"Sharing Common Ground"

Billy K and Marlena Smalls have known each other for decades and this will be evident as Billy welcomes his most talented friend to Sharing Common Ground.  Marlena is a world-renowned Singer, Songwriter, Arranger and Actress, who famously played Bubba's Mom in "Forrest Gump."  Her take on the origins of music is a wonderful history lesson.  

Billy Keyserling welcomes Teri Maude of Beaufort, South Carolina whose late husband was Lt. General Timothy J. Maude, a three-star U.S. Army General who was killed at the Pentagon during the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, making him the highest-ranking American Military officer to die on 9/11. Following his death, Teri became a prominent Gold Star Spouse and public speaker and it should c...

In this episode, Billy K welcomes Joe Welch, who in 2014 founded Welch Custom Homes in Charleston, South Carolina, a premiere builder of exquisite custom homes, and together with his wife Amy, in 2024 founded Welch Community Hope, a 501 c3 which provides urgent professional repairs and critical maintenance for Charleston Tri-County neighbors and seniors in need.   

Join Billy Keyserling as he welcomes Robert Stack to Sharing Common Ground.  Robert is the Founder, President and CEO of Community Options and is a national leader in the continuing struggle to improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and one of the first to pioneer the concept of community-based housing programs and work force training and development.   Rober...

Billy K welcomes host Ron Small, along with Sharing Common Ground's own writer and social media guru Liv Dennis for a spirited discussion of the pitfalls of AI from the perspective of the disability community, primarily those who share Billy's sight-impairment.  As a member of the "next generation," Liv understands things a little differently, having been raised with this new technology almost fro...

Billy K welcomes Carol Sheckler to Sharing Common Ground for a personal tour of her life married to a Vietnam Veteran who has battled PTSD throughout their entire relationship.  Carol does not hold back in this highly revealing assessment and laments the reality that counseling and other assistance for the spouses of veterans with PTSD is virtually non-existent.  This interview should incite you t...

Billy K welcomes Frank Baker, an Internationally recognized media literacy educator based in Columbia, South Carolina.  Frank is also the author of the highly acclaimed Graphic Novel "We Survived the Holocaust - The Bluma and Felix Goldberg Story."  And as if that wasn't enough, Frank is an outspoken advocate for people with disabilities and is tireless in his efforts.  Frank and Billy are old fri...

Join Billy K for a wonderful interview with old friend Bill Love, the Executive Director of the Beaufort County Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, which advocates for people with developmental disabilities and special needs so they can live more productively and inclusively.  Bill has a most impressive resume and is certainly a glowing example of those unsung heroes who give back to the...

Join Billy as he interviews Phil Sheckler a retired telecommunications executive who is also a Vietnam veteran of the US Navy, having served in a virtually unknown division called the Sea Wolves.  Upon returning home, Phil was ultimately diagnosed with severe PTSD and at 76 years old has been battling this diagnosis on a daily basis.  Perhaps as importantly he spends his retirement years giving ba...

Joe Keating is Billy K's guest for this podcast covering a myriad of topics.  Joe is an entrepreneur who was born and raised in Charleston, SC with an education history at two iconic schools; Bishop England and The Citadel.  And as if that wasn't enough, he's also a Deacon at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.   Joe's interview is why Billy named the show "Sharing Common Ground."  If you know Joe...

In this dynamic episode, Billy welcomes Greg Hannah, the Director of the Office for Access and Disability Services at Villanova University.  As the Director, Greg sets the strategic direction and provides leadership for the office.  Among his many accomplishments is his critical involvement in the creation of "LEVEL," a student group formed to bridge the gap between students with various abilities...

Join BIlly as he welcomes Pastor Randy Roberts, originally from Chicago, IL and now a resident of Beaufort, SC for many years.  His resume is a "laundry list" of incredible community service and outreach and you can count on Billy to dig deep and uncover why "Pastor Randy" is so passionate about everything he does.   Enjoy and prepare to be impressed.

Billy K wecomes Charleston, SC Community Leaders Edward Berlin and Stanley Baker to Sharing Common Ground for a riveting conversation about beloved Charleston Holocaust Surivivor Joe Engel (OBM) and their work creating a museum-quality permanent exhibit at the historic BSBI Synagogue on Rutledge Avenue.  

In this episode Billy welcomes the dynamic Talli Dippold. Talli is a nonprofit executive and national leader in Holocaust Education, Museum Development and Community Engagement.  She serves as the Executive Director of the Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center where she is leading the creation of a state-of-the-art Education Center dedicated to Holocaust Remembrance, Antisemitism Education and...

Join Billy K as he welcomes our old friend Robin Berlinsky.  Robin is a nationally recoginized nonprofit coach, speaker and leader.  She is the CEO of Engaging Creative Minds, the CEO and Founder of The Abundant Nonprofit and she teaches Education and Nonprofit courses at the College of Charleston.  Robin has helped uncover millions of dollars for nonprofits and leadership convenings across the co...

Join Billy Keyserling as we welcomes Nelson Warner to Sharing Common Ground.  Nelson was born and raised in Monroe. He graduated from Princeton High School in New Jersey in 1967. He then received a bachelor of science degree in geology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (then University of Southwestern Louisiana) in 1973. Warner began working in New Orleans at Gulf Oil, then worked at s...

In this episode Billy Keyserling welcomes Chip Judd, a Christian Author, Pastor, Counselor and Leadership Coach who helps people grow stronger - emotionally, spiritually and relationally.  For more than 40 years he has guided individuals, couples and church leaders toward greater emotional health, spiritual maturity and personal growth through the integration of Biblical truth and psychology.  

Join Billy Keyserling as he welcomes Dr. Martha Schein.  Martha is a renowned Psychologist who is behind a number of innovative treatments for a wide swath of patients ranging from juveniles to Naval Recruits suffering from PTSD after Military service. 

Join Billy K as he welcomes Joey Svendsen.  Joey grew up in Charleston, SC, received a degree in Elementary Education from Winthrop University and fast forward to today, is something of a Renaissance Man as a Pastor, Author and the Host of numerous podcasts, including the acclaimed "Things you Won't Hear on Sunday," the popular podcast series from Seacoast Church.  Joey is an open book and his int...

Join Billy Keyserling as he welcomes Mel Glover, a native of Beaufort, SC who back in 2014 faced an unexpected and devastating medical event that nearly killed him.  Once he awakened from a medically-induced coma he found himself faced with conflicting outcomes; a hospital system that was prepared to let him die, but family members who refused to let that happen.  And it's taken this many years (n...

"The Mayor," Billy Keyserling welcomes Catherine Wilhoit.  Catherine is an Attorney, Mediator and Conflict Resolution Educator.  She has worked with thousands of children bringing conflict resolution skills prioritizing fun, proactive, community-driven methods that allow children to learn to support one another through thoughtful choices and effective communication.  

Join Billy as he welcomes Erik Kondo, a wheelchair user of over 40 years due to a spinal cord injury.  Erik is the owner of Adaptive Community Consulting and his work with mobility inventions has changed the rules about access.  

Join "The Mayor" Billy Keyserling as he welcomes Chloe Duffy to "Sharing Common Ground."  Chloe was diagnosed with Leber's Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder which strikes women around the age of 30 with severe and sudden blindness.   Fast forwarding past many life-changing events you will hear her discuss with Billy, Chloe now works as a Technology Counselor for the South Carolina Commission for t...

Join Billy Keyserling as he welcomes Actor, Producer and Director John Lawson to "Sharing Common Ground."  From John's bio: What do pumping gas and painting water towers have in common? Neither are glamorous exertions, and neither rise to the occasion of being called an aspiration. Both are a means to an end- a task to be accomplished so that something else, maybe something great, can happen. In t...

Join Billy K as he welcomes Alan Brown. Now retired, Alan enjoyed a long and storied career at NFL Films producing all manner of content for and about the National Football League.  At 25 he was diagnosed with FSHD, a type of neuromuscular disease that also afflicted his great-grandmother, grandmother, mother and brother.  As a result he is full time in a wheelchair, and of his history at NFL Film...