#014: From Tourist to Traveler with Dr. Grant Gearhart

#015 - Staying True to Yourself with the Multi-talented Matt Payne

Today’s guest is the multi-talented and passionate Matt Payne: a touring musician, small business owner, podcast host, AND new dad to his 5-month old daughter. In today’s episode we touch on the different passions and projects in Matt’s life and how he is able to always stay true to himself and his overall/purpose mission. We pull back the curtain on some of Matt’s biggest influences growing up and what led him to the clarity that he now leads his life with. Additional highlights include: * A few of Matt’s most impactful teachers * Reflecting on what Matt’s parents clearly did right  * The lifestyle of a touring musician  * The deep meaning that comes from playing + sharing music  * Matt’s history podcast and some of takeaways from studying history * Matt’s appreciation for mindfulness practices and studying the mind/beliefs * Love as a verb and what it takes to really love someone   * Matt’s big picture view of his mission + purpose Matt lives an inspiring life that is so…Matt. He has found how to engage with his passions, talents and creativity while also giving back and serving others cultivate their own passions and creativity. Plugs: 1. Matt's band Frute on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/58zUyObup2GjOuye4EcPRZ?si=tAKk_biGTN2mSLNHi9Wj8A] and IG [https://www.instagram.com/fruteband/] 2. Matt's history podcast 20th Century Revolutions on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5etlRM0oPK2ZROAdT1XMWt?si=250cf6314a3e40a8] 3. Matt's tutoring business Inman Tutors [https://www.inmantutors.com/] 4. Mike Duncan's (Matt's hero in Podcasting world) Podcast on revolutions [https://open.spotify.com/show/05lvdf9T77KE6y4gyMGEsD?si=eacac9c52baa4d66] 5. Author Kurt Vonnaget  6. 20th Century Historical Figure that more people should know about in Matt's opinion: Che Guevara 7. Matt's personal IG [https://www.instagram.com/mattingly.payne/?igsh=N3pwcXh0aGh2eXo%3D]

#014: From Tourist to Traveler with Dr. Grant Gearhart

Dr. Grant Gearhart is a current associate Spanish professor at Georgia Southern University and former professor at UNC Chapel Hill where he taught our host Drew for 3 years. Grant is deeply passionate about language and culture dedicating his life's work to education and spreading cultural awareness. Grant has a unique perspective as a student and teacher of Spanish as well as being married to his Spanish wife whose family they visit twice a year there. He understands the cultural differences between the U.S. and Spain and ultimately how we can all benefit from learning about different cultures - which is the basis for his famous slogan amongst his students "don't be a tourist, be a traveler." Grant shares with sincere humility and gratitude recognizing his own teachers that have impacted him, while also zooming out and thinking about the big picture behind his work and passions. A truly inspiring and fruitful conversation! Highlights include: * Why Grant believes immersing yourself in a different language and culture is so important * How we in the U.S. can learn and benefit the most from Spanish culture * What "don't be a tourist, be a traveler" means to Grant * How Grant has positively impacted Drew's life and decision to live in Spain * Grant's favorite (and less well-known) place in Spain * Grant's resources for mental health and his wellness as a whole * How Grant coped with the devastating losses of his mother to cancer and father to suicide * Why crying as a man is OK Plugs * World Languages Collaborative Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7DiohBf9QSqcvnLw56raKL?si=62191ab2d1374330 * Grant bio: https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/cah/languages/faculty-staff/gearhart/ * Contact Grant: ggearhart@georgiasouthern.edu

#013: Gay in the South with Hooper Schultz

Hooper Schultz is an oral historian, PhD candidate and instructor in History at UNC – Chapel Hill. He previously worked for the Southern Oral History Program at the Center for the Study of the American South at UNC. His work is focused on student gay rights activism on college campuses in the U.S. South during the 1970’s. He is particularly interested in the relationships between students and their college towns, and how we can learn and benefit as a society from the brave (and too-often unheard) voices that came before us.  In this conversation Hooper shares with us, for what was his first time in a publicly-recorded format, his story of coming out as gay as an undergrad at UNC. Hooper courageously tells his story as well as his life journey since then and how all of his education and work is in service of others who might be going through a similar struggle that he experienced.  Other areas we cover in this conversation: * Why Hooper has focused on the South in his research  * Understanding why the gay activism in the 70’s is valuable to the current moment  * Hooper’s internal struggles around coming out as gay to his family and friends  * Hooper’s mission/purpose behind his years of work and research * Hooper’s important advice to anyone else out there who might be struggling with sexuality  Plugs 1. Southern Oral History Program at UNC Chapel Hill [https://sohp.org/] 2. Hooper's history department at UNC Chapel Hill [https://history.unc.edu/graduate-student/hooper-schultz/] 3. Queerolina [https://exhibits.lib.unc.edu/exhibits/show/queerolina/queerolina-home] - Experiences of Place and Space Through Oral Histories, an exhibit highlighting the lived experiences of UNC-Chapel Hill students who identify as LGBTQIA+. 4. Men like That by John Howard [https://www.amazon.com/Men-Like-That-Southern-History/dp/0226354717] 5. Fiction author Randall Kenan [https://www.amazon.com/Books-Randall-Kenan/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ARandall+Kenan] You can contact Hooper at hooper@unc.edu

#012: Race, School and Kids with Jameson Sackey

Today’s guest is Jameson Sackey, a personal injury Lawyer in Atlanta, husband, and father of two. Jameson attended The Lovett School in Atlanta, with host, Drew, and this conversation focuses on some of the cultural issues and challenges around race that were present during Jameson’s time there and that clearly have continued since his graduation in 2008.  While the conversation resembles a case study of The Lovett School, it can be assumed that many of the cultural challenges at a mostly white, independent school are shared in other similar environments. Ultimately, it is a story of a minority group of people not feeling seen nor valued as part of the wider community and thinking about how we can all be a part of the much-needed change. It is a hopeful conversation and one that encourages more unity in our society and world.  Some additional topics discussed include: * Jameson’s Ghanaian heritage and how his relationship to it has evolved over the years * How Jameson evaluates where he will send his own children to school in the future  * Some thoughts and perspective around Jameson’s experience at The Lovett School  * Jameson’s opinion on the root of the issues at Lovett * Jameson’s message to me and others like me who compose part of the majority group * Why we need to hear the Black-female perspective more in general * How Jameson remains positive and hopeful  * Some of Jameson’s biggest life lessons  You can find Jameson on IG at @jameson_sackey

#011: The Healing Journey to Personal and Professional Fulfillment with Sam Pfotenhauer

Today’s guest is Sam Pfotenhauer, a former corporate lawyer turned spiritual mentor, life coach and intuitive. Sam tells us the story of her spiritual awakening, how she balanced her corporate law job while exploring her new passions, and ultimately how she left the corporate world to pursue the most fulfilling life for her. Sam is a trailblazer who shows us all what is possible when we prioritize our personal healing and the path towards our highest selves and most fulfilling lives. Some additional topics from this deep conversation with Sam include: * The evolution of Sam and host Drew’s personal friendship  * What it means to be an intuitive  * How Sam learned to let go of shame  * The story of Sam’s spiritual awakening * The story of Sam calling off her wedding two weeks beforehand  * Sam’s relationship framework (link below)  * Defining Human Design and how it can be supportive to anyone  Plugs  1. The Wild River Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/0EcGuEz2KCwT1X1btMccvC?si=8a52d7624948405d] 2. Sam's Podcast Episode (39) describing the story of calling off her wedding [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1vIuB47as3VnxWR390UEwR?si=9b22c30390334729] 3. Moonrise Human Design Community: https://www.moonrisecommunity.com/ [https://www.moonrisecommunity.com/] 4. Link to Relationship Framework [https://www.wildriver.live/relationships2] 5. East Forest and Ram Dass Song - Sit Around the Fire [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G4kCi_ldr8] 6. Book a call with Sam: https://www.wildriver.live/sessions [https://www.wildriver.live/sessions]