Champions of the Lost Causes

Latest Episodes:

Episode 61: Christopher Reyes and Kathryn Hicks Jun 28, 2024

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to two of his fellow co-founders of Baron Von Opperbean and the River of Time (BVO), Chief Visionary Officer Christopher Reyes and Chief of Games and Technology Kathryn Hicks, on location at the former site of the Mississippi River Museum at Mud Island Park in downtown Memphis. BVO is an immersive playground experience being built inside the long unused space. For Marvin, the adaptive-reuse project represents a new chapter in his life as a Champion, alongside his Coliseum work that is still ongoing. For Christopher Reyes, it's the opportunity to build a BVO fifteen times bigger than his 2020 proof-of-concept pop-up. For Kathryn Hicks, it's a chance to leverage her AR/VR and game-building experience to make the BVO experience all the more engaging.

Invest in Baron Von Opperbean and the River of Time at wefunder.com/bvo

For more episodes visit championsofthelostcauses.org

For other fine podcasts, visit backtothelight.net

Episode 60: John Carroll Apr 16, 2024

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to City Leadership executive director John Carroll at his Crosstown Concourse office. The two explore how the nonprofit helps recruit, catalyze and develop leaders at every level to help Memphis grow and thrive.

Episode 59: Marvin Stockwell Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

Guest host/producer J.D. Reager interviews Champions of the Lost Causes founder Marvin Stockwell at the Memphis Listening Lab. They discuss last summer's podcast road trip, what's next for the show, the Mid-South Coliseum, and more.

Episode 58: Libby Crimmings Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Libby Crimmings, president of Atlas Community Studios, at her office in Des Moines, Iowa. The pandemic showed everyone just how portable some types of work can be, and that was an advantage to small to midsize cities looking to attract and retain creative professionals who can do their job from anywhere. Marvin and Libby talk about how adaptive reuse of old buildings is helping renovate downtowns and neighborhoods across the United States, and how Libby’s work is helping communities adapt to meet evolving quality-of-life expectations.

Episode 57: Joe Vital and Dean Dovolis Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Joe Vital and Dean Dovolis of the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute at Dean's office in Minneapolis. With the help of many, Joe and Dean have championed the cause of the East Phillips Depot, a building that people in the surrounding neighborhood want repurposed as an urban farm and commercial center, but that the City of Minneapolis wants to demolish, despite the environmental dangers to people living nearby. Decades-old disinvestment, redlining, environmental racism, a hostile and indifferent mayoral administration, marches in the streets, lawsuits, occupations, and forced removal by police have all been part of this eight-year fight. Marvin, Joe and Dean talk about all that, but also about how the tide has recently turned in favor of the activists.

Episode 56: Keith Hammonds and Charlie Denison Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Keith Hammonds and Charlie Denison, owner and editor of the Boulder Monitor, at their office in Boulder, MT. Championing the cause of a free press has always come with its challenges, but journalism is in the midst of a paradigm shift away from printed newspapers to digital distribution, and toward new funding models, among which there is still no clear standard. Marvin talks to Keith and Charlie about the challenges of informing a public that has many other options for receiving information, and about the unique role journalism must continue to play alongside owned media and social media.

Episode 55: Mark Lakeman Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Mark Lakeman at his office in Portland. Mark is the founder of the City Repair movement, which has changed countless neighborhoods in Portland, OR and spread to other U.S. cities and other countries. People need civic gathering spots, but when American cities were designed, the plazas and piazzas were left out. Marvin and Mark talk about why social bonds between neighbors have suffered as a result, how that maps over to larger societal problems, and the steps Mark and others have taken to change that, one neighborhood at a time.

*We apologize for the poor audio quality of this interview.*

Episode 54: Alyse Nelson Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Alyse Nelson, a board member of Squeaky Wheels, a grassroots, bike-advocacy nonprofit in Bainbridge Island, Washington. Marvin and Alyse discuss Alyse's work to implement Bainbridge Island's comprehensive bicycle pedestrian infrastructure plan, and how her day job as city planner with the City of Seattle helps her understand the pressures and limitations of her Bainbridge Island municipal counterparts, as they work together to realize change.

Episode 53: Sue Campbell Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to book marketing coach Sue Campbell in Portland, Oregon. A published author herself, Sue helps authors overcome self-doubt and develop the mindset and habits to bring their books into the world. Sue and Marvin talk about the importance of books, how stories have power, and how Sue works to remove traditional barriers to writing to make the world more just and kind.

Episode 52: Ken Pogson Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to VooDoo Doughnut founder Ken Pogson in Portland, Oregon. Even a for-profit business is a cause to those hearty souls who take the risk, but Voodoo Doughnut has had a charitable thrust since its earliest days. Ken explains how the company's philanthropy started simply enough with giving away day-old doughnuts, and how it grew along with the business into larger checks that do more good. Ken and Marvin also explore Ken's Memphis roots. Back in the mid 1980s, Ken was Marvin's first real boss at the old Fare Four movie theater. Ken was shaped by Memphis’ 80s and 90s Antenna Club music scene and his friends in the Grifters. Throw in Memphis pro wrestling and Prince Mongo's various establishments, and all of a sudden the Voodoo Doughnut brand makes complete sense. It's uniquely Portland, but has Memphis’ hands all over it.

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