The Conversation Hub show

The Conversation Hub

Summary: Conversation on business, life and everything in between. Simply put, we believe: Through conversation … relationships are formed; Through conversation … knowledge is shared; Through conversation … life happens. So join the conversation!

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  • Artist: Marc Vaillancourt
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Podcasts:

 TCH #128: Jeff Johnson, Minnesota’s Republican National Committeeman to the RNC | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 40:13

Six weeks ago, our nation went to the polls. For some the results were expected, for others not so much. In what can only be described as the mots expensive and divisive election season in my memory, we decided to bring you conversations on the state of the political discourse in our country. We begin this series with a conversation with Jeff Johnson.  Jeff has been involved in politics for several years and currently serves, among other roles, as Minnesota’s Republican National Committeeman to the RNC. About Jeff Johnson Jeff Johnson is a Commissioner on the seven-member Hennepin County Board of Commissioners.  He is an employment attorney, small business owner and former assistant majority leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives.  Jeff serves as Minnesota’s Republican National Committeeman to the RNC. You follow Jeff online on the following places: Jeff's Blog:  Hennepin County Taxpayer Watchdog On Twitter: @Jeff_Johnson_MN Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a guest or conversation you'd like us to host? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a Five Star review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo:  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

 TCH #127: Greg Staffa on Being Homeless | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 40:56

I've been doing a lot of thinking on the subject of homelessness the past few weeks.  This was triggered by an email I received from a colleague indicating that in the school district in the community where I work, more than 145 children are homeless.  At the same time, I was engaging in a conversation on Twitter with our guest Greg Staffa. I noticed that in the past decade he had been homeless twice. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to meet him and to have shared coffee and learn more about his story. About Gregory Staffa Greg Staffa thought he was doing all the right things. Unfortunately, a series of unfortunate events led to  him being homeless for the first time in 2001.  He spent the following nine months living in his car. During his first nine months of homelessness, Greg was ashamed and all but kept it a secret. From 2002 through 2005, Greg did all he could to rebuild his life - cleared all of his debt and began his journey towards the ultimate American dream - to own a house.  He finally got there but as a result a workplace injury, everything changed.  He ultimately found himself homeless again. You can read Greg's entire story at www.gregstaffa.com and follow him on Twitter at @staffaroadtrip. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a guest or conversation you'd like us to host? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a Five Star review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo:  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

 TCH #126: StompTown Revival’s Gabe Martinez | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 31:39

Delivering on our promise to bring you conversations with content creators - we are pleased to introduce you to StompTown Revival! If you love acoustic guitars and with a curious mix of indie rock and folksy blues, you'll love this music! Having just returned from touring in Taiwan, we were delighted when Gabe Martinez accepted our invitation to join us for a conversation! About StompTwon Revival & Gabe Martinez StompTown Revival  brings together Brandon Bee, a solo artist who also has over 80 production credits to his name, and Gabe Martinez, front man for critically acclaimed band Circleslide. Independently, Bee’s and Martinez’s past music has been compared to the likes of Arcade Fire, the Beatles, and Coldplay. Gabe Martinez - our guest in this episode - sought out blues music wherever he could find it, which was difficult for a teenager in San Antonio, Texas. “My dad bought me one of my favorite gifts ever,” Martinez recalls, “a box set of the complete recordings of Robert Johnson. I read the liner notes and realized the majority of those songs were recorded in San Antonio. I started feeling a kinship to the blues. In fact, my dad, who was a pastor of a very conservative church, took me to see a bluesman, John Hammond Jr., play, when I was maybe 14 or 15, simply because I expressed an interest in the harmonica. That was the first instrument I learned to play.” You can follow StompTown Revival online at the following locations: On Facebook: StompTown Revival's Page On Twitter: @STRevival On YouTube: StompTown Revival Channel The song Guiding Me Home (© Save The City Records) is used with permission and is available for purchase on iTunes.  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

 TCH #125: Update from the TCH Studios | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 26:44

Can you believe it ... we're 125 today!  What a great adventure we've been on. For our episode this week, I opted to do something a little different. No guest, just me giving thanks and providing you with an update on the plans we have for the future! What can you expect as we move forward... * Deeper, more meaningful conversation on life, business and everything in between; * TCH Book Club; * More conversations with content creators and storytellers; and, * Conversations that dig deeper on issues affecting our communities, our nation and our world.  Of course, we'll continue our segment titled No Passport Required: Discover the World Around You and introduce you to fascinating people who make a difference in our communities and in our world. Join the Conversation Our podcast is a success because of you!  You can continue to help us spread the word and introduce our podcast to others by sharing our episodes with people in your network. Another great way you can help is to give a FIVE STAR review on iTunes!  A five-star review helps us in the iTunes ranking and is a great way to introduce our podcast to other listeners! You can also join the conversation on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheConversationHub Finally, I invite you to join our newsletter!  Get the inside scoop on the happenings at The Conversation Hub! Please know that we'll NEVER share your email!!!  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

 TCH #124: Matt Johnson and Runner Academy | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 36:30

I started running in September 2010 and absolutely love it! To date, I've completed 4 half-marathons, one full marathon and a handful of other races.  I've already mapped out my races for 2013! Whilst training for my last half-marathon, I discovered the Runner Academy podcast. Ever since that first episode, I've been a fan of the podcast.  I was delighted when Matt Johnson - founder of Runner Academy and avid runner himself - accepted our invitation to be in conversation! WHether you're and experience runner or just starting out, I highly encourage you to check out Matt's podcast.  You can do so by clicking here! About Matt Johnson and Runner Academy Matt Johnson has been running for over 15 years.  He's done it all – 5Ks, 10Ks, Half-Marathons, Marathons and even Century Bike Races.  He consistently places among the top 25% of finishers in many of the races he runs. Matt believes in hard work, challenging goals and constant improvement.  He's a regular guy who has experienced personal satisfaction and success in all areas of his life through running.  He is committed to helping others achieve the same. Runner Academy exists to teach, inspire and empower everyday people to lead healthier lives, achieve their running goals, and reach new milestones by tapping into their running potential.  By providing a complete solution for running success, he believes anyone can be successful at any race distance.  No matter how experienced or inexperienced you are as a runner, you’ll learn something to improve your training and reach your goals. Runner Academy is here to help athletes of all ages and abilities succeed in this wonderful sport.  You won’t just gain skills – you’ll gain confidence. Matt's philosophy is simple:  Commit.  Train.  Achieve. Subscribe to the Runner Academy podcast on iTunes here! Follow Matt on the following social networks: Twitter: @RunnerAcademy Facebook: Runner Academy   The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

 TCH #123 / NPR #5: No Passport Required featuring Livingston, MT | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 21:58

We're pleased to present the November segment of No Passport Required: Discover the World Around You featuring Livingston, Montana! For our fifth installment, we head to Big Sky Country and the great city of Livingston, Montana. To help us learn more about this community, we are joined by two Livingston residents: Ed Meece has been the City Manager to Livingston, Montana, since March 16, 2006. Prior to joining the City of Livingston, he served as an Assistant Director of Public Works (2003-2006) for Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government (KY). Ed stays active hiking, camping, and exploring the outdoors. Although a 'retired' second baseman, he's embraced the role of Soccer Coach with the Livingston Youth Soccer Association, in addition to coaching youth basketball. Lou Ann Nelson has been serving  as the director of the Livingston Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center since 2003. Lou Ann and her son (8 at the time) visited friends in Livingston and ultimately decided to relocate here from Pennsylvania in 1987.  She has called Big Sky Country home since then.  As part of her work she promotes member businesses and provides information to local residents and traveling visitors. Get all the information you need about Livingston by visiting the City of Livingston. You can also follow them on Twitter at @windycitymt  The Conversation Hub podcast and the No Passport Required segments are produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

 TCH #122: Micro Entrepreneur Jason Kallsen | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 44:37

I'm inspired by people who find a way to live their passion.  Our guest this week, Jason Kallsen, has successfully launched several micro-business by doing what he loves. We gathered together on a late Friday afternoon at Minneapolis' favorite Thai restaurant, Sen Yai Sen Lek, for wine and a great conversation! About Jason Kallsen & Minnesota Flavor At the core of Jason Kallsen's existence is one idea: that the power of creativity combined with the power of communication can not only change your life but change the world. Jason's been finding different ways to exercise his creative muscles in many ways for many years.  His background is as diverse as his ideas, ranging from photographer to wine educator to world traveler. He's been in the wine business since 1996, but also has owned and operated a successful photography business on the side with his wife Angela.  They were one of the first in the country to shoot weddings with the now popular “journalistic” style, and insisted on shooting only black and white (this was pre-digital photography days, when you had to take a stand on your film choices).  Operating that first micro-business showed him first hand the power of a little sideline operation, and income from the photography business allowed him to make a career leap in 2001, when he entered the wholesale side of the wine world. Jason is also the founder of Minnesota Flavor - a connecting point between you and the taste makers of Minnesota, be they chefs, cookbook authors, wine and beer experts, or mixologists. Minnesota Flavors offers a huge variety of small format and affordable classes to anybody interested in what they consume. You can follow Jason online at the following locations: On Twitter: @JasonKallsen or @MNFlavor On his blog: www.jasonkallsen.com or www.twincitieswine.com On Facebook: Minnesota Flavor  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

 TCH #121: First Time Voter Alenni Nemitz | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 30:52

 "Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting." ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt Last night, our nation had an opportunity to watch and listen to the final presidential debate of this election year.  It's been an interesting campaign and for this week's episode we wanted to be in conversation with someone who is about to experience the process of voting for the first time. Our guest, Alenni Nemitz, is a senior at Canby High School in Canby - a small town in western Minnesota. As you'll hear during our conversation, Alenni is the only person in her circle of friends who'll be voting this year. You can follow Alenni's journey to the voting booth and to her choice of college on Twitter at @alooney_toons94. Election day is 2 weeks away ... whether it's your first time or your tenth time, I hope you'll exercise you right to vote.  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

 TCH #120: Take Permission Network’s Andy Traub | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 38:14

I'm absolutely elated to share this week's conversation with you. Our guest, Andy Traub, is someone I've been following for several months and I've been inspired by what he does. It was such a delight to have an extended conversation with him. I know you'll enjoy hearing about his story and appreciate the insights he shares with us! About Andy Traub and The Take Permission Network Andy Traub is a professional podcaster/podcast host and the founder of The Take Permission Network.  He's married to an absolutely phenomenal woman named Sara and together, with their three children, make their home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. An entrepreneur with a desire to make a difference, Andy's first priority is his family. They are his joy and when there’s a conflict his family always gets priority. Take Permission Media Network (TPMN) provides on-line media content and services that empower people to take action. Most of us live lesser lives because we are waiting for permission to be given. TPMN encourages and empowers its members and clients to take permission. You can follow Andy on the following social networks. On Twitter: @andytraub On Facebook: Take Permission Network  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

 TCH #119: Hung Out to Buy’s Elizabeth Traub | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 39:33

Your Dreams & Passions, My Experience & Help. What a great mission statement! I'm not sure if our guest Elizabeth Traub considers this statement has her mission in life, but I find it extremely powerful! Right from the outset of our conversation, I felt like I was a part of her world.  Our time together ended way to soon and she's now on the list of people I must meet "in real life!" Enjoy the episode! About Elizabeth Traub Elizabeth Traub has spent the past 17 years working as a consultant with business start-ups, existing business’s, mentoring & coaching women to live in the design of their dreams and passions. Elizabeth has worked with those who have their dreams and passions scribbled on a napkin through the steps of getting started.  Strategies, goal planning, marketing, and training, product design and development. She has maintained, for over 20 years, her hobby for Kids Room Design. Working in platforms for both retail & online. She continues to work with industry leaders in kid’s products. Elizabeth is the owner/designer at Hung Out To Buy.  She’s chatty, loves coffee and has been a Professional Design Consultant for over 20 years. She makes her home in Portland, OR.  You can hear talk about here city on the inaugural segment of No Passport Required: Discover the World Around You. You can follow-up online here: On Twitter: @elizonthego On her blog: Elizabeth Embracing Life On Facebook: Hung Out to Buy Page PS - Click here for details on how to nominate The Conversation Hub!  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

 TCH #118 / NPR #4: No Passport Required featuring Bangor, ME | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:53

We're pleased to present the October segment of No Passport Required: Discover the World Around You featuring Bangor, Maine. For our fourth installment, we head to the Queen City of the East, Bangor, Maine. To help us learn more about this community, we are joined by three Bangor residents: Sam Lanham, originally from Virgina, came to Bangor more than 30 years ago.  He is the founder of Lanham Blackwell Attorneys. He graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1975 and earned a Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1980. He then clerked for Justice David Nichols of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. He is admitted to practice law in Maine and Colorado. Jason Bird, originally from Glenburn, Maine. Jason has a Masters of Public Administration degree and his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science both from the University of Maine at Orono. He served as the Community and Business Development Specialist for Eastern Maine Development Corporation and now serves as the Business Development Officer/Downtown Coordinator for the City of Bangor. For more information visit www.downtownbangor.com. Kerrie Tripp serves as the executive director of Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau. Originally from Massachusetts, Kerrie spent some time in California and New York state before arriving in Bangor.  As the chief tourism ambassador for Bangor, ME she is the person you want to connect with if you're planning a trip to the Queen City of the East.  You can follow the Bangor CVB on Facebook and on Twitter! Get all the information you need about Bangor by visiting the City of Bangor.  The Conversation Hub podcast and the No Passport Required segments are produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

 TCH #117: Conor Allen on Heart Surgery & the Summer Olympics | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:04

Conor Allen, our guest this week, is a pretty amazing young man! Conor has already endured more challenges than most of us will deal with in a lifetime. At young age of 15, he's already had 13 surgeries, 7 of which were open heart surgeries. None of these seem to slow him down.  Like most teenagers, Conor is active and always on the go! Conor's approach to life, his positive outlook and his infectious smile are an inspiration. He has a big heart as noted by a comment his mother Amy shared with me - "the preliminary list of wishes included lots of things for other people." It was such an honor to be in conversation with him. You can learn more about Conor by reading an article published in the Echo Press - the local paper that serves his community. The Minnesota NBC affiliate - KARE-TV - also ran a story on Conor and one other Minnesota Make-A-Wish Foundation recipient.  You can view the video here!  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

 TCH #116: Remembering September 11, 2001 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 34:43

Today we remember ... We remember, like we have for the past 11 years, the events of September 11, 2001.  Events that changed the world as we knew it. Each of us, in one way or another, have been profoundly impacted by the events of that day. Last year, as we approached the tenth anniversary, I had the opportunity to be in conversation with T.J. Mannix, a New Yorker who, like so many did that day, watched his city suffer through these attacks. Like many New Yorkers, T.J. could not stay home and watch – he went to Ground Zero and put to work the training he had received from the Red Cross during his teenage years. I’ll let him share the rest of the story with you … As you listen to my conversation with T.J., it is my hope that you'll take a few moments to remember those who were lost that day; that you will remember the families who were impacted by the loss of someone they loved; and, that you remember the heroes of that day - the first responders who risked it all to help their fellow Americans. Let us never forget that on that day and the many that followed, we stood as one nation indivisible. You learn more about T.J. Mannix by visiting the original post. Note: This interview/conversation was originally posted on September 6, 2011 as the United States prepared to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The music selection heard on this episode is from the album Simple Things by Marc Vaillancourt and is available on iTunes.  The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

 TCH #115: Monica Lee, Author of “The Percussionist’s Wife” | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 30:29

"A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit." ~ Richard Bach My guest this week is no quitter! In fact, Monica Lee has spent the last 6 years putting pen to paper and has just released her first book. It's a true story about a dark time in her life. You'll be captivated by this story and I encourage you to pick up a copy of the book as soon as you can! I'm delighted that Monica included The Conversation Hub on her press junket! Enjoy the conversation! About Monica Lee Monica Lee is an editor, blogger and free-lance writer whose work has appeared in the Middletown Journal and St. Cloud Times and marketing materials for Creative Memories and Homemade Gourmet. In her first book,  "The Percussionist's Wife: A Memoir of Sex, Crime & Betrayal," the true story about the demise of a marriage after her husband is caught philandering with one of his drum line students, Lee explores themes of fidelity, faith and justice. As a former journalist and writer, she draws on her skills as a daily newspaper reporter and relies on the police evidence file to recreate her husband's ongoing philandering with his students throughout their marriage and to illustrate how she coped -- or didn't -- with the criminal charges against him. In a perverse age when politicians hide children bred by their mistresses and coaches prey upon their charges, "The Percussionist's Wife" is a modern parable on the nature of betrayal and atonement for those who have endured the shame and mystery of unspeakable secrets. now available on Amazon (affiliate link), Barnes & Nobles and Lulu. She lives in northern Illinois with her second husband. You can follow Monica on the following social network: On Twitter @MNTransplant; On Facebook at MonicaLeeWriter; On her writer's blog called Mindful Monica; and, On her personal blog called Minnesota Transplant.    The Conversation Hub is produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt  

 TCH #114 / NPR #3: No Passport Required featuring Laramie, WY | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 23:51

We're please to present the September episode of No Passport Required: Discover the World Around You featuring Laramie, Wyoming! For our third installment, we head to the Gem City of the Plains, Laramie, WY. To help us learn more about this community, we are joined by three Laramie residents: Bob Beck has been News Director of Wyoming Public Radio since 1988.  During his time as News Director WPR has won 76 national, regional and state news awards. Bob also taught broadcast news at the University of Wyoming for 20 years and his 1998 television reporting class won a regional Emmy for reporting excellence. You can follow him on Twitter @butterbob. Jodi Guerin is co-owner of Coal Creek Coffee Company with her husband John. She is also owner of Gem City Consulting, where she provides fundraising services, fundraising training, and leadership and organizational development training to a variety of organizations. She served as Laramie's Mayor from 2005-2006 and again in 2009-2010. You learn more about Jodi on LinkedIn. Trey Sherwood serves as the executive director of Laramie Main Street Alliance. Prior to joining Laramie Main Street, she spent five years at the Territorial Prison State Historic Site, moving from Georgia for the position. She has a master’s degree in public history with a concentration in museum studies from the University of West Georgia. You can follow Trey & Laramie Main Street on Twitter @LMainstreet. Get all the information you need about Laramie by visiting the website www.visitlaramie.org or the City of Laramie.  The Conversation Hub podcast and the No Passport Required segments are produced by BassClef Productions.Content © 2012 BassClef Productions/Marc Vaillancourt

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