Are you a leader? Yes or No? Do you have stuff, your creative Superpowers -- the thing that made you successful in your creative life, whatever that does, whatever that is that we need in our public life? And I say, "Hell, Yes!" ~Tom Tresser
Tom Tresse (https://linktr.ee/tom.tresser)r is a Chicago based civic educator, creativity champion, and public defender with over 50 years grassroots democracy experience.
26 Aug 2026
Jessica DuLong: All Hands On Deck
"Many people have the misunderstanding that the boat lift was initiated by the U.S. Coast Guard—that boats only started the evacuation after the Coast Guard called for all available boats. Instead, that call went out nearly two hours after mariners had independently made the choice to help. Rather than coming in to take charge of the evacuation that was already operating successfully, the highest-ranking USCG officer, then-Lt. Michael Day, made the tremendous decision to FACILITATE and support the boat lift that had begun spontaneously. He worked with the Sandy Hook pilots to share knowledge about the harbor, offer information about available resources, and grant mariners permission to keep doing what they were doing. After interviewing both Mike Day and his higher ups, I came to understand why he felt empowered to take that approach. It stemmed from the trust his leaders placed in him to make decisions on the fly. That day, Coast Guard officers showed REAL leadership—the kind of TRUE leadership that is so lacking right now, in this dire moment.” ~Jessica DuLong
Jessica DuLong (https://jessicadulong.com/) is a Brooklyn-based author, independent historian, journalist, editor, and NYT-bestselling book collaborator/writing coach (https://jessicadulong.com/biography/#services). She lectures internationally on the craft of narrative and has appeared on/in HBO, THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE NEW YORKER, the TODAY show, and CBS Sunday Morning. DuLong recently joined the board of the 9/11 Legacy Foundation. For more information about the boat lift, visit: https://jessicadulong.com/boatlift/ (https://jessicadulong.com/boatlift/)
29 Jun 2026
Diana Romero: One Woman Wonder
What I hope to do with this show is to talk about my life...about always trying to belong, but then the ultimate challenge of belonging which is becoming a wheelchair user because you're going to stand out in any kind of way. I hope with audiences what comes out is a partnership which is the theme. Let me tell you what I'm talking about, what you won't know unless you're a wheelchair user. I want people not to feel like I'm preaching at them. I'm coming to tell you what it's like and that's my goal --to have humor in it, to have advocacy in it, but to have people in the end feel like they're a team with me or like their allies...not to feel ashamed or embarrassed. This is not a victim story by any means. ~ Diana Romero
Diana Romero (https://dianaromero.net/) is an award-winning writer, producer, and storyteller whose work focuses on overlooked lives and the complexity of being seen.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
63,370
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
105 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 53 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
62
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
32
Contact First Online With Fran
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of First Online With Fran?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
