Best Loop Houston Podcasts (2025)

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Why the hot new ingredient in this chef’s pantry is AI 33:02

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41m ago33:02

33:02

Ian Ramirez has spent his career finding innovative ways to make mouth-watering meals for clients—and one of his latest ingredients is artificial intelligence. As a chef, culinary consultant, and co-founder of Mad Honey Culinary Studio and Goods, he’s the guy that brands hire to get their product on restaurant menus, and make it look and taste good…

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Coming soon: Season two 1:54

7d ago1:54

1:54

Working Smarter is back for season two! Starting September 3, we’re going beyond the hype and headlines to bring you stories about real people using AI to do more of what they love about their jobs. From the F1 track to the kitchen—and even the bottom of a lake—learn how new tools are helping creatives, makers, visionaries, and their teams think bi…

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Pittsburgh’s Playbook for Replacing All Lead Pipes

9d ago

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Pittsburgh is writing a playbook on lead pipe replacement, aiming to eliminate all toxic lines by 2027. In this episode, Will Pickering, CEO of Pittsburgh Water, and Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis of Women for a Healthy Environment reveal the strategy behind this national model. With over $200 million in federal grants and low-interest loans, the city …

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Can Southern California Avoid A Day Zero Water Crisis?

16d ago

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As Southern California wonders if water scarcity could ever spiral into a “Day Zero” crisis, the region stands at a crossroads for securing its water future. In this episode of In The Newsroom, Ian James, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, dives into the critical decisions shaping the region’s water portfolio. With half its supply imported from …

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The Rebirth of Bayou City: Centering Water in Houston

23d ago

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Houston is known as the energy capital—but it’s also the Bayou City, where water flows not just through the environment, but through culture, memory, justice, and resilience. In this episode from the Color of Water series, Ayanna Jolivet Mccloud, Executive Director of Bayou City Waterkeeper, shares how her background in art and advocacy fuels bold …

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You Are the Work: Why Fatherhood Is the Mission, Not the Distraction with Mitch Osmond 33:54

25d ago33:54

33:54

Hector sits down with leadership coach and Dad Nation host Mitchell Osmond to explore what it truly means to be a present, purpose-driven man in today’s world. Together, they unpack the myth of work-life “balance,” discuss how to integrate leadership at home and in business, and reflect on how modern men can build a meaningful legacy through alignm…

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How Men Heal: Frustration, Fatherhood & Finding Meaning with Andrew Anderson 38:11

1M ago38:11

38:11

In this raw and soul-stirring conversation, certified life transformation coach and spiritual leader Andrew L. Anderson joins Hector to explore what it truly means to be a man in today's world. From taking in children whose parents are incarcerated to rewriting deep-rooted beliefs formed in childhood, Andrew opens up about his own journey from perf…

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Texas Bets $20 Billion On Its Water Future

1M ago

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Texas is tackling its booming population’s water demands with a bold $20 billion investment plan to secure sustainable supplies and infrastructure by 2050. In this episode of In The Newsroom, Todd Votteler, a veteran water expert and editor of the Texas Water Journal, joins the podcast to discuss the state’s dynamic water landscape. With Texas expe…

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Purpose Without a Map: The Hard Questions Men Need to Ask Themselves with Pablo Orrantia 23:15

2M ago23:15

23:15

Hector sits down with Pablo—music producer and somatic breathwork practitioner—for a vulnerable conversation about navigating purpose, presence, and the paradox of modern masculinity. As a single man looking ahead to fatherhood, Pablo questions how much of his time should be spent on personal development versus being of service to others. Together,…

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Ways AI Is Reshaping Environmental Communications

2M ago

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AI isn’t coming—it’s already here, and it’s reshaping how communications and marketing get done. In this episode, Shama Hyder, a leading voice in digital transformation, explains why this moment demands strategic urgency and how organizations must adapt or risk falling behind. She shares how AI is disrupting knowledge work, changing workflows, and …

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When Your Ego Drives: How to Take Back the Wheel with Chris Gray 27:48

2M ago27:48

27:48

Hector sits down with Chris Gray — a direct response marketing strategist and introspective father — to unpack the daily dance between ego, awareness, and authentic leadership. Chris shares how years of meditation and mindfulness have reshaped his approach to business, family, and self-acceptance. Using vivid analogies — from the ego as a GPS to a …

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How WWF Restores Rivers For Resilience

2M ago

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Healthy rivers are essential for thriving communities, and smart, nature-based solutions are proving crucial to turning things around in a changing climate. In this episode, Derek Vollmer, Director of Waterscapes for the World Wildlife Fund, shares how their program uses innovative, place-based strategies to restore rivers and build resilience worl…

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In The Newsroom With Camille Von Kaenel: California's Delta Tunnel Decision

2M ago

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California's water future could be shaped by a $20 billion gamble with the controversial Delta Tunnel. This episode dives deep into the high-stakes project with Camille von Kaenel, California Environment Reporter for Politico. She unravels the complex plan to transport water from Northern to Southern California, detailing its immense cost, the deca…

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How Science Saved Houston From Sinking 37:58

3M ago37:58

37:58

Decades of overpumping groundwater around Houston caused the land to sink by as much as 15 feet, forcing neighborhoods to flood and entire communities to relocate. This episode explores how land subsidence developed, and how science, regulation, and infrastructure are now stopping the ground from sinking. Chrissy Butcher of Baytown Nature Center an…

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The Shame-Addiction Loop No One Talks About with Michael Brabant 45:23

3M ago45:23

45:23

Hector welcomes Dr. Michael Brabant, a transformational psychologist and founder of Candor & Coherence, to explore what it really means to evolve as a man in today’s world. From confronting inherited patterns of stoicism and shame to understanding the power of emotional multiplicity through Internal Family Systems (IFS), this conversation is a mast…

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In The Newsroom With Tony Schick: Snake River Dams, Salmon Collapse, & Broken Promises To Tribes

3M ago

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The hard-fought plan to restore salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest has been abruptly derailed, threatening one of the most significant tribal and environmental agreements in decades. In this episode of In The Newsroom, Tony Schick of Oregon Public Broadcasting breaks down how the Trump administration scrapped a landmark deal that would have paved…

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In The Newsroom: Antoine Walter On The Business Of Water In 2025

3M ago

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Billions of dollars are finally flowing into the water industry, but the financial landscape is still far behind energy, climate tech, and other booming sectors. In this episode of In The Newsroom, Travis Loop is joined by Antoine Walter, host of the (don’t) Waste Water podcast, for an insider look at how investment in the water sector is evolving—…

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Why Owning Your Time Is the Ultimate Power Move with Zach Richards 35:22

3M ago35:22

35:22

Hector sits down with Zach Richards, co-founder of REI Capital Guys, to explore the quiet power of private lending and the deeper meaning of financial freedom. Zach breaks down how true freedom isn’t about flashy cars or massive portfolios—it’s about owning your time, minimizing stress, and building systems that let you live life on your terms. Fro…

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What Most Men Get Wrong About Meditation with Damon Mitchell 42:33

3M ago42:33

42:33

Hector sits down with certified men's coach Damon Mitchell for an unfiltered and enlightening conversation on meditation, masculinity, and the pursuit of wholeness. Damon shares how sobriety and meditation reshaped his identity and gave him the tools to engage more consciously in relationships — not just with others, but with himself. Together, the…

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Scaling Distributed Infrastructure: Lawns, Parks, and Forests

3M ago

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Turning lawns into water savings, rewriting city codes, and protecting forests upstream—these are just some of the ways communities are reimagining their water systems with help from the WaterNow Alliance. In this conversation from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., Cynthia Koehler, Executive Director of the organization, shares how their Pr…

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In The Newsroom With Brett Walton: A Blue Economy For Great Lakes

3M ago

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What does a 21st-century water-powered economy look like? In this conversation, Brett Walton of Circle of Blue discusses their new reporting series on the blue economy in the Great Lakes region—where water is being used to drive innovation, jobs, and sustainable growth. The discussion explores how cities like Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Chicago are b…

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Being Vulnerable Doesn’t Make You Weak with Shaun Emerson 41:25

3M ago41:25

41:25

Hector sits down with Shaun Emerson, Development Lead at MenLiving, to explore the raw, unfiltered truths about modern manhood. Together, they dig into the emotional weight men silently carry—loneliness, anxiety, and the societal pressure to “suck it up.” Shaun shares how his transition from tech executive to nonprofit leader reshaped his understan…

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In The Newsroom With Bob Crossen: EPA Acts on PFAS, Trump Proposes Deep Funding Cuts

3M ago

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EPA is moving forward with PFAS drinking water limits but delaying compliance deadlines and withdrawing a controversial hazard index. At the same time, the Trump White House has proposed about a 90% cut to the State Revolving Funds—raising serious concerns about how utilities will afford compliance and critical infrastructure upgrades. In this epis…

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Reviving Ancestral Waters In Modern Times: Beth Roach On Indigenous Advocacy For Clean Water

4M ago

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A legacy of pollution and neglect once left the James River and surrounding waterways in ecological crisis. But decades of federal protections and grassroots advocacy have shown that nature can heal—if given the chance. In this episode, Beth Roach, Vice Chair of the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia and National Water Conservation Campaign Manager …

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You Don’t Need to Be Loud to Be a Real Man with Dal Houston 44:08

4M ago44:08

44:08

Hector sits down with Dal Houston — attorney, rancher, motivational speaker, and self-proclaimed “eccentric cowboy” — to challenge the worn-out scripts of modern masculinity. Together, they unpack the deep emotional power of personal style, the importance of expressing your individuality (even if it means rocking British riding boots to a UFC fight…

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The Future Of Stormwater Goes Underground

4M ago

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Stormwater management solutions that are effective, space-conscious, and sustainable are increasingly important for cities. One increasingly popular solution is deep infiltration, a practice that moves stormwater into native soils far below the surface, to avoid harmful runoff and recharge groundwater. In this episode, Gregor Patsch of Oldcastle In…

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Outlook On Federal Water Policy In Trump Administration & New Congress

4M ago

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As a new administration and Congress settle into Washington, questions loom about how federal water policy will take shape amid broader political turbulence. Fortunately, water remains a rare bipartisan issue, providing a pathway for continued investment and action around critical infrastructure and public health. In this conversation from the Rese…

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Is Jesus the Perfect Role Model for Modern Masculinity with Todd Miechiels 51:54

4M ago51:54

51:54

Todd Miechiels joins Hector Santiesteban to explore the transformational journey from defining manhood by titles and income to redefining it through faith, humility, and service. Todd shares his call from the business world into the mission field, revealing how surrendering traditional measures of success led to a life of deeper intimacy with God a…

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$119 Million XPRIZE Aims To Disrupt Desalination

4M ago

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Desalination is a proven technology—but it’s still too costly, energy-intensive, and inaccessible for the communities that need it most. To change that, XPRIZE launched a $119 million global competition to drive breakthroughs in seawater desalination and deliver scalable, sustainable solutions. Lauren Greenlee, Executive Vice President of Food+Wate…

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The Illusion of Having It All: When Ego Masks Emptiness 1:05:23

4M ago1:05:23

1:05:23

Hector sits down with award-winning podcaster and fellow storyteller Matt Gilhooly to explore the unraveling of Hector’s past relationship and the identity crisis that followed his greatest professional success. Together, they peel back the layers of ego, childhood conditioning, and the craving for external validation that many men silently carry. …

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The Coharie Tribe Revival By River And Ancient Trees

5M ago

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A 2,600-year-old bald cypress tree stands quietly in North Carolina’s Three Sisters Swamp—older than the Roman Empire, untouched by time, and protected by a resurgent tribal community. In this powerful episode, Travis Loop joins members of the Coharie Tribe on a World Water Day paddle through their ancestral waters on the Black River. Guided by Kul…

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Beyond Stoicism: The Rise of Interdependent Men with Ed Frauenheim 37:58

5M ago37:58

37:58

Hector Santiesteban welcomes back Ed Frauenheim, co-author of Reinventing Masculinity and co-founder of The Teal Team, for a timely and timeless discussion on evolving manhood. Ed takes us deep into his current work challenging the "Tough Guy Show" culture—especially in traditionally masculine spaces like the ski industry—and sheds light on how tha…

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Centering People First In Water Policy: With Radhika Fox

5M ago

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Radhika Fox has spent her career at the intersection of people, policy, and infrastructure. In a conversation from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., the former head of EPA's Office of Water shares how she helped lead the largest federal investment in U.S. water infrastructure, advance PFAS regulation, and expand environmental justice effort…

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Eco-Islam: How Green Muslims Put Faith In Sustainability

5M ago

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Islam offers powerful guidance for enviromental stewardship - and Huda Alkaff has spent 20 years bringing those teachings to life. As Founder of Wisconsin Green Muslims, Huda blends faith, ecology, and community action to advance water equity and climate justice. She shares how Islamic teachings inspire a sustainable lifestyle - from spiritual wate…

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Screen Time & Silent Threats: Why You Must Pay Attention with Kevin Cronister 48:27

5M ago48:27

48:27

Hector is joined by Kevin Cronister—father of five, cybercrimes detective, and CEO of Guardian Training Solutions—to explore one of the most urgent and uncomfortable threats facing modern families: the growing epidemic of online child exploitation. Kevin pulls back the curtain on the grooming process, shares how predators infiltrate games like Robl…

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Mayors Urge Congress To Fund Great Lakes Projects 25:14

5M ago25:14

25:14

Decades of underinvestment in water infrastructure have caused major issues—lead pipes, sewer overflows, and stormwater failures—in cities like Benton Harbor, Michigan and Mount Vernon, New York. In this episode, Mayor Marcus Muhammad of Benton Harbor and Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard of Mount Vernon share how federal investments have made a real d…

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Recycling Tile Drain Water: How Farmers Can Reduce Runoff

6M ago

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Nutrient runoff from tile drainage systems on Iowa farms is a significant challenge, affecting local waterways and the Mississippi River. Tile drain water recycling offers an innovative solution by capturing nutrient-rich drainage water, storing it in reservoirs, and reusing it for irrigation. This approach reduces nitrogen runoff while providing f…

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Navigating Divorce, Co-Parenting, and Raising Resilient Kids with Tom Bresnahan 43:52

6M ago43:52

43:52

Fatherhood today comes with unique challenges—especially in a world dominated by screens, shifting gender roles, and the increasing struggles of young men. In this episode, Tom Bresnahan, a former Hollywood actor turned mentor and therapist, shares his journey from entertainment to empowering teenage boys. He discusses the impact of technology on y…

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Raising Emotionally Strong Kids While Healing Yourself with Jeff Hittner 43:56

6M ago43:56

43:56

Hector sits down with Jeff Hittner—executive coach, educator, and founder of Ambitious Dads—to unpack the evolving landscape of fatherhood and modern masculinity. From emotional regulation during your child’s tantrums to building a fatherhood philosophy that aligns with your values, Jeff explores the daily challenges and triumphs of being a present…

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Saving Texas Springs: A Balance of Groundwater and Growth

6M ago

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Texas' iconic springs are facing growing pressure from urban development, groundwater pumping, and climate change, threatening the lifeline of both ecosystems and communities. But through sustainable aquifer management, conservation easements, and innovative policies, there is hope for keeping these vital waters flowing. This episode features conve…

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Meditation, Muay Thai, and Manhood: The Unlikely Trio That Will Change Your Life with Ted Phaeton 42:29

6M ago42:29

42:29

In this episode, Hector has a great talk with his longtime friend and Modern Man Podcast host, Ted Phaeton, about the weight men carry—fatherhood, marriage, business, and the relentless pursuit of being that guy in every arena. Ted shares how he’s juggling the chaos of raising a newborn while running his podcast and coaching business, all while sta…

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Becoming the Man You Needed When You Were Younger with Will Knecht 30:30

6M ago30:30

30:30

Hector sits down with Will Knecht, a man who’s been in the trenches of fatherhood, marriage, and masculinity long enough to know that the work never really ends. They get into the realities of being a dad, a stepdad, and now a grandpa, all while navigating what it means to be a man in a world that’s constantly shifting the goalposts. Will opens up …

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How Relay Crops Reduce Floods And Boost Farm Profits

7M ago

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Flooding and water quality degradation are significant challenges in Iowa's agricultural watersheds, driven by intensive farming practices and increasingly extreme weather events. Relay cropping, a regenerative farming practice, offers a solution by keeping soil covered and living roots in the ground year-round to reduce runoff and improve soil hea…

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Restoring Rapids in the Grand River

7M ago

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Grand Rapids is restoring the namesake rapids of the Grand River, reversing decades of human intervention that removed natural rock formations and altered the river’s flow. The city’s River For All project is removing five low-head dams and reshaping riverbanks to improve habitat, water quality, and public access. Mike Stahl, an engineer with the C…

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What Ancient Warriors Knew About Being a Man (That We Forgot) with Lawrence Dunning 41:12

7M ago41:12

41:12

Lawrence Dunning is back, and as always, he’s bringing the real. A top 1% real estate agent, investor, Jiu-Jitsu black belt, and host of Enter the Lionheart, he’s lived a life full of big wins and brutal lessons. This time, he opens up about business partnerships gone wrong, the stress of lawsuits, and the hard truths that come with getting older—l…

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Iowa's Oxbow Lake Revival By Restoration

7M ago

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Agriculture in Iowa is vital to feeding the world, but it poses challenges for water quality and flood management due to nutrient runoff and extreme weather. One innovative solution is the restoration of oxbow lakes—former river bends that have become disconnected from streams. These revitalized oxbows filter out nutrients like nitrates, provide ha…

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Love, Lies & The Narcissist’s Game with Marshal Gillen 49:49

7M ago49:49

49:49

Marshal Gillen, an award-winning speaker, speaker trainer, and men’s coach opens up about the wreckage and rebirth that followed his last breakup—140 days since his life fell apart, but who’s counting? He and Hector discuss the struggles men face in toxic relationships, the mind games of narcissistic abuse, and the brutal realization that maybe sel…

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Funding Lead Free Child Care In Cook County

7M ago

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The presence of 200,000 lead service lines in Cook County, Illinois poses a serious public health threat, especially to young children who are highly vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure. Addressing this issue requires collaboration across more than 130 municipalities and overcoming the complexities of replacing outdated infrastructure. One k…

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Ditch the Nice Guy Act and Become a Leader with Jake Isaacs 39:11

7M ago39:11

39:11

Hector and Jake Isaacs, the co-founder of Gathering the Kings, have a real heart-to-heart about what it means to be a man these days. Jake opens up about figuring himself out, ditching old ideas about being a guy, and how a tough challenge changed how he sees his purpose, leading others, and relationships. They get real about the stuff guys don't t…

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Facing Myself Without Booze with Kristian Nylund 46:03

8M ago46:03

46:03

Kristian Nylund shares his journey of overcoming the hardships of alcohol dependency, how to handle societal pressures, and redefining himself as an authentic and present father. He talks about the deep insecurities that shaped his choices, his battle to align with his true identity, and the freedom that came with sobriety. Tune in to hear about th…