The Bellingham Podcast

Continuing the Community Connections Conversations, Chris sits down with longtime Bellingham resident Heather Simpson, founder of She Leads Me, a Bellingham-based collective of women... who empower women... in the realms of leadership and growth both in their professional and personal lives. Also a fellow podcaster! Show Notes Links (drink!)* She Leads Me Website. (https://sheleadsme.com/)* She Leads Me Podcast. (https://sheleadsme.com/podcast/)* Upcoming August Connections events in Bellingham and Oak Harbor (http://sheleadsme.com/events/connections/).* Upcoming Nourish event (https://sheleadsme.regfox.com/nourishretreat) in October. Find us on the WebAJ: ajbarse.com (http://ajbarse.com/)Chris: chrispowell.co“Community Powered | KMRE, 102.3 FM | and streaming at kmre.org” (http://kmre.org/)

We are back! Back from the 4 July holiday (USA)...and rerecording this 124th episode; as even the most experience techs run into technology gremlins after dark. On this episode, as local campaign season is in full bloom, your dynamic PNW podcast duo decided to take center soapbox as fictitious mayor of Bham. *AJ Update** Wag more, bark less * Mental North’n it in the North Cascades * Travel as a parent- you just go and do it* watch modding projects, like : https://ajbarse.com/timelord-time-lapse-7s26-modding/* One year and 26.4 lbs later: the lifestyle change to my diet because of my son’s medical issue-*Chris Update** Recuperating from taking the Red Pill in online privacy and security* Slow Carb diet - down 10 pounds* Fasting from Surveillance Media* Unique 30+ character password for every online account? Check.If I were Mayor of Bellingham*AJ: ** Cascadia Day- a City holiday for all businesses. * City subsidized EV bicicyle program to get more suburban folks who work in town to commute by bike and get through the hills of our region.* Affordable high speed internet (ISP) that is a city utility not private entity.* Property tax incentive- bringing more eco-power to residential areas and thus strengthen Bhams sustainability (and growth impact) factors. *Chris:** Bellingham School District - teachers and staff - Pay raises and professional development opportunities across the board* Economic incentives for Bellingham businesses to adopt a local non-profit* Increased funding for Mental Health programs for all Bellingham residents, not just for homeless folksPlus...* Tickets issued for parking facing out of angled parking spots* Tickets issued for dual-tire trucks parking in 1 (or 2) compact spots* Subsidized funding for more dedicated veteran parking spots in front of city businesses... coming after disabled parking spots, of course.* Citywide ban on “oonce-oonce-oonce” techno music in coffee shops, restaurants, and retail establishments.Find us on the WebAJ: ajbarse.com (http://ajbarse.com/)Chris: chrispowell.co“Community Powered | KMRE, 102.3 FM | and streaming at kmre.org” (http://kmre.org/)

If you’ve recently moved to Bellingham, or are wanting to check things out to see what all the buzz is about zip codes 98225, 6, 7, and 9... this show is for you! Whether you are a young professional, fully-entrenched in family life, or are getting out of the rat race of metropolitan life, let AJ and Chris be the first to welcome you to Bellingham! We’ve got a boatload of places to go and things to do here in this wonderful town of ours.AJ has a Clarification from last week’s episode:25:40 in- whats the show pops- Here come the brides (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_Come_the_Brides)-*Here Come the Brides* is an American (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) comedy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_comedy) Western (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_(genre)) series from Screen Gems (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_Gems) that aired on the ABC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Broadcasting_Company) television network from September 25, 1968 to April 3, 1970. The series was loosely based upon the Mercer Girls project (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercer_Girls), Asa Mercer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asa_Mercer)'s efforts to bring civilization to old Seattle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle) in the 1860s by importing marriageable women from the east coast cities of the United States, where the ravages of the American Civil War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War) left those towns short of men. 5:00 in - Bellingham: WA, SC, MN, MA, but NO MAINEThanks, AJ’s mom!New to town: College graduate, young and solo 20-something? AKA THE FRESH BREW*(Correction)The Racket - https://www.facebook.com/theracketbham/* The Ruckus Room - https://www.ruckusbham.com/* Temple Bar - http://www.templebarbellingham.com/* Le Chat Noir - https://www.blackcatbellingham.com/* Hana Teriyaki - https://www.yelp.com/biz/hana-teriyaki-bellingham* Cafe Rumba - http://caferumbabham.com/ * Salsa Nights at Cafe Rumba 1st & 3rd Saturdays of every month, 9:30pm-midnight! Starts with an intro lesson, followed by the best mix of Latin music. $4 cover, all ages, beer/wine available for 21+* Fairhaven Runners - https://fairhavenrunners.com/* Vital Climbing Gym - https://www.vitalclimbinggym.com/bellingham* Whatcom Mountain Biking Club - https://wmbcmtb.org/New to town: 30-something family with a couple of kids? AKA THE GRIND* Lake Padden Dog Park* Whatcom Farmers Co-Op

All around this wonderful town, there are lots of people working hard to make this city shine. You probably pass by folks in the produce section of the grocery store, or are in front of them in line at your coffee shop.... people that are making a positive impact on the community, that’s what AJ and Chris keep an eye out for. Tune in and find out more on this episode of the BhamPodcast. Women in leadership - Meg WeberInstructor, IDEA Institute at WWU - http://idea.wwu.edu (http://idea.wwu.edu/)Current Board Member, Pickford CinemaFormer owner of Internet access company, former Executive Director of TagNW, member of the tech levy committee for that 1 to 1 project with the Bellingham School district that brought students convertible laptop/tablet devices for their coursework.Masters in Cinema, University of Iowa.MBA, University of Rochester“Community Powered | KMRE, 102.3 FM | and streaming at kmre.org” (http://kmre.org/)

In this episode your PNW dynamic duo pick up where they left off last episode unwrapping, exposing, compartmentalizing, and declassifying stereotypes... pertaining the Pacific Northwest. So fill that sticker-filled BPA-free water bottle, and enjoy listening to this second part of this stereotypical Bellingham Podcast with your dad on this Father's day weekend.* Shoutout to WatchMedicine for the ideahttps://www.instagram.com/watchmedicine/Picking up where we left off :The 'people' of the Republic of Cascadia* Tattoos are as personalized as our coffee drink of choice* We have to specify which Vancouver we're referring to. Not as much confusion with Portland, since the one in Maine doesn't count.Food* Eco Friendly/ Co-op loving/ gotta know where our food comes from * Portlandia : Colin the chicken https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G__PVLB8Nm4 *Shout-out to 40and20 podcast: https://soundcloud.com/40and20* Residents have a Masters Degree in Beer Snobbery: https://www.movoto.com/guide/wa/washington-stereotypes/* Coffee Snobs* “Green” shops* Willingly waiting 45 minutes for brunch* Cream Cheese Hotdog (Seattle Style dog) - https://thetakeout.com/the-cream-cheese-slathered-hot-dog-is-seattle-s-second-1798256832 Fashion* Umbrellas not welcome* Washington sunglasses stat article * 1993, Seattle buys more Ray Bans per capita than any other city. http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19930127&slug=1682158* Hipster/Lumber-sexual/Beards * Vintage culture * Flannel * Fleece* North Face/ Eddie Bauer* Athleisure* Socks and Sandals

If you're like AJ and Chris, you know the difference between an Affogato (espresso poured over ice cream or gelato) and a Macchiato (espresso with a lil' bit o' foamed milk) and a 5.6% IPA and a 8% Blonde. You get decision fatigue when choosing the right fleece to wear, and you've had enough with the term Hipster. On this episode your PNW dynamic duo is unwrapping, exposing, compartmentalizing, and declassifying stereotypes... pertaining the Pacific Northwest. So put on your toque, and grab your sticker-filled BPA-free water bottle, and chug-a-lug while driving your VW bug to go hiking with your pug and avoid the slugs this is a stereotypical Bellingham Podcast.* Shoutout to WatchMedicine for the ideahttps://www.instagram.com/watchmedicine/* PNW stereotypes * Unfriendly? https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/state/washington/article230924168.html * A funny rundown; https://www.movoto.com/guide/wa/washington-stereotypes/ * How Pacific Northwest are you? A quiz: https://brainfall.com/quizzes/how-pacific-northwest-are-you/ * Chris is only 57% PNW, womp womp. * AJ- 87%Culture* The Republic of Cascadia * The proposed country or region largely would consist of the Canadian province (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_and_territories_of_Canada) of British Columbia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia) and the US States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._state) of Washington (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_(state)) and Oregon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon). Including all parts of the bioregion (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioregion), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascadia_(independence_movement)* Tech! (thanks california) * Mountain biking/running/kayaking/hiking * Mountain biking practically a cult* Dogs friendly businesses and dog parks * PSA PICK UP POOP! * Meet the Suburu Outback - the unofficial utility car of the PNW * Unless it is a microbus (closer you get to California) * 4-Way Stop conundrums* Preppers (https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-american-redoubt-prepper-movement-20160827-story.html) and Tiny homers (https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/may/02/tiny-house-notion-legislators-advocates-for-afford/) * 2019 SB https://wacities.org/advocacy/News/advocacy-news/2019/02/04/tiny-homes-bill-receives-a-hearing * *SB 5384 (

Feel like your wireless bill is a bit high? Chris and AJ do another cellular MVNO roundup. Want to hear about some other options on cellular carries that use the same network you are currently use? Tune in and see if any of these might save you some coin in that monthly budget. Chris going anti-PrimeHe and wife didn't renew annual Prime $120 fee. Continuing with base Amazon account: $5/shipping, 5-7 business days.No more Wile E. Coyote Acme company delivery.MObile PHone CarriersThe Big 4 - AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint. Funny math, Multiple distractions on website. (Netflix, Hulu, Tidal, Amzn Prime, emojis, dancing people having fun with their phone)Leasing Phones - $30-$50/month, 24-month contract = $720 to $1200 for a phone. And that's on top of your data plan.Nice to see “global roaming” included on some carriers. #CanadaNice to see “flat fee” (?) on some carriers.MVNOsTingUS MobileCricket - Chris' family: 5GB LTE data per line, 2GB speeds after 5GB quota reached. No additional overcharges. $40+$30+$20 = $90 out the door.Mint MobileGoogle FiBoostVirgin MobileATT Gonet10“Community Powered | KMRE, 102.3 FM | and streaming at kmre.org” (http://kmre.org/)

Station Break: Memorial Day

Our continuing series two of Word of Note; takes this inspiring quote and runs with it as AJ and Chris unpack ways to become more aware of our inner strengths, harness our abilities, and unleashes it on the world. All that an more on this episode of the Bellingham Podcast.#bhampodcastA memorable experience this week for Chris:Lighthouse Mission - New Life Program (https://www.thelighthousemission.org/stories-and-info/stories-of-hope/new-life-program/) - Graduation Ceremony (See Episode 114 (https://www.spreaker.com/user/bellinghampodcast/114-actual-4-11-19-2-20-pm) for an interview with LMM Executive Director)A yearlong discipleship and recovery program. The men who enter the New Life Program typically come with deep wounds from their past which led to addictive behaviors and unhealthy relationships. These men are immersed in community living, which includes service to their peers around the Mission, they attend 10 classes each week, receive counseling, and Bible-based reading and homework. All this is done within an intentional community with each man connected with a local church. This New Life program aims to help these men find healing from the wounds of the past and helps them reconcile with the people they care about.*Congratulations to Robert, Jess, Dave, and Darrell - 2019 New Life Program graduates!**IKIGAI - From Okinawa *iki= lifegai = purposeHow do we pronounce it in 'Murca? *Icky-guy.*How do the French describe Ikigai? *Raison d'etre*What's our reason for getting up in the morning?Chris - Helping provide a comfortable life for my beautiful wife and daughterAJ - From Dan Buettner's book, Blue Zones (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1426209487/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0): Make three lists... Your values, things you like to do, and things you are good at. The center of that three-circled Venn diagram is your Ikigai.Another approach: * What do you love? (passion)* What does the world need? (mission)* What are you good at? (vocation)* What can you be paid for? (profession)From the 2017 book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143130722/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0), some mindsets to follow:* Stay active and don’t retire* Leave urgency behind and adopt a slower pace of life* Only eat until you are 80% full* Surround yourself with good friends* Get in shape through daily, gentle exercise* Smile and acknowledge people around you* Reconnect with nature* Give thanks to anything that brightens our day and makes us feel alive.* Live in the momentHow to Ikigai | Tim Tamashiro | TEDxYYChttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk-PcJS2QaU“Community Powered KMRE, 102.3 FMand streaming at kmre.org” (http://kmre.org/)

No tin-foil hats required. On this episode, one of the PNW subdued duo has been diving into the dark and light side of the web in search for something more secure with their online life. What would it take for more secure email? Or how about more secure messaging? Or how about a private digital hypertube for all your data that even Elon Musk would appreciate? Meanwhile the other half of the duo...is just taking in the hygge of the analog life. Wanna find out more? Tune into this 117th edition of the #bhampodcast.Shout-out to AJ & Chris' MomsWhere Chris used to be - Tech Life* Chrome - Web browsing* Gmail - personal email* Google - all searches* Lastpass (https://www.lastpass.com/) - Password manager, one fairly-strong password for many online accounts* Apple Messages - SMS communication with all phone contacts* Bank Debit/Credit Visa card - online paymentsThe big question: Why change things up?1 - Tired of my email, web browsing, calendar appointments, photos, and search requests being stored by the big G. 2 - The data profile Google has on me is extensive. I want to reclaim some privacy in my personal life. 3 - I want to create a barrier between my online life and my family's financial resources.Where Chris is now - Tech Life* Firefox - Open-source browser, all the add-ons that I used to use with Chrome, no data profiling* ProtonMail (https://protonmail.com/) - one personal account, other personal/freelance domains forwarded to it, with numerous aliases* Private Internet Access VPN (https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/) - easy to install on all operating systems. $80 for two years, about $3.50/month for private encrypted web browsing.* Startpage (https://www.startpage.com/) - Anonymous Google search results. Masked IP number, location, browser, and operating system... And a lot more.* DuckDuckGo (https://duckduckgo.com/) - Alternative web search site. No personal information collection, stored search history, trackers, ad targeting. Just a search result. With over 12,000 shortcut bangs. * Bitwarden (https://bitwarden.com/) - unique masked email address and a unique 25+ character password... For every online account. Passphrase generator FTW.* Signal (https://signal.org/)/Wire (https://wire.com/en/) - Encrypted communications* MySudo (https://mysudo.com/) - Family/friends phone number (migration in process), non-family/friends number (retail, online)* Blur (https://www.abine.com/) - Many masked emails, messages forwarded to one personal account* Privacy.com (http://privacy.com/) - Linked with funding source, masked debit cards, spending limits, one card per online account.Meanwhile- how does AJ reboot his digital life....Analog + Hygge = Spring/Summer Time “Community Powered KMRE, 102.3 FMand streaming at kmre.org” (http://kmre.org/)

AJ and Chris have another “Word of Note” episode and they go Danish. Its a word that relates to a previous episode in the Word of Note series. And they are back on the town recording on location, drinking coffe and surrounded by foliage? Want to know where you can get a good cup of coffee while looking for that perfect plant? This.... Is the Bellingham Podcast.Where we at?BabyGreens Plant Shop & Cafe - https://www.plantshopbaby.com/1201 Cornwall Ave #103, Bellingham, WA 98225lykkeRemember the Little Book of Hygge (https://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Hygge-Danish-Secrets/dp/0062658808/ref=sr_1_1?crid=38GGTBS2BQ8XK&keywords=little+book+of+hygge&qid=1556814881&s=gateway&sprefix=little+book+of+hygge%2Caps%2C500&sr=8-1)? There's the Little Book of Lykke (https://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Lykke-Secrets-Happiest/dp/0062820338/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1AST4G95Y3HQD&keywords=little+book+of+lykke&qid=1556814902&s=gateway&sprefix=little+book+of+lykke%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-1) Also in an audiobook from Libro.fm. (https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780062842961)Loo-ka (with the k with a slight g sound)https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780062842961Author: Meik Wiking https://www.happinessresearchinstitute.com The Lykke life: Six pillars of happiness (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/mind/lykke-life-six-pillars-pf-happiness-found-across-globe/) - UK Telegraph article* Togetherness* Money* Health* Freedom* Trust* KindnessMarch 20, the date that the United Nations has declared to be the International Day of Happiness (http://www.un.org/en/events/happinessday/).World Happiness Report (UN)https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2019/World economic forum https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/03/these-are-the-happiest-countries-in-the-world/**Happiest** **Countries** *in the* **World** *List *** **2018*** USA...18th2019Finland t 1Denmark. 2Norway . 3USA...19th (https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-happiest-countries-united-nations-2019/index.html)“The United States came in 19th place, dropping one spot since last year and a total of five spots since 2017.”How can us PNW'ers learn from the Danish Lykke in our part of the world Happiest country (well competes for the top slot). What we have in common: * Winter we tend to retreat indoors- that why Hygge * Also why they have a high respect to architecture and space * Slow down. Why so busy?* The outdoors- nature therapy? * Bibliotherepy. Outside. Hammock. Book. * Take the scenic route- * Science has shown that productive thinking is in hanced with the outdoors. * Forest Bathing - Shinrin-yoku. Japan has 48 “forest therapy” trails to get what the...

Just our new promo with our new show times! Tune in every Monday at 6:30pm and Thursday at 6pm! https://www.kmre.org/programs/bellingham-podcast/

We are back! And "Chris' bit" ..or Community Connection (work in progress) has yet another executive director this time with Bham's very own Lydia Place, and we catch up as we get back into the spring of thing (ok I tried to keep up the pun from the episode). All that and more, on this episode of the Bham Podcast.Lydia Placehttps://lydiaplace.org/

We are off the mic this week as Chris flies in from parts unknown, but be sure to check back next week as we get back on the mic. Chris has another interview with a local non-profit coming soon!Like audio books? Like supporting your local bookstore? Check out Independent Bookstore Day: April 27 on Libro.fm (not a sponsored bit- who doesn't like free things) https://libro.fm/ibd for details.

On this episode (the actually episode 114): Chris interviews Hans Erchinger-Davis, Executive Director of Lighthouse Mission Ministries to spotlight the long-time Bellingham non-profit