Origin Stories

My Aunt, Martha McBride, passed away at 98 years old recently. I was fortunate to visit with her a couple of years ago at her home in New Jersey and record an impromptu interview. We discussed everything from President John F. Kennedy's assassination and childhood stories from her memories growing up in South Carolina to the importance of preserving oral history.  In this short and sweet spec...

Welcome back to Origin Stories. In this episode, we sit down with Marcie Wombold, Ed. D., a teacher-leader, dedicated researcher, and one of the most authentically impactful people in the world of education. For over 20 years, Marcie has shaped the innovative curriculum at Raisbeck Aviation High School and recently earned her doctorate at the University of Southern California. Marcie’s entire clas...

Welcome back to Origin Stories, the place where we explore the unexpected twists and lifelong connections that define who we are. Today, I sit down with a person who fundamentally changed my path—my longtime mentor, Steven Wright. Steven's own origin story is a perfect example of how life’s path is a creative, non-linear process. He is a high-level corporate consultant who utilizes visual pla...

Description In this inspiring episode of Origin Stories, we celebrate the powerful journey of Tamar Coleman, Assistant Principal at Garfield High School. Tamar’s entire career—spanning 15+ years across roles from Childcare Director to Special Education Teacher—is a testament to the power of unwavering service and a deep-seated growth mindset. Her path is rooted in one driving, non-negotiable missi...

In this episode of Origin Stories, we go on a field trip into the world of Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu to explore the gym as a profound place of education. I sit down with my old coach, Zach Zabel of Vital Muay Thai and Vital Jiu Jitsu (Fife, WA), a natural-born teacher whose deep understanding of martial arts has created a powerful supplemental space for development. For me, discovering Muay Thai was...

In this episode of Origin Stories, I sit down with true Seattle leader, Rick DuPree, to trace an incredible journey of creative reinvention and lifelong service. Rick's path is a masterclass in persistence, moving from the broadcast booth as Seattle’s first Black sports talk show host to a decades-long career in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) and community leadership. Rick...

Description In the very first episode of Origin Stories , I sit down with my mom, Sheree Bennett , to trace the incredible story of her resilience. Her journey shows what it takes to navigate the demands of higher education, a full-time career, and motherhood—often all at once. Like many of us, she faced moments of deep self-doubt, but she found the strength to keep pushing forward. This is a conv...