The Best of Us: Being Human in Sarasota

This episode focuses on Trauma-Informed Community Development, a framework developed by the Neighborhood Resilience Project. Based in Pittsburgh, the Orthodox ministry is dedicated to addressing community trauma. Their work is rooted in the Gospel and teaching of the Orthodox Church and inspired by the American Civil Rights Movement.  Father Paul Abernathy is the Pastor of St. Moses the Black Orth...

This episode features a conversation with Greg Cruz, the founder and executive director of Streets of Paradise. An organization that fights homelessness with dignity and grace. His deep connection to the work is rooted in lived experience and a lifelong commitment to ensuring no one is left behind. He talks about his newest project, Love Act Repeat. Greg brings a hands-on, human-centered approach...

“The Best of Us: Being Human in Sarasota” explores our town’s growing resilience-driven culture. For each episode, we hear from a guest who is part of this emerging culture in our region and another beyond our area. But this episode is a little bit different. For Father’s Day we hear from folks in the community who called in to offer a reflection for this day. Also, Peg Shanley joins her daughter-...

This episode delves right into the topic that underlies all the discussions so far on this show: trauma. We focus on one local guest’s expertise for the full episode. Dr. Johana Kuemerle-Pinillos is a trauma specialist and clinical practitioner. She is bilingual-bicultural, Spanish-English, PhD Level Clinician, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), researcher, advocate, coach and veteran. Beginn...

This episode’s topic is on The Love of the Land explored in two parts. For part one, which aired on WSLR on May 4, Jon Thaxton discussed land preservation and stewardship as a practical, spiritual, and vitalizing life-long practice. For part two, which aired on May 18, Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder discusses her new book, Mother, Creature, Kin: What We Learn from Nature's Mothers in a Time of Unraveli...

This episode’s topic is on The Love of the Land and is explored in two parts. For part one, which aired May 4 2025, Jon Thaxton discusses land preservation and stewardship as a practical, spiritual and vitalizing life-long practice. For part two, released live on WSLR on May 18 2025, Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder will discuss her new book, Mother, Creature, Kin: What We Learn from Nature's Mothers in...

The third episode of The Best of Us: Being Human in Sarasota aired April 6 2025. This episode explores both sides of domestic violence—victim and perpetrator—and the power of listening. While Tonya Disapio will discuss her experience working as a victim advocate in Sarasota, Reverend James Encinas will share about his experience with profound listening as a path to reaching the other side of abuse...

The second episode of The Best of Us: Being Human in Sarasota aired March 2 2025. The hour-long show explores the mental health risks that can arise in the pursuit of excellence. While Ingram will discuss how the well-being of academics, professionals, and visionaries permeate every aspect of our world, two-star Major General Martin will share how his bipolar disorder was his greatest strength unt...

The first episode of The Best of Us: Being Human in Sarasota aired February 2 2025. The hour-long show explores how the practice of repairing, making, or even viewing artworks is elemental to our human capacity for resilience, proving that the arts run deeper than superficial luxury. While Emily Brown will offer a personal perspective, George Prochnik will offer a history lesson from Vienna. The l...