American Tributaries

Kirk Benshoff lives in Brooklyn, NY, where he works in publishing and has been doing graphic design for more than twenty years. He is currently Associate Creative Director at First Second Books , a graphic novel publisher located in New York City. Kirk also designed the super-cool logo for the podcast's related project, American Tributaries Travel . Our discussion covers, among other things:...

John McCafferty lives in central Montana where he owns and operates his family’s large cattle ranch. His family first settled in Montana to raise cattle in the 1870s. John and host Michael Whidden were connected by Njekwa Beasnael, who is John’s son-in-law and who was a guest of the podcast on Episode 10 . Our discussion covers, among other things: *cattle herding *the benefits of barbed wire *bee...

Brian Abate lives in Brooklyn, NY, and is a journalist for local newspaper The Red Hook Star-Revue , which publishes each month 9,000 copies for the Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, the Columbia Waterfront District, and Gowanus neighborhoods. In a contemporary media landscape which neglects local coverage – to the detriment of our sense of community and the health of our democracy – Brian’s experience a...

A compilation of what gives American Tributaries podcast guests hope, from episodes 1 through 40.

Brandon Erny (“Erny”) lives in northeastern Vermont but spends the holiday season in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn selling Christmas trees for Windswept Farm of Barton, VT. Host Michael Whidden and his family purchased their tree from Erny for the current holiday season and it presented an opportunity to learn more about Christmas trees and, more importantly, the folks who ensure celebrants get their Chri...

Mónica Guzmán lives in Seattle, Washington, and wears many hats, including: as a career journalist; as the Director of Digital and Storytelling at Braver Angels (the largest cross-partisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to depolarizing America); and as the author of “ I Never Thought of It That Way ” (a definite handbook on civil, civic engagement). Our discussion covers, among other thing...

Ebenezer Akakpo lives in Maine, where he operates two businesses.  The first is Akakpo & Co. , which designs uniquely attractive and captivating jewelry and housewares adorned with patterns based on traditional symbols – called Adinkra – from his native Ghana.  The second is Maine Culture which designs products which celebrate the natural beauty of Maine.  He pursues his craft on the side when...

Sergeant Major Philson Tavernier lives in South Carolina and is currently Post Command Sergeant Major for the U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson in the state capitol of Columbia. PCSM Tavernier, who originally hails from New York City, has been serving for 27 years, which included a peacekeeping tour in Kosovo, two combat tours in Iraq and assignments in German and South Korea.  PCSM Taver...

Ivelisse Porroa-García lives in Virginia and worked on Capitol Hill for approximately six years, during which she was a legislative assistant for U.S. Representative Raul Ruiz and worked for U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, before becoming director of government affairs for Ferox Strategies, a consulting firm, in October 2021. Ivelisse and host Michael Whidden were connected by a mutual friend, Nic Ada...

Brad Alaniz lives in Middletown, Rhode Island.  Since retiring from the US Navy as a Commander, he has been a Military Professor at the US Naval War College in Newport, RI, and is currently an Operations Research Analyst exploring new underwater technologies in New London, Connecticut. Brad and host Michael Whidden were shipmates on USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) from 1995 until 1997, when it was homepor...

Sally Curci lives in New Jersey and is co-founder with her husband Mike of Shining Stars Network , a not-for-profit dedicated to providing a platform for folks in the special needs community to showcase their performing arts talent in an inclusive environment. Sally and host Michael Whidden were connected by a mutual friend, Frank Vito, who was also a guest of the podcast on episode 3 . Our discus...

David Sorich lives on the northern coast of Maine (aka the “Down East”) and for the last 3+ years has been a professor in the International Business and Logistics Programs at Maine Maritime Academy . He has had a vast array of experiences, including growing up in Utah, attending college in Philadelphia; and being stationed in Athens, GA, Charleston, SC, Pearl Harbor, HI, and London, England.  Davi...

Jonathan Lopes lives in San Diego, CA where he is an artist who uses LEGO as his medium. In 2019, his first book, “ New York City Brick by Brick ,” was published, depicting the cityscape of his former hometown. Among other things, he is an artist-in-residence for Brick Universe , a LEGO fan convention which tours the United States. Jonathan and host Michael Whidden were connected by a mutual frien...

Manu Meel lives in San Francisco, CA where he is the Chief Executive Officer of BridgeUSA , a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates spaces on high school and college campuses for open discussion between students about political issues. They’re currently on 74 campuses, with 500 students passing through their programming every two weeks.  Manu and host Michael Whidden connected th...

Carolyn Gartner lives in Brooklyn, NY and has had her own private therapy practice since 2019. Before then, she had been a home hospice social worker for eight years, a powerful experience which became the basis for her book “Death, Brooklyn and the Gritty Side of Grace”.  The book is now also available as an audio book from Audible . Carolyn and host Michael Whidden have known each other since th...

The tables are turned on Michael Whidden , the usual podcast host for American Tributaries. He himself is interviewed by guest host Erin Lovett about American Tributaries Travel , the company he created in 2022 to give U.S high schoolers opportunities to travel within the United States, as an alternative to the overseas trips that are far more widely available. The trips are intended to empower st...

Irakli Gabriel lives in Nashville, TN where he partners with his wife Anana Kaye to produce music videos through their company Duende Vision and collaborate as a performing and songwriting duo under her name “ Anana Kaye ”. Mundane Magazine more succinctly calls them a “ Nashville Alt-Americana power couple ”. Their music is unshakably mesmerizing; some examples include “ My Last Dream of You ”, “...

Laura Süpper has lived in New York City almost her entire life and, after a career in wine and hospitality which included co-ownership of an influential boutique Italian wine importer, recently embarked on a new act in her life: a career in nursing.  Laura and host Michael Whidden worked together at that wine importer, Acid Inc., from 2012 to 2015, becoming good friends. Our discussion includes, a...

Martin Johnson has lived in New York City since arriving in 1978 to study at Columbia University.  He is currently a freelance journalist who has had his work published in The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Vogue, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Jazz Times and other publications. He has also been a longtime cheesemonger and is currently Shop Manager at 67 Gourmet, a new cheese a...

Nic Adams lives in Virginia and works on Capitol Hill as a Professional Staff Member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Intelligence , where he has been since February 2021.  Before then, he served as an advisor on national security for Representative Brad Wenstrup of Ohio, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa and Senator John Cornyn of Texas.  Nic and host Michael Whidden connected over the respective prior...

Wilk Wilkinson lives in central Minnesota and started a podcast in reaction to the increasing incivility of our nation’s civic discourse, “ Derate The Hate ”, which has over 120 compelling episodes (as of August 2022). Wilk and host Michael Whidden are each members of Braver Angels , a group building bridges across the political spectrum; but they had never spoken before this episode.  While Wilk...

Shantana Simmon lives in the central Michigan town of Eaton Rapids, where she and her husband run a 30-acre family farm, Tilted Barn , when they’re not working on their other full-time jobs.  Shantana and host Michael Whidden met through a program sponsored by Braver Angels , 1:1 Conversations , which allows members to have talks with people who live in communities different than their own. Shanta...

Kara Van de Kieft is a doctor of radiology who lives in San Antonio, TX, and recently retired from the U.S. Air Force after 21 years of service.  Host Michael Whidden connected with Kara through her husband Mike, who grew up with Michael. Kara talks about, among other things: *how to become a physician in the military *her deployment to Qatar *comparing civilian life and military life as a physici...

John Dennis is a singer/songwriter of folk music, who lives in Nashville, TN, and grew up in rural southern Illinois outside St. Louis. He has published three albums ( “Mortal Flames” in 2020; “Second Wind” in 2017; and “Eternity’s Tree” in 2014) and is currently working on his fourth.  John and host Michael Whidden connected over his beautiful and aching yet hopeful ballad “Bird O’ Freedom” which...

Thomas Byrd has been the civilian public affairs officer for four years at Fort Jackson , which is the primary facility for Basic Combat Training of our nation’s Army soldiers, located in Columbia, SC.  Tom also served as an enlisted soldier, non-commissioned officer and commissioned officer during 28+ years of active military service, from 1986 until 2015. Tom talks about, among other things: -th...