Herb Batterson looks back on 1960, when he was a freshman in high school, and a night with his two friends, neither of whom lived a long life.

Matthew Vinci, Fire Chief for Spokane County Fire District 9, joined us to share about his journey from firefighter to national advocate for firefighters to fire chief and all the successes and challenges along the way. To learn more about Matt and the work of Fire District 9, go to www.scfd9.org.

Kristina Kenagy joined us to share a powerful and vulnerable story of growing up in very challenging circumstances with undiagnosed autism. She shares about the challenges she overcame and the work she now does in building community and connection. If you'd like to learn more about Kristina, you can find her website here,

Ana Alonzo Juarez joined us to tell her story of coming to the United States, being welcomed by a foster family in Spokane, learning English and graduating from high school, and now beginning college to study Social Work.

Ana is a student and an immigrant from Guatemala. She lives with an amazing foster family and loves spending time outdoors.

Find out more about Lutheran Community Services Northwest Refugee Foster Care program.

Bob Stout, the Development Director at FāVS News and a Realtor in Idaho and Washington joined us to share about growing up a ranch with a father from a much older generation. He shares about all the things he learned and took with him into his life now. You can follow the work with FāVS News here and find out about Bob's real estate business here.

Chauncey Jones, Executive Director of Take Up the Cause and Partner in A Better Way, joined us to share about the power of his grandmother's love and stabile home. Through the love of his grandmother, Hannah Jones, Chauncey received unconditional love and a stable place to call home. Chauncey now takes the lessons his Grams gave him and works to provide housing through Take Up the Cause and A Better Way.

Chauncey Jones is a Beloved Community developer and wealth esteem builder.

Aimee Brooks, from Banana Slug Books, joined us to share here journey in creative writing, applying for and receiving a SAGA grant, and the creation of Spokane Campfire Stories, a soon to be released anthology of creative writing by Spokane area writers.

You can join Aimee and her team for a Campfire Stories Merch Party at Spokane Print & Publishing Center on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 from 5 PM to 8 PM.

Look for the release of Spokane Campfire Stories with a Launch Party on Friday, August 22, 2025 from 7 to 10 PM at the Frist Memorial Fireplace at Manito Park.

You can learn more about Aimee's work at Banana Slug Books.

Braxton Jones joined us to share the story of welcoming his first pet, a black cat named Jack. When he and his family welcomed Jack, they also welcomed joy, mischievousness, and a new family member who shares and receives love. To learn more about adopting a pet through the Spokane Humane Society, you can click here.

Braxton Jones is entering the second grade this fall. He is a baseball and soccer player, he loves friends, Minecraft, and Legos, he is a cat enthusiast, and in the opinion of the podcast producer, the best little boy in the world.