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A Community Thread

A Community Thread

By Joshua Langlais

Welcome to A Community Thread! I'll introduce you to a neighbor and remind you that we have much more in common than not. I'm hoping that celebrating our commonality and sharing that with you will help grow the notion that we are better together and remind you that so many of us are working for the same thing - peace.
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LeeAnn O'Neill - March 03, 2019

A Community ThreadMar 18, 2019

00:00
31:39
An Interview with the Creator of A Community Thread on the Radio!

An Interview with the Creator of A Community Thread on the Radio!

I recently had the honor of chatting on the radio with Shanti O'Connor, whose interview you may remember from earlier this year. Shanti cohosts a show on KPOV, the local radio station here in Bend, Oregon. At the time of this recording the program was called Voices from the Margins, but it is transitioning to Curiosity Lab, so if you are inclined to seek it out, be sure to keep an eye out for either name. As the A Community Thread interviews have come to a close for this year, I thought this might be a good opportunity for listeners to hear some of my thoughts in response to someone else's questions -- a bit of a role reversal -- as a way to learn more about this project. Thanks so much for listening. And happy holidays! 

Dec 23, 201929:45
Tyler Graham - October 28, 2019

Tyler Graham - October 28, 2019

This is the 50th and final interview for this year and the 160th interview overall for A Community Thread. I owe a huge thank you to Leslie as it is unlikely I would have met Tyler without her. I first met Tyler, who is Leslie's husband, when I showed up at their house to interview Leslie earlier this year and that was the beginning of what has turned out to be a very lovely friendship with both of them. Tyler and I have spent many hours on many occasions in genuine conversation over the course of this year and I have come to value his opinion and outlook and admire him as a man and caring human. Because of our time together and what I have come to know of Tyler, I invited him to be the final interview for this year. So, a big thank you and a big hug to him for graciously accepting. I am honored to introduce him to you here and hope that you will not only find our conversation uplifting but also a catalyst for changes big and small in your own daily practices.

I have been churning out interviews weekly for three years now and I have done so without taking a break to significantly evaluate any effect this is having. In mid-stride, I have been thinking and analyzing and questioning and have accordingly made some tweaks to the questions and some adjustments to my general practices, but I have come to understand that I need to take a little space to not only better analyze my desired outcomes and how to have a greater effect, but also to better understand how to digest all of this information personally. While there may be a lull in posts for a period of time, much will be happening behind the scenes and more will come soon. With all of that said and without further ado, here is Tyler Graham.

Dec 16, 201901:10:28
Travis Wiggins - October 20, 2019

Travis Wiggins - October 20, 2019

Big thanks to Sheila Dunn for recommending Travis to participate here. I've actually known Travis for a year or so. We met through his wife, Emily, and I believe she initially wanted us to meet because of our sharing an interest in disseminating information via podcasts. Travis makes a podcast called Modern Folk and seems to have a pretty significant interest in living better and more thoughtfully. Travis also participated in a small group of folks I asked to gather together last year with the focus of giving me some advice as this project moved forward. It was so great that Sheila brought his name up. And their particular thread of referrals happens to be the longest one to date — 14 other people referred each other down this line that ended up landing me at Travis' door.

We have a great conversation here and I am so glad to share it with you. In the end, Travis starts interviewing me, too, which isn't exactly the norm. If you can, I recommend listening to this one as the back and forth aspect of our conversation and the tone and cadence and sincerity and smiles and laughter and even some tears seem to all be understood better through the ears than through the eyes. However you take it in, though, I do hope you'll be challenged and inspired.

Dec 09, 201952:11
Becky Conner - October 17, 2019

Becky Conner - October 17, 2019

I'd like to begin here by offering a tremendous thank you to Shanti O'Connor for connecting me to Becky. We came so close to missing this incredible conversation due to some electronic mail complications, but we managed to recover and I'd say we are all better for it — all, in this case, being you and me and Becky, too. I met Becky at her home in Sisters and she intercepted me outside as I approached her driveway. We immediately went for a short walk to the Wychus Creek, which winds it way through the trees at the end of her street. We talked at length on its bank and chatted about the creek and its eddies as a metaphor for life.

I don't fully understand — or maybe it's just that I don't have the most efficient language for it — but there is an almost immediate connection when I meet certain people. And that connection allows for vulnerability and sincerity in a unique and rare way — a way that I don't witness all that often in my daily routines. Perhaps it's a recognition of openness or a spirit-to-spirit (whatever that means to you) vibration. I suppose we all may have different words for it. At any rate, whatever it is and whatever you call it, it was there with Becky.

We carried our conversation back to her home and we sat in her kitchen over a cup of delicious and nourishing tea while we prepared to record. I am so happy to offer you that portion of our time together here, but I wish that you could have witnessed our entire exchange. It was full — full of sharing and learning and some laughing and crying. Times like this one continue to amaze me. This connection continues to inspire me. Our capacity for relationship and listening actually maybe be the only thing that inspires me. Our connection with another is the most powerful thing I've encountered and the joy I experience from any other thing doesn't come close to touching it. Thank you so much, Becky, from the bottom of my heart, for meeting me, seeing me, hearing me, and sharing with me.

Dec 02, 201929:38
Sheila Dunn - October 15, 2019

Sheila Dunn - October 15, 2019

I've known Sheila casually for a couple of years now and several people have mentioned her name as a potential participant here, but nobody ever officially referred her until now. And I owe a big thank you to Jason Chinchen for finally being the responsible party. Sheila and I sat in her studio and chatted over a cup of matcha about many of the things on our minds. This interview is conversational and relaxed due to our already knowing one another and — spoiler alert — it doesn't offer much by way of figuring it all out or solving the world's problems, but it is yet another example of a couple of concerned individuals talking about what might be best. And I tend to think that the more we thoughtfully engage with one another, the better our chances will be of making some progress. Sheila's a dedicated and skilled painter who is making quite a name for herself, but I'd be willing to bet that her success is due just as much to her intention and heart as it is to her talent and work ethic.

Nov 25, 201936:59
Will Blount - Otober 11, 2019

Will Blount - Otober 11, 2019

Laura Grayson referred Will to participate here several months ago and at that time Will asked me to reach out to him again "after September", when his schedule might afford him a little extra time. And so I did and he was kind enough to put me on the calendar. We met in a conference room at the Ruffwear and Embark headquarters, where Will serves as the President. This was actually our second meeting — our first being a couple of weeks earlier to chat about another photography project — so I had some idea of what chatting with Will was like and, because of that first interaction, I was really looking forward to this conversation. True to the one form I have come to understand of him, Will chatted with me with patience and attentiveness and offered his perspective on the subjects below with care and sincerity. To say I enjoyed taking with Will would be a severe understatement. Something about the way he says it makes what he has to say resonate with me. I am so grateful to have had this conversation with him face to face and it's an honor to share it with you here.

Nov 18, 201936:13
Krayna Castelbaum - October 03, 2019

Krayna Castelbaum - October 03, 2019

Skye Kimel referred Krayna to participate here. It turns out that Krayna and I live nearby each other, so it was a treat to go to a home I have passed by several times and meet and chat with the resident there. Krayna met me with a big smile and promptly served me up a cup of hot tea and some bites of dark chocolate and a tour of her home. We sat on her sofa together and chatted about this and that until it seemed as though me might talk about everything before we even started recording. Then we dove in.

The following conversation is fairly weighty and existential. Our time together was very warm and sensitive and full of emotion and I am sure you will notice that as you read or listen below. If you are at all inclined to listen, I highly recommend it, as I've chosen to not transcribe in detail every conversational rabbit hole. It's also worth the listen just to hear Krayna laugh at some of my questions. Her's is a kind laugh and one that set the tone for our time together. It's a great pleasure to introduce Krayna to you here. Keep your eyes out for her as she will undoubtedly shine some light on you and your day should you encounter her. You can also be in touch with her through her website.

Nov 11, 201901:02:30
Jerry Scdoris - October 01, 2019

Jerry Scdoris - October 01, 2019

I'd like to offer a big and warm thank you to Andrew Smith for recommending Jerry to participate here. It's hard to imagine a circumstance in which I would have met Jerry otherwise. I feel very fortunate to have had this time with him today, which was so lovely and sincere and vulnerable and genuine. Jerry lives on a large plot of landed completely surrounded by BLM land with his 100 sled dogs. Jerry's a sled dog racer and a tour guide and the father to Rachael Scdoris, who has experienced a substantial amount of fame for her athletic accomplishments. I've seen a bunch of sled dogs before, but never 100 of them in one setting. And I've never been so up close and personal with them as I had the opportunity to be today. If you listen to the interview, be aware that I inserted some audio of what those dogs sound like between my introduction and the start of our conversation. While it may not be obvious in the recording, please know that the dogs are happy and healthy and wagging their tails. Jerry and I spent three and a half hours together, which is a bit more than is normal, but it still wasn't quite enough. I so look forward to spending some more time with Jerry — learning from his vast experiences and enjoying more wonderful conversation.

Nov 04, 201938:02
Jesse Russell - September 23, 2019

Jesse Russell - September 23, 2019

Skye Kimel recommended Jesse to participate here. I had heard of Jesse through mutual friends and had even taken a peek at his small-home development, The Hiatus, last winter, so it was a treat to finally meet him. We had a lovely and lively conversation and I left feeling invigorated. I transcribed the bulk of our conversation for your reading pleasure here, but there are some fascinating off-shoots that you'll have to listen to the audio in order to enjoy. I appreciated so much that Jesse's train of thought was often introspective and void of judgment. My guess would be that we could all take a lesson from that behavior… I know I certainly can.

Oct 28, 201936:02
Shanti O'Connor - September 18, 2019

Shanti O'Connor - September 18, 2019

Dayna Taus recommended Shanti to participate here. I had heard of Shanti and even attended a presentation of hers a couple of years ago, but I couldn't quite remember the context and I know we hadn't met, so I was looking forward to meeting her today. I spent the last week in Maine, visiting my family, exploring my old stomping grounds, and generally not thinking too much about this project and really couldn't have asked for a more pleasant reentry than this warm and encouraging and honest conversation. I am so glad to be able to introduce Shanti to you here and hope that you'll find our chat to be inspiring and motivating.

If you choose to listen, be prepared for the super abrasive and shocking noise of a weed-whacker near the end of the recording. And if you read instead, please feel free to blame the interruption of Shanti's final thought on that, too.

Oct 21, 201939:25
Lisa Shropshire - September 07, 2019

Lisa Shropshire - September 07, 2019

JJ Riddell recommended Lisa to participate here. It turns out that JJ has been working hard in community activism since at least the 8th grade, which is when he and Lisa met. I'm grateful to JJ for connecting us as Lisa and I had a wonderful conversation together. We spent a few hours together and covered nearly every topic. We chatted for an hour or more over a cup of coffee and an ocean roll before going on record and then revisited a couple of those topics which you'll read or listen to below. And then we kept it going after the interview.

Our talking definitely left me with some food for thought. What can we do? Sometimes it feels so daunting, doesn't it? How can we express our concern and compassion in actionable ways? And how do we balance that with some levity? I think about this stuff a lot and I am trying so hard to encourage others to do the same through this project. Is it working? I hope so.

I'd like to offer a big thank you to Lisa for her time and candor and her willingness to listen to my perspective and thoughtfully engage in a difficult conversation. I'm sure you've noticed that not everybody is willing to do that.

Oct 14, 201937:23
Jason Chinchen - September 06, 2019

Jason Chinchen - September 06, 2019

Skye Kimel recommended Jason to participate here. And I am so glad she did as our time together was so rich. We chatted at Jason's kitchen table over some tasty coffee while in the company of his two three-legged dogs, Rally and Charlie. I felt as though Jason and I connected in a very real way and I am very excited to share our conversation with you here. I hope that you'll find our sincere back and forth encouraging. Jason is a man of many hats and one of them is that of photographer. I always feel a little extra pressure when photographing a photographer, but today that was extenuated by the fact that Jason told me before my arriving that he wanted to photograph me with his medium-format, tintype camera. We had a blast together, which seemed like a meaningful way to mark this 150th interview.

Oct 07, 201929:26
Alyssa Loveday - September 2, 2019

Alyssa Loveday - September 2, 2019

Jess Leblanc recommended Alyssa to participate here. It turns out that Alyssa coaches Jess' daughter through a basketball training program she organizes. So nice that Jess thought of Alyssa and even nicer that Alyssa accepted the invitation! We met at Alyssa's house on her lunch break and talked on her sofa while her big Labrador Retriever, Sawyer, tried his best to participate in the interview - you may recognize his presence as you listen. I would have loved another hour to dive even further into some of the topics we touched on, but I’m grateful for Alyssa’s perspective and hope that what she says will resonate with you, too.

Sep 30, 201925:49
Skye Kimel - August 30, 2019

Skye Kimel - August 30, 2019

Hunter Dahlberg recommended Skye to participate here. They know each other through the blacksmith trade and we ended up meeting in Skye's workshop, marking the second blacksmith shop I’ve had the honor to visit during this project. I so love sitting in somebody's environment with them, surrounded by what they know. I don't know if that is a trait I've always had or one that I've developed throughout the course of this project, but I’m thankful for it either way. It was so fun to chat with Skye in a big industrial space. And I loved hearing her honesty. I don't know if it's why Hunter recommended her, but they definitely share that quality. I cherish authentic conversation and knowing where someone stands on an issue. I especially cherish that when the conversation has back and forth and both people can really hear each other and provide a little room for mind changing. Huge thanks to Skye for allowing that to happen today.

Sep 23, 201940:38
Priscilla Francis Ibarra - August 26, 2019

Priscilla Francis Ibarra - August 26, 2019

Christy recommended Priscilla to participate here and she reluctantly accepted. Priscilla explained that she didn't feel that she was remarkable or influential enough to participate, but I countered that by explaining that part of my intention with this project is to celebrate and amplify the voice of the everyman/woman. So many of us have thoughts and feelings and ideas, but we rarely have a platform to discuss them in a public way. I am so glad that Priscilla overcame her initial hesitance and I am so very happy to introduce her to you here. Our conversation is real and raw and I have so much respect for Priscilla's vulnerability and sincerity.

Sep 16, 201941:48
Dorian Allstot - August 08, 2019

Dorian Allstot - August 08, 2019

Jared Anderson recommended Dorian to participate here. It was obvious through talking with both of them that they have a tremendous amount of mutual respect for each other. I found that connection to be quite moving. I am so grateful to Jared for recommending Dorian to this project as I doubt very much that I would have encountered him in this context otherwise. Dorian and his friends share an aesthetic and a way of life and during the time I’ve spent here in Bend, Oregon, I’ve noticed that this particular lifestyle is one that the people here tend to have trouble with.

I’ve been wondering what I can do about it and how I might bridge this particular gap. I’ve contemplated starting another project, dedicated to exploring the clash between the home-owning, car-parking, more conventional consumeristic citizen and the stigmatized less polished transient crowd who may or may not be experiencing homelessness. Well, as it turns out, Jared and Dorian gave me an opportunity to explore this within the confines of this project and for that I am very grateful. I didn’t know anything about Dorian before meeting him today and I went into this interview with the same open-mindedness that I approach all other interviews with. And I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed talking with Dorian. Sorry to belabor the point, but please withhold your judgments about those who might look different than you. Have a conversation. I bet you that you’ll learn something and be better for it.

I wanted to point out that early in our conversation Dorian asked how I felt about swearing. I told him it didn't matter. And with that, there are a few more swears in this interview than in most. But, frankly, it shouldn't be swearing that offends you at this juncture with all the wild and shocking atrocities going on and the incredibly violent, racist, homophobic, and generally divisive rhetoric that ceaselessly plagues our senses. Also, Dorian's cat, Yin Yang, hung out with us for the entirety of our conversation and you may hear evidence of her throughout.

Sep 09, 201940:20
Gregg Morris - August 06, 2019

Gregg Morris - August 06, 2019

Kevin Kraft recommended Gregg to participate here. He accepted and invited me to his home and we spent about an hour on record at his kitchen table chatting about maybe not all, but at least many of the things. He spoke very highly of his daughter, Ella, who I was delighted to meet after the interview. Gregg homeschooled Ella until high school started and it was really cool to bear witness to their bond that undoubtedly grew during their thousands of hours of teaching and learning together.

Sep 02, 201901:03:13
Dayna Taus - July 24, 2019

Dayna Taus - July 24, 2019

Kevin Kraft recommended both Dayna and her husband, Mike, to participate here. They both accepted and I actually scheduled an interview with Mike first, but we ended up talking for five hours without ever getting around to the more formal recorded portion. Then, later that evening, my partner and I joined Mike and Dayna and another couple for the evening and spent another six hours together. So, several days later, and after much thought, I met with Dayna, but not exactly as strangers. The conversation I had with Mike prompted some new material, so this interview with Dayna has a slightly different angle to it. And our conversation was rich despite it being significantly shorter than the marathon chat with her husband. I am happy to introduce you to Dayna here.

Aug 26, 201927:58
JJ Riddell - July 16, 2019

JJ Riddell - July 16, 2019

Laura Grayson recommended JJ to participate here. Laura and JJ have gotten to know each other through JJ's friendship with Laura's daughter and she had great things to say about his community involvement. We had a wonderful conversation about affecting positive change and I found JJ's perspective on the matter, as an activated student leader, to be inspirational. 

When I was 17, I was living in a bubble of extreme Christianity in an economically impoverished part of rural Maine. I know I was thinking about a lot, but I don't think it was about cultural phobias and racism and climate change and mental health. However, those are issues I've become aware of and engaged in since. And after talking with him, I am so curious to know what change JJ's generation will instigate as these are the issues defining this time and these are the issues they've grown up with. I'm sure JJ is a stand-out example of his generation, but my interaction with him did inspire some feelings of hope that there are more eager young folks looking to influence big change. 

Aug 19, 201940:23
Jared Anderson - July 15, 2019

Jared Anderson - July 15, 2019

Amy Hoag recommended Jared to participate here. He readily accepted and we made plans to meet at his home  - a serene spot on a creek just a little outside of Bend proper. We dove into a big conversation before we started recording, which didn't feel at all like a typical back and forth conversation, but more of a search and rescue - a mission to uncover some of the deepest of emotions. What is the anger? What is the sadness? What is the frustration? What do they represent and where might paying attention to them bring us? I could have spent the day talking with Jared. In fact, he even offered to just scrap the recording and continue talking. Fortunately, for the greater benefit, I didn't take him up on that. We did continue talking on record, though, and I encourage you to listen to our conversation below. I transcribed much of it, as you'll see here, but there are some really wonderful parts that are better suited for listening. 

Aug 12, 201943:59
Christy Walker - July 09, 2019

Christy Walker - July 09, 2019

Marcus Legrand recommended Christy to participate here. It took a few months for us to put something on the calendar as Christy keeps herself fairly busy with teaching at eight different high schools while simultaneously pursuing a Master's degree. I am sure had we met sooner, our conversation would have still been rich, but I can't help but be thankful we met when we did as I've lately started pushing a bit harder and asking more difficult questions during these interviews and Christy was up for the task. 

We talk about education, about inclusion, about our brutal history as a nation and our hope for a better future. I recommend listening to this interview as it is conversational and our passionate back and forth is easier to engage in through listening than it is through reading. But either way you take it in, I am sure you will be inspired. 

Aug 05, 201935:14
Jess Leblanc - July 03, 2019

Jess Leblanc - July 03, 2019

Tina Bollman recommended Jess to participate here. We met at her home that she is in the middle of selling and as I pulled up she and her son, Henry, were in the yard picking up pine cones. We chatted in the driveway for a few minutes and then ventured into the home that is now staged for selling and absent of all of her and her family's possessions. I can only imagine that felt a bit strange for Jess. Nevertheless, it didn't take us long to get comfortable with each other and start talking about the nitty gritty. 

We met on July 3rd and I tend to feel pretty fired up around the 4th of July. I don't need to get into all the details here, but I dislike the holiday because of what we've deliberately chosen to ignore and how we've chosen to rather grotesquely celebrate the day. I'm on a roll of asking more poignant questions, anyway, but today I chose to dig even deeper, or maybe even pry, with Jess. 

We talk about racism and slavery and wrongful incarceration and our president and the #MeToo movement and uprisings and revolution. Not to spoil the surprise, but we didn't come up with the answers. I am going to continue believing that talking about it is a good start, though. 

Jul 29, 201949:42
Alli Miles - July 01, 2019

Alli Miles - July 01, 2019

Laura Grayson recommend Alli to participate here. They are colleagues at Ruffwear and that's where I ended up meeting Alli. We sat in one of the private meeting rooms and chatted while the rest of the office wound down for the day. Alli's dog, Riggins, sat in for our chat, but didn't have much to say. He's probably heard it all before... 

I'm pretty much constantly trying to find ways to grow this project and make these questions more poignant and cut to the quick of the mess it seems like we're living in and I'm starting to feel as though I might be getting closer to making some substantial changes to this format. So, for this interview, I did dig a little deeper and I was so happy to find out that Alli was willing to talk about some of the hard stuff with me. Her big heart is obvious and it seems as though she wears it right alongside her skepticism that we'll be able to figure it all out. I tend to believe that the more we name our fears and doubts and the more we talk together about how to make the world better, the greater our chances of succeeding. So, I just wanted to say thanks to Alli for joining me in that process today. 

Jul 22, 201942:45
Campbell Dixon - June 28, 2019

Campbell Dixon - June 28, 2019

Ashlee Davis recommended Campbell to participate here and described her as a "pure ray of sunshine". That's high praise, but after meeting Campbell, I'd have to say that I wholeheartedly agree. Campbell's desire to make the world better by smiling at others is a gift. Combine that with her efforts in volunteering and she ends up being a powerful force for good. The world needs more Campbells, but I can imagine that she is actually creating more just by her positive example. Some folks act in ways that serve as a contagion. That can be good or bad, but here it's all good. 

Jul 15, 201925:30
Amy Hoag - June 27, 2019

Amy Hoag - June 27, 2019

Big thanks to David Hopper for recommending Amy here. And big thanks to Tucker the dog for providing some very soothing snoring sounds in the background of this audio. 

Amy and I had a great chat before the interview. I think that time before the interview allows for a significant level of trust and vulnerability to come out during the more formal reordered conversation. Amy's interest in her personal development and growth so that she can better serve and care for others is inspiring. It seems that we can often get stuck in that first phase of caring for or loving ourself and might not get around to that  next phase of caring for others. I actually believe we can do both simultaneously and I got the impression from Amy that that is what she is deep into. 

Jul 08, 201924:26
Hunter Dahlberg - June 04, 2019

Hunter Dahlberg - June 04, 2019

Paul Arney referred Hunter to participate here. And we played a long game of back and forth over the course of a few months as we tried to schedule our meeting. It turned out just perfectly, though, as it tends to. We chatted outside Hunter’s blacksmith shop, Orion Forge, on a rad piece of steel furniture for a while before heading into his office for the recording. It was such a pleasure learning about Hunter’s past and how he ended up here with his shop and about some of his future plans. I’m sorry you don’t get to enjoy it as it paved the way for the sincere conversation you’ll read or listen to below. This interview has a decidedly different tone than many and one that carries with it some raw honesty and maybe even some admission of not getting it right some of the time. Among a long list of enjoyable characteristics, it is Hunter’s genuine introspection and humility that I found the most endearing. 

Jul 01, 201936:47
David Hopper - May 30, 2019

David Hopper - May 30, 2019

Emery referred David to participate here. And I am so thankful! David proposed meeting in a park with some snacks, but I had to nix that for the practical reasons of audio recording, so we instead met at his home. It took about five seconds for us to hit it off and we basically had a mini interview before turning the recorder on. We talked about our childhoods and our jobs and our feelings about many of the things. David's heart for others and his sincerity and hopeful questioning of the world are evident within moments of chatting with him. He's what I refer to as "a keeper" and I am sure you will find that to be true as you read or listen to our conversation. 

Jun 24, 201954:20
Sophia Ermisch - May 29, 2019

Sophia Ermisch - May 29, 2019

Sharon Balsamo recommended Sophia to participate here and Ashlee Davis was singing her praises, too. I am so grateful to them because I really love these opportunities to chat with the younger folks. I don't have the fondest of memories from my high school days and seem to be forgetting more and more of them as those drift further and further back in time, so it was great to chat with Sophia about some of the stuff she's going through. 

What really struck me as we chatted is that the things that are bothering her in her peer group pretty much mirror what is bothering me in mine. I suppose as the years go by we have more and more opportunities to grow empathy and compassion and evolve for the better, but it doesn't necessarily mean we take advantage of those chances. Is it so simple as that? Some do. Some don't. I guess I tend to believe that it's more complicated. At any rate, if Sophia at 15 is any indicator of future Sophia, she seems to be on the right track.  

Jun 17, 201923:25
Laura Grayson - May 25, 2019

Laura Grayson - May 25, 2019

Courtney Wright recommended Laura to participate here. We had some scheduling conflicts for some time, so we had been talking about meeting for quite a while before it actually happened and that had the effect of bringing some healthy anticipation into the mix. Our time together ended up being a delight from start to finish. I got to briefly meet one of Laura's daughters and mingled with their dogs, Klondike and Aspen, who make cameos in the audio. And we got acquainted over tea and snacks before diving into the conversation below.

This is the first interview that I conducted from start to finish with this new idea of not transcribing it word for word and I definitely felt more ease throughout it. What you'll see below are excerpts, but you can access the full interview through the audio link at the end of the conversation. 

After we chatted, Laura took me over to the new Ruffwear co-working space called Embark (get it?) where she is the Co-working Community Manager and she gave me a sneak-peek into what looks like will surely be a lovely spot for whoever chooses to hang their hat over there.  Hanging out with Laura was a total treat and I am happy to introduce her to you here. 

Jun 10, 201940:24
Ashlee Davis - May 09, 2019

Ashlee Davis - May 09, 2019

I came to meet Ashlee through Sharon Balsamo. I didn't know anything about her prior to showing up at her door at our scheduled appointment but within minutes of meeting at her door we became friends and we dove into the deep end pretty quickly.  We cover a variety of topics extensively and vulnerably and I believe this to be a model of an important conversation. It is certainly a heart to heart and I am a big advocate for all of us having more of those. 

A couple of days after our interview I went out of town for a week to get a change of scenery and I wasn't able to transcribe this conversation before leaving. I also had some other things on my mind regarding this project and spent the time away thinking a lot about it. And then when I came back I went to Sharon's office and we had another very beautiful conversation and talked through some of my frustrations. In the end, I made the decision that I wasn't going to transcribe interviews in their entirety anymore. It's an arduous task and one I'm not sure is necessary. It's also my least favorite aspect of this process and has somehow been responsible for the flow of the conversations as I've been conducting interviews in a way that I knew I could transcribe. So, what you will see below is my first attempt at changing this process. The entire interview can be listened to as per usual, but the words below are a synopsis. If you are a regular reader, you will likely see some tweaks as I continue to work into this new flow. 

I'd like to offer a big thank you to Ashlee for this powerful conversation and for her modeling sincerity and integrity and another big thank you to Sharon for helping me figure out some next steps. Without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to Ashlee. 

Jun 03, 201953:10
Emery Moseley - May 08, 2019

Emery Moseley - May 08, 2019

Ryan Re referred Emery to participate here. I had only known of her as Bill Moseley's daughter, so it was great fun to meet her under completely different circumstances. Before we started recording we talked about the idea of how differently we may appear to others who we meet under different circumstances. We talked about quite a lot before recording, but fortunately that interesting conversation carries throughout the recording, too. It was so fun getting to know Emery through this interview and I so enjoyed getting a peek at the world through her eyes. 

May 27, 201933:33
Katie "Pinto" Lebrun - April 19, 2019

Katie "Pinto" Lebrun - April 19, 2019

Ryan recommend Pinto to participate here. I met her very briefly as I was leaving their home after Ryan's interview, not knowing Ryan would refer here. So, on this morning she greeted me with a big hug and then we chatted for a little while in the warm spring sunshine before heading inside for the interview. Pinto would have preferred to do the interview in a treehouse in Georgia, but we just couldn’t make it work, so we settled for floor cushions in a sacred room in her home. Pinto’s pretty much a bundle of smiles and warmth and hope and hard work and joy and, as you can imagine, a real treat to talk with. I’m happy to introduce her to you here. 

May 20, 201933:11
Todd Cover - April 18, 2019

Todd Cover - April 18, 2019

Michelle Mitchell recommended Todd to this project. It took us a while to get a date and time nailed down, but we finally worked it out for this lovely spring morning. I showed up at Todd's door, which was wide open, and he greeted with me a smile as big as the room. We chatted over coffee and fresh pineapple for about an hour before getting into interview mode and connected well during that time, opening the door for a sense of familiarity in the interview portion of our conversation together and allowing us to dig pretty deep here. 

I occasionally run into people who shared Todd's belief that 'people are doing the best they can with the awareness they have' and, I have to say, that sentiment does not resonate with me at all. We have a great discussion regarding that towards the end of the interview and I’m a huge proponent of great discussion. I'm thankful for meeting him and chatting with him and I'm so glad to be able to share our conversation with you here. Keep an eye out for Todd. I'd pretty much guarantee that your encounter with him will lift your spirits. 

May 13, 201955:02
Sharon Balsamo - April 15, 2019

Sharon Balsamo - April 15, 2019

Natalie Murphy recommended Sharon to participate here and she readily accepted the invitation. This was the absolute perfect interview for this particular day. I went into it feeling defeated but within minutes of chatting with Sharon I was completely turned around. We had a lively conversation and I enjoyed watching Sharon come alive as she spoke about what matters to her. I am so thankful that we were able to meet in the middle, as it were. Sharon didn’t overpower my feelings of frustration with over-the-top optimism or disingenuous and trite positivity, but she did articulate her truth with passion and her energy, as it turns out, was contagious. Isn’t it interesting how it can go either way? Sometimes we can let somebody bring us down and other times we just can’t help but be lifted up. This conversation meant a lot to me and if you only have time to read or listen to one of these interviews, I'd highly recommend starting with this one.

May 06, 201943:55
Tina Bollman - April 07, 2019

Tina Bollman - April 07, 2019

Leslie, who has become a very dear friend through this process, recommended Tina to participate here. We talked a lot about the project before we began recording and then picked that conversation back up about halfway through this interview. In a rare turn of events, we end up trading places as Tina starts to put me through a fairly intense line of questioning. I enjoyed our entire experience together and hope my presentation of it offers you a good representation of how it was in the moment. I'm happy to introduce Tina to you here and I hope this conversation will serve as an example and encouragement for you to go engage in one of your own. 

Apr 29, 201935:07
Carlos Salcedo - April 06, 2019

Carlos Salcedo - April 06, 2019

I met Carlos at a Black History Month event I attended at COCC at which Marcus was doing some readings. While there, I ran into Carol Delmonico and both she and Marcus pointed to Carlos as someone who should participate here. Carol introduced us and we chatted briefly. Then we exchanged a few emails over the next month or so. Carlos was not sold on the idea originally, but he eventually decided to participate. And then when we met for the interview, he expressed his hesitance in more detail. In the end, I gave Carlos the opportunity to forego this process, but after more deliberation, he decided to go through with it. He talks a bit about his internal struggle with the idea in our conversation and makes a valid point. It was a pleasure chatting with Carlos and it's a pleasure to introduce you to him here. 

Apr 22, 201917:26
Natalie Murphy - March 22, 2019

Natalie Murphy - March 22, 2019

Lisa recommended Natalie to this project. Natalie laughingly told me the story of their meeting.  After they ended up as next door neighbors, Natalie and her daughter used to go out of their way to walk by Lisa's house when she was out in the yard with her kids in hopes to make their acquaintance. That’s evidently a good tactic as they’ve since become dear friends. We met in Natalie's office and had a very lovely conversation. She mentioned a couple of words that tend to make me only want to ask for more clarity - contentment is one and like-mindedness is another - and I enjoyed learning from her throughout our thoughtful discussion. 

Apr 15, 201932:53
Ryan Re - March 18, 2019

Ryan Re - March 18, 2019

Tiffani mentioned Ryan in our interview as they work together in the ecstatic dance and Lucid realm and then she immediately referred him to participate here. I met Ryan at his home and he greeted me with a beautiful array of snacks and dandelion tea and we sat together in a room in his house that has come to be called Temple iZ. Ryan and I clicked right away conversationally and ended up chatting for quite a long time before recording. Eventually, Ryan asked if we were recording and when he found out we weren't, he suggested we start. I am torn on this issue as I often wish the pre-interview conversation was sharable, but I fear that turning on the recorder sooner would then change the tone, rendering that more intimate conversation stale. At any rate, we turned the recorder on shortly after and continued our lovely chat. There were quite a few people outside of Ryan's house when we finished our interview and I got swept up into a few different conversations, which seemed like an appropriate way to transition into the rest of my day. I hope you enjoy getting to know Ryan as much as I did. 

Apr 08, 201939:12
Joan Song - March 17, 2019

Joan Song - March 17, 2019

Joan came to LeeAnn’s mind as someone to refer to participate here because they had worked together on the Town Hall on Racism last fall and then met again over some follow-up KPOV radio interviews. When I met Joan she told me she had become familiar with this project through my short and sweet (my words not hers) Mayoral campaign - nice to know somebody was paying attention! Anyway, I am so grateful to LeeAnn for connecting us as I’ve had an interest in involving some younger folks in this project, but as a 36-year-old man, I have found that particular crowd to be rather inaccessible. It was a joy chatting with Joan and I am happy to introduce her to you here. 

Apr 01, 201923:00
Dan Baumann - March 05, 2019

Dan Baumann - March 05, 2019

I directly invited Dan to participate here because as I've gotten to know him, I’ve come to understand his heart for bringing people together. When I started talking with Dan early in 2018, he was the manager of The Commons - a café that I frequent. We began planning the end of the year show for this project and became more and more familiar with each other throughout that process. We postponed this interview for a couple months as Dan was assuming his new role as owner of The Commons. The tone of the interviews change slightly when I interview someone who I already know versus when I interview a stranger. And I’m able to push a little harder and dig a little deeper because there’s already an established level of trust. That’s particularly evident in this interview. If you don’t already know Dan, I’m happy to introduce you to him here. And if you do know him, I’m delighted to facilitate your learning even more about him. 

Mar 25, 201949:30
LeeAnn O'Neill - March 03, 2019

LeeAnn O'Neill - March 03, 2019

As former colleagues at Saving Grace and now both members of Allyship in Action, Erin Rook recommended LeeAnn to participate here. Before we started recording, I asked LeeAnn why she decided to accept the invitation and she said, “… because, as a woman of color, I wanted to provide a voice and a face that had not been represented much in this project yet and have the opportunity to connect other voices from marginalized communities to the project.” That’s a pretty good reason, if you ask me. This interview is full of LeeAnn's heart and thoughtfulness. It was a pleasure meeting her and I am happy to introduce you to her here. 

Mar 18, 201931:39
Ari Halpern - February 14, 2019

Ari Halpern - February 14, 2019

I met Ari through his wife, Lisa, at the end of the year show I had this past December. He and I only chatted for a moment, but Lisa mentioned she was going to refer Ari to the project then. I arrived at Ari's office on a very wintery Valentine’s Day and as we chatted we could see the snow falling outside - quite romantic, really. As is often the case, we talked for quite some time before turning on the recorder. I often wish I could share that part of the conversation, but doing so would inevitably change the course. Anyway, Ari and I covered many topics in the interview and you should get a good sense of how it went. Things get pretty real towards the end. Ari’s got a huge heart and a deep capacity for empathy. I enjoyed talking with him and getting to know him and I am so glad to introduce him to you here. 

Mar 11, 201933:20
Erika Spaet - February 12, 2019

Erika Spaet - February 12, 2019

I originally met Erika through Donna Burklo sometime last summer. With neither of us having a proclivity for nonsense, we dove straight into the all the big topics during our first conversation. Due to my tumultuous upbringing in extreme religiosity, I tend to not have lots of room for it in my life these days. I actually associate it with more potential for bad than good. So, going into our first meeting, I knew that Erika was a pastor, but I did my best to lay my judgments aside. The resulting conversation was one of my favorites since moving to Bend and by the end of it, I considered Erika a friend and an ally. 

We heard each other as we spoke our individual truths and respected each other through our differences while we discovering a path toward our common ground. We've met on a few occasions since then and I've felt an affinity for her each time. Because I thought sharing our story might be meaningful to others, I asked Erika to participate here. She accepted and, just as I hoped, she showed up in a real way for it. I'm delighted to share her interview with you here. Erika is a super smart and resilient woman with a huge capacity for empathy and compassion. And I'm proud to call her my friend. 

Mar 04, 201931:59
Tiffani Barnum-Hess - February 05, 2019

Tiffani Barnum-Hess - February 05, 2019

Ian Carrick referred Tiffani to participate here after having met her at an ecstatic dance event. I’ve yet to personally experience ecstatic dance in any kind of structured setting, but I can say I have had some really wonderful times while dancing and have come away from them with a feeling that could probably best be described as ecstatic. Tiffani is now the third participant of this project who has mentioned ecstatic dance with great praise, so I might just have to try it one of these days. Anyway, it was so wonderful to meet Tiffani. We had a very warm and sincere conversation and I am so happy to be able to share it with you here. She and her dog, Banjo, and cat , Wiggin, all made me feel very welcome in their home. I spotted Tiffani out and about in town a couple of weeks after our interview and walked up to her to say hello. It warms my heart to recognize a new friend after having newly met and I always wonder how many times we might have unknowingly crossed paths previously. 

Feb 25, 201930:23
Marcus LeGrand - February 04, 2019

Marcus LeGrand - February 04, 2019

Tim Hellman referred Marcus to this project. I had already spent some time with Marcus as he and Tim and I have been getting together to play some basketball. I met Tim through this process and I’m so grateful for our growing friendship. I’m also so grateful that he’s been willing to share his other friends with me as that camaraderie has contributed to this year’s positive start. It’s often the case that I don’t know much, if anything,  about these folks before I interview them, so the dynamic changes a little bit when I do know them. It’s really fun to sit down and formalize a conversation with an acquaintance or a friend. My experiences with Marcus so far all have shown me his kindness and encouragement and what I would consider a strong tendency toward positivity. I’m happy to have made a new friend in Marcus and I’m delighted to introduce him to you here. 

Feb 18, 201917:38
Leslie Blair Graham - January 30, 2019

Leslie Blair Graham - January 30, 2019

Mandy Butera referred me to Leslie and then I ended up meeting her soon after at an event that Mandy put on. I love to meet people for the first time when I show up for our interview, so we kept that initial encounter brief. A few days later, I met up with Leslie at her studio space and we dove into conversation like we were old friends. We must have recognized each other’s sincerity because our conversation carried an authentic and vulnerable tone. I easily could have chatted with her for the rest of the day. I’m happy to introduce you to Leslie here and I hope you have the great pleasure of meeting her in person. Until then, this will have to suffice. 

Feb 11, 201928:38
Paul Arney - January 23, 2019

Paul Arney - January 23, 2019

Jesse Locke recommended Paul to participate here. He accepted immediately and enthusiastically, which led to my really looking forward to connect with him. We laid some plans to meet up at his tasting room and then make a trip to the brewery together, but due to time constraints, we stayed at the tasting room. After a short detour to the neighboring coffee shop, where we ran into Brandon Harris, we sat down at the bar and talked shop about beer and life and all the things you will read or hear below. And as we chatted, Paul’s wife, Staci, worked away on the computer and Hans kept busy in the other room. The place was full of life - quiet and productive life. It was so great to chat in Paul’s work space while that work was going on. That authentic scene set the stage nicely for our authentic conversation. If you’ve not stopped by The Ale Apothecary, I highly recommend it! And be sure to seek Paul out. You won’t be disappointed.

Feb 04, 201926:22
Russell Huntamer - January 15, 2019

Russell Huntamer - January 15, 2019

Ian Trask recommended Russell to participate here. And due to his soon-coming trip to Mexico, we almost didn't meet up this morning, but we pushed through and I'm super glad for it. Russell's big dog, Bub, met me in front of his home and then Russell's wife, Brook, treated me to a hot cup of tea and made me feel at home. By the time Russell got home I was already comfortable on his couch. He sat down with me and we started chatting and after just a couple of minutes, his cat, Boo, made a home at my side and purred throughout the rest of our talk. 

This interview is quite different than the rest. Each interview has its nuances, of course, but this one has a heavy lean toward the philosophical and existential. I hope you’ll find some food for thought here.  I always find a little relief in the fact that no one of us really knows much of anything. We have our thoughts and feelings based on our own experiences and sometimes we refer to them as beliefs, but they are just that and not the same as fact. So, is there any room in your beliefs for new ideas? For broader understanding? For more compassion? For new perspectives? I hope so.

Jan 28, 201901:10:14
Richard Cork - January 09, 2019

Richard Cork - January 09, 2019

I met Richard as my friend and I were taking down the exhibit of this project at Crow's Feet Commons. He was sitting on one of the sofas and asked me if the work was mine. Then he proceeded to offer his thoughts on the material, going as far as to offer me one of the truest and kindest bits of praise I've ever received. He referred to my portraits as "confrontational". I encounter many people who have some aversion to that word and that practice. I am not one of those people. Don't get me wrong, I don't seek out trouble, but I rarely avoid dealing with the situation at hand - no matter how difficult. And I can understand what Richard meant. I am presenting these people to you in a very honest and straightforward way, allowing - or maybe gently forcing - you to take them in as they are. 

We spoke for several minutes and discussed photography and art. Richard showed me some of his own work on his website and we just kind of clicked right away like two matching puzzle pieces. He left an impression on me and the thought of inviting him to participate in this project excited me. So, I reached out via email the next day. He accepted immediately and we made an appointment to meet at his home the following week. 

Richard toured me through his home and made me a cup of coffee and we talked and talked and talked. About art and design and photography and what it all may or may not mean. By the time we wrapped things up, we had spent nearly four hours together. And I can honestly say that every minute of it was a delight. As you'll hear, Richard is articulate and kind, thoughtful, and wise. And he's funny. It was a pleasure to see him smile and laugh. And it was touching to see him shed tears. Due to a variety of circumstances, I don't have a patriarchal influence in my life, so talking with Richard gave me an idea of what it might be like to have a grandfather. 

Jan 21, 201929:12
Elaina Love - December 27, 2018

Elaina Love - December 27, 2018

After Cate Hollister and I reconnected at the end of the year exhibition I had, she put me in touch with Elaina. I can't say exactly what caused it, whether it was her forgetting about our first appointment or my forgetting my gear on the way to our rescheduled meeting or something else entirely, but I would use the word strained to describe our time together. It felt as though the point of what I am doing and why I was there with her was totally lost -you will likely hear it in the interview - and there was a confused and maybe even combative energy. 

I left this interview feeling deeply affected by that and full of so much doubt and trepidation for embarking on the third year of this endeavor. It happens like this so rarely in a face-to-face meeting. We all have the encounter in more anonymous ways with other people who don't come into our sphere with all the love and joy and encouragement that we want, right? Ordinarily though, when I meet someone face to face and look them in the eye and talk with them, I feel connected to them and part of something much bigger. I didn't feel that with Elaina and even as I type this now, more than a week later, I am still searching for why. And even though we don’t see the world through a similar set of eyes, I still think there is value in our conversation. And despite the fact that Elaina and I didn't become fast friends there is a lesson here, not just for her and for me individually, but for all of us.

Jan 14, 201922:01