Podcasts about Western Michigan University

Liam Braun, Mechanic with Western Michigan University’s Bike Resource Hub joins us to talk about the “Bikes 4 All!” event during Kalamazoo Area Bike Week, tomorrow,and an update on Tuesday events.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kourtney grew up in Southeast Michigan and received a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology & Environmental Studies from Western Michigan University. As an undergraduate she interned on the trail crew at Baxter State Park and fell in love with the state of Maine, so returned in 2010 to earn a Master of Science in Forest Resources from the University of Maine. Kourtney remained at UMaine and in 2016 became the first person to graduate with a PhD from the college's then newly inaugurated Anthropology and Environmental Policy doctoral program. As an applied environmental anthropologist, Kourtney has worked throughout Maine and Maritime Canada on a number of projects that she will describe today. Her work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, Wenner Gren Foundation, USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative, Henry David Thoreau Foundation, and more. This conversation was recorded in April 2025. ~~~~~The Maine Science Podcast is a production of the Maine Discovery Museum. It is recorded at Discovery Studios, at the Maine Discovery Museum, in Bangor, ME. The Maine Science Podcast is hosted and executive produced by Kate Dickerson; edited and produced by Scott Loiselle. The Discover Maine theme was composed and performed by Nick Parker. To support our work: https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/donate. Find us online:Maine Discovery MuseumMaine Discovery Museum on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedInMaine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram © 2025 Maine Discovery Museum

Company Life Host: Anna HarshGuest: Alex HlavatyThis episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at company life after nearly a decade with Eisenhower Dance Detroit. Tune in as he shares real-world insights, choreography tips, and advice for the next generation of dancers ready to take center stage.Alex Hlavaty graduated with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Creative Writing from Western Michigan University in May, 2015. He studied in New York City with Gibney Dance and in Montréal with O Vertigo and Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal before joining Eisenhower Dance Detroit. He is currently in his tenth season dancing with EDD, where he has performed and taught master classes nationally and internationally. He has set excerpts of EDD repertory on high school and university students at summer intensives, workshops, and master classes. Mr. Hlavaty is also an avid choreographer and writer. His choreography has been performed in festivals, intensives, and competitions. He has also created two works on EDD's professional company. His poetry has been published in the literary journal The Laureate, 14th Edition, and he has written for DancePlug online as a resource for dance students, professionals, and educators. He is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) Junior, Senior, and Advanced program, and strives to bring elements of various cross-training techniques to his performing and teaching philosophy.Eisenhower Dance Detroit https://eisenhowerdance.org/https://eisenhowerdance.org/Anna Harsh www.AnnaHarsh.comAllegro Dance Company www.AllegroDanceCompany.net

Dr. Nancy Hock from Western Michigan University's Occupational Therapy Department and Dan Potts from the Hanger Clinic joined us to talks about the event for anyone "differently abled" to participate in free activities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this College Deep Dive, MTCA Director sits down with Jay Berkow, Director of Music Theatre Performance at Western Michigan University, and Joan Herrington, Director of the School of Theatre and Dance at WMU. Together, they explore and discuss:

April 28, 2025 ~ Brigadier General Michael McDaniel, Former Director of Homeland Security Under Governor Granholm and Director of Homeland Law at Western Michigan University's Cooley Law School discusses ICE reinstating legal status for a number of international students and a number of very young children are being deported despite being born in America.

Understanding Authentic Branding with Julie Nemitz   Episode #155   Welcome back to The Creative Soulpreneur. In today's episode, we reconnect with an extraordinary guest, Julie Nimitz. Julie's journey from a theater kid in Michigan, mentored by influential figures and inspired by a vibrant local theater scene, has taken her through a compelling career in corporate marketing. She merged her love for theater and her expertise in marketing to help small theaters amplify their stories in innovative ways. Now, Julie's entrepreneurial spirit and fearless nature have led her to work with individual artists, guiding them to authentically market themselves and their creative endeavors. Join us as we explore Julie's inspiring path, her transformational pivot from corporate to self-driven success, and her passion for making a meaningful impact in the arts community. This episode is packed with insights on blending creativity with strategy to leave a lasting legacy in the world of arts and theater.   Takeaways: Embrace the Pivot: Julie transitioned from a career in theater to corporate marketing, eventually founding the Theater Marketing Lab and Broad Impact Network. Her journey emphasizes the importance of fearlessly trying new things and pivoting when necessary. Personal Branding Matters: Both Julie and Nick highlight the importance of personal branding for artists and entrepreneurs. Knowing and authentically presenting who you are can open doors and create meaningful connections. Building Community for Impact: Julie's vision for the Broad Impact Network focuses on empowering female artists and advocates to create together and drive social change. This initiative underscores the power of community in making a difference.   Julie Website For Women in the Arts: Broad Impact Network   Julie Nemitz is a marketing mastermind who's shaking things up in the world of the performing arts. She is the founder of Theatre Marketing Lab, a consultancy dedicated to helping thousands of theatre artists and organizations grow audiences and amplify their work in the digital space –with a big dose of content marketing magic and a whole lot ofinnovative brand strategy. Julie is passionate about working with theatremakers, coaching them to harness the power of the internet to build brands. Since 2019, over 2,800 theaters have benefitted from training with the Theatre Marketing Lab where theatermakers can take self-guided training, group coaching sessions or collaborate one-on-one with Julie. Her signature programs Sell The Show! and Merrily We Roll Out: The Season Reveal Launch Plan have impacted local theatre marketing strategies from Glasgow to Melbourne and everywhere in between. Julie's newest project, Broad Impact Network, will launch in 2025. The program is a membership-based platform and community for women passionate about entertainment and the creative arts. Whether they are active contributors to the industry or avid supporters, Broad Impact Network empowers its members to celebrate, support, and shape the future of the arts. Our mission is to build a robust and engaged community of women who actively support female-identifying artists, advocate for freedom of artistic expression, and provide funding for women-led film, television, music, and theatre projects. Through community-driven initiatives—such as the Broad Impact Grant Program, in-person events Broads Night Out and Broads Night In, and a gamified engagement system—members wield their collective influence to amplify and celebrate women in the arts. Prior to the launch of Theatre Marketing Lab in 2019, Julie had a nearly fifteen-year career in sales and marketing with some of the top publishers and media companies, including Playbill, People Magazine, Meredith Dash Dot/Parents.com, and ScholasticPublishers. As a Vice President of Partnership Marketing at Triad Retail Media, she led her team to develop award-winning e-commerce content for Walmart.com. Julie travels the country (and the internet) speaking about marketing and the theatre industry for organizations such as the American Association of Community Theatre and The National Presenters Association and on numerous podcasts. She is also adjunct faculty at Western Michigan University, teaching Theatre Arts Marketing to the next generation of artists. In her spare time, Julie produces theatrical productions centered on the female experience including co-creating the original theatrical work “Does Anybody Have A Map? Motherhood In Stories and Song” which premiered in 2020 and moved into a social media content success story during the pandemic.   Nick Demos is a Tony and Olivier Award winning Broadway producer, documentary filmmaker, conscious business coach and manifestation expert. With over 15 years of teaching pranayama (breath work), yoga and creativity as well as thirty years in the entertainment industry, he has travelled from the Tony Awards to ashrams and run a multi-million dollar business in between. Nick helps you clear blocks and tap into your creative intuition so you can tell your stories and manifest the business and life of your dreams creating wealth and impact.  

  Lyssa Rome is a speech-language pathologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is on staff at the Aphasia Center of California, where she facilitates groups for people with aphasia and their care partners. She owns an LPAA-focused private practice and specializes in working with people with aphasia, dysarthria, and other neurogenic conditions. She has worked in acute hospital, skilled nursing, and continuum of care settings. Prior to becoming an SLP, Lyssa was a public radio journalist, editor, and podcast producer. In this episode, Lyssa Rome interviews Dr. Suma Devanga about collaborative referencing, gesture, and building rich communicative environments for people with aphasia.   Guest info Dr. Suma Devanga is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, where she also serves as the director of the Aphasia Research Lab. She completed her PhD in Speech and Hearing science from the University of Illinois. Urbana Champaign in 2017. Dr. Devanga is interested in studying aphasia interventions and their impacts on people's everyday communication. Her recent work includes investigating a novel treatment called the Collaborative Referencing Intervention for Individuals with aphasia, using discourse analysis methods and patient reported outcome measures, studying group-based treatments for aphasia, and studying the use of gestures in aphasia. Additionally, she is involved in teaching courses on aphasia and cognitive communication disorders to graduate SLP students at Rush. She also provides direct patient care and graduate clinical supervision at Rush outpatient clinics.   Listener Take-aways In today's episode you will: Understand the role of collaborative referencing in everyday communication. Learn about Collaborative Referencing Intervention. Describe how speech-language pathologists can create rich communicative environments.   Edited transcript   Lyssa Rome Welcome to the Aphasia Access Aphasia Conversations Podcast. I'm Lyssa Rome. I'm a speech language pathologist on staff at the Aphasia Center of California, and I see clients with aphasia and other neurogenic communication disorders in my LPAA-focused private practice. I'm also a member of the Aphasia Access podcast Working Group. Aphasia Access strives to provide members with information, inspiration, and ideas that support their aphasia care through a variety of educational materials and resources.   I'm today's host for an episode that will feature Dr. Suma Devanga, who is selected as a 2024 Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Distinguished Scholar, USA and Canada. In this episode, we'll be discussing Dr. Devanga's research on collaborative referencing, gesture, and building rich communicative environments for people with aphasia.   Suma Devanga is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, where she also serves as the director of the Aphasia Research Lab. She completed her PhD in Speech and Hearing science from the University of Illinois. Urbana Champaign in 2017. Dr. Devanga is interested in studying aphasia interventions and their impacts on people's everyday communication. Her recent work includes investigating a novel treatment called the Collaborative Referencing Intervention for Individuals with aphasia, using discourse analysis methods and patient reported outcome measures, studying group-based treatments for aphasia, and studying the use of gestures in aphasia. Additionally, she is involved in teaching courses on aphasia and cognitive communication disorders to graduate SLP students at Rush. She also provides direct patient care and graduate clinical supervision at Rush outpatient clinics. Suma Devanga, thank you so much for joining us today. I'm really happy to be talking with you.   Suma Devanga Thank you, Lyssa, thank you for having me. And I would also like to thank Aphasia Access for this wonderful opportunity, and the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia and the Duchess of Bedford for recognizing my research through the Distinguished Scholar Award.   Lyssa Rome So I wanted to start by asking you how you became interested in aphasia treatment.   Suma Devanga I became interested in aphasia during my undergraduate and graduate programs, which was in speech language pathology in Mysore in India. I was really drawn to this population because of how severe the consequences were for these individuals and their families after the onset of aphasia. So I met hundreds of patients and families with aphasia who were really devastated by this sudden condition, and they were typically left with no job and little means to communicate with family and friends. So as a student clinician, I was very, very motivated to help these individuals in therapy, but when I started implementing the treatment methods that I had learned, what I discovered was that my patients were showing improvements on the tasks that we worked on in therapy. Their scores on clinical tasks also were improving, but none of that really mattered to them. What they really wanted was to be able to easily communicate with family, but they continued to struggle on that, and none of the cutting-edge treatment methods that I learned from this highly reputable program in India were impacting my patients' lives.   So I really felt lost, and that is when I knew that I wanted to do a PhD and study this topic more closely, and I was drawn to Dr. Julie Hengst's work, which looked at the bigger picture in aphasia. She used novel theoretical frameworks and used discourse analysis methods for tracking patient performance, as opposed to clinical tests. So I applied to the University of Illinois PhD program, and I'm so glad that she took me on as her doctoral student. And so that is how I ended up moving from India to the US and started my work in aphasia.   Lyssa Rome I think that a lot of us can probably relate to what you're describing—that just that feeling of frustration when a patient might improve on some sort of clinical tasks, but still says this is not helping me in my life, and I know that for me, and I think for others, that is what has drawn us to the LPAA.   I wanted to sort of dive into your research by asking you a little bit more about rich communicative environments, and what you mean by that, and what you mean when you talk about or write about distributed communication frameworks.   Suma Devanga So since I started my PhD, I have been interested in understanding how we can positively impact everyday communication for our patients with aphasia. As a doctoral student, I delved more deeply into the aphasia literature and realized that what I observed clinically with my patients in India was consistent with what was documented in the literature, and that was called the clinical-functional gap. And this really refers to the fact that we have many evidence-based aphasia treatments that do show improvements on clinical tasks or standardized tests, but there is very limited evidence on these treatments improving the functional use of language or the everyday communication, and this remains to be true even today.   So I think it becomes pretty important to understand what we are dealing with, like what is everyday communication? And I think many aphasia treatments have been studying everyday communication or conversational interactions by decontextualizing them or reducing them into component parts, like single words or phrases, and then we work our way up to sentence structures. Right? So this approach has been criticized by some researchers like Clark, who is an experimental psychologist, and he called such tasks as in vacuo, meaning that they are not really capturing the complexity of conversational interactions. So basically, even though we are clinicians, our ultimate goal is improving everyday communication, which is rich and emergent and complex, we somehow seem to be using tasks that are simplified and that removes all of these complexities and focuses more on simple or specific linguistic structures. So to understand the complexities of everyday communication, we have shifted to the distributed communication framework, which really originates from the cultural historical activity theories and theories from linguistic anthropology.   Dr. Julie Hengst actually proposed the distributed communication theory in her article in the Journal of Communication Disorders in 2015, which highlights that communication is not just an individual skill or a discrete concept, but it is rather distributed. And it is distributed in three ways: One is that it is distributed across various resources. We communicate using multiple resources, not just language. We sign, we use gestures, or facial expressions. We also interpret messages using such resources like dialects and eye gaze and posture, the social context, cultural backgrounds, the emotional states that we are in, and all of that matters. And we all know this, right? This is not new, and yet, we often give credit to language alone for communication, when in reality, we constantly use multiple resources. And the other key concept of distributed communication theory is that communication is embedded in socio- cultural activities. So depending on the activity, which can be a routine family dinnertime conversation or managing relationships with your co workers, the communicative resources that you use, their motives, and the way you would organize it, all of that would vary. And finally, communication is distributed across time. And by that we mean that people interpret and understand present interactions through the histories that they have experienced over time. For example, if you're at work and your manager says you might want to double check your reports before submitting them based on prior interactions with the manager and the histories you've shared with them, you could interpret that message either as a simple suggestion or that there is a lack of trust in your work. So all in all, communication, I think, is a joint activity, and I think we should view it as a joint activity, and it depends on people's ability to build common ground with one another and draw from that common ground to interpret each other's messages.   Lyssa Rome I feel like that framework is really helpful, and it makes a lot of sense, especially as a way of thinking about the complexity of language and the complexity of what we're trying to do when we are taking a more top-down approach. So that's the distributed communication theory. And it sounds like the other framework that has really guided your research is rich communicative environments. And I'm wondering if you could say a little bit more about that.   Suma Devanga Absolutely. So this work originates from about 80 years of research in neuroscience, where rodents and other animals with acquired brain injuries showed greater neuroplastic changes and improved functions when they were housed in complex environments. In fact, complex environments are considered to be the most well replicated approach to improve function in animal models of acquired brain injury.   So Dr. Julie Hengst, Dr. Melissa Duff, and Dr. Theresa Jones translated these findings to support communication for humans with acquired brain injuries. And they called it the rich communicative environments. The main goal of this is to enrich the clinical environments. And how we achieve that is by ensuring that there is meaningful complexity in our clinical environments, and that you do that by ensuring that our patients, families, and clinicians use multimodal resources, and also to aim for having multiple communication partners within your sessions who can fluidly shift between various communicative roles, and to not just stay in that clinician role, for example.   Another way to think about enriching clinical environments is to think about ensuring that there is voluntary engagement from our patients, and you do that by essentially designing personally meaningful activities, rather than focusing on rehearsing fixed linguistic form or having some predetermined goals.   And the other piece of the enrichment is, how do we ensure there is a positive experiential quality for our patients within our sessions. And for this rather than using clinician-controlled activities with rigid interactional roles, providing opportunities for the patients to share stories and humor would really, you know, ensure that they are also engaging with the tasks with you and having some fun. So all of this put together would lead to a rich communicative environment.   Lyssa Rome It sounds like what you're describing is the kind of speech therapy environment and relationship that is very much person-centered and focused on natural communication, or natural communicative contexts and the kinds of conversations that people have in their everyday lives, rather than more sort of strict speech therapy protocol that might have been more traditional. I also want to ask you to describe collaborative referencing and collaborative referencing intervention.   Suma Devanga Yes, absolutely. So traditionally, our discipline has viewed word-finding or naming as a neurolinguistic process where you access semantic meanings from a lexicon, which you use to generate verbal references. And that theoretical account conceptualizes referencing as an isolated process, where one individual has the skill of retrieving target references from their stores of linguistic forms and meanings, right? So in contrast to that, the distributed communication perspective views referencing as a process where speakers' meanings are constructed within each interaction, and that is based on the shared histories of experiences with specific communication partners and also depending on the social and physical contexts of the interaction as well.   Now this process of collaborative referencing is something that we all do every single day. It is not just a part of our everyday communication, but without collaborative referencing, you cannot really have a conversation with anyone. You need to have some alignment, some common ground for communicating with others. This is a fundamental feature of human communication, and this is not new. You know, there is lots of work being done on this, even in childhood language literature as well.   Collaborative referencing was formally studied by Clark, who is the experimental psychologist. And he studied this in healthy college students, and he used a barrier task experiment for it. So a pair of students sat across from each other with a full barrier that separated them so they could not see each other at all, and each student had a board that was numbered one through 12, and they were given matching sets of 12 pictures of abstract shapes called tangrams. One participant was assigned as the director, who arranged the cards on their playing board and described their locations to the other, who served as the matcher and matched the pictures to their locations on their own board. So the pair completed six trials with alternating turns, and they use the same cards with new locations for each trial. And what they found was that the pairs had to really collaborate with each other to get those descriptions correct so that they are placed correctly on the boards.   So in the initial trials, the pairs had multiple turns of back and forth trying to describe these abstract shapes. For example, one of the pictures was initially described as “This picture that looks like an angel or something with its arms wide open.” And there had to be several clarifying questions from the partner, and then eventually, after playing with this picture several times, the player just had to say “It's the angel,” and the partner would be able to know which picture that was so as the pairs built their common ground, the collaborative effort, or the time taken to complete each trial, and the number of words they used and the number of turns they took to communicate about those pictures declined over time, and the labels itself, or the descriptions of pictures, also became more streamlined as the as time went by.   So Hengst and colleagues wanted to study this experiment in aphasia, TBI, amnesia, and Alzheimer's disease as well. So they adapted this task to better serve this population and also to align with the distributed communication framework. And surprisingly, they found consistent results that despite aphasia or other neurological conditions, people were still able to successfully reference, decrease collaborative effort over time and even streamline their references. But more surprisingly, people were engaged with one another. They were having really rich conversations about these pictures. They were sharing jokes, and really seemed to be enjoying the task itself.   So Hengst and colleagues realized that this has a lot of potential, and they redesigned the barrier task experiment as a clinical treatment using the principles of the distributed communication framework and the rich communicative environment. So that redesign included replacing the full barrier with a partial barrier to allow multimodal communication, and using personal photos of the patients instead of the abstract shapes to make it more engaging for the patients, and also asking participants to treat this as a friendly game and to have fun. So that is the referencing itself and the research on collaborative referencing, and that is how it was adapted as a treatment as well.   And in order to help clinicians easily implement this treatment, I have used the RTSS framework, which is the rehabilitation treatment specification system, to explain how CRI works and how it can be implemented. And this is actually published, and it just came out in the most recent issue in the American Journal of Speech Language Pathology, which I'm happy to share.   Lyssa Rome And we'll put that link into the show notes.   Suma Devanga Perfect. So CRI is designed around meaningful activities like the game that authentically provides repeated opportunities for the client and the clinician to engage in the collaborative referencing process around targets that they really want to be talking about, things that are relevant to patients, everyday communication goals, it could be things, objects of interest, and not really specific words or referencing forms.   So the implementation of the CRI involves three key ingredients. One is jointly developing the referencing targets and compiling the images so clinicians would sit down with the patients and the families to identify at least 30 targets that are meaningful and important to be included in the treatment. And we need two perspectives, or two views, or two pictures related to the same target that needs to be included in the treatment. So we will have 60 pictures overall. An example is two pictures from their wedding might be an important target for patients to be able to talk about. Two pictures from a Christmas party, you know, things like that. So this process of compilation of photos is also a part of the treatment itself, because it gives the patients an opportunity to engage with the targets.   The second ingredient is engaging in the friendly gameplay itself. And the key really here is the gameplay and to treat it as a gameplay. And this includes 15 sessions with six trials in each session, where you, as the clinician and the client will both have matching sets of 12 pictures, and there is a low barrier in between, so you cannot see each other's boards, but you can still see the other person. So you will both take turns being the director and the matcher six times, and describe and match the pictures to their locations, and that is just the game. The only rule of the game is that you cannot look over the barrier. You are encouraged to talk as much as you like about the pictures. In fact, you are encouraged to talk a lot about the pictures and communicate in any way.   The third ingredient is discussing and reflecting on referencing. And this happens at the end of each session where patients are asked to think back and reflect and say what the agreed upon label was for each card. And this, again, gives one more opportunity for the patients to engage with the target.   The therapeutic mechanism, or the mechanism of action, as RTSS likes to call it, is the rich communicative environment itself, you know, and how complex the task is, and how meaningful and engaging the task has to be, as well as the repeated engagement in the gameplay, because we are doing this six times in each session, and we are repeatedly engaging with those targets when describing them and placing them.   So what we are really targeting with CRI is collaborative referencing and again, this does not refer to the patient's abilities to access or retrieve those words from their stores. Instead, we are targeting people's joint efforts in communicating about these targets, their efforts in building situated common ground. That's what we are targeting. We are targeting their alignment with one another, and so that is how we define referencing. And again, we are targeting this, because that is how you communicate every day.   Lyssa Rome That sounds like a really fascinating and very rich intervention. And I'm wondering if you can tell us a little bit about the research that you've done on it so far.   Suma Devanga Absolutely. So in terms of research on CRI thus far, we have completed phase one with small case studies that were all successful, and my PhD dissertation was the first phase two study, where we introduced an experimental control by using a multiple-probe, single-case experimental design on four people with aphasia, and we found significant results on naming. And since then, I have completed two replication studies in a total of nine participants with aphasia. And we have found consistent results on naming. In terms of impact on everyday interactions, we have found decreased trouble sources, or communicative breakdowns, you can call it, and also decreased repairs, both of which indicated improved communicative success within conversational interactions. So we are positive, and we plan to continue this research to study its efficacy within a clinical trial.   Lyssa Rome That's very encouraging. So how can clinicians target collaborative referencing by creating a rich communicative environment?   Suma Devanga Yeah, well, CRI is one approach that clinicians can use, and I'm happy to share the evidence we have this far, and there is more to come, hopefully soon, including some clinical implementation studies that clinicians can use. But there are many other ways of creating rich communicative environments and targeting referencing within clinical sessions. I think many skilled clinicians are already doing it in the form of relationship building, by listening closely to their patients, engaging with them in authentic conversations, and also during education and counseling sessions as well.   In addition to that, I think group treatment for aphasia is another great opportunity for targeting collaborative referencing within a rich communicative environment. When I was a faculty at Western Michigan University, I was involved in their outpatient aphasia program, where they have aphasia groups, and patients got to select which groups they want to participate in. They had a cooking group, a music group, a technology group, and so on. And I'm guessing you do this too at the Aphasia Center of California. So these groups definitely create rich communicative environments, and people collaborate with each other and do a lot of referencing as well. So I think there is a lot that can be done if you understand the rich communicative environment piece.   Lyssa Rome Absolutely. That really rings true to me. So often in these podcast interviews, we ask people about aha moments, and I'm wondering if you have one that you wanted to share with us.   Suma Devanga Sure. So you know how I said that getting the pictures for the CRI is a joint activity? Patients typically select things that they really want to talk about, like their kids' graduation pictures, or things that they are really passionate about, like pictures of their sports cars, or vegetable gardens, and so on. And they also come up with really unique names for them as well, while they are playing with those pictures during the treatment. And when we start playing the game, clinicians usually have little knowledge about these images, because they're all really personal to the patients, and they're taken from their personal lives, so they end up being the novices, while the patients become the experts. And my patients have taught me so much about constructing a house and all about engines of cars and things like that that I had no knowledge about. But in one incident, when I was the clinician paired with an individual with anomic aphasia, there was a picture of a building that she could not recognize, and hence she could not tell me much at all. And we went back and forth several times, and we finally ended up calling it the “unknown building.” Later, I checked my notes and realized that it was where she worked, and it was probably a different angle, perhaps, which is why she could not recognize it. But even with that new information, we continue to call it the “unknown building,” because it became sort of an internal joke for us. And later I kept thinking if I had made a mistake and if we should have accurately labeled it. That is when it clicked for me that CRI is not about producing accurate labels, it is about building a common ground with each other, which would help you successfully communicate with that person. So you're targeting the process of referencing and not the reference itself, because you want your patients to get better at the process of referencing in their everyday communication. And so that was my aha moment.   Lyssa Rome Yeah, that's an amazing story, because I think that that gets to that question sort of of the why behind what we're doing, right? Is it to say the specific name? I mean, obviously for some people, yes, sometimes it is. But what is underlying that? It's to be able to communicate about the things that are important to people. I also wanted to ask you about another area that you've studied, which is the use of gesture within aphasia interventions. Can you tell us a little bit more about that?   Suma Devanga Yes. So this work started with my collaboration with my friend and colleague, Dr. Mili Mathew, who is at Molloy University in New York, and our first work was on examining the role of hand gestures in collaborative referencing in a participant who had severe Wernicke's aphasia, and he frequently used extensive gestures to communicate. So when he started with CRI his descriptions of the images were truly multimodal. For example, when he had to describe a picture of a family vacation in Cancun, he was, you know, he was verbose, and there was very little meaningful content that was relevant in his spoken language utterances. But he used a variety of iconic hand gestures that were very meaningful and helpful to identify what he was referring to. As the sessions went on with him, his gestural references also became streamlined, just like the verbal references do, and that we saw in other studies. And that was fascinating because it indicated that gestures do play a big role in the meaning-making process of referencing.   And in another study on the same participant, we explored the use of hand gestures as treatment outcome measures. This time, we specifically analyzed gestures used within conversations at baseline treatment, probe, and maintenance phases of the study. And we found that the frequency of referential gestures, which are gestures that add meaning, that have some kind of iconics associated with them, those frequencies of gestures decreased with the onset of treatment, whereas the correct information units, or CIUS, which indicate the informativeness in the spoken language itself, increased. So this pattern of decrease in hand gestures and increase in CIUS was also a great finding. Even though this was just an exploratory study, it indicates that gestures may be included as outcome measures, in addition to verbal measures, which we usually tend to rely more on. And we have a few more studies coming up that are looking at the synchrony of gestures with spoken language in aphasia, but I think we still have a lot more to learn about gestures in aphasia.   Lyssa Rome It seems like there that studying gestures really ties in to CRI and the rich communicative environments that you were describing earlier, where the goal is not just to verbally name one thing, but rather to get your point across, where, obviously, gesture is also quite useful. So I look forward to reading more of your research on that as it comes out. Tell us about what you're currently working on, what's coming next.   Suma Devanga Currently, I am wrapping up my clinical research grant from the ASH Foundation, which was a replication study of the phase two CRI so we collected data from six participants with chronic aphasia using a multiple-probe, single-case design, and that showed positive results on naming, and there was improved scores on patient reports of communication confidence, communicative participation, and quality of life as well. We are currently analyzing the conversation samples to study the treatment effects.   I also just submitted a grant proposal to extend the study on participants with different severities of aphasia as well. So we are getting all the preliminary data at this point that we need to be able to start a clinical trial, which will be my next step.   So apart from that, I was also able to redesign the CRI and adapt it as a group-based treatment with three participants with aphasia and one clinician in a group. I actually completed a feasibility study of it, which was successful, and I presented that at ASHA in 2023. And I'm currently writing it up for publication, and I also just secured an internal grant to launch a pilot study of the group CRI to investigate the effects of group CRI on communication and quality of life.   Lyssa Rome Well, that's really exciting. And again, I'm really looking forward to reading additional work as it comes out. As we wrap up. What do you want clinicians to take away from your work and to take away from this conversation we've had today?   Suma Devanga Well, I would want clinicians to reflect on how their sessions are going and think about how to incorporate the principles of rich communicative environments so that they can add more meaningful complexity to their treatment activities and also ensure that their patients are truly engaging with the tasks and also having some fun. And I would also tell the clinicians that we have strong findings so far on CRI with both fluent and non-fluent aphasia types. So please stay tuned and reach out to me if you have questions or want to share your experiences about implementing this with your own patients, because I would love to hear that.   Lyssa Rome Dr. Suma Devanga, it has been great talking to you and hearing about your work. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.   Suma Devanga It was fantastic talking about my work. Thank you for giving me this platform to share my work with you all. And thank you, Lyssa for being a great listener.   Lyssa Rome Thanks also to our listeners for the references and resources mentioned in today's show. Please see our show notes. They're available on our website, www.aphasiaaccess.org. There, you can also become a member of our organization, browse our growing library of materials, and find out about the Aphasia Access Academy. If you have an idea for a future podcast episode, email us at info@aphasiaaccess.org. Thanks again for your ongoing support of aphasia. Access. For Aphasia Access Conversations. I'm Lyssa Rome.       References   Devanga, S. R. (2025). Collaborative Referencing Intervention (CRI) in Aphasia: A replication and extension of the Phase II efficacy study. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-24-00226   Devanga, S. R., Sherrill, M., & Hengst, J. A. (2021). The efficacy of collaborative referencing intervention in chronic aphasia: A mixed methods study. American Journal of Speech Language Pathology, 30(1S), 407-424. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_AJSLP-19-00108    Hengst, J. A., Duff, M. C., & Jones, T. A. (2019). Enriching communicative environments: Leveraging advances in neuroplasticity for improving outcomes in neurogenic communication disorders. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 28(1S), 216–229. https://doi.org/10.1044/2018_AJSLP-17-0157   Hengst, J. A. (2015). Distributed communication: Implications of cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) for communication disorders. Journal of Communication Disorders, 57, 16–28. Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomdis.2015.09.001   Devanga, S. R., & Mathew, M. (2024). Exploring the use of co-speech hand gestures as treatment outcome measures for aphasia. Aphasiology. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2024.2356287   Devanga, S. R., Wilgenhof, R., & Mathew, M. (2022). Collaborative referencing using hand gestures in Wernicke's aphasia: Discourse analysis of a case study. Aphasiology, 36(9), 1072-1095. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2021.1937919    

In this episode, I chat with the authors of The Garden of Evaluation Approaches about their innovative and helpful framework for thinking about evaluation theory and approaches. They each share their personal journeys into evaluation as well as into this work they have been collaborating on for years. We also discuss evaluation theory more broadly, including how to make it more accessible to new and emerging evaluators. About guests: Bianca Montrosse-Moorhead (https://education.uconn.edu/person/bianca-montrosse-moorhead/) is a Professor of Research Methods, Measurement, and Evaluation at the University of Connecticut, where she also directs the Partnership for Evaluation and Educational Research (PEER). As Co-Editor-in-Chief of New Directions for Evaluation and a fervent advocate for evaluation, Bianca has dedicated her career to bridging the space between evaluation theory and practice. Her work encompasses a broad spectrum of contributions, from evaluating various educational and social programs using diverse methodologies to enhancing the professional training of evaluators worldwide. Daniela Schroeter (https://wmich.edu/spaa/directory/schroeter-0) serves as a Presidential Innovation Professor and Associate Professor at Western Michigan University. With a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Evaluation and over twenty years of research, Daniela has contributed substantially to developing evaluation theories and methodologies. Her global work has involved diverse sectors, focusing on enhancing the capacity and effectiveness of evaluations. Daniela also co-edits the Teaching & Learning of Evaluation section of the American Journal of Evaluation. Lyssa Wilson Becho (https://wmich.edu/evaluation/directory/becho) serves as a Principal Research Associate at The Evaluation Center of Western Michigan University. Garnering the 2024 Marcia Guttentag Promising New Evaluator Award, Lyssa has made a significant impact in advancing evaluation methodologies, focusing on culturally responsive practices and promoting equity within evaluation processes. Lyssa is a co-Executive Editor for the Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation. Collectively, their innovative work in evaluation spans continents, cementing their reputation as leaders in advancing the practical, theoretical, and methodological facets of the discipline. Contact information: Bianca Montrosse-Moorhead Email: bianca@uconn.edu (mailto:bianca@uconn.edu) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/BMMoorhead/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/BMMoorhead/) ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bianca-Montrosse-Moorhead (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bianca-Montrosse-Moorhead) Daniela Schröter Email: daniela.schroeter@wmich.edu (mailto:daniela.schroeter@wmich.edu) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielaschroeter/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielaschroeter/) ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Daniela-Schroeter (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Daniela-Schroeter) Lyssa Wilson Becho Email: lyssa.becho@wmich.edu (mailto:lyssa.becho@wmich.edu) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyssa-wilson-becho/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyssa-wilson-becho/) ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lyssa-Becho (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lyssa-Becho) Resources mentioned: Project vita (biography or résumé) with links to all free and publicly available resources: https://tinyurl.com/EvalGardenVita (https://tinyurl.com/EvalGardenVita) Montrosse-Moorhead, B., Schröter, D., & Becho, L. W. (2024). The garden of evaluation approaches visualization. Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation, 20(48), 49–58. https://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/1029 (https://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/1029) Montrosse-Moorhead, B., Schröter, D., & Becho, L. W. (2024). The garden of evaluation approaches. American Journal of Evaluation, 45(2), 166–185. https://doi.org/10.1177/10982140231216667 (https://doi.org/10.1177/10982140231216667) Bledsoe, K. L., & Graham, J. A. (2005). The use of multiple evaluation approaches in program evaluation. American Journal of Evaluation, 26(3), 302-319. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098214005278749 (https://doi.org/10.1177/1098214005278749) King, J. (2024) Garden of evaluation approaches with SROI and CBA https://linkedin.com/posts/julian-king-87a015a_cba-sroi-vfi-activity-7201338499776618497-J3-z/ (https://linkedin.com/posts/julian-king-87a015a_cba-sroi-vfi-activity-7201338499776618497-J3-z/) Miller, R. L. (2010). Developing standards for empirical examinations of evaluation theory. American Journal of Evaluation, 31(3), 390–399. https://doi.org/10/fmzjxp

Mass timber is reshaping the construction landscape across the globe through groundbreaking projects that showcase this sustainable building material's versatility, efficiency, and environmental benefits.Western Michigan University's new 270,000-square-foot resident hall stands as a powerful example of how mass timber can revolutionize student housing. This innovative project accommodates 1,000 beds while striking the perfect balance between sustainability, affordability, and occupant wellbeing through hybrid construction techniques that combine engineered wood with advanced prefabrication methods.Meanwhile, in Canada, mass timber is breaking new ground in the industrial sector. Sudbury developers are pioneering the use of engineered wood products for commercial and warehouse facilities, setting themselves apart from conventional construction in the region. This expansion into industrial applications signals an important evolution for mass timber, demonstrating its suitability across increasingly diverse building types.The podcast also explores Stockholm Wood City, poised to become the world's largest wooden urban development. This ambitious $1.4 billion project spans 250,000 square meters and will include 2,000 residential units, office spaces, retail outlets, and cultural venues by 2027. Construction began in October 2024, with the first phase expected to reach completion by the end of 2025.Despite these exciting developments, political uncertainties surrounding tariffs have created challenges for sustainable building practices and affordable housing initiatives in North America. The podcast touches on these policy pressures while highlighting technical advancements like the American Wood Council's updated connection calculator that continue to support mass timber's momentum.Whether you're a construction professional, sustainability advocate, or simply interested in the future of building, this episode offers valuable insights into how mass timber is transforming our built environment. Subscribe to the Mass Timber Construction Podcast for weekly updates on this rapidly evolving industry, and visit our website to learn about submitting research to the Mass Timber Construction Journal.Send us a textSupport the show

Drummer Dr. Ed Roth found a way to connect his music with everyone, like no one else before. The Bridgeport/Saginaw area musician studied music at Western Michigan University. And while he can't claim a gold or platinum album in his Michigan Music History, he can claim that he studies the music and how it connects to the minds of individuals, at every stage of life.    His detailed work dives into the musical dopamine from birth to hospice/end of life, covering what connects and why. Music is so important to everyone, as you will hear, that we are "all born musicians." This very special two-part series is as humorous as it is important and integral to life as we know it, and why music is the natural drug. Part two gives you some epic procedures and studies that Dr. Roth has come to know across his work.    We were so happy to have Sir Fred's nephew and this deep conversation. Tune into Episode 2 today!

Wake Up, Woodward! Around the City Red Wings season is a failure Justin Satawa joins WUW to discuss Western Michigan University's improbable hockey National Championship Tigers take 2 out of 3 from the Twins on the road Riley Greene is in a terrible slump right now at the plate Recapping this incredible Detroit Pistons regular season What's Trending with JBSmooovv Feldman Mailbag MAILBAG sponsored by FELDMAN AUTOMOTIVE Submit questions to the WUW Crew using the hashtag: #FELDMANMAILBAG

In this episode, George welcomes Chris Fowler, Associate Head Coach at Western Michigan University and the all-time assist leader at Central Michigan University. Chris discusses his journey from an assistant to an associate head coach, emphasizing his application of evidence-based ideas such as the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA). He shares insights on practice design, player development, building trust, and balancing team strategies with individual growth. Chris also touches on integrating cross-disciplinary collaboration in coaching and reflects on how adopting a player-centered approach can transform both coaching effectiveness and players' adaptability on and off the court. Chapters: 00:00 - The Importance of Player Understanding01:08 - Introduction to Evidence-Based Coaching02:06 - Early Experiences with Evidence-Based Practices03:38 - Building Trust with Players06:21 - Core Ideas of the CLA Approach10:11 - Refining Practice Design for Efficiency14:55 - Creating Decision-Making Environments18:46 - Embracing Messiness in Practice22:00 - Balancing Skill Development and Team Strategy26:20 - Challenges of Implementing the CLA30:43 - Preparing for Game Situations34:45 - Transformative Tip: It's Not About You Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book: https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7 Access tons more of evidence-based coaching resources: https://transformingbball.com/products/ Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

Today we're broadcasting from the Golf Emporium on 14 mile between Rockford and Greenville. They're having their Demo Days Extravaganza tomorrow 10-2pm - so make sure you stop out! Today, we're talking all about the 2025 Masters as we were joined by some of our great Golf insiders. Throughout the entire show, we were joined Mark Wilson who is a PGA Rules Official and is part of there Ferris State Golf Management Program. During that time, he and Huge talked about the Masters as they watched it live, talked about what makes the Masters different from other Tournaments, gave live leaderboard updates, they discussed the current state of the PGA and LIV Tours, and so much more. In our final hour we were joined by Bill Thompson, who is a Booster at Western Michigan University. He joined us from St. Louis as the WMU Hockey Team is in the D1 National Championship game tomorrow night. We were then joined by Bill Hobson from Michigan Golf Live so we could get his thoughts on round 2 of the Masters. We wrapped up the show talking with Code Vanos from the Golf Emporium about the great deals they'll have to offer you tomorrow. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Bill Thompson, who is a Booster at Western Michigan University. He joined us from St. Louis as the WMU Hockey Team is in the D1 National Championship game tomorrow night. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're broadcasting from the Golf Emporium on 14 mile between Rockford and Greenville. They're having their Demo Days Extravaganza tomorrow 10-2pm - so make sure you stop out! Today, we're talking all about the 2025 Masters as we were joined by some of our great Golf insiders. Throughout the entire show, we were joined Mark Wilson who is a PGA Rules Official and is part of there Ferris State Golf Management Program. During that time, he and Huge talked about the Masters as they watched it live, talked about what makes the Masters different from other Tournaments, gave live leaderboard updates, they discussed the current state of the PGA and LIV Tours, and so much more. We wrapped up the first hour talking with Mitch Lyons from Mitch Lyons Wealth about the Masters, your retirement, and more. At the end of the second hour we had a "Moving Ferris Forward" interview as Huge spoke with Rob Bentley, who is the Associate Athletics Director at FSU. He told us about the parade they'll be having tomorrow as they celebrate the Bulldogs Football team and their third DII National Championship in four years. In our final hour we were joined by Bill Thompson, who is a Booster at Western Michigan University. He joined us from St. Louis as the WMU Hockey Team is in the D1 National Championship game tomorrow night. We were then joined by Bill Hobson from Michigan Golf Live so we could get his thoughts on round 2 of the Masters. We wrapped up the show talking with Code Vanos from the Golf Emporium about the great deals they'll have to offer you tomorrow. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

College, Career, and Common Sense: Educator Melanie Korczyk on Helping Students Thrive | Conversations with a Chiropractor Description In this eye-opening episode of Conversations with a Chiropractor, Dr. Stephanie Wautier sits down with her sister, veteran educator Melanie Korczyk, for a powerful conversation on preparing students—not just for college, but for life. With over two decades in the classroom and a growing career in executive functioning coaching, Melanie shares her insights on helping students build the real-world skills they need to thrive. From college essays to career paths, ADHD to anxiety, and the truth about community college versus the four-year university track—this episode is packed with grounded wisdom and practical tools for parents, students, and educators alike. Whether you're raising a college-bound teen, guiding students through post-grad decisions, or reflecting on your own educational path, Melanie's calm, compassionate perspective is a breath of fresh air.

April 7, 2025 ~ The National Security Agency Chief was fired, leaving lawmakers concerned. Michael McDaniel, former Director of Homeland Security under Governor Granholm and Director of Homeland Law at Western Michigan University's Cooley Law School, joins Kevin to discuss this.

Send us a text  Coach Cappos is the owner of Thower X, Prior to that he accumulated over 25 years of collegiate coaching experience. Cappos has had more than 100 athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships, coached more than 50 athletes to conference championships and All-America honors in the shot put, discus, javelin, hammer, weight throw, long jump, high jump, heptathlon and decathlon. Coach Cappos spent 7 years as the Assistant Throws Coach at the University of Nebraska, He spent 18 seasons as an assistant coach and director of field events at the University of Iowa where, his athletes rewrote the records in Iowa City, including eight of the top-10 all-time shot-putters, nine of the top-10 all-time discus throwers and all 10 of the top javelin, hammer and weight throwers in Hawkeye history. Before coaching at Iowa, Cappos was an assistant coach at Western Michigan University. He trained seven All-Americans during his tenure, and Western Michigan winning the MAC and CCC team titles both seasons. Cappos started his coaching career at West Salem High School in Wisconsin. Coach Cappos is one of a handful of USATF Level III certified coaches in the throwing events, he is a USATF Level II certified coach in the jumps and a certified instructor for USATF. Cappos coached with Team USA at the 2011 Pan American Junior Championships, leading athletes to 10 gold medals. Coach Cappos earned Regional Throws Coach of Year from USTFCCCA in 2007. Cappos was a professional track and field athlete while teaching and coaching. He competed at the Pan American Games, World University Games and the Commonwealth Games for Canada. During his athletic career at Indiana University, Cappos won the Big Ten Championship in the shot put in 1990 and 1991 and was a three-time All-American. He earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology with a minor in social science.https://www.instagram.com/scottcappos?igsh=MXVtZzZoMHMxdXp3cg==https://www.instagram.com/throwerx_?igsh=YW05bWM0OG0yYW55https://www.throwerx.com/ https://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email Voodoo4ranch@gmail.comhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch

Please join us for “Understanding Autistic Strengths & Differences: Why It's Essential for Meaningful Support” with Staci Neustadt and Susan Golubock.Staci Neustadt, CEO of Making Sense of Autism®, is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with over 20 years of experience providing individual and group therapy, training, mentorship, and leadership. In 2019, Staci joined Susan in developing the Neuro Strengths Based Support for Autism framework. Staci is passionate about creating a paradigm shift for therapists to holistically support autistic clients and for autistic clients to feel seen and heard as they build on their strengths and contribute their gifts to their community.Susan Golubock is a retired occupational therapist. She received her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University in 1968 and Masters of Education degree in special education technology in 1995. She was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum in 1999. Most of her career has been spent in school-based practice. Susan has been a keynote speaker and presenter at various conferences. Susan developed the Neuro-Strengths Based Support for Autism Framework, which comes from her personal experience as an autistic individual and professional experience as an occupational therapist who worked with autistic clients. She grew up trying to “be like everyone else;” she succeeded in masking but at the cost of never developing a sense of “self,” which led to symptoms of post-traumatic stress. When she was finally diagnosed in my early 50s, I learned that there were other options for how to think and behave, which radically changed my life for the better. Susan's passion is to educate parents and professionals so the autistic individuals in their lives are understood.Support the show

Drummer Dr. Ed Roth found a way to connect his music with everyone, like no one else before. The Bridgeport/Saginaw area musician studied music at Western Michigan University. And while he can't claim a gold or platinum album in his Michigan Music History, he can claim that he studies the music and how it connects to the minds of individuals, at every stage of life.    His detailed work dives into the musical dopamine from birth to hospice/end of life, covering what connects and why. Music is so important to everyone, as you will hear, that we are "all born musicians." This very special two-part series is as humorous as it is important and integral to life as we know it, and why music is the natural drug. Dig into Part 1 now!

Today on the show, we're talking a lot of Hockey as we were joined by some of our great guests in studio. In our first hour, we were joined by Brad "Dog" Thompson, who is the Equipment Manager for the Grand Rapids Griffins. Throughout the hour, Dog and Huge talked about how the Griffins have been playing lately as they've clinched a berth in the Playoffs for the Calder Cup, talked about the Red Wings and if they can get to the Playoffs, talked about all of the great Hockey throughout Michigan, and so much more. In our second hour, we were joined by Clayton Sayfie from theWolverine.com so we could get an update on Michigan players that have entered the portal. We were then joined by Jim Comparoni from SpartanMag.com so he could update on MSU players in the portal, talk about NIL, and much more. We were then joined in studio by former Red Wing Mike Knuble, so he and Huge could talk some Hockey. Mike's son plays for Western Hockey, so they talked about them being in the Frozen Four, talked about the transfer portal in Hockey, and much more. In our final hour, we were joined by Pat Ferschweiler who is the Head Hockey Coach at Western Michigan University. He was just named the National DI Hockey Coach of the Year, so we had the chance to hear about his Hockey Program, he told us about his team and their culture, looked ahead to the Frozen Four, and much more. We were then joined by Chris Castelanni from the "Chris and Company" podcast and the "I'll Say This" podcast. He and Huge talked about how the Tigers have looked in their first week, talked about some of the great hitting, discussed problems with this team such as staying healthy, and so much more. We wrapped up the show talking with Cathy George who is the Head Coach of the Grand Rapids Rise Pro Volleyball team. She joined us to talk about their Home match this weekend against the Vegas Thrill, talked about where they're at in the standings, talked about the growth of the GR Rise, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our final hour, we were joined by Pat Ferschweiler who is the Head Hockey Coach at Western Michigan University. He was just named the National DI Hockey Coach of the Year, so we had the chance to hear about his Hockey Program, he told us about his team and their culture, looked ahead to the Frozen Four, and much more. We were then joined by Chris Castelanni from the "Chris and Company" podcast and the "I'll Say This" podcast. He and Huge talked about how the Tigers have looked in their first week, talked about some of the great hitting, discussed problems with this team such as staying healthy, and so much more. We wrapped up the show talking with Cathy George who is the Head Coach of the Grand Rapids Rise Pro Volleyball team. She joined us to talk about their Home match this weekend against the Vegas Thrill, talked about where they're at in the standings, talked about the growth of the GR Rise, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Pat Ferschweiler who is the Head Hockey Coach at Western Michigan University. He was just named the National DI Hockey Coach of the Year, so we had the chance to hear about his Hockey Program, he told us about his team and their culture, looked ahead to the Frozen Four, and much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode was recorded on-site at TAPPI's 2025 Student Summit in St. Petersburg, FL. More than 300 attendees—including pulp and paper engineering students from 13 different universities—enjoyed panel discussions, a Career Fair, and Engineering Challenge, and so much more. We asked students to "take the mic" to host their own interviews and share their unique voices.First up, Western Michigan University students Parker Langellier and Toby Archer interview Dr. Med Byrd, Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator for the Paper Science and Engineering program at North Carolina State University.  "The paper process is very unique, very specific, and—let's face it—delightfully funky," Dr. Byrd tells our hosts, as they explore what makes pulp and paper such an amazing career choice.Next, veteran Student Summiteers Tanner Stogner and Michael Reuss interview first-time Summit attendees Conyers Preveaux and Gavin Knight. All four are students at Auburn University in Auburn, AL. As one student comments, "You see familiar faces all around. It's really nice that we have 300 people here and we all want the same thing: to grow our industry." This is the first of two episodes hosted by student volunteers at the 2025 Student Summit. Make sure to Subscribe to Better Together so you won't miss the next episode!

This episode was recorded on-site at TAPPI's 2025 Student Summit in St. Petersburg, FL. More than 300 attendees—including pulp and paper engineering students from 13 different universities—enjoyed panel discussions, a Career Fair, and Engineering Challenge, and so much more. We asked students to "take the mic" to host their own interviews and share their unique voices.Our first guest hosts are Tabitha Newberry, Katelyn Gyurich, and Shelby Conley, three students studying Paper Engineering at Western Michigan University. "I think my favorite part of student summit is making connections," says one of our students, as they discuss what makes this industry truly special. Their enthusiasm for TAPPI is contagious... and they may just have the next billion-dollar idea in specialty tissue. Next, Jacob Levesque, a chemical engineering student in the pulp and paper program at the University of Maine, interviews TAPPI's own Sidney Onyekwere, Standards Project Coordinator, about the tremendous knowledge-growing possibilities for students within the Standards and TIPs process. "We offer a Swiss army knife of knowledge and information—there's something for everyone," Sidney says.This is the second of two episodes hosted by student volunteers at the 2025 Student Summit. Subscribe today to Better Together and share this episode to spread the word about the amazing opportunities available to students who choose a career in pulp, paper, and packaging.

Judith Shakespeare's life is a mystery. While history records her as the younger daughter of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway, much of her story remains untold. In her new novel, The Owl Was a Baker's Daughter, author and Shakespeare scholar Grace Tiffany brings Judith to life—filling in the gaps with adventure, resilience, and rebellion. A sequel to My Father Had a Daughter, this novel follows Judith into later adulthood. No longer the headstrong girl who once fled to London in disguise to challenge her father, she is now a skilled healer and midwife. However, when she is accused of witchcraft, she must escape Stratford and navigate a world where Puritans have closed playhouses, civil war splits England, and even her father's legacy is at risk. Tiffany explores how she merged fact and fiction to reimagine Judith's life. From the real-life scandal that shook her marriage to the theatrical and political disturbances of her time, the author examines what it means to write historical fiction—and how Shakespeare's life and legacy continue to inspire new stories. Grace Tiffany is a professor of Shakespeare and Renaissance Drama at Western Michigan University. She has also taught Shakespeare at Fordham University, the University of New Orleans, and the University of Notre Dame, where she obtained her doctorate. She is also the author of My Father Had a Daughter and The Turquoise Ring. From the Shakespeare Unlimited podcast. Published March 25, 2025. © Folger Shakespeare Library. All rights reserved. This episode was produced by Matt Frassica. Garland Scott is the executive producer. It was edited by Gail Kern Paster. We had help with web production from Paola García Acuña. Leonor Fernandez edits our transcripts. Final mixing services are provided by Clean Cuts at Three Seas, Inc.

Mark Blocher is the co-founder and CEO of Christian Healthcare Centers, Inc., a Grand Rapids, MI-based non-profit organization providing primary and specialist medical services in Michigan. His educational background includes undergraduate and advanced degrees from Cornerstone University, Western Michigan University, Dallas Theological Seminary and Kennedy-Western University. Mark has personally taught at many colleges and universities in Michigan and has founded and run a number of non-profits concerned with pro-life and health related matters. Mark has authored a number of articles and books and is well known nation-wide as a speaker on issues dealing with life, health and bioethics. Mark and his dear wife Julie are parents of 4 grown children, and they are the proud grandparents of now 6 grandkids! In this podcast, Mark talks about one of the areas we American Christians have largely bought into the lies of our culture. And that is the area of children: being open to having a large family should God so lead. Our American culture says we should minimize child-bearing. But more and more books and studies are showing we face a very bleak future as a nation and a world due to insufficient numbers of children being born. Yes, it takes a lot of work and a lot of resources to raise even one child. But Scripture makes it abundantly clear that each precious child is created by God and in His image, and has the potential of impacting our world for good and then living forever in His eternal kingdom! And God has promised to meet all our needs as we put Him and His Kingdom first. So why not have a “quiver full” of kids (Psalm 127)? Bottom line, we American Christians need to repent of our lack of having God be the Lord of this area of our lives. For more information, check out our book: Sweeter by the Dozen: Making Jesus the Lord of Our Family Size.

Mark Blocher is the co-founder and CEO of Christian Healthcare Centers, Inc., a Grand Rapids, MI-based non-profit organization providing primary and specialist medical services in Michigan. His educational background includes undergraduate and advanced degrees from Cornerstone University, Western Michigan University, Dallas Theological Seminary and Kennedy-Western University. Mark has personally taught at many colleges and universities in Michigan and has founded and run a number of non-profits concerned with pro-life and health related matters. Mark has authored a number of articles and books and is well known nation-wide as a speaker on issues dealing with life, health and bioethics. Mark and his dear wife Julie are parents of 4 grown children, and they are the proud grandparents of now 6 grandkids! In this podcast, Mark talks about one of the areas we American Christians have largely bought into the lies of our culture. And that is the area of children: being open to having a large family should God so lead. Our American culture says we should minimize child-bearing. But more and more books and studies are showing we face a very bleak future as a nation and a world due to insufficient numbers of children being born. Yes, it takes a lot of work and a lot of resources to raise even one child. But Scripture makes it abundantly clear that each precious child is created by God and in His image, and has the potential of impacting our world for good and then living forever in His eternal kingdom! And God has promised to meet all our needs as we put Him and His Kingdom first. So why not have a “quiver full” of kids (Psalm 127)? Bottom line, we American Christians need to repent of our lack of having God be the Lord of this area of our lives. For more information, check out our book: Sweeter by the Dozen: Making Jesus the Lord of Our Family Size.

Today's guest appearing on episode 159 of the Pagcast is Western Michigan University F Zach Nehring! At the time of this interview, Zach was a member of Shattuck's St Mary's. Some topics discussed during the interview include: -How come he decided to develop at Shattuck's St Mary's? -What played in his decision to commit to Western Michigan? -Who influenced him to get into hockey? AND SO MUCH MORE!!!! FOLLOW ZACH NEHRING: https://x.com/NehringZach https://www.instagram.com/zachnehring_/ FOLLOW PAGCAST: https://www.instagram.com/pagcast/ https://x.com/pagcast Music: www.bensound.com Please share the podcast with your friends and family! Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred Gambler or in West Virginia visit W W W dot one eight hundred gambler dot net. In New York, call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or text HOPENY (four six seven three six nine). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling call eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven or visit ccpg.org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Twenty-one plus age varies by jurisdiction. Bonus bets expire one hundred sixty eight hours after issuance. Deposit and eligibility restrictions apply. See terms and responsible gaming resources at D K N G dot C O slash base.

Business leadership coach Dr. John Austin shares his inspiring journey from academia to entrepreneurship, where personal growth shapes professional success. His passion for teaching and behavioral leadership led to transformative insights on work-life balance, motivation, and defining “making it.”Making It! explores the lives and stories of entrepreneurs as they share their unique perspectives on their success and the path to making it.“Somebody once told me, you need pressure to make diamonds.” — Dr. John AustinGuest Bio:Dr. John Austin is an internationally recognized coach to business leaders on safety and human performance. He was a professor of psychology for 15 years at Western Michigan University, where he trained masters and doctoral students, many of whom are professors themselves now.Dr. Austin and his teams have coached university students and leaders in hundreds of companies in a dozen countries to deliver over 10,000 safety, operations, and quality improvement projects that have generated millions of dollars in improvements.Dr. Austin has consulted with organizations for 25 years to improve productivity and safety in a wide range of industries. Based on his desire to help as many people at work as possible, he founded Reaching Results in 2008. Reaching Results is a company designed to help people improve safety, leadership, and management.Resources or websites mentioned in this episode:MiraseeDr. John Austin's website: ReachingResults.comCredits:Producer: Michi LantzEditor: Michi LantzAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew AudioMusic credits:Track Title: The Sunniest KidsArtist Name: Rhythm ScottWriter Name: Scott RoushPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: Sweet Loving WaltzArtist Name: Sounds Like SanderWriter Name: S.L.J. KalmeijerPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: Blue MoonArtist Name: Night DriftLicense code: RVNCISRHMFLLKGGYPublisher Name: UppbeatTrack Title: Afternoon NapArtist Name: NeedmospaceLicense code: AHGEJBL07TVPJRGYPublisher Name: UppbeatSpecial effects credits:24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.To catch the great episodes coming up on Making It, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channelor your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It's the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.Episode transcript: The Myth of Making It (Dr. John Austin).

Host Polly Swingle is joined by Gabrielle Tremp, MS, OTRL, and Dr. Elizabeth Osantowski, PT, DPT, CSRS, to discuss the latest evidence and research to treating individuals with upper extremity impairments following a stroke. Listen in to hear about what to expect following a stroke as it relates to the upper extremities, as well as the latest evidence-based practice to maximize recovery and function.Gabrielle Tremp, MS, OTRL, is a licensed Occupational Therapist with a Master's degree from Western Michigan University. With three years of experience in the field, she has spent the last 2.5 years at TRP, where she specializes in neurorehabilitation, including The Recovery Project's Concentrated Stroke Rehab Program. Gabrielle also works in acute care on the orthopedic and trauma unit. Outside of her OT role, she has a passion for dance and teaches both traditional and adaptive dance. Recently, she launched the "Together in Motion" adaptive dance class at The Recovery Project. Gabrielle is especially passionate about working with clients facing neurological challenges, particularly those with spinal cord injuries, stroke, and Parkinson's disease.Dr. Elizabeth Osantowski, PT, DPT, CSRS, is a dedicated physical therapist at The Recovery Project, specializing in neurological rehabilitation. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Central Michigan University in 2021 and has since focused her career on treating neurological diseases and disorders. Elizabeth is a Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist and an integral part of the Concentrated Stroke Rehab program at The Recovery Project. Additionally, she is a certified PWR! Moves Therapist. Since joining the team in 2023, Elizabeth has developed a strong passion for treating patients who have had a stroke and people with Parkinson's disease, continually advancing her expertise in these areas.Learn more about The Recovery Project! View our website at www.therecoveryproject.net Call us 855-877-1944 to become a patient Follow us on Instagram Like us on Facebook Thanks for listening!

What happens when a Turnaround CEO and Authenticity Aficionado combines authenticity, storytelling, and humor? In this episode, we sit down with Erin Hatzikostas to explore the transformative power of relationships in real estate and life. Plus, you'll hear about a Big Fat Greek baptism story that's so outrageous it'll have you laughing out loud. So don't miss Erin's insights on why authenticity is the ultimate superpower for building success. Key takeaways to listen for How Erin's dad turned a speeding ticket into a multi-transaction windfall Why buying that dream vacation home might be the best decision you'll ever make Reasons authenticity is a game-changer as a real estate professional The surprising power of planting possibilities without knowing what will grow Real estate relationships done right: Why simple questions can spark life-changing opportunities Resources mentioned in this episode Confessions Of A Crappy Christian Podcast Amazon Book: Joy-Full AF by Erin Baker | Kindle, Paperback and Hardcover About Erin Hatzikostas Erin is an internationally recognized advocate for workplace authenticity. In 2018, after more than 20 years in corporate leadership, she left what many considered a dream job to prove that genuine connection is not just a buzzword but a powerful business tool. She founded b Authentic Inc to eradicate corporate “BS” and spark cultural change. A bestselling author of You Do You(ish), TEDx speaker, and co-host of the podcast b Cause Work Doesn't Have to Suck, her expertise has been featured on ABC, CBS, and in outlets like Business Insider and Fast Company.   She holds a BBA from Western Michigan University and an MBA from the University of Connecticut. Hatzikostas lives in Connecticut with her husband, Manny, and their two children, devoting her free time to coaching basketball, running, and finding places to dance—whether she's supposed to or not. Connect with Erin Website: b Authentic Inc LinkedIn: Erin Hatzikostas - Greater Hartford Instagram: @erinhatzikostas     Connect with Leigh Please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app at https://pod.link/1153262163, and never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting https://leighbrown.com. DM Leigh Brown on Instagram @ LeighThomasBrown.   Sponsors "You Ask. Leigh Answers." Your Affordable Coaching Program Hey there, real estate pros! Are you ready for some more Leigh Brown wisdom in your life? Then don't miss out on my brand-new program, "You Ask. Leigh Answers." It's your exclusive gateway to the insights and advice you need to supercharge your real estate business. With "You Ask. Leigh Answers." you get Direct Access to Leigh Brown, directly! Expert Coaching, Community Connection, and Extensive Resources. Whether listening to this on the go or watching at home, sign up today at Answers.RealEstate and take your business to the next level. Trust me, you'll be glad you did!  

Send us a textCoach Gle is the Head Strength and Conditioning along with Football Coach at Traverse City Central High School. Prior to Traverse City Coach Gle was the Assistant Strength Coach at the University of Northern Iowa, A Graduate Assistant at the University of Western Michigan, and Intern for Eastern Michigan University. Coach Gle has a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology, Exercise Science and Biology from Hope College. He also has a Degree in Secondary School Administration, Principalship from Central Michigan University. He also has a Master's Degree In Exercise Science from Western Michigan University. Coach Gle is the NHSSCA Northern Michigan Director. Gle was the 2020 NHSSCA Regional Coach of the Year. He has a CSCS and is a USAW Club Coach.https://www.instagram.com/douggle1?igsh=MTRqcmNsdGhvZHFobg==https://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email Voodoo4ranch@gmail.comhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch

Peter Gooch is is an author, painter, and former art professor. He is the winner of the Bosque Publishing Prize for Fiction, and his short fiction has appeared in numerous literary magazines and online. He holds an MFA from Western Michigan University. His short fiction has been published in The New Guard, Bosque Publishing, Etched Onyx, and Light and Dark Literary Magazine, among other publications. His first novel, Seren, is published by Apprentice House Press, will be available in April.  We talk about his novel Seren, creative writing, books and reading, favorite authors, searching for a muse, creativity and the price we pay for it, finding moments of ecstasy, writing advice, poets, the importance of following the oblique tangent of thought, overcoming the fear to take risk, highlights from his book, what makes for good endings, what makes books great, and much more; enjoy! Podcast show notes, including links to all the authors mentioned in the interview, are here Support the show through Patreon here

Episode Title: "You Only Live Once, But If You Do It Right, Once Is Enough"Season 3, Episode 37In this inspiring episode of Resilient Voices & Beyond Podcast, host Michael D. Davis-Thomas sits down with the multifaceted Chianté Lymon-Hamilton, a trailblazer and advocate for justice and equity. As the Executive Director of the Society for History and Racial Equity (SHARE), Chianté shares her life's journey of resilience, passion, and leadership.Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Chianté reflects on her upbringing in a single-parent household in a low-income community and how her educational experiences at Cass Tech and Western Michigan University shaped her commitment to justice. From her early days interning at the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office to becoming a change agent and business owner, Chianté takes us through her transformative journey.Chianté opens up about the challenges of being a young leader, navigating imposter syndrome, and the mental toll of advocating for racial equity in today's climate. Together, Michael and Chianté explore the importance of mentorship, fostering inclusivity, addressing systemic inequities, and prioritizing self-care as leaders.Listeners will gain valuable insights from Chianté's expertise in addressing historical injustices and promoting racial equity through her work at SHARE. Learn about her innovative initiatives, like collecting oral histories, setting law enforcement standards, and building wellness programs for her team.This conversation is a powerful reminder that resilience, intentionality, and connection can create lasting change. Whether you're an aspiring advocate, leader, or someone looking for inspiration, this episode offers a wealth of wisdom on living a life of purpose and impact.Ways to Connect with Chianté Lymon-Hamilton:LinkedInInstagramFacebook

December 18, 2024 ~ Despite claims, the origin of the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party started at Western Michigan University. Two of the founders, Michael Saint Aubin and Cort Maclean join Kevin to share how the tradition got started in Kalamazoo.

In his latest book, author Daniel Macfarlane argues that Lake Ontario has been neglected both environmentally and in spirit. The book is called "The Lives of Lake Ontario: An Environmental History." He's also an associate professor in the School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability at Western Michigan University and he joins Jeyan Jeganathan to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Can You Redesign Your Internal Programming a Live a Full(er) Life? On today's episode I was a guest on Steven Lawson's podcast Potent, and we dive into overcoming trauma, the power of spirituality and self-awareness, the impact of mentorship, and the journey toward self-acceptance and deeper connections. About Today's Guest Chris is a Certified Family Business Advisor accredited through The Family Firm Institute. Chris helps to consciously navigate the challenges of succession, leadership transitions and family conflict, while creating long-term strategies for business continuity. Dubbed a “Life Journey Sherpa,” Chris' holistic approach allows each individual in the family to be seen as an integral piece to the work. He uses his experience as a Neuro- Linguistic practitioner, a student of Philosophy and Psychology, and a thought leader on Personal Performance and Transformation to create a one-of-a-kind methodology that fuses heart and soul — helping families achieve extraordinary results that become permanent ways of being. Drawing upon more than 25 years of driving change and leading sales with 3M, and over a decade in Family Business and Executive consulting, Chris has built a process that has become his special sort of alchemy. His strategy helps clients move beyond the obstacles family organizations face that often prevent them from leading deeply fulfilling lives, both individually as well as collectively. Many of Chris's clients say the process of working with him leads to profound healing within their families, bringing a sense of deep peace, better relationships and higher levels of happiness alongside a thriving organization. As a sought-after speaker, Chris has been a special guest of Camden Family Wealth, The Institute for Family-Owned Business, and The Center for Family Enterprise, and has been a featured contributor to Forbes. Education Chris is a Certified Family Business Advisor accredited through The Family Firm Institute. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business and a Minor in Communication from Western Michigan University. He was personally mentored by Tony Robbins' original trainer in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Personal Chris is a seventh-degree black belt in an Okinawan style of karate and a student of yoga and meditation. He enjoys fishing, travel, cooking and spending time with his wife of 28 years and their daughter www.chrisyonker.com https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-thoughts-of-ceos-podcast/id1543246164 Show Notes ·       01:02 Chris early life ·       02:03 Connecting with God ·       03:24 Martial arts, validation ·       04:37 Mentorship ·       06:00 What is God teaching me? ·       08:04 Developing a practice of connection ·       09:04 Coaching thru end of life ·       13:56 Immersion ·       18:43 Developing personal presence ·       22:28 Fear of loneliness ·       26:43 Emotions, awareness, and karate ·       28:53 The elevator from heart to head ·       31:20 Potent presence; it's a soul massage ·       33:04 Healing our bodies ·       35:49 Parenting, upbringing, self-parenting ·       36:54 Being/doing, Values alignment ·       39:29 Community affiliation, fear of lone wolf, searching out your people ·       41:26 Trusting the process This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you'd like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com.   

December 2, 2024 ~ Western Michigan University, Kellogg Community College, and the MEDC are set to announce a new state-of-the-art EV and semiconductor technical learning program. Guy, Lloyd, and Jamie talk with KCC Eastern Academic Center director Scott Cubberly about driving to improve Michigan's workforce.

Plans for the building once known as the Kendall Center in Battle Creek will, once again, include a focus on education.The building was once the site of Western Michigan University's Battle Creek presence. Grand Valley State University's plans for the building as a food innovation hub is a partnership with W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Battle Creek Unlimited and the Battle Creek Public Schools. Dr. Kara Van Dam discusses the plans, which are part of the GVSU hybrid learning structure called Omni - which includes a planned restaurant. Episode ResourcesGVSU June 2024 Kendall Center AnnouncementGVSU Omni ExplainedABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERSFormer WBCK Morning Show host Richard Piet (2014-2017) returns to host Community Matters, an interview program focused on community leaders and newsmakers in and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays, 8:00 AM Eastern on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.

Here's what to expect on the podcast:Why is it important to know your human design?In what ways can understanding your human design enhance business growth?The different energy types in human design and how they relate to business strategies.Recognizing your emotional type is crucial for effectively managing stress in business.Benefits of group coaching in human design.Future of women in business.And much more! About Michelle:Michelle McInnis from TheClarityRoom.net helps her clients by taking women on a journey of self-discovery via Human Design. She is a guide into the blueprint of oneself so that you can live with more clarity and confidence! Michelle has mastered her work in many modalities to help herself, and others work on their own special and unique offerings via personal life and business life. She is a certified Human Design Coach, Astrologer and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Social Work from Western Michigan University. Connect with Michelle McInnis!Website: https://theclarityroom.net/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle_mcinnis/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_mcinnis Connect with  Anne Zuckerman!Websites: https://annezuckerman.com/ | https://justwantedtoask.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnneInPinkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annezuckerman/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annezuckerman/Bezi Woman:  https://beziwoman.com/ | https://www.beziwoman.shop/two-step-order1591558404525Bezi Bra Discs Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bezibradiscs

Happiness Solved with Sandee Sgarlata. In this episode, Sandee interviews Kelly Siegel. Kelly Siegel is the CEO of National Technology Management (NTM). He has an educational background in criminal justice and sociology from Western Michigan University. Kelly has been delivering results since running his first paper route as a twelve-year-old. Besides his goal to make NTM the gold standard of the IT industry, his mission in life is to leave a legacy, or in Kelly's words, “make a dent.” His relentless drive to better himself is breaking his family's cycle of abuse, addiction, and poverty. Kelly takes personal progress to the next level by continuously improving his physical, emotional, and mental health and performance by working out daily, reading voraciously, and practicing mindfulness. You'll find him feeding people at spontaneous cookouts in his backyard, volunteering his time for causes close to his heart, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. Kelly lives in Michigan with his daughter Arianna, their Yorkie Sammy, and cat Felix. He spends as much time as possible in Florida, preferably out on the water with Ari and good friends. For more information on Holistic Life Mastery: https://holisticlifemastery.live/event-registration Connect with Kelly: Website: https://www.harderthanlife.com/                                                     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@harderthanlifeTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelly.siegel.71/  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3 Connect with Sandee Website: www.sandeesgarlata.comPodcast: www.happinesssolved.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/coachsandeesgarlataTwitter: www.twitter.com/sandeesgarlataInstagram: www.instagram.com/coachsandeesgarlata

Guest: Antonio Neves, Author of Stop Living on Autopilot & Keynote SpeakerShow SummaryHow do you break free from the constraints of living on autopilot and truly embrace a life filled with authenticity, intention, and self-awareness? Join us as we welcome Antonio Neves, the insightful author of Stop Living on Autopilot, who shares his remarkable journey from a TV reporter desperately seeking external validation to a successful speaker, coach, and father. Antonio's story is a testament to the courage it takes to confront societal pressures, find internal validation, and ultimately lead a life that aligns with one's true desires.Jon and Antonio embark on a thought-provoking exploration of midlife challenges and the quest for genuine fulfillment. They dive into why personal relationships often hold more grounding power than professional achievements and how societal norms can sometimes lead us astray. This episode urges listeners to recognize and address the signs of dissatisfaction before they manifest in unhealthy ways, and advocates for proactive change and the invaluable support of personal communities during times of personal reflection and growth.Throughout our conversation, Antonio provides practical strategies and daily practices aimed at enhancing emotional wellness and embracing change. From trusting your intuition to maintaining emotional health through exercise and genuine connections, this episode is a treasure trove of actionable insights. We delve into the importance of living in the present while planning for a future that truly resonates with our authentic selves, ensuring that success and happiness are not just goals but a way of life. Listen in and discover how to be the lead character in your life story, and how you can play to win instead of just playing not to lose.Guest BioGuided by his own journey of transformation, Antonio helps people face critical decisions so they can reboot, reset and refuel their lives. Antonio Neves is a best-selling author, coach to senior leaders, and international speaker known for helping people develop their personal leadership. He's the author of four books including Stop Living On Autopilot: Take Responsibility for Your Life and Rediscover a Bolder, Happier You (Penguin Random House), and the Founder of Man Morning, a dynamic global community and weekly newsletter tailored for growth-driven men who want to get better. Previously, Antonio worked for a decade as a correspondent in New York City with networks including NBC, PBS and MTV Networks. A former Division I student-athlete, Antonio is a graduate of Western Michigan University and holds a Masters degree from Columbia University.Key Moments00:00 Breaking Out of Autopilot06:40 Navigating Midlife Challenges and Authenticity14:47 Daily Practices for Emotional Wellness21:47 Embracing Change for a Bright Future25:53 Creating Momentum for Success38:20 The Power of Connection and Self-Reflection43:03 Embracing Emotional Wellness and ConnectionConnect with AntonioJoin the Conversation Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to our podcast, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and join the conversation on Instagram and LinkedIn with hashtag #HalftimewithJonConnect with Jon LinkedIn: @HalftimewithJon Instagram: @HalftimewithJon www.halftime.network

Bob Hicok was born in 1960 in Michigan and worked for many years in the automotive die industry. A published poet long before he earned his MFA, Hicok is the author of several collections of poems, including The Legend of Light, winner of the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry in 1995 and named a 1997 ALA Booklist Notable Book of the Year; Plus Shipping (1998); Animal Soul (2001), a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award; Insomnia Diary (2004); This Clumsy Living (2007), which received the Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry from the Library of Congress; Words for Empty, Words for Full (2010); Elegy Owed (2013), a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award; and Sex & Love (2016). His work has been selected numerous times for the Best American Poetry series. Hicok has won Pushcart Prizes and fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, and has taught creative writing at Western Michigan University and Virginia Tech.When asked by interviewer Laura McCullough about the relationship between restraint and revelation in his work, Hicok replied, “Because I don't know where a poem is headed when I start, it seems that revelation has to play a central part in the poems, that what I'm most consistently doing is trying to understand why something is on my mind… Maybe writing is nothing more than an inquiry into presences.” Hicok is currently associate professor of creative writing at Purdue University.-bio via Poetry Foundation Get full access to The Daily Poem Podcast at dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

Cheryl Eriksen is an author, blogger, horse midwife, and eternal student of the horse-human connection. While earning her MSW from Western Michigan University, Cheryl took a special interest in the effects of trauma on the developing brain, and she applied that learning, along with her personal experiences as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, into her memoir, Follow Me, Friend. Additionally, Cheryl has spent decades as an equine professional and extensively studied equine behavior and how it is influenced by what the human brings to the relationship. Through her work in the field of equine assisted psychotherapy and learning, Cheryl has seen and experienced firsthand the healing power of the horse-human relationship. Her books (current and upcoming) and her blog explore this powerful relationship. Cheryl has also developed and taught continuing education courses on Equine Assisted Psychotherapy as a viable adjunct therapy, and on Trauma, Resiliency, and Horse Sense for social workers. Connect with Cheryl: Website: http://www.followmefriendbook.com/ Blog: http://www.peacehorsejourney.wordpress.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CherylLEriksenAuthor YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pathofthepeacehorse6037

With experience working in 8 Countries, this Michigan native now serves in India with the U.S. Department of State, facilitating international business opportunities. Listen to Michael Schreuder, a career diplomat generating international business. As Deputy Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai, India, he has had a fascinating career dedicated to fostering global business opportunities for the U.S. and Michigan. Schreuder's career with the U.S. Department of State has taken him to Colombia, Mexico, Tunisia, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Qatar, and now India. This Kalamazoo native and former Western Michigan University football player's Michigan roots remain strong, as he continues to bridge international relations and business development.

Send us a textIn the fifth episode of How to Accelerate the Speed of Engineering, host Aaron Moncur interviews Jim Gabriel. Jim shares his insights on overcoming common bottlenecks, effective decision-making, fostering psychological safety, cross-functional collaboration, data-driven performance improvement, and lessons learned from attempts to expedite engineering processes.Main Topics:Identifying and addressing bottlenecks in engineering projectsEmpowering teams to make effective decisionsBalancing autonomy and guidance for engineersFailing fast and failing cheap to drive innovationThe role of leadership in creating a culture of accelerationStrategies for enhancing cross-functional collaborationLeveraging data and metrics to improve team performanceIntroducing new technologies and tools to streamline engineeringUnconventional approaches to expedite engineeringEnhancing communication and meeting effectivenessLessons learned from attempts to accelerate engineeringAbout the guest: Jim Gabriel is a seasoned engineering leader whose most recent expertise lies in the medical device industry. As the Associate Director of Engineering at Abiomed, he played a crucial role in leading teams focused on the development of cutting-edge heart pump technologies that save lives. Jim holds a Bachelor's degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering from Western Michigan University and a Master's degree in Engineering Management from Northeastern University.Links:Jim Gabriel - LinkedInArchangel Operations WebsiteAbout Being An Engineer The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us

In this lively packaging-focused episode from September 9, three leading voices in the field—Evelio Mattos, Cory Connors, and Adam Peek—share the latest trends and controversies in the world of packaging. Cory Connors, known for his "Sustainable Packaging Podcast," and Adam Peek from "People of Packaging Podcast," join Evelio Mattos, host of "Packaging Unboxed," to explore hot topics in the industry, including a lawsuit against Hershey's and Capri Sun's bold marketing moves. The episode kicks off with some light-hearted banter before diving into the main stories. The discussion on Hershey's addresses a significant lawsuit about misleading packaging, where the trio debates the expectations versus reality in product presentation. They express concerns over what a ruling in favor of the plaintiff might imply for the broader packaging industry. Following that, the hosts turn their attention to Capri Sun, spotlighting Capri Sun's experiment with selling entire pallets directly to consumers and their controversial switch to plastic bottles from their iconic pouches. The hosts examine the marketing genius behind such moves and their implications for the brand and consumers. Lawsuit Against Hershey's: The hosts discuss the $5 million lawsuit against Hershey's for allegedly misleading packaging of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups during Halloween. They emphasize the importance of accurate product representation to avoid legal repercussions and maintain consumer trust. Capri Sun's Marketing Strategy: Capri Sun's decision to sell pallets of pouches and the introduction of plastic bottles spark a debate. The move is seen as a brilliant marketing strategy despite its potential environmental impact. Sustainable Packaging Innovations: Cory Connors talks about upcoming discussions at the London Packaging Week on maintaining high-end packaging while ensuring sustainability. Specific innovations include Bailey's paper bottles and Guinness' recyclable nitro injectors. Consumer Expectations and Packaging Design: The episode highlights the need for brands to consider consumer perceptions and potential legal vulnerabilities when designing packaging. Networking in Packaging: Adam Peek underscores the importance of leveraging social networks to solve industry challenges, citing his recent experiences with Western Michigan University and Green Blue. Cory Connors: "I think they aren't very accurate as to the description on the packaging. They're kind of more of a ghost-shaped blob of chocolate and peanut butter goodness." Adam Peek: "It would be insane for somebody to be like, I am suing Project Hive Pet Company because this did not contain any of these actual berries." Evelio Mattos: "If you're out there, if you're designing packaging and you're putting your product on there, consider stupid people. Right. You've got to design for the stupid." Cory Connors: "How can packaging be sustainable and still be desirable by our customers? That's exactly the kind of topic I enjoy." Adam Peek: "It's crazy how when you're unafraid to just ask questions, you can build a network so that you can get these questions answered really quickly." Stay tuned for more insightful episodes featuring the latest trends, debates, and innovations in the packaging industry. Tune in next week to hear about Cory's experiences at London Packaging Week and Adam's presentation at Label Expo. Don't miss out on valuable insights that can help you stay ahead in the packaging world!

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome Bruce McIntyre, CEO of the Oklahoma Parkinson's Alliance and Kristin Rossi the CEO of the Michigan Parkinson Foundation as guests to the show.   About Bruce McIntyre:   Bruce McIntyre serves as the CEO of the Oklahoma Parkinson's Alliance. He is the author of five books: Receiving Peace, Thrive Anyway, Parkinson Positive, Graceful Transitions, and Resilient Life. Bruce shares his expert guidance and warm humor with thousands of people each year. He has keynoted such events as the 2016 National Caregiving Conference in Chicago, the 2019 Regional Caregiver Conference SW, as well as over 100 disease conferences, caregiving gatherings, and church events. As a caregiver for his wife since 2004, Bruce understands the world of chronic illness and caregiving. He earned a Master of Divinity in 2002 and has led the Caregiver Fundamentals Project in Oklahoma City and served family caregivers as a church, business, and nonprofit leader. You can learn more about him at BruceMcIntyre.com.   The Oklahoma Parkinson's Alliance works to inspire hope and transform life for people with Parkinson's in Oklahoma. With offices in OKC, Tulsa and Lawton, the Alliance offers almost 90 support, exercise and voice groups across the state as well as free family consultations, education events and research opportunities. .   About Kristin Rossi:   Kristin Rossi is the Chief Executive Officer of the Michigan Parkinson Foundation. Kristin has spent the last 16 years in nonprofit leadership. She earned her Masters of Public Administration with a focus on nonprofit management from Western Michigan University and has worked with various areas of the nonprofit sector from university foundations to the social sector to arts and culture and currently a statewide voluntary health foundation. Prior to taking the helm at the Michigan Parkinson Foundation, Kristin worked for many years at the Alzheimer's Association where she developed a passion for neurodegenerative diseases, the effect they have on families, and the importance of ensuring that families and caregivers connect with community resources and support so that no one feels isolated or alone.   She loves working with and learning from older adults and is committed to supporting healthy aging initiatives across the state of Michigan and beyond. Kristin believes that the nonprofit sector truly has an opportunity to make a difference in people's lives and has dedicated her career to making in impact in this arena. In her free time, Kristin enjoys reading, all things Italian, traveling and spending as much time as possible with her husband and two small children. #caregiving #parkinsons #parkinsonsdisease