The World With Nate

I’ve always been enthralled by her loving nature and her ability to speak life into others. Her beautiful attributes have been evident to me for many years now, but our first interaction was in 2015, at the University of Northern Iowa. Vicki St. James was my College Writing & Research Professor.  Listen as we dive into the dedication it took for Vicki, a single parent, to raise her five childr...

Jalissa made her wedding vows and remained committed even when she didn’t like what was going on in her marriage. Addiction had ravaged her relationship since the very beginning, and she was exhausted from the numerous attempts to help her partner. Jalissa ultimately made the difficult decision to divorce her husband.  Consumed with feelings of guilt and shame from the breakdown of her first marri...

Despite growing up in a city of almost 400,000 people, Paul Lee never felt as though his childhood took place within the metropolis that is St. Louis, Missouri. Paul’s parents intentionally surrounded him with a church community, extended family, and countless friends who showed him the power of community early on. Paul fully understands that he was beyond fortunate to have parents who constantly...

Athletics had always been a part of Luke Schuver’s life, as he stayed extremely active throughout his childhood. With his competitive spirit and innate athletic ability, Luke experienced great success early on. Once his season of puberty began, Luke had envisioned his body growing into manhood along the traditional trajectory. In reality, Luke’s coming of age meant he would develop scoliosis of th...

Family First w/ Anna & Katherine Allison What started as a normal day of going to visit my side of the family, at the picturesque U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-managed Coralville Lake, resulted in the most stressful situation I’ve ever been a part of. I’d ultimately wonder if we’d all walk away from this near-death experience. Tapping off the cruise control, I blacked out—going 70 miles per hou...

His traditional Bosnian upbringing showed Armin Muzafirović the importance of hard work, determination, and having an unrelenting drive. These qualities would prepare Armin for the future fight of his life. At just sixteen-years old, Armin was diagnosed with a failing heart that would ultimately require constant medical attention. At only seventeen, Armin would have a pacemaker implanted into his...

Growing up on the nation’s largest sheep farm, the farming lifestyle provided Bailey King with a firsthand look into the hard work and dedication that it takes to build the life you desire. These lessons were pivotal to her success later in life. Attending the University of Northern Iowa and later receiving her Master’s degree, Bailey couldn’t find symmetry between parenting her children and her c...

Growing up in Fairbanks, Alaska in a one-room cabin with picturesque mountain ranges, abundant flora and fauna, and vast wilderness led Christi Marie to become an adventurous, powerful, and determined woman. But, it wasn’t without hardship that most cannot fathom. Having overcome a cultish nightmare of a childhood, Christi explains how the ideals and beliefs of that cultic lifestyle deviate from t...

Tim Dwight made a name for himself early on around Iowa City, Iowa. Having set multiple Iowa all-time records in separate track events, it’s safe to say he’s one of the greatest athletes to have ever competed in the state of Iowa. Drafted into the National Football League in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft, Tim went on to return a kickoff for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIII, becoming only...

Carson Parker has had a love for basketball since very early childhood. His father was involved with school sports, and he gave Carson the opportunity to be drawn into basketball from an early age. Playing basketball throughout high school and dealing with different injuries appeared to limit his chances at a career at the next level. Hear how an opportunity developed into a college basketball car...

Blake Renaud was on vacation in New York when the seed was planted. Blake and her husband, Alex, had been traveling and wanted to stay active while away from home. As avid basketball players and fans of the sport, the couple found iconic Rucker Park. But, it was only after endless run-arounds on the internet and crucial vacation time wasted.  Thus, the idea for an app was born. Having a passion to...

Mitch Peyton emulated the wrestlers from West Delaware High School from a very early age, and he knew exactly who he wanted to be when he grew up. The ferocious type of wrestler Mitch wanted to become was only matched by a chivalrous attitude off of the mat and away from the intense competition. Hear how Mitch’s wrestling legacy almost ended after high school, until a simple question from legendar...

The formative years of childhood are a period of rapid cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development of a child. Because of this, one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a parent is where you decide to send your kid for childcare.  Mary Janssen is the Regional Director of Child Care Resource and Referral in Northeast Iowa. Her mission is to assist families in selecting childcar...

Colleen Nemmers' lifelong obsession with any and every animal fueled her desire to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. From a very early age, Colleen focused on doing everything within her capabilities to succeed in her dream of becoming a vet. Having grown up on the East Coast, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Colleen’s college destination is what ultimately brought her to the Midwest. Initiall...

Nick Wallace is on a mission to connect local family farmers, through a regional food network, to hungry people who want locally sourced, sustainable food. Nick has a single goal: To work with one biological farmer in every one of the ninety-nine counties in Iowa. Biological farmers are unique in that they work with nature by balancing minerals, nourishing soil vivacity, and cultivating earth with...

Cameron (Cam) Luhring’s most vivid memory from childhood involves a tennis racket in his hand. Having two older siblings involved in the sport meant that Cam would be acquainted with a tennis lifestyle from an early age. The University of Nebraska Omaha offered him a tennis scholarship, and that seemed like the route to take until Cam’s plans were derailed when his father received a stage-four can...

Marissa Abbott’s dream of becoming a law enforcement officer started early on with a profound admiration for her uncle. Marissa’s uncle shared his vast knowledge and job experiences with her over ride-a-longs, and those experiences solidified her decision to study criminal justice during her college career. In this episode, we uncover what gives Marissa the desire to protect, and we hear why she b...

What started in the backyard as a way to encourage, educate, and engage kids, has blossomed into an online community with two brick-and-mortar locales. Ninja U is the creative ambition of Scott Behrends. After seeing the benefits within his own family, Scott knew he needed to dream large and bring his dream to the Cedar Valley. Starting with obstacles in the backyard, the vision has grown with loc...

Mike Jensen, Professor of Vocal Music at Wartburg College, was an extremely active man in his late-thirties when a tonic-clonic seizure, formerly known as a grand mal seizure, struck out of nowhere—leaving him and his wife, Jennifer, searching for answers. Raising kids, in the midst of a demanding career, and with a high-deductible insurance policy, Mike pushed off the doctor’s visit, and chalked...

Horses were a part of Georgette Roseke’s life for as long as she can remember, for her early love of the magnificent animals had been continually fostered by her mother. This early juncture solidified Georgette’s need for a life intertwined with the equestrian world. Factory work paved the way for Georgette’s entrance into the horse world. Working to save enough money to attend Oklahoma State...

Lewy Body Dementia steals your memory, restricts thinking, and inhibits your movement progressively over time. Kevin Dill has lived the life of a thousand men, so it was imperative that I sat down with him as soon as possible. We got into detail about his traumatic childhood growing up in Evansdale, Iowa, and we discussed the gripping story behind his enlistment into the United States Marine Corps...

Sound advice and wisdom from his father allowed Josh to navigate his entry into the United States Army. Always having confidence in his athletic abilities and physical fitness, Josh enlisted as an 11B - Infantryman as part of the Iowa National Guard. Following graduation from basic training and advanced individual training, Josh was sent back to Iowa to start school at the University of Northern I...

Island life was stereotypical in the sense that, Marlon Alcampor, spent his youth exploring every inch of the 212 sq. miles of Guam, much like all of his cousins. Marlon’s early years consisted of shredding waves in the Pacific Ocean, fishing off the coast, and hanging out with his plethora of cousins. He absolutely loved island living and the deep culture his home had to offer. Having the desire...

What is more iconic than for a podcast built in Iowa to record an episode at the Field of Dreams nestled in Dyersville, Iowa?... “If you build it, he will come.” You can hear the excitement in the air as healthcare officials, staff, patients, and families from Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Level 11, gather to celebrate this special event. I’m joined by my childhood buddy, Brett, and we get the...

As a young girl, Michaela Cox, witnessed the unhealthy relationship between her parents that ultimately culminated in divorce. The constant fighting between her parents caused Michaela to develop a codependent relationship with her little brother; consequently, she leaned on him incessantly during the unrest at home. When the divorce occurred, it resulted in Michaela living with the boys. Michaela...