Episodes
Friday Mar 01, 2024
Rhymes With - EMS - Steve Vanden Brink
Friday Mar 01, 2024
Friday Mar 01, 2024
Photo Courtesy of WinnMed
Emergency Management Services are often not thought of until there is a time of need. Police, Fire, Ambulance, First Responders – all provide essential community services, and face unique challenges in much of our rural regions. Steve Vanden Brink has been serving Decorah and NE Iowa for over 30 years as an EMT and Director of Ambulance Services at WinnMed in Decorah, as well as the Decorah Fire Department’s Public Education Officer.
While Steve’s story started as a young person, people of all walks find themselves called to serve in the EMS community. EMTs (Emergency Management Technicians) particularly serve a critical link in emergency health and response situations – and are also facing a shortage across the country, including the rural Midwest. Opportunities exist for everything from volunteer first responders to professional career EMTs and flight medics. In NE Iowa, NICC (NE Iowa Community College) has also partnered to help offer training and career paths in EMT services.
Image Courtesy of DFD
We offer up a huge thanks to those in the EMS world and especially to Steve for taking time to talk to us about his experiences and the opportunities available in the EMS world. If you’d like to find out more, reach out to Steve at WinnMed – 563-382-2911
"Rhymes With Decorah" is a companion project of Inspire(d) Media.
Original music heard in this podcast performed and recorded by Nick Zielinski of Decorah. Find him on Instagram @indicative_of_drumming
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Rhymes With - Oneota Valley Community Orchestra
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Monday Feb 19, 2024
The Oneota Valley Community Orhestra has been bringing incredible performances to NE Iowa for 10 years! Join founder and musical director Matt Cody, along with musician and board member Benjamin Kratchmer as we talk all things OVCO.
The organization, started in 2014, was brougth to life to present live classical music to the residents of the Oneota Valley, promote music education, and provide the opportunity for amateur and professional musicians to continue the lifelong study and performance of classical music. A decade in, the organization has covered a lot of ground, a lot of music, and is playing bright into the future.
Musicians interested in learning more about performing with the OVCO can submit their information online here.
The Orchestra is also always looking for engaged board members (musicians or not!), as well as those helping advance the organization in other volunteer rolls. Interested? Check out the details.
Each season of performances are unique, and often include special guests as part of the repertoire. Check out this season's schedule and more. Several performances are even available on the OVCO's YouTube Channel - which you can watch here.
You can also support the symphony by making a tax-deductible donation today. Your support helps continue bringing classical masterpieces to residents of Decorah and surrounding communities as well as provide opportunities for amateur and professional musicians to continue a lifelong study of classical music.
Lute by OVCO musician and craftsman Benjmain Kratchmer
"Rhymes With Decorah" is a companion project of Inspire(d) Media.
Original music heard in this podcast performed and recorded by Nick Zielinski of Decorah. Find him on Instagram @indicative_of_drumming
Monday Feb 12, 2024
Rhymes With - Liuda Skorlupina and Maryna Nading
Monday Feb 12, 2024
Monday Feb 12, 2024
Liudmyla Skorlupina is a Ukrainian English teacher, currently living with her son Zhenia in the US. They are from Bucha, Ukraine, and were able to participate in the “Uniting for Ukraine” Federal humanitarian program, which allows them to spend up to two years in the US with a host sponsor family.
Liuda and Luther College Professor of Anthropology Maryna Nading have known each other since their upper schooling days in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine. (Maryna is a past guest of the show – hear that episode here.) Through Nading’s work with the Luther College Paideia program, Liudmyla is visiting Decorah to present the Paideia lecture “Public Anthropology and the Common Good: Costly Lessons of Bearing Witness to War” on February 13, 2024 (An online link to the presentation may be found here).
Liuda Skorlupina
Liuda is a Ukrainian native, and has lived with her family in Bucha (Ukraine) for over a decade – a suburb of about 60,000 just 20 miles the Capital city Kiev.
When the Russian invasion of Ukraine ramped up in February of 2022, Bucha became a cross roads of invading Russian troops, with intense fighting now known as the “Bucha Massacre”. These brutal attacks on the people of Bucha led to hundreds of civilian and prisoner of war deaths, with documented torture, rape, and mass graves left in the wake of the Russian forces. When Bucha was retaken by Ukrainian forces in late March 2022, the full extent of the atrocities came to light, with US President Biden calling for Russian President Vladimir Putin to face war crimes charges. An outrage across the world was sparked, marking even more severe sanctions against Russia by the US & Allies.
While many recovery efforts have been made in Bucha since the Spring of 2022 (as much of the fighting has moved into Eastern Ukraine), the City, along with Liuda’s family, are still facing many daily challenges. We thank Liuda and Maryna for helping share these stories with our listeners and our region – and hope that Liuda and Zhenia’s first trip to the upper Midwest was a positive one.
Maryna Nading
You can hear the previous episode of “Rhymes With Decorah” featuring Maryna Nading here. If you would like to connect with Maryna or help by donating funds to on-the-ground, grass roots organizations, please feel free to contact her at: bazyma01@luther.edu
The US Department of State also has an excellent Fact Sheet / web resource for informational sources about the conflict in Ukraine, as well as ways to support relief efforts for the Ukrainian people. Click here for international NGOs and Non Profit Organizations, as well as free resources and information on hosting, visas, mental health / trauma, and more.
"Rhymes With Decorah" is a companion project of Inspire(d) Media.
Original music heard in this podcast performed and recorded by Nick Zielinski of Decorah. Find him on Instagram @indicative_of_drumming
Monday Feb 05, 2024
Rhymes With Olivia Schnur - Mental Health Writer
Monday Feb 05, 2024
Monday Feb 05, 2024
Olivia Lynn Schnur is a writer, Mental Health Counselor, and yoga teacher, with roots in NE Iowa! You may have read some of Olivia's pieces in the pages of Inspire(d) over the past 4+ years, as she and Aryn have partnered to present various themes and topics throughout each issue. Olivia has a wealth of experience to draw from with her background as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, and an EMDRIA-Certified EMDR Therapist. Yoga is also part of Olivia's path, including becoming 200-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher and a Reiki Master, including additional training in trauma-sensitive yoga and yin yoga.
We can't thank Olivia enough for all her contributions to Inspire(d). We also invite you to look back at articles and issues from the past, including the "tear out" worksheets that you can download at the Inspire(d) website.
Find out more about Olivia's work at https://oliviaschnur.com/
Thanks for listening!
"Rhymes With Decorah" is a companion project of Inspire(d) Media.
Original music heard in this podcast performed and recorded by Nick Zielinski of Decorah. Find him on Instagram, Patreon, TikTok and more @indicative_of_drumming
Friday Jan 19, 2024
Rhymes With Decorah - Kim Karr - Digital4Good #ICanHelp
Friday Jan 19, 2024
Friday Jan 19, 2024
Decorah Native Kim Karr started her professional career in high school education, and quickly realized a need in the digital world - social media specifically, and the way that young people interact. Fast forward, and Kim has been the Executive Director of Digital4Good and #ICanHelp for a decade - making positive impact on a world wide audience.
Digital4Good and #ICanHelp are agents of change committed to creating awareness of the mental health and digital safety of students and adults. Their work is focused on youth digital empowerment, and preventing cyberbullying or other types of abuse, through education and the promotion of student leadership.
Digital4Good is a Non Profit entity that is powered by three goals: Educate. Engage. Lead.
Programs include:
- Student Leadership through Internships, Volunteers, and Mentors.
- Digital Citizenship Education via Curriculums, Courses, and Training.
- Community Engagement in Social Media, Events, and Webinars.
You can support the work of Decorah Native Kim Karr and the Non Profit Digital4Good and #ICanHelp by learning more or donating here.
"Rhymes With Decorah" is a companion project of Inspire(d) Media.
Original music heard in this podcast performed and recorded by Nick Zielinski of Decorah. Find him on Instagram, Patreon, TikTok and more @indicative_of_drumming
Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
Rhymes With Decorah - DCSD Superintendent Tim Cronin
Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
Decorah Community School District Superintendent Tim Cronin joins us for this episode of "Rhymes With Decorah" to talk about his long family ties to Decorah, generations of educators, the successes and challenges our School district faces, and the perfect "Decorah" day!
Dr. Cronin's path found him attending Luther College for undergrad studies (and basketball!) before making his way to UW, and the University of Iowa where he completed his PHD. And while education was paramount in the Cronin Family, Tim found that his experiences and interests really led him to higher administrative positions and work. With more than three decades of experience - from elementary classroom teacher to principal, and being a superintendent (amongst many other positions), Cronin continues to look forward to guiding the DCSD.
We thank Superintendent Cronin for sharing his time with us for this show - and hope to have more conversations in the future.
Find out more about the Decorah Community School District here.
"Rhymes With Decorah" is a companion project of Inspire(d) Media.
Original music heard in this podcast performed and recorded by Nick Zielinski of Decorah. Find him on Instagram, Patreon, TikTok and more @indicative_of_drumming
Tuesday Jan 02, 2024
Rhymes With Decorah -Winter 2024 - The Fam!
Tuesday Jan 02, 2024
Tuesday Jan 02, 2024
Welcome to 2024 - and welcome back to "Rhymes With Decorah"!
On this episode Roxie, Aryn, and Benji work to shake off the end of holiday school break while running down the "Winter 2024" issue of Inspire(d), and looking at 2024 bucket lists. This show is loose as a goose -and funky as a chicken, but we hope you enjoy it as a way to roll on into 2024 before we hit some harder topics and episodes.
"Rhymes With Decorah" is a companion project of Inspire(d) Media.
Original music heard in this podcast performed and recorded by Nick Zielinski of Decorah. Find him on Instagram, Patreon, TikTok and more @indicative_of_drumming
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
Rhymes With - Raptor Resource Project’s Dave Kester
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
Founded in 1988 by the late Bob Anderson, the Raptor Resource Project (RRP) is a non-profit that preserves and strengthens raptor populations, expands participation in raptor conservation, and educates people around the world about raptors and their habitats.
Photo courtesy of Raptor Resource Project
With the core goals of education, conservation, and research, RRP was at the forefront of peregrine falcon reintroduction to wild sites across the upper midwest, as well as some of the earliest web based "Bird Cams", including the Decorah Eagles Cam that went viral beginning in 2011 (the camera started as a still image updated every 2 mintues in 2009).
"DNF" Photo courtesy of Raptor Resource Project
While founder Bob Anderson was at the heart of everything that RRP did in it's first two decades, it took a village of friends and enthusiasts to grow the organization and do the physical work of the organization. One of those folks is Decorah falconer Dave Kester, who joins us on this show to talk about all things RRP.
RRP's Dave Kester with eyasses, 2021Courtesy Raptor Resource Project
As a nonprofit, the Raptor Resource Project is governed by a board of directors, and depends on donors, research, and other programs for their annual budget. – You can support the incredible work of RRP at this link!
Find out more at:
https://www.raptorresource.org/
"Rhymes With Decorah" is a companion project of Inspire(d) Media.
Original music heard in this podcast performed and recorded by Nick Zielinski of Decorah. Find him on Instagram, Patreon, TikTok and more @indicative_of_drumming
What Rhymes With Decorah?
The brainstorming session that my wife Aryn, our daughter Roxie (9), and I had for this podcast title was epic. It could have been called "Nichols & Sense", "Parts Missing", "Dogs, Beer, and bicycles", or "Nichols de Gallo" - But "Rhymes With Decorah" won out! Because after all - what rhymes with Decorah?! Our goal is to tell the stories of the communities in our region, share the challenges and successes - and find a way forward - together. That's what life in the rural midwest is all about.
Aryn and I have been in business together since 2007 - and we're still married! Inspire(d) Media is a quarterly publication featuring the positive people, places, and projects of the Driftless Region (NE Iowa, SE Minnesota, and W Wisconsin). Find our more about us at http://iloveinspired.com
Thank You for listening!