Stranger Connections

"I've never done the same show twice." ~ Scott Long, corporate comic, fundraiser entertainer and dry bar comedy star This national comic celebrates each unique audience with his improv infused style of humor. Scott Long is a corporate comedian and you've seen him on NBC, FOX, the Bob & Tom show and his Dry Bar Comedy special (that already has over 1 million views!) Scott Long is also a Fundraiser...

She's a brave chameleon, blending in yet bursting through norms. This nomad's healing journey is an improv mental dance through language and sound. Meet LiSara Love, a 'vocal channel'. Creating harmony, using our built-in frequencies, the healing vibrations of sound, inside and out. LiSara calls sound healing her hero's journey. Learn how she makes this process "sexy". She's added an ultra modern...

"Don't miss two in a row." ~ Suzi B This wife, mom, personal trainer, speaker and 'lover of life' has what it takes to get our butts off the couch of life. We chat about small steps being the biggest deal, who to call when you need encouragement, the power of our minds to improve our lives and the simple stuff that is actually monumental to our well-being. Oh, yeah, we also talk about the morning...

What's so weird about Type 1 Diabetes? Colleen Mitchell taught herself how to change the projected outcome of her own health. Learn how she figured out when and why to lose extra weight, why she is not glued to her cell phone, how a solo trip enhanced her life and why I called her a Sorceress. Colleen Mitchell is a life coach for women with Type 1 Diabetes. By day she is a project planner, but in...

"The childlike side is still in us." What a thrill to chat with the founding editor of the the satirical newspaper The Onion! Scott Dikkers, who is from Minneapolis MN, shares how the many avenues of comedy got him to where he is today - a secretly shy dude with a busload of humor to teach and write about. Check out his online classes, humor writing books and video podcast, too! In this episode we...

When Vic Ferrari says "I've got a quick story for ya." I'm riveted to learn what it was like behind-the-scenes of his 20 years as a New York Detective. Tune in to hear raw versions of hilarious and shocking content. Then check out his website to see what he is writing about. You don't have to wonder what is on Vic's mind. He's been there, done that and literally writing the book. Vic Ferrari - for...

"There are so many forms of grief. It goes from loss of a loved one, to a divorce and even the loss of a career. It's okay to talk about it." ~ Christy Wopat Christy Wopat couldn't find the book she needed after giving birth prematurely to twins, and losing them. So she wrote it. The award-winning memoir; "Almost a Mother" was her first book. The topic of grief hits all of us, and this author is a...

"Boundaries are a skill set, not a rule book." Stacy (Louise) Christopher is a former journalist with a rock and roll heart. Learn how she dove right in to a crash course in boundaries when she took to the streets in San Francisco in the early 90's. She was encouraged to relentlessly seek the most wild and fascinating stories, no matter the fear factor or possibility of placing herself in harms wa...

Jeff Belanger is brave, funny as all-get-out and also has some solid life advice, even for his own banker. CBS Sunday Morning says he is a "rock star in the ghost world." Join in one of the funniest conversations you'll hear this week (maybe this month). History, belief and folklore combine to create legends that challenge what we know about how the universe works. Are legends more than stories? C...

Ever have the dream that you are naked in a crowd? This guest chose to face a fear and made a 25 year career from being an exotic dancer. Corey Laine Hilton has written a riveting book about his journey and he shares very private moments in our chat together. The term 'self discovery' is something we all can afford to put some thought into. Hilton delves deep and now coaches others on how to overc...

Can a marriage survive infidelity? What is the best way we can rise from a dark childhood? How do we work through grief? Dr. Heather Browne is the psychotherapist known for cultivating conscious communication for people who want to transform conversation and relationships away from fear and toward wisdom, compassion and respect. She works with a variety of patients, and we discuss marriages workin...

What is it like to grow up funny? Do your friends always understand? Does it affect how you view other comedy shows and events? Join in celebration of the 100th episode of Stranger Connections! My sons, Trevin Thomson and Mason Thomson took time to sit around Mom's microphone and share stories of our dares, pranks and generally nutty household. I am so proud of my adult sons and actually, of mysel...

Mary Beth Robinson knows you. In one conversation, she can discover what your truest and deepest super power is. She is so sharp, you may even call the boss and say you're not coming in tomorrow, or ever again. "Your life tools are not your super power," so says Mary Beth. She works with individuals and companies to discover, develop and help them to take full advantage of their super powers! Mary...

Have you ever considered using a lunch break to create a non-profit? Christian LeFer can help you do just that! He has helped to start nearly 4 thousand non profits. We are talkin' IRS approved, tax-exempt, Real Deal stuff here. Then somehow we end up talking about psychedelics, a garbage worker and a cool satanic dude. You know, the usual on Stranger Connections. Jump in and learn about this supe...

*Warning: explicit and triggering content* Domestic violence and intimate partner violence can be a well-kept secret. This was the case for special guest Janet Kaiser, whom I met at a valentine brunch in 2022 (called Galentines). As Janet shared her raw and unedited version of her decade or so of abuse from her husband, the room was on their feet to honor the bravery in her story. Not only did she...

This week's feature is a comedian, actor, producer and inventor! Jack Vale is truly a comedic sorcerer. If ever you've laughed at something funny while shopping, you'll forever wonder if you're on hidden camera after watching some of Jack Vale's hidden camera pranks. We go behind the scenes of pranks gone wrong, what it's like to be on national television, and how much Jack's wife will put up with...

"My clients come to me at the worst time of their lives." Licensed private investigator Eric Peterson has his own agency. This former LA detective never sits still, well - unless he is under cover doing surveillance, of course. Hop in the back seat if you have a strong bladder, because we are going to see what it's like to be sneaky, stealthy and hungry for answers. Peterson says, "The crazier the...

We are all addicted to our lymphatic system, but this episode's guest calls herself a rebel and a nerd when it comes to lymph flow. Don't miss looking her up to find out just how far she went to share the importance of caring for our lymphatic highway. *It's a visual, for certain Mitzi Love allows me to learn about her struggle as a teen, and what it was like growing up with a 'covert narcissist'...

Imagine coming home from school at 9 years of age, to find Mom talking to her radio. Rebecca Stewart lost her mom's spirit that day, and had to grow up fast. In choosing to be a survivor even then, Stewart grew to learn how to care for her mentally ill parent, even when she didn't want to. In this episode of Stranger Connections, prepare to be in awe of a resilient woman, and also get ready to lau...

Charlie Berens is known for his parody character of a beer drinking Wisconsinite who hates da Bears. But do you know comedy was not his first choice as a career? Hop in the car as we cruise the driftless region with Charlie, and talk about his huge family, his vitamin regimen, a dare that cost him thousands of dollars and how he created the Manitowoc Minute show that went viral on the inter-webs....

Have you ever heard of a 'tantra mantra'? How about combining your sexual energy with the power of your thoughts? In this episode, you'll learn a bit about creating and sustaining a better sex life with four simple steps! We know about foreplay, but what about "THE Play"? This guest is a veteran of the Vietnam War, a fighter pilot who approaches the study of love, sex and relationship with the sam...

Kimo Pokini learned early-on how the love of a pet could connect him with humans, via a conversation about their pets. His father was a Polynesian stick / fire dancer and the family was involved in church. Kimo did not fit in with the other kids at school. Learn what not only brought him through the awkward years, but also became his life's passion, assisting those in need, along with their furry...

Meet author, speaker and former inmate Chad Gaines. A family reunion won't soon be on his social calendar. His Mother despised him and made no secret of it. His father ditched him while fishing, and left the family to start over secretly with someone else. Does Chad ever confront his parents? Will his Mother ever apologize? Will Chad's father ever come back and explain why he left him at 5 years o...

Frank Bures is a writer, journalist and fearless in life. Can you imagine chasing a story that puts your life on the line in a foreign country? Well, Bures has done just that . . . more than once. In his book "The Geography of Madness", the acclaimed journalist investigates culture-bound syndromes, tracing baffling phenomenon to its source. Bures also has roots in the Minneapolis MN area, lending...

Imagine sitting on a log in the woods for nearly 5 hours as a consequence, then making your meal, cleaning it up and sleeping in the cold woods in a tent with 6 strangers. Chamber pots. Spam. Bugs. Jill Kinney is an author who has a soon-to-be-released memoir of her time at what she calls "Bad Girl Camp". A family intervention at age 14 lead to her being thrust into a Texas tent city for the bad g...