Stream of Consciousness with Dan: Stories from the Midwest

Friday's w/ Dan #16

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2546228/fan_mail/new]  This week on Friday’s w/ Dan, we talk about a week that felt heavier than most. The sudden loss of Kyle Busch, a driver woven into the fabric of my childhood, brings a reminder of how fragile life really is. From there, we shift into the perseverance of Apollo 13 — what it means to keep going when everything goes wrong, and how that mirrors the daily work of sobriety. And we close with a small act of kindness that meant more than the giver probably realized: two fishing poles waiting in the backseat after an AA meeting, a reminder that people still show up, even quietly. It’s an episode about grief, determination, healing, and the simple acts that carry us forward.  http://www.youtube.com/@DanBackes-Omaha https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZHWgVJf5Dadq6c1jHFrNC?si=32cc6cc73c8c4ceb Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/danbackes]

Stream of Consciousness #63 - Rebekah Henshel - Henning's Cheese

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2546228/fan_mail/new]  This episode of Stream of Consciousness w/ Dan features a conversation with Rebekah Henshel from Henning’s Cheese, part of the family behind one of Wisconsin’s long‑standing cheese companies. We talk about what it’s like to grow up around a multi‑generation family business, what people don’t see behind the Henning’s name, and how much work goes into keeping a place like that running in today’s world. Rebekah shares stories about family, responsibility, and the day‑to‑day reality of life inside a legacy brand. It’s an easygoing, honest look at heritage, small‑town roots, and what it means to be connected to something that’s been around longer than you have.  Home | Henning Cheese [https://henningscheese.com/] https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZHWgVJf5Dadq6c1jHFrNC?si=5b008cd81a574dfe http://www.youtube.com/@dannybackes1986 Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/danbackes]

Stream of Consciousness #62 - Caroline Crocker

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2546228/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Stream of Consciousness w/ Dan, Dr. Caroline Crocker joins the show for a conversation that moves effortlessly between science, story, and the human heart. A former microbiologist, professor, CEO, and international speaker, Caroline brings a lifetime of experience shaped by her family’s World War II history and her own journey through truth, trauma, faith, and resilience. We talk about what it means to inherit stories, how trauma echoes across generations, why she writes the way she does, and the surprising places life has taken her — from the lab to the classroom to the stage. It’s thoughtful, grounded, and full of the kind of presence that makes you lean in. A warm, honest conversation with someone who has lived many lives and still approaches the world with curiosity and compassion. Dr. Caroline Crocker's Home Page--Rambling Ruminations [https://ramblingruminations.com/] https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1768323039635344d43bab5cf https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZHWgVJf5Dadq6c1jHFrNC?si=a11c0a44c3f841c2 Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/danbackes]

Friday's w/ Dan #15

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2546228/fan_mail/new] This week on Friday’s w/ Dan, we start with family and legacy. I talk about my Uncle Jim, who passed in 2018 in a tragic accident near the farm he loved. In his honor, my family created the James R. Backes Memorial Scholarship, awarded each year to a hardworking FFA student at Westin High. We just had the ceremony Wednesday night — my dad presented, two of his brothers were there, and a close family friend joined us. It was one of those nights that reminds you how love and legacy carry forward. From there, we shift gears into full‑on Wisconsin mode: cheese. America’s Dairyland did not disappoint. Fields of silos, cows everywhere, and more local creameries than you can count. I visited three, toured two, and learned how a few simple ingredients can turn into thousands of cheeses. And yes, I’m probably coming home with five pounds of it. And finally, I talk about heading back to Omaha. Seeing my wife again after almost two weeks. Hoping my pets still remember me. Appreciating my parents but craving my own bed and my own setup. Plus, the nerves around my follow‑up doctor appointment Friday morning. It’s a mix of gratitude, anticipation, and a little bit of anxiety — all part of the journey. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/danbackes]

Stream of Consciousness #61 - Al Bekkum - Nordic Creamery

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2546228/fan_mail/new]  This week on Friday’s w/ Dan, I sit down with Al Bekkum of Nordic Creamery — a licensed cheesemaker, buttermaker, and the heart behind one of Wisconsin’s most beloved family dairies. We talk about his family’s century‑long farming legacy, the craft behind award‑winning cheese and butter, life in the Driftless Region, and what it takes to keep a small creamery thriving. It’s a conversation about tradition, hard work, and the pride of making something by hand that brings people together.  Nordic Creamery Wisconsin Cheese | Goat Cheese | Gift Baskets [https://www.nordiccreamery.com/] @DanBackes-Omaha Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/danbackes]