The Fora Podcast

7: Say Yes to Life with Marc Rix

In this episode of The Fora Podcast, Cheryl Crupi and Kenan Comer sit down with Marc Rix to explore the small moments that quietly shape a life. From a childhood spent glued to MTV and dreaming of rock stardom to growing up alongside his older sister Kristin, who had Down syndrome, Marc reflects on the people and experiences that taught him how to meet life with curiosity, courage, and openness. The conversation moves through family, fatherhood, risk, and reinvention — all connected by a simple principle Marc tries to live by: say yes to life, especially when it’s uncomfortable. Key Takeaways * Small moments rarely feel important while they’re happening - until years later, when you realize they changed everything. * Marc’s sister Kristin taught him that the world’s limits are often negotiable. * There’s a difference between avoiding difficulty and choosing a meaningful hard thing. * Some people carry family with them not through memory alone, but through daily decisions. Sound Bites * “One single event, person or decision changes everything.” * “She never let anything hold her back or hold her down.” * “My guiding principle is to say yes to life, even when it’s uncomfortable.” * “Assume variability, preserve options.” * “She would just show up and power her way through it.”

6: Behind the Fora with Guest Host Rebecca Davis

Guest Host: Rebecca Davis In this special episode of The Fora Podcast, guest host Rebecca Davis turns the microphone around to interview Cheryl Crupi and Kenan Comer — co-hosts, friends, and the creative force behind the show. What follows is an open, funny, and deeply honest conversation about why they do this work, how their differences make them stronger, and the threads that bind their lives together. From faith to family to the “one-percent rule,” Cheryl and Kenan reflect on what drew them to one another, what they hope the podcast gives the world, and how talking to strangers can change a life. It’s an intimate look at the heart behind The Fora — the curiosity, conviction, and connection that make the stories possible. Key Takeaways * Great partnerships begin with difference — and grow through trust, curiosity, and shared values * Small, meaningful moments can shift a life; change often starts at one percent * Talking to strangers is an invitation into wonder, connection, and surprising humanity * Kindness and fortitude aren’t opposites — they belong together * Stories help pull back the veil: once you see differently, you can’t un-see. Sound Bites * “There are threads that are the same, though the packaging looks different.”  * “You see the world at angles that I don’t.” * “People don’t realize how amazing their stories are.” * “We’re trying to get out of our own echo chamber.” * “Carry a starter question with you.” * “Have the fortitude to be kind.”

5: Apollo Missions, Computer Education, and Smuggling Bibles in the USSR with C. Dianne Martin

In this episode of The Fora Podcast, Kenan Comer and Cheryl Crupi talk with Dianne Martin — computer scientist, educator, and pioneer — whose six-decade career spans NASA’s Apollo missions, the early days of computer education, and carrying Bibles into the USSR. Over the course of her remarkable career, Dianne has spent her life opening doors — from technology classrooms in the U.S. to university halls in the United Arab Emirates — creating access and opportunity wherever she went. Her story is one of courage, curiosity, and conviction: a reminder that doing what matters most often begins with making space for others. What we took away from this interview: * A meaningful life is built by doing what truly matters, again and again * Teaching was about helping people see that technology was for them — from schoolteachers and their students, to college and doctoral students, to young women in the UAE * Every new wave of technology, from computing to AI, is an invitation to keep learning Memorable Quotes: * “I just kept doing what I thought was important." * “We wanted people to know they could do this too.” * “It wasn’t about the technology — it was about people.” * “Sometimes you just have to make your own access.” * “We opened doors for others, even when no one was holding them open for us.”

4: Everyday Friends, Far Flung Friends with Psalms Singleton and Kenan Comer

Episode 4:  In this episode of The Fora Podcast, host Cheryl Crupi sits down with co-host Kenan Comer and his longtime friend Psalms Singleton to talk about faith, friendship, and big life transitions. This conversation explores the joy, sorrow, and small acts of care that keep friendship alive—even when the road takes you far from home. Key Takeaways * True connection can hold through distance and change. Acts of care—both big and small—sustain relationships over time * Pursuing purpose and answering a “call” can be both joyful and bittersweet * Deep friendships require intention, presence, and trust Sound Bites * “Sometimes you just need to take care of people—not teach them to fish.” * “That suit was silver. Like aluminum foil silver.” * “The only thing I hope changes is the distance between us.” Chapters 00:00 – Welcome & Introductions 02:01 – How Kenan & Psalms became friends 06:30 – Personality differences & shared values 11:45 – The silver suit story & shared memories 14:54 – Psalms’ music background & lessons from the studio 21:18 – Why Psalms is “the guy people call” 33:44 – Preparing for mission work & a life-changing move 40:49 – What they’ll miss, and what they hope for the future

3: Lean on the Door with Drew Foster

What does it mean to be ready when the door opens? In this episode, Drew Foster shares how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu became a path to growth, confidence, and service. He talks about learning through play—not perfection—coaching with intention, and what it really takes to “lean on the door” until it opens.