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And now the 490 with Gretchen de Becker, Matt Killam, and Kevin Mullin all.

Welcome into the 419 A Tuesday edition.

Welcome.

I'm Kevin mullin.

Gretchen becker.

Oh, we're gonna have.

Some fun.

I know we've got a jam packed show, so we better pick up the pace here, because we've got Doctor Rebecca from the College of Law.

Yes.

You said she was your professor.

Yes.

And she might.

Have given me a seat, I don't know.

Oh, right.

Yeah.

But did.

You earn deserved?

No, no, no, I did not earn a better grade than that.

Okay.

Yeah.

So she's now the dean of the law school.

Probably because of what a good professor she was to me.

I feel like total sense, but excited to have her on.

Yeah.

I feel like this entire show is basically like Gretchen's entire life in one show.

Right.

So we've got the UT College of Law.

We've got Michael Murray from the Valentine Theater.

So you get.

To, like.

Nerd out on theater?

Yes.

And then also failed MC.

Failed MC Gretchen.

I never really attempted.

It, but, you know, he's not a failed MC VC.

The MC, Vince Croce, is going to be joining us.

He.

I mean, truly.

And I've told him this like I feel like he, like, came out of nowhere.

Yeah.

And is now he appears to be the master of ceremonies of everything in Toledo.

There is very few events that he is not the MC of.

He has a lot of multi printed suits to wear to things.

He was.

I have my grandfather's wig.

Oh, okay.

I mean there was an event.

I didn't get invited either.

Yeah, well it was we went if we got a DJ.

If it's not one of the two of us.

That's right.

It's really not.

Not a part of that you want to be at.

But one of the other things we have in common with VC, the MC, is that we are both nominated, meaning the 419.

Is nominated for a Best of Toledo awards.

Segways like that, right?

That put it right.

That's why we're there.

Yeah.

Just tuned in 45 minutes later.

Nominated for Best of Toledo Podcast 419.

Alongside a bunch of people that we don't like all that much so.

That otherwise.

We're better than they are.

Yeah.

That's debatably accurate.

FM 91 is also nominated for best radio station.

That's right.

Yeah.

So that's exciting.

You can go to Toledo city.

Com.

We will plug and ask for votes.

Why not?

We're not above it.

I think it's also a kudos to the City Paper.

Taking a page from what we want to do here.

They've been celebrating the best of Toledo for a very long time.

And there's no better way to to talk about great things.

They do a wonderful job.

Last week we had the folks from 20 under 40 on the program, and they they talked about how they don't use the term winners because that implies there's losers.

They use the term honorees.

That was just for me.

Yeah.

Okay.

That's fair.

Yeah.

No, they they do it for everyone.

Yeah.

I actually I saw an email.

Yeah.

Awardees where?

I'm sorry.

Awardees where someone referred to as a winner of the 2240.

Winner and awardee is different.

I delete every email I get from that organization.

But I but I said to say that I think that's the I mean, I feel the same way that I tell people, if you were nominated for 20 under 40, it's because someone believes that you are one of the top 20 leaders on the age of 40 in northwest Ohio today, and you should take that.

Like the people who know you best are the ones who nominated you.

Don't worry about what the judges think.

Right.

Like, take that award and run.

And I truly to be nominated for the City Paper.

Best of is fantastic.

I agree.

Certainly appreciate it.

We're grateful to have the partnership with t e, but also to have each and every one of you joining us every weekday to be a part of this program.

Certainly, we love having the guests on.

And we talk about how in season one, we had over 350 guests that all make Toledo better.

But the reality is, none of this works without you joining us as well.

We're going to take a break.

When we come back, we'll be joined by Doctor Rebecca Zillow, the dean of the College of Law at the University of Toledo.

It's the 419.

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Welcome back into the 419.

We're joined now by Dean Zeitler from the College of Law.

Thank you so much for joining us here on the 419.

I'm happy to be here.

Thank you so much.

So Gretchen tells us that you, may have given her a C in one of her classes.

Like, kind of what kind of any.

Chance deserved one?

I would say.

It wasn't unfair.

For charity.

Oh.

Or charitable.

Of all the students you've had.

Is there any chance that you remember Gretchen as a student?

Well, of course I do.

Yeah.

Yeah, I remember her very well.

I think she was an evening student.

Yes.

Right.

And also at that time, she owned a sufficient grounds, which was the coffee shop in our neighborhood.

And.

And now, Gretchen.

Such an amazing personality.

Of course, she, you know.

Well, there were two Gretchen's.

I can see whether it be easily confused.

Tell us a little bit about what.

What is the job of the dean of the law school?

What do you do day in and day out?

Well, it's like, you know, drinking from a fire hose, basically.

Because what I'm doing is I'm administering the whole the school, so, you know, the staff, which, by the way, we have the most wonderful staff at the College of Law, the student.

Who has recently returned.

Heather.

Kind of my favorite people.

She is really wonderful.

We're so glad to have her back.

The students, the faculty, as much as one can, you know, supervise faculty.

And so that's one part of my job.

Second part of my job is to work with the university to make sure that the College of Law is both complying with university rules and is that we're an active member of supportive member of the community university community.

Third job is working nationally with other deans on major issues.

So for example, both issues of recent issues are issues of accreditation, the change in the bar exam.

And I'm and I've been working on rural access to Justice.

That's a big issue.

I've been working on nationally and also with the law school, of third, how many was that?

Fourth job is raising money for the law school as much as I possibly can.

Yeah.

And that's very important and increasingly important as we have had budget cuts, you know, at the university, working with the alumni, spending as much time as possible, which is the best part of my job.

Well, that and working with the students, I mean, it's the students in the alumni.

And that's why I also have been teaching.

I was going to ask, do you still teach?

Yes, but it's really hard.

I have to say, I'm teaching constitutional law this semester, and that is just about.

I think we're doing away with that anyway.

Well, that's.

That's one of the reasons.

Why it's hard.

Yeah.

May I ask that the you talked about connecting with deans across the United States.

Yes.

It what is that look like?

Is it a self-help group?

Do you?

Yes.

Yeah.

And I don't know this, and maybe the audience doesn't as well.

I think that probably both things are true.

Law has been around, you know, since the beginning of our country, but also evolves or changes.

So when you meet or when you gather, what is the communication amongst your peers look like?

Sure.

We gather twice a year.

There's an annual ABA, Al Deans conference in the summer, and then at the annual meeting in, in December.

So then we'll usually spend or two together talking about issues.

I mentioned some of them.

Yes, but we always do have at least one panel that's about.

Are you taking care of yourself?

Yeah, absolutely.

Lawyers are notorious for not doing that.

I mean, we have continuing legal education to do that and to address those things.

Sure.

I've heard the statistic, and I'm going to get the numbers wrong here.

You may you may know, but I'm not gonna put you on the spot for it.

But, you know, the University of Toledo is one of a handful across the country, institutions that have a medical school, College of law.

Like a few other college of law.

Engineering, pharmacy, health and human services.

So, like, I mean, this medicine.

Of course, really is a I mean, on the whole, a real gift to Northwest Ohio.

I'm curious from your perspective.

Why is it important to Toledo, the city, to have a law school at the University of Toledo?

Sure.

We are the the law school for Northwest Ohio, basically in Toledo, the city many of our, the many of our lawyers, our community leaders, such as Gretchen, our judges, our both, our prosecutor, Lucas County prosecutor and the head of public defender Toledo legal Aid are both our alumni.

We supply lawyers throughout this region, and there really is a shortage of lawyers in Ohio.

So even with us here on actively graduating students, we still need more and more attorneys as attorneys graduate.

So.

And another thing that lawyers do is, along with practicing law and forming part of the legal structure, but they tend to be very active in the community to serve on boards of not for profits and other charitable activities.

You know, they're they're likely to be the, you know, the soccer coach, the head of the PTA, the head of the school.

You know, Ottawa Hills School Board is both one of our alums and a professor at the College of Law.

To that end, Dean.

What makes a good lawyer?

Oh my goodness.

Well, makes a good lawyer is someone who is dedicated to the rule of law.

Sure.

Who is conscientious about representing their clients, whoever their client might be.

But individual people, corporations, the city of Toledo, who is truthful and honest, of course, and ethical and who is worked with other people in a productive way to resolve their cases and is not overly aggressive or obnoxious.

You talk about this.

This shortage.

That's not that's not a punchline.

That's right.

I thought that that was in the spirit of Halloween.

You talk.

About this.

This shortage of of lawyers in Ohio and and the law school in partnership with, I believe, the state bar Association, Foundation and other groups are working to address that, particularly the, the lawyers that are needed in rural areas and rural counties in our in northwest Ohio.

Can you talk a little bit about what that project is and what the law school is doing?

Sure.

I'd love to, as this is a priority of the Ohio State Bar Association.

They have a staff member who works only on these issues are recent.

Our alumna, Michelle Kranz, who was the OSCE president a couple of years ago, is really passionate about this, as are many of the other local attorneys.

We got together a couple of years ago with Michelle, with the leaders of the Ohio State Bar Association and, and applied for a grant from the Ohio State Bar Foundation, which we have gotten to start a rural Access to Justice clinic in coordination with the Ohio Northern University College of Law.

Down in Ada.

We are going to be opening up a clinic in in Bowling Green next semester, which will be serving a people who live in Wood County and surrounding counties.

It will include not only a clinical professor and students who will be working in the clinic, but also two fellows who will be recently graduated who are dedicated to rural practice.

So it's intended to serve as a pipeline and a community center as well as a teaching.

And it's the first clinic of its kind.

And we're very excited.

Is it any type of law?

Is it?

Is it criminal, civil?

Anything?

That is correct.

I mean, mostly civil.

But of course, you know, when you're a most rural practice, attorneys are doing everything whatever you know, their community needs was is going to include, you know, minor criminal offenses like DUI, etc.. And so the maybe you just answer the question, this is really good display display ignorance every time someone mentions a felony.

Kevin Snyder's Pavlovian reaction.

The difference between rural and I guess sort of city or urban attorneys is it just is just a shortage of representation or the dealing with totally different subject matter.

Largely.

It's mostly the same subject matter, right?

It's going to be your family law, your trust in the states, your real estate transactions.

But there are other issues that are uniquely rural, such as Aguilar.

Okay.

Energy law with the data centers, that's a big issue right now in rural communities.

I'm going to be learning more about this, actually, because this weekend there is a national conference w I have helped to organize, along with the president of the American Association of Law Schools and the Law School Admissions Council on Rural Access to Justice, where we're going to be convening nationally.

People working on this.

Where are you having that?

That will be in Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Because nothing says rural like Nebraska, right.

For you.

That's right.

We'll just wants to put that in Chicago.

That's right there.

I have the great pleasure of being raised by attorneys.

So I'm going to put you on the spot here.

Do you have a favorite law oriented television show and or movie, or do they all creating for you?

Oh my goodness.

Law oriented television.

Well, I really like the Lincoln Lawyer.

Yeah, sure.

That's a really good show.

That is a good show.

Is it fun?

You know, that's not in Lincoln, Nebraska.

I don't know.

If that's right.

Okay.

I didn't know if that's why you thematically.

Those of us who are from Detroit area know it means the car.

The Lincoln.

That's right.

Tell us about if it exists.

Who is a typical University of Toledo law student today?

Well, well, we have many.

So the typical Toledo law student is a first generation lawyer.

80 to 90% of our students are first gen lawyers, first in their family and as many as 40% sometimes.

Right now, it's around 20% our first gen college students.

Interesting.

They were the first person in their family to be college students.

So what we've got in our at our law school and our alumni are people with grit, right?

People with drive and ambition who are wanting to do something new and different, as 50% of them are in law school because they want to change the world.

We're number 26 in the country for public interest law, actually, and part of the reason for that also is our tuition is relatively low.

As a state school.

We are increasingly have are having law students coming down from the Detroit area.

So we're increasingly serving the Detroit community as well as, as in other parts of Michigan as well as Ohio.

And they tend to be, you know, you know, they tend to be really nice people.

They tend to be very collegial towards each other.

We really pride ourselves of being student centered, and we really pride ourselves as having a strong sense of community, which I know we had when Gretchen was here and at the College of Law and continues to be.

What we're on.

When you.

When you, attend the law school, there's not a night program anymore.

Is that right?

Or is there?

That is correct.

We had to sunset the night program because we just didn't have enough interest.

Okay.

Was it coincidentally just after Gretchen?

After Gretchen left?

To the point.

Debated sunsetting the whole thing?

That's right.

They were.

Like, you know, general, rather.

Than close all the doors, let's just close the door that Gretchen came.

That's right.

Obviously, the pharmacy program.

Yes.

We're talking with teams that lo from the University of Toledo College of Law.

Do you know, I'm curious, how you got into this, right?

I mean, how did you.

Because there's when you become an attorney, there's so many different paths for you to take.

Why did you go the the academia route?

How did you end up here?

Sure.

I grew up in Bloomington, Indiana.

Indiana University.

My father was a professor, and I always kind of knew I wanted to be a professor.

So I went to law school.

I worked for five years as a legal services, a lawyer on the South Side of Chicago.

And then I decided to apply for jobs.

Toledo was a warm and welcoming place.

It was relatively close to my parents.

And, and so I came here, and I've been here ever since.

I love this place.

I raised my kids here.

The thing that I really love about Toledo is what I mentioned before is the students is the, you know, the grit and the drive and, and so the sort of the same part of me that wanted to be a legal services lawyer and on the South Side of Chicago loves being at this school with first generation professionals and helping people to achieve their dreams.

We only have a little over a minute left, but when you were sworn in or you accepted this job as the dean, one of the things that you mentioned said that you wanted to do was give law students more practical experience, because while law school is a great experience and you learn a lot and do a lot of reading, how to put out a shingle or how to like, actually do the work is not something that you learn in law school.

What are some things that you're putting in place, or that you would like to put in place to get students, the ability to have that practical experience?

Sure.

Yes.

It has been a priority.

I mentioned the Rural Access clinic.

We've also started another clinic, the Beyond Conviction Clinic, which works with people to either expungement or expedited pardon through the governor's.

So those are some of the things I've been doing also.

I'm, I'm hoping to I'm working on this project to start a law and entrepreneurship center, which would.

Teach lawyers some of those business skills, some of those practical skills and also entrepreneurial skills, which I think all people, you know, all young people these days kind of need and including lawyers.

So that's a couple of examples.

That's such a great full boat education, right.

You can be incredibly technically or more clinically proficient, but having your own account your your own shingle.

Right.

So making sure that you have your books in order billing and things of that variety, that's a lot.

Managing the Constitution for some would be easier than than managing a profit and loss statement, right?

Those two don't necessarily are necessarily wedded together.

So that's a that's a really important.

Yep.

Are there opportunities for the public to interact with with the law school.

Are there programs you guys do workshop.

Oh okay.

Yeah.

Keep them in business.

That's a good.

My family's good.

We've committed short.

Short of committing crimes.

Yeah.

What are opportunities for folks in the community to benefit from the law school?

Sure.

So we have regularly have a speakers series that are open to the public.

We I started the Toledo Way series that celebrates our alumni and and their and their commitment to civil practice of law.

We have our Legal Institute of the Great Lakes Conference that happens every year on Friday, November 13th is coming up.

It's so I encourage people to attend that as well.

Awesome.

Last question.

End of a end of a long day you get in your car.

What's playing on the radio?

What's the music that that kind of resets you and gets you back home?

Oh, wow.

Podcast.

Okay.

I mean, I love so serious XM you in general and when I'm really in the mood Kurt Vile.

All right.

Okay.

I like it.

Awesome.

Thank you.

For being.

Here from the University of College of Law.

Thank you so much for joining us.

Thanks for everything and a pleasure.

Thank you so much.

We're going to take a break.

When we come back, we'll be joined by Michael Murray from the Valentine Theater.

It's the 419.

We'll be right back.

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It's time for season.

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Welcome back into the 419.

We're joined now by Michael Murray, the executive director, new executive director of the Valentine Theater.

Yes.

How long have you been in your role?

So this month is the fifth month.

I thought you were going to say.

Like two years.

No.

No.

No, five months.

I've been with the.

This is my third season with the Valentine, though.

I previously was the director of operations, so not too rough of a transition.

Sure.

Michael, to get to the day in and day out and celebrating this really important cultural, iconic place in northwest Ohio.

But talk to me a little bit about you.

Where is home originally?

I am Toledo, born and raised.

I love it.

I travel a lot, but I love Toledo, honestly.

So theater is in your DNA.

This is something your folks thrust upon you and gave, you know, other options.

Or.

Actually, young me never saw myself here.

I did not see myself in the theater.

I love the arts.

I don't believe myself to be a talented artist.

I see myself now as an arts facilitator.

I have a business degree.

From where?

And from the University of Phoenix, and I. Didn't know where I was headed.

And then when I joined the Valentine a couple of years ago, I kind of just fell in love.

And it consumed me.

And was there an moment or was it just sort of a after a period of time, or were you there one day and said, this is me.

This makes sense.

So as a Toledo, and I think I'd only been to the Valentine at one time when I was much, much younger.

I'm probably.

Not like the old decrepit man here today.

No.

Yeah yeah yeah.

Yeah, right.

Sorry, I forget that I am.

Yeah.

Quite young.

Yeah.

Okay.

Well preserved.

That's right.

Yeah.

Relative to Gretchen.

We all are.

That's right.

Yep.

I'm not allowed to say that sort of thing in season two, but I was.

Thinking it.

But I had only been saying I believe I was, like, 6 or 7.

Sure.

And so the first time I walked in for my interview, I just, I felt the feeling that you feel when you walk into the Valentine.

It's just a special space.

And then day in and day out, I haven't lost that feeling.

And there's just so much potential that I saw that hadn't been tapped into and still hasn't been tapped into.

I'm working to get all of that potential.

But it's a beautiful gem that we just need to appreciate.

And I really want to make sure everyone gets to.

Sure.

What's what's the hardest part about being the executive director of a place like Valentine?

And what's the what's the easiest part?

So I think the hardest part is that we're a mid-size nonprofit.

So I am at the thousand point view, and then two minutes later I'm in the weeds.

You know, we have a small staff of about ten full time.

And you got to be hands on.

The best part is, is that I get to walk out of my office into the historic theater, look at this beautiful space, and then watch a world class performance.

One of our amazing local companies.

You know what could be right?

What could be so bad about that?

At any point in time.

Longtime, members of the team there, Joy Jacks and Matt Lentz and others have now, retired, I believe.

And this there's sort of a new wave of leadership there at the Valentine.

How is that been?

How was the transition been.

For you?

For me, it's been it's been incredible because I had this amazing foundation that they set.

And then I've now been able to do my own recruitment.

So out of the the team that I just spoke to, I have personally hired 90% of them over the last couple of years between my two levels with the organization.

So I built this team of amazing people that are just rockstars, and we're just building on top of the momentum and the strong foundation that Jory Jacks and Matt Lentz, who is still thankfully consulting with us, a programing consultant.

But they they built this amazing place and we get to build it up further.

Let me ask you a question in it is not intuitive to me, but I'd be fascinated to hear how you set the calendar of events.

That's what I. Want.

To know.

So no you didn't.

So is it a whiteboard?

You worked three years out.

Talk to me a little bit about.

So if you doubt with me just a second, talk to you about sort of the macro micro.

This is a micro ask how does it all come to be?

So it's generally about two years out.

Two years out.

Okay.

We do have several levels of difficulty.

So we are a 900 900 seat theater which makes us mid-size okay.

So we struggle when it comes to road shows that are touring.

We have to find the right fits.

So like a big Broadway tour show needs more seats basically.

If you want to keep them for a stretch.

So we just had Mrs.

Doubtfire, which is amazing.

High production, great music, but we kept that for one day.

Got it is a straight and would have them for six.

Oh wow.

You just have to.

It's a balancing act with the numbers.

But we tend to prioritize our local groups.

So we have, you know, Live Arts, Toledo, the Toledo Opera, a plethora of the local high school musicals.

And so they have the the calendar booked immediately.

And then we plan around that very last minute.

Sometimes it will lock in a show and then the show will three months later tell us, unfortunately, we need to pivot and we won't be able to come through at that that tour date.

So now we have to figure out another option or.

But we're available any don't don't think any time.

After 5:00.

Yeah.

Yes we do simultaneously sometimes.

Do you know the Macarena.

Do we ever are Kevin.

Not well known.

Fact that is.

The king of the Macarena.

True.

True story.

That was given to him by the former owner of Wendy's, Dave Thomas.

Oh, wonderful.

Yep.

True.

True story.

That is my karaoke song.

Yeah.

The Macarena is my karaoke.

So let's talk about literally anything else.

Before you move to topics.

I do.

I'm so interested in the selection.

Of as well.

So like is there a I because I want access to this portal or this catalog.

Is there a catalog that you say, how many seats do we have?

How many dates?

These are the dates.

And then like this, this catalog of these available performances.

Come up.

And also when was the last.

Time you.

Heard them?

I love how much faith you have in organization.

Yeah, yeah.

So if we could access that.

Yeah, that would be beyond amazing.

So you're going out and having to like search out.

Yeah.

So everybody runs through different agencies and we we tend to also look to have at least 1 or 2 things that are a little bit more culturally nuanced as well.

So we're digging deep to find something that isn't as represented as a Broadway show.

It's it's a full time job.

And I, I just hired amazing director of programing Stephen Stubbins as well.

Great.

There's there's amazing.

He's a. Good guy.

There's there's likely, you know, in a city the size of of our market here in Toledo, northwest Ohio, you know, you're going to find things that trends, performances, etc.

are going to hit Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland before they make it to Toledo.

Where are the kind of the theaters or the regional partners that you look to?

And maybe it's not even maybe it's in somebody in California.

Right.

But Lincoln, Nebraska?

Lincoln, Nebraska, maybe.

But what are the other theaters that you look to to say, I want to see what they're doing, because if they can, if they can do it, I think we can do it really well here.

So.

It's hard because truly, I've done a lot of research on our side of theater.

And in the North, in the Midwest, sorry, in the Midwest, we really don't have a, a lot of similar concepts to us.

Our partner, in that sense, the closest in the region would be the Marathon Center in Findlay.

Okay.

They are almost exactly the same number of seats.

I think it's they are 964.

And you got to when you're programing.

64 additional seats.

So.

Enough with that garbage.

They're like just little wicker pieces they put out there.

That's what I've heard.

Yeah, it's just the porch furniture.

Right.

That's right.

They gonna sit on the patio?

Yeah.

But I now I've lost my thought.

You're welcome.

It's on the porch.

With the benchmarking, you know, Marathon Center with with Valentine.

So there, when you're doing programing, you're looking at your demographics as well.

You want to make sure that you're servicing the people around us.

So the Marathon Center would be the closest to see what we can see success and that they've already had.

And I assume that they would do the same vice versa.

So pardon me, aggression.

Have you had something to come in?

That was a nice surprise that you're sort of blown away.

I know that you do research, obviously when shows come in or you've heard of them, but when live in your theater and your team's theater that night, you're like, this is incredible.

Oh, I think that honestly, every time I think every time something doesn't do extremely well, I'm always disappointed because it was so amazing that more people should have seen it.

Gotcha.

I feel that way.

We just had the Rat Pack is Back, which is an amazing tribute from Las Vegas.

It's a Las Vegas review and the voices were just amazing, you know?

I mean, if you want to see Frank Sinatra live, as we never will get the chance to do, that was the moment and it was it was beautiful.

There's a lot of things coming up.

It's the holiday season, a lot of things happening.

I'm excited about the anarchist dire performance that's coming.

So many friends of mine and I are going to that performance, which should be good.

What are some other things?

I mean, we're the first part of November, that you're looking forward to, to get you to the end of the year.

So I'm really excited for Mystic Pizza as well.

Sugar and booze without a star is going to be good.

I bet it's going to sell out.

I hope so.

I really do.

She's.

She's a gem.

And it'll just be a good way to start the holiday season.

Absolutely.

Mystic pizza is a new musical from Columbia artist, and it's based on the Julia Roberts movie.

Mystic pizza.

Of course.

Yeah.

And it's full of 70s and 80s mega hits.

So the music is going to be amazing.

So I'm.

I'm just holding on to my seat for that.

We brought Hadestown back to Toledo.

The beautiful thing about seeing a performance at the Valentine is I'm assuming you've all been correct.

Yep.

It's just very intimate.

You know, you get this very unique experience.

There's no poor sight, no poor sound, and you just truly are able to be a part of the moment.

And so Haiti sound is going to be an extreme experience.

Is that a tour?

Yes.

And the laugh riot.

And Haiti sound is such.

I can't I didn't even know that was coming.

That is such an amazing show.

I'm gonna have to get to.

I just watched it on the.

We want a vacation.

Me too.

Oh, sorry.

But yes, I watched the the the live streaming or whatever the whatever it's called, but I watched I watched the Broadway, in an airplane, I can talk.

What do you work when you think cultures think.

Kevin.

Kevin.

That's right.

People have never been to the Valentine Theater.

What's the.

I mean, it can be intimidating going to a place like that that you've never been to before.

Sure.

What's the right way for someone to experience it for the first time?

Great question.

I just I just say be intentional.

Really be present in the moment, taking everything.

It's an architecturally beautiful building, and I could talk about that for hours.

Wow.

A lot of people don't know that.

We have the first freestanding balcony in North America.

E.O.

Follies, who was the architect at the time?

He did not invite his family to Opening day because he did not trust his own balcony.

He would not sit on or beneath it either.

But I have my family.

I'm always going to buy floor.

Yeah.

130 years later.

It's still standing, though.

And, there's just so many amazing gems like that.

And then we, of course, have backstage at The Valentine by Paul Geiger, which was at the time one of the largest indoor murals as well.

It's.

It's it's an amazing story.

I. Guess a little bit of a story, if you don't mind.

So it is our history from 1895 until 1927, and it features some of the people who have graced our stage.

We have Harry Houdini, Anna Pavlova.

It also features the original cast of The Wizard of Oz during our time as a movie house.

So the Valentine was held a lot of different hats.

It was at one point the home to the city council.

It was a movie house, a vaudeville home.

Dilapidated for about 20 years.

Thankfully, we were able to save it.

Not myself.

Because this was in the 80s.

So you were born yet?

But.

No.

Yeah.

Sorry.

Sorry about that, guys.

Again.

Well preserved.

Very young.

Just keep moving.

If people want more information on the Valentine Theater, they want to find an upcoming performance.

Where can they find that information?

So you can go to our website, Valentine theater.com.

It is THEATRE.

That's a big deal.

It's fancy, especially with my email.

I get a lot of missed emails.

What?

What is the.

Do you know the difference between r, e and E-R?

What?

I don't understand why.

I don't understand why it's more of a from my from my quick Google search.

Was a old English versus new.

It's correct or not I like it's the correct way.

Gretchen spells her name re as well.

Okay.

For the rest of the season.

So nice to meet you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

Been a pleasure.

We're going to take a break.

When we come back, we're joined by v c the MC.

Vince Cross makes his long awaited debut on the 419.

This might be my last day.

I think I might get fired.

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Welcome back into the 419.

I've got to step up my game because for the first time in.

I don't know, 136 episodes, I finally have someone at the table that is a real professional.

It's about time.

We're pleased to be joined by Vince Grossi, VC, the MC.

Welcome to the 419.

Well, thank you very much.

I've been hoping to get on this show since third grade.

It's been my one of the pinnacles of my career.

I think we now realize that Kevin had not.

Even though you probably know him the best, has not previously invited you because he was jealous.

Intimidated.

Yeah.

And it's just it's his insecurity.

Well, if that's what it is.

Because I was no Kevin for a little while.

Yeah.

I've crossed paths with Matt multiple times, but within 12 hours of meeting me, you invited me on the show, so.

That's great.

You're.

I'm your biggest.

Gretchen actually does that with most men.

She meets within 12 hours.

She proposes.

She knows talent.

She knows talent when she.

She can.

That's that's how we're.

That's how I said in the intro, Vince.

I mean, I feel like.

And this is going to be a dumb sentence, but, like, you know, one day I didn't know you, and the next day, I can't get away from you.

I mean, but, like, truly, you came on the scene.

You can't quit.

You know I can't.

You know, there's.

This going to be shown on Valentine's Day.

That's right.

This is getting really.

But I mean, but, like, you really came on scene, like, out of nowhere.

I mean, it's I feel somewhat like when you talk to an artist and they're like, yeah, it was an overnight success.

They've been doing.

It for 20 years.

Right?

Right.

Where did this come from?

What was the origin story of VC, the MC?

It's funny because it seems like it's kind of happened overnight because it waited 40, 50 years to do it.

Got in my 50s.

Empty nester.

What do I want to do when I grew up?

Realized I wasn't smart enough to make an app for the iPhone and didn't want to buy a subway franchise.

So I kind of looked back on life, and I had just casually picked up the microphone, you know, in high school that Central Catholic did assemblies and was a yell leader in college, did the raft regatta along the Ten Mile Creek there, and held a megaphone for two hours and just made stuff up.

My daughter played volleyball at Saint Ursula, was the announcer there, worked with the Arthritis Foundation on there.

Jingle Bell run through my affiliation in the pharmaceutical industry and just look back and say, oh, anytime I did that, I enjoyed that.

What is it?

It's yeah, I guess master of ceremonies.

And it's like, all right, well, I'll get a website by a couple speakers of microphone, get some business cards and and call myself Vince Cross, the master of ceremonies.

Did you change your name to be VC, the MC or is that.

Same used to be Rick?

It's just good.

Margaret.

Just.

I felt like that was one of the signs.

Of this little sign that you thought only options were app development or opening a subway.

That's a. Well.

To be clear, he settled on MC, so I mean, I love.

It, I. Love, but you are you're so good at it and I am I am very because this is what I do.

I am very critical of folks in this space.

And I will go to events and get really annoyed.

And you do such a good job.

You bring so much energy to it.

Where does that come from?

Yeah, because man.

And when does it stop?

Does it?

Well, if you ask my wife, yes it does, because, you know, she says all I do is lay on the couch at home and it takes a lot of energy to be the MC out in public.

So, yeah.

Got to go there.

I don't know, it's just it you feel like you have a purpose, and that's kind of what I feel I've got into.

I have my full time employment and I call this my full time enjoyment.

And I meant to do both.

So I have fulfillment.

I'm just going out there.

It energizes me to be out there with people.

We've got a little more sophisticated in this space.

I think we used to think of introvert and extrovert purely in a binary state.

Are you an introvert or extrovert?

Well, I don't know that word.

Obviously extrovert.

I like being out there and being with the people, the introvert.

I don't know if I'd call it that as much, but I'm happy being alone.

I can, you know, sit on the back porch and read a book and just or go on a walk by myself or whatever.

I don't need to be around people all the time, but I absolutely enjoy it.

And and Kevin, going back to what you were saying, I don't have a broadcasting background.

I didn't school for it, but I'm blessed that I have friends like Chris Peterson and yourself that I've watched, and I consider them you guys mentors in a sense that I can see what professionals do.

And I've learned from that.

And I'm just trying to be myself, and I know I'm not the right fit.

You know, if you want Chris Peterson, get Chris Peterson.

If you want Kevin Mullin, get Kevin Moen.

If you want Vince, go with me.

We all have our distinct styles, but interestingly enough, we've worked together.

And so like like Gretchen Wade has for for race for the cure.

I'm kind of the hype man.

I've got my three piece pink suit now, and starting off the day at 730 and getting everybody turn it over to Chris and she's got the main stage.

She is the the face of Susan G. Komen race for the cure for over three decades.

And it's like, okay, wow.

We've both got our spot there.

What's the preparation?

So as I mentioned, I saw you at the University of Toledo women's basketball tipoff dinner.

You know, you're going into that or anything.

What are you doing?

What are you practicing names.

Are you figuring out things to say in advance?

What kind of prep work goes into something like that?

That was very interesting when Gretchen and I appreciate you inviting me after that, because that was literally last minute the week before, I got a. Call.

Message from this graduate assistant who just moved in from California, said, hey, Vince, we need a MC for our our women's Basketball Tip-Off dinner.

And I'm thinking, I asked what I said.

Well, Chris is a huge fan of of UT basketball and does it well.

She's not available.

And then, you know, I thought, well, Kevin and 15 other people that are on the microphone at the University of Toledo and I go, well, did somebody recommend me?

How'd you find me?

Oh, I just did a search and your website came up and right there, you know.

So I got on the phone with him a don't know, Jenny, the head coach there myself.

So he's telling her, hey, go out and get this person.

So she calls me and I, I, I could tell she was going to be nervous.

Fortunately, I ran into Kevin, I think a few days before he took a selfie of us together and said, okay, so I think.

Her went down, but she was bringing in a three time Olympic gold medal athlete, a WNBA champion.

You know, it's like, okay, I'm going to get this guy that some rando off the street that one of my graduate assistants found on the internet is going to be our host.

So for that, I did feel obligation, like, okay, I don't know what I'm doing.

I've never been to this.

I've got to learn about.

I reached out to Brad Rieger, who played basketball, UT and has his own podcast, listen to the podcast with Jenny on it and learned a lot about her.

And and then also give me some insight in the program.

So then I could have I knew they were going to give me a script, but then what can I add to it a little bit and bring the energy that you're talking about without going overboard?

Because that was one of Coach Jenny's things.

She goes, she goes, well, I don't want you going in there.

Yo, yo yo.

What's up?

Yeah.

Yeah, and all that.

But she didn't want just to read off the script, so I got that, that field.

How do you find that balance?

Right?

I mean, I mean, there's a you again you bring so much energy to an event, but how do you check yourself to make sure that this isn't that, you know, I think about as an announcer, you know, my job is to move the audience and to be a level or two ahead of the fans at the Glass Bowl or Savage Arena or whatever.

But I'm not the show, right?

I mean, they didn't come to see me.

So when they, you know, sign up for race for the cure when they come to the basketball tipoff event, when they come to a volleyball game, they're not here to see VC.

But how do you make sure that that you're bringing the energy, you're connecting them, but it makes sure that it's at the end of the day, it still isn't about you.

That that's something I've learned over time.

Again, because I didn't have somebody tell me, this is how you do this.

And the analogy I use is we're not the main course that sporting event is the speakers at this event, the awards being presented, the funds being raised.

That's that's the focus.

That's the meat and potatoes.

An announcer is the spice.

And just like any spice too much, you can ruin a meal.

Not enough.

It's going to be bland.

So what does this meal need to know?

How much energy, how much ad lib?

How much insight?

You know, it's fun.

I work with Dave Davies running Shop Run Toledo, the race management arm, and I have a lot of freedom there because I'm on a microphone for 3 to 4 hours.

The audience comes by for about five seconds as they cross the finish line.

So I'm not wearing anybody out and I, I can have a little more freedom there.

Other ones, it's like, hey, we've got a time limit.

It's strict.

You got to go.

I think it contributes, though, to the overall, effectiveness of the event, especially if you're at this thing where there's going to be multiple people or speaking.

I'm thinking of like a fundraising type event.

People that are there want to know what's going on.

All right.

What are we doing now?

What's the next thing we're going to do?

And to keep people want the wanted to keep moving.

And that's a real I think that's a real skill.

And managing the lulls.

Right.

Because you have to keep them engaged.

I'm curious, are there times and Kevin, I guess you and there's a theater portion of what you do.

Certainly.

Gretchen.

What what are you what makes you afraid or what what scares you or intimidates you?

One of the things I found in my professional career is whenever I am speaking on behalf of other people's work that I believe to be profound, or you're seeing an event that is of real important, either from money earning or the you want to make sure the story gets through you.

Although you're not the main course to your words, you want to make sure people feel inspired, right?

That is your job and you know there's meaning or mission behind it.

But I'm curious, and this is open to all of you.

When are you intimidated or when do you feel a little bit like, boy, I've got to perform here.

Well, every time, in a sense, because I. Feel to the question, Vince.

Sorry, I. Thought.

I thought you were going to be soft.

I mean, I wore my Halloween costume, my Matt Killam outfit.

It's a slippery slope, brother.

Be on the show.

And.

No, but.

Well, it is because I feel that when I talk to an event organizer or manager, it's I'm an extension of them because you don't need to have an emcee, somebody that's put it together, like, I'll run up on stage and make the introductions or, or we'll get Bob from accounting to do it.

He he seems like a nice guy.

So it's, it's a a matter of what is this event need.

What is the vision of the organizers, what's the vibe they want.

And that's when maybe get a little timid.

It's like, oh, I haven't done something like that before, or I'm not sure I fully understand and and have to get into it.

And also during the event, I don't want to say intimidation or fear, but it's a I am ad libbing at times.

I'm trying to pick up on something and it can be one extreme, the other, it can be the humorous.

That's the fun.

And hey, I've fallen flat on my face.

It's like, oh, I don't, I'm not a comic.

I'm off the stage in two minutes.

Oh, I've got another two hours to go.

So.

So there's that.

And there's also the poignant moments like, okay, there's something special going here.

I'll never forget.

I was doing one of my daughter's volleyball games at Saint Ursula and Melissa Belcher.

The she had been the coach at Central Catholic who had gotten multiple sclerosis.

And before that, though, her and John Buck, the coach at Saint Ursa, we would have some amazing battles.

But she came in when I'm I'm getting a little worked up.

Just talked about she came in one night in the wheelchair.

Now she's on the fan side.

But I wanted everybody to know, to recognize there's a two state champion coaches in this room and one's not coaching anymore.

And she was significantly younger and went out.

But I wanted everybody to feel that moment and appreciate her and that these this rivalry and these coaches can go beyond.

So those are the points that are intimidating or scary at times or other times.

That's where I think we can make a difference when we have that.

Yeah.

I mean you're a bit of a tour guide, right?

I mean, you, you know, where all the, the, the hot spots are and you've got folks that are in the audience for the first time that may not know.

This is a great tourist spot that I want you to stop at.

I want you to experience this with us.

And you can bring people along.

And our friends at Destination Toledo's suggested that you.

Come on.

Talk about that very point as well.

I think that your enthusiasm for the city of Toledo is evident in many of these public facing events that you do.

Why do you love Toledo?

Gretchen, thanks for asking, because that's one of the things that's evolved with this.

It first when I started bc the MC, it's a business and some point I would like to do the large conferences out in Arizona and being paid lots of money to introduce $50,000.

Keynote speaker, you know, had this vision.

It's really changed in that, no, I don't think that what's supposed to be I have found that getting involved with Toledo specifically, a lot going on in downtown Toledo, having lived here all my life that I want to champion, advocate, promote, cheerlead all the people, all the things, all the places that are going on.

And that may be as an emcee.

But in the age of social media and podcasts and stuff, I can amplify that to a greater degree.

So I feel that that's kind of my mission now, the VC, the mic is kind of the foundation for it, but getting involved with different organizations and and, you know, I love what you guys are doing.

It's like you're something, but it's like, get on this podcast as well as other podcasts.

So make sure you're in social media because the media landscape has changed.

We know what's happening with the blade, the TV stations, people don't watch it.

We don't have that shared energy.

They're the radio.

It's like may listen to the radio but podcast.

So it's just I'm just one of the voices pushing out there.

This is a great place.

There's great people.

As you've had multiple on this.

Show, what's what's an event that you have not had the chance yet to emcee.

But but you'd love to do it.

I know what mine is.

Wow, that was good.

I didn't see that one coming.

Well, it's funny, I just I jokingly put it out there.

It's there's the the paper has the they've got the best of Toledo coming out.

And somehow somebody nominated me for.

Yeah.

For what is a local celebrity.

So it's like okay again low bar.

It's like, oh, somebody typed in Vince Grossi.

So but I thought, no, you know, that would be a fun one to do because you've got so many people there.

I guess I could have just attended it, but I'd love to see that and again, celebrate these people that are doing so much, be it a business, be it a nonprofit, being an entertainer and just being a part of that.

I think, as you say, that I have no interest in attending events.

I just I just as happily work.

Is it because you're not invited?

That's probably true.

Yeah.

Love it.

All right.

Thanks.

Gretchen VC, the MC.

Thank you so much for more information.

Where can they find VC?

The mc.com?

I've got my Facebook page, Vince Croce.

I've got LinkedIn, Vince Croce there.

Those are probably the best places to get me.

And then I've got a podcast on another network.

Which will not be mentioned.

Okay.

I won't mention my band or pool.

Who was a previous guest.

You now, you know, he said he was just a last minute guest, so I was actually a guest.

So now what I was he got ahead.

Of me.

Gretchen invited both of you and him on.

He's got a low bar.

Thank you so much for joining us.

We come back, we'll wrap up this Tuesday edition of the 419.

GT.

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Welcome back into the 419 as we wrap up this Tuesday edition.

Three credible guests today.

Really a really good and fun show.

Those are some great people.

And we got some gifts.

We did.

We forgot to mention that Michael brought us a hat from the Valentine Theater.

We'll put that on our shelves and VC.

The MC brought us, a mug with a sticker on it.

I think it's just just.

Didn't bring us anything.

Man.

That's okay.

That's all right.

She brought us to you.

She did?

We're gonna put all three of those things on the shelf and never talk about them ever again.

Never know if people are are picking up on this.

Guests will, as they come on.

The program will occasionally bring us gifts.

We put them on the shelf.

That helps decorate what the set of the 419 looks like, which, you know, we appreciate, is that this show is all about our community, all about the region.

And the beautiful thing is, our set is now filled with representations of that as, at least for me, I can look at this and remember conversations we had with different guests and, it's great.

And so I was surprised how kind Dean Zeitler was.

Yes.

The, the stereotype, I guess, of a dean of a law school.

I expected her to be a little more rough around the edges.

No, she's very low key.

She does practice yoga.

That probably contributes to her stress levels, but she's a great she's a great lady.

If you missed any part of today's show, you can catch it.

Week days 5 p.m.

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on GTE connect channel 30.4, of course.

3 p.m.

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