Shows
A Peace of My MindThe Troubles - Gerry Creamer and Elaine O'HaraIn this episode we share two conversations with people we met in Manorhamilton in the Republic of Ireland, just across the border from Northern Ireland. Like so many things, conflict and tensions are not confined within a political line that is drawn on the map.Gerry Creamer is the youngest of five children. He grew up in a traditional and devoutly Catholic family in the Republic of Ireland, close to the border with the North. Although he has several family members who have been active in politics, Gerry is more interested in community work a...
2026-01-221h 14
A Peace of My MindThe Troubles - Israel EguaogieIsrael Eguaogie was 17 when he left Nigeria and relocated to Germany as an asylum seeker. A decade later he moved to Dublin and soon after that, shifted north to Belfast. It was a decision that horrified his mother back in Nigeria, who had heard news reports of the sectarian violence in the country. But Israel said that he experienced the calm and the peace of Northern Ireland and recalled it was the first place since living in Germany, where someone said hello to him first.Israel has also experienced racism in Northern Ireland, and...
2026-01-1522 min
A Peace of My MindThe Troubles - Lewis Lyttle and Roxy LyttleLewis Lyttle is an ex-Loyalist prisoner. He was sentenced to 15 years for attempted murder during The Troubles and was released early, with the signing of The Good Friday Agreement. Now Lewis works to facilitate cross-community groups with Black Mountain Shared Space, a community center built on the site of a former peace wall and designed to bring people from both Protestant and Catholic communities together to get to know one another and build relationships and trust.Stay tuned toward the end of the recording for some g...
2026-01-0849 min
A Peace of My MindThe Troubles - Bronagh McAtasneyBronagh McAtasney is the daughter of John Bosco McAtasney, a master weaver and the last hand loom weaver in Ireland. She recalls his curiosity, his desire to learn, and his passion to instill the same in his children. When he passed away in 2018, Bronagh used her small inheritance to leave her job in administration, go back to school for a master’s degree in public history and now, in her own words, “I’m actually getting paid to be nosy about people’s lives.”Growing up during the Troubles, Bronagh kept a dia...
2025-12-3158 min
A Peace of My MindThe Troubles - Aoife MooreAoife Moore is an independent investigative journalist from Derry, Northern Ireland and formerly worked as a political correspondent for the BBC.She calls herself a victim of England’s legacy in Ireland and says that every facet of her life has been marred by British colonialism, including the death of her uncle in the violence of Bloody Sunday.Aoife chose her path to become a journalist because of her frustration with the British media’s unwillingness to challenge the government’s official narrative of what happened on Bloody Sunday and her de...
2025-12-2639 min
A Peace of My MindThe Troubles - Jonny ClarkJonny Clark is the program manager for Public Theology at Corrymeela, often called Ireland’s oldest peace center.Born in New Zealand and married to an American, Jonny has lived in Northern Ireland for 40 years. When he was growing up, his family moved to Belfast at the heights of The Troubles. As he says, “During a time when most people were not moving to Northern Ireland.”He has spent time in South Africa, Israel - Palestine, and other places of tension, learning ways that other countries have m...
2025-12-1858 min
A Peace of My MindSOBR - Lisa RetezanLisa Retezan works as a substance use disorder navigator at a day shelter for youth who are unhoused. She openly shares her story with them about her own struggles with addiction.Lisa took her first sip of alcohol at age 15 and struggled for much of her life with addiction. Her husband at the time knew, and as Lisa says, "He cleaned up my messes." Her mother knew and begged her to get help, but Lisa wasn't ready.Eventually the alcohol lead to a job loss, followed by an attempted suicide. Then, she was ready for...
2025-11-1158 min
A Peace of My MindStill Here - Barry and John behind the scenesAnother bonus this week to share a behind the scenes conversation with journalist Barry Yeoman and A Peace of My Mind's John Noltner, who collaborated to produce this multimedia series of interviews and portraits for Still Here: Stories from a fragile coastline.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2025-09-2741 min
A Peace of My MindStill Here - Kristian BaileyKristian Bailey is a farmer, and he also considers himself a land steward and teacher. At Orais Hand Farm, located across the road from the Mississippi River, he is trying to move away from the idea of human dominion over nature. Instead, he is working in cooperation with it.Kristian talks about farming with “tenderness”: recognizing that Southern land carries wounds (his own farm is on a former plantation site) and that part of his job is to help heal those wounds.Credits:Interview and text, Barry YeomanPhotos, John NoltnerEditing and production, summer interns Kate...
2025-08-2751 min
F-Stop Collaborate and Listen436: John Noltner - Photography as a Bridge to EmpathyIn this episode of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne interviews photographer and storyteller John Noltner about his transformative "A Peace of My Mind" project and his experiences living a nomadic life for over two years. John shares how he and his wife sold their house during the pandemic and traveled 93,000 miles across the U.S., gathering hundreds of human stories that explore themes like conflict, empathy, and connection. They dive into the power of storytelling and photography as tools for bridging divides, fostering compassion, and inspiring change, even when tackling tough topics like immigration, racial justice, and...
2025-08-251h 02
A Peace of My MindStill Here - Chief Devon ParfaitChief Devon Parfait spent his early years in Dulac, a bayou community at the watery edge of Louisiana. He caught fish from the dock, bounced on his neighbor’s trampoline, and went out on his grandfather’s shrimp boat. But Hurricane Rita destroyed his family’s home in 2005, when he was 8, setting off years of displacement. The extended family migrated inland and eventually settled in the New Orleans suburb of Marrero. Trauma followed Chief Devon for much of his childhood. Yet even as he struggled in school, the adults in his life believed and invested in him. His pre...
2025-08-2153 min
A Peace of My MindSOBR - Nate SupponNate Suppon's mother died when he was an infant. He says he was born into a home filled with depression, anxiety, and turmoil. A lack of love. And he tried to fill that void with drugs and alcohol. Between the ages of 15 and 38, he was addicted and spent time in and out of prison.It was a self-absorbed cycle. He found both faith and sobriety and now lives his life in service to others. At the time of our conversation, he had been clean for six years and three months.Many...
2025-08-1024 min
A Peace of My MindSOBR - Dan BrandtDan Brandt is a father, a husband, and an entrepreneur who says he likes to think of himself as a kind, decent person who tries to do the next right thing. Dan stopped drinking when he was 35 years old and he is now 56. He didn't lose his job, he didn't have a string of arrests, but he had seen alcoholism around him and he knew he was on a bad path. And he knew that he needed help.Dan joined a 12-step program and surrounded himself with others who were pursuing sobriety, too. Along the w...
2025-06-2252 min
A Peace of My MindSOBR - Josue GonzalezJosue Gonzalez grew up in difficult circumstances that he said left a lot of holes in his life. Holes where the sense of love and belonging, and being cared for should have been. He tried filling those holes with different things.He remembers sneaking his first drink at an early age in a house that always had alcohol available. In his teens he experimented with other drugs and found himself in active addiction that cost him jobs, relationships and hope for his own future.He was homeless when he decided to finally make a change...
2025-06-0248 min
A Peace of My MindSOBR - Vanessa WeyausVanessa Weyaus is a member of the Lynx clan of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Her name in Ojibwe translates as The Shining Light in the Sky Woman. Vanessa spent years in addiction, eventually living on the streets and running from the law. When she tired of it all, she turned herself in during a routine traffic stop. She was offered treatment, but chose to serve her prison sentence instead and has now been clean and sober for more than six years. Her recovery date is January 8, 2019. She now works as a substance use disorder counselor f...
2025-05-0938 min
A Peace of My MindSOBR - John GerberJohn Gerber is a graphic designer and a fine artist in Minneapolis. He describes himself as someone who thinks and feels deeply. He has had an on again / off again relationship with alcohol. He stopped drinking completely between the ages of 30 and 40, but when his 40th birthday came around, he decided to celebrate. He describes it like this: "Then between 40 and 60, I think I drank probably to make up for those 10 years."John never hit a rock bottom but he noticed things about himself that he wanted to change. He said, "Between 40 and 60, I think some things...
2025-04-231h 00
A Peace of My MindSOBR - Casey PytleskiCasey Pytleski is a mother, a wife, and a recovering addict. Although she had experimented with my substances as a youth, it was an unexpected introduction to meth as an adult that led to a quick addiction and unraveled the idyllic life she and her husband had created. At the time of our interview, it had been 89 days since her last use. Many thanks to the Minnesota State Arts Board and the arts and cultural heritage fund for supporting this work.John Noltner is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a...
2025-03-3047 min
A Peace of My MindA Peace of My Mind - SOBR TrailerWelcome to A Peace of My Mind, a project that uses storytelling and art to rediscover what connects us. I’m John Noltner, the founder and director of A Peace of My Mind and I have the good luck to travel the country and the world interviewing people to help reveal the beauty and wisdom that is all around us….if we choose to see it.This new season of the podcast is called Sobr. S-O-B-R and we are exploring stories of addiction and recovery. I stopped drinking on August 10, 2022. It was the day I tu...
2025-02-0901 min
Side by SideJohn Noltner challenges stereotypes and fosters dialogue by helping communities tell their storiesIn the final episode of Side by Side's first season, Ellen talks with photographer John Noltner, founder of ‘A Peace of My Mind,’ a storytelling project that captures personal stories and portraits to foster dialogue across divides. John discusses the human tendency to avoid challenging preconceived notions and how storytelling deepens our understanding of each other and breaks down stereotypes. John reflects on his experiences from Skid Row in Los Angeles to the deep South of Mississippi and border towns in Texas, highlighting the interconnectedness of rural, urban, and suburban spaces and the immense pride that individuals have for thei...
2024-11-0436 min
The Facing ProjectLessons on the Road to Peace with John NoltnerHost J.R. Jamison sits down with award-winning photographer, author, and peace activist John Noltner to talk about photography as a form of storytelling that explores the common humanity that unites us, and they discuss Noltner’s latest book, Lessons on the Road to Peace, that covers his 45,000-mile journey across the U.S.
2024-04-271h 03
Rethinking CommunicationEp 116: John Noltner | The road to peace is paved with our storiesI am thrilled to welcome John Noltner back to the show for another conversation on what it means to intentionally seek out and create peace. After John and I first connected in the fall of 2021 for episode 62, John and his wife sold their home, moved into a van, and set out on the road interviewing people from all walks of life to uncover their stories — the stories that reveal the common ground we share. John has a new book about to be released that documents these travels called "Lessons on the Road...
2023-11-2750 min
Authenticity, Belonging, CommunityS5 Ep8: Find Beauty and Wisdom Everywhere | John NoltnerJohn Noltner is an award winning photographer who is the founder and creator of A Peace of My Mind — a multimedia arts project, created by award-winning photographer John Noltner, that uses portraits and personal stories to bridge divides and encourage dialogue around important issues. Through exhibits, workshops, lectures, on-site studios, and distance learning, A Peace of My Mind leads transformative experiences that help a polarized world rediscover the common humanity that connects us. A gifted storyteller, Noltner has worked on four continents, gathering stories of human courage, grace, and resilience. He has produced projects for national magazines, Fortune 500 companies, an...
2023-10-3041 min
The Journey of My Mother's SonJohn Noltner – A Peace of My MindIn this episode of “The Journey of My Mother’s Son” podcast, I sit down to talk with John Noltner. John has spent his career learning how to ask better questions, connect deeply across difference and share stories to bridge divides and build community. He and his wife sold their house in October of 2020, bought an RV and are traveling the country interviewing people who are finding creative solutions to our most challenging issues. A Peace of My Mind is a multimedia arts project that uses portraits and personal stories to bridge divides and encourage dialog...
2023-10-2745 min
Conversations from the BarnA conversation with photographer John Noltner and musician Darren GarveyJohn Noltner is a freelance photographer based in Minneapolis. For 25 years, he has created images at home and around the world for national magazines, Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations. His images have appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Smithsonian, Forbes, Health, Midwest Living, New York Daily News and more. He is the author of two award-winning books from his series A Peace of My Mind. His work exhibits regularly across the country and he leads lectures and workshops around the idea that art and storytelling has the ability to transform hearts and communities. www.noltner.com...
2023-06-2224 min
Follow Your CuriosityReplay: Portraits of Peace with John NoltnerEvery year at the holidays, I feature one of my favorite episodes from the past year. I hope you find encouragement in my conversation with John Noltner of A Peace of My Mind.
My guest today is John Noltner, a writer and photographer whose project, A Peace of My Mind, has produced three books, the latest of which is Portraits of Peace: Searching for Hope in a Divided America. John’s freelance photography career took him all over the world for a variety of national magazines, but the 2008 recession, along with his increasing awareness of the growing di...
2022-12-211h 07
A Little Less Fear with Dr. Lino Martinez | Personal Growth, Healing & Mindset PodcastEpisode 90: A Peace of My Mind; Social Justice Using Photography as Art With John Noltner!A Peace of My Mind is a multimedia arts project, created by award-winning photographer John Noltner, that uses portraits and personal stories to bridge divides and encourage dialogue around important issues. Through exhibits, workshops, lectures, on-site studios, and distance learning, A Peace of My Mind leads transformative experiences that help a polarized world rediscover the common humanity that connects us.A gifted storyteller, Noltner has worked on four continents, gathering stories of human courage, grace, and resilience. He has produced projects for national magazines, Fortune 500 companies, and non-profit organizations. A Peace of My Mind reflects his belief...
2022-06-0227 minFollow Your CuriosityPortraits of Peace with John NoltnerMy guest today is John Noltner, a writer and photographer whose project, A Peace of My Mind, has produced three books, the latest of which is Portraits of Peace: Searching for Hope in a Divided America. John’s freelance photography career took him all over the world for a variety of national magazines, but the 2008 recession, along with his increasing awareness of the growing divide in American society, called him to explore both the breadth of human experience and the things that we have in common but tend to lose track of thanks to the relentless news cycle. I th...
2022-05-111h 07
A Peace of My MindEpisode 88 - John WeisheitJohn Weisheit grew up with a love for the Colorado River and has worked as a river guide for more than four decades. In the year 2000, John co-founded Living Rivers, an advocacy group that seeks a path to restoring the ecology of the Southwest, balanced with meeting human needs.I interviewed John in the cool shade of his backyard boathouse in Moab, Utah just after he returned from a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon.We talked about working in harmony with nature, the ability of time in the wilderness to eliminate some of life's...
2022-05-1036 min
TimHeale9Fortune 500 companies John NoltnerSend us a textThe Tim Heale Podcasts S3 E61 John NoltnerIn this episode I chat with John about his life. John Noltner has spent his career learning how to ask better questions, connect deeply across difference and share stories to bridge divides and build community. He and his wife sold their house in October of 2020, bought an RV and are traveling the country interviewing people who are finding creative solutions to our most challenging issues.“In a world that asks us to focus on the things that can separate us, A Pe...
2022-05-041h 03
Breakfast Leadership ShowInterview with John Noltner*** Hire a top-notch accountant for your business today, by visiting:
https://accountanthires.com/michael/.
***
A Peace of My Mind is a multimedia arts project, created by award-winning photographer John Noltner, that uses portraits and personal stories to bridge divides and encourage dialogue around important issues. Through exhibits, workshops, lectures, on-site studios, and distance learning, A Peace of My Mind leads transformative experiences that help a polarized world rediscover the common humanity that connects us.
A gifted storyteller, Noltner has worked on four continents, gathering stories of human coura...
2022-04-1320 min
Happiness Solved67. A Peace of My Mind: Interview with John NoltnerHappiness Solved with Sandee Sgarlata. In this episode, Sandee interviews John Noltner. A Peace of My Mind is a multimedia arts project, created by award-winning photographer John Noltner, that uses portraits and personal stories to bridge divides and encourage dialogue around important issues. Through exhibits, workshops, lectures, on-site studios, and distance learning, A Peace of My Mind leads transformative experiences that help a polarized world rediscover the common humanity that connects us. A gifted storyteller, Noltner has worked on four continents, gathering stories of human courage, grace, and resilience. He has produced projects for national magazines, Fortune 500 companies, and...
2022-02-2127 min
Postcards to the Universe with MelisaConversation w/ Photographer & Storyteller John Noltner - A Peace of My MindJohn Noltner - A Peace of My Mind is a multimedia arts project, created by award-winning photographer John Noltner, that uses portraits and personal stories to bridge divides and encourage dialogue around important issues. Through exhibits, workshops, lectures, on-site studios, and distance learning, A Peace of My Mind leads transformative experiences that help a polarized world rediscover the common humanity that connects us.A gifted storyteller, Noltner has worked on four continents, gathering stories of human courage, grace, and resilience. He has produced projects for national magazines, Fortune 500 companies, and non-profit organizations. A Peace of...
2021-12-0351 min
Postcards to the UniverseJohn Noltner - A Peace of My MindJohn Noltner – A Peace of My MindAir Date: Wednesday, 1 December 2021 at 4:00 PM ET/1:00 PM ETJohn Noltner – A Peace of My Mind is a multimedia arts project, created by award-winning photographer John Noltner, that uses portraits and personal stories to bridge divides and encourage dialogue around important issues. Through exhibits, workshops, lectures, on-site studios, and distance learning, A Peace of My Mind leads transformative experiences that help a polarized world rediscover the common humanity that connects us.A gifted storyteller, Noltner has worked on four continents, gathering stories of human courage, grace, and resi...
2021-12-0256 min
Cut Through the Noise with Dave TuranoHow do you trust a person like me? with John NoltnerDivisive content is all around us. In our history, in our social media, and in our news, we see stories that highlight our differences and polarize us as humans. Today, we speak with John Noltner, photographer and storyteller, who has for years been on a mission to find what connects us. Shortly after the election of President Obama, Noltner felt troubled by our nation's racist rhetoric, which uncovered how much work we have left to do in the wake of justice and humanity. So he did what all good journalists do: he set out to find as many stories as...
2021-11-2357 min
Cool TalksA Peace of My Mind | Cool Talks with John NoltnerThis week we talk about we talk about author John Noltner's new book A Peace of My Mind and the journey he has been on to piece the together the stories of so many. John Noltner is a photographer, speaker, author, and peace advocate. He has been all around the country recording the stories of individuals. Today we learn about what all those folks had to say.
2021-11-2150 min
Our Spiritual LifeS2E24 - A Conversation with John Noltner, Professional Photographer, Storyteller, and AuthorThis episode is definitely a bit different from most in this podcast series in that it does not touch directly on "spirituality" per se. But beneath the surface, it does indeed contribute to the theme of how we can wake up (or grow up) to what's going on in the world and do something about the increasing division and polarization. My guest, John Noltner, is an award-winning photographer, storyteller, journalist, and author who was deeply concerned about the divisiveness in the world and looked for a way to do something about it. He ended up undertaking a 40,000-mile road...
2021-10-1856 min
Pastor Life22. Bonus: A Peace of My Mind—Interview with John NoltnerPastor Life welcomes John Noltner on this bonus episode. John is an award-winning photographer and storyteller who is traveling around the country collecting stories in a project he calls "A Peace of My Mind." John discusses how story and art can help bridge divides between people.
2021-10-1139 minRethinking CommunicationEp 62: John Noltner | Ask gently and continue to show up in the search for peaceWhen you hear the word peace, what comes to mind? For this week's guest, John Noltner, the meaning of peace has come out of some pretty uncomfortable moments. In the wake of the 2008 recession John's freelance photography gigs were too few and far between to keep the bills paid, so he had to come up with a plan. And so, John began a project that came to be called A Peace of My Mind, where he traveled the country gathering stories and portraits of people
2021-10-0459 min
A Humanistic PerspectiveA Humanistic Perspective Ep. 54 Expedition Peace ft. John NoltnerJoin us this week as we sit down with authors, photographers, creative and peace activists John Noltner. We explore Johns's upbringing to understand the background and experiences that helped shape his perception and want to connect with others in a humanistic manner. In addition to sharing his life's story, we explore his recent book "A Peace of My Mind," which connects and shares stories that focus on the common humanity that connects us. I can not thank John enough for sharing his warm energy and unique perspective on connecting writing and visual arts in a physical medium that's repurposable...
2021-09-2454 min
Linda's Corner: Inspiration for a Better LifeLinda's Corner - The common humanity that connects us with John NoltnerJohn Noltner is an award winning photographer, author, activist, artist, and speaker who has spent his career sharing stories to bridge divides and build community. He and his wife sold their house in October of 2020, bought an RV and are traveling the country interviewing people who are finding creative solutions to our most challenging issues.During a 40,000 mile road trip, he has searched for the common humanity that connects us by asking people one simple question: "What does peace mean to you?" You can reach John and access his books "A Peace of My Mind" and "Po...
2021-09-2327 min
Flyover LogicEpisode 198: A conversation with John Noltner: Photographer, writer, peacemaker.Today we had the fantastic pleasure of speaking with John Noltner about his passion project "A Peace of my Mind", his upcoming book "Portraits of Peace" and the journey that has led Him across the country and the globe searching for the things that bind us together in the face of a polarized world.
“In a world that asks us to focus on the things that can separate us, A Peace of My Mind invites us to explore the common humanity that connects us.”
Originally hailing from Wisconsin, then Minnesota for the past 30 year John and his...
2021-08-261h 14
A Peace of My MindEpisode 56 - Will SnowdenWill Snowden received his law degree from Seton Hall Law School in New Jersey and worked as a public defender in New Orleans. Through his work in the justice system, he became concerned with weaknesses in our jury system that lead to a lack of diversity in jury members and ultimately, unjust outcomes.In response, Will established The Juror Project, whose mission is “to change the makeup of juries to better represent the American population and the communities most commonly accused." They pursue this "through community and public education about jury eligibility and the jury selection process an...
2021-03-071h 02
A Peace of My MindEpisode 55 - Gary Paul NabhanGary Paul Nabhan is an ecumenical Franciscan brother who does cross cultural collaborations for environmental and social justice and caring for creation. He is known as a pioneer in the local food movement and has lead the effort to save heirloom seeds.An Arab American, he has a great love for desert environments and lives in the desert overlooking the Santa Cruz River Valley near Patagonia, Arizona. The Santa Cruz is a binational river near the U.S. - Mexico border and supports a rich diversity of plants and animals as well as human cultural life.
2021-03-0154 min
A Peace of My MindEpisode 54 - Sebastian QuinacSebastian Quinac immigrated from Guatemala in his 20s to flee the civil war and threats to his life. After time in California and New York, he settled in Tucson, Arizona where he has lived for the past two decades. He is now a U.S. citizen and works with the Guatemalan consulate to help migrant families navigate the American immigration system.We talked about his journey from Guatemala, his sense of loss when he became a U.S. citizen and his desire to advocate for the migrants who cross the border now.Thanks...
2021-02-2442 min
A Peace of My MindEpisode 53 - Juanita MolinaJuanita Molina is the Executive Director for Border Action Network in Tucson, Arizona. Throughout her career she has advocated for LGBTQ communities and offered support to people with HIV/AIDS, those with terminal cancer and others facing domestic abuse and sexual assault. Her current role allows her to work for the rights of immigrants and while she often is responsible for holding immigration enforcement agencies and government officials accountable, she also serves as a bridge between activists and the law enforcement community. We talked about the vulnerability of migrants, the process of building a working relationship w...
2021-02-201h 15
A Peace of My MindEpisode 52 - Alvaro EncisoAlvaro Enciso has been placing crosses in the Sonoran Desert for seven years to mark the sites where migrants have died on their journey into the United States. His goal is make the invisible visible, to honor the lives lost, and to point his finger at the policies that lead to unnecessary deaths.A Colombian immigrant himself, he finds that his land art project connects him to his own migration and to his heritage. And he has found that the experience of going weekly into the desert and honoring the dead has increased his...
2021-02-1352 min
A Peace of My MindEpisode 51 - Teresa ReyesTeresa Reyes was born in El Salvador and came to the United States in 1999 when she was 17 years old, nine months pregnant and spoke only Spanish. As she established herself in her new home, she packed lettuce in farm fields, worked in slaughterhouses and taught herself English. She eventually put herself through college and now works as an environmental scientist. We talked about the search for her mother, who had fled the country’s civil war before Teresa’s first birthday, the challenges of being raised by her grandparents, the lack of opportunities she saw for herself in he...
2021-02-0645 min
A Peace of My MindEpisode 50 - Tony SedgwickTony Sedgwick is the President of the Board for the Santa Fe Ranch Foundation, a working cattle ranch near Nogales, Arizona and just a few miles north of the U.S. border with Mexico. With a background in international business law, Tony offers a sweeping view of history and economics along the borderlands and sees a need to shift our international policies away from fear and protectionism and toward development and infrastructure.This interview was conducted in mid-January 2021, before the inauguration of Joe Biden, so when he refers to “this administration” he is referring to Donald Trump. Beca...
2021-01-271h 24
A Peace of My MindEpisode 49 - Jonathan GreenJonathan Green is an acclaimed American painter from Charleston, South Carolina whose work centers on his Gullah tradition and the nearby community of Gardens Corner, where he grew up.We spoke of the path that led him to painting, the importance of representation and our need to cultivate an appreciation for the arts in our youth.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2021-01-161h 13
A Peace of My MindEpisode 48 - Lee Bennett, Jr.Lee Bennet, Jr. grew up a few blocks away from Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, and is a long-time member of the congregation. A retired Army officer, Lee spent several years as Deputy Chief of Staff of the White House Drug Control Policy Office and currently serves as a volunteer historian for his church. Mother Emanuel has weathered a long legacy of challenges around issues of race, including a 2015 attack by white supremacist Dylann Roof that left nine people dead.We talked about the history of the church, Denmark Vesey's planned uprising of 1822 and...
2021-01-091h 09
A Peace of My MindEpisode 47 - Trudy B. GrantTrudy Grant is the Manager of Religious Affairs and External Relations for the National Action Network. I interviewed her at Charity Mission Baptist Church in North Charleston, where she serves as the assistant choir director.We talked about her childhood, where she was immersed in a culture of love, how that embrace led her to the civil rights work she does today, and the need to celebrate together in the midst of difficult times.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow...
2021-01-0241 min
A Peace of My MindEpisode 46 - Alphonso BrownAlphonso Brown is the founder and owner of Gullah Tours, in Charleston, South Carolina. Born and raised in Rantowles, a dozen miles south of Charleston, he is a retired band director. With a deep love for his city, Alphonso started a tour company dedicated to telling the stories of the many contributions Black Charlestonians made to the area.We talked about the Gullah language, how Sunday morning continues to be the most segregated hour in America and how his black church has engaged with the white church around the corner through a common book study to explore...
2020-12-2935 min
A Peace of My MindEpisode 45 - Dr. Elijah Heyward IIIDr. Elijah Heyward III is the Chief Operating Officer for the International African American Museum being built in Charleston, South Carolina, and due to open in 2022. The museum is being built on the site of the historic Gadsen's Wharf, where up to 40% of enslaved Africans brought to America against their will disembarked after the transatlantic journey.We talk about the importance of telling history where it happened, honoring untold stories and maintaining hope for a more just world.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit...
2020-12-2620 min
A Peace of My MindEpisode 44 - Rev. DeMett JenkinsRev. DeMett Jenkins is the granddaughter of businessman, preacher and civil rights activist Esau Jenkins. She works as the Lilly Director of Education and Engagement for Faith-Based Communities for the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina.We spoke of civil rights activism, historical traumas and the ability to resist learned behaviors that may not lead to just outcomes.We met at the Moving Star Hall, a Praise House on John’s Island, South Carolina. The hall holds memories of faith, community gatherings and family for DeMett. It is a place that offered both st...
2020-12-191h 16
A Peace of My MindEpisode 43 - Joseph McGillJoseph McGill is the founder of The Slave Dwelling Project. I interviewed him at the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina.Ten years ago, Joe started spending the night in historic slave quarters and has slept overnight at more than 150 such sites across the country. He uses the experience to talk about the importance of preserving these historic structures so that we may have full and honest conversations about our country's history.Because of COVID, I interviewed Joe outside, on a porch within sight of the slave quarters at Magnolia. It was a...
2020-12-111h 00
A Peace of My MindEpisode 42 - Jillian PetersonJillian Peterson teaches Criminology and Criminal Justice at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She co-founded The Violence Project with James Densley. We talk about their Mass Shooter Database, understanding the conditions that lead to violence and the power we have to prevent it.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-08-1941 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 41 - Michael Brown Sr. and Anthony ShahidI spoke with Michael Brown Sr. and Anthony Shahid as they were in Minneapolis to support the movement of protests following the police killing of George Floyd. We talk about the 2014 killing of Michael's son, Michael Brown, Jr. in Ferguson, Missouri, Anthony's life-long activism, and this moment's balance of hope mixed with a long history of mistrust.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-06-0838 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 40 - Nate HoughtonNate Houghton is an entrepreneur based in Boston, Massachusetts. We talk about his long-time diagnosis of depression and OCD and how he feels like his history with mental health issues has helped prepare him for some of the challenges of the pandemic and actually even helped him to thrive.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-06-0626 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 39 - Bryn BaertleinBryn Baertlein is an elementary school teacher in Winona, Minnesota. She married Matt Baertlein on April 18, 2020. We talk about how they reduced their wedding from 350 guests to a party of 10, how her mother also stepped in as the piano player, and how the quiet gathering seemed just perfect in the reflective season of COVID-19.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-06-0321 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 38 - Andrew WaiteAndrew Waite is the 5th generation of his family to run the Waite & Son Funeral Home in Medina and Brunswick, Ohio. We talk about the ways the grieving process has changed during the pandemic, their efforts to families navigate the difficult adjustments and the loss of his own grandfather just weeks before social distancing became the norm.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-05-2520 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 37 - Kristin SchenckKristin Schenck is the co-owner of Log Jam, a bar and grill in Menomonie, Wisconsin. Last week when the state's supreme court overturned the the extension of Governor Tony Evers' stay at home orders, many bars threw their doors open to large crowds, but the Log Jam decided to take a slower process. We talk about the snags in their supply chain for both food and sanitizers, their concern over the safety of their employees and guests, and the kind ways some of their customers have continued to support them as they offer curbside pickup for food orders.
2020-05-2116 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 36 - David SmithDavid Smith is an American living in Moldova, and is one of the founders of Smokehouse, an American BBQ restaurant in the capital city of Chișinău. We talk about starting a business without making any bribes in a landscape that expects them, the early but sometimes awkward lockdown of the former Soviet satellite and the view of the American response to coronavirus from abroad. If you happen to find yourself in Chișinău and need a little American BBQ, you can find your way to Smokehouse by visiting their website.Thanks for listening to A Pe...
2020-05-1834 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 35 - John NoltnerMy longtime friend Wade Barry turns the tables and interviews me for How Life Changed. We talk about how COVID-19 has impacted my home and work life, the value of documenting stories of hope and our propensity for breaking into song during the long road trips we have shared over years of working together.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-05-1443 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 34 - Christa GoodwinChrista Goodwin is a middle school teacher and mother of two in Elberta, Alabama. Her husband Nate was diagnosed with cancer on June 4, 2019 and passed away at home April 9, 2020. We talk about how she and Nate met, how she has been supported by community during a difficult time and the ways we are all grieving as a result of COVID-19.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-05-1126 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 33 - Chica and SunsetsJen Beck Seymour and Greg Seymour are long distance hikers who go by their trail names, Chica and Sunsets. For the past year, they had been renovating a hostel in Franklin, North Carolina along the Appalachian Trail and had opened to hikers just five weeks before the pandemic closed all short term rentals in the state. We talk about their love of the Appalachian Trail community, some of the hikers they met who passed through their hostel during uncertain times and the next adventure they will plan for when they can hike again. To learn more about Chica and...
2020-05-0930 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 32 - Ryan SilvermanRyan Silverman is a Broadway actor who was playing the role of Billy Flynn in the hit production of Chicago when the coronavirus closed down New York City's theater district. We talk about how he learned of the closure, the quietness of the city these days and how he and his wife have used this time to teach their daughter to ride her bike and tie her shoes. To learn more about Ryans work, you can visit his website at http://www.ryansilverman.com/.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, a...
2020-05-0736 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 31 - Kari RadaKari Rada lives in Chetek, Wisconsin. We talk about her weekly trips to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for chemotherapy treatments, her enormous collection of pig figurines and her love of riding motorcycles.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-05-0616 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 30 - Neal HagbergNeal Hagberg is a singer - songwriter in Minneapolis and also the director of Tennis and Life Camps for Gustavus Adolphus College. We talk about the process of deciding whether camps can be held this summer, the many lights he sees on in houses during his 4 am walks with his dogs, and the collective suffering he sees in our journey with COVID-19.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-05-0248 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 29 - Joe DavisJoe Davis is a nationally touring artist, educator and speaker based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We talk about his faith, the creative ways he sees people coming together virtually to build community, and he also performs a new spoken word piece he wrote recently called Questions in the Time of COVID.Like many artists, most of Joe's paid engagements have been cancelled until he can perform at public gatherings again. If you'd like to learn more about how you can support his ongoing work, you can visit his Patreon page.Thanks for...
2020-04-3028 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 28 - Ambassador James PettitAmbassador James Pettit retired in 2018 from 38 years of service with the U. S. Department of State. We talk about the massive effort to repatriate American citizens back to this country during the COVID-19 pandemic, his tenure as ambassador to Moldova and the importance of having diplomats on the ground in countries around the world as a resource for understanding local and global events.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-2827 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 27 - Lars PruittLars Pruitt is the frontman for the Minneapolis-based band Yam Haus. We talk about the momentum the band was building, the upcoming tour they had to cancel and the creative space that opened up to write new songs. Oh yeah...and we talk about their Yam Haus Tuesday night Quarantine Bingo sessions.To learn more about Yam Haus, visit https://www.yamhaus.com/.To join in on their Tuesday night bingo sessions, visit them on Facebook or Instagram.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional...
2020-04-2522 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 26 - Deborah DoeringDeborah Doering is an artist and educator in Harlem, New York. We talk about her bike ride through a seemingly empty Manhattan, the nightly 7 pm banging of pots to celebrate the frontline healthcare workers and her sense of when she might be ready to venture onto a crowded subway train again. You can see some photos of Deborah's bike ride on our Facebook page.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-2327 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 25 - Mike ArnesonMike Arneson lives in Big Sky, Montana, but he is sheltering in place with his aging parents in La Crosse, Wisconsin while his wife Sue helps take care of their grandson Hank in Minneapolis to help their children who are both working from home. We talk about their quick decision to leave Big Sky, the tag team nature of their family help in two separate states, and Mike's adjustment to a slower pace.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-2126 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 24 - Danny O'NeelDanny O'Neel is a U.S. Army veteran and a fellow at the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. He lives in Folsom, California. We talk about his work with veterans who suffer from PTSD and how social isolation is impacting some of them. We talk about his own struggles with attempted suicide, how he overcame them and where he finds hope today. And we talk about his family's celebration of his daughter's 10th birthday in quarantine.Please know that there are some graphic details in Danny's story, so use discretion when listening. And if you struggle with depression or...
2020-04-1944 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 23 - Jennifer LoudenJennifer Louden is a best-selling author and a leading voice on self-care and creative transformation. Her new book, Why Bother? Discover the Desire for What's Next will be released on April 21, 2020. To learn more and to buy her book, visit https://jenniferlouden.com/why-bother/.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-1723 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 22 - Jon PancostJon Pancost is a stone mason in Lucas, Kansas. We talk about the small number of COVID-19 cases in the rural areas of the state, the prevalence of conspiracy theories and the difficulty in crafting policy that is relevant to both our urban centers and our rural communities.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-1638 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 21 - Jody RossJody Ross was tested for COVID-19 in Minneapolis on March 18, 2020 and immediately started isolating. Her test came back positive on March 23. She has now been cleared to come out of quarantine by the Minnesota Department of Health and is doing well. We talk about the process of testing, her methods of self-care and her hope that people can use this time of social distancing as a boot camp for personal wellness.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-1427 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 20 - Gavin WagnerGavin Wagner is an Honors College student from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. We talk about his quick transition from learning on campus to distance learning from home, the lost opportunity to say a proper farewell to friends at school and the ways he has grown to appreciate family more as he shelters at home with them in the state with the second highest number of COVID-19 cases.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-1341 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 19 - Rose McGeeRose McGee started Sweet Potato Comfort Pie after driving pies to Ferguson, Missouri, as a catalyst for caring and building community. We talked about the pies she is making now, the ways she is seeing people support one another and her hopes for us all moving forward.You can learn more about her work at https://www.sweetpotatocomfortpie.org/. Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-1235 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 18 - Arno MichaelisArno Michaelis is a professional speaker based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We talk about the recent primary vote in his state, his history as a white supremacist, and his belief that love and compassion are going to save us all.You can learn more about Arno's work at these links:https://www.giftofourwounds.com/https://mylifeafterhate.comhttps://www.parents4peace.org/https://www.theforgivenessproject.com/Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website...
2020-04-1238 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 17 - Kris CainKris Cain is a psychotherapist in Frankfurt, Illinois. We talk about the rise of anxiety in this era of social distancing and uncertainty, our need to maintain human connections and her own discovery that she is less of an introvert than she once imagined.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-1034 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 16 - Ethan BenderEthan Bender is a bass player, husband and father in Milwaukee Wisconsin. We talk about his frustration at having to go out to vote in the state's primary election this week, even as they were under a stay at home order, the disparities in COVID-19 health outcomes in the African American community, and how his family navigates the challenges of social distancing through music and song in their home. You can hear Ethan play bass with his wife and vocalist Donna Woodall at these links:Website: https://www.donnawoodall.com/Facebook: www.facebook.com/donnawoodallgroupWatch "7...
2020-04-0928 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 15 - Sandi WeselSandi Wesel's father has been hospitalized since early March. Although his health issues are not related to COVID-19, the virus has impacted Sandi's ability to visit her father as well as do her own work as a physical therapist.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-0916 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 14 - Steve WewerkaSteve Wewerka is a fine art photographer who was in the midst of his art fair season when the changing situation required him to shelter in place in his RV at a Florida panhandle campground. We talked about his cancelled shows, the community he is finding in the campground and how he is learning to see his surroundings in new ways as he photographs no more than 500 feet from his RV. You can see his work at https://stevewewerka.com/.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit o...
2020-04-0727 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 13 - Tracey EricksonTracey Erickson is a respiratory therapist in Fullerton, California. We talked about the community support she has seen for healthcare providers, the precautions she is taking to reduce the risk of exposure and the things she is looking forward to when social restrictions are lifted.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-0723 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 12 - Zach BergetZach Berget is a lighting designer who recently relocated from Minneapolis to Los Angeles. We talked about the difficult timing of his move, what he misses from touring on the road with musicians, and the ways he is learning to appreciate a slower pace of life.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-0630 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 11 - Jason KallsenJason Kallsen is the owner of Twin Cities Wine Education and The Wine Workshop in Minnesota. We talk about his rapid change from in-person to online wine education, the larger changes he sees in the hospitality business and how staying busy and focused has helped him navigate shifting terrain. You can learn more about his online wine classes at https://thewineworkshop.net/.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-0627 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 10 - Steph RobleSteph Roble is a member of the USA Olympic Sailing Team. We talk about qualifying for the team, weeks of uncertainty, learning the Tokyo games have been postponed for a year and what training looks like now. You can follow her journey at https://www.roblesheasailing.com/.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-0421 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 9 - Joey AndersonJoey Anderson is a high school senior from Burnsville, Minnesota.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-0316 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 8 - Tina KunesTina Kunes is a high. school math teacher in Morgan Hill, California.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-0329 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 7 - Karolyn Hanson-RathertKarolyn Hanson-Rathert is an ICU nurse in Madison, Wisconsin.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-0228 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 6 - Kane SmegoKane Smego is a spoken word poet, a hip hop artist and an educator based in Los Angeles, California. You can learn more about Kane's work at https://www.kanesmego.com/.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-04-0149 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 5 - Emma CongeloseEmma Congelose is a nursing student in her senior year at Valparaiso University.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-03-3133 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 4 -Tabitha TurnerTabitha Turner is the associate director of assisted living at a facility in Marshfield, Wisconsin.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-03-2934 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 3 - Hannah GullixsonHannah Gullixson is a musician who lives in Menomonie, Wisconsin. She is the founder of Every Little Thing Project that celebrates all bodies and addresses issues of eating disorders and social stigmas.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-03-2931 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 2 - Barry YeomanBarry Yeoman is a freelance journalist and writer based in Durham, North Carolina. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Nation, The American Prospect and Audubon Magazine, among others. You can learn more about Barry's work at https://barryyeoman.com/.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-03-2853 minA Peace of My MindEpisode 1 - Cecie SuknaicCecie Suknaic is a student at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, Illinois.Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website and follow us on Instagram.
2020-03-2737 min