American Tributaries

Dr. Seth D. Kaplan lives in the Baltimore / Washington DC area and is a leading expert on fragile states, lectures at Johns Hopkins University and consults for organizations such as the World Bank and U.S. State Department.  In October 2023, he published an amazingly insightful book, “Fragile Neighborhoods”, about how we can repair American society one ZIP code at a time.Seth finds hope in all the people he meets that want to step up and do more for their communities and the empowerment that comes from that participation.  You can find more about Seth at www.sethkaplan.org. And please check out his book “Fragile Neighborhoods – Repairing American Society, One ZIP Code at a Time”.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Greg Gerloff lives in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he raised his family and pursued a career in healthcare, which concluded with him serving as chief executive officer of Altru Health Systems.  Greg and host Michael Whidden were connected by Greg’s nephew Adam, who was an elementary school teacher for two of Michael’s children.Greg finds hope in his granddaughter...in his belief that people are basically good people...in the core values of America...and in the centrists that he still sees in politics.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Aviva Sussman lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she was a scientist for Los Alamos National Laboratories and Sandia National Laboratories involved with, among things, implementation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and recently started studies of a new, very different topic: the Torah.Aviva finds hope in stillness and in our common struggles across the broad breadth of time.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  Its next trip will be in July 2024 from New York City to South Carolina.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and,on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Sara Stahl lives in Port Clinton, Ohio, on the southwest shore of Lake Erie, where she is a social worker in the education system.  Sara grew up in Port Clinton and attended The Ohio State University.Sara finds hope in her work and the youth and what they can offer the country.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  Its next trip will be in July 2024 from New York City to South Carolina.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Vishwesh Bhatt lives in Oxford, Mississippi, where he is executive chef for the city’s acclaimed Snackbar, a Southern brasserie and oyster bar and was recognized, in 2019, as the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef in the South.  In 2022, he published a book of recipes and stories called “I Am From Here” which was designated as one of NPR’s “Books we Love” for 2022 and one of Garden & Gun’s Best Southern Books of 2022 and received a James Beard U.S. Foodways Cookbook award for 2023.Vishwesh finds hope in conversation.  You can learn more about Vishwesh at www.kissmybhatt.com. American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  Its next trip will be in July 2024 from New York City to South Carolina.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast. 

Reverend Mark Genszler lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he is the rector for Christ Church Cobble Hill, an Episcopal parish first organized in 1835.  Rev. Genszler and host Michael Whidden met this past December at the holiday party of mutual friends.Mark finds hope in the rising generation’s awareness of the world, in the quiet and stillness of nature and in the enduring power of life on Earth.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Dr. Ed Tomlinson lives in Morgantown, West Virginia, where he is a Professor of Management at the Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in negotiation and compensation and a Ph.D. seminar on groups and teams.  Dr. Tomlinson is also active with Braver Angels, serving, among other things, as red co-chair of the organization’s West Virginia alliance.Our discussion covers, among other things:*the classic notion of liberalism and Francis Fukuyama’s “Liberalism and Its Discontents"*efforts in the classroom to promote depolarization*his recreational appreciation for shooting ranges*Gordon Allport’s “The Contact Hypothesis” and how contact is the antidote to stereotyping*the unique beauty of West Virginia’s waterfallsEd finds hope in the many organizations doing good things to promote depolarization and bridge-building and the many wonderful blessings in the United States.You can follow Ed’s work at www.edwardctomlinson.com and  westvirginia.braverangels.org.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Tami Van lives in New York, New York, where she is the Chief Financial Officer of one of New York City’s premier HVAC contractors.Our discussion covers, among other things:*her path from Brooklyn Tech High School and New York University into the construction industry*thoughts on union work*how she has developed the skills to meticulously manage projects*the importance of trade work*shortcomings of a college education*dining as the best way to explore New York CityTami finds hope in her amazing mother, someone who may appear small in stature but is gigantic in strength and will.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Max Miller lives in Des Moines, Iowa, where he works for the Federal Trade Commission as an attorney advisor on competition to Commissioner Alvaro M. Bedoya.  Max has experienced living in a variety of different settings, growing up in Des Moines, attending the University of Florida, attending Columbia Law School and working/living in Chicago, London, Geneva and Paris.  But his affection for Iowa has only grown, which is the reason he ultimately returned.Our discussion covers, among other things:*his belief in capitalism and government’s role as umpire*trusting in government*”Iowa nice”*the importance of agriculture*participating in the Iowa caucuses*a perfect day in his beloved state, starting with the Iowa State Fair and ending with a Iowa Cubs gameMax finds hope in noticing growing policy consciousness of the socio-economic divide in the United States...for example, appreciating the many similarities between rural and urban poverty...and a belief that continuing to focus on that divide will help build the bridges the nation needs.The opinions expressed by Max are solely his own and do not express the views or opinions of his employer.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Wanda Battle lives in Montgomery, Alabama, where she owns and operates her Legendary Tours company, which teaches about the Civil Rights Era but has a far grander ambition: “to engage in life-changing conversations” that will inspire guests to become their “greatest” selves and be “committed to love, respect, care for all mankind”.Our discussion covers, among other things:*her family’s involvement with the Montgomery bus boycott*Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s teachings of unconditional non-violence*the inarguable, but precarious, renaissance she sees around her*the arts, the beaches and all else she loves about Alabama and Montgomery*building community with her tour guestsWanda finds hope in her ability to be a voice for love and forgiveness and in the conversations she has with guests (and even on the American Tributaries podcast). You can learn more about Wanda’s work at www.wandahbattle.com.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Ron Heller is a practicing attorney and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who has lived in Oklahoma City since 1974. Ron and host Michael Whidden were connected by Ron’s son Eric, who worked with Michael in the early 2000s.Our discussion covers, among other things:*his early days: from the ashes of World War II to the life of an "Army brat" to service in Vietnam*basketball, taxes and urban revitalization in Oklahoma City*tornados*must-do’s for OKC visitors*what it means to be a “conservative”Ron finds hope in technology, which he believes will help us solve our existential problems.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she is the Chair of the Department of Applied Communication at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.Our discussion covers, among other things:*the negative stereotypes her own family had about Arkansas*wealth disparity*her friendship across political lines with a feminist scholar that changed both of them*working through the “chaos zone” to achieve convergence of mindset and solutions*her perfect day at home, exploring nature and history*the value of listening*what exactly “applied communication” isApril finds hope in the decency of everyday people (as she experienced when her car broke down once in a small town between Oklahoma and Arkansas) and in her positive experiences meeting people from all over America with all sorts of opinions, recognizing that their relationship is more important than their differences.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Brady Busby lives in Young, Arizona, where he operates his not-for-profit Ash’s Grove and is running as an Independent for the state’s 2nd Congressional District.  Brady served in the U.S. Army, specializing in special operations intelligence, and concluding his service as a Chief Warrant Officer.Our discussion covers, among other things:*his seven combat tours in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan*post-traumatic-stress disorder and therapies for healing*medicinal cannabis and its transformative impact*what motivated him to pursue political office*wildlife in his corner of Arizona*the influence of his daughter Ashley.Brady’s entire discussion reveals the sources of hope: our respective abilities to persevere, to reinvent ourselves and to make a difference, along with a belief in the widespread goodness of people and the principles of the United States.For more information about Brady, please visit www.busbyforcongress.org, www.ashsgrove.com and check out his books “Healing Waters: a life of hardships, faith and family” and  “Ash’s Grove: finding peace after the storm”.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Jenae Moxie lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area, where she works as a corporate attorney for a venerable global law firm. She has lived in various parts of the nation including California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York but would contend that her current home is the very best.Our discussion covers, among other things:*her path to becoming a proud Bulldog*the growing appeal of the siren song of the South*life in New York City compared to life in Atlanta*the pleasure of picnicking at Stone Mountain Park*living “inconspicuously Black” in the SouthJenae finds hope in the increasing number of people moving to the South, which she believes is great and only getting better and will make the New South the best place to live.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Tamer Kassis lives in Nassau County, New York.  He owns and manages, with his mother Fera, a neighborhood delicatessen and café, Bonafide, in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn.  The deli was started by his father Kameel twenty-five years ago.Our discussion covers, among other things:*how their business persevered through the pandemic*the difference between a bodega and a deli*their most popular sandwiches and drinks*which egg sandwich is best (with bacon, ham or sausage?)*the common American immigrant experience*warning signs for unsanitary or sketchy delis and bodegasTamer finds hope in his children.You can find Tamer’s deli at www.bonafidedelicatessenandcafe.com and, on Instagram, at @bonafide_cobble_hill.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Laura Sibony lives in Portland, Oregon and is pursuing her doctorate in nursing anesthesia at Oregon Health & Science University. She has been a U.S. Army reservist for the last seven years, since graduating from the University of Vermont.Our discussion covers, among other things:*her path to becoming commissioned as an officer in the Army*deployments to Madagascar and Niger*technology, social media and artificial intelligence*the broad responsibilities of a Nurse Anesthetist*the post-pandemic exodus from nursing*Oregon’s outdoors, food, pace, skiing, beaches, tsunami risk and, yes, rainLaura finds hope in the love of her family and friends and the kindness of people she meets from all over the country.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Connor Rickett is based in Phoenix, Arizona but, with the remote character of his employment, travels extensively around the United States (especially in the West). In those travels, he studies and photographs wildlife and their surroundings and, perhaps more importantly, has gained optimistic insight into Americans and human beings in general.  This podcast is the result of a chance meeting between Connor and host Michael Whidden at a coffee joint in Jackson, Wyoming in August 2022 (thank you, Snake River Roasting Company!).Our discussion covers, among other things:*the advantages of getting off the interstate when driving cross-country*tracking wolves and grizzly bears*mountains get smaller as you go east; rivers get smaller as you go west*stories of unexpected commonality from an Arizona coffee shop and a Texas Walmart bathroom*connections between Americans center around everyday, “borrow the ladder” interactions, rather than politics*tips on meeting locals and starting conversations*surveillance, power, holding government accountable, manipulation of emotions and dataConnor finds hope in accepting that people are fallible but widely trying to do the right thing and in the simple observation that so many aspects of society that we take for granted (e.g., refrigeration, electricity, phones, Internet, water, cars, trains, planes, highways) work because most of us wake up and make it work.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Gabriella Timmis lives in New York, New York and is Director of Social Media for Braver Angels, one of the country’s leading organizations seeking to rebuild bridges across the political spectrum. She grew up outside Detroit, Michigan, graduated from Michigan State University and worked at NBC News.Our discussion covers, among other things:*her path from news media to bridging media via the 2020 presidential campaign*media and its polarizing effect*how we must allow people to be complex and counter with earnest curiosity*the importance and value of grassroots origins for a movement*her advice for staying engaged and sane in the upcoming election cycleGabbi finds hope in talking with fellow Americans.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Mike Myers lives in West Lafayette, Indiana and is a lifelong Hoosier.  He is currently a high school social studies teacher and previously worked in middle schools as a teacher and administrator. Mike and host Michael Whidden were connected by Dustin McKinney, the guest from podcast episode 51.Our discussion covers, among other things:*the reasons he enjoys teaching*how history may not repeat itself, but it rhymes*balancing, in a democracy, patience vs flexibility and loud voices vs quiet voices*following the Indy 500...on the radio*sugar cream pie and fried pork tenderloin (yum and yum)*notable destinations in the Hoosier StateMike finds hope in the younger generation, observing that they are more empathetic, kind, outspoken and believing in justice.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.

Claire Bishop lives in the Kansas City, Missouri area and is the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of American Public Square, a nonpartisan not-for-profit seeking to change the tone and quality of public discourse in our country.Our discussion covers, among other things:*Kansas City’s many attractions, including its arts and culinary scenes*the difference between Kansas City, in the west of Missouri, and St. Louis, in the east*contempt, curiosity and connection*American Public Square’s founding and programming to promote respectful, fact-based conversations about some of America’s most divisive issues*local journalism and local politicsClaire finds hope in the many national and local movements to build better bridges in our society, including authors who have written insightful and encouraging books about America. We are humbly grateful that she included the American Tributaries podcast among these signs of hope.You can learn more about Claire’s work by visiting www.americanpublicsquare.org and checking out the local area’s initiative to increase trust in local journalism: www.kcmediacollective.org.For quick reference, she mentioned the following books, which provide insight into rebuilding our nation’s civic connections: (a) American Nations by Colin Woodward, (b) 50 States of Mind by Ryan Bernsten, (c) Love Your Enemies by Arthur Brooks, (d) Quiet by Susan Cain and (e) The Upswing by Robert Putnam with Shaylyn Romney Garrett.American Tributaries is a podcast sponsored by American Tributaries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, NY, and dedicated to promoting fellowship and understanding in America through this podcast and through domestic travel for U.S. high school students, practicing core values of curiosity, respect, compassion and humility, unconditionally.  For more information, please visit www.AmericanTributaries.com and, on Instagram, @AmericanTributariesTravel and @AmericanTributariesPodcast.