Podcasts about Southern Arizona

A Tucson Congressman is sending mixed signals on whether he supports cuts for Medicaid; the Tucson Airport starts a new campaign educating out of state tourists on severe weather; Federal funding cuts continue to threaten Southern Arizona nonprofits; and more...

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Katrina Kerstetter shares how she brought back things she learned in South Korea to help make Southern Arizona a better place.

On this episode of The Cowboy-Up Podcast, Russell and Steven sit down with Greg Watson. Greg is a leading voice in Tucson where entrepreneurship and Artificial Intelligence connect. Greg guides business leaders, students and anyone who wants to learn more about A. I. technology. Greg has been at the forefront of integrating A. I. into practical business education and is a familiar face at Pima Community College and the University of Arizona. He is best known as someone who presents complex technology in plain english. Between his engaging style and free online portal professorwatson.com, he is dedicated to equipping students and entrepreneurs with the A. I. knowledge they need today to thrive in tomorrow's business landscape. Stay tuned as we delve deeper with an expert shaping the future of A. I. in Southern Arizona.

In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, host Tom Heath sits down with Stephen Paul, co-founder of Hamilton Distillers and the creative force behind Whiskey Del Bac, Tucson's award-winning, mesquite-smoked single malt whiskey. Discover how a backyard BBQ, a spark of inspiration from his wife, and a deep love for the Sonoran Desert led Stephen from mesquite furniture to crafting one of the most unique whiskeys in the U.S. We explore the journey from illegal home distilling to full-fledged distillery, and how Whiskey Del Bac honors the flavors, spirit, and culture of Southern Arizona. You'll also hear about their innovative distilling process, how community and collaboration fuel their success, and the special events that make Hamilton Distillers a true hub of Tucson creativity. Whether you're a whiskey lover, a Tucson local, or just a fan of unexpected origin stories, this episode is for you.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Tucson youth explores emotion and expectations in his book "The Weight of Tomorrow"; and how Ability Dogs of Arizona pairs those in need with canine companions.

Deja Foxx was raised by a single mom in Tucson, Arizona. As a free lunch kid in public schools, her family relied on SNAP benefits, Section 8 housing, and Medicaid to make ends meet. Having experienced homelessness because of her mother's struggles with substance abuse, she balanced high school classes with long nights working at a gas station. Deja found her first fight advocating for better sex education in Tucson schools where she organized a campaign of student storytellers, delivering a win for tens of thousands of students who until then had been learning a curriculum last updated in the 1980s. She later went viral for confronting then-Senator Jeff Flake after he voted to strip her and millions of other women of their access to essential birth control funding. Teen Vogue selected her as a member of their 21 Under 21 class of 2018, and Forbes named her to the 30 under 30 list in 2024. She also received Planned Parenthood's Catalyst for Change Award, a United Nations Global Impact Award, the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award, Gloria Steinem's Woman of Vision Award, and a Global Citizen Prize all before turning 25. After graduating from Columbia University as the first in her family to receive a college degree, Deja moved back to Tucson to continue the fight for women, youth, and underserved communities in the heart of Southern Arizona. On April 2, 2025 Deja announced her candidacy to become the first Gen Z woman elected to Congress, running in the open seat in Arizona's 7th Congressional District. And she's with me in THE BACK ROOM discussing her campaign. Got somethin' to say? ! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

During this episode of Banner Health's Making the Rounds podcast, we'll explore the world of pediatric orthopedic surgery, from treating complex fractures and limb deformities to innovative solutions for congenital disorders and neuromuscular conditions. We'll discuss the latest surgical advancements, the importance of early diagnosis, and how collaborative care between pediatricians and orthopedic specialists leads to better outcomes for young patients. You'll hear from Dr. Ahmed Elabd, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Banner - University Medicine Tucson and assistant professor of orthopedics at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson. Dr. Elabd specializes in treating complex pediatric musculoskeletal conditions, including fractures, hip disorders, limb deformities, congenital abnormalities and more.To learn more about these topics or other pediatric orthopedic services at Banner Health, please visit BannerHealth.com/pediatrics.

In this raw, powerful episode, I sit down with Tabitha Yates, author of the newly released audiobook Jesus and Therapy, to unpack her courageous journey through mental illness, spiritual abuse, and rediscovering the kindness of God.Tabitha opens up about surviving intense childhood trauma, narcissistic abuse cloaked in spiritual authority, and being told her depression was a sign of rebellion. Her story is one of survival—but even more, one of redemption. From being disowned by her father to enduring psychological and physical abuse within the church, Tabitha vulnerably shares what it looked like to walk through the valley of the shadow with God, even when the church felt like the enemy.We talk about: • What it's like to be spiritually gaslit when you're already struggling mentally • How EMDR, therapy, and the Word helped Tabitha untangle lies from truth • Why she almost didn't publish this book—and the wrestle of sharing your pain for the sake of someone else's healing • How motherhood became the turning point in her healing journey • What it looks like to walk alongside others who are hurting without doing more harm • The verses that finally broke through the pain and helped Tabitha see God's true heartThis isn't just a conversation about mental health. It's about the bravery it takes to heal, the lies we need to unlearn, and the freedom that comes when we realize Jesus never asked us to fake it till we make it—He meets us in our pain and brings us home.

Southern Arizona could be in for a wet monsoon; a local Native American tribe is debating loosening its membership requirements; the latest on Cochise County's efforts to build a new jail, as it continues to be held up in court; and more...

Titan missile silos once surrounded the area, and from churches to plant nurseries, the remnants are everywhere.

As wildfires become a year-round threat in Southern Arizona, small fire districts are stretched thin and homeowners are facing rising insurance costs, or losing coverage entirely. In this episode, we look at how rural communities like Rio Rico and Sonoita are adapting, what fire officials say they need, and why prevention at home may be the most important line of defense.Support the show: https://www.myheraldreview.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As wildfires become a year-round threat in Southern Arizona, small fire districts are stretched thin and homeowners are facing rising insurance costs, or losing coverage entirely. In this episode, we look at how rural communities like Rio Rico and Sonoita are adapting, what fire officials say they need, and why prevention at home may be the most important line of defense.Support the show: https://www.myheraldreview.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bernadette Alvarado, a dynamic leader in Southern Arizona's business and media scene. As the founder of Simply Hermosa, Bernadette champions culture and entrepreneurship through a modern Latina lens. She also contributes to Hola Tucson Magazine, leads LULAC Chapter 1234, and helps small businesses thrive with Tesoro Business Services.In this episode, Bernadette shares her personal mission, rooted in the powerful question, “What makes you beautiful?”—a question that invites us all to embark on our own journeys of self-discovery. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that challenges us to embrace our true selves!Instagram: Bernadette_alvarado, simplyhermosa_azFacebook:  Bernadette Alvarado-Simply HermosaWebsite:  www.simplyhermosa.orgSupport the show

This week, we remember the life and legacy of former Southern Arizona Congressman Raúl Grijalva. We hear from people whose lives were touched by him, from his daughter Adelita Grijalva, to friends and constituents.

Diverse languages and cultures interact every day in Southern Arizona. University of Arizona Speech and Cognitive Science professor Genesis Arizmendi discusses how being bilingual shapes how we communicate and connect within our communities.

Fresh from the DTC Conference and Unified Symposium, the guys sit down with two out-of-state winemakers who are making waves in their regions. Todd Bostock – Dos Cabezas WineWorks, Sonoita, Arizona Since 1995, Dos Cabezas WineWorks has been growing grapes and crafting wines in Southern Arizona. The winery and its 80 acres of vineyard were pioneered by the late visionary Al Buhl. Todd joined the team as winemaker in 2002, and by the end of 2006, the Bostock family took over operations. Dos Cabezas sources high-quality fruit from its two estate vineyards: Pronghorn Vineyard in Sonoita and Cimarron Vineyard in the Kansas Settlement. Curious about what grapes thrive in Arizona's unique climate? Todd shares his insight on growing and making wine in the desert. Dos Cabezas WineWorks - Website - Instagram Kent Foulker – Cedar Ridge Winery, Swisher, Iowa The Quint family has a long history of farming and distilling spirits, and in 2005, Jeff Quint founded Cedar Ridge with a mission to put Iowa bourbon on the map. As the first licensed distillery in Iowa since Prohibition, Cedar Ridge released its first batch of whiskey in 2010 and quickly became a leader in craft spirits. But Iowa isn't just about corn. Kent Foulker dives into what it takes to grow grapes and produce wine in the heart of the Midwest, and how Cedar Ridge balances both wine and whiskey under one roof. Cedar Ridge Winery - Website - Instagram Tap your play button for a fascinating conversation about winemaking in unexpected places, the challenges and rewards of working in non-traditional wine regions, and how passion drives these winemakers to create something truly unique. [Ep 359]

Simon Dyakowski, President and CEO of Aztec Minerals (TSX.V:AZT - OTCQB:AZZTF) joins me to recap the 2024 drill program at the Tombstone Project in Southern Arizona. Encompassing 3,000 meters, Simon shares insights into new discoveries and expanded areas, particularly highlighting the high-grade silver hit in the Southern Extension zone.    He discusses the implications of Hole 16, which interested 1.5 meters of 44.7 g/t gold and nearly 3,700 g/t silver, the highest grade silver intercept to date on the project. Additionally, Simon outlines findings in the Westside Area and the continued potential of the Contention Main Zone.    He explains future drilling priorities, prospective mineralized dikes, CRD targeting, and the strategic focus for both gold and silver-rich zones.   Please email me any questions you have for Simon. My email address is Fleck@kereport.com.    Click here to visit the Aztec Minerals website.

We've got a lot going on in this one It packs a punch!

Check out this recent episode where Raul talks with David and Dallas about the new baseball league they started.

Did you know that criminals can steal your home without ever stepping foot inside? Deed fraud—also known as title theft—is a growing crime where fraudsters forge documents to take control of properties, leaving homeowners and even renters at risk. In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, we sit down with Lisa Nutt, a key leader at the Tucson Association of Realtors, who has been fighting to educate, prevent, and stop deed fraud in Southern Arizona. Lisa shares her expertise on:

Edgar Soto takes the host seat for this one and sits down with the Sahuarita High School Wrestling Coaches.

Trump's sweeping immigration overhaul ignites legal battles, international tension, and questions of constitutional limits.

On this episode, we are joined by Mark Morris, Head Baseball Coach for the Tucson High Badgers.

Today we sit down with two of the best up and coming mixed martial artists in southern Arizona. Viewer Discretion advised.

Today, we are joined by Alan Murdock to discuss his inspiring journey and how he built one of the largest real estate empires in Southern Arizona

Maria Eastman is the founder of Rainhorse Equine Assisted Services right here in Southern Arizona. Rainhorse provides counseling for groups who work with horses who have fallen on hard times. Maria started her horse journey at the age of six and it was love at first sight! Maria is a certified practitioner of the Masterson Method which is a gentle technique that helps horses release tension and improve their overall health and well-being. Maria is also a contributor at the annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada

On today's episode Raul sits down with former Mica Mountain High School Football Coach Pat Nugent to talk about their undefeated season and 4A state championship.

Arizona basketball legend Bob "Big Bird" Elliott, who followed Fred "The Fox" Snowden from Ann Arbor, Mich., to Tucson in the early 1970s, comments about the upcoming Fireside Chat Series involving Julius "Dr. J" Erving at Palo Verde High School (Jan. 16 at 6 p.m., almost sold out). The series is part of the events coordinated by the African-American Museum of Southern Arizona of which Elliott is a co-founder. 

Fresh off winning the 3A State Championship, Coach Middleton shares his journey, the team's unforgettable season, and what it takes to build a championship program. #sports #tucson #tucsonsports #arizonafootball #highschoolfootball #statechamps

In this exciting new episode of The Marketing Corner, host Shawn Campbell and co-host David Bradley are joined by two incredible guests: Jeff Witthoft and Eric Spitzer, for an engaging conversation about one of Southern Arizona's biggest annual events—the Arizona Bowl. This episode dives into the fascinating history of the Arizona Bowl, exploring how it has grown over the years into a major sporting and community event for Tucson. Our guests share key insights into what makes the Arizona Bowl unique among college football games and how it has cemented itself as a signature experience for locals and visitors alike. But this year brings a fresh twist: the new title sponsor is none other than legendary hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg. Shawn, David, Jeff, and Eric discuss how Snoop's involvement is set to elevate the Arizona Bowl's popularity to unprecedented levels. From attracting national media attention to drawing younger, more diverse audiences, Snoop Dogg's influence could create a ripple effect that benefits not just the bowl game but Tucson's local economy as a whole. The conversation also takes a practical turn for small business owners in Tucson, highlighting how they can capitalize on the influx of visitors from the two competing schools—Colorado State and Miami of Ohio. With fans traveling from near and far to support their teams, local businesses have a golden opportunity to showcase what Tucson has to offer. From restaurants and bars to hotels and retail shops, the panel shares actionable tips and strategies for maximizing foot traffic and creating memorable experiences for out-of-town guests. Key topics covered include: The origin and growth of the Arizona Bowl: What sets it apart and how it became a Tucson staple. Snoop Dogg as the new sponsor: The impact of a cultural icon on ticket sales, media coverage, and audience engagement. Small business opportunities: How Tucson entrepreneurs can attract and serve visiting fans to boost their bottom line. The importance of community involvement: Leveraging the Arizona Bowl to foster pride and collaboration in Tucson's small business community. Whether you're a sports fan, a Tucson local, or a small business owner, this episode is packed with insights that can help you make the most of this exciting event. Tune in for a mix of football, marketing strategies, and a little bit of Snoop Dogg swagger as The Marketing Corner breaks down how a community-driven bowl game can bring growth, excitement, and opportunity to Tucson. Don't miss this one—because much like Snoop's music, this conversation is smooth, impactful, and destined to leave a lasting impression. Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform!Subscribe to The Marketing Corner for weekly episodes featuring marketing insights, entrepreneurial advice, and in-depth conversations with leaders making a difference in their industries. The Marketing Corner podcast and newsletter is grateful for our sponsors: Daniel McPadden | Last Bridge Media David Bradley, MBA, LUTCF | A to Z Medicare Juan JD Delgado | A Roof Over Your Head | Roofs Are Hot Jamar Jordan, EA | Tax Specialist Roger LaFaye | Processing dba MiCamp Solutions Candice Eaton |C Eaton Photography Mark Weiss | Sales Performance Strategies Bill Netherton | Professional Bartenders Unlimited Mo Rousso | Executive and Business Development Jose Oliver | Leadership Coach

US Representative David Schweikert on the encouraging DOGE kickoff meeting with Elon. Kevin Mullis, Mullis Senior Placement...helping navigate senior living choices in Southern Arizona. For more information, visit mullisseniorplacement.com

Main fiction: "When Dessa Danced"Donyae Coles is the author of Midnight Rooms, has a variety of puffy princess dresses and one cat but she wants more of both. She has traveled the world four times over and may do so again. Her short work has been published in a variety of horror and other speculative fiction anthologies and magazines such as Nightmare Magazine, Pseudopod, and All These Sunken Souls. When she's not writing, she's telling her stories with a paintbrush. Her website is www.donyaecoles.com.This story originally appeared in The Future Fire, #2018.45Narrated by: Stacey HartStacey Hart lives in Southern Arizona. She is the creator of EDICO Designs—a design and web development firm specializing in donating websites, graphic designs, social media content, branding, and video editing services to non-profits and small businesses. When away from the computer, Stacey is a drummer for the band The Liquid Centers with her bandmate Will Stagl, and adores spoiling her black chow chow, Billie. This is her first podcast narration for StarShipSofa.Fact: Looking Back At Genre History by Amy H SturgisSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/starshipsofa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the promise of import taxes, will major industries in our area be affected?

On today's episode Raul sits down with the head coach of the Pueblo Warriors football team.

Today we sit down with Coach Bryan Scambler to hear his incredible story leading him to become the Head Coach of the University of Arizona Club Wrestling Team. #coach #uarizona #tucson #marana #growth

“Children of the Holocaust” is a living-history project launched by AZPM. Project producer Laura Markowitz interviewed 20 survivors who were children during the Holocaust, and later settled in Southern Arizona. This week, hear the story of Paula Bronstein, a survivor who escaped the Nazis by hiding in Holland. It saved her life, but cost her her childhood. Bronstein passed away earlier this month, at age 87. Also: Beth Colburn Orozco shares the story of her search for the daughter she never knew.

Today we sit down with Darrek Hernandez, a teacher that's made a huge within the community.

Our guest this time, Michael Rosenkrantz grew up in California and had, what he says, was a normal childhood. I would say that Mike grew up as a very curious individual. He went to college at the University of California at Irvine, and then, after receiving his Bachelor's degree, went East to Boston where he attended graduate schools at Northeastern University and Boston College. He earned Master's degrees in Sociology and Business. Michael then traveled around the United States quite a bit working in part for various nonprofit organizations. In 2009 he moved to India where he worked for the National Trust and became involved in helping persons with disabilities. By 2011 he had found himself involved with adaptive sports. He not only worked to help persons with disabilities become active in sporting events, but he also began working to educate others about becoming more inclusive. He eventually moved back to the States where he continued to promote adaptive sporting efforts. In 2019 Mike was a co-founder of SoCal Adaptive Sports. He will tell us about the organization. Even more relevant, Michael discuss Inclusion and its importance. This episode is not only quite inspiring, but it also helps put a lot of issues surrounding persons with disabilities into perspective. About the Guest: Michael Rosenkrantz has been working in the adaptive sport space since 2011 when he learned about wheelchair basketball. From 2009-12 Michael volunteered/worked as a Voluntary Services Overseas Volunteer with the National Trust which is part of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment-Government of India. He then worked in Nepal from 2012-16. Coming back to the US Michael was an Assistant Women's Wheelchair Basketball Coach at the University of Arizona and co-founded Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports. He then went onto to work in North Carolina with Bridge II Sports and moved back to California in 2019. In 2020 he co-founded SoCal Adaptive Sports and has been the Board President and Executive Director. Bio-Michael see greater societal inclusion as a social justice issue, having learned this from working overseas. His path to working with people with disability has been varied, having worked for numerous municipalities and non-profits including the oldest longest operating public market in the US in Lancaster, PA and Director of the Alliance for Living an HIV/AIDS Services organization in Connecticut. Ways to connect with Michael: Web: Socaladaptivesports.org https://www.facebook.com/palmstopinesparasports 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 subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . 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 ** 01:21 Well, hi everyone. I am Mike Hingson, and welcome to another episode of unstoppable mindset. Today. We get to chat with someone who was referred to me by our friend, Sheldon Lewis, who is involved in the nonprofit part of accessibe. That is he looks for nonprofits, especially in the disabilities arena, where he provides access to be to them at no charge, which is always a good thing. And Michael Rosenkrantz is one of the people that Sheldon has met along the way, and he suggested that Michael and I ought to do an episode of unstoppable mindset. And I guess I said enough right things that here he is. So Michael, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here.   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 02:03 Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 02:06 why don't we start kind of like I love to do. Tell me a little about the early Michael, growing up and all that.   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 02:14 Sure, I grew up in the San Fernando Valley of California. Was always outside what town, and it was called Sepulveda at that time. No North Hills, okay? And, you know, always played sports since the weather was always pretty decent, yeah, a fairly usual childhood, nothing out of the ordinary, I would say. And, yeah, but I think it kind of shaped, you know, where I what I'm doing today, actually, that's for sure. Especially, no   Michael Hingson ** 02:55 difference, yeah, yeah. Did you go to did you go to college?   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 03:00 I went to college. I went to UC Irvine.   Michael Hingson ** 03:03 Did you I don't know whether I knew that. When were you there?   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 03:07 Yeah, I was there. Let's see that's a good question. 75 to 78   Michael Hingson ** 03:18 we overlapped by one year. Well, it's not to you, okay,   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 03:22 thank you. Went to Irvine and then went to grad school in   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 03:29 in the Boston area, Northeastern and Boston College, and they got me out to the East Coast, and, you know, ended up living on the East Coast for quite a number of years, and have moved around, you know, quite a bit.   Michael Hingson ** 03:46 So what got you to the East Coast rather than staying out west at Irvine or somewhere out here?   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 03:52 Well, grad school, essentially, just   Michael Hingson ** 03:54 decided that's what you wanted to do. Yeah,   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 03:57 yeah. I had a professor at Irvine had started a program at Boston College that I was very interested in, and so I ended up, you know, driving in a U haul cross country and with him, and spent a couple years at Boston College and a little bit more than a year and a half at Northeastern University.   Michael Hingson ** 04:22 So what was your bachelor's degree in   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 04:26 bachelor's degree in political science? Started out as a, you know, wanted to be a dentist. About was very short lived, as I didn't do well in chemistry and such. And, yeah, ended up changing. And you know, all for the best. Of course, all for the best. So   Michael Hingson ** 04:45 what were your graduate degrees in,   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 04:49 in sociology and also in business?   Michael Hingson ** 04:55 I remember being at UC Irvine in physics and. The year I started, which was 68 1600 people joined as freshmen in the bio side department. And one of the things that the School of Biological Sciences did, at least by reputation, to weed out a lot of the people who weren't going to really do well in biosci was that in your first year you were required to take your first or second year you were required to take organic chemistry. So by the end of two years, 1600 dropped to 200   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 05:41 Yeah, that'll do it.   Michael Hingson ** 05:46 So I didn't have to take organic chemistry, um, although I would have put up with it if that were required, but in physics, it wasn't. But I did take a year of bio side biology, one A, 1b and 1c which was a lot of fun, and that was requirement, but not organic chemistry, fortunately, which would have required memorizing lots of different kinds of reactions and so on. And memory has never been a problem for me, so I could have done that, but I'm glad I didn't have to.   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 06:19 That's great. Well, so,   Michael Hingson ** 06:20 so you went off to the east and went to school back there, different weather than out here.   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 06:30 Yeah, yeah, I remember wearing a very puppy down coat, and, you know, with a few snowflakes, a friend from New York just laughing, okay,   Michael Hingson ** 06:44 yeah, yeah, well, I'm sure that people laughed at me the first year I was back there, starting in October of 76 I moved to the Cambridge area and actually lived for a few months in a studio apartment in Back Bay Boston, and had to go to Cambridge every day. Well, had to go, went to Cambridge every day or work. And that was the first time I encountered lots of snow. And how they shoveled the sidewalks off and made sort of snow walls along the street gutters was just a very narrow pathway to walk through to get to the street, and I knew nothing about all that going into it. Well, I figured it out soon enough, though.   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 07:33 Yeah, I could just imagine   Michael Hingson ** 07:36 the dog loved it. Loved to play with the snowballs. So what? What did you do after college?   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 07:45 Let's see, after grad school, got married and then moved to the Bay Area Oakland and worked for the city of Oakland for a few years got me started working in the public markets a bit, which I really enjoyed, ended up moving back to the east coast for some 20 years now. Again, it moved to Pennsylvania after that, right there, who knows, live in Connecticut a little bit longer, and then moved back eventually, went back to the West Coast, moved to Colorado, lived in moved to India. Lived in India for a while. Nepal.   Michael Hingson ** 08:45 So were you married all this time?   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 08:47 No, oh, I moved to Pennsylvania. I got divorced. Oh,   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 08:55 but in the meantime, you know, I had two children. You know, they had a good childhood, and, yeah, just kind of pursued, you know, things that were important to me. And so when I was in, I was a VSO volunteer, I think the Voluntary Service overseas in 2009   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 09:24 and, you know, working with the Indian government, and that company started and working with people with disability and adaptive sports. So that's been my path pretty much since, you know, 2009   Michael Hingson ** 09:40 so what kinds of things did you do, or how did you get involved in working with people with disabilities over there?   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 09:47 So I was working for the Indian government, autonomous body called the National Trust, which was part of the Ministry of Social Justice and empowerment. I. And my role was to develop and then implement a variety of workshops for nonprofits, NGOs, involved with people with disability throughout the country, which I did, and was also I was living in New Delhi, so I was Saturday nights when I was in Delhi, I would coach at the YMCA coach basketball. And in 2011 some friends from a group called wheelchair athletes worldwide came over to the country, and that got me started in wheelchair basketball. And you know, I've just continued kind of on this path since that time. And you know, very much led to when I came back to the country, living in Tucson for a little bit, living in Raleigh, Durham area for a bit, and then back to California in 2019 and incorporating this nonprofit, along with some others, in May of 2020, and you know, we've continued. We've grown working throughout Southern California. And you know, I feel we're making an impact.   Michael Hingson ** 11:34 Well, going back to 2009 you started in New Delhi, and they had you starting to work with people with disabilities. What did you think about that, that that certainly was a different population than you were mostly used to being involved with so what? What were your thoughts or, how did, how did all that work out for you? What did you learn? I   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 11:55 hadn't really worked with people with disability before. I've been in Connecticut, you know, had a few different roles, but one of them was as director of an HIV AIDS organization, which was really good. So that got me more into the, you know, the nonprofit world, and kind of what that meant in working with people with disability, again, I worked, you know, primarily with the with the NGOs, with the organizations teaching them about fundraising and strategic planning, things to keep them really go, going and growing, becoming sustainable. So, you know, in India, in you know, disability looks different than it does here. You know, if you live in a village, a rural area, difficult, definitely, the thing that I learned, though, think was about advocacy and how important advocacy is. And, yeah, I think that's the thing that really put me on this path, in that, you know, people with disability are the largest minority population in the world. And about, you know, 15, 16% of worldwide population are people with disabilities. So it's a huge, huge number. And even, you know, in India, even without the kind of resources that we have in the US, there was a lot of movement in terms of trying to make structures much more accessible. You know, I saw the fight that that advocates had, and I realized that, realized that, you know, this is very much a social justice issue, and so that that really appealed to me. And then the, you know, the sports aspect, where, in India there weren't a lot of adaptive sports, you know. But since that time, obviously, things you know, things have changed and sports have grown. There are more people playing adaptive sports, yeah, certainly   Michael Hingson ** 14:32 back even in 2000 2001 and even later, the level of adaptive sports in the US wasn't what it is today either.   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 14:48 Yeah, well, I mean, it's certainly grown. You know, as more awareness is created about capabilities, as more awareness is created about, you know, removing barrier. Barriers, leveling the playing field, creating greater access. But you know, the thing that I saw in both India and Nepal, where I lived for four years after living in India for three years, was that accessibility was just a huge, huge issue. And you know, that starts with accessible sidewalks, or even having sidewalks, you know, that people could, could actually walk on. Yeah, so it's it, you know, it's a different it's a different access is very different than kind of what it is here. I mean, I realize there's a very long way to go. I mean, throughout the world, you know, especially in places like the US, with a lot more resources, but you know, there are a lot more opportunities here than in places, you know, like Nepal or India. I mean, I realized that there still needs to be a lot more priority placed on accessibility level in the playing field, creating societal inclusion. But certainly in my time back in the US, I've seen the growth of an interest in adaptive sports. And I you know, la 2028 with the Paralympic Games, is certainly it's already making a huge difference, especially in the LA area. How so? Well, so you have la 2028 you know, is fully functional. And so staff from LA 2028 you know, I see them in a number of adoptive sports fairs. I see the city of LA growing their programming terms of adaptive sports. You know, I see my friends organizations, Triumph Foundation, Angel City, which really la greater LA area, you know, just doing a whole lot more, and there being a lot more interest from people with disabilities in participating, but also in the able bodied neurotypical community, you know, volunteering a whole lot more. So I think you know all of those things with this goal of really making you know, huge impact in 2028 is, is making a difference. But you know, it has to continue, right? You have to have more municipalities creating adaptive sports a level in the playing field. And so, you know, that's one of the things that I'm working on, not necessarily, necessarily with La 2028 in mind, but more, you know, Southern California is an area where the weather is fairly good, and so you can play, you know, all year round. And and therefore, why aren't there adaptive sports being offered on a consistent basis in municipality, south, Southern California. So all of these things, you know. And then you have move united, which is the industry Chamber of Commerce, which is really making a difference. And I see more adaptive sports organizations joining, you know, with move united, so it, you know, it's happening. Change happens slowly, but I can see lots of light and lots more offerings, especially throughout Southern California,   Michael Hingson ** 18:58 something that I kind of wonder, and I asked the question, not being well educated in the whole area of adaptive sports, but in general, in some ways, philosophically, adaptive sports is still a separate But potentially equal environment. Can Can people who participate in adaptive sports be integrated into actually participating just in the regular sporting events, or are they so different that there's no way to really integrate the two? And I and I asked that, because I did have someone as a guest a while ago who was talking about, like wheelchair marathoners, who actually go faster than regular runners. And so, you know, is that an advantage or a disadvantage, or whatever? But are there ways to integrate any of the two so that you could have so called Able bodied people? And I, and I use it in that term, um. Um, participating with people, say, who are in wheelchairs or whatever? Yeah,   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 20:05 that's a that's a really good question. A few years ago, when I was living in Tucson, we had a summertime Wheelchair Basketball League, and so you got people with disability participating with people, you know, over able bodied women. It was I thought it was great. It was really fun. You know, the True, true inclusion, the program that I run in Riverside, an after school program, city of Riverside, it's for children, and that is an inclusive program. So I think in many cases, yes, and I think that you know schools and other some other programs are looking to do more inclusive sports. But I don't think that's it's always the case, right? I think there are times with certain athletes with certain abilities that it makes sense to have, you know, adaptive sports,   Michael Hingson ** 21:29 yeah, I don't know about wheelchair tennis, for example, or even wheelchair basketball, whether you could fully integrate them. I don't know enough about them to to know so   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 21:40 in in in Wiltshire basketball, people get a certain number of points depending on their disability. So sometimes able bodied would be a 4.5 for example. And you can only have a certain number of points on the court at one time, like one of my friends, Keith Wallace, actually does a league, Wilshire Basketball League, where he allows, you know, I mean, it's just inclusive. It's just an inclusive thing. Whereas, you know, a group like the National Wilshire Basketball Association is specifically for, you know, people with disabilities, so they're not making it at an get an inclusive thing. And, you know, that's fine. I mean, that's, you know, that's how they run their lead. So I think the more that you can do inclusive sports and and have people without disability try adaptive sports, the better. Actually, we do an example of that. So we do a school based program called sports for everybody. It's a program that a similar program that I did when I lived in North Carolina and worked for an adaptive sports organization there. So we go into schools. We bring sport wheelchairs. We set up three stations teach, you know, all the children how to push the sport wheelchair. We do Boccia and do sitting volleyball in a disability etiquette piece. And so this is a way to educate and create greater awareness about capabilities. And I think that's that's really key for, you know, removing barriers, creating more access and creating greater societal inclusion. That is, you know, and I asked the children, and it's all grades, I asked the children, I say, Well, do you know someone with disability? And you know, inevitably, I would say, you know, 40, 50% of the children say they know someone with disability. And you know, by the end of the session, I'm asking, so can you play with someone with disability? And all the kids are, yeah, of course we can, but you know, we have to adapt. So   Michael Hingson ** 24:13 adapting, adapting is a two way street. But yeah, yeah,   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 24:16 yeah, no, that's right. So I think that's and ultimately, you know, I'm looking at, how do you change society so that there is greater societal inclusion, and it doesn't matter you know what your ability level is, you know what's going on with your body, but that everyone can play together, right?   Michael Hingson ** 24:47 Well, one of the reasons that I asked the question was, I have a friend who, for many years was a national rowing champion and participated in rowing at the Paralympics. And I asked her, Why don't you. To participate in the regular Olympics rowing teams, and she said they won't allow that yet, you know, and she acknowledged that eyesight isn't an issue in rowing, but you know, maybe that will will change over time, but it is a growth issue just the presumption that disability means you can't do the same things that other people can do. Certainly there are areas where that's true. I am not going to watch television and make determinations about visual effects. That doesn't mean, however, that I can't watch television and I can't get a lot out of it, and it also doesn't mean that I don't encounter television commercials that have content where they never say what product they're advertising. And so they they systematically leave some of us out that shouldn't be a problem that I face, but inclusion is something that we really haven't totally adapted to and agreed needs to be part of our world.   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 26:11 Yeah, I think you know that South African runner victorious? Was it? Yeah, I believe, I think you participated in the Olympics. I'm not sure, but I think there are, there probably are areas in the Olympics, or somewhat disability could participate. I mean, I, you know, I wouldn't want to see someone doing standing basketball and in a wheelchair, you know, playing in the Olympics, because I think, you know, having a wheelchair might be difficult when you know someone's running And standing right, yeah, that might not go together, but you know, one of the best archers in the world is a guy without arms, and so, you know, why couldn't he participate in the Olympics? I mean, he may choose to participate in the Paralympics, but yeah, there probably are, like, a full range of sports where, you know, it shouldn't really matter whether, whether you have a disability, but that you could participate, you know, in the Olympics, because they're all, you know, when it comes down to it, Paralympics, Olympics. I mean, these, they're all you lead athletes, you know, and they're just incredible people. Some may just have, you know, a disability, but it shouldn't really make a whole heck of a lot of difference. I think for, you know, recreation programs that you can do a lot more inclusion and, you know, but just being aware that some people need one on one assistance. So again, I, you know, I, I kind of celebrate when like the programs that I do, especially with youth, are inclusive, because many times, parents don't understand what adaptive sports are, so they just sign their kids up to participate. And I say, Okay, that's great, sure, of course. But I also take the time, you know, to talk to the children who are neuro typical, able bodied, and say, you know, look, you may have noticed that, you know, this person acts a little bit differently, and so you need to be aware that, you know, maybe this person is autistic, right, yeah? Or has intellectual disability, and the kids, you know, they'll look at me with understanding and say, Okay, now I now I get it, and maybe I can change a little bit of the way that I interact, you know, with that person, which I think is really important, yeah? And I think that's the thing that brings about more societal inclusion.   Michael Hingson ** 29:25 One of the things, and I've said it on this podcast a number of times, is we've got to get beyond thinking that disability means lack of ability. And I've had a number of so called diversity experts on and they always say, but disability begins with dis, which is a lack of and I have discovered and learned and react when I hear that by saying things like, okay, then where does this come into the word disciple or discrete? You know, the reality is, dis doesn't need to be a lack. Lack of like with blindness, we always hear about visually impaired, which is such a gross term on so many levels, because visually we're not different and impaired, we are not and why do you compare how much eyesight I have to how much eyesight you have? We've got to get beyond believing that disability means a difference that makes some of us less than some of you, because everyone has gifts, and what we really need to do is to promote and understand each person's gifts and figure out how to help them use those gifts. Yeah,   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 30:36 well, that's you know, conversations about language and what people want. And when I was in India, so the the CEO of National Trust said, you know, it's discover ability, right? Put cover in there. When I use the word, or I've heard the word, differently able, yeah, one of my friends gets really pissed off and said, you know, come on, I do too, and that's okay, so, but I think it's more about it's not about disability. It's about, again, how do you create greater access, given that, you know, a lot of the systems and structures we've created did not have a person who, you know, may be blind in mind, right? And so, I mean, I think that's the thing intellectually, which we need to think about and change. And a lot of that, you know, is happening in New Delhi. When I was there, that's what the advocates were working on, you know, how do we change? How do we change the sidewalk so, you know, how do we ensure that all the restrooms have large enough openings to so that a person, a wheelchair, can fit in, right? And that's, you know, that's, that's a huge, huge discussion, but you're right. I mean, language, language does make a big difference. So I, you know, I always try to be careful and think about the language. But, you know, the reality is, how do you create greater access? So it's not, you know that person has a disability, but that person doesn't, you know, the person who maybe is blind or uses a wheelchair automatically, automatically, can get into a building, or, you know, into a restroom, or, you know, so there isn't this, yeah, there isn't this difference. I was in Israel a couple years ago for something called the Maccabee games, and I was coaching our wheelchair basketball team, and it was really curious to me, and somewhat frustrating when I saw on the hotel where we were staying at in Tel Aviv, it said handicap parking. But, you know, there was no, there was no place like for the person in the wheelchair to go, to get up, go in the front door. They had to go behind all the cars and all that. Yeah, excuse me, and you go, Well, come on, you know, that's not creating access. Or, you know, the front door that says, you know, handicap accessible, but yet, there's no button on it to push, and the doors are so heavy that you can't really pull it open, right? So, you know, you kind of scratch your head and go, Well, wait a second. This is really not, not creating greater access for people. And so it kind of defeats the purpose right to to have these signs and say all this, but yet, you know, the reality is, it's not, it's not accessible. So, you know, you got to think more about that. How do you make things much more accessible, so there isn't this difference. You know, we don't point to someone and say, Oh, they have a disability, and that's going to take time.   Michael Hingson ** 34:10 It is going to take time, and it takes involving some of the people who are actually being affected by the decisions. You know, several years ago, Israel did pass regulations that said all websites need to be accessible, and people took it, I think, in general, pretty seriously. I work with accessibe, as you know, and accessibe came out of needing to make websites inclusive, by three guys who had a company that made websites for people, and suddenly had to magically make them usable. And so they did, and they came up with a product that helps a lot in making websites usable and inclusive. Around the world, lots to do, and they're working on a lot of projects with that, but still, yeah, it's it's all about really involving the people who are affected by the decisions that you make. And clearly, if someone said that something was accessible, like a door, but they didn't have a button. You got to kind of wonder, who did they ask, or where did they consult to decide that that made it accessible? And so, you know, much less using the word handicapped in today's world, more and more, we're recognizing not a good thing to do, but you know, one of the things that that I hope over time, people will recognize is that disability is really a characteristic that everyone shares. It just manifests itself differently. I mean, you're light dependent, you know, so if the lights go out, you're in a world of hurt. Doesn't bother me a bit, but, but the reality is that we've got to raise consciousness. And it is a process. It is a slow process. And, you know, there are just so many areas where there is a lot of work to be done, but I think it's also important that we really try to get the work done. And if people refuse to listen, sometimes we have to take a harder stance than we might have in the past, but it is what we got to do. Well, you   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 36:24 know, as I say to the children that we educate in our sports, everybody program, if you live long enough, you're going to have a disability. I mean, there's no getting around that. And so, you know, understanding that now and again, you know, I keep talking about creating greater access, and thinking about that is, I think, is really, really important and very key. You know, I think about what's going on in Gaza now, and of course, they're going to be many more people with physical disability. And you know, Israel has a center for people with disability to play sports and all that. Obviously, we don't want to create, you know, more people who are amputees. But, you know, given the state of the world, you got to think about, you know, we are creating more people with disability. There's no doubt about that. Yes, but then how do we so how do we help those people once, you know, hopefully wars end, to participate fully in society, and it is about removing barriers, you know, making the world very accessible to everybody, you know, with an emphasis on body, no matter what their ability, who they are. So it's, you know, for me, it's personally, it's really important to create lots and lots of opportunities, and ensure that these opportunities are accessible. You know, whether it's sports, whether it's art, whether it's being able to go to professional sporting event, you know it's about it is about educating people to a colleague and I actually train coaches, ice skating coaches at our local ice Plex, you know, and working with people who are autistic, people with physical disability, people with other developmental disabilities. And so now we're embarking hopefully, on a program to train municipal parks and rec staff about working, you know, with people with all different abilities and and part of that, you know, Michael, is, it's demystifying, working with people with disability. Because I think many people think, you know, there's this, there's this magic, right? And I can't do it because I've never been trained on how to work with someone with disability. But I don't think that's it. You know, for me, it's been a matter of just experience, just getting in there and and doing it, and learning, you know, through sometimes making mistakes, but learning to lose mistakes and saying, okay, you know, I love sports and so, you know, I can work. I can work with anybody and that, and that's proven to work very well, you know, from non verbal people to, you know, people. People who are deaf. I mean, I, you know, I feel like I can work with anybody. And, you know, maybe it requires more patience and allowing a little more time for someone to process what direction I'm given. I've given rather but, but still, it's, you know, and I think that gets back to your question of, should we have more inclusion? And I think probably, over time, we will. But again, it's, it's this kind of taking the mystique out of working, you know, with stuff entrepreneurs who just has different abilities, you know, and who, does take longer to process, you know, direction   Michael Hingson ** 40:46 well. And the reality is, people with what are more traditional disabilities or not. The bottom line is that not everyone has the gifts to do some things. Not everybody's going to be good at basketball or tennis or golf. There are some blind people who play golf, and there are many blind people who don't play golf. There are some sighted people who play golf and are good at it. There are lots of people who don't play golf or who play at it but aren't very good. The reality is it that we need to not make the so called Disability the reason why something doesn't work? You know, people say to me all the time, well, of course, you didn't know what happened on September 11, even though you were in the building because you were blind, you couldn't see it. And of course, my response to that is, you got it all wrong as usual, and I don't say the as usual, but you've got it all wrong. The airplane hit 18 floors above us on the other side of the building. How was I supposed to know? How was anyone supposed to know what happened? I went down the stairs with 1000s of people who had no clue what had happened because they didn't see it and it had nothing to do with seeing it or not seeing it clearly, we had to get out of the building because of the way the building behaved. But you don't blame it on someone's so called disability. It's more common sense than that, but we haven't learned to do that collectively yet, and I hope it is something that over time, people will come more to realize,   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 42:20 yeah, you know, again, I think it's, it's more about is there, is there an opportunity for someone to come out and try golf or basketball, right, to see if they like it? You got, you know, there's some. So we do golf. We did golf yesterday, and, you know, that's not one of my favorite sports. But, you know, for for the athletes who came out who wanted to play great, and they like it good, you know, I mean, I, I was egged on, you know, to try and do it. And it took me, let's see how many shots take me, five or six shots for me to hit the ball, you know? And it's like, I'm not. Golf is not my game, you know,   Michael Hingson ** 43:07 my, my British, New Zealand and Australian friends notwithstanding, golf is still faster than cricket. But, you know,   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 43:15 I guess I got so I've heard, yeah, but, but it's, it's more about Yeah, I think the key word here, as I keep saying, is access. Correct, if the sport, if the art class, if the dance class is not offered, then certainly, you know, we put up barriers to participating. And so that's where things need to change. Again. It's, for me, it comes back to leveling the playing field, no matter what that playing field is. You know, it could be art, it could be dance, whatever. So that's where we all need to participate. And that's where, you know, municipalities, I feel, have a very key, key role, because they're managing, you know, fields and community centers and all that. And they have to prioritize, you know, adaptive sports. They have to prioritize, you know, saying this is an inclusive program. You know, anybody who wants to can come in and play, and they have to prioritize training their staff, so staff feels comfortable in working with everybody.   Michael Hingson ** 44:30 And you also have to learn to take out the disability and really look at people's gifts. I mean, as you pointed out, some people are going to play golf better than others. You might figure it out someday, though, by the way. So maybe you shouldn't give up yet. Maybe I hear a little bit of doubt there somewhere. Tell me. Tell me more about SoCal adaptive sports. You know what? It's all about, what you do and and what you're accomplishing with it? Yeah.   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 44:59 Thanks. So this, you know, I told you, I've been working kind of in the adapt with sports space since 2011 when my friends from wheelchair athletes worldwide came over to India. And so it's been, it's been a, definitely an evolution for me. When I came back to the US, I was able to be an assistant coach. This was in 2016 I was able to be an assistant coach at the University of Arizona with the women's wheelchair basketball team. So the got that got me more kind of into this. And then I helped to co found a nonprofit in Tucson called Southern Arizona adaptive sports, which I left before it really took off. And it has taken off due to my friend Mia handsome, you know, went out of North Carolina for a year and a half and then came back to the US work first, I mean, to California, worked for a small non profit in Coachella Valley. And then, you know, when COVID hit, parting of ways, and said it was really time to start, kind of my own thing. Co founded the organization, and I really appreciated kind of this journey which started in in India, this path, because I, you know, I live by, how do we create, again, numerous opportunities, and, you know, I'm able to work throughout Southern California, but numerous, just great organizations, a lot of partnering. And so we offer programs, you know, we offer basketball, tennis and pickleball. We're working with a hiking program. We're working with a group called Friends of the desert mountains to lead our hiking program, which is now three years old. We're working with Special Olympics. We're working with acute autism. I'm working with a group called Desert art. You know, we go sailing. So we work with a group of California inclusive sailing. We work with challenge sailors in San Diego. We've done trips to a place called calf find a ranch where athletes can participate in numerous activities. We've gone to professional sporting events. You know, as I mentioned earlier, we've done, we're doing after school programming. I'm working with a school district. We've worked with over 3000 children at Coachella alligator bike school district. And now we're going to start working with other school districts. So it's really, you know, it's a lot of different things that we offer, I think, in an effort to, again, let a level the playing field, a lot of education, which is vital, a lot of teaching life lessons through sports and it, you know, it's, it's about I can, as opposed to, I can't do this. And when I coach, you know, if one of the athletes says this is too hard, I can't do it, I say, you need to try it. And yes, you can. And then they do, and ultimately, you know, that leads to other things, right? That leads to maybe I can wash my clothes, I can wash my dishes, I can get a job, I can get an apartment or a house. And I think that's the really important piece. That's really important piece again, for me, you know, it's not just playing sports. It's playing to the best of your abilities, whatever you know those are. But then it's taking all of that and say, okay, you know, I'm going to make decisions for my life and what I'm passionate about and what I want to do.   Michael Hingson ** 48:57 Yeah, because the usual I can't isn't that they can't, it's that they've learned through whatever society has offered them that they can't, when that isn't necessarily true at all. Well,   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 49:12 I think that's right, and so I provide. You know, I don't coach anybody differently than I coach anybody else. I mean, maybe, you know, for some people, obviously, I, you know, have a bit well, I have patience, but maybe have a bit more patience, you know, wait a little bit longer for response and all that. But I push people because I think it's, I think it's important to do that, you know, I don't think it's okay to for someone to say, well, I can't do it because it's too hard. Well, no, you're going to try it and, you know, if you can't do it after I'm really trying, that's okay, but you're not just going to give up, because you're not going to give up. You know? Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 50:01 yeah. We, we are taught all too often, all too much to give up rather than really being curious and really exploring and trying.   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 50:11 Yeah, you know, I've been, we have the BNP service open happening this for the next couple weeks out in Indian Wells, and I was able to see, you know, one of the women tennis players. And, you know, I thought, Wow, this woman hits the ball so hard. You know, she's only 21 but you know, she's been doing that for hours, endless hours every day, and it's not to say, you know, that I'm going to spend endless hours shooting hoops, but I'm going to play as much as I need to, so that, you know, I think compete on some level. And excuse me, I think this the same thing for, you know, the athletes that I've been working with, it's you may not play every day, right? You may not, but in the time that we're together, we're really going to push and, you know, we're all going to play to the best of our abilities, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 51:20 how do we really work to level the playing field?   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 51:24 Well, you know, I just, I just had an article published on the National Parks and Recreation website, and in that, I wrote about municipalities. And as I indicated earlier, I said, you know, municipalities really have the power to change things again, because, you know, they have the infrastructure, they have the facilities. So it takes them again to prioritize, adaptive, inclusive sports, you know, and really push this stuff. So I, I see, you know, I see municipalities doing adaptive sports, bears, right? Perhaps I'm seeing more municipalities offer, you know, adaptive sports. I think that's going to really change. That's going to really level the playing field, I think, as our younger you know younger people, and even you know those of us my age, should you know, have greater acceptance for removing barriers and say, Hey, this person's in a wheelchair, but they want to participate. So how do I make that happen? I think that levels of playing field, I think, yeah, as people become, you know, more empathetic towards others and their situation, you know, can put themselves in, you know, another person's shoes, or even consider, well, what? What if I had to use a wheelchair or,   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 53:09 you know, to get around? How would I do it? Certainly, that changes things. I think, as we enlarge our world, which is not an easy task. You know, if   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 53:23 you've only lived in one part of the world for all of your life, you know, and haven't experienced other societies, maybe your empathy is not as great. But, you know, we live in a world that's, I mean, that's very connected, and so as we have more understanding that also levels of playing field, you know, it's, it's not only for people with, you know, we use the word disability, but it's, it's for everybody, right? It's   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 53:52 no matter what ethnicity you are, or, you know, religion you are, or you know what, however you choose to live your life,   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 54:05 there has to be greater understanding. But I think that that levels things for everybody, and that that again, you know, it's an it's an evolution. So it's going to take, it takes time. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 54:18 it, it is a process. And we, we do need to be committed to doing it, but it is a process and and hopefully we'll get there, yeah, and that we'll we'll see a lot more inclusion than we do. My late wife was in a wheelchair her whole life. I remember once at Christmas time, we wanted to go see the Rockettes, and we went to Radio City Music Hall, and they were supposed to have accessible seats, and they didn't. They they didn't move things around so that people in wheelchairs could have a seat. And it was a little bit of a frustrating situation. We pushed back on it, and they said, sorry. Do. Don't have anything, and we the next day, we called and talked to people at Radio City, and then a couple days later, miraculously, they found accessible seating for Karen, where, where she and I could sit next to each other, and and, and it worked out, but it was just interesting, the cavalier attitude that they had when radio, city music, Hall, of all places, shouldn't have even had that issue come up. But it did. Yeah, when was that? Oh, gosh, it was probably in, I would say 1999 or 2000   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 55:42 Yeah. But it took you and Karen to, kind of, you know, push back and say, Hey, for people to, you know, I mean, literally, open their eyes and say, Oh, huh, yeah. We need to make sure this is accessible, yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 55:57 And there's still many examples of that today. It's, it is. It's all about education. It's all about awareness raising, you know, which is important to do well for you, you you do a lot of different things. How do you maintain a work life balance? You must have some time when you rest a little bit. I would think,   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 56:19 you know, a bit, but I think, you know, I've been very fortunate in that I love sports. I very much see my work as a social justice kind of issue, although, you know, at times I think I should be doing, maybe I should be doing other things, you know, that, have, you know, so called greater importance, like climate change and whatever else. But, you know, again, I'm very fortunate that I found this even later in life. So it's, it's not a question of Sure, there are times when I feel really tired and, you know, kind of beat up. But when I get on the playing field and I'm coaching athletes, you know, there's nothing else kind of going on in the world at all. And so I think, you know, I know, you know, that focus really gives me a lot of energy. Um, you know, and to to see children in the in our school program, you know, who then come to another program and I say, Oh my gosh. You know, we're making an impact. They really get it. So that kind of thing really keeps me going. You know, this is a seven day a week job. I mean, there's no doubt about it. And look, I'm a co founder, and so, you know, I'm, we're still building to make this sustainable. So it's not a it's not something that really weighs on me in that, oh, I need to take, I need to go out and rest now, because, look, when I'm coaching, I'm also exercising, you know, yeah, and so it's not where I'm sitting at a desk. But, I mean, there are times when I do, when I write brands, but so I, you know, I feel fine with the way things are. Yes, you know, I need to hire more staff to help out. But for me, this was all it's very positive that, you know, I can be an entrepreneur, I can be a coach, and I and I feel like I'm hoping you know others and my all my small part of of the world. So your question is relevant, but it's also a little bit irrelevant too, right? Because I just, yeah, I just, I just do well,   Michael Hingson ** 59:07 I would also submit, you know, is climate change really more important? I mean, it is very important, but some people have the gift to do that, right? And so the other side of it is that making society more aware of important issues is, in its own way, just as important. Yeah, and you, you seem to do it very well, so I wouldn't denigrate it a whole lot. I think it's extremely important to do what you're doing. And, yeah, go   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 59:34 ahead. No, no, no, it is. But you know, given who I am and interested in the world of ideas and all that. I mean, I do you know think about these other things too. Sure. I know that, you know. I know that, especially with the children and with the adults that you know, making somewhat of a difference. So, yeah, if   Michael Hingson ** 59:55 people want to reach out and learn more about SoCal adaptive sports, maybe communicate. With you, maybe become involved and so on, whether it's here or in other parts of the country. How do they do that? Yeah, so or other parts of the world for that matter, because we do have initiatives outside the US too. Yeah,   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 1:00:13 because of our name, I do have people reaching out from other parts of the country, that's for sure. And I'm, you know, I'm still connected, obviously, with people in India on the call. But so SoCal adaptive sports.org is our website,   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:27 so it's S, O, C, A, L, adaptive sports.org   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 1:00:33 Okay? Or, you know, my emails might get SoCal adaptive sports.org so you know, feel free to reach out, happy to advise you wherever you live, connect you with resources wherever you live. And yeah, again, just, you know, join us. It's a growing community, a growing family. And yeah, we are making a difference.   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:02 And I think that's as much as anyone can ask for. Make a difference, make it a better world. Gee, Who can argue with that? Well, I want to thank you again for being with us. This has been fun, and I really enjoyed the discussion. And if you ever want to come back and talk more about it, and talk more about things that are happening and progress you're making, you are always welcome to to come visit us. So thank you for doing that, and I want to thank you all for listening to us today. This has been a lot of fun, and it's been very educational. I've learned a lot, and I love that. I always love to learn. When people come on and visit with us, I hope that you found it interesting and useful as well. I'd love to hear your thoughts. You are welcome to reach out to me at Michael H, i@accessibe.com that's M, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, I, B, E.com, or go to our podcast page, which is www dot Michael hingson.com/podcast, that's m, I C, H, A, E, L, H, I N, G, s, O, N, wherever you're listening, please give us a five star rating. We value your ratings highly and value your input and your thoughts, so please feel free to let us know, please feel free to rate us wherever you're listening to us, and if you know of any guests and Mike you as well. If you know of anyone else who you think we ought to have on as a guest, on unstoppable mindset, always looking for more people, please reach out to us and let us know. So Michael, once again, I want to thank you. This has been fun. I really want to thank you for being here with us today.   Michael Rosenkrantz ** 1:02:40 Thank you. I appreciate   **Michael Hingson ** 1:02:47 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

On this episode host Raul talks to Coach Izzy about his journey to becoming the head coach of The Pueblo High School Girls Basketball Program.

On today's Veteran's day special we sit down with former Marine Edgar Soto and Vietnam Combat Veteran Benny Gomez.

Today, we sit down with Bobby “The Jet” Rodriguez to talk about his journey from Sunnyside High School to creating Jet's Sports Training.

On today's show, Host Raul Soto-Romero sits down with Coach Robert DeBerry to talk about his legacy in Arizona wrestling.

Watch this episode on YouTube.I'm so excited to share this new conversation with my good friend, colleague, and guide Quddus Philippe.Quddus is a sound facilitator, psychedelic guide and the founder of Sound Sanctuary Academy. Surrounded by the instruments he calls his “bandmates”, he guides individuals and groups through life-changing sound and psychedelic experiences. He is based in Amsterdam.Originally from humble beginnings in Canada, Quddus started his career as a campus radio DJ and then made a quantum leap, replacing Carson Daly as the host of MTV's iconic show, Total Request Live. Describing his impact, TIME Magazine called Quddus “one of pop culture's foremost tastemakers.”Q has been on quite a journey since then. After exploring the world of personal development and becoming a certified life coach, it was a shamanic training that inspired a more spiritual awakening and the spark to work with sound. Quddus proceeded to study under 3 of the best sound practitioners in the world and now he gets invited by people all over the world to deliver his uniquely empowering journey with sound.What I love most about Quddus is the conviction, audacity, and love with which he pursues his calling and amplifies others doing the same.In this conversation, we explore Q's journey — what it was like for him going from being on TV in front of millions of people to facilitating small, intimate sound ceremonies.We discuss the power of sound, meditation, and psychedelics to open us to our deeper truth and reveal the calling and the power of our souls.We discuss the tension that can exist between soul and scale, and how to approach that tension in a creative, aligned way.And finally, we discuss the path of becoming a shamanic practitioner, what makes a true and trustworthy shaman, how to navigate choosing practitioners that you work with, and in general, demystifying the complex topic of shamanism through the simple lens of “working in service of love.”--If you enjoyed this conversation and are seeking deeper purpose and presence in your life, you'd likely be an amazing fit to join me on The Vision Quest I am leading next month in Southern Arizona.The quest is a weeklong wilderness-based ceremony that helps you travel more deeply within yourself than you have ever been before and get the answers you've been longing for.If Quddus' message about transforming pain into purpose resonates with you, I couldn't recommend The Vision Quest more highly.I feel the same way about guiding quests as Quddus feels about facilitating with sound. This was the journey that fundamentally changed my life for the better ten years ago, when I was depressed, stuck, and lost. There is nothing more fulfilling in the world for me than guiding others on this same journey and witnessing the incredible magic, purpose, and presence it brings into their lives.What gifts and insights will you uncover when it's just you and nature?Check out the full details and apply here: https://soulfulimpact.co/quest--Links & Resources* Follow Brooks on Instagram or LinkedIn* Soulful Impact: soulfulimpact.co* Follow Quddus on Instagram* Sound Sanctuary: soundsanctuary.org* The Creator Incubator: quddus.co/mastermind* Beyul Retreat: beyulretreat.com* New York Times magic mushrooms brain scan article* Get newsletter updates & future episodes delivered to your inbox: Subscribe to Soulful Impact on Substack Get full access to Soulful Impact at www.soulfulimpact.blog/subscribe

Lucinda has been a story lover since she and her family watched TV and movies together. Her father taught her how to find the deeper layers of a story. This love prompted her to pursue a double major BA in Religious Studies and Theatre and Speech, a MA in Theatre Arts, and finally a MAEd so she could share her love of stories with her students. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest but has lived in Southern Arizona for over 28 years moving there after a three month trip circumnavigating the globe.Now completely retired, Lucinda writes her weekly blog Sage Woman Chronicles, is working on her second novel, manages her Patreon Community and Apple subscriptions as well as producing the bi-weekly podcast, Story-Power.Takeaways: The podcast emphasizes the importance of storytelling in understanding human emotions and connections. Lucinda's journey highlights how arts education can empower students to express themselves creatively. The shift towards STEM subjects in education often overlooks the value of arts and humanities. Empowerment and resilience are crucial for students to navigate their personal challenges effectively. Lucinda's mentors inspired her to embrace her passions and pursue a career in education. The conversation underscores that learning is a lifelong process filled with valuable lessons. Websitehttps://sagewoman.life/Social Media Informationwww.facebook.com/lsagemidgordenwww.instagram.com/sagewomanwww.linkedin.com/in/lucinda-sage-midgorden-5349561a/www.youtube.com/@story-powerpodcastbylucind4149Discover more about Education on Fire

On this episode we talk about the audience of one.

A new podcast tackles one of the infamous unsolved mysteries in the state. The creator, whose shows have attracted millions of listeners, talks more about Missing in Arizona. Plus, a filmmaker shares about her new documentary focuses on the nuns of the Santa Rita Abbey. That and more on The Show.

Tiff and Dana are encouraging listeners to start planning for an end-of-year celebration now to show your appreciation for the team. Their advice includes ideas that cost money, and ones that don't! Episode resources: Reach out to Tiff and Dana Tune Into DAT's Monthly Webinar Practice Momentum Group Consulting Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Become Dental A-Team Platinum! Review the podcast Transcript: The Dental A Team (00:00.756) Hello Dental A Team listeners, this is Tiff I am back at it today with miss Dana and Dana I'm so excited for you to be here with me We've had a lot of time together like this recently and it makes me so happy. I love when we can do it and Gosh, we need to schedule that hike. I'm telling you it's getting to the fall   So I can come down and see you soon. know that Aaron and I want to do that soon. So how are you today, Dana? How's life in Southern Arizona treating you today?   Dana (00:31.429) doing pretty good like you said around the outfall although it's still in the hundreds so the thought of hiking sometimes is like you know what Tiff like maybe October you know what you're really good   The Dental A Team (00:35.934) It's so hot!   Yeah, maybe November. Yep. Good. Awesome. Well, Dana, today's podcast is your baby. This is something and I know I always give you like props for the operations manual and you guys yeah, she is our operations manual whiz but this this today is something that   Dana's actually really fantastic at, she is fantastic at that too, but this is something that comes from her heart and her soul and something that we at Dental A Team gifted her as part of her position with us, just because it really, it literally comes from your heart and your soul, Dana. And you are so, so good at keying into people and what will make them happiest and how, how to make people feel appreciated and valued and   with gifts and words for sure, but like celebrating other people and building out end of year celebrations. And I really want this podcast today. This is your baby. I want you to speak to one, how you do it and two, are some, what are some things that doctors and practice leaders and owners can really can do to celebrate the end of the year, whether we hit our goals, which I hope you did, or whether we didn't, we should still celebrate the work that we put in. But   This is your baby and I want to hear from you, Dana, on how you think end of year celebrating should go for practices and number one, how you do it because you are so passionate about this space and we value and appreciate that. you guys, you clients get birthday presents, celebratory gifts, cards, flowers, any of those pieces, I want you to know that Dana is the person behind all of that.   The Dental A Team (02:32.106) incredibly valuable piece of our company. So Dana, thank you for that. Take us away. This is your baby.   Dana (02:38.251) Aw, thanks, Tiff. It truly is like one of my favorite spaces, just in life in general. I think I'm like this in my personal life too. And I think it comes down to being intentional. And I think for a lot of office this end of the year, like we don't think about it until the end of the year. And so I am going to prompt you that yes, while we are closer to the end of the year, be thinking about this.   as much as you can, right? And so I think a great thing is knowing your team, right? Whether it's through one -on -ones, whether it's through a survey when they're hired, whether it's through just taking inventory and listening to conversations that you hear, but knowing the things that your team members like, enjoy what makes them feel appreciated. So I think it's doing purposeful things throughout the year to gain some of this information to be able to celebrate at the end of the year or celebrate throughout the year too. A lot of this information is   super helpful for birthdays, super helpful for work anniversaries, super helpful for like you just did a fantastic job and I appreciate you. So I think it is getting to know those spaces and then the pieces that your team member really like they do get excited about and then kind of to feeding a little bit of like common interests. Are there things that when it comes to the end of the year and we're doing something for the team, are there things or common interests woven throughout the team that really would make it more special or more memorable?   Or you know make them feel more appreciated because it is tailored to like their likes their goals their dreams those types of things and then I also just want to highlight like budget for this right because it's oftentimes we get to the end of the year and it's like man I've got to do this end of the year shebang and like I don't have any funds for it I wasn't thinking about it or planning for it so when you're planning for your year make that a part of if we can say hey if I set aside $100 or   The Dental A Team (04:16.551) Yeah.   Dana (04:30.813) $200 every single month in my little end of the year party bucket. It will make doing this for your team much less stressful. Okay? The caveat to that too is if this year wasn't a fantastic year and you weren't able to do that, it doesn't have to be monetary. So if it can't be monetary, make it fun.   And you can do a lot of fun things that make people feel super appreciated, that make them come together and bond and all of that and get time with you and time with each other. It does not also have to be about gifts or bonuses or money or any of those pieces. Team members will always appreciate that. And so if you can't do it or if you're limited on the fun's part, focus on the fun part too.   The Dental A Team (05:19.14) That was beautiful. I love that you said that the fun versus the fun, you know, I love a good time. Good job. That's beautiful. And Dana, I love that we can hear your passion in it just in you speaking and thank you for sharing that. Beautiful tips, start building a bucket right away. And I do have a lot of clients that I push to do that because they want to do end of year bonuses and they want it to be grandiose. And I'm like, fantastic, build it into your goals. So put   a percentage X percentage more in on to your goals so that you can take that percentage then and put it into your bonus your end of year bonus bucket. It's totally doable. You guys you just have to prep and plan for it like Dana said, and it is the end of the year right now are rounding out the end of the year. So whatever that looks like for you is totally fine. I have a lot of clients who are in that that situation where they're like, Tiff, like, do we go to a restaurant? Do we   have a caterer come in? Do we do it at the practice? Do we do it somewhere else? And I think what Dana said is really like, she mentioned take inventory really of what people like, what do they want to do? How do they feel appreciated? Do we get asked, do we do families? Do we do just our team members? I've had practices of all walks of life. I've had practices that have had a little bit of a difficulty in.   the family aspect being there, the spouses, and they've had like run -ins, but that's non -typical. I've had practices that, gosh, even my own practice, one of my favorite, my practice I worked for for years, we always did a Christmas party or a holiday party at the end of the year. One of my favorite memories, Brody is 16th as of recording this, my son. He was three or four.   It was a long time ago and this was one of the parties that just sticks with me. I actually think about it a lot. And our office manager and our doctor put together a family Christmas party and his actually the doctor's wife had majority of planning on this one. But they rented out a space at a hotel nearby the conference room. So they rented out a conference room and we had this patient. He's incredible. He plays Santa. Like he's Santa all year round.   The Dental A Team (07:34.455) He has a small voice. He looks like Santa. He wears red every day. Like he, and he plays Santa during the holidays for different events and things, because he loves it so much. And his wife looks like Mrs. Claus. Like literally what you would imagine Santa and Mrs. Claus look like that's these people. Well, they got this patient to come be Santa. And we did.   cookies and hot chocolate and like make your own, you know, cookies, do your own icing and stuff in a hot chocolate bar. And we had this incredible party where everyone could bring their kids and they could socialize and get to know each other and, do all of this stuff. And it was one of my most favorite events. And I can't even tell you guys, I'm sure there was because I think we did it every year. I don't know if there was a bonus or not. I don't remember the Christmas present that I got. I know you get that every year. And I don't, I don't know what it was. But I do know   that my kid sat on Santa's lap, got this incredible experience, our patient, like the best Santa you could ever ask for, got to experience that with us. But I want you to understand that memory of that time together with my team and the people that I love and that far outweighed the monetary piece that came in addition to that. So   My point in that is Dana, you you said if you can't if the funds aren't there, make sure it's fun, right? And it doesn't have to be even that grandiose. That was a big party. And I'm like, dang, this is really cool. It doesn't have to be that big. But I also remember parties that we just did in the practice where it was a potluck and we each brought our own favorite dish that we make. I had I remember my co worker, Michelle, she made this amazing like corn casserole dish.   that I had never had before and she brought it and I was like, you're bringing this. We did a recipe book. So then at the end of the year, everybody submitted their favorite recipe. And I was like, if that corn recipe is not in there, like we're fighting like it needs to be there. Right. But we, we figured this out about each other and became closer because of simple things like that. And Dana, think even that one, like a potluck where everybody brings their own stuff, that's very minimal funds from the doctor. So those are   Dana (09:33.783) Thank you.   The Dental A Team (09:48.308) Those are just some ideas and some concepts that I've experienced. But Dana, what do you suggest? And I know a lot of doctors are coming to you right now asking and managers asking like, what do we do? And you get this all year round, actually. Because I watch it happen. I watch it happen in like our, doctor conversation, even of like, what do I do? How do I appreciate my team? And like you said, know your team, but what are some fun end of year holiday or beginning of year?   Celebration ideas that you shared with some of our community in the past that they could consider right now   Dana (10:23.241) Yeah, so I mean, you can always do a special dinner, you can always do those things. I've had an office that did a shopping spree. So everybody got x amount of dollars, they went to either a mall or a Target or somewhere. And the reason for that was they felt like if they gave a bonus, team members would spend it on bills or family instead of themselves. And they really wanted it to spend it on themselves. So everybody got x amount of dollars they had to and they made it a game to they focused on the fun. It had to be like up to that amount, like not one penny less or more. And so was really fun   The Dental A Team (10:39.889) Mm   Dana (10:53.117) figuring out the math. I had an office take the team to see the Harlem Globetrotters because they're all huge sports fans and that was amazing. I've had   The Dental A Team (10:57.66) yeah.   Dana (11:02.675) Doctors just have team members over to their home and they do just games and make it something that's more relaxed. If you've got some introverted team members, that's a really great space for that. That makes that easy. and you know, if you're into music, like going to a concert and there are all forms of that, right? So if you've got people who are interested in sports, you don't have to go to a professional sports game, find a college sports game, find a local sports game, right? It's about being together. I think sometimes we   The Dental A Team (11:11.07) Mm -hmm.   Dana (11:32.802) Forget that really at the end of the day, that's what we want to do We want to say thank you for a fantastic year for really hard work   We want to do it in a space that is together. So there's all sorts of things if you've got outdoors You can do scavenger hunts or hikes together like we've talked about doing together If giving back is super important to your team, you can even do community service together You can do a food drive together You can volunteer somewhere together and all of that because it is special to them will be appreciation   The Dental A Team (12:05.947) Yeah, yeah, I totally agree. That's that space of getting to know your team, right, and really figuring out what's valuable to them. I think speaking on behalf of leadership within that too, I know within our company, it's fairly simple for us to figure out what we can do together as a team, because within our culture, we have built, we've built a culture that attracts   someone who fits our culture, who fits our core values. And it means that we're all super similar. And while we do have varying hobbies and interests all over the place, like Brit gosh, you mountain bikes and road bikes. I'm like, if you put me on a bike, like I am unhappy, right? Dana, you crossfit and I'm like, gosh, if I could get my elbows to move that way, sure, I could try crossfit, but they just don't do it, right. But I work out myself at the gym and I love it. And I have my peloton and I do my spin. And the three of us   Like, and the rest of the team, right? They all have their varying hobbies within that similar vein of activity. So it's like, we know that our culture and our core values has attracted a group of individuals who are interested in health and fitness and who value that aspect of our lives. And it's an important space and an important hobby. So it makes it very easy to be like, great, we all want to move.   we want to be doing something. So if you stiff us in a room, in a potluck, we're going to eat and we're going to enjoy it, but we're going to be like, okay, well, what are we doing? Like, what's the activity? Like, what are we? Yeah, who wants to go for a walk? Literally? Like we would just be like, cool, like there's a mountain not far from here. Like maybe we could like anybody, everybody down great. And we're gone. Right. So we know like who we are as a team because we are so culturally based. So as a leader,   Dana (13:34.709) See you soon for a walk!   The Dental A Team (13:52.898) and a practice owner, lean on that too. Lean on what your culture is, look at your core values and really look at how similar you guys are because you're gonna be very different. and I, super similar. We have a lot of things in common, very different, right? Very different. If we switched lives, I would die. I would die, Dana. I don't know how you do it. I watch you and I'm exhausted, right? Like we are so similar in so many ways but we are very different in a lot of ways as well.   But those similarities, instead of looking at the differences, because I think we tend to say, well, so and so would want this, so and so would want that, and she wouldn't like this. What's the similarity between all of the people on your team? What's something that we all enjoy? Maybe it's coffee. Maybe everybody on your team loves coffee. And it's like, cool, let's have a quick coffee brunch social at the office where everybody brings their favorite   creamer or topping or whatever favorite Starbucks drink, I don't know, like, but you could make it that simple. We over complicate trying to appreciate people. I think I could be speaking totally out of context. think when we over complicate it, we overthink it and we try to make it bigger than it needs to be. We lose the value and we lose the intentionality. Like you said, Dana,   behind it because there's so much wrapped up into the like display, right? The display of it all. kind of like, it makes me think of all the times, all the times my friends keep talking me into these baby showers and bridal showers and these stupid balloon arches, right? And it's like, you have this idea of how beautiful this balloon arch is gonna be and you put all this work in the balloon arch and it takes forever, FYI, to do a balloon arch.   And then the rest of everything else that was the intentional, those were the intentional pieces, the picture frames of the bride and the groom to be. And those are left behind because you spent so much time on this stupid arch that comes out wonky every time. So it makes me think of that where you're like focusing on the wrong piece sometimes, but focusing back in on that intentionality and the similarities and letting it.   The Dental A Team (16:15.764) speak from your heart. Dana, you do this space for us and our company and you do it so well because of your intentionality and the heart and the purposefulness that you put behind it. So I think everything you said was a great reminder for them to do that. And pop quiz, Dana, I'm throwing this out at you. What do you think? I know you love it when I do this. You guys know I'm just off the cuff all the time. I hope you realize that at least.   Dana (16:27.071) Yeah.   Dana (16:37.125) gosh.   Dana (16:43.391) you   The Dental A Team (16:44.212) That's just how I lived my life. That's how I lived my life at the Dental A team, just off the cuff. As you should. I understand. As you should. do the same thing. Kiera and I both do it and Kiera and she'll come me on the podcast and she's like, okay, and we will prep for the podcast prior. Like, okay, these are the things we're thinking. And then we're like, okay, push record. And then she's like, I have a great idea, you guys, this is totally not what we talked about. I'm like, here we go.   Dana (16:47.465) That's why I come to podcasting sweating. Because I'm like, why am I podcasting?   Dana (17:10.196) This   The Dental A Team (17:11.721) Totally off base of what we talked about, but it's always fantastic. anyway, side tangent pop quiz. What are maybe two things that our doctors, our owners, our practice administrators can do right now to figure out what they want to do because the end of the year is coming. What, how they can celebrate. What are two things that they can do? They could put into action right now to start really getting them all rolling if they haven't already.   Dana (17:37.513) Yeah, I think one, take a look at your funds and set a budget for whatever the event is going to be. And then two, I think it is, if you haven't been able to figure out these pieces throughout the year, intentionally try to get to know whether it is through a survey, whether it is through, we're just gonna have one -on -ones, I wanna check in with everyone. But find space to figure those things out about your team.   And then if I can add a third, I'm just going to add a third really quick because you ripped, so I'm going to riff. And my third one is focus on the appreciation.   The Dental A Team (18:05.982) Do it.   Do it.   Dana (18:14.249) It doesn't have like, we, yes, this is an event and you can throw the biggest party, but at the end of the day, if you don't say thank you for such a fantastic year, it's kind of lost its purpose. So just look and say, what do I want to celebrate and make sure that like the appreciation and that is what is showcased in the event.   The Dental A Team (18:34.797) I love that. And thank you for riffing. anytime, anytime I want you to do that to interrupt me, you know, I'm long -winded. Those are beautiful. Thank you, Dana. And I love that this was your podcast today, because I think it's your space of life where you really thrive. And I can feel the passion from you when you get to do these things or when you get to talk about it. And it just makes me really, really happy that you can be that passionate about it and that   you can one hold that space because you'll know I would get to the day that it was due and be like, shoot, I'm going to send a gift card by email because I totally forgot to send the thing that was so cool that I thought of six months ago that I forgot to order because that's, that's me. So thank you, Dana, for being that person. Thank you for all of the tips and the tidbits that you you provided today. You guys have some incredible action items and Dana, speak from your heart, tell them something. I'm making you riff again, but   Just wrap us up, tell them what they need to hear.   Dana (19:39.519) Yeah, I think just go into the end of the year, even if it wasn't your best year, the year that you had the most growth and find the appreciation somewhere, find the beauty in the journey of this year with your team and then make sure that, you know, they hear it, they feel it and that you take time to celebrate it even if it was really hard. You got through it and you got through it together.   The Dental A Team (19:42.066) Bye.   The Dental A Team (20:06.289) I love that. Thank you so much. You guys, this was incredible. Round off your year. Celebrate your team. Celebrate with your team. Be there. Let us know how much you love this podcast. Drop us a five star review below if you haven't done that already. And reach out to us, Hello@TheDentalATeam.com. Also watch our inboxes. We do send out the newsletters are related to the topics of the podcast and that newsletter will have some ideas and some tips and tricks as well. So enjoy everyone and we'll catch you next time.   

Recorded at 7,250 feet elevation atop Mount Hough near Quincy, California, in Episode 46 the boys talk to Emily Kachorek about her first summer as a fire lookout for the Plumas National Forest. Sitting in the three-story tower for 10 hours a day, 10 days in a row, Emily talks about spending time alone and the inspiration for creativity that comes from solitude. She also talks about her background in biology and conservation and her new gig spotting fires. Prior to being a lookout, Emily raced bikes professionally, was a co-founder of Squid Bikes and her love of cycling, art and creativity blended with a punk rock vibe fostered the vibrant cyclocross scene in Sacramento, along with some of the raddest paint jobs ever rattle-canned onto a bicycle. The boys also do a few listener shout outs and answer questions related to encountering bears on the trail and whether or not you should listen to music while riding.3:00 – Recording from Mountains to Meadows at Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds in Quincy.6:10 – Recording up on Mount Hough with Emily Kachorek as a fire lookout.7:10 – What are the biggest solo adventures Trail Whisperer and PowBot have ever done?10:10 – The importance of solitude and being introverted.11:10 – Listener shout outs. How do you handle a close bear encounter? Is it socially acceptable to listen to music with earbuds while riding?26:00 – Fires going off all around Tahoe over the last few weeks – Davis Fire, Bear Fire, Verdi Fire.28:30 – Emily Kachorek interview in the Mount Hough fire lookout at 7,250 feet elevation.31:50 – How did Emily end up becoming a fire lookout?37:30 – Mount Hough lookout – a three-story lookout with control room level, kitchen level, lookout level, complete with an Osborne Fire Finder41:03 – Living in a metal box on top of a mountain during a lightning storm and standing on the lightning stool.44:30 – Sunsets in the fire tower are much like sunsets on the ocean, you're watching it set over the horizon. The pod was recorded on the cardinal sunset day, September 21.48:00 – Emily's youth growing up in San Diego and finding bikes in Davis during college.53:10 – Emily's daily routine as a fire lookout – 8 hour day, 10 days on, 4 days off.1:00:30 – What do you do when you see smoke in the forest?1:08:45 – The history of fire lookout towers in the United States, the Lost Sierra is known as “the land of the lookouts”.1:12:15 – Emily's introduction to cycling while attending UC Davis as an undergrad studying Environmental Biology and Management, then later a Graduate degree from Sacramento State in Conservation Biology, then spent a summer in Guyana in the Amazon studying conservation and native populations.1:18:00 – Started racing road bikes right after grad school, then got a contract to race professionally, and was on the national team racing in Europe.1:23:30 – Transitioning from road racing to racing cyclocross, and fostering a culture of bikes in Sacramento with GHETO and Squid Bikes.1:29:50 – Tom sees a shooting star, and the angled glass panels of the Mount Hough tower.1:33:00 – Emily's creativity and artistry channeled through the birth of Squid Bikes.1:41:00 – Trail Whisperer's experience with spray painting his own Falconer bike using Spray.Bike paint.1:46:30 – Painting bikes as a blank canvas and a creative outlet, and finding a new outlet after leaving Squid, working on print making and carving.1:49:10 – The Southern Arizona landscape in Patagonia, Arizona and its inspiration for Emily's art and the process for creativity through working at it every day.1:58:00 – Hiking the Arizona Trail and stewarding for the Arizona Trail Association.2:04:30 – Is Emily going to be a fire lookout again next year?2:08:00 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

This week on the pod, we team up with Yvette Borjas, the founder of Radio Cachimbona, and chat about immigration policy, what we think about the Harris campaign's take on the issue, and what we're reading. Radio Cachimbona is a podcast by one Salvi-Taurean Cachimbona growing, healing, and storytelling in Southern Arizona (and now Los Angeles). Our friends at mitú helped to produce this episode.  Yvette Borjas is the daughter of Salvadoran asylum seekers who fled the civil war in the 1980's. As the first person in her family to graduate from college, she earned a BA from Yale College and graduated in 2018 from Stanford Law School. Yvetter worked as a civil rights attorney focused on border and immigration issues at the ACLU of Arizona. She's a new angeleno lecturing at UCLA. Listen to Radio Cachimbona: https://www.radiocachimbona.com/ Tamarindo is a lighthearted show hosted by Brenda Gonzalez and Delsy Sandoval talking about politics, culture, and self-development. We're here to uplift our community through powerful conversations with changemakers, creatives, and healers. Join us as we delve into discussions on race, gender, representation, and life! You can get in touch with us at www.tamarindopodcast.com Brenda Gonzalez and Delsy Sandoval are executive producers of Tamarindo podcast with production support by Karina Riveroll of Sonoro Media. Jeff Ricards produced our theme song. If you want to support our work, please rate and review our show here.  SUPPORT OUR SHOW Contribute to the show: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tamarindopodcast1 Follow Tamarindo on instagram @tamarindopodcast and on twitter at @tamarindocast  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices