THE KOSH

Get to know Jason Rippl. In this episode Jason Rippl, a lifelong Winnebago County resident and veteran law enforcement officer, engages in a wide-ranging conversation about community service and local life. The discussion opens with lighthearted banter regarding local sports and family ties before transitioning into Rippl's extensive public service background, highlighting his decades with the...

Get to know Alex Corrigan. This episode of THE KOSH features Alex Corrigan, a school board member and candidate for the Wisconsin State Assembly. The conversation highlights her multifaceted background in law, social work, and parenting, emphasizing her complex approach to policymaking rather than relying on partisan divisions. Throughout the interview, Corrigan stresses the importance of active l...

Get to know Karl Buelow. Farm kid, lifelong hoops fan, and self-described "serial hobbyist" Karl Buelow brings the same energy to Magic: The Gathering and motorcycle repair that he brings to his community. In this episode of THE KOSH, Karl, a nonprofit leader and local elected official, talks about how his roots and wide-ranging interests shape the way he shows up for Oshkosh. The conver...

Get to know Jordan Ollech , This episode of THE KOSH features Jordan Ollech, the founder of Unseen Abilities, a specialized therapy program for neurodivergent children in Wisconsin’s Fox Cities region. The conversation highlights Jordan’s personal journey of overcoming significant health setbacks and surgeries, which inspired her core philosophy of "holding life with open hands"—a practi...

Get to know Darin Rice, This episode of THE KOSH features an in-depth conversation with Darin, a long-time member of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office and current candidate for Sheriff. The conversation begins by exploring Rice’s personal background and values, highlighting how his upbringing in a tiny rural community instilled a deep commitment to hard work, humility, and human connection. A...

Get to know Laurice Snyder, In this episode of THE KOSH  we interview Laurice Snyder, a multifaceted entrepreneur and community advocate who operates Rooted Wings LLC. The conversation traverses Laurice's professional evolution from a social worker and educational equity coordinator to her current dual roles as a human-centered leadership consultant and certified birth doula. Central to the di...

Get to Know Christian Blanton, This episode of The Kosh podcast features an interview with Christian Blanton, a community advocate who recently made history as the first African-American woman elected to the Neenah Joint School District School Board. The conversation explores her journey from a Chicago upbringing to local leadership, driven by a desire to address systemic inequities such as school...

Get to know Kaci Chalfant . In this episode Kaci Chalfant, a resident of the Fox Cities region who recently returned to Wisconsin after living in the South, highlights her deep commitment to faith and family, detailing her experiences with homeschooling, restoring an 1823 farmhouse, and managing her husband’s chiropractic practice in Omro. A portion of the dialogue focuses on Kaci’s advocacy for n...

Get to know Rick Crosson .Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Rick Crosson joins THE KOSH to discuss his run for Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District, exploring leadership, global stability, and why restoring genuine community connection is key to moving past political division. If you would like to send questions, shoutouts, or stories to be played in a future episode, please leave a voicemail...

Get to know Vicki Updike . In this episode , Vicki Updike, an executive coach and former President of the iconic company Miles Kimball, explores the arc of her professional life, beginning with her decision to "boomerang" back to Northeast Wisconsin to prioritize family and ending with her transition from corporate leadership to founding New Sage Strategies. A central theme of the conver...

Get to know Teri Rose This podcast episode features Teri Rose, an Oshkosh resident and author who discusses her journey in literature and education. As a school door monitor, Teri was inspired by the need for representation and inclusivity to write her children's book, Adventures with Sam and Saint: Holiday Celebrations. The text highlights her creative mission to provide a multicultural intro...

Get to know Spencer Jones . This podcast features Spencer Jones, a former music educator turned entrepreneur and mindset coach based in Wisconsin’s Fox Cities region. The conversation transitions from lighthearted banter about local weather and Jones’s unique background in middle school teaching and kayak fishing to a deep exploration of professional burnout and the "internal operating system...

Get to know Micah Troedel . In this episode Micah Troedel, an insightful high school senior and president of the Black Student Union at Oshkosh West, talk about lighthearted topics like Troedel’s athletic pursuits and his love for English literature to a profound exploration of the literacy crisis affecting local youth. Troedel emphasizes that improving reading skills requires a community-wide eff...

Get to know Mahima Grover. In this episode meet Mahima Grover, an Indian immigrant and entrepreneur in the Fox Cities who owns the M-Effect yoga and dance studio. The conversation explores Grover's diverse professional evolution from a corporate trainer and pharmacist in India to a community leader focused on holistic wellness through traditional practices. A significant portion of the text is...

Get to know Dr. Manohar Singh In this episode of "The Kosh" podcast, Chancellor Manohar Singh of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, a leader who blends academic stewardship with a profound spiritual heritage. Chancellor Singh shares about his personal history as the youngest of seven brothers in India to his philosophical views on the limitlessness of human potential and the necessity...

Get to know Alec Lefeber This episode of THE KOSH features Alec Lefeber, a multifaceted community leader and AI professional who provides a deep dive into the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and local civic engagement. Alec explains his career in technology, where he translates complex technical concepts into accessible business tools, while also sharing his personal journey of movin...

Get to know Kimberly Barrett, Ph. D. This episode of THE KOSH features Dr. Kimberly Barrett, a retired higher education executive and author who discusses her career in higher ed, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI )  , and her recently published memoir,  Rethinking Race . Throughout the conversation, Kimberly reflects on the social construction of race, a realization sparked by her personal ex...

Get to know Megan Mulholland . In this episode Megan Mulholland, a communications expert and entrepreneur who specializes in crisis management and strategic storytelling, shares her professional evolution from journalism to high-level public relations, emphasizing the critical need for proactive incident command systems and authentic transparency within businesses and local government. Beyond her...

Get to know Ryne Lodl. In this episode, Ryne Lodl, Vice President of Sales at Encompass Security, discusses the critical importance of cybersecurity awareness for both businesses and individuals. He explains the technical complexities behind data breaches, noting the significant delay between an incident occurring and public notification due to the lengthy forensic analysis required. Lodl emphasiz...

Get to know Sierra Burchby. This episode of The Kosh highlights Sierra Burchby, a prolific thirteen-year-old student and author from the Fox Cities region. The conversation shares Sierra’s impressive literary journey, during which she has already published four books ranging from Minecraft-themed fiction to young adult supernatural thrillers. Beyond her writing, Sierra discusses her aspirations fo...

Get to know Michael Patton. In this episode, Michael Patton—co-founder and director of the Cyber Security Center of Excellence at UW Oshkosh —explores the critical intersection of human behavior and digital safety. Patton argues that effective protection requires more than just software; it requires an understanding of social engineering and the psychological motivations behind cybercrime. Beyond...

Get to know Sandy Drexler. In this episode of "The Kosh" podcast, Sandy Drexler, the Executive Director of Tri County Dental Clinic, discusses the vital connection between oral health and overall physical well-being. Drexler details her professional journey from English major to nonprofit leader, emphasizing her commitment to community service and the clinic’s mission to provide free car...

Get to know Liz Cannon, Ph. D & Amney Castaneda, Ph. D. This podcast episode features  Dr. Liz Cannon and Dr. Amney Castaneda , the founders of  Somewhere Over the Moon Trainings. They discuss their career-long dedication to  LGBTQ+ advocacy and education . The conversation explores the shifting landscape of  higher education and social justice , highlighting how storytelling serves as a vital...

Get to know Molly Smiltneek. This episode features  Molly Smiltneek , an  immigration attorney  and  school board member , to discuss her multifaceted role in the Oshkosh community. The conversation highlights Smiltneek’s transition from a  special education advocate —driven by her children's experience with dyslexia—to a systemic leader focused on  literacy equity  and  student representation...

Get to know Dr. Chu May Paing. This episode features an insightful interview with Dr. Chu May Paing, a cultural anthropologist and the Executive Director of the Winnebago Area Literacy Council (WALC). Dr. Chu discusses her personal history as a first-generation immigrant from Myanmar and emphasizes WALC's vital mission in serving the Fox Cities region's substantial refugee and immigrant po...