Lives Radio Show With Stuart Chittenden

Omaha native Tony Veland is not just a two-time National Champion and Superbowl Champion as a trophy winning former Nebraska Cornhusker and a Denver Bronco, he is a committed advocate for community and youth. Tony talks with me about how his experiences on and off the field have shaped who he is today, his commitment to community, and his work supporting opportunity for youth. Tony is the Director of Business Development for the https://aiminstitute.org/ (AIM Institute). Although known for his past accomplishments in the sports arena, having experienced success at the highest levels, he loves to use his platform, experience, and talents to encourage the next generation to be successful in life beyond the areas of athletics. 

Poet and editor Lindsey Anne Baker talks with me about her most recent book of poems, "This Is Bad," which artfully and pointedly addresses her exploration of life with Graves disease and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, as well as love, desire, and hunger for existence. Lindsey talks candidly about life with a degenerative nerve disease and the impact on her family and her writing. She also reads selections of her poetry. Lindsey Anne Baker is a copy editor for The Atlantic, where she works on web features, poetry published online and in print, podcast copy, promotional materials, social-media copy, exclusive newsletters, and more. She also assists in soliciting and selecting poetry for publication online. Prior to her role at The Atlantic, Lindsey served as editor-in-chief of Quest Magazine, the nationally distributed flagship print publication of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Lindsey earned a bachelor’s degree in news-editorial journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2004 and has written an

Keith Station is the first ever Deputy Chief of Staff for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Mayor’s Office at the https://www.cityofomaha.org/ (City of Omaha). We talk about the aspirations and frustrations of his DEI work, a little of his life journey in coming to this calling, his emergence as a community leader, and more. Keith Station's role is to develop and lead a strategic plan for Diversity & Inclusion in city government. Keith was previously Director of Business Relations at Heartland Workforce Solutions and led the YMCA of Greater Omaha. He earned his degree in Business Administration at the University of Nebraska and his Masters in Management at Indiana University-Bloomington. He lives in Omaha with his family.

In my conversation with chef and entrepreneur, Nina Sodji, we talk about her innovative take on traditional west African cuisine at https://okraafricangrill.com/ (Okra African Grill), her business ups and downs, and her passion for food and community. Nina Sodji first immigrated to America in 1994 with a business visa, hailing from Togo, a west Africa nation. She began her career as a nurse who had a growing passion for cooking. Nina ran with her heart, opened an African grocery market in Omaha in 2004, and later added a restaurant and was successful until the 2008 Great Recession. She went on to achieve a culinary degree from Metropolitan Community College, and a bachelor’s in business management from Bellevue University. It was at MCC Nina that noticed the foods she grew up enjoying in Togo were derived from lots of cultures: French, Spanish, German, Indian and neighboring African countries. The flavors she grew up loving were a result of her country's complicated history of colonialization, invasion, and p

Soul woman Mary Elizabeth Jo Dixen Pelenaise Kapi’olani Lawson is the heart and artist behind Mesonjixx. In our conversation – featuring a tiny desk concert – Mary shares her growth as an artist, some tough lessons and choices that came with that journey, and how she uses her musical artistry to explore her lived experiences. Mary also talks about the new live album being released on March 11 and her mini tour starting March 15, as well as playing a couple of songs live in the studio!

Born and raised in Mexico, when she was 12 years old Itzel and her family moved to Omaha, where she is currently VP of Advancement & Community Relations at the AIM Institute. In our conversation, we talk about bravery, her journey as an undocumented immigrant, the "glass mountain" of leadership, and her unquenchable energy for community and entrepreneurship. An active member of the Hispanic and broader community, Itzel has played a key role in the growth of the annual Cinco de Mayo Omaha festivities. She is a recent graduate of the Non-Profit Leadership Institute and Leadership Omaha and is currently participating in the inaugural class of Opportunity Corps 2022, a professional development and entrepreneurship mentorship program for Women in STEAM through the UNeTech Institute and Bio Nebraska.

Author and poet https://kassandramontag.com/ (Kassandra Montag) uses her poetry as a way into vulnerability and a means to explore challenging experiences. In our conversation, she talks about some of the issues she confronts in her new collection of poetry https://dundee-book-company.square.site/product/chorus-of-the-underground-sea-poems/2566?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=true (“Chorus of the Underground Sea,”) and reads a couple of poems from that book. We also talk about themes such as motherhood, sacrifice, and our relationship with nature that Kassandra addresses in her first novel “After the Flood,” which has been published in fifteen languages and optioned for TV and film. Kassandra also shares a little about her creative origins and process and teases her forthcoming novel “Those Who Return.”

Marjorie Maas serves as the inaugural executive director of https://shareomaha.org/ (SHARE Omaha), whose mission is to help nonprofits fulfill theirs by offering the giving public opportunities to connect with metro nonprofits through donations, volunteering, and fulfilling "wish lists." In our conversation, Marjorie talks about how SHARE Omaha has grown substantially since its founding in 2019 and the lessons she has learned, as a leader, during that period. We also talk about Marjorie's personal calling and the family context and experiences that lead her on. Whether as a marketer, fund developer, advocate or consultant, Marjorie Maas has helped initiatives and organizations in the Omaha metro area and across Nebraska for nearly 20 years. Roles have included Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska’s director of corporate social responsibility, development officer for College Possible Omaha and director of Nebraskans for the Arts. She is a 2010 Ten Outstanding Young Omahan winner and

Casey Putney’s 20 year career in the US Air Force sparked his passion for leadership and making an impact in people’s lives, an ethos he takes into his current role with Omaha's Business Ethics Alliance. As well as his career journey, in our conversation Casey shares how his life was shaped by childhood poverty and the example of a hard-working single mom. He also shares the ethical and values-based lessons he has drawn from his own recent health challenges. Casey Putney is the Vice President of Leadership Development for the Business Ethics Alliance, which seeks to build leadership, strengthen organizations, and elevate Greater Omaha by catalyzing an environment where the discussion and practice of ethics is encouraged and expected in the local community. Casey is a John Maxwell certified leadership speaker, coach, and trainer with a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Bellevue University, a certification in Business Ethics from Duke University, as well as certifications in Diversity, Equity an

John Jeanetta is the president and CEO of https://www.heartlandfamilyservice.org/ (Heartland Family Service). In this show, John talks about the history and purpose of the agency in tackling social challenges and inequities, as well as his own life experiences and calling. As well as leading Heartland Family Service’s remarkable growth over the last decade, John serves on several nonprofit and community boards, including the Leadership Council for HueSpring, a leadership development program tailored to LGBTQIA+ early career professionals, and the U.S. - Ukraine Foundation Board of Advisors. Under John’s leadership, the 146-year-old Heartland Family Service agency has grown tremendously, with operating revenue up by 140 percent, program growth of 77 percent and several large capital projects recently completed, including the $32 million North Omaha Intergenerational Campus, a collaborative effort of Heartland Family Service and Holy Name Housing Corporation. This growth has enabled Heartland Family Service to

https://www.israelgreene.com/ (Israel Greene) is a highly sought after speaker, trainer, and coach with a focus on DEI and belonging. A wonderful human being who has lived a rich, unexpected life, we talk about his work helping to transform corporate cultures and communities. We also talk about his life story, including the recent discovery that he was adopted, which prompted a search for connection with his biological family. Listen as Israel shares his experiences, disappointments, and hopes, and much more. Passionate about helping leaders transform their company culture, Israel Greene has been listed as one of the “Top Ten Trending DE&I Training Experts” by All American Entertainment. In addition to being the founder of Greene Consulting Group, he is also a Senior Consultant with Envisioning Equity and a contributing member to “A World Without Suicide.”

Esther Mejia is the President and CCO of https://ecreativeinc.com/ (E Creative), a brand strategy and communications firm she founded in 2011. In our conversation, we talk about her upbringing in rural Nebraska, her early exploration in fine art and design, and the leap of faith she made in starting her own business, including lessons learned and challenges overcome along the way. Esther was born into a large, close-knit family, to parents who emigrated to Nebraska from Mexico. She has served on several boards to fulfill her commitment to her community and to honor her family’s tradition of service. After ten years as an entrepreneur, Esther remains focused on her passion – helping community-driven organizations to connect with their clients. Esther’s leadership efforts focus on organizations that serve immigrants, women, girls and LGBTQIA+ as communities she identifies with most, serving where she knows she can represent others like her and ensure that the voices of diverse populations are heard. 

Sara Martin is CEO of the https://www.welcoa.org/ (Wellness Council of America) (WELCOA). In our conversation, she talks about intentions for well-being in 2022, WELCOA's efforts during the pandemic and its efforts for the year ahead. Sara observes how the last two years have provided space for "more beautiful questions" about the wellness industry and how we might embrace a fresh, more honest approach to well-being. Sara also talks about her own family story and how that motivated her lifelong focus on well-being and the workplace.

David Leibowitz talks about the music scene, his favorite bands and albums of 2021, and some amusing anecdotes of encounters with Saint Vincent, Carrie Brownstein, and Paul Westerberg, to name a few. Dave is a life-long music fan, record collector, and music business professional. He first entered the music business as a teenager in the 1980s, when he published his own fanzine dedicated to the band KISS. In the 90s, he formed his own independent record label, Mafia Money Records, where he produced and released records from artists around the country. For the last 17 years, he has hosted the weekly radio show, http://www.newdayrisingshow.com/ (New Day Rising), which introduces listeners to new, independent artists. In addition to the radio show, he also hosts the Youtube channel and podcast, https://www.youtube.com/c/thedarkstuff (The Dark Stuff), which focuses on record collecting, interviews, and live music concerts.

Jeff Spiehs is the Senior Planner at https://lamprynearson.com/ (Lamp Rynearson) and works with a team of landscape architects and civic engineers to leave a legacy of lasting impact and creating more equitable communities. He is often thinking about how people desire to interact with spaces and about his role in helping to create that lived experience in the places we inhabit. We talk about how we live and could live in our urban environments, bringing community values and voices into the planning process, what for him characterizes a utopia and a dystopia, and how he came into this vocation.

Nebraska State Senator John McCollister has a history of taking a principled stand for decency and integrity in public office, working with others to achieve beneficial policy progress rather than ratcheting up violent, acrimonious rhetoric. In our conversation, Senator McCollister talks about Republican values, his denouncement of white supremacy within parts of the GOP, the nastiness of the current political landscape - especially the toxicity of Donald Trump and his lackeys - and his own efforts to legislate positive social change in criminal justice, nutrition support, climate change, and more. We also talk about Senator McCollister’s long, successful business life, his upbringing, and more besides.

Nathan Preheim is a serial entrepreneur in every way and can’t help but concept new companies. With Erica Wassinger, he cofounded Proven Ventures, which offers a fresh approach to venture capital and invests in Nebraska startups that wish to start, grow, and stay in Nebraska. In this show, Nathan talks about how Proven Ventures has crafted a uniquely Midwestern approach to startup investing, focused on building and growing. He also shares his views on entrepreneurs and the Nebraskan entrepreneur ecosystem, as well some of his own history and motivation. Prior to Proven Ventures, Nathan’s many endeavors included cofounding MindMixer, a civic engagement startup that quickly scaled from 0 customers to nearly 1,000 in just two years, eventually employing more than 75 employees across the midwest. With Erica Wassinger, a prior guest on this show (see podcast from March 13, 2019), Nathan also cofounded The Startup Collaborative, an entrepreneurship catalyst. A San Francisco expat, Creighton University and Universit

Sharon Robino-West was featured in the Nebraska Public Media segment “The Warrior’s Pen” in 2015 discussing the importance of writing and the Veteran experience. In our conversation Sharon talks about issues of sexual assault in the military, PTSD, and the exploration of these and other life experiences through the medium of writing. We also talk about her memoir and much more besides. Sharon has published work in “As You Were: Volume II, a publication of Military Experience and the Arts” and another of her works, “Into the Unknown,” was read in performance by Alfre Woodard at the 2016 Gala for the Writers Guild Initiative of America East in New York City. Her most recent work was published in “From Warriors to Warrior Writers” in 2020. Sharon will be wrapping up her memoir at the Key West Literary Seminar with the assistance of Bich Minh Nguyen in January 2022.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/245882/timothy-schaffert/ (Timothy Schaffert) grew up on a farm in Nebraska and now lives in Omaha. He is the author of the just released novel https://theperfumethief.com/ (“The Perfume Thief,” )as well as five previous critically acclaimed novels. In our conversation, we explore some of the themes of his new novel, including Schaffert's poetic use of the senses, shapeshifting and cultural norms, romance and the melancholy. We also talk about the craft of writing, Schaffert's research into his new book., and more.

Dr. Ali S. Khan is a former Assistant Surgeon General and current Dean of the https://www.unmc.edu/publichealth/ (College of Public Health) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Dr. Khan shares his family's journey from the Himalayan foothills in Kashmir to Brooklyn, NY and the beginnings of his passion for medicine and infectious diseases. We talk about bioterrorism, our failed response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the role for politicians and public health officials, and why Omaha and UNMC are the place to be! Dr. Khan’s professional career has focused on health security, global health, and emerging infectious diseases. He was a disease detective at https://www.cdc.gov/ (CDC) – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – and one of the main architects of CDC’s public health bioterrorism preparedness program. As Dean of the UNMC College of Public Health, his focus is on health system and community based health transformations. In 2015 he supported response activities for the West A