Shows
Our Voices Matter PodcastWhy Aging Became a Dirty Word and How to Reclaim It - Karen WalrondAs a child, I counted the days until my next birthday. Most of us did, tired of hearing “you’re not old enough to do that.”Then we hit a certain age, and all we want to do is roll back the clock. Pursue youth at all costs.Why is that?Who decided that young is good and old is bad? Why have we internalized it to our own detriment? And how do we reclaim aging as a positive force in our lives?My guest this week answers those questions and more i...2024-04-0242 minOur Voices Matter PodcastHow to Keep College Campuses from Becoming Political Battlegrounds - Manu MeelWhat is driving the recent conflict on college campuses? One obvious factor is reaction to the Israel-Hamas War.But my guest this week isn’t sure it’s quite that simple. As CEO of the non-profit, BridgeUSA, 25 year-old Manu Meel is in constant contact with students on more than 70 campuses across the country.The organization helps facilitate conversations among college and high school students with idealogical differences.In the days and weeks following the October 7th massacre of Israelis by Hamas, Bridge USA heard plenty from its student members.“There was...2024-01-1847 minOur Voices Matter PodcastHow To Belong, Not Just Fit In - Dumpling DudezIt’s been inspiring to see our friends in the LGBTQ+ community celebrate and be celebrated during Pride Month.Though, I must say I long for the day when we don’t need a specific month to acknowledge the humanity of those who are marginalized.No matter who we love, what our race, how we pray or how we identify, we matter. We are human. We belong.But until that day, I am grateful for each month that shines a spotlight on stories too often overlooked.Stories that teach us and show...2023-06-3031 minOur Voices Matter PodcastHow Gen Z Leaders are Strengthening our Democracy - Manu Meel“We cannot coexist if we cannot talk to each other — it’s that simple.”And that complicated. Yet the leaders of BridgeUSA are determined to meet the challenge.This 7 year-old non-profit is “building a student movement to bring the country together”, led by a dynamic CEO and return guest to Our Voices Matter, Manu Meel.Lessons LearnedWhen we first spoke with Manu over a year ago, he was about to embark upon a nationwide campaign across college campuses, aptly called “Let’s F*#king Talk to Each Other“.I was eager to find...2023-05-1932 minOur Voices Matter PodcastHow Connecting Across Generations = Hope - Jodi and Colette RabitoyPeople often ask where and how I find guests for Our Voices Matter.The short answer is, when I run across a story I think will resonate with our audience, I jump on it.For this episode, I didn’t have to look very far.Literally across my desk.No Subject Off LimitsJodi Rabitoy is my Executive Assistant at Linda Lorelle Media.As you might imagine, we talk a lot. About pretty much everything, especially when it comes to the podcast, which she helps produce and market.2023-03-1742 minOur Voices Matter PodcastHow the Power of Story Connects History to Humanity - Deborah Mouton“When your story is being told, make sure you are the one holding the pen.”It’s one of Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton’s favorite quotes. And one that has particular resonance in 2023 as powerful, political forces are literally trying to erase parts of American history.Black history.But Mouton is holding the pen.Multi-Genre Literary ArtistA self-described multi-genre literary artist, she is a master at guiding us along her journey, forging a path that leads straight to the core of our humanity.Who are we? Who...2023-03-0346 min
Our Voices Matter PodcastWhat Millennials and Gen Z Want Boomers to KnowIt’s no secret that sometimes we just don’t “get” each other. There’s a disconnect between the generations.That in itself certainly isn’t new.But what seems, or at least feels different, is the fragility of the systems on which we depend — and the urgency of figuring out how to save ourselves…from ourselves…So that a livable world with a thriving society will still be here for Millennials, Gen Z and future generations.Boomers, it’s time for us to listen.And that’s exactly what we’ll do in this...2023-02-1041 minOur Voices Matter PodcastWhy They Call Her The Candle Queen - Ianthe MauroI love candles. Especially during the Christmas holidays, which makes this the perfect time to revisit my conversation with The Candle Queen.Ianthe Mauro is fluent in the language of candles. Whatever the shape or scent, candles are a perfect metaphor for what Ianthe is all about — bringing light and love to our troubled world.Sound familiar? It’s one of the mantras of this podcast and all of the content I create.And it’s in perfect alignment with Ianthe’s philosophy and reminder to us all: “Never leave a burning candle, or sufferi...2022-12-1647 minOur Voices Matter PodcastWhat it Means to be Transgender in Today’s World - Liam PaschallAs I count my blessings this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the opportunity to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community that is deeply hurting.The recent Q Club killings in Colorado Springs are the latest example of the searing hate and violence gripping our nation.Hate toward those considered to be “the other” — simply for existing as who they are.Those of us who call ourselves allies must do our part. Re-posting this episode is one step in doing my part to bring awareness, understanding and empathy to a community deserving of love a...2022-11-2531 minOur Voices Matter PodcastHow a Leap of Faith Can Change Your Life - Yolanda AdamsThis is one of my favorite episodes over the five seasons of OurVoices Matter — and it’s the one I turn to when I need a dose of hope. When my faith is being tested.When I want to wrap myself in a warm blanket and just feel good about being alive.There is so much chaos, anxiety and uncertainty in our world that it can be challenging to see the good.But it’s there.And it can be challenging to keep the faith.But we must.2022-10-2133 minOur Voices Matter PodcastA Simple Gathering to Help Bridge Our Divides: An Update on Neighbor's Table - Sarah HarmeyerI was on vacation recently with a group of friends and, without a doubt, the best memories were created gathered around the table. There’s something magical about sharing food and conversation, sitting shoulder to shoulder. And no one understands that better than this week’s return guest, the founder of Neighbor’s Table.I first met and interviewed Sarah Harmeyer in the fall of 2019. A lot has happened since then.Covid.Being interviewed for the book, "Together" by America's Surgeon General.Becoming caretaker for her dad.A...2022-10-1445 minOur Voices Matter PodcastWhy Trust is Pivotal to Elections, Immigration and Saving Our Democracy - Ali NooraniThe midterm elections are less than 30 days away.Before ballots are cast, some already cast doubt about the eventual outcome.Not to mention growing distrust of our institutions, our systems and our leaders.Yet, our guest this week remains hopeful about our future. Why? "Because as long as we have liberals and conservatives saying we need to make sure that we as a country can elect people in a free and fair way, and that we as a people can trust those elections, I think as long as that debate is hap...2022-10-0735 minOur Voices Matter PodcastDanny Frounfelkner - How Quitting Alcohol Saved His Life and Disrupted an IndustryMy daughter and I walked into Texas' first, non-alcoholic bottle shop to look, learn and buy. We walked out having done all that, and feeling appreciative for an unexpected bonus -- a riveting conversation that created an instant bonding with the man behind the bottles. He shared a bit about his remarkable story, telling us how quitting alcohol saved his life and disrupted an industry.I knew instantly he was a perfect podcast guest for Our Voices Matter.Changing the Narrative About AlcoholDanny Frounfelkner founded Sipple al...2022-09-1650 min
The Rational MiddleExploring Long-Time Houston News Anchor Linda Lorelle's Journey into Immigration AdvocacyLinda Lorelle, 17-year news veteran of Houston's NBC affiliate KPRC, has started her own company, Lorelle Media, and begun an effort to share the opportunities that immigrants offer our country.2022-07-2728 minOur Voices Matter PodcastDiversity Matters - Pauline ChiouIf you’ve ever wondered why diversity matters, especially in newsrooms, this week’s guest has some answers for you. And then some.Pauline Chiou is a media executive who cut her journalism teeth as a reporter in local TV and network newsrooms across the U.S.From there, it was on to Hong Kong and 6 years as an anchor at CNN International. CNBC then lured her to Singapore for 3 years, before she returned to the U.S. and moved into news managementA Mentor to Young JournalistsAs a mentor to youn...2022-05-1331 minOur Voices Matter PodcastRight To Know - Kara Rubinstein DeyerinWe all have a right to know who we are and where we come from. And in this day of over-the-counter DNA tests, it's easier than ever to find out.But what happens when your DNA discovery reveals secrets that rewrite the story of your life?In the case of Kara Rubinstein Deyerin, it shattered her identity and sent her on a quest to answer a simple, yet complex question: "Who am I?"Life Changes with the Click of a Mouse Kara reached out to share her most extraordinary story that str...2022-05-0639 minOur Voices Matter PodcastChanging Corporate Culture - Allie DanzigerWhat does it take to change corporate culture? It's a question countless corporations are asking as diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging take center stage.This week, my guest and I explore this topic from multiple perspectives.Allie Danziger is a whip smart, young entrepreneur whose insight is gleaned from her experience in the world of internships -- and the C-Suite.Allie had eight internships under her belt by the time she graduated from UT-Austin in 2007. She started her first business at age 24. Integrate was one of the first agencies in Texas tha...2022-04-2937 minOur Voices Matter PodcastAmerica Talks - Joan Blades & John GableAs I write this on April 21, 2022, America Talks is underway. Americans with different backgrounds and beliefs are firing up their computers, turning on their cameras and talking to each other, face-to-face. On purpose. And with a purpose. Creating connections to build bridges across our divides, find a path forward, and remind us of our common humanity.Talking and ListeningMy guests this week personify how the simple, yet courageous acts of talking and listening, are a key part of the solution to our country's challenges.Joan Blades is a libe...2022-04-2232 minOur Voices Matter PodcastIt's Not a Choice - Liam PaschallBeing Liam isn't always easy. But it's not a choice. It's his truth.Just like all of us, Liam Paschall wants to be accepted for who he is. A loving husband and father, DEIB advocate, keynote speaker, passionate volunteer -- and transgender man.Only One RegretAssigned female at birth, Liam can't remember feeling comfortable in his body as a young child. Long hair and pink dresses felt foreign to him.He didn't have the words to describe it, but he knew it to be true....2022-04-0832 minOur Voices Matter PodcastBeyond the Digital Divide - Larry IrvingWhen Larry Irving coined the term "digital divide" in the early 1990s, he was fighting for those being left behind. He stood on the shoulders of mentors who came before him, advocating for what he knew was right. No matter the cost.The pushback was real -- from the U.S. Department of Commerce all the way to the White House.Irving was President Bill Clinton's Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Communications. His research on the nascent internet revealed a stark divide. "One group of kids, connected to the internet, was liv...2022-04-0144 min
The Balanced Voice with Rania MankariousEp. 50 | Linda Lorelle - The EmPATHy ForwardEmmy Award winner and long time Anchor at KPRC-TV in Houston, Linda Lorelle joins us to talk about human connection in society, as well as the realities of what happens when previously established cultural barriers are broken. As an African American woman in the media landscape, Linda breaks down the realities of being in front of and behind the camera, and how it has led to her ultimate success in today's world.This episode includes powerful but explicit language. Viewer discretion is advised.Join us on Wendesday, March 23rd @ 10:00AM Central Time on our YouTube and...2022-03-2346 minOur Voices Matter PodcastLet's F*#!ing Talk to Each Other - Manu MeelLeave it to Gen Z to cut to the chase. "Let's f*cking talk to each other!"The perfect name for a campaign to get Americans, and especially our politicians, out of their silos for the greater good -- namely solving the problems that face our democracy and our very existence.Manu Meel and his fellow Gen Z colleagues at BridgeUSA are painfully aware that they will inherit today's problems tomorrow. And they're on a mission to give themselves a fighting chance. The first step: Change the way we engage and figure out how...2022-03-1841 minOur Voices Matter PodcastThe Intersection of Activism and Joy - Karen WalrondMy guest this week takes us on a journey that leads to the intersection of activism and joy. And what a wonderful ride it is!The journey unfolds in the pages of Karen Walrond's new book, "The Lightmaker's Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy". Our guide is the author herself, who is also an activist, speaker, leadership coach and photographer extraordinaire.Tips and Tools for ActivistsIf you're like me, when you think of the word "activist", the next word that comes to mind probably isn't "joy." But r...2022-03-0441 minOur Voices Matter PodcastOlympic Gold Medalist Rises Above With Joy - Scott HamiltonIf anyone can show Olympic figure skater, Kamila Valieva, how to rise above with joy, it’s Olympic gold medalist, Scott Hamilton.The 2022 winter games that just wrapped up were devastating for the 15 year-old Russian phenom. She went into the games as a gold medal favorite and finished 4th in the midst of a doping scandal.Hamilton brought not only his expertise, but his humanity, to his role as a commentator for NBC Sports. He stood firm in his belief that Valieva should not be allowed to compete after testing positive for three bann...2022-02-2557 minOur Voices Matter PodcastSide Hustle - Jacque ReidJacque Reid is a walking, talking example of the power of a good side hustle.Yes, she’s an Emmy award-winning TV and radio journalist with national network experience. CNN. BET. NBC (Oscars Red Carpet team). Tom Joyner Morning Show. But she is also her own powerhouse brand, creating content to feed what ignites her passion.As an animal advocate, Jacque’s biggest passion right now is the Vegan Sexy Cool brand. She uses her voice to promote veganism through a digital lifestyle magazine, influencer dinners and a podcast.She is also co...2022-02-1836 minOur Voices Matter PodcastLofton & Moon Talk Football, Fun & LifeAre you ready for some football? NFL Hall of Famers James Lofton and Warren Moon weigh in on COVID and the gridiron. What are the odds we'll truly have a season? Is it safe to play? Would they take the field if they were still playing? What about the role of professional athletes in the racial justice movement? And yes, we talk about Colin Kaepernick taking a knee, all that followed, and so much more.Are you ready for some fun? I am, and so are they! Football fans know Lofton from his stellar career as a wide rec...2022-02-1157 minOur Voices Matter PodcastAllSides - John GableI’m always looking for ways to better connect us as humans. That includes getting us out of our filter bubbles. My guest today quit his day job over 10 years ago and dedicated himself to that mission. What John Gable came up with is AllSides, a media technology company that rates bias and identifies different perspectives.The goal — to provide balanced news and information and enable civil dialogue. When you go to AllSides.com, the first thing you see is three points of view about the same news topic. One from the right, one from...2022-02-0439 minOur Voices Matter PodcastRACE To Be Human - Scilla AndreenWhat is race? What is racism? How can schools and companies address racism?Scilla Andreen is on a mission to answer these questions and more in her soon to be released documentary, “RACE To Be Human”.Andreen is an award-winning producer, director and CEO/Co-Founder of IndieFlix. The global streaming and screening service provides content for a purpose. She is also an Emmy-nominated costume designer for the original TV series, “The Wonder Years”.That was the beginning of a long and storied resume that now includes creating films to engage, empower and teach c...2022-01-2150 minOur Voices Matter PodcastMeaningful Journalism & Why It Matters - Brendan KeefeThe reason I became a journalist is the same reason I started this podcast: to tell stories that matter. To help make the world a better place.I would argue that’s what investigative reporter Brendan Keefe does every time he takes on a topic, always with one goal in mind: to uncover the truth.Brendan is the Chief Investigator for WXIA, 11Alive in Atlanta, and co-founder of The Reveal, a weekly investigative show on Atlanta’s TEGNA-owned NBC affiliate.He’s one of the most decorated investigative journalists in the country. At last count...2022-01-071h 07Our Voices Matter PodcastFixing Immigration - Stan MarekWhat will it take to fix our broken immigration system? It’s a contentious, highly partisan issue U.S. lawmakers have grappled with for decades. And it’s one that is deeply personal to this week’s guest on Our Voices Matter podcast.Stan Marek has spent the last 30 years working with local, state and national leaders to find a sensible solution to immigration reform.The Human Face of ImmigrationMuch of that time is spent putting a human face on those at the center of the storm. Fathers, mothers and children...2021-12-3139 minOur Voices Matter PodcastRepresentation Matters - Pam PerryMotown Magic was a part of every day life for award-winning PR professional, Pam Perry. She grew up in Detroit, counting the Four Tops and the Temptations among her neighbors. Diana Ross is her high school’s most famous alum.“If they can do it, I can do it” Pam remembers thinking as a young girl.Yes, representation matters. Pam’s “it” turned out to be public relations, marketing and branding. Today, she runs a boutique PR firm working with speakers and authors to help them attract major media. Her clients have been featured on...2021-12-1743 minOur Voices Matter PodcastKeep Going - Nina GraeIt wasn’t easy, but Musical Artist, Nina Grae, found a way to keep going through her darkest days, starting with the healing power of music. If you are searching for a way to keep going when it feels like it’s all falling apart (hello world!), this episode is for you.Full disclosure. It’s also for me.There is something about Nina that pulls you into her space, shakes you to your core, and calms you down. All at the same time. All while showing, by example, how to reignite our own flickering light....2021-12-0339 minOur Voices Matter PodcastWalk With Purpose - Toni HarrisonToni Harrison was raised to walk with purpose. As the Chief Marketing Officer of a new fin tech company, she is doing just that -- on a mission to help solve the racial wealth gap.She's the proud granddaughter of a civil rights activist who helped bring Texas Southern University to Houston. Her father, Charles "Tex" Harrison, was an OG of the famed Harlem Globetrotters -- his consolation prize for being denied a shot at the NBA.The self-described “creative disruptor” is now making her own mark. As CMO of Fair Fintech, Toni is using her con...2021-11-1945 minOur Voices Matter PodcastMental Health and the Music Industry - Rob KnoxMy first introduction to an in depth exploration of mental health and the music industry was the summer of 2021 in San Francisco.Josh Donaldson, founder of When the Music Stops, invited me to moderate a panel discussion about the topic. That's where I met today's guest, Grammy-nominated music producer, Rob Knox.A-List ArtistsYou might not recognize his name, but you will surely know the names of the A-list artists he works with: Justin Timberlake, TI, Alicia Keys, Britney Spears, Rhianna, Ciara and many others.His first collaboration with Justin and...2021-11-0547 minOur Voices Matter PodcastRaise Your Hand - Shawna ThomasRaise your hand, say "yes" and work hard. Shawna Thomas did all of that and more on the road to her role as Executive Producer of CBS Mornings.Shawna's journey begins in Houston where she grew up, and we first met. For me, our conversation is a full circle moment.A local TV anchor at the NBC affiliate (me) awards a college scholarship to a 13 year-old middle school student (Shawna). Who could have imagined the professional bond we would share 27 years later?!At its core, our mutual passion for a well-told story and its a...2021-10-221h 07Our Voices Matter PodcastLeading in the Age of DEI - Monica ColeLeading in the age of DEI is a hot topic in corporate circles these days. My guest this week has earned her place in those circles as a leader and mentor to those finding their way up the corporate ladder. Including those traditionally left at the bottom.Tell Me What the Team Looks LikeMonica Cole's path to Executive Vice President at Wells Fargo is paved with lessons learned on a college basketball court. Skills she acquired on the hardwood help set her apart and set her up to lea...2021-10-0743 minOur Voices Matter PodcastBehind the Scenes of January 6th - Sherman TylawskyIn this week's episode of Our Voices Matter Podcast, a former Congressional intern takes us behind the scenes of the January 6th insurrection. As our nation's Capitol descended into chaos, 24 year-old Sherman Tylawsky was locked down with members of Congress and their staffs. Not exactly how he envisioned the third day of his internship.What was he thinking? How did he get through it? What did he learn about himself and the state of our political discourse?Tylawsky is a podcaster who calls himself a George Washington enthusiast and an aspiring state...2021-09-3037 minOur Voices Matter PodcastBlack Women, White Women: Let's Talk - Jen Buck and Tamara Johnson-ShealeyWhat happens when black women and white women get together and say, let's talk? I mean brave, honest, real talk -- about race.My guests this week can tell you what happens because they're living it. Every Thursday evening at 6pm CST, Tamara Johnson-Shealey and Jen Buck host a weekly conversation about race on the social audio app, Clubhouse. White women and Black women who are giving each other permission to speak, and having the courage to listen -- hopefully, with an open mind.That question you've always been afraid to ask in "mix...2021-09-2352 minOur Voices Matter PodcastPassion and Purpose - Priyanka MurthyPriyanka Murthy, CEO of Access79, could teach a masterclass on combining passion and purpose.She's an award-winning jewelry designer whose creations grace the ear lobes and necks of A-list Hollywood stars. Think J-Lo, Lupita Nyong'o, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Lawrence, Clare Danes and Julia Roberts. But here's the really cool part. Priyanka is now combining her passion for stunning jewelry design with her purpose of making a positive impact on our world.Purpose-Driven DesignPriyanka's husband is a physician, which means her family has a front-row seat to the front-line wor...2021-09-1038 minOur Voices Matter PodcastThe Power & The Cost of Owning Your Story - Amr Awadallah & Sara SelberWe kick off our new season with a former Google executive speaking out in his first extended interview since getting fired.The story of Amr Awadallah and his new friend, Sara Selber, exemplifies the power and the cost of owning your story.www.ourvoicesmatterpodcast.comwww.lorellemedia.comAmr lost his job. Sara has lost business and friends.But in the midst of their losses, they found each other, and a renewed belief in the power of story to pierce the armor that divides us.An Unlikely FriendshipT...2021-09-0352 minOur Voices Matter PodcastHere's What I'm Thinking.... Linda LorelleIt's almost time for our new season, so I thought I'd try something a little different. "Here's What I'm Thinking". It's time to put myself on the hot seat and share whatever's on my mind. Every now and then, perhaps once a month, I will take off my journalist's hat and allow myself to be part of the story. Click on Ask Me Anything, tell me what you think, and we'll take it from there.This week, "Here's What I'm Thinking" about Mental Health.It's an important topic that often brings out the bull...2021-07-2321 minOur Voices Matter PodcastCandle QueenCall her the Candle Queen who's shining a light and sharing the stories of amazing women!Ianthe Mauro is fluent in the language of candles. Whatever the shape or scent, candles are a perfect metaphor for what Ianthe is all about -- bringing light and love to our troubled world.Sound familiar? It's one of the mantras of this podcast and all of the content I create. No wonder I felt an instant connection to Ianthe the moment I heard her voice in a room on Clubhouse.Our conversation here runs the gamut...2021-07-0248 minOur Voices Matter PodcastAmerica Talks - David EisnerWhen America Talks, people listen. At least that's the goal of what is described as a weekend of connection in the midst of deep division. This Saturday and Sunday, June 12th and 13th, Americans will talk one-on-one, face-to-face on video across our political divides. I will be one of them.As a member of the Our Voices Matter Podcast community, you know that courageous conversations like this feed my soul. It's safe to say I have a kindred spirit in this week's encore guest, David Eisner.I first interviewed David in June of 2020...2021-06-1136 minOur Voices Matter PodcastA Front Row Seat to History - Sonia JarvisShe not only had a front row seat to history, she was a ground-breaking participant. And she is still breaking glass ceilings and making significant contributions to our world. Sonia Jarvis is a Yale-educated legal scholar who has blazed trails in courtrooms, in classrooms, in civil rights arenas and even basketball arenas. She was the first Black female varsity athlete at Stanford University. She spent years in the trenches fighting for voting rights and equality. Today she is a Distinguished Lecturer at Baruch College in New York City. Sonia and I met on "The Farm" as und...2021-05-2155 minOur Voices Matter PodcastRising Above With Joy - Scott HamiltonScott Hamilton's life is a master class in how to rise above with joy. Many know him from his iconic career as an Olympic and world figure skating champion -- and that backflip he made famous. He holds a whopping 70 titles. He's also in both the U.S. Olympic and World Figure Skating Halls of Fame.Others have followed his cancer journey and advocacy for those walking that same path. The Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation is now more than 20 years strong.But there is so much more to this man who describes his start...2021-05-1356 minOur Voices Matter PodcastYou Are Not Alone - Linda LorelleIf there is one message to get across to those struggling with mental illness, it is this: You Are Not Alone.As I write this, my daughter is attending the funeral of a 25 year-old friend who took his life. I did not know the young man, but I know he was deeply loved by his family and friends. And I know that their lives without him, are forever changed.The National Alliance on Mental Illness says more than 50 million adults in America experienced mental illness in 2019. In the last couple of years, those numbers have rise...2021-05-071h 04Our Voices Matter PodcastLean In To The Fear - Mia MendsIt's a long way from childhood immigrant to corporate leader in America. This week's guest on Our Voices Matter shares how leaning into the fear got her to the top. It might seem counterintuitive, but for Mia Mends, that's the secret sauce. Her Ghanian-born parents passed down the family recipe to Mia and her sisters. Fast forward a few decades and the proof is in the pudding.Mia is Chief Administrative Officer at Sodexo, a food service and facilities management company with more than 400,000 employees worldwide. Over the last 9 years, this charismatic wife and mother has risen through...2021-04-0849 minOur Voices Matter PodcastThis is MY Judge - Judge Leonia LloydWhat causes a defendant, sent to prison by a judge, to say with affection and respect, "This is MY judge?" Judge Leonia Lloyd answers that question in this week's episode of Our Voices Matter podcast. Spoiler alert: humanity is at the core of her answer.Judge Lloyd's remarkable career spans more than four decades, first as a teacher, then as an attorney and judge. She took that journey with her twin sister, Leona, by her side. The book, "Your Honor, Your Honor: A Journey Through Grief to Restorative Justice", chronicles their life growing up in Detroit, Michigan, and ...2021-03-2452 min
21 Podcast21 Podcast with Linda Lorelle, A Broadcast Legend and Champion For Our CommunityThis episode of the 21 podcast is dedicated to the memory of Drew’s cousin, Amanda Sampson. Amanda was a loving mother and daughter who leaves us too soon. May the joy she brought to her family continue in all that they do.
On this episode of the 21 Podcast, we team up once again with Linda Lorelle.
Linda is a pillar in the Houston community. She is a former news anchor for KPRC, Houston’s NBC Affiliate. With her podcast, Our Voices Matter, Linda remains a master storyteller, committed to being a megaphone for...2021-03-191h 03Our Voices Matter PodcastPoint Counterpoint - Nick AndersonLeft. Right. Black. White. Point. Counterpoint. And the beat goes on...When does it stop? And who -- or what -- will lead the way to the nuance in the middle? Enter 16 editorial cartoonists. 8 from the Right -- 8 from the Left -- led by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Nick Anderson. A changing media landscape kicked him out of his comfort zone and into an unlikely opportunity to celebrate the complexity of our humanity...through humor.In the last few years Nick has had to search far and wide to find that humor. In this week's...2021-03-0355 minOur Voices Matter PodcastHate Through the Lens of Humanity - Shannon Foley Martinez"It's difficult. It's painful. It requires vulnerability. But if we choose to look at hate through the lens of humanity, we can totally do this." Shannon Foley Martinez speaks from personal experience. She speaks as a former white supremacist who left the movement and now counsels others seeking to leave a life of hate behind. With the January 6th insurrection still fresh in our minds, hers is a voice worth listening to.The world watched in horror as thousands attacked and overran the U.S. Capitol, proudly waving overt symbols of hate and anti-semitism. They spewed racial epithe...2021-02-241h 04Our Voices Matter PodcastLeap of Faith - Chih Lin and Michael DorseyWhat possessed two engineers to ditch their corporate jobs in oil and gas, take a leap of faith and launch a business making dumplings? The answer is in this week's episode of Our Voices Matter Podcast. Chih Lin and Mike Dorsey are all about community, connection and story -- and their story is a doozy! I won't spoil it for you, but I will give you a hint. They asked themselves a simple, yet profound question: "Are you just fitting in, or do you belong?" They then found the courage to answer honestly, and take action.I...2021-02-0331 minOur Voices Matter PodcastAnything Is Possible - Jilly AnaisWhen 25 year-old Jilly Anais says anything is possible, she means it. And not just for herself; but for all of us. For our divided society. For our world.Jilly is on a mission to live life to the fullest, with meaning, purpose and a whole lot of fun! Want proof? Just check out her Instagram. This social media influencer has more than 3.5 million followers across multiple platforms, showcasing her seemingly endless talent. Singer - check. Model - check. Actor - check. Author - check. She achieved that most recent accomplishment at the age of 24, just like her sup...2021-01-2734 minOur Voices Matter PodcastAt The Crossroads with Rev. Luke PoweryWe have a choice to make. As Americans, as humans, there is no doubt we are at the crossroads. Which way will we go? I asked that question of the Rev. Dr. Luke Powery, desperately wanting an answer that will make me want to get out of bed in the morning. Of course, nothing is that easy, but through the twists and turns of our conversation, I came out on the other side with a sense of optimism. And yes, hope.Powery is an author, singer, renowned preacher and the first Black Dean of The Duke University Chape...2020-12-0357 minOur Voices Matter PodcastLeading With Love with Kam FranklinAnyone who lives her life leading with love has my utmost respect and admiration. Add in a ridiculous amount of talent, intellect and empathy and you can count me as a super fan. Kam Franklin, lead singer of the Houston band, The Suffers, has been making music for more than ten years now. As you will hear in this week's episode, in life and in music, Kam leads with love. My conversation with Kam is timely for a couple of reasons. She's a featured performer in "America's Table" set to air this Saturday evening at 8pm central on KP...2020-11-2537 minOur Voices Matter PodcastAmerica's TableThanksgiving 2020. With all the chaos and heartbreak that defines this year, I'll bet you this --America's Tables will look and feel a lot different. In the midst of turkey and all the trimmings, there will likely be talk of COVID tests and Zoom meetings. Virtual school and mask wearing. And the giant elephant in the room -- the Presidential election. That one may very well make your well thought-out family and friends "COVID bubble" burst. Here's a question for us all: Can we set aside our deepening divisions even long enough to give thanks and enjoy Grandma's pumpkin...2020-11-1825 minOur Voices Matter PodcastArt Finds A Way with Guest Jessica GreenEven in the age of COVID and the relentless assault on civility, art finds a way. It finds a way to heal, to inspire, to engage and to elevate. It connects us to each other and reflects our common humanity, while it illuminates and captures the power of our stories.My guest this week understands this at her very core. Jessica Green has dedicated her life to creating, collaborating and sharing art. She led the famed Maysles Documentary Center in Harlem for ten years before taking on her current role as Artistic Director of the Houston Cinema Arts...2020-11-1141 minOur Voices Matter PodcastThe Path Forward - Linda LorelleElection Day 2020 has come and gone. The votes are still being counted. Now the real work begins: forging The Path Forward. As I share my thoughts on the subject in this week's podcast, I invite you to join me in Our Voices Matter's new initiative, The Path Forward, by sharing your solutions on how we move forward together. Pull out your phone, video record your thoughts and upload your video on OurVoicesMatterPodacast.com. It could be featured in an upcoming TV special Thanksgiving weekend and during the coming weeks and months as we continue our Courageous Conversations here on...2020-11-0412 minOur Voices Matter PodcastPeeling Back The Pain - Aaron LaytonWhat if I told you that the path toward healing our divides lies in peeling back our pain? Are you willing to go there? My guest this week on Our Voices Matter is more than willing. In fact, he uses his lived experience to help others navigate that treacherous, yet transformative path. Aaron Layton is an educator and diversity consultant who holds a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. On August 9, 2014, the fatal shooting of 18 year old Michael Brown at the hands of a police officer ignited a firestorm of protests in Fergu...2020-10-2857 minOur Voices Matter PodcastDomestic Terrorism & the Path to Empathy - Jesse MortonIt starts with dehumanizing "the other." It can lead to domestic terrorism. Recent headlines out of Michigan provide yet another horrifying example of how far we've gone astray. Those accused of plotting to kidnap and do harm to Governor Gretchen Whitmer put her humanity aside, to prove a point. Their point. Those who disagree be damned.Are we listening, America? This is our wakeup call. Choice Number 1: Demonize those with whom we disagree and continue down the path to our mutually assured destruction. Or Choice Number 2: Pause, listen, look for and embrace the path to empathy. The path that l...2020-10-1442 minOur Voices Matter PodcastPro Athletes, Ex-Pats, Race & The VoteGetting out the vote is front and center as the U.S. Presidential election draws near. But what if you're an ex-pat living overseas? Do you know what to do and when to do it to ensure that your vote counts? It's a question some forward-thinking, civic-minded pro athletes decided to answer. They are using their visibility and influence to inform and educate their overseas colleagues, especially the younger ones, about exercising this most sacred right, regardless of where you're living.There are those who believe that athletes and celebrities should stick to what they do rather tha...2020-09-3046 minOur Voices Matter PodcastRemembering Sandra Bland - Hannah Adair BonnerFive years ago this week, Sandra Bland was found hanging in her Texas jail cell. Three days earlier, a Texas State trooper had stopped her for failing to signal a lane change. Following their heated exchange, the trooper hauled her off to jail. Questions continue to surround Bland's death which was ruled a suicide. A Grand Jury indicted trooper Brian T. Encinia for making a false statement about why he ordered Bland out of her car. Prosecutors later dropped the charges after Encinia agreed to never work in law enforcement again. In 2017, the Texas legislature passed the Sandra...2020-07-1632 minOur Voices Matter PodcastFamily First - #CourageousConversationHumans across the globe are finally talking about race. Not in whispers, but out loud. Real, raw talk that requires self-examination while giving others #permissiontospeak and having the #couragetolisten with an open mind. What happens when those dialogues are among family members? And what happens when those family members are multi-racial? In part 2 of our series "#Courageous Conversations" we find out.In the wake of George Floyd's death and massive protests confronting police brutality and racism, Tonya Kemper was compelled to act. Tonya's birth parents are Black and Sicilian. She was adopted and raised by a white family...2020-07-0853 minOur Voices Matter PodcastDialogue, Diversity & Solutions With Guest David EisnerIf ever there were a moment in history when we are in dire need of diverse dialogue that leads to solutions, this is it. Most of you probably haven’t heard of Convergence, but you need to know about its work and how its methodology can help all of us have #courageous conversations in our everyday lives.For more than 11 years, this Washington, DC non-profit has brought together people with opposing points of view to talk about issues of critical national importance, and believe it or not, arrive at solutions. We’re talking education, healthcare, incarceration, economic mobi...2020-06-2436 minOur Voices Matter PodcastThe Tulsa Race Massacre: 99 Years Later - Reggie TurnerFor White Americans seeking to understand the depth of Black America’s pain and anger, the Tulsa Race Massacre is a good place to start. My guest today, Reggie Turner, produced and directed a documentary with first person accounts from survivors. They lived to tell the story of a thriving community that was a bastion of Black economic independence and wealth — until it was burned to the ground by a mob of angry White people.Rather than releasing this episode on our regular Wednesday schedule, it seems fitting to post today, June 19, 2020, in honor of Juneteenth. Juneteenth comm...2020-06-1949 minOur Voices Matter PodcastStarting Where We Are - #CourageousConversationsThe events of the last few weeks have been a catalyst for humans around the world to engage courageous conversations that have the capacity to change our culture. Open, raw, necessary and difficult dialogue about racism, discrimination, police brutality, prejudice and privilege. White privilege, to be exact. Rarely discussed in "mixed company" and typically relegated to the ranks of "we don't talk about this", these incendiary topics are now front and center from social media to the family dinner table to corporate boardrooms, and everywhere in between. And that's a good thing. It's a critical step on our j...2020-06-171h 01Our Voices Matter PodcastIt Comes With A Price - Ron IngeFor decades he struggled to find the words. They were always there, bubbling up just beneath the surface, but they had to stay hidden for the sake of his safety and his sanity. It took the murder of George Floyd and the resulting, massive outcry for the words to finally come tumbling out. He could no longer hold them in. He put them on paper, but that wasn't enough. He needed to speak them out loud. And now he has. Dr. Ron Inge turned his successful dental practice into a flourishing corporate career, now serving as the C...2020-06-1141 minOur Voices Matter PodcastThe Backside of the Tapestry - Dr. Marcia BrennanThe intersection of art, history, medicine, society and culture can teach us a lot. Especially in the midst of crisis. Especially if we ask the right questions. What will it take for us to come together? In whose interest is it for us to come together? In whose interest is it for us to remain divided? Provocative questions posed by Dr. Marcia Brennan, Modernist Art Historian and Professor of Humanities at Rice University.In the few days between our scheduled interview and the time we sat down, America went from two crises -- COVID and the ec...2020-06-0636 minOur Voices Matter PodcastCOVID-19 & The Common Good - Kari NixonLockdown, social distance, wear a mask. Protest, open up, ditch the mask. As our divisions deepen, the death toll continues to rise. Nearly 100,000 Americans dead from COVID-19. "How can we expect people to care about one another when we've built a society that's like...you make it on your own or you fail on your own?" Excellent, insightful question posed by this week's guest, Dr. Kari Nixon, a scholar of Medical Humanities and Assistant Professor at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. There's a nice, long definition of what it means to be a Medical Humanist, but I love K...2020-05-2739 minOur Voices Matter PodcastThe Encourager - James BrownAn event. A person. A kind word. All have the power to encourage and change a person's life. If anyone can attest to that, it's James Brown. I first interviewed him about a year ago as his new digital platform, EncourageX, was just launching. I don't have to tell you how much our world has changed since then. But what hasn't changed is the need for what James has built, and his vision of a world where encouragement is at our core. In fact, we need it now more than ever.As we cope with our new reality...2020-05-2029 minOur Voices Matter PodcastConstitutional Rights During a Pandemic - Justin DyerWhat are your rights during a pandemic? The global death toll from COVID-19 continues to rise. The push to reopen economies is gaining momentum. The rights of the individual versus what's deemed best for the common good, are on a collision course. Who has the constitution on their side? We thought it a question worth exploring, so we invited Justin Dyer, Director of the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, to help us decipher how our forebears envisioned such a crisis to our democracy.Support the show2020-05-1317 minOur Voices Matter PodcastWhen The Virus Takes a Loved One - James T. CampbellWhen The Virus takes a loved one, what happens next? How does one grieve through quarantine? How is a life celebrated when social distancing is in effect? How does a family come to grips with death in the age of COVID-19?They weren’t ready to say goodbye. The 88-year old beloved husband, father of 5 and grandfather/great-grandfather of 34, had a lot of life yet to live. More church services and birthday parties to celebrate. More family outings to enjoy. More baseball and football games to attend with his beloved son and namesake. In this week’s episode...2020-04-3042 minOur Voices Matter PodcastResilience in the Age of COVID-19 - Linda Rhodes The stress is real. The question is: “How do we cope in a healthy way that leads to resilience in the age of COVID-19?” As Our Voices Matter continues its focus on helping us get through this crisis together, today we highlight resources available through The Women’s Fund in Houston. The 40-year old non-profit champions women and girls, but the online tools it is now providing can help all of us advocate for our health. Let’s vow to come out strong on the other side. Executive Director, Linda Rhodes, is our guide.Support the show2020-04-2413 minOur Voices Matter PodcastThe Quarantine Patient - Lesley ThroupThis is the story of one woman's Coronavirus journey. "There's no cure for COVID-19. Go home and take care of yourself," said the healthcare worker. Sick, alone and determined not to give into the fear, one Houston area woman heard those terrifying words and took them to heart. She went home and did everything in her power to rid her body of Coronavirus. From symptoms, to diagnosis to tips on what is working for her to feel better, Lesley Throup holds nothing back. Listen, watch and check back with us regularly on Our Voices Matter Podcast as we follow Lesle...2020-04-1536 minOur Voices Matter PodcastLeading With Humanity - Jerry LascoLike so many small business owners, Jerry Lasco is fighting for his family, his employees and his community during this age of COVID-19. Forced to furlough many of the 500 workers who keep his popular Houston restaurants going, Jerry started looking for ways to help them and other hospitality workers survive. This isn't the first time he's had to pick up the pieces and re-think how to move forward. The last time was on 9/11 when he was an airline pilot who lost his job that day. He's now using that grit, resilience and lessons learned to tackle this new crisis head...2020-04-0920 minOur Voices Matter PodcastPandemic Inside a Pandemic with Guest Indrani GoradiaCOVID-19 has changed life as we know it. Wash your hands. Self-quarantine. Stay home, where the assumption is you are safe. From the virus. Not your abuser.As of this writing the Coronavirus pandemic is in approximately 110 countries. Domestic violence is in every single country, and has been, long before the virus upended our lives. “It’s been a pandemic for decades,” says Indrani Goradia. “And now we have a pandemic inside a pandemic.”Goradia grew up in a household where she says “violence was as free as breath.” This author, life coach and TEDx Talk speaker h...2020-04-0639 minOur Voices Matter PodcastI Refuse to Lose My HumanityI'm right there with you, Dr. Dalmia Manoj. That's why I'm sharing your story with the Our Voices Matter audience. Your voice matters, along with those of every healthcare worker and first responder on the front lines of caring for COVID-19 patients. Along with every person on this planet now living under a shroud of uncertainty previously unthinkable until a few short weeks ago. This is a place where all of you can be heard. This is a place where we will put your stories front and center. This is a place where we will honor your truth. Suppor...2020-04-0612 minOur Voices Matter PodcastTransparency & the Energy Transition with Guest Melody MeyerMy conversation with Melody Meyer, is a great way to kick off Women's History Month on OVM. Meyer is a trailblazer for women in energy and started in the industry 40 years ago. You could count her female colleagues on one hand -- or less. Talk about feeling like "the other!" Today, after retiring from a stellar career at Chevron, Meyer is embracing her second act, advocating for parity and transparency in the industry to which she has devoted her life -- an industry which itself is often "otherized." How did she deal with being the only woman in a m...2020-03-0427 minOur Voices Matter PodcastEnergy Meets Art With Guest Donna ColeWhat on earth could possess the owner of a successful energy company to produce a musical about a 17th century cloistered nun who is up for sainthood? For Donna Cole, CEO of Cole Chemical, it's all about connection. Connecting the right and left sides of her brain. Connecting one good person to another. Connecting us all to our common humanity.Cole is a Japanese American woman who started her business with $5,000 at a time when Japan-bashing was common. Today, Cole Chemical & Distributing has revenues in excess of $80 million. While Cole continues to run her company, she also embrace...2020-02-2631 minOur Voices Matter PodcastProphetic City - Stephen KlinebergBy now you know that Our Voices Matter podcast originates from Houston, Texas. If you don't live here and have never visited, what are you waiting for?!? But seriously, there is good reason to pay attention to this great city, poised to become the 3rd largest city in the country in a few short years. Why should you care what happens here? Because, as my guest this week explains, "Houston is where the American future is being worked out." Sit back and enjoy my conversation with noted Rice University researcher, demographer, Founding Director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Resea...2020-02-1929 minOur Voices Matter PodcastNavigating the Rising Tide of Uncertainty - Aida AraissiSitting down with Aida Araissi, Founding Director of the Bilateral Chamber in Houston, Texas, is like taking a quick trip across the globe with your best friend as a tour guide. Sure, she knows all the sites you'll want to see, but more important, she'll give you a human perspective that will leave a lasting impression and likely change how you view the world.Born in Tunisia and raised in Houston, Aida founded the Bilateral Chamber to help foster business relationships between the U.S. and the Middle East. For more than 20 years she has guided her stakeholders th...2020-02-0546 minOur Voices Matter PodcastBeyond Art: Elevating Humanity With Justin GarciaDon’t you just love it when you meet someone and you instantly click? That’s how I felt when I met artist and author, Justin Garcia, only a few days ago. By the time our brief encounter ended, I knew I wanted him to be a guest on Our Voices Matter; that his voice is an important one to add to our ongoing conversation about connection and humanity. I’ve always believed that art, in all its forms, has the power to bring us together in ways that nothing else can. Its transcendent nature speaks to the cor...2020-01-2924 minOur Voices Matter PodcastStudents' Voices Matter - Dr. Ira BlakeShe's devoted her life to "trying to understand what's behind you when I look at you, when I talk to you and I hear things that are different from my experience. I want to understand 'where does that come from' because it's got to be enriching." It's that approach to life and learning that Dr. Ira Blake brings to her role as the first woman and the first African-American to lead the University of Houston Clear Lake. On any given Friday, you will find this dedicated educator walking across campus, engaging with students, listening to their stories, dreams and chal...2020-01-2228 minOur Voices Matter PodcastThe Ebb and Flow of Hate - Dena MarksSupport the show2020-01-1524 minOur Voices Matter PodcastShow Up, Step Up & Listen - Maria Moncada Alaoui“Being able to get over yourself and listen to a different perspective is important, not just from a social perspective but also in business.” Add an insatiable love of learning and a work ethic on steroids, mixed with a heavy dose of empathy, and you have all the ingredients necessary to create a career as one of the most successful General Managers of a BMW dealership in the country. Never mind that you started as a receptionist and you’re a woman of color in a male dominated industry. Maria Moncada Alaoui isn’t one to back down from a challenge...2020-01-0825 minOur Voices Matter PodcastBe Part of the Solution - Joseph Kopser“This isn’t about being against Trump or for Trump; this is about saying ‘folks, this political theatre we’re in is dysfunctional. It helps no one.’” Joseph Kopser is all about being part of the solution. A U.S. Army veteran, successful entrepreneur and one-time candidate for Congress, Kopser is now heading up an Austin, Texas-based non-profit dedicated to creating a safe space where Americans don’t have to worry about being demonized because of their party affiliation. USTomorrow is working to increase civic engagement, build coalitions and reduce hyper-partisanship at a time when political divisions are driving dangerous wedges th...2019-12-1837 minOur Voices Matter PodcastThe Constitution and Civil Discourse - Justin DyerAs I write this on December 10, 2019, we Americans are in the midst of a real-time, real-world, real-consequences lesson on the privileges and challenges of living in a constitutional democracy. Perhaps you didn't pay attention to civics when you were in school; or perhaps you were never taught civics in school (that's a whole other episode). Whatever the circumstance, as our President faces impeachment (articles were unveiled today) and our divisions continue to widen, now is the time to pay attention and learn about the document that serves as a blueprint for how our government is supposed to function, and wh...2019-12-1136 minOur Voices Matter PodcastDisrupting Healthcare With Humanity - RUSHIKA FERNANDOPULLE"They're picked for one thing only which is empathy, being able to connect to another human being." Empathy, connection and humanity are at the core of how Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle is disrupting healthcare, one clinic, one patient at a time. The attributes described by the Co-Founder and CEO of Iora Primary Care are prerequisites to being a Health Coach in any Iora practice, working along side doctors, nurses and an entire team dedicated to each patient. Dr. Fernandopulle literally got sick and tired of delivering healthcare to his patients the same old way, so he threw out the...2019-12-0427 minOur Voices Matter PodcastNeighbor's Table - Sarah HarmeyerAs we gather around the table with friends and family to give thanks for our many blessings, this is the perfect week to revisit one of my favorite Our Voices Matter interviews. Sitting at Sarah Harmeyer's table in Dallas has been described as "feeling like love". A hand-crafted wooden table, lovingly made and beautifully set, where people from all walks of life are welcome, no matter who they are or what they believe. A Neighbor’s Table. Could it be that something so simple has the power to help bridge our divides? Table by table, person by person, s...2019-11-2733 minOur Voices Matter PodcastClash of Cultures - Asher Khan“I know how much this ruined my life. The last thing I want is for someone to go down the same road.” That is why Asher Khan agreed to this interview, during which he lays bare his soul. His is a cautionary tale for anyone in search of purpose and a sense of belonging, especially a young person still in the formative years, who can easily be guided down a road from which there might be no return.As a teenaged Asher tried to navigate between two cultures, his sense of isolation and longing for true connection made...2019-11-2030 min
Our Voices Matter PodcastNo Pride on Re-entryThere was no pride in reentry.” It wasn’t until his News Director sent him to visit the Viet Nam Memorial that #KPRC news anchor Bill Balleza started feeling safe enough to come out of the shadows and reveal his military service. For too many years, he and his brothers felt like “the other”. In tomorrow’s episode of #Our Voices Matter with Linda Lorelle, Part 2 of an intimate #conversation with my former co-anchor, as emotions bubble to the surface. Here’s a sneak peek. #kprc #clik2houston #military #proudveteran #marine #journalist #truth #empathy #permissiontospeak #couragetolisten #podcast...2019-11-1329 minOur Voices Matter PodcastShannon Foley Martinez - The Black Sheep and White PowerThere was a time when Shannon Foley Martinez and I would never have been able to sit down and have a conversation. She embraced white supremacy. I am black. I have often wanted to speak frankly with someone who has openly expressed hatred for African Americans, or for that matter, hatred for anyone. In September of this year, I got my chance. I interviewed Shannon as part of a larger video project Lorelle Media is producing about how to counter violent extremism. When we sat down for the podcast interview, my questions came pouring out. Little did I...2019-10-3044 minOur Voices Matter PodcastThe Ivy League Terrorist Part 2: Impact of the U.S. Withdrawal from SyriaWhen President Trump announced the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria in early October, there was immediate concern among many that the decision would lead to the resurgence of ISIS. Nonsensical conjecture or reality-based concern? I reached out to a previous OVM guest who is uniquely qualified to help answer that question and provide much needed context. After all, he is a former recruiter for ISIS and Al Qaeda who helped write their propaganda playbooks. He is now working with the good guys to try and right the wrongs of his past. If you haven't yet listened to or wa...2019-10-2321 minOur Voices Matter PodcastA Seat At The TableWhat does love feel like to you? To a man named Russ, love feels like sitting at Sarah Harmeyer’s table. A hand-crafted wooden table, lovingly made and beautifully set, where people from all walks of life are welcome, no matter who they are or what they believe. A Neighbor’s Table. Could it be that something so simple has the power to help bridge our divides? Table by table, person by person, state by state, that’s exactly what Neighbor’s Table is doing. Join me in this uplifting conversation with Sarah Harmeyer, a self-proclaimed people gatherer whose heart and pass...2019-10-1633 minOur Voices Matter PodcastCheck Your EgoIs there someone in your family with whom you disagree politically? How do you handle that? Do you allow them to speak freely while you listen with an open mind? As you know, that’s the Our Voices Matter mantra. It’s one this week’s guest actively practices in his own family, as well as among the 500 employees who staff his restaurant business, including its signature concepts, The Tasting Room and Max’s Wine Dive. Jerry Lasco, CEO of Lasco Enterprises, sits down with me to share how his midwestern values and growing up in the military play a role in ho...2019-10-0932 min
Our Voices Matter PodcastThe Ivy League TerroristI didn't know what to expect. It isn't every day that one gets to sit down and talk with a former recruiter for Al-Qaeda and ISIS. What led him down that path; why did he ultimately leave that life; what is he doing now to make amends, if one can make amends for such heinous acts committed; and perhaps most important, what can we learn from him to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our nation?The answers to these questions and more are revealed in this timely interview with Jesse Morton, a one-time suburban kid who bec...2019-09-1159 minOur Voices Matter PodcastDifference MattersLinda Lorelle interviews Katie Mehnert Support the show2019-06-1928 minOur Voices Matter PodcastStefanie Cantu - OVM 9Stef Cantu and I first crossed paths in 2004 when she walked across a stage and I handed her a Linda Lorelle college scholarship. Today, she is on our Board. That, in itself, is quite a story, which we will definitely touch on. But there is so much more to this young woman who is thoughtful and kind and funny and wise and primed for an incredible future that was once unthinkable because of the circumstances she was born into. Want to be inspired and feel hope for our collective future? Listen in and enjoy!Support the show2019-02-0528 min