News from the Peak

In this episode, Maureen, Gemma and Claudia sat down, each in their own living room across several miles on both sides of the Atlantic, to have a lovely conversation with visual artist Aideen Barry.Aideen Barry is a world renowned artist living and working in Cork, Ireland. In 2020 she was elected to the RHA- Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, a collective of contemporary artists and architects dedicated to the advancement of arts and culture in Ireland. She is also a member of Aosdána, a collective that honors artists whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the creative arts in Ireland.Aideen lectures regularly in several universities and schools of visual art in Ireland, the US and Europe.Claudia and Aideen met in 2013, when Aideen was one of the thirty artists in residence at the artists’ retreat Claudia directs in the summer upstate New York. In this episode, together they cherish memories, laugh together, and the four of us touch upon the complex, multilayered issues and the profound intricacies of being a mother and a professional in today’s society.We hope you will enjoy listening to these conversations, and dive into the musicality of the various accents you will hear, while we celebrate women’s accomplishments, and life, together.If you are curious about Aideen please visit her website, and follow her on Instagram.

In this episode, we had the privilege of talking with Altynai, a gifted artist from Kyrgyzstan, whose story is a powerful reminder to stay true to your passion—even when it feels like the path is not straight. Altynai shares what it’s like to be a woman creating art in a place where creative paths aren’t always supported, and how sisterhood and solidarity across the globe can spark hope and inspiration.She talks about the incredible support she received from people around her—mentors, teachers, multiple parents —and how that encouragement changed the course of her life. It reminded us that one of the most powerful ways we can make the world better is by uplifting and educating women everywhere. When we invest in women’s education and creativity, we help entire communities thrive.We also loved hearing what a regular day looks like for her and realizing how—even though our lives may look different—we’re all grappling with many of the same struggles and aspirations. It’s a heartfelt exchange about creativity, resilience, and the ripple effect of supporting one another. Don’t miss it.

Your voice is powerful—but finding it, fighting for it, and fueling it is a journey. In this episode of News from the Peak, we dive into what it means to truly own your voice, whether in personal struggles, professional challenges, or creative pursuits.Our Grays Peak Strategies teammate Shantelle Williams shares her personal journey of overcoming domestic violence and the fight to protect her business from a multibillion-dollar company. These experiences have taught her that finding her voice is just the beginning—standing firm and nurturing it is what creates lasting change.

As we celebrate International Women's Day and Women's History Month 2025, the theme "Moving Forward Together" reminds us of the power of women educating and inspiring generations. This year, my colleague Gemma Hilario from Killarney, Ireland, and I had the privilege of interviewing women from Italy, Brazil, New Zealand, and Ireland. Despite the vast distances between us, common themes emerged in our conversations—proof that, regardless of location, culture, or background, women share a collective strength and vision for the future.Hosted by Gemma Hilario and Maureen Leif, Our guests include Juliana Peixinho, and Paula Knaap, Claudia Cannizzaro, and then Claudia interviews Gemma to close out the show. Please check out the News from the Peak section of our website for much more information on our guests and this episode ..

In this episode, Maureen Leif welcomes special guests Meg York and Nesta Johnson. This episode delves into the crucial topic of parentage laws and their impact on same-sex families.   Meg York, representing Family Equality, and Nesta Johnson from the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), bring their expertise and advocacy experience to the table, discussing the importance of clear and inclusive parentage laws. They explore how these laws can support the recognition and rights of all families, regardless of sexual orientation.  York and Johnson highlight recent advancements and ongoing challenges in ensuring that same-sex parents receive equal treatment under the law. They also share insights from their collaborative work and the latest reports, including the 2023 Parentage Report by MAP Research and the policy guidance on same-sex parents and child support program requirements by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They both have such deep and amazing experience in this space yet make everything so personal and accessible for those are not as proficient. 

Maureen Leif and Liz Bullard welcome our friend from Ireland for her first of what we hope will be many appearances on our show. The three talk about executive coaching, leadership, and facing the world with positivity and grace.

On today’s show we welcome two guests – the leaders of Onyx Rising – Irma Neal and Kelli Lester Irma has been a guest on the show before, and I encourage you to check out her previous visits to News from the Peak and check out her book, Leading in Chaos – but today she is joined by Kelli, and we get a chance to hear from them on this important topic. Onyx Rising is a proven change management leader, renowned for comprehensive expertise and innovative strategies that drive meaningful, sustainable change. Their qualifications and expertise in DEI are rooted in a deep understanding of diverse organizational needs. They specialize in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) change management providing behavior change services and development for individuals, teams and organizations, With an approach that is inclusive, respectful, and empowering We shared LINKS TO THEIR WEBSITE in the show description and encourage you to visit for more information. We will feature Kelli and Irma at a free webinar scheduled for July 10, 2024 – at 1:00 PM Eastern 11:00 AM Mountain. Today’s episode is intended to give us some background and to start us all thinking about the issues of and around inclusive leadership, which we will explore further and in a more interactive way at the Webinar. Please visit our website for more information and details on how to register and attend. Or you can register by accessing THIS LINK. 

Join us at Grays Peak Strategies for an inspiring conversation on our latest podcast episode, dedicated to women in leadership. In this captivating discussion, we had the honor of hosting Shaneen Moore, the Deputy Assistant Commissioner at MN Department of Human Services, Kate Cooper Richardson, the Director of Child Support at the Oregon Department of Justice, and Kristi Gordy, the Senior Administrator for Economic Security, and Child Support Director with the Wyoming Department of Family Services. As with part 1, these members of the panel talk with Maureen Leif, reflecting on their experiences from participating in Women in Leadership panels over the past year. Host Maureen Leif says, "We dive deep into the rewards and insights gained from sharing our journeys. From breaking barriers to fostering diversity, women are instrumental in shaping the future of leadership. As leaders in our fields, we share our hopes for the next generation and discuss the importance of empowerment and creating opportunities for growth. Despite challenges such as gender bias and imposter syndrome, we offer strategies for navigating them." Tune in for valuable insights, inspiration, and advice as we celebrate women in leadership and pave the way for greater equality and empowerment. 

Join us at Grays Peak Strategies for an inspiring conversation on our latest podcast episode, dedicated to women in leadership. In this captivating discussion, we had the honor of hosting IV-D Director Erin Frisch from Michigan and Federal Office of Child Support Services Commissioner Tanguler Gray. Reflecting on our experiences from participating in Women in Leadership panels over the past year, we dive deep into the rewards and insights gained from sharing our journeys. From breaking barriers to fostering diversity, women are instrumental in shaping the future of leadership. As leaders in our fields, we share our hopes for the next generation and discuss the importance of empowerment and creating opportunities for growth. Despite challenges such as gender bias and imposter syndrome, we offer strategies for navigating them. Tune in for valuable insights, inspiration, and advice as we celebrate women in leadership and pave the way for greater equality and empowerment. 

On Valentines day in 2024, we opened the Zoom line, and Gabby Leif recorded messages of gratitude for anyone that wanted to call in. With only one day to record, I know we missed a lot of people, but we had some very nice messages from people who couldn't make it... so we hope to try this again in the future. Sharing messages of gratitude felt appropriate for Valentine's Day. But we are grateful for our listeners and supporters every day! We hope you enjoy this short episode, and we'll be back with a full episode very soon.

In this world where we tend to wear stress and being busy as a badge of honor, taking time out of work and family life to volunteer easy to overlook the profound impact that volunteering can have on both individuals and communities. From fostering a sense of purpose to building strong social connections, the benefits of volunteering are limitless. That idea that volunteering can be worth the time and effort even if you have a lot of other responsibilities is the focus of this edition of Community Table Talk from News from the Peak. I’m excited for you to hear from our esteemed panel of superpower women, Veronica Riley an owner and founder of her own consulting and training company, Stefanie Jones my best friend and the President and Founder of a successful public relation company, Feed Media, Tricia Harper, a Lead Partner for KPMG, and Janice Neal a lead consultant for Grays Peak Strategies.  Join us as we talk to our guests to uncover the transformative power of giving back. Through engaging discussions and inspiring stories we'll delve into the many ways volunteering enriches our lives and strengthens the fabric of our communities.

David Kilgore serves as the Director of the California Department of Child Support Services. At a recent Western Intergovernmental Child Support conference, David participated in a session called “the World Café”. At this session, the audience could choose various tables around the room where a discussion leader would talk to them about an innovative, or sometimes controversial topics related to the Child Support Program.    David led the table discussing something he’s been working on in California for quite a while; enhancing Self Service options for people. Of course, this leads to all kinds of other issues, like public awareness of the program, how to address the needs of families in the context of what is required, and how this might lead to a more effective and more successful program overall.   So on today’s show, we dig a little deeper into the subject of self service, and explore some really interesting ideas.

Our fourth episode on Bear Management may be our best yet. Carl Ramm returns to give us an update on his adventures trying to get the resident Alaskan Brown Bears and human visitors at Brooks Camp in Alaska to do what they're supposed to. Along the way, we hear about what it's like to be in the bear management zone, how bear management really is like human management, and what's next for Carl, who is leaving Alaska after some 40 years to live in rural Virginia. 

Taylor Hagood on Stringbean, Persistence, and the Problem of Cutting a New Path Banjo player and comedian David Akeman, known essentially all of his professional life as Stringbean, lived the kind of rags-to-riches story that was supposed to come with a happy ending.  On this episode of News from the Peak, we talk to Professor Taylor Hagood about Stringbean and the work—the very real and often quite fragile work—of writing a book about someone who has tended be seen as only important in death. Hagood is as engaging a speaker as he is a writer. A professor of literature at Florida Atlantic University, Hagood has a distinguished career as a scholar of William Faulkner, among other writers, and is a teacher and lecturer of no small renown.  Alongside all of that, he somehow finds time to perform magic and sing and play piano and banjo. A skilled visual artist and craftsman, he recently built a banjo that uses the same resonator as the one most closely associated with Stringbean (the Vega #9 Tubaphone) and closely follows it in other elements of its design.  That’s the banjo you can hear Hagood play in these three tracks that he very generously recorded for us. You will hear Cripple Creek during the interview and at the end we share two tracks in full —“Hot Corn, Cold Corn” and “Pretty Polly”. All of these are closely associated with Stringbean and Hagood plays them in the clawhammer style that Akeman favored, and on the Banjo he built during the writing of this book.

(Intro by the host, Maureen Leif) I met Pam back when I was a Deputy District Attorney working on the child support docket. She was Magistrate Gagel back then and she was hearing the child support cases. As she tells the story, we would often go at each other (in jest) because I felt like she could be lenient. In hindsight, she was always right! Pam and my colleague Emily and I would go to dinner when Pam left the bench, and it was always a fun way to connect and talk about our profession lives. From the time that I first met Pam she would talk about her work on a Title IX case Roberts v Colorado State University[1]. You can hear the passion and impact of Title IX in Pam’s voice when I ask her about her experience and what it means to her all these years later. All people, young and old, need to understand and appreciate the hard work, dedication, long hours and sacrifices made to bring Title IX into being. It is about more than just sports and had a broader impact than most people realize. [1] Roberts https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/814/1507/1765777/

On the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, we had the good fortune to speak with two amazing women who played a roll in the creation and implementation of this important milestone in education and a move toward furthering opportunities for women. On this episode, Part 1 of 2, we welcome Hall of Fame Coach, Carol Plodzien to talk about her experiences as a student athlete and coach before and after Title IX. As a coach to our own Liz Bullard, we hear their recollection of their days as Player and Coach, and the impact that the experiences had on both of them. 

We have had a couple of recent episodes, which you should check out if you haven’t already, on the LCO Good Life Camp. This camp, while an amazing experience on its own, is part of a larger grant we are working on with the LCO Tribal Child Support program. The grant is focused on responsible parenting and economic mobility. The underlying theme of the grant is the idea that by teaching young people about their own culture, we can improve these outcomes for them as they become adults. There is obviously a lot more to it than that… and that’s where our guest comes in. Today we welcome Dr. Nell Weber. Nell is a consultant and researcher with experience in parenting, parental beliefs, early childhood education, literacy, language acquisition, global citizenship, and international education. She earned her Doctorate in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and now makes her home in Charlottesville, Virginia. We talk about her research on parenting both in the US and internationally, and how that background led her to our project. We discuss the impact of culture in parenting, and why this is such a key component of our project.

Only News from the Peak brings you artist and bear management tech Carl Ramm, who saw many of this year’s contenders in action earlier this year as part of his work at Brooks Camp in Alaska’s Katmai National Park. On this episode, Carl gives us some updates from his season at Brooks Camp, and we talk about Fat Bear Jr, and Fat Bear week, and we learn even more about bears than we thought possible. For more on the competition and to see the brackets and vote, check out https://explore.org/fat-bear-week 

Part 2 of our series on the Good Life Camp features Andy Bachmann. One of our partners in this endeavor was Camp Highlands in Sayner Wisconsin. Andy is the third generation in his family to serve as the Camp Director at Camp Highlands, and he has been at camp as a camper, counselor and Director every summer for most of his life. When not in Sayner, Andy serves as Minister for Education, Outreach and Justice at the United Church of Gainesville, in Gainsville, Florida. In this episode we get Andy's thoughts on how the mission of the camp worked so well with the mission of the Good Life project, and reflects on the impact this had on him and his staff, and what he sees for the future of this program. Don't forget to check out the previous episode and watch for more on the Good Life Camp, and the Good Life project coming soon. 

This is the first in our multi episode series about the Good Life Grant, and the Culture Camp. This summer Lac Courte Oreilles Child Support Services (LCO CSS) launched its first ever cultural camp for youth. The camp is part of The Good Life Vision project, which brings LCO CSS together with community partners to preserve, strengthen, and renew Ojibwe values in the LCO youth by providing opportunities to learn about the culture’s history, values, and practices to support Good Life parenting and reduce the negative effects of generations of cultural trauma. The LCO Cultural Camp is one of the many programs in the works this year to develop culturally relevant and long-sustainable curricula and other tools for middle school, high school, and college students and young parents. On this episode of the News from Peak’s podcast, Melinda McKevitt-Isham, who was the lead from the LCO CSS office, shares her perspectives on the goals of the camp with us, how it turned out, discuss with us lessons learned, and the impact she has already seen on the youth and the community at large, and hopes to build on in the future.