Now the 490.

With Gretchen de Bakker might kill them.

And Kevin Mullin.

Welcome to the 419, powered by wget and presented by Retro Wealth Management.

I'm Kevin Mullen.

Gretchen de.

Backer, Matt Killam.

It is the final day of season one of the 419, powered by CTE.

And it's in honor of our country's 200.

Birthday that we are.

Stepping.

Into.

That's right.

I think it's only appropriate.

And the most patriotic thing that we could.

I hope we have time to make it to the fair.

Yeah.

Truly, it has been, an absolute pleasure the last six months, being with you guys and telling stories of incredible folks in our community making Toledo better.

It is, you know, I think I've said this a few times on the show.

I have loved the most that the feedback that I get in the community, what people are saying about the show is often the same reasons why we wanted to do the show, right.

What they like about it is the same reasons why we started down this path.

And for that reason, it makes it makes me feel like we were on.

We're on to something.

Yeah.

And I'm excited to, certainly excited to take a break for the summer.

Retool a few things and get ready for season two, this fall.

Yep.

We've we've had 352 ish interviews in the last six months, which is truly remarkable.

That that many people came into the studio in the very early morning hours to be on our show.

We've been together for 30 hours, which is insane.

Yeah.

Everybody has said, how are you going to do this every day?

Right?

And how are you going to like, you're going to run out of people.

I mean, we're 352 people in, and I still have folks that are like in my speed dial of like, I'm fighting to try to find a time to get them on.

Sure, man.

So we are there is no shortage of, talented, passionate people in our community.

And, and we've got a lot more stories to tell.

And speaking of talented and passionate people, we did also want to mention the people that never get to be on camera and that we abuse on a daily basis.

And that's Angel, Nathan, Caleb, and Rich, who are the the crew here?

And then our producer, Shane, all of whom have just done a fabulous job.

Marcus and Emily, in marketing.

And then, of course, the current CEO of Dell has been a big supporter.

And everyone here at GT is just been great to us.

I was a fan of CTE before we started the show.

That's part of what I think all of our excitement of being here has been, that we believe in the mission.

We love that it's here in our community.

Having the chance to spend the last six months working side by side with the staff here.

They are an incredibly talented group.

And we are not just our show, but our community is better for having their talent.

Here in the community.

And, it's it's been I've got, you know, producer in my ear.

It's, appreciative of what we're saying.

I know, Matt, you've got some nice things you'd like to say about Shane.

Yes.

I, I just wrote down.

I just read what he wrote.

It is remarkable to work with somebody with this much vision.

Yeah.

Has a can-do spirit and the know how to put on an exemplary 60 minute segment with people that have marginal talent.

I can't believe Shane wrote that out.

Yeah, I can't either.

And it looks like, he'll be getting our key fobs back immediately.

Right?

Yeah.

Then we're going to click this on the way out the door.

Yeah.

No, I don't have any in the cell.

Any more superlatives.

The layer on top of really different ones.

But, it's been a long haul.

We started out obviously with our own podcast, which was, a, we can say, unpolished, is probably flattering.

Yes.

But everyone was very patient.

And worked through sort of our bumps.

Not that we're not a continual work in progress.

But it has been, no rain or shine.

And literally and metaphorically.

Very nice to come here.

And step away from the trials and tribulations of everyday life for our day jobs.

And it's been a bit of a hideaway, and I think for people in the public, have enjoyed it.

So that's in no large part to the people we don't get to see.

And I've been immensely grateful.

So our sincere thanks to Marcus and Eric and Emily in the marketing team.

Dale, the interim CEO.

Angel.

Caleb, Nathan, Shane Rich, for all of their passion on the show.

It also goes without saying that programs like this, don't happen without incredible, supporters and underwriters.

And we have, the best crew.

Yeah.

We could ever have.

And we're so excited to continue, working with them and telling stories across northwest Ohio.

Which are wealth management.

Tim West.

Shari, the entire team that we throw.

Has been an incredible partner of ours from day one.

Work spring, Megan and all of the folks from work spring to the part of, telling stories of wellness.

Tara, is sponsoring our toledo.com community calendar.

Toledo refining.

So we we're refining company destination Toledo and the community Foundation, helping us bring in community leaders that are making a difference all across northwest Ohio.

Thank you.

On behalf of, the crew, the mission here at.

Thanks to each and every one of you for being a part of this.

It's our final show.

Yeah.

But we are not taking our foot off the accelerator.

We have a jam packed program for you.

We've got Lexi.

Staples is going to join us.

Wanda Art is going to join us, and we got a mystery guest mystery to all of us.

Who is Matt?

You've got a clue.

Yes.

In front.

Of you.

Give us clue number one of who are mystery guest will be all right.

He is a doctor from South Toledo.

Okay.

Okay, let's go to break.

All right.

Do you know who it is?

No.

What do you mean?

I've seen plenty of doctors.

Yeah, and plenty.

In South.

Toledo.

Yeah, sure.

Easy to brag.

Okay.

Yeah.

All right.

Let's take a break.

When we come back, we'll be joined by one.

Do our take.

It's the 419, powered by support for the 419 comes from Row Wealth Management, where we understand that your financial path is personal.

Advisory services are offered through Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC.

Securities offered through Capital Investment Group member Finra, SIPC.

More information at Retro advisors.com.

The 419, powered by GT is made possible in part by supporters like you.

Thank you.

Welcome back into the 419 powered by GT.

We're joined now by one to our state with Soul Path Ohio.

That's right.

One.

Thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

What is what is Soul Path Ohio.

So, mission statement, soul path Ohio is, here to create spaces of recovery, community and purpose.

And the whole point of that is to help people heal, rebuild their lives and rediscover who they were always meant to be.

The whole point behind Soul Path is for us to connect with individuals, like just to build relationships.

We believe that relationships are what really matters the most, so it's all about that.

What distinguishes Soul Path or what do you hope distinguishes them and and is there still the need that we saw a decade ago?

What are we seeing about the general sort of environment or need for recovery services in our community?

Yeah, that's a big question because there's a lot of changes that are happening currently.

The landscape of treatment services is going through a big overhaul right now.

For us as an NPO, it's not necessarily about the treatment services as much as it is about having an open space for individuals come whenever they need to.

With traditional treatment, when you're going there and you're going through groups, you know, you have, a process and usually a timeline somewhere along there where you're no longer at the facility for Soul Path, you can come, you can go when you need.

Life happens.

People have kids, you know, so we want to make sure that we're staying consistent and available and accessible for individuals to just come to.

When we're talking about recovery.

I mean, is there a specific are we talking about a drug addiction?

Alcohol addiction?

Man, that's a that's a good one.

I think that every human on the planet can say that in some way, shape or form.

We're addicted to something or have been so initially started with drugs and alcohol.

But the truth is, I feel like a lot of people are lacking connection and community everywhere.

I feel like the source of a lot of maladjustment that we go through are from just not being connected and experiencing healthy human connection.

So so you have that.

You could have that like a connection at any point in your life.

But it seems to be particularly an acute problem if you're trying to be sober, because so many people relate going out, even just to dinner with having a drink or, you know, something along those lines, or being in environments where those things are readily available.

And I'm, I assume I believe that most people in recovery don't want to be can't be in those spaces.

And so is that part of what your organization does is to sort of to provide opportunities where it's a safe space.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

So what kinds of things do you guys do and why?

So that is absolutely the whole point.

You know, we're we're really looking to create spaces, you know, where people can rebuild their lives and rediscover who they are.

Authenticity is huge for us.

Some of the things that we offer, is the Lions Den, which is a men's, development group, and rooted, which is a women's development group.

And then we have affinity, which is a coed group of for men and women.

And then we have a closed cohort that's called life on the rise.

And life on the rise is the three month.

Once you sign up, it's, those people and it's an intensive to go through a lot of things, the barriers that prevent people from healing or figuring out who they really are.

The masks that we put on, those are a few of the spaces that we have, but we also have the Friday night fire, which is, recovery.

I say recovery, you know, a lot of people from addiction substance use show up there, but that's not it.

You know, we typically have around 150 people every Friday they gather.

And what is that they gather to do what?

So it's like a support group meeting, you know, we, typically generate a topic.

Usually I'll do it on the, on the fly.

And if it's 30s before, I'm like, hey, you ready to moderate this meeting?

Yeah.

And, they're like, no.

And I'm like, well, that's good for you because that's what we're doing, right?

Getting uncomfortable and just learning how to be.

And the community is so good that they just accept people.

So it's really about uplifting people and just encouraging people to get uncomfortable or get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

And is literally at a bonfire, right?

Yeah.

We have a big, big fire at, Garden Community Church.

They they've been so good to us.

Yeah.

So, you know.

People rarely pick this up as a calling just at random.

So my guess is that you either have a, relationship to this, journey yourself or a loved one.

Does it, if you don't mind, sharing a little bit of your story that that brought you to this?

Yeah.

So it's both, my uncles were both alcoholics and drug addicts.

Many other people in my family were alcoholics.

And I myself, from the age of 18 to 32 years old, was addicted to drugs and alcohol.

I'm 42 now, so just celebrated, ten years in February.

Thank you guys.

It's it's been a beautiful process.

And you're right.

I'm thankful that it happened.

You know, this is who I was born to be.

You know, I love human beings.

I love helping people find out who they are.

And truthful.

And I'm not sure if I didn't experience that kind of destitution in that kind of desperation.

If I would have had the same kind of compassion or empathy I do now.

You're I know you from working together before, but you're you are uniquely qualified with your enthusiasm and your support for individuals going through, this process to nurture them and to, you know, sort of get them going in the right direction.

But can you tell our audience a little bit about what some of those things, even if they don't have criminal involvement, criminal cases, criminal justice system involved in their addiction when they decide to be sober, there's so much they have to rebuild.

What are some of those things that have to be done?

Yeah.

After that, after being, in an addiction space.

It really is an overhaul of your whole life.

Typically not everybody's that way, but but most people have to rebuild all of their circumstantial health.

I mean, their driver's license, getting a, a new birth certificate, Social security, all those basic things, figuring out how to pay bills, how to get their kids back.

They lose custody of their kids.

We I did, really, it's everything there.

But I think the most important thing is figuring out who we are.

Again, you know, that's really where it starts.

Is accepting, loving and stepping into who I am and building a life around that.

Is when I'm in recovery myself.

Is one thing to get, sober, or whatever the, the, the, the way of describing it is.

But it's another thing to decide to do that and also help others.

There is a part of a traditional 12 step program that that's really includes that.

But, you don't have to carry the torch as you, have decided to do.

So was there an moment or you just grabbed it just a moment ago and sort of finding yourself, was there an epiphany that, you know, my my vocation, my calling is to make sure that I am spreading this to others or helping others.

Is there a singular moment, that you remember thinking that or it's been a bit of, a building up to this?

It's a good question.

I look back after I got sober, you know, I started reflecting, you know, on who I am and and what I'm supposed to do here.

I've known since I've been about 4 or 5 years old.

I'm here to help people.

I just love it, I love it, I've always loved it.

But there was, you know, I was super fortunate at the time to be around a group of people that really, really was just all about helping people.

And, I had a hard time finding purpose in regular, everyday life that, picket fence and, you know, a job, regular traditional job.

It didn't sit well with me.

And I tried my whole life to sit in that container.

And so when I saw other people that were creating a life that was about helping people, I was like, I don't know how to do that over there, but I know how to do this.

Sure.

So it happened for me on day one, literally.

I had one of those moments, day one on, February 16th of 2016, two days before I got sober and I said, I'm supposed to help people.

Yeah.

And I never stopped.

Talking about the community.

Right?

I mean, what what is it?

I, I there are, as Gretchen mentioned, you know, a number of options for folks to get treatment.

I feel like I'm seeing growth and and development and new facilities that are opening, which doesn't happen without there being a need in the community.

What is it about Toledo that has, that that makes this a challenge, that makes this, a choice that chooses people or they choose.

Yeah.

If I'm understanding correctly, I don't think it's just Toledo.

It's everywhere.

We just so happen to be positioned on the I-75 corridor with the turnpike there as well.

So, you know, that's one of the big things.

We're, we're, a highway for substances and a lot of other things to happen.

And I can't answer why Toledo necessarily is, in need of this more than any other community.

I don't necessarily believe that.

I think that every community struggles with this, whether you can see it or not.

But Toledo in particular, we are lucky because we have so many people that are passionate about about all of this.

So talk to me about the energy that it takes to do this, right.

I mean, there is somebody who is in recovery, and I mean, you're an addict or an alcoholic.

Your entire life.

You know, you have to hang it up.

We do Wellness Wednesdays here, but it's pretty common conversation to talk about boundaries.

You know, it is.

You are at risk, for your sobriety, by being constantly around people working through sobriety.

The other side of that is it's communal, right?

But the downside is that it's triggering.

Right now, a lot of AA groups, and community groups can get together and just tell old war stories.

Right.

And there's actually not any substantive healing in that process.

So, talk to me about.

The the institution you run, but your sobriety path also has to be outside of that as well.

How do you make sure that those channels are separated?

But you're still being your authentic self, which I have no doubt that you are, sir.

Don't don't get me wrong, but you were at risk at some degree doing doing this.

And it has to be, now you're putting energy into both of these buckets and getting your energy bucket to in one and puts you at risk.

So ask me a bit about the safeguards that you've had to think through to put yourself in a prime position, not only to help others, but to put your oxygen mask on as well.

Yeah, I love that man.

I'm a, a delusional optimist.

Sure, I am delusional, optimistic, truly.

And I also, have put everything I have into faith.

Yeah, my spiritual health.

Right.

Sure.

And, you know, so my relationship to my higher power, to God.

Yeah.

You know, I really concede to that.

Yeah.

So I don't feel like I'm at risk because I feel protected all the time.

Yeah, that's that's not what I believe.

It's what I know.

Sure.

And I also, you know, I was raised up in a 12 step program that says that I can recover.

It can become recovered.

You know, I'm not fighting drugs or alcohol right now.

You know, because I give myself to this on a daily basis.

I have a daily reprieve 24 hours at a time.

If for you.

That's what I. Do.

Yeah, you know what I mean?

And I show up around people.

Just authentic.

I'm not here trying to save anybody.

I'm just here trying to build relationships.

Yeah.

There's so much conversation around, marijuana use of marijuana in the state that it's a legal substance.

Alcohol, also a legal substance.

But many people have the belief that marijuana is not harmful.

It's not addictive.

It's no problem to use it.

What is your personal opinion on that, which I truly don't know the answer to?

And, what are you seeing in terms of of that when it comes to being in the recovery world?

Yeah.

I believe there's medicine and everything from relationships.

There's all these things are medicine.

And to some degree, whether they're helping people, more people are hurting more people.

It is up for debate.

Me being I have an allergy, that's what I can tell you is my my experience.

I have an allergy to narcotics and substances, and I believe that there's a lot of other people just like me.

And it's a slippery slope, for individuals that have the same thing that I have or, you know, once I start, I can't stop.

I know that, and that's what we find out.

A lot of people say they keep messing around and finding out, right?

That's right.

And, so it's not something that I personally feel like is going to benefit the greater community of people in recovery.

I think it's dangerous.

Talk to me about family.

Inevitably, you had folks in your life that that wanted your sobriety, for many years, more than you did.

What are, you know, if folks are watching this and there's somebody in their life that they that they love and care about, that they want to help nudge toward this path.

Yeah.

What's the right way to do that, man?

Yes.

Families oftentimes wanted more than we wanted ourselves.

Yes.

Yeah, right.

They see things you don't see.

Yeah, absolutely.

And they experience a pain that, were numbing.

You know, for families, I really believe that the best thing that you can do is put your loved one in a position to be around other people in recovery, to set up boundaries and to let them find the people that are going to help them, which are other people that understand what they're going through.

And I think that family members should find other family members that are experiencing it to to establish boundaries and, right thinking.

We become very delusional.

Yeah.

You know, as people in recovery, and family members, you know, it hurts to say, hey, I'm not going to take my kid back in.

And I've been doing it for ten years while they're stealing from me.

That's my story.

You know?

So I think that the best thing that a family member can do is find another family member, potentially, or somebody in recovery, to try to help them in their life.

It's kind of the whole tough love thing that you're talking about.

I mean, if at someone that's in the throes of addiction has a soft place to land, they're going to keep landing there.

Yeah, right.

And so family member being able to put an end to that potentially could help push them in the right direction.

I mean you talked about with delusional optimism, right?

I mean that that is, you know, both a wonderful gift in the space you're in now.

But I imagine would also be challenging in the throes of addiction that you're saying, hey, I'm I'm always I'm going to be okay.

Right.

Like, now everything would be fine.

This is this is going to work out for me.

If people want more information on Soul Path Ohio, where can they find it?

So our website is, Soul Path community.org, our socials on Facebook and Soul Path Community.

They can look us up there.

That's the best way to find us.

Instagram is the same, same thing.

Soul path community.

And yeah, you can find us.

There is the best one.

Congratulations on your sobriety.

Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for being here and doing this work.

And and best of luck to you.

Thank you guys.

All right.

We're gonna take a break.

When we come back, we go to Lexi Staples.

But first, it's time for another tour.

Of yes.

To our third segment, special guest.

That's going to be Matt.

What do we got?

So he's a doctor from South Toledo.

He is a 20 under 40 Toledo leadership recipient.

Well.

Okay.

Interesting.

Well, that gets me no closer to an answer.

Okay.

Let's see.

All right, all right.

We can take a break.

We'll be right back on the 419.

Introducing the Local Thread, a community news series uniting voices and storytellers from across the region in partnership with La Prensa, the Toledo Free Press, the Sojourner Truth and Toledo Public Schools.

The local thread brings you stories and conversations that connect our community here at weeknights at seven on FM 91, with early access on podcast platforms each morning.

The local thread only on GTV.

Welcome back into the 419 powered by GT.

We're joined now by our good friend Lexi Hammond Staples.

Lexi, welcome to the program.

Thanks.

Thanks for.

Being here.

What?

Thanks for being here.

Yeah, yeah.

Good to.

See you.

Are you with us?

All right.

Oh.

Take off.

Yeah, yeah.

You are.

You were such a dear friend you're doing.

Look at my mug, you guys.

Yeah, look at my.

So good.

Look at your mugs on my mug.

Are you aware this is our last show?

Now, it's not just because you're on it of all time.

Yeah, you're ruining the show.

It was.

Great.

And to you, it's the.

Make-A-Wish Foundation comes through.

It will bless.

You.

You've been incredibly busy, already this summer.

You've got so much going on.

Sure, sure.

Let's let's start talk.

Talk to me about, let's talk let's talk pride first, and then we'll get into Hollywood Arts Center.

Sure.

Nationally, pride month.

Is finally over.

Finally, finally.

God.

So tired of being prideful.

On what?

The rainbow.

I know.

Yeah.

I'm gonna wear black for the whole month of July.

Now I can only have so much refracted light.

I know we had your podcast.

We had another podcast and talked about, that Toledo celebrates pride at a different time.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Intentionally talk to me about that.

So when pride started in Toledo, which is 17 years ago this year, which is crazy like that.

Yeah, yeah.

So 2010, there was just nothing like pride going on in the area.

So we all drove to, you know, Cleveland, we all went to Columbus, says one of the biggest prides in the United States.

But that's not the biggest pride.

I don't know if there's anything bigger.

They're like 300,000.

They're like, oh my gosh, Columbus Pride is like huge.

But yeah, everybody goes to Chicago.

Everybody.

Everybody went everywhere.

And we didn't have won anything substantial or anything around here.

And we have so many popping up.

Fremont Pride just happened last weekend.

Sandusky, it looks like, has a pride now.

You know, everyone's doing these, pride, which I think is really, really awesome.

Let's see which month is more gay.

June or August.

For for me.

Just in general.

June is more gay.

Well, August is my birthday, so I would prefer to do.

Well, August in Toledo.

Is that.

Yes, yes.

So you're in the right city?

Yeah.

To be.

Yeah.

But the reason.

The reason you decided to put the the pride event in Toledo in August is because you were initially traveling to these other cities to try to figure out how to get it done.

Right.

Well, we just wanted density of people.

Right.

And and most LGBT folk left Toledo to go sell good prizes.

Right.

Before we had ours.

So the first year we did it, it was called Little Event Center, I think at the time, but it was your street market doors.

We did it inside because I was like, man, if the first year gets rained out.

So we had a planning committee, with a bunch of a bunch of my friends, and my lovely wife and, some people from Toledo.

And we put it together and we're like, we're going to do it inside so that we screened out.

Yeah, like, let's go.

And we thought we'd have a thousand people at 2500.

Wow.

So the need was clearly there.

And, To see where it's come.

Yeah.

Because of the.

Like 5000 the next year and we, we just we just ran some numbers.

We think we were over 30 last year for, for the weekend is how we kind of sure.

But if you look at if anyone looks at the parade pictures of the parade, you're like, it's so many people.

Who are these people still coming?

Yeah, like.

So let's do it.

It never ends.

It's wonderful.

Give the highlights the dates.

Tell them some big since.

August, obviously.

And that is going to be, I want to say the Friday is 14, but it's the Friday Saturday of the that weekend, Friday will be our kickoff party usually starts around 5 p.m.

we'll get there a little bit early because that's our, our, five K. And I think we're going to use the new Riverwalk to make that happen.

We work with Fleet Feet on that.

And we call it a night glow, but never gets dark.

Yeah, yeah.

You know, so we try our best to start.

Really make it very glowy.

Yes.

But, then Saturday is our whole day affair.

Parade kicks off at noon because, you know.

It's noon.

Okay, don't make us do ten a parade.

So that's really great.

That's on Adam.

Street.

It is on Adams Street.

We're trying to rework the route so we have less walking for people to get back to their cars.

That's been a complaint.

It's only been a complaint for ten years, so I wouldn't.

Exactly.

Idea that Toledo or complaining about.

Walking.

Yeah.

What?

I can't just be a loop.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

We're.

So it's really hard to loop downtown Venice.

Yes.

So, we're working on that.

And then, Sunday we have that brunch and we just kind of, we of pride all kind of delinquent for the day.

And Adams Street kind of carries us and just the like, we'll have croissants.

Let's see a how do you.

There's no croissance for.

17 years.

And I mean, you a back to back.

Yes.

With an exceptional amount of energy.

But how do you keep up the passion for this?

I mean, some of that is just wired into you molecularly.

I understand that, but it is taxing.

And, you're having to make a loop parade route so people can walk less and things like that.

I mean, I you have a good spirit, but that does it's gonna be a kind of a drag.

But yeah, you're never like that.

And not overly dissimilar to one of the questions you would ask.

What I mean?

Like, you know, the reality is the reason why pride festivals, exist is because you're literally paving space for the LGBTQ plus community in our case.

Sure.

You could be doing that for yourself and not paving the way for everybody.

Yeah, but it wasn't done for me.

And so I think for me, I, I went to high school in Bedford.

I grew up until the, I mean, as a young kid I was in Toledo, we moved to Bedford and, that space didn't feel, as welcoming as Toledo.

So when I was able to come home, as you know, as it feels, it was really great, but it's like, there's still that feel like there was a safe place for, like, queer people, queer youth.

And I mean, probably like, the thing that's that's most impactful.

And I don't know, these kids, and they didn't know me, but, you know, just, using myself as a human barricade up at summit, trying to get people to not go down an area.

I don't want them to go right.

And these two kids, a 16, 17 year old, just walked by, a couple of boys holding hands and it's like, yeah, that's why, you know, like that's why.

So so you can feel so that people can feel comfortable and not not feel like this is an individual experience.

You know, like, I'm married, dude, I have kids, right?

Me, in high school, I would.

Never I couldn't.

Even conceive of it.

How does it translate like into, like, language everyday other than the brain?

When you see neighbors out there, when you see someone from work that like shows up and you're like, oh, like, how does it make people in the community feel to have relationship or to see just.

Yes, I think I think just the I think the sheer amount of people that want to come celebrate just the community is awesome.

And I think it's kind of I mean, it's it's not dissimilar to the sobriety community.

We all know somebody.

Yeah, who is connected to LGBTQ.

And if you don't, what are you doing with your life?

Right.

And and I mean, I, I mean, well, for me, two years ago, people would say, well, I don't really like gay people, but, you know, I like you or what I like people did feel like back in the day that they hadn't met anybody.

And so.

Like, you're one of the good ones.

Yeah, exactly.

And they do you feel, Well, yeah.

Your words.

Let me ask you, though, do you feel.

The amount of pressure to make sure that you are the poster person for, this.

Community?

I mean.

I bet you know, you you are a human being, right?

Despite all evidence to the contrary.

But.

And, you know, people.

Testing has been.

Done.

People come.

Yeah.

People come to you, hold you up as, the sort of iconic figure.

These are my words.

I you're very humble person, but there's a pressure to that, too.

I would think that would be almost exhausting.

Like, you didn't sign up for that.

You signed up to be, giving people a place to your words, giving people a place to feel welcome and together.

Yeah, but there is a pressure to being the person who started this or, a figurehead for this community.

How do you balance those things?

Sure.

I mean, I think for me, most of the time when we have, asks for anything that would be like an interview, not the setting, obviously.

Want to come hang out with you guys, but I try to have somebody else do that kind of stuff.

I try to, like, put more people in the media that aren't my face because, yeah, the fact of the matter is, some people aren't going to listen to what I have to say just because of how I look.

That's fine.

If I can put somebody in front of a camera that looks more like somebody that, somebody would relate to, or that could be my niece, that could be my, you know, my nephew or whatever.

Then they're not immediately turned off the moment they see me or hear me or whatever.

So I but yeah, I mean, I think, it's awesome.

Yeah.

And it's really, really fun and.

Yeah, I don't know if it's worth it.

Yeah.

We've got about four minutes left with you.

I don't want to.

I would like to leave early.

Yes.

Right.

Like these four minutes back.

Okay.

Yeah.

That's fair.

I don't I don't want to end this without talking about Collingwood Arts Center.

Yes.

I love the Collingwood are attending.

You guys.

Have you.

Been.

I want want and I never know what puppets.

Yeah.

I don't know what a. Trekkie, you.

Know.

Yeah.

Yeah.

No, it's like I've been at Collingwood for just 12 years now.

Just with, well, like, it just happened, you know?

Now you you also, I think, recently got the announcement of some funding for Collingwood that I know you want to talk about.

And then tell us about what's going on for kids and families this summer at Collingwood.

So, so much stuff is always happening.

Yes.

I mean, the circus does most of the things and the bullying, the circuit like go do birds, eye view, circus stuff.

They're great.

But as far as, as far as Collingwood, we always have something going on our, self-guided tours are opened every every Saturday, 11 to 2, which gives you a chance to walk around this creepy old building.

We're about 90,000ft, and we also have a little artist shop called The Weird Store opened during that time.

Not just art.

Also some weird stuff if you need an aggressively large non-working toothbrush.

I don't know.

Where you were going with that.

But, you can get that.

Yeah.

So.

So I think your work.

Yeah.

But yeah, there's there's, ton of active artists.

We have over 100 artists.

And that's the most magical thing about that.

It's amazing.

So we you can.

Walk down a hallway and hear drums and a guitar and hear, like, the statues of people.

Being.

Like, you just go.

You have no idea what people are up to.

No.

Well, one day I was at Collingwood.

And, you know, we don't let people modify their studio because the modifications people come up or wild, right?

So one day I'm, I'm downstairs and I'm mad because I hear a drill and I'm like, I gotta go up there.

And then I hear pounding.

And I was like, ooh.

So I go upstairs and the drill is a drone flying down the hallway, and the hammer is a dude tap dancing.

And the shooting her video, promoting, upcoming, like, like show.

Yeah.

No, no, a construction show.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Of course.

Yeah.

So, like.

I just love this.

Like, I just saw.

All of my construction.

Sites.

Yeah.

Like.

I mean, this program airs outside of Toledo.

And so folks in some of you have heard of Covid Arts Center.

Yeah.

But if folks haven't, I mean, give me a brief description of what it is and where it is.

Yeah.

We're in the old west end of Toledo, Ohio.

We are an old nunnery and, convent turned into an art center in 85.

We are three kind of interconnected buildings.

One is a mansion that the nuns purchased, lived in, shaved the back off, and built a building on the back of.

They intended to knock it over.

They didn't.

So we have a mansion on the front or we are on the back.

It's very interesting and very cool.

We have three theaters, a lot of visual art, a lot of, a lot of theater and.

A lot of resident artists.

A ton of photography.

Only two, two residents, but a lot of, rental space.

And speaking of theaters, there's a new we talked on the show before about how much we loved Avenue Q. Hi, Stone productions.

Stone productions has a new performance coming up in August of Jagged Little Pill, which I've never seen.

So I'm excited.

And it's.

Like.

This is the.

Premise of Jagged Little.

Pill.

I haven't I haven't heard of it.

It's the.

Alanis Morissette.

Yeah.

Oh yeah, it's Morissette.

Music means.

That, it's a musical, but which the.

I thought you're being hilarious.

I think it's, Yeah, it's it's it's Elena, it's Alanis Morissette to music set to a musical.

And you should come watch it and learn all those things about it.

Is that's it?

Yeah.

That's right.

That's a good hook.

Oh, look at you.

Save it for the last show.

Oh, finally you show up, you show in mother raising the roof.

What a topical and do.

Yeah.

Still got.

It.

Six.

It's, If people want more information, go to our website.

Oh, and follow us on Facebook.

Come on.

Come on.

Now.

If you're going to do one thing this summer, somebody is going to do one thing.

Where is this is, you know, this is the final show we're leaving people with the one thing they have to do this summer.

Per Lexi Hammond Staples.

What should they go to?

Pride.

What do you mean?

Okay, the parade died.

We'll see.

The parade is great, but then step down and say hi to me after the parade, okay?

Don't just go to the parade and then skedaddle back to your car.

Come say hello.

And what should someone wear to the parade?

Probably best outfit wear what should be.

Something not that hot.

Okay, it's.

It's impossible for me.

And bring up poncho in your pocket.

Yeah, because we you never know.

We don't talk about the weather, so.

Yeah, I'm very super.

Well, what am I?

You're a little bit superficial.

Yes.

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm just a little serious.

Yeah.

Lexie Hayman.

Staples.

Thank you, thank you so much.

All right.

We're going to take a break.

When we come back, we have our mystery guest Matt.

What is clue number three?

He is a doctor from South Toledo.

He is a 20 under 40 Toledo leadership recipient.

He has a family that has been on the show.

This family that's been on the show.

Tom Cole, obviously.

Oh.

I don't think Tom's family's been on the show.

In my heart, they have.

Okay.

That's fair.

All right.

We're gonna take a break.

When we come back, we'll find out who our mystery guest is.

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More information@tada Welcome back into the 419 powered by Wjrt.

We've been talking about it all show.

We've got a mystery guest that's joining us.

Matt.

Remind us of what the clues are.

Yes.

All right.

He is a doctor from South Toledo.

He is a 20 under 40 Toledo leadership recipient.

He has family that has been on the show, which I think is probably the best clue.

It's only from 350 people.

We had a one out of.

152 chance.

To get right.

Okay.

That's right.

Please welcome the.

New president and CEO of Doctor Adam.

Vanessa.

Welcome back.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

I'm super honored, excited, and just, ready for a new challenge.

And just glad to be here.

Thanks for having.

Me.

You're about to graduate.

I'm about to graduate.

So you really just back to.

I'm back home.

I grew up.

Across the street.

Down the street.

How you use your your education and training as it relates to children, to dealing with the crew here.

Yeah, yeah.

Believe me, I've got some strategies, I believe you.

I yeah, we're in recess and detention time.

Yes, yes, yes.

Okay.

All right.

So folks will know you, Adam.

For me.

You got a incredibly successful career in education, with Sylvania schools, most recently as a superintendent, Ottawa Hills.

Talk to me about why public media.

Yeah.

So, you know, I have this would have been my 27th year in public education.

It's a long time.

Positions on that.

Okay, so Tammy.

Started as a third grade teacher in Sylvania and then kind of worked my way up the ladder, as an assistant principal, principal, curriculum director, assistant superintendent, superintendent.

Sylvania.

19 years in Sylvania schools, an amazing place.

Then got the call from Ottawa Hills about seven years ago.

And, got an opportunity to lead the number one school district in the state of Ohio.

Yeah, I'm kind of once in a lifetime, for sure.

Amazing kids.

Pretty great parents.

You know, great community that centers itself around the, the school district.

So, you know, I've had a lot of really great experience.

So people will say, why?

You know, but after that long and being a superintendent, about ten years, almost a decade, I've been craving a new challenge and just kind of looking to continue to lead.

But to do it in a related way, but maybe something unique and different.

And that's kind of bold for someone who is in, you know, public education that most people just stay till they retire.

Sure.

And I could do that, and I could have done that.

Would have been great, I think, leading a great school district.

But, you know, I just knew over the past year or so, been having some conversations with just people in the community I trust and looking for.

Is there something different?

That's only the area I didn't want to move away.

I have three kids, one who is a student going to be a junior who holds high school and is thriving there.

And then a son who plays college football at Toledo at the University of Toledo.

So, you know, we're local game aren't going anywhere.

Yeah.

And then, you know, a couple months ago, this opportunity, someone mentioned it to me and, and once I started looking into it and thinking, Wow.

You know what?

Public education and public media, yeah, are fueled really by the same thing, right?

A belief in a connected, educated, community.

And it really kind of matches, what I've done for 26 years, but with a little bit of a new twist that kind of would meet that need of wanting that new challenge.

And so I kind of dove into the mix.

And once I started learning about what I needed the most, in a new leader and then started meeting the board members and the staff here at who are phenomenal and so talented, the more and more excited I got about it.

And, you know, it was a big process and the station did a great job looking at many wonderful candidates.

And then, when the offer came, I just knew felt right.

I think it's so admirable to, you know, be so successful in your career, really at the pinnacle of your career and have these feelings, like, maybe I want something else because, as you say, it would be easy just to stay it would be to stay doing that.

But the kids don't benefit from someone whose heart is right.

Right.

So I guess if, the the to the jump to a new role isn't a total about-face to your point.

And that was well articulated.

Yeah, but I'm curious, that if for you, you are closing down at least one portion of your career.

If you could have it described in a way that would be perfect to you.

How would you want your career as an educator to be described?

You know, I would want to be looked at as, a leader who is collaborative and believes that everyone has a voice at the table.

When it comes to making decisions for kids.

Everyone should be involved.

One of the most proudest accomplishments that we did in my tenure in Ottawa Hills was created a brand new strategic plan for the district.

And that plan was, created with a totally flipped model.

Usually you hire a company, you kind of start at the top, and the superintendent decides things with the board.

I decided to do a total different approach in Ottawa Hills and let the community drive the plan.

I chose three, very influential community volunteers to run a team of community members.

I took a step back.

I was at the table, but the community got to decide what the future of Auto Hills is going to look like.

This was back in 2022.

It's almost at its fifth year.

Sure.

Coming up, it's a five year strategic plan.

And so I think making, the, you know, leaving that mark that people knew me as a leader, as someone that you could come into my office anytime.

The door was always open.

I was always at everything.

So yes, you were.

And I approached me, asked me anything.

And it was not just with the adults, but with the kids.

And I'll tell you, I will miss that interaction with kids every day.

Yes, that is huge.

And especially in Ottawa Hills, where I could pretty much know every kid's name.

Yes.

I mean, I would walk down the hall and know the kids.

And you had multiple in you, multiple siblings and.

Yeah.

Yeah, right.

And there's so many families in Sylvania.

It was a little more challenging because there's 8000 kids.

But.

I still that still was that same piece there.

That's who I was.

It was the guy who could do the fist bump, sit down at the table, let you give your opinion.

And a lot of times that opinion mattered in a sense that it affected the decision I had to make.

And that from kids to teachers to parents to my administrative team, I think that's the biggest legacy.

I hope I like.

Public education, I'm sorry.

Public education and public media are so similar in that they both have funding challenges.

Yeah.

And and attacks really as it relates to the merits of their public funding.

Right.

So what's your sort of belief in that?

I know that the, this station, in part the reason that we're sitting at this table is, is a commitment to local.

Yeah.

And a commitment to local voices.

What what is your plan around that and your thoughts in general about the funding challenges ahead of.

Right.

So fortunately or unfortunately, I've had a lot of experience in what you just said.

You know.

My kid is on.

What's unfortunate, right.

State funding cuts and, you know, a constant criticism of public education and superintendents really are never being right.

When we asked for a levy why you should not do this?

You should cut this, right?

I mean, there's always constant criticism, coming at you nonstop.

I have grown a spine bigger than I've ever thought.

I get as superintendent.

Sure.

So, you kn I think those experiences I'll be able to bring here.

I think with that background, we've had to get creative in public education in Ottawa Hills and Sylvania, whether it's starting our foundation, looking at, funding through grants and in many different ways than we've ever had to before, a lot of those things I hope to bring to the table here, I have some, deep regional, roots here and connections with my experiences, sitting on multiple boards at the universities, ProMedica many other things in the community.

I hope to tap into a lot of those resources and say, hey, we need you.

What can we do for you?

What can we do for you, to be part of your world.

And I think there's opportunities, with my connections and roots in the community, to be able to to target some of those things.

Absolutely.

And to be able to help us with those, those challenges.

I mean, that cut that came from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

I mean, that's huge.

That's out there.

It's real.

We know it's at the table.

That was a big part of my interview process.

I hope you're aware.

Yes.

We just lost 20% of our budget.

Right.

I was, and I've had that happen in the past to me.

Right.

You have to get creative.

You pull your team to the table, you get the right people at the table and listen before you attack.

Yep.

And success can come.

So I hope to bring that here.

Talk to us more about your vision for moving forward.

Yeah.

I think, you know, we're approaching the 75th anniversary.

What a great time.

To start kind of new leadership, new, planning.

So really, I think we need to get back to, as a, as an organization.

Get back to why?

What's our why?

You know, I think everybody kind of has wise here and thinks what they do is great, but can we get back to maybe a consensus?

Why, as we head into that 75th year, what a great opportunity to bring the team together, bring the community and bring sponsors, partners in and help us define the new why of it.

So I think you'll see is that'll be a big part of our first three months.

I'm inspired by a book called, Start with Why by Simon Sinek.

It's probably my favorite leadership book ever.

I talked a lot about it in my interview process.

Every employee in this building is going to get a copy of that book, and we're going to, do kind of a shared read together and really see how everything we do, everybody we talk to starts to define that.

Why?

You'll see, probably in the first 5 to 6 months, a new strategic plan process starting here.

The strategic plan in place here is quite old, to be honest.

It needs updated, it needs reset.

That's work that I've done before.

Sure.

Use models that work.

So I plan to bring a lot of that experience to the table.

Here, probably within the first, you know, 5 or 6 months we're going to get we're going to get going.

So you mentioned in, I guess the former career is something where you have to get comfortable saying, right, it's just feels strange to you.

But you mentioned the people portion of it, from families to kids to, faculty.

The administrators talk a little bit about the part of the structure that you enjoy.

You just talk glowingly about strategic planning, on multiple fronts.

But that means that you have to like part of the meat and potatoes of how agencies, organizations operate.

What's your favorite part of that?

You know, I think I've, I've learned quite a bit about the structure here just to interview process.

And they have so much more to learn and plan on really spending time.

In the staff heard that loud and clear.

There's going to be a lot of listening and learning for me as I come in to the door to make sure that I understand how things are happening here and what's working.

And I think the biggest part I like is, the teamwork aspect.

Sure.

Structure.

That's that's huge to me.

There isn't me sitting at a desk making decisions all day.

That's just not who I am.

This station will see me out and about, around the building.

The station will see me out and about, around the community.

Whether it sits within a rotary activity.

The chamber, Sylvania chamber, mommy chamber, two of the strongest chamber of commerce is growing right now in our area.

Along with Twitter, these organizations have to see the face of a lot moving forward.

If our plan, if our changes, if our goals are going to work, and that's going to be a big part of my leadership, we.

We I think that sounds amazing.

We haven't talked about who the family member of the one of the clues is a family member that was on the show that your wife, Kate, who is the executive director.

Yeah, of the, National Great Lakes Museum, who we had on the show and was absolutely delightful.

Tell us a little bit more about your family.

Your two kids are local.

You have a high schooler and a college kid.

So what kind of things do you guys like to do?

Do you have extended family?

That's right.

Yeah, yeah, I just talked about TV.

Yeah.

So Kate and I met back in college.

We were introduced by a, a mutual friend, and we've been together at the University of Toledo that, that was back in the 90s, and we got married in 2000.

It's actually our 26th wedding anniversary today of all days.

Yeah, yeah.

So that's how we did the show.

Yeah.

Right.

Come on out.

Yeah.

I'm pulling.

Out the driveway.

Waving.

She's out walking the dog.

She's giving you the bird.

Right?

Right.

Yeah.

That's how you know it's working.

Yeah.

So we, we.

You know, decided when we got married to to stay in Toledo, I got hired in something as a teacher.

She was working at Heart Associates, then as a graphic designer.

And then once we started having children, she stayed home, and, we really worked hard to make things work.

I delivered newspapers, in the early morning when the blade was delivered.

Every day as a teacher.

Yeah, I would get up at 430 in the morning and deliver papers.

And that was our spending money.

You know, we lived on my teaching income.

Yeah.

And then, we just, you know, obviously, we just fell in love with this area.

I've always been in love with that.

I've been here my whole life.

Kate wasn't from here, but just immediately, we fell in love with the community.

All the things that you can do with kids.

Yeah, and we knew we wanted to raise our kids, in Sylvania in that sweet area.

So we had three kids.

My oldest, Elizabeth, is 23, and she graduated from UT last year.

She is now working in Indianapolis as at USA Track and Field, the world headquarters.

Oh yeah.

Oh wow.

As a lead content specialist.

So she plans the USA track and field meets all over the country and gets to travel and set up the meets, run the logistics.

They're all gearing up for the 2028 Olympics.

Yeah, she'll be part of So she is so excited, and has a great job.

Lives in downtown Indy.

Loves it.

Yeah.

My second guy for our second kid, Andrew, is, at the University of Toledo, business major, going to be a junior.

He's also on the University of Toledo football team, a. Position.

Safety.

Yeah.

All right.

Yep.

And, special teams.

And, he's just loving it.

What a great program.

What a great place for him.

You Coach Jacobs.

It's unbelievable.

Yeah.

He's been out of the family now.

They moved to the village.

What a great guy.

It's been a great change.

Candle was awesome, but, yeah, Jacob's coming.

Everybody was nervous, but it's been a good fit.

Yeah.

And then I got my little guy who's not really that little.

He's going to be a junior at Ottawa Hills.

He's going to be the quarterback on a football team this year and is very involved in the theater programs there.

Yeah.

And now that you're that superintendent, he has free range kind.

Of excited about that.

I it's weird of him.

Yeah I was like are you okay with it.

It's like, yeah, I think I'm okay.

Let's get your stuff out of there.

Right?

Yeah.

Right.

Can I get yeah, yeah, yeah.

So we have a few minutes.

All right.

I know you're running.

Buckle up.

It's now time.

For Gretchen's wacky quiz.

The last lesson, the finals.

And I'm gonna ask for rapid fire questions.

Gretchen is asking you to describe Toledo in one word.

And you and Matt will list the nine best things in Toledo.

That is the 419.

What's your favorite quote about life?

Be the change you want to see and others love it.

What's the most interesting piece of trivia that you know.

About me or.

In general?

Well, a trivia about me.

I was a University of Toledo cheerleader.

All right.

I could say I. Like it.

If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?

First name.

This first name.

Ethan.

All right.

I love that name.

How about we.

Were thinking about naming our one of our kids that way.

This is a good Ethan I just think that's it's a great name.

That's a great.

Name.

I'm going to ask Sam for another.

Yeah.

If you won the lottery, what's the first thing you'd buy?

A pair of jet skis.

I love water sports.

Yeah, I love jet skiing.

Kate.

I keep telling Kate how to get jet skis.

No, we're not buying just because I really want that.

Skis.

You should be the first to touch them.

I know.

You know the Great Lakes.

Right there at the docks.

It's a tour.

Yeah, yeah.

What's that?

Have to be branded.

What's the one word you would use to describe the city of Toledo or the region?

Tenacious.

Love it.

Great.

All right, brother, you and me for not.

Here we go.

Let's do it, flyaway.

All right, the nine best things about Toledo.

Yep, yep.

Or region?

Yeah.

The region.

School systems in the area.

Well, they're just phenomenal.

Yep.

Yeah I agree Metroparks me.

Yeah.

I got to say that.

Yeah, we spent a lot of time.

Wow.

I love it downtown.

I have to say, or get in trouble.

And that's what I was gonna say.

Yeah, I'm gonna put that ahead of a metropolitan.

I'm like, this the coolest place ever.

It is.

It is a great.

It's great.

I would say the library system.

Yes.

Our kids grew up going there and just.

They still do and love it so much.

The next week at the University of Toledo.

Yep.

Kate.

Now, grads.

Greg, we've got a daughter grad, a son there.

Who knows if the third, I'll end up there.

Yep.

Big.

I would say the local restaurant scene.

Yes.

Do you have a favorite?

No.

We're Mexican.

Okay.

We're Mexican.

It's great.

All right, I'm going to put too fast.

He was Mexican.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Well, Ethan would be okay.

Yeah, because.

There's so many great places.

Yes.

Yeah.

Two for my hat.

Oh, yeah.

That's two left.

Okay.

What's the.

I would just say, the neighborhoods, you know, the just the neighborhoods that you can live in, whether you're an old orchard, Ottawa Hills, Albania, Perrysburg, there's so many great places to live here and raise a family and do it affordably.

Yes, that's.

Right.

Adam, I can't think of what the last one I know.

Well, you know, maybe.

Kevin, you are right.

Because I will tell you, my favorite thing is, public media.

That's got to be shiny.

It's a pillar in the community.

It's it's been for almost 70 years.

And now to see the evolve, the things that are evolving here, including your show.

I know today, the last show of your first season.

Hopefully there'll be many more seasons to come.

You guys are awesome.

Doctor Adam Fennessy, congratulations new president and CEO.

We're going to take a break.

When we come back, we'll wrap up this final episode of season one of the 419, powered by.

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This is public media in Toledo.

It's where you belong.

Welcome back into the 419 as we wrap up our final episode of season one, we've listed a bunch of names of folks that that helped make this thing possible.

As we've talked about, public media is indeed public media.

And so every single person watching, listening, participating in this show, liking something on social media, sharing a post, commenting on something every single one of you is a part of making this show great and making our community better.

Huge thanks to our sponsors, which are Wealth Management Work, Spring Tada, Toledo Refining Company, Destination Toledo, and the Toledo Community Foundation.

If you missed any part of today's show, you can catch at 7 a.m.

on YouTube, 3 p.m.

on FM, 91 or 6 p.m.

on Wjct Connect's channel 30.4, of course online 24 7.org/before one nine we're going to take a break for the summer will be back in the fall.

In the meantime, you'll get the best of the 419 here on Wjct.

Thank you so much for being a part of it.

Thanks to you guys as well.

Thank you.

The 419 powered by Wjct presented by Retro Wealth Management.

Thanks for loving Gretchen.

The 419 powered by GTE is made possible in part by supporters like you.