What do you do when life throws you a curveball, but you are one of the world’s most qualified and passionate experts on a technology that has origins dating back to 1040 AD? If you’re Jenny Wilkson, you start a non-profit that empowers individuals and communities with the skills to creatively express themselves through the literally ancient art of letterpress printing (during Covid). 

In our final episode of this season, we took a walk with Jenny through Seattle’s Discovery Park to discuss her life and the non-profit she has played such a pivotal role in building, Partners In Print.

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Valerie Stunning has been down with PMA since day one. She was in our inaugural issue, as a shining example of someone who is bucking the norm and creating lasting change while living a life that meets the very high standards set by her own personal code of excellence.

As a (former) sex worker, advocate, community organizer, entrepreneur, thinker, and empath, Valerie stands above the crowd as a force to be reckoned with in the world of empowering those who society would attempt to marginalize.

We recently caught up with Valerie as she embarks on yet another adventure, to look back on the last 5 years and to gaze into the exciting future that lies ahead.

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Ellen runs an organization called Forgotten Dogs Rescue (forgottendogsrescue.com), which focuses on Pit Bulls and related dogs who are abandoned in shelters. And why Pit Bulls? “Because they are the dogs who need our help the most,” Ellen says. There are more of these dogs in shelters than any other breed. They are misunderstood, misrepresented, and in the most danger of being euthanized.

Though Ellen is the Executive Director of Forgotten Dogs Rescue she is not the founder. Seven years ago,

she went to a comedy event sponsored by FDR, and started volunteering with them. It turned out that she had essential skills that the organization needed (she has degrees in accounting and creative writing, and worked as an HR manager in the videogame industry). It wasn’t long before she became the central organizing force at FDR, and is now officially their leader.

The rewards of the program are not just for the dogs, Ellen observes. People benefit immeasurably. Dogs are the models of unconditional love. And dogs know how to live in the moment. It’s really about improving the lives of everyone involved.

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When Matt Reynolds became a parent, he did what all parents in Hawai’i do, which is to just take your kids surfing with you. Duh. But Matt’s son Heimana had other plans. At a very early age, he gravitated toward surfing’s cousin, skateboarding. Rising to the occasion, not only did Matt put everything he had into supporting his son’s skate obsession, he decided that while he was teaching Heimana, he may as well teach other kids. Through the urging of his wife Samantha, the Reynolds ‘ohana created Hawai’i’s first and only indoor skateboarding school, board shop, and training facility. Fast-forward to today, Heimana and Matt are continuing to push each other to progress as exceptional human beings, while passing on their gifts to a whole new generation of youth through skateboarding.

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Jewel Ifeguni wants to improve the human race. Her creative vision encourages us all to drop our bias and judgement for the way someone looks or what they do. Her personal experience with bias, especially in the tech world, inspired Jewel to create her own media company. As founder and CEO of YouMatter Studios, Jewel is building an inclusive world where everyone understands, advocates, and truly believes that YOU MATTER.

Jewel’s journey is only beginning yet she has already done more than most people twice her age, and she did it all with the intention of uplifting those around her at every turn.

Please check out our latest episode where we trace the roots of Jewel’s empathy, dig in to how she overcomes challenges, and walk in the shoes of one of this generation’s brightest new leaders.

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Mike Egan is a product of his willingness to listen to the signals he's recieved from the universe. When his first day at his new job at the airport also kicked off the longest global shut-down of air travel in the history of air travel due to the deadliest attack on US soil ever committed, he decided to try embalming.

He was painting the whole time.

Now he's a successful full-time artist with stories to tell and some advice for anyone trying to carve out and protect the time and energy it takes to find and fulfill your true calling.

In our latest podcast episode, Mike tells Matt about his unlikely journey, and shares what he's learned along the way.

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Amelia Brodka is obsessed with skateboarding.

She has spent the majority of her life honing her skills, and has done well as an international competitor, including in the 2020 Olympics. But she noticed very early on that skateboarding had an equity problem. For her USC senior thesis, she made a documentary film called Underexposed, about the systemic inequities that have disproportionately impacted female-identifying and non-traditional skateboarders. It was a huge success and suddenly Amelia had a new obsession: helping others.

Tune into our latest podcast episode to learn about how Amelia and her team aren't just crusading for equity in skateboarding, they are creating a new generation of more empathetic and effective leaders, while raising money and awareness for issues like domestic violence.

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There are 4.6 million first responders in the US alone. Systematic reviews have shown that up to 21.5 percent of them suffer from effects of post traumatic stress disorder because of the things they witness every day just doing their jobs.

These courageous people are putting their lives on the line to make us safer, but when they need help they have few places to turn.

Chad Guenter decided that this was not OK. Through his non-profit organization Project All-In, Chad and his team are actively working to provide tools and workshops to address the mental health needs of over 11,000 first responders in 9 different countries.

Join us as we trace the roots of Chad’s empathy, learn more about his community, and tap into his strategies for making life-changing individual impacts at an impressive scale.

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In our second episode of season 2, Matt connects with his very first friend, Malia Marquez, to visit three sacred sites that are incredibly significant to indigenous Hawaiians. As a native Hawaiian, Malia has spent her adult life working hard to protect Hawaiian land, culture, and people from the revisionist forces of modernization and commerce.

Join us as we walk through these incredible places while discussing the impact of Malia's work, and reflect on the importance of preservation, respect for our past, and standing up for what you believe in.

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Tessa Hulls is a multi-disciplinary creative force of human nature. As a teacher and illustrator, Tessa has created her own unique style of visual storytelling that not only compels her readers to places of new understanding, but she is also a conceptual alchemist who can effortlessly compose facts, events, perspectives, and emotions into beautiful pieces of art. Tessa is also an adventurer, a cyclist, a naturalist, activist, innovator, and dedicated and loving friend and daughter.

She has just released a new graphic memoir titled “Feeding Ghosts”, that was ten years in the making. She has emerged from the process feeling conflicted about being creative for a living, which is something she has done for her entire life. But don’t worry…Tessa has a plan!

Join us for a walk around Seattle’s Chinatown-International District and Pioneer Square, as we learn more about Tessa’s process, her new book, and what happens when your creativity is placed into a medically-induced coma.

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It’s been said so many times that it’s become cliché…that music is a universal language, that it is one of the only things that unites people across cultural, physical, and socio-political dividing lines. Even so, a lot of bands seem shy away from addressing issues with their music for fear of alienating fans who may disagree with their beliefs, especially early in their careers. Bruce Springsteen can afford to lose a few people by taking a stand on something potentially polarizing, but for a young band in today’s hyper competitive wild west of a music industry, singing about stuff that matters represents an added risk to their financial success…or does it?

As you are about to find out, Nashville’s Friendship Commanders is finding an audience by making music that matters. You will not find any party anthems in the impressive catalog of music they’ve released in the 8 years they’ve been together. Instead, they choose to tackle issues like sexism, abuse, alienation, gas-lighting, objectification, racism, police brutality…, just to name a few. But what’s unique about Friendship Commanders’ approach is that Friendship Commanders’ brand of ideological confrontation feels INCLUSIVE.

I caught up with chief songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist, Buick Audra, and drummer Jerry Roe to learn more about their journey as artists, and what it’s like to stand for something meaningful in today’s crowded musical landscape. Please enjoy my conversation with Friendship Commanders.

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When we caught up with Hans and Nick Schippers, they were traveling down the West Coast in a converted school bus, changing the way we educate our future generations about environmental issues by visiting schools and teaching kids about the negative impact of plastic pollution. They did this by forging and leveraging strategic partnerships with organizations like the Parley for the Oceans advocacy group and Sustainable Coastline Hawaii, to bring their message into these coastal communities that are the most affected. They have reached over 25,000 kids with their unique curriculum which includes workshops, speaking engagements, and beach cleanups. 25% of the schools they visit implement action to reduce plastic pollution in their institutions.

Hans and Nick Schippers are just getting started but have already done so much to inspire and elevate, and to raise awareness about the threat to what may arguably be the Earth’s most precious and important gift…the ocean. Tune in to learn more about these pioneers of environmental advocacy and action!

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Back in June of last year, AWWS’s Keith Bacon was kind enough to interview PMA founder, editor, and chief custodial engineer Matt Johnston. This is the only interview with Matt where he discusses the formation of the magazine and what it takes to sustain it. If you’ve ever wondered what it might take to launch a print magazine in 2019, or why anyone would ever do such a thing, listen no further than Keith’s insightful interview. Also, don’t sleep on Keith’s other amazing podcast, Field to Fork!

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In 2016, Molly Harmon installed a pantry in her front yard in Seattle, Washington, because she wanted to help feed those in her neighborhood who were experiencing food insecurity. Like the Little Free Libraries, these pantry boxes are located throughout residential neighborhoods, and people contribute when they are able to. In some cases, the pantries are stocked each morning, and found empty by nighttime.

With the support of many volunteers, Molly has helped build and distribute over 150 pantries across the region. She is hoping that the network of pantries will grow even more throughout the Northwest region over the next few years, connecting people to each other by way of a shared human need. Join us as we chat with Molly Harmon and Meaghan McClure of Little Free Pantries, and learn more about their tremendous journey.

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Donald Watts had everything going for him as one of the best high school basketball players ever to come out of Washington State. Just as his NBA dreams were about to be realized, Donald felt that something was not right. He was suffering from Chronic Fatigue syndrome, a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that is not improved by rest.

Unwilling to forfeit his dreams, Donald began a new journey that allowed him to leverage his leadership skills, competitive spirit, and brilliant mind for the good of others. In this episode, we'll take a walk in the shoes of not just a tremendous basketball player, but get to know the organization he's built from the ground up that uses basketball as a vehicle for personal growth and what he calls “game changers for life.”

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Some guys arm themselves with guitars. Some women wield a mighty pen. Other folks always just seem to be holding. Lance Mercer’s path to the stage was a camera. Lance has tangled with some King Hell adversaries and emerged not only intact— but often stronger, wiser and more complete. Join us for an intimate conversation with Lance recorded at his West Seattle home, during which he reveals the secrets of his success, what it was like to be present for Seattle music’s finest moments, and how despite all of life’s unpredictable challenges, he manages to keep everything in focus.

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This week we want to change it up a little and bring you some shorter clips from interviews we did that we thought were really great, but because we really weren’t thinking about doing a podcast at the time, they were either too short, super casual, or just recorded in really noisy locations. We still wanted to showcase these individuals though, and get them into the time capsule that is this first season.

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Gretchen Baer is a master at synthesizing negatives into positives. So much so that she has internalized this synthesis into a practice that guides her entire life. Take her Border Bedazzlers project as an example…she saw an ugly and divisive border wall and created a project to turn it into an art canvas, that amazingly evolved into her Mariposa art and music school for under-served kids in the Mexican border town of Naco.

I really learned a lot from Gretchen about how to create a holistic approach to living a creative life. I hope you get as much out of our chat as I did.

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