The American Podcast explores different people in their craft and experience, with the premise that, for better or worse, America is different today than it was 40 years ago, 20 years ago or 200 years ago.
Joel Janikowski - Singer Songwriter, Designer, Paraeducator in Small Town North Dakota
In this episode we take a look at being a creative in small town North Dakota. Joel Janikowski is a singer songwriter, designer & paraeducator from Hettinger, North Dakota. Joel appreciates the small town lifestyle and making music on his own terms.
Joel talks about paraeducation, his design work and why he's chosen not to pursue a record contract. He talks about North Dakota, the weather, the industry and what its like to live in one of the least populated states in the the United States.
3 Feb 2022
Jeremy & Chandler Quarles – Founders of Peach & Pine Interiors and The Love Where You Live Podcast, Music Industry and Nashville
Jeremy and Chandler Quarles are the founders of Peach and Pine Interiors out of Nashville Tennessee. In this episode we talk about their approach to interior design. their roots in the music industry and their “Love Where you Live Podcast.” We talk about Nashville architecture, what it's like to live there and where to get good cup of coffee or bite to eat.
18 Jun 2020
Ram Denison - Filmmaker, Director of "What Happened in Vegas" and "Money Machine" discusses Police Brutality, Corruption, 1 October and the Killing of George Floyd
Ram Denison is the director of the award winning film “What Happened in Vegas”. He is set to release his latest film “Money Machine” to the festival circuit in the summer of 2020.
Both are feature length documentaries that analyze corruption in the Las Vegas Metropolitian police department. “What Happened in Vegas,” was sparked by Ram’s own experience with police brutality, which led to his investigation into reports of corruption in the LVMPD.
“Money Machine” takes a hard look at Las Vegas and how it responded to the October 1 Mass Shooting in 2017, in light of Ram’s discoveries in the first film.
In this episode, we talk about Ram’s trajectory from working at a small tv station in Florida to editing television shows in Los Angeles.
We talk about Ram’s approach to filmmaking, the festival circuit, and how the market for independent film has changed over the last 20 years. We discuss the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota and what Ram sees as victory in his own quest against police brutality and corruption.
28 May 2020
Jim Cornelius - Author, Editor, Founder of Frontier Partisans, Running Iron Report
Writer Jim Cornelius talks about his work with Frontier Partisans, Running Iron Report, what it's like to edit a small town newspaper, and how he helped start the Sisters Folk Festival which has become internationally known.Jim's research has culminated in the book Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans -- click to purchase Jims Book from Paulina Springs Book Store in Sisters, OR.
Our conversation ranges from exploring the mixed cultures that exist on the edges of civilization to exploring his own observations of the frailty of modern society, and how he believes localism could be the answer.
Jim talks about his upbringing in Southern California, how Disney helped foster his fascination with the frontiers of the world, and how the later influence of songwriters like Waylon Jennings and Steve Earle impacted his approach to writing and performing his own music.
14 May 2020
Collin Henderson - Mindset Coach, Speaker, Author, Founder of Master Your Mindset
Collin Henderson coaches businesses and athletic teams on how to deal with stress. Collin shares how his own personal journey with anxiety, panic attacks and stuttering led to a career in public speaking and mental skills coaching.
This episode is stacked with stories and advice from how parents can be better parents to their student athletes, to why businesses should be investing in the mental health of their employees.
Collin shares some of the skills he teaches to major companies across the US, and illustrates the context of how relevant these teachings are to major athletics programs and Fortune 500 companies.
We talk about Collin's experiences at Washington State University where he was a two sport athlete under legendary coach Mike Price. We talk about Phil Jackson, the Yankees and how their implementation of mind coaches changed the landscape of professional sports.
This episode is part 1 of 2. Part two delves into how Collin coaches businesses and athletic programs. Part 1 explores Collin’s own personal trajectory and mindset.
5 May 2020
Eli Pyke - Filmmaker, Cinematographer, Producer and Director of “The Far Green Country"
Eli Pyke, his wife Kelly and their two young children have built a life around filmmaking and being a family while living on the road off and on. In the process they’ve produced two autobiographical documentaries about how they’ve processed life while living on the road.
This interview was recorded in February of 2020. Eli is joining us from inside a Winnebago Adventurer, in the southern desert of Arizona.
In this episode we discuss the ups and downs of living full time in an RV, on the road, and what its like to be a traveling filmmaker. Eli talks about the first film of The Far Green Country documentary series, and discusses how learning to mourn the death of his father has led to a sequel The Far Green Country 2: At Road’s End.Click to watch The Far Green Country on Amazon Prime
21 Jan 2020
Casey Casseday - Documentary Filmmaker, Producer and Director of "Sushi Size Me"
Casey Casseday produced and directed the award winning film “Sushi Size Me,” which documents a high school teacher and basketball coach, who accepted the challenge to eat $1500 worth of sushi over the course of a month, and document the experience.
Casey has a strong background in what has become known as Reality TV. We discuss his experiences on these types of shows which include hidden camera, and hoax shows like Scare Tactics a Punk’d.
We talk about Caseys work as a director of photography on the documentary “The Green Rush.” which told the story of illicit marijuana farming in Northern California.
I attended college with Casey at the Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University. We compare our time in college, editing tape to tape versus the current state of technology. We discuss ethics, and comedy, and how content has changed over the years.
13 Nov 2019
Cory LaFranchi of Street Eats Mobile Eatery - Chef and Food Truck Owner Gives Free Food to The Homeless and Those in Need
When faced with having too much food after an event, Chef Cory LaFranchi drove into the neighborhood he grew up in to pass out the extra hamburgers for free -- to feed those in need. Inspired by the experience Cory is finding ways to keep giving away free food as he grows his business, which is coincidentally, named Street Eats Mobile Eatery. We talk about how Cory first got into the restaurant life, How he left a lucrative Union job to start a small independent business, and what the future might have in store for him and his family.
23 Oct 2019
Lance Roberts - Part 2 of 2 - Thoughts of an American Missionary in Ukraine
Part 1 takes a look at Lance’s personal story, what led him to be a YWAM base leader in Ukraine and what his day to day life looks like. Part 2 goes into Lance’s observations and thoughts on Ukraine , Russia and the United States. What it’s like to live as an American in a former communist nation and what’s it like to experience the Culture of the United Sates after living abroad for extended periods of time.
13 Sept 2019
Lance Roberts - Part 1 of 2 - YWAM Base Leader in Ternopil Ukraine, Raising a Family in the Mission Field, Valuing the Creative Arts in Ministry
Shane Simonsen hosts missionary Lance Roberts in 2 separate podcasts. Part 1 gives us a look at who lance is and what is work is about. Part 2 is a deeper look into Lance's thoughts and observations of the United States and Ukraine.
Lance and his wife currently lead a YWAM base in Ternopil, Ukraine. Lance shares his thoughts on raising children in the mission field, exploring castle ruins, how Ukraine is similar and different from the US and how the creative arts can be used in ministry.
Lance describes his vision and hope for Ukraine as nation that can impact the world in a positive way. He talks a bit about Ukraine's unique history and place in the world, and how he started a photography club to help the people of Ukraine develop a sense of place and identity.
28 Aug 2019
Erin Cole Baker - Singer Songwriter from New Zealand lives the RV Life while touring the United States
Singer Songwriter Erin Cole Baker, tours the USA in a 26 foot RV with her family, playing music along the way. Erin has dual citizenship in the United States and New Zealand. She shares thoughts on how the two nations are different, the creative process, playing in various musical groups, and why she chooses to pursue music in the US rather than New Zealand. Erin discusses how she stepped away from music for a time to be a parent, and what prompted her return to recording and performing.
5 Aug 2019
Bryan Reynolds of Anthem Coffee - Entrepreneur, Business Coach, and Speaker
Our guest on this episode is Entrepreneur and Business Coach Bryan Reynolds. Bryan, and his family have worked to build a small coffee empire in the Tacoma / Puyallup area, South of Seattle Washington.Their success with Anthem Coffee can be attributed to certain core principles such as “heroic hospitality” and “live your anthem,” which all stem from a strong desire to build and serve the community they live in.
30 Jul 2019
Nick Balera - Photographer, Owner and Creative Director at The Harbor Studio
Photographer Nick Balera is Owner & Creative Director at The Harbor Studio in Gig Harbor, WA.
Nick shares how being in the right place at the right time led to a career in photography. He talks about his time at Hillsong College and how traveling the United States to write a book led to a job at the Filson Flagship Store, in Seattle, WA.
Today Nick is balancing a love for travel with his passion for community and relationship, by building a creative space in his hometown.
22 Jul 2019
Brett Hollis - Comedian, Speaker, Storyteller
In this episode Comedian Brett Hollis talks about his current and future projects. He tells us which famous comedians have impacted his life, and why he keeps a casket In his living room. We discuss the state of culture in America, why Brett prefers clean comedy, and how he balances being a former pastor with his comedy.
10 Jul 2019
Lisa Mitts - Multi Genre Singer Songwriter, Survivor, Activist
Lisa Mitts is currently nominated for a number of independent music awards. We discuss her early years in music, transitioning from being a worship leader in Israel to a celebrated independent singer-songwriter. We talk about the recording process and why she appreciates being referred to as being a multi-genre artist. We learn how Lisa's experience with trauma contributed to an award winning music video, and how her ministry is working to help the victims of sex trafficking.
1 Jul 2019
Samuel Pyke - Hunting, Fishing, Outdoor Director of Photography
Samuel Pyke currently produces Frontier Unlimited and Day One Outdoors. On this episode we learn how Samuel went from making movies with his brothers, in their Central Oregon backyard, to traveling the world, telling stories with a lens. We discuss the film industry, storytelling, hunting, ethics and pursuing a career that honors one's faith, hopes and passions. We discuss having a proper work/life balance, and why sometimes the best tool or the job isn’t a popular choice.
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