Adding Context

Jordan Waggoner is a just a guy from rural Minnesota, with a little bit of property and some horses. He, to his surprise, accidently gathered nearly half a million followers on TikTok. His content of choice? Pretty much everything. Science? Check. Random stories? Check. History? Check. He just puts his thoughts out to the world and the people like it. 

Please check out his content and his website, https://linktr.ee/off_jawaggon.

We are back! Our apologies for the extended hiatus. We return with a “2-fer.” This episode I spoke to Jean Dvorak and Vivian Scavo, two women I have known for many years. Two women who are true educators. Two women who helped me try to grasp the current state of education. Given headlines across the nation of hyperbolic nonsense and cringe worthy anti-intellectualism, I wanted to talk to people who actually are in the classroom. As the episode title says, we nicked the tip of the iceberg.

This episode’s guest is DeTravis Bethea. Detravius is an old friend, we both “took the scenic route” after high school. He is an attorney, business coach, public speaker, entrepreneur, educator, and more these days. DeTravius moved to my hometown in 8th grade, after moving 5 times during his K-8th years! He is living proof people are more than their class rank or GPA in school. He shows that with personal drive, you can become what you envision in your mind. His vast experiences and career changes have given him insight that he shares with others. If you are in need of an attorney or some advice on how to start a business the right way, you can reach him at TheBethea.com

Debbie Peterson’s story reads like some dark noir script from the ’30s. Full of intrigue, shady backroom deals, and death, possibly murder?! Debbie is, like me, a wearer of many hats. Of her many ventures in life, she is a mother, a 2X Best Selling Author, a well-established entrepreneur, an orator, an atypical politician, an educator, and just a pleasant person to chat with! Check out her link tree for all her socials, books, podcast, and more! linktr.ee/DebbiePeterson.com

We happily welcome back Professor Stephen Wermiel. Prof. Wermiel is a professor of law and the history of the U.S. Supreme Court. When we last had him as a guest, we spoke about the Court’s history, nuances regarding its workings, and some of the hotter topics at the time. Well, a lot has happened since his first appearance. In this chat, we discussed recent additions and decisions to and by the SCOTUS.

Charles Chadwick is a former college student who experienced the challenges many others face in these times of predatory college lending. He made the decision to use his trials to help others. Charles has two degrees but he also learned a trade before going to college. 

He believes that learning a trade can add more value given today’s very competitive job market as it adds marketable and tangible skills to one’s resume. Careers like Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC and other trades typically survive weak economies and recessions which allows for flexibility and possibly less stress in volatile employment climates. They give more job security by performing essential services that the world needs at all times. 

The author of two books, “Chadwick’s College Checklist 2 Steps W/Tips On How To Cut College Costs” and “Chadwick’s Cultivated Circumstances: Experience Is Sometimes Priceless.” Check them out and all he has to offer at chadwicksexperiences.com.

Nick Klingensmith has received “bad news” more than he cares to count. Obstacles seem to find a way of appearing before him, although now, they more often come on his terms. Battling cancer four times, type-1 diabetes, a litany of physical injuries including herniated discs and torn chest ligaments, and the demons of alcoholism, he shifted his perspective from that of a victim long ago. Now he faces self-imposed challenges of Spartan races and marathons, yes, THOSE marathons. Balancing all the nuances of managing his medical conditions with the needs required to endure 26.1-mile runs or a slew of runs that culminated in 127 miles in 6 weeks, Nick does not do it for the personal accolades, he does it to show that you should not allow yourself to be defined by you medical or mental health issues, or allow those circumstances to be your limitations. You are only a victim of your situation if you allow yourself to be. Pick up a copy of his incredible story, “Through the Fire” on Amazon. You can also follow his treks through the Spartan courses and marathons on Instagram or Twitter.

Roger Smith is the “unlikely leader.” His life story is full of peaks and valleys, an incredible mix of productivity and addiction, and a turnaround worthy of a Hallmark movie. From a high school dropout to a CEO, something that seems to be an essential element for some of the most successful people like “Auntie Anne” Beiler and Ralph Lauren. Roger has taken the less-than-orthodox lessons he learned on the streets and intertwined them with the more polished lessons from his mentors to become the CEO of two large insurance companies. He shares his story and thoughts on the qualities and practices he has employed and trained over his career to lead his companies to success. Now, with a little more time on his hands, he has written a new book, “The Most Unlikely Leader: An Unbelievable story from GED to CEO.” For more from Roger, visit his website for his social media links, appearances, and more.

Jackie London is a Registered Dietitian (RD), a New York State Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist (CDN), an author, and the former head of Nutrition & Wellness for Weight Watchers, these are just some of her titles. We spoke about a number of aspects of personal health and nutrition. Given her extensive background, she shared her knowledge on ways we can improve our health by small changes to what we eat. We spoke about some of the “fad” and restrictive dieting methods. Check out her social media contacts for more information at:  

Website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Marlene Sharp hails from the entertainment town of New Orleans. After college, she wanted a change of pace, so she headed out west to LA, for a different kind of entertainment. In the time she has spent building her resume, she has held several positions in the gaming and video industries. She has worked for Sega of America in a number of production capacities, most notably developing SONIC the Hedgehog from a game to an animated series and movies. She is currently the head of Pink Poodle Productions and the Head of IP Strategy and Acquisitions for Rainshine Entertainment. We chatted about her path into the entertainment industry and some of the wide array of jobs involved in making movies. You can follow all of her adventures through her Linktree.