Worth Your Time! with Kristi Lee and Rob Shumaker

Kristi Lee, Dr. Rob Shumaker and guest Josh Arnold break down Oscar season, including best picture, best actor, best actress and best director debates. The conversation covers award show fatigue, movie reviewing culture, streaming versus theaters, and why the big-screen experience still matters. Films discussed include The Golden Compass, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Hamnet, Sinners, F...

Josh Arnold joins Kristi Lee and Dr. Rob Shoemaker for a wide-ranging movie conversation, from black-and-white classics to romantic favorites. They talk about “The Best Years of Our Lives,” “The Philadelphia Story,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Casablanca,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “Out of Africa” and “Once,” plus the reality of how performances and scenes hit differently ove...

In Episode 2 of Worth Your Time, Dr. Rob Shumaker continues his conversation with Ugandan conservationist Mwezi “Badru” Mugerwa, the 2025 Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist Award winner. Mugerwa explains why the African golden cat is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and how snare traps meant for bush meat can kill the cats as bycatch. He shares how his team works with families ar...

In this episode of Worth Your Time, Dr. Rob Shumaker speaks with Mwezi “Badru” Mugerwa, the 2025 Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist Award winner. Mugerwa shares his journey from growing up in Kampala, Uganda, to dedicating 15 years to studying and protecting the elusive African golden cat. The conversation explores his path into conservation, life and fieldwork in Bwindi Impenetrable Nati...

Singer-songwriter Paul Thorn joins Kristi Lee and Dr. Rob Shumaker for Episode 2 of “Worth Your Time,” sharing how Miles Copeland found him playing acoustic sets in a Tupelo, Mississippi, pizza restaurant and how that led to opening for Sting, Jeff Beck and other touring artists. Thorn talks about his new album, “Life Is Just a Vapor,” including the songs “Old Melodies” and “Mission Temple Firewor...

Kristi Lee and Dr. Rob Shumaker welcome singer and songwriter Paul Thorn for a conversation about his childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi, his start singing in Holiness churches, and his early obsession with ventriloquism. Thorn shares how his boxing career led him to a televised fight against Roberto Duran and why he eventually walked away from the sport. He also tells the real story behind “Joni th...

Dr. Rob Shumaker and Kristi Lee return with Part 2 of their conversation with Dr. Lee James Taylor White and Dr. Catherine “Kate” Abernathy, continuing the story of two conservationists whose work has shaped the future of Africa’s forest elephants. Kate recounts her near-fatal encounter with a charging forest elephant during a family walk in Gabon, explaining how field instincts and a split-second...

Dr. Rob Shumaker and Kristi Lee sit down with 2025 Indianapolis Prize DeHaan Finalist Dr. Lee James Taylor White, Ph. D., and his wife and fellow conservationist Dr. Catherine “Kate” Abernathy. Together they share stories from decades of working in the rainforests of Gabon and the Congo Basin—protecting the critically endangered African forest elephant and studying gorillas, chimpanzees, and mandr...

Kristi Lee and Dr. Rob Shumaker continue their Halloween series with paranormal investigators and filmmakers Jane Gerlach and Linda Mutchman. The pair share chilling stories of haunted homes, mysterious sounds, and unexplained visions. They discuss their investigations at the Howard County Masonic Lodge in Kokomo, a haunted house in Anderson, and other Midwest sites. The conversation covers dowsin...

Dr. Rob and Kristi Lee explore America’s growing fascination with Halloween and the paranormal with investigators Jane Gerlach and Linda Mutchman. They share first-hand stories of unexplained experiences, including visions of deceased loved ones, vivid dreams, and encounters at sites such as Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Indiana State Sanatorium, the Story Inn’s Blue Lady Room, and a haunted house in...

In part two of Worth Your Time, hosts Dr. Rob Shumaker and Kristi Lee continue their conversation with restaurateur and author Lisa Dahl. She explains how color, romance, and female sensuality shape her restaurant spaces and dishes; why she teaches cooks to taste, not just time recipes; and how a veggie burger she created as a teen evolved into today’s “hipster” burger. Dahl discusses her cookbook...

Restaurateur and philanthropist Lisa Dahl shares her journey from Indianapolis to Sedona, opening acclaimed restaurants and finding healing after the tragic loss of her son. In this episode of Worth Your Time with Dr. Rob Shumaker and Kristi Lee, Dahl discusses her documentary Blessed by Grace, her culinary inspiration, and the creative vision behind Sedona’s dining scene. Blessed By Grace Trailer...

In Part 2 of this urgent conversation, With Your Time hosts Dr. Rob Shumaker and Kristi Lee return with Dr. Anne Friesen (HumanTraffickingNow.com) and Andrew Sveum (FreedomRisingNow.org) to explore how individuals and communities can combat human trafficking—both in the U.S. and abroad. From inside Bangladesh’s largest brothel to local neighborhood signs of abuse, the conversation shifts toward ho...

On this powerful episode of With Your Time, Rob Shumaker and Kristi Lee sit down with Dr. Anne Friesen of HumanTraffickingNow.com and Andrew Sveum of Freedom Rising Now on one of the most serious topics they’ve tackled—human trafficking. Dr. Friesen shares how her work in North Carolina revealed alarming levels of trafficking within the U.S., while Sveum recounts his experience inside the world’s...

Author Stephen S. Hall joins Dr. Rob Shumaker and Kristi Lee for part 2 of a fascinating deep dive into his book Slither. From Genesis to genetics, this conversation explores how snakes became symbols of sin, what they can teach us about health, and why public attitudes toward them are slowly changing. You’ll hear about snake personalities, snake sex (yes, really), life-saving venom research, and...

In this episode of Worth Your Time with Dr. Rob Shumaker and Kristi Lee, author Steven S. Hall joins to discuss his new book Slither. The conversation explores why snakes evoke such strong emotions, the evolutionary roots of our fear, and the surprising ways science is changing how we view these often misunderstood creatures. Hall shares stories from history, neuroscience, and personal experience,...

Kristi and Dr. Rob sit down again with Tyler Mayer—president of Providence Cristo Rey High School, former seminarian, and improv coach—for a funny, heartfelt, and insightful conversation. They explore what it means to have an American Pope, the legacy of Pope Francis, and how Pope Leo XIV may shape the future of the Church. Tyler shares his journey from seminary life to marriage, his perspective o...

In this episode of Worth Your Time, hosts Kristi Lee and Dr. Rob Shumaker dive into the global significance of the recent papal conclave and selection of Pope Leo XIV. Special guest Tyler Mayer—president of Providence Cristo Rey High School and former seminarian—joins the conversation to explain what actually happens when a new pope is chosen, including the meaning behind papal names, the role of...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Joe Hale, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, we take you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the brand-new, reimagined museum experience that opened in April 2025. Hosts Dr. Rob Shumaker and Kristi Lee join Joe to explore how a basement and an attic were transformed into a multi-level, interactive racing experience—all without expanding the museum’s...

Kristi Lee and Dr. Rob Shumaker sit down with Joe Hale, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, to discuss his remarkable efforts to transform the iconic museum into a world-class destination. Hale shares his personal connection to the Indy 500, how a global fundraising effort helped raise over $100 million, and why preserving the legacy of the 500 matters on an international scale. F...

Comedian Sam Miller joins hosts Kristi Lee and Dr. Rob Shumaker for a powerful and hilarious episode of Worth Your Time. Sam opens up about his past struggles with addiction, incarceration, and homelessness—and how those experiences shaped his unique comedic voice. He shares the deeply moving story behind "The Jail Letters," a collaborative performance with his mother based on their correspondence...

In this special one-year anniversary episode of Worth Your Time, hosts Kristi Lee and Dr. Rob Shumaker welcome comedian Sam Miller. Sam shares his transformative journey from addiction and homelessness to comedy and recovery, highlighting personal anecdotes and challenges he faced along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kristi Lee and Dr. Rob Shumaker welcome back acclaimed musician Josh Turner for a deep dive into his evolving career, from YouTube sensation to seasoned live performer. They discuss the journey of balancing intimate venues with audience growth, the challenge of blending multiple musical influences, and the art of meaningful collaboration. Josh shares insights into his songwriting process, his plan...

In this episode, Dr. Rob Shumaker and Kristi Lee sit down with multi-talented musician Josh Turner, whose mesmerizing covers and original compositions have captivated millions on YouTube. They discuss his journey from teenage YouTube performer to acclaimed artist, his viral covers, collaborations, and the power of online audiences in shaping modern music careers. Plus, hear a stunning live perform...

Mel Raines, President and CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, returns for part two of our conversation, diving into her role in transforming Indianapolis into a hub for major sports and entertainment. She shares how she made the leap from political consulting to part of the team orchestrating the 2012 Super Bowl and how that experience led her to oversee Gainbridge Fieldhouse and the business si...