Swan Dive

As Executive Director of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, TN, Jeff Kollath oversees the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Stax Records and American soul music. Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, John Lee Hooke, Booker T & the MGs and the endless Stax roster of musical icons produced  songs that stirred our souls and shared our collective story, a story born of pain and glory, rags and riches, love and lust. Stax liberated our hearts and freed our hips to move like nobody was watching. Kollath, brandishing a BA and Masters in History, shares the complex STAX story everday, highlighting the granular details of each artist and the revolution they created. And overseeing magnificent installations that capture the moments when musical and cultural magic happened in a beaten up corner of Memphis. Kollath has researched and written extensively about soul music and Black culture during the Civil Rights and Black Power eras. Prior to arriving in Memphis in 2015, Kollath created dynamic public programming and exhibitions for the UW-Madison Center for the Humanities, the Milwaukee County Historical Society, and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. Memphis Magazine Interview Photo Max Gersh / The Commercial AppealShare your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

Clark Butcher will be the first to tell you he is addicted to endurance athletics. He started running age 7, completed his first half marathon at 11 and discovered triathlons at 14, where he naturally excelled in cycling. By 16, Clark was competing in the Junior World Cup in Canada, National Championships and pro-caliber events throughout the US. This culminated in 2002, when Butcher spent a summer racing throughout Europe with the German National Team. Clark founded Victory Bicycle Studio in Memphis in 2010 and has grown it from a part-time project to a national industry leader in bicycle retail. Victory is to bike shops what the Apple Store is to electronics. And his "Couch to 50" program has changed the way a community finds both fitness and friendship on a bicycle. One of his many satisfied customers said it best, "No matter what you do, every time he gives some information, something sticks that didn’t stick before.”Couch to 50 video!Share your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

Chris Jenkins is Head of Production in University of California, Santa Barbara’s Film & Media Studies Department. He has been behind the lens of many notable and award-winning documentaries. His work has aired on Netflix, PBS, Discovery, The History Channel, Sundance Channel and on and on. Prior to receiving his Masters in Documentary Film & Video from Stanford, Chris was in East Africa as a United Nations Volunteer working with and capturing on film tribal cultures, animals, the plight of refugees and much more. Before that he bicycled to southern Chile on assignment for National Geographic en route to a year as an Ambassadorial Scholar. His harrowing adventures and riveting stories are endless!http://cjpictures.comCheck out “Vera Cruz” from CJ on Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/121515049Photo by Steve GlassShare your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

Hollywood Creative Director and Graphic Artist, Gary Adler, has a blackbelt in branding on a global scale.  He moved to LA in 1986 to chase his dream and, after  decades designing for the film industry’s best, from Disney to Dreamworks, Warner Bros,  Sony and Fox, he’s seen it all. If you watched Nightmare Before Christmas, you’ve seen Gary's work. He sold a wonderful screenplay to Harold Ramis but, like so many Hollywood dreams, bad timing kept it on the shelf. Still, Gary lived well off his creative chops in the take-no-prisoners world of movie making. And is now exploring new avenues on his creative journey.  Contact- https://vimeo.com/163206699http://linkedin.com/in/gary-adler-3852579Share your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

Taylor Keen has an astonishing resume: Golden Gloves boxer, Dartmouth undergrad, Harvard MBA and Masters in Public Administration. Business man. Indigenous leader, Strategy consultant and full-time instructor in Corporate Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Creighton University. But at his core, Taylor is a storyteller. And the stories he tells are those of his tribal people. Harvard did a magnificent feature on Taylor last Dec titled, Singing To the Corn, where they wrote: “Corn thrives when sung to and spoken to—something Taylor Keen does in the language of his mother’s Omaha Tribe, where he is known as Bison Mane. Keen is also an active member of the Cherokee Nation, his father’s people, where his tribal name is Blackberry. He grew up between Omaha and the Cherokee reservation in northeastern Oklahoma ..." IN 2014, Taylor founded Sacred Seed whose goal is preserving Native American heritage in history through collecting, growing and spreading the seeds of corn and other traditional Native American foods. This incredible polymath has seen a great deal and gained much wisdom, which he generously shares on Swan Dive.Watch Sacred Seed video Recommended books on Indigenous Culture:Bury My Heart at Wounded KneeCuster Died for Your SinsGod is RedCorn Among the Indians of the Upper MissouriBraiding SweetgrassShare your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

In 2019, Miami New Times tweeted “Does anyone know Miami music better than Lolo Reskin?” Music is in this woman’s blood. Lauren Reskin, better known as Lolo, is founder of Miami’s iconic, Sweat Records. Lolo’s father is a Julliard graduate, professional trumpet player, and composer. Her grandmother, a concert violinist. Even her great uncle, Alan Freed, was the (in)famous 1950’s radio DJ who coined the phrase “rock and roll.” In 2005 Lolo opened Sweat Records, a must visit destination for vinyl lovers in Miami. She’s a sought-after DJ and leading music tastemaker, who is in it for the love of culture and community. As a native Miamians, we can say that this woman is a bona fide local hero. Find awesome new music right now at SweatRecords.comShare your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

Katie Hathaway's swan dive moment came as her 7-yr-old son got in the car at school pickup and said, "Mom, I know it. We’re gonna be the first classroom shot up. We’re closest to the front of the school." Katie's heart sank. That any child would have such a thought, let alone when they’re supposed to be safe at school, made her sick. She knew she had to do some thing. Katie started by scheduling a meeting with her state representative who referred to himself as the Florida Gun Lawyer. As a former business woman, she knew she needed to bring the facts, not just sheer emotion, into that meeting. It was a tough conversation. Now, Katie is a leading volunteer with Moms Demand Action, devoting her life to righting the wrongs of gun violence, school censorship and other hot-button issues. She's been quoted by President Biden and is as fearless as she is emotional about the rightness of her efforts. Katie's motto is, “This work isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Twitter @khathaway1Share your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

In the mid-1990s, Andy Peay and his brother, Nick, set out to find land for the vineyard they dreamt of creating. Eventually, they settled on a property in California’s West Sonoma Coast, an old sheep farm and apple orchard. Here, the brothers, along with star winemaker and Nick’s wife, Vanessa Wong, built Peay Vineyards, 53 acres of vines with six different grapes, where they make elegant, refined wines that are an expression of the land on which they are grown, land which, according to the NYT, “offers distinctive qualities shown transparently in their wines, primarily complex, polished pinot noirs; savory syrahs; fresh, intense chardonnays; and smaller amounts of vibrant Rhône whites.” Peay won SF Chronicle’s 2010 Winery of The Year, and for good reason. Andy’s wines are now poured in the finest restaurants in America, and are objectively sublime. Drink this wine and enjoy Andy’s inspiring journey.Learn more about Peay Vineyards here.Share your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

“Crazy is a prerequisite in this shit." -- George ClintonClinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic collective is considered one of the foremost innovators of funk …  and his music made asses shake worldwide, including ours. With over 40 hit singles and three at #1, Clinton has been sampled by everyone from Dr. Dre to Tupac and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2019, George and Parliament-Funkadelic were given Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards. Wiz Khalifa stars as George in the brand new film, "Spinning Gold," about his time on Casablanca Records with such mega-acts as Kiss, Donna Summer and the Village People. Multi-talented, this Renaissance man also paints (though he's colorblind) and recently had an exhibition at the illustrious Deitch Gallery in LA. At his essence, George is a  philosopher who gave us all the secret to living well when he sang, “Put a glide in your stride and a dip in your hip … And come on up to the Mothership.” We are so honored and delighted to welcome this fine, legendary soul to Swan Dive!Follow his intergalactic journey @YoLikeGeorgeShare your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

David William Carson's heart lives among the tall trees and endless oceans. This environmental scientist, entrepreneur and artist was raised in the forests of upstate New York. He earned a Master's degree in Environment and Resource Management in Amsterdam after pivoting from a rocky career in tech and finance. Now 31, David  recently started his dream job as executive director of the Rogers Center, a 600-acre nature sanctuary and environmental education facility in upstate New York whose historic lands have been cherished by four generations of his family. David is elated to be living and working close to family, back in his hometown as a steward of the forest he grew up in. Learn more at www.friendsofrogers.orgShare your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

In 1984, Keith Pariani and eight fellow enthusiasts left San Francisco on antique "high-wheeled" Columbia bicycles, following the path across the USA taken 100 years earlier by pioneer Thomas Stephens. They rode these awkward contraptions which have no brakes and only one gear across the entire country, through sun and rain, over the Rockies and vast stretches of emptiness, finishing 61 days later in Boston. The classic bike Keith rode, along with his extraordinary collection of antique bikes, is currently on display in the "Ride On" exhibit at the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, FL, housed in the former Hotel Alcazar, built in 1888, when these bikes were all the rage. ollected over a lifetime, Keith’s bikes represent the intersection of engineering and art from the "Gilded Age." But, they also represent the culmination of his Swan Dive, the first time this shy yet passionate enthusiast and successful entrepreneur received the recognition he deserves for honoring a lifelong obsession. Keith reminds us all that we can chase our dreams and let our "freak flags fly," no matter how eclectic, alongside our our day jobsLearn More about "Ride On" at the Lightner MuseumShare your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

All day, every day, we each tell stories about who we are and how we are. Collectively, we speak of “controlling the narrative,” both positively and negatively. Rick Stone tells stories for a living and is one of the world’s foremost experts on the power of storytelling. He began in advertising and has dedicated the past 30 years to bringing back this ancient art form in service of teaching, learning and connecting people worldwide. As the CEO of StoryWork International, Rick uses story-telling based training programs to help fortify interpersonal relationships and for team building and leadership development, helping professionals add deeper purpose and meaning to their work and life at Disney, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Hewlett Packard and many more. His latest book, Story Intelligence, co-authored with Scott Livengood, helps each of us become a master of our story and amplify and unleash every aspect of our IQ and EQ (emotional intelligence). Learn more at Storyintelligence.comAnd check out TheCentralFire.net where you can bring the delight of storytelling to your own community and join other communities of amazing raconteurs. Share your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

With sold out tours, millions of followers on social and growing critical acclaim, Jake Miller has quietly emerged as a magnetic pop presence. He has done this on his own terms with an infectious, high energy style that’s full of optimism and fun as hell. His fans, dubbed “The Millertary,” are so devoted that many tattoo his lyrics on their body. Florida-raised and LA-based, this singer, songwriter, and producer made waves with 2014’s Dazed and Confused EP. The title track to his 2015 project, Rumors, gathered tens of millions of streams. Jake’s been making heartfelt music steadily ever since … and has shared the stage with the late Mac Miller (who Jake cite as a major influence), Ariana Grande and Shawn Mendes to name a few. He recently performed on NBC’s Today Show and LIVE with Kelly and Ryan. Jake continues to inspire on a series of 2022 singles and his forthcoming fifth full-length album.Click Here for to learn more about Jake's tour, music and moreClick Here to see Oscar from the Office on Tic Tok Share your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

Nothing is more gratifying then when a listener calls to share that a discussion on Swan Dive influenced their life choices in a positive way. A recent call with an old coworker of Ron’s was exactly that and explored this listener’s “great resignation” opportunity. This prompted Ron and Stu to revisit some of the key and critical aspects of their own swan dives. In this short episode, your hosts look back at some of the more pragmatic details surrounding their decisions to chase their dreams and discuss the “new wealth” concept, in which time represents the truest and most important currency of all. If you have a story to share or have heard something in this podcast that prompted some action in your life, please reach out and share!Click Here to connect with Swan Dive!Share your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

Christian Boos is one of the most sought out surf and sportfishing guides on the North Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. He grew up in the ocean in Venezuela. At university in Caracas, he majored in computer engineering, a field of study he felt pressured into by society’s expectations of him. But after just 3 months working as a computer engineer in the early 2000s, Boos quit his job and moved to Costa Rica to find a more satisfying and simpler life. A few years later, he started Boos Adventures where, for the past 14 years, he has captained his boats and spent each day pursuing his passions along with his clients. With 4000+ trips under his belt and a reputation for excellent customer service and nautical wisdom, his company’s slogan says it all - “All we do is surf and fish.”Boos Adventures Surf & Fish ChartersShare your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

Sheryl Johnson is good at what she does. She’s a fine lawyer, happily married and the mother of four. But one of Sheryl‘s children, Alex, suffered from mental illness and anxiety. And, like so many with this disease, her son did not find in society the care and understanding that was needed. Alex took his own life in 2017, a victim of the pain of depression. Sheryl and her family struggled for a long time with the weight of this unthinkable tragedy. Then, the universe sent Sheryl a sign by way of a dragonfly. And since that time, Sheryl has used what she learned from her beautiful eldest son to make the world a gentler and more helpful place for people suffering  mental illness. She created  the non-profit, hearts4minds.org, dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of mental health and connecting those in need to those that provide. Hearts 4 Minds received the “Positively Jax” award in May 2021 in recognition for the impact made in the community, and Sheryl has found joy and profound purpose in this endeavor. This episode of Swan Dive will leave you feeling hopeful not sad. For Sheryl is a warrior who is truly making the world a better place.Click Here to learn more about Hearts 4 Minds Share your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

Large animal veterinarian, Eric Dubbin, is a gentle and curious soul who was good at his job. “I knew which end of the horse got the hay,” this thoughtful healer says modestly. Still, after 18 years serving cows, horses and goats in the rural countryside, something shifted, when serendipity offered him a new opportunity. Instead of serving animals his new gig would be about people, helping leadership lead better, find deeper job satisfaction, find inner peace. A people person, Eric found connecting with humans and serving their deep needs made him very happy. And so, he left the veterinary field to coach his colleagues on how to find more enriching and productive lives … just as he did. Eric quotes Viktor Frankl in describing this unexpected transition, "We don’t create our purpose in life so much as we detect it.”  We hope you enjoy his wonderful and unexpected Swan Dive. Click Here to subscribe to Swan Dive on Apple Podcasts and please leave a review.Share your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

Mitzi Rapkin is the founder, host, and producer of the long-running podcast, First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing,  featuring in-depth conversations with the world's most distinguished literary writers of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and essays. One of the best interviewers in the biz, her archive contains more than 380 interviews accumulated over nine years. Mitzi reads 50 BOOKS A YEAR, that's one a week, to produce up to 52 exquisite episodes/year, each meticulously covering the  craft, creativity and  themes of a writer’s work. She consciously cultivates conversations that evolve from the mechanics and quirks of a writer's process to questions on what it means to be human. She quit her cushy government day job two days before this episode recorded and told us, “I’m not sure if I'm diving or just falling, but hey,  here I go!”Subscribe to FIrst Draft: A Dialogue on Writing  Learn more about Mitzi’s work as a facilitator and life coach - http://www.fulllightcommunications.com/Share your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

“I’m not inherently brave. I was very much in a life that, outside of being queer, had checked off all the American dream boxes: job, child, house, partner that loved me. It was a good relationship, we paid our bills,  I mowed the yard … had cookouts. And then I met my partner (Bret) at a birthday party. I quit my job without a plan … It was in that moment that I was either gonna live authentically or not live very well, despite what on the outside looked really lovely.” Pete Barma, with her wife Bret, recently premiered their latest short film, Pete, at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. For this lifelong educator and storyteller, the struggle to live authentically, to love fully and to grow into the best version of herself led her to take an extraordinarily bold leap of faith. That swan dive resulted in Pete finding not only the true love of her life but also a new career as a highly talented filmmaker. Her, short animated, autobiographical film, Pete, tells the story of a little girl named Pete who just wanted to play baseball with the boys, despite the noise coming from "concerned" parents who didn't approve of a girl like this in the mid 1970's. Whoopie Goldberg, one of Tribeca's curators of animated shorts, fell in love with Pete  when she watched it with her granddaughter who also loved it. Petey's wife, Bret Parker, co-founder of Artfarm Productions, is a veteran filmmaker with 26 years at Pixar.  In 2019, Parker and Pete directed their first feature documentary, Through The Windows. Pete is their second film with many more on the way. Click Here for more information about "Pete" and Artfarm Productions. Share your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us

During his nine years as a pro hockey legend from 1972-81, Ron Andruff shared in 3 Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens. He won two Most Valuable Player awards with three major professional hockey leagues. He also won the American Hockey League Scoring Title. During and after his athletic career, Andruff lent his name and support to important causes, from Big Brothers to cancer, water conservation and many others. An entrepreneur and tech pioneer, Andruff started numerous companies in sports marketing, advertising, travel and beyond. His current consultancy focuses on creating a safer internet where patients in need can be sure that medicines purchased online are both fairly priced and efficacious.Share your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us