GoodEnough

In this episode,
Mark and Sam have Jordan back on the GE to talk about her new book, "This Is Not A Novel". It is a collection of short stories. Think Roald Dahl meets Steven King. We talk about where ideas come from. We discuss how she developed her characters. And what may be next for her.

In this episode, Mark and Sam talk with Tom Lincoln.
Tom Lincoln was born in Pasadena, California, in 1950 and was raised in Glendale.  He graduated high school and attended the College of Idaho until 1971 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army.  He completed army basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and then received advance training at the Defense Information School at Fort Benjamin Harris near Indianapolis.  Upon graduation he was assigned to the military newspaper, Pacific Stars and Stripes, in Tokyo in November of 1971.  While there he became a special assignment reporter and traveled throughout Asia for...

Mark and Sam talk with author Pattie Diener about the craft of writing a novel and getting it publishing. She has a new book out called, "Wild Flower".

Here is what Amazon has to say about it.  

A captivating story about a young woman's tenacious journey on finding love, acceptance, and a sense of home, in a world that constantly tries to tear her down.

She’s smart, talented, and remarkably beautiful…but utterly alone.

Charlie Kane desperately wants to leave her turbulent home. An intellectual outcast, her on...

In this episode, we have a returning guest. Jackie Balestra was on the 5th episode of GoodEnough. At that time she shared with us her adventures in RVing during COVID. This time Jackie is talking about her wonderful new book, "The Rockaway Chronicles". This is a year by year collections of memories and the characters she encountered as a child and teenager during her families' summer vacations. Maybe this ends up as a TV series?

This week Mark and Sam talk with journalist and author, David Rosenfeld. We talk about the craft and process of writing. Is it pen or keyboard? Where inspirations come from. Who are his journalistic/literary heroes. David teases his his new novel he is working. 

In this episode, Mark and Sam discuss AJ Humpreys' new novel, "Trip" and his new publishing company, Dark Journeys Press. This one is not for the squeamish. And the word "fuck" is used liberally. 

AJ Humphreys is an emerging author of thrillers, horrors, and mysteries and a 2024 addition to the Horror Writer's Association. The four-part Season of The Monster saga has served as his debut within the publishing world.

​​​​​​​Not one to fear going against the grain, Humphreys ditched the corporate world in 2021 for the food service industry, permitting him more time to focus on the haunting ta...

In this episode, Mark and Sam talk with author Chris Lawler about his new book, "The Strand Between Us". The discussion cover the art and craft of writing a novel with some local South Bay stories thrown in. 
From Amazon:
Kel Robinson graduated from High School without a clue of what comes next. His parents have sold the house he grew up in and are moving to Idaho. Kel is determined to stay in the beach towns he loves. All he has to work with is a small financial stake from his father, a best friend to m...

In this episode, Mark and Sam talk with Julie Kavickas about what it takes to write a romance novel. 

Julie Navickas is a best-selling and award-winning, nationally recognized contemporary romance novelist, known for her keen ability to tell heart-wrenching, second-chance love stories through relatable characters with humility, humor, and heroism. She is also an award-winning university instructor in the School of Communication at Illinois State University and serves as the executive director of The Writing Champions Project. Julie earned master’s degrees in both organizational communication and English studies with an emphasis in book history, as well as...

In this episode, Mark and Sam talk to Mark's friend Jordan O'Halloran the author of "Clean Up In Aisle Three". Jordan lives in Northern California with her partner, cat, and roommate. She is addicted to the smell of books, bright colors, and caffeine. A huge advocate for mental health and kindness, she spends every waking moment thinking of the perfect first line. When not writing, you can find her eating cheese, painting, or sleeping.

Find Jordan's book here.

https://a.co/d/100Q9U6

In this episode, Mark and Sam talk with Vivian Kong-Doctora. She is an entrepreneur, restaurateur, and author of "Life of Bao". Her new restaurant is the Kobe Revolving Sushi Bar. 

In this episode, Mark and Sam talk with Sara Schulting Kranz.  Sara is an authority in resiliency and leadership. She is the founder and guide of life-changing wilderness retreats in the Grand Canyon and Alaska. As a motivational speaker, workshop facilitator, TedX speaker on forgiveness, author, and executive producer of a documentary in production, Sara found herself "starting again" at age 40 after experiencing multiple traumas. At 49, she's built a thriving business, sharing her story while inspiring others to live on purpose.

Link to her book: Walk Through This
https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Through-This-Harness-Forgiveness/dp/0785238654/ref=sr_1_1?c...

In this episode, Mark and Sam ask Derek Story if AI will kill us all. 

Derek is a thought leader on the use of AI in HR. He is currently the Director of HR Systems, Training, and Communication at Illinois State University. During his time at ISU he has been responsible for continuity of HR technology, learning and development for campus, and staff recruiting and orientation.

Before joining Illinois State University, Derek had experience as a professional recruiter at the global staffing firm TEKSystems. He is a two-time Illinois State University alum, having received both h...

In this episode, Mark and Sam talk with best selling author, Jen Ruiz.
Jen Ruiz is a lawyer turned full-time travel blogger and author. She is a 3-time TEDx speaker, 6-time bestselling author, and multi award winning travel journalist. Jen has been featured in Forbes, The Washington Post, and ABC News and is the solo female traveler behind Jen on a Jet Plane.
 
You can find her blog here:
https://jenonajetplane.com/

Buy her book here: 12 Trips in 12 Months

https://www.amazon.com/12-Trips-Month...

In this episode, Mark and Sam talk to professor Jim Jawahar about his new bool "Thrive!: The Phycology Behind Achieving Professional Success."  If you want to jump start your career, you need to read this book.  

Dr. Jim Jawahar (jimjawahar1@unm.edu) received his Ph.D. degree from Oklahoma State
University in Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior. Jim served in several
administrative leadership positions including as Associate Provost at Illinois State University. He
is currently serving as Chair of the Department of Management at the University of New
Mexico. He served as th...

In this episode, Mark and Sam talk with the CEO of the Children's Home Association of Illinois and the author of Nonprofit Game Plan. 

In Nonprofit Game Plan, Matt reveals the real story of nonprofits, the one no one talks about: they are the world's best defense against the gnawing grind of social decay, poverty, homelessness and crime.

Whether he's breaking tennis world records, partnering with star athletes or making deals with Fortune 500 companies, George demystifies nonprofit management while inspiring a new generation to take up the mantle of social service. What emerges is a s...

In this episode, Mark and Sam talk to Sam's friend Dave Moravec who has just published a new book called Echoes Across the Track.  

Dave Moravec is an accomplished business leader with over 40 years of experience in a variety of industries, including educational technology and printing. A Chicago native transplanted in Cincinnati, Dave’s consultative approach to fractional sales management and chamber of commerce growth has him in high demand as a respected speaker, storyteller, and entrepreneurial therapist. Dave currently serves as President and CEO of the Colerain Chamber of Commerce and consults with clients as Sales Man...

In this episode, Sam and Mark talk to Paul Allman about his book, The Journal: Memories of Addis.  
Based on a True Story from the journal Paul kept while on his adventures.  The Journal begins in the caves of Matala on the Island of Crete, made famous by Joni Mitchell's song Carey from her Blue album. Paul's cave was three caves down from hers.
The story details his quest to visit the churches of Lalibela in the Gondor region of Northern Ethiopia. He journeyed, alone, up the Nile River and across the Nubian Desert to Khartoum where he...

In this episode, Mark and Sam interview James Laing the author of Circumstance.  James H. Laing was born in Toronto, Canada on 1965.  He found a passion for reading and writing creative literature early in life and took his artistic journey to Los Angeles in the early 90s.  in 2015 he moved to Washington state where he and his wife started a CBD business and experienced first hand the prevalence of mental illness, PTSD and addiction among their clients and recognized their widespread occurrence weaved into the fabric of society.  This and the rugged beauty of the PNW became the inspiration for...

In this episode, Mark and Sam start the year off right with a visit from their friend Tara Desmond.  They try to answer the comic question:

Will AI kill us all?

In this episode, Mark and Sam learn that there is good news about the economy.  This week they talked with Mike Doherty.  Mike is an independent consulting economist. He is the contracted business
development manager for Decision Innovation Solutions, an analytics consulting firm
based in Des Moines, Iowa, and has consulted on behalf of USDA and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO).
Doherty served as Senior Economist and Policy Analyst at the Illinois Farm Bureau from 2004 to 2023. He also served concurrently as the Executive Director of the Illinois Wheat Association from 2018 to 2023.
At Il...

In this episode,
Mark and Sam talk to Julie Eliathamby about food deserts and how adaptive strategies and partnerships can work to over come the nutritional challenges of these deserts.   
Julie Eliathamby, a Chinese Indian from Malaysia, moved to the United States in 2005 and has lived in Peoria for the past 15 years. She is a multilingual, cross- cultural professional with over 25 years of
experience in operations, customer service and sales.  Julie’s primary focus is building client-centric teams and creating efficiency in processes. She loves an  entrepreneurial challenge and has been active in consulting locally, as well a...

In this episode, Mark and Sam discuss economic development strategies and philosophies with Patrick Hoban.  Patrick is the CEO of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council.  He is a Certified by the International Economic Development Council.  He holds an Economic Development Finance Professional designation from the National Development Council.
Patrick graduated from Millikin University with a Bachelors in Organizational Leadership.  He graduated from the University of Oklahoma's Economic Development Institute.  He also graduated from Notre Dame with a Master's in Business Analytics.  
Patrick has served as the Vice President of Business Development for the Decatur and Macon county, Illino...

In this episode we talk with Laurie Swanson TED speaker and business owner of "InspiHER Tech".  Laurie talks who people hate their jobs and about career transformation, mindset, and intuitively-guided careers.  People make about 35,000 decisions every day and our world is more complex and crowded than ever. So how does one steer a career though all of this?  
The fallout from not steering is a disconnect with our inner selves. People experience a sense of drowning, of being overwhelmed and feeling stuck in their careers.  The results are quiet quitting and the glaring truth that what used to ligh...

In this episode, Mark and Sam talk with Kori Clausen the author of "Paddle Out"  Her story is one of triumph over grief and how to accept what you have been given. 

Kori Clausen felt Clint, her husband, take his last breath.  She watched as his arm he was holding her with suddenly fell limp to his side.  She had just unexpectedly lost her husband and the father of their four daughters. She had also lost her pillar of strength.  And she thought then that she had lost her last chance of salvation from the demons that had h...

In this episode Mark and Sam talk to Rick Jebb.
Rick Jebb is a neuro divergent author who writes about adaptation: multigenerational influence, the power of community, art and nature. He has been called an “artist trapped in a businessman’s body,” and has striven to transverse the realms of ecology, geography, history, literature, fine art, neuroscience, religion and business.

His life often focused on the question: how to go-on when you want to quit? He deals with death, depression, mental illness and love.

Rick’s literary influences include: Herman Hesse, Anthony Doerr, Barry Lopez, F...

George is 70 years old and lives in Thailand.  He became a Widower after 40 year marriage.  His two adult sons live in the states.    George has lived in five different US locations in the Midwest and the South.

But now, George lives in Thailand with native Thai wife who he met while visiting Thailand while on heath vacations. 

George career spans 35 years in HR and HR adjacent roles in mental health, retail and manufacturing sectors.  He focused on individual, developmental, and team effectiveness working toward organizational excellence.  

Sam and George met each other while working...

In this episode, Mark and Sam discuss Troy Taylor's book, Blood, Bullets, & Booze: Gangs and Ghosts of Southern Illinois.  Mark and Sam are both from Southern Illinois.  The people and places in Troy's book are part of their childhood and lore of the land.  Very entertaining.

His books are on Amazon or you can find all things Troy Taylor here:
https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/
He has a great website.

In this episode, Emmy winner writer Cort Casady talking about his new book:
"Not Your Father’s America: An Adventure Raising Triplets in a Country Being Changed by Greed"  You can find Cort's book here:
https://www.amazon.com/Not-Your-Fathers-America-Adventure/dp/B0BGNDYW3J/ref=sr_1_2?crid=LQ0PYQ7HH0FP&keywords=cort+casady&qid=1687982874&sprefix=cort+casady%2Caps%2C1022&sr=8-2
Father's Day
Roger Miller
AFI
Smother's Brothers
Soper Reece Theater
A Letter to my sons
Greed and Greenspan

On this weeks podcast we talk to Susan Sullivan Danenberger, a 5th generation farmer, winemaker and the owner of Danenberger Family Vineyards located in Central Illinois. Susan is a 2x cancer fighter with stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer. Living WITH metastatic breast cancer is a lot different from living after cancer. Susan is featured in Chapter 13 in the below book. A beautiful lady inside and out.

Here is the link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Impa...
Danenberger Family Vineyards website:
http://danenbergerfamilyvineyards.com/

About Jeff David:  I’ve been wrestling since I was 14.  I won a couple of state championships of Florida, went to the University of Florida, where I was part of the wrestling team. Became an assistant coach for the gators. In 2013 I was inducted into the University of Florida‘s athletic Hall of Fame as a gator great . In 2004 I was inducted into the national wrestling Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement. I coached Florida’s only national championship for the junior level teams, in 2004. We won the national championship in Greco Roman.
In 2015 I had 100% blockage of the Widowmak...

In this episode,  
Greg was thrilled to be invited onto the the Blue Zones Project Lake County team as the Public Policy Advocate in 2022. His role is to support community transformation for health and well-being at the environmental systems and civic-structure level. Put simply, Greg is helping county to end its relationship with commercial tobacco, develop better access to nutritious food for all and work with community members and leaders to make Lake County more walkable and bike-able. Greg has enjoyed a 25+ year international career in public health and community development. Highlights include working with tribal communities in S...

In this episode, 
Kate Herald Browne teaches people how to tell stories that change the world for good. She holds a PhD in English and uses her background in storytelling research as a learning designer, gender studies professor, and curator for TEDxNormal. Her writing has appeared in Runner's World, Refinery29, Autostraddle, and SELF magazine. Recently, Kate added a new dimension to her story exploration practice as a singer/songwriter, performing as a solo artist and as the leader of Evening Orchid, a pop-up music jamboree.