be a really amazing healing entity. So long term, I hope to open up a nonprofit that that will be able to do that and serve people through horses, because that's, that's my love.   Michael Hingson ** 08:42 How will that impact going off and being a doctor?   Jessey Manison ** 08:46 Great question. As you can tell, I like to do a lot of different things. So one or eight one of the big reasons I want to do medicine and do neurology is because of I just like super crazy stoked about the brain and the spinal cord. I think it's amazing. And therapeutic riding is really amazing for a lot of people that have traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and then runs the gamut for people have IDD. So no, I really liked the idea of practicing medicine, but then kind of on the side running the nonprofit so I can work from more of the medicine physician angle, but then also get people connected to equine therapy, and help them to understand you know, biologically how that works and the benefits associated with that. So hopefully, I'll be able to, at some point be able to do to do both at the same time. We'll see how that that plan pans out.   Michael Hingson ** 09:37 Well, horses are pretty bright creatures as I understand it.   Jessey Manison ** 09:40 Yes, absolutely. People they get a bad rap. People think they're dumb and they're not there. They're very smart and they're very patient. And I mean, I just amazing. I am totally enamored with with horses.   Michael Hingson ** 09:52 So how do they react or do they sense when you're they're dealing with someone who wants to ride them, and you're helping a person ride them who has a neurodivergent or an IDD kind of a situation? Do they sense that? Do   Jessey Manison ** 10:11 you think? Absolutely. And I, and I will, I will die on that hill, I think that they certainly have a sense about that. And I, just from personal experience, I mean, I've seen horses where you get on a new ride, and they're a little bit more rambunctious and you know, a little high strung and aren't always listening. And then you put someone on that has those neurodivergent, or has an add, and all of a sudden, it's like a totally different horse, like, they can definitely sense that they're careful their understanding. And one of the really cool things is they kind of mirror and mimic people's emotions and body language, which is what makes them also a really amazing tool for healing and for trauma. And just for like a, from a psycho, psychological perspective, because they're just going to react to whatever you're kind of putting out into the environment, right. And so it's a really awesome way to kind of see what you're putting out there and how you're feeling and watching the model. And then watching connecting with the horse and giving you something to connect to, is incredible. So I am a huge believer that they sense people, they understand the motions, and even just me in general, I have a horse and I love him to death. He's almost 29. And I've had him since I was 10. And 100%. Like if I go to the barn, and I'm having a bad day, and I'm feeling super emotional. He is right there. Like he's comforting me, he's guarding me, if I sit in his stall, he's standing over me. And then normal day is not the most lovey dovey course, you know, he's like, I don't really touch me. I don't want anything to do with them. So I definitely think that they they can sense kind of the presence and who they're dealing with.   Michael Hingson ** 11:48 I know that there has been a lot of discussion, and I've seen some reports about people who went through some sort of traumatic situation. And horses were used to try to help bring them out of whatever they were in and to teach them once again, that they can have power and that they can do better than they think. And one of the things I heard which really fascinated me was about someone who was taught that they could really control a horse mostly with their eyes, or just looking at the horse. Tell me about that kind of thing.   Jessey Manison ** 12:24 Yeah, so I mean, if you think about horses, horses or flight animals, right, so they're used to running, they're used to assessing their surroundings for danger, and then running away from danger. And so one of the really cool things is you can use them to kind of get a better understanding of, of emotion, because what happens is, let's say you're you're in a field with a horse, or you're approaching a horse. If you're approaching them in a kind of aggressive, brisk, hostile manner, they're going to pick up on that and they're going to start to move away from you, or they're going to run away, or they're going to jerk their head up, or that's uncomfortable for them, they can sense that there's something there that's not comfortable. And then the same token when they do feel comfortable, and you start to, like connect with them and manipulate the horse based on where you're standing. And like you said, eye contact body position, you start to connect, and you actually can draw horses in that way as well, which is super amazing. So you can look up all kinds of videos on YouTubes, like natural horsemanship and stuff. But basically you start to work with the horse, you manipulate where you are in their space. And that kind of manipulates where they move. And eventually they start to trust you, they start to connect with you and respect you. And you can create that bond where they actually walk to you instead of walking away from you. And same thing goes for, you know, for human emotion, if you're in a really rough spot, and you're coming at them with a lot of energy, they're gonna pick up on that and something's going to be different. And that gives you an opportunity to reflect on where you're at and say like, Okay, what did I do that made this uncomfortable for both of us, and let's try a different technique. So it's really interesting how perceptive they are of their environments and the ways that you can kind of manipulate and and connect with them on that level.   Michael Hingson ** 14:09 Do you think that they're sort of unique in the animal world? In terms of having that sense? Do you think other animals do or is there something that is really unusual about horses and doing that?   Jessey Manison ** 14:24 That's a this is like getting into a philosophical question. I like this. I think that certain animals, I do think that certain animals so I feel like a lot of the ones that we use for therapy are like that. So dogs, I really believe that dogs also have kind of that sixth sense where they can read the surrounding and read threats and read emotion. That's why we use them as therapy, therapy animals because they are so amazing. I don't think that all of your flight animals have them. You know, there's a lot of animals out there that are our prey animals that I don't particularly think that sense but they sense that so I do feel like the horse is unique in that aspect. But I don't think that they're the only ones. I think I think there are other animals out there that probably could do and maybe some that we haven't explored yet. I don't know. But I do think they're, they're more unique than most animals, I would say, Yeah, well,   Michael Hingson ** 15:16 one of the things that makes them interesting, of course, is their size. And so I don't know, whether they recognize how scary they are, to some people because of their size, or how much more empathetic they they tend to be even in spite of their size. But like dogs, you mentioned dogs, I think that dogs exhibit some of those same sorts of things. They do, understand, and consents fear. And they can understand and sense how people behave. I know, having now had a guide dogs, the dogs do sense a lot. And I think that that's important. But of course, horses a little bit different situation, partly because of their size, which means you can deal with them in a different way. But I think the sensations in the senses are still there.   Jessey Manison ** 16:10 Absolutely. And I love what you said about them not knowing their size, because it's just so funny. I mean, you see this, this animal, it's 1200 pounds, and you've got a mound of dirt somewhere, and they think it's the end of the world. And they're like, oh my gosh, it's so scary. This is terrifying. It's like, really, you weigh 1200 pounds, you have to get over it.   Michael Hingson ** 16:29 Do they know,   Jessey Manison ** 16:32 the next day, they're gonna be just a surprise that it's there?   Michael Hingson ** 16:34 Well, even so it, it certainly gives you a great, I was gonna say respect, but that's really not the right word. It gives you a great new sense and an opening to an understanding about a creature that is very different than you. And and it shows us why we really need to do a better job of understanding those who are different than us.   Jessey Manison ** 17:03 Absolutely, absolutely. I just I think it's amazing that you can speak to two completely different languages. And yet that there can be a mutual understanding and respect. And you work with this animal and you are connected with them. And there are this amazing tool that you get to use and yet completely different from yourself, like you said, and I do think that reflects a lot of like the diversity of today and someone that different from you, or has different experiences or thinks a different way. And you can still connect with them, which is amazing. And that's, that's honestly one of the reasons why I love equine therapy, and just working with horses in general, is seeing the growth too. And like the limits that we tend to put on people. And I think that when you introduce them to horses, and you see that you're blown away by what they can accomplish, and how they change and their personality, their confidence goes through the roof, which is amazing.   Michael Hingson ** 17:54 Yeah. Your brother is older or younger than you.   Jessey Manison ** 17:59 He's older. He's three years older than I am.   Michael Hingson ** 18:01 He's three years older. So you said he had an injury when he was in his teens. So you certainly remember that happening. And that had to have a big effect on you.   Jessey Manison ** 18:12 Absolutely, yes, that's kind of where sort of all of this passion for for neuroscience and medicine and everything started. So he has a autoimmune disease called transverse myelitis. And basically, his own immune system started to attack his spinal cord. And it left him paralyzed from the waist down. And I definitely remember I was in middle school, I was early middle school when it happened. And it happened just in the blink of an eye. I remember we were watching. We were watching a movie, and we got up to get ready for bed and he went to grab some water and he said, My legs feel kind of funny. And like 30 seconds later, he just collapsed. And that was it. So super, He's amazing. He's such as dad, he's super inspiring. He actually walks with a cane now. So he's made amazing progress with recovery. But it did really shape kind of everything about my life. I think that when that happens, you know, even just getting back from the hospital, you look at our house, and it's like, how are we gonna get him inside? You know, our house was not handicap accessible at all was very old house over 100 years old, did not have any of the necessary, you know, accommodations or modifications that they would hope for. So just in that moment, being like, oh, yeah, we're gonna have to kind of rearrange everything was was big for us. But I'm really, really blessed in the fact that my family is amazingly supportive. And I think that's one of the biggest things that I took away from this is just how, how much you can mean to others and what that support looks like and also had to be very adaptable, which is something that I'm not always the best at, but I have learned that through this through this process, for sure.   Michael Hingson ** 19:51 Does he or did he ever do any writing?   Jessey Manison ** 19:54 He did a little bit so he used to ride he started actually, he rode for a little bit when I started Ride at the age of five. And it wasn't really his thing you know. So he took a few lessons and learned. And then once he was in the wheelchair, he would ride every once in a while. Because it is actually really awesome on your legs and everything, but it just never really was a passion for him. He was a swimmer, he loves to swim.   Michael Hingson ** 20:18 That's okay. I personally have written in the past, but it's been a long time. So oh, maybe one of these days, I'll get to Colorado. And that's it. It's been a long time. But I I really enjoyed writing. I think my longest ride was about three hours. That was a December camp. And a whole bunch of us rode in Southern California and we had about a three hour ride. It was a lot of fun. I developed a blister on my hand and but I know better now. But it was a lot of fun. And I really appreciate horses. One of my favorite horror stories is my fifth guide, dog Roselle, who was the dog who was with me in the World Trade Center and I were, we're now up near Central Park, we were across from the entrance to Central Park. And somebody else was with me. And Roselle saw this big, huge dog across the street. least that's what she thought. And, and I got to go visit I got to come visit. So we started going over. And the closer we got, the slower she walked because the bigger this dog got, like, oh, I don't know. It's not Oh, no, this doesn't really look like a dog after all. Of course, it was one of the horses that pulls the carriages. And we go up to the guy. And and I explain what happened. And he said, Well, this is Charlie, and he's not necessarily the friendliest to animals. But actually, he and Roselle touched noses and actually had a good conversation and I got to talk to Charlie and was a lot of fun. And they got along very well.   Jessey Manison ** 22:00 That's awesome. I love that story.   Michael Hingson ** 22:03 But it was really funny to see this picture, Roselle and seeing Roselle slow. Steak, this might have been a mistake. Yeah, this might not really be what I should do. Oh, great.   Jessey Manison ** 22:18 Am I allowed to ask you a question? Oh, sure. What goes into getting a guide dog? Like, do you have to train with it? Or does it come fully trained?   Michael Hingson ** 22:28 Well, fully trained is sort of, of course a hard concept. And I would think it's true with dogs, horses or whatever, no matter how much you train, there's always more to do. So the dogs come trained in terms of knowing how to guide but yeah, you do have to work with them some. And the schools depending on how well you do or how much experience you have with guide dogs will either put you in a two week class for retrain people or a four week class for especially new folks. And the idea is to see first how well you bond with dog. And also to give the dog a chance to see how well they want to bond with you. And mostly that that goes pretty well. The trainer's do a lot of work ahead of time, a lot of homework to try to match dogs with the personality of the people who are coming in and they they meet with the people before they come or they they have people who will go out and meet with you and they learn about you. They see how you walk and so on. But even once you get to the school, they spend some time really studying you and so on. So they try to make the best match possible. Sometimes it doesn't work for one reason or another my my best story and I think I've told it here once is someone came to get a guide dog. And it looked like they were really doing well together. But the guy said I just don't think we're totally matching. I just think there's a personality conflict and the trainer said we don't see anything at all. But the trainers have worked with him for a while or her I don't remember whether they're male or female. And after about two weeks he's the guy said I just don't think that this is quite the fit. And they said Finally well if you feel uncomfortable, let's do something else with it. He ended up getting a different dog and it worked out really well and it wasn't anyone's fault. But that's one of the rare times I think that someone the potential user it just felt this absolute total disconnect somehow and no one could ever explain it but it was there when and I think that that's an interesting story. To remember that you always do have to make sure you match and and if you don't and if you feel uncomfortable then you need to deal with it because it'll come up somewhere along the line. And you don't want that to happen. But that but you do train but but you also when you're getting a guide dog, you learn to be a dog trainer or you should because You're going to constantly hone the dog's capabilities. And there are things that you need to do to make sure the dog is guiding properly. So it's a process. And so training, and that's why I said fully trained is sort of a nebulous thing, because you're always learning something new. And you're always going to be teaching the dog something new. And that's a good thing.   Jessey Manison ** 25:21 I love that. That's so interesting. I thank you for answering my question. I've always wondered about how that works. But that makes sense. And you're totally correct. Just like with horses, you know, you're always working on something you're always fine tuning. And I like that the dogs kind of model, like they model relationships, you know, like, you're gonna have two really nice people. But that doesn't mean that you're going to connect for friendship or anything else. And that's, that's very interesting. I never thought about that. Yeah, well, it   Michael Hingson ** 25:45 is it is there. And it is important to understand, I know that when I worked in the World Trade Center, I knew what I never wanted my dog to do was to get in the habit of going one way to go somewhere. And that's easy to happen, especially in even a complex of buildings, there aren't that many ways to go from point A to point B. But it was my job to know where to go and how to get there, it was the dog's job to make sure that we walk safely and get us there safely. It's not the dog's job to know where to go. Which is another way of saying a guide dog does not lead to guide dog guides, the guiding is all about keeping us safe. So I had to work hard to figure out different ways, or even just walking a long, roundabout way to get somewhere for both my fourth guy, dog Linnea and my fifth guy, dog Roselle to have them work effectively in the World Trade Center. So they wouldn't get into the habit of going just one way because that's that's a real serious problem that you don't want to do. And so that's what we did. And it worked out well, because the dogs did stay sharper because of that. And I'm sure that you deal with horses in sort of the same way.   Jessey Manison ** 27:05 Absolutely, no, it really is very similar listening to you. I'm like, Oh my gosh, this makes so much sense based on what I know about horses, because it is the same, you know, if you're not giving instructions, and you're not being in charge, they're going to do what they want to do. And like one of the biggest things, especially with safety, because you're working with a huge animal is they need to respect that you're in charge, and they are going to respect what you want them to do. And so we talked about this a lot when we're writing, you know, if you're just riding around the horses going wherever he wants to, all of a sudden he thinks he's in charge. And his job is just to respond to your cues. And listen to what you want to do. So yeah, very similar.   Michael Hingson ** 27:40 Do they naturally want you to be in charge. I know with dogs, dogs, really like a pack leader and like guide dogs really want to know what the rules are. And when they know what the rules are, then they are happier and they're sharper, and they do what they're supposed to do. And a lot of people constantly say to me, Oh, my dog could never behave like your dog. And and I always cringe when I hear that, because yes, they can. But you have to set the rules, and you have to be the one that's in charge, and they look to you to be in charge. Except that if you decide you're not going to be or you don't catch on to that, then they're gonna do what they want to do. Is that sort of the same with horses? Or are they a little bit more independent thinkers typically, then so you have to work harder at it?   Jessey Manison ** 28:26 I would say so in a in a general sense. Yes. No, of course that you have certain horses and certain personalities that maybe are, are a little bit more of the dominant personality and a little bit less dominant. But in general, yes. Now, I mean, horses, like you said, they're herd animals, right? They want to have a pecking order, they want to be protected. They want to know that there's like some comfort there. And a perfect example of this is I took I took a cult training class when in my undergrad. So we see Colorado State University has an amazing quilt training breaking program, where a lot of the different branches from all over, they give their coats that have been unstarted to the program, and the students train them for a year. And I will forever remember after weeks and weeks of working with these, these young guys and girls, there was an instance where there was one one of the Colts in a pen by himself. And then the rest of the class we had ours that we were working with. And we were working on a flag. So one of this kind of skills here is when something moves back and forth, like teaching them different abilities to to chase the flag as if it were a cow cut the flag, kind of technical stuff, but it started moving and we were introducing them to movement and getting used to that. And the horse that was in the pen was freaking out like going crazy running around really, really stressed. And all the other horses that we had in our hands were totally calm. And the trainer looked at me like so what's the difference here? Like look around? What are you noticing? And it's exactly what you were saying? I mean, the horses that were We were standing beside them, they felt completely confident right in the situation and us and our ability and the horses by itself without anyone was alone. Exactly and freaking out. So absolutely, I completely second what you're saying about about dogs?   Michael Hingson ** 30:16 Well, you have clearly worked a lot with with persons with disabilities, what's kind of maybe one overwhelming or strong experience that you had that really has affected you?   Jessey Manison ** 30:29 Yeah, oh, my gosh, that's such a good question. Um, as I said, I'll relate it back to horses, because that's who I am, I promise I do have a life outside, of course,   Michael Hingson ** 30:39 you're gonna be a doctor.   Jessey Manison ** 30:42 But when I was working as an assistant, assistant instructor, I had a young lady that came in for lessons. And one of the cool things about the barn that I worked out was they had a mixed model where like, a lot of times for therapeutic writing, you'll see where the classes are just for individuals that have disabilities. And the woman that didn't our barn, she had both neurotypical and neurodivergent students working in writing and learning together, which is really awesome. And we had this one young lady come in, and she was probably maybe early 20s. And she had Down syndrome. And her mom was very, very nervous. And she said, you know, she has a really hard time, following directions, she has a really hard time being independent, she doesn't have a lot of competence. She's very uncoordinated. You know, she was really concerned about how she was going to do on a horse. And of course, we always start out with side walkers and, and everything. And it was just amazing. Because by the third lesson, she's writing completely independently. She's steering, I give her direction, she follows it perfectly. She's a whole different woman. And it was just awesome to see that. And it really just made me think about like, I think I mentioned this earlier, just the limits that we put both on ourselves as, and other people kind of automatically assuming Oh, well, they'll probably struggle with this, or oh, I don't know, you know, if I can do that. And she was amazing. And she was walk, trot canter riding by herself doing patterns, and her mom was like, this is, this is unreal. I've never seen anything like this with her. So that's probably one of the most impactful and that's kind of the reason why I love working with this community is just to see them grow and to see what everyone is capable of. And when you don't sell people short, just in general in life, it's amazing what they can accomplish, which is awesome.   Michael Hingson ** 32:38 Why do you think that you were so successful with her?   Jessey Manison ** 32:43 Why do I say, oh, my gosh,   Michael Hingson ** 32:45 maybe that's the wrong term. But why do you think at all worked out? So well? Was it she just hadn't had no real experience? Or opportunity? Was there so much fear at home? And suddenly that went away? Or is it something different than that?   Jessey Manison ** 32:59 I would say it's, I would say, it's partially that I think that, you know, we tend to shelter and we want to protect and, and everything. So I definitely think that maybe the independence factor. This was the first place where like, Mom and Dad weren't there for the lesson, it was just us and I didn't have any preconceived notions about what she was going to be able to do. I was just going to teach like, I would teach anyone and see where we go. And I think that really gives her gave her the opportunity to flourish, as well as just having that bond with an animal itself. I mean, she came in, she wants to brush it, she's telling him about her day, you know, just having that connection with something to push you into support you and make you feel confident, like you're not doing it alone, because you're doing it with a partner, even though your partner is a horse, a horse, I think that that plays into it too.   Michael Hingson ** 33:46 Well, you know, animals, really, I think, unless there's something traumatic that happens, at least a lot of animals really do want to establish a relationship. And clearly it sounds like she sensed that. And she was looking for a way to establish a relationship with something and so they really hit it off.   Jessey Manison ** 34:06 Yeah, absolutely. And you could tell just when she she would walk in, she runs over to the horse that she always likes to ride and he's nuzzle in her face. And you know, kind of given her a little kisses. And you can tell that the connection is mutual Mutual. You know, the love is both ways.   Michael Hingson ** 34:21 Yeah. Which is, which is great. And I was going to ask you that, was there one horse that she had is kind of a favorite?   Jessey Manison ** 34:27 Yes, yeah, there was one horse that she connected with. And we try and it's, you know, it's good to get out of your comfort zone. And every horse has its own quirks and its own personality and work with different ones. But there was definitely one that she she really connected with and, and love to work with. And so they had they had a stronger bond, I would say than a lot of the others, which was really awesome to see. And I also think that I think another reason she flourished is that she got to pick something that she wanted to do and they feel like this is something with people that have IDD We're kind of their systems already set up, right? And it's like, okay, well, these are your options. We have adaptive this or adaptive that and here's the day program and, and so these are your choices, this is what you're going to do. And in this instance, she got to pick something that she wanted to do. And she was interested in. And so I think that is another great point that she just really flourished because she was interested in it.   Michael Hingson ** 35:22 Was this in Colorado? This was in Pennsylvania in Pennsylvania, so you don't see her anymore?   Jessey Manison ** 35:27 I do not. Which is really that's the hardest part about moving it that that was a big a big letdown for me, but   Michael Hingson ** 35:35 so are you moving horse to Missouri when you go?   Jessey Manison ** 35:38 Yes, I am. He goes everywhere with me. He's my partner in crime. Oh, good.   Michael Hingson ** 35:42 So he'll he'll go to class.   Jessey Manison ** 35:45 After checking it just gonna hit him up right outside? I'm sure they'll be fine with that. Sure. Why not a   Michael Hingson ** 35:53 little bit of growth in the way you do things never hurt anyone? Absolutely. Well, you mentioned being involved with the ark. Tell us about the Ark a little bit.   Jessey Manison ** 36:03 Yeah, so the Ark is a nonprofit whose main goal is to fight for and promote the civil rights of individuals that have intellectual and developmental disabilities. So within that, it's a lot of advocacy work. And then every arc chapter is a little bit different. So here in Fort Collins, we have the arc of Larimer County. That's what the organization that I work for. And our big one is advocacy and education. That's our kind of our focus. And so we work with families that have kids that are in special education, if they have questions, or if there's an issue with the special education team, we work on the adult side of things to help with criminal justice, guardianship, housing, and really just help both be an advocate on the individual level for people and their needs. And then also systemically each of the states typically have a national chapter that works to help legislators understand pertinent laws and things like that pertaining to people that have IDD. So you'll also find some arcs, they do their service organization. So sometimes they'll have different day programs, every one is a little bit different. But the advocacy and education is really our focus. And so I am a huge advocate. So I work mostly in schools and with the younger kiddos in special education, and then kind of out getting them connected to outside resources and what they need to think about planning for   Michael Hingson ** 37:24 the future. Why is it called Arc?   Jessey Manison ** 37:27 That's a great question. And I have no idea. That's a really good question. I should go I'm gonna have to Google for that. I'm not sure I'll ask the rest of my team, if anyone knows why.   Michael Hingson ** 37:38 Yeah, it would be interesting to learn learn that history and see where that goes. Yeah, so you're a youth advocate. Tell me a little bit more about how that works out and and what you do? And also, how are you going to transition that to going to Missouri? Yeah. So have you started looking into that?   Jessey Manison ** 37:59 I have a little bit. And that's kind of why I like developing these skills. Because I do think it's actually really important to be an advocate for your patients. So I guess I'll start with the second part of the questions and similar to their, I, that's something that I feel like I've experienced with my brother is, there's a lot of really amazing smart doctors, but there's not a lot of them that are great advocates for their patients, or take the time to help them understand and teach and like really connect. And so that's been really important to me is developing those skills so that I can be the best doctor and the best advocate for patients that they they need to be. So Although who knows where my journey will go, I've learned life is a little bit crazy. You never really know what's going to happen. But I'm hoping that I'll work in that capacity as both like an educator in the medical community and then also just helping some of those skills working with people that have IDD. And this is something that med schools don't really address is working with that population. Because communication can be can look very different. And a lot of times the idea that, you know, that person is still a person, although seems very obvious. When you're in medicine, it's talking to a caregiver, it's not really putting the focus on your actual patient if they have a disability, and that's something that can be very frustrating. And I just remember a time where a doctor who I absolutely adore and respect and she's amazing. Learn something that she never learned in med school. So you go through this whole med school and they never talked about how to interact with people that have disabilities and how to treat and she had a young lady come in that was that had an interpreter that was deaf, so she had you know, sign language interpreter. And when she was interacting, she would look at the interpreter and say can you ask her? This? Can you ask her this? Instead of understanding that that interpreter is just you know, a means to get information you can still use that first person and every thing. And so just skills like that you again, like if you have a kiddo in the emergency room that has autism, that's going to be a very loud overstimulating environment, like how do we provide the best care to those patients, and I hope some of the things that I've learned in this job will transfer. And then as far as my, you know, day to day, so one of the big things I do is education, education and support for parents of kids that have IDD, so a lot of them will come to us, and they've only recently got a diagnosis or they're noticing deficits, and they have no idea where to start. So we'll go through the whole IEP process, how to get special education, what that looks like, and then how to get connected with resources like Community Center boards, which are kind of the hub for, for providing funding for waivers and things, services and supports for those kids. We do different workshops, we also have a podcast. So our podcast is kind of an educational podcast. It's called Disability discussions with ark of Larimer County, and we talk about all kinds of things like SSI and different alternative therapies and resources in the community. So that's a big portion as well. And then this the other on the other side of things is really that direct advocacy where a lot of parents will come to us because something in the IEP isn't being followed, or they don't feel like their kiddo was getting the services that they need in school. And I'll kind of come in as part of that team to advocate for that kiddos needs and say, you know, these are changes that we need to make, or we need to look at this and kind of problem solve with them.   Michael Hingson ** 41:30 Yeah, it's you, you have brought up a whole lot of things that are interesting to talk about. So let me go back to the to the doctor thing a little bit, I fully understand what you're saying about the doctors are used to talking to caregivers, they won't, they won't talk to patients, and they don't understand a lot about especially disabilities. I had a doctor once I went in, to adopt gemologists. And I went in with an ice situation, just a lot of pain. And when it turned out it was glaucoma. But when I was talking to the doctor, all he would say to me is your eyes are mad at you. Now this is a this is a man he's talking to who has a master's degree in physics. And he's saying your eyes are mad at you. And, you know, I reacted to that and said, Look, fella, right, I'm not what I'm doing, I know what I'm doing. And if you're gonna continue to operate that way, then we might as well just stop right now. And the bottom line is he really didn't know how to deal with that. And he really, he didn't walk out, right immediately. But he did soon after that. But the problem is that all too often, it comes down to they're not being taught. They're, they're not being educated. I mean, my parents were told this is now 73 years ago, but my parents were told that I should be put in a home because no blind child could ever grow up to amount to anything in society. And I hear too many stories about that, even today, we haven't really progressed. And there are so many ways that we haven't progressed. And yes, we have progressed in some ways, but attitudinally, where we're still lagging far behind where we ought to be. And so I really applaud what you're doing. And I hope that you'll be able to be a good advocate and helping to teach others because of your own experiences and your own convictions.   Jessey Manison ** 43:36 Thank you. I hope so too. And I really do think that the you know, what you said is people just don't know. And I think at the beginning, I think there's a little bit of fear associated, right? Like you're trained and you have so much education, but if you've never worked with anyone that has IDD, and then you're coming in to provide care, it can be uncomfortable, right? Like you, you don't want to say the wrong thing. You don't want to do the wrong thing. You you are uncomfortable sitting in that situation. And I have to stop, like we have to get out of that mindset and relate that they're the patient first. But I do think you know, as you said, it is education and like how do I do this? Okay, well, let's talk about it. Like let's have a conversation in the medical community about what this looks like and giving physicians those skills so that they we can change that stigma and change the idea that that they can't be independent and self advocate and care for themselves. And so I like what you said about the education piece, and I really hope fingers crossed, I can make some sort of small, small impact in that way.   Michael Hingson ** 44:34 I hope we'll hear that you have and that you do. I know it's not just IDD, it is really any of us who are different in any way. The problem is some things are we referred to and read and respected as being different and others aren't. You don't hear people pitying individuals who are left handed even though most people are right handed. You there are some some things you don't tend to see But when you find a person who has a neuro divergent situation, or who has some sort of other intellectual challenge, or who has physical disability as such, we tend to be treated differently. Because people think we're different. Rather than recognizing that maybe the difference is a lot more on our own mind than really exists. Like, I hear the term and in fact, I saw this morning, in a letter an email that I received, somebody was asking about being differently abled, which is a horribly disgusting term. Because we're not differently abled, we may use different technologies, we may do things in a different way to accomplish the task. But very frankly, who does it right? And the whole idea of differently abled is horrible, you're still distinguishing, you're still creating a difference where it doesn't need to be rather than creating an understanding and going, alright, so you don't see it. You're going to use other technologies, but that doesn't make you different. Any more than anybody else?   Jessey Manison ** 46:10 Absolutely, no, I love that you bring that up. Because that is your this conversation is actually reminding me a conversation that I have with my brother. And I know that everyone's thoughts and opinions and feelings on terms and you know, how you refer to this type of community and strengths and weaknesses and disabilities is is very different and individual, but it just reminds me of a conversation that I had with him about differently abled, and that same thing, and he was kind of saying the same thing. He's like, I just don't understand why, you know, it's making it a bigger deal than what it is like, I don't need a special term, I just I have a handicap or I have a disability, I'm still a person, we don't have to focus on putting me of the person first. I already am a person that's not necessary, you know, like, and just kind of owning that, yeah, I have a disability. So what and I don't need any special term to refer to that. So I just think that's interesting, because he had a similar perspective on the differently abled.   Michael Hingson ** 47:05 So here's a question, what's your disability?   Jessey Manison ** 47:08 Oh, what's my disability, organization, focus, a lot of different things.   Michael Hingson ** 47:17 But are those disabilities in the minds of most people as opposed to, which also may not be viewed as being a disability, but it is, one of your biggest disabilities is your light dependent. And I've said this many times on the podcast before, what happens when the power goes out, and you're in a room somewhere, the first thing you do is run to try to find or reach out and try to find your phone to turn on a flashlight, or you pan in on a flashlight, or you panic. And I actually saw that a couple of weeks ago in a building where the power went out. The bottom line is that light dependency got covered up when Thomas Edison and other people created the light bulb. But it doesn't change the fact that the disability is still there. It's just that mostly, you don't have to deal with it. Because technology has come along so far. That light is all around us. There's a really interesting Isaac Asimov story that I read. And I'm cannot remember the name of it. And it's one of my favorite ones. But it's a story about this planet. And I think there's a it's, it's orbiting a binary star. And so only once every 2000 years, does it get completely dark. And when it gets completely dark, everyone goes crazy. And they and the story is around a time when it's about to happen. And there are some scientists who think they understand this a little bit more, and they're in a room. And the stars both winked out, because now the planets and the stars and everything are aligned such that there's no light coming to the planet. And suddenly, they see all the other stars in the universe, and everyone's going crazy. And usually, every 2000 years, everything and civilization is destroyed, and they start all over. And this ends with them seeing the stars, but you don't know what's going to happen when the light comes back on that is the star the two planets or the two stars come out in the morning. But it's just interesting. The reality is that light dependence is there. And it is still as much a disability, just that mostly you got to cover it up because we've done so much to make sure you have light.   Jessey Manison ** 49:40 Right? Absolutely. You've just kind of we've just adapted to this world and what that's like the new normal even though it doesn't have to be the normal. That's interesting. I like that story.   Michael Hingson ** 49:51 Yeah, I wish I could remember it. I can't remember the title. I first heard it on an old radio show called x minus one I collect old radios. goes, but I've read the story since it's a fascinating concept. However, I'm gonna have to find it. And I'll have to let you know what it is. Please do. Yeah, I would love that. And but it is a it's a it's a fascinating concept. But the reality is light dependence is just as much a disability as light independence. And you know, the problem for us is that I'm referred to as blind or visually impaired, and that's as bad of a term visually impaired as differently abled. Because visually, I'm not different simply because I happen to be blind, at least mostly, I'm not. But the other part about it is impaired. Why do I need to be equated with someone who can see, it's like people who are deaf, I hate the term hearing impaired, and they prefer hard of hearing. And same thing with blindness, blind or low vision makes a lot more sense. And it gets rid of a lot of the stigma if we would learn but just to do that.   Jessey Manison ** 51:01 Yes. All Absolutely. It's, it's all just about perspective, and like understanding. Yeah, and I think a lot of a lot of those terms come from the attempt to, to try and be more inclusive, or at least what we think inclusive is without actually talking to people that are blind, or,   Michael Hingson ** 51:24 or have any, or who have any major difference like that. Exactly, exactly. What do you want people to know about arc? For you and arc International, or arc national?   Jessey Manison ** 51:36 Oh, my gosh, um, well, this is a this is an ongoing joke that we have here at the arc of Larimer County. So the arcs in Colorado, there is something called the arc thrift stores. So the first thing that I should tell people is we're not the thrift store. Okay, we are totally different. So the thrift store funds here in Colorado, a lot of our organization, but it's funny, because people will bring things to like, drop off at the Art thrift stores to our office, and we're like, Nope, we're not them. So from a Colorado perspective, we're not the thrift stores. But I would say just in general, there's so many ways to get involved. And if you're interested in any of this, or if you're someone that has a disability, or a parent of someone that has a disability or caregiver, reach out, because we really are all over. And we provide, you know, amazing education, workshops, advocacy. So if this is something that you're passionate about, definitely, definitely reach out and check out our podcast if you're interested in learning about Colorado stuff. But yeah, I think there's just something for everyone. And I would encourage everyone to look up their local art chapter if they have any type of questions or concerns about that, that World War?   Michael Hingson ** 52:44 Well, I think it's important that we learn about dealing with those things that are different than us. And those people who are and Ark serves a lot of people and does it in very good ways. And so I'm glad that we had a chance to have this discussion. The question I would ask you is, so for you personally. You've had a lot of personal experiences, and you've learned some things, what's probably the most important thing that you think you've learned in life? And how are your personal experiences do you think going to shape you going forward more than they have already? Hmm,   Jessey Manison ** 53:20 I would say, I would say the most important lesson is just that life does not always go as planned. And that's okay. And that's, it seems like a very basic thing. But I'm a, I'm a hugely type a planner, you know, I've got the de plan, I've got the weak plan, I've got the month plan, and I've got the 10 year plan, and everything needs to go according to plan, or we're completely off the rails and life is a mess. And so starting from the age of, you know, 12, when things did not go as planned, all the way up through grad school did not go as planned. I've just really learned that some of the best things and the best opportunities come from that. And so, you know, when things aren't going according to plan, it can be very stressful and scary, but I do feel like the best things in my life have have come from the experiences that didn't go as planned and the failures and the the changes. So that would definitely be something that has has shaped me and I hope to continue to learn that you know, you have to be flexible. And then I think just going forward, all of these experiences have just taught me how important family and relationships and supporting each other, whether that's friends, family community, how important that is. And I really hope that I can give back as I as I go through my journey. I think that just treating people like people, which seems so basic, but it's not always there. And being a good day, like I said, being a good advocate for my patients and helping to helping to explain I think people always they overlook the why and that's another thing that I really I really that draws me to medicine is like just can't count how many times being in a doctor's office, the doctor will say like, Oh, we're going to do this and this and this. And none of it's person centered. None of it, you didn't explain like, Okay, well, why? Why are we doing this? Right? Like you need to this is this is his health or my health and, and I think that this is something just to be said, for everyone. You should be the person centered. And so when you have individuals that have disabilities, that, you know, a lot of times because they get overlooked, their opinions get overlooked, they should be at the center, you know, we need to empower that. And so I hope that I can take, take all of that and understanding how important and how stressful those situations can be and how to be a good physician and just a good community member.   Michael Hingson ** 55:44 Nothing wrong with being flexible. It's good to have a plan but also know when to change it.   Jessey Manison ** 55:50 I'm trying I would be lying if I said that, like yeah, I'm really good at that now. No, no terrible   Michael Hingson ** 55:57 experience. Yeah, there you go. If people want to learn more about you or learn more about Ark and and so on, how can they do that?   Jessey Manison ** 56:06 Yeah, absolutely. So there's a couple different ways you're welcome to email me directly. And so I don't know should I give my email I can give my email. So J Manison, ma n i s o n at ARC llc.org. Also a quick Google search the arc of Larimer County or if you look up, the arc national so let's say that you're not in Larimer County. I know, Michael, your podcast goes out everywhere. So if you're looking to get connected with resources, just in general, quick search for the Ark national. And it will come up with all the different chapters you put in your zip code, and it'll tell you where the closest one is. So that's also another really great way to to find us. You can also if you're looking for our chapter, Ark of Larimer County, it'll come right up.   Michael Hingson ** 56:52 Well, here's a challenge for you. Once you get to Joplin, and you're there for a while and you want to talk about it. We want to have you back on to hear about your adventures and how things are going. And, gosh,   Jessey Manison ** 57:05 I don't know that people are going to be that interested, Michael, I'm flattered, but I'm not that interesting of a person.   Michael Hingson ** 57:09 See, we'll see. We'll come up with questions because you're gonna have to come up with more questions again.   Jessey Manison ** 57:15 Okay, perfect. I'll do I will touch base once I'm in medical school, drowning and research. You'll need a break. Exactly. I'll be crying. Okay, can   Michael Hingson ** 57:23 I come on the podcast? Please? No important question. What's your horse's name? Is he was mustard. Mustard. Okay.   Jessey Manison ** 57:31 He's a yellowy kind of color. He's called a Palomino. He's a yellowy color. So it works.   Michael Hingson ** 57:36 My colleague when we wrote thunder dog Susie flora, he has a horse called Stetson.   Jessey Manison ** 57:41 Oh, cute. I love that. That's a super key day. I am my dad. He's, you know, typical Dad Dad puns. So growing up for the last, you know, 16 years. His go to is always no one can catch up to mustard. So I thought I'd let me share that out with the people   Michael Hingson ** 58:01 can catch up to mustard. Right? Well, he may or may not may or may not be able to get away with that. But we'll see. I want to thank you for joining us and being here with us and having the chance to make this happen. This has been a lot of fun. Yes.   Jessey Manison ** 58:23 Thank you so much for having me. I'll be honest, I was a little bit nervous. I'm not usually on the like the interviewee side of things. And you made it just feel like a conversation and storytelling. So I appreciate the opportunity. It's been great.   Michael Hingson ** 58:37 Well, if you ever do a podcast and need someone, let us know. It'd be fun to come and compare notes and take the other side.   Jessey Manison ** 58:43 I would love that I will definitely reach out and hit you up with that.   Michael Hingson ** 58:47 Well, I hope you've enjoyed listening. And I hope that you'll let us know what you think email Jessie, let her know. And I'd like to hear what you think about all of this horsing around overhead too. And this discussion, feel free to email me at Michael hi at accessibe A C C E S S I B E.com. Or visit our podcast page www dot Michael hingson h i n g s o n.com/podcast. And wherever you're listening, please give us a five star rating. We appreciate th

Tough Topic Alert: Suicide Prevention We talk with Kim from the Alliance For Suicide Prevention of Larimer County about the various resources available to the community to help prevent suicide. Suicide prevention is a full-community effort, and everyone can help and can receive help. For free, confidential, and immediate support, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988.

Warren Yoder is the CEO of the Yoder Family of Companies, which includes numerous Weld and Larimer County enterprises - namely Weld County Garage, Yoder Chevrolet, ABRA of Fort Collins and Greeley, The Carriage Shop, Kayman Direct, Iron Clad Manufacturing, Truck City, Drivewise, and Driven Financial.  All are in the automotive industry and adjacent, and Warren has spent his whole career in the automotive sector - which like any sector - is the people business.  This episode runs fast through a series of foundings and acquisitions, with lots of discussion about the why at each stage.  The Yoder companies are known across the region as employers of choice, and we spend a lot of time discussing how they've managed this during a season with so many labor challenges.  Warren is a natural entrepreneur and a gifted leader, and it was great getting to know him during this conversation and our preceding coffee.  When he's ready, Warren would make an amazing LoCo Facilitator, and I'm honored to share with you all my conversation with Warren Yoder.  Episode Sponsor: InMotion, providing next-day delivery for local businesses. Contact InMotion at inmotionnoco@gmail.com

listen now and see what it's like to be the CEO of a nonprofit!

John Kefalas is currently a Larimer County Commissioner, elected to his second term in 2022, and previously served many years as a Colorado State Representative and later, State Senator.  He previously worked in education, advocacy and outreach, with special emphasis on career development, housing, and serving the underserved and marginalized.John has a reputation for being one of the most progressive political figures in Northern Colorado, and we spend a lot of time in this episode pulling back the curtain on “how things really work” behind the scenes in government, and respectfully challenging one another's ideas of “how they should work”.  The get-to-know in this episode goes beyond most you'll find, and includes a dramatic segment where John shares his challenges faced as a man short in stature. So, please enjoy, and thanks for tuning in for my conversation with Larimer County Commissioner, John Kefalas.Episode Sponsor: InMotion, providing next-day delivery for local businesses. Contact InMotion at inmotionnoco@gmail.com

Daniel is joined by Dani and Brittany from the Larimer County Office on Aging Family Caregiver Support Program. Get Connected with the Larimer County Office on Aging: facebook.com/LCOAofcolorado 970-498-7758 Caregiver Landing Page: https://www.larimer.gov/caregiver Larimer County Network of Care: https://larimer.co.networkofcare.org/aging/content.aspx?cid=9500   Books and Authors Mentioned: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina Stellaluna by Janell Cannon Eric Carle

Silen Wellington (they/he) has served as the LGBTQ+ Youth Outreach Coordinator for the Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Larimer County, CO for the last two years. Their work involves training and education, inclusivity consultation, local advocacy, and direct peer support services to LGBTQ+ youth. Silen believes every young person needs a space to explore who they are and be witnessed for their unique gifts. Silen's background is in psychology and music composition, and they are passionate about mental health, advocacy, and community building. Key Takeaways The more inclusive the environments are that we create, the less likely LGBTQ+ teens will feel isolated and alone How to guide your teen to find their communities and support outside the home  LGBTQ+ teens are constantly looking for signals on whether or not they will be safe in social situations When you give your support and offer comfort, LGBTQ+ teens are more likely to come out to you because they feel safe Parents often consider that it's just a phase or something that can be fixed, and that's not true. That message is invalidating and dismissive.  Provide a safe place so they can figure out who they are and how they feel Be authentic as a parent in sharing your support  Get knowledgeable as a parent so you can understand their world and engage with them in a positive and supportive way Give your teen the power to share with others that they are coming out, when they're ready  Don't be afraid to ask your teen how they would like to be identified; new words and descriptions are evolving, and your teen may be changing the way they want to be addressed. Be patient as they work through it. Approach it with curiosity. Sponsored by Ed Gerety Education: https://edgerety.com/education/ Resources Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention The Trevor Project Robbie's Hope Guide for Parents

The fellas chat about Great Plates which runs from March 1 – March 14. The Downtown Fort Collins' award-winning dining promotion and fundraiser for the Food Bank for Larimer County returns for a 18th year! Great Plates of Downtown is a celebration of the Downtown dining community and features 50 participating restaurants serving up breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all day menu specials for $25.00, and a la carte items for just $2.50.

In this week's episode, Matilyn interviews Mindy Rickard, the Advance Care Planning Team project coordinator for Larimer County, Co, about how to create an advance healthcare directive. Everyone over 18 should have this document to ensure that someone they trust would have the legal power to make medical decisions for them if they were unable to do that for themselves. While creating this document can seem overwhelming, Mindy provides some great resources for getting started. Resources to get started: theconversationproject.org and fivewishes.org Follow Matilyn on Twitter: @matilynkay Follow this podcast on Instagram: @not.a.backup.plan Patreon Link: https://www.patreon.com/MatilynKay Episode music: "At The Count" and "Something Elated" by Broke for Free --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matilyn-mortensen/support