Eavesdrop With Meena®

On the July 11th episode of Eavesdrop with Meena, Mike Goorhouse shares powerful insights on community generosity and the true essence of philanthropy. Discover how caring for those around us and breaking down barriers can transform our communities. Written and Hosted by Meena Ariagno Produced by Bruce Buursma Recorded and Edited by Kevin Burgess  Theme Music “Never Thought” by Christopher Paul Vi...

In this inspiring episode, we explore the Children's Healing Center , a unique recreational space in Grand Rapids, Michigan designed for kids with weak immune systems. Founded by Amanda Barbour after her battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma, the center offers a germ-free environment for children with complex medical conditions and their families to engage in art, play therapy, social support, tu...

On the next Eavesdrop with Meena, we explore the ⁠Children's Healing Center⁠ , a unique recreational space in Grand Rapids, Michigan designed for kids with weak immune systems. Founded by Amanda Barbour after her battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma, the center offers a germ-free environment for children with complex medical conditions and their families to engage in art, play therapy, social su...

Iris Kokalari, an international student of Albanian-Italian heritage, is currently studying Mechanical Engineering at Grand Valley State University (GVSU).  She hopes to stay in the West Michigan area after graduation before steering her career toward project management. She stays exceedingly busy as a resident assistant at GVSU, as a student worker in the School of Engineering, and as an intern a...

What can we learn about ourselves, our country and each other from a young global voice? It turns out plenty. Next time on Eavesdrop With Meena, meet Iris Kokolari, an Albanian Italian international student who speaks double immigrant, one of three children of hardworking European immigrants, Iris's story and transcontinental journey offer a clear eyed view of America's promise through the...

JohnPaul Morris is a director/writer and owner of Practical , a Michigan-based production company and Filmsupply contributor. His directorial debut, ' Quicksand ', premiered at Michael Moore's Traverse City Film Festival sold out screenings before moving to a wider premiere at the Austin Film Festival and earning Best Screenplay multiple Best Feature awards at the Grand Rapids Film Fes...

Lance Werner is Executive Director at the Kent District Library in Kent County, Michigan, and a widely recognized leader in his field. His background is in law and library science and he has served as president of the Michigan Library Association (MLA) and chair of the MLA Legislative Committee. He also serves as an advisory board member for Wayne State University's School of Information Scien...

Meena welcomes longtime friend and inspiring author Robin Kimball Eisenbeis to a lively conversation that puts an exclamation point on Season Two of Eavesdrop with Meena. Robin shares lessons and encouragement from her recently published book, A Gift for Life:  Skills Everyone Needs to Win. Robin seeks to inspire readers to soar and succeed with the "four powers" she's mastered. Robi...

Meena's guest, Jennifer Johnson, is a screenwriter and independent documentary filmmaker based in a small Lake Michigan resort town. Before moving to Michigan, Jen lived and worked in Gothenburg, Sweden, where she created original international co-productions for television and film. Currently, Jen is producing “Our Guys” a feature-length documentary about the South Shore Mothers ‘ Group near...

Meena's guest leans into his deeply held faith convictions as a leader in the DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) initiatives in his global company based in a conservative, small town in West Michigan. Joe Matthews grew up in Gary, IN., and excelled as the only African-American student in his class at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology before earning advanced degrees at Cornell University....

Meena invites Ekta Rajgarhia. a South Asian immigrant, to share her astonishing story of success and achievement as she's moved up the corporate chain of command at a global commercial furniture company. Ekta currently is Director of Finance at Steelcase, Inc., one of the titans in the office furniture industry. After graduating from an all-girls high school in her native India, Ekta found her...

Meena's guest is a remarkable Guatemalan-born educator who has devoted her life to advocating and mentoring young people, especially in marginalized communities. She is a co-founder of the Spanish Community Engaged Learning Class, a joint project of the East Palo Alto Academy and Stanford University. Meena and Misla recount the astonishing journey that brought her from an impoverished beginnin...

Meena's guest is a TV, Film, and Radio professional who has traveled the world to work on projects with A-list professionals and brands. He is the main force behind "Black Man," a documentary with a kaleidoscopic view of raw, riveting, candid conversations with black men about their lives. Meena and Jon discuss the origins of the film through the Muskegon Art Museum, its impact on bo...

Meena welcomes Rebekah Bakker, a cross-cultural community builder in Western Michigan helping forge a more just and loving world through deep partnerships and equitable relationships. Born in South Korea, Rebekah was adopted into a family in Michigan, where she was raised and educated, earning a bachelor's degree in political science with an international focus. She works as a business develop...