Podcast: More Than Ordinary

Karen Mackey
Karen Mackey is a master (or is mistress?) of perseverance, an attorney, Executive Director of the Human Rights commission and a former national judo team member. She talks about being an attorney despite hating law school and not being a fan of a lot of people in it, discusses growing up as one of the few Native Americans in almost every setting. She also gives out profound advice.

Karen Mackey: More than Ordinary lawyer

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Dr. Rhadi Ferguson
We celebrate our first year of podcasting with the amazing Dr. Rhadi Ferguson discussing everything from parenting to racism to life after sport. In case you don't know, Dr. Ferguson is a 2004 Olympian in judo, inducted into the Howard University Hall of Fame for three additional sports- wrestling, track and football. He wrote a masters thesis on corporal punishment in African-American families and a doctoral dissertation on the effectiveness of the NFL bench press test. He is an author, judo coach, personal and executive coach, professor, husband and father.

Dr. Rhadi Ferguson – More than Ordinary Everything!

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Roy Hash as Green Beret
How much do you really know about the military? If you are like the majority of Americans under 30, neither you nor any of your immediate relatives has ever served in the military. Roy Hash is a 26-year army veteran, Green Beret, fifth-degree black belt, founder of Texoma Judo Club and top Call of Duty player. He joins us to discuss the attraction of military service for patriotism, a ticket to a better life or just being a soldier. We also discuss the reality and demands of military service.

More Than Ordinary Military Service: Roy Hash

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Jonathan Shaw
Back by popular demand, we discuss the wild life and work of Jonathan Shaw, tattoo artist, author, editor and reformed insane person. Maria mentions her belief that Jonathan and AnnMaria were highly similar until she got to the part of his book where he met Charles Manson and then later rolled up into a carpet a body that may or may not have been dead. Jonathan talks about what his life has been like since sobering up, the toxic effects of fame and advice to AnnMaria on writing her memoir.

Rolling up possibly dead bodies: Jonathan Shaw, Part 2

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Students around table
Our guests today, Jorge Campos, Claudia Jorge, and Ethan Troupe are all seniors at Manual Arts High School who will be attending Harvard University and University of California, Berkeley this fall, majoring in economics, biomedical engineering and finance. They counter the stereotypes of inner city youth in every way - college bound, STEM majors and they just won a competition for youth leaders with a proposal to sponsor science fairs in elementary schools with high-achieving high school students from the neighborhood as mentors. They discuss their roles as role models and the challenges they see ahead.

The Amazing, Brilliant Students from Manual Arts High School

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Jessamyn
Jessamyn Duke is a professional gamer, fitness model, twitch streamer, mixed martial artist and college graduate from the town of Blackey which has a population of around 100 people. In every possible way, she contradicts the stereotype of backwoods Appalachia. If your vision of southeast Kentucky is bigoted, ignorant hicks in overalls, prepare to have your stereotype busted. Learn about streaming games, the value of education and Jessamyn's advice on life.

Straight Outta Letcher County, Kentucky: Gamer Jessamyn Duke

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Fidel
Fidel Rodriguez overcame a youth of drug abuse and juvenile crime to graduate from the University of Southern California. He now works with youth throughout Los Angeles county, organizing an annual conference for social justice, mentoring youth. Fidel discusses the importance of relationships in working with youth, while he and AnnMaria compare personal histories to decide who was the bigger druggie/ derelict as a child and the importance of education as a ticket out of the worst situations.

Fidel Rodriguez: Raising Up American Youth

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Photo of Maria, by Hans
You've probably seen pictures taken by professional photographer, Hans Gutknecht. He has been featured in newspapers and websites throughout the country, with pictures of everything from the highest level sporting events to homeless people on the streets of Los Angeles. Despite his success, his advice to would-be photographers is "Have a back-up plan." Hans gives advice on the upcoming reality show based on his experience with celebrities. He also tells us about his passion for documenting the humanity of homeless people through his street photography.

Art makes you feel something: Hans Gutknecht More than Ordinary ...

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Jonathan Shaw
Jonathan Shaw originally became known for his tattoos on some of the most famous people in the world. Born into a show business family - his father was Big Band Leader Artie Shaw, his mother, the actress Doris Dowling - his early life will almost certainly insure that you appreciate your own normal family, even if they aren't rich and famous. After years of alcoholism and general craziness (you can read about it in his book, Scab Vendor, available in June), Jonathan gave up drinking, but it can hardly be said he settled down. Now a prolific author, world traveler and subject of an upcoming documentary on his life, he is definitely More Than Ordinary. Listen to him. He'll make you smarter.

There Are No Victims, Only Volunteers

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