Let's Circle Back to That

This week on Let's Circle Back to That , we sit down with Diana Ruff , one of Benton and Franklin Counties' Superior Court Judges, for a conversation about law, leadership, running, and the courage to start over. Diana shares her unexpected path from college rowing and sports law aspirations to becoming a prosecutor, handling felony and internet crimes cases, and ultimately serving on the bench. S...

What happens when your dream life is living out of hostels, working wildlife jobs for almost no money, and chasing birds across the world… only to eventually realize you want roots? This week, Heather and Anne sit down with wildlife biologist Jason Fidorra for one of the most unexpectedly fascinating conversations of the season. Jason shares stories from: studying migratory birds in Jamaica reintr...

What if you didn't have to choose just one version of yourself? This week, Heather and Anne sit down with Zanna Stone — realtor, travel advisor, choreographer, former teacher, volunteer, and lifelong creative — for a conversation about building a life that fits who you are now… even if it looks different than the original plan. From teaching burnout and career pivots to exchange students, travel o...

Anne and Heather are circling back again—this time through Bloomsday stories, Girls on the Run joy, local pride, civic responsibility, sushi orders, snail mucin, Sandra Day O'Connor, fanfic, Catherine O'Hara, The Pitt , Hot Dr Pepper, and the deeply specific nostalgia of Our Best Bites-era internet. From "Linda Belcher-ing" runners up Doomsday Hill to asking what it really takes to make people fee...

Coach Craig Lukins has spent more than 25 years building something bigger than sports. In this episode, Heather and Anne sit down with the longtime Liberty Christian football and baseball coach to talk about leadership, youth sports culture, parenting athletes, and why community only works when people are willing to actually show up and do the work. From coaching state championship teams to renova...

You never know who you'll meet—or how it might change your life. In this episode, we sit down with Sybil Young, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Toyota Convention Center, roller derby alum, mom of two, and someone who knows exactly how community works in real life. From planning large-scale events like the Tattoo Convention, Brew & Bacon Festival, and River of Fire, to her unexpected journey...

What happens when you walk away from a successful career—and bet on something you feel called to build? In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That , Anne and Heather sit down with DeAnna Witham, founder of Trinity Yoga, to talk about the journey from corporate life in digital advertising to creating one of the most community-centered yoga spaces in the Tri-Cities. From starting at 250 pounds and...

What if the reason you can't show up fully… is because you haven't taken care of yourself first? In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That , Anne and Heather sit down with Marisha Mirich—engineer, regional safety manager at Microsoft , and a community builder whose life philosophy is simple: you just serve. From conversations about white coat syndrome and avoiding doctor visits to real mid-life...

From bartending and uncertainty to law enforcement, K9 training, and rebuilding after rock-bottom—this episode is equal parts hilarious, raw, and deeply human. In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That , Anne and Heather sit down with Aimee Bergman—a Benton County Sheriff's Deputy whose journey into law enforcement started with a random Facebook ad… and turned into a career defined by courage,...

What does it look like to build a life rooted in service—both in your career and your community? In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That , Anne and Heather sit down with Tyler Scott — wealth advisor, Tri-Cities local, Navy veteran, and Vice President of the Kennewick Police Foundation — for a conversation that blends leadership, service, and a genuine love for cooking. From growing up near th...

It's time for another Circle Back episode —and this one is packed. Anne and Heather are diving back into all the questions, rabbit holes, and "wait… what actually is that?" moments from recent episodes. From royal history to local Tri-Cities debates to viral sandwich trends, nothing is off limits. We're talking about: • The real reason King George III struggled with mental health—and what modern e...

Faith Hovde has spent more than twenty years doing one thing extremely well: helping people believe in themselves. From running a home daycare and building a photography business, to owning a boutique, coaching entrepreneurs, creating coworking community at  The Studio , and now working in community relations for Visiting Angels, Faith has built a career around confidence, connection, and purpose....

What if the secret to building community isn't building bridges… …but building fortresses ? This week on Let's Circle Back to That , Heather and Anne sit down with Megan Johnson — theatre director, co-founder of Yes& Productions , and one of the most thoughtful conversationalists in the Tri-Cities arts community. Megan has spent years directing shows, mentoring young actors, and helping build a th...

What if the secret to stronger communities is simply gathering more often — and letting people show up exactly as they are? In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That , Anne and Heather sit down with April Culwell — a connector, ideas person, and champion of community collaboration in the Tri-Cities. April serves in Leadership Tri-Cities , works with the Tri-Cities Water Follies , and founded th...

What happens when a former newspaper reporter pivots into Communications and PR… and then becomes one of the biggest champions for women's health and community leadership in the Tri-Cities? In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That , we sit down with Staci West — former Tri-City Herald reporter turned communications leader at Battelle/PNNL and Bechtel — to talk about legacy, menopause, mentorsh...

What does urban planning have to do with generational wealth? More than you think.   In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That , we sit down (in a massage chair, naturally) with Jet Richardson — Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Tri-County Partners, urban planning enthusiast, former Peace Corps volunteer, and one of the most civically engaged leaders in the Tri-Cities. From "eyes on th...

"The most effective way to do it is to do it." — Amelia Earhart In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That , Anne and Heather sit down with Natalie Abersfeller for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about confidence—how we build it, lose it, and learn to find our stride again in new seasons of life. We kick off with a new intro segment featuring a leadership quote and a guessing game, then...

We said we'd circle back- so here we are. In this Season 2 Circle Back episode of Let's Circle Back to That , hosts Anne and Heather revisit the questions, pop-culture debates, historical curiosities, and community conversations we promised to research during past interviews—and then promptly moved on from. From Bridgerton hot takes, Queen Charlotte fact vs. fiction, and whether people in Regency-...

What does it really mean to build community—and who are we responsible for when we do? In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That , we sit down with Liz McLaughlin, a Certified Fundraising Executive and Chief Development Officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin County, to talk about compassion in action. From growing up with powerful examples of generosity to shaping a career ro...

Some growth begins with trust—not in yourself, but in something steady enough to carry you. This week on Let's Circle Back to That , we sit down with Cynthia MacFarlan , founder of TROT – Therapeutic Riding of Tri-Cities , to talk about what happens when individuals are given the chance to trust a horse—and how that trust unlocks confidence, communication, and possibility. Cynthia shares stories f...

What if we stopped normalizing feeling terrible—and started asking better questions about our health? In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That , we sit down with Emily Nielsen , certified nutritionist (CN), certified nutrition specialist (CNS), and founder of a thriving integrative health practice built entirely without debt while navigating burnout. Emily shares her journey from nearly dying...

What does it actually mean to protect people—without losing yourself in the process? Heather Lee joins us for a raw, funny, and deeply thoughtful conversation about advocacy, sobriety, leadership, and responsibility. From seven years of sobriety to military service, veteran advocacy, and navigating burnout in service-driven work, Heather reflects on what it means to speak up—for others and for you...

What if art wasn't about inspiration—but about engineering, routine, and people ? In our Season 2 premiere, we sit down with  Debra Pearse Rogo , Artistic Director of Mid Columbia Ballet and co-owner of Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet and Music , to talk about building a world-class ballet organization in the Tri-Cities—one relationship at a time. Debra grew up in Australia, became a professional bal...

Season 2 of Let's Circle Back to That begins the way all good things do—with reflection, laughter, and a little chaos. In this soft launch episode, Heather and Anne reunite to share life updates, introduce their new purple podcast space (hello boss energy 💜), and set the vision for a season focused on communities in service —the people and organizations making the Tri-Cities bigger, brighter, bol...

In our Season 1 finale, we turn the mic on ourselves. Heather and Anne share the stories they usually ask others to tell—about the communities that shaped them, the friendships that saved them, and the moments that rewrote their futures. From sports teams and childhood music to community theater, nonprofits, church groups, and friend pods, their paths are a love letter to the power of showing up....