UpaCreekwithNeil

Send us Fan Mail Jim Harrison’s name is etched in hockey history — not just for his talent, but for his tenacity. Born in Saskatchewan, Jim rose from humble prairie rinks to the world’s biggest stages, playing alongside legends like Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky. A gifted center known for his fierce competitiveness and quiet leadership, Harrison carved out a remarkable career in both the NHL and WHA...

Send us Fan Mail Julie Smith was born in Deadwood, SD; grew up near Black Hawk, SD and graduated from High School in Rapid City, SD. She graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, with a minor in Chemistry. After a year-long internship in Medical Laboratory Science, Smith started working at the Hospital laboratory in Centralia Washington for 37 years. B...

Send us Fan Mail Casey Gwinn has spent more than three decades standing at the intersection of law, justice, and healing. As the former San Diego City Attorney and the co-founder of the Family Justice Center movement, Casey has helped transform how communities across the world respond to domestic violence, child abuse, and trauma. Under his leadership, the Alliance for HOPE International has becom...

Send us Fan Mail Baseball has a way of revealing character; you can learn a lot about a person by watching how they handle the long season, the travel the slumps, the pressure, and the quiet discipline it takes to show up every day and do your job well. Lyle Overbay, a man who spent 14 seasons in Major League baseball, earned a reputation as a steady presence at first base and played the game with...

Send us Fan Mail Life rarely moves in straight lines — and neither have Neil and Susan Amondson. From a small logging community in Washington State to travels across all 50 states and seven countries, Neil’s journey has spanned public service in the Washington State Legislature and a long career in construction and natural resources. His life has been shaped by risk, resilience, and the belief tha...

Send us Fan Mail Dennis Duncan is the embodiment of small-town Alberta grit — a farmer, businessman, and storyteller whose laughter carries farther than a prairie horizon. From the fields of Bentley, Alberta, to the pickleball courts and friendships of Outdoor Resort Palm Springs (ORPS), Dennis has lived a life rooted in hard work, faith, and family. A second-generation farmer, Dennis has seen the...

Send us Fan Mail Les and Sandy Moore’s story is one of heartbreak transformed into purpose. In 2011, their teenage son Matt died in a tragic Boy Scout swimming accident — a moment that forever changed their family’s path. In the years since, they have turned unimaginable loss into a mission of compassion, helping others navigate grief and rediscover meaning when the unthinkable happens. Sandy, a m...

Send us Fan Mail Rod Vatcher built his career in one of the toughest industries on earth — oilfield logistics. As the founder and former owner of Steelhorse Freight Services in High River, Alberta, he managed the unpredictable world of long-haul transport serving Canada’s energy sector. The work was intense, the stakes high, and success required both grit and integrity. After decades of growth and...

Send us Fan Mail Every journey changes us — sometimes in ways we never expect. For Susan Amondson, the Camino de Santiago wasn’t just about reaching Santiago; it was about discovering what still lies within — endurance, gratitude, and a deeper walk with God. And for Dr. Kevin St. Clair, a man who’s logged thousands of trail miles, it reaffirmed a truth that every traveler eventually learns — that...

Send us Fan Mail Every journey changes us — sometimes in ways we never expect. For Susan Amondson, the Camino de Santiago wasn’t just about reaching Santiago; it was about discovering what still lies within — endurance, gratitude, and a deeper walk with God. And for Dr. Kevin St. Clair, a man who’s logged thousands of trail miles, it reaffirmed a truth that every traveler eventually learns — that...

Send us Fan Mail Every journey changes us — sometimes in ways we never expect. For Susan Amondson, the Camino de Santiago wasn’t just about reaching Santiago; it was about discovering what still lies within — endurance, gratitude, and a deeper walk with God. And for Dr. Kevin St. Clair, a man who’s logged thousands of trail miles, it reaffirmed a truth that every traveler eventually learns — that...

Send us Fan Mail Brock Leitner grew up in Summerland, British Columbia, fueled by an unstoppable drive for competition and speed. By age four, he was already racing motocross; by sixteen, he had turned pro—competing across Canada and the U.S. in one of the most demanding and dangerous sports on earth. In June 2022, a devastating accident left him paralyzed from the chest down. Yet within months, B...

Send us Fan Mail In this Bonus Episode, Neil sits down with East County Legend, Bill Bakamus For more than four decades, Bill Bakamus defined what it meant to be a coach — and to be the best in Washington State high school basketball history. His story begins in Morton, Washington, where hard work and faith were a way of life. Bill’s father, Vladimir Bakamus, was a respected man in the community —...

Send us Fan Mail In this Bonus Episode, Neil sits down with East County Legends, "Sweetie” Suter and Bill Bakamus. In the late 1950s, in the logging town of Morton, Washington, a young man named “Sweetie” Suter became a symbol of pride and possibility. Standing just 5′8′′, he seemed almost undersized for a sport dominated by height, yet on the court he was a giant — a player defined by precis...

Send us Fan Mail In Part Three of The Politics of Inclusion , Neil talks with Logan Washburn, a young journalist helping shape America’s next political conversation. Representing a generation raised amid cultural transformation, Logan shares how his peers are reframing what it means to engage — with curiosity, courage, and respect. From navigating disagreement to amplifying underrepresented perspe...

Send us Fan Mail In Parts One and Two of The Politics of Inclusion , Neil sits down with Dr. Jason Peplinski, a veteran educator and superintendent who believes true leadership begins with empathy. Drawing from decades of experience guiding schools through cultural change, Dr. Peplinski reflects on how listening, humility, and compassion can bridge divides in today’s polarized climate. This conver...

Send us Fan Mail Darcey Deetz is one of the Coachella Valley’s top resort real-estate professionals, known for her energy, insight, and ability to match people with the lifestyle they’re looking for. A full-time Realtor and desert resident, she has helped hundreds of buyers and sellers navigate the unique world of luxury RV and golf-resort living — where location, amenities, and community matter a...

Send us Fan Mail Rob Zimich’s story begins in the mountains of British Columbia and carries a message that resonates far beyond them. After the heartbreaking loss of his son Alex in 2022 in a tragic boating accident near Nelson, BC, Rob discovered that grief and joy can coexist — and that healing often happens through community, connection, and movement. An avid bagpiper, pickleball player, and hi...

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