Diary of a Nation

Correctional officers are exposed to violence, injury and death by virtue of their roles inside the prison system. They confront some of the same challenges that police officers, firefighters and combat military personnel face.  Kelly started working as a CO at age 19 and spent 31 years in the position. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

Be advised. This interview contains graphic descriptions of war and death and violence and may not be suitable for all audiences.  New Hampshire-based photographer Patrick Patterson documents human rights and conflict. He is a witness to a death row execution, the war in Ukraine and immigrant migration in this country. In this episode, Patrick eloquently humanizes the people he photographs. The fundraising platform United 24 can be accessed at: u24.gov.ua. You can support Patrick’s work by purchasing his photos at: williampatrickphotography.com.  Look for an upcoming photo essay on my Substack where Patrick collaborates with me and shares the photos of some of the people whose stories you heard. Just for podcast listeners like you, I’m offering a 20% discount on a Substack subscription. Simply navigate to: diaryofanation.substack.com/podcastoffer. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

As a nurse practitioner, Karin Chen focuses on women’s health care. As a labor and delivery nurse, she has assisted children giving birth to children and women giving birth to babies they had to turn around and bury. Today, she practices in Lowell, Massachusetts, a Boston suburb. We discuss her career, her thoughts on the health care system and the path to healing personal pain. This episode references Dr. Gabor Maté's book, The Myth of Normal. The documentary featuring him is called The Wisdom of Trauma. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

Can you run a mile? How about 200 miles? Ed Clifford can. He's a second-generation musher who transitioned to ultra running when he turned 50. When he isn't running, he's busy building a log cabin in southern New Hampshire with his partner, Dawn. I recorded this interview on the porch outside their cabin. Photo credit: Bethany Hoyt Photography. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

Ever since I read the book Working by Studs Terkel, I've been interested in what people do for a living. The book is a collection of interviews with people who talk about their jobs. Some of my podcast episodes are a nod to that book, like earlier episodes with a makeup artist, a hospice chaplain, a politician and a policeman. For this interview, I sat down with two flight attendants to discuss their careers. Together, they have 80 years of experience in the air. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

Over the course of his careers as a police detective and an animal cruelty investigator, Steve Sprowl has seen the worst of humanity. He's a retired detective from the Rochester, NH, police department, where Sprowl spent 25 years. Today, he works as an animal cruelty investigator at the New Hampshire SPCA. Be advised, we discuss disturbing crimes and cases of animal cruelty in this interview. The NHSPCA receives no federal or state funding and relies entirely on community support. Paws Walk, the organization's largest annual fundraiser, takes place next month. To register or to donate, visit https://nhspca.org/paws-walk. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

War causes so much needless suffering, and Russia’s war with Ukraine is one distressing illustration. New Hampshire resident Marianna Lundberg grew up in Ukraine, in the port city of Odessa. Today, her mother and grandmother remain in Ukraine. In this episode, Marianna shares stories of her country and its people as they live in the midst of the Russian invasion.  Photo credit: Leila White, Y'R Charm Photography. https://www.yrcharmphoto.com. Here are several organizations that help the people of Ukraine:   https://razomforukraine.org. Razom means “together” in Ukrainian. Together, the organization works to build a better future for the people of Ukraine.  https://www.sunflowerofpeace.com. Sunflower of Peace is a Boston-based non-profit that provides medical and humanitarian aid for paramedics and doctors in areas of Ukraine that are affected by the violence.  https://www.sbcnh.org/welcome/en. For a resource local to New Hampshire, reach out to the Slavic Baptist Church in Londonderry to donate supplies or money.   https://ukraine.welcome.us. Welcome.US is a humanitarian group for refugee resettlement. Most people who live legally in the US may apply to sponsor Ukrainian migrants, as long as they can provide financial support.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

The New Hampshire high school teacher I interviewed for this episode did something quite rare in his profession. He quit during the school year. After 17 years in the classroom. His story is one experience, but I imagine his challenges mirror what any number of other teachers across the country face today. Please be advised that some of the issues he describes may be disturbing to hear.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

Carolyn Plummer has worked as a comic for nearly 25 years, and she's in the process of filming a sitcom pilot, "Finding the Funny". Later this year, she's slated to perform in Boston at "Comics Come Home", the longest-running comedy fundraiser in the US. I recently lured her into my basement for an interview. Look for Carolyn's upcoming shows at carolynplummer.com. More information on "Comics Come Home" at: camneelyfoundation.org/comics-come-home. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

Fred Marple is to New Hampshire what Garrison Keillor is to Minnesota. That is to say, Fred has a vivid imagination. Fred is an author, playwright, humorist, cartoonist, singer and songwriter. His most important role is serving as the official spokesman for Frost Heaves, a quaint New England town that flies under the radar, despite his half-hearted attempts to promote it. Listen as Fred and I share our love of his home state of New Hampshire and my home state of Oklahoma. Learn more about Fred at fredmarple.com.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

James Osborne is one of the coldest people to ever survive dry land hypothermia. He watched his friend die of the same fate during a winter hike in the White Mountains, and then James went unconscious himself. He left the hospital with several amputations, but the accident also led him to find love again.  This interview is a follow-up to the previous episode in which New Hampshire author Ty Gagne details the mountain rescue and recovery effort in his book, The Last Traverse. You can order a signed copy of Gagne's book at: fullconditionsnh.com.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

A New York woman climbed four of the famed Seven Summits but lost her life in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The core body temperature of a New Hampshire man dropped to a record 76 degrees in an unrelated climbing accident that killed his hiking buddy on the same mountain range.  Ty Gagne is the author of two books that explored those winter climbing accidents. He's the CEO of Primex, the New Hampshire Public Risk Management Exchange. He's also a certified wilderness first responder. His risk management strategies apply to the outdoors, the office and everyday life.  Order Ty's books or read his essays at: fullconditionsnh.com.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

The following episode contains explicit language and descriptions of disturbing incidents. My guest spent a decade in prison after he accepted a plea deal on drug conspiracy and gun charges. He went from stashing hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash under his bed at home to earning a few dollars a day in federal prison while managing over $200 million in military contracts.  The United States is the incarceration capital of the world. We're home to just 4% of the global population but nearly 25% of the world's incarcerated. Do Americans commit more crimes than other people, or are other factors at play? Listen as we explore the issue together.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

In New Hampshire, this summer was a banner season for mushrooms. Enthusiast Christine Gagnon with the Uncanoonuc Foraging Company recently led me on a walk in the woods and schooled me on the science of mushrooms. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

From opposing the death penalty despite the murder of his father to opposing nuclear power to defend the will of the people, the impact of Renny Cushing's activism reaches beyond the borders of his home state of New Hampshire. The state representative continues to dedicate his life to a wide range of social justice issues, but a diagnosis of prostate cancer is now making demands on his time.  Photo credit: Jim Cole, Associated Press. Update: Renny passed away on March 7, 2022. Obituary in The New York Times: https://tinyurl.com/uv2enbzm. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

Worldwide, one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds. Steve Boczenowski's son, Jeffrey, died by suicide. So did my first boyfriend. Together, Steve and I share our loved ones' stories and discuss how to prevent more suicides. If you're struggling, help is available. Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting “home” to 741741. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

A Saudi Arabian cat that immigrated to New Hampshire. A rooster that helped a teenager get to college. A dog that evaded cop cars and a helicopter. A raccoon that overstayed its welcome. A poodle with a Tinder profile. Through a series of short stories, this episode explores our bonds with our pets. Some stories are funny. Some are sad. Some aren't even appropriate for children. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

Abortion is a constitutional right, though access in the US often depends on your resources and your zip code. New Hampshire activists Eileen and Bob serve as clinic escorts, enabling women to access abortion and other forms of reproductive health care by providing a safe barrier between patients and protestors.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

Were he alive, Harold Ward would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year. As the oldest resident in town, he was the recipient of the Boston Post Cane. As the first Black family in Lee, New Hampshire, the Ward family left a positive and enduring impression. On his deathbed, Harold recounted family stories and asked his son Michael Cameron Ward to preserve the memories in writing. The result is a collection of books titled "Sketches of Lee". Learn more at www.sketchesoflee.com.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

New Hampshire mother Carrie Cariello has five children. One of her sons has autism. She's a blogger and the author of two memoirs. Her experience has broadened my understanding of autism, and I hope her stories will do the same for you. Books: Someone I'm With Has Autism and What Color is Monday? How Autism Changed One Family for the Better. Subscribe to Carrie's blog by visiting: carriecariello.com. Additional resources: autismspeaks.org.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message