Champions of the Lost Causes

Latest Episodes:

Episode 51: Cory Cachola Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Brand New Voices publisher Cory Cachola in Portland, OR. Cory is an advocate for web3 and the community that's growing around this emerging evolution of human connection on the web. The promise of the internet was always to connect us, but as the tech and computing power have improved, so has the web's ability to deliver on the depth of what we all dreamed was possible in the web’s earliest days. Cory is a proponent of cryptocurrency, NFTs and the blockchain, but he's most interested in why these developments have come about, and what it says about human yearning for connection, meaning, freedom, and opportunity.

Episode 50: Jason Waligoske Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Jason Waligoske, owner of Yep Yep Organic Farm in unincorporated Dexter, Oregon. For Jason, the benefits of eating organic started with working on his grandparents' farm as a boy, then later working at, then owning his favorite health food store. After a short-lived, crop-science job showed him the negative effects of pesticides and GMO technology, he had a vision for starting an organic farm. Jason chose aquaponic farming because it creates a symbiotic relationship between the crops that grow in water and the fish that swim below, and because he says it creates produce with superior nutritional value and taste.

Episode 49: Joe Demaree Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to artist and musician Joe Demaree at his home in San Jose, California. Many artists first champion the cause of their creative vision and then organize their lives around moving it forward. Joe has an unwavering commitment to his artistic vision, and the community he's built around art, music and the free exchange of ideas.

Episode 48: Mischelle Brown Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to educator Mischelle Brown in Oakland, California. Mischelle's use of risky play to provide better learning opportunities for her neurodivergent students was at first seen as unorthodox, and besides, there was no funding at her school for what she wanted to do. Undaunted, Mischelle crowdfunded the money she needed through ioby, and after after engaging in rock climbing, blowing glass and building forts, students' grades went up and disciplinary incidents went down. In fact, the benefits of risky play are well-documented in research dating back to the 1960s. Now armed with the data to show her program works, Mischelle is looking for new ways to use risky play to improve education.

Episode 47: Terrence Murtaugh Aug 13, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Terrence Murtaugh in Phoenix, AZ. Terrence is the founder of the Heavy Pedal, a cycling apparel company based in Phoenix. Marvin and Terrence talk about his non-traditional, iterative path to finding his calling. His transition from graffiti artist to graphic designer, web developer and business owner with a track record of backing good causes didn't happen overnight. It started by championing the cause of his own life, and digging down deep to expect more of himself.

Episode 46: Sara Vaas Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Sara Vaas at CONO's offices in Colorado Springs, CO. CONO is a nonprofit that works to connect neighbors to each other and the civic process. Marvin and Sara talk about the challenges of elevating citizens' voices as the city grows, and how CONO is working with the City to organize ongoing citizen input. The two also talk about Sara's work as an artist, and how that has translated into the creativity and drive necessary to work with her community to effect change and empower others.

Episode 45: Sean Crouch Jul 31, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to LA-based writer and director Sean Crouch at his home. Known for shows such as Wolf Pack, The Exorcist, Lore, The 100, Numb3rs and Unforgettable, Sean talks to Marvin about his role in the current writer's strike, and how it differs from his experience of the writer's strike of 2007. The two explore why changes in how episodic shows are produced have hurt the apprenticeship model that helped Sean work his way up, as well as AI's potential to plagiarize and diminish the role of writers.

Episode 44: Sarah Kephart and Andy Hoffman Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Sarah Kephart and Andy Hoffman at Envision's Wichita headquarters. Sarah serves as Envision's arts manager, and Andy serves as call center supervisor. What started in Wichita in 1933 as an effort to find jobs for blind people has grown into a multi-state nonprofit with every service imaginable to support people who are blind and visually impaired. The three talk about Sarah and Andy's ongoing work and ruminate on what it means that a cause still calls new Champions, whose dedication to mission is undimmed by the many years.

Episode 43: Andy Scurto Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talk to Andy Scurto at the Tulsa's Promenade Mall. Andy followed his daughter's love of playing hockey into being a fan, coach and ultimately owner of the Tulsa Oilers. Marvin and Andy talk about Andy's passion for youth sports, how the team gives back to the youth in Tulsa, and how a vacant former Macy's is being converted into a facility with two new ice rinks to serve the team and the Tulsa community.

Episode 42: Janae Bradford Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Janae Bradford at Tulsa City Hall. Janae leads the City of Tulsa's Office of Financial Empowerment and Community Wealth. Marvin and Janae talk about how her career in finance and nonprofit work prepared her well to champion the cause of financial stability from within municipal government, and how she's applying best practices that are working in other cities.

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