At-homish

Ordinary Magic-ish: Resilience, Grace, and Incremental Gains

Wil closes out Season 2 with Rebecca Calder, Ph. D., a Navy veteran, Top Gun graduate, researcher, military spouse, and mom raising teenagers. Together they explore what it means to belong when you're carrying multiple identities, and when perfectionism keeps trying to convince you that you have to earn your worth. Becky shares how her view of belonging evolved from performance-based, proving you deserve a seat at the table, to values-based belonging rooted in service, family, faith, and excellence. She also tells a vivid story from early motherhood, watching Top Gun grad flights overhead while holding her Top Gun patch covered in her baby's vomit, as a turning point that helped her see she's more than any single role. The conversation also highlights Becky's doctoral work on psychological capital and burnout. She breaks down the HERO framework: Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, and Optimism; and explains how these internal resources can be developed in leaders and shared across teams to build healthier, more human workplaces. In This Episode, You'll Hear * Why belonging can get confused with performance and how that feeds perfectionism * What it was like being the first female pilot to graduate from Top Gun and why she felt she truly belonged there * The "Top Gun patch covered in vomit" moment, and what it revealed about identity, transition, and grace * Leadership as creating environments where people get support not criticism or unrealistic expectations * Psychological capital: what it is, why it matters, and how it connects to burnout * The HERO framework: Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, Optimism, and how leaders can build these capacities in others * Resilience as "ordinary magic" and why incremental gains matter * What's next for Becky: speaking, service, and the possibility of a book Memorable Moments * Becky reframes belonging as knowing your values and creating space for others to live theirs. * She describes Top Gun as one of the first places she felt full belonging, because of shared commitment to excellence and growth. * The motherhood story lands as a powerful reminder; you can be accomplished and still be in a hard season. Closing Advice Becky's biggest takeaway for listeners; never lose hope. Keep going. Resilience comes at a cost, but understanding what real resilience looks like can save you. Movie + Music (Walk-up Moment) Movie title: Called to Serve: A Story of Hope and Resilience Who plays Becky: Charlize Theron Theme song: "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys Closing Vibe A strong Season 2 finale that reminds us belonging isn't something you earn by being perfect. It's something you build from the inside out through values, service, and the courage to be human.

Filter-ish: Talking through the chaos with the Market Maven

Wil welcomes back his first-ever repeat guest, Sarah Dylan Jensen (aka the Market Maven), the manager of the Snohomish Farmers Market [https://www.snohomishfarmersmarket.com/] and longtime farmers market leader across the region. What starts as a fun check-in (including a quick appreciation moment for Trent and the Red Trux production magic) turns into a timely conversation about community, safety, and food access—and what it means to feel “at home-ish” when the world feels anything but stable. Sarah shares why authenticity matters—from the ethics of the fashion industry she once worked in, to how the farmers market chooses local artists and higher-quality, responsibly made merch that actually aligns with “support local.” From there, the episode gets real about the emotional whiplash of current events, the pressure to keep creating and leading while everything feels intense, and the challenge of speaking up when your “filter” can’t be fully off. The heart of the conversation centers on food as a human right and the ripple effects of shrinking support systems. Sarah breaks down what’s happening with SNAP match funding at markets (dropping from $40 to $25 to $10), why that hurts both families and farmers, and how misinformation about assistance programs misses what she sees firsthand: hard working people, early mornings, and communities held together by relationships. In This Episode, You’ll Hear About * Why farmers markets are more than “cute local shopping”—they’re community infrastructure * The ethics gap in fashion vs. values-driven local work * How the market approaches merch responsibly (local art, better sourcing, aligned values) * SNAP match funding cuts and what that means on the ground * The difference between “stealing jobs” rhetoric and the reality of labor in agriculture * How to stay engaged without burning out: capacity, roles, and small actions that matter * Curiosity as a leadership skill: listening to understand, not just to respond * Building relationships across differences (and not writing people off too fast) * Walk-up song moment: Coldplay’s “A Sky Full of Stars” + a Van Gogh-inspired reminder that stars shine brightest in the dark Closing Vibe This episode is a reminder that when the world feels loud, uncertain, and exhausting, community is still something you can build on purpose—one market day, one conversation, one act of curiosity at a time.

Step Up-ish: Leadership, Burnout, and Building Community with Adrianne Wagner (Leadership Snohomish County)

Wil sits down with Adrianne Wagner, Executive Director/CEO of Leadership Snohomish County (LSC), executive coach, and community builder, for a real conversation about what leadership looks like when life is busy, the world feels heavy, and people are craving connection. Adrianne shares her path from Flint, Michigan to Snohomish County, her long career as a healthcare executive, and the moment she "hit the wall" after the pandemic and major company changes. That burnout became a pivot point leading her back to school, into leadership coaching, and deeper into the work of developing leaders across every level (not just people with titles). Together, Wil and Adrianne unpack the difference between leadership vs. authority, why "aggressively passive" culture can make feedback harder than it needs to be, and how toxic leadership creates ripple effects for the people who have to survive it. They also dig into what it means to level up instead of competing, and why leaders have a responsibility to create real space for others to grow. The episode also spotlights Step Up, LSC's signature conference returning in person this year and how the theme - Step Up for what matters to you , is about moving beyond awareness into action, collaboration, and community. In This Episode, You will Hear About * Adrianne's leadership journey: Flint -> Snohomish County -> healthcare exec -> coach * Burnout, recovery, and why she pivoted into coaching * Leadership vs. authority: why titles don't automatically make leaders * Toxic leadership, trust, and why we don't talk about the survivors enough * Feedback culture: 360-style listening, patterns, and "no hangry leaders" * Calling in well: using time off to refill your cup, not just recover from being sick * Uncompete thinking: scarcity vs. abundance, envy vs. leveling up * Community projects: asking orgs what they actually need ( cans with no can openers) * Kids as teachers: bias, empathy, and small actions that matter * Music as meaning: Jimmy Eat World, Hamilton, the Grey Album, and Wil's 2026 alarm song Event + Links Mentioned * Leadership Snohomish County: https://leadershipsc.org [https://leadershipsc.org/] * Step Up Conference [https://leadershipsc.org/step-up-2026]: April 24 (in-person) * Applications/nomination window opens in February (Signature Program begins in September) Closing Vibe This episode is equal parts leadership workshop and real-life check-in: a reminder that community is built on small, consistent choices and that the best leaders don't just win; they help other people win too.

Show Up-ish: The Hollimon Brothers on Belonging, Barriers, and Building a Better Snohomish

Wil welcomes brothers Terry Hollimon and Torry Hollimon for a wide-ranging, funny, and deeply reflective conversation about what it means to show up, build trust, and create spaces where people belong. The brothers share their origin story (Arkansas → Canada → Texas → Washington), how constant change taught them to read the room and find common ground, and why belonging isn’t about taking over a space—it’s about connecting inside it. Torry opens up about becoming a single dad with full custody, how that led him into early childhood education, and why being present in schools—especially in communities where people of color are underrepresented—creates powerful ripple effects for kids and families. Terry reflects on the rights and opportunities people take for granted today, the responsibility to honor the sacrifices of past generations, and the importance of using your gifts—whether you’re built like a “power truck” or a “Maserati.” The episode also revisits Snohomish’s 2020 turning point, the difficult conversations that followed, and how dialogue can move a community from polarizing moments toward something stronger and more unified. In This Episode, You’ll Hear About * Why “showing up” is the foundation of belonging * The Hollimon family journey across regions and cultures * How Terry’s football path changed—and how his parents’ foresight made a new path possible * Disarming a room: reading the environment, adapting without losing yourself * Finding connection through common ground (sports, service, shared values) * Why representation in schools matters—especially for kids watching from the sidelines * The importance of voting and honoring the sacrifices behind today’s rights * Snohomish in 2020: what happened, how it felt, and what it sparked afterward * Walk-up songs, hype music, and the energy you bring into the moment Call to Action Wil challenges listeners to help the show reach all 50 states by the end of 2026—and to keep spreading the stories instead of “hoarding the information.” Closing Vibe This one’s equal parts laughter and life lessons—about legacy, community, and the truth that you never really know who you’re influencing… until someone tells you.

Roots-ish: Civil Rights, Ghana, and the Stories We Carry

Wil sits down with John Agyopang—a longtime Snohomish County resident, former Boeing employee of 25 years, and the new president of the Snohomish County NAACP—for a conversation that blends civil rights, community work, and the deeper meaning of “home.” John breaks down what the NAACP is (and what it looks like today), expanding the conversation beyond race into human rights, class, and access—for immigrants, Native communities, poor and working-class families, and anyone whose rights are being ignored. From there, the episode turns personal and powerful: John shares his immigrant story from Ghana, including the childhood memory that shaped his view of America (USAID food aid) and his belief that what makes the U.S. “great” is the way immigrants bring their talent and dreams here. Then Wil and John explore John’s newest mission: African Audacity Tours, a two-week, all-inclusive trip to Ghana designed to help people reconnect with history and identity—standing where enslaved ancestors stood, walking the ancestral slave path, and participating in a moving African naming ceremony. In This Episode, You’ll Hear About * What the NAACP stands for and how its mission has evolved * “Not all skin folk are kinfolk”: why allyship is bigger than appearances * Contextual privilege, identity, and how power shifts by setting * John’s immigrant story and why he believes America is already “great” * African Audacity Tours: the two-week Ghana experience (history, culture, legacy) * The ancestral slave walk + what it means to return to the exact ground * The naming ceremony: being welcomed “home” and reclaiming identity * Local community work: diversion programs, mentorship, and financial literacy * Partnership with Wally Webster’s Access Project * Adult financial literacy + refurbished laptops with Millennium Industries / Rev. Leilani Miller * Youth tutoring support through Make It Worthy Call to Action If you’ve ever wanted to travel to Ghana (or Africa) but didn’t know how to do it safely and affordably, John shares how to connect: * Website: https://www.africanaudacity.com [https://www.africanaudacity.com/] Wil also challenges listeners to help the show reach all 50 states by the end of 2026—and to share the podcast instead of “hoarding the information.” Closing Vibe This episode is a reminder that we have more in common than we think, and that real progress starts when we stay open—open to stories, open to each other, and open to the places that shaped us.