Most Interesting Person You've Never Heard of Podcast

Some stories are so inspiring, it’s hard to believe they’re true. Five years ago, Jerrica Ford’s life was in turmoil. A formerly unhoused heroin addict, recently removed from her children and husband, she had few options to turn her life around. Today, thanks to the programs of Catholic Charities Eastern Washington, Jerrica is clean, living with her husband and children in a new home, and ironical...

What’s it like to pitch in the major leagues? And what do you do next when all your dreams havealready come true? Boston Red Sox pitcher Wyatt Mills shares his inspiring story on the 34thepisode of the MIP Podcast. Drafted 93rd overall in the 2017 MLB draft, this former GonzagaPrep Bullpup, Zag, and Seattle Mariner talks about the incredible growth he’s experienced frommeeting Ichiro to pitching a...

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Ellen Travolta, an accomplished Broadway and television star, sat down with Frank this week to share her story. Ellen reflects upon her time in show business, her role models, her path to stardom, and her family life. Additionally, Ellen discusses moving to Coeur d’Alene and participating in the summer theater. This year, she will be returning to General Hospital 30 years after her initial role an...

What’s it like to grow up black in Spokane, as the son of a legendary Baptist Minister? James Walkins shares his amazing story on this episode of the MIP Podcast. Currently the pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, James talks about stepping into his father, Happy Watkins’ shoes and also shares with Frank his remarkable 30+ year career from correctional officer to program manager at Airway Heights Co...

For MIP’s 30th episode, host Frank Swoboda sat down with Jason Clark, the CEO of Second Harvest Food, the second largest food bank in Washington state. Jason has worked in the food banking industry for over 30 years, and has been with Second Harvest for over 20 years. Jason discusses his journey within the food bank industry and the unprecedented growth Second Harvest has experienced. This year al...

Have you ever seen the legendary meme of a cat playing the piano? With over a billion views, “keyboard cat” is one of Charlie Schmidt’s best-known art pieces. Charlie, who was born and raised in Spokane is an accomplished artist, who studied at WSU and later in Tokyo, Japan. Charlie and Frank discuss the viral “keyboard cat” meme, shooting movies in Hollywood in the 80s-90s, and how his work as an...

If you live in Spokane, chances are you’ve heard Grant Shipley. You definitely haven’t ‘heard of’ him, but you’ve heard him –– or, better said, you’ve heard the boom-box-on-wheels he tows around the city on his legendary bike rides. It’s probably blasting a song you’ve never heard before and will never hear again. It probably takes you a moment, actually, to pause and decide whether you even like...

Chris Patterson is the Community Solutions Advisor for Hello for Good; a non-profit representing over one hundred businesses in the Spokane area, concerned about the impact the homeless problem is having on commerce, especially in the downtown core. A former foster child himself, Chris is also the National Lead for the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative and was a Former HUD 9 Regional Adminis...

No one knows how to tackle the homelessness crisis in America better than Mandy Chapman Semple. Seriously. She started by helping to decrease the homeless population of Houston by 60% in four years. As the Managing Partner of Clutch Consulting Group, she has helped 30,000 people find housing – roughly the population of Pullman, WA. Now, she’s helping Spokane create their own solution to homelessne...

To say Dena Carr likes a challenge is an understatement. She’s tried just about everything, from fencing to Dutch oven cooking, so it comes as no surprise that she’s taken on the ultimate challenge, as Director of House of Charity, Spokane’s downtown homeless shelter. Walk with Frank and Dena on this powerful conversation on episode 25 of the 𝙈𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙫𝙚 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙊𝙛 podcast....

 It’s pretty cool when the first guy who hires you turns out to be a legend in your industry. David Zaccaria is that and more. From Spokane’s local Fox affiliate to Creative Director of Promotions for NBC during the “Must See TV” 90’s, the beginning of the WB network to winning two Emmy’s for his work promoting Ellen’s daytime juggernaut, Zac shares his incredible 30 year career and the amazing pe...

It’s safe to say the majority of people trying to solve homelessness in America, have never been homeless. Nicolette Ocheltree is not one of them. Living in a car and couch surfing with her mother in Spokane as a teen, Nicolette also survived being stalked by the Green River killer. She now serves as the Manager of Housing and Homelessness for the Spokane City Council. She also has her PhD from Co...

You never forget the guy that hangs you…especially on stage. You won’t want to miss this conversation with Jack Delehanty, legendary director of Gonzaga Prep’s theater department and teacher of literature, as they discuss Frank’s starring role as Harold in the epic play Harold and Maude and the impact Jack has had on thousands of former students by introducing them to art that challenged them. Jac...

From art deco to mid-century modern, Spokane has some of the most well preserved historic homes in the country and Megan Duvall is on a mission to make sure they stay that way. As the Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Spokane, Megan shares why our historic buildings matter so much and why we should do everything we can to preserve them on episode 21 of the 𝙈𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙫...

I admire someone, anyone, who takes on the great challenge of producing a film. Long or short, it’s a monumental endeavor, especially when it’s based on a short story by one of America’s finest storytellers. Sean Finley is one of those brave souls and I’m thrilled he decided to share the journey he’s taken to direct and produce a film adaptation of Jess Walter’s celebrated short story We Live in W...

Every city has secrets. Anna Harbine is the keeper of Spokane’s. As an experienced public historian, Anna is the Johnston Fix Curator of Archives and Special Collections at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, overseeing the day to day operations of the Joel E. Ferris Research Archives. Skilled in archival research, Pacific Northwest history, community-based outreach, digital history, and arc...

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You always look up to those a few years older when you’re in high school. No one inspired me more to be a leader than Alan Giebel. As ASB President of Gonzaga Prep, he transformed school assemblies into his own personal variety show. His trademark big entrances included landing onto the football field in a helicopter. Today, no one knows business in Asia-Pacific better than Big Al. He shares his s...

This week-  Julie Garcia: One of Spokane's most impactful & controversial people & founder of Jules Helping Hands- the organization caring for Camp Hope; the largest encampment of people experiencing homelessness on Washington State land.  #camphope #spokane #homelessness #podcast #interview #news

Michael Sherlock (Shock Your Potential)  Don’t be fooled by the name or crazy hair color. Michael Sherlock is serious about business. She is dedicated to creating positive, productive, and profitable workplaces, and helping individuals, and businesses unlock their ultimate potential.  Before launching her global training company, Shock Your Potential, Michael was Vice President of US Sales for two...

How much is homlessness costing our community each year? Gavin Cooley, the recently retired CFO of the city of Spokane, who, by the way also survived working for six different mayors over 18 years and still remains one of the most respected people in the community.  sits down with Frank to share how he might be having an even bigger impact on the region he loves today, as an advocate for solutions...

SHOW LESS Well, it’s already happened. The first guest MIP who is not only incredibly interesting, but who yes…you’ve likely heard of. She’s Julia Sweeney, the actress, comedian, and author, who gained fame as a cast member on Saturday Night Live during the 90’s, where she created and played Pat, the androgynous character whose impossible-to-determine gender became a part of American pop culture....

Solar power, electric car charging, solar battery storage, off-grid power, zonal heat pumps. Where in the world is it all going? This episode, Frank talks with Gavin Tenold, Owner and General Contractor at Northwest Renewables, an Inland Northwest design, consulting, and renewable energy construction company, about where the world of renewable energy is today and what it means for our tomorrow. Ga...

When His Holiness, The Dalai Lama tells you to “Go west and teach”, you listen. Geshela Phelgye certainly did. Join an extraordinary conversation with the head of Spokane’s Tibetan Temple, The Buddhist Institute of Universal Compassion, and former Member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile. From escaping his home country at 3 years old, to living in a cave, to his unique relationship with the 14th...