Empirical Peapod

Today I sit down with my amazing friend Ashley. Being grateful for being born, raised by a single mom, growing up, becoming a masseuse, an uncomfortable amount of college, having a family, the benefits of not getting married to your partner, being a nurse, first hand opinions about the medical field, insurance, and covid?

Today I kick off season three by sitting down with the wonderful Silver Siemasko! Growing up, making friends, high school pregnancy!? Listening to me explain what I've decided has happened in her life, mental health, physical health, co-parenting, insane job, settling down, merging families... way too many children!

Today I sit down with Annie, Jason, Andy, Yunker, and Walsh. We share stories and memories of our beautiful friend T. Kindergarten Circus '89 - Mrs. Krase's Kindergarten Class The Infamous Photo by the Pool Super Joystick Radio

Today I sit down (for the second time) with the very handsome Jason Kerry. Losing his mother, having no idea what to do, trying to figure out why we're so mean to ourselves and each other, the Nebraska story, rating the most handsome men in Hollywood, wondering if intent is ignored in our current society. Needless to say, this conversation is all over the place! Also, I was a little sick when...

Today I sit down with my newest friend, Aimee Blaze! Being the baby, and the only girl, willingly moving to Joliet, getting married, getting divorced but genuinely staying close friends, getting in to stand up, dealing with "being funny for a girl" bs, eventually running the show with her brother, seeing the scene evolve, running a weekly live podcast ( thehappycornerpodcast ), trying to...

Today I sit down with the wonderful Meg! Cheerleading, recognizing depression early, seeking help, not enjoying school, finally feeling seen...at least by one person. Horrific accident, mental struggles, seeing the man she wants to marry, ten years later... meeting the man she wants to marry! Getting married, building a life, profound loss, slowly returning to herself. Mindfully moving forward and...

Today I sit down with my friend Gina! Close family, Catholic school, moving to Oswego, making friends, taking care of siblings, moving to the other side of Oswego, going to college, getting engaged... getting less engaged, silly drama, getting married, starting a family, unbearable loss, comfort through faith. Putting family first, moving forward together!!

Today I sit down with Sasha Loomis...in person! Which is a real rarity to catch her here in town! Moving around, raising siblings, lack of supervision, running the "party" house, moving to Wisconsin, moving to Arkansas, focusing on mental health.

Today I get to sit down with my friend Rob, who I haven't seen since we graduated high school. Starting in California, bouncing around for a bit, showing up in Oswego in 8th grade, back to California after high school. Meeting his wife, starting a family, collecting odd information, starting a new chapter in Michigan!

Today I sit down with The Walsh's! Growing up, older brothers, moving around... a little serendipity? Meeting in high school, late nights at Denny's, car stuff? Embracing being boring, awkward/adorable proposal, planning a wedding, buying a house, building a life on their terms... a beautifully boring one!

Today I sit down at my computer to chat with the wonderful Maggie! Bouncing around as a kid, ending up in Oswego, country music, social butterfly, growing up religious... in a good way? Starting to rebel, partying through high school, art, graphic design, being part of a decent size group that migrated to Chicago, finding a job in pizza!? Becoming a badass woman in the trades with the plumbers uni...

Today I have a virtual conversation with my friend Sarah! She joins us from her place in the mountains of Washington, which while being beautiful is not great for internet chats! I did my best to edit this one (yes, I actually edited it) but there may be a few minor hiccups here and there, apologies! More importantly, Sarah! Deciding to leave school in 2nd grade, taking herself to Europe at 13, mo...

Today I sit down and talk to my friend Jordan, who I met through the band ( Absolutely Perfect ) when he was a teenager. Growing up in Iowa, making friends anywhere he can, incorrectly thinking the members of AP are cool, sharing a passion for wrestling with myself and Jay, getting married, three kids, getting divorced, getting sober (July 21st was one year sober!!), learning to wrestle, bowling,...

Today I virtually sit down with my friend Jordee, this is our first face to face conversation, we met through playing video games like ten years ago! Growing up in Vancouver, getting pulled out of school...just to be interjected in to a different school, leaving a job making tons of money to take a job making barely any...but being able to snow board daily! Learning a trade, meeting his wife, goin...

Today I sit down with my friend Kristen Desler!! Being an athletic kid, graduating high school a year early, art history degree, getting married and starting a family, traveling, some how working at the park district for twenty years at 34 years old!? Plus, being a guest on a famous comedians podcast, and being part of a team dedicated to building a strong local community!

Today I sit down with the amazing Jessica Punzo! Being the first generation born in America. Not being pushed, but having a deep desire to succeed. Changing majors from Law to Psychology. Eventually ending up with her high school crush, and creating a family. Creating a successful private practice (https://middlepathpsychotherapy.com/). Becoming a "crystal" person. Exploring psilocybin and the rol...

After much rescheduling on both our parts, I finally get to sit down and talk to my friend Liz! Growing up in Sierra Leone during a civil war over diamonds, being seperated from family with no contact for years at a time, having to bounce around and live in the woods for a few years after being forced out of her home by armed men. Eventually making it to America, coming in at a 2nd grade education...

Today I sit down with the amazing Nickie Elizondo! Moving to Oswego, growing up in the family business, developing an entrepreneurial mindset, establishing a strong work ethic, running the local bar where all us jerks always were for a time, motherhood, co-parenting, trauma bonding with me, and eventually heading out to Florida to build something new!

Today my friend Noah and I meet out at the lake at Silver Springs to have a nice little chat! Growing up in Aurora, coming up through alternative/opportunity school, working random jobs, moving to AZ, starting a successful business, co-parenting, letting go of anger. Plus, the super awesome addition of not one but two people coming along cutting the grass as we're talking... it's mostly in the bac...

Today I sit down with the wonderful Kate Player! Third generation Oswego resident, watching surgeries as a kid... but in a good way? Schooling in Urbana, a summer in Colorado, learning behaviors and training in Denmark? Leaving a job for not being allowed to listen to music, trying to date... which of course leads to the ol' "if he calls me back after this date I'm gonna marry him" routine! Starti...

Today I sit down with one of my newest friends! Anthony Sorbera and I essentially have our first conversation where we talk about; climbing rocks, his deceptively interesting job, shirts being optional, living in the "Illinois" of Caliornia? Plus growing as a partner, effective communication, setting up a proposal... which of course leads to him being married to one of my favorite people in the wo...

Today I sit down with one of my favorite people that I unfortunately don't see that often, Sam Hermansen!! As you may have presumed, we talk about her life growing up. We also discuss the lack of enthusiasm for school, moving to Chicago, the reverse commute of living in the city and working in the burbs, learning improv, acting!? That's right, apparently our amazing Sam has done some acting. The c...

In this episode, I sit down with Kristen Jones, who shares her unique journey, from being adopted four days after being born, to meeting her birth mother. She offers valuable insights, highlighting the importance of pursuing one's passions (like dancing) and embracing the complexities of blended families, as well as co-parenting. Her story is a testament to love, resilience, and the beauty of havi...

In this episode I talk to Joe and Kelly, who give us a glimpse into their dynamic lives. Joe, juggling a full-time job while pursuing a career in stand up comedy, and Kelly, working in tech support, share the ins and outs of dating, marriage, and starting a family together. Their unwavering support for each other underscores the importance of standing by one another through life's ups and downs.

Today I sit down with one of my favorites, Emily "I'm good at everything I try the first time" Schwertfeger! Growing up in Utah, ending up Colorado, tragedy and trauma of loss, being inspired to create, slinging coffee, being a school nurse!? They literally let her be a school nurse... ...with zero training or knowledge! Colorado is definitely different.